Martial Arts News

After much debate regarding his return to combat sports, Fabricio Werdum has announced his future plans at a press conference for Brazilian media.

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While earlier this year Werdum claimed he was hoping to return to the Professional Fighters League for another MMA bout, the 44-year-old former UFC heavyweight king announced Wednesday that he intends to focus on his boxing career.

“For us fighters, it's very difficult to have this idea of doing what you love most in life and stopping 100%, that's why I don't like this word retired,” Werdum told Sherdog.com after the press conference. “When I focused on being a jiu-jitsu champion I accomplished (that). I dedicated my life to become a UFC champion, and I also accomplished that. Now, the focus is 100% on winning a title in boxing before hanging up the gloves.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone,…

Alistair Overeem and Badr Hari will square off for a third time in the kickboxing ring later this year at Glory Collision 4.

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Promotion officials announced on Tuesday that the trilogy bout will headline the event at the GelreDome in Arnhem, the Netherlands, on Oct. 8. Overeem and Hari squared off twice under the K-1 banner more than a decade ago, with each man winning one fight via knockout.

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Overeem signed with Glory in 2021 and was expected to make his promotional debut against Rico Verhoeven at Glory Collision 3 this past October before being forced to withdraw due to injury. Overeem parted ways with the UFC following a second-round TKO loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 184 in February 2021.

Hari, who hails from Amsterdam but fights out of Moroc…

Former UFC talent Mark Munoz was reportedly placed on administrative leave as wrestling coach at Fairmont Private Schools in Southern California after he allegedly allowed two students to box to settle a dispute.

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According to the TMZ Sports report, two students who were arguing on the playground went to Munoz to ask if they could put on boxing gloves to resolve their differences. The report states that Munoz allowed it, believing that “the impromptu boxing match was more jovial than violent.” Munoz was also reportedly not aware of the argument.

However, one of the student’s parents was “outraged” about the boxing match and went to school administration to complain, and as a result, Munoz was placed on leave. The 44-year-old had accepted the position as wrestling coach in September 2020. A school spokesperson wouldn’t reveal specifics of the incident to TMZ, but did confirm that Munoz’s contract will not be renewed.

"[He] will not be returning …

Unfortunately the news is true that my fight has been cancelled for #ufc275 Gonna keep training and stay ready for the next opportunity. Hopefully we can get rebooked as soon as Mathetha is healthy or someone else.Trying to fight a couple times this summer. All good

— Orion Cosce (@GalaxyCosce) May 25, 2022

A proposed welterweight clash pitting Orion Cosce against Mike Mathetha as been pulled from the UFC 275 lineup.

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Cosce confirmed the cancellation following an initial report from BJPenn.com. UFC 275 takes place at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, on June 11 and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship tilt between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka. The card currently has 12 fights on tap if Cosce is not rebooked against a replacement opponent.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or s…

Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Mike Sloan/Sherdog.com

Marc Diakiese will square off against Damir Hadzovic in a lightweight bout at UFC London on July 23.

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Promotion officials recently announced the pairing. UFC London takes place at the O2 Arena and is headlined by a heavyweight showdown pitting Curtis Blaydes against Tom Aspinall.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Diakiese snapped a two-bout losing streak in his last outing, when he captured a unanimous decision triumph against Viacheslav Borshchev at UFC on ESPN 33 on March 26. “Bonecrusher” is 6-5 during his promotional tenure and 15-5 as a professional overall.

Hadzovic also ended a two-fght skid in his most recent appearance, as he outpointed Yancy Medeiros at UFC Fight Night 190 in June 2021. “The Bo…

Renan Barao has been booked for his first mixed martial arts bout since November 2019.

The former UFC bantamweight champion is slated to face William Gomis in a featherweight matchup at Ares FC 7 on June 25 in Paris. The promotion announced the booking via Instagram.

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Barao was supposed to make his return on three other occasions in recent years. A matchup with Bobby Moffett at Taura MMA 12 in November 2020 fell through when the entire event was canceled; a fight against Tyson Duckworth at Premier FC 32 in November 2021 was scrapped when Duckworth withdrew and a proposed clash against Horacio Gutierrez at Eagle FC 44 this past January was also canceled.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Once regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound talents in the sport, Barao ended his UFC tenure on a five-fight…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkUT-Vi8GFc&w=560&h=315]

While it may have seemed as though Demian Maia’s MMA career was done following a unanimous decision loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 263 last June, the Brazilian grappling ace would like another shot in the Octagon.

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Although Maia completed the last fight on his UFC contract at that event, he claims he will only compete for the Las Vegas-based promotion in MMA.

  “No, I’m not officially retired,” Maia said on the “Morning Kombat” show. “I want to do one more fight in the UFC, but I don’t want to fight any other event, because UFC’s my house. It’s been my house for the last 15 years. So if I get another chance I would do one more fight there.”

After the bout with Muhammad, UFC president Dana White indicated that it was probably time for Maia to bid farewell.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, …

After winning four straight bouts in the Octagon — three via armbar — Andre Muniz moved to Rio de Janeiro in early May to complete his camp ahead of his UFC 276 matchup with Uriah Hall on July 2 in Las Vegas.

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According to his head coach, Phillip Lima, Muniz is working really hard for the upcoming challenge.

He is the dream fighter of any trainer,” Lima told Sherdog.com. “Always the first to arrive and last to leave. We have had many UFC fighters come from Tata Fight Team, such as Thiago Santos and Alex Oliveira. Rarely have I seen such a dedicated fighter. Besides all the dedication, he is really talented and learns really fast. He is improving his striking game a lot lately. That's why I truly believe this guy will be a big surprise in that division.”

Lima revealed that when the UFC announced Muniz would face Hall next, some tried to discourage them from accepting the bout.

   “Many people told us this is a very dangerous figh…

Mads Burnell will lock horns with Pedro Carvalho in a featherweight bout at Bellator Dublin.

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Severe MMA was first to report the pairing. Bellator Dublin takes place on Sept. 23 at 3Arena in Dublin and is headlined by a lightweight clash between Benson Henderson and Peter Queally, while Yoel Romero and Melvin Manhoef will square off in the co-main event.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the Professional Fighters League and UFC Fight Night 207 “Volkov vs. Rozenstruik” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Burnell had a seven-bout winning streak snapped in his last outing, when he dropped a five-round verdict to Adam Borics in the Bellator 276 headliner. The former UFC and Cage Warriors competitor began his Bellator tenure with triumphs over Darko Banovic, Saul Rogers and Emmanuel Sanchez.

A Portugal native who trains at SBG Ireland, Carvalho has lost three of his last fo…

BREAKING: The 2022 #PFLPlayoffs dates & locations are OFFICIAL!

NYC, Cardiff & London pic.twitter.com/Si6t8SzD4H

— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 24, 2022

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The Professional Fighters League is going international for part of its 2022 playoffs.

In conjunction with a partnership with Live Nation, the promotion announced Tuesday that back-to-back postseason events — Aug. 13 at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, and Aug. 20 at Copperbox Arena in London — will be held in the United Kingdom.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Professional Fighters League to deliver their first U.K. events this Summer,” said Live Nation U.K. vice president of sport & family entertainment Sean Ryman. “The PFL is a global brand in combat sports with an elite roster of athletes, the U.K. is excited and ready for this and it’s long overdue.”

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the Professional Fighters League and UFC…

The hometown arrival of a champion pic.twitter.com/OzhxupuPfm

— Mark La Monica (@LaMonicaMark) May 23, 2022

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was a prominent figure during a “homecoming rally” in his hometown of Uniondale, N.Y., on Monday.

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Sterling rode atop a Nassau County fire marshall’s truck and waved to those in attendance as part of a parade. The video was captured by Newsday MMA reporter Mark LaMonica. May 23 was declared “Aljamain Sterling Day” by Nassau County.

“I'm an emotional guy. I get emotional even just being up here in front of you guys because this is like, you know,” Sterling said while speaking on a stage at his alma mater, Uniondale High School (via Newsday). “I was a small kid and to be doing this, man, truly, truly blessed. Some times I really do still think I'm dreaming and wonder when I'm gonna wake up.

“Man I got a day. This is insane.”

A few pix …

A bantamweight clash pitting “The Ultimate Fighter 29” winner Ricky Turcios against Aiemann Zahabi has been added to the lineup for a UFC event on July 9.

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The promotion announced the bout on Monday. The card is headlined by a lightweight showdown between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev.

Turcios advanced through the reality show with decision wins over Dan Argueta and Liudvik Sholinian before garnering a split verdict against Brady Hiestand in the finale at UFC on ESPN 30 on Aug. 28. The Team Alpha Male product known as “Pretty Ricky” has compiled an 11-2 career mark while competing in organizations such as Bellator, Fury Fighting Championship and King of the Cage.

Zahabi, meanwhile, is 2-2 in four Octagon appearances. The 34-year-old Tristar Gym representative is coming off a first-round KO of Drako Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night 185 in February 2021.