Martial Arts News

UFC Vegas 103 is in need of a new headliner.

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Brandon Royval on Wednesday announced via Instagram that an injury has forced him to pull out of a proposed flyweight showdown against Manel Kape on March 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Royval did not reveal the exact nature of the injury. It’s currently unclear if Kape will remain on the card against a replacement opponent.

“Unfortunately I’m going to have to pull out of my fight,” Royval wrote. “I’m sorry to Manel Kape and my fans. I’m facing an injury that has me questioning when I’ll be able to train again. This is absolutely a fight I think needs to happen for the flyweight division, but as of right now competing [next] month has been ill advised. Love y’all and I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I’ll have more details on my YouTube this week.”

Royval has won five of his last six Octagon appearances, with his only defeat coming against Alexandre Pantoja in a flyweight title bout at UFC …

Sharabutdin Magomedov recently offered further details on the aliments that hindered him against Michael Page at UFC Saudi Arabia last weekend.

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“Shara Bullet” dropped a unanimous verdict to Page in the card’s middleweight co-main event this past Saturday at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Shortly thereafter, the Dagestani released a statement via social media revealing that he was dealing with a "nightmarish health condition” in the bout.

While Magomedov still hasn’t specified exactly what was wrong, he did provide more insight into those health issues during a recent interview with Red Corner MMA.

“I’ve never felt this sick in the cage,” Magomedov said. “My legs were gone, my arms felt weak, and I’ve got a lot of health issues I don’t want to reveal. It was a whole bunch of problems that affected my performance. My mind was there, but my body was off. I’ve got dysbacteriosis and parasitosis in my intestine, and I’ve got problems with my …

KEVIN WATCH OUT pic.twitter.com/jeBJxFsknL

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 5, 2025

Kevin Lee isn’t especially pleased after footage of a recent sparring session went public.

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In a video making the rounds on social media, Lee is dropped by an overhand right after missing a flying knee attempt during practice at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. The UFC veteran returns to his feet but is still wobbly as Robbie Lawler attends to him. Lee can be overheard saying, “I’m good,” and Lawler responds by telling him to “Walk it off.”

While such instances aren’t necessarily uncommon during training, it’s rare for video of sparring to be released. It’s currently unclear how the footage became available, but Lee was understandably unhappy that it did.

“[I don’t know] who posted that video or why, but I’m heading right now to find out,” Lee wrote on X. “I can only blame myself for showing mercy and pulling my knee back bu…

Sean Strickland says that Alex Pereira hates Dricus du Plessis 😭

“For some reason he hates Dricus. I don’t know what you did to him, but he f***ing hates you dude.”

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🎥 @ufc #UFC312 #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/WIRKpdOwtU — Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 4, 2025

Sean Strickland believes Alex Pereira isn’t especially fond of Dricus Du Plessis.

Strickland will try to reclaim the middleweight title against Du Plessis in the main event at UFC 312 on Saturday at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The former champ is training with foe-turned-friend Pereira leading up to the fight.

According to Strickland, “Poatan” has hatred toward Du Plessis, though the source of that animosity is unknown.

“I think Alex is an angry motherf---er,” Strickland said at UFC 312 media day. “Like, Alex is angry and for some reason he hates Dricus. I don’t know what you did to him. But he f---ing hates you, dude. The w…

PHILIP KELLER, who shot and killed popular Merritt Island piercing artist Alicia “Red” Campitelli, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. KELLER pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in agreement secured by ASAs Jason Andersen and Nader Hatoum. https://t.co/XzmVTURdLr pic.twitter.com/foGqSfGEaR

— State Attorney 18th Circuit FL (@SA18PIO) February 3, 2025

Eight-time MMA veteran Philip Keller was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Monday for murdering his fiancee, according to a release from the Florida Office of the State Attorney.

Keller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, grand theft, fradulent use of a credit card and tampering with evidence. Keller shot and killed Alicia Campitelli, who worked as a piercing artist in Merrit Island, Florida, in 2021 during an argument over his drug use.

According to the release, Keller took the victim’s car and used her debit card to withdraw more than $1,400 to buy drugs. He later disposed…

Jailton Almeida wants to help Tom Aspinall add some fun to the heavyweight division.

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The interim heavyweight champion recently expressed some frustration following a lackluster fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Saudi Arabia

"Heavyweight fights have been horrible lately. Let's bring back the entertainment and stop holding the division back," wrote the British fighter on his Instagram Stories.

Almeida, who is coming off back-to-back first-round finishes of Alexander Romanov and Serghei Spivac, offered his services for a fight against Aspinall.

“[Did] I read excitement? 22 wins in my career, 21 finishes (eight knockouts, 13 submissions), nine UFC wins, eight finishes (three knockouts, five submissions). I think I meet the requirements. Champ, if Jones doesn't make a deal with the UFC, I'm here and I'm ready. Let's do it!" wrote Almeida while tagging Aspinall, UFC CEO Dana White and matchmaker Mick Maynard.

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Jiri Prochazka isn’t looking beyond the Top 3 contenders at light heavyweight for his next fight.

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In an ideal world, Prochazka would like to fight for the title next. That will have to wait at least until Alex Pereira puts his light heavyweight crown on the line against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event at UFC 313 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Prochazka is also willing to prove himself one more time if necessary. The Czech would like to fight either Pereira, Ankalaev or Jan Blachowicz in his next promotional appearance.

“I see three guys there who’s from Top 5 like [as a good] challenge for me,” Prochazka said on the "Overdogs with Mike Perry" podcast. “Because I don’t wait to fight other guys. There’s Alex, there is Ankalaev and third one is Jan Blachowicz. Because he showed a really nice performance against Alex too… This year I know I’m going to the top… Just give me an opponent and I want to show that I am the champion.”

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Dricus Du Plessis recently revealed the mental framework that he believes is key to being a champion.

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According to the middleweight champ, it’s a prerequisite for every fighter to be willing to die going into every fight. The South African believes it’s his willingness to kill, if need be, that sets him apart as the champion. “Stillknocks” coldly declared that he’ll be willing to mercilessly damage his opponent in front of their family, for as long as the referee doesn’t stop him.

“The mindset that you have to be willing to die when you get in there. You have to, but that’s a minimum requirement,” Du Plessis recently told Mark Bouris. “The harder part is, can you kill a man when you have to? Yes, I can. So I’m willing to die and I’m willing to take that life. I know that. When I go in there, if the ref doesn’t stop it, I’m not stopping. I can be sitting on you for 10 minutes, bashing your face and if the ref doesn’t stay, ‘Stop,’ I’m not stopping. …

Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s Ultimate Fighting Championship career has come to an abrupt end following his latest loss.

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Rozenstruik met fellow knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Saudi Arabia at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last weekend. With both fighters boasting proven KO power, the odds for the fight to end inside the distance were a massive -650. However, the outing didn’t live up to advance billing, and the Russian eventually edged out a unanimous decision win over Rozenstruik.

UFC CEO Dana White labeled the fight “horrible,” while stating that Pavlovich was the clear winner. According to Twitter account UFC RosterWatch, Rozenstruik has been removed from the UFC roster. Rozenstruik’s release has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

Rozenstruik racked up a 9-6 record since joining the UFC in 2019. “Bigi Boy” has notable wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Shamil Gaziev and Tai Tuvasa, wwith losses a…

UFC star Conor McGregor spit in a guy's face at Wynn after he yelled "Let's go Khabib!"

Technically a crime (battery) under Nevada law. pic.twitter.com/weHD4Vr3Yz

— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) February 3, 2025

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Conor McGregor continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

On Monday, a video surfaced of the former Ultimate Fighting Championship two-division champion spitting in a man’s face outside Caffe Al Teatro in Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. The incident began after shouts of “Let’s go Khabib” can be overheard. McGregor then turns and walks toward a group of people and spits in one man’s face before walking away. The Irish star appears to be surrounded by security at the time.

“I spit in your face,” McGregor then says. “What’d you do? Nothing.”

Exactly when the incident occurred is currently unclear.

The video comes after McGregor tweeted and deleted a slur-filled rant directed at Khabib…

Torrez Finney will make his first Octagon foray against Robert Valentin at UFC Fight Night on April 5.

Both Finney and Valentin confirmed the middleweight booking on social media following an initial report from Eurosport NL. UFC Fight Night is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A headliner has not been announced for the event.

The 26-year-old Finney has kicked off his professional career with 10 consecutive triumphs. He notably needed three victories on Dana White's Contender Series before he could secure a UFC contract. The most recent of those wins occurred this past October, when he stopped Abdelah Er-Ramy in the opening stanza.

Valentin made it to the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter 32” before suffering a second-round TKO defeat to Ryan Loder at UFC on ESPN 62 this past August. The Zurich, Switzerland, native owns a 10-4 career mark and has finished all but one of his victories inside the distance.

Michael Page made an immediate impact at 185 pounds at UFC Saudi Arabia.

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The flashy striker handed Sharabutdin Magomedov his first career defeat in the evening’s middleweight co-headliner, winning a unanimous decision at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While “Shara Bullet” displayed a penchant for the spectacular in previous Octagon appearances, he struggled to find openings against Page.

“This is the reason why I called him out. I could see my style fit his style,” Page said on the ESPN post-fight show. “As much as he’s an exceptional striker, I’ve seen that before. I knew he would be a bit more tentative with me bouncing in front of him … He likes to kick. I’ve seen all the best kicks in the world. I’m never fazed with any kick.”

While the victory might create some more options for “Venom,” the Brit is still eyeing a return to the welterweight division, where he has competed for the majority of his career.

“I’ve just got goals at 170,” P…