https://www.scmp.com/rss/323830/feed The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company. It is the largest MMA promoter in the world and features most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport. Based in the United States, the UFC produces events worldwide that showcase ten weight divisions and abide by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mike Chan Mike Chan Mixed martial artist Lone’er Kavanagh has said he would definitely commit to shooting a film with one of Hong Kong’s biggest action stars if such a chance were ever to arise. Fresh off his career-biggest win, over former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno last month, Kavanagh, whose mother is from Hong Kong, also said he enjoyed fighting at places that “felt like home”, including China. The odds were stacked against the 26-year-old, who took the fight on just three weeks’ notice in early... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345877/mma-fighter-hong-kong-roots-wants-fight-home-make-film-jackie-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345877/mma-fighter-hong-kong-roots-wants-fight-home-make-film-jackie-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman who worked as an art director made headlines after quitting her job to become a professional combat athlete, ultimately achieving the milestone of being China’s first female participant in the World Slap Fighting Championship. Ding Miao, 33, first majored in oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, one of the most prestigious art schools in China. After graduation, she established a successful career in the gaming industry, serving as an art director and earning an... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Christian Lee is returning to Tokyo for ONE 173 with a clear mission: the reigning ONE Championship lightweight and welterweight MMA king wants to erase the memory of his accidental eye poke that halted his first bout with Alibeg Rasulov and prove once again he is one of the greatest finishers in the promotion’s history. The 27-year-old has spent two years on the sidelines since becoming a two-division world champion. Now back to defend his lightweight crown against the undefeated Turkish... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:23:44 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport UFC and Galaxy Macau have signed a new four-year deal, with the world’s top MMA organisation committing to hosting three fight nights in the casino city. In a statement on Thursday, UFC said the partnership followed what it called “the resounding success” of last year’s Yan v Figueiredo clash, which was the promotion’s fourth event in Macau since 2012. Dana White, UFC president and CEO, said the agreement with the hotel, which runs from next year through 2029, could not have “come at a better... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3324277/ufc-host-three-macau-fights-year-after-resounding-success-2024-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3324277/ufc-host-three-macau-fights-year-after-resounding-success-2024-event?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:59:50 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse Shi Ming, who heals patients as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor by day but trains to deliver brutal knockouts in mixed martial arts by night, said she felt she had “let the whole of China down” after losing her debut Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout on Friday. Shi shot to fame in November when she won the Road to UFC strawweight tournament in Macau – thereby winning a contract with UFC – with a devastating kick that saw Chinese compatriot Feng Xiaocan carried out of the octagon on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3323042/chinese-medicine-doctor-mma-star-shi-ming-vows-keep-healing-fighting-after-ufc-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3323042/chinese-medicine-doctor-mma-star-shi-ming-vows-keep-healing-fighting-after-ufc-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:44:04 +0000 Lars Hamer,Agence France-Presse Lars Hamer,Agence France-Presse Chinese mixed martial arts superstar Zhang Weili said on Thursday she was confident of the sport’s future in China after Ultimate Fighting Championship announced its first event on the mainland since the Covid-19 pandemic. Zhang, the first Chinese fighter to win a UFC title and the current strawweight champion, is the face of MMA on the mainland, where millions of dollars have been poured into the sport’s top promotion. The UFC said on Thursday that back-to-back events would be taking place over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3311422/chinese-mma-star-zhang-weili-keen-wow-home-crowd-first-mainland-post-covid-ufc-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3311422/chinese-mma-star-zhang-weili-keen-wow-home-crowd-first-mainland-post-covid-ufc-event?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 12:26:23 +0000 WWE star Ronda Rousey is a new mother again. The 37-year-old and her husband, Travis Browne, 42, have just welcomed their second daughter and shared the happy news on Instagram. “Our little girl came into this world during a windstorm, into a city on fire, so grateful she made it safe and sound. Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne,” she captioned a carousel post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronda Rousey (@rondarousey) In one video, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3294801/meet-travis-browne-wwe-and-ufc-star-ronda-rouseys-husband-growing-hawaii-and-playing-basketball-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3294801/meet-travis-browne-wwe-and-ufc-star-ronda-rouseys-husband-growing-hawaii-and-playing-basketball-his?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Social media giant Meta announced on Monday the appointment of three new directors to its board, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) head Dana White, a close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump. The new board members were announced as Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making approaches to the incoming Trump administration, including donating one million dollars to Trump’s inauguration fund. Zuckerberg also dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, as the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3293784/meta-adds-ufc-boss-dana-white-board-mark-zuckerberg-seeks-mend-ties-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3293784/meta-adds-ufc-boss-dana-white-board-mark-zuckerberg-seeks-mend-ties-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:46:40 +0000 After retaking the White House last month, US president-elect Donald Trump celebrated his victory by attending an Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout with his friend and UFC president, Dana White, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk. Days later, Trump, the well-known fan of mixed martial arts, started to announce his pick of a group of diehard supporters for his “America first” agenda who are expected to come out swinging at China – America’s most consequential geopolitical rival –... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3291395/superpower-showdown-how-us-china-economic-warfare-could-play-out-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3291395/superpower-showdown-how-us-china-economic-warfare-could-play-out-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:00:14 +0000 Khabib fever is rumbling in Malaysia after the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hall of famer announced he would set up a training gym in Johor, in a move that is set to draw legions of combat sports and fitness fans in the country and across the region. The undefeated Dagestan-born Khabib Nurmagomedov this week agreed to set up the gym in the Malaysian state following discussions in October between Johor Regent Ismail Ibrahim and the UFC superstar. It will be the Russian mixed martial arts... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3289711/malaysian-mma-fans-hail-ufc-legend-khabib-nurmagomedovs-plan-launch-johor-gym?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3289711/malaysian-mma-fans-hail-ufc-legend-khabib-nurmagomedovs-plan-launch-johor-gym?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:49:33 +0000 China’s Zhang Weili has been voted Female Fighter of the Year at the World MMA awards on Friday. The strawweight champion and world No 2 in the pound-for-pound rankings was the first female, Asian athlete to become a champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. And her most recent bout saw her defeat compatriot Yan Xiaonan by a unanimous decision at UFC 300 in April to retain her strawweight title. This was the second time has won the yearly award, having also claimed it in 2022. “Thank you... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3289675/chinas-ufc-strawweight-champion-zhang-weili-voted-female-fighter-year-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3289675/chinas-ufc-strawweight-champion-zhang-weili-voted-female-fighter-year-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:23:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press As US president-elect Donald Trump makes a flurry of choices to fill out his incoming administration’s cabinet, the lobbying for key positions has been fierce behind closed doors – and sometimes publicly. Now billionaire and key Trump ally Elon Musk is calling for more direct public input into the decision-making process for at least one top post: the head of the US Treasury Department. “Would be interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for @realDonaldTrump to consider feedback,” Musk,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286890/musk-suggests-trump-let-public-weigh-who-should-lead-us-treasury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286890/musk-suggests-trump-let-public-weigh-who-should-lead-us-treasury?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2024 20:42:15 +0000 US president-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will run the personnel office. Both have been advisers to the president-elect since his 2016 campaign, Trump said. Both positions could be influential in the new administration, helping to develop its public messaging and internal workforce. Cheung led communications for Trump’s latest campaign, where he gained a reputation for combative and insulting... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286833/trump-names-combative-spokesman-steven-cheung-communications-director?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286833/trump-names-combative-spokesman-steven-cheung-communications-director?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:39:55 +0000 UFC’s Song Yadong has offered to show MMA rival Sean Strickland around China after the American launched a racist rant against the country and its people. The 26-year-old opted to take the high road in an interview when asked about Strickland’s recent comments, in which he labelled Chinese people “animals”, “savages” and called them “the worst tourists in the world”. Speaking with sports journalist Helen Yee – whose mother is Taiwanese and whose father is from mainland China – Song also said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3285570/ufc-song-yadong-offers-show-sean-strickland-around-china-after-fighters-toxic-slurs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3285570/ufc-song-yadong-offers-show-sean-strickland-around-china-after-fighters-toxic-slurs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:00:08 +0000 Group One Holdings, the company behind mixed martial arts brand One Championship, raised at least US$50 million from investors including Qatar Investment Authority, according to people familiar with the matter. The round gives Group One a valuation of at least US$1.35 billion, one of the people said. That is similar to the post-money valuation from a previous round in 2021, which QIA led with Guggenheim Investments. A representative for Group One confirmed the latest fundraising round, but... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3282561/qatar-sovereign-wealth-fund-reportedly-us50m-funding-round-one-championship-backers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3282561/qatar-sovereign-wealth-fund-reportedly-us50m-funding-round-one-championship-backers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Oct 2024 06:54:33 +0000 He lauds strongmen autocrats, hangs with martial arts stars, and has no greater compliment than calling someone a “fighter”. Donald Trump is going all out for the macho vote in November’s election – and it’s working. The real estate tycoon and former president has long crafted an often cartoonish, hyper-masculine image – most controversially including bragging about sexual assault. Now, in an election where Kamala Harris is vying to become America’s first woman president, Trump’s macho powers... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3277147/trumps-lewd-crude-hyper-macho-attitude-winning-him-manosphere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3277147/trumps-lewd-crude-hyper-macho-attitude-winning-him-manosphere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2024 06:50:22 +0000 Not for nothing is the FIRST International Film Festival oft-referred to as “China’s Sundance”, after the legendary indie-cinema love-in, founded by Robert Redford and held every year in the US state of Utah. And like Sundance, you make your way to the city of Xining, in central China, if you want to catch up with the latest trends in Chinese independent cinema. Perhaps take in experimental films that reflect the issues facing the youth of today, maybe get a chance to mingle with some of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3276504/unstoppable-asias-first-female-ufc-champion-zhang-weilis-story-told-gripping-new-documentary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3276504/unstoppable-asias-first-female-ufc-champion-zhang-weilis-story-told-gripping-new-documentary?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:45:09 +0000 Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor just celebrated his fiancée Dee Devlin’s 37th birthday by reportedly presenting her with the stunning Juste Un Clou Cartier necklace valued at around US$134,700, on top of throwing her an extravagant party aboard their US$3.8 million yacht. The couple announced their engagement on August 8, 2020 – an early birthday surprise for the style icon at the time. Devlin, who turned 37 on August 9, has been the long-time girlfriend to “The Notorious” since 2008 and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3274794/how-dee-devlin-went-waitress-conor-mcgregors-fiancee-ex-ufc-champion-surprised-her-cartier-necklace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3274794/how-dee-devlin-went-waitress-conor-mcgregors-fiancee-ex-ufc-champion-surprised-her-cartier-necklace?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Aug 2024 22:00:22 +0000 The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Macau for the first time in 10 years with a fight night event on November 23, the mixed martial arts promotion said on Thursday. The UFC last held an event in Macau in August 2014. The event in November will be its fourth in the special administrative region of China. “We are ecstatic to be back at this incredible destination city,” said Kevin Chang, UFC’s senior vice-president and head of Asia. The Octagon is headed BACK to Macau 🚨#UFCMacau is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3274620/ultimate-fighting-championship-returns-macau-first-time-10-years-november-23?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3274620/ultimate-fighting-championship-returns-macau-first-time-10-years-november-23?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:00:22 +0000 Zhang Weili became China and Asia’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) winner, by defeating her compatriot Yan Xiaonan in their strawweight title fight at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13. Her journey from a small-town girl to a global mixed martial arts (MMA) icon continues to inspire people worldwide, attracting attention from celebrities such as Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, and his wife, Priscilla Chan. After the fight, they congratulated Zhang on Facebook and had a friendly... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3260022/zhang-weili-chinas-first-ufc-champion-one-worlds-top-female-mma-fighters-mark-zuckerberg-and-wife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3260022/zhang-weili-chinas-first-ufc-champion-one-worlds-top-female-mma-fighters-mark-zuckerberg-and-wife?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 May 2024 06:00:17 +0000 Zhang Weili of China lands a punch on her compatriot Yan Xiaonan during their strawweight championship title fight at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. The pair were making Ultimate Fighting Championship history as the mixed martial arts promotion staged its first title bout featuring two fighters from China. Featured as the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena, the all-Chinese affair ended with Zhang successfully defending her crown for a second time. The Hebei-born champion went close to choking out her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3258953/ufc-300-zhang-weili-wins-historic-all-china-bout-co-main-event-vegas-retains-strawweight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3258953/ufc-300-zhang-weili-wins-historic-all-china-bout-co-main-event-vegas-retains-strawweight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Apr 2024 06:43:58 +0000 Lynn Farah Lynn Farah They get paid a lot of money to kick, punch and beat each other into submission. The business of mixed martial arts can be highly lucrative if you have the skills and dedication to lay your body on the line in the octagon. As the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene continues to grow in popularity, fighters gain legions of fans. Here’s a look at some of the richest MMA stars of all time, per Celebrity Net Worth. 8. Ronda Rousey Estimated net worth: US$14 million Rousey was the first American woman to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3250757/8-richest-mma-fighters-world-2024-net-worths-ranked-history-making-conor-mcgregor-and-ronda-rousey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3250757/8-richest-mma-fighters-world-2024-net-worths-ranked-history-making-conor-mcgregor-and-ronda-rousey?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2024 22:00:23 +0000 Podcaster, comedian, commentator and TV host Joe Rogan has evolved his career to become one of the most talked-about podcasters in the world, amassing an estimated wealth of US$120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But just how did an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) commentator become one of the richest and most prominent and controversial voices of the moment? Here’s a look at Joe Rogan and his money journey. Joe Rogan’s MMA path to wealth Growing up in New Jersey in the US, a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/article/3244645/how-joe-rogan-makes-his-money-us200-million-spotify-deals-comedy-specials-ufc-commentator-ex-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/article/3244645/how-joe-rogan-makes-his-money-us200-million-spotify-deals-comedy-specials-ufc-commentator-ex-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:00:11 +0000 Ultimate Fighting Championship is to hold its first event in China since the pandemic, the top MMA promoter said on Wednesday, as it became the latest sporting body to return to the country following the abolition of Covid-19 restrictions. UFC Fight Night will take place at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on December 9, pending “event date approval by the local governing authority”, UFC said in a statement. It did not state which fighters would be involved but it said that the event would include bouts... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3239934/ufc-fight-night-set-return-china-after-4-years-shanghai-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3239934/ufc-fight-night-set-return-china-after-4-years-shanghai-event?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:50:41 +0000 Mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou is in the final week of training for his first professional boxing match that will reportedly pay him $10 million, which is 16 times more than his most recent MMA bout. Ngannou was a heavyweight UFC champion, but when his contract expired earlier this year, he signed with the upstart Professional Fighters League, which, unlike the UFC, allowed him to compete in boxing where purses can be much larger. If other UFC stars follow his path, it would continue... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3238741/ex-ufc-star-ngannous-us10-million-boxing-payday-continues-potential-shake-sport-fighters-eye-better?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3238741/ex-ufc-star-ngannous-us10-million-boxing-payday-continues-potential-shake-sport-fighters-eye-better?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Oct 2023 06:02:47 +0000 New UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland blasted Israel Adesanya for wearing “Chinese colours” in their Sydney title fight on Sunday. American Strickland, 32, shocked the world with a unanimous decision in the UFC 293 main event, where he knocked the two-time champion down in the first round at the Qudos Bank Arena. The 34-year-old Nigeria-born New Zealander – wearing red and yellow shorts – never seemed to recover and looked sluggish throughout the rest of the fight, after which he paid... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3234025/ufc-293-sean-strickland-blasts-israel-adesanya-chinese-colours-after-shocking-ufc-title-upset-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3234025/ufc-293-sean-strickland-blasts-israel-adesanya-chinese-colours-after-shocking-ufc-title-upset-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Sep 2023 06:51:34 +0000 The world of combat sports gets increasingly brutal as the years go by, from the bloody bouts in MMA, to the slap battles that have turned the head of UFC boss Dana White, broken bones and rattled brains are the order of the day. But what if you want a workout in the ring without the threat of serious injury? How about a spot of pillow fighting? No longer the preserve of young children, or advertisers and entertainers for purposes of titillation, the Pillow Fighting Championship (PFC) is here... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3233193/boxing-mma-and-ufc-can-take-sideline-new-pillow-fighting-competition-most-gruelling-sport-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3233193/boxing-mma-and-ufc-can-take-sideline-new-pillow-fighting-competition-most-gruelling-sport-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2023 06:30:16 +0000 Joe Rogan said Zhang Weili showed she “might be the greatest of all time” in women’s MMA after a dominant victory over Amanda Lemos, with UFC president Dana White admitting she will “probably” fight in China again next. The Chinese star retained her strawweight title in the co-main event of UFC 292 via a lopsided unanimous decision, with scores of 50-43, 50-44, and 49-45, from the three cageside judges at TD Garden in Boston. She also put up the largest ever strike differential – 288 to Lemos’... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231694/ufc-292-zhang-weili-might-be-greatest-all-time-joe-rogan-says-dana-white-plots-china-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231694/ufc-292-zhang-weili-might-be-greatest-all-time-joe-rogan-says-dana-white-plots-china-return?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Aug 2023 08:07:50 +0000 Joe Rogan praised Sean O’Malley for a “perfect” right hand that led to his sensational bantamweight title win at UFC 292 on Saturday night in Boston, while Daniel Cormier compared it to Conor McGregor’s famous knockout of Jose Aldo. O’Malley stopped Aljamain Sterling just 51 seconds into the second round, swarming with hammer fists after catching his fellow American cold with an incredible shot. The TD Garden erupted in cheers as “Sugar” ended Sterling’s nine-fight win streak in spectacular... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231685/ufc-292-sean-omalley-praised-joe-rogan-picture-perfect-right-hand-title-win-it-was-conor-mcgregor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231685/ufc-292-sean-omalley-praised-joe-rogan-picture-perfect-right-hand-title-win-it-was-conor-mcgregor?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Aug 2023 05:49:19 +0000 Elon Musk says his potential in-person fight with Mark Zuckerberg would be streamed on his social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The two tech billionaires seemingly agreed to a “cage match” face-off in late June. Zuckerberg is actually trained in mixed martial arts, and the CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta posted about completing his first jiu jitsu tournament earlier this year. “Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on X,” Musk wrote in a post on Sunday on the platform. “All... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3230170/elon-musk-says-his-cage-fight-mark-zuckerberg-will-be-streamed-social-media-site-x?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3230170/elon-musk-says-his-cage-fight-mark-zuckerberg-will-be-streamed-social-media-site-x?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Aug 2023 17:37:52 +0000 Israel Adesanya confronted Dricus Du Plessis with the UFC’s middleweight champion and his new No 1 contender involved in a heated exchange at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. Du Plessis made a huge statement with a second-round TKO of former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in Las Vegas, becoming the only man other than Adesanya to beat him in the weight class. Unbeknown to the South African, “Stylebender” had walked into the Octagon during Du Plessis’ post-fight interview with UFC... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227065/ufc-290-israel-adesanya-confronts-african-brother-dricus-du-plessis-daniel-cormier-jokes-champ-was?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227065/ufc-290-israel-adesanya-confronts-african-brother-dricus-du-plessis-daniel-cormier-jokes-champ-was?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jul 2023 06:26:16 +0000 UFC has expanded its presence in China by signing up to help the country’s physical fitness drive, and is to create a new national competition in the process. The world’s top MMA company has joined forces with Migu Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Mobile, and the country’s Leisure Sports Administrative Centre to host fitness competitions inspired by mixed martial arts. A series of national fitness competitions will be hosted by the centre, which operates under the General Administration of Sport,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224678/ufc-expands-china-presence-signs-design-new-national-fitness-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224678/ufc-expands-china-presence-signs-design-new-national-fitness-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:51:13 +0000 Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appeared to take a jab at Chatri Sityodtong on Twitter on Tuesday, but the ONE CEO and chairman is ready to move past their recent issues. Chatri caused a stir last week when he revealed he was meeting Ngannou in the hope of signing the Cameroonian-Frenchman to ONE. However, he later announced that his promotion would not be submitting a final offer to the superstar free agent, explaining that he felt they were not “aligned on non-financial... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 05:57:45 +0000 ONE Championship will not be signing Francis Ngannou after all. Chatri Sityodtong – the martial arts promotion’s chairman and CEO – met the former UFC heavyweight champion in Los Angeles at the weekend to discuss a final offer. Singapore-based ONE is set to stage its first on-ground US event on Friday in Denver, Colorado. The possibility of Ngannou making an appearance at 1stBank Centre seemed likely, after Chatri had previously told fans to expect “big news shortly” last week. But talks with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218998/one-championship-ends-talks-former-ufc-champ-francis-ngannou-after-careful-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218998/one-championship-ends-talks-former-ufc-champ-francis-ngannou-after-careful-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 May 2023 07:09:49 +0000 Chatri Sityodtong insists ONE Championship would be the “only challenge” for Francis Nganno, and that the former UFC champion would have a “tough time” in the promotion’s heavyweight division. ONE’s CEO and chairman revealed he will meet Ngannou this weekend in Los Angeles to talk terms. The 36-year-old Cameroonian-Frenchman became a free agent in January having run down his UFC deal while still holding the Las Vegas-based organisation’s heavyweight title, which was vacated and claimed by Jon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218564/one-championship-only-challenge-francis-ngannou-says-chatri-hell-have-tough-time-our-heavyweight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218564/one-championship-only-challenge-francis-ngannou-says-chatri-hell-have-tough-time-our-heavyweight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:11:58 +0000 Jon Di Bella was impressed by the striking skill of UFC star Michael Chandler during a recent sparring session at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. Italian-Canadian Di Bella, who holds the ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing title, crossed paths with American Chandler at the famed mixed martial arts gym last week, during the warm-up round for a kickboxing session led by revered coach Henri Hooft. He had nothing but good things to say about the lightweight MMA fighter after the fact. “We were just... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3217578/one-championship-jon-di-bella-says-ufc-star-michael-chandler-real-after-sparring-session-florida?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3217578/one-championship-jon-di-bella-says-ufc-star-michael-chandler-real-after-sparring-session-florida?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:15:14 +0000 The Road to UFC is back – and so is the promotion’s presence in China. The opening round of season 2 of the tournament for MMA prospects in Asia will be held over May 27-28 at the UFC Shanghai Performance Institute, a statement said on Tuesday, with the rosters for each tournament bracket also confirmed. Opened in 2019, the state-of-the-art, 93,000 square feet training facility serves as the UFC’s headquarters in Asia, developing its next generation of fighters from mainland China and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216680/road-ufc-season-2-opening-round-set-china-and-shanghai-performance-institute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216680/road-ufc-season-2-opening-round-set-china-and-shanghai-performance-institute?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:50:20 +0000 Israel Adesanya gained revenge over his personal bogeyman on Saturday night in Miami, flattening Alex Pereira with a stunning KO to reclaim the UFC middleweight title in emphatic fashion. After beating him twice in their kickboxing days, the Brazilian had hunted down “The Last Stylebender” and followed him into the world of mixed martial arts, shocking him with a fifth-round TKO last November in New York City to end Adesanya’s dominant three-year reign over the division. With his legacy on the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216463/ufc-287-israel-adesanya-revels-stunning-ko-alex-pereira-mocks-his-son-octagon-flop-im-petty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216463/ufc-287-israel-adesanya-revels-stunning-ko-alex-pereira-mocks-his-son-octagon-flop-im-petty?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Apr 2023 08:54:19 +0000 The competitors stand rigidly upright with their hands behind their backs, waiting to absorb a brutal slap to the face. When the open-handed blow is delivered, there’s a sharp report and the reaction can be dramatic. Some fighters barely move, while others stumble backward or fall to the floor. Some are knocked out. UFC president Dana White is selling slap fighting as the next big thing in combat sports, putting his money and the resources of one of the world’s foremost mixed martial arts... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3212950/slap-fighting-next-big-thing-or-unsporting-stupidity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3212950/slap-fighting-next-big-thing-or-unsporting-stupidity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Mar 2023 09:17:06 +0000 Jon Jones has hinted his new more risk-averse style is here to stay after submitting Ciryl Gane in just over 2 minutes to become the UFC heavyweight champion on Saturday night. The 35-year-old American (27-1, 1 no contest) underlined his status as the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) in mixed martial arts after capturing a second divisional title in the main event of UFC 285. “Bones” made light work of former interim champion Gane, with the Frenchman tapping to a guillotine choke against the fence... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3212474/ufc-285-jon-jones-explains-his-new-fighting-style-i-want-save-brain-cells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3212474/ufc-285-jon-jones-explains-his-new-fighting-style-i-want-save-brain-cells?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Mar 2023 03:24:05 +0000 Joe Rogan has weighed in on Sunday’s UFC 284 main event controversy, insisting Alex Volkanovski should have been crowned the new lightweight champion. Islam Makhachev retained his title with a unanimous decision win over featherweight champ Volkanovski, who climbed up a division in his home country in Perth. Two judges gave the Russian scores of 48-47, while the other scored the five-round fight 49-46. “He [Makhachev] lost that fight, I believe,” UFC commentator Rogan said, watching from his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210043/ufc-284-joe-rogan-insists-islam-makhachev-lost-fight-against-alex-volkanovski?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210043/ufc-284-joe-rogan-insists-islam-makhachev-lost-fight-against-alex-volkanovski?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:32:18 +0000 Alexander Volkanovski may have lost the fight, but he won the pound-for-pound war with Islam Makhachev on Sunday. The featherweight champ ultimately came up short in his bid to snatch a second title at lightweight in the UFC 284 main event with Makhachev taking a unanimous decision in Perth, Australia. It was much to the displeasure of the crowd, who willed their man on for five rounds as he defied all logic to push the Russian wrestling stand-out harder and further than he had ever been, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210019/sorry-islam-makhachev-alex-volkanovski-should-still-be-ufc-pound-pound-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210019/sorry-islam-makhachev-alex-volkanovski-should-still-be-ufc-pound-pound-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Feb 2023 07:31:43 +0000 Islam Makhachev is still the UFC lightweight champion, but Alexander Volkanovski gave him the toughest fight of his career to date. Russia’s Makhachev, the star pupil of MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, defended the lightweight title against the featherweight champion Volkanovski in the main event of Sunday morning’s UFC 284 event in Perth, Australia. The two men were considered the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC ahead of time, adding extra intrigue and significance to what was already... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3209933/ufc-284-islam-makhachev-denies-alex-volkanovski-keeps-lightweight-belt-thrilling-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3209933/ufc-284-islam-makhachev-denies-alex-volkanovski-keeps-lightweight-belt-thrilling-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Feb 2023 06:34:27 +0000 Jeka Saragih carries the hopes of a nation this weekend as he sets out to become the first-ever Indonesian contracted to the UFC but it’s the 120 families that make up his mountain village home that he fights for every day. “I do this because I feel I have to,” Saragih explains. “I fight because I want to help lift my people out of poverty and to inspire the young kids so that they are led away from the bad things in life.” We’re speaking via video call and the 28-year-old Saragih (13-2) is in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3208665/road-ufc-how-indonesias-jeka-saragih-fights-lift-his-village-out-poverty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3208665/road-ufc-how-indonesias-jeka-saragih-fights-lift-his-village-out-poverty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Feb 2023 02:54:19 +0000 Yi Zha was the last Chinese fighter standing when the dust settled on the semi-finals of the Asian Road to UFC tournament and that was of no great surprise to the featherweight from Sichuan. At 26 years of age and with a record of 21-3 that dates back to 2016 behind him, Yi has been around, and he’s felt ever since the region-wide talent sweep was announced that this, right here, was his pathway to the big show. “When I heard about this tournament I knew this was my chance,” Yi says. “I feel... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3208598/road-ufc-yi-zha-flies-flag-china-asia-wide-search-reaches-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3208598/road-ufc-yi-zha-flies-flag-china-asia-wide-search-reaches-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:15:11 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Many MMA fans were surprised when Demetrious Johnson left the UFC for ONE Championship in late 2018 – but the legendary “Mighty Mouse” has revealed the low fighter pay that gave him a “chip on my shoulder”. Johnson had just lost the UFC flyweight title to Henry Cejudo in a razor-close split decision, ending a record streak of 11 consecutive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3207982/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-reveals-his-low-ufc-fighter-pay-caused-chip-my-shoulder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3207982/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-reveals-his-low-ufc-fighter-pay-caused-chip-my-shoulder?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jan 2023 12:29:28 +0000 Jarred Brooks was watching on like many of us when Brandon Moreno settled his saga with Deiveson Figueiredo last weekend. Mexico’s Moreno became the undisputed UFC flyweight champion with a TKO via doctor stoppage. Brazil’s Figueiredo could no longer see out of his right eye following the third round of the UFC 283 co-main event, which was being held in his home country. “Personally, I think I can beat Brandon Moreno,” Brooks wrote in a series of social media posts after the fight, which was the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3207881/one-championship-jarred-brooks-says-hell-beat-brandon-moreno-ufc-watered-down-flyweight-division?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3207881/one-championship-jarred-brooks-says-hell-beat-brandon-moreno-ufc-watered-down-flyweight-division?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jan 2023 11:55:31 +0000 Francis Ngannou is now a free agent, and the former UFC heavyweight champion would be wise to consider Singapore-based ONE Championship as he plots his next move. Ngannou, who won the UFC heavyweight title with a knockout of Stipe Miocic in March of 2021 and defended it with a decision win over Ciryl Gane in January 2022, was on the outs with the promotion for most of last year. And at the culmination of last Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 event in Las Vegas, company president Dana White... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3206956/why-francis-ngannou-should-consider-one-championship-after-cutting-ties-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3206956/why-francis-ngannou-should-consider-one-championship-after-cutting-ties-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jan 2023 09:00:11 +0000 American television network TBS is sticking with Dana White’s slap-fighting league in the wake of a domestic violence incident with his wife on New Year’s Eve – at least for now. Power Slap, the UFC-backed entity partially owned by the UFC president, was set to premiere next Wednesday, January 11 on TBS. However, the debut is being pushed back a week to January 18, a UFC official told broadcast partner ESPN. The New York Post reported that TBS has had “serious discussions” about pulling the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3205896/dana-whites-power-slap-premiere-delayed-now-tbs-after-ufc-boss-slapped-wife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3205896/dana-whites-power-slap-premiere-delayed-now-tbs-after-ufc-boss-slapped-wife?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:18:51 +0000 Former mixed martial arts fighter Phil Baroni has been arrested in Mexico for allegedly killing his girlfriend, the prosecutors’ office in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit said on Wednesday. The office said a woman was found dead on January 1 in the beach town of San Fernando, just north of the resort of Puerto Vallarta. The office identified the suspect only by his nationality, American, and his first name in a statement. But a state official later confirmed his last name, and said an initial... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3205734/former-ufc-fighter-phil-baroni-charged-murdering-his-girlfriend-mexico?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3205734/former-ufc-fighter-phil-baroni-charged-murdering-his-girlfriend-mexico?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:28:56 +0000