All articles tagged with #ufc news
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.
UFC officials reportedly bench No. 2 welterweight Ian Garry to clear a path for a 'much bigger' Islam Makhachev bout, with two likely options – a champion vs. champion showdown with Ilia Topuria or a Conor McGregor headliner – keeping Garry's title odds unclear and a final call expected by the end of the week.
Ronda Rousey says UFC’s shift to Paramount+ and the elimination of pay-per-view points killed a potential return match with Gina Carano inside the Octagon; with UFC unable to offer the money they sought, the superfight moved to Jake Paul’s MVP for a Netflix bout on May 16, illustrating how streaming deals and fighter pay shaped the fallout.