Nobody expected the lightweight picture to fall apart this fast. What should have been a straightforward path to Ilia Topuria‘s first title defense has devolved into a tangle of pulled contenders, poor timing, and a matchup that feels more promotional than competitive.
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria was supposed to be the superfight that defined an era. A few months ago, it looked like the UFC’s largest potential showdown: two double champions, two unbeaten runs in new divisions, and a pound-for-pound clash waiting to explode.
Charles Oliveira gave his thoughts on the interim title fight that will headline UFC 324. The first numbered event of the UFC’s Paramount+ era will see Paddy Pimblett face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title on January 24.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan’s rematch takes place at UFC 323 on December 6, as we preview the upcoming fight. The card will be the UFC’s final PPV event of the year, as the bout takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Jon Jones is plotting a UFC comeback at the age of 38. Controversy surrounded the UFC heavyweight division at the start of this year, as the champion was accused of holding the title hostage by refusing to fight his interim counterpart, Tom Aspinall.
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headlines the UFC 325 fight card in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 1 in a rematch against No. 2 ranked Diego Lopes, but believes others were more deserving of the title shot.
After more than a month of silence following the controversial ending of his first heavyweight title defense, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has finally broken his silence and the medical report he released is far more serious than many skeptics expected.
A top UFC star announces he’s stepping away temporarily. A viral post sparks new discussion around potential matchups. A playful dance turns into a pointed jab at a top contender.
Tom Aspinall has reached his conclusion on the UFC 321 foul. The UFC heavyweight champion had plans to cement his status as the undisputed king hampered by Ciryl Gane’s eye poke in Abu Dhabi this past October.
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley isn’t buying Dana White’s recent proclamation that Kamaru Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time.
For a fighter, there are few accusations more damaging than being called a quitter. For Tom Aspinall, that accusation came directly from his boss, Dana White, who publicly questioned his heart at UFC 321.
Some big claims were recently made about Francis Ngannou’s time in the UFC. It has been no secret in recent years that Dana White doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the former UFC heavyweight champion.
The upcoming rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes has received criticism. On November 27, Dana White made Volkanovski’s next featherweight title defense official for the main event of UFC 325 on January 31.
Arman Tsarukyan believed he deserved a title shot if he won against Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar. However, despite emerging victorious, the Armenian fighter was stripped of the opportunity to fight Ilia Topuria.
The flyweight landscape continues to evolve as athletes weigh future options and assess challenges in neighboring divisions. Alexandre Pantoja, established at the top of the 125-pound class, remains central to discussions about potential movement across weight categories.
The recent UFC 324 announcements have generated major attention across the MMA community. The main event was booked as Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
UFC CEO Dana White‘s recent announcement for UFC 324 has stirred conversation about who deserves a shot at the interim lightweight belt. At the center of the debate is Arman Tsarukyan, a top-ranked lightweight contender who many believed would be next in line.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has been slammed after knocking out a sparring partner in the gym. Pereira is considered one of the leading knockout artists in the division.
Diego Lopes is smiling his way straight into a second crack at UFC gold and he has zero time for anyone complaining about it. On Thursday, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Lopes will challenge featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 325 on Jan.