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  • Dana White Confirms Jon Jones Unretiring While Revealing ‘Dream Main Event’ For White House Card

    Dana White Confirms Jon Jones Unretiring While Revealing ‘Dream Main Event’ For White House Card

    When the idea of a UFC event at the White House was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, and later confirmed by UFC officials to media, fighters scrambled to get their name into the hat of potentially competing at such an event.

    One of those fighters was Jon Jones, who two weeks earlier had just announced his retirement from the sport of MMA, relinquishing the UFC heavyweight title in the process. This brought about an unclimactic ending to the long standoff of negotiations between he and then-interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who was promoted to undisputed champion immediately as Jones’ retirement was announced by UFC CEO and President Dana White.

    Now, during his recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, White confirmed that despite the retirement announcement, Jones is already back.

    “He jumped back in the pool,” White confirmed.

    Dana White Says Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Would Be ‘Dream’ White House Main Event, Suggests Jones And Conor McGregor Could Both Fight On Card

    Among the various questions about what could happen in one year’s time with the White House card — including how it would be set up, what the main event could be, and how it would affect the UFC’s yearly schedule — questions have also arose about what this means for the fate (once again) of a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall matchup.

    Jones vs. Aspinall is one of the fresher matchups available for heavyweight — a UFC division most fans and pundits have widely agreed is one of the weakest, if not the weakest, in the promotion. And while Aspinall vs. Gane is also a fresh matchup, most of the other ranked contenders Aspinall has taken out in the first round in previous outings.

    It seems White agrees that Jones vs. Aspinall is still a possibility — even going as far as to say he could see it being a main event for the White House event.

    “My dream main event right now [for the White House card], would be Aspinall vs. Jones,” White said.

    Conor McGregor, who hasn’t fought since 2021, also has heavily promoted himself as being available for the card, going as far as to make a pitch to White in a DM that has been screenshotted and shared.

    When asked about the possibility of both men competing on the card, White was open to the idea, stating, “It’s possible.”

  • UFC Nashville: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira Weigh-In Results

    UFC Nashville: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Texieira takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    Held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, this the seventh time in UFC history that the Octagon will touch down in Nashville. It most recently hosted a Fight Night card two years ago that saw Cory Sandhagen defeat Rob Font in the main event.

    This time around, however, UFC Nashville will be topped by a heavyweight collision featuring former heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis and rising up-and-comer Tallison Teixeira.

    The 40-year-old Lewis has won two of his last three fights and is looking to extend his record for the most knockout wins in UFC history. Teixeira, meanwhile, hopes to continue his climb up a weakened heavyweight scene with the biggest name he’s faced thus far.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Calvin Kattar, Chris Curtis, and Lauren Murphy will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Teixeira Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Teixeira takes place on Saturday, July 12, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for videos from the UFC Nashville weigh-ins and check out the results below.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (261) vs. Tallison Teixeira (259)
    • Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (170.5) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (171)
    • Heavyweight: Vitor Petrino (249) vs. Austen Lane (245)
    • Featherweight: Calvin Kattar (146) vs. Steve Garcia (146)
    • Light Heavyweight: Junior Tafa (206) vs. Tuco Tokkos (206)
    • Featherweight: Nate Landwehr (146) vs. Morgan Charriere (146)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Chris Curtis (170.5) vs. Max Griffin (170.25)
    • Welterweight: Jake Matthews (170.5) vs. Chidi Njokuani (170.5*)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Lauren Murphy (126) vs. Eduarda Moura (126)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Fatima Kline (115.5) vs. Melissa Martinez (116)
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (238) vs. Valter Walker (244.5)
    • Lightweight: Mike Davis (156) vs. Mitch Ramirez (155.25)
    • *Njokuani initially missed weight by half a pound; however, he was permitted a second attempt to make weight

  • Dana White Confirms Plans For White House Card, Promises ‘Baddest’ PPV Fight Card Of All Time

    UFC officials have previously told reporters of the seriousness of plans to hold a card at the White House — first teased last week by United States President Donald Trump — during the Semiquincentennial celebrations for the U.S. next year.

    Now, the UFC boss is doubling down on those plans.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed in a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast that he and his team have already begun to look at the logistics on how they can make such a card work and make it one of the biggest the UFC has ever produced.

    “We’re still a year away, so the whole UFC landscape will change over the next year,” White said. But, we will absolutely, positively put on the baddest card of all time. This is going to be an exceptional pay-per-view card.”

    Dana White Promises Major Pay-Per-View Card For White House Event In July 2026

    Trump’s announcement brought about several fighters publicly stating their desires to compete on such a card, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones — with Jones even unretiring in his very next social media post.

    This has brought about questions amongst fans and pundits alike about the aspects for a UFC at the White House. These have included what would be an appropriate main event (and would it be worth sacrificing gate opposed to placing that fight elsewhere), what potential fighters (American or otherwise) could be on the card, if the card would be a pay-per-view or on free TV (or Netflix), how 2026 International Fight Week plans would be affected, and how 25,000 people can fit on the White House grounds.

    White’s conversation has brought about some answers. Firstly, as noted, White suggested the card would be a pay-per-view — though as of July 10, it’s still unclear who the UFC’s U.S. broadcaster, or broadcasters, will be for 2026 and beyond.

    White added that all tickets for the White House card would be compensatory — none for the public.

    “First of all, I don’t know how many people will get in, not to mention that the Secret Service won’t let many people attend. Everyone will need background checks,” White said. “Whoever gets to be there live will have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. While we’re filming, one side of the backdrop will be the White House and the other will be the Washington Monument.

    “I don’t think we’re going to sell tickets; it will all be comp tickets.”

    White added that even though the plans for such a noteworthy, unique event are in motion, he wasn’t aware Trump was going to announce anything when he did. He even added Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, has been placed in charge of collaborating with White and the UFC production team for the event.

    “That day, we probably texted four or five times that day, and he never told me he was going to announce it. My team already went and walked the White House, we did all the logistics, and we’re putting together the layout for it right now, and will probably pitch it to him in a week or two.”

  • Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Four former UFC fighters, including a trio of former UFC title challengers, are going from the MMA world to the world of bare-knuckle fighting.

    During the BKFC Champions Summit press conference with Conor McGregor, held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas ahead of BKFC 48, McGregor announced the additions of Yoel Romero, Thiago Santos, Derek Brunson, and Aspen Ladd to the BKFC roster.

    Romero and Santos were the particular focuses of the announcement — highlighting their striking power and their veteran statuses.

    BKFC Announces Four Signings, Including Yoel Romero And Thiago Santos

    Romero and Santos, in fact, faced off in MMA just a year-and-a-half ago. The two faced off during the PFL vs. Bellator broadcast, with Romero, who was representing Bellator, winning via a clear unanimous decision.

    Romero has not fought in MMA since the win, while Santos had one more fight, a short-notice loss to eventual 2024 PFL heavyweight champion Denis Goltsov during the regular season.

    Romero — a freestyle wrestling silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics and a former freestyle wrestling World and Pan-American champion — went 16-7 in professional MMA, including a 9-4 UFC record. Romero scored victories over the likes of Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and Chris Weidman, but was unsuccessful in middleweight title challenges of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.

    Romero then had a five-fight stint in Bellator, going 3-2 — which included the win over Santos and an unsuccessful title shot against then-Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.

    Santos fought in the UFC for about a decade, but his biggest stretch came when he jumped from middleweight to light heavyweight. Santos would finish Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and Jan Blachowicz, receiving a title shot against then-champ Jon Jones at UFC 239. Santos would lose in a controversial decision. That would be the start of a downward stretch Santos never recovered from, losing all but one of his fights since the Jones loss.

    After his tenure with the UFC, Santos fought in the PFL, debuting with a loss to Rob Wilkinson — a bout that would be overturned to a no contest.

    Brunson came into the UFC as Strikeforce was being merged with the promotion and slowly being folded. Brunson earned victories over the likes of Lorenz Larkin, Uriah Hall, Lyoto Machida, and Kevin Holland, as well as losses to Souza, Whittaker, Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Jared Cannonier, and Dricus Du Plessis. Brunson fought in MMA once after his UFC days — a win over Ray Cooper III at the 2023 PFL World Championships.

    Ladd debuted in Invicta in 2015 and went unbeaten in five fights before joining the UFC two years later. Ladd won her first three UFC bouts before a loss to Germaine de Randamie. Ladd would struggle with consistent success — and had a near-two-year period of inactivity at one point — before parting ways with the UFC after a 2022 loss to Raquel Pennington.

    Ladd debuted in PFL in November of that year with a win over former Bellator champion Julia Budd. She then competed in the 2023 women’s featherweight season, losing to Olena Kolesnyk but defeating Karolina Sobek. Ladd missed the playoffs but fought in a showcase bout later that year, losing to current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

    Ladd’s last MMA fight came at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris in May 2024, defeating Ekaterina Shakalova.

  • Fellow Middleweight Claims Khamzat Chimaev Will Retire If He Wins Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    Fellow Middleweight Claims Khamzat Chimaev Will Retire If He Wins Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    The UFC has just dealt with one champion retiring when Jon Jones seemed to hang up the gloves a few weeks ago (only to seemingly unretire in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump teasing a UFC card at the White House). But could the UFC lose a second champion to retirement during the summer?

    If Caio Borralho is to be believed, that might come to fruition at UFC 319 if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight championship.

    During a “Nerd Talk” segment in a recent upload to MMA Today, Borralho is in the middle of a discussion about Chimaev’s fight with DDP and how a potential fight between he and Chimaev would go down.

    “I heard somewhere some people saying that if he wins the belt, he’s going to retire,” Borralho said. “I believe it.”

    Caio Borralho Feels He Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev — As Long As Chimaev Doesn’t Retire

    Borralho did not precisely name who he heard the rumor from or where it originated; only that he’s heard “little talks” and “whispers.”

    Borralho then followed up by saying he wasn’t sure if he believed it would happen, but he hopes that Chimaev doesn’t and he ends up facing the Emirati fighter one day — potentially for the belt.

    “I think we can do a phenomenal fight,” Borralho said. “I know that I have the tools and the way to beat him. Fighting is nowadays not about being brutal only. I win all my fights with my brain, with tactics, with strategy and all that. That’s why it’s so hard to fight me because I can adapt so easy in the fight, you know?

    “And I think everybody knows that. That’s why everybody was ducking me.”

    This would not be the first time Chimaev announces retirement from the Octagon. After his impressive series of bouts in 2020 — the year of his UFC debut — against John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and Gerald Meerschaert, and his quick rise up the ranks, Chimaev appeared to announce retirement in March 2021 after complications in recovery from COVID-19.

    Chimaev would end up returning to the cage at UFC 267 that October, submitting Li Jingliang.

  • Can Anyone Survive Khamzat Chimaev’s Opening Onslaught? Undefeated UFC Star Talks UFC 319

    Can Anyone Survive Khamzat Chimaev’s Opening Onslaught? Undefeated UFC Star Talks UFC 319

    In about a month’s time, the UFC will arrive in Chicago with a middleweight championship main event for UFC 319 that features Dricus Du Plessis defending the title against Khamzat Chimaev.

    Both men in their own right have been seemingly unbeatable, as both men will enter unbeaten in their UFC tenures — and just two losses (both Du Plessis’) in the 39 fights combined between their two professional MMA careers.

    Chimaev being so dominant in most of his performances, combined with the hype around him and his fighting style, have led plenty to feel he will leave Chicago with the belt strapped around his waist. Others, however, feel Du Plessis’ own, more awkward fighting style will land him yet another surprise victory in the cage.

    When breaking down a comparison between the two’s fighting styles, another unbeaten UFC fighter, Mansur Abdul-Malik, feels Chimaev’s will get the better of DDP.

    “Khamzat comes in that first round guns blazing,” Abdul-Malik told James Lynch recently. “He does a similar thing every single fight, but that thing has not failed. So, you really can’t bet against that.”

    Mansur Abdul-Malik Predicts Khamzat Chimaev Will Defeat Dricus Du Plessis For UFC Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    If there are two things Chimaev is known for in the Octagon, it is his dominant, freestyle-based wrestling and is “smashing” ground-and-pound that he’ll use on his opponents to try and finish the fight after securing the takedown. Sometimes those takedowns will also be set up through the usage of his boxing.

    That fight style has led Chimaev not only to an undefeated UFC tenure, but also an unbeaten record in the sport, and some feel Du Plessis may struggle with that kind of pressure.

    Abdul-Malik added that he feels Chimaev also is strong in terms of the mental aspects of the game, noting a specific example with his decision win in a highly entertaining bout with former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    “[Chimaev is] tough in his own right,” Abdul-Malik said. “Look at the Gilbert Burns example. Look at his mentality. Look at the way he competes. Look at the fire that he comes with. That’s not someone that’s going to give up.”

    Despite repeated one-year layoffs the last couple of years, and time off to deal with illnesses during his Octagon tenure, Chimaev has had plenty of hype around him, with early expectations of him becoming a UFC champion — something that could become a reality in about a month at UFC 319.

    Chimaev earned his title shot off a dominant performance against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. It should be noted that Whittaker’s only other losses at 185 in the Octagon — Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis — have each tasted middleweight gold.

    Du Plessis won the middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and retained the gold against Adesanya at UFC 305 and Strickland at UFC 312.

  • Max Holloway reveals why he was happy to see Ilia Topuria move to lightweight

    Max Holloway reveals why he was happy to see Ilia Topuria move to lightweight

    UFC veteran Max Holloway has explained why he was so happy to see that Ilia Topuria opted to make the move up to the lightweight division.

    As we know, Max Holloway is one of the most exciting featherweight fighters of all time. However, in his last fight in the weight class, he was knocked out by Ilia Topuria – who proceeded to announce that he was moving up to lightweight to try and claim a second belt. He achieved that goal, whereas ‘Blessed’ will be returning to the cage later this month to face Dustin Poirier in the latter’s retirement bout.

    Max Holloway is a warrior and we all know that to be true, and in a recent interview, he made it known once again that he wants to meet ‘El Matador’ again.

    Max Holloway reveals his happiness at Ilia Topuria’s lightweight move

    “(How a fight would go between us at 155lbs?) we’ll just have to find out, right?” Holloway told MMA Junkie.

    “A 155lb fight? We’re just gonna have to find out. First things first, I was over the moon, a lot of people thought I’d be like ‘Oh my god, what the hell, why is he coming to 155lbs?’ I was over the moon when he announced he’s coming to 155lbs.

    “And then when I found out he got the title shot, I was like ‘Oh my gosh’. Even the title shot with both of them, when they announced Oliveira and Topuria for the title shot, I think I was the happiest man alive because I have history with two guys.

    “I know (Ilia) likes walking around with a BMF title but if he wants an authentic one he knows where to find me,” Holloway continued.

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Islam Makhachev’s welterweight move: Stephen Thompson provides interesting analysis

    Islam Makhachev’s welterweight move: Stephen Thompson provides interesting analysis

    UFC legend Stephen Thompson has given his thoughts on Islam Makhachev‘s impending move from the lightweight division to welterweight.

    As we know, Islam Makhachev is no longer the UFC lightweight champion. He gave up that belt in order to pursue a second world title up at 170 pounds. It’s an achievement that only a handful of fighters have to their name, and Islam wants to join that incredibly exclusive group.

    We all know that Islam Makhachev is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport today, and he’s also one of the pound-for-pound best. Alas, adding 15 pounds is certainly going to change the conversation, especially when going up against a guy as formidable as Jack Della Maddalena.

    In a recent interview, welterweight Stephen Thompson gave his thoughts on Islam Makhachev’s decision to make the switch.

    Stephen Thompson’s view on Islam Makhachev’s welterweight switch

    “Well, number one, if I was in the top-five, I would be very upset that this guy who just got the title is already looking at somebody from a different division,” Thompson told MMA Fighting. “If it was me who, if I’m in the top-five, more deserving than this guy coming up, like I’ve been waiting here.

    “Now, I think it’s a good fight,” Thompson explained. “I think it’s a very tough fight for Islam Makhachev coming up. [Della Maddalena’s] a bigger guy, a guy with great takedown defense, and a guy who just won the title from somebody very similar to himself in Belal Muhammad. Cardio for days, strong grappling background.

    “I do believe that Islam has a better striking than than Belal does, so I think that would be interesting, but I think it’s a very tough fight for Islam, for sure.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Alexander Volkov’s Unexpected Adventures Outside the Octagon: Power Slap Coach for a Day?

    Alexander Volkov’s Unexpected Adventures Outside the Octagon: Power Slap Coach for a Day?

    UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov has spoken about his recent experience as a coach in Power Slap as he prepares to make his return to the cage.

    As we know, Alexander Volkov is one of the top contenders in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He has achieved some incredible things in the sport of mixed martial arts but up to this point, he hasn’t been able to get over the finish line when it comes to winning a world title. Following his controversial split decision loss to Ciryl Gane in his last outing, he opted to take some time off and reflect on what he needs to do in order to break through that glass ceiling.

    For Alexander Volkov, it seems as if that included going on some side quests. He even popped up as a coach during a Power Slap event which, as we know, ties in very well with the UFC due to the influence of Dana White.

    In a recent interview, Alexander Volkov spoke candidly about the experience and how much fun he had.

    Alexander Volkov reveals slap fighting side quest

    “I don’t know, it’s just myself—my style of life. I usually do a lot of funny things with my friends everywhere. When I came to the US, I had more time to make videos, create content. I just do it for fun, with no purpose or hype.”

    “One day I was cornering a fighter from Russia in Power Slap. I trained with him for a week, and he won the fight with just one slap, knocked the guy out. After his fight, I put in my bio: I’m a Power Slap coach now. It was fun.”

  • Derrick Lewis Breaks All the Rules Fight Week: Shrimp, Grits, and a Heavyweight Mystery

    Derrick Lewis Breaks All the Rules Fight Week: Shrimp, Grits, and a Heavyweight Mystery

    UFC star Derrick Lewis has opened up on his current diet as he prepares to return to the cage on Saturday night to battle Tallison Teixeira.

    In the main event of UFC Nashville this weekend, Derrick Lewis will once again take on a rising contender in the heavyweight division. The 40-year-old will be throwing down with Tallison Teixeira, who is currently undefeated in his mixed martial arts career. While we all know just how dangerous Teixeira can be, he’d be foolish to overlook the incredible power of ‘The Black Beast’.

    For the longest time, Derrick Lewis has been known as one of the funniest fighters in the UFC – and, in fact, the entire sport. He says and does things that constantly get fans cracking up, but on the flip side of that, he’s also an unbelievably talented fighter who is able to knock out the very best heavyweights on the planet.

    In a recent interview, Derrick Lewis opened up on his current weight ‘cut’ as we get closer and closer to fight night.

    Derrick Lewis discusses fight week meals

    “I’m on weight right now. So, I’m happy. I’ve been eating shrimp and grits. I’ve been eating whatever I want this whole week. So, it’s like—it’s crazy. I’ve never been able to do that before.”

    Lewis knows that all he needs is one shot to shut his opponent’s lights off, no matter how good we all believe Teixeira to be. In the heavyweight division, you can’t afford to blink, so we’d advise you don’t when watching this one unfold on Saturday.

  • Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: UFC icon hints at upset win

    Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: UFC icon hints at upset win

    UFC legend Stephen Thompson has explained why he believes Dricus du Plessis has a great chance of defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, despite many believing he can’t get the job done.

    For the longest time now, fight fans have been doubting Dricus du Plessis – and every single time, at least since he arrived in the UFC, they’ve been made to pay for it. He is one of the most unconventional fighters out there but he’s also turning into one of the most exciting champions on the roster, especially after successfully defending his belt twice.

    Now, though, Dricus du Plessis faces an entirely new kind of challenge in the form of Khamzat Chimaev. This was always going to be a tough test for him no matter how you try and spin it, and while we know what the South African is capable of, we also know that Chimaev has the ability to finish anyone in the blink of an eye.

    In a recent interview, the aforementioned Stephen Thompson gave an interesting analysis of the upcoming Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev showdown.

    Stephen Thompson backs Dricus du Plessis to defeat Khamzat Chimaev

    “Oh man, I think it’s a tough one for Khamzat. Du Plessis, his awkwardness makes him very difficult to deal with. He’s got great grappling. He’s a very strong opponent. If he can weather the storm in a five-round fight, I’m leaning towards Du Plessis.”

    Get ready, fight fans, because this one has the potential to be truly chaotic.

  • Former Turner CEO John Martin Named New CEO Of PFL

    Former Turner CEO John Martin Named New CEO Of PFL

    The Professional Fighters League has announced former Turner and Time Warner executive John Martin is joining the organization as its new Chief Executive Officer.

    The PFL confirmed the news on the morning of Thursday, July 10, with a press release. This followed an initial hinting of a move in PFL’s management by longtime boxing promoter Don King on social media the evening before, as well as a series of posts on X (fka Twitter) from Robert Joyner.

    Martin will oversee all aspects of the PFL’s operations, including the promotion’s finances, management, strategies, and personnel decisions.

    “John Martin is THE ideal CEO to lead the next chapter of growth at PFL,” Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman said in the statement. “He is a proven media, content, and sports executive who is a respected global leader and business operator at scale. I am thrilled to work closely with John to deliver on the vision to make PFL everything the fans, fighters, and sport of MMA deserves.”

    PFL Gains New CEO In John Martin

    Martin replaces Peter Murray, who the PFL says will be transitioning to a role as CEO of PFL International, “where he will lead the accelerated launch and growth of the PFL’s International Leagues” and serve under Martin.

    Martin previously served as Chairman and CEO of Turner from 2014 to 2018, overseeing the various cable networks, content, and digital platforms run by the company — including the Turner Sports brand, as well as the TBS, TNT, and CNN channels. He left Turner in 2018 following the AT&T-Time Warner merger.

    Prior to that role, Martin worked at Time Warner, working as Head of Investor Relations before going on to become CFO of Time Warner Cable and eventually CFO of Time Warner Inc. During his role there, Martin was an early advocate for expanding the UFC’s cable distribution, having become a fan of the UFC since the promotion’s earliest events.

    Martin himself has been a martial artist since his 20s, earning a black belt in karate and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

    “MMA represents the biggest opportunity in sports, and the PFL has secured a unique position that will never be replicated,” Martin said in the statement. “I’m incredibly excited about the future of the PFL and confident that we’re only at the beginning of what this organization will achieve. My two greatest passions are leading media companies and MMA, so stepping into the position of PFL CEO is truly a dream role for me.”

    The PFL made significant changes in 2025, establishing the PFL Champions Series — a rebrand following the official dissolution of Bellator, which the PFL purchased in late 2023 — as well as eliminating its regular-season and playoff format in favor of eight World Tournaments, all of which will conclude at three PFL events in August.

    PFL’s Jonathan Coachman recently told MMA Fighting that the Champions Series will see eight PFL champions crowned, and the PFL World Tournament winners will go on to challenge those champions.

    The PFL has also been expanding on the number of international leagues, with PFL Europe starting in 2023, PFL MENA starting in 2024, and PFL Africa set to start next Saturday, July 19, with the PFL Cape Town event.

  • Why Are the World’s Biggest Fighters Scrambling to Be Part of a White House UFC Event? Jon Jones & Conor McGregor Want In

    The biggest talking point in the MMA world at the moment is not one that involves a particular fighter, but one that involves the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and the potential of something historic that 30 years ago would have been a crazy pipedream.

    The U.S.’ Fourth of July celebrations this year marked the beginning of a year-long celebratory series of events that will lead to the country’s Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaring its independence from Great Britain.

    During one of this year’s U.S. Independence Day events, Trump hyped up a vision of what he sees for next year’s grand celebration on July 4, 2026 (a Saturday). And Trump mentioned a UFC “fight” occuring on the lawn of the White House.

    Turns out, this isn’t just hearsay, as the UFC would confirm to reporters that while nothing is set in stone, plans are indeed in motion for a July 4, 2026 card to be held in the nation’s capital.

    Hours later, the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones each posted to social media about interest in fighting on the card. This comes when McGregor hasn’t fought in the Octagon since 2021 and Jones announced a comeback after retiring and relinquishing the UFC heavyweight championship just two weeks earlier.

    With MMA insider and personality Ariel Helwani and his crew — Petersy Carroll, Conner Burks, and Eric Jackman — back in the studio earlier this week, the group discussed what such an event could mean, if such an event is possible, and why fighters are scrambling to be a part of the card.

    Is A UFC Card At The White House A Realistic Possibility? Who Would Be Part Of It?

    Helwani and the others weren’t in complete agreement on if the card actually happens; however, they were in agreement about the significance of such a card — and perhaps why fighters want in on this. A UFC event on White House grounds would mark one of, if not the, most visible and mainstream moments for the sport of MMA in its history.

    “It’d be the biggest spot MMA has ever been in, wouldn’t it?” said Petesy Carroll. “Could you imagine what that would look like in terms of a spectacle? Like we talked about the spectacle of the Sphere and stuff. Like, could you imagine that? The White House in the background with the Octagon.”

    In fact, as Helwani mentions, MMA was targeted by American politicians and banned in most states 30 years ago. An event in the capital of the United States, on one of the country’s most prominent landmarks, underscores just how far the UFC has come.

    “Ten years ago, it was still banned in New York,” Helwani said. “And to think that 10 years later — actually, the symbolism of [Trump] being elected the same week as the first show at MSG, 10 years later, an actual event at the White House — is pretty insane.”

    That said, question arose as to the logistics of putting on such a card. President Trump said he sees 25,000+ people on the White House grounds, with Helwani and company being very skeptical of such a sight with proper maximum security measures put in place.

    Scheduling also came into question, as while July 4, 2026, is a Saturday, it would put the event one week after the recent running dates of the UFC’s International Fight Week event (the last weekend of June). While some proposed the idea of moving International Fight Week to DC (which would be a whole other headache in itself) or re-scheduling International Fight Week, Helwani feels it’s doable to keep the week where it is and make what he would consider the most anticipated two-week period for the UFC.

    On that note, it brings up the question of what kind of an event a UFC White House card would be — a traditional pay-per-view, a prominent Fight Night card (on either Netflix or ABC, depending on if Netflix and/or ESPN get the UFC’s US TV rights for 2026 and beyond), or a small but meaningful card similar to what the UFC had went it first joined up with FOX in 2011.

    What Fighters Would Be Involved On A UFC White House Card?

    As mentioned, McGregor and Jones are the two most prominent names who volunteered for a card. And Carroll mentioned that despite circumstances and controversies surrounding both men, it’s not surprising that both have raised their hand — and that the two would be in consideration for such a unique event.

    “It doesn’t surprise me that likes Jones and Connor are suddenly interested in in being there,” Carroll said. “I mean, Connor had a massive PR pop when he arrived in the White House on St. Patrick’s Day — and [that] kind of became the catalyst for this political career he’s embarking on. So, I mean it would be a huge, huge deal.”

    While Carroll is more than skeptical of the idea, the Boys in the Back (Burks and Jackman) add that McGregor would bring a fitting boost to such a unique event, and that it would be a “perfect” time for him to fight Chandler — a fight that has been anticipated since 2023 before ultimately getting canceled in 2024.

    As far as Jones goes if there is one fight to make, Carroll feels there’s “one f****** fight to make” despite the Jones-Aspinall negotiations falling through officially with Jones’ brief retirement stint, which promoted Aspinall to undisputed champion.

    Debates went through the group, however, about if one of them should headline given their baggage, as well as McGregor not being an American (though Chandler is). It also sparks debate about what fighters (with Bo Nickal and Sean Strickland’s names thrown out there) could be on the card — and if the fighter selections would be based on name value, lack of controversy, etc. This also comes at a time where Kayla Harrison is the sole American champion in the UFC.

    A question was brought up additionally about if the UFC would be willing to sacrifice a high-revenue making fight like a Jones vs. Aspinall or McGregor vs. Chandler for the sake of the press they’d get for such a unique, historical, and political event.

  • ‘A Serious Mistake’ – Tim Kennedy Admits To Falsifying Bronze Star With Valor

    Former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy, often regarded as one of the most decorated fighters with military experience, has admitted that he never actually received a Bronze Star with Valor.

    “I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake,” Kennedy posted to social media. “Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise.”

    Tim Kennedy Releases Apology After Admitting To Never Receiving Bronze Medal With Valor

    A Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroic efforts in a combat zone. A Bronze Star with Valor, with a “V” device for distinction, is awarded for specifically “participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy,” according to the U.S. Army.

    Accusations against Kennedy’s accomplishments began about seven months ago, when the Antihero Podcast produced an episode claiming that Kennedy’s memoir, Scars and Stripes, was “a book of lies.” They would produce a part two episode about a month later.

    In response, Kennedy made a since-deleted social media post (part of which can be found on MMA Mania) in January where he claimed others mis-listed his credentials, and that he never claimed that he received a Bronze Star with Valor.

    However, on June 27, a YouTube channel called Valhalla VFT, hosted by retired Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia, uploaded a video that includes a snippet from a 2017 interview Kennedy did where he claimed to have received such a distinction.

    “I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn’t absolve me,” Kennedy said in his apology statement. “I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent. To the military and veteran community, especially those who’ve served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I’ve let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn’t live up to that.”

    Kennedy promised that his apology would just be the beginning in terms of how he makes amends.

    “I am committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to,” he said. “I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did. From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect. I understand that words alone don’t heal disappointment or restore trust. Only time and action will.

    “Thank you to those who have held me accountable. I will do my best to honor that accountability from this point forward.”

  • Randy Couture Suffers Burns In Single-Car Accident At Racetrack

    Randy Couture Suffers Burns In Single-Car Accident At Racetrack

    UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture was airlifted to a burn center on Tuesday, July 9, after getting injured in a single-car accident while at a professional stock car racetrack.

    According to initial reports from TMZ, Couture was making practice runs at a Kansas City racetrack when he was involved in an accident. Couture reportedly suffered first- and second-degree burns, as well as trauma injuries and smoke inhalation.

    It is unclear what caused the accident. The racecar that the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion was in was totaled in the wreckage.

    Randy Couture Suffers Burns In Racetrack Auto Accident

    Couture remains hospitalized, but the 62-year-old is expected to recover.

    Couture, who ESPN notes has been an avid motorcyclist, was slated to make his racing debut later this year for the National Hot Rod Association. Couture reportedly went through licensing in order to compete in the NHRA’s new Pro Mod program.

    Couture is currently a color commentator for the PFL and owns a professional gym, Xtreme Couture, in Las Vegas.

  • The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    Next Saturday, July 19, is shaping up to be a memorable day filled with fights for combat sports fans everywhere.

    It sometimes can happen where fight cards will be stacked on top of one another on the same day, or even go head-to-head with each other. But only every so often do we get a day where fights will happen from one card to another throughout the day — and only every so often do we have a day of fights that are either heavily promoted, see titles on the line, or are all meaningful otherwise in some shape or way.

    We know for the obsessed fight fan that wants to see everything, a day like July 19 can be overwhelming in trying to figure out what’s going on, what’s important, and, more importantly, when and where to watch.

    Well, we here at MMA News are designing this guide here to help you put your feet up, grab your favorite foods and drinks, and watch all the action go down — from the first bell to the last!

    Everything Fight Fans Need To Know For July 19

    On July 19, the UFC and PFL will both be hosting heavily promoted cards, and the boxing world will feature a highly-anticipated title fight and the return of a legend.

    Here are — in order from the start of the day to the end — all the events going down on July 19, as well as when they start, where you can watch them, and what you need to know.

    PFL Cape Town

    Start Time: 10 am ET/7 am PT (Champions Series bouts will start at approx. 2 pm ET/11 am PT)

    Where To Watch: PFL App (PFL Africa 1) & ESPN+ (PFL Champions Series 2)

    After years of waiting, a major MMA player finally makes its way to the continent of Africa, as the PFL will host its first-ever event there with PFL Cape Town at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.

    With the Bellator brand officially no more, Johnny Eblen — still considered one of the best talents in the sport outside of the UFC — will defend the newly-named PFL middleweight championship in the main event of the evening against Costello Van Steenis. Van Steenis comes into this title shot off a 2024 campaign that saw him submit Gregory Babene with a Von Flue choke at the Bellator Champions Series card in Paris and a 48-second head-kick knockout of Joao Vitor Dantas at the 2024 PFL World Championships.

    Dakota Ditcheva, the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion and 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion, returns in the co-main event, taking on Sumiko Inaba. The main card will also feature former Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson in action at heavyweight against 2024 PFL heavyweight champ Denis Goltsov, as well as former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee taking on Akhmed Magomedov.

    Before the five-fight Champions Series card, PFL Africa will host its first event, featuring first-round tournament matchups at heavyweight and bantamweight.

    KSW 108

    Start Time: 12pm ET/9am PT

    Where To Watch: KSWTV.com

    KSW gets a piece of the July 19 action, too, presenting KSW 108 from the Hala Urania in Olsztyn, Poland. Two noteworthy European featherweight up-and-comers do battle in the main event, as Adam Soldaev takes on Leo Brichta. Ibragim Chuzhigaev and Marcin Wójcik face off in the light heavyweight co-main event.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 — Undisputed Heavyweight Title Fight

    Start Time: 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT (Main event ring walks expected, per DAZN, approx. 4:50pm ET/1:50pm PT)

    Where To Watch: DAZN PPV

    For just the second time in the four-belt era of boxing, there will be an undisputed heavyweight champion, as WBA/WBC/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk faces IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

    Having been an undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, Usyk is just one of three male boxers to win four-belt undisputed gold in two weight classes. He became the first four-belt heavyweight undisputed champion when he defeated Tyson Fury in their first encounter in May 2024 — also becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion overall since Lennox Lewis in 2000.

    With a win in this fight, Usyk would further cement his history by reclaiming the title of undisputed champion of heavyweight boxing; however, he’ll have to get past a familiar foe in Dubois.

    The two first met in August 2023, with Usyk winning by ninth-round knockout to retain the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. The fight wasn’t without controversy, however, as Dubois and his team have disputed a fifth-round low blow call thrown by Dubois was a legal shot.

    Usyk’s reign as undisputed champion only lasted about a month, as the IBF stripped him of the title as he pursued a rematch with Fury, which Usyk went on to win this past December. That opened the door for Dubois to be promoted from interim to full-time IBF heavyweight champion.

    Dubois — also a former WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion — had won the interim IBF heavyweight belt in June 2024 with an eighth-round stoppage win over Filip Hrgović. He has since successfully defended the IBF world title once, scoring a fifth-round knockout of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this past September.

    UFC 318

    Start Time: Early Prelims start at 6pm ET/3pm PT. TV prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT. PPV Main Card begins at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

    Where To Watch: Early Prelims available on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. TV Prelims available on ESPN and ESPN+. Main Card available on ESPN+ PPV.

    For the final time in his illustrious career, “The Diamond” will make his way to the Octagon — and he’ll do so in front of a hometown crowd.

    UFC 318’s main event will be a BMF title fight between defending champion Max Holloway and challenger Dustin Poirier, the latter of whom will be retiring following this event.

    This is the third encounter between the two men. They first met in February 2012 at UFC 143 — Holloway’s UFC debut and just his fifth professional MMA fight. Poirier scored a first-round submission of Holloway. The two would then go on to have lengthy, successful careers before they met a second time at UFC 236. This time, interim UFC lightweight gold would be on the line (it was first UFC fight at lightweight for Holloway, who was the reigning featherweight champion at the time), and Poirier won an entertaining battle by decision.

    Since then, Holloway has dropped the featherweight title but remained one of the UFC’s most entertaining and winning fighters. Poirier has fallen short three times of becoming undisputed lightweight champion, but he picked up career wins in 2021 by scoring a pair of finishes over rival Conor McGregor. Both men, in fact, come into this fight off unsuccessful title shots, with Poirier losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 and Holloway losing to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308.

    The BMF belt was established for Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019 but has since gone on to be occasionally defended like UFC’s sanctioned titles. Justin Gaethje knocked out Poirier to win the belt at UFC 291 in July 2023 but was knocked out in highlight fashion by Holloway for the title at UFC 300.

    Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao — WBC Welterweight Championship

    Start Time: 8pm ET/5pm PT

    Where To Watch: Prelims available on Amazon Prime Video. Main Card available on PBC PPV on Amazon Prime Video & PPV providers

    Whereas we say goodbye to one combat legend in Poirier, another legend makes his return. Legendary boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.

    This will be Pacquiao’s first fight since losing a WBA welterweight title fight with Yordenis Ugás in August 2021. Barrios won the WBC interim title by defeating Ugás in September 2023. He retained the interim gold against Fabian Maidana and was promoted to full-time champion not long after. He defended the title once this past November, battling Abel Ramos to a draw.

    The co-main event will feature Sebastian Fundora defend the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles against Tim Tszyu.

    The card will feature three prelims, topped by the return of Gary Russell Jr. against Hugo Castaneda.

    Bonuses For The Mega Fans!

    If you’re just that fight fan that wants to soak up every minute and all the action, we’ve got some bonus bones being thrown your way!

    In addition to all the pre-fight festivities surrounding the fight cards, action gets underway on Thursday, July 17, when UFC Fight Pass airs Tuff-N-Uff 146 at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The main event will see Jamie Siraj take on Marlon Gonzales in a featherweight matchup. The card will also see Leon Shahbazyan, a Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus and the brother of UFC fighter Edmen Shahzabyan, in action against Aaron Phillips.

    Combate Global will also hold on card on Thursday, July 17, in Miami. The main event will see Jaden Ortega in welterweight action against Ivan Castillo. The event will air starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Combate Global’s YouTube channel. Those in the US with Samsung TV Plus can watch the action there as well.

    A pair of regional promotions will also hold events on Friday, July 18, as CFFC 144 goes down in Tampa, Florida, and Fury FC 106 takes place in New Orleans. CFFC 144 will be headlined by Auttumn Norton defending the CFFC bantamweight title against Emily Martins and Sean Mora facing Mark Grey for the vacant bantamweight title. Fury FC, meanwhile, will be headlined by Junior Maranhão taking on Artur Minev. Both cards can be watched on UFC Fight Pass.

  • Visibly Frail Ben Askren Speaks Out From Hospital Bed After Life-Saving Lung Transplant

    Visibly Frail Ben Askren Speaks Out From Hospital Bed After Life-Saving Lung Transplant

    Ben Askren may have come dangerously close to the edge, but now he’s recovering.

    Askren was hospitalized in Wisconsin last month with severe pneumonia, which ultimately required him to be placed on a ventilator. Throughout the health scare, his wife, Amy, kept fans updated with consistent posts on social media.

    By June 17, Askren had been sedated and placed on a ventilator, and just two weeks later, on June 30, it was revealed that the former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion had undergone a double lung transplant.

    For the first time since his hospitalization, “Funky” addressed fans directly on Wednesday, posting a heartfelt video on social media to share an update on his condition and reflect on his recovery journey.

    Ben Askren Details Near-Death Experience And Dramatic Weight Loss After Transplant

    In his video message, Ben Askren revealed that he has no memory of the past month and had no idea he had been hospitalized with pneumonia, only learning what had happened through a journal kept by his wife during his time in critical care.

    “I haven’t given you an update in a while and figure you deserve one,” Askren said on Instagram. “Whenever this is all the way over. I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. I have no recollection. No idea. No idea what happened. We’ll kind of go through it all. I just kind of read through my wife’s journal. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous.”

    Appearing drastically weakened, “Funky” spoke with a shaky voice as he reflected on how close he came to death during his recent health crisis and revealed that he has lost nearly 50 pounds over the past 45 days.

    “I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That’s not ideal. You guys know that. But I got a double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it, gaining quite a bit of strength, learning to use everything again. I was actually on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. I lost 50 pounds in a 45-day period. So, man. That was a battle. Obviously, I don’t remember most of it.”

    After retiring from MMA with a professional record of 19-2 in November 2019, Ben Askren returned to combat sports one final time in April 2021, stepping into the boxing ring against Jake Paul. The bout ended quickly, with “Funky” suffering a first-round TKO loss.

  • The 25-Minute Test: Cory Sandhagen’s Mental Gameplan for Merab Dvalishvili

    The 25-Minute Test: Cory Sandhagen’s Mental Gameplan for Merab Dvalishvili

    UFC star Cory Sandhagen has spoken candidly about the mental aspect of preparing to battle UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in a 25-minute war.

    As we know, Cory Sandhagen appears to be the new number one contender for the UFC bantamweight championship. While Merab Dvalishvili has done a remarkable job as champion up to this point, Sandhagen will firmly believe that he has what it takes to snatch the belt from ‘The Machine’.

    Regardless of whether or not you agree with that assessment, he’s going to be preparing for the fight of his life. The bantamweight division is as stacked as it has been in a long time, and it speaks volumes to Cory’s abilities that he’s been able to earn this opportunity.

    Ahead of fight night, Cory Sandhagen has opened up on what he’s expecting when he gets in there with Dvalishvili.

    Cory Sandhagen prepares for battle

    “I think a major key component to fighting Merab is going to be to make sure that I’m the one leading the dance. I need to mentally keep up with the pace he sets, and also mentally keep up when I get tired—because everyone gets tired in fights. My brain has to be ready to handle Merab for 25 minutes.”

    Cory Sandhagen has been so close to reaching the top of the mountain in the past but now, he’s on the verge of making history. Sure, he’ll be going up against a seemingly unstoppable champion, but this is mixed martial arts we’re talking about – and anything can happen.

  • Kayla Harrison Silences Critics with UFC Gold: ‘It Feels Pretty Damn Good – Shut The Hell Up’

    UFC star Kayla Harrison has opened up on how it feels to have shut up her critics once and for all after she captured the UFC women’s bantamweight championship.

    In the co-main event of UFC 316, Kayla Harrison finally reached the top of the mountain in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She was able to submit and defeat Julianna Pena, capturing the bantamweight crown in the process. Now, she’s gearing up for an even bigger challenge as she prepares to welcome Amanda Nunes back to the promotion.

    It’s set to be a battle of epic proportions, but of course, Kayla Harrison has earned the right to take some time off and bask in the glory of her recent triumph. It’s especially important for her to do so after people doubted her abilities for so many years, suggesting she wasn’t fighting the best of the best in the PFL.

    In a recent interview, Kayla Harrison was more than happy to send a message to those who tried to put her down.

    Kayla Harrison’s message to her critics

    “It feels pretty damn good. I’m not going to lie. It’s not even that—now, everybody can just shut the hell up. You know, I did it.”

    Soon, it’ll be time for Kayla Harrison to re-group and focus on the biggest fight of her life. While this could potentially be an entirely new version of Amanda Nunes that she’ll be facing, she can’t afford to be complacent – especially given how many eyes are going to be in this superfight.

  • Stephen Thompson Discusses The Gatekeeper’s Gambit: Why Does Everyone Want a Shot at Wonderboy?

    Stephen Thompson Discusses The Gatekeeper’s Gambit: Why Does Everyone Want a Shot at Wonderboy?

    UFC legend Stephen Thompson has given his thoughts on being called a gatekeeper in the welterweight division.

    This weekend, Stephen Thompson will return to the cage when he goes head to head with Gabriel Bonfim. It serves as yet another example of the 42-year-old veteran giving an opportunity to a younger guy as he attempts to prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the elite level.

    Regardless of whether or not you think he should still be competing in the UFC, there’s no denying that Stephen Thompson is one of the easiest fighters to like in the entire sport. He carries himself with grace and dignity, and he always goes in there with the intention of putting on a show.

    In a recent interview, Stephen Thompson opened up on how it feels to be in the position of testing just how good these younger guys really are.

    Stephen Thompson gets honest

    “I’m kind of like the go-to guy when it comes in the welterweight division… I’m notorious for giving these guys a shot, right? I did it with Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal, Kevin Holland. You know, I’m just the guy to allow these guys to come up and test themselves.”

    The man known as ‘Wonderboy’ will continue to do his job for as long as the UFC allows, and for as long as his body continues to hold up. Hopefully, he’s able to go in there on Saturday and – at the very least – show the best version of himself.

  • Behind the Gloves: Paddy Pimblett Explains Why Hollywood Gets Fighting All Wrong

    UFC star Paddy Pimblett has explained why he doesn’t tend to be a big fan of Hollywood movies about combat sports.

    Throughout the course of his career, Paddy Pimblett has done a great job of building up his star power and general name value. He is one of the most valuable assets that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has at its disposal right now, and there’s a very real chance that he’ll soon be competing against Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight title.

    Of course, while he may be quite marketable, Paddy Pimblett rarely holds back from voicing his thoughts on the world. ‘The Baddy’ has no filter whatsoever and whether you love him or you hate him, one thing is for sure – you’re always going to get an honest opinion out of him.

    So, when Paddy Pimblett was asked about his favourite fighting-based Hollywood movies, he certainly didn’t mince his words.

    Paddy Pimblett discusses Hollywood fighting movies

    “Most fighting movies are s***, aren’t they? You know what I mean? Most of them are s***. But you’d probably have to say The Fighter, ’cause it’s not realistic, but a little bit. And I’ll probably use a boxing one like Raging Bull, Million Dollar Baby, you know what I mean? Stuff like that. I wouldn’t use Rocky.”

    For Paddy Pimblett, it doesn’t seem like Hollywood is going to be on the cards for him. Still, if the right offer came in, you’d have to think he’d at least consider it – especially if he wins the strap.

  • Derrick Lewis’ Game Plan Out the Window: What Happens When He Enters the Cage?

    Derrick Lewis’ Game Plan Out the Window: What Happens When He Enters the Cage?

    UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has explained what kind of game plan he has when he enters the cage.

    For the longest time now, Derrick Lewis has been an ever-present member of the UFC’s heavyweight division. He has already done some incredible things at the elite level and this Saturday night, he’ll head back into the lion’s den when he locks horns with Tallison Teixeira.

    As we know, Derrick Lewis is a huge fan favorite in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Although it may seem like he’s in the twilight of his career, he has two wins in his last three, and another knockout at the weekend could really put the cat among the pigeons.

    In a recent interview, Derrick Lewis gave an insight into what his mindset is when he gets in there to compete.

    Derrick Lewis discusses his game plan during fights

    “Whenever that cage door closes, I turn into a completely different person. So, ain’t no telling what can happen. The game plan, everything might be out of the window that day. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

    ‘The Black Beast’ is as unpredictable as he’s ever been and at this point in his career, it feels like he’s going in there to have some fun and make some money. Sure, he could have a title on his mind, but he clearly wants to put on exciting fights for the fans to enjoy.

    Buckle up, folks, because there are plenty of fireworks coming around the next corner.

  • Former Jon Jones Opponent on ‘Insane’ Strip Club Fight

    Former Jon Jones Opponent on ‘Insane’ Strip Club Fight

    A previous UFC light heavyweight title adversary of Jon Jones has racked up just shy of 60 pro MMA bouts and has experienced some wild things along that journey including competing at a particular adult entertainment establishment. Anthony Smith had an MMA career that covered nearly two decades and during that run, ‘Lionheart’ at one point found himself throwing down in an environment where the fighters weren’t the only ones going topless.

    This was something that the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger was discussing on his podcast On Paper as Smith said [via Sherdog],

    “I fought at a strip club while the ring girls were strippers. It was great. It was amazing, like, just the atmosphere of it was insane. I only think it’s amazing because now I can tell the story… It was crazy. On a Wednesday. They would run them one Wednesday a month. They have like a fight night.”

    Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith and how the story of their fight unfurled

    Jon Jones and Anthony Smith would battle over the sport’s richest prize for 205 pound athletes in March 2019. This UFC light heavyweight title fight served as the headliner of UFC 235 with Smith entering the octagon on the heels of a three fight winning streak that saw him finish a trio of former champions and title challengers. Anthony Smith secured consecutive first round striking-based finishes over former UFC light heavyweight titleholders in Rashad Evans and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua before a third round rear naked choke finish of former 205 pound title challenger Volkan Oezdemir to secure his own crack at the gold.

    For Jones, he was looking to notch the first title defense of this particular reign with the UFC light heavyweight title after finishing Alexander Gustafsson in a rematch at UFC 232 for the vacant crown. When the dust settled for the pay-per-view headlining clash between Jones and Smith, it would be the former who would hear the refrain of ‘and still’ echo throughout the arena as Jones retained his title by way of a unanimous decision against ‘Lionheart’.

  • Is Revenge on the Horizon? Alexander Volkov Weighs a Blaydes Rematch and Almeida Showdown

    Alexander Volkov has not stepped into the cage yet in 2025 but seems to have several enticing potential options in front of him for his return. Speaking to Nolan King of MMA Junkie, Volkov touched on several subjects including his own layoff from competition and the big shifts in the heavyweight landscape as of late.

    King mentioned that Curtis Blaydes seemed keen on a Volkov fight and stated how the former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion is evidently a very popular guy these days with everybody at the top wanting a piece of Alex Volkov. Responding to this statement from King, Volkov said,

    “I could fight with Curtis Blaydes as well. Curtis won against Almeida, as I remember. It’s a really good match for me and a good rematch as well. Both Almeida and Blaydes have similar styles—grappling and wrestling skills. Blaydes is more interesting because I lost to him before in a very close fight. So, it’s a good chance to give him back this loss.”

    Alexander Volkov and the case some make for a UFC title shot outright

    There are some out there who are thinking that Alexander Volkov has a case to get a UFC heavyweight title shot outright because while he technically lost his last fight, few truly seemed to perceive it as such. Volkov previously competed against Ciryl Gane last December at UFC 310 with the latter winning on points in a judges verdict that saw many in the space, including Dana White, stating that Volkov was screwed.

    The 36-year-old indicated in the same MMA Junkie interview that this loss was actually something that motivated growth. With Gane being the frontrunner in the eyes of many to fight the recently upgraded titleholder in UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, it makes sense to many that Volkov should get the shot as they saw him as the rightful winner of the rematch with Gane.

    The native of Russia could also be in a similar motivation-minded spot if an Aspinall fight came about as would be the case for a Blaydes rematch in as far as wanting to avenge a loss. Volkov and Aspinall fought each other in March 2022 with the latter submitting the former in the first round of their fight.

  • How One Mike Tyson Fight Redefined the Meaning of an Upset – When Sports History Was Rewritten

    How One Mike Tyson Fight Redefined the Meaning of an Upset – When Sports History Was Rewritten

    Mike Tyson makes history with wins of losses. On February 11, 1990, the boxing world learned a lesson it would never forget: never assume the ending before the bell rings. The stage was set in Tokyo, where Mike Tyson, the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion, was expected to breeze through another challenger. Buster Douglas, meanwhile, was cast as the designated fall guy – so much so that Las Vegas bookmakers gave him 42-to-1 odds.

    Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson

    Some casinos didn’t even bother to take bets on Tyson, figuring it would be easier to sell ice to penguins. Mike Tyson’s reputation at the time was nearly mythic. He had knocked out his first 19 opponents, most of them before the crowd even had time to settle in. The world waited for another quick demolition, and Tyson’s next big payday against Evander Holyfield was already being penciled in.

    Douglas, by contrast, was seen as a warm-up act – a solid pro, but not the sort who rewrites history. But boxing, like life, has a way of ignoring the script. Douglas entered the ring carrying the weight of his mother’s recent passing. Some say that loss gave him a new sense of purpose. Whatever the reason, he fought with a determination that surprised everyone – except maybe himself.

    The fight itself was a slow burn. Douglas was knocked down in the eighth round but got up, dusted himself off, and went back to work. By the tenth, he had Tyson reeling. A crisp uppercut and a flurry of punches sent the “Baddest Man on the Planet” to the canvas for the first time in his career. Mike Tyson, dazed, fumbled for his mouthpiece as the referee counted him out. The Tokyo Dome crowd of 40,000 sat in stunned silence. Around the world, jaws dropped.Commentators and fans struggled to process what they’d seen.

    Mike Tyson
    Image: @netflix/X

    HBO’s Jim Lampley, recalling the moment years later, said he delivered the news as plainly as possible: “Mike Tyson has been knocked out.” No need for theatrics – reality had already done the heavy lifting. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Lampley recalled:

    “The very first live fight I ever attended was the biggest upset in boxing history. And now here in front of me, 12, 14 feet away, is the result that’s going to supplant that as the biggest upset in boxing history. Mike Tyson has been knocked out. In about that tone of voice. I wanted to make it as matter-of-fact as possible because there was nothing I could do to elevate it by screaming or shouting… It was what it was. Right. Mike Tyson has been knocked out.”

    Even Tyson, with the benefit of hindsight, admitted that Douglas was simply better that night and that the loss “made me human.”In the end, Douglas’s victory shook up boxing and the entire sports world.