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Tsarukyan floats Chandler as Topuria’s next test on path back to title
5 days ago•Source: MMA Fighting
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1.11 min•15 days ago
Rizin 54 weigh-in chaos: Patchy Mix misses bantamweight by six pounds, co-main reshuffled
Patchy Mix missed bantamweight by 6.3 pounds at RIZIN 54 weigh-ins (63.85 kg vs 61 kg), leading to the bout with Shoko Sato being removed from the co-main and triggering a card reshuffle. Kyoma Akimoto and Kleber Koike made weight for the main event, while Alibek Gadzhammatov missed flyweight by 3.85 pounds. Under RIZIN rules, overweight fighters’ wins can be overturned to a no-contest, and Mix’s three-fight winless streak (including UFC losses) continues.
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Gaethje’s Camp Pushes for Makhachev Clash as Potential Final Fight
Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz suggested the biggest possible payday for Gaethje could come from a superfight with Islam Makhachev, even proposing he might vacate the lightweight title for the bout. Gaethje, who recently claimed undisputed lightweight champion status after defeating Ilia Topuria in June, will let his coaching staff guide his next move, weighing options like other top contenders but targeting the most lucrative fight rather than necessarily chasing another title bout.
Van-Pantoja Rematch Headlines UFC 331 Flyweight Title Fight; Tsarukyan Returns in Co-Main
UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Sept. 19 will crown a flyweight champion in a rematch as Joshua Van defends his title against Alexandre Pantoja, who returns from injury; the card also features Arman Tsarukyan’s five-round clash with Mauricio Ruffy as both lightweights chase a title shot, plus a stacked lineup including Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi, Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega, and more, with the full bout order to be announced.
Medic Stuns D-Rod With 30-Second Belgrade KO
Uros Medic knocked out Daniel Rodriguez in 30 seconds at UFC Belgrade, landing a perfectly timed left hand that hurt Rodriguez and allowed follow-up punches before the referee stopped the fight, as Medic celebrated a home-city knockout and extended his streak.
Khabib Sees Usman Nurmagomedov as Best Lightweight Outside UFC as Free-Agent Talks Loom
Khabib Nurmagomedov called his undefeated cousin Usman Nurmagomedov the best lightweight outside the UFC and said negotiations over Usman’s future will occur next month, as Usman remained hot on the free-agent market after a 22-0 run with a first‑round KO of Archie Colgan in the PFL. The piece notes MVP’s merger with PFL and Usman’s challenge to Jake Paul about pay as fans speculate whether Usman could land in the UFC.
Nurmagomedov Secures First-Round KO to Retain PFL Crown as Ditcheva Returns at PFL New York
Usman Nurmagomedov defended his PFL title with a first-round KO in the main event at PFL New York, while Dakota Ditcheva made her return to the promotion on the UBS Arena card in Long Island, New York.
PFL New York Scrambles as Two Undercard Fights Are Scrapped
Two PFL New York undercard bouts were canceled during fight week (Simeon Powell vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov and Zach Nishimwe vs. Moustapha Diakhate) while the main card remains intact with Usman Nurmagomedov defending the lightweight title vs. Archie Colgan and Dakota Ditcheva facing Denise Kielholtz; a short-notice replacement is being sought for Nishimwe to keep Diakhate on the card.
Strickland: UFC Pay Is Predatory, Calls Out Sean Shelby
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland blasted the promotion’s pay as predatory, criticizing low show/win money, a roughly 20 percent revenue split, and Sean Shelby’s scheduling tactics—benching fighters and pressuring short-notice bouts—while noting UFC offers opportunity but urging others not to join.
Makhachev vows to chase Garry and grab the takedown at UFC 330
Islam Makhachev is gearing up for his UFC 330 title defense against Ian Machado Garry, relocating to New Jersey for final camp and planning to chase Garry’s movement, hunt for a takedown, and use old-school grappling to neutralize him. He notes Garry’s constant running as the key challenge and says he’ll adapt by pressing the fight. Oliveira is mentioned as a teammate navigating Garry’s camp, but Makhachev downplays any country-vs-country narrative, aiming for a 3-0 Irish run in this matchup. Training alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and Javier Mendez at Nick Catone MMA, the camp is focused and ready for fight night.
Pimblett Steals UFC 329 Spotlight, But Brown Doubts Championship Ceiling
Paddy Pimblett delivered a show-stealing performance at UFC 329, electrifying the crowd and boosting his superstar status as Conor McGregor’s return faltered. While Matt Brown praised Pimblett as the night’s standout, he remains skeptical about Pimblett’s championship ceiling, noting the tough path ahead through contenders like Gaethje, Topuria, Tsarukyan, and Oliveira.
Poirier’s post-fight reality check and MMA’s aging champion era
The Mailbag surveys Dustin Poirier’s tough adjustment to life after fighting, noting an Atlanta airport incident as a wake-up call but highlighting his hot sauce business, media work, and coaching as stabilizers while hoping he seeks help. It then previews upcoming fights (UFC 329 and 330), highlighting McGregor–Holloway and other bouts, with a focus on a historic Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry clash. The piece also discusses how referees should handle illegal strikes when a fighter is already hurt and argues MMA is in a period where champions are aging and the pool of young talent is thinner, suggesting a transitional Era of the Unc.