Martial Arts News

Sherdog's coverage of Dana White's Contender Series Week 3 begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Result

The financial strain of being a professional mixed martial artist has become too much for Darren Stewart.

The 33-year-old Brit announced his retirement from MMA on Tuesday in a post on his Instagram account. According to Stewart, continuing to pursue a fighting career has become a burden on his family.

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“It hurts me to write this, but I think it’s time to call it a day,” Stewart wrote. “Not by choice, but I’m forced to because I’ve lost a lot to this game trying to survive, and I can’t do it no more. When UFC let me go I should have invested something, but instead I put all my eggs in one basket AGAIN to get back to the top and life has gotten even worse. I’ve got family, and it’s not fair on them stressing just to keep food on the table.

“I love fighting, and I don’t want to call it as I’m only 33, but I’m not getting any help financially. Spoke about it a few times, so not going to go into it. Maybe I’ll get into boxing if it ever arises, bu…

A lightweight bout pitting Myktybek Orolbai against Mateusz Rebecki has been added to the UFC 308 lineup.

Full Violence was first to report the pairing. UFC 308 takes place on Oct. 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a featherweight championship tilt between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.

A native of Kyrgysztan, Orolbai has been victorious in eight consecutive professional outings. The 26-year-old has kicked off his UFC tenure with back-to-back triumphs against Uros Medic and Elves Brener.

A winner on Dana White's Contender Series in 2022, Poland’s Rebecki began his UFC career with three straight victories. However, a 16-bout professional winning streak came to an end in his last appearance at UFC on ESPN 56, where he fell to Diego Ferreira via third-round TKO.

Twenty-fight mixed martial arts veteran Andrew Osborne was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for stabbing a man to death earlier this year.

According to a statement from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office (via via MMAjunkie.com), Osborne pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter this past Thursday. Osborne must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Osborne, 36, stabbed 47-year-old Brian Wilkinson to death inside at hotel room at Ocean Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on May 30. According to a separate report from NJ.com, Osborne stabbed Wilkinson in the head and neck and left the room wearing the victim’s shoes and pants. Osborne then fled with his wife to Philadelphia, where he was located by detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and arrested.

Osborne competed as a pro MMA fighter from 2011 to 2017, compiling an 8-11 mark with one no contest. He fought…

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Randy Couture isn’t surprised about the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s spat with Francis Ngannou given his own history of the promotion.

Ngannou exited the promotion as the heavyweight champion in January 2023 over a lengthy contract dispute. Couture, meanwhile, had a lengthy legal battle with the UFC in 2007, even publicly resigning for a brief period. Ngannou had fought for rights to simultaneously compete in boxing along with other stipulations like health insurance for fighters and an advocate to represent fighters at contract meetings.

Ngannou went on join rival promotion Professional Fighters League, where he will make his debut against the 2023 season heavyweight king Renan Ferreira on Oct. 18 in Saudi Arabia. Former UFC champ Israel Adesanya, who considers himself one of the first three Africa UFC champs along with Ngannou and Kamaru Usman, recently called out the promotion for trying to erase “The Predator’s” legacy.

And Cou…

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Robert Whittaker advises Alex Pereira against moving down to middleweight to fight Dricus Du Plessis.

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Du Plessis defended his middleweight strap for the first time with a fourth-round submission win in an absolute war against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth on Aug. 17. Pereira was one of the many elite names who subsequently called for a clash against Du Plessis. The former middleweight champ and reigning light heavyweight champ expressed interest in moving back down to 185 pounds to challenge “Stillknocks.”

However, Whittaker, another former middleweight champ and top contender, would advise Pereira against it. Whittaker notes that Pereira’s potential cut to middleweight would drain him with the Brazilian now having been a staple at light heavyweight. While Pereira has been known to starch people on the feet, Whittaker highlights Du Plessis’ ability to get hit and stay standing. Whittaker further points out that Du Plessis’ p…

Mixed martial arts veteran Benji Radach, who competed for promotions such as the UFC, Strikeforce and the International Fight League, has died at 45 years old.

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Members of Radach’s family, including his brother, Beau, initially brought word of his passing on social media. The cause of death is currently unknown.

Radach compiled a 21-7 mark with one no contest over the course of 14-year professional tenure that began in 2001. The Washington native known as “The Razor” went undefeated in his first 10 bouts before signing with the UFC, where he enjoyed a three-bout stint before moving on to other organizations.

The well-traveled Radach notably went 5-1 with the IFL in 2007. His career also included stops in EliteXC, Bellator MMA, King of the Cage and WEC. Over the years, Radach squared off against the likes of Sean Sherk, Chris Leben, Gerald Harris, Murilo Rua, Scott Smith and Ovince St. Preux.

Outside of the cage, Radach added to his le…

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The surprise announcement that Khalil Rountree would be next in line to challenge Alex Pereira in the UFC 307 main event led to speculation that the reigning light heavyweight champion had snubbed top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

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That is not the case, according to Pereira. While Ankalaev is considered to be a difficult style matchup for the Brazilian, “Poatan” claims that the decision to postpone the bout came from the Dagestani standout himself.

“I always wanted to fight Ankalaev, and I made it very clear to the organization, but Ankalaev didn't want to fight me,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “I don't know why, if that's where he would fight, if he didn't want to fight... He's not a champion. He's not in the position to choose anything. I think it was an opportunity that appeared, and he didn't want to take advantage of it. He has his reasons, which I don't know what they are, but I come here to tell you that I'm not afrai…

All 10 fighters slated to compete on Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series made weight ahead of their bouts on Monday.

The Contender Series takes place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and features a middleweight clash pitting Andrey Pulyaev (185) against Liam Anderson (185). The card airs on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Pulyaev will take a four-fight finishing streak into the matchup with Anderson. Most recently, the 26-year-old Russian scored a 77-second KO of Weldon Silva de Oliveira at Shlemenko Fighting Championship 9 in February. He has finished all but one of his eight career triumphs inside the distance.

A native of Rochester, New York, Anderson has also finished his last four professional fights. Three of those victories have occurred under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner, including a head kick KO of Maurice Morris on Feb. 23.

Contender Series Weigh-in Results:Andrey Pulyaev (185) vs. Liam Anderson (185)Bogdan Grad (145.5) vs…

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 2024 Professional Fighters League season saw a new weight class open up, and as a direct result, a star was born in the women’s flyweight division.

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When the company announced the women’s flyweight division as part of its regular season in 2024, much attention was paid to newcomer Dakota Ditcheva, the 2023 PFL Europe champion. Now part of the global season, fans wanted to see how Ditcheva would transition to tougher challenges on the global roster, with more media and attention surrounding her. So far, it’s been nothing but success for both sides. That success has given Donn Davis and the PFL team an opportunity to consider adding more weight classes in the near future.

There has been no denying the success of Ditcheva in her 2024 regular season and playoff run. She would make quick work in all three of her fights this year, picking up first-round finishes against Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in the regular season, then d…

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the business of the Professional Fighters League continuing to grow and expand, the decision makers have plenty to hang their hat on.

With the launch of PFL MENA in 2024 and the announcement of PFL Africa coming in 2025 to add to the already established PFL Europe, the visions of Donn Davis, Peter Murray, and Co. continue to be met. During the PFL semifinals event in Washington, D.C., this past weekend, Davis spoke to the media covering a litany of topics, including his pride in the success of the PFL thus far.

Speaking to Sherdog.com in his scrum, Davis was asked about all the success and opportunities that the PFL offers in a variety of ways. Not only did he speak glowingly of the avenues the company has available but also how it is relatable to everyday people who are fighting to improve.

“Look, ‘What do you fight for?’ is on the steps to the cage,” Davis said. “Fighters are certainly fighting to advance their caree…

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Jiri Prochazka is plotting a move to middleweight after Dricus Du Plessis’ first title defense.

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Prochazka claims to have been considering the move leading up to Du Plessis’ UFC 305 main-event clash against former champ Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia on Aug. 17. According to “BJP,” he would have stayed put at light heavyweight if Adesanya dethroned Du Plessis, as he has the same management as the Nigerian-born Kiwi. However, “Stillknocks” successfully defended his title with a fourth-round submission win in an entertaining title bout, hastening Prochazka’s planned move to 185 pounds.

However, Prochazka notes that the potential move isn’t due to him having a size or power disadvantage at light heavyweight. While the Czech has no problems staying a top contender at 205 pounds, he just wants to challenge himself in another weight class.

“I’ve been considering that if Adesanya wins, I’ll stay in the light heavyweight divisio…