MMA News

Author: Thomas Albano

  • BJJ Legend Bia Mesquita Scores Another MMA Submission Win

    BJJ Legend Bia Mesquita Scores Another MMA Submission Win

    “The Lady Goat” continues to do her thing, as Bia Mesquita scored a first-round finish of Montserrat Rendon during the UFC Vegas 114 prelims.

    Mesquita landed a solid right hand and left hand, rocking Rendon in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Mesquita managed to get Rendon to the mat and quickly jumped into mount. Mesquita landed some strong ground-and-pound while dominating on top, particularly with her hammerfists.

    Two minutes into the bout, Rendon looked to escape and gave up her back. Mesquita quickly locked up a rear-naked choke and scored the submission.

    Bia Mesquita Submits Montserrat Rendon At UFC Vegas 114

    Mesquita, a 10-time IBJJF world champion and five-time IBJJF No-Gi world champion, is now 7-0 in MMA, with finishes in the first or second round in all of her fights. She made her UFC debut at UFC Rio in October, submitting Irina Alekseeva.

    After starting her MMA career 6-0, Rendon has now lost two of her last three. She is now 2-2 in the UFC, with wins over Tamires Vidal and Alice Pereira, as well as a loss to Darya Zheleznyakova.

  • UFC Vegas 114 Results: Emmett vs Vallejos Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 114 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a featherweight bout between Josh Emmett and Kevin Vallejos. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos – Featherweight Main Event

    Emmett comes into this bout with losses in four of his last five fights, a stretch that goes back to his interim featherweight title loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284. That loss snapped a five-fight win streak that stretched back to 2019.

    Emmett’s losses in this span have come against Ilia Topuria, Lerone Murphy, and Youssef Zalal. His sole win in his last five was his highlight knockout of Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296.

    Vallejos is 17-1 as a fighter, with his sole loss coming against Jean Silva in September 2023. Vallejos earned a UFC contract with his finish of Cam Teague on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024. He fought three times in 2025, finishing Seung-woo Choi, scoring a decision over Danny Silva, and knocking out Giga Chikadze.

    The co-main event will feature a battle of top-10 strawweight contenders as Amanda Lemos takes on Gillian Robertson.

    Lemos is 2-3 since falling short in a title fight with Weili Zhang at UFC 292. She most recently came up short against Tatiana Suarez at Noche UFC 3.

    Robertson has won six of her last seven, including a current 5-1 stretch since moving down to strawweight. Robertson is currently riding a four-fight win streak, most recently stopping Marina Rodriguez at UFC Des Moines last May.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Vegas 114!

    How to Watch UFC Vegas 114

    • Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
    • Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Vegas 114 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos — Vallejos def. Emmett via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:33)
    • Co-Main Event: Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson — Robertson def. Lemos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Andre Fili vs. Jose Delgado — Delgado def. Fili via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Marwan Rahiki vs. Harry Hardwick — Rahiki def. Hardwick via TKO (retirement) (R2, 5:00)
    • Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy — Cutelaba def. Sy via submission (guillotine) (R1, 4:24)
    • Charles Johnson vs. Bruno Silva — Johnson def. Silva via unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

    UFC Vegas 114 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Piera Rodriguez vs. Sam Hughes

    Result: Piera Rodrigurz def. Sam Hughes via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Bantamweight: Luan Lacerda vs. Hecher Sosa

    Result: Hecher Sosa def. Luan Lacerda via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Bia Mesquita vs. Montserrat Rendon

    Result: Bia Mesquita def. Montserrat Rendon via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 2:07)

    Middleweight: Brad Tavares vs. Eryk Anders

    Result: Eryk Anders def. Brad Tavares via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Lightweight: Bolaji Oki vs. Manoel Sousa

    Result: Manoel Sousa def. Bolaji Oki via KO (Rd. 3, 4:12)

    Bantamweight: Elijah Smith vs. You SuYoung

    Result: Elijah Smith def. You SuYoung via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 1:04)

    Heavyweight: Vitor Petrino vs. Steven Asplund

    Result: Vitor Petrino def. Steven Asplund via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Welterweight: Chris Curtis vs. Myktybek Orolbai

    Result: Myktybek Orolbai def. Chris Curtis via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Flyweight: Charles Johnson vs. Bruno Silva

    Result: Charles Johnson def. Bruno Silva via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

    Light Heavyweight: Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy

    Result: Ion Cutelaba def. Oumar Sy via submission (guillotine) (R1, 4:24)

    Featherweight: Marwan Rahiki vs. Harry Hardwick

    Result: Marwan Rahiki def. Harry Hardwick via TKO (retirement) (R2, 5:00)

    Featherweight: Andre Fili vs. Jose Miguel Delgado

    Result: Jose Miguel Delgado def. Andre Fili via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson

    Result: Gillian Robertson def. Amanda Lemos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos

    Result: Kevin Vallejos def. Josh Emmett via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:33)

  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Headlines UFC 328

    Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Headlines UFC 328

    The UFC released a trailer to promote events that it will be holding throughout the second quarter of 2026 — and that includes the revealing of the main card for UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey.

    The main event of UFC 328 will see Khamzat Chimaev defend the UFC middleweight championship against Sean Strickland.

    This will be Chimaev’s first title defense since defeating Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 this past August to claim the championship.

    Strickland finished Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston last month to earn this title shot. Strickland is a former champion; he won the title by upsetting Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 but quickly lost it to DDP at UFC 297.

    UFC 328’s co-main event will be a heavyweight title eliminator, as Alexander Volkov takes on Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Volkov has won six of his last eight, including a split decision over Jailton Almeida at UFC 321. Cortes-Acosta has won three straight and eight of his last nine, including back-to-back first-round knockouts of Ante Delija and Shamil Gaziev, as well as his finish of Derrick Lewis at UFC 324.

    Also featured at UFC 328 will be a welterweight contenders bout between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley. Both men will be looking to rebound from losses, respectively, against Michael Morales and Kamaru Usman.

    Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov will do battle once again after their UFC 323 encounter ended in a majority draw.

    One year after returning in a hearty loss against Mason Jones, UFC veteran and BKFC star Jeremy Stephens will make another Octagon appearance, taking on fellow Octagon veteran King Green.

    A middleweight contest featuring Ateba Gautier and Ozzy Diaz is scheduled to be the featured prelim bout.

    UFC 328 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 9.

  • “All the Goods” – Jai Opetaia Becomes First Zuffa Boxing Champ

    “All the Goods” – Jai Opetaia Becomes First Zuffa Boxing Champ

    It wasn’t even close. Jai Opetaia put on a dominant performance to defeat Brandon Glanton and retain his Ring Magazine cruiserweight title — while also becoming the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight champion.

    The fight main evented the fourth Zuffa Boxing card, held on March 8 at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    After feeling things out for most of the first round, Opetaia managed to work the left hand, even when standing and circling on the outside. Even as Glanton tried to cut off the ring, Opetaia was landing the better punches through the first two rounds.

    Opetaia appeared to be in a comfortable groove by round three, and he appeared to do damage with his uppercuts and hooks in the fourth. Glanton tried to get inside and managed to do so in the fifth; however, Opetaia was ready with combinations and continued to land.

    Glanton was deducted one point in the sixth round for excessive holding. It didn’t matter much, however, as Opetaia’s control remained. Glanton was even deducted another point in round eight after hitting Opetaia with a low blow.

    Opetaia didn’t finish Glanton but continued to remain in firm control, even wobbling him in the bout’s final minute. Opetaia nearly swept the judges’ scorecards to take a clear one-sided decision for all the gold.

    Jai Opetaia Becomes Inaugural Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight Champion At Zuffa Boxing 04

    Opetaia now moves to 30-0. This marked his eighth straight defense of the Ring cruiserweight title. Opetaia was also the IBF cruiserweight champion, having held the title twice within the past couple of years, but the IBF stripped him due to the organization not sanctioning the fight.

    Glanton has still won four of his last six, but he’s now 1-2 in his last three fights. Prior to tonight’s loss, he scored a sixth-round TKO win over Marcus Browne in October.

  • Zuffa Boxing 04 Results: Opetaia vs. Glanton Live From Las Vegas

    Zuffa Boxing 04 Results: Opetaia vs. Glanton Live From Las Vegas

    Zuffa Boxing 04 results are coming in live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas, as the fourth event from Dana White’s boxing promotion will see the promotion’s first-ever champion crowned.

    The TKO Group-backed boxing league brings another night of fights, headlined by a fight between the undefeated Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton to determine the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight champion. Opetaia’s Ring Magazine cruiserweight title will also be at stake.

    What will not be at stake, however, is the IBF cruiserweight title, as the sanctioning body elected to strip Opetaia, as the IBF does not recognize Zuffa Boxing as a legitimate sanctioning body.

    Joe Tessitore calls the action alongside analysts Max Kellerman and Andre Ward.

    How to Watch Zuffa Boxing 04

    • Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
    • Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT
    • Main Card: 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

    Zuffa Boxing 04 Results

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 6 PM ET)

    Featherweight – Emiliano Alvarado (10-0) vs. Erick Rosado (16-4)

    Result: Emiliano Alvarado def. Erick Rosado via unanimous decision (59-54 x3)

    Lightweight – Brady Ochoa (9-0) vs. Adrian Serrano (6-0-1)

    Result: Brady Ochoa vs. Adrian Serrano goes to a majority draw (58-56, 57-57 x2)

    Featherweight – Jaycob Ramos (4-1) vs. Ethan Perez (8-0)

    Result: Jaycob Ramos vs. Ethan Perez goes to a majority draw (57-55, 56-56 x2)

    Heavyweight – Joshua Juarez (14-0) vs. Jardae Anderson (11-1)

    Result: Joshua Juarez def. Jardae Anderson via unanimous decision (79-73, 78-74, 77-75)

    Welterweight – Vlad Panin (23-2) vs. Shinard Bunch (22-3-1)

    Result: Vlad Panin def. Shinard Bunch via TKO (Rd. 9, 2:29)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET)

    Featherweight – Adan Palma (14-0) vs. Pablo Rubio Jr. (14-0)

    Result: Paulo Rubio Jr. def. Adan Palma via unanimous decision (77-73 x2, 76-74)

    Welterweight – Ricardo Salas (22-2-2) vs. Jesus Saracho (16-2-2)

    Result: Ricardo Salas def. Jesus Saracho via TKO (Rd. 8, 2:05)

    Ring Magazine & inaugural ZUFFA Cruiserweight Championship – (RM c.) Jai Opetaia (29-0) vs. Brandon Glanton (21-3)

    Result: Jai Opetaia def. Brandon Glanton via unanimous decision (119-106 x3)

  • “Shockingly Bad Fight” – Charles Oliveira Captures BMF Title

    “Shockingly Bad Fight” – Charles Oliveira Captures BMF Title

    A back-and-forth battle that many hoped for did not come to fruition; instead, Charles Oliveira put on one of the most dominating performances of his career.

    Oliveira scored a dominant unanimous decision over Max Holloway to claim the BMF belt in the main event of UFC 326.

    Holloway and Oliveira went at it right away, and Oliveira found the forward pressure quickly, pressing Holloway to the fence and easily landing a takedown. Oliveira got to Holloway’s back as he tried to stand, locking in a tight choke, though Holloway managed to fend it off. Holloway had to fend off a face crank in the round’s final minute as well.

    Oliveira did some trading with Holloway during the first minute of round two, but he quickly got the fight back to the mat, threatening another choke and landing some strong elbows during the round.

    Oliveira continued to find the mat in the third and fourth rounds, with Holloway landing nothing of significance.

    After a little bit of trading to start the fifth, it was Holloway who was the one to find the mat, scoring a takedown on Oliveira. The fight got back to the feet, and Oliveira got another takedown, sealing the fate of the BMF title.

    Holloway got back to his feet and the two traded in the Octagon at the end of the fight, but it was all too late. Oliveira swept the scorecards.

    Charles Oliveira Dominates Max Holloway To Win BMF Title At UFC 326

    Oliviera claimed the lightweight title at UFC 262. He retained the gold against Poirier but lost the title on the scales. He entered this fight 3-3 in his last six, most recently submitting Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio in October.

    Holloway, the former featherweight champion, initially won the BMF title by knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He then became the first to retain the title when he defeated Poirier at UFC 318.

  • “We Got Some Work To Do” – Caio Borralho Bests Reinier de Ridder

    “We Got Some Work To Do” – Caio Borralho Bests Reinier de Ridder

    Caio Borralho remains in the middleweight title picture and is looking for former champion Dricus Du Plessis next, following his win over Reinier de Ridder in the UFC 326 co-main event.

    Borralho connected with a strong shot in the opening seconds of the bout, setting off a competitive first round. Both men had their fair share of striking, but Borralho had more activity and landed more.

    De Ridder found success in the second round, utilizing the clinch and his grappling efforts to limit Borralho’s offense while landing inside strikes of his own. Borralho finally seemed to get back control at the start of the third, landing a power shot and scoring a takedown.

    Borralho fatigued late in the fight, but he did enough to sweep the judges’ cards and earn the win.

    Caio Borralho Scores Decision Win In Middleweight Co-Main Event At UFC 326

    Borralho rebounds from his UFC Paris loss to Nassourdine Imavov in September, which marked his first loss in the Octagon.

    After starting his UFC tenure 4-0, including a win over former champion Robert Whittaker, de Ridder, the former two-weight ONE Championship champion, has now lost two straight. He was bested by Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver in October.

  • “Barely Any Damage” – Raul Rosas Jr. Decisions Rob Font

    “Barely Any Damage” – Raul Rosas Jr. Decisions Rob Font

    Raul Rosas Jr.’s grappling ended up being enough to outwork Rob Font and his striking focus, as Rosas picked up the decision win at UFC 326.

    Font found success early with his jab, as his boxing brought Font out to a strong start. But Rosas scored multiple takedowns during the round, slowly taking momentum as the round went on.

    Rosas continued to use that strategy to success, repeatedly landing takedowns on Font and dominating with top position. Rosas also fought off submission attempts from Font.

    Rosas swept the scorecards for a dominant decision victory.

    Raul Rosas Jr. Scores Decision Over Rob Font At UFC 326

    Rosas is now 6-1 in the UFC and on a five-fight win streak.

    Font has now lost four of six and five of his last eight.

  • Topuria vs. Gaethje, Pereira vs. Gane Headline UFC Freedom 250

    Topuria vs. Gaethje, Pereira vs. Gane Headline UFC Freedom 250

    After months of speculation, the UFC White House card has finally been revealed. And as promised, the card — named UFC Freedom 250 — will be topped by a pair of exciting title fights.

    The card has finally revealed during the UFC 326 main card broadcast.

    In the main event, Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will clash to determine the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.

    Topuria, also a former featherweight champion, had been inactive since claiming the title with a knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. A custody case has finally been resolved, however, and he will return as he hoped for.

    Gaethje earned this fight by defeating Paddy Pimblett to become the interim lightweight champion in the main event of UFC 324.

    Meanwhile, Alex Pereira’s vacating of the light heavyweight championship now has a reason — he is going for a chance to become the first UFC fighter to win titles in three weight classes in their career.

    “Poatan” will face Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight championship in the co-main event.

    Pereira became a two-time light heavyweight champion in his last fight, scoring revenge on Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.

    Gane is a former interim heavyweight champion, claiming such a position by defeating Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. Gane, however, has fallen short twice in becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion, losing to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 and Jon Jones at UFC 285.

    The rest of the main card will see Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia.

    The card will begin at 8pm ET on June 14 and take place on the lawn of the White House. As of press time, it will air exclusively on Paramount+.

  • VIDEO: Drew Dober Puts Away Michael Johnson At UFC 326

    VIDEO: Drew Dober Puts Away Michael Johnson At UFC 326

    Drew Dober added to his lightweight track record in the UFC at UFC 326, putting away Michael Johnson with a solid left hand.

    Dober tried to get things going early with his leg kicks, though Johnson landed a strong right hand to the side of his head and clipped him again late in the first round.

    Dober, however, needed just one left hand a couple of minutes into the second round to put Johnson stiff on the mat.

    Drew Dober KOs Michael Johnson At UFC 326

    The fight faced a lot of attention prior to the contest. Dober went from a +120 underdog to a -220 favorite in an extreme swing over the course of approximately 24 hours. FanDuel and DraftKings both locked the fight from bets in the hours leading up to UFC 326.

    Dober has now scored back-to-back finishes after previously going on a stretch where he lost four of five. Dober is now 29-15 (1 NC) in his MMA career.

    Johnson entered this fight on a three-fight win streak and with four wins in his previous five.

  • Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 1 Earns UFC Hall of Fame Spot

    Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 1 Earns UFC Hall of Fame Spot

    One of the greatest fights in the history of women’s MMA, if not the greatest fight in the history of women’s MMA, now has its rightful place in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    The UFC 248 women’s strawweight championship contest between Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been announced as the newest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2026, as part of its Fight Wing.

    The announcement was made during the UFC 326 broadcast. It marks the first women’s fight to be honored in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Over five rounds, the two women clashed relentlessly, putting on jaw-dropping striking displays against one another. Jedrzejczyk displayed strong combinations, while Zhang found great success with her powerful punching.

    Neither fighter appeared to slow down their momentum, and nearly all five rounds could have fallen either fighters’ way. Jedrzejczyk sported a massive hematoma on her head by the fight’s end, but the two went pillar to post, back-and-forth for a full 25 minutes.

    Zhang earned the decision win, but both women were seen as winners after the fight, which earned 2020’s Fight of the Year honors.

    This is Jedrzejczyk’s second UFC Hall of Fame induction, being named an individual entrant inducted into the Modern Wing in 2024.

    The fight joins Dominick Cruz in the UFC Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.

  • VIDEO: Gregory Rodrigues Scores One-Punch KO At UFC 326

    VIDEO: Gregory Rodrigues Scores One-Punch KO At UFC 326

    They say all it takes is one shot in MMA, and that perfectly summed up the performance of Gregory Rodrigues at UFC 326, needing just one punch to defeat Brunno Ferreira.

    Rodrigues stayed patient, waiting for the opportunity to strike. In fact, neither man threw any punches in the first minute.

    In the second minute, however, “Robocop” landed one short right hand to put Ferreira into oblivion.

    Gregory Rodrigues Needs Just One Punch To Put Out Brunno Ferreira In Rematch At UFC 326

    This was a rematch from their fight at UFC 283, which saw Ferreira knock out Rodrigues in the first round.

    Rodrigues has won eight of his last 10, and he’s 6-1 since the loss to Ferreira. He’s won three straight, which includes a win over Roman Kopylov and his highlight knockout of Jack Hermansson.

    Ferreira is 5-3 since defeating Rodrigues, and this loss snaps a three-fight losing skid.

  • “A Weird Fight” – Cody Garbrandt Takes Decision At UFC 326

    “A Weird Fight” – Cody Garbrandt Takes Decision At UFC 326

    In one of the most bizarre fights in UFC history, Cody Garbrandt managed to defeat Xiao Long by decision after Long lost two points during the fight.

    Both men had their moments in the first. Long dazed Garbrandt with a solid head kick, while Garbrandt landed a strong shot of his own and appeared to be landing the more strategic shots. Long controlled the second round, but the third round was where the real story took place.

    After already landing a low blow on Garbrandt, Long landed a hard knee to the groin early in the third, causing Garbrandt to puke in the middle of the Octagon. A fire seemed to be lit under Garbrandt after that, but he was hit with another knee to the groin.

    The incidents caused Long to lose two points, and despite taunting for a Max Holloway-style slugfest, Long ended up losing the third round, losing on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Xiao Long Loses Two Points, Drops Decision To Cody Garbrandt At UFC 326

    Garbrandt rebounds from back-to-back losses to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos.

    Long has now lost three of his last four fights.

  • “Pure Check-Cashing Performance” – Johnson Defeats Brundage

    “Pure Check-Cashing Performance” – Johnson Defeats Brundage

    It wasn’t a popular fight, but Donte Johnson will be the answer to an important trivia question — who scored the victory in the first-ever UFC fight to broadcast on CBS.

    Johnson scored a victory over Cody Brundage in their UFC 326 prelim bout — the first bout to air in a two-hour block that was simulcast on both Paramount+ and CBS.

    Brundage controlled the action during the first round, catching Johnson coming in wildly with a power strike and countering with a takedown. Brundage was clearly dominant with positioning on the ground and was more accurate with his striking.

    Johnson was ready for Brundage’s ground game in the second, stuffing the takedown attempt. Johnson controlled the action in the second with strikes on the ground, as well as threatening a choke at one point.

    After a close third round, all three judges scored the bout 29-28, with two judges giving the bout to Johnson.

    Donte Johnson Defeats Cody Brundage In First UFC Bout On CBS At UFC 326

    Johnson moves to 8-0, and he is 2-0 in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He made his UFC debut in November, finishing Sedriques Dumas.

    Brundage now falls to 11-9-1. He has lost three straight and is 1-4-1 (1 NC) in his last seven fights.

  • VIDEO: Rodolfo Bellato Gets Comeback Stunner To Start UFC 326

    VIDEO: Rodolfo Bellato Gets Comeback Stunner To Start UFC 326

    A highly successful UFC debut for Luke Fernandez turned absolutely sour with one shot, as Rodolfo Bellato scored a needed first-round finish to kick off the night at UFC 326.

    Fernandez came out with forward pressure, pushing Bellato to the fence and landing a number of shots. Within the first couple of minutes, Fernandez had outlanded Bellato in head strikes 19-1.

    But then, about halfway through the round’s allotted time, Bellato clipped Fernandez with a short left hook that connected on the chin. Fernandez dropped to the mat, and Bellato landed some devastating follow-up shots until the referee stepped in.

    Rodolfo Bellato Scores Comeback TKO Of Luke Fernandez At UFC 326

    This is Bellato’s first win since his finish of Ihor Potieria in December 2023. Bellato is now 1-1-1 (1 NC) in his last four.

    Fernandez suffers his first career loss in this one, falling to 6-1. This marked his UFC debut after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series this past autumn. Fernandez earned the contract with a 15-second finish of Rafael Pergentino.

  • UFC 326 Results: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC 326 Results: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC 326 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature Max Holloway defending the BMF championship against Charles Oliveira. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Holloway vs Oliveira 2: BMF Title Fight

    Holloway and Oliveira first met back in August 2015, when the two were competing in the featherweight division. The fight came to a sudden, anti-climatic end in Holloway’s favor after just 99 seconds due to Oliveira suffering a neck injury.

    Holloway went on to become one of the UFC’s greatest featherweights and a former champion, and now he’s claimed the BMF moniker at 155. Holloway won the BMF title with his famed highlight knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He then became the first UFC fighter to retain the BMF title when he defeated Dustin Poirier in their UFC 318 trilogy bout.

    Oliveira, meanwhile, found his own championship success at lightweight. He, however, is just 3-3 since losing the championship. This marks Oliveira’s first fight since his submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio in October.

    The co-main event will feature a notable middleweight contenders battle, as Caio Borralho takes on Reinier de Ridder.

    Borralho was on a 17-fight unbeaten streak, gaining massive momentum since debuting with the UFC off his 2021 performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Borralho, however, lost to Nassourdine Imavov in a title eliminator at UFC Paris.

    RDR, the former two-weight ONE Championship champion, impressed with wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and Robert Whittaker before suffering a loss to Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver in October.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC 326!

    How to Watch UFC 326

    • Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
    • Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ , CBS (8pm ET – 10pm ET [last hour of prelims and first hour of main card])
    • Prelims: 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
    • Late Prelims: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
    • Main Card: 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

    UFC 326 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira — Oliveira def. Holloway via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
    • Co-Main: Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder — Borralho def. RDR via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr. — Rosas Jr. def. Font via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson — Drew Dober def. Michael Johnson via TKO (Rd. 2, 1:53)
    • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira — Rodrigues def. Ferreira via KO (Rd. 1, 1:47)

    UFC 326 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5:30 PM ET)

    Light Heavyweight: Luke Fernandez vs. Rodolfo Bellato

    Result: Rodolfo Bellato def. Luke Fernandez via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:42)

    Light Heavyweight: Rafael Tobias vs. Diyar Nurgozhay

    Result: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Rafael Tobias via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Jesus Aguilar

    Result: Sumudaerji def. Jesus Aguilar via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET [CBS 8 PM – 9 PM ET])

    Flyweight: Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

    Result: Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Cody Durden via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Featherweight: Ricky Turcios vs. Alberto Montes

    Result: Alberto Montes def. Ricky Turcios via submission (Anaconda choke) (Rd. 2, 0:40)

    Middleweight: Donte Johnson vs. Cody Brundage

    Result: Donte Johnson def. Cody Brundage via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long

    Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Xiao Long via unanimous decision (28-27 x3)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET [CBS 9 PM – 10 PM ET])

    Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira

    Result: Gregory Rodrigues def. Brunno Ferreira via KO (Rd. 1, 1:47)

    Lightweight: Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson

    Result: Drew Dober def. Michael Johnson via TKO (Rd. 2, 1:53)

    Bantamweight: Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.

    Result: Raul Rosas Jr. def. Rob Font via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Middleweight: Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder

    Result: Caio Borralho def. Reinier de Ridder via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Lightweight: BMF Championship: Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira

    Result: Charles Oliveira def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

  • UFC 326 Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    UFC 326 Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    UFC 326 is hours away, and we’re that much closer to the highly-anticipated showdown for the BMF title featuring two of the UFC’s most popular athletes. Get the latest betting odds and best bets from MMANews!

    In the main event of UFC 326, Max Holloway puts the BMF title on the line against Charles Oliveira.

    Holloway, a former featherweight champion, claimed that symbolic belt with his highlight performance against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He then became the first in UFC history to retain the championship by defeating Dustin Poirier at UFC 318.

    Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, comes into this contest off a submission win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio in October.

    The co-main event will be a middleweight battle that features Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder. Both men are coming off losses, to Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen, respectively, and trying to stay relevant in the UFC middleweight title picture.

    Other fights scheduled for the main card include a bantamweight bout between Rob Font and Raul Rosas Jr., a lightweight contest featuring Drew Dober and Michael Johnson, and a middleweight matchup featuring Gregory Rodrigues and Brunno Ferreira.

    On top of that, UFC 326 will be the first to get a live spotlight on CBS, with the network broadcasting the final hour of the prelims and the first hour of the main card.

    UFC 326 Betting Odds

    Here are the latest betting odds for UFC 326, as of 2:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings:

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5:30 PM ET)

    Light Heavyweight: Luke Fernandez (-218) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (+180)
    Light Heavyweight: Rafael Tobias (-180) vs. Diyar Nurgozhay (+150)
    Flyweight: Sumudaerji (-218) vs. Jesus Aguilar (+180)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET [CBS 8 PM – 9 PM ET])

    Flyweight: Cody Durden (+142) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (-170)
    Featherweight: Ricky Turcios (+154) vs. Alberto Montes (-185)
    Middleweight: Donte Johnson (-900) vs. Cody Brundage(+600)
    Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt (+136) vs. Xiao Long (-162)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET [CBS 9 PM – 10 PM ET])

    Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues (-162) vs. Brunno Ferreira (+136)
    Lightweight: Drew Dober (-130) vs. Michael Johnson (+110)
    Bantamweight: Rob Font (+220) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (-270)
    Middleweight: Caio Borralho (-250) vs. Reinier de Ridder (+205)
    Lightweight: BMF Championship: Max Holloway (-215) vs. Charles Oliveira (+165)

    UFC 326 Predictions & Best Bets

    Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira: Oliveira should have the grappling advantage in this one, but how much of it will he actually use? He’s been focusing on his striking during training, but the more he has stand-and-bang trade-offs with Holloway, the more risky it’s going to get for him. Holloway should win this matchup, but Oliveira shouldn’t be counted out completely — and that should be reflected in this fight’s best bet. (Prediction: Holloway) (Best Bet: Over 2.5 rounds [-130]

    Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder: Both of these men need a win, and I fully expect RdR to try and use his grappling to take control of this fight from up top. Borralho is the better of the two when it comes to striking; however, even if the fight goes to the ground, Borralho might be the more well-rounded fighter, and that gives trouble to de Ridder. I wouldn’t rule de Ridder out, but Borralho feels the more comfortable fighter when selecting a winner. (Prediction: Borralho) (Best Bet: Fight goes the distance [-150])

    Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.: This is going to be a true test for Rosas Jr. Font might have losses in three of his last five and four of his last eight, but he’s a tough and durable fighter. He’s the level of competition Rosas has never faced before. Rosas won’t finish Font, but in this striker vs. grappler matchup, I expect Rosas’ youth and grappling abilities to do enough to get the nod. (Prediction: Rosas) (Best Bet: Rosas via decision [-120])

    Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson: These two are veterans who can bring the fight to a halt at any point. Hopefully this one ends being a fun striking battle, but this fight is a risky play for a bet, even if Johnson is the better fighter by the statistical numbers. Both of these guys are tough, but perhaps one shot ends up compromising one of these two to the point they don’t see the final bell. (Prediction: Johnson) (Best Bet: Fight does NOT go the distance [-150])

    Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira: Rodrigues was knocked out by Ferreira when these two faced off for the first time at UFC 283. “Robocop” should be smarter here and not let himself get into a wild firefight. These two have power that the fight could fall either way, but they’re tough enough and smarter to one another now that this one won’t be as quick a finish. (Prediction: Rodrigues) (Best Bet: Over 1.5 rounds [-110])

    Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long: Garbrandt has fought the tougher, championship-level competition, and Long is coming in off a long layoff. But it’s clear Garbrandt’s best days are behind him. Garbrandt will look to use his reach, while Long will look to get inside and make things a brawl. Taking Garbrandt is risky as heck, but this fight should be winnable for him. If not, perhaps it really is the end of the road for “No Love.” (Prediction: Garbrandt) (Best Bet: Garbrandt moneyline [+140])

    Donte Johnson vs. Cody Brundage: After a strong performance on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, Donte Johnson had a strong UFC debut with his submission of Sedriques Dumas. Now he takes on Cody Brundage, who is a finisher in his own right but has been used (and is being positioned here) as someone for up-and-comers to get a win over. There aren’t too many great betting plays here given the extremely wide odds, so we’ll go with the “safest” one. (Prediction: Johnson) (Best Bet: Johnson via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 [+120])

    Ricky Turcios vs. Alberto Montes: Turcios has had a tough going for him since winning TUF, while Montes makes his UFC debut here coming in off a strong performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. Montes will be able to use his grappling to dictate the pace in this one, and he’ll be dangerous on the ground. It’s just a matter of if Montes can get the finish. (Prediction: Montes)(Best Bet: Montes via submission [+250])

    Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel: Durden has faced some decent flyweight competition, but he’s lost five of his last six. Tumendemberel, meanwhile, has impressed on Road to UFC and fought Carlos Hernandez in a close split decision loss at UFC Macau in November 2024. Durden might try to not take chances here knowing his UFC tenure might be in jeopardy, but Tumendemberel is just too talented a prospect. (Prediction: Tumendemberel) (Best Bet: Under 2.5 rounds [-135])

    Sumudaerji vs. Jesus Aguilar: This feels like a striker vs. grappler battle, with Sumudaerji having the greater height, reach, and striking numbers, while Aguilar is the grappler between the two. A slight edge might go to Sumudaerji’s way, but this is a fight you might not see a finish in. (Prediction: Sumudaerji) (Best Bet: Fight goes the distance [-160])

    Rafael Tobias vs. Diyar Nurgozhay: Tobias is a strong grappler, but Nurgozhay has shown great defense in that area. The problem? Tobias is probably the better of the two in terms of striking as well. Nurgozhay’s takedown defense stats can’t always be perfect, and this fight might be the biggest threat to that. (Prediction: Tobias) (Best Bet: Tobias via submission +165)

    Luke Fernandez vs. Rodolfo Bellato: Bellato’s had a string of tough luck in the UFC, and now he’s being set up against a rising up and comer who’s developing into a well-rounded combatant. Might be another tough night at the office for Bellato. Fernandez is active as a grappler and can change the fight’s momentum with one solid punch. After needing just 15 seconds to earn a UFC contract against Rafael Pergentino, look for another strong performance from the former CFFC champion. (Prediction: Fernandez) (Best Bet: Fernandez to win via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 [+240]))

  • Arman Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas Rematch Set For RAF 07

    Arman Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas Rematch Set For RAF 07

    After the chaos that unfolded in the immediate aftermath of their wrestling matchup last weekend, Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas will be running it back sooner than some might have expected.

    A rematch between Tsarukyan and Poullas has been confirmed to headline RAF 07, which takes place on March 28 at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida.

    The RAF confirmed the news on their social media channels on March 6.

    The two appeared to be booked for a grappling match in Hype FC Brazil on March 11. Poullas, however, withdrew the bout, claiming not to have signed a written contract and preferring a second encounter to take place in RAF.

    The two competed in a featured contest at RAF 06 on February 28, with Tsarukyan winning the bout 5-3.

    What took place after the bout, however, was the bigger story, as Tsarukyan pushed Poullas down. He was about to throw punches before security and RAF officials got between the two.

    Video footage from the bout showed Poullas landing punches and slaps in close on Tsarukyan, causing the UFC fighter’s team to cry in protest.

    Tsarukyan has shown no remorse for his post-fight actions; meanwhile, Poullas claims to have been the true winner for scoring a true takedown in that contest.

  • Dana White Teases Two Title Fights, Name For UFC White House Card

    Dana White Teases Two Title Fights, Name For UFC White House Card

    UFC CEO and President Dana White promised that during UFC 326 fight weekend, we would get more information about the UFC event taking place on the lawn of the White House on June 14.

    While no full details have been confirmed as of the evening of March 6, White has posted a tease in anticipation of the card’s reveal.

    The image shared by White on social media shows him holding a paper to block the card listing in the war room of the UFC headquarters. The image teases that the card will be topped by two title fights.

    In addition, the name of the card has been confirmed to be Freedom Fights 250, as the event will be held as part of a year-long celebration for the United States’ 250th anniversary.

    U.S. President Donald Trump first confirmed the event during a U.S. Independence Day event last year, and since then, fighters aplenty, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, have expressed their desire to be part of the event.

    The card has been previously stated to have six or seven fights, rather than a full traditional UFC numbered card lineup. During an interview with Nina Drama, White even teased that one planned fight had just fallen out recently.

  • Jake Paul’s MVP Lands Multi-Show ESPN Deal, Debuts April 17 at MSG

    Jake Paul’s MVP Lands Multi-Show ESPN Deal, Debuts April 17 at MSG

    Jake Paul and MVP Promotions have been on a mission to place a bigger spotlight on women’s boxing, and they have taken the next step.

    In a press conference held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 6, MVP Promotions announced the launch of a new women’s boxing promotion known as MVPW.

    As part of MVP’s focus on women’s boxing, MVPW has signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN to air women’s boxing cards on its platform in the United States.

    Furthermore, MVP has signed a three-year deal with MSG Entertainment to host several cards at the arena.

    “Since inception MVP has strategically focused on creating an umbrella brand as the global home for women’s boxing, with the best fighters in the world, that engages existing boxing fans and attracts untapped fan demographics that embrace women’s sport, and today, we proudly enter a new era,” Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, MVP Promotions’ co-founders, said in a statement.

    “Over the past five years, we have invested heavily in female athletes, delivered historic and record-breaking events, and proven that these athletes belong on the biggest stages in the sport. Partnering with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, to launch MVPW across its platforms is a historic milestone, and aligning with the world’s most iconic venue, Madison Square Garden, as we introduce the brand in the U.S. reinforces the scale and ambition behind what we are building.”

    The full press conference from MVP Promotions can be viewed in the video player below.

    MVPW’s inaugural event will take place on April 5 in London. The headline bout will see a lightweight title unification match featuring WBC champion Caroline Dubois and WBO champion Terri Harper.

    MVPW 2 on April 17 will be the first of the aforementioned MSG cards, taking place in the venue’s InfoSys Theater. That card will be topped by WBA, WBO, IBF super featherweight champion Alycia Bumgardner defending against Bo Mi Re Shin. The fight will be held with 10 three-minute rounds.

    MVPW 3, which will be held on May 30 in El Paso, Texas, will see former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm return to the squared circle to challenge Stephanie Han for the WBA lightweight championship. Han defeated Holm via a technical decision in January after the fight was stopped due to an accidental headbutt.

  • UFC 326 Loses One Fight During Official Weigh-Ins

    UFC 326 Loses One Fight During Official Weigh-Ins

    We now find ourselves less than 24 hours away from UFC 326, which takes place on March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    During the UFC 326 official weigh-ins, it was announced that a bout between Jeong-yeong Lee and Gaston Bolaños was scrapped due to weight management issues with Lee.

    All other fights are locked in and ready to go.

    You can view the UFC 326 official weigh-ins and ceremonial weigh-ins in the video players below.

    The main event will be an exciting and highly-anticipated battle over the BMF title, as Max Holloway defends against Charles Oliveira in a lightweight contest.

    Holloway claimed the symbolic championship at UFC 300, courtesy of his spectacular knockout of Justin Gaethje. He then became the first to successfully defend the title when he defeated Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout at UFC 318, sending “The Diamond” off into retirement.

    Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, comes into this bout off his submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio this past October. He is 3-3 since losing the lightweight title on the scales and unsuccessfully trying to reclaim it against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.

    The co-main event will see Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder both look to rebound from tough losses while trying to stay relevant toward the top of the middleweight title picture.

  • Francis Ngannou, PFL Part Ways After Just 1 Fight In 3 Years

    Francis Ngannou, PFL Part Ways After Just 1 Fight In 3 Years

    The relationship between the PFL and Francis Ngannou reached an end when the two sides cut ties on the morning of March 6, bringing a disappointing end to a massive contract signed.

    The news was first reported by Mike Pendleton of Sherdog.

    The PFL then confirmed Ngannou’s departure in an official statement released during the day.

    “The Professional Fighters League has made the decision to part ways with Francis Ngannou,” the statement reads. “We have great respect for Francis as both an athlete and a person, and we wish him success in the next chapter of his combat sports career. The PFL remains focused on recruiting and signing the best athletes in the sport while continuing to deliver world-class competition for fans around the globe.”

    The PFL signed Ngannou to a massive contract in May 2023, four months following Ngannou’s public departure from the UFC as heavyweight champion. The contract, for the then-PFL “Super Fights” pay-per-view division, had various provisions that included Ngannou guaranteeing opponents a $2 million minimum payday, as well as serving on the PFL’s global advisory board and as chairman of PFL Africa.

    Ngannou was allowed to compete in boxing as part of this deal as well. He fought twice in the boxing ring, going to a decision in a loss to then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and getting knocked out by former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

    Ngannou only fought once in the PFL, knocking out Renan Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship at the 2024 Battle of the Giants event.

    The tumultuousness in the relationship between Ngannou and the PFL was also seen when he did not appear for the first two PFL Africa events last year. Ngannou openly criticized the promotion for not focusing on Africa-born fighters.

    In recent months, the PFL has gone through a restructuring period, parting ways with various members of their organization that included longtime president Ray Sefo and founder Donn Davis, who stepped down from his role.

    Ngannou is an immediate free agent, able to sign with whatever promotion he chooses.

  • Poullas Out of Grappling Match with Tsarukyan, Wants RAF Rematch

    Poullas Out of Grappling Match with Tsarukyan, Wants RAF Rematch

    Less than 24 hours after it was first announced, Georgio Poullas has bowed out of a submission grappling match that was scheduled against Arman Tsarukyan.

    Per Ariel Helwani, with confirmation from RAF executive Chad Bronstein, the grappling contest was scheduled for March 11 at Hype FC Brazil, but Poullas has pulled out.

    Poullas, instead, is pushing for a wrestling rematch with Tsarukyan at an upcoming RAF event.

    During an interview with Helwani earlier in the day, Poullas noted that a contract had not been formally signed for the grappling match with Hype FC Brazil.

    Tsarukyan won the contest at RAF 6 on February 28, scoring a 5-3 win. But the story from that event took place immediately after the match, when an altercation between the two broke out.

    Tsarukyan shoved Poullas down and looked to throw down punches before RAF officials intervened to separate the pair. Tsarukyan has claimed that it was in retaliation to dirty tactics employed by Poullas during the bout, including punches and slaps while in close.

    Video footage showed Tsarukyan’s corner crying foul at Poullas’ actions.

    Tsarukyan expressed no remorse for his actions, while Poullas called Tsarukyan a “little b****” and claimed he was the true winner for scoring a legitimate takedown in the match.

    RAF officials have expressed disappointment that the brawl occrued; however, the promotion has not handed down any punishment toward Tsarukyan or Poullas as of press time.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Doubts UFC is Upset with RAF 6 Brawl

    Arman Tsarukyan Doubts UFC is Upset with RAF 6 Brawl

    Arman Tsarukyan has no regrets about the events of his wrestling match and brawl with Georgio Poullas at RAF 6, and he feels many, including the UFC, are on his side.

    Tsarukyan won the contest 5-3 at the event on February 28 at the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. But the bigger story at hand came in the aftermath, with Tsarukyan and Poullas needing to be separated after a physical altercation following the final whistle.

    Though Tsarukyan started the post-fight kerfuffle with a shove, it was in response to dirty tactics implemented by Poullas during the bout.

    Now, in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan opened up about the experience, feeling he was patient during the match as much as possible — but that no one could stand for what Poullas did.

    “This is not my fault,” Tsarukyan said. “Everybody is on my side now. I was waiting like six minutes. He was like punching me for six minutes. What do you want me to wait for me? Bro, if someone punches you — everybody is different, what are you going to do if somebody punches you 20 times? You’re not going to let him do that.”

    Video footage from the matchup saw Poullas landing punches and slaps on Tsarukyan, prompting cries of foul play from Tsarukyan’s team but no true intervention from the match’s referee.

    Tsarukyan shoved Poullas to the mat and appeared to be ready to employ some MMA ground-and-pound before the corners and officials intervened.

    “Maybe 20 times, he’s trying to poke eyes, break my fingers,” Tsarukyan said. “I thought he was going to wrestle, but when he started punching, I said, ‘Okay, this guy wants to fight, and cancel the fight, do dirty wrestling. I was waiting on wrestling [to be] done, and [at] that moment, I wanted to punch him right away.

    “I won the wrestling and I heard the whistle, and I said, ‘Okay, now it’s time’ because I got the victory.”

    This controversy is not the first that Tsarukyan has been involved in over the past couple of years, and the result has seemed to be ire from the UFC directed at him.

    Tsarukyan was suspended following an altercation with a fan during his walkout at UFC 300, which saw him defeat Charles Oliveira. Tsarukyan withdrew from a lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 just one day before the event. He then irked many in the MMA community by headbutting Dan Hooker in the ceremonial weigh-ins before their UFC Qatar headliner.

    Some feel that Tsarukyan is digging a deeper hole for himself and his UFC career with this latest spotlight, and they feel he may have solidified never getting another title opportunity.

    But Tsarukyan feels the UFC will be pleased with him not letting a wrestler, someone who is not a UFC fighter, get the better of him.

    “It’s the opposite. They are going to be happy that a UFC fighter don’t let somebody to beat up a UFC fighter. UFC fighter goes to freestyle wrestling and beat the freestyle wrestler and to show what’s the level of UFC.”

    RAF officials have expressed disappointment in the brawl, but the promotion has not disciplined either man as of press time.

  • Jon Jones Confirms Talks to Fight at UFC White House

    Jon Jones Confirms Talks to Fight at UFC White House

    After a whole saga, if both new reports and Jon Jones’ word hold, Jones will get his wish of competing at the UFC White House event.

    A report from Ariel Helwani approximately 24 hours ago claimed that Alex Pereira’s vacating of the UFC light heavyweight championship is due to him moving up to heavyweight. And with that, talks of a bout between him and Jones to serve as the UFC White House main event have been held.

    Hours following Helwani’s report, at a meet and greet at The Brook Casino in New Hampshire, Jones confirmed that he and the UFC have had discussions about competing at the White House.

    “I’m in negotiations with the UFC about this White House [fight] as well,” said Jones. “I’m a very proud American, and I cannot wait to represent one more time.”

    Jones was one of the earliest names who spoke up last summer when U.S. President Donald Trump first hinted at a UFC event taking place on the lawn of the White House.

    It had been just two weeks since Jones retired from the UFC, vacating the UFC heavyweight championship, which was then given to then-interim champion Tom Aspinall. Before the White House card announcement, it appeared to be the end of a year-plus-long saga of negotiations between Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White has previously been on the record stating that he considers Jones vs. Aspinall as a “dream main event” for the card, but that he couldn’t trust Jones with the main event slot of the card.

    Jones returned to the UFC after a three-year layoff at UFC 285, defeating Ciryl Gane for the then-vacant heavyweight championship. He’s fought just once since, retaining the belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

    White has promised recently that fights for the White House card will be revealed in the coming days.