MMA News

Author: Staff

  • Sean O’Malley: Only a Knockout Keeps Me in Title Mix

    Sean O’Malley: Only a Knockout Keeps Me in Title Mix

    Sean O’Malley says a decision win will not be enough at UFC Freedom 250. The former bantamweight champion insists he needs to finish Aiemann Zahabi to keep his name in the title conversation, and he is not interested in grinding out points on the scorecards.

    “I gotta finish Zahabi [to get a title shot], I can’t go out there and get a boring win,” O’Malley said, framing the matchup as a statement opportunity rather than a routine assignment.

    O’Malley made the comments ahead of the bantamweight bout, which is scheduled for June 14, 2026, as part of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The reporting comes from Home of Fight.

    O’Malley expects the fight to stay on the feet, and he warned that Zahabi’s durability could force him to find the finish more than once. He said he may need to “land a knockout shot multiple times” because of how tough his opponent is.

    O’Malley Expects a Standing Fight at the White House

    The Suga Sean star dismissed the idea that the bout turns into a long wrestling match. “Little to none,” he said when asked how much grappling he expects, adding, “Everyone turns into a grappler at some point when you get hit enough times.”

    That framing matches how O’Malley has described Zahabi in recent interviews, painting him as a tough, durable opponent who will get hurt if O’Malley keeps landing clean. Zahabi was not O’Malley’s first choice for the card, which adds extra pressure to the call for a statement finish. O’Malley has been candid that he originally wanted a different fight for UFC Freedom 250.

    Zahabi brings a measured resume into the bout. He carries a 14-2 overall record, a 68-inch reach and an orthodox stance, with a six-fight UFC winning streak. He has finished eight of his 14 wins, each one coming in the first round, and he earned a unanimous decision over Jose Aldo at UFC 315 in May 2025. Zahabi has also pushed back on O’Malley’s pre-fight bets.

    A Crowded Bantamweight Picture

    O’Malley’s finish-or-bust framing carries weight in a stacked division. Cory Sandhagen has already called out O’Malley for the White House card, underscoring how many contenders are circling the bantamweight title.

    For O’Malley, the message is simple. He is betting that his timing and volume will create an opening before the scorecards become a factor, and on a historic White House card, that kind of finish would keep his name right where he wants it.

  • Anthony Joshua Considering MMA Crossover Fight

    Anthony Joshua Considering MMA Crossover Fight

    Anthony Joshua wants to flip the combat sports crossover trend on its head. The former boxing heavyweight champion, who knocked out Francis Ngannou inside the boxing ring, says he is now seriously weighing a move into MMA to see how a boxer fares on the other side.

    “Believe me, I was thinking, why don’t I step over into one of their territories because they keep on coming to our territory?” Joshua said during an appearance on the Ring Magazine Mr Versace podcast.

    The 36-year-old framed the idea as a fair reversal, pointing out that fighters from other disciplines have repeatedly tested themselves in boxing while boxers rarely return the favor.

    “Obviously, this is big business. It’s big boxing, it’s heavyweight boxing. You are talking about the best in their chosen field. MMA, Kickboxing. These aren’t amateurs, these are actually experienced fighters. It would be good if one of us went into that side and see how we get on over there,” Joshua continued.

    Joshua Plans To Fight Until At Least 40

    The MMA talk carries weight because Joshua has no plans to walk away soon. He had previously teased retirement following his loss to Daniel Dubois, and a future away from the sport seemed likely after he survived a fatal car crash this past January.

    Instead, Joshua revealed he intends to keep competing until he is at least 40, leaving a multi-year window for a crossover bout.

    He also made clear that any MMA venture would need to be a marquee attraction. “100 percent (I’d want a big name opponent). So that means it’s big business then. MMA, kickboxing, or boxing. It can be done, I believe it should be done. I think that will be the next thing we want to see,” he said.

    A Reversal Of The Ngannou Crossover

    Joshua has already lived the crossover dynamic from the boxing side, welcoming former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou into the ring and stopping him in the second round.

    He acknowledged that a boxer entering MMA would not draw the same spectacle as an MMA fighter coming to boxing. “So even if let’s say, Anthony Joshua, speaking in third person, was to crossover into MMA, it wouldn’t be as big as them coming over to boxing. Boxing is just the pinnacle of combat sports,” he said.

    Boxing’s track record in MMA is thin. Former boxing champion James Toney remains the only major name to make the leap, losing to Randy Couture at UFC 118 in 2010.

    For now, Joshua’s focus stays on the squared circle. He is set to face Albanian contender Kristian Prenga on July 25, with a heavyweight clash against Tyson Fury lined up for the fourth quarter of the year.

  • MMA Fighter Disqualified In BKFC Main Event For Takedown

    MMA Fighter Disqualified In BKFC Main Event For Takedown

    Julian Lane, the fighter whose entire bare-knuckle identity is built on the “let me bang, bro” catchphrase, lost his main event by doing the one thing his persona forbids: shooting for a takedown. The veteran was disqualified at BKFC Fight Night: Hollywood after a double-leg attempt injured opponent Bryce Henry in the fourth round.

    Takedowns and grappling are illegal under BKFC rules, which limit competition to bare-fisted punching. When Lane abandoned the striking that made his name and went for the legs, the referee waved the bout off once Henry appeared hurt by the attempt.

    Bare Knuckle FC shared the strange finish on social media, summing it up bluntly.

    “Wrong sport Julian! Strange ending to our Main Event,” the promotion wrote, per Bare Knuckle FC (Twitter/@bareknucklefc).

    Fans Question Whether Bryce Henry Was Really Hurt

    Despite Lane committing the clear foul, much of the online reaction turned on Henry instead. Many fans speculated that he was not actually injured and instead milked the takedown to bait the disqualification.

    Lane may carry an MMA background, but he is no stranger to the bare-knuckle ruleset. He first competed in BKFC back in 2017 and has shared the ring with names like Mike Perry, David Mundell, and Thiago Alves during his tenure.

    From ‘Let Me Bang, Bro’ To DQ Loss

    The 38-year-old became a household name in MMA circles as the emotional contestant who repeatedly told teammates “let me bang, bro” during a heated confrontation on The Ultimate Fighter. He appeared on the show twice, first in 2012 and again for the “Redemption” season in 2017, though he was never signed to the UFC roster.

    Lane has since leaned fully into bare-knuckle competition, where his all-action style appeared to fit. That made the takedown attempt all the more baffling, and a costly reversal of the brand he built. His climb in the division had previously been chronicled when fans questioned his standing ahead of a title bout.

    This time, the only thing that beat Julian Lane was Julian Lane.

    Via Bare Knuckle FC (Twitter/@bareknucklefc)

  • Aljamain Sterling Considered Retirement Before UFC Vegas 116 Win

    Aljamain Sterling Considered Retirement Before UFC Vegas 116 Win

    Aljamain Sterling admits he seriously considered retirement heading into his UFC Vegas 116 bout against Youssef Zalal. The 36-year-old former bantamweight champion secured his second consecutive featherweight win but revealed the fight could have been his last under different circumstances.

    Sterling has gone 3-1 since moving up to featherweight in 2024, with his only loss coming against top contender Movsar Evloev. Despite the success, the veteran fighter entered his fourth fight in the weight class with honest thoughts about his future in the sport.

    Sterling Reveals Retirement Thoughts Before Zalal Fight

    During the post-fight show, Sterling opened up about the mental preparation he went through before stepping into the Octagon. The manner of a potential loss would have determined whether he continued fighting.

    “I’m not going to lie to you, definitely thoughts of retirement and things like that crossed my mind,” Sterling said. “Depending on how I lost, if I were to lose, and just being realistic.”

    The former champion explained his reasoning for considering walking away from the sport. He emphasized that competing at the highest level remains his primary motivation.

    “If I can’t compete, I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s not that I don’t want to do it because there’s no future for it. It’s just if I can’t compete with these young guys, why are you sticking around just taking an a– whooping for no reason?” Sterling stated.

    Passing of the Torch Concerns

    Sterling questioned whether his matchup with Zalal would become a passing of the torch moment at featherweight. The veteran fighter showed on Saturday night that he still has plenty left in the tank.

    His performance mirrored recent comments from Gilbert Burns, who retired after his loss to Mike Malott. Burns had planned to compete three times this year but decided to walk away after being stopped by an unranked opponent.

    Following his victory, Sterling called out both Movsar Evloev and Alexander Volkanovski. The win demonstrated that “Funkmaster” remains motivated to test himself against the division’s elite and isn’t ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

  • Mark Hunt Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge in Australia

    Mark Hunt Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge in Australia

    Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt was arrested in northern New South Wales this week and charged with stalking or intimidation with intent to cause physical harm, according to reports citing police and court proceedings. The case has drawn attention because Hunt remains one of the best-known heavyweight fighters from Oceania.

    According to ESPN, Hunt was initially refused bail ahead of a court appearance on Wednesday. The Times of India, citing court proceedings, reported that bail was later granted under strict conditions. Hunt was ordered to remain at his home in Cobbitty in south-west Sydney and have no contact with the complainant.

    Details of the Alleged Incident

    Police alleged Hunt threatened a woman known to him during an incident at a residential property while she was helping him with a task. Prosecutors also referenced an alleged message said to contain a threat to the woman’s life, though Hunt’s legal team denied he sent that message and noted no separate charge had been filed over it. The defence also argued that Hunt’s background as a former fighter should not be treated as proof of violent conduct in his private life.

    Hunt’s next court date is listed as April 30 at Ballina Local Court.

    Hunt’s Fighting Career and Legal History

    Hunt fought in the UFC from 2010 to 2018 over an 18-fight stretch, headlined five UFC events, and challenged Fabricio Werdum for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 180 in November 2014. He also competed in PRIDE FC and K-1 during his combat sports career.

    Outside the cage, Hunt spent years in litigation over his UFC 200 loss to Brock Lesnar. In 2017, Hunt sued the UFC, Dana White and Lesnar, alleging fraud, racketeering and related wrongdoing after Lesnar failed drug tests linked to their 2016 bout. The result of that fight was later changed to a no contest after Lesnar’s positive tests.

  • Jake Paul’s MVP Eyes Long-Term MMA Future After Rousey-Carano

    Most Valuable Promotions is preparing to make a major statement in MMA with Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano headlining a Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian says the promotion’s long-term involvement in the sport hinges on the success of that event.

    The card features Rousey returning to competition for the first time in 10 years against Carano, who last fought in 2009. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou faces Philipe Lins on the card, while Mike Perry takes on Nate Diaz in another featured bout.

    MVP’s MMA Strategy Depends on Netflix Card

    Bidarian told Sports Business Journal that the promotion’s future in MMA depends heavily on the May 16 results. “I think a lot of it depends on May 16th, right?” Bidarian said. “We’re putting a lot of fire power, star power, distribution to the event.”

    “If it works, and I’m very confident it will work, yes — MVP will be involved in MMA over the long term,” he added.

    The promotion, headed by Jake Paul and Bidarian, has primarily focused on boxing to this point. MVP produced Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson, which peaked at over 100 million viewers on Netflix.

    Blockbuster Live Events Model

    Bidarian clarified that MVP won’t compete directly with the UFC’s weekly event model. Instead, the promotion plans to focus on what it calls “blockbuster live events” or BLEs featuring marquee matchups like Rousey vs. Carano.

    “[Netflix is] really a difference maker in being able to stand up a product that can be viewed as top-tier distribution and exposure for the athletes, so May 16th will be tell-tale in terms of what’s possible,” Bidarian said. “I’m confident that we will have one of the, if not the most viewed, MMA event in history, just like I was confident that Paul-Tyson would break streaming records in the U.S. versus any form of content.”

    Netflix has over 325 million subscribers globally, giving the Rousey vs. Carano card potential to become the most-watched MMA event in history. The streaming platform has already aired several MVP events including Paul vs. Tyson and Paul vs. Anthony Joshua.

    Bidarian said MVP has received significant interest from fighters wanting to compete on future cards. “We’ve had no shortage of interested athletes reaching out to us to be involved,” he noted.

    “This to me is a crossover mainstream event,” Bidarian said. “And for us to be able to add the caliber of star power, plus true top-tier current contenders … it’s a great card that we’re proud of and we think we’ll be very successful come Saturday, May 16th.”

  • UFC 327 Gate Hits $6.5 Million in Miami After Pricing Concerns

    UFC 327 generated a $6,518,684 gate at its Miami event, according to official post-event figures released by the promotion. The number fell well behind recent benchmarks for numbered cards and reignited debate over ticket pricing strategy.

    The gate total came after fans publicly questioned both the pricing structure and the card’s overall selling power heading into the event. While the action inside the cage delivered once the fights began, the business metrics told a different story about fan willingness to pay premium prices for the lineup.

    Gate Performance Context

    The $6.5 million figure represents a significant drop from the pace set by recent numbered UFC events. The promotion has faced increasing scrutiny over ticket pricing across multiple markets as fans weigh the cost against perceived card strength.

    Miami’s gate performance adds to ongoing discussions within the MMA community about pricing accessibility and how the UFC balances premium positioning with fan engagement. The promotion has not publicly addressed the gate figure or pricing concerns following the event.

  • Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Rematch Eyed for Netflix

    Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Rematch Eyed for Netflix

    Jake Paul and Nate Diaz could headline a future Most Valuable Promotions MMA event on Netflix, according to MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. The potential rematch would take place inside the cage after Paul defeated Diaz via unanimous decision in their 2023 boxing match.

    Bidarian addressed the possibility during a recent interview with MMA media, confirming that both fighters remain interested in the matchup. The bout could land on Netflix following the streaming platform’s debut MMA show headlined by Ronda Rousey’s comeback fight against Gina Carano.

    “It’s kind of funny, Nate Diaz called Jake out for MMA,” Bidarian said. “I know that Jake is going to come out and say ‘listen, beat Mike Perry and we can run it in MVP MMA, so we’ll see how that develops.”

    Netflix Expanding MMA Presence After Boxing Success

    Netflix has already broadcast multiple combat sports events through MVP, beginning with Paul vs Mike Tyson in November 2024. That event drew an estimated 125 million viewers and was followed by Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 and Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

    Bidarian believes the Rousey vs Carano card represents the first of many potential MMA events on the platform. He compared the trajectory to Netflix’s approach to boxing, starting with spectacle fights before expanding into more regular programming.

    “I think similar to Paul-Tyson this is our first event with Netflix in MMA,” Bidarian explained. “I am confident the event will do well, depending on how well it does I’m also very confident we will do more MVP MMA events with Netflix and potentially others.”

    Previous Negotiations Fell Through With PFL

    Paul and Diaz have discussed an MMA fight for years, with the Professional Fighters League previously attempting to make the bout happen. Those negotiations ultimately collapsed over financial terms.

    “If you recall, Jake talked about doing MMA against Nate Diaz for a long time in PFL,” Bidarian continued. “The numbers just couldn’t work for Nate Diaz in terms of what he wanted and what PFL wanted to do. Maybe things change.”

    Diaz was also considered as a potential replacement opponent for Paul’s Netflix boxing match against Anthony Joshua last year after Gervonta Davis withdrew due to legal issues. That rematch never materialized, but the MMA version appears to have gained momentum.

    Bidarian noted that the MMA landscape remains wide open for competition outside the UFC, creating opportunities for MVP to establish itself in the space. Diaz is scheduled to face Mike Perry on the upcoming Netflix card, with Paul suggesting that victory could set up their cage rematch.

  • Maycee Barber Update After Hospitalization from UFC Seattle KO

    Maycee Barber Update After Hospitalization from UFC Seattle KO

    Maycee Barber was transported to a local hospital following her devastating knockout loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer on March 28, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Her team has confirmed the flyweight fighter is recovering well after a terrifying finish that left her unconscious on the canvas.

    The end came at 2:42 of the opening round with the fighters exchanging strikes on the feet. Grasso blasted Barber with a vicious punch that twisted her entire body around and sent the 27-year-old flyweight down to the canvas. Grasso followed with another punch before grabbing a rear-naked choke, but Barber was already unconscious as referee Mike Beltran rushed in to stop the fight.

    Following the finish, Barber grabbed onto the referee out of instinct but then rolled over to the mat where she laid motionless for several minutes as medical personnel tended to her. Barber eventually sat up and left the cage under her own power before she left the arena for treatment.

    Team Provides Update From Hospital

    Late Saturday night, Barber reposted a message from her boyfriend Oscar Herrera, who posted from the hospital on Instagram.

    “Part of the game,” Herrera wrote. “Congrats to Alexa, we got caught but are OK. Will be back soon, thanks for everyone checking in.”

    Barber’s striking coach Guilherme Faria also posted an update after the fight was finished.

    “Not our night,” Faria wrote. “This is the fight game and sometimes things don’t go our way. No blame, no excuses, just lessons. We learn, we grow and we come back stronger. God is good all the time.”

    Barber has not released her own statement on the fight yet.

    Second UFC Appearance After Medical Issues

    The fight served as Barber’s second appearance in the UFC after medical issues kept her sidelined for over a year and a half. That included another scary situation when she passed out backstage just moments before she was scheduled to walk to the octagon for a fight against Erin Blanchfield in May 2025.

    Barber got the help she needed and finally returned this past December where she earned a unanimous decision over Karine Silva at UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 to extend her overall winning streak to seven in a row. She then booked the rematch against Grasso, who defeated her via decision in their first encounter over five years ago.

    The knockout loss on Saturday ended that run and dropped Barber’s professional record to 15-3. She now looks to recover from this fight before looking towards her future in the UFC flyweight division.