12:19 PM ET Zabit Magomedsharipov, one of the UFC’s most promising contenders, says he is retiring from the sport, stating on social media Thursday that he doesn’t “feel the way I used to” in regards to MMA competition. Magomedsharipov (18-1), a 31-year-old from Russia, hadn’t fought since November 2019, but there was still hope among
MMA
3:30 PM ET One of the greatest former champions in UFC history will take on a surging contender this summer. Jose Aldo, the former longtime UFC featherweight champion, and Merab Dvalishvili have verbally agreed to a bantamweight fight at UFC 278 on Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. MMA
12:18 PM ET Former NFL defensive end and UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy has signed an agreement to bare-knuckle box. Hardy, 33, has signed a multifight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the promotion announced Wednesday. It is Hardy’s first move in combat sports since the UFC opted not to re-sign him after a three-year run.
12:02 AM ET TJ Dillashaw will look to become a three-time UFC champion later this year. A bantamweight title fight between champion Aljamain Sterling and Dillashaw, the former champ, is being targeted for UFC 279 on Sept. 10 at a location to be determined, sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday night. Dillashaw’s manager, Tiki Ghosn,
7:58 AM ET Anitta, one of the hottest female pop stars in the world, posted a video on her Instagram story the morning of April 3. In the clip, Anitta was in a bed, still wearing the same outfit she wore the night before at her exclusive birthday party in Las Vegas. Talking into her
4:57 AM ET A recharged Tai Tuivasa says he is ready to upset the world again and earn a crack at the UFC heavyweight title in the process when he heads to France to fight the division’s No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane in September. The UFC Fight Night Paris showdown between the big-swinging duo was
9:26 PM ET Charles Oliveira is no longer the UFC lightweight champion, courtesy of missing weight before UFC 274 last month. But he is still expected to compete for the title in his next bout. And if he has his way, Oliveira would face Conor McGregor for the vacant belt. Oliveira told ESPN Brazil in
7:00 AM ET Jiri Prochazka became a champion in just his third Octagon appearance, dethroning Glover Teixeira in a wild light heavyweight title bout in the UFC 275 headliner Saturday in Singapore. Along with the shiny belt that was wrapped around his waist, the entertainingly inventive Czech fighter also has earned a spot in the
Jun 11, 2022 Kamaru Usman will defend his UFC welterweight title against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278 on Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah, it was announced Saturday during the UFC 275 broadcast. Usman vs. Edwards was the expected title matchup, and the UFC was just waiting on Usman to
1:29 AM ET Associated Press TOKYO — Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight in Japan again in another exhibition, this time against MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura. Promoters on Tuesday said the bout is scheduled for September. The rules and length of the bout have not yet been made public. Mayweather retired undefeated from professional boxing almost