Day: 28. Oktober 2026

Arman Tsarukyan will defend his middleweight crossover title against former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in the RAF 15 main event on Nov. 28 at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

The matchup replaces the previously announced headliner between Henry Cejudo and Yadong Song, whose lightweight crossover title match moves to the co-main event. Real American Freestyle announced the change on X.

Advertisement

Arman Tsarukyan defends his RAF wrestling title against Anthony Pettis as Henry Cejudo vs. Yadong Song moves to co-main event Tsarukyan captured the vacant middleweight crossover title by defeating Dillon Danis via technical fall at RAF 14 on Oct. 23. The UFC lightweight contender is also scheduled to face Neiman Gracie in a non-title match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, giving him two wrestling assignments in November.

Pettis was initially scheduled to face fellow former UFC fighter Donald Cerrone before being moved into t…

Alexander Volkanovski says illness left him questioning whether he could go the distance against Movsar Evloev.

Speaking to Brendan Bradford in comments shared by Home of Fight on X, Volkanovski explained how concerns about his breathing added urgency to his search for a finish at UFC 333.

Alexander Volkanovski explains how illness influenced his second-round TKO of Movsar Evloev Volkanovski said he needed to take deep breaths as he increased the pressure in the second round.

“I had to take some big breaths,” Volkanovski said. “You could see that I started putting that pressure on, especially in the second round. It was like, alright, let’s start finding this finish.”

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion admitted he was unsure whether he could sustain that effort for all five rounds while ill.

“Again, I don’t want to go five rounds. I don’t know if these lungs can hold up being [sick] and all. And not only that, I started to s…

Tom Nolan has moved permanently from Australia to New Zealand to join Eugene Bareman’s City Kickboxing gym in Auckland ahead of the biggest fight of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

The Australian lightweight will headline UFC Vegas 123 against Renato “Money” Moicano on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Nolan said he made the move after a two-week trial and has been impressed by the number of UFC fighters available as training partners.

Advertisement

Tom Nolan explains why he relocated to Auckland before his UFC Vegas 123 main event against Renato Moicano Speaking to MMA Junkie, Nolan explained that he relocated before receiving the offer to headline against Moicano.

“I went over there for two weeks as a trial, and then, yeah, I made the permanent move. I got the call up after that,” he revealed.

Nolan described the preparation as the best training camp of his career, citing the experienced fighters and coaches at the Auckland facility.

…

Coach Cristian Nogueira believes Carlos Prates will make quick work of Michael Morales.

Prates (24-7) is scheduled to face Morales (19-0) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Cristian Nogueira explains Carlos Prates' UFC 336 training changes and predicts a second-round finish against Michael Morales In an interview with Sherdog, Nogueira said the team had expected Prates to challenge Islam Makhachev first.

“It came as a surprise to us because we thought we would fight Makhachev first and then Morales,” Nogueira said. “We had already been planning the training camp to face Islam on January 30, but no problem. The important thing is that this fight will be for the belt.”

Prates had begun preparing for Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy style, but the change in opponent requires a different strategy. “The Nightmare” is now working closely with boxing coach Arthur Cesar, known as Ban Ban. Read more

Carlos Prates has fired back at Islam Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

Prates had hoped to challenge Makhachev for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in January. Instead, the Brazilian will face Michael Morales for the interim belt at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Advertisement

Carlos Prates challenges Ali Abdelaziz's defense of Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 336 Prates has repeatedly criticized Makhachev on social media, accusing the champion of avoiding him. Abdelaziz recently addressed the welterweight contenders collectively, claiming none would add to Makhachev’s legacy.

“If you’re a contender. Islam is the champion and maybe the greatest fighter of this generation,” Abdelaziz wrote on X. “Talk less, because he’ll make you look bad. None of you add to his legacy. He fights for passion, love of the sport, and the fans.”

Prates countered that Makhachev would have accepted the January matchup if passion…

Boxer Edgar Berlanga has reportedly been arrested on battery and aggravated battery charges.

Berlanga was arrested Monday, Oct. 26, by the Lakeland Police Department in Polk County, Florida, in connection with an alleged Oct. 18 incident, according to Uncrowned, which cited court records.

Edgar Berlanga faces aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery charges, with arraignment scheduled Nov. 17The 29-year-old super middleweight contender faces one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of felony aggravated battery. A judge set his combined bail at $16,000 during a court appearance Tuesday. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Berlanga (24-2, 19 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Steven Butler at Zuffa Boxing 9 in July. The former world title challenger has alternated between losses and wins in his last four bouts.

Boxer Edgar Berlanga was arrested on misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated battery c…

Vadim Nemkov wants to be financially secure after hanging up his gloves.

Nemkov (20-2, 1 NC) recently criticized fighter pay in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Professional Fighters League heavyweight champion believes UFC athletes receive too little of the promotion’s revenue and deserve greater compensation for the risks to their health.

Advertisement

PFL heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov explains why UFC fighter pay influenced his decision not to sign Without naming anyone, Nemkov recalled seeing retired UFC fighters at an event whose appearance suggested to him that they were struggling financially. He said earning potential was a major reason he didn’t sign with the UFC.

“The UFC is a huge money-making machine, so to speak,” Nemkov told Ushatayka. “There are massive sums involved, and the fighters get paid mere pennies. Those who put on the show, those who make the fights happen, they should be earning much more because of the heavy toll on their h…

There are no hard feelings between Daniel Cormier and Sean O'Malley.

Petr Yan defended the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title in a trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Cormier subsequently asked Yan about a potential rematch with Song Yadong, who was in attendance at Etihad Arena.

Advertisement

Daniel Cormier explains his Song Yadong question after Petr Yan's UFC 333 title defense O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, criticized Cormier’s question in their respective UFC 333 reaction videos on YouTube. “Suga” and his team believe he deserves the next title shot because the former champion has beaten both Yan and Song.

Cormier recently interviewed O’Malley on his YouTube channel to clear the air. The UFC commentator explained that he mentioned Song because the Chinese contender was in the arena and the production team had told him Song was about to appear on screen.

“Petr Yan defends his title and Song Yad…

Malcolm Wellmaker is reflecting on the sacrifices he made before his third consecutive loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Wellmaker suffered a knockout loss to Otari Tanzilovi at UFC Vegas 122, dropping his promotional record to 2-3. “The Machine” earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024.

Advertisement

Malcolm Wellmaker reflects on third straight UFC loss after moving his family to train at American Top Team Wellmaker (10-3) finished his first two UFC opponents in the opening round last year. He then suffered his first professional defeat against Ethyn Ewing by unanimous decision in November before losing both of his 2026 appearances by stoppage.

Wellmaker previously trained at Faglier’s MMA in Augusta, Georgia. He moved with his family to Florida to train at American Top Team ahead of the Tanzilovi fight.

“After taking some time to let things settle and gather my thoughts, I have to be honest, this sh*t still really hur…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s next trip to Australia will be headlined by a lightweight clash.

Quillan Salkilld will have the home crowd behind him when he faces Benoit Saint Denis in the main event of UFC Sydney on Feb. 7 at Afterpay Arena. The event will air Feb. 6 in the United States.

Advertisement

Quillan Salkilld brings a 13-fight winning streak into his second UFC main event against Benoit St. Denis Salkilld lost his professional debut in 2021 and has since won 13 consecutive fights. He earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024 and has gone 6-0 in the UFC, with five first-round finishes.

Salkilld is coming off victories over Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot. Saint Denis, meanwhile, will look to rebound from a first-round submission loss to Paddy Pimblett. The Frenchman had won four consecutive fights by stoppage before Pimblett submitted him in 52 seconds at UFC 329 in July.

Saint Denis is 9-4 in the UFC. “God of War” made…