Bantamweight
89 stories covering Bantamweight — news, results and analysis.
Volkanovski starches Evloev in round two to settle the featherweight question
Alexander Volkanovski answered the one riddle he hadn't with a second-round KO at 4:54, while Petr Yan edged Merab Dvalishvili over five rounds in a classic.
Oct 25, 2026
Petr Yan Edges Merab Dvalishvili in Trilogy to Keep Bantamweight Crown
Yan survived 50-plus takedown attempts and swept all three cards 48-47 to settle the series 2-1 and close the book on Dvalishvili.
Oct 24, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Eyes Song Yadong Next — Win or Lose vs Yan at UFC 333
After a 10-month layoff, Dvalishvili says he'd book Song Yadong for UFC 334 at MSG in November — even if Petr Yan beats him Saturday.
Oct 23, 2026
Farid Basharat Says Dana White's Exit Comments 'Did Damage' to Him
The 16-0 bantamweight went 7-0 in the UFC and still wasn't re-signed. Now he's pushing back on White's implication that there was 'a reason' he's gone.
Oct 21, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Wants His Belt Back — and Petr Yan Is in the Way
After 14 straight wins and a title reign ended last December, Dvalishvili meets Yan for a third time at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. The series is tied 1-1.
Oct 21, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Won't Bite on Petr Yan's Trash Talk Before UFC 333 Trilogy
The Machine dominated Yan in 2023, lost the belt in December. Saturday's rubber match snaps a quiet year — and ends a 14-fight streak chapter.
Oct 20, 2026
Farid Basharat Fires Back at Dana White After Shock UFC Exit
Basharat left the UFC undefeated at 16-0 with a 7-0 promotional run. White says there's 'a reason' he wasn't re-signed. Basharat isn't buying it.
Oct 19, 2026
Raul Rosas Jr. Books RAF Debut vs. UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida
The 22-year-old prospect, winner of six straight in the UFC, meets 44-year-old vet Clay Guida (38-22) at RAF 15 on Nov. 28 in Chicago.
Oct 16, 2026
Raoni Barcelos Faces Uncertain Future After Vegas 121 Health Scare
The 39-year-old veteran is still awaiting a diagnosis nearly three weeks after collapsing mid-fight against Raul Rosas Jr. Retirement, he admits, 'hasn't been ruled out.'
Oct 15, 2026
UFC Edmonton Prelims: Croden, Boser Headline a Loaded Canadian Undercard
Six prelim bouts kick off UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17, with No. 15 bantamweight Melissa Croden and undefeated prospects Cody Chovancek (9-0) and Javad Mahjoub (5-0) all in action.
Oct 15, 2026
Asaf Chopurov Carries a Dagestan Blueprint Into UFC 333 at 11-0
The unbeaten bantamweight credits Khabib's discipline and a camp under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov for a perfect 11-0 record built on 10 finishes.
Oct 15, 2026
Farid Basharat Walks From UFC Unbeaten at 16-0 After 7-0 Run
A ranked bantamweight on a 20-fight winning streak just hit free agency — and he's the second Basharat brother the UFC has let walk off a win.
Oct 14, 2026
Masuda vs Tsutsumi II Headlines Tokyo's November 29th Title Triple
Riku Masuda (11-1, 9 KO) runs it back with the man who beat him, Seiya Tsutsumi (13-0-3, 8 KO), in a three-belt card at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Oct 14, 2026
Cody Chovancek Debuts 9-0 in Edmonton With a $100k Promise
Undefeated Canadian bantamweight Cody Chovancek finally makes his UFC walk Saturday after a year lost to a knee injury — and he's calling his shot.
Oct 14, 2026
Louis Jourdain's UFC Debut Lands in Edmonton After a Year's Wait
The 9-3 bantamweight finally gets his Octagon bow against Timmy Cuamba on Oct. 17 — with brother Charles in his corner instead of the cage.
Oct 14, 2026
Three Debutants, One Card: The Canadian Newcomers at UFC Edmonton
Daniel Perez (15-1), Louis Jourdain (9-3) and unbeaten Jiri Chovancek (9-0) all hit the Octagon for the first time Saturday at Rogers Place.
Oct 13, 2026
Julianna Pena Ends 17-Month Layoff — On the Wrestling Mat
The two-time UFC champ makes her Real American Freestyle debut Nov. 14 in Abu Dhabi, her first competitive action since losing the belt in June 2025.
Oct 12, 2026
Mikey Musumeci Vacates UFC BJJ Title to Chase an MMA Career
The four-time IBJJF world champ went 4-0 by submission in title bouts before leaving the belt open at age 30 for a shot at mixed martial arts.
Oct 9, 2026
Malcolm Wellmaker Left Home for ATT to Fix a Two-Fight Skid
After starting his UFC run 2-0 with two knockouts, Wellmaker dropped two straight. Now he's rebuilt at American Top Team ahead of Saturday's return.
Oct 8, 2026
Marcus McGhee Is Climbing at 135 — And He Does It on a Skateboard
The No. 15 bantamweight is 12-2 with a two-fight win streak after stopping Anthony Romero in the first at UFC 332. Off the clock, he's a Star Wars kid with a board.
Oct 7, 2026
Four Prospects Grab UFC Deals in Wild DWCS Season 10, Week 9
Preston LaGrange, Sal Everett, Roque Conceicao and Mateus Soares all closed inside the first round — and one of them was literally on White's payroll.
Oct 7, 2026
O'Malley Denies Ducking Payton Talbott: 'He Made It Up'
Suga says he was never offered Talbott for UFC White House, but he's happy to squabble — if Petr Yan loses at UFC 333 on Oct. 24.
Oct 5, 2026
Payton Talbott Wants Sean O'Malley Next — But Yan vs. Merab Decides It
Fresh off a 2-minute finish of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332, Talbott is on a three-fight tear and chasing O'Malley at 135.
Oct 4, 2026
Silva outpoints Wang over five rounds to seal flyweight title case
Natalia Silva swept 25 minutes against Wang Cong, while Payton Talbott needed just 2:09 to erase Deiveson Figueiredo in Salt Lake City.
Oct 4, 2026
Jose Aldo Shrugs Off Marlon Vera Grappling Rematch: 'Just Here to Have Fun'
Aldo faces Vera under submission-only rules in Ecuador on Sunday, 17 months after retiring. His prep? Tennis and footvolley three times a day.
Oct 3, 2026
Umar Nurmagomedov Ditches MMA for Freestyle vs. Urijah Faber
The 30-year-old former title challenger makes his Real American Freestyle debut Nov. 14 in Abu Dhabi, facing a 0-2 Urijah Faber on the mats.
Oct 2, 2026
Payton Talbott Returns at UFC 332, Says Cejudo Win Rebuilt His Self-Image
After nine months off and an 11-1 record, the 12th-ranked bantamweight faces #9 Deiveson Figueiredo in Salt Lake City this Saturday.
Oct 1, 2026
Payton Talbott vs. Figueiredo: The 11-1 Prospect's Next Test at UFC 332
Fresh off running through Henry Cejudo, Talbott (11-1) draws former flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC 332 co-main event.
Oct 1, 2026
Aljamain Sterling Rips Oblique Kick Ban: Fix the Refs First
The ex-champ says the California commission is chasing the wrong problem — and with 26-5 on his record, he's seen plenty of fouls go unpunished.
Oct 1, 2026
Raoni Barcelos Leaves Hospital 3 Days After Frightening UFC Loss to Rosas Jr.
The 39-year-old bantamweight went unconscious in the fifth round of the UFC Vegas 121 main event. Doctors have ruled out a stroke or heart attack.
Sep 30, 2026
Marcus McGhee Says the UFC Has Stalled His Rise Since Petr Yan
The #15 bantamweight is 11-2 with an 8-KO résumé, but he says the promotion has 'pushed me back' while rivals stay busy.
Sep 30, 2026
Raoni Barcelos Speaks From Hospital After Scary UFC Vegas 121 Loss
The 39-year-old was minutes from a decision win when he collapsed against Raul Rosas Jr. Now he says he's fine and plotting a comeback.
Sep 29, 2026
Rosas Jr. finishes Barcelos in the fifth to headline UFC Vegas
Raul Rosas Jr. stopped #13 Raoni Barcelos with 1:38 left in the fifth round, the biggest scalp yet for the 21-year-old bantamweight.
Sep 27, 2026
Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos Headlines UFC Vegas 121 With Two 5-Fight Streaks on the Line
Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos both ride five-fight win streaks into the APEX main event, with a bantamweight title conversation waiting on the winner.
Sep 26, 2026
Prelim Preview: Nakamura, Simon and Jackson Headline a Loaded Undercard
Seven prelim bouts open UFC Fight Night on September 26 at Meta APEX, led by unbeaten-in-the-UFC prospect Rinya Nakamura (10-1) against Brady Hiestand.
Sep 25, 2026
Raoni Barcelos Gets His First UFC Main Event at 39 vs Raul Rosas Jr.
On a five-fight win streak and ranked 13th at bantamweight, the Brazilian veteran finally headlines after eight years and 15 UFC fights.
Sep 24, 2026
Rinya Nakamura Returns From Knee Injury to Face Brady Hiestand
The 3-1 Japanese bantamweight ends a year-plus layoff Saturday against a fellow returnee who's been sidelined over two years. Here's what's at stake.
Sep 24, 2026
Raul Rosas Jr. Headlines at 21: Inside His Jump to Contender
Six wins in seven UFC bouts and a 12th-place ranking have earned the 21-year-old his first main event — and first five-round test — against Raoni Barcelos.
Sep 24, 2026
Petr Yan Shrugs at Bantamweight Chaos Ahead of Dvalishvili Trilogy
After 10 months out and back surgery, the two-time champ says the 135-pound division hasn't produced anything new. UFC 333 settles the score on Oct. 24.
Sep 24, 2026
Raul Rosas Jr. Wants Jon Jones' Record — and an Exit by 25
At 21, Rosas headlines UFC Vegas 121 against Raoni Barcelos with a plan to break the youngest-champ mark set at 23 years, 243 days.
Sep 24, 2026
Merab Dvalishvili Pinpoints the Yan Rematch Mistake Before Their UFC 333 Trilogy
Dvalishvili says he abandoned his gameplan and boxed with Petr Yan at UFC 323. The trilogy lands in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 24.
Sep 22, 2026
Raul Rosas Jr. Set to Become Youngest UFC Main Eventer at 21
At 21, Rosas Jr. headlines against Raoni Barcelos riding a five-fight win streak and chasing Jon Jones' youngest-champ record.
Sep 21, 2026
Naoya Inoue vs Tenshin Nasukawa 2: Why the Tokyo Rematch Matters
Inoue defends his WBC bantamweight belt against Nasukawa on Sept. 26 — a year after their first meeting, and after Nasukawa stopped Juan Francisco Estrada in nine.
Sep 20, 2026
Marlon Vera Snaps Four-Fight Skid, Makes Jourdain Quit at UFC 331
Chito Vera ended a career-worst losing streak with a third-round TKO, notching his first win since August 2023 to move to 24-12-1.
Sep 20, 2026
Charles Jourdain Chases Fourth Straight 135lb Win Against Chito Vera
Jourdain (18-8-1) is 3-0 at bantamweight and meets a former title challenger riding a four-fight skid at UFC 331 on September 19.
Sep 16, 2026
David Martinez Welcomes Dan Ige to 135 With a Promise to Brawl
Riding a 10-fight win streak at 14-1, Mexico's Martinez meets Ige on his bantamweight debut at Noche UFC in Glendale on Sept. 12.
Sep 10, 2026
Lapilus vs. McKee to Crown First PFL Bantamweight King in Lyon
Taylor Lapilus (25-4) meets undefeated Mitch McKee (11-0) on Dec. 19 for the inaugural 135lb belt — the final card before PFL becomes MVP.
Sep 10, 2026
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