MMA
UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal on April 25 in Las VegasUFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal on April 25 in Las Vegas
Published
4 months agoon
(Photo: Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Las Vegas with an invigorating featherweight clash as former champion Aljamain Sterling faces rising challenger Youssef Zalal in the main event of the event UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal on Saturday, April 25.
The event will take place at the UFC Apex facility and will stream live on Paramount+. Preliminary bouts begin at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET, with the main card starting at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET.
The gala will also feature a high-stakes women’s bantamweight fight between top contender Norma Dumont and rising Panamanian champion Joselyne Edwards.
Aljamain Sterling is looking to make a statement at featherweight
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (25-5) returns for his first fight of the 2026 season determined to once again be among the elite.
The Uniondale, Novel York native has amassed a championship legacy at 135 pounds, defeating elite names such as Henry Cejudo, TJ Dillashaw and Brian Ortega in his title fight.
Now fighting at featherweight, Sterling hopes a decisive victory over Zalal will take him one step closer to becoming a two-division UFC champion.
Youssef Zalal wants a victory that will decide his career
Youssef Zalal (18-5-1) from Morocco enters the fight with considerable momentum and a chance to secure the biggest victory of his career.
Fighting out of Englewood, Colorado, Zalal earned his place in the rankings with impressive performances against top competition, including wins over Josh Emmett, Calvin Kattar and Jack Shore.
A victory over a former champion like Sterling could put Zalal into the featherweight title discussion.
Norma Dumont faced Joselyne Edwards in a key bantamweight clash
In this co-fight, third-ranked bantamweight Norma Dumont (13-2) looks to solidify her position near the top of the division.
The Brazilian star secured victories over standout fighters such as Germaine de Randamie, Irene Aldana and Ketlen Vieira.
On the other side of the cage will be the challenger number 11. Joselyne Edwards (17-6), who will enter the fight after four victories in a row and finished fighting against Nora Cornolle, Priscila Cachoeira and Chelsea Chandler.
Edwards hopes another major victory will push her into the top five in the bantamweight division.
Additional fights have been announced on the UFC Fight Night card
The event program is complemented by several intriguing fights:
- Talita Alencar vs Julia Polastri – Strawweight fight between Dana White’s Contender Series alums
- Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico – middleweight fight
- Jafel Filho vs. Lucas Rocha – flyweight fight
- No. 14 ranked Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos – bantamweight fight
- 12th place in the ranking Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague – women’s bantamweight fight
- Allen Frye Jr. vs. Max Gimenis – heavyweight fight
- Davey Grant vs Adrian Luna Martinetti – bantamweight fight
- Jackson McVey vs Sedriques Dumas – middleweight fight
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MMA
Dana White doubles down on ‘f*cking moronic’ Josh Hokit comment about Michelle Obama at UFC White House card
Published
6 hours agoon
July 24, 2026
Dana White stands by his belief that freedom of speech much be protected at all times, but even he couldn't help but rip UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit for his comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama at the UFC White House card in June.
Just after his win over Derrick Lewis on the historic card, Hokit decided to use his post-fight interview to insult the former First Lady when he shouted “Michelle Obama is a man … am I right America?†His comment was met with intense criticism, which included an initial reaction from White when he released a statement addressing the ugly moment during an otherwise spectacular event.
White addressed the situation again during an appearance on The Pivot podcast when he admitted that the Obama's are public figures so people are going to go out of their way to insult the former President and First Lady but he absolutely hated what Hokit said that night.
“Barack and Michelle Obama are public figures and when you're a public figure, it's part of the game,†White said. “But what I don't like, first of all former First Lady of the United States, No. 1. No. 2, a wife, a mother. It's f*cking gross. Inappropriate. The timing of it and everything. I think that people understand that is not — there are people that you can't talk to and you can't change their mind — obviously not the opinion of the UFC. Not my opinion or anybody else that fought on that card.
“It was a really unfortunate thing that happened that night. When you hit this f*cking grand slam homerun and have a perfect event in every way that it could be, you've got a f*cking moronic [comment like that]. But other than that, it was a great f*cking night. What are you going to do?â€
White says he didn't even hear Hokit made that comment initially during the show, but he obviously found out rather quickly when the event ended.
“I could go f*cking mental on this show but I won't,†White said. “It was gross. I didn't even hear it until after the event. I didn't know he had said it. Like right when he said it there, I didn't know he said it.â€
That said, White isn't going to change his stance when it comes to freedom of speech for UFC fighters and the rest of his promotion.
He definitely didn't agree with Hokit that night but he also understands that the most controversial comments are exactly why freedom of speech exists.
“Unfortunately when you talk about freedom of speech, it's usually the grossest stuff that has to be protected,†White said. “You can't talk about freedom of speech and then pick and choose what [is allowed]. I don't love it all the time but it is what it is.
“I don't love my stance on freedom of speech all the time but it has to be protected.â€
MMA
Rose Namajunas won't return until she finds her purpose: "I still want to fight again"
Published
7 hours agoon
July 24, 2026
Rose Namajunas doesn't want to retire just yet, but she needs to have a good reason to trade leather again.
Namajunas last competed inside the Octagon back in January. She stepped inside the Octagon with Natalie Silva in hopes of returning to the UFC title picture, but she dropped a unanimous decision to Silva. The outcome was a bit controversial, as many pundits felt “Thug†Rose did enough to secure the win.
Fast forward to the summer, and Namajunas is attempting to discover what her purpose is in the fight game at 34. Appearing on the “Weighing In†podcast, the former two-time UFC women's strawweight titleholder said she hopes to find the spark that convinces her to get back to action (via MMAJunkie).
“That's why I've been sitting out for a while because I'm trying to rediscover, OK, what am I doing now?†Namajunas said. “To just be fairly transparent, the last three opportunities that I had, or the last three losses that I had – the Natalia fight, the Erin Blanchfield fight, and the Manon (Fiorot) fight – … I was told that I would get a title shot with a win with that fight.
“And same thing with the Manon fight. I needed to win that fight in order to get the title shot. Then Erin Blanchfield, I'm pretty sure it was the same thing. I came up short in all three of those. I'm at a point in my life where I'm thinking about family stuff and all these things, and next steps, future things. So I do want to compete, and I still want to fight again, but I want to make sure that when I'm going in there, I'm going for a purpose and a reason.â€
Namajunas has gone 1-2 in her last two outings with the losses coming against Silva and top contender Erin Blanchfield. “Thug†Rose is a name who always lingers near the top of the heap, and perhaps another opportunity will arise in the near future. For now, Namajunas is content with waiting for the right time.
Who do you think Rose Namajunas should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.
MMA
Oscar De La Hoya claims Zuffa Boxing is overpaying big names to create a monopoly: "Never a long-term deal"
Published
7 hours agoon
July 24, 2026
Oscar De La Hoya believes Zuffa Boxing is trying to fool fighters by offering select names bigger paydays in the short term.
Recently, the promotion booked its biggest match to date with Conor Benn challenging Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight title on Sept. 12. Benn is signed to Zuffa Boxing, while Garcia is under De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. While this will be a co-promoted event, De La Hoya still has major issues with TKO and Zuffa Boxing.
In a new video posted on his Instagram page, De La Hoya ripped the Dana White-led promotion for attempting to trick boxers into thinking their big money payouts will last (via MMAFighting).
“So I saw The Odyssey the other day,†De La Hoya said. “It was about the Greeks and how they invaded the city of Troy by disguising themselves inside a Trojan Horse. They tricked their enemies to get inside their gates and the rest is history. Today, Zuffa Boxing is the Trojan Horse.
“They are overpaying a few boxers to make it seem like this big money will continue, but it won't. Once they monopolize the sport like they want to, Zuffa will pay fighters peanuts, exactly like the UFC. It's the same model. They want to change the Muhammad Ali Act so they can operate as their own league with their own rules, their own rankings, their own unicorn belt. They're luring in the biggest names for fight-by-fight deals. No long contracts. That's why you see Shakur and Conor fighting a one- or two-fight deal. Never a long-term deal. But again, this is the Trojan Horse.â€
Shakur Stevenson has been Zuffa Boxing's biggest acquisition to date. The deal was largely expected given Terence Crawford's close ties to White. Crawford has taken Stevenson under his wing throughout the years.
Many other longtime promoters, such as Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, have also taken aim at Zuffa for attempting to monopolize boxing. White has insisted that he's doing his own thing and isn't trying to step on anyone's toes.
Do you agree with Oscar De La Hoya, or is it sour grapes now that Zuffa Boxing is establishing its brand? Share your opinion in the comments below.
Dana White doubles down on ‘f*cking moronic’ Josh Hokit comment about Michelle Obama at UFC White House card
Rose Namajunas won't return until she finds her purpose: "I still want to fight again"
Oscar De La Hoya claims Zuffa Boxing is overpaying big names to create a monopoly: "Never a long-term deal"
Dana White doubles down on ‘f*cking moronic’ Josh Hokit comment about Michelle Obama at UFC White House card
Rose Namajunas won't return until she finds her purpose: "I still want to fight again"
Oscar De La Hoya claims Zuffa Boxing is overpaying big names to create a monopoly: "Never a long-term deal"
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