Martial Arts News

After one last failed run at Ultimate Fighting Championship gold, T.J. Dillashaw has elected to hang up the four-ounce gloves.

Advertisement

Dillashaw recently informed the UFC of his retirement, and the Twitter account UFC Roster Watch confirmed his removal from the promotion’s roster on Monday. Micheal Wonsover was first to report the news via Twitter. Dillashaw’s agent, Tiki Ghosn, later cofirmed the fighter’s retirement to ESPN.

Dillashaw is coming off a loss to Aljamain Sterling in a bantamweight title bout at UFC 280 on Oct. 22. After falling to Sterling via second-round technical knockout, Dillashaw revealed that he entered the bout with a shoulder injury. Rather than pull out of the contest, the Californian essentially fought Sterling with one arm because he didn’t want to wait on a title shot. Dillashaw underwent shoulder surgery on Nov. 10 and could require more procedures, according to ESPN.

“Yeah it popped out right away. I’ve got to apolog…

Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has pulled out of UFC 282 due to an undisclosed injury.

Advertisement

Lawler was slated to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on Saturday’s main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The promotion is seeking a replacement opponent for Ponzinibbio. ESPN was first to report the news. UFC 282 is headlined by a light heavyweight title tilt between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev.

The 40-year-old Lawler is just 1-5 in his last six promotional appearances, with his lone victory coming against Nick Diaz in September 2021. Most recently, “Ruthless” suffered a second-round technical knockout loss to Bryan Barberena at UFC 276 on July 2.

Ponzinibbio, meanwhile, has lost three of his last four bouts and is coming off a split-decision defeat to Michel Pereira at UFC Fight Night 206 in his lone appearance of 2022.

A flyweight (135-pound) championship trilogy bout pitting Demetrious Johnson against Adriano Moraes will serve as the headliner for One Championship’s United States debut.

Advertisement

The Singapore-based promotion announced on Monday that Johnson vs. Moraes 3 will take place on May 5 at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo., as the featured bout on the One on Prime Video 10 card. The card will air in primetime on Prime Video in the United States.

“This is a monumental day in the history of One Championship as we announce our U.S. on-ground debut in Colorado on Friday, May 5,” One CEO Chatri Sityodtong said in a release. “We are very grateful for the support of the state athletic commission and look forward to putting on an unforgettable show for our passionate fanbase in the U.S. and watching around the world.”

Johnson and Moraes initially squared off at One on TNT 1 in April 2021, when Moraes became the first person to finish “Mighty Mouse” with a second-…

Scott Holtzman is calling it a career at 39 years old.

Advertisement

The Knoxville, Tenn., native left his gloves in the Octagon following a split-decision loss to Clay Guida at UFC on ESPN 42, signaling the end of a professional MMA tenure that began in 2012. “Hot Sauce” went 7-6 in UFC competition after making his promotional debut in 2015 but ended his career with successive losses to Guida, Mateusz Gamrot and Beneil Dariush.

“It’s bittersweet, man,” Holtzman said at a post-fight press conference (via MMAFighting.com). “I was coming off two bad losses in a row to what turns out to be really good guys. All my losses, killers. I got into the UFC when I was 30 years old. I was just a guy from Tennessee, an athlete. I started being pretty good at fighting and just rode the wave. All of a sudden I’m up here in the UFC with these world champions and jiu-jitsu black belts and Division I wrestlers. I’m just a kid from Tennessee. It’s been a hell of a ride. I’ve had…

Nate Diaz is a big deal in his hometown.

Advertisement

The longtime UFC star was presented a key to the city for Stockton, Calif., by Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln at a Stockton Kings game — the G-League affiliate of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings —on Sunday.

“We want to thank you for the grit and determination that you display every time you step into a fight,” Lincoln said during the ceremony. “And I want you to know that that grit and determination is built into the very fabric of the city that you represent.”

The 37-year-old Diaz has frequently referenced Stockon during his rise to stardom in the UFC. Diaz completed his contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion with a submission of Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September and officially became a free agent last week.

“I want say it’s an honor, thank you very much to Stockton, California, for rocking with me,” Diaz said. “I’ve been rocking with Stockton this whole time ... I’m going to be forever rocking St…

Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland had a sort of gentlemen’s agreement heading into their headlining bout at UFC on ESPN 42.

Advertisement

It resulted in one of the year’s most entertaining bouts, as Thompson and Holland engaged in a standup-friendly affair that resulted in a technical knockout victory for “Wonderboy” after four rounds. While Holland landed a pair of takedowns in the contest, on both occasions he elected to let his opponent up rather than rack up top control time. That was a theme for the entire fight.

“It was kind of one of those unwritten rules that we had going into this fight,” Thompson said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I know later on in rounds he was shooting, I know he had a busted hand, but I think I fell down in the first round and he let me back up. He told me in the first round, he’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not taking you down.’ I’m like, ‘All right, man. Sounds good to me.’”

Early on, that seemed to favor Holland, who s…

Kevin Holland wasn’t at 100 percent for the majority of his UFC on ESPN 42 headlining clash against Stephen Thompson.

Advertisement

Holland’s management team, KO Reps, revealed that the fighter broke his hand in the first round of the bout. Not surprisingly, that was his most effective period, as he staggered “Wonderboy” with a right hand early. As time wore on, however, Holland didn’t throw the right nearly as much, and Thompson took control en route to a fourth-round technical knockout victory.

. @Trailblaze2top broke his right hand landing a cross in the first round.Hand is very swollen. Being transported to the hospital. Congrats to @WonderboyMMA and team. #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/axGM1tzRpp

— KOreps (@ko_reps) December 4, 2022 “[Kevin Holland] broke his right hand landing a cross in the first round,” the statement read. “Hand is very swollen. Being transported to the hospital. Congrats to [Stephen Thompson] and team.”

A time…

Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland put on a show in the UFC on ESPN 42 headliner.

The welterweight combatants were rewarded for their efforts, as they received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece on Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. In a bout that was contested almost entirely on the feet, “Wonderboy” pulled away thanks to a versatile striking arsenal, ultimately forcing Holland’s corner to stop the fight after four entertaining rounds.

Elsewhere, surging heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award thanks to a quick finish of Tai Tuivasa in a featured bout. Pavlovich overwhelmed his Australian adversary with powerful punches to secure his fifth consecutive KO/TKO victory just 54 seconds into Round 1.

Finally, a creative finish earned Roman Dolidze the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check. The 34-year-old Georgian used a calf slicer to immobilize opponent Jack Hermanss…

Stephen Thompson’s zest and zeal for the martial arts came through in one of the best performances of his career.

“Wonderboy” weathered brushes with adversity, kept his head above water and maintained his position as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s premier welterweights, as he forced a corner stoppage against Kevin Holland in their UFC on ESPN 42 headliner on Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Holland (23-9, 10-6 UFC) and his handlers called it a night in between the fourth and fifth rounds.

Advertisement

In a clear contender for “Fight of the Year,” Holland made the first significant move when he staggered the South Carolinian with an overhand right in the first round and followed up with knee strikes and standing elbows. Thompson (17-6-1, 12-6-1 UFC) recovered, seized the reins in Round 2 and never looked back. He managed distance beautifully, darted in to range with punches and cut loose with a dazzling array of leg attacks, from h…

Stephen Thompson’s zest and zeal for the martial arts came through in one of the best performances of his career.

“Wonderboy” weathered brushes with adversity, kept his head above water and maintained his position as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s premier welterweights, as he forced a corner stoppage against Kevin Holland in their UFC on ESPN 42 headliner on Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Holland (23-9, 10-6 UFC) and his handlers called it a night in between the fourth and fifth rounds.

Advertisement

In a clear contender for “Fight of the Year,” Holland made the first significant move when he staggered the South Carolinian with an overhand right in the first round and followed up with knee strikes and standing elbows. Thompson (17-6-1, 12-6-1 UFC) recovered, seized the reins in Round 2 and never looked back. He managed distance beautifully, darted in to range with punches and cut loose with a dazzling array of leg attacks, from h…

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 42 “Thompson vs. Holland” coverage will begin Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jauregui (-305), Nunes (+255)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Advertisement

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marshall (-155), Rojo (+135)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round…

Angela Hill has rarely looked better under Ultimate Fighting Championship employ.

Non-stop output from distance and a destructive clinch spurred “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20 alum to a unanimous decision over fellow former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Emily Ducote in the featured UFC on ESPN 42 prelim on Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Hill (15-12, 10-12 UFC) drew 30-27 nods from all three judges.

Advertisement

Ducote (12-7, 1-1 UFC) struggled and ultimately failed to make necessary adjustments. Hill piled up points with jabs, leg kicks and combination punching, all while crowding her counterpart with pressure from the center of the cage. She consolidated those efforts with stellar attacks from close-range, burying knees into Ducote’s midsection and firing elbows upstairs.

The setback was Ducote’s first since Nov. 1, 2019.

Guida Stymies Retiring Holtzman Former Strikeforce champion Clay Guida rebounded from his April 23…