All articles tagged with #mixed martial arts
The UFC will stage a special mixed martial arts event on the White House South Lawn on June 14 as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with a temporary ballroom under construction for the bout, while President Trump met with UFC fighters in the Oval Office as part of the commemorations.
Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in Newark to reclaim the middleweight title, using improved defense and takedown discipline to wear down the undefeated challenger, while Chimaev struggled with weight; the win hints at a potential move up a weight class for Chimaev and caps a high-drama week of trash talk.
Gzim Selmani, a former WWE tag team champion and MMA fighter, has signed with BKFC and will make his debut at KnuckleMania 6, choosing bare-knuckle boxing over other combat sports options, confident in his power and fighting background.
The 2026 UFC lightweight division is centered around champion Ilia Topuria, who recently moved up from featherweight and secured the title with a first-round knockout. The division features a mix of veterans like Gaethje and Oliveira, and rising contenders such as Benoît Saint Denis and Rafael Fiziev, with ongoing drama and potential matchups shaping an exciting year ahead.
Wyatt Hendrickson, an aspiring Olympic wrestler, is open to competing against UFC fighters like Brock Lesnar but warns that such matches could be dangerous due to the high level of competition, emphasizing his focus on wrestling and his recent interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Dustin Poirier analyzes the UFC 322 main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, highlighting Maddalena's striking and takedown defense as key factors against Makhachev, who is competing at welterweight after a successful lightweight reign. Poirier, familiar with Makhachev from UFC 302, believes the fight will hinge on Maddalena's ability to stay off the mat and utilize his boxing skills, while noting Makhachev's physicality and experience.
UFC Vegas 111 featured exciting fights with standout performances, including Bonfim's dominant win over Brown, Morales' submission victory, and impressive displays from Medic, Duncan, Barcelos, and Hokit, setting the stage for a strong finish to 2025.
Gabriel Bonfim knocked out Randy Brown with a standing knee in the UFC Fight Night main event, extending his winning streak to five and calling out Colby Covington for a future fight.
Gabriel Bonfim won his UFC Vegas 111 main event against Randy Brown with a controversial stoppage by the referee, despite Brown appearing to recover quickly, leading to mixed reactions from UFC professionals.
Mario Bautista gave a strong performance against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321, nearly securing a submission and scoring a knockdown, but ultimately lost by decision. He believes with some adjustments, he can beat top contenders and is open to future matchups, having received praise from UFC officials despite the loss.
Mackenzie Dern won the UFC strawweight championship at UFC 321 after a nine-year journey, defeating Virna Jandiroba in a hard-fought match and sharing an emotional celebration with her daughter, which received praise from fans and analysts.
The UFC 321 post-fight press conference, featuring reactions and bonus winners from the event including Aspinall vs Gane, Jandiroba vs Dern, Nurmagomedov vs Bautista, and Volkov vs Almeida, is scheduled to be streamed live around 6 p.m. ET, with UFC CEO Dana White and the event's top fighters discussing the night's highlights.
At UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, Alexander Volkov narrowly defeated Jailton Almeida by split decision in a heavyweight bout, with Almeida's performance criticized for being lackluster and overly cautious, disappointing fans and analysts alike.
Valter Walker set a UFC record by securing his fourth consecutive heel hook submission in just 14 months, showcasing his leg-lock mastery and continuing his impressive streak at UFC 321, where he also wore a severed foot necklace and called out heavyweight Hamdy Abdelwahab for a fight in Qatar.
Ciryl Gane has undergone a significant physical transformation ahead of UFC 321, sparking fan reactions and speculation about his chances against Tom Aspinall, who is defending his heavyweight title in Abu Dhabi. Gane's improved physique has led some fans to favor him, while others emphasize that physique alone doesn't determine fight outcomes.