Martial Arts News

Kyoji Horiguchi's title hopes took a hit on Saturday. | Getty/UFC

Kyoji Horiguchi’s hopes at making a late career run at UFC flyweight gold hit a serious speed bump on Saturday night.

The American Top Team product suffered a third-round technical knockout loss to Manel Kape in the UFC Fight Night 279 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Things were going well for Horiguchi in the first two frames before Kape flashed his formidable power during the decisive sequence 2:42 into the third stanza.

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The Dream Doesn't Die Horiguchi, who defeated Kape in Rizin Fighting Federation in 2017, initially challenged for the UFC flyweight title in April 2015, when he suffered a fifth-round submission loss to Demetrious Johnson. The 35-year-old reflected on the loss in a brief statement on social media.

“Thank you all for your support,” Horiguchi wrote on X (via Translate). “I got spectacularly knocked out. I’m truly sorry. Kape …

Umar Nurmagomedov is excited for a potential fight against Yadong Song. 

Nurmagomedov was originally scheduled to fight David Martinez at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25. However, the booking has fallen off as Martinez is forced out with an injury. Nurmagomedov has been rumored to face Song at a later date. 

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Nurmagomedov recently admitted that he is interested in the matchup against Song because he considers the Chinese fighter to be a “punching bag.” Nurmagomedov was not impressed by the one-sided beatdown that Song suffered against Sean O’Malley earlier this year. Nurmagomedov doesn’t rank Song among the best fighters in the division.Not in the Same League “Of course, I’m interested,” Nurmagomedov told told Adam Zubayraev. “ [Song] is a punching bag. How did he do against O’Malley? He was dead by the third round. Fourth round, he was taking knees to the face (Song vs. O’Malley was three rounds)…I don’t consider him a top-class fighter, honestly.…

Islam Makhachev believes teammate Usman Nurmagomedov will have to compromise on his salary if he moves to the UFC from the Professional Fighters League. 

Nurmagomedov (20-1) is considered one of the best lightweights in the world, regardless of promotion. Nurmagomedov’s current PFL contract will expire after he puts his lightweight title on the line against Archie Colgan at PFL New York on July 31 at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. 

There has been speculation about Nurmagomedov potentially signing with the UFC after his current PFL contract expires. Makhachev (28-1) believes Nurmagomedov needs to move to the UFC to fully realize his potential against a higher caliber of opponents. However, Makhachev claims that Nurmagomedov is getting a hefty payday in the PFL, which the UFC is unlikely to pay. According to Makhachev, Nurmagomedov still has ample time to sign another PFL contract and move to the UFC later in his career to build his legacy. The UFC …

Murtazali Magomedov had help from a UFC veteran for his spectacular debut on Saturday. 

Magomedov (11-0) made his promotional debut against Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-4) at UFC Fight Night 279 on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. While Baghdasaryan landed some powerful strikes early, Magomedov took him down quickly and started looking for a rear-naked choke. As Baghdasaryan tried to turn into Magomedov, the Kyrgyz prospect locked in a modified twister to secure a submission win at 1:17 of the opening round. Magomedov scored the fourth twister submission in UFC history in his debut in the promotion. 

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Magomedov subsequently said that he had been specifically training the twister in the gym for a long time. The undefeated featherweight prospect further revealed that he learned the move from former UFC flyweight, Askar Askarov.

“I work this technique long time,” Magomedov said. “My brother, Askar Askarov teach me this technique.” 

Making…

Manel Kape took home an extra $100K on Saturday night. | Getty/UFC Manel Kape has his revenge, and he’s also $100,000 richer for his efforts.

“Starboy” secured a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his third-round stoppage of Kyoji Horiguchi in the UFC Vegas 119 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Kape put his foe on wobbly legs with a counter right, then unleashed a barrage on his grounded adversary — including a vicious uppercut from behind — that brought a halt tot he contest 2:42 into Round 3. Kape avenged a 2017 submission loss to Horiguchi that occurred under the Rizin banner.

An Impressive Debut Elsewhere, promotional newcomer Murtazali Magomedov earned a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” check after making short work of Melsik Baghdasaryan in a featured featherweight affair. Magomedov elicited a tapout 1:17 into the opening stanza with a twister, only the fourth such submission in UFC history.

Finally, Vinicius Oliveira and …

Dricus Du Plessis will return at UFC Oklahoma City. | Getty/UFC

Oklahoma City is getting a marquee middleweight matchup.

Dricus Du Plessis will square off against Kamaru Usman in a matchup of former title holders in the UFC Oklahoma City headliner, the Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Saturday. The event, also known as UFC Fight Night 281, takes place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and airs in its entirety on Paramount+.

High Stakes Affair Du Plessis hasn’t competed since last August, when he relinquished the middleweight crown in a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. Prior to that, the South African standout was 9-0 in the Octagon, earning notable victories against the likes of Sean Strickland (twice), Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Darren Till.

Usman is back in action for the first time since he outpointed Joaquin Buckley in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner last June. While there were…

Manel Kape marked his territory as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s number one contender in waiting at 125 pounds.

The Xtreme Couture rep punched out Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 279 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Kape (23-7, 8-3 UFC) slammed the door 2:42 into Round 3, avenging his Dec. 31, 2017 submission defeat to the former Rizin Fighting Federation and Bellator MMA champion.

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Horiguchi (36-7, 9-2 UFC) stayed a step ahead of “Starboy” from a tactical standpoint through much of the first 10 minutes. In fact, he secured a takedown and spent almost the entire second round grinding away on Kape from top position. However, Horiguchi’s inability to inflict any real damage proved costly. Kape clipped him with a right hook midway through Round 3, pushed him to all fours and snuck a devastating uppercut underneath the armpit that prompted the stoppage.

Meanwhile, surging City Kickboxing prospect N…

Sherdog's live UFC Vegas 119 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The event is also known as UFC Fight Night 279. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Collins (-160); Tanzilovi (+140)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rosa (-115); Santos (+100)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round…

Beatriz Mesquita’s otherworldly ground skills were there when she needed them most.

The undefeated American Top Team star remained unbeaten and continued her climb in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight division, as she disposed of Melissa Mullins with an armbar in the first round of a featured UFC Fight Night 279 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Mesquita (8-0, 3-0 UFC) drew the curtain 3:16 into Round 1.

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Mullins (7-3, 2-3 UFC) nearly sprang the upset. She dazed Mesquita with a left hook, then closed in on the 10-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion with follow-up punches. Putting the icing on the cake proved problematic. The resourceful Mesquita lured her opponent into her venomous guard, cleared the cobwebs and snatched the armbar. Mullins fought briefly to free herself but had no choice but to tap.

Meanwhile, ex-Inka Fighting Championship titleholder Kevin Borjas outstruck the heavily favored and previous…

Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov fought to a majority draw in their first meeting. | Getty/UFC

Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov have a little bit of unfinished business to handle.

The light heavyweights will square off in a rematch at UFC Belgrade on Aug. 1, the promotion recently announced. Blachowicz and Guskov initially battled to a majority draw at UFC 325 this past December. A rematch was slated for UFC 328 on May 9, but Blachowicz was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.

UFC Belgrade — also known as UFC Fight Night 283 — takes place at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, and is headlined by a welterweight showdown pitting Uros Medic against Daniel Rodriguez. The card will air in its entirety on Paramount+.

A Difficult Road A former light heavyweight champion, Blachowicz is just 1-3-2 in his last six Octagon appearances dating back to October 2021. However, the 43-year-old Pole has squared off against only the division’s best during tha…

Jean Silva believes he will jump the queue ahead of Movsar Evloev for the next UFC featherweight title shot. 

Silva considers himself next in line for a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. However, standing in his way is Evloev, who has long been the top contender at 145 pounds. Volkanovski has also repeatedly acknowledged the undefeated Russian as the most deserving title contender. However, Silva doesn’t think Evloev will get the next title shot. While Silva is eyeing a title shot next, he is willing to take one more fight if he needs to.

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“I’m the next one in line for the title,” Silva told MMAjunkie.com. “I’m the next one that’s gonna get that belt. I’m taking that belt back to Brazil. Hunter’s helping me with that. My manager Ivan is helping me out with that. Dana as well… They’re giving me the path to that… I think the chances of Evloev fighting Volkanovski by the end of the year are slim. And if Volk wants to fight somebody, I’ll be …

Don’t expect to see Justin Gaethje in the Octagon again this year. 

Gaethje (28-5) recently dethroned Ilia Topuria in a massive upset at UFC White House to win the undisputed lightweight title. “The Highlight” had previously won the interim title against Paddy Pimblett this past January. Gaethje notes that it is already a rarity to see him compete twice in a year. Gaethje revealed that it is highly unlikely for him to compete again in 2026.

Hiatus Loading“I already fought twice this year,” Gaethje said on "The Pat McAfee Show.”. “Very, very rarely do you get me twice in one year. So there’s very, very, very small chance that I would ever consider fighting this year again.”

Gaethje has never fought more than twice a year in the UFC. The newly-crowned lightweight champion had competed only once each in 2024 and 2025. Gaethje’s win over Topuria marked his third bid for the undisputed title. There was speculation about the 37-year-old retiring if he had lost against…