Issue 217

May 2025

Paul Browne jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in May 2025.

Eddie Hall Says He’s Ready for Francis Ngannou—For the Right Price

This past weekend at KSW 105, fans witnessed one of the most hyped spectacle bouts in recent memory. Former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall made his MMA debut in explosive fashion, taking on five-time WSM champion and seasoned fighter Mariusz Pudzianowski (17-10). Despite being new to the sport, Hall needed just 30 seconds to stop Pudzianowski, delivering a statement win that turned heads across the combat sports world.

After the fight, Hall made it clear he’s not planning to fade quietly into retirement. While he has no interest in chasing rankings or titles, he's all in on entertaining, high-profile matchups—especially the kind that pit him against other massive, unconventional athletes. As he put it, he’s looking for fights “with the freaks of the world.”

One name that instantly fits the bill? Francis Ngannou.

The former UFC heavyweight champion and current lineal kingpin remains one of the most feared punchers in MMA history. Even before Hall’s dominant debut, KSW CEO Martin Lewandowski floated the idea that the winner of Hall vs. Pudzianowski could be a perfect next opponent for Ngannou. Now, with the dust settled and Hall victorious, that fantasy matchup may be inching closer to reality—if the offer is right.

“F***ing hell. ... You’re basically chucking me in with the wolves,” Hall scoffed earlier this week during an interview with Ariel Helwani. “I would need a bit of time. I would need a lot of training, and it would have to be a lot of money, but I think with anything in life, if the money is right, I would take it.

“The only way I’d fight Francis Ngannou would be a hell of a training camp. I’d probably want a good six to nine months, training with top-level athletes and top camps. The money would have to be good, because you’re literally putting your life on the line.

“I think the fun thing about that, Francis Ngannou outclasses me in every single way possible in the fight world. But it’s that unknown that if I catch him, if I throw that right hand and it just gets him on the end of the chin, it can happen. It’s that unknown.

“So I wouldn’t be going in thinking I’ve got zero chance, but it would have to be a big-money incentive for me to do that, and literally put my life on the line going in the ring with someone like Ngannou.”

Ian Machado Garry Willing to Step Aside for One Fighter in Welterweight Title Picture

Ian Machado Garry is willing to step aside in the welterweight title picture—for one particular fighter.

Garry (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) defeated surging contender Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City two weeks ago, accepting the fight on just 25 days’ notice. In the immediate aftermath, the Irishman announced he would be weighing in as the official backup for the main event at UFC 315 this Saturday, where Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his 170-pound title against Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

This week, Garry revealed that he believes only the intervention of current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) would be enough to bypass him as the current No. 1 contender for a shot at the winner of Saturday’s co-main event at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

“(If) Jack does win and Islam wants to come up, everyone takes a backseat,” Garry said on Wednesday during UFC 315 media day. “You’re the No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world, you deserve that ranking, you deserve that status.

“If you want to come up and fight for that belt, then everyone will sit back and let you do so because that’s the respect that man deserves.”

Belal Muhammad has trained extensively alongside Islam Makhachev under the watchful eye of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Muhammad has described these training sessions as transformative, noting that Khabib's guidance has elevated him physically, mentally, and strategically, providing insights that are "worth 20, 30, 40, 50 days with anybody else."

Recently, Nurmagomedov revealed that he and Makhachev have been considering a potential move up to the 170-pound division. However, this would only occur if Muhammad lost to Jack Della Maddalena this weekend—a scenario Garry doesn't foresee happening.

“I believe Belal wins this weekend, and when Belal wins this weekend, there ain’t a bigger fight to make than me and Belal, and I want to do it in his backyard,” Garry said. “I want to do it in Chicago. I want to sell it out. I want to be the guy to do it, and I want to take his belt in his hometown.

“Belal is the champion of the world, and I think from everything that I’ve seen from him, obviously I don’t know the guy personally on a deep [level] but he seems to be a good human,” Garry said. “Seems to have his mind switched on and isn’t into some bullshit mentioned, stupid things.

“I think for him it would be a smart move to want to fight me next. Because I’m going to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to selling the card. I’m going to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to putting on a show. I’ll do all the noise. All he has to do is show up so I can win the belt.”

Report: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder Booked For UFC Abu Dhabi

Reinier de Ridder has been handed a massive opportunity following his knockout win over Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines last weekend.

Former ONE Championship two-division world champion de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has enjoyed a blistering start to his UFC career since signing with the promotion late last year.

The Dutchman submitted Gerald Meerschaert in his Octagon debut at the UFC Apex in November, then followed it up with another submission victory over Kevin Holland at UFC 311 in January.

Those two impressive wins earned him a high-profile matchup against previously unbeaten Pennsylvania State wrestling prodigy Bo Nickal in the co-main event at UFC Des Moines. "RDR" earned the biggest statement victory of his UFC career so far, dominating Nickal before finishing him with vicious knees to the body in the second round, an outcome that earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

He is now set to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (25-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) in a five-round main event in Abu Dhabi on July 26.

"The Reaper" returns to competition for the first time since suffering a brutal injury while being submitted by Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi last October. The Australian had required dental surgery in the wake of that bout.

Prior to that loss, Whittaker’s only defeats over the past decade had come against former champions—Israel Adesanya (twice) and Dricus Du Plessis.

The only other fight that has been confirmed for the card so far is a flyweight contest between Asu Almabayev and Ramazan Temirov.

Almabayev (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) recently fell to the first defeat of his UFC career at the hands of Manel Kape. He faces a tough test against Temirov (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) who has enjoyed an exciting start to his UFC tenure, picking up wins over CJ Vergara and Charles Johnson since signing with the promotion late in 2024.

“You Made Me a King”: Aldo Thanks Fans in Emotional Retirement Message

José Aldo announced his retirement for the second time on Saturday night.

The former UFC featherweight champion (32-10 MMA, 14-9 UFC) suffered a controversial unanimous decision loss to Aiemann Zahabi (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) on the main card at UFC 315 in Montreal. During his post-fight interview, Aldo admitted, “I just don’t have it in my heart anymore.”

Aldo originally retired in 2022 in the wake of a defeat against Merab Dvalishvili. He competed in three boxing matches before making his return to the Octagon in May of last year.

Saturday's bout against Zahabi had been originally scheduled to take place at 135 pounds but was changed to a featherweight contest on Friday after complications with Aldo’s weight cut.

Speaking to UFC Brazil backstage shortly after the fight, “The King of Rio” shared more details about the difficulties he faced leading up to the matchup.

“This fight was hard,” Aldo said. “I had a muscle tear on the arm, I had something on the belly that I forgot the name, down there, (from) kicking a lot. I had some problems. A virus infection, a bunch of things. The doctors (said), ‘Get him out of the fight,’ but I didn’t want to because in my head I knew this could be my last fight.”

With the dust now having settled after the loss, Aldo spoke further on his decision via a thread on his X account.

"This may have been my last time inside the Octagon”, the Brazilian tweeted. “This week, I faced one of the biggest battles of my life, and it wasn’t against an opponent, but within myself. Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave more than I ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: “You don’t need to do this anymore.” And I listened. It’s time to move forward. To live for my wife, for my kids. To celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned through blood and faith. Thank you, Dana White and @lorenzofertita. Thank you to the UFC. And most of all — thank you, my fans. You were the fuel behind every walk to the cage. You made me a king. If this was my farewell, know that I leave in peace. With a heart full of gratitude and my head held high. Because I made history. Because I lived my dream. Because, above all, I stayed true to myself."

Vitor Belfort to Be Inducted Into UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2025

MMA l MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, officially announced during the UFC 315 broadcast on Saturday night in Montreal. The 48-year-old was present at the Bell Centre to mark the occasion, which will culminate in an induction ceremony scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas.

Belfort is being honored in the Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, a category reserved for trailblazing athletes whose careers significantly shaped the early eras of mixed martial arts.

Over the course of 26 UFC appearances across several stints, Belfort earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers. Known for his blistering hand speed and knockout power, “The Phenom” fought for a UFC title five times and claimed the light heavyweight championship at UFC 46 with a win over Randy Couture. That victory, however, was clouded by controversy, as it came via doctor stoppage due to a cut. Couture later avenged the loss in their immediate rematch.

While Belfort competed for multiple major promotions—including PRIDE and Affliction—it was in the UFC where he truly became a global star. He faced some of the sport’s most dominant champions, including Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Chris Weidman, all in title fights. Throughout his storied career, he delivered highlight-reel knockouts over elite names such as Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Luke Rockhold, and Rich Franklin.

Belfort’s rise began at just 19 years old, when he stormed onto the UFC scene in 1997. He won the heavyweight tournament at UFC 12 in emphatic fashion, dispatching both of his opponents in a combined two minutes. He followed that performance with a 52-second demolition of Tank Abbott at UFC 13, cementing his reputation as a breakout phenom.

His induction places him among an elite group of pioneers, joining the likes of Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Randy Couture.

Also set to be honored at the June 28 event are two-division champion Amanda Nunes and former welterweight king Robbie Lawler (Modern Wing), the epic UFC 236 interim title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum (Fight Wing), and longtime UFC producer Craig Piligian (Contributor Wing).end Vitor Belfort will be immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, officially announced during the UFC 315 broadcast on Saturday night in Montreal. The 48-year-old was present at the Bell Centre to mark the occasion, which will culminate in an induction ceremony scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas.

Belfort is being honored in the Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, a category reserved for trailblazing athletes whose careers significantly shaped the early eras of mixed martial arts.

Over the course of 26 UFC appearances across several stints, Belfort earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers. Known for his blistering hand speed and knockout power, “The Phenom” fought for a UFC title five times and claimed the light heavyweight championship at UFC 46 with a win over Randy Couture. That victory, however, was clouded by controversy, as it came via doctor stoppage due to a cut. Couture later avenged the loss in their immediate rematch.

While Belfort competed for multiple major promotions—including PRIDE and Affliction—it was in the UFC where he truly became a global star. He faced some of the sport’s most dominant champions, including Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Chris Weidman, all in title fights. Throughout his storied career, he delivered highlight-reel knockouts over elite names such as Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Luke Rockhold, and Rich Franklin.

Belfort’s rise began at just 19 years old, when he stormed onto the UFC scene in 1997. He won the heavyweight tournament at UFC 12 in emphatic fashion, dispatching both of his opponents in a combined two minutes. He followed that performance with a 52-second demolition of Tank Abbott at UFC 13, cementing his reputation as a breakout phenom.

His induction places him among an elite group of pioneers, joining the likes of Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Randy Couture.

Also set to be honored at the June 28 event are two-division champion Amanda Nunes and former welterweight king Robbie Lawler (Modern Wing), the epic UFC 236 interim title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum (Fight Wing), and longtime UFC producer Craig Piligian (Contributor Wing).

Ilia Topuria to Face Charles Oliveira for Vacant Lightweight Title at UFC 317

Ilia Topuria’s lightweight debut has finally been confirmed—but it won’t be against Islam Makhachev.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vacated his UFC featherweight title earlier this year and announced his intention to move up to 155 pounds in pursuit of becoming a two-division world champion. Many fans assumed he would face current lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), but Dana White revealed during an Instagram Live video on Tuesday that the Dagestani star is planning to vacate his belt and move up to welterweight instead.

Topuria is now set to face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) in the main event of UFC 317, with the vacant lightweight title on the line. The event is scheduled for June 28 during International Fight Week at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

White also noted that a welterweight title bout between Makhachev and newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is close to being finalized.

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) will look to make a fourth consecutive defense of his title in the co-main event as he takes on Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC).

Pantoja is riding a seven-fight winning streak at 125 pounds and has picked up wins over Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg and Kai Asakura since winning the belt back in 2023 when he dethroned Brandon Moreno.

Fights confirmed For UFC 317 So Far

Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria – for vacant lightweight title

Champ Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France – for flyweight title

Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov

Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano

Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa

Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape

Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Set for UFC 319 Middleweight Title Fight

One of the most highly anticipated middleweight title fights in recent UFC history is officially on the books for late summer.

Reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to defend his belt for the third time when he faces undefeated powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319, scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago.

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the matchup on Tuesday during an announcement on Instagram, revealing the Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) title showdown as part of the promotion’s stacked summer lineup.

The fight was previously rumored to headline UFC 317, which takes place during International Fight Week on June 28. However, it was recently revealed that Du Plessis had suffered an injury, delaying the official announcement.

The bout will now serve as the main event of the landmark UFC 319 card in Chicago later this summer, while Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are set to clash at UFC 317 for the lightweight title, expected to be vacated by Islam Makhachev.

Former KSW champion Dricus Du Plessis has taken the UFC middleweight division by storm over the past few years. The South African earned a title shot after knocking out former champion Robert Whittaker in 2023, then went on to defeat Sean Strickland by split decision to capture the belt.

He made the first successful defense of his title last summer, submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Earlier this year, he dominated Strickland in their rematch this past March.

Like Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev remains unbeaten in his UFC career. After bouncing between the welterweight and middleweight divisions, "Borz" now appears to have settled at 185 pounds.

His dominant submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 last October solidified his first title shot—one many fans believe is long overdue.

Topuria and Makhachev Trade Blows Over Abandoned UFC Showdown

Ilia Topuria has slammed Islam Makhachev for refusing to face him in a superfight for the UFC lightweight title.

UFC President Dana White announced this week that Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is set to vacate the 155-pound belt he has held since 2022 and move up to challenge newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.

Former featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) made a similar move earlier this year in hopes of taking on Makhachev for the lightweight strap but is now scheduled to face Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant belt at UFC 317 instead.

Makhachev has openly criticized Topuria’s decision to vacate his 145-pound title, and “El Matador” fired back at the Dagestani following this week’s announcement that he too would be relinquishing his belt.

"(Makhachev) is the biggest hypocrite I've ever seen," Topuria recently said in a translated press conference (h/t Marca, Championship Rounds). "He said he didn't want to give me the opportunity because I was the little guy, and now the little guy is the one looking for the same opportunity I was looking for. How are you going to criticize my decision when you're doing the same thing right now? I've never seen more hypocrisy in my life."

Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, said earlier this week that if Belal Muhammad had defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 last weekend, Makhachev likely would have stayed at 155 pounds to face Topuria — a claim the Spanish Georgian star disputes.

"They're lying, they're liars," Topuria said. "That's a complete lie, that's not the truth. But I understand that it's his job to clean up the mess his clients leave behind."

"Ali should thank me for not beating his star, and that today, he still has value and some credibility is thanks to me," Topuria said. "This was the fight everyone wanted to see, I was ready for it, I put everything I could on the table, and they ran away, and from the beginning, they never, ever accepted the fight."

Makhachev Fires Back

Makhachev quickly responded to Topuria's accusations via a post on his X account, as he tweeted:

"Difference between me and you, that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in FW division. You are nobody in LW division, just a big mouth from spain with nice haircut. Go get one W, and we can talk boy".

Topuria clapped back quickly, tweeting: "The difference between you and me is that I am a man and you are a coward. I speak and fight. you talk and hide. Run away far, leaving no trace. Ты маленький пацан (You are a little boy)."

Justin Gaethje Eyes Title Shot as UFC Lightweight Division Reshuffles

Islam Makhachev’s move up to 170 pounds has created a ripple effect throughout the UFC lightweight division.

Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is set to face Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 next month, while the rest of the 155-pound contenders jockey for position to challenge the winner.

Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) had been a top contender to face Makhachev before the champion announced his decision to move up to welterweight. Despite the shake-up, Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, still believes his fighter remains the frontrunner to face whoever emerges victorious at UFC 317.

"I think Justin Gaethje's the No. 1 contender," Abdelaziz said during an interview with MMA Junkie. "He was supposed to fight Dan Hooker, and Hooker didn't show up. He stepped up for the company, fought Rafael Fiziev (at UFC 313), and I think he should wait and fight the winner. That's what I think he should do, but in reality, this game leaves people behind, and I don't want this game to leave him behind. If it makes sense, Justin will fight. Justin is afraid of no one. He will fight anyone. It has to make sense for him."

Speculation has been growing that Justin Gaethje could potentially face Paddy Pimblett in October, while Arman Tsarukyan’s name has also emerged as a possible opponent in the conversation.

"Who cares? It doesn't matter," Abdelaziz said. "If you're a fighter and you think you're the best in the world, you have to beat the best guys. You don't pick and choose. Justin Gaethje never picked an opponent, never chose an opponent. He will fight you anywhere, any time. It doesn't really matter, but it has to be fair. A guy who gave his title shot to save International Fight Week and fight Max Holloway. He knocked out Dustin Poirier and Dustin Poirier got a title shot. How are you going to tell him he can't get the next title shot?"

Gaethje has previously challenged for the UFC lightweight title twice, suffering submission losses to both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. While he would welcome a chance to avenge his defeat to "Do Bronx," the idea of Gaethje being the first fighter to hand Ilia Topuria a loss is one that particularly excites his manager.

"If Ilia wins, Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria is a blockbuster fight," Abdelaziz said.

Tom Aspinall Opens Up About the Frustration Behind the Jones Delay

Tom Aspinall is no stranger to playing the waiting game.

Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has held the UFC interim heavyweight title for over 18 months, patiently awaiting his chance to face Jon Jones in a title unification bout.

Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) spent a year on the sidelines recovering from a torn pectoral muscle sustained in late 2023. When he finally returned to the Octagon a year later, “Bones” opted to move forward with his originally scheduled fight against former champion Stipe Miocic rather than face Aspinall, who had claimed the interim belt by defeating Sergei Pavlovich during Jones’ absence.

Aspinall has been chasing a big-money fight with the former light heavyweight champion ever since. He even defended his interim title with a knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in mid-2024.

While UFC President Dana White has repeatedly stated that a bout agreement between Jones and Aspinall is close to being finalized, fans are still waiting for an official announcement.

For Aspinall, this stretch of inactivity isn’t unfamiliar. The lone loss of his professional career came in July 2022, when he suffered a serious knee injury just 15 seconds into his first fight against Blaydes at UFC London.

That setback led to a year-long layoff, something Aspinall reflected on this week during an interview with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on his podcast.

“I had the big injury and then I was at a bit of a crossroads really, like I’d made a little bit of money then, I’d made enough to buy a house and stuff, and then it was like, do I want to carry on with this thing?” Aspinall said. “It was obviously devastating to get injured in front of everybody and stuff. But anyway, it was a tough time for me. Came back, took me a year with the rehab with the knee and everything… the physiotherapy and all that kind of stuff. So it was a tough couple of months mentally, but the once I started working towards getting back, I’d see the doctor, I’d see the physio, they’d be like, ‘In two weeks, this is what I want you doing in the gym. I want you squatting down to 90 degrees. I want you to be able to jump on this box. I want you to be able to run a mile and then you can start boxing, you can do this, that.’ I always had a little goal to work towards.

“So after a couple of months of being sat on the couch, as soon as I could get in the gym and start working towards different things, it was great and I felt good, I was like, ‘I definitely want to come back. Now I’m going to go, I don’t have any injuries, I’m going to win the heavyweight championship, I’m going to become this legend, I’m going to knock everybody out’ and all that stuff, I felt great about it. And I was on my recovery path to getting back.”

“It’s Tough Sometimes”: Aspinall Details Mental Strain While Waiting for Jones

While Aspinall made a full recovery and hasn’t dealt with any injuries since, he admits that this current layoff—waiting for Jon Jones to sign a bout agreement—has been far more difficult to endure than the time he spent recovering from his knee injury.

“Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait,” Aspinall said. “So now it’s actually a bit more of a tricky time for me mentally than it was then. Even people then were like, ‘Are you OK? How are you dealing with coming back?’ and stuff like that. I was like, yeah, I’m good. I’ve got this to look forward to, the doctor said I’ve got to do this in two weeks or in two months I can start grappling. I constantly had little goals to work towards. Whereas now it’s just like, ‘Just be ready and we’ll just let you know.’

“It’s kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on, stay motivated, and I’m trying my best. It’s tough sometimes.”