Kevin Holland stated he wants to avenge his losses but refuses a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev. Brendan Allen, who claimed he would destroy Chimaev, visited his training camp for sparring sessions with video results shown. Carlos Ulberg announced he wants to face Magomed Ankalaev in his first title defense. Paulo Costa moved up to number 7 in the light heavyweight rankings and called out Josh Hockett for a BMF belt fight. Sean O'Malley is having difficulty dealing with Jiri Prochazka's loss, and footage emerged of a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Josh Hockett.
Kevin Holland has declared he will not pursue a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev, even as he expressed a desire to settle other scores on his record. The middleweight contender's comments add an intriguing wrinkle to the divisional picture heading into the spring calendar.
Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight, backed up his bold prediction that he would dismantle Chimaev by visiting the Kazakh contender's training camp for sparring sessions, with footage from those sessions circulating online. Allen, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC and carries a 26-7 record, has shown he is willing to put his skills where his mouth is. The 30-year-old American stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and is one of the division's most complete threats, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a respectable striking output.
At light heavyweight, New Zealand's Carlos Ulberg has set his sights on Magomed Ankalaev, calling for a shot at the champion in Ankalaev's first title defense. The call-out puts Ulberg in a crowded conversation at the top of the 205-pound division.
Adding to that logjam, Brazilian striker Paulo Costa has moved up to number seven in the light heavyweight rankings and wasted no time making noise, calling out Josh Hockett for a BMF belt fight. Costa, nicknamed The Eraser, is primarily known as a middleweight where he holds a 16-4 record, but he brings elite striking wherever he competes, connecting at 58 percent accuracy while landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute.
Elsewhere, Sean O'Malley has publicly expressed difficulty processing the loss suffered by Jiri Prochazka. The Czech contender, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, is six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and one of the sport's most dynamic offensive fighters. Finally, footage surfaced of a college wrestling match between prospects Bo Nickal and Josh Hockett, drawing significant attention from fans tracking both men's trajectories.
Why it matters
- Holland refusing the Chimaev rematch leaves the middleweight contender picture unsettled
- Allen's training camp visit keeps the Chimaev rivalry simmering at 185 pounds
- Costa's move to light heavyweight and Ulberg's title call-out deepen an already congested top ten at 205 pounds
