Aug 27, 2021 Junior Tafa has been surrounded by UFC athletes throughout his combat sports career and he has at last been given a shot to put his own name up in lights via Dana White’s Contender Series. Tafa will be the second Australian to fight in the upcoming season when he enters the Octagon
MMA
7:50 AM ET Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event between Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze is a genuine, well-deserved, undisputable fire emoji. When the UFC first announced this 145-pound pairing, fight nerds around the world rejoiced on social media. It features world-class technique, skill, athleticism and power. There can be only one dark horse in
4:08 PM ET CLEVELAND — Tensions were already high this week between Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley, and on Thursday things boiled over. After the Paul vs. Woodley news conference at the Hilton, Woodley heard a member of Paul’s team talking trash to Woodley’s mother, Deborah, who was sitting in the crowd of media and
7:33 AM ET The 29th season of The Ultimate Fighter will officially come to its conclusion on Saturday, at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Bantamweight finalists Ricky Turcios (10-2) and Brady Hiestand (5-1) and middleweight finalists Bryan Battle (5-1) and Gilbert Urbina (6-1) will square up with a guaranteed UFC contract on the line.
2:03 PM ET CLEVELAND — Stipe Miocic just wanted a call, a nod that he was at least in the conversation. The most successful UFC heavyweight champion of all time told ESPN on Wednesday that the UFC never contacted him to offer an opportunity at the interim heavyweight title earlier this month. Instead, Ciryl Gane
8:02 AM ET It’s been 26 months since Brendan Loughnane fought in the UFC’s Contender Series in Las Vegas. But even two years later, that night continues to define his career. Loughnane (21-3) faces Movlid Khaybulaev (17-0-1) in a PFL featherweight semifinal on Friday in Hollywood, Florida. The 31-year-old is riding a seven-fight win streak
7:30 AM ET The future of the UFC’s middleweight division seemed a bit hazy beyond the presumed next title fight — a rematch between champion Israel Adesanya and the man he beat for that title, Robert Whittaker. But on Saturday, Jared Cannonier put himself at the top of the list to be the next man
6:30 PM ET Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images The UFC Fight Night main event between Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum on Saturday night in Las Vegas is a pivotal one in the 185-pound division. The winner will remain a top contender, while the loser will slide down the rankings. ESPN has Cannonier ranked No.
1:47 AM ET Jared Cannonier has been in the UFC for six years, competing in three different weight divisions. He’s closer to 40 years old than 30. Yet, on Saturday night, the former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employee put forth perhaps his most impressive performance in the Octagon. Cannonier bested Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision
10:32 PM ET CM Punk is back in professional wrestling. But not with WWE. After seven years away from the ring, Punk returned Friday night with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), appearing on its television show “Rampage” in his hometown of Chicago. The promotion announced Punk, one of the most popular stars in pro wrestling through