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Brandon Royval claims social media followers cost him UFC main event

Published

3 months ago

on

Brandon Royval claims social media followers cost him UFC main event
Brandon
Royval once missed out on a main event spot in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship due to his social media
following.

Royval was scheduled to fight Askar
Askarov in October 2022 in Las Vegas. Despite being a
high-ranked flyweight contender, he wasn't given the headliner spot
on the card. Alexa
Grasso headlined the card instead, with the Mexican taking on
Viviane
Araujo.

Brandon Royval explains UFC matchmaking decision involving
Alexa Grasso

Royval recently revealed that the UFC told him Grasso had jumped
ahead of him to take the main event spot because she had
substantially more social media followers. He was livid at losing
out on a headlining role, although it eventually didn't matter as
Askarov pulled out due to weight cut issues.

“Having followers is such a big deal,†Royval told Ariel Helwani.
“I remember they didn’t book me as the main event, and their
reasoning was, I think it was Alexa Grasso, who they boosted in
front of me. They were like, ‘She has way more followers than you.'
But Askarov pulled out of that fight anyway, so it didn't matter. I
was pissed.â€

The incident made Royval (18-9) reconsider the importance of social
media in the modern era. “Raw Dawg†has since started engaging more
consistently with fans online.

Royval was recently in attendance at
UFC 328 this past May at Prudential Center in Newark, New
Jersey. While Royval's name was displayed on the arena's screen,
the camera focused on a woman sitting next to the former
LFA champion. After the moment started gaining traction on
social media, Royval posted a video with the woman, which garnered
massive engagement on his Instagram.

Social media aside, Royval's performances inside the Octagon have
also boosted his profile. He recently scored a submission win over
Lone'er
Kavanagh at
UFC 329 to rebound from a two-fight skid, earning a Fight of
the Night bonus as well.


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MMA

16-0 Farid Basharat confirms UFC exit after seven straight wins

Published

3 hours ago

on

October 31, 2026

By

16-0 Farid Basharat confirms UFC exit after seven straight wins
Farid
Basharat has addressed his departure from the
Ultimate Fighting Championship in a statement on social
media.

Basharat (16-0) completed his contract with a victory over John Garza
in July and wasn't offered a new deal despite going unbeaten in the
promotion. In his statement, Basharat reflected on his UFC tenure
and questioned the organization's direction.

Farid Basharat says the UFC never offered a new contract after
his unbeaten seven-fight run

Basharat went 7-0 in the UFC after earning a contract on
Dana White's Contender Series, with six of those victories
coming by decision. He confirmed his departure on Instagram, saying
he competed under unfavorable circumstances and never declined a
fight.

“The news is confirmed, I am no longer with the UFC,†Basharat
wrote on Instagram. “I've had an incredibly successful time in the
organization. I'm proud and happy with what I've accomplished
inside the Octagon. I leave with a stainless record. Holding the
longest active win streak in my weight division and the fourth
longest in the entire UFC. I feel I'm the best bantamweight in the
world. I always turned up and fought regardless of injuries and
weight deficits. And I always asked for the toughest opponent to
get me closer to the title.â€

While grateful for his time with the promotion and its staff,
Basharat questioned the UFC's direction and said he had not
received a contract offer since his last bout.

“But my departure clearly has nothing to do with my fighting
capabilities,†Basharat added. “Unfortunately, the organization
just isn't what it used to be. They're heading in a different
direction from what we all grew up loving. I want to clarify that
since my last fight, I was never offered a contract or an opponent;
I waited, but it never came. I've certainly never declined a fight
during my whole tenure.â€

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MMA

UFC Vegas 123 ‘Moicano vs. Nolan’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Published

15 hours ago

on

October 31, 2026

By

UFC Vegas 123 ‘Moicano vs. Nolan’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Sherdog’s live
UFC Vegas 123 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 292.

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

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MMA

Canelo vs. Mbilli Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event

Published

17 hours ago

on

October 31, 2026

By

Canelo vs. Mbilli Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event

MMA Fighting has Canelo vs. Mbilli results for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli fight card and more for one of the most highly anticipated events of the year at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

When the main event begins around 4:30 p.m. ET, check out our Canelo vs. Mbilli live round-by-round updates for our live blog of the main event. Canelo Alvarez tries to win the WBC super middleweight title and hand Christian Mbilli his first professional loss.

Check out Canelo vs. Mbilli results below.

Canelo vs. Mbilli Main Event

Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli

Canelo vs. Mbilli undercard (DAZN PPV at 2 p.m. ET)

Jaime Munguia vs. Nikita Zon

Rafael Espinoza vs. Ricardo Blandon

Reito Tsutsumi vs. Raymundo Rojas

David Picasso vs. Carl Jammes Martin

Canelo vs. Mbilli prelims (MMA Fighting at 10 a.m. ET)

Sultan Almohammed vs. Erick Villegas

Bek Nurmaganbet vs. Marcos Vazquez

Emiliano Rojo vs. Flavius Biea

Brayan Leon vs. Hector Aguirre

For more on Jaime Munguia vs Nikita Zon, check out the live blog below.

Jaime Munguia vs. Nikita Zon

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