Category Archives: Mmaweekly.com

The UFC Vegas 93: Perez vs. Taira live results from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas begin at 5 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com.  The event is headlined by a flyweight clash between fifth-ranked Alex Perez and thirteenth-ranked Tatsuro Taira.

Perez broke a three-fight losing skid in his last fight, knocking out Matheus Nicolau in his last fight in April.  Taira is unbeaten in his six-year MMA career with a record of 15-0.  

Start Times:

• Preliminary card begins at 7 p.m. ET

• Main card begins at 10 p.m. ET

UFC Vegas 93 Live Results and Analytics

UFC Vegas 93: Perez vs. Taira Official Results

Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

• Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira
• Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade
• Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba
• Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand
• Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Johnson
• Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan

Prelim Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

• Jimmy Flick vs. Nate Maness
• Gabriella Fernandes def. Carli Judice via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Westin Wilson def. Jake Saragih submission (armbar) at 1:49, Round 1
• Melquizael Costa def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via submission (face crank) at 1:50, Round 3
• Josefine Knutsson def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision  (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was expected to make his long-awaited return to the octagon on June 29 against Michael Chandler.  After a press conference in McGregor’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland was abruptly canceled hours before it was scheduled to happen earlier this month, rumors began to swirl that McGregor may be out of the fight.  

On Friday, those rumors were confirmed when UFC CEO Dana White officially announced that McGregor had been injured and was out of the UFC 303 main event.  White did not provide details about the injury or its severity.  

On Saturday, McGregor released a statement via social media speaking for the first time since he was forced to withdrawal from the event.  

“Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout,” McGregor wrote. “I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team. My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there!

“Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!” 

View the original article to see embedded media.

The McGregor and Chandler fight had been in the making since they coached The Ultimate Fighter 31 as opposing coaches last year. McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.  He’ll turn 36 next month.  

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Undefeated middleweight Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) was scheduled to headline next week’s UFC Saudi Arabia fight card against former champion Robert Whittaker (25-7).  The bout had monumental consequences in the division with the winner potentially securing a title shot.  

Unfortunately, Chimaev was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness.  UFC CEO Dana White announced the news via social media video and revealed Whittaker’s new opponent.  

“Khamzat Chimaev is out of the fight next weekend in Saudi Arabia.  Violently, and I mean violently ill,” White said in the video.  “So, he’s going back home and hopefully the gets well soon.”

View the original article to see embedded media.

With Chimaev out of the fight, White announced his replacement.  Rising prospect Ikram Aliskerov (15-1) will step in against Whittaker in the headlining matchup.  

“Who is Ikram Aliskerov?  This guy is 15 and 1.  His only loss in his 16-fight pro career is to Khamzat Chimaev,” White said.  “This dude is a legit contender in only his third UFC fight… He’s on a seven-fight win streak.  We offered everybody in the division this fight.  Nobody would take it except for Robert Whittaker.”

UFC Saudia Arabia takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.  It’s the promotion’s debut event in the Arabia Peninsula.      

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

After several call-outs, Canelo Alvarez has finally agreed to a potential legacy fight against the undefeated Terence Crawford.

Crawford climbed to 40-0 last time out, earning a one-sided victory in another super-fight against Errol Spence Jr. For the months following his all-timer performance, the 36-year-old has been targeting a fight with the Mexican icon–and it now seems that the interest is mutual.

While discussing the possibility of the fight, Canelo Alvarez changed his mindset on colliding with Terence Crawford. After originally not being sold on the prospect, Canelo is now open to the idea of the bout.

“Crawford is a great fighter, obviously, [but he’s] three divisions below,” Canelo said while attending a No Golf, No Life presentation. “As I’ve said before, I’ve fought bigger guys in my category, smaller guys, older guys, younger guys.”

“At the end of the day, I was born to fight and I’ll fight anyone, obviously on terms that suit me best.” 

“At this point in my career I’ll always make the best fights but they have to benefit me. It depends on the money, but why not?” [h/t Second Scout]

Canelo Alvarez showed his class last time out. Just last month, the North American earned a dominant decision victory over his fellow countryman Jaime Munguía.

Munguía posed a knockout threat heading into the bout, but it was Canelo who landed the damaging blows.

Related: Jake Paul calls out Canelo Alvarez: ‘I want all the smoke’

Despite showing keen interest in the aforementioned super-fight, Terrance Crawford has an upcoming brawl to worry about.

‘Bud’ will step in against the promising European talent, Israil Madrimov. While he has an impressive 10-0-1 record, Madrimov is the much less experienced fighter and will enter the ring as the underdog.

If all goes to plan for Terence Crawford, the Canelo matchup can begin to unfold following his next outing. Crawford is set to step into the squared circle on August 3.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

In the midst of his Conor McGregor fight being canceled, Michael Chandler has given his instant reaction to the news.

After two years of speculation and uncertainty, the highly-anticipated McGregor vs. Chandler matchup has officially been canceled. The two legends of the sport have been rumored to meet inside the octagon for some time. That bout was seemingly confirmed when the two were scheduled to coach The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, though a bad omen seemingly surrounds the clash.

On Thursday night, Dana White announced to the world that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler will no longer be the headline at UFC 303. Mega Fit, alongside Chandler, wasted no time responding to the news.

“Conor McGregor was never the safe bet as an opponent, he was always the highest risk,” Chandler stated on social media. “Maybe the highest reward, but the biggest opportunity.”

“There is no right or wrong in business. You only take risk to grow, or remain comfortable where you are. Embrace the opportunity. Take calculated risk. That’s what Michael Chandler does.”

“And if it doesn’t go as planned, redirect the course to something even greater.”

The Mega Fit and Michael Chandler collaboration post continued.

“Our respect to the man who represents the fight world better than anyone we’ve ever known. NO FEAR. NO LIMITS. NO EXCUSES.”

“Make hard work your passion – who cares who’s on the other side of the punch.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MEGAFIT MEALS (@megafitmeals)

Related: Michael Bisping questions whether Conor McGregor will ever fight again

UFC 303 has now instead found a new main event. A fan favorite rematch between light heavyweight king Alex Pereira and the unique Jiri Prochazka replaces the former headlining bout.

‘Poatan’ and Prochazka met less than seven months ago at UFC 295. The hype for the matchup was monumental as fans witnessed the South American earn an impressive knockout win in the final minute of the second round.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The octagon returns to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for this weekend’s UFC on ESPN 58 event.  Headlining the fight card is a flyweight bout between fifth-ranked Alex Perez and 13th-ranked Tatsuro Taira.  

Both men officially weighed in at 126 pounds on Friday making tomorrow’s main event officially set.    

UFC on ESPN 58 Weigh-In Video: Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The octagon returned to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 58 event.  Headlining the fight card is a flyweight bout between fifth-ranked Alex Perez and 13th-ranked Tatsuro Taira.  Both men officially weighed in at 126 pounds on making tomorrow’s main event officially set.

UFC on ESPN 58 Weigh-In Results 

Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

• Alex Perez (126) vs. Tatsuro Taira (126)
• Miles Johns (135) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (136)
• Lucas Almeida (146) vs. Timmy Cuamba (145)
• Garrett Armfield (135.5) vs. Brady Hiestand (135)
• Asu Almabayev (125.5) vs. Jose Johnson (126)
• Adam Fugitt (170) vs. Josh Quinlan (169.5)

Prelim Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

• Tagir Ulanbekov (129.5) vs. Joshua Van (125.5)
• Jimmy Flick (126) vs. Nate Maness (125.5)
• Gabriella Fernandes (126) vs. Carli Judice (125.5)
• Jeka Saragih (145) vs. Westin Wilson (146)
• Melquizael Costa (145) vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (145.5)
• Josefine Knutsson (114.5) vs. Julia Polastri (116)

*Ulanbekov missed the flyweight limit by 3.5 pounds

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Conor McGregor was expected to make his long-awaited octagon return on July 29 against Michael Chandler in the UFC 303 main event.  When the tickets went on sale, a new live-gate record was established with over $ 20 million in ticket sales.  Unfortunately, McGregor was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury.  

Former middleweight champion and commentator Michael Bisping reacted to the news of McGregor being out of the UFC 303 fight with Chandler and questioned whether McGregor will ever fight again.  

“I don’t know why I was kind of optimistic that this fight was still going to go ahead,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.  “I should have know, though.  I was on a movie set last week and I was working with ‘Big’ John McCarthy.  A man that is an absolute authority on mixed marital arts and he told me in no uncertain terms, ‘This fight is not happening.  He’s injured.  He’s hurt himself.  His leg, the leg that he broke, that snapped against Dustin Poirier.  His titanium skin bone has failed.’  That’s what ‘Big’ John said.  I thought he was wrong.  I thought he was mistaken.”

McGregor hasn’t fought since suffering a broken leg in the final seconds of the opening round in his trilogy match against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.  McGregor turns 36 next month and it will be well over three years when he eventually steps back inside the octagon.  

“The big question is, is that it?  Will McGregor ever fight again,” Bisping questioned.  “He hurt himself this time.  What’s to say he won’t hurt himself next time?  What’s to say that he’ll ever be the same fighter again?  Him competing against Dustin Poirier, when the leg snapped, might just be the last time that Conor McGregor ever steps foot inside an octagon.

“Fighters aren’t the same.  Anderson Silva came back from the leg break.  He wasn’t the same,” continued Bisping.  “Chris Weidman, he wasn’t the same.  Chris Weidman still has problems now.  So, it might be the last time.”

UFC CEO Dana White announced that McGregor was out of the July event via social media video but did not provide any details about McGregor’s injury or its severity.  With McGregor injured, White announced a new UFC 303 main event.  Middleweight champion Alex Pereira takes on former titleholder Jiri Prochazka in a rematch in the new event headliner.      

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

The promotion for the July 6 boxing match between former UFC fighters Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal is in full swing.  Last month a press conference was held that ended in a brawl.  On Thursday, the first episode of ‘The Last Man Standing: Diaz vs. Masvidal’ was released.  

“I’m coming to finish.  I’m coming to kill,” said Diaz in the video.  Diaz lost to Masvidal when the two fought for the inaugural ‘BMF’ title at UFC 244 in November 2019 via doctor stoppage due to a cut.  He’ll have a shot at revenge when the two meet at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. next month.  

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Conor McGregor will not be returning to the octagon at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler and a new main event for the June 29 event has been announced.  

McGregor has been forced out of the anticipated match due to injury.  UFC CEO Dana White officially announced the news in a social media video on Thursday.  Stepping into the main event slot is a middleweight title bout rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jiri Prochazka.  

“Conor McGregor is out of (UFC) 303 versus Michael Chandler with an injury,” White said in the video.  “The new main event is Alex Pereira, former, not only UFC middleweight champion, he’s also the first and only fighter to win both middleweight and light heavyweight titles in UFC history. He also did it in the shortest amount of time.  He did it in 736 days in seven fights.  He finished seven of nine wins by knockout, which is a 78-percent finish rate, and won 10 of his last 11 fights.  He is facing former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, who has an unbelievable 23 first-round wins.

View the original article to see embedded media.

Pereira and Prochazka first fought at UFC 295 in November 2023 with Pereira stopping Prochazka via TKO in the second round.  Prochazka felt the stoppage was premature.

The McGregor and Chandler fight had been in the making since they coached The Ultimate Fighter 31 as opposing coaches last year.  McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.  His withdraw came after weeks of speculation after a press conference promoting the event in Dublin was abruptly canceled at the last minute earlier this month. The severity of the injury remains unclear.  

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos