Martial Arts News

Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t care about his opponents’ game plans. 

Chimaev’s close friend, Arman Tsarukyan, recently explained why the middleweight champion is different than most fighters. Tsarukyan claims that Chimaev never studies tape on his opponents. According to Tsarukyan, Chimaev is only focused on his own game plan in the fight. Chimaev is so confident in his skills that he doesn’t care about what his opponent is going to bring to the table.

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“Borz” is scheduled to defend his title against Sean Strickland (30-7) at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Tsaruyan (23-3)  is currently helping Chimaev (15-0) in camp for his upcoming fight. Tsarukyan guarantees that he has watched more tape on Strickland than Chimaev has. Tsarukyan also admits that he naturally has a different approach than Chimaev,  watching a lot of tape on his opponent and making a game plan accordingly.Film Study Overrated? However, Chimaev…

Considered by many to be the greatest ju-jitsu coach in Brazil today, even called the Brazilian John Danahar, Melquizael Galvao was arrested on Tuesday in Brazil for suspected sexual crimes against female students in Manaus.

The father of Micael Galvão (Mica), considered the biggest name in jiu-Jjtsu in Brazil today, Melqui is also a civil police officer in the state of Amazonas.

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The temporary arrest was decreed after complaints gathered by the 8th Women's Defense Police Station (DDM), which is investigating reports of abuse involving at least three victims. According to the police, the complainants presented a recording in which the suspect indirectly admits to the incident and tries to prevent the case from going forward, with the promise of financial compensation. The 13-minute audio recording of Melquizael's plea to the victim's parents went viral throughout the jiu-jitsu community. In the recording, the coach acknowledges his mistake, swears rem…

Sean Strickland will try to recapture middleweight gold at UFC 328. | Getty/UFC

Sean Strickland has serious bad blood with Khamzat Chimaev. 

Strickland (30-7) is scheduled to challenge Chimaev (15-0) for the middleweight title in the main event at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Strickland and Chimaev's beef leading up to the fight goes beyond the customary trash talk. 

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Chimaev recently said that Strickland would flee if he confronted him with his gang, as the former middleweight champion has no friends. Known for his controversial take on gun control, Strickland says he would just shoot Chimaev’s gang if they tried to jump him. 

Fighters with even long-standing beefs often bury the hatchet after sharing the Octagon. However, Strickland doesn’t think he will be cordial with Chimaev ever. According to Strickland, the loser of his fight with Chimaev will have to swallow a bitter pill and li…

Belocqua Wera helped mold Alex Pereira into the fighter he is today. | Belocqua Wera

If he manages to beat Ciryl Gane on June 14 at UFC White House, Alex Pereira will be the only fighter in history to win three belts in different divisions in the world's largest MMA promotion.

Before arriving in the UFC, Poatan had already been a double champion (middleweight and light heavyweight) in Glory Kickboxing. Most fans today associate Pereira with his current coaches, Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, who was even elected coach of the year at the MMA Oscars in 2024. Despite always pointing out the importance of both in his career, “Poatan” never fails to recognize the importance of his first coach, Belocqua Wera.

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Ultimately, it was this renowned professional, the former coach of the Brazilian Kickboxing team, who had already trained the famous South American kickboxing champion Paulo Zorello, who extended a hand to him, recognized his talent,…

Aljamain Sterling could feel darkness setting in when Youssef Zalal caught him in a guillotine. 

Sterling (26-5) and Zalal (18-6) traded leather in the main event at UFC Fight Night 274 last Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. It was complete domination by Sterling, barring a brief guillotine scare in the third round. As Zalal caught Sterling in a guillotine, “Funkmaster” took him down, leading to an even tighter choke. However, Sterling maintained composure and defended the choke and went on to dominate the rest of the round and the fight to earn a unanimous decision win. 

Difficult to Breathe Sterling recently revealed that Zalal’s guillotine was substantially tight. “Funkmaster” even felt his vision clouding momentarily. However, the former bantamweight champion just didn’t have any quit in him. Sterling admits that he might have tapped to a similar choke in training.  

“It was tight,” Sterling told Home of Fight. “I could definitely feel my trachea; e…

Khamzat Chimaev’s mood can apparently shift within hours. 

Arman Tsarukyan is currently helping Chimaev for his upcoming fight. Tsarukyan recently revealed that Chimaev has polarizing mood swings. While Chimaev can be the funniest guy in a moment, he can turn into the scariest being within an hour. Tsarukayn claims it’s impossible to strike up a conversation with Chimaev sometimes, as “Borz” would only reply in monosyllables. However, on other days, Chimaev can keep talking for hours on end.

A Study in Contrasts “You can see him once being the funniest guy ever,” Tsarukyan told Patrick Bet-David. “But you can see him in one hour; he can be the scariest guy ever. He can change his moods so fast… Maybe because we’re fighters. Some days, you cannot even talk to him. ‘How are you?’ ‘Good.’ That’s it, he doesn’t talk. Some days, he never stops; he can talk for three to four hours.” 

Chimaev (15-0) is considered one of the scariest active fighters in the UFC. While…

Lumumba Sayers went 6-5 during his professional MMA career. | Isaac Hinds

Former Strikeforce competitor Lumumba Sayers was found guilty of murder and other charges on Monday, according to a statement by the Adams & Broomfield Colorado District Attorney's Office.

An Adams County jury found Sayers guilty of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and attempt to commit tampering with physical evidence in relation to the fatal shooting of Malcolm Watson in Commerce City, Colorado, on August 10, 2024. Sayers is scheduled for sentencing with Judge Jeffrey Ruff on July 24.

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According to Denver7, Sayers testified that he did not shoot or kill Watson, but he did admit to carrying a gun with out concealed carry license. Meanwhile, the Denver Post reports that Sayers gun was never fired that day. Investigators believe that the gun used to kill Watson was “an untraceable 3-D printed or kit-built ghost gun.” That weapon has not bee…

Arnold Allen will look to regain some momentum on May 16. | Getty/UFC

Though the UFC will be holding a card on the same day as Most Valuable Promotions’ MMA debut on Neftlix, it wouldn’t be accurate to call it counterprogramming by the Las Vegas-based organization.

That’s the perspective of Arnold Allen, who will headline UFC Fight Night 276 against Melquizael Costa in a featherweight bout at the UFC Apex on May 16 in Las Vegas.

“The fact it’s me and Melky headlining against them, I don’t think the UFC is really trying to compete,” Allen said on "The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Not to put me and Melky down, but let’s be real. Star power, like, they ain’t trying to compete.”

The MVP card is headlined by a women’s featherweight clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, a matchup Rousey is touting as the biggest female fight ever. The event also includes Francis Ngannou’s return, as he takes on Philipe Lins in the heavyweight co-main event, while fan …

Paddy Pimblett took a beating against Justin Gaethje. | Getty/UFC

While Paddy Pimblett displayed heart by going toe-to-toe against Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 headliner, it wasn’t exactly the best tactical approach.

The end result was a unanimous decision defeat, as Gaethje battered “The Baddy” on the feet for the better part of five rounds to claim the interim lightweight crown. Pimblett might have been better served trying to make Gaethje grapple, but he wanted to prove a point against one of the sport’s top all-action competitors. As a result, it’s Gaethje who gets a chance to unify the lightweight title when he faces Ilia Topuria in the UFC White House main event on June 14.

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“To be honest, with the last fight, I think it was a little bit of me ego got in the way,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to strike with him and show everyone I can strike. I wanted a war. When you’re trying to take…

Arman Tsarukyan isn’t interested in remaining idle as he awaits word on his next UFC bout.

The lightweight contender has booked his fifth match under the Real American Freestyle banner, as he will square off against wrestling influencer Keelon Jimison — better known as “Mugzy” — at RAF 9 on May 30 in Dallas. The organization announced the pairing on Tuesday. RAF 9 is headlined by a heavyweight matchup pitting Gable Steveson against Alexander Romanov and airs via Fox Nation.

No UFC, No Problem Tsarukyan is 4-0 in RAF competition since January, earning victories over the likes of Lance Palmer, Georgio Poullas (twice) and Urijah Faber. Since his most recent Octagon appearance, a first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar this past November, the 29-year-old Russian has competed in a couple of grappling matches in addition to his prolific efforts in RAF.

“Mugzy” has competed twice for the wrestling promotion, losing to Poullas at RAF 5 while besting UFC veteran Clay…

Flyweight gold will be on the line at Rizin "Landmark Vol. 14.”

Hiromasa Ougikubo will defend his 125-pound crown against Makoto Takahashi in the evening’s main event on June 6 at Xebio Arena Sendai in Miyagi, Japan. The Japanese promotion recently announced the booking, along with several other bouts for the event.

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Ougikubo claimed the flyweight strap on New Year’s Eve, when he completed his run through the Rizin Fighting Federation grand prix with a unanimous decision triumph against Yuki Motoya. After suffering a three-bout losing streak from September 2022 to July 2023, the 39-year-old Japanese standout has rallied to win five consecutive outings — all via decision — under the Rizin banner.

Takahashi, meanwhile, has been victorious in four of his last five fights. The 25-year-old American Top Team representative kicked off his 2026 campaign with a first-round submission triumph against Nkazimulo Zulo at Rizin “Landmark Vol. 13” on April 12. Read more

Dustin Poirier considers Ilia Topuria among the top five UFC lightweights in history. 

Poirier recently listed his top five UFC lightweights of all-time on “Deep Waters.” The list is as follows:

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Khabib NurmagomedovIslam MakhachevB.J. PennIlia Topuria Frankie Edgar

Poirier (30-10) is also considered one of the greatest lightweights who never tasted UFC gold. Poirier made failed title bids against Nurmagomedov and Makhachev. While Nurmagomedov stopped “The Diamond” with a rear-naked choke in 2019, Makhachev did the same with a brabo choke in 2024. 

A Credentialed Group Makhachev holds the record for the most title defenses (4) in UFC history. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov, Penn, and Edgar tie for the second spot with three defenses each. Meanwhile, Topuria (17-0) won the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira last year and is scheduled to defend it for the first time against Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the White House. Topuria…