Martial Arts News

Despite being on a precarious stage in his career, Cody Brundage felt no pressure fighting on his 32nd birthday. 

Brundage (12-9) took on Andre Petroski (13-6) in a middleweight tilt at UFC Fight Night 276. Brundage dropped Petroski with a left hook early in the second round and unleashed vicious ground-and-pound to secure a stoppage win. 

Advertisement

The win over Petroski marked the end of a four-fight winless streak for Brundage. Brundage admits that this could have marked the end of his UFC career if he hadn’t gotten his hand raised. However, the 32-year-old claims he didn’t feel any pressure going into his clash against Petroski. Going into his 16th UFC fight, Brundage didn’t want to look back regretting not having enjoyed his time inside the Octagon. Instead of trying to live up to expectations, Brundage fought for himself.Gratitude Over Fear“No pressure this time,” Brundage said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “I was at peace with whate…

Ronda Rousey was the top earner from Saturday's MVP card. | Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix

As one might expect, Ronda Rousey was the highest-paid athlete on Most Valuable Promotions’ first-ever MMA card.

The California State Athletic Commission released salary figures from Saturday’s event, which took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Rousey earned $2.2 million for her headlining bout against Gina Carano, who garnered $1.05 million. Francis Ngannou was the third seven-figure earner on the card, as he took home $1.5 million for a heavyweight clash against Philipe Lins ($100,00).

Meanwhile, Nate Diaz ($500,000) and Mike Perry ($400,000) were well compensated for their welterweight bout in the co-main event. Former Bellator champ Jason Jackson ($110,000) was the only other fighter to receive a six-figure check. Everyone who competed on the card received at least a minimum purse of $40,000.

Note: The disclosed purses reported by state athletic …

Alice Ardelean dug into her bag of tricks against Polyana Viana at UFC Vegas 117.

Ardelean received a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for her first-round submission victory over Viana in their preliminary strawweight clash at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Vianna appeared to have Ardelean neutralized with a body triangle from her back until the Romanian deftly shifted position and forced a tapout at the 4:36 mark of Round 2. The move that apppeared to injure Viana’s knee was described as a capsule lock on the Paramount+ broadcast.

Advertisement

WHAT JUST HAPPENED 😳@ArdeleanAlice is now on a 3 fight win streak after #UFCVegas117!

[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eHIk2DMe35

— UFC (@ufc) May 16, 2026 Superboy and a Memorable Debut Elsewhere, Doo Ho Choi and Daniel Santos secured “Fight of the Night” honors and $100,000 apiece for a back-and-forth featherweight battle in the evening’s co-main…

Conor McGregor will fight for the first time in five years at UFC 329. | Getty/UFC

The rumors have become reality: Conor McGregor is expected to make his long-awaited return at International Fight Week. 

The former two-division champion will square off against ex-featherweight kingpin Max Holloway in the UFC 329 headliner on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout was announced during the UFC Fight Night 276 broadcast on Saturday night. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the news also came during the Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano" main card.  McGregor vs. Holloway 2 will be contested at welterweight.

More Than a Decade in the Making McGregor and Holloway initially squared off early in their promotional tenures, with the Irishman taking a unanimous decision over “Blessed” at UFC Fight Night 26 on Aug. 17, 2013. McGregor won the fight despite suffering a torn ACL, an injury that would sideline him for some 10 months afte…

Ronda Rousey did not mess around.

The onetime Olympic bronze medalist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder dismissed Gina Carano with an armbar in the first round of their Most Valuable Promotions main event on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Carano (7-2, 0-1 MVP), who had not fought since August 2009, issued her surrender a mere 17 seconds into Round 1.

Advertisement

Rousey (13-2, 1-0 MVP) ducked into an immediate takedown, shed an attempted guillotine and climbed to full mount. From there, the decorated judoka unleashed punches, transitioned to her patented armbar and slammed the door on Carano.

Meanwhile, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship King of Violence champion Mike Perry was awarded a cut-induced technical knockout over Nate Diaz in the welterweight co-headliner. It was waved it off in between the second and third rounds, with Diaz (21-14, 0-1 MVP) bleeding profusely from multiple lacerations to his scalp and face.

Perr…

Arnold Allen wants to make sure we don’t forget him in the featherweight title discussion, but Melquizael Costa didn’t do his stock too much harm either.

Advertisement

In the main event of UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday at the Meta Apex, Allen faced Costa, with some prime space in the featherweight pecking order up for grabs, and gave a quietly impressive accounting of his intelligence, conditioning and well-rounded skills. Both men wasted little time in bringing their best weapons to bear, as Costa landed a solid spinning back kick to the midsection in the early going, while Allen stunned the “Dalmatian” with a short right hand, then spent the next minute or so keeping him in all sorts of trouble on the floor. Costa recovered, however, and turned the tables on Allen midway through the first frame, sweeping to top position and smashing the Englishman with a couple of hard ground punches. Costa tried to press his advantage and take Allen’s neck while he was hurt, but t…

Getty Images/UFC

Ivan Erslan did it about how they must have drawn it up in camp.

Advertisement

In a light heavyweight clash atop the seven-fight undercard of UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday at the Meta Apex, the 34-year-old Croatian faced George Tokkos. It was a clash of styles of the kind that has characterized mixed martial arts for three decades and counting, as kickboxing convert Erslan faced submission specialist “Tuco.” Despite Tokkos’ obvious need to get the action to the mat at any cost, the fight was competitive in the early going, as Erslan was clearly uncomfortable with Tokkos’ constant encroachment on the feet.

Erslan may have won a competitive Round 1 anyway, but definitely found his groove in the second frame. Tokkos looked slow and suddenly tired on the feet, wading in from well outside with badly telegraphed takedown attempts. These attempts Erslan punished with accurate, solid counters in the pocket. When the action did go to the groun…

Sherdog's live UFC Vegas 117 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The event is also known as UFC Fight Night 276. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Advertisement

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Tyler Treese s…

Sherdog's live Most Valuable Promotions' MVP “Rousey vs. Carano” coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:

Advertisement

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round: The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the …

Kuberski with a devastating punch! 🔥 Can anyone stop him?! 🤯

XTB #KSW118 | 🇵🇱 @CANALPLUS_SPORT | 🌍 KSWTV pic.twitter.com/m4laxraIKm

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) May 16, 2026

Advertisement

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki fans have a compelling 185-pound title fight to look forward to, as reigning champion Pawel Pawlak is expected to meet Piotr Kuberski in a middleweight title unification bout.

In the KSW 118 main event, Kuberski (18-1, 6-0 KSW) retained the interim middleweight title in emphatic fashion, stopping Michal Michalski (14-6, 8-4 KSW) in Round 1. The fighters spent a few seconds studying each other before both men shifted gears and went to work. Michalski came forward aggressively, but Kuberski timed him perfectly, countering with a straight left that sent “Cukier” to the canvas. “Qbear” applied further pressure and was clinical with ground-and-pound action once Michalski turtled up. Referee Lukasz Bosacki had no choice but to step in…

Ibraheem Yazeed has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder and abduction of Aniah Blanchard, the stepdaughter of former UFC heavyweight Walt Harris.

Earlier this year, Yazeed was found guilty on charges of murder and felony murder in relation to the abduction and death of Blanchard in 2019. Yazeed was officially given two life sentences without the possibility of parole, the most severe penalty possible based on his conviction. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty for Yazeed.

Advertisement

“Today, justice has been served. I am gratified that the court imposed the maximum allowable sentence for the senseless and brutal murder of Aniah Blanchard, life in prison. It is the sentence that the weight of this crime demanded, and one that Aniah’s family has long deserved,” Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall stated in a release.

“My deepest sympathies remain with Aniah’s family and all who loved her. No verdict can undo their unimaginable loss, …

Arman Tsarukyan claims Khamzat Chimaev made weight for UFC 328. 

Chimaev lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 328 earlier this month. It is no secret that Chimaev had a terrible weight cut, which also likely affected his performance. 

Advertisement

Chimaev looked visibly drained during the official weigh-ins, which did not go down without controversy. Chimaev was only on the scale for a few moments before the official called 185 pounds. Fans and pundits noticed that the scale hadn’t even settled before Chimaev stepped down. Strickland, Bryce Mitchell, Bobby Green and others have accused Chimaev of failing to make weight. Nothing Amiss However, Chimaev’s close friend, Tsarukyan, claims “Borz” couldn’t possibly have missed weight at the official weigh-ins. According to Tsarukyan, the UFC confirms a fighter’s weight on an automatic scale backstage before letting them proceed to the official manual scale.

“He made w…