Martial Arts News

#UFCVegas30 Highlight Video: Kennedy Nzechukwu Overwhelms Danilo Marques https://t.co/ndXRSnfO3Y pic.twitter.com/1GHIcyhUip

— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) June 26, 2021

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC, PFL and “The Ultimate Fighter” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Once Kennedy Nzechukwu gets rolling, it’s difficult to halt his momentum.

The Dana White’s Contender Series alum shook off a slow start at UFC Fight Night 190 to defeat Danilo Marques via technical knockout in a light heavyweight showdown on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nzechukwu (9-1, 3-1 UFC) brought the show to a close 20 seconds into Round 3 for his third consecutive promotional triumph.

The first half of the bout belonged to Marques (11-3, 2-1 UFC). The Demian Maia protégé landed an immediate single-leg takedown and made Nzechukwu wear him like a backpack for appr…

Timur Valiev and Raoni Barcelos engaged in one of the evening’s most competitive battles at UFC Fight Night 190, and both men are now $50,000 richer for their efforts.

Valiev and Barcelos received “Fight of the Night” honors for their bantamweight clash on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Though Barcelos scored the bout’s only two knockdowns in the second frame, Valiev ultimately captured a narrow majority decision thanks to superior volume and movement in Rounds 1 and 3.

Elsewhere, Kennedy Nzechukwu earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award thanks to a come-from-behind victory over Danilo Marques at light heavyweight. After spending much of the first two rounds fending off rear-naked choke attempts from his opponent, the man known as “African Savage” put Marques away with a flurry of punches 20 seconds into the final frame.

Finally, Marcin Prachnio garnered the card’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check on the strength of a secon…

Timur Valiev and Raoni Barcelos engaged in one of the evening’s most competitive battles at UFC Fight Night 190, and both men are now $50,000 richer for their efforts.

Valiev and Barcelos received “Fight of the Night” honors for their bantamweight clash on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Though Barcelos scored the bout’s only two knockdowns in the second frame, Valiev ultimately captured a narrow majority decision thanks to superior volume and movement in Rounds 1 and 3.

Elsewhere, Kennedy Nzechukwu earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award thanks to a come-from-behind victory over Danilo Marques at light heavyweight. After spending much of the first two rounds fending off rear-naked choke attempts from his opponent, the man known as “African Savage” put Marques away with a flurry of punches 20 seconds into the final frame.

Finally, Marcin Prachnio garnered the card’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check on the strength of a secon…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LwQUIrzvxM&w=560&h=315]

Kayla Harrison has the look of a runaway train in the Professional Fighters League.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist dispatched Cindy Dandois with an armbar in the first round of their PFL 6 headliner on Friday at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Just the second woman to submit the Belgian in mixed martial arts competition, Harrison (10-0, 9-0 PFL) brought it to a close 4:44 into Round 1.

Dandois (16-7, 0-2 PFL) never presented much of a threat. Harrison assumed top position after a failed takedown attempt from the “Battlecat,” advanced to side control and applied the heavy ground-and-pound for which she has become known. She eventually stood above Dandois, connected with a sweeping left hand and achieved full mount with roughly a minute remaining in the first round. Harrison went to work with punches once more, sat back on the armbar and prompted the tapout.

Meanwhile, fo…

Sherdog's live PFL 2021 6 coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET.

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

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC, PFL and “The Ultimate Fighter” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result

Sherdog's live PFL 2021 6 coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET.

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

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC, PFL and “The Ultimate Fighter” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Round 1 Starting the night's action, we have recent UFC veteran Klidson Abreu (15-4) taking on Jamelle Jones (10-6), perhaps best known for losing via flying knee to Mike Rodriguez on the Contenders Series. Officiating will be referee Gary Copeland. Abreu and Jones come out cautiously to start matters off. Abreu fires off several wild kicks, and his second one, to the legs, is caught by Jones, who scores a single-leg. Jones is in half-guard, but Abreu immediately works to sweep. Jones blocks it and the pace slows a little. Abreu eventually regains full guard, causing Jones to back off. He then re-engages, but it's not long before Abreu postures u…

By The Numbers

WHAT A FIGHT! Both men gave everything but it's Valentin Moldavsky who gets the Unanimous Decision nod over @tbeartim. #AndNew Bellator Interim-Heavyweight Champion #Bellator261 pic.twitter.com/3PNpo2r0Zu

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 26, 2021 Bellator MMA crowned its interim heavyweight champion at Bellator 261. The main event saw 36-year-old veteran Timothy Johnson go up against Russian prospect Valentin Moldavsky. Johnson (15-7) looked to brawl with the 29-year-old and found some success on the feet while doing so. However, Moldavsky (11-1) was more technical at a distance and was generally landing the better punches. In Round 3, the Russian started to take Johnson down and found success in the grappling exchanges. As the fight continued, Moldavsky was the fresher fighter despite Johnson always moving forward. After five rounds, the judges awarded Moldavsky the unanimous decision and the interim title with scores of…

OFFICIAL at 265

@AlexDragoVolkov is locked for #UFCVegas30.

[ Main Card 4pmET | Tomorrow on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xNCFSEFhec — UFC (@ufc) June 25, 2021 Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. For the second week in a row, there was no drama on the scales.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship wraps up its busy June schedule with a potential heavyweight title eliminator match between Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov atop UFC Fight Night 190. Each of the 26 fighters for this event made weight, and Volkov will keep a 20-pound weight advantage over Gane.

The smaller heavyweight is the undefeated Gane, who yet to taste defeat in his eight professional mixed martial arts bouts, including five inside the Octagon. "Bon Gamin" most recently won a five-round decision over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and before that, picked up a second-ro…

All fighters slated to compete at Rizin Fighting Federation 29 made weight ahead of their scheduled bouts.

That includes the four contests slated for the opening round of the promotion’s bantamweight grand prix, which are the featured fights on the card. Yuto Hokaumura tipped the scales at 134.1 pounds for his clash against Kuya Ito, who checked in at the same weight. Meanwhile, Takafumi Otsuka clocked in at 134.4 pounds for his first round matchp with Hiroki Yamashita (134.1).

Rizin 29 takes place at Maruzen Intech Arena in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday. The card, complete with English commentary from Joe Ferraro and Damien Brown, is available via pay-per-view for $24.99 here. The card will also include four kickboxing bouts.

Rizin 29 Weigh-in Results:Yuto Hokamura (134.1) vs. Kuya Ito (134.1)Takafumi Otsuka(134.4) vs. Hiroki Yamashita (134.1)Kenta Takizawa (134.4) vs. Masakazu Imanari (133.8)Kazuma Kuramoto (133.8) vs. Alan Yoshihiro Yamaniha (134)Yusuke Yachi (155.9) …

Bellator MMA middleweight king Gegard Mousasi is set to begin his second reign as champion.

The news on Friday first came from MMA Junkie, who reported that Mousasi (47-7-2) will be defending his 185-pound belt against John Salter (18-4) on Aug. 13. The newly announced event titled Bellator 264 will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and no other matches have been released yet. The pairing has since been confirmed by other outlets.

Mousasi reclaimed the middleweight throne in October 2020, when he overwhelmed welterweight champ Douglas Lima and thwarted his foe’s intentions of becoming a simultaneous two-division champion. Mousasi held the strap in 2018, and lost it in 2019 by a majority verdict to Rafael Lovato Jr. A split decision win over Lyoto Machida led to the vacant title fight with Lima, after Lovato Jr. surrendered the crown due to health issues. “The Dreamcatcher” maintains a high stoppage rate of 81 percent throughout his career that d…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BNWys4A33o&w=560&h=315] One of the greatest heavyweights of all time is coming back to Bellator MMA this year.

The promotion announced on Thursday that a press conference for Fedor Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) would be taking place on Friday. During this brief announcement, where Emelianenko was joined by Bellator head Scott Coker and commentator John McCarthy, Bellator released the information that the legendary Russian would be appearing at a card on Oct. 23 in Moscow. This event will be staged in the VTB Arena in the capital city of Russia – a Bellator first – although there was no name mentioned for his next adversary. Emelianenko will serve as the headliner for this unnumbered Bellator event.

“The Last Emperor” has two bouts left on his Bellator contract, and his Moscow appearance will not likely be his final battle. The 44-year-old joined the company in 2017, where he faced Matt Mitrione and lost by knockout in 74 seconds. Ea…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loO8Vbb_s2Q&w=640&h=360]

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

The 2021 Regular Season for the Professional Fighters League will come to a close on Friday, and one fighter has already eliminated herself from contention at the weigh-ins.

Kayla Harrison is set to return to the PFL cage atop a busy card filled with women's lightweights and heavyweights, plus bouts featuring Anthony Pettis and Lance Palmer. Harrison will headline against Cindy Dandois, with the Olympic gold medalist winning her last bout this season while Dandois came up short in her most recent fight. A perfect 9-0 in her career, the homegrown PFL star will come into her meeting with Dandois as a gargantuan favorite, and she hit the lightweight limit of 156 pounds. Meanwhile, Dandois had her four-fight submission streak come to an end against Kaitlin Young…