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Branko Cikatic, the inaugural K-1 Grand Prix champion and a competitor during the early days of Pride Fighting Championships, has died at age 65.

Cikatic passed away in his native Croatia due to Parkinson’s Disease on Monday. Cikatic had encountered numerous health problems in recent years, as he had a pulmonary embolism in 2018 and then an infection that led to sepsis. It was around that time that he was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

“Bad news this morning when I woke up, the great Branko Cikatic has passed away,” UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten wrote on Facebook. “Wow, such a strong fighter, I remember watching him fight in the ‘Jaap Eden Hal’ in Holland, he and Ernesto Hoost (another great fighter) had some crazy matches there. 87 wins, 82 KO's, that should say it all. His trainer Thom Harinck, head coach from the world famous Chukuriki gym in Holland did an amazing job with him.”

“He always look…

Even as UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic has maintained his gig as a part-time firefighter in Ohio.

As the country ramps up safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Miocic is focused more than ever on those duties. In fact, being a firefighter takes precedent over Miocic’s highly-anticipated UFC return. He is expected to face Daniel Cormier in a trilogy bout once he is fully recovered from eye surgery and the promotion can resume its schedule as planned.

“It’s looking like summer, but with this [coronavirus] going on right now, honestly I’m not even worried about that,” Miocic said of his next fight in an interview with UFC reporter Megan Olivi. “I’m worried about firefighting, and the paramedics out there and I got to do what I got to do. That’s my go-to now. There’s so many people out there that need help. There’s people that are going to stay at home and some of them might get sick. I’m putting myself in harm’s way and I’m OK with that, but I’ve got to ma…

On Monday evening, multiple outlets reported that a bantamweight clash between Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen has been targeted for UFC San Diego on May 16.

Sterling says it simply isn’t true. The UFC’s upcoming schedule is completely tentative due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and the 30-year-old New York native is fine with waiting until things settle down before accepting a bout.

“We’ve spoken about a few different opponents. As far as I know there is no fight announcement. Especially with all this chaos happening,” Sterling wrote on Twitter.

“I don’t even have access to my gym anymore. It’s been a complete ban for everyone and you guys think I’m taking a fight? Yea, ok.”

We’ve spoken about a few different opponents. As far as I know there is no fight announcement. Especially with all this chaos happening

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 24, 2020

I don’t e…

A bantamweight matchup pitting Aljamain Sterling against Cory Sandhagen is in the works for UFC Fight Night 175.

TSN was first to report the bout. UFC Fight Night 175 is expected to take place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on May 16 and is headlined by a lightweight clash between Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. As with every upcoming event, UFC San Diego — and all fights on the card — is tentative due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Thus far, the promotion has postponed events through April 11.

Sterling is currently on a four-bout winning streak inside the Octagon. Most recently, “Funk Master” earned a unanimous decision triumph over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 238 this past June. The 30-year-old New Yorker is 10-3 in UFC competition and owns other notable victories against the likes of Jimmie Rivera, Cody Stamann, Renan Barao and Takeya Mizugaki.

Sandhagen has been victorious in his last seven professional outings, including five in the UFC. The Elevation Fight Tea…

Dana White tells Kevin Iole that Khabib/Ferguson is still happening on April 18. pic.twitter.com/nDC3GNcwbn

— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) March 23, 2020

UFC 249 has a location, but Dana White isn’t ready to reveal all the details just yet.

“I do [know where it is],” White said in an Instagram Live interview with Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole. “But I’m not ready to tell you yet. I know lots of things. … There’s not going to be any fans there. It’s going to be a closed event.”

UFC 249 takes place on April 18 and features a lightweight championship showdown between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Uncertainty has surrounded the card since the coronavirus outbreak forced the promotion to postpone events slated for March 21, March 28 and April 11. UFC 249 was originally slated for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., but that New York State Athletic Commission officially nixed those plans last week.

Despite the ongoing th…

Credit: Joao Baptista Credit: Joao Baptista Credit: Joao Baptista

The doctor who administered over-limit intravenous (IV) infusions to UFC middleweight contender Paulo Henrique Costa in 2017 has received a sanction from USADA.

The anti-doping agency announced Monday that Dr. Lucas Penchel of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has accepted a two-year suspension for giving IVs of permitted substances to Costa and his training partner Carlos Costa.

“Dr. Penchel, like all athlete support personnel, was entrusted to help athletes make safe and informed decisions, but instead, he violated anti-doping rules and his oath to best protect athletes’ health and safety,” USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said.

In June and November 2017, Paulo Costa required an IV to take medication for his stomach ahead of bouts at UFC 212 and UFC 217. In both instances, the IVs were administered within a 12-hour window of the UFC’s weigh-ins. Though the fighter did not receive any banned substances, IV infusi…

Henry Cejudo is coming for the top pound-for-pound spot in mixed martial arts.

Currently, the UFC bantamweight champion and Olympic gold medalist is No. 3 on the UFC.com and Sherdog.com pound-for-pound polls. While the order differs in both, the two men in front of him — Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones — do not (Jones is first on UFC.com, while Nurmagomedov is No. 1 on Sherdog.com).

In a social media post on Sunday, Cejudo vowed to overtake the two champions in front of him.

“There are two men ahead of me on the pound-for-pound rankings and I’m here to tell you, ‘Virus or no virus that crown will be mine,’” Cejudo wrote.

Cejudo is scheduled to defend his bantamweight crown against Jose Aldo at UFC 250 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 9. “The Messenger” is currently on a five-bout winning streak that includes triumphs over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw and Marlon Moraes. Cejudo recently relinquished the flyweight crown after a brief stint as two-division …

Count Conor McGregor among those who has Italy in his prayers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The former two-division UFC champion, who is a native of Dublin, Ireland, released a statement on Instagram directed toward the nation, which has been among the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak.

“I cannot get Italy out of my thoughts,” McGregor wrote. “Praying daily for this great nation that brought the world such amazing things. From its people and their culture. To its architecture and design. Its style! It’s cuisine! It’s art! The list goes on and on and on! Italy and its people are class personified, through and through. ‪Lord Jesus please save Italy and its people today and everyday here forward.”

Currently, Italy is behind only China with nearly 60,000 documented cases of coronavirus, and its more than 5,000 deaths are the most in the world.

Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Niko Price has signed a new four-fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The welterweight competitor announced the news via Twitter on Saturday. Price was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov at UFC Fight Night 172 on April 11, but the event was postponed due to coronavirus concerns.

“I’m so blessed and thankful for the [UFC],” Price wrote. “I’ll be sure to keep it entertaining for you guys.”

BREAKING NEWS!!! I forgot to mention I signed a new 4 fight contract I’m so blessed and thankful for the @ufc ! I’ll be sure to keep it entertaining for you guys! #ufc #newcontract #LetsGo #glorytogod

— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) March 21, 2020

Price has delivered nothing bout entertaining thus far during his promotional tenure, compiling a 6-3 record with on no contest in UFC competition while f…

Conor McGregor seems to be rejuvenated after his quick finish of Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 headliner.

The Irish star returned to the Octagon to author a 40-second technical knockout of the popular “Cowboy” at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 18, and the performance reaffirmed McGregor as the biggest star in the sport. After losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight championship clash at UFC 229, the “Notorious” was absent from the cage for more than a year as he made more headlines for out-of-the cage issues than he did for his fighting career.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, McGregor claims that he found a renewed focus heading into UFC 246.

"I will admit that the fight before UFC 246, I did not train properly and was not in perfect condition," he said. "Call it what you want. I am hungry today. Hungry like a man who has not eaten for weeks. ... When I set my mind to something, there is nothing I can not accomplish. It is that power o…

Italian MMA retired fighter Cristian Binda is in intensive care, due to the positivity to COVID-19.

Binda, a true veteran of the game (Cage Rage, Cage Warriors, Venator), told his fans that after 9 scary days he's now doing better.

Sending all the best wishes. pic.twitter.com/Ku8BRf9nJH— Al Zullino (@phre) March 21, 2020

Given Italy’s current health emergency, it was just a matter of time before one of the country’s MMA fighters would get infected by COVID-19.

On Saturday morning, Cage Warriors veteran Cristian Binda announced on his private Facebook page that he tested positive for coronavirus after being hospitalized in intensive care. The 42-year old fighter is feeling better now, and he shared an update on his health situation.


 “Hi guys, I'd like to reassure everyone a bit since I feel a little better now,” Binda wrote. “To summarize: after [nine] days of high fever and coughing, my breath was running out and …

Negotiations for a UFC heavyweight championship trilogy bout are coming together nicely, according to Daniel Cormier.

Cormier discussed the status of a third meeting with reigning heavyweight king Stipe Miocic during an Instagram Live video on Friday. “DC” has been awaiting the matchup as Miocic recovers from eye surgery following their second meeting at UFC 241, which the Ohio-based fighter won via fourth-round TKO.

“Look, I know we’re in a crazy time right now with the world and with the way things are and it’s very up in the air but I think for me with the way things are going and the discussions that we had heading into the fight, into all this, the way that the discussions in terms of the fight were going, where I am going to fight this guy for my last fight, it’s going to be as ideal for me as I could ever hope for,” Cormier said. “It’s gonna be beautiful.”

Cormier conducted the Instagram Live session with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman while both f…

The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop Cage Warriors Fighting Championship from holding CW 113 at the Manchester BEC Arena.

The main event saw Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters Darren Stewart (11-5) and Bartosz Fabinski (15-3) clash in the middleweight division. This fight was allowed by the UFC so that the participants of this match-up — who were supposed to fight on the scrapped UFC London card against different opponents — could get paid.

Even though Stewart opened a huge cut on his opponent’s head soon after the beginning of the opening stanza, he wasn't able to find a counter to Fabinski’s impressive grappling skills. The Polish fighter managed to land several takedowns throughout the fight, imposing himself over a helpless opponent. Eventually, all three judges rewarded “The Butcher” with a unanimous decision victory. Fabinski has now regained the taste of victory after he lost to Michel Prazeres in his latest Octagon appearance.

It took less than a round to M…

hosts a Friday card in Manchester, England. Sherdog's play-by-play kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

Round 1 Kicking off the CW 113 preliminary card is a 148-pound catchweight contest between Crawford (4-2) and Monarch (10-5). Referee Rich Mitchell will oversee the action, and there is no touch of gloves as these two are amped to get down to it. Crawford misses with an overhand right, but does manage to land a loud leg kick. Monarch throws one back at him, and evades a right looping right from Crawford. The two come together and swing heavily, but neither connect as Monarch backs off and scores a slapping body kick. Crawford scores a straight left hand, and Monarch loads up on a counter but comes up short. Crawford hops forward to score a few right hooks, and a cut has opened up over the eye of Monarch from some of these strikes. Monarch chases Crawford down and backs him against t…

After consulting with government officials, the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations, Twin River Casino Hotel and UFC FIGHT PASS®, CES MMA has decided to postpone its scheduled April 24, 2020 event, CES MMA 61, at the Twin River Event Center #CESMMA #ThisIsCES pic.twitter.com/etkfqBXtaL

— CES MMA (@CESMMA) March 19, 2020 The coronavirus is waging war on the MMA landscape, and three more promotions have elected to fight another day.

A press release on Friday from CES MMA wrote that the organization will be postponing its CES 61 event on April 24. In consultation with government and health officials, as well as the venue and even UFC Fight Pass, the promotion did not feel comfortable scheduling fighters to compete in a month.

CES MMA COO Jimmy Birchfield Jr. stated that he was uncertain if normal operations could return within five to six weeks. He wrote, "Asking our fighters to prepare to compete knowing there is a gre…

O lutador de MMA, Glyan Alves acabou de falecer no HPS, após passar por cirurgia por conta de um homicídio registrado nessa madrugada, no S Luzia.A vitima foi atingida por 3 tiros na região da cintura e perna e não resistiu aos ferimentos. À família e amigos nossos sentimentos. pic.twitter.com/I5D8ZFJy4c

— Plantão JF (@OcorrenciasJF) March 18, 2020 The MMA community had to goodbye suddenly to a bright Brazilian bantamweight prospect on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, MMA Fighting reported that Glyan Alves had been shot on Tuesday night in his home in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Sources with Sherdog.com have since confirmed this news.

Alves was reportedly shot three times in his waist and leg in his garage, and was rushed to the hospital. He was unable to recover, passing away at the hospital on Wednesday.

Additionally, according to MMA Fighting, his second child was born on Thursday. An investigation is currently ongoing to determin…

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Vamos para mais uma guerra, #UFC Cazaquistão! Campeões são feitos de algo que eles têm profundamente dentro de si — um desejo, um sonho, uma visão, um objetivo, uma paixão que queima no peito. . . . Let's go to another war, #UFC Kazakhstan! Champions are made of something that they have deep within themselves - a desire, a dream, a vision, a goal, a passion that burns in the chest. #Repost @redenocaute with @make_repost De acordo com o site MMAFighting, luta entre Klidson Abreu e Gadzhimurad Antigulov foi adicionada ao card do UFC Cazaquistão, dia 13 de junho. Reported from @mmafightingdotcom, Klidson Abreu vs Gadzhimurad Antigulov set for UFC Kazahkstan, on june 13. #ufckazakhstan #klidsonabreu #nocautenarede

A post shared by Klidson Abreu UFC (@klidsonabreu) on Mar 18, 2020 at 8:17pm PDT

Although the Ultimate Fighting Championship has not officially announced the event, a pair of light heavyweights will square off at UF…

13 fighters taken off the https://t.co/YHr2ZDqw9f roster:Mairbek TaisumovTonya EvingerDong Hyun MaChance RencountreMatthew LopezCyril AskerKhalid MurtazalievTalita BernardoJodie EsquibelKyle PrepolecMarcos MarianoIsabela de PaduaZhenhong Lu

— Tom Feely (@omgitsfeely) March 19, 2020 The Ultimate Fighting Championship has trimmed its ranks significantly this week.

On Wednesday night, Sherdog learned that 13 fighters have seen their roster spots removed for various reasons. Some were cut on the heels of losses, others due to inactivity, more for positive drug tests with lengthy suspensions, and some due to their contracts being up. It was later reported by Russian news outlet TASS on Thursday morning that welterweight Ismail Naurdiev was no longer signed with the promotion.

Among the more notable cuts include Mairbek Taisumov and Chance Rencountre, both of whom received their walking papers on the heel of a sole defeat. Taisumov re…

UFC president Dana White on weighing the risk versus reward of continuing to run events, screening measures for coronavirus this past weekend and whether there would be an event this weekend if public gatherings were still limited to 50.

Full interview: https://t.co/NIdJWOTcg3 pic.twitter.com/29jMZyIDd1

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 18, 2020 The UFC was one of the last professional sports organizations still going last weekend, and the Las Vegas-based promotion had designs on continuing beyond that.

Once President Donald Trump issued a recommendation that no gatherings of 10 or more people should occur within the next 15 days, the UFC was forced to indefinitely postpone its upcoming three events as the concerns over the coronavirus pandemic continue to grow.

In an interview with TSN, UFC president Dana White explained how the promotion was willing to manage the risk of going forward with its schedule. That in…

Frank "The Crank" Camacho (22-7) gets back in the win column, combusting Nick Hein with round-closing hellfire! The Guamanian FOTN machine owns 19 finishes, 17 by knockout. #UFCStockholm pic.twitter.com/n6GH3oRynp

— Bulgogi Jones (@Hamderlei) June 1, 2019

Frank Camacho will replace the injured Christos Giagos and face Alan Patrick Silva Alves at UFC Fight Night 173.

Combate was first to report the change to the lightweight contest. The UFC has canceled all of its events through April 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic. If the schedule resumes as planned, UFC Fight Night 173 will take place at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on April 25 and is headlined by a light heavyweight duel between Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira. The card will stream on ESPN+.

Camacho has lost three of his last four Octagon appearances. Most recently, the 30-year-old Team Oyama representative suffered a first-round submission loss to Beneil Dariu…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g38-pkMsfxk&w=560&h=315]

The New York State Athletic Commission has confirmed what many already suspected, as it announced that UFC 249 will not be held in its originally scheduled location.

The NYSAC released a statement to Sherdog.com regarding the April 18 event, which was slated for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The card is headlined by a lightweight championship clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.

“Out of an abundance of caution and in line with recent guidance issued by the Center for Disease Control and New York State, the New York State Athletic Commission informed the UFC that UFC 249 cannot be held in NY,” the statement read.

The UFC recently canceled its three upcoming events — UFC Fight Night 171, UFC on ESPN 8 and UFC Fight Night 172 — after relocation efforts failed due to ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. UFC president Dana White has been adamant that UFC 249 will p…

Veteran mixed martial artist Cedric Marks is one of two people charge in the death of a women in Minnesota 11 years ago, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Marks, who is facing charges for a double murder in Texas last year, has been charged with second-degree murder in Hennepin County for allegedly abducting and killing April Pease in 2009.

Pease was the mother of one of Marks’ children and was allegedly involved in a custody dispute with the fighter.

Marks and Kellee Sorenson are charged with taking Pease from a domestic violence shelter in Bloomington, Minn. against her will. According to court documents, Marks killed Pease and removed her hands and teeth so the body couldn’t be identified. One of Marks’ wives told police the body was buried in North or South Dakota, according to the report.

The 45-year-old Marks last year was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, 28-year-old Jenna Scott, and 32-year-old Michael Swearingin. Their bodies wer…

As concerns regarding the coronavirus in the United States continue to grow, UFC president Dana White has been adamant that the lightweight championship fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will indeed take place on April 18.

It’s just a matter of finding a suitable location — even if that means moving UFC 249 out of the country. As for lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, the venue isn’t as important as the opportunity to fight.

“Honestly I don’t care,” Nurmagomedov said in an Instagram Live chat held by manager Ali Abdelaziz. “It’s going to be good if fight happens in the U.S. because I am here already for like one-and-a-half month. I’ve been training, and from this day we have like 30 days before the fight. Almost one month, and it’s going to be very good if we fight here in the U.S. But if not, any place. Any place, I don’t care.”

Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap, has speculated that the event could be moved to Abu Dhabi, where Khabib mad…

Despite being the only live sporting event on television, ratings for UFC Fight Night 170 weren’t exactly stellar.

According to figures released by ShowBuzz Daily, UFC Fight Night 170 averaged 672,000 viewers this past Saturday, the lowest figure ever for a card televised on ESPN. The card took place at Nelson Nilson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil and saw Charles Oliveira submit Kevin Lee in the lightweight main event. Fans were not allowed in the venue due to coronavirus concerns.

The previous low for a UFC card televised on ESPN came when UFC on ESPN 5 averaged 680,000 viewers for a main card headlined by Robbie Lawler and Colby Covington.

However, while other cards with the UFC on ESPN designation aired primarly on the Worldwide Leader’s main channel, UFC Fight Night 170 was also streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on ESPN Deportes, which could have divided the audience. Additionally, figures released by ShowBuzz Daily do not included separate ratings for the preli…