issue 229
May 2026
Paul Browne jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in May 2026
Cormier: Carlos Prates Made Jack Della Maddalena “Look Like He Didn’t Belong”
Daniel Cormier was left stunned by Carlos Prates’s dominant performance at UFC Perth, where the rising Brazilian star delivered a statement victory over former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.
Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) secured a third-round stoppage in the main event at RAC Arena on Saturday, handing Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) his second consecutive defeat. The Australian had previously lost his title in November at UFC 322, where Islam Makhachev controlled him over five rounds with a wrestling-heavy approach.
Saturday’s win marked Prates’s second straight victory over a former champion. Earlier, “The Nightmare” knocked out Leon Edwards on the same night Makhachev dethroned Della Maddalena, further strengthening his case as a serious contender in the division.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier suggested that Prates may now be firmly in the welterweight title conversation, even with other contenders in line.
“I mean, it feels like it's going to be Ian Garry, but if it was to be Prates after that, nobody would complain,” Cormier said. “And I'm going to tell you why: Because we just saw Islam beat Jack Della Maddalena in the way that he did. We saw him dominate Jack Della Maddalena to win the championship. The way Islam beat Jack was not nearly as impressive as what Carlos Prates did the other day.”
Cormier acknowledged the effectiveness of Makhachev’s title-winning performance but emphasized the striking disparity in how Prates dismantled Della Maddalena.
“Now, it was impressive. He made it look easy. But that yesterday? was crazy. That was crazy,” Cormier continued. “It looked like Della Maddalena didn't belong in there with Prates.”
Beyond the result, Cormier highlighted Prates’s evolving skill set, pointing to his patience, composure, and physical presence as key factors that could make him a serious threat at 170 pounds.
“Now, if that's how Carlos fights from now on, if that's who he is today…a guy that really takes his time, is patient, can pick people apart like that, and he's huge for the weight class. He's a real issue.”
Justin Gaethje Says Only Khabib Was a Tougher Test Than Ilia Topuria
Justin Gaethje has nothing but respect for what Ilia Topuria has accomplished during his rise to UFC superstardom, but that admiration is not diminishing his confidence ahead of their lightweight title clash.
After defeating Paddy Pimblett to claim the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 in January, Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is now set to challenge undisputed champion Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in a title unification bout at UFC “Freedom 250” on June 14.
The matchup will represent Gaethje’s third attempt to capture the undisputed UFC lightweight title. The former BMF champion previously fell short against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in 2020 and against Charles Oliveira at UFC 274 in 2022, suffering submission losses in both fights.
Topuria vacated his featherweight title last year to move up to 155 pounds, and the undefeated star wasted little time establishing himself as the division’s new king. He captured the lightweight championship at UFC 317 last June by knocking out Oliveira in emphatic fashion.
That victory capped off an extraordinary run that also included knockout wins over former featherweight champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Speaking during the UFC’s press conference on Thursday to promote the upcoming White House event, Gaethje acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge awaiting him against Topuria.
“Yeah, I think he's my second toughest test ever, next to Khabib,” Gaethje said when asked where Topuria stacks up in comparison to his previous opponents. “But yeah, those three knockouts, Volkanovski, Holloway, Oliveira, yeah, legendary. So it's just going to make this win that much more spectacular.”
UFC Broadcast Team Questions Whether Khamzat Chimaev’s 205-Pound Plans Hurt Him at UFC 328
The UFC broadcast team questioned whether Khamzat Chimaev may have been impacted by recent discussions about changing weight classes following his split-decision loss to Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey.
Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) lost the middleweight title to Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) after a closely contested five-round fight at Prudential Center. Throughout the bout, “Borz” appeared to struggle badly with his gas tank, an issue that has surfaced at times during his UFC career.
The discussion gained added attention because Chimaev had recently floated the possibility of moving up to the light heavyweight division. Rumors circulated ahead of UFC 327 that he was being considered for an interim 205-pound title fight against Jiri Prochazka before Carlos Ulberg ultimately received the opportunity.
Speaking during the live UFC 328 broadcast, commentators Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, and Jon Anik discussed whether Chimaev’s focus on a potential move to 205 pounds may have contributed to the performance.
“Does Khamzat want to fight 85?” Cormier said during the broadcast. “They said he already had his eyes on 205. I don't know. It was a good question because it could have been a factor.”
Rogan added that Chimaev’s preparation may have changed while considering a move up in weight.
“The fact that he did try to bulk up, he was thinking that he was going to fight Jiri Prochazka (at) 205,” Rogan said.
Anik also suggested that the emotional intensity surrounding the matchup may have affected Chimaev heading into the title defense, particularly given the heated buildup between the two fighters.
“One thing we know for sure is that the buildup to the rematch would be entirely different,” Anik said. “And there would be less emotional expenditure out of Khamzat Chimaev. We don't know what type of factor that played.”
Matches to Make: What’s Next for the Big Winners From UFC 328?
The fans in attendance at Newark’s Prudential Center on Saturday night were treated to an incredible night of action, featuring plenty of finishes, two title fights, and a Fight of the Year contender in the co-main event.
One champion successfully defended his belt while another was dethroned, results that are sure to create ripple effects throughout the flyweight and middleweight divisions.
Let’s take a look at what could come next for the biggest winners from UFC 328.
Sean Strickland
Not many fans gave Sean Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) much chance of dethroning Khamzat Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event, but Strickland did what he so often does, turning the fight into a war of attrition before emerging from the grueling five-round battle with the middleweight title once again draped over his shoulder.
The emergence of a new champion at the top of the division reopens the door for several prominent contenders. Dricus du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), who ended Strickland’s first title reign earlier in 2025, immediately re-enters the conversation. However, the South African likely needs another victory (over Caio Borralho perhaps?) before earning a second crack at the belt.
After becoming the division’s No. 1 contender last year, Nassourdine Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) appeared uninterested in fighting Chimaev, with both men previously citing their shared religious beliefs as a reason to avoid the matchup. With “Borz” now out of the championship picture (and potentially eyeing a move up to light heavyweight) Imavov could instead find himself with the opportunity to avenge his 2023 loss to Strickland.
Joshua Van
There’s little debate over who Joshua Van (17-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) should face next following his epic victory over Tatsuro Taira in Saturday’s co-main event.
“The Fearless” captured the flyweight title under controversial circumstances at UFC 322 last December after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a catastrophic elbow injury just 26 seconds into their fight, preventing fans from seeing what many believed could have been a classic matchup.
Pantoja (30-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC) dominated the flyweight division from 2023 to 2025 and appears to be the clear choice to receive the next title shot as he attempts to reclaim the belt he held for so long.
The biggest question now is whether Van can continue producing the spectacular performances that have quickly become his trademark, particularly following his recent victories over Taira and Brandon Royval.
Alexander Volkov
With his victory over Waldo Cortes Acosta on Saturday’s main card, Alexander Volkov (40-11 MMA, 14-5 UFC) finds himself in an intriguing (and somewhat difficult) position in the UFC heavyweight division.
Saturday’s win marked Volkov’s sixth victory in his past seven fights, with his only loss during that stretch coming via a controversial split decision against Ciryl Gane in 2024.
The heavyweight title picture remains crowded amid Tom Aspinall’s continued absence, while Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is scheduled to face Alex Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for the interim title at the White House on June 14.
The winner of that matchup will likely move on to face Aspinall whenever the undisputed champion returns, but Volkov’s recent run raises an interesting possibility: could the loser be paired with the Russian contender as a consolation matchup?
Sean Brady
He predicted a submission victory when he spoke to us last week, and although he ultimately went the distance, Sean Brady (19-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will no doubt be thrilled to have returned to the win column following his dominant performance against Joaquin Buckley on Saturday night.
Aside from his loss to Michael Morales last December, Brady has looked impressive throughout his recent run at welterweight and appears deserving of another marquee matchup following UFC 328.
One intriguing possibility could be a showdown with former champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), a fight that would carry major implications in the crowded 170-pound title picture.
King Green
At 39 years old, King Green (35-17-1 MMA, 16-12-1 UFC) continues to defy expectations.
Green delivered another impressive stoppage victory in Saturday’s main card opener, submitting Jeremy Stephens in the first round to extend his current winning streak to three fights.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Green called for a matchup with fellow veteran Renato Moicano (21-7-1 MMA, 13-7 UFC). However, it may be difficult to imagine UFC matchmakers pairing him with a fighter currently sitting ninth in the lightweight rankings.
A more realistic option could be Chris Duncan (15-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who was recently submitted by Moicano and could provide an entertaining stylistic matchup for the resurgent veteran.
Demetrious Johnson Says Kyoji Horiguchi May Be The One To Beat Joshua Van
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson believes Kyoji Horiguchi may be the fighter best equipped to dethrone reigning UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van following Van’s latest title defense at UFC 328.
Van (17-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) successfully defended the 125-pound title for the first time in last Saturday’s co-main event, stopping Tatsuro Taira in the fourth round of an instant classic that is already being discussed as an early contender for 2026 Fight of the Year honors.
While a rematch with former champion Alexandre Pantoja is widely expected to be next for Van, Johnson believes Horiguchi (36-5 MMA, 9-1 UFC) could represent the toughest stylistic challenge remaining for “The Fearless” among the current crop of contenders.
Horiguchi has gone 2-0 since returning to the UFC last year after nearly a decade away from the promotion. During his first UFC stint from 2013 to 2016, Horiguchi challenged Johnson for the flyweight title at UFC 186 but came up short in a dramatic final-second submission defeat.
Since leaving the UFC, Horiguchi built an impressive résumé overseas, capturing championships in both RIZIN and Bellator before making his return to the Octagon.
Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Johnson explained why he believes Horiguchi’s experience and disciplined approach could make him a serious threat to Van’s reign.
“I think Kyoji Horiguchi is more seasoned than Tatsuru,” Johnson said. “Doesn't have the (same level of) grappling as Tatsuru, but he has more of a direct game plan. You know, Kyoji Horiguchi is very good about following the game plan and executing it.”
Johnson also pointed to Horiguchi’s two-fight series with Kai Asakura under the RIZIN banner as evidence of the veteran’s ability to make adjustments and execute a targeted strategy.
“You look (at) when Kyoji Horiguchi fought Kai Asakura in Japan,” Johnson said. “Kai Asakura starched him the first time they fought. Then the second time, Kyoji Horiguchi finishes Kai Asakura because he just kicked his leg. He goes, ‘I’m just going to kick his leg,’ and he was able to knock out Kai Asakura with just leg kicks.”
Johnson added that the current state of the UFC flyweight division has made it one of the sport’s most compelling weight classes.
“So, a very exciting time to be watching the flyweight division,” Johnson said.
Conor McGregor Set for UFC Return Against Max Holloway at UFC 329
Conor McGregor is finally set to make his return to the Octagon.
Former two-division world champion McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is scheduled to face Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during International Fight Week on June 11, Dana White announced Saturday night.
McGregor and Holloway have fought once before, with “The Notorious” earning a unanimous decision victory at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston back in 2013.
The fight will mark the Irishman’s first appearance since he suffered a catastrophic leg injury in the opening round of his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Since defeating Eddie Alvarez to capture the lightweight title at Madison Square Garden nearly a decade ago, McGregor has competed just four times in the Octagon, losing three of those bouts.
Former featherweight champion Holloway last fought at UFC 326 in March, where he lost his BMF title to Charles Oliveira by lopsided decision. Over the past three years, the Hawaiian has competed primarily at 155 pounds, aside from his featherweight title fight loss to Ilia Topuria in October 2024.
Complete UFC 329 Lineup:
MAIN CARD
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison
Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh
PRELIMINARY CARD
Damian Pinas Cesar Almeida
Ryan Gandra vs. Zach Reese
Cody Durden vs. Ode Osbourne
Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez
Kai Kamaka III vs. Luke Riley
Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov
Tracy Cortez vs. Cong Wang
Ronda Rousey Says UFC Losses Were ‘The Best Thing for the Sport’
Ronda Rousey reflected on the highs and lows of her MMA career following her victory over Gina Carano on Saturday night, saying she now believes her losses late in her UFC run ultimately benefited the sport.
Rousey (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) returned to competition for the first time in nearly a decade to headline Most Valuable Promotion’s inaugural MMA event, which streamed live on Netflix from Intuit Dome. In familiar fashion, the former UFC bantamweight champion needed just 17 seconds to submit Carano (7-2), a performance she said marked the final fight of her career.
The victory capped an iconic combat sports journey that saw Rousey become one of the biggest stars in MMA history. After beginning her professional career with 12 consecutive victories, Rousey captured championship gold in Strikeforce before becoming the UFC’s inaugural women’s bantamweight champion.
Her UFC career, however, ended on a difficult note after consecutive knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes nearly a decade ago.
Speaking during the post-fight press conference after Saturday’s event, Rousey said she has come to view those defeats differently with the benefit of hindsight.
“I think this is much better than retiring undefeated,” Rousey said. “I think I didn't really learn until I went into pro wrestling and saw that, oh, if you retire with the title, you take all of that equity with you.”
Rousey explained that remaining undefeated and retiring on top could have harmed the long-term growth of women’s MMA, particularly the divisions she helped build.
“It would have been to the detriment of the division if I did that,” Rousey said. “And I think that's part of one reason why the 145-pound division is gone in the UFC. It retired with Amanda and I think it needs to be passed on and that was a really selfish goal for me to have.”
The former champion added that she is now grateful her legacy continued beyond her own reign, helping establish credibility for women’s MMA after her departure from the sport.
“I'm glad that my equity was able to live on past me and continue to give credibility to the division,” Rousey said. “And if I retired undefeated, I would have taken the credibility with me, and so it was the best thing for the sport.”
John Wood: UFC Told Merab Dvalishvili He’ll Get Next Shot at Petr Yan
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili appears to be closing in on a rematch with reigning titleholder Petr Yan, according to Syndicate MMA head coach John Wood.
Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost the bantamweight championship to Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) at UFC 322 in December, ending a demanding stretch that saw the Georgian compete in four title fights within a single calendar year. Since then, both fighters have been sidelined while recovering from injuries, but Wood says Dvalishvili is healthy and prepared to return as soon as the UFC finalizes a date for the rematch.
Speaking to Home of Fight this week, Wood said Dvalishvili has made it clear he is willing to fight whenever the promotion calls.
“Merab is one of those guys that we've seen, obviously, will literally fight tomorrow, if you call him and said, 'Hey, we need you on this card,' he'll do it,” Wood said. “He doesn't care. He doesn't care if his nose is broken, his legs falling off, or whatever it is. Good, bad, or indifferent, this dude's a fighter, and he's gonna fight at any point in time.”
According to Wood, the UFC has already informed the team that Dvalishvili will receive the first opportunity to reclaim the bantamweight title once Yan is ready to return.
“So we're literally just waiting for Yan to give (us) the time and the date,” Wood added. “That was the opponent that's been told to us. I don't think that's going to change.”
The first meeting between Dvalishvili and Yan ended with the Russian reclaiming the bantamweight belt at UFC 322, halting Dvalishvili’s championship run after an active year that cemented him as one of the division’s most durable and relentless competitors.
No official announcement has been made regarding the timing or location of the proposed rematch.
UFC Champion Ilia Topuria Interested in Boxing Crossover Fight With Ryan Garcia
Ilia Topuria says he is seriously interested in testing himself in professional boxing one day, and he already has a high-profile opponent in mind.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who is scheduled to face interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in a title unification bout at the UFC’s White House event on June 14, discussed the possibility of crossing over into boxing during a recent interview with Alvaro Colmenero.
While the undefeated UFC star remains focused on his MMA career, he admitted that competing in the boxing ring is something that strongly appeals to him.
“Boxing is definitely something where I say ‘Wow, I’d love to do that’,” Topuria said. “But I’d love to do it with someone big, someone real with an established name. Someone who can add to my resume, which I’ve worked so hard to build. I wouldn’t want to put it in the hands of a nobody just for money.”
During the interview, Colmenero suggested a potential showdown between Topuria and WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2), an idea that immediately caught the UFC champion’s attention.
“That would be a huge fight, I’d love it,” Topuria said. “I see a fight like Ryan Garcia being very comfortable for me. I think I would break him long before it gets to a judge’s decision.”
Garcia quickly fired back on social media after Topuria’s comments began circulating online, dismissing the UFC champion’s chances in a boxing match.
“You are a damn good striker for MMA, that’s it,” Garcia wrote on X. “You wouldn’t be sipping on tea after our fight, you would be eating thru a straw after our fight. Stay in your lane. I’ll gladly stay in mine.”
Topuria has become one of the UFC’s fastest-rising stars following championship wins and a growing reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA. A potential crossover fight with Garcia would likely generate major attention, though there has been no indication that formal talks have taken place.
Eddie Alvarez Says McGregor Victory Over Holloway Would Rank Among UFC’s Greatest Comebacks
Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez believes a victory for Conor McGregor over Max Holloway at UFC 329 would rank among the greatest comeback stories in UFC history.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is scheduled to return to the Octagon for the first time in five years when he faces Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11. The former two-division UFC champion has not competed since suffering a broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in 2021, while questions continue to surround how the Irishman will perform after such a lengthy layoff.
Alvarez (30-8 MMA, 4-3 UFC), who lost his UFC lightweight title to McGregor at UFC 205 in 2016, shared his thoughts on the matchup during an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
“I don't like people quitting,” Alvarez said. “I don't like people taking off this sport. It's not something you could put down and pick up. It's too dangerous. I don't have to compare it to someone who's getting ready for a movie role. You have to become the character and, once you're in character, then you go out and put on a good performance. But it takes a while to become that ruthless dog that you need to be in order to go in there and fight viciously the way we do. And you can't just put it down and pick it up whenever you want, especially when coming back with a guy like Max Holloway.”
Holloway enters the fight as one of the UFC’s most active and accomplished fighters, having remained a constant presence near the top of the featherweight division during McGregor’s absence from competition.
“Max (has) been a lot more active and been in the game and didn't put the game down,” Alvarez said. “There's a lot of guessing what's going to happen with Conor, or the Conor we're going to be able to get to see. We'll see.”
Despite his concerns about McGregor’s inactivity, Alvarez said the former champion possesses a unique mentality that could allow him to overcome the odds.
“Conor has an obsessiveness about him that he can make up for years of not training in a short period of time that other guys don't have,” Alvarez said. “So if anybody's able to come do this, it'll be him, but it definitely would be to me one of the best comeback stories we ever seen in the sport.”
