All articles tagged with #featherweight
Scott Coker announced Ki MMA, a new promotion launching in 2027, with Rich Chou as matchmaker and a 32‑fighter featherweight Grand Prix to be held across four continents in a ring instead of a cage; more details are expected at the upcoming press conference.
Veteran UFC featherweight Darren Elkins announced his retirement after being knocked out in 35 seconds by Yadier del Valle at UFC Vegas 120, closing a 31-fight UFC career that included bouts with top contenders such as Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski and Chad Mendes.
Paddy Pimblett says his UFC 329 fight is set with Benoit Saint Denis and a Topuria showdown isn’t expected before 2026, citing Topuria’s injuries from the Gaethje title fight and his likely absence this year; Pimblett aims to fight again by year’s end but notes beating BSD won’t automatically earn a Gaethje rematch, and he points out that Topuria is a featherweight who would likely move down if they ever met.
UFC Vegas 117 in Las Vegas features Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa in the main event, with Costa on a six-fight win streak and Allen trying to rebound from a rough patch; Doo Ho Choi faces Daniel Santos in the co-main and a slate of other bouts fill the card, while prelims confirm Nicolle Caliari defeated Shauna Bannon by submission (head-and-arm choke) at 3:08 of Round 3.
Movsar Evloev defeated Lerone Murphy by majority decision in the UFC London main event, extending Evloev’s undefeated record to 20-0 and positioning him for a featherweight title shot, while Murphy started strong but couldn’t capitalize in hostile London.
Movsar Evloev earned a majority decision over Lerone Murphy in the UFC London main event, using late grappling to seal the win despite a fourth-round point deduction, and immediately called for a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, with Murphy backing him as the next challenger.
Volkanovski says Movsar Evloev appears to be next in line for the featherweight title after Evloev’s win at UFC London, praising his stronger stand-up and takedown game, but he remains skeptical the UFC will grant the shot given last year’s lineup decisions.
Movsar Evloev remained undefeated by narrowly defeating Lerone Murphy in UFC London’s main event, a result that sparked debate over the performance and whether Evloev deserves a title shot after two judges scored it 48-46 for Evloev and the third 47-47 following a point deduction for a low blow; fellow fighters and commentators weighed in on the bout and the coverage.
Patchy Mix explains his UFC exit came after a financially challenging bantamweight run on a contender contract, choosing to move up to featherweight and sign with RIZIN where he’ll headline RIZIN 52 against Kyoma Akimoto. He aims to stay active with three fights in 2026, eyeing potential clashes with Razhabali Shaydullaev and other top contenders as he rebuilds his career.
Charles Oliveira says he can still make 145 pounds and hasn’t ruled out returning to featherweight for a title shot, even as he focuses on a lightweight title run and a possible legacy-boosting matchup with Conor McGregor; he notes dropping to welterweight would be easier, but prefers a featherweight path if the opportunity arises.
Brandon Figueroa stopped Nick Ball in the 12th round in Liverpool to win Ball’s WBA featherweight world title after an evenly fought 11 rounds; a flush left from Figueroa followed by a finishing flurry ended Ball’s reign, giving Figueroa a three-weight world title. Ball’s first pro loss snapped his 24-fight unbeaten run and sparked chaos in the crowd as celebrations continued, with questions about Ball’s next move, including possible rematches or other big bouts.
Brandon Figueroa outlasted Nick Ball in a gripping 12-round battle in Liverpool, landing a dramatic late left hook that dropped Ball and forced the referee to stop the bout, giving Figueroa the WBA featherweight title. The win improves Figueroa’s record to 27-2-1 with 20 KOs, while Ball falls to 23-1-1 with 13 KOs. The fight was closely contested earlier, with Ball having moments of cleaner punching, but Figueroa’s relentless pressure and finishing punch sealed the championship in the final round.
UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar says Alexander Volkanovski is defying age at 37 and should consider retiring as the featherweight champion to protect his health and legacy, even as he remains the sport’s top talent after reclaiming and defending the title, while acknowledging the ongoing GOAT debate and possible future tests against younger contenders like Evloev and Murphy.
Volkanovski battled through a seriously injured shoulder—coach Joe Lopez said they didn’t think he’d fight four weeks out—to win a five-round decision over Diego Lopes and defend the UFC featherweight title, becoming the oldest champion to do so at 37. Lopes threatened moments but Volkanovski stayed composed and on top, with Evloev and Murphy lined up as potential next challengers and Volkanovski signaling openness to additional bouts, possibly extending his run for several more years.
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes in a five‑round rematch at UFC 325 to defend the featherweight title. Lopes acknowledged mistakes but offered no excuses, praising Volkanovski and signaling possible future moves, with discussions hinted at potential opponents like Jean Silva or Yair Rodriguez.