Tag: Movsar Evloev

  • “No Idea How To Score Fights” – Movsar Evloev Wins Eliminator

    “No Idea How To Score Fights” – Movsar Evloev Wins Eliminator

    It appears Movsar Evloev will be next in line for Alexander Volkanovski and the UFC featherweight championship, as he defeated Lerone Murphy in a battle of undefeated contenders that headlined UFC London.

    In what was a bit of a surprise, Evloev did not go for any takedowns in the first 10 minutes of the fight. Instead, the two fighters, after some feeling out, both used their striking to try and get the upper hand.

    Evloev seemed to hold his own landing on the body during the first round. It appeared Murphy’s striking skillset was stronger, and he was landing the better attacks in round two.

    Evloev finally landed a takedown in the third round. Murphy, however, got up quickly, and his movement appeared to give Evloev some struggle. But Evloev found success with his striking, including some solid pressure near the fence, landing on the body again.

    Despite gaining some momentum, Evloev landed a pair of low blows on Murphy and was deducted one point. He then went back to his bread and butter during the fourth round, landing a pair of takedowns. Evloev then controlled the fifth round.

    In spite of the point deduction, Evloev managed to edge Murphy out in a majority decision.

    Movsar Evloev Narrowly Wins Title Eliminator Against Lerone Murphy In UFC London Main Event

    Evloev now improves to 20-0 in his MMA career. This marked Evloev’s first fight since defeating Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December 2024.

    This marked Murphy’s first loss in professional MMA. He entered this fight off a highlight knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 — one of 2025’s top knockouts in the sport.

  • UFC London Results: Evloev vs Murphy Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC London Results: Evloev vs Murphy Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC London results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the O2 Arena in London, England. The main event will feature a featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy – Featherweight Main Event

    This main event presents a battle of unbeaten fighters, with the winner most likely scoring the next title shot at featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

    Evloev is 19-0 but did not fight in 2025. His most recent bout came against Aljamain Sterling, scoring a decision win at UFC 310. Murphy, meanwhile, is 17-0-1, having won all fights since going to a draw in his UFC debut. He enters this fight off his highlight knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319.

    The co-main event will feature another featherweight matchup, as Luke Riley takes on Michael Aswell. Riley made his UFC debut at UFC Qatar, scoring a finish of Bogdan Grad. Aswell is 1-1 in the UFC, coming into this bout off a first-round finish of Lucas Almeida at UFC Rio in October.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC London!

    How to Watch UFC London

    • Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
    • Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
    • Main Card: 4 PM ET / 1 PM PT

    UFC London Quick Results

    • Main Event: Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy — Movsar Evloev def. Lerone Murphy via majority decision (48-46 x2, 47-47)
    • Co-Main Event: Luke Riley vs. Michael Aswell — Luke Riley def. Michael Aswell Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Michael Page vs. Sam Patterson — Michael Page def. Sam Patterson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Iwo Baraniewski vs. Austen Lane — Iwo Baraniewski def. Austen Lane via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:28)
    • Roman Dolidze vs. Christian Leroy Duncan — Christian Leroy Duncan def. Roman Dolidze via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Kurtis Campbell vs. Danny Silva — Danny Silva def. Kurtis Campbell via TKO (Rd. 2, 0:31)

    UFC London Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 1 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Shanelle Dyer vs. Ravena Oliveira

    Result: Shanelle Dyer def. Ravena Oliveira via TKO (Rd. 2, 1:17)

    Lightweight: Shem Rock vs. Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady

    Result: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady def. Shem Rock via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Heavyweight: Louie Sutherland vs. Brando Pericic

    Result: Brando Pericic def. Louie Sutherland via TKO (Rd. 1, 1:48)

    Middleweight: Mantas Kondratavicius vs. Antonio Trocoli

    Result: Mantas Kondratavicius def. Antonio Trocoli via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27 x2)

    Heavyweight: Mario Pinto vs. Felipe Franco

    Result: Mario Pinto def. Felipe Franco via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Losene Keita

    Result: Nathaniel Wood def. Losene Keita via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Lightweight: Mason Jones vs. Axel Sola

    Result: Mason Jones def. Axel Sola via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 4 PM ET)

    Featherweight: Kurtis Campbell vs. Danny Silva

    Result: Danny Silva def. Kurtis Campbell via TKO (Rd. 2, 0:31)

    Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Christian Leroy Duncan

    Result: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Roman Dolidze via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Light Heavyweight: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Austen Lane

    Result: Iwo Baraniewski def. Austen Lane via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:28)

    Welterweight: Michael Page vs. Sam Patterson

    Result: Michael Page def. Sam Patterson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Featherweight: Luke Riley vs. Michael Aswell Jr.

    Result: Luke Riley def. Michael Aswell Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Featherweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy

    Result: Movsar Evloev def. Lerone Murphy via majority decision (48-46 x2, 47-47)

  • Alexander Volkanovski Predicts Movsar Evloev’s Win At UFC London

    Alexander Volkanovski Predicts Movsar Evloev’s Win At UFC London

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes Movsar Evloev will defeat Lerone Murphy at UFC London and has stated his preference to fight Evloev next. Volkanovski (28-4-0) expressed his opinion on his YouTube channel.

    Volkanovski is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes on January 31, 2026, at UFC 325. He has a UFC record of 15-3-0 and competed in 8 title bouts in the UFC with a record of 8-3-0 in those fights.

    Volkanovski Prefers Evloev For Legacy

    Volkanovski explained why he prefers to fight Movsar Evloev over Lerone Murphy, citing legacy and the challenge of Evloev’s wrestling style.

    “I think pretty consistently Movsar will be able to get the takedowns and win the rounds because of it. So yeah, that’s going to be my take. So I’m going to have to go with Movsar, decision… It’s still going to be reasonably close but just, you know, I know Movsar is just going to keep edging him.”

    ‘The Great’ is looking for a challenge to try to beat a style that has proven dominant across multiple weight classes. He said:

    “I love that. I think that’s bigger for my legacy. That’s going to be much bigger. But, they’re both great fights for the legacy, both of them. But, if I had to choose who I’d probably prefer, it’d probably be Movsar,” Volkanovski said.

    Volkanovski mentioned that he has experience facing this wrestling style, referencing his first fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. He believes that Evloev will consistently secure takedowns and win rounds because of it.

  • Lerone Murphy Hires Mental Coach Before Movsar Evloev Fight

    Lerone Murphy Hires Mental Coach Before Movsar Evloev Fight

    Lerone Murphy (18-0-0) has hired a mental coach to gain an edge before his upcoming fight against Movsar Evloev (19-0-0) at UFC London on March 21st, 2026. The undefeated Murphy is headlining the event at The O2 Arena in a featherweight title eliminator bout.

    Murphy is coming off a first-round knockout win over Aaron Pico in August. Evloev last fought in December 2024, beating Aljamain Sterling. Evloev recently resolved late visa issues to make the event. The winner of this fight is likely to get a shot at featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

    Murphy’s Mental Edge

    In an interview with Cageside Press, Lerone Murphy explained he decided to hire a mental coach to improve his performance for the upcoming fight:

    “For me, having a mental coach is about getting that extra 1% out of yourself. I’m strong‑minded anyway, I’m a good fighter, but how can I get better? Can I get better? I’m always trying to improve in every area possible. So it’s helped. It’s helped switch me on, focus me, and not carry baggage into fights.”

    Murphy is preparing for the first time without long‑time head coach Carl Prince after they reportedly parted ways, and he is instead leaning on teammate‑turned‑coach Jordan Barton and a wider mix of training influences while remaining anchored in Manchester.

  • Evloev vs Murphy Officially Announced as Main Event for UFC London

    Evloev vs Murphy Officially Announced as Main Event for UFC London

    The UFC confirmed on Monday that undefeated featherweight contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy will headline UFC Fight Night 270 on March 21 at The O2 Arena in London. The winner of this matchup is expected to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight championship later this year.

    Movsar Evloev vs Lerone Murphy Officially Announced as Main Event for UFC London in March

    Evloev returns after a 14-month absence from competition. The Russian holds a perfect 19-0 record and is ranked number one in the division. His last appearance came in December 2024 at UFC 310, where he defeated former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by unanimous decision. That performance extended his UFC record to 9-0, though he has failed to finish any opponent inside the octagon.

    The 31-year-old grappler missed all of 2025 after withdrawing from a scheduled bout with Aaron Pico at UFC Abu Dhabi in July due to an injury sustained during training camp in Thailand. His resume includes decision victories over Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Dan Ige.

    Murphy carries a 17-0-1 professional record into the contest and will compete in front of his home crowd for the first time as a main event headliner. The Manchester native is ranked fourth at featherweight and has won nine consecutive fights since a draw with Zubaira Tukhugov in 2019.

    The 34-year-old secured his title shot credentials with a stunning spinning back elbow knockout of Pico at UFC 319 in August. That finish, which occurred in the first round, immediately positioned Murphy as a serious contender and earned widespread recognition as a knockout of the year candidate. Earlier in 2025, Murphy defeated former interim title challenger Josh Emmett by unanimous decision at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, matching Evloev for the longest active win streak in the featherweight division.

    Volkanovski recently defended his title for the second time against Lopes at UFC 325 in Sydney, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 49-45, 49-46, and 50-45. Following that victory, the Australian champion stated that either Evloev or Murphy would likely be his next challenger. The win tied Volkanovski with Jose Aldo for the most featherweight title defenses in UFC history at eight.

    The full main card features several British fighters competing at home. Michael “Venom” Page returns to welterweight to face Sam Patterson after recent success at middleweight, where he defeated Jared Cannonier in August. Roman Dolidze meets rising English prospect Christian Leroy Duncan in a middleweight bout. Duncan enters on a three-fight winning streak with two knockout finishes in 2025, while Dolidze seeks to rebound from a submission loss to Anthony Hernandez.

  • Movsar Evloev Reportedly Withdraws From UFC Abu Dhabi Bout Against Aaron Pico

    Movsar Evloev Reportedly Withdraws From UFC Abu Dhabi Bout Against Aaron Pico

    Movsar Evloev’s anticipated return to the Octagon is reportedly in jeopardy.

    According to a report from Red Corner MMA, Movsar Evloev has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled matchup against promotional newcomer Aaron Pico at the UFC Abu Dhabi event on July 26.

    The undefeated Russian reportedly pulled out due to an undisclosed injury or health issue sustained during his training camp in Thailand, resulting in the bout’s cancellation less than two weeks out from Fight Night event at the Etihad Arena.

    As of now, it remains unclear whether Pico will remain on the fight card with a short-notice replacement or if the matchup will be rescheduled for a later date altogether.

    The UFC Abu Dhabi event is set to be headlined by a pivotal middleweight clash between former champion Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder. The main card also features the return of former bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan, who takes on rising contender Marcus McGhee, while Shara Magomedov is slated to meet Marc-André Barriault in a middleweight showdown.

    Image: @ufc/Instagram

    When Was Movsar Evloev’s Last UFC Appearance?

    Movsar Evloev was last seen in action at UFC 310 this past December, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. The win improved his UFC record to a perfect 9-0 and extended his overall unbeaten streak to 19-0.

    Evloev was widely regarded as a potential title challenger to reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, but instead of waiting for a shot at gold, he opted to stay active by accepting a matchup against Aaron Pico, a bout that has now unfortunately been called off.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • Movsar Evloev: UFC ‘Trying To Keep Me As Far From’ The Title As Possible

    Movsar Evloev: UFC ‘Trying To Keep Me As Far From’ The Title As Possible

    When it comes to his pursuit of featherweight gold, Movsar Evloev says he absolutely does not have the backing of the UFC.

    Evloev made his latest appearance on the preliminary card of last December’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where his second outing of the year came against an ex-bantamweight titleholder in Aljamain Sterling.

    After his decision victory over Arnold Allen in January wasn’t enough to impress the promotional higher-ups, the Russian had more work to do to place himself in a strong position heading into 2025.

    While he appeared to do that with his decision victory over “Funk Master,” it remains unclear whether Evloev’s winning run will be rewarded.

    During a recent interview for Kolos on MMA’s YouTube channel, Evloev acknowledged as much, even suggesting that the UFC will be doing everything in its power to find alternative options for the featherweight title.

    “As I understand it, the UFC is trying to keep me as far away from anything title related as possible,” Evloev said. “I was at UFC 314. After the fight, I had the opportunity to talk to the UFC. They did not want this. When the event was over, we were walking out through the hallway. Volk was standing not far from me, talking to the fans and staff…I wanted to go up to him and congratulate him, but the security guys didn’t let me and took me to the opposite side.

    “This shows who the UFC wants to see in the next title fight,” Evloev continued. “Apparently in their eyes, I am not worthy of the title yet. Give me the opportunity to prove that I’m worthy. If nine wins in the best organization in the world isn’t enough, I’m ready to fight nine more times.”

    Both Jean Silva and Yair Rodriguez have staked their claims for the next title shot after wins at UFC 314, and many have suggested that their entertaining styles place them as significant threats to Evloev’s ambitions of competing for championship glory.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Wants To Fight Movsar Evloev ‘For The Legacy’

    Alexander Volkanovski Wants To Fight Movsar Evloev ‘For The Legacy’

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has expanded on why he’d like to face the challenge of Movsar Evloev next time out.

    Volkanovski returned to the throne at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, commencing a second reign at 145 pounds with a convincing five-round victory over Diego Lopes.

    It hasn’t taken long for talk to turn from his performance in Miami to his next opponent, and while some have pushed back on Evloev getting a shot due to his fight style, the champ wants to test himself against the undefeated Russian.

    During an interview with Fox Sports upon touching down back in Australia, Volkanovski explained why he’d choose Evloev to be the first hurdle in his newly begun featherweight rule.

    “I did mention Movsar. He is undefeated. I like the fact that he’s undefeated,” Volkanovski said. “And still one of the younger generation. … I think for the legacy, that would still mean so much.

    “But is that what the fans want? Is that what the UFC wants? I don’t know. I’m going to need to talk to them and we’ll see what happens,” Volkanovski added.

  • Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    The coach of Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Movsar Evloev would be able to deal with the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion’s strength.

    Evloev has been staking his claim for the next title shot following Volkanovski’s return to the throne at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    The Australian veteran got the better of Diego Lopes across five rounds to bounce back from consecutive knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, beginning a second reign at 145 pounds in the process.

    Attention has already turned to the first defense of his new divisional rule, and Evloev is widely being branded the most deserving of the opportunity.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez assessed the Russian’s game and how it stacks up against the strengths of the champ.

    “I think he is a good wrestler, but he’s not a – what would you call him? He’s good at getting people down, but he doesn’t really do much with it once he gets them down. And that’s what I guess makes him boring,” Lopez said. “So he just hangs on to them, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to hang onto Volk. Volk is just so strong, and his scrambling skills, and his jiu-jitsu and wrestling are another level. Volk just picks things up, if you look at the the beginning of the camp, when we break things down, and we see what each person’s really good at.

    “So we’ve got Diego. Diego’s got a pretty good guard. The way he switches from armbars to triangles to sweeps, he’s very good at. He’s got a really good repertoire there, and at the beginning with the guys that we had, Volk was getting stuck in there. (But) by the end of the camp, Volk was not having any problems at all in those positions, and I think that’s what Diego felt when Alex took him down – that it’s not a place he wants to be with Alex on top of him because like I said, Alex’s pressure when he’s on top, he feels like a heavyweight on top of you, and then he just doesn’t hang onto you. He’s just looking to land some bombs or an elbow or something on you. So, you don’t want to be on the bottom when Alex is on top.”

  • New UFC Signing Aaron Pico Backs Jean Silva For Next Title Shot Over Movsar Evloev

    New UFC Signing Aaron Pico Backs Jean Silva For Next Title Shot Over Movsar Evloev

    According to UFC newcomer Aaron Pico, Jean Silva’s destruction of Bryce Mitchell is enough to warrant a title shot.

    The featherweight gold returned to Alexander Volkanovski at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which was headlined by a clash for the belt vacated by Ilia Topuria.

    To begin a fresh reign on the 145-pound throne, Volkanovski got the better of charging contender Diego Lopes across five rounds in Miami. And though the Australian’s victory is just days old, it hasn’t taken long for focus to turn to what could await him next.

    For many, that should be a showdown with the undefeated Movsar Evloev, who has beaten Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling consecutively to stake his claim.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, however, Pico pointed to another figure in the featherweight top 15 as a more “exciting” option for the UFC and “Alexander the Great.”

    “Honestly, I think Jean Silva,” Pico said. “He’s 5-0 in the UFC with five finishes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got the title shot. He put on a great performance (at UFC 314). The crowd loved him and he’s starting to get a lot of fans. And I think he’s very exciting.

    “Movsar is a great fighter, of course. But I think to the fans, it’s very, very boring,” Pico added.

    Silva continued his surge up the ladder on MMA’s biggest stage at UFC 314 by choking out the controversial Mitchell on the main card.

    With significant hype behind his name, perhaps “Lord” could be in for a shock rise to title challenger next time out.

  • Movsar Evloev Sends A Message To Alexander Volkanovski After UFC 314 Title Win

    Movsar Evloev Sends A Message To Alexander Volkanovski After UFC 314 Title Win

    It didn’t take long for top UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev to make his feelings known on Alexander Volkanovski’s return to the throne.

    Volkanovski became a two-time champion in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view event, which went down inside the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

    Following consecutive defeats to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, the Australian overcame a knockdown to convincingly outpoint Diego Lopes, capturing the vacant 145-pound belt in the process.

    Before this weekend’s headliner, both title challengers publicly acknowledged Movsar Evloev’s claim to a shot against the victor. And the undefeated Russian hasn’t forgotten that.

    “Congratulations on an excellent performance, you’re a true champion!” Evloev wrote on X. “Now let’s see what your word is worth! @alexvolkanovski#UFC314

    Evloev has won all nine of his UFC fights to date, most notably beating Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling in his last three appearances in the Octagon.

    A failure to record a single finish, however, has seemingly prevented the former M-1 Global champion from being given a title shot, and the entertaining Yair Rodriguez will hope that works in his favor after staking his own claim with a victory at UFC 314.

  • Diego Lopes Gives Surprising Props To Bitter UFC Rival

    Diego Lopes Gives Surprising Props To Bitter UFC Rival

    Diego Lopes seems to be giving credit where it’s due, even if it involves praising one of his former fierce rivals.

    Following Ilia Topuria’s vacating of the UFC featherweight title, Lopes has been lined up to challenge former champion Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant 145-pound crown. The highly anticipated bout will headline UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

    Although Lopes’ fight is still over a month away — and against what could be one of his toughest opponents yet — the Brazilian fan favorite is already contemplating who he’ll defend his title against once he emerges victorious.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Lopes mentioned former opponent Movsar Evloev as a potential future title challenger. Surprisingly, Lopes offered high praise for Evloev, with whom he has engaged in multiple intense social media confrontations, commending the Russian’s undefeated record and his dominant presence in the division.

    “We have to be fair, and also we can’t hide what he’s done in the division,” Lopes said. “It’s nine wins [in a row]. Even though it’s all by decision, the guy is undefeated in the division. He’s No. 4 in the division. Like it or not, he also defeated me. And if I win the belt, I definitely think the UFC will put him next on the line.”

    Lopes faced Evloev in a short-notice bout at UFC 288 in May 2023, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss. Since then, the former Lux Fighting Championship champion has mounted a five-fight win streak, with his latest victory being a dominant win over former title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC 306 in September.

    Meanwhile, Evloev was last seen in action at UFC 310 in December, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. He also boasts dominant wins over top contenders such as Arnold Allen, Dan Ige, and Hakeem Dawodu, among others.

  • Movsar Evloev: Weight Change Won’t Stop Me ‘Going After’ Ilia Topuria

    Movsar Evloev: Weight Change Won’t Stop Me ‘Going After’ Ilia Topuria

    UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev won’t give up in his pursuit of Ilia Topuria, even if it means following him to other divisions.

    Evloev, who currently occupies the #4 spot in the 145-pound rankings, staked his claim for the next shot at Topuria’s gold with two important victories in 2024.

    The undefeated Russian outpointed perennial contender Arnold Allen and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling to extend his perfect professional and UFC records to 19-0 and 9-0, respectively.

    With that, Evloev has entered the new year with his sights firmly set on “El Matador,” whom he was slated to face back in 2022 before a cancellation.

    Unfortunately for the charging 30-year-old, though, Topuria may have different plans. The champ recently caused a stir by revealing plans to move up to the lightweight division, even suggesting his title defense opposite Max Holloway last October may have marked his final time competing at 145 pounds.

    Should that be the case, Evloev has insisted that the door will remain open for him and Topuria to settle their differences.

    “To be honest, it’s not easy to even understand what’s going on,” Evloev told MMA Fighting regarding his next fight. “Because Max [Holloway] said he will not come back to featherweight again. So Ilia’s talking that he’s moving up, also, especially after my fight. I don’t know what’s going on. For me, it doesn’t matter who will be my next opponent.

    “Even if the champion moves up, he will leave the title. I will get the title and then I will follow him. Lightweight is not too far for me,” Evloev continued. “Even if he moves up, I will take the belt first because this is my first goal. So then I will go after him, even if he goes to middleweight. It doesn’t matter. He’s not a big guy. I don’t need to cut the weight to beat this guy. I need his head on my list.”

    Despite his comments and talk of potentially dropping the featherweight belt to avoid more rough weight cuts in the division, Topuria attempted to clarify things last month, insisting he won’t leave the belt vacant.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Kai Asakura Debuts In Flyweight Top 15 After UFC 310 Loss

    UFC Rankings Report: Kai Asakura Debuts In Flyweight Top 15 After UFC 310 Loss

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 310, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Alexandre Pantoja emerged victorious from Saturday’s main event, choking out newcomer Kai Asakura to stay flyweight kingpin. As a result, the Brazilian has received a boost up the P4P ladder, now sharing the #9 spot with Leon Edwards. Pantoja’s two-place rise has seen Alexander Volkanovski slip the same distance back to #11.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: TBC

    Women’s Strawweight: TBC

    Women’s Flyweight: TBC

    Women’s Bantamweight: TBC

    Flyweight: While unsuccessful in capturing gold on his debut, Asakura has still joined the ranks of contenders with numbers next to their names at 125 pounds. The Japanese star has arrived at #14, with UFC 310 victor Joshua Van also entering at #15. Those debuts have led to Cody Durden, Van’s defeated opponent, and Matt Schnell exiting the UFC rankings.

    Bantamweight: TBC

    Featherweight: Movsar Evloev kept his undefeated record intact on the UF 310 preliminary card, getting past former bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling in a competitive grappling affair. The Russian has now climbed one spot to #4 in the division, demoting Yair Rodríguez to #5.

    Lightweight: TBC

    Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov was among the biggest winners in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as he fought through a torn MCL to outpoint former training partner Ian Garry in the co-main event. The triumph has elevated him above Kamaru Usman to #2 in the UFC rankings ahead of an expected title shot in 2025. The Irishman, meanwhile, has stayed put at #7.

    Middleweight: TBC

    Light Heavyweight: The resurgence of Dominick Reyes continued at UFC 310, where he dominantly put away fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith by way of TKO. “The Devastator” is now up one position to #11, leaving Azamat Murzakanov a place worse off at #11. “Lionheart,” meanwhile, has continued to slip down the pecking order. He;’s now been passed by Bogdan Guskov (#13) and occupies the #14 spot.

    Heavyweight: TBC

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Legendary former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to see his fellow countryman, top-five featherweight Movsar Evloev, as the next challenger for Ilia Topuria.

    Evloev made his latest appearance on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where his second outing of the year came against an ex-bantamweight titleholder in Aljamain Sterling.

    After his decision victory over Arnold Allen this past January wasn’t enough to impress the promotional higher-ups, the Russian had more work to do to place himself in a strong position heading into 2025.

    And although “Funk Master” gave him a run for his money, Evloev ultimately did just that by earning the nod on all three scorecards following three rounds of entertaining grappling action at T-Mobile Arena.

    Evloev had a ‘what will be, will be’ attitude when asked about whether he’s done enough for a title shot by Joe Rogan post-fight. But there’s little doubt about the merit of the #5-ranked contender’s claim in the eyes of another undefeated Russian…

    “19:0 in MMA and 9:0 in UFC,” Khabib wrote. “I think @MovsarUFC deserves title shot.”

    Evloev’s performance on Saturday night maintained his undefeated record in the Octagon, but he is still searching for his first finish under the UFC banner.

    Whether or not that fact will dent his push for the gold remains to be seen, but Evloev appears to have gained considerable support for his hopes to battle Topuria in 2025 after a hard-fought triumph over Sterling in “Sin City.”

  • ‘Food For Ilia Topuria’ – Fans React As Movsar Evloev Stays Undefeated With Win Over Aljamain Sterling At UFC 310

    ‘Food For Ilia Topuria’ – Fans React As Movsar Evloev Stays Undefeated With Win Over Aljamain Sterling At UFC 310

    Movsar Evloev remained undefeated at UFC 310 by defeating former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision. All three judges gave him the second and third rounds to bounce back from a strong start to the fight for “Funk Master.”

    Both men have not always been known for putting on the most exciting fights, but with the high stakes attached to this one, a lot of fans campaigned for it to receive a higher spot on the card. In the end, this crucial preliminary clash at featherweight ended up being an entertaining watch from start to finish, with a lot of incredibly high-level grappling exchanges between Evloev and Sterling.

    At 19-0 with the #5 ranking next to his name, this could finally be the win that secures Evloev a title shot at 145 pounds. In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the Russian joked that he gets asked this same question after all of his wins, so who knows what will be next for him at this point.

    Fight fans reacted on social media to a great fight and another victory for one of the UFC’s undefeated contenders.

    https://twitter.com/Yo71676416/status/1865578936991973813
  • Movsar Evloev Differs From Aljamain Sterling On View Of UFC 310 Card Placement

    Movsar Evloev Differs From Aljamain Sterling On View Of UFC 310 Card Placement

    Undefeated UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev couldn’t care less whether he makes the walk at the start or end of a fight card.

    Evloev is set for a crucial outing this weekend at UFC 310, where he looks to stake his claim for a first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage at the expense of former bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling.

    The Russian opened his account for 2024 by getting the better of Arnold Allen in Canada this past January. The result pushed him into the top five at 145 pounds and left him 8-0 since joining the UFC from M-1 Global in 2019.

    But he’s come under fire for failing to find a finish in his UFC tenure to date, and Dana White’s reaction to his latest win would suggest Evloev isn’t Mr. Popular among the promotional higher-ups.

    That’s perhaps contributed to the controversial decision to place Evloev’s clash with Sterling — another whose entertainment value has been called into question by some — on Saturday’s preliminary card.

    The move hasn’t pleased “Funk Master,” who has vowed to prove that the UFC made a mistake. Evloev, however, is seemingly unbothered.

    “Guys my fight will be broadcasted on ESPN, way more people will watch my fight than on the PPV, I don’t even care if I’m the first fight of the night, I get paid the same,” Evloev wrote on X. “All my life I worked hard to earn thing nothing was ever given to me”

    Regardless of their position on the lineup, both Evloev and Sterling will be looking to put themselves among the night’s biggest winners by extending their respective unbeaten featherweight records. “Funk Master” is 1-0 in the division, having gotten the better of Calvin Kattar on debut this past April.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

    With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, September 23, and Sunday, September 29, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • ‘They Scared Of The Future Champ’ – Fans React As Movsar Evloev Removed From UFC 307 Card After No Replacement Stepped Up

    Some MMA enthusiasts aren’t surprised at UFC featherweights’ unwillingness to do battle with the undefeated Movsar Evloev on short notice.

    One of the key bouts set for the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 took a hit earlier this month when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling announced his withdrawal through injury.

    “Funk Master” was scheduled to share the cage with the #6-ranked Evloev in what would have marked his second outing in the 145-pound division.

    The promotion had hoped to keep the unbeaten Russian on the lineup, which also boasts the likes of Kayla Harrison, José Aldo, and Kevin Holland below championship headliners that will see Alex Pereira and Raquel Pennington defend their titles.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, the UFC failed in its pursuit of a replacement opponent, with nobody agreeing to fight Evloev on the Oct. 5 date.

    Evloev Off UFC 307 Lineup, Fans React

    After Evloev called the weight class out on social media in the hopes of keeping himself on the UFC 307 card following news of Sterling’s injury, a few names emerged. But while notable contenders like Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell expressed a willingness to face the Russian, they required more time.

    Fans were quick to give their thoughts on Evloev’s forced withdrawal on social media. Takes varied, with some using the absence of willing foes as evidence of Evloev’s talents and others suggesting that he won’t be missed at UFC 307 given his lack of Octagon finishes.

    https://twitter.com/yrbmar/status/1838310433976955048
    https://twitter.com/fr33ourminds/status/1838309835210645857
  • Aljamain Sterling Names Next High-Profile Opponent If Movsar Evloev Rejects Rebooked Fight

    Aljamain Sterling Names Next High-Profile Opponent If Movsar Evloev Rejects Rebooked Fight

    Aljamain Sterling recently name-dropped a high-profile opponent he hopes to face next if Movsar Evloev declines to rebook their fight.

    “Funk Master” was set to face Evloev in what could have been a pivotal featherweight title eliminator at UFC 307 on October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, last week, Sterling announced that he was compelled to withdraw from the matchup due to a serious elbow injury.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion made a successful transition to the 145-pound division this past April at UFC 300, where he delivered a dominant victory over Calvin Kattar. Sterling has one goal in mind—to compete against elite opponents and secure his place in title contention as swiftly as possible.

    With uncertainty surrounding the possibility of rescheduling his bout with Evloev, Sterling has a contender in mind who could propel him toward a title shot…

    Sterling Finds Inspiration In Diego Lopes’ Journey & Wants To Face Him Next

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Sterling lavished praise on Diego Lopes for his success in the Octagon. “Funk Master” noted that while he maintains a strong camaraderie with Lopes, he feels that competitive tension is gradually building between them as the Brazilian climbs the ranks in the featherweight division.

    “I think Diego rising to his stardom and his rise in the sport in the UFC has been huge; it’s nothing short of inspiring, to be honest,” Sterling said. “I’m happy for the guy. I got to train with him one time; he was a very nice dude, very polite. I can kind of feel the tension shift a little bit now whenever I see him. It seems like there’s a little bit more tension there. It’s not like I’m fighting him tomorrow or he’s my next scheduled fight, so for me, I don’t really see a point in being like that. But I can understand why he’s a little bit more on guard when seeing me or meeting me.”

    Sterling further mentioned that if his fight with Evloev doesn’t get rebooked, he would definitely be eager to share the Octagon with Lopes in pursuit of his title shot.

    “If we’re talking about the next best fight, if Movsar declines, I just don’t know who else he would fight. But if he gives me the option, I’ve always wanted Brian Ortega so I could get the closest spot to the top, and now that next closest guy is Diego Lopes. That’s all it is; it has nothing to do with what this guy did or that. It’s the name value and what it gets me—risk versus reward. If I’m going to risk it for the biscuit, that’s the guy I would risk it with.”

    Lopes has been on a remarkable run in the Octagon since narrowly losing his promotional debut against Evloev at UFC 288. The Brazilian extended his win streak to five with a dominant victory over Ortega at Noche UFC 306, propelling himself to the #3 spot in the featherweight rankings.

  • Ali Abdelaziz Puts Movsar Evloev ‘On The Same Level’ As Khabib, Makhachev, Usman

    Ali Abdelaziz Puts Movsar Evloev ‘On The Same Level’ As Khabib, Makhachev, Usman

    Ali Abdelaziz didn’t hold back in his admiration for Movsar Evloev, even declaring him to be on par with several UFC icons.

    Evloev was supposed to square off against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on the UFC 307 main card, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, on Wednesday, “Funk Master” announced that he had sustained an elbow injury during training, forcing him to withdraw from the fight as he won’t be able to recover in time for the event.

    The UFC has yet to officially confirm the cancellation, but Evloev has made it clear on social media that he’s been putting in the work for this fight. He’s even expressed his readiness to take on a short-notice opponent.

    The 30-year-old Russian has been unstoppable since making his UFC debut in April 2019, where he announced his arrival with a commanding unanimous decision victory over SeungWoo Choi. Evloev has racked up eight consecutive victories inside the Octagon, all via decision. He has secured notable wins along the way, including victories over Dan Ige, Hakeem Dawodu, Diego Lopes, and, most recently, Arnold Allen at UFC 297 this past January.

    Abdelaziz, who only began managing Evloev last month, is confident that the American Top Team standout has the potential to ascend to the same level of greatness as UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, and former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman.

    Abdelaziz Predicts Evloev Will Capture UFC Featherweight Gold By 2025

    During a recent interview with TMZSports, Abdelaziz opened up about Evloev’s relatively sparse appearances in the Octagon. The Dominance MMA founder expressed his commitment to working closely with the UFC to ensure his new client stays more active.

    He emphasized that if frequent competition is what it takes for Evloev to earn his shot at the title, he’s fully prepared to make that happen.

    “I believe that he should fight again in December or January,” Abdelaziz said. “I want to keep him busy. It doesn’t matter—Khabib had to beat 10 guys to fight for the title, same with Islam and Kamaru. If this is the route the UFC wants, he needs to just smash everyone ahead of him and show why the UFC has no choice but to give him a title shot. And guess what? He’s willing to fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. But the key here is to keep him busy against anybody, and this is what’s gonna happen.”

    Abdelaziz further added that he recently trained with Evloev and described him as one of the most dedicated fighters he’s ever encountered. The renowned MMA manager even likened the Russian’s work ethic to that of Nurmagomedov, Makhachev, and Usman.

    “I had the pleasure to train with [Evloev], and he’s one of the strongest guys I’ve ever trained with. He’s dedicated—this guy sleeps at a certain time, eats specific food, and lives and breathes fighting. I truly believe that by 2025, Movsar is going to be the featherweight champion. I believe he’s a very hard puzzle to solve and very hard to beat. The abilities he has, the discipline he has, remind me of Khabib, Islam, and Kamaru. He’s on the same level—how these guys live, how they walk, how they talk, how they train.”

    While Evloev undoubtedly possesses the skills to claim the 145-pound title in the near future with his wrestling-heavy approach, the road ahead is far from easy. A formidable lineup of dangerous contenders lies in wait, eager to challenge his ascent to the top.

  • Aljamain Sterling Out Of Movsar Evloev Fight At UFC 307: ‘I Need All My Tools’

    Aljamain Sterling Out Of Movsar Evloev Fight At UFC 307: ‘I Need All My Tools’

    Aljamain Sterling moved up to featherweight after losing his UFC bantamweight championship to Sean O’Malley. He dominated Calvin Kattar in his divisional debut and was scheduled to fight Movsar Evloev at UFC 307 next.

    However, Sterling has pulled out of the UFC 307 bout because of an injury that he sustained during sparring. Despite taking the right precautions and undergoing stem cell therapy, he hasn’t been able to recover properly and announced his injury via YouTube and X recently.

    “I think it’s a tough test. And I truly do believe I have the abilities to beat you. So, let’s do this in December. And I’ll see you on the other side of the Octagon. But if you decide not to wait, I can respect that also. Because I know you’re trying to fight for a belt as am I and the only way to do that is to go through each other.”

    Aljo still wants to fight Evloev but expects the latter to wait until December. The undefeated Russian featherweight is naturally unhappy with this development, and here’s what he plans to do now…

    Movsar Evloev Responds To Aljamain Sterling Pulling Out Of 307 Because Of Injury

    Evloev has been training for his next featherweight fight in the UFC for four months. Even with all the bad blood between him and Sterling so far, he isn’t interested in pushing back the matchup.

    Evloev shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he is willing to stay on UFC 307 and will fight anybody. From Diego Lopes to Dan Ige to Josh Emmett, there are a bunch of matchups that fans have already suggested.

    With consecutive wins over Ige, Lopes, and Arnold Allen, undefeated Evloev at 18-0 is certainly one of the most interesting prospects in the UFC featherweight division. A win over a former champ like Sterling could have secured him a title shot or, at the very least, put him in a title eliminator.

    Similarly, Sterling looked forward to fighting Diego Lopes after beating Evloev. Such massive wins would’ve put him in a comfortable spot to challenge Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway for the title.

    It is worth noting that Nate Landwehr is also out of his UFC 307 bout against Austin Hubbard. He’ll be replaced by Alexander Hernandez.

  • Movsar Evloev On Aljamain Sterling’s PED Accusations: ‘Where I’m From, Girls Talk Like That’

    Movsar Evloev On Aljamain Sterling’s PED Accusations: ‘Where I’m From, Girls Talk Like That’

    Movsar Evloev recently clapped back at Aljamain Sterling after being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

    Evloev is gearing up to put his undefeated record on the line against Sterling in a high-stakes featherweight clash on the main card of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    As their fight draws near, “Funk Master” took to social media, hurling serious accusations at Evloev. He boldly suggested that his upcoming opponent is among those slipping under the radar while using PEDs.

    Evloev promptly dismissed the allegations, firing back with a series of posts on X. He even shared a photo of what appeared to be urine samples, subtly suggesting a recent visit from the UFC’s anti-doping partner, Drug Free Sport International.

    However, Sterling escalated his accusations, asserting that the rumors surrounding Evloev closely mirror the speculation that once swirled around his former opponent, T.J. Dillashaw, before he eventually tested positive for PED use.

    Evloev on Sterling’s Cheating Allegations: ‘Everybody Thinks I’m Using Something Because I’m Strong’

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Evloev fiercely rebutted Sterling’s PED allegations. The undefeated Russian dismissed “Funk Master” for speaking without solid evidence, stating that he prefers to let his actions speak for themselves when the two are locked inside the Octagon next month.

    “I don’t know what the point of this is, but I don’t care,” Evloev said. “We have doping control here, and I’m always clean. I’m happy being in the UFC because I know there is good doping control, and I can be confident knowing that my opponent also takes a doping test. So if you talk without proof, you know where I’m from—girls talk like that, and men don’t talk like that. And yeah, I can’t wait to beat his a**, and in four weeks, we’ll see.”

    Evloev went on to say that many accuse him of cheating simply because he outmatches his opponents in strength and possesses exceptional cardio. However, he emphasized that, in reality, he’s a clean fighter who trains hard to achieve his physical advantages.

    “Everybody thinks that I’m using something because, like, I’m strong, I breathe well, and I’m never tired. I’m clean, 100%. I eat well, I sleep well, I train hard—everything to be as strong as I am. And if you’re lazy, you can talk like that.”

    Evloev currently boasts an impressive undefeated professional record of 18-0, with eight of those victories coming in the UFC. He most recently secured a unanimous decision win over Arnold Allen at UFC 297 in January. The 30-year-old native of Sunzha has also claimed notable victories against elite fighters such as Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, and Hakeem Dawodu.

    • Read More: Aljamain Sterling Accuses Sean O’Malley Of Being Given The ‘Jake Paul Route’ By The UFC: ‘Stacking The Deck Against His Opponent’
  • Aljamain Sterling Calls Movsar Evloev A Drug Cheat: ‘Same Thing People Were Saying About TJ Dillashaw…’

    Aljamain Sterling Calls Movsar Evloev A Drug Cheat: ‘Same Thing People Were Saying About TJ Dillashaw…’

    Aljamain Sterling may not hold any ill-will against his next opponent but he does have some serious accusations about him.

    At UFC 307, the former bantamweight champion will look to produce back-to-back wins since moving up to featherweight.

    In order to build on his UFC 300 victory over Calvin Kattar, he will need to hand Movsar Evloev the first loss of his career.

    The 18-0 Russian has clearly been one of the best in the division since his arrival in the UFC but in “Funkmaster”, faces a very tough test.

    Sterling recently made some comments to suggest that all of Evloev’s accomplishments have been unfairly assisted during his career.

    Aljamain Sterling Says He’s Heard Stories Of Movsar Evloev Being A Drug Cheat, Teaching Others His Methods

    In a recent interview with Jake Noecker for Home of Fight, Sterling said that he believes that Evloev has been cheating at some stage in his career by using performance-enhancing drugs.

    He said that he has his suspicions as to whether his upcoming opponent in Salt Lake City on October 5 is a clean athlete because of things that he has been told in the past.

    Though he did make it very clear that he has no firm evidence of this, Sterling says that they have mutual friends that he used to train with, who are now a part of Evloev’s camp or were, at one point in time.

    The former 135-pound king compared what he has heard to when Cody Garbrandt acted as a whistle-blower against his former teammate TJ Dillashaw and wasn’t taken seriously, only for the former champion to later test positive for EPO.

    “I just think, from what I’ve heard through the grapevine, he’s not a clean athlete and I think that’s just what it comes down to and people can say whatever, ‘You have no proof.’ I’m like dude, the same thing people were saying about TJ Dillashaw from years ago, him teaching people how to do it, Cody Garbrandt calling him out at the press conference and everyone sweeping it under the rug, telling TJ to his face that you taught everyone how to do it. Those conversations are not very different from what I’ve had about Movsar and I think where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

    “Do I have any hard evidence like did I see the guy stick a needle up his a**? No. Did he pop for anything yet? No, maybe he never will but at the day, only him and his consciousness will know if he’s truly a clean athlete or not and I really so believe, I truly do believe he knows he’s cheating. It is what it is, I’m gonna fight him, I’ve fought multiple guys who’ve done stuff, whether or not they got caught.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira Reiterates Plan For Middleweight Return Post-UFC 307, Magomed Ankalaev Reacts With Anger

  • UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    A huge featherweight clash is set for UFC 307 on October 5, as former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling looks to hand Movsar Evloev his first loss.

    Evloev has been a force of nature since arriving in the Octagon and whilst he hasn’t had the finishes to really gather hype around his winning streak, his record speaks for itself.

    Sterling has also not always received tons of praise for his fighting style but his high-level grappling combined with awkward striking, makes him a very tough test for his Russian opponent.

    A fellow 145-pound contender on the UFC roster is excited to see how the two men match up with one another once the Octagon door closes.

    Youssef Zalal Breaks Down Aljamain Sterling Vs Movsar Evloev At UFC 307

    Youssef Zalal will look to secure back-to-back victories during his second stint in the UFC when he returns to face Jarno Errens on August 10.

    In a recent interview with MMA News, the Moroccan fighter broke down how he sees the match-up of top contenders and grapplers going down in Salt Lake City.

    Zalal made reference to how a clash of two grappling specialists often turns into a striking match between them as they cancel one another out on the floor.

    He also provided the theory that based on what he has seen from both, this could be a wrestling versus jiu-jitsu affair.

    “Those guys, I think it’s either gonna see a striking match the whole time and I think you’re gonna see one either wrestling and the other one jiu-jitsu. I feel like when the Russian fought Diego Lopes, you could see the jiu-jitsu kind of felt a little bit [off] right. I mean Diego Lopes’ jiu-jitsu is pretty good too so that’s why that, and I think Aljamain is a really good grappler obviously.

    “so I think you’re going to see a little battle on that part or it’s going to be a full-on striking match whenever you put two grapplers together so I’m pretty interested to see how the match-ups and the styles go on that part.”

    Read also: Dan Ige Has Return After Same-Day Notice Diego Lopes Scrap In The Works For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308