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Kade Ruotolo Discusses ‘Curse’ of Sharing Fight Card with Brother Tye

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Kade Ruotolo will hope to break a funny “curse” when he shares the ONE on Prime Video 21 card with his twin brother, Tye Ruotolo.

The ONE Championship lightweight submission grappling champion will face innovative Brazilian standout Francisco Lo in a 180-pound catchweight matchup at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on April 5. Ruotolo has coincidentally never picked up a finish in any of the cards he previously shared with Tye, who, on the other hand, managed to submit his opponent every time. But Ruotolo insists it wasn’t due to a lack of effort on his part.

“It was the funniest thing because that’s been my ONE Championship curse as of recently,” the 21-year-old said during the ONE Fight Night 21 media day. “You know, it’s my style, it’s no lack of effort, I’m coming close in almost every match. In the Shinya [Aoki] match, I had the buggy choke at the end, which was real tight. The Tommy [Langaker] one, I finished in a triangle that…

Ben Tynan Plans on Taking Duke Didier’s ‘Head Off’ at ONE Fight Night 21

Ben Tynan is looking to maintain his perfect stoppage streak against Duke Didier at ONE on Prime Video 21.

Tynan (5-0) will take on Didier (8-2) at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok on April 5 in what will be his sophomore ONE Championship outing. Tynan made his promotional debut in November 2023 with a third-round submission win over Ji Won Kang, which was the longest “Vanilla Thunder” ever competed as a professional or amateur.

Looking back at the matchup, Tynan admits that Kang’s initial aggression took him by surprise.

“I thought I was going to have to bring the striking out, and he was what I was expecting,” the 30-year-old said during ONE Fight Night 21 media day. “Going into the fight, I figured a guy like that, he's probably going to be more cautious of my fighting. So I thought maybe he would like to stick with the jab, stay lower, and move, but he came out guns blazing, and it actually surprised me at first. And I was like, ‘Oh, cool, al…

Cris Cyborg to Headline Green Bay Fight Night in Boxing Return

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Cris Cyborg will return to the sweet science.

Cyborg (3-0 Boxing, 27-2 MMA) is booked to headline Green Bay Fight Night opposite Widnelly Figueroa (0-2) at the Watering Hole in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 27. The fighter’s team reported the booking through a press release.

Promoted by Roughhouse Promotions and Salomon Becerra, the bout is scheduled for four two-minute rounds with 10-ounce gloves at 154 pounds.

Cyborg scored a first-round knockout over Kelsey Wickstrum in January to extend her perfect record to 3-0 in the ring. Meanwhile, Figueroa returns to action for the first time since 2017, still in search of her first pro win.

Cyborg’s return to boxing comes amidst long drawn-out negotiations regarding a mixed martial arts clash against Professional Fighters League featherweight champ Larissa Pacheco. The Bellator MMA featherweight champ was surprisingly not a part of the champ vs. champ card that went down i…

UFC Fight Night 240 Update: Pedro Falcao to Face Victor Hugo on Short Notice

Pedro Falcao will make his Octagon debut on less than a week’s notice against Victor Hugo Silva at UFC Fight Night 240.

Falcao is a late replacement for Heili Alateng, who was forced to withdraw from the bantamweight contest for undisclosed reasons. Multiple outlets confirmed the new booking following an initial report from MMA Mania. UFC Fight Night 240 takes place on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a middleweight bout pitting Brendan Allen against Chris Curtis.

Falcao will enter his first promotional foray with a 16-3 career mark that includes 11 victories inside the distance. The 31-year-old Brazilian scored a third-round knockout of James Barnes on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 but did not receive a UFC contract as a result of that performance. Most recently, he choked out two-time UFC veteran Leonardo Morales Tuff-N-Uff 134 this past November.

Hugo, meanwhile, is in the midst of a 13-bout winning strea…

Rib Injury Forced Manel Kape Out of UFC on ESPN 55 Headliner

According to Manel Kape, a rib injury forced him to withdraw from a proposed flyweight clash against Matheus Nicolau in the UFC on ESPN 55 main event.

“This is the first time I’ve ever [pulled] out of a fight,” Kape wrote on X. “I broke the cartilage of my rib, and I couldn’t move for a week. On Thursday last week, my surgery went extremely well. [Bear] in mind that all my fights that got canceled in the past [were] due to my opponents.

“Where I came from we used to fight for free. I’m not bragging about [it]. I’m just being honest, so don’t ever think I’m like some of you guys.”

This is the first time I’ve ever pull out of a fight, I broke the cartilage of my rib and I couldn’t move for a week. On Thursday last week my surgery went extremely well. Bare in mind that all my fights that got cancelled in the past was due to my opponents.

Where I came from…

— マネル・ケイプ موسى Manel Kape (@ManelKape) April 3, 202…

New Ticket Policy Implemented for Fighters’ Family, Friends at UFC Apex

Friends and family members of athletes competing at the UFC Apex will have the opportunity to watch them fight under a new ticket policy recently introduced by the Las Vegas-based promotion.

UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell sent out a memo on Tuesday revealing that fighters will receive four seats to “watch their fight only” at the Las Vegas facility. The policy will begin with Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 240 card. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the news.

“Beginning with UFC Fight Night this Saturday, April 6, athletes who compete on cards at UFC Apex will receive four (4) seats for friends and family to watch their fight only,” Campbell wrote in the memo. “Following the bout, your guests will be escorted out of Apex. This practice will be in effect for all events at UFC Apex going forward.

“UFC Event Operations VIP Hosts will coordinate all details with you during fighter check-in of your respective fight weeks at the host hotel. All …

PFL 1 Weigh-in Results: Ante Delija, Valentin Moldavsky Official for Main Event

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The headliner for Professional Fighters League’s first regular season event of 2024 is now official.

Heavyweight competitors Ante Delija and Valentin Moldavsky hit their contracted marks without issue at Wednesday’s weigh-ins. Delija tipped the scales at 244 pounds, while Moldavsky checked in at 237.4 pounds.

It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone on the card, however. Daniel James (267) missed weight by one pound for a heavyweight bout against Marcelo Golm (264.4), while Shanna Young (128.6) came in 2.6 pounds heavy for a flyweight clash against Kana Watanabe (125).

PFL 1 takes place on Thursday night at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+ beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while prelims air on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

A 2021 PFL finalist and a 2022 champion, Delija has been victorious in his last five bouts. The Mirko Filipovic protege is coming off a unanimous d…

LFA Exec: Event in Rio de Janeiro Prior to UFC 301 Will Allow for Great ‘Exposure’

LFA announces May schedule of events in Brazil and California! 💥#LFA183 🇧🇷Friday, May 3@RibaltaRJ#RioDeJaneiro, #RJ, #Brazil#LFA184 🌴Friday, May 17@CommerceCasino#Commerce, #California

ℹ️: https://t.co/GomOctcim2#MMA#LFANation@UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/PAsISS8V2R

— LFA (@LFAfighting) March 28, 2024

After recently holding an event at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Legacy Fighting Alliance is returning to the city one day prior to UFC 301.

This time, the event will be held on May 3 at Complexo Ribalta in Barra da Tijuca, an upper class area in West Rio de Janeiro that is just a short distance away where the UFC’s pay-per-view card will take place.

No fights have been announced for the LFA card, but it is expected to include some big names from the Brazilian scene since UFC executives will likely be in attendance.

“The proximity of LFA 183 to UFC 301 creates an atmosphere of international prominence, in …

Brendan Allen Hopes Teammates Rakhmonov, Muhammad Don’t Have To Fight

While Brendan Allen knows his elite welterweight teammates are probably on a collision course, he hopes they don’t have to fight.

Allen will meet Chris Curtis in a rematch in the main event at UFC Fight Night 240 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Currently riding a six-fight winning streak that includes five submissions, “All In” will likely get significantly closer to a title shot with a win over Curtis.

Allen considers himself the frontrunner to be potentially crowned the next champion from his gym, Kill Cliff FC in Florida. If not him, Allen believes welterweight teammates Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov are next in line. While Muhammad is undefeated in his last 10 outings, the title shot has inexplicably evaded him so far. Meanwhile, Rakhmonov has finished all 18 of his career wins, six of them in the UFC.

Allen is rallying for Muhammad to receive the next title shot at welterweight. However, the Wisconsin native also ackno…

Dakota Ditcheva Aiming for Another ‘Vicious’ Outing Against Lisa Mauldin at PFL 1

Dakota Ditcheva has a simple game plan for her upcoming clash against Lisa Mauldin.

Ditcheva (10-0) and Mauldin (6-3) will kick off the PFL main card in the women’s flyweight category at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday.

A rare knockout artist at flyweight, Ditcheva has finished nine of her 10 career wins — eight of them via knockout. Going into the first flyweight season in Professional Fighters League history, Ditcheva just plans to continue being “vicious.” The Englishwoman also believes that some of her opponents underestimate her power until they get cracked.

While she expects her opponent to inevitably shoot for a takedown, “Dangerous” claims she is as comfortable on the ground.

“Just to be vicious which is what happens when I get in… I kind of, my switch flicks and that’s it,” Ditcheva said during a PFL media day. “I think I’ll just get in there and do what I always do. But I know these girls are gonna come …

Valentin Moldavsky: Combat Sambo Superior Base for MMA Than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Valentin Moldavsky seconds Khabib Nurmagomedov’s past claim that combat sambo is a better base for mixed martial arts than Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Moldavsky (12-3) is scheduled to headline PFL 1 against Ante Delija (24-5) at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday.

A former European and Russian combat sambo champion, Moldavsky shares his combat roots with the former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion Nurmagomedov.

Combat sambo has proven to be one of the best bases for MMA throughout history, with fighters transitioning extremely well. Moldavsky believes combat sambo is the more well-rounded discipline than Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“So when I was in school I was attending different classes, I was doing some wrestling, sambo, judo. And then when I was progressing I realized that fight sambo was something that I really liked and as I was improving, I went all the way to become a medalist. And yeah, I think it's one of t…

Ante Delija Discusses Training With Tom Aspinall Ahead of PFL 1 Headliner

Ante Delija was impressed with Tom Aspinall’s caliber after training with the Englishman ahead of his upcoming clash against Valentin Moldavsky.

Delija (24-5) and Moldavsky (12-3) are slated to headline PFL 1 at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday. Delija trained with Aspinall before entering fight camp and heaped praise on the interim Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion’s skillset.

“I trained with Tom Aspinall before my training camp,” Delija said during a PFL media day session. “I was impressed with his physical strength and also he is very, very technical. His father is training him since he was a kid so he deserves the place where he is right now.”

Delija is currently riding a five-fight winning streak topped off by a decision victory over Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Maurice Greene. Delija went on to win the bout despite breaking his leg in the opening round. “Walking Trouble” was able to mak…

Source: Undefeated Chihiro Sawada to Face Noelle Grandjean at ONE Fight Night 22

Surging ONE Championship women’s atomweight contenders will meet in a potential title eliminator at ONE Fight Night 22 on May. 3.

Sherdog learned that Japan’s undefeated Chihiro Sawada (7-0, 2-0 ONE) will cross paths with French atomweight contender Noelle Grandjean (5-1, 2-1 ONE) in a three-round meeting at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

Sawada, currently on a seven-fight win streak, is coming off a clear decision win over Jihin Radzuan in March. The Tokyo native made her promotional debut in February 2023, going up against Sanaz Fayazmanesh and it didn’t take long for the 26-year-old to secure an impressive Round 2 keylock submission to announce her arrival on the ONE stage.

Meanwhile, Grandjean will enter on the heels of a unanimous decision over Victoria Souza at ONE on Prime Video 20 in March. The victory marked her return to winning ways after suffering the first loss of her professional mixed martial arts career via Round 2 triangle chok…

Alex Perez Steps in for Manel Kape, Meets Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 55

Manuel Kape - OUTAlex Perez - IN@NicolauMatheus vs @AlexPerezMMA is your NEW #UFCVegas91 Main Event 🔥 pic.twitter.com/d8Umh7yiNM

— UFC (@ufc) April 2, 2024

UFC on ESPN 55 has a new flyweight main event.

The promotion announced on Tuesday that Alex Perez will replace Manel Kape and lock horns with Matheus Nicolau at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on April 27. A reason for Kape’s exit from the card was not given. Perez had been slated to face Tagir Ulanbekov on June 15 before the new pairing was announced.

A former title challenger at 125 pounds, Perez has lost his last three Octagon appearances. Most recently, the Team Oyama product dropped a unanimous verdict to Muhammad Mokaev at UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is 6-4 during his promotional tenure.

Nicolau, meanwhile, had a six-bout winning streak snapped in his last outing, when he suffered a first-round KO defeat to Brandon Ro…

Liz Carmouche, Juliana Velasquez Share Perspectives on Trilogy Bout at PFL 1

The stakes will be different, but the opponent will be familiar when Liz Carmouche and Juliana Velasquez square off at PFL 1 on Thursday night.

The flyweight rivals previously met twice in title bouts under the Bellator MMA banner. The first ended in controversial fashion, as Carmouche claimed the 125-pound belt with a fourth-round stoppage of Velasquez at Bellator 278. Velasquez, who was finished with elbows from the mounted crucifix, appealed the ruling on the grounds that none of the blows were significant enough to warrant a stoppage. That appeal was denied, and Carmouche retained the title in more emphatic fashion in the rematch, winning via second-round submission at Bellator 289.

Carmouche wasn’t especially excited to learn that Velasquez would be her first PFL regular season opponent, but she ultimately found the right mindset as she prepared for the trilogy.

“Initially I was disappointed,” Carmouche said during a media call on Wednesd…

Mark Coleman Says He’ll Be in Attendance for UFC 300 on April 13

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Mark Coleman.

Coleman, who recently risked his life to save his parents from a fire at his childhood home in Ohio, will be in attendance for UFC 300 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13. The UFC Hall of Famer was hospitalized due to severe smoke inhalation — and again for pneumonia — before being released from the hospital last month.

“I’m so excited today,” Coleman wrote on Instagram. “The UFC is bringing me in, giving me and my daughters tickets to the biggest show ever: UFC 300 in Las Vegas. So stoked, let’s go. The BMF belt, that’s the one I’m excited about. The main event is huge as well. The whole card is sick. See you there. What a great day to be alive. Be the best version of yourself you can be. You never know when you’re gonna need it.”

While nothing is confirmed, it’s now possible that Coleman will be able to grant Max Holloway’s request and present the BMF belt to the winner of the …

Vassell Moves on From Bader Rematch, Hopes to Represent Bellator Brand at PFL 1

It will be a new beginning of sorts for Linton Vassell on Thursday night.

The 40-year-old Englishman will make his Professional Fighters League debut at the organization’s first regular season event of 2024 when he meets Denis Goltsov in a featured heavyweight bout at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas.

It wasn’t initially the matchup “Big Swarm” had in mind, but things changed when Ryan Bader suffered a first-round knockout loss to Renan Ferreira at PFL vs. Bellator on Feb. 24. Instead, Vassell will take part in the PFL season.

“I actually thought I would be fighting him [Bader] next. But he lost,” Vassell said during a media call. “… Who wouldn’t want to be in the tournament where you get a belt, you get money and you get to fight the champion at the end? I don’t think the Bader fight will happen now, to be honest. I’m on a different road.”

While Vassell will be competing under the PFL banner, he stil considers himself a Bellator ath…

Boxing Champion Savannah Marshall Set for PFL Debut in Newcastle on June 8

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: @Savmarshall1 finally makes the walk to the PFL SmartCage

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 June 8th LIVE from the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England

Get your tickets today! 👇🎟️ https://t.co/uSa9X28XO5 pic.twitter.com/eFlh7i9xH9 — PFL (@PFLMMA) April 2, 2024

Savannah Marshall will make her first Professional Fighters League foray a little more than two months from now.

The organization announced on Tuesday that the boxing champion will compete at PFL Europe Newcastle on June 8 in the main event against an as yet to be announced opponent. PFL Europe Newcastle takes place at Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, and airs on DAZN. The card will showcase bantamweights and women’s flyweights, with more bouts expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. Marshall will compete at 155 pounds.

“The Professional Fighters League prides itself on having the best athletes in the world on its roster and on June 8, PFL welcomes boxing wor…

Joaquin Buckley ‘Loves the Idea’ of Fighting Gilbert Burns at UFC St. Louis

Joaquin Buckley is looking to take big career steps in a short amount of time.

Buckley scored a Round 2 technical knockout win over Vicente Luque in the co-main event at UFC Atlantic City on Saturday, which put him on a three-fight winning streak. Buckley then called for a quick turnaround to fight at UFC St. Louis which goes down at the Enterprise Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 11.

“I can’t wait to get to St. Louis man and do the same thing… That’s the plan. We got to talk to the UFC and see what they're talking about, but yeah, I’m open to fighting in May,” said during Saturday’s post-fight press conference.

UFC St. Louis is currently scheduled to be headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento. However, Buckley believes the UFC might promote him to the main-event spot for the first five-rounder of his career.

“They might change that. They will switch it up,” he said. “If I fight in St. Louis, they’re…

Max Holloway Wants Mark Coleman to Put the Belt on BMF Title Fight Winner

Max Holloway wants “real life BMF” Mark Coleman to wrap the belt around the winner of his UFC 300 clash against Justin Gaethje.

Gaethje puts his BMF title on the line in a lightweight clash against “Blessed” at the milestone event on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The BMF title has historically been presented by a notable personality, first by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to Jorge Masvidal and then a retired Masvidal presenting it to Gaethje after the latter’s victory.

When asked whom Holloway would like to present the belt for his fight against Gaethje, the Hawaiian said there’s only one correct answer: Coleman. Holloway labeled Coleman a “real life BMF” owing to the former UFC heavyweight champion’s recent heroic actions.

Coleman’s childhood home in Fremont, Ohio, recently caught fire when the former Olympian was visiting his parents. It was the family pup, “Hammer,” that awakened Coleman, who then saved both his parents. Coleman …

Nate Landwehr Wouldn’t Wish for His ‘Worst Enemy’ to Be a Fighter

Nate Landwehr wouldn’t advise anyone to become a professional fighter even though he admittedly loves his job “more than he probably should.”

In his first fight as a father, Landwehr scored a come-from-behind Round 1 technical knockout win over Jamall Emmers (20-8) at UFC Atlantic City on Saturday. However, the Ultimate Fighting Championship fan favorite would never even wish for his worst enemy to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, let alone his son. Landwehr would in fact start by discouraging his son, which he believes is the first test to pass.

“That’s a tough one. I almost wouldn’t even wish this life on my worst enemy,” he said "The MMA Hour”. “I would try to discourage him [son], as that first little discouragement. And if he could get past, then he [could go ahead]. That’s why I always tell people, ‘Don’t do it.’ If me telling you, ‘Don’t do it,’ is gonna break you then you ain’t got what it takes. That’s always my go to. Somebody tel…

UFC on ESPN 54 Medical Suspensions: 10 Fighters Face Indefinite Terms

Ten fighters from UFC on ESPN 54 have been suspended indefinitely following Saturday’s card.

The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board on Monday released a full list of medical suspensions from the event. UFC on ESPN 54 took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and saw Manon Fiorot defeat Erin Blanchfield via unanimous decision in the evening’s flyweight main event.

Fiorot is one of the fighters facing an indefinite term, as she must have her right arm cleared by an orthopedic doctor befoe she can compete. At a minimum, the French standout is out 60 days with no contact. Blanchfield, meanwhile, is suspended 30 days due to facial lacerations.

Nine other fighters from UFC on ESPN 54 are also facing indefinite terms, which can be lifted through doctor clearance: Chris Weidman (needs head CT scan); Bruno Silva (left eye), Sedriques Dumas (right eye), Herbert Burns (needs neurologist clearance); Connor Matthews (needs neurologist clea…

Marcelo Golm Replaces Tyrell Fortune, Meets Daniel James at PFL 1

Marcelo Golm will step in for Tyrell Fortune and face Daniel James at PFL 1 on Thursday night.

The organization announced the new heavyweight bout on Monday. Golm vs. James is scheduled for the evening’s preliminary card. A reason for Fortune’s withdrawal was not given.

PFL 1 takes place at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas, and features regular season bouts for heavyweights and women’s flyweights. The card is headlined by a heavyweight clash pitting Ante Delija against Valentin Moldavsky. The main card airs at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN2 and ESPN+, while prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Your Updated PFL San Antonio Fight Card

•Tyrelle Fortune is OUT•New Matchup: Marcelo Golm v. Daniel James•𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Early Card starts at 6:30pm ET | Main Card starts at 10pm ET

[ #PFLRegularSeason |Thursday , April 4th |10PM ET | 🎟️… pic.twitter.com/sw8yUgRyb0

— PFL (@PFLMMA) …

Guilherme Bravo Suggests UFC Use Pride Gloves to Reduce Eye Pokes in Fights

Guilherme Bravo has weighed in on the eye-poke controversy that occurred in the bout between Chris Weidman and Bruno Silva at UFC on ESPN 54.

Bravo, a key figure in MMA judging and refereeing in Brazil, offered some critiques of referee Gary Copeland on his weekly YouTube program, “Momento Bravo.” While the bout was initially a stoppage win for Weidman, it was later changed to a technical decision victory for the ex-middleweight champion when it was determined that Silva was affected by eye pokes during the stoppage.

"He clearly used double standards,” Bravo said of Copeland. “In Herbert Burns' fight against Julio Arce, he made perfect use of the video replay. Immediately after warning Burns that he had applied an illegal knee, he used the replay to check a second knee and removed the points immediately.”

Bravo also criticized Copeland’s attitude in the Weidman-Silva fight.

"Lately we have had a change in the conduct of fouls caused by finge…

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