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UFC Kansas City weigh-in results: Giga Chikadze misses weight for main card bout

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Giga Chikadze heads into UFC Kansas City seeking a bounce-back performance, but he’s already lost the battle with the scale. The veteran featherweight contender—currently ranked No. 14 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—weighed in at 147 pounds at Friday’s official weigh-ins for Saturday’s event in Kansas City, Mo., one pound over the non-title limit (which includes a one-pound allowance). Opponent David Onama hit the mark at 146 pounds. It is not yet known if the Chikadze-Onama bout will proceed at a catchweight and, if so, how much of Chikadze’s purse will be forfeited as penalty. The top bouts on the card saw little drama on the scales, with welterweight headliners Ian Machado Garry (171) and Carlos Prates (170) both successfully making weight. Garry, No. 6 in the 170-pound division, looks to rebound from his first loss after losing a competitive decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov; on the other side, Prates is riding a hot streak of four straight wins to begin his UFC career, all by kn...
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Ian Machado Garry says Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington are “not fighters” anymore

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UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry has taken an interesting shot at welterweight veterans Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. For Ian Machado Garry, Saturday night serves as a real opportunity for him to prove that he belongs amongst the elite at 170 pounds. He plans on taking out Carlos Prates which, if you’ve seen the Brazilian fight, is going to be no easy task. It may well be the toughest bout of the Irishman’s career to date, and that’s saying something given that he’s battled Shavkat Rakhmonov – although, Shavkat was reportedly injured at least during some of that fight. Either way, Machado Garry is an exceptional talent and he wants to prove that. He also wants to prove that the new generation of welterweight talent is here to stay, and that the veterans of the division are slowly being pushed out. In a recent interview, he had a few interesting things to say when it comes to the likes of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. Machado Garry goes after Usman and Covington “W...
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Khabib Nurmagomedov Names Tougher Opponent for Makhachev Than Topuria

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Topuria vacated his featherweight belt on the UFC's promise of a title fight. After some deliberation from Team Makhachev, it would seem a deal is being finalized, with Topuria announcing his camp has begun. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Arman Tsarukyan is a tougher challenge for Islam Makhachev than Ilia Topuria. "My personal opinion—it’s not that [Topuria] is dangerous, let’s just say Tsarukyan is more competitive. I think Arman is a tougher fighter than Topuria. Topuria’s a good fighter at 66 kg, but we’ve never seen him at 70. I believe Arman poses a bigger challenge for Islam than Topuria. I don’t know what kind of deal Topuria has with the UFC. But from Islam’s perspective, he’s already given chances to two 66-kg champions—and beat both. Now giving a third one… Let’s say Topuria moves up and gets an immediate title shot. Islam beats him. Then Topuria fights once more and loses again. So he’d have never been anyone at 70 kg, and Islam would...
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Movsar Evloev comes clear on Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev matchup as UFC 317 talks swirl

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No. 4-ranked UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev got candid on what he thought of former UFC featherweight champ Ilia Topuria's campaign to win the lightweight throne. After his title defense against Max Holloway back in October 2024, 'El Matador' willingly relinquished his 145-pound title with the hopes of moving up to 155 pounds and taking the title from dominant champ Islam Makhachev. In an interview with @sport24_u, a Russian news outlet on X, Evloev was asked if he thinks less of Topuria if he loses his title bid against Makhachev. Evloev said: "Well, if he [Topuria] loses to Islam [Makhachev], it won't take anything away from him. Because Islam is just on another level. Islam is bigger. Islam is the champion at a higher weight class. And Islam is also the P4P number one. So there's no shame in losing to Islam. It would be very silly to write him [Topuria] off just because he lost to Islam." When the reporter asked Movsar Evloev if something persona...
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Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev fight is still on according to UFC champion’s coach in major update

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Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will be fighting next, despite reports to the contrary, according to the champion’s coach. The passive mention of a prospective Du Plessis injury in an article by veteran journalist Kevin Iole last week sent rumors into overdrive. Iole simply mentioned that the middleweight champion might not be ready for UFC 317 due to a knock, but the rumor mill turned that into reports that he had a broken shin. Now, coach Morne Visser has confirmed that Du Plessis is not injured, and that he will be fighting Chimaev in his next world title defence. However, that fight won’t be at International Fight Week due to the UFC scheduling something else. Dricus Du Plessis injury reports shut down by coach As fans allowed their theories to run wild regarding Dricus Du Plessis, he and his team remained relatively silent on the topic. However, now his coach Morne Visser has opened up about exactly what the truth is, and his plans for a Khamzat Chimaev fight. “We’ve...
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Ian Machado Garry Warns UFC About Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight Potential

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Ian Machado Garry thinks UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev would be a welcomed addition to welterweight. Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is eyeing a move up to 170 pounds to chase a second UFC belt, but would rather not fight current champion Belal Muhammad. If Muhammad loses his welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena in their UFC 315 headliner on May 10, Khabib Nurmagomedov sees Makhachev likely moving up to fight for the title. Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who meets Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 headliner (ESPN2, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., would have no issues with Makhachev cutting the line. "He can jump the queue if he wants to – he's Islam Makhachev," Machado Garry told CBS Sports. "He's the pound-for-pound No. 1. You've got to give respect where respect is due. If that man turns up and says, 'I want to be next,' I think everyone in the welterweight goes, 'OK.' And ...
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Magomed Ankalaev hints at Alex Pereira’s retirement as UFC title rematch talks stall

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Talks between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira for their UFC light heavyweight title fight rematch have seemingly stalled. Immediately after Ankalaev dethroned Pereira at UFC 313 to become the new light heavyweight champion, he accepted that an immediate rematch was the most likely outcome. The Russian champion then expressed his desire to fight ‘Poatan’ in August, however, Pereira’s injury revelation led to question marks regarding that date. Despite that, Ankalaev went on to excite fans as he hinted that Chicago has been set as the location with several cryptic posts about ‘The Windy City’. Magomed Ankalaev fears Alex Pereira will retire Although Magomed Ankalaev made several hints that the rematch had been officially agreed, he has recently worried fans with his post to Alex Pereira. “Alex Pereira, do you still like fighting? I have a feeling you are done,” Ankalaev posted on X. @AlexPereiraUFC do you still like FIGHTING? I have a feeling you are done. — Muhammad big ANK ...
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