Martial Arts News

Alexander Volkanovski believes Alex Pereira absorbed illegal shots in his loss against Ciryl Gane. 

Pereira (13-4) fought Gane (14-2) for an interim heavyweight title earlier this month at UFC White House. While Gane finished Pereira in the second round, it was not without controversy. “Bon Gamin” was seen landing multiple illegal shots to the back of Pereira’s head without any warning from referee Herb Dean. Pereira has since called for fighters to raise their voice for referees to be held accountable for illegal shots. 

Advertisement

Speaking Out Volkanovski has now extended his support to Pereira. Volkanovski believes Dean should have severely warned Gane while he was hitting “Poatan” on the back of the head.

“Herb, I love you, mate, but you should have been pretty vocal, ‘Watch the back of the head.’... I don't want to throw shade on people, but there was a lot of back of the head shots,” Volkanovski said on YouTube. “If it was someone I didn't lik…

Josh Hokit stands by his controversial comment on Michelle Obama. 

Hokit (10-0) knocked out Derrick Lewis earlier this month at the UFC White House. Known for expressing outrageous opinions, “The Incredible Hok” called former first lady a man in his post-fight interview at the White House. Hokit has since faced a lot of backlash for unprovokedly targeting Mrs. Obama. 

Advertisement

However, Hokit refuses to back down. Hokit claims he was trying to compliment Mrs. Obama by calling her a man. According to Hokit, his comment was also a display of freedom of speech in America. Hokit vows to never backtrack on his comments, regardless of how controversial they are.Never Backing Down “I thought I was giving her a compliment,” Hokit said on "The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I don't think anyone viewed it as Michelle Obama being a man. It's more like she knows how to deal with adversity, she knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough. I thought it was a…

Josh Hokit believes Alex Pereira has reached his level of success in MMA because of favorable matchups. 

Pereira is widely considered among the greatest fighters in the history of MMA, judging by his accomplishments. However, Hokit believes otherwise. According to Hokit, “Poatan” has scaled the heights that he has because of stylistically favorable matchups. Hokit claims Pereira has never fought elite wrestlers. “The Incredible Hok” believes he can prove that Pereira is not the legend that he is perceived to be.

Advertisement

Ideal Timing   “I don't think Pereira's career is what everyone says it is,” Hokit said on "The Ariel Helwani Show” “The accolades, the belts, no one’s done that. But I feel like all of his matchups have been favorable matchups. He hasn't faced anybody with my skill set or anyone with a wrestling pedigree… I want to prove that it's not real. I feel like I have the skill set to prove that... When you become a legend, a lot of it has t…

Tom Aspinall is preparing for a rematch against Ciryl Gane. 

Aspinall (15-3)  recently posted a video mocking Gane (14-2) over his reputation for using illegal shots. Aspinall posted a clip showing Gane hitting opponents with low blows, eye pokes and back-of-the-head shots. Aspinall then shows himself wearing a metallic groin guard and a motorcycle helmet to shield himself against Gane.

“Training for the rematch has begun,” Aspinall wrote in the caption of an Instagram post.

Gane has been accused of throwing illegal blows on multiple occasions. Gane challenged Pereira for the heavyweight title at UFC 320 this past October. The fight ended in an unfortunate no contest after a double eye poke from Gane in the first round rendered Aspinall unable to continue. With Aspinall sidelined due to his eye injury, Gane fought Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title earlier this month. While Gane finished “Poatan” in the second round, the Frenchman has been a…

Josh Hokit claims he was just fooling around with his armbar attempt on Derrick Lewis. 

Hokit took on Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight matchup earlier this month at UFC White House. Hokit put on a dominant display en route to a second-round knockout win over “The Black Beast.” Hokit surprised everyone with a bizarre armbar attempt late in the first round. Hokit’s armbar technique was lacking, which led to him being unable to complete the submission.  

Advertisement

Hokit claims he wasn’t sincerely looking for a finish with the armbar attempt. However, Hokit certainly knows how to finish an armbar since he earned his sophomore professional win with the move. Hokit claims he wanted to make an impact by knocking out Lewis, who has the most knockout wins in UFC history. ‘I Didn’t Want the Fight to End Like That’ “God forbid someone have a little fun in the cage,” Hokit said on "The Ariel Helwani Show” “I already have an armbar finish in my career, a…

Sean Strickland doesn’t like Justin Gaethje’s manager. 

Strickland (30-7) recently launched an unwarranted tirade on Gaethje (28-5). The UFC middleweight champion claims to like Gaethje, but not his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. Strickland referenced Abdelaziz’s alleged arrest, followed by allegations of snitching. Strickland says he will never sign up with Abdelaziz’s management, regardless of how lucrative the deal is.

Advertisement

Strickland Unleashed “Let me tell you why Goythje is a bitch,  and it pains me because I like him,” Strickland wrote on X. “His manager Ali was arrested for being a f—-ing terrorist then snitched on his terrorist boys He could offer me a billion dollars to manage me and [I’d] tell him to get f—ed because I'm an American.”

Let me tell you why Goythje is a bitch, and it pains me because I like him.

His manager Ali was arrested for being a fucking terrorist then snitched on his terrorist boys

He c…

Josh Hokit believes Ilia Topuria’s first professional loss was a result of beating up his teammates. 

Topuria was a massive favorite when he put his lightweight title on the line against Justin Gaethje earlier this month at UFC White House. However, Gaethje brutally beat down Topuria, forcing his corner to throw in the towel at the end of the fourth round. Hokit, who knocked out Derrick Lewis on the same card, recently shared his theory for the reason behind Topuria’s upset loss. 

Advertisement

Hokit believes Topuria goes too hard on his teammates in training. According to Hokit, Topuria’s teammates are scared of getting hard to the point where they don’t challenge “El Matador.” Hokit believes Topuria couldn’t perfect his distance management and timing as his teammates don’t pose him any threat in training.Healthy Balance Needed   “Topuria makes the mistake of, maybe a trains a little to hard in the sense of, he beats up his teammates, and so now th…

Ketlen Vieira ended her UFC tenure on a high note. | Getty/UFC

Professional Fighters League continues to bolster the talent pool in its women’s divisons.

Former UFC bantamweight talent Ketlen Vieira announced on Tuesday that she has signed with the PFL. A debut date has yet to be determined, but it’s likely that Vieira will compete at featherweight since the promotion doesn’t currently have a 135-pound division.

Advertisement

Top notch featherweights headline PFL San Diego: Tune in Saturday, June 27 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I can only thank God for pouring countless blessings into it!" Vieira wrote on Instagram. "Every day, I experience the truth of the verse that says: “All things work together for the good of those who love God.”

Vieira went 10-5 in the Octagon before being released from the UFC earlier this year. “Fenomeno” last appeared at UFC Fight Night 276, where she ended the…

Dustin Poirier exhibited threatening behavior during his arrest for public intoxication this past Sunday.

In a video from the Atlanta Police Department obtained by TMZ Sports, Poirier is seen being argumentative and threatening to fight a police officer before being arrested.

Advertisement

🚨 Dustin Poirier was unhinged during his arrest this week in a totally chaotic scene

🎥: Atlanta Police Department pic.twitter.com/DKCBQBLR81

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) June 23, 2026 The retired UFC veteran initially became agitated after he was pulled off a plane at the Atlanta airport. An officer wearing a body cam responded to the scene after Poirier was hostile toward gate agents.

The officer recognizes Poirier, which only serves to agitate the Louisiana native even further. That’s when Poirier removes his backpack, and threatens to fight the officer.

“I’ll fight you right now,” Poirier says. “I’ll go with you right now. Let’s go…

Kamaru Usman is headed to middleweight at UFC Oklahoma City. | Getty/UFC

If Dricus Du Plessis is to be believed, Kamaru Usman took some convincing to accept a matchup against the former UFC middleweight champion.

"He didn't want to sign the contract. I know that for a fact. I spoke to the UFC and they said, 'We finally convinced him to sign.' If you need convincing to sign, that's a problem, but I can't blame him,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast (transcription via MMAjunkie.com). “I also wouldn't want to fight me right now. It would be the smart move not to sign the fight, but let's go.”

Advertisement

Du Plessis and Usman will square off in the UFC Oklahoma City headliner on July 18 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It’s Du Plessis’ first Octagon appearance since relinquishing the middleweight strap to Khamzat Chimaev in a lopsided unanimous decision defeat at UFC 319 last August. Usman, a former welterweight rule, will return to 185 …

Bo Nickal won’t be resting on his laurels.

After a quick finish of Kyle Daukaus at UFC White House, Bo Nickal will face 2026 NCAA national champion wrestler Max McEnelly at RAF 12 in Cleveland on Aug. 22. The wrestling organization recently announced the match. The event will also include a showdown between ex-UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and current Octagon competitor Joaquin Buckley.

Advertisement

A three-time NCAA national champion wrestler at Penn State University, Nickal was one of the most-highly touted MMA prospect in recent memory. He has largely delivered on that promise, winning nine of his first 10 professional outings. That includes a 6-1 UFC record, where he has finished all but one of his triumphs inside the distance. Nickal defeated Jacob Cardenas via decision at RAF 1 and was later expected to face Yoel Romero but the pairing was cancelled when “Soldier of God” missed weight.

McEnelly, meanwhile, was an All-American as a freshman at the U…

Beatriz Mesquita is quickly making a name for herself in the UFC.

After finishing Melissa Mullins in her third Octagon appearance at UFC Fight Night 279, the 10-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion now boasts an 8-0 record in MMA. As she climbs the bantamweight rankings, “Lady GOAT” wasted no time calling out her next foe, surging Argentinian contender Ailin Perez.

Advertisement

“I came to be the champion of the division, the new face of Brazil in women's MMA,” Mesquita said. “I want to finish the rankings as [high] as possible because I want to fight for the belt in 2027.”A Natural Rivalry Shortly after leaving the Octagon, Mesquita explaned her callout In an interview with UFC Brazil reporter Evelyn Rodrigues.

"I find Ailin disrespectful and it could be a perfect match, since Brazil and Argentina already has a normal rivalry,” Mesquita said. “The Octagon is no place to be twerking and showing your butt. I'm ready to face her and show the ‘Lady GOAT’ mentality.”<…