UFC CEO Dana White doesn't want anything to do with Francis Ngannou.  A former heavyweight champi...

UFC CEO Dana White doesn't want anything to do with Francis Ngannou.A former heavyweight champion who left the UFC in 2023, Ngannou <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3424176" href="https://thescore.com/news/3424176">revealed</a> Wednesday that his PFL contact is "very close" to expiring and that he wants to fight Jon Jones next year. That led to speculation that Ngannou could re-sign with the UFC.However, White shut down any chance of a reunion.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"There was nothing that made me happier than throwing that guy over to the f-----g PFL," White said in an interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W-YRPE9j3w">TheMacLife's Oscar Willis</a> that aired Thursday. "Let me tell you what: If we let guys go, feel bad for the f-----g company that gets them. We let them go for a f-----g reason. I don't have to let anybody go."I don't want to be in business with guys that I don't like and that I don't think are good guys."In January 2023, Ngannou left the UFC as a free agent - and therefore vacated the heavyweight title - following a year of contract negotiations. The 39-year-old Cameroonian signed with the PFL four months later but has stepped into the SmartCage just once, earning a knockout of Renan Ferreira in October 2024.White and Ngannou had a rocky relationship at times while Ngannou was in the UFC, and White has criticized the heavyweight on numerous occasions since his departure. In October 2024, White said, "Francis isn't a good guy" and added, "We'll never be in business together."Ngannou, still one of the top heavyweights in MMA, recently expressed interest in fighting Jones at the UFC's event at the White House in 2026. However, he hasn't ruled out re-signing with the PFL.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: UFC President and CEO Dana White holds the championship belt in the Octagon during the UFC 322 event at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City.

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White: Nothing 'made me happier than throwing' Ngannou to PFL

Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard will miss three-to-four weeks due to a shoulder injury, ...

Washington Capitals forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13827" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13827">Ryan Leonard</a> will miss three-to-four weeks due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Thursday.Leonard suffered the injury Dec. 5 against the Anaheim Ducks when he took a big hit from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2912" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2912">Jacob Trouba</a>."He'll be out for the foreseeable future with the shoulder, and (he) sustained some facial injuries as well," Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Like I said yesterday, it's not an ideal scenario, but could've been worse. He'll be back before you know it."Leonard is in the midst of his first full NHL season after making his debut in April. The 20-year-old has seven goals and 18 points in 29 games.

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 5: Ryan Leonard #9 of the Washington Capitals skates on the ice during warm ups prior to the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on December 5, 2025 in Anaheim, California.

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Capitals' Leonard out 3-4 weeks with shoulder injury

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou teased Wednesday that he could be flipping to a n...

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou teased Wednesday that he could be flipping to a new chapter in his career "soon," revealing that his contract with the PFL is close to expiring."I'm getting very close with the PFL contract," Ngannou said on "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2or8aNYuOsg">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>." "They have to give me a fight."Ngannou signed with the PFL as a free agent in May 2023, though he has fought just once in the promotion, scoring a first-round TKO of Renan Ferreira in October 2024. He's competed in two boxing matches since joining the PFL, losing to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in October 2023 and March 2024, respectively.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 39-year-old Cameroonian didn't specify when his PFL contract expires but said he expects to be a free agent before the UFC's event at the White House next summer.When asked which matchups interest him the most, Ngannou said he wants to fight Jon Jones in MMA and Deontay Wilder in boxing. He said that he isn't confident either will materialize in 2026 but that "there's a chance that everything can happen."Ngannou also didn't rule out re-signing with the PFL. However, he expressed frustration about the inactivity he's experienced in the promotion."I don't really want to stay out this long," Ngannou said."The Predator" is still considered one of the top heavyweights in MMA, though he's made just one appearance in the cage - against Ferreira - in nearly four years. His final UFC bout was a January 2022 victory over Ciryl Gane. He vacated the heavyweight title the following year, leaving the promotion as a free agent.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Francis Ngannou is seen in attendance in support of Kamaru Usman of Nigeria before facing Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at State Farm Arena on June 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Ngannou says PFL deal nearly up, wants to fight Jones

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski shut down speculation that he may retire after h...

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski shut down speculation that he may retire after his UFC 325 rematch with Diego Lopes.Volkanovski, 37, is scheduled to defend his title against Lopes in the promotion's Jan. 31 main event in Sydney, 90 minutes from his hometown of Windang, Australia. He told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgqczMwRycg">10 News' Brooke East</a> that he hopes to win the fight and then return to the Octagon soon after, likely against either Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy."I don't know where that came from," Volkanovski said of the rumors that UFC 325 could be his final fight. "It hasn't been planned to be my last fight. So you don't need to really worry about that."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Volkanovski added that he isn't sure how much longer he plans to fight but acknowledged he's closer to the end of his career. Fighting professionally since 2012, Volkanovski joined the UFC in 2016 and has over 30 pro bouts."I think you're gonna just take it as it goes from here on," Volkanovski said. "But there's definitely no plans on (retirement yet). My plans are going out there and not taking too much damage. Going out there and really setting a statement, and being really impressive in there, and then maybe getting a quick turnaround. And then we'll see what happens from there."Volkanovski began a second stint as 145-pound champion when he earned a unanimous decision win over Lopes in a vacant title bout at UFC 314 in April. He previously held the belt from 2019-24 before dropping it in a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Alexander Volkanovski is seen on stage during the UFC It's On Seasonal Press Conference at T-Mobile Arena on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Volkanovski: Not retiring after UFC 325 fight vs. Lopes

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev wants to defend his title once, then move up to light h...

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev wants to defend his title once, then move up to light heavyweight to challenge for a second belt."One more fight and then I'll move up (to the next weight class)," Chimaev told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuEFj8xJDbE">ESPN's Brett Okamoto</a> on Monday.Chimaev captured the 185-pound title with a dominant win over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in August. He said he plans to make his first defense after Ramadan ends in March. Although the promotion has yet to name his next opponent, No. 2-ranked contender Nassourdine Imavov appears to be the most likely option.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Chimaev said Monday he isn't too excited about fighting the current middleweight contenders, including Imavov, Sean Strickland, and Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez, and hopes to eventually secure a lucrative matchup against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.However, he said he isn't sure Pereira is willing to sign on the dotted line."I don't think he wants that fight," Chimaev said. "Everyone knows this guy is not on my level. He's a good striker, one of the best strikers. I give respect for him. He has knockout power and everything. But ask 99% of the world who is watching UFC, they're gonna tell you who is gonna win."He knows it. ... That's why he's running away. Why he accept the fight against Du Plessis? Why he not accept the fight against me? I beat Du Plessis. I destroyed the guy, five rounds."

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Khamzat Chimaev is seen in attendance during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.

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Chimaev eyes move to light heavyweight after 1 more fight

Petr Yan regained the UFC bantamweight title Saturday night, shocking Merab Dvalishvili with a un...

Petr Yan regained the UFC bantamweight title Saturday night, shocking Merab Dvalishvili with a unanimous decision victory in the UFC 323 main event in Las Vegas.In the co-headliner, Joshua Van became the new flyweight champion in anticlimactic fashion after Alexandre Pantoja badly hurt his arm 26 seconds into the fight.Here are five takeaways from the final pay-per-view event of the ESPN era.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Yan is all the way back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/cropped_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/w220xh124_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/w320xh180_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/w640xh360_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/w768xh432_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812942/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2250453579.jpg?ts=1765134545 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Yan's career turnaround has been a sight to behold.It feels like a lifetime ago that he was on a three-fight skid and had lost four of his last five. Following a lopsided defeat to Dvalishvili in 2023, many thought Yan's days as a bantamweight contender were over, his brief title reign just a footnote in the division's history.But look at him now. Yan, at age 32, delivered the performance of a lifetime against a legitimate pound-for-pound great. He solved the impossible puzzle. He learned from the previous matchup, made adjustments, and fought as perfect a fight as you can versus a machine like Dvalishvili. Yan is back on top of the world, the end of the road nowhere in sight like it was - or at least seemed to be - a couple years ago.It's hard to say how long Yan will be champion, but anything that follows this is gravy - because one expected him to be here.<h3>Did Dvalishvili's activity catch up to him?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/cropped_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/w220xh124_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/w320xh180_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/w640xh360_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/w768xh432_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812945/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2250456065.jpg?ts=1765134722 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>I almost hate to say it because I don't want to take anything away from Yan's performance, but it's worth at least considering whether four title defenses in a year was too much to ask even of Dvalishvili.That's not just four fights against anybody. That's four fights against the best of the best. The training camps, weight cuts, and, of course, the fights themselves all take a toll on a fighter's body. Perhaps all of that finally caught up to Dvalishvili.If you ask him whether he regrets making a two-month turnaround to fight Yan, he'd probably say he'd do it again in a heartbeat. That's the fighter's mentality. But was it smartest thing in the world? In hindsight, maybe there's a reason Dvalishvili was the first UFC fighter to ever attempt this many title defenses in a year.<h3>Bantamweight is suddenly super interesting</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/cropped_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/w220xh124_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/w320xh180_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/w640xh360_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/w768xh432_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/789913/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2219389037.jpg?ts=1749657354 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The one objectively great thing about Yan dethroning Dvalishvili is that the bantamweight division is, all of a sudden, completely wide open and very intriguing.Dvalishvili deserves an immediate rematch as the arguable bantamweight GOAT. That's what I want to see most. But he should probably take some time off. So, in case Yan fights someone else while Dvalishvili rests and heals up, a fight against Umar Nurmagomedov - if he gets past Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324 - sounds awesome. So does a rematch with Sean O'Malley if he beats Song Yadong on the Jan. 24 card.This is what happens when a dominant champion loses the title. It spices things up and forges new matchups, adding a new level of excitement to the division. Nurmagomedov and O'Malley - both of whom lost to Dvalishvili earlier this year - should especially be thrilled that someone else rules over the division now.<h3>Van-Pantoja 2 is a must, even if not right away</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/cropped_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/w220xh124_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/w320xh180_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/w640xh360_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/w768xh432_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812886/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2250450497.jpg?ts=1765084683 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Speaking of rematches, how do you not run things back with Van and Pantoja after that heartbreaker of a "fight"? This was arguably the most intriguing matchup of Pantoja's title reign to date, and it ended in 26 seconds, thanks to a fluke elbow injury. What a way for Pantoja's impressive run as champion to end.For what it's worth, I have no issue with Van celebrating the title win, as he worked hard for this moment. It's also not his fault that Pantoja got hurt. This isn't how he wanted the fight to go. But to say Van is clearly the best flyweight in the world would be ... questionable at best. He might be, but he has yet to prove it. Until he beats Pantoja - or at least defends the title against someone else - it won't really feel like he's a champion.UFC CEO Dana White said Pantoja could be sidelined for a while, so if Van fights someone else in the meantime - say, Tatsuro Taira, who scored a huge win over Brandon Moreno on the undercard - that would be fine. But Pantoja needs to fight for the title as soon as he's healthy. And hopefully it's against Van because it could've been an epic fight.<h3>Cejudo left it all in the Octagon</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/cropped_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/w220xh124_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/w320xh180_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/w640xh360_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/w768xh432_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812946/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2250446542.jpg?ts=1765134745 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Cooper Neill / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Henry Cejudo was never a fan favorite, but it felt like the MMA community appreciated what he did in his retirement fight.The former two-division champion was outmatched versus Payton Talbott, which wasn't too shocking considering it was a 38-year-old facing a 27-year-old. But Cejudo left it all out there in what turned out to be quite the slugfest. He ate heavy shots but kept pushing forward and trying to win.It was a gutsy, inspirational performance - arguably more so than some of his best wins - from a legend of the sport. It was also a reminder that this a young man's game.

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UFC 323 takeaways: Yan completes unimaginable career turnaround

Petr Yan is once again the king of the UFC bantamweight division.  Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili...

Petr Yan is once again the king of the UFC bantamweight division.Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to recapture the 135-pound title in the UFC 323 main event Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.With the victory, Yan avenged a unanimous decision loss to Dvalishvili that came in a 2023 non-title bout.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm very, very happy," Yan said through an interpreter in his postfight interview. "I worked so hard, I prepared so hard for this moment."Yan ended Dvalishvili's 14-fight winning streak, which dated back to September 2018. It was the fourth-longest winning streak in promotion history.Yan is the third fighter to win the 135-pound title twice after Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw."No Mercy" delivered a masterful performance, battering Dvalishvili on the feet and displaying impressive takedown defense. He outlanded the former champion 139-134 in significant strikes - though visibly did the most damage - and stopped 27 of 29 takedown attempts. Yan even completed five takedowns of his own.Afterward, Dvalishvili - one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters coming in - said he wants to fight Yan again."I want a rematch. I want to run it back," Dvalishvili said.Dvalishvili was attempting to become the first fighter to successfully defend a UFC title four times in a calendar year. "The Machine" beat Sean O'Malley to win the belt in September 2024 and then defeated Umar Nurmagomedov, O'Malley, and Cory Sandhagen in his first three defenses earlier this year.Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from Georgia, lost for the first time since facing Ricky Simon in his second UFC appearance in April 2018.Yan has experienced a wild career turnaround over the last 18 months.The 32-year-old Russian initially captured the title in July 2020 with a TKO win over Jose Aldo. But then he lost four of his next five, including the lopsided defeat to Dvalishvili.Since then, Yan has won four straight, beating Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marcus McGhee, and now Dvalishvili.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia punches Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Yan batters Dvalishvili in rematch to reclaim UFC bantamweight title

Joshua Van won the flyweight title after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an arm injury in the opening ...

Joshua Van won the flyweight title after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an arm injury in the opening seconds of the UFC 323 co-main event Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.Van officially won via TKO at the 0:26 mark of the first round.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Alexandre Pantoja is taken backstage after losing his title at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC323?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC323</a> due to injury <a href="https://t.co/cAZ745Ban8">pic.twitter.com/cAZ745Ban8</a>— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMAJunkie/status/1997535251200127342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Van, 24, is the first UFC champion born in the 2000s and the second-youngest champion in promotion history behind Jon Jones.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The victory is the fastest finish in a flyweight title fight, topping Henry Cejudo's 32-second knockout of TJ Dillashaw in 2019.Van is one of the breakthrough stars of the year, winning four fights in a row to go from up-and-coming prospect to flyweight champion. The Myanmar native earned a shot at the title with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Royval in a Fight of the Year candidate at UFC 317 in June.Pantoja's eight-fight winning streak - and 29-month title reign - came to an end in his fifth defense. The 35-year-old Brazilian suffered his first loss since 2020.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil and Joshua Van of Myanmar touch gloves in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Van wins UFC flyweight title after Pantoja injures arm

Multiple new fights are set for UFC 325.  Lightweights Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis will co-...

Multiple new fights are set for UFC 325.Lightweights Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis will co-headline the Jan. 31 event in Sydney, the promotion announced Saturday. Rafael Fiziev will take on Mauricio Ruffy in another marquee 155-pound matchup.Hooker is coming off a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC Qatar main event in November. The 35-year-old is 3-1 in his last four Octagon appearances. Hooker is ranked No. 6 in the 155-pound division.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Saint Denis won three in a row this year, most recently scoring a 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC 322 last month. The 29-year-old Frenchman is ranked eighth in the weight class.Fiziev snapped a three-fight skid at UFC Baku in June, defeating Ignacio Bahamondes by unanimous decision. Ruffy is coming off a submission loss to Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September. Fiziev and Ruffy are ranked No. 9 and No. 14, respectively.The promotion announced several other UFC 325 matchups, including Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira at heavyweight; Jimmy Crute vs. Dustin Jacoby at light heavyweight; and Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija at heavyweight.In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title in a rematch with Diego Lopes.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Dan Hooker of New Zealand reacts to the start of the round during the UFC 290 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Hooker-Saint Denis, Fiziev-Ruffy added to UFC 325

Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo came up short in the final fight of his career, sufferi...

Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo came up short in the final fight of his career, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Payton Talbott at UFC 323 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.All three judges scored the bantamweight bout 30-27 in Talbott's favor.Cejudo, 38, finishes his career on the heels of four consecutive losses. Cejudo returned to MMA after a three-year retirement in 2023 but failed to record a victory, losing to Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili, Song Yadong, and now Talbott.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Triple C is OUT! Henry Cejudo exits the cage for the final time after his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC323?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC323</a> retirement fight loss. <a href="https://t.co/bmDDhvHabv">pic.twitter.com/bmDDhvHabv</a>— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMAJunkie/status/1997524352049520722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Talbott was a step ahead for the majority of the fight. The 27-year-old used his 6.5-inch reach advantage to batter Cejudo on the feet, outlanding him 134-60 in significant strikes. He dropped Cejudo in the second round, becoming the first to do so since Demetrious Johnson in 2016. However, Cejudo showed immense heart as he absorbed heavy punches and made it to the end of his final Octagon appearance.Cejudo retires from the sport with a 16-6 professional record.Meanwhile, Talbott improved to 5-1 in the UFC, emerging as a contender in the division.One of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history, Cejudo held the flyweight title from 2018-20 and the bantamweight belt from 2019-20.The final victory of his career was a second-round TKO of Dominick Cruz in a 135-pound title defense at UFC 249 in May 2020.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: (R-L) Payton Talbott punches Henry Cejudo in a bantamweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Cejudo loses decision to Talbott in retirement fight

Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland will face Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC...

Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland will face Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Feb. 21 at Toyota Center in Houston, the promotion announced Saturday.Strickland will enter the Octagon for the first time since a title-fight loss to Dricus Du Plessis earlier this year. The 34-year-old is 1-2 in his last three appearances. Strickland is ranked No. 3 in the 185-pound division.Hernandez, the No. 4-ranked contender, is looking to secure his first title shot with a win over Strickland. He's coming off a dominant victory against Roman Dolidze in an August main event, which extended his winning streak to seven.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The promotion is returning to Houston for the first time since UFC 271 in February 2022.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Sean Strickland prepares to face Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 312 event at Qudos Bank Arena on February 09, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

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Strickland-Hernandez to headline UFC Houston in February

Iwo Baraniewski versus Ibo Aslan was a fight to remember.  The light heavyweights produced 89 sec...

Iwo Baraniewski versus Ibo Aslan was a fight to remember.The light heavyweights produced 89 seconds of chaos at UFC 323 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, both scoring knockdowns before Baraniewski came out on top with a TKO finish.Watch the action below:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
IWO BARANIEWSKI 🤯 CO TU SIĘ WYDARZYŁO, ABSOLUTNA WOJNA, Z PIEKŁA DO NIEBA 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC323?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC323</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tgqj2HRbhr">pic.twitter.com/Tgqj2HRbhr</a>— Czas na MMA (@CzasNaMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CzasNaMMA/status/1997454492414202324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Here's how UFC color commentator Joe Rogan reacted to the madness:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Iwo Baraniewski had <a href="https://twitter.com/joerogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeRogan</a> shook 😂 [ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC323?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC323</a> is LIVE NOW on the <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPN</a> app ] <a href="https://t.co/0SyhrF2N4D">pic.twitter.com/0SyhrF2N4D</a>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1997455452851064962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Ibo Aslan of Turkey punches Iwo Baraniewski of Poland in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Watch: Baraniewski, Aslan deliver 89-second barn burner at UFC 323

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks ahead of Saturday's UFC 323 in Las Vegas.  Bantamweight c...

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks ahead of Saturday's UFC 323 in Las Vegas.<h3>Bantamweight championship</h3>Merab Dvalishvili (21-4) vs. Petr Yan (19-5)"The Machine" can't be stopped.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Merab Dvalishvili has cemented himself as one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters in the last 12 months, beating Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O'Malley, and Cory Sandhagen to become just the eighth UFC fighter with three title defenses in a calendar year. Now he's trying to make history by becoming the first with four.Standing in his way is former champion Petr Yan, whom Dvalishvili defeated in an incredibly lopsided 2023 non-title bout.Yan has turned a corner since, winning three in a row to get back in the title conversation. Still, I believe we'll see a repeat of last time, with Dvalishvili overwhelming Yan with pace and pressure. Will it be as dominant a performance as the first fight? Maybe not. But Dvalishvili is still a nightmare matchup for anybody in the division, Yan included. He'll do more than enough to get the nod.Another successful title defense for Georgia's finest.<h3>
👊 The pick: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=2e84d78d-660f-4404-8f71-7546f8dd7905&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=31&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=21&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F65e4e834-7fd0-4406-aea8-d8fd3eab249f&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Dvalishvili, unanimous decision</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/cropped_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804289/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239288772.jpg?ts=1759638235 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><blockquote>👉 <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F65e4e834-7fd0-4406-aea8-d8fd3eab249f&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Check out all of the betting markets available for UFC 323 theScore Bet here</a></blockquote><h3>Flyweight championship</h3>Alexandre Pantoja (30-5) vs. Joshua Van (15-2)I'm tempted to pick Joshua Van. After seeing him outgun Brandon Royval in a Fight of the Year candidate earlier this year, part of me feels like he could do the same against Alexandre Pantoja, despite it being another big step up in competition.But then I recall Pantoja effortlessly tapping out Kai Kara-France and Kai Asakura and outlasting Brandon Moreno in a back-and-forth thriller, reminding me just how good the UFC flyweight champion really is.Here's the thing: Van, at just 24 years old, can win this fight because he's as good as anyone in the division on the feet. However, he has to keep it there for that to matter, which is easier said than done. Pantoja is a phenomenal grappler and should be able to use his Brazilian jiu-jitsu to keep the belt around his waist.<h3>
👊 The pick: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=d0a5e03b-95e9-45ce-b0d8-103f96bf41db&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=10&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=1&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F652ddd4e-7c6f-4a08-aff1-dbb14c3b5307&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Pantoja, third-round submission</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/cropped_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/792347/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222687886.jpg?ts=1751171192 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Flyweight bout</h3>Brandon Moreno (23-8-2) vs. Tatsuro Taira (17-1)Former champion Moreno is looking to get back into the title mix with a win over one of the division's top up-and-comers in Tatsuro Taira. The fight is close on paper, but I'm leaning toward Moreno due to his high-level experience and well-roundedness.<h3>
👊 The pick: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=fe8711ea-7f9e-4c40-96e4-b563799f6ba0&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=51&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=20&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F7fadab1c-c89a-4cb3-b3f7-9d59df024aa7&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Moreno, unanimous decision</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/cropped_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/w220xh124_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/w320xh180_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/w640xh360_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/w768xh432_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/604396/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1683477318.jpg?ts=1701549959 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Bantamweight bout</h3>Henry Cejudo (16-5) vs. Payton Talbott (10-1)How badly does Henry Cejudo still want it? Is Payton Talbott ready to fight the best at 135 pounds? Those two questions are largely what this matchup comes down to.Cejudo, even past his prime, should beat someone at Talbott's level. I'm counting on "Triple C" to be eager to end his career with a bang.<h3>
👊 The pick: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=a23a158c-a806-444c-bf5a-d66c9bece7e4&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=9&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=2&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2Fa6adeeb4-65cd-4d4b-b2f2-415b69b3fca4&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Cejudo, unanimous decision</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/cropped_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/w220xh124_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/w320xh180_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/w640xh360_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/w768xh432_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812374/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2201399705.jpg?ts=1764774536 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Light heavyweight bout</h3>Jan Blachowicz (29-11-1) vs. Bogdan Guskov (18-3)Old guard versus new guard. Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, seeking his first win since 2022, faces Bogdan Guskov, the winner of four straight. Going off that, Guskov should take care of business and cement himself as a title contender. But once in a while, the old dog teaches the young dog a lesson.<h3>
👊 The pick: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=68cb340a-13f9-453f-aaa2-3c86cef6813c&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=11&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=1&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F1c0be221-225f-4fd3-82da-578cd3964792&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Blachowicz, second-round TKO</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/cropped_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/w220xh124_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/w320xh180_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/w640xh360_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/w768xh432_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775866/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1577268886.jpg?ts=1742325555 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Rapid-fire bets</h3>💥 Best overall bet: <a href="https://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=c499ce0b-5ee0-4734-90f2-2eda4130221d&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=2&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=1&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Brandon Moreno (+100) def. Tatsuro Taira</a>Moreno should be the favorite in this fight. He proved in his last two wins over Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi that he's still one of the best flyweights in the world.💥 Best prop bet: <a href="http://about.espnbet.com/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=2e84d78d-660f-4404-8f71-7546f8dd7905&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=31&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=21&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-323%2Fevent%2F65e4e834-7fd0-4406-aea8-d8fd3eab249f&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3419496">Merab Dvalishvili def. Petr Yan by decision (-210)</a>Dvalishvili earned his first stoppage win in years when he fought O'Malley for the second time in June, but Yan will be tough to put away. A decision victory is very likely.

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UFC 323 predictions: Will Dvalishvili, Pantoja retain titles?

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Petr Yan made weight Friday before t...

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Petr Yan made weight Friday before they square off in the UFC 323 main event Saturday in Las Vegas.Dvalishvili and Yan both weighed in at 135 pounds.Flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van were also on the mark ahead of the co-main event. They came in at 125 and 124.5 pounds, respectively.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here are the UFC 323 weigh-in results.<h3>Main card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Merab Dvalishvili (135) vs. Petr Yan (135)</li>
<li>Alexandre Pantoja (125) vs. Joshua Van (124.5)</li>
<li>Brandon Moreno (125) vs. Tatsuro Taira (126)</li>
<li>Henry Cejudo (136) vs. Payton Talbott (136)</li>
<li>Jan Blachowicz (206) vs. Bogdan Guskov (206)</li>
</ul><h3>Preliminary card (ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Grant Dawson (156) vs. Manuel Torres (156)</li>
<li>Terrance McKinney (156) vs. Chris Duncan (156)</li>
<li>Maycee Barber (125.5) vs. Karine Silva (125.5)</li>
<li>Nazim Sadykhov (155.5) vs. Fares Ziam (156)</li>
</ul><h3>Early preliminary card (ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Marvin Vettori (186) vs. Brunno Ferreira (189)*</li>
<li>Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Jalin Turner (155)</li>
<li>Iwo Baraniewski (206) vs. Ibo Aslan (205.5)</li>
<li>Mansur Abdul-Malik (185.5) vs. Antonio Trocoli (186)</li>
<li>Muhammad Naimov (146) vs. Mairon Santos (147.5)**</li>
</ul>* Missed middleweight limit by three pounds, fined 20% of purse** Missed featherweight limit by 1.5 pounds, fined 20% of purse

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia poses on the scale during the UFC 323 official weigh-in at UFC Apex on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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UFC 323 weigh-in results: Dvalishvili, Yan cleared for title rematch

UFC 323, the final pay-per-view event of the ESPN era, is upon us.  In Saturday's main event, Mer...

UFC 323, the final pay-per-view event of the ESPN era, is upon us.In Saturday's main event, Merab Dvalishvili defends the bantamweight title for the fourth time this year in a rematch with former champion Petr Yan. In the co-headliner, flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja puts his belt on the line against Joshua Van.Here are three key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Dvalishvili looking to wrap up an all-time campaign</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/cropped_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/w220xh124_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/w320xh180_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/w640xh360_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/w768xh432_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804120/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2238995293.jpg?ts=1759531472 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>In early October, before UFC 320, I <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3354331" href="https://thescore.com/news/3354331">said</a> that Dvalishvili had a chance to lock up Fighter of the Year with a win over Cory Sandhagen. Well, he took care of business versus Sandhagen, making the award his to lose. But then he decided three title defenses in a year wasn't enough. So, here we are again.Dvalishvili, who's making a two-month turnaround as a UFC champion for no reason other than he likes to fight and wants to do it all the time, is looking to become the first fighter in UFC history to record four title defenses in a calendar year.Not only would "The Machine" cement himself as 2025's top fighter with a win over Yan, he would put a bow on one of the greatest campaigns of all time.<h3>Is Van seasoned enough to dethrone Pantoja?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/cropped_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805969/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222956001.jpg?ts=1760714658 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Van is hoping there will be a changing of the guard in his title fight against Pantoja.The 24-year-old has been one of the hottest flyweight prospects for a while and now has an opportunity to become the champion and start a new era in the division.But the question is: Is he seasoned enough to take out a dominant champ like Pantoja?Beating Brandon Royval in a Fight of the Year candidate is impressive, but it's not nearly as impressive as a win over Pantoja would be. Pantoja, 35, is a savvy veteran with a well-rounded skill set. He's coming off back-to-back stoppage wins and has defended the title four times since becoming champion in 2023.Van has less than half of Pantoja's pro MMA experience and hasn't faced a ton of adversity in the Octagon. We'll see if this is too much, too soon for the Myanmar native.<h3>Will Cejudo go out with a bang?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/cropped_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/w220xh124_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/w320xh180_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/w640xh360_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/w768xh432_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771379/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2019251732.jpg?ts=1740008196 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3417526" href="https://thescore.com/news/3417526">said</a> Tuesday that his fight against Payton Talbott will mark his final walk to the Octagon."This is it for me. ... I'm ready to move on," Cejudo told reporters.The 38-year-old abruptly retired from MMA in 2020 and then came back three years later. But this retirement feels more definite. Cejudo is older now, and things haven't gone his way in the latest chapter of his career. He's 0-3 since returning, and it's clear he'll never challenge for a title again.However, this is Cejudo's chance to deliver one more big moment before riding off into the sunset. He's a +225 underdog against Talbott and will need to overcome the odds to go out with a win. But it wouldn't be wise to count out a fighter of Cejudo's caliber. He's beaten the likes of Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz, and he's one of four fighters who have held two titles at the same time.Regardless of Saturday's result, Cejudo will go down as one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia celebrates after defeating Sean O'Malley of the United States in the bantamweight title bout during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

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3 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 323

Former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo is planning for Saturday to be the final fight of h...

Former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo is planning for Saturday to be the final fight of his career.Cejudo, 38, is scheduled to face Payton Talbott in a bantamweight bout on the UFC 323 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas."This is it for me," Cejudo said Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/MMAJunkie/status/1996044481066627449">MMA Junkie</a>. "Unless (UFC CEO) Dana (White) wants me to - unless there's a really big fight with some other Mexican, then I'd be willing to do it. But other than that, I think I've done everything at the highest level since I was 11 years old. ... There's just a lot of satisfaction in my life. I'm ready to move on, too, man. I have a couple kids that want to play with their dad 24/7."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Cejudo initially retired from MMA after a successful bantamweight title defense in 2020, but he came out of retirement three years later. He's since lost three straight fights against then-champion Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili, and Song Yadong.The Arizona resident's most recent fight against Song at UFC Seattle in February ended in controversial fashion as he received an eye poke in the third round and couldn't continue. The fight then went to the judges' scorecards, with Song winning by technical decision.Cejudo said he's hoping for a "fair shake" in his final Octagon appearance against Talbott, a 27-year-old prospect who holds a 4-1 record in the promotion."Just giving it your all. Giving it everything I have," Cejudo said when asked what he wants from the fight. "It's not even about anything else but giving what I have - what wasn't given to me (in) my last fight. That's all."Cejudo said the only matchup he would come back for is against former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who's scheduled to fight Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323. The two had a falling-out after Cejudo didn't pick Moreno to be on his team on "The Ultimate Fighter 24" in 2016. They've called each other out in recent years."It would make perfect sense," Cejudo said, according to <a href="https://x.com/MMAFighting/status/1996097836388339961">MMA Fighting</a>. "I don't want to do it at the White House. Let's do Cinco de Mayo."Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist, is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history, having won the flyweight title in 2018 and the bantamweight belt in 2019.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 22: Henry Cejudo prepares to face Song Yadong of China in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on February 22, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Cejudo to retire after UFC 323: 'Ready to move on'

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is still far from a return to the Octagon after suffering a...

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is still far from a return to the Octagon after suffering an eye injury in his title fight against Ciryl Gane in October.Aspinall couldn't continue after receiving a double eye poke in the first round of the UFC 321 main event on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The bout was ruled a no-contest.Aspinall said Tuesday on "<a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/1995937300434547069">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>" that he isn't cleared to train yet and is dealing with lingering symptoms from the poke, including double vision and dizziness.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Obviously, I want to get back as soon as possible," Aspinall said. "That's the plan. But I'm also aware that with eyes, you gotta be careful. They don't really know when I'm gonna be back at the moment. I'm still not even cleared to train or do anything."Aspinall added that doctors have said he may need to undergo surgery on both eyes."They're talking about doing surgery on both eyes," Aspinall said. "They're talking about injections. I have to get an injection in the eyeball soon. So, I'm not looking forward to that. I don't really know at this point. I don't know."The UFC plans to schedule a rematch between Aspinall and Gane as soon as possible.Aspinall made his first undisputed title defense against Gane. The 32-year-old Englishman was promoted to heavyweight champion in June when Jon Jones retired.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 25: Tom Aspinall of England prepares to face Ciryl Gane of France in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 321 event at Etihad Arena on October 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Aspinall says he may need surgery on both eyes 

A fight between featherweight contenders Arnold Allen and Jean Silva will take place at UFC 324 o...

A fight between featherweight contenders Arnold Allen and Jean Silva will take place at UFC 324 on Jan. 24, UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday.UFC 324, which will happen at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will mark the promotion's first numbered event on Paramount+ in the United States.Allen, ranked No. 6 in the 145-pound division, hasn't stepped into the Octagon since a unanimous decision win over Giga Chikadze at UFC 304 in July 2024. The 31-year-old Englishman snapped a two-fight skid with the victory.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Silva, ranked No. 11, is looking to rebound from a knockout loss to Diego Lopes in the Noche UFC main event in September. The 28-year-old Brazilian had won 13 in a row heading into that fight.UFC 324 will be headlined by a lightweight interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett and a bantamweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and champion Kayla Harrison.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 13: Jean Silva of Brazil is introduced in his corner prior to facing Diego Lopes of Brazil in a featherweight fight during the Noche UFC event at Frost Bank Center on September 13, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

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Allen-Silva set for UFC 324

Former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley will square off in a professional boxing ma...

Former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley will square off in a professional boxing match on the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua undercard Dec. 19 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Most Valuable Promotions announced Friday.Woodley is stepping in for Chris Weidman, who withdrew due to an injury.Silva-Woodley is scheduled for six rounds and will be contested at 195 pounds. The Paul-Joshua event will stream live on Netflix.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Silva, a former UFC middleweight champion and one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, will step into the ring for the first time since a 2022 loss to Paul. The 50-year-old Brazilian has put together a 2-1 boxing record since retiring from MMA, which includes wins over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz.Woodley, 43, is seeking his first professional boxing victory. The former UFC welterweight champion made his debut against Paul in August 2021, losing by split decision, and then suffered a sixth-round knockout defeat in a rematch four months later."Rising to occasions like this are the moments where legends are born," Woodley said in a press release.Woodley hasn't formally retired from MMA, though he hasn't competed in that sport in nearly five years. He parted ways with the UFC in 2021 on the heels of a four-fight losing streak. Woodley hasn't won a bout since 2018.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Tyron Woodley works out during a media workout at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa pool prior to her December 18th fight against Jake Paul on December 15, 2021 in Tampa, Florida.

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Silva to box Woodley on Paul-Joshua undercard

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes it makes the most sense for the promotion ...

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes it makes the most sense for the promotion to give him the next title shot against newly crowned champ Islam Makhachev.Usman is one of several options for Makhachev, who captured the 170-pound title with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 this past weekend in New York. Usman, who held the belt from 2019-22, said he thinks this is the perfect time for him and Makhachev to square off - and that there's a good chance the UFC will grant him his wish."I think the chances (of the fight happening next) are great," Usman told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0TrNwL1R-M">ESPN's Brett Okamoto</a>. "The time would be now to fight for the title. What does it do by having me fight (someone like) Michael Morales? I'm still in the same position as I am now. ... There's a lot of guys in the welterweight division that could potentially put their name in that hat ... but this is also an entertainment company. You want to do the biggest, baddest fights. I think it's a no-brainer here."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Makhachev said after UFC 322 that he'd prefer to make his first title defense against Usman, though the promotion has yet to make any decisions regarding the matter. Several other top welterweights competed at Saturday's event, including Morales, who finished Sean Brady in the first round, and Carlos Prates, who scored a highlight-reel knockout of former champion Leon Edwards. They both could also be in the mix for a crack at Makhachev's title.Usman, one of the greatest welterweights of all time, went on a three-fight losing streak when he dropped the title to Edwards in 2022. But he got back on track earlier this year with a dominant win over rising contender Joaquin Buckley.Usman said that the stakes would be massive in a bout against Makhachev, calling the potential fight "pound-for-pound versus pound-for-pound.""Who is the pound-for-pound? Who is the greatest welterweight?" Usman said. "I think that question will be answered in that fight."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Kamaru Usman is seen on stage during a Q&A session prior to the UFC 322 ceremonial weigh-in at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 14, 2025 in New York City.