issue 219
July 2025
Fighters Only’s social media editor, Paul Browne, picks out his highlights from the past month on MMA social media.
RONDA ROUSEY TEASES A RETURN TO THE MATS
Ronda Rousey, 37, mother of two, and still capable of stirring up hope with a single frame. She posted a low-key clip from an MMA gym with the caption ‘Martial art nerd shit.’ No context. No fanfare. Just a little nod to her roots. It’s been almost a decade since she armbarred her way into the mainstream, but this post stirred some what-if’s. Is it a comeback? Is she coaching? Or is it just a former champion scratching the itch that never really leaves? Either way, we all sat a little straighter.
NATE DIAZ WANTS HIS BELT BACK
Nate Diaz isn’t on the UFC roster anymore, but he’s not letting the BMF belt out of his sight, or his memory. After Max Holloway’s war with Dustin Poirier, Diaz reposted a photo of Holloway wearing the strap with the caption: “This guy is cool but he keeps wearing my belt.” No rage. No shade. Just classic Nate, casually reminding the world who lit the fuse on the BMF title in the first place. It’s the kind of line that feels like a joke until you realise, he’s dead serious.
https://x.com/NateDiaz209/status/1949990279643328677
POIRIER GETS HIS FLOWERS
He didn’t leave with a belt, but he left with something rarer: universal respect. In the days after Dustin Poirier’s retirement, the UFC dropped a tribute reel featuring a who’s who of legends praising The Diamond. It’s a highlight reel not of knockouts, but of admiration. No trash talk. No what-ifs. Just peers, opponents, and fans giving Poirier the kind of send-off reserved for true warriors. Legacy? Cemented.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMVsggQi0nb
TOPURIA STAKES HIS CLAIM
Ilia Topuria isn’t letting the BMF buzz drift too far from his orbit. After Max Holloway’s viral finish and Nate Diaz’s cheeky belt reminder, Topuria jumped in with a post that simply read: Still mine. No overthinking. Just one line and a pair of shades that pulled in over 11 million views. Everyone wants the crown, but Ilia’s reminding them that doesn’t need to shout. Just post, and the world listens.
https://x.com/Topuriailia/status/1946826414365266350
DANA POSTS THE BLACK EYE TO END ALL BLACK EYES
Dana White’s Instagram stories aren’t known for subtlety, but even by UFC standards, this one hit hard. He shared a photo of Mohammad Yahya sporting a black eye that looked like it was made in special effects. No caption. No explanation. Just pure shock value. It’s one of those injuries that instantly makes your own problems feel minor.
https://www.instagram.com/danawhite/
