Latest UFC and MMA news, fight updates, rankings changes, and breaking stories.
Top StoryThe latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, dated July 14, show Paddy Pimblett moving up in the lightweight division. The updated standings reflect his recent activity in the weight class.
Sean O'Malley has issued a deadline to Petr Yan, stating that if Yan does not defend the UFC title in time, O'Malley will 'claim' to be champion instead. The ultimatum adds pressure to Yan to make a title defense or risk O'Malley publicly disputing his championship status.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has spoken out against UFC matchmaking, saying two fighters were 'left no choice' but to fight each other. The former lightweight champion's comments signal continued scrutiny of how the promotion pairs up its athletes.
Matt Brown has shared his belief that Conor McGregor was feeling the pressure before suffering a devastating knee injury. Brown offered his perspective on McGregor's mindset heading into the bout in which the injury occurred.
Paddy Pimblett earned a submission victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. The finish was described as a slick submission, adding another highlight-reel finish to Pimblett's record.
Damien Anderson (5-0 MMA) and Ezra Elliott (7-0 MMA) have been added as a late featherweight bout to this weekend's UFC Oklahoma City event. Anderson, 29, has finished four opponents by submission and one by knockout, with recent experience in Fury FC and Cage Fury FC. Elliott, 26, trains at The MMA Lab and Red Hawk Academy under Tim Welch — alongside Jared Cannonier and Sean O'Malley — and holds five submission wins and two KO/TKO victories. Both fighters are undefeated, making this a compelling all-American prospect matchup.
Jonathan Powell has stated his intention to capture a belt at the 559Fights125 event as a stepping stone toward reaching the UFC. The fighter is using the regional bout as a proving ground on his way up the ranks.
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Arlind Berisha (5-0) will fight for a UFC contract on September 8th at Dana White's Contender Series Week 5. He faces Connecticut's Quentin Pasley (3-0), with all eight combined wins between them coming in the first round. The matchup was confirmed by sources.
The professional grappling world appears to be moving toward a co-promotional alliance aimed at competing against the UFC. The reported collaboration would bring multiple grappling organizations together under a unified effort.
Conor McGregor celebrated his 38th birthday on July 14. The former two-division UFC champion has not competed since his last UFC appearance nearly 14 years after his promotional debut.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has booked a third UFC star to appear alongside Tom Aspinall and Ian Machado Garry on an upcoming boxing event. The identity of the additional fighter has not yet been confirmed.
Christian Leroy Duncan is set to compete at UFC OKC on July 18, riding an impressive four-fight winning streak into the event. The card airs live at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Following his most recent victory, Paddy Pimblett told UFC President Dana White that he wants to fight Max Holloway next. Pimblett told White he "stole the show" and pressed him to make the matchup, with White responding that they would talk about it.
A packed week of combat sports action runs from July 15–20, featuring UFC OKC, RIZIN Landmark 15, PFL Austin, KSW 120, K-1 Dontaku, ONE Fight Night 45, and several other events. Full fight cards and streaming information are available for fans looking to follow the action.
Johnny Eblen has declared himself among the top three middleweights on the planet, regardless of promotion. The confident champion believes he can beat the best middleweights in the world as long as he comes prepared and proves he is the better fighter.
TUF 34 fighter Tina Black has spoken out about the meaning behind her nickname, framing it as a deliberate statement against prejudice. "I really want to represent black people and show that we have our place, we have our voice, and we can achieve anything we want," Black said.
Damien Anderson, who trained with the Danaher Death Squad and co-owns Simple Man Martial Arts, is drawing attention for bringing a modern jiu-jitsu game to the UFC. Though he never competed at ADCC, Anderson is regarded as a strong grappler, particularly by the standards of jiu-jitsu seen inside the octagon.
The coaching team of Islam Makhachev has not ruled out a matchup with Max Holloway following UFC 329. The potential fight remains in play as Makhachev looks ahead to his next challenge.
Conor McGregor's injury sustained at UFC 329 may present a more difficult recovery than the gruesome leg fracture he suffered five years ago. The severity of the latest setback raises serious questions about his timeline for returning to competition.
Dan Hooker has publicly suggested that Conor McGregor pivot to boxing as a way to end his fighting career. The callout comes as McGregor's MMA future remains uncertain.
RJ Harris has signed with the UFC after a journey that began with low-key, informal competition. The fighter's quick ascent to the world's premier MMA organization is the subject of a new feature report.
Alvin Hines suffered the first professional loss of his career at UFC Oklahoma City. The fighter responded with a motivational message, saying he took many lessons from the event.
Cody Garbrandt has indicated he intends to keep competing following UFC 329. The former UFC bantamweight champion appears determined to press forward with his professional fighting career.
Tracy Cortez has opened up about her loss at UFC 329, framing the setback as part of her development as a fighter. Her message centered on embracing difficult moments as a necessary part of growth.
Farid Basharat has spoken about his ambitions following UFC 329, expressing his desire to remain on the UFC roster and ultimately compete for a title. The bantamweight prospect made clear that championship gold is his long-term goal.
Dricus Du Plessis has publicly dismissed the idea of a rematch between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, labeling the discussions "ridiculous." The middleweight champion made his feelings clear on the matter.
UFC Oklahoma City's fight card has been finalized, with a batch of undefeated newcomers added to the bill headlined by Dricus du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman. The additions round out what promises to be a stacked event.
Following UFC 329, Ryan Gandra has named Israel Adesanya as his dream opponent. Gandra described the matchup as a pie-in-the-sky target fight.
Fatima Kline (9-1) and Tabatha Ricci (12-4) are set to clash at UFC OKC this weekend. Kline enters the bout having won three consecutive fights inside the UFC.
Sedriques Dumas has been released by the UFC after compiling a 3-5 record with one no-contest inside the promotion. He was on a three-fight losing streak at the time of his release.
Max Holloway has drawn sharp criticism for his showing at UFC 329, with detractors calling his actions the dumbest thing of the year. The rebuke centers on Holloway allegedly squandering what was described as his biggest moment.
Alvin Welch has stepped up to challenge Corvan Allen for the flyweight belt at #559Fights125. The title bout adds a high-stakes centerpiece to the regional card.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly stated that Ian Machado Garry will be a difficult fight for Islam Makhachev at UFC 330. Khabib noted that Garry's movement and long-distance striking from his 6'3" frame present a style the team has not previously encountered, adding that they will need to close distance, grab him, and take him down.
Following his first-round knockout victory at UFC 329, Damian Pinas has spoken out to explain why he called out Baisangur Susurukaev. The callout drew attention in the aftermath of his impressive finish.
Junior dos Santos has pulled out of his scheduled grappling match against Fabricio Werdum. No reason for the withdrawal has been disclosed.
Tabatha Ricci opened up about her life on the farm, her aspirations for a title shot, and a potential matchup with Kline ahead of UFC Oklahoma City. The Brazilian strawweight remains focused on climbing the rankings.
