The UFC gears up for its Shanghai event, headlined by light heavyweight rivals Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang. Fights take place Saturday, August 23, 2025, inside Mercedes-Benz Arena. ESPN+ will stream the action live. The card also features a featherweight co-headliner, with Aljamain Sterling facing Brian Ortega. Fighters Face the Scale All 26 athletes must weigh in to qualify. The UFC allows a one-pound allowance in non-title bouts. The first fighter will weigh in at 9 p.m. ET, with text updates released shortly after. Full Fight Lineup Main Card: Prelims:
Author: OMN AI
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen shared a striking perspective on Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. Chimaev claims middleweight crown In the main event in Chicago, Chimaev beat du Plessis to secure the UFC middleweight championship. He used his wrestling skills from the opening round until the end. When the fight finished, there was no doubt he had earned the belt. Many observers praised Chimaev’s performance. At the same time, some felt du Plessis disappointed in the cage. Only du Plessis knows what went wrong that night. Fans now wonder what might happen if both men…
The UFC secured a $7.7 billion streaming rights deal with Paramount+, prompting discussions about fighter bonuses. Dana White confirmed post-fight payouts will increase once the agreement starts in 2026. Fighters React to Bonus Promises Former title contender Paulo Costa expressed skepticism about the bonus boost during a podcast with Ariel Helwani. Costa joked, “Maybe they’re going to raise the bonuses by $500… $50,500 and a Venom bag.” Many fans wonder if fighters will see meaningful increases despite the mega deal. White Details New Pay Structure White said the new deal includes 13 numbered cards and 30 Fight Nights per year…
Dana White to Meet President Trump to Finalize Plans A UFC cage fight event is set to take place at the White House next year, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. The announcement was made Tuesday by Dana White, president of the UFC. White said he will meet with President Donald Trump later this month to finalize details for the event, scheduled for July 4, 2026. Trump personally requested that White organize the event, according to White’s interview with CBS. The president also wants his daughter, Ivanka Trump, to be involved in the planning. The cage…
Conor McGregor keeps hinting at an Octagon return, but the consensus among experts is that the comeback may never happen. After more than four years without a fight, the former double UFC champion seems more focused on maintaining relevance than competing. Daniel Cormier didn’t mince his words, telling Club Shay Shay: “It’s over for him. … He wants to stay in the news. He wants the notoriety of being Conor McGregor without having to be Conor McGregor.” Cormier pointed out McGregor’s wealth as a decisive factor — from the $100 million Floyd Mayweather boxing purse to the $500 million sale…
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa shared a story about Khamzat Chimaev’s reported security during UFC 319. Costa’s tension with the middleweight champion Paulo Costa has never hidden his dislike for Khamzat Chimaev, who secured the middleweight title after dominating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. The two fighters are unlikely to meet soon, as other contenders currently outrank Costa in the division. Costa recently achieved an impressive win over Roman Kopylov, showing he has the skills to make a serious run in the middleweight rankings. However, he often appears to create obstacles for himself outside the octagon. Despite this, Costa…
Khamzat Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight belt by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago. Champion Delivers Belt in Chechnya Days after his victory, Chimaev flew to Chechnya to present the championship to Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen Republic’s head. Kadyrov previously operated a notorious detention camp for LGBTQ+ individuals. Belt Symbolizes National Pride Chimaev told Joe Rogan that the belt holds significance for his country. Kadyrov frequently trains with him and attended Chimaev’s 2022 wedding. Entry Challenges Overcome Chimaev faced U.S. entry issues due to his connections with Kadyrov. UFC CEO Dana White helped resolve these problems through political…
Scientists have identified a striking slowdown in Arctic sea ice decline since 2005, a trend that contradicts earlier expectations. Rising emissions and global heating should have driven faster melting, but ocean circulation changes appear to have delayed greater losses. This slowdown, however, is temporary. Researchers forecast the Arctic will return to rapid melting within the next decade at least. No Real Recovery Satellite records show September sea ice has already dropped to half of its 1979 levels, proving losses remain profound. Experts caution that the slowdown does not imply stabilization. Ice-free Arctic summers remain likely within this century, with global…
A little less than two months after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has returned to Mexico and is now in prison. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security deported Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. to Mexican authorities to face charges under his country’s justice system,” Ronald Johnson, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, said on social media. “This action shows strong cooperation between our governments and strengthens security for both nations.” Arrest and Deportation Details In early July, ICE detained Chavez Jr. near his Los Angeles home, accusing him of unlawful entry into the…
A showdown between former champions from rival promotions is set for UFC 320 in Las Vegas on October 4, 2025. Patchy Mix (20-2), the former Bellator bantamweight champion, will look to rebound after his UFC debut ended in a decision loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 316. That setback snapped a seven-fight winning streak where he claimed victories over top names like Kyoji Horiguchi, Sergio Pettis, Raufeon Stots, and Magomed Magomedov. His opponent, Jakub Wiklacz (16-3-2), makes his UFC debut after a dominant run in Poland’s KSW, where he captured and defended the bantamweight title. The 27-year-old hasn’t lost since…