UFC 321 is just a couple of days away, featuring a pair of title fights headlining the show. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 321, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The 11th UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, October 25.
UFC 321 will be headlined by Tom Aspinall defending the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane.
The co-main event will see a new UFC women’s strawweight champion crowned when Virna Jandiroba rematches Mackenzie Dern.
The rest of the main card features a bantamweight battle between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator featuring Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and a light heavyweight showdown as Aleksandar Rakic takes on Azamat Murzakanov.
Watch The UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall disagrees with fans and media members who are downplaying Ciryl Gane’s abilities ahead of UFC 321.
On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. While many believe that the Englishman is the obvious favorite to leave with the championship wrapped around his waist, others think that Gane serves as a pretty interesting underdog in this fight.
Either way, it’s a fight that has been brewing for quite some time now with both guys long since being viewed as the next generation of heavyweight stars. If Gane wins, a rematch seems likely down the line – but even if he doesn’t, this first fight is bound to answer a lot of questions about where both guys are at in their respective careers.
In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall made it clear that those who don’t believe Ciryl Gane deserves to be here are wrong.
Tom Aspinall praises Ciryl Gane
“I think there’s this notion with the media and maybe the fans that Ciryl is not very good, which is just complete bullsh*t,” Aspinall told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think that he’s really, really good. He’s super talented, he’s been at the top of the division for a number of years, which is not easy to do.
“He’s been an interim champion himself. He’s obviously had two title shots for the undisputed title, as well, so I think the guy is really good. I’ve took him extremely, extremely seriously. The fact that people expect it to be an easy fight, I don’t read into that at all. I’m prepared for a really hard fight.”
UFC legend Max Holloway has made his feelings known when it comes to bare-knuckle boxing and slap fighting.
One thing we all know to be true is that Max Holloway is an absolute icon in the world of mixed martial arts. Throughout the course of his incredible career, he has been able to accomplish some incredible things. Along the way, he’s also fought some of the best to ever do it, which tells you a lot about the kind of warrior mentality he has.
Of course, there are limits to what a fighter is willing to do. Alongside mixed martial arts and boxing, there’s recently been a surge in interest with regards to bare-knuckle boxing and slap fighting, with the latter being something that UFC boss Dana White is heavily involved in.
During a recent stream, Max Holloway made his feelings pretty clear on both of these forms of combat.
Max Holloway is NOT interested in fighting Bare Knuckle 😭
“That’s the most stupidest thing ever in the world. When I’m retired, I’m retired bro.”
Max Holloway gives his thoughts on bare-knuckle and slap fighting
“I ain’t ever going to bare-knuckle fighting. That’s the most stupidest thing ever in the world,” Holloway said on a recent live stream (h/t Championship Rounds). “When I’m retired, I’m retired. I’ll maybe do a boxing match but not a bare-knuckle one. That’s f*cking ridiculous.
“People that do that, it’s next level. People that do slap, bare-knuckle, bro, you guys are crazy. You guys are actually crazy. Like, the slap one is so nuts. Like, why would I want to stay there and just be like, ‘Yeah, you can slap me, I slap you.’ That’s f*cking crazy.”
UFC star Ciryl Gane has said he won’t be bothered if Tom Aspinall decides to put his hand on his shoulder ahead of their fight this weekend.
On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321. It serves as a big moment for both men as Tom attempts to further prove the hype is real, whereas Gane wants to break his 0-2 record in world title fights in the UFC.
Of course, both men are known for being great strikers, and we expect to see that on full display in this encounter. In one of his previous big fights, Aspinall put his hand on the shoulder of his opponent Sergei Pavlovich right before the fight began, which some saw as a strange move at the time, and others saw as a sign of respect.
In a recent interview, Ciryl Gane made it clear that he doesn’t mind it Aspinall does the same thing to him.
Ciryl Gane’s view on Tom Aspinall’s pre-fight Pavlovich move
“I saw the talk about Tom putting his hand on opponents’ shoulders. For me, I’m going to let him do this — it means nothing. Maybe that didn’t come from him, maybe it came from people around him. But me, I don’t take that kind of thing personally. It’s not smart to play mind games.”
Regardless of what happens before the fight, the actual bout itself is what looks set to be one of the most intriguing features of the MMA calendar this year.
UFC star Bo Nickal has explained his previous comments regarding his ability to “ragdoll” Khamzat Chimaev if they ever fought.
While Bo Nickal had an incredibly bright start to his mixed martial arts career in the wake of his sensational run in amateur wrestling, many weren’t big fans of how confident or ‘cocky’ he was being in the media. Then, when he was beaten decisively by Reinier de Ridder, there were even more questions regarding his long term future in the sport.
Of course, Bo Nickal is a champion at heart and he wants to go out there and prove he can hang with the very best. Bo has plenty of experience when it comes to dealing with adversity and when he battles Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322, he’ll be hoping that he can showcase what he’s been able to learn ever since his loss to RDR earlier this year.
Once upon a time, Bo Nickal suggested that he would ragdoll Khamzat Chimaev if they ever met in a competitive environment, which certainly raised a few eyebrows. In a recent interview, he decided to clarify exactly what he meant by that.
Bo Nickal backtracks on Khamzat Chimaev comments
“All the stuff I said about ragdolling him — that was about wrestling, not an MMA fight. In a straight-up freestyle or collegiate match, it’s not competitive. I’m a three-time national champ, a world champion — I’ve beaten the best in the world. But in MMA, that’s a war. That’s a scrap. I’ve got to win fights first, but one day that matchup would be incredible.”
Ciryl Gane can potentially end up on the throne of UFC’s heavyweight division after this weekend and would welcome a challenge from Alex Pereira if ‘Poatan’ jumped up into the weight category. Gane is vying for the heavyweight crown once again, with the former interim champion hoping that the adage of the third time’s the charm will shine through after two failed bids at the undisputed crown previously.
On October 25th, Gane will try to claim the strap from UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, with the title challenger taking part in media obligations at the UFC 321 pre-fight media day proceedings. When an on-site media member mentioned past comments from Pereira about being curious about a heavyweight move and what the former UFC interim champion would think of the UFC’s light heavyweight champion moving up, in video footage provided by MMA Junkie, Gane said,
“Alex Pereira at heavyweight? Beautiful idea. He’s a very dangerous fighter, very marketable, a beautiful story. He’s built himself so well, and like Jon Jones, he can make that move. It’s exciting to watch.”
Ciryl Gane feels no pressure regarding his drought in undisputed UFC title bids
Ciryl Gane does not seem to have a meaningful shadow cast over him from his previous title fights with Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou not panning out for him.
The French fighter was questioned at the same referenced pre-fight media day if those Jones and Ngannou setbacks played into his mindset at all, as Gane stated [via Lowkick MMA],
“The pressure is less this time, for sure. I remember my first big fight against Francis Ngannou — the storytelling, the media, everything around it was huge.”
“And then there was Jon Jones — still a big fight but a little less noise. For Tom, there’s less pressure again. I feel calmer, more focused.”
Gane could also find himself in a similar historical spot to someone like Chael Sonnen insofar as a title challenger who put together a 0-3 ledger in undisputed title bids.
UFC star Mackenzie Dern has reflected on the journey that led her to competing for a world title this weekend.
On Saturday night, Mackenzie Dern will face Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight championship. This moment has been a long time coming for both fighters, and it takes place five years after their first battle – which Dern was able to win. Of course, both are at very different points in their career now, and this is the biggest opportunity either of them has ever had.
For Mackenzie Dern, this is the moment for her to try and live up to the potential that many believe she’d had ever since entering the promotion. While she’s experienced her fair share of setbacks, Dern has been able to bounce back time and time again – and now, she’s ready to grab that gold with both hands.
In a recent interview, Mackenzie Dern made it known that she still has to pinch herself about how her career has played out up to this point.
Mackenzie Dern reflects on UFC journey
“It’s crazy, it’s like I still need to pinch myself. Not that I don’t think I deserve it, but it’s crazy to see how everything worked out through all the ups and downs. I never imagined that a win five years ago would set me up for this moment the way it did.”
Of course, it must be said that Jandiroba has also been on an incredible journey, and she’ll be just as motivated to get over that finish line.
The Brazilian-American strawweight Mackenzie Dern has built her UFC career around this shoulder lock, turning what many consider a low-percentage submission into her signature weapon. Soon she will be competing for the vacant strawweight world title at UFC 321. Ahead of her October 25 matchup, she reflected on her championship career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Mackenzie Dern’s Favorite Submission
On her favorite submission, speaking during a pre-fight UFC 321 press conference, she explained:
“My favorite submission is the omoplata. I attack it a lot — I did it against Amanda Ribas, Marina Rodriguez, Yan Xiaonan. Even if I don’t finish it, it’s always there. But whatever happens, I just see myself winning.”
Omoplata
The omoplata might not look like much from the outside, but for Mackenzie Dern, it represents a blend of technique, strategy, and opportunity. The omoplata, which means “scapula” in Portuguese, uses the legs and hips to hyperextend an opponent’s shoulder joint beyond its normal range of motion. The technique involves placing one leg under the opponent’s armpit and rotating 180 degrees, with the leg moving over the opponent’s back and around their arm. The submission is completed by controlling the opponent’s body and applying pressure to force the shoulder into an unnatural position.
What makes Dern’s relationship with the omoplata particularly fascinating is how she employs it as a multi-tool rather than just a finishing move. Against Marina Rodriguez in 2021, Dern secured an omoplata on Rodriguez’s back but couldn’t complete the submission before time expired. Similarly, in her battle with Yan Xiaonan, she used the omoplata to transition into an arm triangle choke, demonstrating the technique’s versatility as a gateway to other attacks.
UFC and BJJ
Her most recent victory against Amanda Ribas showcased this perfectly. With about a minute remaining in the second round, Dern threw up an omoplata to escape a bad position, using it as a defensive tool before eventually winning via armbar in the third round. This sequence highlighted how the omoplata serves multiple purposes in her game.
Dern’s mastery of this technique stems from her extraordinary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background. She holds a third-degree black belt under her father Wellington “Megaton” Dias, himself a coral belt and BJJ legend. Her competitive resume reads like a who’s who of grappling achievements: 2015 ADCC World Champion, multiple-time IBJJF World Champion, and the only female competitor to win gold medals at all five major IBJJF Gi championships.
Her father’s influence cannot be overstated. Wellington Dias, who earned his nickname “Megaton” for his explosive judo-inspired throws, received his black belt from Royler Gracie at age 18 and became the first coral belt to compete at IBJJF World Championships. This lineage shows in Mackenzie’s technical approach.
In the UFC, Dern currently holds the record for most submission wins in the women’s strawweight division with five, tied for second-most in all UFC women’s divisions. Her submission rate of 53% across 20 professional fights demonstrates how effectively she translates her grappling skills to mixed martial arts.
The technique’s effectiveness lies in its deceptive nature. While opponents prepare for Dern’s more obvious submission threats like armbars and rear naked chokes, the omoplata often appears organically from scrambles and transitions. Against Tecia Torres, she had both kimura and leg lock opportunities but acknowledged being “too respectful” with her finishing attempts. This mindset shift toward a more aggressive approach has coincided with her recent success.
Dern’s use of the omoplata also is related to larger changes in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Once considered a low-percentage technique, the omoplata gained prominence in the 1990s through innovators like Nino Schembri. Today, it’s recognized as both submission and sweeping mechanism, exactly how Dern employs it in the octagon.
UFC 321
Her recent performance against Amanda Ribas demonstrated this evolution perfectly. Rather than hunting for the finish at all costs, Dern used the omoplata threat to create scrambles, improve positions, and ultimately set up the fight-ending armbar.
Mackenzie Dern is looking to use her favorite submission, the omoplata, this weekend when she faces Virna Jandiroba for the UFC strawweight world title live from Abu Dhabi.
Mike Malott doesn’t feel like the low shots landed to Kevin Holland were of a damaging magnitude that the latter presented it to be. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Canadian combatant discussed several subjects in the fall out of his big win on home spoil.
Malott was the partisan favorite at UFC Vancouver and emerged with a win over a tenured UFC vet in Holland but the victory did not come without a touch of controversy attached to it. Low blows took place throughout the bout with Holland being on the receiving end of the errant shots with some detractors describing Malott as a dirty fighter in the wake of those illegal strikes.
When touching on those aforementioned elements of what happened in the British Columbia-based co-main event, Malott said,
“It definitely wasn’t the groin shot that it was acted out to be. There might have been a brushing of the cup, but I mostly hit him in the belt line, hip area.”
“I was a little bit frustrated with it especially afterwards. It wasn’t a bad groin shot. I think he really wanted a point deducted and I think there was a little bit of embellishment there.”
Mike Malott and Kevin Holland’s tense post-fight exchange at UFC Vancouver
Mike Malott and Kevin Holland fought things out in the confines of the cage. But there was a certain level of interacting after their clash following the debacle with the low blows and the officiating oversights some saw in how that was all handled. During the embedded interview above with Helwani, Malott mentioned that he went to apologize to Holland backstage but that the gesture was not accepted.
As the surging welterweight touched on the fact that he was sorry about the unintentional low strikes, Malott mentioned Holland responded by describing that as cheap. Mike Malott also mentioned that the UFC Canada cameras were following him and captured an instance of Holland stating how he could not respect Malott going forward after what had just transpired.
Ham Seo Hee has now entered free agency and seems to have left on amicable enough terms while also indicating great enthusiasm for the future. The news likely does not come as a surprise to anyone who actively follows the ONE Championship scene being that it has been over two years since the 38-year-old has competed in the ONE Circle. That outing saw Ham Seo Hee take a loss to multi-sport ONE Championship titleholder Stamp Fairtex at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023.
That setback represented Ham’s first loss in close to a decade with her prior MMA defeat coming during her UFC tenure when she was noticeably outsized fighting at a higher weight. Prior to the Stamp setback in the Fall of 2023, Ham put together a nine fight win streak against huge names like Ayaka Hamasaki as well as two wins over current ONE Championship atomweight titleholder Denice Zamboanga.
“I’m officially a free agent now!!! I had a difficult time because I couldn’t compete for 2 years, but I had a great time. I’ll come back in a great promotion to show me again!!!!”
Ham Seo Hee and her huge resume in mixed martial arts
Ham Seo Hee is a well travelled individual with title accolades across multiple promotions which would likely behoove her in negotiations going forward. The Jewels atomweight title, the Road FC atomweight strap, and the Rizin super atomweight championship are all prizes that ‘Hamderlei Silva’ has adorned on her mantle.
Ham made her professional MMA debut in February 2007 with a bit of an inauspicious start going 3-3 in her first six fights, albeit while fighting legends like Megumi Fujii who many see as the women’s MMA GOAT. The South Korean combatant would go on a notable run in MMA as well as Shoot Boxing before embarking on a UFC run that lasted from December 2014 to November 2016.
The latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the UFC rankings toward contention and others fall away.
And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Vancouver, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.
Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.
Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Despite her win at UFC Vancouver, Manon Fiorot falls one spot in the rankings to No. 5, as does Julianna Pena (to No. 6). Natalia Silva moves up two spots to No. 4.
Women’s Strawweight: No changes.
Women’s Flyweight: Following her win at UFC Vancouver, Manon Fiorot moves up one spot to No. 1, swapping places with Natalia Silva.
The woman Fiorot defeated, Jasmine Jasudavicius, falls two spots to No. 7. Maycee Barber and Rose Namajunas each move up one spot to No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.
Flyweight: No changes.
Bantamweight: Following his UFC Vancouver win, Aiemann Zahabi moves up two spots to No. 7. The man he defeated, Marlon Vera, and Mario Bautista fall one spot each to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.
Additionally, Rob Font moves up one spot to No. 12, swapping places with Vinicius Oliveira (No. 13).
Featherweight: No changes.
Lightweight: No changes.
Welterweight: Following his win at UFC Vancouver, Mike Malott enters the rankings at No. 15, replacing the man he defeated, Kevin Holland, who falls off the list.
Middleweight: Following his win at UFC Vancouver, Brendan Allen moves up four spots to No. 5. The man he defeated, Reinier de Ridder, falls four spots to No. 8. Additionally, Anthony Hernandez moves up two spots to No. 4, while Israel Adesanya drops one spot to No. 6.
Robert Whittaker falls one spot to No. 9. Jared Cannonier moves up one spot, tying with Michael Page for the No. 10 position.
UFC star Maycee Barber has spoken about why she believes any issues regarding weight cuts are now firmly in the past.
Following a long spell on the shelf due to injury, Maycee Barber is set to return to the cage later this year at UFC 323. She will battle Karine Silva and if she’s able to pick up a comprehensive victory, there’s every chance that she could be just one or two more wins away from a championship opportunity. Of course, one of the big parts of earning that would be proving that she’s 100% healthy.
Maycee Barber has struggled with both weight cuts and injuries in her career, leaving some to wonder whether or not she’ll truly be able to live up to her potential. Alas, it certainly feels like the 27-year-old is starting to come out the other side of it, which can only be a good thing for the women’s flyweight division.
In a recent interview, Barber spoke candidly about her health problems and any role that had in her weight cuts in the past.
Maycee Barber discusses weight cutting and health concerns
“We put our bodies through a lot — especially as females. We’re asking them to train, perform, cut weight, and still function normally. At the end of the day, we’re still human. I don’t think my problems came from weight cutting; I think my health issues actually played a part in that cut.
“I’m one of those fighters who will go until someone tells me to stop, and unfortunately, this time it was my own body — and the entire UFC — saying, ‘You can’t do this right now.’”
MMA legend Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller has given his thoughts on the potential superfight that’s brewing between Alex Pereira and Jon Jones.
Ever since his iconic win at UFC 320, Alex Pereira has been making it known that he is interested in squaring off with Jon Jones in a blockbuster superfight. If it happens, you’d have to imagine that the goal would be for it to take place on the UFC White House card, perhaps serving as the main event of the show.
Alex Pereira clearly respects Jon Jones and vice versa, but Dana White hasn’t been willing to commit to putting ‘Bones’ on the card – largely because of how he handled the Tom Aspinall situation.
In a recent interview, the aforementioned ‘Mayhem’ Miller weighed in on what he believes should happen.
Jason Miller’s view on Alex Pereira vs Jon Jones
“100% should happen. 100% should happen.”
“Well, Jon Jones I see that fight a lot closer than people would think. Everyone likes to defer, ‘Oh, Jon will win that one.’ And that is the inkling in the back of my head. He’s a more complete martial artist and at this stage in his career bigger.”
“Do I want Poatan to win? Yeah. Yeah. A little bit. I do. Because this guy has the romantic story. I don’t know, all that story could be fluff they made up. But man, working at the tire shop, some manly stuff. Hey, I did that myself… He went through his struggles. He overcame it. Kickboxing champion.”
UFC star Mackenzie Dern has explained how playing poker, in her mind, has helped her to become a better mixed martial artist.
On Saturday night, Mackenzie Dern will get the chance of a lifetime. She will go head to head with Virna Jandiroba as the two battle it out for the UFC strawweight championship. This will be the second time that they fight one another in the UFC, and when they first met five years ago, it was Dern who managed to get her hand raised.
While there will undoubtedly be some changes that both women implement heading into the rematch, Mackenzie Dern is bound to be feeling confident. She is just one big performance and win away from cementing her legacy as a UFC champion, something that she’s been striving for ever since she first entered the promotion.
In a recent interview, Dern revealed that there’s something pretty interesting that she believes has been helping her in the last twelve months – poker.
Mackenzie Dern explains positive impact of playing poker
“Poker’s helped me control my emotions. I’m very impulsive, but in poker, you have to learn patience — folding, reading people, waiting for the right moment. It’s helped me become a better fighter, to be honest. I started playing about a year ago, and since then, I’m on a two-fight win streak. I think there’s a correlation there.”
Dern knows the size of the task that lies ahead of her, but if she’s able to stay calm under pressure, she’ll be well on her way to the title.
UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakic has spoken about how he’s mixed things up heading into his UFC 321 bout with Azamat Murzakanov.
On Saturday night, Aleksandar Rakic will make his return to the cage when he locks horns with Azamat Murzakanov. In his last three fights, Rakic has suffered defeats at the hands of Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev. If he’s serious about one day becoming a world champion in the UFC, he can’t afford too many losses – especially against a surging challenger like Murzakanov.
Aleksandar Rakic has always been pretty highly thought of by mixed martial arts fans, but whether it be due to injuries or stumbling on the big stage, he hasn’t quite been able to reach that next level. If he can hand Murzakanov his first ever professional loss in the sport, and do so convincingly, it could go a long way to repairing his reputation.
In a recent interview, Rakic had the following to say about what he’s changed as we get closer and closer to fight night in Abu Dhabi.
Aleksandar Rakic discusses changes ahead of UFC 321
“I changed teams. I changed my whole team. I have a new head coach, training in Serbia full-time, and yeah, it took me like one year exactly now from the last fight to digest everything and to work with the new team and to get clicked. And I believe you will see on Saturday night the full potential of Alexander Rakic.”
Can he turn things around? We’ll have to wait and see.
UFC veteran Marlon Vera has revealed what his team has told him to work on in the wake of his controversial defeat to Aiemann Zahabi.
On Saturday night, Marlon Vera suffered a narrow loss at the hands of Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Vancouver. As we look ahead to the future, many have already started to question what kind of future he has in the division – whereas others are busy suggesting that ‘Chito’ was actually robbed of a victory by the judges.
Marlon Vera is the kind of fighter who will be able to bounce back from this latest disappointment but at the same time, a win here could’ve really vaulted him back into contention. In an interview after the event, Vera had the following to say.
Marlon Vera reveals advice from team after UFC Vancouver
“After the fight, I was hurt but didn’t want to celebrate. I went back to my room, showered, and stayed there with my team talking for hours. We talked about pushing faster in the first round. Life gives you hurdles and obstacles, you jump them or go around them. It’s part of the road and it’s okay.”
Vera needs to get back to being the kind of explosive, dominant fighter that he was once upon a time – and if he’s able to do that, then perhaps he can start to string a bit of a run together. Either way, you’d have to imagine he’ll fancy a second showdown with Zahabi at some point in the future.
While there is paramount respect for both mixed martial artists, a former undercard fighter on a Ciryl Gane event sees the French fighter faltering against Tom Aspinall this weekend. Khalid Taha is the fighter in question and he expressed this ahead of his clash with Edgar Delgado Jimenez at Oktagon 75 on September 13th.
Taha appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts and we reflected back on when he fought on the UFC Paris card that was headlined by Ciryl Gane against Tai Tuivasa. When asked for his thoughts on the Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane heavyweight title fight at UFC 321 on October 25th, Taha said,
“Honestly, both are very, very well-rounded and talented heavyweights. Both move like welterweights. They are both huge monsters and I like the striking of both, but I’m leaning towards [Tom] Aspinall.”
“Because Aspinall is in my eyes like a more aggressive fighter, you know. He’s looking more for the finish. Ciryl Gane is like; he moves a lot.”
“He moves very nice, very well. He has very good boxing, very good kicks, sidekicks, teeps, everything. But I see Aspinall is like in his total prime. He’s going to go forward and gonna go for the finish I think.”
Tom Aspinall looks to do “what a champion should do” while working in a bit of a Jon Jones dig
Tom Aspinall looks to notch this first undisputed UFC title defense after previously defending his interim strap last year and then seek becoming an active champion thereafter. The UK combatant also worked in a slight bit of a crack at the former champion Jon Jones with their infamous saga playing out in such a way where Aspinall was kept sidelined waiting for clarification on if a ‘Bones’ title unification fight would happen and for a cartoonishly long time period.
During a conversation with UFC Europe, the reigning UFC champion was touching on how excited he was to return after Tom Aspinall has been out of action for over a year now, as Aspinall stated [via Bloody Elbow],
“I’ve always been in the gym, but it’s nice to have a goal — to have an opponent. I just want to be the champion who fights often, regularly, and fights the best guys.”
“I don’t wanna be one of those guys who take big breaks in between, ’cause that’s what happened. Nothing to do with me.”
“I’m ready to put a stop to that — be active, be an active champion, be a defending champion, and fight the best guys, number one contenders. And that’s what a champion should do — fight the number one contenders.”
UFC star Mackenzie Dern has opened up on a potential fight against Zhang Weili, who recently vacated the UFC strawweight championship.
As we know, Mackenzie Dern will battle Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight title on Saturday night. She will do so in the main event of UFC 321, and in Jandiroba, she’ll be facing an opponent that she’s already fought and beaten once before.
Of course, this is going to be a very different fight given that it’s been five years since their first meeting. For Mackenzie Dern, though, it’s all about staying humble, and keeping her feet on the ground.
With that in mind, it’s pretty interesting to hear her thoughts on how a fight between her and Zhang Weili would’ve played out at this stage in her career.
Mackenzie Dern’s view on possible Zhang Weili fight
“I definitely think that if Weili was champion right now of our division, and I mean, obviously, I wouldn’t say no to a title shot, but I don’t think I’d be ready to fight Weili right now at this moment of my career, you know what I mean?,” Dern told MMA Fighting. “But I do think that if I do win the belt, and then whatever — if we were to fight like at the White House or something in June — I feel like I’d be way more ready and prepared to fight her.
“I know it’s like, OK, it’s just like what? Like six months or eight months difference. How much better do you think you’re going to get in 8 months? But I think just winning the bell, there’s a confidence part that you get from that, and it’s just more training and more time. She was just so dominant in the strawweight division.”
UFC star Manon Fiorot is eager to stay active in the wake of her dominant win over Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Vancouver.
After her disappointing loss to Valentina Shevchenko when she attempted to claim the UFC women’s flyweight title, some questioned what would be next for Manon Fiorot. On Saturday night, she answered that question, and she did so in fairly dominant fashion, establishing herself as a legitimate title contender once again.
Of course, there’s still a notable road back to the gold for her, but Fiorot seems as confident as she’s ever been – which is a great sign given the loss she suffered at the hands of one of the greatest female fighters of all time.
After the win, Manon Fiorot made it known that she wants to get back in there as quickly as possible.
Manon Fiorot’s post-UFC Vancouver plans
“I made a lot of adjustments in my training camp, my training partners and my coach, but yeah, absolutely it was a perfect scenario for me,” Fiorot said speaking to reporters at the UFC Fight Night 262 post-fight press conference.
“I’m very disappointed every time I lose, but I think I made a good change and a good adjustment in my life and training camp. Tonight is a result of a good change,” Fiorot said.
“To be honest, I don’t care. I just want to fight as soon as possible,” Fiorort said when asked about any specific opponents. “Whoever the UFC chooses for me, I’ll take the fight.”
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has once again made it clear that he is interested in heading up to light heavyweight to battle Alex Pereira for a second world title.
Following his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he wants to stay fairly active. There are a handful of potential challengers for him in the middleweight division, but given what we all know about ‘Borz’, it certainly feels like his preference is to venture up to 205 pounds in order to try and win a second belt.
While that may be an interesting idea, the current champ Alex Pereira doesn’t seem overly interested in this. Instead, he wants to battle it out with Jon Jones in the heavyweight division, and he wants to do it at next summer’s history UFC White House event.
In a recent podcast appearance, Khamzat Chimaev had the following to say about a potential collision with Pereira.
Khamzat Chimaev wants Alex Pereira fight
“I would love to fight for the second belt,” Chimaev said on the Badaev Podcast. “It’s no secret, the guy who’s got the belt at 205 pounds [Pereira] now is a very good matchup for me.”
“They say he has a lot of power, but I’ve never been edged out in that area. He used to fight at 185, too, and then moved up to 205. So I would like to fight at light heavyweight.”
Tom Aspinall‘s father and head coach Andy isn’t too concerned about Ciryl Gane heading into the UFC 321 main event this weekend.
On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of the evening over in Abu Dhabi. While many are expecting the Englishman to successfully retain his belt, there’s always a chance that Gane can provide some kind of upset. After all, he’s a dynamic striker, and he’s been in there against some of the best in the heavyweight division.
Tom Aspinall is incredibly talented but as we know, he hasn’t gone beyond the first round a whole lot in his mixed martial arts career. If Gane can take him there on Saturday, who knows what could happen?
Either way, Aspinall’s father doesn’t seem too worried about what Gane can offer as a challenger.
Tom Aspinall's dad isn't too worried about Ciryl Gane 🤷♂️
"He's a good point fighter… he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom's a lot more clinical. I don't think his skill set will cause [Tom] issues at all." #UFC321pic.twitter.com/u4rdBta6lq
“Ciryl Gane, he’s a good point fighter for me. He’s a kickbox, flicker, and toucher. He finishes fights but he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom is a lot more clinical. I don’t think his skill set will cause him issues at all.”
Aspinall has the ability to take people down, but Gane knows that’s also been a weak part of his game historically. Who knows, maybe instead of a striking affair, we wind up with some interesting grappling exchanges.
Whatever happens, there will be plenty of eyes on this main event from around the division.
UFC star Islam Makhachev has joked about needing new haters in the wake of receiving praise from former opponent Dan Hooker.
At UFC 322 next month, Islam Makhachev will move up to welterweight in order to challenge for his second UFC title. He will do so against Jack Della Maddalena, and while many believe that Islam has what it takes to get the job done, it’s also been noted that the size difference could prove to be a problem for him – especially after what JDM was able to do in his title fight with Belal Muhammad, who is also a wrestle-heavy kind of fighter.
For Islam Makhachev, winning over critics hasn’t always been the easiest thing, but it’s also never really been his primary objective. He goes out there to put on a show, and now, he’s planning on making history by joining an exclusive group of fighters who have been able to win a UFC title in two different weight classes.
After Dan Hooker recently praised Makhachev for his eagerness to step up to this kind of challenge, Islam couldn’t help but respond on social media.
After Islam Makhachev read about Dan Hooker praising him, he came to X to share his feelings on witnessing an old foe become a fan in the most Islam Makhachev way possible. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0zSLQu0W7y
Islam Makhachev responds to Dan Hooker praising him
“Need new haters, the old ones are starting to like me [sunglasses emoji]”.
Makhachev knows that there’s a real risk associated with facing someone like JDM, but if he can win the fight and do so convincingly, it’ll be pretty hard to argue against him being the number one pound for pound fighter in the sport.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria appears set to defend his title against Paddy Pimblett in January 2026, according to Shem Rock, a training partner of the Liverpool contender who spoke recently about the potential matchup.
Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett in 2026
Rock, who trains alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, offered insight into his teammate’s preparation and the likelihood of the bout materializing. The newly-signed UFC fighter shared his perspective on what would mark the first UFC event of 2026 and the inaugural numbered card under the promotion’s new Paramount broadcast deal. Speaking to Kyle Diamond of Bloody Elbow, Shem Rock explained:
”What I think and what’s really happening might be two different things, but to me, Paddy versus Ilia makes sense,” Rock said. “He’s a big star; Ilia’s a big star. First pay-per-view of the year should be that. And look — Paddy’s training twice a week sparring, twice a week lifting, every week getting massages. He’s not doing that for fun. He’s training for a reason.”
The matchup has gained momentum following reports that the UFC originally planned to grant Justin Gaethje the next lightweight title shot. However, multiple sources indicate the promotion pivoted to Topuria-Pimblett to maximize viewership for their first Paramount event, a fight expected to capture more attention given the heated history between the two fighters.
Topuria captured the vacant UFC lightweight championship in June at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira. The Georgian-Spanish fighter, who holds a perfect 17-0 record, became just the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes after previously reigning as featherweight champion. Following his victory, Topuria immediately called out Pimblett, leading to a confrontation inside the octagon where the champion shoved his rival and the two exchanged heated words.
Pimblett has positioned himself for a title shot after dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April, securing a third-round technical knockout that extended his UFC record to 7-0. The Liverpool fighter climbed to number 10 in the lightweight rankings following the victory and has been vocal about wanting to face Topuria next.
The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett dates back to March 2022, when they clashed physically at the fighters’ hotel during a UFC event in London. The confrontation stemmed from a social media post by Pimblett in early 2021 that referenced the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, which Topuria found deeply offensive as several people he knew had died in the conflict. During the London altercation, Pimblett threw a hand sanitizer bottle at Topuria, who retaliated before being restrained by his team.
Since then, the animosity has remained constant across social media and UFC events. The two fighters were placed on the same card again at UFC 282 in December 2022, where tensions nearly boiled over at the pre-fight press conference. Security intervened to prevent another physical confrontation as Topuria attempted to approach Pimblett during the media obligations.
UFC 324 on Paramount
UFC president Dana White has indicated that Topuria is a possibility to headline the first major UFC card on Paramount in January 2026. The promotion signed a broadcast rights deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion over seven years, set to begin on January 1, 2026. While White has not officially confirmed the matchup, he told reporters after the Contender Series that matchmaking for the inaugural Paramount card began in mid-October.
The fight would likely take place at UFC 324 in Los Angeles on January 10, though the UFC has not made an official announcement. Topuria addressed the possibility during a press conference in Georgia, describing his participation in the January card as “very possible.” When asked about potential opponents, he left little doubt about his preference for facing Pimblett, citing their history and the demand from fans.
Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has maintained that his client deserves the title shot based on his ranking and experience in the division. However, the UFC appears to have prioritized the more marketable and combustible matchup between Topuria and Pimblett for the high-profile Paramount debut.
Pimblett has publicly stated he believes the fight will happen soon, recently suggesting on social media that he has already signed his contract while claiming Topuria has not yet done so. The Liverpool fighter has been open about his training focus, acknowledging that his striking timing needs improvement if he faces Topuria but expressing confidence in his grappling abilities.
Rock’s comments about Pimblett’s consistent training regimen align with the fighter’s known dedication during camp periods. Despite gaining significant weight between fights, Pimblett has successfully made the 155-pound lightweight limit for all his UFC appearances, including a documented 40-pound cut for UFC 314.
As the first numbered event under the new Paramount deal, UFC 324 represents a critical moment for the promotion to establish its partnership with a new broadcast platform. The organization appears to be banking on Topuria and Pimblett’s star power and genuine animosity to deliver a memorable main event that sets the tone for future Paramount cards.
Topuria enters as the favorite based on his status as the reigning champion and number one pound-for-pound fighter. His rise through two divisions has been marked by dominant victories over elite competition, including knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira. This bout would mark only his second fight at lightweight, but the 28-year-old has already proven he belongs among the division’s best.
Pimblett remains undefeated in the UFC since joining from Cage Warriors over four years ago, building a reputation for dramatic finishes and pre-fight entertainment. While bookmakers and analysts are expected to install him as a significant underdog, the British fighter has consistently exceeded expectations and remains confident he can shock the world.
As Rock observed from his position training alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, the signs point to a fight happening sooner rather than later. Whether the matchup receives official confirmation in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but the pieces appear to be falling into place for one of the most anticipated grudge matches in recent UFC history.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov will close out the year with a big defense of his 125 pound crown that Oktagon MMA has just recently announced. The first ever Kazakhstan fighter to hold gold in Oktagon MMA title will defend his belt soon enough as Zhalgas Zhumagulov will clash with another ex-UFC vet in David Dvořák. This transpires at Oktagon 81 which emanates from O2 Arena in Prague on Sunday, December 28th.
Zhumagulov previously held a Fight Nights Global belt and that piece on his resume helped him secure a punched ticket to the UFC cage circa 2020. During his UFC tenure, Zhumagulov competed with globally praised names like Manel Kape, Amir Albazi, and Joshua Van. The first foray into the Oktagon cage for Zhumagulov came in November 2024, where he put on a thorough performance. The clear victory over Aaron Aby, which came via unanimous decision, and followed that up with an Oktagon MMA championship win which happened just a few months prior against Beno Adamia.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. David Dvořák Oktagon 81 title bout overview
Conversely for Dvořák, he initially fought in Oktagon in 2019, halting Arsen Taigibov with a second round submission. After that, Dvořák would ply his trade in the UFC. After putting together a .500 record there across six contests, the man known as ‘Undertaker’ has since came back to the Oktagon MMA cage. In September, the 33 year-old stopped Mohammed Walid with an emphatic first round knockout and is now en route to a shot at championship glory. The Czech combatant aims to ascend to the 125 pound throne on December 28th and enter 2026 with all the momentum one can have as an Oktagon MMA flyweight.
The Oktagon 81 lineup just keeps building up in a big way as Patrik Kincl vs. Robert Pukač, Kaik Brito vs. Amiran Gogoladze, and Jonas Mågård vs. Elvis Silva are also booked fights that bolster the massive year-end Oktagon MMA event.
Despite taking this fight on short notice after an injury to Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, Brendan Allen lived up to his promise to break Reinier De Ridder, forcing the corner of the two-division ONE champion to throw in the towel after four rounds to give him the win in the main event of UFC Vancouver.
De Ridder looked to use his size early, quickly locking up Allen in a clinch battle seconds into the bout. RDR managed to land a takedown about a minute later, with de Ridder searching for an arm-triangle choke. When Allen defended that, de Ridder looked to transition to the back. RDR worked the rest of the first from the back, landing punches and searching for the rear-naked choke and a late armbar attempt.
Allen looked to apply striking pressure to start the second round, but RDR quickly pinned him against the fence and scored a takedown. Halfway through the round, however, Allen managed to reverse the position, doing well with his striking from up top. De Ridder quickly brought the fight back to the ground in the third, getting right into top control on the back. Allen, however, again managed to reverse to top position, and by the end of the round, RDR appeared to be struggling to just get to his stool.
Allen scored a takedown to start the fourth, though De Ridder tried to score a choke from the bottom. Allen’s relenting pressure was too much, and referee Jason Herzog warned RDR after the round he needed to get to his corner or risk losing the fight. In the corner, the cornermen of a spent RDR threw in the towel, giving Allen the TKO win.
Brendan Allen Stops Reinier De Ridder At UFC Vancouver
Wow. Short notice upset. Brendan Allen went out there and broke RDR. That was an Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares-esque performance. Showed no fear in playing with fire, and it worked out. Coincidentally, they share that name, huh.
Allen has now won two straight and nine of 11, entering tonight off a unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318.
RDR was 4-0 in the UFC entering tonight, scoring finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal before a win over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi. This was his first loss since dropping the ONE middleweight title in March 2024.
