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  • Conor McGregor Backs Mike Perry’s Challenge To Former UFC Champion For BKFC Return

    Conor McGregor Backs Mike Perry’s Challenge To Former UFC Champion For BKFC Return

    Mike Perry is seeking a high-profile retired fighter to face off against in his BKFC return in 2025, and Conor McGregor likes one of his options.

    At the BKFC Hollywood event in Florida this past weekend, Perry took the spotlight during an in-ring interview and was asked about his future plans. The 33-year-old quickly called out former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, who was present in the crowd, as the opponent he’s eager to face next.

    “Who should face me next? I see Robbie Lawler in the crowd and I think he should take the gloves off, and he should step inside the square circle against ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry.”

    “Platinum” hasn’t stepped into the squared circle since his stunning knockout win over former UFC fighter Thiago Alves at BKFC Knucklemania IV in April. He further emphasized that Lawler is the ideal opponent to add to his flawless bare-knuckle record.

    “Listen, man, I’m the best to ever be up in this ring [with] no gloves. There’s nobody [that’s] ever done it like me, and I’m waiting for my chance to shine again. The world tried to take things from me. I’m ready for my next opportunity and it doesn’t seem like anybody [wants] to step up to the line. So what I thought is Robbie Lawler might just be tough enough to do it.”

    BKFC part-owner Conor McGregor, who had previously claimed to have fired Perry from the promotion, recently took to X to give an enthusiastic endorsement for the potential Perry vs. Lawler showdown.

    “What a show,” McGregor tweeted. “Perry vs. Lawler? Gimme.”

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870664376329416732

    https://x.comff/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870664376329416732

    “Platinum” was last seen in action in July, when he stepped in on short notice to face Jake Paul in a boxing match after an ulcer flare-up delayed Mike Tyson’s fight with Paul until November. Unfortunately for Perry, he was knocked out in the sixth round of the bout.

    Perry remains undefeated in BKFC with a perfect 5-0 record, boasting impressive knockout victories over former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Luke Rockhold.

    Meanwhile, Lawler called time on his fighting career after a decisive 38-second knockout victory over Niko Price at UFC 290 in July 2023. While “Ruthless” once commanded fear in the Octagon, his final stretch saw him struggle, posting a 3-6 record in his last nine appearances.

  • Former UFC Fighter Vows To Never Train Without A Cup Again After ‘Fracturing Penis’

    Former UFC Fighter Vows To Never Train Without A Cup Again After ‘Fracturing Penis’

    2024 has been a year that Mateus Mendonça will be glad to see the back off as we head into 2025. The Brazilian featherweight kicked off his year with a split decision loss to Jesus Aguilar in Mexico City that brought his current run in the UFC to an end.

    The 25-year old was cut from the promotion after suffering three consecutive losses off the back of earning his spot on the roster via the 2022 season of the Contender Series. However, he has already returned to the win column by producing a kneebar submission in just 20 seconds at CFC 23 in Rio de Janeiro this past October.

    Whilst Mendonça is clearly a very talented grappler, he has been forced to make some serious adjustments to the way he trains on the mats. In a recent interview with AgFight, he revealed how a grappling session without any protection led to an injury that is eye-watering through reading about it alone.

    The 14-fight pro revealed how an unintentional knee led to him fracturing his penis as if he didn’t already have enough on his plate this year.

    “I went to train jiu-jitsu at my teacher’s gym the day before I returned to Sao Paulo,” Mendonça told AgFight. “During the second roll, [my partner] hit my private parts with his knee when I was trying to pass the guard. I felt an incredible amount of pain and ran to the bathroom. It started to burn. But then the pain went away and I kept going.

    “A month later, training normally without pain, I started to notice some problems. I started to move and there was a lump. So I went to the hospital. When I got there, the doctor did an exam and immediately transferred me to another hospital for surgery.”

    For every setback both in life and in combat sports, there is always a valuable lesson to be learned. For Mendonça, he has come away from this experience with one clear message that he is using to warn others. If you don’t want this to happen to you, the solution is simple.

    “It’s a good idea to warn everyone. All the guys who train jiu-jitsu, grappling, MMA, anything that involves contact: wear a cup to avoid accidents. This had never happened to me. It was the first time and look what happened. I had to have surgery. I had to be out of action for two months.”

  • Ian Garry Believes He’s Winning The Fans Back Over: ‘Seeing The True Me’

    Ian Garry Believes He’s Winning The Fans Back Over: ‘Seeing The True Me’

    Ian Machado Garry has been a somewhat divisive character since he first arrived in the UFC in 2021. The Irishman has always been an incredibly self-confident fighter who believes that he is destined to be at the top.

    His ascent up the welterweight ladder rubbed some fans up the wrong way though, particularly in his fights with Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Criticism from other fighters added to the aura surrounding Garry being one of a fighter with something to prove amidst a lot of doubts and negativity.

    It certainly seems like the #7-ranked welterweight has started to change his public perception following his performance at UFC 310. For a start, Garry put his money where his mouth is by stepping in to face Shavkat Rakhmonov on short notice in the co-main event.

    He went on to produce an impressive performance and proved to be Rakhmonov’s toughest test to date when many expected the undefeated “Nomad” to maintain his 100% finishing rate. There is also the fact that Garry’s relationship with the fans certainly hasn’t been hurt by his allegiance and friendship with one of the most beloved fighters in the sport, Charles Oliveira.

    In a recent interview with Spaceport Sweden, the 27-year old spoke about his changing perception and the reaction he got after he showered “Do Bronx” with praise in both English and Portuguese. He believes that though he’s always going to try and entertain, he wants people to be invested in his journey and story.

    ”I feel like the fans are just seeing the true me. We’ve started making this vlog on YouTube, which is doing really well. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out. It’s just showing me and my personality more and the fans are seeing it and understanding it. That’s always what I’ve wanted from my Instagram and we’re in a world where social media matters. I’m in the entertainment business, right? I’m a fighter. I’m a competitor. But I’m in the entertainment business. We want people to tune in. We want people to watch. We want people to see and connect. When I think about my Instagram and what I’m doing, I want people to understand and connect to me as a human, as a fighter, as a father, as a husband, whatever it is. It’s why my family matters to me so much. I want people to see that I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my team. I love the way we travel and I want people to see that be inspired by it.”

  • Robert Whittaker ‘Playing With The Idea’ Of Light Heavyweight Switch: ‘I’m A Big Dude…’

    Robert Whittaker ‘Playing With The Idea’ Of Light Heavyweight Switch: ‘I’m A Big Dude…’

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has firmly shut the door on the possibility of returning to welterweight, but he has left another door ajar…

    Whittaker will enter the new year off the back of a crushing defeat, having been submitted in the opening round by a brutal face crank at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi this past October.

    While wins earlier in the year over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov had the Australian approaching a chance to regain the 185-pound crown, “The Reaper” is now out of the championship conversation for the time being.

    And when he returns in 2025, it seems Whittaker is pondering the prospect of inserting himself into a different one.

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker noted that a return to welterweight — the division he went 3-2 in under the UFC banner before switching to middleweight — is not on the cards. A move up, however, could be.

    “Me, I wouldn’t go down. I can’t go down,” Whittaker said. “I’m still playing with the idea of going up to light heavy, dude. I’m a big dude, much bigger than people think I am. I don’t know.”

    Should Whittaker follow through on that, he’d be chasing a man he was previously in pursuit of at 185 pounds.

    After a brief stint on the middleweight throne, Alex Pereira secured two-division glory in just his second fight at light heavyweight. He’s since defended the gold on three occasions in 2024, establishing himself as one of the promotion’s leading stars.

  • Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t fazed about competing at a more low-key event to kick off his 2025 campaign.

    Having risen to prominence on MMA’s biggest stage in quick time, “The Last Stylebender” competed on pay-per-view lineups 14 times in a row between his knockout win over Derek Brunson at UFC 230 in 2018 and submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Australia this past August.

    That setback this year marked Adesanya’s second straight, coming 11 months on from his shock removal from the throne at the hands of Sean Strickland. The Nigerian-New Zealander now finds him out of the championship conversation for the first time in years.

    And with that will come a return to UFC Fight Night action for the first time since his headliner with Brad Tavares in 2018, as he does battle with the surging Nassourdine Imavov at the event in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

    Given that card’s location and the habit since 2020 for many events to take place within the crowdless surroundings of the Apex, Adesanya isn’t expecting the magnitude of his next fight to feel as different as some have predicted.

    “I still get paid. There’s still a referee, it’s two of us in there, there’s a crowd. It’s not like in the f*cking Apex or something, so it doesn’t feel any different,” Adesanya said during an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel. “I think people are making it out to be something how they would react to it, but they’re not in my shoes. They’re not in my shorts.

    “It’s a Saudi Arabia Fight Night, first of all. I still get paid. It still feels like you’re fighting Israel Adesanya. This is the biggest fight of his (Imavov’s) life. I have to be the one to halt that,” Adesanya continued. “It still feels the same. It doesn’t feel any different.”

    While he expects to feel the same making the walk, Adesanya will hope to get a different result than in his two previous outings.

    Having admitted that he’s toward the end of his career as an active fighter, “The Last Stylebender” will look to ensure that his stint in the UFC doesn’t conclude on a losing skid by defeating Imavov for his first win since a memorable knockout of Alex Pereira in April 2023.

  • Dan Hardy Backs Cédric Doumbé As Jake Paul’s First MMA Opponent: ‘That Could Be A Good One’

    Dan Hardy Backs Cédric Doumbé As Jake Paul’s First MMA Opponent: ‘That Could Be A Good One’

    It would appear that Dan Hardy is onboard with the idea of PFL star Cédric Doumbé welcoming YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to the cage.

    Paul has risen to prominence in combat sports courtesy of his efforts in the ring. The Cleveland native has built a professional record of 11-1 that’s largely comprised of wins over aging MMA veterans. Most recently, he got the better of 58-year-old boxing great Mike Tyson for Netflix’s controversial first entry into the fight game.

    Following that, “The Problem Child” has continued to boast big aspirations, once again vowing to become a world champion and calling out the likes of Canelo Álvarez. And with that, past talk of an MMA transition has quietened.

    Paul previously looked close to a first cage appearance after signing with the Professional Fighters League at the start of 2023. During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the head of fighter operations for PFL Europe — pondered the polarizing ex-Disney star’s potential MMA arrival.

    “I was excited about the idea that Jake Paul would have a go at mixed martial arts. And I thought to myself he’s going to come to MMA with the same energy, we know he’s got a wrestling background as well,” Hardy said. “He’s in a weird situation, isn’t he? Because who do you match (him) up against?”

    Talk of Paul’s debut in the sport most recently returned to the surface when former Glory Kickboxing champ Cédric Doumbé included him on the list of possible 2025 opponents while addressing the crowd in Lyon at the PFL Europe championship event this month.

    In the eyes of Hardy, the Frenchman is a realistic opponent option for Paul.

    “Cédric Doumbé had mentioned a few different people he would fight, and Jake Paul was on the list. Doumbé’s got a great kickboxing background, but he only has a few fights in MMA. And he’s a striker, so he’s not going to want to grapple with Jake Paul,” Hardy continued. “Doumbé’s a bit older, but he’s definitely smaller. That could be a good one, even in boxing, I think Cédric Doumbé vs. Jake Paul would be a lot of fun.”

    There remains no timeline on an MMA venture for Paul, whose most recent tease regarding a combat sports assignment explicitly mentioned the boxing realm once again.

    Doumbé, meanwhile, is seemingly eying up a rematch with Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov after the controversial end to their headline clash in Paris earlier this year.

  • Jim Miller Reveals Issue He Continues To Battle Despite 45-Fight UFC Career: ‘I Still Have Difficulty…’

    Jim Miller Reveals Issue He Continues To Battle Despite 45-Fight UFC Career: ‘I Still Have Difficulty…’

    UFC lightweight Jim Miller may have enjoyed a record-breaking career in mixed martial arts, but he still says he suffers from “imposter syndrome” at times.

    The 41-year-old New Jersey native is still going strong inside the Octagon, most recently submitting Damon Jackson in under three minutes at November’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside the prestigious Madison Square Garden.

    That outing extended Miller’s lead in a number of UFC records, including most wins (27), most fights (45), and most first-round finishes.

    But despite a storied tenure in the sport and on its biggest stage, “A-10” doesn’t always feel as though he belongs.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Miller was candid about that issue. While his status would no doubt lend itself to the freedom to do so, the fan favorite admitted he often struggles when it comes to making requests such as arena appearances instead of Apex fights.

    “I still feel like I deal with a little bit of imposter syndrome,” Miller said. “It’s hard for me to even say that stuff. My job is to fight, and that’s what I do. I’m not a matchmaker. I’m not any of that stuff. I’m a fighter, so that’s what I focus my time on.

    “I know that I am well-respected and I appreciate the hell out of that, and some of the conversations that I have with guys like Sean Shelby or (Joe) Rogan, I do feel that I’ve earned their respect,” Miller continued. “I still have difficulty making those callouts, like saying, ‘Hey, no more Apex cards for me. Jim always wants the big cards – only numbered events at this point.’ That’s a tough one for me.”

    Miller did, however, go out of his way to make a rare callout for his next fight.

    The veteran is eyeing up a legend vs. legend clash with the recently victorious Cub Swanson, who brutally knocked out Billy Quarantillo in Tampa earlier this month.

  • Tyson Fury: I’ll Believe I Beat Oleksandr Usyk ‘Until The Day I Die’

    Tyson Fury: I’ll Believe I Beat Oleksandr Usyk ‘Until The Day I Die’

    Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury doesn’t look set to change stance on the result of his rematch against unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday.

    Fury was back in Saudi Arabia this week in pursuit of redemption against Usyk, who narrowly got the better of him in their blockbuster first clash this past May.

    On that occasion, “The Gypsy King” was frustrated to fall on the wrong side of a split decision verdict that saw “The Cat” crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champ sine Lennox Lewis was stripped of that status in 2000.

    And despite all three scorecards going the way of the Ukrainian second time around — and in a much more convincing fashion — the Brit is once again calling robbery.

    During his post-fight press conference after another 12 rounds in the ring with Usyk, Fury questioned the trio of 116-112 scorecards and stated that he believed his hand should have been raised.

    “I was quite confident,” Fury said. “I thought I won that fight again. I think I’ve got ‘Larry Holmes’d’ here. I thought I’ve won both fights, but then again I’ve gone home with two losses on my record now, so there’s not much I can do about it. I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can.

    “But again, I’ll always believe until the day I die I’ve won that fight,” Fury added.

    It remains to be seen what will come next for “The Gypsy King,” who entered the year undefeated in professional boxing and will leave it on a two-fight skid.

    While some pundits and former fighters have already backed the idea of retirement for Fury following an illustrious career, plenty were quick to pitch a long-awaited UK showdown with Anthony Joshua, who is also coming off a difficult setback.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Another Main Event In The Calendar For 2025

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, December 16, and Sunday, December 122, a few fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources, with the most notable being the March 1 main event.

    For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    Elsewhere, just one booked fight has been adjusted. For that, see below:

  • Dan Hooker Doubts Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claims: ‘He’s Just Working Off McGregor’s Playbook’

    Dan Hooker Doubts Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claims: ‘He’s Just Working Off McGregor’s Playbook’

    While Ilia Topuria and his team have teased a move up to lightweight, it appears not everyone believes that the UFC featherweight champion will make such a jump.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, teased that Topuria is looking at a move up to lightweight, even if it means leaving the UFC flyweight title he won just 10 months ago behind.

    The expectation had been that Topuria would have a rematch with the man he took the belt from, Alexander Volkanovski, at some point in 2025. But “El Matador” caused a stir during a radio appearance in Spain when he suggested he’s competed at 145 pounds for the last time.

    One key lightweight contender, Dan Hooker, thinks that talk from Topuria and his camp is just that — talk.

    Dan Hooker Doesn’t Believe Ilia Topuria Will Make Jump To Lightweight

    During his own recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker described Topuria’s remarks as “classic s***” that stems from McGregor’s own playbook from 2015-16.

    “It’s pretty evident that he’s just working off the line one from McGregor’s playbook, which is keeping your name in the headlines,” Hooker said. “So, all I kind of see from it is that Ilia Topuria is keeping his name in the headlines — like the guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk next year.”

    Topuria won the featherweight title by knocking out Volkanovski at UFC 298. He then successfully retained the title at UFC 308, becoming the first man to knock out former champion Max Holloway.

    It should be noted the featherweight division is not cleaned out, with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evolev each making their claims of late for a potential title shot down the line.

    Hooker, meanwhile, won his third straight fight at UFC 305 in August, defeating Mateusz Gamrot in an entertaining upset.

  • Arman Tsarukyan On UFC 311 Opponent Islam Makhachev: ‘Not As Good As People Think’

    Arman Tsarukyan On UFC 311 Opponent Islam Makhachev: ‘Not As Good As People Think’

    Islam Makhachev, widely regarded as the number one pound-for-pound fighter, is set to defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 in Los Angeles next month.

    This highly anticipated rematch revisits their first encounter from April 2019, a Fight of the Night classic that showcased both fighters’ skill and tenacity.

    Tsarukyan, the title challenger, believes that Makhachev’s reputation as an unstoppable force is overstated. In a recent interview with ESPN, the Russian-Armenian expressed his confidence in dethroning the champion:

    “He’s not as good as people think,” Tsarukyan said. “People think he’s unbeatable, like crazy wrestling, but I took him down when I was 22 years old.”

    The challenger attributes his confidence to two key factors: wrestling expertise and his relentless drive to achieve championship glory.

    “First of all, I know how to wrestle very well,” Tsarukyan explained. “Second, I’m young and hungry. I’ve never had the belt, so it drives me. I have a lot of energy for training, and I believe I’m the guy who’s going to beat him. But the most important thing is that I’m very hungry. I want that belt so much. It’s a dream. When I got into the UFC, I was thinking about that. I’ve been thinking about it for five years.”

    With both fighters determined to leave their mark, UFC 311 promises to deliver another unforgettable showdown in the lightweight division.

  • Sean O’Malley Reveals Plan To Aid Chances Of Becoming UFC Champ Again: ‘I Just Need A Detox…’

    Sean O’Malley Reveals Plan To Aid Chances Of Becoming UFC Champ Again: ‘I Just Need A Detox…’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has been known for a strong media presence, but it appears that he is planning to take a step back from such.

    After losing the 135-pound gold earlier this year, O’Malley has announced on his Instagram that he is planning to take a social media “detox” in the new year, hoping that this will help him focus on building a path toward earning back the gold.

    Sean O’Malley To Put Social Media Posting On Hold In 2025

    “2025, I am deleting all my social medias off my phone until my next fight,” O’Malley posted. “My team will be running my socials. We will still make content but I just need a detox from my phone. Going to focus on reaching my full potential as an athlete and a father.”

    The ever-popular UFC fighter finally won the bantamweight championship at UFC 292 last year with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling. He successfully defended the title against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 this past March before dropping it to Merab Dvalishvili at the Noche UFC event inside the Sphere.

    The loss was just the second in O’Malley’s career, following his 2020 defeat to Vera. In the aftermath, “Suga” went under the knife to repair a torn labrum. He’s looking to return in the first or second quarter of the new year, with a rematch opposite Dvalishvili in his sights.

    “The Machine,” meanwhile, is scheduled to defend the title against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311 next month.

  • Ilia Topuria’s 5-1 Brother Booked For Long-Awaited UFC Debut In 2025

    Ilia Topuria’s 5-1 Brother Booked For Long-Awaited UFC Debut In 2025

    A prominent name on the European regional MMA scene will now be making his UFC debut — and that means one UFC titleholder won’t be the only one in his family in the Octagon.

    Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria, will be making his UFC debut at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Australia. He will be taking on Cody Haddon in a bantamweight clash Down Under.

    The news was first revealed by Spanish reporter Álvaro Colmenero on X.

    Ilia Topuria’s Brother To Make UFC Debut At UFC 312

    The younger Topuria brother is 5-1. He made his professional MMA debut in 2015 but took a layoff of over six years from the sport following a loss to Ivo Ivanov at the end of that year.

    “El Cazador” has won three straight, all by way of first-round finishes, to earn his path on to the sport’s biggest stage.

    Haddon, meanwhile, submitted Billy Brand earlier this year on Dana White’s Contender Series before making his UFC debut in October, taking a decision over Dan Argueta.

    Aleksandre’s brother, Ilia Topuria, has taken up plenty of the MMA headlines of late. He’s notably teased a move up to lightweight and squashed a rumored bout between him and Conor McGregor.

  • ‘Judges Weren’t Corrupt For Once?’ – Fighters & Fans React To Oleksandr Usyk’s Convincing Decision Win In Tyson Fury Rematch

    ‘Judges Weren’t Corrupt For Once?’ – Fighters & Fans React To Oleksandr Usyk’s Convincing Decision Win In Tyson Fury Rematch

    The final major boxing fight of 2024 saw a lot of unity from fans, pundits, media, and fighters — it was a close, competitive fight but the right man won.

    Oleksandr Usyk edged out Tyson Fury in a unanimous decision to retain the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight championships in the main event of a Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 21.

    Usyk worked his jab well in the opening frame, which proved to be a bit of a feeling-out process. The Ukrainian came out with a strong combination to start the second round, but Fury seemed to start to gain control, working his jab as the round went on.

    “The Gypsy King” got on the front foot in the third round after a shot that Usyk thought was illegal but was not called such. The champ looked to land the big shots late in the round, which saw plenty of utilization of the jab by Fury. Usyk cracked the Brit with a couple of strong left hands during the fourth round, troubling Fury, who tried to use his reach and keep his opponent back. The former WBC titleholder fired back in the fifth, however, as he showed his physical prowess and landed strong, inside shots, especially to the body.

    After a bit of a slower start to the sixth round, Usyk continued to land well on the inside. The seventh and eighth remained particularly quiet, though the Ukrainian remained in control, working over the challenger’s body.

    And he appeared to open up a cut above one of Fury’s eyebrows late in the ninth frame, as he remained in control and forced “The Gypsy King” to need to answer quickly. Fury threw power from the get-go, looking to bully the champion with his own back to the scorecard wall seemingly. He appeared to gas out in the later portion, however, backing up to “The Cat’s” attacks.

    Usyk landed a couple of strong left hands throughout the 11th, still backing Fury up. Both men emptied the tank in the 12th round, with the challenger landing some strong punches but the champ landing a rocking combinations in the closing seconds.

    Oleksandr Usyk Retains Heavyweight Championships In Decision Win Over Tyson Fury

    https://twitter.com/DonCaolan135/status/1870601498029072545
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870618415934636044

    This was a rematch from their initial encounter in May, which saw Usyk edge out Fury in a split decision to win the WBC heavyweight title, becoming boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. This reign was not for long, however, as the IBF stripped him of the title not long after the win as a result of taking tonight’s rematch.

    The IBF title was awarded to Daniel Dubois, who retained the championship with a knockout of Anthony Joshua in September.

    Dubois was knocked out by Usyk in their August 2023 title fight. He called “The Cat” out following Saturday’s fight for a rematch of his own, which could realistically happen and give boxing another undisputed heavyweight champion, pending Dubois successfully defending the IBF title against Joseph Parker in February.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights: ‘The Cat’ Outpoints ‘The Gypsy King’ Again

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights: ‘The Cat’ Outpoints ‘The Gypsy King’ Again

    The heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury took place today, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    Nine months on from their first showdown, which an undisputed heavyweight king crowned for the first time since Lennox Lewis was stripped of the title in 2000, Usyk and Fury renewed hostilities in Saudi Arabia this week.

    The pair collided in a memorable 12-round affair this past May, with the Ukrainian falling on the right side of a split decision to add the WBC title to his WBA (super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring belts.

    With “The Cat” vacating the IBF gold a month on from his win over the previously undefeated “Gypsy King,” undisputed status wasn’t on the line today. Nevertheless, Saturday’s rematch in Riyadh wasn’t be short on stakes.

    In the end, it was once again Usyk having his hand raised, this time with all three scorecards going in his favor.

    With the event concluded, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Oleksandr Usyk def. Tyson Fury via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112)
    • Heavyweight: Moses Itauma def. Demsey McKean via TKO: R1, 1:57
    • Super Welterweight: Serhii Bohachuk def. Ishmael Davis via TKO (corner stoppage): R6, 3:00
    • Heavyweight: Johnny Fisher def. Dave Allen via split decision (95-94, 96-93, 94-95)
    • Featherweight: Lee McGregor def. Isaac Lowe via unanimous decision (96-92, 97-91, 97-91)
    • Super Featherweight: Peter McGrail def. Rhys Edwards via unanimous decision (96-95, 96-94, 96-94)
    • Light Heavyweight: Daniel Lapin def. Dylan Colin via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
    • Heavyweight: Andrii Novytskyi def. Edgar Ramirez via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92)
    • Super Featherweight: Mohammed Alakel def. Joshua Ocampo via unanimous decision (60-53, 60-53, 60-53)

    Mohammed Alakel Def. Joshua Ocampo

    Andrii Novytskyi Def. Edgar Ramirez

    Daniel Lapin Def. Dylan Colin

    Peter McGrail Def. Rhys Edwards

    Lee McGregor Def. Isaac Lowe

    Johnny Fisher Def. Dave Allen

    Serhii Bohachuk Def. Ishmael Davis

    Moses Itauma Def. Demsey McKean

    Oleksandr Usyk Def. Tyson Fury

  • Francis Ngannou Maintains ‘Something Unfair Definitely Happened’ With Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou Maintains ‘Something Unfair Definitely Happened’ With Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou would be hesitant about a rematch with Anthony Joshua after how the lead-up to their fight this year unfolded.

    The former UFC heavyweight champion faced Joshua in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and suffered a second-round knockout loss. Since then, “The Predator” made a successful return to MMA in October, securing a KO victory over Renan Ferreira at the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants event, also held in Saudi Arabia.

    In a recent interview with Radio Rahim of Seconds Out, Ngannou revealed his reservations about a rematch with Joshua down the line, pointing to unsettling circumstances surrounding their initial fight week that he’s previously brought up.

    “The rematch with Joshua, to be honest, I feel very off and not very comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou admitted. “It’s something that could happen, but what I do know for sure is that I want the rematch with Fury. Again, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. I think things wasn’t right, nothing was right, and if it’s gonna be the same scenario, I’m not interested.”

    Ngannou elaborated on his concerns, reiterating complaints about what he considered unfair treatment during the fight preparation process.

    “Something unfair definitely happened. I don’t have the full picture, but I have seen some myself that wasn’t right. I was in the locker room for almost four hours, for example, which is not something that does happen in a fight. So, just from that, not to talk about the entire week.”

    While Ngannou hasn’t ruled out the possibility of facing Joshua again, his sights seem firmly set on a rematch with Tyson Fury, with whom he shared an intensely competitive boxing bout earlier in his crossover career.

  • Manel Kape Misses Out On Title Shot, Faces Top Contender In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Manel Kape Misses Out On Title Shot, Faces Top Contender In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Manel Kape’s recent performance will not earn him a UFC flyweight title shot — at least not yet. He may, however, be one fight away from getting such.

    Per Ag. Fight, Kape’s next fight has already been booked, as he will take on former title challenger Brandon Royval in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card at the APEX on March 1, 2025.

    Kape competed on last week’s UFC Tampa card, taking out Bruno Silva in a highlight TKO. The result marked “Starboy’s” fifth win in his last six fights and helped him bounce back from a loss in his dlackluster outing with Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 earlier this year.

    Manel Kape vs. Brandon Royval Targeted For March 1 UFC Fight Night

    Royval is on a similar path, having defeated former champion Brandon Moreno and the highly touted Tatsuro Taira in his two 2024 fights. His sole loss in recent times was an unsuccessful challenge of current flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 296. “Raw Dawg” also lost to Pantoja in their initial 2021 meeting.

    Pantoja, meanwhile , successfully defended the title against former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura in the Japanese star’s UFC debut earlier this month at UFC 310.

  • Gilbert Burns Targets Colby Covington For UFC Event In Miami: ‘I Know You Not Showing Up!’

    Gilbert Burns Targets Colby Covington For UFC Event In Miami: ‘I Know You Not Showing Up!’

    Gilbert Burns and Colby Covington have yet to share the Octagon, but their paths may soon cross following a week of online exchanges fueled by a prank.

    The drama began when Burns publicly tweeted UFC Tampa cornerman Chael Sonnen’s phone number. The move was a response to the UFC legend spreading a rumor that the Brazilian had retired from MMA. While “Durinho” and Sonnen appear to have resolved their differences, the stunt didn’t sit well with Covington.

    In defense of the former fighter, Covington issued a challenge to Burns, proposing a fight in his honor. The one-time title challenger quickly accepted the idea and suggested Miami as the venue, expressing interest in an April showdown.

    “Just [sign] the contract,” Burns wrote. “I know you not showing up.”

    Both fighters are looking to bounce back in their careers.

    Burns is on a three-fight losing streak, while Covington has dropped his last two bouts. Interestingly, both athletes’ most recent victories came against Jorge Masvidal — in March 2022 for “Chaos” and April 2023 for “Durinho.”

  • Francis Ngannou ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Jon Jones Anymore, Knows What Fight He ‘For Sure’ Wants

    Francis Ngannou ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Jon Jones Anymore, Knows What Fight He ‘For Sure’ Wants

    Francis Ngannou is tired of being asked questions about a potential fight with the UFC’s heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. The two of them colliding in the UFC was a huge talking point towards the end of 2022 until the saga ended with Ngannou leaving the promotion and vacating the title which was later won by Jones.

    With the two men now being at the top in different promotions, it seems unlikely that they will face off with another if the UFC and PFL don’t go into business with each other but Turki Alalshikh might be the only person that could make that happen. During an interview with Seconds Out during fight week for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 in Riyadh, Ngannou was asked about whether a meeting with the consensus greatest of all time is still of interest to him.

    From Ngannou’s point of view, he has always claimed that he is happy to compete against Jones, stating that he has never been the one that has stopped it from happening. The PFL star said that he is no longer giving this fight any of his energy because whether we ever see it or not isn’t a decision that rests on his shoulders.

    “It’s been four years that I’ve been saying it, I’m confused that people keep asking me this question,” Ngannou told Seconds Out. “It’s been four years! That’s not my problem, I don’t care about it anymore. If it happens, yes, if it doesn’t, f— it.”

    It’s not clear what Ngannou’s next fight will be right now although there may be some more clarity on that following his conversations with Alalshikh in Saudi Arabia this week. Ngannou has picked Usyk to beat “The Gypsy King” for a second time on Saturday night and this result could potentially lead to him getting a rematch with Fury following their closely contested fight in his boxing debut last year.

    “What I do know for sure is that I want a rematch with Fury,” he said.

    Ngannou isn’t interested in avenging his other boxing loss which came earlier this year against Anthony Joshua. Another name that has been spoken about is Deontay Wilder who would seemingly be a more enticing option for Ngannou than the MMA bouts that are out there for him right now.

    “The rematch with Joshua, honestly I felt very off and not very comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou said. “It’s definitely something that could happen, but … I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. I think things wasn’t right. Nothing was right. And if it’s going to be the same scenario, I’m not interested.”

  • PFL Founder Rejects Bellator Fighter Complaints, Insists Promotion Did ‘Best They Could’ In 2024

    PFL Founder Rejects Bellator Fighter Complaints, Insists Promotion Did ‘Best They Could’ In 2024

    2024 has provided some problems for the PFL that they haven’t had to deal with in the past. Despite having the PFL debut of Francis Ngannou and some great performances on the 2024 World Championships card, a lot of the talk surrounding the promotion as of late has revolved around the fighters that haven’t been in action.

    Following the acquisition of Bellator last year, the PFL was always going to have to work out how to keep a huge amount of new fighters on the roster busy and happy. This has not been the case for some of the top names in the promotion including Bellator champions like Patrício Pitbull, Cris Cyborg and Patchy Mix who have all complained about not being as active as they would like.

    In a recent social media post, PFL founder Donn Davis hit back at some of the criticisms by stating that the promotion always has and always will offer each athlete the opportunity to compete twice per calendar year. It is also worth noting that the following post was edited with a slight change to the wording.

    The post originally read that the PFL did “a good job” before it was later changed to state that the promotion did the “best we could”.

    “PFL has ALWAYS provided all fighters 2 fights a year … When we acquired Bellator THEY had ZERO fight events scheduled for their Bellator 210 fighters in 2024. @PFLMMA stepped in and did best we could for them in 2024 … 2025 ALL fighters again 2 fights a year!”

    Cyborg, who is the Bellator featherweight champion, has been one of the most vocal about her issues with the PFL but this has quietened down since her fight with Larissa Pacheco in October. The Brazilian icon responded to Davis’ post and showed her support for the promotion.

    Pitbull, on the other hand, has made his mind up that he wishes to be released from the promotion so that he can go and fight elsewhere after going public with his complaints. He also responded and disputed some of the claims made by Davis.

  • VIDEO: Robelis Despaigne Records Fastest KO In Karate Combat History In First Fight Since UFC Release

    VIDEO: Robelis Despaigne Records Fastest KO In Karate Combat History In First Fight Since UFC Release

    Robelis Despaigne made his Karate Combat debut last night and instantly broke records by producing the fastest knockout in the history of the promotion. The towering Cuban took just four seconds to secure his first win by dropping Dominik Jędrzejczyk with a huge overhand right.

    Karate Combat 51 in Miami was Despaigne’s combat sports return following his UFC departure earlier this year. The devastating striker arrived in the Octagon with an MMA record of 4-0 with previous knockout wins in both four and three seconds.

    His career in the UFC was off to a flying start at UFC 299, which also took place in Miami, as he finished Josh Parisian in 18 seconds to earn a performance of the night bonus. Following that, he lost back-to-back fights to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane in outings that exposed some of the limits in his overall skillset for MMA.

    After being cut from the roster, it seemed obvious that Karate Combat would be the perfect home for the 36-year old who was always going to struggle in UFC bouts that featured a lot of grappling. The 6’7” heavyweight is once again off to an electric start in his new home following his show-stealing finish over Jędrzejczyk.

    Watch the knockout via Karate Combat on X with the promotion making the video their pinned post.

    https://twitter.com/KarateCombat/status/1869920466967703844
  • VIDEO: Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury Have Tense 10-Minute Staredown Ahead Of Boxing Rematch

    VIDEO: Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury Have Tense 10-Minute Staredown Ahead Of Boxing Rematch

    Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury seem to be laser-focused ahead of their upcoming rematch.

    Both boxing superstars are set to reignite their rivalry this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where “The Cat” will put his WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles on the line against Fury.

    The pair first squared off in May when Usyk emerged victorious after a grueling split decision. With this win, the unbeaten Ukrainian cemented his status as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999, while also handing “The Gypsy King” his first professional setback.

    As their eagerly awaited showdown approaches this weekend, Usyk and Fury took the stage for their final press conference on Thursday. The atmosphere was electric as the two engaged in a brief yet fiery exchange on the microphone.

    The intensity only escalated during the faceoff that followed, as the two rivals stared each other down for over 10 minutes. Tensions ran so high that officials had to step in and separate them just as they began trading insults.

    Following their May fight, “The Cat” was forced to give up his undisputed status when he had to vacate the IBF title, which was subsequently passed on to his former rival Daniel Dubois.

    Usyk holds a flawless professional record of 22-0, with 14 wins by knockout. Meanwhile, Fury boasts a near-perfect 34-1-1 record, with 24 of his victories coming by knockout.

  • Tyron Woodley Claims He’s Getting ‘Boxing Money In MMA’ With New Global Fight League

    Tyron Woodley has become one of the earliest fighters to sign with the Global Fighting League (GFL), a new mixed martial arts promotion set to launch next year. Since his UFC release in 2021, Woodley had transitioned to boxing but has now been drawn back to MMA by the enticing opportunities offered by GFL.

    The former UFC welterweight champion recently expressed his eagerness to return to the sport, citing the league’s lucrative contract as a significant motivator.

    Woodley left the UFC on a four-fight losing streak, but his signing signals a fresh start. He joins a roster that includes notable names such as Benson Henderson, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Alexander Gustafsson — just a few of the high-profile veterans who have signed with GFL.

    “I’ve been wanting to get back into MMA. I really just kind of put it on pause — I kind of ghosted it for a minute — but it never really ghosted me when I needed it,” Woodley said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “This was a good opportunity. It had some Ric Flair drip with the payout, and it made sense for me.”

    Woodley emphasized his commitment to the organization, which he claimed is paying him “boxing money in MMA.”

    “I’m fully in with the GFL. So many people called me and asked if I was really signed because they know I wouldn’t step up to something that’s bullsh*t. I’m not going to be part of anything that doesn’t pay me super handsomely or offer a platform that helps build my brand. Everyone that’s signed — probably 90 percent — called me to make sure I was in.

    “The OGs get paid, man. Getting boxing money in MMA is a whole flex, and I’m just excited to be a part of the new wave. I’ve been wanting to get back in MMA.”

  • Conor McGregor Vows To KO ‘Sloppy Novice’ Logan Paul In UFC vs. WWE Battle

    Conor McGregor Vows To KO ‘Sloppy Novice’ Logan Paul In UFC vs. WWE Battle

    Conor McGregor appears to be all in on his potential boxing match with WWE superstar Logan Paul. “The Notorious” recently claimed on X that he is working towards a return to the ring to face off with Paul in India with his long awaited return to the UFC falling slightly down the priority pecking order.

    Paul recently made his WWE comeback at the Raw on Netflix Kickoff event where he announced that he will be stepping back into the pro wrestling world when Raw debuts on Netflix on January 6. During his speech, he even threw a reference to McGregor in there by stealing one of the Irishman’s most iconic lines.

    As for McGregor, the former UFC champ-champ has been incredibly active on social media over the past few days. It has been a massively significant month for him in general following the verdict of his civil court case where McGregor was found guilty of sexual assault.

    In his latest post regarding his combat sports return, he referenced Paul’s boxing ability and the fact that both men are under contract with TKO Group which some have suggested will make this fight easier to pull off. As for his potential opponent, Paul’s last outing inside the boxing ring was a disqualification victory over McGregor’s former teammate, Dillon Danis.

    Despite his lack of combat sports experience, the WWE athlete opened as the betting favorite for a contest with “The Notorious”. Accompanied by lots of hashtags, McGregor had this to say on the fight.

    “TKO Group! UFC vs WWE. There is levels to this, a big sloppy novice is going to find out! TKO KING TITLE #BiggestGenerator#KingofNumbers#Streams#PPV I hold every record and I am coming back to KO this novice and rack in more numbers for the company. #StockMarketIndia#MyHighestPayPacketYet#Thanksforthecheese“

  • Aljamain Sterling: It Wasn’t Right For UFC To Book Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov On Short Notice

    Aljamain Sterling: It Wasn’t Right For UFC To Book Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov On Short Notice

    Aljamain Sterling believes UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili is being rushed into defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight belt in September at UFC 306 and had hoped to take some time off before his next fight. However, the UFC decided to book this title bout on short notice, sparking criticism from the Georgian’s friend and teammate Sterling, who feels the timeline is unfair.

    “This fight is being made on six weeks’ notice? Maybe six-and-a-half,” Sterling said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “For a title fight? I understand having to do that if you’re a challenger, but as a champion, you shouldn’t be relegated to those types of stipulations. It’s just not right.”

    Sterling elaborated on the frustration of being in such a position.

    “It leaves a bad taste in your mouth, as in, ‘Why did I work so hard to get to this position, to call the shots — or some of the shots — and you’re not even getting a fair shake in it?’ Hopefully, we go out there — knock on wood — Merab does his thing, he takes [Nurmagomedov’s] 0, puts on a great performance, and we can move on from this to the next.”

    Sterling is no stranger to this situation.

    After defeating Henry Cejudo to retain the bantamweight title at UFC 288, he was forced to defend it just three months later against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. “Funk Master” lost the fight via knockout, a result that still looms large in his mind as he defends Dvalishvili’s predicament.