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Four Bouts Official for Rizin 52 on March 7

Rizin Fighting Federation has confirmed four bouts, including a super atomweight showdown between Saori Oshima and Keito Oyama, for its first event of 2026.

Rizin 52 on March 7 will also include the following three contests: Luiz Gustavo vs. Taisei Sakuraba at lightweight; Takaki Soya vs. Tony Laramie at flyweight and Viktor Kolesnik vs. Kazuki Aimoto at featherweight.

Rizin 52 takes place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo and is availabile on pay-per-view via Rizin.TV.

The promotion also announced that Rizin Landmark Vol. 13 will take place on April 12 at Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka Japan. No fights were confirmed for that event.

Oshima won her first four Rizin appearances to eventually earn a super atomweight title shot. “Little Giant” came up short in that opportunity, falling to women’s pound-for-pound stalwart Seika Izawa via unanimous decision at Rizin Landmark Vol. 12 this past November.

Oyama, who is more commonly known as “Kate Lotu…

Dana White Announces 5-Year Rebranding Agreement for UFC Apex

The UFC Apex has a new name.

As a result of a partnership with Meta, the promotion’s home venue in Las Vegas will now be known as the Meta Apex for the next five years. UFC CEO Dana White announced the rebranding via social media on Monday.

“So as we go into the new year, the home of Contender Series, the home of some [UFC] Fight Nights, the home of Zuffa Boxing, UFC BJJ will now be called the Meta Apex,” White said on Instagram. “We’ve done a five-year deal with Meta.

“So welcome to the new Meta Apex.”

White was elected to the Meta board of directors in 2025. One of the largest information technology companies in the U.S., Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, among other things. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is an avid MMA fan and consistent jiu-jitsu practitioner.

A New ExperienceAccording to a release, “Meta branding will be integrated throughout the facility. UFC and Meta will also work together to create interactive exper…

Neck Injury Forces Kayla Harrison to Withdraw from UFC 324 Co-Main Event

Neck surgery has forced Kayla Harrison out of UFC 324. | Getty/UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s debut event on Paramount+ has taken a significant hit.

According to a report from the Eagle Tribune, Kayla Harrison has been forced to withdraw from the UFC 324 co-main event against Amanda Nunes on Jan. 24 to undergo surgery to repair herniated discs in her neck. Harrison reportedly sought treatment in New York ahead of the fight, but doctors determined that surgery was a necessity. Harrison vs. Nunes is expected to be rebooked at an undetermined date in the future. Sherdog.com confirmed Harrison’s exit with a source close to the situation.

The women’s bantamweight title bout was one of the two featured fights — along with an interim lightweight championship clash between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett — anchoring the UFC 324 lineup, which marks the beginning of the promotion’s broadcast partnership on Paramount+. UFC CEO Dana Whi…

Figueiredo on Underdog Status at UFC 324: ‚One Punch Can Change Everything‘

Deiveson Figueiredo likes his chances at UFC 324. | Getty/UFC

Deiveson Figueiredo is an an unfamiliar position heading into his fight with Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 324.

According to Stake.com's Monday odds, the Dagestani, who has only one loss in his 20 MMA fights, was considered a 10-to-1 favorite. In an exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Figueiredo said that fact only increases his motivation.

"Everyone knows he has a good grappling game, but he's going to face a different opponent, a former champion, and one punch from me can change everything,” Figueiredo said. “In any case, fighting against favorites only increases my motivation.”

The former flyweight champion is confident after once again holding his training camp at Pitbul Brothers.

“The camp here at Pitbull Brothers was perfect,” he said. “The resources here are excellent. Sparring partners like Leandro Higo from [PFL] only made me push myself to the best every day, and…

Justin Gaethje Eyes Rematch Against Max Holloway

Justin Gaethje wants to avenge his loss against Max Holloway.

Gaethje (26-5) is scheduled to fight Paddy Pimblett (23-3) for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Holloway (27-8) is set to trade leather against Charles Oliveira (36-11) at UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas.

Gaethje recently revealed that he is rooting for Holloway to beat Oliveira. Gaethje wants a rematch against Holloway if they both win their respective fights. Gaethje also hopes that the current lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, moves up a weight class. Gaethje would then defend his lightweight title against Holloway, along with the latter’s BMF title on the line, preferably at the White House in June.High Stakes “I hope Max wins. I hope Ilia goes up,” Gaethje told the UFC. “And then I can fight Max on the White House card and take the BMF belt and the championship belt.”

Gaethje has only lost to Holloway in his last four outings…

Paddy Pimblett Believes Style Can’t Be Emulated

Paddy Pimblett doesn’t think he can be mimicked.

Pimblett is scheduled to fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. While Gaethje is known for his striking, Pimblett boasts a high level of wrestling. Gaethje’s camp recently said that they have been emphasizing wrestling to prepare for Pimblett. Regardless, Pimblett believes Gaethje won’t be able to stifle his wrestling. Pimblett claims that he doesn’t wrestle conventionally, making his style awkward. While fighters usually bring in sparring partners to emulate their upcoming opponents, Pimblett doesn’t think Gaethje will find any to mimic him.

‘I’m Not Normal’ "I don't wrestle like a normal person,” Pimblett told the UFC. “I don't shoot double legs and single legs and wrestle like a normal person. I do everything differently. I'm not normal. He’s not gonna be able to get a sparring partner that grapples like me or strikes like me, because I'm a we…

Justin Gaethje Reveals Retirement Threat Was Influenced by Manager

Justin Gaethje’s recent retirement threat was not all his idea.

Gaethje (26-5) is scheduled to fight Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. The interim title fight was hatched after champion Ilia Topuria announced a short break from competition for personal reasons. Gaethje and Pimblett (23-3) were previously frontrunners for a title shot against Topuria. However, Topuria has clearly expressed his preference for defending his title against Pimblett over Gaethje. Gaethje was threatening retirement if denied a title shot in his next fight.

Thankfully for Gaethje, circumstances played out in his favor. However, Gaethje recently revealed that the retirement threat was partly his manager, Ali Abdelaziz’s idea. Gaethje also admitted that he was being emotional about the whole situation.Taking Things Personally "I definitely got what I asked for,” Gaethje told the UFC. “It was more that my manager put…

Paddy Pimblett Will Follow Max Holloway’s ‚Blueprint‘ to Beat Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett vows to finish Justin Gaethje on the feet.

Pimblett (23-3) is scheduled to fight Gaethje (26-5) for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. “The Baddy” believes Max Holloway has already delivered the gameplan to beat Justin Gaethje. Holloway and Gaethje fought for the BMF title at UFC 300 in 2024. Holloway picked Gaethje apart on the feet before finishing him in a last-round buzzer-beater.

While people expect Pimblett to wrestle Gaethje, the Liverpudlian plans to follow Holloway’s gameplan. Pimblett believes his striking is underestimated. Pimblett notes that while he dominated Michael Chandler in his last outing, Gaethje had a “Fight of the Year” slugfest against Chandler in 2021, which he won via unanimous decision. Pimblett claims he has the perfect gameplan against Gaethje and plans to finish him within three rounds.Going Against Expectations “I’ll keep it on the feet with him,” Pimblett told th…

Chael Sonnen Wants Arman Tsarukyan to Be Forgiven

Chael Sonnen recently extended his support to Arman Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan (23-3) has been denied a lightweight title shot despite being widely regarded as the most deserving contender. Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 last year. However, Tsarukyan pulled out due to an injury a day before the fight, disappointing the UFC

As Dana White promised, Tsarukyan was sidelined when Makhachev vacated his belt and moved up. Ilia Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira to win the vacant title while Tsarukyan weighed in as the backup. While Tsarukyan kept rallying for a title shot, Topuria seemed interested in fighting Paddy Pimblett. Tsarukyan thought a title shot would be undeniable when he finished Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar this past November. However, Tsarukyan was sidelined again when Topuria announced a short hiatus from action for personal reasons. “Ahalkalakets” has to keep waiting whil…

Former Middleweight Kingpin Tops UFC Seattle Lineup

Former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya has lost three straight fights. | Getty/UFC Israel Adesanya will take center stage in the Emerald City.

The former middleweight champion will face Joe Pyfer in the UFC Seattle main event on March 28. UFC CEO Dana White announced the booking on Tuesday. UFC Fight Night 271 takes place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington and also features a women’s flyweight scrap pitting Alexa Grasso against Rose Namajunas. The card will air on Paramount+.

Adesanya has lost four of his last five Octagon appearances dating back to November 2022. In his lone appearance of 2025, “The Last Stylebender” suffered a second-round technical knockout defeat to Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner last February. Adesanya captured 185-pound gold in October 2019 and authored five successful title defenses before relinquishing the belt to kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

A two-time competitor on Dana Wh…

Khamzat Chimaev Targets UFC White House Event for ‚Poatan‘ Fight

Khamzat Chimaev still has his sights set on Alex Pereira. | Getty/UFC

Khamzat Chimaev has a singular focus when it comes to his next desired opponent.

The reigning UFC middleweight champion continued his ongoing callout of light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira in a series of posts on social media. While the target is nothing new, this time Chimaev has a date and venue in mind for the matchup.

“Let’s go White House,” Chimaev wrote on X. “Don’t worry, I will finish you fast [Pereira].”

Let’s go White House 🦾Don’t worry, I will finish you fast @AlexPereiraUFC ⚰️

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) January 12, 2026

The UFC White House event is expected to take place on June 14, though the date has yet to be officially confirmed. Pereira had previously expressed interest in a clash against former heavyweight champ Jon Jones, but the Brazilian indicated in a recent post that his participation at the event was a …

Paddy Pimblett, Dan Hooker Engage in Bitter Verbal Spat

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweights Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker have made it clear their past friendship is over.

During an interview with The MMA Guru on Thursday, Pimblett appeared and took shots at a few other names in his division. When discussing the UFC 324 headliner of himself against Justin Gaethje, Pimblett dismissed the idea of Gaethje, 37, being too old and therefore less dangerous. “The Baddy” invoked Hooker’s name in comparison, stating that the American was just two years the elder of the Kiwi, and tossed a dagger at Hooker for getting submitted by Arman Tsarukyan last year.

“A lot of people are saying like Justin Gaethje, he’s old, and that lad is two years older than Dan Hooker,” Pimblett observed, before taking a dark turn. “Dan Hooker’s like two years younger than him…Dan Hooker couldn’t grapple a f---ing rapist off his ma.”

“The Hangman” got wind of Pimblett’s remark, and he was incensed. Sharing a video on social media…