Martial Arts News

A third meeting between Angela Lee and Jingnan Xiong will serve as the main event for One Championship’s second event on Amazon Prime Video.

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The Singapore-based promotion confirmed the pairing on Monday following an initial report from MMAFighting.com. One on Prime Video 2 takes place on Sept. 30 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. The evening’s main card will stream live in the United States on Prime Video at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Xiong’s strawweight (125-pound) belt will be on the line in the trilogy bout.

Lee and Xiong initially squared off at One Championship “A New Era,” with Xiong retaining her belt with a fifth-round technical knockout victory in March 2019. Xiong dropped to atomweight (115 pounds) for the rematch in an attempt to become a two-division champion, but Lee retained her crown with a fifth-round submission at One Championship “Century Part 1” in October 2019.

Lee returned following more than a two-year layof…

Professional Fighters League made Shane Burgos an offer he couldn’t refuse.

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The 11-time UFC veteran announced Monday on "The MMA Hour” that he has parted ways with the Las Vegas-based promotion to sign a contract with the PFL. Burgos completed his deal with a majority decision triumph over Charles Jourdain at UFC on ABC 3 on July 16.

“That was the last fight of my deal,” Burgos said. “I said after the fight that I wanted to test free agency, test the waters. I know what I am worth, I wanted to see what everyone else thought I was worth. So I went out there, I tested the free agency market and I’m excited to announce that I’m signing with the PFL.

“It was not an easy decision. It was an offer I couldn’t turn it [down]. I’ve got two daughters, I’ve got to go back home, I’ve got to look at them in the face when it’s all said and done in this sport. With this deal I feel like that will secure that.”

Burgos said that the PFL contract is not…

The fourth week of Dana White’s Contender Series is now official, as all 10 athletes slated for combat hit their contracted marks on the scale without issue on Monday.

The Contender Series takes place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The evening’s featured bout is a lightweight clash pitting Thomas Paull (155.5) against Esteban Ribovics (155).

Paull has won three straight contests, all by knockout or technical knockout. The 27-year-old Englishman known as “Juggernaut” owns an 11-3 career mark and has finished all of his victories inside the distance.

Anchored at Nova Uniao Argentina, Ribovics will bring a perfect 10-0 mark to the Contender Series. The 27-year-old has finished all of his wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission, capturing the Fusion Fighting Championship title along the way.

Contender Series Weigh-in Results:Thomas Paull (155.5) vs. Esteban Ribovics (155)Claudio Ribeiro (181.5) vs. Iva…

Marlon Vera and his team had a pretty good idea that he could finish Dominick Cruz in emphatic fashion.

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In fact, Vera’s coach, Jason Parillo, sent the fighter an image early in the week foreshadowing the head kick knockout that would end Cruz’s night in the UFC on ESPN 41 headliner at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Saturday night.

“Like six days ago, my coach sent a picture,” Vera said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “It was literally [Pedro] Munhoz kicking his body [in their fight at UFC 269], and his head was dipping all the way down. He didn’t text anything, just sent me the picture. I picked it up like he’s giving me a message. And in the third round he told me, ‘Punch in the air, have him dip, and throw a f—ing haymaker.’ And I was like, ‘Thank you, coach.’”

When his opponent dipped his head, Vera landed a vicious head kick that sent Cruz face first to the canvas, and a few follow-up shots sealed the victory at the 2:17 mark of …

B.J. Penn won’t be holding political office in Hawaii.

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The UFC Hall of Famer lost the Republican primary by a wide margin on Saturday, garnering just 22.2 percent of the vote. Two-time Republican Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona won by receiving 47.5 percent of the vote and will go against Democratic representative Josh Green in the general election on Nov. 8.

Penn announced his intention to run for governor this past October with a campaign that focused heavily on lifting COVID-19-related restrictions in Hawaii.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life but I would never run from a fight or sell out my people,” Penn wrote last October. “As soon as I step into Hawaii’s Governor office I will remove All new federal and state mandates that have been hurting our economy, residents, and ‘ohana. We will get the best doctors, medicines, therapies, and health care the world has to offer to fight this pandemic and always keep Hawaii among the safest and …

Mega prospect Bo Nickal will make his second appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series against Donovan Beard on Sept. 27.

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The bout was announced during the UFC on ESPN 41 broadcast on Saturday night. Nickal vs. Beard will take place on the season finale of the Contender Series at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A three-time NCAA national champion wrestler at Penn State University, Nickal impressed with a 62-second submission of Fury FC veteran Zachary Borrego on Aug. 9. While most observers believed that was enough to earn the middleweight a contract, UFC president Dana White elected to have Nickal get more experience on the Contender Series.

“I don’t know what else he could have done to look any better. He looked incredible. The only reason I didn’t sign him tonight is because he’s 2-0 now,” White said after the fight. “We got eight more weeks of this. Why not have him fight here again, you know what I mean? It just makes sense.”

Beard, 3…

Not only did Marlon Vera score an emphatic knockout victory against Dominick Cruz in the UFC on ESPN 41 headliner, but he was also the event’s highest-paid fighter.

“Chito” took home $300,000 for his fourth-round head kick finish of Cruz ($175,000) on Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif. Vera is one of five six-figure earners on the card, according to salary figures released by the California State Athletic Commission.

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Other notable payouts include Angela Hill, who took home $190,000 for a unanimous decision win over Lupita Godinez ($45,000) in a 120-pound catchweight affair, and Gerald Meerschaert, who garnered $146,000 for a third-round submission of Bruno Silva ($40,000) at middleweight. Meanwhile, Gabriel Benitez received $100,000 for a first-round TKO of Charlie Ontiveros ($12,000).

Note: The disclosed purses reported by state athletic commissions do not include any performance-based or discretionary bonuses that may be awarded to a…

Rory MacDonald has been fighting professionally since he was was a teenager, but it appears that “The Red King” has reached the end of the line.

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The 33-year-old MacDonald announced his retirement from MMA in statement via Instagram following a first-round technical knockout loss to short-notice foe Dilano Taylor in the welterweight semifinals at the Professional Fighters League playoffs on Saturday.

“My time has come to put the gloves down for good,” MacDonald wrote. “I’m so thankful for this sport and every person I’ve been able to meet along the way.

“I started this sport as a 14-year-old kid, I still remember my first day and knowing this is what I want to spend my life doing. The passion for martial arts and becoming a pro MMA fighter gave me hope and a way to a better life! And I’m so thankful to God for putting that gym Toshido MMA in Kelowna in my path. It truly changed the direction of my life and saved me!

“What an adventure this car…

When all is said and done, the clash between Nate Landwehr and David Onama may go down as one of the year’s best fights.

For now, the featherweights will have to settle for “Fight of the Night” as both Landwehr and Onama received $50,000 for their work in the UFC on ESPN 41 co-main event on Saturday night. Onama appeared to have Landwehr in serious danger in Round 1, but the former M-1 Global champion recovered to assert himself down the stretch in a bout that featured a number of spirited exchanges.

Elsewhere, Marlon Vera earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his fourth-round knockout of Dominick Cruz in the evening’s bantamweight headliner. While he lacked volume, Vera floored Cruz repeatedly in the contest. The last of those, a head kick, ended Cruz’s night at the 2:17 mark of Round 4.

Finally, Tyson Nam garnered the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check for a knockout of Ode Osbourne in a preliminary flyweight tilt. After O…

Marlon Vera picked up a statement win against Dominick Cruz in the main event of UFC on ESPN 41.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion got off to a quick start, blitzing Vera (20-7-1) with punches and getting in and out. However, the power of Vera was also apparent, as "Chito" dropped Cruz (24-4) despite getting outstruck most of the round. "The Dominator" would stay out of any danger and easily control Round 2. The tide would turn as Vera would land his best punch of the fight in the third round, an overhand right that dropped Cruz, and battled back into the main event. The next round would see Vera close out the show with a sensational head kick that knocked Cruz cleanly out.

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The stoppage for Vera came at 2:17 of Round 4.Landwehr Wins Brawl Over Onama The co-main event saw featherweights Nate Landwehr and David Onama clash. It looked like Landwehr (10-2) was in for a long night after eating a big right hand from Onama (16…

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 41 “Cruz vs. Vera” coverage will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

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BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zalal (-120), Blackshear (+100)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Quinlan (-230), Witt (+195)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tris…

Dilano Taylor hushed all talk of a Rory MacDonald resurgence.

The Sanford MMA rep cut down the top-seeded McDonald with first-round punches, as their 2022 Professional Fighters League semifinal headlined PFL 8 on Saturday at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. A short-notice substitution for Magomed Umalatov, Taylor (10-2, 3-1 PFL) slammed the door 3:59 into Round 1.

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MacDonald (23-10-1, 2-4 PFL) initiated an immediate clinch but wound up on his back after a failed takedown. He ultimately returned to an upright position but found himself at a significant disadvantage in the hand speed department. Taylor connected with regularity before flooring the Tristar Gym mainstay with a searing right cross. MacDonald then retreated into a shell on the ground and ate one too many follow-up punches for referee Marc Goddard’s liking.

Taylor moves on to the 2022 PFL welterweight final, where he will face Sadibou Sy on Nov. 25 for a $1 million prize. Sy (12-6-2…