MMA

WWE added its latest former MMA star to its roster this week, signing Bellator's Valerie Loureda to a contract.

Loureda, who is the first Cuban-American woman to sign with WWE, announced she was leaving her MMA career behind in favor of the squared circle in an interview with Ariel Helwani.

“I’m really excited, and I’ve dedicated my whole life to martial arts, and everything has come to this moment," Loureda told Helwani. "And this is my opportunity to showcase my culture and entertain the world.

“I’m emotional because I’ve worked really hard in my whole life. I’ve had a very hard upbringing, and every day, I’ve always just believed in myself, and trained hard hoping to make it to the next step and just chasing a dream that I’ve had in my heart since I was a baby.”

Loureda will officially begin with WWE on July 18, according to TMZ, one day before her 24th birthday. She went 4-1 during her MMA career and last fought to a split-decision victory over Taylor Turner in November.

WWE has increasingly shifted its focus away from finding wrestlers on the independent scene in favor of younger athletes who they can mold in their style. The company recently launched an NIL campaign for college athletes, designed to get them into the door with WWE once their NCAA careers end.

Current WWE Superstars Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler came to the company after ending their MMA careers. While both of those women were well into their 30s by the time they decided to give pro wrestling a try, Loureda continues a company-wide youth movement at age 24.

"We would like that [age] number to come down, especially on the developmental standpoint," James Kimball, WWE's senior vice president for global talent strategy and development, told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN. "The second you enter our developmental program and then potentially end up on NXT TV and then onto Smackdown or Raw, you want that number to be 25, not 30 or 35."

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is suing Harry Goularte for allegedly molesting his four-year-old son.

According to TMZ Sports, the plaintiff in the lawsuit is identified as the guardian of "C.V., Jr." and says that "on numerous occasions" from 2021 to 2022 Goularte "sexually abused, molested, touched and harassed C.V."

Velasquez was arrested in February for allegedly attempting to shoot Goularte outside of his home in San Martin, California. The 39-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree attempted murder. If found guilty, Velasquez could face a prison term of 20 years to life. His next plea hearing is set for August 19.

Goularte was an employee at Patty's Childcare in San Martin when the alleged molestation occurred. Goularte's mother and stepfather, who own and operate the daycare, were also named as defendants in the lawsuit for claims they "fostered, maintained, and allowed an environment for its attendees to fall victim to sexual abuse at the hands of Harry."

Goularte also reportedly lived at the home daycare. The lawsuit continued: "Despite the warnings, observations, and signs of inappropriate behavior and conduct, Harry, at all times, remained permitted to reside on the property of Patty's Childcare."

The 43-year-old Goularte faces one felony charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. He pleaded not guilty during a virtual hearing earlier this month and remains out on bail ahead of his next scheduled trial date of Sept. 20. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

The proceedings in Velasquez's lawsuit against Goularte are set to begin Sept. 6.

Francis Ngannou's return to the Octagon could happen before the end of the calendar year.

The UFC heavyweight champion says he could be recovered from knee surgery in time to return in December.

"If everything goes well, I'll be ready by the end of the year because it's gonna be nine months. So, let's say late December or early next year," Ngannou told TMZ Sports.

Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane at January's UFC 270 pay-per-view despite suffering a torn MCL and damaged ACL during training. He waited until March to undergo surgery to repair the issue.

UFC President Dana White said it's expected that Ngannou will reach a new contract with the promotion before returning. The heavyweight star has expressed frustration with his salary and said any new deal would involve a carve-out to allow him to box heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

“If I sign another contract now, basically the same model of the contract, I’m screwed," Ngannou said on The MMA Hour in April. "That’s not happening ever. So we have to figure out a way to implement this into a contract.

“I think the UFC is a good promotion, and I want to keep fighting. Tyson Fury is not my last fight. I want to keep fighting. After Tyson Fury, there’s still a lot of fights out there. There’s the Jon Jones, there’s the Stipe trilogy. That’s a big fight I can do in the USA. Yes, I can do Tyson Fury on my own, but what next?”

Ngannou's knee surgery put both a potential prizefight with Fury and his UFC return on hold. It seems more likely than not that Ngannou will return to the UFC and defend his heavyweight championship in the promotion before trying out his hand in the boxing ring.

The promotion has not determined an interim champion with Ngannou out.