MMA: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Ilia Topuria Takes a Break: Is the Lightweight Division on Fire?

Just when you thought the UFC’s lightweight division couldn’t get any more chaotic, the man at the very top decides to take a little vacation. Ilia Topuria, the electrifying two-division champ who’s been leaving a trail of unconscious legends in his wake, has announced he’s stepping away from the octagon for a bit.

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Justin Gaethje Vs. Paddy Pimblett Headlines UFC 324

UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim UFC lightweight championship at UFC 324. The card marks the UFC’s first event under Paramount+, which is slated for January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Shavkat Rakhmonov News / BoxingNews.com / November 28

Shavkat Rakhmonov On His Return

UFC Welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov is ready to return to the Octagon after recovering from a knee injury, but has revealed that his desired opponent, Kamaru Usman, previously “turned him down.” Rakhmonov, who holds a 7-0 record in the UFC, last fought in December 2024 when he secured a win over Ian Machado Garry to cement his spot as the No.

Arnold Allen News / BoxingNews.com / November 28

What’s Next For Arnold Allen?

UFC featherweight Arnold Allen will face Jean Silva in his Octagon return at UFC 324, which will be under the first card of the UFC’s new broadcasting deal with Paramount+, with the card to take place on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 28

Arman Tsarukyan Demands Answers After Paddy Pimblett Trolls Him Over Dana White’s UFC 324 Snub

Arman Tsarukyan believed he had done everything right. He walked into UFC Qatar as the favorite, dismantled Dan Hooker with a second-round submission, and left with a Performance of the Night bonus around his waist.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 28

Potential Ronda Rousey MMA Comeback Hyped as Kayla Harrison’s Post-UFC 324 Move Surfaces

Kayla Harrison is living in a moment many fighters spend a lifetime chasing. She’s co-headlining the UFC’s first Paramount-era card on January 24, defending her bantamweight crown against Amanda Nunes, the woman widely regarded as the GOAT of women’s MMA.

Ilia Topuria News / MMA Weekly / November 27

Ilia Topuria taking extended break, interim title created

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria vacated his featherweight title to move up to the 155-pound weight class at UFC 317 last June. He faced former titleholder Charles Oliveira in the fight card's main event and viciously knocked the Brazilian out in the first round to capture the lightweight crown.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 28

Jon Jones Brutally Claps Back at Daniel Cormier as Chechnya ‘Concern’ Sparks Thanksgiving Drama

Jon Jones has the ability to make a lot of noise without throwing a single punch, and this Thanksgiving weekend was no exception. While most of MMA had settled into a quiet Christmas rhythm, Jones’ name resurfaced—not because of a bout announcement, but because of where he chose to spend the holiday and who noticed.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Biggest Grudge With Umar Nurmagomedov He Can’t Let Go Of

Merab Dvalishvili has moved past most rivalries, such as former Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley. But when it comes to Umar Nurmagomedov, things are a lot more personal.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

Paddy Pimblett Trolls Arman Tsarukyan After Dana White’s UFC 324 Interim Title Snub

Arman Tsarukyan didn’t whisper his frustration, he made it clear with a roar. Fresh off a dominant submission win over Dan Hooker, the Armenian contender made it clear he sees a massive gap between himself and the man now fighting for the interim lightweight title.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

Ariel Helwani Calls Out Dana White’s Hypocrisy After UFC 324 Announcement Sparks Backlash

The UFC wanted a spectacle to launch its $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, and boss Dana White made sure fans heard about it in the loudest way possible.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Max Holloway sends message of support to Ilia Topuria after rival opens up on ‘difficult moment’

Max Holloway responded to his former opponent’s recent social media statement. It was reported on Wednesday that Ilia Topuria wouldn’t be making his return early in 2026 like many fans had hoped for.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

2 Title Fights Can’t Save Dana White as Ilia Topuria Cancels UFC 324 Fight

For weeks, UFC 324 was hyped as Paramount’s big swing—the first true pay-per-view event of the new streaming deal, and the card meant to usher in a new era.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Kayla Harrison says ‘all my dreams are coming true’ as Amanda Nunes fight is made official

Kayla Harrison couldn’t be happier with how her life and career are going right now. It’s just been announced that she’ll co-headline the first UFC-Paramount event on January 24.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Dana White announces Alexander Volkanovski’s next opponent and fight date

The UFC is set to put on back-to-back numbered events to kick off their Paramount+ deal. On Thursday, Dana White announced the promotion’s huge plans for UFC 324, the first major event on the calendar for 2026.

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MMA News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Paddy Pimblett to headline stacked UFC 324 title fight double-header

The first major UFC event of 2026 is taking shape following Dana White’s announcement. While huge names like Jon Jones are targeting the UFC’s event at the White House next June, there are still plenty of fights that need to happen before this one-of-a-kind card takes place.

Khamzat Chimaev News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Khamzat Chimaev names his next opponent days after providing return timeframe

Khamzat Chimaev has named who he will face in the first defense of his middleweight title. Chimaev recently got into an altercation with Ian Machado Garry this past weekend at UFC Qatar.

Ilia Topuria News / Dice City Sports / November 27

Ilia Topuria delays title defense, tells UFC to move on without him for now

Ilia Topuria won’t be back in the octagon anytime soon, and it’s not because of injuries, negotiations or matchmaking dram. It’s life outside the cage.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / November 27

Arman Tsarukyan names the exact move he would use to knock out Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan knows how he will put the UFC lightweight champion down. The Armenian cemented himself as the division’s No. 1-ranked contender in the main event of last Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Qatar.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

Islam Makhachev Snubbed as ‘Toughest’ Welterweight Title Challenger Fires Off Wild P4P Claim

After Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, he didn’t just check off his dream of becoming a double champ. The Dagestani legend also reclaimed the pound-for-pound number one spot, which Ilia Topuria had briefly snatched away.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / November 27

Dana White Told to Betray Conor McGregor in UFC White House Twist Amid Renewed Khabib Rivalry

The UFC White House event is still seven months away, but the buildup has already become a major challenge for UFC CEO Dana White. Active fighters like Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev are pushing to get on the card, while global superstars such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones are also eyeing their chance to compete.

MMA News / HITC / November 27

Fans furious as UFC pushes surprise Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes rematch

Alexander Volkanovski’s next opponent hasn’t exactly excited the fanbase. Alexander Volkanovski’s expected next move inside the UFC featherweight division has sparked fierce backlash among fans.

MMA News / HITC / November 27

Tsarukyan reveals Chimaev was in an earlier UFC Qatar scuffle before Ian Garry clash

Khamzat Chimaev’s confrontation with Ian Machado Garry was not the only incident involving the middleweight champion during UFC Qatar. Although Chimaev was in attendance to support his friend and training partner Arman Tsarukyan, much of the post-fight talk focused on his own actions that night.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / November 27

Arman Tsarukyan: 'Ilia Topuria doesn't want to fight me,' and Paddy Pimblett 'sucks'

Arman Tsarukyan showed why he's the top contender in the lightweight division in his one-sided win over Dan Hooker in the UFC Qatar main event last weekend.

MMA News / Athlon Sports / November 25

Jon Jones Vs. Daniel Cormier Rematch Teased in Surprise Trilogy Match

The rivalry between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier is one of the most personal and heated conflicts in MMA history. Their deeply personal insults during press conferences, out-of-cage brawls, and genuine dislike of each other live in infamy as they defined an era for the UFC light heavyweight division.

MMA News / Yardbarker / November 24

Potential matchups for ranked fighters from UFC Fight Night in Qatar

UFC Fight Night in Qatar was one of the best cards of the year. Nine of the 14 fights on the card ended by a finish. Multiple fights on the card have implications for the next challenger for the title in multiple divisions.

UFC Fight Night Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan earns submission victory in return from extended absence

Max Holloway reignites Charles Oliveira rivalry while blasting UFC’s ranking system

UFC Champion gets into backstage scuffle after co-main event

Decorated ex-MMA champion reportedly set to debut on final UFC card of the year