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 almost three decades. Since 2001, I have enjoyed watching the UFC. I hold an academic background in Gerontology from Madonna University, and spent 25 years working across both clinical and non-clinical healthcare settings. But a lifelong passion for writing and martial arts eventually pulled me toward a new chapter. Today, I write for FightMatrix.com. Additionally, I interview professionals in the Combat Sports sector.