MMA: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber 2 set for UFC Seattle in March

The UFC’s return to Seattle will feature a compelling top-5 women’s flyweight clash as former champion Alexa Grasso prepares to face Maycee Barber for the second time.

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Daniel Cormier won’t be happy as Kamaru Usman doubts his prediction for a Jon Jones wrestling match

Kamaru Usman cannot see Daniel Cormier’s 10-0 prediction coming to fruition. Talk of Cormier and Jon Jones renewing hostilities in wrestling has arisen owing to the pair’s stint as opposition coaches on ALF Reality.

Kamaru Usman News / KO on SI / January 8

Kamaru Usman Addresses Leaking Private Anthony Joshua Conversation After Car Crash

On January 8, Anthony Joshua wrote a heartfelt message addressing the deaths of his close friends Latz and Sina, who were killed in a car accident in Lagos, Nigeria, that Joshua was also involved in at the end of 2025.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 8

Arman Tsarukyan Gives Reality Check to Paddy Pimblett After UFC 324 Headliner Submitted in Gym

Questions are beginning to pile up over whether star Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion right now. Fans are talking after he lost in a grappling tournament at his own gym just weeks before UFC 324.

MMA News / HITC / January 8

Conor McGregor issues warning to Dana White while teasing UFC return

Conor McGregor is once again setting his sights high for 2026. The Irishman has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered his second defeat of the year.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / January 8

Dustin Poirier in talks to end his retirement for Arman Tsarukyan match

Dustin Poirier’s combat sports career may not be over just yet. ‘The Diamond’ hung up his gloves last year after one final battle inside the UFC Octagon against a familiar foe from his career, BMF champion Max Holloway.

Conor McGregor News / HITC / January 8

When will Conor McGregor come back to UFC, Irish superstar’s latest comments have MMA fans excited

Conor McGregor has teased his long-awaited return to the UFC, and one recent social media post has MMA fans buzzing about when the Irish superstar might finally step back into the Octagon.

Bruce Buffer News / HITC / January 8

How Bruce Buffer’s cameo on Friends led to him becoming legendary voice of UFC

A short, one-off cameo on Friends helped Bruce Buffer become the premier announcer of the UFC. Bruce Buffer is the unmistakable “Voice of the Octagon” — but few fans realise that his journey to that title began not inside an arena, but on the set of one of TV’s most popular comedies.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 8

Alexander Volkanovski Recruits ‘Brazilian Conor McGregor’ After Diego Lopes’ KO Threat

Alexander Volkanovski is all set to defend his crown against Diego Lopes at UFC 325, and the fight is finally picking up steam. So far, the fans seem a little upset with the rematch since they wanted Volk to fight other deserving contenders like Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / January 8

Former UFC champion reportedly books rematch after withdrawing from UFC 324 return

A new matchup has reportedly been booked for March. The main event of UFC 324 between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett may have been met with some backlash, but fans are still counting down the days.

MMA News / HITC / January 8

UFC legend Dominick Cruz makes firm prediction for Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall were expected to unify the UFC heavyweight title, but it never materialised. In 2025, Jones pulled out of a $30 million deal to face Aspinall, then stepped away from the sport altogether.

MMA News / HITC / January 8

Tom Aspinall breaks silence on talk of Ciryl Gane vs Alex Pereira for interim belt

Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight? Tom Aspinall seems more than interested in that possibility. As of 2026, the UFC heavyweight champion’s return date is still a question mark.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 8

Michael Chandler Predicts Justin Gaethje’s Fate as Ilia Topuria’s Personal Battle Continues

Amid tensions in Ilia Topuria’s personal life, Justin Gaethje is all set to headline UFC’s first PPV of 2026 against Paddy Pimblett with the Interim Lightweight Title on the line.

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MMA News / HITC / January 8

Arman Tsarukyan pokes fun at Ilia Topuria after revealing a new sparring partner

Ilia Topuria remains firmly in Arman Tsarukyan’s sights. The UFC lightweight contender’s title ambitions have taken a hit following the organisation’s latest booking decision.

Kamaru Usman News / HITC / January 8

What Kamaru Usman told Anthony Joshua after boxer’s horrific accident in Nigeria

Kamaru Usman delivered an emotional message to Anthony Joshua after his car crash tragedy. Just days after Anthony Joshua’s car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two of his close friends, the British heavyweight boxer received an emotional call from former UFC star Kamaru Usman.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / January 8

Top 20 Undefeated Fighters – Part One

Undefeated fighters in combat sports can give off a certain mystique. It is not as common in MMA as it is in boxing to see a fighter with over 20 fights who is undefeated.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 8

Dustin Poirier vs. Arman Tsarukyan in Talks but Not for a UFC Fight

Retirement in combat sports is rarely clean. On the surface, everything appears to be normal, but the itch persists. That tension has accompanied Dustin Poirier since he hung up his gloves last summer, ending two decades of habit, sacrifice, and identity formed around fighting.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / January 8

Former champion returns in rematch at UFC Seattle

Former women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso returns to the octagon on March 28 in a rematch against No. 5 ranked Maycee Barber. The news was first reported by Krazy Kev MMA on Wednesday evening.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / January 8

Cormier On His Feud With Jones – ‘I’m Done Fighting Now’

Daniel Cormier says his feud with Jon Jones is over following the news they will compete as rival coaches on the third season of ALF Reality (often dubbed the “Russian TUF”).

MMA News / Field Level Media / January 8

Brandon Moreno-Asu Almabayev to headline UFC's Mexico City return

The main event for UFC's return to Mexico City on Feb. 28 will feature a matchup between flyweight contenders Brandon Moreno and Asu Almabayev. Tijuana's Moreno (29-3-2) will enter as the No.

Zhang Weili News / BoxingNews.com / January 8

Zhang Weili Eyes Immediate Title Shot

Zhang Weili’s head coach, John Wood, is calling for an immediate return to the strawweight division to challenge the new champion Mackenzie Dern. The move follows Zhang’s unsuccessful bid to become a two-division champion this past November, where she suffered a unanimous decision loss to flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322.

Ilia Topuria News / BoxingNews.com / January 8

Topuria Told To Vacate His Title

Ilia Topuria’s break from the sport has raised questions over whether he should vacate his UFC Lightweight Title. Topuria, who became a two-division champion in June 2025 by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, announced a break to manage what he describes as a “malicious extortion attempt” involving false allegations of domestic abuse.

MMA News / Dice City Sports / January 7

Conor McGregor Eyes White House Spectacle With Floyd Mayweather MMA Rematch

Conor McGregor has never been subtle about how he wants to return to the spotlight and for 2026, he’s aiming as big as it gets. Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White announced plans for a historic UFC event on the White House lawn as part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.

MMA News / Dice City Sports / January 7

Jon Jones Sees Reality Show Role With Daniel Cormier as a Chance to Heal Old Wounds

Few rivalries in MMA history burned as hot or as personally as Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier. From press-conference chaos to championship fights steeped in controversy, their feud defined an era at light heavyweight.

Kayla Harrison News / Dice City Sports / January 5

Kayla Harrison: 'It Didn’t Really Make Sense to Me'

Kayla Harrison isn’t losing sleep over Amanda Nunes bringing in Larissa Pacheco for training ahead of UFC 324 even though Pacheco remains the only woman to defeat Harrison in MMA.