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Tag: UFC

  • Chris Weidman Named As Member Of The 2026 UFC Hall Of Fame Class

    Chris Weidman Named As Member Of The 2026 UFC Hall Of Fame Class

    A new inductee to the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class has been announced.

    UFC has announced that former UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman has been named as a member of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class as part of the modern wing.

    The ceremony for the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class will take place on Thursday, July 9th, 2026 as part of the 14th annual UFC International Fight week. UFC sent out the following press release regarding Weidman’s HOF Induction:

    CHRIS WEIDMAN NAMED TO UFC® HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026

    Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the Class of 2026. The 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 9, as part of the 14th Annual UFC International Fight Week.

    “Chris Weidman is one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Chris consistently competed against the best athletes in the world during his career, and his victories over Anderson Silva changed the landscape of the middleweight division forever. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

    Weidman will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 19th member of the Modern Wing. The Modern Era category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000, when the first UFC event under the unified rules of MMA was held. Other requirements include a minimum age of 35 or those who have been retired for one year or more.

    A veteran of 24 fights during his 15-year MMA career, Weidman registered a 16-8 (12-8, UFC), record, securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Kelvin Gastelum (Fight Wing), as well as former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

    Weidman made his professional MMA debut on February 20, 2009, winning each of his first four fights in Ring of Combat before signing with UFC.

    Weidman made his UFC debut on the main card of UFC LIVE: SANCHEZ vs. KAMPMANN, which took place on March 3, 2011, at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. He would defeat his opponent, Alessio Sakara, via unanimous decision to launch his career inside the Octagon.

    Weidman would win his next four fights to earn a title shot against then-middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 162.

    UFC® 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN took place on July 6, 2013, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  Both Silva and Weidman entered the match on impressive winning streaks of 17 and 9, respectively. Having won 16 fights with UFC and 10 title defenses, Silva was aiming to secure a new record of most consecutive title defenses with a victory over Weidman.

    Weidman took control of the first round early with a takedown 30 seconds into the match with Silva countering from his back. Weidman continued landing shots from top position, but Silva reversed his heel hook position with two minutes remaining. Weidman and Silva would trade punches in the center of the Octagon for the remainder of the round, with Silva taunting Weidman with his hands on his hips to excite the crowd.

    Silva continued to taunt Weidman at the beginning of the second round, evading his punches and takedown attempts. With 3:46 remaining Weidman threw a flurry of punches, connecting on a left hook that knocked out Silva and ended the fight.

    Weidman’s KO victory over Silva is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history as Silva, then the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, was as one of MMA’s biggest stars.

    Weidman and Silva would meet five months later for a rematch at UFC® 168: WEIDMAN vs. SILVA 2, which took place on December 28, 2013, at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Weidman would win the rematch and defend the middleweight title after Silva broke his leg landing a kick to Weidman’s shin.

    Weidman would defend the middleweight title by winning his next two fights over Machida and Belfort, before losing his first fight to former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the co-main event of UFC 194 on December 12, 2015.

    Over the next eight years, Weidman would compete in 11 more bouts against the top ranked middleweights in the world, before retiring in December 2024 after a loss to Eryk Anders at UFC 310.

    Outside the Octagon, Weidman has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, receiving Breakthrough Fighter of the Year in 2012 by the Fighters Only World MMA Awards and Fighter of the Year in 2013 by Yahoo! Sports, MMA Junkie and the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.

    A native of Baldwin, New York, Weidman began wrestling at a young age and became a New York state wrestling champion while attending Baldwin Senior High School. Following high school, Weidman earned NJCAA All-America honors at Nassau Community College in 2004 and 2005, before transferring to Hofstra. At Hofstra, he continued to thrive, becoming a two-time NCAA All-American in 2006 and 2007. Weidman currently serves as an analyst / commentator for UFC events broadcast on Paramount+.

    To view Weidman’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/34821

    To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

     

     

  • Thomas Gerbasi Named As Member Of The 2026 UFC Hall Of Fame Class

    Thomas Gerbasi Named As Member Of The 2026 UFC Hall Of Fame Class

    A new inductee to the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class has been announced.

    UFC has announced that longtime UFC Writer and Editorial Director, Thomas Gerbasi has been named as a member of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class as a Contributor.

    The ceremony for the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Class will take place on Thursday, July 9th, 2026 as part of the 14th annual UFC International Fight week. UFC sent out the following press release regarding Gerbasi’s HOF Induction:

    THOMAS GERBASI NAMED TO UFC® HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026

    Las Vegas – UFC today announced that longtime UFC writer and editorial director, Thomas Gerbasi, has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame class for 2026 as a Contributor. The 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 9, as part of the 14th Annual UFC International Fight Week.

    “Tom was a close member of the UFC family and a very talented writer,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White.

    If you’ve ever read anything at all on UFC.com, the UFC print magazine, or any number of official books on UFC, you’ve read the writing of Thomas Gerbasi. For almost two decades, Tom served as editorial director, head writer, and company historian for UFC, recording, reporting, and telling the tale of the world’s greatest sports organization as it unfolded in real time.

    A proud native New Yorker, Gerbasi graduated from St. John’s University and celebrated his life-long love of boxing in early web publications like HouseOfBoxing.com and MaxBoxing.com, where he quickly became recognized as an authority in the sport.

    In 2024, he was honored with the Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in boxing journalism from the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2022, he was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame for his work as a journalist covering the sport. His final book Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters, was released in September 2025.

    His acumen in boxing and combat sports eventually caught the eye of UFC, where he would transfer his massive knowledge and immense credibility to the world of mixed martial arts. He authored several of the definitive works on the company, including UFC: A Visual History; The UFC Encyclopedia; and The Official UFC Fan Guide. He diligently kept meticulous biographies of every fighter and was recognized as the utmost authority both inside and outside of UFC.

    But arguably his biggest journalistic contribution was to UFC’s website, a place where week after week, month after month, and year after year, he told the stories of the men and women who stepped into the Octagon. He was guided by the mantra “tell the stories that only we can tell,” and demanded that his team do the same. Giving as much credence to a young new fighter on the early prelims as he did the most decorated of champions, Gerbasi’s words introduced the world to thousands of MMA athletes. He spent his days talking to each and every member of the UFC roster, who implicitly trusted him to tell their diverse and inspiring stories.

    Beyond the printed and digital media domains, Gerbasi’s contributions extended to the entire UFC organization, making his impact in departments as varied as public relations, creative, live production, and broadcast. In short, anytime strong, credible copy about UFC was needed, Tom was the guy.

    In addition to his own books and his invaluable contributions to UFC, Gerbasi’s work appeared in myriad publications, including The Ring Magazine, The Village Voice, The Independent, The Boston Herald, King, Uppercut, Women’s Boxing World, Boxing News, ESPN.com, and countless others.

    Outside of combat sports, Gerbasi was an avowed family man, caring for his wife, daughter, and two young granddaughters daily. He played goalie in an organized soccer league on Sundays and ran numerous marathons in his spare time. He loved music and celebrated great cuisine.

    To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

  • New Champion Crowned, Surprising Victories, Plus More – UFC 328 Results – May 9, 2026

    New Champion Crowned, Surprising Victories, Plus More – UFC 328 Results – May 9, 2026

    UFC 328 was held in Newark, New Jersey and headlined by a Middleweight Title fight with  Sean Strickland challenged Khamzat Chimaev.

    MAIN CARD

    • Sean Strickland def. Khamzat Chimaev (c) via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
    • Joshua Van (c) def. Tatsuro Taira via fifth-round TKO (punches)
    • Alexander Volkov def. Waldo Cortes Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Sean Brady def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27)
    • King Green def. Jeremy Stephens via first-round submission (rear naked choke)

    https://x.com/ufc/status/2053335911472169037?s=46

    The show aired on Paramount + in the United States.

     

  • The 5 Greatest Crossover Athletes Who Competed in Both Pro Wrestling and Combat Sports

    The 5 Greatest Crossover Athletes Who Competed in Both Pro Wrestling and Combat Sports

    Some athletes pick a lane and stay in it. These five ignored the lane entirely. Each stepped into the scripted chaos of pro wrestling and the genuine danger of a combat sports cage, and performed at the top of both. Here’s who made it work.

    Brock Lesnar: The Blueprint for Crossover Dominance

    No one pulled off the wrestling-to-MMA switch with the same velocity as Brock Lesnar. He won the UFC Heavyweight Championship in just his fourth professional fight, 277 days after his UFC debut. For context, that’s less time than some fighters spend ranked in the top 15 without sniffing a title shot. Before that: NCAA Division I wrestling champion in 2000 with a 33–0 season, then WWE Champion at 25, the youngest ever at that point.

    The crossover is rare enough that analysts still track it — and fans following nepali casino app-style betting markets know dual-sport athletes generate outsized public interest well beyond pure MMA circles. Lesnar defended the UFC title twice: a TKO revenge win over Frank Mir at UFC 100 and a submission of Shane Carwin at UFC 116. His record finished 5–3, though his 2016 win over Mark Hunt was overturned to a no-contest after a failed drug test.

    His peak MMA run:

    • 2008: UFC debut loss to Frank Mir via kneebar
    • 2008: Defeated Randy Couture at UFC 91 to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship
    • 2009: Submitted Mir in rematch at UFC 100
    • 2010: Survived Carwin’s first-round barrage, won by submission

    Ken Shamrock: The Man Who Was Actually Dangerous

    Before Lesnar made the jump look cool, Ken Shamrock made it look credible. He moved between wrestling and MMA before anyone had a framework for what that meant. ABC News called him “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” in the mid-1990s — either brilliant marketing or a genuine warning label, depending on the night.

    Shamrock became the first UFC Superfight Champion by defeating Dan Severn at UFC 6, founded the Lion’s Den camp, and won the King of Pancrase title in Japan, where results were real. His WWE Attitude Era run included the Intercontinental Championship and feuds with The Rock and The Undertaker. He’s an inaugural UFC Hall of Fame inductee, which is the sport’s way of saying he was there before there was even a sport. Fans who use Mel Bet for combat sports wagering will recognize Shamrock as one of MMA’s original marquee names.

    Ronda Rousey: The One Who Restructured Both Industries

    Rousey didn’t just cross over; she reshaped each side in sequence. She won judo bronze at the 2008 Olympics, the first American woman to medal in the sport at that level. She became Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion before the UFC even had a women’s division. When it created one, Rousey was its first champion.

    Six title defenses followed. Five were first-round finishes. Three came in under a minute. She retired from MMA at 12–2, then joined WWE in 2018:

    • Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2018
    • Headlined Evolution, WWE’s first all-women’s pay-per-view
    • SmackDown Women’s Championship twice after returning in 2022
    • Only woman to hold a championship in both the UFC and WWE

    She’s also the only woman to headline a pay-per-view in both companies. Nobody else can say that.

    Bobby Lashley: The Least-Discussed Crossover Success

    Lashley doesn’t get the attention Lesnar does, partly because he competed in smaller promotions. That undersells his record. A three-time NAIA Wrestling Champion, he went 15–2 in MMA, primarily in Bellator. His debut lasted 41 seconds. He built his fight career on the same amateur wrestling base as Lesnar — just without the UFC platform behind it.

    His WWE résumé stands on its own: ECW Champion, multiple WWE Championship reigns, top-of-card status through the 2020s. Maintaining credibility in both worlds, without the spotlight, is harder than it looks.

    Dan Severn: The Original

    Severn did something in 1995 nobody had done before: held an MMA championship and a pro wrestling championship simultaneously. He won UFC 5 in April 1995 while holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship — two belts, two different sports, one weekend. He later took the UFC Superfight Championship from Ken Shamrock.

    Career MMA record: 101 wins, 19 losses, 7 draws. That volume is unusual even for fighters who did nothing else. Severn competed when UFC rules were barely formed and weight classes didn’t exist. His cage performances proved something the combat sports world hadn’t accepted yet — elite amateur wrestlers were genuinely dangerous, not just athletic curiosities.

    Most fighters master one world. These five treated the second one as a reasonable next project.

  • Gilbert Burns Signs With UFC BJJ Following MMA Retirement

    Gilbert Burns Signs With UFC BJJ Following MMA Retirement

    Gilbert Burns is no longer a UFC fighter, but he will still be active with the UFC under a different banner. Today,MMAFighting broke the news that Gilbert Burns has signed with UFC BJJ.

    They noted that while UFC BJJ has not officially made the announcement, Burns is seemingly scheduled to debut in the bowl in the coming months. In April at UFC Winnipeg, Gilbert hung up the MMA gloves and called it a retirement after his loss against Mike Malott in the main event.

    Now, he enters back into the world of BJJ. Burns is of course no stranger to jiu-jitsu, winning gold at the IBJJF World Championship in 2011 and capturing the 2010 IBJJF no-gi world title.

    UFC BJJ’s next event is on May 21, headlined by Mikey Musumeci vs. Kevin Dantzler and Cassia Moura vs. Bia Basilio. Burns being signed could be announced then, if not before.

     

  • Sean Strickland Claims Submissions Are “Gay” Ahead Of UFC 328

    Sean Strickland Claims Submissions Are “Gay” Ahead Of UFC 328

    Sean Strickland is set to challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC Middleweight Championship this Saturday at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.

    Ahead of the fight, fighters are doing media rounds this week and of course, Sean Strickland is one of them. He’s no stranger to saying off-the-wall, controversial things, and this week is no different. Sean Strickland has never had a submission attempted against him in any of his UFC fights. And he thinks it’s because submissions are gay.

    “Maybe because I’ve only fought men, I don’t know. […] I mean, dude, Submissions are fucking gay, dude. It’s like, they’re fucking gay. Like, I don’t, I’m sad that I have to potentially have to deal with a guy who wants to dry-hump my leg. But I’m also never really in a position for guys to do submissions, right? Like, I don’t want to go on my back, you know?”

    Khamzat Chimaev is known for his grappling. With a 15-0 record, he holds 6 of those wins by submission. There’s a good chance Sean gets taken down Saturday night.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Doesn’t Care About Being Pound For Pound #1

    Khamzat Chimaev Doesn’t Care About Being Pound For Pound #1

    Khamzat Chimaev is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. He’s the top dog in his division. But, when it comes to being #1 pound for pound in the entire UFC, he just doesn’t care.

    During an interview with UFC on Paramount, Khamzat was asked about being the best pound for pound, to which he replied “I don’t care about so much about that.”

    He continued on; “Why should I care about that stuff? I just came to make millions, smash somebody, be happy, go home, you know? So.”

    Theres always a dangerous mindset when a fighter is just there to fight, and not caring about all the outside noise. This Saturday, Khamzat Chimaev will look to continue his streak at UFC 328.

     

  • UFC Freedom 250 Headliners Meet President Trump, USA Belt Unveiled

    UFC Freedom 250 Headliners Meet President Trump, USA Belt Unveiled

    UFC Freedom 250 comes next month on June 14, 2026 on a special Sunday event. Headlining the card will be Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the UFC Lightweight Championship. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will battle for the UFC Interim-Heavyweight Championship.

    Today, all four headliners met President Trump at the White House and accompanied him in the Oval Office where Trump put over the magnitude of each fighter. A comparative USA UFC Championship belt was also revealed, but it’s unclear if this is a comparative piece for Trump, or other plans are in tow for the title.

    The White House event is undoubtably UFC’s biggest show ever. During this meeting, renderings for the event were shown, granting fans a look at how the stage will be presented come fight night.

  • Alex Pereira And Ciryl Gane Face-Off Outside Of The White House

    Alex Pereira And Ciryl Gane Face-Off Outside Of The White House

    UFC Freedom 250 is only a month away. That event will be taking place on the White House lawn. The event is headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the UFC Lightweight Championship, and co-main evented by Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for the UFC Interim-Heavyweight Championship.

    Earlier today, Ilia Topuria took to social media to reveal that he was on his way to meet the President, and posted a photo on a plane with Alex Pereira. Now, Alex’s coach Glover Teixeira has taken to instagram to post a video of Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane having a face-off in front of The White House.

    This is most likely for promotional purposes that UFC will release soon. But, we thank Glover for giving us a first-look! Justin and Ilia will most likely be doing the same.

    UFC Freedom 250 goes down live Sunday, June 14.

  • Sean Strickland Calls Josh Hokit’s Personas Fake And Fabricated

    Sean Strickland Calls Josh Hokit’s Personas Fake And Fabricated

    Sean Strickland is a big personality in the UFC. But, he’s not a fan of another new personality in Josh Hokit. Despite liking him as a person, Sean thinks Josh’s shtick is fake.

    Sean Strickland is set to challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC Middleweight Championship this Saturday at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. Ahead of the bout, Strickland has been doing the media rounds and there is where he revealed that he feels Josh Hokit’s personas are fake and fabricated. When asked about Josh, Sean said;

    ”You know, again, I respect him for doing it, but it’s like, for me it’s too much. It’s like, it’s such a  fabricated like, you know, it’s like, it’s so fake and fabricated I just, I’ll see a clip and I’ll just shut it off right away. And it’s not that, I like Josh, I’ve trained with him, I’ve met him personally, like, he’s actually a really nice guy. But like, to go and interviewing people on the street, it’s like, you’re just like, you know, you’re like an old influencer, dude. You’re like fucking what, mid 30’s? And you’re trying to be a fucking influencer? Like, stop, dude. Like, just shut the fuck up, be yourself, go train. Or don’t, man, I guess what you’re doing is working, you’re on the white house card.”

    ”Yeah, it’s like dude, you’re like in like, how old is he? Mid 30’s? Hey, how olds Josh? But, let’s say mid 30’s, dude, and you’re walking around like you’re fucking 18 years old trying to get a YouTube star. What’re you doing, dude?”

    https://x.com/UFConParamount/status/2051781292363006384/video/1?s=46

    UFC 328 is live this weekend, Saturday, May 9 on Paramount+.