MMA

Brett OkamotoJan 25, 2025, 04:50 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions Usman Nurmagomedov squeaked out a razor-thin decision over Paul Hughes on Saturday in Dubai — and there’s a good chance he’ll see the Irishman again in 2025. Nurmagomedov (19-0) defended

Brett OkamotoJan 24, 2025, 09:51 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions Conor McGregor wanted to face Logan Paul in an exhibition boxing match in India this year but said the UFC would not grant him permission. In an interview this week

Sam BruceJan 22, 2025, 08:04 PM ET Close Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Open Extended Reactions Israel Adesanya

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 20, 2025, 09:05 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions Two champions put the MMA world on notice at UFC 311, as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Islam Makhachev quickly disposed of Renato Moicano to retain the

Open Extended Reactions Islam Makhachev reminded the MMA world that he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter for a reason. Makhachev dominated late replacement Renato Moicano in a first-round submission victory in the main event of UFC 311 on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, to defend his lightweight title. Can anyone beat Makhachev?

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 19, 2025, 12:41 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Merab Dvalishvili had already beaten four consecutive champions going into his first UFC title defense this year — and yet, Saturday still might have

Andreas Hale, ESPNJan 18, 2025, 11:13 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Alex Pereira will put his light heavyweight title on the line for a fourth time against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was announced during the broadcast of UFC 311.

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 18, 2025, 10:50 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions The 33rd season of the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series will feature two of the biggest stars in the history of the sport — not to

Andreas Hale, ESPNJan 19, 2025, 01:10 AM ET Open Extended Reactions INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight title with a first-round submission against Renato Moicano on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome. After being dropped briefly by a right hand, Makhachev (27-1) put Moicano on his

Open Extended Reactions The first UFC pay-per-view event of the year will be headlined by ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, as Islam Makhachev puts the UFC lightweight title on the line in a rematch against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Makhachev has been nearly perfect in the Octagon,

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 17, 2025, 02:13 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions LOS ANGELES — The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 underwent a major change Friday, as lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan was forced out of Saturday’s UFC

Andreas Hale, ESPNJan 17, 2025, 05:44 PM ET Open Extended Reactions More than a decade after producing one of the most shocking knockouts in MMA history, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman announced his retirement on Friday during the UFC 311 weigh-in show. “Since 2009, the goal was to be a UFC fighter,” said Weidman.

Andreas Hale, ESPNJan 17, 2025, 12:50 PM ET Open Extended Reactions JiYí Procházka made his way up to the UFC 311 news conference stage at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with a hood covering his head. When the fan favorite — who will face former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill on Saturday — pulled back

Jeff Wagenheim Jan 17, 2025, 07:48 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Talk about making a strong first impression by putting your best foot forward. The UFC is opening its 2025 pay-per-view schedule with a two-title-fight card headlined by its best fighter. Islam Makhachev, No. 1 in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings, defends his lightweight championship in

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 16, 2025, 07:51 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions LAS VEGAS — It’s Jan. 1, and Khabib Nurmagomedov is spending the start of this new year the same way he has spent most of his life.

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterJan 15, 2025, 09:34 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions The PFL is set to make several major changes in 2025, including a complete overhaul of its signature “season” format. The promotion announced Wednesday that this year’s

Andreas Hale, ESPNJan 15, 2025, 08:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LOS ANGELES — When Kevin Holland enters the Octagon against Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311, it will be his 24th fight with the UFC. Holland, who has navigated between middleweight and welterweight, has fought at a breakneck pace since joining the promotion in

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterJan 15, 2025, 01:00 PM ET Close Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. A woman who accused Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her after an NBA Finals game in 2023 has filed a lawsuit against