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Victor Martinez: Getting Firefighting Job Relieved Pressure on UFC Career

Victor Martinez recently highlighted the importance of a stable job for fighters.

While Martinez has been a licensed firefighter since 2018, he never applied for a job, prioritizing his goal of getting into the Ultimate Fighting Championship. “The Brick” finally earned his ticket to the big league with a unanimous decision win over Jacob Rosales on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2021. Martinez then got hired by the Hidalgo Fire Department after his UFC debut in February 2023, and the 32-year-old feels things are falling into place for him.

“Man, I had my firefighter license since back in 2018 but I just wanted to focus on getting into the UFC first before getting a job,” Martinez told The AllStar. “So I was just renewing my license every year and I got signed to the UFC [in] 2021 after Contender [Series]. And I was like, ‘OK, I already made this goal happen, let me try getting a job somewhere else, so I started applying in different c…

Michael Chandler Expects Conor McGregor’s Skills to Be Depleted by Long Hiatus

Michael Chandler believes Conor McGregor will not be the same fighter he once was on his return to the Octagon this summer.

McGregor will return to action after a hiatus of almost three years in a welterweight clash against “Iron” in the main event at UFC 303 on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “Notorious” last fought in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, suffering a technical knockout loss due to a leg break in the first round.

While the Irishman resumed training in early 2022, it wasn’t until October 2023 that he returned to the UFC’s drug testing pool. Although the former UFC double champ wanted to return at UFC 300, it wasn’t until UFC 303 that his return could be made possible. Chandler believes the long inactivity has taken a toll on McGregor’s timing, movement, and reflexes.

“What I need to work on for this fight is continue to be the best version of myself,” Chandler said on The Shawn Ryan Show…

Alex Pereira: Fighting Magomed Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi ‘Not Best for Me’

Alex Pereira doesn’t like the timing of a potential clash against Magomed Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi.

Pereira recently defended his light heavyweight title for the first time with a brutal Round 1 knockout win over Jamahal Hill in the main event at UFC 300. Ankalaev subsequently claimed that he was offered a title shot against “Poatan” at UFC 300 but turned it down as he was observing Ramadan. Ankalaev also called Pereira out for a clash in Abu Dhabi, which is considered home turf for many Russian fighters. In a post on social media, Ankalaev questioned Pereira’s chin and predicted a first-round knockout.

@AlexPereiraUFC vs me Abu Dhabi

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) April 14, 2024

@AlexPereiraUFC congratulation, l will stop in the first round by knockout @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 the man doesn’t have a chin

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) April 14, 2024

The UFC’s annual pay-per-view card in Abu …

Jiri Prochazka Wants to Move to Middleweight After Reclaiming Light Heavyweight Title

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Jiri Prochazka wants to move down a weight class instead of moving up after potentially regaining his light heavyweight title.

Prochazka recently scored a come-from-behind technical knockout victory over top contender Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, establishing himself as the No. 1 contender. Prochazka is now eyeing a title shot against Alex Pereira, who dethroned him via TKO at UFC 295 last November, snapping a 13-fight winning streak.

Moreover, once he potentially wins back the light heavyweight title, “BJP” wants to cut down to middleweight. The Czech standout, who usually doesn’t cut more than 10-12 pounds for light heavyweight, believes he can make the cut to 185 pounds with a strict diet.

“Rather than heavyweight, I thought I’d try middleweight because the way I feel my metabolism now and the way my body works in preparation. So, I know that if I adjust my diet to where I feel great and clean, I know I could handle the …

Source: Kirill Grishenko to Return Against Ji Won Kang at ONE Fight Night 23

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Renowned ONE Championship mixed martial arts heavyweight competitors are set to lock horns at ONE Fight Night 23 on July 5.

Sherdog.com learned Tuesday morning that Belarusian heavyweight Kirill Grishenko (5-2, 2-2 ONE) is booked to return against the hard-hitting Ji Won Kang (7-2, 4-2 ONE) in a three-round clash on July 5 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

The bout will mark Grishenko’s return to action following a Round 1 submission loss to grappling savant Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida in August 2022, which was preceded by a Round 2 knockout at the hands of reigning three-division champion Anatoly Malykhin in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Kang has gone 2-2 in his last four promotional outings and will enter on the heels of a Round 2 technical knockout victory over Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif at ONE on Prime Video 18 in January. Prior to that, the South Korean suffered his second professional loss against undefeated American Ben Tynan at …

UFC Apex to Host WWE Event on June 9

BREAKING: In partnership with @ufc, WWE announced today that #NXTBattleground will emanate from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 9! https://t.co/7rcz9QpnjP

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2024

The UFC Apex will host a World Wrestling Entertainment event for the first time on June 9.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced Monday that the venue will be the site for NXT Battleground” on June 9. The Ultimate Fighting Championship and WWE merged under the same ownership umbrella, TKO Group Holdings, last year.

"We are always exploring new frontiers to showcase NXT and we are excited to bring Battleground to this world-class event and production facility in partnership with UFC,” said WWE senior vice president of talent development creative Shawn Michaels in a release.

According to a report from ESPN, NXT Battleground was intially scheduled to take place at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, before relocating to L…

Full Card Announced for PFL Europe Newcastle on June 8

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗘! 💥

Europe’s MMA League returns to Tyneside on Saturday 8th June, featuring Savannah Marshall’s MMA Debut, Kane Mousah vs. Dylan Tuke and stars such as Jack Grant, Lewis McGrillen, Sammy-Jo Luxton and Dean Garnett!

Make sure you’re in the Utilita Arena… pic.twitter.com/REQcGjvKhe — PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) April 22, 2024

The Professional Fighters League has announced the full card for the final regular season event of its European circuit.

PFL Europe Newcastle will take place on June 8 at Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, and is headlined by the MMA debut of boxing champion Savannah Marshall, as she takes on Mirela Vargas in a showcase bout at 155 pounds. Additionally, the card will feature regular season bouts at men’s bantamweight and women’s flyweight, with winner’s advancing to the PFL Europe postseason.

The bantamweight season pairings include: Dean Garnett vs. Ayton De Paepe; Frans Mlambo vs. Lu…

Ex-ATT Coach Andre Benkei to Produce MMA Reality Show at UFC Gym in Florida

Former American Top Team coach Andre Benkei is headed back to Florida.

The Brazilian recently signed a three-year contract to work as an MMA head coach at the new UFC Gym in Largo, Florida, and big plans are in store.

“It´s gonna be huge — 30,000 square feet,” Benkei told Sherdog.com. “Besides an amazing gym with all facilities you can imagine, the gym will have an MMA training center with a top team of coaches. We already signed Dorian Price (muay thai), who has been living in Thailand for the last 20 years, and Adam Mazin (jiu-jitsu), who represents Dean Lister. Cuban boxer Pedro Dias will be with us, and soon we will announce a [decorated] American wrestler.”

Benkei also revealed that an MMA-themed reality show will be filmed at the facility.

“The grand opening will be in August, but we will start filming a reality show called ‘Road to the Cage ‘ before that,” he said. “The reality show will consist of the training routine of our…

Moldavsky vs. Vassell, Ditcheva vs. Hackett Top Lineup for PFL 4 on June 13

.@MoheganSun Get Ready 🔥

Playoff spots are on the line as Heavyweights & Women's Flyweights kick off the second half of the 2024 #PFLRegularSeason on June 13th!

Tickets On Sale Now! 👇🎟️https://t.co/agkCcio2Xy pic.twitter.com/6Mh0wVz7DN — PFL (@PFLMMA) April 22, 2024

A heavyweight trilogy between Valentin Moldavsky and Linton Vassell will serve as the main event when Professional Fighters League begins the second leg of its regular season on June 13.

The organization on Monday announced the two featured bouts for PFL 4, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. In addition to Moldavsky vs. Vassell, Dakota Ditcheva will meet Chelsea Hackett in a women’s flyweight contest in the evening’s co-headliner. More fights for the card, which features heavyweights and women’s flyweights, will be announced in the coming weeks.

A former Bellator MMA interim champion, Moldavsky kicked off hi…

Cedric Doumbe, Derek Anderson to Clash in New Bellator Paris Co-Main Event

Cedric Doumbe will make his Bellator MMA debut against Derek Anderson in the Bellator Champions Series Paris co-headliner on May 17.

The bout is part of a multi-fight extension signed by Doumbe with Professional Fighters League, which purchased Bellator late last year. A former two-time Glory Kickboxing welterweight champion, Doumbe has quickly emerged as one of PFL’s biggest stars in Europe.

"Re-signing Cedric Doumbe to a multi-year contract extension has been one of our highest priorities since he joined the promotion last year," PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a release. "Cedric is a large part of our continued growth in France, and now he will compete at Bellator Champions Series Paris on a fight card that can be streamed by fans in the U.S. on Max, as he continues his trajectory through our global leagues.”

The addition of Doumbe vs. Anderson is part of some significant shuffling at the top of the Bellator Paris card. The event’s original…

Trey Ogden Meets Loik Radzhabov at UFC Fight Night on July 20

Lightweights Trey Ogden (17-6) and Loik Radzhabov (18-5) are slated to clash at a UFC Fight Night event on July 20.

The matchup was first announced by Ogden’s management, Iridum Sports Agency. The card has not been formally confirmed by the promotion and does not yet have an official location or headliner.

Ogden is coming off a unanimous decision win over Kurt Holobaugh at UFC on ESPN 53 that saw him bounce back from an unfortunate no contest against Nikolas Motta last November. Holobaugh was minutes away from a unanimous decision win over Motta when he caught the Brazilian in an arm-triangle choke. Referee Mike Beltran prematurely stopped the fight, mistaking Motta to be unconscious, and the bout was ultimately declared a no contest.

Meanwhile, Radzhabov will also look to build a winning streak after a KO win over Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady at UFC Fight Night 238. The Tajik fighter made his promotional debut with a unanimous decision win over Esteban Ribov…

Gabriel Bonfim to Face Ange Loosa at UFC Fight Night Event on July 13

Gabriel Bonfim (15-1) and Ange Loosa (10-3) will trade leather at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on July 13.

The booking was first announced by Bonfim’s management, Iridium Sports Agency. UFC Fight Night takes place on July 13 and will likely be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card does not currently have a headliner.

Bonfim will look to bounce back from his lone career loss, which came via second-round TKO against Nicolas Dalby in November 2023. Prior to that, the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champ finished all 15 of his career wins — 12 via submission — including two in the UFC.

Meanwhile, Loosa will also look to set his trajectory right after a controversial no contest against Bryan Battle last month. Battle was getting the better of Loosa on the feet before accidentally poking the Congolese fighter in the eye. Loosa was unable to continue, and Battle later accused “The Last Ninja” of using the eye poke as an excuse to avoid a poten…

Manon Fiorot Only Open to ‘Easy’ Maycee Barber Matchup If It’s for Interim Title

Manon Fiorot is adamant on fighting for a title next — even if it is an interim belt.

Fiorot made a legitimate case for a gold bid with a unanimous decision win over top contender Erin Blanchfield in the main event at UFC on ESPN 54 last month. But the French standout will have to wait for a trilogy clash between champ Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, who are expected to compete after their stints as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 32.” While Fiorot would like to serve as the backup for that bout, “The Beast” is also open to another matchup if it has interim title implications.

“If I have to choose, the best choice for me is to be backup on the fight,” Fiorot told MMAjunkie.com. “I think it’s a good thing if Valentina or Alexa have an injury or miss weight or stuff like that. I think the best choice for me now is to be backup for this fight so I can see the fight and perhaps do a faceoff after against the winner. If not, I can fight but for…

Joshua Van Announces UFC 302 Bout Against Su Mudaerji Has Been Canceled

Joshua Van appears to be in need of a new opponent after announcing that his proposed 125-pound clash against Su Mudaerji has been canceled.

The flyweight booking was scheduled for UFC 302 on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. A reason for Mudaerji’s exit is currently unknown.

“Fight is off for June 1 I need a real opponent,” Van wrote on social media.

Joshua Van posts on his IG that his fight between him and Sumudaerji is off for #UFC302 pic.twitter.com/RKvRwG9zmU

— Octagon Update (@octagonupdate) April 21, 2024

Van made his UFC debut with a split decision win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov in June 2023 and followed it up with a unanimous decision win over Kevin Borjas in November. Most recently ,“The Fearless” scored his first UFC finish via TKO against Felipe Bunes this past January.

Meanwhile, Mudaerji bounced back from a foiled UFC debut against Louis Smolka in 2018 by mounting a three- fi…

Aljamain Sterling Prefers Brian Ortega Over Movsar Evloev as Next Opponent

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Aljamain Sterling recently picked Brian Ortega over Movsar Evloev as his next preferred opponent, a decision that incited a callout from the Russian.

Sterling earned a lopsided unanimous decision win against Calvin Kattar in his featherweight debut at UFC 300. The former bantamweight champ subsequently called out Ortega.

Sterling weighed out the technicalities of the potential fights, both of which are a “grappler’s delight,” according to him. Sterling lauded Ortega’s aggressive guard, which always makes for wild grappling exchanges. While Sterling also lauded Evloev’s wrestling, he believes he can “easily” match the Russian’s ground game. “Funkmaster” also claims to have fared well in grappling against some of the guys that Evloev trained with even while out of shape.

“Both of these fights are a grappler’s delight,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “If I were to fight Ortega, if you take him down, he ain’t gonna hang out…

Justin Gaethje Weighs in on Dustin Poirier Getting Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev

Justin Gaethje doesn’t regret fighting Max Holloway instead of waiting for a title shot that will now go to Dustin Poirier.

Gaethje defeated Poirier via a vicious head-kick KO last year to earn the BMF title and bolster his relevance in the lightweight title picture. Poirier bounced back from the loss with a highlight-reel knockout win over surging contender Benoit St. Denis at UFC 299 last month, making a case for the next title shot.

While Gaethje would also have a legitimate claim to the next lightweight gold bid, “The Highlight” put his BMF strap in the line against Max Holloway at UFC 300 earlier this month. With champ Islam Makhachev adamant on defending his title this summer, the turnaround would be unlikely for the winner of that fight.

Gaethje admits that he ruled himself out of the next title shot by accepting the UFC 300 booking against Holloway. Makhachev will now defend his title against Poirier in the main event at UFC 302 on Ju…

Ex-Cage Warriors Champ Paul Hughes Signs with PFL

Welcome to the League in 2025, @paulhughesmma 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/P4vAyHHpaC

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 20, 2024

The Professional Fighters League has signed top prospect Paul Hughes (11-1).

PFL president Ray Sefo was recently asked if there was any truth to reports of the promotion courting free agents Hughes and Salahdine Parnasse. Sefo replied in the affirmative while revealing that they had already secured the Hughes signing. The report was also officially confirmed by the PFL via social media.

Hughes exhausted his Cage Warriors contract with a first-round knockout win over Fabiano Silva earlier this month, extending his winning streak to five — a run which includes a win over UFC prospect Morgan Charriere. The former CW featherweight champ had teased a UFC clash against Paddy Pimblett while a free agent. However, “Big News” had also clarified that he would chose the promotion which valued him the most instead of limiting himself to …

Brendan Loughnane Opens Up About PFL 2023 Finals Loss: ‘I Suffered from It’

[embedded content] Brendan Loughnane had to adapt and overcome some mental hurdles after suffering the first stoppage loss of his career.

In the 2023 regular season, the Brit was lumped up in 94 seconds by Jesus Pinedo, with a defeat that left Loughnane with five playoff points—and not enough for the featherweight top four in the playoffs. This put the 34-year-old on ice until April, when he returned for the 2024 Professional Fighters League 145-pound tourney. On Friday, Loughnane (27-5) bounced back in style at PFL Chicago, drumming out Pedro Carvalho in 86 seconds to get back in the win column.

While his first fight of 2024 went his way, Loughnane explained in the post-fight press conference that the loss to Pinedo haunted him. Loughnane mentioned that he even considered leaving the sport behind after the crushing defeat.

“That was the best Brendan Loughnane,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “I don’t make excuses for fights, but t…

Kleydson Rodrigues vs. Heili Alateng Added to UFC Fight Night 241

A bantamweight clash pitting two promising competitors has been added to UFC Fight Night 241.

China’s Heili Alateng (16-9-2) will take on Brazil’s Kleydson Rodrigues (8-3) in a three-round meeting on a Fight Night card scheduled to go down on May. 18 at the Apex in Las Vegas. The news was first announced by Alateng’s management, Iridium Sports Agency, in a post to X (formerly known as Twitter). Rodrigues confirmed news of this pairing on his Instagram shortly after its announcement.

Rodrigues will hope to make his way back to the win column, coming off a submission loss against Farid Basharat in September last year. “K.R” has gone 1-2 in his first three Octagon outings, including a loss to C.J. Vergara and a first-round knockout victory over Shannon Ross.

Meanwhile, Alateng will enter the contest on the heels of a unanimous decision loss against Chris Gutierrez that snapped a three-fight undefeated streak. The Chinese national has wins over the likes of Chad Anh…

Magomed Umalatov Outpoints Former Bellator Champ Andrey Koreshkov at 2024 PFL 3

Magomed Umalatov has been one of the Professional Fighters League’s best-kept secrets for the last three years, but few will overlook him after ragdolling former Bellator MMA welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov for three rounds Friday night.

Umalatov (15-0) cruised to a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in the PFL 3: 2024 Regular Season main event at Wintrust Center in Chicago. Despite taking Koreshkov down in the first round, Umalatov’s inactivity cost him the round on the judges' scorecards. “Prince” wouldn’t make that mistake again. Over the next 10 minutes, Koreshkov dominated Koreshkov on the mat while smothering all his potential offense. Although the two had 23 knockouts between them coming into the fight, Umalatov wisely decided to turn the fight into a wrestling match. With the win, Umalatov picked up three points in the welterweight standings but trails Murad Ramazanov and Don Madge, who each earned six points in the 2024 PFL Welterweight Regular Season…

2024 PFL 3 Regular Season Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

The Professional Fighters League’s regular season marches on with the final event of the first leg of the 2024 Regular Season. The card is primed for an enthralling display on April 19 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, where featherweights and welterweights will battle it out for their stab at fame and glory with $1 million prize money elevating the stakes. Sherdog brings live coverage and play-by-play updates as the action unfolds live at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Business picks up at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN with the main card. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tyler Treese scores the round:J.L. Kirven scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tyler Treese scores the round:J.L. Kirven scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tyler Treese scores the round:J.L. Kirven scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tyler Treese scores the round:J.L. Kirven scores the round:Mike…

Jamahal Hill Booked Against Khalil Rountree at UFC 303 in June

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is building up its card for International Fight Week one large brick at a time.

The organization announced on Friday the addition of a major light heavyweight collision on UFC 303. Former champ Jamahal Hill (12-2, 1 NC) will look to get back in the win column against the surging Khalil Rountree (13-5, 1 NC), with the latter riding a career-long win streak. The two will do battle on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and they will likely be seated on the main card.

Hill vied for his old belt—one he vacated due to injury, and not because he suffered a loss—against Alex Pereira in the UFC 300 headliner, and he came out on the wrong end of a first-round knockout. That defeat put an end to a four-fight win streak that culminated with him capturing the vacant 205-pound throne against Glover Teixeira in a one-sided five-round effort. On his way up, the Dana White's Contender Series graduate wrecked Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and T…

Nate Diaz Hit With Lawsuit for 2023 Street Fight in New Orleans

Ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship star Nate Diaz will be going to court after all.

In April 2023, Diaz was arrested in New Orleans for second-degree battery. Multiple videos showed Diaz choking Logan Paul impersonator and amateur MMA fighter Rodney Petersen Jr. unconscious in the midst of a violent incident on Bourbon Street. Diaz and his team claimed he acted in self-defense, with Petersen allegedly pursuing him to fight. Charges from the Orleans Parish District Attorney were later dropped in September. On Thursday night, news broke that Petersen had filed a lawsuit against Diaz for the damage he sustained during the altercation.

According to initial reports, Petersen stated he suffered physical and emotional damage from the fracas. Of note, Petersen seeks compensation for damages and trauma, including a loss of income and his medical expenses. His wife, Bobbi Petersen, is also on the suit, where she seeks damages for loss of consortium—or the lack of love and suppo…

First Coach of Alexandre Pantoja Discusses Student’s ‘Pure Bravery’ in Training

Some people knew Alexandre Pantoja was going all the way to the top when he was just a youngling.

Pantoja, the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight champion, defends his title on May 4 in his home country of Brazil. “The Cannibal” lived part of his life in Copacabana and later in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Currently residing in Florida to train at American Top Team, Pantoja will compete in Brazil for the first time since 2013 when he faces surging contender Steve Erceg in the UFC 301 main event.

Pantoja's first coach, Petterson Melo, taught in the beach town of Arraial do Cabo. He highlighted that his pupil already showed signs of a promising future from his first steps inside the Luiz Alves Training Center, which to this day remains a staging ground for the formation of new talents in the Lakes Region. Melo spoke to Sherdog about his student’s past, and others that trained with him over the years.

“The boy was pure bravery,” …

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