Day: 18. März 2025

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Alex Pereira’s loss at UFC 313 seems to have limited his options in regards to fights at other weight classes.

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Prior to facing Magomed Ankalaev on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, there were rumblings about “Poatan” moving up to heavyweight for a potential matchup with Jon Jones, or moving down to middleweight for a clash against Dricus Du Plessis.

After the Brazilian relinquished his crown to Ankalaev in a unanimous decision loss, UFC CEO Dana White quickly shut down the possibility of a superfight against Jones. Meanwhile, Du Plessis, the UFC’s reigning 185-pound champion, also seems to have lost interest in a showdown with the Brazilian.

“Thanks Ankalaev, for taking the biggest payday of my life,” Du Plessis said on Jackson O’Doherty’s video blog. “It’s nothing personal.”

The sentiments were quite different following Du Plessis’ victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, when Pereira hinted at an eventual r…

Ian Garry didn’t get the nod in his title eliminator bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, but he believes he should have been the next man in line for a shot at welterweight gold.

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However, when Shavkat Rakhmonov was unable to accept a fight against reigning 170-pound champ Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May, the promotion instead tabbed Jack Della Maddalena to receive the opportunity.

“I had a chat with my agent. I rang him when I heard, when they told me this news, and I was livid. Still am to this day,” Garry said in a video on Instagram. “I had a No. 1 contender’s fight where the guy now has to get knee reconstruction and is out for a year. But you know, it’s not my fault. I didn’t stab his knee 20-something times and boot the leg off. I’m not fighting for a world title, because I’m coming off a loss, and they’re giving it to a guy who’s been injured for a year and they think that’s more exciting, but they’re wrong.

“The world title figh…

تعود بطولة "PFL MENA" في 9 مايو، والانطلاقة ستكون جزء من موسم جدة! 💥 موسم حافل بالنزالات ينتظركم.

من مستعد ليشهد من يصعد من المقاتلين للقمة؟ 👀🔥#نصنع_التاريخ #السعودية pic.twitter.com/iXgojVnQhb

— PFL MENA (@PFLMENA) March 18, 2025

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PFL MENA will begin its second season this spring.

The promotion announced on Tuesday that PFL MENA Season 2 will kick off on May 9 at the Onyx Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to a release, “PFL MENA will be partnering with Jeddah Season to elevate the sport of MMA in the Middle East by integrating world-class fights into one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest cultural and entertainment festivals.”

While no bouts were officially announced for the first event, PFL MENA is expected to highlight fighters from the area such as experienced amateur talent Malik Basahel and Ahmad Makki, who will be competing in his final professional bout on an upcoming card. Further details regarding PFL MEN…

Alexander Volkanovski wants to fight Diego Lopes, Movsar Evloev and Patricio Pitbull all in one year 👀

“I’m happy to fight 3 times this year… the beauty of having me a champion again, they can all have their title fight.”

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🎥 @ufcontnt #UFC314

pic.twitter.com/x6xLEwj5s2

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 17, 2025 Alexander Volkanovski is ideally looking at a hectic 2025.

Alexander Volkanovski is scheduled to fight Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The same card also features former Bellator champ Patricio Freire making his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez.

When asked about a future potential matchup against Freire, Volkanovski says he is game if the UFC wants it. However, undefeated contender Movsar Evloev is already waiting in the wings for the next title shot at 145 pounds. Volkanovski is up for that challenge as well, all withi…

Jeremy Stephens is taking another gamble late in his combat sports career.

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Stephens is returning for his second Ultimate Fighting Championship stint after a successful run in BKFC. Stephens’ name was the biggest surprise addition to the upcoming UFC Des Moines card. Stephens will take on Mason Jones in front of home fans at the Wells Fargo arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 3.

Stephens was visiting his parents in Iowa when his wife advised him to reach out UFC CEO Dana White. Stephens had to wait for a week before White responded. A call from UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell followed and Stephens’ return was set up. Stephens revealed that his new UFC contract is a one-fight deal. While he is always up for any opportunities that present themselves in the UFC, Stephens mostly sees himself returning to BKFC following UFC Des Moines.

“It’s just a one-and-done, dude. Again, I’m betting on me, I can really set myself up for an opportunit…

Bryce Mitchell says he’s been having ‘demonic dreams’ since the #UFC314 press-conference, and believes Jean Silva is possessed by “a legion of demons” 😳

“When I said the name Jesus he was provoked to maliciousness, and he started barking like a dog.”

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🎥 @ThugnastyMMA #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/L0sBH4Vevs — Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 17, 2025

Jean Silva believes Bryce Mitchell’s demonic dreams stem from fear.

Silva and Mitchell are scheduled to fight at UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The two already traded barbs at a promotional press conference, where Silva successfully started “F--k Bryce Mitchell” chants.

Mitchell, who is an avid flat-earther, is known for his absurd and often controversial opinions. “Thug Nasty” now claims he has been unable to get sound sleep since the press conference. According to Mitchell, demons appear in his dreams, who then turn into beautiful women…

Leon Edwards recently shared his prediction for the upcoming title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.

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Muhammad puts his welterweight title on the line against Maddalena in the main event at UFC 315 on May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While Edwards believes it’s mostly a pick ‘em matchup, he would put his money on Maddalena if he had to. Edwards believes Maddalena is easy to take down but hard to control on the ground. According to “Rocky,” the Australian has good enough boxing to shut down Muhammad.

“If I had to put money on it, I’d probably favor JDM. If I had to put money on it,” Edwards said on "The Ariel Helwani Show.”

“Actually I don’t know, 50-50… I feel JDM, his boxing [will] shut him down. And he’s a good anti-grappler, JDM. It’s easy to take him down, but his scrambles on the floor are good. I feel like Belal won’t be enough to hold him down for that long. So maybe JDM.”

Edwards lost hi…