Day: 12. August 2026

Tom Pagliarulo’s career aspirations are finally coming to fruition.

Pagliarulo (11-2) took on Ananias Mulumba in a featherweight clash on Week 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series 2026. “The Phenom” left it all in the cage, finishing Mulumba with ground-and-pound in the final seconds of the fight, earning an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract for his efforts.

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‘Most afraid I’ve ever been’: Tom Pagliarulo details how his team helped him stay focused ahead of DWCS Week 1 Pagliarulo admits that he was very nervous throughout fight week. However, his coaches and teammate, UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen, helped him stay dialed in. The 29-year-old is glad to have finally made it to the biggest stage in MMA, even if it came a little later than he expected.

“This is the most afraid I’ve ever been in my life, all week,” Pagliarulo said in his post-fight interview. “My coaches and Cory Sandhagen back home kept me locked in. Just reminded me to go be me, …

Joseph Kropschot can’t believe his opponent refused to tap to his submission attempt on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Kropschot kicked off the DWCS 2026 Week 1 action in a middleweight clash against Jonathan Kunneman. He maintained higher output while his opponent desperately looked for a Hail Mary overhand right. Kropschot also locked in an armbar in the final seconds of the fight that looked deep enough to secure a finish.

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Joseph Kropschot revisits ‘gross’ injury to opponent on DWCS Kunneman, perhaps too tough for his own good, refused to tap. Kropschot eventually dislocated Kunneman’s arm before walking away with a unanimous decision win. The victor subsequently said that he can’t believe his opponent didn’t tap to the armbar.

“I cannot believe he didn’t tap,” Kropschot said in his post-fight interview. “That bent like at the right angle. Gross.”

Kropschot (9-3) was on a four-fight finishing streak going into his DWCS opportunity, where he …

Payton Talbott could have another former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder standing opposite him in his next bout.

Talbott (11-1) is reportedly set to face former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1) at UFC 332 on Oct. 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Brazilian reporter Leo Guimaraes claims that the matchup is being worked on and is yet to be finalized.

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Payton Talbott and Deiveson Figueiredo’s contrasting journeys to UFC 332 Talbott and Figueiredo enter the rumored matchup at different points in their careers. The former has not competed since earning a unanimous decision victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 323. The 27-year-old rebounded from the lone loss of his career, a decision defeat to Raoni Barcelos, with wins over Felipe Lima and Cejudo.

Before the Barcelos defeat, Talbott finished his first three UFC opponents, including a 19-second knockout.

Meanwhile, Figueiredo made the move to ba…

Stephen Thompson is looking to end his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract with a bang.

Thompson (17-9-1) recently revealed that he has one fight left in his current UFC contract. “Wonderboy” is looking to fight out his deal at the UFC’s annual New York City card in November at Madison Square Garden, which will likely be UFC 334.

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Stephen Thompson targets Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden with one fight remaining on his UFC contract Thompson is going through the welterweight roster to scout an opponent who can deliver a potential banger with him.

“Madison Square Garden, Nov. 14, got to make it happen,” the former title challenger told Home of Fight. “I’ve actually got one fight left in my contract. We’re looking at November… We’ll see who we get. We’re kind of looking at the roster, trying to find out a good fight. A good barnburner, if you will, for that card.”

While Thompson never tasted UFC gold despite two attempts against Tyron Woodley…