MMA

Morning Report | Namo Fazil claims he was accosted by ‘15 Chechens’ before Contender Series loss

Published

3 months ago

August 20, 2026

Morning Report | Namo Fazil claims he was accosted by ‘15 Chechens’ before Contender Series loss

At Contender Series last night, Dana White dropped this little nugget:

“This thing started July 17, 2017. From that date to today, the fighters who have made it into the UFC from Contender Series have made a $225.3 million. Talk about an opportunity.”

Yes, let’s talk about that opportunity.

First off, that’s 9 years. So, doing some quick math and rounding, that $25 million per year.

Now, the show has officially awarded 333 contracts, though White later noted that 420 fighters have competed in the UFC from Contender series.

So, take that $225M and split it up by 420, and we’re talking ~$535,000 per fighter. Of course, that’s over 9 years, and not all fighters make the same. Sean O’Malley, for instance, has probably cleared several million of that on his own. I’d love to know what the actual number is per fighter, but that math is too hard for me.

Also for reference, Victor Wembanyama just signed a 5-year $252M contract.

MMA

Chris Weidman reveals the one thing that makes Stephen Thompson angry

Published

6 hours ago

November 10, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Chris Weidman reveals the one thing that makes Stephen Thompson angry

Stephen
Thompson rarely loses his cool, except when it comes to
watching movies.

Thompson has long been considered one of the most affable fighters
on the
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster. Even Thompson's
opponents avoid provoking him, as nothing seems to faze the former
kickboxer. However, Chris
Weidman, a longtime friend of Thompson, recently recalled a
rare occasion when â€œWonderboyâ€ got angry.

UFC’s nicest fighter once cursed out kids for talking during
movie previews

Thompson and Weidman were watching a movie in a theater when a
group of kids behind them started talking. While the movie hadn't
even started, Thompson didn't want to be disturbed during the
previews. The former title challenger turned around and started
cursing at the kids, telling them to shut up.

â€œThe only time I've seen him mad was in a movie theater,â€ Weidman
said on the â€œDeep Watersâ€ podcast. â€œThere's a group of kids sitting
behind us. And it's just the previews. â€˜Wonderboy's sitting next to
me; we're eating popcorn. And he's just staring behind him. I'm
looking at him like, â€˜Why's he turning around like that?' There's a
group of kids behind us; they're probably in their mid-twenties.
And he's like, â€˜Shut up! I'm trying to watch this.' Dudes were
like, â€˜Bro, it's the previews.' He's like, â€˜I don't care. You
better shut the f*ck up.' He starts cursing. I'm like, â€˜Wonderboy,'
yo, you good, man? It's the previews.' He does not play games.â€

Weidman revealed that both Thompson and his father, Ray, don't like
being disturbed while watching movies.

â€œHe is obsessed,â€ Weidman added. â€œWhen he is watching movies, he is
so dialed in. And if anybody is taking him out of that, he loses
his mind. And his dad is the same way. They have this movie theater
room in the house. If you talk during the movies, they're just
looking at you like you're ruining their life. Like they're gonna
try and kill you.â€

Thompson (17-9-1) has fought the who's who of the welterweight
division in his 14-year UFC career. The 43-year-old is scheduled to
make his final walk to the Octagon against Charles
Radtke (12-5) at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This is the ONE time that Chris
Weidman has ever seen Wonderboy mad ðŸ¤¬ [ #DeepWaters | LIVE on
YouTube ] https://t.co/8AU5hd01Cc

â€” UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
November 9, 2026

MMA

Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: ‘He is scared’

Published

23 hours ago

November 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: ‘He is scared’

Khamzat Chimaev will now wrestle former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman after Colby Covington withdrew from Saturday's RAF 14 main event in Abu Dhabi, the promotion announced Monday.

RAF did not disclose what led to Covington's withdrawal, but Chimaev took a shot at the former UFC interim welterweight champion on social media. Covington was on a five-match winning streak in RAF but recently tapped out to a rear-naked choke in grappling against UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr.

The RAF light heavyweight crossover championship will be on the line for Chimaev vs. Weidman at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Chimaev was dominant in four straight wrestling matches since June, defeating Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns and Robbie Lawler. He now takes on Weidman while awaiting his next UFC assignment.

Weidman appeared once under the RAF banner, losing a decision to Covington back in May. That was his first competition since losing a grappling match to Patrick Downey in mid-2025.

Check the updated RAF Abu Dhabi lineup below.

MMA

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

Published

23 hours ago

November 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

UFC 334 goes down this Saturday with two pretty damn intriguing title fights.

In the main event, undisputed* heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane goes for his first defense against, yes, one of the most talked-about fighters of 2026, the undefeated Josh Hokit. Folks, there’s a well-above zero chance that Hokit closes out the year as the UFC’s heavyweight king. Wowza.

Then you have the bantamweight matchup of destiny between champion Kayla Harrison and the GOAT herself Amanda Nunes. Where these two legends and the division go after UFC 334 is anybody’s guess, but this fight had to happen and it’s finally going down in Madison Square Garden.

So what’s your level of excitement as we kick off fight week?