UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili is set to step onto a different kind of mat this spring, signing with Real American Freestyle (RAF Wrestling) and confirming his debut for RAF08 on April 18. The event is scheduled for the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will stream on FOX Nation as the upstart freestyle league continues to feature high-profile names from the MMA world.
One of MMA’s most dominant champions is coming to wrestling’s new main stage.
Merab Dvalishvili headlines RAF08 in Philadelphia. Opponent dropping soon.
Dvalishvili, long regarded as one of the UFC’s most relentless grapplers, will compete under freestyle wrestling rules as part of RAF’s push to showcase elite combat sports athletes in a professional, unscripted format built around real wrestling.
Promotion officials have yet to announce an opponent for “The Machine,” but RAF executives have framed his signing as a major statement of intent as the company builds its 2026 schedule around crossover stars from wrestling and MMA.
About Real American Freestyle
RAF, founded in 2025 and headquartered in Florida, has quickly carved out a niche by bringing current and former amateur standouts, Olympians, and MMA fighters into a paid freestyle league, with recent and upcoming events featuring names such as Colby Covington, Luke Rockhold, Henry Cejudo, and Urijah Faber.
Dvalishvili’s April appearance at RAF08 will mark his first competitive outing outside the UFC in several years and adds further crossover intrigue for fans tracking his next move in the octagon.
Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit will collide in a heavyweight bout at UFC 327 on April 11, 2026, live from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The matchup pits a seasoned veteran against one of the division’s most exciting undefeated prospects.
Blaydes (19-5-0, 1 NC) enters the fight looking to re-establish himself in the heavyweight title picture. The 33-year-old Chicago native is a former top-five contender with 13 TKO victories on his record and most recently earned a split-decision win over Rizvan Kuniev at a UFC Fight Night event in June 2025.
Back-to-back losses to elite competition in recent years have made a convincing performance here essential if “Razor” wants to work his way back into championship contention.
Hokit Brings a Perfect Record Into the Biggest Fight of His Career
Hokit (8-0-0) is as clean as they come on paper — eight fights, eight finishes, zero decisions. “The Incredible Hok” has five knockouts and three submissions to his name and is coming off a first-round TKO of Denzel Freeman at UFC 324 in January 2026. Now 2-0 inside the Octagon, Hokit is ready to take the significant step up in competition that a fight with Blaydes represents.
A win over Blaydes would immediately vault Hokit into the top-15 heavyweight rankings and signal to the division that a new contender has arrived.
UFC 327 Card So Far
UFC 327 takes place April 11, 2026, from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
UFC Flyweight Championship: Joshua Van (c) vs. Tatsuro Taira
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Jiri Prochazka (c) vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Hokit
Middleweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa
Welterweight: Kyle Daukaus vs. Vicente Luque
Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker
Women’s Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez
Robert Whittaker is moving to the light heavyweight division, targeting a June debut after consecutive losses to Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 308, October 2024) and Reinier de Ridder (UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder, July 26, 2025).
The former UFC middleweight champion (26-9) confirmed the move this week, citing concerns about the impact of weight cutting on his performance.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Robert Whittaker explained his decision-making process and his timeline for the move to light heavyweight.
“I had a really good rest after last fight. I took some breaks. I worked on some other things, and it’s given me a moment to really just settle in and work out what I want to do moving forward,” Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I’m locking in now. I’m locking in for June. I want to get in there. I want to fight again. I want to fight in June at 205 most likely.”
Whittaker believes the weight cut to middleweight affects his camp performance and efficiency in the octagon. He has been considering the move for some time and trained at a heavier weight during his layoff. Whittaker is now targeting a June fight at 205 pounds, with UFC White House emerging as the likely event for his light heavyweight debut.
Whittaker’s Weight Cut Concerns
While speaking on a separate podcast appearance in late 2025, Whittaker said he was ‘90% there’ on making the move to light heavyweight, noting that the weight cut to 185 pounds was affecting his camp performance and output — not that he could no longer make the weight.
Now fully committed to the switch, Whittaker plans to use the next few months transitioning to to 205 pounds without adding excessive muscle mass, hoping to preserve his speed and movement at the higher weight class.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh is a 13-fight card from Arena CDMX built around Brandon Moreno’s high‑stakes homecoming main event against short-notice spoiler Lone’er Kavanagh.
Event overview & how to watch
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Venue: Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
Start times: Prelims 5 p.m. ET, Main card 8 p.m. ET
Streaming: Entire event live on Paramount+ in the U.S. (regional broadcasters vary internationally).
Main event spotlight: Moreno vs. Kavanagh
Brandon Moreno returns to Mexico City as the former two‑time UFC flyweight champion and one of the promotion’s most accomplished Mexican stars, now looking to steady the ship after recent setbacks. He was originally slated to face surging contender Asu Almabayev, but a hand injury forced Almabayev out, opening the door for England’s Lone’er Kavanagh to step in on roughly two weeks’ notice.
Moreno brings a wealth of big‑fight experience, a deep gas tank and a well-rounded game built on volume boxing, scrambling and opportunistic submissions. Kavanagh, 26, is an aggressive striker with real pop, a 9‑1 record and four knockouts, who earned his way in via Dana White’s Contender Series and now finds himself in a massive rankings jump against the division’s No. 6.
Between Moreno’s pressure and Kavanagh’s willingness to trade, this shapes up as a fast-paced, crowd‑pleasing fight where the former champ must stay disciplined defensively against a hungry underdog swinging free with nothing to lose.
Main event at a glance
Fighter
Brandon Moreno
Lone’er Kavanagh
Record
23‑9‑2
9‑1
Status
Former 2‑time UFC flyweight champ
Rising prospect, short‑notice replacement
Ranking
No. 6 flyweight
No. 15 flyweight
Recent result
Loss vs. Tatsuro Taira
KO loss vs. Charles Johnson
Style snapshot
High‑volume boxing, creative grappling
Power striking, aggressive pace
Full card: UFC Mexico City
Exact bout order can shift during fight week, but the event is scheduled for 13 fights across seven weight classes.
Main card – 8 p.m. ET, Paramount+
Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh – flyweight main event (5 rounds)
Marlon “Chito” Vera vs. David Martinez – bantamweight co‑main event
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Bobby Green – lightweight bout showcasing Mexico’s rising prospect against a savvy veteran
Edgar Chairez vs. Jafel Filho (or Bunes, depending on final listing) – flyweight action bout
Jesus Santos Aguilar or a similar local favorite vs. TBD – flyweight/ bantamweight slot featuring Mexican talent (keep an eye on late-week updates).
Preliminary card – 5 p.m. ET, Paramount+ The prelims lean heavily into regional representation with multiple Mexican and Latin American fighters, paired with international opponents looking to steal momentum. While precise pairings differ slightly by source, expect matchups along the lines of:
Lightweight & featherweight prospects opening the show
Women’s flyweight and bantamweight bouts spotlighting emerging talent
At least one veteran vs. newcomer pairing to set the tone for the night.
Why this card matters
Flyweight picture: A Moreno win keeps him in the immediate title conversation; an upset for Kavanagh would instantly throw a new, marketable name into the mix.
Mexican market: This is part of UFC’s continued investment in Mexico City as a key market, following prior Arena CDMX shows headlined by Moreno.
Depth: With 13 scheduled bouts and several all‑action pairings, the card is designed as a showcase for Mexican and Latin American fighters across divisions, not just the headliner.
Rankings Updated Following UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez | Toyota Center, Houston, TX — Feb. 21, 2026
The UFC released its updated divisional rankings Monday following Saturday night’s card in Houston. Below is a complete breakdown of every movement across all divisions.
Welterweight (Champion: Islam Makhachev)
Uroš Medić — ENTERS at No. 12 (NR) | “The Dalmatian” crashes into the rankings with his Round 1 KO of Geoff Neal
Colby Covington — UP 1, now No. 13 | Covington ticks up one spot despite not competing in the UFC in quite some time — a notable passive rise driven by others’ results
Daniel Rodriguez — DOWN 2, now No. 15 | “D-Rod” slides two places following the ranking reshuffle
Geoff Neal — EXITS Top 15 | The Houston native is dropped entirely after being stopped on home soil
Middleweight (Champion: Khamzat Chimaev)
Sean Strickland — HOLDS at No. 3 | Main event TKO win not enough to move the needle for “Tarzan” in a crowded division
Brendan Allen — UP 1, now No. 4
Israel Adesanya — UP 1, now No. 5
Anthony Hernandez — DOWN 2, now No. 6 | Pays the price for the TKO loss in the main event
Heavyweight (Champion: Tom Aspinall)
The Spivac win over Ante Delija sent significant ripple effects down the entire division. Derrick Lewis returns to the Top 10.
Serghei Spivac — UP 1, now No. 6
Rizvan Kuniev — DOWN 1, now No. 7
Marcin Tybura — UP 2, now No. 8 (tied)
Derrick Lewis — UP 3, now No. 8 (tied)
Ante Delija — DOWN 1, now No. 10
Tallison Teixeira — UP 1, now No. 11
Shamil Gaziev — UP 1, now No. 12
Mick Parkin — UP 2, now No. 13
Vitor Petrino — ENTERS at No. 15 (NR)
Women’s Bantamweight (Champion: Kayla Harrison)
Joselyne Edwards — UP 3, now No. 11 | The biggest mover of the week following her dominant finish
Mayra Bueno Silva — DOWN 1, now No. 12
Nora Cornolle — DOWN 1, now No. 13 | Falls following the loss to Edwards
Miesha Tate — DOWN 1, now No. 14
Men’s Flyweight (Champion: Joshua Van)
Lone’er Kavanagh — EXITS Top 15 | Drops out entirely ahead of his Feb. 28 main event vs. Brandon Moreno in Mexico City
Lightweight, Light Heavyweight, Men’s Bantamweight, Women’s Strawweight, and both Pound-for-Pound rankings all held steady with no movement following UFC Houston.
The next UFC event is UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Mexico City.
The UFC has officially announced a marquee middleweight clash for the Pacific Northwest: Israel Adesanya will face Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Fight Night 271: Adesanya vs. Pyfer on Saturday, March 28, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The card streams live on Paramount+.
Adesanya (24-5), the two-time UFC Middleweight Champion, looks to snap a brutal three-fight losing skid and reassert himself among the division’s elite. The Nigerian-New Zealander known as “The Last Stylebender” made history during his first title reign with five consecutive successful defenses, and reclaimed the belt in spectacular fashion with a second-round knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023.
Since then, however, the wheels have come off: he dropped the title to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision at UFC 293, was submitted by Dricus du Plessis in a championship rematch at UFC 305, and was stopped by TKO just 30 seconds into round two by Nassourdine Imavov at a UFC Fight Night in Riyadh in February 2025. A strong performance in Seattle could go a long way toward turning the page on that difficult stretch and putting him back in the title conversation.
Standing across from him is the surging Joe Pyfer (15-3), one of the most exciting young talents in the 185-pound division. Nicknamed “Bodybagz” for good reason, Pyfer has racked up nine knockout victories and four Performance of the Night bonuses in his UFC tenure, quickly building a reputation as one of middleweight’s most dangerous finishers. Currently ranked No. 15 in the division, a statement win over a legend like Adesanya would be the biggest result of his career and could vault him into the upper tier of the rankings.
UFC Fight Night 271: Adesanya vs. Pyfer takes place March 28 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and airs live on Paramount+. The full fight card is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Paul “Big News” Hughes (14-3) will headline PFL Belfast on April 16 from the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland, facing New Zealand’s Jay Jay “The Māori Kid” Wilson (11-2) in a lightweight main event, the league announced Monday.
It will be the second consecutive time Hughes has headlined an event at the SSE Arena, having famously stopped Bruno Miranda in 42 seconds at PFL’s debut Belfast card in May 2025.
Hughes, ranked No. 4 in the PFL lightweight division, is framing the fight as the beginning of a climb back toward a third meeting with Nurmagomedov. The County Derry native says finishing Wilson is a requirement, not just a preference.
“It’s not good enough to have a good performance, I need to finish you and put myself in the mix again,” Hughes said. “This is the beginning of my redemption arc — it starts with Jay Jay.”
PFL CEO John Martin confirmed the matchup to ESPN, noting that Hughes specifically requested a return to Belfast. “Hughes is looking to get back on track, and Jay Jay will have an opportunity to play spoiler in Paul’s backyard,” Martin said. “I think that makes for a super fun fight.”
Wilson Seeking Upset To Boost Title Contention
Wilson enters as a significant underdog fighting on enemy soil, but the 28-year-old Kiwi has never been stopped across 13 professional bouts. He is coming off a decision loss to undefeated contender Archie Colgan on the same PFL Dubai card where Hughes fell to Nurmagomedov. Prior to that, Wilson withdrew from the PFL lightweight tournament semifinals due to a broken jaw.
PFL Belfast airs live in the United States on ESPN2, the ESPN App, and ESPN Deportes. The main card begins at 7 PM ET, with the preliminary card streaming on the ESPN App (ESPN Unlimited) at 2:30 PM ET. Doors at the SSE Arena open at 7 PM local time, with the main event scheduled after midnight BST.
Pre-sale tickets are available Tuesday, February 24 at 12 PM GMT, with general sale beginning Wednesday, February 25 at 12 PM GMT via pfl.info/belfast. The full undercard is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Real American Freestyle has confirmed a significant change to its RAF 06 card: former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will replace the injured Chad Mendes and face Benson Henderson this Saturday, February 28, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
Chad Mendes is out.
Aljamain Sterling will take on Benson Henderson at RAF06.
Sterling, a decorated grappler and UFC 135-pound titlist, now makes his RAF debut in a high-profile welterweight freestyle bout set at 170 pounds. Henderson, a former UFC lightweight champion and veteran of the WEC era, was originally slated to compete against Mendes before the injury forced the late change.
RAF 06: Updated Card
The event, officially titled RAF 06: Cejudo vs. Faber, airs live on Fox Nation at 9 PM EST and marks the sixth flagship event from the Real American Freestyle promotion. The card also features former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo headlining against Urijah Faber in a lightweight matchup, as well as other notable bouts including Arman Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas at middleweight and welterweight champion David Carr defending his title against Bubba Jenkins.
Sterling vs. Henderson is a compelling late addition — both men carry substantial pedigrees in combat sports, making this a marquee matchup in its own right despite the short-notice circumstances. Tickets remain available through Ticketmaster, and the event takes place at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena.
Former UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida has found a new home in ACA’s heavyweight division. The Brazilian standout has signed with the Russian promotion, ACA president Magomed Bibulatov confirmed through Russian outlet Vestnik MMA on Friday.
Жаилтон Алмейда (22-5) пополняет ростер тяжелого дивизиона АСА. Об этом сообщил глава лиги Магомед Бибулатов. pic.twitter.com/6OBP8IKEIc
Almeida enters ACA with a 22-5 professional record and a reputation as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport.
The 34-year-old was recently released by the UFC despite being ranked in the top 10 at heavyweight, ending a stint in which he went 8-3 inside the Octagon with notable wins over Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Serghei Spivac.
The move comes less than two weeks after news broke that the UFC had opted to part ways with Almeida following a unanimous-decision loss to Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Vegas 113, his second consecutive defeat.
Almeida later issued a public statement promising that he would “be back” and teasing “new challenges” on the horizon. Those challenges now appear to lie in ACA, where Almeida is expected to remain at heavyweight rather than pursue a previously discussed return to light heavyweight.
With Almeida now joining the roster, ACA adds a globally recognized contender to its heavyweight ranks at a time when international signings have become increasingly important in the free-agent market.
Betting odds for UFC Houston are locked in ahead of tonight’s card, and the books have made their picks clear across the board. These are near-final lines, so don’t expect much movement before the first bell.
In the main event, Anthony Hernandez is a significant -240 favorite over former middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who comes back at +205. The total is set at 4.5 rounds, with the under (+156) slightly favored, suggesting oddsmakers expect a finish if Hernandez gets his way.
Geoff Neal is a -190 favorite against Uros Medic (+165) in their welterweight matchup. The fight has a 1.5-round total, with the over (+140) favored — a reflection of both men’s tendency to get the job done early.
Melquizael Costa is a -230 chalk over Dan Ige (+195), with the total set at 2.5. The under (+207) is on the board, meaning oddsmakers strongly expect this one to end before the third round.
Spivac vs. Delija a Near Pick’em
The closest fight on the card per the odds is Ante Delija vs. Serghei Spivac, where Delija is a slim -120 favorite with Spivac at +100. The 1.5-round total sits at +112/-132, making this one of the more unpredictable bouts of the night.
Michel Pereira Favored Over Zach Reese
Michel Pereira opens as a -160 favorite against Zach Reese (+140). The over 1.5 rounds is +105, indicating some uncertainty about whether this one goes the distance — fitting given Pereira’s unpredictable style.
UFC Houston gets underway tonight. Stay tuned to MMA News for live results and post-fight coverage.
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly being targeted to face former light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 327 on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
The rumor was first reported by MMA content creator @realkevink on social media. UFC has not officially confirmed the matchup
The report suggests Chimaev (15-0) would vacate his middleweight title to pursue a second championship at 205 pounds, bypassing any defense of the belt he won by dominating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August.
On his JAXXON Podcast appearance Friday, Chimaev expressed his desire to become a two-division champion. “I want to become double champion,” Chimaev said. “I am not like these guys who try to take their retirement from UFC undefeated. I just want to make big fights.”
The move to light heavyweight would mark the third weight class of Chimaev’s UFC career after competing at both welterweight and middleweight. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman recently suggested on his Pound 4 Pound podcast that Chimaev has simply outgrown 185 pounds, with reports placing his walking weight between 225 and 230 pounds.
Procházka (32-5-1) has rebuilt momentum in the light heavyweight division with back-to-back stoppage victories over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 in January 2025 and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320 in October 2025. The former champion’s only UFC losses have come against Alex Pereira, who is widely expected to vacate the 205-pound title to pursue a heavyweight move.
Notably, this report conflicts with an earlier rumor from Brazilian outlet MMA Hoje, which targeted Procházka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327, with Pereira facing Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight gold at UFC 328. Whether the Chimaev matchup has replaced that plan or represents a competing report remains unclear.
The UFC 327 card is already taking shape with a confirmed co-main event featuring flyweight champion Joshua Van defending his title against Tatsuro Taira. Additional bouts include Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker, Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown, and Paulo Costa’s light heavyweight debut against Azamat Murzakanov.
Bo Nickal appears to have publicly signaled his acceptance of a fight with Colby Covington, posting a message on X Friday evening that strongly implies the two fighters are headed for a collision at the UFC’s historic White House card on June 14.
“I have a lot of respect for Colby Covington as a competitor and someone who never backs down from a challenge,” Nickal wrote, tagging Covington, the UFC, Dana White, and President Donald Trump. “The Real American way. See you soon.”
The tweet marks a notable shift in tone from Nickal, who had spent recent weeks aggressively calling out Covington after “Chaos” appeared to pivot toward a matchup with Paddy Pimblett instead. As recently as mid-February, Nickal blasted Covington as a “coward” for seemingly dodging the fight, telling him to “man up and take your beating.”
Bo Nickal vs Colby Covington
The rivalry between the two erupted in January at the RAF 5 press conference, where Covington directed several personal jabs at Nickal, questioning his career trajectory and MMA acumen. After defeating Luke Rockhold at the event, Covington hinted at a move to middleweight — only to later reverse course and declare he preferred to remain at 170 pounds, citing a desire to face a non-American opponent on the patriotic card.
Nickal, a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion currently competing at middleweight, had previously identified Covington as his top target for the event.
“A matchup with Colby makes a lot of sense, especially considering how the last RAF event unfolded,” Nickal told MMA Fighting earlier this month. “This feels like the fight that needs to happen.”
The UFC’s White House event — set for the South Lawn on Flag Day, June 14, also President Trump’s 80th birthday, is reported to already be finalized internally. Dana White confirmed last week that the card is complete, though no official bouts have been announced.
It remains to be seen whether Nickal vs. Covington has been formally booked or whether Friday’s tweet represents Nickal’s public acceptance of an offer currently in the works. Neither the UFC nor Covington’s camp has issued a response as of publication.
Conor Benn has broken his silence on his departure from Matchroom Boxing, issuing a public statement addressing his move to Zuffa Boxing.
Benn thanked promoter Eddie Hearn and the Matchroom team for a decade of support, from his early days as a professional to headlining stadium shows.
“They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times,” he wrote.
He hopes Hearn can remain part of his team in some capacity going forward.
On the Zuffa Boxing move, Benn was direct:
“Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse.”
First and foremost, I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they’ve done for me over the past decade.
From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to… pic.twitter.com/u4dD4tsnAe
He expressed ambition about what the partnership will bring, calling for legacy fights and the biggest stages.
“I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
You can read the full statement here:
“First and foremost, I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they’ve done for me over the past decade. From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times.
It’s been a journey beyond anything we could have imagined, and for their belief, support, and guidance, I will always be truly grateful, but Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse. I’d love Eddie to continue to be part of my team and for our partnership to evolve in this new chapter.
I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing. I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
Conor Benn has sensationally left long‑time promoter Eddie Hearn and signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing in a move that immediately raises the stakes in White’s growing rivalry with traditional boxing power brokers.
The British star had spent his entire professional career under the Matchroom banner, but on Friday it was confirmed he has split from Hearn to ink a new promotional deal with Zuffa.
Benn paid tribute to his now‑former promoter in a statement, thanking Hearn and Matchroom “for everything they have done for me over the past decade” and calling the journey “beyond anything we could have imagined,” before adding that Zuffa Boxing presented an opportunity he “simply couldn’t refuse.”
The 24‑1 contender avenged his only career loss with a victory over Chris Eubank Jr in their November rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — Benn had lost their first meeting in April before winning the sequel — and has since been linked with major fights against the likes of Ryan Garcia, Mario Barrios and Shakur Stevenson.
Zuffa Boxing vs. Matchroom
For White and Zuffa Boxing, landing Benn is a huge statement as the new outfit builds out its 2026 schedule and looks to challenge the sport’s established order.
Rampage Jackson showed love to Deen The Great on his latest Kick stream, gifting the Misfits Boxing star a $20,000 Audemars Piguet watch after one of the roughest weeks of Deen’s public life.
“You took four Ls,” Jackson jokingly told Deen on the February 19 stream, a nod to a string of viral altercations that had the internet buzzing. Deen was slapped by powerlifter Larry Wheels over an incident involving Wheels’ wife, then elbowed in the face by ex-UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn at a house party hosted by Jackson, leaving him the subject of widespread ridicule online.
Ghosn, who compiled a 10-8-1 MMA record from 1998 to 2009 fighting the likes of Robbie Lawler and Genki Sudo, serves as Rampage’s longtime manager and also represents Dustin Poirier, Brian Ortega, and Mackenzie Dern.
A resurfaced clip of a failed backflip from Deen’s Misfits Boxing debut in 2022 only added fuel to the fire.
Despite the rough stretch, Deen ended the week on a high note. Following his public apology over the Tiki Ghosn scuffle, Jackson used the moment to publicly thank Deen for introducing him to live streaming on Kick, crediting him with giving him a renewed sense of purpose after retiring from MMA.
The UFC has officially announced its return to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a welterweight main event pitting Gilbert Burns against Mike Malott.
The event, a UFC Fight Night card in Winnipeg, takes place on Saturday, April 18 from the Canada Life Centre. The announcement marks the promotion’s first visit to Manitoba since December 2017, when the UFC last held an event in the Canadian province.
The scoop was first reported by veteran MMA reporter Adam Martin yesterday, and confirmed this afternoon.
I am hearing tonight that the UFC Canada card that was originally set for Ottawa, Ontario, is being shifted to Winnipeg, Manitoba. We should get an official announcement for this event soon, along with a main event. Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg where the Jets play seats 16,000.
Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) is currently on the longest losing skid of his career at four straight defeats. The 39-year-old former title challenger was most recently stopped by Michael Morales in the first round at UFC Vegas 106 in May 2025. Despite the rough stretch, all four of Burns’ losses have come against ranked opposition in Morales, Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad. “Durinho” hasn’t tasted victory since a decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 in April 2023.
Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) enters the bout riding a three-fight winning streak and will be looking to make the most of his first UFC main event opportunity. The Canadian earned a unanimous decision victory over Kevin Holland at a UFC event in Vancouver in October and knocked out Charles Radtke at UFC 315 in May. The 34-year-old earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, and his only Octagon loss came against Neil Magny.
The matchup represents a classic crossroads bout. Burns brings elite experience as a former welterweight title challenger and decorated BJJ world champion, while Malott looks to use a victory over a big name to break into the upper tier of the 170-pound division. Headlining in front of a Canadian crowd adds another layer for Malott, who has thrived in previous outings on home soil.
Additional bouts for the UFC Winnipeg card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Canada, we’re BACK! 🤩🇨🇦 Catch our return to the North with #UFCWinnipeg April 18!
“It’s time to think about new challenges, to chase new dreams,” Almeida wrote. “It’s going to be that way — there’ll be news very soon. I’ll be back on the scene again.”
Almeida (22-5) was ranked No. 8 at heavyweight when the UFC cut him following back-to-back decision losses to Alexander Volkov at UFC 321 and Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Vegas 113. He had not exhausted his contract, with the promotion electing to release him early.
The 34-year-old Brazilian went 8-3 in the UFC with seven finishes in eight wins, including stoppages of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Serghei Spivac. However, criticism of his grappling-heavy style had mounted, and UFC CEO Dana White publicly stated after the Volkov loss that he was pleased Almeida didn’t receive the decision.
Fan speculation has already linked Almeida to PFL, where his elite BJJ credentials and 13 career submission wins could thrive. Based on his message, it appears fans won’t be waiting long for an announcement.
Jake Paul says he’s back in the hospital. This time not because of another opponent, but because of his own body failing to cooperate.
The boxer and social media personality revealed on Friday that he required a second jaw surgery after the screws and plates from his original procedure began coming loose.
Paul posted videos to his social media from the hospital, captioning the footage: “Apparently I didn’t rest for the past 2 months whaattttttttt?”
The post includes video footage that clearly includes some “special effects” – so it’s unclear if this is entirely made up, or just embellished.
Jake Paul’s jaw was first broken during his December 19, 2025 fight against two-time unified Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. The bout, which aired on Netflix from Miami’s Kaseya Center, ended in a sixth-round knockout after Joshua dropped Paul four times throughout the fight. Post-fight X-rays revealed Paul had suffered fractures in two separate locations on his jaw.
Paul underwent his initial surgery on December 20, 2025, where surgeons inserted two titanium plates (one on each side of his mouth) secured with screws, in addition to removing several teeth.
At the time, Paul was placed on a strict liquid-only diet for seven days and expressed his intention to return to boxing at cruiserweight, stating, “We will heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight”.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons previously noted that typical recovery from this type of jaw fracture repair requires strict rest and limited jaw movement to allow the hardware and bone to properly fuse.
Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) has repeatedly stated he plans to return to the ring and compete for a cruiserweight world title.
Carol Foro has announced she will no longer compete at UFC Fight Night Seattle on March 28 after testing positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition drug test.
Foro’s team released a statement on Instagram confirming the positive test, which revealed a type of diuretic in her system earlier this year. The Brazilian had been scheduled to make her UFC debut on the card headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
In their statement, Foro’s camp maintained that she did not take the substance “consciously or intentionally” and raised the possibility that it may have entered her system through a contaminated supplement. Testing is reportedly underway to support their case as they work to clear her name.
Her planned opponent, Stephanie Luciano, has since been rematched. Per reporter Leo Walker Guimaraes, Luciano is now set to face Alexia Thainara on March 28.
Foro Earned UFC Contract on Contender Series
Foro’s cancelled debut is a significant setback following the impression she made last September. The Brazilian earned her UFC contract via Episode 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, where both she and opponent Shanelle Dyer (who lost her undefeated record in the contest) were awarded contracts after a standout performance.
Thainara, who steps in as Foro’s replacement, has also been highlighted as a fighter to watch, making her a strong substitute for the card. Foro’s team will now focus on resolving the anti-doping matter before her UFC career can get underway.
Sean Strickland and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez have both made weight for their main event bout at UFC Houston, with Strickland admitting the weight cut was harder on him than any fight could be.
Strickland stepped on the scale first and hit 185lb on the dot — going one pound under the non-title limit in what reads as a statement of intent from the former middleweight champion. Hernandez made use of the extra allowance and came in at 186lb, making the fight officially on for Saturday night.
One of middleweight’s best 💪@SStricklandMMA weighs in at 185 lbs!
The road to the scale was not easy for Strickland, who has been out of action for over a year since losing his title rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 last February. During his absence, his weight ballooned to a reported 230lb — nearly two full weight classes above the 185lb middleweight limit.
Strickland shared a video on his Instagram story the night before weigh-ins showing the toll the cut was taking. He posted screenshots of an intense two-hour workout that burned 1,214 calories, with his heart rate climbing from a resting 38bpm to highs of 141bpm during the hardest stretches.
“This is what we really get paid to do,” Strickland told his followers. “Cutting weight is worse than the fight, but we are almost there.”
It’s not the first time Strickland has struggled with the middleweight limit. Earlier in his career he competed at welterweight, and in 2023 he took a short-notice fight at 204lb after insisting he couldn’t reach 185lb in time. His success at middleweight has kept him in the division, but getting back down after a year at 230lb is a different kind of challenge.
What’s at Stake Saturday
Despite the drama surrounding his cut, Strickland arrived at the scale in good shape and ready to go. With Nassourdine Imavov as the current top contender for Khamzat Chimaev’s middleweight title, a statement win for Strickland — the last man to defeat Imavov, back in January 2023 — would put him firmly back in the title picture.
Hernandez enters on an eight-fight winning streak, including victories over Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze, and is favored by the oddsmakers heading into Saturday night in Houston.
Cunningham revealed the decision in a vlog-style video recorded in his car, explaining that he ruptured a disc in his back that has not healed properly and that ongoing issues with the injury have led him to walk away from competition.
The American ends his career with an overall record of 11 wins and 5 losses, including an 0-2 mark inside the Octagon after earning his opportunity with a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series. His UFC run included a quick stoppage defeat to Jose Johnson in March 2024, part of a brief stint at the highest level that did not produce a win.
Cunningham’s retirement comes after a turbulent spell outside the cage as well. In October 2025, he faced widespread backlash for posting Nazi-themed propaganda on his Instagram account, drawing condemnation across social media and overshadowing his in-cage career.
Lionsgate has released the official trailer for Beast, an MMA action drama starring Russell Crowe set to hit theaters on April 10, 2026. Crowe also co-wrote the screenplay alongside David Frigerio.
The film stars Daniel MacPherson as Patton James, a once-feared MMA champion who has stepped away from competition to build a quieter life. When his younger brother is put in danger, he’s pulled back into the cage — reuniting with his former trainer, played by Crowe, for one final brutal camp ahead of a showdown with the reigning title-holder. The film is directed by Tyler Atkins.
The cast also includes Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, Mojean Aria, Kelly Gale, and Australian musician Amy Shark, who makes her feature film debut. MacPherson and Hemsworth previously worked with Crowe on his 2022 film Poker Face.
Beast was developed in collaboration with ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organization. A key fight scene was filmed at ONE Championship’s Friday Fights live event at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2025.
Watch the trailer below.
Beast opens exclusively in theaters on April 10, 2026.
UFC president Dana White is pushing back at critics who are outraged by Sean Strickland’s “colorful” remarks this week, insisting that anyone offended by the controversial middleweight should stop asking him questions instead of demanding the promotion rein him in.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland.”
When Dana White was asked about policing Sean Strickland on a UFC microphone
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad you shouldn’t ask these questions when you know the response you’ll get from Strickland. I don’t tell any human what to say or think, there’s no leashes” pic.twitter.com/6PHqG0AxUP
Sean Strickland’s UFC Houston media day appearance turned into a torrent of slurs and inflammatory remarks that quickly escaped the MMA bubble. As detailed by Variety and other mainstream outlets, Strickland used a homophobic slur to describe upcoming Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny, mocked the NFL for “gaying up” football with its entertainment choices, and derided him as a “gay foreigner” brought in to perform.
He also claimed women have been empowered “too much” and “ruined society,” then reduced their value to domestic roles like cooking and cleaning while dismissing interest in women’s sports.
Aaaaaaand he was just getting started.
When asked about Netflix’s planned MMA exhibition between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, he suggested they should fight “half naked,” joked about Rousey’s history of being abused by a former partner, and sexualized Carano while reminiscing about watching her fight as a teenager.
Paramount paid $7.7 billion for this operation. Strickland’s been doing this kind of routine for a long time. By every indication available, Paramount’s getting exactly what they wanted. Entreaties for them to challenge what they asked for won’t work. https://t.co/yK4A49gOwT
— Luke Thomas Gets Political (LTGP) (@LTGetsPolitical) February 19, 2026
The media day was staged to promote his main event bout with Anthony Hernandez this Saturday in Houston, airing on Paramount+, and marks Strickland’s first fight since a 2025 suspension for attacking another fighter while working as a cornerman.
The combination of misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ and xenophobic rhetoric turned what was supposed to be a standard promotional hit into a corporate headache. Variety noted that both Paramount+ and the UFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, underscoring how sensitive the situation is for the promotion and its broadcast partner as the clip circulates beyond fight fans.
Dana White: ‘Don’t ask him if you’re going to cry about it’
While broadcast partners and sponsors may be bracing for fallout, Dana White’s stance on Strickland remains consistent with how he has handled past controversies involving the former middleweight champion.
Speaking previously about backlash to Strickland’s offensive comments, White argued that members of the media who get their “feelings hurt” by Strickland’s answers are partly to blame when they knowingly toss him provocative questions.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland,” White said when asked about criticism of the fighter’s language.
He scoffed at the idea that the UFC gives Strickland a long “leash,” insisting that he doesn’t try to police fighters’ speech and that they are responsible for what comes out of their own mouths.
White has framed the issue as one of individual freedom rather than corporate responsibility.
“I don’t tell any other human being what to say or what to think,” he said, rejecting the notion that he should intervene when Strickland’s talking points veer into bigotry or hate.
In his view, the media have a clear idea of who Strickland is and what kind of soundbites he generates, and they should not act surprised when he delivers exactly that.
‘No leashes’ and the UFC’s free-speech posture
White’s broader message is that fights are the UFC’s product, but fighters’ speech belongs to them—even when it crosses lines that many fans, media members and advocacy groups find offensive.
He has repeatedly rejected calls to muzzle Strickland, saying he does not put “leashes” on athletes or script their personalities, even as sponsors and partners must live with the fallout of what they say.
That posture is now being stress-tested as Strickland’s comments are amplified by mainstream outlets like Variety, which framed the Houston media day appearance as a “bigoted tirade” that targeted women, LGBTQ people and immigrants.
Instead of signaling a change in approach, White is doubling down on the idea that Strickland is an uncensored personality and that anyone offended by him should stop treating him like a reliable spokesman for the sport.
UFC, Paramount+ and the optics problem
The tension for the UFC is that Strickland is not just a random undercard fighter ranting on social media; he is a former champion headlining a Paramount+-streamed event that the company is actively promoting.
His tirade unfolded on an official UFC media platform, with UFC branding everywhere, and directly tied to a fight the promotion and its partners want fans to watch on Saturday.
UFC’s silence when reached for comment, combined with White’s “no leashes” rhetoric, paints the picture of a company willing to absorb reputational damage in exchange for the attention and viral clips that come with Strickland’s persona.
At the same time, Strickland’s opponent Anthony Hernandez has already addressed racially charged material involving Strickland in the build-up to UFC Houston, vowing to “torture” him in the cage after a racist post depicted Hernandez using stereotypical Mexican imagery.
For now, there is no indication that White plans to discipline Strickland over his latest comments, much less tell him to tone down his rhetoric.
With Strickland set to headline in Houston on Paramount+, the fallout from this week’s comments (and White’s refusal to distance himself from them) will loom over Saturday night’s broadcast.
Amanda Serrano has weighed in on the newly announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight, praising both women as pioneers and taking a shot at anyone who views the matchup negatively.
Serrano, who signed a lifetime deal with Most Valuable Promotions in March 2025, shared her thoughts on social media following the announcement that Rousey and Carano will headline MVP’s first-ever MMA event on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, streaming live on Netflix.
“It’s so cool to have one of the Best combat Athletes back @RondaRousey vs another pioneer of combat sports the beautiful @ginacarano,” Serrano wrote. “Others shining lights won’t dim yours Unless you’re insecure, these women will break Numbers both in Viewerships & in live Attendance. I’m certain they will make a ton of money Raising the game!!”
She continued, “I feel it for the Lames that think it’s all about them. Real Empowered Women Empower Women! Tissues for the rest.”
The Puerto Rican boxing champion knows firsthand what MVP and Netflix can deliver. Serrano’s rematch with Katie Taylor in November 2024 became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history with 74 million global viewers, and their trilogy at Madison Square Garden in July 2025 headlined the first-ever all-women’s boxing card at the iconic venue.
MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian called Rousey and Carano “the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA” when announcing the bout. The fight will be contested at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA.
A kickoff press conference is scheduled for March 5 at the Intuit Dome, with additional fights on the undercard to be announced in the coming weeks.
Former Bellator champion Sergio Pettis will face undefeated contender Mitch McKee in a bantamweight main event at PFL Chicago on April 11 from Wintrust Arena. The winner will move directly into title contention for the promotion’s still-vacant 135-pound championship.
PFL CEO John Martin confirmed the matchup on Thursday, calling it “a divisional inflection point” for the bantamweight division. Pettis currently sits atop PFL’s bantamweight rankings, while McKee brings a perfect 10-0 record into the biggest fight of his career.
Pettis Riding Momentum After Highlight-Reel KO
Pettis (25-7) enters on a two-fight win streak in 2025, including a Knockout of the Year contender over Magomed Magomedov at PFL Dubai in October. The former Bellator bantamweight champion was being dominated on the scorecards before uncorking a devastating spinning back elbow that flatlined Magomedov in the second round.
McKee (10-0) is a former University of Minnesota wrestling All-American who turned pro in MMA in 2021. The 28-year-old Minnesota native trains at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida and boasts six knockouts in his 10 career victories. He was most recently seen headlining LFA 217 in September 2025, where he scored another knockout win.
This represents a significant step up in competition for McKee, who has primarily competed in LFA throughout his professional career. A win over the PFL’s top-ranked bantamweight would immediately establish him as a legitimate title contender.
Newman vs. Silveira in Middleweight Co-Main
The PFL also announced a middleweight co-main event between undefeated prospect Jordan Newman (8-0) and veteran Josh Silveira (15-5). Newman, who fights out of Roufusport in Milwaukee, competed in the 2025 PFL World Tournament, while Silveira is a former 2023 PFL light heavyweight finalist who has transitioned to middleweight.
The PFL’s bantamweight, featherweight, and women’s flyweight world championships all remain vacant as the promotion continues building its divisional hierarchies. With the winner of Pettis vs. McKee heading straight into championship contention, PFL Chicago could prove pivotal in determining when and how the 135-pound title picture takes shape.
