MMA world news
The stories fans talk about between fights, newest first, each dated the day the news broke.
MMA world news
Oct 8, 2026
Tsarukyan to wrestle Neiman Gracie, Zabit faces Chikadze at RAF Abu Dhabi
Real American Freestyle added five matches to its first Abu Dhabi card on November 14, led by the UFC's No. 2 lightweight against a member of the Gracie family. Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Giga Chikadze, which RAF confirmed earlier in the week, is also on the card.
Oct 8, 2026
Ex-UFC fighter Tim Kennedy reportedly shot in deadly Congo ambush
Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy was reportedly shot several times in a September 17 ambush in the DR Congo. A former New Zealand SAS soldier was reportedly killed in the same attack.
Oct 6, 2026
Dana White's runner Sal Everett KOs Ozzy Martin to earn a UFC contract
Everett, Dana White's runner for about two and a half years, stopped the unbeaten Martin in 1:57 on Tuesday's Contender Series. White awarded him a contract in the cage.
Oct 6, 2026
Dustin Poirier admits he lifted an overweight friend to make weight in Mississippi
On the Deep Waters podcast, the former interim UFC champion said he stood behind the towel and lifted a fighter so the scale read on weight. He gave no name, date or event, and we found no comment from any commission.
Oct 5, 2026
Chimaev offers Strickland his own money for a rematch as pay standoff stalls title
Khamzat Chimaev offered Sean Strickland "1 🍋", widely read as $1 million, a day after Nassourdine Imavov offered $500,000 of his own if Strickland beats him. The middleweight champion has answered neither, and his next title fight has no date.
Oct 4, 2026
Shevchenko vows to reclaim belt as Helwani reports she didn't vacate willingly
Valentina Shevchenko told new flyweight champion Natalia Silva to "keep it warm" after UFC 332. Ariel Helwani reports the UFC pushed her to give up the title. Neither she nor the UFC had responded as of Tuesday.
Oct 2, 2026
Raoni Barcelos suffered brain swelling in UFC Vegas 121 collapse, says Glover Teixeira
Barcelos's cornerman says tests found swelling in his brain after he blacked out against Raul Rosas Jr. on September 26. No doctor or UFC official has confirmed it, and Barcelos says he is still waiting on exam results.