Mirko Cro Cop has made it clear he prefers fighters to step into the cage at their natural weight, rather than cut down. Weight cutting remains a hot topic across the UFC and mixed martial arts in general.
Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland headlines Saturday's UFC Fight Night 267 fight card in Houston, Texas against No. 4 ranked Antony "Fluffy" Hernandez.
Longtime UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape started cutting weight in an attempt to cement himself as the next title challenger. At UFC 323 this past December, Joshua Van dethroned longtime flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in a bizarre fight that ended due to an injury to the Brazilian.
For most fighters, capturing a world title is the pinnacle of a lifelong dream. For Islam Makhachev, that dream became reality the moment he forced Charles Oliveira to tap and claimed the UFC lightweight crown.
With a three-fight losing streak behind him and his prime years seemingly in the rearview mirror, Israel Adesanya is confronting the reality of the final chapter of his career.
UFC welterweight Colby Covington has responded after UFC CEO Dana White shut down speculation linking him with a potential matchup with Conor McGregor at the UFC White House card on June 14. Speculation emerged that Covington and McGregor could headline the White House card.
With a combined MMA record of 44–0, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev have built reputations that make even elite fighters look ordinary. One mauled lightweights for nearly a decade.
Conor McGregor became the first-ever UFC double-champion in 2016 by finishing Eddie Alvarez. However, the achievement wasn’t without controversy and debate.
Welcome to Bloody Elbow’s daily round-up of MMA news during yet another week without a UFC fight. This is your one-stop shop for the top five stories from February 14, 2026.
February 15 was only supposed to be a date on a corrections calendar. Instead, it quietly grew into something bigger. A post went live from Cain Velasquez asking Northern California followers a simple question: “Would you come to this?” The timing mattered.
Gordon Ryan has revealed that the high-risk ‘Granby Roll’ technique provides the key to beating the seemingly unstoppable Dagestani wrestling style. The BJJ legend has long been vocal about how he feels he has the tools to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov, or Islam Makhachev after his mentor’s 2020 retirement.
When Islam Makhachev flattened Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch, most of the post-fight talk among fans was about timing and power. The headkick and the finish were shocking because they happened so cleanly.
Even in retirement, Dustin Poirier hasn’t stopped getting on the mats at American Top Team. But that’s also how you end up with a broken pinky toe. For a guy who walked away after a five-round war at UFC 318 in New Orleans, it was a reminder that the grind doesn’t just switch off because you retired.
Never one to miss a spotlight, Colby Covington is angling for the brightest one yet. After more than a year on the sidelines, which included a rough ending to his last UFC outing, he’s now openly negotiating for a slot on the promotion’s most ambitious stage yet: the White House card on June 14.
Johnny Walker was not impressed with his brother’s victory in a grappling match with Zion Clark last night, and has explained why he didn’t attend. The light-heavyweight was called out by his heavyweight younger brother Valter Walker after he submitted Clark, who last fought at 135lb.
Sean Strickland has now given his take on an infamous sparring session with comedian Preacher Lawson, insisting that he didn’t throw any illegal shots.
Being retired has not prevented Dustin Poirier from MMA injuries. ‘The Diamond’ called an end to his career inside the cage in his home state of Louisiana at UFC 318 last July.
Charles Oliveira is out for revenge when he returns to the Octagon on March 7. Some have questioned Oliveira’s hunger as he prepares for another huge title fight in his 37th bout under the UFC banner.
Khamzat Chimaev maintains an animated, brash, no-nonsense persona. When the cameras are on, ‘Borz’ does not hesitate to steal the spotlight with his performances and fiery post-fight callouts.
UFC is far from finished with Australia. Just last month, Dana White & Co. hosted the first event of the year on Australian soil with UFC 325 on the east coast.
Jon Jones continues to be a divisive figure within the MMA world. Even with his success inside the cage, not everyone is convinced he belongs in that conversation.
Valter Walker has put out a public call for a fight against his brother Johnny Walker in the UFC, challenging him to move up to his division. The Brazilian fighter appeared at Karate Combat 59 in Miami, where he secured a quick submission win over Zion Clark.
In the UFC, a victory does not always guarantee job security. While logic would suggest that having your hand raised keeps you employed, modern roster management is far more nuanced.
Mohammed Usman, brother of former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, was handed a suspension last month for violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for a banned substance.
Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland believes you can make more money in the UFC middleweight division by not fighting for the title due to current titleholder Khamzat Chimaev's inactivity.