Martial Arts News

Patricio "Pitbull" Freire has called for a fight against Lerone Murphy as both look to move closer to a title shot.

After Alexander Volkanovski finished Movsar Evloev to defend the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at UFC 333, Murphy weighed in on the 145-pound title picture. The Englishman said he believes the top contenders each need another win to secure a title shot, drawing a callout from Freire.

Patricio Freire argues Lerone Murphy is his best available opponent after Alexander Volkanovski's UFC 333 win Murphy (17-1-1) says he’s been told that he needs a win over a top-five featherweight to fight for the title and believes the same should apply to other leading contenders.

“Who’s next for the featherweight title? I still think all contenders need 1 more fight,” Murphy wrote on X. “I was told I need to beat someone in the Top 5 before I do, that should apply to all.”

Freire (38-9) then made his case for a bout against Murphy, saying several…

Arman Tsarukyan believes the Ultimate Fighting Championship will have to offer Justin Gaethje a significant financial incentive to fight him.

Tsarukyan strengthened his claim to a lightweight title shot with a first-round knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. However, Gaethje has discussed the possibility of retirement since winning the title at UFC Freedom 250 in June.

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Arman Tsarukyan accuses Justin Gaethje of avoiding a UFC lightweight title fight and expects November update Tsarukyan (24-3) discussed the lightweight title picture and Gaethje (28-5) during an interview with Helen Yee ahead of his Real American Freestyle 14 appearance against Dillon Danis. He believes the UFC may have to offer Gaethje a substantial payday to convince him to defend the 155-pound title.

“Someone is trying to duck me,” Tsarukyan said. “It’s Justin Gaethje. Now he’s talking about retirement. Either UFC is going to pay him so much money that he’s g…

King Green was involved in a car accident Sunday night while livestreaming from his custom Range Rover. The broadcast captured the collision and his immediate reaction.

The 40-year-old Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran said his vehicle was totaled after colliding with a silver Jeep Compass at an intersection. Green expressed concern for those involved before questioning the other driver’s actions on his livestream.

King Green says his custom Range Rover was totaled after collision with Jeep Compass Green described the damaged Range Rover as his “baby” and said it was totaled in the crash. He also blamed the other driver, saying she had turned left in front of him.

“We just got in a car accident,” Green said during the livestream after the collision. “Hopefully the people are OK. Why would she do that? Bro, I think she knows she f*cked up.”

The footage appears to show the vehicles colliding at an intersection. The circumstances of the crash and who was at fau…

Bafode Gassama will make his Professional Fighters League debut against Coby Bradford in a light heavyweight matchup at PFL Lyon on Dec. 19.

The promotion announced the 205-pound clash on social media Saturday. The event will take place at LDLC Arena near Lyon, France, and will be headlined by Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitchell McKee for the inaugural PFL bantamweight championship.

Bafode Gassama faces Coby Bradford in light heavyweight matchup at PFL Lyon on Dec. 19 Gassama (4-0) captured the Hexagone MMA light heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Lajos Papp in April. The 32-year-old Frenchman has finished three of his four professional opponents.

Bradford (6-4), meanwhile, won his PFL debut by submitting Chad Yard with a rear-naked choke when the promotion visited Washington, D.C., on July 25.

𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙑𝙔𝙒𝙀𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙃 𝘼𝘿𝘿𝙀𝘿 𝙏𝙊 𝙋𝙁𝙇 𝙇𝙔𝙊𝙉 Former Hexagone Light Heavyweight Champion Bafode Gassama makes his PFL debut against…

Arman Tsarukyan has set his sights on a wrestling matchup against Georges St. Pierre after his dominant victory over Dillon Danis at Real American Freestyle 14.

Tsarukyan defeated Danis by 10-0 technical fall in the main event of RAF 14 on Oct. 23 in Las Vegas. The Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight subsequently expressed interest in facing the retired MMA legend as he looks to compete against more recognizable names under the RAF banner.

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Arman Tsarukyan targets Georges St-Pierre after 10-0 wrestling win over Dillon Danis at RAF 14 After his victory, Tsarukyan said he wants to wrestle established MMA stars, identifying St. Pierre as a potential opponent.

“We’ve got a lot of names here, but I’m focusing on MMA fighters with the big names,” Tsarukyan said. “I don’t want to just wrestle with no names; I want to collect all big names, all the best fighters, so a lot of UFC fighters, good fighters signed. So, we’ll see, maybe GSP… They can bring…

Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan retained their Ultimate Fighting Championship titles at UFC 333.

Yan is favored in potential rematches against Yadong Song and Sean O'Malley, while betting lines suggest a potential featherweight title defense for Volkanovski would be closely contested.

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BetOnline opens Petr Yan as a -250 favorite against Sean O'Malley and Song Yadong, with Alexander Volkanovski +160 against Justin Gaethje BetOnline Sports has released odds for possible future matchups involving both champions. Volkanovski is an underdog against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, while a potential featherweight title defense against Jean Silva is priced nearly even. None of these matchups has been announced.

Published opening odds list Volkanovski at -115 against Silva (-105), while Gaethje is a -180 favorite against the two-time featherweight champion (+160).

At bantamweight, Yan is favored in potential rematches against Song and O’Malley…

Petr Yan says he discussed politics with Merab Dvalishvili shortly after their five-round title fight.

Yan retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight championship in their trilogy bout at UFC 333 on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The champion said they exchanged words of respect after their Fight of the Night-winning encounter before briefly discussing political issues.

Petr Yan discusses his postfight exchange with Merab Dvalishvili after their UFC 333 trilogy bout Dvalishvili took an early lead before Yan rallied over the final three rounds to win a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 48-47 for the champion.

Before the fight, Yan said their contrasting personalities would prevent them from becoming friends. Nevertheless, the two shook hands afterward. Yan declined to elaborate on their political discussion, though he expects microphones near the Octagon captured the exchange and that the audio will eventually become public. Read more

Farid Basharat appreciates Dana White clarifying his comments about the bantamweight’s departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Basharat (16-0) left the UFC after his contract expired without renewal, despite going unbeaten in the promotion. When initially asked about the departure, White suggested there could have been difficulties dealing with UFC matchmakers. Basharat denied ever turning down a fight and warned that such suggestions could damage his reputation.

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Dana White says his UFC departure comments were not aimed at undefeated Farid Basharat White subsequently said his remarks were not directed specifically at Basharat, explaining that he had been discussing general reasons fighters might leave the promotion. The UFC CEO said he had no personal or professional issues with Basharat and had not intended to harm his career.

White expressed confidence that Basharat would sign elsewhere given his unbeaten record. He also left open the …

Islam Makhachev believes an interim title fight will clarify the next challenger for his welterweight championship.

Makhachev had been expected to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 in January 2027. Instead, Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim belt. The reigning champion supports having the two contenders meet before challenging him.

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Islam Makhachev backs Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales to determine his next welterweight challenger Makhachev (29-1) pointed to Prates’ defeat against Ian Garry, whom he beat in August.

The Russian also questioned whether Morales (19-0), who has not competed since November 2025, should receive a title shot without another fight. He believes a matchup between Morales and Prates (24-7) will establish the next challenger.

“Prates and Morales will fight to determine who is a true worthy contender,” Makhachev told Pound4Padel. “And I will fight [the winner].…

The two title fights announced for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first numbered event of 2027 have closely matched betting lines.

BetOnline Sports has released odds for both championship bouts at UFC 336. Joshua Van will defend his flyweight title against Manel Kape in the main event, while Carlos Prates and Michael Morales will contest the interim welterweight championship in the co-headliner.

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BetOnline lists Joshua Van at -115 against Manel Kape, with Carlos Prates at -130 against Michael Morales UFC 336 takes place Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Prates had been expected to challenge welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, but UFC CEO Dana White said Makhachev now wants to return after Ramadan. Prates will instead face the unbeaten Morales for interim gold.

The supplied betting lines list Kape at -101 and Van at -115. Prates is a -130 favorite against Morales, who is listed at +111.

Those prices make Van a slight favor…

Dana White says Dillon Danis headlining other combat sports events makes no difference to him.

Danis faced Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of Real American Freestyle 14 in Las Vegas on Oct. 23. Tsarukyan dominated the wrestling match, winning by technical fall, 10-0. Danis, who is banned from attending Ultimate Fighting Championship events, was involved in altercations before and after the match.

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Dana White cites Dillon Danis' history of altercations after his RAF 14 loss to Arman Tsarukyan Asked about Danis receiving headlining opportunities after UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, White cited his history of altercations when explaining the ban.

“What difference would it make to me?” White said at the UFC 333 postfight news conference. “It doesn't make any difference to me. What happens is, in my experience, every time Dillon Danis shows up somewhere, there's a fight that breaks out. So, after the last one, it's just—we don't need that aggravation here.” Read more

Dana White says Islam Makhachev was initially expected to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in January but now wants to return after Ramadan next year.

Speaking to reporters after UFC 333 on Saturday, the UFC CEO explained the decision to book Carlos Prates against Michael Morales for an interim title and criticized Makhachev’s activity.

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Dana White says Islam Makhachev's post-Ramadan return prompted Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales at UFC 336 Prates and Morales will meet at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The winner is expected to face Makhachev in a title unification bout, potentially next summer.

White said Makhachev’s change of plans prompted the promotion to introduce an interim championship.

“On average, Islam fights like once a year, and he was slated for January and then said, ‘I don't want to fight until after Ramadan,’” White said. “You just can't hold up divisions like this. You…