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  • Dana White Explains Why Ulberg Will Stay in Las Vegas for Recovery Instead of Returning to New Zealand

    Dana White Explains Why Ulberg Will Stay in Las Vegas for Recovery Instead of Returning to New Zealand

    Dana White has confirmed that Carlos Ulberg underwent knee surgery following his ACL tear at UFC 327 and will recover at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas rather than returning home to New Zealand.

    Speaking at the UFC Winnipeg post-fight press conference, White provided an update on the newly crowned light heavyweight champion and explained why keeping Ulberg in Vegas makes sense for his rehabilitation.

    “One of the good things about it is, he was at Power Slap last night, and I was talking to him, and he’s gonna stay in Vegas,” White said. “He’s got the surgery, and he’s gonna start working at the PI.

    Apparently, where he lives in Australia [New Zealand], he’s in a remote part of the country, so there isn’t much around him. What we would do before we built the Performance Institute is we would get these guys surgeries with great doctors, and then they’d go home, and they wouldn’t do anything. They didn’t do any physical therapy or recovery. Now with the PI, that place has saved more fights and helped more athletes prolong their careers. We’ll get him in there, and see how fast he starts to recover. We always figure it out.”

    White was also asked whether the UFC has considered creating an interim light heavyweight title during Ulberg’s absence. His response was measured.

    “We have not. I mean, Carlos is still getting set up here. But we’ll figure it out.”

    Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer previously projected Ulberg’s recovery timeline at 9 to 12 months based on slow-motion footage from the fight, with a return to competition potentially not until 2027. An official timeline has not been released.

  • Sean Strickland Labeled One of MMA’s Biggest Overachievers Ahead of UFC 328 Title Fight

    Sean Strickland Labeled One of MMA’s Biggest Overachievers Ahead of UFC 328 Title Fight

    Michael Bisping has called Sean Strickland one of MMA’s biggest overachievers, and he wants to make clear that is meant as a genuine compliment.

    Speaking with Demetrious Johnson on the JAXXON PODCAST ahead of Strickland’s UFC 328 middleweight title challenge against Khamzat Chimaev, Bisping reflected on a career that has consistently exceeded what most people would’ve expected.

    “Sean Strickland, that’s a complicated one,” Bisping said. “Overachiever. I didn’t think he’d be in this position that he is in now. He became champion of the world. I didn’t think he would beat Israel Adesanya. I thought he would be a problematic matchup for Adesanya, but beating him the way that he did and then now being in a position to fight Khamzat Chimaev — I think he’s an overachiever in a lot of ways.”

    Bisping was careful to frame the assessment in the most positive terms possible.

    “He’s not the biggest athlete, not the fastest, the strongest, all the rest of it. But he’s got a rock solid mind, he’s got a crazy gas tank, works his ass off. That’s a compliment. It’s not an insult. He’s one of the biggest overachievers.”

    Bisping has his own experience completing an unlikely championship run, having knocked out Luke Rockhold on short notice in 2016 to win the middleweight title. Strickland pulled off a similar upset against Adesanya in 2023 before losing the belt to Dricus du Plessis in their first meeting.

    Strickland faces Chimaev in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Michael Bisping’s Son Callum Gets First MMA Stoppage Win

    Michael Bisping’s Son Callum Gets First MMA Stoppage Win

    Callum Bisping has picked up his first stoppage victory as an amateur MMA fighter, moving to 2-0 and making his famous father very proud in the process.

    The 24-year-old competed at a Regime Fight League event in Westlake Village, California, facing Brycen MacLeod, who entered the bout with a 2-0 record. Bisping used his wrestling background, having competed at the NCAA Division 2 level at San Francisco State University, to take the fight to the ground quickly. He secured the mount and landed punches until the referee waved it off in the first round.

    Michael Bisping took to Instagram on Sunday morning to congratulate his son and thank everyone involved in the corner and at the event.

    “So proud of Callum Bisping taking his MMA record to 2-0 with a first round stoppage. Great work son. A huge thank you to the coach for giving up his weekend to corner him. The whole team at The Den Training Center and to RFL MMA SoCal for putting on a great show and being so hospitable to us,” Bisping wrote.

    Callum’s debut victory came by unanimous decision over Chayton Acevedo at Fight Club LA in December, making Saturday’s stoppage win his second amateur result.

  • Dana White Says Conor McGregor Return Talks Are ‘Looking Good’

    Dana White Says Conor McGregor Return Talks Are ‘Looking Good’

    Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC is moving in a positive direction, with CEO Dana White confirming that negotiations are progressing well toward what could be McGregor’s first fight in five years.

    Speaking at the UFC Winnipeg post-fight press conference, White stopped short of announcing a deal had been finalized but made clear the conversations are heading the right way.

    “It’s looking good,” White said. “Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.”

    McGregor has been teasing a return on social media for some time and has reportedly refocused his attention on training camp preparation. No opponent has been officially named, though Max Holloway remains a popular candidate, with Holloway publicly stating on multiple occasions that he would welcome a rematch with his former opponent.

    Off the competitive side, McGregor has also been putting his affairs in order. He settled a lawsuit with former friend and teammate Artem Lobov over profits from the sale of his Proper No. 12 whiskey brand, and has been making fewer public appearances as he prepares for a return.

    If the fight comes together for UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week, McGregor will be returning off back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier, including the broken leg that ended their trilogy fight in 2021 and kept him out of competition for an extended stretch. A broken toe then prevented a scheduled 2024 comeback against Michael Chandler from materializing.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Dominates Urijah Faber In Technical Fall

    Arman Tsarukyan Dominates Urijah Faber In Technical Fall

    Arman Tsarukyan once again showed why he’s one of the top talents in RAF, not making his bout with Urijah Faber — which served as the RAF 08 main event — even close to being competitive.

    Tsarukyan completely dominated the first period, scoring a takedown and two exposures of Faber, getting his shoulders to the mat and racking up eight points in lightning-quick fashion.

    An aggressive takedown attempt saw Tsarukyan push himself and Faber not just off the mat but also over the announcers’ table. Each man was awarded a point.

    In the third, Tsarukyan landed a double-leg takedown and ended the bout with a technical fall.

    Tsarukyan then called out Colby Covington, with the two having a staredown after the bout.

    Tsarukyan is now 4-0 in RAF, making his debut at RAF 05 in January with a win over Lance Palmer before his infamous two bouts with Georgio Poullas.

    Faber faced Cejudo at RAF 06, losing by technical fall.

    This bout was promoted to the main event after Henry Cejudo withdrew on the day of RAF 08, citing an injury, causing his bout with Merab Dvalishvili to be canceled.

  • “One of the Good Guys” – Burns Retires After Loss To Malott

    “One of the Good Guys” – Burns Retires After Loss To Malott

    Mike Malott will be the new name in the welterweight division’s contender rankings — while one fighter simultaneously lays down his gloves.

    Malott got the Canadian crowd at UFC Winnipeg off their seats with a finish of former title challenger Gilbert Burns in the main event. Burns retired following the fight.

    Both fighters looked to get their striking going during the opening frame. Burns landed a strong right early, but Malott appeared to get more effective strikes off during the round.

    Malott got Burns in some trouble during round two, busting him up with a pair of right hands. Malott also consistently defended Burns’ takedown efforts, stuffing seven takedowns in the first half of the fight’s allotted time.

    Malott didn’t need all 25 minutes, however. He dropped Burns in the third with a combination. Burns tried to get back up but was on wobbly legs. Malott floored him with another right hand, and follow-up shots ended things quickly.

    Mike Malott Stops Retiring Gilbert Burns In UFC Winnipeg Main Event

    Malott has now won four straight and is 7-1 in the UFC. He entered this fight off a win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver.

    Burns ends his career with five losses in a row. He was 3-7 in the UFC since unsuccessfully challenging Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title in 2021.

    Burns is a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and a bronze medalist in the 2015 ADCC World Championship.

    Burns made his professional MMA debut in 2012, going on to make his UFC debut in 2014. After an 8-3 run, Burns found a permanent home at welterweight. He was on a six-fight win streak before challenging Usman at UFC 258.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Signs To Compete In RAF

    Khamzat Chimaev Signs To Compete In RAF

    UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will be able to use his grappling skills in a new kind of environment, as Chimaev has signed a deal to compete with RAF.

    RAF announced Chimaev’s signing during the RAF 08 broadcast on April 18.

    No opponent, event, or date for Chimaev was named during the announcement.

    Chimaev began wrestling as a youth, going on to win a national youth title in Russia.

    Chimaev won three gold medals in freestyle wrestling at Swedish Nationals. He also holds a win over Jack Hermansson in wrestling.

    Chimaev is scheduled to defend his UFC middleweight championship on May 9 against former champ Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328.

  • “Quality Violence” – Charles Jourdain Edges Out Kyler Phillips

    “Quality Violence” – Charles Jourdain Edges Out Kyler Phillips

    In front of a native crowd, Charles Jourdain put on a strong display in a war between him and Kyler Phillips, getting the win in the UFC Winnipeg co-main event.

    Phillips looked to bring the fight to the ground in round one, but it resulted in a couple of submission attempts by Jourdain. Still, Phillips got back on top, and he returned the fight to the mat when Jourdain stood.

    Jourdain found openings and landed powerful strikes during round two; he even looked for an early guillotine. Phillips, however, looked to get the fight back to the ground and use his wrestling. A last-minute takedown, however, resulted in Jourdain nearly getting a guillotine or kimura.

    The final round proved to be very competitive, with the fight possibly falling in either man’s favor. Phillips landed some solid strikes and looked to use his grappling where possible. Jourdain landed strong, creative strikes, including an elbow that busted open Phillips, as well as a kimura attempt.

    Charles Jourdain Defeats Kyler Phillips In UFC Winnipeg Co-Main

    Phillips has now lost back-to-back fights after a three-fight win streak. He entered this fight off a loss to Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318.

    Jourdain has now won three straight and five of his last seven. He entered this fight off a submission of Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver.

  • “Wild” – Jai Herbert Gets Rocked, Ends Up TKOing Mandel Nallo

    “Wild” – Jai Herbert Gets Rocked, Ends Up TKOing Mandel Nallo

    Despite getting stunned during the bout, Jai Herbert managed to regain composure and battle back, eventually putting out Mandel Nallo at UFC Winnipeg.

    The power was on display from just about the very beginning, as Nallo landed a high kick that stumbled Herbert. Nallo landed another, followed by a right hand, and Herbert seemed on the ropes.

    But Herbert landed a right hand, and the momentum completely shifted as he knocked Nallo down. Nallo looked for a desperation leg lock, and back on the feet he tried to aim for the body.

    Herbert landed a three-punch combination and follow-up shots that put Nallo away.

    Jai Herbert Goes From Stunned To Stunning Mandel Nallo At UFC Winnipeg

    Herbert is now 2-2-1 in his last five. He entered this fight off a split decision loss to Chris Padilla at UFC London in March 2025.

    This snaps a five-fight win streak for Nallo, who earned a contract off a first-round finish of Samuel Silva on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • Jasmine Jasudavicius Scores Decision Win At UFC Winnipeg

    Jasmine Jasudavicius Scores Decision Win At UFC Winnipeg

    Though it wasn’t the most popular fight, Jasmine Jasudavicius has rebounded from a tough loss and proved she’s still relevant in the women’s flyweight title picture, holding off Karine Silva in a decision win at UFC Winnipeg.

    The fight got off to a slow start, but Silva scored noteworthy submission attempts, trying to battle against Jasudavicius in the grappling department. Jasudavicius, however, scored continuous takedowns during the fight’s 15 minutes, showcasing her top control ability.

    Jasudavicius landed some ground strikes, though Silva tried to battle from the bottom. All three judges scored the bout for Jasudavicius.

    Jasmine Jasudavicius Takes Decision Over Karine Silva At UFC Winnipeg

    Jasudavicius had won five straight before her last fight, which saw her lose to Manon Fiorot at UFC Vancouver in October.

    Silva has now lost three of her last four. She once had a nine-fight win streak, including wins in her first four UFC bouts. Before tonight, Silva last fought at UFC 323, losing to Maycee Barber.

  • “Night Night” – Marcio Barbosa Sleeps Dennis Buzukja

    “Night Night” – Marcio Barbosa Sleeps Dennis Buzukja

    Talk about delivering the violence in your UFC debut? Marcio Barbosa did just that, needing just 80 seconds to put away Dennis Buzukja in the featured UFC Winnipeg prelim.

    Buzukja tried to bring the pressure right away, working his jab as he took the center, mixing low kicks. Buzukja continued to come forward, but Barbosa didn’t appear to be backing down.

    As Buzukja looked to come forward with his boxing, he left himself wide open on a miss. Barbosa took advantage, landing a left hand from hell that slept Buzukja for the quick and impressive victory.

    Marcio Barbosa Sends Dennis Buzukja To Shadow Realm At UFC Winnipeg

    Barbosa improves to 18-2, having now won six straight and eight of his last nine. Barbosa earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, knocking out Damon Wilson.

    Buzukja is now just 1-4 in the UFC. This was his first fight back since serving a suspension for an altercation with a fan at UFC 310.

  • Robert Valentin Downs, Submits Julien Leblanc For First UFC Win

    Robert Valentin Downs, Submits Julien Leblanc For First UFC Win

    In what could have been a must-win bout for the sake of his UFC run, Robert Valentin delivered with the kind of performance needed, scoring a first-round submission of Julien Leblanc during the UFC Winnipeg prelims.

    Valentin worked Leblanc over with kicks, landing to the body and head. An overhand right dropped Leblanc, and Valentin dominated on the ground.

    Valentin got to the back and worked a face crank, which then evolved into a rear-naked choke for a submission win.

    Robert Valentin Submits Julien Leblanc At UFC Winnipeg

    Valentin was a popular figure on season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, defeating Giannis Bachar and Paddy McCory before losing the middleweight final to Ryan Loder. Last year, he suffered a decision loss to Torrez Finney and was finished by Ateba Gautier.

    Leblanc was making his UFC debut tonight. He entered tonight on a five-fight win streak, most recently submitting Ryan Rohovich in November.

  • John Yannis Gets Quick Finish To Start UFC Winnipeg

    John Yannis Gets Quick Finish To Start UFC Winnipeg

    John Yannis got the UFC Winnipeg card off in an impactful way — albeit not in the way the Canadian crowd hoped.

    Yannis needed just a couple of minutes to put away Jamie Siraj in the opening bout of the prelims.

    After some moving in and out and feeling out his opponent, Yannis landed a three-punch combination that troubled Siraj. Yannis kept the pressure on his opponent, landing a damaging knee and dropping Siraj once again.

    A series of elbow shots on the ground forced the referee to step in, giving Yannis the win in just over two minutes.

    John Yannis Stops Jamie Siraq To Open UFC Winnipeg

    This is the first UFC victory for the former Fury FC champion. Yannis made his UFC debut in August, getting choked out by Austin Bashi.

    Siraj made his UFC debut tonight. He last fought in February, submitting Donny Matos.

  • Henry Cejudo Out Of RAF 08 Main Event vs Merab Dvalishvili, Arman Tsarukyan vs Urijah Faber Promoted To Top Spot

    Henry Cejudo Out Of RAF 08 Main Event vs Merab Dvalishvili, Arman Tsarukyan vs Urijah Faber Promoted To Top Spot

    Henry Cejudo has been forced out of the main event at RAF 08 after suffering a last-minute injury, scrapping his scheduled rematch with Merab Dvalishvili.

    The bout was set to headline the Real American Freestyle card at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, where Cejudo was expected to face Dvalishvili in a wrestling-based contest following their previous meeting under the UFC banner.

    However, the promotion confirmed the matchup has been canceled on short notice due to Cejudo’s withdrawal.

    “Triple C” had appeared in good spirits during the pre-fight press conference, even exchanging light verbal jabs with the former UFC bantamweight titleholder just a day before the event. The exact nature of his injury has not been disclosed, and there is currently no word on whether the matchup will be rescheduled.

    The cancellation marks a setback for RAF, which had positioned the rematch as one of the card’s key attractions. The two fighters previously met at UFC 298 in 2024, with “The Machine” earning a unanimous decision victory on his way to capturing UFC gold.

    With the former two-division UFC champion sidelined, Arman Tsarukyan now steps into the headlining spot against veteran Urijah Faber. Tsarukyan enters the bout in strong form, having gone unbeaten in his appearances under the RAF banner this year.

    The co-main event will feature Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder taking on Rizabek Aitmukhan as the promotion reshuffles its lineup just hours before fight night.

  • RAF 08 Results: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili

    RAF 08 Results: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili

    UPDATE: Henry Cejudo has withdrawn from tonight’s main event. Urijah Faber vs. Arman Tsarukyan has been promoted from co-main event to main event.

    RAF 08 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main event will feature a middleweight matchup between Urijah Faber and Arman Tsarukyan. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Urijah Faber vs. Arman Tsarukyan – Middleweight Main Event

    The originally scheduled main event would have seen the RAF debut of Merab Dvalishvili, taking on Henry Cejudo. The two had competed at UFC 298, with Dvalishvili taking a clear decision win.

    Cejudo, however, has withdrawn from tonight’s event due to an injury.

    Since 2021, Faber, the UFC Hall of Famer, has competed in various Combat Grappling and wrestling tournaments. Tsarukyan competed in the main event of RAF 07, defeating Georgio Poullas in their highly anticipated and heated rematch from RAF 06 — where the two got into a post-match altercation.

    The RAF light heavyweight title will be on the line tonight when Kyle Snyder defends against Rizabek Aitmukhan, and Helen Maroulis defends the RAF women’s flyweight title against Alexis Janiak.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from RAF 08!

    How to Watch RAF 08

    • Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
    • Venue: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Streaming: FOX Nation (Exclusive)
    • Start Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    RAF 08 Results & Highlights

    Full Card Results (FOX Nation, 8 PM ET)

    Lightweight Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo

    Result: BOUT CANCELED DUE TO CEJUDO INJURY

    Middleweight Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber

    Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Urijah Faber via technical fall (13-1)

    RAF Light Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan

    Result: Kyle Snyder def. Rizabek Aitmukhan via points (12-6)

    Cruiserweight: Zahid Valencia vs. Aeoden Sinclair

    Result: Zahid Valencia def. Aeoden Sinclair via points (8-2)

    Heavyweight: Anthony Cassioppi vs. Shamil Sharipov

    Result: Shamil Sharipov def. Anthony Cassioppi via pin (2:45)

    RAF Women’s Flyweight Championship: Helen Maroulis vs. Alexis Janiak

    Result: Helen Maroulis def. Alexis Janiak via technical fall (10-0)

    Featherweight: Real Woods vs. Anthony Ashnault

    Result: Real Woods def. Anthony Ashnault via points (7-2)

    Middleweight: Jason Nolf vs. Joey Blaze

    Result: Jason Nolf def. Joey Blaze via points (11-2)

    Featherweight: Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Johnni DiJulius

    Result: Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Johnni DiJulius via points (8-5)

    Lightweight: Lance Palmer vs. Cayden Henschel

    Result: Lance Palmer def. Cayden Henschel via points (3-2)

    Featherweight: Jordan Oliver vs. Mike Vanbrill

    Result: Jordan Oliver def. Mike Vanbrill via points (5-0)

    Bantamweight: Darian Cruz vs. Lucas Byrd

    Result: Lucas Byrd def. Darian Cruz via points (2-2) (Byrd gets tiebreaker by being last to score)

  • UFC Winnipeg Results: Burns vs. Malott Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Winnipeg Results: Burns vs. Malott Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Winnipeg results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The main event will feature a welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott – Welterweight Main Event

    Burns at one point was a title challenger, but he’s struggled since then. Not only is he just 3-6 since challenging then-champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258, but he enters this fight on a four-fight losing streak. Burns most recently fought 11 months ago at UFC Vegas 106, getting stopped in the first round by Michael Morales.

    The rising Malott is 6-1 in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Malott has won three straight, most recently scoring a decision win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver in October.

    The co-main event will be a bantamweight battle between Kyler Phillips and Charles Jourdain. Phillips is 6-3 in the UFC but enters tonight on a two-fight losing skid, most recently dropping a decision against Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318. Jourdain, meanwhile, has won two straight and four of his last six, most recently submitting Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver.

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

    How to Watch UFC Winnipeg

    • Date: Saturday, April 18, 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 Winnipeg Quick Results

    • Main Event: Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott — Mike Malott def. Gilbert Burns via TKO (Rd. 3, 2:08)
    • Co-Main Event: Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain — Charles Jourdain def. Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert — Jai Herbert def. Mandel Nallo via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:05)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva — Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young — Gauge Young def. Thiago Moises via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    UFC Winnipeg Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Bantamweight: Jamie Siraj vs. John Yannis

    Result: John Yannis def. Jamie Siraj via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:43)

    Catchweight (139 lbs): John Castaneda vs. Mark Vologdin

    Result: John Castaneda vs. Mark Vologdin goes to a majority draw (29-27, 28-28 x2)

    Women’s Flyweight: JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

    Result: JJ Aldrich def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden vs. Darya Zheleznyakova

    Result: Melissa Croden def. Darya Zheleznyakova via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Heavyweight: Tanner Boser vs. Gokhan Saricam

    Result: Gokhan Saricam def. Tanner Boser via KO (Rd. 2, 4:43)

    Middleweight: Robert Valentin vs. Julien Leblanc

    Result: Robert Valentin def. Julien Leblanc via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 2:22)

    Featherweight: Dennis Buzukja vs. Marcio Barbosa

    Result: Marcio Barbosa def. Dennis Buzukja via KO (Rd. 1, 1:20)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Lightweight: Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young

    Result: Gauge Young def. Thiago Moises via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva

    Result: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert

    Result: Jai Herbert def. Mandel Nallo via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:05)

    Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain

    Result: Charles Jourdain def. Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Welterweight: Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott

    Result: Mike Malott def. Gilbert Burns via TKO (Rd. 3, 2:08)

  • Daniel Cormier Warns Arman Tsarukyan Before He Ruins His UFC Title Shot

    Daniel Cormier Warns Arman Tsarukyan Before He Ruins His UFC Title Shot

    Daniel Cormier is urging Arman Tsarukyan to get out of his own way before he costs himself the UFC lightweight title shot he has been chasing for years.

    The former two-division champion addressed Tsarukyan’s recent pattern of incidents outside the Octagon in a video on his YouTube channel, telling the Armenian contender that he is finally close to getting what he wants but that one wrong move could send him back to square one.

    “Arman was in purgatory,” Cormier said. “It’s almost like the trust was gone. But you can start to rebuild that trust through competition. But it’s what he’s doing outside of the Octagon that is now making Arman Tsarukyan a guy — I’m telling you, I know this, I really know, Arman Tsarukyan is now starting to make himself undeniable through all the stuff he’s doing outside of the UFC.”

    Cormier said the window is open right now in a way it has not been since Tsarukyan was passed over for the interim title fight at UFC 311 in January, and that the priority has to be keeping it that way.

    “This is as close as he’s been since UFC 311. Everything is going great. I told his manager the other day, I said, ‘Just don’t f— this up. Don’t do one thing that kicks you backwards. He’s gotta be very careful. The thing the other day with American Airlines, for us that’s funny. But we need to make sure — Arman told me himself, ‘I’ll be a good boy.’ It’s funny to us, but he’s right at that point now where he’s gotta peel back a little bit and he’s gonna get exactly what he wants.”

    Tsarukyan’s track record of incidents outside the cage has been a recurring obstacle in his path to a title shot. He punched a fan at UFC 300, pulled out of UFC 311 on late notice, headbutted Dan Hooker at the UFC Qatar ceremonial weigh-ins last November, and was most recently removed from an American Airlines flight in Los Angeles after he and members of his team refused to take their seats while the aircraft was taxiing.

  • Jan Blachowicz Withdraws From UFC 328 With Injury

    Jan Blachowicz Withdraws From UFC 328 With Injury

    Jan Blachowicz will not be competing at UFC 328, withdrawing from his rematch with Bogdan Guskov after suffering a torn meniscus during sparring.

    The former light heavyweight champion announced the injury on Saturday, expressing his frustration in a direct and candid statement.

    “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Blachowicz wrote. “I was supposed to be in the States next week, but plans had to change. I’m beyond pissed. Last round of sparring, wrong position and a kick to the knee. Torn meniscus. The plan and goal were clear, so the disappointment is huge. But this isn’t the end! I’m already working on getting back as soon as possible. Coming back to finish things on my own terms. See you soon!”

    Blachowicz and Guskov were set to meet for the second time after their first fight at UFC 323 in December ended in a majority draw. Guskov appeared to have the victory secured after battering Blachowicz in the second round, but Blachowicz scored a late knockdown that forced the stalemate on the scorecards. The rematch was announced for UFC 328 to settle the unfinished business between the two.

    Whether the UFC will rebook the Blachowicz and Guskov matchup once Blachowicz has recovered, or find a new opponent for Guskov in the interim, has not been announced.

    The withdrawal adds another difficult chapter to what has been a rough stretch for the 43-year-old. Blachowicz has not won a fight since defeating Aleksandar Rakic in May 2022. Since then he has dropped decisions to Carlos Pereira and Alex Pereira and fought to draws against both Guskov and Magomed Ankalaev.

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev defending the middleweight championship against Sean Strickland in the main event and flyweight champion Joshua Van defending against Tatsuroa Taira in the co-main event.

  • Gina Carano Breaks Silence On Viral Lip Bite Ahead Of MMA Return After 17 Years – ‘Total Stoner Moment’

    Gina Carano Breaks Silence On Viral Lip Bite Ahead Of MMA Return After 17 Years – ‘Total Stoner Moment’

    Gina Carano built her early reputation not just on performances inside the cage, but also on moments that carried far beyond it. One of the most enduring came in 2009, when a brief cageside reaction turned into a viral clip that has followed her for years.

    Back in 2009, during Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz, Carano was in attendance as a rising star in the promotion, with a highly anticipated bout against Cris Cyborg on the horizon. That night, cameras repeatedly caught her in the crowd, capturing a now-iconic moment in which she looked into the lens and bit her lip with a playful smile.

    The clip quickly gained traction and has since been immortalized across GIFs and memes, becoming one of the most recognizable non-fight moments in MMA history.

    Gina Carano Finally Explains Viral Moment

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Carano opened up about what was actually going through her mind at the time, and the explanation is far less calculated than fans might expect.

    “I don’t smoke weed, but I had smoked weed (that night), and I was just living in my head,” Carano said. “The cameraman just kept on putting (the camera on me) – and I thought it was in my head because I was a little bit stoned. … I was just in my head. I was like, ‘Is this guy putting the camera on me a lot, or am I just being super paranoid?’ It turns out he was putting the camera on me a lot. So what was going through my head: Just like, ‘Act normal, act normal.’ And that happened. It was a total stoner moment.”

    Rather than a deliberate attempt to create a memorable TV moment, “Conviction” described it as a spontaneous reaction to repeatedly being put on camera while feeling slightly out of it. The result, however, took on a life of its own.

    “I don’t know,” Carano said. “The cameraman just kept on putting—and I thought it was in my head because I was a little bit stoned. I don’t smoke weed anymore because I’m not a weed smoker; it’s just too much for me. I don’t like anything that, like, I don’t even really drink anymore, barely. I’m like a whole different person.

    “It was just in my head, I was like, ‘Is this guy putting the camera on me a lot or am I just being super paranoid?’ It turns out he was putting the camera on me a lot, so what was going through my head, just like, ‘Act normal. Act normal,’ and that happens. So it was a total stoner moment.”

    Now 44, Carano is set to return to competition for the first time since her 2009 loss to Cyborg, ending a layoff that has stretched close to 17 years. She is scheduled to face Ronda Rousey on May 16 in a bout that headlines Netflix’s first live MMA event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

  • Mike Perry Responds To Jake Paul’s Prediction About Nate Diaz Fight

    Mike Perry Responds To Jake Paul’s Prediction About Nate Diaz Fight

    Mike Perry is not spending much time worrying about Jake Paul’s prediction that Nate Diaz will submit him on May 16, but he does have some thoughts on what comes next depending on how things go.

    Perry and Diaz are set to clash on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Netflix card in Los Angeles, with Paul having gone on record to say he expects Diaz to finish Perry quickly and then focus on an MMA fight with Paul himself. Perry was asked to respond to all of it.

    “Well, I guess I was mentioned in the conversation,” Perry told MMA Fighting. “May 16, we’re going to find out. I’m training really sharp, really hard. I’m killing it every single day. I’m feeling great.”

    He outlined what he sees as the possible paths forward after the fight, referencing conversations that have already taken place with Dana White.

    “Other guys have made their return to the UFC. Maybe that’s something, or yeah, we get the most views on Netflix that an MMA fight’s ever had, then me and Jake fight. What weight is Jake going to fight at? 200 or 185? MMA, it’s different. I threw him on his head in the boxing ring. I threw him on his face, and if that was MMA, it’s a little different how that’s going to go.”

    Perry said he respects Diaz and appreciates the positive words his opponent has been sending his way in the lead-up to the fight, while making clear that respect does not mean he is dropping his guard.

    “I don’t know, Nate’s an interesting character. They could jump me with 20 people. We’re going to be nice for a second and then maybe something happens. Are we going to talk shit? Because I don’t have any ill things to say about him because he has been talking me up, man, and I’m grateful.”

    He closed with a reminder that the pleasantries end when the fight starts. “Doesn’t matter if you say f*** you, or if you say good shit, bro, we’re going to clash when they say fight.”

  • Sean O’Malley Teases New Details About UFC White House Event

    Sean O’Malley Teases New Details About UFC White House Event

    Sean O’Malley has heard enough from UFC insiders to believe the White House card on June 14 is going to be something unlike anything the promotion has ever produced.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion is scheduled to fight Aiemann Zahabi on the undercard of UFC Freedom 250, the event taking place on the White House lawn to mark 250 years of American Independence. O’Malley shared what he has been hearing from people within the organization on his YouTube channel.

    “The White House card, I was in Vegas this weekend, talked to a lot of UFC people, a lot of UFC staff,” O’Malley said. “They were like, ‘This is going to be insane.’ They were kind of giving me a little rundown, nothing really that I could share, but just their excitement is what I was taking away. They were like, ‘We walked it, it’s crazy.’”

    He acknowledged that significant logistical questions remain unanswered, including who will be permitted to attend given the security requirements surrounding the venue. “

    The Secret Service alone is going to be insane. I still don’t know who’s going to be allowed in. I don’t know if family is going to be allowed. I have no idea.”

    O’Malley framed the event as a potential turning point for how the UFC approaches large-scale outdoor productions.

    “A lot of moving pieces. If they can pull this off, then the opportunities are endless. Where do you go next? The colosseum? If they can perfect an outdoor show, that could change things.”

    This will not be O’Malley’s first experience with a landmark UFC setting. He headlined the UFC card at the Sphere in September 2024 before losing the bantamweight championship to Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306.

  • Arman Tsarukyan and Ryan Garcia Beef Escalates After $40,000 Body Shot Bet Goes Unpaid

    Arman Tsarukyan and Ryan Garcia Beef Escalates After $40,000 Body Shot Bet Goes Unpaid

    Arman Tsarukyan says Ryan Garcia has not paid the $40,000 bet he lost on a Kick livestream, and Garcia is now claiming he was scammed.

    The dispute traces back to earlier this month when Tsarukyan bet Garcia that he could not drop one of his teammates with a body shot during a session on Garcia’s stream. Garcia reluctantly agreed, failed to drop the teammate after a few attempts, and tapped out before the two ended up sparring instead. The $40,000 was supposed to go to Tsarukyan.

    Speaking on Adam Zubayraev’s YouTube channel on Thursday, Tsarukyan said Garcia has not followed through on the payment despite multiple assurances.

    “Brother, he hasn’t paid up,” Tsarukyan said. “Now, Khamzat and I are going to go talk to Ryan Garcia — $40,000. There was a lot there. ‘We’ll count it now and bring it over.’ They counted it and never brought it. ‘We’ll send it to your account.’ He said, ‘I give you my word as a man, I’ll send it to you.’ Five days have passed, and he hasn’t even texted, asking for the card number.”

    Garcia responded on social media in a series of since-deleted posts, first refusing to pay before pivoting to offering a fight instead. “Arman and his team, we can just set up a squabble between whoever on your team, no body shot things, just a fight. Not for $40K, for however much. I’m not paying you shit, let’s just fight. If any of you can win, I’ll give you $100K.”

    He also posted his reasoning for backing out, claiming he had been misled about the teammate’s background. “I actually got scammed to be honest. Not one mention his friend was a professional fighter. That right there is deceptive.”

    Garcia caught significant backlash on social media for the response, pushing back on his critics as well. “First of all, I don’t care about you MMA nut smackers talking about real ‘fight.’ There’s a reason MMA fighters can’t box, because it’s HARD to just use your hands.”

    Tsarukyan subsequently proposed a new bet between the two on social media, keeping the feud going.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Gets Kicked Off American Airlines Flight

    Arman Tsarukyan Gets Kicked Off American Airlines Flight

    Arman Tsarukyan was removed from an American Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday after he and members of his team refused to take their seats while the aircraft was taxiing.

    Video of the incident surfaced on Thursday, with initial reports suggesting Tsarukyan had been on his phone prior to takeoff. American Airlines subsequently clarified what actually happened.

    “On April 16, American Airlines flight 513 returned to the gate at Los Angeles International Airport for customers who refused to follow federal regulations,” the airline said in a statement to MMA Fighting. “Safety is our top priority and we expect our customers to comply with crew member instructions while on board our aircraft, which include staying seated while the aircraft is taxiing.”

    According to the airline, Tsarukyan and his friends were standing in the aisle while the plane was moving and refused to return to their assigned seats despite repeated instructions from crew members. Four people including Tsarukyan were removed from the flight before it departed for Philadelphia.

    Tsarukyan responded with characteristic brevity on Instagram. “Kicked off commercial, I guess private it is,” he posted as he boarded a separate flight. He added a brief video message as he settled in. “I hope they’re not going to kick me out from this plane. OK guys, I’ll be five hours in Philadelphia.”

    Tsarukyan was traveling to Philadelphia for his appearance at RAF 8, where he faces Urijah Faber in the co-main event. It is his fourth appearance for the promotion following previous matchups against Lance Palmer and Georgio Poullas.

  • Jay Jay Wilson Gets Major, Sub-Minute KO Of Darragh Kelly

    Jay Jay Wilson Gets Major, Sub-Minute KO Of Darragh Kelly

    A highly vocal and entertained Belfast crowd was left silent after the PFL Belfast main event, thanks to Jay Jay Wilson’s quick finish of the now-previously-undefeated Darragh Kelly.

    Right away, both men came out firing quick strikes, throwing combinations. But things came crashing down quickly and suddenly for Kelly, courtesy of a body kick by Wilson.

    Wilson followed that up with a left hand that dropped Kelly, along with follow-up shots that put Kelly out cold.

    Jay Jay Wilson KOs Darragh Kelly In Under One Minute

    Wilson is now 12-2, and he has improved to 2-1 since coming over to the PFL from Bellator. Before tonight, Wilson had most recently fought in October, losing a decision to Archie Colgan.

    Kelly took this fight on short notice, filling in for an injured Paul Hughes. This marked Kelly’s first loss in his professional MMA career. Kelly previously fought in September, submitting Bakhtiyar Abdulaev.

  • Rhys McKee Drops Alex Lohore, Earns One-Sided Decision In Belfast

    Rhys McKee Drops Alex Lohore, Earns One-Sided Decision In Belfast

    In his first fight with the PFL, Rhys McKee made an incredible entrance in front of a native crowd, filled with live music, before going on to defeat Alex Lohore in the PFL Belfast co-main event.

    Lohore started things out with a focus on calf kicks, doing damage to McKee’s leg. While McKee looked to fight back, Lohore continued to pressure, eventually scoring a pair of takedowns later in round one. McKee got up both times but couldn’t find a way out of Lohore’s grasp until the end of the round.

    McKee worked his jab well early in round two, and he appeared to be getting the better of Lohore in terms of striking. Lohore placed McKee against the fence again, but McKee had an easier time defending and getting into a grip control battle with Lohore.

    Then, McKee dropped Lohore with a right hand seconds into the final round. McKee followed Lohore to the ground and controlled the action there, at one point threatening a D’Arce choke. Lohore got back to his feet and tried to get his striking going, but it was too little and too late.

    McKee ended up sweeping the scorecards.

    This marked McKee’s PFL debut, his first fight since parting ways with the UFC. The BAMMA and Cage Warriors veteran went 1-5 in two combined stints with the UFC during the 2020s.

    Lohore, a veteran of OKTAGON and Brave CF, also made his PFL debut tonight. He last fought in May, defeating Mansur Abdurzakov. He also fought in Karate Comat, losing a middleweight title fight to Ilyas Khamzin last month.