Martial Arts News

Mega prospect Bo Nickal will make his second appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series against Donovan Beard on Sept. 27.

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The bout was announced during the UFC on ESPN 41 broadcast on Saturday night. Nickal vs. Beard will take place on the season finale of the Contender Series at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A three-time NCAA national champion wrestler at Penn State University, Nickal impressed with a 62-second submission of Fury FC veteran Zachary Borrego on Aug. 9. While most observers believed that was enough to earn the middleweight a contract, UFC president Dana White elected to have Nickal get more experience on the Contender Series.

“I don’t know what else he could have done to look any better. He looked incredible. The only reason I didn’t sign him tonight is because he’s 2-0 now,” White said after the fight. “We got eight more weeks of this. Why not have him fight here again, you know what I mean? It just makes sense.”

Beard, 3…

Not only did Marlon Vera score an emphatic knockout victory against Dominick Cruz in the UFC on ESPN 41 headliner, but he was also the event’s highest-paid fighter.

“Chito” took home $300,000 for his fourth-round head kick finish of Cruz ($175,000) on Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif. Vera is one of five six-figure earners on the card, according to salary figures released by the California State Athletic Commission.

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Other notable payouts include Angela Hill, who took home $190,000 for a unanimous decision win over Lupita Godinez ($45,000) in a 120-pound catchweight affair, and Gerald Meerschaert, who garnered $146,000 for a third-round submission of Bruno Silva ($40,000) at middleweight. Meanwhile, Gabriel Benitez received $100,000 for a first-round TKO of Charlie Ontiveros ($12,000).

Note: The disclosed purses reported by state athletic commissions do not include any performance-based or discretionary bonuses that may be awarded to a…

Rory MacDonald has been fighting professionally since he was was a teenager, but it appears that “The Red King” has reached the end of the line.

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The 33-year-old MacDonald announced his retirement from MMA in statement via Instagram following a first-round technical knockout loss to short-notice foe Dilano Taylor in the welterweight semifinals at the Professional Fighters League playoffs on Saturday.

“My time has come to put the gloves down for good,” MacDonald wrote. “I’m so thankful for this sport and every person I’ve been able to meet along the way.

“I started this sport as a 14-year-old kid, I still remember my first day and knowing this is what I want to spend my life doing. The passion for martial arts and becoming a pro MMA fighter gave me hope and a way to a better life! And I’m so thankful to God for putting that gym Toshido MMA in Kelowna in my path. It truly changed the direction of my life and saved me!

“What an adventure this car…

When all is said and done, the clash between Nate Landwehr and David Onama may go down as one of the year’s best fights.

For now, the featherweights will have to settle for “Fight of the Night” as both Landwehr and Onama received $50,000 for their work in the UFC on ESPN 41 co-main event on Saturday night. Onama appeared to have Landwehr in serious danger in Round 1, but the former M-1 Global champion recovered to assert himself down the stretch in a bout that featured a number of spirited exchanges.

Elsewhere, Marlon Vera earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his fourth-round knockout of Dominick Cruz in the evening’s bantamweight headliner. While he lacked volume, Vera floored Cruz repeatedly in the contest. The last of those, a head kick, ended Cruz’s night at the 2:17 mark of Round 4.

Finally, Tyson Nam garnered the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check for a knockout of Ode Osbourne in a preliminary flyweight tilt. After O…

Marlon Vera picked up a statement win against Dominick Cruz in the main event of UFC on ESPN 41.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion got off to a quick start, blitzing Vera (20-7-1) with punches and getting in and out. However, the power of Vera was also apparent, as "Chito" dropped Cruz (24-4) despite getting outstruck most of the round. "The Dominator" would stay out of any danger and easily control Round 2. The tide would turn as Vera would land his best punch of the fight in the third round, an overhand right that dropped Cruz, and battled back into the main event. The next round would see Vera close out the show with a sensational head kick that knocked Cruz cleanly out.

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The stoppage for Vera came at 2:17 of Round 4.Landwehr Wins Brawl Over Onama The co-main event saw featherweights Nate Landwehr and David Onama clash. It looked like Landwehr (10-2) was in for a long night after eating a big right hand from Onama (16…

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 41 “Cruz vs. Vera” coverage will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

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BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zalal (-120), Blackshear (+100)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Quinlan (-230), Witt (+195)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tris…

Dilano Taylor hushed all talk of a Rory MacDonald resurgence.

The Sanford MMA rep cut down the top-seeded McDonald with first-round punches, as their 2022 Professional Fighters League semifinal headlined PFL 8 on Saturday at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. A short-notice substitution for Magomed Umalatov, Taylor (10-2, 3-1 PFL) slammed the door 3:59 into Round 1.

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MacDonald (23-10-1, 2-4 PFL) initiated an immediate clinch but wound up on his back after a failed takedown. He ultimately returned to an upright position but found himself at a significant disadvantage in the hand speed department. Taylor connected with regularity before flooring the Tristar Gym mainstay with a searing right cross. MacDonald then retreated into a shell on the ground and ate one too many follow-up punches for referee Marc Goddard’s liking.

Taylor moves on to the 2022 PFL welterweight final, where he will face Sadibou Sy on Nov. 25 for a $1 million prize. Sy (12-6-2…

The 2022 Professional Fighters League Playoffs continue Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

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Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Noah Gagnon s…

Nina Nunes announces her retirement at #UFCSanDiego after a more than decade long MMA career pic.twitter.com/1YVk9sP885

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 13, 2022

Nina Nunes is choosing family over her fighting career.

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The 36-year-old American Top Team representative announced her retirement following a split-decision triumph over Cynthia Calvillo in a preliminary flyweight bout at UFC on ESPN 41 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Saturday. It was Nunes’ 125 pound debut following a 4-4 stint at 115 pounds. Nunes left her gloves in the center of the cage before announcing her decision to Daniel Cormier in a post-fight Octagon interview.

“As a fighter, I think I’ve done what I wanted to,” Nines said. “It started as a hobby. I got all the way here. I’m going to focus on coaching and bringing up those girls that are struggling right now.

“I want more babies,” she added. “So I’m stepping away to have another kid.”

Nun…

A middleweight showdown pitting Jack Hermansson against Derek Brunson is on tap for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Dec. 3.

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Multiple outlets confirmed the targeted booking following an initial report from Ariel Helwani. The event also includes a women’s flyweight clash between Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez but doesn’t yet have an official location or venue.

Hermansson is 3-3 in his last six promotional outings. “The Joker” last competed at UFC Fight Night 208, where he garnered a unanimous verdict over Chris Curtis on July 23. His ledger includes notable wins over the likes of Kelvin Gastelum, Ronaldo Souza and Thales Leites, among other.

Brunson, meanwhile, had a five-bout winning streak snapped at UFC 271, where he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Jared Cannonier on Feb. 12. It was the second time the North Carolina native has authored a five-fight winning streak in the Las Vegas-based promotion, but on both occasions he…

That's one for the highlight reel.

pic.twitter.com/jIeW6BOrYc

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) August 13, 2022

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The latest Cage Fury Fighting Championships foray into Wales ended with a quick finish.

In the CW 142 main event, 125-pound titleholder Sam Creasey notched his first title defense—and became the first fighter to successfully defend the CW flyweight belt—after submitting Stipe Brcic. Creasey (16-4, 11-4 CW) stunned his foe with the very first shot he landed, a nasty stepping right hook that dropped Brcic (10-3, 0-1 CW) on the canvas. Smelling blood, “Urai” went for a guillotine choke attempt that immediately appeared tight. Brcic looked for an escape out of the sticky situation, but Creasey readjusted his submission maneuver and left his opponent no chance but to tap. The official time indicated that 71 seconds had passed since the beginning.

An absolute clinic from The Welsh Gangst…

One year after capturing the Bellator lightweight belt against Peter Queally in Dublin, Patricky Freire will defend his title against Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, on Nov. 18.

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While the fight has not been officially announced by the promotion, “Pitbull” confirmed the recently reported booking in an interview with Sherdog.com. He was originally scheduled to defend his belt against Sidney Outlaw at Bellator 283 before being forced to withdraw from the bout.

"Unfortunately I had to withdraw from my last fight with Sidney Outlaw due to a [pubic bone injury],” Freire said. “But I started intensive treatment since then with my physiotherapist and now I’m already doing light sparring.”

Freire says he was taken by surprise when a Bellator matchmaker texted him the name of his next opponent.

"For everything they are doing in the division and also based on their position in the rankings, I was pretty sure [Tofiq] Musa…