Brandon Mills, the son of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, failed to win his first professional mixed martial arts fight. Mills took on Jordan Clark in the co-main event of Caged Aggression 36 in Davenport, Iowa, on Saturday. Mills showed some talent, but Clark was the better fighter and won by unanimous decision after three rounds. Mills and Clark had some entertaining scrambles on the ground in the first round, after Mills scored a takedown that reminded fans of his father’s wrestling skills. The first round was close, but Clark had the upper hand on the ground. Clark dominated the second round, keeping Mills on his back. Mills sometimes tried to put on a show instead of focusing on the fight. Mills defended himself well in the third round, preventing Clark from landing big shots, but he could not turn the tide in his favor. Clark got a 30-26 score from one judge and two 29-28 scores from the others, improving his pro record to 3-1. Mills lost his pro debut after going 4-0 as an amateur.

UFC Vegas 81 took place in Nevada tonight, featuring eleven exciting fights. The main event was a featherweight showdown between Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza, which lived up to the hype. Sodiq Yusuff came close to ending the fight in the first round, but Edson Barboza fought back and took over the fight in the next four rounds, landing a stunning spinning heel kick along the way (watch it here). After a 25-minute war, Barboza got the unanimous decision win. The co-main event was a women’s flyweight bout between former title challenger Jennifer Maia and Viviane Araujo. It was a competitive and back-and-forth fight, which Araujo won by unanimous decision (29-28 x3). At the end of the night, UFC officials announced at the post-fight press conference that four fighters would receive performance bonuses. Fight of the night: Edson Barboza and Sodiq Yusuff got ‘Fight of the Night’ awards for their epic main event. Barboza won the fight by unanimous decision in a thrilling battle. Performance of the night: Michel Pereira got an extra $50k for his first-round TKO win over Andre Petroski Performance of the night: Jonathan Martinez got an extra $50k for his third-round TKO win over Adrian Yanez. Martinez finished the fight with some vicious low kicks.

In a highly anticipated showdown filled with animosity and drama, Logan Paul emerged victorious in a controversial fashion against Dillon Danis during the Misfits Boxing: The PRIME Card at Manchester's AO Arena. The six-round exhibition bout was a co-feature spectacle that had fans eagerly awaiting the encounter. Before the fighters even touched gloves, it was evident that the heated build-up was going to result in an explosive battle. The first round began without the customary glove touch, as Paul wasted no time in launching a barrage of punches, targeting both the head and body of his opponent. Danis maintained a tight guard and responded with smiles as Paul continued his assault. Amidst the punches, the two fighters engaged in a verbal exchange. While Danis advanced, he refrained from offering much in terms of offense. As the second round commenced, Paul initially unleashed a flurry of punches, and despite keeping his hands at his waist, he continued to dominate. Danis, seemingly unfazed, maintained a bemused expression while the crowd voiced their disapproval with boos. In a bizarre turn of events, Danis taunted Paul and refrained from throwing punches, which prompted Paul to unleash a furious flurry of his own, leaving Danis covering up. The third round saw Danis adopt a peculiar defensive posture with his right elbow high, earning him a swift warning from the referee. Ignoring the warning, Paul persisted with his offensive onslaught, causing Danis to resort to theatrics, lying on the canvas as if he were in a jiu-jitsu match. Both Paul and the referee were unamused by Danis's antics. While Danis managed to land a solid right hook in the fourth round, he quickly fell back into a passive stance, frustrating Paul with his lack of offensive output. However, Paul remained committed to his strategy. Towards the end of the round, Danis attempted to secure a guillotine choke, but the bell rang to end the action. The fifth round saw Danis cornered, and Paul capitalized by delivering a series of powerful punches. Frustration grew for Danis as he missed his punches throughout the round and informed Paul that he would beat him in jiu-jitsu. In the final round, Danis decided to abandon his boxing efforts and attempted a takedown. When Paul defended against the takedown, chaos erupted in the ring. Multiple security personnel rushed in to intervene, leading to Danis's disqualification. Following the chaotic turn of events, Paul seized the opportunity to taunt Conor McGregor and express his desire to step into the WWE ring against Rey Mysterio Jr.

Slim Albaher had a slow start but a spectacular finish. He was losing the fight early on, but he survived Salt Papi’s onslaught and made a comeback that earned him the Misfits boxing middleweight title. He landed a hard punch on Salt Papi at the beginning of the fourth round, then followed it up with a huge right hand that landed cleanly during a brawl against the ropes. Slim didn’t stop there. He hit Salt Papi with another powerful punch that sent him to the floor. Salt Papi got up again, but Slim didn’t let him get away. He unleashed a flurry of punches that made the referee step in and stop the fight. The fight was over at 2:54 in the fourth round, and Slim celebrated his knockout win. “What a fight,” Slim said after the fight. “You made me work. I gave him his props. I took this fight, I needed to push him. I got that right hand sniper baby, all it takes is one. He did not know where he was when I dropped him that first time.” Before the knockout, Salt Papi was dominating the fight as he chased Albaher around the ring and threw punches non-stop. Albaher had a big height and reach advantage, but he couldn’t keep Salt Papi from getting inside and doing damage. It was a remarkable perf

In an uneventful main event that had fans and fighters alike scratching their heads, Tommy Fury managed to secure a narrow majority decision win over KSI, but it's unlikely to be remembered as a classic in the world of combat sports. Tommy Fury, the 24-year-old former reality TV star and sibling to the renowned heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, didn't do much to impress in the six-round fight against KSI. The majority of the bout was spent in a lackluster clinch, with neither fighter delivering much action to excite the audience. The judges' scores came back with a result that mirrored the uninspiring contest, registering at 57-56, 57-56, and 57-57, awarding Fury the victory by the slimmest of margins. After the fight, Fury expressed his feelings, stating, "I gave it my all in there. That's all you can do. From day one, I've made it clear that I'm not trying to be another Tyson Fury. I'm just striving to be the best Tommy Fury I can be. It was a challenging bout, but in the end, we secured the win. I'm done with all these crossover matchups. I'm finished with the nonsense." On the other side, KSI was incensed by the decision, particularly due to Fury losing a point in the second round for repeated blows to the back of the head. KSI lamented the continual fouls, contending that the referee penalized Fury only once and should have been stricter. "Robbery," exclaimed KSI in response to the decision. "How many jabs did you land? You weren't connecting. Look at your face, look at your eyes. I want to appeal. It's outrageous. I genuinely thought I won." The bout itself was characterized as a contest between a brawler and a boxer. KSI employed unconventional tactics and managed to land a significant right hand early in the first round. Fury, the more skilled pugilist, had difficulty finding his rhythm against KSI's erratic movements. The majority of the action occurred in the clinch, where both fighters failed to land meaningful blows, and the referee was slow to intervene. Fury's frustration grew as he struggled to connect with his punches. It appeared that his strategy was to clinch with KSI and wear him down. Although Fury did land a well-timed right hand in the third round, he was unable to create a substantial lead or secure a knockout. Rare moments outside the clinch resulted in exchanges that followed the same pattern: Fury threw punches, KSI responded, and then they clinched again. Despite his status as the superior boxer, Fury couldn't distinguish himself, resulting in a closely contested match. While Fury emerged victorious, the fight did little to enhance his reputation after his victory over Jake Paul in February.

Ex WBC super featherweight champ Miguel "Alacran" Berchelt wins comeback fight after a long lay off due to losing to Jeremia Nakathila a little over a year ago. To be honest I didnt see the old Berchelt, I saw a fighter with alot of ring rust, although he went forward putting pressure on his opponent Diego Alberto Ruiz (27 - 7- 1) didnt do much to take advantage of Berchelt's evident ring rust. Ruiz failed to answer the bell to the 3rd due to a hand injury. I really believe Berchelt still needs a few tune-up fights to get his rythem going to see if he can be the fighter he once was, but I really dont see him beating the sharks in the lightweight división.

In the world of mixed martial arts, it's not always the flashiest or the strongest fighters who come out on top. Edson Barboza's bout with Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Vegas 81 was a living testament to that fact. The seasoned warrior's experience, earned through countless battles with some of the UFC's finest, proved to be the key to a gritty battle that left fans on the edge of their seats. From the opening bell, it was clear that this clash in the featherweight division was going to be something special. Both Barboza and Yusuff came out swinging, but it was Yusuff who drew first blood, landing a punishing right hand within seconds of the fight's start. Barboza found himself in deep waters, trying to counter the relentless onslaught from his opponent. Despite the early scare, Barboza refused to back down. He made a tactical adjustment, targeting Yusuff's body with precise strikes and then delivering a right hand that signaled the tide was turning in his favor. As the bout progressed, Barboza's experience began to shine through. In the third round, he unleashed an incredible spinning wheel kick that left Yusuff reeling, but the round ended before he could secure the finish. Barboza's veteran wisdom came to the forefront as he utilized effective body work and incorporated well-timed takedowns to control the championship rounds. When the final bell rang, it was clear who had emerged victorious. Edson Barboza had survived an early scare, showing incredible resilience and adaptability in a battle against a young and hungry opponent. The judges' unanimous decision in his favor with scores of 49-46 and 48-46 twice was a testament to his experience and determination. Sodiq Yusuff may have had a two-fight winning streak coming into the bout, but it was Barboza who walked away with his hand raised, proving that sometimes, the intangibles of experience, determination, and the heart of a true warrior can make all the difference in the world of mixed martial arts.

In an even fight in the first half of their bout, Tszyu made adjustments and dominated the second half of the fight winning a unanimous decision over a tuff Mendoza. Mendoza moved alot and wasnt an easy target, but after Tszyu made his adjustments, he just put a beating on Mendoza especially in rounds 10 and 11 putting Mendoza through hell and on survival mode. After his unanimous decision victory he stated he wants to unify against Charlo or even fight Crawford, he wants the best. Congrats to Australia's Tim Tszyu.

The UFC is heading for a legal battle with USADA after the anti-doping agency made false and damaging statements about the UFC and its former champion Conor McGregor. UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell slammed USADA CEO Travis Tygart for defaming the UFC and McGregor and demanded that USADA apologize by Thursday at 5 p.m. PT or face legal action. Campbell and UFC executive Jeff Novitzky also announced that the UFC will end its deal with USADA in December 2023 and start its own drug-testing and anti-doping program in January 2024. The new program will be led by former FBI agent George Piro, who will act as an independent administrator. The announcement came after Tygart revealed on Wednesday that USADA and the UFC will part ways after eight years of partnership. Tygart claimed that the reason for the split was that USADA and the UFC disagreed on whether McGregor should be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months. Campbell denied Tygart’s claim and said that he had repeatedly told Tygart that McGregor would never fight until he had been in the program for six months, regardless of how many clean tests he had. Campbell also said that McGregor was fully compliant with the testing program and that he was very angry at how USADA had used him as a media tool to spread a false narrative. He said that USADA had never treated any other athlete in such a way and that it was a disgraceful and dishonest act. Campbell said that USADA had exposed itself to serious legal consequences and that the UFC would not tolerate such behavior. The UFC and USADA had been working together since 2015, during which time more than 27,000 tests were conducted on UFC fighters.

Alexander Volkanovski is ready to face Islam Makhachev for the second time in the UFC 294 main event. The lightweight title fight will see Volkanovski (26-2 MMA) challenge Makhachev (24-1 MMA), who defeated him by unanimous decision in their first encounter at UFC 284 in February. Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, is aiming to become a two-division champion by dethroning Makhachev. Volkanovski agreed to take the fight on short notice after Charles Oliveira withdrew from the bout due to a training injury. Volkanovski said he was not intimidated by the challenge and was confident of his abilities. “I’m not feeling any pressure. He’s the one who has everything to lose. I’m just here to shock the world,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “They called me yesterday and asked me if I wanted to step in. I said, ‘Sure, why not? Just make it worth my while (laughs),’ and that was it.” “This is a crazy thing to do, I know. Not many fighters would do this, especially in my situation, but I’m that guy who will do anything, anytime, anywhere, any weight. This is another chance to prove that against a tough opponent.” “I can do this on 12 days’ notice, no problem. I’m coming off the couch and I’m ready to go.” Volkanovski, who is the underdog for the fight, said he was not worried about the odds and was looking forward to avenging his loss to Makhachev.

The former UFC bantamweight champion, known as 'The Funk Master,' is setting his sights on a featherweight debut and has a particular target in mind - none other than former featherweight champion Max Holloway. Sterling has been out of action since a title defense against Sean O'Malley in August. Despite entering the fight as the heavy favorite, he experienced a second-round knockout loss. While there were calls for an immediate rematch, Sterling aimed for a potential do-over with Marlon Vera instead. However, the idea of Sterling moving up to the featherweight division has been circulating. If he decides to make the jump, he has his eyes set on Holloway, who recently secured a knockout victory over The Korean Zombie. Holloway is currently unbooked, presenting an intriguing possibility for Sterling. Speaking on The Weekly Scraps podcast, Sterling expressed his desire to prove the skeptics wrong in a potential showdown with Holloway. He mentioned that Daniel Cormier, in one of his recent podcasts, expressed a lack of interest in the matchup. Sterling is ready to take on the challenge and show 'DC' that he's up for the task. "[Cormier] was saying that he likes me, but he doesn't think I should fight Max Holloway," Sterling said in a video on his YouTube channel. "That kind of just makes me want to go up right out of the gate and just call him out and say, 'I wanna show you guys what's up.'" Sterling remains undeterred by the doubters and believes in his abilities. He aims to prove his mettle in the featherweight division and set the record straight. "I don't think people really understand big-body Aljo, what he can do compared to scrawny but shredded Aljo. It's just different manpower… Max is the man, bro. Max is the ******* man. I go out and I beat the man, bro, come on. And I think it erases my mistake—not completely." The potential showdown between Aljamain Sterling and Max Holloway has captured the imagination of fight fans, and the prospect of Sterling making his featherweight debut against one of the division's legends is an enticing one. Only time will tell if this exciting clash becomes a reality in the world of mixed martial arts.

The ever-changing landscape of MMA often presents opportunities that are too enticing to resist. Bo Nickal, an accomplished fighter, wished he had been the one to step up to the plate when the call went out for a replacement to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Regrettably for Nickal, the coveted spot was claimed by none other than former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman's decision to move up a weight class and face Chimaev on just ten days' notice is an act of courage and ambition that hasn't gone unnoticed. The change in the fight card came about due to the unfortunate withdrawal of Brazil's Paulo Costa, who fell prey to an elbow infection. While many fighters might shy away from such a last-minute switch, Usman has embraced the challenge. Bo Nickal, however, had his hopes set on this opportunity and expressed his disappointment in not being considered for the role. On his YouTube channel, he shared his sentiments, saying, "I was a little disappointed they didn’t ask me. I was expecting at least an ask like, ‘Hey, you want to do this?’ But no, just nothing from the UFC. It is what it is." Nickal understands the complexities of such high-stakes matchups and the need for proper preparation. "I’m guessing they didn’t want me to roll into Abu Dhabi on like 10 days’ notice and smash their boy in front of his home crowd," he explained. "That’s a fight that needs to have proper build-up. I get that." When discussing the impending battle between Usman and Chimaev, Nickal anticipates a competitive contest. Despite the odds seemingly stacked against Usman, Nickal believes he can hold his own. "I think it will be competitive based on his last fight against Burns," he stated. "I do think he overlooked Burns, but also Usman, he’s pretty good, a little older... It should be a good fight." While Nickal's shot at stepping into the octagon on short notice may have eluded him this time, his ambitions and determination remain unwavering. With the ever-unpredictable nature of the sport, it's only a matter of time before new opportunities arise for fighters like Bo Nickal.