MMA news
and analysis

LaGrange closes a four-finish night; four fighters earn UFC deals

Preston LaGrange knocked out Nell Ariano at 2:24 of round one, closing a DWCS Week 9 card in which four of five fights ended inside the opening round.

The official result sheet also records first-round wins for Salhahuddin Everett, Roque Conceicao and Mateus Soares, plus Alivia Bierley’s unanimous decision. DraftKings Network reported four contract awards: LaGrange, Everett, Conceicao and Soares. Bierley won but did not receive a deal.

Natalia Silva takes vacant title as UFC 332 closes with 11 knockouts

Natalia Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision to become UFC women’s flyweight champion. The scorecards read 48–47, 48–47 and 49–46.

UFC’s two official reports account for all 14 outcomes. Payton Talbott, Esteban Ribovics and Roman Kopylov scored first-round main-card stoppages, while Roberto Soldić won his debut by unanimous decision. Natalia Silva is the new women’s flyweight champion, and the championship ledger now reflects her vacant-title win rather than the superseded pre-fight vacancy.

Abdulvakhabov wins ACA 208 closer after title fight is canceled

Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov beat Gleison Tibau by unanimous decision in the final bout of ACA 208. The scorecards read 29–28, 29–28 and 30–27.

ACA says Daud Shaikhaev’s lightweight title defense against Bibert Tumenov was canceled after Tumenov was not medically cleared. The belt did not change hands. Fight Atlas records the remaining 21 official results, including four stoppages that earned finish bonuses.

Shooto’s sporting project began in 1984

Shooto’s official history says Satoru Sayama—the original Tiger Mask—founded the system in 1984 with the goal of turning mixed combat into a regulated sport, using the revival of ancient pankration as its organizing idea.

On this day in 2017, Nunes edged Shevchenko at UFC 215

On September 9, 2017, Amanda Nunes retained the UFC women’s bantamweight title at Rogers Place in Edmonton, defeating Valentina Shevchenko by split decision. The official scorecards read 48–47 Nunes, 48–47 Nunes and 48–47 Shevchenko.

DEEP's first year moved through three Japanese venues

DEEP's official archive begins with its January 8, 2001 launch at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, followed by an August event at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium and its third IMPACT at Differ Ariake in December.

Cage Warriors began at York Hall in July 2002

Cage Warriors traces its first event to London's York Hall in July 2002, where the card included Paul Jenkins, Rosi Sexton, Alessio Sakara and Jean Silva. By its own 2022 retrospective, the promotion had staged more than 150 events across 14 countries.

Hamasaki brought two defended championships into RIZIN

Fight Atlas selects Ayaka Hamasaki for this editorial Legend File because RIZIN's 2020 announcement records her résumé: before her RIZIN super atomweight reign, she defended DEEP JEWELS lightweight three times and the Invicta FC atomweight title twice.

Har Ling Om's striking base began in Lethwei at 15

Har Ling Om began competing in Lethwei at age 15 and reached regional and state competition within a year. ONE's profile also identifies the key adjustment in his international striking career: adapting that toughness-first base to point-scored rules.