Martial Arts News

Petr Yan says he discussed politics with Merab Dvalishvili shortly after their five-round title fight.

Yan retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight championship in their trilogy bout at UFC 333 on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The champion said they exchanged words of respect after their Fight of the Night-winning encounter before briefly discussing political issues.

Petr Yan discusses his postfight exchange with Merab Dvalishvili after their UFC 333 trilogy bout Dvalishvili took an early lead before Yan rallied over the final three rounds to win a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 48-47 for the champion.

Before the fight, Yan said their contrasting personalities would prevent them from becoming friends. Nevertheless, the two shook hands afterward. Yan declined to elaborate on their political discussion, though he expects microphones near the Octagon captured the exchange and that the audio will eventually become public. Read more

Farid Basharat appreciates Dana White clarifying his comments about the bantamweight’s departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Basharat (16-0) left the UFC after his contract expired without renewal, despite going unbeaten in the promotion. When initially asked about the departure, White suggested there could have been difficulties dealing with UFC matchmakers. Basharat denied ever turning down a fight and warned that such suggestions could damage his reputation.

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Dana White says his UFC departure comments were not aimed at undefeated Farid Basharat White subsequently said his remarks were not directed specifically at Basharat, explaining that he had been discussing general reasons fighters might leave the promotion. The UFC CEO said he had no personal or professional issues with Basharat and had not intended to harm his career.

White expressed confidence that Basharat would sign elsewhere given his unbeaten record. He also left open the …

Islam Makhachev believes an interim title fight will clarify the next challenger for his welterweight championship.

Makhachev had been expected to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 in January 2027. Instead, Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim belt. The reigning champion supports having the two contenders meet before challenging him.

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Islam Makhachev backs Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales to determine his next welterweight challenger Makhachev (29-1) pointed to Prates’ defeat against Ian Garry, whom he beat in August.

The Russian also questioned whether Morales (19-0), who has not competed since November 2025, should receive a title shot without another fight. He believes a matchup between Morales and Prates (24-7) will establish the next challenger.

“Prates and Morales will fight to determine who is a true worthy contender,” Makhachev told Pound4Padel. “And I will fight [the winner].…

The two title fights announced for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first numbered event of 2027 have closely matched betting lines.

BetOnline Sports has released odds for both championship bouts at UFC 336. Joshua Van will defend his flyweight title against Manel Kape in the main event, while Carlos Prates and Michael Morales will contest the interim welterweight championship in the co-headliner.

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BetOnline lists Joshua Van at -115 against Manel Kape, with Carlos Prates at -130 against Michael Morales UFC 336 takes place Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Prates had been expected to challenge welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, but UFC CEO Dana White said Makhachev now wants to return after Ramadan. Prates will instead face the unbeaten Morales for interim gold.

The supplied betting lines list Kape at -101 and Van at -115. Prates is a -130 favorite against Morales, who is listed at +111.

Those prices make Van a slight favor…

Dana White says Dillon Danis headlining other combat sports events makes no difference to him.

Danis faced Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of Real American Freestyle 14 in Las Vegas on Oct. 23. Tsarukyan dominated the wrestling match, winning by technical fall, 10-0. Danis, who is banned from attending Ultimate Fighting Championship events, was involved in altercations before and after the match.

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Dana White cites Dillon Danis' history of altercations after his RAF 14 loss to Arman Tsarukyan Asked about Danis receiving headlining opportunities after UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, White cited his history of altercations when explaining the ban.

“What difference would it make to me?” White said at the UFC 333 postfight news conference. “It doesn't make any difference to me. What happens is, in my experience, every time Dillon Danis shows up somewhere, there's a fight that breaks out. So, after the last one, it's just—we don't need that aggravation here.” Read more

Dana White says Islam Makhachev was initially expected to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in January but now wants to return after Ramadan next year.

Speaking to reporters after UFC 333 on Saturday, the UFC CEO explained the decision to book Carlos Prates against Michael Morales for an interim title and criticized Makhachev’s activity.

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Dana White says Islam Makhachev's post-Ramadan return prompted Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales at UFC 336 Prates and Morales will meet at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The winner is expected to face Makhachev in a title unification bout, potentially next summer.

White said Makhachev’s change of plans prompted the promotion to introduce an interim championship.

“On average, Islam fights like once a year, and he was slated for January and then said, ‘I don't want to fight until after Ramadan,’” White said. “You just can't hold up divisions like this. You…

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White said his earlier remarks about fighters leaving the promotion were not directed specifically at Farid Basharat, whose contract was not renewed.

Speaking during UFC 333 postfight press conference, White addressed the unbeaten bantamweight’s response to comments he made after UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17.

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Dana White clarifies UFC contract remarks after Farid Basharat's response

Basharat disputed suggestions that he had turned down fights or been difficult to work with. White said he had been discussing contract decisions generally.

“When I was talking about why some guys get released, or their contracts don't get renewed, I was just saying in general. I wasn't pointing him out, specifically,” White said.

White’s earlier remarks had suggested that decisions not to retain fighters could involve factors beyond their results inside the Octagon.

He said he had seen Basharat’s response on Instagram and…

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White said he offered Shakur Stevenson his release from Zuffa Boxing, ending their partnership before the boxer competed for the promotion.

Speaking at the UFC 333 postfight news conference, White distinguished Stevenson’s situation from those of UFC fighters seeking to leave their contracts.

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Dana White cites Shakur Stevenson's brief Zuffa Boxing tenure when asked about UFC fighter contracts Asked whether Stevenson had been difficult to work with, White declined to criticize the boxer or his representatives.

“Listen, man. I think that everybody's involved. They're happy, you know, with where we're at with it. I have nothing bad to say about him or his team, but I offered him the release, and they accepted.”

Stevenson’s departure also prompted a question about why he could leave while UFC fighters seeking releases remained under contract. White pointed to the brief nature of their business relationship.<…

For Alexander Volkanovski, overcoming adversity means more than championship gold.

Volkanovski (29-4) stopped previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev (20-1) at 4:54 of the second round Saturday to retain the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title. The Australian champion said he was ill entering the fight but delivered a bonus-winning finish to hand Evloev his first professional defeat.

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Alexander Volkanovski explains illness before stopping unbeaten Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 Volkanovski recorded his seventh successful title defense across two reigns in the UFC 333 headliner. Afterward, “The Great” emphasized that while he appreciates being a champion, overcoming challenges means more to him.

“It feels good,” Volkanovski said in a postfight interview. “Again, I don't really care about this, like I really don't. I just care about, again, overcoming challenges. A guy who was undefeated in front of me, to overcome that and beat him… And again, ge…

Petr Yan overcame Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling pressure to retain the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title at UFC 333.

Yan (21-5) defeated Dvalishvili (21-6) by unanimous decision in their trilogy bout Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, with all three judges scoring it 48-47 for the champion. Dvalishvili outworked Yan in the first two rounds before “No Mercy” turned the tide over the final three.

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Petr Yan explains how takedown defense turned UFC 333 trilogy against Merab Dvalishvili Dvalishvili dominated their first meeting in 2023, outwrestling Yan en route to a one-sided decision victory. Yan avenged that defeat last December, winning a unanimous decision to dethrone “The Machine.” Having shared the Octagon for 50 minutes before UFC 333, Yan knew what to expect in the rubber match.

Yan said he anticipated Dvalishvili trying to overwhelm him with wrestling pressure, as the former champion had in their first encounter.…

Arman Tsarukyan is no longer considering a move to featherweight.Arman Tsarukyan rejects Movsar Evloev matchup while pursuing UFC lightweight title shot Tsarukyan (24-3) is a leading contender for the next UFC lightweight title shot. Before challenging Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, Movsar Evloev expressed interest in a potential matchup with Tsarukyan, provided the lightweight contender moved down to 145 pounds.

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However, Tsarukyan said Evloev first needed to win the featherweight championship and ruled out changing divisions. “The Batman” addressed the possibility at the RAF 14 postmatch press conference following his victory over Dillon Danis:

“First of all he gotta win the title, and I am not going down to 145 lbs.”

Evloev subsequently lost to Volkanovski by second-round technical knockout.

Tsarukyan has been pursuing another title opportunity since withdrawing from his scheduled bout against Islam Makhachev in J…

Referee Marc Goddard is making fighters pay for fouls.

Goddard refereed the lightweight preliminary bout between Nurullo Aliev and Grant Dawson at UFC 333 on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Nurullo Aliev penalized for back-of-head strikes against Grant Dawson at UFC 333After dropping Dawson in the first round, Aliev landed several shots to the back of his opponent’s head. Goddard stopped the action and deducted a point, saying he had already issued warnings. Dawson rallied behind relentless pressure and ground work to earn a unanimous decision, handing Aliev his first professional defeat.

Goddard also deducted a point from Christian Leroy Duncan for an eye poke against Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 122 on Oct. 10. The referee later explained that he had warned Duncan about his outstretched fingers before penalizing him in the second round. Allen ultimately submitted Duncan with a rear-naked choke in the fifth.

Marc Goddard IMMEDIATELY …