Issue 233

September 2026

Paul Browne jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in August 2026

Khamzat Chimaev Rules Out Move to 205 Pounds, Vows to Stay at Middleweight

Khamzat Chimaev has no intention of moving up to light heavyweight, despite the weight-cutting issues that surrounded his most recent UFC title fight.

Speaking to the media at a scrum ahead of this weekend’s Real American Freestyle wrestling event in Moscow, the former middleweight champion made it clear that he plans to remain at 185 pounds.

“Until I break everyone at 185 I’m not leaving this weight class,” Chimaev said.

Chimaev’s comments come after his well-publicized difficulties making the middleweight limit ahead of his title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May.

The Chechen-born fighter acknowledged that the weight cut did not go according to plan but dismissed the idea that it would prompt him to change divisions.

“There was a mistake with the weight cut. Mistakes can always happen. Things can’t always be perfect…we’re only human,” Chimaev said.

Chimaev also indicated that he does not want to dwell on the circumstances surrounding the setback, including the weight cut and injuries.

“I’m not a siant who never makes mistakes. I don’t want to talk about these things…the weight cut, injuries…that’s not for me. We’ll be back soon.”

Ian Machado Garry Insists He Would Beat Islam Makhachev in a Rematch

Ian Machado Garry remains confident he can beat Islam Makhachev if given another opportunity.

Speaking to DAZN Boxing while attending the weigh-ins ahead of Katie Taylor’s final boxing match in Dublin over the weekend, Garry reflected on his recent defeat to Makhachev at UFC 330 and insisted he has no doubts about his ability to bounce back.

The loss did little to diminish Garry’s belief in himself or his team.

“Proud, happy, proud of me, my team, my preparation, everything we did. Obviously annoyed about the result. That's the fight game,” Garry said. “We get back on the horse (and) we go again, because I've got 10 years in this sport to be at the highest level (and to) fight the baddest men in the world, beat them and prove that I am one of the baddest men walking the planet.”

Garry was also asked whether there was anything he would change about his performance against Makhachev.

The Irish welterweight believes he could have been more active offensively, particularly with his kicking game and his striking output.

“I definitely think the biggest thing I could have done was a bit more volume, a bit more (from) me. More kicks, more venom in the shots to the head,” Garry said.

Despite acknowledging the difficulty of fighting Makhachev, Garry maintained that he would come out on top if the two met again.

“But at the end of the day when you're stood in front of a man who has been able to beat everyone he's stood in front of, it's difficult to manoeuvre that, but I feel like if I fight him right now, I'd beat him,” he added.

Garry's confidence remains unwavering despite the setback.

“I have so much confidence in myself, so much confidence in my team and the preparation that we do. I just want to get back in there tomorrow and do it all over again.”

As for his return to competition, Garry made it clear that he does not intend to spend any unnecessary time on the sidelines.

“As soon as physically possible. Anyone, anywhere, any time, go back in there, prove I'm one of the baddest men on the planet and don't stop,” Garry said.

Salahdine Parnasse Calls for Max Holloway Fight After Spectacular UFC Debut

Salahdine Parnasse has wasted no time setting his sights on one of the biggest names in the UFC.

The former KSW two-division champion made a spectacular UFC debut at UFC Paris on Saturday, stopping veteran Dan Hooker in the opening round of the main event.

Following the impressive victory, Parnasse immediately called for a matchup with former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. Speaking with the UFC News team shortly after his win, the Frenchman doubled down on his desire to share the Octagon with the Hawaiian star.

“My week went well. I worked, I relaxed. It's like usual. Every fight is incredible,” Parnasse said.

The 28-year-old secured the finish with a well-timed sequence, landing a middle kick before following up with a high kick to put Hooker away.

“I threw a good middle kick, then I followed up with a high kick,” Parnasse explained. “Yeah, I showed that I was one of the best.”

Parnasse then reiterated his callout of Holloway, making it clear that the former champion is more than just a potential opponent in his eyes.

“I mentioned Max Holloway because for me, he is a legend,” Parnasse said. “As I said, I want to fight Max Holloway, I know he is a legend, this is not a joke, it's just a dream I've had for a long time, and with all due respect, I really want to fight a legend like Max.”

After beginning his UFC career with a statement victory over an established contender, Parnasse has immediately positioned himself for a major matchup. Whether Holloway will accept the challenge remains to be seen, but the Frenchman has made his preferred next opponent unmistakably clear.

Daniel Cormier Questions Dan Hooker’s Mindset After Third Straight Loss

Dan Hooker suffered his third consecutive loss on Saturday, falling to Salahdine Parnasse in the main event of UFC Paris. Following the defeat, former UFC champion and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier questioned whether Hooker has become too comfortable with his current position in the lightweight division.

Hooker had previously described himself as a gatekeeper for the UFC lightweight top 10, a role Cormier believes can be dangerous for a fighter who should still be focused on climbing the rankings.

“When people generally hear that they're a gatekeeper or put in that position, they're mad,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “They're upset, and they fight that with all that they can. Dan Hooker seemed to be embracing that and said, 'There've been a couple losses, and then moving your way down the rankings, I'm more than happy to play the role that I'm in right now, and the role that I'm in right now is gatekeeping the top 10 of the UFC's lightweight division.' Me personally, I think there's too much acceptance, too much comfort in that.”

Cormier pointed to Kevin Holland as an example of a fighter who refuses to accept the idea of being a gatekeeper, regardless of his opponent or position in the rankings.

“We have guys that are willing to fight anybody, anytime. Kevin Holland comes to mind. Kevin Holland never says or never will accept that he's a gatekeeper. He will always fight to win, and he will always fight anybody,” Cormier said.

However, Cormier emphasized that accepting difficult matchups should not mean accepting a downward trajectory in the rankings.

“But just because you fight anybody doesn't mean you almost have to accept that if they beat you, they're just going to go forward and you just continue to tumble,” he said. “Your intention should always be to stop the tumble, to stop the losses, to stop the suffering.”

For Cormier, the mental impact of repeated defeats makes it particularly important for a fighter to avoid becoming comfortable with losing.

“It's suffering. Losing hurts in any way. You cannot accept that,” Cormier said. “When you hear a fighter do that, it just isn't good because you do that before the fight, and then the fight goes in the way that it did. That's not good. That's really, really not good for Dan Hooker.”

Hooker entered UFC Paris looking to snap a two-fight losing streak but was unable to halt his slide against Parnasse. The latest defeat leaves questions about what comes next for the veteran lightweight as he looks to rebound from three straight losses.

“So I'm very interested to see what happens with him going forward,” Cormier said.

Paddy Pimblett Says He Wants to Put Ilia Topuria Through Pain in Potential Rivalry Fight

Paddy Pimblett has made it clear that his rivalry with Ilia Topuria is personal.

Appearing on Verse Us with Erick Nicksick, Pimblett discussed his animosity toward Topuria and compared their rivalry to the bitter feud between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“We haven’t seen two people genuinely dislike each other since Conor (McGregor) and Khabib (Nurmagomedov),” Pimblett said. “Everyone’s always dead cordial and alright, whereas I hate him…I absolutely hate him. Like, I want to inflict pain on his life, you know what I mean?”

Pimblett went on to describe the kind of fight he would like to have against Topuria, making it clear that he would prefer a prolonged beating rather than a quick finish.

“I’d like that fight to go 4 minutes, 50 seconds into the fifth round, and I’ve landed 907 elbows and I’ve disfigured his face,” Pimblett said. “I don’t want a quick knockout, I want to put him through pain.”

The comments underline the intensity of the animosity between the two fighters, whose rivalry has become one of the UFC's most talked-about potential matchups.

Pimblett's remarks also stand in contrast to the typically respectful approach seen between many modern UFC opponents, with the Liverpool native emphasizing that his feelings toward Topuria go well beyond standard pre-fight trash talk.

Whether the matchup ultimately takes place remains to be seen, but Pimblett's comments have left little doubt about how he feels about his rival.

Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Title Amid Ongoing Eye Complications

Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight championship, revealing that ongoing complications with his eyes have prevented him from receiving medical clearance to fight.

Aspinall announced the decision in a statement posted to Instagram Monday, saying that an accident while he was preparing to return to competition caused additional damage to his right eye and left the timeline for his comeback uncertain.

“Anything you read in the media is simply noise. People are creating their own narratives,” Aspinall wrote. “This is the truth: Ongoing complications with my eyes mean I cannot get medically cleared to fight right now.”

The 33-year-old British heavyweight said he had undergone multiple surgeries and dealt with accidents and infections in an effort to return to the Octagon. He had previously agreed to a fight date and resumed sparring before suffering another setback.

“I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further damage to my right eye,” Aspinall said. “This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear.”

Aspinall said his decision to relinquish the championship was made in part to avoid holding up the heavyweight division.

“I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title,” he wrote. “I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up.”

“I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title,” he added.

Aspinall also addressed questions surrounding his recent silence, saying he had followed the UFC’s guidance while concentrating on his recovery.

“I’ve always followed the advice of the UFC and focused on my recovery while we’ve tried to make this happen,” he wrote.

According to Aspinall, UFC officials have been kept informed throughout the process. He specifically said UFC CEO Dana White and Hunter Campbell, the promotion’s chief business officer, had access to his medical information.

“The UFC and Hunter have been informed every step of the way and have seen the tests, procedures and medical information relating to my eyes,” Aspinall said. “We have worked closely with different doctors and specialists to try and make my return happen, but unfortunately, it’s simply not possible right now.”

The announcement marks another major setback in what has been a difficult period for Aspinall, who became one of the UFC’s most prominent heavyweights after winning the interim championship and later being elevated to undisputed champion.

Despite giving up the belt, Aspinall made it clear that he does not consider his career over.

“I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve chased this dream since I was 10 years old,” he wrote.

“I’m not done.”

Aspinall emphasized that vacating the championship should not be interpreted as a retirement from MMA.

“Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream,” he said. “I’ll continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible.”

The heavyweight also revealed that some of his current eye problems stem from fouls he suffered during his career, expressing frustration that their consequences continue to affect him.

“What makes this particularly difficult is that many of the complications I’m dealing with are a result of fouls that changed the course of my career,” Aspinall wrote. “Fighters rely on officials to enforce the rules and protect us in those moments, and it’s hard to still be dealing with the consequences today.”

Aspinall concluded by thanking those who have supported him throughout his recovery and vowed to return once he is medically cleared.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this absolute nightmare,” he wrote.

“I’ll be back as soon as I’m medically able to be.”

Justin Gaethje Claims Ilia Topuria Lost Focus Ahead of UFC Freedom 250 Upset

Justin Gaethje believes Ilia Topuria made critical mental mistakes in the lead-up to their UFC Freedom 250 lightweight title fight, suggesting the former champion underestimated the danger of their matchup.

Gaethje defeated Topuria at the White House earlier this year to capture the UFC lightweight championship in a major upset. In the buildup to the fight, Topuria and his team reportedly held a premature celebration of what they believed would be a victory.

Speaking on the Double Coverage Podcast this week, Gaethje revealed that he noticed warning signs during their media appearances and felt Topuria's approach could ultimately backfire.

“There was a lot a lot of times we were just doing interviews (where) I was like, ‘Hey you're doing this wrong man, like this could backfire’ and yeah, it was awesome, it worked.”

According to Gaethje, Topuria's confidence and preparation may have caused him to lose sight of the unpredictable nature of mixed martial arts. However, the newly crowned lightweight champion was quick to emphasize his respect for Topuria's abilities and potential to bounce back.

“He is so skilled,” Gaethje said. “And whoever fights him next is going to be (in trouble). If he forgets how dangerous this sport (is), how there's a little bit of luck and chance, then he's going to maybe become and make mistakes and not be his best or as locked in as he should be.”

Despite his criticism of Topuria's mindset heading into the fight, Gaethje made it clear that he considers the Spanish fighter one of the best competitors in the world.

“Outside of that, without those mental mistakes. you know he is one of the best in the world…there's no doubt about it,” Gaethje said.

“Everything I say that I'm never talking about the guy because he's so good, I want to see him come back, I want to see him thrive, I want to see him prosper.”

Gaethje Draws Parallels Between His Own Setback and Topuria's Future

Gaethje also reflected on his own career setbacks, particularly his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300. He believes Topuria can use the loss as motivation to rebuild and inspire fans through his next chapter.

The former interim lightweight champion explained that his own journey from a devastating defeat to winning the UFC title provides a relatable example of what Topuria could accomplish.

“The reason that my story was so significant and so relative and relatable was because I failed. (I) got knocked out by Max Holloway (at UFC 300), came back, believed in myself and came back and was able to achieve the championship and he has the same opportunity to to inspire the world through what he's going to do next. So that's really what I'm most excited to see.”

Gaethje acknowledged that the sport's unpredictable nature means Topuria still has an opportunity to silence his critics and return to the top of the lightweight division.

“The sport's crazy, so again he has the same opportunity to prove everybody wrong and so I think he's good enough to do that.”

Daniel Cormier Criticizes Gable Steveson for Leaving the Octagon Before Sean Sharaf’s Victory Celebration at UFC 331

Daniel Cormier was disappointed by Gable Steveson’s decision to leave the Octagon before Sean Sharaf’s victory celebration following their fight at UFC 331 on Saturday night.

Steveson (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)), a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, suffered a shocking knockout loss to Sharaf (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in just 12 seconds, marking the biggest upset of the evening.

While Sharaf’s hand was being raised after the victory, Steveson had already exited the cage, a decision that drew criticism from Cormier during the post-show wrap-up on the broadcast.

The former UFC champion questioned Steveson’s approach to the fight and his conduct following the loss, emphasizing the importance of wrestling fundamentals and showing respect to an opponent after a defeat.

“Gable made some mistakes in there. You know, you're a 4-0 fighter. Wrestle. You have to. And also, you stand there and you take your lick whenever you lose. You let that man get his hand raised and you stand there no matter how you feel,” Cormier said.

Cormier then reflected on his own experiences competing in combat sports, acknowledging that standing in the cage after a devastating loss can be difficult.

“If you're concussed, cry! I did it! I mean, shit! There's the truth! Like, you take your lick whenever stuff don't...” he added.

Cormier concluded by criticizing what he viewed as a lack of sportsmanship in Steveson’s decision to leave before Sharaf’s victory was officially celebrated.

“You cannot be a great winner, but then an ungrateful loser. And I think that was bad by Steveson,” Cormier said.

Joshua Van Says Joe Rogan Calling Pantoja Win an “Accident” Bothered Him

Joshua Van has admitted that Joe Rogan calling his first win over Alexandre Pantoja an “accident” bothered him.

Van defeated Pantoja for the second time in the main event of UFC 331 on Saturday, putting the controversy surrounding their first meeting firmly behind him. Their December fight ended after just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a dislocated elbow, leading some to question the nature of Van’s victory.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday, Van acknowledged that Rogan’s characterization of the first fight got under his skin.

“A little bit. I ain't even going to lie, man. A little bit,” Van said. “You know, it was kind of fucked up. He said that about me. You know, much love to Joe Rogan. You know what it is, man. He's a legend.”

Van was then asked whether Rogan was the person he had been referring to during his post-fight interview when he spoke about people calling his first victory an accident.

“Yeah, to be honest, yes,” Van said. “Because I don't really give a fuck what other people say, but Joe Rogan is somebody that I look up to. And for him to say that, you know, it's kind of like, damn, you know?”

The second victory over Pantoja gave Van the opportunity to settle the debate inside the Octagon, but the 24-year-old said he is now ready to leave the entire situation behind.

Asked whether he felt he had finally proved his point and could move on from the “accident” narrative, Van replied:

“Yeah, for sure. And, you know, Pantoja, he's greatest of all time. You know, he got nothing but respect from me.”

Van also reflected on the unusual opportunity to fight Pantoja twice in such a short period.

“So, you know, for me to fight him twice is a blessing itself,” Van said. “So we can put this behind and focus on the future.”

Raoni Barcelos Breaks Silence After Scary UFC Vegas 121 Loss

Raoni Barcelos has released his first statement since a frightening incident during his loss to Raul Rosas Jr. at UFC Vegas 121.

Barcelos was rendered unconscious while being taken down by Rosas in the fifth round of Saturday’s main event. The 38-year-old Brazilian remained unresponsive and was immediately transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

Barcelos’ coach, Davi Ramos, had provided updates on social media following the incident, assuring fans that the veteran was doing well.

On Monday night, Barcelos posted a video on social media in which he provided an update on his condition. Speaking in Portuguese, Barcelos said, according to a Google translation:

“Hey everyone, hope you're doing well. I just wanted to send a message to let you know I'm OK. Yeah, I'm doing really well. I'm getting all the tests done here at the hospital. I just have to do what the hospital requires, and that’s it, guys. I’m grateful for all the prayers and messages of support. Please keep them coming.”

Barcelos also reflected on the loss and said he remains determined to return to competition.

“Let's move on to the next one. Man, I gave it my all out there,” Barcelos said. “Like I said before, the way I went out wasn't how I wanted it to happen; I really wanted to be the champion. I wanted to walk away with the win, but the good Lord knows best. So, on to the next one.”

The Brazilian veteran then reassured his supporters that he intends to come back stronger.

“I'm here; I'm going to come back – come back stronger,” Barcelos said. “I wanted to send a kiss and a big hug to all of you, and thank you so much for everything. Thanks. Let's do this.”

Barcelos’ latest update offers reassurance following the concerning scene at UFC Vegas 121, although he remains in the hospital undergoing further tests.