Martial Arts News

In the end, Clay Guida won at UFC Fight Night 184 in the best way he knew how.

“The Carpenter” snapped a two-fight losing streak with a gritty unanimous verdict against fellow veteran Michael Johnson in a featured lightweight contest at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Guida mixed overhand rights with relentless wrestling to wear down his opponent over the course of 15 minutes.

It wasn’t pretty, but with Guida, it rarely ever is when things go his way.

“I knew he was going to be reliant on that laser beam cross he has.  He cracked me with it a few times. I knew once I could get past a few, I had him,” Guida said. “As long as I could pressure him to the fence and take his best shots, I knew I was going to be in the driver’s seat. I stayed in his face the whole time. I made it dirty and ugly, just like a Clay Guida fight. There’s nothing pretty about it, but it gets the job done.”

While Johnson is known for having the quicker hands, Guida w…

We’ll likely be talking about Cory Sandhagen’s knockout of Frankie Edgar for the rest of the year. For now, though, it’s enough to give the victor a little extra something for his bank account.

Sandhagen received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his flying-knee finish of Edgar in the UFC Fight Night 184 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Sandhagen struck the decisive blow just 28 seconds into Round 1 — the true definition of a walkoff knockout if ever there was one.

Meanwhile, Alexander Volkov’s dominance against Alistair Overeem in the main event netted him the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check. The Russian heavyweight stalked and bloodied Overeem thoughout the heavyweight contest, ultimately finishing his Dutch foe with a left hook 2:06 into Round 2.

Elsewhere, Beneil Dariush and Diego Ferreira earned “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their compellling lightweight tilt. In a back…

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. The dark horse label no longer applies to Alexander Volkov. On a steady climb inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s heavyweight division, the former Bellator MMA and M-1 Global champion damaged and discarded Alistair Overeem in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 184 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Overeem (47-19, 12-8 UFC), who looked like he had been hit by wayward helicopter blades, succumbed to blows 2:06 into Round 2.

Volkov (33-8, 7-2 UFC) was powerful and precise. He battered Overeem bloody in the first round, where he took advantage of the smaller cage, flurried with punches along the fence on more than one occasion and knocked him off-balance with a clubbing left hand. However, the worst was yet to come for “The Demolition Man.” Volkov unleashed his jab and devastating one-twos in the sec…

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. Sherdog's live UFC Fight Night 184 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores …

Our featured prelim is called after swelling on Justin Jaynes's eye. #UFCVegas18 pic.twitter.com/8HrtyXZmSI

— UFC (@ufc) February 7, 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. Devonte Smith is no longer out of sight or out of mind.

In his first appearance since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Factory X prospect made a triumphant return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a second-round technical knockout of Justin Jaynes at UFC Fight Night 184 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Referee Keith Peterson called for the stoppage 3:38 into Round 2 on the advice of the cageside physician, as Jaynes (16-7, 1-3 UFC) suffered a gruesome hematoma that closed his left eye.

Smith (11-2, 3-1 UFC) settled into the 160-pound catchweight clash with jabs and leg kicks, survived after being staggered by an overhand right in the first round and…

Leonardo Damiani (10-2-1) with the RNC to win it. Really good fight for the main event of their first Fight Pass show. Both guys showed up and fought an entertaining competitive battle.#TGC3 pic.twitter.com/Etjzn34qLF

— Dusty Andrews (@Fight_Expert) February 6, 2021

After nearly a year of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Italian MMA returned with the action-packed third event of The Golden Cage series on Saturday.

In The Golden Cage 3 main event, Leonardo Damiani (10-2-1) took on Marco Saccaro (6-3) in a rematch of an October 2018 bout won by Damiani. The promoter never communicated the weigh-in results, but the 180-pound catchweight bout was nonetheless valid for the welterweight belt. Both fighters lived up to their reputations as heavy strikers and exchanged some hards shots early in the opening stanza as Damiani scored with his kicks and Saccaro connected with his punches. After a quick scramble phase against the fence, Damiani …

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDkZB2lUmBU&w=560&h=315]

UFC Fight Night 184 is down to 12 bouts after a preliminary clash pitting Askar Askar against Cody Stamann was canceled.

The promotion announced Saturday that Askar was not medically cleared to compete in the featherweight contest. Askar, who made weight on Friday at 145 pounds, was a short notice replacement for Andre Ewell, who was removed from the event due to COVID-19 protocols.

UFC Fight Night 184 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. The card streams in its entirety on ESPN+.

Anchored at Midwest Training Center, the 26-year-old Askar was entering his Octagon debut on the strength of a three-round verdict over Kevin Wirth at LFA 92 this past October. Askar has won 11 of his 12 professional fights overall.

Stamann, meanwhile, last appeared at UFC on ESPN 13, where he dropped a unanimous decision …

for Drago!

@AlexDragoVolkov is official for #UFCVegas18. pic.twitter.com/rSn3axY1s9

— UFC (@ufc) February 5, 2021 After opening 2021 with a series of “Fight Island” cards, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to its home base in Las Vegas with an event that saw every fighter make weight. Headlining UFC Fight Night 184 is a heavyweight bout between decorated veterans Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. While Overeem (47-18, 1 NC) has never tasted gold inside the Octagon, the 40-year-old is a former Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight champion. 4-1 in his last five, Overeem has only faltered in a shocking late fifth-round stoppage to the hard-hitting Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Most recently, “The Demolition Man” has picked up TKO wins over Walt Harris and Augusto Sakai. The Dutch fighter weighed in at 255.5 pounds.

Similar to his opponent, Volkov (32-8) has found sizable success outside of the UFC with Bellator MMA and M-1 Global heav…

Alyona Rassohyna shocks the world by submitting Stamp Fairtex in Round 3! #ONEUnbreakable3 #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/URBYVDEEdI

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 5, 2021 All but one battle ended inside the distance of the pre-recorded final part of One Championship's "Unbreakable" series..

The main event of One: Unbreakable 3 saw Alyona Rassohyna (13-4) inflicting the first MMA defeat to Nong Stamp (5-1) in an incredible turn of events. The Ukrainian fighter attempted to immediately impose her wrestling style over Stamp by taking her down. However, “Stamp Fairtex” scrambled her way on top and punished Rassohyna with a couple of knees to the head on the canvas. After a wild scramble that saw both contenders alternate in dominating positions, Stamp bounced back on the feet and ended the first stanza with an emphatic elbow on Rassohyna.

In the second round, Stamp warned the Ukrainian fighter of insisting to ta…

@TheNotoriousMMA I know your last fight was not your best showing, stand tall you are a legend & will continue to have more legendary success! It looks to be cowboy for my UFC finale. Sanchez versus McGregor will always be in the ether! HMU in the dm I might Have a bone for you.

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) February 4, 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. Two grizzled veterans and former training partners are going to dance in May. Diego Sanchez (30-13) first posted the news of his upcoming match when calling out Conor McGregor on Twitter on Thursday, stating that his final MMA bout would likely come against Donald Cerrone (36-15-1, 2 NC). While Sanchez regretted that he would not face the Irishman, his claim was substantiated by an MMA Fighting report and confirmed by ESPN shortly thereafter. The two, who trained toge…

bunch of new names removed from eligibility on the UFC fan rankings:

Peter BarrettAntonio Carlos JuniorSpike CarlyleAnthony IvyJacob KilburnVanessa MeloSarah MorasVinicius MoreiraMarkus PerezCole Williams

— Tom Feely (@omgitsfeely) February 4, 2021 The Ultimate Fighting Championship just made a wave of cuts from fighters largely on losing streaks. MMA Junkie made the first report that the promotion let several fighters go, including Antonio Carlos Jr., Carlton Minus and Rhys McKee. MMA Fighting subsequently released a list of other names to bring the tally to an even dozen. In addition to the aforementioned three, Vanessa Melo is not part of the roster but is looking to sign a new deal. Broadcast partner ESPN confirmed all of the cuts shortly after their initial announcements.

The list of fighters reads as follows: Peter Barrett (11-5), Carlos Jr. (10-5, 1 NC), Spike Carlyle (9-3), Anthony Ivy (8-4), Jacob Kilburn (8-4), McKee (10-4-1),…

***BREAKING NEWS***

Cub Swanson returns on May 1st. "Killercub" takes on the Canadian Gavin Tucker in a Featherweight bout. pic.twitter.com/yCcIf6zEl5

— MMA DNA (@MMADNANL) February 4, 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. Cub Swanson is looking to push his win streak to three against a tough Canadian adversary in May.

On Thursday, MMA DNA first reported that Swanson (27-11) would be returning to the cage to face Gavin Tucker (13-1) at featherweight. The two are reportedly set to square off at the recently announced UFC Fight Night card on May 1, which should take place either in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas or in Abu Dhabi, Untied Arab Emirates. The 145-pounders should join another featherweight matchup recently discussed for this event, between T.J. Laramie and Damon Jackson, per MMA Lock of the Night on Twitter.

Swanson…