Martial Arts News

A second U.S.-based combat sports commission has stopped Melvin Guillard from competing this year.

In January, the Florida State Athletic Commission denied Guillard’s license to compete at BKFC: Knucklemania 2 for February. The ruling was based at least in part on a review of his past fights and performances. Dating back eight years, Guillard has competed in MMA and bare-knuckle boxing on 16 occasions, and he has only won one match. On the other side, he has been finished in eight of those defeats.

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On Friday, the Colorado Combative Sports Commission determined that Guillard would not be allowed to compete in its borders on Oct. 15. “The Young Assassin,” now at the age of 39, was booked against Evgeny Kurdanov at BKFC 31. He will no longer be competing on this fight card, due to commission intervention. The news was first reported by MyMMANews, and it has since been confirmed by other outlets. According to a brief follow-up statement issued to MMA F…

Bobby Green Accepts Sanction for Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy https://t.co/InKZkG7wPJ

— USADA (@usantidoping) October 7, 2022

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Bobby Green will be forced to sit out for another month before he can compete again.

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The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday that Green has been issued a suspension after his positive test for an anabolic steroid after an out-of-competition test. He was flagged in May 2022, which is when the six-month suspension will be applied. Green will be eligible to return to competition starting Nov. 16. While Green could have received a lengthier sentence, per the agency, his cooperation and provided documentation reduced it.

Green contested that he purchased a supplement of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – a substance that fighters like Lyoto Machida have encountered in past UFC instances – at a local Walmart, according to TSN’s report of a pas…

Soon to be 41 years of age, former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Frankie Edgar is ready for one last ride.

Per the UFC’s broadcast partner of ESPN on Thursday, Edgar (24-10-1) has his final fight with the promotion booked. The New Jersey native intends on it being his retirement bout, and it will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov 12 at UFC 281. In the bantamweight division, he will square off against the surging Chris Gutierrez (18-4-2), and “The Answer” has since confirmed the pairing on social media.

The ex-lightweight king has struggled as of late, dropping four of his last five dating back to 2019 across both featherweight and bantamweight. When losing to Max Holloway for the title, and then succumbing to strikes in the first round to Chan Sung Jung a few months later in 2019, Edgar shifted gears to 135 pounds. His initial trip down went his way, after five thrilling rounds with Pedro Munhoz, as he picked up the split call. Two knoc…

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The following action-filled bouts have been added to the #Bellator288 main card:

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- 265lb5⃣@FortuneOverFam (12-2) vs. @djames1981 (13-6-1)- 145lb7⃣ @danielweichel (42-13) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (9-0)- 170lb🔟 @RomanFaraldo (8-0) vs. @LevanChokheli2 (10-2) — Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) October 6, 2022 Bellator MMA is stuffing its lineup with several ranked contenders and red-hot prospects into the Chicago oven the week before Thanksgiving.

Prior to Thursday, the only two fights official for Bellator 288 in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena were the championship fights at 205 and 155 pounds. Per a press release sent out by the organization on Thursday, the billing grew to 13 fights, which include five on the main card, and all five of those include at least one ranked competitor. Additionally, six competitors with unbeaten records of 5-0 will be joining the fray.

The highest-billed bout added in…

＼湘南美容クリニック presents／🔥🔥🔥#RIZIN39🔥🔥🔥

📅10.23(日)🏟マリンメッセ福岡📝https://t.co/onGIikBAHR

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🎟チケット絶賛発売中！！

📡PPVプラットフォーム⚡️・RIZIN STREAM PASS・ABEMA・U-NEXT・RIZIN LIVE・Exciting RIZIN・STREAMING＋・dTV・SPOOX・Paravi・スカパー！ pic.twitter.com/lmjk8jeSml

— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) October 5, 2022 Several competitors from the July 31 Rizin Fighting Federation showcase are ready to fight again less than three months later.

Rizin held a press conference on Wednesday to announce its next numbered event, Rizin 39, that will be staged at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan, on Oct. 23. The main event had been rumored to be a featherweight championship battle between Juntaro Ushiku (20-6) and Kleber Koike Erbst (30-5-1), and it was confirmed at this presser. Additionally, the entire lineup was announced, coupled with the news that Rizin will return internationally to Fite.tv as its pa…

Chalk up one more retired Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter switching over to the sweet science.

Per a press release from Showtime and Most Valuable Promotions on Thursday, Uriah Hall (17-11 MMA, 0-0 Box) will be toeing the line against Le'Veon Bell (0-0 Box) in a 195-pound cruiserweight battle on Oct. 29. The former UFC contender and star NFL running back will throw down across four rounds in a professional boxing match. The two will be placed on the pay-per-view portion of the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva-helmed fight card. Hall will be making his pro boxing debut, as will Bell, but Bell recently clocked fellow football player Adrian Peterson in an exhibition boxing contest in California.

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Hall did not share many words about this upcoming bout, saying “Le’Veon Bell, I hope you bring your best. I know I will.” The Fortis MMA product said farewell to the sport of MMA following a decision loss to Andre Muniz, one that put him on a losing streak of …

The last Ultimate Fighting Championship event of 2022 is growing fast.

Per Instagram account Red Fury MMA on Thursday morning, Said Nurmagomedov (16-2) will square off with Saidyokub Kakhramonov (10-2) at bantamweight on UFC Fight Night 216. This event will serve as the final UFC card of 2022, and it will post up inside of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The 135-pound scrap between these rising fighters has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

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Nurmagomedov, who is unrelated to UFC names Khabib Nurmagomedov or his cousins Umar Nurmagomedov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, debuted in the UFC in 2018. The Dagestan native claimed a split decision against Justin Scoggins, and went on to clock Ricardo Ramos with a spinning back kick the following year. After losing to Raoni Barcelos in 2019 by decision, Nurmagomedov has not looked back, rattling off three straight wins. In 2020, the 30-year-old wrecked Mark Striegl in 51 seconds, and a pair of 2022 victories ov…

If this is to be the last hoorah for Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships legend “Shogun” Mauricio Rua, he will go out guns blazing against a tough foe.

Late Wednesday night, MMA Mania first broke the news of Rua’s next opponent. It will not be Lyoto Machida, as had been previously discussed by Machida’s manager. Instead, Rua (27-13-1) will battle it out with 26-year-old Ukrainian Ihor Potieria (18-3) at light heavyweight at UFC 283. The 205ers will dance on Jan. 21 inside Rio de Janeiro's Jeunesse Arena. The pairing has since been confirmed by other outlets.

While he has lost his last two – a close decision in a rematch with Ovince St. Preux in May and a submission to strikes against Paul Craig in late 2020 – Rua had previously put together a solid run with five wins opposite one defeat and a draw. The former Pride middleweight champion and UFC light heavyweight king, Rua has faced a veritable who’s who of names across the sport for over …

The final Ultimate Fighting Championship event on ESPN this year looks to have quite a memorable main attraction.

Fight fans, have we got a gift for you 🎁@WonderboyMMA takes on @Trailblaze2top in your #UFCOrlando main event!

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[ @AmwayCenter | Dec 3 | Tickets On-Sale Oct 14 🎟 | https://t.co/6O0EJt33mC ] pic.twitter.com/N7hI2QdGHp — UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2022 On Wednesday, the UFC announced on social media the main event of its Dec. 3 production. The fight card, set as UFC on ESPN 42, will go down inside of the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The headliner will come at 170 pounds between talented strikers Stephen Thompson (16-6-1) and Kevin Holland (23-8, 1 NC), with the latter ending his brief retirement for this five-round affair. Additionally, a 115-pound scrap between Yazmin Jauregui and Istela Nunes has been reported by MMAFighting on Wednesday, and confirmed by its participants shortly after its announcement.

Thompson wil…

Two Stars. Two Legends. Two Icons.

🇵🇱 𝗞𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗩 🆚 𝗣𝗨𝗗𝗭𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗞𝗜 🇵🇱

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XTB KSW 77 | December 17 | #Gliwice pic.twitter.com/hCaM2OKAOF — KSW (@KSW_MMA) October 5, 2022

Two of the most important fighters in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki history will collide in December.

On Wednesday, KSW announced that Mariusz Pudzianowski and Mamed Khalidov would clash in the KSW 77 headliner. The much-anticipated card will go down in Gliwice, Poland, on Dec. 17. Five-time world’s strongest man, Pudzianowski (17-7 1NC, 17-6 1NC KSW) is currently riding a five-bout winning streak. In his latest assignment, “Pudzian” rendered former KSW middleweight titleholder Michal Materla unconscious at the 1:47 mark of Round 1 at KSW 70.

A former two-division champion, Khalidov (35-8-2, 19-4-2 KSW) is looking to bounce back following a nasty defeat at the hands of Roberto Soldic in December. Prior, Khalidov defeated Scott Askham 36 seconds into t…

Bellator MMA’s heavyweight division has a new addition.

On Wednesday, the California-based promotion announced the signing of Russian wrestling machine Ali Isaev. The 38-year-old features an eye-catching 9-0 record composed of four knockouts and five decisions. Notably, the Russian competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as a freestyle wrestler. After transitioning to mixed martial arts, Isaev had a successful run in the Professional Fighters League that ended with him capturing the heavyweight championship following a stoppage over Jared Rosholt on Dec. 31, 2019.

“I am very pleased to have a fighter the caliber of Ali Isaev join our heavyweight division, a weight class filled with world class fighters and elite prospects alike. Isaev’s elite wrestling pedigree includes an appearance in the 2008 Olympics, and he has achieved great success in MMA as evidenced by championship run at his prior promotion,” said Bellator MMA president Scott Coker in a press release…

🚨 OFFICIAL: @TheAspenLadd is PFL bound! pic.twitter.com/8WzWx3fSD5

— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 4, 2022

Aspen Ladd will open a new chapter in her mixed martial arts career.

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On Tuesday morning, the Professional Fighters League announced that it had signed Ladd to its roster. Ladd, an Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran, will take part in the 2023 PFL Regular Season. She will make her promotional debut with a 9-3 record, including seven finishes. The PFL didn’t disclose in which weight division Ladd will compete in.

“The Professional Fighters League continues to grow its global talent roster by seeking the best talent from around the globe,” said President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo, in a press release. “We are excited to welcome Aspen to the PFL’s women's division. Aspen will continue the PFL mission of bringing women's MMA to the forefront of our sport.”

Ladd ended her stint in the UFC after several struggl…