Month: September 2026

Javier Mendez doesn't agree with Dana White's assessment of Ian Garry's performance against Islam Makhachev.

Makhachev retained the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Garry in the UFC 330 main event on Aug. 15. White later criticized the Irish challenger for being too passive and overly respectful, which he believes cost him the fight.

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Javier Mendez praises Ian Garry’s strategy in UFC 330 loss to Islam Makhachev Mendez has a different take on Garry’s strategy against Makhachev. While he understands the UFC CEO’s point of view, the American Kickboxing Academy head coach commended Garry’s approach.

“From that perspective, I get where he [Dana White] is coming from, but he doesn't understand the mentality of a fighter and what Ian pulled off,” Mendez said. “If he understood that, then he'd have a different outlook on it like I do.”

Mendez acknowledged that the fight was lackluster, but Garry’s s…

Frank da Silva Castro’s luck has seemingly deserted him, as a second chance on Dana White’s Contender Series has now fallen apart.

Castro (8-0-1) was originally scheduled to fight An Tuan Ho on DWCS last year. However, he withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Eduardo Henrique. He maintained his undefeated record with a win on the regional circuit earlier this year to earn another shot at an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

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Frank da Silva Castro is reportedly out of DWCS Week 5 against Colton Loud Castro was scheduled to face Colton Loud (7-1) in Week 5 of DWCS 2026 on Sept. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. However, he has reportedly been forced out of the matchup due to visa issues.

Still just 22 years old, the unbeaten Brazilian bantamweight has plenty of time to make it to the UFC, but will likely need to return to the regional scene and pick up more wins while his visa issues get sorted out.

Castro will now be replaced…

Aboubakar Younousov blames his surname for a missed opportunity to make an Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

Younousov (8-0) claims he was willing to step up on short notice to fight Nathaniel Wood (23-6) at UFC Paris after the Englishman’s original opponent withdrew from the upcoming event. He claims Wood allegedly turned down the matchup, viewing it as a risky move.

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Aboubakar Younousov says Nathaniel Wood rejected short-notice UFC Paris fight Younousov, the Ares FC bantamweight champion, was even willing to move up a weight class to face Wood. He believes Wood turned down the matchup as certain surnames, primarily those that originate from the Caucasus regions, are feared across mixed martial arts.

“As you know, another fighter ultimately stepped in as a replacement because Nathaniel Wood refused to face me,” Younosov wrote on Instagram. “Yet, the odds were stacked in his favor: weight, training camp, and experience. Honestly, I’m actually p…