MMA – Fight Matrix

An Interview with Bareknuckle Fighter, Joshua Whiteside

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Heather

Introduction

Drawing from his background in boxing, MMA, and kickboxing, Joshua Whiteside stands out as a highly adaptable fighter. On March 28, 2026, he made a victorious debut in BKFC by defeating Isaiah Williams (0-1). His greatest strength lies in boxing, where he holds an amateur record of (4-0) and a professional record of (2-0). Since Whiteside’s dynamic fighting style is shaped by rigorous training across multiple disciplines, this enables him to adapt swiftly to different combat scenarios. Now, as he continues his journey in bare knuckle boxing, Whiteside’s versatility and relentless drive promise to make him a contender to watch in the sport.

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Heather

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Director of Partnerships & Marketing
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 and a new venture. Now I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

Current MMA Rankings Updated (04-19-2026)

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Jason

This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Jason

2026 WHR Post #10

Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:

Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
Both fighters must have at least 7 fights in the prior 7 years, including 1+ loss. If the loss was in their debut, then 2+ losses are required.
Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.

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Man On A Mission : Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez Talks UFC Comeback After Serving 8 Months In A Mexican Prison

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Andrew Carswell

Two weeks after a career-defining win, Daniel Rodriguez made a decision that would nearly cost him everything. It wasn’t a bad fight. It wasn’t a brutal knockout. It wasn’t even inside the cage. It was a bag of weed. Twenty-seven grams, to be exact. Under an ounce. That was enough to turn a rising UFC contender into a prisoner in Mexico for eight months. For the first time since his release, Rodriguez, speaking on the Ariel Helwani show earlier this week, recalled some of the details of the nightmarish ordeal. “I thought I was going to be there for a weekend,” Rodriguez said. “It turned into eight months.”

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Andrew Carswell

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.

What Are The Most Popular Combat Sports In The World Today

Posted on April 15, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Have you ever asked yourself which combat sports people enjoy the most today, and why so many fans love watching them and learning them?

It is a simple question, but the answer includes skill, culture, fitness, and strong human effort.

Combat sports have been part of human life for many years. People from different countries enjoy these sports in their own way. Some like fast action, some like smart techniques, and some feel inspired by the discipline and control shown by players. These sports are not just about fighting. They are about respect, focus, and personal growth.

If we look at today’s trends, some combat sports clearly stand out. Boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, and kickboxing are among the most popular choices. Each sport has its own style and rules, but all of them help improve both body and mind.

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Kaseya Center, Miami, the site of UFC 327 – Source: Unsplash Three UFC Superstars Who Never Won an Undisputed Championship Despite Three Attempts

Posted on April 14, 2026 by A. J. Riot

For the first three minutes of his light heavyweight title fight in the main event of UFC 327, Jiří Procházka was picking Carlos Ulberg apart. The Czech star was finding his range in the Kaseya Center, landing clean, moving well, and his Australian opponent was limping, favoring a knee that looked like it might give out beneath him at any moment. That’s what makes this defeat, the 33-year-old’s third straight in title challenges, so hard to take.

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Newly Crowned Champion Carlos Ulberg Blasts Jiri Prochazka, Calls Him A Fraud: “I Saw Fear In His Eyes”

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Andrew Carswell

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.”

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Andrew Carswell

Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott (04-18-2026)

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Jason

Welterweight (170)
[#28][#23UFC] Mike Malott (13-2-1, -568) vs. [#29][#24UFC] Gilbert Burns (22-9-0, +404)
Gilbert Burns is the All-Time #18 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Mike Malott (3-0-0)
2025-10-18: W vs. [#21WW] Kevin Holland (29-15-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2025-05-10: W vs. [#82WW] Charles Radtke (12-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:26 of round 2
2024-11-02: W vs. [*] Trevin Giles (16-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Gilbert Burns (0-3-0)
2025-05-17: L vs. [#2WW] Michael Morales (19-0-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:39 of round 1
2024-09-07: L vs. [#8WW] Sean Brady (18-2-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 50-45)
2024-03-09: L vs. [#3WW] Jack Della Maddalena (18-3-0) via KO (Knee and Elbows) in 3:43 of round 3

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Mike Malott	-568		81.08%
Elo K170	Gilbert Burns	1893.63	+22.77	53.27%
Elo Modified	Gilbert Burns	1876.89	+4.81	50.69%
Glicko-1	Gilbert Burns	1907.36	+11.99	51.73%
WHR	Mike Malott	1848.56	+66.21	59.41%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Mike Malott 34.4, Gilbert Burns 39.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Mike Malott 182, Gilbert Burns 336
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Gilbert Burns leads 1-0
.

Bantamweight (135)
[#22][#19UFC] Charles Jourdain (17-8-1, -169) vs. [#26][#23UFC] Kyler Phillips (12-4-0, +139)

Last 3 Fights: Charles Jourdain (2-1-0)
2025-10-18: W vs. [#44BW] Davey Grant (17-8-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:05 of round 1
2024-11-02: W vs. [#53BW] Victor Henry (25-7-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:43 of round 2
2024-06-29: L vs. [#12FW] Jean Silva (17-3-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:22 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Kyler Phillips (1-2-0)
2025-07-19: L vs. [#17BW] Vinicius Oliveira (24-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-10-19: L vs. [#24BW] Rob Font (22-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-03-09: W vs. [*] Pedro Munhoz (20-10-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Charles Jourdain	-169		60.02%
Elo K170	Charles Jourdain	1789.42	+68.05	59.67%
Elo Modified	Charles Jourdain	1816.89	+81.43	61.51%
Glicko-1	Charles Jourdain	1898.97	+91.44	62.87%
WHR	Charles Jourdain	1797.93	+87.95	62.39%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Charles Jourdain 30.4, Kyler Phillips 30.8
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Charles Jourdain 182, Kyler Phillips 273
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Charles Jourdain leads 2-1
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Lightweight (155)
[#88] Mandel Nallo (14-3-0, -159) vs. [#129][#59UFC] Jai Herbert (13-6-1, +129)

Last 3 Fights: Mandel Nallo (3-0-0)
2025-09-02: W vs. [#187LW] Samuel Silva (13-6-1) via KO (Punches) in 3:29 of round 1
2024-08-30: W vs. [#654WW] Robert Seres (8-6-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 4:07 of round 1
2024-06-08: W vs. [*] Deivison Francisco Ribeir (27-13-0) via TKO (Leg Kick) in 4:19 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Jai Herbert (1-2-0)
2025-03-22: L vs. [#67LW] Chris Padilla (17-6-1) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-08-03: W vs. [#452LW] Rolando Bedoya (14-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2023-07-22: L vs. [#28LW] Fares Ziam (18-4-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Mandel Nallo	-159		58.43%
Elo K170	Mandel Nallo	1730.16	+188.25	74.72%
Elo Modified	Mandel Nallo	1744.01	+131.15	68.03%
Glicko-1	Mandel Nallo	1798.43	+138.75	68.97%
WHR	Jai Herbert	1661.44	+21.27	53.06%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Mandel Nallo 36.7, Jai Herbert 37.9
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Mandel Nallo 228, Jai Herbert 392
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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Adesanya Comeback Fuels UFC Seattle Betting Buzz

Posted on April 10, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Men MMA fighters

UFC Fight Night 271 lands at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle this Saturday with a middleweight main event that nobody can agree on. Israel Adesanya, former two-time champion at 185 pounds and currently on the worst skid of his career, faces Joe Pyfer, who has knocked out nine of his 15 professional opponents and just turned 29. You can find heated arguments about this matchup on any MMA forum right now, and fans checking their 1xbet site ROI after recent fight cards already know the top five at middleweight has been reshuffled since Adesanya started losing.

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The Show Before the Show

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Andrew Carswell

How Josh Hokit Turned A UFC Press Conference Into Must-See Chaos

The fight hasn’t happened yet, but Josh Hokit has already made himself the story.

At a press conference meant to promote UFC 327, which will be held on Saturday in Miami at the Kaseya Center, the rising heavyweight didn’t just participate. He disrupted. What was supposed to be a routine media event quickly shifted into something far less controlled, as Hokit injected chaos, theatrics, and controversy.

UFC pre-fight press conferences used to be must-see tv, but many fans have complained that they have become somewhat boring lately, as fighters go on and on about how much they respect and admire each other. This mutual respect is mature and heartwarming, but some of the fans still like a bit of drama on the side.

On Thursday night, Hokit brought the drama.

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Andrew Carswell

This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Jason

2026 WHR Post #9

Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:

Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
Both fighters must have at least 7 fights in the prior 7 years, including 1+ loss. If the loss was in their debut, then 2+ losses are required.
Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.

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As UFC’s Reach Grows, So Does the Fight for Its Partnerships

Posted on April 7, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Mixed martial arts continues to attract major brand investment, and this past weekend was a busy one for sweepstakes platform Legendz.

While Renato Moicano submitted Chris Duncan by rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, Legendz was also wrapping up its title sponsorship of the Hyrox Miami Beach fitness racing event, marking a significant weekend of live sports activations for the brand.

The timing aligns with a significant shift in how UFC content reaches fans and how brands are committed to gaining exposure with a core audience.

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UFC 328 – Co-Main Event Preview

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Vitaliy Vovk

Flyweight Title Fight (125 lbs / 56.7 kg)

[#1 FW | #C UFC] Joshua Van (16-2-0) vs [#3 FW | #3 U C] Tatsuro Taira (18-1-0)

Prudential Center, Newark | May 9, 2026

Fight Breakdown

The UFC 327 co-main event features a high-stakes flyweight title clash between champion Joshua Van and rising contender Tatsuro Taira.

Van enters his first title defense under unusual circumstances, having captured the belt after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an early fight-ending injury. While the result officially crowned him champion, questions still linger regarding his legitimacy at the top of the division.

This bout represents a critical moment in Van’s career—a chance to validate his championship status with a definitive performance.

Meanwhile, Tatsuro Taira has quietly established himself as one of the most complete and dangerous fighters at 125 pounds. With elite grappling, positional dominance, and composure beyond his years, Taira presents a stylistic challenge that could expose the champion’s weaknesses.

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Vitaliy Vovk

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.

https://rfpromo.com/

rfpromo.com/

The Title Fights That Could Flip UFC 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by A. J. Riot

The UFC title calendar in 2026 is already packed. Some divisions have new champions while others are waiting for a first title defense. One belt is vacant. Another could soon be pulled into a major unification fight. It’s the kind of year where the rankings can change fast, and where one win can turn a fighter into the biggest story of the year.

A few champions still look untouchable. Lightweight has a champion who is becoming a star very quickly. Middleweight has a titleholder who is finally in the spot people expected him to reach. Flyweight has a young champion who suddenly has the whole division chasing him. The light heavyweight is starting over. Heavyweight still has a real champion, but another huge fight is pulling attention in a different direction.

Current UFC betting markets are built mostly around moneylines, round totals, method of victory bets, and longer range title futures. The biggest live title prices on the board right now have Tatsuro Taira favored over Joshua Van for UFC 327 at around 4/7 to 6/4, while Jiří Procházka is a slight favorite over Carlos Ulberg at roughly 5/6 against 22/19 or 11/10.

UFC odds are still centered on simple win markets first, with totals, distance props, and finish props sitting right behind them as the most common options. Futures markets are also active this year, with Khamzat Chimaev priced as the favorite to still hold the middleweight belt by the end of 2026, while title holder markets are open across multiple divisions.

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Statistics vs Reality: How Much Do the Numbers Reflect a Fighter’s Level

Posted on April 3, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Modern combat sports rely heavily on data. Analysts track strikes, takedowns, control time, and many other indicators. Fans read these numbers and try to understand who holds the advantage before a fight. At first glance, statistics seem clear and objective. They offer structure and allow quick comparisons. However, numbers do not always show the full picture of a fighter’s level.

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