Martial Arts News

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White was a special guest at a recent luncheon hosted by the Latin Chamber of Commerce.

During the session held at the Durango Casino & Resort, White discussed a number of topics with Las Vegas entrepreneurs, including the growth of the promotion and the upcoming UFC 306 event at The Sphere, which is also a tribute to Mexican Independence Day. White also announced a donation to the Latin Chamber of Commerce.

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“I love to help small businesses,” White said (quotes via UFC.com). “People who are starting out, I love to hear their stories, what they do, and I love to support them in any way I can. More than just obviously spending money or buying things from them, to help create awareness that they exist and for people to go try their products.”UFC 306: O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order Now!

White also shared why it was so significant for the UFC to break ground in Mexico and other Lati…

Valentina Shevchenko feels UFC 306 is not all about Mexican Independence Day.

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Shevchenko challenges Alexa Grasso for the women’s flyweight title in the co-main event at UFC 306 on Sept. 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. “Bullet” was initially hesitant to accept the trilogy fight on this particular card due to her past experience.

Shevchenko lost her strap to Grasso in an upset submission loss at UFC 285 in March 2023. The two met in a rematch last September at Noche UFC, which was the promotion’s first event to commemorate Mexican Independence Day. The fight ended in a controversial split draw, leading to Grasso retaining her strap. Shevchenko complained that judge Mike Bell scored the fifth round 10-8 in favor of Grasso so that the Mexican champ could retain her belt on the card built around the country’s Independence Day.

So, when Shevchenko was offered a trilogy matchup a year later at UFC 306, which is also tribute to Mexican Independence Da…

Hear what Demetrious Johnson had to say at ONE 168: Denver 🗣️

Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE 168: Denver!#ONE168 | 🔴 LIVE NOW📺 How to watch 👉 https://t.co/NOuJb13LII🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime 👉 https://t.co/0ZILlG5o3R🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on… pic.twitter.com/5HOxf6aH4A

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 7, 2024

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Demetrious Johnson has announced an end to one of the greatest MMA careers of all time on Friday.

Johnson announced his retirement during an appearance at ONE Championship 168 in Denver on Friday. Johnson made his pro debut in 2009 under the King of the Cage banner before moving to World Extreme Cagefighting, which was later acquired by the UFC. “Might Mouse” went on become the inaugural UFC flyweight champion by defeating Joseph Benavidez in a tournament finale in 2012.

This set off one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport, which included 11 succes…

🚨| Israel Adesanya was seemingly involved in a road rage incident, in New Zealand. 😬#MMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/oHAYyZAtnK

— MMA Frenzy (@mma_frenzy) September 5, 2024

Israel Adesanya opened up on a recent heated confrontation involving another individual in New Zealand.

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Adesanya was recently filmed getting into a spat with an unidentified person in his home country. The footage shows the former UFC middleweight champ trying to get inside his car while arguing the person who repeatedly flexes his biceps. “The Last Stylebender” appears to spit at the person before the video ends.

While the reason for the altercation is unclear from the video, Adesanya claims the man was trying to coax him into a fight while he tried his best to de-escalate the situation. Adesanya also says he’ll press charges against the man for racially abusing him and threatening violence.

“On Wednesday morning, I was leaving a cafe on K Rd when a p…

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals a pic with black eye after sparring session 😳#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/bXCHtBlRtI

— Sportskeeda MMA (@sportskeedaMMA) September 1, 2024

Usman Nurmagomedov recently shared how Khabib Nurmagomedov got a black eye in sparring.

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Khabib recently posted a picture of himself with a black eye, along with a caption wondering if the years are catching up with him.

According to Usman, “The Eagle” had allowed him a morning of rest on the day of the incident. When a surprised Usman asked him about the black eye in the evening, Khabib revealed that another teammate of theirs, Islam Mamedov had elbowed him while sparring.

“No no, it’s when he grapple with Islam Mamedov, there [it happened],” Usman told Sportskeeda MMA. “That day I was rest morning because Khabib pushed me all week and he said, ‘Today you rest.’ He come, I said, ‘What happened with your eye.’ He’s like, ‘Islam Mamedov give me elbow.’” Read more

[embedded content] Bellator MMA will put on its first show since June. All fighters made weight for the 10-fight card, which is headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov putting his lightweight title on the line against Alexandr Shabliy.

The undefeated Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) is coming off an overturned victory over Brent Primus after failing a drug test for a prescription medicine. The Russian wasn't stripped of the title, though, which he won off Patricky Freire in 2022. This will look to be Nurmagomedov's third defense as he submitted Benson Henderson in between the two aforementioned fights. The 26-year-old officially weighed 154.8 pounds.

Meanwhile, this is the first Bellator main event for Shabliy (24-3). "Peresvet" is 5-0 inside the promotion with notable wins over Freire, Primus and Tofiq Musayev. The 31-year-old will look to make a statement in his first title opportunity and also weighed 154.8 pounds.

Bellator Champions Series San Diego Weigh-in Results: Usman Nur…

First to the scale 😤

Sean Brady weighs-in at 171lbs!

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[ #UFCVegas97 | TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus | 7pmET/4pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/dZ2W3VFGsP — UFC (@ufc) September 6, 2024 Editor's note: The article was updated at 1:45 p.m. on Friday to reflect fine amounts.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks off September by returning to Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 242.

The 12-fight card will be headlined by Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady. Both of the welterweight contenders successfully made weight, but two other fighters did not. Kyle Nelson (148.5) came in 2.5 pounds overweight for his featherweight fight against Steve Garcia. Meanwhile, Dylan Budka (188.5) also clocked in 2.5 pounds over the middleweight limit for his bout versus Andre Petroski. As a result, both will be fined 20% of their purses.

This marks the third UFC main event for Burns (22-7). "Durinho" is looking to bounce back from a two-fight skid that saw him co…

[embedded content] Twenty years later, the story of the disappearance of Priscila Belfort, sister of Vitor Belfort, remains unfinished.

In January 2004, Belfort prevailed over Randy Couture to earn the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight throne. Instead of celebrating the victory—a doctor stoppage due to a cut inflicted to Couture’s eyelid—Belfort broke down in tears in his post-fight interview. “The Phenom” revealed that his sister had disappeared earlier in the month. As of September 2024, she still has not been found.

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The harrowing tale of the Belfort family will be shown in a four-part documentary series titled “Volta Priscila,” or “Come Back Priscila.” It will air on Disney+ in Brazil on Sept. 25. It is currently unclear whether the documentary will be dubbed or subtitled in English for international release.

Priscila disappeared on January 9, 2004. At the time, the sister of Vitor worked at the Municipal Department of Sports and Leisur…

[embedded content] No matter who gets it done on Saturday, the world of MMA will see a new Russian millionaire.

Atop Bellator Championship Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy in San Diego on Sept. 7, Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) will put his lightweight strap on the line against Alexander Shabliy (24-3). The victor will not only claim the Bellator MMA 155-pound throne, but also a check for $1 million. On their way to glory, both Russians defeated former champ Patricky Freire, who weighed in on the matchup to Sherdog.

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At Bellator 288 in November 2022, Freire surrendered his belt to Nurmagomedov prior to the commencement of the tourney. A year later, “Pitbull” collided with Shabliy at Bellator 301, and he lost on the scorecards once more. With the experience of facing both across 25-minute engagements, the ex-champ believes the fight will be a lengthy endeavor, while suggesting that sizeable betting underdog +325 Shabliy should be favored.

“I believe…

An undisclosed illness has forced Ovince St. Preux to withdraw from a proposed light heavyweight clash against Ryan Spann at UFC Fight Night 242.

Spann will not remain on the card against a replacement opponent, and as a result, Saturday’s event will proceed with 12 bouts. UFC Fight Night 242 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Veags and is headlined by a welterweight clash between Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady. The evening’s main card airs on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, while prelims stream on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

A former football player at the University of Tennessee, St. Preux has won two of his last three Octagon appearances. Most recently, he took a split verdict over Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC Fight Night 239 on March 16. St. Preux’s 25 UFC appearances at 205 pounds rank No. 1 all-time in promotion history.

Spann has lost three straight outings, falling to Nikita Krylov, Anthony Smith and Bogdan Guskov in succession. The Fortis MMA …

Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos didn’t let the odds get in the way of his dreams.

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The Brazilian was one of five fighters to earn a UFC contract on Week 4 of Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday night, as he outdueled English prospect Will Currie to earn a unanimous decision triumph at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“I got really happy about [Dana White’s] words. He summarized my history,” Santos said. “I knew Currie would be a hell of a challenge. The guy was the No. 1 in the UK for a reason, but the fact of being a 4-1 underdog just motivated me.”

Santos came from a difficult life to pursue his goal of becoming a professional fighter.

“I left my mom's house when I was 13 years old and went to live in [Belo Horizonte]. Since I didn’t have money and anywhere to sleep, I lived in a pitbull kennel. My mother started sending me around $10 a week to help me. At the beginning, I had to eat biscuits and [drink] those artificial powder juices. But I sta…

It will be a while before Blagoy Ivanov is able to return to active competition.

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The Professional Fighters League heavyweight has been suspended for 22 months after testing positive for an anabolic agent in an out-of-competition sample collected on March 28, USADA announced on Wednesday. According to a statement from the anti-doping body, the “urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin.”

Ivanov received a reduction to his sanction for his “full and complete cooperation.” The soon to be 38-year-old Bulgarian will be eligible to return in January 2026.

A former World Series of Fighting who made his PFL debut in 2017, Ivanov returned to the organization on April 4, when he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Sergey Bilostenniy at PFL 1. Ivanov has lost three straight bouts dating back to February…