MMA

Sean Strickland gives "a lot of motivation" to reinspired Johnny Eblen before PFL Austin title bout

Published

3 weeks ago

July 17, 2026

Sean Strickland gives "a lot of motivation" to reinspired Johnny Eblen before PFL Austin title bout

Sean Strickland helms the UFC's middleweight division and steadily gets in work with someone vying for gold in another promotion this weekend. The combatant in question is Johnny Eblen, who runs it back with Impa Kasanganay for a rematch with the interim middleweight belt on the line at PFL Austin on July 18th. The winner will battle lineal PFL middleweight champion Costello Van Steenis at a later juncture when the 185-pound titleholder gets off the shelf from his injury.

Speaking to the motivational component, getting to work with the UFC champion and potential future UFC Hall of Famer in Sean Strickland, who really touts Johnny Eblen's skills in quite a high regard, Eblen said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

â€œYeah, absolutely. A lot of motivation. Especially when you lose to a guy that you know you can beat [Costello Van Steenis]. It definitely gave me motivation to stay with the PFL and right that wrong. Cuz around that time, I was kind of like running through everybody, beating everybody, and I wanted to find new competition outside of the PFL cuz I fought everybody in the PFL.â€

â€œBut having that loss, and then having Bryan Battle come over, and now I get to run it back with Impa [Kasanganay]. Some people thought I might have lost that fight with Impa because it was a split decision and now I have a road back to redemption with Costello [Van Steenis]. It truly spiced up the division and it truly motivated me, I think.â€

Sean Strickland foresees a UFC title fight with Johnny Eblen someday

Sean Strickland and Johnny Eblen have often got in work inside the gym together, whether in Florida or Nevada, with the former envisioning a fight with the latter transpiring someday. Touching upon that during a recent training excursion taken at American Top Team, Strickland stated [via Bloody Elbow],

â€œFirst session done with Johnny [Eblen], this guy is a savageâ€¦ This guy is going to win the [PFL] belt. Then he's going to come to the UFC, he's going to win a fight and then we're going to fight for the belt. And I don't know who's going to f***ing win but I know we're going to fight.â€

To that, Eblen responded,

â€œIt's going to be fun.â€

MMA

Allan Nascimento dies at 34 after apparent heart attack, UFC mourns

Published

6 hours ago

August 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Allan Nascimento dies at 34 after apparent heart attack, UFC mourns

The mixed martial arts world is mourning the sudden death of
Allan
Nascimento.

Nascimento (22-7) was reportedly found unresponsive on Monday, Aug.
3. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight suffered a heart
attack in his sleep and was pronounced deceased at the scene by
medical responders.

UFC and Chute Boxe pay tribute after flyweight Allan Nascimento
dies at age 34

The UFC posted a condolence message on social media.

â€œThis morning, Monday, Aug. 3, our beloved flyweight fighter, Allan
Nascimento, was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent
heart attack in his sleep. Despite the efforts of the responding
medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Our thoughts
and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends,
teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult
time.â€

His team,
Chute Boxe, also took to social media to share a message.

â€œToday, our team loses much more than an athlete; we have lost a
warrior, a friend, a dedicated competitor, and an extraordinary
human being who earned the respect and admiration of all who had
the privilege of knowing him. Allan inspired on and off the mats
with his determination, humility, respect and fighting spirit.â€

Nascimento originally started competing in muay thai in 2008. Due
to his skinny frame, he earned the nickname â€œPuro Osso,â€ meaning
skin and bones. Nascimento transitioned to MMA soon after and paid
his dues on the regional circuit for a decade before making his UFC
debut in 2021. The 34-year-old went 4-2 in the UFC and was coming
off a narrow split decision loss against Mitch
Raposo in June.

This morning, Monday, August 3rd, our
beloved flyweight fighter, Allan
Nascimento, was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent
heart attack in his sleep. Despite the efforts of the responding
medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Our thoughts and deepestâ€¦ pic.twitter.com/vlaBaBOyJr

â€” UFC (@ufc) August
3, 2026

MMA

Roberto Soldic announces free agency after ONE Championship contract expires

Published

6 hours ago

August 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Roberto Soldic announces free agency after ONE Championship contract expires

Roberto Soldic has entered free agency after his ONE Championship contract expired, the 31-year-old veteran announced Friday.

The former KSW two-division champion only fought three times under the ONE banner between 2021 and 2025, stopping Dagi Arslanaliev in spectacular fashion (watch here) in his most recent bout after a no-contest against Murad Ramazanov and a loss to Zebaztian Kadestam in previous appearances. â€œRobocop'sâ€ latest competition was a Sept. 2025 boxing match in Poland, when he knocked out Tomasz Adamek.

â€œThank you for the journey,â€ Soldic wrote in a statement posted on social media. â€œMy time with ONE has come to an end as my contract has officially expired. I want to thank ONE Championship from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity and the incredible experience. Every fight, every challenge, and every moment inside the cage has pushed me to become a better warrior and a better person.

â€œI've gained more than just fights â€” I've gained knowledge, respect, and memories that will last a lifetime. To my fans, thank you for your unconditional support through every high and low. You are the reason I keep fighting. This is not the end. This is the beginning of what's next. See you soon.â€

Soldic had a stellar run in KSW before joining ONE, winning eight of nine bouts and capturing belts at welterweight and middleweight. The sole loss in the KSW was a knockout against future UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis, one he avenged six months later with a knockout to recapture the 170-pound belt.

MMA

PFL Charlotte results: Battle vs. Rosta

Published

7 hours ago

August 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

MMA Fighting has PFL Charlotte results for the Battle vs. Rosta fight card from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday night.

In the main event, former UFC standout Bryan Battle seeks his first PFL win as he takes on PFL middleweight veteran Dalton Rosta.

Following a 7-1 (1 NC) run with the UFC that was marred by weight misses, Battle parted ways with the promotion this past August and scored a pair of Dirty Boxing knockout victories before joining the PFL. He lost to former Bellator champion Johnny Eblen in his league debut, and now takes aim at Rosta, who seeks to stop a two-fight skid.

Light heavyweights Dovlet Yagshimuradov and Simeon Powell square off.

The PFL Charlotte prelim card kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the main card following at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Check out the PFL Charlotte results below.

Bryan Battle vs. Dalton Rosta

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov vs. Simeon Powell

Aaron Jeffery def. Josh Silveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Lewis McGrillen def. Brandon Lewis via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Josh Fremd def. Jhony Gregory via TKO (punches) â€” 1:44, Round 2

Denis Goltsov def. Hasan Mezhiev via TKO (head kick and punches) â€” 0:52, Round 1

Cheyden Leialoha def. Robbie Ring via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Cheyanne Bowers def. Elora Dana via submission (rear-naked choke) â€” 3:36, Round 1

Landry Ward def. Michael Boylan via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)