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  • UFC Vegas 108 Main Event Between Amir Albazi And Tatsuro Taira Reportedly Scrapped

    UFC Vegas 108 Main Event Between Amir Albazi And Tatsuro Taira Reportedly Scrapped

    UFC Vegas 108 appears to have taken a major hit, with its main event reportedly falling through just days ahead of the event.

    UFC Vegas 108 is set to go down on Saturday, August 2, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a pivotal flyweight showdown between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira slated to headline the card.

    However, according to a recent report from Daniel Levi (@BestFightPicks on X), the main event has reportedly been pulled due to unknown circumstances. He also noted that the upcoming Fight Night will feature an entirely new headlining bout.

    It remains unclear whether the issue stems from Albazi or Taira’s camp. “The Prince” was set to return to action for the first time since suffering a unanimous decision loss to former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Edmonton last November.

    On the other hand, Taira was most recently seen at UFC Vegas 98 in October 2024, where he dropped a closely contested split decision to Brandon Royval.

    Which Fights Are Booked For UFC Vegas 108?

    The UFC Vegas 108 lineup includes a pair of lightweight matchups, as Mateusz Rębecki takes on Chris Duncan and Elves Brener squares off against Esteban Ribovics. The event will also feature a women’s bantamweight bout between Karol Rosa and Nora Cornolle, along with a welterweight showdown between veterans Neil Magny and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    Here is the current lineup for UFC Vegas 108:

    Main Card

    • Mateusz Rębecki vs. Chris Duncan; lightweight
    • Elves Brener vs. Esteban Ribovics; lightweight
    • Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle; women’s bantamweight
    • Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos; welterweight
    • Danny Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos: featherweight

    Preliminary Card

    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Nathan Fletcher; bantamweight
    • Rodolfo Vieira vs. Tresean Gore; middleweight
    • Nick Klein vs. Andrey Pulyaev; middleweight
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen Souza; strawweight
    • Rafael Estevam vs. Felipe Bunes; flyweight
    • Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui; middleweight

    The fight card, bout order, and number of matchups are all subject to change.

  • Bryce Mitchell Trolls Said Nurmagomedov After UFC Abu Dhabi Win – ‘Send Him 2-3 Years Arkansas And Forget’

    Bryce Mitchell took a jab at Said Nurmagomedov with a playful spin on a viral catchphrase.

    On Saturday, Mitchell made a successful return to the bantamweight division, earning a dominant unanimous decision win over Nurmagomedov on the UFC Abu Dhabi preliminary card at Etihad Arena.

    “Thug Nasty” opened aggressively but paid for it early, eating sharp counters and suffering a knockdown. Nurmagomedov followed up with a massive flying knee that floored him again, but Mitchell managed to recover and survive the onslaught.

    In the second and third rounds, Mitchell leaned heavily on his wrestling, scoring timely takedowns and controlling key positions. He ended the final round in back control, sealing the deal with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.

    Image: @UFCNews/X

    Bryce Mitchell Uses Islam Makhachev’s Viral Catchphrase To Taunt Said Nurmagomedov

    On Sunday, Bryce Mitchell took to Instagram and posted a story where he fired shots at Said Nurmagomedov, repurposing Islam Makhachev’s infamous catchphrase to mock his Dagestani opponent after a grappling-centric showdown.

    “Thug Nasty” borrowed a page from the former UFC lightweight champion’s playbook, flipping the iconic “Send him 2-3 years Dagestan and forget” into his own hilarious twist: “Send him to Arkansas, 2-3 years and forget about it.”

    In a past interview with UFC Hall of Famer and former training partner Daniel Cormier, Islam Makhachev jokingly suggested that if parents wanted their child to become an elite wrestler, they should “send them to Dagestan for two to three years and forget.” The tongue-in-cheek remark has since taken on a life of its own, becoming a widely recognized meme within the MMA community.

    Bryce Mitchell entered UFC Abu Dhabi looking to rebound from a tough second-round submission loss to Jean Silva at UFC 314, a setback which led the Arkansas native to make the cut down to bantamweight. Before securing his win over Nurmagomedov, “Thug Nasty” had dropped three of his last five UFC outings, with each of those defeats coming via stoppage.

    UFC Insider Predicts Serious Repercussions For Bryce Mitchell’s Hitler-Sympathizing Remarks
    Image: @thugnasty_ufc/Instagram

  • Reinier de Ridder Slams ‘Completely Wrong’ Judge After Split Decision Win Over Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Reinier de Ridder got the win, but he wasn’t pleased with how the judges saw it.

    On Saturday, de Ridder battled his way to a gritty split decision victory over former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner at Etihad Arena.

    Despite getting floored by a heavy shot in the third round, “RDR” rallied with poise and determination, using sharp clinch work and brutal knees to Whittaker’s midsection to seize control. His command of distance and pace proved pivotal, ultimately convincing two of the three judges to score the bout in his favor.

    Although the outcome sparked intense debate among fans online, the fight ultimately hinged on a closely contested fourth round, where the judges were split in their assessment. Mike Bell gave rounds 1, 3, and 4 to Whittaker, scoring it 48-47 in his favor. In contrast, Ben Cartlidge and David Lethaby awarded those same rounds to de Ridder, handing him the edge with identical 48-47 scorecards.

    Image: @UFCNews/X

    Reinier de Ridder Unhappy With Scorecard Despite Beating Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    At the UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight press conference, de Ridder made it clear he felt he had done more than enough to earn a unanimous decision over Whittaker. Instead, he was left frustrated by judge Mike Bell’s scorecard, which denied him a clean sweep.

    “I was surprised one judge scored it completely wrong,”de Ridder said. “I thought I had three rounds, at least. But it is what it is. I hope to finish him, and I didn’t. You never know what the judges make of it, but I’ll make sure to finish the next guy.”

    With the win, “RDR” has firmly established himself as a top contender in the middleweight division, extending his flawless UFC record to 4-0 since debuting in November 2024. His run includes impressive finishes over Bo Nickal and Kevin Holland. De Ridder boasts a professional record of 21-2, with an impressive 18 of those victories coming via stoppage.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • “No Where Near Ready For Top Talent” – Fans & Fighters Debate Reinier De Ridder Split Decision Win Over Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “No Where Near Ready For Top Talent” – Fans & Fighters Debate Reinier De Ridder Split Decision Win Over Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Whittaker looked to pressure early on, but de Ridder attempted to tie him up in the clinch and limit Whittaker’s offense with takedown attempts. Whittaker, however, worked his way out and worked his striking during the first five-minute frame. Whittaker, in fact, busted de Ridder open with one of his strikes.

    Whittaker looked to continue this strategy during the second round, and while it worked at first, a knee did damage to Whittaker. Whittaker was hurt during the round, and de Ridder managed to take the former champion down and control the action on the ground.

    De Ridder appeared to hurt Whittaker again with a body shot, but Whittaker, not long after, landed an overhand right that dropped the former ONE champion. Whittaker landed some ground-and-pound, but it wasn’t enough to finish the fight. A fatigued Whittaker was then taken down by de Ridder, who again controlled the fight on the ground.

    Both men appeared fatigued during the fourth round, but de Ridder did pressure Whittaker and controlled with his grappling expertise, landing in a notable overhand late in the frame. De Ridder seemed to just use his grappling to nullify Whittaker’s offense in the fifth round, but it was enough to score him the split decision.

    Reinier de Ridder Earns Split Decision Over Robert Whittaker In UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event

    https://twitter.com/WhyGarth/status/1949228391095587300

    De Ridder is now 4-0 in the UFC, having scored finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal prior to tonight.

    Whittaker has now lost two straight and three of his last five. This marked his first fight since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308.

  • “Petr Yan vs. The Winner Of Merab/Sandhagen. Book It” – Fans & Fighters React To Petr Yan’s Callout After Defeating Marcus McGhee At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Petr Yan vs. The Winner Of Merab/Sandhagen. Book It” – Fans & Fighters React To Petr Yan’s Callout After Defeating Marcus McGhee At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Petr Yan is making a statement that he wants to re-match with Merab Dvalishvili and gain back the UFC bantamweight title, and he emphasized that with a victory over Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Yan brought out his striking early, landing several low kicks and working combinations. McGhee did have his moments with his own combinations; however, Yan rocked McGhee late in the round with a left hook.

    McGhee tried to push the pace early in the second, but Yan landed a right hand that busted him open. Yan brought out a mixture of striking attacks, working McGhee over in terms of volume and variety.

    Yan continued t pressure in the third round, going on to earn 29-28 scores on all three judges’ cards. Yan then called out the winner of the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen.

    Petr Yan Defeats Marcus McGhee By Decision In UFC Abu Dhabi Co-Main Event

    Yan has now won three straight, also scoring victories over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo last year.

    This marked just McGhee’s second loss as a pro, dropping him to 10-2. He had won his first four UFC bouts, finishing Journey Newson, JP Buys, and Gastón Bolaños, before a decision win over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309.

  • Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico Named UFC 319 Co-Main Event

    Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico Named UFC 319 Co-Main Event

    Finally, three weeks before it’s scheduled to go down in Chicago, UFC 319 has its co-main event. It’ll be one that features an unbeaten fighter welcoming a Bellator veteran to the Octagon.

    The UFC 319 co-main event will see Lerone Murphy taking on Aaron Pico. The announcement was confirmed during the UFC Abu Dhabi broadcast.

    This comes after the plans for Pico’s awaited UFC debut fell through. Pico was originally booked to face Movsar Evloev, but the fight fell through twice. Originally booked for UFC Vegas 106, the bout was moved to UFC Abu Dhabi. Less than two weeks out, however, Evloev withdrew due to injuries.

    UFC 319 Co-Main Event Sees Aaron Pico Make Octagon Debut vs. Lerone Murphy

    Pico signed with Bellator in 2017 and competed exclusively under their banner before the promotion was purchased by the PFL in 2023. After going 12-4 in the promotion, Pico fought once under the PFL banner, finishing Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event in February 2024.

    Murphy is 16-0-1 in his professional MMA career, having drawn in his first UFC bout and having scored victories ever since. Murphy comes into this contest off a decision win over Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105 in April.

    UFC 319 will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev.

  • “Shara Bullet’s Greatest Performance To Date” – Fans And Fighters React As Shara Magomedov Overcomes Broken Nose To Defeat Marc-Andre Barriault In Bloody Battle At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Shara Bullet’s Greatest Performance To Date” – Fans And Fighters React As Shara Magomedov Overcomes Broken Nose To Defeat Marc-Andre Barriault In Bloody Battle At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Looking for a rebound from his first professional MMA loss, Shara Magomedov was troubled by the power of Marc-Andre Barriault; however, he overcame by firing fire with fire and nearly scoring finishes en route to a decision win in their UFC Abu Dhabi contest.

    Magomedov controlled the range early with low kicks and good footwork, controlling the pace and keeping Barriault off-balance. Barriault tried to pressure with his grappling, but Magomedov’s striking kept him at bay.

    Barriault pressured Magomedov in the second round, landing a huge right hand that broke Magomedov’s nose. Barriault swarmed with follow-up strikes. He secured a takedown and punished the bleeding Russian with clinch work and uppercuts, though Magomedov rallied with a damaging knee that rocked the Canadian.

    “Shara Bullet” returned to his striking in the final frame, landing hook kicks, jump knees, and brutal elbows, hurting Barriault before ending the round with a takedown and strong ground-and-pound.

    Shara Magomedov Scores Decision Win Over Marc-Andre Barriault At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/MMAHistoryToday/status/1949208153121284210
    https://twitter.com/YuhOnicx/status/1949206088273817829
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    Magomedov rebounds from his decision loss to Michael “Venom” Page at UFC Saudi Arabia in February. He had won his first 15 fights in MMA, including four straight in the UFC.

    Barriault has lost four of his last five now. He came into this fight off a performance bonus-earning knockout of Bruno Silva at UFC 315 in May.

  • VIDEO: Bogdan Guskov Drops Nikita Krylov With Massive Right Hand, Scores First-Round TKO At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Bogdan Guskov Drops Nikita Krylov With Massive Right Hand, Scores First-Round TKO At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Bogdan Guskov scored a statement victory that will hopefully bring him up the light heavyweight ranks, finishing Nikita Krylov in the opening round of their fight that started the UFC Abu Dhabi main card.

    Krylov came out aggressive, looking to back Guskov up with offensive pressure and control the action. Krylov worked over him well with combinations, but Guskov started to use his counterstriking to his advantage.

    Guskov started to connect and do damage to Krylov’s face, backing Krylov up with his power. Guskov would land a powerful overhand right that dropped Krylov.

    Bogdan Guskov Rocks, Drops, Finishes Nikita Krylov

    Guskov jumped down and finished Krylov off with ground-and-pound.

    Guskov has won four straight since dropping his UFC debut, and he’s now been victorious in nine of the last 10 fights in his professional MMA career.

    Krylov has now dropped two straight after a three-fight win streak. He’s lost four of his last seven.

  • “Getting Control Time But Not Doing Anything” – Fight Community Split On Bryce Mitchell Defeating Said Nurmagomedov In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Getting Control Time But Not Doing Anything” – Fight Community Split On Bryce Mitchell Defeating Said Nurmagomedov In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Bryce Mitchell faced adversity early on in his UFC bantamweight debut, but he managed to use his grappling expertise to comeback and score a decision victory over Said Nurmagomedov in the featured preliminary card bout at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Nurmagomedov got the better of Mitchell early, dropping him with a big knee. He then jumped onto Mitchell and connected with solid ground-and-pound, but Mitchell tried to stay active from the bottom. He managed to end the round pressing Nurmagomedov into the fence.

    Mitchell then scored a takedown early into the second round, showing dominance on top while attempting to find a kimura and an arm-triangle choke. Nurmagomedov would manage to work his way back to the feet, only for Mitchell to score another takedown before the round’s end.

    Nurmagomedov threatened with a guillotine and secured mount during the third round. Mitchell, however, managed to reverses and controlled most of the round from the top with a body triangle, nullifying any of Nurmagomedov’s offense attempts.

    Mitchell won the bout 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Bryce Mitchell Victorious In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/ShoyaIshidaStan/status/1949178598990172635

    Mitchell has traded wins and loses consecutively since his undefeated record came to an end in 2022. He came into this bout off a loss to Jean Silva at UFC 314.

    Nurmagomedov has now lost two straight and three of his last four. He made his return after an approximately 15-month layoff at UFC Saudi Arabia in February, losing to Vinicius Oliveira.

  • VIDEO: Muslim Salikhov Drops Jaws With One-Punch, Walk-Off KO Of Carlos Leal In Under A Minute At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Muslim Salikhov Drops Jaws With One-Punch, Walk-Off KO Of Carlos Leal In Under A Minute At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Mark another highlight knockout victory for Muslim Salikhov, as he needs less than a minute to put away Carlos Leal at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Both men moved around the Octagon, feeling the other fighter out and testing power. Leal had managed to back Salikhov up toward the fence and fired off a left hand.

    But it was there where Salikhov loaded up and landed a right hand like a bullet, dropping Leal to bring a quick close to the contest.

    Muslim Salikhov Sends Carlos Leal To The Shadow Realm With One Punch At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Salikhov has now won three straight. He came into this contest off a first-round, spinning wheel kick KO of Kenan Song at UFC Macau in November.

    Leal, the PFL and LFA veteran, is now 1-2 in the Octagon. He won his most recent bout prior to tonight, defeating Alex Morono at UFC 313.

  • VIDEO: Tabatha Ricci Puts Away Amanda Ribas With Series Of Brutal Elbows At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Tabatha Ricci Puts Away Amanda Ribas With Series Of Brutal Elbows At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Tabatha Ricci looks to continue her rise up the strawweight rankings, a mission that continued through UFC Abu Dhabi, where she rebounded from her previous outing with an impressive finish of Amanda Ribas during the preliminary card.

    Ricci and Ribas traded quick punches early on, and Ricci found success by working the clinch during the opening frame. Both also looked for grappling success, with Ribas connecting on a couple of trips, while also landing some noteworthy strikes. Ricci, meanwhile, pressured with her own takedown attempts.

    Ricci was able to put things away in the second round, a round she came out aggressive in once again. Ricci landed a series of elbows before taking Ribas down and landing a flurry of ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in.

    Tabatha Ricci Finishes Amanda Ribas At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Ricci is 3-2 in her last five now, rebounding from a loss to Yan Xiaonan in November.

    Ribas has now lost three straight and four of her last five.

  • “Cut Them Both” – Fans Rip Apart Billy Elekana And Ibo Aslan’s Uninspiring UFC Abu Dhabi Bout

    “Cut Them Both” – Fans Rip Apart Billy Elekana And Ibo Aslan’s Uninspiring UFC Abu Dhabi Bout

    Fans tuning into the preliminary card of UFC Abu Dhabi expecting a great fight were let down in a major way by Ibo Aslan and Billy Elekana, both of whom put on a lackluster effort as Elekana scored a decision victory.

    The fight started cautiously, with both men trading low kicks. Elekana was more on a front foot than his opponent, though neither man landed anything significant.

    The inactivity continued into the second round, with more feints, glancing kicks, and misses on strikes. Elekana had the advantage again, if only because of his front kicks and grappling pressure — though his takedown attempts were for naught.

    Aslan landed low kicks late in the third, but Elekana landed a left hand that busted Aslan open, briefly wobbling him. Still, neither man showed any sense of urgency, including Elekana failing to follow-up on the wobble.

    Two judges scored the bout for Elekana 30-27, while the other scored it 29-28 in his favor.

    MMA Community Blasts Billy Elekana’s Lackluster Win Over Ibo Aslan At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1949157216965349732

    Elekana dropped his UFC debut at UFC 311 in January, getting submitted by Bogdan Guskov.

    Aslan won his first two fights in the UFC but has now lost two straight, coming into this fight off a submission loss to Ion Cutelaba in February.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Reinier De Ridder Decisions Robert Whittaker

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Reinier De Ridder Decisions Robert Whittaker

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, middleweights Robert Whittaker and Reinier De Ridder clashed. While in the co-main event, Petr Yan faced off with Marcus McGhee in a bantamweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight: Reinier De Ridder def. Robert Whittaker via split decision (48-47×2, 47-48)
    • Bantamweight: Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Middleweight: Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Flyweight: Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov via TKO: R1, 4.18

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal via KO: R1, 0.42
    • Bantamweight: Davey Grant def. Da’Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas via TKO: R2, 2.59
    • Light Heavyweight: Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya via TKO: R2, 5.00

    Heavyweight: Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya

    Steven Nguyen earned a TKO at the end of round two.

    Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas

    Tabatha Ricci earned a TKO in round two.

    Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal

    Muslim Salikhov took just 42 seconds to get the KO.

    Main Card Highlights

    Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov

    Bogdan Guskov kicked off the main card with a first-round TKO:

    Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa

    Asu Almabayev got it done on the scorecards.

    Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault

    Shara Magomedov earned a unanimous decision win.

    Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee

    Petr Yan got the decision in the co-main event.

    Reinier De Ridder def. Robert Whittaker

    In the main event, Reinier De Ridder earned a split decision win against Robert Whittaker.

  • “Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Shame Referee Jason Herzog In Steven Nguyen’s UFC-record performance Against Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Shame Referee Jason Herzog In Steven Nguyen’s UFC-record performance Against Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Steven Nguyen put on a UFC record performance in his win over Mohammad Yahya on the preliminary card of UFC Abu Dhabi; however, the spotlight has been unanimously, and quite negatively, placed on referee Jason Herzog for irresponsibility.

    Nguyen used his crisp striking to lead to a dominant performance, overwhelming Yaha from the get-go with sharp combinations. Nguyen, in fact, dropped Yahya with six knockdowns — a UFC record for one bout.

    Yahya showed surprising resilience early, briefly dropping Nguyen with a flurry early in the second round. Nguyen, however, quickly regained control and rocked Yahya again, nearly putting the fight away with ground-and-pound and submission attempts.

    By the end of the round, Yahya had a hematoma under one of his eyes, prompting the doctor to step in and stop the fight.

    The MMA community unanimously took aim at Herzog for allowing the fight to get to this point, putting Yahya in more danger than was necessary.

    MMA Community Blasts Referee Jason Herzog After Steven Nguyen Win Over Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

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    Nguyen, a 2023 alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, scores his first UFC win after dropping his debut against Jarno Errens last year.

    Yahya, the former lightweight champion of UAE Warriors, is now 0-3 since coming over from that promotion.

  • Bare Knuckle Given Clear “No” by Fighter With Masvidal and Lawler Wins

    Bare Knuckle is seemingly a fairly booming permutation of pugilism with many combatants keen to get involved but an ex-UFC veteran is not looking to drop the gloves himself. Lorenz Larkin has fought for some of the biggest MMA leagues on the planet and has a certain eagerness to try out some other combat sports.

    The former veteran of circuits like UFC, Bellator MMA, and Strikeforce recently made a successful debut in Karate Combat for instance as Larkin secured a decision win over Buddy Wallace at Karate Combat 56 on July 19th. While ‘The Monsoon’ seems intrigued in exploring some independent contractor opportunities as a combat athlete, Larkin does not seem destined for BKFC or BKB at any point in time.

    Lorenz Larkin discussed this during a recent interview with MMA Junkie Radio as Larkin said,

    “Nah, man. … If a fighter gets into a fight in the street, it’s gonna be quick. The fight’s gonna be over, done deal, because the other guy doesn’t know anything. They have bare hands, that fighter is probably going to punch him two times, if that, and it’s gonna be over. But, you get two guys having a training camp that are going to go in and fight each other, with bare knuckles? No. I’m good off that.”

    While he is out on bare knuckle, it seems like gloved boxing is enticing as Larkin discussed his hopes to arrange a deal with Misfits Boxing. It also turns out we may see more of Lorenz Larkin in the Karate Combat pit as he spoke highly of the organization structuring a deal with him that allows him to compete in other combat sports.

    Some of Larkin’s past opponents who have fought in Bare Knuckle

    Bare Knuckle and the prevalance of cuts within it seemed to dissuade Larkin but many of his past opponents have given gloveless combat a whirl. Just to name a few examples, Fernando Gonzalez, who Larkin bested at Bellator 193 via unanimous decision, has dropped the gloves a pair of times under the BKFC banner. Gonzalez has a .500 record so far across two outings in 2024 with an attempted booking for January of this year against tenured BKFC combatant Erick Lozano falling out.

    Chris Camozzi lost to Larkin on points in their November 2013 UFC fight and nowadays, Camozzi has ascended to the status of reigning BKFC cruiserweight champion after his first bid for cruiserweight gold against Lorenzo Hutn falling short at BKFC 50. Larkin lost to Derek Brunson at UFC 177 and while the debut hasn’t happened yet, Brunson signed with BKFC and this was announced at the company’s Champions Summitt press event. John Howard was also a past Larkin opponent who tried out bare knuckle, losing his BKFC debut effort in June.

  • UFC Abu Dhabi Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Whittaker vs. De Ridder, Yan vs. McGhee, And More

    UFC Abu Dhabi Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Whittaker vs. De Ridder, Yan vs. McGhee, And More

    UFC Abu Dhabi is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, July 26. The main card portion of the event will start at 3PM ET/12PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 12PM ET/9AM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on former ONE Championship two-division champion Reinier De Ridder.

    In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan faces Marcus McGhee.

    The main card will also feature Shara “Bullet” Magomedov taking on Marc-Andre Barriault, Asu Almabayev against Jose Ochoa, and Nikita Krylov facing Bogdan Guskov.

    UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs. De Ridder Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Abu Dhabi as of July 25 at 8:45pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Robert Whittaker (-155) vs. Reinier De Ridder (+130)
    • Bantamweight: Petr Yan (-360) vs. Marcus McGhee (+285)
    • Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (-650) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (+470)
    • Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (-110) vs. Jose Ochoa (-115)
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (-198) vs. Bogdan Guskov (+164)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell (-142) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (+120)
    • Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov (+400) vs. Carlos Leal (-535)
    • Bantamweight: Davey Grant (+295) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (-375)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Ribas (-198) vs. Tabatha Ricci (+164)
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan (-298) vs. Billy Elekana (+240)
    • Featherweight: Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Steven Nguyen (-395)
    • Heavyweight: Martin Buday (+210) vs. Marcus Buchecha (-258)
  • Umar Nurmagomedov Reportedly Targeted For Return Against Surging Contender On 8 Fight Win Streak

    Umar Nurmagomedov Reportedly Targeted For Return Against Surging Contender On 8 Fight Win Streak

    Umar Nurmagomedov is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon.

    According to a recent update from popular MMA source MagicM on X, Umar Nurmagomedov is reportedly close to finalizing a showdown with No. 8 ranked bantamweight contender Mario Bautista. While the bout has yet to be officially confirmed, it appears all but set, with the date and venue still to be determined.

    The news comes on the heels of a tease from Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who hinted earlier this week that “The Young Eagle” has a fight lined up, with an official announcement expected soon.

    Khabib Confirms Umar Nurmagomedov’s Return Will Be In Five Round Headliner

    While details surrounding the potential clash between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista remain under wraps, the 29-year-old Dagestani’s cousin and UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov recently revealed on social media that Umar’s next bout is set to headline a card as a five-round main event.

    “Umar Nurmagomedov, main event of the evening. Five rounds. It’s time to make your comeback, Jr,” Khabib wrote on Instagram Stories.

    Image: @khabib_nurmagomedov/Instagram

    Umar was last seen in action at UFC 311 this past January, where he challenged reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili for the title. The high-stakes matchup resulted in the first loss of his professional career, as he fell short via unanimous decision.

    Prior to the setback, “The Young Eagle” had compiled a six-fight win streak inside the Octagon, notching victories over notable opponents such as Cory Sandhagen, Bekzat Almakhan, and Raoni Barcelos. Nurmagomedov currently boasts a professional record of 18-1, with seven of those wins coming by submission.

    Meanwhile, Bautista is riding a remarkable eight-fight win streak in the UFC. The 32-year-old American was last seen in action at UFC 316 this past June, where he dominated former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

    Bautista’s last defeat came in March 2021 at UFC 259, where he fell to a second-round knockout at the hands of Trevin Jones. He now holds a professional record of 16-2, with nine of those victories coming by way of stoppage.

    Umar & Khabib Nurmagomedov
    Image: Mike Roach/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Alexandre Pantoja Conqueror Showed “1st Day in Prison” Mentality says Ex-UFC Vet

    Alexandre Pantoja Conqueror Showed “1st Day in Prison” Mentality says Ex-UFC Vet

    Alexandre Pantoja suffered a prior loss to an eventual Rizin grand prix champion and Jose Torres is excited to test skills with that warrior in question when both step into the ring to do battle in Japan. Appearing on Bowks Talking Bouts, Jose Torres as he prepares to clash with Hiromasa Ougikubo at Super RIZIN 4 on July 27th as part of the RFF flyweight grand prix. Ougikubo has a deep resume in the sport that includes a win over Alexandre Pantoja on points during their exhibition bout on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter in August 2016. Alexandre Pantoja is also someone Torres has a training partner history with.

    This is a tough short notice opportunity for Torres who recently made 125 pounds for the first time in close to four years for his last MMA bout at Brave CF 95 in May. The former UFC veteran was not in this grand prix field as recently as three weeks ago, and this short-notice tournament opportunity panned out in part because of the massive fan response online. When Torres mentioned he would not be in the grand prix, the ensuing traction led to it being his most popular post on X which led in part to RFF expanding the tournament field to include more fighters including Torres himself.

    From expecting to fight again in September to preparing himself to compete against a man who ‘Shorty’ himself described as the best prospective opponent in this Rizin flyweight grand prix field, Torres said,

    “I want to take the full opportunity with it and go one hundred percent. Especially with my first opponent being pretty much, more than likely the guy that was touted to win or if not, at least be in the finals. I mean Hiromasa what more could I ask for? This is the test I’ve been wanting.”

    Ougikubo having a win over Alexandre Pantoja and Torres’ overview of the fight

    Referencing a quote that Hiromasa Ougikubo made about how he wants the winner of this tournament to be seen as someone who could beat the UFC champion in the context of Ougikubo having a prior win over current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, Torres stated,

    “Man, he’s [Ougikubo’s] a phenomenal fighter. Sadly, he is 38. So I think ever being signed or re-signed to the UFC is sadly a missed opportunity for him because he’s such a great fighter with a huge resume. But the fact is, man, just being able to, one, get recognized by a man like him. He did the whole prison thing. Like alright, my first day in prison so I don’t get messed with, I’m going to pick the biggest, baddest guy and beat him up. So everyone else knows not to mess with me.”

    “I was the new guy with a big resume like him that was highly touted. He was like you know what; he had the opportunity to pick me, an empty spot, or someone else and immediately he jumped on the opportunity to fight me because he knows it’s a match for the fans. It’s a match for his legacy, again especially later in his career at 38. It’s a match for him to show how good he really is. I mean, how could I say no to that? Just as a fighter. Again, I love Dragon Ball Z and Goku never denies a challenge. I don’t even think he’s a good character.”

    “He just wants to fight the best in the world. So for me, this is a really fun thing especially as me and Hiromasa are huge Dragon Ball Z fans. So it’s gonna be; I believe one hundred percent that whoever wins this fight, I won’t say will win the tournament because there’s a lot of underdogs in the tournament that are being overlooked and I have my fair share of examples, but I think for sure whoever wins this match will be in the finals.”

  • Islam Makhachev’s coach agrees with Khabib that Jack Della Maddalena is his toughest fight

    Islam Makhachev’s coach agrees with Khabib that Jack Della Maddalena is his toughest fight

    Islam Makhachev‘s coach Javier Mendez agrees with Khabib Nurmagomedov that Jack Della Maddalena will be the toughest opponent of Islam’s career thus far.

    As we know, Islam Makhachev has vacated his UFC lightweight championship in order to pursue a world title in a second weight class. He’ll be doing so up at welterweight, and in all likelihood, he’ll be facing Jack Della Maddalena for the belt – the current world champion.

    Recently, Khabib Nurmagomedov noted that he believes Jack Della Maddalena is a tougher opponent for Islam Makhachev than Ilia Topuria.

    As it turns out, Javier Mendez agrees with that theory, saying the following when it comes to Islam Makhachev’s chances in the bout.

    Javier Mendez’s thoughts on Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena

    “I’m going to have to one million percent agree with Khabib, I think this is our toughest test,” Mendez told MMA Junkie. “This is my and Khabib’s biggest responsibility to make sure we get Islam in tip-top shape and ready to do what we think and what we believe he will do, and that’s win, but it’s not going to be easy.

    “If we make it look easy, it’s because we were properly prepared, and Jack just happened to give us what we needed, but this is by no means a walkover fight. This is a really tough fight, and we have immense respect for Jack and their team and what they can do.”

    “I think what makes JDM so dangerous No. 1 is he’s unbeaten for quite a while,” Mendez said. “He’s had quite a long win streak, and the fact that this guy mixes it up extremely well. He goes to the body, to the head, and he doesn’t just stick to head hunting. He mixes it all up. He goes body, punch, then also the kick comes.

    “With him, his takedown defense is really, really good also. So, we are not in a situation where we can think we’re going to go to the ground. No, we got to see what he’s going to give us, and probably we’re going to have to make him give us something because I don’t know if he’s going to. He’s really that good.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Dana White praises Hulk Hogan following his death aged 71

    Dana White praises Hulk Hogan following his death aged 71

    UFC boss Dana White has praised Hulk Hogan in the wake of his passing at the age of 71.

    As we know, Dana White has been a big supporter of US president Donald Trump over the years. Another man who has jumped on that train in recent times is Hulk Hogan, the legendary figure from the world of professional wrestling. This has led to a few interactions between the two, which makes sense, given that they’ve both been under the TKO umbrella that is home to UFC and WWE.

    Unfortunately, news broke yesterday that Hogan had passed away at the age of 71. This led to an outpouring of reactions from the pro wrestling and MMA community – both positive and negative, depending on your perception of his incredibly controversial past.

    In a recent interview, Dana White gave his own thoughts on the impact Hogan had on his own life.

    Dana White reacts to Hulk Hogan’s passing

    “I’m 55 years old, so I grew up right in that (time) when the WWF was massive and Hulk was becoming a really big star,” White said on FOX News. “I watched the WWF back then, and I was a Hulk Hogan fan.”

    “When I got there, they walked me literally right into a holding room where they had me and Kid Rock,” White said. “On the way to my room, Hulk Hogan grabbed me and asked me if he could talk to me privately for a second. He pulled me aside, and you know, I’ll never forget that conversation that we had that night. He was a good man, he was special. He loved the president and obviously, he loved America.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Gilbert Burns reveals he is in concussion protocol

    Gilbert Burns reveals he is in concussion protocol

    UFC star Gilbert Burns has revealed that he is current in concussion protocol, but that when he returns, he’s interested in a fight against Daniel Rodriguez.

    Gilbert Burns is an absolute warrior and that’s been the case throughout the course of his UFC career. He even managed to compete for the welterweight title, causing Kamaru Usman some serious problems before ultimately losing via finish.

    Now, however, Gilbert Burns has lost four on the bounce. At the age of 39, some have wondered whether or not he’ll carry on competing in the UFC – but it certainly seems as if that’s his plan.

    In a recent interview, Gilbert Burns spoke openly about his current situation and what he wants next.

    Gilbert Burns looks ahead to the future

    “I’m looking toward December,” Burn told MMA Junkie. “I had a little concussion, I’m still not able to come back, so I’ve still got to get a few more things in the protocol to get able to get back to training. I’ve still got to take it easy a bit. It was a hard one, but I’m looking toward December. I just saw Daniel Rodriguez just got a nice win against Kevin Holland. He’s ranked now. I think that should be a fun one. Me and Daniel Rodriguez in December, maybe January.”

    “Let’s see how the concussion protocol goes,” Burns said. “That’s one I’m looking forward to. With the brain you can’t play it all. We’ve got to take it most serious. Most likely December or January. Let’s see how it goes.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Ilia Topuria is not unbeatable, says former UFC opponent

    UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell has said that he believes Ilia Topuria is beatable – even if he wasn’t able to get the job done when they fought.

    As we know, Ilia Topuria is an absolute monster, and he’s one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts today. He is a two-weight world champion in the UFC, and somehow, it feels like he’s only just getting started. ‘El Matador’ has managed to knock off some huge names across his last few fights but prior to that, he also fought some decent competition at featherweight.

    That includes Bryce Mitchell, at a time when both men were rising up through the ranks pretty quickly. In the end, it was Ilia Topuria who got the better of their exchanges, eventually securing a submission win.

    Ahead of his return to the cage this weekend, Bryce Mitchell spoke to reporters about Ilia Topuria and the possibility of him facing Islam Makhachev.

    Bryce Mitchell’s view on Ilia Topuria

    “If Islam gets on top of him, he’s in trouble,” Mitchell told MMA Junkie and other reporters during Wednesday’s media day. “He (Topuria) hits harder and better, and is just more precise at punching than Makhachev. That’s why he’s got so many knockouts. You tell Arman I was as sick as a dog in that fight, and if it was a proper fight – I should have let the fans know I probably shouldn’t have took the fight. Anyways, I won’t fight sick again.

    “That’s the one fight that bothers me to this day. I can’t believe I let my pride get the best of me, and I took that fight. But yeah, if Arman gets him down, he’ll do great. What’s great about Ilia is his shot selection, and he doesn’t waste his energy. He’s very, very good at conserving his energy, but he is not unbeatable, bro. I blacked his eye on a night when I didn’t have no power in my arms. If I had gone in there healthy, he’d have two black eyes.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Dakota Ditcheva is Ready for a Super-Fight against Valentina Shevchenko “History Making”

    Dakota Ditcheva is Ready for a Super-Fight against Valentina Shevchenko “History Making”

    PFL sensation Dakota Ditcheva has made it clear that she’d be interested in a superfight against Valentina Shevchenko.

    As we know, Dakota Ditcheva is easily one of the most exciting fighters in women’s mixed martial arts right now and that’s been the case for quite some time. She continues to thrive under the PFL umbrella and while many want to see her make the switch over to the UFC, she’s decided to continue plying her trade with the PFL, recently signing a new deal with the promotion.

    Of course, given her flyweight success, Dakota Ditcheva has often been linked with an eventual superfight against the one and only Valentina Shevchenko. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be happening anytime soon, but the masses still want to see it.

    In a recent interview, Dakota Ditcheva spoke about the possibility of that bout coming to fruition.

    Dakota Ditcheva looks ahead to possible superfight

    “I don’t know if UFC super-fight is in my immediate future, but if PFL champ versus UFC champ happens, I’m happy to do it. That would be a serious, history-making fight.”

    Ditcheva has many years ahead of her in MMA as she celebrates her 27th birthday today. As far as the UFC is concerned, you’d have to imagine they’ll be keeping a close eye on her – and with so much potential clearly yet to be brought to the forefront, we can’t imagine they’ll turn their nose up at signing her one day.

    Will Valentina still be at the top? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Watch Robert Whittaker, Reinier De Ridder Face Off At UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Robert Whittaker, Reinier De Ridder Face Off At UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re a little more than 24 hours away from UFC Abu Dhabi, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC Abu Dhabi takes place on July 26 from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    The main event of the evening will feature a middleweight matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and former ONE Championship two-weight champion Reinier De Ridder. Whittaker comes into this bout off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a title eliminator at UFC 308 in October. De Ridder has won four straight and is 3-0 in the UFC, with submission victories over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal.

    The co-main event will see former bantamweight champion Petr Yan square off with Marcus McGhee. Yan heads into this fight off back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. McGhee is 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the UFC, scoring finishes of Journey Newson, JP Buys, and Gastón Bolaños before a decision win over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309.

    The rest of the main card will see middleweight action that sees Shara “Bullet” Magomedov take on Marc-Andre Barriault, a flyweight battle between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa, and a light heavyweight contest featuring Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov.

    All fighters for the card made weight. All the fights are on!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

    UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • Former BKFC Fighter on Conor McGregor: “Really Hard to Draw Any Other Conclusions Than What the Jury Did”

    Former BKFC Fighter on Conor McGregor: “Really Hard to Draw Any Other Conclusions Than What the Jury Did”

    Conor McGregor is in ongoing appeal processes after a civil jury found last November that he assaulted Nikita Hand in a reported incident from December 2018 and a former BKFC combatant touched on the situation in a bit of a cursory way. Appearing on Bowks Talking Bouts, Ben Davis discussed some of his commentary opportunities in the combat sports world through promotions like Misfits Boxing but Davis has also competed in spaces like the Karate Combat pit and the BKFC’s squared circle.

    Conor McGregor

    ‘The Bane’ did not emerge victorious in his bare knuckle debut but he did get his hand raised by Conor McGregor at BKFC Spain after Davis’ clash with fellow media member Oscar Willis and the photo from that moment is a bit of a conflicting one at this juncture. When touching upon that McGregor photo at BKFC Spain and how some of the Irishman’s surrounding legal controversies that the former two division UFC champion has found himself in (with an ongoing civil sexual assault lawsuit happening in Florida against him from a June 2023 Miami incident) have informed the feelings about that photograph, Davis said,

    “There’s few photos in my camera roll that have aged as poorly as that one [laughs]. Yeah, it’s an unfortunate conflation of combat sports and behaviour like that. He’s embroiled in some really serious, problematic times right now. Listen, if you look at all of the evidence provided, it’s really hard to draw any other conclusions than what the jury did. So I don’t know. I wish that we had more GSPs and Demetrious Johnsons and maybe Robbie Lawlers, right.”

    Conor McGregor, GSP, and the role model quandary of combat sports

    As he expounded upon what he meant by wanting more fighters in the sport like Georges St. Pierre or ‘Mighty Mouse’, Davis stated,

    “Just good ambassadors of the sport, great people that can carry mixed martial arts into the mainstream with more positive lights and not figures that create as much controversy as they do pay-per-view sales. I just think that long term it’s in the best interest of the sport. But again, I’m talking about a sport with probably the stupidest f***** demographic of fans on earth [laughs]. Maybe I’m asking too much, Dylan. Maybe I’m asking too much.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Y4h0hDPhY