Jose Aldo set for October 4th fighting return vs. former UFC title challenger
Credit: Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
UFC analyst Joe Rogan warned Ilia Topuria against making a critical ‘mistake' in his planned Octagon comeback.
Former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria hasn't fought since a shocking loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this year. After suffering the first defeat of his career, Topuria is taking an indefinite hiatus from fighting, but could potentially return to the cage by year's end.
Topuria looked unrecognizable as he departed the White House lawn in June. His face was busted up by Gaethje's relentless barrage, and Topuria suffered multiple broken orbital bones in the fight.
Some question whether or not Topuria can return to elite form following the Gaethje fight. While Joe Rogan remains confident in Topuria's future, he believes the former champ needs to avoid a similar fate to his former rival.
Joe Rogan warns Ilia Topuria could face similar fate to Alexander Volkanovski after KO
In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan was asked about Topuria's future and cautioned the former champion against a hasty comeback.
“It's going to be interesting to see how he rebounds because that was a lot of damage,†Rogan said of Topuria.
“Two fractured orbitals, they had to stop the fight in between rounds, and he took big punches from a guy who's got f—— rocks in his hands. Justin can crack… He's had a couple of months, but he probably needs like six months before he's even sparring again.
“A lot of fighters, a lot of great fighters have made a mistake of coming back too soon,†Rogan continued on Topuria. “Volkanovski is one that I point to all the time, who's arguably the greatest featherweight of all time… That's a crazy thing to do. He took a full head kick, shin to the dome, gets KO'd, and then four months later he's fighting the f—— scariest challenger that he's ever had to face.†(h/t MMA Junkie)
Who should Ilia Topuria fight in his UFC return? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Most Valuable Promotions has responded to a lawsuit filed by
former world champion Heather
Hardy over her 2023 rematch with Amanda
Serrano.
Hardy is seeking $10 million in damages from MVP, alleging in her
complaint that the promotion moved forward with the bout despite
concerns about the risks involved. Hardy alleges that she suffered
permanent neurological damage from the fight, which took place in
August 2023 on the Jake
Paul-Nate Diaz
card.
Most Valuable Promotions cites Hardy’s medical clearance and
commission oversight in response to the lawsuit
According to Hardy's complaint, the fight presented an
“extraordinary and foreseeable risk of serious neurological harm.â€
She also alleges that the bout contributed to lasting issues,
including traumatic brain injury, memory loss and double
vision.
MVP disputed the allegations in a statement issued in response to
the lawsuit, emphasizing Hardy's medical clearance and the
commission's oversight of the contest.
“MVP has great respect for Heather Hardy. We recognize the
difficulty of her circumstances and extend our sincere sympathy and
hope that she receives the care and support she deserves,†MVP
responded (via ESPN). “Heather's participation on our Aug. 5,
2023, card was arranged through her promoter, Lou DiBella, who
contracted for the fight, and Heather publicly expressed her
gratitude for the opportunity both before and after the fight.â€
“MVP followed applicable protocols for the fight, Heather was
medically cleared to compete by the athletic commission overseeing
the event, and the bout proceeded under the commission's authority
and supervision in accordance with their standard medical and
safety requirements,†the statement added. “MVP remains committed
to fighter safety and supporting the athletes who compete in our
events in full compliance with commission standards.â€
Gable Steveson dealing with mental block since winning gold medal, says Henry Cejudo: “He's just not finishing the job after the Olympicsâ€
Zuffa LLC
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes is a highly-anticipated UFC title fight, and Dustin Poirier wonders if the bout will end in a submission for the champion.
Harrison and Nunes were set to collide in early 2026, but the women's bantamweight titleholder was forced to undergo neck surgery. The procedure was a success, and Harrison is now prepping to meet her former teammate in the UFC 334 co-main event on Nov. 14.
Poirier has worked with both Harrison and Nunes under the American Top Team banner. During a recent edition of “Deep Waters,†the retired UFC lightweight questioned if Harrison can find a way to submit Nunes inside Madison Square Garden in New York City (via MMAJunkie).
“It's going to come down to the takedowns,†Poirier said. “Can Kayla use her judo and her wrestling to get Amanda down? If she can, I think she's going to have a lot of success.
“You know, we've seen Amanda submitted before. Kayla's big, strong, good top position, knows how to grapple, but the length and power Amanda has, you can't prepare for in the female division. You can't get girls in the gym who can punch like that.â€
Harrison last competed back in June 2025, while Nunes hasn't fought since 2023 after initially retiring from pro MMA competition. Harrison is the betting favorite over a month ahead of UFC 334, but Nunes will look to prove she's still the gold standard of the women's 135-pound division.
Going into the event, Harrison is riding a four-fight winning streak and has just one blemish on her pro MMA record. Nunes retired having gone 14-1 in her last 15 outings, which includes wins in the now defunct women's featherweight division.
Do you think Kayla Harrison can pull off a submission over Amanda Nunes at UFC 334? Join in on the conversation in the comments below.
UFC 334 has lost undefeated middleweight Baisangur Susurkaev, but a replacement has already been found.
MMA Fighting's Damon Martin and Mike Heck confirmed with sources with knowledge of the change that Cesar Almeida (7-3) has agreed to step in for Susurkaev to face Donte Johnson (9-0) at the Nov. 14 event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Bout contracts are still to be officially signed.
Susurkaev and Johnson were originally set to meet in a battle of top prospects, with Susurkaev also sporting a perfect record at 12-0. The 25-year-old Susurkaev hit the ground running after earning a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025, winning by knockout or submission in his first three outings for the promotion. The reason for Susurkaev's withdrawal from UFC 334 is not known.
Johnson was also signed off of DWCS in 2025 and has seen similar success, scoring consecutive UFC wins over Eric McConico, Cody Brundage, and Sedriques Dumas. He now faces Almeida, an experienced kickboxer who has seen mixed results in the UFC. Following a spectacular first-round knockout over Abdul Razak Alhassan in his UFC debut, Almeida has lost back-to-back fights, most recently losing by KO to Damian Pinas at UFC 329.