MMA

Vertigo delays Alvin Hines pursuit of first UFC victory

Published

3 weeks ago

October 8, 2026

Vertigo delays Alvin Hines' pursuit of first UFC victory

Alvin
Hines' pursuit of his first win in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship has been delayed.

Hines was scheduled to face Gabriel
Lourenco in a heavyweight bout at
UFC Fight Night 293 on Nov. 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
However, Hines has announced his withdrawal from the fight because
of vertigo.

Alvin Hines withdraws from UFC Fight Night 293 against Gabriel
Lourenco

Hines plans to continue training with adjustments while recovering
from vertigo and hopes to return to competition at full
strength.

â€œI had to pull out of this one for medical reasons due to vertigo,â€
Hines wrote on Instagram. â€œIt wasn't an easy decision, but I know I
need to be able to step into that Octagon at 100% and perform to my
true potential. I'm going to continue fight camp with some
adjustments while I work through this and get myself back to where
I need to be. I'm not walking away from the fight. I'm taking the
time to get right so when I'm back in there, I can put on the kind
of fight I know I'm capable of. I'm sorry for the change, and I
appreciate everyone who was looking forward to seeing me compete.
Trust me, I'll be back. Sometimes the hardest part of fighting
isn't throwing punches. It's knowing when to step back, get right,
and prepare for the next battle. This is just a setback. Not the
end of the story.â€

Hines (7-2) was an undefeated prospect with six finishes in seven
victories when he signed with the UFC last year. However, â€œGoozieâ€
has lost both of his Octagon appearances. Meanwhile, Lourenco (8-1)
was slated to make his promotional debut against Hines after
earning a contract with a first-round knockout victory over Charlie
Cleveland on
Dana White's Contender Series in September.

MMA

Floyd Mayweather open to Conor McGregor rematch: Lets do it

Published

2 hours ago

October 28, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Floyd Mayweather open to Conor McGregor rematch: 'Let's do it'

Floyd
Mayweather Jr. is open to a rematch against Conor
McGregor.

The unbeaten former boxing champion recently reflected on their
2017 bout, saying it elevated McGregor's profile and generated
considerable financial rewards for both men.

Floyd Mayweather discusses possible Conor McGregor rematch nine
years after 2017 boxing match

Mayweather stopped McGregor by technical knockout in the 10th
round, improving his professional record to 50-0. He has since
competed in several exhibitions and remains interested in facing
the Irishman again.

â€œActually, I think me and Conor McGregor may lock up again. Yeah,
absolutely,â€ Mayweather said during an appearance on the â€œPBD
Podcast.â€ â€œI don't live with Conor McGregor, he's not my friend. I
don't have to see him. It's just when it's time for us to do
business and lock up, let's do it.â€

Mayweather's exhibition opponents have included Japanese kickboxer
Tenshin
Nasukawa, social media personalities Logan Paul
and Deji, and former MMA fighter Aaron
Chalmers. â€œMoneyâ€ has also faced John Gotti
III twice.

MMA

Nina Drama denies being forced to wear hijab for Movsar Evloev interview

Published

14 hours ago

October 27, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Nina Drama denies being 'forced' to wear hijab for Movsar Evloev interview

Nina-Marie Daniele says she wore a hijab for her interview with
Movsar
Evloev out of respect.

Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Daniele's
decision to wear a hijab while interviewing the Muslim fighter drew
criticism online, prompting her response.

Nina-Marie Daniele explains why she wore a hijab for Movsar
Evloev interview ahead of UFC 333

During the interview, Evloev said his religious beliefs would
prevent him from looking at her if she were dressed less modestly.
Daniele defended her choice, explaining that she wanted to make him
comfortable. She also said participation in her interviews is
voluntary and that no one forced her to wear the hijab.

â€œAt the end of the day it's always about respect,â€ Daniele wrote on
X. â€œI have so much respect for all my Muslim friends. I love
learning about cultures and I'm so grateful for the UFC for giving
me the opportunity to travel the world. Some people are offended
and that's fine, this came from a place of respect and wanting to
be able to make Movsar
Evloev comfortable in our interview. My interviews are not
â€˜mandatory' and never were, the fighters that show up show up
because they want to and I was in no way shape or form â€˜forced' to
do anything. Thank you to Movsar and his team for giving me the
opportunity to show the fans a different side of him! I'm so happy
people are enjoying the interview!â€

At the end of the day it's always about
respect. I have so much respect for all my Muslim friends. I love
learning about cultures and I'm so grateful for the UFC for giving
me the opportunity to travel the world. Some people are offended
and that's fine, this came from a place of respect and wanting to
be able to make Movsar
Evloev comfortable in our interview. My interviews are not
â€œmandatoryâ€ and never were, the fighters that show up show up
because they want to and I was in no way shape or form â€œforcedâ€ to
do anything. Thank you to Movsar and his team for giving me the
opportunity to show the fans a different side of him! I'm so happy
people are enjoying the interview!

â€” Nina-Marie Daniele (@Ninadrama)
October 21, 2026

MMA

Arman Tsarukyan wrestles Anthony Pettis in RAF 15 main event

Published

15 hours ago

October 27, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Arman Tsarukyan wrestles Anthony Pettis in RAF 15 main event

Anthony Pettis is out of his scheduled RAF debut against Donald Cerrone and is instead hunting bigger game.

On Tuesday, Real American Freestyle announced that Pettis will challenge Arman Tsarukyan for his RAF middleweight crossover title in the main event of RAF 15, which takes place on Nov. 28 at NOW Arena in Chicago.

RAF 15 was originally set to be headlined by Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong. That bout now serves as the co-main event.

MMA Fighting confirmed that Tsarukyan is still wrestling Neiman Gracie at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14 in a non-title bout. Meanwhile, Donald Cerrone is now out of RAF 15 altogether.

Tsarukyan won the vacant RAF crossover middleweight title this past weekend with a tech fall over Dillon Danis at RAF 14 in Las Vegas.

Pettis, meanwhile, has never competed in freestyle wrestling before, and last competed in any combat sport in 2024, losing a unanimous decision to Chris Avila in a boxing match.

Mike Heck contributed to this report.