Author: Andrew Rogers

UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that Ronda Rousey will always have a place in the sport she helped build, insisting she’s welcome at any UFC event despite her long absence from the spotlight. Rousey, a UFC Hall of Famer and the promotion’s first women’s bantamweight champion, has not attended a UFC event since her retirement in 2016 following knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. In 2024, she admitted she stayed away because she felt “vilified” by MMA fans and media. “I’m pretty sure if I walked into the arena I’d be booed,” Rousey said last…

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr has stirred debate by claiming Terence Crawford has surpassed Floyd Mayweather in terms of ambition and willingness to take risks. Mayweather retired unbeaten at 50-0 after defeating Conor McGregor in 2017 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time. But Jones argued that while Mayweather was technically brilliant, he often avoided the toughest challenges available. “To me, [Crawford] is, because he challenges himself,” Jones said. “Floyd’s one of the best ever — slick, sharp, and smart — but he never really challenged himself. Crawford does.” Crawford, who became a…

Alexander Volkov moved one step closer to another UFC heavyweight title shot after earning a disputed split-decision win over Brazil’s Jailton Almeida at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. The Russian veteran, who has long campaigned for another crack at the championship, benefited from a scorecard many fans and pundits called questionable. Almeida opened strong, securing an early takedown with a high-crotch lift and controlling the first round on the mat. Volkov, however, turned the tide late in the frame, reversing position and landing heavy ground strikes — some appearing to hit the back of Almeida’s head. The Brazilian seemed to…

Ciryl Gane’s journey to the top of the UFC heavyweight division has been one of the fastest and most impressive in recent memory. As he prepares to face Tom Aspinall for the undisputed title at UFC 321, the French star could join an elite group — or tie an unwanted record if he falls short for a third time in a title fight. When Gane made his UFC debut in 2019 with just three professional bouts, his speed, movement, and technical striking instantly marked him as a new breed of heavyweight. He stormed through the division, going 7-0 in his…

Just days before fight night, UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi has lost a bout after Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady’s lightweight clash with Matheus Camilo was cancelled — marking Al-Selwady’s fourth consecutive fight cancellation. The news, first reported by Marcel Dorff, did not include an official reason for the withdrawal. It’s another setback for Al-Selwady, known as “The Pride of Palestine”, who has not fought since a decision loss to Loik Radzhabov in his UFC debut in March 2024. His opponent, Brazil’s Camilo, was also seeking redemption after dropping his debut to Gabe Green in May. Despite the setback, UFC 321 still boasts…

Former boxing world champion Anthony Joshua had a change of heart about trying MMA after training with UFC star Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. The two athletes, who both represent Under Armour, met during a promotional event where they decided to test each other’s skills. Pimblett, known for his grappling expertise, demonstrated a rear-naked choke, giving Joshua a firsthand taste of MMA’s more brutal side. “So I control your wrist, my other arm comes around your head, and I just squeeze,” Pimblett explained as he lightly applied pressure. Joshua quickly rolled over, laughing: “That’s mad, isn’t it? If you did that…

Floyd Mayweather has faced some of the biggest names in boxing — from Manny Pacquiao to Canelo Álvarez — but he says his toughest test came early in his career against Emanuel “The Drunken Master” Augustus. The two fought on October 21, 2000, when a 23-year-old Mayweather was still a rising star. Augustus, despite his modest record of 22-16-4, was known for his unpredictable, showboating “drunken” style that baffled opponents. Mayweather started strong, using his trademark speed and precision to dominate early rounds. But Augustus made it a war, smiling through heavy shots and taunting Mayweather throughout. At one point,…

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is set to expand its reach once again, this time with the help of Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. BKFC president Dave Feldman confirmed that Wahlberg will be involved in an upcoming docuseries focused on the fast-growing combat sports promotion. Speaking with BKFC star Mike Perry on the Overdogs Podcast, Feldman said: “We’ve been talking to Mark a lot, and he’s actually agreed to help us out with a docuseries we’re gonna do for BKFC.” The project follows BKFC’s previous series Deep Cuts, which spotlighted Perry’s rise in the sport ahead of his high-profile clash with…

The UFC is under fire from fans after appearing to overlook Lerone Murphy as the next challenger for Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title. Volkanovski reclaimed his 145lb crown by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 earlier this year and seemed poised to defend it against Murphy, who earned his ninth straight win with a spectacular spinning-elbow knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 in August. The British contender’s highlight-reel finish looked like a guaranteed ticket to his first title shot. However, recent social media posts from Murphy suggest the UFC may be moving in a different direction — possibly toward a…

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has fired back at Petr Yan after the former bantamweight titleholder questioned his Russian identity. Chimaev, who defeated Dricus du Plessis to claim the middleweight crown at UFC 319 in August, received a congratulatory message from Yan — but the ex-champion later clarified that he doesn’t consider Chimaev a “Russian” titleholder since he now competes under the flag of the United Arab Emirates, having gained UAE citizenship earlier this year. The remarks didn’t sit well with Chimaev. Speaking to Aslanbek Badaev, “The Wolf” said he felt disappointed that the comments came from someone he knows…