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Tag: UFC 314

  • Paddy Pimblett Shows Respect To ‘Legend Of The Sport’ Michael Chandler After UFC 314 Clash

    Paddy Pimblett Shows Respect To ‘Legend Of The Sport’ Michael Chandler After UFC 314 Clash

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett has only positive things to say about Michael Chandler following their fight in Miami earlier this month.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at the UFC 314 pay-per-view on April 12, which he co-headlined inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    To keep his undefeated UFC record intact and further climb the ladder toward title contention, “The Baddy” was tasked with adding to the woes of a Chandler who entered the event without a win since 2022.

    “Iron Mike” was unable to rectify that and improve his negative record in the promotion, instead getting battered by Pimblett en route to a TKO stoppage midway through round three.

    Over a week on, Pimblett shared a heartwarming interaction between the pair backstage, accompanying it with a classy message to his defeated opponent.

    “It was an absolute pleasure to share the cage with such a legend of the sport in @mikechandlermma,” Pimblett wrote. “Nothing but respect for him before the fight and even more after we fought”

  • Michael Chandler Says The ‘Future Is Still Bright’ In Latest Statement On Devastating UFC 314 Loss

    Michael Chandler Says The ‘Future Is Still Bright’ In Latest Statement On Devastating UFC 314 Loss

    After breaking his silence earlier this week, UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has released a lengthier statement addressing his latest crushing loss.

    Chandler’s struggles inside the Octagon continued at last Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined opposite the rising Paddy Pimblett inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    The former three-time Bellator champion was soundly defeated en route to a TKO stoppage in round three. The result has left “Iron Mike” without a victory in three years since 2022 and with a less than ideal 2-5 record in the UFC.

    With that in mind, the 38-year-old is unsurprisingly licking his wounds after another tough night at the office. And after a brief statement Monday, Chandler issued some more detailed thoughts on the setback on Instagram Wednesday.

    “There are really no words to describe the pain and disappointment you feel…you just live in it…let it take its lot and leave you with what is left. From there you rebuild.

    “The best you can do is move forward with confident expectancy and pride in the attempt. One thing is certain, I can rest in knowing that I prepared the best I could and I alone was responsible for my shortcomings in that octagon. My team prepared me. The UFC gave me the opportunity. I stepped into the ultimate proving grounds, ready.

    “Bested, but never beaten. Never out of the fight. Still in pursuit.

    “And this picture sums up how I feel and what truly matters. Bruised, bloodied and heartbroken, yet I have my soulmate by my side and 3 little hands to hold.

    “Future is still bright.

    “Walk On.

    “See you at the top! #ufc314“

  • Dustin Poirier Pitches Next Opponent For ‘Real Deal’ Paddy Pimblett After UFC 314

    Dustin Poirier Pitches Next Opponent For ‘Real Deal’ Paddy Pimblett After UFC 314

    UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier has an idea in mind for Paddy Pimblett’s next test inside the Octagon.

    Pimblett continued his charge up the 155-pound ladder at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined against Michael Chandler inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    “The Baddy” made a statement by laying a devastating beating on “Iron Mike” in the third round to secure a TKO stoppage, extending his undefeated UFC record in the process.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Poirier praised Paddy Pimblett’s performance in “The Magic City” and pondered what could come next for him in the stacked lightweight division.

    “He’s legit,” Poirier said. “How can I deny him any more? Chandler’s a tough guy. I don’t think Chandler looked great. … I definitely think Chandler didn’t look great, but not taking away from Paddy’s performance. Paddy went out there, dropped the first round, came out confident and hit Chandler with good shots. Then he took him down. Who would’ve have had that on their bingo card that Paddy is going to take down Chandler to the mat like that and get on top of him and dominate him like that. Paddy’s the real deal.

    “The guy was a prospect. Now he’s a contender,” Poirier continued. “You have to take him for real now. Not that Chandler wasn’t a big fight, but his next fight has to be a really big one. Like a (Mateusz) Gamrot, Arman (Tsarukyan), (Charles) Oliveira. … For me as a fan, put him in there with Dan Hooker. That would be an incredible fight. That’s a fun fight. The build up is going to be fun. Dan is going to stand and trade with him. Dan has good takedown defense, on the ground. That’s the fight, I think.”

    Dan Hooker is coming off a split decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot in Australia last September. He was scheduled to battle Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 last month but had to withdraw due to injury.

  • Michael Chandler Breaks Silence On Crushing UFC 314 Loss To Paddy Pimblett

    Michael Chandler Breaks Silence On Crushing UFC 314 Loss To Paddy Pimblett

    Michael Chandler has spoken publicly for the first time since a devastating defeat at the hands of Paddy Pimblett.

    The pair of lightweight contenders co-headlined this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view inside Miami’s Kaseya Center, setting the stage for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes’ featherweight title clash.

    Chandler had hoped to insert his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds months on from a defeat to Charles Oliveira that left him 2-4 in the UFC.

    Unfortunately for the ex-Bellator kingpin, Pimblett proved to be a hurdle too tall. The American was soundly beaten en route to a TKO stoppage in round three.

    Now, days later, Chandler has addressed the brutal setback on social media, commenting on an image posted by his wife in the aftermath of his latest defeat on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “Never out of the fight,” Michael Chandler wrote. “This picture sums it all up. As long as I’ve got these heartbeats and hands to hold, I’ve already won.”

    It remains to be seen what comes next for the 38-year-old, who is now winless since a 2022 knockout of Tony Ferguson.

  • Bryce Mitchell On UFC 314 Loss To Jean Silva: ‘He Put Me To Sleep, I Had Nothing Left’

    Bryce Mitchell On UFC 314 Loss To Jean Silva: ‘He Put Me To Sleep, I Had Nothing Left’

    Bryce Mitchell made no excuses for tapping out to Jean Silva this past weekend.

    At UFC 314 in Miami’s Kaseya Center, Mitchell was completely outmatched by Silva, who controlled the fight throughout before submitting him with a brutal ninja choke in the second round.

    Before securing the finish, “Lord” displayed sharp striking and showcased a clear grappling edge, neutralizing the American in nearly every exchange en route to locking in the submission win.

    After suffering his second submission defeat in the UFC, “Thug Nasty” took to Instagram to reflect on the loss, admitting he was heartbroken by the outcome but stood by the fact that he left everything he had in the Octagon.

    “Thank God, he protected me, Bryce Mitchell said. “I didn’t lose my teeth. I don’t got no broken bones. So I feel good about that. I fought as hard as I possibly could. I couldn’t have fought any harder. I could have fought smarter. I’m going to go make some adjustments but I mean he put me to sleep. I had nothing left to give. I’m happy about that, knowing that I tried my best. But I’ve got to get better. That’s just the lesson learned here, I’ve got to get better.

    “I really thought that I was going to win the fight. 100 percent believed it. Because I just never had a fight that big before and I was like wow out of nowhere, this fight just got this much hype. God’s chosen me to win this fight but that wasn’t the case… I’m just going to keep fighting. That’s all I can do,” Mitchell said. “That’s all we can all do. Any time you take a loss, just learn from it and keep fighting. That’s what I’m going to do.”

    “Thug Nasty” finds himself on uneven footing, going 2-3 in his last five appearances—each of the three losses coming by way of stoppage. His most recent win came at UFC 310 in December, when he scored a third-round knockout over Kron Gracie amidst an inconsistent run.

  • Dominick Reyes ‘Hurt’ By Bonus Snub After First-Round Knockout At UFC 314

    Dominick Reyes ‘Hurt’ By Bonus Snub After First-Round Knockout At UFC 314

    UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes enjoyed a fruitful trip to Miami last week, but not quite as much so as he feels was merited.

    Reyes was tasked with opening the main card of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view inside Miami’s Kaseya Center opposite longtime top 10 contender Nikita Krylov.

    “The Devastator” continued his impressive career resurgence with a third straight victory, which came by way of a brutal knockout in the opening round that drew comparisons to Conor McGregor’s title-winning finish of Jose Aldo.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Reyes reflected on his victory at UFC 314 and addressed the fact that it did not earn him a $50K performance bonus from the promotion.

    “It’s definitely upsetting (not to get a bonus),” Dominick Reyes said. “Number 11 vs. number eight. I knocked him out in the first round to jump off the main card of the best card of the year.

    “It definitely hurt, but it is what it is. Bottom line, I’m winning, man, we’re moving forward,” Reyes concluded.

  • Belal Muhammad Pinpoints Diego Lopes’ Mistake In UFC 314 Title Fight Loss

    Belal Muhammad Pinpoints Diego Lopes’ Mistake In UFC 314 Title Fight Loss

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad has given his take on Diego Lopes’ approach to his first title shot.

    Lopes competed with gold on the line for the first time in this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view main event, challenging for the vacant featherweight title.

    In the Brazilian’s way of a title crowning was Alexander Volkanovski, a legendary former champ looking to regain his place on the throne following back-to-back knockouts at the hands of Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

    “Alexander the Great” ultimately proved to be a hurdle too tall for Lopes, who fell to a convincing defeat on the scorecards following five rounds of action.

    The bout wasn’t without moments of success for Lopes, however. The 30-year-old scored a knockdown in round two before finishing the fight with a late flurry.

    And his pedal to the metal approach to the final minute in Miami is exactly how Muhammad thinks the Brazilian should have fought from the start.

    “Diego Should’ve fought the whole fight like he did that last minute,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Diego Lopes will now look to bounce back following his disappointing night in Miami to ensure his name stays in the championship mix at 145 pounds.

    For now, the only other man to defeat him in the UFC, undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev, will push for his first title opportunity in the UFC.

  • Dana White Reacts To Michael Chandler’s UFC 314 Loss: ‘He’s Always In The Fight’

    Dana White Reacts To Michael Chandler’s UFC 314 Loss: ‘He’s Always In The Fight’

    Win or lose, UFC CEO Dana White maintains that Michael Chandler is an always-entertaining and competitive fighter.

    Chandler’s woes on MMA’s biggest stage continued at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined opposite the rising Paddy Pimblett.

    “Iron Mike” was badly beaten en route to a TKO stoppage in round three. The result has ensured he’s remained winless since 2022 and pushed the former Bellator champion’s UFC record to a disappointing 2-5.

    During his appearance at the post-fight press conference, White reacted to Chandler’s latest setback. The UFC chief insisted that regardless of the result, Chandler is in nothing but great fights.

    “(Chandler’s) always in the fight,” White said. “Tonight was a big night for Paddy Pimblett. people have been doubting Paddy Pimblett every single fight he fights in. He’s undefeated in the UFC.

    “Every time that guy (Chandler) goes in, you know you’re in for a good fight, you know it’s going to be a war, and you don’t know if he’s going to win or lose,” White added.

    Michael Chandler will no doubt hope that he can put on a good fight while also having his hand raised when he returns to the cage.

    A return date remains up in the air for the former title challenger, who appeared to sustain significant damage at the hands of Pimblett and swiftly returned to the backstage area before the result was read out at UFC 314.

  • Renato Moicano Changes Tune On Paddy Pimblett After Destruction Of Michael Chandler At UFC 314

    Renato Moicano Changes Tune On Paddy Pimblett After Destruction Of Michael Chandler At UFC 314

    UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano has acknowledged the impressive nature of longtime rival Paddy Pimblett’s latest triumph inside the cage.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    To keep his undefeated UFC record intact and further climb the ladder toward title contention, “The Baddy” was tasked with adding to the woes of a Michael Chandler who entered the event without a win since 2022.

    And “Iron Mike” was unable to rectify that and improve his negative record in the promotion. Instead, he was battered by Pimblett en route to a TKO stoppage midway through round three.

    The ex-Cage Warriors champion has been collecting plenty of plaudits in the aftermath of his performance in “The Magic City,” and that includes from one man whom he’s frequently gone back and forth with.

    “Paddy pimblett 2024: EASY MONEY…Paddy pimblett 2025: NOT SO EASY,” Moicano wrote on X.

    Moicano and Pimblett have long traded barbs regarding a possible clash inside the Octagon. But with “The Baddy” likely to land above the Brazilian in the rankings this week, he’s now targeting the likes of Justin Gaethje as the Scouser looks to secure a first title opportunity.

  • Diego Lopes Speaks Publicly For First Time Since Failed Title Bid At UFC 314

    Diego Lopes Speaks Publicly For First Time Since Failed Title Bid At UFC 314

    UFC featherweight contender Diego Lopes has vowed to come back stronger after falling short in his first title opportunity.

    Having won all five of his subsequent Octagon appearances following a competitive debut defeat to the undefeated Movsar Evloev in 2023, Lopes had his first chance to reach the mountaintop at UFC 314.

    But while the Brazilian found moments of success against Alexander Volkanovski in Saturday’s pay-per-view main event, he was ultimately unable to do enough to earn victory on the scorecards.

    Though no doubt disappointed to be leaving Miami without the featherweight gold in his possession, Lopes doesn’t appear too disheartened and is optimistic about what the future holds for him.

    “Always with my head held high, a smile on my face,” Diego Lopes wrote on X. “I fell short last night, I failed in a few things. I’ll get back to work, improve, correct the mistakes, and move forward. Thank you all for your support. As I always say, ‘NOTHING HAPPENS.’”

    While Lopes looks ahead to his attempt at immediately returning to the winner’s circle, Volkanovski’s second reign is underway. Many have been quick to call for his first defense to come against Evloev later this year.

  • Islam Makhachev Reacts To Former Opponent Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 314 Title Win

    UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev was a keen observer as two-time opponent Alexander Volkanovski returned to winning ways.

    Many had already deemed Volkanovski’s days as a champ and top competitor on MMA’s biggest stage to have been over following consecutive knockout losses to Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

    But in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami, “Alexander the Great” proved his detractors wrong with a vintage display to get the better of Diego Lopes and capture the vacant 145-pound gold.

    Volkanovski has been getting plenty of plaudits in the aftermath of his first win since mid-2023, and among the most prominent to lay praise on the Australian was the lightweight king.

    “Congrats @alexvolkanovski great comeback! Real champ in sport and life,” Makhachev wrote on X.

    Prior to knocking the newly crowned two-time featherweight champ out in their short-notice rematch, Makhachev narrowly emerged victorious from a memorable five-round battle with the Aussie veteran in Perth.

  • Dominick Reyes Names Three Options For His Next Fight After UFC 314 Knockout

    Dominick Reyes Names Three Options For His Next Fight After UFC 314 Knockout

    UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes has some big fights in mind following the latest triumph in his career resurgence this weekend.

    Since four straight losses sent Reyes tumbling down the pecking order, the man who pushed Jon Jones to the limit in 2019 has bounced back in a big way.

    Following consecutive triumphs over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, “The Devastator” put his name back into contention at 205 pounds starching Nikita Krylov at this weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    During a backstage interview with Full Send MMA, Reyes assessed what could lie in his future following a standout performance in Miami.

    “(Aleksandar) Rakic would be a great fight,” Dominick Reyes said. “The winner of Khalil (Rountree) and Jamahal Hill. And who doesn’t want to see me rematch Jiri Prochazka? You know, fight one of them, get the title, and then I’ll fight all of them.”

    Reyes’ 2021 main event with Prochazka served as the third setback on his losing skid. Their back and forth war at the Apex came to an end when a brutal spinning back elbow rendered the American unconscious.

  • Patricio Pitbull Issues First Statement On Debut Defeat To Yair Rodriguez At UFC 314

    Patricio Pitbull Issues First Statement On Debut Defeat To Yair Rodriguez At UFC 314

    Mixed martial arts legend Patricio Pitbull is keeping his head up after a less than ideal start to life in the UFC.

    Pitbull, a former champion under the Bellator MMA banner, entered the Octagon for the first time at Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami, Florida.

    The Brazilian great jumped into the deep end against ex-interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez, and the Mexican’s renowned striking game ultimately proved too much for Pitbull on the night.

    Following three rounds of action, which included a knockdown for “El Pantera,” the UFC newcomer fell to a defeat on the scorecards.

    While Pitbull would appear to have limited time to reach his championship ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage given he’s joined at the age of 37, he remained positive about his goals while making his first public post-fight statement on social media.

    “Congratulations to @panteraufc, we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time @ufc,” Pitbull wrote. “Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that. #UFC314“

  • 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.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Regains Featherweight Title With History-Making Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    Alexander Volkanovski Regains Featherweight Title With History-Making Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    It was 14 months ago when Alexander Volkanovski lost his third straight fight and suffered his second straight knockout, losing the UFC featherweight world championship in the process.

    Now, with Ilia Topuria moving up to lightweight, Volkanovski made the most of his opportunity to earn back the gold, defeating Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314 in Miami to win the vacant title.

    Volkanovski made history with his victory by becoming the first UFC fighter 35 years or older to win a UFC championship at a weight class below welterweight. He also becomes the second man, joining Jose Aldo, to regain the UFC’s 145-pound title.

    The two were patient to feel each other out, but Volkanovski was the first to get his striking going, landing a series of low kicks before a right hand. Lopes looked for a flurry, but Volkanovski managed to land another straight. Volkanovski cracked Lopes with less than two minutes into the round, rocking him. Volkanovski managed to score a takedown, and while Lopes was quickly back to his feet, he ate a harsh knee to the face. Volkanovski got Lopes back to the ground and troubled him with ground-and-pound until the horn.

    Despite the rough start, and expert opinions his best chances were rushing forward with offense, Lopes continued to be patient in the second round. Volkanovski’s striking continued to remain on point despite Lopes shrugging off a takedown attempt. With less than two minutes in round two, Volkanovski rocked Lopes again in an exchange, bringing Lopes over to the fence to try for another takedown. Lopes was able to get out of it, and the two had another exchange in the closing seconds. Suddenly, Lopes dropped Volkanovski before the horn with a right-left combination, and thoughts circled as to if momentum would change.

    Alexander Volkanovski Becomes Two-Time UFC Featherweight Champion With Decision Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    Lopes’ corner begged him for more aggression, according to the commentary team, but the round seemed to be a slower-paced one. Volkanovski, however, continued to have more activity, clipping Lopes with a left hand about halfway through the round. Even when Lopes tried to get something going, including stopping a Volkanovski takedown attempt, the former champion was ready with something.

    The championship rounds saw the fight continue the pace it was on. But with just over two minutes to go, Lopes caught momentum with an uppercut that bothered Volkanovski’s eye and rocked him. Lopes continued to chase Volkanovski down, landing a number of shots despite Volkanovski’s attempts to shake off the cobwebs.

    Lopes landed another right hand early in the fifth round as he looked to find a way to get the win as the minutes slipped away. Volkanovski was firing back, however, sometimes landing a number of jabs before Lopes lands his next strike. Lopes continued to eat jabs as Volkanovski had more activity and got the better of the exchanges. Lopes looked to turn things up in the final minute, but Volkanovski was ready, answering back and keeping distance until the final horn.

    This marked Volkanovski’s first fight since losing the UFC featherweight championship to Topuria at UFC 298 last year. Volkanovski came into this fight with a three-fight losing streak, having lost two lightweight title fights with Islam Makhachev within the year prior to the fight with Topuria.

    After coming up short in his short-notice UFC debut against Movsar Evloev at UFC 288, Lopes entered tonight on a five-fight win streak, scoring finishes of Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuff, as well as decisions over Dan Ige and Brian Ortega.

  • UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 took place tonight from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes faced off for the vacant featherweight title. While in the co-main event, Michael Chandler faced Paddy Pimblett in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC 314 Results: Main Card

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46×2)
    • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO: R3, 3.07
    • Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Featherweight: Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission: R2, 3.52
    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via KO: R1, 2.24

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via TKO: R3, 1.12  
    • Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via TKO: R1, 4.15

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Middleweight: Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas via TKO: R1, 2.49
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Middleweight: Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via TKO: R2, 3.16
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via submission: R2, 1.52

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan

    Nora Cornolle earned the first finish of UFC 314 with a rear-naked choke submission of Hailey Cowan.

    Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore

    In this middleweight bout, Marco Tulio stopped Tresean Gore in the second round.

    Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas

    Michal Oleksiejczuk earned a first-round TKO in his middleweight bout with Sedriques Dumas.

    Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins

    Julian Erosa got it done in the first round against Darren Elkins.

    Main Card Highlights

    Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov

    In this light heavyweight bout, Dominick Reyes earned a first-round KO of Nikita Krylov.

    Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell

    Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell in the second round of their featherweight bout.

    Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull

    Yair Rodriguez got it done on the scorecards against Patricio Pitbull.

    Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler

    In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett earned a TKO of Michael Chandler in the third round.

    Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski got it done on the scorecards to regain his featherweight title against Diego Lopes.

  • Watch Paddy Pimblett Batter Michael Chandler For Third-Round TKO In UFC 314 Co-Main Event

    Watch Paddy Pimblett Batter Michael Chandler For Third-Round TKO In UFC 314 Co-Main Event

    If you didn’t believe before, you may have to now.

    Paddy Pimblett scored the biggest fight of his career in the co-main event of UFC 314, brutally finishing Michael Chandler.

    Pimblett, as he has previously, started his attack with a leg-kick focus. Chandler landed a long jab before Pimblett tried to get his own striking going — only for Chandler to grab and score a takedown. Pimblett looked to stand and grab a kimura, but Chandler brought him back down briefly — also landing a couple of strong strikes to Pimblett’s head. Pimblett jumped for a triangle, and despite it failing, brought the fight back to the feet seconds later.

    Pimblett got off to a strong start in the second round, keeping his distance and working combinations on Chandler. Chandler scored another pair of takedowns about two minutes into the round, but Pimblett was almost immediately back to his feet both times. Pimblett landed a series of elbows, but Chandler looked to answer by getting to Pimblett’s back. He rode too high, however, and Pimblett reversed the position.

    Paddy Pimblett Makes Statement At UFC 314, Stops Michael Chandler

    Pimblett threatened an arm-triangle choke before getting to Chandler’s back. Pimblett rained down elbows as Chandler tried to escape before Chandler gave his back up again. Pimblett rained down blows with a body triangle locked around Chandler as the second round ended.

    Pimblett busted open Chandler and rocked him with a jumping knee early in the third, looking to finish the fight with a flurry before quickly returning the fight to the mat. After a couple of minutes of control, Pimblett’s ground-and-pound proved to be too much, forcing a referee stoppage in the middle of round three.

    Since jumping to the UFC from Cage Warriors in 2021, Pimblett is a perfect 7-0 in the UFC.

    Chandler, meanwhile, has lost three straight and five of six. His sole win in this span was his UFC 274 knockout of Tony Ferguson.

  • Fans Ponder If Patricio Pitbull ‘Made The Move Too Late’ After Yair Rodriguez Spoils His Debut At UFC 314

    Fans Ponder If Patricio Pitbull ‘Made The Move Too Late’ After Yair Rodriguez Spoils His Debut At UFC 314

    The long-awaited UFC debut of former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull ended in major disappointment, as he suffered a dominant decision loss to former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.

    Rodriguez started out the aggressor, with a kick-focused attack. Rodriguez landed a number of kicks, including a low kick combined with a quick right hand, while Pitbull stayed patient and calculating. Pitbull finally clinched up with Rodriguez with 90 seconds left in the first round, but Rodriguez was able to easily slip away. Pitbull landed a low kick that slipped up Rodriguez, with Pitbull scrambling to get on top and ending in side control despite a lack of offense.

    Pitbull started to pick things up in the second round, answering Rodriguez’s kicks with a pair of strong left hands. Rodriguez, however, continued to have the better pace, forcing Pitbull into retreat with a series of kicks. Pitbull scored a takedown about halfway through the round, only for Rodriguez to quickly return to the feet. Rodriguez continued to keep distance and land kicks — mixing in some combinations — and even scored a takedown on the former Bellator champion before the end of the round.

    Pitbull seemed to pick things up in the third round, as both men landed their strongest strikes during the round. Rodriguez scored a knockdown on Pitbull — only for Pitbull to nearly lock up an armbar seconds later. Rodriguez, however, escaped and got the upper hand by nearly scoring a leg lock. Though Pitbull escaped, he quizzically did nothing for the last 20 seconds, as Rodriguez cruised to 30-27s across all three scorecards.

    Yair Rodriguez Cruises To Decision Win Over Disappointing Patricio Pitbull At UFC 314

    Rodriguez scores his first win since his interim title win over Josh Emmett at UFC 284. Since then, he had unsuccessfully attempted to become undisputed champion against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 and was submitted by Brian Ortega in Mexico City in February 2024.

    Pitbull was a longtime face of Bellator prior to its purchase by the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This was his first fight since retaining the Bellator featherweight championship with a finish of Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator Champions Series 1 in Dublin in March 2024.

  • ‘Funniest Possible Result’ – Fans React As Jean Silva Chokes Bryce Mitchell Unconscious At UFC 314

    ‘Funniest Possible Result’ – Fans React As Jean Silva Chokes Bryce Mitchell Unconscious At UFC 314

    The Fighting Nerds continue to deliver.

    After Michal Oleksiecjzuk was successful in his fight on the UFC 314 preliminary card, Jean Silva went into a highly anticipated showdown with Bryce Mitchell and dominated, scoring a submission.

    Mitchell looked to get out to a strong start early, taking the upper hand in striking. But when Mitchell went for his grappling strength, Silva was ready. Silva stuffed a takedown attempt and countered another with a choke. Silva attempted three different chokes on Mitchell in the final minute of the first round.

    At that point, Mitchell spent a significant amount of time on the back foot, as Silva became the aggressor, landing notable strikes, including a spinning backfist. Silva was able to get a hold of Mitchell again and continued to search for the choke. Finally, in the middle of the second round, Silva locked in a ninja choke, getting Mitchell to tap just before he passed out.

    Jean Silva Brutally Chokes Out Bryce Mitchell At UFC 314

    Silva has now won 13 straight fights in his MMA career, and he’s unbeaten in the Octagon since arriving from Dana White’s Contender Series. Silva’s other victories have come against Westin Wilson, Charles Jourdain, Drew Dober, and Melsik Baghdasaryan. “Lord” may be in line for a notable contenders’ bout now in his next fight.

    Mitchell, meanwhile, has lost two of his last three. His most recent fight had been the dud against Kron Gracie at UFC 310 — which marked his first fight since the devastating knockout loss to Josh Emmett in December 2023.

  • Amanda Nunes Announced For Hall Of Fame During UFC 314 Broadcast As Comeback Talk Intensifies

    The woman widely considered the greatest women’s fighter in the history of MMA, let alone the UFC, will now get to take her spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes was announced as the newest member of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2025, as announced at UFC 314.

    Nunes was emotional Octagon-side, having been surprised by the announcement, greeted with the hugs from UFC CEO Dana White, Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer, and UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell.

    This induction comes just a day after Nunes appeared to tease a comeback at a press conference. With Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison on the press stage, a reporter asked of the chance Nunes returns to the Octagon to challenge the winner. Nunes then appeared nodding on camera.

    Pena and Harrison face off for the women’s bantamweight title — a title Nunes held for a long time — during the co-main event of UFC 316 on June 7.

    Amanda Nunes Joins UFC Hall of Fame 2025 Class

    After going 7-3 to start her career, including fights in Strikeforce and Invicta, Nunes joined the UFC in 2013. She went on to lose just twice in the Octagon, ending her stellar career with a 23-5 record.

    Nunes submitted Miesha Tate in the UFC 200 main event to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title. She then went on to retain the title six times between two reigns, defeating the likes of Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie, and Irene Aldana. Though Nunes lost the title in upset fashion to Pena at UFC 269, she’d win the belt back in a rematch at UFC 277.

    Between those defenses, Nunes defeated Cris Cyborg to win the UFC women’s featherweight championship at UFC 232. Nunes to this date is still the sole woman to be a champ-champ — and the only UFC champ-champ to retain both championships at least once and retire as champ-champ.

    Nunes defended her 145-pound title against Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson.

    The UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2025, in addition to Nunes, includes Robbie Lawler, longtime producer Craig Piligian, and the UFC 236 fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.

  • VIDEO: Dominick Reyes Continues Career Resurgence With Devastating McGregor-esque KO At UFC 314

    VIDEO: Dominick Reyes Continues Career Resurgence With Devastating McGregor-esque KO At UFC 314

    “The Devastator” really is back. And if his words ring true, better than ever.

    Dominick Reyes pulled off yet another knockout in his attempted career resurgence, needing just one round to defeat Nikita Krylov in the opening main card bout for UFC 314.

    As the two were feeling each other out and slowly finding their rhythm, Reyes landed a right hand that seemed to stun Krylov. Krylov was able to recover quickly.

    Later on in the round, Krylov charged forward with a one-two. Reyes dodged it and landed a sudden left hand that dropped Krylov out cold.

    Dominick Reyes Wins Third Straight With Brutal Finish Of Nikita Krylov At UFC 314

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1911244166350127309

    As noted by the UFC commentary team, the punch looked similar to the knockout Conor McGregor had of Jose Aldo that won him the UFC featherweight title at UFC 194 in December 2015.

    Reyes has now won three straight after suffering a four-fight losing skid that included a pair of unsuccessful bids at the UFC light heavyweight championship (starting with a controversial decision loss to Jon Jones). Since his return from a year-and-a-half absence in June 2024, Reyes has scored finishes of Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, in addition to tonight’s win.

    This was Krylov’s first fight since March 2023. Krylov had been on a three-fight win streak that saw him score victories over Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir and Ryan Spann.

  • Dan Ige Overcomes Opponent’s Huge Height Advantage To Secure Controversial Stoppage At UFC 314

    Dan Ige Overcomes Opponent’s Huge Height Advantage To Secure Controversial Stoppage At UFC 314

    The performance of Dan Ige in the featured prelim bout of UFC 314 cannot be denied, but his stoppage win over Sean Woodson left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans.

    Ige’s striking was on point, pressuring Woodson despite facing a significant disadvantage in height and reach. Though Woodson’s jabs get Ige at bay briefly, Ige turned up the heat in the second round, bringing increased power with his strikes and mixing things up with takedown attempts.

    Ige landed a crisp body shot during the third round that caught Woodson’s attention, hurting him, as Ige delivered a flurry of punches. Woodson looked for a takedown, and Ige rained punches down to his head. The referee intervened to stop the fight, though Woodson was in the midst of standing up — and he immediately protested as the crowd rained down boos.

    Dan Ige Looks Strong In UFC 314 Win But Performance Marred By Controversial Ref Stoppage

    This wasn’t the first controversial referee moment in the night, as Mike Beltran has come under fire for allowing Darren Elkins to take excessive unnecessary damage from Julian Erosa before a stoppage — and the decision to not take a point from Yan Xiaonan despite a fence grab (as much as it didn’t stop a Virna Jandiroba takedown).

    Ige snaps a two-fight losing skid with his victory, coming in off losses to Diego Lopes and Lerone Murphy. Ige’s most recent victory prior to tonight came against Andre Fili in February 2024.

    Woodson sees a seven-fight unbeaten streak (6-0-1) snapped at Ige’s (and the ref’s) hands tonight. Woodson’s victories in this stretch had included wins over Charles Jourdain and Alex Caceres.

  • Zhang Weili’s Potential Next Opponent Emerges As Top Contender Delivers Breakout Performance At UFC 314

    Zhang Weili’s Potential Next Opponent Emerges As Top Contender Delivers Breakout Performance At UFC 314

    Virna Jandiroba may very well be next in line to challenge UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang after she came away with a dominant unanimous decision win over former title challenger and No. 1-ranked contender Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314.

    Grappling was the key for Jandiroba in this one. Though her initial attempts to get the fight to the ground were denied, when she was able to, she was dominant and had significant top position time. What else was notable was how each round ended similaly — with Jandiroba threatening an armbar, and Xiaonan being saved by the horn.

    Virna Jandiroba Dominates Yan Xiaonan En Route To Decision Win At UFC 314; Is She Next For Strawweight Title Fight?

    Xiaonan looked to bring her striking on display, especially on the third round, but it was not enough. Jandiroba had been the clear aggressive fighter for nearly all of the fight, forcing Xiaonan on the defensive nearly all fight.

    All three judges scored the fight for Jandiroba 30-27.

    Jandiroba has now won five straight after a 3-3 start to her Octagon career.

    Xiaonan was coming off a win over Tabatha Ricci. She challenged Zhang for the strawweight title 364 days ago at UFC 300, losing a decision.

  • Middleweight Veteran Lands Quick Knockout At UFC 314 In First Fight Since Joining Surging Fighting Nerds Team

    Middleweight Veteran Lands Quick Knockout At UFC 314 In First Fight Since Joining Surging Fighting Nerds Team

    Michal Oleksiejczuk has been looking for a career resurgence, and if his UFC 314 performance will be anything to go by, he may have found it.

    In his first fight since joining the Fighting Nerds team, Oleksiejczuk scored a first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas in the featured bout of the early prelims. After dropping three straight, Oleksiejczuk had been looking to reform his style, namely his striking, and reached out to Caio Borralho, having taken an interest in the Fighting Nerds.

    That appeared to be on display in this fight, as the Polish fighter targeted the body throughout the short time of the fight. An overhand and elbow rocked Dumas, with a hook dropping him. Oleksiejczuk then followed it up with ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in.

    Michal Oleksiejczuk Scores TKO At UFC 314 In First Fight Since Camp Switch

    This marks Oleksiejczuk’s first victory since finishing Chidi Njoukani in August 2023. Since then, he had lost to Michel Pereira, Kevin Holland, and Shara Magomedov.

    Dumas, a 2022 alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, has now lost two of his last three. He had entered the UFC with a perfect 7-0 record and is now 3-3 in the Octagon.

  • Watch Alexander Volkanovski, Diego Lopes Face Off At UFC 314 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Alexander Volkanovski, Diego Lopes Face Off At UFC 314 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    UFC 314 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, provides a chance for ex-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to commence a second title reign. To return to the throne in the April 12 main event, the Australian is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Diego Lopes.

    Co-headlining will be former three-time Bellator champ Michael Chandler, who will look to bounce back from his second setback to Charles Oliveira by getting the better of the surging Paddy Pimblett.

    Elsewhere on the card, MMA great Patricio Pitbull debuts in the Octagon against Yair Rodriguez, Bryce Mitchell looks to stall Jean Silva’s surge up the ladder, and Dominick Reyes hopes to continue his resurgence at the expense of Nikita Krylov.

    Ahead of the event, all but one of the fighters set to compete tomorrow night successfully made weight, with Nora Cornolle’s 1.5-pound miss marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight is still intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 314 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 5 PM ET.

    UFC 314 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video