Martial Arts News

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Aureo Cruz believes he was built for the main stage.

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The 29-year-old Angolan lightweight will make his Professional Fighters League debut when he faces Abdoul Razac Sankara as part of the 2026 PFL Africa 1 undercard on Friday at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. Cruz took something of a roundabout route to mixed martial arts.

“I was influenced by various schoolmates who already practiced a variety of martial arts,” he told Sherdog.com. “It piqued my interest. I started in karate at 11 years old. That didn’t last too long. By age 17, I started training for self-defense. My self-defense teacher was also my Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach. I started competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and became the national vice champion.”

One of Cruz’s coaches, Shido Boris Esperanca, introduced him to full-contact fighting.

“I starte…

Defeating Cody Garbrandt was one of the high points of Pedro Munhoz's UFC career. | Getty/UFC

Pedro Munhoz is ready to move on to the next phase of his career.

The 39-year-old UFC bantamweight veteran revealed via Instagram that he has requested his release from the Las Vegas-based promotion. “The Young Punisher” hasn’t competed since November 2024, when he dropped a unanimous verdict to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Fight Night 246.

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A New Direction “Since 2014, I’ve been part of the UFC, building my name, proving myself, and showing what I’m capable of inside that octagon. After 32 fights, I can proudly say I’ve never been submitted or knocked out. I’ve always stepped in there with heart, discipline, and respect for the game,” Munhoz wrote.

“There comes a point in life when you don’t just stay comfortable, you take control of what’s next. Right now, I feel it’s time to take a new direction, explore different opportunities, and focus on othe…

Curtis Blaydes is the UFC's all-time leader in takedowns at heavyweight. | Getty/UFC

When Curtis Blaydes initially got the offer to fight Josh Hokit at UFC 327, he admittedly didn’t know anything about his opponent.

“My thoughts were: ‘Who is this guy?’” Blaydes told UFC.com. “Also, I’ll take the money. I knew otherwise I’d have to wait a little longer and we’re trying to make some moves this year.”

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Hokit has combined performance in the cage — he’s 8-0 with two first-round finishes in the UFC — with a pro-wrestling style schtick that has drawn plenty of attention, though not all of it has been positive. Most recently, “The Incredible Hok” had a verbal confronation with Jiri Prochazka before unveiling his latest personalat UFC 327 media day.

It’s nothing new, according to Blaydes, who adds that Hokit’s ability to promote pales in comparison to some of his more celebrated predecessors.

“There’s Chael Sonnen, he’s like the OG, then…

Dana White normally won’t entertain holding a fight card outdoors. However, he will make an exception for a once-in-a-lifetime UFC card at the White House.

The UFC White House card will take place on June 14 on the South Lawn and is headlined by a lightweight title clash between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira will face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight crown.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the card will move forward — with one exception.

“[If it rains] we're fighting," White told Adin Ross. "If it f—ing snows, we're fighting. Nothing will stop this show going that night. It can f—ing rain – Lighting is the only thing. We'd have to wait it out. We'd have to wait the lightning out and then do the fight.

"This is why I don't like doing things outside. Rain would suck. Heavy winds will suck. If it's muggy and bugs. All this kind of sh— is the stuff you have to deal with when you do it outside, but we're going through al…

Demetrious Johnson couldn’t overcome a significant size disadvantage during a recent grappling session with Khamzat Chimaev.

The former UFC flyweight champion posted a video on Instagram of the two fighters training together on the mats. “Mighty Mouse” began the encounter sounding confident.

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“Did Arman [Tsarukyan] tell you I was good? Arman tell you I was strong?” Johnson said.

“Maybe for him, yeah,” Chimaev replied.

It didn’t take long for Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, to lock in a brabo choke to force a tap from Johnson. The time of the submission was 47 seconds.

Being Realistic “You guys are like ‘man, why did he pull guard?’” Johnson said. “Do you think I’m going to shoot a f—-ing takedown on Khamzat Chimaev?”

Johnson will be enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame as part of International Fight Week this July. In addition to a lengthy reign as UFC flyweight king, “Mighty Mouse” was also a 135-pound title holder in O…

Josh Hokit is doing whatever he can to gain attention.

The heavyweight prospect was a hot topic during UFC 327 media day, though not necessarily for positive reasons. First, Hokit was captured on video by Gifdsports having a verbal altercation with light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka.

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Josh Hokit cosplaying as a Mexican gets into it with Jiri Prochazka at #UFC327 media day pic.twitter.com/sz6VSvUyso

— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 8, 2026

“Stay where you are,” Prochazka said.

“I’ll cut you up with this lightsaber, homie,” Hokit said, prop in hand. “And then ---ing stitch your head on Alex Pereira’s body, homie.”

It’s unclear what led to the brief altercation.

From there, Hokit proceeded to cut a couple of bizarre promos — even by his standards — during his media day session. “The Incredible Hok” has become well known for his pro-wrestling inspired interviews during his UFC tenure.

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Darren Till’s combat sports journey will continue in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

The promotion on Wednesday that Till will make his debut at BKFC 90 in Birmingham, England against an as yet-to-be-determined opponent. The UFC veteran is expected to compete at 185 pounds. Ariel Helwani was first to report the news.

Earlier this week, Till announced that he was parting ways with Misfits Boxing, with an announcement regarding his next move coming soon. “The Gorilla” went 3-0 while capturing a title during his stint under the Misfits banner. He stated that a return to the organization down the road was a possibility.

Till emerged as a star early in his UFC career thanks to victories over welterweight stalwarts such as Donald Cerrone and Stephen Thompson. After suffering a second-round submission defeat against Tyron Woodley in a 170-pound title bout in September 2018, the Liverpool native was never the same, ending his promotional tenure with losses in four o…

Dana White once allegedly forgot where he parked his Ferrari. 

Chael Sonnen was recently interviewing Steve Garcia, who fights Diego Lopes at the White House on June 14. Sonnen correctly guessed that Garcia was at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sonnen then recalled a story from when he stayed a week at the Palace Station. 

Sonnen claims he saw a black Ferrari parked in the fire parking lane outside the hotel. The former UFC light heavyweight stayed a week at the hotel and never saw the car move. Sonnen claims he somehow guessed that the car could be Dana White’s. When Sonnen asked White if he had parked his car at the Palace Station, the UFC head honcho allegedly thanked him. White had seemingly forgotten where he had parked his Ferrari for two months. White then told one of his men to immediately get the car back.

Vegas Tales“I get to the Palace Station, there’s this beautiful black Ferrari right out front where the Uber drops me off,”…

Steve Garcia thinks Alexander Volkanovski is no longer the same fighter that he used to be.

Garcia is scheduled to fight Diego Lopes at UFC White House on June 14. Garcia wants to call for a title shot against Volkanovski if he gets past Lopes. Garcia believes Volkanovski should ideally retire now. However, if Volkanovski doesn’t retire, “Mean Machine” vows to make the 37-year-old hang up his gloves if they meet inside the Octagon. While Garcia isn’t looking past Lopes, he sees chinks in Volkanovski’s armor now.

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Championship Dreams “I’m calling for that strap,” Garcia said on the "Smash Cast” podcast. “Give me that strap, that’s what I want. Honestly, I feel like Volk should retire. Because if he doesn’t, I’m gonna retire him… But again, I got a huge tall task ahead of me. I’m not gonna look past Diego Lopes, that would be stupid to do it. But in my head every time I see Volk, I’m like, ah, he’s not the Volk of old. And there’s ways to beat this guy.…

Jiri Prochazka is the true embodiment of the samurai lifestyle. 

Prochazka is scheduled to fight Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327 on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Prochazka recently put his hand on a nest of Mexican ants as part of his training. The Czech star says the bites were not the most painful that he has experienced so far. According to Prochazka, one must experience and overcome pain to become stronger.

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Find the Strength “I tried to feel the bites of these Mexican ants,” Prochazka told the UFC. “This one from the video, they were not so painful. These ones, which were in the grass, those were painful bites. If you are looking for strength, you have to find the strength in animals, places, feel the pain, overcome the pain.” 

Prochazka (32-5) is one of the most unorthodox personalities to have ever graced the sport. A strict follower of the Bushido code, “BJP” often engages in bizarr…

Joe Pyfer is not a fan of Khamzat Chimaev. 

Sean Strickland (30-7) is scheduled to challenge Chimaev (15-0) for the middleweight title in the main event at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. While Chimaev is a heavy favorite, many believe Strickland could pose a serious threat to the Chechen-born champion. 

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Pyfer wants Strickland to defeat Chimaev. Pyfer doesn’t like the inactivity of Chimaev, who is set to defend his title for the first time since winning it against Dricus Du Plessis in August 2025. Pyfer believes Strickland’s elite defense will be his strongest weapon against Strickland. While Strickland has lost twice against Du Plessis, Pyfer believes the South African was a stylistically unsuitable matchup for Strickland.Defense Wins Championships? “I want Sean Strickland to win,” Pyfer said on the "Death Row MMA” podcast. “I don’t like the inactivity of Khamzat… I think more than anything, Sean’s got good …

Belal Muhammad and Kamaru Usman’s common manager, Ali Abdelaziz, must be in a tough spot. 

Muhammad is scheduled to fight surging welterweight contender Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6 at the Apex in Las Vegas. Muhammad claims Bonfim and Usman were two potential opponents initially mentioned to him by his manager. However, Muhammad was almost certain he would have to fight Bonfim, as he knew Usman wouldn’t accept. 

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Muhammad even plans to tell Abdelaziz in person that he is protecting Usman. However, Muhammad also understands Abdelaziz’s predicament. Muhammad notes that Usman is one of the most high-profile fighters that Abdelaziz has managed over the years. However, Muhammad believes “The Nigerian Nightmare” is at the tail end of his career, where he has to wait for a perfect matchup.

Usman was initially rallying for a welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev, who is also managed by Abdelaziz. However, Muhammad beli…