Martial Arts News

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate believes the former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion will never compete in any combat sport again.

Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6) is scheduled to meet former UFC foe Elves Brenner in a no-gi grappling match at ACBJJ 21 this weekend in Moscow. Ahead of the matchup, Tukhugov revealed that Nurmagomedov isn’t very excited about the idea of his return to competition.

Advertisement

Nurmagomedov has been persuading Tukhugov to retire, suggesting that he just continue training to stay in shape. The latter told Red Corner MMA: “He laughed and was like, ‘Why do you need this?’ Leave the sport and just train for yourself. He’s been persuading me to retire for a long time.”Zubaira Tukhugov on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s future Nurmagomedov (29-0) retired from mixed martial arts as the undefeated, undisputed UFC lightweight champion in 2020. Despite multiple attempts by Dana White to bring him out of retirement, “The Eagle” has stood firm o…

Tracy Cortez believes her move to Mexico City has made her a better athlete.

Cortez is scheduled to fight Cong Wang at UFC 329 9 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Cortez’s longtime coach Santino Defranco retired from coaching following her loss against Erin Blanchfield this past November. Cortez subsequently parted ways with the Fight Ready gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. Cortez has since moved to Mexico City to train at the UFC Performance Institute for her upcoming bout.

Advertisement

Cortez claims she is still on good terms with the Fight Ready team. However, the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight believes she outgrew them, fuelling her move to Mexico City. The move has not only helped Cortez develop as an athlete, but also helped her connect deeper to her Mexican roots.Tracy Cortez departure from Fight Ready and coaching split explained “Obviously, I know I’m on good terms with them, but I just felt like I outgrew them… It's just one of those thing…

Dzhihad Yunusov has reportedly passed away while fighting for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Yunusov was embroiled in controversy this past May after alleged footage emerged of him assaulting two of his neighbors. Yunusov reportedly threw coffee at an elderly woman and also assaulted her daughter when she intervened.

The feud allegedly started when Yunusov asked his neighbour to reposition her security camera so it no longer recorded his door. Yunusov was subsequently expelled from the Akhmat Fight Club, which Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov owns.

Yunusov enlisted in the Russian army soon after. According to reports, Yunusov was initially expected to serve his time away from the front lines. However, Yunusov was reportedly dispatched to the warzone after a falling out with leadership.

Yunusov (19-8) had last competed in 2024 under the ACA banner.

OK, I've got the context. The woman is Yunusov's neighbour and she installed a camer…

Ian Garry is drawing inspiration from Sean Strickland ahead of his maiden title bid in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Garry (17-1) believes he can pull off an upset and emerge victorious when he takes on welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (28-1) in the main event of UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Aug. 15. The Irishman is high in confidence, especially considering the last two numbered events ended in big upsets.

Ian Garry is looking to replicate Sean Strickland’s success Garry questions those who aren’t giving him a chance against Makhachev and points to Strickland’s win over the previously unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328.

“If people think when Sean Strickland goes out and beats Khamzat Chimaev and upsets the apple cart, and no one expected, no one can sit here and think that it's impossible that I can beat Islam Makhachev,” He told Paul Browne.

“The Future” added that he’s a far more well-rounded fighter than Strickland and that t…

Paddy Pimblett recently reflected on his infamous post-fight incident while competing for Cage Warriors.

After a 2016 title fight in London, Pimblett suffered a memorable mishap during his post-fight interview due to a pre-fight mistake. He has now shed light on his worst weight-cutting gaffes, one of which ultimately led to the viral moment.

Advertisement

Paddy Pimblett reflects on infamous vomiting clip Pimblett vomiting soon after his 2016 featherweight title fight against Julian Erosa at Cage Warriors “Unplugged 1” remains one of his standout memories from fighting in the England-based promotion. He secured a decision win, but his pre-fight meal got the better of him during the post-fight interview. He recalled on his YouTube channel:

“When I spewed in the cage [after fighting Erosa], it wasn’t because of the refuel; it was just because of being an idiot before I went to the venue. Before I went to the venue, I went to Starbucks or Costco… I got a hot chocol…

Terence “Bud” Crawford has shut down Conor McGregor’s claims about a $200 million offer.

McGregor has previously said that a two-fight crossover offer was on the table courtesy of Turki Al-Sheikh. However, according to the Irishman, Crawford turned it down. The unbeaten boxer has now clarified whether the offer was real.

Crawford has revealed that there was no serious offer for a two-fight deal comprising a boxing and a mixed martial arts bout against McGregor.

“That was a lie. It was cap. It wasn’t never no $200 million offer,” Crawford told Ariel Helwani. “They asked me would I do it, and I told them, ‘You ain’t about to be kicking on me, Conor.’ We were on FaceTime, and I did tell him that. But they didn’t say, ‘Hey, you got $200 million. You fight him in boxing and MMA.’ That was never the case. If it was said to me, I could say there was an offer, but if nothing is previewed to me, I can’t say what is what. He’s making up numbers, in my head.”

Terence Cr…

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king Tim Sylvia has shared a photo of his weight loss on social media.

Sylvia competed in the UFC 13 times between 2002 and 2008, winning the heavyweight championship twice. In a recent Instagram post, he shared that he has lost over 125 pounds since he started his weight loss journey.

Advertisement

Tim Sylvia shares 125-pound weight loss transformation While Sylvia has lost around 125 pounds already, he claims he’s still got 20 pounds to go. His goal is to cut down to 265 pounds, which is actually the current non-championship weight limit in the UFC heavyweight division.

The caption of his Instagram post, featuring a shirtless mirror selfie, read: “Slowly getting there. 20 lbs to go and I will be 265 lbs. Over 125lbs down.”

Sylvia finished Wesley Correira in his Octagon debut and won his maiden UFC title at UFC 41, defeating Ricco Rodriguez. He then beat Gan McGee in his first title defense, but was later …

Valter Walker has addressed Sharabutdin Magomedov’s repeated fouls in his last fight against Michel Pereira.

Having shared the mats with the unorthodox Russian striker, Walker is well aware of his propensity to be creative offensively, even if it means violating rules and committing fouls.

Advertisement

Sharabutdin 'Shara Bullet' Magomedov's history of alleged fouls, according to Valter Walker In the aftermath of the Magomedov vs. Pereira co-headlining bout at UFC Baku, Walker discussed Magomedov’s tendency to grab hair, having previously trained with the Russian. In an interview with the Brazilian channel Sexto Round, the heavyweight revealed that he started shaving his head after he began training in Russia.

“Women are the ones who should have long hair; at GOR MMA, everyone is bald for a reason. When I had long hair, every time I trained with Shara, he would pull my hair and knee me in the face while holding onto it. I’d tell Coach Gor (Azizyan), and he’d app…

A replacement has finally been tabbed after Ode Osbourne was ruled out of his UFC 329 flyweight bout against Cody Durden.

The matchup was scheduled for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Osbourne withdrew from the bout weeks ago following an eight-week training camp due to injury.

Advertisement

Ode Osbourne injury leads to Alessandro Costa vs. Cody Durden On Wednesday, Alessandro Costa (16-5) was named as Durden’s opponent for July 11. Costa holds an Octagon record of 4-3 and is coming off of consecutive victories against Stewart Nicoll and Matt Schnell, respectively.

Durden, 18-10, recently halted a four-fight losing stream with a victory over Jafel Filho on April 25.

UFC 329 takes place on July 11 at 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 Holl…

Brock Lesnar shoves Daniel Cormier at UFC 226. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Daniel Cormier has revealed that a business decision prevented him from fighting Brock Lesnar.

Back in 2018, Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic to become the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king. After the bout, Lesnar entered the Octagon, shoved Cormier and cut a memorable promo, setting up a massive clash.

Advertisement

However, the fight didn’t come to fruition, with Cormier taking on Derrick Lewis next and Lesnar’s UFC return never materializing.Daniel Cormier reflects on failed Brock Lesnar matchup Cormier opened up about the Lesnar fight falling through in a recent Q&A video posted to his YouTube channel. “Man, I wanted that so bad,” Cormier said. “You know Brock Lesnar… I know him because we both wrestled in junior college in the same year, and he wrestled at Minnesota the same year I was at Oklahoma State.”

The former two-division champion then revealed what stoppe…

Terence Crawford on why he spoke out following Ilia Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje:

"I didn't know who he was until he came out saying he would knock me and Canelo out, and I'm like, 'Who's this guy?'

Advertisement

This is the guy that everybody talked about... Everybody's saying he got… pic.twitter.com/0655kdcoGf — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 1, 2026

Ilia Topuria had rubbed a lot of people the wrong way during his meteoric rise.

Topuria’s (17-1) perfect record was broken by Justin Gaethje in their lightweight title fight at the White House last month. While the former was a massive favorite, Gaethje landed significant damage in the third and fourth rounds, forcing Topuria’s corner to throw in the towel after the fourth in a shocking upset.

Boxing legend Terence Crawford was among those quick to address the result after the fight.

Why Terence Crawford took issue with lia Topuria's comments Crawford, who was in att…

Diego Lopes celebrates following his win at "UFC Freedom 250." | 📷: Getty/UFC

Diego Lopes is pondering a change of scenery.

The two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title challenger is debating leaving the weight class, claiming that he wants to compete at lightweight in his next fight. Lopes last fought at UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Steve Garcia.

Advertisement

Diego Lopes lightweight move and UFC featherweight title picture While Lopes is still among the top featherweights, two losses to current champion Alexander Volkanovski puts him far from title contention, and his next move potentially opens up new possibilities.

“It’s a little difficult.,” Lopes told MMA Fighting. “As long as Volkanovski doesn’t retire, it’s going to be hard to get another title shot. I’d have to be rooting for him to lose, but I’d rather see him retire as champion because he was such a great champion for the division. I’m definitely in a bit of …