MMA: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Kayla Harrison: 'I didn't come over to MMA to be second'

Kayla Harrison was destined to be great. She's been a standout athlete since she was a child, but without work ethic, an unrelenting determination, and unwavering self belief, she wouldn't have been a two-time Olympic gold medalist, or an undisputed UFC champion. "This isn't something that, it's not like a built this overnight.

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Mauricio Ruffy says he’s still with Fighting Nerds despite leaving them out of his UFC 325 corner

Mauricio Ruffy won’t be backed by the Fighting Nerds when he steps back into the octagon in Australia, but he insists he’s still part of the team. Last year, it felt like everything was clicking for them.

Dakota Ditcheva News / EssentiallySports / January 14

Dakota Ditcheva Confirms Another ‘Broken Hand’ Injury as She Reveals Return Timeline

Dakota Ditcheva was supposed to enter the cage on February 7 and remind everyone why she has become one of the most talked-about names in women’s MMA. Instead, the conversation shifted overnight, from momentum to another frustrating standstill that she didn’t see coming.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / January 14

‘I’ll keep it on the feet’… Paddy Pimblett reveals ‘perfect’ game plan to stop Justin Gaethje early

Paddy Pimblett says he’ll win by beating Justin Gaethje at his own game on January 24. The interim lightweight title will be on the line when they fight in the UFC 324 main event.

Paulo Costa News / Bloody Elbow / January 14

Paulo Costa moves to light heavyweight for fight with 16-0 KO machine at UFC 327

Paulo Costa has a new date and opponent for his next UFC fight. ‘Borrachinha’ was originally scheduled to face middleweight Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 on March 7.

Charles Oliveira News / BoxingNews.com / January 14

Oliveira Begins Elite Sparring For Holloway

Charles Oliveira is pulling out all the stops for his upcoming BMF title showdown against Max Holloway at UFC 326. Scheduled for March 7, 2026, this main event offers Charles a shot at redemption in their rematch.

Nick Diaz News / BoxingNews.com / January 14

Nick Diaz Returns To The Gym

Nick Diaz has officially returned to the gym after a series of health scares and a year-long sobriety milestone, sparking hope for a potential 2026 comeback.

Alexander Volkanovski News / MMA Weekly / January 14

Alexander Volkanovski: 'The plan isn't to retire' at UFC 325

Two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is widely considered the greater 145-pound titleholder in UFC history. He's held the belt twice and successfully defended it five times. He'll attempt to defend it for the sixth time on Feb.

Israel Adesanya News / BoxingNews.com / January 14

Adesanya To Headline UFC Seattle

Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is set to return to the Octagon on March 28 to headline UFC Seattle against Joe Pyfer at the Climate Pledge Arena.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 14

Fighting Nerds’ Mauricio Ruffy Reveals Why He Joined Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 325 Training Camp

The Fighting Nerds used to feel unstoppable. With a strong team identity and a loud brand, this set of Brazilians carried themselves as if they were immune to momentum shifts.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / January 14

Does Chimaev Deserve The Pereira Fight?

A rivalry has been reignited, as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has challenged light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira to a fight at the UFC White House card.

Dana White News / EssentiallySports / January 14

Dana White’s Hypocrisy Called Out by Ex-MMA Champ Over Fighter Rights Advocacy

Nobody sells freedom like the UFC. Fighters get to be loud and contentious on their own. Dana White has always leaned into that image as well—the boss who “lets people talk,” the boss who doesn’t force anyone into a box, and the boss who allegedly respects fighter voices more than any other promotion.

Justin Gaethje News / EssentiallySports / January 14

'Petty' Justin Gaethje Reveals Whether Retirement Threat Led to UFC 324 Title Shot

“He [Justin Gaethje] said, ‘If I’m not going to fight for the title, I’m just gonna hang up my gloves,'” said Ali Abdelaziz last summer, warning the promotion that his client would walk away if he didn’t get the next title shot.

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Dana White News / MMA on SI / January 13

UFC CEO Dana White drops huge UFC Seattle main event featuring ex-middleweight champ

It took all day, but UFC CEO Dana White finally delivered some clarity Tuesday regarding the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, scheduled for March 28.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 13

Dakota Ditcheva Reveals Real Problem With a Valentina Shevchenko Fight – It’s Not Dana White

Dakota Ditcheva isn’t ducking Valentina Shevchenko. And she’s not blaming Dana White, contracts, or promotional walls either. In fact, her hesitation has nothing to do with business at all.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / January 14

Dana White claims UFC doesn't need another Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor reached levels in the sport that nobody could have imagined, but Dana White has made a bold remark regarding status in the UFC. McGregor proved to the world that being a trash talker, as long as you can back it up when the cage door closes, is a sure bet to become a superstar in modern-day combat sports.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / January 13

Nick Diaz returns to sparring after hitting sobriety landmark

Nick Diaz epitomizes a movie-like fighter throughout his years in the spotlight. A gritty, real-to-himself character that showed the world that, no matter where you come from, you can make it, but his story in mixed martial arts may not be over.

MMA News / Total Pro Sports / January 13

Bo Nickal Fires Back at Colby Covington and Demands a Personal Grudge Match

The tension is rising between Bo Nickal and Colby Covington. Both fighters are now trading words online. Previously, Nickal called out Covington for a fight at the White House.

MMA News / HITC / January 13

Fans urge Charles Oliveira to drop one training approach ahead of Max Holloway rematch

Charles Oliveira’s training footage ahead of his UFC 326 fight has left some fans worried about how he will perform. Oliveira has said that he believes a win could put him in line for another shot at the lightweight title, but before anything else, he will have to get past Max Holloway at UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas.

MMA News / HITC / January 13

Arman Tsarukyan reveals the one fight he would take that isn’t for the UFC lightweight title

Even though Arman Tsarukyan is closer than ever to a lightweight title shot, he understands that the UFC isn’t going to wait around for him. Tsarukyan fell out of favour with Dana White after pulling out of his scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev in 2025, a decision that clearly didn’t sit well with the UFC president.

MMA News / MMA on SI / January 12

Khamzat Chimaev calls out 'scared' Alex Pereira for UFC White House fight

UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev isn’t giving up on his pursuit of a matchup with fellow UFC titleholder Alex Pereira. A perfect 15-0 in his professional