Martial Arts News

A 165-pound matchup between Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez is in the works for an Eagle Fighting Championship card on March 11.

Multiple outlets confirmed the booking has been targeted, while Sanchez announced the pairing on social media. The fighters have verbally agreed to the contest, but contracts have not yet been signed. The Eagle FC event is expected to take place in Miami, though a venue has not been formally announced.

Lee was a high-profile signing by the Khabib Nurmagomedov-led promotion following his UFC release. The former interim lightweight title challenger lost four of his last five Octagon appearances, including a unanimous decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez in his first welterweight foray at UFC on ESPN 30 on Aug. 28.

Sanchez, meanwhile, is coming off a serious case of COVID-19 in which he was hospitalized due to complications from the virus. Prior to that, he was released from the UFC following a dispute with the promotion and his former coach, …

Michel Prazeres Accepts Sanction for Second Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy https://t.co/gWqyGG6EtI

— USADA (@usantidoping) December 23, 2021

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Michel Prazeres has waived the white flag on a four-year suspension for a second violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy.

Prazere, 40, tested positive for multiple prohibited substances -- clomiphene and its metabolites (desethyl-clomiphene, clomiphene M1, and clomiphene M2), oxandrolone metabolites, and the exogenous administration of testosterone and/or its precursors via urine samples -- and will be banned from competition until Aug. 27, 2025. Prazeres previously tested positive for boldenone in March of 2019 and served a two-year ban.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday revealed the suspension and issued the following statement:

Prazeres’ urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test, known as Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) testin…

Ex-UFC champion Vitor Belfort will square off against ex-multi-division boxing title holder Chad Dawson at Triad Combat 2.

Triller Fight Club, which promotes the event, recently confirmed the booking to multiple outlets. Triad Combat 2 is expected to take place in February and is headlined by a clash between Junior dos Santos and Kubrat Pulev. The rule set is presented as a hybrid of boxing and MMA, but knees, kicks and elbows are not allowed in fights. Shannon Briggs and Quinton Jackson will serve as team captains for the card, which follows a boxing vs. MMA theme.

Belfort’s most recent combat sports appearance came in September, when he defeated a 58-year-old Evander Holyfield via first-round technical knockout in an exhibition boxing match. The 44-year-old Brazilian hasn’t competed in MMA since May 2018, when he suffered a second-round KO loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 224.

Dawson owns a 36-5 mark in professional boxing, a record that includes notable triumphs …

Cub Swanson was in top form at UFC Fight Night 199, as he overwhelmed fellow veteran Darren Elkins in a first-round technical knockout victory this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Although the 38-year-old featherweight has been victorious in three of his last four Octagon appearances, he is considering a change in weight class late in his UFC career.

“I had talked about maybe dropping to 135, just to switch it up, try something new. I know I can make it,” Swanson said at the post-fight press conference (via MMAjunkie.com). “I don’t know how difficult it would be. This was one of the easier cuts I’ve had. I just feel like I’m naturally a little lighter than I used to be. I guess I’m just not holding on muscle like I was before. That’s a possibility.”

Swanson’s promotional tenure reached 21 fights on Saturday, and he has at least one item left on his bucket list, though it involves the UFC hitting the road again for Fight Night events. Currently, the …

Tomasz Narkun will soon return to attempt his sixth title defense in January.

A person with knowledge of the situation told Sherdog that the Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki 205-pound champion Narkun would face Ibragim Chuzhigaev on the upcoming KSW 66 card in the co-main event. The source asked to stay anonymous since the Polish promotion hasn’t officially confirmed the matchup.

In his latest appearance, Narkun (18-4, 10-3 KSW) failed in his attempt to become a two-division champion after current heavyweight kingpin Philip De Fries stopped “Giraffe” with punches at the 3:37 mark of Round 2 in their rematch, which served as the KSW 60 headliner. Before that, Narkun was on a two-bout winning streak after submitting both Przemyslaw Mysiala and Ivan Erslan via rear-naked choke at KSW 50 and KSW 56, respectively. The 32-year-old titleholder seems particularly vicious in his light heavyweight championship fights, as none of his opponents have survived for more than two rounds.

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After defeating Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier in a period of 12 months, Charles Oliveira was selected as Sherdog.com's 2021 “Fighter of the Year.”

“I’m really happy and moved by that and everything that is going on in my life lately,” Oliveira told Sherdog.com. “UFC champion in one of the most difficult divisions. I set records for most submissions and bonuses, [and rank] fifth in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. To finish that amazing year being chosen as ‘Fighter of the Year’ by one of the most respected outlets in the world, I’m so happy and moved that I don’t know what to talk about. I´m just thankful to God.”

As for what’s next, Oliveira pointed to a possible showdown with Conor McGregor when UFC 274 heads to Rio de Janeiro on May 7.

"May would be a wonderful date,” he said. “Conor challenged me asking a date, and tweeted Ireland vs. Brazil 2. Not only him, but also myself and all the world wants to see that fight. So let's m…

Former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos is set to make his first combat sports appearance since being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A bout between dos Santos and Kubrat Pulev is in the works for the Triller-promoted Triad Combat early next year. TMZ Sports was first to report the matchup, which is currently being targeted for February. The Triad Combat rule set is touted as a hybrid of boxing and MMA. Fighters are allowed to throw strikes from the clinch as well as spinning backfists and hammerfists. Kicks, knees, elbows are not allowed, nor is fighting on the ground. Combatants are allowed to stand on their opponent’s foot while throwing punches, however.

Triller Triad Combat held its inaugural event on Nov. 27. In the main event, Pulev authored a standing KO of another former UFC heavyweight king, Frank Mir, 1:59 into the first-round of their bout. Pulev owns a 28-2 professional boxing record, with his only two losses coming against Anthony Jos…

Credit: Getty/UFC

Though he only recently became of person of interest in the UFC’s middleweight division, Bruno Silva’s journey with the promotion began some seven years ago.

"When I look back and see all the challenges I overcame, like accepting a short-notice invitation to participate in [“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3”] in 2014 and facing the very best heavyweights we had in Brazil back then with only the experience of fighting on small northeast [Brazil] regional events, I just think how it was all worth it,” Silva told Sherdog.com.

Coincidentally, Paulo Costa also participated on that edition of the reality series, but among the middleweights. Silva, meanwhile, ended up facing heavyweight finalist Vitor Miranda in the first qualifying fight and ended up suffering the only knockout loss of his career in the second round. Nonetheless, he impressed his idol, Wanderlei Silva, and his current trainer, Andre Dida, with his performance.

“It was such a war. …

Raphael Assuncao could be sidelined for a significant period of time following his second-round knockout loss to Ricky Simon at UFC Fight Night 199.

The veteran Brazilian bantamweight needs a left knee MRI and doctor clearance or he will be out until June 17. At a minimum, Assuncao is suspended until Feb. 2 with no contact until Jan. 18. A full list of medical suspensions from the event was recently released to mixedmartialarts.com.

UFC Fight Night 199 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this past Saturday. In the evening’ main event, Derrick Lewis defeat Chris Daukaus via first-round knockout in a heavyweight tilt. Daukaus is suspended until Feb. 17 with no contact until Feb. 2 for laceration repair on his nose. Lewis emerged from the bout with a clean bill of health.

Five other fighters from UFC Fight Night 199 are facing potential six-month terms: Cub Swanson (right finger), Justin Tafa (right thumb, left finger), Harry Hunsucker (left knee), Don'Tale Mayes (l…

The lineup for Rizin Fighting Federation’s New Year’s Eve card continues to grow.

The Japanese promotion announced the following three additions to the Rizin 33 lineup: Rena Kubota vs. Si Woo Park at atomweight; Shinobu Ota vs. Kazuma Sone at featherweight and Kota Miura vs. Yushi Sakura at featherweight under Rizin challenge rules, which consists of three, three-minute rounds with no face stomps or knees to a ground opponent allowed.

At a press conference, promotion CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that the card for Rizin 33 has not yet been finalized.

“Fuji television will be broadcasting this event and they have committed to a five hour, 45 minute window on New Year’s Eve this year,” Sakakibara said. “We will be announcing three fights today, but we are not finalized yet. We would like to continue to negotiate to put on the best card that we can.”

Rizin 33 takes place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and features a lightweight championship bout…

Credit: Getty/UFC

Coming off a streak of three consecutive knockouts in the UFC, Bruno Silva might have another striking battle lined up for his next Octagon appearance.

According to Brazilian outlet Combate, the UFC is working a fight between Silva and Alex Pereira for its March 12 Fight Night card. Sherdog.com contacted “Blindado,” who confirmed that the bout was in the works but revealed the contract had not yet been signed. Multiple outlets have since confirmed the fight has been targeted by the promotion.

"As soon as I sign the contract, I´ll be happy to talk about my next fight,” Silva said. “All I can say for now is how happy I´m happy about what's happening in my life right now. If the UFC is giving me great names, it means they are liking my work.”

A former M-1 Global champion, Silva has kicked off his promotional tenure with finishes off Wellington Turman, Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright. The 32-year-old Brazilian has won his last seven professional …

While Nick Diaz gave a game effort at UFC 266, it wasn’t a vintage performance from the Stockton, Calif., native.

More than six years since his last Octagon appearance, Diaz faced Robbie Lawler in a rematch on Oct. 25 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he suffered a TKO defeat when he declined to continue 44 seconds into the third round of their middleweight bout.

While Diaz was able to unleash some of his renowned multi-punch combinations, he fatigued badly down the stretch — something that would have been unheard of in years past — which led to him asking out of the fight in the final stanza. In an interview with ESPN, UFC president Dana White said he’d prefer not to see Diaz step into the Octagon again.

“Regardless of how good he looked or what he did after such a huge layoff, I don’t think Nick should fight,” White said. “It’s not that I was in favor of it. He’s a grown man and can do whatever he wants to do. I just don’t think that Nick does it becau…