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Merab Dvalishvili has sent a chilling warning to Petr Yan while discussing what he plans to do differently when he and Yan meet a third time inside the octagon.

Yan vs. Dvalishvili is set to take place at UFC 333 on October 24. Ahead of this title rematch, “The Machine” has identified the flaws in his game and what went wrong at UFC 323, when the Russian fighter dethroned him.

In an interview with UFC on Paramount, Dvalishvili said that in the Yan trilogy bout, he will have to ‘chase Yan’s body, mix things up, and just be himself.’ The 35-year-old sent a chilling warning to the current and two-time bantamweight champion.

“In the last fight, I was trying to be different than I was. I was chasing his head too much. Now I’m gonna chase his body, then mix it up. And then just I will be just myself… He was the No. 1; now I will be No. 1. I will be the one who will chase him and who will rip the body and rip the head and break his face.”

Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments below:

Last year, when “The Machine” was dethroned at UFC 323, Yan dictated the pace and landed more accurate shots to Dvalishvili’s body, head, and liver, while also stopping the Georgian fighter’s takedowns and scoring some of his own. After 25 minutes, Dvalishvili’s face was a bloody mess, yet “The Machine” refused to give up. Unfortunately for him, it was simply not his night. UFC 323 was also Dvalishvili’s fourth title defense in 12 months, and he had previously revealed that he specifically did not train for Yan and entered the bout injured.

However, this time, after months of recovery, both fighters will meet again to settle their trilogy, which is currently tied at 1-1.

Merab Dvalishvili discusses who he wants to face if he recaptures UFC bantamweight title at UFC 333

If Merab Dvalishvili recaptures the UFC bantamweight title by defeating Petr Yan at UFC 333, he wants to defend it against Song Yadong.

In the same interview above, “The Machine” named Yadong as the fighter he would love to face in the future. Yadong most recently knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov cold at UFC Shanghai, and Dvalishvili is impressed with “Kung Fu Kid.” He said:

“I was excited for Song Yadong. He is the new contender now. He’s new blood. I’ve never fought him, and he excites me because he is dangerous and has knockout power… I think if I beat Petr, I think Song Yadong will be my next opponent.”

Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments below:

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Michael Venom Page has confessed that he felt disrespected by how the UFC brass handled his exit.

Earlier this month at UFC Paris, MVP fought the final bout of his UFC contract against Nursulton Ruziboev. Page won the bout by unanimous decision, but the 3-round affair was low-action, and MVP was once again denied a post-fight octagon interview.

A few days after the event, it was reported that the UFC would not offer him a new contract, meaning he won’t be re-signed.

Page is on a four-fight winning streak and has a 5-1 record in the UFC. He wanted to continue being a part of the promotion and had hoped to fight for the undisputed strap someday.

Michael Venom Page explains why he felt disrespected

Michael Venom Page believes the promotion should have handled his exit differently and, at the very least, sat down with him to discuss a new, shorter contract with fewer fights. During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, while discussing why he felt disrespected, “Venom” said:

“I still felt like we’d sit down at the table… I wouldn’t have expected it to be dealt with in the way that it was dealt with. I found that quite disrespectful, to be fair… What is the harm in allowing me to speak [after the fight]? I’ve seen fights that have been absolutely terrible, and they still get to go on the mic and say their piece. This is the second time it’s happened to me.”

Page added that he found out he was cut from the UFC at the same time fans and everybody else elsewhere discovered.

“I found out at the same time everybody else found out… If you’re not happy with the performances, have a conversation with me… At least it gives me a goal and something to work towards, and I know exactly where I stand with the partnership.”

“To hear nothing and have to guess all the time, I think that’s annoying. And even after the fact, to not have a conversation to say, ‘Thank you for your time here, but we’re not going to move forward,’ it would just be nice to hear that beforehand.”

Lastly, MVP revealed that he sent a message to UFC staff and others, thanking them for everything they had done for him during his time with the promotion.

“I sent a nice message to the guys as well because, regardless of this, I enjoyed my time. I always go on about the staff and the team there; they’re great.”

Check out Michael Venom Page’s comments below:

Jake Paul wants Michael Venom Page to join Most Valuable Promotions

Jake Paul is interested in signing Michael Venom Page to Most Valuable Promotions. After the news of Page’s UFC exit hit social media, “The Problem Child” posted on X:

“Think it’s time to bring MVP to MVP.”

Check out Jake Paul’s comments below:

During the same interview with Ariel Helwani, Page also revealed that he’s interested in signing with Jake Paul’s organization. The 39-year-old wants to fight for 2 more years before potentially retiring.

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Scott Coker‘s new MMA promotion will be Ki MMA, set to launch in 2027.

The former president of the now-defunct Bellator MMA announced that it will launch early next year, alongside Rich Chou.

And the promotion is reportedly set to kick off with a 32-Man Grand Prix Tournament in the featherweight division. A total of 32 fighters across 4 continents, viz. Asia, Europe, South America, and North America (eight from each continent) will fight it out, with four continental champions eventually getting crowned.

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The winners from each continent will compete in the final event, in a knockout format, to win the Ki MMA championship.

In addition to this, the fights are set to take place in a ring.

Check out the Ki MMA ring below:

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Coker then, in an interview with talkSport, spoke about the money on offer for the fighters in Ki MMA. He said:

So those athletes will fight each other in one night for the finals to crown the world champion…That’s the one that will win the big prize money, and the fighters will win money along the way…But if you win the big World Cup finals, then you’ll get the majority of the prize money. You’ll be the world champ, and you’ll be fighting two times in one night.

It is also worth noting that Ki comes from a Japanese word that signifies ‘spirit, mind, and energy.’

Potential Locations For Ki MMA tournament Confirmed by Scott Coker

Scott Coker also confirmed the potential locations for the Ki MMA Grand Prix tournament.

Among them were San Jose (North America), Dublin, Budapest, Italy, or France (Europe), South Korea, Japan (Asia), and Brazil (South America).

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Dan Hooker isn’t shying away from admitting exactly what’s driving him into the octagon against “new kids” like Salahdine Parnasse, and it has little to do with rankings or reputation.

The veteran lightweight will take on Parnasse in the main event of UFC Paris 2026 at the Accor Arena this weekend.

Ahead of the fight, Hooker spoke about the upcoming bout set to be the “biggest payday” of his career, and said that he would even fight Francis Ngannou if offered the same money. In an interview with RMC Sport Combat, ‘Hangman’ said:

If they pay me this much money to fight the new kids then I’ll be fighting the new kids until the day I die…I’d fight Francis Ngannou for the amount of money they’re paying. Biggest payday of my career for sure.

Check out Dan Hooker’s comments below:

Despite fighting some of the biggest names in the division, including Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and even Michael Chandler, it’s Parnasse who is set to hand Hooker the biggest purse of his career.

Dan Hooker Brings Up Michael Chandler and Salahdine Parnasse to explain why he will be Usman Nurmagomedov’s First Fight

Usman Nurmagomedov might be one of the biggest names next in line to join the UFC. The undefeated (22-0) fighter has not renewed his contract with the PFL (MVP MMA), making him one of MMA’s hottest free agents.

And Dan Hooker believes he will be the one to welcome Nurmagomedov to the promotion. Citing examples of already having fought a debutant, Michael Chandler, and his upcoming fight against another debutant, Salahdine Parnasse, Hooker stated in an interview with Submission Radio:

It’s the same thing as when I fought Chandler; it’s the same thing with this Parnasse guy. It’ll be the same thing with Usman. No one else will take the fight… None of these other guys in the division wanna risk it. So they call up Dan Hooker, offer him a bit of danger money, and he welcomes these boys to the big leagues. [via Championship Rounds]

Check out Dan Hooker’s comments below:

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Tonight, the UFC returns to the Meta Apex once more for Season 10, Week 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series. This week’s card features 5 bouts as usual.

In the first three weeks, 15 fighters have already impressed the UFC head honcho and grabbed UFC contracts. Some of those newcomers have already made short-notice UFC debuts and secured impressive finishes.

Tonight, more combatants will be adding their names to the list to be part of the big show.

In the main event/featured bout of DWCS season 10, Week 4, welterweight Patrick Rivera (13-4) will lock horns with Adam Darby (7-1).

Before the welterweight contest between Rivera and Darby, there is an 185-pound bout featuring Brandon Holmes (6-1) and Modestino Rodrigues (7-1).

Stay tuned with LowKick MMA for updates on all the fights and to find out which fighters earn UFC contracts tonight on Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4!

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4 Results & Highlights

Adam Darby defeated Patrick Rivera by TKO in Round 3 (2:42) – Doctor’s stoppage

Adam Darby showed all his weapons against Patrick Rivera earlier tonight on DWCS while dismantling his American foe tactically.

It was majorly one-way traffic from the Irishman, and Rivera’s face turned into a horror movie scene after 12 minutes, after which the ref decided to call the doctor. After the assessment, the bout was stopped as Rivera’s upper eyelid looked extremely swollen.

Modestino Rodrigues defeated Brandon Holmes in Round 1 by TKO (0:15)

Modestino Rodrigues was on the gas from the opening bell. He started piecing up Brandon Holmes right away and did not let Holmes throw a punch.

Rodrigues dropped Holmes with a right hook under 12 seconds, and before the latter could attempt to survive, the ref stepped in to stop the fight.

The 32-year-old Brazilian had predicted a quick finish on DWCS and delivered, scoring the fastest finish of his MMA career. Rodrigues extended his winning streak to five tonight, and all five victories have come by way of knockout.

Silvestre Sanchez defeated Liam McCraken by TKO in Round 3 (2:44)

Earlier tonight on Dana White’s Contender Series, Silvestre Sanchez dominated for the first 2 rounds, both on the ground and on the feet. He scored 3 takedowns and landed vicious ground-and-pound, bloodying Liam McCraken up.

In the final frame, “Gorilla” dropped McCraken with a left hook and then went for the final kill with a couple of follow-up shots before the ref stepped in to stop the bout.

McCraken looked like the faster puncher, but Sanchez’s power, precision, and well-roundedness proved to be too much for the Brit to handle.

Gabriel Lorenco defeated Charlie Cleveland in Round 1 (2:02) by KO

Gabriel Lorenco dropped Charlie Cleveland in the first frame with a solid right hook. The Brazilian fighter then went for the final kill with a series of hammerfists and elbows until the ref stepped in to save Cleveland from further punishment.

Adam Livingston defeated Hunter Smith by split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)

Adam Livingston landed a variety of spinning attacks and stunned Hunter Smith numerous times in Round 1. Despite being stunned a couple of times, Smith survived and eventually found his rhythm, after which both fighters delivered constant action throughout the first frame.

In Round 2, Livingston slowed down but kept on head hunting. Smith, on the other hand, started dictating the pace, pressuring, and landing heavy leg and body kicks to punish Livingston.

In Round 3 of this firefight, Smith once more had a higher output. Meanwhile, Livingston also had his moments but failed to dictate the pace or control the center of the octagon.

After 15 mins of nonstop back and forth, Adam Livingston secured the win by split decison. Post-fight, “Bomb” promised to deliver highlight reel finishes if he earns a UFC contract tonight. He also wants to open the UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden on November 14.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4 Contract Winners

• Adam Livingston
• Gabriel Lorenco
• Silvestre Sanchez
• Modestino Rodrigues
• Adam Darby

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Two lightweights remained undefeated as professional MMA fighters on Saturday: Magomed Zaynukov and Nurullo Aliev.

Magomed Zaynukov:

Zaynukov carried plenty of hype into the UFC following his contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. He quickly became arguably the most talked-about fighter from Season 9. His UFC debut went even better as he dominated Damian Rzepecki across three rounds.

Before transitioning to MMA, Zaynukov built an extensive muay thai career, compiling an 18-3 record while becoming a four-time Russian and European champion. In 2021, he made the move to MMA full time.

Zaynukov also comes from the renowned camp founded by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The father of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap was widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the sport before his tragic passing due to COVID-19 in 2020. His gym has continued to thrive under Khabib’s leadership.

Of course, Abdulmanap’s camp—and Dagestani fighters as a whole—are primarily known for their elite sambo-based wrestling. That’s what makes Zaynukov particularly intriguing. He has already proven himself to be a dangerous striker, yet he has also spent years training alongside some of the greatest wrestlers in MMA history, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Zaynukov showcased flashes of his grappling pedigree on both Dana White’s Contender Series and in his UFC debut, but he has largely continued to rely on his striking.

Nurullo Aliev:

Unlike Zaynukov, Nurullo Aliev has largely flown under the radar during his UFC career. A native of Tajikistan, Aliev earned a UFC contract in 2022 and has since gone 4-0 inside the Octagon, improving his professional record to 12-0 with a victory over Mike Davis on Saturday.

There are several reasons why Aliev hasn’t generated the same level of buzz as Zaynukov. For one, he simply hasn’t had the most memorable or exciting fights. The 25-year-old owns a modest 17% finish rate across his 12 professional victories and was heavily criticized for his performance on Saturday. Although he accumulated 12:25 of control time, Aliev rarely took risks and showed little urgency to pursue a finish. He is an outstanding wrestler, but the rest of his game remains less developed.

Another factor is his marketability. Aliev does not speak English, which naturally makes it more difficult to connect with the UFC’s primarily American audience. While Zaynukov also isn’t fluent in English, his personality has been amplified through his association with high-profile figures like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Aliev is beloved in his native Tajikistan but has yet to receive much attention elsewhere.

Perhaps more than anything, Aliev’s biggest obstacle has been inactivity. Since joining the UFC in 2022, “The Tajik Eagle” has fought just four times as injuries have repeatedly stalled his momentum. In fact, 2025 was the first year he competed more than once in a calendar year since signing with the promotion.

Despite the criticism, Aliev is undeniably talented, and at just 25 years old, he has an incredibly bright future.

A potential Matchup between Zaynukov and Aliev:

That brings us to Magomed Zaynukov’s callout. “Wild Chanko” is clearly not interested in easing into UFC competition. He has already shown a willingness to take on difficult opponents as he looks to stay active and work his way toward the rankings. Aliev may have his critics, but defeating an undefeated prospect like him would instantly boost Zaynukov’s résumé and likely earn him even more fans, while potentially putting him in line for a ranked opponent.

Will this fight ever come together? Who knows. It’s entirely possible the UFC will keep two of its undefeated lightweight prospects apart for the time being. It’s also important to note that Aliev does hold a win over Magomed’s brother, Makkasharip, from 2018. Zaynukov has made it clear he’s willing to accept the challenge, and look for some family revenge. If this matchup does happen, it would present one of the most fascinating stylistic clashes amongst undefeated fighters in the division.

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MMA fighter Bartłomiej “Bucketboy” Skowyra turned a second-round stoppage into a viral moment Saturday, pulling out a joint from his shorts and lighting it while perched on the cage at DWM Fight Night 10 in Gliwice, Poland. The celebration followed Skowyra’s win over Pablo Moura, and the video has since made the rounds well beyond the regional MMA scene.

Skowyra, a 23-year-old Polish fighter, faced Portugal’s Moura at the July 25 event inside Gliwice’s PreZero Arena. Moura, described as a grappling specialist, repeatedly looked for leg locks, but Skowyra shut down those attempts and took control on the floor.

MMA Fighter Celebrates KO By Pulling Joint From Shorts And Lighting Up

The finish came at 2:28 of Round 2. Skowyra landed a run of elbows from top position, forcing the referee to wave off the fight as Moura absorbed unanswered shots. The official result is a TKO through ground elbows, even though early clips and headlines have loosely called it a knockout.

Then came the part nobody had on their bingo card.

Skowyra sprang up, climbed the fence, reached into his shorts and pulled out a rolled item that appeared to be a joint. He also had a lighter ready, lit it in front of the crowd and cameras, and took a few puffs while sitting on top of the cage before returning to the canvas for the official decision.

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The clip captured both parts of the sequence: the elbows that ended Moura’s night, followed by Skowyra’s unusual smoke break. In a sport full of post-fight backflips, roar-at-the-camera celebrations and callouts, “Bucketboy” went with something closer to a post-training wind-down, except it happened above the cage after a professional fight.

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The victory reportedly moved Skowyra’s professional record to 6-5. DWM 10 featured 10 fights and aired in Poland via Kanał Sportowy, with the Skowyra-Moura bout quickly becoming one of the event’s most circulated moments online.

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Darren Till will meet Yoel Romero in a 180-pound bare-knuckle bout when BKFC 94 lands at Manchester’s AO Arena on September 26. The card will also feature champion David Mundell defending the BKFC middleweight title against Jack Cullen.

The fight puts Liverpool’s Till against Romero, the former UFC title challenger and Olympic freestyle wrestling silver medallist. It comes after an extended back-and-forth between the pair, with Till writing: “I’ve finally got over my years of trauma & nightmares of Yoel Romero. So, let’s f* do this!!”

Romero responded: “He’s been running his mouth for too long, on September 26 I’m going to close it permanently in Manchester.”

Darren Till vs. Yoel Romero

Till entered BKFC in May at BKFC 90 in Birmingham, stopping Aaron Chalmers 22 seconds into the second round. Chalmers had dropped Till earlier in the contest, but Till turned the fight with a counter left hand at the Utilita Arena.

Before BKFC, Till competed in the UFC and subsequently took part in professional boxing. His first bare-knuckle outing gave the promotion a recognisable UK name, and a return in Manchester provides a home-region stage against one of the most experienced fighters he has faced.

Romero made his BKFC debut in September 2025, defeating Theo Doukas by second-round TKO at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Romero scored three knockdowns before the referee stopped the heavyweight fight at 1:56 of round two.

The Cuban-born fighter compiled a 16-7 MMA record, with 13 wins by knockout or TKO, during spells in the UFC and Bellator. He challenged for UFC middleweight titles, then defeated Thiago Santos by unanimous decision at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024 in his most recent MMA bout.

Mundell will defend his 175-pound BKFC championship against Cullen in the co-main event. The Florida fighter brings a 10-2 bare-knuckle record into the booking, while Cullen arrives as a former British Commonwealth boxing champion.

BKFC founder and president David Feldman described Till vs. Romero as the promotion’s largest UK event involving two international combat-sports names. The promotion is expected to announce the remaining undercard at a later date.

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Ian Machado Garry most recently opined that throughout his career he’s faced a lot of pressure to match the level of stardom achieved by his fellow Irishman and former UFC double champion Conor McGregor, who has been the face of MMA and the UFC’s biggest draw.

Garry is set to challenge two-division champion, the current welterweight titleholder and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev, next month in the main event of UFC 330.

Most recently, during a sit-down with High Performance, “The Future” compared McGregor’s 2015 featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo to his upcoming 170-pound title fight with Islam Makhachev. He also added how throughout his career, everyone has expected him to become the next superstar from Dublin, Ireland, and “live up to the hype” that McGregor set. He said:

“I’ve had a lot of pressure from the outside world, from the fans and the sport itself, to be this star, to live up to the hype that Conor McGregor set being from Dublin, Ireland.”

McGregor dethroned Aldo in just 13 seconds, and now Garry, who’s going to face the P4P king on August 15, also has similar plans. The 28-year-old added:

“When Conor fought for his first UFC title, he fought the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, who hadn’t been beaten in a decade, and Conor knocked him out in 13 seconds. I cannot wait to step into the octagon against Islam Makhachev and beat him because there will be no doubt that I have done it again against the best.

Ian Machado Garry is confident that once he dethrones Makhachev, he will officially become the number one fighter in the world. McGregor scored a quick knockout in 2015 against Aldo, but “The Future” plans to dominate Makhachev over three rounds at UFC 330 before securing a fourth-round finish, leaving no room for debate that he is the better fighter.

Conor McGregor has a message for Ian Machado Garry before UFC 330 Islam Makhachev title bout

Earlier this month, during the UFC 329 post-fight presser, Conor McGregor sent a message to “The Future” before Garry’s title fight against Islam Makhachev. McGregor said:

“The Machado fella, I wish him well. I hope we do it. Go for Ireland.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments about Ian Machado Garry below:

McGregor was even game to fight his fellow Irishman for the ‘triple crown,’ if the latter dethrones Makhachev next month. However, the 38-year-old’s comeback bout against Max Holloway did not go as expected, as he was injured in the opening minute and lost by TKO (due to injury). He is expected to stay on the sidelines for 9-12 months, and if he returns to the octagon once more, as he has promised his fans, “The Notorious” would likely run it back with Holloway or face Michael Chandler.

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This past weekend at UFC Oklahoma City, Dricus du Plessis returned to winning ways in pure dominant fashion by beating Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision.

During the post-fight presser, Du Plessis took a lighthearted jab at the No. 3-ranked middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov.

The South African fighter believes that the current and two-time 185-pound titleholder, Sean Strickland, is not on his level since he has already beaten “Tarzan” twice. He then added during the post-fight presser:

“[These guys are not on my level since] I beat him [Sean Strickland] twice, and I don’t even know if [Nassourdine ]Imavov is still fighting. Is he? He’s still fighting? Imavov.”

Check out Dricus du Plessis‘ comments below:

Imavov could be the next UFC middleweight title challenger. “The Sniper” is riding a five-fight win streak and is eager to run it back with “Tarzan,” who beat him in 2023.

Meanwhile, seemingly responding to Dricus du Plessis’ above comments, Imavov posted on X:

“Relax ”

Check out Nassourdine Imavov’s comments below:

Dana White comments on if Dricus du Plessis has done enough to earn the next title shot

At the UFC Oklahoma City post-fight presser, Dana White was asked if Dricus du Plessis’ dominant win over Kamaru Usman was enough to make him the next title challenger. White lauded “Stillknocks” but made it clear that the matchmakers have not yet decided who Sean Strickland will face next.

Check out Dana White’s comments below:

Strickland could run it back with former champion Khamzat Chimaev, who’s hell-bent on securing the title match at all costs. Nassourdine Imavov could also be the next title challenger. He has openly expressed his frustration over not getting a title shot.

Du Plessis also likes the idea of a potential Strickland vs. Imavov bout, after which he wants to lock horns with Strickland and beat the latter a third time to get his strap back. He told Full Send MMA:

“He knows I have all the respect in the world for him [Sean Strickland]. In a different life, I might even call us friends. Fight Imavov and get a title defense; he earned that, and after that I’ll come and take my belt back”

Check out Dricus Du Plessis’ comments below:

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