Martial Arts News

A familiar face will be in a new role on Saturday night at UFC 287.

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UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier will make his debut in studio as a desk analyst for the event alongside Michael Eaves and Din Thomas. Poirier’s duties will include breaking down the card on the post-fight show. MMAjunkie.com was first to report news of the UFC 287 broadcast assignments.

A former interim lightweight title holder and a two-time challenger for the undisputed 155-pound strap, Poirier is known as one of the Las Vegas-based promotion’s most reliable action fighters. He last appeared at UFC 281, where he submitted Michael Chandler in the third round of their bout this past November. His resume includes victories over the likes of Conor McGregor (twice), Dan Hooker, Max Holloway (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis and Jim Miller, among others. His next fight has yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, the UFC 287 broadcast team will include Jon Anik on pla…

On the same week Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya will have their championship rematch at UFC 287, the promotion will gather four middleweight legends for a special fan event backstage at Miami Dade Arena.

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Vitor Belfort, who is one of the middleweights scheduled to be in attendance, confirmed the news to Sherdog.com in a recent interview following his victory over Ronaldo Souza at Gamebred Boxing 4.

“I'm very happy and honored to receive that invitation from UFC and be together with Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen on Friday doing a [Q&A] with the fans,” Belfort said.

As for the fight with “Jacare,” Belfort came away impressed with his opponent’s toughness in six-round boxing match.

"I have already beaten up many opponents, but I can tell you for sure: There is no tougher BMF than Ronaldo, and that's why I suggested his name when Roy Jones Jr. refused to fight me,” Belfort said. “I knew I could. There cou…

Michael Chiesa is officially off this Saturday’s UFC 287 card.

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“The Ultimate Fighter 15” winner announced on "The MMA Hour" that he will not be facing a replacement opponent on Saturday at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida. Original opponent Jingliang Li recently had to withdraw from the event due to a spine injury.

“I’m not going to name names of the guys who were offered who turned it down, because it was a matter of visa issues and some guys not being able to make weight,” Chiesa said. “I’m not that type of guy to go out there and blast, like, ‘So-and-so turned it down.’ Look, I’m a tough out for anybody at 170 pounds, especially if you only have a couple of weeks to prepare.”

Meanwhile, Li elaborated on the injury that forced him out of the welterweight bout in an Instagram post.

“As many of you already know, I injured my spine during fight camp and was forced to withdraw from my fight against Michael Chiesa at UFC 287,” Li wrote. “The i…

??? ???? ?????! ??? ??????? ?????! ?

?? Mamed Khalidov vs. ?? Scott Askham 3?

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XTB #KSWColosseum2 | June 3@PGENarodowy | ?? @eBiletPL pic.twitter.com/sbuDZV0MBE — KSW (@KSW_MMA) April 3, 2023

A trilogy bout between Mamed Khalidov and Scott Askham will serve as the headliner for KSW 83 "Colosseum 2" on June 3.

The promotion announced the middleweight booking on Monday. KSW 83 takes place at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland, and will see Marian Ziolkowski square off against Salahdine Parnasse for lightweight gold in the co-main event. Additionally, popular Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski will meet Artur Szpilka in a featured heavyweight affair.

Askahm defeated Khalidov via unanimous decision in their first meeting at KSW 52 in December 2019, but Khalidov exacted revenge with a flying switch kick knockout 36 seconds into their rematch at KSW 55 in October 2020.

The now 42-year-old Khalidov has fou…

The stakes will be high for Jorge Masvidal when he faces Gilbert Burns in the UFC 287 co-main event.

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With a win, “Gamebred” could be right back in the welterweight title picture — especially given his history with current champion Leon Edwards. A loss, however, could send Masvidal down a completely different path.

“This could be the last one,” Masvidal said on the UFC 287 “Countdown” show. “If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits. But a win against Gilbert means that things are headed in the right direction. So if I roll the dice and I do everything right, I’m going for it all. For one title, or many titles.”

Masvidal will be making his first Octagon appearance since dropping a unanimous decision to Colby Covington at UFC 272 in March 2022. Since then, Masvidal’s most significant activity was attacking Covington outside a Miami restaurant shortly after their bout. Masvidal has pleaded not guilty to single counts of aggravated battery and…

Today, @Endeavor announced it has signed an agreement to form a $21+ billion global live sports and entertainment company made up of @UFC and @WWE. https://t.co/lPrkBmKJXm pic.twitter.com/ZBk95c5exU

— Endeavor (@Endeavor) April 3, 2023

The Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestlling Entertainment are about to be under the same ownership umbrella.

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Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC, has purchased WWE and will form a new publicly traded company with the two organizations. As a result of the agreement, Endeavor will own 51% of the new combat sports entertainment company, while WWE shareholders get a 49% stake. CNBC was first to report the sale.

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel will be the chief executive of the new company, while former WWE owner Vince McMahon will serve as executive chairman. Endeavor president Mark Shapiro takes over the same role at the new company; Dana White will remain UFC president and WWE…

Karl Williams will replace Chris Barnett and square off against Chase Sherman at UFC 287.

The promotion’s Brazilian site recently confirmed the new heavyweight pairing. UFC 287 takes place on Saturday at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida, and is headlined by a middleweight championship rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Barnett withdrew from the bout due to undisclosed reasons.

Williams extended his winning streak to five in his Octagon debut, as he outpointed Lukasz Brzeski at UFC Fight Night 221 on March 11. Prior to that triumph, the American Top Team Atlanta product earned a UFC deal with a decision win over Jimmy Lawson on Dana White’s Contender Series last September.

Sherman, meanwhile, is 1-5 in his last six UFC appearances. Most recently, “The Vanilla Gorilla” suffered a unanimous decision loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Fight Night 215 on Nov. 19.

While the Professional Fighters League kicked off in earnest in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Anthony Pettis was living out a combat sports dream.

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The former UFC and WEC champion, whose initial run with the PFL ended in the 2022 postseason, defeated boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. via majority decision in the Gamebred Boxing 4 main event at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. “Showtime” received two scorecards in his favor — 77-75 and 78-74 — while a third judge saw it 76-76. It was Pettis’ professional boxing debut.

“[I’m] most definitely happy with the performance,” Pettis said at the post-fight press conference. “Roy is a legend. A lot of experience. Even his coaches – he has so much experience out there. I gave up a big size advantage. I think I fought a great fight. My coaches gave me a great game plan and I executed that perfectly.”

With one boxing win under his belt, Pettis is excited to see what the future holds for him in the Sweet Science. One bout…

While Daniel James is turning heads in the Bellator heavyweight division with his considerable knockout power, he’ll likely have to wait if a title shot is his main desire.

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Promotion head Scott Coker confirmed at the Bellator 293 post-fight press conference that Linton Vassell is likely the No. 1 contender in the heavyweight division, which presumably sets up a rematch with reigning champ Ryan Bader at a future event. James, meanwhile, earned his fifth straight professional triumph in the Bellator 293 headliner with a third round stoppage of Marcelo Golm at the Pechanga Casino & Resort in Temecula, California, on Friday night.

“The title shot is most likely going to go to Linton Vassell, because he’s been on a tear or two,” Coker said. ” But I think [James] is right up there. We definitely will invite him to come fight [at Bellator 297] in Chicago.”

Vassell and Bader initially fought for the light heavyweight crown at Bellator 186. Bader …

Brendan Loughnane began defense of his Professional Fighters League featherweight championship in style.

Behind a steady diet of thudding leg kicks, Loughnane broke down former World Series of Fighting title holder Marlon Moraes en route to a second-round technical knockout victory in the PFL 1: 2023 Regular Season headliner at the Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The Englishman brought the show to a close at the 1:11 mark of Round 2, earning his fifth consecutive win in the process.

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Loughnane (26-4, 9-1 PFL) had a clear target from the outset of the bout, and he gradually compromised his opponent’s mobility as time progressed. Moraes (23-12-1, 0-2 PFL) was in serious danger late in the first round, when Loughane wobbled him with a right hand before drawing a grimace with yet another low kick. From that point on, it was simply a matter of survival for Moraes. After a conversation with a cageside physician, Moraes elected to co…

The 2023 Professional Fighters League Regular Season kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN + and the main card continues on ESPN. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round: Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the …

𝗛𝗘'𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗧! :facepunch::boom:@djames1981 storms out of the gates in round 3 and gets the KO!#Bellator293 | Watch LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/3RYahPnsTV

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 1, 2023

Both Daniel James and Cat Zingano took home disclosed six-figure paydays for their victories at Bellator 293 on Friday night.

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James pocketed $100,00 for a third-round technical knockout of Marcelo Golm ($50,000) in the evening’s main event at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. Zingano, meanwhile, also garnered $100,000 for a unanimous decision triumph against Leah McCourt ($40,000) in the Bellator 293 co-headliner. The California State Athletic Commission released salaries from the event to MMAjunkie.com over the weekend.

Other top earners included John Salter ($86,000), who announced his retirement after outpointing Aaron Jeffrey ($60,000) in a featured middleweight affair, and Adam Piccolotti, w…