Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley looks to be a done deal, but O'Malley isn't sure that would be the case if Yan had his say.
MMA
Tom Aspinall releases statement refuting UFC departure rumors: ‘I’m not leaving’
Published
2 months agoon
Tom Aspinall is here to stay.
The UFC heavyweight champion released a statement Wednesday affirming his standing with the promotion, apparently reacting to social media rumors that he has relinquished his title and his time with the UFC has come to an end.
“I'm not leaving the UFC,†Aspinall wrote. “I've never said I have in any interview and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true.â€
See Aspinall's statement below.
Aspinall's status has been the cause of much speculation since his most recent fight at UFC 321 this past October. That event marked Aspinall's first title defense as undisputed champion following the retirement of Jon Jones, and he was favored to defeat challenger Ciryl Gane. Unfortunately for both fighters, the main event bout ended inconclusively, when Aspinall was on the receiving end of eye pokes that left him unable to continue. The result was a no-contest and Aspinall was later diagnosed with injuries to both eyes that have required multiple surgeries.
Though Aspinall has provided frequent updates to media and fans on his health, neither he nor the UFC have provided a timetable for his return. Gane currently waits in the wings for his rematch after winning an interim title by defeating Alex Pereira at UFC White House.
The lack of solid information has apparently opened the door to fake news circulating from random sources, much to Aspinall's chagrin. Until you hear from him or the UFC, Aspinall suggests not believing everything you read.
“We are talking with the UFC daily and they will update you guys always,†Aspinall wrote.
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MMA
Morning Report | Sean O’Malley questions if Petr Yan wants rematch after UFC 333: ‘I don’t think he’d pick me’
Published
7 hours agoon
October 26, 2026
Saturday's UFC 333 co-main event featured the conclusion Yan's trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili, with Yan winning a second consecutive five-round decision over his longtime rival to take their series 2-1. Up next, O'Malley seems like the most likely contender given that he owns a past win over Yan (a controversial split decision from 2022) and his recent victories against top 10-ranked opponents Aiemann Zahabi and Song Yadong.
Reacting to Dvalishvili vs. Yan live on his YouTube channel, O'Malley expressed skepticism that Yan is as excited about their rematch as he is.
“I don't think Petr Yan lays in bed and shakes and quivers thinking of fighting me,†O'Malley said. “Do I think he loves the idea of fighting me? I don't know, probably not. I'm a completely different matchup than anybody he fights. He fights guys like Merab, 5'5â€. Fights Song, 5'6â€. He fights these little guys. Maybe he likes fighting those little guys. I'm big, long, southpaw, orthodox, move a lot. He's flatfooted.
“He knows the problems that I present to him, so I wouldn't say Petr Yan's ducking me or scared. I don't think he'd pick me if he could choose.â€
Perhaps O'Malley is simply engaging in gamesmanship, attempting to bait Yan into saying his name because that didn't happen during Yan's post-fight victory speech. When cageside commentator Daniel Cormier interviewed Yan, Cormier mentioned a potential rematch between the champion and Song, who was in attendance at Saturday's event, and O'Malley was surprised his name wasn't mentioned.
“I'm surprised Petr didn't call me out,†O'Malley said. “I don't know why. It's the biggest fight to make and if it's in his eyes, shit, I called ‘Chito' [Vera] out after I won the belt. Give me the easiest f*cking fight ever—not ever, but I'll take whoever, but I can pick, I'm champ, I want to fight Chito.â€
“DC, I don't know what he's thinking, he's asking about Song Yadong. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it,†O'Malley said. “I'm like, ‘OK, maybe he is next.' Wait, I beat him like six, seven months ago, whatever the f*ck. I don't know. I'm fighting Petr Yan next. I don't care, even if they announce Petr vs. Song, I'm still fighting Petr next. That's just how much I'm fighting Petr next. I don't know what they're talking about, it's got to be me vs. Petr. Song fought Petr on one of my undercards, when I defended the championship title and Petr beat Song. I beat Petr. I beat Song. It's got to be me vs. Petr in the United States, early Q2, late Q1, book it.â€
O'Malley's fight with Yan remains controversial to this day, with both men landing hard strikes in their UFC 280 contest, but Yan arguably tilting the action in his favor with several successful takedowns. In the end, two judges saw the fight in O'Malley's favor.
“Sugar†watched the third Yan-Dvalishvili fight closely, both to admire his peers and to stay focused on the distinct possibility that he will fight Yan again.
“The fact that Petr was able to keep that pace, lose the first two rounds, have a close third round, and then have the momentum swing into the fourth and fifth round, it was legendary,†O'Malley said. “Petr Yan is an absolute legend, so is Merab. But for Petr to go out there and beat him twice like that is legendary.
“He's the greatest bantamweight of all-time and I get this anxiety, this nerve feeling of like, damn, that's who I'm fighting next. I'm sitting on the couch watching this savage go f*cking 25 minutes with one of the other greatest bantamweights of all-time, Merab. It gives me this good anxiety, good nervousness, because if you don't have that going into fights, it's harder to get up and train for it. So when you have this feeling, I'm locked in. I've been locked in since the last fight knowing that I might be fighting Petr Yan again.â€
For the sake of the UFC, O'Malley hopes the Yan rematch happens, because he's stated many times that he thinks it could be a new peak for the 135-pound division.
“It's going to be the greatest, the biggest bantamweight fight in UFC history,†O'Malley said. “I don't know when, I don't know where, but I know it's going to happen.â€
Champ. Islam Makhachev reveals why he turned down January fight with Carlos Prates.
Blast. Carlos Prates blasts ‘coward' Islam Makhachev for UFC 336 withdrawal, vows to retire him.
Interim. Dana White explains why the interim welterweight title is being introduced with Islam Makhachev still champion.
Superfight. Alexander Volkanovski wants superfight with Justin Gaethje: ‘That's something I would retire for.'
Beef. Dominick Reyes accuses Daniel Cormier of ‘clear bias' on UFC 333 commentary; Cormier responds.
Release. Dana White reveals why Shakur Stevenson was released so quickly from Zuffa Boxing.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Joshua Van (18-2) vs. Manel Kape (23-7); UFC 336, Jan. 30
Carlos Prates (24-7) vs. Michael Morales (19-0); UFC 336, Jan. 30
Would Volk be in the GOAT shortlist had he not taken the 2nd Islam fight?
If Volk didn’t take the 2nd Islam fight on short notice, could he have become the GOAT even with the 1st loss?
This is on the hypothetical he might have beaten Ilia without the previous KO and then Lopes and Mosvar.
I think he’s in the top 5 and is absolutely above Aldo now at 45 (which hurts me to say, I named my dog Aldo)
Rec 5ReplyRead 75 replies
How good was UFC 333?
UFC 333 looked like a banger on paper and it more than lived up to the hype, but where do you rank it among the best events of the year?
Alexander Volkanovski triumphed over Movsar Evloev, Petr Yan closed out his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili, and Lone’er Kavanagh, Aaron Pico, Dominick, Reyes, and Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev were just a few of the undercard fighters who shined.
On a scale of 1-10, how high would you rate UFC 333?
Closes in 2 days • 63 total votes
Rec 2ReplyRead 11 replies
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.
MMA
13-0 Jacobe Smith reportedly draws UFC veteran Randy Brown on Halloween
Published
7 hours agoon
October 26, 2026

	
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		<h1>13-0 Jacobe Smith reportedly draws UFC veteran Randy Brown on Halloween</h1>
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				<a href=”/authors/Sourav-Chakraborty-1731″>Sourav Chakraborty</a>				<span>Oct 22, 2026</span>				 <a class=”comments” href=”https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/130-Jacobe-Smith-reportedly-draws-UFC-veteran-Randy-Brown-on-Halloween-203294#insticator-commenting” data-page-id=”article-203294″/>			</div>
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 <div class=”content body_content”>
 Unbeaten welterweight <a href=”/fighter/Jacobe-Smith-394506″>Jacobe
Smith</a> will reportedly put his perfect record on the line
against <a href=”/organizations/Ultimate-Fighting-Championship-2″>
Ultimate Fighting Championship</a> veteran <a href=”/fighter/Randy-Brown-115641″>Randy
Brown</a>.<p>Smith is coming off a first-round knockout of <a href=”/fighter/Bruce-Whitehead-176151″>Bruce
Whitehead</a> at <a href=”/events/UFC-332-Silva-vs-Wang-114123″>UFC
332</a> on Oct. 3. The 30-year-old needed just 92 seconds to
improve his professional record to 13-0. He now faces a more
experienced opponent in Brown, who has competed in the UFC since
2016.</p><p/><h2>Jacobe Smith vs. Randy Brown reportedly set for UFC’s Oct. 31
Las Vegas card</h2>
<br/>
Brown has made 22 UFC appearances and is coming off consecutive
losses to <a href=”/fighter/Gabriel-Bonfim-185083″>Gabriel
Bonfim</a> and <a href=”/fighter/Kevin-Holland-108999″>Kevin
Holland</a>. According to <a href=”https://x.com/BigMarcel24/status/2112393151889445298″ target=”_blank”>Marcel Dorff</a>, “Rude Boy†will face Smith, who is 4-0
in the UFC after earning a contract on <a href=”/organizations/Dana-Whites-Contender-Series-12411″>
Dana White's Contender Series</a>.<p>The welterweights are slated to meet at <a href=”/events/UFC-Fight-Night-292-Moicano-vs-Nolan-114214″>
UFC Fight Night 292</a> on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. A
lightweight matchup between <a href=”/fighter/Renato-Carneiro-61700″>Renato
“Money†Moicano</a> and <a href=”/fighter/Tom-Nolan-244655″>Tom Nolan</a>
headlines the card.</p><p/><center>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”><a href=”/fighter/Randy-Brown-115641″>Randy Brown</a>
vs. <a href=”/fighter/Jacobe-Smith-394506″>Jacobe
Smith</a> #UFCVegas123 – October 31st 🎃 https://t.co/8dwrRwecot</p>
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) <a href=”https://x.com/BigMarcel24/status/2112393151889445298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>
October 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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 <b>UFC Fight Night 292</b>
 Moicano vs. Nolan </div>
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 <a href=”/events/UFC-Fight-Night-293-Bonfim-vs-Brady-114213″>
 <div class=”calendar-date”>
 <div>Nov</div><div>07</div><div>2026</div>
 </div>
 <div class=”event”>
 <b>UFC Fight Night 293</b>
 Bonfim vs. Brady </div>
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 <a href=”/events/UFC-334-Gane-vs-Hokit-114293″>
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 <div>Nov</div><div>14</div><div>2026</div>
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 <b>UFC 334</b>
 Gane vs. Hokit </div>
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 <a href=”/events/UFC-Fight-Night-294-Prochazka-vs-Stirling-114295″>
 <div class=”calendar-date”>
 <div>Nov</div><div>21</div><div>2026</div>
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 <b>UFC Fight Night 294</b>
 Prochazka vs. Stirling </div>
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 <a href=”/events/UFC-Fight-Night-296-Riyadh-114777″>
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 <div>Dec</div><div>05</div><div>2026</div>
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 <b>UFC Fight Night 296</b>
 Riyadh </div>
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 <div>Nov</div><div>14</div><div>2026</div>
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 <div>Dec</div><div>11</div><div>2026</div>
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 <!– Fight Finder –>
 <!– Fight Finder Templates –>
 <div id=”autocomplete_template” data-format=”{firstname} { ";nickname"; }{lastname}” data-slaveinput=”#sample” data-slaveformat=”{id}” style=”display:none”>
 <table cellpadding=”0″ cellspacing=”0″><tr><td width=”37″ height=”37″><img data-src=”{image}” width=”32″/></td><td>{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}</td></tr></table>
 </div>
 
 <div id=”autocomplete_template_Fighter” data-format=”{firstname} { ";nickname"; }{lastname}” data-slaveinput=”#sample” data-slaveformat=”{id}” style=”display:none”>
 <table cellpadding=”0″ cellspacing=”0″><tr><td width=”37″ height=”37″><img data-src=”{image}” width=”32″/></td><td>{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}</td></tr></table>
 </div>
 
 <div id=”autocomplete_template_Event” data-format=”{name} – {title}” data-slaveinput=”#sample” data-slaveformat=”{id}” style=”display:none”>
 <table cellpadding=”0″ cellspacing=”0″><tr><td width=”37″ height=”37″><img data-src=”{image}” width=”32″/></td><td>{name} – {title}</td></tr></table>
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<!– End of Fight Finder Templates –>




 <div class=”right-module fightfinder-module” style=”min-height: 780px”>
 <div class=”yellow-title”><h3>FIGHT FINDER</h3></div>

 <form class=”right-search” action=”/stats/fightfinder” method=”get”>
 <input data-groupfield=”source” name=”SearchTxt” data-autocorrect=”false” data-offset=”-105px 0″ type=”text” placeholder=”SEARCH FIGHTERS, NICKNAMES, EVENTS” class=”search autocomplete” data-source=”/search/fightfinder/” data-template=”#autocomplete_template” data-onselect=”autocomplete_select”/>
 <input value=”” type=”submit”/>
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 <hr/>

 <h4>FIGHTER OF THE WEEK</h4>
 <a class=”fow” href=”/fighter/Taylor-Lapilus-97337″><img src=”https://www2-cdn.sherdog.com/_images/pictures/20260523115829_PFL_20260523_JP1_5585.JPG” style=”object-position: center 15%”/><div>Taylor Lapilus</div></a>
 <style><![CDATA[a.fow img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16/5; object-fit: cover; margin-top: -5px; } a.fow div { text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px; color: white; margin-top: 3px; font-size: 20px; font-weight :bold; text-transform: uppercase; }]]></style>
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 <h4>TOP TRENDING FIGHTERS</h4>

 <hr/>

 <div class=”right-fighters-content”>
 <a href=”/fighter/Movsar-Evloev-183539″><img src=”/image_crop/72/72/_images/fighter/1648843996605_20220401041310_Movsar_Evloev_ff.JPG”/><div>Movsar Evloev</div></a><a href=”/fighter/Vadim-Nemkov-143059″><img src=”/image_crop/72/72/_images/fighter/1650579447945_20220421061722_Vadim_Nemkov.JPG”/><div>Vadim Nemkov</div></a><a href=”/fighter/Alexander-Volkanovski-101527″><img src=”/image_crop/72/72/_images/fighter/1697784432618_20220325081549_Alexander_Volkanovski_ff.JPG”/><div>Alexander Volkanovski</div></a><a href=”/fighter/Sergey-Bilostenniy-200819″><img src=”/image_crop/72/72/_images/fighter/1777556099491_177755609300eb2194f249011fbffc88f3c0ebbaed-1-1.png”/><div>Sergey Bilostenniy</div></a> </div>

 <div class=”right-more-fighters”>
 <h4>MORE FIGHTERS...</h4>
 <a href=”/fighter/Petr-Yan-186873″>Petr Yan</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Pouya-Rahmani-431583″>Pouya Rahmani</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Merab-Dvalishvili-157355″>Merab Dvalishvili</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Joji-Goto-220099″>Joji Goto</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Ramazonbek-Temirov-215649″>Ramazonbek Temirov</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Oleg-Popov-209999″>Oleg Popov</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Aaron-Pico-191127″>Aaron Pico</a> | <a href=”/fighter/Abubakar-Nurmagomedov-86474″>Abubakar Nurmagomedov</a> </div>
 <a href=”/events” class=”right-more”>+ <em>FIND MORE</em></a>
 </div>















<!– Fight Finder Templates –>
<!–
 <div id=’autocomplete_template’ data-format=’{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}’ data-slaveinput=’#sample’ data-slaveformat=’{id}’ style=’display:none’>
 <table cellpadding=’0′ cellspacing=’0′><tr><td width=’37’ height=’37’><img data-src=”{image}” width=’32’/></td><td>{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}</td></tr></table>
 </div>
 
 <div id=’autocomplete_template_Fighter’ data-format=’{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}’ data-slaveinput=’#sample’ data-slaveformat=’{id}’ style=’display:none’>
 <table cellpadding=’0′ cellspacing=’0′><tr><td width=’37’ height=’37’><img data-src=”{image}” width=’32’/></td><td>{firstname} { “nickname” }{lastname}</td></tr></table>
 </div>
 
 <div id=’autocomplete_template_Event’ data-format=’{name} – {title}’ data-slaveinput=’#sample’ data-slaveformat=’{id}’ style=’display:none’>
 <table cellpadding=’0′ cellspacing=’0′><tr><td width=’37’ height=’37’><img data-src=”{image}” width=’32’/></td><td>{name} – {title}</td></tr></table>
 </div>
–>
<!– End of Fight Finder Templates –>
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 <div class=”module”>
 <title><h2>Fight Finder</h2></title>
 <div class=”content”>
 <div class=”sponsor”>Sponsored by</div>
 <form action=’/stats/fightfinder’ method=’get’>
 <input data-groupfield=’source’ name=”SearchTxt” data-autocorrect=’false’ data-offset=”-105px 0″ type=”text” placeholder=”Search fighters / Events...” class=’search autocomplete’ data-source=’/search/fightfinder/’ data-template=’#autocomplete_template’ data-onselect=’autocomplete_select’ />
 <input value=”Go” type=”submit” class=”go”>
 </form>
 <div class=”trending_fighters”>
 <h3>Top trending fighters</h3>
 <a href=”/fighter/Movsar-Evloev-183539″><h4>Movsar Evloev</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Vadim-Nemkov-143059″><h4>Vadim Nemkov</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Alexander-Volkanovski-101527″><h4>Alexander Volkanovski</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Sergey-Bilostenniy-200819″><h4>Sergey Bilostenniy</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Petr-Yan-186873″><h4>Petr Yan</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Pouya-Rahmani-431583″><h4>Pouya Rahmani</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Merab-Dvalishvili-157355″><h4>Merab Dvalishvili</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Joji-Goto-220099″><h4>Joji Goto</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Ramazonbek-Temirov-215649″><h4>Ramazonbek Temirov</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Oleg-Popov-209999″><h4>Oleg Popov</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Aaron-Pico-191127″><h4>Aaron Pico</h4></a> | <a href=”/fighter/Abubakar-Nurmagomedov-86474″><h4>Abubakar Nurmagomedov</h4></a> </div>
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MMA
Alex Pereira says Josh Hokit would be much easier fight than Sergei Pavlovich
Published
19 hours agoon
October 25, 2026
Alex
Pereira has explained his frustration with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight matchmaking.Alex Pereira explains UFC matchmaking frustration and why
Pereira has explained his frustration with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight matchmaking.
Pereira (13-4) is scheduled to face Sergei
Pavlovich (21-3) at UFC
335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Meanwhile,
Josh
Hokit (10-0) will face Ciryl Gane
(14-2) for the heavyweight title at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Pereira said he initially expected either a rematch with Gane or a
grudge match against Hokit, but he sees the Pavlovich booking as a
favorable stylistic matchup.
Alex Pereira explains UFC matchmaking frustration and why
Sergei Pavlovich is more dangerous than Josh Hokit
Pereira lost his UFC heavyweight debut to Gane by technical
knockout in an interim title bout at
UFC Freedom 250. After Tom
Aspinall relinquished the undisputed championship, Pereira said
the promotion discussed a title rematch with Gane or a fight
against Hokit, who has repeatedly criticized “Poatan.â€
Pereira considers Hokit an easier opponent than Pavlovich.
Nevertheless, he said a conversation with UFC executive Hunter
Campbell resolved his frustration, and he now looks forward to the
December bout.
“What got me more upset at that time was because they told me that
I was possibly going to fight Gane for the belt or fight Hokit,â€
Pereira told Ariel Helwani. “And then none of that happened. Coming
from a loss, fighting Hokit would be much, much easier for me than
fighting Pavlovich, who’s supposed to be a harder fight. Hokit
would be a much easier fight for me. We got together [with Hunter
Campbell], we talked, we straightened things out, so it was fine.
Pavlovich is a little more dangerous opponent, but looking at it in
a technical way today, I see that it’s actually also a very good
fight for me.â€
Alex
Pereira reveals what upset him about the UFC’s decision not to
book him against Ciryl Gane
or Josh
Hokit: “What got me more upset at that time was because they
told me that I was possibly going to fight Gane for the belt or
fight Hokit. And then none of that happened. Coming from a loss,
fighting Hokit would be much, much easier for me than fighting
Pavlovich, who’s supposed to be a harder fight. Hokit would be a
much easier fight for me. We got together [with Hunter Campbell],
we talked, we straightened things out, so it was fine. Pavlovich is
a little more dangerous opponent, but looking at it in a technical
way today, I see that it’s actually also a very good fight for
me.â€â€” Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
October 21, 2026
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