Martial Arts News

Hello Los Angeles 😎 pic.twitter.com/uC6PEAgEfw

— Global Fight League (@mmagfl) March 31, 2025

The Global Fight League has officially announced the lineups for its first two cards.

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The promotion, which utilizes a team-based format, will hold cards on May 24 and May 25 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. GFL 1 will be headlined by a trilogy clash between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao, while Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis will top the GFL 2 lineup one day later. As it currently stands, 31 bouts featuring athletes from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Miami — will be held over the two-day period.

Broadcast details and ticket information for the events are expected to be announced in April.

“We are thrilled to bring this innovative, team-based format, featuring both MMA legends and rising stars, to the Shrine Auditorium in May,” GFL founder Darren Owen said in a release. “Th…

Vince Morales recently opened up on his loss against Raul Rosas Jr.

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Morales and Rosas Jr. met in a bantamweight clash at UFC Mexico last weekend. Morales threatened some submissions but was mostly outwrestled by “El Nino Problema” en route to a unanimous decision loss.

Morales believes he could have done better and that the altitude had a part to play in that. While Morales thinks the altitude affected Rosas Jr. as well, he admits that the 20-year-old did enough to get the win. “Vandetta” also realises that he is now at a crossroads in his career in the UFC and remains unsure of his future. Morales plans to work on his “mental block” in close fights.

“So about last night, I’m upset… Didn’t do enough. I’m OK though,” Morales said on social media. “No real damage, nose opened up again. But day in a life. He did what he needed to do. I think we were both feeling the altitude a little bit or something. I just remember feeling heavy and slow… Cou…

Ilia Topuria responds to Charles Oliveira calling his comments 'disrespectful':

"I haven't dissed [Charles], I've told the truth. He has 10 losses...

He says [lightweight] is the toughest division there is. When he was fighting at 145, Cub Swanson beat him up." 😳

🎥… pic.twitter.com/5tTvpuWTIQ

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 30, 2025

Ilia Topuria denies being disrespectful toward Charles Oliveira.

Topuria recently vacated his featherweight title and announced a move to lightweight. While “La Leyenda” is rallying for an immediate lightweight title shot, champ Islam Makhachev isn’t willing to give him one. Perennial contender Oliveira also said that he will only consider a matchup against Topuria once the latter proves himself at lightweight.

Topuria took a dig at Oliveira’s resume in response, pointing out the Brazilian’s losses. “Do Bronx” found Topuria’s comments to be disrespectful towards the entire lightweight …

🏆 Patricio Pitbull believes that with a good performance against Yair Rodriguez he can fight for the Featherweight title next:

"He [Rodriguez] is good, he is very dynamic, but I am better. I put pressure on him, put him down and smash him."

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🇧🇷 🇬🇧 Patricio Pitbull spoke the… pic.twitter.com/VYb9gR9blp — Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 30, 2025

Patricio Freire believes he’ll be in the running for a title shot if he makes a statement in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

Freire will make his promotional debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The former Bellator MMA featherweight champ believes a good showing against Rodriguez puts him into immediate title contention. While “Pitbull” acknowledges Rodriguez’s skill set, he believes he’s better than the perennial UFC featherweight contender.

“[Fighting] against Yair Rodriguez puts me in a great plac…

Carlo, asked if he was aware that his opponent's brother is a UFC fighter?

"Not at all, but knowing that information, I'm thankful I'm not knocked out right now. So that's good to know, and I'll definitely do a little bit more research next time." https://t.co/OJSBhsoV15

— David Alter (@dalter) March 30, 2025

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UFC fighter Mike Malott has a brother who also shares his fighting acumen.

Surging Canadian welterweight Malott has been victorious in four of his first five Octagon appearances. Meanwhile, his brother Jeff plays left wing for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Jeff was engaged in a standout scrap with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo at the Crypto Arnena in Los Angeles during last Saturday’s game. The duo took the gloves off and traded heavy blows for which they were penalized. The Maple Leafs eventually beat the LA Kings 3-1.

Mike congratulated his brother on the entertaining scrap over social media.…

The Professional Fighters League middleweight tournament has lost one of its biggest names.

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The promotion announced on Sunday that Fabian Edwards has withdrawn from a first-round bout against Impa Kasanganay. Edwards will be replaced by Jordan Newman in the April 18 bout, which will serve as the main event for that card. A reason for Edwards’ exit was not given.

PFL World Tournament 3 takes place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and will feature first-round matchups at middleweight and lightweight. The main card airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, while prelims stream on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. ET/1: 30 p.m. PT.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Newman has compiled a 7-0 career mark while competing exclusively under the Bellator MMA banner. The 29-year-old Roufusport product last appeared at Bellator Champions Series San Diego, where he outpointed Imamshafi Aliev this past…

After fighting on home soil for the first time since 2017, Brandon Moreno wants to do it again in the near future.

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“Hunter [Campbell], who really knows what I deserve? I don’t know what I deserve,” Moreno said in the Octagon after taking a five-round verdict over Steve Erceg in the UFC Mexico headliner on Saturday night. “But I really believe I can move the needle and let’s go for the pay-per-view in Guadalajara. Let’s f—ing go. Let’s f—ing do it!”

Moreno hadn’t fought in his home country since August 2017, when he fell to Sergio Pettis in UFC Fight Night 114 headliner. He became the first Mexican-born champion in promotion history when he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight title bout at UFC 263, and he remains one of the biggest MMA stars in Mexico despite having lost the belt on two separate occasions.

“I have so many emotions, man. The first time I fought here was 2017 against Sergio Pettis. It was a main event and I lost,” Moren…

Kyoji Horiguchi is headed back to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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The Japanese standout announced during Rizin 50 on Sunday that he is vacating his Rizin Fighting Federation flyweight belt to sign with the Las Vegas-based promotion, where he previously fought from 2013 to 2016. A date for Horiguchi’s UFC return was not revealed.

“I’m going to the UFC,” Horiguchi said. “I’m going to become the first Japanese UFC champion.”

🚨 2 BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! 🚨

1️⃣ RIZIN Flyweight Champion, Kyoji Horiguchi, will vacate the title and go to the UFC.

(continued) pic.twitter.com/irhoyQZmmQ

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) March 30, 2025

Horiguchi went 7-1 during his UFC tenure, with his only loss coming in a flyweight title bout against then champion Demetrious Johnson in April 2015. The 34-year-old American Top Team representative has gone 14-1 with one no contest under the Rizin banner, earning notable victories over the …

AND STILL!

A close fight, but Naoki Inoue is still your RIZIN Bantamweight Champion!

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[ #RIZIN50 | https://t.co/SJYljaZ7L1 ] pic.twitter.com/HTu2J2B7pE — RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) March 30, 2025

Rizin Fighting Federation bantamweight champion Naoki Inoue retained his title with a hard-fought victory against a familiar foe tonight in the main event of Rizin 50 in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan. Inoue weathered a shaky final round and earned a split-decision win against challenger Yuki Motoya in a rematch from December 2020.

Inoue (19-4, 9-2 Rizin) needed only three minutes to submit Motoya (37-12, 1 NC; 12-8, 1 NC Rizin) when the pair first faced off at Rizin 26, but he had a much tougher fight on his hands against the veteran on Sunday. The first round was a good one for Inoue, who established his jab right away and used it to set up straight right hands that stifled Motoya’s movement and offense. Motoya took Inoue down with …

Ilia Topuria claims the UFC has promised him a title fight next.

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Topuria won the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 last year and defended it with a knockout over Max Holloway at UFC 308. “La Layenda” has since been contemplating a move to lightweight, which came to fruition last month.

While Topuria vacated his featherweight strap, his next matchup at lightweight is yet to be announced. Although the undefeated superstar has already proclaimed himself the lightweight king, champ Islam Makhachev is loathe to give him an immediate title shot. Even former champ and perennial contender Charles Oliveira is unwilling to fight Topuria before he proves himself at 155 pounds.

However, Topuria claims to have been promised a title fight next when he vacated his 145-pound belt.

“I’m not entirely sure what my next fight will be,” Topuria said during a recent press conference. “The only thing I’m sure of is that the…

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Sean Brady isn’t even amused by the idea of a matchup against Colby Covington.

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Brady submitted former champ Leon Edwards in the main event at UFC London earlier this month. Covington subsequently called Brady an easy matchup, offering to derail his hype train. However, Brady seemingly isn’t even taking “Chaos” seriously. The Philadelphia native dismissed the idea of a matchup against Covington, claiming he would “kill” the former interim champ. Brady noted that he recently dominated “Rocky,” who has already beat Covington.

“Leon’s took you down multiple times. Beat the s—t out of you,” Brady said on the Brady Bagz Show. “Did you see what I just did to Leon? What would I do to you bro? I would f---ing kill him. He’s not even getting anyone in the Top 15. He might not even have a f---ing job. When was the last time that you won a fight? You f---ing suck. Colby you’re a p---y. How you get punched on by [Jorge] Masvidal in public and …

Manuel Torres didn’t waste time in the UFC Mexico co-main event.

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The Entram Gym product secured a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his first-round stoppage of Drew Dober in their lightweight showdown. Torres dropped Dober with a one-two and then sealed his victory with about 15 unanswered hammerfists to the side of the head as his opponent clinged to his leg. The official time of the stoppage came 1:45 into Round 1.

Elsewhere, Edgar Chairez pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” payment for a submission of C.J. Vergara in a featured flyweight matchup. Chairez set the stage for the finish by dropping his adversary with a left hook and follow-up blows. From there, he worked his way to the back, locked in a face crank and forced a tapout at the 2:30 mark of the opening period.

Earlier, David Martinez had a debut to remember, scoring a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check for a finish of Saimon Oliveira in a main-card banta…