Martial Arts News

No one has more wins in the Trigon than Cub Hawkins 😤 Cub is looking for another this Saturday. Watch BKB 56 at The NOVO in Los Angeles 🎟️ Get your tickets at https://t.co/644ThInv0h #BKB56 #BKB #BareKnuckle https://t.co/JdK4KaXNn4

— BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) July 15, 2026

Cub Hawkins has more wins inside BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing’s Trigon than any other fighter. The 28-year-old Chicago native, one of 13 children, has captured championships at 175 and 185 pounds, most recently beating Professional Fighters League and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Jesse Ronson.

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Hawkins, nicknamed The Savage, holds a bare-knuckle boxing record of 10-1, with nine victories by knockout or technical knockout.Cub Hawkins discusses Rowdy Legend Montgomery matchup and his usual training approach for BKB Biloxi His next challenge is Rowdy Legend Montgomery. At 6-foot-2, Montgomery has a 6-inch height advantage over the …

Fight night here we come 🔜 LIVE OCT 23 at 7 PM CT | 🎟️ Get tickets at https://t.co/GBzGgysTnE https://t.co/HrDtfD0SrY

— BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) October 23, 2026

Former BKB lightweight world champion Jarod "Kid Gatti" Grant and Pantera Guerrero made weight Thursday ahead of their super lightweight main event Friday at Bally's Fightnight by BKB at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi.

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Grant weighed 140.3 pounds, while Guerrero tipped the scales at 139.8 pounds.

Grant is seeking a victory that could move him closer to another world title opportunity.

"My goal is to get back into the title picture, and that starts with an impressive win on Friday night," Grant said.

Cub Hawkins and Rowdy Montgomery make weight for BKB Biloxi co-main event In the middleweight co-main event, reigning BKB light heavyweight world champion Cub "The Savage" Hawkins drops down a division to face undefeated Rowdy Mo…

Farmasi Arena, which has hosted numerous UFC events in Rio de Janeiro, will welcome ACBJJ 23 on Nov. 13. The Russian promotion unveiled the lineup Wednesday, featuring several prominent names from grappling and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In the main event, Rousimar Palhares will face Andre Galvao in a rematch of their 2011 ADCC under-88-kilogram final, which Galvao won 9-4 in Nottingham, England. This time, the two will compete at 100 kilograms under combat jiu-jitsu rules.

In the co-main event, UFC middleweights Kelvin Gastelum and Rodolfo Vieira will meet at 88 kilograms under grappling rules. Another UFC veteran expected to appear on the card, though not yet officially announced, is Edson Barboza, according to information obtained by Sherdog.Rousimar Palhares and Andre Galvao revisit 2011 ADCC final under combat jiu-jitsu rules at ACBJJ 23The rematch between Galvao and Palhares brings together two accomplished Brazilian grapplers. Palhares, known as Toquinh…

Former IBF featherweight world champion Lee "Lightning" Selby will face undefeated Ollie "The Death" Sentance in the super lightweight main event of BKB 61 on Nov. 14 at indigo at The O2 in London.

Selby (1-0, 1 KO) returns to bare-knuckle competition against Sentance (2-0, 2 KOs), who has recorded knockouts in both professional bare-knuckle appearances.

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Lee Selby faces unbeaten Ollie Sentance as Marko Martinjak defends BKB title against Matty Askin The co-main event features BKB bridgerweight world champion Marko "Marvelous" Martinjak (13-2, 13 KOs) defending his title against former British cruiserweight boxing champion Matty "The Assassin" Askin (1-0, 1 KO).

Two welterweight bouts also highlight the card. Undefeated Ashley "Bash" Devenport (3-0, 1 KO) meets Kallum Skhane (2-3, 2 KOs), while Aaron "The Baron" McCallum (9-6-1, 7 KOs) faces Simey "The Smoke from Stoke" Doherty (10-2-1, 3 KOs) in a rematch.

Additional main-card bouts include Da…

Merab Dvalishvili is eager to reclaim the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title.

The former champion will challenge Petr Yan in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. He’s looking to avenge his December 2025 loss to the Russian and recapture the 135-pound championship.

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Merab Dvalishvili aims to reclaim UFC bantamweight title in Petr Yan trilogy at UFC 333 Dvalishvili was attempting his fourth successful title defense of 2025 when he lost his rematch with Yan. “The Machine” says he feels healthy and refreshed ahead of their third meeting.

“I’m really hungry now this time,” Dvalishvili said in a prefight interview. “My body is fine, and I’m good… Even when I was busy, I never complained because I’m a fighter and even if something bothers me, I’m gonna show up and I’m gonna fight.”

Both previous meetings ended in unanimous decisions, with Dvalishvili dominating their first encounter in 2023 and Yan winnin…

Virna Jandiroba expects a high-level grappling battle against Tatiana Suarez.

The two Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweights are scheduled to meet at UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7. Jandiroba hopes to build a winning streak and return to title contention, targeting a third meeting with reigning 115-pound champion Mackenzie Dern.

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Virna Jandiroba calls Tatiana Suarez grappling matchup a 'clash of titans' ahead of UFC Vegas 124 Jandiroba (23-4) said she has completed two training camps in preparation for Suarez (12-1).

Suarez’s wrestling presents a compelling test for Jandiroba’s jiu-jitsu. The Brazilian believes their contrasting grappling backgrounds could produce a memorable matchup.

“I was part of the previous training camp with Demian [Maia], who faced some great wrestlers throughout his career, and he gave me some valuable insights. I usually say it will be a clash of titans,” Jandiroba told Sherdog.

Jandiroba lost to Dern by unanimou…

Further reporting has shed light on the operation during which Tim Kennedy was wounded in a Sept. 17 ambush in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to MMA Weekly, sources close to the Congolese government said the former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight and his fellow contractors were assigned to a ground-clearing operation. Their work was linked to broader efforts to protect mining revenue, combat smuggling and collect taxes for the government.

New report details Vectus Global's Congo operation that left Tim Kennedy wounded and Justin Conaglen deadKennedy reportedly was part of a three-man contractor team alongside former New Zealand Special Air Service member Justin Conaglen and an unidentified contractor. The ambush in South Kivu province left about 20 people dead or wounded, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Conaglen was killed, while Kennedy and the third contractor were wounded. Kennedy reportedly sustained three gunshot wounds to a le…

Islam Dulatov reportedly has his second Ultimate Fighting Championship appearance booked.

According to Marcel Dorff, the German welterweight will face Levan Chokheli at UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5. Dulatov was scheduled to face Wellington Turman in July, but the bout was canceled after Dulatov fell ill.

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Levan Chokheli reportedly faces Islam Dulatov at UFC Saudi Arabia after 23-second debut win Dulatov (12-1) earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. He knocked out Adam Fugitt in his promotional debut in July 2025, dropping the American with a left hook before finishing him with follow-up punches at 4:06 of the first round.

Chokheli (15-3, 1 NC) also enters the matchup following a first-round stoppage in his UFC debut. The Georgian welterweight needed just 23 seconds to stop Leon Shahbazyan in June.

The promotion has not announced a headliner for UFC Saudi Arabia, though Israel Adesanya vs. Sharabutdin Magomedov has bee…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is open to a rematch against Conor McGregor.

The unbeaten former boxing champion recently reflected on their 2017 bout, saying it elevated McGregor’s profile and generated considerable financial rewards for both men.

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Floyd Mayweather discusses possible Conor McGregor rematch nine years after 2017 boxing match Mayweather stopped McGregor by technical knockout in the 10th round, improving his professional record to 50-0. He has since competed in several exhibitions and remains interested in facing the Irishman again.

“Actually, I think me and Conor McGregor may lock up again. Yeah, absolutely,” Mayweather said during an appearance on the “PBD Podcast.” “I don’t live with Conor McGregor, he’s not my friend. I don’t have to see him. It’s just when it’s time for us to do business and lock up, let’s do it.”

Mayweather’s exhibition opponents have included Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, social media personalities Logan Paul …

Nina-Marie Daniele says she wore a hijab for her interview with Movsar Evloev out of respect.

Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Daniele’s decision to wear a hijab while interviewing the Muslim fighter drew criticism online, prompting her response.

Nina-Marie Daniele explains why she wore a hijab for Movsar Evloev interview ahead of UFC 333During the interview, Evloev said his religious beliefs would prevent him from looking at her if she were dressed less modestly. Daniele defended her choice, explaining that she wanted to make him comfortable. She also said participation in her interviews is voluntary and that no one forced her to wear the hijab.

“At the end of the day it’s always about respect,” Daniele wrote on X. “I have so much respect for all my Muslim friends. I love learning about cultures and I’m so grateful for the UFC for givi…

Aaron Pico is learning to be more patient inside the Octagon.

Pico (14-5) is scheduled to face Losene Keita (17-2) at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the matchup, the former Bellator fighter said he wants to gain experience rather than rush to finish.

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Aaron Pico explains new fighting mentality ahead of Losene Keita matchup at UFC 333 Pico was knocked out in his UFC debut last year before earning his first promotional victory against Patricio Freire. He said he has since adopted a “beginner mentality.”

Pico, who has finished 11 of his 14 professional victories, has worked with coach Roberto Barreiro to develop a more measured approach. Instead of trying to end fights as quickly as possible, he now wants to settle into the action.

“When I say I needed to be humbled, it's not in the fact that I walked or carried myself… I needed to humble myself in the way that I was fighting,” Pico said at the UFC 333 media day. “I was…

Mandel Nallo says his nose-picking gesture at the ceremonial weigh-ins for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s recent event in Edmonton, Alberta, was a message to his children.

Nallo stopped Nate Landwehr at UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17. Before the bout, however, the Canadian lightweight drew attention by conspicuously picking his nose onstage. He has since explained the gesture.

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Mandel Nallo says his sons inspired UFC Edmonton nose-picking gesture before Dana White's handshake offer Nallo said his sons suggested the gesture as a way to acknowledge them while they watched. That created an awkward moment when UFC CEO Dana White extended his hand before Nallo’s faceoff with Landwehr. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Nallo explained that refusing the handshake might have looked disrespectful.

“I have two boys; they're 5 and 7... I wanted to notify them that I knew they were watching,” Nallo said. “So I told them, ‘What's something I can do so that you guys can…