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Bantamweight gold will be on the line when Kyoji Horiguchi and Kai Asakura square off in a rematch more than a year in the making on New Year’s Eve.

Both Horiguchi and Asakura made weight ahead of their championship bout in the Rizin Fighting Federation 26 headliner. Horiguchi tipped the scales at 134 pounds, while Asakura checked in at 133.9 pounds. Rizin 26 takes place on Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and and is available via pay-per-view for $25.

Asakura and Horiguchi initially squared off in a non-title bout at Rizin 18, with Asakura scoring a surprising 68-second knockout victory on Aug. 18, 2019. Horiguchi, who was then 135-pound champion in both Rizin and Bellator MMA, vacated both titles after suffering a knee injury and has not competed since that defeat.

“I started sparring and training fully in July. I feel like I am close to 100 percent,” Horiguchi said. “I’ve been adding new stuff to my original style during this period. I never think …

Survival mode! #Higher #UFC257 @ufc @DustinPoirier @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/RKdQVlGITB

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) December 29, 2020

If you want to witness the return of Conor McGregor at UFC 257, it’s going to cost you a little bit more than it did in 2020.

According to a report from Variety, the price of UFC pay-per-view events on ESPN+ will increase from $64.99 to $69.99 as of Jan. 8, 2021. Additionally, the annual subscription fee for the ESPN+ streaming service will go up from $49.99 to $59.99 per year. The ESPN+ monthly rate already recently increased from $4.99 to $5.99.

When the UFC initially signed an agreement to make ESPN+ the sole provider of its pay-per-view content in 2019, it lowered the price point for its premium events from $64.99 to $59.99. That lasted from April 2019 through the end of the year before ESPN+ raised the price of UFC pay-per-views back to $64.99 beginning with UFC 246 in January. Coincidenta…

Former Invicta Fighting Championships atomweight title holder Jinh Yu Frey will attempt to earn her first UFC triumph when she meets Gloria de Paula on March 13.

MMAFighting.com was first to report the strawweight booking. The UFC Fight Night card does not have an official location or headliner as of yet.

Frey competed twice in the Octagon in 2020, losing ot Kay Hansen via submission at UFC on ESPN 12 before dropping a decision against Konklak Suphisara at UFC on ESPN 16. The 35-year-old Genesis Jiu-Jitsu representative went 7-3 during her Invicta FC tenure.

De Paula, meanwhile, earned a UFC contract thanks to a three-round verdict over Pauline Macias on Dana White’s Contender Series on Nov. 17. The 25-year-old Sao Paulo native owns a 5-2 professional mark.

Rest up Khamzat, i'm sure ill see you soon. But I want to fight January 20th on the island @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc lets make it happen

— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) December 29, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev needed more time to recover after battling COVID-19, and that led to his exit from the UFC on ESPN 20 headliner.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report that Chimaev’s lungs hadn’t fully healed after testing positive for the coronavirus in early December, an issue that was hindering his training as he prepared to face Leon Edwards on Jan. 20 in Abu Dhabi.

"Khamzat had coronavirus and when he went back to gym, his lungs did not recover 100 percent,” wrote Chimaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, in a statement to ESPN. “He needs time for his lungs to recover, and right now it's about taking that necessary time.”

Chimaev and Edwards were initially scheduled to meet in the UFC Fight Night 183 headliner on Dec. 19, but Edwards’ own strug…

Dalcha Lungiambula (10-1) tops his UFC debut with a cherry, bombing Dequan Townsend early in round three! The Congolese, two-division EFC champ rides a six-fight tear. He has knocked out five. #UFCMinneapolis pic.twitter.com/oIm7iD4EU0

— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) June 29, 2019

Dalcha Lungiambula will drop to middleweight to face Isi Fitikefu at the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Jan. 20 event in Abu Dhabi.

Multiple outlets confirmed the pairing following an initial report from MMA DNA. UFC on ESPN 20 takes place on Yas Island and is currently in need of a main event after Khamzat Chimaev withdrew from a proposed matchup with Leon Edwards.

A former heavyweight champion in Africa’s Extreme Fighting Championship, Lungiambula went 1-1 in his first two UFC appearances at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old began his tenure with a third-round TKO of Dequan Townsend at UFC on ESPN 3 before suffering a KO loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Nig…

The jiu-jitsu community is anxiously awaiting the mixed martial arts debut of its most decorated champion ever, Marcus Almeida, who has won 13 gold medals in the world Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships. “Buchecha” will face Senegalese giant Oumar Kane under the One Championship banner on Feb. 24.

In a live interview with Brazilian outlet "Confraria da Porrada” on Tuesday, American Top Team coach Conan Silveira shared some details regarding Almeida’s training camp.

“We are starting with MMA ABCs, teaching him everything separated in segments, before starting the sparring itself. In one class he trains muay Thai with Anderson França, in another boxing with Gabriel Oliveira, wrestling with Steve Mocco and MMA grappling with Mike Brown,” said Silveira.

Silveira praised Almeida for his humility while learning a new sport.

“Of course he knows that being a 13 time world jiu-jitsu champion doesn’t automatically make him an MMA fighter,” Silveira said. “He is awa…

Alex Caceres will square off against Kevin Croom in a featherweight matchup at the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Feb. 27 event.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report the booking. The UFC Fight Night card is headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Dominick Reyes and Jiri Prochazka, but a location for the event has not been confirmed.

Caceres carries a three-bout winning streak into the bout, including a first-round submission of Austin Springer in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 175 this past August. “Bruce Leeroy” has also bested Chase Hooper and Steven Peterson during his current run.

Croom, meanwhile, had a memorable Octagon debut, as he stopped the heavily-favored Roosevelt Roberts in just 31 seconds at UFC Fight Night 177. However, the victory was later overturned because “The Hard-Hitting Hillbilly” tested positive for marijuana. The 33-year-old Croom is 21-12 over the course of a professional career that began in 2009.

While Kevin Holland may be seeking a spot as a short-notice replacement next month, he has something more official lined up for March.

According to ESPN, Holland and Derek Brunson have agreed to square off in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on March 20. The middleweight bout has not been finalized but contracts are expected to be signed shortly. The event does not yet have a location.

In the meantime, Holland has been campaigning for a spot opposite Leon Edwards on the UFC’s Jan. 20 “Fight Island” card. Edwards was scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev, but Chimaev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons. Holland has yet to fight at welterweight in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Hold up, so am I hearing the #ufcFightIsland hotel has a vacancy and needs a real man to come and do work January 20th? #callbigmouth pic.twitter.com/0zX4cPZMvo

— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) December 29, 2020

Holland was selected as Sherdo…

Khamzat Chimaev is the REAL DEAL

INSANE. #UFCVegas11 pic.twitter.com/kqbhHJYJS3

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 20, 2020 Khamzat Chimaev will have to wait to build upon his breakout campaign on 2020.

Chimaev has been forced out of a welterweight headlining matchup with Leon Edwards at UFC on ESPN 20 on Jan. 20. Multiple outlets confirmed the news on Tuesday following an initial report from Frontkick. A reason for Chimaev’s exit is currently unknown.

Chimaev and Edwards were initially slated to meet at UFC Fight Night 183 before the Englishman withdrew from the contest due to a severe bout with COVID-19 that saw him lose 12 pounds.

UFC on ESPN 20 takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and also includes a 170-pound clash between Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. It is unclear if Edwards will remain on the card against a replacement opponent.

Chimaev emerged as one of the rising stars of the sport after compiling a 3-0 camp…

Nov. 2007

My first [amateur] MMA competition.

Minha primeira luta [amadora] de MMA#MMA #ufcnocombate #espnplus @ufc @UFCBrasil @raphamarinho @BigMarcel24 @Grabaka_Hitman @alonsopvt @guicruzzz @arielhelwani @AgFight @mma_kings @TATAMEMAGAZINE @graciemag_br @OlivarLeite1 pic.twitter.com/xt0vRYsUR4 — Charles Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) December 29, 2020

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s all-time submission leader began his MMA career in typical fashion.

On Tuesday, UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira posted a video on Twitter of his first amateur bout. The contest was short-lived, as “Do Bronx” slammed his opponent to the canvas and forced a quick tapout with an armbar in less than 20 seconds. According to Sherdog.com records, that foe was Rui Machado, and the matchup occurred at an event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2007.

Submission victories have become a habit for Oliveira. The 31-year-old Brazilian has 1…

Mason 'The Dragon' Jones is THE MAN.

A TKO victory in the first round - he is now the double champ. DOUBLE DRAGON #CW116 pic.twitter.com/Pb2vev6E03

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 26, 2020 Cage Warriors two-division champion Mason Jones will make his Octagon debut against Mike Davis at UFC on ESPN 20.

Multiple outlets confirmed the lightweight booking following an initial report from MMA Island. UFC on ESPN 20 takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and was supposed to be headlined by a welterweight clash between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. However, the card is in need of a new main event after Chimaev withdrew from the bout.

Jones will enter his first promotional foray with a 10-0 professional mark, including nine triumphs under the Cage Warriors banner. “The Dragon” closed out his promotional tenure by capturing the welterweight belt with a first-round stoppage of Adam Proctor at Cage Warriors 116 on Sept. 26. Prior…

It doesn’t sound like Dana White will have much luck persuading Khabib Nurmagomedov to make a comeback when the two meet in Abu Dhabi next month.

In an interview with Match TV, Nurmagomedov stated that he expects a new lightweight champion to be crowned when Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier square off in the UFC 257 headliner on Jan. 23.

“Top three [lightweight] fighters right now?” Nurmagomedov said (translation via RT Sport). “Poirier, McGregor and [Islam] Makhachev. He [Makhachev] is not in the top-five yet, but those are the best fighters.

“My belt will be taken by the winner of Dustin and Conor.”

Nurmagomedov announced his retirement following a victory over Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 headliner this past October. Though many expected “The Eagle” to take one more fight in hopes of finishing his career with a 30-0 record to fulfill the wishes of his late father, Nurmagomedov revealed in the Octagon that he made a promise to his mother that he woul…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1uGsbn-VKU&w=560&h=315]

Aljamain Sterling is expected to challenge for a UFC title in the very near future, but his journey to become one of the top bantamweight fighters in the promotion began long before he stepped into the Octagon for the first time.

In “Not Broken,” a short film directed by Rory Karpf and produced by Corey Frost, Sterling shares the story of a difficult childhood in which he and his family were verbally and physically abused by his father.

“I don’t have a lot of positive memories of my dad. He made us feel small, weak, stupid, useless,” Sterling says in the film.

Many household duties – including taking care of his siblings – fell on Sterling’s shoulders at a young age, but he was too small to step in when his father became physical with his mother.

“One of the things about him that I don’t think I could ever forgive is the domestic violence with my mom,” Sterling says. “One time they were fight…

It’s been more than six years since Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier first squared off in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and much has changed since then.

However, John Kavanagh, McGregor's head trainer, believes that Poirier will nonetheless struggle to erase the memory of a first-round technical knockout loss to McGregor at UFC 178 in September 2014. The two men will have their rematch in the UFC 257 main event in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23.

“I think you can spend a lifetime going to sports psychologists and talking to this person and that person; that’s not going to have been erased from his mind,” Kavanagh told The Mac Life. “He knows that he is facing somebody who can shut off his lights very, very rapidly and now is a lot more powerful and a lot more experienced than he was even then, so it’s a tough, uphill battle for Dustin.”

Their first meeting occurred at featherweight, and set the stage for a title run for the Irish star. Poirier, meanwhile, moved to 1…

A flyweight showdown pitting ex-Rizin champ Manel Kape against Alexandre Pantoja has been rebooked for a UFC Fight Night card on Feb. 6.

Combate was first to report the news. The event is headlined by a heavyweight scrap between Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. A location for the card has not been formally announced. Kape and Pantoja were initially slated to meet at UFC Fight Night 183 on Dec. 19 before Pantoja withdrew from the contest.

Kape claimed the vacant Rizin bantamweight crown with a second-round technical knockout of Kai Asakura last New Year’s Eve. The 26-year-old AKA Thailand representative has won four of his last five professional outings — with each of those victories coming inside the distance. Kape was previously slated to make his promotional debut against Rogerio Bontorin at UFC 252 before his opponent withdrew from the bout due to injury.

Pantoja, meanwhile, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Askar Askarov at UFC Fight Night 17…

Sara McMann and Julianna Pena will square off one week later than originally anticipated.

The bantamweight bout has been moved from UFC on ABC 1 to UFC 257 for undisclosed reasons. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the change. UFC 257 takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23 and is headlined by a lightweight tilt between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

McMann returned after nearly a two-year absence at UFC Fight Night 166 in January, when she halted a two-bout losing streak with a unanimous decision triumph against Lina Lansberg. The Olympic silver medalist challenged for bantamweight gold in her second Octagon appearance, falling to Ronda Rousey via first-round TKO at UFC 170 in February 2014. She is 6-5 during her tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Pena’s lone appearance of 2020 came at UFC on ESPN 16, where she was submitted in the third round by Germaine de Randamie on Oct. 3. “The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner began her UFC career with f…

Lo noquea! @NewMansa94 con otro tremendo KO!!! #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/dZXpe4VmYu

— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) November 22, 2020

Two middleweight bouts have been added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s UFC Fight Night 184”>Jan. 16 lineup, as Joaquin Buckley will meet Alessio Di Chirico, while Phil Hawes will face Nassourdine Imavov.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report Buckley vs. Di Chirico, while MMA DNA initially brought word of Hawes vs. Imavov. The event takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a featherweight clash pitting Max Holloway against Calvin Kattar. At least a portion of the event is expected to be broadcast on ABC.

After being stopped by Kevin Holland in his Octagon debut, Buckley emerged as one of 2020’s breakout fighters thanks to back-to-back knockouts of Impa Kasanganay and Jordan Wright. The KO of Kasanganay went viral and will likely end up on many year-end lists when all is said and done. “Ne…

DOMINATED @JasonWittMMA controlled this one from start to finish! #UFCVegas12 pic.twitter.com/YBsGRN8c25

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 31, 2020

Jason Witt will lock horns with Matthew Semelsberger at UFC Fight Night on March 13.

Both welterweight fighters recently confirmed the matchup on their respective social media accounts. The event does not currently have a location or headliner.

Witt is 1-1 in two UFC appearances. After suffering a 48-second technical knockout loss to Takashi Sato in his Octagon debut at UFC on ESPN 12, “The Vanilla Gorilla” rebounded to submit Cole Williams in the second round at UFC Fight Night 181 on Oct. 31. The 34-year-old Glory MMA & Fitness member has compiled an 18-6 mark since beginning his MMA career in 2013.

Semelsberger, meanwhile, extended his winning streak to four with a decision triumph over Carlton Minus in his promotional debut at UFC on ESPN 15. The 28-year-old is 7-2 as a professional…

Down goes Sana! #ONECollisionCourse2 #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/cgCSp75W8M

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 25, 2020

He had to wait until Christmas Day to open it, but Jamal Yusupov may have unwrapped a One Championship muay Thai title shot.

In the main event of the tape-delayed One Championship: Collision Course 2 broadcast on Dec. 25, Yusupov overcame Samy Sana via unanimous decision in a featherweight muay Thai clash. The Russian generally proved to be more precise and effective with his striking. In the second stanza, Yusupov dropped Sana with a perfectly-placed left hand. In the third round, "AK-47" involuntarily hit Yusupov with a low blow, but the Yusupov was able to continue after taking some time to recover from the shot. Considering Yusupov's performance, an assault at current One muay Thai champion Phetmorakot Petchyindee Academy may not be very far away.

The co-main event featured an MMA catch…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bbmAd2O1k&w=560&h=315] Count current Bellator MMA commentator John McCarthy among those that took issue with Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White’s recent video release.

On his podcast “Weighing In” on Thursday, McCarthy and fellow Bellator commentator Josh Thomson weighed in on the video released by Dana White on Monday. In White’s Dec. 21 video, the UFC head lashed out at MMA media, claiming that the media was trying to shut the promotion down in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The video, which showed several longstanding media members in a harshly negative light, pulled clips and articles from March to May about how the promotion should continue. At that time, the UFC did not release public details of its coronavirus protocols, leaving the media critical of the procedures while asking what was going on.

Among White’s many complaints in what several in the media space have considered a “victory lap” f…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5LP1MJRnvw&w=560&h=315] Bellator MMA has added another solid name to its growing light heavyweight division.

On Thursday, MMA Junkie reported that Stephan Puetz (20-4), a light heavyweight out of Germany, has been signed by Bellator. A Bellator official has since confirmed Puetz’ signing to Sherdog.

The 6-foot-6 light heavyweight joins a roster recently bolstered by signings of names like Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson. A former M-1 Challenge champion, Puetz left the league in 2018 after a pair of stoppage losses in Round 3. Since then, Puetz has rattled off five wins in the German MMA Championship and Fair Fighting Championship promotions in Germany, winning belts in both and finishing four of five foes.

Throughout his career, “T-800” briefly dabbled at heavyweight after defending his 205-pound throne a few times. His move to heavyweight matched him against current Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender M…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. The new year has not yet begun and the Ultimate Fighting Championship is already changing up events in 2021. Makhmud Muradov (24-6) announced on his Instagram on Thursday that he would be competing at UFC 257 in place of Andre Muniz at middleweight. Muradov will be facing Andrew Sanchez (12-5) on the card that will go down on Jan. 23 at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Muniz was forced to withdraw for currently undisclosed reasons. Muradov attempted to compete through 2020 on four separate occasions, and all four were scuttled for various reasons.

“My next fight will take place on January 23rd against Andrew Sanchez,” Muradov wrote on his Instagram via Google Translate. “In Sha Allah ovsem soon I will please you with another victory! Thank you all very much for your support.”

“Mach” is currently ridi…

IT’S SHOWTIME!

Welcome to the PFL, @Showtimepettis! pic.twitter.com/FwPDt3ozhF

— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) December 23, 2020 It didn’t take long for Anthony Pettis to find a new promotional home.

One day after announcing he was parting ways with the UFC to become a free agent, “Showtime” has signed a contract with Professional Fighters League. ESPN was first to report the news, and the PFL confirmed the signing shortly thereafter.

Pettis will compete in the promotion’s lightweight division as part of the 2021 season. The PFL canceled its 2020 campaign due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic but will return beginning in April of next year. PFL’s most recent 155-pound champion was Natan Schulte, who outpointed Loik Radzhabov in the organization’s final event of 2019. Schulte was also the PFL lightweight champion in 2018. The PFL awards its champions in each weight class with a $1 million payout at the end of the season.

I…

.@LFAfighting kicks off the 2021 @UFCFightPass schedule with the #Lightweight Championship at #LFA97! @NyquilNickvs.@AEstrazulasMMA

: https://t.co/YvHX113INK

Friday, January 15@HartmanArena#ParkCity, #Kansas#MMA#LFANation@UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/nSmcJK0qUv — LFA (@LFAfighting) December 23, 2020

Legacy Fighting Alliance will begin its 2021 schedule with a lightweight championship bout on Jan. 15.

The promotion announced this week that Nick Browne will square off against Arthur Estrazulas for the 155-pound belt in the main event of LFA 97 at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas. Browne and Estrazulas were originally supposed to meet at LFA 95 but the bout was postponed due to coronavirus testing protocols. LFA 97 will stream on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Browne has been victorious in 10 of his 11 professional outings, including two fights under the LFA banner. Most recently, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black bel…