M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Bruno “Blindado” Silva (19-6-0, M-1: 2-0-0) has relinquished his title belt and signed a mixed-martial-arts promotional contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Last summer, Mubadala Investment Company and UFC announced the formation of UFC Russia. to promote MMA and organize new events in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

M-1 Global is a partner responsible for scouting and signing Russian athletes to prepare them to fight in the UFC.  M-1 Challenge champions such as Silva have a unique opportunity to sign contracts with the UFC.

Silva accomplished the two goals he had set before he turned 30: to be crowned a world champion and become a UFC fighter.

“I just signed with the UFC,” an ecstatic Silva announced, “I am very happy, and I want to thank M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein. You have all my gratitude and respect. I also want to thank Lusen and Adrian Bakos, our partners in Russia, who walked side-by-side with us. Thank you to everyone in Russia who supported me and always treated me well. I love Russia and M-1. They changed my life. You have all my respect and gratitude. Russia and M-1, I love you!”

The 29-year-old Silva (19-6-0, M-1: 2-0-0), fighting out of Brazil, shocked the MMA world in his M-1 Global debut, when he knocked out Russian star Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko in the opening round at M-1 Challenge 93, last June 1 in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

TRENDING Check out Sage Northcutt’s face shattering knockout from all angles (video)

Silva, a heavy-handed Brazilian puncher, followed the Shlemenko shocker with an impressive title defense, stopping Artem Frolov on punches in the fourth round last November at M-1 Challenge 98, also in Chelyabinsk, to capture the M-1 Challenge middleweight title.

“Thank you M-1 Global for giving me an opportunity to demonstrate my work,” Silva concluded. “My fights in Russia were the biggest challenge of my life and I feel great gratitude and respect to Russia.”

Silva’s UFC debut is scheduled for June 22 at UFC on ESPN+ 12 versus another new UFC signee Deron White (5-0-0) in Greenville, South Carolina.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/m-1-champion-bruno-silva-inks-deal-to-fight-at-ufc-fight-night-in-south-carolina

(Courtesy of UFC)

In 1994, Ken Shamrock assembled the first ever MMA team – the Lion’s Den – and showed success in the ultimate individual sport was a team effort.

TRENDING Tito Ortiz inks deal with Combate Americas

Originally released on UFC FIGHT PASS, UFC 25 Years in Short is a 25-part documentary series celebrating the UFC silver anniversary. This compilation of short films presents 25 captivating UFC stories, one for each year of existence, and every piece stands alone as an independent feature. Viewed as a whole, these films form a larger, mosaic narrative of the UFC’s amazing evolution, fascinating characters and lasting influence.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/the-lions-den-the-story-of-the-first-mixed-martial-arts-team-video

(Courtesy of ONE Championship)

It was hard to believe the bone-crushing knockout Cosmo Alexandre landed on Sage Northcutt in the UFC veteran’s ONE Championship debut recently. But if you just couldn’t come to grips with it, ONE Championship released a new cut on the KO, providing the shot heard round the world from every angle imaginable. 

The day after the fight, Northcutt posted on his Instagram account, revealing that he suffered eight fractures as a result of the punch, which took a nine-hour surgery to repair. 

A couple days later, one of Northcutt’s coaches at Team Alpha Male, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, said that not only did Northcutt suffer eight fractures, but the bones in his face shattered into 30 pieces, much like smashing an egg shell.

TRENDING Low Down Podcast: Sage Northcutt horrific injury in ONE Championship debut

Northcutt is expected to make a full recovery, according to Faber, and could conceivably fight again if he wants.

Full ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon fight highlights, including Sage Northcutt’s KO

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/check-out-sage-northcutts-face-shattering-knockout-from-all-angles-video

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In an extensive interview with self-help guru Tony Robbins, former UFC dual-division champion Conor McGregor opened up about his career, wanting his due worth to return to the Octagon, and his feelings on the post-fight meltdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov following UFC 229 last year. 

TRENDING Check out Sage Northcutt’s face shattering knockout from all angles (video)

McGregor has been linked to several fights over the past few months, but all have been false starts. With all of the top lightweights in the UFC currently scheduled to fight, who is McGregor going to fight if and when he does return?

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-opens-up-to-self-help-guru-tony-robbins-about-career-and-khabib-video

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In an extensive interview with self-help guru Tony Robbins, former UFC dual-division champion Conor McGregor opened up about his career, wanting his due worth to return to the Octagon, and his feelings on the post-fight meltdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov following UFC 229 last year. 

TRENDING Check out Sage Northcutt’s face shattering knockout from all angles (video)

McGregor has been linked to several fights over the past few months, but all have been false starts. With all of the top lightweights in the UFC currently scheduled to fight, who is McGregor going to fight if and when he does return?

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-opens-up-to-self-help-guru-tony-robbins-about-career-and-khabib-video