Blog

Charles Johnson earned a bonus for his submission victory, pulling off a Scottish twister against Eduardo Henrique in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Philadelphia.

Johnson endured an early storm from his counterpart at UFC 330 before executing the rare move during a grappling exchange. He detailed his proficiency with the submission at the post-fight press conference and revealed who taught it to him.

Advertisement

How Charles Johnson landed historic Scottish twister against Eduardo Henrique at UFC 330 While Johnson is better known for his striking, he showed off his grappling chops when the opportunity presented itself.

The Scottish twister is a variation of the traditional twister that requires precise control of the opponent's waist and torso. For Johnson, however, the submission was far from a last-second improvisation, revealing that Patrick “Patchy” Mix showed him how to do it.

“I hit that at least once or twice a week on people in pra…

Jalin Turner made quick work of Kaue Fernandes in his second Ultimate Fighting Championship bout back since a brief retirement.

Turner, who announced he’s retiring from mixed martial arts in March 2025 following a submission loss to Ignacio Bahamondes, has now defeated both Edson Barboza and Fernandes in consecutive bouts via first-round finishes. He wants to keep the momentum going and inspire others with his comeback.

Advertisement

Jalin Turner targets UFC lightweight rankings after stopping Kaue Fernandes “The Tarantula” said in a post-fight interview that the road back to fighting has been challenging before paying homage to Barboza, who retired at UFC 330.

“It’s just been a lot, you know, it’s been a tough road,” Turner said. “The retirement was tough. I just want to pay homage to Edson Barboza. He retired tonight. Shout out to him for an amazing career. It was a blessing to share the Octagon with him. And I know how tough that decision is.”

Turner, who…

Mackenzie Dern didn't get the submission she wanted, but still retained her Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title.

Dern successfully defended the belt via a lopsided decision, out-grappling Gillian Robertson for five rounds in the UFC 330 co-main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The champ came close to finding the finish, but the challenger’s durability ultimately saw the bout go the distance.

Advertisement

Mackenzie Dern controls Gillian Robertson for five rounds in UFC 330 title defense Dern showcased significant improvement to her wrestling and striking in his first title defense, but largely relied on her credentialed jiu-jitsu to get the job done.

“I'm super happy,” Dern said in her post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “My first title win. I got taken down a lot of times, so I've been working on my wrestling. I'm still the champion.”

Robertson was outspoken about claiming to be the superior grappler in the lead-up to the fight…

Islam Makhachev was pushed to the limit in his first welterweight title defense in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Russian retained his title at UFC 330, winning via decision after a back-and-forth five-round battle against Ian Garry, once again relying on his wrestling to control the challenger. Makhachev later praised Garry and his team, commending their efforts in shutting down multiple takedown and submission attempts.

Advertisement

Makhachev weighs Garry’s challenge against Alexander Volkanovski In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Makhachev acknowledged that Garry gave him a “hard” fight, but stopped short of anointing it the toughest of his career, hinting at his first bout with Alexander Volkanovski being on par, if not more challenging.

“Yeah, he's a great fighter, good man and I just respect him,” Makhachev said. “He gave me a hard time, but I still prove every fight.”

The Dagestani also credited Garry’s coach, former UFC fighter D…

Ian Garry fell short in his maiden title bid in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but he made no excuses for the loss.

The Irishman lost to Islam Makhachev in the UFC 330 main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with the champion winning on all three judges’ scorecards to retain the welterweight title. Garry spoke highly of Makhachev in his post-fight interview, while also claiming that he felt he was better on the night.

Advertisement

Ian Garry says he was better than Islam Makhachev in UFC 330 title fight Garry is proud of his performance and didn’t dispute the judges’ decision. He also praised the champ, commending Makhachev for making the move up from lightweight and being successful at welterweight.

“Nothing surprised me. I have nothing but respect for Islam,” Garry told Joe Rogan. “We should all sit back, show him respect, to come up here and win that second belt. I believed in my heart and in my soul, I was better than him tonight. He won. I …

#AndStill #UFC330 pic.twitter.com/9YIVH6kHkZ

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) August 16, 2026

The hierarchy of the 170-pound and women’s 115-pound divisions was at stake in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

The UFC 330 headliner saw Islam Makhachev (29-1, 18-1 UFC) cement his status as one of the best mixed martial artists ever as he outpointed Irish challenger Ian Garry (17-2, 10-2 UFC). The former 155-pound titleholder started strong, dominating his opponent in the opening frame with his wrestling-based style. He then dropped Garry with a head kick in the second before controlling his foe on the ground until the end of the stanza. Garry fared better in Round 3, when Makhachev appeared slightly fatigued and slowed his relentless takedown attempts. “The Future” was sharper with his strikes, putting together his best round of the contest.

Islam Makhachev beats Ian Garry by unanimous decisi…

NASTY twister by Charles Johnson 🤢

📺 #UFC330 on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/MPP4alSEbb

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026 After a spectacular UFC 330 that saw a total of eight finishes, four mixed martial artists bagged an extra $100,000 for their brilliant performances.Charles Johnson, Jalin Turner, Jeremiah Wells and Dustin Stoltzfus earn UFC 330 bonuses The Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White announced the four performance-of-the-night bonus winners. Charles Johnson gained a well-earned $100,000 for his shocking Scottish twister to Eduardo Henrique to record a third-round submission win. Interestingly, the finisher is just the second use in the promotion. Jeremiah Wells also took home a big bonus check. The American delivered a tight ninja choke to secure a technical submission win in the third stanza against Myktybek Orolbai. This is the veteran's sixth UFC victory.

Finally, the last two bon…

Sherdog's live UFC 330 “Makhachev vs. Garry” coverage will begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:

Advertisement

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round: The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Tudor Leonte scores the round:Scottie Smith scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores t…

The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Abu Dhabi boasts an exciting double main event.

The UFC has officially announced the main event and co-feature for UFC 333, which will take place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 24. The main attraction is a 145-pound title bout between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski (28-4, 15-3 UFC) will return to action after back-to-back decision victories over Diego Lopes, the most recent on Jan. 31. Evloev (20-0, 10-0 UFC) earned his title shot after compiling 10 consecutive victories inside the Octagon.

Advertisement

In the co-feature, Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will conclude their trilogy with a rubber match. When the pair first met, Dvalishvili (21-5, 14-3 UFC) defeated his Russian rival by unanimous decision in March 2023. Yan (20-5, 12-4 UFC) responded by outpointing Dvalishvili in their rematch last December, taking "The Machine's" divi…

Lucas Fernando made a strong impression in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

The former Legacy Fighting Alliance light heavyweight champion dominated Rafael Tobias before earning a third-round technical knockout at UFC 330.

Advertisement

Lucas Fernando backs up bold message with TKO of Rafael Tobias at UFC 330 UFC 330’s all-Brazilian matchup showcased Fernando's versatile offense. He attacked Tobias' legs and body with kicks while mixing in crisp boxing combinations. Even when Tobias caught a kick and briefly put Fernando on the canvas, the latter promptly worked his way back to his feet. He ultimately secured the stoppage at 1:10 of the third round.

During a post-fight interview, Fernando opened up about what the victory means to him.

“It’s a dream come true,” Fernando said. “I’ve been dreaming about this my entire life, and I am very happy with this arrival in the UFC. And as I have said, I didn’t come here to be just another fighter in the UFC. G…

The Champ is first to the scale!@MAKHACHEVMMA 170 lbs

[ #UFC330 | LIVE SAT AUG 15 | 9pmET on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/RbL3FXLEN0

— UFC (@ufc) August 14, 2026 Two title fights atop the UFC 330 are now official following the official weigh-ins, which took place earlier today in Philadelphia.

Advertisement

The mixed martial arts event is headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Ian Garry. Meanwhile, a strawweight clash between 115-pound queen Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson will serve as the co-main event. All fighters, including the four in title fights, successfully made weight.

This is only the second fight at welterweight for Makhachev (28-1). The former lightweight champion successfully moved up a division to dethrone Jack Della Maddalena in his last outing. Undefeated since 2016, the Russian has only tasted defeat once in his career. Makhachev officially weighed in at 170…

PFL Africa has arrived in Morocco! 🇲🇦

The Biggest MMA Event in North Africa is coming to Casablanca on October 10.

Advertisement

Our Semi-Finalists are locked in, and the battle for $100,000 and PFL Africa championship belt continues!

​With an incredible lineup of fights packed into one… pic.twitter.com/1iYZtQ6KO6

— PFL Africa (@PFLAfrica) August 13, 2026 The Professional Fighters League will hold its PFL Africa semifinals Oct. 10 at Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, featuring tournament bouts in three divisions and a heavyweight main event.

PFL Africa 3: 2026 Playoffs, the promotion’s first event in North Africa, will determine finalists in the bantamweight, welterweight and lightweight tournaments. Winners of the six semifinal bouts will advance to the PFL Africa Finals later this year.

Fighters from nine African nations will compete at the Mohammed V Sports Complex Senegal’s Abdoulaye Kane (5-2) will face Morocc…

Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili aren't done competing against one another after already squaring off in mixed martial arts and wrestling.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholders will meet for the third time when they headline RAF 12 on Aug. 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with the Real American Freestyle lightweight crossover championship on the line.

Advertisement

Cejudo-Dvalishvili 3 replaces Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad as the RAF 12 headliner The rematch replaces Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad as the RAF 12 main event. Covington and Muhammad's match has been moved to RAF 13 on Sept. 19 at Watsco Center in Miami.

Cejudo and Dvalishvili collided on the wrestling mats at RAF Georgia on July 11 in Tbilisi. Cejudo raced out to an 8-0 advantage before Dvalishvili made a comeback in front of his home crowd to secure the victory. ‘The Machine’ is now 2-0 under the RAF banner, while Cejudo has split his two appearances, beating Urijah Fab…

Gillian Robertson believes her upcoming title bout is the culmination of an eventful and turbulent run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Robertson (17-8) takes on Mackenzie Dern (16-5) for the strawweight championship in the UFC 330 co-main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The challenger has claimed that it feels like her “destiny” to compete for and win the championship.

Advertisement

Gillian Robertson is excited by grappler vs. grappler matchup Robertson, who has 20 UFC fights on her record, has grown through several ups and downs during her time in the promotion. She competed on the 26th edition of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2017 and has 14 wins inside the Octagon, including 10 finishes. The Canadian is now riding a five-fight win streak.

Ahead of her maiden title fight, “The Savage” is eager to add championship gold to her UFC run and thrilled about the matchup against a fellow submission specialist.

“I think this matchup, since she […

Gillian Robertson slammed Mackenzie Dern ahead of their Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title bout.

The two are set to lock horns for Dern’s 115-pound championship at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Aug. 15. The champ recently claimed that she neither likes nor dislikes Robertson because they don't know each other well. The challenger has now accused Dern of backtracking on past comments.

Advertisement

Bad blood is brewing between Gillian Robertson and Mackenzie Dern Robertson (16-5) opened up about the tension between her and Dern (17-8) during media day ahead of UFC 330. The Canadian claims Dern previously downplayed her jiu-jitsu but isn’t carrying the same energy into fight week.

“She was making comments all through the camp about how she doesn't know me, she doesn't think my jiu-jitsu's good, and all this stuff,” Robertson said. “Now she's like, ‘Oh, no, it's not anything. It's not that I don't like her.’ I'm like, ‘Why are we trying to t…

Islam Makhachev’s team has strong camaraderie.

With Khabib Nurmagomedov at the helm, the Dagestani squad is known for their close bond. Nurmagomedov, Makhachev and their teammates consider each other “brothers.” With Magomed Zaynukov recently making a successful Ultimate Fighting Championship debut and Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, potentially headed to the UFC, there’s no chance of them fighting one another.

Advertisement

‘We’re all brothers’: Islam Makhachev opens up about bond within Dagestani team Makhachev guarantees that lightweights Zaynukov and Usman, or any of their other teammates, will never fight each other. The former lightweight champ and reigning welterweight king can’t even fathom the idea of fighting his teammates, having essentially grown up together.

Makhachev was still climbing the rankings when Khabib was the UFC lightweight champion. Regardless, Makhachev could never imagine fighting “The Eagle,” who has been guiding him from the day…

Joe Rogan has once again criticized the Ultimate Fighting Championship's show-win system.

The longtime UFC commentator believes the promotion's standard pay structure leaves too much of a fighter's earnings dependent on the result, even when the outcome can be influenced by factors outside the athlete's control.

Advertisement

Joe Rogan argues UFC fighters should receive larger guaranteed purses instead of having significant pay tied to a win bonus Under the UFC's longtime payment model, fighters receive a guaranteed purse for competing and typically double their pay in victory, although individual contracts can vary significantly based on status and tenure. Rogan has long criticized this system.

“That is the most bullsh*t part of the UFC, you get both your paychecks [only if you win],” Rogan said on his podcast while speaking to former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling. “F*ck off. F*ck off with that. I hate it. That drives me nuts.”

Rogan believes athle…

Khabib Nurmagomedov credits Dana White for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s success.

Nurmagomedov recently praised White’s ability to separate business from personal relationships. “The Eagle” says White operates with cold blood, which allows him to make tough decisions that are often criticized. He believes it is White’s ability to make those decisions regardless of backlash that has made the UFC reach the pinnacle of success.

Why Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Dana White’s tough decisions pushed the UFC forward The former UFC lightweight champ says White is like an Italian mafia boss, for whom family always comes first. According to Nurmagomedov, in White’s case, the UFC comes before anything else. While Nurmagomedov acknowledges the contributions of several others in the UFC’s success, he believes White has always played the most pivotal role.

“[Dana] is very good at separating business and personal relationships,” Nurmagomedov told Lex Fridman. “For him, they wil…

Islam Makhachev says he doesn’t always get to fight as frequently as he'd like to.

Makhachev (28-1) puts his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title on the line for the first time against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Russian returns nine months after winning the 170-pound belt and he wants to be more active going forward.

Advertisement

Islam Makhachev wants quicker UFC turnaround after Ian Garry title fight Makhachev says he wouldn’t mind fighting again this year if he doesn’t have any injuries. While he has been accused of inactivity previously, the Dagestani champion claims that he wants to fight as often as possible. The 34-year-old wants to make the most of the limited time he has left in his career.

Makhachev says that bookings are often delayed due to factors beyond his control.

“It’s not a problem for me if I don’t have any injuries, not cut much weight,” Makhachev told UFC Hall of Fam…

Bare Knuckle Boxing has added another second-generation boxer to its growing roster.

The promotion recently announced that Sharif Rahman has signed a multi-fight agreement, bringing the undefeated prospect into the bare-knuckle ranks while still in his prime.

Advertisement

Sharif Rahman joins BKB after building an undefeated 9-0 boxing record Rahman, 30, is the son of former two-time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and the brother of professional boxer Hasim Rahman Jr. His father famously stopped Lennox Lewis in 2001 to capture the heavyweight championship.

Known as “C3,” Rahman has compiled an unblemished 9-0 professional boxing record with four knockouts. The Baltimore native, who now resides in Las Vegas, will attempt to carry that unbeaten record into bare-knuckle competition.

“I've carried this family name my whole career and I've never lost,” Rahman said via press release. “Bare-knuckle is a new test, no gloves, no excuses, just pure skill and heart…

Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry have vastly different views on how much authority women should have.

Garry recently faced significant backlash for speaking about his feminine side in an interview. “The Future” admitted to crying while watching Disney movies and feeling more masculine by staying in touch with his feminine side. Garry also said that the world would be a better place with women running it and men simply listening to them.

Advertisement

Islam Makhachev has hilarious reaction to UFC legend needing wife’s approval to go to Dagestan Makhachev, although in jest, expressed opposite views on women having authority. The Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion invited Demetrious Johnson to Dagestan during a recent interview. When “Mighty Mouse” expressed safety concerns, Makhachev assured him that Dagestan is one of the safest places in the world.

Johnson then said that he would have to consult his wife on the matter. Makhachev laughed in disbeli…

The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event has undergone a late change, with Eduardo Henrique stepping in to replace Jose Ochoa at UFC 330.

Ochoa was reportedly forced out due to an injury, leaving Charles Johnson without an opponent days before their bout at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. However, the promotion quickly found a replacement in Henrique, who will now make his UFC debut against Johnson.

Advertisement

Eduardo Henrique gets UFC debut against Charles Johnson after Jose Ochoa injury Henrique (15-2) will return to action after nearly nine months away. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance flyweight champion last competed in September 2025, earning a decision over An Tuan Ho on Dana White’s Contender Series. However, the victory wasn’t enough for a UFC contract.

The fighter also appeared on Season 33 of “The Ultimate Fighter” last year. Now, Henrique has the chance to make his UFC debut as a late replacement in UFC 330.

Johnson (19-9)…

The Professional Fighters League has finalized the lineup for its Aug. 22 event in Tampa, Florida.

PFL Tampa takes place at Benchmark International Arena, with mixed martial arts legend Cris Cyborg defending the women's featherweight championship against fellow Brazilian Ketlen Vieira in what is expected to be her final fight.

Advertisement

Cris Cyborg vs. Ketlen Vieira tops finalized PFL Tampa lineup Apart from Cyborg’s featherweight title defense, the PFL Tampa lineup also features former PFL lightweight champion Gadzhi Rabadanov (27-5-1) facing promotion newcomer Tracy Reeder (12-5).

Also on the main card, Gustavo Oliveira (13-2) will take on 2025 PFL world tournament champion Marcirley Alves (15-5) at bantamweight, while England's Luke Trainer (10-1), who has a five-fight winning streak, will face undefeated PFL newcomer Roland Dunlap (7-0) at light heavyweight.

Cris Cyborg’s final MMA bout headlines PFL Tampa: Tune in on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 p.m. …

While Mackenzie Dern is a strong, independent woman, she prefers her man running the show.

Dern puts her Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title on the line against Gillian Robertson in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Ahead of the event, Dern addressed headliner Ian Garry’s recent comments about women running the world.

Advertisement

Mackenzie Dern discusses traditional relationships before her UFC 330 title defense Garry recently drew a variety of reactions from fans and fellow fighters for saying that the world would be a better place if women ran everything. However, the UFC women’s strawweight champion disagrees with Garry. Dern says that while women in her family are strong, she comes from a traditional background. Dern likes being protected and cared for by her man, though she wouldn’t hesitate to go to war alongside him if needed.

“I come from a little bit more traditional upbringing,” Dern said at…