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Daniel Cormier says one of the strangest moments of his broadcasting career came when he unknowingly criticized a fighter who was later investigated in connection with alleged fight-fixing.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer recently reflected on the incident during an appearance on the “In the Bayou” podcast, explaining that he spent the bout questioning the fighter's unusually poor grappling before learning about the suspected betting irregularities.

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The UFC Hall of Famer details how an ordinary broadcast became linked to a betting investigation Cormier recalled a UFC bout that was later flagged for suspicious activity, though he did not know about the investigation while calling the fight. During the broadcast, he questioned the fighter’s struggles on the ground before learning that the matchup was under investigation.

“One time they had a fight at the UFC Apex and this one dude was grappling. He was so horrible at grappling,” Corm…

Rousimar Palhares believes Valter Walker has all the tools to become an Ultimate Fighting Championship champion.

Walker has emerged as one of the promotion's most unique heavyweight prospects, compiling five consecutive first-round victories via leg-based submissions, including four heel hooks and a calf slicer. The streak has earned the Brazilian the nickname "The Heavyweight Toquinho" in Brazil, a fitting moniker given that Walker has openly acknowledged modeling his submission game after Palhares.

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Speaking to Sherdog, the former UFC middleweight said he’s impressed watching Walker enjoy success with the same submission that made him one of the sport's most feared grapplers.

“It's very rewarding to see him doing this without anyone judging him,” Palhares said. “I'm sure he'll become champion because the opponents in the division don't know how to defend it.”

Palhares established himself as one of MMA's most feared submission specialists, bu…

Most Valuable Promotions isn't shying away from going against the Ultimate Fighting Championship following its merger with the Professional Fighters League.

Shortly after the merger, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian doubled down on the promotion's long-term ambitions, arguing that the new venture will prioritize fighters in ways he believes the industry leader has failed to do. This comes shortly after UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the newly merged company as a threat to his promotion.

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MVP co-founder outlines why he believes the merged promotion can become a legitimate UFC rival The merger between MVP and PFL represents one of the most significant recent developments in the professional mixed martial arts landscape. While some have suggested the merger could create a viable competitor to the UFC, others have dismissed that possibility.

Bidarian has now highlighted MVP's long-term approach. Speaking to TMZ Sports, he said the organization's vision ce…

Coach Javier Mendez’s confidence in Islam Makhachev’s striking has grown leaps and bounds over the years.

Makhachev (28-1) is scheduled to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title for the first time against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. While Makhachev is known for his wrestling and grappling prowess and Garry’s main asset is his evasive striking, Mendez claims his pupil won’t be out of his depth on the feet.

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‘People sleep on his striking’: Javier Mendez hails Islam Makhachev’s well-rounded skillset Makhachev’s striking has developed impressively with time, as he held his own against Dustin Poirier and knocked out Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick. Coach Mendez believes Makhachev doesn’t necessarily need to take Garry down to the canvas to beat him.

While Makhachev will likely have a massive advantage on the mat, Mendez believes the champion can win with his striking alone.<…

Jan Blachowicz is eager to bounce back from his recent defeat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has singled out who he wants to return against.

Blachowicz took on Navajo Stirling in the main event of UFC Belgrade. Stirling had accepted the matchup on less than three weeks’ notice, making a 40-day turnaround from a win over Ion Cutelaba, and finished Blachowicz via vicious ground-and-pound in less than three minutes.

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Jan Blachowicz wants Robert Whittaker next after his loss to Navajo Stirling Stirling’s teammate, Robert Whittaker, recently mentioned Blachowicz while discussing future matchups. The former middleweight champ said that he would have been interested in fighting Blachowicz if the Polish veteran hadn’t lost to Stirling.

Blachowicz has now called out Whittaker on X.

“Hey, [Robert Whittaker]! Let’s turn your words into action,” Blachowicz posted.

Whittaker (27-9) made his light heavyweight debut last month after back-to…

Islam Makhachev assures fans that his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, isn’t running his social media.

Abdelaziz manages several fighters from the Caucasus region, who aren’t very fluent in English. The veteran manager has often been accused of running his fighters’ social media accounts when they chirp at their opponents in English, although he doesn’t appear to be behind Makhachev’s online posts.

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Islam Makhachev denies that Ali Abdelaziz runs his social media Makhachev (28-1) will look to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Ahead of his first title defense at 170 pounds, the Dagestani took to X to reveal that Abdelaziz doesn’t have his password alongside an image of his manager.

“Ali don’t have my password don’t worry,” Makhachev posted.

While Abdelaziz has been accused of posting online on behalf of high-profile fighters who don’t …

Usman Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has made some bold predictions.

Nurmagomedov (22-0) is currently a free agent, having exhausted his Professional Fighters League contract after defending his lightweight title against Archie Colgan. While the PFL has a 90-day exclusive negotiation window with Nurmagomedov, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is also looking to sign the undefeated Dagestani.

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Usman Nurmagomedov’s manager predicts wins over Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira and other UFC contenders Abdelaziz wants Nurmagomedov to fight Ilia Topuria in his UFC debut if he signs with the promotion. The veteran manager believes Nurmagomedov would make the former two-division UFC champion quit.

Abdelaziz and Nurmagomedov both regard current UFC champion Justin Gaethje as the best lightweight in the world. However, Abdelaziz believes Nurmagomedov would dominate most other elite UFC contenders at 155 pounds.

According to Abdelaziz, Paddy Pimbl…

How to watch Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha: Paramount+, Sky Sports and the full Zuffa Boxing 10 lineup Zuffa Boxing is set to make its Irish debut Saturday at 3Arena in Dublin.

Here’s a brief rundown for those who want to watch the event.

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How to watch Zuffa Boxing 10 in the United States Zuffa Boxing 10 will air live on Paramount+ at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on Aug. 8.

Aaron McKenna (20-0) will have the home crowd rallying behind him as he takes on Italy’s Etinosa Oliha (21-0) for the vacant IBF middleweight title in the main event. Both boxers have 10 knockouts and will put their undefeated records on the line.

How to watch Zuffa Boxing 10 in the United Kingdom U.K. fans can watch the event live on Sky Sports at 7 p.m. BST.

Here’s a complete look at the card as of Aug. 6:

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa OlihaCallum Walsh vs. Tyler DennyJoe Ward vs. Artjom KasparianSam Hickey vs. Brad AxeLouis Grenne vs. Daniel BuciucStevie McKenna vs. Owen O’Ne…

The early odds are out for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s next event in Los Angeles, set for Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena.

Joshua Van (17-2) will put his flyweight title on the line in a rematch against Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in the main event of UFC 331. Pantoja defended the title four times before losing it to Van last December. The odds have their upcoming rematch as nearly a pick’em.

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UFC 331 opening odds for Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Arman Tsarukyan and Gable Steveson Pantoja injured his arm while attempting to brace his fall after Van caught a kick and dumped him, prompting the referee to step in less than 30 seconds into the fight. Van has since defended his title with a final-round stoppage win over Tatsuro Taira. He is on a seven-fight winning streak since his lone UFC loss in 2024. The oddsmakers have it as a coin-flip matchup, with Van opening at -115 and Pantoja at -105, according to Bet Online.

Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan…

⚖️ #PFLCharlotte Official Weigh Ins

Bryan Battle: 185.6 lbsDalton Rosta: 185.8 lbs

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Be there this Friday, August 7th🎟️https://t.co/LsiQ59XlNj #PFLCharlotte | Friday, August 7th | 📺 Prelims 6:30PM on the ESPN App | Main Card 10PM EST on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Oo1I9vOULx — PFL (@PFLMMA) August 6, 2026 The Professional Fighters League's return to North Carolina is officially set following the PFL Charlotte weigh-ins.

The 13-fight card will feature an important middleweight scrap as the main event. Headliners Bryan Battle and Dalton Rosta both made weight for their headliner, as each contender looks to get back into the win column. All other fighters also made weight for the mixed martial arts event.

Battle (12-3, 1 NC) was most recently seen inside the PFL cage in a losing effort to Johnny Eblen. The former middleweight champion submitted "The Butcher" with a face crank in under a round. The defeat broke a five-fi…

Charles Oliveira has vowed that Allan Nascimento’s legacy will live on through Chute Boxe following the death of his longtime teammate.

Wednesday, Aug. 5, marked a solemn day for the Brazilian gym as members of the Chute Boxe family gathered to pay their final respects to Nascimento. Teammates and coaches formed a guard of honor and applauded as Nascimento’s casket was carried by members of the academy.

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Charles Oliveira says Chute Boxe will keep Allan Nascimento's legacy alive After Nascimento’s funeral, Oliveira shared an emotional message on his Instagram Stories while fighting back tears. The former lightweight champion and current BMF titleholder promised that Nascimento’s impact would continue to inspire the team.

“Allanzito, you were always an example of commitment, discipline and character to our team,” Oliveira said. “Be sure your legacy will never be forgotten. Now we have something even greater to fight for. Every time we step into the ca…

Michael Oliveira has no intention of following the growing trend of welterweights moving up to middleweight.

Fresh off an impressive Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in Serbia, the unbeaten Brazilian told Sherdog he plans to spend the remainder of his career competing at welterweight despite carrying significantly more weight outside camp.

UFC newcomer credits veteran specialist Rogerio Camoes Oliveira, who improved to 10-0 and recorded his ninth knockout victory at UFC Belgrade, acknowledged that making the welterweight limit is demanding. However, he said the process is manageable with the help of nutrition and weight-cut specialist Rogerio Camoes.

“I think because I arrived late to the weigh-in, a lot of people assumed I had trouble making weight,” Oliveira told Sherdog. “The odds in my favor even dropped, but the truth is everything is planned. I make 77 kilograms (170 pounds) without much difficulty, mainly because I work with Rogerio Camoes. He has worked wi…

Quillan Salkilld says his first main event in the Ultimate Fighting Championship fulfills a vision he has held since the beginning of his professional career.

Salkilld will headline UFC Vegas 120 against Mateusz Gamrot at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Aug. 8.

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How Quillan Salkilld earned his first UFC headliner against Mateusz Gamrot Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Salkilld (12-1) has gone 5-0 in the UFC, recording four first-round finishes. A win over Gamrot (26-4) would firmly place him in the top tier of the division. He recently described headlining his first UFC event as a dream come true.

“I just keep thinking if I was to tell the version of me two years ago that I am going to be headlining an event in Vegas on the UFC card, I would be ecstatic,” Salkilld said in a recent interview.

The surging Australian lightweight added that while focused primarily on the task at hand, he also wants to embrace the opportunity an…

The Professional Fighters League has finalized the lineup for its upcoming event in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a middleweight clash set to headline the card.

PFL Charlotte takes place Aug. 7 at Bojangles Coliseum. The event will air live on ESPN in the United States.

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Complete PFL Charlotte lineup features Bryan Battle, Dalton Rosta and full ESPN card The PFL has confirmed all the fights set to take place at the upcoming card. In the main event, Bryan Battle (12-3) will look to rebound after losing his PFL debut, taking on Dalton Rosta (11-3). The former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter exited the UFC after a string of weight misses despite going 7-1 inside the Octagon. Meanwhile, Rosta suffered back-to-back losses in his last two outings.

The co-main event features a light heavyweight matchup between Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (26-8-1) and Simeon Powell (12-2), while former title challengers Joshua Silveira (15-5) and Aaron Jeffery (16-…

Darren Till has labeled Ian Garry “fake” ahead of the Irishman’s first title bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Garry has emerged as a polarizing figure in recent years for a variety of reasons, including frequently switching gyms and allegations about his marriage. The former Cage Warriors champ’s recent claim that women are better suited to run the world is the latest remark that has drawn reactions from prominent fighters, including Till and Garry’s next opponent, Islam Makhachev.

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Ian Garry's comments about women continue to fuel criticism ahead of UFC 330 Garry’s comments came during a recent podcast appearance in which he claimed that if men listened to women and let them take over the world, it would be a better place.

“If the world was run by women, we’d all live in a better world,” Garry said on the “High Performance” podcast. “If we just listened to them and let them take over, it would be an easier world.”

While Till, who ha…

Conor McGregor has taken the first step toward a successful recovery and Octagon return, undergoing surgery on his injured knee.

The former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder recently revealed that he successfully underwent surgery to repair the knee damage he sustained at UFC 329 in his rematch against Max Holloway.

McGregor expects to begin recovery after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus against Max Holloway McGregor damaged his ACL and meniscus with the first kick he threw against Holloway. The Irishman repeatedly fell to the canvas while throwing strikes, prompting a referee stoppage just 69 seconds into the bout. “Notorious” has taken to social media to update fans on his injury.

“Surgery went excellent!” McGregor wrote on his Instagram Stories. “I am confident!”

Notably, McGregor suffered the same injury to his other knee during his first bout against Holloway in 2013. He took nearly a year to return to action after that setback. He f…

Alexander Volkanovski is confident Movsar Evloev will be the next challenger for his Ultimate Fighting Championship title.

Volkanovski (28-4) was originally expected to defend his title against Evloev (20-0) after winning the vacant title against Diego Lopes last year to begin his second reign. However, Lopes, who had already lost to Evloev, was controversially booked for a rematch against Volkanovski, who defeated the Brazilian yet again in January.

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Movsar Evloev’s undefeated UFC run has Volkanovski preparing for a potential featherweight title fight Volkanovski seems confident that his next title defense will be against Evloev, who is 10-0 in the UFC, although winning all his Octagon outings via decision. The Australian champ is currently in Thailand and putting in some wrestling work to prepare for the undefeated Russian.

“It’s pretty obvious it’s probably going to be Movsar,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “So, I get all that wrestlin…

Four more bouts have been added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s upcoming trip to Los Angeles, including Gable Steveson's second fight in the promotion.

The UFC announced that Steveson will meet Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight clash at UFC 331, while Robelis Despaigne returns to the Octagon against Tai Tuivasa. Also confirmed for the Sept. 19 event is a middleweight matchup pitting Ryan Gandra against Osman Diaz and a lightweight bout between Brian Ortega and Renato Carneiro.

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Gable Steveson’s sophomore UFC bout, Renato Carneiro-Brian Ortega rematch among new additions to UFC 331 Following the announcement that UFC 331 will be headlined by Joshua Van's flyweight title rematch against former champion Alexandre Pantoja, the promotion dropped more additions to the undercard.

Steveson, who made his UFC debut against Elisha Ellison in July, is set to return against Sharaf, who’s 0-2 inside the Octagon. Despaigne returns to the UFC after rebuilding mo…

Merab Dvalishvili’s nose is unmistakable.

Dvalishvili (21-5) recently tried to prank customers at a gas station. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight king wore a long-haired wig and makeup while posing as an employee.

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Former UFC bantamweight champion can't fool customers with a disguise An unsuspecting customer told Dvalishvili, without recognizing “The Machine,” that it would be difficult for him to reclaim the bantamweight belt.

However, his prank failed on another customer, as the Georgian had to own up when a woman recognized him. The woman revealed that Dvalishvili’s nose gave him away.

Dvalishvili’s nose is slightly crooked due to years of wear and tear from fights and it took significant damage in his last bout. He defended his title thrice last year before losing to Petr Yan in a rematch this past December. Although unconfirmed by the UFC, they have both indicated that they’re set to run it back in a trilogy bout next.…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, is unfazed by the recent merger between Most Valuable Promotions and the Professional Fighters League.

Following the announcement that Jake Paul’s promotion and the PFL will merge operations under the MVP banner while continuing to promote boxing and MMA, TKO Group Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro shared his views on the latest major development in the combat sports industry.

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TKO's Mark Shapiro welcomes Jake Paul's MVP-PFL merger, says competition makes UFC stronger The MVP-PFL union prompted questions about whether the combined promotion could eventually challenge the UFC's position atop the sport. So far, UFC CEO Dana White, several former fighters and now TKO Group Holdings’ COO have all rejected the idea that UFC could be surpassed.

Rather than dismissing the newly formed promotion, Shapiro suggested that increased competition could ultimately …

Steven Asplund doesn’t want to experience defeat inside the Octagon again.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight is set to take on Guilherme Pat at UFC Vegas 120 on Aug. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Asplund is coming off a loss to Vitor Petrino in his sophomore UFC outing this past March and has left no stone unturned in preparation this time around.

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Steven Asplund explains how his Vitor Petrino loss changed his UFC training approach Asplund admits that losses feel like the end of the world to him. “Concrete” vowed to himself after his last defeat that he would never have to question himself again about giving maximum effort in preparation. The 28-year-old recently revealed that he has invested in a home gym so he can be in better shape for his upcoming bout.

“This time I have invested in myself,” Asplund said in a recent interview. “I bought a home gym, I put a ton of dumbbells in my garage, an Airdyne bike and squat rack… I never want t…

Ty Cole Miller doesn’t see the need to deviate from his usual strategy for his upcoming bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Miller is scheduled to fight Billy Goff in a welterweight bout at UFC Vegas 120 on Aug. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The jab has long been the weapon of choice for the 6-foot-2 Miller. He plans to use his range as he typically does and pick apart Goff from a distance.

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Ty Cole Miller’s jab and reach advantage will be tested against Billy Goff at UFC Vegas 120 Miller admits that he has to be careful when reacting to Goff’s level changes and making sure that he is not backed up against the fence.

“I’m gonna use [my height] as I always have, have people fight at the end of my jab,” Miller said in a recent interview. “Stick ‘em till they drop. I just need to be able to potshot a little bit. Have them at the end of my punches and make sure my back isn’t against the fence. And just be able to react when he shoots and level c…

Mauricio Ruffy wants to make a statement against Arman Tsarukyan.

Ruffy will face his biggest step up in competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship when he squares off against Tsarukyan at UFC 331 on Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Brazilian believes a win over Tsarukyan warrants a title shot next.

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Mauricio Ruffy believes a UFC 331 win over Arman Tsarukyan could earn him a lightweight title opportunity Ruffy claims he isn’t feeling any pressure following the announcement of the lightweight booking and vows to hunt for a knockout win over “Ahalkalakets” in the UFC 331 co-headliner. As he did with his last bout, Ruffy’s training camp will soon commence in Australia under the guidance of Alexander Volkanovski.

“Winning this fight takes us straight to the title,” Ruffy said on his Instagram Stories in Portuguese. “And that’s it; let’s go and give it our all. I don't feel pressure at all. I feel privileged, very grateful to God f…

Cris Cyborg has brought in fellow women's combat sports pioneer Holly Holm to prepare for her upcoming fight in the Professional Fighters League.

Cyborg (29-2) is scheduled to take on Ketlen Vieira (16-5) on Aug. 22 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Holm is now helping the Brazilian gear up for Vieira. Cyborg and Holm competed at UFC 219, with the Brazilian taking the victory via unanimous decision in a hard-fought match.

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Cris Cyborg prepares for Ketlen Vieira fight with Holly Holm’s help Cyborg considers her PFL Tampa opponent one of the “toughest tests” of her career and believes Holm’s elite experience will give her an advantage.

An elite middleweight clash headlines PFL Charlotte: Tune in on Friday, Aug. 7 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

“Holly brings a unique perspective and elite-level experience that only someone who has shared the cage with top competition can provide,” Cyborg …