MMA today, Wednesday, August 12: 20 stories from around the leagues
20 stories from ONE Championship and UFC and the fight-media channels in the last day — each summarised in our own words and linked to its source. Anything this site has already covered in the past week is left out rather than repeated.
ONE Championship
'It's Going To Be The Nico Show' – Nico Carrillo Promises To Start His Kickboxing Journey With A Bang
ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico Carrillo will make his kickboxing debut against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang on Friday, August 14. The bout will take place at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium during the ONE Fight Night 46 event. The 27-year-old Scottish fighter, who was recently elevated to undisputed champion in his division, predicts he will win the match by knockout in the second round with a left head kick. Following this fight, Carrillo plans to defend his Muay Thai belt in November or December before transitioning to mixed martial arts for a fight in Qatar in March 2027. — Full story: ONEFC.com
'I'm Still The Same Person' – Stella Hemetsberger Reflects On Life As A Two-Sport World Champion
Austrian fighter Stella Hemetsberger will defend her ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title against Russian challenger Natalia Diachkova. The championship bout will headline ONE Fight Night 46, broadcasting live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, August 14. Hemetsberger originally won the vacant Muay Thai crown by defeating Jackie Buntan at ONE Fight Night 35, and she later beat Buntan again in a five-round battle to claim the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. With these victories, the 27-year-old became only the third female athlete in ONE Championship history to hold titles in two different disciplines. — Full story: ONEFC.com
3 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss The Inner Circle 26 On August 14
The Inner Circle 26 takes place on Friday, August 14, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, featuring five Muay Thai bouts. In the main event, 26-year-old Wanchainoi Pongsuphan PK, who holds a 3-0 record in ONE Championship, faces 22-year-old Petnamkhong Sor Maneekhot in a strawweight clash. The co-main event features a bantamweight matchup between Thai fighter Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn and debuting American southpaw Dmitri Ramos. Additionally, 21-year-old Petkhaokradong Lukjaomaesaithong will fight Belarusian striker Vadzim Shapiatsiuk in a lightweight bout. — Full story: ONEFC.com
From A Shy Kid To An Undefeated MMA Phenom: The Inspiring Rise Of Magdalena Czaban
Magdalena Czaban is scheduled to make her ONE Championship debut on Friday, August 14, at ONE Fight Night 46. The 26-year-old Polish fighter will face American veteran Natalie Salcedo in an atomweight MMA matchup. Czaban currently holds an undefeated professional record of 4-0, with every victory coming by way of an early finish. The event will broadcast live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. — Full story: ONEFC.com
How To Watch ONE Fight Night 46: Hemetsberger Vs. Diachkova Live
ONE Championship will broadcast ONE Fight Night 46: Hemetsberger vs. Diachkova live to more than 195 countries. Viewers in the United States and Canada can watch the event for free on Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership on Friday, August 14, at 9 p.m. ET. The broadcast will also be available globally on ONE Championship's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel, with the action starting at 8 a.m. ICT on Saturday, August 15. Other regional broadcast partners for the event include Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, beIN Sports in the Middle East and North Africa, and ESPN in Australia and New Zealand. — Full story: ONEFC.com
'You Will Be The Lynx' – How Natalia Diachkova Became Russia's Most Dangerous Female Muay Thai Fighter
On Friday, August 14, 31-year-old Russian fighter Natalia Diachkova will challenge Stella Hemetsberger for the ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Title. The championship bout will headline ONE Fight Night 46, which streams live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Diachkova earned this second title opportunity after securing a first-round knockout victory against Fahsai Aor Yutthachai this past May at ONE Friday Fights 152. Outside of her professional fighting career, Diachkova has personally renovated and expanded her own gym in her hometown of Petrozavodsk. — Full story: ONEFC.com
UFC
Week 1 Results + Scorecards | Dana White's Contender Series Season 10
Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 commenced on August 11, 2026, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Heavyweight Anthony Wint defeated Matt Adams via first-round technical knockout from ground strikes in just 34 seconds. In the lightweight division, Abe Alsaghir secured a split-decision victory over Fabrizio Escarrega after three rounds. Flyweight Bilal Hasan won by technical knockout against Mridul Saikia at 45 seconds of the first round, while featherweight Thomas Pagliarulo stopped Ananias Mulumba via technical knockout from ground strikes at 4:24 of the third round. Following the event, Wint, Hasan, Pagliarulo, and Joe Kropschot were all awarded UFC contracts. — Full story: UFC.com
Mansur Abdul-Malik Is Building Up His Callouses
Middleweight prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik is scheduled to fight Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC 330. Abdul-Malik, who has 11 professional fights, is coming off the first loss of his career against Yousri Belgaroui in Seattle. To help navigate the experience of his first defeat, the University of Maryland product sought advice from former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Prior to that loss, Abdul-Malik defeated Antonio Trocoli via submission at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, in Las Vegas. — Full story: UFC.com
UFC Continues its Partnership with Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors to Provide Custom Home Gyms and Physical Therapy Rooms for Disabled Veterans
The UFC has partnered with Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors to provide a custom home gym and physical therapy room for retired U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Josh Wege. Wege, a bilateral below-the-knee amputee who was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, received the gym equipment to support his strength training at his new mortgage-free home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. This project marks the second custom gym the UFC has provided through the partnership to support disabled veterans in their recovery. Since its founding in 2009, the non-profit organization has built 27 mortgage-free, accessible homes for wounded combat veterans, with four additional homes currently under construction. — Full story: UFC.com
UFC Celebrates International Fight Week with Community Impact Across Las Vegas
As part of UFC 329 on July 11, UFC partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada to open a UFC Exercise Room and Nutritional Café on July 7. UFC athletes Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, and Ode Osbourne joined more than 100 attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. On July 9, over 1,000 fans attended the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at T-Mobile Arena, where former champion Alex Pereira received the Forrest Griffin Community Award. Pereira's Poatan Cares Foundation was awarded a $25,000 donation from NinjaTrader and the UFC Foundation. Additionally, a UFC 50/50 raffle grossed $117,280, with half of the jackpot going to a single winner and the remaining net proceeds benefiting Nevada charities. — Full story: UFC.com
UFC LAUNCHES FIRST ULTIMATE GYM UPGRADE PROJECT FOR SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN BRAZIL
On August 11, 2026, the UFC announced the launch of its first Ultimate Gym Upgrade Project in Brazil, which will award one social institution BRL 25,000 in official sports equipment. Brazilian martial arts institutions can register for the contest online until August 26. Fans will vote online from August 28 to September 20 to select three finalists, who will then receive a visit from UFC Hall of Famer Rodrigo Nogueira. Following a final round of online voting starting on October 30, the winning institution will be announced on November 21. — Full story: UFC.com
Coach Conversation | Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson
Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson are scheduled to face each other in a strawweight title fight at UFC 330 on Saturday, August 11, 2026. Xtreme Couture coach Eddie Barraco analyzed the matchup, highlighting Dern's elite jiu-jitsu and improved boxing under coach Jason Parillo. Barraco noted that Robertson brings relentless wrestling and has recently improved her top control and ground strikes. To find success, Barraco advises Dern to utilize open space and striking, while recommending that Robertson apply immediate pressure, chain wrestle, and maintain heavy top position on the ground. — Full story: UFC.com
From the fight media
Christian Rodriguez
Uros Medic entered his fight against Christian Rodriguez with a knee injury that occurred during a warm-up on fight week. Medic suspected a meniscus injury after his knee popped out and swelled, but he chose not to take medication and instead received soft tissue treatment to reduce the fluid. Due to the injury, Medic was limping during fight week and was unable to do his usual training or any grappling. — Source: KALUGIN MMA (@kaluginboy)
Stephen Thompson
Stephen Thompson wants to fight the final bout of his current contract at the end of the year. He is currently looking at the roster to find a good opponent for the matchup. Thompson hopes to deliver an exciting show and make a spectacular exit. — Source: KALUGIN MMA (@kaluginboy)
Samandar Murodov · Christian Turner
Samandar Murodov is stepping in as a replacement for the injured Tyler Grimsley to fight Christian Turner. The bout will take place at the CFFC 159 event on the night of August 15. Murodov has not fought in two years, with his last appearance being a victory at a Road to UFC event. — Source: Вестник MMA (@vestnik_mma)
Islam Makhachev · Demetrious Johnson
Islam Makhachev is trying to convince Demetrious Johnson to travel to Dagestan. Makhachev stated that he does not understand why Johnson is afraid to make the trip. — Source: KALUGIN MMA (@kaluginboy)
Dustin Poirier · Islam Makhachev
Dustin Poirier explained why he is impressed by Islam Makhachev's 16-fight winning streak in the UFC. Poirier stated that Makhachev's streak is especially impressive because he is clearing out multiple weight classes. According to Poirier, Makhachev defeated the best featherweight, cleared out the lightweight division, and then moved up to welterweight to take the UFC title from a fighter in that category. — Source: MMA Cobra (@UFC_BELGRADE)
Alexa Grasso · Arnold Allen · Valentina Shevchenko · Movsar Evloev · Petr Yan · Aljamain Sterling
The author of the post shared two videos from the Games of the Future, criticizing a commentator in the first clip for misunderstanding modern MMA rules regarding a legal strike. The commentator incorrectly argued about the "three points of contact" rule, which actually states that a fighter is only considered grounded if a body part other than their hands and feet touches the canvas. The second video showcased graphics created for the 2026 Games of the Future, which the author heavily criticized. — Source: Вестник MMA (@vestnik_mma)
Umar Nurmagomedov · Merab Dvalishvili
Umar Nurmagomedov has commented on an incident involving Merab Dvalishvili, who struck Nurmagomedov's friend Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov at a press conference in Tbilisi a month ago. Nurmagomedov stated that Gadzhimagomedov had simply asked Dvalishvili not to insult his friend and did not show any disrespect. The Russian fighter criticized Dvalishvili's actions, stating that he could not imagine reacting the same way himself and that people must call out wrong behavior regardless of who did it. — Source: MMA Cobra (@UFC_BELGRADE)
Rongzhu · Rafa Garcia
A lightweight bout between Rongzhu and Rafa Garcia is currently in development. The matchup is being targeted for the UFC Noche event on September 12. — Source: KALUGIN MMA (@kaluginboy)
This digest is compiled once a day from the official feeds of the promotions this site covers and from public fight-media channels, whose Russian-language reporting is translated and summarised here in our own words. On days those sources carry nothing new, no digest appears.
