UFL

The UFL's Michigan Panthers will not have wide receiver Samson Nacua for Sunday's matchup against the D.C. Defenders after the league suspended him for one game for slapping a fan after Saturday's loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported the league suspended Nacua, who is the brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, on Tuesday. He also agreed to participate in community service as part of the punishment.

Things got a little heated in the Battledome last night..

Video from the crowd shows Michigan’s Samson Nacua in a postgame altercation with a fan

It’s unclear what was said. Anybody who’s been to the Dome knows fans love to chirp players. Appears Nacua wasn’t happy about it.. pic.twitter.com/i8u4L0tqm0

— Matty Fresh (@MattyFreshTV) April 27, 2025

The video captured Nacua slapping the face of a fan who was leaning over a railing and exchanging words with the wide receiver.

Seifert reported Sunday the UFL was investigating the incident.

"The UFL is aware of the incident that took place last evening at the conclusion of the Michigan Panthers vs. St. Louis Battlehawks game in St. Louis. League officials are currently investigating the matter," the league said in a statement.

Nacua played the majority of his collegiate career at Utah from 2017 through 2020 before suiting up for BYU during the 2021 campaign.

He also previously participated in training camp with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints but never caught on at the NFL level.

As for Puka, he is a star receiver for the Rams who was a Pro Bowler in his first season in 2023 before finishing the 2024 campaign with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns.

The UFL announced on Sunday that it is investigating an incident involving multiple Michigan Panthers players and a fan in St. Louis, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

In a video of the incident posted to social media, Panthers wide receiver Samson Nacua was seen exchanging words with a fan who was leaning over the railing before appearing to slap his face. Panthers cornerback Adonis Alexander was also in the area and pointed to the fan as Nacua retreated to the field. The incident occurred after the Panthers' 32-27 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Things got a little heated in the Battledome last night..

Video from the crowd shows Michigan’s Samson Nacua in a postgame altercation with a fan

It’s unclear what was said. Anybody who’s been to the Dome knows fans love to chirp players. Appears Nacua wasn’t happy about it.. pic.twitter.com/i8u4L0tqm0

— Matty Fresh (@MattyFreshTV) April 27, 2025

"The UFL is aware of the incident that took place last evening at the conclusion of the Michigan Panthers vs. St. Louis Battlehawks game in St. Louis. League officials are currently investigating the matter," the league said in a statement, per Seifert.

The 27-year-old Nacua is the older brother of Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua. Their brother Kai Nacua also plays alongside Samson as a safety for the Panthers.

Prior to joining the UFL, Samson Nacua played collegiately at Utah and BYU and participated in NFL training camps with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He is in his second season with the Panthers after playing for the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023.

Jordan Ta’amu and the DC Defenders defeated Alex McGough and the Birmingham Stallions 18-11 on Sunday, as fans called for Matt Corral to replace McGough.

🚨 THE DEFENDERS STUN THE STALLIONS 🚨

DC takes down the reigning champs 😤 pic.twitter.com/n6ESdyQO14

— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 30, 2025

McGough, the 2023 USFL MVP, struggled in the opener for the Stallions, throwing for 89 yards on 10-of-23 completions with one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Davion Davis caught two passes for 28 yards, while C.J. Marable added one catch for a touchdown.  

Defenders quarterback Ta’amu threw for 211 yards on 17-of-37 completions with one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Chris Rowland had one touchdown on three catches, and running back Deon Jackson contributed 42 yards on 10 carries.

On Thursday, Holtz had yet to decide on his starting quarterback between Corral and McGough, telling reporters he would make the call on Friday. Later that day, it was announced McGough would get the start—a decision that did not sit well with fans.  

Fans criticized head coach Skip Holtz for benching Corral in the season-opening loss.  

The Stallions need to bring Matt Corral in ASAP..

— Armando Moreno (@armandoipn) March 30, 2025

It’s Matt Corral time. #UFL

— Spring Football Zone (@SpringFBZone) March 30, 2025

Matt Corral please. Make the switch Skip.

— Iowan Stallion (@IowanStallion) March 30, 2025

The Birmingham Stallions look shockingly dysfunctional at the moment.

Way too early to worry, though, with McGough playing in his first game at QB in almost two years. Talent level in the #UFL is superior to the USFL in '23.

But...it's still strange to see them struggle like…

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 30, 2025

Stallions offensive line is a disaster, goodness gracious.

Christian DiLauro has been terrible today.@XFLDefenders with EIGHT sacks. Wow. #UFL

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 30, 2025

I expected the Stallions offense to take a step back without Martinez.. did not expect them to have 8 penalties midway 3Q. They were the least penalized team in the league last year.#BHMvDC | #UFL2025

— Matty Fresh (@MattyFreshTV) March 30, 2025

The Defenders opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal from Matt McCrane, followed by a 53-yard bomb from the Stallions’ kicker Harrison Mevis. McCrane responded with another field goal, giving DC a 6-3 lead heading into the second quarter.  

McGough connected with Marable for a 12-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion to put Birmingham ahead.  

The first Stallions touchdown of the season belongs to CJ Marable 👏 pic.twitter.com/f0lDXsNr0M

— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 30, 2025

Ta’amu answered with a four-yard touchdown pass to Rowland but failed on the two-point attempt, giving the Defenders a slim 12-11 lead at halftime.  

Both defenses tightened up in the third quarter, keeping both offenses scoreless. Two fourth-quarter field goals from McCrane sealed the victory for DC.

Another blazing run from McGough 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b1X5TZTaKg

— B2B2B CHAMPION STALLIONS 🏆🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2025

The Stallions will look to pick up their first win in Week 2 against the Michigan Panthers on the road and the defenders will look to grab two straight as they face the Memphis Showboats at home.

Players from the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks in the UFL wrote a letter personally appealing to UFL co-owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson amid the league's labor dispute.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported the players intended to deliver the letter to Johnson ahead of Friday's game, but the WWE legend wasn't in attendance.

"In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, the players ask Johnson for help in settling the dispute," Seifert wrote. "They wrote that they are seeking either year-round health care or a wage increase that would let them pay for it on their own."

Week 1 of the 2025 UFL season went on as scheduled. The Battlehawks beat the Roughnecks 31-6 in the opener, a contest that looked like it might be in doubt.

The United Football Players Association, the players' union for the UFL, made an official filing with the National Labor Relations Board about unfair labor practices on March 14, per The Athletic's Chris Vannini.

"Among the charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the UFPA alleged the UFL has threatened to cut or discipline players over protected union activities, engaged in surveillance of player participation in union activities, denied the union access to league facilities and created new discipline rules to discourage union activities," he wrote.

In response to the filing, a UFL spokesperson told Vannini the league doesn't comment on legal matters but said the UFL has "acted in good faith" during negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement.

Earlier this week, Michigan Panthers safety Kai Nacua said to Seifert that "all options are on the table," including a work stoppage.

The UFL's second week kicks off April 4.

The Arlington Renegades started their 2025 UFL season in style.

An electric day from the offense and a sharp performance from the defense powered Renegades to a 33-9 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas.

this was fun 🤌 pic.twitter.com/qb4SDTb46h

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 29, 2025

The Renegades produced 347 yards and were 3-of-4 in the red zone to surge to a decisive victory. Arlington limited San Antonio to just 241 yards of total offense and the Brahmas only reached the red zone twice.

Renegades quarterback Luis Perez went 20-of-25 for 164 yards. The leading rusher was Kalen Ballage, who had nine carries for 110 yards and a historic touchdown:

THE LONGEST RUN IN UFL HISTORY!!!!

🚨77-YARD TD RUN FOR KALEN BALLAGE🚨 pic.twitter.com/MjTNRdaVAQ

— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 29, 2025

The team didn't ask running back De'Veon Smith to do anything but score, so that's exactly what he did. He had three carries for three yards and three touchdowns in a very efficient performance.

Same energy from De'Veon Smith 🤝🔥 pic.twitter.com/kgwYwDB81C

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 29, 2025

Brahmas quarterback Kellen Mond struggled, going 17-of-31 for 159 yards. The team's lone touchdown came from John Lovett, who had eight carries for 18 yards in the loss.

Overall, it was a flat performance for the Brahmas after the team came off a second-place finish in 2024. Arlington looked solid and will hope to be a major contender with Perez and Ballage leading the way.

Arlington's next game is April 6 against the Houston Roughnecks, while San Antonio will take on the St. Louis Battlehawks the same day.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed that his private plane, which was traveling from Hawaii to Houston for the United Football League's 2025 season opener, had a mechanical issue that forced the pilot to return.

Super bummed I can’t be in Texas but so grateful we were able to land the plane safely.

So sorry to our @TheUFL fans, players, coaches, staff and our teams at @FOXSports @espn I’m not there.

Let’s have a great season 2 opening weekend, have fun, and ball out. pic.twitter.com/9FgwLIUSS5

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 29, 2025

The UFL's second season began Friday with the Houston Roughnecks hosting the St. Louis Battlehawks at TDECU Stadium. The Rock, who is a UFL co-owner, said he was supposed to be in attendance and hype up the crowd as the league got the 2025 campaign going.

Unfortunately, The Rock was unable to attend, but thankfully, he returned safely after the issue was discovered.

The Rock profusely apologized to UFL fans, players and coaches before briefly explaining the situation.

On Thursday evening, The Rock's flight took off from Hawaii to Houston. About 35-40 minutes in the flight, The Rock said one of the pilots spoke with him and said it was unsafe for them to continue flying over the ocean due to issues with the plane. Essentially, the plane was dealing with "an hydraulics issue with overheating."

The Rock then said the pilot explained that there are some issues that can be worked out in the air and some issues where it's unsafe to take a chance, especially over the ocean.

The Rock also said he dealt with severe turbulence during the flight but was calmed down by the crew. The plane eventually landed, and The Rock noted how grateful he was for everyone involved in getting the plane back home.

He closed by speaking to UFL players, telling them to "grab the opportunity by the throat" in hopes that they make the NFL someday.

Spring football is just around the corner, as WWE legend Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's United Football League unveiled the full schedule for the 2025 season.

The UFL will kick off on Friday, March 28 with a matchup between the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks.

Mark your calendars – Kickoff Weekend is just around the corner 🏈

→ https://t.co/pdhZWRMTea pic.twitter.com/FFH1KXpgyl

— United Football League (@TheUFL) January 2, 2025

Who's ready for MORE football this Spring?!
📆 https://t.co/dwUhK1QMcB pic.twitter.com/wmmLZn6jKt

— United Football League (@TheUFL) January 2, 2025

.@TheUFL has announced the 2025 full season schedule:

- 43 games across FOX, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1
- FOX Deportes and ESPN Deportes to air select games in Spanish
- FOX UFL Friday to kick off 2025 season on Mar. 28th
- ABC to televise 2025 Championship game on June 14th pic.twitter.com/wEVzR48N64

— Sportico (@Sportico) January 2, 2025

The UFL announced in a release that the game between the Battlehawks and Roughnecks will be part of the launch of Fox Sports' FOXUFL Friday, a new night dedicated to broadcasting the league's action during the 10-week regular season. Games will be televised on FOX, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FOX Deportes and ESPN Deportes, and they will also be available to stream on the Fox Sports App and ESPN+.

"We are thrilled to have exceptional partners like FOX and ESPN, who share our passion for celebrating the game and telling our story to a wide audience," UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said in the release. "With the launch of FOX UFL Friday, we are excited to invite new fans to experience the incredible talent and heart that our players bring to the field. This season promises to be an exciting journey in football, where our athletes elevate the game to new heights."

The UFL launched in 2024 after a merger between the XFL and the United States Football League. The league features eight teams: Arlington Renegades, Birmingham Stallions, D.C. Defenders, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas, Roughnecks and Battlehawks.

The Stallions won the inaugural UFL championship last season and will get started on defending their title when they face the Defenders in the headlining matchup of opening weekend.

It looks like spring football won't be going anywhere anytime soon, as The Rock's United Football League is on the verge of growing.

On Monday, the UFL officially announced the launch of its first expansion process to add to its current group of eight franchises.

The league will be accepting proposals from prospective markets looking to bring spring football to their areas.

"As the UFL lays the groundwork for future growth, we're excited to begin exploring new markets for expansion, where spring football can not only live, but thrive," UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said in a release. "These expansion efforts validate our vision and early success, demonstrating how spring football resonates with fans and reinforcing our commitment to broadening its reach. With the strength and structure of our ownership group, along with our media partners, we are well-positioned for the long haul and look forward to identifying communities that have the potential, and desire, to host a UFL team."

The UFL currently consists of the Arlington Renegades, Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks and D.C. Defenders. The Stallions defeated the Brahmas in the inaugural championship game this past June.

The league stated that it will be evaluating "several core attributes" to determine its new expansion cities, including "fan interest and existing sports culture, geography and population and venue and infrastructure availability."

The 2025 UFL season will begin on March 28. The 10-week regular season culminate with the championship game on June 14.

After a successful first season earlier this year, the United Football League will be back for another campaign.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who is a part owner of the UFL, announced in a hype video on Wednesday that the league will begin its second season on March 28, 2025:

New season.
New opportunities.
03.28.25 @TheUFL #BallOut pic.twitter.com/B9UflGYW2v

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 18, 2024

The UFL was established following a merger between the XFL and the USFL in late 2023. It began its inaugural season on March 30 and concluded with its championship game between the Birmingham Stallions and San Antonio Brahmas on June 16. Birmingham earned a 25-0 win to become the league's first champion.

Following the season, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks touted the success of the UFL and declared that the league has already exceeded expectations.

"When games matter, [viewership] pops," Shanks told Mollie Cahillane and Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal in June, referencing conference championship numbers that jumped nearly 60 percent over the 2023 USFL playoffs. "This is a prime example of broadcast television and being strategic with your scheduling, and that's going to get better as time goes on."

The 2025 season will feature a new wrinkle, as the UFL will be adding Friday night football to its spring schedule.

"Adding Friday nights to our spring football schedule speaks to how strong our league has become," President and CEO Russ Brandon said in a release. "Our teams have been working diligently this offseason to prepare for 2025, and look forward to bringing that work to life and sharing it with our fans in season two."

The 2025 campaign will have a 10-week regular-season schedule and conclude with the UFL championship game on June 14. ESPN, ABC and Fox will remain the broadcast partners for the league in its second year, with the Friday night games broadcasted on Fox.

Donald De La Haye, better known on YouTube as Deestroying, revealed that he's unsure regarding his return to the UFL after his first season in the league came to an end due to a fractured neck.

"I was in camp recently, and we was in a little hotel," De La Haye said during a Wednesday appearance on The Travis Hunter Show (10:00 mark). "I'm like damn, do I really want to be doing this? I'm here all day, seven in the morning to five, six p.m. I could be at the crib chilling right now."

"It was a dope experience, though," he added.

De La Haye spent time with the San Antonio Brahmas as the team's kicker during the 2024 season. He recorded eight kickoffs through two games, averaging 68.3 yards per kick.

The 27-year-old suffered the season-ending neck injury after he made a tackle during a kickoff in a matchup with the Memphis Showboats on April 6.

Get yourself a kicker who isn't afraid to HIT 💥@Deestroying wasn't holding back on this one 😤 pic.twitter.com/i1PVbWjGj0

— San Antonio Brahmas (@XFLBrahmas) April 6, 2024

De La Haye served as a kicker at Central Florida, although his college career came to an end after the NCAA barred him from profiting from his YouTube channel (via TMZ Sports). The channel now has just over six million subscribers.

The UFL will be returning in 2025 following the league's inaugural season, although De La Haye may not come back to the Brahmas.