Author: Dan Hiergesell

The years of UFC titleholders moving weight classes to claim “double champ” status might officially be over.

Earlier this week, fight fans were somewhat shocked to learn that undefeated UFC featherweight king, Ilia Topuria, will be vacating his 145-pound title in effort to move up to lightweight and chase another UFC belt. Topuria’s title will officially be vacated once Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes square off for the vacant strap at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami, Florida (details HERE).

Some people saw this move coming after Topuria laid waste to both Volkanovski and Max Holloway with consecutive knockout wins in 2024. Not to mention the fact that “El Matador” has a lot of weight to cut in order to hit the 145-pound featherweight benchmark. It seems like a logical move, but one thing doesn’t quite add up.

Why is Topuria planning to vacate his UFC title instead of keeping it and trying to become a two-division UFC champion at the same time? Why wouldn’t he want to follow in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, and Daniel Cormier?

While it’s likely that Topuria felt his job was done at the featherweight level and didn’t want to hold up the division as he made his run at lightweight, Lopes has revealed what UFC sent to all current champions about fighting for another belt. Maybe this is why Topuria is vacating his title and won’t have the chance to be a “simultaneous champion.”

“They were very clear to us that they said that they are no longer giving chances to jump from one weight class to another. If you want to move up you have to vacate your title,” said Lopes in a recent interview with ESPN Deportes (shown above).

“This is what UFC has said to all champions who are planning to move up a weight class. They will no longer have the status of double champion simultaneously.”

This certainly isn’t the worst idea UFC has had as it should only limit the amount of time belts go undefended, but it completely washes away the chance for select fighters to achieve everlasting greatness. After all, holding two UFC belts at the same time is a rare feat and something most champions talk about doing whenever they can.

What do you think, Maniacs? Is UFC making the right move here? Will the promotion ever revert back?

Let us know!

Jared Cannonier defended his No. 7 middleweight ranking earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 15, 2025) at UFC Vegas 102 LIVE on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, after stopping dangerous contender Gregory Rodrigues with a comeback TKO (punches) in the fourth round (see it HERE).

In addition to the middleweight headliner, UFC Vegas 102 produced memorable action from top to bottom. It was certainly not the most stacked card of the year, but fight fans should be happy with the results. Check out some of the key performances below:

• Rising heavyweight prospect Valter Walker captured his second-straight heel hook submission finish over veteran Don’Tale Mayes
• Gabriel Bonfim put the welterweight division on notice (yet again) after choking Khaos Williams to sleep (watch HERE)

• Featherweight newcomer Jose Delgado delivered a memorable UFC debut with an elbow TKO finish over Connor Matthews
• Nazim Sadykhov forced a doctor’s stoppage after crushing fellow lightweight finisher Ismael Bonfim with a first-round question mark kick
• Middleweight veteran Edmen Shahbazyan returned to the win column with a vicious first-round TKO finish over Dylan Budka (see HERE)

To sift through the action and see which fighters took home an extra $50,000, we take a closer look at the official UFC Vegas 102 post-fight bonus winners below:

• Fight of the Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
• Performance of the Night: Edmen Shahbazyan
• Performance of the Night: Gabriel Bonfim

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For complete UFC Vegas 102 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

With UFC Vegas 102 a wrap after a violent night (Sat., Feb. 15, 2025) of fights live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can now check out the post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.

On a night that featured a middleweight main event between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and rising finisher Gregory Rodrigues, a co-headliner pitting featherweight mainstay Calvin Kattar against the streaking Youssef Zalal, the Octagon debut of Contender Series standout Elijah Smith, and the return of the Bonfim Bros., there will be a lot to discuss now that the action has concluded.

The post-fight presser is scheduled to go LIVE in the above video player around 10 p.m. ET. It will feature the biggest winners and losers from the card, as well as UFC CEO, Dana White.

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For complete UFC Vegas 102 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

Former UFC title challenger Jared Cannonier reminded the middleweight division that he’s here to stay earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 15, 2025) at UFC Vegas 102 LIVE on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the 40-year-old shut down Gregory Rodrigues with a brutal fourth-round TKO (punches).

Rodrigues delivered early with two knockdowns in the first round that had Cannonier stunned. “Killa Gorilla” has a ton of experience, though, so it was easy for him to regroup and dominate a second round opposite a tiring “Robocop.”

There was another momentum swing in the beginning of the third round as Rodrigues unloaded a barrage of punches along the cage that had Cannonier on the defense. Cannonier returned the favor yet again later in the round with a monstrous elbow inside. Rodrigues toppled to the canvas and Cannonier jumped on top for heavy ground-and-pound. “Robocop” somehow survived.

Cannonier smelled blood in the water entering the fourth round so he pressed the action right away. Rodrigues was clearly still hurt which allowed Cannonier to quickly work his way inside and decommission “Robocop” along the fence. It was an incredible finish for Cannonier who entered the cage Saturday night riding a two-fight losing streak.

Check out the video highlights below:

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For complete UFC Vegas 102 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

Edmen Shahbazyan returned to the middleweight win column earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 15, 2025) at UFC Vegas 102 LIVE on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when “Golden Boy” put a vicious stop to Dylan Budka with a first-round TKO (punches).

Despite coming off a submission loss to Gerald Meerschaert his last time out, Shahbazyan entered this main card clash with Budka as a huge betting favorite. That’s because Shahbazyan has proven to be as dangerous as anyone at 185 pounds when he’s on his game and stays off his back. Fortunately for him, that’s how Saturday’s middleweight contest played out.

Budka looked to get his striking going in the early going and actually landed a few good shots. That didn’t last long, though, once Shahbazyan found his range. He slipped a Budka jab and countered with a perfectly-timed right hand. Budka fell to the canvas in pain and Shahbazyan followed up with a few heavy ground-and-pound shots before the referee jumped in for the stoppage.

Check out the finish in the above video player.

Shahbazyan, 27, hasn’t quite lived up to the hype he possessed when he burst onto the UFC scene back in 2018. Still, the talented knockout artist remains young enough to patch some holes in his game and make another run at the top 15. This was a great start to 2025 and a reminder of what “Golden Boy” can do when he’s operating at full capacity.

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For complete UFC Vegas 102 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

Jose Delgado made good on his official Octagon debut earlier tonight (Sat., Feb. 15, 2025) at UFC Vegas 102 LIVE on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the MMA Lab standout put a brutal stop to featherweight Connor Matthews with a first-round TKO (elbows and punches).

Delgado was a massive betting favorite entering this fight with a 100% finish rate and a successful outing on Dana White’s Contender Series back in Aug. 2024. The 26-year-old prospect was expected to win in fashion, but you never know when a newcomer is thrown under the bright lights of the Octagon.

Outside of a brief takedown by Matthews that forced Delgado to showcase his scrambling ability, this “Prelims” headliner was all Delgado. The young featherweight looked long and powerful on the feet and ended up cracking Matthews with a clean punch inside. Matthews fell to the ground and Delgado followed up with elbows and punches in bunches before the referee stepped in.

Check out the finish in the above video player.

Delgado, who briefly competed under the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) banner before his Contender Series nod, now holds a 9-1 professional MMA record with all of those victories coming by way of knockout or submission. This was a huge statement win for the up-and-coming featherweight and a tremendous way to start his promising UFC career.

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For complete UFC Vegas 102 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.