Martial Arts News

Eldar Eldarov mixed up wrestling with strikes to close the round. A fantastic showing from the 29-year-old. #BRAVECF46 pic.twitter.com/itTHDhVynv

— BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf) January 16, 2021

Eldar Eldarov scored his first title defense in Brave Combat Federation’s opening event of 2021.

Eldarov (13-1) put his 165-pound championship on the line against Leonardo Mafra Texeira (15-6) in the main event of Brave CF 46 at Wow Arena in Sochi, Russia, on Saturday. After a few seconds of studying, Eldarov teased Mafra with a boxing combination, setting the tone for the rest of the round. The defending champion looked pretty confident with his punches, many of which found their way to Mafra’s face with ease. The Brazilian challenger retaliated with a few punches and some knees of his own.

In the last minute, Eldarov pushed the pace to take Mafra to the canvas. Even though “Macarrao" managed to defend the takedown attempt, he ate a few p…

UFC on ABC 1 is down to 10 bouts after a last-minute injury forced Phil Hawes out of a proposed middleweight clash against Nassourdine Imavov.

The promotion announced the news on Saturday morning. It was revealed on the broadcast that Hawes suffered some type of leg injury. UFC on ABC 1 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a featherweight clash between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. Hawes vs. Imavov was set for the prelims which air on ESPN+ beginning at 12 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

Hawes earned a UFC contract with a 78-second TKO of Khadzhimurat Bestaev on Dana White’s Contender Series this past August before scoring an 18-second KO of Jacob Malkoun in his promotional debut at UFC 254.

Imavov was also successful in his first promotional foray, as he outpointed Jordan Williams at UFC on ESPN 16. The 25-year-old MMA Factory product has been victorious in his last six professional outi…

.@NyquilNick vs. @AEstrazulasMMA is now up in the main event of #LFA97!

Who will talk away the #andNEW LFA #lightweight champion?@ShellsDotCom@USENDmoney@Krushmatized@PsoRite@GLCDirect2000@AthleticCBD@IncaKolaUSA@HartmanArena@UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/klYd0wKXzH

— LFA (@LFAfighting) January 16, 2021 The Legacy Fighting Alliance lightweight championship is vacant no more. The main event of LFA 97 saw Nick Browne and Arthur Estrazulas compete in the biggest fight of their professional mixed martial arts careers. Even on the judges' scorecards after two rounds, Estrazulas (12-5) would rock Browne (11-1) with a huge counter left hook to start Round 3. However, the wrestling of Browne would let him recover as he managed to control his Brazilian opponent. The two fighters continued to go back-and-forth in the championship rounds, with each man landing damaging blows and trading positions. After five grueling rounds, Browne was awarded the …

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. Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight Cody Stamann is moving on from Merab Dvalishvili as an opponent. According to a report from BJPenn.com on Friday, Stamann (19-3-1) has received a new opponent at UFC Fight Night 184. The Feb. 6 fight card, which previously had Stamann booked against Dvalishvili, will instead bring Andre Ewell (17-6) as his foe. Stamann and Dvalishvili were originally slated to meet in December, but both men contracted COVID-19 to push the bout back to February. Stamann confirmed news of his new opponent on Instagram.

Since starting his career off at an impressive 17-1 including three wins inside the Octagon, Stamann has gone through tumultuous times. A Suloev stretch kneebar defeat to Aljamain Sterling in 2018 snapped a 10-fight win streak, although he did go on to win his next bout against Alejan…

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. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champ-champ Henry Cejudo does not plan on coming back any time soon, but he will be ready if needed. Eight months after knocking out Dominick Cruz and hanging up his gloves, Cejudo is enjoying his vacation on the paradisiac Natal, in northeast Brazil. This area is the homeland of teammate and Bellator MMA double champion Patricio Freire.

Last Tuesday, Cejudo interrupted his vacation to participate in the Combate podcast “Mundo da Luta.” Speaking in impressive Portuguese, the Olympic champion confirmed that he has no immediate plans to return, but did not close the door entirely to competition.

“Dana White knows my number,” Cejudo said. “I’m here in Natal enjoying my vacation, but trained yesterday with Pitbull brothers. If Uncle Dana needs me for next week, I’ll be ready.”

Cejudo…

WBC lightweight interim champ @KingRyanG has said he wants to retire by 26 but told us if he does keep fighting it'll be in the octagon... really.

LISTEN:#UFC @danawhite @oscardelahoya @canelo @ufc #boxing pic.twitter.com/tqIOqAexp6

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 14, 2021 A star undefeated boxer plans on only sticking around the ring for another few years before possibly moving on to MMA. Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show on Thursday, WBC interim lightweight champ Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) does not intend on keeping to the boxing ring for much longer. The 22-year-old went professional in 2016, and competed 13 times in the first 18 months of his career. Ranked among the top lightweights in the world already, Garcia does not see the need to stay too long.

“Yeah, I plan to,” Garcia said flatly when asked about his boxing retirement at the age of 26. “If I say it, I plan to do it.”

Garcia continued, “I plan to, at 26, to ret…

Credit: Mike Fridley/Sherdog.com 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. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is further bolstering its March 13 show with what should be fireworks in the middleweight division. First reporting this news on Friday was MMA Junkie, which stated that Eryk Anders (13-5) will be taking on Darren Stewart (12-6, 1 NC) on March 13. The UFC Fight Night card on that date does not yet have a venue finalized, although it will likely come down to either the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, or Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This news has since been confirmed by other outlets.

A two-fight win streak for Anders came to an end in May 2020, when Kryzsztof Jotko captured a unanimous verdict over the former University of Alabama linebacker. The two prior wins coming over Vinicius Moreira Castro and Gerald Meerschaert, “Ya Boi” was on the winning track after a trio …

WHAT A START TO THE YEAR

@BlessedMMA vs @CalvinKattar on Fight Island

[ Saturday at 3pmET on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/E7a6ovLEtP — UFC (@ufc) January 15, 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. The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks off 2021 with a return to network television as it puts on its first show on the American Broadcasting Company. Headlining UFC on ABC 1 is a featherweight bout between former king Max Holloway and surging contender Calvin Kattar. The 11-fight card is now official after the weigh-ins took place, and all fighters managed to make weight.

Many fans don’t believe that Holloway (21-6) should be called a former champion. Many spectators thought “Blessed” did enough to win his rematch against Alexander Volkanovski, but the Hawaiian was on the wrong side of a split decision. Prior to losing back-to-b…

From my conversation with @LFAfighting boss @edblackhouse, as he talks #LFA becoming the #NCAA of #MMA. Sending 62 talents to the #UFC and #Bellator in 2020 alone. Full interview also talking promoting during a #pandemic is up on @sherdogdotcom now. pic.twitter.com/Auo9VVwD34

— Jason Burgos (@CheapSeatsChat) January 14, 2021 The Legacy Fighting Alliance will hold its first mixed martial arts event of 2021 on Friday, and the championship topper is good to go.

LFA 97 is headlined by a lightweight bout between Nick Browne and Arthur Estrazulas for the promotion's vacant title. The nine-fight card is now official after the weigh-ins took place.

Both fighters in the main event had no issue making weight, but three other fighters came in heavy. Jose Martinez and Cam Ansel both failed to make the lightweight limit, while Guilherme Santos missed the featherweight cap by 1.6 pounds. All three matches are still going forward, though, with the ove…

BREAKING: Ryan Hall is back! Multiple sources have told me that Hall is set to return to the Octagon on March 13 against Dan Ige. Contracts have already been issued for the fight. #UFC https://t.co/NyGnkNce0g

— Cole Shelton (@ColeShelton91) January 14, 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. Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Ryan Hall is back in action for the first time since 2019. The news first coming from BJPenn.com on Thursday, Hall (8-1) will be setting foot inside the Octagon after a lengthy layoff against Dan Ige (14-3). The two featherweights will collide at the UFC Fight Night card on March 13, which will presumably take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The news has since been confirmed by other outlets. Hall previously called out Ige in November on Instagram, and he will now be getting his wish, as the two h…

UFC news: Marijuana no longer violates anti-doping policy. https://t.co/SE25ebYQyh

— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) January 14, 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. The Ultimate Fighting Championship and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency are turning the corner on marijuana in the sport. Per MMA Junkie on Thursday, the promotion and agency announced together that the marijuana policies in effect for the UFC athletes has changed drastically. As a result, fighters that test positive for marijuana, no matter the level or threshold the fighter reaches, will not be found in violation of the anti-doping policy. This new policy also applies to various substances found in CBD products. Instead, fighters will be evaluated for if they used the substance for “performance-enhancing purposes.”

This change will not impact commissions or federations…

Miranda Maverick will square off against Gillian Robertson in a flyweight contest at UFC 258.

Maverick initially announced the bout on her Instagram account and it was later confirmed by MMAFighting.com. UFC 258 is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Feb. 13 and is headlined by a welterweight title tilt between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns.

Maverick has won four consective fights, including a first-round stoppage of Liana Jojua at UFC 254 on Oct. 24. The Invicta FC veteran’s current winning streak includes triumphs over Pearl Gonzalez and DeAnna Bennett.

Robertson, meanwhile, had a two-fight winning streak snapped in a decision loss to Taila Santos at UFC Fight Night 183 on Dec. 19. Prior to that Robertson had posted victories over Poliana Botelho and Cortney Casey in the Octagon.