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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan to serve as backup for UFC 317 lightweight title fight
Arman Tsarukyan to serve as backup for UFC 317 lightweight title fight Arman Tsarukyan will be on standby for UFC 317. The upcoming UFC lightweight championship fight at UFC 317 now has a backup. Arman Tsarukyan, a top contender at 155 pounds, will serve as the replacement fighter, should his services be needed, for the Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria vacant title fight. The bout is set to headline UFC 317 – this year's International Fight Week event in Las Vegas on June 28. MMA Junkie confirmed the news following a report by MMA Fighting on Monday. The promotion has yet to make the backup role official. Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was scheduled to fight for the UFC lightweight title earlier this year against then champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 311. However, due to back issues, Tsarukyan withdrew from the fight a day prior to the event. Renato Moicano, who was scheduled to compete on the same card, ended up replacing him, and went on to get submitted by Makhachev. In the aftermath, UFC CEO Dana White said Tsarukyan wasn't going to get another title shot, despite being the No. 1 contender in the division, and needed to fight again before challenging for the belt. Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) and Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) compete for the vacant lightweight title in response to Makhachev leaving the division in pursuit of the belt at 170 pounds. Although not official, Makhachev is expected to challenge champion Jack Della Maddalena towards the end of 2025. Topuria, who moves up a weight class himself, is coming off back to back knockouts in title fights at 145 pounds, putting away Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. On the other hand, Oliveira is 2-1 in his past three fights, beating Michael Chandler and Beneil Dariush, and dropping a split decision to Tsarukyan.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- The Independent
UFC legend BJ Penn arrested again after violating ‘impostor' mother's restraining order
UFC legend BJ Penn has been arrested in Hawaii, reportedly for the fourth time in two weeks, after violating a restraining order that is believed to have been approved for his mother. In late May, Penn posted on Instagram to claim that a 'fake' version of his mother – an 'imposter identity theif' [sic] – had 'tried to get me to assault her'. 'She has already walked around my house with a gun when I asked her about my finances and my families [sic] finances,' wrote Penn, 46, who last competed in mixed martial arts in 2019, falling to a seventh straight defeat. Penn, a former two-weight UFC champion, has had numerous run-ins with the law over the years, and Thursday's arrest was his fourth in two weeks, per MMA Fighting. A statement from the Hawaii Police Department on Thursday (12 June) read: 'Hawaii Island police arrested and charged 46-year-old Jay Dee 'BJ' Penn on Thursday, June 12, 2025, for violating a temporary restraining order. 'Upon responding to the area of Pu'u'eo Street in Hilo at 11.15am Thursday morning to investigate a report, officers learned that Penn had entered within a residence, violating the terms of a temporary restraining order in which Penn is the respondent. 'Penn was located within the area and arrested without incident. He was processed at the Hilo Police Station and released after posting bail, which was set at $3,000. He is slated to make his initial appearance in family court on Friday June 13 2025, at 11.30am.' While the statement did not indicate whose residence Penn had entered, his mother Lorraine Shin recently had a protective order approved, barring him from the home they shared. It was reported by MMA Fighting that Shin said in a prior statement to police: 'I believe my son is suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome [a psychiatric disorder in which a person holds a delusion that a friend, spouse, parent, other close family member has been replaced by an identical imposter]. 'He believes I'm an imposter who has killed his family to gain control of the family assets. In the best interest for my safety, I ask the court for a six month [temporary restraining order] and have my son ordered to get medical treatment or other source of therapy.'
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
UFC star axed by Dana White just days after controversial defeat
The UFC fighter has been sacked after losing her third fight in a row at UFC 316 - headlined by Merab Dvalishvili's bantamweight rematch with Sean O'Malley UFC president Dana White is known for his ruthless approach to cutting fighters, and following UFC 316, one fighter has been shown the door. The promotion was back in New Jersey last weekend for a blockbuster pay-per-view event, with the main event being a bantamweight clash between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley. The Georgian had won their first bout last September, but 'Suga' was keen to level the series. However, Dvalishvili put an end to the rivalry by submitting the challenger in the third round, successfully defending his 135lb title. In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison became the new women's bantamweight champion after she submitted Julianna Pena. Also on the main card, Kevin Holland submitted Vicente Luque in the second round, while Patchy Mix had a difficult promotional debut, losing to rising bantamweight star Mario Bautista. Just days after the fight card, one of Saturday night's top fighters has been let go. According to Brazilian outlet Ag Fight, Ariane da Silva has been released from the UFC after the promotion decided not to renew her current contract. Da Silva lost to Wang Cong in a unanimous decision in their catchweight clash lower down the pay-per-view card. The fight was supposed to be at flyweight, but Da Silva shockingly missed weight by six pounds. Renato da Silva, husband of MMA fighter Ariane, has disclosed to MMA Fighting that a botched treatment plan for a benign pituitary tumour led to serious complications during her weight cut. The Brazilian's coach explained that the tumour was found after a blood test indicated abnormal prolactin and cortisol levels during fight camp. Despite bringing in a new nutritionist for UFC 316, the strategy failed. "We wanted to get the cortisol levels down so it wouldn't affect her health," Renato commented. "By controlling the cortisol levels, we wanted to cause as little stress as possible to her body. And the nutritionist opted for a strategy that would have her hold as much as weight as possible until the end, and it was too much for the final days. He doesn't know her as much as I do, and he thought she would be able to do that. "There was a moment this morning she wasn't feeling good. I know her body. There was still something left there to cut, but at the same time, her reactions weren't normal. She wasn't walking right, she was blinking too slow, she had double vision, and couldn't focus, her voice sounded weak. She was giving us dangerous signs as she dropped weight." Da Silva first stepped into the promotional cage in 2019. She suffered defeats in her first two bouts against Joanne Calderwood and Molly McCann, before bouncing back with two consecutive victories. The 31-year-old then had a mixed record of 1-2 in her next three fights before deciding to move up in weight. After a loss to Priscila Cachoeira on her 135lb debut, Da Silva returned to the flyweight division and secured three straight wins. However, she leaves the UFC on the back of three successive losses.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Conor McGregor Reacts to Sean O'Malley's Camp Ahead of UFC 316
Conor McGregor Reacts to Sean O'Malley's Camp Ahead of UFC 316 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. June is here, and the UFC calendar is about to explode with energy—starting with the much-hyped UFC 316. This card is stacked, but all eyes are on the main event, where fan-favorite Sean O'Malley steps back into the Octagon, chasing redemption. The stakes couldn't be higher. After a unanimous decision loss in his last fight, O'Malley is looking to silence critics and reclaim his momentum. And just when you thought the drama couldn't ramp up any more, a surprising show of respect emerged from none other than Conor McGregor—a fighter O'Malley hasn't exactly seen eye to eye with in recent years. Advertisement At the UFC 316 media day, a moment caught attention. In a clip shared by mmafightingonsbn, O'Malley was asked about the McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 fight, which he had been rewatching for inspiration. Then came the curveball. A reporter revealed to O'Malley that McGregor had praised his approach to this fight, likening it to his own preparation for the legendary Diaz rematch. 'I've always taken inspiration from Conor fights,' said O'Malley. 'You know, I watch Conor fights probably more than—well, my fights more—but I've watched a lot of Conor fights.' When the reporter added that McGregor was 'very complimentary,' O'Malley grinned: '…I'll take it.' And when asked about their previously rocky relationship, his response was heartfelt: 'I'll forever be, you know, a huge Conor fan.' Their past beef is no secret. From subtle jabs on social media to O'Malley publicly calling out McGregor's antics in interviews, the friction was real. McGregor, in turn, took dismissive swipes at O'Malley during their past exchanges. Conor McGregor speaking at press conference for Bare Knuckle Fighting ChampionshipGettyImages But as UFC 316 looms, something seems to have shifted. Respect has been restored—almost unknowingly—from O'Malley's side, showing genuine admiration even before he was aware of McGregor's praise. Former UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley@ Sam Navarro/ Imagn Images As Saturday approaches, UFC 316 isn't just shaping up to be a banger inside the cage—it's becoming a narrative of evolution, maturity, and mutual respect between two of the sport's most flamboyant stars. Whether fireworks or finesse awaits, this one's got heat written all over it. Advertisement Related: Tom Aspinall Reveals Major Update Ahead of UFC Return Related: UFC Fan Favorite Targets Return After Brutal Submission Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Ariane da Silva's team says big UFC 316 weight miss related to pituitary tumor treatment
Ariane da Silva's team says big UFC 316 weight miss related to pituitary tumor treatment UFC women's flyweight Ariane da Silva stepped on the scale Friday morning closer to the bantamweight division, and her team has since provided a shocking explanation. Da Silva (17-10 MMA, 6-7 UFC) is scheduled to face Wang Cong at UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) in a preliminary bout at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but the fight was in jeopardy of not going forward after the official weigh-in session. Weighing in at 132 pounds, da Silva came in six pounds over the flyweight limit. Cong (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who made 125 pounds on the nose, would have been justified in refusing the fight, but decided to keep the bout alive. Renato da Silva, Ariane's husband, told MMA Fighting that a poor treatment plan for a benign pituitary tumor led to complications with the weight cut. According to Ariane's coach, the tumor was discovered during further examination after a blood test during fight camp showed abnormal levels of prolactin and cortisol. The team brought in a new nutritionist to deal with the weight cut for UFC 316, but the plan did not work. "We wanted to get the cortisol levels down so it wouldn't affect her health," Renato told MMA Fighting in Portuguese (translated by MMA Fighting). "By controlling the cortisol levels, we wanted to cause as little stress as possible to her body. And the nutritionist opted for a strategy that would have her hold as much as weight as possible until the end, and it was too much for the final days. He doesn't know her as much as I do, and he thought she would be able to do that. "There was a moment this morning she wasn't feeling good. I know her body. There was still something left there to cut, but at the same time, her reactions weren't normal. She wasn't walking right, she was blinking too slow, she had double vision, and couldn't focus, her voice sounded weak. She was giving us dangerous signs as she dropped weight." After contacting the UFC's medical staff, it was determined that attempting to cut the remaining six pounds would be too dangerous, so the weight cut was stopped. The team places some blame on the nutritionist's plan to get Ariane to the flyweight limit. "It was too much (weight) for such a short amount of time," Renato said. "I think that was the mistake by the nutritionist. We trusted the process, and unfortunately, it didn't work. It's a mistake we made. I also made that mistake as a coach, to have believed and tried something different, but my goal is always to take care of the health of Ariane, an athlete and also my wife. I'll always put her health first." Cong accepted the new terms of the fight after weigh-ins, which included 30 percent of da Silva's purse, and the fight changed to a catchweight at 132 pounds.
