SHERDOG ARCHIVES: Articles

Dec 31, 2020

Pictures: Rizin 26 Rizin Fighting Federation hosted Japan's traditional New Year's Eve mixed martial arts extravaganza.

Rizin Fighting Federation

Dec 31, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Event of the Year UFC 249 on May 9 delivered in spades for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which had the eyes of the sports world all to itself.

Year-End Awards

Dec 30, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Upset of the Year Roxanne Modafferi stunned the previously unbeaten Maycee Barber as a +700 underdog at UFC 246 on Jan. 20.

Year-End Awards

Dec 30, 2020

Commitment to Process Trumpets Kyoji Horiguchi’s Return The former Bellator MMA and Rizin Fighting Federation champion will rematch Kai Asakura in his first appearance in more than a year when the two rivals collide at...

Rizin Fighting Federation

Josh Gross

Dec 30, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Fighter of the Year Deiveson Figueiredo in this exclusive Q&A outlines a historic campaign that took him to the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s...

Year-End Awards

Josh Gross

Dec 30, 2020

The YAMMA Heavyweight Title: A Lineal History YAMMA Pit Fighting may not have had much staying power, but we can trace its lone championship to the present day.

Infographics

Dec 29, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Walkout Track of the Year Darren Till was the first fighter of the modern era to walk out to intentional silence.

Year-End Awards

Dec 29, 2020

Opinion: Michael Bisping, Entitled and Arrogant Michael Bisping's recent social media exchange with Deron Winn looked like a victory for the former champ, but in reality highlighted some of...

UFC

Dec 29, 2020

Sherdog's 2020 Fight of the Year Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk put on a fantastic five-round slugfest at UFC 248.

Year-End Awards

Dec 28, 2020

Sherdog's 2020 Knockout of the Year Joaquin Buckley flattened Impa Kasanganay on Oct. 10 with a spinning kick for the ages.

Year-End Awards

Dec 28, 2020

Fight Facts: UFC 2020, a Year in Review Take a look back, as Fight Facts recaps 2020's Ultimate Fighting Championship stats, broken records and Octagon firsts.

UFC

Dec 27, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Round of the Year Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker combined to provide one of the most electrifying rounds of action ever seen in an MMA cage or ring.

Year-End Awards

Dec 27, 2020

Fight Facts: Bellator 2020, a Year in Review The coronavirus pandemic hit every MMA promotion hard this year, and Bellator MMA was no different.

Year-End Awards

Dec 26, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Beatdown of the Year Fans will not soon forget the horrific beating Anthony Smith absorbed at the hands of Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 171.

Year-End Awards

Dec 26, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Comeback Fighter of the Year Sean Strickland overcame substantial adversity en route to being named Sherdog's 2020 Comeback Fighter of the Year.

Year-End Awards

Dec 25, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Submission of the Year Undefeated Bellator MMA star A.J. McKee on Nov. 19 pulled off an amazing submission of Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 253.

Year-End Awards

Dec 24, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Kevin Holland’s 5-0 campaign and knack for the spectacular made him a no-brainer for Sherdog’s 2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year.

Year-End Awards

Dec 23, 2020

Sherdog’s 2020 Story of the Year The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on the mixed martial arts industry is Sherdog’s story of the year for 2020.

Year-End Awards

Dec 23, 2020

The Bottom Line: NYE Nostalgia Todd Martin takes a trip down New Year’s Eve memory lane and also examines this year’s NYE celebration at Rizin 26.

Rizin Fighting Federation

Dec 22, 2020

The Pride FC Heavyweight Title: A Lineal History Follow the path of the Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight title, from its inception in 2001 right up to the present day.

Infographics

Dec 22, 2020

Forgotten Fights of Yesteryear: One of the Greatest UFC Matches Ever In the latest installment of Forgotten Fights, Lev Pisarsky shines a light on a proto-MMA gem that was far ahead of its time, and one of the...

Forgotten Fights of Yesteryear

Dec 21, 2020

Fight Facts: UFC Fight Night 183 UFC Fight Night 183 featured the most unanimous decisions in one night, the first win streak for a former champ in several years and an unusual...

UFC

Dec 21, 2020

Fight Facts: KSW 57 KSW ended the year in style with a blockbuster card that put three belts on the line.

KSW

Dec 21, 2020

Matches to Make After UFC Fight Night 183 So much for the whispers of Stephen Thompson becoming an afterthought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division.

UFC

Dec 21, 2020

Stock Report: UFC Fight Night 183 If you had to boil down the fallout of the final Ultimate Fighting Championship event of 2020 to two words, it would be hard to top...

UFC

Dec 20, 2020

By the Numbers: UFC Fight Night 183 Stephen Thompson isn’t ready to be anyone’s steppingstone.

UFC

Dec 20, 2020

Pictures: UFC Fight Night 183 The UFC hosted its final fight card of 2020 on Saturday in Sin City.

UFC

Dec 19, 2020

Who You Got? Sherdog Staff Pick 'Em: UFC Fight Night 183 Sherdog's writers, editors and forum staff put their pride on the line, as they pick six fights from UFC Fight Night 183: Thompson vs. Neal.

Staff Pick ‘Em

Dec 19, 2020

How to Watch UFC Fight Night 183 The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division will step into the spotlight when Stephen Thompson toes the line against Geoff Neal in the...

UFC

Dec 18, 2020

Pictures: One Championship ‘Collision Course’ Roman Kryklia outdueled Andrei Stoica in Friday's One Championship headliner.

One Championship

Dec 18, 2020

By The Numbers: UFC Fight Night 183 Pre-Fight Edition The Ultimate Fighting Championship closes out its disjointed 2020 schedule with a deep 13-bout card on Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 18, 2020

Prime Picks: UFC Fight Night 183 ‘Thompson vs. Neal’ The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday finally reaches the station with its last card of 2020 after an unprecedented stretch of...

Fight Odds

Dec 18, 2020

By The Numbers: Marlon Moraes vs. Rob Font Two of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Top 11-ranked bantamweights will seek to provide further clarity to their division at UFC Fight Night...

UFC

Dec 18, 2020

By The Numbers: Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera The bantamweight contenders will duke it out in the UFC Fight Night 183 co-headliner on Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 17, 2020

Gennadiy Golovkin and Kamil Szeremeta Make Weight Ahead of Middleweight Title Fight International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin will put both belts on the line...

Boxing

Dec 17, 2020

Preview: UFC Fight Night 183 Main Card Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal are set to lock horns in a pivotal welterweight headliner on Saturday in Las Vegas, as the Ultimate Fighting...

UFC

Dec 17, 2020

Preview: UFC Fight Night 183 Prelims Sijara Eubanks will look to rebound from a September defeat to Ketlen Vieira when she faces Pannie Kianzad on the final Ultimate Fighting...

UFC

Dec 16, 2020

By The Numbers: Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal The Ultimate Fighting Championship closes out its 2020 campaign with an intriguing matchup between two of its top welterweights on Saturday in...

UFC

Dec 16, 2020

The Bottom Line: A Conspiracy of Fate It appears as though Tony Ferguson’s legacy will be forever dogged by the lingering questions about how he would have fared against a prime Khabib Nurmagomedov or a prime...

UFC

Dec 15, 2020

The UFC Men's Flyweight Title: A Visual History It surely wasn’t how he drew it up, but Deiveson Figueiredo smashed the record for the quickest turnaround between title defenses at UFC 256.

Infographics

Dec 15, 2020

Opinion: Making a Fortune with Freak Shows The recently announced boxing exhibition between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Logan Paul is unsurprising, given the massive success of the Mike...

Dec 14, 2020

Fight Facts: UFC 256 UFC 256 featured a record title turnaround, a pay-per-view distinction to go with it and the first corner stoppage among female fighters.

UFC

Dec 14, 2020

Fight Facts: Bellator 254 Bellator 254 featured an intriguing international co-main, the coronation of a new champion and a host of undefeated fighters keeping their...

Bellator MMA

Dec 14, 2020

Matches to Make After UFC 256 Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno were separated by a grand total of five significant strikes after 25 minutes of intense hand-to-hand...

UFC

Dec 13, 2020

Stock Report: UFC 256 Draws are rarely palatable in any sport, but put that down as just one more way UFC 256 went down as a special night of fights.

UFC

Dec 13, 2020

By the Numbers: UFC 256 There wasn’t an official winner, but Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno may have just authored an all-time classic in the Ultimate Fighting...

UFC

Dec 13, 2020

Pictures: UFC 256 The Ultimate Fighting Championship hosted its final pay-per-view event of 2020.

UFC

Dec 12, 2020

Who You Got? Sherdog Staff Pick 'Em: UFC 256 Sherdog's writers, editors and forum staff put their pride on the line, as they pick six fights from UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno.

Staff Pick ‘Em

Dec 12, 2020

How to Watch UFC 256 Deiveson Figueiredo’s path to more widespread acclaim and recognition now runs through UFC 256, where he will defend his undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title against...

UFC

Dec 11, 2020

By The Numbers: UFC 256 Pre-Fight Edition The fate of the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title will hang in the balance when Deiveson Figueiredo squares off with Brandon Moreno...

UFC

Dec 11, 2020

Pictures: One Championship ‘Big Bang 2’ Big Bang 2 featured mixed martial artists, kickboxers and muay Thai practitioners in Singapore.

One Championship

Dec 11, 2020

Pictures: Bellator 254 Bellator 254 was the stage for a new champion to take her throne.

Bellator MMA

Dec 11, 2020

Prime Picks: UFC 256 ‘Figueiredo vs. Moreno’ The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday slides into home with a pay-per-view that feels as though it is hanging by a thread.

Fight Odds

Dec 11, 2020

Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev Have Intense Staredown at Weigh-in Anthony Joshua will look to defend his heavyweight titles this Saturday.

Boxing

Dec 11, 2020

Stock Report: Bellator 254 Any time you hear “and new,” someone’s stock is surely rising, but there’s more to it for Juliana Velasquez.

Bellator MMA

Dec 11, 2020

By The Numbers: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno The two flyweights will tangle over Ultimate Fighting Championship gold in the UFC 256 headliner on Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 10, 2020

Preview: UFC 256 Main Card Deiveson Figueiredo will defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight throne for the second time in three weeks when he battles Brandon...

UFC

Dec 10, 2020

By The Numbers: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira The top-shelf lightweights will collide in the UFC 256 co-main event on Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 09, 2020

How to Watch Bellator 254 Ilima-Lei Macfarlane has grown accustomed to having the bull’s-eye on her back.

Bellator MMA

Dec 09, 2020

Preview: UFC 256 Prelims Featherweight veterans buoy the latest Ultimate Fighting Championship undercard, as Cub Swanson faces Daniel Pineda on Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 09, 2020

The Bottom Line: Wrong Turn The Ultimate Fighting Championship should continually trim the fat from its roster, but the rationalizations for Yoel Romero’s release do not...

UFC

Dec 08, 2020

The Bellator MMA Flyweight Title: A Visual History On Thursday, Bellator MMA’s most dominant champion will attempt to defend her belt for a record fifth straight time.

Infographics

Dec 08, 2020

The Lion's Den and the Greatest that Never Were The Lion's Den was MMA's first famous team, yet the pioneering gym held back several outstanding talents who might otherwise be considered some...

Dec 07, 2020

Fight Facts: UFC on ESPN 19 UFC on ESPN 19 featured a devastating slam finish, a gang of unbeaten fighters staying perfect and an instant classic in the headliner.

UFC

Dec 07, 2020

Matches to Make After UFC on ESPN 19 Marvin Vettori no longer has to toil in relative obscurity.

UFC

Dec 06, 2020

Stock Report: UFC on ESPN 19 Marvin Vettori and Jamahal Hill were among those who made major statements in the Octagon on Saturday.

UFC

Dec 06, 2020

By The Numbers: UFC on ESPN 19 Marvin Vettori stepped up and delivered in his first Ultimate Fighting Championship headlining appointment.

UFC

Dec 06, 2020

Pictures: UFC on ESPN 19 UFC on ESPN 19 was headlined by Jack Hermansson and Marvin Vettori.

UFC

Dec 05, 2020

Who You Got? Sherdog Staff Pick 'Em: UFC on ESPN 19 Sherdog's writers, editors and forum staff put their pride on the line, as they pick six fights from UFC on ESPN 19: Hermansson vs. Vettori.

Staff Pick ‘Em

Dec 05, 2020

How to Watch UFC on ESPN 19 The Ultimate Fighting Championship stage will soon belong to the middleweights, as former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Jack Hermansson tackles the surging Marvin Vettori in the...

UFC

Dec 04, 2020

Pictures: One Championship 'Big Bang' Grappling star Garry Tonon added another victory to his mixed martial arts resume at One Championship: Big Bang.

One Championship

Dec 04, 2020

By The Numbers: UFC on ESPN 19 Pre-Fight Edition As Marvin Vettori knocks on the door to contention in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division, a proven commodity stands in...

UFC

Dec 04, 2020

Errol Spence Jr. and Danny Garcia Make Weight Ahead of Welterweight Title Clash When boxing fans last saw Errol Spence Jr. in action, he had defeated Shawn Porter in a "Fight of the Year" nominee.

Boxing

Dec 04, 2020

Prime Picks: UFC on ESPN 19 ‘Hermansson vs. Vettori’ The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday rolls on with an event that has featured a revolving-door headliner.

Fight Odds

Dec 04, 2020

Prospect Watch: Quillan Salkilld Sherdog’s Jacob Debets speaks with surging prospect Quillan Salkilld about his arrival on the MMA scene in Perth, Australia, his upcoming...

Sherdog’s Prospect Watch

Jacob Debets

Dec 04, 2020

By The Numbers: Ovince St. Preux vs. Jamahal Hill The light heavyweights will lock horns in the UFC on ESPN 19 co-main event this Saturday in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 04, 2020

By The Numbers: Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori The on-the-cusp middleweights will take aim at one another in the UFC on ESPN 19 main event this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

UFC

Dec 04, 2020

5 Things You Might Not Know About Frank Shamrock The Santa Monica, California, native wore many faces—champion, mercenary, pioneer, advocate and enigma, to name but a few—in mixed martial...

Dec 03, 2020

Preview: UFC on ESPN 19 Main Card The Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division will step into the spotlight once again, as Jack Hermansson squares off with Marvin...

UFC

Dec 03, 2020

Sherdog Redraft: 'The Ultimate Fighter' Season 17 With 20/20 hindsight, Sherdog’s Ben Duffy drafts the 14 fighters from Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” based on their performance on...

TUF Redraft

Dec 03, 2020

Rivalries: Anderson Silva The Brazilian was the most feared entity in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for more than six years, his historic run atop the middleweight...

UFC

Dec 02, 2020

Preview: UFC on ESPN 19 Prelims The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday offers up a sneaky-solid undercard, anchored by the promotional debut of undefeated prospect Jordan...

UFC

Dec 02, 2020

The Bottom Line: Light at the End of the Tunnel With the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the last leg of its breakneck 2020 campaign, brighter days are ahead for the sport of mixed martial...

UFC

Dec 01, 2020

The UFC Middleweight Title: A Visual History This weekend at UFC on ESPN 19, two of Europe’s finest will square off in a main event with major implications for the middleweight title picture.

Infographics

Dec 01, 2020

A Quarter-Century on the Mic with Michael C. Williams Best known to MMA fans as the longtime voice of the Bellator MMA cage, Michael C. Williams spoke with Sherdog's Lev Pisarsky to share stories...

Bellator MMA