MMA News
Zabit Magomedsharipov shares truth behind abrupt retirement, blames UFC for hype train derailment
Curtis Calhoun - May 12, 2026
Former UFC featherweight star Zabit Magomedsharipov blames the UFC, not personal health issues, for his abrupt retirement from MMA. Zabit Magomedsharipov walked away from Mixed Martial Arts as one of the best featherweights in the world, and appeared on the cusp of a title shot before retiring in June 2022. It was a shocking exit for Magomedsharipov, as he was just beginning to enter the physical prime of his career and was deemed by many as a potential future champ.
"Reug Reug" Oumar Kane relives wild deep-sea fishing experience: "Only way we would survive"
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 12, 2026
Ask Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane about sharks and he laughs. Ask him about tuna and his expression changes entirely. Kane makes the first defense of his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title against former three-division ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin at The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 15.
Khamzat Chimaev's 'body shut down' in brutal 50-pound weight cut for UFC 328
Curtis Calhoun - May 12, 2026
Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut for UFC 328 was far worse than it looked at Friday’s official weigh-in. Khamzat Chimaev’s journey to the Octagon before UFC 328 was even worse than what would end up being a loss to Sean Strickland in his first middleweight title defense.
Gina Carano predicted to win 'ugly fight' against Ronda Rousey: "Ronda is a lot more predictable"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 12, 2026
Gina Carano is a massive betting underdog going into Saturday’s fight with Ronda Rousey, but one retired UFC vet is going against the grain. Carano hasn’t been in a pro MMA fight since 2009, while Rousey’s most recent bout took place in late 2016. The two women’s MMA pioneers will headline Most Valuable Promotion’s first MMA event inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The event will be streamed live on Netflix.
Jorge Masvidal praises 'Hall of Famer' Sean Strickland after UFC 328 win over Khamzat Chimaev: "An all-time great"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 12, 2026
Jorge Masvidal believes Sean Strickland has elevated himself into legendary status following UFC 328. Strickland challenged Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC Middleweight Championship this past Saturday. Strickland was a sizable underdog, just as he was before defeating Israel Adesanya back in 2023. Once again, Strickland pulled off a massive upset by dethroning Chimaev via split decision.
Dana White gives his thoughts on Josh Hokit's UFC Freedom 250 press conference antics
Harry Kettle - May 12, 2026
UFC boss Dana White has given his thoughts on the recent press conference antics of the always unpredictable Josh Hokit. Ever since his electric win over Curtis Blaydes, Josh Hokit has been talked about as one of the most interesting rising stars in heavyweight mixed martial arts. He made such an impression, in fact, that Dana White immediately booked him a fight against Derrick Lewis at the UFC Freedom 250 card next month.
Nate Diaz reveals interest in eventual trilogy fight against rival Conor McGregor
Harry Kettle - May 12, 2026
MMA veteran Nate Diaz has confirmed his interest in running back his iconic rivalry with Conor McGregor in the future. When you talk about fan favorites in the world of mixed martial arts, Nate Diaz is certainly up there with the best of them. He has achieved some great things throughout the course of his career, and this weekend, he will attempt to add further to his legacy when he squares off with Mike Perry in a fascinating contest as part of the first ever MVP MMA event.
Ronda Rousey goes off on UFC's Hunter Campbell ahead of her return to MMA
Harry Kettle - May 12, 2026
MMA veteran Ronda Rousey has given her unfiltered thoughts on UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell. This weekend, Ronda Rousey will make her long-awaited return to mixed martial arts when she goes head to head with Gina Carano. While they will be competing under the MVP MMA umbrella, the original plan, seemingly, was for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to put on this bout.
"UFC is hemorrhaging money", per WWE hall of famer who posits that's the reason for recent WWE cuts
Dylan Bowker - May 11, 2026
Some big claims regarding the financial situation of the UFC have recently been put out there from a multi-time WWE Hall of Famer who fired off shots at multiple TKO-helmed properties. During a recent episode of Kliq This Podcast, former WWE and WCW champion Kevin Nash was discussing his friend and prominent WWE figurehead Paul Levesque, AKA Triple H, and how the WWE creative direction has been compromised due to TKO intervention in recent times. Delving into his WWE-related frustrations while also putting out his own reports regarding UFC’s supposedly declining business, Nash said [via Fightful],
Nate Diaz calls out 'f****** puppets' Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland for squashing UFC 328 beef
Curtis Calhoun - May 11, 2026
UFC legend Nate Diaz had a lot to say about Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland after their feud turned 180 degrees at UFC 328. Sean Strickland handed then-UFC middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev his first-career defeat in an instant classic last Saturday at UFC 328. After months of bad blood boiling between Chimaev and Strickland, the two middleweights were cordial on fight night, despite being just hours removed from hurling personal insults at each other at the pre-fight press conference.
Anatoly Malykhin out to reclaim what he lost against Oumar Kane at The Inner Circle on May 15
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 11, 2026
He drifted from his wrestling. He lost the belt on a split decision. Now Anatoly Malykhin has returned to the system that made him a three-division world champion, and he is not leaving Bangkok without the heavyweight title. Malykhin challenges ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane in a rematch at The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 15.
Tatsuro Taira breaks social media silence after UFC 328: 'Far from over!'
Curtis Calhoun - May 11, 2026
UFC flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira issued a lengthy statement after being on the wrong end of an instant classic at UFC 328. UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and rising star Tatsuro Taira might’ve been the co-main event at UFC 328, but they both performed as if everything was on the line inside the Octagon.
Cris Cyborg suggests detailed strategy for Gina Carano ahead of Ronda Rousey showdown
Curtis Calhoun - May 11, 2026
It’s safe to say that Cris Cyborg wants to do everything she can to help former rival Gina Carano defeat Ronda Rousey in their upcoming fight. We’re just days away from UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey’s return to the cage after a 10-year hiatus against Gina Carano in a Most Valuable Promotions headliner. Rousey hasn’t fought since suffering back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in the UFC, and seemed destined to never appear in Mixed Martial Arts again.
Nassourdine Imavov hits back at Sean Strickland's 'racism' teases after UFC 328
Curtis Calhoun - May 11, 2026
Top UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov doesn’t plan on squashing any beef with Sean Strickland if the champ makes it personal. Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight throne with a stunning win over Khamzat Chimaev last weekend at UFC 328. After five rounds of back-and-forth action, Strickland got the split decision nod on the judges’ scorecards to hand Chimaev his first-career defeat inside the Octagon.
UFC 328 star Sean Brady slams Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Strickland after squashing pre-fight beef
Curtis Calhoun - May 11, 2026
UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady was left befuddled by Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s sportsmanship at UFC 328 after their beef. The UFC 328 grudge match between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland didn’t disappoint last Saturday in Newark. In a five-round war, Strickland earned a narrow split decision win to reclaim the middleweight throne and hand Chimaev his first-career loss in Mixed Martial Arts.
Tang Kai enters ONE Fight Night 43 with a point to prove and a title that has never been more contested
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 11, 2026
Tang Kai makes his second ONE Featherweight MMA World Title defense against Dagestani submission specialist Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 43: Tang vs. Gasanov on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, May 15. The 30-year-old Sunkin International Fight Club representative holds a 19-3 professional record with 15 knockouts and has reigned as ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion since August 2022, when he defeated Thanh Le by unanimous decision to become China’s first male MMA World Champion. He unified the belts against Le in a third-round TKO rematch at ONE 166 in March 2024 and has not competed since.
Sean Brady suggests clash with Carlos Prates following UFC 328 win: "I've asked for that fight before"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 11, 2026
Sean Brady is throwing his name in the hat as a potential opponent for Carlos Prates. Both Brady and Prates are coming off big wins. Brady earned a dominant unanimous decision over Joaquin Buckley at UFC 328 this past Saturday. Prates stopped former UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Perth headliner.
Nassourdine Imavov admits he didn't expect Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev: "I will shut him down"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 11, 2026
Nassourdine Imavov didn’t expect Sean Strickland to pull off the upset over Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland entered the Prudential Center in Newark this past Saturday in hopes of becoming a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. He achieved his goal thanks to his solid takedown defense and relentless pace in the standup. While Chimaev also kept up with Strickland throughout the fight, two of the three judges saw the fight in favor of the challenger. Strickland captured the 185-pound gold via split decision.