Martial Arts News

Johnny Walker says it is best to train with a variety of sparring partners. 

Walker is scheduled to fight Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Walker trains at Xtreme Couture, which is also home to Francis Ngannou. Walker recently revealed that he ate a clean uppercut from the former UFC heavyweight champ just last week. 

Advertisement

Walker explains that one has to mix up powerful and technical sparring partners depending on what stage of training camp they are at. The Brazilian says that it is OK to get hit hard early in camp, as there is ample time to recover. However, with less than two weeks left for his upcoming fight, Walker now plans to spar against technical and easy partners.Finding the Right Mix “I got a clean uppercut [from Ngannou] last week, and f—k, heavy handed, bro, crazy… It’s better to mix [powerful and technical sparring partners],” Walker told Full Mount MMA. “It depends where you are in the …

Colby Covington doesn’t think Sean Strickland’s wrestling defense will work against Khamzat Chimaev. 

Strickland is scheduled to challenge Chimaev for the middleweight title in the main event at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Strickland jumped ahead of Nassourdine Imavov for the title shot with a stoppage win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston last month. A massive underdog going into the fight, Strickland completely shut down Hernandez’s gruelling wrestling. 

Advertisement

The performance against Hernandez made many believe that Strickland can pull off a similar upset against Chimaev. However, Covington doesn’t think Strickland stands a chance against “Borz.” Covington believes Chimaev’s wrestling is on a completely different level than Hernandez’s. “Chaos” predicts that Chimaev will either earn a submission win over dominate Strickland on the ground for five rounds.Completely Different Levels “I’m not giving [Strickl…

Francis Ngannou was reminded of the sport's ruthless nature after watching his friend Israel Adesanya’s loss on Saturday. 

Adesanya took on Joe Pyfer in the main event at UFC Seattle on Saturday. While it was a closely-contested first round, there were glimpses of a prime Adesanya as he chipped away with leg kicks and a stiff jab. “The Last Stylebender” appeared to have found his groove in the second round as he started unleashing combos and hurting Pyfer. Ngannou thought the old Adesanya of championship days was back after the first round. However, Pyfer took Adesanya down and took his back, threatening a rear-naked choke. Adesanya shifted between giving up his back and giving Pyfer the mount. Pyfer finally flattened Adesanya out and unleashed a barrage of unanswered shots, forcing the referee to step in at 4:18 of Round 2. 

Advertisement

Ngannou was heartbroken watching his friend’s brutal loss. The former UFC heavyweight champion got a reminder that …

Colby Covington wants to find out who’s the real All-American between him and Chris Weidman. 

Covington dominantly beat Dillon Danis in a wrestling match at RAF 7 on Saturday. Covington subsequently called for a RAF matchup against Arman Tsarukyan, who did not entirely shut down the idea. However, the UFC is allegedly not allowing its active fighters to wrestle each other at other promotions. 

Advertisement

If a matchup against Tsarukyan doesn’t materialize, Covington claims he has a booking against Weidman sealed. “Chaos” claims he has a “done deal” to wrestle the former UFC middleweight champion at RAF 9 on May 30 in Dallas, Texas.Back to Work “This is the backup plan if we’re not able to get Arman, since they’re saying no right now,” Covington told Submission Radio. “That’s already a done deal. Me and Chris Weidman’s a done deal for RAF 9, which is gonna be on Dallas, Texas, it’s gonna be on May 30. So I’m back in training camp tomorrow, I’m gonna get…

Israel Adesanya is dealing with the roughest patch of his career. 

Adesanya fought way down the rankings, taking on Joe Pyfer in the main event at UFC Seattle on Saturday. After a close first round, “The Last Stylebender” appeared to be gaining momentum in the second round. However, Pyfer took Adesanya down, flattened him out, and unleashed brutal ground-and-pound to secure the finish in the second round. The defeat extended Adesanya’s longest losing streak of his career to four in a row. 

Advertisement

'Respawn and Go Again' The former middleweight champion has since opened up about his loss. While Adesanya knows it’s a hard time for his supporters, the former middleweight champion humbly admits that he is going through an even harder time. Regardless, Adesanya vows to rise again and keep going.

“I know it’s hard on my people seeing me fall,” Adesanya wrote on Instagram. “I promise you it’s harder on me. Regardless, we respawn and go again.”

Ade…

Colby Covington’s UFC career is currently at a crossroads. 

While Covington (17-5) hasn’t fought in the UFC since December 2024, he has been active in wrestling competitions under the Real American Freestyle banner. “Chaos” defeated Dillon Danis in the co-main event at RAF 7 on Saturday. Covington was subsequently asked if he would continue being active in RAF or consider a UFC return soon. The former UFC interim welterweight champion confirmed that he will be committed to RAF going forward, claiming to have invested his own money in the wrestling promotion. Covington wants to build the RAF in the greatest combat sports league in the world. Covington also says that he has done everything he needed to do in the UFC, reiterating his recent falling out with the promotion.

Advertisement

Back to His Roots “I’m all in on Real American Freestyle,” Covington told Red Corner MMA. “I’ve invested my own hard-earned money to Real American Freestyle. I want to see this pl…

Maycee Barber had a seven-fight winning streak snapped on Saturday. | Getty/UFC

It appears to be a reasonably optimistic prognosis for Maycee Barber after a scary knockout loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC Seattle on Saturday night.

Barber was rendered unconscious by a Grasso left hand and follow-up strike before her opponent locked in a tight rear-naked choke to secure a victory at the 2:42 mark of Round 1 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Though Barber conscious as referee Mike Beltran stepped in to wave off the fight, she remained motionless on the canvas for several minutes. Eventually the UFC flyweight standout left the Octagon under her own power, and she was reportedly transported to a local hospital.

Advertisement

Barber’s team posted updates on her condition, which the fighter shared to her Instagram Stories on Sunday. That included a positive statement from her boyfriend, Oscar Herrera.

“Part of the game,” Herrera wrote. “Congrats to Alexa, …

Movsar Evloev continues to stack wins in the UFC. | Getty/UFC

If in the first 20 years of the UFC Brazil and the United States alternated in the position of greatest MMA powerhouse, from 2025 onwards Russia and countries from the former Soviet Union have changed this picture.

Even with a much smaller percentage of representatives on the roster, these fighters today hold five of the 11 UFC belts: Petr Yan (Russia), bantamweight; Ilia Topuria (Georgia), lightweight; Islam Makhachev (Dagestan), welterweight; Khamzat Chimaev (Chechnya), middleweight and Valentina Shevchenko (Kygistan), flyweight). Meanwhile, today Brazil has one belt (Alex Pereira) and the United States two (Mackenzie Dern and Kayla Harrison).

Advertisement

In the opinion of American Top Team head coach Conan Silveira, the trend is that this Russian dominance will expand in 2026 with Movsar Evloev winning the featherweight belt.

“Jean [Silva] can do whatever he wants, but he won’t ge…

Navajo Stirling feels the time is perfect for a clash against Ion Cutelaba. 

Stirling took on Bruno Lopes (14-3) in a light heavyweight tilt at UFC Seattle on Saturday. The Kiwi punished Lopes on the feet and left him a bloodied mess to earn a technical knockout win in the second round. Stirling subsequently called out light heavyweight veteran Cutelaba. Stirling notes that the Moldovan is known for derailing the hype trains of several prospects. With both of them on the cusp of breaking into the rankings, Stirling feels it’s the perfect time to fight Cutelaba.

Advertisement


 I feel like [Ion] Cutelaba is a big name,” Stirling said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “He’s been in the UFC for a long time. He’s been killing all the prospects that are being put forward to him. And I think that’s our meeting point. That’s where he’s at, and that’s where I’m at. He seems like the perfect guy to fight. He’s at the top outside of the top 15, and so am I. So, l…

Tyrell Fortune wants to follow in the footsteps of his teammate Waldo Cortes-Acosta and knock out Derrick Lewis. 

Fortune made his debut against Marcin Tybura at UFC Seattle on Saturday. Fortune stepped in on two weeks’ notice after Tybura’s original opponent, Valter Walker, pulled out. Fortune clearly outclassed the veteran on the feet, although he couldn’t secure a finish. However, the scores were initially read out in favor of Tybura, as an angry Fortune marched out of the Octagon. Bruce Buffer then returned to the Octagon and corrected himself, announcing Fortune the winner via unanimous decision. 

Fortune believes he could have done better against Tybura with a full camp. The 35-year-old vows to show a different version of himself in his next outing.

“I was just a little frustrated with myself that I didn’t get the performance I knew I could,” Fortune said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “Some of the positions I should have probably disengaged a…

Chael Sonnen is worried about Tom Aspinall being caught in the crossfire between Dana White and Eddie Hearn. 

Aspinall’s relationship with White has been strained since his first heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 320 this past October. The fight ended in a no contest after Gane eye poked Aspinall, leaving him unable to continue. Dana White hinted that he was unimpressed by Aspinall’s decision to stop fighting, saying that the Englishman didn’t look like he wanted to be in there with Gane. Aspinall didn’t hide his disappointment with White’s comments. While Aspinall underwent multiple surgeries, White further downplayed the injury, saying they were likely injections. 

Aspinall (15-3) recently escalated things by signing with the management of Eddie Hearn, considered a longtime rival of White. Hearn has since taken multiple digs at Aspinall’s UFC contract, calling it a disgrace. Sonnen says he was supporting Aspinall when “Honey Badger” was c…

Yousri Belgaroui had already experienced every threat possible in his training camp for UFC Seattle. 

Belgaroui (10-3) faced a previously undefeated Mansur Abdul-Malik (9-1-1) in a middleweight matchup at UFC Seattle. Belgaroui battered Abdul-Malik’s lead leg from the onset, while maintaining his distance with a clean jab. Even when Abdul-Malik managed to take Belgaroui down, the 6’5” former kickboxer got back to his feet in seconds. While Belgaroui nearly finished Abdul-Malik in the second round, he was saved by the bell. Belgaroui maintained composure and gradually broke Abdul-Malik down to get a stoppage in the third round. 

Advertisement

While this was only Belgaroui’s second UFC fight, “Baby Faced Assassin” has a ton of experience competing in Glory Kickboxing. However, Belgaroui believes Abdul-Malik didn’t lose to him due to a lack of experience. Belgaroui credits his training camp for handing Abdul-Malik his first career loss. The Turkish-Dutch p…