MMA Fighting

Following a chaotic and unpredictable 2025 in the world of MMA, 2026 is shaping up to be even crazier — both in and out of the cage. Could this be a year that will see Conor McGregor actually fight in the UFC? Does Jon Jones return? Will Khamzat Chimaev keep his hands on UFC gold? On a very special edition of On To the Next One, those questions — and a lot more — are presented during the 2026 pred...

With 2025 being such a crazy year in the world of mixed martial arts, we felt it was important to look back at the predictions that were made heading into a memorable year for the sport. In part one of our two-part predictions extravaganza, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee look back on some of the responses they had to listener questions in regards to what 2025 was going to bring. Top...

The MMA world will remember 2025 for a number of crazy moments and breakout stars — as well as one of the most controversial voting moments in MMA awards history. Join the MMA Fighting staff as we look back at the biggest highs, surprises, and most unbelievable moments of 2025 in a special year-end retrospective. We’re honoring all the nights that defined a rollercoaster of a year this sport has s...

With just a couple of days left in the year, it’s almost time to say goodbye to 2025, and hello to 2026. In the sport of MMA, there was certainly a lot to like this past year — and a lot that needs to be improved upon, from the UFC, to PFL, and beyond. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew bring you the fourth annual BTL Promotional Festivus — where th...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to Jake Paul losing to Anthony Joshua and what it means for his future. Does Paul deserve respect for just stepping into that ring to face a former heavyweight champion? What do we make of his performance? Will Paul fight again? We’ll discuss this and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The...

Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the main event of Friday's Paul vs. Joshua fight card in Miami — a result that seemed to be as close to a unanimous prediction as you'll see in combat sports. However, Paul was able to make it to the sixth round before the eventual finish that left Paul's jaw broken, and with Joshua's hand raised. Despite the win, does Joshua's legacy take any kind of hit wi...

The UFC has wrapped things up for 2025, and now the combat sports world turns their attention to Miami and the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua heavyweight matchup in the boxing ring. With Joshua heavily favored to get the victory, what would be the result to make the event and matchmaking as successful as it can be? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses the Paul vs. Joshua m...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the latest comments from Francis Ngannou addressing his future and saying he would like to fight Jon Jones on the UFC White House card. Is Ngannou regretting his decision to leave UFC or is something else at work? Plus, we’ll break down Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, a few fighters suddenly picking...

Manel Kape had the chance to muscle his way into the flyweight title picture at UFC Vegas 112 and he more than took advantage of the opportunity. It took a little over three minutes for Kape to remind everyone he’s the most dangerous knockout threat at 125 pounds as he took out Brandon Royval. Now, riding a three-fight win streak, he has his sights set on newly crowned champion Joshua Van. With a...

Manel Kape did everything he needed to do in order to earn a UFC flyweight title shot against Joshua Van, both in the fight and on the microphone inside the octagon. But did the incredible first-round knockout victory for "Starboy" against Brandon Royval clinch his first opportunity at UFC gold, or is Tatsuro Taira ahead of him while Alexandre Pantoja heals up? Following the final event for the UF...

The UFC's flyweight division has become even more interesting over the past week following Joshua Van's championship win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323. One week after the surprising title change, Brandon Royval faces Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Vegas 112. With Van already holding a victory over Royval this year, could Kape leapfrog his way towards a title shot if he gets the win on Sat...

The UFC just ended their pay-per-view era with UFC 323, and this Saturday, the promotion's relationship with ESPN comes to an end. With Petr Yan's incredible performance over Merab Dvalishvili to regain the bantamweight title opening many eyes, the final PPV appeared to be quite the success for the hardcore fan base. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses Yan's all-time gr...

The final UFC event of 2025 is upon us. This Saturday, UFC Vegas 112 takes place at the world's mightiest APEX, the final UFC event of 2025. On top of that, there's a PFL card with weekend with a couple of marquee fights, so No Bets Barred is here to break it all down for the last time this year. This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to look at UFC Vegas 112 and PFL Eruope. Topics discussed includ...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the fallout from UFC 323 including Petr Yan beating Merab Dvalishvili to reclaim the bantamweight title. Plus Joshua Van became UFC flyweight champion after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a gruesome arm injury but was his post-fight celebration too much? And we’ll discuss Dana White shutting down Arman...

Odds were presented as very unlikely for either Merab Dvalishvili or Alexandre Pantoja to leave UFC 323 without their world titles, but very, very few could've predicted both would lose their championships on Saturday night. After their sizable reigns came to an end after losses to Petr Yan and Joshua Van, will they both come back to immediate rematches? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One...

Petr Yan is now the third fighter in UFC history to become a multiple time undisputed bantamweight champion as "No Mercy" put on one of the best performances of the year to upset Merab Dvalishvili to regain the 135-pound world title. After Dvalishvili's long winning streak, and wild 2025 campaign, the two will almost certainly meet fora third time in 2026. Following the final UFC pay-per-view for,...

Merab Dvalishvili looks to successfully defend his title for a record-breaking fourth time in a year when he faces Petr Yan in a rematch in the main event of UFC 323. If Dvalishvili pulls it off, is it the greatest year in UFC history? And how surprising would it be if Yan delivered an upset? Ahead of Saturday's pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee preview the UFC's fi...

Dana White made it a memorable Thanksgiving for MMA fans with the announcement during the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game that Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim UFC lightweight title headlines UFC 324 over the Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes mega-fight, and also revealed later that evening that Alexander Volkanovski will face Diego Lopes for the second time in a row in a featherweight titl...

The final UFC pay-per-view ever is here. This Saturday, UFC 323 takes place in Las Vegas, the final pay-per-view of 2025, which means the last PPV ever, as the UFC's new broadcast rights deal with Paramount will shake things up. And for their final PPV, the UFC is delivering the good, with two title fights and several big names for the penultimate card of 2025, and No Bets Barred is here to break...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the announcements made for UFC 324 and UFC 325 including Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes and Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2. Did the UFC make the right call with these fights? Plus we’ll give our picks and predictions for UFC 323 including if Petr Yan can...

Arman Tsarukyan staked his claim as the top lightweight contender in the UFC with a spectacular performance against Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar this past Saturday, and he wants his chance at Ilia Topuria and his world title. Will the performance, and timing, work out for Tsarukyan, or will he have to watch Paddy Pimblett fight for the gold? On a special Thanksgiving week edition of B...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss the fallout from UFC Qatar including who is actually going to get the next shot at lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and did Ian Machado Garry make a compelling argument that he should be fighting Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title? Plus we react to the news that Jake Paul is actually facing...

Arman Tsarukyan believes he has done enough to challenge Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight title following his incredible performance against Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar. Will the UFC reward Tsarukyan with a title shot, or will Tsarukyan have to wait and watch Paddy Pimblett get the shot at Topuria first? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Al...

Arman Tsarukyan sent a message to lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC Qatar, and then sent another in his post-fight interview. After dispatching Dan Hooker in dominant fashion, is Tsarukyan the guy that faces Topuria in his first title defense? Following Saturday's UFC Fight Night event in Doha, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the eventful card, Tsarukyan's...

The UFC is making its debut in Qatar. Fresh off the heels of UFC 322, the world’s leading MMA promotion follows up an exceptional Pay-Per-View event with a monster Fight Night card, traveling to the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar, for the first time. In the main event, Arman Tsarukyan puts his No. 1-ranked lightweight contender spot on the line against the surging Dan Hooker, w...