MMA UFC

Joseph Benavidez to meet Zach Makovsky at UFC 196

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 7, 2016 - 10:52 pm

Joseph Benavidez hits John Moraga with a left during their fight at UFC 187 Saturday, May 23, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Benevidez won by unanimous decision. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review ...

Joseph Benavidez hits John Moraga with a left during their fight at UFC 187 Saturday, May 23, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Benevidez won by unanimous decision. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Sam Morris on Twitter @sammorrisRJ

A flyweight contender bout between Joseph Benavidez and Zach Makovsky will take place at UFC 196 on Feb. 6 at MGM Grand, the Review-Journal has learned.

Ultimate Fighting Championship officials confirmed the bout on Thursday.

Benavidez has won four straight fights since losing to current champion Demetrious Johnson for a second time in 2013. He is 8-2 since dropping to 125 pounds in 2012, with both losses coming to Johnson. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Ali Bagautinov in October.

Makovsky, the former Bellator bantamweight champion, is 3-2 since joining the UFC. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to contender John Dodson in May.

Tickets for UFC 196, which is headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Fabricio Werdum and former champ Cain Velasquez, go on sale Friday.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj

Dana White says he’s booked Sphere for UFC fight in September

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

November 24, 2023 - 8:30 am

Although no one knows what a UFC fight will look like in the new entertainment venue, UFC’s top executive says he’s embracing the challenge of combat sports at the Sphere.

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McGregor’s return causes UFC to split from anti-doping agency

By Mark Anderson Associated Press

October 13, 2023 - 6:34 pm

The UFC is forming its own drug-testing program as a result of a feud with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency over Conor McGregor’s plan to return to the octagon.

UFC president Dana White answers questions during a post-fight news conference at UFC 264 at th ...

Dana White wants to host UFC card at the Sphere

By Adam Hill / RJ

October 4, 2023 - 4:49 pm

UFC president Dana White heaped praise on the Sphere after a smashing opening weekend and has already picked out a date to bring a fight card to the venue.

UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso poses with her title belt at the UFC 285 post-fight news co ...

UFC claims Mexican Independence weekend with T-Mobile card

By Adam Hill / RJ

September 15, 2023 - 3:40 pm

The Las Vegas-based UFC will hold ‘Noche UFC’ at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, a date traditionally reserved for a major boxing event.

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Antitrust suit against UFC takes another legal step

By Adam Hill / RJ

August 9, 2023 - 9:09 pm

A group of more than 1,200 fighters who competed between December 2010 and June 2017 is seeking between $800 million and $1.6 billion.

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Accusations of racism, colonialism at heart of new UFC rivalry

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 9, 2023 - 6:01 pm

Even before an announcment of the planned UFC middleweight title bout, champion Israel Adesanya and challenger Dricus du Plessis have dialed the rhetoric all the way up.

FILE - Alexander Volkanovski reacts after winning a featherweight title bout against Max Hollow ...

One belt retained, another changes hands at UFC 290

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 8, 2023 - 10:31 pm

Alexander Volkanovski solidified his grip on the featherweight title at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, while Alexandre Pantoja continued to mystify Brandon Moreno.

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‘Huge fight fan’ Donald Trump attends UFC 290 while in Vegas

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 9, 2023 - 8:26 am

Former President Donald Trump entered T-Mobile Arena shortly before the UFC 290 main card and sat with dignitaries that included a current Raiders star.

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Billionaire battle in a UFC cage ‘very real,’ says Dana White

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 8, 2023 - 1:38 pm

The UFC president believes there is a very good chance he will be promoting a fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg at some point in the near future.

Brandon Moreno reacts during a news conference for the UFC 290 Mixed Martial arts event Thursda ...

Saturday’s UFC event could be turning point for Mexican MMA

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 7, 2023 - 6:08 pm

Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez, two of three Mexican-born fighters in the organization’s history, are featured on Saturday’s UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena.