Liam Lindsay

Jailton Almeida is heading back to Light-Heavyweight after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. The Brazilian submission specialist has informed the UFC of his decision to return to 205 pounds, according to his manager Leonardo Pateira.

## Malhadinho's Rough Patch

Almeida, now 22-5, has hit a wall at Heavyweight, dropping consecutive fights to Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev. The losses mark the first time in his career he has lost back-to-back fights, a reality check after looking like a potential title contender just months ago. Before the skid, Almeida was on a tear with wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Derrick Lewis, and Serghei Spivac. But the Heavyweight division has proven to be a different beast, and Almeida is looking for a fresh start.

## Blaydes Set the Tone

The wheels started coming off against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299. Almeida controlled the first round with his grappling, landing multiple takedowns and setting a UFC Heavyweight record with 9 takedowns in a single round. But Blaydes turned the tables in the second, knocking Almeida out in just 36 seconds into the round.

## What's Next?

The move back down makes sense for Almeida. He made 205 during his first two UFC fights, and his submission game could be a nightmare for the top guys at Light-Heavyweight. The division is wide open right now, with few wins, Almeida could be right back in title contention and erase the sting of his first career losing streak.

What do you think about Almeida moving back to Light-Heavyweight, and how do you see him matching up with the top guys in the division? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Jailton Almeida to Return to Light-Heavyweight After Back-to-Back Losses

Ilia Topuria has settled his legal dispute with ex-wife Giorgina Uzcategui, clearing the path for his UFC return. The resolution comes after months of uncertainty that saw 'El Matador' step away from competition to handle the personal matter.

## White House Bound?

According to MARCA's Irati Prat, Topuria is preparing for a bout expected to take place at the UFC's White House event on June 14. Alvaro Colmenero reports there's a "90%" chance that Topuria will face interim champion Justin Gaethje on that card. The matchup would unify the Lightweight Championship and serves as the a great fight for the White House card, with Gaethje currently being the only male American UFC Champion.

The White House event is scheduled for June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. With multiple title fights planned for the card, Topuria vs. Gaethje could likely serve as the headliner, especially given that Gaethje won the interim belt while representing the United States.

How do you see a fight with Topuria and Gaethje playing out? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje Likely for UFC White House Event

The UFC has officially announced its return to London's O2 Arena on March 21st, 2026, headlined by an undefeated Featherweight showdown between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. The promotion confirmed the card on Monday, with the event streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2018355205658787997?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## The Main Event

Evloev (19-0) returns after defeating Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December 2024, while Murphy (17-0-1) is coming off a knockout victory over Aaron Pico at UFC 319. Both fighters are ranked in the top five of the Featherweight division, and the winner sets themselves up for a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, who just successfully defended his belt against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 this past weekend.

Murphy will be fighting on home soil, looking to continue his momentum after that devastating spinning elbow knockout. Evloev, meanwhile, has never lost in MMA, but has drawn criticism for his decision-heavy fighting style. All nine of his octagon wins have gone the distance.

## Supporting Bouts Announced

The co-main event features Luke Riley, longtime teammate of Paddy Pimblett, taking on Michael Aswell in a lightweight contest. Bellator veteran Michael "Venom" Page also makes his return to welterweight against Sam Patterson in the featured bout.

Other notable matchups include surging middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan facing Roman Dolidze, Mason Jones taking on Axel Sola at Lightweight, and Austen Lane dropping down to Light-Heavyweight to face Polish prospect Iwo Baraniewski. Lane has struggled at heavyweight with four losses in five UFC fights, making this weight change crucial for his future with the promotion.

The full card also features British fighters Nathaniel Wood, Mick Parkin, and several others looking to deliver in front of their home crowd.

What do you think of this main event matchup between Evloev and Murphy? And who do you see getting their hand raised in London? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

UFC London Full Fight Card Announced: Main Card and Prelims

Jiri Prochazka has confirmed that no contracts have been signed for a potential bout with Carlos Ulberg. The Light-Heavyweight matchup is currently in negotiations, with UFC 327 in Miami being discussed as the targeted event. But if a new date comes to the table, or if complications arise, Prochazka will have to rule the fight out.

## BJP's Timeline

While UFC 327 is the date being targeted, Prochazka has expressed his preference to compete sooner. The former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion is expecting his first child in April, which creates scheduling complications for a Miami fight that would likely take place around that timeframe.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/2008660584812999124?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```


## What is Next?

The fight remains in the negotiation stage, meaning fans will need to wait for official confirmation before getting too excited. But don't believe any rumors; at least for now, this fight is not official. Both fighters are top contenders in the Light-Heavyweight division, making this a key matchup regardless of when it materializes. It also brings Alex Pereira into question, who many fans expected to fight again soon against Carlos Ulberg.

What do you think of this potential matchup between Prochazka and Ulberg? And what does it mean for the Light-Heavyweight division right now? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg is NOT Official... Yet.

Merab Dvalishvili had one of the most active championship runs in UFC history during 2025, fighting four times in a single calendar year, with all four being for the Undisputed Bantamweight Championship. The Georgian fighter started the year by defending his newly won title against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on January 18th, earning a unanimous decision victory and another Fight of the Night bonus.

His second defense came against Sean O'Malley, the man he defeated for the title the first time, in a rematch at UFC 316 on June 7th, where Dvalishvili submitted the former champion with a north-south choke in the third round. The finish earned him a Performance of the Night award and also marked Dvalishvili's first finish since 2021, when he TKO'd Marlon Moraes.

Dvalishvili's third title defense came against former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 on October 4th, securing another unanimous decision victory. Just two months later, he faced former champion Petr Yan in a rematch at UFC 323 on December 6th, where his run came to an end via a dominant unanimous decision loss.

## Time For a Break?

Following Dvalishvili's loss to Yan, former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping weighed in on what's next for the former champion. Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, Bisping suggested a reccomended approach for Dvalishvili's return.

"I think if Merab takes some time off, maybe 6 months off, let Petr Yan fight Umar Nurmagomedov, and then come back and fight the winner. Taking 6 months away, go to Georgia, spend time with family, and don't think about fighting."

This move would affect Dvalishvili's brand, who's built himself up as one of the most active fighters in the UFC across the last year and a half, but it might be a necessary change. But, at the same time, if he believes he can defeat Petr Yan and reclaim his title, he won't want to miss out on the oppotuntiy to fight in the trilogy immediately

What do you think Merab Dvalishvili should do in 2026? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Should Merab Dvalishvili Slow Down in 2026?

A big Middleweight matchup is reportedly being in the works for UFC 326 on March 7th in Las Vegas. Top contenders Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder are set to face off, according to Leo Guimaraes MMA.

**Borralho Looking to Bounce Back**

Caio Borralho (17-2, 1 NC) suffered his first loss in the UFC in September when he dropped a decision to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. Before that, the lead Fighting Nerd was undefeated in the octagon with an 8-0 record and wins over notable names like Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig, and Abus Magomedov. The Fighting Nerds product was on the verge of a title shot before the setback, so he'll be looking to restart his climb to the title.

**De Ridder's Momentum Halted**

Reinier de Ridder (21-3) also saw his first UFC loss in October when his corner stopped the fight before the fifth round against Brendan Allen. The former ONE Championship double champ had gone 4-0 in just nine months with wins over Robert Whittaker, Bo Nickal, Kevin Holland, and Gerald Meerschaert. However, he was soundly beaten by Brendan Allen in Canada and couldn't make the call for the fifth and final round.

Both fighters need a win to re-establish themselves at the top of the Middleweight division. The matchup pits Borralho's well-rounded game against de Ridder's unorthodox grappling and finishing ability, with the winner likely setting themself up with a title eliminator later in the year.

What do you make of this matchup, and who do you think comes out on top? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder in the Works for UFC 326

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is live from the Apex for the final time in 2025 for a card headlined by a Flyweight showdown between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape. Follow along with the card's results as they happen, right here.

## Prelims

## Flyweight Bout: Tereza Bleda vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

**Result:** Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (Punches) Round 1, 2:05

## Heavyweight Bout: Allen Frye vs. Guilherme Pat

**Result:** Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Bantamweight Bout: Luana Santos vs. Melissa Croden

**Result:** Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Heavyweight Bout: Sean Sharaf vs. Steven Asplund

**Result:** Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (Punches) Round 2, 3:49

## Featherweight Bout: Joanderson Brito vs. Isaac Thomson

**Result:** Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Welterweight Bout: Neil Magny vs. Yaroslav Amosov

**Result:** Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via Submission (Anadonca Choke) Round 1, 3:14

## Main Card

## Catchweight Bout: King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.

**Result:** King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via Decision (Split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Heavyweight Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha

**Result:** Draw (Unanimous) (28-28, 28-28, 28-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Featherweight Bout: Morgan Charrière vs. Melquizael Costa

**Result:** Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charrière via KO (Head Kick) Round 1, 1:14

## Middleweight Bout: Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk

**Result:** Cezary Oleksiejczuk def, Cesar Almeida via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Featherweight Bout: Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos

**Result:** Kevin Vallejos def. Giga Chikadze via KO (Spinning Backfist and Elbows) Round 2, 1:29

## Flyweight Bout: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape

**Result:** Manel Kape def. Brandon Royval via TKO (Punches) Round 1, 3:18

UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape Results

The fighters competing at PFL Lyon hit the scales on Friday ahead of Saturday's event at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. Two world championship fights headline the card, with all fighters successfully making weight. Full results below.

## Main Card

**PFL Heavyweight Championship:** Vadim Nemkov (**241.9 lbs**) vs. Renan Ferreira (**258.8 lbs**)

**PFL Women's Featherweight Championship:** Cris Cyborg (**144.6 lbs**) vs. Sara Collins (**144.6 lbs**)

**Welterweight:** Patrick Habirora (**171 lbs**) vs. Kevin Jousset (**170.5 lbs**)

**Bantamweight:** Taylor Lapilus (**135.9 lbs**) vs. Liam Gittins (**136 lbs**)

**Featherweight:** Asaël Adjoudj (?) vs. Fred Dupras (?)

## Prelims

**PFL Europe Bantamweight Final:** Baris Adiguzel (**134.9 lbs**) vs. Dean Garnett (**135.9 lbs**)

**PFL Europe Lightweight Final:** Connor Hughes (**155.9 lbs**) vs. Aleksandr Chizov (**156 lbs**)

**Light Heavyweight:** Boris Atangana (**205.9 lbs**) vs. Guilherme Soares (**205.4 lbs**)

**Bantamweight:** Gustavo Oliveira (**136 lbs**) vs. Movsar Ibragimov (**135.9 lbs**)

**Women's Flyweight:** Paulina Wiśniewska (**125.9 lbs**) vs. Sabrinna de Sousa (**126 lbs**)

What are your predictions for the two championship fights? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

PFL Lyon: Nemkov vs. Ferreira Weigh-In Results

The UFC is on for a final time this year tomorrow, from the UFC Apex, with Flyweights Brandon Royval and Manel Kape headlining. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card

**Flyweight:** Brandon Royval (126) vs. Manel Kape (126)

**Featherweight:** Giga Chikadze (146) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145)

**Middleweight:** Cesar Almeida (186) vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (185.5)

**Featherweight:** Morgan Charrière (145.5) vs. Melquizael Costa (145.5)

**Heavyweight:** Kennedy Nzechukwu (243) vs. Marcus Buchecha (251.5)

**Catchweight:** King Green (158.5) vs. Lance Gibson Jr. (158.5)

## Prelims

**Strawweight:** Amanda Lemos (115.5) vs. Gillian Robertson (116)

**Featherweight:** Joanderson Brito (145.5) vs. Isaac Thomson (146)

**Welterweight:** Neil Magny (171) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (171)

**Heavyweight:** Sean Sharaf (251) vs. Steven Asplund (261)

**Bantamweight:** Luana Santos (136) vs. Melissa Croden (136)

**Heavyweight:** Allen Frye (242) vs. Guilherme Pat (238)

**Flyweight:** Tereza Bleda (126) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (126)

UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape Weigh-In Results

Former UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has reportedly booked his next fight against rising contender Asu Almabayev for February 28th at UFC Mexico. The matchup was first reported by Vestnik MMA and comes less than a week after Moreno's loss at UFC 323.

**Brandon Moreno vs. Asu Almabayev Is In The Works for UFC Mexico**

Moreno (23-8-2) sits at #4 in the UFC Flyweight rankings, coming off a second-round TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira last Saturday. Many fans deemed the stoppage early, with Moreno publicly expressing his frustration with the result. Before the Taira fight, Moreno carried a two-fight win streak with decisive victories over former title challenger Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi.

Currently ranked #7, Asu Almabayev (21-2) joined the UFC in 2023 and earned a Performance of the Night bonus in his debut by submitting Ode Osbourne. The Kazakhstani fighter secured three straight wins over CJ Vergara, Jose Johnson, and Matheus Nicolau before suffering his first promotional loss to Manel Kape in March. Almabayev has since rebounded, scoring a decision over Jose Ochoa in July before submitting Alex Perez in November.

As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts and predictions down below.


Brodie Farber