1+ hour, 4+ min ago (573+ words) The flyweight landscape continues to evolve as athletes weigh future options and assess challenges in neighboring divisions. Alexandre Pantoja, established at the top of the 125-pound class, remains central to discussions about potential movement across weight categories. He recently spoke about how Merab Dvalishvili's presence as bantamweight champion influences his decision to move up in weight. Pantoja stands as one of the most dominant flyweights of the modern era, securing one-sided victories over Brandon Royval, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France. His ability to neutralize top contenders has reinforced his reputation as a commanding champion. Many observers do not identify any current flyweight capable of giving him an evenly matched contest, which has made him the division's benchmark. He is set to make his fourth title defense against Joshua Van at UFC 323, while Dvalishvili headlines the event against Petr Yan for…...

1+ hour, 40+ min ago (574+ words) Chandler shines in the RAF 3 main event while several UFC names struggle in their return to competitive wrestling. Michael Chandler stepped back onto the wrestling stage in the RAF 3 main attraction and delivered a controlled and measured win over former UFC opponent Chad Mendes. The two met in a three period match that leaned heavily in Chandler's favor despite Mendes' deep collegiate background. The match shifted early. Chad Mendes tried to rotate into a roll while holding Chandler in a tie, but he lost position. Chandler reacted instantly with a roll of his own that put him ahead by two. When passivity was later called against Mendes, Chandler left the opening frame leading 3 to 0. Both athletes kept fighting for grips and angles as the bout continued, and the action was briefly stopped more than once because of an accidental eye…...

2+ hour, 45+ min ago (423+ words) KUCHING (Nov 30): The MFC X Sarawak Martial Arts 2.0 organising chairman and tournament director Tsan Nieng Khai paid heartfelt tribute to athletes, coaches and supporters for their commitment, passion and competitive spirit as the event drew strong participation from across the country. Addressing the crowd at the press conference at Sarawak MMA Sports Hub (SMASH) at the fourth floor of Boulevard Shopping Mall here on Saturday, Tsan thanked athletes who "came all the way" to compete and demonstrate what he described as true heart and warrior spirit. The Sarawak Mixed Martial Arts Association president said their presence not only elevated the tournament but also showcased the strength and character of Malaysia's combat sports community. Tsan, who is also Mad Fight Club president, emphasised that the tournament serves as an important platform for local athletes to prove their capabilities on a wider…...

5+ hour ago (457+ words) If it were up to Alexander Volkanovski, Diego Lopes would not be getting a second title shot. Dana White's recent slate of fight announcements has drawn plenty of criticism, and the reasons are not hard to find. He had already stirred controversy by booking Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett as the UFC 324 headliner for an interim lightweight belt. That choice left Arman Tsarukyan out in the cold, and he was not the only contender passed over. White also booked a rematch between Volkanovski and Lopes for UFC 325 in Sydney, giving the Mexican another shot ahead of fighters like Lerone Murphy. The champion himself is not on board with that call. Following Volkanovski's victory over Lopes at UFC 314, all eyes turned to the undefeated Murphy as the probable next challenger. This anticipation stemmed from his impressive spinning elbow knockout of Aaron…...

5+ hour, 10+ min ago (416+ words) Nov 30, 2025 | 6:15 AM EST "When you talk about 10 pounds to my division, to flyweight," to the bantamweight, it's a huge comparison. If you see Weili Zhang versus Valentina, you can see the difference in size, you know. Of course, when you have Islam go from 155 to 170, that's" yes, you can see it's not too much difference, you know," "The Cannibal' explained TMZ Sports. "I think if O'Malley gets the belt, I'm going to say I'm ready to go. But with Merab, it's different," the flyweight added. "Maybe if he wants to come to 125, it's going to be better for me." Alexandre Pantoja says he would be ready to move up if O'Malley had the belt but Merab changes everything " " Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 30, 2025 Clearly, he views "Suga' to be a much easier opponent than Dvalishvili. Pantoja added that he has "a…...

6+ hour, 15+ min ago (355+ words) Michael Chandler is back in the win column for the first time in more than three years. The UFC lightweight contender last tasted victory when he front-kick KO'd Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022. Since then, the former three-time Bellator champion has suffered defeats at the hands of Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Paddy Pimblett. Michael Chandler returned to his wrestling roots to take on a UFC legend at RAF03 on Saturday night. Real American Freestyle (RAF), the first unscripted pro-wrestling league, hosted its third event in Chicago on November 29. Former UFC star Chad Mendes was a more accomplished wrestler during his collegiate career. Still, Michael Chandler was able to handily beat him in the main event due to his size, power, and speed. "Iron Mike' won 4-1 before issuing a callout to Olympic gold medalist wrestler Jordan Burroughs. "I'd like to…...

6+ hour, 41+ min ago (2026+ words) Ahead of this weekend's UFC 323 bantamweight championship main event, Kyte connected with Denver-based striking coach Sean Madden to breakdown the matchup between titleholder Merab Dvalishvili and challenger Petr Yan. Kyte: Alright Coach, it's time to get into it. Bantamweight title fight " what's the best trait of Merab Dvalishvili and what's the best trait of Petr Yan? Madden: For Merab "this is fourth fight of the year? Preview Every Fight On Saturday's Card Madden:That's insane, but we'll talk about that later because that's definitely something to discuss in terms of this fight and it could go both ways. His pace and his conditioning are always going to be the first things we talk about when it comes to his best traits because that's what separate him from the pack, even in a division as crowded and stacked at 135. He's still…...

7+ hour, 6+ min ago (1291+ words) Saturday night, the UFC makes its fourth and final appearance of the year at T-Mobile Arena, bringing a stacked 14-fight card capped with twin championship fights. UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 is, on paper, the best card of the year, surpassing last month's outstanding lineup at Madison Square. Each of the three non-title main card fights feature former champions facing ascending contenders, while the prelim slate is packed with competitive matchups, including a handful carrying immediate divisional significance. Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan Co-Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van Location: T-Mobile Arena " Las Vegas, NV Where to Watch: ESPN+ / Disney+ / FX Other Main Card Matches: Bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to make history as he puts his title on the line for the fourth time this year, stepping in against ex-champ and perennial contender Petr Yan in Saturday…...

7+ hour, 17+ min ago (437+ words) TULSA, Okla " Catalina Cordova is just 13 years old and has earned several titles, ranging from the Junior Olympics to the Golden Gloves Championship. "I worked really hard to get these," she said. She hopes to be an inspiration to other girls trying to get into the sport. "It's not that easy to be a girl in boxing, because a bunch of boys, like, when you're sparring, think they're better than you because you're a girl," she said. "They'll be mean to you," she said. Still, she said she just rolls with the punches to show her talent in the ring, and it seems like that attitude is intimidating. "I was gonna go to Nationals, and then that didn't really work, because the girl I was supposed to fight didn't want to fight me," she said. WATCH: 'I worked really hard…...

9+ hour, 24+ min ago (214+ words) MMA Fighting has RAF 3 results for the Mendes vs. Chandler fight card and more from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., on Saturday night. Michael Chandler clashes with Chad Mendes at 175 pounds as the former college wrestlers throw their singlets back on and throw down on the mats. Chandler was a member of the University of Missouri wrestling team before he eventually moved on to compete in MMA. As for Mendes, he was a standout at Cal Poly where he was a two-time All-American and runner-up in the 2009 National Championships after falling to Ohio State's J Jaggers in the finals. The event also features appearances from UFC stalwarts like Clay Guida and Joaquin Buckley as well as 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades, Bella Mir and more. Michael Chandler def. Chad Mendes, 4-1 Kennedy Blades def. Alejandra Rivera, 11-0 tech fall Akhmed Tazhudinov def....