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  • Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Having tasted defeat for the first time in the UFC, flyweight contender Amir Albazi has vowed to fix the holes in his game and bounce back stronger.

    After health issues kept him out of the cage for 17 months following a main event win over Kai Kara-France, Albazi finally had the opportunity to stake his claim for a title shot this past weekend in Edmonton.

    Instead of doing so, however, and nothing his biggest victory to date, his perfect UFC record was blemished courtesy of Brandon Moreno’s efforts.

    The Mexican snapped “The Prince’s” six-fight winning run in emphatic fashion to close out Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, beating the Iraqi up across five rounds to collect convincing nods on all three scorecards.

    A disappointed Albazi took to Instagram a day later to speak on the result, thanking his supporters and promising to display an improved version of himself next time out.

    “It wasn’t my night last night, but this is part of life. You win some, you lose some,” Albazi said. “All respect to Brandon Moreno, he was the better man. I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll be back on that horse and keep improving, keep getting better. You guys will see me soon. Thank you for the support.”

    “No excuses,” Albazi wrote in the caption. “You win some and lose some but i will be back better 👊🏽 i promise. Thanks for the support.”

    For Moreno, this past weekend’s main event marked a crucial rebound result. He previously lost two straight by split decision to Alexandre Pantoja — losing the flyweight gold in the process — and Brandon Royval.

    He’ll now look ahead to a potential title eliminator, as he seeks the chance to achieve three-time champ status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    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, October 28, and Sunday, November 3, a number of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

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

  • ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    Anyone who tried to write off Brandon Moreno was taught a lesson in Saturday night’s UFC Edmonton main event, where the former two-time flyweight champion put a beatdown on fellow top contender Amir Albazi.

    From the get go, Moreno looked to utilize his striking to the nth degree. And it was a strong start in the first round, as he landed notable combinations and used his right hand to put Albazi on the back foot, even causing a slip at one point. “The Prince” seemed to be too patient as the fight stretched into the second frame, which saw the Mexican continue to land, land, and land some more.

    Moreno’s pacing and accuracy continued to the point where Albazi’s coaches berated him at one point, stating that he was losing every single round with brutal honesty. However, the Iraqi had no answer in the championship rounds despite his best efforts.

    “The Assassin Baby” won on all three judges’ scorecards (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) in a masterclass domination.

    Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    https://twitter.com/MMAGamblingtips/status/1852915629235269778
    https://twitter.com/GuillotineGeeks/status/1852916926185410629

    Moreno vs. Albazi was originally scheduled to take place in February at UFC Mexico City, but a neck injury forced the Iraqi contender to withdraw. The home favorite ended up being defeated by Brandon Royval in the main event of that card.

    That result came in the Mexican’s first fight since dropping the UFC flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July 2023.

    Meanwhile, the Canada-held card this weekend was Albazi’s first loss in the Octagon and saw his six-fight win streak snapped. Albazi’s last loss prior to tonight came against Jose “Shorty” Torres in Brave CF back in April 2019.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi 

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi 

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, top-five flyweights Brandon Moreno (#2) and Amir Albazi (#3) clashed. While in the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield faced Rose Namajunas in a women’s flyweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45×2) 
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (48-47×3)
    • Light Heavyweight: Brendson Ribeiro def. Caio Machado via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Ariane da Silva via submission: R3, 2.28 
    • Middleweight: Dustin Stoltzfus def. Marc-André Barriault via KO: R1, 4.28
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott def. Trevin Giles via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2) 
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain def. Victor Henry via submission: R2, 3.43 
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal def. Jack Shore via submission: R2, 0.59  
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey def. Garrett Armfield via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Gibson def. Chad Anheliger via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Ivana Petrovic via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Youssef Zalal def. Jack Shore

    In this featherweight contest, Youssef Zalal got it done with an arm triangle submission of Jack Shore in the second round.

    Charles Jourdain def. Victor Henry

    Charles Jourdain locked in a guillotine to get the win against Victor Henry in their bantamweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mike Malott def. Trevin Giles

    In this welterweight bout, Mike Malott earned a unanimous decision against Trevin Giles.

    Dustin Stoltzfus def. Marc-André Barriault

    Dustin Stoltzfus got the win with a first-round KO of Marc-André Barriault.

    Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Ariane da Silva

    In this women’s flyweight matchup, Jasmine Jasudavicius submitted Ariane da Silva with a D’arce choke in round three.

    Brendson Ribeiro def. Caio Machado

    Brendson Ribeiro earned a split decision win against Caio Machado in their light heavyweight contest.

    Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas

    In the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield got it done on the scorecards to defeat Rose Namajunas in their flyweight bout.

    Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi

    In the main event, Brandon Moreno earned a unanimous decision against Amir Albazi.

  • ‘Imagine What Shevchenko Would Do’ – Fans React As Erin Blanchfield Outpoints Rose Namajunas At UFC Edmonton

    ‘Imagine What Shevchenko Would Do’ – Fans React As Erin Blanchfield Outpoints Rose Namajunas At UFC Edmonton

    Erin Blanchfield pulled off a reverse sweep and earned a win over another former UFC champion, defeating Rose Namajunas in the UFC Edmonton co-main event.

    Namajunas had early control of the fight, utilizing her striking over the course of the first two rounds. While Blanchfield had bright spots in the opening frame, “Thug Rose’s” striking was on complete display in the second, showing the crispness and accuracy that helped elevate her to two UFC strawweight championships previously.

    “Cold Blooded” entered tonight with the significant advantage in grappling, and that was on display in the third round. Blanchfield was able to get Namajunas to the ground and controlled the action, but the veteran wasn’t going down without a fight.

    Blanchfield was able to get her striking going in the fourth round, finding her range and landing her targets with a solid pace. Namajunas, however, battled back and used her pressure and accuracy for a strong final minute.

    The #3-ranked contender got the fight back down and controlled the action there in the final stanza, completing the 48-47 decision win on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Erin Blanchfield Pulls Off Reverse Sweep Over Rose Namajunas In UFC Edmonton Co-Main Event

    https://twitter.com/beachsand503/status/1852906606696276184

    With the result, Blanchfield rebounded from a loss to Manon Fiorot at UFC Atlantic City in March. Prior to that loss, she had been on a solid winning streak that stretched back to her days with Invicta FC. Her recent wins came against former title challenger Taila Santos and ex-strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade.

    Namajunas, meanwhile, is now 2-2 since moving up to flyweight after her second strawweight title reign came to an end. She lost to Fiorot last year in Paris but rebounded with wins over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez in 2024.

  • ‘Fought Like Strickland’ – Fans React As Mike Malott Bounces Back From Magny Loss In Lackluster UFC Edmonton Fight

    ‘Fought Like Strickland’ – Fans React As Mike Malott Bounces Back From Magny Loss In Lackluster UFC Edmonton Fight

    After his winning streak was snapped in his last outing, Mike Malott is now back in the green column after getting the better of Trevin Giles as part of the UFC Edmonton main card.

    The first round didn’t bring a lot of activity, with Malott controlling the action. The Canadian continued to control the action in the second, picking up his pacing toward the end. Giles, meanwhile, seemed to be unable or unwilling to pull the trigger.

    “Proper” had a notable kick-based attack in the third round, doing damage to Giles’ body and legs. The American, however, did land some significant shots that busted up Malott’s face some.

    Ultimately, the home favorite took a decision, sweeping the scorecards after three rounds of action that failed to impress the MMA masses.

    Mike Malott Rebounds With Decision Over Trevin Giles At UFC Edmonton

    https://twitter.com/StephBoyarthree/status/1852870454048096350?t=Ctktzb92AeQkD0I7sR4JPA&s=19
    https://twitter.com/WillNilgesMMA/status/1852872323784675736?t=MkNbmbTML6Ga6ie4To_88A&s=19

    After entering the UFC with a win over Shimon Smotritsky on Dana White’s Contender Series, Malott earned victories against Mickey Gall, Yohan Lainesse, and Adam Fugitt before a loss to Neil Magny at UFC 297.

    Giles, meanwhile, has now lost three straight fights.

  • VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    Youssef Zalal is definitely a name to look out for moving forward after he racked up a third straight finish courtesy of a submission during the UFC Edmonton preliminary card.

    The first round between Zalal and Welsh standout Jack Shore was close, with the latter having the better quality action. The Moroccan, however, had more control time that prevented Shore from mounting additional attacks.

    Things quickly came to an end early in the second round when Zalal landed a perfectly timed knee that dropped Shore. “The Moroccan Devil| followed his stricken opponent to the mat and delivered some strong ground-and-pound before locking up an arm-triangle choke that scored the tap.

    Youssef Zalal Earns Third Straight Submission With Victory Over Jack Shore At UFC Edmonton

    The result marked Zalal’s third straight submission, all coming this year, after he defeated Billy Quarantillo in March and Jarno Errens in August.

    Meanwhile, after starting his career 16-0, former bantamweight Shore has now lost three of his last four Octagon outings.

  • VIDEO: Highlights As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Beats Carlos Condit In Polaris Grappling Match

    VIDEO: Highlights As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Beats Carlos Condit In Polaris Grappling Match

    Michael “Venom” Page and Carlos Condit were back in action tonight, but it wasn’t in a cage that they competed in.

    The two faced off as the featured match at Polaris 30 in London, England with “MVP” coming out on top against the former interim UFC welterweight champion.

    After the Brit comically feinting a jab to start off the grappling match, the two felt each other out before Page stopped a Condit takedown attempt, ending up on top after the first minute.

    The currently ranked UFC welterweight contender looked to score a takedown of his own about a minute later, but both men went out of bounds.

    He did, however, score a highlight by getting behind Condit and landing a flashy takedown with just under six minutes left.

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scores Takedown, Defeats Carlos Condit At Polaris 30

    With less than four minutes to go, Condit looked to go after Page’s leg and looked for a submission, but “Venom” fought it well.

    The former Bellator title challenger was able to prevent another takedown attempt from Condit not long after and held his own for the remaining competitive couple of minutes en route to scoring the decision win.

  • Max Holloway Reaches Definitive Decision On His Next Step After UFC 308 Title Loss

    Max Holloway Reaches Definitive Decision On His Next Step After UFC 308 Title Loss

    There has been plenty of speculation on what Max Holloway’s next move will be following his loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. And now, Holloway has revealed his decision — and it’s speculation that most expected.

    In a new video on his YouTube channel, the former 145-pound kingpin officially confirmed his decision to move up to lightweight.

    “155 (pounds) here we come, and 155 is where I want to stay,” Holloway said. “This is a new chapter. This is where we start. This is where we begin. I cannot wait.”

    Max Holloway Announces Move To Lightweight, Doubts He’ll Compete At Featherweight Ever Again

    While Holloway’s boxing was on full display in his bout with Topuria, the champ’s aggressiveness and power led him to become the first fighter to knock “Blessed” out. The Hawaiian is neither holding any negative feelings nor making excuses, knowing how long he’s been at the top at 145 pounds.

    It was Holloway’s third unsuccessful challenge to regain the featherweight strap after already losing twice in rematches with the man who snatched the belt from him at UFC 245 in 2019, Alexander Volkanovski.

    Volkanovski and Topuria are the only fighters to have beaten Holloway since his long featherweight winning streak that ran between 2013 and 2019. However, with Holloway likely far from another featherweight title shot, the logical choice is to move up.

    “I can honestly look you guys in the eye and tell you guys, I’m probably not ever going back to ’45,” Holloway said. “I love what I did. I did what I did. I did what I had to do there. I worked my way back, I clawed my back to the championship fight multiple times there. I was a champion. I defended at that weight.

    “Now it’s time to move on to the next chapter, and (at) 155 there’s a bunch of fun fights that I cannot wait to take.”

    Holloway’s decision now opens up a variety of potential options for opponents, including Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker and champion Islam Makhachev. Rematches with Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier — who is expected to retire after one or two more fights in 2025 — are in the mix as well.

    “Blessed” has fought twice at lightweight previously, losing to Poirier in an interim title match at UFC 236 and famously defeating Gaethje for the BMF title at UFC 300 earlier this year.

  • Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    UFC heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis will no longer be making the walk inside Rogers Place later today.

    Lewis has been in Edmonton, Canada this week preparing for his latest opportunity to extend his lead on the promotion’s knockout throne. That was set to come on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, which will be headlined by former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and his showdown with Amir Albazi.

    There didn’t appear to be any hitches on Friday morning, with “The Black Beast” successfully hitting the scale and making weight. But alarm bells rang when he didn’t show at the ceremonial weigh-ins.

    While an update at the time noted that Lewis’ fight with Jhonata Diniz remained on, it was subsequently confirmed to have been scrapped owing to a non-weight cutting medical issue on the side of the former title challenger.

    Lewis was hoping to make it back-to-back wins in 2024 following a five-round setback opposite Jailton Almeida in November 2023. He most recently got the better of Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC Fight Night St. Louis main event this past May.

    Diniz, meanwhile, planned to make the most of his career’s biggest opportunity to date. The undefeated Brazilian has knocked out Austen Lane and outpointed Karl Williams since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023.

    With their fight off today’s lineup, home favorite Jasmine Jasudavicius has had her clash with Ariane da Silva (née Lipski) bumped up to the main card.

  • Daniel Cormier Fires Back At ‘Moron’ Rinat Fakhretdinov Over Commentary Criticism

    Daniel Cormier Fires Back At ‘Moron’ Rinat Fakhretdinov Over Commentary Criticism

    Rinat Fakhredinov recently criticized the UFC 308 commentary team for their work during his fight against Carlos Leal. The bout ended in a controversial unanimous decision win for Fakhredinov, which commentator Daniel Cormier openly disagreed with.

    Following the fight, Fakhredinov spoke out during a post-fight press conference, saying the commentators were biased and that he felt he had clearly won the second and third rounds.

    Daniel Cormier Responds

    While doing a Q&A session before UFC Fight Night 246, Cormier was asked about Fakhredinov’s remarks.

    “I don’t know what this dude was talking about,” Cormier said. “Listen, bro, he lost. I don’t care how many times he complains – that’s the thing. These fighters, they go and fight, and it was so clear that the guy lost the fight. He gets a microphone and goes and sticks his foot in his mouth. That’s the problem. He’s a moron, and he just needs to recognize he lost.”

    Cormier continued, “Take it. Just take it. You got gifted a win. Take it, keep your head tucked down until you fight somebody next time.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev appear to be on a collision course after Chimaev’s latest statement-making performance. At UFC 308, the undefeated contender submitted former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round, breaking Whittaker’s jaw in the process. With this dominant victory, many believe Chimaev is now next in line for a title shot against Du Plessis.

    However, the title picture also includes Sean Strickland, who remains a viable contender. Speaking with ESPN, Du Plessis explained that a win over Chimaev could open the door for a double title fight.

    Double Title Fight Ambitions

    “If I beat Khamzat Chimaev – I beat Robert Whittaker, then I beat Sean Strickland, then I beat Israel Adesanya, then I beat Khamzat Chimaev, that warrants a double title fight,” Du Plessis told ESPN. “I have a vision, and I can’t picture something more perfect than that.”

    Though Du Plessis is open to fighting anyone the UFC presents, he believes fans are more excited about a matchup with Chimaev.

    “But if you go on what the fans want right now, it’s definitely not the Strickland fight,” Du Plessis added. “If you ask what I want, I want to fight the best guy. I want to fight the guy the fans want me to fight, and that 100 percent is Khamzat. If they give me the Strickland fight, great, I’ll fight Strickland in February, March, or whenever, and then fight Khamzat.”

  • Joe Rogan: Ilia Topuria Is MMA’s ‘New High-Water Mark’ 

    Joe Rogan: Ilia Topuria Is MMA’s ‘New High-Water Mark’ 

    People are still buzzing about Ilia Topuria’s stellar performance against Max Holloway at UFC 308, where Topuria made history by becoming the first fighter ever to finish Holloway.

    This victory extended Topuria’s undefeated streak to an impressive 16-0. It came on the heels of his knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he claimed the featherweight title.

    The New High-Water Mark

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan shared his thoughts on Topuria as the new “measuring stick” in MMA.

    “Ilia is fast as f*ck,” Rogan said. “He’s not slow at all. He doesn’t have any disadvantages. He doesn’t have any weaknesses, man. That’s the thing. That’s why I say he’s the new high-water mark. There are people who think he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter alive.”

    Rogan went on, “There’s a lot of discussion about that online. It’s a little premature, especially with Jon Jones still out there, and there are other elite fighters too – Islam Makhachev is another one. There’s a real argument that he’s the best pound-for-pound guy alive, but it’s f*cking close. Ilia – he might be the best.”

  • Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    UFC welterweight Ian Garry will be headlining the upcoming event in Tampa, but not against the opponent he was hoping for.

    Garry (15-0), a former Cage Warriors champion and the current #7-ranked UFC contender at 170 pounds, has been calling to clash with Covington ever since the American failed to win the undisputed title for the third time last December.

    The Irishman’s campaign for that matchup continued after he got the better of Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 this past June. In a recent update, Garry claimed to have even been sent an offer to fight Covington in the main event of UFC Fight Night Tampa next month.

    “The Future” put the hold-up down to the ex-interim champ, and should his claims be correct, the 36-year-old looks to have rejected the fight.

    On Friday, the UFC confirmed that Garry will indeed headline the event in Florida on Dec. 14. But instead of Covington, the Dubliner will do battle with Joaquin Buckley (20-6) to close out the promotion’s 2024 schedule.

    Garry’s International Fight Week triumph over Page marked his eighth straight since joining MMA’s leading promotion in 2021. His campaign this year started with a victory over Geoff Neal, who joined the likes of Daniel Rodriguez and Neil Magny on the Irishman’s résumé.

    Buckley, meanwhile, has been fast-charging since dropping to welterweight following an inconsistent period at 185 pounds. A 5-0 run that includes wins over Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson has seen “New Mansa” vault into the top 10, and he’ll now look to stake his claim for a first championship opportunity by blemishing “The Future’s” record.

    The UFC Fight Night in Tampa will go down inside the Amalie Arena. The current fights expected to take place are as follows:

    • Ian Garry vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight main event)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (light heavyweight)
    • Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (flyweight)
    • Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)
    • Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (featherweight)
    • Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
    • Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yañez (bantamweight)
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Knutsson (women’s strawweight)
    • Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos (light heavyweight)
    • Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (bantamweight)
    • Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Álvarez (lightweight)
    • Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (featherweight)
  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

    In the main event, former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns close to nine months on from a defeat to Brandon Royval in Mexico City. Having now lost two straight by way of split decision, “The Assassin Baby” will look to get back to winning ways at the expense of the charging Amir Albazi.

    Setting the stage for them in another 125-pound contest will be Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas. After winning two straight in the division this year, the ex-strawweight queen will look to notch her biggest flyweight success to date and stake her claim for a title shot by adding to the woes of “Cold Blooded,” who was beaten by Manon Fiorot last time out.

    Elsewhere, heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis makes the walk for his latest assignment, Mike Malott has the chance to rebound on home soil, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz adds to his Octagon experience.

    Ahead of the event, all 28 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Edmonton ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • Stipe Miocic Voices Confidence Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight

    Stipe Miocic Voices Confidence Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight

    Stipe Miocic exudes confidence as he prepares for his highly anticipated showdown with Jon Jones. Heading into their UFC 309 heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden, Miocic feels secure in his abilities and isn’t showing any worry.

    Jones is heavily favored to win, but Miocic, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is ready to prove his doubters wrong. Miocic has gone 3-2 in his last five fights, securing back-to-back heavyweight title victories over Daniel Cormier in 2019 and 2020. However, he lost his most recent fight via knockout to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021, which cost him the heavyweight title.

    Expressing Confidence

    In a recent appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul, Miocic discussed his mindset as the fight approaches. He’s maintained a quiet focus, emphasizing his dedication to his training and his desire to stay mentally prepared.

    “I’m excited, honestly,” Miocic said. “It’s finally here. It was supposed to happen last year, but an injury took it away. Now, we’re three weeks out. I’m ready. I’ve been pumped. I keep quiet and stay focused on the task at hand, just worrying about my fight. That’s all I focus on.”

    Miocic continued, “Jon Jones does a lot of things well, but I have great coaches and teammates who prepare me for whatever happens. I’m not going to wait to see what he’s going to do; I’m going to do what I want to do.”

  • Derrick Lewis: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic In First Round At UFC 309

    Derrick Lewis: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic In First Round At UFC 309

    Derrick Lewis is paying close attention to the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which will headline the UFC 309 pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

    Heading into the fight, Jones is heavily favored to defeat the former UFC heavyweight champion, and Lewis agrees with the odds.

    First-Round Finish Prediction

    In an interview with MMA Junkie, Lewis shared his prediction for the bout, believing that Jones will finish Miocic in the first round.

    “I think Jones will beat him in the first round,” Lewis told MMA Junkie. “It’s crazy to see so many people disrespect Jones like that, like he isn’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that. Jones has been doing this for so many years at the highest level, taking on top-ranked guys.”

    Lewis continued, “Even though he’s had trouble outside of the UFC, people don’t understand—it’s 80 percent mental going into these fights, and only about 20 percent physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you’re not going to do well. For him to be dealing with all he’s been through and still beating these top guys, it says a lot.”

    Lewis is set to return to the octagon himself, taking on Jhonata Diniz at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” where Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosts a UFC Fight Night.

    Topping the lineup on Nov. 2 is a clash of ranked flyweights as former champion Brandon Moreno looks to break his two-fight losing skid by stalling the charge and title ambitions of Amir Albazi.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, which will see former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas look to keep her ball rolling at flyweight. To secure a third straight win at 125 pounds this year, “Thug Rose” must get the better of #3-ranked contender Erin Blanchfield.

    Elsewhere, the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, home favorite Mike Malott, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi takes place on Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno (125.5lbs) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield (125.5lbs) vs. Rose Namajunas (125lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Caio Machado (205lbs) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205lbs)
    • Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault (185lbs) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott (170.5lbs) vs. Trevin Giles (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi (135.5lbs) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski (125lbs) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135lbs) vs. Victor Henry (135lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jack Shore (145.5lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (145lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov (261lbs) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey (135lbs) vs. Garrett Armfield (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger (135lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125lbs)
  • TJ Dillashaw: Max Holloway ‘Got Too Comfortable’ Against Ilia Topuria At UFC 308

    TJ Dillashaw: Max Holloway ‘Got Too Comfortable’ Against Ilia Topuria At UFC 308

    TJ Dillashaw recently shared his thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s impressive performance against Max Holloway at UFC 308, where Topuria made history by becoming the first fighter ever to finish Holloway. This victory kept Topuria’s undefeated streak intact, bringing his record to 16-0. It was his second monumental win after his knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he claimed the featherweight title.

    Too Comfortable in the Stand-Up Game

    While speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Dillashaw praised Holloway’s early approach, noting his effective movement and strategy in the first couple of rounds. However, he felt that Holloway became too comfortable in the stand-up game as the fight progressed.

    “I think he (Holloway) got too comfortable in the second round,” Dillashaw remarked. “He started piecing him (Topuria) up, right? He’s using his distance, he had a great jab, he’s hammering his jab, and Max is a volume guy. His volume’s working; he gets better and better as the fight goes on. But I think when it got into the third round, he got a little comfortable, and Topuria’s fast as f*ck. He did that slapping hook to get his hands away from his face with that overhand right, and then it changed everything.”

    Dillashaw went on to praise Topuria’s boxing skills, calling him the best striker the UFC has to offer in that department.

  • MMA Analyst Urges Ilia Topuria To Stay At Featherweight: ‘Make Your Easy Money!’

    MMA Analyst Urges Ilia Topuria To Stay At Featherweight: ‘Make Your Easy Money!’

    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria cemented his reign as the best in the weight class by defending the belt for the first time at UFC 308. After doing what he said he would do and becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway, he’s becoming harder to deny.

    “El Matador” has got a proven track record at this stage for making his goals come true and if that’s going to continue being the case, we’re in for an all-time great UFC run. Having stopped two of the greatest champions in UFC history in back-to-back fights, the champion wants more belts.

    Topuria has spoken many times about his goal to not only move up to lightweight but to one day compete at welterweight also. Following his impressive display in Abu Dhabi, the intrigue of seeing him go up against the 155-pound king Islam Makhachev certainly increased.

    During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy discussed this fight and how they think it would play out. Thomson, who previously trained with Makhachev at AKA, does not think it would go well for Topuria.

    Instead, he believes that the 145-pound champion should stay in his weight class where several contenders await him. Considering how quickly he rose to the top of the division, following his likely rematch with Alexander Volkanovski next time out, there’s still other challenges like Diego Lopes or the winner of Movsar Evloev vs Aljamain Sterling for him to attend to.

    Thomson said that in his opinion, he thinks Topuria should stay put for the time being so that he can continue to beat opponents at his natural weight class before going for a second belt.

    “You’ve just dominated two of the best guys that have ever graced that weight class. If I was to say hey, make your easy money, and I’m not saying these guys are easy fights. They’re not easy fights but I’m saying they’re not going to get easier going up so why not just stay where you’re at, cash out as much as you possible can on these type fights, guys that you’re comfortable fighting. You’ve been training your whole life to fight at this weight class.”

  • UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    Lists are always going to create discussion in regards to which options should or shouldn’t have made it onto the final version. This is no different with ESPN’s Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century list.

    Unsurprisingly, the current UFC heavyweight champion and consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones, takes the top spot with the usual cast following behind him. Welterweight great Georges St-Pierre is the runner-up with the long-time champion of the weight class above him, Anderson Silva, rounding out the top three.

    Dominant champions Demetrious Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov make up the top five whilst Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn and Kamaru Usman complete the full list.

    On a recent episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, two men who are in a great position to debate the list did just that as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Liddell spoke about who could have earned a spot that ultimately didn’t.

    Jackson, perhaps controversially, said that he isn’t sure whether the number five pick had enough fights at the highest level to be considered, especially when someone like Matt Hughes didn’t make the cut.

    “Nothing against Khabib, I just don’t think he fought enough fights. To be on there and to not have Matt Hughes on there, you know what I’m saying cus he was champion for a long time.”

    Liddell, who did make the cut, responded by agreeing with his former opponent’s take that Hughes deserves a mention. He also named one other great champion that would have undoubtedly been in contention, even if some of his best work was done before he arrived in the UFC.

    “If you look at the strength of opponents, you know. There’s some other guys in there, José Aldo. A beast man, for years. Those lists are lists man and all those guys are quality guys. It’s tough really.”

  • Heavyweight Contender Ranks His Top Four In The Weight Class, Excludes Tom Aspinall

    Heavyweight Contender Ranks His Top Four In The Weight Class, Excludes Tom Aspinall

    The heavyweight division has been one of the major talking points across the MMA world in 2024. Whether it’s the conversation surrounding Jon Jones’ upcoming UFC title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 or the recent PFL debut of Francis Ngannou.

    After Ngannou’s triumphant return to MMA last month where he stopped Renan Ferreira at PFL’s Battle of the Giants, this then prompted the question as to whether he’s still the best fighter in his weight class.

    The former UFC champion wasn’t beaten for his title because he vacated it when parting ways with the promotion at the start of last year. This debate becomes a lot more interesting because many fight fans would make the case for a UFC heavyweight other than Jones being the top guy in the promotion right now.

    Interim titleholder Tom Aspinall also has to be in the conversation which includes Ferreira to varying degrees based on who you ask. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, one of the competitors in this weight class gave his thoughts on the top of the division.

    ONE Championship athlete Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is a submission grappling icon who after going 4-1 in his transition to MMA, is finally back at ONE 169 to try and regain the momentum he had before suffering his first defeat last time out.

    He believes that despite the fact that we’ve only see him compete at heavyweight on just one occasion, the best is still “Bones”.

    “I think not putting Jon Jones as first one, I think it’s hard. I think for sure is the number one.”

    Almeida then ranked the rest of his top four but surprisingly didn’t include Aspinall in his current heavyweight Mount Rushmore. He instead picked the current ONE heavyweight champion Anatoly Malykhin, who also holds belts in ONE at light heavyweight and middleweight.

    “Number second I would say between Renan Ferreira and Francis and Anatoly. Those three guys are there. Francis just won the fight so I think he deserves to be still on the top position after that, Renan. He’s doing crazy things in this sport. He won the PFL tournament, he beat Ryan Bader from Bellator and just did the fight with Francis so I think he’s there too like number three. Number four, Anatoly, of course it’s hard to put like a rank like that but for sure these four guys I think would be my four favorites for sure.”

  • Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

    Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

    Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

    The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

    Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

    While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

    The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

    It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.

  • UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who will look to bounce back from consecutive split decision losses at the hands of Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval when he competes in the “Great White North.” To Accomplish that feat, the Mexican fan favorite is tasked with stalling the surge of 17-1 contender Amir Albazi.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-strawweight queen Rose Namajunas make the walk for the third time this year. If she’s to make it three flyweight wins in a row and stake her claim for a shot at two-division glory, “Thug Rose” must send the #3-ranked Erin Blanchfield to the first losing skid of her career.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, welterweight prospect Mike Malott, bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz, and the always entertaining Charles Jourdain.

    UFC Edmonton: Moreno vs. Albazi Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Edmonton (as of 10/31), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Brandon Moreno (-175) vs. Amir Albazi (+145)
    • Erin Blanchfield (-130) vs. Rose Namajunas (+110)
    • Derrick Lewis (+145) vs. Jhonata Diniz (-175)
    • Caio Machado (-148) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+124)
    • Marc-André Barriault (-205) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (+170)
    • Mike Malott (-185) vs. Trevin Giles (+230)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Aiemann Zahabi (-125) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+105)
    • Ariane Lipski (+120) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (-230)
    • Charles Jourdain (-142) vs. Victor Henry (+120)
    • Jack Shore (+250) vs. Youssef Zalal (-310)
    • Alexandr Romanov (-102) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (-118)
    • Serhiy Sidey (-142) vs. Garrett Armfield (+120)
    • Chad Anheliger (+160) vs. Cody Gibson (-192)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth (-218) vs. Ivana Petrovic (+180)
  • Beneil Dariush Contemplated Moving Divisions After Missing A Full Year For The First Time In His Career

    Beneil Dariush Contemplated Moving Divisions After Missing A Full Year For The First Time In His Career

    Beneil Dariush was originally hoping for a return before the end of the year but with the UFC schedule already looking secured for the remainder of 2024, he’s looking at an early outing in the new year. Though this kind of break isn’t necessarily anything new for fighters, especially if they’ve got injuries to attend to, it is for him.

    Since turning pro back in 2009, Dariush has fought at least once in each consecutive year. Whether he’s fighting twice a year like in 2023 or four times in his debut year with the promotion, the 35-year old has been a consistently active member of the roster.

    Alongside some setbacks outside of the cage to deal with, another issue for him is finding the right fights at this stage in his career. Dariush isn’t opposed to fighting rising contenders but at the #8-ranked lightweight, he can’t be giving his spot away for free either.

    One of the reasons that he’s now targeting January for his Octagon return is that it takes him a bit more time to prepare for competing at 155-pounds at this stage in his career. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he said that moving up a weight class so that he could fight more often and open up new opportunities was even a thought at one point because he wants to be as active as possible.

    “It’s been challenging and it’s just weird, you know. I understand you’ll have your ups and downs so I had my ups for a while and now I’m kinda down but like, just not to be able to fight has been weird. I enjoy it so much. I even considered going to 170 just so I can fight more often but I don’t think I’m done with 55 yet so I’ve been trying to really focus on recovery as far as the brain injuries and stuff like that. I want to make sure when I get back into the Octagon, I don’t have to worry about any of that stuff.”