Martial Arts News

If you still feel the same about it @USMAN84kg, let’s go. I will be ready. https://t.co/hiYf2MvhtK

— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) May 25, 2024 Kamaru Usman believes he is big enough to fight at light heavyweight.

At UFC 276, then-welterweight champ Usman (20-4) squared off with Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1) in July 2022. Although competing 35 pounds apart, “The Nigerian Nightmare” did not give up much size to the former light heavyweight champion. Blachowicz measures two inches taller while also holding a two-inch advantage in reach, but Usman’s last three outings saw him square off against a 6-foot-2 opponent.

Advertisement

Usman recently brought up his faceoff with Blachowicz, reiterating the similarity in their sizes. While Blachowicz is known to pack immense power, Usman still believes he has the stylistic advantage over the top Polish contender. According to Usman, he could handle Blachowicz on the feet if he tires him out with gra…

According to his coach, Islam Makhachev’s skills have reached their zenith.

Makhachev’s striking coach, Magomedgadzhi Bagandov, believes the champ can outstrike Dustin Poirier (30-8, 1 NC). Makhachev (25-1) is slated to defend his lightweight strap against Poirier in the main event at UFC 302 on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. With Poirier’s notoriety for emerging victorious in lethal slugfests and Makhachev’s Dagestani grappling background, taking the fight to the ground would be the obvious gameplan for the champion.

Makhachev’s camp has been highlighting the recent developments of their pupil’s striking skillset. Makhachev recently claimed that his teammate, Bellator MMA lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov, has better striking than Poirier. Coach Bagandov claims that Makhachev can not only hold his own in the stand-up against Poirier, but he may even have the advantage on the feet against “The Diamond.”

“I have been following Poirier f…

Adrian Yanez may be his own harshest critic.

Yanez (17-5) triumphantly rebounded from a skid of two straight knockout losses by blasting Vinicius Salvador at UFC Fight Night 241 on May 18. Yanez subsequently called out unranked up-and-comers Victor Henry and Daniel Santos, with the latter having already accepted the callout. Yanez also aimed high, eyeing Deiveson Figueiredo, but believes it’s a long shot. Yanez recently talked with MMA Junkie, where he discussed his plans to work his way back up the ladder.

Advertisement

“If I’m trying to eek my way in, trying to somehow squeak my way in to fight someone in the top 15, I feel like I would like to fight someone like ‘Figgy’ [Deiveson Figueiredo]. I feel like just because of the fact that he fought Brandon Moreno a couple of times, my favorite fighter is Brandon Moreno,” Yanez explained.

A fight against Figueiredo may be off the table for now, as “Deus da Guerra” recently agreed to face Marlon Vera at UFC Abu Dhabi…

Tom Aspinall understands why Jon Jones wants to fight Stipe Miocic.

Jones (27-1, 1 NC) was originally scheduled to defend his heavyweight strap against Miocic (20-4) at UFC 295 in November 2023 but was forced out due to a torn pectoral muscle. To keep a heavyweight title tilt on the card, Tom Aspinall (14-3) faced and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich for the interim variety. Since then, Jones has suggested he will stay the course and has his sights set solely on the former heavyweight champion rather than the surging 31-year-old.

With no timeline for Jones’ return, Aspinall initially called for the champ to be stripped of his title. However, the Brit has since changed his tune and has been rallying for a clash against Jones. “Bones” does not want that matchup; the same goes for Miocic. Some expect that when Jones and Miocic collide—a date for their meeting is rumored for November—it will be a retirement match for both heavyweights.

With Jones and Miocic turning him d…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is stacking the deck for its return to Abu Dhabi this summer.

Per Ag. Fight on Thursday, Marlon Vera (23-9-1) and Deiveson Figueiredo (23-3-1) have agreed to a bantamweight clash at UFC on ABC 7. The report noted that the fighters have not officially signed their contracts, but verbal agreements are in place. Should this matchup indeed come together, it will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Aug. 3. The pairing has since been confirmed by Vera on his Instagram Stories as well as other outlets. This joins other 135-pound contest Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov as the only fights currently booked for the card.

In his last time out, Vera fell short vying for the bantamweight throne against Sean O'Malley. Atop UFC 299, the striker was outstruck by the champ, handing “Chito” his second loss in three outings. Vera earned a crack at gold off a single victory when he overcame Pedro Munhoz via decision…

Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight Ariane Carnelossi is bringing receipts showing the injuries she sustained in her last bout.

At UFC Fight Night 241 on May 18, Brazil’s Carnelossi faced Piera Rodriguez on the preliminary portion of the event. After dropping Carnelossi with a front kick and follow-up punches, Rodriguez measured and delivered two headbutts deemed intentional by referee Mark Smith. Rodriguez was disqualified for her fouls, marking the first DQ due to a headbutt in UFC history.

Advertisement

Rodriguez later cried foul on social media, claiming that Carnelossi was a “coward.” While admitting that she made a mistake, the Venezuelan proffered that Carnelossi should be ashamed of earning a win in such a fashion.

“I rather lose a fight because of a mistake I did, than go home calling myself a ‘winner’ knowing I am a coward…,” Rodriguez wrote. “I made a big mistake, maybe because of adrenaline…but you have to go to sleep with that lie in your hea…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is throwing one more top-ranked matchup on its blockbuster card at the end of June.

According to the UFC on Friday, Ian Garry (14-0) will be throwing down with Michael Page (22-2) at UFC 303 on June 29. The two welterweights will toe the line inside of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where they will be placed on the main card. Earlier in the week, Garry stated on a since-deleted social media post that he had accepted an offer to face “MVP” at this event.

“The Future” has strung together a solid seven-fight win streak since making his way to the promotion as the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship welterweight kingpin. The Irishman introduced himself to the UFC brass by punching out Jordan Williams in the first round at UFC 268 and has not looked back. A pair of decision victories over Darian Weeks and Gabriel Green carried him into pairings against Kenan Song and Daniel Rodriguez, where he dispatched both Song and Rodriguez via str…

Sound on 🔊 HEAVY shots from Isfak Seyid!#ONEFridayFights64 | 🔴 WATCH NOW🇬🇧🇮🇪 Live on Sky Sports YouTube (geo-restrictions apply)🌍 Live TV broadcast in 190+ countries (check local listings)🌍 Also available on https://t.co/eBUfsOlZOd (geo-restrictions may apply) pic.twitter.com/UWiBk1xzuK

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 24, 2024 Isfak Seyid funneled another unwitting victim into his traps.

Merciless clinches, opportunistic takedowns, bulletproof submission defense and punishing ground-and-pound carried the unbeaten Turkish prospect to a unanimous decision over Felipe Negochadle in a three-round ONE Friday Fights 64 bantamweight showcase on Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. All three ringside judges gave the nod to Seyid (6-0, 2-0 ONE), who once again impressed on the ONE Championship stage.

Almost hypnotized by his counterpart’s oppressive style, Negochadle (6-2, 0-1 ONE) found himself in a constant state of…

[embedded content] A recent Ultimate Fighting Championship pickup might have "Mortal Kombat" on the brain.

On about a month’s notice, the promotion signed aggressive middleweight Joilton Lutterbach (38-9, 1 NC) to take on (12-0) at UFC on ABC 6 on June 22. The German by way of Brazil is elated to make his organizational debut in Saudi Arabia, and with this being his 70th pro fight in MMA and kickboxing combined, he does not expect the bright lights will get to him. Unafraid of the Russian’s knockout power, Lutterbach talked with Sherdog on Wednesday about his upcoming debut.

Advertisement

“I’m better than him in every area,” Lutterbach said confidently. “I see myself as far superior to him in boxing, wrestling and on the ground. The only thing he does better than me is kick. I’m a year older than him, but I have four times as many MMA fights and practically the same curriculum in kickboxing.”

Boasting a slew of grappling credentials, “Peregrino” nevertheless wi…

Fresh off the biggest win of his career, Lerone Murphy wants to stay active and carry that momentum forward.

Britain’s Murphy (14-0) outdueled perennial contender Edson Barboza (24-12) in his first UFC headliner at UFC Fight Night 241. With the promotion set to return to Manchester, England, in July after nearly eight years away, an offer for the undefeated featherweight to headline a card just months prior came as bit of a surprise. Murphy revealed that while he was aware of the UFC 304, card for some time, a main event opportunity against a veteran like Barboza was too good to ignore. “The Iceman” made an appearance on "The MMA Hour" on Wednesday, where he described his thought process going into the fight.

Advertisement

“The opportunity they gave me, Edson Barboza, main event, five rounds, how can I say no,” Murphy explained. “I can’t say no to that. That’s a massive opportunity and a massive spotlight. So, for me it was like, yeah, they’re coming to Manchester…

Paddy Pimblett believes that Bobby Green’s chin has been well and truly cracked.

Pimblett (21-3) and Green (32-15-1, 1 NC) are set to trade leather at UFC 304 on July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. Pimblett expects Green to use his impressive takedown defense to avoid grappling and force a fight predominantly on the feet.

Advertisement

However, the Next Generation UK standout questions how Green’s chin will hold up after his brutal knockout loss to Jalin Turner in December 2023. While Green bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Jim Miller last month, Pimblett notes that even a 40-year-old Miller stung “King” in their meeting. Considering Green’s recent display of durability, “The Baddy” isn’t undermining his own chances of scoring a knockout.

“He’s got very good striking, he’s got good hands. But his chin’s gone after what happened with Jalin Turner,” The Liverpudlian told The Mac Life. “So, Jim Miller is not a knockout artist and …

Belal Muhammad has vowed to break Leon Edwards in their upcoming clash.

Muhammad (23-3, 1 NC) will challenge Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) for the welterweight title in the main event at UFC 304. The two will run it back on July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. The two first met atop UFC Fight Night 187 in 2021, resulting in a no contest after an accidental eye poke. Muhammad recently downplayed Edwards as a threat, labeling the champ the easiest matchup in the top five.

Advertisement

While Muhammad prides himself on his pressure-first approach, he believes this alone will not be his primary advantage. “Remember the Name” considers Edwards easy to break and mentally weak, in stark contrast with himself. Muhammad noted that “Rocky” appeared to be completely dejected before pulling off a shock upset in his first title win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Muhammad said on the "Show Me The Money" podcast:

“I don’t think there’s anybody in the world that’s gonn…