Martial Arts News

Conor McGregor is set to fight for the first time in nearly five years. | Getty/UFC

The full fight card and bout order are set for UFC 329.

The Las Vegas-based promotion confirmed the full lineup over the weekend. UFC 329 takes place on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a welterweight clash pitting Conor McGregor against Max Holloway. McGregor hasn’t competed since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The former two-division champion defeated Max Holloway via unanimous decision in a featherweight bout at UFC Fight Night 26 on Aug. 17, 2013.

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The UFC 329 main card airs on Paramount+ beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event kicks off with the early prelims at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, highlighted by a featured flyweight tilt between Tracy Cortez and Cong Wang. The preliminary draw continues at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. with four more contests, which include the Octagon debut of Gable Steveson and Rob…

Ikram Aliskerov wants to make some noise in his next fight. 

Aliskerov took on Brunno Ferreira (15-4) in a middleweight bout at UFC Baku on Saturday. Aliskerov dominated Ferreira on the ground while holding his own on the feet to score a unanimous decision win. 

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Aliskerov wants an opponent with a big name in his next fight. Aliskerov wants to fight again in October, when the UFC usually hosts its annual Abu Dhabi card.Planning Ahead “Next what I need is big loud fight, a big name,” Aliskerov said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “At least one fight at the end of the year. So, I’m thinking Abu Dhabi for me, in October, works perfectly. I need one good fight, one big name… The choice is not for me. The choice is for Mick [Maynard], for Hunter [Campbell]. If they give me a good name, I’m happy to fight anybody they suggest.”

Aliskerov (18-2) had only lost to Khamzat Chimaev before making his UFC debut in 2023. Chimaev had once acknowl…

Fans should not blink when Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev steps into the Octagon again. 

Yakhyaev was the biggest favourite on the card when he took on Julius Walker in a light heavyweight tilt at UFC Baku on Saturday. Yakhyaev justified the odds by dropping Walker with a right hand and finishing him in 8 seconds. Yakhyaev also earned a $100,000 performance bonus for his highlight-reel victory. 

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Despite scoring one of the quickest finishes in UFC history, Yakhyaev promises an even quicker finish in his next fight. The undefeated Turkish prospect believes he is already prepared for top-tier opponents.Ready to Move Up“Next time fight will be more short,” Yakhyaev said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “Be ready guys. I think I’m ready for Top 10, Top 5, doesn’t matter. I will sit with my coach, my team, we’ll talk about that and let the UFC know.”

Yakhayaev has finished nine of his 10 career wins so far, eight of them in the first round. The …

Abus Magomedov is eyeing Israel Adesanya. 

Magomedov took on Michal Oleksiejczuk in a middleweight matchup at UFC Baku on Saturday. Magomedov dropped Oleksiejczuk with a brutal elbow before choking him out with a guillotine in the opening round. 

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Magomedov subsequently for a matchup against Adesanya next. Magomedov accuses Adesanya of “talking s—t” about him in the past. However, Magomedov also admits that he respects Adesanya, having grown up watching the former champion.‘Now It’s My Time’ “Only one guy, Adesanya,” Magomedov said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “Back in the day, some conversation, he talked little bit s—t about me. And now it’s time I think. I hope we gonna fight one day. A lot of respect for Adesanya. He was champion, I was growing up with his fights. But now it’s my time.”

Magomedov’s respectful feud with Adesanya could stems from an interview where “The Last Stylebender” couldn’t remember his name while discuss…

Jon Jones recently shared his prediction for the upcoming UFC welterweight title fight.

Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jones is picking Makhachev to successfully defend his title against Garry. “Bones” believes Makhachev’s elite wrestling will give him an advantage over Garry. Jones also considers Makhachev one of the greatest fighters of all time alongside himself.

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Wrestling Over Everything “I'm going with Islam because he has a wrestling background, and it's very hard to beat wrestlers,” Jones told Sport24ru. “He may just be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Right now, it's me and maybe him. So, I encourage him to keep going.”

Makhachev (28-1) defended the lightweight title four times, the most in the division’s history, before moving up to welterweight. Makhachev dominantly dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to w…

A.J. McKee was in peak form at PFL San Diego.

A.J. McKee has the look of a man ready to make another championship run.

Competing in his native California, the 31-year-old Team Bodyshop representative handed Kazakh prospect Salamat Isbulaev his first career defeat, taking home a unanimous decision triumph in the PFL San Diego headliner at Pechanga Arena on Saturday night. McKee (25-2, 4-1 PFL), who enjoyed a brief reign as Bellator MMA featherweight champion in 2021, is 3-0 since returning to the division where he made his name.

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Early exchanges were fraught with tension, and Isbulaev (10-1, 1-1 PFL) appeared more than eager to engage with his veteran adversary. However, McKee was able to weather the initial burst and drag his finish-minded foe, who had only once gone beyond the first round, into deep waters. “Mercenary” was especially effective with his grappling, landing takedowns in each frame and scrambling effectively to dominant pos…

Standout finishers ruled the day at UFC Baku.

Main event winner Rafael Fiziev was one of four fighters to earn a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” award on Saturday at National Gymnastic Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. “Ataman” vanquished Manuel Torres with a spinning wheel kick and follow-up punches 15 seconds into Round 2 of their lightweight headliner.

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Chasing History Elsewhere, Asu Almabayev garnered $100,000 for a late submission triumph against Charles Johnson in a flyweight scrap. “Zulfikhar” tapped Johnson with a kneebar 3:33 into the third stanza to secure his third consecutive UFC triumph.

Meanwhile, Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev was an easy choice for a “Performance of the Night” check, as he made short work of Julius Walker at light heavyweight. Yakhyaev knocked out Walker eight seconds into Round 1, tying him for the second fastest finish ever at 205 pounds and seventh in the UFC overall.

Finally, Daniil Donchenko received the card’s final…

Rafael Fiziev tapped into one of his most trusted weapons at the right time.

The Tiger Muay Thai standout held his ground in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division, as he cut down Manuel Torres with a spinning wheel kick and follow-up punches in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 280 main event on Saturday at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. Torres (17-4, 5-2 UFC) checked out 15 seconds into Round 2.

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Fiziev (14-5, 8-5 UFC) was the aggressor from the start and tore into the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate with punishing leg kicks throughout much of the first round. Torres countered sporadically and managed to get his counterpart’s attention with a stiff jab, but he failed to make real headway. Early in the second round, Fiziev sat down the Entram Gym product with a perfectly placed wheel kick and dropped him again with a crushing right cross. Hammerfists followed and sealed Torres’ fate.

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Sherdog's live UFC Baku coverage will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. The event is also known as UFC Fight Night 280. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdullaev (-120); Nascimento (+100)Round 1 Native son Abdullayev looks to get the Baku crowd amped up against fellow debutant Nascimento in this welterweight matchup. Jim Perdios is the referee. Both men are orthodox to start things off, Nascimento sliding around the outside as Abdullayev stakes out the center of the cage. Nascimento is one stocky dude for this division. Nascimento reaches out with a low kick. Abdullayev answers with one of his own. The crowd gets loud for a moment, but through the first two minutes, this is a tentative affair. Abdullayev starts to come forward, switching stances and backing the Brazilian off, but there is still very little offense happening. Abdullayev touches the chest with a front kick. He is pursuing, but not cutting off the cage, and Nascimento is able to avoid being corr…

The line of Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweights who want to test Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev figures to grow even shorter given his latest performance.

The fast-rising Turkish contender kept his perfect professional record intact and did so in sensational fashion, as he wiped out Julius Walker with punches in the first round of their featured UFC Fight Night 280 prelim on Saturday at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. Yakhyaev (10-0, 3-0 UFC) slammed the door just eight seconds into Round 1, authoring the second-fastest finish in the history of the 205-pound weight class.

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Walker (7-3, 1-3 UFC) never stood a chance. Yakhyaev felled the Xtreme Couture rep with a devastating overhand right on the counter, pounced with follow-up punches and drew the curtain with an almost dismissive disdain.

Meanwhile, American Top Team’s Nursulton Ruziboev put Andrey Pulyaev to sleep with a vicelike rear-naked choke in the first round of th…

Sherdog's live PFL San Diego coverage will begin Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

Top notch featherweights headline PFL San Diego: Tune in Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN 2.

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Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Pendleton scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay …

Anthony Hernandez will attempt to return to the win column at UFC Sacramento. | Getty/UFC

Battle-tested middleweights are set to trade leather at UFC Sacramento. 

Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues are scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night on Aug. 22 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Connected MMA was first to report the booking, which was later confirmed by MMAFighting.com.

Looking to Bounce Back Hernandez (15-3) was on an eight-fight winning streak with six finishes leading up to his last matchup against Sean Strickland. While “Fluffy” was a sizeable favorite going into the fight, Strickland neutralized his wrestling and picked him apart on the feet to score a third-round stoppage win. Hernandez is currently training with Strickland for his upcoming fight against Rodrigues (19-6). 

Meanwhile, Rodrigues is 10-3 in the UFC and currently on a three-fight winning streak. “RoboCop” has gone through the trenches of the …