SportsCatch

Bassil Hafez handed one-year ban after testing positive for ipamorelin

UFC welterweight Bassil Hafez has been suspended until March 2027 after testing positive for ipamorelin, a prohibited peptide hormone, in an out-of-competition sample collected in Las Vegas on March 20.

MMA May 27

Tyree Durham escapes rear-naked choke with full-body slam knockout at Combat Zone 92

Tyree Durham turned a near-submission into a highlight-reel finish at Combat Zone 92 in New Hampshire, leaping backwards to slam Will D'Amico unconscious and avoid the same rear-naked choke that ended his amateur debut.

MMA May 27

Hafez handed one-year ban after ipamorelin found in out-of-competition UFC test

UFC welterweight Bassil Hafez has accepted a 12-month suspension after testing positive for ipamorelin, a prohibited peptide hormone, in an out-of-competition sample collected in Las Vegas on March 20, 2026. He will not be eligible to compete until March 20, 2027.

MMA May 27

Natalia Silva calls on Shevchenko to stop stalling and defend flyweight title

Unbeaten in eight UFC bouts, Brazilian contender Natalia Silva says she is ready to travel to Kyrgyzstan if necessary to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, after the UFC told her the champion is recovering from injury.

MMA May 27

McKee faces Isbulaev in PFL San Diego headliner as full card takes shape

Professional Fighters League has finalised the complete card for PFL San Diego on June 27 at Pechanga Arena. Former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee headlines against Salamat Isbulaev, with 2025 tournament champion Liz Carmouche meeting Viviane Araujo in the co-main event.

MMA May 27

Uros Medic headlines first UFC event in Serbia against Daniel Rodriguez at Belgrade Arena

Uros Medic will fight Daniel Rodriguez in a five-round welterweight main event at UFC Belgrade on August 1, marking the promotion's first-ever card in Serbia. Rodriguez returns to the octagon after spending eight months in a Mexican prison following a marijuana arrest at the border.

MMA May 27

Teixeira and 'Shogun' Rua to meet in boxing match at Spaten Fight Night in São Paulo

Former UFC light heavyweight champions Glover Teixeira and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua will headline Spaten Fight Night's third event in São Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 29, trading their MMA gloves for a boxing ring. The two retired fighters combined for 38 knockout wins across their MMA careers.

MMA May 27

Rodriguez headlines UFC Belgrade after eight months in Mexican prison

Daniel Rodriguez will fight Uros Medic in the main event of UFC Fight Night 283 on August 1 at Belgrade Arena — the UFC's first card in Serbia — after serving roughly eight months in a Mexican prison following a border arrest in July 2025.

MMA May 27

Schilling retires mid-fight after headbutt dispute in PFL Brussels comeback

Joe Schilling's return to MMA after more than six years ended in bizarre fashion at PFL Brussels on May 23, when the 42-year-old refused to resume his light heavyweight bout against Donegi Abena following an illegal headbutt, resulting in a first-round TKO loss due to retirement.

MMA May 27

McGregor declares UFC gave him 'great deal' ahead of Holloway rematch at UFC 329

Conor McGregor says he is 'very, very happy' with a new contract signed with the UFC for his return fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas — his first octagon appearance in five years.

MMA May 27

Ewing targets third straight undefeated victim as Basharat fight confirmed for June 20

Ethyn Ewing, who has made a career of upsetting unbeaten prospects, will face 15-0 Farid Basharat at UFC Fight Night on June 20 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The bout was announced by the promotion on Tuesday.

MMA May 27

Scott Coker reveals tournament format and global schedule for new MMA promotion

Former Bellator and Strikeforce president Scott Coker has outlined plans for his new, as-yet-unnamed MMA promotion, including a tournament-based format, $60 million in capped funding, and a schedule that grows from 12 events in 2027 to 22 by 2029.

MMA May 27

Dana White insists McGregor-Holloway announcement timing was not a shot at MVP

Dana White has rejected claims that the UFC 329 headliner announcement was timed to overshadow Most Valuable Promotions' debut MMA card on July 16, saying the Conor McGregor-Max Holloway rematch was confirmed and revealed the moment it was finalised.

MMA May 27

Topuria blames UFC for blocking Makhachev superfight ahead of Gaethje clash

Ilia Topuria says the UFC, not Islam Makhachev, is responsible for their cross-divisional superfight failing to materialise. The undefeated lightweight champion is instead set to headline UFC White House against Justin Gaethje on June 14.

MMA May 27

Teixeira credits Pereira sparring for confidence ahead of UFC Macau clash with Pavlovich

Tallison Teixeira faces third-ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Macau on Saturday, having spent his entire training camp alongside light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and veteran Glover Teixeira. The 6-foot-7 Brazilian says the experience has given him belief despite entering as a heavy underdog.

MMA May 27

Teixeira and 'Shogun' Rua set for boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 3 on Aug. 29

Former UFC light heavyweight champions Glover Teixeira and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua will meet in an eight-round boxing match headlining Spaten Fight Night 3 on August 29 in Brazil, with Olympic judo and jiu-jitsu super fights also on the card.

MMA May 27

Topuria reveals he nearly skipped his first pro fight out of fear in 2015

Ilia Topuria has admitted he was so frightened before his professional debut at 18 that he considered not leaving the backstage area. The undefeated two-weight UFC champion went on to submit Francisco Aspirilla by triangle choke in the first round.

MMA May 27

Thompson says Garry's wrestling and length make him Makhachev's toughest welterweight test

Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson has backed Ian Garry as the welterweight contender best equipped to dethrone UFC champion Islam Makhachev, citing Garry's willingness to wrestle and his physical attributes as key advantages over rivals Carlos Prates and Michael Morales.

MMA May 27

Topuria open to boxing debut against Stevenson after feud over MMA debate

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has expressed interest in making a boxing debut against Shakur Stevenson, citing the boxer's trash talk and a simmering feud that began during a livestream argument over MMA versus boxing.

MMA May 27

Thompson backs Chimaev to beat Strickland in rematch after shock UFC 328 defeat

Stephen Thompson believes Khamzat Chimaev was not at his best when Sean Strickland handed him his first professional loss via split decision at UFC 328, and is confident 'Borz' would win a rematch.

MMA May 27