Day: 13. Oktober 2026

Cris Cyborg (left) faced several disadvantages against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa. | 📷: PFL MMA

Nearly two months after her 30th mixed martial arts victory, Cris Cyborg considers the circumstances surrounding her Aug. 22 bout with fellow Brazilian Ketlen Vieira in Tampa, Fla., to be "extremely unusual."

Vieira missed weight by more than seven pounds, turning the final fight of Cyborg’s Professional Fighters League contract into a non-title contest.

Those circumstances now include a positive test for a steroidal substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, according to Mike Mazzulli, director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation.Ketlen Vieira missed weight by more than seven pounds before Cris Cyborg bout; regulator confirms banned steroidal substance in A and B samples Mazzulli told Sherdog.com that analysis of Vieira’s A and B samples from her in-competition collection returned the same adverse analytical finding.

Mazzulli declin…

Julianna Pena is returning to competition in a wrestling match.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight titleholder will face Diana Avsaragova at Real American Freestyle’s Abu Dhabi event on Nov. 14 at Etihad Arena. The promotion announced the matchup Monday.

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Julianna Pena to face Diana Avsaragova at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14 in first competition since Kayla Harrison defeat Pena hasn’t competed since losing her title to Kayla Harrison in June 2025. Harrison submitted her with a second-round kimura to capture the belt. Pena has served as a color commentator for RAF since the promotion’s launch and will now transition from the broadcast team to the mat.

Avsaragova has competed for Bellator and the Professional Fighters League. She lost by technical fall to reigning middleweight champion Kennedy Blades at RAF 13 in September.

RAF Abu Dhabi will be headlined by a cruiserweight crossover championship match between former UFC…

Jon Jones believes Josh Hokit has a legitimate chance to dethrone Ciryl Gane when the pair meet for the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title at UFC 334.

Gane (14-2) will defend his title against the unbeaten Hokit (10-0) on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Jones, who has shared the Octagon with Gane, discussed the matchup in an interview with The Schmo, saying his compatriot could beat the French champion.

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Jon Jones explains why Ciryl Gane beating Josh Hokit at UFC 334 would also benefit his legacy Jones praised Hokit’s recent UFC performances and coaching team but acknowledged that a Gane victory would bolster his own reputation. “Bones” submitted “Bon Gamin” to win the heavyweight title in 2023.

“Josh looks great right now,” Jones told The Schmo. “He's doing a great job; Obviously, he's coached by some of the best in the world. I've always supported wrestlers and backed wrestlers. So, my prediction is that I believe Hokit…

Salhahuddin Everett plans to keep working as Dana White’s personal runner after earning an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Everett (5-0) secured the contract with a first-round knockout of Ozzy Martin on Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10. The 29-year-old has continued reporting for work.

Salhahuddin Everett describes his unusual dual role after DWCS Everett began working security for the UFC before becoming White’s personal runner. He told TMZ Sports he intends to keep the job.

“I've been working,” Everett said. “I worked yesterday and I worked today. I'm at work right now, actually. I love my job, so it's not like I was working so hard to get away from stocking Dana's fridge. Dana's been blessing me in this position, and yeah, some days are stressful, but it's work, you know? I'm a working man; I'm not lazy. I like to be here.”

White had suggested Everett should leave his office job to focus on training after earning the contract.

Jon Jones believes his victory over Stipe Miocic was a fitting conclusion to his fighting career, though he regrets missing the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s White House event.

Jones has not competed since stopping Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Speaking to The Schmo, “Bones” reflected on that victory and described his absence from UFC Freedom 250 as one of his biggest regrets.

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Jon Jones reflects on Stipe Miocic victory as possible final UFC fight, regrets missing UFC Freedom 250 Jones said his last bout was particularly meaningful because his father and late brother were there, along with then-President-elect Donald Trump. He described beating Miocic, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights, as a career high point.

“I really do believe that was my last moment inside the cage – and it was great,” Jones told The Schmo. “I got to fight, my brother was still alive at the time, my father was there. I got to tell the world that I lo…

Jon Jones believes his protégé, Gable Steveson, will rebound from his first professional MMA defeat.

Sean Sharaf knocked out Steveson in 12 seconds at UFC 331 in September, handing the Olympic wrestling gold medalist his first loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Jones discussed Steveson’s response and the adjustments his team plans to make.

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Jon Jones backs Gable Steveson after Sean Sharaf knockout, outlines training adjustments The former two-division UFC champion said Steveson had returned to training. Jones pointed to other accomplished fighters who overcame defeats, expressing confidence that Steveson would do the same.

“Gable's doing great,” Jones said in an interview with The Schmo. “I believe in Gable. I believe in the man and the person that he is. And if you think about it, all the great fighters have had knockouts and losses. I mean, GSP [Georges St. Pierre] vs. Matt Serra – there's just so many examples. He's in the right headspac…

Alex Pereira has responded to Valter Walker after the submission specialist questioned how “Poatan” would fare against Sergei Pavlovich.

Walker has described the former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship champion as a favorable matchup for himself and predicted Pereira would struggle against Pavlovich at UFC 335. Pereira responded by suggesting Walker was afraid to spar with him.

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Alex Pereira offers Valter Walker his last fight purse for a foot submission during proposed Las Vegas sparring session Speaking to Laerte Viana, Pereira challenged Walker to spar in Las Vegas and offered to pay him the equivalent of his most recent fight purse if Walker submitted him with a foot attack.

“I invited him to train with me and he ran off,” Pereira said. “I heard he was scared. He said he wasn't a punching bag. He got scared, and now he wants to hype up something he knows isn't going to happen. I’m not kidding. Whenever he wants. Let’s go to Las Vegas—…

Michael "Venom" Page believes his move to Misfits Boxing will give him greater freedom to express himself after his Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure.

Page signed a multiyear, multifight agreement with MF Sports after going 5-1 in the UFC. He concluded his run with a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev in September, but the promotion opted not to renew his contract.

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Michael Page says Misfits Boxing gives him creative freedom after UFC walkout restrictions and missed big fights Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Page said the agreement came together quickly and would allow him to showcase more of his personality.

“To be fair, this one happened relatively quickly,” Page said. “We kind of didn’t know as recently as three or four days back; it still wasn’t 100% confirmed where we’re going. But yeah, this makes sense. Like I said out there, I feel free of the shackles. I’m a very creative person — my walkouts, my entrances, my exits — a…

Kayla Harrison says recovering from neck surgery left her questioning whether she would ever feel like herself again.

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight champion withdrew from her scheduled title defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 in January to undergo surgery for herniated discs in her neck. On the “Deep Waters” podcast, Harrison discussed the physical and mental challenges of her recovery.

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Kayla Harrison recalls doubts about feeling like herself again before Amanda Nunes title fight at UFC 334 Harrison described the operation as the most serious of four surgeries she has undergone in the past four years.

“I feel awesome,” Harrison said. “To be honest, it was rough in the beginning. I think more just obviously physically, but mentally. It was such a big surgery and I went ten years without surgery. I had reconstructive knee surgery between my two Olympics and then I went ten years with no surgery. But in the las…

Paulo Costa says he intends to fight before the end of the year, potentially outside the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Costa is disputing the terms of the final bout on his UFC contract. “Borrachinha” has criticized the promotion for offering five-round fights without additional compensation. The Brazilian wants to complete his contract and has hinted on social media at competing elsewhere.

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Paulo Costa hints at fighting outside UFC while disputing final-bout contract terms Costa (16-4) said he had received no recent update from the UFC but remained determined to compete this year.

“Nothing from the UFC,” Costa wrote on X. “I’m going to fight at an event at the end of the year. I’m in great shape and in my prime. I’m going to do what I love—fight somewhere.”

Costa is coming off victories over Roman Kopylov and previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov. He previously sought an interim light heavyweight title fight while champion Carlos Ulberg rec…