Martial Arts News

Chris Daukaus is trying to focus on the positive following his second consecutive defeat in the Octagon.

The Philadelphia police officer released a brief statement via Twitter in the aftermath of UFC on ESPN 33, where he fell to Curtis Blaydes via technical knockout 17 seconds into Round 2 of their headlining heavyweight bout at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, this past Saturday.

“There’s always negativity from people after a loss, often we linger too long on that,” Daukaus said. “I’m very appreciative for the people who have not done that and who have reached out with positivity. You guys are the best, especially @[email protected] thank you.”

There’s always negativity from people after a loss, often we linger too long on that. I’m very appreciative for the people who have not done that and who have reached out with positivity. You guys are the best, especially @Boogerbeard1 @MacMallyMMA thank you.

— Chris Daukaus (@ChrisDaukau…

Grant Dawson will replace Rafael Alves and lock horns with Jared Gordon in a lightweight scrap at UFC on ESPN 35.

mixedmartialarts.com was first to report the new booking. A reason for Alves’ withdrawal was not disclosed. UFC on ESPN 35 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on April 30 and is headlined by a bantamweight duel pitting Rob Font against Marlon Vera.

After earning a contract on Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series, Dawson was victorious in his first five promotional appearances before battling Ricky Glenn to a majority draw in his sixth outing at UFC Fight Night 196 this past October. The Glory MMA & Fitness representative is 2-0-1 at lightweight after beginning his UFC tenure at 145 pounds. He owns a career mark of 17-1-1.

Gordon, 33, has been victorious in his last three UFC appearances. Most recently, the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product earned a split verdict against Joe Solecki at UFC Fight Night 193 this past October. “Flash” is 6-…

If this was indeed it for Bryan Barberena, at least he went out with a bang.

Barberena’s split-decision triumph over Matt Brown at UFC on ESPN 33 received “Fight of the Night” honors on Saturday, a fitting recognition for two athletes who have been known to deliver action in their bouts.

At Saturday’s post-fight press conference, Barberena revealed that he completed the last fight on his current UFC contract. The 32-year-old MMA Lab representative has won three of his last four Octagon appearances and is 8-6 during his promotional tenure overall. If the UFC is not interesting in re-signing him, Barberena would rather hang up the four-ounce gloves than take his talents elsewhere.

“I’m really glad [the Brown fight] happened because this is the last fight on my contract,” Barberena said. “I haven’t been open about that, but this is the last fight on my contract. The UFC didn’t say anything about renegotiating. I tried to ask about it.

“Dana White, let’s talk.…

Curtis Blaydes has certainly experienced his setbacks in UFC competition – KO losses to Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis immediately come to mind – but he’s also gradually built a resume that ranks among the best in the heavyweight division during his promotional tenure.

He added to his list of achievements with a second-round technical knockout victory against Chris Daukaus in the UFC on ESPN 33 main event on Saturday, a victory that stood out because the Octagon’s all-time heavyweight takedown leader relied on his striking, not his wrestling, to get the job done at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. After winning for the sixth time in his last seven UFC appearances, Blaydes called for an interim heavyweight title shot.

He reiterated that desire at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.

“I feel that way but that does not mean the world feels that way,” Blaydes said. “That’s really what matters. What do the fans want to see? I do believe I deserve an inte…

A middleweight showdown pitting Sean Strickland against Alex Pereira is in the works for UFC 277 this summer.

ESPN was first to report that both Strickland and Pereira have verbally agreed to the bout. UFC 277 is expected to take place on July 30 and airs on pay-per-view. A location and venue have not been confirmed for the event.

A former King of the Cage title holder, Strickland is currently on a six-bout winning streak within the Las Vegas-based promotion. The 31-year-old California native is coming off back-to-back headlining appearances in which he earned a split-decision triumph over Jack Hermansson at UFC Fight Night 200 and a unanimous verdict against Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN 28.

Pereira improved to 2-0 in the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 203, where he defeated ex-M-1 Global champ Bruno Silva via unanimous decision. The former two-division Glory champion is probably best known for his pair of victories against reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Ad…

Raquel Pennington will step up on short notice to face Aspen Ladd at UFC 273 on April 9.

Pennington is a late replacement for Irene Aldana, who withdrew from the bantamweight clash after suffering an undisclosed injury. Eurosport Netherlands was first to report the new matchup. UFC 273 takes place at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., and is headlined by a featherweight title tilt between Alexander Volkanovski and Chan Sung Jung.

Pennington enters the matchup with Ladd on a three-bout winning streak. The former bantamweight title challenger last appeared at UFC Fight Night 199, where she submitted Macy Chiasson with a second-round guillotine choke this past December. “Rocky” has also secured decision triumphs over Pannie Kianzad and Marion Reneu during her current streak.

After nearly two years on the sidelines due to knee surgery, Ladd moved up to featherweight in her Octagon return at UFC Fight Night 195, where she dropped a five-round verd…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday with a pivotal heavyweight matchup between Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus, but the big boys weren’t the only fighters who nabbed the attention of the combat sports world.

Four fighters on the UFC on ESPN 33 marquee pocketed quite a bit of bonus cash for their efforts, with Matt Brown and Bryan Barberena nabbing the Fight of the Night bonus and the aforementioned Blades and Chris Gutierrez taking home an extra $50K apiece for their Performance of the Night accolades.

Brown, a41-year-old hometown fan favorite, waged a memorable three-round war with Barberena, driving the capacity crowd into a frenzy. While Brown scored critical takedowns in rounds two and three, it was Barberena’s powerful elbows and fists that buckled the Ohioan’s knees a few too many times when it mattered most. And while both men were on the verge of being stopped multiple times, Brown was battered far wors…

Curtis Blaydes has more than one dimension—a reality to which Chris Daukaus can now attest.

Blaydes stayed relevant in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division, as he took apart the former Philadelphia police officer with punches in the second round of their UFC on ESPN 33 headliner on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Daukaus (12-5, 4-2 UFC) bowed out 17 seconds into Round 2.

Curtis Blaydes WITH THE TKO 😱 #UFCColumbus pic.twitter.com/jb8u5mLwa9

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 27, 2022 The 31-year-old Blaydes (16-3, 11-3 UFC)—the UFC’s all-time heavyweight leader in completed takedowns—chose to stand and exchange, and the approach paid dividends. He ate a few right hands from Daukaus early in the bout but stayed the course and let his talent seize the reins. Blaydes buckled the former Cage Fury Fighting Championships contender with a two-punch salvo in the first round and opened a cut near his left eye, setting t…

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 33 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.

Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Sco…

Back in the win column! @Sara_McMann w/ the UD win at #UFCColumbus! pic.twitter.com/bnIS4So7Hc

— UFC (@ufc) March 26, 2022

Sara McMann went back to basics, and the results were revelatory.

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist stood her ground in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight division, as she took a unanimous decision from Parana Vale Tudo’s Karol Rosa in the featured UFC on ESPN 33 prelim on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28 for McMann (13-6, 7-6 UFC).

Rosa (15-4, 4-1 UFC) failed to maintain a manageable distance with the Team Alpha Male representative. McMann secured takedowns in all three rounds, stifled the Brazilian with top control and progressed to the back on more than one occasion. Rosa finally sprang a reversal late in the third round and applied some significant ground-and-pound, but the finish she needed never materialized.

The defeat halted R…

One Championship on Saturday celebrated its 10th anniversary by putting on one of its best cards to date at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. It featured everything combat sports fans come to expect from a special occasion.

In the One Championship “One X” headliner, Angela Lee made her promotional return against Stamp Fairtex after taking off two years and a half for maternity leave. Lee (11-2, 11-2 One) shook off cage rust by attacking her opponent right out of the gate with a flurry of punches. Stamp (8-2, 7-2 One) stayed composed and waited for the right moment to retaliate with a liver shot that almost folded “Unstoppable” where she stood. While she was in evident distress, Lee bit down on her mouthpiece and survived the subsequent barrage of punches and kicks. In the second frame, Lee moved the action to the canvas as soon as possible. Once there, she showcased an arsenal of submission attempts, including a triangle choke and a twister that almost sealed t…

Bellator MMA veteran Adam Keresh disposed of Chad Johnson with punches in the first round of their heavyweight showcase at PFL Challenger Series 6 on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Johnson (6-4) checked out 3:34 into Round 1, as he suffered his third consecutive defeat.

Afterward, the Professional Fighters League signed Keresh to its 2022 roster.

Keresh (5-0) tested the waters with a few kicks and waited for an opportunity to present itself. He sprawled on Johnson, forced him down to all fours and connected with a brutal right hand underneath the armpit. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum reacted immediately, retreated to a belly-down position and ate a few more punches before referee Andrew Glenn intervened on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Robert Drysdale-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Marcelo Nunes submitted Bevon Lewis with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their heavyweight co-feature. Nunes (8-1) drew out the surrender 2:39 int…