UFC Freedom 250 is slated to go down next month, and with it, some of the most exciting and much-anticipated matchups fans have been clamoring for. Headlining this historic event, which is set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House, lightweight champion Ilia Topuria tries to defend his strap for the first time when he meets interim kingpin Justin Gaethje. Considered by some to be the best fighter in the world, Topuria returns after nearly a year off to showcase his abilities in his first bout of 2026. On the other end of the contest, Gaethje is endeavoring to have undisputed gold wrapped around his waist for the first time after almost ten years in the promotion.
UFC Fight Night 277 – Song vs. Figueiredo
May 30, 2026 | Galaxy Arena, Macau, China
[#7 FW | #5 UFC] Yadong Song (22-9-1) vs [#9 FW | #7 UFC] Deiveson Figueiredo (25-6-1)
At UFC Fight Night 277, rising Chinese contender Song Yadong faces former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in a high-level featherweight clash with major ranking implications.
Song enters the bout as the younger, faster, and more volume-oriented striker. Fighting in China gives him a significant psychological and crowd advantage. Over the last several years, Song has developed into one of the UFC’s most dangerous pressure boxers at lighter weights, combining sharp combinations, strong takedown defense, and improving fight IQ. His ability to maintain pace over five rounds could become a major factor.
Figueiredo remains one of the most explosive and dangerous finishers in MMA. Despite moving up from flyweight, his counter-striking, power, guillotine threat, and veteran experience make him extremely dangerous early. However, durability and speed disadvantages against naturally larger featherweights may become visible as the fight progresses.
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
Rousey, Carano, Ngannou, Diaz: Netflix’s MMA Debut Arrives With Star Power and Swagger
Inglewood, California – Most Valuable Promotions did not treat its first MMA press conference like a standard fight-week obligation. It treated it like a declaration.
Inside the Intuit Dome on Thursday night in Inglewood, California, MVP gathered 22 fighters, three headline attractions, and enough combat-sports history to make Saturday night feel less like a debut and more like an industry challenge. The message was clear from the opening moments: this is not just another fight card.
It is MVP’s first MMA event, Netflix’s first live MMA broadcast, and a direct attempt to place mixed martial arts in front of one of the largest entertainment audiences in the world. The event will stream globally on Netflix at no additional cost to the platform’s 325 million-plus members, a detail that gives this card a reach few combat sports events can match.
Andrew Carswell is a combat sports columnist and college writing professor, based in Las Vegas, NV, whose work examines the intersection of fighting, media, business, and culture. His commentary and analysis have been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and media outlets, including Yahoo! News, and USA TODAY. Blending journalistic insight and experience with a fan’s perspective, Carswell writes about the fight game as both a cultural phenomenon and a global business.
Song vs Figueiredo: A Title Shot on the Line in Macau?
The Galaxy Arena in Macau will burst with action on May 30, 2026. UFC returns to China after two years of silence with UFC Fight Night 277: a bout between Song Yadong (#7) and Deiveson Figueiredo (#9). For Song, it’s a way to return to the bantamweight title queue after the loss to O’Malley. Figueiredo, the former two-time Flyweight champion, still aims to prove he’s worthy of the championship belt chase in a new division.
In this post, we’ll try to analyse the upcoming clash between Song and Figueiredo, considering their key stats and fighting style.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Costa (05-16-2026)
Featherweight (145)
[#16][#13UFC] Arnold Allen (20-4-0, -180) vs. [#17][#14UFC] Melquizael Costa (26-7-0, +149)
Arnold Allen is the All-Time #29 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Arnold Allen (1-2-0)
2026-01-24: L vs. [#11FW] Jean Silva (17-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-07-27: W vs. [#35FW] Giga Chikadze (15-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-01-20: L vs. [#2FW] Movsar Evloev (20-0-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Melquizael Costa (3-0-0)
2026-02-21: W vs. [#27FW] Dan Ige (19-11-0) via TKO (Spinning Back Kick and Punches) in 4:56 of round 1
2025-12-13: W vs. [#66FW] Morgan Charriere (21-12-1) via KO (Head Kick) in 1:14 of round 1
2025-05-17: W vs. [#98FW] Julian Erosa (31-13-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Arnold Allen | -180 | 61.55% | |
| Elo K170 | Melquizael Costa | 1996.99 | +80.28 | 61.35% |
| Elo Modified | Melquizael Costa | 1972.87 | +69.24 | 59.83% |
| Glicko-1 | Melquizael Costa | 2034.05 | +67.88 | 59.64% |
| WHR | Arnold Allen | 1847.39 | +14.19 | 52.04% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Arnold Allen 32.3, Melquizael Costa 29.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Arnold Allen 112, Melquizael Costa 84
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[*] Doo Ho Choi (16-4-1, +105) vs. [#62][#34UFC] Daniel Santos (15-2-0, -126)
Last 3 Fights: Doo Ho Choi (2-0-1)
2024-12-07: W vs. [#85FW] Nate Landwehr (18-8-0) via TKO (Elbows) in 3:21 of round 3
2024-07-20: W vs. [*] Bill Algeo (18-9-0) via TKO (Submission to Punch) in 3:38 of round 2
2023-02-04: D vs. [#86LW] Kyle Nelson (17-7-1) via Draw (Majority) in 5:00 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Daniel Santos (3-0-0)
2025-10-04: W vs. [#458LW] Joo Sang Yoo (9-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:21 of round 2
2025-05-10: W vs. [#216FW] Jeong Yeong Lee (11-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2023-06-03: W vs. [#197BW] Johnny Munoz Jr. (15-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Daniel Santos | -126 | 53.33% | |
| Elo K170 | Daniel Santos | 1803.57 | +30.84 | 54.43% |
| Elo Modified | Daniel Santos | 1800.60 | +25.73 | 53.69% |
| Glicko-1 | Daniel Santos | 1847.49 | +20.07 | 52.88% |
| WHR | Daniel Santos | 1806.93 | +45.04 | 56.45% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Doo Ho Choi 35.1, Daniel Santos 31.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Doo Ho Choi 525, Daniel Santos 224
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#29][#19UFC] Modestas Bukauskas (19-7-0, -138) vs. [#52][#25UFC] Rodolfo Bellato (13-3-1, +102)
Last 3 Fights: Modestas Bukauskas (2-1-0)
2026-01-24: L vs. [#21LHW] Nikita Krylov (31-11-0) via KO (Punches) in 4:57 of round 3
2025-09-06: W vs. [*] Paul Craig (17-10-1) via KO (Elbow) in 5:00 of round 1
2025-05-10: W vs. [#27LHW] Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1) via SD (29-28, 30-27, 27-30)
Last 3 Fights: Rodolfo Bellato (1-1-0, 1 NC)
2026-03-07: W vs. [#112LHW] Luke Fernandez (6-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:42 of round 1
2025-09-27: L vs. [#36LHW] Navajo Stirling (9-0-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2025-06-14: NC vs. [*] Paul Craig (17-10-1)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Modestas Bukauskas | -138 | 53.94% | |
| Elo K170 | Modestas Bukauskas | 1731.69 | +135.45 | 68.56% |
| Elo Modified | Modestas Bukauskas | 1731.52 | +81.43 | 61.51% |
| Glicko-1 | Modestas Bukauskas | 1748.44 | +74.05 | 60.50% |
| WHR | Modestas Bukauskas | 1663.80 | +43.06 | 56.16% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Modestas Bukauskas 32.2, Rodolfo Bellato 30.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Modestas Bukauskas 112, Rodolfo Bellato 70
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Fight Matrix Program – MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs Carano (05-16-2026)
Women Featherweight (145)
[*] Ronda Rousey (12-2-0, -500) vs. [*] Gina Carano (7-1-0, +353)
Ronda Rousey is the All-Time #4 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ronda Rousey (1-2-0)
2016-12-30: L vs. [*] Amanda Nunes (23-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:48 of round 1
2015-11-14: L vs. [*] Holly Holm (15-7-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 0:59 of round 2
2015-08-01: W vs. [NA] Bethe Correia (11-6-1) via KO (Punch) in 0:34 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Gina Carano (2-1-0)
2009-08-15: L vs. [#1DD][#3P4P][#1FW] Cristiane Justino (29-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:59 of round 1
2008-10-04: W vs. [NA] Kelly Kobold-Schmitz (20-3-2) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2008-05-31: W vs. [NA] Kaitlin Young (12-13-1) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 3:00 of round 2
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Ronda Rousey | -500 | 79.05% | |
| Elo K170 | Ronda Rousey | 1651.67 | +247.63 | 80.62% |
| Elo Modified | Ronda Rousey | 1676.59 | +210.56 | 77.07% |
| Glicko-1 | Ronda Rousey | 1705.99 | +272.46 | 82.75% |
| WHR | Ronda Rousey | 1668.84 | +214.92 | 77.51% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Ronda Rousey 39.3, Gina Carano 44.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ronda Rousey 3424, Gina Carano 6118
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Heavyweight (265)
[*] Francis Ngannou (18-3-0, -1354) vs. [*] Philipe Lins (18-5-0, +720)
Francis Ngannou is the All-Time #8 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Francis Ngannou (3-0-0)
2024-10-19: W vs. [#18HW+] Renan Ferreira (13-6-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:32 of round 1
2022-01-22: W vs. [#1HW+] Ciryl Gane (13-2-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
2021-03-27: W vs. [*] Stipe Miocic (20-5-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:52 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Philipe Lins (3-0-0)
2024-03-09: W vs. [#27LHW] Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-06-03: W vs. [#58LHW] Maxim Grishin (35-12-2) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2023-02-18: W vs. [*] Ovince St. Preux (27-18-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:49 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Francis Ngannou | -1354 | 88.41% | |
| Elo K170 | Francis Ngannou | 2363.07 | +551.98 | 96.00% |
| Elo Modified | Francis Ngannou | 2339.57 | +498.10 | 94.62% |
| Glicko-1 | Francis Ngannou | 2491.53 | +629.08 | 97.40% |
| WHR | Francis Ngannou | 2203.75 | +441.31 | 92.70% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Francis Ngannou 39.7, Philipe Lins 40.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Francis Ngannou 574, Philipe Lins 798
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Francis Ngannou leads 1-0
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Welterweight (170)
[*] Nate Diaz (21-13-0, +163) vs. [*] Mike Perry (14-8-0, -202)
Last 3 Fights: Nate Diaz (1-2-0)
2022-09-10: W vs. [*] Tony Ferguson (25-11-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:52 of round 4
2021-06-12: L vs. [#9WW] Leon Edwards (22-6-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2019-11-02: L vs. [*] Jorge Masvidal (35-17-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Mike Perry (1-2-0)
2021-04-10: L vs. [#17WW] Daniel Rodriguez (20-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
2020-11-21: L vs. [*] Tim Means (33-17-1) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2020-06-27: W vs. [*] Mickey Gall (7-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Mike Perry | -202 | 63.75% | |
| Elo K170 | Nate Diaz | 2046.32 | +494.89 | 94.53% |
| Elo Modified | Nate Diaz | 2018.49 | +426.09 | 92.07% |
| Glicko-1 | Nate Diaz | 2115.79 | +464.42 | 93.55% |
| WHR | Nate Diaz | 1852.03 | +335.74 | 87.35% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Nate Diaz 41.1, Mike Perry 34.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Nate Diaz 1344, Mike Perry 1862
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Nate Diaz leads 1-0
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Chaos, Threats, and Near Violence: UFC 328 Press Conference Goes Off The Rails
The UFC has promoted heated rivalries before. It has built entire pay-per-views around personal hatred, emotional instability, and the promise that two men genuinely want to hurt one another.
But, the UFC 328 press conference in Newark felt different, from the very moment it began.
At the center of the chaos stood Sean Strickland (30-7-0) and Khamzat Chimaev (15-0-0), two fighters who spent nearly the entire press conference interrupting, insulting, and daring one another to escalate things further. At the conclusion, the event eventually turned physical when Chimaev kicked Strickland during the final faceoff, forcing security to intervene as the stage descended into disorder.
Andrew Carswell is a combat sports columnist and college writing professor, based in Las Vegas, NV, whose work examines the intersection of fighting, media, business, and culture. His commentary and analysis have been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and media outlets, including Yahoo! News, and USA TODAY. Blending journalistic insight and experience with a fan’s perspective, Carswell writes about the fight game as both a cultural phenomenon and a global business.
UFC’s White House Card Moves From Spectacle to Reality
By Zach Rudisin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The UFC’s long-awaited White House event, called “Freedom Fights 250,” no longer feels like a wild promotional idea. It now feels real.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump welcomed UFC stars Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira, and Ciryl Gane to the Oval Office to preview the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card, an event scheduled for June 14 on the White House grounds. The date carries obvious symbolism: Flag Day, Trump’s birthday, and the build-up to America’s 250th anniversary celebration. OutKick reported that Trump described the event as something that has “never happened before” and called it “the greatest show on Earth.”
Andrew Carswell is a combat sports columnist and college writing professor, based in Las Vegas, NV, whose work examines the intersection of fighting, media, business, and culture. His commentary and analysis have been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and media outlets, including Yahoo! News, and USA TODAY. Blending journalistic insight and experience with a fan’s perspective, Carswell writes about the fight game as both a cultural phenomenon and a global business.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland (05-09-2026)
Middleweight Championship (185)
[#3P4P][#4DD][#1][#1UFC] Khamzat Chimaev (15-0-0, -564) vs. [#4][#4UFC] Sean Strickland (30-7-0, +414)
Khamzat Chimaev is the All-Time #14 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Sean Strickland is the All-Time #17 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Khamzat Chimaev (3-0-0)
2025-08-16: W vs. [#9DD][#9P4P][#2MW] Dricus Du Plessis (23-3-0) via UD (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
2024-10-26: W vs. [#10MW] Robert Whittaker (26-9-0) via Submission (Face Crank) in 3:34 of round 1
2023-10-21: W vs. [#4WW] Kamaru Usman (21-4-0) via MD (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
Last 3 Fights: Sean Strickland (2-1-0)
2026-02-21: W vs. [#9MW] Anthony Hernandez (15-3-0) via NC in 2:33 of round 3
2025-02-08: L vs. [#9DD][#9P4P][#2MW] Dricus Du Plessis (23-3-0) via UD (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
2024-06-01: W vs. [#6LHW] Paulo Costa (16-4-0) via SD (49-46, 50-45, 46-49)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Khamzat Chimaev | -564 | 81.36% | |
| Elo K170 | Khamzat Chimaev | 2400.67 | +201.21 | 76.10% |
| Elo Modified | Khamzat Chimaev | 2339.86 | +172.16 | 72.93% |
| Glicko-1 | Khamzat Chimaev | 2443.19 | +188.84 | 74.78% |
| WHR | Khamzat Chimaev | 2250.51 | +166.82 | 72.32% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Khamzat Chimaev 32.0, Sean Strickland 35.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Khamzat Chimaev 266, Sean Strickland 77
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Khamzat Chimaev leads 2-0
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Flyweight Championship (125)
[#3DD][#4P4P][#1][#1UFC] Joshua Van (16-2-0, +147) vs. [#3][#3UFC] Tatsuro Taira (18-1-0, -176)
Joshua Van is the All-Time #11 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Tatsuro Taira is the All-Time #17 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Joshua Van (3-0-0)
2025-12-06: W vs. [#10DD][#10P4P][#2FLY] Alexandre Pantoja (30-6-0) via TKO (Arm Injury) in 0:26 of round 1
2025-06-28: W vs. [#7FLY] Brandon Royval (17-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-06-07: W vs. [#30FLY] Bruno Silva (15-9-2) via TKO (Punches) in 4:01 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Tatsuro Taira (2-1-0)
2025-12-06: W vs. [#8FLY] Brandon Moreno (23-10-2) via TKO (Punches) in 2:24 of round 2
2025-08-02: W vs. [#75FLY] Hyun Sung Park (10-2-0) via Submission (Face Crank) in 1:06 of round 2
2024-10-12: L vs. [#7FLY] Brandon Royval (17-9-0) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Tatsuro Taira | -176 | 61.16% | |
| Elo K170 | Joshua Van | 2116.14 | +118.65 | 66.44% |
| Elo Modified | Joshua Van | 2043.32 | +41.04 | 55.88% |
| Glicko-1 | Joshua Van | 2124.85 | +15.97 | 52.30% |
| WHR | Tatsuro Taira | 1936.96 | +98.88 | 63.86% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Joshua Van 24.5, Tatsuro Taira 26.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Joshua Van 154, Tatsuro Taira 154
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Joshua Van leads 2-1
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Heavyweight (265)
[#3][#3UFC] Alexander Volkov (39-11-0, -179) vs. [#7][#6UFC] Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-2-0, +150)
Alexander Volkov is the All-Time #25 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Alexander Volkov (2-1-0)
2025-10-25: W vs. [#8HW+] Jailton Almeida (22-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#1HW+] Ciryl Gane (13-2-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2024-06-22: W vs. [#4HW+] Sergei Pavlovich (20-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (3-0-0)
2026-01-24: W vs. [#17HW+] Derrick Lewis (29-13-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:14 of round 2
2025-11-22: W vs. [#44HW+] Shamil Gaziev (14-3-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:22 of round 1
2025-11-01: W vs. [#19HW+] Ante Delija (26-8-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:59 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Alexander Volkov | -179 | 61.59% | |
| Elo K170 | Alexander Volkov | 2113.59 | +83.77 | 61.83% |
| Elo Modified | Alexander Volkov | 2101.16 | +63.56 | 59.05% |
| Glicko-1 | Alexander Volkov | 2191.29 | +74.86 | 60.61% |
| WHR | Alexander Volkov | 2004.06 | +101.67 | 64.23% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Alexander Volkov 37.5, Waldo Cortes-Acosta 34.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexander Volkov 196, Waldo Cortes-Acosta 105
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Paulette Cuesta Returns to the Ring in Puerto Rico
The Mexican veteran makes her 25th pro appearance on June 13, 2026, under 12 Raund Sports, as she charts a path toward another world-title opportunity.
Mexican super bantamweight Paulette “La Heredera” Cuesta (18-5-1, 4 KOs) is slated to return this summer. On June 13, 2026, Cuesta is expected to box in Puerto Rico in what would be her 25th professional bout – her first appearance under the banner of 12 Raund Sports. Her opponent has not been officially announced.
Now guided by European manager Ilker Furat, Cuesta is aiming to position herself for another run at a world title.
Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. Judo is the martial art that I most admire. At different periods in my life, I have practiced Judo. This piqued my interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates (05-02-2026)
Welterweight (170)
[#3][#3UFC] Jack Della Maddalena (18-3-0, -101) vs. [#7][#7UFC] Carlos Prates (23-7-0, -120)
Jack Della Maddalena is the All-Time #19 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Jack Della Maddalena (2-1-0)
2025-11-15: L vs. [#1P4P][#1WW] Islam Makhachev (28-1-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2025-05-10: W vs. [#6WW] Belal Muhammad (24-5-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
2024-03-09: W vs. [#35WW] Gilbert Burns (22-10-0) via KO (Knee and Elbows) in 3:43 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Carlos Prates (2-1-0)
2025-11-15: W vs. [#9WW] Leon Edwards (22-6-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:28 of round 2
2025-08-16: W vs. [#25WW] Geoff Neal (16-8-0) via KO (Spinning Back Elbow) in 4:59 of round 1
2025-04-26: L vs. [#5WW] Ian Garry (17-1-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Carlos Prates | -120 | 52.05% | |
| Elo K170 | Jack Della Maddalena | 2272.75 | +124.74 | 67.22% |
| Elo Modified | Jack Della Maddalena | 2171.14 | +57.80 | 58.24% |
| Glicko-1 | Jack Della Maddalena | 2256.95 | +29.96 | 54.30% |
| WHR | Carlos Prates | 2051.80 | +93.12 | 63.09% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Jack Della Maddalena 29.6, Carlos Prates 32.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jack Della Maddalena 168, Carlos Prates 168
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#12][#11UFC] Beneil Dariush (23-7-1, +348) vs. [#30][#20UFC] Quillan Salkilld (11-1-0, -464)
Beneil Dariush is the All-Time #36 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Beneil Dariush (1-2-0)
2025-11-15: L vs. [#7LW] Benoit St. Denis (17-3-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:16 of round 1
2025-06-28: W vs. [#10LW] Renato Carneiro (21-7-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-12-02: L vs. [#3LW] Arman Tsarukyan (23-3-0) via KO (Knee and Punches) in 1:04 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Quillan Salkilld (3-0-0)
2026-01-31: W vs. [#148LW] Jamie Mullarkey (18-9-0) via Submission (Neck Crank) in 3:02 of round 1
2025-10-25: W vs. [#63LW] Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 2:30 of round 1
2025-06-07: W vs. [#214LW] Yanal Ashmouz (9-2-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Quillan Salkilld | -464 | 78.65% | |
| Elo K170 | Beneil Dariush | 2029.90 | +191.41 | 75.06% |
| Elo Modified | Beneil Dariush | 1993.24 | +149.16 | 70.23% |
| Glicko-1 | Beneil Dariush | 2036.51 | +179.09 | 73.71% |
| WHR | Beneil Dariush | 1908.57 | +150.33 | 70.38% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Beneil Dariush 37.0, Quillan Salkilld 26.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Beneil Dariush 168, Quillan Salkilld 91
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Flyweight (125)
[#11][#10UFC] Tim Elliott (21-13-1, +316) vs. [#12][#11UFC] Steve Erceg (13-4-0, -412)
Tim Elliott is the All-Time #50 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Tim Elliott (2-1-0)
2025-08-16: W vs. [#27FLY] Kai Asakura (21-6-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:39 of round 2
2023-12-09: W vs. [#33FLY] Su Mudaerji (19-7-0) via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) in 4:02 of round 1
2023-10-21: L vs. [#10FLY] Muhammad Mokaev (16-0-0) via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) in 3:03 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Steve Erceg (1-2-0)
2025-08-09: W vs. [#59FLY] Ode Osbourne (13-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2025-03-29: L vs. [#8FLY] Brandon Moreno (23-10-2) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2024-08-17: L vs. [#9FLY] Kai Kara-France (25-12-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:04 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Steve Erceg | -412 | 76.99% | |
| Elo K170 | Tim Elliott | 1848.77 | +148.68 | 70.18% |
| Elo Modified | Tim Elliott | 1814.63 | +104.54 | 64.61% |
| Glicko-1 | Tim Elliott | 1875.34 | +158.84 | 71.39% |
| WHR | Tim Elliott | 1799.09 | +191.08 | 75.02% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Tim Elliott 39.3, Steve Erceg 30.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tim Elliott 259, Steve Erceg 266
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Usyk vs. Verhoeven: “Glory in Giza”, Fight Preview and Analysis
The Event: “Glory in Giza”
The highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, officially titled “Glory in Giza,” is scheduled for May 23, 2026. This bout will unfold at the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, offering a spectacular backdrop for what promises to be a historic showdown. Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight championship belt on the line, adding further significance to the event.
Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. Judo is the martial art that I most admire. At different periods in my life, I have practiced Judo. This piqued my interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.
UFC Freedom 250 Odds, Fights, and Best Bets
UFC Freedom 250 already looks like one of the biggest UFC events of 2026, partly because of the setting and partly because of the matchups at the top. The event is scheduled for June 14th, 2026, in Washington, D.C., with Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje booked as the main event and Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane set as the co-main.
This card is interesting because it’s not built on one pattern. Stake’s board shows Topuria as a major favorite over Gaethje, while Pereira and Gane are priced almost dead even, which gives the event a very different feel depending on which fight you are looking at. There are also strong favorites lower on the card, including Sean O’Malley and Maurício Ruffy, which makes Freedom 250 a useful card for both straight winner picks and riskier bets.
Some fights look straightforward, others feel much harder to price, and the current odds already point out where the market sees confidence and where it sees danger. For fans who want to check out the latest UFC 250 markets, the smart place to start is with the fights themselves and which favorites actually deserve the support.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal (04-25-2026)
Featherweight (145)
[#5][#5UFC] Aljamain Sterling (25-5-0, +137) vs. [#9][#7UFC] Youssef Zalal (18-5-1, -163)
Aljamain Sterling is the All-Time #47 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Aljamain Sterling (2-1-0)
2025-08-23: W vs. [#10FW] Brian Ortega (16-5-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#2FW] Movsar Evloev (20-0-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-04-13: W vs. [#52FW] Calvin Kattar (23-10-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Youssef Zalal (3-0-0)
2025-10-04: W vs. [#24FW] Josh Emmett (19-7-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 1:38 of round 1
2025-02-15: W vs. [#52FW] Calvin Kattar (23-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-11-02: W vs. [*] Jack Shore (17-3-0) via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) in 0:59 of round 2
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Youssef Zalal | -163 | 59.49% | |
| Elo K170 | Aljamain Sterling | 2205.95 | +219.84 | 78.00% |
| Elo Modified | Aljamain Sterling | 2100.66 | +140.93 | 69.24% |
| Glicko-1 | Aljamain Sterling | 2142.27 | +89.75 | 62.64% |
| WHR | Aljamain Sterling | 1983.58 | +119.75 | 66.58% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Aljamain Sterling 36.7, Youssef Zalal 29.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Aljamain Sterling 245, Youssef Zalal 203
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Women Bantamweight (135)
[#7DD][#9P4P][#3][#3UFC] Norma Dumont (13-2-0, -178) vs. [#8][#8UFC] Joselyne Edwards (17-6-0, +148)
Last 3 Fights: Norma Dumont (3-0-0)
2025-11-01: W vs. [#4BW] Ketlen Vieira (15-5-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-09-14: W vs. [*] Irene Aldana (15-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-04-06: W vs. [*] Germaine de Randamie (10-5-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Joselyne Edwards (3-0-0)
2026-02-21: W vs. [#22BW] Nora Cornolle (9-4-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 2:44 of round 2
2025-08-09: W vs. [#46BW] Priscila Cachoeira (13-8-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:24 of round 1
2025-04-26: W vs. [#42BW] Chelsea Chandler (6-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:31 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Norma Dumont | -178 | 61.36% | |
| Elo K170 | Norma Dumont | 1886.36 | +313.41 | 85.87% |
| Elo Modified | Norma Dumont | 1847.29 | +256.63 | 81.41% |
| Glicko-1 | Norma Dumont | 1802.31 | +183.60 | 74.21% |
| WHR | Norma Dumont | 1697.92 | +191.48 | 75.07% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Norma Dumont 35.5, Joselyne Edwards 30.5
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Norma Dumont 175, Joselyne Edwards 63
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Norma Dumont leads 2-1
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Lightweight (155)
[#21][#15UFC] Alexander Hernandez (18-8-0, -149) vs. [#35][#23UFC] Rafa Garcia (18-4-0, +124)
Last 3 Fights: Alexander Hernandez (3-0-0)
2025-09-13: W vs. [#42LW] Diego Ferreira (19-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:46 of round 2
2025-08-16: W vs. [#101LW] Chase Hooper (16-5-1) via TKO (Punches) in 4:58 of round 1
2025-03-15: W vs. [#173LW] Kurt Holobaugh (21-10-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Rafa Garcia (2-1-0)
2025-09-13: W vs. [#54LW] Jared Gordon (21-8-0) via TKO (Elbows) in 2:27 of round 3
2025-03-29: W vs. [#364LW] Vinc Pichel (14-5-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-10-12: L vs. [#24LW] Grant Dawson (23-3-1) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 1:42 of round 2
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Alexander Hernandez | -149 | 57.27% | |
| Elo K170 | Alexander Hernandez | 1953.76 | +50.18 | 57.17% |
| Elo Modified | Alexander Hernandez | 1930.88 | +55.66 | 57.94% |
| Glicko-1 | Alexander Hernandez | 2013.64 | +107.91 | 65.05% |
| WHR | Rafa Garcia | 1786.24 | +30.94 | 54.44% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Alexander Hernandez 33.5, Rafa Garcia 31.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexander Hernandez 224, Rafa Garcia 224
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Alexander Hernandez leads 1-0
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Gilbert Burns vs Mike Malott Gives UFC Winnipeg a Real Main Event Feel
UFC returns to Winnipeg on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with Gilbert Burns vs Mike Malott set as the main event at Canada Life Centre. It is a welterweight fight with real value attached to it, even if it does not come with a title on the line. The card is listed by UFC as a Fight Night event, with Burns and Malott topping the bill in a matchup that feels important for both men.
This is the kind of fight that tells you a lot about where a division is heading. Burns is the proven name, the veteran who has spent years operating around elite level at 170 pounds. Malott is the home fighter, the younger man, and the one being pushed toward a much bigger conversation if he can win in front of a Canadian crowd. That is why the matchup has drawn attention early, including from fans tracking the prices at betting sites UK readers tend to use before a UFC main event weekend.
There is also a clear contrast in where both men stand right now. Burns enters as the established contender with a long record against strong opposition. Malott comes in with momentum and, according to current odds listings, as a fairly clear favourite. Covers had Malott around -500 and Burns around +375 ahead of fight week, which gives a good sense of how the market sees this one.