Martial Arts News

New matchups have been revealed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Sacramento, California.

A Fight Night event is confirmed for Aug. 22 at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center. It will feature a high-stakes middleweight clash in the main event, with a light heavyweight bout in the co-headliner. Other key fights for UFC Sacramento have also been unveiled.

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UFC Sacramento fight card announced for Aug. 22 at Golden 1 Center The UFC returns to Sacramento on Aug. 22 with a middleweight showdown between Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues in the main event. Hernandez will look to bounce back after his loss to Sean Strickland this past February, while Rodrigues is on a three-fight win streak, eager to pick up a fourth.

In the co-main event, Reinier de Ridder faces Roman Dolidze at 205 pounds. After back-to-back defeats at middleweight to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho, de Ridder is moving up to the light heavyweight division. Notably, the Dut…

Mario Bautista has a chance to settle the score with Cory Sandhagen and recently revealed how the upcoming rematch will contrast with their first bout.

Bautista suffered the first loss of his professional career in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against Sandhagen seven years ago. He expects a “completely different fight” when they collide at UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Mario Bautista stresses key factor going into Cory Sandhagen rematch Bautista lost to Sandhagen via a first-round armbar submission in their first meeting back in 2019. “I feel from that point to this point, we’ve grown so much, both of us,” Bautista said during UFC 329 media day. “I have gone through so much… So, I expect a completely different fight this time.”

Bautista believes experience is the biggest difference between the two meetings.

“Experience, as far as like, fighting big names,” he answered when asked about the rematch. Hig…

Chael Sonnen believes Conor McGregor has a narrow path to victory against Max Holloway.

Thirteen years after their featherweight clash in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, McGregor and Holloway are now set to run it back at welterweight. They’ll collide at UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Sonnen has now revealed how the Irishman can emerge victorious.

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Chael Sonnen questions Conor McGregor’s chances in Max Holloway rematch Ahead of the upcoming numbered event, Sonnen praised McGregor for attempting a comeback after his in-cage leg break back in 2021, but acknowledged the challenge awaiting the former two-division champion.

“Well, I'm inspired right now by Conor McGregor and I don't think there's very many famous elitist millionaires that could inspire me, but he is really… He's tackling something big here,” Sonnen said during a recent preview on Paramount+. “First off, that's the worst injury that I've ever seen. I've …

Jorge Masvidal has weighed in on Conor McGregor’s five-year hiatus from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ahead of the Irishman’s long-awaited return to the Octagon, which will be a rematch against Max Holloway, Masvidal has shared his take on the matchup. In a recent preview show on Paramount+, “Gamebred” discussed the effect McGregor’s five-year absence from competition could have on his performance.

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Jorge Masvidal Has a Brutal Warning for Conor McGregor Before UFC Return Masvidal, alongside fellow former UFC stars Chris Weidman and Din Thomas, broke down the upcoming UFC 329 main event and McGregor’s much-anticipated return on Paramount+. While the Irishman has claimed that he’s in his athletic prime, Masvidal says the former two-division champion’s return hinges on his lifestyle during the hiatus.

The inaugural BMF champion highlighted that if one stays disciplined while out of competition, they can extend their prime, saying, “It must sound …

Paddy Pimblett is confident that Benoit St. Denis can’t fight him as Justin Gaethje did.

Pimblett (23-4) fought Gaethje (28-5) for the interim Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title this past January. While the Brit showed immense heart, he suffered a beatdown en route to a unanimous decision loss to “The Highlight.” Pimblett doesn’t believe St. Denis (17-3) can present the same level of danger as the new 155-pound king.

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Paddy Pimblett claims Benoit St. Denis hasn't got Justin Gaethje’s chin and cardio Pimblett will face St. Denis in the co-main event at UFC 329, which goes down Saturday, July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “The Baddy” claims St. Denis doesn’t have a path to victory against him, saying he’ll choke out the Frenchman if the fight goes to the ground and knock him out if they trade on the feet.

The former Cage Warriors champion considers Gaethje a completely different level of fighter when compared to St. Denis. He said…

Max Holloway wasn’t shocked by the outcome of Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje.

Topuria was a massive favorite when he put his Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title on the line against interim champion Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. After battling through a body shot in the second round, the latter rallied in the third and fourth rounds to pile on the damage, prompting a corner stoppage before the fifth.

Max Holloway breaks down Justin Gaethje’s boxing performance against Ilia Topuria Having faced both fighters, Holloway wasn’t surprised by the result of the last lightweight fight. He was, in fact, caught off guard by how Gaethje was largely being counted out. However, what left the former featherweight and BMF champion stunned was the way Gaethje handed “El Matador” his first professional loss.

While “Blessed” believed Gaethje could win, he thought “The Highlight” would use his signature leg kicks. Seeing his compatriot outbox Topuria, who is considered one of…

Belal Muhammad believes Max Holloway should initially play it really safe against Conor McGregor.

McGregor (22-6) returns to action after a five-year hiatus from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a welterweight matchup against Holloway (27-9) in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Muhammad foresees a striking-heavy bout, he believes Holloway should be the one to initiate wrestling against the returning former two-division champion.

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Belal Muhammad explains why Max Holloway should wrestle Conor McGregor early at UFC 329 Muhammad notes that McGregor's form, speed and power are unknown after his long layoff. The former welterweight champion believes “Notorious” could still pose a serious knockout threat in the first two to three minutes, especially considering his move up to 170 pounds.

The 37-year-old also believes the Irish superstar’s gas tank, which was an issue even in his prime, will be an even bigger factor now.<…

Daniel Cormier not only saw his national team crash out of the FIFA World Cup but also lost a bet to Paddy Pimblett.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer had bet $1,000 on the U.S. to defeat Belgium in the Round of 16 knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup. However, the co-hosts were knocked out via a 1-4 loss to Belgium and Cormier has paid his dues after meeting Pimblett in Las Vegas ahead of UFC 329.

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Daniel Cormier pays Paddy Pimblett after losing FIFA World Cup bet Cormier admittedly let the hype get the better of him after the U.S. defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32. The former UFC double champ immediately paid Pimblett in cash, saying, “I was filled with unnecessary confidence watching us beat Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sh*t! Bro, I owe you money. I owe you $1,000.”

They are both in Las Vegas, with UFC 329 set to go down at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. Pimblett will look to return to winning wa…

Brandon Royval has been serving his community for half a decade.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight recently revealed that he has been volunteering for five years at the Denver Dream Center, a non-profit organization that helps youth from troubled backgrounds rebuild their lives.

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Brandon Royval’s Denver Dream Center volunteer work before UFC 329 Royval feels privileged to have built personal relationships with less-fortunate kids and watched them grow into young adults. The former title challenger said in the UFC 329 “Embedded” video series:

“The Dream Center is – we pick up the kids in the local area, normally the lower-income area. We bring them, feed them, just create relationships, and check up on everybody… Five years I’ve been a volunteer there. And it’s cool cause most of the kids are in middle school or high school. So I’ve watched them become young adults and handle adversity. So it’s been really cool and a real privilege.”

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Benoit St. Denis claims he is medically cleared to fight at the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

St. Denis is set to take on Paddy Pimblett in a lightweight bout in the co-main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. Hawk-eyed fans recently noticed a small scar on the Frenchman’s right foot in training videos. This instantly sparked speculation of a staph infection, which could potentially lead to the cancellation of the fight.

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Benoit St. Denis shuts down staph rumors before Paddy Pimblett clash St. Denis has assured fans that he doesn’t have a staph infection. “God of War” claims the mark of his foot is merely a scab, which is pretty common. He told RMC Sport Combat:

“No, not at all, I don’t have staph. Everything happens very quickly on social media; it’s crazy. I did have a scab on my foot, yes, but it’s not staph. That’s all it was. These are things that can happen. But the camp was managed very well…

Sean Strickland believes Dustin Poirier is genuinely dealing with mental health issues.

Poirier was recently arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for threatening to fight a police officer while drunk. Currently out on bail, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship star has since opened up about his alcoholism and depression.

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Sean Strickland explains why he changed his opinion on Dustin Poirier’s struggles Strickland (31-7) initially went off on Poirier (30-10) for claiming to be depressed. The UFC middleweight champion said that “The Diamond” has no right to be depressed as he’s rich and well-loved, while those less fortunate battle each day.

However, Strickland has since changed his stance after speaking to Poirier. He is convinced that the former interim champion honestly regrets his actions and isn’t just trying to clean up his image in the media. Strickland wrote on X:

“I spoke to Dustin and he is legitimately messe…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to China is scheduled for Aug. 29 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium and a new flyweight matchup has reportedly been added to the card.

Kevin Borjas (11-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) is set to face Rei Tsuruya (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), per multiple reports. However, the UFC is yet to confirm the booking.

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Kevin Borjas vs. Rei Tsuruya added to UFC Shanghai card A flyweight matchup between Kevin Borjas and Rei Tsuruya has reportedly been added to UFC Fight Night 286’s lineup.

Borjas, a Dana White’s Contender Series signee, has struggled in the UFC so far, with a 2-4 record inside the Octagon. In the Peruvian’s last fight, he beat Andre Lima by unanimous decision after missing weight.

Meanwhile, Tsuruya earned his spot on the UFC roster via Road to UFC. The Japanese 125-pounder made his promotional debut at UFC 303, beating Carlos Hernandez by decision, before losing to current champion Joshua Van. He then won his next bout…