UFC 334 card fills out, Wonderboy to retire

The dust from UFC 331 kept settling into fresh news: the promotion filled out its November MSG card around a Stephen Thompson farewell, Joshua Van revealed he beat Pantoja on a torn shoulder, and the upset of the year gained a rags-to-riches subplot. Away from the Octagon, California floated banning oblique kicks, RAF locked in an Abu Dhabi debut, and PFL MENA set a Riyadh trilogy.

UFC 334 card set: Wonderboy's farewell, and Dana braces for Hokit

The UFC filled out its Nov. 14 Madison Square Garden lineup. Stephen Thompson will fight for the final time, meeting Charles Radtke on the prelims in a retirement bout, while Caio Borralho vs. Yousri Belgaroui and Kevin Holland vs. Uros Medic anchor a deep card beneath the Ciryl Gane–Josh Hokit and Kayla Harrison–Amanda Nunes title fights. Dana White admitted he 'f*cked up' by muddying Gane's promotion to undisputed champion, and made clear he's dreading the idea of the polarizing Hokit taking the belt: 'I literally don't f*cking like anything that Josh Hokit says.'

Why it matters: A Thompson send-off closes the book on one of welterweight's most stylish strikers, while Hokit — 4-0 and one win from a title White openly doesn't want him holding — is now the heavyweight division's wildcard.

Van reveals he beat Pantoja with a torn shoulder

Joshua Van disclosed at the UFC 331 post-fight press conference that he tore the AC joint in his right shoulder in mid-August, after the Philadelphia press conference, and couldn't spar until the final two weeks of camp — running cardio in place of live rounds. He still outpointed Alexandre Pantoja over five rounds for his second title defense. Van will undergo MRIs to gauge the damage and is unlikely to return before 2027, with Manel Kape the likely next challenger.

Why it matters: A 24-year-old grinding out a Fight-of-the-Year-caliber win on one shoulder only strengthens the case that flyweight has a genuine star — but the injury, atop a punishing recent schedule, argues for a real break.

Sharaf was sleeping on a floor weeks before flooring Steveson

Details emerged around Sean Sharaf's 12-second KO of Gable Steveson. Sean Strickland posted DMs showing Sharaf — a former Marine, winless in two prior UFC bouts and reportedly more than $600,000 in debt — sleeping on a mat weeks before the fight; Sharaf plans to give his $100,000 bonus to his ailing mother. Steveson, meanwhile, drew criticism from Daniel Cormier and others for walking out of the cage before the decision was read, and his manager Abe Kawa invoked the early losses of GSP, Islam Makhachev and Cormier himself in vowing a comeback.

Why it matters: The upset of the year has a genuine rags-to-riches subplot, while the hyped Olympic gold medalist's rough exit — and hostile reception — shows how fast a crossover prospect's shine can dim.

California eyes ban on oblique kicks after UFC 331

CSAC executive director Andy Foster said at a post-UFC 331 debrief that he wants to open discussion on outlawing lateral/side kicks to the knee — a legal but polarizing tool — after Edmen Shahbazyan complained about Brunno Ferreira's leg attacks. Foster also floated reclassifying fouls as incidental, reckless or malicious rather than simply intentional or unintentional to cut down on eye pokes, and legalizing a non-performance-enhancing peptide that heals cuts.

Why it matters: Any move on knee kicks or the foul framework would ripple through the unified rules, and the eye-poke discussion lands the same week a heavyweight title was vacated (Aspinall) over exactly that kind of damage.

RAF lands in Abu Dhabi Nov. 14 with Chimaev headlining

Real American Freestyle wrestling will debut in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14 under a new five-year deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev. Arman Tsarukyan — fresh off his UFC 331 KO and already booked against Dillon Danis at RAF 14 in October — is set to compete, alongside Olympic names Kyle Snyder, Jordan Burroughs and Abdulrashid Sadulaev, with Henry Cejudo also expected.

Why it matters: The UFC's biggest names moonlighting in a Fox-backed wrestling league is becoming a real second stage, and a five-year Gulf deal signals RAF intends to be more than a novelty.

Tsarukyan says Gaethje is ducking him — and Vegas agrees he's the problem

After brutally knocking out Mauricio Ruffy, Arman Tsarukyan pressed his lightweight title-shot case, accusing champion Justin Gaethje of avoiding him and predicting Gaethje will either chase an Ilia Topuria rematch or price himself out at '$15 million or I'm retired.' Tsarukyan, on a six-fight win streak and healthy enough to fight in December, said Gaethje must fight him or 'leave the title.' Oddsmakers opened him a massive -450 favorite over the champ.

Why it matters: Tsarukyan has cleared the division twice over yet keeps getting passed; whether the UFC rewards its clear No. 1 contender or the bigger-money Topuria rematch will define 155 pounds into 2027.

PFL MENA returns to Riyadh Oct. 2 with a Nada-Elsaidy trilogy

PFL MENA 11 goes down Oct. 2 at Boulevard City in Riyadh, headlined by Saudi Arabia's Mostafa Nada and Egypt's Osama Elsaidy meeting for a third and final time in a light heavyweight grudge bout a decade in the making. The card sets welterweight, featherweight and lightweight tournament semifinals, and Saudi Muay Thai champion Fatima Al-Ammari makes history as only the second Saudi woman to compete for the promotion.

Why it matters: Regional MMA's steady build in the Gulf is generating its own rivalries and homegrown stars, not just serving as a stage for imported UFC names.

Also worth a look

Browse previous days →