Martial Arts News

Brendan Allen says he and Khamzat Chimaev have agreed to fight each other only if a title is on the line.

Allen submitted Christian Leroy Duncan in his last bout, extending his Ultimate Fighting Championship winning streak to four. The victory strengthened “All In”’s case for a title shot and raised the possibility of a clash with his friend, Chimaev. However, Allen said they have an agreement governing a potential matchup.

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Brendan Allen explains title-only fight agreement with Khamzat Chimaev Allen discussed the arrangement during an appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, saying their friendship wouldn’t prevent them from sharing the Octagon in a championship bout.

“We have the agreement that we’re not going to fight each other unless it’s for gold,” Allen said. “So, if it’s for the belt, then we’re gonna fight. Fighting for the belt changes my life, and it changes my family’s. Everyone that I’ve ever come in contact with knows that about me: if it’s for…

Building the most data-backed combat sport on earth 🌎 We're deepening our partnership with @BallysCorp ahead of Friday’s card in Biloxi. Swipe to see what this 360 partnership means for the future of bare knuckle ➡️ https://t.co/G2L24zg52w

— BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) October 21, 2026

Bally’s Corp. and BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing will bring their latest Fightnight event to Mississippi on Friday, Oct. 23, combining professional bare-knuckle boxing with technology that measures punches and delivers real-time statistics to spectators and television viewers.

The event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi is part of an expanding partnership linking Bally’s casino properties, sports technology and media distribution, the companies announced Wednesday.

Bally’s, BKB expand Bare-Knuckle Boxing partnership with Oct. 23 fight card in Biloxi

The collaboration centers on Bally’s proprietary ForceIQ punch-tracking technology, whi…

Bilal Hasan wants to capitalize on his early UFC momentum.

Hasan scored a 45-second technical knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in August to earn his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract. The undefeated flyweight made his UFC debut in Shanghai just 18 days later, securing a second-round knockout. He recently discussed his busy schedule ahead of his second UFC appearance, slated for UFC 334.

Bilal Hasan embraces rapid UFC rise ahead of Luis Gurule fight at UFC 334 Hasan (10-0, 1 NC) is scheduled to fight Luis Gurule (11-4) at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. “The IndoNinja” said his UFC career is moving faster than expected. He initially wanted only one more fight this year after earning his contract but has welcomed the additional opportunities.

“I said it right after my Contender Series fight, ‘I need just maybe one more fight before the end of this year. I want to take it super slow; I want to build all this.’ The UFC put me on a r…

Scott Coker is seeking rule changes before his new promotion’s debut.

The former head of Strikeforce and Bellator recently unveiled Ki MMA, which is expected to stage its first event in 2027. Coker said the promotion has submitted a request to the California State Athletic Commission to consider an alternative ruleset.

Ki MMA asks California regulators to discuss global MMA rules at Dec. 1 meetingCoker wants to incorporate elements of the global MMA rules into the Unified Rules of MMA. However, the proposal would exclude soccer kicks, stomps and what his statement describes as “linear knee strikes.”

“I’ve always believed MMA should keep evolving,” Coker wrote on Instagram. “Ki MMA has formally requested a rule change to bring elements of the Global MMA Rules into the Unified Rules, excluding soccer kicks, stomps and linear knee strikes as per Rule 533. We’ve asked CSAC to discuss this topic at the Dec. 1 stakeholders meeting.”

Eddie Hearn is mocking Zuffa Boxing after Shakur Stevenson’s departure.

The promotion, headed by Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, signed Stevenson in July. However, the boxing star has secured his release without fighting for the organization.

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Eddie Hearn calls Shakur Stevenson's departure before Zuffa Boxing debut 'humiliating' Hearn criticized White over Stevenson’s departure. The Matchroom Boxing chairman said he initially thought the news was a publicity stunt.

“Unbelievable, I thought it was a publicity stunt, to be honest with you,” Hearn told iFL TV. “Like, until Shakur’s team called me, messaged me last night, I thought it was all just some kind of stunt for an announcement, because it was so bad, so embarrassing, so humiliating for Zuffa, that I thought it can’t be real. Because it happened, and literally within 30 seconds I had 50 messages. ‘Oh my God, have you seen this? Zuffa’s finished. Zuffa’s imploding. Dana White’s hea…

Muhammad Mokaev believes the Ultimate Fighting Championship is unfairly damaging fighters’ careers.

The UFC has drawn criticism for declining to renew the contracts of fighters on winning streaks. Mokaev claims some athletes have been warned to change their wrestling-heavy styles or risk losing their roster spots, raising questions about the fairness and competitive implications of such an approach.

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Muhammad Mokaev questions UFC wrestling warnings and Dana White's remarks after Farid Basharat exit Farid Basharat (16-0) recently completed his contract and wasn’t offered a new deal despite going 7-0 in the promotion. UFC CEO Dana White suggested that difficulties with matchmakers or declined fights could explain such departures without identifying a specific incident involving Basharat. Mokaev believes those comments can damage fighters’ reputations and prospects after leaving the UFC.

The former UFC fighter questioned whether warnings about fighting…

Electronic Arts is bringing back its Fight Night boxing franchise.EA Sports teases Fight Night revival without announcing release date or platforms Ultimate Fighting Championship franchise developer EA Sports announced the series’ return in a social media post showing boxing gloves hanging over a ring. The caption reads:

“To everyone who stayed in our corner: Fight Night is coming back.”

Further details about the revival have not been announced. EA Canada developed the original Fight Night 2004 and the series’ two most recent installments, Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion. EA Chicago developed Fight Night Round 2 and Fight Night Round 3 before the studio closed in 2007. EA Sports UFC was developed in a collaboration between EA Canada and SkyBox Labs.

To everyone who stayed in our corner: Fight Night is coming back. 🥊♥️ #FightNight https://t.co/THPwtB7hTC

— EA SPORTS Fight Night (@EASPORTSFN) October 20, 2026

Jose Aldo would wait for Movsar Evloev to lose and then cut him from the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster if he were in charge.

Evloev (20-0) is scheduled to challenge Alexander Volkanovski (28-4) for the featherweight title at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Aldo said he wouldn’t have given Evloev a title shot.

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Jose Aldo calls Movsar Evloev's UFC fights boring ahead of Alexander Volkanovski title shot Despite his perfect record, Evloev has drawn criticism for going the distance in all 10 of his UFC appearances. Aldo said he would wait for the Russian’s first defeat before releasing him. The Hall of Famer views the UFC as an entertainment business in which winning alone doesn’t guarantee opportunities or stardom.

“The UFC isn’t just an organization that just has to follow a rankings system. It’s a business; it’s entertainment,” Aldo told MMA Fighting. “It’s not a matter of, ‘I’m number one so I have to fight for the title.’ N…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship proposed a four-man light heavyweight tournament, according to Morne Visser.

Dricus du Plessis’ coach said the UFC approached the former middleweight champion about joining a field that included Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev and Navajo Stirling. Under the proposed format, the tournament winner would earn a title shot against light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who is sidelined with an injury.

Morne Visser explains why he rejected UFC light heavyweight tournament with Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev and Navajo StirlingVisser said he rejected the offer because they want to reclaim the 185-pound championship and defend it once before moving up. The Team CIT head coach said a move to light heavyweight remains the plan, but they want ample time to prepare for the division’s physical demands.

“They asked me three weeks ago; the UFC asked me for Dricus to move up to 205, they wanted us to join a pool of four fighters, Jiri [Procha…

Mike Perry sees his fighting future in mixed martial arts.

Perry, one of bare-knuckle boxing’s biggest stars, said he is moving on from the sport. “Platinum” plans to focus on MMA for the foreseeable future.

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Mike Perry explains decision to leave bare-knuckle boxing after BKFC success Perry (15-9) left the UFC in 2021 after his contract expired, having compiled a 7-8 promotional record. He subsequently transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing and became a marquee attraction in BKFC, earning victories over Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens.

Perry’s most recent BKFC appearance was a victory over Stephens in October 2025. He has since competed twice in MMA, defeating Nate Diaz before losing to Brandon Jenkins. He now intends to continue competing with gloves.

“That bare-knuckle stuff is like a cheat code and those two-minute rounds…” Perry told Ariel Helwani. “I was good at it. It was fun. I made some noise doing it. And I'…

Glover Teixeira believes Yousri Belgaroui’s growing confidence on the ground could help him overcome Caio Borralho as the Dutch middleweight prepares for his fourth Ultimate Fighting Championship appearance.

Belgaroui will enter the matchup after winning his first three UFC fights by technical knockout. He is scheduled to face Borralho at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, giving him an opportunity to build on that start against an established contender.

Glover Teixeira credits Yousri Belgaroui's extra grappling work ahead of Caio Borralho at UFC 334

Teixeira, Belgaroui’s head coach, said his fighter’s willingness to spend extra time wrestling and practicing jiu-jitsu has been central to his development.

“Yousri trains a lot and picks things up very quickly. And he likes training on the ground. Sometimes we finish training, everyone is tired, and he grabs someone doing wrestling or jiu-jitsu and rolls for another 20 minutes,” Teixeira said.

The matchup present…

Undefeated professional boxer and social media personality Anthony Vargas has signed a multifight contract with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, the organization announced during an open workout at Humble Warrior Gym in Los Angeles.

Vargas, 26, has amassed a combined 14.5 million followers on TikTok and YouTube while compiling a 3-0 professional boxing record.

Anthony Vargas signs multifight BKB contract after 3-0 start in professional boxingThe Los Angeles fighter made his professional debut in 2024, defeating Jeremy Park by unanimous decision. He followed with a stoppage victory over Irvin Arnoldo Arevalo Chavez in 2025 and a third-round technical knockout of Angel Antonio Mora Bernardino in June 2026.

Vargas will transition to bare-knuckle competition inside BKB's signature Trigon ring. His debut opponent and fight date have not been announced.

"Bare knuckle is more suited to my style. I feel like I can get the job done faster without gloves than I can with traditiona…