When asked about where that longevity comes from, Grant mostly isn’t sure.

“I don’t know. I look after myself. I still feel like I’m getting better,” Grant said. “It’s crazy. I didn’t think this back when I was young, but then I’ve always thought I’m going to to base my career on how I’m performing, and I know I can still hang out with the best guys in the world.”

His ability to hang comes in part from his thirst for learning. With MMA being such a diverse sport, Grant feels like he keeps acquiring new information and adding tools to the toolbox.

“I feel like the way that my sparring goes, the way I’m still constantly working on new stuff – still just trying to get better,” he said. “MMA is such a broad spectrum, you’re never going to know it all. I’m just trying to soak up as much as I can for fighting and just for learning and coaching sake.”

A change of location has certainly aided in the process as well. While his time at SBG Bishop Auckland was vital, he’s now full-time coaching and training at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas. Having all the resources of Vegas, a solid team of guys, and his whole family with him now – Grant is as happy as can be.

“I’m coaching like every day at Syndicate and I absolutely love the place and we’ve got the full family here in Vegas now. And I was always going to be a coach. I used to love coaching. I remember I had a job coaching soccer when I was about 11, 12 years old. Do you know what I mean? I was always sort of warm to it,” Grant explained. “I think I really like to help people. I really like to help people better their lives.”

He’ll look to show off all of that growth in the cage on Saturday. He fights dangerous newcomer Adrian Luna Martinetti and feels like he can get it done early.

“I’m going for the knockout the whole day along, you know what I mean? That’s what we all want,” he said. “You know, that’s the plan.”

You can catch that fight with Martinetti as part of the UFC Vegas 116 main card. That fight card starts at 5pm EST and airs on Paramount+.

You can hear the entire audio of this interview on the latest edition of the Top Turtle MMA Podcast. The interview airs at 2:01.

The post UFC Vegas 116’s Davey Grant: Still Getting Better at 40 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Means, 42, who last competed in a loss against Court McGee in 2024 and currently serves as a high school wrestling coach, has been charged in Tijeras, NM, with one count of abandonment or abuse of a child, Cageside Press confirmed with the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Friday.

News of Means’ arrest, which occurred on Wednesday, was reported by several local media outlets including The Albuquerque Journal.

Per those reports, Means’ daughter called police after an argument broke out over household chores on Wednesday, at which point she alleged Means headbutted her. She further alleged, per the report by the Journal, that Means placed her in a choke hold (or held her against a counter in a “strangulating manner”). He later is alleged to have thrown a potato at his daughter.

When she attempted to push past the welterweight and leave, he’s also alleged to have punched her.

Per the complaint against Means, police noted that “there were visible hand and red marks on [the teen’s] neck, indicating she was strangled,” while there “was blood on and in her nose where she was head-butted and several red marks indicated she was hit in the face and on her cheek.”

Means made his first appearance before Judge Christine E. Rodriguez on Friday, April 25.

A former King of the Cage champ at lightweight and welterweight, Tim Means joined the UFC in 2012 and became a consistent fan favourite with fights against Matt Brown, Belal Muhammad, Thiago Alves, Kevin Holland, Daniel Rodriguez and others. His 26 fights in the UFC’s welterweight division place him third all-time.

The post Tim Means Slapped with Child Abuse Charge After Altercation with Teen Daughter appeared first on Cageside Press.

On his second stint with the UFC, a much improved Zalal has landed himself in the 145lb’s top 10 thanks to victories over the likes of Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. “The Moroccan Devil” have won five straight in the UFC, eight straight overall, and could be circling the title picture were he to add a former champ to his resume.

As for Sterling, he’s 2-1 in the featherweight division, sort of. Considering how badly Brian Ortega missed weight for their fight last August, it was almost a lightweight affair. Still, you have to hand it to Sterling for carrying on and getting the job done.

Weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 116 take place Friday morning at 9AM PT, 12PM ET. Full results can be found below.

UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal Weigh-In Results

Main card

Featherweight: Aljamain Sterling (146) vs. Youssef Zalal (145.5)
Women’s Bantamweight: Norma Dumont (135.5) vs. Joselyne Edwards (135.5)
Lightweight: Rafa García (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (155.5)
Bantamweight: Davey Grant (135.5) vs. Adrián Luna Martinetti (135.5)
Bantamweight: Montel Jackson (135.5) vs. Raoni Barcelos (136)
Heavyweight: Marcus Buchecha (252.5) vs. Ryan Spann (264)

Preliminary card

Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira (185.5) vs. Eric McConico (186)
Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva (136) vs. Michelle Montague (135.5)
Middleweight: Jackson McVey (185) vs. Sedriques Dumas (184)
Bantamweight: Jafel Filho (135.5) vs. Cody Durden (135.5)
Lightweight: Francis Marshall (155.5) vs. Lucas Brennan (155.5)
Welterweight: Max Griffin (170.5) vs. Victor Valenzuela (170)
Women’s Strawweight: Talita Alencar (116) vs. Julia Polastri (115.5)

The post UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal Weigh-In Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Earlier this week, heavyweight Tuivasa’s original opponent, Sean Sharaf, announced he was out of the bout due to injury. “Sorry guys I fractured my nose and won’t be able to fight May 2nd,” Sharaf wrote on social media, alongside a scan of the injury. “Going to get it fixed look forward to getting back in there soon.”

Luckily, the UFC have landed “Bam Bam” a replacement opponent in the form of Louie Sutherland. Promotion officials announced the switch on Friday.

Tuivasa (14-9) is on a perilous skid that has seen him drop six straight fights. He’s winless since 2022, and despite the Australian’s popularity, another setback would likely spell the end of his UFC career. Despite that, Tuivasa holds victories over Andrei Arlovski, Derrick Lewis, and Stefan Struve, among others.

Scotland’s Sutherland (10-5) is 0-2 under the UFC banner with losses to Valter Walker and Brando Peričić.

Taking place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia on May 2, 2026, UFC Perth features the following match-ups:

• Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates
• Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
• Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Peričić
• Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo
• Dom Mar Fan vs. Kody Steele
• Colby Thicknesse vs. Vince Morales
• Ben Johnston vs. Wesley Schultz
• Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian
• Cameron Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek
• Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert
• Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg
• Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland

The post Louie Sutherland Replaces Sean Sharaf, Meets Tai Tuivasa at UFC Perth appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Excited as always. Obviously I like to go forward, go to war, I feel like I show that in every fight,” Garcia told reporters on Wednesday.

“Specially my last fight. I walk forward and I come to finish the fight.”

Garcia (18-4) Garcia (18-4) believes his cardio will be a key advantage in a matchup against another hard-hitting lightweight. He also credits his preparation at California’s Bloodline gym, surrounded by a deep roster of high-level fighters, as a major factor in positioning him for a victory on Saturday.

“More than anything else, my cardio, I believe will be a real weapon in this one. The idea is to walk forward and break him little by little,” he said.

“We have a lot of really good training partners (at Bloodline) such as Lerryan Douglas who just fought in Seattle. He helped me a lot, Richie Miranda as well the LFA champion, he helped me a lot this camp. Cub (Swanson) is very smart, I tell everyone, he’s the mastermind of every camp.”

Garcia made it clear he’s not approaching this fight with caution, but with the intent to impose his style from the opening bell. Confident in his pressure and finishing ability, the lightweight expects to dictate the pace and turn the bout into a battle.

“Expect a war. The Rafa that always comes forward to find the finish,” he said.

“I’m going to finish this fight.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Rafa Garcia above. He faces Alexander Hernandez at UFC Vegas 116 on Saturday night.

* Translated by Cageside Press

The post Rafa Garcia Promises ‘War’ and Finish vs Alexander Hernandez appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It’s not easy. I had to do it with Brian Ortega, and that was a little weird one for me,” Sterling told reporters on Wednesday.

“Even when I had him hurt with the right hand in round 2 I kind of pulled back. He said I poked him in the eye and I said dude that was a punch man. I took my foot off the gas because I like the guy. I like Youssef too, but if I get him hurt I don’t plan to make that mistake again and just go out there and get the finish. I’m trying to make history, trying to win a second belt, trying to fight the legend the OG in (Alexander) Volkanovski.”

Sterling (25-5) pointed to the differences in experience and mindset between himself and Zalal when breaking down the matchup. Confident in the path he’s taken to reach the top of the sport, he made it clear he believes that edge will be a deciding factor on fight night.

“Youssef is good, but sh*t man I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I didn’t have to get cut and make my way back. He did, he had to dig deep to do that, and I think it’s two different type of mental attitudes, right? He could have went to the regional circuit, maybe lost and packed it up, but he decided to come back,” he said.

“I’ve been knocked down, been knocked out, built myself back up and here I am today. I’ve become a world champion at the bantamweight division. I got the most wins in bantamweight history. I didn’t get here by accident. This is no cakewalk for Youssef Zalal and if he thinks it’s going to be easy, he’s got a rude awakening coming this Saturday. I’ve got to break him, simple as that.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Aljamain Sterling above. He headlines UFC Vegas 116 opposite Youssef Zalal on Saturday night.

The post Aljamain Sterling Targets Featherweight Gold, Vows No Hesitation Against Zalal appeared first on Cageside Press.

“He’s a tough brute. Stout, sturdy fighter, he’s going to press forward,” Hernandez told reporters on Wednesday.

“I like the matchup, I like the stylistic challenge of it. I expect him to be strong and durable.”

“It’d be great. Push the streak and then I think be in contention, top 15, and then a main event. I think after this fight call for a main event slot,” he said.

“I think he’s a strong boxer-wrestler. I think I’m a sharper boxer-wrestler. I think I’ll beat his feet, find openings, and I think I’ll exploit them. He can blend pretty well in MMA and I expect to do the same.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Alexander Hernandez above. He faces Rafa Garcia at UFC Vegas 116 on Saturday night.

The post ‘Uncharted Territory’: Alexander Hernandez Questions System After Betting Allegations appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I can’t wait to go out there and thrive on this opportunity and perform,” the featherweight contender said during Wednesday’s media day promoting the event.

Stirling is the biggest step up to date for Zalal, who has looked stellar on his second stint with the UFC. And he’s worked his way up without the sort of politics and gamesmanship that has become the norm in the fight game.

“I’ve never turned down a fight, I’ve never picked a fight. I’m just like ‘hey.’ The only fight they gave me, to be honest, is the Josh Emmett fight. I asked for Josh Emmett, they gave me Josh Emmett. I asked for Lerone Murphy for the longest, I never got that one. So maybe that one is in the future.”

As far as what he expects from “Aljo,” “I really do believe this fight, I don’t see it going give rounds,” Zalal predicted. “The Moroccan Devil” feels both himself and Stirling bring an “awkward style” to the octagon, “a weird style, especially with his striking, and obviously we all know his grappling as well.”

Zalal is now curious to see how Stirling deals with someone attacking on the grappling front.

Looking back at his younger self in his first UFC run, Zalal feels that patience and purpose has been the difference this time around.

“I feel like the patience, and all that stuff, just to experience that. I feel like young and dumb turns into you being an idiot,” admitted Zalal. “I never had a problem putting hard work in, I never had a problem with being confident. I think the biggest thing we said is purpose. I think once you find purpose in this life, life becomes a lot simpler. Not, I don’t want to say easier, but simpler.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 116 media day appearance by Yousself Zalal above.

The post UFC Vegas 116: Youssef Zalal Has Patience, Purpose His Younger Self Lacked appeared first on Cageside Press.

The UFC women’s bantamweight division does not find itself in normal circumstances these days, however. Champ Kayla Harrison is injured, recovering from neck surgery while Amanda Nunes waits in the wings, their super-fight on hold until Kayla heals up.

And so, on a six-fight win streak, Dumont (13-2) returns to action at UFC Vegas 116, taking on Joselyne Edwards, who like Dumont previously competed in the UFC’s now-defunct women’s featherweight division.

“I don’t like to stay out a year before I fight,” Dumont admitted during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 116 media day. “Ideally, I’d like to fight every four months.”

While the logjam might bring about calls for an interim titles in other circumstances, Dumont previously tried to make such a fight happen with Nunes. “The Lioness,” coming back from retirement, wasn’t interested however.

“I don’t think so. It’s something we already tried, and Amanda wasn’t interested in the fight. I think what has to happen is them, Kayla and Amanda, have to fight. Then we can figure out who I fight next.”

Dumont, who sits at #3 and is fighting the #11 bantamweight in Edwards, waited as long as she could for a higher ranked foe, meanhwhile.

“Ideally I’d like to fight against people who are ranked above me or near me, but I spent a year and two months waiting for that and it didn’t happen,” Dumont revealed. “So I have to keep in action. Every fight is a risk, this fight is a risk also. I can’t stop because of this, I have to keep on moving forward. I think that is the best way to carry on.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 116 media day appearance by Norma Dumont above.

The post UFC Vegas 116: Norma Dumont Believes Harrison-Nunes Must Happen appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I know the challenge is up there, but I’ve seen the evolution of my fights. I’ve seen the results we’ve had and very happy that the result is coming. For such a long time I was like why am I putting in so much work and the results not coming and I’m not reaping what I sow,” Edwards told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.

“God is never late, time is always there, his time is always right.”

Edwards (17-6) broke down the stylistic matchup, pointing to what she believes are clear differences in approach between herself and her opponent. Confident in both her aggression and preparation, she made it clear she intends to bring a level of intensity Dumont has yet to face.

“She basically likes to score a lot during the fights, she’s about that volume out there, but if you see the aggressiveness that I bring to the table, if you see the fighter that I am, have you seen anything like that in any of Norma’s previous opponents? I don’t think you’ve seen that aggressiveness and a fighter like me,” she said.

“The people that I have, the material that I have to work with at Xtreme Couture, I have everything. I have fighters of every weight class, I have fighters of every style, and that makes me prepared to fight.”

She didn’t shy away from outlining what a victory could mean for her career, viewing Saturday’s bout as a potential springboard to something much bigger. With confidence in her momentum and preparation, she made it clear she’s ready to make her case for a title opportunity with a statement performance.

“Winning the fight on Saturday I just feel that I would be able to fight for the title. You get ready, you’re in that position, get ready for a camp to actually fight for that belt,” she said.

“I want to call out on it, I hope they say yes, and I think it would be a great opportunity by winning on Saturday.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Joselyne Edwards above. She faces Norma Dumont at UFC Vegas 116 on Saturday night.

The post Joselyne Edwards Eyes Breakthrough, Title Shot with Win Over Dumont appeared first on Cageside Press.