8:30 AM ET We’re in the middle of a very rare off week in the UFC schedule — and in MMA, in general, actually — with no big fights to watch as we close out March and kick off April. That said, there is plenty to discuss and reflect on in this sport, including the
MMA
9:00 AM ET The PFL announced on Tuesday its opening regular-season matchups for the heavyweight and featherweight divisions on April 28. A heavyweight matchup between 2021 champion Bruno Cappelozza (14-5) and Stuart Austin (15-7) will headline the PFL 2 event at Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas. PFL’s regular-season format begins April 20 with the light
3:11 PM ET Jeff Wagenheim Editor’s note: Khamzat Chimaev faces the biggest test of his career on April 9 at UFC 273, taking on top-five welterweight Gilbert Burns. This story has been updated since being published in October following Chimaev’s most recent fight. After an absence of over a year, Khamzat Chimaev returned to the
8:43 PM ET A promising young middleweight fighter is out of what would have been his biggest test to date. Nassourdine Imavov has been removed from a scheduled fight with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 273 on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida, because of visa issues, the UFC announced Monday. The bout has been canceled from
7:53 AM ET The first three months of the year are nearly in the books, but which UFC fighters have surprised and stood out most thus far? More importantly, are they here to stay? The heavyweight division looks to be making way for new stars, as Tai Tuivasa survived a rock fight with Derrick Lewis
10:52 PM ET UFC Fight Night in Columbus, Ohio, delivered with the dust settling on three divisions as Curtis Blaydes, Alexa Grasso and Kai Kara-France put on a show while putting the current champions on notice. Will any of the three get a title fight with their next matchup? Blaydes certainly hopes so, as the
10:29 PM ET Curtis Blaydes, one of the most unapologetic wrestlers in the UFC, decided to show off his hands on Saturday. A former collegiate wrestler, Blaydes (16-3) produced a highlight-reel finish over Chris Daukaus (12-5) in the main event of UFC Fight Night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The finish came just 17
3:49 PM ET UFC superstar Nate Diaz has publicly requested a release from his exclusive contract with the promotion. Diaz, 36, issued the request on social media on Saturday. He tagged the accounts of the UFC and UFC president Dana White. He also included a tag aimed at Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s chief business officer.
7:48 PM ET The UFC lost a top women’s bantamweight contender fight on its pay-per-view card next month but is replacing it with another. Irene Aldana is out of a scheduled fight with Aspen Ladd at UFC 273 on April 9 in Jacksonville, Florida, because of an undisclosed injury, sources confirmed Saturday to ESPN. In
2:32 PM ET The UFC is finalizing a middleweight bout between Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira in July, multiple sources told ESPN. Contacts have not been signed but both sides have agreed to the 185-pound matchup. It will take place on what is expected to be a UFC 277 pay-per-view on July 30. The UFC