Martial Arts News

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLus7_iYH2k&w=560&h=315] Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. The Professional Fighters League is making game changing alterations to its 2021 season. The tournament-based league released a video on Thursday narrated by newly announced Athlete Advisory Board member Ray Lewis. In the video, it showed off several high-profile acquisitions including Anthony Pettis and Rory MacDonald, and formally stated when its first event – April 23 is the date – will take place. All of these events will be held on ESPN2, with prelims and additional coverage on ESPN+. The PFL’s campaign this year is called “More Than A Fight,” and more videos and packages will follow.

That was not the only bit of information to come from the PFL on Thursday, however, as broadcast partner ESPN made public a few significant differences to the 2021 season. In an …

With the Von Flue!! @AlonzoMenifield locks in the early sub to close the #UFC260 prelims! pic.twitter.com/FpFP8NzHVQ

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 28, 2021

Though the event was headlined by a heavyweight championship bout, the UFC 260 prelims didn’t do a huge number in the ratings department.

According to ShowBuzz Daily, the preliminary portion of the card attracted an average audience of 718,000 to ESPN. That’s the lowest of the four UFC pay-per-view prelims thus far in 2021, as the other three — UFC 257 (1.433 million), UFC 258 (794,000) and UFC 259 (1.208 million) — all outdrew Saturday’s offering.

UFC 260 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view via ESPN+ and saw Francis Ngannou claim heavyweight gold with a second-round knockout of Stipe Miocic in the evening’s main event. The preliminary draw wasn’t big on star power, but in the featured bout of that portion of the card, Alonzo Menifield submitt…

Wenn alles klappt wie geplant, die Ultimate Fighting Championship ist zurück der Toyota Center in Houston verfügen über eine super-sized 15-bout lineup.

Die Las Vegas-promotion angekündigt, die finalisierte Karte für die Mai-15 Veranstaltung, einschließlich ein paar neuen, leichten Gefechte: Lando Vannata vs. Mike Grundy und Kevin Aguilar vs. Tucker Lutz.

UFC 262 findet im Toyota Center mit kein Gedränge Einschränkungen. Die Veranstaltung überschrieben, die von einem clash zwischen Michael Chandler und Charles Oliveira für den freigewordenen lightweight-Titel, während Leon Edwards und Nate Diazwird square off in einem fünf-Runden-nicht-Titel co-main event. Die Aufstellung für die gesamte Karte angezeigt werden können hier.

Vannata ging 1-1 im Jahr 2020 und kommt aus einer Entscheidung den Verlust zu Bobby Grüne in einem Rückkampf bei der UFC Fight Night 173. Grundy, inzwischen, hatte eine neun-Kampf Siegesserie schnappte auf UFC on ESPN 14, wo er fiel ein drei-…

If you don’t have a Showtime subscription and don’t plan on purchasing one, you’ll still be able to watch Bellator 255 on Friday night.

The California-based promotion announced Wednesday that the Bellator 255 main card will air free of charge to viewers in the United States on streaming services Pluto TV, Hulu, YouTube and FuboTV, as well as via participating television providers.

The entire 13-bout card, which features an eight-bout preliminary lineup, will also stream live on Showtime and the Bellator MMA YouTube channel, per a release.

“We are proud to be the new home of Bellator and delighted to share this debut event with millions of non-subscribers,” said Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza. “Bellator has steadily built the strongest roster in its history and now includes some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. On Friday night, we will introduce new fans to this premier brand of mixed martial arts and invite them to our network, whi…

¡¡¡Grandes noticias!!! ¡Estamos de vuelta! Combate Global ha firmado un contrato de cinco años con Univision. ¡Nuestra primera pelea es el 9 de abril!

Big News!!! We’re back! Combate Global has signed a five-year deal with Univision. Our first fight is April 9th! pic.twitter.com/oZyiFNszn7

— Combate Global (@combateglobal) March 31, 2021 Latin American mixed martial arts promotion Combate Americas will rebrand itself as part of a five-year broadcast partnership with Univision, the top Spanish language content and media company in the United States.

The organization, which will now be known as Combate Global, has signed a five-year media rights deal to broadcast 30 events annually on Univision. The kick-off event will take place on April 9, with further details for the card to be announced in the coming weeks.

Going forward, Combate Global events will be available on all Univision platforms, including TUDN, the TUDN Radio Network, TUDN…

Jon Jones continues to be at odds with the UFC regarding financial terms, and the former light heavyweight champion has once again taken to Twitter to express his concerns.

Jones revealed that he had a call with UFC executive vice president and chief business officer Hunter Campbell to begin negotiations for a potential blockbuster fight against Ngannou, the newly-crowned heavyweight champion.

“I had a brief phone meeting with UFC‘s lawyer Hunter a few days ago,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “As of right now I expressed to him that anywhere around $8 to $10 million would be way too low for a fight of this magnitude. That’s all that has been discussed so far.

“I’m supposed to be waiting for what their offer is going to be. Really hoping the numbers are nowhere near that low. I guess we will see what happens.”

After Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic in the UFC 260 headliner on March 27, Jones tweeted “Show me the money,” which led to a contentious exchange with U…

I I feel it’s time to break out this baby for the next fight. I ask the UFC to please create The McGregor belt. I suggest rose gold and rubies. Think patek rare. pic.twitter.com/bGSRBhRwAa

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 31, 2021

Specialized belts are becoming all the rage in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

On the heels of Jorge Masvidal capturing the “BMF” title with a victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019, Conor McGregor has proposed the creation of his own personalized piece of championship hardware ahead of a rumored trilogy matchup with Dustin Poirier.

“I feel it’s time to break this baby out for the next fight,” McGregor wrote on Twitter, posting a video of the UFC 196 pre-fight press conference, where he first mentioned the notion of his own belt. “I ask the UFC to please create The McGregor belt. I suggest rose gold and rubies. Think patek rare.

“Or yellow gold and emeralds possibly. Might be nice a…

Nate Diaz will make his highly-anticipated Octagon return when he faces Leon Edwards in the UFC 262 co-main event.

ESPN was first to report the matchup. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the pairing but contracts have not been signed. Despite being a non-title affair and not occupying a headlining slot, the bout will be contested over five rounds. It will be the first five-round, non-title co-headliner in promotion history.

UFC 262 takes place on May 15 at the Toyota Center in Houston and is headlined by a showdown for the vacant lightweight strap between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.

Diaz will compete for the first time since losing to Jorge Masvidal via third-round doctor stoppage for the “BMF” title at UFC 244 in November 2019. The Stockton, Calif., native has competed infrequently in recent years, splitting a pair of bouts with Conor McGregor in 2016 and besting Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 in August 2019 before the aforementioned setback to “Game…

Credit: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com Credit: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com Credit: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com Credit: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

Darren Till has suffered a broken collarbone in training and will not be able to face Marvin Vettori in the UFC on ABC 2 headliner as originally planned.

Till announced the news in a post on his Instagram account Tuesday.

“I’ve been [sitting] here for a good few hours debating how to say this [and] put into words what I’m feeling [and] just going to say it straight... I’VE BROKEN MY COLLARBONE! I’m out my fight next week against Marvin,” Till wrote. “Every person who is around me or who has been around me knows I train on a daily basis with f—ed up knees, lower back, shoulders, hands and the list goes on.

“Yesterday while drilling I fell and straight away I knew I’d broken something. To say I’m f—-ing destroyed by it is an understatement. I’ve literally put my heart, soul, mind, physical body, cash, nutrition, sleep, recov…

@danawhite @seanshelby I’ve been beating everybody who you put in front of me, give somebody who make sense, I will be glad to beat @SugaSeanMMA too, please make this happen in April !!I will be ready!! pic.twitter.com/iGmxtD0ooD

— Raoni Barcelos (@BarcelosRaoni) March 30, 2021

After recovering from a case of COVID-19 that resulted in his exit from UFC Fight Night 186 on Feb. 26, Raoni Barcelos is back to training and wants to return to the Octagon as soon as possible.

Barcelos, who was won his last five bouts in the promotion, was impressed with Sean Malley’s performance against Thomas Almeida at UFC 260 this past Saturday. The Brazilian went straight to Twitter to call out the Contender Series alum, tagging UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby in the process.

"We have the same numbers of wins in UFC (5),” Barcelos told Sherdog.com. “The only difference is that he already has one loss in the middle.”

Barcelos believes…

Anderson Silva will return to the boxing ring for the first time since 2005 when he faces Julio Cesa Chavez Jr. on June 19 in Jalisco, Mexico.

ESPN was first to report the booking, which will be contested at 180 pounds, according to promoter Saul Rios. The former UFC middleweight champion later confirmed the news to TMZ Sports.

"When I look back at my journey, I see that nothing has been in vain," Silva said. "I am extremely happy for the opportunity to test my boxing skills with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

"I train continuously, always striving for resilience and to overcome obstacles. Fighting is my everlasting breath."

“The Spider” is 1-1 in boxing, suffering a first-round TKO loss to Osmar Luiz Teixeira in his debut in 1998 before defeating Juliar Cesar De Jesus via second-round TKO in 2005. Both bouts occurred in Brazil. The 45-year-old was once regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. He parted ways with the UFC followi…

Don't miss @FabricioWerdum fights all season long on @canalCombate in Brazil! pic.twitter.com/yu4qFgBHIp

— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) March 30, 2021

As he prepares to make his Professional Fighters League debut against Renan Ferreira on May 6, former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum is excited that the organization’s events will be broadcast on Brazil’s leading media company.

The PFL announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Globo, and the company will carry the promotion’s regular season, playoff and championship events beginning April 23 through Combate channel platforms.

"It´s amazing to know that most MMA fans in Brazil will be able to see me fighting,” Werdum told Sherdog.com. “I Have no doubt Combate is the best fighting channel in the world, the only one dedicated 24 hours to MMA and combat sports. I got more excited when I found out that my move to PFL was important to them to close the deal. That just motivates me to train more to f…