MMA News

Category: News

Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news from around the globe. Our comprehensive feed covers all major promotions.

  • Dustin Poirier Unloads On Nate Diaz After MVP MMA Loss: ‘He Looked Like Dog S**t’

    Dustin Poirier Unloads On Nate Diaz After MVP MMA Loss: ‘He Looked Like Dog S**t’

    Dustin Poirier says Nate Diaz looked like “dog shit” against Mike Perry at MVP MMA 1 and offered a blunt assessment of where Diaz is at in his career, while reiterating his desire to fight his longtime rival.

    Diaz lost to Perry by corner stoppage after the second round on Saturday’s Netflix card. In his post-fight media, Diaz said he has no interest in fighting anyone who is retired — a shot at Poirier, who retired last year. Poirier responded on his show Deep Waters.

    “We’ve been circling each other for years and years and years. We could have fought. He knows that. I wish he would be honest with the fans and say he pulled out, or didn’t come to terms with the UFC, whatever it was, for the couple of times we were supposed to fight, that it never happened. But dude, after the way he looked on Saturday night, he can’t talk right now. He needs to take a break. He needs to go get some sleep and rest. Not me, you know. He looked like dog shit. He looked horrible. He looked like he didn’t want to be in there, looked like a punching bag, looked off balance, his timing was horrible. I mean, when somebody loses, I don’t like to shit on them too hard, but he knows. He looked horrible.”

    Poirier said his offer to fight Diaz still stands, even if it means coming out of retirement.

    “My invitation is still out there. At 170, I’ll go back in the drug testing protocol, whatever. I will knock Nate Diaz complete out. It’s crazy that he’s bringing me up in a post-fight. Apparently, he wants to fight, or he’s thinking about it. And it’s just like, after a performance like that, it’s like, what am I doing? It’s like I’m picking on somebody if I’m chasing Nate Diaz, the way he’s looking. It’s like I’m picking on the easy fight, easy win. But Nate Diaz, I will knock you clean out if we fight.”

    Despite the harsh words, Poirier made clear his criticism comes from a place of genuine concern.

    “Listen, bro, even though I talk about Nate, and I want to beat his ass, I’m a fan. I’ve been a fan of him and his brother for a long time. But that was the worst I’ve ever seen him. He’s just 41 years old and has a million miles. You can’t keep that fighting style, the way he fights, forever. It’s coming to the end.”

    Poirier would need to be released from his UFC contract to pursue a fight with Diaz outside the promotion.

  • MVP Drops Hammer On Claressa Shields After Physical Altercation With Alycia Baumgardner At Rousey vs. Carano Event

    Claressa Shields has been barred from attending future events hosted by Most Valuable Promotions following a heated altercation with Alycia Baumgardner during last weekend’s high-profile fight card in California.

    The incident took place at the Rousey vs. Carano event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which marked MVP’s first MMA show in partnership with Netflix. According to multiple reports and video clips circulating online, tensions between the two champions escalated in a VIP area, where Shields appeared to make physical contact with Baumgardner during a verbal exchange.

    In response, MVP released a firm statement confirming disciplinary action against Shields.

    “Most Valuable Promotions is aware of the incident… involving physical contact by Claressa Shields toward Alycia Baumgardner,” the statement read. “MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior… Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable.”

    The promotion went on to confirm that Shields is now banned from all future MVP events until further notice, emphasizing that her actions did not align with the standards they aim to uphold.

    “There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest… is unacceptable,” the statement continued, while also acknowledging venue security for quickly stepping in and preventing further escalation.

    The rivalry between the two fighters had already been brewing on social media in the days leading up to the event, making their in-person confrontation unsurprising, though the situation quickly crossed a line.

    Shields later addressed the incident online, defending her actions and claiming she had been provoked, while Baumgardner responded with a brief but pointed message: “Checkmate.”

  • Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Goes No. 1 On Netflix Across North America As UFC Vegas 117 Records Lowest Numbers Of Paramount Era

    Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Goes No. 1 On Netflix Across North America As UFC Vegas 117 Records Lowest Numbers Of Paramount Era

    It was a rare weekend where the UFC found itself sharing the spotlight, and the results turned out to be surprisingly one-sided.

    While the promotion staged UFC Vegas 117 at the Apex, a new player entered the scene with its debut event on Netflix. Headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, the MVP MMA card drew significant attention across North America.

    Despite some criticism around matchmaking, the event still managed to generate strong viewership. According to analyst Dave Meltzer, the broadcast climbed to the No. 1 spot on Netflix in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Interestingly, the event was categorized under “movies” rather than sports or television, yet still performed well globally, even breaking into the top rankings worldwide.

    The timing makes the achievement more notable. The main event aired late on the East Coast, yet still attracted a wide audience, outperforming other major programming in the same category.

    The prelims, streamed for free on YouTube, also gained traction, reportedly reaching over 400,000 concurrent viewers at one stage. While exact figures remain unclear, the early signs suggest strong engagement for a first-time promotion.

    In contrast, the UFC’s offering that night struggled to gain similar momentum. UFC Vegas 117 reportedly delivered the lowest viewership of the promotion’s Paramount+ era, falling significantly below its usual benchmarks.

    Adding to the buzz, the MVP card featured recognizable names beyond its headline bout, including Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz, helping drive curiosity among a broader audience.

  • MVP MMA: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Attendance Revealed, And It’s Not What Fans Thought

    The numbers are in for the first-ever MVP MMA event on Netflix, and they tell a very different story from what some viewers believed during the broadcast.

    The card, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, took place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. While social media chatter suggested the arena looked sparse on TV, early attendance figures paint a much stronger picture.

    According to industry analyst Dave Meltzer, the event drew 15,795 fans inside the venue. The Intuit Dome typically holds over 18,000 spectators for combat sports events, meaning the show fell short of a sellout but still filled a significant portion of the building.

    “The idea that the building was empty was ludicrous, but it was not sold out,” Meltzer wrote, pushing back against claims that the turnout was disappointing.

    The perception of empty sections may have been influenced by the arena’s layout, which some fans say does not always translate well on camera. Despite that, the turnout stands as a notable achievement, especially for a promotion outside the UFC banner.

    For context, recent UFC events at the same venue have drawn similar paid attendance figures, highlighting that MVP MMA’s debut effort managed to compete in a space typically dominated by the sport’s biggest promotion.

  • Colby Covington Officially Listed As Retired By UFC

    Colby Covington Officially Listed As Retired By UFC

    Colby Covington has retired from UFC competition, with the promotion quietly changing his status from “active” to “retired” on its official website Monday. The update was first flagged by the algorithm-based X account UFC Roster Tracker.

    Covington, 38, went 12-5 across 17 UFC fights and held the interim welterweight championship, but never captured the undisputed title. He went 0-3 in championship bouts, falling to Kamaru Usman twice and Leon Edwards once. Notable wins during his career included victories over Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Jorge Masvidal.

    Covington had been largely inactive in recent years, competing just once since December 2023. He has since transitioned to professional wrestling for RAF and is currently scheduled to face Chris Weidman on May 30 at RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas.

    A polarizing figure known for his outspoken political alignment with President Donald Trump, Covington had voiced frustration with fight offers in recent months and publicly expressed disappointment at being left off the UFC Freedom 250 card on June 14 at the White House.

    Covington has not commented publicly on his retirement.

  • Gina Carano Weighed Heavier Than Ronda Rousey On Fight Night Despite Being Lighter At Weigh-Ins

    Gina Carano Weighed Heavier Than Ronda Rousey On Fight Night Despite Being Lighter At Weigh-Ins

    Gina Carano weighed 10 pounds more on fight night than she did at the official weigh-ins, coming in at 152 pounds after tipping the scale at 141.4 the day before Saturday’s MVP MMA 1 main event.

    Ronda Rousey, by contrast, gained just one pound overnight, going from 142 to 143. The California State Athletic Commission provided the full fight night weights to MMA Junkie, with CSAC executive director Andy Foster supplying the list.

    The size difference proved irrelevant as Rousey submitted Carano with her signature armbar in 17 seconds to win the Netflix headliner at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    The largest rehydration on the card came from Namo Fazil, who went from 170.8 pounds at the weigh-ins to 198 on fight night — a 27-pound swing.

    Full MVP MMA 1 fight night weights:

    • Ronda Rousey: 142 to 143 pounds
    • Gina Carano: 141.4 to 152 pounds
    • Nate Diaz: 168.6 to 184.6 pounds
    • Mike Perry: 169.6 to 181.4 pounds
    • Francis Ngannou: 257 to 258.6 pounds
    • Philipe Lins: 220.6 to 221 pounds
    • Salahdine Parnasse: 154.8 to 169 pounds
    • Kenneth Cross: 155.4 to 168.4 pounds
    • Junior Dos Santos: 245.4 to 249.8 pounds
    • Robelis Despaigne: 258.8 to 263.2 pounds
    • Namo Fazil: 170.8 to 198 pounds
    • Jake Babian: 171 to 186.8 pounds
    • Adriano Moraes: 129 to 138.4 pounds
    • Phumi Nkuta: 130 to 143.4 pounds
    • Jason Jackson: 170.8 to 182.6 pounds
    • Jefferson Creighton: 168.2 to 184.6 pounds
    • David Mgoyan: 145.2 to 158.8 pounds
    • Albert Morales: 143.8 to 158.6 pounds
    • Aline Pereira: 128 to 142.4 pounds
    • Jade Masson-Wong: 129.2 to 141.6 pounds
    • Chris Avila: 164 to 175.6 pounds
    • Brandon Jenkins: 164.2 to 179.2 pounds
  • Jon Jones Says MVP MMA Was ‘Actually Better Than The UFC’ After Rousey vs. Carano

    Jon Jones Says MVP MMA Was ‘Actually Better Than The UFC’ After Rousey vs. Carano

    Jon Jones says MVP MMA’s debut event on Netflix was better produced than anything he has experienced in the UFC, and expressed optimism about eventually getting out of his contract to fight Francis Ngannou.

    Jones served as an analyst for Saturday’s Rousey vs. Carano card at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and was effusive in his praise for what MVP put together.

    “I thought the MVP promotion was absolutely unbelievable. I think it was actually better than the UFC. I’ve never been at such a promotion where they had the fog machines and the TVs absolutely everywhere, great fighters. Half the audience came out to see Diaz win. Both guys are my close personal friends, so it was bittersweet.”

    Jones also weighed in on the main event, saying Rousey did exactly what he predicted.

    “Ronda did absolutely unbelievable. She did exactly what I thought she would do and won in less than a minute. It was 17 seconds, and I predicted it. Her judo and her jiu-jitsu, I mean she’s put so many years into it. The other girls to this day are still so far behind.”

    Jones was called out by Ngannou following his first-round knockout of Philipe Lins during the event. He expressed interest in fighting Ngannou under the MVP banner and said he remains hopeful about finding a path out of his UFC contract, noting it is “very, very possible” with the right people and effort. The UFC is unlikely to facilitate a Ngannou fight given the fractured relationship between the two sides.

  • Junior Dos Santos Broke His Silence After His MVP MMA 1 Knockout And Had A Revealing Message

    Junior Dos Santos Broke His Silence After His MVP MMA 1 Knockout And Had A Revealing Message

    Junior dos Santos has confirmed he was hospitalized following his brutal knockout loss to Robelis Despaigne at MVP MMA 1 on Saturday night, the first-ever MMA fight to air on Netflix.

    Dos Santos posted a video on Instagram in Portuguese addressing his condition and the knockout itself.

    “Yesterday, I went to the hospital after that strike I took right to the face. The boy hits hard. I didn’t see anything. People are asking, ‘Did it hurt?’ Did it hurt? What are you talking about? I didn’t feel a thing, man. You just fall asleep.”

    The 42-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion was cleared by doctors before flying home from California on Sunday. He said he planned to reflect more on the fight once he returned home.

    “Tomorrow I’ll be back at home, and then I’ll talk a little bit about how it went and the fight itself because I was feeling good, you know? Good, but somehow I wasn’t quite there. Very strange, very strange.”

    He also touched on the subject of age with a degree of uncertainty.

    “I think I’m getting old. No, I’m not, but anyway, let’s see.”

    The knockout was the ninth of Dos Santos’ career. He entered the fight with a 21-10 record and had spoken earlier in the week about wanting to build a long-term future with Most Valuable Promotions. Despaigne called out Francis Ngannou immediately after the finish, setting up what appears to be the most logical next step for MVP MMA’s heavyweight division.

  • McGregor UFC 329 Odds Show Wild Public-Sharp Money Split

    Conor McGregor is back, and the early betting market on his return is telling two very different stories.

    UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Saturday night that Conor McGregor will rematch Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The five-round welterweight fight headlines International Fight Week and streams on Paramount+. It is McGregor’s first scheduled bout since he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    Within hours of the announcement, the early lines were posted. The split between public action and real money is staggering.

    Holloway A Heavy Favorite, Sharps All Over Him

    According to a BetMGM data card released Sunday, Holloway opened at -345 and has already been steamed to -550. McGregor opened at +250 and has drifted out to +350, by far the longest underdog price of his UFC career.

    The kicker is the split. BetMGM reports 95% of total bets are riding with McGregor, but only 1% of the handle (the total dollars wagered) is on him. Holloway sits at 5% of tickets and 99% of the money. That is the textbook profile of a public-versus-sharp split. Small bettors are stacking single-digit tickets on the Notorious one for the storyline, while professional money is hammering Holloway in size.

    Other books are even more aggressive. BetOnline opened Holloway at -450 and McGregor at +350. DraftKings opened the Hawaiian as a -500 favorite, with some offshore markets briefly touching -700 before settling.

    What’s Driving The Number

    McGregor (22-6) has not won a UFC fight since his 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone in January 2020. He is 37, has not competed in nearly five years, and will be making just his fourth start at welterweight, where he is 2-1 (wins over Cerrone and Nate Diaz, plus the loss in Diaz 1).

    Holloway (27-9) is no longer the featherweight champion who put together a 13-fight winning streak after the first McGregor fight, but he has stayed active. He is coming off a wide decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March, and the 34-year-old former BMF titleholder will be making his welterweight debut, a 15-pound jump from lightweight. He still owns the UFC’s all-time records for significant strikes landed and total strikes landed.

    The pair first met on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston, when a 25-year-old McGregor took a unanimous decision over a 21-year-old Holloway despite tearing his ACL during the fight. Holloway responded with a career-defining 13-fight unbeaten run. McGregor became the promotion’s biggest-ever star.

    Thirteen years later, the rematch is finally booked. The oddsmakers, and the bettors moving the largest tickets, are not betting on a sequel that mirrors the first.

  • Alex Pereira Says Ilia Topuria ‘Stepped Up As A Brother’ When Josh Hokit Targeted Him At UFC Press Conference

    Alex Pereira Says Ilia Topuria ‘Stepped Up As A Brother’ When Josh Hokit Targeted Him At UFC Press Conference

    Alex Pereira says he had no idea what Josh Hokit was saying when the rising heavyweight took aim at him during the UFC Freedom 250 pre-fight press conference, and credited Ilia Topuria for stepping in on his behalf.

    Hokit directed trash talk at Pereira, who does not speak English, prompting Topuria to throw an object at Hokit. The incident ended the press conference early and resulted in Hokit being escorted out.

    Speaking to MMA Junkie through an interpreter, Pereira explained what he witnessed.

    “You guys saw it there. I don’t understand English, and I think Topuria felt that he saw that, and he stepped up as a brother. Threw the bottle or whatever the case was on Hokit’s face. You saw that he was going too far. To Hokit, how am I going to even talk about that guy? Maybe he’s one of those that doesn’t even get along with his family. You see how that guy has attitude. Maybe he doesn’t get along with his brother, stuff like that.”

    Pereira said he expects tighter security when the two cross paths during fight week and plans to stay composed.

    “Fight week, after this, we’re probably going to have a lot of people around not letting anything happen. Just going to stay cool and composed like I always am. If on fight week this guy is able to get to me to try and do anything, it’s just messed up by the organization. I’m going to stay the same.”

    Pereira and Topuria traveled together on a private plane to visit the White House ahead of their respective UFC Freedom 250 bouts. Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event on June 14, while Topuria headlines against interim champion Justin Gaethje in a title unification bout. Hokit meets former title challenger Derrick Lewis on the same card.

  • UFC 329: Full Fight Card, Date, Time And Everything To Know About Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2

    UFC 329 is shaping up to be one of the biggest cards of the year, headlined by a long-awaited rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway.

    More than a decade after their first meeting, the two former champions will collide again, this time in a welterweight main event during International Fight Week.

    UFC 329: Date, Venue, And Start Time In The U.S.

    UFC 329 takes place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The event will be broadcast on Paramount+, with the early prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

    McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Headlines a Stacked Card

    The UFC 329 main event sees Conor McGregor return after a long layoff to face Max Holloway. Their first meeting took place on August 17, 2013, when “The Notorious” secured a unanimous decision win early in his UFC run.

    The co-main event features Paddy Pimblett taking on Benoit Saint Denis in a crucial lightweight clash. Elsewhere on the card, Robert Whittaker makes his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov. The event also features the highly anticipated UFC debut of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, who faces Elisha Ellison in a heavyweight bout.

    UFC 329 Main Card

    • Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway (Welterweight)
    • Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis (Lightweight)
    • Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista (Bantamweight)
    • Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanaugh (Flyweight)
    • Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison (Heavyweight)

    UFC 329 Preliminary Card

    • Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov (Light Heavyweight)
    • Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III (Featherweight)
    • Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida (Middleweight)
    • Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)

    UFC 329 Early Prelims

    • Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong (Women’s Flyweight)
    • Ode Osbourne vs. Cody Durden (Flyweight)
    • Ryan Gandra vs. Zach Reese (Middleweight)

  • UFC 329 Announcement Triggers Instant Beef Between Conor McGregor And Max Holloway

    Conor McGregor is officially back, and he is wasting no time reigniting old rivalries.

    The former two-division champion is set to face Max Holloway in a long-awaited rematch at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. The bout, which will take place at welterweight, marks McGregor’s first appearance since 2021, when he suffered a devastating leg injury against Dustin Poirier.

    Shortly after the fight was announced, “The Notorious” jumped straight into promotion mode with a familiar dose of trash talk.

    “I’m going to son you, child. Again,” McGregor wrote on social media. “You’re going to put respect on my motherf*cking name.”

    The two first met back in 2013, when McGregor was just beginning his UFC journey. Despite suffering a torn ACL during the fight, the Irishman secured a unanimous decision victory over Holloway, who was also dealing with a significant ankle injury at the time.

    While the Irishman went on to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion, Holloway carved out his own legacy with a dominant run at featherweight, including a lengthy winning streak and multiple title defenses.

    Now, more than a decade later, “Blessed” is confident the outcome will be different.

    “Nah, big dog, you gonna put some respect on my name,” Holloway fired back. “We’re gonna find out Saturday night.”

  • UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Set For July 25 At Etihad Arena

    The UFC will return to Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25, for its annual mid-summer Fight Night card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

    The promotion confirmed the date and venue Monday in a joint announcement with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), with tickets set to go on sale soon through VisitAbuDhabi.ae.

    UFC says the full lineup will be revealed in the weeks ahead, though several bouts have already trickled out through reporting in recent days.

    UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event

    Top-15 heavyweight Valter Walker is expected to headline the main card opposite Thomas Petersen, per Yahoo Sports. Walker enters on a four-fight UFC win streak, all by first-round heel hook, the longest such run in promotional history. The Brazilian last competed at UFC 321 in October, finishing Louie Sutherland in Abu Dhabi before withdrawing from a March booking with Marcin Tybura due to a leg injury sustained in that same Sutherland fight.

    Petersen, a former LFA heavyweight champion, rebounded from a knockout loss to Vitor Petrino with a majority decision win over Guilherme Pat in his most recent appearance. The same report has Ismael Bonfim drawing Axel Sola in a lightweight bout, with additional heavyweight and light heavyweight matchups listed on Tapology that have not yet been officially announced.

    Continuing An Abu Dhabi Run

    The July date extends a partnership between the UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi that dates back to 2010 and was cemented during the Fight Island era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emirate has hosted more than 20 UFC events since the relationship began, with two more on the books inside the last calendar year alone.

    Last July’s Fight Night at the same venue saw Reinier de Ridder hand Robert Whittaker a split-decision loss in a middleweight headliner. In October, Etihad Arena hosted UFC 321, which ended in a no-contest after a double eye poke left Tom Aspinall requiring surgery on both eyes. Mackenzie Dern claimed the vacant women’s strawweight title in the co-main event of that same card.

    The July 25 card is expected to broadcast in the United States on Paramount+, per Tapology’s event listing. Full ticket and travel package details will be posted to VisitAbuDhabi.ae when sales open.

  • Rising MMA Fighter Arrested In Texas Over Serious Child Sexual Assault Charge

    A promising professional MMA fighter has been recently arrested in Houston, Texas, on a serious criminal charge, according to official court records.

    The individual was taken into custody by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month and is now facing one count of sexual assault of a child. The arrest took place on May 8, 2026, in Texas, with records listing the location as W. Davis Street.

    The fighter has since been identified as Lester Batres Jr. Booking details show a bond set at $50,000, with the case filed under Montgomery County court records. The charge is listed as “sexual assault of a child,” and the case is currently tied to court designation D359.

    Image: montgomerycountypolicereporter.com

    Following news of the arrest, Renzo Gracie Lake Houston, the renowned gym previously associated with Batres, issued a public statement on Facebook distancing itself from the situation.

    “We are aware of the recent arrest and serious allegations involving former employee and former member Lester Batres Jr.,” the statement read. “As soon as we became aware of the allegations months ago, Lester was immediately terminated from all involvement and permanently banned from our academy.”

    The gym further emphasized that Batres had not been affiliated with their team since that time and reiterated that the safety of their members remains their top priority.

    Batres holds a 7-1 professional record, with all of his fights taking place under the Fury FC banner. His last outing came in November 2025, where he earned a first-round submission victory over Dumar Roa at Fury FC 111. He was later scheduled to fight Nate Jennerman in February, but withdrew from the matchup.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Response To Being Overshadowed By Dana White’s Announcement Is Very Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou’s Response To Being Overshadowed By Dana White’s Announcement Is Very Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou was unbothered by Dana White’s decision to announce Conor McGregor’s return during the MVP MMA 1 broadcast, saying it had nothing to do with him.

    White announced McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 at UFC 329 during the Netflix event on Saturday night, with the timing widely seen as a deliberate attempt to overshadow MVP MMA’s debut. The announcement coincided with Ngannou’s walkout, leading to both men trending on social media simultaneously.

    Asked about the timing by the media after the event, Ngannou was dismissive.

    “And what the f— do I have to do with that? So I should stop my walkout and look at what’s going on with Dana? I don’t care, bro. Let’s move on, life goes on, I’m doing my stuff here, I’m doing good, I have no problem. Everybody can do whatever they want.”

    Despite the newsworthiness of McGregor’s return announcement, Ngannou’s name trended on social media at a similar level to McGregor’s during the evening.

  • Nate Diaz Had Surprising Reaction To Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Announcement

    Nate Diaz reacted calmly to the news of Conor McGregor’s return, saying the rematch with Max Holloway should have happened a long time ago.

    Diaz spoke to the media after MVP MMA 1 on Saturday night, where he lost to Mike Perry. He was asked about Dana White’s announcement of McGregor vs. Holloway 2 at UFC 329, made during the Netflix event.

    “That’s going to be a good fight, it’s about time. It’s a rematch, right? Because Conor was taking him down the last time, so that’s going to be a good fight.”

    Diaz then asked the media what they thought, before adding his own take.

    “It should have happened a long time ago, right?”

    McGregor and Holloway first fought at UFC 194 in December 2015, with Holloway winning by unanimous decision. McGregor has not competed since July 2021.

  • Jake Paul Blasts Dana White Over Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway UFC 329 Announcement

    Jake Paul recently fired back at UFC President Dana White as the latter announced Conor McGregor’s return.

    The boxing promoter accused White of attempting to steal attention from his MVP’s debut MMA card.

    On Saturday, White went live on Instagram to officially announce McGregor’s Octagon return, confirming a July 11 main event clash against former rival Max Holloway at UFC 329. The announcement will serve as the headline attraction for this year’s International Fight Week.

    The timing raised eyebrows across the combat sports world. White’s reveal coincided exactly with Francis Ngannou’s walk to the cage at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California for his heavyweight bout against Philipe Lins on the undercard of the debut MVP MMA event streaming on Netflix.

    Jake Paul Accuses Dana White of Piggybacking Off MVP Event

    During the MVP MMA post-event press conference, Paul was asked about White’s announcement timing. The co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions didn’t hold back in his response.

    “Oh, the cokehead is back,” Paul said, according to LowKickMMA. “That’s cool, bro. Drop it during our event. Insecure boys trying to piggyback.”

    Paul appeared largely unfazed by the tactic despite fans and pundits anticipating White might attempt to divert attention from the MVP card. The boxing promoter has maintained an ongoing public feud with the UFC president, including past criticisms of fighter pay and UFC business practices.

    The MVP MMA debut event featured a card headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano and streamed on Netflix.

  • MVP MMA Salaries: Ronda Rousey Earns $2.2 Million For Submission

    Those joking that Ronda Rousey’s 17-second armbar of Gina Carano in the main event of MVP MMA 1 was her “easiest payday” may not be stretching the truth too much.

    Though it’s more of a rarity these days, the base fighter pay for the MVP MMA card is now known, thanks to the disclosure by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

    Rousey, one of the headliners for the inaugural MVP MMA event, was the biggest earner of the evening, taking home a $2.2 million purse.

    Rousey’s opponent, Carano, was the third-biggest earner, taking home a $1.05 million payday.

    Between the two was Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion took home $1.5 million for his first-round knockout of Phillipe Lins.

    It should be noted that the reported pay by the CSAC does not include any win bonuses, signing bonuses, incentive-based bonuses, or sponsorship revenue.

    The lowest base pay for the MVP card was $40,000. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian previously told Uncrowned that this would be the minimum fighter pay, nearly four times more than the UFC’s lowest show money pay for fighters.

    The full list of MVP MMA fighter disclosed pay by the CSAC can be found below:

    • Ronda Rousey: $2,200,000
    • Gina Carano: $1,050,000
    • Nate Diaz: $500,000
    • Mike Perry: $400,000
    • Francis Ngannou: $1,500,000
    • Philipe Lins: $100,000
    • Salahdine Parnasse: $70,000
    • Kenny Cross: $50,000
    • Junior dos Santos: $80,000
    • Robelis Despaigne: $50,000
    • Namo Fazil: $40,000
    • Jake Babian: $40,000
    • Adriano Moraes: $80,000
    • Phumi Nkuta: $60,000
    • Jason Jackson: $110,000
    • Jeff Creighton: $50,000
    • David Mgoyan: $50,000
    • Albert Morales: $40,000
    • Aline Pereira: $40,000
    • Jade Masson-Wong: $40,000
    • Chris Avila: $50,000
    • Brandon Jenkins: $40,000

  • Ronda Rousey Submits Gina Carano In Seconds With Armbar

    She hasn’t stepped in the cage in over 10 years, but Ronda Rousey looked like her old self, needing mere seconds to put away Gina Carano in the main event of MVP MMA.

    Rousey scored a takedown immediately. After a failed guillotine, Rousey went right into the armbar, scoring the submission in just 17 seconds.

    Ronda Rousey Quickly Submits Gina Carano In 17 Seconds At MVP MMA

    This was Rousey’s first MMA fight since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. The former UFC and Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion has since had a pair of stints with the WWE, where she became a multiple-time women’s world champion.

    This was Carano’s first fight since losing to Cris Cyborg in 2009. Carano has since gone on to a career in film and television media.

  • ‘War’ – Mike Perry Puts Beating On Nate Diaz For Stoppage Win

    In a bloody striking-filled war, Mike Perry scored perhaps the biggest win of his combat career, stopping Nate Diaz in two rounds in the MVP MMA co-main event.

    Perry came out aggressively from the opening seconds, looking to bring forward pressure and aggression with inside strikes, namely elbows. Diaz looked for an early leg lock attempt, but back on the feet, Perry had his way, working Diaz over with body strikes and quickly wearing him down.

    Diaz landed strong shots of his own, working the jab and busting Perry up as well. But Perry’s onslaught on the feet was too much, as he continued to land combinations and make the blood pour from Diaz.

    Perry landed a strong knee before the end of the round. While Diaz survived to the end of round two, the corner ended the fight due to all the blood pouring out of Diaz, giving Perry the victory.

    Mike Perry Bloodies, Finishes Nate Diaz At MVP MMA

    This was Diaz’s first MMA bout since submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Since then, he competed in two boxing bouts, losing to Jake Paul and defeating Jorge Masvidal.

    Perry has built a name for himself in the BKFC, becoming their current King of Violence. This was Perry’s first professional MMA bout since losing to Daniel Rodriguez in April 2021.

  • Arnold Allen Outworks Melquizael Costa In UFC Vegas 117 Headliner

    Needing a win to keep himself in the upper echelon of featherweight contenders, Arnold Allen delivered in style, nearly sweeping the scorecards in a win over Melquizael Costa in the UFC Vegas 117 main event.

    Costa found success early with kicks to the body and scoring control on the ground. Allen, however, responded with his takedowns and boxing, landing strong combinations.

    Allen’s boxing became key, working Costa over with the jab while putting together strong combinations and limiting Costa’s offense. Costa worked the body and looked for submission attempts on the ground, but they were no match for the pressure and defense of Allen, limiting Costa’s attack.

    Allen’s positional pressure continued in the championship rounds, going on to take all three scorecards.

    Arnold Allen Scores Decision Over Melquizael Costa At UFC Vegas 117

    Allen started his MMA career 19-1. He entered this fight, however, having dropped three of his last four. He most recently dropped a decision to Jean Silva at UFC 325.

    Costa sees a six-fight win streak snapped. He entered this bout off a finish of Dan Ige at UFC Houston in February.

  • UFC Star Arman Tsarukyan Jumps Barrier To Confront Namo Fazil After Heated Feud At Rousey vs Carano Card

    Arman Tsarukyan found himself at the center of controversy once again, this time during the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card in Los Angeles.

    The incident unfolded after Namo Fazil secured a submission victory over Jake Babian in the final preliminary bout. During his post-fight interview, Fazil used the moment to call out “Ahalkalakets”, signaling that tensions between the two had been building throughout fight week.

    Moments later, Tsarukyan, who was in attendance, reacted from the stands. Video circulating online shows the top UFC lightweight contender attempting to climb over the barrier before being stopped. He later made his way backstage, where he confronted Fazil again as both fighters exchanged heated words before security intervened.

    The bad blood stems from earlier comments Tsarukyan made during a livestream, where remarks about the Kurdish community sparked backlash. Fazil, who represents Kurdistan, responded publicly during the week, warning that the comments would not go unanswered.

    Despite the confrontation, the situation did not escalate into a physical altercation, with multiple people separating both camps.

    Tsarukyan’s actions have once again drawn attention away from his in-cage accomplishments. The No. 1 lightweight contender has not fought since his win over Dan Hooker in late 2025 and is still awaiting his next UFC booking.

    The 29-year-old Armenian is also set to serve as the backup fighter for the UFC Freedom 250 main event between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje on June 14.

  • Jon Jones Says He’s Focused On Trying To Get UFC Release

    Jon Jones Says He’s Focused On Trying To Get UFC Release

    Jon Jones was present for the MVP MMA card and said he’d need to get out of his UFC contract to face Francis Ngannou.

    Jones was a guest at the analysts’ desk, present to react to Ngannou’s performance against Phillips Lins. Ngannou ended up finishing Lins in just under five minutes.

    Following the fight, Ariel Helwani asked Ngannou about potential next fights. Jake Paul was brought up as a possible opponent, as was Jones, but all parties seemed to recognize the difficulty of such a fight happening while Jones is locked under a UFC contract.

    Jon Jones Looking To Get Out Of UFC Contract For Francis Ngannou Matchup

    Jones was then asked to follow up on his thoughts, and he appeared to hint that he might be looking to get out of his contract.

    “I’ve got to try to focus on getting out of my UFC contract,” Jones said. “That’s going to be the difficult part if this fight [with Francis Ngannou] is going to happen. I don’t think [UFC CEO and President] Dana [White] is interested in doing business with Francis, so doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen, and if we can get out of my contract that would be great.”

    Jones has not fought since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Jones and Tom Aspinall’s negotiations for a heavyweight title fight ended with Jones’ retirement. That retirement only lasted two weeks, when Jones requested to be put on the UFC White House card.

    When Jones was not placed on the card, he asked for his release.

    Jones and Ngannou have had previous negotiations with the UFC for a fight, but the fight fell through more than once before Ngannou left the UFC in 2023.

    The win over Lins was Ngannou’s first fight since his sole PFL bout — a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira in October 2024.

  • ‘Still the Scariest’ – Francis Ngannou Puts Out Phillipe Lins

    Francis Ngannou still has the power, delivering a vintage knockout during the MVP MMA card, needing just one round to defeat Phillipe Lins.

    Ngannou stalked Lins right away, countering a Lins takedown attempt with a guillotine choke. Ngannou got Lins to his back, thanks to his power, as Lins tried to limit Ngannou by locking up his guard.

    Ngannou made Lins eat right hands as the fight got back to the feet. Ngannou connected on solid body shots to do more damage.

    Then, Ngannou landed one right hand to put Lins out cold and end things in a flash.

    Francis Ngannou KOs Phillipe Lins At MVP MMA

    This was Ngannou’s first professional MMA fight since defeating Renan Ferreira in October 2024. That was the sole PFL fight for the former UFC heavyweight champion, who parted ways with that promotion in 2023.

    This was Lins’ first fight since defeating Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299. Lins, the former PFL heavyweight champion, was on a four-fight win streak.

  • UFC Confirms Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2, UFC 329 Card

    UFC Confirms Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2, UFC 329 Card

    Those predicting a Conor McGregor announcement to counter the MVP MMA 1 card were proven correct.

    Before the UFC Vegas 117 main event, just as Francis Ngannou vs. Phillipe Lins was getting underway, the UFC dropped a promo confirming the second encounter between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway.

    The fight will headline UFC 329, which will take place on July 11 in Las Vegas, serving as the card for this year’s UFC International Fight Week. The bout, as reported by the New York Post, will take place at welterweight.

    This will be McGregor’s first fight in five years, having not fought since losing his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

    Holloway last fought in March, dropping the BMF title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326.

    UFC 329 Revealed, Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 To Headline

    In addition to the main event, the broadcast also revealed the rest of the UFC 329 card.

    The co-main event will be a key lightweight matchup as Benoit Saint-Denis battles Paddy Pimblett. BSD comes into this bout on a four-fight win streak, most recently finishing Dan Hooker at UFC 325. Pimblett will enter this fight off his loss to Justin Gaethje in the interim lightweight title main event at UFC 324.

    UFC 329 will also feature the UFC debut of former Olympic gold medalist and multiple-time NCAA wrestling champion Gable Stevenson, as he takes on Elisha Ellison.

    The rest of the UFC 329 main card will feature Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista and Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanaugh.

    The prelims will be headlined by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on Nikita Krylov.