An MMA Gym – Source: Unsplash
Sean Strickland pulled off one of the greatest upsets in recent memory as he stunned the formerly unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 328 in Newark on May 9th. The brash American was a 4/1 underdog when he made his way to the Octagon, and when the Chechen began with wrestling dominance in round one, it appeared as though it would be business as usual for the defending champion. Then, the California native flipped the script.
LAS VEGAS, NV – UFC Vegas 116 unfolded as a card defined not by chaos alone, but by the balance between control and calculated violence. Inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday night, fighters across the lineup demonstrated a clear evolution in approach, blending discipline with opportunistic aggression, in performances that revealed where the sport currently stands.
In the main event, Aljamain Sterling (26-5-0) delivered a performance that reinforced his position among the elite, and brought back visions of Aljo in his prime. Facing Youssef Zalal (18-6-1) in a pivotal featherweight matchup, Sterling relied on his grappling pedigree and positional awareness to dictate the fight from start to finish. Over the course of five rounds, he repeatedly grounded Zalal, controlled him from dominant positions, and limited his ability to mount sustained offense. The judges’ unanimous decision reflected the tone of the contest, as Sterling’s experience and composure proved decisive in a bout that gradually shifted from competitive to controlled.
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.
Miami, Fl – In a sport defined as much by narrative as by violence, Carlos Ulberg’s victory at UFC 327 in Miami last Saturday was already epic. Fighting through a compromised knee and adapting mid-bout, Ulberg delivered one of the most resilient performances in recent memory. Yet, it was not only the fight itself that has captured the attention of the MMA world in the hours since, it was also what came after.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Ulberg delivered a blistering and wholly unexpected critique of Jiri Prochazka, rejecting the Czech fighter’s post-fight claim that he had shown “mercy” during their bout. Ulberg’s response was immediate and emphatic.
“That’s total [expletive],” Ulberg said. “That was fear.”
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.
MMA fans have a reason to rejoice this April as the Ultimate Fighting Championship will roll out a tremendous lineup comprising top-notch battles, emerging challengers, and possible memorable fights. Besides extremely important concerns over championship rights, the cards of this month also feature generation clashes that are bound to produce sparks thus ensuring every fight lover gets catered to.
Are you willing to watch a leading UFC fight night, excited for a major event such as UFC 327, or looking at young guns trying to make their names? No matter what your preference is, the April calendar will certainly catch your attention. We should start by identifying the main fights, evaluating what might happen, and even taking some risks with our predictions.
Michael “Venom” Page was supposed to be must-see television.
Instead, he has become must-avoid viewing.
When the UFC signed the flashy British striker after years of highlight-reel dominance in Bellator, the expectation was clear: Page would bring viral knockouts, unpredictable artistry, and a new audience captivated by his theatrical style. The promotion marketed him as a spectacle, and we expected to see a living highlight reel, in an era increasingly dominated by cautious tactical fighters.
But, reality has not matched the hype.
At UFC London this weekend, Page secured a unanimous decision victory over Sam Patterson. On paper, it was a win. Inside the O2 Arena, it felt like a loss. Fans who initially chanted his nickname quickly turned to sustained boos, as the fight devolved into what many observers described as a low-action stalemate.
The numbers told the story: fewer than forty significant strikes landed between the two fighters across three rounds, a startling statistic for someone marketed as one of the sport’s most dynamic strikers.
This was not the first warning sign. But, it may have been the most symbolic.
Page’s entire brand has been built on spectacle. His karate-influenced movement, showmanship, and unconventional approach made him a cult figure long before he entered the UFC. Yet, the very style that once dazzled audiences has increasingly been criticized as evasive, rather than entertaining.
The UFC gambled that Page’s persona would translate seamlessly to its global platform. Instead, his fights have often lacked the visceral urgency that defines the promotion’s most compelling stars.
Even UFC leadership appeared unimpressed. Reports from the event indicated that Dana White left his seat during the bout, later describing the performance bluntly as “a bad fight.”
Such optics matter. In a sport where excitement is currency, perception can determine matchmaking opportunities, promotional push, and long-term viability. Keep Reading
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 of the Night
Chidi Njokuani vs Carlos Leal
Last weekend’s fight night in Houston, Texas, had a handful of entertaining fights, with the featured preliminary bout between Chidi Njokuani and Carlos Leal my pick for fight of the night.
Njokuani had won five of his previous nine UFC bouts prior to this matchup, with three of these victories coming via KO/TKO. However, a submission loss to Jake Matthews in July last year meant he faced Leal off the back of a loss.
As for Leal, he made his UFC debut in 2024 and suffered a controversial decision defeat at the hands of Rinat Fakhretdinov before beating Alex Morono by TKO in March 2025.
My name is Jack Latham.
I am 20 years old and am currently studying Sports Journalism at the University of Chester.
I became interested in combat sports, particularly MMA, in the lockdown period and have followed it closely ever since.
I have previously created my own website titled ‘Combat Corner,’ where I produce MMA content.
UFC 326 is expected to be an intriguing fight night in 2026, especially with Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira making headlines in a long-awaited rematch for the prestigious BMF (Baddest Mother F*er) title. This 2026 bout is a clash between two veteran MMA stars with different paths to the top. Let’s break down tactics, physicality, psychology, and fight scenarios.
When UFC 324 first came, many fans were excited. However, it was also perceived as a form of an unexpected matchup. Justin Gaethje is known as one of the most established and experienced lightweights in the sector. He was set to face Paddy Pimblett. Paddy was a fast-rising name popular for his overall confidence and skill set. Therefore, the matchup clearly set experience against momentum.
As the fight started, it became clear that there was something more to only entertainment. The bout raised major questions about modern MMA, like how fights are matched, how rankings are viewed, and how the sport rates popularity & competition. As the climax of the match came about, fans were already in a debate: Had UFC 324 delivered the fight of the year?
The fight took place under the Ukrainian Fights Promotion. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains part of the international MMA scene. The country hosts high-level tournaments that attract foreign fighters. One such event featured a bout between Azamat Boziev from Kabardino-Balkaria, representing Latvia, and Gustavo Wurlitzer from Brazil.
The Odessa tournament included the participation of MMA legend Igor Vovchanchyn as an honorary guest, highlighting the prestige of the event and giving the fight an added international context.
This article recaps UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape, held on December 13, 2025, the final UFC event of the year and the last under the U.S. ESPN broadcast agreement. Beyond simply closing the calendar, the night delivered a decisive flyweight result that reshaped contender momentum and set the tone for the division heading into 2026.
UFC has had another amazing year fighting wise. To be honest it wasn’t lacking in drama either. In the aftermath of the UFC 323 event we have seen just how passionate and emotional fighters can be even after the duel is over. At times it is hard to differentiate the hardest sports out there from a soap opera. With a year almost over, and only one UFC event on the horizon in 2025, let us walk you through the most dramatic events that marked the past few weeks in the UFC.
On November 29th, 2025, [#260 FW] Nurbek Kabdrakhmanov rematched [#173 FW] Jieleyisi Baergeng for the Naiza FC featherweight championship. In their first meeting at Naiza Fighter Championship 75, Nurbek defeated Baergeng by unanimous decision to capture the vacant title.
In the rematch, Baergeng extracted his revenge on Nurbek by split decision, but not without some controversy. Many fans as well as MMA insiders thought that Kabdrakhmanov deserved to have his arm raised. In light of this controversial decision, I decided to watch and score the fight myself.
You go into a fight night expecting chaos. It’s the nature of the beast. But even by the volatile standards of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the recent card in Qatar felt different. It wasn’t just a collection of fights; it was a demolition of the status quo.
We aren’t just talking about a few guys moving up a rung or two on the ladder. We are talking about a complete restructuring of the pecking order. When the dust settled and the adrenaline faded, the release of the updated FightMatrix rankings (Release #1000, for those keeping score) confirmed what everyone watching already knew in their gut: the landscape has changed. The old guard is looking over their shoulders, and the new blood isn’t just knocking on the door. No, they are kicking it down.
The 63rd WBC Boxing Convention was held at the World Siam Stadium in Bangkapi, Bangkok, Thailand. The event featured an exciting matchup in the Women’s Bantamweight division, showcasing two skilled contenders in a memorable bout.
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.
By Simon Head for FightMatrix.com
The welterweight division took center stage at UFC 322 as a host of the top names at 170 pounds saw their stock rise, and in some cases fall, on a big week for the weight class in New York City.
The former undisputed UFC lightweight champion looked bigger, stronger and healthier on fight night at Madison Square Garden. But, more worryingly for the rest of the welterweight division, he looked better, too, as he dethroned Jack Della Maddalena with consummate ease.
With Makhachev looking like he’s now at his optimal weight class, he can now focus on adding to his already-stellar resumé as he looks to build a list of accomplishments to put him among the sport’s all-time greats. Some may think it’s a tad early to suggest it, but he may already have surpassed the achievements of his coach, friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov.
