Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Jan. 23-29.
Aaron Jeffery wanted to show off his Canadian wrestling, but a quick knockout of a recent title challenger will have to do.
[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] wanted to show off his Canadian wrestling, but a quick knockout of a recent title challenger will have to do.
Jeffery took his fight with Austin Vanderford on short notice for Bellator 284 this past Friday in South Dakota. Vanderford was looking to rebound from a title loss to now-former middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi. But Jeffery had other ideas.
Jeffery (13-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) shut down Vanderford (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) with a TKO just 85 seconds into their main card opener for an upset. The fight didn’t exactly play out like he imagined it, not that he has any complaints.
“It was short,” Jeffery said at his post-fight news conference. “I was just saying to my coaches I kind of wanted to see if I could hang with him in the wrestling and break him, but this is cool, too. … It felt different this time, maybe it was because it was short notice. Maybe it was kind of less pressure, even though it was a huge fight.
“It wasn’t a lot of time to prepare. I wrestle with the top university in Canada. I come from a strong wrestling gym. I felt like it was a good fight for me. … Knocking a guy out in a minute probably doesn’t do too much for Canadian wrestling, but I keep saying I can wrestle, so maybe one of these days (I’ll show it).”
Vanderford was No. 2 in Bellator’s middleweight rankings. Jeffery was unranked after his promotional debut in June, which was a second-round TKO of Fabio Aguiar. But considering two of Jeffery’s three losses came when he was trying to get to the next level on Dana White’s Contender Series to fighters who went on to get UFC contracts, it’s fair to say most were overlooking him against Vanderford.
It’s doubtful Jeffery will jump right up to Vanderford’s spot at No. 2, but he’s at least hopeful he’ll have a number next to his name. And he would prefer to get right back in there for some more action.
“I don’t know if they put me in right at No. 2, or if they put me somewhere arbitrary like No. 5,” Jeffery said. “We’ll see in a few days. … I know there’s still going to be haters, but this is big, man. That’s why I took this fight on eight days’ notice. I’ll get back in the gym and I’ll stay ready, and maybe I’ll get back in here soon. Scott Coker, put me on that (Bellator 286) card in Long Beach. Let’s go.”
Check out Jeffery’s full post-fight interview in the video above.
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In 85 seconds, Aaron Jeffery finished Austin Vanderford with punches.
[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] stepped into his second Bellator fight on short notice and instantly notched contender status in shocking fashion.
At Bellator 284, Jeffery (13-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) finished recent middleweight title challenger [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) with punches at 1:25 of Round 1. The bout kicked off the main card Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jeffery found success on the feet early and often. An overhand right began the final finishing sequence and dropped Vanderford to the canvas. Vanderford rolled to his side and covered up as Jeffery finished off the job with some more punches.
🤯 𝑴𝑨𝑱𝑶𝑹 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑹
It's the night of the mullets, as @AaJMMA KOs @AustinV170MMMA in the opening fight of the #Bellator284 main card.
Watch live NOW on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/xwfqBSU2dt
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 13, 2022
⏮ 𝑺𝑳𝑶𝑾-𝑴𝑶 𝑪𝑨𝑴@AaJMMA's knockout of @AustinV170MMA is even 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒆𝒓 in slow motion. #Bellator284 is live on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/9t2wMj5dRY
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 13, 2022
Jeffery, 29, signed with Bellator in early 2022. The move marked his first major promotional gig after years as a champion on the regional scene and two failed attempts on Dana White’s Contender Series. Jeffery made his Bellator debut in June with a second-round TKO win over Fabio Aguiar. The victory Friday extended his winning streak to three.
As for Vanderford, he now enters the first losing skid of his career after his first loss came in February against Gegard Mousasi. Prior to 2022, Vanderford was 11-0 as a professional with six finishes.
The up-to-the-minute Bellator 284 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.
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Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the final faceoffs at the Bellator 284 ceremonial weigh-ins in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Check out these photos of the main card fighters on the scale and the final pre-fight faceoffs at the Bellator 284 ceremonial weigh-ins in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photos courtesy of Bellator MMA)
Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 284 main card in Sioux Falls, S.D.
| Gracie vs. Yamauchi |
Moldavsky vs. Mowry |
Ellen vs. Macfarlane |
Saricam vs. Sowma |
Jeffery vs. Vanderford |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 131-79 |
 Yamauchi (58%) |
 Mowry (61%) |
 Macfarlane (79%) |
 Saricam (62%) |
 Vanderford (68%) |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 143-72  2018 Champion |
 Gracie |
Mowry |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 139-76 |
Gracie |
 Moldavsky |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 137-78 2014 Champion |
Gracie |
Moldavsky |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 135-80 |
Gracie |
Mowry |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 132-83 |
Gracie |
Mowry |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 131-84 |
Gracie |
Mowry |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 130-85 |
Gracie |
Moldavsky |
Macfarlane |
 Sowma |
Vanderford |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 127-88 |
Gracie |
Moldavsky |
 Ellen |
Sowma |
Vanderford |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 126-89 2017 Champion |
Gracie |
Moldavsky |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 117-98 |
Gracie |
Mowry |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 104-111 |
Gracie |
Moldavsky |
Macfarlane |
Saricam |
Vanderford |
Bellator returns to South Dakota this week with a welterweight bout atop the card, plus two former champions and a recent title challenger on the bill.
Bellator 284 takes place Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) takes on first-time Bellator headliner [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) at welterweight. Gracie is a -200 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Yamauchi is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Gracie as one of two unanimous picks on the main card – but in a rarity, our readers disagree and are backing Yamauchi at a big 58 percent clip.
In the co-feature, former interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) takes on unbeaten up-and-comer [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA). Moldavsky is more than a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, but he has the narrowest possible edge over Mowry in the picks at 6-5.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Bruna Ellen[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) takes on former women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA), who is fighting outside her native Hawaii or homebase of California for just the second time in nearly five years. Macfarlane is a slight favorite at -135, but is a near-unanimous pick with our staff members at 10-1. (It should be noted Macfarlane missed weight for for the first time in her MMA career. She came in at 129 pounds at Thursday’s weigh-ins.)
[autotag]Gokhan Saricam[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is a 2-1 favorite in his heavyweight bout against [autotag]Said Sowma[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), and he’s got a blowout from our pickers at 9-2.
And to open the main card, our second unanimous pick is recent middleweight title challenger [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA), who is a -200 favorite against late replacement opponent [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Vanderford has an 11-0 shutout from our staff members.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Yamauchi (58 percent), Mowry (61 percent), Macfarlane (79 percent), Saricam (62 percent) and Vanderford (68 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.
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Aaron Jeffery will get a big opportunity when he meets former title challenger Austin Vanderford.
[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] will get a big opportunity when he meets a recent title challenger.
[autotag]Anthony Adams[/autotag] has been forced out and Jeffery (12-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) at Bellator 284, which takes place Aug. 12 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Jeffery confirmed the news on social media after an initial report from ESPN.
Jeffery fell short on two stints on Dana White’s Contender Series, losing to Brendan Allen in 2019 and Caio Borralho in September 2021. The former CFFC middleweight champion made a successful Bellator debut in June when he scored a second-round TKO of Fabio Aguiar.
Vanderford will look to rebound from his first career loss. After defeating Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259, Vanderford got a title shot against middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275 in February, but was stopped in just 85 seconds.
With the change, the Bellator 284 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)
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Ten fights are on the docket for Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series.
The lineup for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 5 is slowly coming to form. Contracts are going out and fighters are putting their names on the dotted lines.
The upcoming installment has a different flare than recent years, with a large percentage of the roster coming from outside North America. The majority are from Brazil, Russia and beyond. Of the fights that have surfaced thus far, only a few Americans are set to partake in Season 5, which is set to begin in August.
Portions of Dana White's Contender Series S5 roster have leaked. Many international fighters and it's not a coincidence, I'm told. That was the intent from the start.#UFC was looking to increase talent level anyway, but this also offsets limited international signings in 2020.
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) May 26, 2021
The first known event date is Aug. 31. The series will extend at least through mid-October, with the latest event on the schedule currently set for Oct. 12.
A number of fights have leaked prior to the UFC’s official announcements. Scroll below to see the fights MMA Junkie has confirmed thus far.
CFFC is set to host the promotion’s first events of 2021 when the organization returns to Philadelphia on March 11-12 for a pair of shows.
CFFC is set to host the promotion’s first two events of 2021 when the organization returns to Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on March 11-12 for a pair of shows to stream on UFC Fight Pass.
The promotion today announced the two cards, which will serve as CFFC 92 and CFFC 93 and will take place with limited fans in attendance.
“Despite all the challenges that 2020 presented to us, it remained one of the best years in Cage Fury Fighting Championships history, and we’re committed to reaching even new heights in 2021,” CFFC President Rob Haydak stated. “We’re starting it out with two of our newest champions looking to defend their belts and continue their rise to the sport’s biggest promotions, while a pair of vacant belts will also be on the line as we look to find the best up-and-coming talent in MMA. With strong lineups already being planned for events in April and May, as well, fans can expect CFFC to continue providing action-packed events every time out.”
Four championship fights were announced for the two-night lineup.
At CFFC 92, flyweight champion [autotag]Alberto Trujillo[/autotag] (5-1) seeks the first defense of his belt when he takes on fast-rising Ray Longo product [autotag]Phumi Nkuta[/autotag] (2-0), while the co-main event sees Uzbekistan’s [autotag]Saidyokub Kakharamonov[/autotag] (7-2) face Charlie’s Combat Club’s [autotag]Tycen Lynn[/autotag] (8-4) for the bantamweight title recently vacated by Jared Scoggins.
Meanwhile, CFFC 93 sees middleweight champion and Dana White’s Contender Series winner [autotag]Collin Huckbody[/autotag] (9-2) put his title on the line for the first time when he faces top Canadian contender and fellow DWCS veteran [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] (9-2). Additionally, the vacant CFFC heavyweight title is up for grabs in the co-feature, when [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (10-6) takes on [autotag]Cody Goodale[/autotag] (7-4).
Additional bouts are expected to be announced shortly.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.
Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.
This November, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
This month:
