Conor McGregor has announced that he will return to the UFC in 2026, naming Michael Chandler as his opponent for the highly anticipated White House event. The former lightweight and featherweight champion confirmed the matchup during an appearance on Fox & Friends, describing Chandler as “a good, tough guy” and referencing their past interactions on The Ultimate Fighter. While UFC president Dana White previously stated that fight cards for the event would begin being arranged in February, McGregor’s comments suggest that his showdown with Chandler is already set to headline the historic event. Fans have long awaited McGregor’s return, and…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
At last weekend’s Noche UFC in San Antonio, Brazilian flyweight Alessandro Costa suffered a freak injury that forced his corner to stop the fight. Costa was facing American debutant Alden Coria, who had stepped in for Edgar Chairez. Coria had won the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards when Costa injured his big toe in the second round, apparently catching it between the cage. Despite attempting to continue into the third round, Costa was unable to go on, leading his corner to throw in the towel less than a minute in. Footage shared by MMA Junkie’s Danny Sergura…
Kayla Harrison revealed she sparred Amanda Nunes on her second day at American Top Team, even before she had competed in her first MMA fight. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Harrison described the session as “sketchy,” recalling how daunting it was to face one of the greatest female fighters while still new to the sport. Harrison and Nunes, former teammates, have a shared history in training, though Harrison said their paths rarely crossed due to Nunes’ schedule of private sessions. Despite limited time together, Harrison credits Nunes as a key influence in her decision to move to Florida to train with…
Anthony Hernandez has withdrawn from his scheduled UFC Vancouver fight against Reinier de Ridder due to injury, missing a chance to compete for a middleweight title eliminator. Hernandez shared an apologetic statement on Instagram, expressing regret to the UFC, de Ridder, and fans, while thanking Brendan Allen—whom he has previously defeated twice—for stepping in as his replacement. “Right now, my focus is on getting healthy so I can come back stronger than ever. When I return, I’ll be ready to make a statement,” Hernandez wrote. De Ridder’s team responded wishing him a speedy recovery. The fight swap alters the main…
Joe Rogan says the UFC needs to introduce more weight divisions, arguing that the current gaps are too large. Speaking on the JRE Fight Companion, Rogan criticized the 185-205lb range, calling the 20-pound difference “bananas,” and suggested having a new weight class every ten pounds for men. The podcaster, known for his outspoken support of MMA and past proposals like a UFC kickboxing league, insists that smaller divisions would improve competition and fighter safety.
Jean Silva suffered a painful defeat at Noche UFC in San Antonio, falling to Diego Lopes in the featherweight headliner. Silva was finished in the second round via spinning back elbow followed by ground-and-pound, leaving him bloodied and visibly battered. Following the fight, tensions flared between Silva and Lopes, with Silva emotional backstage. On Sunday, Silva shared photos of his injuries on Instagram Stories and issued a statement addressing his first UFC loss. He acknowledged fighting disconnected from his team and taking responsibility for the result, adding: “Whether you like it or not, I’m very sorry, but we will come…
Bryce Mitchell suffered a swift defeat in his latest grappling outing on September 12 at the Eddie Bravo Invitational 25 in San Antonio, Texas. Less than two months after his UFC bantamweight debut, the Arkansas native—renowned for his grappling skills—was outmatched by 19-year-old BJJ prospect Landon Elmore. Mitchell advanced to the semifinals after a decision win over JJ Bowers but was quickly submitted by Elmore in under a minute. The fight-ending leg lock came moments after Mitchell carried Elmore out of bounds following a flying triangle choke attempt. Elmore went on to win the tournament, while Mitchell remains focused on…
Kelvin Gastelum’s UFC career may be in jeopardy after missing weight for the fifth time, this time by a career-high margin. The former middleweight title contender weighed in at 191lb for his fight at Noche UFC, five pounds over the extended middleweight limit of 186lb. This marks his first miss at 186lb and the heaviest weigh-in of his UFC career. Gastelum, scheduled to fight Dustin Stoltzfus, arrived at the scales just before the two-hour weigh-in window closed and did not strip down for the official weigh-in, posing confidently at 191lb. The fighter has a history of missing weight, previously starting…
Khamzat Chimaev impressed against Dricus Du Plessis, but challenges loom from several contenders.Israel Adesanya highlighted Nassourdine Imavov as a potential problem, sparking fan interest in that matchup.Kelvin Gastelum believes Reinier de Ridder poses the greatest threat to Chimaev’s dominance.Gastelum praised de Ridder’s size and style, noting his performance against Robert Whittaker was striking.If de Ridder defeats Anthony Hernandez on October 18, he could earn a fight with Chimaev.Fans would enjoy seeing Chimaev face either De Ridder or Imavov, though Gastelum favors De Ridder.The former UFC contender warned that Chimaev could be vulnerable to a surprise defeat from the Dutchman.
Chael Sonnen believes Curtis Blaydes is the hardest stylistic matchup for Jon Jones.Despite public calls for a fight with Tom Aspinall, Jones relinquished his UFC heavyweight title.Sonnen said Blaydes’ wrestling credentials mirror Jones’, making him a unique challenge.Jones excels with reach, wrestling, and striking, but Blaydes matches him closely in wrestling skill.Sonnen highlighted that matchmakers should not overlook a potential Jones vs. Blaydes showdown.Having fought Jones, Sonnen praised him as an exceptional competitor under the lights.He also revealed Jones displayed unusual behaviors leading up to their fight, which surprised him.