MMA

Sep 19, 2024, 08:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Blockbuster trades in MMA don’t happen like in other sports, and free agency only usually occurs when a fighter is either on the decline or a prospect is ready to rise up. Yet, many fighters are at a crossroads. Some find themselves perennially just outside of

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 18, 2024, 03:24 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Aljamain Sterling has pulled out of his UFC 307 featherweight fight with Movsar Evloev due to an injury. The former bantamweight champion was slated to compete for a second time as a featherweight after dropping his 135-pound title to Sean O’Malley in August 2023.

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 17, 2024, 12:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Johnny Eblen‘s Bellator middleweight title defense against Fabian Edwards has been added to PFL’s pay-per-view card on Oct. 19, headlined by Francis Ngannou‘s promotional debut against Renan Ferreira, the promotion announced Tuesday. The fight is a rematch of their Sept. 23, 2023, fight that

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 17, 2024, 12:36 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions Sean O’Malley is looking at an extended layoff from competition, as the former champ is scheduled to undergo hip surgery early next month. The 29-year-old suffered a

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 16, 2024, 10:16 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions LAS VEGAS — EAGLES CIRCLED THE Octagon, from nearly 400 feet above. One fight occurred under the backdrop of an ancient temple, another in a colorful Mexican

Sep 15, 2024, 12:50 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Coming into Noche UFC, UFC president and CEO Dana White was inspired to use his fight card — on the weekend of Mexican Independence Day — to tell a story of the fighting spirit of Mexico. The platform for his storytelling would be Las Vegas’ Sphere,

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 15, 2024, 01:20 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions LAS VEGAS — The first trilogy in UFC women’s history came to its conclusion on Saturday, and it was Valentina Shevchenko who enjoyed the last laugh. Shevchenko

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 15, 2024, 02:07 AM ET Open Extended Reactions LAS VEGAS — Merab Dvalishvili put an emphatic end to “The Suga Show” with a smothering unanimous decision win over Sean O’Malley to claim the UFC bantamweight title Saturday night in the main event of Noche UFC at Sphere. Dvalishvili used constant movement, six

Sep 15, 2024, 03:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions A 10-fight card at UFC 306 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was headlined by Sphere — the dynamic venue that hosted its first live sporting contest on Saturday. On the marquee were two title fights, as Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko emerged victorious as champions. Outside of

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 14, 2024, 06:49 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against former titleholder Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 16. UFC president Dana White announced the details in an interview with

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 13, 2024, 09:50 PM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions UFC lightweight Michael Chandler is moving on from a fight against Conor McGregor — at least for now. Chandler (23-8) will face Charles Oliveira (34-10) in a

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 13, 2024, 08:10 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The UFC is embarking on its most ambitious venture yet when UFC 306 takes place at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday. The $2.3 billion venue will be the setting for what UFC CEO Dana White has promised will be the “greatest sporting event

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 11, 2024, 04:43 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LAS VEGAS — Sean O’Malley believes he’s very close to eclipsing Conor McGregor as the biggest star in the UFC. The current UFC bantamweight champion will defend his championship against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC at The Sphere in Las

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 11, 2024, 01:12 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Brian Ortega is a lucky man. The former UFC featherweight title challenger will face Diego Lopes at Noche UFC at The Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend. The pair were originally slated to meet at UFC 303 in a short notice bout booked when

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 11, 2024, 07:52 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Open Extended Reactions HELENA, Mont. — SEAN O’MALLEY IS standing at the living room window of his childhood home, taking in the panoramic view of his hometown. It’s been a

Andreas Hale, ESPNSep 10, 2024, 02:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Conor McGregor‘s return to the UFC won’t happen in 2024. After an injury forced him out of a highly anticipated return to action at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in June, McGregor sought to fight before the end of the year. However, UFC CEO

Jeff Wagenheim, ESPNSep 9, 2024, 10:30 AM ET Open Extended Reactions At first glance, the UFC’s approach to celebrating Mexican Independence Day this coming weekend seems perplexing. UFC 306, which takes place Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas, is headlined by a fight between an Irish-American from Montana and a New Yorker transplanted from

Sep 7, 2024, 10:15 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Sean Brady placed himself back in the welterweight title picture with an impressive win over Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Brady landed 274 strikes and recorded over 10 minutes of control time