Issue 215
March 2025
Ray Klerck jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in February 2025.
Justin Gaethje Sets Sights on Title with Impressive Win at UFC 313
Mar 01, 2025
Justin Gaethje heads into UFC 313 next week hoping to make a statement and earn a title shot against Islam Makhachev.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Dan Hooker in a 5-round co-main event at T-Mobile Arena next week. However, the New Zealander suffered a hand injury and was forced to withdraw.
Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has stepped up to save the fight and will take Hooker's place on March 8th. The bout will now be a 3-round contest due to the short-notice opponent switch.
Gaethje and Fiziev have faced each other once before, with Gaethje coming out on top after a brutal encounter at UFC 286 nearly two years ago. "The Highlight" followed up that victory by knocking out Dustin Poirier to claim the BMF title at UFC 291, a win that positioned him as the number 1 contender for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev's belt.
Gaethje's position was put on the line when he agreed to face Max Holloway at UFC 300 last April, a decision that backfired as he was knocked out in the final moments of their epic 25-minute battle.
Now, on the eve of his comeback fight, Gaethje remains confident that a dominant win over Fiziev next week will put him back in title contention at 155 pounds.
“I mean, I’m always shooting for Makhachev. Right now, he’s the champion,” Gaethje said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show earlier this week. “And we saw with Poirier, I beat him and then he fought for the belt. I think timing is such a huge factor in this sport.
“With Charles (Oliveira) already losing to him twice, him being ahead of me; (Arman) Tsarukyan having his chance and pulling out the day of the fight or the night before, is definitely detrimental to his chances; (Ilia) Topuria coming up (to lightweight) and Makhachev saying he needs to fight somebody else first; there’s really not a lot of guys. And so with the huge win here and certainly a finish, I think they’re going to have to consider me. I’ve never fought him, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Urijah Faber: An Undisputed Legend
Paul Browne Mar 01, 2025
Throughout the 32-year history of the UFC, fight fans have witnessed countless unforgettable moments and seen many fighters ascend through the ranks to achieve greatness beyond their wildest dreams. The goal of wearing a UFC championship belt around their waist is what drives every young athlete who embarks on a career in the fight game and realizing that ambition in front of millions watching around the world is a moment of magic that those champions will take to their graves.
In the unforgiving world of mixed martial arts, however, there are many truly great fighters who sacrificed everything in order to chase that same dream but ultimately came up short. Legends who possessed the skills, heart, dedication and ambition to be the best in the world but for one reason or another, missed out on that crowning moment.
In this series we will take a look at some of the greatest fighters to ever set foot inside the Octagon, who never won a UFC world title.
Undisputed Legend #1: Urijah Faber
Before making his UFC debut in 2011, Urijah Faber (35-11 MMA, 11-7 UFC) had already established himself as one of the most exciting and charismatic figures in the sport. "The California Kid" became the WEC featherweight champion in 2006 and successfully defended his title multiple times before being dethroned by current American Top Team coach Mike Brown.
One of those successful defenses came against Dominick Cruz, with whom Faber would develop an intense rivalry for the rest of his career. Their first rematch took place inside the Octagon after the UFC absorbed the WEC in 2011, by which time Cruz had become the UFC bantamweight champion.
Cruz outpointed Faber over five rounds to even the score between the two rivals. Undeterred, Faber won five of his next six fights, earning another title shot—this time against Renan Barao in 2014. However, he fell short again, getting stopped in the opening round by the Brazilian. Faber would suffer UFC title fight heartbreak for a third time in 2016 when Cruz defeated him by decision once more.
Faber’s UFC career ended in December of 2019 with a defeat to Petr Yan and while he never managed to win that elusive UFC title, he is grateful for the memories his career has given him. "At 32 (years old), they introduced my weight class for the first time in the UFC," Faber said during an appearance on The MMA Hour after announcing his retirement. "It was the same owners (as the WEC). It was Dana (White) and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and Burt (Watson) and everybody involved.
"At that time it was (Jose) Aldo and (Anthony) Pettis and on and on, and Demetrious (Johnson) and all these guys, Benson Henderson, these guys were all part of that (WEC) group. Cowboy (Cerrone) and the list goes on. I'm not fooled about it. I've had 14 years in this sport and my entire career has been at the top. I've had title shots. I've held the (WEC) title for years and years. I don't worry about what somebody calls something. I know what it was. And I think, for me, I just am a very thankful guy. I really am."
Tom Aspinall Insists Jon Jones Is 'Holding Up' Heavyweight Megafight
Paul Browne Mar 02, 2025
Tom Aspinall has been speaking about the ongoing saga surrounding a potential unification bout against reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has been chasing the fight against 'Bones' (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) ever since he beat Sergei Pavlovich to win the interim title back in November of 2023, and the Brit insists that the delay is down to Jones and his team.
“Where we’re at right now is, I have spoke to the UFC on multiple occasions on this fight,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “I’m chasing it. I want the fight. I’ve been on record and said that I want the fight. I’ve been on the phone with the UFC saying, ‘I want the fight. When’s it happening?’ I want the fight more than anyone. What is holding it up right now is his side. That’s the truth of it. The UFC really, really want the fight to happen. They’ve told me that. This is one of the biggest fights in MMA. Does he want to put himself in a position where he’s comfortable enough financially to take the risk that he’s taking to fight me? And that is where we’re at".
Aspinall last appeared in the Octagon at UFC 304 back in July when he beat Curtis Blaydes. Since then, he's been eagerly awaiting confirmation from the UFC that the unification bout is set to go ahead. If they fail to strike a deal with Jones, Aspinall insists he would be happy to fight somebody else.
“The UFC tell me, they assure me they are doing everything they can to make this fight", said the 30-year-old. "So as far as I’m aware, this is now totally down to Jon Jones and his team to work that out. I’m literally just waiting for a date. But what’s holding it back is the UFC want to make the fight with me and Jon, and as far as I’m aware, it’s now about maybe financial, or otherwise. I’m not too sure, to be honest. I’m just waiting for the call right now.”
“I said quite a while ago now: I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting,” Aspinall said. “That’s something that I said. Jon, let’s do it. If you want to do it, you don’t have to ask me twice. If not, I’ll fight somebody else for the undisputed belt. Happy to fight anybody. Any time, anywhere – doesn’t matter. I’m ready to go.”
Tony Ferguson: An Undisputed Legend
Paul Browne Mar 03, 2025
Welcome back to the latest edition in our 'Undisputed Legends' series, where we take a look at of the greatest fighters to ever set foot inside the Octagon, who never won a UFC world title.
Tony Ferguson
MMA fans who only discovered the sport during the pandemic will know Tony Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) as the fighter who set a new record for consecutive losses inside the Octagon between 2020 and 2024. After losing for the first time in eight years to Justin Gaethje in 2020, “El Cucuy” would go on to lose seven more times before the UFC eventually released him in January of 2025.
For seasoned UFC followers however, Ferguson will be remembered as “the Boogeyman” of the lightweight division who put together one of the most visceral and violent winning streaks the Octagon has ever witnessed.
Following a loss to Michael Johnson in May of 2012, Ferguson embarked on a 12-fight unbeaten stretch that saw him leave a succession of high-level opponents bruised, battered and drenched in their own blood. A litany of established names such as Gleison Tibau, Edson Barbosa, Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone suffered at the hands of Ferguson, and his dominant streak brought him an interim title when he submitted Kevin Lee at UFC 216.
A unification bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov failed to come to fruition, however. Unbelievably, the pair were booked to fight each other on five separate occasions and the fight fell through each time. The fourth of those cancellations happened in the build up to UFC 223 and has gone down as one of the biggest “sliding doors” moments in UFC history.
Ferguson tripped over some wires backstage at a UFC media day and severely damaged his knee, which resulted in him requiring surgery and being stripped of his interim title. Nurmagomedov went on to defeat late-replacement opponent Al Iaquinta and Ferguson was left to wonder what might have been.
After bouncing back with a pair of stoppage wins over Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, Ferguson was awarded with another shot Nurmagomedov’s belt in April of 2020. Alas, the coronavirus pandemic intervened and the event was cancelled. With Nurmagomedov unable to enter the United States, Ferguson was booked to face Justin Gaethje the following month in another interim title contest.
The beatdown he suffered at the hands of “The Highlight” kickstarted the longest losing streak in UFC history and Ferguson and his fans were left to ponder what might have been.
Dana White and Turki Alalshikh Join Forces To Launch Boxing Organization
Paul Browne Mar 05, 2025
After years of hinting at the idea, UFC president Dana White is finally making the move into the world of top level boxing.
In a major announcement by Ring Magaizine on Wednesday, it has emerged that White and TKO will link up with Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority to start a new major boxing promotion, which will be headed up by White, alongside WWE president Nick Khan.
Throughout the years, White has been critical of the major promoters in the world of boxing for refusing to pit the best fighters against each other, and has often highlighted how the UFC does things differently.
“The model is proven to deliver the fights that the fans want to see. The best will fight the best, and the fighters will continue to move up the rankings and become world champions,” White said in a video posted on X. “We will continue to make announcements on where you can watch and all the rest of the details of the business as we get closer to the launch. I’ll see you soon.”
The full press release reads as follows:
ANNOUNCED: Turki Alalshikh and TKO have signed a multi-year partnership to establish a new boxing promotion with executive leadership anchored by UFC President Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan. The new promotion will feature:
A highly structured system to develop new talent from around the world, including athlete combines and academies
Access for all boxers to the UFC Performance Institute, the world's leading combat sports performance training, research, rehabilitation, and nutrition center
TKO's production, media and promotional expertise, to deliver both in-arean experiences and top-tier, state-of-the-art broadcasts to fans around the world
Further details about the new boxing promotion, including fighter signings, fight schedules, venues, and host locations, will berevealed in the coming months.
PFL Heavyweight/Light Heavyweight Rosters Confirmed
Paul Browne Mar 05, 2025
The PFL have confirmed who will take part in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions of their upcoming tournament, which kicks off in April.
Check out the full press release below:
"The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially revealed the 16 world-class fighters set to compete in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions of the 2025 PFL World Tournament.
"The PFL 2025 World Tournament kicks off from the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1, with fighters needing to win three consecutive bouts to win the Championship.
"The 2025 PFL World Tournament will air live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. Internationally, fans can catch the action live on DAZN. In total, the tournament will be streamed in 190 countries through 20 premium media partners.
"One shot at greatness. The annual single-elimination tournament will feature brackets at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight. The PFL World Tournament spans an action packed five months. 64 of the best fighters from around the world will compete to win MMA’s toughest test - win three straight times in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.
"The First Round fights and the Semi-Final fights will be three, five-minute rounds while the Finals are five, five-minute rounds. All events and all fights now allow the use of elbows. The PFL World Tournament will payout over $20 million in total prize money, including a $500,000 bonus for every winner.
"The completed brackets will be unveiled on March 11 through a special bracket reveal show on YouTube powered by VALR Energy.
"Here is the full list of Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight competitors".
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (265 lbs) – 2025 PFL WORLD TOURNAMENT ATHLETES
Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) - Russia
Alexander Romanov (18-3) - Moldova
Oleg Popov (19-2) - Russia
Linton Vassell (25-10) - England
Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3) - Russia
Tim Johnson (18-11) - U.S.A.
Pouya Rahmani (4-0) - U.A.E.
Abraham Bably (5-1) - England
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205 lbs) – 2025 PFL WORLD TOURNAMENT ATHLETES
Phil Davis (24-7) - U.S.A.
Rob Wilkinson (19-3) - Australia
Karl Moore (12-3) - Ireland
Marcelo Nunes (11-2) - Brazil
Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6) - Brazil
Simeon Powell (10-1) - England
Karl Albrektsson (14-6) - Sweden
Sullivan Cauley (6-1) - U.S.A.
Alternate - Alex Polizzi (11-4) - U.S.A.
Alternate - Rafael Xavier (13-8) - Germany
Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament Schedule:
April 3, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET
April 11, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 11:30 pm ET
April 18, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 7 pm ET
May 1, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET
The Best Of The Prelim Action At UFC 313
Paul Browne Mar 08, 2025
Fight day is here!
We've already taken a deep dive into the UFC 313 main card, where Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) competes in his fifth world title fight in just 16 months against Magomed Ankalaev (2-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC), and Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) runs it back against Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the co-main.
Now let's take a look at 3 fights on the preliminary card that are flying under the radar, but have the potential to lift the roof off of T-Mobile Arena.
Clash Of The Giants - Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
A battle between two giants sits at the top of the preliminary card as no. 5-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) welcomes Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1) to the UFC.
Blaydes has been floating around at the top of the division over the past few years without ever really looking like he might make the breakthrough into the title picture. While the Chicago native has picked up some impressive wins along the way against Alexander Volkov, Jailton Almeida and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (we're not counting that victory over Tom Aspinall, are we?), he has come up short anytime he's faced one of the elite in the division such as Francis Ngannou or (a fully fit) Aspinall.
His placement in the featured preliminary bout against Kuniev this weekend feels like a calculated attempt by the UFC to allow their new Russian signing to claim a statement win against a big-name opponent, in front of as many viewers as possible, in order to slingshot him into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division.
Former Eagle FC champion Kuniev hasn't been beaten since 2015 and was most recently in action when he picked up a 1st-round knockout win over Hugo Cunha on the most recent season of Dana White's Contender Series.
Asian Sensations - Rei Tsuruya vs. Joshua Van
Two of the most promising prospects in the flyweight division meet on the prelims, as 22-year-old Rei Tsuruya (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns after a successful Octagon debut at UFC 303 where he outpointed Carlos Hernandez. The Japanese star came to prominence via the Road To UFC platform and carries a real submission threat.
Tsuruya will face Myanmar's Joshu Van (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) who has looked nothing short of sensational during his short UFC tenure to date. 'Fearless' has fast hands, knockout power and picked up wins over both Edgar Chairez and Cody Durden late in 2024.
Potential Fireworks - Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
A pair of middleweights with a track record for delivering violent, action-packed fights are set to go head-to-head, as Brunno Ferreira (12-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) takes on Armen Petrosyan (8-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC).
Petrosyan will be coming into this weekend's fight with his back against the wall, having been finsihed in his last 2 fights by Rodolfo Viera and Shar Magomedov, while all 3 of Ferreira's UFC victories have come by way of 1st-round knockout. That being said, the Brazilian has also been finished twice inside the Octagon.
Ilia Topuria Had Been "Dealing With Nearly a 50-Pound Cut" To Make Featherweight Limit
Paul Browne Mar 08, 2025
Ilia Topuria’s manager has been shedding some light on the featherweight champion's transition to the lightweight division.
Following a legendary run in 2024 in which he secured back-to-back knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) made the decision to vacate his UFC featherweight title and move up to the 155-pound division.
Despite the possibility of a rematch with Volkanovski and the presence of top contenders like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev waiting for their chance at a featherweight title shot, many questioned Topuria’s decision. His manager, Malki Kawa, explained that the difficulty of the weight cut played a major role in the move.
"The reality is, the weight cut is really tough on him," Kawa shared during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. "When you've been in this sport as long as we have, you start to realize certain things. For fighters aiming to maintain longevity, especially at the highest levels, you’re talking about facing the best in the world—Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, Max Holloway.
"Cutting so much weight, especially at this elite level, is not just draining—it can shorten a fighter's career. Ilia is thinking about his future. He's dealing with nearly a 50-pound cut every time, and that’s simply too much. It’s time for him to move up to 155. I'm confident that Islam will accept the challenge. We’re ready to fight for that belt, but ultimately, it’s not up to us; it’s on the UFC and the other fighters.”
It has been speculated that UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, however, is not particularly keen on facing another former featherweight, especially after defending his title twice against ex-featherweight champion Volkanovski.
Other high-profile options available as possible oppoents for "El Matador" include former champions Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira.
UFC 313 Results/ Bonus Winners
Paul Browne Mar 09, 2025
The third UFC pay-per-view event of 2025 went down on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the fans in Sin City were treated to plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was dethroned by Magomed Ankalaev by way of a somewhat-contentious unanimous decision. The Russian offered plenty of pressure but failed to take 'Poatan' down despite multiple attempts over the course of 25 minutes.
Nonetheless, the UFC now has a new champion at 205 pounds and a lot of the discussion coming out of this event will centre around whether Pereira gets an immediate rematch, or elects to move up to the heavyweight division to face either Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones.
In the co-main, Justin Gaethje picked up his second win over Rafael Fiziev in a bout that served as a great showcase for the excitement both fighters have consistently brought to the table.
There were also wins for Ignacio Bahamondes and Amanda Lemos, and the main card opened with one of the all-time greatest UFC knockouts as Mauricio Ruffy caught King Green with a spinning wheel kick that had echoes of Edson Barbosa's memorable KO of Terry Etim all those years ago.
UFC 313 Bonus Winners
Fight of the night: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Performance of the night bonuses: Iganacio Bahamondes and Maurcio Ruffy
Check Out All The UFC 313 Results Below
Main Card
Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)...Ankalaev becomes UFC light heavyweight champion
Justin Gaethje defeated Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decsion (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ignacio Bahamonde defeated Jalin Turner via submission (triangle choke) at 2:29 of round one
Amanda Lemos defeated Iasmin Lucindo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Mauricio Ruffy defeated King Green via knockout (spinning wheel kick) at 2:07 of round one
Preliminary Card
Joshua Van defeated Rei Tsuruya via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brunno Ferreira defeated Armen Petrosyan via submission (armbar) at 1:27 of round two
Carlos Leal defeated Alex Morono via TKO (punches) at 4:16 of round one
Marian Santos defeated Francis Marshall via.split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Ozzy Diaz defeated Djorden Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Robbie Lawler Reacts To UFC Hall Of Fame Induction
Paul Browne Mar 09, 2025
Amidst all of the drama at UFC 313 on Saturday night came the announcement that former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (30-16 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Modern Wing later this year.
'Ruthless' enjoyed a professional career that spanned more than two decades and made his final appearance inside the Octagon when he knocked out Niko Price in the opening round of their clash at UFC 290 back in 2023.
Lawler was in attendance at UFC 313 when the announcement of his induction came, and he was asked by the media afterwards if he had ever thought something like this could happen in the long term.
"I never really thought about it", Lawler said while speaking at the post-fight press conference, "and when it happens you're kind of excited. But I just always tried to carry myself as if (and believe that) I was someone special, and that I fought a certain way and people liked it, and at the same time I was never really waiting for validation from anyone else".
Lawler Shown Respect By His Peers
The video montage the UFC played in the arena contained testimonials from some of the biggest names in the sport, something Lawler was humbled by.
"It's definitely an accomplishment, but you could be waiting your whole life to be validated by the outside world. Just as long as I was happy with who I created and who I am today, that was most important. But I think when you listen to all those fighters say those all those wonderful things they said about me, it's definitely it touches you and you realize that it was bigger than just me.
"I just think that's what sports all about, trying to push people to be better than you, and excite the fans, and. That's about it".
Leon Edwards: "That's One I Need To Get Back"
Paul Browne Mar 12, 2025
Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards still has the man who dethroned him firmly in his crosshairs.
Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) held the title for a period of almost 2 years between 2022-2024, before coming up short in the main event at UFC 304 last July against Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) over 5 rounds.
Edwards had been scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the main event at UFC London next week before an injury to the division's no. 1 contender Shavkat Rakhmonov forced UFC matchmakers into somewhat of a reshuffle. Instead of facing Edwards at the 02 Arena, Della Maddalena has been promoted to a welterweight title fight against Muhammad at UFC 315 in May, while "Rocky" will now face Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in London instead.
Edwards Has One Eye On The Title Fight
Less than 2 weeks out from his return, Edwards has been discussing who he might want to face next, should he get past Sean Brady on March 22nd.
"I'd love to run it back with Belal, you know?" Edwards said in a video posted to his YouTube channel. "I feel like it's difficult to say he wins (against Della Maddalena). Like I said, I’d probably prefer Belal because he was the last guy to defeat me, you know, and even though I had an off-night, I feel like that’s one I need to get back, you know.
"I truly believe that I’m the better fighter between me and him, and I’ve got to go out there and prove it again. But now I’m focusing on Sean, focusing on Sean Brady right now, and I’ve got to go out there in London, get rid of him, and once I get rid of him, then a title shot is next for me."
Matt Serra Think's Ilia Topuria's Move To Lightweight May Be "Premature"
Paul Browne Mar 15, 2025
Following an exceptional 2024 in which Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) won and then defended the UFC featherweight title, UFC President Dana White recently announced that the Georgian-Spanish star is set to move up a weight class and join the 155 pound division..
Having knocked out both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway last year, two of the most decorated champions in UFC history, "El Matador" came to the conclusion that there are no more challenges awaiting him at 145 pounds.
“Topuria has felt like he’s done all he can in that division, and he feels like he’s cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore,” White said on Instagram Live last month. “So Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and will be vacating the featherweight title".
It remains to be seen whether Topuria will be granted an immediate title shot against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), or if he will have to face one of the other big names at the top end of the rankings in order to earn a shot at the belt.
Former UFC Champion Disagrees With Topuria's Decision
While Topuria believes his work is done in the featherweight division, one former UFC champion doesn't agree with that assertion.
Matt Serra (11-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC), who beat Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 back in 2007 to become UFC welterweight champion, believes there is still work for Topuria to do at 145 pounds.
"I think it's going to be interesting to see him at 155", Serra said this week during an appearance on OverDogs Podcast. "I would have liked to have seen him at 145 a little bit more because I feel like he had some big wins, obviously, with Volkanovski and Max Holloway, but I think it might be a little premature to go up.
"Not that he couldn't do it. I'm sure he could do it, but why not be a savage and clear out that division even more? You got Diego Lopes. You got all the guys down there that are dangerous. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. I would have liked to have seen him fight there a little more"
Cory Sandhagen Believes He Can Definitely Be UFC Champion
Paul Browne Mar 19, 2025
Cory Sandhagen still believes he has what it takes to win UFC championship gold.
Despite suffering a crushing decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in their no. 1 contender match-up last August, 32-year-old Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) believes he is not far away from earning a shot at glory.
Speaking during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of his upcoming fight against Deiveson Figueiredo on May 3rd, "Sandman" explained how watching Nurmagomedov come up short against the division's champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in January showed him that he isn't as far away from the top as some would think.
"Especially after watching Umar and Merab, I was like, 'Ah, man, like you can definitely do it, you know", he told Helwani. "And I knew that I could always be champ, like I'm one of those guys that kind of lives in the delusion of thinking that he can do pretty much whatever he can or wants to as long as he works hard enough at it. So, I definitely have always known that I can be champ".
"It's Right At My Fingertips"
Sandhagen has enjoyed a solid career in the upper echelons of the 135 pound division, but has come unstuck on a number of occasions when facing future or former champions. Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan and T.J Dillashaw have all beaten the Colorado native, but remains undeterred and still believes he can wear a UFC championship belt around his waist before all is said and done in his competitive career.
"After kind of watching Umar and Marab, and then the way that kind of Umar and Merab went, I just uh, you know, I'm so in that mix. I just kind of need to have my couple of nights where I really perform and show out, and I can easily be there. It's just like right at the fingertips, you know? And I kind of feel like I'm at the beginning of my peak years and they don't last very long, so I'm trying to really, get everything going in these last couple years that I've got left".
Daniel Cormier Wants Conor McGregor To Have A Happier Ending To His UFC Career
Paul Browne Mar 19, 2025
Daniel Cormier is hoping for a better ending to Conor McGregor's UFC career.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since July of 2021, when he suffered a catastrophic injury in the opening round of his clash with Dustin Poirier.
"The Notorious" had been scheduled to return last June to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but a toe injury resulted in the fight falling apart at short notice, and there has been no hints of the Irishman's return since then.
UFC commentator and former 2-weight champion Daniel Cormier feels that the image of a broken down McGregor at the end of that Poirier fight is a less-than-ideal lasting image to leave the UFC on.
“For me, it’s kind of sad because of this: It’s like, when a guy comes, and he’s that successful, and he’s that good, you hope that the last time you see him in the Octagon is him fighting – even if it’s him losing,” Cormier said on his 'Funky and the Champ' show with Ben Askren. “You don’t want the last memory is him sitting in the octagon with a broken leg, yelling at Dustin Poirier’s wife. It was the craziest vision I’ve ever seen. It felt like when he got here, everything was fresh, new, and it felt genuine. Then he went to nice Conor when him and Dustin fought in Abu Dhabi. Nice Conor was more preposterous than him doing what he did after the fight with Dustin the (third) time.
“Because he was holding Dustin’s liquor, they were hugging each other. It was the most odd thing I’d ever seen because that was not what we had come to expect from Conor McGregor. He gets beat by Dustin Poirier, then he goes all the way back to the other guy, but even more to the right. He was more loud, he was more obnoxious, he was nasty, talking about Dustin’s wife and all these things. He was more nasty, so even that felt forced. Then when he broke his leg, he was sitting on the ground yelling and screaming. It was almost like he was a rich guy who didn’t get his way, and there is nothing he could do about it, and he was acting out because of it. That’s like a sad visual for me after all that he became to the sport of mixed martial arts.”
Bryce Mitchell Believes Next Opponent Is "Possessed By A Legion Of Demons"
Paul Browne Mar 18, 2025
Bryce Mitchell has revealed that his dreams have been plagued by demonic visions leading up to his upcoming fight at UFC 314, where he will face an opponent he believes is possessed by such forces.
Since the UFC 314 press conference on March 7 in Las Vegas, Mitchell (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has struggled with sleepless nights, claiming that the devil and his demons have been challenging his resolve as he prepares for his bout against Jean Silva. The highly anticipated fight is set for April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
On Monday, Mitchell made a public request for prayers from his fellow Christians as the pay-per-view event draws near.
“Good morning, y’all,” Mitchell said in a video posted to social media. “I need all my Christian warriors to pray for me that I will have peaceful sleep. Every single night since the day before the press conference, I’ve had demonic dreams. Legions of demons are attacking me every single time I sleep, and not one time have I seen any peaceful sleep since that day.
“These demons surround me, and they try to fight me and provoke me to anger, and then the dream will switch, and they’ll send beautiful women, and they’re trying to get me to lust, to cheat on my wife. Satan’s using two of my weaknesses to try to expose the evil in my own heart, which is anger and lust. However, where I am weak, the Lord is strong.”
During the press conference, Silva (15-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) interrupted Mitchell’s response to the first question, opting instead to lead the crowd in a chant of “f*ck Bryce Mitchell.” He also taunted his opponent by holding up a globe, mocking Mitchell’s belief that the Earth is flat.
Silva’s behavior was likely a reaction to comments Mitchell made on the debut episode of his new podcast, where he referred to Adolf Hitler as a “good guy.” Mitchell later issued a statement attempting to clarify his remarks, insisting that he is “definitely not a Nazi.”
The crowd at the press event rallied behind Silva and his provocative actions.
In addition to the troubling dreams he's been having, Mitchell believes that the demons haunting him have also taken control of Silva. He plans to “knock them out” when they face off in the Octagon in Miami.
“I’m not just fighting a man on April 12,” Mitchell said. I’m fighting a man possessed by a legion of demons. When I simply said the name Jesus, he was provoked to maliciousness, and he started barking like a dog and chanting ‘F-you, f-you, f-you.’
“Remember guys, the days of fighting for myself are long gone. I now fight for the name of the Lord and the devil, he ain’t gonna waste his time trying to plauge a loser. He knows that a victory for the Lord is at hand. I will win this fight in the name of Jesus Christ. The man’s demons will be casted out of my presence and he will fall before me just as Goliath fell before King David.”
Silve responded to Mitchell's claims via social media, as he said: "Bryce, two things. These are not demons. It's just you being afraid to face me and second about the beautiful women you have a hormone called testosterone and you probably have problems with it. Just be ready for April 12th, because I will be".
Oliveira Eyes Title Showdown with Makhachev During International Fight Week
Paul Browne Mar 24, 2025
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira doesn't support the idea of Ilia Topuria receiving an immediate title shot at 155 pounds.
UFC President Dana White revealed last month that Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) plans to vacate the featherweight title and permanently move up to the lightweight division. "El Matador" has called for a champ-versus-champ matchup against Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) right off the bat.
Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) disagrees with that idea and insists the Spanish-Georgian fighter needs to earn his stripes at 155 pounds before entering the title discussion.
“I think Ilia is a very tough guy, he deserves all the respect in the world", Oliveira said during an interview with ABC MMA (translated from Portuguese). "I met him recently at an event and he is a guy with a huge heart, but I don’t think that when someone changes weight divisions they deserve to fight directly for the title of the other division.
“There are many fighters fighting for that title, so it’s very difficult for someone to come and jump the line. However, I think if he puts on a great fight in a weight class as tough as lightweight, he definitely deserves a title shot”.
"Do Bronx" Calls For Title Shot On International Fight Week
Oliveira won and subsequently defended the UFC lightweight title in 2021, but he missed weight ahead of his second scheduled defense against Justin Gaethje the following year, leading him to vacate the belt.
After submitting Gaethje, the UFC booked him in a fight for the vacant title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Makhachev submitted "Do Bronx" in the second round of that matchup and has held the title ever since.
“The UFC and MMA have a lot of guys who talk a big game", Oliveira said in a video posted to his Instagram account this week. "I can talk because I’ve been here for almost 15 years. I’m the bonus king, submission master, the record breaker…that’s me. I want to fight during International Fight Week, Makhachev too.
“Dana, Sean Shelby, Hunter, let’s make this happen. I really want this fight, I’m chasing the belt. I want to be champion again. I’m going to write this story one more time. UFC, let’s make this happen. This is the fight that everyone wants to see. I’m ready.
“Makhachev’s been talking a lot about wanting this fight so it’ll definitely be a war. International Fight Week, is this the fight you want? This is the fight you’ll get. Dana, UFC, Sean, Hunter, let’s make it happen. Just give me a call.
Sean Brady: "F*** Leon And His Whole Team"
Paul Browne Mar 24, 2025
They may have squared off inside the Octagon on Saturday night, but the beef between Sean Brady and Leon Edwards is far from settled.
Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) secured the biggest win of his career in the main event at London's O2 Arena, becoming the first fighter to submit Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) after dominating the former champion throughout their clash at UFC London.
The fight may now be in the past, but Philadelphia native Brady says the two won't be friends going forward.
"We did a face-off at the O2 (in the lead-up to the fight), and it literally took five seconds, but when we did it, we walked up to each other, and obviously, bro, I'm not six foot. I'm not six two. I'm five nine", Brady said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday. "I've never been tall, but he walked up to me, and he said something. He was asking me about my height, and I was like, 'How tall are you, five eight, five nine?'
"He was being a dickhead, and I was like, 'I'm five nine,' and I was like, 'What are you, six two?' I was like, 'You got those big shoes on', just making a joke of it, and then we face-offed for legit five seconds, (he) walked off. I don’t know if it was his manager or his brother, and him were like, oh, this is super awkward.
"They said some stupid-ass shit, and me and my team looked at him like, yo, you’re in London. This is your fight week. You’re bitching about having to do some little-ass media. From that point on, from there on, I’m like, yo, I’m not touching this dude’s hand. If he tries some stupid shit, because I’ve seen him try stupid shit at the weigh-ins, I was like, I’m going to get it right back to this motherf***er. That’s why at the weigh-ins, I always shake everyone’s hand. I didn’t touch his hand.
"Guys, when you're an asshole like that, I can give it right back. Personally, f*** Leon. F*** him and his whole team. That's how I feel about the whole situation.
No Love Lost Between Brady And Edwards
Much like his previous fight in which he lost his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad last year, Leon Edwards was outgrappled, outfought and outclassed on Saturday. And just as Edwards and Muhammad have shared an intense rivalry since that fight, it seems Brady is now also in the former champion's bad books.
"I went up to him (after the fight), I'm like, 'Yo, man. You're a great champion, blah, blah, blah'. He just kind of brushed me off", Brady said. "Obviously, he's upset, but even his whole team. I tried to say 'What's up', and they were corny as shit, too. It was just whack. My team, my coaches didn't even go over to them.
"They were like, 'F*** that.' We're not saying shit to these dudes'. Then, even before they raised my hand, I tried to touch him behind Jason Herzog. He's just salty. Then, seeing all the shit he was saying about me throughout the week, I'm like, 'Alright.' I wish I was even f***ing meaner to this dude. Maybe Belal was right about him. He's all butthurt. He's all butthurt about all kinds of shit. I don't know".
Charles Oliveira addresses Topuria Disrespect
Fighters Only Mar 26, 2025
The war of words is heating up between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria.
Earlier in the week, former UFC lightweight champion Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) addressed Topuria's recent decision to vacate his featherweight title and move up to 155 pounds. Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) has his heart set on an immediate shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), but "Do Bronx" doesn't agree.
"I don't think that when someone changes weight divisions they deserve to fight directly for the title of the other division", said Oliveira in an interview with ABC MMA.
This prompted a response from Topuria, who tweeted: "Charles, it's better if you stay quiet. You have 10 losses, five by knockout, four by submission, and one by decision. You are the contender, while I am the champion, the father of the entire division. I haven't come here to ask anything; here, I am the one in charge".
Charles Oliveira Addresses Topuria's Jibes
Oliveira, who held the title briefly back in 2021 before Islam Makhachev's championship reign began, has been vocal about his wish to fight for the belt this year. Speaking during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday, the Brazilian addressed Topuria's comments.
“There’s not much I can say about that", said Oliveira via an interpreter. "It’s been 15 years again, you know, in the UFC. Respecting everybody, you know? I’ve said it already, my story is written there, everybody can see it. He’s coming from (being) a champion in the featherweight division and now just trying to come up and show all of this. But you know I have firepower in my hands and I’m really focused on the belt itself. It’s not about who’s going to be in my way, but (it’s about) getting the belt”.
While addressing the media this week at the opening of a new street in the Spanish city of Toledo, Topuria was asked if he would like to go for a walk with Oliveira through the city. His response was scathing.
"Actually yes, to give him a bit of culture and teach him something", the Spanish-Georgian replied, "because it's obvious that kid hasn't even read a single page of a newspaper. Another question please, because this isn't a good time to talk about someone like him."
Oliveira seemed unfazed by those comments when Helwani brought them up, preferring to remain magnanimous.
“I think he’s just trying to dig out a fight, you know?", the 35-year-old responded. "Like he’s saying a lot of crap. I really respect his fights, the way he’s come up (to 155 pounds) and everything, but he’s being very disrespectful now and he’s saying a lot of things that he shouldn’t.”
Alex Pereira Rubbishes 'Greasing' Allegations
Paul Browne Mar 26, 2025
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has strongly denied allegations that he cheated during his UFC 313 headline fight against Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his title to Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision after a tense five-round battle in which the Dagestani fighter unsuccessfully attempted to take the former GLORY Kickboxing two-weight world champion down twelve times.
After the fight, Ankalaev's head coach, Sukhrab Magomedov, suggested that the Brazilian's flawless takedown defense may have been the result of greasing.
“To be honest, the plan from the beginning was to engage in wrestling — get close, in the clinch, wear him down,” Magomedov told Russian outlet Ushatayka. “But, when Magomed pushed him to the fence near our corner, it seemed to me that Pereira had some kind of substance on him. If my experience isn’t wrong, that’s what I’d say was the case.
“The sweat didn’t flow off his body, it gelled up,” he added. “That’s what it looks like on his body, too. Magomed said afterward that he smelled like he had some ointment on and was sticky.
“Let’s not forget that (Pereira's friend and coach) Glover Teixeira is a veteran of the game and knows all the tricks,” the interviewer added.
Alex Pereira Denies Cheating Allegations
Speaking with the aid of an interpreter (his coach Plinio Cruz) during an in-studio appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday, Alex Pereira rubbished the claims made by Ankalaev's team.
"I absolutely didn't put nothing on my body", the former champion told Helwani. "The way that his coach is putting on this (story) sounds for me that he's trying to make an excuse, looking for an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed (on) twelve of his takedown attempts.
"It's like when you're in a company and you mess up and you don't do what you're supposed to do, and then you try to make excuses to justify that. I absolutely didn't put nothing on my body".
Pereira enjoyed a successful career in the world of kickboxing before signing with the UFC in 2021 and going on to win world title in two weight classes. The 36-year-old is adamant that he has never broken the rules in either of the sports he has competed in.
"It upsets me, because even in my GLORY career I never did nothing that I was not supposed to", said the Brazilian. "Like if you watch one time that I got a point taken (away) on me, I think it was my last fight, because the referee was saying there was too much clinch (which there was not), but I always did eveything by the book and that's why everything worked so good in my career."
Jason Jackson Gets "Goosebumps" At The Idea Of Winning The 2025 PFL World Tournament
Paul Browne Mar 27, 2025
Jason Jackson is relishing the opportunity to add yet another belt to his long list of accolades.
The former Bellator welterweight champion, Jackson (18-5), is set to face Andrey Koreshkov (28-5) in the opening round of the 2025 PFL World Tournament next week. This will be his first outing since losing his belt to Ramazan Kuramagomedov last June.
Having been on an eight-fight winning streak prior to that bout, "The Ass Kicking Machine" could be forgiven for feeling a little sorry for himself after that unanimous decision defeat in Dublin, Ireland. However, the Jamaican insists that he didn't struggle to process the loss.
"Absolutely not", said Jackson in an exclusive interview with Fighters Only this week. "I just went back to the drawing board, did some reassessment and held myself accountable and moved forward".
A Huge Test Awaits Jackson On April 3rd
Jackson's first test upon his return to action next week is a fellow former Bellator title-holder in Andrey Koreshkov, a seasoned veteran who holds wins over star names such as Douglas Lima, Benson Henderson and Lorenz Larkin.
The Russian is regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in the division, but having watched Korshkov closely over the past few years, Jackson knows isn't taking his opponent lightly.
"Well, this guy is dangerous, I tell you", Jackson said of Koreshkov. "I can't sleep on him because you know, he's like a cheetah - one spin sets up something nasty and then it's 'lights out'. He's been around around for a long time. I don't think he's old, but his body definitely been around the block for a while now so he got plenty of experience. So, you know those are things that I gotta take in consideration. But it's just like any other opponent, you know I'm just gonna do what I do best, that is to do MY best. Nothing less, nothing more, just my best".
Jackson Aiming To Collect Another Belt
Prior to signing with Bellator, Jackson picked up titles in organizations such as Titan FC and LFA. He also beat Ray Cooper to win the welterweight 'super fight' belt at the PFL vs. Bellator event in Dubai early last year.
The idea of collecting another strap by winning the PFL 2025 world tournament (and the $500,000 prize that comes with it) is something that excites the 34-year-old.
"Oh man, I get goosebumps just thinking about winning this tournament",says Jackson. "Get the championship prize and the belt that comes with it. Once I get that belt, it will show you that I did not lose my last fight and I rewrite that mistake. And that's why I'm so happy to be here. Cash and the opportunity to challenge whoever holds the PFL title, that's the ultimate goal".
Jason Jackson takes on Andrey Koreshkov in the main event at PFL World Tournament: First Round which goes down at Universal Studios, Florida on April 3rd.
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