Martial Arts News

Now fans in Japan can see what all the hype was about.

On Friday, “The Smashing Machine” premiered in theaters in Japan. The focus of the biopic, Mark Kerr, spent several years competing at the highest level in Pride Fighting Championships. While doing publicity before the movie’s release, Kerr sat down for an interview with “Gong Kakutogi Magazine,” known for its history of martial arts coverage dating back to 1986.

Advertisement

In the interview, Kerr discussed his evolution from wrestler to mixed martial artist, trials and tribulations that he endured during his fighting career, controversies with Pride FC and ultimately overcoming an addiction to steroids and opioids that nearly destroyed his life. He also pulled back the curtain on some lesser-known stories from his time in Pride FC, including about a planned bout against Royce Gracie that had been set to go ahead at Pride 2 but failed to materialize for multiple reasons.

Though he spoke glowingly about fig…

Having worked with so many Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters before, coach Marcos da Matta firmly has his finger on the pulse of the sport.

After injuring his arm and losing his belt to Joshua Van, Alexandre Pantoja became one of the most interested men watching the co-main event of UFC 328. Not surprisingly, the Brazilian and his coach “Parrumpa” da Matta watched the event from the front row. Da Matta spoke with Sherdog about the future of his athlete, the successes of a newly minted champion and a whether being a backup fighter is a good idea.

Advertisement

“I particularly wanted Van to win because I really wanted this rematch,” explained to Sherdog.

In the opinion of the American Top Team coach, Van vs. Tatsuro Taira provided excellent material for study.

“We were able to see a lot in these almost five rounds,” the coach analyzed. “Both exposed themselves a lot, showing both strengths and weaknesses. I liked what I saw.”

Waiting in the wings, Pan…

Adriano Moraes may not yet be a household name in the U.S., but he’s looking forward to changing that in impressive fashion.

As the only man to defeat legendary flyweight Demetrious Johnson via knockout, the Brasilia, Brazil, native looks to prove that lightning can indeed strike twice.

Advertisement

Not long ago, the 37-year-old spoke to Sherdog.com in his native Portuguese about exploring free agency after an 11-year stint at One Championship. Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions signed him up almost immediately:

“Everything happened quickly,” Moraes said. “Right after I gave interviews letting people know I was a free agent, the opportunity came up, to be on the MVP card. It’s going to be a great fight. Like every fighter, I too have the dream of being in the UFC one day. But since this great opportunity materialized as I was coming off a loss, it’s my chance to show that I do belong among the best. I think that my opponent presents an excellent opportunity to…

Jack Della Maddalena has broken his silence after coming up short on home soil a little more than a week ago.

The former welterweight champion suffered a third-round technical knockout loss to Carlos Prates in the UFC Perth headliner on May 2. It was the second consecutive defeat for the 29-year-old Aussie, who relinquished the welterweight strap to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 this past November.

Pride and Gratitude “Thanks for all the love and support,” Della Maddalena wrote on Instagram. “I could not be prouder to represent my gym [Scrappy MMA and Fitness[ , my family, my city and country. Not the desired result this time around but it was in line with the desired challenge; fighting the most vicious and toughest opponents.”

Della Maddalena won 18 consecutive professional outings from 2016 to 2025 before his current two-bout skid. He was victorious in his first eight Octagon appearances, including an championship victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May 2025.

Sean Strickland is just one of 11 fighters facing an indefinite layoff following UFC 328.

The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board recently released a full list of medical suspensions from this past Saturday’s event, which took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision to claim the middleweight title in UFC 328 headliner.

Advertisement

Strickland, who recently revealed a list of shoulder-related injuries, is suspended indefinitely pending orthopedist clearance of his left hand. At a minimum he is suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contact. Chimaev emerged relatively healthy, as he received a 45 day term with 30 days of no contact.

Meanwhile, co-main event combatants Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira both received indefinite suspensions following their flyweight title bout, which Van won via fifth-round TKO. Van requires clearance of his left hand before he can return to action, while Taira needs a CT sca…

Muhammad Mokaev may have missed on the opportunity to fight on Netflix, but that won’t prevent him from maintaining an active itinerary.

After visa issues forced Mokaev to withdraw from a matchup with Adriano Moraes at Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano,” the UFC veteran has agreed to face Jorge Calvo at WOW 31 on June 6 in Madrid, Spain. The organization announced the bantamweight bout on Wednesday. UFC lightweight champ Iia Topuria is part owner of the promotion, which is officially known as Way of Warrior FC.

Advertisement

A New Opportunity Mokaev, who is the reigning Brave Combat Federation titlist, is unbeaten in 17 professional outings. He earned a Top 10 ranking after going 7-0 in the UFC, besting the likes of Manel Kape, Alex Perez and Tim Elliott in the process. He was released from the organization in 2024 and has gone 3-0 in MMA bouts since then, winning the Brave CF flyweight strap this past November.

A native of Costa Rica, Calvo owns a 2…

Sean Strickland suffered multiple shoulder injuries at UFC 328. | Getty/UFC

Sean Strickland did not emerge unscathed from his championship clash with Khamzat Chimaev.

In a post on social media, the newly-crowned middleweight champion revealed that he suffered the following injuries: Type 2 AC separation, an extended Type 5 SLAP tear, and a partial rotator cuff tear/tendinosis. Strickland has received an indefinite medical suspension from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board as a result.

Shoulder Pains All of the above are shoulder-related ailments. Strickland also revealed that he suffered a Grade 1 AC joint separation while sparring Johnny Eblen during UFC 328 fight week.

“Gonna have to walk this one off,” Strickland added on X.

Type 2 AC separationExtended Type V SLAP tearPartial rotator cuff tearing/tendinosis

Gonna have to walk this one off...

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) May 13, 2026

Strickland…

Thad Jean emerged as one of the PFL's top stars in 2025. | PFL MMA

The vacant welterweight title will be on the line when Professional Fighters League heads to the nation’s capital this summer.

The promotion announced on Wednesday that undefeated 2025 tournament winner Thad Jean will lock horns with 2024 PFL champ Shamil Musaev for the 170-pound strap at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., on July 25. The PFL D.C. main card will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while prelims will air via the ESPN app beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. More bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Advertisement

According to a release, the welterweight title was vacated when Ramazan Kuramagomedov was stripped of the belt. Kuramagomedov defeated Musaev via unanimous decision to capture the 170-pound championship at PFL Dubai on Feb. 7. Kuramagomedov announced his retirement after the victory, which is apparently why he was stripped.

“…

Most Valuable Promotions is pulling out all the stops for its first-ever mixed martial arts event.

MVP and Netflix on Wednesday announced the broadcast team for "Rousey vs. Carano" on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Perhaps the most intriguing revelation in the release was that Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez will be present for guest commentary and analysis. While Velasquez is expected to be on hand for weigh-in coverage on Friday, it is not specified what Jones’ role will be.

Advertisement

Jones, a former UFC two-division champion, recently requested his release from the Las Vegas-based promotion after being excluded from the White House card on June 14. “Bones” hasn’t fought since defending the heavyweight crown against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Though his fighting future is uncertain, Jones hasn't fully committed to retirement.

Velasquez, meanwhile, is a former UFC heavyweight champion who was recently released from prison after …

Rob Wilkinson will look to snap a three-fight skid at PFL San Diego. | PFL MMA

Rob Wilkinson will welcome Abraham Bably to the light heavyweight division at PFL San Diego.

An elite and undefeated welterweight prospect headlines PFL Brussels against a former UFC champ: Tune in Saturday, May 23 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The promotion confirmed the bout following an initial report from Combat Evolved. PFL San Diego takes place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego and is headlined by a featherweight clash pitting A.J. McKee against Salamat Isbulaev.

Former Champs Collide A two-time UFC veteran, Wilkinson won the PFL light heavyweight championship under the old season format in 2022. After failing in drug test in relation to a bout against Thiago Santos in 2023, “Razor” has gone 2-3 in PFL competition. He has lost his last three outings, including a first-round submission defeat to Luke Trainer in his most recent appearance at PFL Dubai on Feb. 7.

Bably, meanwh…

Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t hold grudges after a fight. 

Chimaev (15-1) lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland (31-7) via close split decision at UFC 328 last weekend. While the rivalry seemed intense in the lead-up to the fight, Strickland and Chimaev squashed their beef immediately after the fight. Chimaev and Strickland have since faced backlash for building up a fake rivalry. 

Advertisement

Chimaev recently explained why he decided to bury the hatchet with Strickland. Chimaev says that he doesn’t believe in keeping grudges after sharing the Octagon with his opponent. Chimaev gave his best inside the Octagon and came up on the short end of a decision. Strickland also apologized to Chimaev for crossing boundaries with his trash talk. “Borz” says he believes in forgiveness when someone asks for it.Forgive and Forget “And regarding that guy — he said a lot of unnecessary things,” Chimaev said on his Instagram Stories (translation via Home of Fight). “…

Kamaru Usman is questioning Khamzat Chimaev’s training strategy. 

Chimaev (15-1) lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland (31-7) via a narrow split decision at UFC 328 last weekend. Chimaev was visibly tired in the second round, and despite finding a second wind in the fourth, it was too little, too late from “Borz.”

Advertisement

Usman, who has shared the Octagon with Chimaev, believes the latter needs an MMA head coach. While Chimaev certainly has coaches who are a regular presence in his corner, he doesn’t train with any renowned MMA coach. Chimaev’s friend, UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, was seen taking an active role in his corner last weekend. Usman believes Chimaev has gotten this far by training himself for the most part. According to Usman, Chimaev needs a head coach to reach the next level.How to Reach the Next Level “I’m impressed by how far he’s gotten by just really training himself,” Chimaev said on the ”Pound4Pound” podcast. “Because in…