Martial Arts News

Francis Ngannou believes his former foe Ciryl Gane is not a suitable matchup for Alex Pereira. 

Pereira (13-3) is set to face Gane (13-2) for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House on June 14. Pereira will look to create history by winning a UFC title in a third weight category. However, many, including Ngannou, consider Gane to be Pereira’s toughest test so far. 

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It will be a big move up for Pereira, who started his UFC career as a middleweight. Ngannou believes Gane is more well-round that Pereira. Gane is known for being unusually slick at heavyweight. Ngannou believes Pereira will find it difficult after moving up from light heavyweight to face a heavyweight striker who is faster than most light heavyweights.More Tools “I think Ciryl has more tools here,” Ngannou told Helen Yee. “Alex Pereira has his own style, Ciryl Gane has his own style. For me, it’s not a good matchup for Alex Pereira in terms of style. Basically, if he’s…

Davey Grant is brutally honest with himself. 

Grant (18-8) took on Dana White's Contender Series graduate Adrian Luna Martinetti at UFC Fight Night 274 last weekend. The highly touted Ecuadorian debutant was a sizeable favorite going into the bout against Grant. 

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However, Grant overwhelmed Martinetti with his decades of experience, turning it into an ugly slugfest. Grant walked away with a unanimous decision while both fighters earned an extra $100,00 each for the “Fight of the Night.” 

Grant recently opened up on the juncture he is currently at in his career. The 40-year-old isn’t very hopeful of making a title run in the UFC before he retires. While Grant might enter the title picture with a series of knockouts, he says he isn’t “delusional.” Grant is focused on making a legacy of being entertaining, which leaves a long list of opponents open to the Englishman.

Staying Realistic “I’m not delusional,” Grant said on “The Ariel H…

Sean Strickland is unhinged with his teammates. 

Strickland is known for his controversial takes on gun control. The former middleweight champion has a large collection of guns and advises people to carry guns as well. Strickland’s teammate, Francis Ngannou, once asked him why he always carries a gun. Strickland hilariously told him to look at himself in the mirror.

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“So Francis asked me once why I carry a gun,” Strickland said on MVP Uncut. “I told him, ‘Look in the mirror.’”

Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champ, certainly cuts an intimidating figure. However, Strickland has other reasons to carry a gun. Strickland was once seen holding a domestic abuse suspect at gunpoint outside his home in Las Vegas. Strickland also found himself on the wrong end of a gun during a road rage incident. 

Big Fights on the Horizon Strickland and Ngannou are both currently in camp at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas. Strickland (30-7) will chall…

Aljamain Sterling is not one to create a ruckus if he can help it. 

Sterling (26-5) dominantly defeated Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night 274 last weekend. Something unusual occurred at the pre-fight press conference that captured the attention of fans and pundits. Sterling had placed two bottles of his “Funk Harbor” liquor in front of him at the presser. However, a UFC staff member suddenly asked Sterling to remove the bottles, and “Funkmaster” obliged without any fuss. 

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Sterling recently revealed that he had permission from UFC executive Hunter Campbell to display his bottles, which he had been doing for his past few fights. Sterling claims he has barely had any issues with the UFC staff, barring a stray incident when he was bantamweight champion. Sterling says the UFC staff member who recently asked him to remove the bottles later made it up to him. According to Sterling, he could have easily gotten confrontational, but decided not to, a…

Islam Makhachev’s next title defense is seemingly set. 

Makhachev’s strength and conditioning coach, Seifulla Magomedov, was recently seen training the UFC welterweight champion. Magomedov also confirmed that Makhachev is now officially in camp for his next fight. While the camp started a few days back, Makhachev joined on Monday.

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Back to Work “The camp began a few days ago, but for Islam, it has really started today,” Magomedov told Red Corner MMA.

Makhachev (28-1) moved up from lightweight after defending the title four times, the most in the division’s history. Makhachev dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title at UFC 322 this past November. Ian Garry and Michael Morales are currently jostling for the next title shot against Makhachev. Makhachev even expressed interest in Garry’s latest callout, claiming that he is just waiting on a contract. Meanwhile, Morales has hinted that he is not out of the picture yet by posting …

After his first scheduled Real American Freestyle appearance fell through, Merab Dvalishvili has been booked to face another accomplished former UFC champ on May 30.

The organization announced on Monday that Dvalishvili will face Frankie Edgar at RAF 9 on May 30 in Dallas. Dvalishvili was originally supposed to meet Henry Cejudo in the RAF 8 headliner before Cejudo suffered an injury just prior to their match. RAF 9 is headlined by a matchup between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov, while Colby Covington will square off against Chris Weidman in the co-main event. The event airs on Fox Nation.

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Dvalishvili, who is known for his relentless pace and grappling in the UFC, relinquished the bantamweight crown to Petr Yan in the UFC 323 headliner this past December. “The Machine” is expected to be granted a rematch against the Russian champion in the near future.

Edgar wrestled collegiately at Clarion University before transitioning to an MMA career. …

Two prominent names will grace the cover of EA Sports’ latest UFC game.

The company announced on Monday that former two-division champion Alex Pereira and ex-featherweight king Max Holloway will get featured billing for “UFC 6,” which marks the first release since the fifth version in 2023. The game is slated for a June 12 release — two days before the UFC White House card.

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Two ways to be dangerous ⚠️@AlexPereiraUFC on the Standard Edition.@BlessedMMA on the Ultimate Edition.#UFC6 preorders are now live 🎮 https://t.co/OKmxT2IWCI

Full reveal coming soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/BmTHOJOSxb

— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) April 27, 2026 Star Power on the Box Pereira, a former 185- and 205-pound champ, will make his bid to become a three-division title holder when he faces Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight gold in the UFC White House co-main event. “Poatan” has emerged as one of the promotion’s biggest stars since coming t…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will break new ground later this summer.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Monday that the Octagon will head to Belgrade, Serbia for an event on Aug. 1. A venue and headlining attraction were not revealed for what is expected to be a UFC Fight Night card.

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The UFC currently has a pair of Serbian fighters under contract: Uros Medic and Dusko Todorovic. Medic made a passionate plea for the organization to head to his home country following a first-round knockout of Geoff Neal at UFC Houston on Feb. 21.Calling His Shot"Belgrade, Serbia. UFC this summer. Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards if he’s available,” Medic said in his post-fight interview. Let’s get this work in. I’m gonna knock him out — and a guy after him and a guy after him. I’m knocking everybody out.”

Just what The Doctor ordered 🇷🇸 🥼@Urketaraketa spoke #UFCBelgrade into reality 👏 👊 pic.twitter.com/Xwsui6V1kp

— UFC Europe (@UFC…

Raoni Barcelos earned his fifth straight UFC win on Saturday. | Getty/UFC

After taking a split-decision victory over Montel Jackson at UFC Fight Night 274 on Saturday, Raoni Barcelos is confident that he will finally enter the bantamweight rankings on the heels of his fifth consecutive triumph.

“I knew that would be a war,” Barcelos told Sherdog.com. “Montel was having good distance control, but I’m a complete fighter, so I used my wrestling to neutralize him. I finished two rounds with a choke on his neck. Unfortunately I wasn't able to submit him, but I got the ‘W.’ Since he was 14th in the rankings I know that from now on the challenges will be even harder.”

The son of legendary master Laerte Barcelos, who competed both in jiu-jitsu and wrestling, Raoni grew up competing since he was 8 years old in both styles and earned five national titles in wrestling, four national championships in BJJ and a silver medal in BJJ nationals as a black belt. Barcelos…

Artem Vakhitov doesn’t think Alex Pereira is naturally built for heavyweight. 

Pereria is scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House on June 14. Vakhitov, the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, recently trained with Gane. While Vakhitov was previously skeptical about Gane, he has now changed his mind about “Bon Gamin.” Vakhitov is impressed with Gane’s overall skillset and favors the Frenchman to beat “Poatan.”

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“Before I came to train with Ciryl Gane, I was a little suspicious regarding his style, his preparations,” Vakhitov told Standmeup. “But when I went there, I really felt that the guy is totally on a different level. When I saw his team, how he was preparing, how he did everything well, his timing, feeling the distance, stamina, his striking, he has everything. Now he has to work on his psychological and mental things. Now I’ve changed my mind, I think it’s 70-30, he really can get it.” Hea…

Conor McGregor is yet again doubling down on a UFC return. 

According to recent reports, McGregor (22-6) is likely to return for a fight against Max Holloway this summer. The former UFC double champ recently posted training pictures while assuring fans of a return.

“Legs still sharper than a guillotine. Training with the young wolves, sharpening the blade,” McGregor wrote on Instagram. “The return is coming whether they like it or not.”

A History of Broken Promises However, this is not the first time McGregor has teased a return to action. “Notorious” hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy loss against Dustin Poirier in 2021. McGregor has since teased a return to the UFC on multiple occasions but failed to deliver. The Dubliner was even matched up against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024, but pulled out due to a toe injury. McGregor was also rallying for a spot on the UFC White House card in June, which didn’t materialize. However, Dana White cu…

Paulo Costa and Josh Hokit have seemingly forged a new friendship. 

Hokit is making headlines in the UFC by cutting WWE-esque promos and backing it up with his performances. “The Incredible Hok” recently defeated Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 to earn both “Performance of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” bonuses. The same card also saw Paulo Costa finish a previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov in a massive upset. 

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At President Donald Trump’s insistence, Hokit was immediately booked against Derrick Lewis for the UFC White House card on June 14. Costa subsequently offered to replace Lewis against Hokit. “Borrachinha” also accused Hokit of robbing him of a bonus at UFC 327. However, Costa has since seemingly dropped the idea of fighting Hokit. Hokit recently collaborated with Costa on an Instagram post. Hokit shared a clip of himself cutting a promo at the UFC 327 pre-fight press conference, where Costa can be seen laughing.Did We Just Become…