Martial Arts News

As the 2024 Professional Fighters League semifinals near conclusion, the company continues to display rising success and new beginnings.

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On Thursday, the PFL will hold its "Battle of the Giants” press conference featuring ex-UFC champ Francis Ngannou, PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira, legendary women’s MMA champion Cris Cyborg and two-time PFL queen Larissa Pacheco. YouTube personality turned boxing star Jake Paul will host the proceedings.

With eyes on the present and future, PFL CEO Peter Murray is targeting even more big moves in the months to come.

In an exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Murray opened up about his desire for the PFL to open up new divisions for its regular season format in 2025 and the years to follow. While other promotions in MMA may avoid adding weight classes such as men’s flyweight, Murray believes the division will be a key area of focus for the PFL, and he has a former UFC standout in mind to lead the ch…

Ray Cooper III might not be part of the Professional Fighters League postseason this year, but he is feeling rejuvenated heading into his showcase bout against Muhamed Berkhamov at PFL 9 on Friday.

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That wasn’t necessarily the case in recent months, as he struggle to find motivation after capturing PFL championships in 2019 and 2021.

“I just wasn't excited, from these last couple of flights and from my previous outings in the tournament,” Cooper said during a PFL media day. “Nothing excited excited me [in] PFL. When we first started the playoff, it was [two fights] in [one] night. That's what really excited me to go and show who was really the toughest and I just wasn't excited [anymore. Just from my last fight with Jason Jackson, it just excited me again, and that's not how I perform and that wasn't me.”

Cooper III would like to earn another shot at the former Bellator welterweight champion, but ultimately, the main objective is to find enter…

UFC fighter Casey Kenney was recently arrested on charges of kidnapping and assault in relation to a domestic violence incident last month.

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According to Maricopa County Superior Court records, Kenney is facing a total of six charges — including felony kidnapping and aggravated assault — for an incident that occurred on July 21. Kenney was arrested on Aug. 16 and has since been released from custody. A status conference regarding Kenney’s case is scheduled for Thursday, and a preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 26.

The incident was initially brought to light by the alleged victim’s mother on Instagram. A probable cause statement obtained by MMAFighting.com reveals details regarding the alleged domestic violence incident by stating that Kenney “committed kidnapping, aggravated assault by strangulation and assault against [victim] Jasmine Mendez by repeatedly striking, slapping, biting, headbutting and choking [victim] Jasmine for several hours…”

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum revealed some interesting details about a meeting he had with Jon Jones backstage at ADCC recently.

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“It was really nice to see Jones again,” Werdum said. “I couldn’t believe it when he asked to teach him how I make my happy face.”

The Brazilian heavyweight recalled that he and Jones initially became close when they were both paid to be a VIP presence by local promoters from Russia and the Brazilian state of Goais on separate occasions.

“Both were nice opportunities to know [Jones] as a person, and we had a great time together,” Werdum said. “We even recalled a party we had in Russia and grappling and sparring in a small hotel room we had in Goias where we almost destroyed the room. Two big guys, Wanderlei [Silva] and Rafael Cordeiro. Imagine how crazy it was.”

Werdum revealed that Jones asked his thoughts about Stipe Miocic when they fought for the heavyweight title at UFC 198 in 2016, when W…

Merab Dvalishvili won’t let a cut stand between him the opportunity to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title.

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Dvalishvili challenges Sean O'Malley for the bantamweight title in the main event at UFC 306 on Sept. 14 in a one-of-a-kind card at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The challenger revealed a cut on his left eyelid less than month to go before fight night, immediately raising O’Malley’s concern.

Warning Dvalishvili to not pull out of the fight, the champ wrote on X: “This little f—in rat better not pull out I swear to God.”

This little fuckin rat better not pull out I swear to god. https://t.co/NsuWW0WRWt

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) August 21, 2024

However, Dvalishvili assured O’Malley and fans that his upcoming Noche UFC fight won’t be jeopardized by the cut. Dvalishvili claims to have never pulled out of a fight, and he certainly won’t let a cut change that going into the biggest matchup …

Proudly representing The Fighting Nerds from Brazil, Caio Borralho (16-1) recently provided a detailed breakdown of his upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship bout.

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Borralho headlines UFC on ESPN 62 against perennial middleweight contender Jared Cannonier (17-7) on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. Unbeaten in six UFC outings, the middleweight expects a title shot next if he can finish Cannonier.

Borralho believes Cannonier’s biggest advantage against him will be “The Killa Gorilla’s” experience. Borralho observes that Cannonier is capable of dictating the pace of the fight, slowing it down or picking it up at will. “The Natural” believes Cannonier’s biggest strength is his immense experience of fighting five-rounders, which includes a failed title bid against Israel Adesanya in 2022.

“So, I think one of his biggest advantages is his experience,” Borralho told Shakiel Mahjouri. “He knows how to take the fight where he wants. He likes to […

Jon Jones claims he has nothing left to prove after fighting Stipe Miocic.

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Jones hasn’t fought winning the heavyweight title with a submission win against Ciryl Gane on his return to action after three years at UFC 285 in March 2023. The former light heavyweight champ remains intent on defending his title against Stipe Miocic, a fight that was canceled at UFC 295 after Jones suffered a pectoral injury. That bout has been rumored for UFC 309 in November, although the matchup is yet to be officially announced. Jones has repeatedly hinted at retirement following the Miocic matchup, much to the ire of interim champ Tom Aspinall, who has long been rallying for a title unifier.

Jones recently doubled down on his plans to retire unless the UFC makes him an offer he can’t refuse. A fan recently asked Jones’ opinion on footage of Aspinall wrestling retired rugby player Ugo Monye. Apparently unimpressed by Aspinall, Jones said he remains focused on Miocic, w…

Advances in DNA testing might someday reveal Andreas Gustafsson to be part brown bear.

The Vasteras Fight Club product was one of four hopefuls to secure an Ultimate Fighting Championship during Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series, as he mauled Pat Pytlik in close quarters and buried him with a volley of knee strikes to the head in the second round of their welterweight showcase. Pytlik (9-2, 0-1 DWS) bowed out to an accumulation of punishment 3:20 into Round 2.

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Gustafsson (11-2, 1-0 DWCS) crashed into the clinch, showed no regard for his own well-being and systematically dismantled the Canadian with merciless pressure and short-range strikes. Pytlik managed to create some space with his dirty boxing but could not keep the Swedish brute at bay. Gustafsson closed the distance in the middle stanza, chipped away with elbows and ultimately broke his opponent with three knees to the head. Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev will join Gustafsson on the UFC ro…

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The Professional Fighters League has officially unveiled logistics for Thursday’s PFL Superfights: Battle of the Giants – Brace for Impact press conference.

PFL Battle of the Giants goes down on Oct. 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring two title fights. Francis Ngannou (17-3) will make his PFL debut against 2023 PFL Global Season heavyweight king Renan Ferreira (13-3) with the newly crafted PFL Super Fights Championship belt on the line. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ will be returning to mixed martial arts for the first time since January 2022, having fought two mammoth boxing bouts during this span.

The co-main event of the night features WMMA legend Cristiane Justino (27-2) making her SmartCage debut in a title fight against two-division PFL queen Larissa Pacheco (23-4). Cyborg was undefeated throughout her Bellator tenure, with the last loss dating back to 2018 against fellow legend Amanda Nunes. Meanwhile…

An audible has been called in regards to the originally announced co-main event for UFC Edmonton.

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Last week, the promotion revealed that a heavyweight clash pitting Derrick Lewis against Alexander Romanov would serve as the co-main event for UFC Fight Night 246 on Nov. 2. Lewis and Romanov will still compete on the card — now they will just square off against different opponents. Lewis will face Jhonata Diniz in the new co-main event, while Romanov will lock horns with Rodrigo Nascimento. Laerte Viana was first to report the new bookings, and they were later confirmed by MMAjunkie.com.

UFC Fight Night 246 takes place at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, and is headlined by a women’s flyweight scrap between Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas.

Diniz is 2-0 in the Octagon after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023. After scoring a second-round KO of Austen Lane in his promotional debut, the Brazilian took a una…

An injury has forced Danny Silva to withdraw from a proposed featherweight clash against Dennis Buzukja at UFC on ESPN 62 this Saturday.

As a result, Francis Marshall will step in on short notice to face Buzukja at the event. The bout will now be contested at lightweight. The promotion announced the change on Tuesday. UFC on ESPN 62 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a middleweight showdown pitting Jared Cannonier against Caio Borralho.

A competitor on Dana White's Contender Series in 2022, Marshall is 1-2 under the UFC banner. In his last outing, the 25-year-old suffered a first-round technical knockout loss to Isaac Dulgarian at UFC on ESPN 51 in August 2023.

Buzukja, meanwhile, snapped a two-fight skid in his most recent Octagon appearance, when he scored a third-round stoppage of Connor Matthews at UFC on ESPN 54 on March 30.