Martial Arts News

Jon Jones believes Josh Hokit has a legitimate chance to dethrone Ciryl Gane when the pair meet for the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title at UFC 334.

Gane (14-2) will defend his title against the unbeaten Hokit (10-0) on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Jones, who has shared the Octagon with Gane, discussed the matchup in an interview with The Schmo, saying his compatriot could beat the French champion.

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Jon Jones explains why Ciryl Gane beating Josh Hokit at UFC 334 would also benefit his legacy Jones praised Hokit’s recent UFC performances and coaching team but acknowledged that a Gane victory would bolster his own reputation. “Bones” submitted “Bon Gamin” to win the heavyweight title in 2023.

“Josh looks great right now,” Jones told The Schmo. “He's doing a great job; Obviously, he's coached by some of the best in the world. I've always supported wrestlers and backed wrestlers. So, my prediction is that I believe Hokit…

Salhahuddin Everett plans to keep working as Dana White’s personal runner after earning an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Everett (5-0) secured the contract with a first-round knockout of Ozzy Martin on Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10. The 29-year-old has continued reporting for work.

Salhahuddin Everett describes his unusual dual role after DWCS Everett began working security for the UFC before becoming White’s personal runner. He told TMZ Sports he intends to keep the job.

“I've been working,” Everett said. “I worked yesterday and I worked today. I'm at work right now, actually. I love my job, so it's not like I was working so hard to get away from stocking Dana's fridge. Dana's been blessing me in this position, and yeah, some days are stressful, but it's work, you know? I'm a working man; I'm not lazy. I like to be here.”

White had suggested Everett should leave his office job to focus on training after earning the contract.

Jon Jones believes his victory over Stipe Miocic was a fitting conclusion to his fighting career, though he regrets missing the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s White House event.

Jones has not competed since stopping Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Speaking to The Schmo, “Bones” reflected on that victory and described his absence from UFC Freedom 250 as one of his biggest regrets.

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Jon Jones reflects on Stipe Miocic victory as possible final UFC fight, regrets missing UFC Freedom 250 Jones said his last bout was particularly meaningful because his father and late brother were there, along with then-President-elect Donald Trump. He described beating Miocic, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights, as a career high point.

“I really do believe that was my last moment inside the cage – and it was great,” Jones told The Schmo. “I got to fight, my brother was still alive at the time, my father was there. I got to tell the world that I lo…

Jon Jones believes his protégé, Gable Steveson, will rebound from his first professional MMA defeat.

Sean Sharaf knocked out Steveson in 12 seconds at UFC 331 in September, handing the Olympic wrestling gold medalist his first loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Jones discussed Steveson’s response and the adjustments his team plans to make.

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Jon Jones backs Gable Steveson after Sean Sharaf knockout, outlines training adjustments The former two-division UFC champion said Steveson had returned to training. Jones pointed to other accomplished fighters who overcame defeats, expressing confidence that Steveson would do the same.

“Gable's doing great,” Jones said in an interview with The Schmo. “I believe in Gable. I believe in the man and the person that he is. And if you think about it, all the great fighters have had knockouts and losses. I mean, GSP [Georges St. Pierre] vs. Matt Serra – there's just so many examples. He's in the right headspac…

Alex Pereira has responded to Valter Walker after the submission specialist questioned how “Poatan” would fare against Sergei Pavlovich.

Walker has described the former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship champion as a favorable matchup for himself and predicted Pereira would struggle against Pavlovich at UFC 335. Pereira responded by suggesting Walker was afraid to spar with him.

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Alex Pereira offers Valter Walker his last fight purse for a foot submission during proposed Las Vegas sparring session Speaking to Laerte Viana, Pereira challenged Walker to spar in Las Vegas and offered to pay him the equivalent of his most recent fight purse if Walker submitted him with a foot attack.

“I invited him to train with me and he ran off,” Pereira said. “I heard he was scared. He said he wasn't a punching bag. He got scared, and now he wants to hype up something he knows isn't going to happen. I’m not kidding. Whenever he wants. Let’s go to Las Vegas—…

Michael "Venom" Page believes his move to Misfits Boxing will give him greater freedom to express himself after his Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure.

Page signed a multiyear, multifight agreement with MF Sports after going 5-1 in the UFC. He concluded his run with a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev in September, but the promotion opted not to renew his contract.

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Michael Page says Misfits Boxing gives him creative freedom after UFC walkout restrictions and missed big fights Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Page said the agreement came together quickly and would allow him to showcase more of his personality.

“To be fair, this one happened relatively quickly,” Page said. “We kind of didn’t know as recently as three or four days back; it still wasn’t 100% confirmed where we’re going. But yeah, this makes sense. Like I said out there, I feel free of the shackles. I’m a very creative person — my walkouts, my entrances, my exits — a…

Kayla Harrison says recovering from neck surgery left her questioning whether she would ever feel like herself again.

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight champion withdrew from her scheduled title defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 in January to undergo surgery for herniated discs in her neck. On the “Deep Waters” podcast, Harrison discussed the physical and mental challenges of her recovery.

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Kayla Harrison recalls doubts about feeling like herself again before Amanda Nunes title fight at UFC 334 Harrison described the operation as the most serious of four surgeries she has undergone in the past four years.

“I feel awesome,” Harrison said. “To be honest, it was rough in the beginning. I think more just obviously physically, but mentally. It was such a big surgery and I went ten years without surgery. I had reconstructive knee surgery between my two Olympics and then I went ten years with no surgery. But in the las…

Paulo Costa says he intends to fight before the end of the year, potentially outside the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Costa is disputing the terms of the final bout on his UFC contract. “Borrachinha” has criticized the promotion for offering five-round fights without additional compensation. The Brazilian wants to complete his contract and has hinted on social media at competing elsewhere.

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Paulo Costa hints at fighting outside UFC while disputing final-bout contract terms Costa (16-4) said he had received no recent update from the UFC but remained determined to compete this year.

“Nothing from the UFC,” Costa wrote on X. “I’m going to fight at an event at the end of the year. I’m in great shape and in my prime. I’m going to do what I love—fight somewhere.”

Costa is coming off victories over Roman Kopylov and previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov. He previously sought an interim light heavyweight title fight while champion Carlos Ulberg rec…

Dana White’s Contender Series returns Tuesday for Week 10, the Season 10 finale.

The event takes place Oct. 13 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas and streams live on Paramount+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The five-bout lineup spans the welterweight, middleweight, featherweight, lightweight and women’s bantamweight divisions. Weigh-in results are listed below in pounds.

Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 concludes with five fights on Oct. 13 Ilias Bulaid (146) vs. Erick Visconde (146)Aline Pereira (135) vs. Smilla Sundell (135)William Rentz (171) vs. Luis Francischinelli (170)Davi Cabral (184.5) vs. Douglas Lapa (184.5)Jason Asher (154.5) vs. Gregory Foster (155.5)

Rolando Dy retained his BKB super welterweight world title with a third-round stoppage of Scott McHugh at BKB 60 on Saturday in Newcastle, England.

Dy (7-1, 6 KOs) overwhelmed the five-time BKB champion after a competitive opening round, dropping McHugh (16-6, 6 KOs) three times in the second. McHugh survived the onslaught, but another knockdown in the third prompted his corner to throw in the towel.

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Rolando Dy retains world title after third-round stoppage of Scott McHugh Dy entered the bout coming off a stoppage victory over former two-division boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi.

Elsewhere on the card, David Winiarski knocked out Geraint Goodridge in the first round, while Brian Hyslop earned a split decision over former boxing world champion Joseph Diaz Jr. Adel Altamimi recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Tom Mowbray in the second, and Aaron Ashton rallied to defeat Mark O’Neill by technical knockout.

Mick Kelly stopped …

Brendson Ribeiro used his postfight platform to appeal for help finding his brother, who he said disappeared nearly six months ago.

Ribeiro (18-11, 1 NC) submitted Felipe Franco (11-3) with a guillotine choke at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, snapping a four-fight losing streak in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Brazilian became emotional after the victory as he discussed his missing brother.

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Brendson Ribeiro seeks answers about brother missing since April 27 Speaking through an interpreter after the fight, Ribeiro said his brother disappeared April 27 in his hometown in Brazil. He said authorities have yet to provide answers.

“He is my blood brother from my dad's side,” Ribeiro said at the UFC Vegas 122 postfight news conference. “On April 27, in the township that I'm from, the authorities have not said anything. My family has no voice there. As an athlete that has a platform right now, I just want to get it out there for someone to …

Brendan Allen battled a staph infection during fight week before submitting Christian Leroy Duncan in the Ultimate Fighting Championship main event at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday, according to teammate Belal Muhammad.

Former UFC welterweight champion Muhammad said Allen had been dealing with the infection since Tuesday and required antibiotics before competing at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Oct. 10.

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Belal Muhammad details Allen's fight-week illness before Duncan submission Allen (28-7) submitted Duncan (15-3) with a fifth-round rear-naked choke for his fourth consecutive victory. Muhammad said Allen still had five days left on his course of antibiotics after the bout.

“What people don’t know is Brendan was dealing with a staph infection since Tuesday of fight week,” Muhammad wrote on X. “Had to get on antibiotics, still has 5 days left on them, and despite all that adversity, went out there and got the finish. Never complained, never made excuses, jus…