MMA

1:17 AM ET PHOENIX — Charles Oliveira isn’t the official champion. But he’s the champion. Oliveira, under extremely difficult circumstances, submitted Justin Gaethje via rear-naked choke just 3:22 into the first round of their lightweight battle at UFC 274 inside Footprint Center. Oliveira (33-8) was scheduled to defend his title against Gaethje (23-4) at UFC

12:54 AM ET PHOENIX — Rose Namajunas lost her UFC strawweight championship Saturday. Carla Esparza didn’t exactly take it, though. In one of the most bizarre title fights in UFC history, Esparza (19-6) upset Namajunas (11-5) via split decision in the co-main event of UFC 274 inside Footprint Center. Two judges scored the fight for

2:36 AM ET A 14-fight card at UFC 274 produced some big wins, fantastic action, memorable knockouts and a lackluster co-main event sandwiched between two amazing bouts. Jeff Wagenheim and Carlos Contreras Legaspi react to the pay-per-view and offer up their biggest thoughts on the night. Big fight nights headlined by championship bouts typically provide

1:20 AM ET The drama that surrounded Charles Oliveira since the moment he stepped on the scale on Friday disappeared in an instant with a first round submission finish of Justin Gaethje. Both Oliveira and Gaethje exchanged some big shots that resulted in their opponents on their back, but once Gaethje hit the mat, Oliveira

May 6, 2022 PHOENIX — One of the UFC’s most popular and dynamic weight classes takes center stage on Saturday, with Charles Oliveira (32-8) preparing to step into the Octagon against Justin Gaethje (23-3) in the main event UFC 274 inside Footprint Center. However, Oliveira missed weight on Friday, resulting in him getting stripped of

12:39 AM ET Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is a notoriously harsh critic of her own performances, and that trend continued once again on Friday. Harrison (13-0) extended her undefeated record with a dominant unanimous decision over Marina Mokhnatkina (6-2) inside the Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas. In doing so, Harrison kicked off her 2022

3:27 PM ET PHOENIX — Charles Oliveira will be stripped of the UFC lightweight championship after missing weight Friday at the UFC 274 weigh-ins. Oliveira came at 155.5 pounds, a half-pound over the limit for a lightweight title fight. As a result, the title is now considered vacant — and Saturday night, only his opponent,

7:52 AM ET Eddie Alvarez looked like he was holding a golf ball in his mouth, and his right cheek was comically swollen. To compound matters, Alvarez’s left leg was barely mobile due to numerous hard kicks to it. In Detroit, the former UFC lightweight champion was embroiled in the third round of a back-and-forth

8:08 AM ET Ian ParkerESPN The third and final opening night of the PFL 2022 season is here, and the main card features some of biggest stars in the league. Kayla Harrison and the women’s lightweight division step into the cage on Friday (6 p.m. ET on ESPN+). Harrison, who re-signed with the PFL in

10:13 PM ET The UFC is targeting a lightweight main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev on July 9, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Contracts have not been signed, but the UFC is close to finalizing the 155-pound fight. It will headline UFC Fight Night at a location to be determined. This will

10:04 AM ET The UFC is finalizing a heavyweight bout between former interim champion Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa on Sept. 3, officials confirmed to ESPN. Both sides have agreed to the matchup, per the UFC. The bout will headline a UFC Fight Night; an official location has not been announced, but the event has

8:00 AM ET The art of the submission is rooted in a fighter’s ability to seize an opening. An opportunity. A mistake. An action leading to a reaction. Close-quarters combat turns into an ongoing battle for positioning and leverage. It all plays on a constant loop until there’s an escape. Or an ending. The very

7:17 PM ET The UFC is working on a bantamweight fight between Sean O’Malley and Pedro Munhoz, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The 135-pound bout is expected to be finalized shortly. It will take place at UFC 276 on July 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. O’Malley (15-1) is 5-1 in the UFC with

9:07 AM ET Kelsey Puckett IRVINE, Calif. — Several cars pull up in front of what is normally a quiet Southern California home. The muffled voice of Matthew Lomeli, a practicing physician, can be heard coming from the house as he finishes up a Zoom call. Lomeli considers himself to be a private person. He

8:00 AM ET Jeff Wagenheim Ranking the fights on a big UFC card can seem like an obvious exercise. The sport curates its fight nights to build and build throughout the evening, culminating in the main event that has been hyped on promo posters to draw fans into the arena or to watch on television.

10:39 AM ET For the first time in two years, Darren Till has booked a fight in his native UK. Till (18-4-1) will face Jack Hermansson (22-7) at UFC Fight Night on July 23. The three-round middleweight bout will take place at the O2 in London, where Till last fought in March 2019. Sources confirmed

10:55 PM ET LAS VEGAS — Marlon Vera was feeling it on Saturday — and it might be time for the UFC’s bantamweight division to take notice. In his first UFC main event, Vera (21-7-1) put on a show against the ultra durable Rob Font (19-6). Ultimately, Vera wasn’t able to get the finish —

7:04 PM ET A featherweight matchup between Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett will headline a UFC Fight Night on June 18, the promotion announced Saturday. The UFC Fight Night is slated to take place in Austin, Texas. Kattar (23-5) is coming off an impressive upset over Giga Chikadze in January. A Massachusetts native, Kattar fought