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  • RIZIN Announces 2026 Japan Heavyweight Grand Prix With Ueda, Sudario, Edokpolo

    RIZIN Announces 2026 Japan Heavyweight Grand Prix With Ueda, Sudario, Edokpolo

    RIZIN has announced the 2026 Japan Heavyweight Grand Prix, an all-Japanese tournament set to run through the second half of the year. Three participants have been confirmed: Mikio Ueda, Tsuyoshi Sudario, and King Edokpolo, with a fourth entrant still to be named.

    The semifinals are scheduled for RIZIN 54 in August, with the two winners advancing to a final in November. From there, the tournament winner earns a shot at Alexander Soldatkin on New Year’s Eve with the inaugural RIZIN Heavyweight Championship on the line.

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXdh_Cejx12/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Edokpolo is the obvious wildcard entering the bracket. The unbeaten 6’8″ prospect has been training under Plinio Cruz, who also serves as the head coach of former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Still early in his MMA career, Edokpolo arrives in the tournament with significant physical tools and rapidly developing skills.

    Sudario, the former sumo wrestler who competed in the 2025 Grand Prix, gets another shot at a heavyweight title run. His twin brother Takakenshin will fight Ryo Sakai in a qualifying bout at RIZIN Landmark 14 in Sendai on June 6, setting up the possibility of both brothers competing in the same tournament down the line.

    Ueda rounds out the confirmed trio. He and Sudario have history inside the RIZIN ring, adding an existing rivalry thread to the bracket before it officially tips off.

    RIZIN Landmark 14 takes place June 6 in Sendai, with Takakenshin vs. Sakai kicking off the Grand Prix storyline.

  • Colby Covington Ousted From UFC Top 15 as New Blood Enters Welterweight Rankings

    Colby Covington Ousted From UFC Top 15 as New Blood Enters Welterweight Rankings

    Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings for the first time since 2017, with the latest edition of the promotion’s 170-pound rankings dropping him from the top 15 as Mike Malott and Yaroslav Amosov entered the picture.

    The removal ends a prolonged debate about Covington’s continued presence in the rankings despite sustained inactivity. UFC CEO Dana White had acknowledged in January that it was odd to have Covington ranked given that he had fought only once per year between 2020 and 2024. His most recent result was a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, and his last victory came against now-retired Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

    Covington dismissed the criticism when it first surfaced. “It really doesn’t matter what Dana White thinks of me. I’m a world champion. I’m Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. I’m America’s champion. I’m the king of Miami. You can never take those titles away from me. Take me out of those rankings, but whatever, I’m still the biggest draw at welterweight. It makes no difference what number is next to my name. I know what I’m capable of, and I know I’m still the best fighter and wrestler on planet Earth,” he told reporters in January.

    Despite his stated connection to the President, Covington did not land a spot on the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House on June 14, something he was reportedly disappointed about. No imminent plans for his return to the Octagon have been announced.

    Covington has remained active outside the UFC, competing in Real American Freestyle earlier this year and defeating Dillon Danis by technical fall. He is expected to headline RAF 09 on May 30 in Dallas.

  • Jose Aldo Says His Relationship With Conor McGregor Has Completely Changed

    Jose Aldo Says His Relationship With Conor McGregor Has Completely Changed

    Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor were once bitter rivals, but the former featherweight champion says their relationship has been completely transformed and the two now exchange messages and share genuine goodwill.

    Speaking to Jackpot City Casino, Aldo explained how things have changed in the years since their 13-second UFC featherweight title fight at UFC 194 in December 2015, a bout that ended Aldo’s historic championship reign and one that Aldo has spoken openly about as a moment where his hatred for McGregor cost him.

    “What is my relationship with Conor like now? It’s very good,” Aldo said. “Not just with Conor, but with all my opponents, I’ve always had respect and a certain fondness for everyone. We exchange messages now and then. Recently I told him I was very happy he accepted Jesus as his saviour. I congratulated him and all that.”

    McGregor has been open in recent months about a significant personal and spiritual transformation, discussing his faith publicly following trauma treatment. Aldo’s acknowledgment of that journey reflects a warmth toward his former rival that would have seemed unthinkable during the intensity of their 2015 lead-up.

    “Brazilian fans feel strongly because of how our fight went and everything that happened. But I have a good relationship with him and I always wish him the best. I hope he continues on the right path and does great things in life,” Aldo continued.

    On the subject of McGregor’s expected return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, Aldo offered his view on why the matchup makes sense.

    “If it happened now, I think it would be a great fight for both Conor and Holloway. Both are stand-up fighters, similar in age, it’s a great matchup and a great comeback opportunity for Conor.”

    Aldo himself is expected to fight on the same UFC 329 card after being passed over for a spot on the UFC White House event.

  • Ilia Topuria Says He Would Fight Arman Tsarukyan If This Happens

    Ilia Topuria Says He Would Fight Arman Tsarukyan If This Happens

    Ilia Topuria has reversed course on his previous reluctance to fight Arman Tsarukyan, confirming he would have no issue accepting the matchup if Justin Gaethje were to withdraw from their UFC White House title fight on June 14.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Topuria made his position on opponent flexibility clear. “If they call me tomorrow and they tell me Justin is injured and I have to fight Arman, I will fight Arman, no problem. If they call me and they tell me that Arman is injured and I have to fight Ariel, I’m gonna fight Ariel, no problem. I go whoever, whenever, I’m ready.”

    Tsarukyan had been vocal about wanting to serve as backup fighter for the White House card and has advised Gaethje to pull out so he could take the spot.

    Despite the softer tone on accepting the fight, Topuria made equally clear that his opinion of Tsarukyan as a fighter has not changed.

    “He’s a kid. His mentality, he’s dumb as f—. Everything that I saw about him on the internet, it’s embarrassing. F— Arman, who cares about him. He’s not on my level. If we cross paths, I’m gonna break his jaw in the first round.”

    Topuria defends the lightweight championship against Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in Washington D.C.

  • UFC Vegas 118 Full Card Revealed With Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim Headlining

    UFC Vegas 118 Full Card Revealed With Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim Headlining

    The UFC has revealed the full card for UFC Vegas 118 on June 6 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, with former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad headlining against rising contender Gabriel Bonfim.

    Muhammad enters the fight on a two-fight losing streak following a decision loss to Ian Machado Garry in November. Bonfim, meanwhile, has won four consecutive fights, including a stoppage of Randy Brown at UFC Vegas 111 in the same month.

    The co-main event features a middleweight matchup between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan. Bryce Mitchell takes on Victor Henry in a bantamweight featured bout, while ranked lightweight Fares Ziam faces Contender Series product Tom Nolan. Ranked flyweight Bruno Silva faces Edgar Chairez, and Jordan Leavitt meets Joanderson Brito in a lightweight contest.

    The event serves as the final card before UFC Freedom 250 at the White House the following week on June 14.

    The full card is as follows: Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim, Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan, Bryce Mitchell vs. Victor Henry, Fares Ziam vs. Tom Nolan, Iwo Baraniewski vs. Billy Elekana, Imanol Rodriguez vs. Matt Schnell, Marcus McGhee vs. Jakub Wiklacz, Bruno Silva vs. Edgar Chairez, Jordan Leavitt vs. Joanderson Brito, Ketlen Souza vs. Ariane Carnelossi, Priscila Cachoeira vs. Chelsea Chandler, and Jeisla Chavez vs. Yuneisy Duben.

  • UFC Analyst Says Alex Pereira Becomes GOAT With Win at White House

    UFC Analyst Says Alex Pereira Becomes GOAT With Win at White House

    Alex Pereira is one win away from cementing what UFC analyst Michael Chiesa believes would be an undeniable case as the greatest fighter in the promotion’s history.

    Chiesa, a recently retired welterweight veteran who now serves as a desk analyst for the UFC, made his position clear when discussing Pereira’s upcoming interim heavyweight championship fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House.

    “If he beats Ciryl Gane, without a doubt he’s No. 1,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie. “You could make the argument if Alex Pereira — I don’t care if you want to split hairs over the undisputed championship or the interim championship, if you want to split hairs on that, that’s on you.

    But if someone can capture three UFC belts in three different weight classes, you have thrust yourself into the conversation as greatest of all-time. Not of the decade, we’re talking all-time. He’s one win away from going to the top of an ultra-prestigious, very controversial list.”

    Pereira has already won titles at middleweight and light heavyweight, making a victory over Gane historically unprecedented. No fighter in UFC history has captured championship gold in three separate divisions, and doing so at 38 years old would add another dimension to the achievement.

    Chiesa emphasized that Pereira’s legacy is not contingent on the Gane result, pointing to the frequency and manner of his finishes as qualities that stand regardless of what comes next.

    “The frequency of the fights and the way that he finishes his fights, he is must-see TV,” Chiesa said. “Alex, whether he beats Ciryl Gane or not, whether he wins his next three or loses his next three, one thing is for sure, we have to appreciate what he’s done and appreciate him while we have him, because we will never see another fighter like Alex Pereira.”

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 at the White House in Washington D.C.

  • “Bad Move” – Darren Till Warns Tom Aspinall Over Eddie Hearn Deal

    “Bad Move” – Darren Till Warns Tom Aspinall Over Eddie Hearn Deal

    Eddie Hearn and Tom Aspinall

    Darren Till has a warning for his close friend Tom Aspinall about the management deal that has put the UFC heavyweight champion on Dana White’s bad side.

    Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Till spoke candidly about Aspinall’s decision to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency last month. The two Liverpudlians have known each other for years, and Till said he would give Aspinall the same honest take in private that he was giving on camera.

    “If Tom was sat here with me now, me and Tom have had deep, deep convos all our life, if Tom was to say, ‘What do you think?’ I’d go, ‘I think it was a bad move, Tom, because it’s just going to put you in bad stead with the UFC,’” Till said. “Dana is going to get a mini cob on. They’re probably going to do little things just to [undermine you]. That’s how I see it. And I’m always going to speak.”

    Till Believes Aspinall Got Paid, But At a Cost

    Till stressed that Aspinall is not being played by anyone and likely extracted real value from the deal. The concern is what happens inside the UFC now that the champion has a powerful outside representative pushing his interests.

    “Tom’s not stupid. He hasn’t been used as a pawn because he’ll be doing what’s best for him moneywise as well,” Till said. “He’s got a family there. Tom will be getting the most out of it moneywise. But signing with Eddie might have been a bit… I think it’s going to put him in bad stead with the UFC.”

    The warning lines up with what has already happened. Aspinall received a text from White at 6pm on the day of UFC London in March asking if he wanted to attend, despite living five hours away. The heavyweight champion has also been passed over in promotion while Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira fight for an interim title on June 14.

    The MMA-Boxing Trap

    Till also pushed back on the idea that MMA fighters can cross into boxing with minimal adjustment, a topic that has followed Aspinall since the Matchroom signing raised questions about a potential boxing move.

    “All of us are MMA fighters. If we switch over, we like to go, ‘Well, I’ve done boxing.’ No, you haven’t. You’ve done boxing for MMA. What does that mean? You’ve been in a wide stance. You don’t throw close-quarter shots. Only two guys, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, really use boxing for MMA. But MMA and boxing are two completely different things,” Till said.

    Aspinall is still not cleared for contact training following double eye surgery after the Gane fight at UFC 321 last October. Till has been through his own UFC-to-boxing pivot and is now moving on to BKFC, with his bare-knuckle debut set for May 30.

  • Darren Till Rips Dana White’s Ego: UFC Cards Are a “Can of Piss”

    Darren Till Rips Dana White’s Ego: UFC Cards Are a “Can of Piss”

    Dana White press Conference

    Darren Till does not watch the UFC anymore, and he wants Dana White to know exactly what he thinks of how the promotion is being run.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, the former UFC welterweight title challenger launched into an extended critique of White’s handling of the promotion, the state of the UFC product, and the culture of media scrums where he believes reporters are too afraid to ask real questions.

    “I do like Dana, but I just think Dana’s ego is getting a little bit too much out of control,” Till said. “I don’t even watch the UFC anymore. I couldn’t tell you half the people who fight on it. The events just aren’t juicy anymore. I think they’ve got very few stars left.”

    “Who Gives a Sh*t? I Give a Sh*t”

    Till saved his sharpest criticism for White’s habit of dismissing fan and media questions with the phrase “who gives a sh*t,” a line the UFC boss has used repeatedly in post-event scrums over the past year.

    “Every time Dana is in a scrum, it’s like these reporters are scared to say the real thing. And when they do ask questions, Dana’s all sort of like, ‘Who gives a sh*t?’” Till said. “We give a sh*t. I give a sh*t. So give us a sh*t answer, baldy. Take your ego away. I’m sorry to slag, I’ll go on one now, but I give a sh*t. What do you mean ‘who gives a sh*t?’ We give a sh*t. So give us some sh*t answers. What are you on about?”

    The frustration connects to a broader point Till made about how UFC cards used to feel. He pointed to co-main events like Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald and Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo as examples of fights that carried genuine weight, contrasting them with what he sees on cards now.

    “The fights back then just had a different thing to them,” Till said. “I just look at the card now and I just think, a load of can of piss.”

    Till Says Arman Tsarukyan Is Being Buried

    The Liverpudlian also called out what he views as selective treatment of the promotion’s current stars, pointing specifically to Arman Tsarukyan as a fighter the UFC should be building into a headliner.

    “Why is Arman Tsarukyan not getting the love he deserves? See what he’s doing? They’re mad at him because he gets crazy. He’s headbutting people, hitting fans on the way out. But he’s box office,” Till said. “I must have just passed my mind, Jon Jones has done all madness, Conor has done all madness, why [the different treatment]? Maybe they’ve got a personal vendetta.”

    Till is set to make his BKFC debut at BKFC 90 in Birmingham on May 30, fighting Aaron Chalmers. It is a long way from Madison Square Garden, but for Till, it beats watching a UFC card he no longer recognizes.

  • Aaron Pico Admits His UFC Debut Approach Was ‘Just Unnecessary’ and Explains What Changed Against Pitbull

    Aaron Pico Admits His UFC Debut Approach Was ‘Just Unnecessary’ and Explains What Changed Against Pitbull

    Aaron Pico felt the weight of his entire UFC future riding on his performance against Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327, and he was not keeping that pressure to himself.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting, Pico was candid about the mental reality of walking into only his second UFC fight already feeling like a must-win situation after a brutal knockout loss in his debut against Lerone Murphy, who ended the fight with a spinning back elbow just over three minutes in.

    “For sure, it was a must win. My job was on the line. That’s the way I felt,” Pico said. “It’s a scary thought knowing that hey, if you drop this match, you may be cut. You never know. That was never said to me, so I was just speculating. Maybe I didn’t need to do that, but yeah, I needed to win. That’s just bottom line.”

    He pointed to the cautionary example of Patchy Mix, a fellow Bellator veteran who joined the UFC with significant fanfare and was released after going 0-2. Pico recognized that hype has no protective value in a results-driven organization.

    “Nobody is special. You can be cut at any time. I don’t take it for granted. I don’t feel special in any way.”

    Pico also identified what went wrong in the Murphy fight and what he changed against Pitbull. He described his debut approach as unnecessarily reckless, acknowledging that his aggressive style looked dominant right up until it got him knocked out.

    “The first two minutes was crazy. If I would have just taken a step back, used my footwork, took him down again, held him down, eventually he would have gone out. But everything happens for a reason. I had to really assess my game.”

    Against Pitbull, Pico was more patient and tactically disciplined while still delivering the entertainment he is known for. The result was a shutout victory and his first top 15 ranking from the UFC.

    He also described a mental reset he gave himself walking into the arena for the Pitbull fight, drawing on the Murphy experience as a reference point rather than a source of fear.

    “The worst thing has happened to me in the UFC. I was on one of the biggest cards of the year, got knocked out in front of probably millions of people watching. So next time, when you step into that cage in a few hours, just let it flow. Exactly how you sparred, do it in the cage and enjoy it.”

  • Gilbert Burns On MMA Retirement With No Regrets: ‘I Gave Everything to the Sport’

    Gilbert Burns On MMA Retirement With No Regrets: ‘I Gave Everything to the Sport’

    Gilbert Burns left his gloves in the Octagon after his TKO loss to Mike Malott at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday, ending a 14-year MMA career with no regrets and a quiet sense of peace about everything he gave the sport.

    The retirement was kept completely private before the fight. No one outside Burns’ inner circle knew he was considering stepping away, making the post-fight moment all the more emotional when it unfolded in front of the Winnipeg crowd.

    Burns explained that the decision came from a place of honesty with himself in the moment, the fight was not going the way he planned.

    “I gave everything to the sport,” Burns told MMA Junkie. “When I wasn’t able to execute the game plan, when I felt he’s a little faster, stronger, a little bit this and that, then I was kind of like, ‘OK, if I cannot beat Mike Malott.’ Nothing against him. He’s a real contender. He’s a good fighter, but I don’t think he’s the top of the division like the other guys were. I said, ‘I will be honest. If I cannot beat him, that’s it.’”

    He had gone into the fight with a clear fork in the road mapped out. A win over Malott would have led to a callout of Colby Covington and a push for a fight during International Fight Week. A loss meant retirement.

    On the question of regrets, Burns was equally clear. “No regrets. I think I learned so much through the losses through the career. I don’t think I would change much. It was a great learning experience, growing experience. It was a good journey.”

    He also reflected on what his career means as a lesson for his children, saying the message he wants them to take is about the value of full commitment to a goal regardless of the outcome.

    “They see the sacrifice, they see me training every day. Sometimes the results don’t come my way. And then I say, ‘But you guys saw the journey, right?’ I didn’t leave any stone unturned. I did everything. But sometimes the result is not going to come. It’s just life.”

    Burns finishes his career with a record of 22-10 in MMA and 15-10 inside the UFC, including a world title challenge against Kamaru Usman and victories over some of the most recognizable names in the welterweight division’s history.

  • Tai Tuivasa’s UFC Future in Doubt as Perth Opponent Injury Setback Complicates His Return

    Tai Tuivasa’s UFC Future in Doubt as Perth Opponent Injury Setback Complicates His Return

    Tai Tuivasa is without an opponent for UFC Perth after Sean Sharaf withdrew from their scheduled May 2 bout due to a broken nose suffered in training.

    Sharaf announced the withdrawal on Instagram. “Sorry guys, I fractured my nose and won’t be able to fight May 2nd. Going to get it fixed look forward to getting back in there soon,” he wrote.

    The UFC is actively working to find a replacement opponent for Tuivasa, a task that may be easier than usual given the fight is at heavyweight and weight cuts are typically not a significant factor for finding late replacements at that division.

    The timing is difficult for Tuivasa, who is currently on a six-fight losing streak and widely regarded as being on the edge of a UFC release. He already holds the UFC record for the longest losing streak in heavyweight history, and a loss in Perth would extend that run to seven consecutive defeats.

    Tuivasa had been hoping to turn things around in front of a home crowd, having last competed in Perth at UFC 305 in 2024 when he lost to Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

    Sharaf, for his part, had also lost his first two UFC outings, making the matchup between two fighters in search of a win a natural booking.

    Whether a replacement opponent is found or not, the Perth bout could represent Tuivasa’s last appearance in the promotion if the losing run continues. The UFC has not yet announced a new opponent for the 33-year-old.

  • Darren Till Gets Honest on Why He’s Not Going Back to MMA and Fires Shots at Dana White

    Darren Till Gets Honest on Why He’s Not Going Back to MMA and Fires Shots at Dana White

    Darren Till has admitted that a return to MMA is unlikely and followed the honest assessment with a pointed attack on Dana White and the current state of the UFC.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of his upcoming BKFC debut, Till explained that the physical requirements of an MMA comeback, specifically the knee surgery he would need before he could train properly, make the timeline essentially impossible given where he is now in his career.

    “My body’s probably past that now, Ariel,” Till said. “The only way I could come back to MMA, if I think decisively, is at the end of this year, take a full year off to get the surgery on the knee and then take myself off to either Brazil, Russia, somewhere like that again for a year. Don’t think of anything but just do what I did when I first went to Brazil and grapple, grapple, grapple. Come back and yeah, but I’d be probably 35 by then, would it be too late? I don’t know. The sport’s always evolving.”

    Till had previously been cleared to box without the knee surgery, making BKFC and boxing viable options without the full recovery period that MMA would require. He noted that the surgery he would need is similar to the procedure that former teammate Tom Aspinall underwent to continue his career.

    He also used the conversation to address why the UFC no longer interests him the way it once did, delivering a direct critique of the promotion and its leadership. “The UFC has gone to sh—t a bit. I’m not happy with it. There’s just nothing there,” Till said, arguing that White is no longer as invested in the product as he once was and that the passion behind the promotion has faded.

    Till has not competed in MMA since his loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 282 in 2022, after which he requested and received his release to pursue other options.

  • UFC Releases Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate and Bantamweight Veteran

    UFC Releases Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate and Bantamweight Veteran

    Two fighters have departed the UFC roster, with Paddy Pimblett’s teammate Shem Rock and longtime bantamweight Pedro Munhoz both leaving the promotion under different circumstances.

    Rock’s exit comes as little surprise following a turbulent run that began with a debut loss to Nurullo Aliev last November and was compounded by a post-fight altercation at UFC London, where he clashed with Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady at the weigh-ins before going on to lose their bout.

    The combination of consecutive losses and the London controversy effectively sealed his fate, and the UFC’s roster tracker has since confirmed he is no longer signed to the promotion.

    Munhoz’s departure is an entirely different story. The Brazilian veteran debuted in the UFC in 2014 and went on to make 22 appearances in the bantamweight division, building one of the more decorated careers at 135 pounds.

    He headlined a Fight Night card against Frankie Edgar in 2020 and earned seven post-fight bonuses throughout his tenure, a total that reflects how consistently he delivered exciting performances across more than a decade at the highest level of the sport. He holds the second-most bouts in the history of the UFC’s bantamweight division.

    Munhoz requested his own release earlier this month after three consecutive losses, choosing to pursue other options following his lengthy run with the promotion. He is 39 years old.

  • Chris Weidman Sends Warning to Conor McGregor Ahead of Potential UFC Return

    Chris Weidman Sends Warning to Conor McGregor Ahead of Potential UFC Return

    Chris Weidman has a unique perspective on what Conor McGregor might face when he finally returns to the UFC, and it comes from deeply personal experience.

    Weidman suffered a broken leg against Uriah Hall in April 2021, just a few months before McGregor shattered his own leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 that July. The nature of both injuries gives Weidman credibility that few others have when speaking about what the comeback trail actually looks like after that kind of trauma.

    Speaking on UFC on Paramount’s YouTube channel, Weidman expressed confidence that McGregor will return, pointing to his presence in the drug-testing pool as a practical indicator. “He’s in the drug-testing pool. For you to come off of stuff, get back in that drug-testing pool, you’d better fight. Otherwise, you’re just going to feel worse than you used to feel for no reason. So, I think he fights, for sure.”

    But he also delivered a warning about what McGregor should expect when the moment arrives. “That was in 2021. He’s had enough time to recover, but I will say, your first time coming back — because I went through a very similar injury — it is hard to be the person you were beforehand, for sure.”

    Weidman recalled a specific moment from his own return that illustrated the psychological dimension of recovering from a leg fracture, describing an instinctive reaction that his body simply would not allow him to execute.

    “I remember in training camp, I was throwing kicks like crazy to try to get used to throwing kicks again. And I was fine in training, but when I got into the actual first fight since that leg injury, I was getting kicked, and as soon as I went to throw my kick back, I just couldn’t do it. My body wouldn’t let me do it. It’s just crazy when you go through a traumatic injury like that, how it can affect your head.”

    Ultimately, Weidman framed McGregor’s comeback as a mental challenge as much as a physical one, while expressing hope that the time away has given McGregor what he needs to succeed. “Listen, Conor’s really good. It’s all about his head; where’s his head at? It seems like, from the outside looking in, now he’s more in touch with his faith, and it seems like he’s getting life in order. That’s the type of thing I feel like he needed.”

    UFC CEO Dana White said over the weekend that McGregor’s return is looking good, with UFC 329 on July 11 the most frequently rumored destination for his comeback.

  • Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown believes Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano will draw massive numbers on Netflix and leave the audience feeling like they wasted their time, and he has a blunt explanation for why.

    Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown drew a direct comparison between the May 16 fight and the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, framing both as spectacles that generate interest without delivering the quality of competition that genuine fight fans want.

    “It will do big numbers but who is actually going to care?” Brown said. “How many times are going to walk away from a fight and kind of feel icky and wish that we didn’t watch it? I think we’re going to feel the same thing with this fight. Feel like we wasted our time. Maybe not feel icky but we’re going to feel like we wasted our time.”

    He also argued that fights like this one ultimately drive audiences toward the UFC rather than away from it. “People are going to become fight fans and they’re like, ‘I’m sick of this shit, can I just watch a real fight?’ Oh yeah, we have a place that does that. It has all the best fights in the world.”

    Brown was equally direct about Rousey’s ongoing attacks on the UFC and her comments about bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, dismissing both as noise that nobody is taking seriously. “She seems like so angry about nothing sometimes. I don’t think anyone’s buying the schtick. Nobody believes that she’s going to do anything with Kayla Harrison.”

    On Carano’s motivations for returning after 17 years away from competition, Brown said the answer is straightforward. “She hasn’t fought in 17 years. Clearly she was done fighting and had no intention to fight again and then she gets a call and they offer her enough money where she’s like, ‘OK, well, I’ll do that.’ It’s hard to believe it’s anything other than a paycheck.”

    He closed with a question about whether anything either fighter could do in the remaining weeks before the fight would generate genuine excitement for the actual bout.

    “Even if they were at each other’s throats and throwing chairs at the press conference, you’d still be like, ‘you two aren’t really going to give us that great of a fight.’ There’s nothing exciting about this.”

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Ilia Topuria Declares Paddy Pimblett Fight ‘Basically Impossible’ After UFC 324 Loss

    Ilia Topuria Declares Paddy Pimblett Fight ‘Basically Impossible’ After UFC 324 Loss

    Ilia Topuria has delivered a withering assessment of Paddy Pimblett following the Liverpudlian’s loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, and he believes their long-running feud will never result in an actual fight.

    Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Topuria held nothing back when the subject of Pimblett came up, going beyond the usual competitive trash talk to question whether Pimblett has the fundamental skills to ever compete at the level required to reach him.

    “I was a little surprised of how bad Paddy really is,” Topuria said. “I was expecting him to win, be honest. I was expecting him to take Justin down, to, I don’t know, do a different fight. Like to really fight. But what he did inside the Octagon in that fight, it surprised me a little bit. He really proved that he’s a little sausage.”

    When Helwani asked how Pimblett might rebound from the defeat, Topuria dismissed the premise entirely. “Rebound from what? From a loss? Of course, but how he’s going to gain the skills, the technique in the sport? Like, that’s basically impossible. He needs to die and be born again. Now he’s too far from the top fighters in the division. We don’t see Paddy in the horizon. We don’t see him anymore. Bye, Paddy. I didn’t even have to go inside the Octagon to beat him. So that feels even a little bit better, to be honest.”

    Topuria is preparing for his next appearance in the main event of the UFC White House event on June 14, where he will unify the lightweight division against Gaethje. A victory over Pimblett would have set up one of MMA’s most anticipated rivalries at the top of the division, but Topuria’s comments suggest he believes that ship has now sailed.

  • Jiri Prochazka: I Was 40-50% After Ulberg’s UFC 327 Knee Injury

    Jiri Prochazka: I Was 40-50% After Ulberg’s UFC 327 Knee Injury

    Jiri Prochazka has put a number on how much his performance slipped the moment Carlos Ulberg blew out his knee at UFC 327.

    The former UFC light heavyweight champion was on the verge of reclaiming the vacant title in Miami on April 11 before Ulberg, fighting on one leg, flattened him with a left hook and finishing ground shots at 3:45 of the opening round. In his latest comments, Prochazka says mercy took over the instant he realized his opponent was hurt.

    “From the moment the injury happened to Ulberg, I wasn’t at 100 percent anymore,” Prochazka said. “I was at maybe 40-50% of my performance, and I was just sparring and waiting for the referee to stop the fight at any moment. It was a big mistake, maybe one of my biggest.”

    Prochazka Targets Return to Title Talks

    The admission lines up with what fans saw in real time. After battering Ulberg’s lead leg with low kicks and watching the New Zealander stumble around the cage, Prochazka visibly pulled back on his offense rather than press the finish. Ulberg steadied himself against the fence, timed a counter left hook, and swarmed for the knockout.

    The loss drops Prochazka to three straight defeats in UFC title fights. He previously lost back-to-back championship bouts to Alex Pereira before this vacant-title setback against Ulberg.

    Despite the skid, Prochazka says he is already eyeing his next move. He told reporters he expects to be back in negotiations for his next fight within a month, with Ulberg facing a potentially lengthy recovery from the blown-out knee that nearly cost him the belt.

  • UFC Returns to Baku Through 2028 in Multi-Year Azerbaijan Deal

    UFC Returns to Baku Through 2028 in Multi-Year Azerbaijan Deal

    UFC is coming back to Azerbaijan, and this time it’s staying a while.

    The promotion announced Tuesday a multi-year partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Baku City Circuit Operations Company that will bring a UFC Fight Night to Baku every year through 2028.

    The deal kicks off with UFC Fight Night Baku on Saturday, June 27 at the National Gymnastics Arena.

    A Venue Change From the 2025 Debut

    The new agreement moves the event out of Baku Crystal Hall, which hosted UFC’s Azerbaijan debut last June. That card, headlined by Khalil Rountree Jr. defeating Jamahal Hill, drew what UFC describes as more than 14,000 fans and sold out. The success of that night is what pushed both sides to commit to a longer run.

    Dana White Comments

    UFC President and CEO Dana White met with Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov in Las Vegas to finalize the deal.

    “Baku is one of the best cities in the world to visit,” White said in a statement. “It’s beautiful and home to some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet. I was completely blown away when I visited last year. The hospitality was next level, and the fans were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the sport.”

    Azerbaijan’s Sports Strategy Gets a Long-Term Anchor

    For Azerbaijan, the deal slots UFC into a calendar that already includes Formula 1 and hosted the inaugural European Games. Gayibov framed the partnership as a platform for local fighters to compete in front of home crowds through 2028.

    “Securing a multi-year partnership with UFC marks a significant milestone in Azerbaijan’s strategy to solidify its status as a premier global sports destination,” Gayibov said. “Our national fighters gain a prestigious platform to showcase their prowess on the international stage, competing before a passionate home crowd.”

    Baku City Circuit General Director Maqsud Farzullayev said demand for the 2026 return has already outpaced last year’s debut.

    “Following the incredible sold-out reception of last year’s UFC debut, we are thrilled to extend our partnership and bring Fight Nights back to Baku,” Farzullayev said. “This year, we are witnessing exceptionally strong regional demand, with a notable increase in inbound visitors.”

    June 27 Card Takes Shape

    UFC Fight Night Baku is currently expected to be headlined by a middleweight bout between Abusupiyan Magomedov and Michał Oleksiejczuk, with Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira booked in a co-main event slot. The card is already eight fights deep on paper.

    Fans can register for early ticket access at UFC.com/Baku.

  • Dana White Debunks Title Eliminator Label For UFC White House Fight

    Dana White Debunks Title Eliminator Label For UFC White House Fight

    Dana White has pushed back on the idea that Sean O’Malley’s UFC White House fight against Aiemann Zahabi carries a guaranteed title shot for the winner.

    Zahabi made headlines when he described the June 14 matchup as a title eliminator, claiming the UFC had confirmed as much ahead of the event. White dismissed that framing at his post-fight press conference following UFC Winnipeg on April 18.

    “These guys are put in these positions with great opportunities. Let’s see what the fight looks like,” White said. “Let’s see how they perform. Just to throw out there, ‘Whoever wins is gonna get it,’ that’s not really what happens here. Perform, let’s see how you look, and then we’ll make that decision.”

    The bantamweight title picture is complicated heading into the summer. Merab Dvalishvili has claimed the UFC assured him his next fight will be a trilogy with Petr Yan, who ended Dvalishvili’s championship reign in December 2025. Umar Nurmagomedov is also positioning himself as a contender, having defeated Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo in his recent run.

    O’Malley last held the bantamweight championship before losing it to Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306 in September 2024. A win over Zahabi at the White House would rebuild momentum, but White’s comments make clear the path back to the title is not as direct as Zahabi suggested.

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 on the White House lawn in Washington D.C.

  • UFC Breaking Its Own Rule at White House Event as Dana White Makes Announcement

    UFC Breaking Its Own Rule at White House Event as Dana White Makes Announcement

    Dana White has revealed that the UFC White House event on June 14 will feature something the promotion has not done in over two decades: a live performance of the National Anthem.

    Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, White confirmed that country music star Zac Brown will perform the anthem at the historic event on the South Lawn of the White House. It marks the first time the UFC has included a National Anthem performance since UFC 33, which aired in the double-digit numbered events era.

    White was candid about why he normally avoids the tradition entirely, and why this occasion warrants an exception.

    “We don’t do the National Anthem. So one of the things that drives me crazy about boxing is they have to sing two National Anthems and all the stuff before the fight starts. We’re an international business, we have people from everywhere.

    We could end up singing two National Anthems that are not even from this country and the whole world is watching us, we’re in over a billion homes worldwide, so I don’t do it,” White said. “This will be the first time in a very long time since UFC double digits that we’ve done the National Anthem.”

    The UFC White House event is headlined by Ilia Topuria defending the lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane fighting for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event. White had previously indicated that fighters would walk out from the Oval Office, though it is now expected that only the main event fighters will make that walk.

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C.

  • UFC’s Chief Content Officer Defends AI Use Despite Backlash

    UFC’s Chief Content Officer Defends AI Use Despite Backlash

    The UFC is not backing down from its use of artificial intelligence in content creation despite ongoing fan backlash, and the promotion’s Chief Content Officer has made the company’s position clear.

    Craig Borsari addressed the controversy in an interview with the New York Post, framing AI not as a replacement for creative work but as a tool that amplifies what the team is already doing.

    “The way we look at AI is not a substitute for content creation, but rather a way to amplify it. So if there are things that we can do utilizing AI, it’s no different than maybe using a green screen. I mean, it’s a technique and technology that is evolving at a credible rate, and I like to tell my team, ‘If we’re not pushing the envelope and looking for different ways to do things and storytelling, then we’re not doing our jobs. So the last thing I want my team to be is stagnant and play on our heels and play it safe,’” Borsari said.

    He was equally direct about the promotion’s intentions going forward.

    “We will continue to look for ways to not only use AI, but other technological advances and push the envelope in the way we present our product — both on the original production side, as well as the live event side. We’re still relatively in the early stages of AI, and the way we will work with AI isn’t just to put in some prompts and take whatever product is spit out and move on. Our editors, our producers, we’re going through color-correction, they’re using it as a tool to create content.”

    UFC CEO Dana White had previously addressed the fan backlash following the promotion’s AI usage after UFC Seattle with considerably less diplomacy.

    “AI is coming, and if we’re using AI, who gives a shit? How about this: Shut the f**k up and watch the fights,” White said at the time.

    Borsari also noted the UFC is exploring advances beyond AI, including new audio technology, as part of a broader push to stay at the forefront of sports media production.

  • Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 329 Opponent May Have Just Outed Himself

    Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 329 Opponent May Have Just Outed Himself

    Paddy Pimblett may have had his UFC 329 opponent revealed for him, and the hint came in the form of a menu.

    Pimblett recently confirmed he has a fight booked for UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas but has not named his opponent. Benoit Saint-Denis has now appeared to answer that question himself through a cryptic AI-generated Instagram video.

    In the video, Saint-Denis is seen looking over a restaurant menu that lists his former opponents as different burgers. Mauricio Ruffy is described as Brazilian beef with salsa, Beneil Dariush is a beef that has never seen the light of day, and Dan Hooker is beef pounded thin. The next item on the menu is listed as Le Rosbeef, which translates to roast beef, a dish closely associated with England.

    Pimblett is from Liverpool, England, and there are no other British fighters ranked in the UFC lightweight top ten. Fans have drawn the obvious conclusion that Saint-Denis is signaling their matchup without officially announcing it.

    Saint-Denis is currently ranked number five in the UFC lightweight division. Pimblett suffered his first UFC loss at UFC 324 in January, dropping a five-round decision to Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title fight. The return to action at UFC 329 would be his first fight since that defeat.

    UFC 329 is shaping up as a stacked card, with Conor McGregor’s comeback also strongly linked to the event. Dana White said negotiations with McGregor are “looking good” at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday. Daniel Rodriguez has also claimed he agreed to face Leon Edwards on the card, and heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson has been officially confirmed.

  • Paddy Pimblett Calls Dana White and Eddie Hearn Feud ‘Very Teenage Girlish’

    Paddy Pimblett Calls Dana White and Eddie Hearn Feud ‘Very Teenage Girlish’

    Paddy Pimblett has been watching the Dana White and Eddie Hearn feud unfold with amusement, and he has some pointed observations about what it says about both men.

    Pimblett was in attendance at Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing event in Liverpool to support close friend Molly McCann and found himself in the middle of the latest chapter of a promotional rivalry that has seen the two executives trade insults publicly, float the idea of fighting each other, and take shots at each other’s businesses across multiple platforms.

    His verdict on the behavior was delivered without much diplomacy.

    “It’s hilarious, but you know, first and foremost Dana’s an MMA promoter. First and foremost, Eddie’s a boxing promoter. They’re having a little bit of a mad spat at the minute. Without being disrespectful to either of them, it’s very teenage girlish, but they’ll get over it. They’re both going to end up being sweet, so we crack on for now,” Pimblett told iFL TV.

    When asked which way he would lean if the fight somehow materialized, Pimblett acknowledged the obvious size and reach advantage Hearn would hold while making his loyalty clear. “I’ve seen it all, it’s f—ing madness, isn’t it? I don’t know. It’s not going to happen. Dana’s not going to box Eddie, I think it’s a bit of a mad situation. Eddie’s got the reach on him, but Dana’s my boss, I’m backing Dana. Dana’s going to spark him out. At the same time, it’s not going to happen.”

    The sharpest part of Pimblett’s commentary came when he turned his attention to what the fight would actually pay out compared to what either man pays the athletes on their rosters.

    “The funniest thing is if they fought each other, they’d get paid well more than what the fighters getting paid,” Pimblett said. “Thirty mil each, no boxers getting that under Eddie Hearn and no UFC fighter’s getting that under Dana. They’d earn more dough than the fighters fighting, you know what I mean? That’s the funniest thing about it. And they’ve got nothing on any fighter they’ve got, but you know, that’s just the way the world works.”

    White was at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday and addressed Hearn’s ongoing fight tease by calling him “a f—ing bum” who “says a lot of dumb shit,” while also describing himself as “old.” Hearn had claimed at the Liverpool event that their bout would do over a million pay-per-view buys.

    The feud has its roots in real business competition. White signed Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing fighter Conor Benn for Zuffa Boxing, and Hearn responded by securing a management deal with UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall through Matchroom Talent Agency.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Lays Out Khamzat Chimaev’s Master Plan

    Arman Tsarukyan Lays Out Khamzat Chimaev’s Master Plan

    Arman Tsarukyan has laid out an ambitious blueprint for his close friend Khamzat Chimaev’s future, and it goes far beyond defending the UFC Middleweight Championship.

    In a video shared by journalist Adam Zubayraev, Tsarukyan outlined his vision for Chimaev’s career during a candid exchange between the two fighters. The plan starts with UFC domination and ends with a boxing crossover that pits Chimaev against both Jake Paul and Logan Paul, before eventually targeting Floyd Mayweather.

    “Now you need two or three belts,” Tsarukyan said in a translation posted by Red Corner MMA. “You take three belts, then we move to boxing.”

    Tsarukyan then spelled out the boxing targets he has in mind. “Jake Paul, Logan Paul. And then we will pull Floyd Mayweather out of the grave.”

    Winning three UFC titles simultaneously would be unprecedented in the promotion’s history, making Chimaev’s in-cage road alone a historically ambitious undertaking. Chimaev currently holds the UFC Middleweight Championship after his dominant performance over Dricus du Plessis in Chicago last August, with his first title defense scheduled against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

    Chimaev has existing connections to the Paul brothers, having trained with Logan Paul in Sweden before reaching UFC fame. Whether the boxing portion of Tsarukyan’s vision ever materializes is a long way off, but the conversation signals how broadly Chimaev’s team is thinking about his long-term trajectory.

    Mayweather, meanwhile, is due to return for a professionally sanctioned rematch with Manny Pacquiao this September at the Sphere in Las Vegas, though that bout has been thrown into doubt by ongoing disputes over whether it will be an exhibition or a sanctioned professional fight.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Backs Topuria Over Tsarukyan in Title Fight

    Merab Dvalishvili Backs Topuria Over Tsarukyan in Title Fight

    Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on the prospect of Arman Tsarukyan challenging Ilia Topuria, and his assessment is not in Tsarukyan’s favor.

    Speaking on Demetrious Johnson’s MIGHTYCast podcast, Dvalishvili offered a candid stylistic breakdown of why he believes Topuria would defeat Tsarukyan if the two were to meet for the lightweight title, despite his respect for the Armenian contender.

    “I respect Arman Tsarukyan. He is a great athlete, a great fighter. But I think since Ilia is the champion in this weight class, even if Arman fights Ilia, Ilia stylistically beats Arman,” Dvalishvili said. “You can’t take Ilia down; it doesn’t even make sense to wrestle with him. Then Arman has to box with Ilia, too, and Ilia will knock out Arman Tsarukyan. That is my honest answer.”

    Dvalishvili’s logic centers on Topuria’s wrestling defense being strong enough to neutralize Tsarukyan’s primary weapon, forcing a standup exchange that Dvalishvili believes Topuria would win by knockout.

    Tsarukyan has been vocal about his frustration with the title picture, accusing Topuria of avoiding him after Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje were selected for an interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324 in January instead. The Georgian-born Armenian contender has won five consecutive fights, including a victory over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, making him widely regarded as the most dangerous challenger in the division.

    Most fans are hoping to see Tsarukyan given the next shot at whoever wins the Topuria and Gaethje bout at the UFC White House card. Dvalishvili’s prediction suggests that shot, if it comes, would end in Tsarukyan’s defeat.

    On the bantamweight side, Dvalishvili is focused on his own title redemption. He is expecting an immediate trilogy fight with Petr Yan after the Russian ended his championship reign last December, with the UFC said to have assured him that bout is next.