Martial Arts News

I will give a fuck for points, it’s not my business pic.twitter.com/iqYQq3oXLj

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) June 2, 2024

Paulo Costa has vowed to go for finishes in the future after his split-decision loss against Sean Strickland at UFC 302.

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Strickland put on a defensive striking clinic to nullify Costa’s power in the co-main event at UFC 302 on Saturday. Despite Strickland completely outclassing Costa over the course of five rounds, the former champ earned only a split-decision win, with judge Dave Tirelli bizarrely scoring the fight for the Brazilian.

Tirelli, who had also inexplicably scored another fight in favor of Mitch Raposo earlier in the night, faced some harsh criticism from UFC CEO Dana White at the post-fight press conference. White also noted that Costa didn’t deliver the usual type of action for which he has become known. Meanwhile, color commentator Joe Rogan opined that “Borrachinha”…

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's Hall of Fame UFC Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.pic.twitter.com/PmRPj3OKgk

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) June 2, 2024

Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly voiced a global concern to Donald Trump during their conversation at UFC 302.

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Nurmagomedov was on corner duty for teammate Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title defense against Dustin Poirier in the main event at UFC 302 on Saturday. No stranger to UFC pay-per-views, former POTUS Trump was also in attendance for the event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Nurmagomedov was seen exchanging a few words with Trump after Makhachev’s fifth-round submission win over Poirier. American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez later revealed the content of the conversation between “Eagle” and Trump. According to Mendez, Nurmagomedov implored Trump to take measures to stop the ongoing Israel-Palestine war.

“Act…

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Dustin Poirier surpassed everyone’s expectations at UFC 302 — including those of American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez.

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Poirier challenged Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in the main event at UFC 302 on Saturday in his third bid for undisputed gold. A massive underdog going into the event, Poirier was widely expected to be dominated by Makhachev as he was by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019.

When Poirier was taken down early and controlled for the majority of the opening frame, the result seemed like a forgone conclusion. However, “The Diamond” bounced back in the second round, denying Makhachev multiple takedowns to give the champ a stern test. While Poirier submitted to a brabo choke from Makhachev in the fifth round, the Louisiana native surprised fans and pundits alike by making the fight as close as he did.

Mendez, who was in Makhachev’s corner, admits to being surprised by Poirier’s performance, as well…

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Alexander Volkanovski is exploring side hustles at lightweight while he awaits another shot at the featherweight title.

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Islam Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier via fifth-round submission in the main event at UFC 302 on Saturday. Poirier subsequently hinted that he might call it a career in the aftermath of the defeat.

However, Volkanovski hasn’t completely given up hope of Poirier competing again. The former featherweight champ called for a lightweight clash against “The Diamond” while he awaits another shot at the 145-pound strap.

“Maybe, just maybe, depending on what I’m doing and when, obviously I want to fight later in the year… I don’t want to wait too long, either. So, if the timing works, maybe me and Dustin maybe we can have a good fight,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t know, he sort of just wants good, fun fights. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for e…

Dear UFC Fans--

The #UFC303 press conference scheduled for Monday June 3rd in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice.  We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend.  When we have further information on a new date and time, we will… pic.twitter.com/nIXRIZl5pv

— UFC (@ufc) June 3, 2024

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A press conference in Dublin that was supposed to kick off promotion for the Conor McGregor-Michael Chandler headliner at UFC 303 has been postponed.

The UFC announced the news via social media on Sunday night. The presser was scheduled to take place at 3Arena in Dublin at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on Monday. A reason for the postponement was not given.

“The press conference scheduled for Monday June 3 in Dublin, Ireland, at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice,” read a statement from the UFC. “We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend.  Whe…

Islam Makhachev might have a ready-made contender in the lightweight division awaiting him, but that isn’t the option that intrigues him the most.

After submitting Dustin Poirier with a brabo choke in the fifth round of the UFC 302 headliner at the Prudential Arena in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night, Makhachev expressed interest in moving to 170 pounds in an attempt to become a two-division champion. He then reiterated that sentiment during Saturday’s post-fight press conference.

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“Who doesn’t want to be double champion? This is history. How many double champions [do] we have? This is a dream for all fighters, to get second belt,” Makhachev said.

“This is my dream. I want to be in the history and people know me like double champ. This is my dream. If I have chance, a small chance, I will get. If you want a great legacy, you have to get second belt. It’s my opinion.”

By besting Poirier, Makhachev made his third successful title defense, wh…

After outdueling Paulo Costa for five rounds in the UFC 302 co-main event, Sean Strickland remains in the thick of the championship discussion at 185 pounds.

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Strickland claimed middleweight gold with a massive upset of Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, but he relinquished the crown one fight later, losing a narrow split decision against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January. While Adesanya hasn’t competed since his loss to Strickland, it is expected that he will receive the next championship opportunity against Du Plessis.

As for Strickland, he is willing to wait for as long as it takes to receive what he believes he’s earned.

“As long as it takes, man. As long as it takes,” Strickland said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I want the gold, dude. I want the gold. When you’re fighting these top-10 motherf—-s, dude, you’re only one slip or dodge away from getting knocked out. I paid my penance: I went and fought Costa. I didn’t want to an…

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According to Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, there’s no debate as to who deserves to be mixed martial arts’ No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

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While Islam Makhachev secured his 14th consecutive victory — and third successful title defense — with a fifth-round submission victory against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 headliner on Saturday night, White believes current heavyweight champion Jon Jones still has the superior resume.

“I think he’s [Makhachev] one of the greatest of all-time. I think he’s incredible. I don’t think he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world,” White said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “For anyone to call Islam the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world when Jon Jones is still f—ing fighting is nuts and shouldn’t be ranking in the pound-for-pound, or doing any of the f—ing rankings ever if that’s what you really think.

“Jon Jones has never lost a fight, ever. He’s fough…

Kevin Holland apologized to Donald Trump for what he perceived to be a previous snub after his first-round submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302.

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Holland survived a knockdown from Oleksiejczuk to secure an armbar, which appeared to injure the Pole’s arm and forced referee Herb Dean to step in at the 1:34 mark of the opening frame. “Trailblazer” immediately jumped over the Octagon and spoke to Trump, who was in attendance for the event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Holland later revealed that he actually apologized to Trump for not greeting him in a previous instance. Holland noted that his first instinct is to always speak to UFC executives seated cageside.

“I just apologized because the first time that I hopped out of the cage when he was there, I didn’t speak to him,” Holland said during a post-fight media scrum. “And no disrespect to anybody ever, the person who signs my checks is usually the first person I’…

Rather than seeking a rematch, Grant Dawson is looking to get over his loss against Bobby Green by beating an opponent that recently beat “King.”

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Dawson bounced back from a knockout loss against Green with a dominant unanimous decision win over Joe Solecki at UFC 302 on Saturday. Dawson then called out Jalin Turner, who knocked out Green in December 2023.

“I want get back into the Top 15 by the end of this year, so I’d like to fight Jalin Turner,” Dawson said during a post-fight media scrum. “I don’t think Jalin Turner is gonna want to fight me, especially after a performance like that… He beat the guy that beat me. And there’s an easy way to get over Bobby without actually having to fight Bobby again, is beat the guy that beat him.”

Dawson was a considerable favorite going into the first UFC headliner of his career against Green in October 2023. Green knocked out Dawson in 33 seconds at UFC Fight Night 229, handing “KGD” the first loss of hi…

Ailin Perez called out Kayla Harrison after her win over Joselyne Edwards at UFC 302 on Saturday.

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Perez and Edwards looked to settle their rivalry, which started with an altercation at the UFC Performance Institute in November 2023. “Fiona” survived a blatant head butt from Edwards and went on to register a unanimous decision victory in their preliminary bantamweight bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Argentine standout subsequently called out two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.

Elaborating on her callout, Perez noted that the former Professional Fighters League lightweight champ currently has a lot of clout in the division. Perez wants to fight Harrison in a main event, which would be the first five rounder of the Argentine’s career if it comes to fruition.

“Yes, I called out Kayla Harrison back there in the interview,” Perez said during a post-fight media scrum. “This is the name that’s resounding in the di…

Order Now! UFC 302 “Makhachev vs. Poirier” Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Islam Makhachev might have gotten a tougher fight than he bargained for from Dustin Poirier, but that test turned out to be quite profitable for the Dagestani champion.

Makhachev defeated Poirier via fifth-round submission to retain his lightweight crown in the UFC 302 headliner at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night. Poirier proved to be a game opponent, doing perhaps his best work in the fourth frame before submitting to a brabo choke in the final stanza. As a result, Makhachev and Poirier received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece. Meanwhile, Makhachev also earned one of the evening’s $50,000 “Performance of the Night” awards to bring his bonus total to $100,000 overall.

Elsewhere, Kevin Holland secured the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check by virtue of his quick submission victory against Michal Oleksiejczuk in a featured m…