Kamaru Usman is eager for his UFC return – but not until he’s healthy. Although Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) hasn’t competed since a short-notice majority decision loss to middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023, his name has been in the headlines plenty of times. Usman has recently been linked to a fight with
Day: January 10, 2025
Criticizing MMA official Keith Peterson might be one of former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz’s favorite things to do. Since Peterson called a stop to Cruz’s title fight at UFC 249 against Henry Cejudo in the second round, it’s been nothing but critical words from the former champ about the referee’s work. Cruz (24-4 MMA,
LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC’s first show of the new year is official after the headliners made weight Friday. Ahead of UFC Fight Night 249 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex, women’s strawweight standouts Mackenzie Dern (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) and Amanda Ribas (12-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) stepped on the
With a five-fight knockout streak inside the octagon, Steve Garcia thinks he should be a bigger talking point going into UFC Fight Night 252. After a string of definitive performances, Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) will get his biggest test to date when he takes on legendary striker Edson Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) in
Merab Dvalishvili’s former teammate is helping Umar Nurmagomedov prep for UFC 311. Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) defends his bantamweight title against Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the Jan. 18 co-main event from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). A post on social media from Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili brought light to the situation, where
There’s a new addition to the Browne-Rousey family. On Thursday, former UFC star Ronda Rousey announced she and her husband Travis Browne welcomed daughter Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne into the world. The exact date of birth is unclear. “Our little girl came into this world during a windstorm into a city on fire, so grateful she
Thursday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here. On Episode 3,530, the fellas welcome in a pair of exciting UFC fighters: Brendan Allen and Steve Garcia. They also look ahead to the first UFC event of 2025 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Tune in!
Santiago Ponzinibbio is happy to be part of UFC’s first card of 2025 because it opens the door for potentially competing four times in this calendar year, but still mad that he’s 1-4 in his past five inside the octagon. Ponzinibbio, who once saw himself entering talks for a shot at the welterweight gold for
A new year of MMA is upon us after the calendar rolled over to 2025, and with that comes a fresh slate of hope and optimism about what the sport could bring. UFC reporter Megan Olivi gets to view things from up close given her role with the company, and there’s a list of things
Notable UFC lightweights collide this March. Alexander Hernandez vs. Kurt Holobaugh is the newest edition to UFC Fight Night 254, a March 15 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet
LAS VEGAS – Christian Rodriguez is no stranger to derailing hype trains. Rodriguez (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) welcomes Austin Bashi (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 249 (ESPN+) main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Rodriguez was the first to beat highly touted Raul Rosas Jr., and
Umar Nurmagomedov wants Merab Dvalishvili to back up his words before UFC 311. As fight week for the first numbered event of the year looms, Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) continue to show signs of friction going into the Jan. 18 bantamweight title bout at Intuit Dome in Inglewood,