Martial Arts News

Court grants FINAL approval in first of two UFC fighter pay lawsuits. pic.twitter.com/gv6Ja3cjDI

— Erik Magraken (@erikmagraken) February 6, 2025 The Ultimate Fighting Championship is officially settling the first of two antitrust cases for $375 million.

In September, the UFC agreed to up its amount for the settlement of the Le vs. Zuffa antitrust case for fighters that competed with the league from 2010 to 2017 to $375 million. This was subject to approval from Nevada judge Richard Boulware, who did so in October while scheduling the final approval hearing for February. First breaking from to combat sports attorney Erik Magraken on Thursday, Judge Boulware has granted final approval to the settlement and the first case will be closed.

Over a decade ago, the UFC’s former parent company of Zuffa was sued for violating antitrust laws, and accused of engaging in anticompetitive practices to harm fighters. The claims were that the UFC paid…

Dominick Cruz is out of the UFC Seattle co-main event due to an injury.

Cruz was expected to hang up his gloves after a matchup against Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 252 on Feb. 22 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. However, Cageside Press was first to report that “The Dominator” has been forced out of the booking due to an unspecified injury. It is currently unknown whether Cruz will step inside the Octagon again before retiring. Multiple outlets have since confirmed Cruz’s exit from the card.

Cruz’s legendary career saw him win the UFC bantamweight title on two separate occasions. Cruz won 13 consecutive fights from 2008 to 2016 before losing to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207, after which he never found the same momentum. Cruz returned to action after a hiatus of over three years and suffered a stoppage loss against Henry Cejudo at UFC 249. Cruz rebounded with a two-fight win streak, which was snapped by a knockout loss against Marlon Vera in 2022 an…

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…