MMA

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

8:16 PM ET English heavyweight Tom Aspinall will headline his second UFC event in a span of four months, as he has agreed to face Curtis Blaydes on July 23. Multiple sources confirmed the heavyweight bout will serve as the main event for UFC Fight Night on July 23 at O2 Arena in London. The

9:49 AM ET UFC announced on Thursday it will host a second fight night in the U.K. in 2022. The event, which will be held at the O2 Arena in London on July 23, follows the success of UFC London on March 19, where English heavyweight Tom Aspinall secured a first-round submission victory against Russian

3:59 PM ET UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font has missed weight for his main event bout against Marlon Vera this weekend in Las Vegas. Font (19-5) was at 138½ pounds Friday during the official weigh-in at the UFC’s Apex facility — 2½ pounds over the limit. The UFC Fight Night headliner will still take place

5:39 PM ET One of the most promising women’s MMA fighters in the world is going to be on the shelf for some time. Casey O’Neill, a top prospect in the UFC’s women’s flyweight division, has suffered a torn ACL, will need surgery and is out for an undetermined period of time, she announced Thursday

8:09 AM ET Jeff Wagenheim Ask any serious MMA follower to name the top five submission fighters in UFC history and you’ll have Charles Oliveira (15 submissions) and Demian Maia (11) thrown back at you before the question is fully out of your mouth. They’re No. 1 and No. 2. They’re easy to list. After

11:42 PM ET ARLINGTON, Texas — There were several emerging storylines coming out of PFL 2 on Thursday inside Esports Stadium Arlington — but none bigger than Renan Ferreira. Ferreira (9-2), appropriately nicknamed “Problema,” knocked out Jamelle Jones (12-7) with a head kick and devastating punches in just 25 seconds. It marked the fastest finish

12:07 PM ET Jorge Masvidal is being accused of attacking his UFC rival Colby Covington and causing him to suffer a brain injury, according to court documents obtained by ESPN. Masvidal, one of the UFC’s most popular fighters, pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Thursday morning in Miami. Masvidal is being accused of aggravated

8:00 AM ET Rob Font and Marlon Vera are mired in a deep lineup of contenders in the UFC men’s bantamweight division, each looking to separate himself from the pack. They have a chance to do so on Saturday when they meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Font (19-5)

9:00 AM ET Ian ParkerESPN After an opening night filled will exciting lightweight and light heavyweight fights, the PFL returns on Thursday to do it all again in two other weight classes (6 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+). The card will be headlined by reigning PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza, who will be looking to keep