Martial Arts News

Behind-the-scenes footage of UFC matchmaking:

The UFC wanted to book Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Kamaru Usman in Abu Dhabi but Ali Abdelaziz told Dana White that Kamaru wanted to fight Wonderboy.

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Khabib also said Shavkat vs Usman was the fight to make.

🎥 Fight Inc: Inside the UFC,… pic.twitter.com/9MMJb0Eu12

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 8, 2024 While the UFC wants Kamaru Usman to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov, the former welterweight champ seemingly would prefer to face Stephen Thompson instead.

The latest season of Fight Inc: Inside the UFC revealed behind the scenes footage of the promotion’s matchmaking. UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby was seen explaining the welterweight picture to company CEO Dana White. While Shelby was considering a matchup between Kevin Holland and Rakhmonov, “Trailblazer” allegedly didn’t want to fight the Kazakh phenom.

Meanwhile, streaking Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena has been…

Brunno Ferreira authored perhaps the most memorable finish on the UFC on ESPN 57 card.

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The Brazilian was rewarded for his efforts, as he received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his spinning back elbow knockout of Dustin Stoltzfus 4:51 into the opening round of their featured middleweight bout. Ferreira had to survive some early adversity, but he maintained his composure to secure the eighth finish via spinning back elbow in UFC history.

Elsewhere, Raul Rosas Jr. garnered a $50,000 check for a second-round submission victory over Ricky Turcios in a bantamweight clash. After a spirited opening round, the 19-year-old prospect put his opponent away with a rear-naked choke at the 2:22 mark of the period.

Meanwhile, Zachary Reese made the most of a short night at the office, securing a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for a first-round stoppage of Julian Marquez at middleweight. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum needed …

In a fight that should have brought some clarity to the middleweight title picture, the main event of “UFC Louisville” instead brought more confusion—though Nassourdine Imavov was not to blame.

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 57 on Saturday at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, Imavov and Jared Cannonier met in a high-level matchup of 185-pound contenders. The first two rounds saw both men struggle with the other’s weapons: Cannonier had his head snapped back repeatedly by Imavov’s lightning-quick jab, especially his double jab, while Imavov had difficulty with Cannonier’s calf kicks and his enormous strength and leverage when wrestling against the cage. Cannonier appeared to have the slight edge going into the middle round, landing the slightly heavier blows, including some vicious leg kicks, and it was Imavov who initiated the ground game in Round 3, quickly dragging the “Killa Gorilla” to the canvas, then taking his back standing. Cannonier managed to escape withou…

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 57 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dos Santos (-245), Tomar (+200)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lapilus (-270), Stamann (+220)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPO…

Ludovit Klein showed once again that he has one of the most accurate nicknames in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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In the top prelim of UFC on ESPN 57 on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky, “Mr. Highlight” (22-4-1) knocked down Thiago Moises (18-8) multiple times en route to a dominant unanimous decision win. Their fight was characterized by each fighter’s willingness to engage in his opponent’s preferred territory. Moises, one of the lightweight division’s most dangerous submission artists, traded blows with Klein, especially in the first round, when he attempted head kicks and narrowly missed with a looping bomb to the head that left Klein visibly relieved. Klein, for his part, showed little fear of Moises’ jiu-jitsu, taking the black belt down several times including a resounding slam in Round 3. Their gameness made for exciting viewing, but as a strategic choice it favored Klein, who hurt Moises repeatedly and appeared to be rolling towards a f…

SAVANNAH MARSHALL STOPS VARGAS IN THE FIRST! 👀

Savannah stops Mirela Vargas at the end of the first round after getting taken down numerous times! 😳#PFLNewcastle | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/XybwMJo0aU

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) June 8, 2024

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Former super-middleweight boxing champion Savannah Marshall took her first step into the world of mixed martial arts and the Professional Fighters League with a first-round stoppage win over Brazil’s Mirela Vargas (0:32) in the PFL Europe 2 2024 Regular Season main event at Utlita Arena in Newcastle, England.

Marshall was 13-1 with 10 knockouts in professional boxing, and her power carried into the Smartcage. Vargas looked to trade and even caught Marshall with an overhand right. Marshall walked through it and pilled on the pressure until the fight was eventually called. With the win, Marshall (1-0) will look to a potential MMA bout with three-weight world boxing champion C…

Professional Fighters League has signed longtime UFC competitor Marc Diakiese to an exclusive contract.

The organization announced the news on Saturday. Diakiese is expected to make his PFL debut in a showcase bout this year before competing in the season format at lightweight in 2025.

“I back myself at lightweight, and I’m coming for everyone,” Diakiese said in a release. “This weight class is mine for the taking, and I feel the PFL Championship has my name all over it in 2025.”

The 31-year-old Englishman known as “Bonecrusher” has fought under the UFC banner since 2016, compiling an 8-7 record with the Las Vegas-based promotion. The former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion last appeared at UFC Fight Night 231 this past November, when he took a three-round verdict over Kaue Fernandes. Diakiese owns a 17-7 career mark.

Calvin Kattar will lock horns with Kyle Nelson in a featherweight bout at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Sept. 7.

Nelson confirmed the pairing on social media following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com. The UFC Fight Night event does not have a location or headliner at this time.

Kattar has lost four of his last four promotional appearances dating back to January 2021. After an absence that spanned a year and a half, “The Boston Finisher” returned from a knee injury at UFC 300, where he dropped a unanimous decision to ex-bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling at UFC 300.

Nelson, meanwhile, is unbeaten in his last four outings. The 33-year-old Canadian was successful in his first venture of 2024, when he stopped Bill Algeo in the opening stanza at UFC on ESPN 54.

Joanderson Brito has pulled out of a proposed featherweight clash against Dan Ige scheduled for UFC on ESPN 60 on July 20.

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Multiple outlets confirmed Brito’s withdrawal after Ige announced his opponent’s exit on social media. It is currently unknown if Ige will remain on the card against a replacement opponent. UFC on ESPN 60 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and also includes a strawweight showdown pitting Amanda Lemos against Virna Jandiroba.

Joanderson Brittle is out. Who’s in?

— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) June 7, 2024

Brito last appeared at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, where he scored a second-round TKO victory against Jack Shore on May 4. The 29-year-old Brazilian has won five straight Octagon appearances since dropping his promotional debut against Bill Algeo.

Ige has won three of his last four contests. Most recently, “50K” defeated Andre Fili via first-round KO at UFC Fight Night 236 on Feb. 10.

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The bantamweight headliner for Rizin 47 is now official, as both Kyoji Horiguchi and Sergio Pettis hit their contracted marks at weigh-ins.

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Horiguchi tipped the scales at 133.9 pounds, while Sergio Pettis checked in at 134 pounds. It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone on the card, however. UFC veteran Johnny Case weighed 158.7 pounds for his clash with Noah Bey (156.4). Since he missed weight by 2.2 pounds, he is not eligible for victory, per Rizin rules. As a result, if Bey loses or the bout is a draw, the fight will be recorded as a no contest. Additionally, Case will began the bout with a one-point deduction.

Rizin 47 takes place at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Sunday and will also see Kleber Koike Erbst (145.5) square off against Juan Archuleta (145.5) in the featherweight co-main event.

Horiguchi and Pettis initially met as part of the bantamweight grand prix at Bellator 272, with Pettis earning a fourth-round …

ONE 167's main event saw One Championship featherweight muay thai champion Tawanchai P.K. Saenchai successfully defend his belt against a tough challenger in Nattawut Somkhun.

Saenchai wasted no time establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with by delivering punishing leg kicks and sharp elbows to Somkhun. Standing his ground, the challenger would find his footing and have success with combinations when Saenchai would lower his output, with Somkhun taking over the third and fourth rounds. However, the champion showed his resolve in the final three minutes, as it was a back-and-forth battle that saw both men have their moments.

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Breathes were held when the judges' scorecards were read, but ultimately, they preferred the work of the champion, who kept his belt via majority decision.Rodtang Dominates Puric The catchweight co-main event saw Rodtang Jitmuangnon outstrike Denis Puric in a hard-hitting kickboxing match. Jitmuangnon found his mark earl…

ONE 167's main event saw One Championship featherweight muay thai champion Tawanchai P.K. Saenchai successfully defend his belt against a tough challenger in Nattawut Somkhun.

Saenchai wasted no time establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with by delivering punishing leg kicks and sharp elbows to Somkhun. Standing his ground, the challenger would find his footing and have success with combinations when Saenchai would lower his output, with Somkhun taking over the third and fourth rounds. However, the champion showed his resolve in the final three minutes, as it was a back-and-forth battle that saw both men have their moments.

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Breathes were held when the judges' scorecards were read, but ultimately, they preferred the work of the champion, who kept his belt via majority decision.Rodtang Dominates Puric The catchweight co-main event saw Rodtang Jitmuangnon outstrike Denis Puric in a hard-hitting kickboxing match. Jitmuangnon found his mark earl…