MMA News Updates: UFC White House, UFC 329 and RAF 11
Updated October 22, 2026: This roundup was first published in May, before several announced fights and storylines played out. The updates below add later results and clarify which reports remain attributed claims.
The original stories included Joe Rogan’s criticism of the planned UFC White House event, Nate Diaz’s boxing loss to Mike Perry, and Colby Covington’s comments about leaving UFC competition for wrestling.
This May roundup was published before later results from the UFC 329, UFC 330 and RAF 11 events; the relevant results are included below.
The sections below preserve the original reports and add subsequent results.
Joe Rogan Tears Into Proposed White House UFC Event
Joe Rogan did not hold back when discussing the possibility of the UFC hosting an event at the White House.
The longtime UFC commentator criticized the idea heavily, pointing to practical concerns that could turn the event into a disaster. Rogan specifically mentioned brutal outdoor heat, humidity, and insects as serious problems for fighters and fans alike.
Rogan argued that an outdoor summer card in Washington could create difficult conditions. His prediction was an opinion; the event subsequently took place on the White House South Lawn on June 14.
The comments immediately sparked debate throughout the MMA community, with fans split between loving the historic concept and agreeing with Rogan’s concerns about the environment.
Glover Teixeira Beats Shogun Rua in Spaten Fight Night Boxing Match
Two retired MMA legends returned to combat sports competition for a boxing match.
Former UFC light heavyweight champions Glover Teixeira and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua met in an eight-round boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo on August 29. Teixeira won by unanimous decision.
Both men built Hall of Fame careers inside the Octagon.
Teixeira retired following his submission loss to Jamahal Hill in January 2023 after previously capturing the UFC light heavyweight championship by defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267.
Shogun Rua ended his career after suffering a first-round TKO loss to Ihor Potieria at UFC 283. Rua remains one of the most beloved fighters in MMA history thanks to his legendary PRIDE FC run and his UFC title victory over Lyoto Machida in 2010.
The two icons have now competed in boxing, with Teixeira winning by unanimous decision.
Nate Diaz Speaks Out After TKO Loss to Mike Perry
Nate Diaz later addressed his May 16 boxing loss to Mike Perry. Perry won by second-round TKO when Diaz’s corner stopped the fight after the round.
Diaz admitted that his lengthy layoff played a major role in the defeat. The Stockton superstar acknowledged that ring rust affected his timing, conditioning, and overall performance.
The fight marked another difficult outing for Diaz since leaving the UFC. Despite remaining one of the sport’s biggest stars, Diaz has struggled to find consistent success in crossover boxing competition.
Mike Perry, meanwhile, continued building momentum outside traditional MMA organizations. Perry’s aggressive style and relentless pressure overwhelmed Diaz throughout the bout before the stoppage victory.
Even in defeat, Diaz remains one of combat sports’ biggest attractions, and fans are already speculating about what he does next.
Dustin Poirier Believes Conor McGregor Will Return Stronger Than Nate Diaz
Dustin Poirier offered an interesting comparison while discussing Conor McGregor’s eventual return to MMA competition.
Poirier made that prediction before McGregor’s return. At UFC 329 on July 11, Max Holloway defeated McGregor by first-round TKO at 1:09 after McGregor suffered a knee injury.
Poirier pointed to McGregor’s training and preparation as reasons for his prediction. McGregor later lost to Max Holloway by first-round TKO at UFC 329 after a knee injury.
McGregor’s return did take place at UFC 329, where a knee injury ended the bout with Holloway 1:09 into Round 1. The outcome superseded earlier speculation about how he might perform after his long layoff.
McGregor returned at UFC 329, but a knee injury ended the fight at 1:09 of Round 1. The result superseded Poirier’s pre-fight prediction.
TJ Dillashaw Claims Khamzat Chimaev Endured Dangerous Weight Cut
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw made concerning claims regarding Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut at UFC 328.
Dillashaw alleged that Chimaev had a severe cut and criticized the guidance he received. Those details—including the claim that the cut was life-threatening—are Dillashaw’s account; no independent medical finding is cited here, so they should not be treated as confirmed medical facts.
Chimaev made weight for the bout, according to the official UFC 328 weigh-in results. The broader safety concern is real, but this specific account remains attributed to Dillashaw.
Dillashaw also attributed the problem to Chimaev’s nutrition team, but that explanation has not been independently established.
The comments reignited concerns about extreme weight cuts in modern MMA and whether additional regulation is necessary to protect fighter safety.
Yoel Romero Shares Funny Story About Islam Makhachev in Dagestan
Yoel Romero delivered one of the lighter moments in MMA news this week after sharing a humorous interaction involving Islam Makhachev while visiting Dagestan.
Romero described a humorous interaction with Makhachev during his time in the region. Makhachev later moved to welterweight and defended that division’s UFC title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15.
Known for his charisma and unpredictable personality, Romero turned the story into another viral MMA moment as fans enjoyed hearing two elite fighters from vastly different backgrounds interact outside competition.
Makhachev won the UFC 330 welterweight title bout by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47). Romero remains a fan favorite, though the anecdote here is presented as his account.
Robert Whittaker Reacts to UFC 329 Prelim Placement
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker shared his thoughts after learning his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329 was placed on the preliminary card.
Whittaker made a successful light heavyweight debut at UFC 329, stopping Nikita Krylov by TKO at 1:01 of Round 3. The contest appeared on the prelims.
The decision still shocked many fans given Whittaker’s status as one of the UFC’s most respected former champions. Over the years, Whittaker has built a reputation through victories over elite opponents including Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Paulo Costa.
His light heavyweight debut is now complete, and he won the fight. Any later plans for the division should be treated as unconfirmed unless announced by Whittaker or the UFC.
Whittaker’s light heavyweight debut was a notable UFC 329 storyline, and he won by third-round TKO.
Colby Covington Steps Away From UFC, Wins at RAF 11
One of the sport’s most polarizing figures said in May that he was stepping away from UFC competition to focus on wrestling.
Colby Covington said in May that he was stepping away from UFC/MMA competition to focus on wrestling. He later returned to Real American Freestyle and beat Arman Tsarukyan 5-3 at RAF 11 on July 18, winning the inaugural crossover title. The result confirms a return to wrestling competition, not a return to UFC.
The former interim UFC welterweight champion built his career on relentless pressure, cardio, and nonstop trash talk. Covington fought for undisputed UFC gold multiple times but fell short against Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards in championship bouts.
Despite the controversy surrounding his persona, Covington remained a major draw throughout his UFC run.
His May comments described a UFC/MMA departure; the later RAF result shows he continued competing in wrestling. His future in MMA has not been confirmed.
Shavkat Rakhmonov’s UFC Return Remains Uncertain
Undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has not returned to competition. After another knee surgery, he was expected to miss most or all of 2026, and he later said a UFC return was uncertain.
Gym footage showed rehabilitation work, but it did not establish a return date or confirm that he was cleared to train fully.
Rakhmonov remains unbeaten, but the claim of a 100% finishing rate is outdated: his December 2024 win over Ian Machado Garry went to a decision.
His future title prospects depend on his recovery and return to competition; no comeback date is confirmed.
If Rakhmonov returns, his health and availability will shape his welterweight prospects; no return date has been confirmed.
Anderson Silva Fires Back at Dana White
Anderson Silva responded publicly to recent comments made by UFC CEO Dana White regarding their fractured relationship.
The tension between Silva and UFC leadership has lingered since the legendary former middleweight champion left the organization.
Silva appeared disappointed by White’s remarks and pushed back against the narrative surrounding their fallout. The Brazilian icon emphasized his accomplishments inside the Octagon and suggested he deserves greater respect for everything he contributed to the sport.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, Silva dominated the UFC middleweight division for years with iconic victories over Rich Franklin, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, and many others.
Even years after his departure, Silva’s relationship with the UFC continues generating headlines.
Final Thoughts and Later Results
When this roundup first appeared in May, the White House UFC card and several athlete storylines were still ahead.
Rogan criticized the proposed White House card; Teixeira and Rua later boxed, Diaz lost to Perry, McGregor returned at UFC 329, and Covington won at RAF 11.
The reports above distinguish those completed results from Rakhmonov’s uncertain return and other future matchups.
Several stories in this roundup have since produced results: Whittaker won at UFC 329, Makhachev defended the welterweight title at UFC 330, and Covington won at RAF 11. Other returns and future matchups remain subject to official announcements.
Tags
MMA, UFC, Joe Rogan, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier, Khamzat Chimaev, Robert Whittaker, Colby Covington, Anderson Silva, Dana White, Yoel Romero, Islam Makhachev, Shogun Rua, Glover Teixeira, UFC News, MMA News, UFC 329, Combat Sports
