Brand Risk is an influencer-led crossover fighting establishment featuring some of the most famous and viral celebrities. The organization leans into the controversy and platforms unusual characters that others would often avoid, as its company name suggests. Any entity comfortable with showcasing public figures and internet personalities in the ring will always have to fend off criticism from the outside world, and Brand Risk Promotions is no different.

Among those not impressed with the company and what it stands for is UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

"I've never been a part of anything so shameful in my life and I hate myself," Strickland said after leaving the Brand Risk event. "I feel like less of a man after being here. Oh, god. Why did I agree to this?"

Sean Strickland was invited as a guest to the show and spent some time on commentary during the strange matchups on display.

Partway through the event, which featured well-known musician Ray J and former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel, Strickland had seen enough and stormed out. Shortly after his exit, the 35-year-old publicly expressed his regret for attending.

"I had to get the f*** out of there, man," Strickland continued. "I like Adin, but I'm like sick to my f***ing stomach. That is f***ed up. This is the most f***ed up thing I've ever witnessed in my f***ing life. I'm ready to go home and look myself in the mirror after. I've never done anything so shameful in my life, being a part of this."

"Sorry, guys. Was just trying to say hi to a friend. Next thing you know, your dignity is gone."

Amid the criticism, Paul has managed to fashion out a respectable career for himself as a boxer. Managing to navigate his way through the sport despite his late beginnings, 'The Problem Child' has quickly established himself as one of the most prominent figures in the ring. While the ability with his hands doesn't remotely compare to the current greats in boxing, Paul's knack for drawing attention from both fans and critics has earned him the acknowledgment of his peers.

Bypassing the circus act claims early in his tenure, fighting Jake Paul is now considered a money fight for fighters in the latter stages of their careers. Intrigued by the prospect of making millions of dollars against a man far less dangerous than his usual opponents, Sean Strickland has made a bold proposal to the UFC: release him from his contract so he can fight Jake Paul.

"I gotta leave the UFC and go beat up Jake Paul," Strickland said while attending the Brand Risk event. "That's it. Cut my contract, UFC. It's time for me to leave."

Disagreements over fighter pay within the UFC remain a conversation decades after its birth. There have been many athletes who've competed with the company who were thrilled with their contracts throughout their stay, but countless others believe their contracts don't mirror what they should be earning.

Having recaptured his UFC middleweight throne, Sean Strickland is in as powerful a position as any to be making more money. Champions have historically earned more than contenders, but Strickland won't compete with Jake Paul's earnings, who ranked No. 23 on the 2026 Forbes list of highest-paid athletes, having raked in $70 million.

Nobody under the UFC banner made the list, triggering a response from Strickland.

"Even if I made just a fraction of that, I am making more than what the f***ing UFC is paying me."

Strickland continued:

"I'd beat the f***ing sh*t out of Jake Paul. Oh, I'd f***ing beat the sh*t out of him. Jake Paul lost against, pretty much, a reality TV star named [Tommy Fury]... That guy's not even a real boxer."

Sean Strickland wants to leave the UFC after seeing Jake Paul on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list 😭

“I gotta leave the UFC and go beat up Jake Paul. That’s it. Cut my contract, UFC. It’s time for me to leave.” https://t.co/TA2gxlnY9c pic.twitter.com/rh4ENU8eBp

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 24, 2026

While still recovering from being double eye poked while facing Gane at UFC 321 last October, Aspinall expects to take on the winner later this year. He praised Pereira as a 'generational talent,' but questioned whether the Brazilian will carry his punching power to the heavyweight division.

"First of all, he's an absolute generational talent, Alex Pereira. If he wins this fight, even though it's an interim title, it'll be the first person ever to win three different weights, which is unbelievable," Aspinall said on Fight Your Corner.

"He's massive. First of all, I have no idea how he made middleweight because he's like my height. So, he's maybe a little bit shorter than me, 6'4, 6'5. Massive weight cuts and now he's fighting at heavyweight."

"He carries a lot of power a light heavy and middle, but he's also fighting a lot smaller guys whose punch resistance is a lot less. So, in my opinion, a big factor in why he's knocking these guys out is because he's a lot bigger than them," Aspinall continued. "And a guy like Ciryl Gane, who's used to taking punches off big, big heavyweights, he didn't get hurt off Francis Ngannou for five rounds, which is one of the biggest punchers in the division. I don't know if his punch resistance will be as good at heavyweight.

"Also, Alex Pereira is very good when he fights light heavyweights and middleweights who don't move a lot. Ciryl Gane is a massive heavyweight who moves a lot, moves really well, really, really fluid on his feet, moves in and out, judges distance really well and stuff like that."

Aspinall struggled to pick a winner but believed the matchup favors Gane. But there's an aspect he thinks Periera brings to the table that could give the Frenchman trouble.

"Stylistically I think it's a good matchup for Gane. That being said, Gane doesn't like leg kicks. He doesn't fare well against leg kicks. He's a good kicker, but if someone kicks him, like his leg kick defense isn't great," Aspinall said. "Alex Pereira, unbelievable leg kicker. Like his calf kicks. He slows people down. That's how he sets up the left hook is the kicks to the calf, stops the movement a little bit and then comes in with the left hook."

"I think, honestly, the Gane and Pereira fight, I struggle to pick a winner at this stage to be honest," Aspinall said. "It's a tough one to call, mate. Tough one to call. I would say Gane by points. I think he's just going to move too much for him and beat him on points."

McGregor is set to come back in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 during the fight promotion's annual International Fight Week against former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

"I think Max smokes him like a brisket," Masvidal said on Deep Waters.

Part of Masvidal's reasoning centered around McGregor's behavior and habits. His lifestyle is well chronicled on his social media accounts.

"It's also the lifestyle. I think Conor lives a certain lifestyle that we've all seen and then you can kind of tell that it's not for show. It's really his lifestyle, and Max lives a completely different lifestyle," Masvidal said.

"I've never seen Max at a club drunk. You've never see him in the headlines for anything bad. That guy lives a different life where he's gym, family, gym, family, gym, family. I think that's going to pay the biggest dividends because you could be away from the sport five years and come back like nothing happened if you live that life."

One thing McGregor has never lacked is self confidence. He has an unwavering belief in himself, but Masvidal questioned whether the Irishman still has it.

"For most great fighters to have that confidence, it comes from one place, the gym, the roadwork, the hunger. You train. You out-train everybody in the room. You're constantly putting in more work than the guys and you're able to say, 'Hey, I got this. I'm well prepared for this moment. Whatever happens, I'm ready to go.' I don't know if he still has that in him," he said.

"He's not fighting a slouch. He's fighting Max Holloway ... Max is still Max. I still feel he can go out there, win a world title, do a lot of big things. I think it's a bad fight for Conor," Masvidal continued. "I think Max is going to be way too much for Conor."

The former UFC light heavyweight champion has a questionable past with the company's CEO. Once close friends and business partners, White and Ortiz's relationship soured due to a series of failed negotiations and personality clashes, leading to one of the most talked-about rivalries in the sport's history. However, Ortiz believes that his ongoing differences with White shouldn't prevent him from being invited to events and should end his continuous banishment from the promotion's endeavours.

As summer approaches, the one thing on most MMA fans' minds remains the UFC White House. The event will attempt to showcase the best the company has to offer come June 14, and despite feeling hurt after missing out on an invitation, Tito Ortiz was complimentary of the card.

"I think it'll be a great event," Ortiz told Fox News. "I mean, it's going to be history in the making. There's been nothing like this ever before. But, I mean, there's going to be some good fights, don't get me wrong. I see there is only one fight that is actually American versus somebody else, and that's the main event... I'm not going to really talk bad about the card because all these guys have worked their butt off to get where they are and they deserve something like this."

Tito Ortiz's praise for the event hasn't mended his broken relationship with Dana White. Unfortunately for the UFC legend, invitations to once-in-a-lifetime events are only offered to those in White's good books.

"I wish I was invited to the White House card, I am not," Ortiz continued. "It's just, after the 16 years I gave to them from the very beginning, when they first bought the company, to almost the end when they sold the company, I don't get tickets. I gotta pay for my own tickets when I do want to go..."

"If you're on Dana's good side, you don't have to pay for anything. And I get it. He said, 'If you want to be a good friend, I'm a good friend.' He goes, 'But if you want to be an enemy, I'm good at that also.' I'm the first one to actually tell you he's 100% correct. Don't get on his bad side. But it's childish. I mean, it's like, to me, it's just petty. It's really petty. I've done so much for that company."

It’ll have been five years since McGregor last fought when he makes the walk to the cage inside T-Mobile Arena to face Holloway in a rematch during the fight promotion’s annual International Fight Week.

McGregor and Holloway first fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. The bout took place on the preliminary fight card and in the featherweight division. The Irishman defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a fight that he tore his ACL and relied on grappling. The rematch will take place in the welterweight division and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman believes McGregor only has one chance to defeat the Hawaiian.

"I'm excited (for McGregor's return). There's a lot of unanswered questions, you know, on how he's going to look on his comeback," Weidman said on Deep Waters. "Max has been so active. Obviously, he lost to [Charles] Oliveira in his last fight, but before that, I mean, he's been looking great. And he's not going to have to worry about the wrestling and jiu-jitsu, obviously, of Conor McGregor.

"And Max just gets better as the fight goes on. Conor slows down to begin with, and this is five years off. It's just a big uphill."

In his assessment of how the fight may play out, Weidman gave McGregor a 'puncher's chance' to emerge victorious.

"I think all of us are probably going to be on the same page where like the only chance Conor really has is to knock out Max. And probably in the first or second round," Weidman said. "He's also going against one of the biggest volume punchers we've ever seen. So, he's not coming back in against a guy who's going to have an easy pace to deal with. Max just keeps coming."

McGregor hasn’t fought since UFC 264 in July 2021 when he lost to Dustin Poirier after suffering a gruesome leg injury. It was his second consecutive loss to “The Diamond” and the Irishman has been on the sidelines since.

McGregor and Holloway first fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. The bout took place on the preliminary fight card and in the featherweight division. The Irishman defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a fight that he tore his ACL and relied on grappling. The rematch will take place in the welterweight division.

On Thursday, McGregor released a statement via social media thanking those who have supported him and claims to be better than he's ever been. Read full statement below.

"Thank you for all the love, support, and encouragement over the last few days, people! ❤️ 

I am feeling very energised entering intense training camp because of it! 💪 

I am very grateful for the team I have around me. My coaches and training partners, we are all fully tuned in for the challenge at hand and it is a glorious time in our gym!

Swipe to see an incredible snap shot of sparring with my long time training partner and friend, @nicolosolli_mma, who is in phenomenal condition pushing me hard, with coaches monitoring our every exchange. 

I am better than ever, and I relish the opportunity to once again show my mastery in martial arts to the world. 

Lord Jesus in your name, please, to inspire the next generation to come! 

Amen 🙏"

View this post on Instagram

The event signifies a highly anticipated revival of the legendary Arizona-based combat sports promotion, whose last show was almost three years ago. Founded by Roland Sarria in 1998, Rage in the Cage is one of MMA's longest-running companies. Unlike other major outlets, the organization presents mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, providing viewers with a mix of flavours to devour over the course of each show.

For some time, Rage in the Cage has been at a standstill. However, hoping to force its way back into the public eye, RITC has sought the help of PRIDE veteran Shannon 'The Cannon' Ritch, who promises to return the brand to its glory days.

Those making the trip down to the Desert Diamond Casino Event Center for the fights will be granted entry at 6:00 pm, with the first bout of the night getting underway at 7:00 pm.

Rage in the Cage's grand return will be met with a monumental 17 MMA bouts and a further 6 Muay Thai clashes, so viewers both attending the show or sitting at home watching along on FIGHT.TV will have no shortage of violence and potential viral moments in the cage. Alongside the monstrous 21-fight event, several MMA and UFC legends will make appearances, with Don Frye and Mark Coleman blessing fans with their presence to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their all-timer war from UFC 10.

Get ready for a thrilling night highlighting emerging MMA stars, special guests, and meet-and-greets, all while paying tribute to the rich history of Arizona's combat sports scene.

View this post on Instagram

EVENT DETAILS:

• Event: RAGE IN THE CAGE
• Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
• Location: Desert Diamond Casino Event Center — Tucson, Arizona
• Doors Open: 6:00 PM
• First Fight: 7:00 PM
• Live Stream: FIGHT.TV
• How To Attend: Tickets Available Here

The title bout ended in a split decision and most of the time that would lead to an immediate rematch. Strickland has said that he will not grant Chimaev a rematch and former titleholder Dricus Du Plessis doesn't think the Chechen deserves one.

"I couldn't believe it was a split decision. It was a very clear three rounds for Strickland and two rounds for Khamzat," Du Plessis told Fight Forecast. "I think a lot of aura (for Chimaev) was lost, but Khamzat's still an incredible, incredible fighter."

"With Khamzat, he says one thing, then he says another thing. He said he's moving up to 205 to Dana [White] but now he's calling Strickland for a rematch. I don't think he deserves a rematch. He definitely doesn't because he has no title defenses, zero. So, it doesn't justify a rematch at all," he said.

Du Plessis believes Chimaev may have to make adjustments to his fighting style moving forward and that "Borz" is at a crossroads.

"This fight is going to go one of two ways for him. Is this going to break him, or is it going motivate him to say, 'Listen, I can't just rely on my wrestling. I need to fight MMA' because that is at the end of the day where the sport is heading," said Du Plessis. "The wrestling guys have been so dominant that everybody's starting to catch up."

Rousey faced fellow women's MMA trailblazer Gina Carano in the fight card's main event. Rousey hadn't fought in nearly a decade and it had been nearly 17 years since Carano stepped into the cage but the event 'exceeded every expectation' the fight promotion and Netflix had.

“MVP’s first entry into MMA delivered on a massive global scale and exceeded every expectation we had for the launch of this new chapter of our business. Over 12.4 million viewers around the world tuned in live on Netflix, with viewership peaking at almost 17 million during Rousey vs. Carano, making it one of the most-watched MMA events of all time," read a joint statement by MVP co-founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul.

The fight card featured three five-round bouts to top the card. Leading into the Rousey vs. Carano fight was a welterweight clash between Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships' 'King of Violence,' Mike Perry, and the inventor of the UFC's BMF belt, Nate Diaz.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou faced veteran Philipe Lins in the first of the three headlining bouts.

"In the United States alone, the triple-main card averaged 9.3 million viewers and peaked at 11.6 million viewers during the main event, making it the most watched MMA event ever in the US. The event also generated over 410 million impressions across MVP’s owned social channels, a live gate exceeding $2.2 million, and saw terrific commercial premises distribution across bars, restaurants, casinos, and hospitality venues nationwide. We’re incredibly proud of what was accomplished alongside our partners at Netflix and grateful to the athletes who helped make MVP MMA’s debut such a success," read the press release.

With the success of their debut MMA event, MVP plans to hold more in the future.

"We’ve received an overwhelming amount of interest from investors, strategic partners, and fighters who want to be involved with MVP and the future of MVP MMA," the promotion said. "We are currently reviewing all strategic options to do something very meaningful within MMA on a go-forward basis with a distribution partner like Netflix that shares our vision to create lasting impact."

The two met in the featured fight of Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix's debut MMA event. It was Rousey's return to the sport after nearly a decade away. It had been nearly 17 years since Carano had made the walk to the cage. It was difficult to know what to expect but ended like everyone thought it would.

Rousey quickly took Carano down and "Conviction" was tapping out to Rousey's signature armbar seconds later. It was revealed following the event that Rousey entered her return bout with an injury.

"She should share with you the injury that she had two and a half weeks ago. If people were paying attention after the open workouts, she was limping," said Most Valuable Promotions' co-founder Nakisa Bidarian during the MVP MMA 1 Post-Fight Press Conference. "She's a warrior. I didn't know about it until Wednesday when I saw that and she said, 'I eat injuries for breakfast. I got this.'"

Rousey was asked about the injury when she joined the press conference and detailed what happened.

"I sprained my ankle or foot pretty bad like two and a half weeks ago," Rousey confirmed. "Right when it happened, I'm like, we had two and a half weeks left and I'm like, ''Well, looks like I'm doing this with my ankle messed up.' But basically I've never had a fight where I wasn't injured in some way, you know? I didn't ever pull out of a fight because I'd never been injured. I just never pulled out of a fight because I always fight anyway. That's just part of it, and when I happened, I'm like, 'This is part of it and I'm the f**king best at this.' I pushed through."

Since his UFCdeparture, 'The Predator' has been building his name value with short ventures into boxing and the PFL. A losing performance against Tyson Fury was a turning point in Ngannou's career, resulting in a significant boost to his fanbase.

Love him or hate him, Jake Paul knows how to garner attention and has done so many times throughout his time in boxing. Now, after a confrontation with Francis Ngannou, Paul has provided the former UFC heavyweight champion the chance of a lifetime: to add to his own post-UFC legacy and make millions doing it, all by fighting a YouTuber.

"What did you dream of when Anthony [Joshua] slept you?" Paul asked Ngannou during an encounter. "So, you were having dreams on the canvas there when you were unconscious? That's crazy."

Francis Ngannou suffered a hype-haltering second-round knockout at the hands of British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua when they collided in early 2024.

Jake Paul would later go on to face Joshua, whom he managed to survive six rounds with. Despite losing, Paul took the opportunity to promote himself as the better boxer during his conversation with Ngannou.

"So, yeah. I know you're not a boxer. So, the first rule of boxing is hit and don't get hit," Paul continued. "Yeah. You use your footwork. I'm not like a big clunky guy like you, stuck in sand."

After the pair traded barbs, Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou shook hands on a potential boxing match in the near future.

"Let's find out," Paul said as he all but confirmed a boxing match against Ngannou. "100% ready. And we're going to find out who the better boxer is. Let's do it. Welcome to the show, buddy."

View this post on Instagram

The UFC has managed to snatch up the vast majority of MMA stars from rival promotions whenever it pleases, which is one of the many perks of a company that has dominated a sport for over three decades. It is a rarity that a fighter considered one of the best in the world doesn't reside under the UFC banner, but is the tide beginning to turn?

Passionate about the future of martial arts, coupled with the persistence of her UFC witch hunt, Ronda Rousey has once again hit out at her former employer. This time, urging younger talent to build themselves outside of the octagon before moving to the big leagues.

"I would say that UFC is not in the business of developing fighters, and you do not go into the UFC to develop," Rousey said. "You go into the UFC when you are ready for your title run."

"I think a lot of people go in, you know, Nate [Diaz] kind of got stuck in that. He had that Ultimate Fighter contract and was stuck with that contract for a long time, that was not helping him out at all."

Throughout his 15 years in the UFC, Nate Diaz has vocalized his discontent with his contract numerous times.

Earlier in his career, Diaz likened his situation to being held hostage, having signed a multi-fight deal and not being offered fights to run down his contract and enter free agency. Ronda Rousey used that scenario to warn keen contenders to steer away from the UFC until they've first established themselves.

"I think you should come into the UFC when you already have leverage and not coming in when you're super green, because they're not going to give you the best matchups. They're looking out for the company. They're not looking out for you. So, if you stay outside the UFC, you can kind of pick and choose your matchups and what you need for your own development and everything like that for the right things at the right time because you're just, you know, you're going to be a cog on the wheel. You're getting thrown to the wolves once you jump in, and you shouldn't jump into there until you're ready to take over the whole pack."

Paddy Pimblett and Jiri Prochazka, two men who rejected approaches to join the UFC, are two key examples of how quickly you can be thrust into the spotlight if you have a heightened reputation before accepting the call-up.

With every facet of the sport evolving by the day, the UFC offers emerging talents benefits they wouldn't be afforded elsewhere. While many may not be able to resist, Rousey believes it could be the difference maker in fighters' careers.

"I think that a lot of people are getting signed and just so excited to be into the UFC and going to the PI and get all these things... don't go early for the perks. I feel like [fighters should] develop and get to the point where you're ready to take any matchup at any time and go for the title, and then you go. And then you can have the leverage and be like, 'You know what, I don't want a seven-fight contract, I would like to have fewer than that.'"

"So, come in with some leverage is what I would say."

Listen to Ronda Rousey's advice to young fighters aiming to make their way into the UFC during her appearance on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo in the video below.

It only took "Rowdy" 17 seconds to have Carano tapping out to her signature armbar submission. Check out the fight highlights below.

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Fight Highlights

It was both fighters’ return to mixed martial arts. Perry last fought an MMA bout in April 2021. Diaz was last in the cage in September 2022, but they put on an exciting show. Perry hurt Diaz to the body and bloodied his face. Check out the fight highlights below.

Mike Perry vs. Nate Diaz Fight Highlights

Take a look at the highlights from the heavyweight bout below.

Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Fight Highlights

While it had been a decade since “Rowdy” last competed, it was nearly 17 years since Carano last fought. Both women entered the fight in incredible shape. But with Rousey being 39 and Carano turning 44 last month, it was difficult to know what to expect.

Rousey immediately took Carano down. Carano looked for a guillotine choke. Rousey popped her head out. She transitioned to an arm bar. She extended it and Carano quickly tapped out. It only took Rousey 17 seconds to pull off her trademark finish.

Heading into the bout, Rousey said the fight would be her last.

THE NOTORIOUS ARM BAR SUBMISSION!

———
LIVE NOW
🌎 NETFLIX#RouseyCarano #DiazPerry #NgannouLins pic.twitter.com/Fa9evrXTgp

— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 17, 2026

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returned to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card's main event.

Rousey vs. Carano Post-Fight Press Conference

It was both fighters' return to mixed martial arts. Perry last fought an MMA bout in April 2021. After leaving the UFC five years ago, Perry rejuvenated his career in bare-knuckle fighting. After losing to Jake Paul in a boxing match, Perry returned to BKFC to defeat Jeremy Stephens in his last outing.

Diaz was last in the cage in September 2022. After leaving the UFC, Diaz also tried his hand at boxing, losing to Jake Paul and defeating Jorge Masvidal in his last outing in July 2024.

Perry came out aggressive and landed a right hand. Diaz briefly clinched. Diaz connects with his jab. Perry connected with an elbow in the clinch followed by knees to the body. Diaz tossed Perry to the canvas. He stood over him and delivered punches. Diaz isolated a leg and went to his back. Perry got his leg free and stood. Perry inched forward and went to the body. Perry delivers a hard body shot that hurt Diaz. Diaz circled free. Perry again targeted the body. A left hand lands for Perry. Perry's left continued to find a home. Diaz responded with a double jab. Diaz connected with a combination. Diaz was cut around his right eye. Perry delivered a knee to the body. Diaz reacted with combination. They clinched and Perry landed an elbow. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Perry.

Diaz came out landing his jab in the second. Perry pressed forward. Perry landed to the body with a right hook. Diaz opted for a double jab. Diaz connected with a right hook. Perry landed an uppercut. Diaz clinched. Perry pressured Diaz. Diaz connected with a combination. Diaz began bleeding more. Perry clinched. They worked for position long the cage before separating. Diaz wiped the blood away from his eye. Perry pressed forward and landed a a knee. Diaz fell to his back. Perry delivered left hands. Perry let Diaz up with a minute remaining. Diaz landed a combination. Perry continued to target the body. Diaz was a bloody mess at the end of the round. Perry jumped in with a knee that knocked Diaz down at the final second. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Perry.

The doctor was called in to check Diaz' cut. He stopped the fight. Perry wins by TKO.

The former two-division UFC champion hasn’t fought since UFC 264 in July 2021 when he lost to Dustin Poirier after suffering a gruesome leg injury. It was his second consecutive loss to “The Diamond” and the Irishman has been on the sidelines since.

The 37 year-old was scheduled to make the walk to the octagon at UFC 303 in July 2024 against Michael Chandler but pulled out of the event citing a toe injury.

The bout is a rematch. McGregor and Holloway first fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. The but took place on the preliminary fight card and in the featherweight division. The Irishman defeated Holloway via unanimous decision. They'll get to run it back during the UFC's annual International Fight Week.

Holloway, a legend in his own right, last fought in March losing to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira by unanimous decision. The McGregor rematch will take place in the 170-pound weight class.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card’s main event. Also featured, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou faces veteran Philipe Lins and Bare Knuckle Fighting's "King of Violence" Mike Perry takes on the creator of the BMF title, Nate Diaz.

The MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs. Carano live results begin at 6 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com. Refresh for the latest outcomes.

MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs. Carano Official Results

Main card

• Ronda Rousey def. Gina Carano via armbar at 0:17, Round 1
• Mike Perry def. Nate Diaz via TKO (corner stoppage due to cuts) at 5:00, Round 2
• Francis Ngannou def. Philipe Lins via KO (punch) at 4:31, Round 1
• Salahdine Parnasse def. Kenneth Cross via TKO (punches) at 4:18, Round 1
• Robelis Despaigne def. Junior Dos Santos via KO (punch) at 2:59, Round 1

Preliminary card

• Namo Fazil def. Jake Babian via Submission (brabo choke) at 0:58, Round 2
• Adriano Moraes def. Phumi Nkuta via Techical Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:49, Round 3
• Jason Jackson def. Jeff Creighton via KO (punches) at 0:22, Round 1
• David Mgoyan def. Albert Mora via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–26, 30–27)
• Aline Pereira def. Jade Masson-Wong via split decision (29–28, 30–27, 29–28)
• Brandon Jenkins def. Chris Avila via split decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

The fight card was headlined by a featherweight bout between No. 7 ranked Arnold Allen (20-4) and No. 12 ranked Melquizael Costa.

UFC Vegas 117 Post-Fight Press Conference Video

The fight card was headlined by a featherweight bout between No. 7 ranked Arnold Allen and No. 12 ranked Melquizael Costa. Allen entered the bout having lost three of his last four fights and in need of a win to maintain relevance in the top of the division. Costa brought with him a six-fight winning streak.

Allen landed firasr worth a leg kick and pressed forward. Costa landed a leg kick in return. Allen continued to walk forward. He landed a righ hand that knocked Costa down. Allen gained top position and worked to keep Costa grounded. Costa worked his way up and gained top control. He was able to take Allen's back. Allen stood but Costa stayed on him and drug him back down. Allen stood and Costa took his back. Costa looked to sink in a choke. Allen defended, gained top position and delivered elbows. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Allen.

Allen pressured Costa to start the second. They exchanged leg kicks. Allen connected with a right hand and Costa fired back with a combination. Allen stopped in the pocket with a 1-2. Costa circled on the outside and utilized let kicks. Costa pressed forward with punches but slipped while throwing a high kick. Allen stood over him kicking his legs. He let Costa up. Costa began going to the body with his kicks. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Allen, but it was a competitive round.

Allen against pressed forward in the third. He landed his jab but Costa responded with a combination. They exchanged leg kicks and Costa delivered a kick to the body. Costa had a higher output in the first half of the frame. Allen connected with a combination. He followed up with a clean left hand. Costa looked to get the fight to the ground but ended up having to pull guard. Allen landed an elbow and Costa rolled to his knees. Allen peppered him with right hands. Allen let him up in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Allen.

Costa came out in the fourth with a heavy kicking attack. He connected with a combination. Allen responded with a right hand. Costa connected with a right of his own. Allen's jab landed. Costa stepped in the pocket with a 1-2. Allen reacted with a left hand and clinched. He tripped Costa to the canvas just over the midway mark in the round. He maintained top position before letting Costa up. Allen's left hand found a home. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Allen.

Allen pressed forward but ate a counter left hand. Costa pressured Allen with punches. They clinched and Allen tripped Costa to the canvas. Costa worked his way upright but didn't escape the grasp of Allen. Allen pulled Costa back to the ground. Costa again got to his feet only to be put on his back again. Costa stood but Allen took his back. Costa flopped to his back trying to get free but Allen stayed on his back. Allen delivered left hands. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Allen.

The judges saw Allen as the unanimous winner. The scorecards read 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in 2022 and secured boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He was defeated by both. He last fought mixed martial arts in October 2024 defeating Renan Ferreira to win the symbolic PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship.

Lins had fought since March 2024 when he parted ways with the UFC riding a four-fight winning streak. "Monstro" planned to play spoiler on Saturday.

They touched gloves and Lins took the center of the cage. Ngannou connected first with an outside leg kick. Lins returned the favor but Ngannou pressed forward with a combination. Lins tied him up and Ngannou briefly looked for a guillotine choke. They separated and Ngannou delivered a leg kick. He followed with an uppercut. Lins looked for a takedown. Ngannou stuffed it and gained top position.

Lins scrambled but at shots as he stood. Ngannou stayed reserved. He connected with a combination. Lins responded with an overhand right. They worked for position a long the cage and Ngannou delivered right hands to the body. They separated and Lins connected with a right hand. Ngannou connected with a counter right that shut the lights out on Lins.

The official time of the knockout win was 4:31 of the opening round.

The fight card is headlined by a featherweight bout between No. 7 ranked Arnold Allen (20-4) and No. 12 ranked Melquizael Costa (26-7). Allen will enter the bout having lost three of his last four fights. Costa brings with him a six-fight winning streak.

The UFC Vegas 117 live results from Las Vegas begin at 5 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com. Refresh the page for the latest outcomes.

UFC Vegas 117 Official Results

Main Card (Paramount+, 9 p.m. ET)

• Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
• Dooho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO (punches) at 4:29, Round 2
• Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmak via Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:08, Round 2
• Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba via Submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:25, Round 2
• Khaos Williams def Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (punches) at 3:31, Round 1

Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tok via  unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
• Thomas Gantt def. Trey Ogden via TKO (punches) at 2:51, Round 2
• Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO (strikes) at 0:44 , Round 2
• Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana via verbal submission (capsule lock) at 4:36, Round 2
• Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:08, Round 3

Vieira entered the fight coming off a split decision loss to Norma Dumont looking to get back in the win column. Cavalcanti made the walk to the octagon at the Meta Apex riding an eight-fight winning streak and looking pick up the biggest win over her career.

Cavalcanti took the center of the cage. She inched forward and delivered a leg kick. Vieira answered with a jab to the head and then body. Cavalcanti continued to utilize leg kicks. Vieira slid in the picket with a right hand. Cavalcanti began mixing in teep kicks. The pace picked up in the final seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Vieira, but it was a competitive round.

Cavalcanti began the second round by delivering two leg kicks. Vieira closed the distance and clinched. She delivered needs to the legs of Cavalcanti along the cage. Vieira secured a single-leg takedown and worked inside Cavalcanti's closed guard. Vieira delivered punches while Cavalcanti threw strikes off her back. Vieira maintained top control to took the round.

They exchanged jabs to start the third. Cavalcanti connected with a combination. She pressured Vieira while continuing to invest in leg kicks. Vieira's jab began finding a home. Cavalcanti responded with a right hand. She connected with a combination. Cavalcanti turned the pressure up and landed as Vieira moved on the outside. Cavalcanti landed a right hand at the bell. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cavalcanti.

The judges scored the fight for Viera via unanimous decision. All three scorecards read 29-28.

The preliminary card is expected to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

PRELIMINARY CARD:

• Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
• Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta
• Jason Jackson vs. Jefferson Creighton
• David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
• Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
• Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins

MVP MMA 1: Preliminary Card Live Stream

The event takes place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California and will be the first mixed martial arts event promotion by Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix.

MVP MMA 1 Main Event Weigh-In: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card's main event.

The event takes place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California and will be the first mixed martial arts event promotion by Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix.

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

The event is headlined by a featherweight bout between No. 7 ranked Arnold Allen (20-4) and No. 12 ranked Melquizael Costa (26-7). Allen will enter the bout needing a win to hang onto his ranking having lost three of his last four fights. Costa brings with him a six-fight winning streak.

Both men tipped the scales at 145.5 pounds.

Almighty @Arnoldbfa💪

He weighs in at 145.5 lbs

[ #UFCVegas117 | MAY 16 at 8pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/hyNEpJL60m

— UFC (@ufc) May 15, 2026

Lookin’ to extend the win streak 😎@MelkCostaCauthy | 145.5 lbs

[ #UFCVegas117 | MAY 16 at 8pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/5FFtDIyDqT

— UFC (@ufc) May 15, 2026

UFC Vegas 117 Official Weigh-In Results

• Arnold Allen (145) vs. Melquizael Costa (145.5)
• Dooho Choi (146) vs. Daniel Santos (145)
• Juan Diaz (135.5) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (135.5)
• Modestas Bukauskas (213.5) vs. Christian Edwards (214.5)
• Timmy Cuamba (136) vs. Bernardo Sopaj (136)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Paramount+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5) vs. Khaos Williams (170.5)
• Ivan Erslan (205.5) vs. Tuco Tokkos (205.5)
• Thomas Gantt (156) vs. Trey Ogden (155)
• Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135.5) vs. Ketlen Vieira (136)
• Cody Brundage (185.5) vs. Andre Petroski (185.5)
• Alice Ardelean (116) vs. Polyana Viana (115)
• Daniel Barez (125.5) vs. Luis Gurule (125.5)
• Shauna Bannon (115.5) vs. Nicolle Caliari (115)

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card’s main event. 

On Friday, the fighters competing at the event will officially weigh in. Rousey and Carano came in light. Rousey stepped on the scales weighing 142 pounds while Carano tipped the scales at 141.4.

Ronda Rousey makes weight 🔥😳

———
Saturday, May 16th
LIVE only on Netflix
Intuit Dome - Los Angeles, CA#RouseyCarano #NgannouLins #DiazPerry pic.twitter.com/6JMqxLgTty

— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 15, 2026

Weight made for Gina Carano 😮‍💨

———
Saturday, May 16th
LIVE only on Netflix
Intuit Dome - Los Angeles, CA#RouseyCarano #NgannouLins #DiazPerry pic.twitter.com/G3HFuCdYSo

— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 15, 2026

MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs. Carano Official Weigh-In Results

Main card

• Ronda Rousey (142) vs. Gina Carano (141.4)
• Nate Diaz (168.6) vs. Mike Perry (169.6)
• Philipe Lins (220.6) vs. Francis Ngannou (257)
• Kenneth Cross (155.4) vs. Salahdine Parnasse (154.8)
• Robelis Despaigne (258.8) vs. Junior Dos Santos (245.4)

Preliminary card

• Jake Babian (171) vs. Namo Fazil (170.8)
• Adriano Moraes (129) vs. Phumi Nkuta (130)
• Jeff Creighton (168.2) vs. Jason Jackson (170.8)
• David Mgoyan (145.2) vs. Albert Morales (143.8)
• Jade Masson-Wong (129.2) vs. Aline Pereira (128)
• Chris Avila (164) vs. Brandon Jenkins (164.2)

Rousey did find someone interested, though. On Saturday, she'll make the walk to the cage at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. in the Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix's inaugural mixed martial event against "Conviction."

During Thursday's pre-fight press conference, Rousey said she believes the UFC is regretting their decision to not do the fight.

"I think they're regretting not making it happen now because there's no way that they could have seen how this one fight would reverberate to creating this entire card and being MVP into MMA and Netflix into MMA," Rousey said.

"I think because when I first sat down in that office and I was lactating, he didn't think I was to be taken seriously. but I'm to be taken the most f**king seriously while I'm lactating.

"And I think it's incredible that Jake [Paul] and Nakisa [Bidarian], they made a priority to put the fighters first and to give them, you know, more of the profit share. I actually get to see some of those numbers now and it's incredible how giving they've been and how they really want to showcase the fighters first before anything else. They don't want the brand to overshadow us. They want to showcase us."

When Rousey was in the UFC, it had different owners. It was a different atmosphere and a different business model. She has no loyalty to the current company but recognized what the previous owners and executives did for her career.

"I would want to make something abundantly clear and that's that I owe Dana [White] and the Fertittas immensely and I'd be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them," Rousey said.

"But my loyalty is to them and not the company they sold. And I do not owe TKO's UFC a damn thing."

It's been nearly a decade since "Rowdy" competed and nearly 17 years since Carano last fought. Both women look to be in incredible shape, but Carano turned 44 last month and Rousey is 39. Although, UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is 38 and former two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes is 37.

Sonnen believes we could witness something comparable to when Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz fought for a third time well past their primes. At 48, and eight years removed from competition, Liddell was slow and stationary. Ortiz avenged his two precious losses to the "Iceman," but it wasn't worth a lot celebration.

"The Ronda-Gina fight, it's very hard to know what to expect because these girls look incredible. I mean, Ronda looks like she went through a cycle. Ronda's got the same neck going on that I've got and I'm a chemical monstrosity," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.

"She looked really fit, and I must say the same thing for Gina. Gina also has some height, and it's just an overall bigger bones. But in terms of being lean and fit and looking athletic, they look pretty incredible. The bad news is, I don't know how much that matters.

"Tito and Chuck, which is the greatest abortion of a fight that I have ever witnessed. They both looked really good. They cut down to 205 pounds. They both looked really good," Sonnen continued.

"Chuck had an interesting walk. Right? Which you go, 'Hey, you guys look good, but that ol' boy can hardly walk out here. And then the fight starts. Oh my goodness, right? It was one of those things. It was one of those things, and it never ended. When Tito won, like that celebration, that little-boy type celebration he had back when he was 18 or 19 and 20 and chasing a dream. He celebrated in that same fashion not realizing the elderly abuse he just forced us to witness. It was just one of those things where we didn't know. It seemed like a good idea."

"We put two dinosaurs in there. But now we're doing that with Ronda and I'm just wonder what we should expect, or with Gina. I'm just wondering what we should expect."

Setting his concerns about the fight aside, Sonnen predicted a disastrous scenario will unfold at Friday's weigh-in.

"If you want to know your greatest bet, in my opinion, I'm not giving your gambling advice. I'm not giving your financial advice, but I do get asked the question, 'What's your hot take? Or what is your biggest pick?' The absolute biggest pick that I would place myself if I knew how to do it, one off these girls, not just Gina, Ronda equally, one of these girls will not make weight," predicted Sonnen.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card’s main event. The press conference is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano Pre-Fight Press Conference

The two-time UFC middleweight champion has some significant wins on his resume, but arguably none bigger than his most recent over a man many considered unbeatable. Following his triumphant return to the head of the table at 185 lbs, fans were quick to praise the 35-year-old for overcoming his trials and tribulations both inside and outside the octagon to reclaim UFC gold.

Leading the way in giving Sean Strickland his flowers was Joe Rogan. Speaking of UFC 328 on his podcast with Brendan Schaub, Rogan admitted he was rooting for Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev.

"I was nut-riding for Strickland the whole time," Rogan confessed. "I was like, that guy is the f***ing captain of the deep water. He knows how to go into deep water, man. And he knows how to survive. He can survive."

"And the thing about Khamzat is if he takes you down, he wants to hold you down and just beat on you and not expend a lot of energy, like he did with Dricus [Du Plessis]. You can't do that with Sean. Sean is not going to sit still. He's very hard to hold down. He's got super underrated grappling. Super underrated. You know, he almost threw Khamzat later in the fight. And he did wind up on top multiple times. He ain't easy for anybody."

Much was made of Khamzat Chimaev's rough weight cut and the state he entered the fight in, which is allegedly the worst he has looked since moving up to middleweight.

However, Chimaev wasn't the only one dealing with the wear and tear of mixed martial arts. Strickland was visibly compromised heading into the bout, with the rumors of a shoulder injury seeming true.

"He had a blown-out shoulder," Rogan continued. "Sean had one arm... I noticed he was doing this at the beginning of the fight. Before the fight started, he was doing this with his arm. So, he's warming up, he's doing this, but he kept doing this with his right arm. I'm like, 'Ooh, that's what I do if my shoulders hurt, to see how hurt it is...' Still won. Still fought, where a lot of guys would have pulled out. A lot of guys would have said, 'I can't use my arm, I'm pulling out.'"

Joe Rogan later recalled Sean Strickland's first title reign and what transpired before he lost the title.

Strickland's love for motorcycles almost cost him his life in late 2018 when he collided with another vehicle at 45 mph, rendering him unconscious and resulting in a two-year hiatus from the UFC.

Despite complications, Strickland made a full recovery but was again involved in another incident years later. Ahead of his second outing against Dricus Du Plessis, the California native was thrown from his motorcycle. Strickland would go on to lose the fight, but lingering shoulder issues have been present since then, and could have played a role in his clash against Khamzat Chimaev.

"Second fight with DDP, he f***ed his shoulder up, too," Rogan stated. "Driving a dirt bike like a f***ing psychopath. Crashed his dirt bike, f***ed his shoulder up, and they told him [he] had to fight. So, you had to take the fight. So, you had to take the fight with a f***ed up shoulder."

"And one of the things you notice about when he's throwing right hands, in particular in this fight, I noticed it, they were awkward sometimes. Sometimes they just looked weird, like he was trying not to use his shoulder or something."

Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after n early a decade to take on fellow women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the fight card's main event. The open workouts begin at 9 p.m. ET.

MVP MMA Open Workout

Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria puts his belt on the line for the first time against two-time interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in the historic event's featured fight. Gaethje's coach, Trevor Wittman, says competing on the White House lawn has been motivating to his fighter.

"This is a big fight. We're fighting on the White House card, so this is a one-off, you know, so I think that is very very cool to be apart of, especially the main event. Justin is really taking that serious. I mean, obviously he takes every fight serious, but to be able to be on the White House card and you're the headliner, that's a very important thing to him," Whittman said on Gaethje's YouTube channel.

"Like, he's all American, dude. And he represents this country more than anybody I know. So, it's very cool to have him be a part of that. And the cool part is we're fighting Ilia."

Topuria is a massive betting favorite a month out from the event. Wittman pointed out that Gaethje has been the underdog several times, but expects to see the 37 year-old 'shock the world' on June 14.

"Right now everybody thinks Ilia is the, you know, the unbeatable, you know, superhero. He's a great, great fighter, but everybody's human and I definitely see some holes in his game," Wittman said.

"Obviously, they're saying the same thing. They're going to see holes in our game, and we're making our adjustments. And I'm sure they're going to make adjustments for fighting a guy like Justin," Wittman continued.

"I look forward to shocking the world on this unique UFC White House card. Freedom 250. I'm so excited and we're going to go out there and shock the world."

Ngannou, also the former Professional Fighters League Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, left the PFL earlier this year and inked a deal with Most Valuable Promotions. He'll make his promotional debut at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on May 16 in the first MMA event to air on Netflix. Ngannou's striking coach, Dewey Cooper, insists his fighter is the best heavyweight on the planet.

"Everything is terrific, man. May 16th. We're super excited. I really feel it's a great incentive, it being the first mixed martial arts fight on Netflix. I think that puts the cherry on top for him psychologically because he's been training extremely well and we can't wait until fight night," Cooper said on MVP UNCUT.

"He's a two-company world champion. He's never been dethroned. He's never lost his championship belt in two major organizations. Francis is undoubtedly the best heavyweight mixed marital artist in the world. He's never lost the championship in either company. So, he has a standard that he puts himself on," continued Cooper.

"He looks phenomenal. We're excited about what he's going to show fight night. It's going to be something fantastic ... He's on another level, guys."

MVP UNCUT: Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano | Episode 1

Strickland recaptured the 185-pound title edging Chimaev out on the scorecards via split decision. It was Chimaev's first career loss. Last month, "Borz" inked a deal with Real America Freestyle (RAF), but when he'd debut was unknown.

On Tuesday, the wrestling promotion revealed "Borz" will face Dillon Danis in his RAF debut on June 13th in the RAF 10 main event in St. Louis.

View this post on Instagram

Danis made his RAF debut in March, losing to former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington at RAF 07.

RAF 10 takes place at Chaifetz Arena and also features a match between top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and former UFC interim lightweight titleholder Tony Ferguson.

Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returns to the cage after nearly a decade to take on fellow women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano in the aptly named Rousey vs. Carano main event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

MVP has been a boxing promotion since its creation five years ago, but Paul looks at the MMA landscape and sees an opportunity.

"I think we're pretty agnostic in terms of it being MMA or boxing. At the end of the day, we love combat sports and we're great promoters and we have a great relationship with our partners at Netflix as well as other platforms. But we've always wanted to make MMA fights happen," Paul said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

"It's always been in our minds. And I think is ripe for disruption, maybe even more than boxing is currently."

With MVP and Netflix entering MMA promotion, it puts them in direct completion with the UFC streaming on Paramount+. Paul believes the UFC fails to recognize what fans want.

"I think there's a lot of weird things happening over at that organization ... They've sort of lost touch with the pulse of their fans and making the fights that people want to see," said Paul.

"I think fans are starting to not be as happy with the way things are run and the fights that are being made, the cards that are being put together. So yeah, just hearing the people speak. And obviously I don't know anything that goes on behind the scenes, but you can kind of feel that as well," he continued.

"Like, I'm a fan of the UFC. I have been since I was, you know, 12 or 13 years-old. And I've also noticed a difference just in the organization. It's hard to say what it is, but it just doesn't have as much hype anymore."

"He literally walked up to me after the fight and said, 'I want to move up. I don't want to fight in this weight class anymore'" White revealed during the UFC 328 Post-Fight Press Conference.

Chimaev struggled to make weight for the UFC 328 championship fight against former titleholder Sean Strickland. Some allege that he did not make weight, but that's another story. Despite what Chimaev told White, he called for a rematch with Strickland the following day on social media.

"Let me know when you are ready @SStricklandMMA," Chimaev wrote on X.

Let me know when you are ready @SStricklandMMA

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) May 11, 2026

Typically when a champion loses their belt via split decision, there's an immediate rematch. It's the obvious and easiest choice for matchmakers, but it's unclear in what division Chimaev's next fight will take place. White didn't disapprove of the Chechen moving to the 205-pound weight class.

"Him moving up is exciting," said White.

They cite how quickly the weight was read after Chimaev stepped on the scales and the movement of the bar. You can judge for yourself after watching the video.

"That F**king scale, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding," Strickland said during the post-fight press conference while referencing the movement of the bar. "He 1000% missed weight.

"We had a guy from my camp was watching him get on the check scale. When he stepped on his whole camp said, 'f**k' and they dragged him up because he was running out of time. He 1000% missed weight."

While Strickland said he doesn't care if Chimaev missed weight, he would have liked the 20 percent fine he would have collected.

"I don't b*tch about it. They're like, do whatever. Be a heavyweight I don't care. But, you know, at the end of the day, I heard he said he might want to move up to 205. You know, he should, dude. If that weight cut is killing you, go the f**k to 205. Enjoy life. It's way easier competition," Strickland said.

Following the fight, UFC CEO Dana White revealed Chimaev told him that he was moving up to the light heavyweight division.

"Because he missed weight," Strickland said when told what "Borz" told White. "I should get 20 percent, dude. What the f**k."

During the event's post-fight press conference, Strickland revealed that he entered the championship bout injured. Four days prior to making the walk to the octagon, Strickland 'separated' his shoulder in training.

"You want to hear something funny? On Tuesday I'm sparring Johnny [Eblen], that motherf**ker, PFL champ ... He f**king shoots on me and I hit this brick-ass wall and I separated my shoulder," Strickland said.

"I had a Grade 1 separation AC joint separation on Tuesday and I remember lying in bed Tuesday night thinking ... And I'm laying there and I can't lay on my left side. I'm like, 'You're such a f**king idiot. You're such a f**king idiot.' So, in the back I normally like to get better warmups but I didn't want to warm up and throw my shoulder out. The entire time I'm like, 'You're a f**king moron.'"

Chimaev was heavily favored heading into the fight but Strickland didn't care what oddsmakers had to say. Leading up to the event, Strickland maintained that he had the style to hand "Borz" his first career defeat. It turned out he was right.

Most scoring the UFC 328 middleweight championship headliner had the bout even with each fighter winning two rounds heading into the final frame. The three cage-side judges had it scored the same after four rounds.

Two of the judges scored the fight for Strickland while one scored the bout for Chimaev resulting in a split decision win for the American. How did you have it scored?

UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Official Scorecard

The event took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey in front of a sold-out crowd. Chimaev was heavily favored heading into the fight but Strickland was used to bring the underdog. The fight went the distance with Strickland narrowing winning via split decision on the scorecards. Check out the highlights.

UFC 328 Highlights: Chimaev vs. Strickland

UFC CEO Dana White announced the UFC 328 performance-based bonuses during the event's post-fight press conference. Fight of the Night honors went to the flyweight championship co-main event between titleholder Joshua Van and challenger Tatsuro Taira.

Veteran Jim Miller received a Performance of the Night bonus for his first round submission win over Jared Gordon on the preliminary card. The 42 year-old also inked a new five-fight contract with the fight promotion following the win.

The final Performance of the Night bonus went to Yaroslav Amosov for his second-round submission win over Joel Alvarez on the preliminary fight card. The arm-triangle choke finish banked him an $100,000 check.

17,783 spectators attended the event resulting in $7.5 million in record-setting gate receipts.

They used to train together but their relationship deteriorated into one of the biggest and most intense rivalries in the promotion's history. On Saturday, the two headlined the UFC 328 fight card at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey in a legitimate grudge match. Surpisingly, the two touched gloves twice during introductions.

Chimaev landed a kick to the body to start the fight. He pressed forward and easily took Strickland down. Strickland worked to stand. Chimaev stayed on him and drug him back to the canvas. Chimaev took Strickland's back. Strickland rolled and got to a knee. Chimaev took Strickland's back standing. Strickland dropped to the canvas. Chimaev wasn't inflicting damage but controlled position. Midway through the round, Strickland scrambled. Chimaev maintained control. He moved to the mount . Strickland rolled and was able to stand. Chimaev slammed him back to the canvas. Chimaev took Strickland's back. He worked for a rear-naked choke but Strickland defended the submission attempt. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Chimaev.

Strickland landed a right hand. Chimaev went to the body with a punch. Chimaev continued to target the body. Strickland connected with a counter right. They exchanged jabs and Strickland solowedup with a right. Chimaev changed levels and Strickland defended the takedown. Strickland gained top position. Chimaev avoided damage and Strickland stood. Strickland landed a right hand. He stuffed a takedown attempt. Strickland had top position. Strickland was unable to do damage but won the round. MMAWeekly scored the frame 10-9 for Strickland.

Chimaev inched forward to start the third. They exchanged jabs. Chimaev went to the body with a kick. He continued to target the body of Strickland. Strickland's jab began landing more often. Chimaev kept pressing forward. Strickland met him with a right. hand. Chimaev's jab came to life. Strickland began bleeding out of his nose. Chimaev connected with a right hand. It was a close round. MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for Chimaev with output and forward pressure.

Chimaev landed his jab early in the fourth. He pressured Strickland while continuing to target the body. Chimaev connected with a clean right hand. Strickland's jab was his best weapon. Strickland connected with a left. Chimaev answered with a right. Chimaev began mixing in leg kicks. Chimaev changed levels and took Strickland down with just under a minute on the clock. Strickland got to a knee and worked to stand. Chimaev delivered left hands to the body. Strickland stood at the bell. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Chimaev.

They both took the center of the cage to start the final frame. Chimaev immediately secured a takedown. Strickland got to his feet quickly but Chimaev kept the pressure on along the cage. They battled for position before separating. Strickland went back to working his jab. Strickland connected with a right hand. Chimaev inched forward. Chimaev found a home with a right hand. Chimaev looked for a takedown with 80 seconds remaining. He briefly got it but Strickland battled back to his feet. They separated in the closing seconds. Strickland. landed a right hand. Chimaev responded with a big right hand. It went they distance.

The judges scored the fight for Strickland via split decision. The scorecards read 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47.

The event was headlined by a middleweight title fight between undefeated champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland.

UFC 328 Post-Fight Press Conference

The event is headlined by a middleweight title fight between undefeated champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland. ln the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van takes on No. 3 ranked Tatsuro Taira.

UFC 328 Start Times

• Main Card begins at 9 p.m. ET
• Preliminary Card begins at 7 p.m. ET
• Early Prelim Card begins at 5 p.m. ET

UFC 328 Official Results

MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

• Sean Strickland def. Khamzat Chimaev via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
• Joshua Van def. Tatsuro Taira via TKO (punches) at 1:32, Round 5
• Alexander Volkov def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Sean Brady def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27)
• King Green def. Jeremy Stephens via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:20, Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD (7 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

• Ateba Gautier def. Ozzy Diaz via KO (punches) at 1:10, Round 2
• Yaroslav Amosov def. Joel Alvarez via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:13, Round 2
• Grant Dawson def. Mateusz Rebecki via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:42, Round 3
• Jim Miller def. Jared Gordon via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:29, Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD (5 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

• Roman Kopylov def. Marco Tulio via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Pat Sabatini def. William Gomis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Baisangur Susurkaev def. Djorden Santos via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:12, Round 3
• Jose Ochoa def. Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)