Martial Arts News

After Alex Pereira lost to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313Alexandre Pantoja was left as the only Brazilian holding a UFC belt.

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This week, the reigning flyweight king was in Brazil for the launch of the new UFC Fight Pass documentary “Long Story Short,” which stars Pantoja and middleweight contender Caio Borralho. The launch event will be closed to the press on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

Before heading to São Paulo, however, Pantoja stopped by his hometown of Rio de Janeiro, where he spoke with Sherdog.com about his expectations for his return to the Octagon and also about the UFC return of his great friend and training partner, Kyoji Horigushi.

“I was really happy with Kyoji’s return. When they hired Kai Asakura, I even joked that they hired the wrong Japanese guy,” revealed the champion. “Jokes aside, I am a huge fan of Kyoji and very grateful because without him I would not have won the UFC belt. I will only fight him if it is for the belt, which…

👀🔥Cory Sandhagen breaks down how he would beat Merab Dvalishvili:

"Don’t run from him, and hit him when he comes in.

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Make your movement a lot smaller because it is all that footwork that really tires people out."

🎥 @lthomasnews ▫️ pic.twitter.com/7QDAWOl3fb

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 31, 2025

Cory Sandhagen believes he sees a path to victory for Umar Nurmagomedov against Merab Dvalishvili if they were to meet again.

Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title against Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision at UFC 311 this past January. Sandhagen believes Nurmagomedov did an excellent job of countering Dvalishvili’s wrestling. However, Sandhagen thinks the Dagestani contender would have done better to control his footwork instead of tiring himself out. Sandhagen believes standing one’s ground instead of backing up is the key to victory against a pressure fighter like Dvalishvili.

“If I was Umar …

Proud to announce BRAWLER—a new fight film coming to life 🎬🥊

Partnering with the great director Zack Snyder and UFC to tell a story of struggle, sacrifice, and the road to UFC glory

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With The Ring Magazine behind it, this is more than a movie, it’s a legacy in the making 🔥 pic.twitter.com/khLiF7lJ1V — TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) March 31, 2025

Zach Snyder’s latest project will be a UFC-themed movie.

According to a release, Snyder will co-write and direct the film “Brawler,” a film where a young fighter emerges from “the rough streets of Los Angeles” to get a shot at a UFC championship while “battling his inner demons as he fights for redemption.” Turki Alalshikh and UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari will serve as executive producers for the film.

"I've been a fan of Zack's work for years, his unique style from his iconic action sequences to his sweeping visuals and intensely emotional storytelli…

A lack of competitive drive and a new venture into fatherhood has prompted Jared Gooden to walk away from mixed martial arts.

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The seven-time Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran announced his retirement in a video on social media.

“I want to take this time to let everybody know my time has come. I’m walking away from the sport. Thank you to everybody who’s helped me along my journey,” Gooden said. “To be honest with you guys, I just don’t have the love or the passion I had for it anymore, like I did when I was younger. I keep everything pretty private, but me and this amazing woman brought a beautiful baby girl into this world, and my focus is on her now. I’m going to hang up my gloves for now, and I can’t wait to let you guys know what I’m going to do next in life.”

Thank you So Much to Everyone! 14 Amazing Years! Time to say GoodbyeAll Luv pic.twitter.com/QCoYxjjYku

— Jared Gooden (@JGNiteTrain23) March 31, 2025…

Hello Los Angeles 😎 pic.twitter.com/uC6PEAgEfw

— Global Fight League (@mmagfl) March 31, 2025

The Global Fight League has officially announced the lineups for its first two cards.

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The promotion, which utilizes a team-based format, will hold cards on May 24 and May 25 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. GFL 1 will be headlined by a trilogy clash between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao, while Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis will top the GFL 2 lineup one day later. As it currently stands, 31 bouts featuring athletes from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Miami — will be held over the two-day period.

Broadcast details and ticket information for the events are expected to be announced in April.

“We are thrilled to bring this innovative, team-based format, featuring both MMA legends and rising stars, to the Shrine Auditorium in May,” GFL founder Darren Owen said in a release. “Th…

Vince Morales recently opened up on his loss against Raul Rosas Jr.

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Morales and Rosas Jr. met in a bantamweight clash at UFC Mexico last weekend. Morales threatened some submissions but was mostly outwrestled by “El Nino Problema” en route to a unanimous decision loss.

Morales believes he could have done better and that the altitude had a part to play in that. While Morales thinks the altitude affected Rosas Jr. as well, he admits that the 20-year-old did enough to get the win. “Vandetta” also realises that he is now at a crossroads in his career in the UFC and remains unsure of his future. Morales plans to work on his “mental block” in close fights.

“So about last night, I’m upset… Didn’t do enough. I’m OK though,” Morales said on social media. “No real damage, nose opened up again. But day in a life. He did what he needed to do. I think we were both feeling the altitude a little bit or something. I just remember feeling heavy and slow… Cou…

Ilia Topuria responds to Charles Oliveira calling his comments 'disrespectful':

"I haven't dissed [Charles], I've told the truth. He has 10 losses...

He says [lightweight] is the toughest division there is. When he was fighting at 145, Cub Swanson beat him up." 😳

🎥… pic.twitter.com/5tTvpuWTIQ

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 30, 2025

Ilia Topuria denies being disrespectful toward Charles Oliveira.

Topuria recently vacated his featherweight title and announced a move to lightweight. While “La Leyenda” is rallying for an immediate lightweight title shot, champ Islam Makhachev isn’t willing to give him one. Perennial contender Oliveira also said that he will only consider a matchup against Topuria once the latter proves himself at lightweight.

Topuria took a dig at Oliveira’s resume in response, pointing out the Brazilian’s losses. “Do Bronx” found Topuria’s comments to be disrespectful towards the entire lightweight …

🏆 Patricio Pitbull believes that with a good performance against Yair Rodriguez he can fight for the Featherweight title next:

"He [Rodriguez] is good, he is very dynamic, but I am better. I put pressure on him, put him down and smash him."

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🇧🇷 🇬🇧 Patricio Pitbull spoke the… pic.twitter.com/VYb9gR9blp — Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 30, 2025

Patricio Freire believes he’ll be in the running for a title shot if he makes a statement in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

Freire will make his promotional debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The former Bellator MMA featherweight champ believes a good showing against Rodriguez puts him into immediate title contention. While “Pitbull” acknowledges Rodriguez’s skill set, he believes he’s better than the perennial UFC featherweight contender.

“[Fighting] against Yair Rodriguez puts me in a great plac…

Carlo, asked if he was aware that his opponent's brother is a UFC fighter?

"Not at all, but knowing that information, I'm thankful I'm not knocked out right now. So that's good to know, and I'll definitely do a little bit more research next time." https://t.co/OJSBhsoV15

— David Alter (@dalter) March 30, 2025

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UFC fighter Mike Malott has a brother who also shares his fighting acumen.

Surging Canadian welterweight Malott has been victorious in four of his first five Octagon appearances. Meanwhile, his brother Jeff plays left wing for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Jeff was engaged in a standout scrap with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo at the Crypto Arnena in Los Angeles during last Saturday’s game. The duo took the gloves off and traded heavy blows for which they were penalized. The Maple Leafs eventually beat the LA Kings 3-1.

Mike congratulated his brother on the entertaining scrap over social media.…

The Professional Fighters League middleweight tournament has lost one of its biggest names.

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The promotion announced on Sunday that Fabian Edwards has withdrawn from a first-round bout against Impa Kasanganay. Edwards will be replaced by Jordan Newman in the April 18 bout, which will serve as the main event for that card. A reason for Edwards’ exit was not given.

PFL World Tournament 3 takes place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and will feature first-round matchups at middleweight and lightweight. The main card airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, while prelims stream on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. ET/1: 30 p.m. PT.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Newman has compiled a 7-0 career mark while competing exclusively under the Bellator MMA banner. The 29-year-old Roufusport product last appeared at Bellator Champions Series San Diego, where he outpointed Imamshafi Aliev this past…

After fighting on home soil for the first time since 2017, Brandon Moreno wants to do it again in the near future.

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“Hunter [Campbell], who really knows what I deserve? I don’t know what I deserve,” Moreno said in the Octagon after taking a five-round verdict over Steve Erceg in the UFC Mexico headliner on Saturday night. “But I really believe I can move the needle and let’s go for the pay-per-view in Guadalajara. Let’s f—ing go. Let’s f—ing do it!”

Moreno hadn’t fought in his home country since August 2017, when he fell to Sergio Pettis in UFC Fight Night 114 headliner. He became the first Mexican-born champion in promotion history when he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight title bout at UFC 263, and he remains one of the biggest MMA stars in Mexico despite having lost the belt on two separate occasions.

“I have so many emotions, man. The first time I fought here was 2017 against Sergio Pettis. It was a main event and I lost,” Moren…

Kyoji Horiguchi is headed back to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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The Japanese standout announced during Rizin 50 on Sunday that he is vacating his Rizin Fighting Federation flyweight belt to sign with the Las Vegas-based promotion, where he previously fought from 2013 to 2016. A date for Horiguchi’s UFC return was not revealed.

“I’m going to the UFC,” Horiguchi said. “I’m going to become the first Japanese UFC champion.”

🚨 2 BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! 🚨

1️⃣ RIZIN Flyweight Champion, Kyoji Horiguchi, will vacate the title and go to the UFC.

(continued) pic.twitter.com/irhoyQZmmQ

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) March 30, 2025

Horiguchi went 7-1 during his UFC tenure, with his only loss coming in a flyweight title bout against then champion Demetrious Johnson in April 2015. The 34-year-old American Top Team representative has gone 14-1 with one no contest under the Rizin banner, earning notable victories over the …