Martial Arts News

Donald Cerrone has a new opponent at UFC on ESPN 24.

After original foe Diego Sanchez was released from the roster, Alex Morono has agreed to step in and face “Cowboy” in a welterweight bout on Saturday night. Multiple outlets confirmed the pairing following an initial report from C. Contreras Legaspi on Twitter.

UFC on ESPN 24 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and will reportedly be headlined by a clash between Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez, though that bout has not been formally announced.

Morono has won four of his last six UFC appearances. Most recently, the 30-year-old Fortis MMA product lost a decision to Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night 183 on Dec. 19.

Cerrone is looking to get back on track after going winless in his last five bouts. In his most recent outing, the BMF Ranch founder battled Niko Price to a draw at UFC Fight Night 178, but the result was later overturned to a no contest after Price tested positive for marijuana.

Professional Fighters League’s third regular season event is down to nine bouts after a heavyweight clash pitting Ali Isaev against Hatef Moeil was pulled from the card.

The promotion announced on Monday that neither heavyweight would compete on Thursday’s card. A reason for the cancellation of the fight was not given. PFL 3 will mark the promotion’s first card to air on ESPN thus far in 2021 after the main cards previously were broadcast on ESPN2. After one early prelim on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT, the card shifts to ESPN/ESPN+ for the next eight bouts beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. PFL 3 is headlined by the promotional debut of ex-UFC champ Fabricio Werdum, who takes on Renan Ferreria at heavyweight.

IT'S FIGHT WEEK on ESPN! #2021PFL3 Update- Ali Isaev and Hatef Moeil will not compete at PFL 3 pic.twitter.com/YC3Nx0xn5i

— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 3, 2021

Russia’s Isaev is the PFL 2019 heavyweight champion and is 9-0 thus far in hi…

As expected, Chris Weidman is facing a lengthy time on the shelf after the unfortunate events that transpired at UFC 261.

Weidman has been suspended six months and requires clearance from an orthodpedic doctor after breaking his leg on a low kick checked by Uriah Hall in their bout on April 24 at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The Florida State Boxing Commission released medical suspensions from the event to mixedmartialarts.com.

Weidman’s recovery likely will be longer than that, as the fighter revealed that it could be up to a year before he resumes training after having a rod inserted into his leg during post-fight surgery.

Five other fighters from UFC 261 are facing potential six-month terms (The Florida Commission did not release specific injuries for the majority of the card’s participants): Dwight Grant, Pat Sabatini, Rodrigo Vargas, Zhu Rong and Na Liang. Additionally, Karl Roberson is suspended indefinitely and must provide a nega…

Amanda Nunes had some strong words regarding a potential trilogy against flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko.

The UFC two-division champion recently discussed that subject — along with her next title defense and the possibility of a future showdown with two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison — in an interview on Brazilian podcast "Mundo da Luta.” Nunes defeated Shevchenko via unanimous decision in their first meeting at UFC 196 and then via five-round split decision in their rematch at UFC 215. Shevchenko has been dominant since dropping to 125 pounds, leading to speculation regarding another matchup with Nunes.

“If Valentina really wanted to face me again, she would have stayed at 135 pounds. That's what I would do if someone beat me twice,” Nunes said. “I wouldn't look for the easier way to get a title in a lower division thinking, ‘Maybe one day I´ll return to face her.’ No way. If she ran from bantamweight it is because she is aware that I´m the only one …

A bantamweight showdown pitting Sean O'Malley against Louis Smolka is in the works for UFC 264.

Multiple outlets confirmed that verbal agreements are in place for the pairing following an initial report from journalist Ryan Frederick on Twitter. UFC 264 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 10 and is headlined by a trilogy bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.

After suffering his first career defeat against Marlon Vera at UFC 252, O’Malley returned to the win column at UFC 260, where he defeated Thomas Almeida via third-round knockout on March 27. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is 13-1 as a professional, with 10 victories coming inside the distance.

Smolka has been victorious in three of five Octagon appearances during his second UFC stint. Most recently, “Da Last Samurai” stopped Jose Alberto Quinonez in the second round of their bout at UFC on ESPN 19 on Dec. 5. The 29-year-old Hawaiian went 5-5 during his first go-round wit…

Raphael Pessoa Nunes Accepts Sanction for Second Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy https://t.co/AGyVkrDZXN

— USADA (@usantidoping) May 3, 2021

UFC heavyweight competitor Raphael Pessoa has been suspended for two years by USADA for testing positive for a banned substance and evading sample collection.

The anti-doping organization announced the sanctions on Monday. Pessoa tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB) in out-of-competition samples collected on Feb. 9, Feb. 15, Feb. 16 and March 4. HCTZ is listing in the category of diuretics and masking agents and is banned at all times under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

Because Pessoa was not notified of the positive test until all four samples were collected, it is treated as a single violation. However, the 32-year-old Rio de Janeiro native previously tested positive for the same substance and comple…

pic.twitter.com/IjdNiZt7uT

— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) May 2, 2021

Randa Markos is accusing Luana Pinheiro of taking a dive in their strawweight bout at UFC on ESPN 23.

Markos was disqualified after landing an illegal upkick while her foe was on her knees 4:16 into the opening round at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Once the blow connected, Pinheiro fell back to the canvas and remained there for several minutes with a dazed expression on her face. Once it was determined the Brazilian would not be able to continue, the bout was waved off by referee Mark Smith.

During the broadcast, UFC analyst and fighter Paul Felder questioned the legitimacy of Pinheiro’s reaction, and Markos did the same on her Instagram account. Earlier in the bout, Markos had been on the receiving end of multiple eye pokes, the last of which prompted a pause in the action and opened a cut on the Canadian fighter’s eyelid.

That foul never hind…

Merab Dvalishvili showcased a versatile skillset against Cody Stamann at UFC on ESPN 23, and that should be concerning for the rest of the division.

The Serra-Longo Fight Team product’s grappling was on display to the tune of five takedowns, but he also kept his opponent off balance with a standup attack that included jabs, straight rights and uppercuts. All told, the Georgian bantamweight outlanded Stamann by a 71-to-48 count in significant strikes – including 49 to the head, 16 to the body and six to the legs.

During his rise to prominence in the UFC, Dvalishvili gained recognition for his wrestling acumen, landing double-digit takedowns on three occasions and overwhelming foes with his pressure and control. However, he wants to point out the he is a well-rounded competitor.

“I train with good guys and my style’s not only wrestling or striking. I can mix it up,” he said. “This is mixed martial arts. They never know what’s coming. That’s why my style is difficu…

The “Giga Kick” delivered in a big way on Saturday night.

Giga Chikadze earned his sixth consecutive Octagon triumph at UFC on ESPN 23, as he dispatched veteran featherweight Cub Swanson with a liver kick and follow-up punches 63 seconds into the opening round of their co-main event encounter at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Once Chikadze delivered his patented maneuver, Swanson doubled over in agony, and it was academic from there.

“I’m happy to get a beautiful win and a beautiful KO, but I like this guy a lot. I don’t think it was necessary for me to have to deliver the last few punches,” Chikadze said. “If they would have stopped it just after the kick, I would be happier. But I had to do it because the referee didn’t stop it. He’s [Swanson] a legend. It feels great to beat a legend.”

Chikadze didn’t get much time to test himself against Swanson. The Palm Springs, Calif., native attempted to close the distance right away, but Chikadze created an avenue for the …

[email protected] steps in on short notice to face @DA_Monsoon at #Bellator258.

Catch their bout via our YouTube channel on Friday, May 7th. pic.twitter.com/hS7z8qcyia

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) May 1, 2021 After parting ways with the promotion late last year, former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho will return on short notice to face Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 258.

Carvalho is a last-minute replacement for Costello van Steenis, who withdrew from the bout last week. Bellator announced the new pairing Saturday on social media. Carvalho had previously been scheduled to face Sharaf Davlatmurodov at LFA 107 on May 14.

Bellator 258 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Friday and is headlined by a bantamweight title tilt between Juan Archuleta and Sergio Pettis. The card will air on Showtime.

Carvalho exited Bellator after losing four of his last five appearances within the California-based promotion,…

Jiri Prochazka’s spinning back elbow finish of Dominick Reyes in the UFC on ESPN 23 main event may have put him in the running for “Knockout of the Year,” but it doesn’t even top the Czech fighter’s own personal highlight reel.

While Prochazka didn’t name a specific knockout on his resume that would surpass what he did on Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, he did explain that his latest effort didn’t top the list because there were a few too many precarious moments against Reyes for his liking.

“No, [it wasn’t my best finish],” Prochazka said at the post-fight press conference. “There was a much better ending in my career in the fights because I [didn’t have] this fight under control all the time. Because Dominick surprised me many times. That’s for a man like me, that’s not good. I like to be the best in these things. To be the best and when you mean something or somebody is the best, that was not the best really.

“There was so many chances to end th…

BREAKING: The @ufc Octagon heads to Glendale with 2 title fights June 12, 2021 #UFC263 On-Sale May 14

Info: https://t.co/T6cSqZiGt6 pic.twitter.com/QaUZFRnA99

— Gila River Arena (@GilaRiverArena) May 2, 2021 The Ultimate Fighting Championship is gradually filling out its schedule with events in front of capacity crowds.

The Las Vegas-based promotion on Saturday announced that UFC 263 will take place at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on June 12. Built in 2003, the 18,000-seat venue is the home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and is a featured attraction of the area’s 223-acre Westgate Entertainment District. Tickets go on sale May 14.

UFC 263 is headlined by a rematch between Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori for the middleweight crown, while Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno square off for a second time with flyweight gold on the line in the co-main event. The main card airs on pay-per-view and is available via ESPN+.

T…