Tag: Don Madge

2024 MMA retirement tracker: A list of those who hung up the gloves

Here’s a list of every notable retirement announced by fighters from the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and more in 2024.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2024 has already seen a number of notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

2024 PFL 3 video: Don Madge taps Brennan Ward in wild 62-second brawl

Former UFC fighter Don Madge and Bellator staple Brennan Ward put on quite the exciting 62-second show in Chicago.

[autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] was fun for as long as it lasted.

At 2024 PFL 3 on Thursday, Madge (11-4-1) tapped Ward (17-8) with a rear-naked choke at the 62-second mark of Round 1. The event took place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Despite its brevity, the fight showed a little bit of everything. Ward hit Madge with a beautiful judo throw. Rather than wrestle, Ward let Madge back up. Ward bit on the mouthpiece and chucked bombs. Some connected. Some didn’t. Madge clinched Ward and landed a beautiful knee to the forehead. The blow froze Ward and split him open.

A dazed Ward went for another judo throw, but didn’t have the grip or strength to do so. Madge landed on top of him. Ward scrambled to his feet but Madge climbed his back and locked in a rear-naked choke for the tap.

Madge, 33, wins in his first competition since April 2022. Since a 2-0 UFC stint and subsequent departure in 2019, Madge has gone 2-1 in PFL.

Ward, 35, is unsuccessful in his PFL debut. The Bellator staple has lost two consecutive fights.

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The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 3 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 3.

Longtime Bellator fighter Brennan Ward enters 2024 PFL welterweight season

One of the longest tenured Bellator fighters ever, Brennan Ward has stepped into a vacancy in the 2024 PFL welterweight season.

The new era of PFL is here and [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] will be a part of it.

One of the longest tenured members of the Bellator roster, Ward (17-7) enters the 2024 PFL welterweight regular season as a replacement for fellow import [autotag]Kyle Crutchmer[/autotag], promotion officials recently informed MMA Junkie.

Ward’s first regular season bout will take place April 19 at 2024 PFL 3 in Chicago as he faces former UFC fighter [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] (10-4-1) in a three-round preliminary card bout at Wintrust Arena.

Ward, 35, joined Bellator in 2012. After 15 fights for the promotion including a title shot that he earned through a Bellator middleweight tournament, Ward retired from mixed martial arts. Behind the scenes, Ward struggled with severe drug addiction and other personal issues, which he revealed in a 2022 tell-all interview with MMA Junkie, shortly before he announced his sobriety and comeback.

Since his return to combat sports, Ward has gone 3-1 in MMA. After two warmup fights, Ward finished Sabah Homasi with strikes in the first Bellator fight on CBS. He then lost an August 2023 main event to Logan Storley by second-round TKO.

Madge, 33, has not competed since an April 2022 loss to Raush Manfio. The TKO defeat dropped him to 1-1 in his PFL tenure following a 2-0 UFC stint.

With the change, the current 2024 PFL 3 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Welterweight Regular Season Main Event: Andrey Koreshkov (27-4) vs. Magomed Umalatov (14-0)
  • Featherweight Regular Season Co-Main Event: Brendan Loughnane (27-5) vs. Pedro Carvalho (13-8)
  • Welterweight Regular Season Bout: Logan Storley (15-2) vs. Shamil Musaev (16-0-1)
  • Featherweight Regular Season Bout: Gabriel Braga (12-1) vs. Justin Gonzalez (14-3)
  • Welterweight Regular Season Bout: Goiti Yamauchi (28-6) vs. Neiman Gracie (12-4)
  • Featherweight Regular Season Bout: Bubba Jenkins (21-7) vs. Kai Kamaka (12-5-1)

PRELIMS (ESPN+, 6:30pm E.T.)

  • Featherweight Regular Season Bout: Adam Borics (18-2) vs. Enrique Barzola (20-7-2)
  • Featherweight Regular Season Bout: Timur Khizriev (14-0) vs. Brett Johns (20-3)
  • Welterweight Regular Season Bout: Laureano Staropoli (13-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (11-0)
  • Welterweight Regular Season Bout: Don Madge (10-4-1) vs. Brennan Ward (17-7)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 3.

Clay Collard, Raush Manfio, more booked to complete 2023 PFL 3 card

The lineup for the third PFL event of this season is now complete.

The lineup for the third PFL event of this season is now complete.

The promotion announced on Monday the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3, which is set to go down April 14 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

These newly announced fights, which include fan favorites and two former champions, join the previously announced matchups that make up the main and co-main event in Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos and Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi.

2019 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] takes on former UFC veteran and 2022 PFL runner-up [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] in a matchup at 155 pounds. Schulte is on a two-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory being a submission over Jeremy Stephens this past November. Ray also competed in November, where he lost to Aubin-Mercier in the 2022 PFL lightweight final.

The other former champion added to the card is [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], who won the 2021 PFL lightweight season. He’ll be taking on [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag]. Manfio last fought in June, also losing to Aubin-Mercier – a result that snapped a five-fight winning streak.

Additionally, [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], one of PFL’s most exciting fighters, will take on [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag] to close out the preliminary card.

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Below is the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m, ET)

  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos
  • Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi
  • Natan Schulte vs. Stevie Ray
  • Raush Manfio vs. Alexander Martinez
  • Shane Mitchell vs. TBA
  • Abdelaziz Abdulvakhabov vs. Ahmed Ami

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Collard vs. Yamato Nishikawa
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Don Madge
  • Carlos Leal vs. David Zawada
  • Magomed Umalatov vs. Dilano Taylor

2022 PFL 1 weigh-in results: All 20 lightweights, light heavyweights on point to start season

Check out the weigh-in results of 2022 PFL 1 in Arlington, Texas.

Fighters competing in the 2022 PFL season opener stepped on the scale Tuesday to record their official weight for their bouts.

The 10-fight 2022 PFL 1 card takes place Wednesday at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The first week will see lightweights and light heavyweights compete as they aim to get a strong start to the new season. [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (20-9) takes on [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (28-19) in the main event. The co-main will see 2021 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (15-3) against [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] (10-3-1). Representing the light heavyweights in the feature bout, 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (13-5) will face [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (8-1).

All fighters competing on Wednesday made weight with no issues, kicking off the season with a smooth start on the scales.

The full 202 PFL 1 weigh-in results are below:

Main Card (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Collard (155) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156)
  • Raush Manfio (156) vs. Don Madge (155.75)
  • Antonio Carlos Junior (205.5) vs. Delan Monte (205)
  • Natan Schulte (156) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155.75)

Preliminary card (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Emiliano Sordi (205.5) vs. Cory Hendricks (205.75)
  • Alex Martinez (156) vs. Stevie Ray (155.5)
  • Marthin Hamlet (205.75) vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (204.5)
  • Omari Akhmedov (204.25) vs. Viktor Pesta (205.5)
  • Rob Wilkinson (205) vs. Bruce Souto (204.5)
  • Simeon Powell (205.75) vs. Clinton Williams (204.5)

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PFL 2022, Week 1 predictions: Who’s picking Jeremy Stephens in his PFL debut vs. Clay Collard?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL 2022, Week 1 card in Texas, featuring Clay Collard vs. longtime UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens.

Collard
vs.
Stephens		 Madge
vs.
Manfio		 Junior
vs.
Monte		 Aubin-Mercier
vs.
Schulte
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
57-27		 collard2022
Collard
(50.1%)		 madge2022new
Madge
(54%)		 junior2022
Junior
(83%)		 schulte2022
Schulte
(52%)
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
57-28		 stephens2022
Stephens		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Nolan King
@mma_kings
56-29		 stephens2022
Stephens		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
56-29		 collard2022
Collard		 madge2022new
Madge		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
56-29		 stephens2022
Stephens		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
55-30
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 collard2022
Collard		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
54-31
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 collard2022
Collard		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
53-32		 stephens2022
Stephens		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
51-34		 collard2022
Collard		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
50-35
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 collard2022
Collard		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
49-36		 stephens2022
Stephens		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
38-47		 collard2022
Collard		 manfio2022new
Manfio		 junior2022
Junior		 schulte2022
Schulte

The PFL is back for the start of another season, and lightweights and light heavyweights open the 2022 campaign.

PFL 2022, Week 1 takes place Wednesday at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN/ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, longtime UFC fighter [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (28-19) makes the move to the PFL for a shot at the lightweight title. He takes on [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (20-9) in the season opener. It’s the most contentious fight in the picks from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who have Collard with just a 6-5 lead.

In the co-feature, 2021 lightweight winner [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (15-3) meets [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] (10-3-1) in the first fight in his quest to win another season. Manfio is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (13-5) opens the light heavyweight season against [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (8-1). Junior is the only unanimous pick from our staff members at 11-0.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (13-5) takes on two-time lightweight winner [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] (21-4-1). Schulte has a big 9-2 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Collard (50.1 percent), Madge (54 percent), Junior (83 percent) and Schulte (52 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

PFL’s Don Madge happy to face Raush Manfio first: ‘I wanted to get the champion out of the way’

South Africa’s Don Madge is glad to face 2021 PFL champ Raush Manfio in the first fight of the 2022 season.

[autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] wants to make a statement early in the 2022 PFL season.

On Wednesday, Madge (10-3-1) takes on the 2021 PFL lightweight champion Raush Manfio in the co-main event at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. Given the format of the PFL season, someone has to face the previous year’s champion at the first event, and Madge fully welcomes the challenge.

“I wanted to face Raush first,” Madge said at Monday’s pre-fight media day. “I wanted to get the champion out of the way first and test myself against the guys who have already been through it and already accomplished what I’m trying to accomplish. To be the only South African on the card and represent my country is a huge deal to me.”

Following his exit from the UFC after two fights and two victories, Madge debuted in the opening bout of the 2021 PFL Championship, where he defeated Nathan Williams via second-round submission. This year, he’s a part of the lightweight tournament and has plans on competing on the championship card this year, but this time for the title and the big prize of $1 million.

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Manfio (15-3) entered all four of his 2021 season bouts as an underdog, which made for an incredible story of overcoming the odds. However, this season, things have changed after winning the championship, and now Madge will have an opportunity to create an early-season upset by taking out last year’s champion.

“I always come in with an underdog mentality anyway,” Madge said. “I wanted to face the champion first because he’s the guy that’s done it already, he’s already climbed the mountain, and I want to take his spot on the top of that mountain. Odds and stuff, and statistics, that’s all on paper. Fights aren’t won on paper. I don’t really pay too much attention to that and I’m just gonna get in there and do my thing. I believe I will win, and I will be the champion this year.”

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Former UFC lightweight Don Madge signs with PFL, debuts on Oct. 27

After a slew of canceled fights, Don Madge has a new home.

After a slew of canceled fights, [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] has a new home.

Madge (9-3-1), who signed with the UFC in 2018, managed to step into the octagon just twice before parting ways with the company. The 30-year-old fighter out of South Africa announced Monday that he inked a deal with PFL and will be making his promotional debut against Nathan Williams (13-7) at the 2021 PFL Championship event on Oct. 27.

Madge hasn’t competed since defeating Fares Ziam at UFC 242 in September 2019. Since then, he has been plagued with a string of bad luck, including visa issues due to travel restrictions the U.S. placed on South Africa.

Madge saw bookings with Guram Kutateladze and Nasrat Haqparast get scrapped, but he appears to have finally solved his visa issues when he returns to action at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. for his PFL debut.

The current 2021 PFL Championship lineup includes:

  • Ray Cooper vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov – welterweight final
  • Raush Manfio vs. Loik Radzhabov – lightweight final
  • Taylor Guardado vs. Kayla Harrison – women’s lightweight final
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija – heavyweight final
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Chris Wade – featherweight final
  • Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Marthin Hamlet – light heavyweight final
  • Abigail Montes vs. Claressa Shields
  • Don Madge vs. Nathan Williams

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Don Madge withdraws from UFC Fight Night 187 vs. Nasrat Haqparast due to visa issues

Don Madge announces visa issues have forced him to withdraw from his UFC Fight Night 187 fight vs. Nasrat Haqparast.

[autotag]Don Madge[/autotag]’s return to the octagon will have to wait even longer.

Madge (9-3-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who was scheduled to face [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in a lightweight bout at next week’s UFC Fight Night 187 event has been forced to withdraw due to visa issues. The card takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

Madge took to social media Saturday morning to announce the news he won’t make the walk to the cage on March 13.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMFJOWgnzYB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Madge explained he wasn’t even able to secure a visa appointment due to travel restrictions the United States placed on South Africa. Madge, who’s 2-0 in the UFC, hasn’t competed since defeating Fares Ziam at UFC 242 in September 2019.

With the change, the latest UFC Fight Night 187 card includes:

  • Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
  • Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann
  • Dan Ige vs. Gavin Tucker
  • Eryk Anders vs. Darren Stewart
  • Philipe Lins vs. Ben Rothwell
  • Jinh Yu Frey vs. Gloria de Paula
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
  • Matthew Semelsberger vs. Jason Witt
  • Davey Grant vs. Jonathan Martinez
  • Charles Jourdain vs. Marcelo Rojo
  • Ray Rodriguez vs. Rani Yahya
  • Nasrat Haqparast vs. TBA
  • Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
  • J.J. Aldrich vs. Cortney Casey

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