MMA

8:17 AM ET With a key matchup between UFC men’s bantamweight contenders Marlon Moraes (23-6-1) and Cory Sandhagen (12-2) set to headline this weekend’s event on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, it feels like a good time to talk about one of the UFC’s most intriguing divisions. As far as the promotion’s

6:04 PM ET Mark Raimondi One of the best comeback victories of the year in MMA is now null and void, at least in the official record books. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) overturned Trevin Jones‘ second-round TKO over Timur Valiev, making it a no-contest Wednesday following a Jones positive drug test for marijuana.

3:04 PM ET Georges St-Pierre is leaving the door slightly open for a return to UFC — and Khabib Nurmagomedov would be the only opponent he’d consider. The UFC legend told ESPN on Wednesday that he has “mixed feelings” about an Octagon comeback but would not completely rule it out. If it does happen, St-Pierre

7:09 AM ET Scott Coker was sitting in the stands at the Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove, California. It was May 10, 2014. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was promoting an amateur MMA card that night, and Coker went with a friend to see Jackson. At the time, Coker, the longtime combat sports promoter, was

6:07 PM ET The Kamaru Usman–Gilbert Burns UFC welterweight title fight is not happening on Dec. 12 after all, sources said Monday. The previously reported UFC 256 main event has been postponed due to Usman needing more time to recover from undisclosed injuries, sources said. The UFC has already explored the possibility of Stipe Miocic

6:31 AM ET When Conor McGregor talks — or tweets — everyone in the MMA world is sure to take notice. That’s a pretty strong reaction for a guy who has had one cage fight in two years. But for McGregor, that’s where the problem lies. As he geared up for his January Octagon return

2:10 AM ET Much of the talk in recent years surrounding Holly Holm has focused on retirement. When will the 38-year-old Holm hang up the gloves? After her performance on Saturday in the UFC Fight Night main event on Fight Island, that discussion could be about a title shot. Holm, ranked sixth in the ESPN

1:19 AM ET Holly Holm turned to her wrestling against Irene Aldana and rolled to an easy unanimous decision victory Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday on Yas Island. The judges scored the bout 50-44, 50-45 and 50-45 for Holm. Holm, known for her skills as a striker, mixed

6:55 PM ET Holly Holm has said time and again that she does not want her UFC career to be defined by her shocking knockout of Ronda Rousey. Saturday on “Fight Island,” Holm has a chance to forge her first winning streak since that 2015 victory — and perhaps earn another title shot. Holm, one

8:39 AM ET Usman Nurmagomedov, the younger cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has signed a multifight deal with Bellator, according to promotion officials. Khabib Nurmagomedov announced the signing on his Instagram page Friday. Usman Nurmagomedov is 11-0 since turning pro in 2017. Ten of his 11 victories have come via finish. He is

10:57 AM ET Former UFC stalwart Rustam Khabilov has signed a multifight deal with Bellator, sources told ESPN. Khabilov (24-4) has won seven of his past eight fights. He most recently fought for the UFC last November, defeating Sergey Khandozhko via unanimous decision. That was the last fight on Khabilov’s UFC contract. Khabilov has been

11:01 AM ET Bellator MMA lightweight prospect Aaron Pico has booked his next fight, against John de Jesus on Nov. 12, according to multiple sources. Contracts have not been signed, but both sides have verbally agreed to the matchup. The Nov. 12 event is expected to take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

12:21 PM ET Deiveson Figueiredo‘s first flyweight title defense won’t come against Cody Garbrandt after all. Figueiredo (19-1) will now face Alex Perez at UFC 255 on Nov. 21 after Garbrandt was forced to withdraw from the title fight because of an injury, sources told ESPN. The news was first reported by Combate. The fight

1:16 PM ET Another UFC veteran is headed to Bellator. This time it’s Welsh bantamweight Brett Johns, who has agreed to a multifight deal with the promotion, sources told ESPN. Johns, 28, who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Montel Jackson, recently fought out his UFC contract. After testing free agency, he decided

8:04 AM ET For the first time in Holly Holm‘s MMA career, she is accepting fights with no clear path to a UFC championship. From the moment Holm crossed over from boxing in 2011, it was almost certain she would sign with the UFC and fight for a title. And over the past five years,

1:09 PM ET Isabella Mir, the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, is going to follow in her father’s footsteps. Mir, 17, has signed with Ikon Fighting Federation to make her pro MMA debut on Oct. 22 in San Carlos, Mexico, her manager, Malki Kawa, told ESPN. She will be fighting Danielle Wynn

10:30 PM ET The UFC has formally offered Conor McGregor a non-title lightweight fight against Dustin Poirier, Dana White told Barstool Sports on Wednesday. Additional UFC sources confirmed to ESPN that the promotion on Tuesday sent a physical contract to McGregor for a potential bout against Poirier. Sources close to McGregor confirmed to ESPN’s Ariel

9:16 AM ET Thursday’s Bellator 247 main event has been canceled after headliner Paul Daley failed to make weight for his fight against Derek Anderson. Daley, who weighed 1.6 pounds over the 171-pound limit, was forced to go to the hospital due to the bad weight cut. As a result, the fight has been canceled,