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According to Michel Pereira, Santiago Ponzinibbio was the toughest challenge of his career to date.

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Pereira defeated Ponzinibbio via split decision in the UFC Fight Night 206 co-main event last Saturday to make his debut in the promotion’s welterweight rankings.

  “Many factors made that the toughest challenge of my life. Besides Ponzinibbio being so tough, I fought at most at 50% of my potential,” he told Sherdog.com.

”When I arrived in Brazil, some of my trainers and sparring partners were not available. My camp was basically three days of CrossFit and boxing and two days of muay Thai. That´s why when I took Ponzinibbio´s back I released [the position], because I knew I could get tired in the grappling game.”

Pereira added that he faced visa issues in Brazil that made it a struggle to return to the United States in time for the fight.

“I traveled all over Brazil to get that visa done: Belem, Sao Paulo, Brasilia and I just arrived…

There’s a method to the madness for Andre Pederneiras. By all accounts from those that know him, he was just trying to get the most out of his athlete.

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The Nova Uniao leader explained his motivational message to Ketlen Vieira prior to the fifth round of her UFC Fight Night 206 headlining bout against Holly Holm this past weekend. Vieira would go on to win a highly controversial split decision.

"When the corner is not sure if his fighter is winning clearly, he must tell her that she is losing in order to make his fighter attack, and that's what I did between Rounds 4 and 5 when I told Ketlen that she was losing three rounds to one and she needed a knockout or submission to get the win,” Pederneiras told Sherdog.com. “I’ve been cornering my athletes for 30 years, and countless times I was sure we were winning and we lost, so now I have changed [my approach]. But when I got home and saw the fight again, I have no doubt Ketlen won Rounds 2,3 …

A lightweight tilt between Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot will serve as the headliner for UFC Fight Night on June 25.

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Eurosport was first to report that the matchup had received main event status. Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot was initially reported earlier this month, but at the time it was unclear where the bout would fall on the card. Now the rising lightweight contenders will get a full five rounds in a pairing that should have serious rankings implications.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

After dropping a decision to top 155-pound contender Islam Makhachev in his Octagon debut, Tsarukyan has won five consecutive bouts within the Las Vegas-based promotion. That stretch includes back-to-back TKO victories over Christos Giagos and Joel Alvarez in his last two UFC appearances. The 25-year-old Am…

After much debate regarding his return to combat sports, Fabricio Werdum has announced his future plans at a press conference for Brazilian media.

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While earlier this year Werdum claimed he was hoping to return to the Professional Fighters League for another MMA bout, the 44-year-old former UFC heavyweight king announced Wednesday that he intends to focus on his boxing career.

“For us fighters, it's very difficult to have this idea of doing what you love most in life and stopping 100%, that's why I don't like this word retired,” Werdum told Sherdog.com after the press conference. “When I focused on being a jiu-jitsu champion I accomplished (that). I dedicated my life to become a UFC champion, and I also accomplished that. Now, the focus is 100% on winning a title in boxing before hanging up the gloves.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone,…

Alistair Overeem and Badr Hari will square off for a third time in the kickboxing ring later this year at Glory Collision 4.

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Promotion officials announced on Tuesday that the trilogy bout will headline the event at the GelreDome in Arnhem, the Netherlands, on Oct. 8. Overeem and Hari squared off twice under the K-1 banner more than a decade ago, with each man winning one fight via knockout.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Overeem signed with Glory in 2021 and was expected to make his promotional debut against Rico Verhoeven at Glory Collision 3 this past October before being forced to withdraw due to injury. Overeem parted ways with the UFC following a second-round TKO loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 184 in February 2021.

Hari, who hails from Amsterdam but fights out of Moroc…

Former UFC talent Mark Munoz was reportedly placed on administrative leave as wrestling coach at Fairmont Private Schools in Southern California after he allegedly allowed two students to box to settle a dispute.

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According to the TMZ Sports report, two students who were arguing on the playground went to Munoz to ask if they could put on boxing gloves to resolve their differences. The report states that Munoz allowed it, believing that “the impromptu boxing match was more jovial than violent.” Munoz was also reportedly not aware of the argument.

However, one of the student’s parents was “outraged” about the boxing match and went to school administration to complain, and as a result, Munoz was placed on leave. The 44-year-old had accepted the position as wrestling coach in September 2020. A school spokesperson wouldn’t reveal specifics of the incident to TMZ, but did confirm that Munoz’s contract will not be renewed.

"[He] will not be returning …

Unfortunately the news is true that my fight has been cancelled for #ufc275 Gonna keep training and stay ready for the next opportunity. Hopefully we can get rebooked as soon as Mathetha is healthy or someone else.Trying to fight a couple times this summer. All good

— Orion Cosce (@GalaxyCosce) May 25, 2022

A proposed welterweight clash pitting Orion Cosce against Mike Mathetha as been pulled from the UFC 275 lineup.

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Cosce confirmed the cancellation following an initial report from BJPenn.com. UFC 275 takes place at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, on June 11 and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship tilt between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka. The card currently has 12 fights on tap if Cosce is not rebooked against a replacement opponent.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or s…

Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Mike Sloan/Sherdog.com

Marc Diakiese will square off against Damir Hadzovic in a lightweight bout at UFC London on July 23.

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Promotion officials recently announced the pairing. UFC London takes place at the O2 Arena and is headlined by a heavyweight showdown pitting Curtis Blaydes against Tom Aspinall.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Diakiese snapped a two-bout losing streak in his last outing, when he captured a unanimous decision triumph against Viacheslav Borshchev at UFC on ESPN 33 on March 26. “Bonecrusher” is 6-5 during his promotional tenure and 15-5 as a professional overall.

Hadzovic also ended a two-fght skid in his most recent appearance, as he outpointed Yancy Medeiros at UFC Fight Night 190 in June 2021. “The Bo…

Renan Barao has been booked for his first mixed martial arts bout since November 2019.

The former UFC bantamweight champion is slated to face William Gomis in a featherweight matchup at Ares FC 7 on June 25 in Paris. The promotion announced the booking via Instagram.

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Barao was supposed to make his return on three other occasions in recent years. A matchup with Bobby Moffett at Taura MMA 12 in November 2020 fell through when the entire event was canceled; a fight against Tyson Duckworth at Premier FC 32 in November 2021 was scrapped when Duckworth withdrew and a proposed clash against Horacio Gutierrez at Eagle FC 44 this past January was also canceled.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Once regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound talents in the sport, Barao ended his UFC tenure on a five-fight…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkUT-Vi8GFc&w=560&h=315]

While it may have seemed as though Demian Maia’s MMA career was done following a unanimous decision loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 263 last June, the Brazilian grappling ace would like another shot in the Octagon.

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Although Maia completed the last fight on his UFC contract at that event, he claims he will only compete for the Las Vegas-based promotion in MMA.

  “No, I’m not officially retired,” Maia said on the “Morning Kombat” show. “I want to do one more fight in the UFC, but I don’t want to fight any other event, because UFC’s my house. It’s been my house for the last 15 years. So if I get another chance I would do one more fight there.”

After the bout with Muhammad, UFC president Dana White indicated that it was probably time for Maia to bid farewell.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 207 "Volkov vs. Rozenstruik" live on your smart TV, …

After winning four straight bouts in the Octagon — three via armbar — Andre Muniz moved to Rio de Janeiro in early May to complete his camp ahead of his UFC 276 matchup with Uriah Hall on July 2 in Las Vegas.

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According to his head coach, Phillip Lima, Muniz is working really hard for the upcoming challenge.

He is the dream fighter of any trainer,” Lima told Sherdog.com. “Always the first to arrive and last to leave. We have had many UFC fighters come from Tata Fight Team, such as Thiago Santos and Alex Oliveira. Rarely have I seen such a dedicated fighter. Besides all the dedication, he is really talented and learns really fast. He is improving his striking game a lot lately. That's why I truly believe this guy will be a big surprise in that division.”

Lima revealed that when the UFC announced Muniz would face Hall next, some tried to discourage them from accepting the bout.

   “Many people told us this is a very dangerous figh…

Mads Burnell will lock horns with Pedro Carvalho in a featherweight bout at Bellator Dublin.

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Severe MMA was first to report the pairing. Bellator Dublin takes place on Sept. 23 at 3Arena in Dublin and is headlined by a lightweight clash between Benson Henderson and Peter Queally, while Yoel Romero and Melvin Manhoef will square off in the co-main event.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the Professional Fighters League and UFC Fight Night 207 “Volkov vs. Rozenstruik” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Burnell had a seven-bout winning streak snapped in his last outing, when he dropped a five-round verdict to Adam Borics in the Bellator 276 headliner. The former UFC and Cage Warriors competitor began his Bellator tenure with triumphs over Darko Banovic, Saul Rogers and Emmanuel Sanchez.

A Portugal native who trains at SBG Ireland, Carvalho has lost three of his last fo…

BREAKING: The 2022 #PFLPlayoffs dates & locations are OFFICIAL!

NYC, Cardiff & London pic.twitter.com/Si6t8SzD4H

— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 24, 2022

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The Professional Fighters League is going international for part of its 2022 playoffs.

In conjunction with a partnership with Live Nation, the promotion announced Tuesday that back-to-back postseason events — Aug. 13 at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, and Aug. 20 at Copperbox Arena in London — will be held in the United Kingdom.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Professional Fighters League to deliver their first U.K. events this Summer,” said Live Nation U.K. vice president of sport & family entertainment Sean Ryman. “The PFL is a global brand in combat sports with an elite roster of athletes, the U.K. is excited and ready for this and it’s long overdue.”

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the Professional Fighters League and UFC…

The hometown arrival of a champion pic.twitter.com/OzhxupuPfm

— Mark La Monica (@LaMonicaMark) May 23, 2022

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was a prominent figure during a “homecoming rally” in his hometown of Uniondale, N.Y., on Monday.

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Sterling rode atop a Nassau County fire marshall’s truck and waved to those in attendance as part of a parade. The video was captured by Newsday MMA reporter Mark LaMonica. May 23 was declared “Aljamain Sterling Day” by Nassau County.

“I'm an emotional guy. I get emotional even just being up here in front of you guys because this is like, you know,” Sterling said while speaking on a stage at his alma mater, Uniondale High School (via Newsday). “I was a small kid and to be doing this, man, truly, truly blessed. Some times I really do still think I'm dreaming and wonder when I'm gonna wake up.

“Man I got a day. This is insane.”

A few pix …

A bantamweight clash pitting “The Ultimate Fighter 29” winner Ricky Turcios against Aiemann Zahabi has been added to the lineup for a UFC event on July 9.

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The promotion announced the bout on Monday. The card is headlined by a lightweight showdown between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev.

Turcios advanced through the reality show with decision wins over Dan Argueta and Liudvik Sholinian before garnering a split verdict against Brady Hiestand in the finale at UFC on ESPN 30 on Aug. 28. The Team Alpha Male product known as “Pretty Ricky” has compiled an 11-2 career mark while competing in organizations such as Bellator, Fury Fighting Championship and King of the Cage.

Zahabi, meanwhile, is 2-2 in four Octagon appearances. The 34-year-old Tristar Gym representative is coming off a first-round KO of Drako Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night 185 in February 2021.

Makwan Amirkhani will lock horns with Jonathan Pearce in a featherweight bout at UFC London on July 23.

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Pearce’s management, Iridium Sports Agency, first brought word of the booking. UFC Fight Night takes place at the O2 Arena in London and is headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall.

Amirkhani halted a three-bout skid in his last outing, when he submitted Mike Grundy with an anaconda choke in 57 seconds at UFC Fight Night 204 on March 19. Prior to that, “Mr. Finland” had fallen to Lerone Murphy, Kamuela Kirk and Edson Barboza in succession. Amirkhani kicked off his promotional tenure with five wins in his first six appearances but has since lost four of six.

A winner on Season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series, Pearce has rebounded from a TKO loss to Joe Lauzon in his Octagon debut with three consecutive triumphs. Most recently, the Fight Ready representative outpointed Christian Rodriguez at UFC Fight Ni…

Spotlight is on Asia's top prospects!

Here are the tournament brackets for the Who will emerge victoriously and realize their Octagon dreams?

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Opening round of #RoadToUFC kicks off this June 9-10 during #UFC275 fight week! — UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) May 23, 2022

The quarterfinal matchups are official for the “Road to UFC” tournament.

The Las Vegas-based promotion on Monday announced the four eight-man brackets, which will be contested at flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight on June 9 and June 10 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang Singapore. Semifinals and finals will take place later in the year, and each tournament winner will receive a UFC contract.

Each card also includes one non-tournament fight from a different weight class, giving those athletes a chance to impress and earn a spot on the Las Vegas-based promotion’s roster, as well. The “Road to UFC” includes fighters from Japan, Korea, Phi…

Eagle FC 47 main event ends after Junior dos Santos dislocates his shoulder pic.twitter.com/DMRhp1j84D

— Eagle FC (@EagleFightClub) May 21, 2022

Junior dos Santos is in relatively high spirits even after his night ended early in the Eagle FC 47 main event.

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The former UFC heavyweight champion was performing relatively well through two rounds against Yorgan De Castro on Friday night at FLXcast Arena in Miami before he appeared to dislocate his shoulder throwing a right hand in the third round of the bout. After a brief pause in the action, the fight was called off 35 seconds into Round 3, sending dos Santos to his fifth consecutive defeat.

“Cigano” released a video over the weekend providing an update on his condition. He also seemed pleased with the fight up until the injury, as he had De Castro off balance thanks to leg kicks, jabs and punching combinations to the head and body.

“My shoulder is back into place. In…

After a layoff that spanned nearly two years and a couple of bout cancellations, Holly Holm felt she put together a fight-winning performance against Ketlen Vieira on Saturday night.

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While she had popular opinion in her corner, two of the three cageside judges saw things differently, as Vieira emerged with a controversial split-decision triumph in the UFC Fight Night 206 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Michael Bell and Derek Cleary submitted 48-47 scorecards for Vieira, while Sal D’Amato had it 48-47 in favor of Holm. Meanwhile, 18 of the 20 media submitted tallies for Holm, according to MMADecisions.com.

“It’s just frustrating, because I think a lot of times these judges haven’t been through a training camp and see what you put on the line, and then when it comes short, just because they decide, ‘Well maybe I’ll throw this round here or this round there,’” Holm said on the UFC Fight Night 206 post-fight show on ESPN+.

“I don’t agree w…

Ketlen Vieira added another significant feather to her cap on Saturday night.

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Some six months after besting Miesha Tate, Vieira defeated another former champion, taking a hard-fought — and somewhat contentious — split decision triumph against Holly Holm in the UFC Fight Night 206 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Vieira was still competing on the regional circuit when Holm became a massive star by knocking out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in November 2015.

“As I was growing up and watching MMA in Manaus, Amazonas, I still had dreams of coming to the UFC, and I watched her shock the world and beat Ronda Rousey,” Vieira said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “And just like other fighters I mentioned like Miesha Tate and others, I’ve always wanted to fight them and be a part of this. So ever since I started, I’ve always wanted to fight her.”

While many observers thought that Holm deserved the nod on the scorecards, Vieira wasn’t impress…

Alex Davis, who was one of the founding members of American Top Team, recently moved to Las Vegas to open ATT Nevada.

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The move benefits his role as manager, considering Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world. However, things have not been easy for Davis’ clients the past two weeks, first with Norma Dumont at UFC 274 and then last week, with Amanda Ribas’ move to flyweight against Katlyn Chookagian. Ribas ended up losing via unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Night”-winning bout, and afterward revealed that she fought with a ruptured biceps tendon in her left arm.

"Amanda is an unbelievable warrior, a little samurai. I am extremely proud of her,” Davis told Sherdog.com.

Davis said it was never a consideration for Ribas to withdraw from the bout.

"Her injury was not threatening nor was it something that would keep her out of the fight,” Davis said. “Yes, it was an injury that put her at a disadvantage but she decided to fight through…

The UFC bantamweight title rematch between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes has an official date and venue.

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The promotion announced on Saturday that Pena vs. Nunes 2 will headline UFC 277 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on July 30. A previously reported interim flyweight title tilt pitting Brandon Moreno against Kai Kara France was confirmed as the card’s co-main event.

Pena and Nunes served as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 30” to set the stage for their rematch. Pena pulled off the biggest upset of 2021, when she submitted Nunes with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their clash at UFC 269 to claim the bantamweight crown. “The Venezuelan Vixen” has been victorious in seven of nine Octagon appearances.

Prior to her shocking loss to Pena, Nunes was widely regarded as the top female pound-for-pound talent in the world and the greatest female MMA fighter of all-time. The 33-year-old “Lioness” had won 12 straight fights hea…

Chidi Njokuani is compiling quite the highlight reel thus far in his Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure.

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The former Bellator MMA talent earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus thanks to a vicious standing elbow knockout of Dusko Todorovic in a featured middleweight encounter at UFC Fight Night 206 on Saturday. “Chidi Bang Bang” brought an end to the contest at the 4:48 mark of Round 1. The victory comes on the heels of a 16-second KO of Marc-Andre Barriault in his Octagon debut.

Elsewhere, Michel Pereira and Santiago Ponzinibbio received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for an entertaining slugfest in the evening’s welterweight co-main event. Both combatants traded liberally throughout the contest, but Pereira ultimately did just enough to capture a split-decision triumph.

Finally, Chase Hooper garnered the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his finish of Felipe Dias Colares in a prelimina…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC Fight Night 206 “Holm vs. Vieira” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

The main event of UFC Fight Night 206 proved that Ketlen Vieira is a contender at bantamweight.

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It wasn't easy for the Brazilian as Holly Holm put on a tough, veteran performance. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship women's bantamweight champion was able to keep it standing despite a few attempts from Vieira (13-2) to get the fight to the ground. The closest moment to a finish came on the feet when Vieira latched on a standing rear-naked choke that almost forced Holm (14-6) to tap.

How did Holly escape this #UFCVegas55 pic.twitter.com/HLUrWcr83D

— UFC (@ufc) May 22, 2022 While Holm was largely able to control striking exchanges from the clinch in Round 3, it was Vieira that landed the hardest shot as she stunned the veteran with a clean p…