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  • ‘Disappointed’ Jon Jones Breaks Silence After Dana White Calls Him A ‘Risk’ For UFC White House Event

    ‘Disappointed’ Jon Jones Breaks Silence After Dana White Calls Him A ‘Risk’ For UFC White House Event

    Jon Jones isn’t exactly pleased with Dana White’s dismissal of his UFC White House return plans.

    Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to celebrate America’s 250th Independence Day with a major UFC event on the White House lawn in July 2026.

    The news quickly caught the attention of Jones, who had retired just weeks earlier. The former two-division UFC champion announced his plans to make a comeback and revealed he had re-entered the promotion’s drug testing pool, intent on competing on the historic card.

    Image: @jonnybones/Instagram

    However, during the UFC 318 post-fight press conference on Saturday, White was asked if he would consider “Bones” for the proposed White House event. The UFC CEO promptly shut down the idea, citing Jon Jones’ troubled past as the reason he couldn’t be trusted to headline such a high-profile occasion.

    “It’s not even about him winning the belt,” White said. “You know how I felt about him. I just can’t risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong, especially the White House card.”

    Jon Jones Reacts After Dana White Rules Him Out Of UFC White House Event

    In the wake of Dana White’s decision to dismiss the possibility of his return for the proposed UFC White House event, Jon Jones took to social media on Sunday to respond.

    “Bones” voiced his disappointment in the UFC CEO’s doubts about his dependability, but affirmed that he’s continuing to train and preparing for any opportunity that comes his way.

    “I heard the comments made at last night’s press conference,” Jones Jones wrote on X. “While I was a little disappointed, I’m still in the UFC’s drug-testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I’ll be ready for whatever comes next.

    “In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a ‘why’ that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!

    “The silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart. They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage. For me, it’s never been just about the opponent. I’m chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment.

    “So for now, I’ll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I’m ready to fight on July 4th.”

    Jon Jones last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 309 in November 2024, where he successfully defended his heavyweight title for the first time with a third-round knockout of former champion Stipe Miocic.

    “Bones” was locked in a heated rivalry with Tom Aspinall, with fans eagerly calling for a title unification bout. However, the matchup never materialized, as Jones repeatedly questioned Aspinall’s legitimacy as a worthy challenger.

    Jon Jones
    Image: Jon Jones on Instagram
  • Dakota Ditcheva Announces Re-Signing With PFL

    Dakota Ditcheva Announces Re-Signing With PFL

    It appears Dakota Ditcheva’s future will remain within the PFL.

    Perhaps the newest face of the PFL, Ditcheva confirmed her re-signing with the PFL following her victory over Sumiko Inaba in the co-main event of PFL Champions Series 2 (one of two cards that made up PFL Cape Town).

    The deal is apparently for multiple years, according to Ditcheva.

    “I have just re-signed with PFL,” Ditcheva announced in her post-fight interview. “We’ve come to a great agreement, and I’m going to look forward to the next few years together.”

    Dakota Ditcheva To Remain With PFL

    Ditcheva seems to have become perhaps the face of the PFL brand following her move to the global season from PFL Europe in 2024 — occuring around the same time that Kayla Harrison jumped from the PFL to the UFC.

    Ditcheva became the inaugural PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion in 2023 and then made her way through the likes of Jena Bishop and Taila Santos to become the PFL women’s flyweight champion in 2024.

    Ditcheva returned to the cage for the first time since her title win at PFL Cape Town, defeating Inaba. Ditcheva, however, appeared to break her hand during the contest, and the extent of time she will miss is unknown as of press time.

  • ‘How Lucky Are We’ – Jon Jones, Belal Muhammad, & Other Fighters And Fans Celebrate Dustin Poirier And Max Holloway As Poirier Retires Following Loss In Thrilling UFC 318 BMF Title Main Event

    ‘How Lucky Are We’ – Jon Jones, Belal Muhammad, & Other Fighters And Fans Celebrate Dustin Poirier And Max Holloway As Poirier Retires Following Loss In Thrilling UFC 318 BMF Title Main Event

    “The Diamond” did not go out the BMF champion, but he shined bright to the very end.

    Max Holloway finally scored a victory over Dustin Poirier in the third and final bout of their series, retaining the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    The two took the first couple of minutes to feel the other out and gain a rhythm, throwing single shots. A right hand from Holloway caught Poirier and dropped him. Holloway looked for a quick ending, but Poirier survived the small onslaught and backed Holloway up with shots of his own. Holloway continued to get the better of Poirier in the round, but Poirier seemed to have a response to fire back with.

    Poirier tried to get to a quick start in the second, as he tried to match Holloway beat-to-beat and tempo-to-tempo. Poirier landed a strong knee and right hand that seemed to do damage. Holloway, however, then troubled Poirier with an uppercut that rocked him, putting Poirier down. Holloway jumped into mount, but Poirier survived the onslaught. Poirier landed a strong combination that caught Holloway’s attention in the last minute of the second round, and then knocked Holloway down with a left hand and catching him in a guillotine attempt.

    The third round showed a bit of a slower pace. Holloway backed Poirier up with a notable combination; however, Poirier did some noteworthy damage to the body in the closing stages of the round, forcing Holloway back. The fourth round saw Holloway work his combinations, while Poirier troubled him with forward pressure and powerful single shots.

    The fifth round was heart-stopping back-and-forth action, as the two traded single shots and combinations before the final 10 seconds, where Holloway got the better of Poirier and forced him to clinch up.

    Max Holloway Retains BMF Title, Dustin Poirier Celebrated To Close Out UFC 318

    Poirier’s professional MMA career began in 2009, going 7-0 before a pair of fights in the WEC. Poirier then made his UFC debut on New Year’s Day 2011 at UFC 125, taking on a who’s who of legendary fighters that included Chan Sung-Jung, Conor McGregor, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and more.

    Poirier, who retires from MMA at 30-10 1 (NC), won the interim UFC lightweight championship by defeating Holloway at UFC 236. Poirier’s other career highlight is his pair of victories over McGregor in 2021.

    Holloway becomes the first man to successfully retain the BMF title. He called out new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who became the first man to knock Holloway out at UFC 308.

  • “Paulo Costa Is Back!” – Fans & Fighters React To Paulo Costa Putting On Vintage Performance In Decision Over Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    “Paulo Costa Is Back!” – Fans & Fighters React To Paulo Costa Putting On Vintage Performance In Decision Over Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    Paulo Costa is back in the win column once again, stopping the up-and-coming Roman Kopylov in the co-main event of UFC 318.

    Costa found success by varying his strikes and mixing things up during the opening frame, while it seemed like Kopylov didn’t get into second gear. Costa then rocked Kopylov before the end of the round.

    Costa continued to find success with his striking, especially with his kicks, staying patient on the outside and picking his spots. Costa would rock Kopylov twice more in the second round — though Kopylov picked it up a little bit toward the end of the second.

    Costa appeared to be tiring in the third round but maintained control of the fight’s pace, using his footwork and head movement to avoid Kopylov’s strikes. That is until Kopylov briefly stunned him in the middle of the third.

    Costa scored a unanimous decision win and, as previously stated, called out Khamzat Chimaev — who challenges for the middleweight title next month at UFC 319.

    Paulo Costa Outworks Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1946787789128786236

    Costa entered tonight with losses in four of his previous five after starting his MMA career 11-0. Last year, Costa suffered losses to former middleweight champions Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland.

    Kopylov entered tonight with six wins in his last seven, including a finish of Chris Curtis in January.

  • “No Fighter In Boxing History Has Been Robbed More” – Fans React As Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios Goes To A Controversial Majority Draw

    “No Fighter In Boxing History Has Been Robbed More” – Fans React As Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios Goes To A Controversial Majority Draw

    Manny Pacquiao put on a solid showing for his age; however, his fight vs. Mario Barrios has a result few, if any, will be happy with.

    The WBC welterweight title fight between the two ended in a majority draw, allowing Barrios to retain the championship.

    Barrios appeared to be trying to size up Pacquiao early in the fight, while Pac-Man got to work, doing most of the landing in the opening two rounds. Barrios picked up the pace in the third, taking the lead on that round before a back-and-forth fourth round that could have fallen either way.

    Barrios found success in the fifth round with his right hand, but Pacquiao was finding the speed and still connecting well as the first half of the fight came to a close. After another close round, Pacquiao appeared to outpace Barrios over the next couple of rounds.

    Another back-and-forth 10th round was then followed by a last push from Pacquiao in the championship rounds. It would not be enough, however. Barrios would win 115-113 on one scorecard, while the remaining two judges scored the bout 114-114.

    Mario Barrios Retains WBC Title In Controversial Draw vs. Manny Pacquiao

    https://twitter.com/NewMediaSports_/status/1946787849694507032

    This was Pacquiao’s first fight since dropping the WBA welterweight title to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021.

    Barrios defeated Ugas for the interim WBC welterweight title in September 2023. Last year, he retained the title in a decision over Fabian Maidana and another controversial draw against Abel Ramos on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul.

  • “Absolute Cinema” – Fans & Fighters React To Daniel Rodriguez Going All Out In Wild Win Over Kevin Holland At UFC 318

    “Absolute Cinema” – Fans & Fighters React To Daniel Rodriguez Going All Out In Wild Win Over Kevin Holland At UFC 318

    Kevin Holland made it quite the task; however, Daniel Rodriguez was able to get the better of him at UFC 318 — a fight that included a third round that will go down as one of the more memorable rounds in the UFC this year.

    Rodriguez appeared to get the better of Holland in the opening round, wobbling Holland on a couple of occasions as he landed body shots and counterpunches.

    Rodriguez continued his momentum early in the second round by landing a hook that dropped Holland. Holland threw up his guard and was able to get back to his feet, but Rodriguez managed to land a left hand a little while later to score another knockdown. Holland nearly scored an armbar from the bottom and rebounded by scoring a takedown of Rodriguez later in the round.

    Holland threatened a D’Arce choke and landed a left hand upon Rodriguez escaping. Rodriguez, however, clipped Holland around one of his eyes, doing damage and stuffing a takedown attempt.

    Rodriguez needed to survive the third round; however, he was stunned by an uppercut from Holland. Holland threatened a guillotine choke and continued to pour on the punches when Rodriguez couldn’t. Holland continued to pressure — only for Rodriguez to answer back. Holland threatened a choke on the ground, but Rodriguez escaped and got into top control. Rodriguez got into mount with a minute left, troubling Holland, but Holland escaped. Rodriguez locked up a choke but couldn’t get it.

    Daniel Rodriguez Defeats Kevin Holland In Wild Back-And-Forth Battle At UFC 318

    Holland fought just a month ago at UFC 317, scoring a submission of Vicente Luque.

    Rodriguez has now won three straight, having also defeated Santiago Ponzinibbio and Alex Morono over the last year.

  • “Smoothie King Center Acting Like It Just Rewatched Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou” – Jon Jones & Other Fighters And Fans Discuss Patricio Pitbull’s First UFC Win At UFC 318

    “Smoothie King Center Acting Like It Just Rewatched Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou” – Jon Jones & Other Fighters And Fans Discuss Patricio Pitbull’s First UFC Win At UFC 318

    It wasn’t the most exciting performance, but former Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull achieved his first UFC victory at UFC 318, defeating Dan Ige.

    The opening round was fairly quiet, as the two seemed to be tactically waiting for the other to make a move. Pitbull managed to strike and score a pair of takedowns on Ige. Ige reversed the position for a bit, but Pitbull managed to get the fight back to the feet fairly quickly.

    The second round continued with the low activity until Ige worked a combination a couple of minutes in. But with less than two minutes left, Pitbull connected on an uppercut that appeared to hurt Ige. Pitbull worked combinations on Ige, continuing to do damage, while Ige defended and landed an elbow. Pitbull landed a takedown before the round’s conclusion to cap the best round of his UFC run thus far.

    Ige, however, came back in a big way, landing a head kick that wobbled Pitbull in the opening minute of the third round. Pitbull managed to guard himself well and grapple his way to recovery, albeit his nose was busted up bad. Ige landed on the inside again later in the round, but Pitbull threatened another takedown. In fact, he’d grab a hold of Ige with less than 90 seconds left; however, Ige somehow defended Pitbull’s attempts to grapple well. Pitbull would take Ige down in the bout’s final minute, with both men landing strikes to the horn.

    All three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Pitbull.

    Patricio Pitbull Earns Decision Over Dan Ige At UFC 318

    This was Pitbull’s second UFC appearance, following his disappointing first outing in a loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.

    Ige entered with four wins in his last seven. Prior to tonight, he had most recently fought at UFC 314, scoring a finish of Sean Woodson.

  • “Still So Fast For His Age” – Michael Johnson Wows Fans & Fellow Fighters As He Scores Win As Biggest Underdog Of UFC 318

    “Still So Fast For His Age” – Michael Johnson Wows Fans & Fellow Fighters As He Scores Win As Biggest Underdog Of UFC 318

    Coming into this fight as the biggest underdog at +500, 39-year-old Michael Johnson showed age means experience, putting on a solid performance and defeating Daniel Zellhuber to open the UFC 318 pay-per-view main card.

    Both men had their moments in the opening round with their kind of strikes — Johnson landing powerful punches upstairs, while Zellhuber landed around the body with a kick-based offense.

    Zellhuber had the speedier shots in the first round and tried to carry that momentum into the second round. Johnson, however, landed a right-left combo that dropped Zellhuber. Zellhuber tried to get back in it, but this proved to be the turning point of the battle.

    Johnson focused on landing at Zellhuber’s body with his strikes during the third, and he came away with the unanimous decision.

    Michael Johnson Bests Daniel Zellhuber In Experience vs. Youth Striking Battle

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1946762271914377298
    https://twitter.com/CharlieQuinnMMA/status/1946763674003079462
    https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1946762704745857211

    Johnson entered tonight with four wins in his last six, most recently knocking out Ottman Azaiatar at UFC Tampa in December.

    Zellhuber had won three straight but lost his most recent bout prior to tonight — dropping a split decision against Esteban Ribovics in 2024’s Fight of the Year at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306.

  • “An Absolute Disgrace To The Sport” – Fans & Fighters React As Jake Paul Stares Down With New Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk

    “An Absolute Disgrace To The Sport” – Fans & Fighters React As Jake Paul Stares Down With New Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk

    The eyes of the boxing world were all on Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, as he put a beating on Daniel Dubois en route to a fifth-round knockout to once again become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

    In the midst of celebrating Usyk as a GOAT in the sport, thoughts will now turn toward who will be next to face Usyk. And that’s when Jake Paul stepped forward.

    Paul was present in Saudi Arabia for the Usyk-Dubois 2 showdown and entered the ring following the fight, staring down with the new two-time undisputed heavyweight champion and indicating his intentions to challenge the Ukranian world champion.

    Paul stated his intentions are to face former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next and challenging Usyk.

    On social media, however, Paul stated he’s like to face Usyk in an MMA bout.

    Boxing World Reacts To Jake Paul Staring Down Oleksandr Usyk After Undisputed Heavyweight Title Win

    Jake Paul fought Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. last month, taking a decision win in a highly lackluster, one-sided affair. The WBA has since ranked Paul at No. 14 in its cruiserweight rankings, allowing Paul to potentially challenge for a world championship.

    What comes next for Usyk if he wants to remain undisputed champion, however, may come at the mercy of others. The WBO has indicated it will enact to make its interim heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker, as the next mandatory challenger for Usyk.

  • “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen’s grudge seemed to come to an end at UFC 318, as the two clashed on the preliminary card, with Allen scoring a decision win.

    The two began to trade right away, with each making the other stumble in the fight’s opening minute. Allen, however, pressured and brought the fight to the ground, threatening a bloodied Vettori with a rear-naked choke. Vettori survived the attempts, however, and rolled his way on top. Vettori threatened his own choke before Allen got back to his feet with 90 seconds left in the round.

    The second round was closer, with both men having their moments — though Allen’s strikes may have had a little more impact behind them. The two continued their back-and-forth battle into the third round, with Allen eventually taking a unanimous decision on the scorecards.

    Allen’s post-fight speech brought a lot of cheers in the Smoothie King Center, considering Allen is a native of Louisiana. However, Allen’s tribute to his own brother was brought about some dispute from some in the MMA community.

    Vettori recently lost his own brother in a house fire.

    Brendan Allen Scores Victory Over Rival Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Allen and Vettori have had bad blood since a scheduled bout between the two last year fell through. The two later went on to have a physical altercation in Florida following a PFL card.

    This win allows Allen to rebound following back-to-back losses against Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    Vettori has now lost three straight and four of her last five.

  • VIDEO: Ateba Gautier Continues UFC 318’s Finish Streak With 70-Second Stoppage Of Robert Valentin

    VIDEO: Ateba Gautier Continues UFC 318’s Finish Streak With 70-Second Stoppage Of Robert Valentin

    Ateba Gautier’s striking is skilled, slick, and powerful — all of which was seen during the UFC 318 preliminary card, where he needed just over a minute to put away The Ultimate Fighter season 32 alumnus Robert Valentin.

    Gautier rocked Valentin with a left hand early, causing him to stumble. Valentin covered up and tried to move around, but Gautier was patient.

    Instead of rushing in with a flurry, Gautier continued to tag Valentin with combinations until Valentin dropped next to the fence. Gautier then landed a pair of follow-up strikes before referee Herb Dean waved off the bout.

    Ateba Gautier Quickly Stops Robert Valentin At UFC 318

    Gautier made his UFC debut in March, scoring a highlight first-round knockout of Jose Medina with a knee.

    Valentin is now 0-3 in the UFC, having previously lost to both Torrez Finney and Ryan Loder, the latter of which came in the TUF Finale bout.

  • “The Real Dude” – Fans & Fighters React To Islam Dulatov Flattening Adam Fugitt In Anticipated UFC Debut At UFC 318

    “The Real Dude” – Fans & Fighters React To Islam Dulatov Flattening Adam Fugitt In Anticipated UFC Debut At UFC 318

    The UFC 318 early prelims go 5-for-5 in finishes — and Islam Dulatov is now 1-for-1 in his UFC outings.

    Dulatov, who was making a hyped debut, scored a quick victory over Adam Fugitt to close out the action the early preliminary card.

    Fugitt had some early success in the fight with leg kicks, but Fugitt worked him over well with punches — both as the main aggressor and as the counterpuncher. Fugitt attempted to grapple with Dulatov, but the German fighter used his powerful strikes to force breaks.

    About four minutes into the first round, Dulatov landed a one-two that dropped Fugitt out cold. Dulatov landed a follow-up shot or two that then officially brought the fight to a close.

    Islam Dulatov Impresses With Violent Display In UFC Debut At UFC 318

    Dulatov has not lost since dropping his professional MMA debut. This was Dulatov’s first UFC bout since knocking out Vanilto Antunes on Dana White’s Contender Series.

    Fugitt now falls to 2-3 in Octagon competition.

  • Dustin Poirier Reacts To Joe Rogan Missing His Retirement Fight At UFC 318

    Dustin Poirier Reacts To Joe Rogan Missing His Retirement Fight At UFC 318

    Dustin Poirier thinks it would’ve meant a lot to have Joe Rogan on commentary for his final UFC fight.

    “The Diamond” is set to make his final walk to the Octagon this Saturday in the main event of UFC 318, where he’ll cap off his storied career with a trilogy showdown against reigning BMF titleholder Max Holloway. The farewell will take place in front of his hometown crowd at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Rogan has been the voice behind countless iconic UFC moments over the years, and his absence from Dustin Poirier’s swan song at UFC 318 feels like a notable omission. Breaking from his usual routine, especially for a U.S.-based pay-per-view, Rogan is not on commentary duty tonight.

    While no official reason has been given for his absence, the veteran broadcaster has been replaced by former UFC lightweight Paul Felder, who joins longtime play-by-play man Jon Anik and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier to complete the broadcast team.

    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Dustin Poirier Grateful To Have Fellow Louisianan Daniel Cormier Calling UFC 318 In Joe Rogan’s Absence

    Speaking to reporters ahead of UFC 318, Dustin Poirier addressed Joe Rogan’s absence from the broadcast. The former interim lightweight champion admitted it would’ve been special to have Rogan call his final bout but expressed gratitude that fellow Lafayette native Daniel Cormier will be part of the commentary team on such a meaningful night.

    “Closing it out with Rogan would be cool, but also, DC, the legend he is, and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer he is, just everything he brings is awesome to be able to talk to him when it’s all said and done,” Dustin Poirier said. “[He’s] another Louisiana boy in New Orleans so, it’s special.”

    “The Diamond” is slated for his second shot at the BMF title, hoping to rewrite the narrative after a brutal setback in his first attempt. That opportunity came at UFC 291 in July 2023, where Poirier fell to a crushing head kick knockout delivered by Justin Gaethje.

    Poirier will aim to complete a clean sweep in his trilogy with Max Holloway, having already bested the Hawaiian twice before. Their first meeting at UFC 143 in February 2012 ended with Poirier securing a submission win, while their rematch at UFC 236 in April 2019 saw “The Diamond” emerge victorious once again, this time after a five-round battle to capture the interim lightweight championship.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • “Not On My 2025 MMA Bingo Card” – Fans & Fighters React As Jimmy Crute Earns First Win In Five Years With First-Round Armbar At UFC 318

    “Not On My 2025 MMA Bingo Card” – Fans & Fighters React As Jimmy Crute Earns First Win In Five Years With First-Round Armbar At UFC 318

    It has been a long time since a Jimmy Crute victory could be celebrated, but Crute has secured his first win in the UFC since 2020 after pulling off a win over Marcin Prachino at UFC 318.

    Crute brought pressure from the get-go, focusing on his right hand, while countering Prachino’s kick-based offense. Crute pushed for the takedown and managed to get the fight to the ground with a hip toss.

    Crute couldn’t lock up a choke the first go around; however, he managed to get the fight back to the ground and, like a ground-game master, performed a skilled transition to secure an armbar. Prachino tried to wriggle free but was ultimately forced to tap in the first.

    Jimmy Crute Wins For First Time Since 2020 At UFC 318

    Crute was 0-3-2 in the UFC since his last victory — which came against Modestas Bukauskas in October 2020.

    Prachino has now lost four of his last six.

  • VIDEO: Ryan Spann Secures First Heavyweight Victory With Submission Of Lukasz Brzeski At UFC 318

    VIDEO: Ryan Spann Secures First Heavyweight Victory With Submission Of Lukasz Brzeski At UFC 318

    Ryan Spann has scored his first UFC victory as a heavyweight, defeating Lukasz Brzeski during the early prelims of UFC 318.

    Spann’s sharp striking was on display early, mixing in leg kicks with some solid punches. Spann followed with a takedown, getting into mount quickly and trying to threaten with an arm-triangle choke.

    Spann then unleashed some strong ground-and-pound before locking up a guillotine, scoring the submission in one round.

    Ryan Spann Defeats Lukasz Brzeski At UFC 318

    Spann was unsuccessful in his heavyweight debut in March, getting finished by Waldo Cortes-Acosta.

    Brzeski has now lost three straight and six of his last seven.

  • VIDEO: Brunno Ferreira Slams Jackson McVey Before Locking Up Submission Win At UFC 318

    VIDEO: Brunno Ferreira Slams Jackson McVey Before Locking Up Submission Win At UFC 318

    Brunno Ferreira still has yet to see the judges’ scorecards in any of his fights, as he puts away Jackson McVey with a submission during the early prelims of UFC 318.

    Ferreira circled on the outside as the two traded leg kicks. McVey stumbled on one leg kick in particular but tried to go for a takedown not long after.

    Ferreira then stood up with McVey on his back and slammed him to the mat. McVey then transitioned into mount before locking up an armbar, scoring a quick submission win in the first round.

    Brunno Ferreira Submits Jackson McVey At UFC 318

    Ferreira has won four of his last five, coming into this contest after submitting Armen Petrosyan with an armbar at UFC 313.

    McVey was scheduled to compete at UFC 317 last month before his scheduled opponent, Chris Ewert, missed weight and was released from the promotion.

  • VIDEO: Carli Judice Starts UFC 318 With Brutal Knee To The Body For KO

    VIDEO: Carli Judice Starts UFC 318 With Brutal Knee To The Body For KO

    While the worthiness of the undercard for UFC 318 has been in question, it’s no doubt now that the event kicked off with a bang thanks to Carli Judice.

    In the first bout of the early prelim bouts, Judice came away with a third-round finish of Nicolle Caliari.

    From the opening bell, Judice showcased precision and volume, tagging Caliari with a mix of single shots and combinations — simultaneously stuffing takedown attempts from Caliari. Judice continued to land well in the second, swelling up one of Caliari’s eyes.

    Caliari looked for a takedown in the third round; however, Judice timed it perfectly and connected with a solid knee to the body. Caliari dropped, and a couple of follow-up shots from Judice sealed the deal.

    Carli Judice KOs Nicolle Caliari With Knee At UFC 318

    Judice has now won two straights, coming into tonight off a head kick knockout of Yuneisy Duben in March.

    Caliari has now dropped both Octagon fights she’s had since her victory on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • Oleksandr Usyk Makes History Again With Round 5 KO Of Daniel Dubois To Reclaim Heavyweight Undisputed Status

    Oleksandr Usyk Makes History Again With Round 5 KO Of Daniel Dubois To Reclaim Heavyweight Undisputed Status

    Oleksandr Usyk left no room for doubt in his rematch against Daniel Dubois.

    On Saturday night at London’s Wembley Stadium, Usyk reclaimed his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion with a dominant fifth-round knockout of former foe Dubois.

    From the opening bell, “The Cat” took control with a sharp jab and pinpoint counter-punching. While Dubois came forward with intent, he struggled to land anything meaningful against the defensively sound Usyk, who showcased superior speed and movement throughout.

    As the bout wore on, Usyk gradually pulled away, exposing the technical gulf between them. His masterful use of timing and angles left “Dynamite” swinging at air. In the fourth round, a brief low-blow controversy added tension, but the undefeated Ukrainian quickly regained control with fluid combinations. By the fifth, “The Cat” ramped up the pressure, first wobbling Dubois with a counter right before landing a devastating left hand that sent the IBF titleholder crashing to the canvas.

    Though Dubois beat the count, a second knockdown moments later brought the fight to a halt, sealing a commanding victory for Oleksandr Usyk and cementing his place in history as the first fighter to hold undisputed heavyweight status twice.

    Why Did Oleksandr Usyk’s First Win Over Daniel Dubois Stir So Much Controversy?

    Oleksandr Usyk first faced Daniel Dubois in August 2023 in a closely contested showdown. While both men traded momentum throughout the bout, it was “The Cat” who ultimately prevailed, securing a ninth-round stoppage to retain his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.

    The fight, however, was marred by controversy in the fifth round when Dubois landed a punch that dropped Usyk to the canvas. The referee ruled the shot a low blow, sparking debate among fans and pundits.

    Although Oleksandr Usyk signaled he was ready to continue shortly after, the official advised him to use the allotted recovery time. The Ukrainian ultimately took three minutes and forty-five seconds before action resumed. Regaining control, Usyk went on to force Dubois to take a knee in the eighth round and sealed the win with another knockdown in the ninth, leading to a definitive stoppage.

    The aftermath of the bout sparked intense debate, with the fifth-round incident becoming the focal point of controversy. Many observers argued that the punch “Dynamite” landed, which was deemed a low blow, was in fact a legal body shot. Had it been ruled as such, they contended it could have led to a stunning knockout win for Dubois.

  • “The Greatest Boxer Of All Time” – Fans Sing Praises For Oleksandr Usyk After Defeating Daniel Dubois To Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Again

    “The Greatest Boxer Of All Time” – Fans Sing Praises For Oleksandr Usyk After Defeating Daniel Dubois To Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Again

    For the third time in his career, something no other man has done in professional boxing, Oleksandr Usyk is an undisputed world champion.

    Usyk, the reigning WBA, WBC, and WBO champion has re-captured the undisputed heavyweight world championship of boxing with a fifth-round knockout win over IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

    The fight — a second encounter between the two — main evented a big night of boxing action at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

    The two got off to a speedy start, both flashing their jabs and landing straights, with Usyk’s landing more clean. Dubois was notably reaching with his shots, and Usyk made him pay for that in round two, landing strong left hands.

    Dubois started to pick some momentum it seemed in the third round, and he furthered that with some strong body shots in the fourth.

    But towards one of the corners of the ring in the fifth round, Usyk landed a left hook that made Dubois stumble and knocked him down.

    Usyk landed another left hand seconds later — and this time, Dubois did not beat the count. No fifth-round controversy in sight.

    Oleksandr Usyk Becomes Undisputed Heavyweight Champion For Second Time With KO Of Daniel Dubois

    https://twitter.com/ukraniandream/status/1946693068888957250
    https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/1946686408414089565

    Usyk and Dubois first met for the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in August 2023. Dubois was in control until a punch in the fifth round was controversially ruled a low blow. Usyk turned the tide and scored knock downs in the eighth and ninth rounds — the latter of which gave Usyk the KO win.

    Usyk had since become undisputed champion for the first time by capturing the WBC title with a win over Tyson Fury in May 2024. The reign lasted just a month, however, after Usyk elected a rematch with Fury in December, which he’d also win.

    Dubois became IBF champion with a win over Filip Hrgovic in June 2024, and then became full-time champion once the IBF stripped Usyk. Dubois then retained the IBF title last September with a fifth-round knockout of former champ Anthony Joshua.

  • UFC 318 Results & Highlights: Max Holloway Decisions Dustin Poirier

    UFC 318 Results & Highlights: Max Holloway Decisions Dustin Poirier

    UFC 318 took place tonight from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, lightweights Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier faced off for the BMF title. While in the co-main event, Paulo Costa took on Roman Kopylov in a middleweight matchup. 

    UFC 318 Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight: BMF Championship: Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46×2)
    • Middleweight: Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira def. Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Middleweight: Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Middleweight: Ateba Abega Gautier def. Robert Valentin via TKO: R1, 1.10

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Welterweight: Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt via KO: R1, 4.06
    • Light Heavyweight: Jimmy Crute def. Marcin Prachnio via submission: R1, 4.42
    • Heavyweight: Ryan Spann def. Łukasz Brzeski via submission: R1, 2.41
    • Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey via submission: R1, 3.35 

    Women’s Flyweight: Carli Judice def. Nicolle Caliari via TKO: R3, 1.30

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Carli Judice def. Nicolle Caliari 

    Carli Judice earned a TKO in the third.

    Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey

    Brunno Ferreira locked in an armbar in the first round.

    Ryan Spann def. Łukasz Brzeski

    Ryan Spann made quick work of Łukasz Brzeski in this heavyweight bout.

    Jimmy Crute def. Marcin Prachnio

    Jimmy Crute got the win with an armbar in round one.

    Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt

    Islam Dulatov knocked out Adam Fugitt towards the end of round one.

    Ateba Abega Gautier def. Robert Valentin

    Ateba Abega Gautier earned a first-round TKO.

    Main Card Highlights

    Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber

    Michael Johnson got it done on the scorecards.

    Patricio Pitbull def. Dan Ige

    Patricio Pitbull earned his first UFC win with a unanimous decision.

    Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland

    Daniel Rodriguez got it done on the scorecards in this welterweight bout.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1946776457675694319

    Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov

    Paulo Costa earned a unanimous decision.

    Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier

    In the main event, Max Holloway retained the BMF belt with a unanimous decision win.

  • “One Of The Greatest Comeback Wins I’ve Ever Seen” – Fans React To Costello Van Steenis Pulling Off Last-Second Submission To Claim PFL Middleweight Gold At PFL Champions Series 2

    “One Of The Greatest Comeback Wins I’ve Ever Seen” – Fans React To Costello Van Steenis Pulling Off Last-Second Submission To Claim PFL Middleweight Gold At PFL Champions Series 2

    In what will surely go down as one of the greatest comebacks the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has ever seen, Costello Van Steenis’ hearty performance earned him a submission victory in the closing moments of his fight with the now previously-undefeated Johnny Eblen.

    As a result of his win over Eblen, the final Bellator middleweight champion, Van Steenis is now recognized as the new PFL middleweight champion.

    The fight headlined PFL Champions Series 2 — the second part of the PFL Cape Town card on July 19 in Africa.

    The fight started with Eblen dominating the early rounds, using his wrestling to control position, land ground-and-pound, and suffocate Van Steenis against the fence. Van Steenis showed flashes of offense, but Eblen consistently secured takedowns and threatened submissions.

    But in round four, things really began to change. Van Steenis stuffed shots, landed kicks and combinations, and even wobbled Eblen with a head kick at one point. Still, Eblen did enough to stop Van Steenis where need be, putting him in a huge must-finish situation.

    Eblen looked to ride the fifth round out with his grappling. But Van Steenis fought with fire, staying composed and reversing position. With mere seconds to go in the fifth, Van Steenis took the back and sank in a rear-naked choke. Eblen was unable to survive, going unconscious with 10 seconds remaining to give Van Steenis a Hollywood ending.

    Costello Van Steenis Wins PFL Middleweight Title, Ends Johnny Eblen’s Undefeated Record At PFL Cape Town

    Eblen captured the Bellator middleweight title with a win over Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 and retained the belt against Anatoly Tokov and Fabian Edwards (the latter twice).

    Van Steenis earned this match with a pair of victories last year against Gregory Babene and João Vitor Dantas.

  • Paulo Costa Vows To Call Out ‘Coward’ Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 318 – ‘I Want To Hurt Him’

    Paulo Costa Vows To Call Out ‘Coward’ Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 318 – ‘I Want To Hurt Him’

    Paulo Costa has no plans to let his heated rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev cool off anytime soon.

    The two fighters share a well-documented grudge that dates back years. They were slated to settle their differences at UFC 294 in October 2023, but the matchup was scrapped just under two weeks out when Costa withdrew due to surgery. Despite the cancellation, tensions never eased as the duo continued to take shots at each other through relentless social media exchanges.

    Now, after spending over a year on the sidelines, Paulo Costa is set to make his return to the Octagon this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 318, where he’ll take on Roman Kopylov at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. However, “Borrachinha” already has his eyes set on what comes next, with a potential grudge match against Chimaev firmly on his radar.

    Paulo Costa Says Khamzat Chimaev Must Pay For DMing His Girlfriend

    Speaking to media during UFC 318 fight week, Paulo Costa addressed his ongoing feud with Khamzat Chimaev. The former middleweight title challenger made it clear he’s locked in ahead of his bout with Roman Kopylov, aiming to deliver a statement win before calling out “Borz” to finally settle their long-standing feud inside the Octagon. “Borrachinha” emphasized that he doesn’t care whether the undefeated Russian wins or loses against reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 — the fight between them needs to happen regardless.

    The Brazilian powerhouse revealed that his feud with Chimaev has become intensely personal after the “Borz” allegedly sent unsolicited messages to his girlfriend following the cancellation of their scheduled bout.

    “I want to fight [Chimaev] very badly,” Paulo Costa said. “I want to hurt him. It doesn’t matter if he won that fight or not. It doesn’t matter. We need to fight. He talk very bad things about me, in my girl’s Instagram DMs, so this is totally personal. I feel angry just to hear his name, so we need to fight. We are young, we’re going to be on line, so I’m going to do my best Saturday… I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the victory and I’m going to call his name, it doesn’t matter whether he wins or not. This fight just will not happen if he retires.”

    Costa didn’t hold back, accusing Chimaev of lacking character for sending direct messages to his partner rather than confronting him directly.

    “Not the kind of things a real man, confident man would do. Why he message her? Why he didn’t message me instead of her? Coward. He is a coward.”

    “Borrachinha” last competed at UFC 302 in June 2024, where he dropped a hard-fought split decision to former champion Sean Strickland. The loss marked another setback in what has been a challenging stretch for Costa, who has now gone just 1-4 in his last five appearances inside the Octagon.

    Paulo Costa UFC 318 callout
    Image: @borrachinhamma/Instagram
  • “Could Beat All The Girls In The UFC” – Fans React As Dakota Ditcheva Puts On Savage Beating Of Sumiko Inaba At PFL Champions Series 2

    “Could Beat All The Girls In The UFC” – Fans React As Dakota Ditcheva Puts On Savage Beating Of Sumiko Inaba At PFL Champions Series 2

    Dakota Ditcheva put on a dominant display over Sumiko Inaba, having a striking clinic in a one-sided decision victory in the co-main event of PFL Champions Series 2 — as part of PFL Cape Town.

    Ditcheva’s striking was on display from the opening minute, using clinch control and sharp knees to repeatedly halt the consistent pressure of Inaba. Inaba had success with flurries and body shots, but Ditcheva’s elbows and knees were the key to success here.

    Ditcheva picked up the pace more in the second round, rocking Inaba with a knee and overwhelming her with clinch work and combinations, controlling every aspect of the fight. Ditcheva’s full control stretched into the third, sweeping the scorecards for a strong victory.

    Dakota Ditcheva Takes One-Sided Win Over Sumiko Inaba At PFL Cape Town

    https://twitter.com/LouisMBowen/status/1946666261879931197

    Ditcheva won the inaugural PFL Europe women’s flyweight title in 2023 before running through Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett, Jena Bishop and Taila Santos to become the PFL women’s flyweight title in 2024. This was her first fight since winning the global season title.

    Inaba entered tonight with two straight wins and an 8-1 record. Coming over to PFL from its purchase of Bellator, Inaba scored a split decision over Saray Orozco and a finish of Mackenzie Stiller last year.

  • “145 Is Definitely His Home” – Fans React To A.J. McKee Outgrappling And Outworking Akhmed Magomedov At PFL Champions Series 2

    “145 Is Definitely His Home” – Fans React To A.J. McKee Outgrappling And Outworking Akhmed Magomedov At PFL Champions Series 2

    A.J. McKee has made a statement in his return to featherweight, defeating Akhmed Magomedov via decision in the PFL Champions Series 2 portion of PFL Cape Town.

    Round one saw both men trading strikes early, with Magomedov landing cleaner on the body and scoring a takedown. McKee, however, threatened submissions off his back and reversed position. McKee also turned up his striking pace late in the round.

    Magomedov scored an early takedown in round two, but McKee quickly reversed and took the back with a body triangle. He hunted for a choke and struck Magomedov while maintaining control. McKee’s pressure was key for him in the second round.

    Another grappling-heavy exchange in the final round saw Magomedov land a takedown, only to be swept and caught in a triangle attempt. McKee continued to threaten, taking Magomedov’s back again and landing strong ground-and-pound.

    McKee scored a unanimous decision for the win.

    A.J. McKee Successful In Featherweight Return, Defeats Akhmed Magomedov At PFL Cape Town

    McKee had won four straight between Bellator and PFL since moving up to lightweight but came up short against Paul Hughes in a close split decision at PFL Battle of the Giants in October.

    Magomedov has now lost two of his last three. He defeated Nathan Kelly in January — his first fight in over two years after losing to Henry Corrales.

  • “Khabib’s Gym Continues To Dominate!” – Fans React As MMA Legend Leads Artur Zaynukov To Win Over Takeshi Izumi At PFL Champions Series 2

    “Khabib’s Gym Continues To Dominate!” – Fans React As MMA Legend Leads Artur Zaynukov To Win Over Takeshi Izumi At PFL Champions Series 2

    With the crowd heavily behind him thanks to coach Khabib Nurmagomedov, Artur Zaynukov was able to come away with a dominant decision over Takeshi Izumi during the PFL Champions Series 2 portion of PFL Cape Town.

    Izumi looked to assert pressure, but Zaynukov’s wrestling led to several takedowns and plenty of control time. Izumi scrambled well, but Zaynukov had the edge in terms of grappling exchanges.

    Both men landed cleanly in round two, with Zaynukov’s power and timing beginning to shine. A key momentum shift came when Zaynukov reversed and Izumi takedown and dominated positionally, nearly taking the back and landing plenty of ground strikes.

    Izumi threatened positional advances during the third round, but Zaynukov’s defense shut him down, adding in another takedown before the end of the round to cap off the decision win.

    Artur Zaynukov Scores Decision Over Takeshi Izumi At PFL Cape Town

    Zaynukov is now 2-0 in the PFL, having defeated Dedrek Sanders at the PFL Battle of the Giants card in October.

    Izumi, a DEEP veteran, falls to 6-4. He came into this bout off a win over Spike Carlyle in RIZIN earlier this year.