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  • UFC Paris Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Imavov vs. Borralho, Saint-Denis vs. Ruffy, And More

    UFC Paris Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Imavov vs. Borralho, Saint-Denis vs. Ruffy, And More

    UFC Paris is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the Accor Arena in Paris, France, on Saturday, September 6. The main card portion of the event will start at 3PM ET/12PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 12PM ET/9AM PT.

    The main event of the card will see Nassourdine Imavov facing off with Caio Borralho in a major middleweight contenders’ battle.

    In the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis will take on Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup.

    The main card will also feature Modestas Bukauskas taking on Paul Craig, Bolaji Oki against Mason Jones, and Axel Sola taking on Rhys McKee. The main card was scheduled to have Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita, but that fight was scrapped after weight management issues for Keita.

    UFC Paris: Imavov vs. Borralho Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Paris as of September 5 at 7pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Nassourdine Imavov (+110) vs. Caio Borralho (-130)
    • Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis (+124) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-148)
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas (-325) vs. Paul Craig (+260)
    • Lightweight: Bolajki Oki (+110) vs. Mason Jones (-130)
    • Welterweight: Axel Sola (-130) vs. Rhys McKee (+110)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: William Gomis (-265) vs. Robert Ruchała (+215)
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy (-500) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+380)
    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (+105) vs. Ante Delija (-125)
    • Lightweight: Harry Hardwick (+164) vs. Kauê Fernandes (-198)
    • Welterweight: Sam Patterson (-192) vs. Trey Waters (+160)
    • Middleweight: Brad Tavares (-218) vs. Robert Bryczek (+180)
    • Welterweight: Andreas Gustafsson (-130) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (+110)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon (+275) vs. Sam Hughes (-345)

  • New Developments As UFC White House Card Set For June 2026

    After UFC CEO and President Dana White called it a “done deal” last week, more details have started to come out for the early planning of a UFC event at the White House.

    Per a report from the Wall Street Journal, White met with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Trump’s administration this past week to officially confirm plans for the event — one of several events in Washington, D.C. around that time to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

    Though originally intended to be held on July 4, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, the card will instead take place in late June. Logistical challenges reportedly were the cause of moving up the date of the event. UFC officials do say, however, that plans for the event remain on track.

    The event will reportedly include both a press conference and weigh-ins to take place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Fighters may warm up in the White House and make their Octagon walks through different ceremonial routes, including going through the Oval Office or Rose Garden, before entering the Octagon located on the White House lawn.

    UFC White House Event Reportedly Set For June 2026

    The UFC will reportedly have various fan engagement events in the days leading up to the card. This will include autograph sessions and other interactive activities occuring at the National Mall, as well as viewing screens for broader public access.

    Fireworks and laser-light displays will reportedly be involved during the event.

    Given the spectacle nature of this event, combined with the card’s historic nature and various events, it is still unclear how this will effect plans for International Fight Week in 2026.

    The historical nature of the event has brought out several fighters to ask for placement on the card, including both Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 in July 2021, while Jones announced a comeback following the first tease of such an event — coming just two weeks after he retired and surrendered the UFC heavyweight title.

    This card also comes in more historic times for the UFC — the first year of a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount.

  • Former TUF Winner Bryan Battle Signs With PFL After UFC Release

    Former TUF Winner Bryan Battle Signs With PFL After UFC Release

    A little more than two weeks following his release from the UFC, Bryan Battle has signed with the PFL.

    The PFL welcomed Battle in an announcement posted to social media on September 5.

    Battle was released from the UFC on August 20 after missing weight for a scheduled fight with Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319, causing the bout’s cancelation. Battle weighed in at 190 pounds for the fight, four pounds over the non-title middleweight limit.

    This was after Battle had already missed weight by four pounds at welterweight for a fight with Randy Brown that took place at UFC 310 this past December.

    Bryan Battle Signs With PFL

    After an 8-2 amateur record between 2017 and 2018, Battle made his professional MMA debut in July 2019. He’d go 5-1 before participating in season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter, going on to defeat Kemran Lachinov, Andre Petroski, and Gilbert Urbina to win the middleweight portion of the tournament.

    Battle went 7-1 (1 NC) in the UFC.

    In the time between his UFC release and PFL signing, Battle took a short-notice bout with Derik de Freitas at DBX 3 for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing promotion. Battle won the bizarre bout in just under a minute.

  • Caio Borralho is okay with fighting friend Khamzat Chimaev for UFC title

    Caio Borralho is okay with fighting friend Khamzat Chimaev for UFC title

    UFC star Caio Borralho has made it clear that he’s okay with fighting his friend Khamzat Chimaev if the fight ends up happening.

    Tomorrow night, Caio Borralho takes on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Paris. If he’s able to pick up the win, and do so impressively, he could easily get a shot at Khamzat Chimaev and the UFC middleweight championship.

    There’s no guarantee, but for Caio Borralho, it’s all about going out there and proving himself. If he does get the crack at Chimaev, he’ll be facing his friend who he’s trained with extensively in the past.

    In a recent interview, Caio Borralho made it known that he’s fine with fighting ‘Borz’.

    Caio Borralho is fine with fighting his friend Khamzat Chimaev

    “It’s business,” Borralho said on the Pound-4-Pound podcast. “It’s for feeding our families. He’s my friend. We talk about it, we speak, we chat in Instagram and all that. When I had my child, he was one of the first guys to come to me and congratulate me and all that. We kind of got into each other.

    “And actually, I was the only one in his training camp that became friends with him, because I knew how to train with him. I knew how to help him and I made him realize that. So he knew I was there to help him, not just to compete against him and try to show that I’m better than him or something like that. 

    “There’s no ego in me. There’s no problem for me to go there, if I’m helping the guy, to get my ass beat for five rounds. I don’t care, because I’m there to help him.

    “But at the same time, I’m seeing everything, I’m studying everything, I’m taking notes. I’m paying attention to everything, and this is something that I did a lot in Sweden.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    UFC star Benoit Saint Denis has said that he’s fine with the feeling of pressure as he prepares to face Mauricio Ruffy.

    Tomorrow night, Benoit Saint Denis returns to action when he goes head to head with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris. This is a pretty important fight for both men in the lightweight division as it’ll give us a clear idea of which man is best suited to push on and go after a title shot.

    Benoit Saint Denis has lost two of his last three and while he won his last fight, it wasn’t the most convincing performance in the world. Now, against Ruffy, he’ll be tested in a way that will let us all know whether or not he is able to really step up to that next level.

    In a recent interview, Benoit Saint Denis made it clear that pressure is a privilege, even against someone as dangerous as Ruffy.

    Benoit Saint Denis thrives on pressure

    “I have learned over time that it is unnecessary to put yourself under too much pressure,” Saint Denis told MMA Junkie Radio. “Also, pressure is not a bad thing. It’s a privilege. If you have pressure, it’s because there’s stuff on the line when you are fighting. I enjoy the process. 

    “Of course, it was difficult through the last couple of years. I felt a lot of pressure, and I was not used to it. Now I feel back to doing what I love, and that’s fighting and winning.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Why Did Paul Craig Move To Light Heavyweight Again? In His Own Words

    UFC star Paul Craig has explained his decision to move back to the light heavyweight division from middleweight.

    As we know, Paul Craig is a pretty popular character in the world of mixed martial arts. While he may not always get his hand raised, he’s unpredictable – and he’s got the kind of personality that makes it easy to root for him whenever he gets into the cage.

    On Saturday night, Paul Craig will make his way back to 205 pounds after a stint in the middleweight division. He’s set to face off against Modestas Bukauskas and if he’s able to pick up a comprehensive win, his previous victory over Magomed Ankalaev means that he may only be one or two more wins away from a title shot.

    In a recent interview, Paul Craig opened up about his light heavyweight switch.

    Paul Craig discusses return to light heavyweight

    “We made the decision to move to middleweight. We thought we would have had an upper hand on the middleweight division being a good grappler, being that little bit bigger. But unfortunately, it didn’t actually work out that way for me. So, it makes sense to move back up to light heavyweight, enjoy food, enjoy life because I’m getting a little bit older, but also have the fuel in my muscles to continue to work hard. 

    “That was one of the things we missed out is being a middleweight. We weren’t able to push to 100% of your ability because once the energy and the muscles are away, then it’s much harder for you as a fighter to continue. Now we’re fully equipped with carbohydrates. Our muscles are full of glycogen and we’re ready to put on a performance.”

  • Math and Chemistry Teacher: Caio Borralho Explains His Start In Education – Fighting Nerd

    Fighting Nerds sensation Caio Borralho has spoken about his journey to mixed martial arts and how it all started off with his education.

    Tomorrow night, Caio Borralho will take on Nassourdine Imavov in a highly anticipated middleweight showdown. The two will fight in the main event of UFC Paris, and if the winner gets a spectacular knockout, they could well be the next in line to face Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight championship.

    Of course, there’s no guarantee behind that, but Caio Borralho is feeling pretty confident either way. He knows that he has the skills necessary to defeat Imavov, and he’s ready to prove that he deserves a crack at Chimaev at the championship.

    Alas, MMA wasn’t always the main focus for Caio Borralho. In a recent interview, he opened up about his days as a teacher.

    Caio Borralho looks back at his journey to MMA

    “I was a mathematics and chemistry teacher before I started MMA. I started teaching when I was 15 years old. My grandpa was a math teacher, and one day he had an emergency and left the class. 

    “He came to me and said, ‘You know this subject, you know how to teach this?’ And I said, ‘I think I know.’ So I started teaching my neighbors, eventually teaching people at school who came to my house to learn. So yeah, that’s my background before fighting. Some of the kids I taught are engineers now, which is crazy to see how things change.”

  • Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said that he doesn’t really care about titles or interim/undisputed as he prepares for his next fight.

    In the main event of UFC 321, Tom Aspinall will defend his undisputed title for the very first time. He’ll do so against Ciryl Gane, and it’ll serve as the Englishman’s first fight since successfully defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes.

    As we look ahead to the fight, it certainly feels like Tom Aspinall is shaping up to be the clear favorite in this one. With that being said, these two have styles that should match up together pretty nicely, which could make for a fascinating showdown.

    In the UFC 321 press conference in Paris earlier today, Tom Aspinall was asked whether or not this feels like the second time he’ll be defending the title.

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    “To be honest, I don’t really care about belts and stuff. I only care about my next fight. Ciryl is my next fight, he’s the guy I’m focused on. This fight has been simmering for a long time, do you know what I mean? We both got in the UFC around the same time, we’ve been talking about this fight for a long time.

    “So, I’m just ready to fight this guy already and take him out.”

    Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of Aspinall, there’s no denying that it’s exciting to see him get back in there after all he’s been through.

  • UFC Paris Drops Major Featherweight Bout After Highly Touted Debutant Fails To Make Weight

    UFC Paris Drops Major Featherweight Bout After Highly Touted Debutant Fails To Make Weight

    The UFC Paris card has taken a significant hit.

    The upcoming Fight Night card will see a high-stakes middleweight clash between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in the main event, a bout carrying significant title ramifications. The UFC Paris co-main event will pit Benoit Saint Denis against Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup

    The rest of the card is packed with rising French talent, including a much anticipated featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and the highly touted two-division OKTAGON champion Losene Keita, who was set to make his UFC debut. Unfortunately, the fight was canceled ahead of the event.

    At Friday’s official UFC Paris weigh-ins, Keita came in three pounds over the 146-pound featherweight limit, forcing the cancellation of his fight with Pitbull, who weighed in at 145 pounds.

    Keita was coming off a five-fight winning streak, most recently competing at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he scored a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title. The 27-year-old Belgian boasts a 16-1 professional record, including 10 wins by knockout.

    Image: @keitaplusser/Instagram

    UFC Paris Complete Weigh-In Results

    Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov (185) vs. Caio Borralho (185)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis (155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (156)
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas (205) vs. Paul Craig (205)
    • Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola (170) vs. Rhys McKee (170)
    • Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Losene Keita (149)*

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis (145) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy (206) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (206)
    • Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura (256) vs. Ante Delija (239)
    • Lightweight bout: Harry Hardwick (156) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson (170) vs. Trey Waters (171)
    • Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares (186) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
    • Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson (171) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (170)
    • Strawweight bout: Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Sam Hughes (116)

    *Losene Keita came in over the 146-pound featherweight limit, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Patricio Pitbull.

  • Raja Jackson May Not Be Arrested, Explains Pro Wrestler and Former UFC Star

    Raja Jackson May Not Be Arrested, Explains Pro Wrestler and Former UFC Star

    Raja Jackson continues to find himself to be a prominent topic of discussion in combat sports, for all the wrong reasons, as a prominent pro wrestler and mixed martial artist has weighed in on Jackson’s visceral assault of pro wrestler Syko Stu. The man with the real name of Stuart Smith has become widely known name overnight, unfortunately as the result of being knocked out by a Raja Jackson slam with several devastating, follow up ground and pounds on the unconcious Syko Stu.

    During an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tom Lawlor touched on this troubling situation with the former UFC veteran also being a respected professional wrestler which gives him unique anecdotal insights into this situation. When discussing the violent assault that transpired on widely seen livestream footage and if the combat athlete is surprised that Rampage Jackson‘s son has not been arrested as of yet, Lawlor said,

    “Am I surprised that he hasn’t been picked up? No. And I think part of that is where it took place. I mean, pro wrestling, even today in 2025 and especially, you know, really on the independent level, is lawless to a certain degree… We’ve seen; I mean, there’s receipts when it comes to this. But the company itself, Knox Pro, was trying to handle this kind of in-house. So, no, I’m not surprised that Raja Jackson hasn’t been picked up at this point.”

    “Nobody has your back. Whether you think it’s your best friends in the business, whether you think it’s a guy that you have beef with, whether it’s the promoters; pro wrestling is a thankless endeavor. At the end of the day, you’re on your own.”

    Raja Jackson cut off by father, Rampage Jackson thinks son should go to jail

    Raja Jackson is someone that his father Quinton Jackson has distance himself from and as the former UFC light heavyweight champion was expalining this on a recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Jackson [via Uncrowned],

    “He dishonored my name. I’m not cutting him off forever. I just haven’t talked to him. I talked to him after the s*** happened, and he hid the fact that he did this s***, and he put my other kids in danger, based off what the other people are saying [threatening them online]. I just can’t talk to him right now. “I need some time. I’m dealing with his attorneys and all this s***. I’m very disappointed in Raja. I’m not a perfect parent, so I don’t know what the protocol is to stop talking to your son when he f***ing goes out there and hurts somebody. He put the guy in the f***ing hospital.”

  • Mackenzie Dern ‘Not Surprised’ on Weili Zhang Vacating Her Title pre-UFC 321

    Mackenzie Dern ‘Not Surprised’ on Weili Zhang Vacating Her Title pre-UFC 321

    Mackenzie Dern was not caught off guard by Weili Zhang vacating her strawweight crown ahead of her flyweight championship super fight with reigning titleholder Valentina Shevchenko and had multiple reasons as to why that was the case.

    This was discussed during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show as Dern heads into her next fight in pursuit of that aforementioned vacant strap at 115 pounds. The 32-year-old will clash with Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 on October 25th with the victor receiving the strawweight championship. Amid a wild journey where she found out via social media that her Jandiroba clash would be for the title and specifically addressing if she was surprised by the belt being vacant in the first place, Dern said,

    “No, I’m not surprised. I mean, I think like depending on how her fight with Valentina would be, if it would be anything like Alexa [Grasso] and Valentina [Shevchenko], they could do like a trilogy, you know, and all this stuff. So, I think it’s just… it just makes sense, you know, not to put the division on hold. And she was so dominant in the strawweight division, you know what I mean?”

    “It’s just like everyone they were throwing at her, she was just beating. So, I mean, I think even if she wants to come back after the one fight with Valentina, I think that it would make sense. But I mean, I figured maybe she’d want to have two belts, you know, but I think depending how her fight goes with Valentina, she might want to have like trilogy or something like that, and that could take a while.”

    Mackenzie Dern and her prior history in the UFC with Virna Jandiroba

    Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba are on a collision course for championship gold in the coming weeks but this is not the first time that the two prolific combatants will compete against each other. At UFC 256 in December 2020, Dern emerged victorious against Jandiroba by way of unanimous decision.

    Dern is presently the number five ranked contender in the division while Jandiroba enters the octagon as the number one ranked strawweight contender in the UFC for this highly anticipated sequel clash.

  • UFC Paris: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Paris: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Paris takes place this Saturday, September 6, at the Accor Arena, with MMA News bringing you the complete official weigh-in results ahead of fight night.

    The upcoming event will be highlighted by a high-stakes middleweight showdown as top contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho clash, with major title implications on the line.

    Meanwhile, the co-main event will see French fan-favorite Benoit Saint Denis face rising lightweight finisher Mauricio Ruffy. Elsewhere on the card, highly touted Cage Warriors featherweight champion Harry Hardwick makes his UFC debut in a short-notice 155-pound clash against Kaue Fernandes.

    Ahead of UFC Paris, the official weigh-ins were held Friday morning at the UFC host hotel in the ‘City of Light”. Both headliners, Imavov and Borralho, hit the 185-pound mark exactly. Meanwhile, Saint Denis weighed in at 155 pounds, and Ruffy hit the 156-pound lightweight limit, making their bout official without issue.

    However, the weigh-ins weren’t flawless, as the scheduled featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and highly anticipated UFC debutant Losene Keita was called off from the UFC Paris lineup. “Black Panther” came in three pounds over the 146-pound non-title limit at 149, while Pitbull weighed in at 145 pounds.

    UFC Paris Complete Weigh-In Results

    Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov (185) vs. Caio Borralho (185)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis (155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (156)
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas (205) vs. Paul Craig (205)
    • Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola (170) vs. Rhys McKee (170)
    • Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Losene Keita (149)*

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis (145) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy (206) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (206)
    • Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura (256) vs. Ante Delija (239)
    • Lightweight bout: Harry Hardwick (156) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson (170) vs. Trey Waters (171)
    • Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares (186) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
    • Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson (171) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (170)
    • Strawweight bout: Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Sam Hughes (116)

    *Losene Keita came in over the 146-pound featherweight limit, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Patricio Pitbull.

  • Terence Crawford Goes Against Popular Opinion With His Choice For Best Boxer In UFC

    Terence Crawford Goes Against Popular Opinion With His Choice For Best Boxer In UFC

    Terence Crawford has named his choice for the best boxer in the UFC — and it isn’t Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway.

    Crawford is gearing up to square off against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The high-profile superfight is being co-promoted by TKO Group’s Zuffa Boxing, with UFC CEO Dana White overseeing the event.

    “Bud” has cemented his status as one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters of the modern era, boasting an undefeated 41-0 professional record with 31 knockouts, including victories over Errol Spence Jr., José Benavidez Jr., and David Avanesyan.

    Image: @tbudcrawford/Instagram

    Terence Crawford Names Cody Garbrandt As UFC’s Best Boxer

    During a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Terence Crawford was asked to name the best boxer in the UFC. Surprisingly, “Bud” bypassed reining lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and BMF titleholder Max Holloway, both widely regarded as elite pugilists in the promotion, and instead chose former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt.

    “It’s my guy, Cody [Garbrandt],” Crawford said. “He’s the best UFC boxer.”

    Although host Kyle Forgeard tried to convince Crawford that “El Matador” is the UFC’s best boxer, the multi-division undisputed champion stood firm, explaining why he believes “No Love” excels in pure boxing.

    “Yeah, but I don’t know, man, Cody’s got those hands. But I’m saying, when you’re talking about straight boxing, we ain’t talking about nothing else, we’re talking about straight boxing skills, I just think Cody’s got the best boxing skills in the UFC. But that’s just my opinion.”

    Garbrandt was last seen competing at UFC Atlanta in June, where he fell to Raoni Barcelos via unanimous decision. “No Love”, who once rode an 11-fight win streak, including dethroning Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in 2016 to claim the bantamweight title, has since struggled, posting a 3-7 record over his last 10 bouts.

    Image: @cody_nolove/Instagram

  • BKFC Announces Debut for Kimbo Slice’s Son

    BKFC Announces Debut for Kimbo Slice’s Son

    The planned bare knuckle debut of Kimbo Slice’s son fell apart for January’s BKFC card but the son of Kevin Ferguson looks to make his debut in gloveless combat in 2025. Kimbo Slice Jr. is set to compete at BKFC 80 on September 12th against an eight fight BKFC veteran in Derek Perez. This showdown will transpire at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida with the card headlined by a massive heavyweight rematch as former multi-time BKFC heavyweight champion Arnold Adams runs it back with Leonardo Perdomo.

    Kevin Ferguson Jr, also known to some as Baby Slice, has taken part in six mixed martial arts contest as well as a gloved boxing bout before this looming foray with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The aforementioned January booking attempt for Slice Jr. was a planned contest for BKFC KnuckleMania 5 against influencer fighter/ 1-0 BKFC combatant Bryce Hall.

    The fight did not come to fruition with seemingly no attempt to re-book it without the information being publically available as to why that Ferguson Jr. vs. Hall bout fell out. Ferguson Jr. last competed in April 2023 when he fell short in his aforementioned gloved boxing bout when he was TKOed under the Misfits Boxing banner.

    Kimbo Slice Jr. in BKFC and his dad’s history fighting without gloves

    While Kimbo Slice accomplished some notable things in the MMA world with standout UFC as well as Bellator MMA bouts and several contests on the gloved boxing circuit, many felt like BKFC would have been a perfect fit for him if he was still alive and competing. Slice first made his name in the world of combat sports through his bare knuckle backyard fighting videos that captivated many on the internet. Ferguson emerged from this as the first YouTube star in the eyes of many which he parlayed into several high profile bouts with Elite XC that set ratings records.

    For Kimbo Slice Jr. to compete in this sport under the bright lights after what his father did for gloveless combat in a more guerilla-style fashion, it makes all the sense in the world to aficiandos of bare fisted combat. Slice Jr. will not be the only high profile bare knuckle debutant on this card as former UFC and Bellator MMA title challenger Yoel Romero is set to make his BKFC debut on this same card.

  • Mike Tyson And Floyd Mayweather Set To Clash In Surprising Exhibition Match In Spring 2026

    Just when fans thought nothing could top the crazy world of combat sports, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to face off in the ring.

    On Thursday, CSI Sports revealed that two boxing legends are set to square off in an exhibition bout in spring 2026, with the date and venue yet to be finalized.

    In a press release (via MMA Fighting), “Iron Mike” stressed the unprecedented and unpredictable nature of the matchup, emphasizing that both boxers are fully committed despite the risks.

    “When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather,” Mike Tyson stated. “I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but, Floyd said yes. This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable—and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets. I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”

    Meanwhile, “Money” emphasized that the exhibition fight will be a major fan-pleasing spectacle.

    “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” said Mayweather. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”

    When Did Mike Tyson And Floyd Mayweather Last Compete In The Ring?

    Mike Tyson returned from nearly two decades of retirement last November to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a highly publicized superfight, where “Iron Mike” fell via a lopsided unanimous decision.

    The 59-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion, who initially hung up his gloves after a loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005, boasts a professional record of 50-7 and two no-contests, with 44 victories coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather last stepped into the ring in August 2024, going the distance in an eight-round exhibition against John Gotti III.

    “Money” retired from professional competition in August 2017 after defeating former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor via TKO. The former multi-weight champion retired undefeated with a flawless 50-0 record, including 27 victories by knockout.

  • Baisangur Susurkaev Booked For Return At UFC 322 After Dream Octagon Debut

    Baisangur Susurkaev Booked For Return At UFC 322 After Dream Octagon Debut

    Baisangur Susurkaev is already lined up for his sophomore UFC appearance.

    Last month, Susurkaev achieved a record-fast turnaround in the UFC, scoring a first-round knockout over Murtaza Talha to secure his contract on Contender Series. Following his impressive win, the 24-year-old Russian appealed to UFC CEO Dana White to be added to the UFC 319 card on just four days’ notice alongside fellow countryman Khamzat Chimaev, and his request was approved.

    Having stepped into his DWCS fight with only four days’ notice, “Hunter” was scheduled for his UFC debut with the same lightning-fast turnaround against fellow newcomer Eric Nolan. He lived up to the hype, securing a comeback submission victory in the second round.

    Baisangur Susurkaev Set To Face Eric McConico At UFC 322

    According to a recent report from MMA Fighting, Baisangur Susurkaev is scheduled to take on Eric McConico in a middleweight clash at UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    “Hunter” currently boasts a perfect 10-0 professional record, including eight knockouts and one submission victory.

    Meanwhile, McConico UFC 322 following a split decision victory over Cody Brundage at UFC Vegas 109. The 35-year-old American made his Octagon debut in February at UFC Seattle, but suffered a setback when Nursulton Ruziboev stopped him via second-round knockout.

    McConico holds a professional record of 10-3-1, with seven of his victories coming by stoppage.

    UFC 322 will feature a championship double-header, with welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena making his first title defense against former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. In the co-main event, former strawweight queen Zhang Weili moves up a division to challenge reigning bantamweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

    Images: @realhuntermma/@freedomfightnight/Instagram
  • UFC Champ Alexander Volkanovski Joins Cody Rhodes And Roman Reigns In Star-Studded 2026 Street Fighter Movie Cast

    UFC Champ Alexander Volkanovski Joins Cody Rhodes And Roman Reigns In Star-Studded 2026 Street Fighter Movie Cast

    Alexander Volkanovski is set to make his silver screen debut.

    Volkanovski is widely regarded as one of the greatest featherweight champions in UFC history, holding a 27-4 professional record, which includes 16 wins by stoppage. Known for his versatile fighting style, “The Great” has defended his 145-pound crown five times, turning back elite challengers such as Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, and Yair Rodriguez.

    The 36-year-old Australian reclaimed the featherweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 this past April. Now, after cementing his legacy in the Octagon, Volkanovski is set to showcase his combat skills alongside his acting chops on the big screen.

    On Thursday, Legendary Pictures announced that their upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie is set to hit theaters on October 16, 2026. The studio also unveiled the full cast, with the latest addition, Alexander Volkanovski, joining to bring the iconic Street Fighter character Joe to life.

    As per the film’s backstory, the character Joe, also known as “Superstar,” was once the unbeaten, undisputed U.S. kickboxing champion set for the Pan-American Fighting Championship, until clashes with his temper and financial troubles derailed his path, forcing him to live as a rogue. However, it is not yet known whether the upcoming film will follow the same storyline.

    Image: @Street_Fighter/X

    Which Big Names Are Joining Alexander Volkanovski In Street Fighter Movie?

    The 2026 Street Fighter film marks the third live-action adaptation of Capcom’s iconic fighting game franchise and will be directed by Japanese-American filmmaker Kitao Sakurai, with a screenplay by Dalan Musson.

    The movie features a high-profile, multi-talented cast, including WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Jason Momoa as Blanka, and Alexander Volkanovski.

    Here’s the complete cast and character list for the upcoming Street Fighter movie:

    • Alexander Volkanovski as Joe
    • Cody Rhodes as Guile
    Image: @Street_Fighter/X
    • Roman Reigns as Akuma
    Image: @Street_Fighter/X
    • Jason Momoa as Blanka
    • Noah Centineo as Ken Masters
    • Andrew Koji as Ryu
    • Callina Liang as Chun-Li
    • David Dastmalchian as M. Bison
    • Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki
    • Eric André as Don Sauvage
    • Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim
    • 50 Cent as Balrog
    • Olivier Richters as Zangief
    • Hirooki Goto as E. Honda
    • Rayna Vallandingham as Juli
    • Kyle Mooney as Marvin
    • Mel Jarnson as Cammy
    • Orville Peck as Vega

  • Ex-UFC foe of Alexander Volkanovski open to alluring Rizin foray, potential PFL and UFC returns

    Ex-UFC foe of Alexander Volkanovski open to alluring Rizin foray, potential PFL and UFC returns

    Jeremy Kennedy has applied a fresh coat of paint to his career by moving up in weight and seemingly has an abundance of opportunity in his future as he revisits something familiar this week.

    ‘JBC’ will collide with Jeremy Henry for the Battlefield Fight League interim lightweight title at BFL 84 on September 4th. Kennedy appeared on MMA Canada and the veteran of circuits like UFC, Bellator MMA, as well as PFL is in a great place with this shift to lightweight in this return to Battlefield Fight League.

    The former BFL featherweight champion is now seeking a strap at 155 pounds under the promotional banner. When describing the shift to lightweight and the return to the BFL cage after almost a decade, Jeremy Kennedy said,

    “Yeah, I mean the biggest part is just being able to fight at home. You know, fighting in Vancouver is something I’ve wanted to do since I last did it in Rogers Arena, you know, 2016. So, it’s just; that was a big stealing point for me to to take this fight and accept it. And also to test, you know, after the last one, I made the the decision to move up to ’55.”

    “And so, this just seems like the right step. Test the waters at ’55. It’s a whole new weight class. A lot of different things, rehydration, weight cut, everything I wanted to figure out and do. Kind of see how my body reacts to it and no better place to do it than at home.”

    Jeremy Kennedy acknowledges UFC Vancouver, PFL and Rizin intrigue

    Jeremy Kennedy, in an interview with James Lynch, was saying the PFL door isn’t closed thing and the Canadian combatant was also tweeting at the Rizin account about some possible fights over there.

    When addressing how it seems like there’s an abundance of potential options out there for him including even a potential return to the UFC someday [although not as directly tangible as other offers], Kennedy stated,

    “Oh, exactly. I feel like where I’m at, I’m still young in this game, you know. I’m not by any means old, you know, 32. Lots of fight in me. I got a lot of experience behind me. I didn’t close any doors and burn any bridges or anything like that. it’s kind of a free feeling, you know, right now. I’m just; I’m not tied down to a contract for once in my career. Now I’m starting this new chapter at ’55.”

    “And you know that I’ve always wanted to fight in Japan, so I’m not leaving that door closed. And PFL was amazing. I love the structure of it. I love the competition of it. I love the caliber of fighters that are in it, especially at ’55. So I’m not closing that door either. Then obviously I get to, you know, come home and and fight in Battlefield, you know, in my own backyard. So that’s always cool.”

    “And I don’t think this would be the last one. You know, if they’re still; I know they have another card in October when the UFC is in town. And then, you know, UFC obviously that’s not immediately on the table, but I’m not ruling that out either. You know, I string together a good little run at ’55 and I would like to see myself back there as well.”

    “So, literally, I have, you know, the wide open concept of the whole landscape. To me, it’s not like I’m stuck to one little place right now. So I’m just excited to see and it obviously all starts next Thursday and I got to get my job done. Then that’s the start of [the] ’55 run.”

  • ‘Slow And Stiff’ – Fans React To Islam Makhachev Polishing His Striking Skills Ahead Of Jack Della Maddalena Superfight At UFC 322

    ‘Slow And Stiff’ – Fans React To Islam Makhachev Polishing His Striking Skills Ahead Of Jack Della Maddalena Superfight At UFC 322

    Islam Makhachev’s preparation is underway for the biggest fight of his career.

    In June, Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight titleholder to pursue double-champ status by moving up to welterweight. He is now scheduled to challenge reigning 170-pound champion Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 322 main event on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    The 32-year-old Russian has built his reputation on world-class wrestling and suffocating grappling that has overwhelmed countless opponents. However, his next test is expected to be far more challenging, as Maddalena brings a lethal striking arsenal paired with solid takedown defense.

    Makhachev and his team appear fully aware of the danger the Australian champion presents, and they’re leaving nothing to chance. A noticeably bulked-up Makhachev recently shared training camp footage on his Instagram stories, where he could be seen sharpening his striking skills while working the mitts in preparation for the showdown.

    Fans React To Islam Makhachev Sharpening His Striking Before UFC 322

    MMA fans responded with mixed reactions after watching Islam Makhachev working on his striking game ahead of his title clash with Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

    While many expressed excitement for the matchup, others downplayed its significance, insisting the former lightweight champion will ultimately lean on his wrestling once again.

    https://twitter.com/WillTheSkillet/status/1963660723625529710
    https://twitter.com/RswAby24/status/1963677902106677419

    Makhachev last competed at UFC 311 this past January, where he made quick work of short-notice replacement Renato Moicano, securing a first-round submission to notch his fourth successful title defense.

    The Dagestani standout is riding an impressive 15-fight win streak, highlighted by statement wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira. His lone career blemish came nearly a decade ago at UFC 192 in October 2015, when Adriano Martins handed him a first-round knockout loss.

    Islam Makhachev
    Image: @ufc/Instagram


  • Deontay Wilder Calls Out Francis Ngannou for a Boxing Match: “Let’s get it on”

    Former heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder has once again called for a showdown with Francis Ngannou.

    As we know, Deontay Wilder is one of the hardest hitters in the history of professional boxing. He has done some incredible things throughout the course of his career and while a lot of people believe that he’s done at the elite level, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ seems to be interested in at least one more fight.

    One name that comes to mind for Deontay Wilder to face is none other than Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion has already faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the middle of the ring, and it only makes sense for him to complete the hat-trick.

    In a recent interview, Deontay Wilder reiterated his desire to throw down with ‘The Predator’, potentially in Africa.

    Deontay Wilder wants Francis Ngannou fight

    “Hey baby, Francis, let’s get it on baby. If you serious about what you saying, for I am serious about what I’m saying. Let’s get it on once and for all. Your power against my power. Let’s test it out baby. Hey, if you down, I’m down. We can go to the motherland too, baby. AFRICA!”

    Wilder will be aware of the power that will come back his way when facing Ngannou, but Deontay has taken on heavy hitters before. So long as he can ease his way into the fight and take things at his own pace, he stands a great chance of picking up the win.

  • Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa believes that Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him.

    As we know, Paulo Costa is a pretty interesting fighter in the world of mixed martial arts. While he’s clearly very talented, he’s also been responsible for some pretty outlandish remarks on social media. In addition to that, he hasn’t always lived up to his potential inside the cage, leaving many to wonder whether or not he’ll ever get back to the championship level.

    The good news for Paulo Costa, though, is that his rival Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. While that isn’t necessarily a guarantee of securing him a title fight, one or two more wins could well be enough given the demand there is out there to see this fight happen.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa doubled down on the idea that Khamzat is scared of making the fight happen.

    Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid of him

    “I’m looking always for the highest place, you know. Fight to go Chen, he’s holding the belt right now. And even before I called him in my last fight, my more fight, but let’s see. If it was just about me, I would fight him right now. But I’m going to follow what the matchmakers think would be better and I’ll be ready. But he’s afraid. 

    “He’s afraid always. He just hold the guys, you know, he’s marrying his balls for 25 minutes. Everybody one more fight, everybody going to be enough of that guy. That fight was horrible. I think one more and you know then they’re going to call me to cut his off.”

  • Alex Pereira Breaks Down Miscommunication with the UFC: “I regret that”

    Alex Pereira Breaks Down Miscommunication with the UFC: “I regret that”

    UFC legend Alex Pereira has spoken about the miscommunication he had with the promotion that led to an angry tweet he sent out a few months ago.

    As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the best fighters of his generation. He is a two-weight UFC champion, and he has proven himself to be one of the most exciting, must-see athletes on the planet. In his last outing, however, he lost his UFC light heavyweight championship in a defeat to Magomed Ankalaev.

    As we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems as if Magomed Ankalaev vs Alex Pereira 2 is the right move. Prior to their first meeting, though, ‘Poatan’ landed himself in hot water – or so it seemed – after tweeting out his frustrations with the UFC.

    In a recent interview, Alex Pereira decided to clarify the situation.

    Alex Pereira reveals dispute with UFC

    “Before the first fight, I don’t know the reason, but the UFC didn’t want to put me with him. Everyone saw no one was interested to see him fight. Then his team talked saying I was scared, that I didn’t want to accept the fight or the rematch. 

    “But I already had conversations with the UFC and knew the date—it was October. I had to recover from multiple fights in a short period. I waited for the best date for me, and October works well. If he was ready in June, July or August, that’s before our agreed date, so he doesn’t have the moral of the champion ready and waiting for the challenger.”

    “I was a bit upset and tweeted out of moment because of some promises about the fight. Later I realized it was a miscommunication with the UFC. I didn’t inform my manager before tweeting and I regret that. If I’d called Hunter, I think it would have been solved without any exposure.”

  • Anderson Silva Is Awarded a Whopping $10.3 Million From UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

    Anderson Silva Is Awarded a Whopping $10.3 Million From UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

    MMA legend Anderson Silva is set to receive $10.3 million from the UFC antitrust lawsuit, reports indicate.

    As we know, Anderson Silva is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He has achieved some truly unbelievable things throughout the course of his career and he has cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever do it – especially in the UFC.

    As it turns out, though, Anderson Silva will also be receiving a pretty notable payday off the back of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s antitrust lawsuit. This allegation was that the promotion underpaid athletes between 2010 and 2017, with around 1,200 fighters being automatically included in the case.

    This includes the aforementioned Anderson Silva, who is going to be doing pretty well off the back of this news.

    Anderson Silva set for big payout

    “In Le v Zuffa news, the Claims Administrator, Angeion Group, has filed a report on the status of processing Class Member claim submissions. Settlement fund will be distributed no later than September 19 “after permitting Angeion time to complete several administrative tasks.

    “Angeion mailed to 1,121 Class Members individualized claim forms and Angeion received a total of 1,088 claims submissions, of which 37 contented their info.

    “For the class the average payment will be $231,022.29;  median $86,034.65; high is $10,334,240.72; & a low of $16,138.45. Based on the final settlement fund each fighter should get 32.7% of their total bout compensation earned during the class period plus $14,179.33 each bout.”

    Good for ‘The Spider’.

  • Rampage Jackson Is Not Speaking to His Son Raja Jackson Since Wrestling Incident: “Dishonored My Name”

    Rampage Jackson Is Not Speaking to His Son Raja Jackson Since Wrestling Incident: “Dishonored My Name”

    MMA legend Rampage Jackson has revealed that he isn’t speaking to his son Raja after he assaulted Syko Stu during a pro wrestling show recently.

    As we know, Rampage Jackson has always been a popular figure throughout the course of his time in mixed martial arts. Now, however, he’s been embroiled in a whole new kind of controversy in the wake of his son attacking a wrestler at an independent show. Initially, it seemed as if it may be part of the entertainment, but it quickly became clear that this wasn’t the case.

    Ever since then, Rampage Jackson has been fielding questions across podcasts, interviews and social media. The response has been pretty much the same throughout, with Rampage noting his disappointment in the actions of his son Raja.

    In a recent interview, Rampage Jackson had the following to say about his current relationship with Raja.

    Rampage Jackson slams his son Raja’s actions

    “I got death threats. People driving by my house slow. I don’t know these people. I don’t trust them. Raja dishonored my name and put my whole family in harm’s way. I’m from Memphis. I don’t put nothing past racist people. They got a lot of hatred and they used this as a reason to be hateful.”

    “I don’t talk to Raja no more. I talked to him. I heard his story. I learned a lot about it. I’m mad at him. He’s my son, but ever since he became an adult, he don’t listen to what I say.”

  • Paulo Costa vs. Shara Magomedov In Works For UFC Qatar Co-Main Event On Nov 22

    Paulo Costa vs. Shara Magomedov In Works For UFC Qatar Co-Main Event On Nov 22

    Paulo Costa is set to step into the Octagon for the second time this year.

    As per a recent report by MMA journalist Laerte Viana, Costa is set to face Shara Magomedov in a middleweight bout serving as the co-main event at UFC Qatar on November 22 at ABHA Arena in Doha.

    On Wednesday, “The Eraser” confirmed the matchup himself on X, revealing he had accepted the promotion’s offer to face Magomedov in Doha. Since then, the former UFC 185-pound title challenger has been taunting “Bullet” relentlessly on social media.

    UFC Qatar will mark the promotion’s inaugural visit to the country, and it has already begun stacking the card with compelling matchups for the upcoming Fight Night event.

    The lineup features a light heavyweight showdown between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov, a bantamweight clash pitting Aleksandre Topuria against Bekzat Almakhan, and another 205-pound battle between Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev and Rafael Cerqueira. The card also includes a flyweight bout between Alex Perez and Asu Almabayev.

    Image: @ufc/X

    When Did Paulo Costa And Shara Magomedov Last Taste Victory In Octagon?

    Paulo Costa last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 318 this past July, securing a crucial unanimous decision victory over Roman Kopylov.

    “The Eraser”, who once rode an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, has struggled to regain his momentum since his failed title challenge against Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in September 2020, going 2-4 in his last six bouts. Costa currently holds a 7-4 UFC record, with four of his victories coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Shara Magomedov last competed at UFC Abu Dhabi this past July, securing a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Marc-André Barriault to rebound from his first career loss to Michael Page at UFC Saudi Arabia in February.

    “Bullet” boasts a 5-1 record in the UFC, highlighted by key victories over Armen Petrosyan, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Bruno Silva.