MMA news

8:53 AM ET Just days away from UFC’s opening fight card of the new year, ESPN is back with the second installment of its annual MMA Rank. Using a two-step voting process, ESPN’s MMA contributors set out to project which 30 fighters will perform the best in 2023. The final list features fighters from multiple

LAS VEGAS – Raoni Barcelos already has a name in mind if he can get past Umar Nurmagomedov. Barcelos (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+. The Brazilian sees bouncing the highly touted

MMA Twitter has reacted after UFC President Dana White made a surprise media appearance to once again address and answer questions on the altercation with his wife. On New Year’s Eve, White was caught striking his wife at least once during a physical confrontation at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Soon after, footage

Nick Diaz is a usually a man of few words when you stick a microphone in front of his face. The elder Diaz brother has clearly never liked the media attention that has come with the job of cage fighting, and his interviews range from unresponsive to downright surly. Which is why it’s so refreshing

5:12 PM ET LAS VEGAS — UFC president Dana White told reporters Wednesday that no one should be defending his actions after he was caught on camera on New Year’s Eve in Mexico slapping his wife in a nightclub’s VIP section. Appearing before media members at the UFC’s Apex to answer questions about the physical

The “Lazy King” is ready to put on a “lazy show” for “lazy people.” With a record of 15-1, Abdoul Abdouraguimov is viewed by many as potentially MMA’s best prospect outside of a major promotion, if someone with 16 professional fights can be even considered a prospect. Born in Dagestan, Abdouraguimov has made it a

UFC superstar Conor McGregor has given his fans a small taste of what they can expect when he appears in the Road House movie remake. McGregor will star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House, a remake of the 1989 Hollywood classic. A release date for the film has yet to be announced as filming is

Sean Strickland isn’t too worried about his short-notice opponent, Nassourdine Imavov, in the main event of UFC Vegas 67 this weekend (Sat., Jan. 14, 2023). Earlier this week (Mon., Jan. 9, 2023), it was revealed that Kelvin Gastelum had suffered an injury, forcing him out of his planned encounter with Imavov. Therefore, Strickland entered to

9:21 AM ET With the UFC returning to action this weekend with its first card of 2023, it’s time once again for ESPN’s annual MMA rank. A two-step voting process involving ESPN’s MMA team set out to project which 30 fighters will have the best 2023. The final list features fighters across multiple promotions —

For the second time, Dana White publicly addressed the domestic violence incident he had with his wife. And the big takeaway? Don’t expect anything in the way of punishment for the UFC president. Making an unexpected appearance at UFC Fight Night 217 media day Wednesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, White spent almost

No.1-ranked UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley recently analyzed a potential Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz match. Since signing with the PFL last week, ‘The Problem Child’ has reiterated his interested in fighting Nate Diaz. Interestingly, Paul wants to face the longtime UFC fan favorite twice. One bout would be in the boxing ring and the

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Dustin Poirier has a bit of experience with both Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. “The Diamond” has shared the cage with McGregor on three occasions. McGregor knocked him out in 2014 in the midst of his Featherweight title run, but Poirier was able to return the favor twice in 2021. The

Jan 9, 2023 The UFC’s first main event of 2023 has taken a hit, as Kelvin Gastelum has withdrawn from a five-round middleweight bout against Nassourdine Imavov on Saturday in Las Vegas. Gastelum withdrew due to an injury to his mouth, sources told ESPN. Middleweight contender Sean Strickland has agreed to replace Gastelum on the

The UFC will kick off its 2023 event schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 217, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a card that streams on ESPN+. After the originally scheduled main and co-main events of the card were altered, the promotion will proceed with a makeshift light heavyweight headliner.

Victoria Lee’s home gym permanently closed just days after she passed away ahead of her next fight in ONE. Todd Atkins was the first to report the news of United MMA closing its doors. Lee spent her entire professional career at United MMA in Waipahu, HI. Her siblings, Angela and Christian, trained out of United

Charles Oliveira wants his title back. The Lightweight and Featherweight divisions will be showcased against each other next month (Sat., Feb. 11, 2023) in Perth, Australia at UFC 284. Islam Makhachev seeks his first title defense by fending off reigning Featherweight kingpin and pound-for-pound best, Alexander Volkanovski. Had Oliveira stifled Makhachev this past Oct. 2022,

11:35 PM ET Carlos Contreras Legaspi Former MMA fighter Phil Baroni was charged by a state judge in Mexico with aggravated femicide Monday. Baroni, 46, was living in the coastal region of Sayulita and San Francisco in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, when he called police Jan. 1, after finding his girlfriend, a woman from Mexico

A.J. McKee is staying with Bellator. The former Bellator featherweight champion recently signed an exclusive, multi-fight, multi-year deal with the promotion. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with a promotion official following a report Tuesday by Sports Illustrated. In addition, McKee is expected to be one of the eight participants of the lightweight grand prix. The