MMA News

  • Can you guess this Invicta and UFC in today’s in-5 trivia game?
    by Mike Heck on March 31, 2025 at 11:00 am

    Think you can figure out which UFC fighter we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out. We’re back for another day of the SB Nation UFC in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. Today’s UFC in-5 game If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Sunday, March 30, 2025Saturday, March 29, 2025Friday, March 28, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5 The goal of the game is to guess the correct random UFC fighter player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED FIGHTERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. It will be a mix of well-known players and some “that guys” that we haven’t thought of in some time. The game will appear in slot #3 of the MMA Fighting layout each morning, with occasional movement later in the day. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media.

  • UFC 320 set for Guadalajara in next chapter of Noche UFC
    by Mike Heck on March 30, 2025 at 11:09 pm

    Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Noche UFC continues on with another September card on pay-per-view. During Saturday’s UFC Mexico broadcast, the promotion announced that UFC 320 is set for Sept. 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MMA Fighting (@mmafighting) This marks the third consecutive year for the UFC’s themed event. In 2023, the inaugural Noche UFC event was shown for subscribers of ESPN+ as a Fight Night card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by the rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title. Grasso and Shevchenko fought to a controversial draw. This past September, UFC 306 took place at Sphere in Las Vegas, a memorable event due to its one-of-a-kind venue. The Noche UFC sequel was capped off by Merab Dvalishvili defeating Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title, while Shevchenko regained her 125-pound title with a lopsided decision win over Grasso in their trilogy bout. The UFC is yet to announce any matchups for the card at Arena Guadalajara.

  • MMA News wrap-up: Conor McGregor says no to comeback? Plus Artem Vakhitov rejects UFC, Cain Velasquez sentenced, more
    by Alexander K. Lee on March 30, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    Conor McGregor | Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images Conor McGregor sure sounds like a man that’s done with fighting. At a BKFC press conference in Florida this past Thursday, McGregor all but admitted that he’s prioritizing his political career over a return to combat sports competition, claiming he passed on an offer to fight on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Specifically, the former two-division UFC champion said, “I’m happy with what I’ve done. There’s something else for me that’s in my gut right now and that’s kind of where I’m going, so we’ll see. Greatness don’t rush, also. Greatness does not rush.” That “something else” is a run at Irish presidency, if McGregor’s boasts are to be taken seriously. The 36-year-old has been a vocal critic of his native country’s government, particularly its immigration policies, and has vowed to become President to address these perceived problems. McGregor didn’t swear off fighting again entirely—he has yet to compete since breaking his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier in July 2021—and he expects fans will still tune in should he return to action. “My comeback will be slated as the greatest comeback or the biggest, most-anticipated comeback of all time, and right now Ireland is in my thoughts and that’s where I’m at,” McGregor said. “It will happen, I’m sure and it’s always great to be here and there you go.” If your reactions are anything to go by, the welcome for McGregor might not be as warm as he assumes it will be. Jippy McGregor should not be in mma news. He has not fought in 4 years and has no plans to fight. Stop! blackout45 Khabib should run for president against him. deraj610 Not that we needed confirmation at this point that he was done in MMA, but this is clearly a way out for him so he can operate under the delusion it was on his terms. Be subpar for Ja'Marr July makes 10 years since he beat Mendes… November 2026 makes 10 years since beating Eddie. It's kinda hilarious how short his reign was and how long ago it was. Baldy needs to make a new star Flamesting And my comeback will be slated as the greatest comeback or the biggest, most-anticipated comeback of all time Man, that is just sad. NordicFightFan It seems to me as if Conor in large parts will go down as a trivia more than a respected legend of the game 20 years from now. Things like "Who was the first double champion in the UFC" and "How many title defenses did Conor rack up" as a trick question rather than his wins and his greatness, that's how I think Conor will be mentioned mostly. Cain Velasquez sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading no-contest in attempted murder case Cain Velasquez’s legal saga is over for now and he’s now set for jail time after a no-contest plea in his trial for attempted murder, among other charges. It’s well-documented that Velasquez’s target was a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s son, so it’s fair to say many MMA fans and his fellow fighters have been sympathetic to his plight. You had your reactions as well and you can check out some of the best comments below. Be subpar for Ja'Marr Just a shit situation…. It's easy for someone to say they'd be composed in that situation… if it actually happens, it's a different story. At the end of the day, he could have shot the driver and the driver could have veered off and hit an innocent kid. NordicFightFan I think every single person - with or without kids - can understand why Cain reached the point he did, but there's just no looking past the fact that Cain's reaction seemingly endangered every single person he drove past while also literally shooting a guy who caused no suffering to the son of Cain. No judge can or should let that slide, you just can't. Meetch Yes, Cain shot someone. I'm not excusing the act. However, I look over at my daughter as I type this and think "What would I do if someone assaults or molests her?" The world changes drastically when you have kids of your own. pk76 As someone who just had the heart wrenching experience of working away from my kids for a year I feel for Cain. Leaving my kids was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and during the year away the intense feeling of missing them never went away. Everyday I had a knot in my stomach and cried after almost everytime I spoke with them.I probably would also go berserk if someone hurt or tried to hurt my kids but I also understand that the law doesn't care about that. It sucks that a good man is going to jail (good people can do crazy things) but it's understandable. Artem Vakhitov, last man to beat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, passes on UFC offer and now faces Rico Verhoeven in GLORY Artem Vakhitov, a decorated kickboxer who has a history with Alex Pereira, shockingly said no to a lucrative Contender Series contract (some sarcasm, perhaps). This sort of thing doesn’t happen often and Vakhitov’s decision caused a stir in the MMA community. SpawnofCthulhu When freaking glory pays more than the ufc, it's a sad day for everyone and that's why the ufc has become a hug fest. People who can throw a punch or have any sort of athletic ability can make more doing literally anything else. At this point all the ufc really has to offer is maybe a chance to kickstart someone's social media career Darrenm01 The way I understand it the DWCS is meant to bring in young and (literally) hungry fighters who are willing to sign long term contracts with the UFC for around $10K/$10K. Eventually the UFC will have their entire roster on these deals, maximizing future profits by keeping expenses down. The UFC doesn't care about talent or storyline, which is why they refused to make concessions for Vakhitov. They just want to pay for another cog in the wheel for the next APEX event. Beeunleashed Well that sucks. At 33 you don't really have time to fight out a crappy contract and see what you can negotiate after. Can't blame him for following the money. Clownfan Vakhitov handled it with class, but the offer was ridiculous. Agree with this coach that something more along the lines of what they paid Pereira would be more appropriate. He was probably looking at turning to MMA as a chance to make some big money. Gotta think the UFC didn't really want to sign him and maybe thinks they have enough Glory Kickboxers for the moment. There was no need for him to even compete on Contender Series given his resume. Maybe they just used him to get more eyeballs on that particular episode of DWCS and/ or in case they were running out of options for Alex to fight. Fat Bloke Load of rubbish. They made the rules and they could bend them. It's a silly excuse that makes no sense. They could offer him whatever contract they like whether he went on DWCS or not. Ex-Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader parts ways with PFL Ryan Bader is the latest former Bellator star to part ways with PFL and fans are frustrated to see another recognizable name leave the league for free agency. klev21 WHAT WAS THE POINT OF PFL BUYING BELLATOR? SB40 The PFL is doomed. Bellator was a waste of an acquisition. But, hey, they have $50 million for a Jones/Francis fight. Yeah right. nuts!!! I'd like to hear Donn Davis tell how many Bellator fighters are still on the roster and how many of those have fights scheduled. He's a BS salesman with a mouthful of samples. MMA_Devils_Advocate another one 'bite the dust'.... great job PFL treating fighters right...smh Telomere He pointedly thanked Bellator. Not a single established fighter is happy with these clowns at PFL. Correction. AJ is, but look how he's performing. PFL are a shambles. UFC Mexico Results: Moreno vs. Erceg UFC Mexico was a fine card and you all had thoughts about the main event, which saw Brandon Moreno win a workmanlike decision over Steve Erceg. HotThunder never thought I'd see the mexican Ferris Bueller vs a little Michael Scott Joe I I think Erceg should have taken a little further step back after 2 back to back losses. Think Moreno is too well rounded. Saku'sMissingEar Erceg got me screaming at the tv. Left hand UP man. Consistently dropping it and getting cracked.. aceknighthigh 4-1 Moreno...Steve seems solid but not special really. For a guy coming off a bad KO he sure seems to like dropping his left hand for no reason. Dwayne_Chapman Where does Erceg go from here? 29 years old, had a great attempt at the title but has been all downhill since. Do you keep fighting to try and stay in the top 10 or go work a 9-5 and worry about your 401k match? Poll of the Week In other combat sports news... Brandon Moreno beat Steve Erceg in the UFC Mexico main event to string together consecutive wins and keep his hopes of another title fight alive. The other big story Saturday night? Referee Mike Beltran letting Drew Dober take a ridiculous amount of damage at the hands of Manuel Torres. Kyoji Horiguchi is back in the UFC! Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Eddie Hall at KSW 105 is freaking happening! Ryan Bader has parted ways with PFL. Jeff Molina received a three-year suspension for his involvement in a betting scandal (though it’s retroactive, so he can fight again as early as this upcoming November). Pro debutant Jaron Lathrop channeled Joaquin Buckley to give us the best knockout of 2025 so far. Prayers for the people of Myanmar following a devastating earthquake. Din Thomas blasted Leon Edwards’ listless UFC London performance, calling him “not a true fighter at heart.” Happy trails to UFC veteran Antonina Shevchenko.

  • Jorge Masvidal calls out Leon Edwards to finally settle their beef: ‘I’ll come off the couch and whoop your ass’
    by Jed Meshew on March 30, 2025 at 7:00 pm

    Jorge Masvidal | Photo by Brenton Ho/Zuffa LLC Jorge Masvidal wants to settle his beef with Leon Edwards. Earlier this month, Edwards was finished for the first time in his career when Sean Brady submitted him in the main event of UFC London. It was the second consecutive loss for the former welterweight champion and dropped “Rocky” well outside the title conversation for the foreseeable future. And given that many fans hope that Edwards and Masvidal can finally meet in the cage, as does Masvidal. “We’ll figure it out for the next one,” Masvidal told Submission Radio when asked why he wasn’t fighting at UFC 314 in Miami. “We’re coming back, we’re going to make it work. But like I said, as long as it’s a Leon-type fight, we’ll definitely be the one to get it right. Leon fight against your boy, [that’s] where we need to be at.” Masvidal and Edwards’s beef dates back to a UFC London card in 2019. Edwards won a split decision over Gunnar Nelson in the co-main event, while Masvidal knocked out Darren Till in the main event. But after the event, the two had a backstage altercation where Masvidal punched Edwards. And he’s ready to do it again on a moment’s notice. “I’ll whoop that boy’s ass tomorrow,” Masvidal said when asked about a timeline for his return. “He’s always known since day-motherf*cking-one. Since the first day he crossed the line with me — pop, pop, pop, pop, pow! He knows. Don’t play that with me. I’ll come off the couch and whoop your ass. So be careful what you say, Leon. But I’m just chilling right now. Nothing’s promised. And I am 40 years old. Everything’s gotta be right. You guys gotta tell me, I’ve gotta see, and this and that, because I did kind of retire, you know? But if it’s right and they tell me, ‘We’re gonna take care of this, we’ve got the Leon fight,’ let’s go! I’m ready.” Masvidal retired from MMA in 2023 and then had a boxing match with Nate Diaz in July of 2024. Earlier this year, Masvidal announced his intention to return to the UFC out of retirement, but “Gamebred” has yet to be booked for anything. But despite his time off and the fact that he ended his UFC run on a four-fight losing streak, Masvidal is supremely confident he’ll put on a show for the fans and give Edwards much more than a three-piece with the soda when they do match up. “In every way, shape, and form,” Masvidal said when asked how he beats Edwards. “I know for one thing, he can’t wrestle me for five rounds. So I don’t have to worry about the takedowns. And I know on the feet, he’s fragile compared to me. The opponents we’ve faced, what he’s been able to do to them and what I’ve been able to do to them — for the most part besides [Kamaru] Usman — I’ve been able to put a lot of guys away that he fought and went to a decision with. The way he takes shots, the way I take shots, he’s just fragile compared to me. Get in that cage and I’ll prove it. I’ll more than prove how fragile he is compared to me.”

  • Brandon Moreno gunning for 4th Alexandre Pantoja fight to headline UFC 320 in Mexico: ‘I think it’s perfect’
    by Damon Martin on March 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Brandon Moreno doesn’t know the magnitude of his star power, but he believes there’s nobody better suited to headline UFC 320—the latest installment of Noche UFC—when the promotion lands in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sept. 13. Following a unanimous decision win over Steve Erceg to cap off the latest UFC Mexico card on Saturday, Moreno wasted no time turning his attention to the future with hopes that he can get another crack at gold for his next fight. Just before he walked out for the main event, the UFC announced the news about the September pay-per-view and it felt like fate for Moreno to win and then seek out a fourth fight against reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. “That’s the goal for sure in Guadalajara,” Moreno said during the UFC Mexico post-fight press conference. “I think it’s perfect. Even for the UFC, for the promotion. If they want to get a pay-per-view event in Noche UFC in September in Guadalajara, I think I’m the right choice.” It’s tough to argue against Moreno’s logic at least when it comes to booking a major local attraction for the card that’s built around celebrating Mexican Independence Day. The only problem Moreno might face is convincing the UFC to give him another crack at Pantoja considering he’s already fought and lost that fight on three different occasions in the past. One of those losses came on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, so it doesn’t actually appear on his record, but Moreno still fell to Pantoja in two subsequent bouts, which includes the fight where the Brazilian captured the 125-pound title in 2023. Still, Moreno knows his ability to draw a crowd and his continued dominance in the flyweight division should at least earn him consideration for that opportunity. “I feel today I have enough argument to raise my hand and say I can be the main event in the pay-per-view in Guadalajara in September,” Moreno said. “Let’s see what happens. I saw [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter [Campbell] and he looked very happy with the people, with the crowd. That’s the thing, who knows how much I move the needle? Maybe not too much. Flyweights, always with the same problem, that’s crazy. But I really believe every single time I step in the octagon, the people goes crazy. That’s a fact. Let’s see what happens.” Saturday’s UFC Mexico card featured a sold-out crowd with 19,731 fans in attendance and the highest grossing gate for a UFC Fight Night event in history with over $2.53 million earned. Those kinds of factors bode well for Moreno’s request to headline the next major UFC card in Mexico. As for Pantoja, he still hasn’t been booked for his next title defense, although all signs point towards him returning earlier than September with potential opponents Manel Kape and/or Kai Kara-France waiting in the wings. It remains to be seen what happens for Moreno, but he’s happy to serve so long as his next fight puts him back in Mexico again, especially after he finally got his first win there after starting his UFC career with an 0-2-1 record competing in Mexico City. “Every single time when I got a loss [in Mexico City], I was like I don’t know what happened here,” Moreno said. “I’m doing all the job. I’m doing the job and I’m not getting the result I want but I don’t know. This time I just tried to keep all those thoughts out of the conversation and just come here, be very clear and put all the job together. “I felt all this fight week like everything feels different. I had the experience. I have the energy and at the end, we secured [the win]. I’m happy.”

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