Concerns over Shavkat Rakhmonov’s future have been eased after his camp moved to deny rumors of a fresh injury setback. The welterweight contender has been sidelined throughout 2025 following surgery on a knee injury sustained at UFC 310. Recently, speculation flared online when UPFRONT MMA on X claimed that Kazakh outlet 24KZ had reported that Rakhmonov had reinjured the same knee. Fans reacted with frustration, with some suggesting that the unbeaten fighter should be cut from the roster. However, journalist Dimash Tulegenov clarified the situation via vesti.kz, confirming that Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, dismissed the reports as false, insisting “everything…
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.
Once billed as the UFC’s next breakout star, Sage Northcutt has taken a surprising turn in his career. The 29-year-old fighter, who rose to fame with a 6-2 record in the UFC and a reputation for flashy finishes, has officially moved into real estate. Northcutt’s MMA journey was a rollercoaster. After signing with ONE Championship in 2019, he suffered a devastating 30-second knockout loss to Cosmo Alexandre in his debut. The defeat sidelined him for nearly four years before a triumphant return in 2023, when he secured a 39-second submission at ONE Fight Night 10. Despite that comeback, Northcutt has…
Alex Pereira has offered his take on the UFC 321 heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, suggesting the Frenchman’s style could make it a far tougher contest than many expect. Aspinall, who defends his belt on October 25 in Abu Dhabi, has torn through his last three opponents – Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich and Marcin Tybura – in just over three minutes combined. Many predict another quick finish, but Pereira believes Gane’s movement and evasive style could frustrate the champion. “Tom is a complete fighter, but he’s fought a lot of aggressive guys,” Pereira said ahead of…
Dakota Ditcheva’s path to PFL gold just got more intriguing with the arrival of two former UFC standouts in her division. The undefeated British striker dominated the inaugural PFL women’s flyweight season in 2024, crushing Taila Santos in the final to cement her status as the face of the weight class. While speculation swirled about a future move to the UFC to face legends like Valentina Shevchenko, Ditcheva shut it down by re-signing with the PFL this summer. Critics questioned the depth of competition available to her, but the promotion has moved quickly to strengthen the roster. Brazilian veterans Viviane…
Ronda Rousey has teased a potential UFC return nearly a decade after her last fight, but not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea. The former bantamweight champion, who hasn’t fought since back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016, recently posted a training video on Instagram saying she had rediscovered her “love” for MMA. The post reignited speculation that the 38-year-old pioneer could step back into the Octagon. UFC veteran Matt Brown believes a comeback would end badly. Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, he said: “We know everyone would get behind bringing…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be preparing to hit the big screen as UFC pioneer Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, but years ago he seriously considered becoming a fighter himself. Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience, Johnson revealed that during the early stages of his WWE career he was intrigued by Pride FC, then Japan’s premier MMA promotion. The spectacle and big crowds tempted him to swap the wrestling ring for the cage. However, UFC Hall of Famer and fellow WWE star Ken Shamrock convinced him otherwise. “Shamrock was very smart,” Johnson recalled. “We were wrestling each other every…
YouTube star IShowSpeed got a crash course in just how dangerous a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt can be when UFC strawweight contender Vanessa Demopoulos made him tap out three times during a comical sparring session at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Demopoulos, who famously swapped life as an exotic dancer for a career in the Octagon, needed little time to assert her skills against the streamer. After pulling him to the mat, she locked in a triangle choke for the first submission, before following up with a head-and-arm choke and a slick armbar. At one point, she even…
Israel Adesanya insists he is ready to face anyone after accepting that his long-desired rematch with Sean Strickland will not happen. The former middleweight champion has endured a difficult run since reclaiming his belt with a knockout of Alex Pereira, suffering consecutive defeats to Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and most recently Nassourdine Imavov. Despite speculation about retirement, Adesanya has remained determined to return. Earlier this year, he repeatedly called for a second fight with Strickland, who shocked the world by dethroning him at UFC 293. But with Strickland suspended following a separate incident and showing no interest in a rematch,…
Dominick Reyes has revealed the terrifying health scare he endured before making his comeback to the UFC. The former light heavyweight title challenger is set to headline UFC Perth against Carlos Ulberg, but just stepping into the Octagon again is remarkable given what he has survived. In April 2024, Reyes was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis, a dangerous blood disorder that left his future uncertain. Speaking on Submission Radio, he recalled the stark words of his doctor: “If you wake up today, then good on you. If you don’t, well, then it didn’t work out.” Reyes admitted he lived day to…
Daniel Cormier has weighed in on the long-running MMA vs boxing debate after watching Canelo Alvarez take on Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. The September 13 showdown at Allegiant Stadium, streamed globally on Netflix, saw Crawford jump two weight classes to defeat Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight title. The bout was hailed as boxing at its finest, with high stakes, star power and historic implications. But while acknowledging the quality of the fight, Cormier admitted he found more enjoyment earlier in the evening watching Noche UFC in San Antonio, where Diego Lopes beat Jean Silva in a card celebrating…