Welcome to Bloody Elbow’s daily round-up of combat sports news on a day when the fallout to Netflix’s entry into MMA continued.
This is your one-stop shop for the top five stories from February 18, 2026. One of the main talking points remains Ronda Rousey’s MMA return to fight Gina Carano under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions banner.
But the very first MMA event on Netflix was not the only topic of conversation on Wednesday, thanks to an ex-UFC fighter’s brutal elbow, Islam Makhachev’s warning to Ian Machado Garry, Conor McGregor’s deleted return claim, and the continuation of Eddie Hearn’s feud with Dana White.
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Tiki Ghosn drops ‘Deen the Great’ after the influencer’s slap threat
It’s been an unsuccessful few days for ‘Deen the Great’.
The influencer boxer – real name Nurideen Shabazz – was slapped by powerlifting YouTuber Larry Wheels during former UFC champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson’s livestream earlier in the week.
An even more brutal shot awaited him during a run-in with Jackson’s manager, former UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn.
Footage showed Ghosn dropping ‘Deen the Great’ with an elbow after the influencer threatened to slap him.
Deen The Great just got knocked out by former UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn pic.twitter.com/OIs3nP5ZGb— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) February 18, 2026
Eddie Hearn says Turki Alalshikh is Dana White’s ‘daddy’
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn turned the tables on Dana White’s insult about working for his father.
The UFC president made the remark during the Zuffa Boxing 3 press conference in response to Hearn criticizing his boxing venture, specifically the creation of new titles.
Hitting back during an interview with The Stomping Ground, the English promoter mocked White’s relationship with the chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh.
“Yes, I do work for my dad, but guess what? Dana White has worked for his daddy for a long time,” Hearn said.
“The Fertitta brothers, that’s who he worked for. And right now Dana White’s got a new daddy and his name is Turki Alalshikh.”
Conor McGregor claims he has accepted an opponent
Ever since the UFC event at the White House was announced, McGregor has been among the top names frequently staking their claim for the main event spot.
With Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje…
2026-02-19 04:00:00
