7:49 PM ET A bantamweight bout between John Lineker and Cory Sandhagen is in the works for the UFC’s Jan. 19 card in Brooklyn, New York, sources told ESPN. The card will mark the UFC’s debut on ESPN+. Lineker (31-8) was slated to fight former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in January, but the fight

11:17 AM ET Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has recorded more wins than any other fighter in UFC history, but says he’s going into 2019 with something to prove. Cerrone (34-11) will return to lightweight for the first time in three years next month, when he meets Alexander Hernandez at UFC Fight Night on ESPN+: Cejudo vs.

5:33 PM ET Bellator 214 is down a title fight. Gegard Mousasi, the Bellator middleweight champion, has withdrawn from his Jan. 26 title defense against Rafael Lovato Jr. due to a back injury, sources told ESPN. It’s unclear at this time how long he’ll be sidelined. The promotion and Lovato Jr. have yet to determine

11:41 AM ET The end of 2018 MMA is nearly upon us. Daniel Cormier had one of the most dominant years ever for a fighter, going 3-0 while retaining the light heavyweight belt and claiming the heavyweight title. We laughed, we cried — there was no super, mega, crossover boxing match to compete with what

7:46 PM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez will make their One Championship debuts at the mixed martial arts promotion’s first show in Japan on March 31. One Championship on Wednesday revealed several bout matchups to The Associated Press for its landmark event in Tokyo. The show at the Ryogoku

3:44 PM ET Robin van Roosmalen remembers the first time he knew, without question, he had to eventually compete in MMA. It’s a pretty simple story, really. An easy memory to recall. The veteran kickboxer knew he had to compete in MMA the first time he hit pads with four-ounce gloves. “I didn’t really like

10:59 AM ET Daniel Cormier redefined his legacy in 2018. And for that, he is ESPN’s Fighter of the Year. To be clear, that legacy was already rock solid before 2018. He was already an Olympian and a two-time defending UFC champion. He was one of the most respected men in combat sports — a

5:18 PM ET Jeff WagenheimESPN Dominick Cruz has another lengthy injury recovery ahead of him. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, who last week pulled out of next month’s scheduled bout with John Lineker, revealed Monday on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show that he tore two ligaments in his right shoulder during sparring and will undergo

4:48 PM ET Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, who announced his retirement in May after a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida, now plans to fight again. “I am a free agent,” Belfort said on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “We are in conversation (with promotions). In 2019 I will come back.” Belfort, 41,

11:50 AM ET ESPN.com Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show returns on Monday with another big lineup. Nick Diaz denied UFC president Dana White’s claim last month that Diaz had agreed to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas. The show, aired live on Twitter