Tag: UFC News

Veteran lightweight star, King Green is slated for his return to action for the first time since last summer, booking a high-stakes clash with surging contender, Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 313 on March 8. from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Green, who has been sidelined since last July, most recently featured against promotional star, Paddy Pimblett, suffering a stunning first round triangle choke submission loss to the surging Liverpool grappler.

As for Ruffy, the Brazilian contender, turned in his eleventh career win at UFC 309 back in November at Madison Square Garden, turning in a unanimous decision win over James Llontop.

King Green books return against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 313

News of King Green’s return at UFC 313 against the streaking, Mauricio Ruffy was first reported by MMA Mania reporter, Alex Behunin.

Banger Fight News

King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy has been added to UFC 313, per sourceshttps://t.co/InTtB7inHa

— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) January 28, 2025

“King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy has been added to UFC 313, per sources,” Behunin posted on his X account.

With his loss to the above-mentioned former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, Pimblett, San Bernardino native, Green saw his impressive run of three wins in his last four halted — following a UFC 300 decision win over fellow veteran, Jim Miller.

During his recent run, Green turned in a pair of victories consecutively over both Grant Dawson, and stopped former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson with an arm-triangle submission win.

2-0 during his two-fight tenure with the promotion following his move from the Contender Series, prior to his decision over Llontop, Ruffy landed a dominant flying knee and strikes knockout win over Jamie Mullarkey.

UFC 313 takes place on March 8. from the T-Mobile Arena, with a massive undisputed light heavyweight title fight between the incumbent, Alex Pereira, and Magomed Ankalaev set to take main event honors.

In the night’s co-headliner — over five rounds, former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje returns against streaking Kiwi striker, Dan Hooker.

Finally booked to make his return at UFC 313, Alex Pereira has warned incoming opponent, Magomed Ankalaev he will troll and mock him beyond belief — following notable instances of him poking fun at the likes of Israel Adesanya, and recent UFC 311 feature, Jamahal Hill.

Pereira, a former two-weight champion under the umbrella of the organization, is slated to make his return at UFC 313 on March 8. — taking on surging Russian force, Ankalaev in the pair’s overdue grudge fight in Las Vegas.

Sidelined since he most recently defended the belt back in October of last year at UFC 307, Sao Paulo fan-favorite, Pereira most recently landed an eventual fourth round knockout win over title challenger, Khalil Rountree in the pair’s title pairing.

As for Ankalaev, the former vacant title chaser retained his spot at number one in the official light heavyweight rankings at UFC 308 in October to boot, landing a one-sided — albeit forgettable unanimous judging win over fellow European contender, Aleksandar Rakic.

Alex Pereira vows to poke fun at Magomed Ankalaev ahead of UFC 313

Claiming to boot he actually asked the promotion to book him in a title grudge match with Ankalaev, Pereira warned the Brazilian that he would also poke fun at him pre-fight more than any other opponent he has faced during his gold laden tenure with the UFC.

“If he (Magomed Ankalaev) doesn’t back up what he says, people have already seen me making fun of my other opponents,” Alex Pereira told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “Sometimes I joke and stuff, but this is the guy I’m really going to make fun of.”

"[Ankalaev] says the company tells me what to do, but I'm the one that asked for the fight… I'm the one that came there and said I want to fight Ankalaev now."

Alex Pereira on asking for the Magomed Ankalaev fight. pic.twitter.com/anc24JkisT

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2025

“He says the company [the UFC] tells me what to do, but I’m the one that asked for the fight,” Alex Pereira explained. “I’m the one that came there and said I want to fight Ankalaev now.”

Ahead of his return at UFC 313, light heavyweight kingpin, Alex Pereira has claimed he wants to finally face off with heavyweight gold holder, Jon Jones in the near future — preferring a clash with the former over a trilogy fight with Israel Adesanya.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to make his comeback to action in March, headlining UFC 313 in a title grudge matchup with surging number one ranked challenger, Magomed Ankalaev.

Sidelined since October of last year at UFC 307, Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira turned in his third straight victory of the year, successfully defending the light heavyweight championship with a fourth round knockout win over Khalil Rountree in the pair’s title tussle in Salt Lake City.

As for Jones, the Rochester native headlined UFC 309 back in November at Madison Square Garden, landing a third round spinning back kick knockout win over former two-time gold holder, Stipe Miocic, sending the Ohio native into his retirement from combat sports.

Alex Pereira confirms plans for title fight with Jon Jones soon

And long-linked with a title clash against Jones in the new year, Pereira has claimed he would prefer a heavyweight super fight with the former pound-for-pound number one — rather than a third Octagon tangle against Adesanya.

“Jon Jones,” Alex Pereira said when asked by Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned if he would rather fight Jones or the above-mentioned, Israel Adesanya. ” Because already four years or four times [I fought Adesanya]. And talk about Jon Jones is a new challenge. And he’s the champ.”

Poatan on if he'd rather have a trilogy fight with Israel Adesanya or a fight with Jon Jones pic.twitter.com/u6JShuYcUV

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2025

And amid links to a summer title fight between Jones and current interim champion, Tom Aspinall, Brazilian megastar, Pereira has picked the former to emerge with the win and successfully unify the heavyweight titles.

“Jon Jones is a seasoned guy, he’s been there, so I think he wins,” Alex Pereira explained.

Off the back of his impressive win at BKFC Knucklemania V, Jeremy Stephens has claimed the hatred he received from fans of Eddie Alvarez and the hometown crowd in Philadelphia — led to him breaking the former undisputed UFC lightweight champion’s jaw en route to victory.

Stephens, a former perennial featherweight contender under the banner of the UFC, has so far enjoyed a stunning three-fight winning spree since his move to the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship).

And headlining last weekend’s BKFC Knucklemania V card on enemy soil in Pennslyvania, Jeremy Stephens turned in a hugely impressive victory over home town favorite, Alvarez, eventually forcing a third round corner’s stoppage TKO win over the former UFC and Bellator MMA lightweight kingpin.

Jeremy Stephens reveals why he broke Eddie Alvarez’s jaw in BKFC grudge fight

Following the event, Alvarez revealed he suffered a gnarly fractured jaw during his pairing with Des Moines native, Jeremy Stephens — who claims fan hatred of him on the East Coast in their bid to support the former, led to his damaging stoppage loss.

“So the thing about bare knuckles people are having to force like, you talk about bringing that like you’re just filling me up,” Jeremy Stephens told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “Like, now I get to bring that pain to your f*cking homies dome. Piece in his body like you can’t. You can’t shoot. Which Jimmie Rivera and him both like, try to double thing because they’re feeling the f*cking pain that I get to use to bring to these motherf*ckers. Like, you talk all that stuff, all this. But like, I just f*cking like, dude, that shit pisses me off. You know?

Intense stuff from @LiLHeathenMMA:

"I'm breaking men in bare knuckle because it's raw, it's primal. It's fucking my sport… I broke his jaw.

I'm glad he's home with his family, but I broke his fucking jaw like I said I would because I bring and channeled that fucking pain. So… pic.twitter.com/RFl57fWiOm

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2025

“Like, I’ve been a young kid having to grow up in different types of schools and, you know, people cheering for the other guy screaming his name, you know, like, even if it’s Eddie (Alvarez), you know, like, I use that f*cking pain and then, like, what happens when I put that f*cking pain on you and you start feeling my pressure? I’m breaking men in bare knuckle because it’s raw, it’s primal. It’s f*cking my sport, you know?

“Like, I get to bring those f*cking pains. And I broke his jaw, you know, like, hey, I’m glad he’s home with his family. He’s home safe. But I broke his jaw like I said I would, because I bring and channel that f*cking pain. So all his boys, his teammates, you know, uh, they caused him more f*cking pain. So that’s what you get.”

Ahead of his return at UFC 313, Dan Hooker has confirmed his interest in a potential move to the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) before ending his combat sports career, claiming competing in the ring “looks like fun” to him.

Hooker, the current number five ranked lightweight challenger, is slated to return at UFC 313 in March, taking on former interim champion and symbolic BMF titleholder, Justin Gaethje in a five round clash.

Sidelined since last summer, City Kickboxing star, Hooker most recently turned in his third consecutive victory, landing a close, unanimous decision win over perennial challenger, Mateusz Gamrot in a back-and-forth clash at UFC 305.

And following last weekend’s BKFC Knucklemania V card in Philadelphia, a host of fans called for Kiwi striker, Hooker to eventually wrap his hands and compete in the ring before the end of his fighting career.

Dan Hooker welcomes “fun” move to the BKFC before end of his career

And as far as the surging Hooker is concerned, he would love to stack his “retirement fund” in the organization — which he claims looks “fun” to compete in.

” That’s [BKFC] is my retirement fund,” Dan Hooker told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “That sport [bare knuckle fighting] looks like the funnest thing for me to do in the world. I don’t what everyone else is into, but that looks like fun.”

"[BKFC] is my retirement fund… That sport looks like the funnest thing for me to do in the world. I don't what everyone else is into, but that looks like fun."

Dan Hooker is all for fighting people without gloves pic.twitter.com/29h4ucrDML

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2025

Furthermore, Hooker also claimed that the fact his clash with vicious striker, Gaethje is set to take place over the course of five rounds — is a surefire fact the promotion is hoping for the first in-fight death inside the Octagon.

“Ah, I just think the UFC wants to see someone die,” Dan Hooker told. “Like, I don’t see… Yeah, I think they just want a finish. They want this fight. As well, I feel like for the fans as well, they want to see this. They want to see someone go down. They want to see blood. I’m happy to oblige for money.

Ahead of his UFC 313 co-headliner, Dan Hooker has claimed the fact his pairing with Justin Gaethje is set for five rounds — is a surefire sign the promotion wants someone to “die” in the barnburning clash.

Hooker, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, is slated to take on former interim lightweight titleholder, Gaethje in a potential title eliminator, in a bid to extend his winning spree to four straight fights.

Sidelined since August of last year, City Kickboxing star, Dan Hooker featured on the main card of UFC 305 last time out, turning in a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Polish challenger, Mateusz Gamrot.

Dan Hooker claims UFC is hoping for someone to “die” in his fight with Justin Gaethje

And claiming recently that he is a highly “dangerous” fight for former interim gold holder, Gaethje in March, Hooker believes the fact his fight with the Arizona native is five rounds is a sign the promotion is hoping for their first death inside the Octagon between two combatants.

“Ah, I just think the UFC wants to see someone die,” Dan Hooker told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “Like, I don’t see… Yeah, I think they just want a finish. They want this fight. As well, I feel like for the fans as well, they want to see this. They want to see someone go down. They want to see blood. I’m happy to oblige for money.

Dan Hooker on the Gaethje fight being 5 rounds:

"I think the UFC wants to someone die… They wanna see someone go down. They wanna see blood. They wanna see rounds 4 and 5." pic.twitter.com/MNGNDDKKfD

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2025

“If I was back in the kitchen factory and I stayed an extra couple hours, I’d expect another couple extra bucks in my back pocket, brother. Yes, that is common sense. I’m not here for fun. I’m not here because I like you guys. I’m here… Prize fighting. Prize fighting, brother.

Himself sidelined since last April, former symbolic BMF champion, Justin Gaethje most recently dropping a stunning fifth round buzzer-beating knockout loss to former featherweight champion, Max Holloway in the pair’s massive title fight on the main card of UFC 300.