Martial Arts News

Dakota Ditcheva is targeting a rematch with Jena Bishop for championship gold.

Ditcheva (16-0) says she has been cleared to resume training after undergoing surgery on both hands, which she broke during her unanimous decision victory over Denise Kielholtz in July. The injuries sidelined the undefeated Brit while Bishop defeated Liz Carmouche at PFL Chicago to become the inaugural Professional Fighters League women’s flyweight world champion.

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Dakota Ditcheva resumes training, targets rematch with PFL champion Jena Bishop Ditcheva has focused on grappling while easing back into striking. “Dangerous” previously suffered a hand injury during her victory over Sumiko Inaba last year, but said her latest recovery progressed much faster, allowing her to return about nine weeks after surgery.

“I'm good, I'm all clear,” Ditcheva told Ariel Helwani. “I'm back at training now, so yeah, I'm ready to go. I'm just waiting for a date for the belt. I want my belt …

Alex Pereira is a big fan of fellow knockout artist Carlos Prates.

Pereira recently named Prates, Mauricio Ruffy, Charles Oliveira and Jean Silva among his favorite Brazilian fighters to watch in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The former two-division champion also claimed Prates is the second-highest-paid Brazilian on the roster.

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Why Carlos Prates stands out to Alex Pereira Prates (24-7), who has finished all seven of his UFC victories, will face Michael Morales (19-0) for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Pereira explained why the welterweight contender is his favorite countryman to watch.

“I like Prates, Ruffy, Charles, and Jean Silva—all those guys,” Pereira said on the “Connect Cast” podcast. “The first one I really enjoy watching... I mean, I like knockouts, you know? Prates, in particular—he’s the man! I don’t really watch many fights, but if Prates is fighting, the only way I wou…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s annual Madison Square Garden card is approaching, with betting lines pointing to several competitive matchups and one heavy favorite on the main card.

UFC 334 takes place Nov. 14 at MSG in New York. Ciryl Gane will defend his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit in the main event, while Amanda Nunes returns to challenge women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison in the co-headliner.

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Kayla Harrison is a -190 favorite against Amanda Nunes BetOnline Sports and Casino lists Harrison as a -190 favorite and Nunes as a +161 underdog. “The Lioness” last entered a completed UFC bout as an underdog against Cris Cyborg at UFC 232 in 2018. She won by knockout in 51 seconds.

In the main event, Gane (-243) is favored over the unbeaten Hokit (+203). The middleweight matchup between Caio Borralho (-120) and Yousri Belgaroui (+103) has the closest betting line on the main card. Uros Medic (-165) is favored against Kevin Holla…

Jose Aldo says the prospect of never getting a rematch, rather than the defeat itself, brought him to tears after his 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194 in December 2015.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion explained in an interview with Mundo da Luta that he was devastated after being told he would not get an opportunity to avenge the loss.

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Jose Aldo explains why he believed a Conor McGregor rematch was impossible after UFC 194 Aldo expected an immediate rematch after losing at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, he said Dana White told him backstage that McGregor intended to move up to lightweight because making the 145-pound limit had become too difficult.

“I cried a lot because, in my mind, after I lost, I thought, ‘F**k, there’s going to be a rematch because I was a dominant champion,’” Aldo said. “Up until that point, I was the first and only featherweight champion in history. So, in my…

Renato “Money” Moicano intends to fight out his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract and explore free agency.

Moicano (21-7-1) will headline UFC Vegas 123 against Tom Nolan on Saturday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old said he has three fights remaining on his current deal, including this weekend’s bout, and wants to complete them before deciding his next move.

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Renato Moicano says he has three UFC fights remaining, starting with Tom Nolan at UFC Vegas 123 “Money” told MMA Fighting that his future will depend partly on his UFC earnings and how he feels about continuing to compete. He also pointed to several business ventures outside the Octagon.

“I want to fight this deal out for sure,” Moicano said. “I want to do the whole thing and then let’s see what happens. I would like to be a free agent, too. … Just to see what it’s like.”

“I have another business, I have this YouTube, I have the gym, I have other stuff that I’m doing. I’m …

Aljamain Sterling could move ahead of Jean Silva for a featherweight title shot, according to Alexander Volkanovski.

The reigning champion considers Silva a leading contender for a shot at 145-pound gold in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but believes Sterling could strengthen his case by beating Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21.

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Why Alexander Volkanovski thinks Aljamain Sterling can earn the next featherweight title shot Volkanovski said Sterling would be more deserving with another victory, while a defeat would leave Silva as his preferred contender.

“When we're talking about who deserves it more, I'm gonna say Aljo,” Volkanovski told Ariel Helwani. “Especially after another win, taking a fight against a dangerous guy like Kevin. It is really up to that fight, I believe. Silva’s in a great position; I think he needs to just wait and see what happens with Aljo.”

Volkanovski (29-4) retained the featherweight title against Movsar Ev…

Alexander Volkanovski is open to fighting Arman Tsarukyan for the lightweight title if Justin Gaethje retires.

Gaethje has expressed uncertainty about his future since winning the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight belt at UFC Freedom 250. Tsarukyan strengthened his case for a title shot by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Volkanovski, who retained his featherweight championship against the previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev at UFC 333, would welcome a matchup with Tsarukyan if the 155-pound title becomes vacant.

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Alexander Volkanovski explains interest in potential lightweight title fight Although Volkanovski has called for a showdown with Gaethje, he acknowledges that Tsarukyan deserves the next lightweight title shot. The Australian sees a potential vacancy as an opportunity to pursue the belt without denying Tsarukyan his chance.

“If I was champion at lightweight, I'm fighting Arman,” Volkanovski told Ariel Helwani. …

Arman Tsarukyan will defend his middleweight crossover title against former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in the RAF 15 main event on Nov. 28 at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

The matchup replaces the previously announced headliner between Henry Cejudo and Yadong Song, whose lightweight crossover title match moves to the co-main event. Real American Freestyle announced the change on X.

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Arman Tsarukyan defends his RAF wrestling title against Anthony Pettis as Henry Cejudo vs. Yadong Song moves to co-main event Tsarukyan captured the vacant middleweight crossover title by defeating Dillon Danis via technical fall at RAF 14 on Oct. 23. The UFC lightweight contender is also scheduled to face Neiman Gracie in a non-title match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, giving him two wrestling assignments in November.

Pettis was initially scheduled to face fellow former UFC fighter Donald Cerrone before being moved into t…

Alexander Volkanovski says illness left him questioning whether he could go the distance against Movsar Evloev.

Speaking to Brendan Bradford in comments shared by Home of Fight on X, Volkanovski explained how concerns about his breathing added urgency to his search for a finish at UFC 333.

Alexander Volkanovski explains how illness influenced his second-round TKO of Movsar Evloev Volkanovski said he needed to take deep breaths as he increased the pressure in the second round.

“I had to take some big breaths,” Volkanovski said. “You could see that I started putting that pressure on, especially in the second round. It was like, alright, let’s start finding this finish.”

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion admitted he was unsure whether he could sustain that effort for all five rounds while ill.

“Again, I don’t want to go five rounds. I don’t know if these lungs can hold up being [sick] and all. And not only that, I started to s…

Tom Nolan has moved permanently from Australia to New Zealand to join Eugene Bareman’s City Kickboxing gym in Auckland ahead of the biggest fight of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

The Australian lightweight will headline UFC Vegas 123 against Renato “Money” Moicano on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Nolan said he made the move after a two-week trial and has been impressed by the number of UFC fighters available as training partners.

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Tom Nolan explains why he relocated to Auckland before his UFC Vegas 123 main event against Renato Moicano Speaking to MMA Junkie, Nolan explained that he relocated before receiving the offer to headline against Moicano.

“I went over there for two weeks as a trial, and then, yeah, I made the permanent move. I got the call up after that,” he revealed.

Nolan described the preparation as the best training camp of his career, citing the experienced fighters and coaches at the Auckland facility.

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Coach Cristian Nogueira believes Carlos Prates will make quick work of Michael Morales.

Prates (24-7) is scheduled to face Morales (19-0) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Cristian Nogueira explains Carlos Prates' UFC 336 training changes and predicts a second-round finish against Michael Morales In an interview with Sherdog, Nogueira said the team had expected Prates to challenge Islam Makhachev first.

“It came as a surprise to us because we thought we would fight Makhachev first and then Morales,” Nogueira said. “We had already been planning the training camp to face Islam on January 30, but no problem. The important thing is that this fight will be for the belt.”

Prates had begun preparing for Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy style, but the change in opponent requires a different strategy. “The Nightmare” is now working closely with boxing coach Arthur Cesar, known as Ban Ban. Read more

Carlos Prates has fired back at Islam Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

Prates had hoped to challenge Makhachev for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in January. Instead, the Brazilian will face Michael Morales for the interim belt at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

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Carlos Prates challenges Ali Abdelaziz's defense of Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 336 Prates has repeatedly criticized Makhachev on social media, accusing the champion of avoiding him. Abdelaziz recently addressed the welterweight contenders collectively, claiming none would add to Makhachev’s legacy.

“If you’re a contender. Islam is the champion and maybe the greatest fighter of this generation,” Abdelaziz wrote on X. “Talk less, because he’ll make you look bad. None of you add to his legacy. He fights for passion, love of the sport, and the fans.”

Prates countered that Makhachev would have accepted the January matchup if passion…