Alex Pereira won’t save another UFC pay-per-view on short notice.

“Poatan” had the MMA world wondering if he would step up and headline UFC 310 on Dec. 7 after welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from a main event matchup with Shavkat Rakhmonov. The light heavyweight champion appeared to tease another quick turnaround after posting a phone emoji on social media in reaction to the Muhammad news, but MMA Fighting has learned that the fight is not being discussed for the card.

“Poatan” fought three times in 2024, defending his title with knockouts over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr.— two of those on short notice—and competing on just over a month’s notice yet again has been ruled out.

The Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura clash for the UFC flyweight championship, and originally the co-main event for UFC 310, remains the top bout on the line-up at the moment.

It’s still early to pinpoint when Pereira will defend his title next. However, with UFC’s first pay-per-view card of 2025 scheduled for Jan. 18, it’s unlikely that Poatan could be part of that numbered show. UFC 312, the following pay-per-view on Feb. 8, could be an option. That event takes place in Sydney, Australia.

Ankalaev has solidified himself as the next man up for the 205-pound championship, and volunteered to face Pereira as soon as Dec. 7. The Russian fighter is currently riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak with a trio of victories against Brazilian fighters. Ankalaev won twice in 2024, stopping Johnny Walker before earning a decision over Aleksandar Rakic.

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EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – Derrick Lewis thinks Jon Jones makes quick work of Stipe Miocic.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against former champion Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jones is a massive betting favorite over Miocic, and Lewis thinks the odds will accurately depict the outcome.

“I think Jones will beat him in the first round,” Lewis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “It’s crazy to see a lot of people just disrespect Jones like that, like he ain’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that. Jones has been doing this for so many years at the top of the level against all these opponents, like top-ranked guys.

“Even though he have been having all this trouble outside of the UFC, it’s like people outside of the UFC don’t know, it’s 80 percent mental that you got to go into these fights, and it’s like 20 percent physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you’re not going to do well. For him to be going through all that stuff that he’s been going through, and still beaten these guys like this, it says a lot.”

Heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight champ Jones is currently the No. 3 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Lewis echoes Dana White’s same sentiment on the rankings.

“Of course, he’s for sure pound-for-pound (No. 1),” Lewis said. “It’s crazy how a lot of these guys keep getting (ranked) pound-for-pound and they ain’t even had that many fights. Think about my run when I had six-fight winning streak going on and they ain’t even mentioning me being in pound-for-pound.

“It’s crazy that these guys come into the UFC now, they get two or three fights, and already pass up everyone who has been fighting for years and already ranked pound-for-pound. I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s just complete disrespect.’”

Former title challenger Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) returns against Jhonata Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 (ESPN+) main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi are one step closer to their UFC Fight Night 246 headliner after making weight Friday.

Former champion Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) returns from a self-imposed hiatus from competition when he takes on Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who is returning from some serious health issues, in a five-round bout Saturday at Rogers Place (ESPN+).

First, though, the pair had to hit the non-title flyweight limit during official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel. Moreno was the first fighter to come to the scale during the one-hour window and was 125.5 pounds. Albazi was waiting right behind him and registered 125.5, as well.

Check out the video above to see Moreno and Albazi make weight for the UFC Fight Night 246 main event.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Rose Namajunas is ready to get back in the mix.

The former UFC strawweight champion successfully hit the 125-pound mark for her co-main event bout against Erin Blanchfield at UFC Edmonton. Currently No. 10 and No. 8, respectively, in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings, Namajunas and Blanchfield could earn themselves title shot consideration with a win. It’s unlikely either bypasses top contender Manon Fiorot—who recently defeated both fighters—but Saturday’s winner could be next in line should they deliver an impressive performance.

In the main event, flyweights Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi also successfully made weight. Moreno is a two-time UFC champion and seeks to hold on to his No. 4 spot after a pair of painful split-decision losses to rivals Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. He’ll have to get past No. 6 Albazi, a contender coming off of a long layoff that is yet to lose in five UFC appearances.

Watch UFC Edmonton ceremonial weigh-in video above, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.

All 28 fighters competing at Saturday’s event at Rogers Place successfully made weight at Friday’s official morning weigh-ins.

See UFC Edmonton weigh-in results below.

Main Card (ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)

Brandon Moreno (125.5) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5)

Erin Blanchfield (125.5) vs. Rose Namajunas (125)

Derrick Lewis (266) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257)

Caio Machado (205) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205)

Marc-Andre Barriault (185) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5)

Mike Malott (170.5) vs. Trevin Giles (170)

Preliminary Card (ESPN+ at 5 p.m. ET)

Aiemann Zahabi (135.5) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135)

Ariane da Silva (125) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125)

Charles Jourdain (135) vs. Victor Henry (135)

Jack Shore (145.5) vs. Youssef Zalal (145)

Alexandr Romanov (261) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264)

Serhiy Sidey (135) vs. Garrett Armfield (135)

Chad Anheliger (135) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5)

Jamey-Lyn Horth (126) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125)

Arsenal interim manager Renee Slegers says she will be in charge for at least the next five matches at the Women’s Super League club.

Dutchwoman Slegers took over on 15 October when former manager Jonas Eidevall resigned.

Slegers has since overseen a 4-1 win over against Valerenga in the Women’s Champions League group stages and a 2-0 victory over West Ham in the WSL.

“For these five games, I will be staying in the interim role,” said Slegers.

When asked if she could see herself doing the role long-term, she added: “I definitely see myself doing it at the moment.

“I enjoy working with the girls and the club to try to get successes. I have done it before and enjoy the role but when you do it over a period of time it becomes different. Now, I am really enjoying my role.”

New York City head coach Nick Cushing has emerged as a candidate to replace Eidevall but is overseeing play-off matches in the United States in November.

Cushing led Manchester City to the WSL title in 2016 during a seven-year spell before moving to the United States in 2020.

Arsenal face a trip to Leigh Sports Village to take on Manchester United in the WSL on Sunday before hosting Brighton next Friday – both teams are currently above them in the table.

They also play Juventus twice in the Women’s Champions League this month, either side of an away game at north London rivals Tottenham in the WSL.

“We are competing in two competitions. If you want to get straight to it, we are going for five wins,” said Slegers.

“That is what we’re trying to achieve. It’s as easy as that on paper. I know it’s small margins, top opposition and it will be hard challenges but of course we believe we can achieve that.”