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19+ min ago (584+ words) Home " MMA News " Jaosuayai " Jaosuayai makes strawweight debut against "toughest opponent" Defeat changes everything. Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi watched his five-fight winning streak vanish in October, forcing serious reflection about his future. The 24-year-old Thai knockout artist now drops to strawweight Muay Thai for ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19, facing former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The move represents strategic calculation rather than retreat from competition. Jaosuayai's first promotional loss in over a year came against Azerbaijani sensation Akif Guluzada at ONE Fight Night 36. The 20-year-old secured a crucial first-round knockdown with a thudding knee to the face that fundamentally changed the trajectory of the match. The Thai striker applied pressure over the final two rounds and even wobbled his opponent. But the early damage proved insurmountable, with Guluzada claiming a unanimous decision…...

4+ hour, 29+ min ago (244+ words) Amir Albazi, Kyoji Horiguchi will clash in co-main event Kyoji Horiguchi is trying to climb the flyweight ranks quickly. Horiguchi, who has won four straight fights, will clash with Amir Albazi in the UFC Vegas 113 co-main event Feb. 7 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, according to a UFC announcement during its final event on ESPN. Albazi (17-2) hasn't fought since losing a unanimous decision to former UFC champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Edmonton on Nov 2, 2024, stopping a six-fight win streak. A bantamweight clash between Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira will headline the event. Bautista is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321, while Oliveira has racked up six straight wins. The UFC Vegas 113 main card order is as follows: Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira Amir Albazi vs. Kyoji Horiguchi Ryan Spann vs. Rizvan Kuniev Jean Matsumoto…...

5+ hour, 13+ min ago (509+ words) Following Henry Cejudo's second UFC retirement, few could've expected what "Triple C's" new venture would be. Cejudo entered the Octagon for the final time at UFC 323 in Las Vegas. He went one-on-one with Payton Talbott, who earned a unanimous decision victory to send Cejudo off to retirement on a loss. UFC honored Cejudo with a touching video package recapping his pro MMA career. With Cejudo's combat sports run now over, many have wondered what "Triple C" will do going forward. During an interview with Bloody Elbow, Cejudo revealed an endeavor that will be surprising to some. "I'm starting a children's book and I want to help out a bunch of legends," Cejudo said. "I have a rolodex full of legends that I want to help to start teaching them, like, business. I want to tell real stories, because I have…...

5+ hour, 22+ min ago (449+ words) Tom Aspinall outlines his boxing plans, names Francis Ngannou as a potential opponent, and emphasizes completing his UFC contract firs Tom Aspinall remains fully focused on his responsibilities as UFC heavyweight champion, but he is not afraid to speak openly about what the future may hold once his time in mixed martial arts eventually comes to an end. During a recent appearance on his YouTube channel, Aspinall trained alongside Tommy Fury and used the opportunity to discuss how boxing fits into his long term thinking. Rather than presenting lofty goals, the champion offered a grounded view of what he believes is achievable. "I'd never be a world champ," Aspinall said. "I wouldn't try and be a world champion. You need to dedicate your whole life, don't you? I spent my whole life doing MMA now, I'm nearly 33 now. So for…...

5+ hour, 36+ min ago (420+ words) Home " MMA News " UFC " Ilia Topuria praises UFC 324 booking of Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin" Ilia Topuria admits he finds both Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje to be deserving of their interim title fight at UFC 324. Topuria would've been a clear choice to headline UFC's debut on Paramount+ on Jan. 24. The problem is, the reigning lightweight titleholder in on hiatus to deal with personal matters. As a result, Pimblett vs. Gaethje has been booked with the interim championship at stake. In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Topuria said he believes "The Baddy" and "The Highlight" were the correct choices to fight for interim gold (h/t MMAJunkie). Pimblett recently spoke to ESPN Deportes as well. During his own interview, "The Baddy" said he believes that if Topuria doesn't return by the summer time, then UFC will likely strip him of the…...

5+ hour, 58+ min ago (450+ words) Home " MMA News " UFC " Joaquin Buckley offers wild challenge to UFC champion Khamzat" Joaquin Buckley has a rather interesting offer for UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev. Buckley is a welterweight contender who has made it clear that he's not a fan of all the wrestling in MMA. Perhaps that has to do with his unanimous decision loss to former UFC titleholder Kamaru Usman back in June. Buckley had no answer for "The Nigerian Nightmare's" grappling. While Buckley has vowed to improve in that area, that hasn't stopped him from offering an insane challenge to a champion who is one weight class above him. He took to his Instagram account to put up $50,000 if Chimaev remains on his feet for one round in his first title defense (via MMAFighting). Buckley even said he'd throw $50,000 Nassourdine Imavov's way if he fights Chimaev…...

6+ hour, 29+ min ago (187+ words) Ilia Topuria teases a short MMA career. Ilia Topuria may not have long left in MMA. Topuria was not specific as to what those goals are, or how long "too long" might mean, but he did allow that his future in MMA is up in the air based on several possibilities. And one of those possibilities that Topuria appears most interested in is the opportunity to challenge for a third title. Topuria has already begun lobbying for a shot at welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, and he says the "triple crown" is absolutely something he hopes to pull off before he walks away. MMA Fighting reacts to an up-and-down night at the APEX to end the UFC on ESPN era. Manel Kape wants a fight against new flyweight champion Joshua Van in 2026 Manel Kape makes statement with first-round knockout Kevin Vallejos…...

6+ hour, 44+ min ago (769+ words) Ilia Topuria continues to dominate inside the cage, but the undefeated UFC champion is already honest about one unavoidable reality. No matter how successful a fighter becomes, the sport does not last forever. Topuria recently addressed growing questions about how long he plans to remain in mixed martial arts, acknowledging that fans are increasingly concerned about the idea of him stepping away sooner rather than later. "Are they afraid that I will retire? Wow," Topuria said. "Let's see, I think that usually happens to us with many athletes that I think we all know, for example it has happened to us with Rafa Nadal, we never wanted him to retire" but there comes a time when he has to do it, you know?" Topuria explained that he fully understands why supporters want to keep watching him compete, especially given how…...

7+ hour, 10+ min ago (436+ words) Home " MMA News " UFC " Brandon Royval reacts to UFC Vegas 112 loss to Manel Kape Brandon Royval has spoken out after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 112. Royval was hoping to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to current UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van. It wasn't meant to be, as Kape dropped Royval and finished him with ground-and-pound this past Saturday. Kape has now elevated his status as a potential title contender. Royval doesn't appear to be deterred by the loss, as he hopped on his Instagram account to make it clear that he plans to rebound. "Thank you for all who checked up on me, sad about the loss but my health is OK and live to fight another day," Royval wrote. As for Kape, he is eager to get back inside the Octagon....

7+ hour, 29+ min ago (983+ words) TEMPE " As the popularity of combat fighting continues to grow, the Phoenix area has earned the reputation of mixed martial arts hotbed. With many high-level gyms and facilities, a university that produces top wrestling talent and a community that embraces MMA, Arizona has become a destination for fighters. "Oh, it's evolved big time, dude," said Valley resident Henry Cejudo, one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports history, who announced his retirement this month. "The sport of mixed martial arts has gone mainstream. I can't go outside or anywhere to any part of the country, and I travel a lot all across the world." Media executive Mark Shapiro, the president and COO of Endeavor sports and entertainment company, said at a conference in 2024 that MMA has replaced hockey as one of the "big four" sports based on viewership. Why…...