Martial Arts News

Opinions are all over the map for the big announcement of the oft-discussed Ultimate Fighting Championship White House event.

On the main card broadcast of Saturday’s UFC 326 offering, during the conclusion of the four-fight portion simulcast on the CBS network, the promotion revealed all six bouts that will be held on its fabled UFC White House card. The event, also titled “Freedom 250,” will feature a pair of championship tilts including one unification match and another for an interim strap. The bout that will headline the June 14 show on the White House grounds in Washington, D.C., will be one rumored for some time: Ilia Topuria (17-0) vs. Justin Gaethje (27-5) for the undisputed lightweight championship.

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Topuria serves as one of a small number of two-division champions in organizational history, as he picked up the featherweight strap in 2024 by sparking Alexander Volkanovski with one punch atop UFC 298. He defended that throne once by icing M…

There was no “Fight of the Night” bonus at UFC 326 despite the main event being a “BMF” showdown.

Max Holloway put his BMF title on the line against Charles Oliveira in the main event at UFC 326. Oliveira dominated Holloway on the ground for most of the fight to earn a unanimous decision.

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Rodolfo Bellato (13-2) welcomed debutant Luke Fernandez (6-1) in a light heavyweight matchup. After being split open by Fernandez early on, Bellato dropped his opponent with a left hook and followed it up with punches, forcing the referee to step in at 2:42 on the opening round to secure a “Performance of the Night” bonus.

Alberto Montes made his Octagon debut in a featherweight matchup against Ricky Turcios. Montes survived wild haymakers from Turcios and locked in an anaconda choke to notch a submission in the second round. “The Promise” earned a POTN bonus for his fifth career submission.

Gregory Rodrigues opened the main card in a middleweight matchup ag…

Charles Oliveira eliminated all drama from a long-awaited rematch that had the buying public brimming with anticipation.

The Chute Boxe superstar flashed his superiority in all phases, seized the symbolic BMF title and raised his Ultimate Fighting Championship profile to new heights with a one-sided unanimous decision over Max Holloway in the UFC 326 main event on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 50-45 for Oliveira (37-11, 25-11 UFC), who avenged his 2015 loss to the former featherweight champion and future hall of famer.

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Holloway (27-9, 23-9 UFC) had no answers for the Brazilian grappling savant. Oliveira attacked with leg kicks and powerful right hands in standup exchanges but separated himself through takedowns, suffocating control and a relentless submission game. He struck for takedowns in all five rounds, advanced to Holloway’s back on several occasions and alternated between rear-naked chokes, face cranks an…

Sherdog's live UFC 326 coverage will begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fernandez (-225), Bellato (+185)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tobias (-225), Nurgozhay (+185)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Dayne Fox scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mudaerji (-278), Aguilar (+225)Round…

Repeated fouls cost Long Xiao the most important win of his career.

The “Road to UFC” Season 2 finalist was penalized two points for three low blows and took a major step back in the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight division with a unanimous decision defeat to Cody Garbrandt in their featured UFC 326 prelim on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Garbrandt (15-7, 10-7 UFC).

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Xiao (27-11, 1-3 UFC) battered the Ohio native’s body, legs and head with kicks through much of the first two rounds. He then ran aground. Xiao connected with three low blows—the second resulted in Garbrandt dry heaving and ultimately vomiting into a bucket in the center of the cage—in the third round and lost two points. Garbrandt stayed on his bicycle and pot-shotted the Xin-Du Martial Arts Club export after the deductions to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Meanwhile, Gnosis Combat Sports prospect…

Daniel Cormier doesn’t want to share accommodations with Jon Jones at ALF Reality.

Cormier and Jones are currently starring as rival coaches on ALF Reality, also known as the unaffiliated Russian version of “The Ultimate Fighter.” While filming for the show in Thailand, Cormier asked for a villa as far away from Jones’ as possible.

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“My relationship with Jon Jones is nothing. I don’t have a relationship with Jon Jones… Make sure his house is as far away from mine as can be,” Cormier said. “I don’t need his energy around me.”

Jones vowed to defeat Cormier as a coach in the competition. “Bones” understands Cormier’s demand for a separate villa as there won’t be anyone to intervene if they get into a physical altercation.

“I’m a fierce competitor,” Jones said. “I’m here to win. I’m here to get my third victory against Daniel Cormier. I’m here to show the world that I’m a better fighter and a better coach… I understand. We can’t [allow] anything ba…

Tom Aspinall believes that merely talking about fighter pay won’t help fighters.

Aspinall recently made headlines by signing a management deal with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who is now considered Dana White’s rival. Aspinall addressed issues about Ultimate Fighting Championship pay, especially regarding the discrepancy with Zuffa boxing. While UFC fighters have been complaining about their purses for years, White's latest venture, Zuffa Boxing, recently signed Conor Benn for $15 million.

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However, Aspinall argues that there is no point in fighters complaining about their salaries, as they signed a contract they agreed upon. The UFC heavyweight champ is instead looking for avenues outside the Octagon to earn more money.

“They like to complain about the money that we’re getting paid,” Aspinall said at a press conference to reveal his signing with Matchroom Talent Agency. “That’s the contract that we all signed. We’re not gonna get more than that. I…

The fighting woes continue for former Bellator MMA kingpin Patrick “Patchy” Mix.

Just one day before his 20th birthday, Kyoma Akimoto earned the biggest victory of his burgeoning MMA career in Friday’s Rizin Fighting Federation 52 main event in Tokyo. Akimoto clobbered -450 betting favorite Mix early in the second round of their featured featherweight clash.

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In the opening seconds of the fight, Akimoto (12-1, 7-1 Rizin) stuffed a takedown attempt from Mix (20-4, 1-1 Rizin), and the fighters traded jabs until Akimoto stunned Mix for the first time with a crisp combination that backed him to the corner. Mix recovered, but Akimoto attacked his body with more punches and then dropped him with a salvo to the face.

During the final 30 seconds of the round, Akimoto notched two more knockdowns and punished Mix with knees and soccer kicks on the ground. Mix narrowly made it to the bell, but his cornermen delayed the start of the second round by not leaving …

Heavyweight powerhouses will collide at UFC 328.

Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta will collide at UFC 328 on May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Leo Guimaraes first reported the booking on X.

Volkov is coming off a controversial split decision win over Jailton Almeida that saw him rebound from a split decision loss against Ciryl Gane. While Almeida controlled Volkov on the ground throughout the contest, he was barely able to land any damage. Volkov was riding a four-fight winning streak before his loss against Gane in 2024.

Meanwhile, Cortes-Acosta is on an impressive run as the most active UFC heavyweight. “Salsa Boy” has fought six times since March 2025, losing only to Sergei Pavlovich via decision. The Dominican is currently on a three-fight knockout streak and coming off a stoppage of Derrick Lewis.

EXCLUSIVO: pude apurar que Alexander Volkov assinou contrato para enfrentar Waldo Cortes-Acosta em 9 de maio, …

Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas will compete in freestyle wrestling again.

Tsarukyan and Poullas initially locked horns in a wrestling match at RAF 6 last month. Poullas was accused of repeated fouls and penalized on points. Tsarukyan won the match by points and punched Poullas at the conclusion of the match, leading to a massive brawl involving several members of both teams.

Days after their brawl, it was announced that Tsarukyan and Poullas would meet in a rematch at Hype FC on March 11, this time in submission-only grappling. However, the booking fell through within hours as Poullas pulled out, citing his preference to compete in freestyle wrestling under RAF.

A rematch between Tsarukyan and Poullas has now been scheduled for RAF 7 on March 28 in Tampa.

Conor McGregor continues to tease a return at the White House.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will host a one-of-a-kind event at the White House on June 14. A plethora of fighters, including McGregor, have been rallying for a spot on the card. UFC CEO Dana White recently leaked a covered photo of the planning board for the lineup. The White House bill will be billed as “Freedom Fights 250,” a tribute to the 250th year of U.S. independence. Two title fights will grace the marquee.

McGregor immediately reacted to the news, saying, “freedom,” hinting that he hasn’t given up hope of a return at the White House.

McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy loss against Dustin Poirier in 2021. While “Notorious” recovered within 12 months, he spent most of the year travelling around Europe in his yacht. While McGregor has been teasing a return for years now, it hasn’t come to fruition. The Dubliner was even booked to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 …

[embedded content] The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks off March with a "BMF" title fight, which is now official following the UFC 326 weigh-ins.

The five-round "championship" main event is now set as reigning "BMF" Max Holloway will look to defend his belt against former lightweight king Charles Oliveira. Both men successfully made weight without any issue. As for the rest of the card, all fighters made weight with the exception of Jeong Yeong Lee, who had "weight management issues," and the fight against Gaston Bolanos has been canceled as a result.

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Holloway (27-8) comes into the fight having defended his BMF title, which he won against Justin Gaethje, against Dustin Poirier. After falling short against Ilia Topuria to recapture the featherweight championship, "Blessed" looks to make a second defense. The 34-year-old is 4-1 in his last five fights and will look to beat Oliveira for a second time as the two previously clashed in 2015. Holloway …