UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Gets New Date

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards. With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week. Between Monday, September 23, and […]

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MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

Between Monday, September 23, and Sunday, September 29, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights being adjusted. For those, see below:

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VIDEO: Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage After Confirmation Of UFC Return Date

For the first time since his 2021 return, Nick Diaz will be back in the Octagon once again, taking on Vicente Luque as part of the main card for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. Following the announcement of that rescheduled contest, Diaz posted a teaser to his Instagram page, showcasing footage of […]

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For the first time since his 2021 return, Nick Diaz will be back in the Octagon once again, taking on Vicente Luque as part of the main card for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

Following the announcement of that rescheduled contest, Diaz posted a teaser to his Instagram page, showcasing footage of a training session to the tune of Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.”

Diaz and Luque were originally scheduled to face off at UFC Abu Dhabi early last month before the fight was postponed due to travel issues on the side of the Stockton native.

Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

Diaz last fought in the Octagon at UFC 266, losing a rematch with old foe Robbie Lawler by way of TKO.

That fight was Diaz’s first since his infamous UFC 183 main event bout with Anderson Silva — a fight in which Diaz failed a drug test and was nearly banned for life by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Diaz’s last UFC win came against BJ Penn at UFC 137 well over a decade ago.

Luque, meanwhile, has suffered defeat in three of his last four, most recently losing to Joaquin Buckley in Atlantic City back in March.

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Nick Diaz Has New UFC Return Date In The Works After Abu Dhabi Cancellation

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will likely make his next Octagon appearance before the year is out. Diaz — a former Strikeforce and WEC champion — hasn’t competed since UFC 266 in September of 2021, where he was stopped by Robbie Lawler. That outing marked his first in six years and left many […]

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Former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will likely make his next Octagon appearance before the year is out.

Diaz — a former Strikeforce and WEC champion — hasn’t competed since UFC 266 in September of 2021, where he was stopped by Robbie Lawler. That outing marked his first in six years and left many calling for his retirement.

The Stockton native isn’t done yet, however, and he was scheduled to make the walk again last month in Abu Dhabi. But his planned clash with ranked welterweight Vicente Luque fell through owing to a travel issue on the side of Diaz.

Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that matchup has been kept together and is now targeted to take place at the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this coming December.

Prior to his unsuccessful return three years ago, Diaz’s previous outing saw him share the cage with Anderson Silva in 2015. The Brazilian had his unanimous decision win overturned to a no contest after testing positive for drostanolone and androsterone.

Diaz, meanwhile, tested positive for elevated marijuana metabolites, leading to a controversial suspension and lengthy layoff on the sidelines for the fan favorite.

He’ll now look to return to his form of old in his second bout back at the expense of Luque, a longtime figure in the welterweight top 15 who has lost three of his last four.

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Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque in the Works for UFC 310 on December 7

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque in the Works for UFC 310 on December 7Nick Diaz is back! For real this time. After travel issues kept him from a return to the Octagon…

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque in the Works for UFC 310 on December 7

Nick Diaz is back! For real this time.

After travel issues kept him from a return to the Octagon in Abu Dhabi, the leader of the Diaz army appears to be set for his next fight. According to a report from MMA journalist Alex Behunin, Diaz is set to square off with No. 14 ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque at UFC 310 on Saturday, December 7.

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The bout was originally scheduled to go down at Etihad Arena last month, but travel-related issues forced Diaz to bow out of the contest.

It’s been three long years since we last saw Diaz in action having last faced UFC Hall of Famer ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. The 41-year-old Stockton native delivered a lackluster showing and ultimately suffered a third-round TKO against the former welterweight world champion.

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Nick Diaz hasn’t won a UFC fight in 13 years

Diaz has not won a fight in the Octagon since a unanimous decision over BJ Penn at UFC 137 in October 2011.

Luque, 31, will look to use Diaz as a stepping stone back into the win column after dropping three of his last four fights, including a second-round knockout loss against Joaquin Buckley in his most recent outing. Overall, ‘The Silent Assassin’ is 22-10-1 in his mixed martial arts career and carries a 15-6 record under the UFC banner.

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Diaz boasts a similar MMA record, having gone 26-10, but his UFC run has been far less impressive, going 7-7 with one no-contest. Though he never captured gold inside the Octagon, Diaz is a former WEC and Strikeforce welterweight champion.

Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310

Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024. Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite […]

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Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024.

Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite Yan Xiaonan at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April.

The Californian appeared to be in a two-horse race with Virna Jandiroba, whose submission of Amanda Lemos in a UFC Fight Night main event in the summer marked her fifth straight triumph.

Should recent reports come to fruition, however, neither woman has been given the assignment. Instead, they’ll have to battle one another for it.

According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, a clash between the #1- and #3-ranked strawweight contenders is set to take place on the UFC 310 card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7.

Suarez, Jandiroba Expected To Meet In Likely Title Eliminator At UFC 310

Should this bout be made official by the UFC, the final pay-per-view of 2024 will include high stakes at 115 pounds.

Suarez (10-0) has done what she can to make up for lost time after injuries kept her away from the cage for close to four years. After announcing her return with a submission win over Montana De La Rosa up at flyweight, the 33-year-old wrestling specialist forced a tap from Jéssica Andrade to put her immediately back into the strawweight title conversation.

Jandiroba (21-3), meanwhile, has found winning form following an inconsistent 3-3 start to life in the UFC. After defeats to Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas stalled her rise, the Brazilian has gone on her longest winning run on MMA’s biggest stage, outpointing Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez before a bonus-winning submission of former title challenger Lemos in what marked her main event debut.

Suarez vs. Jandiroba joins a light heavyweight matchup between Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes as the second fight reported for UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

Tatiana Suarez
Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC)

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‘I don’t see it’: Shavkat Rakhmonov unfazed by Conor McGregor’s potential welterweight push

'I don't see it': Shavkat Rakhmonov unfazed by Conor McGregor's potential welterweight pushAmid his own quest for a title charge at the welterweight limit, unbeaten divisional challenger, Shavkat Rakhmonov is unfazed…

'I don't see it': Shavkat Rakhmonov unfazed by Conor McGregor's potential welterweight push

Amid his own quest for a title charge at the welterweight limit, unbeaten divisional challenger, Shavkat Rakhmonov is unfazed by a potential future push to gold by former two-division champion, Conor McGregor — amid links to an end-of-year UFC 310 return clash.

Rakhmonov, the current number three ranked welterweight contender, most recently improved to 18-0 as a professional back in December on the main card of UFC 296, laying waste to former title challenger, Stephen Thompson with a stunning second round rear-naked choke win.

Shavkat Rakhmonov claims Belal Muhammad is unable to fight at UFC 310: 'He isn't ready'

As for former two-division champion, McGregor, the former featherweight and lightweight gold holder was scheduled to snap a three year hiatus at UFC 303 back in June, taking on Michael Chandler in a matchup at the welterweight limit.

Shavkat Rakhmonov unfazed by potential welterweight surge by Conor McGregor

However, amid claims to stake a shot at a record-setting third championship charge, McGregor’s presence at the weight class against Missouri veteran, Chandler is not causing any concern or finishing talent, Rakhmonov.

Belal Muhammad declined to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 307, explains Shavkat

“He’s (Conor McGregor) been getting ready to fight a long time but wasn’t able to do that yet so in my head, I don’t even think about him winning this one fight in three years is going to do something,” Shavkat Rakhmonov told MMA Fighting. “I understand he’s a big star but in my head, I don’t see it being possible.”

“I believe UFC is the best and the most fair organization so I believe they’re gonna do everything right,” Shavkat Rakhmonov continued.

Earlier this week to boot, Uzbekistan finisher, Rakhmonov claimed current welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad flat out rejected the chance to fight him in October in a heated grudge fight between the duo.

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“Yeah, actually, I’ve already been offered a fight to fight Belal (Muhammad), and I accepted the fight against Belal,” Shavkat Rakhmonov explained. “But unfortunately, he declined to fight me due to timing issues. He wasn’t ready to defend his belt at this time. So, we’ll see what’s going to happen and when he’s going to be ready, so I will be able to fight him.”