Martial Arts News

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…

Jiri Prochazka is $100,000 richer after authoring a memorable knockout of Dominick Reyes at UFC on ESPN 23.

Prochazka received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his spinning back elbow finish of Reyes at the 4:29 mark of Round 2 in Saturday’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Additionally, Prochazka and Reyes each received $50,000, as the light heavyweight contest also earned “Fight of the Night” honors. Prior to the finish, both men landed plenty of heavy offense in a bout that was a slugfest from the outset.

Elsewhere, Giga Chikadze garnered the card’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check by virtue of his quick stoppage of Cub Swanson in the evening’s co-main event. A liver kick from Chikadze sent Swanson crumbling to the canvas, and the Georgian fighter sealed his victory with a few follow-up punches 63 seconds into the opening stanza.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. There’s a new contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division. Jiri Prochazka staked his claim to a title shot in the UFC on ESPN 23 headliner, as he knocked out Dominick Reyes with a spinning back elbow 4:29 into Round 2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. After just the third KO/TKO stemming from a spinning back elbow in promotion history, Prochazka (28-3-1, 2-0 UFC) has finished 25 of his 28 career triumphs by knockout or technical knockout.

“I just want to show the beauty of the art, but sometimes I go very quickly for the win,” Prochazka said. “(As a result of) that, I catch some punches. Mistakes still, but I’m learning from fight to fight.”

A still-improving Prochazka is a scary prospect for the rest of the division, because the whirling dervish of offense he is now is alread…

Melden Sie sich für ESPN+ genau hier, und Sie können dann die UFC live streamen ihr smart TV, Computer, Telefon, Tablet oder Streaming-gerät über die ESPN (TV-Kanal app. Sherdog ' s live UFC auf ESPN 23 die Berichterstattung beginnt am Samstag um 19 Uhr ET. Schauen Sie sich die MMA Diskussionsforen um die Karte zu besprechen oder Ihre Kommentare einzugeben und vorhersagen unten. Runde 1 Sherdog Erzielt Jay Pettry erzielt die Runde:Lev Pisarsky trifft die Runde:Tristen Critchfield erreicht die Runde:Runde 2 Sherdog Erzielt Jay Pettry erzielt die Runde:Lev Pisarsky trifft die Runde:Tristen Critchfield erreicht die Runde:Runde 3 Sherdog Erzielt Jay Pettry erzielt die Runde:Lev Pisarsky trifft die Runde:Tristen Critchfield erreicht die Runde:Das offizielle Ergebnis Runde 1 Sherdog Erzielt Jay Pettry erzielt die Runde:Lev Pisarsky trifft die Runde:Tristen Critchfield erreicht die Runde:Runde 2 Sherdog Erzielt Jay Pettry erzielt die Runde:Lev Pisarsky trifft die Runde:Tristen Cri…

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

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

An illegal upkick from Randa Markos brought an abrupt end to her strawweight encounter with Luana Pinheiro in the UFC on ESPN 23 featured preliminary bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. With Pinheiro unable to continue, Markos was disqualified at the 4:16 mark of Round 1.

Pinheiro did well early, kicking her foe’s leg out with a low kick while landing some stiff punching combinations to the head. The action was paused after an eye poke from the Brazilian cut Markos (10-11-1, 6-10-1 UFC) on her eyelid. When the fight resumed, the combatants engaged in a slugfest in the center of the Octagon, both swinging wildly with heavy punches until Pinheiro executed a head-and-arm throw to get her opponent to the canv…

Considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Anderson Silva has decided to test himself in boxing for the first time since 2005.

After announcing his departure from the UFC last year,  “The Spider” will face former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on  June 19 in a soccer stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The “Tribute to the Kings” card will feature Julio’s father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, in the main event against an as yet to be announced opponent.

In a video interview with AgFight’s Carlos Antunes, the former middleweight champion discussed his upcoming bout as well as what he perceives to be a lack of respect from “YouTubers.”

“I´m really happy to be able to test my skills in another area. It´s such an amazing experience, but I'm totally aware that my opponent has done this since his childhood,” Silva said. “I cannot be arrogant enough to believe that I’ll have a highlight [victory] like those disrespectful Youtubers out the…

Legacy Fighting Alliance will return to South Dakota for a pair of events later this month.

The promotion announced LFA 107 for May 14 and LFA 108 for May 21, both of which will be held at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. LFA 107 will be closed to the public, while fans will be allowed to attend LFA 108 at a limited capacity. Both events will stream via UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

LFA 107 is headlined by a showdown between former Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho and Sharaf Davlatmurodov.

Carvalho exited Bellator after losing four of his last five appearances within the California-based promotion, including a decision defeat against Alex Polizzi in his last outing this past September. He began his Bellator tenure with six consecutive triumphs, a stretch that featured a title-winning KO of Brandon Halsey and three successful defenses of the belt.

Davlatmurodov enters his LFA debut on a five-bout winning streak. The …

Silveira inside a minute! #LFA106 pic.twitter.com/IpZvZrGEEJ

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 1, 2021 Joshua Silveira made short work of Rafael Viana atop the latest Legacy Fighting Alliance event.

Silveira needed just 41 seconds to win the LFA 106 main event. After taking down Viana (6-2), Silveira was able to sink in a rear-naked choke. After the submission win, the light heavyweight prospect is now 5-0. The 28-year-old is looking toward the vacant LFA light heavyweight title bout next and has his eyes on the winner.

The co-main event saw Luiz Antonio Lobo Gavinho and Terrance McKinney battle at lightweight. McKinney (9-3) made short work of his 37-year-old opponent after landing a beautiful head kick. A few punches later on the ground and the fight was waved off after just 17 seconds as Gavinho (10-5) was unable to continue.

Kyle Estrada picked up a unanimous decision win over Tyler Wilson. Estrada (11-6) was able to land damagi…

Rumble Johnson’s opponent next week will now be Team Pitbull’s Jose Augusto Azevedos Barros (7-2), sources say. Unbeaten in his last 6. 1-0 in Bellator.

Barros replaces Yoel Romero, who didn’t get medically cleared due to an eye issue.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 30, 2021 Bellator MMA did not need long to find a replacement for its light heavyweight tournament. Late Thursday night, Yoel Romero was forced to withdraw from the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix after failing to clear his medicals from an eye issue. The promotion sought to replace him and keep Anthony Johnson (22-6) on Bellator 258 with the tournament still on track. After primary alternate Julius Anglickas was unable to take the match on a week’s notice, the organization called on Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros (7-2, 1 NC). This new development was reported by ESPN on Friday.

Barros made his Bellator debut at the beginning of April, when he faced Jonathan Wilson…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Jonathan Pearce is a firm believer that discretion is the better part of valor. At the UFC on ESPN 23 weigh-ins on Friday, Gabriel Benitez (22-8) came in at 150.5 pounds for his featherweight bout against Pearce (10-4). For a weight miss this substantial – Benitez came in 4.5 pounds over the limit – the on-weight fighter can elect to take the fight or decline it. Per Pearce’s Instagram account shortly after the weigh-ins were complete, he has decided not to compete on Saturday, so he does not give his foe a competitive advantage. It is uncertain at this time if the UFC will rebook the pairing for a later date, or go in a different direction entirely.

“Unfortunately, my opponent came in almost 5lbs overweight and our fight is off,” Pearce wrote. “I did my part by showing up and mak…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EME_Xra0cQ&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. In both frame and potential, a big Professional Fighters League heavyweight prospect plans on shocking the world next week. With a record of 6-2, with all six of his wins coming by stoppage, Team Nogueira’s Renan Ferreira has no problem with what should be large underdog odds against Fabricio Werdum (24-9-1). One week before his debut in PFL heavyweight tournament against fellow countryman Werdum, “Problema” spoke with Sherdog about his expectations for the most important fight of his career.

“I’ve always prepared myself for great opportunities,” Ferreira explained. “I’m very honored to make my PFL debut against an idol like Werdum, one of the greatest heavyweights of the history who brought so many titles to Brazil. But I trained hard to prove that I came to make h…