Martial Arts News

Robert Valentin felt he just couldn’t lose at UFC Winnipeg. 

Valentin (11-6) took on Canadian debutant Julien Leblanc (10-3) in a middleweight bout at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Valentin looked for his first UFC win, having lost all three of his previous fights in the promotion. However, Valentin didn’t let the pressure get to him this time, unlike in his previous fights. “Robzilla” also had the added motivation to win for his late mother, who passed away last November. The Swiss fighter scored a first-round submission win over Leblanc to make his mother proud.

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“I had all of this pressure and it led me to not enjoying the moment,” he told the UFC. “I went back to having fun with my everyday workouts and being around people. And another big thing that motivated me is the passing of my mom. I just know that she’s watching and she’s proud of me not matter what. I couldn’t lose today… I know momma’s up there w…

Jasmine Jasudavicius believes her unsatisfactory win at UFC Winnipeg is a blessing in disguise. 

Jasudavicius (15-4) took on fellow veteran Karine Silva (19-7) in a flyweight clash in front of her home crowd at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Jasudavicius picked up a unanimous decision win in a bout mostly marked by inactivity.  Jasudavicius isn’t impressed with her performance at UFC Winnipeg. However, having never lost two fights in a row in her entire career, the Canadian is glad to bounce back from a loss in her last outing.

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More to Prove “Not too impressed with my performance,” she told the UFC. “I know it was kind of boring. But back in the win column, still climbing my way to the top. I know that I have more to prove and better to show. But we’re back, baby.”

Jasudavicius was under a ton of pressure to return to the win column at UFC Winnipeg. The 37-year-old feels that the underwhelming win is a b…

Paulo Costa isn’t above kicking a man when he is down, albeit in good humor. 

Costa (16-4) took on Azamat Murzakanov (16-1) in a light heavyweight clash at UFC 327 earlier this month. Costa was a sizable underdog going into the fight against the previously undefeated Russian finisher. However, “Borrachinha” showed why he is perennially a top contender as he never let Murzakanov get his game going. Costa pieced Murzakanov apart before finishing him with a head kick and a few follow-up shots in the third round. 

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Costa recently took a dig at Murzakanov over his comments in the lead up to their fight.

“April 11 Paulo Costa is dead,” Murzakanov wrote on X ahead of UFC 327. “I will get justice for all of Brazil.”

Nothing But Crickets However, there had been radio silence from Murzakanov on social media since Costa handed him his first professional loss. Costa couldn’t help taking a dig at Murzakanov’s absence from social media.

“Hi bro, how…

Jai Herbert believes his will to win made all the difference at UFC Winnipeg. 

Herbert (14-6) took on promising debutant Mandel Nallo (14-4) in a lightweight clash at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Nallo hurt Herbert early on with head kicks, even partially dropping him with a right hand. However, Herbert survived the onslaught and returned favour by dropping the Canadian with a right hand. While Nallo managed to return to his feet, “The Black Country Banger” dropped him again with a clean combination and rained brutal ground-and-pound to secure the finish. 

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Herbert admits that his game plan went out of the window in the wild affair that lasted barely over two minutes. Herbert claims he had decided to win when he entered the Octagon against Nallo. Even when Nallo hurt Herbert early, the Englishman knew he would come from behind and get the win unless he was knocked out cold.‘I Just Had the Will’ “I have never …

Dana White is trying his best to secure the best treatment possible for Canadian mass shooting victim Maya Gebala. 

Gebala’s name has been in the UFC Octagon for the past few months. Gebala, 12, was shot in the head and neck during one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history in Tumbler Ridge this past February. White reached out to the family, offering help, when he heard the news. Gebala’s parents want to provide her with the best medical care possible, likely in the U.S. While it was recently reported that Gebala will be treated in Los Angeles, White claims that the procedure is not as simple as it seems. While the UFC head honcho has stepped in to help with his team, he seems annoyed with the complications regarding treating Gebala in the U.S. However, White promises that he and his team are working on it.

Not as Easy as it Sounds“I saw it on the news, and I reached out to the family,” White said at the UFC Winnipeg post-fight press conference. “I wo…

Khamzat Chimaev has signed with Real American Freestyle weeks ahead of his first UFC title defense. 

Chimaev’s signing was announced during the RAF 8 broadcast on Saturday. The UFC middleweight champion is expected to make his debut at RAF 10 on June 13 in St. Louis. 

Chimaev’s close friend Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber via technical fall (13-1) at RAF 8. Tsarukyan has been extremely active at RAF while he remains sidelined from the UFC lightweight title picture.  Meanwhile, Chimaev (15-0) is scheduled to defend his middleweight title for the first time against Sean Strickland (30-7) in the main event at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev dominantly dethroned Dricus Du Plessis to win the title at UFC 319 last year. 

The Wolf is Coming

The Wolf is coming to RAF. pic.twitter.com/F1niSf7osV

— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) April 19, 2026

Four fighters walked away with bonuses at UFC Winnipeg.

Mike Malott (14-2) took on veteran Gilbert Burns (22-10) in front of a home crowd in the main UFC Winnipeg main event on Saturday. Malott picked apart Burns from the opening bell and gradually broke the Brazilian down before finishing him in the third round. Malott earned a $100k Performance of the Night bonus for his victory over “Durinho.” Meanwhile, Burns laid down his gloves following a seven-fight slump to wrap up his Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure that spanned more than a decade.

Canada’s Charles Jourdain (18-8) took on Kyler Phillips (12-5) in a bantamweight tilt in the co-main event. While Phillips tried to control Jourdain on the ground, “Air” scrambled throughout the fight, never accepting bottom position. Jourdain also put on an entertaining display with flying knees and rolling thunders, eventually landing more damage to earn a unanimous decision win. The bout was awarded the Fight of the Nigh…

Mike Malott proved he could more than handle the stressors of a top-of-the-ticket assignment in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The burgeoning Niagara Top Team star put away Gilbert Burns with punches in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 273 headliner on Saturday at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Malott (14-2-1, 7-1 UFC) brought it to a decisive close 2:08 into Round 3, as he logged the most significant victory of his 17-fight career.

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Burns (22-10, 15-10 UFC) tried and ultimately failed to keep the Canadian at bay with leg kicks. Malott employed bulletproof takedown defense and chipped away at the four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion with accurate combination punching. By the time the middle stanza rolled around, damage had begun to build on Burns’ face. Malott dropped the Kill Cliff Fight Club mainstay with a right uppercut and left hook, allowed him to stand, reset and resumed his assault. An overhand right droppe…

Sherdog's live UFC Winnipeg coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The event is also known as UFC Fight Night 273. Jamie Siraj (136) vs. John Yannis (136) BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Siraj (-250); Yannis (+200)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result John Castaneda (139) vs. Mark Vologdin (138.5) BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Castaneda (-120); Vologdin (+100)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the …

Marcio Barbosa swings a mighty sledgehammer, even at 5-foot-6, 145 pounds.

The Dana White’s Contender Series graduate shined in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, as he zapped Dennis Buzukja for a sensational one-punch knockout in the first round of their featured UFC Fight Night 273 prelim on Saturday at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Barbosa (18-2, 1-0 UFC) drew the curtain 1:20 into Round 1.

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Buzukja (12-6, 1-4 UFC) tested the water with a one-two and a front kick to the body, then allowed himself to be lured into a close-quarters exchange. Barboza found the off switch with a clean left hook. Buzukja collapsed to the canvas, his eyes open, the thousand-yard stare in full effect. No follow-up shots were required.

Meanwhile, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 32 finalist Robert Valentin turned away Julien Leblanc with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their middleweight scrap. Leblanc (10-3, 0-1 UFC), who climbed into the…

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Arman Tsarukyan just cannot seem to avoid making headlines wherever he goes.

On Thursday, Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev posted a video purportedly showing Tsarukyan’s ejection from an American Airlines commercial aircraft. Per Zubayraev, he and two friends—American Airlines later noted four individuals were involved—were forced to disembark the flight before departure. The initial reason given was that Tsarukyan would not get off his phone during the takeoff procedure, despite the airline staff telling all fliers that they must disable all electronic devices or place them on airplane mode.

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Tsarukyan and his team were en route from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. The fighter still plans on headlining Real American Freestyle 8, the professional wrestling organization which has gained crossover interest from athletes domestic and abroad. Tsarukyan will be wrestling Urijah Faber in their main attraction on Satu…

Professional Fighters League will next be stopping off in South Dakota in a couple weeks.

The organization completed its lineup of 12 matches for its PFL Sioux Falls offering on May 2. The fights are scheduled to take place inside of the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota’s most populous city of Sioux Falls—it is not, however, its capital, as that honor falls to Pierre. Capping off the jaunt to the home state of Mount Rushmore will be a local staple against a PFL Europe champ, as Logan Storley (18-4) looks to defend home turf against Albania’s Florim Zendeli (9-1-1).

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Interim Bellator MMA welterweight titlist Storley was absorbed into the PFL following the merger, joining its roster in 2024. After getting knocked out by the first time in his career at the hands of Shamil Musaev, Storley turned things around to enter the final welterweight bracket of the main tourney. While he reached the finals, Thad Jean turned him away on the scorecards.

It has bee…