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  • First Three Fights Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney On February 8

    First Three Fights Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney On February 8

    The lineup for UFC 312 next February is beginning to take shape.

    While a location and venue is yet to be announced for the mixed martial arts leader’s very first pay-per-view of 2025, its second will see the Octagon back on Australian soil in February.

    For the first time since UFC 293 in September 2023, the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney will play host as the promotion returns Down Under. And with the Feb. 8 event less than three months away, the matchups are beginning to roll out.

    The official UFC account for Australia and New Zealand announced the first three additions to the UFC 312 lineup on social media this week, with three Aussies set for action on home turf.

    Perhaps most notable is the return of formerly ranked light heavyweight Jimmy Crute (12-4-1) at UFC 312. The 28-year-old hasn’t competed since a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield in mid-2023 and is without a win since 2020. He’ll look to change that statistic at the expense of Poland’s Marcin Prachnio (17-8) next year.

    Elsewhere, there’s a chance for flyweight prospect Stewart Nicoll (8-1) to get redemption in front of his compatriots. “Kakamora” debuted at UFC 305 in Perth this past August as a highly touted, undefeated newcomer but was quickly caught in a guillotine choke by Jesus Aguilar. If he’s to immediately bounce back, Nicoll must blemish the perfect record of Road to UFC standout Rei Tsuruya (10-0).

    And there will be heavy intrigue surrounding the debut of Australia’s Quillan Salkilld (7-1). After a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series this past September, the former Eternal MMA champion will arrive in the Octagon opposite India’s Anshul Jubli (7-1).

    The headliners are yet to be announced for UFC 312, but recent rumors have placed a possible clash between Israel Adesanya and either Caio Borralho or Nassourdine Imavov on the card. Australia’s own Alexander Volkanovski has also been campaigning for a title fight on home soil.

  • UFC 309: Michael Chandler Maintains There’s ‘Quit’ In Charles Oliveira Despite Comeback In First Fight

    UFC 309: Michael Chandler Maintains There’s ‘Quit’ In Charles Oliveira Despite Comeback In First Fight

    Getting beaten by Charles Oliveira back in 2022 hasn’t stopped Michael Chandler from reiterating his belief that there’s “quit” in his UFC 309 opponent.

    While all eyes are on Jon Jones and his long-awaited first title defense this weekend, he’s not the only notable name returning to action following a lengthy layoff.

    Also set to make the walk at Madison Square Garden is lightweight contender Chandler, who hasn’t competed since a defeat to Dustin Poirier at the venue two years ago. That’s been largely down to a failed wait to fight Conor McGregor, but with that now in the past, “Iron” has his sights on a familiar foe.

    The former Bellator champion will co-headline Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view in a rematch with Oliveira. When the pair first collided back in May 2021, “Do Bronx” mounted a memorable comeback to stop Chandler with strikes early in round two.

    Having predicted that he’d break Oliveira in the lead-up, the American expressed shock at his ability to survive a first round onslaught, explaining in the aftermath that he “truly believed he was going to quit.”

    Despite being proven wrong, though, Chandler is sharing a similar theory days out from UFC 309…

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler was asked whether he’s entering the Nov. 16 event with the same thoughts about Oliveira’s ability to handle animosity inside the cage.

    Overcoming near-finishes against him, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier in recent years evidently wasn’t enough to rid the “quit” narrative entirely for the ex-lightweight kingpin.

    “I do (still believe that),” Chandler said. “I’m not calling him a quitter, but I do know I didn’t put myself in the position to fight him for long enough, to put pressure on him for long enough, to instill second-guessing and doubts into his mind and spirit for long enough for that exit sign to be found. This time, I think we will.”

    Chandler will hope to prove as much this time around, as he looks to stake his claim for a second shot at adding UFC gold to his résumé in mixed martial arts.

    Should he accomplish that feat, fans will witness “Iron” having his hand raised for the first time since a brutal front-kick knockout of Tony Ferguson in 2022.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Carlos Prates’ Welterweight Entry Point Revealed

    UFC Rankings Report: Carlos Prates’ Welterweight Entry Point Revealed

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has been followed by the release of the updated UFC rankings.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson’s victory over Luana Pinheiro at the Apex has boosted her status at 115 pounds. The submission specialist has climbed two places to #12, leaving both Angela Hill (#13) and Pinheiro (#14) a spot worse off.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: A week after moving into the rankings following Germaine de Randamie’s retirement, Jacqueline Cavalcanti hasn’t needed to fight in order to keep climbing. The Brazilian has leapfrogged Chelsea Chandler (#14) to secure the #15 position.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: Carlos Prates has unsurprisingly had a number placed next to his name following Saturday’s main event. After knocking out Neil Magny in the first round for his fourth straight win of the year, “The Nightmare” has entered the UFC rankings at #13. That’s put Michael “Venom” Page (#15) on the final step of the ladder and eliminated the defeated Magny entirely.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes,

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Jon Jones Open To Vacating Heavyweight Title For ‘BMF’ Fight With Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones Open To Vacating Heavyweight Title For ‘BMF’ Fight With Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones is set to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Yet, many fight fans are also speculating about a potential showdown between Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    In a recent interview with Aaron Bronsteter of Fox Sports, Jones expressed his opposition to the idea of an interim heavyweight title, saying it was unnecessary and created confusion for fans. Jones believes the interim title was introduced mainly to add hype to the Madison Square Garden event while he recovered from an injury.

    “Well, the interim championship shouldn’t have been there in the first place. The only reason there was an interim championship fight was because I got hurt, and they needed to keep the importance of that Madison Square Garden event (UFC 295). But Sergei [Pavlovich] and Aspinall shouldn’t have been fighting for an interim title in the first place. They should’ve just been a replacement fight, a main event. I think making it an interim fight was premature, and now you have a bunch of confused people.”

    Jones also hinted at a possible fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, noting his long history in the 205-pound division. Jones even indicated he’d be open to vacating his heavyweight title to fight Pereira for the “BMF” (Baddest Motherf*****) title.

    “It’d be cool to fight [Pereira] for the heavyweight championship, but I would also willingly give up the heavyweight championship. I walked away from the light heavyweight championship, and I’d love to walk away from this one, as well, on top, on (my) own terms, good head on (my) shoulders, making lots of money. I love the position that I’m in right now.”

    Jones suggested that a cross-division clash with Pereira would generate considerable attention as it would bring together two elite fighters from different weight classes in a high-stakes showdown.

  • UFC 309: Custom Shorts Revealed For Stipe Miocic, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler

    UFC 309: Custom Shorts Revealed For Stipe Miocic, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler

    The UFC appears to be continuing its trend of designing tailored fight kits for its top athletes, with Stipe Miocic, Charles Oliveira, and Michael Chandler next in line to enjoy this stylish touch for their highly anticipated matchups at UFC 309.

    The penultimate UFC pay-per-view event of the year is set to electrify Madison Square Garden in New York City this weekend. In the headliner, Miocic will challenge reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, while the co-main event of UFC 309 features a high-stakes, five-round rematch between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.

    As Miocic gears up for his first Octagon appearance in over there years, the former longtime heavyweight champion will debut custom fight shorts from Venum, the UFC’s official fight kit provider. Designed to honor his Croatian heritage, Miocic’s shorts showcase a checkered pattern on one side and the Croatian coat of arms on the other, drawing inspiration directly from Croatia’s flag.

    The 42-year-old Ohio native last competed at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he succumbed to a second-round knockout by Francis Ngannou, forfeiting his heavyweight title in the process.

    Meanwhile, Oliveira, coming off a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April, will step into the Octagon wearing abstract, multicolored shorts with his moniker, “Do Bronx,” emblazoned on one side. The inspiration behind this striking design remains unknown.

    On the flip side, Chandler will don black shorts accented with gray straps and stars at UFC 309, a tribute to the American flag. “Iron” is making his long-awaited return after a two-year hiatus, following his submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022.

    The custom shorts for the fighters featured at UFC 309 add to the already revealed gear for “Bones,” which showcases two fierce red lions along with Philippians 4:13, the Bible verse Jones has inked on his chest.

  • Jake Paul Guarantees KO Win Over Mike Tyson: ‘It’s Already Written’

    Jake Paul Guarantees KO Win Over Mike Tyson: ‘It’s Already Written’

    Jake Paul is just days away from facing off against Mike Tyson this Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The highly anticipated fight will air live exclusively on Netflix.

    Tyson initially retired from boxing in 2005 after a loss to Kevin McBride, in which he failed to answer the bell for the seventh round. Now, he’s stepping back into the ring for his first professional bout in 19 years.

    Paul has boldly predicted a knockout victory over the legendary boxer, though he acknowledges it might be a “bittersweet” achievement. “When it happens, it’s going to be a little bittersweet because I have love for him, but at the current moment, we’re meant to go to war,” Paul said. “He’s trying to take the food off my plate, and I’m trying to take the food off of his plate—that’s what warriors do.”

    Reflecting on the significance of the fight, Paul sees it as the culmination of his 12-year career across entertainment and now boxing. “I dreamed this, manifested it, and this fight will mark the start of my career in boxing. This is my moment to shine, and I’m going to show the world who I am,” Paul continued.

    “Everyone’s doubted me. Everyone’s had something to say. Nothing was ever given to me; I’ve had to work for it all. I’ve been kicked off YouTube, kicked off platforms, canceled five times, and here I am, throwing the biggest event in entertainment. Now, this moment proves to the world what hard work and perseverance can do. I’m just happy to show that to other kids who may face adversity and need to keep proving themselves.”

    As a pro, he has gone 10-1 with seven knockouts against opponents. Many of those wins have come over YouTubers and former MMA fighters.

  • Full 2024 PFL World Championship Card Revealed, Includes 10 Title Fights

    Full 2024 PFL World Championship Card Revealed, Includes 10 Title Fights

    PFL global and PFL MENA gold will be on the line in Saudi Arabia on November 29.

    Following the conclusion of its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. And before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are decided in December, the global and MENA kings — as well as a solitary queen — will be crowned.

    This week, the promotion announced a stacked and lengthy lineup for the 2024 PFL World Championship later this month in partnership with Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The event takes place at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday, Nov. 29.

    In the main attraction, six global champions will be decided. The headlining spots have gone to a pair of English standouts in Brendan Loughnane and Dakota Ditcheva, who battle Timur Khizriev at featherweight and Taila Santos at flyweight, respectively.

    Beforehand, the MENA titles will be wrapped around four waists, as the likes of Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Ali Taleb look to conclude their 2024 campaigns with championship glory in the Middle East.

    For the first time, the PFL championship matchups will see the fighters permitted to throw elbows, which have previously been banned throughout the season and playoff format.

    A number of intriguing showcase matchups have also been announced. Among the notable names is 2023 PFL featherweight title winner Jesus Pinedo — returning for the first time since last year’s world championship event — former Ares FC heavyweight king Slim Trabelsi, and top Bellator middleweight contender Costello van Steenis.

    PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

    • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane vs. Timur Khizriev
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov
    • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov vs. Shamil Musaev
    • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
    • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov

    PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani
    • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa vs. Omar El Dafrawy
    • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani
    • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb vs. Rachid El Hazoume
    • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi vs. Georges Eid

    Showcase Fight Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui vs. Alfie Davis
    • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi vs. Abraham Bably
    • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo vs. Jeremy Kennedy
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj vs. Jose Perez
    • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis vs. Joao Dantas
  • Max Holloway To Be Subject Of New Documentary Following His Life & UFC Career In 2025

    Max Holloway To Be Subject Of New Documentary Following His Life & UFC Career In 2025

    Max Holloway is reportedly set to be the focus of an upcoming documentary, which will offer an in-depth look at both his personal journey and professional career.

    According to a recent report by Deadline, Dream Bay Entertainment and Hamblin Imagery have partnered to produce an untitled film about “Blessed” in 2025. Touted as the ultimate documentary on his life, the project promises to offer an unparalleled look into the journey of the former UFC featherweight champion.

    Peter Hamblin is set to direct the project and serve as an executive producer, with Dream Bay founder Thomas Drachkovitch also joining as an executive producer

    The documentary will chronicle “Blessed” as he steps into what promises to be the most significant year of his life, both inside and outside the Octagon. It will trace Holloway’s ascent to UFC stardom, his enduring legacy as one of the sport’s most resilient and captivating fighters, and his journey as a devoted father and proud native of Hawaii.

    The film will feature exclusive interviews, rare archival footage, and behind-the-scenes access, offering a deep dive into his grueling training camps as he gears up for career-defining showdowns in 2025.

    Holloway is coming off the first knockout defeat of his career, having been floored by reigning 145-pound champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, marking a tough setback in his third attempt at regaining the title.

    The 32-year-old Hawaiian fighter secured the BMF title with a dramatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight clash at UFC 300 this past April.

    Following his recent loss to Topuria, Holloway has openly stated his intention to leave the featherweight division behind and concentrate on pursuing success at 155 pounds.

  • VIDEO: UFC 309 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Jones vs. Miocic & Oliveira vs. Chandler

    VIDEO: UFC 309 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Jones vs. Miocic & Oliveira vs. Chandler

    Fight week for the UFC 309 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic and the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.

    Saturday’s UFC 309 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with heavyweight kingpin Jones (27-1, 1 NC) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

    If “Bones” is to continue his rule atop the 265-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Miocic (20-4). The former two-time titleholder is returning from a lengthy layoff for his opportunity to regain the gold, having most recently been unseated in brutal fashion by Francis Ngannou back in 2021.

    Before those two collide in the main event at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, the stakes will also be high for a crucial five-round lightweight clash.

    After a toe injury resulted in Conor McGregor’s withdrawal from UFC 303 this past June, Chandler (23-8) finally heeded the calls of those advising him to move on from the Irishman.

    That decision has left him running it back with a former champion and current top-five contender in Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC), who will look to repeat his title-winning performance over “Iron” from 2022 and stake his claim for a shot at regaining the belt in the process.

    Ahead of those two contests in “The Big Apple,” fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 309 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XIaiNRIuvg
  • Khabib’s Coach Picks Paddy Pimblett To Beat Conor McGregor

    Khabib’s Coach Picks Paddy Pimblett To Beat Conor McGregor

    There aren’t many fighters that are able to arrive in the UFC and make an immediate impact by being loved or hated. Even fewer are able to then back it up inside the Octagon in order to make a real name for themselves in the sport.

    Two fighters that have done that and continue to produce regular talking points are the biggest star in the history of the sport, Conor McGregor, and one of the most high profile names to follow on from “The Notorious”, Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett. Pimblett has been openly critical of “The Mac” in the past but the two men ever meeting inside the Octagon seems unlikely.

    That being said, Pimblett is continuing to defy expectations with his six-fight win streak in the UFC’s lightweight division which McGregor was formally the champion of. Given the huge profile’s of both men, there’s no denying that a fight between them would be absolutely huge if it even came close to happening.

    Though both men have got their critics, it’s hard to argue with what McGregor has done in the sport as the UFC’s first-ever two-weight champion but that was a long time ago at this stage. As a result, a very experienced coach believes that Pimblett would have the advantage over the Irishman as of right now.

    AKA head coach Javier Mendez previously cornered against McGregor in the biggest UFC fight of all time where he returned to face Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a recent interview with Canada Casino, Mendez stated that he isn’t confident that “The Notorious” is the same guy that produced some of the most memorable moments in UFC history anymore.

    “Paddy and McGregor would be a great fight not just in England but the US too. It’d be a great fight, and I’d favor Paddy because he’s more of a fighter now and I’m not sure if McGregor is anymore. He may come back and prove us wrong but I favor Paddy because of where his state of mind is with fighting. We don’t know if he’s in or out. He might be fantastic in camp but I’m betting not based on what I hear in the inner circles, I’m betting he’s not taking it seriously.”

  • Charles Oliveira Welcomes BMF Title Fight vs. Max Holloway: ‘I’m About Legacy’

    Charles Oliveira Welcomes BMF Title Fight vs. Max Holloway: ‘I’m About Legacy’

    Charles Oliveira has already built an incredible legacy during his time in the UFC which is sure to endure long after he retires from the sport. That being said, the 35-year old is confident that he still has much more to give and he could enter a new phase of his career on Saturday night.

    At UFC 309, “Do Bronx” returns in a rematch of one of the most important fights of his entire 45-fight career. He finished Michael Chandler in the second round back in 2021 to win the vacant lightweight title and now they will run it back over five rounds in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden.

    Before his incredible lightweight winning streak that led to him beating Chandler and going on a great run as the champion, Oliveira suffered some fairly substantial setbacks along the way. One of those came to an elite competitor that has recently announced that lightweight will be his long-term home going forward.

    BMF Champion Max Holloway is ready to leave featherweight behind for good following his recent loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 last month. His performance earlier this year against Justin Gaethje proved once and for all that he can hang with the best 155-pounders in the division.

    Though Oliveira is focused on beating Chandler for a second time, he’s also open to the idea of meeting Holloway in a rematch.

    The two fan favorites met back in 2015 where “Blessed” got the first round finish due to an injury that the Brazilian suffered. He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that fighting Holloway for the BMF belt is a fight that interests him due to the stakes attached.

    “I’m about legacy. That’d be great. Why not? As I’m talking about [legacy], I mean, being the BMF champ would be gigantic for that.”

  • Stipe Miocic Responds To Health Concern Rumors Ahead Of UFC 309 Return

    Stipe Miocic Responds To Health Concern Rumors Ahead Of UFC 309 Return

    It has been well over three years since fight fans last saw Stipe Miocic step inside the Octagon but that all changes on Saturday night. At UFC 309, he will return to challenge Jon Jones for the heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden.

    Miocic’s time away from competition, not to mention the fact that his last outing was a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou, is why many are finding it difficult to predict what we can expect from the former champion. Over three years off is going to impact any fighter, especially a 42-year old fighter who will be taking on arguably the best to ever do it.

    How this will impact the fight is even more of a grey area because Miocic is a very private individual who is rarely in the limelight, especially when he isn’t fighting. He believes that the time away has had positive benefits rather than drawbacks on his current physical and mental sharpness, as he spoke about in a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri.

    “Definitely, recharging my whole body. My mind, my body, just making sure I’m healed up and feeling good and just, you know, I’m good.”

    Another cause for concern came around following rumors that during his attendance at UFC 295 when he was originally scheduled to face Jones last November, Miocic was walking with a limp. He clarified that this wasn’t an issue and that he was simply walking to his seat with his wife whilst holding her hand which meant that he was walking a bit slower because she was behind him.

    “Yeah I was doing that. Yeah, I don’t know what limp I was having but yeah, whatever they want to think I mean it’s fine. Yeah, I saw that too. It was nice, thanks for pointing it out.”

  • Deontay Wilder Welcomes Francis Ngannou Clash After Dismissing Retirement Calls

    Deontay Wilder Welcomes Francis Ngannou Clash After Dismissing Retirement Calls

    Following his successful return to MMA last month, it isn’t clear yet what Francis Ngannou’s next step will be. There was a lot of pressure and emotion surrounding his long awaited PFL debut against Renan Ferreira.

    Not only was Ngannou coming off his first knockout loss where he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in his second boxing match, the former UFC heavyweight champion was motivated to return to competition in the memory of his late son Kobe. Getting his hand raised in the PFL by any means neccesary was his primary focus but after dominating Ferreira and finishing him in the first round, there isn’t a clear next challenge for him in MMA.

    Even with a record of 0-2, there are still some big fights left for Ngannou in the boxing world and though it might not be on the same level as his fights with Tyson Fury or Joshua, a meeting with Deontay Wilder would still be a big draw even if both men are coming off of knockout losses in the ring.

    Wilder was finished in the fifth round by Zhilei Zhang in June in what looked like could be the final outing of his 48-fight career. “The Bronze Bomber” recently revealed in an interview with TMZ that he’s working towards a return after taking some time off.

    “The best is yet to come, I always say that. We’re still going, we’re still here, you know what I mean we just getting things together man. I’m just handling a lot of things, I had a lot of outside distractions that I had to get rid of.”

    Wilder also spoke about the potential of facing Ngannou next time out, sending his potential opponent a message of support after the difficult year he has gone through.

    “Even since I’ve been off and stuff like that, it’s been a lot of offers coming in, a lot of things, different countries and stuff like that and even with Francis, what’s up brother. I hope everything’s going good for you man and I’m sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what it’s like to lose a child man, I never hope to even feel that feeling of it but I wish, I hope life is going beautifully for you bro and yeah, that’s a conversation I’m still looking to getting in the mix and talk about.”

  • ‘Heartbroken’ Karolina Kowalkiewicz Answers Retirement Questions After UFC Vegas 100 Loss

    ‘Heartbroken’ Karolina Kowalkiewicz Answers Retirement Questions After UFC Vegas 100 Loss

    UFC women’s strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz doesn’t plan on letting her defeat at the Apex this past weekend mark the end of her journey in MMA.

    Kowalkiewicz, who has amassed 18 fights worth of Octagon experience since debuting way back in 2015, returned for her second assignment of the year in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 100 featured preliminary bout.

    The Polish standout had hoped to bounce back against Denise Gomes after dropping a decision to the fast-rising Iasmin Lucindo this past May at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.

    But the 39-year-old once again fell short to a young Brazilian fighter, with “Dee” also getting the nod on all three scorecards following 15 minutes of action.

    A day on from her second straight setback, Kowalkiewicz took to her Instagram Story to address her supporters.

    The Polish veteran gave an honest assessment of her performance and the result, admitting that Gomes was simply better. That fact hasn’t, however, brought her to the brink of calling it quits.

    “Hey guys, I’m so sorry. But thank you for your support, for your love. I’m okay, as you can see, I’m okay, just my heart is broken,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I had a really great fight camp, perfect weight-cutting, I felt really, really good. Really good shape, but my opponent, she’s better than me, what can I say?

    “Give me some time and see you soon. I’m not going to retire, don’t worry,” Kowalkiewicz added.

    It remains to be seen what comes next for Kowalkiewicz, but it appears certain that fans haven’t seen the last of the former KSW women’s flyweight champion inside the Octagon.

    Gomes, meanwhile, has now won two on the bounce since failing to climb the ladder against Angela Hill in November 2023. The Brazilian will no doubt look to keep her sights on those above her in pursuit of a spot in contention.

  • Jon Jones’ Coach Claims Tom Aspinall Has Been On The Radar Since Before Heavyweight Move

    Jon Jones’ Coach Claims Tom Aspinall Has Been On The Radar Since Before Heavyweight Move

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is sure to be one of the most talked about fighters of the week despite the fact that he isn’t set to compete at UFC 309 on Saturday night. Many believe that it should be him facing Jon Jones in a title unification clash at Madison Square Garden rather than Stipe Miocic.

    During his time away from the Octagon due to the injury he suffered ahead of UFC 295 last November, Jones has been very outspoken about Aspinall and a potential fight with him. It’s been a huge talking point throughout this year with some accusing the champion of ducking the interim titleholder.

    Whilst Jones has recently stated that he doesn’t believe that the Brit has accomplished anything significant enough to make him interested in the fight, that isn’t to say that Aspinall hasn’t been someone that he’s known about for a long time. This is something that Jones’ long-time striking coach Brandon Gibson recently spoke about in an interview with Submission Radio.

    Gibson revealed that Aspinall’s rise to the top of the heavyweight division isn’t surprising because he’s a fighter that the team have had their eyes on for some time now, dating back to when Jones was planning his move to heavyweight during his long hiatus after vacating the light heavyweight belt.

    “No, no surprise at all. You know back in the day when Jon was originally making his move up to heavyweight, we thought Francis was going to be the opponent and we were studying the heavyweight landscape. Aspinall was a guy that we’ve always had our eye on, for years now. He’s very smooth, great takedowns, he’s a finisher and in heavyweight, that’s a powerful thing. He has incredible footwork and defense so Aspinall’s been a guy that we’ve already had an eye on for sure.”

  • Carlos Prates On ‘Dream’ UFC Run: ‘I Was Fighting For Maybe $200’

    Carlos Prates On ‘Dream’ UFC Run: ‘I Was Fighting For Maybe $200’

    Carlos Prates is living the dream on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, having emerged victorious from his maiden UFC main event this past weekend.

    After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, Prates has announced himself as a name to watch at 170 pounds by reeling off four straight wins in his debut year inside the Octagon.

    All of those came by way of knockout, with the most recent being a brutal one-punch finish of veteran contender Neil Magny in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 100 headliner.

    “The Nightmare” lived up to his moniker by swarming “The Haitian Sensation” with strikes after defending the 37-year-old’s early attempts to drag the fight to the mat. And after putting Magny on skates, a glancing blow to the temple face-planted him.

    During his post-fight press conference, Prates reflected on his latest triumph in the UFC, which should see him with a number next to his name come the latest rankings update on Tuesday.

    The Brazilian admitted his winning run in 2024 is like a “dream” given his early days in the sport, which saw him follow the grueling path from making pennies on the regional scene to earning a living toward the top of the MMA ladder.

    “It’s a dream,” Prates said. “A few years ago — not a few years ago, I think two years ago, one year and a half I was fighting for maybe $200. Now I’m doing a lot of money. It’s a dream. I worked hard for this for many years and I’m really happy.”

    And Prates doesn’t appear to plan on slowing down in 2025.

    Having secured a place in the top 15, “The Nightmare” has his sights on continuing to climb closer to title contention. Judging by his post-fight remarks, he’s hoping for that to come at the expense of either Jack Della Maddalena or Geoff Neal in the coming months.

  • Valentina Shevchenko Challenges ‘Ill-Mannered’ Manon Fiorot  To ‘Loser Leaves UFC’ Match

    Fight fans are in store for an old-fashioned “loser leaves the promotion” match between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot, with tension already building from a heated war of words.

    Fiorot, eager for her shot at the women’s flyweight title, is done waiting. She last fought in March, defeating Erin Blanchfield, and many fans believe this victory should have earned her a title opportunity. However, the title picture has been stalled due to the ongoing rivalry between Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.

    Grasso claimed the title from Shevchenko in early 2023, only for their rematch at the end of the year to end in a split draw. The UFC capitalized on the rivalry, having them coach opposing teams on The Ultimate Fighter, culminating in a September fight where Shevchenko reclaimed the belt.

    Growing impatient, Fiorot took to Twitter, writing, “Stop making people wait! Let’s do it soon enough so I can send you to retirement and move on.”

    Shevchenko replied with a challenge: “You lose, you retire. Deal?!! Ill-mannered first-grader.” Fiorot responded swiftly, “Deal. I’ll take you seriously when you’ve signed the contract, damn teacher’s pet.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’

    Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’

    Former two-division ONE champion and UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder would welcome the chance to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat inside the cage.

    De Ridder arrived in mixed martial arts’ leading promotion this year, having had his two pieces of ONE Championship gold ripped from his grasp by Anatoly Malykhin and becoming angered by the workings of the Asia-based promotion.

    After bouncing back under the UAE Warriors banner in the summer, “The Dutch Knight” put pen to paper on a dream move to the UFC. And his pursuit of adding the organization’s middleweight belt to his trophy cabinet got underway this past weekend at the Apex.

    Co-headlining UFC Vegas 100, de Ridder shared the cage with a former training partner and fellow grappling specialist in Gerald Meerschaert. The Breda, Netherlands native emerged victorious from a competitive and grueling affair by way of submission in round three.

    De Ridder’s debut performance split opinion in the community, with many already writing off his chances of defeating the top names high up the ladder at 185 pounds.

    The former ONE double champ, however, says he’s “ready” for the toughest tests.

    During his post-fight press conference on Saturday night, de Ridder reflected on his first foray into the Octagon, admitting that not everything went how he had envisioned pre-fight.

    “On the floor, I made a few mistakes, especially in the second round,” de Ridder said. “I shouldn’t have went for those (D’arce chokes), I thought I had them but they weren’t there. There’s a few little tweaks I should make there.

    “But I’m happy it happened this way, the fight happened this way. Because normally he’s the guy who lasts longer, he takes some shots and he’s still there and he finishes guys at the end of the second or in the third round,” de Ridder continued. “So it’s cool I was that guy this time.”

    Nevertheless, the manner in which the fight played out hasn’t dented his confidence. In fact, de Ridder has maintained his self-belief when it comes to defeating the best contenders, even calling for the opportunity to blemish Khamzat Chimaev’s perfect record.

    “Why not Khamzat? That would be a nice matchup, grappling wise, it would be cool,” de Ridder suggested. “Whatever the UFC wants of me, I’ll do it. Just give me a call. I’m ready.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    The pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall is continuing to mount just days away from his first title defense.

    Jones will return to the cage 20 months on from his crowning in March 2023, when he debuted at heavyweight by rapidly submitting Ciryl Gane to capture the then-vacant belt.

    While his first challenger was also penciled in last year, an injury forced Jones out of a Madison Square Garden headliner opposite the returning Stipe Miocic. A year on, the pair will give their matchup another go in the main event of UFC 309 at MSG.

    That, however, is despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Aspinall, who had gold wrapped around his waist after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in their late-notice clash last November, which replaced the original Jones vs. Miocic showdown.

    Having also defended his strap in the months since, Aspinall has plenty of backers when it comes to his calls for a unification fight. But not only did Jones dismiss that for his upcoming defense, he’s also seemingly planning to either hang up his gloves or target the champ from below, Alex Pereira, should he get past Miocic on Saturday night.

    “Bones” has been responding to much criticism online for that stance, and though that’s seen him hit back at fans for the most part, his latest back and forth came with the top contender in the division he formerly ruled.

    Commenting on a social media post detailing Jones’ recent remarks about favoring a clash with “Poatan” over his interim counterpart, Magomed Ankalaev joined in with those suggesting the Rochester native is ducking Aspinall.

    “Sound like someone (scared) of big TOM,” Ankalaev wrote.

    It didn’t take long for Jones to take notice of the Russian’s words, branding him ‘jealous’ and challenging the surging light heavyweight to replicate his résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “Magomed jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” Jones wrote. “Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”

    It stands to reason that Aspinall will be a prominent topic throughout UFC 309 fight week, especially given the interim champ’s presence in New York City as the backup fighter for the main event.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Miles Johns Rebooked For Tampa After Garbrandt Cancellation

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Miles Johns Rebooked For Tampa After Garbrandt Cancellation

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 4, and Sunday, November 10, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For those matchups, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Michael Chandler Looks Sharp In UFC 309 Training Footage

    Michael Chandler is looking sharp as he trains ahead of his expected return at UFC 309 in just six days, where he will face UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira for the second time.

    For Chandler, this fight represents a huge opportunity to claim the UFC championship—possibly his last chance—after pivoting from a potential mega-fight with Conor McGregor to this title bout against his old rival. In his last five fights, Chandler is 2-3, with his most recent victory coming by way of a knockout against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022, which earned him Performance of the Night honors. Later that year, he was awarded Fight of the Night after a hard-fought bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, where he ultimately lost by submission.

    Chandler recently shared a clip of his training, where he looks sharper than ever. With peak conditioning and a determined mindset, Chandler is ready to pursue his goal of holding the UFC lightweight title in less than a week. He captioned the post, “Keep it simple. Keep it devastating. #ufc309 @henrihooft.”

    For Chandler, he has a tall task in front of him, as oddsmakers have him as a sizeable underdog. He is a +200 dog against the worthy champion at -250.

  • Jon Jones Admits Retirement Decision Will Depend On His UFC 309 Performance

    Jon Jones Admits Retirement Decision Will Depend On His UFC 309 Performance

    The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, is now less than a week away. Leading up to the event, it appeared that Jones—who has previously been called by UFC CEO Dana White the greatest of all time—might be nearing the end of his pro-MMA career and considering retirement after this fight.

    However, Jones may be reconsidering his plans, with a potential matchup against interim champion Tom Aspinall now on the horizon. In a recent interview with KetoneIQ, he shared his thoughts on his future in the sport.

    “I feel like whether I retire or not will depend on this next performance,” Jones stated. “One of my main goals is to make it look really easy. If I can accomplish that, then curiosity will keep me in the game—just to see how far we can really take this thing.”

    Jones continued, “But at the same time, I’m really happy with my career. It’s been unbelievable, truly unbelievable. I work on looking in the mirror and reminding myself that I am enough, that I’ve accomplished enough, and that I don’t have anything left to prove. Sometimes, you can get caught up in always needing more and more.”

    This will be Jones’ second heavyweight fight following his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. It’s also only his second fight in the past four years due to his move to heavyweight and injuries.

  • ‘This Dude Is Legit’ – Fans & Fighters React As Carlos Prates Adds Neil Magny To His List Of KO Victims At UFC Vegas 100

    ‘This Dude Is Legit’ – Fans & Fighters React As Carlos Prates Adds Neil Magny To His List Of KO Victims At UFC Vegas 100

    The violent start to Carlos Prates’ Octagon career continued at the expense of veteran contender Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 100.

    Prates had already staked a strong claim for this year’s Newcomer of the Year accolade, having followed a contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series 14 months ago with three straight UFC knockouts in 2024.

    And if his brutal finishes of Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, and Li Jingliang weren’t enough to get some aboard the Prates hype train, his quick night at the office opposite “The Haitian Sensation” Saturday night likely did the trick.

    The Brazilian immediately had his grappling defense tested by Magny, who looked to avoid his opponent’s renowned power at any and all cost.

    But the 37-year-old quickly found himself hurt and backpedaling after being struck by the prolific knockout artist. And with short time remaining in round one, “The Nightmare” shut Magny’s lights out and faceplanted him with a glancing left hand.

    Prates Showered With Praise After Magny KO In UFC Vegas 100 Main Event

    Unsurprisingly, the MMA community was abuzz in the aftermath of the Brazilian’s latest display of violence. Both fellow fighters and fans took to social media to express shock and awe.

    The common theme? “Legit.”

    With the result, “The Nightmare’s” winning run now stands at 11 straight fights spanning seven years. He’s expected to inherit Magny’s #15 spot inside the welterweight rankings come next week’s update.

    “The Haitian Sensation,” meanwhile, has now lost consecutive bouts for the first time since 2013. While his year opened in style when he stalled the surge of Canada’s Mike Malott, he’s now dropped back-to-back outings against two highly regarded names in Michael Morales and Prates.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Carlos Prates KOs Neil Magny

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Carlos Prates KOs Neil Magny

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, welterweights Neil Magny and Carlos Prates clashed. While in the co-main event, Gerald Meerschaert faced Reinier de Ridder in a middleweight matchup. 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC Fight Night results and highlights as they happen below! 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Welterweight Main Event: Carlos Prates def. Neil Magny via KO: R1, 4.50
    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert via submission: R3, 1.44
    • Bantamweight: Gaston Bolaños def. Cortavious Romious via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)   
    • Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson def. Luana Pinheiro via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28×2)  
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Duško Todorović via TKO: R1, 2.44

    Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Strawweight: Denise Gomes def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28) 
    • Welterweight: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Zachary Scroggin via TKO: R1, 1.15
    • Welterweight: Charles Radtke def. Matthew Semelsberger via TKO: R1, 0.51
    • Bantamweight: Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Stamann via submission: R1, 4.19
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore def. Antonio Trócoli via submission: R1, 1.23 
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula via TKO: R2, 1.20  

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula

    In this women’s bantamweight bout, Melissa Mullins got it done with a Klaudia Sygula

    Tresean Gore def. Antonio Trócoli

    Tresean Gore earned a first-round submission of Antonio Trócoli in their middleweight contest.

    Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Stamann

    Da’Mon Blackshear locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win against Cody Stamann.

    Charles Radtke def. Matthew Semelsberger

    In this welterweight bout, Charles Radtke took just 51 seconds to TKO Matthew Semelsberger.

    Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Zachary Scroggin

    In this welterweight bout, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos earned a TKO of Zachary Scroggin in round one.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Duško Todorović

    In this middleweight bout, Mansur Abdul-Malik earned a first-round TKO against Duško Todorović.

    Gillian Robertson def. Luana Pinheiro

    Gillian Robertson earned a unanimous decision win against Luana Pinheiro.

    Gaston Bolaños def. Cortavious Romious

    In this bantamweight bout, Gaston Bolaños earned a unanimous decision win against Cortavious Romious.

    Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert

    In the co-main event, Reinier de Ridder submitted Gerald Meerschaert in the third round.

    Carlos Prates def. Neil Magny

    In the main event, Carlos Prates knocked out Neil Magny in the first round of their welterweight fight.

  • ‘How Bad Is ONE’s MMA Pool?’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews As Reinier de Ridder Wins UFC Vegas 100 Debut

    ‘How Bad Is ONE’s MMA Pool?’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews As Reinier de Ridder Wins UFC Vegas 100 Debut

    Reinier de Ridder got his UFC career off to a winning start at UFC Vegas 100, submitting Gerald Meerschaert in the co-main event.

    De Ridder, a former two-division kingpin under the ONE Championship banner, departed Asia’s leading martial arts promotion after being unseated by Anatoly Malykhin at both middleweight (205lbs) and light heavyweight (225lbs).

    Following a bounce-back win at UAE Warriors 51 this past July, the Dutchman put pen to paper on a deal with the UFC, vowing to make a splash and compete with the best in the 185-pound class.

    His path to doing so got underway Saturday night at the Apex, where de Ridder shared the cage with a former training partner of his and fellow submission specialist in Wisconsin’s Meerschaert.

    Things started off rocky for “The Dutch Knight,” who found himself getting hit by the UFC veteran throughout the first round. But de Ridder finished the frame in strong fashion, dropping “GM3” and threatening a finish before the buzzer.

    After a grueling second round, the Octagon newcomer looked to take advantage of his opponent’s apparent fatigue, which paved the way for him to establish control on the ground in the final stanza.

    It was there where he locked in an arm-triangle choke, extending his submission tally to 13 in the cage and forcing Meerschaert’s first tap since a defeat to Jack Hermansson way back in 2018.

    Fans React To de Ridder’s Successful UFC Debut

    While the former ONE double champ had his hand raised, his performance received mixed reviews from MMA peers and the fanbase on social media.

    Some were quick to write off de Ridder’s chances of adding UFC gold to his trophy cabinet, predicting that his striking deficiencies will be exposed by those occupying spots inside the middleweight top 15.

    Others, however, noted that de Ridder’s display at UFC Vegas 100 followed a similar trend to his previous performances on the other side of the world — which he was able to repeat all the way to multiple thrones.

    For Meerschaert, Saturday’s result snapped his two-fight winning run. The veteran had previously strung together consecutive submission triumphs over Bryan Barberena and Edmen Shahbazyan to reignite his ambitions of earning a number next to his name at 185 pounds.