MMA opinion: Reflecting on Jiri Prochazka’s tough road back to the title
Jiri Prochazka will take on surging contender Carlos Ulberg in the main event of UFC 327 on Saturday, April 11 for the vacant undisputed light heavyweight title.
The title is available after former champ Alex Pereira vacated the belt. Prochazka will be looking to reclaim gold in his third attempt since injury forced his hand in 2022.
Sports News Blitz’s Freddie Thomas-Neher takes a look back at his rocky road back to gold.
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: Five pathways ahead for Israel Adesanya after tough loss
Saturday night saw the former middleweight king Israel Adesanya fall to a fourth-consecutive loss after his defeat to American Joe Pyfer.
Fans, critics and even the man himself have mentioned retirement, but after an impassioned post-fight interview, the stage looks set for Adesanya to find his way back into the cage.
Sports News Blitz writer Freddie Thomas-Neher takes a closer look at how ‘The Last Stylebender’ can move forward.
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 analysis: Return of the King - The heavyweight fight the UFC can’t make
Francis Ngannou has had one of the most surprising careers in MMA, breaking free of the UFC’s constraints and fighting some of the world’s top boxers.
Now with a contract signed, May 16 will mark The Predator’s much anticipated return to the sport that made him great .
Sports News Blitz writer Ollie Hughes discusses the career of the most devastating puncher in UFC history.
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.
MMA analysis: When two belts become one problem
Winning belts in two different divisions is still the peak of achievement in MMA.
But with champs seemingly all too eager to move up, and less willing to defend at their own weight class, the UFC is having a hard time keeping divisions moving.
Sports News Blitz writer Ollie Hughes discusses the problems that arise when every champ is striving for a second belt.
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 opinion: Will Sean Strickland have a chance at middleweight gold again?
Sean Strickland is a controversial figure in the world of MMA.
The former middleweight champion pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history after his win against Israel Adesanya in 2023.
But does he still have the skills to take back the belt from Khamzat Chimaev? Sport News Blitz writer Cameron Cleugh gives his opinion.
MMA opinion: Why is Tom Aspinall being vilified after getting fouled?
The controversy coming out of the UFC 321 main event has been shrouded in volatile discussion ever since Ciryl Gane’s infamous eye-poke foul on Tom Aspinall saw the referee call the fight.
But why should the incumbent champion face criticism?
Sports News Blitz writer Freddie Thomas-Neher shared his thoughts on the debate.
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.
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.
UFC 324 main event reaction: Justin Gaethje defeats valiant Paddy Pimblett in five-round war
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision over five rounds in the UFC lightweight interim title fight main event on January 25 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The judges scored the contest 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 – with Gaethje putting in a dominant display to clinch the interim title by winning four rounds to one on two of the scorecards.
Pimblett did not go down without a fight, though, exhibiting admirable toughness across the contest, but the Liverpudlian took considerable damage the judges could not ignore.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo runs through the top reactions to the bout.