Martial Arts News

Khamzat Chimaev is confident in his wrestling skills. | Getty/UFC

Khamzat Chimaev has put a bounty on himself. Chimaev recently signed with Real American Freestyle, which has been making waves in wrestling. Meanwhile, 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Kyle Snyder defended his RAF light heavyweight title against Rizabek Aitmukhan at RAF 8 on Saturday. Snyder subsequently expressed interest in a wrestling bout against Chimaev at RAF. 

Chimaev (15-0) has since seemingly taken a dig at Snyder’s callout. “Borz” is scheduled to defend his UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland (30-7) at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev says that while “poor” wrestlers are calling him out, he is facing difficulty finding sparring partners for his fight camp against Strickland. Apparently responding to Snyder, the undefeated Chechen-born has offered $200,000 to any Olympic champion who can survive against him in sparring.

Call for…

Vicente Luque believes he has the skills to compensate for his size disadvantage at middleweight. 

Luque made his middleweight debut against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 327 earlier this month. “The Silent Assassin” forced Gastelum to tap with an anaconda choke in the opening round. While Luque fought at welterweight for most of his career, he plans to stick around at middleweight going forward. 

Luque (24-12) admits that he is unlikely to be among the strongest guys at 185 pounds. However, Luque believes he has the technique to compensate for the difference in strength with other middleweights. Luque has also had the experience of training with elite middleweights at Kill Cliff FC like Reinier de Ridder, Gregory Rodrigues, and Impa Kasanganay. Having trained with middleweights while being a welterweight, Luque doesn’t think he will have issues sticking around at 185 pounds now.

Compensating with Skill and Technique “I think that I have enough skill and techniq…

Johnny Walker’s coach, Eric Nicksick, isn’t one to shy away from accountability. 

Walker took on fellow veteran Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 earlier this month. Contrary to expectations, the bout was largely marked with inactivity, leading to boos at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Reyes eventually earned a lackluster split-decision win over Walker, with very little to score in the whole fight. 

Advertisement

Nicksick takes responsibility for Walker’s underwhelming performance. Nicksick believes the onus falls on him to communicate his expectations to his fighter.

“Johnny did a great job,” the Xtreme Couture coach told MMAjunkie.com. “We had great preparation. And if there is disconnect between what I wanted for the game plan and his execution, that falls on me as the coach. I’ve got to get him in a position to be firing on all cylinders, seeing the reads that I’m seeing, the expectations that I want from him. And at the end of the day, that falls on us as st…

Paddy Pimblett won’t go against UFC CEO Dana White. 

While Dana White is an MMA promoter and Eddie Hearn is a boxing promoter, they have been longtime rivals. The rivalry has recently intensified with White’s entry into pugilism with Zuffa Boxing. Hearn has since been going back and forth with White about a potential fight. 

Advertisement

With White repeatedly underplaying the idea, Pimblett doesn’t think that fight will ever materialize. However, if it does, Pimblett is backing his boss White to starch Hearn, even though he admits that the Matchroom Boxing chairman has a reach advantage. Pimblett further notes that White and Hearn stand to earn more than the fighters promoted by them if they ever fight. However, “The Baddy” sees the entire saga as a “teenage girlish” spat which both parties will eventually get over.A Lucrative Matchup “It’s not gonna happen,” Pimblett told iFL TV. “Dana’s not gonna box Eddie. It’s a bit of a mad situation. Eddie’s got t…

Gable Steveson is 3-0 in MMA bouts. | Mexico Fight League

Gable Steveson’s first UFC appearance is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated debuts in recent memory.

It was recently announced that the Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA national champion will make his first Octagon foray at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. Steveson’s first UFC opponent — which has yet to be announced — remains a hot topic of discussion as thet fight approaches.

Advertisement

According to UFC CEO Dana White, the promotion will make sure to find an appropriate opponent for the highly-touted prospect.A Different Level "CM Punk fought here – we'll find somebody," White said on Saturday at the UFC Winnipeg post-fight press conference. "I don't know if we go after a top 15 guy. I say this to you guys all the time: The UFC jitters are real. I don't care how you've competed or where or what you've done. When you come here, it's a different level.

"Our m…

Carlos Ulberg isn’t the only fighter who could be on the shelf for an extended period following UFC 327.

Ulberg was one of six fighters who received an indefinite suspension following the April 11 event at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The Florida Athletic Commission recently released a full list of medical suspensions from UFC 327. The exact nature of each suspension was not revealed.

Advertisement

Ulberg recently underwent surgery after suffering a torn ACL early in his light heavyweight championship fight against Jiri Prochazka. Despite that injury, “Black Jag” was able to finish his opponent with a left hook and follow-up punches 3:45 into the opening stanza. Prochazka also received an indefinite suspension following the bout. Both Ulberg and Prochazka must received medical clearance before returning to active competition.

Four other fighters from UFC 327 also received indefinite terms: Azamat Murzakanov, Curtis Blaydes, Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker. Blayde…

While Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber via technical fall at Real American Freestyle 8 on Saturday, it wasn’t the result of the match that attracted attention over the weekend.

Instead, one moment stood out: When Tsarukyan attempted a takedown that resulted in him driving Faber all the way off stage and onto the concrete floor on Saturday in Philadelphia. Fortunately, neither man was hurt in what could have been a scary moment.

Advertisement

Arman Tsarukyan is a psychopath 🤣 https://t.co/Odg1fCYXrC pic.twitter.com/qbXagyyESp

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) April 19, 2026

"I don't control myself so much, so if something happens it not like I thinking about something that happened from my mind," Tsarukyan said after the match (via MMAFighting.com). "Thank god Urijah didn't get hurt and we went viral again. So we need that.”

Faber, meanwhile, provided an update via social media while poking fun at his opponent.

“He’s got all t…

Gilbert Burns called it a career on Saturday. | Getty/UFC

Retirement wasn’t initially part of the plan for Gilbert Burns heading into UFC Winnipeg.

However, those plans changed after the former welterweight title challenger suffered a third-round technical knockout loss to Mike Malott in Saturday’s main event at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Burns laid down his gloves in the Octagon at the conclusion of the bout. It was the 39-year-old Brazilian’s fifth consecutive loss within the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Advertisement

“I was crazy confident I was going to get the win,” Burns said on the Paramount+ post-fight show. “I was 1,000 percent confident that I was going to win. I knew if something goes wrong, I don’t want to do this no more. Not because of anyone. Because I’m not showing my 100 percent. Maybe the age or whatever but I feel a little stuck. The fire is still there but I’m still a little stuck. I cannot let go.

“If I…

John Yannis felt he had a point to prove at UFC Winnipeg. 

Yannis (10-4) opened the action against Canada’s Jamie Siraj (14-4) in a bantamweight clash at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Coming off a loss in his UFC debut, Yannis felt he had a point to prove in his sophomore outing in enemy territory. Yannis knocked out Siraj in front of the latter’s home crowd in the very first round.

Advertisement

“Came from a loss, so I felt I had something to prove coming into enemy territory,” Yannis told the UFC. “Feels good, couldn’t have asked for a better night.”

Yannis suffered a first-round submission loss against Austin Bashi in his short-notice UFC debut at featherweight last year. However, “The Juice” believes he is one of the best bantamweights with a full camp. Winning in enemy territory is also nothing new to Yannis. Yannis claims he was ruining his opponents’ homecomings on the regional scene, which translated to the bigge…

Robert Valentin felt he just couldn’t lose at UFC Winnipeg. 

Valentin (11-6) took on Canadian debutant Julien Leblanc (10-3) in a middleweight bout at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Valentin looked for his first UFC win, having lost all three of his previous fights in the promotion. However, Valentin didn’t let the pressure get to him this time, unlike in his previous fights. “Robzilla” also had the added motivation to win for his late mother, who passed away last November. The Swiss fighter scored a first-round submission win over Leblanc to make his mother proud.

Advertisement

“I had all of this pressure and it led me to not enjoying the moment,” he told the UFC. “I went back to having fun with my everyday workouts and being around people. And another big thing that motivated me is the passing of my mom. I just know that she’s watching and she’s proud of me not matter what. I couldn’t lose today… I know momma’s up there w…

Jasmine Jasudavicius believes her unsatisfactory win at UFC Winnipeg is a blessing in disguise. 

Jasudavicius (15-4) took on fellow veteran Karine Silva (19-7) in a flyweight clash in front of her home crowd at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Jasudavicius picked up a unanimous decision win in a bout mostly marked by inactivity.  Jasudavicius isn’t impressed with her performance at UFC Winnipeg. However, having never lost two fights in a row in her entire career, the Canadian is glad to bounce back from a loss in her last outing.

Advertisement

More to Prove “Not too impressed with my performance,” she told the UFC. “I know it was kind of boring. But back in the win column, still climbing my way to the top. I know that I have more to prove and better to show. But we’re back, baby.”

Jasudavicius was under a ton of pressure to return to the win column at UFC Winnipeg. The 37-year-old feels that the underwhelming win is a b…

Paulo Costa isn’t above kicking a man when he is down, albeit in good humor. 

Costa (16-4) took on Azamat Murzakanov (16-1) in a light heavyweight clash at UFC 327 earlier this month. Costa was a sizable underdog going into the fight against the previously undefeated Russian finisher. However, “Borrachinha” showed why he is perennially a top contender as he never let Murzakanov get his game going. Costa pieced Murzakanov apart before finishing him with a head kick and a few follow-up shots in the third round. 

Advertisement

Costa recently took a dig at Murzakanov over his comments in the lead up to their fight.

“April 11 Paulo Costa is dead,” Murzakanov wrote on X ahead of UFC 327. “I will get justice for all of Brazil.”

Nothing But Crickets However, there had been radio silence from Murzakanov on social media since Costa handed him his first professional loss. Costa couldn’t help taking a dig at Murzakanov’s absence from social media.

“Hi bro, how…