https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/323830/feed The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company. It is the largest MMA promoter in the world and features most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport. Based in the United States, the UFC produces events worldwide that showcase ten weight divisions and abide by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Judy Xue Judy Xue The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite sports organisations, is set to hold a tournament in Shanghai next month, part of a broad effort by American sports leagues to tap into the world’s leading leisure and entertainment market. Weeks after UFC Freedom 250 was staged at the White House, the mixed martial arts promoter announced that it will host its second consecutive Fight Night event on August 29, with China’s Song Yadong set to square off... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3360605/will-ufc-be-hit-china-shanghai-bout-and-home-grown-contender?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3360605/will-ufc-be-hit-china-shanghai-bout-and-home-grown-contender?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Fresh from his stand-out win at UFC Fight Night Macau, China star Song Yadong has been handed the headline spot for the promotion’s return to Shanghai next month. Song will battle former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov at the Pudong Development Bank Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre on August 29, looking for another signature victory to boost his own hopes of a shot at the division crown. Nurmagomedov (20-1), from Russia, was originally scheduled to fight David Martinez in Abu Dhabi on July 25,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3359830/chinese-mma-stars-song-yadong-yan-xiaonan-take-top-billing-ufc-fight-night-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3359830/chinese-mma-stars-song-yadong-yan-xiaonan-take-top-billing-ufc-fight-night-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:34:11 +0000 Alexa Vernice Pacis Alexa Vernice Pacis US president Donald Trump hosted the UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event, at the White House on June 14. The night prior, country group Zac Brown Band performed to kick off the event. Hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones’ daughter, musician and band member Caroline Jones, sang the national anthem. At the event, mixed martial artist Josh Hokit achieved the biggest win of his MMA career thus far against Derrick Lewis. During his celebration, Hokit unexpectedly shouted into the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3358318/meet-paul-tudor-jones-daughter-caroline-jones-who-performed-trumps-ufc-freedom-250?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3358318/meet-paul-tudor-jones-daughter-caroline-jones-who-performed-trumps-ufc-freedom-250?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:00:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US law enforcement said it had foiled an alleged plot to attack the White House during a crowded mixed martial arts event attended by US President Donald Trump. “Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday. The Department of Justice announced charges against five men and said the plotters planned to fly drones armed with explosives over the event, forcing an evacuation when snipers would fire on “high value... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357341/5-arrested-after-fbi-foils-drone-sniper-plot-during-white-house-fight-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357341/5-arrested-after-fbi-foils-drone-sniper-plot-during-white-house-fight-night?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:59:41 +0000 dpa,Reuters dpa,Reuters American Justin Gaethje turned the ⁠tables on ⁠Ilia Topuria to claim ⁠a shock win and take the undisputed lightweight UFC crown at Sunday’s “UFC Freedom 250” event on the gardens of the White House. Gaethje provided an American victory to round off the night, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, inflicting a first loss on his Georgian-Spanish opponent when the fight was stopped in the fourth round. The bout headlined ‌the ‌first professional sporting event to be hosted at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3357152/ufc-us-justin-gaethje-shocks-ilia-topuria-win-lightweight-crown-white-house-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3357152/ufc-us-justin-gaethje-shocks-ilia-topuria-win-lightweight-crown-white-house-event?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:03:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Donald Trump celebrates his 80th birthday in a typically forceful style on Sunday, as the oldest US president ever to take office holds a bloody cage match on the White House lawn. The unprecedented “UFC Freedom 250” event will see 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship stars beat each other to a pulp in a giant arena called The Claw. Costing US$60 million, it is linked to this year’s festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence, but it also happens to fall on the day that Trump enters... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357032/ufc-fight-military-flyover-fireworks-inside-trumps-us60-million-80th-birthday-bash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3357032/ufc-fight-military-flyover-fireworks-inside-trumps-us60-million-80th-birthday-bash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jun 2026 02:43:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse As workers put final touches to a massive arena for Sunday’s cage fight on the White House South Lawn, a few miles away, a professional pianist is learning how to choke someone unconscious. Across the same mat, an immunologist-by-day is teaching students how to pin a struggling opponent. They represent the grass-roots of a US martial arts phenomenon that has brought the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from what was once derided as “human cockfighting” to the cultural mainstream – and now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3356941/human-cockfighting-white-house-ufc-marches-cultural-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3356941/human-cockfighting-white-house-ufc-marches-cultural-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse It’s the ultimate symbol of American politics under Donald Trump – a blood-soaked cage match on the lawn of the White House for the US president’s 80th birthday. A giant arena dubbed “The Claw” has been built on the famed South Lawn for Sunday’s tournament featuring 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contestants. Critics have panned the unprecedented US$60 million “UFC Freedom 250” event as tone-deaf at a time when Trump’s war in Iran has sent the cost of living soaring for ordinary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3356846/claw-rises-white-house-octagon-ready-trumps-80th-birthday-cage-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3356846/claw-rises-white-house-octagon-ready-trumps-80th-birthday-cage-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:28:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters US ⁠President Donald Trump suggested he might keep the Ultimate Fighting Championship cage-fighting arena being built on the lawn of the White House as a permanent fixture. The Republican compared ‌the structure, which is being built for a night of cage fighting to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence – on Trump’s 80th birthday – to France’s Eiffel Tower which was supposed to have been dismantled 20 years after it was built in ⁠1889. “We’re building something in front of the White House... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3355884/trump-says-may-leave-ufc-arena-white-house-lawn-permanently?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3355884/trump-says-may-leave-ufc-arena-white-house-lawn-permanently?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:02:15 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang While Song Yadong entered the arena uplifted by the theme song of Sun Wukong, or Monkey God, and “fighting doctor” Shi Ming checked the pulse of the opponent she subdued in the Octagon, the big question is why both victorious MMA fighters have felt the need to keep proving themselves. As UFC Fight Night Macau concluded on Saturday night, only Song out of seven Chinese competitors on the card secured a victory, defeating Brazilian ground specialist and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo via a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355478/song-yadong-and-shi-ming-chinas-ufc-winners-macau-prove-themselves-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355478/song-yadong-and-shi-ming-chinas-ufc-winners-macau-prove-themselves-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Song Yadong got the victory he and his fans so desperately wanted in Macau on Saturday, submitting Deiveson Figueiredo in their bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night. The Chinese fighter had come into the contest on the back of a difficult loss to Sean O’Malley, but put himself right back in the title conversation with an impressive performance against the former featherweight world champion. After testing each other’s strengths and weaknesses in a cagey opening, Song really started to pull... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355430/ufc-fight-night-song-raises-spirits-bad-night-chinese-fighters-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355430/ufc-fight-night-song-raises-spirits-bad-night-chinese-fighters-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 15:30:05 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball UFC boss Kevin Chang believes Macau will be the organisation’s “launch pad to Asia” in 2026, and sees a hunger for the sport not yet served by those already dominant in the region. The promotion returns to the Galaxy Arena this weekend, with an event co-headlined by China stars Song Yadong and Zhang Mingyang on a main card featuring five more of their compatriots. There will have been two days of action by then, with season five of Road to UFC opening up what Chang, UFC’s senior vice-president... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355373/macau-will-be-launch-pad-asia-promotion-looks-east-ufc-boss-kevin-chang-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3355373/macau-will-be-launch-pad-asia-promotion-looks-east-ufc-boss-kevin-chang-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 15:30:06 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball There is more at stake for Song Yadong this weekend than just making sure he puts on a show for his home fans when he takes on Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau. Coming into the bantamweight bout, which is headlining Saturday’s event at Galaxy Arena, the Chinese fighter needs a statement win to keep himself in the conversation over who gets to challenge division champion Petr Yan of Russia. A highly controversial loss to Sean O’Malley last time out at UFC 324 leaves Song (22-9-1, 1 no-contest)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3355154/ufc-macau-chinas-song-yadong-out-statement-win-against-brazils-deiveson-figueiredo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3355154/ufc-macau-chinas-song-yadong-out-statement-win-against-brazils-deiveson-figueiredo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 10:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse It has played host to countless world leaders and moments in history. Now US President Donald Trump has built a huge cage-fighting arena on the White House’s South Lawn. Cranes lifted giant metal arches into place Tuesday for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14. “We’re having a big fight. It’s never going to happen again, never happened before,” Trump said at an Oval Office event earlier this month, surrounded by four of the fighters taking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3354967/trump-builds-massive-arena-white-house-birthday-cage-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3354967/trump-builds-massive-arena-white-house-birthday-cage-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 02:12:52 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s “fighting doctor” Shi Ming has spent the past two months doing intensive overtime to gather enough leave for her Ultimate Fighting Championship bout next week, when she will face another kind of pressure: fighting with “half the world” watching her. Shi, who works at a hospital in Kunming, will face India’s top female fighter in the championship for Road to UFC Season 5 starting at the Octagon in Macau on Thursday. She is scheduled to compete in the opening round on the second day. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3354581/chinese-fighting-doctor-shi-ming-set-next-ufc-foe-half-world-watching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3354581/chinese-fighting-doctor-shi-ming-set-next-ufc-foe-half-world-watching?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:14 +0000 dpa dpa US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that there would be an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight in the White House grounds to mark his 80th birthday on June 14. Trump, a UFC fan, made the announcement on social media. This year marks the 250th anniversary of US independence and the initial plans were for the fight to take place on July 4, US Independence Day. On Saturday, Trump was attending a UFC fight in Miami with several family members and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349785/trumps-80th-birthday-bash-feature-ufc-fight-white-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349785/trumps-80th-birthday-bash-feature-ufc-fight-white-house?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:37:29 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Mixed martial artist Lone’er Kavanagh has said he would definitely commit to shooting a film with one of Hong Kong’s biggest action stars if such a chance were ever to arise. Fresh off his career-biggest win, over former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno last month, Kavanagh, whose mother is from Hong Kong, also said he enjoyed fighting at places that “felt like home”, including China. The odds were stacked against the 26-year-old, who took the fight on just three weeks’ notice in early... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3345877/mma-fighter-hong-kong-roots-wants-fight-home-make-film-jackie-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3345877/mma-fighter-hong-kong-roots-wants-fight-home-make-film-jackie-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman who worked as an art director made headlines after quitting her job to become a professional combat athlete, ultimately achieving the milestone of being China’s first female participant in the World Slap Fighting Championship. Ding Miao, 33, first majored in oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, one of the most prestigious art schools in China. After graduation, she established a successful career in the gaming industry, serving as an art director and earning an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Christian Lee is returning to Tokyo for ONE 173 with a clear mission: the reigning ONE Championship lightweight and welterweight MMA king wants to erase the memory of his accidental eye poke that halted his first bout with Alibeg Rasulov and prove once again he is one of the greatest finishers in the promotion’s history. The 27-year-old has spent two years on the sidelines since becoming a two-division world champion. Now back to defend his lightweight crown against the undefeated Turkish... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:23:44 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport UFC and Galaxy Macau have signed a new four-year deal, with the world’s top MMA organisation committing to hosting three fight nights in the casino city. In a statement on Thursday, UFC said the partnership followed what it called “the resounding success” of last year’s Yan v Figueiredo clash, which was the promotion’s fourth event in Macau since 2012. Dana White, UFC president and CEO, said the agreement with the hotel, which runs from next year through 2029, could not have “come at a better... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3324277/ufc-host-three-macau-fights-year-after-resounding-success-2024-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3324277/ufc-host-three-macau-fights-year-after-resounding-success-2024-event?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:59:50 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse Shi Ming, who heals patients as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor by day but trains to deliver brutal knockouts in mixed martial arts by night, said she felt she had “let the whole of China down” after losing her debut Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout on Friday. Shi shot to fame in November when she won the Road to UFC strawweight tournament in Macau – thereby winning a contract with UFC – with a devastating kick that saw Chinese compatriot Feng Xiaocan carried out of the octagon on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3323042/chinese-medicine-doctor-mma-star-shi-ming-vows-keep-healing-fighting-after-ufc-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3323042/chinese-medicine-doctor-mma-star-shi-ming-vows-keep-healing-fighting-after-ufc-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:44:04 +0000 Lars Hamer,Agence France-Presse Lars Hamer,Agence France-Presse Chinese mixed martial arts superstar Zhang Weili said on Thursday she was confident of the sport’s future in China after Ultimate Fighting Championship announced its first event on the mainland since the Covid-19 pandemic. Zhang, the first Chinese fighter to win a UFC title and the current strawweight champion, is the face of MMA on the mainland, where millions of dollars have been poured into the sport’s top promotion. The UFC said on Thursday that back-to-back events would be taking place over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3311422/chinese-mma-star-zhang-weili-keen-wow-home-crowd-first-mainland-post-covid-ufc-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3311422/chinese-mma-star-zhang-weili-keen-wow-home-crowd-first-mainland-post-covid-ufc-event?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 12:26:23 +0000 WWE star Ronda Rousey is a new mother again. The 37-year-old and her husband, Travis Browne, 42, have just welcomed their second daughter and shared the happy news on Instagram. “Our little girl came into this world during a windstorm, into a city on fire, so grateful she made it safe and sound. Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne,” she captioned a carousel post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronda Rousey (@rondarousey) In one video, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3294801/meet-travis-browne-wwe-and-ufc-star-ronda-rouseys-husband-growing-hawaii-and-playing-basketball-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3294801/meet-travis-browne-wwe-and-ufc-star-ronda-rouseys-husband-growing-hawaii-and-playing-basketball-his?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Social media giant Meta announced on Monday the appointment of three new directors to its board, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) head Dana White, a close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump. The new board members were announced as Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making approaches to the incoming Trump administration, including donating one million dollars to Trump’s inauguration fund. Zuckerberg also dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, as the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3293784/meta-adds-ufc-boss-dana-white-board-mark-zuckerberg-seeks-mend-ties-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3293784/meta-adds-ufc-boss-dana-white-board-mark-zuckerberg-seeks-mend-ties-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:46:40 +0000 After retaking the White House last month, US president-elect Donald Trump celebrated his victory by attending an Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout with his friend and UFC president, Dana White, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk. Days later, Trump, the well-known fan of mixed martial arts, started to announce his pick of a group of diehard supporters for his “America first” agenda who are expected to come out swinging at China – America’s most consequential geopolitical rival –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3291395/superpower-showdown-how-us-china-economic-warfare-could-play-out-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3291395/superpower-showdown-how-us-china-economic-warfare-could-play-out-under-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:00:14 +0000 Khabib fever is rumbling in Malaysia after the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hall of famer announced he would set up a training gym in Johor, in a move that is set to draw legions of combat sports and fitness fans in the country and across the region. The undefeated Dagestan-born Khabib Nurmagomedov this week agreed to set up the gym in the Malaysian state following discussions in October between Johor Regent Ismail Ibrahim and the UFC superstar. It will be the Russian mixed martial arts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3289711/malaysian-mma-fans-hail-ufc-legend-khabib-nurmagomedovs-plan-launch-johor-gym?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3289711/malaysian-mma-fans-hail-ufc-legend-khabib-nurmagomedovs-plan-launch-johor-gym?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:49:33 +0000 China’s Zhang Weili has been voted Female Fighter of the Year at the World MMA awards on Friday. The strawweight champion and world No 2 in the pound-for-pound rankings was the first female, Asian athlete to become a champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. And her most recent bout saw her defeat compatriot Yan Xiaonan by a unanimous decision at UFC 300 in April to retain her strawweight title. This was the second time has won the yearly award, having also claimed it in 2022. “Thank you... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3289675/chinas-ufc-strawweight-champion-zhang-weili-voted-female-fighter-year-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3289675/chinas-ufc-strawweight-champion-zhang-weili-voted-female-fighter-year-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:23:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press As US president-elect Donald Trump makes a flurry of choices to fill out his incoming administration’s cabinet, the lobbying for key positions has been fierce behind closed doors – and sometimes publicly. Now billionaire and key Trump ally Elon Musk is calling for more direct public input into the decision-making process for at least one top post: the head of the US Treasury Department. “Would be interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for @realDonaldTrump to consider feedback,” Musk,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286890/musk-suggests-trump-let-public-weigh-who-should-lead-us-treasury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286890/musk-suggests-trump-let-public-weigh-who-should-lead-us-treasury?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2024 20:42:15 +0000 US president-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will run the personnel office. Both have been advisers to the president-elect since his 2016 campaign, Trump said. Both positions could be influential in the new administration, helping to develop its public messaging and internal workforce. Cheung led communications for Trump’s latest campaign, where he gained a reputation for combative and insulting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286833/trump-names-combative-spokesman-steven-cheung-communications-director?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3286833/trump-names-combative-spokesman-steven-cheung-communications-director?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:39:55 +0000 UFC’s Song Yadong has offered to show MMA rival Sean Strickland around China after the American launched a racist rant against the country and its people. The 26-year-old opted to take the high road in an interview when asked about Strickland’s recent comments, in which he labelled Chinese people “animals”, “savages” and called them “the worst tourists in the world”. Speaking with sports journalist Helen Yee – whose mother is Taiwanese and whose father is from mainland China – Song also said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3285570/ufc-song-yadong-offers-show-sean-strickland-around-china-after-fighters-toxic-slurs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3285570/ufc-song-yadong-offers-show-sean-strickland-around-china-after-fighters-toxic-slurs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:00:08 +0000 Group One Holdings, the company behind mixed martial arts brand One Championship, raised at least US$50 million from investors including Qatar Investment Authority, according to people familiar with the matter. The round gives Group One a valuation of at least US$1.35 billion, one of the people said. That is similar to the post-money valuation from a previous round in 2021, which QIA led with Guggenheim Investments. A representative for Group One confirmed the latest fundraising round, but... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3282561/qatar-sovereign-wealth-fund-reportedly-us50m-funding-round-one-championship-backers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3282561/qatar-sovereign-wealth-fund-reportedly-us50m-funding-round-one-championship-backers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Oct 2024 06:54:33 +0000 He lauds strongmen autocrats, hangs with martial arts stars, and has no greater compliment than calling someone a “fighter”. Donald Trump is going all out for the macho vote in November’s election – and it’s working. The real estate tycoon and former president has long crafted an often cartoonish, hyper-masculine image – most controversially including bragging about sexual assault. Now, in an election where Kamala Harris is vying to become America’s first woman president, Trump’s macho powers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3277147/trumps-lewd-crude-hyper-macho-attitude-winning-him-manosphere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3277147/trumps-lewd-crude-hyper-macho-attitude-winning-him-manosphere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2024 06:50:22 +0000 Not for nothing is the FIRST International Film Festival oft-referred to as “China’s Sundance”, after the legendary indie-cinema love-in, founded by Robert Redford and held every year in the US state of Utah. And like Sundance, you make your way to the city of Xining, in central China, if you want to catch up with the latest trends in Chinese independent cinema. Perhaps take in experimental films that reflect the issues facing the youth of today, maybe get a chance to mingle with some of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3276504/unstoppable-asias-first-female-ufc-champion-zhang-weilis-story-told-gripping-new-documentary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3276504/unstoppable-asias-first-female-ufc-champion-zhang-weilis-story-told-gripping-new-documentary?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:45:09 +0000 Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor just celebrated his fiancée Dee Devlin’s 37th birthday by reportedly presenting her with the stunning Juste Un Clou Cartier necklace valued at around US$134,700, on top of throwing her an extravagant party aboard their US$3.8 million yacht. The couple announced their engagement on August 8, 2020 – an early birthday surprise for the style icon at the time. Devlin, who turned 37 on August 9, has been the long-time girlfriend to “The Notorious” since 2008 and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3274794/how-dee-devlin-went-waitress-conor-mcgregors-fiancee-ex-ufc-champion-surprised-her-cartier-necklace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3274794/how-dee-devlin-went-waitress-conor-mcgregors-fiancee-ex-ufc-champion-surprised-her-cartier-necklace?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Aug 2024 22:00:22 +0000 The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Macau for the first time in 10 years with a fight night event on November 23, the mixed martial arts promotion said on Thursday. The UFC last held an event in Macau in August 2014. The event in November will be its fourth in the special administrative region of China. “We are ecstatic to be back at this incredible destination city,” said Kevin Chang, UFC’s senior vice-president and head of Asia. The Octagon is headed BACK to Macau 🚨#UFCMacau is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3274620/ultimate-fighting-championship-returns-macau-first-time-10-years-november-23?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3274620/ultimate-fighting-championship-returns-macau-first-time-10-years-november-23?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:00:22 +0000 Zhang Weili became China and Asia’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) winner, by defeating her compatriot Yan Xiaonan in their strawweight title fight at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13. Her journey from a small-town girl to a global mixed martial arts (MMA) icon continues to inspire people worldwide, attracting attention from celebrities such as Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, and his wife, Priscilla Chan. After the fight, they congratulated Zhang on Facebook and had a friendly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3260022/zhang-weili-chinas-first-ufc-champion-one-worlds-top-female-mma-fighters-mark-zuckerberg-and-wife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3260022/zhang-weili-chinas-first-ufc-champion-one-worlds-top-female-mma-fighters-mark-zuckerberg-and-wife?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 May 2024 06:00:17 +0000 Zhang Weili of China lands a punch on her compatriot Yan Xiaonan during their strawweight championship title fight at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. The pair were making Ultimate Fighting Championship history as the mixed martial arts promotion staged its first title bout featuring two fighters from China. Featured as the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena, the all-Chinese affair ended with Zhang successfully defending her crown for a second time. The Hebei-born champion went close to choking out her... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3258953/ufc-300-zhang-weili-wins-historic-all-china-bout-co-main-event-vegas-retains-strawweight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3258953/ufc-300-zhang-weili-wins-historic-all-china-bout-co-main-event-vegas-retains-strawweight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Apr 2024 06:43:58 +0000 Lynn Farah Lynn Farah They get paid a lot of money to kick, punch and beat each other into submission. The business of mixed martial arts can be highly lucrative if you have the skills and dedication to lay your body on the line in the octagon. As the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene continues to grow in popularity, fighters gain legions of fans. Here’s a look at some of the richest MMA stars of all time, per Celebrity Net Worth. 8. Ronda Rousey Estimated net worth: US$14 million Rousey was the first American woman to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3250757/8-richest-mma-fighters-world-2024-net-worths-ranked-history-making-conor-mcgregor-and-ronda-rousey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3250757/8-richest-mma-fighters-world-2024-net-worths-ranked-history-making-conor-mcgregor-and-ronda-rousey?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2024 22:00:23 +0000 Podcaster, comedian, commentator and TV host Joe Rogan has evolved his career to become one of the most talked-about podcasters in the world, amassing an estimated wealth of US$120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But just how did an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) commentator become one of the richest and most prominent and controversial voices of the moment? Here’s a look at Joe Rogan and his money journey. Joe Rogan’s MMA path to wealth Growing up in New Jersey in the US, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/article/3244645/how-joe-rogan-makes-his-money-us200-million-spotify-deals-comedy-specials-ufc-commentator-ex-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/article/3244645/how-joe-rogan-makes-his-money-us200-million-spotify-deals-comedy-specials-ufc-commentator-ex-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:00:11 +0000 Ultimate Fighting Championship is to hold its first event in China since the pandemic, the top MMA promoter said on Wednesday, as it became the latest sporting body to return to the country following the abolition of Covid-19 restrictions. UFC Fight Night will take place at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on December 9, pending “event date approval by the local governing authority”, UFC said in a statement. It did not state which fighters would be involved but it said that the event would include bouts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3239934/ufc-fight-night-set-return-china-after-4-years-shanghai-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3239934/ufc-fight-night-set-return-china-after-4-years-shanghai-event?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:50:41 +0000 Mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou is in the final week of training for his first professional boxing match that will reportedly pay him $10 million, which is 16 times more than his most recent MMA bout. Ngannou was a heavyweight UFC champion, but when his contract expired earlier this year, he signed with the upstart Professional Fighters League, which, unlike the UFC, allowed him to compete in boxing where purses can be much larger. If other UFC stars follow his path, it would continue... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3238741/ex-ufc-star-ngannous-us10-million-boxing-payday-continues-potential-shake-sport-fighters-eye-better?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/article/3238741/ex-ufc-star-ngannous-us10-million-boxing-payday-continues-potential-shake-sport-fighters-eye-better?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Oct 2023 06:02:47 +0000 New UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland blasted Israel Adesanya for wearing “Chinese colours” in their Sydney title fight on Sunday. American Strickland, 32, shocked the world with a unanimous decision in the UFC 293 main event, where he knocked the two-time champion down in the first round at the Qudos Bank Arena. The 34-year-old Nigeria-born New Zealander – wearing red and yellow shorts – never seemed to recover and looked sluggish throughout the rest of the fight, after which he paid... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3234025/ufc-293-sean-strickland-blasts-israel-adesanya-chinese-colours-after-shocking-ufc-title-upset-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3234025/ufc-293-sean-strickland-blasts-israel-adesanya-chinese-colours-after-shocking-ufc-title-upset-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Sep 2023 06:51:34 +0000 The world of combat sports gets increasingly brutal as the years go by, from the bloody bouts in MMA, to the slap battles that have turned the head of UFC boss Dana White, broken bones and rattled brains are the order of the day. But what if you want a workout in the ring without the threat of serious injury? How about a spot of pillow fighting? No longer the preserve of young children, or advertisers and entertainers for purposes of titillation, the Pillow Fighting Championship (PFC) is here... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3233193/boxing-mma-and-ufc-can-take-sideline-new-pillow-fighting-competition-most-gruelling-sport-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3233193/boxing-mma-and-ufc-can-take-sideline-new-pillow-fighting-competition-most-gruelling-sport-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2023 06:30:16 +0000 Joe Rogan said Zhang Weili showed she “might be the greatest of all time” in women’s MMA after a dominant victory over Amanda Lemos, with UFC president Dana White admitting she will “probably” fight in China again next. The Chinese star retained her strawweight title in the co-main event of UFC 292 via a lopsided unanimous decision, with scores of 50-43, 50-44, and 49-45, from the three cageside judges at TD Garden in Boston. She also put up the largest ever strike differential – 288 to Lemos’... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231694/ufc-292-zhang-weili-might-be-greatest-all-time-joe-rogan-says-dana-white-plots-china-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231694/ufc-292-zhang-weili-might-be-greatest-all-time-joe-rogan-says-dana-white-plots-china-return?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Aug 2023 08:07:50 +0000 Joe Rogan praised Sean O’Malley for a “perfect” right hand that led to his sensational bantamweight title win at UFC 292 on Saturday night in Boston, while Daniel Cormier compared it to Conor McGregor’s famous knockout of Jose Aldo. O’Malley stopped Aljamain Sterling just 51 seconds into the second round, swarming with hammer fists after catching his fellow American cold with an incredible shot. The TD Garden erupted in cheers as “Sugar” ended Sterling’s nine-fight win streak in spectacular... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231685/ufc-292-sean-omalley-praised-joe-rogan-picture-perfect-right-hand-title-win-it-was-conor-mcgregor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3231685/ufc-292-sean-omalley-praised-joe-rogan-picture-perfect-right-hand-title-win-it-was-conor-mcgregor?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Aug 2023 05:49:19 +0000 Elon Musk says his potential in-person fight with Mark Zuckerberg would be streamed on his social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The two tech billionaires seemingly agreed to a “cage match” face-off in late June. Zuckerberg is actually trained in mixed martial arts, and the CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta posted about completing his first jiu jitsu tournament earlier this year. “Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on X,” Musk wrote in a post on Sunday on the platform. “All... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3230170/elon-musk-says-his-cage-fight-mark-zuckerberg-will-be-streamed-social-media-site-x?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3230170/elon-musk-says-his-cage-fight-mark-zuckerberg-will-be-streamed-social-media-site-x?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Aug 2023 17:37:52 +0000 Israel Adesanya confronted Dricus Du Plessis with the UFC’s middleweight champion and his new No 1 contender involved in a heated exchange at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. Du Plessis made a huge statement with a second-round TKO of former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in Las Vegas, becoming the only man other than Adesanya to beat him in the weight class. Unbeknown to the South African, “Stylebender” had walked into the Octagon during Du Plessis’ post-fight interview with UFC... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227065/ufc-290-israel-adesanya-confronts-african-brother-dricus-du-plessis-daniel-cormier-jokes-champ-was?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227065/ufc-290-israel-adesanya-confronts-african-brother-dricus-du-plessis-daniel-cormier-jokes-champ-was?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jul 2023 06:26:16 +0000 UFC has expanded its presence in China by signing up to help the country’s physical fitness drive, and is to create a new national competition in the process. The world’s top MMA company has joined forces with Migu Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Mobile, and the country’s Leisure Sports Administrative Centre to host fitness competitions inspired by mixed martial arts. A series of national fitness competitions will be hosted by the centre, which operates under the General Administration of Sport,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224678/ufc-expands-china-presence-signs-design-new-national-fitness-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224678/ufc-expands-china-presence-signs-design-new-national-fitness-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:51:13 +0000 Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appeared to take a jab at Chatri Sityodtong on Twitter on Tuesday, but the ONE CEO and chairman is ready to move past their recent issues. Chatri caused a stir last week when he revealed he was meeting Ngannou in the hope of signing the Cameroonian-Frenchman to ONE. However, he later announced that his promotion would not be submitting a final offer to the superstar free agent, explaining that he felt they were not “aligned on non-financial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 05:57:45 +0000 ONE Championship will not be signing Francis Ngannou after all. Chatri Sityodtong – the martial arts promotion’s chairman and CEO – met the former UFC heavyweight champion in Los Angeles at the weekend to discuss a final offer. Singapore-based ONE is set to stage its first on-ground US event on Friday in Denver, Colorado. The possibility of Ngannou making an appearance at 1stBank Centre seemed likely, after Chatri had previously told fans to expect “big news shortly” last week. But talks with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218998/one-championship-ends-talks-former-ufc-champ-francis-ngannou-after-careful-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218998/one-championship-ends-talks-former-ufc-champ-francis-ngannou-after-careful-reflection?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 May 2023 07:09:49 +0000