(Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect new information) Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison, minus time served, for a 2022 shooting. Velasquez, 42, appeared at a sentencing hearing Monday at Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., after pleading no contest to … Read more
Ask and you shall receive. That was the case for Jean Silva’s latest UFC booking. The rising featherweight contender called out veteran Bryce Mitchell after his TKO win this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 252, and just a few days later, he got the fight. On Wednesday, in an Instagram live announcement, UFC CEO … Read more
Dominick Cruz is calling it a career. After an injury forced him out of UFC Fight Night 252, Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) announced his retirement Thursday in a lengthy, heartfelt post on social media. “I gave everything I had and put it into preparation and training for this fight —focusing on my cardio and … Read more
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(This story was updated with new information.) “Pitbull” is off the leash. Patricio Freire has been released from his PFL contract and is now a free agent, according to promotion founder Donn Davis. After weeks of Freire (36-7 MMA, 24-6 UFC) publicly asking for his release, including a lengthy airing of grievances Tuesday, the promotion … Read more
Former champion Holly Holm has left the UFC and will explore free agency. Holm, a former women’s bantamweight titleholder in the promotion and a boxing Hall of Famer, still had fights left on her contract, but asked to be released. Her request was granted, and she now will look for other opportunities in MMA or … Read more