Bantamweight
42 stories covering Bantamweight — news, results and analysis.
Apollo Gomes Wants a Second Knockout of Won Il Kwon at DWCS
The Chute Boxe bantamweight rode a three-fight win streak to Vegas. He's promising to finish a man ONE vet who once went 6-of-8 against elite opposition.
Sep 8, 2026
Belal Muhammad Says Song's KO of Umar Nurmagomedov Broke His Heart
Umar Nurmagomedov ate the first KO of his 21-fight career at UFC Shanghai. His friend and Khabib teammate Belal Muhammad isn't taking it well.
Sep 4, 2026
DWCS Season 10 Episode 5: Undefeated Prospects and One Man's Second Shot
Five bouts, five contracts on the line at the Apex Sept. 8 — including four fighters carrying perfect records and Kwon Won Il's redemption run.
Sep 4, 2026
Osmanli's Buggy Choke Sets Up a Grudge Match Against Akylbek Uulu at TUF 34 Finals
Mehemmedeli Osmanli (12-1) closed the show with a buggy choke and now faces teammate Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu on Sept. 26 — a fight one insider compares to Conor-Khabib.
Sep 3, 2026
Chito Vera Splits From Longtime Coach to Fix a Skid at Bantamweight
Marlon Vera, 23-12-1 and ranked #10, has left Jason Parillo and joined Raul Rosas Jr.'s camp as he chases a win at UFC 331.
Sep 3, 2026
Song Yadong KOs Umar Nurmagomedov, Rockets to No. 4 at 135
Song became the first man to finish Umar and just the second to beat him, jumping from No. 7 to No. 4 in one shot at UFC Shanghai.
Sep 2, 2026
Song Yadong KOs Umar Nurmagomedov, Storms Into Bantamweight Title Talk
Song wrecked the previously once-beaten Umar Nurmagomedov in under seven minutes in Shanghai — and finally kicked down the door to a title shot.
Sep 1, 2026
Makhachev and Belal Rally Behind Umar Nurmagomedov After Brutal KO Loss
The bantamweight #3 dropped only his second pro loss in 22 fights, and the Dagestani camp closed ranks fast to defend one of their quietest names.
Aug 31, 2026
Cormier Shuts Down 'Elbow' Theory From Usman-Song Cage Clash
DC insists Usman Nurmagomedov didn't attack Song Yadong after the #6-ranked bantamweight starched #3 Umar with an uppercut in Shanghai.
Aug 30, 2026
Song Yadong stops Umar Nurmagomedov in Round 2 in Shanghai
Song Yadong handed Umar Nurmagomedov just his third career loss with a second-round TKO, becoming the first man to finish the No. 3 bantamweight.
Aug 30, 2026
Umar Nurmagomedov Needs a Statement Against Song Yadong in Shanghai
Nurmagomedov headlines UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29 chasing the No. 1 bantamweight contender spot — but a win alone won't cut it.
Aug 29, 2026
Hector Santiago Makes UFC Debut in Shanghai, Chasing an Old Friend's Path
The 33-year-old kickboxer went 6-1 in two years of MMA before the call came. Now he faces Road to UFC winner Lawrence Lui on Aug. 29.
Aug 28, 2026
Can Umar Nurmagomedov Rebuild His Aura Against Song Yadong?
Nurmagomedov headlines UFC Shanghai chasing a third straight win since his title loss to Merab Dvalishvili. A statement could put him back in line.
Aug 27, 2026
Bella Mir's Mother Apologizes to Alex Apodaca After DWCS Upset Meltdown
Jennifer Mir walked back her post-fight social media tirade after Bella, a -6000 favorite, dropped a clear decision in the biggest upset in Contender Series history.
Aug 27, 2026
Sean O'Malley Eyes Bantamweight GOAT Status If Title Run Delivers
Two wins into a comeback at 12-3 in the UFC, O'Malley says a third title reign — and a rematch history over the division's best — could make his case.
Aug 27, 2026
Bella Mir Breaks Silence After First Loss on Contender Series
The 4-0 prospect and NCAA D-I champ was a heavy favorite before dropping a decision to Alex Apodaca. Her response? She's not going anywhere.
Aug 27, 2026
Alex Apodaca Shocks Bella Mir, Turns Contender Series Long-Shot Into a UFC Deal
Apodaca walked in as the biggest underdog in Contender Series history, then outworked Bella Mir over 15 minutes to bank a unanimous decision and a UFC contract.
Aug 26, 2026
Bella Mir's -6000 Favorite Status Backfires in Contender Series Upset
The daughter of ex-UFC champ Frank Mir came in as the biggest betting favorite in Contender Series history — and lost every round to Alex Apodaca.
Aug 26, 2026
Bella Mir Stunned as -4000 Favorite Falls to Alex Apodaca on DWCS
Mir was one of the biggest betting favorites in MMA history at -4000. Alex Apodaca ignored the odds and took the decision 29-28 across the board.
Aug 26, 2026
Kai Asakura Found His Weight Class — Now He Wants the Bantamweight Striking Crown
After back-to-back submission losses at flyweight, Asakura's move up produced a first-round KO. He's back this Saturday in Shanghai with 17 stoppages in 22 wins.
Aug 26, 2026
Bella Mir Steps Into the DWCS Spotlight vs. Alex Apodaca
The NCAA champ and daughter of Frank Mir headlines Contender Series with a 4-fight resume and three submission wins. Here's the full card breakdown.
Aug 26, 2026
Lawrence Lui Brings City Kickboxing Pedigree to UFC Debut in Shanghai
The 8-1 Road to UFC winner earned his UFC gloves over nine months and three straight wins. Now he faces knockout artist Hector Santiago (6-1, 5 KO).
Aug 25, 2026
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong: The Winner Books a Bantamweight Title Shot
Nurmagomedov (2-0 since his title loss) meets China's Song Yadong in Shanghai, with the winner first in line for Yan-Dvalishvili 3.
Aug 24, 2026
Bella Mir Eyes UFC History on Contender Series With 4-0 Start
Frank Mir's daughter, 4-0 with three straight first-round subs, headlines DWCS Week 3 chasing the first father-daughter duo in UFC history.
Aug 23, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Beats Henry Cejudo Again in RAF 12 Grappling Rematch
Dvalishvili completes the double over the Olympic gold medalist on the RAF mat, weeks after their first meeting at RAF Georgia.
Aug 22, 2026
Bella Mir Headlines DWCS Week 3 With a 4-0 Record and Big-Name Pedigree
Frank Mir's daughter takes her three-submission resume into Contender Series on Aug. 25 — one of five fights with UFC deals up for grabs.
Aug 21, 2026
Daniel Marcos Left the UFC at 5-1 — and He Still Can't Explain Why
The 18-1 bantamweight went 5-1 in the UFC but never got a new deal. Now he debuts for the PFL against Magomed Magomedov in Tampa.
Aug 20, 2026
Raul Rosas Jr. Lands First UFC Main Event vs. Raoni Barcelos
At 21 with a 12-1 record and five straight wins, Rosas headlines UFC Vegas 121 on Sept. 21 against a veteran riding his own five-fight run.
Aug 16, 2026
Xavier Franklin Blasts Herb Dean After TUF 34 Restart Costs Him a Final Spot
Franklin says he finished his bantamweight semifinal with under a minute left, only for a five-minute stoppage-turned-restart to hand his opponent a decision.
Aug 13, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Fires Back at Umar Nurmagomedov Over Georgia Slap
The ex-champ (21-5) isn't apologizing for the viral confrontation — and he wants his Petr Yan trilogy signed before anything else.
Aug 12, 2026
Herb Dean's Confusing Eye-Poke Call Overshadows TUF 34 Bantamweight Semi
A near-stoppage, an eye-poke protest and a video review turned a coin-flip fight on its head — and viewers weren't buying Dean's handling of it.
Aug 11, 2026
Payton Talbott Targets Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332
The 11-1 prospect wants a third straight win against a former flyweight champ who's dropped two in a row. UFC 332 lands Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City.
Aug 11, 2026
Umar Nurmagomedov Rips Merab Dvalishvili Over RAF Event Brawl With Friend
Nine months after losing a five-round decision at UFC 311, the beef between Umar and the bantamweight champ has spilled out of the cage and into a crowd in Georgia.
Aug 11, 2026
Patchy Mix Blows Weight by 6.3 Pounds, Yanked From RIZIN 54 Co-Main
The former Bellator champ hit the scale at 63.85kg for a 61kg limit, guaranteeing his winless run stretches to three fights whatever happens Tuesday.
Aug 10, 2026
Jessie Rosas Lands UFC Debut on a Week's Notice at UFC Vegas 120
The 23-year-old prospect (8-1) got the call at 9 a.m. and said yes without hesitation. He faces Miles Johns Saturday — and he's fine being 'Raul's brother' for now.
Aug 6, 2026
Xavier Franklin's Buzzer-Beater KO Sparks TUF 34 Chaos and a Cormier Meltdown
Franklin's last-second knockout of Micaias Urena squared the TUF 34 coaching series at 4-4 — but a knee to the chest nearly turned the win into a DQ circus.
Aug 3, 2026
Dina Thorslund Chases the Belts She Never Lost vs Cherneka Johnson
Thorslund vacated the WBC and WBO after a pregnancy loss. Now she meets undisputed champ Cherneka Johnson in Orlando to reclaim all four bantamweight straps.
Aug 2, 2026
Inoue Sets a Deadline on Bam Rodriguez: February or Featherweight
The undisputed 122lb king says he'll fight Rodriguez in February 2027 — or move up. He's 'not obsessed,' and the clock is ticking.
Jul 27, 2026
Dan Ige Drops to Bantamweight to Face David Martinez at Noche UFC
Ige moves down a division for the first time in his 22nd octagon walk, riding a two-fight skid into a date with the 14-1 Martinez on Sept. 12.
Jul 27, 2026
Brave CF Champ Borislav Nikolic Takes Short-Notice UFC Belgrade Debut
Nikolic (16-2), riding a six-fight win streak, steps in against Mark Vologdin after Josias Musasa's withdrawal — and he's fighting in his hometown.
Jul 25, 2026
Abdul Hussein Chokes Out Cody Gibson to Run His Streak to Nine
The bantamweight newcomer stayed patient through early trouble and finished a TUF 31 finalist in Round 3 — his ninth straight win and finish.
Jul 25, 2026
Inoue vs Nasukawa 2 Set for September 27 in Tokyo
The WBC bantamweight champ beat Nasukawa on points last November, ending a 53-fight winning streak. Now they run it back at Toyota Arena.
Jul 23, 2026