MMA

Dan Ige makes the move to 135, meets David Martinez in September

Published

1 hour ago

July 27, 2026

Dan Ige makes the move to 135, meets David Martinez in September

Dan Ige
is eyeing a fresh start at bantamweight in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ige is set to make his 135-pound debut against David
Martinez at
UFC Fight Night 288 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in
Glendale, Arizona, in what will be the fourth edition of Noche
UFC.

Former featherweight contender Dan Ige looks to revive his UFC
career against surging David Martinez

Ige's (19-11) stock was at its highest when he accepted a fight
against Diego Lopes
on a few hours' notice in 2024, pushing the former title challenger
to the limit in a hard-fought decision loss. However, he has
dropped four out of his last five outings, prompting the move
down.

Ige notably completed a test cut recently to ensure his
bantamweight move goes smoothly.

Meanwhile, Mexico's Martinez (14-1) will have the crowd backing him
at next Noche UFC. â€œBlack Spartanâ€ hasn't lost in 10 straight bouts
since 2021, including three in the UFC following a win on
Dana White's Contender Series. The 27-year-old prospect has
already defeated veteran bantamweights like Rob Font and
Marlon
Vera.

MMA

Steve Erceg breaks silence after brutal UFC Abu Dhabi knockout loss

Published

8 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Steve Erceg breaks silence after brutal UFC Abu Dhabi knockout loss

Steve
Erceg has addressed his brutal loss to Ramazonbek
Temirov, marking the former title challenger's fourth defeat in
the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Erceg (14-5) took on Temirov (20-3) in a flyweight matchup in the
co-main event of
UFC Abu Dhabi. Temirov had an evident power advantage over
Erceg, who had planned to take his opponent into deep waters.
However, the Australian didn't have a chance to get going as his
Uzbek counterpart put him to sleep with a pair of perfectly timed
right hands following a barrage of strikes in the opening
round.

Steve Erceg says he’s OK after Ramazonbek Temirov knockout at
UFC Abu Dhabi

Erceg now claims he had a great camp and felt in good shape ahead
of the fight, although it didn't go his way. He thanked the UFC and
Abu Dhabi before congratulating Temirov on his victory. Erceg is
grateful to his family and friends, and promises to bounce back
stronger.

â€œJust wanted to let you know that I'm OK,â€ Erceg said in an
Instagram video. â€œI had a great camp. I felt fantastic. But
unfortunately, things don't always go your way. First of all, thank
you to the UFC for the opportunity that you offered me. Thank you
to Abu Dhabi for the hospitality. And congratulations to Ramazon on
a great fight. Lastly, I would like to say to all my family and
friends that your continued support means the world. I'll be
back.â€

Erceg was fast-tracked to a title shot against Alexandre
Pantoja in just his fourth UFC outing in 2024. He came up short
against Pantoja in a valiant effort, which kicked off a three-fight
skid for the Aussie 125-pounder. Erceg had bounced back with wins
over Ode
Osbourne and Tim Elliott
before the latest loss against Temirov, who has finished two of his
three UFC wins in the first round so far, establishing himself as
one of the most promising up-and-comers in the division.

MMA

Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 official for upcoming RAF main events

Published

11 hours ago

July 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo 2 official for upcoming RAF main events

UFC stars Colby Covington, Belal Muhammad, Merab Dvalishvili, and Henry Cejudo have their grudge matches booked to take pace on the RAF mats.

RAF officially announced a pair of main event bouts Saturday, with Dvalishvili and Cejudo set for a wrestling rematch at RAF 12 on Aug. 22 in Cleveland, and longtime rivals Covington and Muhammad headlining RAF 13 on Sept. 19 in Miami.

Both bouts feature gold on the line. Covington defends his RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship, while Dvalishvili and Cejudo battle to become the inaugural Lightweight Crossover champion. The Crossover titles were introduced to allow for UFC stars to compete for belts without having to go against RAF's elite dedicated wrestlers such as Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake, and David Carr.

All four fighters previously held some form of UFC title, with Covington capturing an interim welterweight championship in 2018, Muhammad having a brief undisputed welterweight championship run that capped off a five-year undefeated streak, Dvalishvili winning and successfully defending the bantamweight belt three consecutive times, and Cejudo claiming titles at both 125 and 135 pounds.

Covington defeated UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11 in July to become the first Crossover champion. Later that evening, Muhammad confronted Covington at the post-event press conference and sparked a brawl. RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein initially planned for Covington vs. Muhammad to take place at the August show, but it has now officially been moved to September.

Instead, Dvalishvili and Cejudo headline RAF 12, just six weeks after Dvalishvili pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win against the Olympic gold medalist. This marks the third combat sports meeting between the two, with Dvalishvili also holding a UFC win over Cejudo from February 2024.

A catchweight bout between influencers â€œLarry Wheelsâ€ and Mike Holston a.k.a. â€œThe Real Tarzannâ€ was also announced for RAF 13.

RAF 12 and RAF 13 are scheduled to air live on the Fox Nation streaming service.

MMA

2 new fights added to Noche UFC, including Dan Ige’s bantamweight debut

Published

13 hours ago

July 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

2 new fights added to Noche UFC, including Dan Ige’s bantamweight debut

A pair of new matchups have been revealed for the UFC's annual Noche UFC event.

The promotion announced on Saturday two new bouts for the Sept. 12 event in Glendale, Ariz. Perennial featherweight contender Dan Ige is officially moving down to the bantamweight division for the first time to face rising star David Martinez at the event.

In his 22nd octagon appearance, Ige is hoping for a fresh coat of paint in a newer division. â€œ100Kâ€ has lost two straight, including his first ever stoppage loss to Melquizael Costa at UFC Houston in February in his most recent bout. He'll face Martinez, who is 3-0 in the UFC, including wins over ranked fighters Marlon Vera and Rob Font.

Additionally, a welterweight matchup between Ignacio Bahamondes and Muslim Salikov has been added to the slate. Bahamondes looks to snap a two-fight skid, while Salikov looks to bounce back from a 63 second knockout loss to Uros Medic in November.

As of now, a main event has not been announced for the card.