7:58 PM ET The UFC is finalizing a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann to headline an event in September. Smith (35-16) announced the fight himself this week, and sources close to Spann told ESPN he has also agreed. The 205-pound contest will serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night
MMA
10:31 PM ET Jairzinho Rozenstruik has a knack for getting finishes right before the bell. Less than two years after he earned the latest finish in UFC heavyweight history, Rozenstruik uncorked another buzzer-beater Saturday. The kickboxing standout stopped Augusto Sakai via TKO with punches at 4:59 of the first round in the main event of
3:50 PM ET Brett Okamoto Close ESPN Staff Writer MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Marc Raimondi Jairzinho Rozenstruik was 10-0 in December 2019 following a Hail Mary knockout victory over Alistair Overeem. It seemed at the time that the accomplished kickboxer was on the precipice of
2:14 AM ET Former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa has withdrawn from a scheduled bout against Jared Cannonier in August, sources told ESPN. Costa (13-1) was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night on Aug. 21 but will no longer appear on the card, sources said. Kelvin Gastelum (17-7) has agreed to step up in
7:44 AM ET Following a rare weekend off, the UFC is back at its Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday with a heavyweight contest between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Augusto Sakai. If we’re being honest, this UFC Fight Night offers a redo of sorts for Rozenstruik (11-2) and Sakai (15-2-1), as they are both coming off
8:47 AM ET Jeff Wagenheim The MLB season fills a wide swath of the calendar with 162 games, an entire summertime (and beyond) of ups and downs. The NBA and NHL seasons have only half as many games, but the twists and turns keep the ride going for months. The same is true in the
10:51 AM ET Associated Press HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Former mixed martial arts fighter Tito Ortiz has resigned from his position on the City Council of Huntington Beach, California, saying he was prompted to quit because of attacks by the media. Ortiz, who was the city’s mayor pro tem, announced his resignation Tuesday night during
10:12 AM ET Jairzinho Rozenstruik faces Augusto Sakai in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas. The bouts at UFC Apex will be on ESPN+, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET and prelims at 4 p.m. Rozenstruik (11-2) has lost two of his last three fights
7:39 AM ET Since announcing he’s retained the services of Richard Schaefer as his advisor on May 26, Jon Jones‘ social media accounts have been fairly subdued, free of any confrontational posts aimed at the UFC. Coincidence? Maybe, but make no mistake, there will be interest in seeing if Schaefer, the former boxing promoter who
1:57 PM ET Kayla Harrison, the self-proclaimed “baddest woman” in mixed martial arts, will return to action against Cindy Dandois in the main event of PFL 6 in Atlantic City. PFL officials announced the league’s next round of heavyweight and female lightweight matchups on Tuesday, ahead of the PFL 6 event on June 25. Harrison