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Conor McGregor's return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship ended in disappointment, but speculation surrounding his next opponent has already begun following his injury at UFC 329.

“Notorious” suffered a knee injury on the opening kick he threw in his rematch against Max Holloway, who was then declared the victor. BetOnline.ag has now released odds for McGregor's next fight, which will serve as the final bout on the former two-division champion's current UFC contract.

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Michael Chandler opens as favorite for Conor McGregor’s next fight Michael Chandler has opened as the betting favorite at 2/1 to face McGregor next. The long-discussed matchup between the two former opposing “The Ultimate Fighter” coaches was originally set to go down in 2024 before McGregor withdrew because of injury.

A trilogy bout with Holloway follows at 3/1. With their rivalry at 1-1, a rubber match could be on the cards. Moreover, “Blessed” repeatedly called for th…

Dana White’s Contender Series will return for its 10th season on Aug. 11, with all episodes set to stream exclusively on Paramount+.

The long-running talent showcase will once again give aspiring mixed martial artists the opportunity to earn an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract by impressing the UFC President and CEO, as well as the promotion's matchmakers.

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Dana White's Contender Series returns for Season 10 Season 10 will consist of 10 Tuesday night episodes beginning on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Each episode will feature five bouts, with every episode streaming exclusively on Paramount+.

Since its debut in 2017, DWCS has become one of the UFC's primary talent pipelines. Across its first nine seasons, along with Dana White's Contender Series: Brazil, the series has awarded more than 300 UFC contracts.

Furthermore, the show has also produced four UFC champions: Sean O'Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena and current light h…

Cris Cyborg believes her rivalry with fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Ronda Rousey stemmed from the latter’s reluctance to face her at the height of their careers.

The current Professional Fighters League champion claims Rousey had every opportunity to accept a super-fight during her prime but chose not to.

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The history behind the UFC superfight fans wanted between Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey Cyborg reflected on her rivalry with Rousey in a new interview with Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso ahead of her retirement bout against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa. The Brazilian legend also noted that if "Rowdy" wouldn’t fight her when they were both active and winning, she definitely wouldn’t accept a fight now.

“That was something the fans put together. Ronda had the opportunity to fight me when she was at her peak, and she didn't want to,” Cyborg explained of a fan-made poster that was rumored to be genuine. “If she didn't want it in her prime…

Michel Pereira is no longer on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster after his decision loss to Sharabutdin Magomedov at UFC Baku.

"Demolidor" leaves the promotion after building a 10-6 record inside the Octagon across two weight classes. However, he has lost four of his last five fights, ending his UFC run on a lackluster note.

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UFC parts ways with Michel Pereira after six-year Octagon run Pereira has exited the UFC after six years in the promotion. He made his UFC debut against Danny Roberts in 2019 and has since won 10 fights inside the Octagon. The 32-year-old completed his previous contract with a split-decision victory over Zachary Reese in February following a losing streak. He then signed a one-fight deal to face Magomedov in Azerbaijan.

His last appearance ended in a unanimous decision defeat. Pereira later criticized referee Herb Dean for not deducting points from Magomedov despite issuing multiple warnings for hair pulling. Magomedov…

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes there are correlations between mixed martial arts and basketball.

Mazzulla, who’s attended several Ultimate Fighting Championship events, was recently seen training MMA with esteemed coach Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He has revealed that he looks up MMA gyms to train at while traveling through different cities during the NBA season.

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Joe Mazzulla uses MMA coaching practices in the NBA Mazzulla believes MMA helps him build a fighter mentality, which is required while taking on rival NBA teams in enemy territories.

“I think it just keeps you fresh, mentally and physically, so that when I'm helping the team, I have a little bit of that fighter mentality,” Mazzulla told Ariel Helwani. “It just helps grow a little bit of an edge, and every little bit helps.”

Mazzulla is also taking specific inputs from Nicksick about communicating with athletes. He believes there are similarities betw…

Dricus Du Plessis has opened up about his lone loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which came against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

The former UFC middleweight champion admitted that he spent his training camp preparing for fast-paced scrambles, only for Chimaev to adopt a far more conservative approach, which ultimately threw him off.

Dricus du Plessis revisits defeat to Khamzat Chimaev: ‘There was no scramble’ The South African lost to Chimaev in August of last year, giving up nearly 22 minutes of ground control time to “Borz.” Moreover, Chimaev followed the same pattern in every round: putting du Plessis into the crucifix position and occasionally landing short strikes from top position. Speaking to Submission Radio, "Stillknocks" explained how his opponent’s grappling approach took him by surprise.

“It's a style thing. The way he moved, it's something that I haven't seen, haven't felt, and it wasn't a strength problem at all,” du Plessis said. “It was just a…

Anthony Joshua has started taking the fight game more seriously since Ilia Topuria’s loss to Justin Gaethje in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Topuria put his lightweight title on the line against interim champion Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. While "El Matador" was a massive favorite going into the bout and nearly finished it in the second round, Gaethje piled on the damage in the subsequent frames, leading to a corner stoppage before the final round. It marked the first defeat of Topuria’s professional career.

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Some of Topuria’s pre-fight antics and the eventual result of the recent UFC lightweight championship fight have resonated with Joshua.Anthony Joshua explains how Ilia Topuria’s loss to Justin Gaethje changed his approach to boxingJoshua notes that Topuria had celebrated the night before the fight and had done so before previous bouts. While "AJ" doesn’t want to criticize the former two-division champion, the Brit had a massive realizatio…

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Cris Cyborg is ready to embrace a new chapter once her legendary mixed martial arts career comes to an end.

The reigning Professional Fighters League champion has revealed that she plans to start a family after her retirement bout against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa on Aug. 22. She also confirmed that she has one more boxing match scheduled for later this year.

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Cris Cyborg’s final MMA chapter has a deeply personal goal Speaking to Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso ahead of her farewell MMA fight, Cyborg explained that her decision to retire is fueled by a personal goal.

“I'll never stop training because I love competing,” she said. “I've been training since I was 12 years old. I started fighting professionally at 19. This healthy lifestyle has allowed me to reach 41 years old in great health and still performing at an elite level. It's become part of who I am, and I won't change that.”

The Brazilian, who t…

Phumi Nkuta's bid to overturn the lone loss of his professional career did not go in his favor.

The California State Athletic Commission on Monday denied Nkuta's appeal to overturn his technical submission defeat against Adriano Moraes at MVP: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Nkuta argued that Moraes held a fight-ending choke beyond the final horn and that referee Herb Dean mishandled the sequence.

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However, the commission ruled there was insufficient evidence to change the official result.California State Athletic Commission denies Phumi Nkuta appeal after Adriano Moraes fight On May 16, Nkuta and Moraes clashed in a flyweight bout on the main card of MVP’s Rousey vs. Carano-headlined event. Near the end of the fight, Moraes had Nkuta in a choke. As the final bell rang, the former held on to the choke for what Nkuta claims was around 2.15 seconds after the horn. The official result was a technical submission victory for the former One Championship title…

Real American Freestyle has announced a new championship designed exclusively for elite crossover athletes from combat sports.

In a new social media post, RAF revealed details about the competition. The inaugural championship bout of the new crossover event will feature Arman Tsarukyan against former Ultimate Fighting Championship interim champion Colby Covington.

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RAF Crossover Championship creates new path for combat sports athletes RAF has introduced the RAF Crossover Championship, developed exclusively for high-profile crossover athletes from combat sports. The first cruiserweight match will take place at RAF 11 in Milwaukee, featuring Tsarukyan and Covington.

The crossover will blend elite freestyle wrestling with MMA talent, offering marquee crossover matchups.

“A new championship arrives at RAF,” RAF Wrestling’s official X account posted. “Introducing the RAF Crossover Championship. Created exclusively for crossover wrestlers from across …

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Michael Chandler has shut down claims that Conor McGregor went into UFC 329 knowing that he was injured, insisting that the Irishman still wants to fight him.

McGregor’s return following a five-year hiatus ended in disappointment as he suffered a knee injury seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the former two-division champion is set for another stint on the sidelines as he recovers from the injury, Chandler sees McGregor eventually returning to the Octagon, potentially against him.

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Michael Chandler explains why he believes Conor McGregor wanted to compete at UFC 329 After McGregor’s return to the UFC ended in anticlimactic fashion, Chandler came to his defense. The former Bellator MMA champion dismissed the claim that McGregor had an injury going into UFC 329.

“I would be absolutely surprised, like the most surprised on the planet, if Conor just showed up for a…

Benoit St. Denis had a rough outing at UFC 329. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Benoit St. Denis has released a statement addressing his loss to Paddy Pimblett.

St. Denis was the betting favorite going into his lightweight matchup against Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas, as he was coming off a four-fight finish streak while his English counterpart was fresh off his first defeat in the UFC. However, "The Baddy" took just 52 seconds to put the Frenchman to sleep and end his win streak.

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Benoit St. Denis reflects on his UFC 329 loss and promises a stronger return St. Denis apologized to his fans for letting them down after UFC 329. While he admits that the loss is hard to digest, "God of War" vows to bounce back stronger. He also hopes to avenge his loss to Pimblett someday.

“Thank you all for your support. I’m sorry for letting you down and for not delivering the victory we had hoped for…

Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, has hailed one of his students' ability to mimic Ian Garry ahead of the upcoming welterweight title clash in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Makhachev (28-1) looks to defend his 170-pound championship for the first time against Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Garry is known for excellent distance management and long-range strikes. However, Mendez already has who he believes is the perfect fighter to emulate the Irishman’s style in their team.

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Islam Makhachev’s coach names ‘perfect’ Ian Garry training replica Mendez is confident that another one of his pupils, Usman Nurmagomedov, can copy almost any style. The American Kickboxing Academy head coach recently revealed that the Professional Fighters League lightweight champion is one of Makhachev’s primary training partners, closely mimicking Garry’s style.

A middleweight title fight headlines PFL Austin: Tune on …

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Islam Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, claims his pupil is open to a fight against Max Holloway.

This comes after Holloway’s win at UFC 329, where he faced Conor McGregor at welterweight. “Blessed” emerged victorious, albeit with their rematch ending in anticlimactic fashion as McGregor suffered an early injury. Mendez believes that neither Makhachev nor Holloway would refuse a matchup against the other.

Javier Mendez discusses a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Max Holloway UFC matchup after UFC 329 Ahead of his UFC 329 bout on July 11, Holloway expressed his desire to fight Makhachev. Despite being beaten and thoroughly outgrappled by Charles Oliveira earlier this year, Mendez knows that Holloway will not stop pursuing a fight with the current 170-pound king. He also believes that his fighter would not back down from the challenge if UFC pushes for it.

“Whatever the UFC wants to do, Islam’s going to say yes and Max …

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Paulo Costa didn’t like the short-notice fight offer against Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev was originally scheduled to fight Khalil Rountree in the main event at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. However, Rountree pulled out due to an injury and has been replaced by Uzbek contender Bogdan Guskov. Costa has now revealed he was in the running to take on the former light heavyweight champion.

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Paulo Costa discusses UFC negotiations and short-notice Abu Dhabi offer Costa (16-4) recently revealed that he, too, was approached by the UFC to replace Rountree against Ankalaev. However, “Borrachinha” turned down the offer as it was too short notice to fly to Abu Dhabi for a five-round fight. Costa also claims he was not offered any extra incentive to accept a tough matchup against a former champion.

“They called yesterday,” Costa told Ariel Helwani. “But I think it’s so short notice, l…

Dustin Poirier continues teasing a return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Poirier hung up his gloves following a loss to Max Holloway last year. “The Diamond” has since repeatedly admitted that he dearly misses fighting. He even says he would consider returning to the Octagon for the right matchup.

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Meanwhile, Poirier’s former rival Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon after five years against Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a first-round stoppage loss for McGregor after he blew out his knee throwing a jumping head kick.Dustin Poirier says a welterweight fight with Conor McGregor could bring him back to the UFC While McGregor claims he intends to complete the last fight remaining on his UFC contract, Poirier is willing to end his retirement for a fourth outing against the Dubliner. Furthermore, Poirier is also open to moving up to welterweight to fight McGregor, as their previous bouts were at featherweight and lightweig…

Conor McGregor is not yet ready to call it a career, it seems. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Despite his latest injury setback, Conor McGregor is eager to see out his contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

McGregor (22-7) returned to action for the first time since 2021 in a rematch against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. His much-awaited return ended in massive disappointment as “Notorious” injured his knee with the first kick he threw. McGregor was barely able to stay upright after the injury, prompting the referee to call a stop to the contest in just 69 seconds.

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Conor McGregor says surgery comes first before he attempts one last fight under his current UFC deal With his Octagon return ending in such anticlimactic and devastating fashion, many believe McGregor won’t return to the Octagon again, especially considering his vast wealth. However, the former two-division champion seemingly hasn’t given up yet. He recently reiterated …

Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight Cory Sandhagen’s hamstring is a mess after his loss against Mario Bautista.

Sandhagen (18-7) took on Bautista (18-3) in a bantamweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. While they were going toe-to-toe in the first round, Bautista caught Sandhagen in a kneebar late in the round, hyperextending his left leg. While “The Sandman” survived the round, he immediately informed his corner that his leg was compromised.

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Despite Sandhagen’s movement being evidently limited, he surprisingly out-landed Bautista in the second round. The latter then dropped Sandhagen in the third frame and accumulated control time to earn a unanimous decision win.Sandhagen details how a suspected hamstring tear altered his game plan Sandhagen has since revealed a gruesome injury to his hamstring from Bautista’s submission attempt. He believes he tore his hamstring in the opening round, limiting his arsenal for the rest of the fight. The 34-y…

Charles Oliveira is campaigning for a UFC lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje.| 📷: Getty/UFC

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Charles Oliveira is using unique tactics to call for a title shot against Justin Gaethje.

Oliveira was in attendance for Conor McGregor’s (22-7) return to action after five years against Max Holloway (28-9) at UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas. However, the bout ended in disappointment when McGregor injured his knee on his first kick, forcing the referee to step in just over a minute into the opening round.

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Charles Oliveira campaigns for a UFC lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje after UFC 329 Holloway was plotting a lightweight title shot and a rematch against Gaethje if he secured a victory over McGregor. Despite the anticlimactic nature of the fight, the Hawaiian still called for his shot against “The Highlight” at the post-fight press conference. Meanwhile, Oliveira started …

Conor McGregor has broken his silence on what happened at UFC 329. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Conor McGregor assures fans that he was not injured heading into his return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

McGregor (22-7) returned after a five-year hiatus against Max Holloway (28-9) at UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The return of the sport’s biggest star couldn’t have ended more anticlimactically. McGregor injured his right knee with the very first kick he threw and could barely stand thereafter, forcing the referee to call a stop to the contest, hardly over a minute into the fight.

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Conor McGregor says he was healthy before UFC 329 knee injury Fans have since speculated as to whether McGregor was already injured heading into the fight. “Notorious” was also seen stumbling while taking off his shoes before entering the Octagon. However, the former two-division UFC champion claims he had no injuries before the fight.

“I was so sha…

Islam Makhachev (left) appeared to have some fun at Conor McGregor’s expense. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Islam Makhachev poked fun at Conor McGregor following the Irishman’s anticlimactic defeat to Max Holloway.

McGregor suffered a knee injury with the very first strike he threw in his rematch with Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. He couldn’t plant both feet properly thereafter and the referee subsequently intervened, calling a halt to the action. Makhachev has now mocked the former two-division champion.

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Islam Makhachev posts 'Conor beat Conor' after Max Holloway stops McGregor at UFC 329 Makhachev has addressed the result of UFC 329’s main event, wherein his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s bitter rival failed to return to the win column. UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski posted his live reaction to the injury on Instagram and Makhachev commented with a laughing emoji underneath. Read more about Islam Makhachev trolls Conor McGregor following UFC 329 injury

Terence “Bud” Crawford has addressed Conor McGregor’s anticlimactic return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

McGregor’s return to the Octagon ended in just 69 seconds at UFC 329. The former two-division champion seemingly injured his right knee in the opening sequence of the fight, leading to a stoppage from the referee as he was unable to continue.

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UFC CEO Dana White subsequently speculated that it could be an ACL-related issue, an unfortunate occurrence considering McGregor’s last bout before UFC 329 also ended in a leg injury.Terence Crawford says Conor McGregor's UFC 329 injury was 'God punish them' after the former champion's 69-second loss. Crawford, who has gone back and forth with McGregor previously, believes the Irishman got what was coming his way. The unbeaten boxer and the MMA superstar were once rumored to be squaring off in a two-fight crossover series across both combat sports, and McGregor claimed Crawford turn…

Gable Steveson said he would welcome a fight with Josh Hokit. | 📷: Getty/UFC

After a dominant win in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, Gable Steveson has responded to Josh Hokit’s trash talk.

Steveson defeated Elisha Ellison at UFC 329, extending his professional record to 4-0 and recording his fourth straight first-round finish. Hokit, who’s emerged as one of the most polarizing figures in the UFC, has issued threats to Steveson and his mentor, Jon Jones, drawing a reaction from the Olympian.

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Gable Steveson responds to Josh Hokit after dominant UFC 329 victory Hokit took to X to share a clip from one of Steveson’s pre-fight interviews wherein the latter questioned the former’s skills. “The Incredible Hok” listed his many athletic achievements before suggesting that both Steveson and Jones steer clear of him.

“Remember, this ain’t wrestling,” Hokit wrote on X. “If anyone signs up to face me in a fist fight, better have a go…

Chael Sonnen says you can stick a fork in Conor McGregor: He's done. | 📷: Jason Burgos/Sherdog

Chael Sonnen believes Conor McGregor’s Ultimate Fighting Championship career took a major hit following the anticlimactic loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329.

McGregor suffered a knee injury seconds into his rematch with Holloway. He then wasn’t able to find stability and repeatedly fell while attempting strikes, prompting the referee to stop the bout. With the Irishman’s last two main events ending in unfortunate injuries, Sonnen questions whether he can headline another card.

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‘You cannot main event him’: Chael Sonnen on Conor McGregor In McGregor’s last outing prior to UFC 329, he suffered a leg break in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021. A lengthy stint on the sidelines ensued before the Holloway rematch came together. According to Sonnen, there were no takeaways from the former two-division champ’s return.

“It was one of th…