Sports

Jiu-Jitsu & Judo

Japan's Baku sweep sets the bar as Abu Dhabi Grand Slam opens Thursday

Seven individual golds and a reclaimed mixed team title at the worlds precede the tour's penultimate stop

BAKU — Japan won seven individual gold medals at the World Judo Championships in Baku, which ended Oct. 11, then took the mixed team title. It beat Russia 4-1 in the final to win a record-extending eighth team crown and recover the title it lost to Georgia in 2025. Akari Omori scored the clinching point. Uta Abe won a sixth world title at 52 kg, and her brother Hifumi Abe won again at 66 kg. In the semifinal against China, both Shiho Tanaka and China's Lu Liu were disqualified for passivity. Russia reached its first team final. Uzbekistan and Georgia took bronze. JudoInside reported that the results reshuffled the world rankings, with Abe and Wakana Koga moving to No. 1. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam opens Thursday at Mubadala Arena.

Why it mattersBaku showed how far Japan leads the field in the Olympic cycle, and the Abu Dhabi and Tokyo Grand Slams are the next tests for its challengers.

IJF.org - A Day of Celebration and a Remarkable Double primary · Euronews - Japan reclaim mixed team world title with eighth gold in Baku foreign · European Judo Union - Russian Federation runner-up as Japan reclaim mixed team title primary · JudoInside - World Championships Baku trade

Tonon gets ADCC 2022 rematch with McNally for Polaris 40 title

Lightweight belt on the line Nov. 21 in Southampton, streamed on FloGrappling

SOUTHAMPTON, England — Polaris has booked Garry Tonon against Ireland's Sam McNally for the Polaris lightweight championship at Polaris 40 on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Southampton Central Hall. The promotion's billing describes the match as personal for Tonon. McNally beat the top-seeded Tonon 3-0 on points at ADCC 2022, and Tonon is seeking revenge. FloGrappling is carrying the card live. Polaris 40 follows Polaris 39 on Oct. 3. At that show Yuki Takahashi spoiled Shay Montague's debut to win the bantamweight title, and Tommy Langaker edged Eoghan O'Flanagan. Polaris also announced on Oct. 16 that its PSG series returns to London in March.

Why it mattersA title fight built on an ADCC grudge match gives the British promotion a marquee card before the year ends.

Polaris Pro Grappling primary · FloGrappling - Polaris 40: The Return of Garry Tonon trade

Royal Navy jiu-jitsu squad named Navy Team of the Year

White belt side took Inter Services gold; team also met the King

PORTSMOUTH — Royal Navy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was named Team of the Year at the 2026 Royal Navy Sports Awards, Forces News reported on Monday. The recognition caps a year in which the white belt team won gold at the Inter Services competition. The blue belt side narrowly missed out on a title of its own. The squad's year also included a meeting with the King. Royal Navy Sport praised the team for making its mark on Navy sport. The award shows how widely jiu-jitsu has spread beyond the commercial competition circuit into military sport programs.

Why it mattersIt is a sign of how far BJJ has spread into institutional and military sport, outside the professional tournament circuit.

Forces News - Royal Navy BJJ named Navy Team of the Year foreign

MMA

White walks back Basharat remarks after unbeaten bantamweight's UFC exit

UFC chief says he was not singling out the 7-0 fighter, but gives no reason he was cut

ABU DHABI — Dana White used his UFC 333 post-fight press conference to clarify comments he made after UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17. Asked about Farid Basharat's release, White had said fighters who are not re-signed are often difficult to deal with or turn down fights. Basharat, 16-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC, denied that. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, said he never turned down a fight and once took a bout against an opponent about 10 pounds overweight. White said he had seen Basharat's response video and did not mean to hurt him. He added that he has no professional or personal problem with the fighter, and that a return is possible but not soon. Basharat replied with a short message of respect. White still gave no reason for the non-renewal, and commentators have pointed to the UFC's preference for finishes.

Why it mattersThe episode shows how little fighters know about contract decisions, and how a promoter's offhand remarks can affect a free agent's market value.

Sherdog: Dana White says he never meant to hurt Farid Basharat's reputation trade · Cageside Press: Dana White Clears Air on Basharat, Farid Sends Thanks trade · Bloody Elbow: Dana White responds to recently-cut Farid Basharat trade

Gane-Hokit heavyweight title fight anchors UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden

Harrison-Nunes co-headlines the Nov. 14 card as the heavyweight picture waits on the winner

NEW YORK — UFC 334 is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Madison Square Garden. Prelims start at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Ciryl Gane, 14-2, defends the heavyweight title against Josh Hokit, who is 10-0 and ranked sixth. Gane was promoted to undisputed champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt over a lingering eye injury. White first said Gane would not be elevated, then said he had misspoken. Gane's coach, Fernand Lopez, has compared Hokit to Cain Velasquez, though Hokit has not yet fought anyone in the division's top five. Kayla Harrison defends the women's bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes in the co-main event. Also on the card are Caio Borralho vs. Yousri Belgaroui, Uros Medic vs. Kevin Holland and Bilal Hasan vs. Luis Gurule. Alexander Volkov, fresh from his UFC 333 win, has asked White about a title shot and was told to wait.

Why it mattersTwo title fights in New York will decide who sits atop heavyweight, a division with its former champion sidelined, and whether Nunes can reclaim women's bantamweight.

MMA Mania: Is UFC 334's Josh Hokit the best heavyweight since Cain Velasquez? trade · MMA Mania: Latest UFC 334 fight card, start time, date and location trade · Heavy: UFC 334 Gane vs. Hokit Officially Announced trade

UFC 333 sets Abu Dhabi attendance and gate records

White says he wants more major events in the UAE capital after the two-title card

ABU DHABI — UFC 333 recorded the highest attendance and the highest gate for any UFC event in Abu Dhabi, according to UAE coverage of the Saturday card. The Etihad Arena was sold out. The event closed Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, and White said he wants to keep bringing major UFC events to the city. The headline results are already known: Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev at 4:54 of round two, and Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. Several other results from the card have drawn less attention. Aaron Pico stopped Losene Keita in just over a minute, to the first fight of the main card. Lone'er Kavanagh finished Ramazan Temirov by first-round TKO. Alexander Volkov beat Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision. No attendance or gate figures were given in the report.

Why it mattersThe records show how far UFC's Gulf partnership has grown, and they will weigh on where future title cards are booked.

Gulf Today: UFC 333 draws record crowd in Abu Dhabi as Volkanovski retains featherweight title foreign