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  • “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    The undefeated record of Azamat Murzakanov is no more, as Paulo Costa’s move up to light heavyweight produces a strong start. Costa knocked out Murzakanov in the third round of the UFC 327 co-main event.

    Despite Murzakanov’s pressure and stalking attempts, Costa’s kicking helped to get him off to an early start, landing kicks to the body and legs of Murzakanov that did damage. A body kick in the closing minute of the first round, in fact, dropped and troubled Murzakanov.

    As the fight went on, however, it appeared that Costa’s gas tank was giving him an issue. Murzakanov fought back with his own body shots, and his power came more to fruition, which bothered Costa.

    Costa was refreshed in round three, and a kick that landed on one of Murzakanov’s arms appeared to damage it badly. Costa later followed it up with a head kick that resulted in Murzakanov crumbling to the mat to give Costa the win.

    Paulo Costa Takes The 0 Of Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Costa is now 3-2 in his last five fights. This was his second fight at light heavyweight, previously fighting Marvin Vettori at 205 in 2021. Costa entered this fight off a victory over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318.

    Murzakanov now falls to 16-1. He entered this fight off a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 321.

  • Mitch McKee Uses Wrestling To Take Decision Over Sergio Pettis

    Mitch McKee Uses Wrestling To Take Decision Over Sergio Pettis

    In just one fight with the PFL, Mitch McKee has established himself as someone to watch out for at bantamweight, defeating Sergio Pettis in the main event of PFL Chicago.

    McKee’s wrestling proved to be the distance from the start, taking Pettis down quickly and overwhelming him with grappling control and ground-and-pound. McKee continued this strategy in the second round, and while Pettis looked for multiple submissions, McKee was able to easily shake those off.

    Pettis, needing a finish, looked to pick up his striking in the final round. He, however, had no answer for McKee’s takedowns, as McKee went on to score 29-28 totals on all three scorecards.

    Mitch McKee defeats Sergio Pettis In PFL Chicago Main Event

    McKee made his PFL debut tonight, spending most of his career with the LFA. He last fought at LFA 217 in September, defeating Pedro Nobre.

    Pettis, the former Bellator bantamweight champion, scored a pair of wins in his first two PFL appearances last year. He defeated Raufeon Stots by decision in June and scored a highlight knockout of Magomed Magomedov in October.

  • “15 Minutes Of Carnage” – Josh Hokit Bests Curtis Blaydes In War

    “15 Minutes Of Carnage” – Josh Hokit Bests Curtis Blaydes In War

    In one of the greatest heavyweight battles ever seen in the Octagon in what has felt like forever, Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit put on an epic, bloody battle that will go down as a Fight of the Year contender.

    Ultimately, Hokit got the judges’ nod to remain undefeated.

    The two did plenty of trading to start the fight, and that played into Hokit’s favor, wobbling Blaydes in the first minute. Blaydes was wobbled but fought his way back into the fight, getting Hokit into his grasp. Blaydes then landed a flurry of shots on Hokit, though it didn’t deter Hokit from taunting Blaydes during the round.

    Blaydes appeared to be gassed in the second round, and it showed with Hokit landing the better shots early. Blaydes attempted to fight back, but Blaydes showed a lack of head movement. Hokit battered Blaydes near the fence in another near-finish; however, Blaydes endured it and gave a flurry right back.

    Josh Hokit Defeats Curtis Blaydes In Fight Of The Year Contender At UFC 327

    Hokit, now 9-0, was competing in just his third UFC fight. The former NFL player, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, scored first-round finishes of Max Gimenis and Denzel Freeman.

    Blaydes entered this fight off a controversial decision win over Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Baku 10 months ago.

  • Renat Khavalov Gets Grappling Edge, Decision Over Raufeon Stots

    Renat Khavalov Gets Grappling Edge, Decision Over Raufeon Stots

    Renat Khavalov remains undefeated and scores the biggest win of his professional MMA career, defeating former interim Bellator champion Raufeon Stots in the co-main event of PFL Chicago.

    Despite Stots’ NCAA wrestling experience, it was Dagestan’s Khavalov who outworked him in grappling. Khavalov controlled the action for the first 10 minutes with his clinchwork and takedowns, mixing in inside shots for good measure.

    The two traded strikes throughout the third round, with Stots seemingly landing the more effective strikes but not doing enough to deter Khavalov.

    All three judges scored the bout 29-28 in Khavalov’s favor.

    Renat Khavalov Defeats Raufeon Stots At PFL Chicago

    This bout was promoted to the co-main event slot just minutes before PFL Chicago’s start after Jordan Newman withdrew from his bout against Josh Silveira.

    Since the closure of Bellator, Stots, the former interim Bellator bantamweight champion, has had two fights in PFL prior to tonight. He defeated Marcos Breno at the PFL Battle of the Giants card in October 2024 and lost to Sergio Pettis this past June.

    Khavalov was a perfect 10-0 entering tonight. The former Eagle FC champion entered tonight 3-0 in the PFL, scoring wins over Cleiver Fernandes, Vilson Ndregjoni, and Edgars Skrivers.

  • “No Contest” – Dominick Reyes Beats Johnny Walker In Snoozefest

    “No Contest” – Dominick Reyes Beats Johnny Walker In Snoozefest

    A fight at UFC 327 that no one expected to go the distance and could have fallen either way ended up being close…but not in the good way.

    Boos rained down from the crowd as Dominick Reyes got his hand raised, defeating Johnny Walker via split decision at UFC 327.

    Walker got off to a good start in the opening round, focusing on the leg kicks, while Reyes stayed patient, looking to use his range and timing to land strong shots from distance.

    Reyes finally got to pressuring Walker in the second round, picking up his punching volume and adding in kicks to the body. Unfortunately, neither fighter seemed to show urgency in the third as they traded weak shots.

    All three judges scored the fight 29-28, with two giving it to Reyes for the win.

    Dominick Reyes Gets Split Decision Over Johnny Walker At UFC 327

    Reyes has now won four of his last five fights. He entered tonight off a knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg at UFC Perth last September.

    Walker is now winless in four of his last five fights. He came into this bout off a second-round finish of Zhang Mingyang at UFC Shanghai last August.

  • UFC Releases Video Promo, First Look At Stage For UFC Freedom 250

    UFC Releases Video Promo, First Look At Stage For UFC Freedom 250

    With U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance at UFC 327 in Miami, the UFC released the first video promo for the UFC Freedom 250 event that takes place on June 14.

    The promo included a first glance at the setup for how the UFC “arena” will look like on the White House lawn. The Octagon can be seen in the middle of the stage, surrounded by seats on all sides, under a pair of Americana-decorated arches.

    The video has the arena appear to overtake a significant area of the White House front lawn.

    UFC Release First Promo Video, Stage Look For UFC Freedom 250 At The White House

    UFC Freedom 250 will be headlined by Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje battling to determine the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.

    The co-main event will see Alex Pereira move up to heavyweight to take on Ciryl Gane in an interim UFC heavyweight title fight. With a win, Pereira will become the first fighter in UFC history to claim UFC titles in three different weight divisions.

    UFC Freedom 250 will consist of six fights and begin at 8pm ET/5pm PT on June 14, which is a Sunday. June 14 is Flag Day and the 80th birthday of President Trump. The event is being held as part of the celebrations for the Semiquincentennial of the United States.

    UFC Freedom 250 will also feature Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia.

  • “Fairy Tale Ending!” – Cub Swanson Wins Retirement Fight

    “Fairy Tale Ending!” – Cub Swanson Wins Retirement Fight

    At 42 years old, Cub Swanson ends his professional MMA career a winner, dropping Nate Landwehr three times en route to a first-round knockout victory.

    Landwehr looked to start things off with leg kicks, but Swanson was patient and pressed forward slowly. Swanson eventually started to get his strikes going, landing on Landwehr when they were against the fence.

    Swanson dropped Landwehr with a left hand, and then again with a right. Swanson then cracked Landwehr with a right hand to fold him again, prompting referee Herb Dean to wave off the action.

    Cub Swanson Retires After First-Round Finish Of Nate Landwehr At UFC 327

    Swanson made his professional MMA debut in July 2004, working his way up by competing in promotions like King of the Cage and the WEC. Swanson made his UFC debut in November 2011, going 10-3 between then and April 2017, scoring wins over the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier and Jeremy Stephens. Two of the three losses came against Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar.

    Before tonight, Swanson was 5-7 stretching back to December 2017, losing to the likes of Brian Ortega, Renato Moicano, and Shane Burgos, along with losing a rematch with Edgar. Swanson entered tonight’s bout off a knockout of Billy Quarantillo at UFC Tampa in December 2024.

    Landwehr has now lost four of his last five fights, though he still holds three post-fight bonuses in his last six.

  • Jena Bishop Chokes Out Borena Tsertsvadze At PFL Chicago

    Jena Bishop Chokes Out Borena Tsertsvadze At PFL Chicago

    After falling just short in last year’s World Tournament, Jena Bishop is back in the win column, scoring a quick finish of Borena Tsertsvadze during the PFL Chicago prelims.

    Bishop quickly took the center and got the fight to the ground, getting in a dominant position early. Bishop then flattened Tsertsvadze out, raining down blows before locking in a body triangle.

    From there, Bishop searched and found the choke, scoring the submission just before the halfway mark of round one.

    Jena Bishop Submits Borena Tsertsvadze In Under Three Minutes At PFL Chicago

    Bishop, a veteran of LFA and Bellator, came close but fell short in both women’s flyweight tournaments in 2024 and 2025. She lost to the eventual champions — respectively, Dakota Ditcheva (in the semifinals) and Liz Carmouche (in the finals).

    This marked Tsertsvadze’s PFL debut and marks her first professional MMA loss. She entered this fight 6-0, most recently defeating Mobina Babanataj in November.

  • Alex Pereira To Be Honored With 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award

    Alex Pereira To Be Honored With 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award

    Alex Pereira will be this year’s recipient of the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award, as announced by the UFC during the UFC 327 broadcast on CBS.

    Per UFC play-by-play Jon Anik, Pereira will receive the award for his dedication and time toward sick and underprivileged youth in his native Brazil.

    Alex Pereira To Receive Forrest Griffin Community Award At 2026 UFC Hall Of Fame Ceremony

    The Forrest Griffin Community Award is annually handed out to fighters who make impacts and special contributions to their communities. Past winners have included Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, and the Nogueira Brothers.

    Pereira will receive the award at this year’s UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony this July. He will be honored alongside new Hall of Fame inductees Dominick Cruz and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, as well as the UFC 248 bout between Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

    Pereira will fight at UFC Freedom 250 in June, facing Ciryl Gane to determine the interim UFC heavyweight champion.

  • Omar El Dafrawy Quickly Starches James Vake At PFL Chicago

    Omar El Dafrawy Quickly Starches James Vake At PFL Chicago

    Omar El Dafrawy rebounded from his first PFL defeat in a big way, scoring a quick, first-round knockout of James Vake during the UFC Chicago preliminary card.

    El Dafrawy had the reach advantage in this one, and he used that well by connecting with several kicks to start things off. Vake got working with his hands early, but El Dafrawy’s reach and offense kept him at bay.

    Then, El Dafrawy landed a left hand that put Vake down to the mat immediately, leaving him unable to defend himself and continue. The fight ended in just 1:12.

    Omar El Dafrawy KOs James Vake At PFL Chicago

    El Dafrawy, a veteran of Brave CF and UAE Warriors, was the original PFL MENA welterweight champion in 2024. He won that tournament by going through Anthony Zeidan, Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi, and Mohammad Alaqraa. In 2025, El Dafrawy submitted Daniele Miceli but dropped a decision to Florim Zendeli.

    Vake entered this fight, his PFL debut, on a four-fight win streak and with a 7-1 professional MMA record. This was Vake’s first fight since his October 2024 win over Cameron Clatworthy.

  • “Robbed” – Padilla vs. Mederos Changed To Draw After Errors

    Another week, another major screw-up in the world of MMA officiating and judging, courtesy of a set of judges at UFC 327.

    The botch occurred during the preliminary card matchup between Chris Padilla and MarQuel Mederos. The fight was filled with plenty of striking volume, especially from Padilla, who brought plenty of pressure. Mederos had his own strong strikes, including bloodying Padilla up with an elbow. Mederos, however, was deducted a point for an eye poke during round three.

    Padilla was originally announced as the winner by majority decision, with two 29-27 scores and a 28-28 draw. Following the Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez bout, however, the UFC broadcast announced that the score for Padilla vs. Mederos was corrected to be ruled a majority draw.

    The corrected scorecards were then revealed, with all three judges appearing to not count the point deduction Mederos received during the third round.

    Furthermore, under the original scorecards, Mederos was the one who would have been awarded a split decision win. The original scorecards’ totals had it two 29-28s in his favor, from judges Derek Cleary and Eliseo Rodriguez. Solimar Miranda originally had it 29-28 for Padilla, resulting in the lone 29-27 Padilla total on the corrections.

    Chris Padilla vs. MarQuel Mederos Ruled Majority Draw After Scoring Mix-Up At UFC 327

    The mix-up prompted another round of mockery and anger from the MMA community.

    Padilla stepped into this fight with a seven-fight win streak, including a 4-0 UFC record. Padilla had most recently fought Ismael Bonfim in November, scoring a second-round finish.

    Mederos entered this bout with a nine-fight win streak and an 11-1 professional MMA record. He was 3-0 in the UFC before tonight, most recently defeating Mark Choinski at UFC 316.

  • Biaggio Ali Walsh Gets Sub-Minute Finish At PFL Chicago

    Biaggio Ali Walsh Gets Sub-Minute Finish At PFL Chicago

    Biaggio Ali Walsh’s journey into combat sports continues, as the grandson of Muhammad Ali starched Dash Harris in under a minute during the PFL Chicago prelims.

    Ali Walsh targeted the body with shots in the opening seconds, and that did Harris in then and there. Ali Walsh continued with flurries, while also preventing Harris’ efforts to grapple.

    Ali Walsh overwhelmed Harris until he folded, prompting “Big” John McCarthy to step in 46 seconds into the fight.

    Biaggio Ali Walsh Stops Dash Harris In 46 Seconds At PFL Chicago

    Ali Walsh, who has been with PFL since his amateur days, is now 4-1 as a pro. He entered this fight off a win over Adryan Grundy in August.

    Harris, who made his PFL debut tonight, loses as a pro for the first time. Harris, who missed weight for this fight, fought in Elite Fight Night twice in 2025, defeating Michael Anderson and Devon Jackson.

  • “The D’Arce Knight Rises” – Vicente Luque Submits Kelvin Gastelum

    “The D’Arce Knight Rises” – Vicente Luque Submits Kelvin Gastelum

    Vicente Luque found himself in some early trouble, but he was able to gather himself up and battle back to drop and submit Kelvin Gastelum during the UFC 327 prelims.

    Gastelum came out on the front foot early, trying to pressure Luque with single shots. Gastelum brought Luque to the fence and pinned him there before scoring the takedown. Gastelum troubled Luque, holding him for a while and attempting a choke.

    Luque, however, was able to work his way out of Gastelum’s grasp. Despite Gastelum’s strong chin, Luque landed a strong right uppercut that dropped him. Luque then held Gastelum down on the ground for a bit before locking in a D’Arce choke to score the submission.

    Vicente Luque Submits Kelvin Gastelum At UFC 327

    Luque rebounds from back-to-back losses to Kevin Holland and Joel Alvarez, improving to 3-3 in his last six.

    Gastelum is now 3-5 in his last eight.

  • PFL Chicago Loses Co-Main Event Minutes Before Start Time

    PFL Chicago Loses Co-Main Event Minutes Before Start Time

    PFL Chicago’s planned co-main event bout between Jordan Newman and Josh Silveira will not take place as scheduled.

    The promotion announced the news in an update minutes before the PFL Chicago preliminary card began. According to the PFL, Newman made the last-minute withdrawal.

    It is currently unknown what prompted Newman’s withdrawal.

    Due to the last-minute nature of the circumstance, no replacement opponent has been named for Silveira. It is unknown if the promotion will attempt to re-book Newman vs. Silveira for a future PFL card.

    The bantamweight bout between former interim Bellator champion Raufeon Stots and Renat Khavalov will now serve as the evening’s co-main event.

    Additionally, the bout between Viviane Araujo and Shanna Young has been promoted from the prelims to the main card. The main card will go on with four fights.

    The main event of PFL Chicago sees former Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis face the unbeaten Mitch McKee.

  • Jon Jones Changes Retirement Tune Again After Stem Cell Treatment

    Jon Jones Changes Retirement Tune Again After Stem Cell Treatment

    The Jon Jones saga continues after all?

    After hinting at retirement in a video posted on social media on Friday, April 10, stating he had “hung up his gloves,” Jones has appeared to leave the door open on fighting in the future.

    Per MMA Fighting, while appearing at the Dirty Boxing 6 event held on that same night, Jones said he had a conversation about the situation with UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell.

    Jones stated that his body had started to feel more capable after undergoing stem-cell treatment.

    “We had that conversation tonight,” Jones said. “I took a stem cell right before the White House card was created, and I’m starting to feel the effects of that stem cell, I feel really good physically.”

    Jones has publicly stated that dealing with arthritis has been a hurdle for him to continue his MMA career. It appeared to be the reason he was formally retired in June 2025. That same month, UFC CEO and President Dana White announced Jones’ retirement status, awarding the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship to then-interim champion Tom Aspinall.

    After three years away from the Octagon, dominating the light heavyweight scene through the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight at UFC 285, defeating Ciryl Gane for the then-vacant UFC heavyweight title.

    Jones last fought at UFC 309, defeating Stipe Miocic. He was scheduled to fight Miocic one year earlier at UFC 295, the same night Aspinall went on to win the interim title, but suffered a torn pec.

    Jones changed his stance on retirement a couple of weeks later, when U.S. President Donald Trump first teased what would become UFC Freedom 250. Jones, to his disappointment, was left off the card in favor of an interim heavyweight title fight between Gane and Alex Pereira.

    It’s uncertain if and when Jones will return to the Octagon, but he stated that his priority right now is coaching Gable Steveson. Steveson, the former NCAA wrestling champion, competes at RAF 9 on May 30. He is currently 3-0 in professional MMA, and many expect him to be picked up by the UFC sooner or later.

    “So I told them let’s not put any pressure on anything, I want to focus on coaching Gable right now,” Jones said. “But who knows what the future holds?”

  • UFC 327 Results: Prochazka vs Ulberg Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC 327 Results: Prochazka vs Ulberg Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC 327 results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The main event will feature Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg battling for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Prochazka vs Ulberg: Light Heavyweight Title Fight

    The championship is being vacated today as Pereira aims to move up to heavyweight, being booked in an interim heavyweight title fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in two months.

    Prochazka has tasted light heavyweight gold before, defeating Glover Teixeira to capture the title at UFC 275. Prochazka, however, vacated the title due to injury before he could ever make a defense.

    Prochazka, who is also a former RIZIN champion, is 6-2 in the UFC, with both losses coming in light heavyweight title fights with Alex Pereira at UFC 295 and UFC 303. Prochazka last fought at UFC 321, finishing Khalil Rountree Jr.

    Ulberg is 13-1 in MMA entering tonight, with his sole loss coming against Kennedy Nzechukwu in his UFC debut. Ulberg has won nine straight, most recently knocking out Dominick Reyes, another former light heavyweight title challenger, in September. Ulberg also holds wins over former champion Jan Blachowicz and former challenger Volkan Oezdemir.

    The co-main event will also be contested at light heavyweight, as the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov takes on Paulo Costa, who is jumping up to the division from middleweight.

    Murzakanov is a perfect 16-0. Since winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he has won all six fights he’s had in the Octagon, with five of those coming via KO/TKO. He most recently scored a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 321.

    Costa enters this fight off a decision win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318. This is Costa’s second 205-pound bout; he previously faced Marvin Vettori at the weight in October 2021, losing via decision.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC 327!

    How to Watch UFC 327

    • Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
    • Venue: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida
    • Streaming: Paramount+ , CBS (8pm ET – 10pm ET [last hour of prelims and first hour of main card])
    • Prelims: 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
    • Late Prelims: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
    • Main Card: 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

    UFC 327 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg — Carlos Ulberg def. Jiri Prochazka via KO (Rd. 1, 3:45)
    • Co-Main: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa — Paulo Costa def. Azamat Murzakanov via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:23)
    • Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit — Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker — Dominick Reyes def. Johnny Walker via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr — Cub Swanson def. Nate Landwehr via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:06)

    UFC 327 Results & Highlights

    Early Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5:30 PM ET)

    Welterweight: Charles Radtke vs. Francisco Prado

    Result: Charles Radtke def. Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)

    Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Vicente Luque

    Result: Vicente Luque def. Kelvin Gastelum via submission (D’Arce choke) (Rd. 1, 4:08)

    Lightweight: Chris Padilla vs. MarQuel Mederos

    Result: Chris Padilla vs. MarQuel Mederos goes to a majority draw (28-28 x2, 29-27) (Fight was originally announced as a majority decision win for Padilla)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET [CBS 8 PM ET – 9 pm ET])

    Women’s Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez

    Result: Tatiana Suarez def. Loopy Godinez via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 2:29)

    Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Estevan Ribovics

    Result: Mateusz Gamrot def. Estevan Ribovics via submission (arm-triangle choke) (Rd. 2, 4:19)

    Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown

    Result: Kevin Holland def. Randy Brown via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico

    Result: Aaron Pico def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET [CBS 9 PM ET – 10 pm ET])

    Featherweight: Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr

    Result: Cub Swanson def. Nate Landwehr via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:06)

    Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker

    Result: Dominick Reyes def. Johnny Walker via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit

    Result: Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa

    Result: Paulo Costa def. Azamat Murzakanov via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:23)

    Light Heavyweight Championship: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Result: Carlos Ulberg def. Jiri Prochazka via KO (Rd. 1, 3:45)

  • PFL Chicago Results: Pettis vs McKee Live Updates & Highlights

    PFL Chicago Results: Pettis vs McKee Live Updates & Highlights

    PFL Chicago results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The main event will feature a bantamweight bout between Sergio Pettis and Mitch McKee. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Sergio Pettis vs. Mitch McKee – Bantamweight Main Event

    Pettis is 2-0 since arriving in the PFL, giving him two straight wins and eight wins in his last 10 fights. After dropping the Bellator bantamweight title to Patchy Mix in the promotion’s final event, Pettis fought Kyoji Horiguchi in RIZIN before debuting in the PFL last year. Pettis’ 2025 saw him earn a decision over Raufeon Stots and score a highlight knockout of Magomed Magomedov.

    This is the PFL debut for the 10-0 McKee. The highly touted prospect is an LFA and Bellator veteran. McKee most recently fought at LFA 217 in September, knocking out Pedro Nobre.

    The co-main event will be a middleweight battle between the undefeated Jordan Newman and PFL veteran Josh Silveira.

    Newman is 8-0 and fought exclusively in Bellator before the promotion’s closing. He made his PFL debut last August, needing just one round to put away Eslam Abdul Baset.

    Since coming to the PFL from the LFA, where he was a champion, it’s been a case of “the bridesmaid but never the bride” for Silveira. The 15-5 fighter is a veteran of the promotion’s old light heavyweight and middleweight tournaments, consistently falling short. Silveira made the 2023 PFL light heavyweight tournament final, only to lose to Impa Kasaganay.

    Silveira is 3-3 in his last six but has won two of his last three. He most recently fought in August, scoring a decision over Murad Ramazanov.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from PFL Chicago!

    How to Watch PFL Chicago

    • Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
    • Venue: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
    • Streaming: ESPN Unlimited (full card), ESPN2 (main card), ESPN+ (prelims)
    • Prelims: 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT
    • Main Card: 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

    PFL Chicago Quick Results

    • Main Event: Sergio Pettis vs. Mitch McKee — Mitch McKee def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Co-Main Event: Raufeon Stots vs. Renat Khavalov — Renat Khavalov def. Raufeon Stots via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Viviane Araujo vs. Shanna Young — Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young (30-27 x3)
    • Gabriel Braga vs. Cheyden Leialoha — Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    PFL Chicago Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 6 PM ET)

    Welterweight: Valanti Atsas vs. Nate Jennerman

    Result: Valanti Atsas def. Nate Jennerman via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Dash Harris

    Result: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Dash Harris via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:46)

    Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento

    Result: Alexandr Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 2, 3:10)

    Women’s Flyweight: Kana Watanabe vs. Paulina Wisniewska

    Result: Paulina Wisniewska def. Kana Watanabe via TKO (Rd. 2, 3:15)

    Welterweight: Omar El Dafrawy vs. James Vake

    Result: Omar El Dafrawy def. James Vake via KO (Rd. 1, 1:12)

    Women’s Flyweight: Jena Bishop vs. Borena Tsertsvadze

    Result: Jena Bishop def. Borena Tsertsvadze via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 2:21)

    Main Card (ESPN2, 9 PM ET)

    Featherweight: Gabriel Braga vs. Cheyden Leialoha

    Result: Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araujo vs. Shanna Young

    Result: Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young (30-27 x3)

    Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots vs. Renat Khavalov

    Result: Renat Khavalov def. Raufeon Stots via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Middleweight: Jordan Newman vs. Josh Silveira – NEWMAN WITHDRAWS FOR UNKNOWN REASON, BOUT CANCELED

    Result:

    Bantamweight: Sergio Pettis vs. Mitch McKee

    Result: Mitch McKee def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

  • “My Gloves Are Hung Up” – Jon Jones Says He’s Done Fighting

    “My Gloves Are Hung Up” – Jon Jones Says He’s Done Fighting

    After back-to-back retirement/fighter negotiation sagas, it seems like perhaps Jon Jones really is done with his fighting days for good.

    In a new video posted on social media by Red Corner MMA, Jones claims that he no longer considers himself a fighter, but a businessman.

    “My gloves are hung up,” Jones said in the video. “I’m chilling these days. You got business Jon Jones, no more fighter Jon Jones.”

    The last couple of years have been an ongoing saga regarding Jones’ availability and status, going back to his time as the UFC heavyweight champion.

    Jones appeared to be formally retired for good when UFC President Dana White announced such during the UFC Baku post-fight press conference in June 2025. In that same press conference, Aspinall was promoted from interim to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

    This seemed to bring an end to long-standing negotiations for the two to meet in a title unification bout. Aspinall won the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 295, a card where Jones was scheduled to defend the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic before tearing his pec. Jones would defeat Miocic when they finally met a year later at UFC 309.

    But when U.S. President Donald Trump first teased the plans for a UFC card at the White House, now known as UFC Freedom 250, Jones was one of the first people to raise his hand to participate in the event. This came just two weeks after White confirmed Jones’ retirement.

    White admitted at one point that Jones vs. Aspinall was his own White House “dream main event.” There was also some clamoring for Jones vs. Pereira to headline UFC Freedom 250 in the wake of Aspinall’s unavailability since his eye injury against Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event.

    White, however, made it clear on more than one occasion that he did not trust Jones with headlining such a major card, pointing to some of Jones’ issues outside of the Octagon. That decision was made final with the release of the UFC Freedom 250 card.

    Now, it seems less certain we’ll see Jones compete in the UFC again.

    UFC Freedom 250 will feature an interim heavyweight title fight between Gane and Pereira. Its main event will be Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje battling to unify the UFC lightweight championship.

  • 2026 PFL Africa 1: Ndebele vs. Clemente Live Updates & Highlights

    2026 PFL Africa 1: Ndebele vs. Clemente Live Updates & Highlights

    PFL Africa results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. The main event will feature a bantamweight bout between Nkosi Ndebele and Michele Clemente. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Nkosi Ndebele vs. Michele Clemente – Bantamweight Main Event

    Ndebele is a former Brave CF bantamweight champion and competed in a trilogy with Jose “Shorty” Torres during his time with the promotion. Ndebele went through Mahmoud Atef, Simbarashe Hokonya, and Boule Godogo to win last year’s PFL Africa welterweight tournament.

    Clemente makes his PFL debut today on a five-fight win streak and with a 7-1 professional MMA record. Clemente last fought in OKTAGON in June 2024, submitting Aleksandar Čoti.

    The co-main event will be a heavyweight contest between Justin Clarke and Abdoulaye Kane.

    Clarke made it to last year’s PFL Africa heavyweight final, defeating Jashell Ticha Awa and Maxwell Djantou Nana before losing to Abraham Bably.

    Kane was disqualified in his quarterfinal matchup with Joffie Houlton last year but rebounded with finishes of Emmanuel Mukam and Ticha Awa.

    This PFL Africa card will also feature the quarterfinals of the first tournament for the PFL Africa season, highlighting the welterweights.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from PFL Africa 1!

    How to Watch PFL Africa 1

    • Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
    • Venue: SunBet Arena, Pretoria, South Africa
    • Streaming: YouTube
    • Prelims: 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT
    • Main Card: 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT

    2026 PFL Africa 1 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (YouTube, 12 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Felista Mugo vs. Annet Kliza

    Result: Felista Mugo def. Annet Kliza via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)

    Bantamweight: Shannon von Tonder vs. Asiashu Tshitamba

    Result: Asiashu Tshitamba def. Shannon von Tonder via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Featherweight: Jean-Jacques Lubaya vs. Shadrick Dju Yemba

    Result: Shadrick Dju Yemba def. Jean-Jacques Lubaya via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Lightweight: Abdul Razac Sankara vs. Aureo Cruz

    Result: Abdul Razac Sankara vs. Aureo Cruz ends in a no contest (unintentional eye poke) (Rd. 2, 0:18)

    Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Abdelrahman Mohamed vs. David Samuel

    Result: David Samuel def. Abdelrahman Mohamed via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 4:03)

    Women’s Strawweight: Juliet Ukah vs. Jane Osigwe

    Result: Juliet Ukah def. Jane Osigwe via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)

    Main Card (YouTube, 2 PM ET)

    Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Rivaldo Pereira vs. Kunle Lawal

    Result: Rivaldo Pereira def. Kunle Lawal via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:09)

    Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Shido Boris Esperanca vs. Emilios Dassi

    Result: Shido Boris Esperanca def. Emilios Dassi via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:17)

    Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Yabna N’Tchala vs. Peace Nguphane

    Result: Peace Nguphane def. Yabna N’Tchala via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Heavyweight: Justin Clarke vs. Abdoulaye Kane

    Result: Justin Clarke def. Abdoulaye Kane via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:12)

    Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele vs. Michele Clemente

    Result: Nkosi Ndebele def. Michele Clemente via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

  • Watch the UFC 327: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg Weigh-Ins

    Watch the UFC 327: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg Weigh-Ins

    We are now just one day shy of UFC 327, which will determine if Jiri Prochazka or Carlos Ulberg walks away the new UFC light heavyweight champion. Get the latest from all of today’s weigh-ins in Miami here with MMANews!

    Prochazka and Ulberg were selected to fight for the championship, which Alex Pereira will relinquish. Pereira is moving up to heavyweight, facing Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 in two months.

    Prochazka previously defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 to become light heavyweight champion; however, an injury resulted in him vacating the title before making a defense. Prochazka, who is 6-2 in the UFC since coming over in 2020 from RIZIN where he was also a champion, has unsuccessfully attempted to reclaim the gold twice in bouts with Alex Pereira at UFC 295 and UFC 303.

    Ulberg has won nine straight since losing his UFC debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu, the sole loss in Ulberg’s MMA career so far. Ulberg’s last three fights have come against former light heavyweight champions or title challengers: decision wins over Volkan Oezdemir and Jan Blachowicz, as well as a knockout of Dominick Reyes.

    UFC 327 Official And Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    You can find the YouTube video to view the UFC’s official UFC 327 Morning Weigh-In Show below, as well as the updated results as the fighters weigh in.

    The Morning Weigh-In show begins at 8:50am ET/5:50am PT.

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET [CBS 9 PM ET – 10 pm ET])

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Jiri Prochazka (203) vs. Carlos Ulberg (204)
    • Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (205) vs. Paulo Costa (205)
    • Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes (261) vs. Josh Hokit (233)
    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes (205) vs. Johnny Walker (205)
    • Featherweight: Cub Swanson (146) vs. Nate Landwehr (145)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET [CBS 8 PM ET – 9 pm ET])

    • Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Aaron Pico (145)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Holland (171) vs. Randy Brown (171)
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Estevan Ribovics (155)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez (116) vs. Loopy Godinez (116)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5:30 PM ET)

    • Lightweight: Chris Padilla (158*) vs. MarQuel Mederos (155)
    • Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum (185) vs. Vicente Luque (185)
    • Welterweight: Charles Radtke (170) vs. Francisco Prado (170)

    *Padilla weighs in 2 pounds above the non-title lightweight limit.

    You can watch the UFC 327 Ceremonial Weigh-In in the video player below.

    The UFC 327 Ceremonial Weigh-In begins at 5pm ET/2pm PT.

  • Jon Jones Calls Daniel Cormier ‘Crybaby B*tch’ in ALF Reality 3

    Jon Jones Calls Daniel Cormier ‘Crybaby B*tch’ in ALF Reality 3

    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones recently reignited his long-standing rivalry with Daniel Cormier in newly released footage from ALF Reality 3. He called Cormier a “crybaby b—-” after the UFC Hall of Famer declined a wrestling match.

    The footage, released by ALF Reality, shows Jones addressing Cormier’s decision to avoid a grappling contest.

    Jones and Cormier’s Storied Rivalry

    Jones and Cormier have maintained their animosity despite both fighters moving on from their active rivalry years ago. Jones currently holds the UFC heavyweight title, while Cormier has transitioned to commentary and analysis roles.

    Jones teased competing against Cormier in either a Real American Freestyle wrestling match or a boxing fight since announcing his MMA retirement last year.

    Following a fallout with UFC CEO Dana White over his exclusion from the White House card, it remains unclear if Jones will make another comeback.

    Neither Jones nor Cormier has issued additional public statements regarding the exchange beyond what appears in the ALF Reality footage.

  • TUF Season 34 Set For June Release With UFC Hall Of Fame Coaches

    “The Ultimate Fighter” (TUF) is officially set to return for its 34th season, with two familiar faces stepping into coaching roles once again.

    The UFC has confirmed that Season 34 will premiere on June 14 on Paramount+, kicking off a new chapter for the long-running reality competition series.

    The upcoming “TUF” season will premiere on June 14, streaming on Paramount+, ahead of the highly anticipated UFC Freedom 250 event. New episodes will follow every Tuesday, continuing across a 12-episode run.

    This time around, coaching duties will be handled by UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, both of whom have become key voices on the promotion’s broadcast team in recent years.

    Season 34 will feature a mix of men’s bantamweight and women’s strawweight prospects, with 16 fighters competing for a coveted UFC contract. The format remains rooted in the show’s original concept, offering rising talent a pathway into the organization through competition and exposure.

    For “DC”, this marks another milestone. The former UFC two-division champion becomes the first coach in the show’s history to lead back-to-back seasons, having also served in that role last season. Overall, it will be his third stint as a coach on the series.

    Bisping, a former UFC middleweight champion and winner of the show himself (Season 3), also returns for his third appearance as a coach. His history with the series dates back to his own breakthrough moment, making his involvement come full circle.

    Over the years, the show has played a major role in shaping the UFC roster, producing several champions and top contenders. Names like Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, TJ Dillashaw, Robert Whittaker, Carla Esparza, and Rose Namajunas all emerged from the platform, highlighting its long-term impact on the sport.

  • PFL MENA 2026 Season Opening Event In May Postponed

    PFL MENA 2026 Season Opening Event In May Postponed

    The 2026 PFL MENA season will not start in its traditional early May slot.

    In a press release from April 9, the PFL has announced that the opening card for the PFL MENA season this year has been postponed.

    The event was originally scheduled for Friday, May 8, at the Dhahran Expo in Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

    “The Professional Fighters League today announced that PFL MENA 9, originally scheduled to take place in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia on May 8, has been postponed as the league finalizes updated event plans for the 2026 PFL MENA season,” the statement read. “All previously announced bouts will move forward as part of the 2026 PFL MENA season opener, with updated event details, including date and location, to be announced soon.

    “All ticket holders will receive a full refund, which will be processed within the next 30 days. The Professional Fighters League remains committed to the continued growth of mixed martial arts across the region and intends to return to Al Khobar later this year as part of its 2026 event calendar.”

    Though no reason was given in the press release, it’s assumed the PFL MENA postponement is due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

    Last year’s PFL MENA season saw Mohammad Alaqraa win the welterweight tournament title, Salah Eddine Hamli win at lightweight, Islam Reda win at featherweight, and Nawras Abzakh win at bantamweight.

    The PFL’s other regional-based promotion, PFL Africa, begins its second season tomorrow, Friday, April 10, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

    The UFC is scheduled to appear in the region on June 27 with their second UFC Baku event in Azerbaijan, as they did last June. Like the last couple of years, the UFC is also targeting Fight Night events in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. The UFC has also held an autumn pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi annually since 2019 (except the period when “Fight Island” was used during the COVID era).

    The UFC has not announced any plans to postpone these plans.

  • UFC 327 Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    UFC 327 Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    UFC 327 is this week, and we’re that much closer to determining a new UFC light heavyweight champion. Get the latest betting odds and best bets from MMANews!

    In the main event of UFC 327, Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg fight for the right to be named the new UFC light heavyweight champion. Alex Pereira will vacate the title to move up to heavyweight.

    Prochazka is 6-2 since coming to the UFC from RIZIN. He defeated Glover Teixeira for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 275, but ended up vacating the gold due to injury. Prochazka attempted to win the belt back twice previously, getting stopped by Alex Pereira at UFC 295 and UFC 303.

    Ulberg is 13-1 in professional MMA, having not lost since dropping his UFC debut to Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 259. He’s won nine straight, which includes knockouts of Dominick Reyes and Alonzo Menifield, as well as a submission of Da-un Jung and decision wins over former champion Jan Blachowicz and former challenger Volkan Oezdemir.

    After UFC 327 lost its planned flyweight title fight to UFC 328, the co-main event will now feature Azamat Murzakanov looking to remain undefeated against Paulo Costa.

    Murzakanov, at 16-0, has won six straight since arriving at the UFC off Dana White’s Contender Series. He most recently fought at UFC 321, earning a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic.

    Costa last fought at UFC 318 in July, scoring a decision over Roman Kopylov. He is 2-4 in his last six. Costa has fought at 205 once before, in a 2021 loss to Marvin Vettori, but this is his first fight in a full jump up in weight class.

    Other fights scheduled for the main card include Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit, Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker, and Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr (in Swanson’s retirement fight).

    UFC 327 Betting Odds

    Here are the latest betting odds for UFC 327, as of 11:45am ET on April 9, courtesy of DraftKings:

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5:30 PM ET)

    • Welterweight: Charles Radtke (-175) vs. Francisco Prado (+145)
    • Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum (-278) vs. Vicente Luque (+225)
    • Lightweight: Chris Padilla (-155) vs. MarQuel Mederos (+130)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET)

    • Women’s Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez (-155) vs. Loopy Godinez (+130)
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot (-192) vs. Estevan Ribovics (+160)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Holland (-110) vs. Randy Brown (-110)
    • Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull (+245) vs. Aaron Pico (-305)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET)

    • Featherweight: Cub Swanson (-105) vs. Nate Landwehr (-115)
    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes (-148) vs. Johnny Walker (+124)
    • Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes (-122) vs. Josh Hokit (+102)
    • Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (-205) vs. Paulo Costa (+170)
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Jiri Prochazka (-112) vs. Carlos Ulberg (-108)

    UFC 327 Predictions & Best Bets

    Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg: Jiri Prochazka has had a taste of the light heavyweight gold before, and he wants to taste it again. Prochazka, in fact, never lost the title in the Octagon. And the only person to get the better of him in the UFC? Alex Pereira — only one of the UFC’s best pound-for-pound athletes. Ulberg has a strong winning streak, and he’s got some solid finishes on his record. That said, looking at the history of Prochazka and Ulberg are two different stories. Prochazka has a better opponent history and way more experience on his side. Expect another highlight finish from BJP, who’ll become a two-time champion in the process. (Prediction: Prochazka) (Best Bet: Prochazka via KO/TKO/DQ [+140])

    Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa: This is going to be a matchup of two strikers who look to bring forward pressure to their opponent. It may be a slow start, but this fight is ultimately going to come down to who can overwhelm their opponent more. Costa might be able to handle Murzakanov’s power, but handling things at 185 is much different than handling power at 205. Expect Murzakanov to remain undefeated after this one. (Prediction: Murzakanov) (Best Bet: Murzakanov via KO/TKO/DQ [+200])

    Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit: Hokit is the younger fighter in a weak heavyweight division who has been making a lot of noise — for better or for worse. He’s got a lot of power, and some are probably hoping he knocks Blaydes out to surge up the rankings. But Blaydes is bigger, he’s got a lot more experience, he’s got championship fight experience, and he’s got wrestling that can give an inexperienced fighter like Hokit problems. Blaydes might be able to win this one, but unless we get a Hokit knockout, don’t expect fireworks here. (Prediction: Blaydes) (Best Bet: Blaydes via decision [+225])

    Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker: Of the five main card matchups, this one feels the most questionable. Six years ago or so, this was a top-10 light heavyweight matchup that is a certified banger. Now? This feels like a matchup where a loss puts the loser one fight away from falling out of the rankings. Both are solid strikers with some power, but both also have some susceptible chins. Reyes’ striking, especially the technical aspects of it, feels safer than the wild style of Walker. Walker might be entering this fight off the win, but Reyes’ momentum — and his loss to one of the night’s title challengers — feels like he should get the slight edge here. If you’re betting on either fighter in this fight, you might love living dangerously. (Prediction: Reyes) (Best Bet: Reyes via KO/TKO/DQ [+110])

    Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr: The legendary Cub Swanson gets his swan song on a numbered card stage in Miami. And he gets to take on Nate Landwehr? We’re in for a war! Watch the two of them look to explode with combinations and power, as they go toe-to-toe, strike-for-strike, in what should be an entertaining Fight of the Night nominee! If a winner had to be predicted, I’d expect the experienced Swanson to get his hand raised one last time. (Prediction: Swanson) (Best Bet: Swanson ML [-105])

    Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico: Amazingly, Pitbull vs. Pico never happened in the Bellator cage. It’s probably four or five years too soon, but we’re going to get this matchup, just in the UFC. Pico is somehow the favorite here, even though he got wrecked badly by Lerone Murphy at UFC 319. Pitbull might not have looked great in either of his UFC fights last year, but at least he has a win. Plus, Pitbull has a championship background. Pico has had a lot of hype and is a strong wrestler; however, Pitbull’s grappling and timing will probably lead him to a win. (Prediction: Pitbull) (Best Bet: Pitbull ML [+245])

    Mateusz Gamrot vs. Estevan Ribovics: There’s a pretty notable talking point around MMA experts that needs to be brought up and reiterated here. Yes, Gamrot got run over by Charles Oliveira in October; however, that’s Charles Oliveira we’re talking about. Ribovics has been in some fun scraps, but for Gamrot’s losses to come against Oliveira and Dan Hooker? Those aren’t bad losses in the slightest. Ribovics is a fun scrapper, but he hasn’t been tested against someone the likes of Gamrot. If Ribovics wins, he’s definitely earned a tougher test. But this might be too much, too soon. (Prediction: Gamrot) (Best Bet: Gamrot via decision [-120])

    Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown: This one sounds like a banger. Both Holland and Brown are known for their solid striking abilities. When Holland is on his game, he is one of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division. Holland probably has the edge with his grappling, but expect him to go into that if the fight goes to the ground naturally. This one’s probably going to end up a war. (Prediction: Holland) (Best Bet: Fight does NOT go the distance [-115])

    Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez: This is a solid matchup for the strawweight division. Suarez is on a mission to get back to a title shot after Weili Zhang handed her the first loss of her career. Godinez is looking to finally get that win that brings her to the top of the contender scenes. Both are strong grapplers, and Godinez has combinations that are effective. Suarez, however, has looked nearly unstoppable with her wrestling. Unless Godinez has really worked hard on her defense, Suarez’s wrestling is once again going to be a problem. (Prediction: Suarez) (Best Bet: Suarez via decision [+120])

    Chris Padilla vs. MarQuel Mederos: Padilla has had a little bit of a surprising, underdog-style run so far in the UFC. “Taco” has developed a nice little win streak for himself, and now he’s being matched up against Mederos, a tough up-and-comer with just one loss on his resume so far. There is still some to be desired for Mederos despite his hype. Mederos got the first-round finish in his DWCS appearance, but his first two Octagon performances weren’t great. He did seem to put things together in his UFC 318 win over Mark Choinski, however. Padilla’s striking, toughness, and opponent history give him the edge here; however, the better pick is about two tough guys that probably make this bout see the final horn. (Prediction: Padilla) (Best Bet: Fight goes the distance [-225])

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Vicente Luque: These are two scrappy veterans who are both looking to show they still matter. In Luque’s case, it’s a jump to 185 as he looks for a fresh start in a new weight class — but against a very tough and durable fighter in Gastelum. Both are strong strikers, though Luque might have a strong edge if this fight gets to the ground. Gastelum, however, has faced tougher competition. Luque’s health is a concern, but Luque being as big an underdog as he is might be a bit much. (Prediction: Luque) (Best Bet: Luque ML [+225])

    Charles Radtke vs. Francisco Prado: Both these fighters are looking to pick up major momentum with a win here. For Radtke, it’s been ups and downs of late. For Prado, he came into the UFC with momentum as a 10-0 fighter, and he’s just 1-4 since, potentially fighting for his employment here. Prado might have had a couple of tough matchups, but Radtke has faced interesting competition as well. Radtke’s power and wrestling should help him get the win here. (Prediction: Radtke) (Best Bet: Radtke ML [-175])

  • Dana White Drops Major Update On EA UFC 6 Release With Multiple Covers In Works

    Dana White Drops Major Update On EA UFC 6 Release With Multiple Covers In Works

    Dana White has officially confirmed that EA Sports UFC 6 is set to release later this year, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding the next installment in the franchise.

    The announcement came during a recent appearance on Adin Ross’ livestream on Kick, where White also revealed that key elements of the game have already been finalized.

    Dana White Confirms UFC 6 Release And Multiple Covers

    While discussing the upcoming title, White disclosed that the cover work has already been completed and that fans can expect more than one version of the game.

    “Did we announce the covers yet?” White said. “I was working on a cover that we were gonna do, but then we ended up going with the original plan we were going to go with.”

    He further clarified that the process had just recently wrapped up.

    “I didn’t even know it wasn’t announced yet… I literally just got done with it three days ago.”

    White then confirmed the key detail fans had been waiting for.

    “Yeah, [we’ll see UFC 6 this year], and there will be two covers.”

    Although no official names have been confirmed, speculation around the cover athletes is already gaining traction.

    During the stream, Ross guessed that Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev could be featured. White’s reaction strongly hinted that the guess wasn’t far off.

    Pereira, a former two-division champion, was recently seen filming promotional content with EA Sports, further fueling speculation about his involvement.

    The update aligns with recent online reports of the game appearing for pre-order in select international markets, suggesting that an official rollout could be approaching sooner than expected.

    As per Mike Straw of Insider Gaming the UFC 6 could feature changes to certain gameplay mechanics, while the grappling system is expected to remain largely similar, likely with refinements rather than a complete redesign.

    What To Expect From UFC 6 After UFC 5’s Evolution

    The previous installment, EA Sports UFC 5, launched in October 2023 and introduced several notable upgrades that elevated the gameplay experience.

    The game featured cinematic replays that highlighted key fight moments with improved lighting and visual fidelity. It also brought in new animations for ground-and-pound sequences, including elbows and body strikes, along with expanded striking options such as spinning attacks and calf kicks.

    Additionally, the Frostbite engine played a major role in enhancing realism, delivering more detailed fighter damage and a more immersive presentation overall.

    With UFC 6, expectations are that EA Sports will build on that foundation rather than overhaul it completely. Early indications suggest a major shift in gameplay mechanics, while the grappling system may remain largely similar with refinements for smoother transitions.