Martial Arts News

Tyson Fury appears to have run out of patience with the long-running saga involving Anthony Joshua.

Fury and Joshua have spent months trying to finalize their highly anticipated heavyweight matchup, but negotiations have stalled over the location. Fury's side has pushed for the fight to take place in the United States, while Joshua and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn have favored England.

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Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua fight is ‘going nowhere’ amid location dispute Fury took to Instagram and claimed that Joshua is the primary roadblock for the fight coming to fruition.

“The facts are you don’t want to fight,” Fury said in an Instagram video. “Because if you did, you’d be ready to rock and roll like I am. Tyson Fury has already said 1,000 times will fight anywhere, no problem at all. Turki Alalshikh has paid you tens of millions to fight and you’re still acting like little b*tches. It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do. I can’t make a coward figh…

Hawaii is a targeted future destination for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

During his recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” UFC CEO Dana White was asked where he’d like to stage an event the promotion has never visited previously. Hawaii immediately came to mind, although he explained that infrastructure has prevented the promotion from staging an event there, but a new arena is apparently in the works.

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Dana White points to a new Hawaii arena as the key to UFC's long-awaited debut According to White, the state's existing infrastructure has been the biggest obstacle to staging an event. However, with a new arena targeted for 2028-29, taking the promotion to the island state is a priority.

“One of our biggest markets since day one has been Hawaii, and we’ve still never put on an event in Hawaii,” White said. “We’ve had multiple world champions from Hawaii. The infrastructure there can’t support a UFC event. But now they’re building a new a…

Jason Jackson believes he can disrupt the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division and upset the reigning champ.

Jackson recently called for a UFC signing while making a bold claim. The former Bellator welterweight champion believes he can defeat UFC welterweight king Islam Makhachev. Furthermore, the 35-year-old says the premier promotion doesn’t want him on the roster, considering his age.

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Jason Jackson explains why he believes he can beat UFC champ Islam Makhachev Makhachev faced one of the toughest tests of his career while successfully defending his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330. Jackson claims he had his way with Garry in training and never struggled against the Irishman.

Jackson also handed Yaroslav Amosov his lone career loss. According to the Jamaican, Amosov, who has finished both of his UFC wins so far, is a better fighter than Makhachev. He believes the UFC isn’t offering him a contract as they fear that …

Bilal Hasan is unburdened by his perfect record.

Hasan (10-0) is rapidly rising to stardom less than a week after making his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut. He earned his UFC contract with a 45-second knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series less than three weeks prior.

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Bilal Hasan explains why protecting his 10-0 record doesn't consume him Hasan says he isn’t concerned about losing his perfect record. While many undefeated prospects are devastated after their first loss, Hasan says he is used to losing in the gym. He claims he loves the sport as it gives him space for endless growth and is excited to be a student and keep learning forever.

“Not at all, man. I lose every day in the gym, and it’s cool,” Hasan told Bedtime MMA. “I love that, man; that’s how it should be. The No. 1 thing I love about martial arts, and I know you train as well, is the learning, man. The constant being a student, being a sponge, it’s so cool. There’s so much…

Fares Ziam plans to move to the United States to develop his game.

Ziam is scheduled to fight fellow Frenchman Alex Sola in the co-main event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s event in France on Sept. 5. He did most of his camp in Denver under Justin Gaethje’s head coach, Trevor Wittman, and eventually wants to move stateside.

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Fares Ziam plans to move his family to Denver to develop his UFC career Ziam says that while he didn’t previously have a head coach, he believes he needs one at the highest level. He eventually plans to move with his family to Denver to train under Wittman, whom he considers the best head coach for himself.

“My plan is to move with my family to the U.S. to be in Denver,” Ziam told MMA Junkie. “Two to three years in Denver and forget. For me, it’s important to evolve in this game, to be focused. Before, I didn’t get any head coach; I had a team around me. But at this level, we need a head coach, a guy who is looking out …

Movsar Evloev is unimpressed with women’s mixed martial arts.

Evloev recently revealed that he finds it hard to watch women’s MMA. The Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight claims to have only ever enjoyed one women’s MMA bout and is curious about the viewership numbers an all-women promotion would garner.

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UFC 333 title challenger Movsar Evloev questions the appeal of women’s MMA Evloev was impressed with Rose Namajunas’ title defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in their rematch at UFC 223 in 2018. However, every other bout is a challenging viewing experience, according to the unbeaten Russian. He jokes that the UFC should start a separate league for women’s MMA and check its viewership.

“I don’t watch women’s fights,” Evloev told MMA Junkie. “I can’t watch; it’s so hard. One fight I watched and liked was [Joanna] Jedrzejczyk and [Rose] Namajunas, the second one… I don’t watch a lot of fights, but all the fights I watched of women weren’t goo…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Paris for a Fight Night this weekend.UFC Paris airs on Paramount+ in the US with Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse in the main eventHere’s a brief rundown for those who want to watch the event:

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How to watch UFC Paris in the United States UFC Paris goes down on Sept. 5 at the Accor Arena in the French capital. The event airs live on Paramount+ with the prelims starting at 12 p.m. ET/ 9 a.m. PT, followed by the main card at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT.

Dan Hooker (24-14) welcomes France’s Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) to the UFC in the main event. Hooker will look to bounce back from consecutive stoppage losses against Arman Tsarukyan and Benoit St. Denis.

Meanwhile, Parnasse is a former KSW two-division champion. The 28-year-old is on a five-fight finishing streak with a first-round knockout win in his last outing at Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural mixed martial arts event this past May.

Frenchmen Fa…

The Professional Fighters League continues to build its upcoming fight card, scheduled for Oct. 16 in Chicago.

An undisputed women’s flyweight title fight between Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop will headlinePFL Chicago, and the promotion has now added another 125-pound matchup to the growing lineup.

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Sources close to the promotion confirmed to Sherdog that Shannon Clark will face Lucero Acosta.Shannon Clark meets PFL newcomer Lucero Acosta in a women’s flyweight boutThe bout will mark Acosta’s PFL debut. She owns a 6-2 professional record and has earned victories by knockout, submission and decision.

A flyweight title fight headlines PFL Chicago: Tune in on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Clark made her promotional debut at PFL San Diego this summer, earning a third-round technical knockout. The victory moved the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion into the PFL women’s flyweight rankings after only one appearance.

Liz Car…

Tom Aspinall’s Octagon return will have to wait.

Eddie Hearn recently hinted that the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder isn’t ready to return to action yet. Hearn claims that Aspinall is still not medically cleared to compete after suffering an eye injury in his last bout against Ciryl Gane.

Eddie Hearn says Tom Aspinall is not medically cleared to fight after his Ciryl Gane bout While Aspinall still isn't cleared to return to action, the head of Matchroom Boxing assured fans that he is “motivated” and eager to return as soon as he is permitted.

“The only thing that we have to look at is when Tom Aspinall will be ready to return,” Hearn said in a recent press scrum captured by Bloody Elbow. “And that’s not from a mindset perspective; that’s from a commission perspective in terms of his injury. And that shows you what he has been through because if the commission won’t let him fight, you know how serious the injuries were… He’s motivated. I can’t gi…

Anthony Smith is set to return to competition amidst his legal troubles.

Smith is set to fight Jordan Heiderman in the main event of Gamebred Bare-Knuckle MMA 12 on Oct. 2 in the Dominican Republic. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight was arrested in Sarpy County, Nebraska, in July following an alleged altercation with his wife. Smith is currently out on bail and faces four felony charges.

Gamebred FC explains decision to book Anthony Smith against Jordan Heiderman Smith’s wife came out in his support soon after the arrest. Meanwhile, the former UFC title challenger recently issued a statement, promising to tell his version of the story soon. Gamebred FC also released a statement, explaining their stance.

While Gamebred FC isn’t undermining the charges against Smith, they consider him innocent until proven otherwise. Gamebred FC also wants to allow Smith to continue to earn while he deals with his legal issues.

“As we announce Anthony Smi…

Gregory Rodrigues sees openings he can exploit against Dricus Du Plessis.

Rodrigues called out du Plessis after his recent victory over Anthony Hernandez, which extended his win streak to four straight. The Brazilian views the former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion as the “most logical matchup” for his next bout.

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Gregory Rodrigues explains why Dricus Du Plessis is the matchup he wants next With Khamzat Chimaev’s future uncertain, and Brendan Allen and Joe Pyfer already booked, Rodrigues claims the time is right for the du Plessis matchup.

“That’s the fight that makes the most sense,” Rodrigues told Sherdog. “I don’t know what’s going on with Chimaev and I think Brendan Allen and Pyfer already have fights booked, so DDP seems like the most logical matchup.”

Rodrigues remains open to other matchups but is confident he can beat du Plessis, eyeing holes in the South African’s game.

“Dricus is very strong and tough and h…

Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns are set to collide once again, this time on the wrestling mat at Real American Freestyle.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder and the former welterweight title challenger will meet at RAF 13 on Sept. 18 at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida. The pair previously faced off at UFC 273, where Chimaev edged Burns via decision.

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Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns will meet at RAF 13 four years after their UFC 273 classic The RAF matchup comes over four years after Chimaev and Burns squared off in one of UFC's most memorable bouts of 2022, which earned Fight of the Night honors.

Chimaev already has another RAF assignment locked in before the Burns match. “Borz” is scheduled to face former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in the main event of RAF Moscow on Sept. 5. He made his RAF debut earlier this year against Dillon Danis.

Meanwhile, Burns announced his retirement from mixed martial art…