UFC Fight Night Recap: Bonfim Shocks Muhammad, New Bouts Set

The Octagon was buzzing this past weekend with UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim delivering a host of exciting finishes and pivotal moments. Meanwhile, the UFC has been busy booking matchups for the coming months, and we've got the latest confirmed bookings and unfortunate cancellations.

UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim Delivers Action

The welterweight main event saw a significant upset as Gabriel Bonfim defeated former title challenger Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision. Bonfim showcased a dominant performance, utilizing his striking and pressure to control the fight and earn a clean sweep on the scorecards. In other main card action, Brendan Allen secured a decision victory over Edmen Shahbazyan in a fight that earned Fight of the Night honors. Iwo Baraniewski and Edgar Chairez both earned Performance of the Night bonuses for their respective finishes.

The preliminary card also featured several notable results. Bryce Mitchell submitted Santiago Luna in their bantamweight contest. Alessandro Costa delivered a knockout blow to Matt Schnell. Edgar Chairez also secured a submission victory over Bruno Silva. Chelsea Chandler submitted Priscila Cachoeira, and Joanderson Brito earned a submission win against Jordan Leavitt. Ketlen Souza finished Ariane Carnelossi with a KO, and Jeisla Chaves took a split decision over Yuneisy Duben.

Upcoming Fights Booked

The UFC has several exciting matchups on the horizon. A lightweight bout between Ludovit Klein and Tofiq Musayev is scheduled for UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade on August 1. Also on that card, Dennis Buzukja will face Bogdan Grad, and Mark Vologdin will take on Josias Musasa.

In the women's divisions, Veronica Hardy is set to face Dione Barbosa on July 18. Amanda Ribas will also compete on July 18, taking on Fatima Kline.

The bantamweight division will be on display in Abu Dhabi on July 25, with Umar Nurmagomedov set to face David Martinez in the co-main event, preceding the light heavyweight headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr.

A featherweight bout between Giga Chikadze and Vinicius Oliveira is scheduled for June 20.

Fight Cancellations

Unfortunately, several bouts have been canceled. The bantamweight fight between Ismail Naurdiev and Marvin Vettori, initially scheduled for June 27, has been called off. Farid Basharat vs. Ethyn Ewing is also off for June 20.

The bout between Marcus McGhee and Jakub Wiklacz, originally scheduled for June 6, was canceled due to an injury to Wiklacz. Additionally, Bryce Mitchell vs. Victor Henry, Imanol Rodriguez vs. Matt Schnell, and Iwo Baraniewski vs. Billy Elekana were all canceled for June 6  Fights involving Zhu Kangjie, Rei Tsuruya, and Muslim Salikhov have also been canceled.

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UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa Delivers Finishes and History

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa delivered a night of action-packed fights, with several notable finishes and a historic submission victory. The event, held on May 16, 2026, saw a mix of decisive wins and hard-fought battles that will undoubtedly shape the divisions involved.

Allen Dominates Costa in Featherweight Main Event

The featherweight headliner saw Arnold Allen put on a masterful performance against Melquizael Costa, securing a unanimous decision victory. Allen showcased his technical prowess and tactical brilliance, effectively neutralizing Costa's dynamic striking and controlling the fight from start to finish. Despite Costa's impressive six-fight win streak coming into the bout, Allen's experience and composed approach proved too much, halting Costa's momentum and reaffirming Allen's status as a top contender in the division.

Choi's Resurgence and Williams' Explosive KO

In the co-main event, Dooho Choi made a strong statement in his return, defeating Daniel Santos via second-round TKO. Choi landed a crucial uppercut to the body that put Santos down, securing the finish and earning Fight of the Night honors alongside Santos. Elsewhere on the main card, Khaos Williams reminded the welterweight division of his devastating power, knocking out Nikolay Veretennikov in the first round. Williams snapped a two-fight losing streak with this emphatic performance, reestablishing himself as a dangerous threat.

Historic Submission and Dominant Performances

The night also featured a truly unique and historic submission. Alice Ardelean secured the first-ever "capsule lock" victory in UFC history, forcing Polyana Viana to tap out in the second round. Ardelean's innovative technique has etched her name in the UFC record books. Several other fighters delivered dominant performances. Benardo Sopaj submitted Timmy Cuamba in the second round after a strong striking display, while Nicolle Caliari earned her first UFC win by submitting Shauna Bannon in the third round. Cody Brundage also secured a crucial second-round TKO victory over Andre Petroski, snapping his own losing streak.

Other Notable Results

In the light heavyweight division, Ivan Erslan secured a much-needed unanimous decision win over Tuco Tokkos, halting a three-fight slide. Ketlen Vieira and Modestas Bukauskas also emerged victorious, both winning their respective bouts by decision. Luis Gurule rounded out the night's winners with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Daniel Barez, showcasing relentless pressure and grappling control.

For detailed fight metrics and analysis, visit the BJJ Metrics https://www.bjjmetrics.com/ufc

Tallest Fighters to Have Competed in the UFC: When Giants Rule the Octagon

In a sport where leverage, reach, and spatial control can change the entire trajectory of a fight, being the taller athlete is often a massive advantage. While the average UFC heavyweight stands around 6' 3", a select group of absolute titans have pushed the absolute limits of human height inside the Octagon.

From the early, lawless days of "Open Weight" tournaments to the modern, highly technical era, let's look at the tallest fighters to ever step foot inside the UFC.

Stefan Struve: 6'11"

Tim Sylvia: 6'8"

Alexander Volkov: 6'7"

Semmy Schilt: 6'10"

The Undisputed King of Height: Stefan Struve (6' 11")

Standing a jaw-dropping 6' 11", Stefan "The Skyscraper" Struve holds the undisputed record as the tallest fighter in UFC history. Operating with a massive 84-inch reach, the Dutch heavyweight was a constant logistical puzzle for his opponents.

While you might expect a giant to rely purely on heavy hands, Struve was actually a lethal submission specialist, ending some of his biggest fights off his back using his incredibly long legs to lock in tight guards and chokeouts. Over a 24-fight UFC career, he secured 13 victories, famously including a knockout win over future champion Stipe Miocic.

The 6' 10" Club: K-1 Legacies and Early Monsters

Right behind Struve sits a trio of men scaling 6' 10". The most accomplished of this tier is undoubtedly Semmy Schilt, a kickboxing legend who brought his imposing frame to the UFC for a brief two-fight stint in 2001.

Joining him at this height were Gan McGee (who once challenged Tim Sylvia for the title in a battle dubbed "The Battle of the Giants") and Wes Sims, an unforgettable character from the early 2000s heavyweight division known for his fierce rivalries and wild fighting style.

The 6' 8" Giants: Champions and Tournament Pioneers

Standing at 6' 8" is the most successful giant in UFC history: Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia. Unlike many ultra-tall fighters who struggled with the pace of MMA, Sylvia used his 80-inch reach and massive frame to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship twice, dominating the division in the mid-2000s.

This height class also features some fascinating blasts from the past. In the tournament era, men like Emmanuel Yarborough (who famously weighed in at 770 lbs for an open-weight bout), Paul Varelans, and Rafael Carino used their raw size before weight classes even existed.

The Modern 6' 7" Elite

You don't have to look at history to find massive athletes. The 6' 7" category features elite modern fighters who combine height with incredible athletic capabilities:

• Alexander Volkov: A highly technical kickboxer who uses his 80-inch reach beautifully to keep opponents at the end of his straight punches. He remains a perennial title contender at the very top of the heavyweight division.
• Tallison Teixeira & Kevin Christian: The new blood. Interestingly, Christian competed at Light Heavyweight (205 lbs), making him one of the tallest fighters to ever cut down to a lower weight class.
• Robelis Despaigne: An Olympic bronze medalist in Taekwondo who pairs his 6' 7" height with a staggering 84-inch reach—giving him the same wingspan as Stefan Struve despite being four inches shorter.

Tale of the Tape: The Tallest Ever Side-by-Side

Fighter	Height	Reach	Weight Class	UFC Record
Stefan Struve	6' 11"	84"	Heavyweight	13-11-0
Semmy Schilt	6' 10"	--	Heavyweight	1-1-0
Gan McGee	6' 10"	--	Heavyweight	2-2-0
Wes Sims	6' 10"	--	Heavyweight	0-3-0
Tim Sylvia	6' 8"	80"	Heavyweight	9-4-0
Paul Varelans	6' 8"	--	Open Weight	4-4-0
Emmanuel Yarborough	6' 8"	--	Open Weight	0-1-0
Alexander Volkov	6' 7"	80"	Heavyweight	14-5-0
Robelis Despaigne	6' 7"	84"	Heavyweight	1-2-0
Kevin Christian	6' 7"	80"	Light Heavyweight	0-2-0

The Reach vs. Height Anomaly: Notice that height doesn't always equal arm length. Robelis Despaigne matches the 6' 11" Stefan Struve for the longest reach on this list (84 inches), despite being four inches shorter. That is what we call incredible geometry for a striker.

The Hidden Pitfalls of the Cut

 In combat sports, the fight before the fight happens on the scale. Whether you are stepping onto the mats for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), stepping into the cage for MMA, or walking onto the tatami for Judo, weight cutting is a deeply embedded ritual.

The logic seems simple: shed weight rapidly, weigh in, rehydrate, and step into competition as the larger, stronger fighter. But when a cut goes wrong, it doesn't just drain your strength—it can completely derail your performance, or worse, put you in the hospital.

The Hidden Pitfalls of the Cut

Many athletes treat weight cutting like a simple math equation, but the human body doesn’t always cooperate. If you rely too heavily on severe dehydration, several major physiological pitfalls await:

• The "Cardio Dump": Dehydration severely compromises your blood volume. Your heart has to pump harder just to move thick, sludgy blood to your muscles. In a high-intensity scramble, your gas tank will empty in minutes.

• Brain Vulnerability: Fluid loss shrinks the protective layer of cerebrospinal fluid around your brain. For MMA and Judo athletes, this increases the risk of severe concussions and getting knocked out from lighter strikes.

• The Gastrointestinal Trap: A common mistake made by Judokas and BJJ players is eating massive amounts of fiber (fruits and vegetables) right up until fight week to feel full. Fiber creates heavy "dead weight" in the gut that is incredibly hard to shift without starving yourself completely.

When the Elites Crash and Burn

We often think elite athletes have it all figured out, but combat sports history is littered with cautionary tales of weight cuts destroying world-class performances.

Khabib Nurmagomedov (MMA)

Before dominating the UFC lightweight division, Khabib faced a terrifying medical emergency at UFC 209. Attempting to cut down to 155 pounds, his body began to shut down due to liver and kidney strain, forcing him to pull out of a massive interim title fight. Even when he successfully made weight during stressful cuts, the toll on his body occasionally showed in slower, labor-intensive first rounds before his pacing leveled out.

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson (MMA)

Perhaps the most extreme case of weight mismanagement was the late Anthony Johnson. Early in his career, he forced his massive frame down to the 170-pound welterweight division. The results were disastrous: he repeatedly missed weight—once coming in a staggering 11 pounds heavy—and looked completely gaunt on the scales. In the fights where he actually hit the mark, his legendary power vanished after the first round due to sheer exhaustion. It wasn't until he moved up to light heavyweight (205 lbs) that his performance truly peaked.

Renan Barão (MMA / BJJ)

The former UFC bantamweight champion and elite BJJ black belt was riding a 30-plus fight unbeaten streak until weight cutting caught up with him. At UFC 177, Barão passed out and hit his head on a bathtub while trying to squeeze down to 135 pounds. He was pulled from the card, and his career trajectory was never the same; the accumulated stress of severe weight cycling permanently damaged his ability to perform at the highest level.

Fighting the Clock: How Age Changes the Cut

The way your body handles a weight cut shifts dramatically across different stages of life.

Youth Athletes (Under 18)

In adolescent years, the body is desperately trying to allocate energy toward bone growth, muscle development, and hormonal balance. Severe weight cutting at this stage can permanently stunt growth and alter metabolic health. Organizations like British Judo actively discourage youth athletes from cutting more than 2% of their body weight, advising them instead to simply grow into their natural weight classes.

The Prime Years (20s)

This is when the body is most resilient. Metabolic function is high, and kidneys recover much quicker from acute dehydration. However, this creates a false sense of security. Fighters in their 20s often use terrible cutting methods (like staying in saunas for hours or using plastic sweat suits) because their youth allows them to get away with it—unaware that they are creating long-term renal and metabolic damage.

The Masters Divisions (30s and Beyond)

If you are a Masters competitor in BJJ or Judo, the "sauna and starve" method is a recipe for disaster. As you age, your metabolic rate slows down, your skin and tissues hold less water naturally, and recovery takes twice as long. A severe cut in your late 30s or 40s will leave you feeling stiff, prone to muscle tears, and cognitively foggy on the mats. For older athletes, competing closer to your natural walking-weight is almost always the superior strategic move.

The Golden Rule: If you are going to manipulate your weight, focus on long-term fat loss weeks in advance rather than pulling 10% of your body weight out in water during the final 48 hours. A happy, hydrated athlete will always outperform a miserable, drained one.

To see a breakdown of how the weight-cutting process unfolds at the professional level, check out this Michael Bisping analysis of UFC weight misses. In the video, the former champion details infamous weigh-in disasters and explains how extreme dehydration derails a fighter's career overnight.

Pro Judo — a new way to explore international judo

If you follow the IJF World Tour and wish you could dig into results, match history, and “who’s really in form” beyond the official points list, I built something for that: Pro Judo.

It’s a free stats site at projudo.xyz — not affiliated with the IJF, and not a replacement for the official world ranking. Think of it as a fan project that organises public IJF data so judo nerds (like me) can actually explore the sport.

What it is

Pro Judo pulls together IJF World Tour history: Grand Prix, Grand Slam, Worlds, and similar senior events. For each athlete you get:

Medals and major titles (Olympics, Worlds, Paris Grand Slam, and more — built from gold-medal history)

Every contest we have on record — wins, losses, opponents, rounds, tournaments

An ELO rating that updates fight by fight, not from placement points alone

Country pages — medals by year, strongest athletes, how nations compare

Upcoming entries on athlete profiles when they’re registered for Seniors calendar events

Coverage runs from 2009 through the present, with thousands of athletes, matches, and podium results in the database.

ELO — the bit that makes it different

Beside many names you’ll see a number that looks a bit like chess or esports: everyone starts at 1000, and each IJF contest nudges ratings up or down based on who you beat and who beat you.

Beat a favourite? Not much changes. Pull off an upset against a highly rated rival? Big swing.

That’s not the IJF world ranking. The federation ranks athletes mainly on tour points from placements. Pro Judo’s ELO is separate: it only cares about individual fights, processed in chronological order across a career. On a profile you can see the ELO chart — momentum before a big weekend is often clearer there than on a static results list.

The FAQ on the site explains the model in plain language if you want the full version.

What you can do there

Search any athlete by name, or type a country code (e.g. JPN, FRA) to jump to that nation’s page

Browse the leaderboard — filter by men/women, weight division, country, active vs all-time

Check Top 25 lists on the home page (by ELO and by country)

Spot active athletes with a small green dot (competed this year or last on the World Tour)

Sign in (magic link, no password) to claim your profile, follow athletes, and see upcoming tournaments for people you follow on your dashboard

The site is in English and French — switch language from the flag in the nav.

For athletes and coaches

If you compete on the World Tour, you can claim your profile after signing in so fans know it’s you. You don’t need an account just to browse — everything public is open without logging in.

Why I built it

Judo has incredible depth — same names across years, divisions, countries, upsets, rematches — but it’s scattered. I wanted one place to answer questions like: How strong is this athlete really? How did their rating move after Paris? Who’s entered for the next Grand Slam? How does my country stack up?

projudo.xyz is the answer I wished existed. It’s still evolving; if you spot gaps or have ideas, there’s a contact page once you’re signed in.

If you train, coach, referee, or just watch IJF streams on weekends — I hope it’s useful. Share it with anyone who argues about seedings at 11 p.m.

See you on the tatami.