MMA

7:59 AM ET ISRAEL ADESANYA SAT DOWN for an interview with Sporting News Australia two years ago, ahead of his UFC middleweight title defense against Yoel Romero at UFC 248. In that video, published March 3, 2020, Adesanya, wearing a red windbreaker with the collar up and sporting a mid-high-fade haircut, was asked about his

10:24 AM ET NEW YORK — A superfight between two UFC champions is “close,” according to Alexander Volkanovski. The featherweight champion told ESPN that a bout against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is nearing completion for UFC 284 on Feb. 12 in Perth, Australia. Volkanovski, who hails from Australia, was called into the Octagon after Makhachev

9:14 PM ET NEW YORK — UFC fan favorite Marlon “Chito” Vera is going to look a bit different in his next fight. On Wednesday night, Vera got a new tattoo on the back of his head — a black panther-like cat with green eyes, yellow paws, some red shading around its body and red

4:18 PM ET PFL featherweight Shane Burgos has been forced out of his scheduled bout against Marlon Moraes on Nov. 25 because of an injury, according to promotional officials. Burgos (15-3) was scheduled to face Moraes (23-10-1) in a featured bout on PFL’s inaugural pay-per-view event in New York. Moraes will remain on the card

7:47 AM ET Jeff WagenheimESPN BETHEL, Conn. — “It’s difficult here,” says Alex Pereira. He is shirtless and his torso is covered with sweat as he sits on a bench in front of an open window, a welcome autumn breeze cooling off the gym. “It’s very difficult.” Pereira is not complaining. It’s a little challenging

6:47 PM ET Cain Velasquez was granted $1 million bail Tuesday after eight months in custody. The former UFC heavyweight champion is being charged with attempted murder and 10 other gun-related charges in Santa Clara County (Calif.). Velasquez is being accused of chasing down a man, Harry Goularte, in his vehicle and shooting at him.

7:15 AM ET Frankie Edgar (Editor’s note: This story was written with the assistance of ESPN’s Jeff Wagenheim) I remember the first time I ever saw a prizefight. It was sometime in the 1980s, and I was a young kid. I went to my next-door neighbor’s house with my old man to watch Mike Tyson.

9:05 AM ET The UFC will visit Madison Square Garden for the sixth time in the promotion’s history on Saturday (main card on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET, prelims on ESPNews/ESPN+ at 8 p.m.) with a middleweight championship bout between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. New York City has grown accustomed to the UFC

9:31 PM ET David Purdum Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2014 Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008 Marc Raimondi The UFC fight on Saturday between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, which ended abruptly in the first round, is being investigated by a U.S.-based betting integrity firm after several sportsbooks in multiple states reported

9:55 PM ET Amanda Lemos might not be the most well-rounded fighter in her division, but her power makes her as dangerous as anyone at 115 pounds. Lemos finished Marina Rodriguez via TKO at 54 seconds of the third round Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Rodriguez was poised

4:11 PM ET The younger of the fighting Pereira siblings will be making a transition to MMA, much like her brother. Aline Pereira, a former Glory kickboxer, has signed a mixed martial arts deal with Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), the promotion announced Wednesday. Pereira will make her MMA debut Nov. 18 against Ultimate Fighter veteran

9:00 AM ET More than 10 years ago, Holly Holm was sitting in the JacksonWink MMA facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, discussing “what if” scenarios with her team. Holm was still a professional boxer at the time (she wouldn’t fully transition into MMA for several years), but when the conversation steered toward chokes and, more

7:05 PM ET Tyson Pedro will spend the best part of the next three months training alongside the likes of Israel Adesanya, Kai Kara-France and Alexander Volkanovski at City Kickboxing [CKB], after the Australian light heavyweight was added to the UFC 284 card set for Perth next year. Pedro will fight China’s Zhang Mingyang at

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jake Paul’s inexplicable boxing résumé now includes a win over one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Paul, the YouTube-star-turned-prizefighter, beat former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva by unanimous decision (77-74, 78-73, 78-73) Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena. The bout was very competitive, but Paul pulled away late

9:55 PM ET English featherweight Arnold Allen picked up the biggest win of his career on Saturday, although it didn’t come in a manner he wanted. Allen (19-1) picked up his 10th consecutive UFC win inside the Apex in Las Vegas, defeating Calvin Kattar (23-7) via second-round TKO. The 145-pound contest, which headlined UFC Fight

10:09 PM ET PHOENIX — Anderson Silva has been cleared to compete in a boxing match Saturday against Jake Paul after his comments from an interview nearly upended the bout. The Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission agreed to let Silva fight during a special meeting Thursday night, after requiring the MMA legend to take extra

8:15 PM ET It’s official. Raul Rosas Jr. will become the youngest fighter to compete in the UFC. Rosas Jr. (6-0) is set to make his UFC debut against Jay Perrin (10-6) at UFC 282 on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. Rosas’ representative agency, Iridium Sports, announced the news on social media. Last month, Rosas

Oct 27, 2022 TJ Dillashaw intends to reclaim his UFC bantamweight championship at some point, although he’s likely to be out another year due to shoulder surgery. Dillashaw, 36, told ESPN on Wednesday he will undergo surgery on his left shoulder, which was dislocated in the first round of a title fight against Aljamain Sterling