MMA: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Mario Bautista secures submission victory in main-event debut

Bantamweight Mario Bautista passed his first UFC main-event test with flying colors, securing a second-round rear-naked-choke submission against Vinicius Oliveira of Brazil to cap a six-fight UFC Vegas 113 main card on Saturday.

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Dana White dishes out $450,000 in bonuses on drab night at the Apex for UFC Vegas 113

Dana White paid out $450,000 in bonuses for a relatively quiet night at the Meta Apex on Saturday night. Mario Bautista headlined the first Apex event of the new Paramount era in what was his only ever headliner.

Mario Bautista News / NY Fights / February 8

MMA World Erupts After Mario Bautista Dominates Vinicius Oliveira at UFC Vegas 113

Mario Bautista’s 2025 ended on a sour note when a loss to the dominant Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 snapped his nine-fight winning streak. But the bantamweight contender has emphatically put himself back on track.

Kyoji Horiguchi News / Total Pro Sports / February 8

Former UFC Champions Believe Kyoji Horiguchi Will Soon Capture UFC Gold

Kyoji Horiguchi defeated Amir Albazi by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 113 on February 7, 2026, with scorecards reading 30–27, 30–27, and 29–28.

MMA News / Total Pro Sports / February 8

UFC Legend Claims Khabib Nurmagomedov Was 'Bulletproof' and Untouchable

UFC legend Don Frye recently spoke highly of Khabib Nurmagomedov, calling the former lightweight champion “bulletproof” and reflecting on just how dominant he was during his career.

Alexander Volkanovski News / BoxingNews.com / February 8

What Is Volkanovski’s Next Move?

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has cast doubt on Jean Silva fighting him next after the latter called him out. Following his second victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 to retain his belt, Volkanovski made it clear that the “line-cutters” will have to wait.

Jon Jones News / Total Pro Sports / February 8

'I Think I Could Be Done': Jon Jones Opens the Door to Walking Away From MMA

Jon Jones may finally be nearing the end of a career that redefined greatness—and controversy—in mixed martial arts. Jones, who is expected to fight Alex Pereira soon, recently admitted that retirement is no longer a general idea but a real possibility he’s actively weighing.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / February 8

Jon Jones Gives Up on Alex Pereira UFC White House Fight After Months of Pleading Dana White

Jon Jones seems to be playing a prolonged game of hide-and-seek with the UFC. The undefeated former heavyweight champion announced his retirement last year, only to make a sharp U-turn after the UFC’s White House card was revealed.

Mario Bautista News / MMA Weekly / February 7

UFC Vegas 113: Bautista vs. Oliveira live results

Tonight's UFC Vegas 113: Bautista vs. Oliveira fight card takes place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The event is headlined by a bantamweight bout between No.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / February 7

Justin Gaethje welcomes Conor McGregor fight at the UFC White House

Justin Gaethje is hoping to compete for undisputed gold when the UFC White House card arrives in June. But if lightweight champion Ilia Topuria hasn't returned to the octagon following personal troubles, Gaethje is willing put his title unification dreams aside to entertain a fight against Conor McGregor.

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Fedor Emelianenko News / Bloody Elbow / February 7

Ex-UFC champ was KO’d in 22 seconds to set up Fedor Emelianenko clash that was seen by over 4 million

On this day in 2009, a statement performance earned a fighter one of the biggest matchups possible. UFC 324 may not have gone exactly how the promotion had planned but it was still a strong start to a new era.

Movsar Evloev News / EssentiallySports / February 7

UFC London’s Movsar Evloev Reveals Medical Reason Behind Pulling Out of Last Fight

Remember when Movsar Evloev was replaced by Lerone Murphy after the Russian pulled out of his scheduled fight? Evloev was slated to fight Aaron Pico at UFC Abu Dhabi last year.

MMA News / HITC / February 7

Former UFC star calls out ‘worst referee to ever exist’ for role in UFC 325 beating

Benoit Saint-Denis delivered a punishing performance against Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 325 just under a week ago. UFC 325 took place in Australia, with Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against Diego Lopes in the main event.

MMA News / Total Pro Sports / February 7

Umar Nurmagomedov Questions Whether Sean O’Malley Will Ever Agree To Fight Him

In the UFC, one thing that is very common is fighters being reluctant to face a real threat. From Jon Jones never agreeing to fight Tom Aspinall to Arman Tsarukyan accusing Ilia Topuria of ducking, the list goes on.

Israel Adesanya News / Bloody Elbow / February 7

Israel Adesanya’s former UFC foe who went on to become a millionaire suffers third consecutive loss

A fighter who hasn’t competed since September of 2024 earned a huge win on his return to the cage. On March 28, Israel Adesanya will look to rebound from his three-fight skid by earning his first victory since UFC 287 in 2023.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / February 7

Legendary UFC Champs Boldly Predict Usman Nurmagomedov’s Fate Against Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan

Under the guidance of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the MMA world has seen many stars. And interestingly, many of those fighters are currently among the best in the world.

Dana White News / HITC / February 7

Dana White’s UFC CEO role explained after comments on matchmaking and contracts

Dana White has recently admitted something surprising about his current role at the UFC. White, 56, has been at the helm of MMA’s biggest promotion for a quarter of a century.

MMA News / HITC / February 7

Daniel Cormier recalls how a broken nose in sparring with Cain Velasquez changed his career path

Daniel Cormier can pinpoint the exact moment he got serious about mixed martial arts, and it’s not what you might expect. The future two-division champion was already a well-known figure in the sport, even before holding titles in both weight classes.

Nick Diaz News / BoxingNews.com / February 7

Nick Diaz Wants UFC World Title – ‘People Are Going To See’

Nick Diaz confirmed he is not only sober but planning a return to the Octagon, with a view to becoming a world champion. The 42-year-old, who spent much of 2025 in a recovery program in Mexico, made the comments after multiple fight cancellations in 2024.

MMA News / NY Fights / February 7