UFC analysis: Five things Dricus du Plessis proved in his dominant win over Kamaru Usman
Dricus du Plessis returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a unanimous decision victory over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City.
The South African controlled much of the five-round contest, earning scorecards of 50-45 and 49-46 twice after producing one of the most complete performances of his career.
It was a display that drew praise even from former rival Israel Adesanya, who described it as the best he has seen from Du Plessis.
Sports News Blitz’s MMA expert Aidan Leo unpacks five major takeaways from a performance that could reshape the UFC middleweight division.
UFC Oklahoma analysis: Kamaru Usman vs Dricus Du Plessis predictions and preview
UFC Oklahoma will be headlined by former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on July 18 at the Paycom Center.
Usman is coming off a huge win against surging welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley, while Du Plessis arrives off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev, which cost him the middleweight strap.
‘DDP’ is currently the number-two-ranked contender, with number-one-ranked Chimaev recently losing his title to Sean Strickland.
The Chechen most likely needs to win another fight before earning a second shot at middleweight gold.
Sports News Blitz’s MMA writer Luke Mullaney previews the notable Du Plessis vs Usman clash, as well as the implications the fight will have on the middleweight division.
UFC 329 analysis: Reaction to Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway; Paddy Pimblett’s win and more
The UFC hosted one of their most-anticipated events of the year on July 12, which produced the biggest gate of all time: UFC 329, at T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas Nevada.
The headliner of the event saw the return of the biggest star in mixed martial arts, Conor McGregor, take on the surging contender Max Holloway in a long-awaited rematch after the Irishman won via unanimous decision 13 years ago.
Rising superstar Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett took on the relentlessly violent, French ex-soldier Benoit Saint-Denis.
World Cup 2026, Wimbledon, UFC 329, Tour de France – Your guide to the ultimate sports weekend
This weekend, fans will be glued to their screens as numerous sports collide, from World Cup 2026 and Wimbledon to the UFC and Tour de France.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Stan Cheeseman offers a guide to the ultimate sporting extravaganza.
MMA news: Renato Moicano submits Chris Duncan at UFC Vegas 115, blasts Apex fight card
Renato Moicano made easy money at UFC Vegas 115, but he wasn’t smiling afterwards. The Brazilian veteran submitted Chris Duncan via rear-naked choke in the second round of Saturday’s headliner, snapping a two-fight losing streak in dominant fashion.
Both lightweights train together at American Top Team and Moicano entered as a slight underdog against the surging Scotsman, writes Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark.
MMA opinion: Why Arman Tsarukyan isn’t fighting for a belt
In any other era, Arman Tsarukyan’s dominance over the lightweight division would be inevitable. But his antics outside the cage have cost him dearly, and his future remains uncertain.
Sports News Blitz writer Ollie Hughes discusses the uncertain future of one of the lightweight division’s most talented fighters.
Bringing a complete style that incorporates short throws, well-timed takedowns, and strong striking fundamentals, combined with sheer athleticism, Arman Tsarukyan is a problem for anyone at 155lb.
And yet, as the lightweight title picture continues to shift around him, he remains just outside it. Not quite ignored, but never fully embraced by the UFC marketing machine.
MMA news: UFC Freedom 250 – Can Alex Pereira beat Ciryl Gane to become first triple champion?
The UFC White House card was finally revealed this week, and one fight stood out above the rest. Ciryl Gane vs Alex Pereira – a striking fan’s dream showdown in the octagon – is set to take place on the South Lawn, with the interim heavyweight title on the line.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Cameron Cleugh dissects the fight and what it means to the UFC as a whole.
MMA opinion: UFC Freedom 250 - Could it be any more of a disaster?
With the announcement of the UFC’s ‘Freedom 250’ card, the promotion aims to bring the sport to the masses on ‘Flag Day’, a celebration of American independence aligned with the adoption of the ‘stars and stripes’ as the country’s emblem.
The card was announced on the UFC 326 broadcast and will feature a headline unification bout between the returning Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje, as well as Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight for a shot at a title in a third weight class.
A widespread outcry of confusion, disappointment and indifference has followed, with many feeling the card, originally described as a ‘full event’, has been dramatically oversold to them.
Sports News Blitz’s Freddie Thomas-Neher offers his thoughts on the card.
MMA news: Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira vs Cyril Gane headline UFC Freedom 250
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has officially revealed the fight card for its historic event at the White House, set to take place on June 14 as part of ‘America250’ celebrations.
While the line-up features two title bouts and a host of popular fighters, the announcement has been met with a wave of disappointment from fans who feel the “greatest-ever” card failed to materialise, writes Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark.
UFC 326: Preview and suggested bets for Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira and more
The UFC returns to the storied T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7.
Two fan-favourites and veterans lead the line-up as Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira are set to slug it out. Besides a tantalising main event, the schedule is filled out with thrilling match-ups that fans will want to keep a keen eye on.
It has been a while since we’ve done this, but these bouts are going to be interesting to discuss, writes Sports News Blitz’s Finn Littlewood.
MMA news: Alex Pereira vacates UFC light heavyweight belt, Jiri Prochazka vs Carlos Ulberg set
Alex Pereira has officially vacated his UFC light heavyweight title in order to move up a class and compete at heavyweight.
UFC boss Dana White confirmed the 38-year-old Brazilian’s decision on February 27. Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg will now fight for the vacant 205-pound belt at UFC 327 in Miami on April 11.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark takes a look at the situation.
UFC Fight Night: Preview and suggested bets for Brandon Moreno vs Lone’er Kavanagh and more
Former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno takes on rising English talent Lone’er Kavanagh at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City on Saturday, February 28.
The UFC returns to Mexico for the eighth time in its history and the first time since March last year, only this time under somewhat precarious circumstances, writes Sports News Blitz’s Finn Littlewood.
MMA news: Tatsuro Taira gets title shot against Joshua Van over Manel Kape
Joshua Van, UFC flyweight champion, eagerly awaited his return to the cage after capturing the belt in just 26 seconds in a freak accident against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 in December.
At 24 years old, Van had one of the best years in MMA history in 2025, going from an unranked fighter at the start of the year to flyweight champion by the end.
Van is scheduled to fight Tatsuro Taira at UFC 327 on April 11 for his first title defence, writes Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark.
MMA news: Champion Khamzat Chimaev reacts to Sean Strickland KO win over Anthony Hernandez
Sean Strickland beat Anthony Hernandez by third-round TKO at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday.
The result was only Strickland’s fifth TKO/KO in 24 UFC fights, meaning he has just a 21% TKO/KO rate.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Samuel Faris-Clark rounds up the reaction to the fight.
MMA news: Joe Rogan backs Jon Jones–trained Gable Steveson to be next UFC heavyweight star
Gable Steveson is set to fight Hugo Lezama as part of the Mexico Fight League on Thursday, February 19 at the Showcenter Complex in Monterrey, Mexico.
Steveson won Olympic gold at 125kg in wrestling, competed in the WWE for three years, and is currently 2-0 in his MMA career.
Fans and analysts view the 25-year-old as the future of the heavyweight division given his wrestling pedigree, writes Sports News Blitz’s MMA expert Samuel Faris-Clark.
MMA news: Sean Strickland back in action vs Anthony Hernandez – but is his star quality waning?
Sean Strickland returns to action on Saturday, February 22 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas against Anthony Hernandez after being out of action for just over a year.
Strickland had the MMA world fully behind him when he won the middleweight title against long-reigning champion Israel Adesanya as a 5/1 underdog.
The brash, outspoken nature of Strickland felt like a breath of fresh air to many fans, but public sentiment has since shifted to focus on his underwhelming fighting style, reports Sports News Blitz’s MMA writer Samuel Faris-Clark.
UFC Fight Night: Preview and suggested bets for Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira and more
After a jam-packed few weeks in the UFC, with two headline events on back-to-back weekends, fight night is returning to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for the first time in 2026.
And despite smaller names rounding out the event, fight fans will still want to keep a keen eye on this one as a few potential contenders are making an appearance, writes Sports News Blitz’s Finn Littlewood.
MMA analysis: Top-heavy, no depth - The quiet decline of the UFC’s heavyweight division
Sports News Blitz writer Ollie Hughes explores the decline of the UFC’s heavyweight division and how its fall off can be explained.
MMA analysis: Has the UFC done enough to cultivate a new generation of stars?
Sports News Blitz writer Ollie Hughes discusses the current star power on the UFC roster and why the promotion may have no intention of growing it any time soon.
UFC 325: Preview and suggested bets for Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes and more
Can UFC 325 live up to the hype of last weekend? Will Alexander Volkanovski further cement his legacy in the featherweight division? What does the return of Tai Tuivasa after nearly two years mean?
It’s another landmark event in the UFC this weekend as Volkanovski fights in Australia once more as part of his second title defence against Diego Lopes.
Fellow Aussies Dan Hooker and Tai Tuivasa join Volkanovski on the main card, with ‘The Hangman’ looking to bounce back from a heavy loss to Arman Tsarukyan just over two months ago.