Tag: UFC News

Former UFC flyweight contender, Muhammad Mokaev has booked his first outing in mixed martial arts since his departure from the Octagon earlier this summer, in the form of a second debut under the Brave CF banner in December.

Mokaev, who enjoyed an unbeaten run in the UFC spanning an impressive seven straight outings, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 304 back in July, landing a unanimous decision win over Manel Kape in their grudge fight in Manchester.

And following the victory, Mokaev was released from the promotion, having completed his contractual obligations, with promotional CEO, Dana White electing against resigning the surging flyweight challenger.

Muhammad Mokaev set to fight Luthando Biko at Brave CF 91 next month

Penning a deal to rejoin the Bahrain-based Brave CF promotion — for whom he fought with on five separate occasions, Mokaev has since booked his return to action for December 13. — taking on opponent, Luthando Biko on a Brave CF 91 card.

Making his own promotional bow at the event, Biko, a former two-weight champion at the flyweight and bantamweight limit with the EFC promotion in his native Africa, enters his high-stakes pairing with the highly-touted, Mokaev in the midst of an eye-catching winning run of a four fight spree.

Competing in a grappling showdown with fellow flyweight alum, Rogerio Bontorin on short notice back in October at ADXC 6, following a pulled matchup with UFC prospect, Raul Rosas Jr. — Mokaev dropped a decision loss to the Brazilian.

“Today I lost by split decision at a grappling event against a very tough opponent!” Muhammad Mokaev posted on his official X account. “He (Rogerio Bontorin) had a better plan. I congratulate him and his team! Another 15 minutes of experience.”

Former lightweight champion, Michael Chandler admitted he was counting his blessings following the conclusion of his UFC 309 rematch with Charles Oliveira last weekend, claiming he “technically” tapped during the final stages of the clash, which went unnoticed by referee, Keith Peterson.

Chandler, who retains the number seven rank at lightweight following the defeat, suffered a second straight loss for the first time in his brief Octagon tenure, following a submission loss to common-foe, former interim champion, Dustin Poirier two years ago.

And returning last weekend for the first time since in a five round war with Oliveira at UFC 309, Chandler managed to survive some notable moments of adversity through each of the rounds, with the Brazilian showing off his striking accumun and his notable Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills.

Michael Chandler recounts ‘tapping out’ in Charles Oliveira rematch

However, in the final stages of the fifth round — with the Sao Paulo finisher stuck to his back from the bottom, Michael Chandler admitted he was lucky not to have dropped a wayward submission loss, after a pat of approval to Oliveira was overlooked as a potential tapout by referee, Peterson.

“Thank God. Technically I kind of did [tap],” Michael Chandler told Bussin’ with the boys. “But it was more kind like a ‘Good job buddy.’ It was like a show of respect type of thing. It was like a moment for us, and I looked back and people are like, ‘He tapped!’ That’s where the referee did not, I guess you could say follow the rules… He knows what’s happening. He’s [refereed] thousands of fights, Charles Oliveira does not have a submission [locked in]… His arms are loose around me, I’m not tapping. It was a pat on the competitor.”

Further reflecting on his unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) loss to Oliveira, Chandler revealed he urinated blood following the pairing with the ex-champion, and claimed the outing brought with it the most injuries he has ever suffered in a fight during his lengthy career.

“Good had I mean I had a phenomenal training camp,” Michael Chandler explained. “We went to war we did our thing. Probably the most pain I’ve ever been through in my entire life like the most injuries I’ve ever had in a fight for sure. Yeah, you know peed blood inflammation all over my whole body swollen.I feel like you know my legs … The first one (urination blood color) was very light — Which was in my drug test — New York drug tested me before the fight and then after the fight just in case that’s positive — I tested positive for blood.”

Former undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has dismissed recent claims he is set to take on surging star, Diego Lopes next — claiming he will be rematching the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria for the crown first and foremost — potentially as soon as UFC 312.

Volkanovski, who remained sidelined since February of this year, will attempt to snap a two-fight losing skid in his return to action — most recently suffering a featherweight championship defeat at the hands of the above-mentioned, Topuria in a devastating knockout defeat in Anaheim.

And appearing in the Octagon following the conclusion of last month’s UFC 308 headliner between Topuria and former three-time foe, Max Holloway — Volkanovski was welcomed to a rematch by the Georgian-Spaniard in his return to action.

Alexander Volkanovski shuts down fight with Diego Lopes

However, putting a firm end to rumors circulating that he would be facing off with the streaking, Lopes in his next outing, Volkanovski remains steadfast in pursuit of a title rematch with Topuria — playing up a potential return as soon as February in the main event of UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

“We don’t know exactly what’s going on just yet,” Alexander Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “Obviously, we’re fighting for the title. When is that going to be? That’s sort of the question. So, let’s see if we can get a stadium in Spain. Obviously, that’s an option. Could Sydney still be an option? If so, I’m going to, yeah — I’ll stay fit. Making sure that, you know — because I’ll be getting close to camp now anyway, if we do make Sydney. So, I’ll just get stuck into it, stuck into training and we’ll see what happens. But nothing locked in yet.” 

“I don’t know where that [fight with Diego Lopes] sort of come from,” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “I think that was just, you know, I think the fact that he’s obviously said, let’s do it in Sydney. And then I think people just ran with that, but there are no talks of that at all. But you never know, right? But yeah, obviously we’re fighting for the title. So, that’s where we’re going to mainly focus, but we’ll see what happens. But there’s definitely nothing like that locked in.”

Plotting his return to the UFC in the early goings of next year, Jorge Masvidal has once more welcomed the chance to share the Octagon with former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor — claiming he would “break” the Dubliner if they ever take on each other.

Masvidal, a former two-time undisputed welterweight title challenger under the banner of the promotion, also became the inaugural symbolic BMF champion back in 2019 with a victory against common-foe, Nate Diaz.

And departing the promotion in April of last year following a fourth consecutive loss, Miami native, Masvidal dropped a one-sided unanimous decision loss to fellow former title challenger, Gilbert Burns.

Making his sophomore boxing outing earlier this summer, Jorge Masvidal would take on the above-mentioned Diaz, with the Stockton native avenging his Octagon loss in a controversial split decision win in California.

Jorge Masvidal sounds out Conor McGregor pairing next

Confirming plans for a comeback to the UFC as soon as next year, Masvidal, who also recently inked terms to be represented by prominent manager and Dominance MMA leader, Ali Abdelaziz, sounded out a pairing with arch-rival, McGregor in his first outing as part of his return to the organization.

“I’d like for it to be Conor (McGregor) because I heard he also wants to fight on that same date,” Jorge Masvidal told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “He’s never mentioned my name because he knows I’ll rip his head off. However, if him and the UFC make that mistake, I’ll take his head off in Miami in April. But I don’t know if he wants it. He knows I’ll break him and make him look bad. I won’t take him down. I’ll strike with him and take him out of this orbit. He’s never mentioned my name, and it’s for a reason. …”

As well as a potential grudge fight with McGregor, Masvidal has also played up his chances of settling his long-standing grudge with former undisputed welterweight gold holder, Leon Edwards upon his return to the UFC.

“They’re saying he might want to do it, but I’m chilling. If he wants to do it, great, I’ll kill him,” Jorge Masvidal explained. If not, Leon Edwards. He and I have a history, and it’s time to settle it. He’s not booked, and neither am I. Let’s go, sign the contract, and I’ll break your face.”