Month: August 2026

Islam Makhachev’s team has strong camaraderie.

With Khabib Nurmagomedov at the helm, the Dagestani squad is known for their close bond. Nurmagomedov, Makhachev and their teammates consider each other “brothers.” With Magomed Zaynukov recently making a successful Ultimate Fighting Championship debut and Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, potentially headed to the UFC, there’s no chance of them fighting one another.

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‘We’re all brothers’: Islam Makhachev opens up about bond within Dagestani team Makhachev guarantees that lightweights Zaynukov and Usman, or any of their other teammates, will never fight each other. The former lightweight champ and reigning welterweight king can’t even fathom the idea of fighting his teammates, having essentially grown up together.

Makhachev was still climbing the rankings when Khabib was the UFC lightweight champion. Regardless, Makhachev could never imagine fighting “The Eagle,” who has been guiding him from the day…

Joe Rogan has once again criticized the Ultimate Fighting Championship's show-win system.

The longtime UFC commentator believes the promotion's standard pay structure leaves too much of a fighter's earnings dependent on the result, even when the outcome can be influenced by factors outside the athlete's control.

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Joe Rogan argues UFC fighters should receive larger guaranteed purses instead of having significant pay tied to a win bonus Under the UFC's longtime payment model, fighters receive a guaranteed purse for competing and typically double their pay in victory, although individual contracts can vary significantly based on status and tenure. Rogan has long criticized this system.

“That is the most bullsh*t part of the UFC, you get both your paychecks [only if you win],” Rogan said on his podcast while speaking to former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling. “F*ck off. F*ck off with that. I hate it. That drives me nuts.”

Rogan believes athle…

Khabib Nurmagomedov credits Dana White for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s success.

Nurmagomedov recently praised White’s ability to separate business from personal relationships. “The Eagle” says White operates with cold blood, which allows him to make tough decisions that are often criticized. He believes it is White’s ability to make those decisions regardless of backlash that has made the UFC reach the pinnacle of success.

Why Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Dana White’s tough decisions pushed the UFC forward The former UFC lightweight champ says White is like an Italian mafia boss, for whom family always comes first. According to Nurmagomedov, in White’s case, the UFC comes before anything else. While Nurmagomedov acknowledges the contributions of several others in the UFC’s success, he believes White has always played the most pivotal role.

“[Dana] is very good at separating business and personal relationships,” Nurmagomedov told Lex Fridman. “For him, they wil…

Islam Makhachev says he doesn’t always get to fight as frequently as he'd like to.

Makhachev (28-1) puts his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title on the line for the first time against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Russian returns nine months after winning the 170-pound belt and he wants to be more active going forward.

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Islam Makhachev wants quicker UFC turnaround after Ian Garry title fight Makhachev says he wouldn’t mind fighting again this year if he doesn’t have any injuries. While he has been accused of inactivity previously, the Dagestani champion claims that he wants to fight as often as possible. The 34-year-old wants to make the most of the limited time he has left in his career.

Makhachev says that bookings are often delayed due to factors beyond his control.

“It’s not a problem for me if I don’t have any injuries, not cut much weight,” Makhachev told UFC Hall of Fam…

Bare Knuckle Boxing has added another second-generation boxer to its growing roster.

The promotion recently announced that Sharif Rahman has signed a multi-fight agreement, bringing the undefeated prospect into the bare-knuckle ranks while still in his prime.

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Sharif Rahman joins BKB after building an undefeated 9-0 boxing record Rahman, 30, is the son of former two-time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and the brother of professional boxer Hasim Rahman Jr. His father famously stopped Lennox Lewis in 2001 to capture the heavyweight championship.

Known as “C3,” Rahman has compiled an unblemished 9-0 professional boxing record with four knockouts. The Baltimore native, who now resides in Las Vegas, will attempt to carry that unbeaten record into bare-knuckle competition.

“I've carried this family name my whole career and I've never lost,” Rahman said via press release. “Bare-knuckle is a new test, no gloves, no excuses, just pure skill and heart…

Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry have vastly different views on how much authority women should have.

Garry recently faced significant backlash for speaking about his feminine side in an interview. “The Future” admitted to crying while watching Disney movies and feeling more masculine by staying in touch with his feminine side. Garry also said that the world would be a better place with women running it and men simply listening to them.

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Islam Makhachev has hilarious reaction to UFC legend needing wife’s approval to go to Dagestan Makhachev, although in jest, expressed opposite views on women having authority. The Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion invited Demetrious Johnson to Dagestan during a recent interview. When “Mighty Mouse” expressed safety concerns, Makhachev assured him that Dagestan is one of the safest places in the world.

Johnson then said that he would have to consult his wife on the matter. Makhachev laughed in disbeli…

The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event has undergone a late change, with Eduardo Henrique stepping in to replace Jose Ochoa at UFC 330.

Ochoa was reportedly forced out due to an injury, leaving Charles Johnson without an opponent days before their bout at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. However, the promotion quickly found a replacement in Henrique, who will now make his UFC debut against Johnson.

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Eduardo Henrique gets UFC debut against Charles Johnson after Jose Ochoa injury Henrique (15-2) will return to action after nearly nine months away. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance flyweight champion last competed in September 2025, earning a decision over An Tuan Ho on Dana White’s Contender Series. However, the victory wasn’t enough for a UFC contract.

The fighter also appeared on Season 33 of “The Ultimate Fighter” last year. Now, Henrique has the chance to make his UFC debut as a late replacement in UFC 330.

Johnson (19-9)…

The Professional Fighters League has finalized the lineup for its Aug. 22 event in Tampa, Florida.

PFL Tampa takes place at Benchmark International Arena, with mixed martial arts legend Cris Cyborg defending the women's featherweight championship against fellow Brazilian Ketlen Vieira in what is expected to be her final fight.

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Cris Cyborg vs. Ketlen Vieira tops finalized PFL Tampa lineup Apart from Cyborg’s featherweight title defense, the PFL Tampa lineup also features former PFL lightweight champion Gadzhi Rabadanov (27-5-1) facing promotion newcomer Tracy Reeder (12-5).

Also on the main card, Gustavo Oliveira (13-2) will take on 2025 PFL world tournament champion Marcirley Alves (15-5) at bantamweight, while England's Luke Trainer (10-1), who has a five-fight winning streak, will face undefeated PFL newcomer Roland Dunlap (7-0) at light heavyweight.

Cris Cyborg’s final MMA bout headlines PFL Tampa: Tune in on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 p.m. …

While Mackenzie Dern is a strong, independent woman, she prefers her man running the show.

Dern puts her Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title on the line against Gillian Robertson in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Ahead of the event, Dern addressed headliner Ian Garry’s recent comments about women running the world.

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Mackenzie Dern discusses traditional relationships before her UFC 330 title defense Garry recently drew a variety of reactions from fans and fellow fighters for saying that the world would be a better place if women ran everything. However, the UFC women’s strawweight champion disagrees with Garry. Dern says that while women in her family are strong, she comes from a traditional background. Dern likes being protected and cared for by her man, though she wouldn’t hesitate to go to war alongside him if needed.

“I come from a little bit more traditional upbringing,” Dern said at…

Ian Garry believes Islam Makhachev is significantly shorter than he is, despite the minimal height difference at their first face-off.

Garry (17-1) is set to challenge Makhachev (28-1) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. At 6-foot-3 tall, Garry officially has a 5-inch height advantage over Makhachev. However, they were nearly eye-to-eye when they faced off for the first time in front of the iconic Rocky statue in Philly.

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Ian Garry addresses lack of height difference in first face-off with Islam Makhachev Garry claims Makhachev was wearing high heels to nullify the height difference. The Irishman is sure that he’ll be significantly taller during the ceremonial weigh-in face-offs, where they both have to wear the same type of shoes.

“He was wearing high heels,” Garry said in an interview with Paramount+. “He was wearing stilettos. Wait till you see Friday night when …

Ian Garry felt like Islam Makhachev didn’t want to be at their first face-off.

Makhachev (28-1) defends his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title against Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Makhachev and Garry recently faced off for the first time in front of the iconic Rocky statue in Philly, where the challenger perceived nerves on the champ’s part.

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Ian Garry on face-off with Islam Makhachev: ‘He didn’t want to be there’ Garry claims to have felt some “nervous energy” from the Dagestani champion. However, he also admitted that it was an unofficial face-off and the one that actually matters is the official one at the ceremonial weigh-ins, after they’ve made weight.

“I just kind of felt like yesterday he didn’t want to be there,” Garry said at UFC 330 media day. “He didn’t want to be at the face-off. I sensed a little bit of nervous energy from him. But they are face-offs; they are fake, they are …

Carlos Prates believes Mauricio Ruffy's loss to Benoit St. Denis doesn’t accurately reflect his teammate's ability.

Ruffy is set to face Arman Tsarukyan next and is currently a sizeable underdog. However, Prates is confident in his countryman and recently addressed his lone defeat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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Carlos Prates praises former teammate Mauricio Ruffy, claims BSD loss was an outlier Speaking on AgFight's “Direto de Vegas” podcast, Prates recalled being present during fight week for Ruffy's bout with St. Denis. He claims he witnessed circumstances surrounding the loss that he won't publicly discuss.

“I was there the week of the fight with BSD and I saw what happened, but since Ruffy hasn’t talked about it, I’m not going to talk about it either,” Prates said. “I can only guarantee that wasn’t Ruffy in that Octagon.”

Prates says Ruffy’s takedown defense is the best at the Fighting Nerds gym, insisting that if his former team…