Mackenzie Dern isn't just a UFC champion, she's now officially defended that title as well.
MMA
Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she needs to beat Zhang Weili to cement championship status after UFC 330
Published
3 weeks agoon
Saturday's UFC 330 co-main event saw Dern earn a one-sided decision win over Gillian Robertson to successfully defend the strawweight belt she won in a vacant title fight by defeating Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 this past October. That title was vacated by Zhang Weili, who dominated the 115-pound division before moving up a weight class in a failed bid to dethrone flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko.
At the moment, it's unclear whether Zhang is planning to return at 115 or 125 pounds, if at all. So does Dern feel like that matchup has to happen for her to be considered the strawweight division's true champion?
“No,†Dern said at the evening's post-fight press conference. “I felt like the champion before when I won the belt, but I just think I solidified myself even more as the champ for the fans, that they would say that, but I don't think I need to win Weili to be a champ. I mean, people retire, I'm not saying that that's what she's going to do but the more defenses I can get at this, whoever comes next, I think I proved that I was the champ.
“Gillian was on a five-fight win streak, Virna was on a five-fight win streak, I just became a four-fight win streak. I don't know how much more I need to do to prove that.â€
Whenever Dern is booked to defend her title again, Zhang is the most obvious candidate to challenge her. However, other contenders have made strong cases, including Tatiana Suarez, Alexia Thainara, and blue-chip prospect Fatima Kline.
Dern isn't sure who she'll fight next, but she knows when she wants to come back.
“I don't hope for anybody. Whoever the UFC gives to me, I'll be ready,†Dern said, later adding, “Ideally I would like to fight probably March, so maybe in six months if I can get maybe two fights a year, that would be good.â€
The only caveat Dern would put on an otherwise successful evening is that she wasn't able to put Robertson away inside the distance. Dern threatened with a couple of tight chokes and even worked for a leg lock at one point, but Robertson managed to make it to the final buzzer.
Ultimately, Dern is satisfied at having done enough to officially log a UFC title defense and is eager to continue her evolution.
“Honestly, it feels good, but it could feel even better if I would have got the submission,†Dern said. “I'm somewhat that's always looking for the best performance possible, so I'm happy with my wrestling, I'm happy with I guess the dominance of the fight, but I wanted to submit Gillian, for sure. I still see lots of things that I want to get better just to be able to defend it more and more times, but definitely feel like I solidified myself as the champ.â€
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MMA
UFC Paris Results: Michael Page defeats Nursulton Ruziboev
Published
4 hours agoon
September 5, 2026

We have you covered for all of today's UFC Paris results, including the middleweight bout between Michael Page and Nursulton Ruziboev.
Page (25-3 MMA) will enter the bout on a three-fight winning streak, this after scoring decision victories over Sharabutdin Magomedov, Jared Cannonier and Sam Patterson in his most recent Octagon appearances. Prior to those triumphs, ‘Venom' had suffered a decision loss to recent UFC welterweight title challenger Ian Machado Garry.
Meanwhile, Nursulton Ruziboev (37-9-2 MMA) also currently boasts a three-fight winning streak, with his most recent Octagon victory coming over Andrey Pulyaev via submission this past June. The Uzbekistan native has gone 12-1 over his past thirteen fights overall.
Who takes this one?! 👀@MichaelPage247 vs @Nursulton_MMA
[ #UFCParis is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eGAZYawDhM
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Round one of this UFC Paris middleweight matchup begins and Nursulton Ruziboev immediately shoots in for a takedown attempt and gets it. That took all of five seconds. ‘MVP' looks to secure a buggy choke. Ruziboev ultimately escapes and is now on top and in full control. He lands a nice elbow. No real action for the next 30 seconds or so. Now another elbow. Michael Page looks to scramble but Ruziboev won't allow him to stand back up. ‘Venom' eventually gets up on his feet, but Ruziboev is holding on to a body lock. Page lands some elbows while in the clinch. He eventually breaks free to space but is unable to land anything significant from range before the horn sounds to end the opening round.
Round two begins and Michael Page comes forward with a right hand that partially connects. Nursulton Ruziboev forces the clinch, but MVP quickly breaks free to space. ‘Venom' with a solid low kick. Ruziboev answers with a calf kick. Page throws a body kick, but Ruziboev catches it. The fighters clinch again. Not much for action or any forms of punches. Ruziboev may have landed an uppercut late. Not the fight most fans were hoping for.
The third and final round of this UFC Paris middleweight bout begins and Michael Page lands a solid punch to start. Ruziboev is quickly in on a takedown. He gets it. ‘MVP' is working hard to get back to his feet. He eventually does. Page pressing forward while doing next to nothing. Ruziboev actually doing nothing aside from retreating. The crowd is not happy. This snorefest comes to an end? Possibly the last time fans will see Page in the UFC.
Adding to the win column ✅@MichaelPage247 gets the UD victory at #UFCParis!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/oWxdwJqGb0
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Official UFC Paris Results: Michael Page def. Nursulton Ruziboev by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Who would you like to see Page fight next following his victory over Ruziboev this afternoon in France? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
MMA
Cris Cyborg wants to ‘save’ UFC 332 with Amanda Nunes revenge fight
Published
6 hours agoon
September 5, 2026
Cyborg has offered the
Ultimate Fighting Championship a solution to its UFC 332
main event problem.
Cyborg took to social media to call for a rematch with former
two-division champion Amanda
Nunes, suggesting the fight could headline the Oct. 3 numbered
event in Salt Lake City, which still doesn't have an announced
headliner. The pair faced off back in 2018, when Nunes won via
first-round KO.
Cris Cyborg calls for Amanda Nunes rematch after UFC 332
headliner uncertainty
A women's flyweight title fight between Valentina
Shevchenko and Natalia
Silva was rumored for UFC 332, but recent reports indicate
Shevchenko has been forced to withdraw. With other UFC champions
having recently fought or already booked for later events, the
promotion appears to be scrambling to find a viable headliner.
Cyborg has offered a solution. The former UFC champ took to X to
call for a rematch with her former foe, Nunes. The latter was
expected to take on Kayla
Harrison earlier this year, but a neck injury to Harrison saw
the matchup fall through.
“[Amanda Nunes] tired of waiting for [Kayla Harrison]?†Cyborg
wrote on X. “Feel like saving an UFC event?â€
They initially squared off at
UFC 232 in December 2018, when Nunes emerged victorious to
become a double champ. “The Lioness†retired in 2023, while Cyborg
most recently competed at
PFL Tampa on Aug. 22, defeating Ketlen
Vieira by unanimous decision in what was expected to be her
final mixed martial arts bout.
👋 @Amanda_Leoa
tired of waiting for @KaylaH?Feel like saving an @ufc event?
— CrisCy₿org.com 19X World Champ (@criscyborg)
September 1, 2026
MMA
UFC Paris: 'Hooker vs. Parnasse' Live Results and Highlights
Published
7 hours agoon
September 5, 2026

The Octagon returns to France for today's UFC Paris event, a 14-bout fight card headlined by Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse.
Hooker (24-14 MMA) will enter the contest with hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid. ‘The Hangman' most previously competed this past February at UFC 325 in Sydney, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Benoit Saint Denis. That setback was preceded by a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan in November of last year. Prior to those defeats, Dan Hooker had put together a three-fight winning streak, a stretch which included victories over Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot.
Meanwhile, Salahdine Parnasse (23-2 MMA) will be making his Octagon debut this evening in Paris. The former two-division KSW champion will enter the contest on a five-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory coming over Kenneth Cross at May's ‘Rousey vs. Carano' MVP MMA event.
Today's UFC Paris event is co-headlined by a lightweight bout featuring Fares Ziam taking on Axel Sola.
Ziam (18-5 MMA) will enter the contest looking to rebound, this after suffering a decision loss to Tom Nolan in his most recent Octagon appearance this past June. Prior to that setback, the ‘Smile Killer' had strung together a six-fight winning streak, a stretch which included knockout victories over Matt Frevola and Nazim Sadykhov.
Meanwhile, Axel Sola (12-1-1 MMA) most previously competed this past July, where he scored a first-round submission victory over Ismael Bonfim. Prior to that triumph, the Frenchman was coming off the first loss of his professional career which he suffered at the hands of Mason Jones by way of unanimous decision.
If that wasn't enough to get you interested, today's UFC Paris main card lineup also features a highly anticipated middleweight contest between Michael Page and Nursulton Ruziboev.
Michael ‘Venom' Page walking out at UFC London. Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Page (25-3 MMA) will enter the bout on a three-fight winning streak, this after scoring decision victories over Sharabutdin Magomedov, Jared Cannonier and Sam Patterson in his most recent Octagon appearances. Prior to those triumphs, ‘Venom' had suffered a decision loss to recent UFC welterweight title challenger Ian Machado Garry.
Meanwhile, Nursulton Ruziboev (37-9-2 MMA) also currently boasts a three-fight winning streak, with his most recent Octagon victory coming over Andrey Pulyaev via submission this past June. The Uzbekistan native has gone 12-1 over his past thirteen fights overall.
Get all of today's live results and highlights below:
UFC Paris Main Card (3pm EST on Paramount+)
Lightweight: Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse –
Lightweight: Farès Ziam vs. Axel Sola –
Middleweight: Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev –
Welterweight: Daniil Donchenko vs. Punahele Soriano –
Featherweight: Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek –
Featherweight: Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov –
UFC Paris Prelims (12pm EST on Paramount+)
Featherweight: Morgan Charrière vs. Felipe Lima –
Heavyweight: Mário Pinto vs. Ryan Spann –
Light Heavyweight – Oumar Sy vs. Modestas Bukauskas – Bukauskas def. Sy via TKO (knee and punches) at 3:57 of Round 2
FLIPPED THE SCRIPT 🔄@BalticGladiator turned the tables to earn the comeback win at #UFCParis!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Dk1LmfFjEd
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Sensing the finish in RD1 👀
[ @Oum93MMA | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Adxq2oQJrN
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Pavel Andrusca – Andrusca def. Wood by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Hard-Fought debut dub 🫡
Pavel Andrusca earns the short notice win at #UFCParis!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/m9rDXXGygS
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Flyweight: Michael Aljarouj vs. Fabià Sintes – Sintes def. Aljarouj by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 29-27)
Got it done 👊
Fabia Sintas earns the UD victory at #UFCParis!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/PtyV0XM8I9
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Women's Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Klaudia Syguła – Cornolle def. Syguła by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Back in the win column 💪
Nora Cornolle earns the UD win and makes it 3-0 so far for French fighters at #UFCParis!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/plaQAAG0aB
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Middleweight: Matthieu Letho Duclos vs. Luis Felipe Dias – Duclos def. Dias via TKO (punches) at 4:35 of Round 1
Can’t start better than that‼ï¸
Matthieu Duclos earns the debut RD1 knockout victory with a clean left hand!
[ #UFCParis is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/sYDuXVKWJ0
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Women's Strawweight: Delphine Benouaich vs. Sofia Montenegro – Benouaich def. Montenegro via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:22 of Round 2
WELCOME TO THE UFC 😤
Delphine Benouaich leaves her mark and puts the strawweight division on notice!
[ #UFCParis is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/3LvXxjDvEG
— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026
Who are you picking to win today's event headliner between Dan Hooker and Salahdine Parnasse? Share your predictions in the comment section PENN Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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