Martial Arts News

Liz Carmouche says she got the better of Jena Bishop before their first professional meeting.

Carmouche (26-8) and Bishop (11-3) will fight for the inaugural Professional Fighters League women’s flyweight world title on Oct. 16 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Carmouche defeated Bishop in the 2025 PFL World Tournament final and says she previously submitted her during sparring.

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Liz Carmouche recalls emotional sparring session with Jena Bishop ahead of PFL Chicago title rematch According to Carmouche, Bishop visited her gym as a guest sparring partner when both were training in San Diego. Carmouche said she welcomed the challenge of grappling with Bishop, an established jiu-jitsu black belt.

Carmouche described Bishop as initially reluctant to engage but aggressive once the session began. She said Bishop cried after being submitted, a reaction that surprised her given the intensity of the sparring.

A flyweight title fight headlines PFL Chicago: T…

Josh Hokit isn’t interested in being a role model.

Hokit’s controversial remarks have drawn criticism from prominent figures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including CEO Dana White and veteran Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer.

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Josh Hokit defends UFC Freedom 250 remarks after Bruce Buffer calls for more class Buffer recently criticized Hokit’s postfight comments about former first lady Michelle Obama at UFC Freedom 250.

“I don’t like what he talks about,” Buffer told Kick streamer N3on. “He’s disrespectful. It’s like, show some class. The things he said at the White House, I didn’t appreciate that. Young people today don’t have a lot of role models. We live in a decaying society; the way people are acting.”

Hokit responded by questioning whether fighters should be viewed as role models. He contrasted his trash talk with what he described as criminal records and charges involving other UFC fighters.

“I talk trash in the Octagon, bu…

Paulo Costa has praised Ultimate Fighting Championship interpreter Fabiano Buskei for his work during Brazilian fighters’ interviews.

Buskei interprets for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking fighters in the UFC. After Chael Sonnen commended his intelligence, Costa echoed the UFC Hall of Famer’s praise.

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Fabiano Buskei earns praise from Paulo Costa and Chael Sonnen for his UFC translations Responding to a social media post about Buskei, Sonnen praised his approach to the job.

“He downplays it well but that dude is a secret weapon,” Sonnen posted on X. “Very smart. Always has a plan.”

Costa agreed, saying Buskei’s word choices help fighters express themselves more effectively. “Borrachinha,” who speaks Portuguese and English, said understanding both languages gives him a greater appreciation for Buskei’s work.

“He really makes the fighter sound much better by choosing more appropriate words than the low-IQ fighter originally used,” Costa wro…

Mike Malott believes he is the main attraction at the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Canada.

Malott faces Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17 at Rogers Place. Buckley says he feels at home in Canada and has a larger fan base than Malott. The Canadian disagrees, viewing his higher-ranked American opponent as an opportunity to climb the welterweight rankings.

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Mike Malott disputes Joaquin Buckley's Canadian fan-base claim ahead of UFC Edmonton Malott noted that he has already headlined a UFC event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he stopped Gilbert Burns in April. He believes Buckley would not headline a UFC card in Canada without him.

“He’s a great fighter, Top 10 in the world for a reason, but as far as my name and notoriety in Canada, I’ve main-evented in Canada without him,” Malott told Full Send MMA. “He would never main event in Canada without me. He is in the main event because I’m the main event for this…

Asaf Chopurov credits Khabib Nurmagomedov with inspiring his interest in mixed martial arts.

Chopurov said Nurmagomedov’s discipline motivated him as a teenager. He later traveled to Dagestan for a training camp with Khabib’s father, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

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Asaf Chopurov credits Khabib Nurmagomedov and recalls Abdulmanap's Dagestan camp ahead of UFC 333 debut Chopurov is scheduled to make his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against Colby Thicknesse at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the bout, he discussed what inspired him to pursue MMA.

“When I was 14-15, first of all, I saw Khabib Nurmagomedov and how disciplined he was,” Chopurov told Ariel Helwani. “Then I also went to Dagestan and did a training camp with Abdulmanap, and this was really good motivation for me. After that, I just enjoying fighting. That's why I'm here.”

Chopurov (11-0) defended the UAE Warriors bantamweight title twice before sign…

Tanner Boser is questioning the qualifications of mixed martial arts judges.

While the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight acknowledges that judges usually score fights correctly, he says mistakes can have significant consequences for fighters’ careers.

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Tanner Boser questions MMA judging qualifications ahead of Jhonata Diniz fight at UFC Edmonton Boser faces Jhonata Diniz on Oct. 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Ahead of the bout, he questioned whether judges without fighting experience are equipped to score MMA.

“They get way more right than they do wrong,” Boser said at UFC Edmonton media day. “But it’s just that when they get something wrong, it affects somebody’s life in a very, very significant way. It is what it is. It’s just an imperfect system… Who are the judges? Were they fighters? Because if they are not, you don’t really know your logic. Were they boxers? Because that’s kind of different too… But a lot of the time the ju…

Jasmine Jasudavicius wants to fight for an Ultimate Fighting Championship title on home soil.

Jasudavicius will have the Canadian crowd behind her when she faces Erin Blanchfield on Oct. 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. She views the matchup as a women’s flyweight title eliminator. With UFC 336 reportedly targeted for Toronto next year, Jasudavicius hopes a victory over Blanchfield will earn her a quick turnaround and a title shot in Canada.

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Jasmine Jasudavicius sees Erin Blanchfield fight at UFC Edmonton as path to Natalia Silva title rematch Valentina Shevchenko relinquished the 125-pound title because of injury, and Natalia Silva won the vacant championship at UFC 332 by defeating Cong Wang by unanimous decision. Jasudavicius believes beating Blanchfield on Saturday would warrant a rematch with Silva, calling the opportunity to challenge for the belt in Canada an “honor.”

“I think whoever wins this fight does expect a title shot,” Jasuda…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has reportedly declined to renew another undefeated fighter’s contract.

Farid Basharat (16-0) has been removed from the UFC roster, according to MMA Fighting. He earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 and went 7-0 in the promotion.

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Farid Basharat exits UFC after 7-0 Octagon run as promotion reportedly declines to renew contract Basharat completed his contract with a victory over John Garza in July and wasn't offered a new deal. The Afghan-born British fighter also defeated Da’Mon Blackshear, Jean Matsumoto and Chris Gutierrez. Six of his seven UFC victories came by decision.

Basharat joins Muhammad Mokaev and Michael Page among fighters whose UFC contracts were not renewed despite winning streaks.

His brother, Javid Basharat, also left the UFC in February and has since joined the Professional Fighters League. Javid won his final UFC appearance, though he went 1-2 with one no contest in …

Luis Francischinelli has joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division.

Francischinelli stopped William Rentz in the opening round on Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Oct. 13.

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Luis Francischinelli earns UFC contract with first-round TKO of William Rentz at DWCS Week 10 Rentz (8-3) immediately closed the distance, taking the 6-foot-6 Francischinelli (7-1) down with a body lock. Francischinelli threatened a heel hook and landed elbows from his back before returning to his feet.

Rentz secured another takedown, but Francischinelli quickly stood again. As Rentz pressed forward, the Brazilian dropped him with a counter left hook. Francischinelli followed him to the canvas and landed ground strikes to force the stoppage at 2:18 of Round 1.

UFC CEO Dana White praised Francischinelli’s performance, describing the 30-year-old as a “fun” addition to the 170-pound division.

“Luis,…

Gregory Foster outworked Jason Asher in a back-and-forth lightweight bout on Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10.

Foster (9-1) and Asher (5-1) each scored a knockdown in the opening round Tuesday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Foster prevailed by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White awarded the 34-year-old a contract.

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Gregory Foster defeats Jason Asher at DWCS as Dana White wishes hospitalized mother Barbara a speedy recovery Foster started fast, dropping Asher with a right hand before Asher answered with a spinning backfist that floored him. After a competitive second round, Asher took Foster down in the third and landed ground strikes that opened a cut above Foster’s right eye.

Despite the difficult final round, Foster was thrilled with his performance.

“Super happy, very proud of myself, very proud of my team,” Foster said in a postfight i…

Smilla Sundell defeated Aline Pereira to earn an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10.

Sundell (3-0) outstruck Pereira (3-3) over three rounds in their women’s bantamweight matchup, earning a unanimous decision with three 29-28 scores.

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Smilla Sundell beats Aline Pereira at DWCS as Mick Maynard backs 21-year-old's UFC signing A former One Championship muay Thai titleholder, Sundell pressed forward from the opening bell, mixing her strikes to keep Pereira on the defensive. Her Brazilian opponent found success with counters and scored a takedown in the third round, but Sundell returned to her feet and resumed applying pressure until the final horn.

Sundell earned a contract despite UFC CEO Dana White’s reservations about her readiness. White initially wanted the 21-year-old to gain more experience outside the promotion, but matchmaker Mick Maynard persuaded him to sig…

The Professional Fighters League has updated the card for its return to Chicago.

Levan Khabalaev (6-0) will face Brock Hamer (5-1) after Morquez Forest (8-2) withdrew from PFL Chicago. The promotion announced the change on social media ahead of the Oct. 16 event at Wintrust Arena. Hamer will make his promotional debut against the unbeaten Khabalaev.

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A flyweight title fight headlines PFL Chicago: Tune in on Friday, Oct. 16 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The card will be headlined by a rematch between Liz Carmouche (26-8) and Jena Bishop (11-3) for the inaugural PFL women’s flyweight world championship. Unbeaten featherweight Timur Khizriev (18-0) will face Gabriel Braga (17-3) in the co-main event.

Updated PFL Chicago fight card: Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop 2 headlines Oct. 16 event Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop — Women’s flyweight championshipTimur Khizriev vs. Gabriel Braga — FeatherweightSarvarjon Khamidov vs. Rafael do Nascimento — BantamweightOua…