MMA/UFC

The hype for UFC 309 (September 6, Las Vegas) continues to grow as Leon Edwards (UFC Welterweight Champion) and Belal Muhammad clashed verbally during a fiery press conference this week.
Edwards, who last defended his belt against Shavkat Rakhmonov, stated he’s ready to “end all debate” with a decisive win.
Belal Muhammad, however, fired back, claiming Edwards has been “protecting the belt” and that his relentless pressure will break the champion.
The rivalry stems from their 2019 fight, which ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. Fans and fighters alike consider this rematch long overdue.
UFC has been promoting it heavily, branding it as the true grudge match of 2025.

Conor McGregor once again made headlines by dropping cryptic posts about a return fight at UFC 310 (November card in New York).
McGregor has been recovering from injuries but has been seen sparring at SBG Ireland and training at full speed.
Names being floated as potential opponents:
- Michael Chandler – the long-awaited matchup.
- Nate Diaz – for a possible trilogy fight.
- Max Holloway – as Holloway has been calling for a “superfight.”
Nothing is confirmed yet, but Dana White hinted that “big announcements” are coming right after UFC 309.

The UFC has officially confirmed that Dricus du Plessis (champion) will defend his Middleweight title against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 310.
This marks Adesanya’s return after a short break from competition. He promised fans a “new version” of himself, hungry to reclaim gold.
The rivalry between the two has been intense, with du Plessis previously questioning Adesanya’s African heritage—fueling personal tension.
This is expected to be one of the most watched fights of 2025, as Adesanya is still among the UFC’s biggest global superstars.

Alongside Edwards vs. Belal, several high-profile fights have been added to the card:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot – Lightweight clash, with the winner likely moving closer to a title shot.
- Paulo Costa vs. Jared Cannonier – Middleweight showdown, both fighters desperate to stay relevant in title contention.
- Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Julianna Peña – Women’s bantamweight bout, with the winner being positioned for a potential title eliminator.

The card is now being called “stacked from top to bottom” and could be one of the biggest of the year.

🌍 Other MMA News Beyond UFC

The PFL 2025 playoffs kicked off on August 27, with big names making statements:
- Kayla Harrison continued her dominant run, securing a first-round submission win.
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier advanced to the lightweight finals with a grinding decision victory.
PFL is positioning itself as a true competitor to UFC, with its million-dollar prize pool format attracting more free agents from other promotions.

Over in Asia, ONE Championship saw Xiong Jing Nan successfully defend her Women’s Strawweight MMA World Title on August 26.
She defeated Denice Zamboanga via unanimous decision in Singapore, proving once again why she’s considered one of the greatest female fighters in MMA outside UFC.

Event / Fighter	Update (25–28 Aug 2025)
UFC 309 Main Event	Edwards vs. Belal press conference turns fiery; grudge match narrative intensifies.
Conor McGregor	Hints at comeback for UFC 310 in November (potential Chandler, Diaz, or Holloway fight).
Dricus du Plessis vs. Adesanya	Officially booked for UFC 310 Middleweight title fight.
UFC 309 Undercard	Oliveira vs. Gamrot, Costa vs. Cannonier, Bueno Silva vs. Peña confirmed.
PFL 2025 Playoffs	Kayla Harrison and Olivier Aubin-Mercier advance with big wins.
ONE Championship	Xiong Jing Nan defends her Strawweight World Title successfully.