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Magomed Ankalaev wouldn't mind fighting Paulo Costa if Carlos Ulberg remains sidelined: "Unless he's going to be running away"

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3 weeks ago

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Magomed Ankalaev wouldn't mind fighting Paulo Costa if Carlos Ulberg remains sidelined: "Unless he's going to be running away"

Magomed Ankalaev won't dismiss a possible collision with Paulo Costa in the near future.

Ankalaev is fresh off his fifth-round finish over Bogdan Guskov in the UFC Abu Dhabi main event this past Saturday. The former 205-pound titleholder was coming off his championship loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 320. It was just the second defeat of the Dagestan bruiser's pro MMA career, but he got back on track this past Saturday.

There has been a lot of talk within the MMA community about Carlos Ulberg's return time frame and whether or not an interim title bout should take place. Ulberg is the reigning UFC light heavyweight titleholder, and he is eyeing an early 2027 return from his torn ACL. Meanwhile, Costa has been pounding the table for an interim championship fight.

During the UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight press conference, Ankalaev said that he's open to fighting Costa if Ulberg won't be returning as quickly as he hopes (via MMAFighting).

“I'm already the No. 1 contender, but as we know in this division right now our champion is hurt,†Ankalaev said. “We don't know when he's going to come back, so if he's going to take a long time to come back, I would like to stay active and I believe I saw something or heard something that Costa wrote something in my direction. I'm not sure what he was trying to say, whether he was trying to bother me or was trying to get my attention, so if it is indeed that the champion's going to be out for a little while, then potentially maybe we can have a good fight with Costa, unless he's going to be running away.â€

Costa made his successful light heavyweight return back in April. He turned in a solid performance against Azamat Murzakanov, earning a third-round TKO finish via head kick. “Borrachinha†now has two straight wins, and he's hoping that a change in weight class will lead him to his first UFC championship.

Should UFC book Magomed Ankalaev vs. Paulo Costa before the end of 2026? Should an interim title be at stake? Let us know in the comments below.

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MMA

Next up? Islam Makhachev names most deserving title challenger

Published

4 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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Next up? Islam Makhachev names most deserving title challenger
Islam
Makhachev has named the ideal next challenger for his
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title.

Makhachev retained his belt with a hard-fought victory over
Ian
Garry at UFC
330 in Philadelphia. The Russian revealed that Carlos
Prates is the preferred next opponent after recording his first
title defense at welterweight.

Islam Makhachev backs Carlos Prates for next UFC welterweight
title shot

Prates and Michael
Morales, who were both in attendance at UFC 330, are in the
running for the next title shot, with Makhachev believing the
Brazilian currently has the stronger case. He dismissed Shavkat
Rakhmonov, who's been sidelined with injuries since December
2024, and Morales, who hasn't been as active as Prates.

“If you ask me today, Shavkat [Rakhmonov] is not fighting; Prates
is still fighting, still active,†Makhachev said during the
Paramount+ post-fight show. “Morales also is good, but I don't
remember the last time he fought. If you ask who is more deserving,
I think Carlos Prates.â€

Morales and Rakhmonov are both unbeaten, while Prates holds a
record of 24-7. The latter's last loss came against Garry in April
2025, but he has remained active since then, picking up finishes
against Geoff Neal
and two former champs: Leon
Edwards and Jack
Della Maddalena.

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MMA

UFC champion blasts retired coach for ’sh*t’ performance at UFC 330

Published

5 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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UFC champion blasts retired coach for ’sh*t’ performance at UFC 330

Sean Strickland has harsh words for Din Thomas after UFC 330.

A former fighter and veteran MMA coach, Thomas ended up at the center of a social media storm this past weekend after announcing his retirement from corner work following his fighter Gillian Robertson's loss to strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern in Saturday's UFC 330 co-main event.

Following Din's comments, fans and media members criticized Thomas for choosing a low moment to abandon Robertson, who he's coached for years. Now, Strickland is adding his two cents and he's not being diplomatic about it.

“Din Thomas is a f*cking c*nt,†Strickland wrote on Twitter. “I've had my ass kicked in multiple weight classes through my career and won two titles. You're a dickhead. It's probably better you retire. You're a shit coach.

“You only lose when you quit. Din sounds like you're a f*cking loser.â€

Strickland's response carries some weight given his own career experiences. As he pointed out, he began his career as a promising welterweight with an uneven record before moving up to 185 pounds where he established himself as a contender before breaking through and winning a UFC title with a memorable upset of Israel Adesanya in 2023. He is currently in his second reign as middleweight champion after defeating the previously unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 this past May.

Whether Thomas intended to slight Robertson or not, his retirement announcement came at an awkward time given how his fighter struggled in her five-round loss to Dern. Robertson went 5-0 after dropping down to 115 pounds to earn her title shot and was aiming to become Canada's first UFC champion since Georges St-Pierre.

Strickland defended Robertson's effort replying to a Twitter commenter.

“He's just a c*nt,†Strickland said. “Girl goes out there and tries to do something and you put her down. Dickhead.â€

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MMA

Mackenzie Dern names three potential opponents following UFC 330 win

Published

5 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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Mackenzie Dern names three potential opponents following UFC 330 win
Mackenzie
Dern has already started looking ahead after defending her

Ultimate Fighting Championship title.

Dern (17-5) thoroughly outclassed Gillian
Robertson at UFC
330, using her grappling to secure a unanimous decision and
retain the strawweight belt in Philadelphia. She's now name-dropped
who could be next in line for a title shot.

Mackenzie Dern names Weili Zhang, Tatiana Suarez and Lupita
Godinez as possible UFC title challengers

When asked in a post-fight interview who she could face next, Dern
initially admitted she's unsure. She claimed the next challenger
for the 115-pound throne could be Tatiana
Suarez (12-1), Lupita
Godinez (14-6), or former champ Weili Zhang
(26-4).

“I know there's Tatiana, Weili… Who else? Lupita could be coming up
pretty soon,†Dern said.

Godinez is unlikely next in line, having lost three of her last
five bouts. Moreover, the Mexican contender has already lost to
Dern.

Suarez previously challenged for UFC gold, losing to Zhang in
February last year. The former then bounced back with two wins,
beating Amanda
Lemos and Godinez. Meanwhile, Zhang vacated the title after
beating Suarez to challenge for the women's flyweight title, but
lost to current 125-pound queen Valentina
Shevchenko.

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