Martial Arts News

Islam Makhachev is far more comfortable competing at welterweight and won’t move back down to 155 pounds.

Makhachev (28-1) defended the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title four times before moving up to welterweight. He dominantly dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to win the 170-pound title last year and is now scheduled to defend it against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Javier Mendez shuts down possibility of Islam Makhachev returning to lightweight Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, doesn’t believe his fighter will switch between weight classes and is likely done with lightweight entirely. Mendez recently revealed that the champion has gained five kilos (11 pounds) of muscle since moving up to welterweight and isn’t looking to move back down.

“He’s gained five kilos of muscle and feels better at welterweight,” Mendez told Alvaro Colmenero. “He prefers this weight class. I don’t think he’ll ever fight at light…

Arman Tsarukyan will return to compete on Real American Freestyle less than two weeks after his next Ultimate Fighting Championship bout.

The UFC lightweight is scheduled to face Dillon Danis at RAF 14 on Oct. 3 at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. The wrestling promotion recently announced that the match will be contested for the RAF middleweight crossover championship. The news comes less than one week after the UFC announced Tsarukyan (23-3) will face Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) at UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles.

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Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis have MMA assignments before RAF clash Tsarukyan has fought just once in 2024 and once in 2025, with his latest victory in mixed martial arts coming against Dan Hooker in November last year. However, he’s competed in 15 wrestling and submission grappling matches over the last two years, going unbeaten in all but one. In his last wrestling match under the RAF banner, he was outpointed by Colby Covington.

He has co…

Gillian Robertson already feels like a champion ahead of her upcoming title challenge.

Robertson will challenge Mackenzie Dern for the Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

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Gillian Robertson sends defiant message to Mackenzie Dern: ‘The belt’s already mine’ While Dern possesses potent submission skills, Robertson claims the champion isn’t particularly adept at landing takedowns. The challenger believes Dern might pull guard out of desperation to take the fight to the mat, where she is most dangerous.

“I don’t think she has a great ability to take it to the ground,” Robertson told MMA Junkie. “I think she has an okay double leg and then she likes the lateral hip throw. I don’t think she’s the best at getting there. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she pulled guard on me. I feel like that’s where I see her having the most danger: when she is on her back, she is very active. …

Islam Makhachev is looking to further extend his win streak against Ian Garry.

Makhachev aims to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title against Garry in the main event of UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The Irish challenger is high in confidence despite being a massive betting underdog and the champion is looking to put him in his place.

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‘We will make him respectful’: Islam Makhachev previews Ian Garry clash Garry’s polarizing personality has divided both fans and fighters. His recent comments have drawn heated reactions, with Makhachev even suggesting his upcoming opponent should do fewer interviews. Speaking on the first episode of “UFC Embedded” ahead of UFC 330, the Dagestani champion claimed that Garry only “acts like a bad guy” and that he’s prepared to humble him.

“He acts like a bad guy,” Makhachev said. “I know he’s a humble guy, but if not, I will make him humble. I’m going to try to follow him and catch him and take him do…

Ian Garry is willing to travel the world to be the best fighter he can be.

While Garry (17-1) is Irish, he’s mostly trained at Chute Boxe in Brazil in recent years. He’s scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev (28-1) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in the main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

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Ian Garry details his Brazil training camp before facing Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 Garry has split his camp between England, Ireland and Brazil for his upcoming fight. “The Future” is honing his ground game with grappling legend Demian Maia, one of the key reasons he moved to Brazil in the first place. He recently explained that training under Maia is worth the relocation.

“I want to do what I need to do or what I believe I need to do to be the best I possibly can be,” Garry told Spinnin Backfist. “So, traveling out to Brazil and training jiu-jitsu with Demian Maia, arguably the greatest grappler i…

Uros Medic put on a bonus-winning performance despite an injured knee.

Medic headlined the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s recent trip to Serbia, facing Daniel Rodriguez in front of his home fans. Medic recently revealed that he injured his knee on the first day of UFC Belgrade fight week.

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Uros Medic suffered a meniscus injury during UFC Belgrade fight week Medic was able to pop his knee back into place, but it soon began to swell. He recalled the stressful ordeal in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

“We were just warming up and my knee popped out of place,” Medic said. “I was like, ‘Whoa, what is this?’ I didn’t feel any pain and I tried to straighten my leg out and it popped back in. And I could feel right away it started to fill with liquid, started to swell.”

Medic was diagnosed with a meniscus injury but declined medication, instead undergoing tissue work to reduce the swelling. As the Serbian-American limped through fight week, he hop…

Canadian fans will have several home-country fighters to support at the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s next event in Edmonton, Alberta.

Four new bouts have been added to UFC Edmonton, which takes place Oct. 17 at Rogers Place. In addition to the recently announced bouts, Canada’s Mike Malott will take on Joaquin Buckley in the main event.

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Four Canadian fighters added to UFC Edmonton lineup Marc-Andre Barriault (17-11) will have the home crowd behind him when he takes on Kyle Daukaus (17-5) in a middleweight matchup at UFC Edmonton. Barriault has endured a turbulent UFC tenure, going 6-10 (1 NC). He has won only once in his last six outings and is currently on a two-fight losing streak.

Meanwhile, Daukaus made an impressive comeback to begin his second UFC stint after being released in 2022. The American finished both of his UFC opponents last year but suffered a first-round stoppage loss to Bo Nickal in June at UFC Freedom 250.

Canada’s Tan…

Dana White’s Contender Series returns for its 10th Season on Aug. 11.

DWCS 2026: Week 1 goes down at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The card will be headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Anthony Wint and Matthew Adams. Both Wint and Adams successfully made the heavyweight limit. The four other fights on the undercard are also set, with everyone making weight.

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Former New York Jets linebacker Wint (6-0) has a lot of hype behind him going into his DWCS bout. He has finished five of his six professional wins since making his debut in 2023. The undefeated prospect successfully made the heavyweight limit, coming in at 234 pounds.

Meanwhile, Adams (6-2) went on a five-fight winning streak after suffering a loss in his mixed martial arts debut in 2023. Adams’ streak ended with a submission loss in an LFA title fight against the undefeated Arslan Bilalov. He has since rebounded with a first-round knockout win this past March. “Bad” also successfully made weigh…

It seems that Professional Fighters League fans will be waiting a while to see Dakota Ditcheva compete again.Dakota Ditcheva reinjured both hands against Denise Kielholtz at PFL New York and expects to be sidelined before a potential Liz Carmouche fightDitcheva (16-0, 11-0 PFL) is once again dealing with hand injuries. The 28-year-old earned a unanimous decision victory over Bellator MMA veteran Denise Kielholtz in the PFL New York co-main event, with “Dangerous” sweeping the scorecards. The British fighter, who is ranked No. 10 in Sherdog’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings, revealed on her YouTube channel that she had reinjured both hands.

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“Breaking news. I am injured again,” Ditcheva said in the vlog. “I broke my hands in the [Kielholtz] fight. I could feel it from the second I started the second round. I didn't tell my corner. I didn't tell anybody. I didn't show it this time. And I didn't actually tell anybody until I got out of the cage.”

The Kiel…

Bella Mir looks to follow in her father's footsteps as she gears up to fight for a Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Mir (4-0) will face Alex Apodaca (3-1) in a bantamweight matchup that headlines Season 10 Week 3 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently confirmed the matchup on social media.

Frank Mir’s daughter Bella Mir headlines DWCS against Alex Apodaca Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir’s daughter Bella is targeting a spot on the UFC roster. The bout will mark her fifth professional MMA bout and her first fight in over a year. The 23-year-old last competed in July 2025, submitting Stephanie Calderon in the first round under the Fury FC banner.

She made her MMA debut in 2020 before taking nearly three years away from competition to focus on developing her grappling. Meanwhile, Apodaca enters the matchup on a three-fight winning streak, including a decision victory over Devon McDonald in her most recent Fury FC appearanc…

Bryan Battle is ready to welcome Jake Paul to MMA, but doesn't believe the YouTuber-turned-boxer wants to face him.

The Professional Fighters League middleweight defeated Dalton Rosta by split decision in the main event of PFL Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum, securing his first victory under the PFL banner after losing to Johnny Eblen in his promotional debut. After the fight, he discussed the prospect of fighting Paul.

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Bryan Battle welcomes Jake Paul fight but doesn’t see it materializing Following the win over Rosta, Battle was asked about the possibility of sharing the cage with Paul, whose Most Valuable Promotions recently merged with the PFL in a landmark deal that will bring the two combat sports brands under the MVP banner.

“I would,” Battle answered. “I don’t think Jake Paul would fight me. But I would fight Jake Paul for sure.”

The call-out comes as Paul remains a central figure in the newly formed MVP-PFL operation. Although he’s …

Quillan Salkilld vaulted into the top tier of the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division with his impressive win over Mateusz Gamrot.

The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is now 6-0 inside the Octagon after submitting Gamrot in the first round of the UFC Vegas 120 main event at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Quillan Salkilld had to overcome nerves before maiden UFC main event Salkilld called out Gamrot after his win over Beneil Dariush. It was expected to be a challenging matchup, given the Polish 155-pounder’s wrestling credentials and durability. However, Salkilld shut down Gamrot’s offense before taking his counterpart’s back, locking in a rear-naked choke and forcing the tap in his first UFC main event.

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The Australian recently detailed how nervous he was before the bout.

“I sh*t myself, yeah,” Salkilld said in a post-fight interview. “I was nervous… I tried to stay as calm as possible and I think I did a pretty good job actually of st…