Lerone Murphy (18-0-0) has hired a mental coach to gain an edge before his upcoming fight against Movsar Evloev (19-0-0) at UFC London on March 21st, 2026. The undefeated Murphy is headlining the event at The O2 Arena in a featherweight title eliminator bout.
Murphy is coming off a first-round knockout win over Aaron Pico in August. Evloev last fought in December 2024, beating Aljamain Sterling. Evloev recently resolved late visa issues to make the event. The winner of this fight is likely to get a shot at featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Murphy’s Mental Edge
In an interview with Cageside Press, Lerone Murphy explained he decided to hire a mental coach to improve his performance for the upcoming fight:
“For me, having a mental coach is about getting that extra 1% out of yourself. I’m strong‑minded anyway, I’m a good fighter, but how can I get better? Can I get better? I’m always trying to improve in every area possible. So it’s helped. It’s helped switch me on, focus me, and not carry baggage into fights.”
Murphy is preparing for the first time without long‑time head coach Carl Prince after they reportedly parted ways, and he is instead leaning on teammate‑turned‑coach Jordan Barton and a wider mix of training influences while remaining anchored in Manchester.
UFC CEO Dana White is defending the UFC London card, specifically the main event between Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, against criticism that it is a weak card. The UFC London event is scheduled for March 21st at The O2 in England.
The card has faced criticism for poor turnout at previous events. The UFC London card features undefeated fighters, including Kurtis Campbell (8-0-0).
Other fights include Nathaniel Wood (22-6-0) vs. Losene Keita (16-1-0), Roman Dolidze (15-4-0, ranked No. 11 middleweight) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan, and Michael Venom Page vs. Sam Patterson (14-2-1).
Dana White attempted to hype up the UFC London event, defending it against the criticism it continues to receive. Speaking with TNT Sports, White said:
“It’s an unbelievable card, the card is fun.”
He added, referencing the main event:
“Seven undefeated fighters on the card, (I love the stats). I love it, I mean, this is what fighting is all about, this is what I always talk about.”
The UFC London main event features Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev. Both Murphy and Evloev have stated that they haven’t been told that their UFC London main event is a number one contender fight, with the UFC likely keeping their options open.
UFC has announced that the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) will serve as the independent regulatory body for its historic event at the White House on Sunday, June 14 — and the setup is unlike anything fans have seen from a major UFC card. The full announcement is available at UFC.com.
Because the event takes place on federal property — the South Lawn of the White House — there is no legal requirement for the UFC to have a state athletic commission oversee the proceedings. ABC President Timothy Shipman confirmed as much in a statement, noting the organization has been asked to assist in assembling judges, referees, and inspectors for the card.
The unconventional regulatory structure raised questions about title fight legitimacy, but the ABC’s statement addressed that directly. Shipman confirmed that “all bouts on this card are officially licensed and sanctioned contests,” and that the UFC will abide by all applicable requirements including medical examinations, pre- and post-bout physicals, and athlete safety protocols.
UFC has not publicly addressed whether the titles will be recognized under the same terms as a traditionally state-sanctioned event, but the ABC’s involvement appears designed to provide that legitimacy in the absence of a state commission.
What’s On The Card
The six-bout card features a championship doubleheader. Ilia Topuria (c), the UFC Lightweight Champion and No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter, defends against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event.
In the co-main, Alex Pereira (c) looks to become a champion in a record third weight class when he faces former interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane.
UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campell and Senior VP of Government & Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner will work directly with the ABC on regulatory oversight. The event marks the first professional sports event ever held at the White House.
The event will stream live on Paramount+ in the United States at no additional cost to subscribers. Additional details, including fight week activities, will be announced at a later date.
Gzim Selmani is back in training less than a week after his BKFC debut KO, targeting a return around summer 2026 — and he has the heavyweight title firmly in his sights.
The former WWE tag team champion, known in wrestling as Rezar of the Authors of Pain, laid out his competitive roadmap on The Ariel Helwani Show following his 2nd-round finish of Daniel Curtain in Newcastle, England.
“I hope somewhere around the summertime I’ll be in there again.”
The Title Picture
Selmani made no secret of where he sees himself in the BKFC heavyweight division. Selmani noted that the path to a title shot in BKFC doesn’t necessarily require a lengthy queue.
“Not too far away, I think. Let me rack up some wins — and I’ll knock them out, too.”
He pointed to the fact that Andrei Arlovski received a title shot after only a handful of BKFC fights as evidence that big names move quickly in the promotion.
With Selmani’s combat sports pedigree — trained by Golden Glory alongside Alistair Overeem, a Bellator veteran who nearly signed with the UFC — he considers himself an immediate contender.
Eddie Hall Callout — No Response
Selmani also addressed a callout he made to World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall, who had been targeting smaller opponents including Dylan Danis.
“He was calling out Dylan Danis, and I’m watching from home thinking, ‘What the hell are you doing? This guy is a quarter of your size. If you’re really that tough, call out a heavyweight.’ He got beat up by his buddy Hafthor Bjornsson, and now you want to call out this little kid? So I called him out — but his management didn’t want anything to do with it.”
The Conor McGregor Connection
UFC legend Conor McGregor — who is a part-owner and partner in BKFC — personally invited Selmani to a show in Manchester, which introduced him to the promotion. Selmani mentioned McGregor by name in his viral post-fight promo and described the investor group’s conviction in BKFC’s global potential.
“They really believe in the company — they know it’s going to go globally and be as big as UFC or bigger.”
It’s a significant vote of confidence for a promotion that McGregor has been tied to as an investor since 2024, and one that Selmani clearly views as far more than a post-WWE landing spot. His identity in BKFC is built on a simple philosophy he has carried his entire career — the bad guy who keeps beating hometown heroes in front of hostile crowds.
“I was automatically always a bad guy. I used to go to all the other countries to fight — Macedonia, England, Bosnia — and I always fought the hometown heroes, and I always beat them up. They always boo me, and I love it. Let me be the bad guy, but I’ll still knock your favorite out.”
Newcastle was the latest chapter in that story. Summer 2026 will be the next one.
Joe Rogan outlined why Netflix represents a fundamentally different kind of competitive threat to the UFC than anything the promotion has faced before.
During a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show, the longtime UFC commentator hosted Dustin Poirier, and the conversation turned to Netflix’s growing push into live sports. They discussed the platform’s expansion into combat sports, highlighted by major boxing events, and its anticipated move into MMA through a partnership with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, slated for May 16.
Rogan emphasized that this is not just another promotion trying to compete on the fringes, but a global platform with the financial muscle to potentially reshape the sport’s entire economic landscape. He also pointed to boxing as the model Netflix could replicate: fans follow fighters, not promoters.
“It’s all about the name of the fighters. Just like boxing — nobody cares if it’s Golden Boy or Bob Arum. What they care about is who’s fighting whom. If Netflix can do the boxing thing with big-name stars, they could be a major player, and that will elevate everybody’s pay scale.”
The Contract Expiration Window
Joe Rogan’s most pointed observation was not about the upcoming Netflix MMA card itself, which is expected to feature some of the sport’s most recognizable names, such as Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, Francis Ngannou, and Nate Diaz.
Instead, the renowned podcaster’s focus was on what could follow if the event proves successful. He highlighted the real threat to the UFC’s dominance as the timing of expiring fighter contracts aligning with a well-funded competitor actively looking to sign top talent.
“If she’s saying this and Netflix listens, and some shrewd businessman goes, ‘A lot of people’s contracts are coming up — when these people’s contracts come up, let’s get into negotiations,’ all of a sudden some people start drifting over.”
He identified UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev as a potential domino in that scenario, suggesting that a move from a star of his stature could spark a broader shift among elite contenders.
“If you get an Islam Makhachev who starts leaving and goes to fight on Netflix, and they can talk four or five top major contenders into going, look, it’s a big ask. But if that happens…”
A Safety Net That Didn’t Exist Before
Meanwhile, Dustin Poirier offered a fighter’s perspective on what a more competitive landscape would mean in practical terms. For most of his career, being cut from the UFC did not just mean losing a job, it often meant the possible end of a fighter’s career altogether.
“Ten years ago, they cut you. There’s only one place to make money — they cut you. You’d have to get a job, maybe fight part-time. Now you can pivot and still have a career.”
“The Diamond” added that he holds no ill will toward the UFC and sees only positives in the current multi-organization landscape.
“I love the UFC. I spent most of my professional career there. But I love seeing these other organizations come up and people making money. It lifts everything. It creates more opportunities for fighters. It’s only a good thing.”
Rogan floated an even wilder card at the end of the conversation: YouTube.
“Hey guys, we’re YouTube. We’re even bigger than Netflix because YouTube is everywhere.”
The UFC’s biggest card of the year now finds itself in jeopardy of going unsanctioned.
The MMA promotion has announced a historic event, UFC Freedom 250, set for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The event serves as a symbolic tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The event is set to feature a blockbuster championship doubleheader. In the main event, reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria will put his title on the line against interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in an unification clash.
Meanwhile, the co-main event will see light heavyweight king Alex Pereira move up a division to square off against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
However, UFC Freedom 250 is now under intense scrutiny from the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission regarding its regulatory status.
UFC Freedom 250 Could Go Down As Unsanctioned, Warns DC Commission
The central issue is jurisdictional. The White House sits on federal land, which places it outside the regulatory authority of any city or state athletic commission.
The UFC has informed the D.C. Combat Sports Commission that it does not intend to obtain the required permit, citing the site’s federal designation as grounds for bypassing the standard licensing and oversight process.
During a recent interview with The Washington Post, commission chair Andrew Huff revealed that the UFC considers the $100 permit unnecessary, arguing the event is “taking place on federal land.” He is not directly challenging the promotion’s legal reasoning, but rather the precedent it could set.
Huff’s concern is that it may allow any promoter, not just the UFC, to stage events on federal property and bypass athletic commission oversight altogether.
This raises the possibility that smaller or less credible promotions could exploit the same loophole to stage dangerous mismatches, license fighters who might not pass proper medical clearance, and operate without essential safety measures simply by hosting events on federal property such as a national park or government complex, beyond the reach of state oversight.
The UFC has dealt with similar scenarios in the past. When hosting events in regions without established athletic commissions, including parts of the Middle East, the promotion has relied on its own internal oversight, complete with medical teams and safety protocols.
By most accounts, that system has operated responsibly. However, Huff’s concern is not centered on the UFC’s track record. The real issue, he argues, is the regulatory gap itself, one that does not distinguish between responsible promoters and those who may cut corners.
What “Unsanctioned” Means For Fighters On UFC Freedom 250 Card
Without official sanction, any bouts held on the South Lawn would be classified as non-regulated bouts (NRBs) and would carry no official recognition from athletic commissions. As a result, wins and losses would not be reflected on fighters’ professional records.
That means Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje could headline what has been billed as one of the most historic events in UFC history and still walk away with nothing to show for it on paper, a significant complication for title unification and long-term legacy record keeping.
The UFC has yet to publicly respond to the commission’s statements. With the event roughly 90 days away, the regulatory standoff remains unresolved.
UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva recently said that the UFC antitrust settlement money was anything but free — and he has a pointed message for fighters frustrated about pay in the current era.
‘Spider’ addressed both topics on The Ariel Helwani Show, revealing it was Jon Jones who first told him about the class action lawsuit during a shared training session.
“When people are talking about that, I really don’t know. Jon Jones talked to me. One time I was training with Jon Jones, and Jon Jones told me about that. I said, ‘Bro, I don’t know. I think I go talk to Dana about that.’ And Jon Jones said, ‘That’s the truth.’ But this is not about UFC anymore — this matter happened, UFC has to pay. Check it out with your lawyer and with your team.”
‘It’s Not Free Money’
When Helwani casually referred to the settlement as “free money,” Silva corrected him immediately and with conviction.
“It’s not free money. I pay tax, but — remember — it’s not free money. This money is what the UFC needed to pay for everybody. For me it’s nothing free, because I suffered a lot for this money to come to my account.”
Silva spent years as part of a class of fighters whose compensation was at the center of the UFC antitrust litigation. His framing — that the payout reflects wages owed, not a windfall — is a notable perspective from one of the sport’s all-time greats.
His Advice to Fighters on Contracts
Silva was measured but direct when asked about fighters who feel the UFC underpays them. His view: the contract you sign is the deal you agreed to, and fighters bear responsibility for understanding what they’re signing.
“It’s very hard to say something — because when you sign the contract, when you see the deal, you sign the contract. You know the deal you worked. Your lawyer, your manager have to explain what you signed. Everybody knows I have my fight with Dana, but inside the ring I know it’s my work. I know how to work inside the ring. Outside is a business, and Dana worked for this business for many, many years. And the people, when they come sign the contract with UFC — they need to understand that and have your manager, have your lawyers, and stay ready to take the good decision.”
He summed up his view of Dana White and UFC business in one line:
“When you sign the contract, when you agree with everything in the contract, you can’t say nothing. Dana is Dana — he’s not personal, it’s business.”
The comments land amid an active ongoing debate about fighter pay in the post-PPV Paramount era, with fighters across the roster raising questions about how compensation is structured now that the UFC’s revenue model has fundamentally shifted.
Dustin Poirier recently revealed that the UFC never explained how fighter pay would change following the promotion’s move to Paramount+ under its landmark $7.7 billion deal.
Under its new streaming agreement, the MMA promotion is set to generate roughly $1.1 billion annually, more than doubling its previous earnings under its media deal with ESPN. Traditionally, UFC fighters have competed under show-and-win contracts, receiving a guaranteed purse to appear and an additional bonus for a victory. On top of that, champions and top-tier stars have historically benefited from a share of pay-per-view revenue.
However, with PPV largely phased out in the United States under the new Paramount+ deal, that lucrative revenue stream is disappearing. As a result, some fighters stand to lose a significant portion of their income. According to “The Diamond”, the UFC has yet to clearly outline how the new pay structure will be adjusted to account for these changes.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, Dustin Poirier weighed in on the UFC’s new deal with Paramount+, revealing that despite being one of the promotion’s biggest pay-per-view draws, he has been left without clarity on the current fighter pay structure.
The former interim lightweight champion also noted that he has repeatedly pushed UFC executives for answers, but has yet to receive any meaningful response.
“I’ve been asking every show — I ask everybody. I want to know, because my last few years in the UFC, I was… Nobody’s telling me. They’re keeping me in the dark. What the f*ck is that? Keeping me in the dark, man. I was a pay-per-view partner for multiple fights with the UFC.”
Poirier’s concerns extend beyond just his own pay. He questioned whether the UFC, no longer reliant on selling individual PPVs, will remain as committed to consistently putting together the biggest possible matchups.
“How much is the UFC going to put the biggest fights together? Because they don’t need to sell pay-per-views. They’re guaranteed money,” he said.
PPV Points Were The Entire Promise
For years, the UFC’s PPV revenue share served as the primary incentive for fighters to rise through the ranks while accepting relatively modest base pay.
Dustin Poirier confirmed that this structure was often presented during contract negotiations as a motivating reward, positioned as the ultimate payoff at the end of a long path toward a title opportunity.
Earlier this year, former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor made a similar argument, declaring his UFC contract essentially void because it was structured around PPV sales that no longer exist.
The broader question of how the UFC’s Paramount windfall flows back to fighters remains unanswered. As MMA News analyzed when the deal was announced, fans likely benefit from increased access while fighters risk losing the PPV upside they had counted on.
Poirier retired in July 2025 following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway at UFC 318, but still has fights remaining on his UFC contract. For a fighter who headlined multiple pay-per-view events and built his legacy in the UFC over a decade-plus career, not knowing how pay is structured on the back end of that run is a jarring reality.
In 2013, Alex Pereira attended a UFC event in São Paulo from the nosebleed section — sitting so high up, he says, he was “almost hitting my head on the ceiling.” On June 14, 2026, he headlines the UFC Freedom 250 event on the lawn of the White House.
That moment came up during a wide-ranging conversation on The Ariel Helwani Show, where Pereira sat down for one of the most personal interviews of his career — touching on poverty, family, charity, and a decade-long journey from a tire shop in Brazil to one of the biggest events in combat sports history.
“Thirteen years later — 2013, you’re up there trying not to bang your head on the ceiling, and now you’re headlining the White House. It’s a movie scene.”
Grounded by Where He Came From
Despite his transformation into one of the UFC’s biggest stars, Pereira still regularly returns to the borracharia — the tire shop in Brazil where he worked before his fighting career took hold. The visits aren’t nostalgic; they’re intentional.
“Those guys are my friends. It keeps me grounded to see where I came from. Those guys were very important for my life. Even with what I have, they’re still happy for me — and it’s good for me to go there and learn more about life. It’s important for me not to forget where I came from. Many people start doing well in life and just get too big for their head and disappear.”
Pereira worked at the tire shop until around 2016. He said the version of himself who worked there “never imagined the White House. I didn’t even imagine I’d make a living from fighting — until ten years ago, or more.”
UFC Changed Everything
Pereira was honest about the financial reality of his kickboxing years. His Glory run was successful enough to buy a house for his parents and an apartment for himself — but he always knew it wasn’t fully sustainable long-term.
“The reality of my life really changed once I joined the UFC. Now family is set up.”
That security now extends to his father. ‘Poatan’ recently gave him a golf cart for his gated community — a deliberate choice, as he doesn’t want his father navigating public roads. The reaction caught him off guard.
“My father always wanted to have a car and he could never have one. A few years ago he bought a little old car, drove a little bit, had a few scrapes — and had to sell it to buy stuff for the house. So now I gave him a nice golf cart. He cried. I had never seen my father cry before.”
From the Tire Shop to the White House
Pereira described the White House booking as something that came to him — not something he lobbied for. He is aware of its magnitude.
“I see how many people were trying to get on the card, everybody talking about it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a unique event everybody wants to be part of. And I’m gifted to be part of it.”
He fights Ciryl Gane in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250 for the interim heavyweight title. A win would make him the first fighter in UFC history to hold championships in three different weight classes — capping a journey that, by any measure, nobody saw coming when he was fixing tires in São Paulo.
Pereira also founded Instituto Poatan, a free youth combat sports institute in his hometown that has enrolled more than 400 children and served over 800 since it opened — part of a giving-back philosophy rooted in his own family’s experience receiving food donations during hard times. More at @institutopotan on Instagram.
Gzim Selmani — the former WWE tag team champion known as Rezar of the Authors of Pain recently made a thunderous BKFC debut in Newcastle, England, finishing Daniel Curtain in the second round and delivering a post-fight promo that host Ariel Helwani called “front-runner for promo of the year.”
The Albanian-Dutch heavyweight sat down with Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show to break down what drew him to bare knuckle, the psychological side of competing, and why he believes BKFC is on a trajectory that could eventually rival the UFC itself.
“I’m here to knock people out anywhere in the world. Come get it. I’m done with everybody. Give it. Get it. I’m the Albanian psycho. I’m the one who came from WWE to this place. I have fought my ass off and I’m here. Thank you to David Feldman. Thank you to Conor McGregor. I’m here to stay — whether you like it or not. The Albanian psycho has arrived at BKFC.”
Why Bare Knuckle — Not MMA, Not Boxing
Selmani was deliberate in his choice of BKFC over other combat sports options. When asked why he gravitated toward the most extreme end of the spectrum, his answer was characteristically direct.
“It’s the next level of violence, and it’s the most extreme option out there. It’s perfectly for me. As my nickname says it — it’s the perfect place for a psychopath.”
He also described the visceral satisfaction of returning to real fighting after years in the scripted world of professional wrestling.
“It was so good to be in there again. Just the feeling of putting your knuckles against somebody’s face and just punching as hard as you can and as fast as you can and trying to hurt somebody as much as you can — it’s something you can’t compare with wrestling. It’s something that I needed.”
The Switch He Can’t Control
Selmani offered a candid look at the psychological transformation he goes through before fights — something he traces back to his very first pro bout at 18 years old in Romania, fighting a 38-year-old Siberian opponent.
“My first pro fight was in Romania. I had just turned 18 years old and I fought a 38-year-old guy — a Siberian Romanian guy. I just flipped 20 minutes before the fight, and my coach said, ‘You just look like a psychopath.’ I went in there, fought my ass off, won — and that’s when he gave me the nickname.”
That transformation, he says, is entirely involuntary.
“I have no control over it. I just become a different person. As soon as I know it’s victory or death, I flip that switch automatically and become completely someone else. It’s something that comes out when it needs to come out — and that’s during fights.”
‘Bigger Than UFC and WWE’
Perhaps his boldest statement of the interview was his prediction for BKFC’s future — a prediction he made after seeing the Newcastle show firsthand from backstage and inside the ring.
“I think this company is going to be as big or bigger than UFC and even WWE, to be honest. The excitement that the fans get from a show like this, the adrenaline rush — it’s unmatched by any other organization in the world. I’ve been around almost every organization. I see the potential now in BKFC and I know it’s going to go globally big.”
He backed up the prediction with a scouting report on the competition level:
“They’re high level, man. Especially watching them warm up and watching the fights — these guys are as real as it gets. The quality of fighting is very high here. Especially without the gloves, it’s a different ball game.”
Conor McGregor is an investor and partner in BKFC, and Selmani credited him alongside president David Feldman by name in his post-fight promo. The combination of McGregor’s star power and BKFC’s raw product is, in Selmani’s view, a formula that has nowhere to go but up.
Alex Pereira says he believes a fight with Jon Jones will eventually happen — and that he has no intention of ever going back to light heavyweight.
“Poatan” opened up about both topics on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, offering a clear-eyed take on his long-term future in the UFC.
On the prospect of facing Jones, Pereira explained the logic simply: Jones will need an opponent, and there’s only one name that makes sense.
“I believe it happens because he has to be released from the UFC, and I don’t think the UFC is going to release him anytime soon,” Pereira said through an interpreter. “If he wants to fight, who’s going to be against him? It’s going to be against me.”
Alex Pereira explains why he believes he will still face Jon Jones:
"I believe it happens because he has to be released from the UFC, and I don’t think the UFC is going to release him anytime soon.
If he wants to fight, who’s going to be against him? It’s going to be against… pic.twitter.com/duEJsYCDmm
As for light heavyweight, Pereira made clear that chapter is closed — not out of frustration, but out of a sense that he’s done everything there is to do at 205 pounds.
“I could make light heavyweight again, but I don’t think there’s anything new for me there,” he said. “Many guys just go on the heat of the moment and when they lose, they come back to the weight division, but I’ve been expressing for a long time that I’ve been wanting to fight a heavyweight. I think I’ll stay here.”
The comments came in the same interview where Pereira revealed he signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC, saying the lucrative deal made it easy to walk away from the belt without looking back.
With Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg set to fight for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327, Pereira’s heavyweight era is now fully underway.
Alex Pereira has signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC, and the Brazilian says the deal made it easy to walk away from the light heavyweight title.
Alex Pereira says that after signing a new eight-fight deal with the UFC, he didn’t care about vacating the light heavyweight title:
"Honestly, I just wanted to let go of my belt and fight heavyweights, maybe even fight for a belt. But even if it was a regular fight, I just… pic.twitter.com/oNZdRTjVl3
Pereira made the revelation on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, explaining that the UFC took care of him financially to the point where vacating the belt was a non-issue.
“Honestly, I just wanted to let go of my belt and fight heavyweights, maybe even fight for a belt,” Pereira said through an interpreter. “But even if it was a regular fight, I just expressed that I wanted to do a heavyweight fight, and they really took good care of me. The way they gave me this last contract was so good that I left it open for them to do whatever they wanted—it didn’t matter.”
“With this new deal that UFC gave to me, I don’t care about letting go of the belt or anything like that. They took really good care of me.”
"With this new deal that UFC gave to me, I don't care about letting go of the belt or anything like that. They took really good care of me."
Alex Pereira didn't struggle with the decision of vacating the light heavyweight title 💰 pic.twitter.com/0JNHvHenPE
It was announced on February 27, 2026, that Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg would headline UFC 327 for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship following Pereira’s decision to move up.
Pereira is scheduled to attempt to become the first UFC fighter to win titles in three divisions, competing for the interim heavyweight championship against former interim champion Ciryl Gane. A victory would make the former kickboxer the first-ever three-weight UFC world champion, a feat no one in the promotion’s history has accomplished.
Pereira previously signed an eight-fight deal ahead of UFC 300 in early 2024. This new contract signals the UFC’s commitment to keeping one of its biggest stars locked in for the foreseeable future as he embarks on a heavyweight run.
The promotion is nominated for Sports League of the Year, going up against the NFL, MLB, NHL, National Women’s Soccer League, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Meanwhile, the UFC and Paramount media rights deal is nominated for Deal of the Year — a historic seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement that will bring all UFC events to Paramount+ and CBS starting in 2026, eliminating the traditional pay-per-view model for U.S. fans.
TKO President & COO Mark Shapiro, who helped broker the Paramount deal alongside CEO Ariel Emanuel, is also individually nominated for Executive of the Year. The awards ceremony takes place May 20, 2026, at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry have officially been added to Netflix’s first-ever live MMA event, set for Saturday, May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The two fan favorites join what is already a loaded card, turning the event into a triple-headliner. The show is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in partnership with Netflix and will stream live globally to all Netflix subscribers at no additional cost.
🚨DIAZ VS PERRY🚨
Combat sports icon Nate Diaz will face “Platinum” Mike Perry in a 5-round welterweight MMA war as part of MVP’s massive triple-headliner on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles — streaming live globally on Netflix.🌎
The matchup has been a long time coming. Perry called out Diaz for years, and Diaz publicly named Perry as one of his top targets for a return to action earlier this year. The booking delivers a street-fight-style confrontation that figures to be one of the most entertaining bouts on the card.
Rousey vs. Carano Headlines
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano — two pioneers who helped build women’s MMA — finally meet inside the cage. Rousey returns to combat sports after nearly a decade away, while Carano steps back in for the first time in years. The bout will be contested under the Unified Rules of MMA using 4-ounce gloves.
Ngannou Returns to MMA
Francis Ngannou faces Brazil’s Philipe Lins in a heavyweight showcase. It marks Ngannou’s highly anticipated return to MMA following his PFL championship victory in 2024, after a two-fight stint in boxing.
How to Watch
Netflix’s first live MMA event takes place Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event streams live on Netflix and is included with all subscription plans.
Ronda Rousey stepped into an AEW ring on Sunday night at Revolution 2026 — but it’s her May 16 MMA comeback that has the combat sports world paying attention.
The UFC Hall of Famer appeared at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles following a match between AEW’s Toni Storm and Marina Shafir, entering the ring to go face-to-face with Storm in a charged confrontation that quickly went viral.
Ronda Rousey’s presence alongside Marina Shafir is far from coincidental. The two share a close bond that dates back well before their time in professional wrestling. Shafir previously trained under the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, building a connection that later carried over into the wrestling world, where the pair even teamed together in Ring of Honor in 2023.
Shafir has already confirmed that she will be in Ronda Rousey’s corner for her highly anticipated MMA showdown against fellow veteran Gina Carano.
The bout is scheduled to take place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, making Sunday’s appearance feel just as much like a show of support and alliance as it did a wrestling storyline.
Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and @ginacarano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history! And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion @MostVpromotions as well as the baddest streamer on the planet @netflix! This is for… pic.twitter.com/vR9IxchOO2
With her May 16 Netflix card now fully taking shape — Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins confirmed as the co-main event — Rousey’s public profile heading into the fight is exactly where Most Valuable Promotions needs it to be.
Sunday’s AEW moment puts her in front of a mainstream wrestling audience of millions at a critical point in the promotional calendar.
“Rowdy”, 39, hasn’t competed in MMA since her TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. Her opponent, Gina Carano, 43, last fought professionally in 2009. The fight will be contested at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage.
Alistair Overeem hasn’t been shy about his views on the state of the UFC heavyweight division. In a recent chat with leading MMA journalist Kyle Dimond for Bloody Elbow, the former title challenger offered a frank assessment of where the weight class stands today.
“It’s no secret that there is a decline, unfortunately,” Overeem said. “The top guys will remain the top guys, but it’s not as colorful as it once used to be. Used to be you’d have 15 to 20 top-name heavyweights. That’s now not the case. It kind of slowly declined.”
The Tides of Combat Sports
Overeem sees the heavyweight dip as part of a broader cycle he’s witnessed before — one that saw kickboxing and K-1 go through similar lulls before MMA surged, and which boxing is now emerging from. He pointed to the geographic concentration of the sport’s golden era as part of the explanation.
“Before we saw a similar decline in K-1, in kickboxing. And that kind of happened to MMA now as well. Boxing made a revival,” he said. “The golden era of MMA — Fedor, Big Nog, Vitor Belfort, Sakuraba — and then later into the UFC: Franklin, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones. This originated from different promotions and different countries pushing the sport. There’s also not much coming from Japan these days, and at the height in the 90s and early 2000s there were a lot of fighters coming from there.”
“It’s between him and the UFC,” Overeem said. “John will have his reasons and the UFC will have their reasons. I think ultimately it’s just fighter pay — they offered him something with the Tom Aspinall fight and they didn’t want to give the same offer with Pereira or something like this. Between Jon and the UFC, there’ll be a lot of details we don’t even know about. So it’s difficult to have an opinion on that.”
Pereira vs. Gane and the Weight Math
On the upcoming interim title fight itself, Overeem sees it as a favorable stylistic setup for Pereira — more so than Jones would have been.
“For Pereira the Gane fight is more beneficial. Gane is more of a striker than a wrestler and submission artist than Jones is. Jones is extremely well-rounded on the ground. I think it’s going to be a great fight and more favorable to Pereira.”
He also spoke to Pereira’s dramatic weight journey, calling it remarkable. “Alex will be like 109, 110 kg and Gane will be 115, 116 — it will not be that much different. Alex Pereira is a big guy. It’s amazing what he’s been doing with his weight going up — he was middleweight at one point. Crazy.”
Ngannou’s Situation
Overeem also weighed in on Francis Ngannou, who has since signed to fight Philipe Lins on May 16. At the time of the interview, Ngannou was linked to a Renan Ferreira bout, and Overeem was skeptical.
“It’s unfortunate we’re not going to see him versus Jon Jones. Politics play [a role]. He’s going to now fight [Renan] Ferreira. Seems like a light heavyweight — might be a tough night for him.”
Dricus Du Plessis believes Sean Strickland has a genuine shot at dethroning Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 — and he’s speaking from experience having faced both men.
Du Plessis, who lost the UFC middleweight title to Chimaev at UFC 319 last August, appeared on SA Boxing Talk this week and offered his candid assessment of the May 9 main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“I honestly believe Strickland can land that fight,” Du Plessis said. “It’s a fight that makes the most sense right now. I believe Strickland in the striking definitely beats Khamzat for sure.”
He was careful not to overlook Chimaev’s wrestling, however.
“Khamzat is a problem to deal with when he has you on your back — we’ve seen that many times. But I think Strickland has a very good chance in that fight.”
Du Plessis Questions Whether Chimaev Can Adapt
Du Plessis expressed doubt that Chimaev can evolve his game the way a champion typically needs to over multiple defenses.
“I don’t think he has the ability to change,” Du Plessis said. “I don’t think he has the ability to become a striker or even just match any good striker. He doesn’t. I was in there with him striking — it’s not a fight.”
He added that Chimaev’s success against him came down to execution, not versatility.
“He implemented his game plan a lot better, and he won the fight fair and square. It wasn’t controversial. But he was better at 10% of this game than me — and now I know it, and I’ve been working on it.”
Du Plessis Still Wants the Rematch
Du Plessis called Chimaev’s approach against him “a pretty cowardly game plan” and made clear he believes a second fight would go differently.
“The second time will be a way different result — I know that for a fact,” he said. “25 minutes is not a lot of time to adapt that quickly on the fly.”
He also acknowledged some ambivalence about a rematch being his next step.
“I know Khamzat and I kind of don’t want to fight each other — I’m not really excited for that fight. Not a lot of people are.”
Strickland, who earned his title shot with a knockout of Anthony Hernandez in February, faces Chimaev (15-0) when the champion makes his first title defense at UFC 328 on May 9.
New sparring footage of Khamzat Chimaev dropping light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. has circulated ahead of the UFC middleweight champion’s title defense at UFC 328 on May 9 against Sean Strickland, sending MMA social media into a frenzy.
😳💥 Khamzat Chimaev rocks Khalil Rountree Jr. with strikes during sparring.
Chimaev hasn’t competed since claiming the middleweight title with a dominant performance over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August. His impressive striking on a fighter who competes at 205 pounds reinforces the picture of a champion operating at a dangerous level heading into the grudge match with Strickland.
Du Plessis Gives Strickland a Real Shot
Former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who lost the title to Chimaev and previously defeated Strickland, offered a notable assessment of the May 9 matchup. “Sean Strickland has a very good chance against Khamzat Chimaev,” du Plessis said, one of the most credible Strickland endorsements heading into fight night.
UFC 328 is shaping up as one of the most anticipated events of the year. Strickland’s ability to apply pressure and absorb punishment makes him a legitimate threat, and with DDP sounding the alarm, the champion will have little room for complacency.
President Donald Trump confirmed he will attend the upcoming UFC 250th anniversary event at the White House, telling Jake Paul that the idea originated with Dana White and that every fighter on the card wants to be part of it.
Trump made the comments during a sit-down interview with Paul recorded at a factory rally in Ohio on March 13, 2026 — the debut episode of Paul’s new show.
“I will be [at UFC 250]. It’s going to be amazing — at the White House,” Trump said. “Dana is a great guy. He had the idea of staging it right at the front door of the White House. He’s got a tremendous card. They all want to fight at the White House. It’s going to be in honor of the 250th year.”
The conversation also turned to Paul’s future in boxing, with Trump offering his own fight suggestion. When asked who he’d want to see Paul face next, Trump went straight to a recognizable name from MMA.
“I probably [want to see you fight] Khabib. How about Khabib? I think he’s been just great,” Trump said.
Paul didn’t hesitate: “I’m down.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated from MMA in 2020 with a 29-0 record following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He has since been involved in boxing discussions on multiple occasions but has never officially crossed over.
Paul also mentioned his promotion pipeline during the interview, including a planned Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight on Netflix and potential matchups with Oleksandr Usyk in MMA, Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Tommy Fury.
Trump Breaks Up a Fight for Kobe Bryant
In one of the lighter moments of the interview, Trump recounted a story from his past involving the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
“It wasn’t a fight — I was breaking up a fight,” Trump said. “Which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody and it worked out fine. Probably not a smart thing to do.”
Paul responded with a laugh: “Historically, it’s never good to break up fights.”
Kevin Vallejos may be the real deal, putting an exclamation mark on that claim by putting away Josh Emmett in just one round in the main event of UFC Vegas 114.
Emmett stayed on the outside and flashed his power, but Vallejos managed to get in and avoid most of Emmett’s power attacks. Vallejos was even able to land an elbow and cut Emmett early in the first.
The two threw hooks simultaneously, and the right hand of Vallejos cracked Emmett. Vallejos then overwhelmed Emmett with striking on the ground and against the fence. Emmett was off balance, and Vallejos dropped Emmett again to finish the fight in the first.
Kevin Vallejos Quickly Puts Away Josh Emmett At UFC Vegas 114
Wow Vallejos is a monster!! Big problem at 145 divison! #UFCVegas114
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 15, 2026
Vallejos is now 18-1 in MMA, with his sole loss coming against Jean Silva. Vallejos is 4-0 in the UFC since winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, coming into this bout off a highlight knockout of Giga Chikadze.
Emmett has now lost five of the six fights he’s had since 2023. His sole win in that span was his knockout of Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296.
Gillian Robertson has positioned herself for a major women’s strawweight contenders’ fight next, as she was able to defeat Amanda Lemos in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 114.
Lemos was able to land strikes on Robertson while keeping her distance, as Robertson looked to clinch up and bring the fight to the ground. Robertson was able to score a takedown a couple of minutes in, though Lemos’ defense was strong, and she managed to gain some top control in the grappling battle.
The fight got back to the ground quickly in the second, with Robertson avoiding a guillotine attempt from Lemos to get into side control. Lemos looked to lock in chokes, but Robertson was dominant in the second round, working over Lemos with control on the ground.
Robertson looked to get inside on Lemos again in the third, while Lemos looked to keep her distance and work her jab once more. About 80 seconds into that final frame, Robertson scored a takedown and maintained control even as Lemos got back to the feet.
A takedown attempt from Robertson halfway through the final round saw Lemos nearly secure an armbar, but Robertson was able to escape and pin Lemos in side control once again. Robertson looked for a kimura, and while she wasn’t able to get it, her ground work completely overwhelmed Lemos again to lock up the decision win.
Gillian Robertson Uses Grappling To Best Amanda Lemos At UFC Vegas 114
Give me Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson. I'm all for it. #UFCVegas114
Amanda Lemos Holding onto a arm bar against a world glass grappler instead of scrambling up is the Most Amanda Lemos thing I have ever seen. To this day the worst fight IQ in Womens MMA history. #UFCVegas114
Marwan Rahiki and Harry Hardwick put on an absolute war at UFC Vegas 114 until Rahiki scored a win when Hardwick suffered a broken jaw and could not answer the bell.
Rahiki looked to pressure early with his strikes, but Hardwick’s counterattack was strong. Hardwick, in fact, managed to jump onto Rahiki’s back early in the opening frame. Rahiki’s volume and variety of strikes seemed to give him the edge.
Rahiki damaged Hardwick more in the second round, wobbling him with a head kick and rocking him with further flurries against the fence. Yet, Hardwick fought back and remained in the fight.
After the second, however, Hardwick informed his corner that he had broken his jaw, prompting them to call the fight.
Marwan Rahiki Wins War With Harry Hardwick At UFC Vegas 114
Wow what a fight! 🤯🤯🤯 Rahiki vs Hardwick #UFCVegas114
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 15, 2026
Hardwick said f what you heard I’m here to fight rahiki just had to much power smart move protect your body man
Harry Hardwick smartly tells his corner that his jaw is in no shape to continue… Marwan Rahiki moves to 8-0 and man is this kid something!!! Freaky is truly Freaky… Shoutout to harry hardwick!!! #UFCVegas114
Rahiki can become a superstar. He also can become the wrong end of a couple bad KOs and work at Burger King. Someone needs to sit him down for real. One of the biggest raw talents I have ever seen.
Rahiki now moves to 8-0. This marked his UFC debut after a finish of Ananias Mulumba on Dana White’s Contender Series this past October.
Hardwick has now lost two straight and is 0-2 in the UFC. Before entering the Octagon, the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion had a nine-fight unbeaten streak.
For the second time in three fights, and the second time overall in his MMA career, Oumar Sy tastes defeat. This time, it comes courtesy of Ion Cutelaba at UFC Vegas 114.
Cutelaba looked to press the pace early with a kick-based attack before clinching up Sy. Cutelaba scored a takedown, but Sy battled back and landed a slam, nearly locking up a leg lock.
Cutelaba was able to gain top control back, and when Sy looked to regain control with another takedown, Cutelaba locked him up in a guillotine. Cutelaba secured a guillotine from mount, making Sy quickly tap out in the process.
I'm convinced Oumar Sy quit. Didn't want to be in there in those positions, and the minute he got the opportunity, he tapped. Yes, he wouldn't have gotten out of that guillotine but he should've known the threat was there when trying to push on Cutelaba
Cutelaba is now 4-2 in his last six fights. He came into this fight off a controversial split decision loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC 315.
Sy now falls to 12-2. He came into this fight off a win over Brendson Ribeiro, which was a rebound after his first pro loss against Alonzo Menifield. Sy also has wins over Tuco Tokkos and Da Woon Jung in the Octagon.
Manoel Sousa wanted a strong impact in his UFC debut, and he got one with his literal last-minute knockout of Bolaji Oki at UFC Vegas 114.
Sousa seemed near a quick finish in the opening round when he landed a solid right hand on Oki to knock him down. Oki survived the Brazilian’s ground-and-pound attack and a kimura attempt, however, and he managed to get clinch control during the latter part of the first.
Oki’s control continued in the second with sharp striking, as the two had a back-and-forth war, trading shot for shot. Sousa looked to bring pressure in the third. Oki responded with his sharp strikes again, but Sousa was not to be deterred.
Then, in the fight’s last minute, Sousa landed a right hand that put Oki out cold to seal a major knockout victory.
Sousa has now won three straight after his undefeated record was snapped at the hands of Archie Colgan. Sousa was making his UFC debut here tonight after defeating Cristian Pérez on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Oki is now 2-3 in the Octagon since winning his own contract on DWCS in 2023.
Eryk Anders ended his professional MMA career with a win, as he defeated Brad Tavares during the UFC Vegas 114 prelims.
Tavares looked to get an early start with his kicks, but Anders looked to grab him and grind his way to clinch control. Anders then rocked Tavares late in the round, controlling the remainder of the round with more dirty boxing and takedown attempts.
Tavares battled back in the second, working with counterpunching, scoring a knockdown on Anders at one point. Anders survived the onslaught, however, and took back control in the third by scoring a takedown and using his wrestling.
Anders won on all three judges’ cards, with a 30-27 total and two 29-28 scores.
Eryk Anders Defeats Brad Tavares, Retires From MMA
Eryk Anders is officially retiring from the UFC after his victory over Brad Tavares.
Eryk Anders gets the decision win the last down the gloves. Going out on a W in front of his family. Ya Boi went 10-9-0-1 in the promotion. All the best for the future 👏🏻 #UFCVegas114pic.twitter.com/2fHRehEQYi
Eryk Anders was one of the first big interviews that I got to do covering this sport. Meeting him in Nashville was such a cool experience. Congrats on the win and the retirement! Only wish the best for Ya Boi! pic.twitter.com/nbpzskhThd
Vitória do Anders, que usou a experiência pra vencer. Grande luta, candidata a luta da noite até agora
Pra mim, 30-27…
— Léo Walker Guimaraes (@leoguimaraesmma) March 14, 2026
Anders is still decent, has some fights left in him.
I would be fine if this is the last time we see Brad, time is time. Let him keep the tie with Bisping and go to PFL or GFL if he won't retire #UFCVegas114
Anders originally was a football player, a member of the 2009 BCS National Championship team at the University of Alabama under longtime head coach Nick Saban.
After brief stints with the NFL and CFL, Anders made his amateur MMA debut in 2012 before turning pro in 2015. Anders won his first eight pro fights, including a win over Brendan Allen for the inaugural LFA middleweight title, before signing with the UFC.
Anders made his UFC debut at UFC Long Island in July 2017, scoring a first-round knockout of Rafael Natal. After a win over Markus Perez, Anders already found himself in a UFC main event for the first time in February 2018, losing a controversial split decision to MMA legend Lyoto Machida.
Anders went 10-9 (1 NC) in the UFC.
Tavares, meanwhile, has now lost four of his last five fights.
