MMA

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 11, 2023, 12:23 AM ET Jack Della Maddalena has an opponent. Again. The top UFC welterweight prospect will fight UFC newcomer Bassil Hafez on Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, sources told ESPN on Monday, confirming a report by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. Hafez is Della Maddalena’s third

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJul 10, 2023, 07:14 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Will Conor McGregor actually fight Michael Chandler? Will it be in 2023? Only McGregor seems to know … and frankly, even he might not know at the moment. McGregor (22-6)

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 9, 2023, 01:10 AM ET LAS VEGAS — Yair Rodriguez had his best moment of the fight, landing a grazing kick that snapped Alexander Volkanovski‘s head back, then following with a combination, including a left that landed flush to Volkanovski’s jaw. Volkanovski nodded his head in acknowledgment of the blows.

Jul 9, 2023, 01:42 AM ET The UFC put on a tremendous International Fight Week finale on Saturday night. UFC 290 featured finishes galore, and when the fights didn’t end in a finish, they were memorable with non-stop action. From the first fight on the card to the successful Alexander Volkanovski title defense, this was

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJul 9, 2023, 12:26 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun LAS VEGAS — Fans of the UFC’s flyweight division have been absolutely spoiled with one classic title fight after another in recent years. Saturday’s meeting between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre

Jul 8, 2023, 05:55 PM ET LAS VEGAS — It has been a tremendous 2023 already for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski — despite the fact he is officially 0-1 this year. Volkanovski (25-2) looks to defend his 145-pound championship tonight against interim title holder Yair Rodriguez (15-3) in the main event of the UFC’s

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 7, 2023, 07:28 PM ET LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones will fight Stipe Miocic in a battle of the most decorated light heavyweight and heavyweight, respectively, in UFC history. Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Miocic, the former two-time champ, at UFC 295 on November 11 at New

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 7, 2023, 06:51 PM ET LAS VEGAS — A rare brain disease has forced UFC newcomer Josiah Harrell out of his debut fight. A prefight MRI, required by the UFC and Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), showed that Harrell has a previously undiagnosed affliction called moyamoya, which is “a rare

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJul 7, 2023, 03:43 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Perennial Top 10 bantamweight Pedro Munhoz will face Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC 292 on Aug. 19, after Vera’s original opponent Henry Cejudo withdrew from the bout due to injury.

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 7, 2023, 12:22 AM ET LAS VEGAS — Two of the fighters who helped build the popularity of MMA in Brazil have now been immortalized by the UFC. Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. They headlined a

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 6, 2023, 08:27 PM ET LAS VEGAS — Georges St-Pierre is returning to competition — in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu match. St-Pierre, one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, will compete in a grappling bout Dec. 14 at the Fight Pass Invitational 6 in Las Vegas, it was announced Thursday

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 5, 2023, 11:59 AM ET Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni, who suffered cardiac arrest last month while training, took his first steps, with assistance, according to a video published Tuesday by MMAFighting.com. Lencioni’s wife, Marca, told the website that her husband is showing improved cognitive function and has been trying to

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 5, 2023, 07:55 AM ET YAIR RODRIGUEZ AND Brandon Moreno stood barefoot on the mat, each with one arm around the other. Their sweaty, wet hair stuck to their baby faces and the wrinkled Brazilian jiu-jitsu gis they wore hung from their shoulders haphazardly. Moreno posted the grainy photo on

Andres Waters Jul 4, 2023, 01:10 PM ET Is anyone surprised anymore? Six weeks into “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31, and six wins for coach Michael Chandler over coach Conor McGregor. Lee Hammond of Team McGregor, lost by submission to Team Chandler’s Kurt Holobaugh. With the win, Holobaugh becomes the sixth fighter coached by Chandler

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 4, 2023, 01:01 PM ET Val Woodburn will replace Tresean Gore in Saturday’s middleweight bout against Bo Nickal at UFC 290, sources confirmed to ESPN. Gore announced Tuesday on Instagram that he was out of the fight because of a wrist injury, writing that he might need surgery on the

Megan Anderson Jul 3, 2023, 02:56 PM ET The UFC will close out International Fight Week this weekend with its eighth pay-per-view event of the year as the promotion hosts UFC 290 on Saturday (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV, with prelims at 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, and early prelims on at 6 p.m. on

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterJul 3, 2023, 12:59 PM ET Top welterweight prospect Jack Della Maddalena has a new opponent on short notice for this weekend. With Sean Brady out, Della Maddalena will now face UFC newcomer Josiah Harrell at UFC 290 on Saturday in Las Vegas, sources confirmed with ESPN. MMA Fighting was the

Jeff Wagenheim, ESPNJul 3, 2023, 08:23 AM ET The PFL completed its regular season earlier this month. and now it’s on to the playoffs. The 12 semifinals in six weight classes will be spread across three fight cards in August, with the winners advancing to the finals in the fall. Three champions from the 2022