All articles tagged with #ufc news
Ilia Topuria, coming off a brutal loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC White House 2026 and out until year-end or early 2027, could return with a tune-up bout against Michael Chandler, per Arman Tsarukyan, who says Topuria needs an easier fight before pursuing a title run.
Arman Tsarukyan has been officially out of Dana White’s doghouse and is set to return as the UFC 331 co‑main event opponent of Mauricio Ruffy in Los Angeles. White confirmed at the pre‑fight press conference that Tsarukyan’s status has improved after a long stretch marked by injuries, weight‑cut drama and tense relations with UFC, with a win potentially moving him back into title contention by 2027 (though a Topuria/Pimblett double‑header on the same night isn’t planned).
At UFC 330’s press conference, Islam Makhachev told Ian Garry to 'SHUT UP,' drawing a rebuke from former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who urged Makhachev to be respectful. Makhachev blamed crowd noise for his reaction; Nurmagomedov stressed respect, noting Garry had shown him respect ahead of their bout on Paramount+. Islam defends the welterweight title against Garry on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Carlos Prates predicts Ian Garry will defeat Islam Makhachev by decision at UFC 330, citing Garry’s proven movement and a past win over Prates; bettors still favor Makhachev (-350) to Garry (+270); Prates’ view may stem from respect or hopeful thinking, and the piece notes Garry’s ambition to stay active with multiple title fights per year as Makhachev’s defenses remain infrequent through 2027.
Quillan Salkilld stunned Mateusz Gamrot by securing a first‑round rear-naked choke in the UFC Vegas 120 main event, extending Salkilld’s win streak to six and signaling his rise in the lightweight ranks on Paramount+.
After Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 loss, Logan Paul said the Irish superstar is shifting to WWE because he’s “incapable of fighting.” McGregor, 38, remains under UFC contract with a likely return in 2027 and has teased a BKFC path; WWE and UFC operate under the TKO Group umbrella, and a high-profile McGregor–Paul crossover has been floated but nothing is official.
UFC champion Alex Pereira uses the recent roster-cut controversy to renew attacks on referee Herb Dean, arguing officiating contributed to losses (including Michel Pereira’s at UFC Baku) and hinting he may seek to bar Dean from his next fight, framing it as a broader threat to the sport.
No. 12 UFC Lightweight Rafael Fiziev rebounded with a second‑round KO of Manuel Torres in UFC Baku, saying Justin Gaethje’s historic win inspired him to believe in himself again and his power.
Charles Oliveira says he’s next in line for a rematch with Justin Gaethje to unify the BMF belt with the UFC lightweight title, claiming he’s waiting for a phone call after Gaethje’s latest title win; Oliveira notes the history between them (including Oliveira’s 2022 submission win) and suggests the bout could crown a true double-champion, though the title picture could shift depending on other contenders.
Top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan blasted Justin Gaethje after Gaethje declined a new truck Tsarukyan vowed to buy as a thank-you for Gaethje’s upset-bet win over Ilia Topuria at UFC White House. Gaethje said there was no handshake and he didn’t owe the truck, prompting Tsarukyan to vent that Gaethje is an “asshole” and to vow he’ll “f—k him up” in the fight, hinting at beef ahead of a potential title bout.
UFC 330 (Aug. 15, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia) will feature Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight title in a five-round main event vs. No. 1 Ian Garry on Paramount+, with Mackenzie Dern putting her 115-pound belt on the line against No. 5 Gillian Robertson in the co-main. Makhachev moved up from lightweight to capture the crown and carries a historic win streak, while Garry has won back-to-back against ranked foes. Dern has surged in the strawweight division, and Robertson has won five straight, including a win over Amanda Lemos. Expect additional UFC 330 fight announcements soon.
Referee Herb Dean defended his officiating of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, explaining that the back-of-the-head rule focuses on the nape/occipital junction with about a one-inch variance and that Gane’s punches after the Pereira knockdown were legal; Pereira had criticized him and Dean posted an Instagram breakdown to clarify the rule as the controversy over the fight continued following Gane’s second‑round finish.
Khamzat Chimaev says he doesn’t want to kill Sean Strickland in UFC 328’s cage (haram), but notes that if a confrontation happened outside the ring, the rules would be different as Newark prepares for the showdown.
Daniel Rodriguez reveals he spent eight months incarcerated in a Tijuana prison, trained behind bars, and is set for a hungry UFC return after a three-fight win streak.
Conor McGregor says he’s in negotiations with the UFC for a return this summer, potentially around the White House card, but past timelines have proven unreliable and a pending drug-test suspension could keep him sidelined until the end of the month. June’s White House event appears unlikely; International Fight Week remains a possibility if he stays out of trouble, but no official date has been announced.