Martial Arts News

Paulo Costa vanquished the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327. | Getty/UFC

There’s been a theme to Paulo Costa’s recent victories in the UFC.

After an impressive knockout over Azamat Murzakanov in the UFC 327 co-main event, his second victory over a Russian opponent in 10 months (he also defeated Roman Kopylov at UFC 318), Costa revealed to Ag.Fight’s Diego Ribas that he would love to face a third “Russian” next.

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“Two Russians, two southpaws in a row, and I would be glad if UFC had a third one to offer me,” Costa said in a video interview. “[Khamzat] Chimaev. Actually he is a Gourmet Chechen, not Russian. But it doesn’t matter. The UFC knows how much I want to face him.”

When asked about his post-fight conversation with U.S. President Donalt Trump, Costa said it was a private talk about a “friend in common” — likely former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro or his son, Flavio Bolsonaro, who will be running in next nat…

Perhaps attending UFC 327 in person made Jon Jones reconsider his recent statement that he was done with fighting.

“I’m not sure if I’m retired or not,” Jones said in an interview with UFC Brasil. “I’m just taking it day by day just trying to kind of figure out my body and how I feel, things like that. I’ll tell you what, being here at the UFC right now definitely has given me this fire that I haven’t felt in a little bit, so it feels very good to be here.”

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“Bones” hasn’t competed since November 2024, when he defended the heavyweight crown with a third-round stoppage of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. While UFC CEO Dana White expressed confidence that a Jones-Tom Aspinall championship matchup would be booked, that pairing never came to fruition. Jones briefly retired last June only to re-enter the drug testing pool when plans for the UFC White House card were announced.

Perspectives on how close Jones was to reaching an agreement to compete at the June…

Curtis Blaydes took a beating at UFC 327 | Getty/UFC

Engaging in a “Fight of the Year” candidate took its toll on Curtis Blaydes.

The longtime heavyweight contender squared off against prospect Josh Hokit on the UFC 327 main card at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday night. While both combatants boast wrestling backgrounds, the bout turned into a slugfest in which Blaydes (177) and Hokit (174) combined to land the most significant strikes in a three-round fight in UFC heavyweight history.

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Hokit appeared to wobble Blaydes on more than one occasion, but “Razor” was never dropped. However, Hokit got stronger as the fight progressed, ultimately earning a hard-fought unanimous decision victory.The Cost of Doing Business As for Blaydes, he will likely be sidelined for quite some time as he recovers from the injuries suffered in the memorable contest. Blaydes’ management team at Vayner Sports revealed to MMAjunkie.com that the fighter sust…

Jiri Prochazka got caught by a left hook at UFC 327. | Getty/UFC

Jiri Prochazka may long regret the UFC 327 headliner as the one that got away.

With the vacant light heavyweight title on the line and Carlos Ulberg hobbled by an apparent knee injury, Prochazka suffered a shocking knockout loss 3:45 into the opening stanza on Saturday night at the Kaseya Center in Miami. In the aftermath of the defeat, Prochazka lamented a missed opportunity while also hinting that he may have let up once he realized his opponent was injured.

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It was the same sentiment for Prochazka both in his immediate post-fight interview and then in a video update he later provided via social media.

“Just checking the jaw in the hospital,” Prochazka said on his Instagram Stories. “Big apologies for my performance tonight. I still can’t understand this. My stupid mercy in the fight and that cost me this fight.

“I would like to fight a rematch. Because that was my…

Health permitting, Josh Hokit has earned himself a spot at the UFC White House event. | Getty/UFC

At the request of President Donald Trump, the UFC White House card will have one more fight than originally anticipated.

UFC CEO Dana White announced on Saturday that Derrick Lewis will square off against Josh Hokit at the June 14 event. UFC White House takes place on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., and is headlined by a lightweight title tilt pitting Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will vie for the interim heavyweight belt.

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Just prior to the announcement, Hokit had emerged from a three-round war against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 with a unanimous decision triumph. “The Incredible Hok” is 9-0 as a professional — including three triumphs in the UFC. Blaydes was by far the most significant victory of Hokit’s career to date, and the bout also stands out as a potential “Fight of the Ye…

Heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson is officially taking his talents to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

During the UFC 327 broadcast on Saturday night, it was announced that Steveson had signed with the Las Vegas-based promotion. He will make his debut at UFC 329 during International Fight Week against an as-yet-to-be-named opponent. Steveson was in attendance at UFC 327 in Miami when the announcement was made.

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THE NEWEST ADDITION 🚨

Gable Steveson is officially signed and will be fighting at #UFC329! pic.twitter.com/mUVJsFUskK

— UFC (@ufc) April 12, 2026 Making Waves Steveson is regarded as one of the top prospects in all of MMA. The 25-year-old, who has worked extensively with former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones, is 3-0 in MMA bouts — finishing all of his opponents inside of a round. Prior to focusing on fighting, Steveson tried his hand at both professonal wrestling and the NFL.

Steveson last app…

Rajabali Shaidullaev continues to dominate the competition in Rizin. | Rizin FF

Rajabali Shaidullaev is one of MMA’s most talented fighters outside of the UFC. The 25-year-old Kyrgyz warrior kept his unblemished record intact and easily retained his featherweight title with a first-round TKO victory in the Rizin Fighting Federation “Landmark Vol. 13” main event on Sunday in Fukuoka, Japan.

Shaidullaev (19-0, 7-0 Rizin), who has run into a shortage of challengers on the Rizin roster, was matched up against striker Yuta Kubo (5-3, 1 NC; 5-3, 1 NC Rizin) in a rematch from their first meeting at the end of 2024. That first fight ended in a TKO triumph for Shaidullaev, and he captured his Rizin featherweight title four months later, but it was also the only time in his Rizin career so far that he was taken into a second round.

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Perhaps motivated to make a statement with an even more dominant victory, Shaidullaev did just that in the rematch.…

Josh Hokit was a standout performer at UFC 327. | Getty/UFC

It was a night to remember for Josh Hokit.

After drawing mixed reviews for his various personas during UFC 327 fight week, “The Incredible Hok” delivered on Saturday night, keeping his undefeated record intact with an upset victory over perennial Top 10 heavyweight Curtis Blaydes.

Not only was it a signficant step in Hokit’s career, but it also padded the Jackson-Wink MMA product’s bank account. For a slugfest that resulted in the most combined significant strikes in UFC heavyweight history, Hokit and Blaydes received “Fight of the Night” honors and $100,000 apiece. Additionally, Hokit garnered a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his unanimous decision trumph — bring his total bonus earnings up to $200,000.

Belt and a Bonus Meanwhile, Carlos Ulberg earned the card’s other $100,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his stunning knockout of Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 327 headliner…

With his championship dreams seemingly about to go up in smoke, Carlos Ulberg defied the odds.

After appearing to injure his right leg due to an awkward step early in Round 1, Ulberg scored an unlikely knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 327 headliner on Saturday night at the Kaseya Center in Miami. A picture-perfect left hook and approximately six to seven follow-up blows rendered Prochazka unconscious at the 3:45 mark of the opening period. With the victory, Ulberg claims the light heavyweight belt vacated by Alex Pereira.

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The bout was just getting started when Ulberg suffered his injury, which instantly compromised his movement. While Prochazka targeted the leg with kicks, he also let up on the throttle somewhat — even offering to stand and trade with his wounded foe with a symbolic point to the canvas. As Prochazka stalked Ulberg near the fence, “Black Jag” countered with the left hook to instantly send the former Rizin champ to the fl…

The Professional Fighters League has just found a potential star in the making at PFL Chicago, and his name is Mitchell McKee.

In his PFL debut, McKee dominated former world champion Sergio Pettis en route to a decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Saturday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Despite the close scorecards, McKee (10-0, 1-0 PFL) was in control for the majority of the fight. The unbeaten Minnesotan made mincemeat of Pettis on the ground and controlled the former Bellator kingpin’s hips in check. Pettis nearly pulled off a hail mary triangle choke in the second round, but once McKee avoided the danger, he closed the door on Pettis’ hopes for a comeback. With his first win in the PFL coming against a battle-tested former champion, the sky is the limit for what the promotion plans for its newest title contender.

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Renat Khavalov kept his unblemished record intact after eeking out a tough decision win over experienced veteran Raufeon Stots in b…

Aaron Pico picked up his first UFC win in Miami. | Getty/UFC

Aaron Pico looked every bit like a fighter who was once one of the sport’s most highly-touted prospects on Saturday night in Miami.

In a battle of former Bellator standouts, Pico (14-5, 1-1 UFC) shook off a slow start to pull away for a unanimous decision triumph against Patricio Freire (37-9, 1-2 UFC) in the featured UFC 327 preliminary bout. All three cageside judges scored the featherweight fight in favor of Pico: 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. Pico rebounds from a first-round knockout loss to Lerone Murphy in his promotional debut at UFC 319 this past August.

The first round was competitive, but there were some nervous moments for Pico, who was buckled by a jab and stumbled by a counter right in the frame. The 29-year-old Californian kept his composure, however, and truly began to assert himself over the final 10 minutes of the bout.

During that period, Pico showcased his superior handspeed, taggi…

Sherdog's live UFC 327 coverage will begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Radtke (-185), Prado (+154)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gastelum (-250), Luque (+205)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Padilla (-180), Med…