Martial Arts News

Ilia Topuria almost let the nerves get the better of him ahead of his first professional fight. 

Topuria (17-0) recently admitted that he was really scared going into his first professional fight in 2015. While “El Matador” started questioning his career choices, he was also motivated at the same time. Topuria claims that even the thought of not showing up to the fight at all crossed his mind. While Topuria was only 18 years old, his opponent was already a seven-fight veteran by then.

‘I Went Through Hell’ “I was so scared for my first professional fight,’ Topuria said on DeepCuts with VicBlends. “I was like, ‘Why didn’t I study? What am I doing here?’ I was so scared but at the same time so motivated… It was so weird. I went through hell, I remember, that day. I was about to stay in the backstage. I had that thought. And he had way more experience than me. I was 18 years old at that time.” 

Topuria won his first fight against Francisco Aspirilla in the first …

Stephen Thompson believes Ian Garry has the best shot at dethroning Islam Makhachev. 

The UFC welterweight division is currently teeming with contenders. While Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are in the race, Garry is widely considered the frontrunner for the next title shot against Makhachev. 

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Thompson believes Garry poses the biggest threat to Makhachev out of all the contenders. According to Thompson, Garry won’t hesitate to use his wrestling against an elite grappler like Makhachev. “Wonderboy” believes Garry’s well-rounded skills and lanky frame can give Makhachev serious trouble if they fight.Not Afraid to Wrestle “I think Ian Garry would give him a hard time,” Thompson told Full Mount Media. “Ian Garry is not afraid to use his wrestling. You actually see more of his wrestling than [Morales and Prates’]. He’s very crafty; he puts his hands and feet together very well. But he’s not afraid to go out there and wrestle. I do believe tha…

Ilia Topuria would like to make his boxing debut against someone like Shakur Stevenson. 

While Topuria (17-0) acknowledges Stevenson as a good boxer, he believes the four-division world champion has an issue with him. Topuria believes he can hold his own against the best boxers in the world today. While it is not a dream for Topuria, the UFC lightweight champion would like to compete in boxing someday. Topuria would especially like to transition to boxing to fight someone like Stevenson, who, he says, runs his mouth too much.

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“[Shakur Stevenson] is a good fighter,” Topuria said on DeepCuts with VicBlends. “The only bad thing about him, he talks too much. He has some hate towards me… Honestly, I really feel that I can go to boxing and really face the best fighters in the world currently. It’s not like a dream, but if it happens I will be happy. And specifically, if it’s against someone like Shakur Stevenson, who talks too much.”MMA vs. Boxing Revi…

Stephen Thompson believes the best version of Khamzat Chimaev wasn’t present at UFC 328. 

Chimaev (15-1) put his middleweight title on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 earlier this month. Strickland handed Chimaev his first professional loss via a split decision in a massive upset. 

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Thompson questions Chimaev’s training going into the fight against Strickland. Thompson recalls Chimaev had trained in the small village of Kislovodsk, Russia, when he challenged Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 last year. Chimaev had ragdolled Du Plessis for five rounds to earn a dominant decision victory. However, “Wonderboy” is surprised that Chimaev didn’t spent as much time in the same camp going into his first title defense. 

“I remember when Khamzat was preparing for Du Plessis,” Thompson told Full Mount MMA. “I think he did a lot of training in [near Dagestan]. I don't think he did a whole a lot for this one. Which surprised me.”

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Rico Verhoeven only wants the concerned parties to admit that they made a mistake in his controversial loss against Oleksandr Usyk. 

Verhoeven challenged Usyk for the WBC heavyweight title last weekend in front of the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. Verhoeven clearly outclassed Usyk for most of the fight and appeared to be on his way to shock the world with a massive upset. However, Usyk dropped Verhoeven with an uppercut in the final seconds of the 11th round. While Verhoeven returned to his feet, Usyk backed him up with a barrage of shots, which was enough for referee Mark Lyson to step in with a second left in the round. 

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If the last-second stoppage wasn’t controversial enough, rumors also suggest that Lyson stopped the fight after the bell. Verhoeven’s coach, Peter Fury, claims Lyson even admitted his mistake on their flight back home. Verhoeven believes that to err is human. However, he wants Lyson to merely admit his mistake and apologize.&nb…

Ilia Topuria vows to have a “pure striking fight” against Justin Gaethje. 

Topuria (17-0) puts his lightweight title on the line against interim champion Gaethje (27-5) at UFC White House on June 14. While Topuria hails from a wrestling background, “El Matador” has established himself as a lethal knockout artist over the years. 

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Topuria claims he chooses striking over wrestling to entertain fans. The undefeated Georgian-Spaniard defended his featherweight title by handing Max Holloway his only knockout loss ever in 2024. Topuria believes he could have had his way with Holloway on the ground if he wanted. However, Topuria believes a submission win over Holloway wouldn’t have been as exciting as knocking him out cold was. Topuria had even used Holloway’s iconic point down, inviting him to a slugfest in the opening seconds of the fight. However, “Blessed” declined the offer, perhaps wisely. In the Name of Entertainment Topuria believes th…

Movsar Evloev has indicated that he will receive a featherweight title shot this summer. | Getty/UFC

Movsar Evloev has seemingly secured a UFC featherweight title shot. 

Despite having long been the most deserving title contender, Evloev (20-0) has been denied a title shot so far. The undefeated Russian now appears to be confident about fighting for the title at the end of this summer.

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“I am back, end of the summer, and new Inshallah,” Evloev wrote on X.

I am back, end of the summer, and new Inshallah.

— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) May 27, 2026 The Waiting Game Alexander Volkanovski had already acknowledged Evloev as the most deserving title contender when “The Great” won the title for the second time against Diego Lopes last year. Evloev had already defeated Lopes, who gave him a tough test in a short-notice debut in 2023. However, Lopes surprising leapfrogged ahead of Evloev and challenged Volkanovsk…

Ryan Gandra earned a quick victory in his UFC debut. | Getty/UFC

The UFC 329 card is up to 12 confirmed fights following the addition of a middleweight contest between Ryan Gandra and Zachary Reese.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced the lineup for its International Fight Week event in a release on Tuesday. UFC 329 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a welterweight rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. In the co-main event, Benoit St. Denis will lock horns with Paddy Pimblett at lightweight. The card will air in its entirety on Paramount+.

After earning a promotional contract on UFC in August 2025, Gandra enjoyed a successful Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 268, where he scored a 41-second stoppage of Jose Medina on Feb. 28. “Problema” has won nine of his 10 professional outings overall, finishing seven of those inside the distance.

Reese, who is also a Contender Series alum, is coming off a split-dec…

Nate Diaz is feeling motivated on the heels of his first mixed martial arts appearance in nearly four years.

The Stockton, California, native squared off against Mike Perry in the Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano" co-headliner, losing via corner stoppage after two rounds on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Diaz wasn’t especially competitive, as he was bloodied and battered by Perry for as long as the contest lasted. It was his first fight in MMA since a fourth-round submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 on Sept. 10, 2022.

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Diaz shut down retirement talk at the event’s post-fight press conference, and the popular veteran maintained that sentiment while expressing renewed enthusiasm for a Perry rematch in a recent statement released via social media.‘Hunting Season’ “I didn’t like my lack of activity because of lack of opponents,” Diaz wrote on Instagram. “I know it was easier to get up to fight me for this fight but now I be…

Usman Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his lightweight belt for a third time at PFL New York. | PFL MMA

Two of Professional Fighters League’s top stars will be in action when the organization debuts in the Empire State this summer.

PFL New York will be headlined by a lightweight tilt tilt pitting reigning champion Usman Nurmagomedov against Archie Colgan, while Dakota Ditcheva will return from injury to face Denise Kielholtz in the evening’s co-main event. The promotion announced the bookings on Tuesday. PFL New York takes place at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, Long Island and airs on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

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Nurmagomedov is unbeaten in 22 professional outings, with his lone blemish coming as a result of a failed drug test at Bellator 300. The 28-year-old Dagestani captured PFL lightweight gold with a majority decision over Paul Hughes in January 2025. He has since defended the belt with a unanimous verdict against Hughe…

Deiveson Figueiredo hopes to fight in Brazil after UFC Macau. | Getty/UFC

After losing three of his last four fights, former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo will look to get back on track against Yadong Song in the UFC Macau headliner on Saturday.

After having fought in Macau in 2024, the Brazilian veteran is a little more prepared this time around.

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“I fought Petr Yan here in 2024, but I arrived too late and a little heavy, I felt the jet lag quite a bit (there's a 12-hour difference) and had a tough weight cut,” Figueiredo told Sherdog.com. “This time I made sure to come with my family earlier and arrive in China lighter. Today is Monday and I weighed 67 kilgrams (147 pounds).

“Daico” also revealed that one of the advantages for this fight with Song was the fact that he split his training camp between The Fighting Nerds and Pitbull Brothers.

“I spent two weeks in each one,” he said. “I had an excellent experience with Jean…

Dana White is getting some mainstream coverage as the UFC White House event draws near.

The UFC CEO is on the cover of the latest Time Magazine, which was revealed on Monday along with the headline: “How Dana White took the UFC from the fringes to the White House.”

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TIME’s new cover: Dana White helped turn MMA from a fringe blood sport into a global empire through the rise of the UFC. Now, he’s bringing it to the White House’s South Lawn.

“There are some nights, I’ll get up at the end and go, ‘What the f-ck do I do for a living?’”… pic.twitter.com/qXosIuWSUW

— TIME (@TIME) May 26, 2026 Missing Out The in-depth feature includes White’s history with the UFC, his relationship with President Donald Trump and how the White House card came together. One noteworthy revelation in the piece is that White apparently wanted to book a women’s strawweight title fight between Mackenzie Dern and Weili Zhang for the event. The th…