MMA

Ryan HockensmithAug 23, 2023, 06:30 AM ET Close Ryan Hockensmith is a Penn State graduate who joined ESPN in 2001. He is a survivor of bacterial meningitis, which caused him to have multiple amputation surgeries on his feet. He is a proud advocate for those with disabilities and addiction issues. He covers everything from the

Jeff Wagenheim Aug 22, 2023, 12:55 PM ET For the third straight playoff semifinal card, the PFL faces the potential for a bizarre conclusion to its season after one of its competitors for Wednesday’s fight card in New York missed weight on Tuesday. That creates a circumstance in which a fighter can lose a semifinal

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterAug 22, 2023, 07:34 AM ET Close Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Undisputed super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall is the latest female fighter in the ESPN boxing pound-for-pound top 10 to make a foray

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterAug 21, 2023, 06:58 PM ET UFC women’s bantamweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva, in an Instagram post Monday, said she failed a drug test taken the week of her fight against Holly Holm last month. Bueno Silva is facing discipline from the USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, and the Nevada State

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterAug 21, 2023, 09:17 AM ET The UFC’s bantamweight division got a fresh coat of paint Saturday night — in a shade of pink. Sean O’Malley, the cotton-candy-haired, face-tattooed Gen Z striker, knocked out Aljamain Sterling to win the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 292 in Boston, signaling a new era

Aug 20, 2023, 02:12 AM ET Sean O’Malley not only changed the bantamweight division, but the entire landscape of the UFC after finishing Aljamain Sterling. Zhang Weili cruised in her title defense, while Ian Machado Garry remained undefeated. Marc Raimondi, Brett Okamoto, Jeff Wagenheim and Carlos Contreras Legaspi highlight the biggest takeaways from a big

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterAug 20, 2023, 01:27 AM ET BOSTON — Sean O’Malley climbed out of the Octagon, spread his arms wide and took a beer from a fan. He chugged it as the TD Garden rocked with cheering fans. The UFC has a new superstar. Welcome to the “Suga” era. O’Malley, the Gen

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterAug 20, 2023, 12:55 AM ET Close MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Chinese strawweight champion Zhang Weili turned in a near-flawless performance at UFC 292 — and that’s considering the impossibly high standards she’s come to be judged by. Zhang (24-3) dominated

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterAug 19, 2023, 08:47 PM ET BOSTON — There is still a possibility for Conor McGregor‘s return to the UFC before the end of the year. Michael Chandler, McGregor’s would-be opponent in his comeback, said Saturday that he has spoken to the UFC twice in the past two days and that

Marc Raimondi Brett Okamoto Close Brett Okamoto ESPN Staff Writer MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Aug 19, 2023, 07:06 PM ET BOSTON — Aljamain Sterling‘s swan song at bantamweight could be Sean O’Malley‘s crowning moment and the birth of a new UFC superstar. Sterling will defend