Martial Arts News

Ian Garry has addressed Michael Morales’ recent comments amid speculation about both top-ranked welterweights’ futures.

Morales released a video Sunday naming Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder Islam Makhachev, Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Garry as potential opponents. After taking subtle digs at the first three, the unbeaten Ecuadorian had a blunt message for Garry.

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Ian Garry says the UFC sent a date for a potential Michael Morales fight While naming other top welterweights in the UFC, Morales saved Garry for last and had a not-so-subtle message for the Irishman.

“Oh, I almost forgot about you,” Morales said in his Instagram video. “F*ck you, Ian Garry.”

Garry responded by reposting a clip of a previous interaction with Morales and insisted that he is ready to fight, saying he has already accepted a date and main event slot against Morales.

“I’ve said YES,” Garry wrote on Instagram. “The date is locked in.…

Dana White has opened up about his contentious relationship with his late mother, June, and the personal attacks she made against him in an unauthorized biography.

Speaking on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO recalled how a series of emails from his mother escalated a family dispute that ultimately ended their relationship.

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Dana White details the emails that fractured his relationship with mother June White White recalled one incident that marked the beginning of the end of his relationship with his mother, June, who raised him and his sister, Kelly, as a single mother.

“I was on a trip one time, you know this was before—You know, I didn’t have e-mails and all that sh*t on the road, and I was with Lorenzo Fertitta, my partner, and we were in London for, like, two weeks,” White recalled. “And when I got back, I checked my e-mails, and I have a bunch of e-mails from [June] threatening me. ‘You’re going to send me t…

Jose Aldo returned to competition Sunday, battling Marlon Vera to a draw in a 10-minute grappling match at Hype Fighting in Quito, Ecuador.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer and the Ecuadorian UFC bantamweight headlined the event, which also featured grappling and bare-knuckle boxing bouts.

Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera battle to a draw in 10-minute grappling match Aldo returned to competition nearly 17 months after his final UFC fight against Aiemann Zahabi. The Brazilian was largely defensive early as Vera pressured him toward the corner and looked for takedowns. The action moved back to the center of the ring nearly six minutes into the contest, where Aldo pulled guard. Vera then threatened with a heel hook, but Aldo escaped the submission attempt.

The two returned to their feet and remained there until the final horn. With neither fighter securing a submission, the bout was declared a draw.

The event was also scheduled to feature former UFC interim…

Sean O'Malley has denied that he was ever offered a matchup against Payton Talbott for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s historic event at the White House.

Talbott (12-1) claimed ahead of UFC 332 that he was in talks for a potential bout against O’Malley (20-3-1) at UFC Freedom 250 in June. However, O’Malley said he was never offered the matchup.

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O’Malley responds after Talbott discusses potential UFC Freedom 250 matchup At the post-fight news conference following his first-round stoppage victory over Deiveson Figueiredo, Talbott reiterated that he was in talks to face O’Malley at UFC Freedom 250. O’Malley subsequently addressed the claim on social media, disputing Talbott’s account.

“I'm here to f*cking address these rumors that I got offered Payton Talbott for the White House,” O'Malley said. “That is just absolutely bullsh*t.”

O’Malley also pushed back against the suggestion that he has avoided Talbott, pointing to the level of opposit…

Zabit Magomedsharipov is reportedly returning to active competition.

Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with Real American Freestyle, according to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight is expected to make his RAF debut Nov. 14 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

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Zabit Magomedsharipov will make his RAF debut Nov. 14 in Abu Dhabi ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported the news.

“Zabit Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with [RAF], and will make his debut on the 11/14 card in Abu Dhabi, per [Ali Abdelaziz],” Okamoto posted on X.

Abdelaziz teased the signing shortly before the announcement.

“[RAF] Just signed one of the most infamous fighters in UFC history, stay tuned,” Abdelaziz wrote on X. “Big news coming soon.”

Magomedsharipov was at the height of his career when he last fought in the UFC in 2019. He officially retired from mixed martial arts in 2022 after citing canceled fight…

Sean O'Malley says a matchup against Payton Talbott hinges on the next Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title bout.

Talbott claims O’Malley turned down a fight against him for UFC Freedom 250 in June. O’Malley, who knocked out Aiemann Zahabi at the White House event, says he was never offered a fight against Talbott. “Suga” is open to the matchup, but a title shot is the former champion's top priority.

Sean O'Malley wants Petr Yan title rematch if Yan beats Merab Dvalishvili Talbott (12-1) made quick work of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City. He then called out O’Malley in his post-fight interview, with the UFC commentators strongly supporting the matchup during the broadcast.

O’Malley says fighting Talbott next depends on the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili challenges Yan for the title in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. If Yan loses, O’Malle…

Glover Teixeira has shared more details about Raoni Barcelos’ concerning defeat to Raul Rosas Jr.

Barcelos took on Rosas Jr. in a five-round Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight bout headlining UFC Vegas 121 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Sept. 26. Barcelos, who was ahead on the judges’ scorecards going into the final round, suddenly went limp during a wrestling exchange and lost consciousness, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

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Teixeira says Barcelos underwent neurological testing after losing consciousness against Raul Rosas Jr. Rosas Jr. was declared the winner by technical knockout, while Barcelos was rushed to a Level 1 trauma center. Former UFC champ Teixeira was in Barcelos’ corner for the fight against Rosas Jr., and he recently shared some concerning details about Barcelos’ medical reports. Teixeira said Barcelos was tested for neurological issues because it wasn’t a conventional knockout.

“It was different because it wasn’t a …

Dana White’s Contender Series returns Tuesday for Week 9 of Season 10, with five more matchups scheduled for Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

The Week 9 lineup features fights across the bantamweight, welterweight, flyweight and light heavyweight divisions, with five undefeated fighters among the 10 vying for an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 Week 9 weigh-in results Salhahuddin Everett (170) vs. Ozzy Martin (170)Preston LaGrange (199.5) vs. Nell Ariano (205) Roque Conceicao Moreira Junior (124.5) vs. Alexander Chavez (125)Alivia Bierley (135.5) vs. Summer Onley (136)Ryuho Miyaguchi (136) vs. Mateus Soares (135)

Islam Makhachev is undertaking a new challenge outside combat sports.

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder has enrolled in a master’s degree program at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in Dubai, marking a new chapter outside the Octagon.

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UFC champion Islam Makhachev enrolls in master’s program in Dubai Makhachev defended his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330, extending his UFC winning streak to a promotional-record 17 straight victories. He’s now turned his attention to bolstering his educational credentials.

Plekhanov University announced his enrollment on its website, describing the move as another example of the champion continuing to challenge himself outside competition.

“Plekhanov University proudly welcomes UFC champion Islam Makhachev to its community as a master's student, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his journey defined by ambition, discipline, and an unwavering pur…

Anthony Wint wants to further boost his profile after picking up his second win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Wint (9-0) stayed unbeaten with a 23-second technical knockout of Lucas Armand at UFC 332 on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City. The former New York Jets linebacker then called for a bout against Sean Sharaf (5-2), who scored a stunning 12-second knockout of Gable Steveson at UFC 331.

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Anthony Wint calls for Sean Sharaf fight after UFC 332 knockout Wint called out Sharaf in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, targeting UFC 334 in New York City as the ideal setting for the clash. Speaking to reporters at the post-fight press conference, “Bow Down” acknowledged that the November card at Madison Square Garden may already be full but still wants to fight Sharaf in the Big Apple.

“I want to fight in New York and obviously, this is short notice, it’s hard to get that call, especially for the biggest card of all year,” Wint said.

Wint als…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Las Vegas on Dec. 12 for UFC 335, with three matchups already announced for the final numbered event of 2026.

In the main event, Charles Oliveira will defend the BMF title against Diego Lopes, who will make his UFC lightweight debut. The card also features former two-division champion Alex Pereira facing Sergei Pavlovich and a middleweight bout between Joe Pyfer and Bo Nickal.

UFC 335 opening odds favor Sergei Pavlovich, Charles Oliveira and Joe PyferAccording to BetOnline Sports & Casino, former lightweight champion Oliveira opened as a -172 favorite against Lopes (+146), a two-time featherweight title challenger. Oliveira won the BMF title with a dominant performance against Max Holloway, while Lopes defeated Steve Garcia in his last bout to rebound from his second loss to Alexander Volkanovski.

In the co-main event, Pavlovich opened as a -130 favorite in his heavyweight bout against Pereira, while “Poatan” was a +11…

Steven Asplund has set his sights on Johnny Walker, channeling a Hall of Famer in his callout of the Brazilian.

Walker (23-10, 1 NC) made his Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin at UFC 332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City. Walker knocked out Parkin with a knee in the opening round, earning a $100,000 performance bonus for the finish, which also put him on Asplund’s radar.

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Steven Asplund wants Johnny Walker in December after his UFC 332 knockout Asplund (8-2), who is 2-1 in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, called out Walker by mimicking Georges St. Pierre’s iconic callout of Matt Hughes from 2006. He wants to fight Walker at UFC 335 in December in Las Vegas.

“Johnny Walker, I’m not impressed by your performance,” Asplund said on his Instagram Stories. “And come on, man, meet me in December at T-Mobile, brother, you big bastard.”

St. Pierre entered the Octagon after Hughes stopped…