Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett criticizes the current state of MMA, arguing that the rule structure is gamed and needs to change. He advocates for longer rounds, allowing knees to the head of grounded opponents, and Pride-style total fight scoring. Barnett also calls for the elimination of weight-cutting, emphasizing the potential health benefits and reduced injuries. While his ideas may not be implemented soon, Barnett's suggestions aim to make the sport more well-rounded and true to its martial arts roots.
Georges St-Pierre, a legendary MMA fighter, believes Jon Jones is currently the greatest of all time in the sport, praising his talent and toughness. St-Pierre acknowledges the difficulty in determining the GOAT and mentions fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Anderson Silva. He also highlights the evolution of the sport and predicts that even Jones will eventually be surpassed, emphasizing that records are meant to be broken.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame, while women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is set to coach on the newest season of The Ultimate Fighter. Additionally, light heavyweight Jamahal Hill discusses his upcoming title bout against Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 300.
Steve Erceg's unexpected title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 has sparked mixed reactions from UFC fighters, with some expressing surprise and others questioning the decision. Erceg, who is relatively new to the UFC, will face Pantoja in the main event on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The announcement has led to discussions among fighters and fans about the selection process for title challengers in the flyweight division.
PFL Europe event in Paris featured a welterweight bout between Cédric Doumbé and Baysangur Chamsoudinov, with Chamsoudinov winning via TKO in the third round. The event also included other exciting matchups, with fighters competing for points in the PFL Europe lightweight and welterweight regular seasons.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featured a card of 11 fights with PFL fighters facing off against Bellator fighters. Renan Ferreira defeated Ryan Bader in the main event via TKO, while Johnny Eblen secured a split decision win over Impa Kasanganay in the co-main event. Other notable results included A.J. McKee's submission victory over Clay Collard and Claressa Shields' split decision win over Kelsey DeSantis in her MMA debut.
The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 in Mexico City features a stacked card with grappling superstars like Craig Jones, Rafael Lovato, Nicky Rodriguez, and Roberto Jimenez. Light heavyweight Jamahal Hill discusses his upcoming title bout against Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 300, while former Pride FC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva is named to the UFC Hall of Fame Pioneer Wing.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 returns with a stacked card featuring grappling superstars Craig Jones, Rafael Lovato, Nicky Rodriguez, and Roberto Jimenez, while UFC commentator Dominick Cruz breaks down the Volkanovski vs Topuria featherweight title match at UFC 298 in Anaheim, and former Pride FC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva is named to the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
PFL announces the launch of the Bellator Champions Series, featuring international prime time broadcasts on DAZN and headlined by a March 22 event at The SSE Arena, Belfast. The series will showcase reigning Bellator champions defending their titles against top fighters, with the first event featuring Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore for the light heavyweight title and Leah McCourt vs. Sinead Kavanagh. The joint venture between PFL and Bellator aims to bring the best of MMA to global audiences, with U.S. broadcast plans yet to be revealed.
Diana Belbita suffered a gruesome armbar injury during her fight against Molly McCann at UFC Vegas 85, but a CT scan revealed no broken bones. Belbita suspects a torn ligament and plans to undergo an MRI upon returning to Canada. The recovery time for her injury is uncertain, but it could range from two months for non-surgical treatment to over nine months if surgery is required. This loss puts Belbita at 0-2 against McCann, and she has struggled with a 2-4 record in her last six UFC fights.
