Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Terence Crawford was a smashing success for Netflix.
According to Netflix, the undisputed title tilt between two of boxing’s brightest stars drew in more than 41 million global viewers, making it the most-viewed men’s championship bout this century.
“Over 41 million global viewers watched #CaneloCrawford on Netflix, making it the most-viewed men’s championship boxing match this century!” the streaming giant announced on X.
Per a report from Reteurs, the peak viewership for Crawford-Canelo was more than 24 million concurrent streams and it was the top-ranked program on Netflix in 30 nations, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Philippines, Australia and Argentina.
Crawford vs. Canelo Gate Good Enough for Third-Highest in Boxing History
UFC CEO Dana White, who promoted the event alongside Turki Alalshikh in Las Vegas, also revealed that the total gate at Allegiant Stadium was a whopping $47.23 million. That’s good enough to make it the third-highest gate in boxing history, only behind Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor‘s $55 million gate and Mayweather’s showdown with Manny Pacquiao which holds down the top spot, having brought in $72 million.
Crawford won the bout on Saturday night, securing a unanimous decision victory over Canelo to capture the undisputed super middleweight world championship. With the win, ‘Bud’ improved his overall record to 42-0 (31 KO) while Canelo fell to 63-3 (39 KO) with his only other losses coming against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.
While 41 million is an undeniably impressive number, it still pales in comparison to November’s fight between Jake Paul and ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, which brought in 108 million global viewers on Netflix.
Jumping up two weight classes from his last bout, Terence Crawford has made history in the inaugural Zuffa Boxing card at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the new undisputed super middleweight champion.
Crawford remains undefeated and becomes the first male boxer in history to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era in three weight classes.
The two used the first round to feel each other out, with Alvarez having more activity, but Crawford landing the cleaner shots. Crawford looked to use quicker shots in the second round, while Alvarez looked to cut off the ring and bully the body of Crawford.
Both men looked strong in the fourth round, with Crawford keeping the momentum early on before Alvarez picked up his pace in the later stages of that round. Alvarez continued to pour things on in the fifth round, only for Crawford to respond in kind in the sixth.
After a closely contested round seven, Crawford took control in round eight, not letting Alvarez’s body shot attempts slow him down. Both men, however, brought their power in round nine, which also saw Crawford opened up following an accidental headbutt.
Crawford landed more big shots in the 10th, but Alvarez appeared to trouble Crawford at one point, pressuring him against the ropes. Crawford returned fire with an all-around performance in the 11th before the two risked it all in the championship rounds.
All three judges scored the bout for Crawford, with one 116-112 score and two 115-113 totals.
Terence Crawford Defeats Canelo Alvarez For Undisputed Super Middleweight Title
TERENCE CRAWFORD DEFEATS CANELO
HE IS NOW THE FIRST MAN IN THE HISTORY OF BOXING TO BECOME A THREE WEIGHT UNDISPUTED CHAMPION 🏆🏆🏆
I don’t need the official decision.. Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford just delivered a boxing masterclass to beat Canelo Alvarez. Magnificent performance from the now undisputed 🐐. Congrats @terencecrawford 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/xdc4FVnluX
Crawford should win 9 of 12 rounds on the scorecards! Great fight; at 37, he moved up 14 lbs to beat Canelo Alvarez, a 32-year-old all-time great champion!
Crawford, a world champion in four weight classes, previously was an undisputed champion at light welterweight and welterweight, having previously been a world champion at 147 for over five years. Crawford came into this bout off a win over Ismail Madrimov, winning a pair of titles at light middleweight in the process.
Alvarez, who also has been a world champion in four weight classes, won his first belt at super middleweight in December 2018. He’d become undisputed champion at 168 with a finish of Caleb Plant in November 2021 before becoming a two-time undisputed champion when he regained the IBF title in May by defeating William Scull.
Dustin Poirier has shared his prediction for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown.
The highly anticipated Alvarez vs. Crawford clash takes place tonight (Saturday, September 13) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mexican boxing superstar will put his undisputed super middleweight belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) on the line against the undefeated Crawford, the former undisputed welterweight and light welterweight champion who has moved up two weight classes in pursuit of greatness at 168 pounds.
The marquee bout takes on added weight as it marks the debut of Zuffa Boxing. The historic card is being promoted by UFC CEO Dana White under the TKO banner, in collaboration with Saudi Arabian sports chief Turki Alalshikh.
Image: @Zuffa_Boxing/X
Dustin Poirier Predicts Terence Crawford Will Pull Off An Upset Against Canelo Alvarez
According to BetOnline.ag, heading into fight night the defending undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is listed as a solid -170 favorite, while Terence Crawford stands as a +140 underdog looking to overturn the odds.
However, former UFC interim lightweight champion Poirier bucks the consensus of oddsmakers and combat sports analysts, predicting “Bud” Crawford will outbox Alvarez and pull off a shocking upset tonight to achieve three-division undisputed glory.
“I’m thinking Crawford for the upset tonight,” Poirier wrote on X.
Canelo Alvarez enters this bout fresh off a unanimous decision victory over William Skull this past May, successfully defending his 168-pound titles. The 35-year-old from Guadalajara boasts an impressive professional record of 63-2-2, including 39 knockouts against elite opponents such as Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, and Amir Khan.
His last defeat came in May 2022, a hard-fought unanimous decision loss to the now-undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Meanwhile, Terence Crawford returns to the ring after a year-long hiatus. The 37-year-old Nebraska native last stepped into the squared circle in August 2024, securing a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov to capture the WBA and vacant WBO interim light middleweight titles.
“Bud” remains unbeaten in his professional career, boasting a flawless 41-0 record with 31 wins by knockout. His victories include formidable opponents such as Errol Spence Jr., José Benavidez Jr., and David Avanesyan.
In a bout that has long been anticipated, Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford goes down tonight in an undisputed super middleweight title clash of two of boxing’s pound-for-pound greats today.
The two clash in the main event of the inaugural event promoted by TKO Boxing at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A world champion in four weight classes, Canelo Alvarez picked up his first super middleweight title in December 2018 before defeating Caleb Plant in November 2021 to become the first ever undisputed boxing world champion at 168 pounds. He’d defend the undisputed championship four times before the IBF stripped him in 2024; he’d regain that title and became a two-time undisputed champion at 168 with his win over William Scull this past May.
Crawford has also been a world champion in four weight classes, having held undisputed gold at both light welterweight and welterweight. The undefeated Crawford, after more than five years as a welterweight champion, moved up to light middleweight last year, controversially defeating Israil Madrimov in August 2024 to become a champion at that weight class. This will be his first fight at 168.
The Canelo vs. Crawford card is available on Netflix and will begin at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Prelims are available on YouTube at 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT. Ring walks for the main event are expected at approximately 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT.
If you can’t watch the action, MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights below.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Results & Highlights
Main Card:
Undisputed Super Middleweight Championship: Terence Crawford def. Canelo Alvarez via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113 x2)
Light Middleweight: Callum Walsh def. Fernando Vargas Jr. via unanimous decision (99-91 x2, 100-90)
Interim WBC Super Middleweight Championship: Christian M’billi vs. Lester Martinez goes to a split draw (96-94, 93-97, 95-95)
Catchweight: Mohammed Alakel def. Travis Kent Crawford via unanimous decision (99-91 x2, 98-92)
Heavyweight: Ivan Dychko def. Jermaine Franklin via unanimous decision (96-93, 95-94, 97-92)
Super Featherweight: Reito Tsutsumi def. Javier Martinez via TKO (R1, 2:18)
Light Welterweight: Sultan Almohamed def. Martin Caraballo via unanimous decision (40-36 x3)
Light Heavyweight: Raiko Santana def. Steven Nelson via TKO (R1, 2:38)
Super Middleweight: Marco Verde def. Marcos Osorio-Betancourt via TKO (R4, 1:11)
Marco Verde vs. Marcos Osorio-Betancourt
Sona Akale was HEATED after the referee stopped this fight and awarded the win to Marco Verde 😳#CaneloCrawford LIVE TONIGHT only on Netflix 9 PM ET | 6 PM PT pic.twitter.com/flMk9EGjYB
"This the opportunity of a lifetime for you. … Do you want this fight? We can't be bullshitting no more."
Jermaine Franklin's corner was letting him hear it ahead of the 6th round against Ivan Dychko. #CaneloCrawford LIVE tonight ONLY on Netflix 9 PM ET | 6 PM PT pic.twitter.com/c328MNLeRx
We’re now just one night away from the highly anticipated Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford undisputed super middleweight title matchup, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford takes place on September 13 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Alvarez, a four-division world champion, won his first belt at super middleweight in December 2018, when he knocked out Rocky Fielding for the WBA “Regular” title before defeating Callum Smith in December 2020 for the WBA “Super” title and WBC title. After a successful defense against Avni Yildirim, he’d pick up the WBO title in a win over Billy Joe Saunders and the IBF title with a win against Caleb Plant to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion.
Alvarez would make four defenses of the undisputed championship before the IBF stripped him of their gold. He’d retain the other three titles against Edgar Berlanga last year before regaining the IBF title with a win over William Scull in May.
Crawford already has experience being an undisputed champion, having become the first male boxer in the sport’s history to do so in two different weight classes — light welterweight and welterweight. After over five years as a champion at welterweight, beginning with his WBO welterweight title win in 2018, Crawford became a champion in a fourth weight class in his WBA and WBO light middleweight title win over Israil Madrimov in August 2024.
The main card will also feature Callum Walsh taking on Fernando Vargas Jr., Christian M’billi defending the WBC interim super middleweight title against Lester Martinez, and Mohammed Alakel facing Travis Kent Crawford.
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for Alvarez and Crawford to face off before they meet in the ring. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Ceremonial Weigh-Ins
The long-awaited Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford has finally arrived, set for this Saturday, September 13, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMA News brings you the official weigh-in results ahead of one of the year’s most monumental boxing showdowns.
Alvarez is set to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) against former undisputed welterweight and light welterweight champion Crawford, who will be moving up two weight classes for the 168-pound showdown.
The inaugural Zuffa Boxing event, promoted by UFC CEO Dana White under the TKO banner, will be co-headlined by a light middleweight showdown between Callum Walsh and Fernando Vargas Jr., while interim WBC super middleweight champion Christian M’billi takes on Lester Martinez.
All intensity in the co-main event 👀@KINGCALLUMWALSH vs Fernando Vargas Jr.
We are just two nights away now from the highly anticipated undisputed super middleweight title bout that sees Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. And now it’s time for a little more build to this already high intensity matchup among two of boxing’s pound-for-pound best with a good old fashioned press conference.
This will be one of the last times the two will speak to each other, as well as the fans and the media, prior to their clash on Saturday night, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Though Alvarez picked up his initial super middleweight title back in December 2018, he became the undisputed champion with an 11th-round finish of Caleb Plant in November 2021. He became a two-time undisputed champion by defeating William Scull in May. This will mark the seventh unified super middleweight title defense for the four-division world champion.
The undefeated Crawford has also been an undisputed boxing world champion before, winning all four alphabet titles at both light welterweight and welterweight. This will be his first matchup since his controversial win over Ismail Madrimov to become WBO interim light middleweight champion. This is Crawford’s first fight at super middleweight.
The Netflix card will also feature Callum Walsh taking on Fernando Vargas Jr., Christian M’bili defending the interim WBC super middleweight title against Lester Martinez, and Mohammed Alakel facing Travis Kent Crawford.
Watch the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Press Conference
Alvarez and Crawford will partake in a press conference on the evening of September 11 in Las Vegas. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
The announcements about Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford continue to pour out, and another one has been made by Turki Alalshikh hours after the fight was officially confirmed.
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia has announced that Canelo vs. Crawford — which will take place on September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — will be the first TKO boxing event.
In the announcement on social media, Alalshikh adds that the fight will be promoted by none other than UFC CEO Dana White.
While White had briefly teased a leap into boxing with the Zuffa Boxing brand during the 2010s — namely around the time of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor event — that idea came and went. But White had teased testing the boxing waters once again in recent years.
The date of the Canelo vs. Crawford fight is one day prior to the Noche UFC 3 card — also known as UFC 320 — which is currently scheduled for September 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The TKO boxing league, in its initial announcement, teased details that included boxers having access to the UFC’s Performance Institute locations and TKO’s production team handling broadcast and promotion matters for both in-arena experiences and globally. TKO also promoted a structured system of talent development.
Though it was not in the greatest of fights, Canelo Alvarez can now call himself a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion, coming out on top in a win over William Scull. The fight headlined a Riyadh Season card held in Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez retained the WBA (Super), WBC and WBO super middleweight titles, while regaining the IBF super middleweight gold he had been stripped of months earlier.
After what appeared to be a feel-out first round, Alvarez started to connect in the second, doing work with his combinations. Scull focused on his jab, and that jab continued to be on display for the first half of the fight. That said, Scull seemed to only be throwing one or two punches at a time before dancing around the ring. Alvarez’s production was low, meanwhile, moving around the ring and being selective with his punches, trying to work the body when he does throw.
After a quiet round seven that Alvarez appeared to take off, Alvarez re-pressured, targeting the body and making Scull throw and miss off the back foot. That ended up being the rest of the fight, as neither man threw much of note, with the referee at one point even pausing to tell the fighters to pick up their action.
Alvarez would take a unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109.
Canelo Alvarez Becomes Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion Again In Highly-Criticized Fight With William Scull
I think it speaks volumes when Canelo vs. JAKE PAUL would've been a more entertaining fight than an IBF MANDATORY. This is why TKO might just carve boxing into whatever the company wantshttps://t.co/xoFz8wYEW8#CaneloScull
Canelo just solidified my point. MMA is way more exciting than boxing. The supposed king of boxing went 12 rounds with a mannequin from JCPenney and still put everyone to sleep. At this point, boxing ain’t a sport anymore, it’s a sleep aid with ring lights.
Alvarez has now won six straight since his May 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol. He has been WBA (Super) and WBC super middleweight champion since defeating Callum Smith in December 2020, before adding the IBF title six months later in a win over Billy Joe Saunders. Alvarez had also been IBF champion but was stripped of the title for choosing to face Edgar Berlanga in September, rather than Scull.
Alvarez also appeared to have at one point been in discussion to box with Jake Paul before plans to compete on a Riyadh Season card were finalized.
Scull won the IBF title in October, scoring a decision over Vladimir Shishkin.
Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s global star, has recently made a series of high-profile moves that are reshaping his career. After signing a last-minute, multi-fight deal with influential advisor Turki Alalshikh, he parted ways with Premier Boxing Champions and potential clash with YouTube star Jake Paul.
This shift has positioned him for a reported blockbuster fight on Netflix. The unified super middleweight champion is set to make his Saudi Arabia debut on May 3, facing undefeated IBF titleholder William Scull in an undisputed 168-pound clash as part of Riyadh Season.
It has fueled speculation about Alvarez’s future. With the promotion’s anticipated debut in September, rumors are swirling that Canelo could headline against pound-for-pound boxing luminary Terence Crawford.
This potential super-fight underscores the significant impact of the new promotion and the high-caliber matchups it aims to deliver.
“There’s always an opportunity for me to fight in September in Las Vegas, those are my dates [along with Cinco de Mayo weekend in May] and everyone knows that,” Alvarez told CBS Sports HQ on Thursday. “We need to take care of the May fight first but there is an opportunity to fight in Vegas in September and be the first event for [TKO] as a promoter.”
When questioned about the potential impact of Dana White and TKO’s foray into boxing, Canelo expressed optimism.
“I think if it’s the best for the fighters out there, I’m fine with that,” Alvarez said. “I think [TKO] is going to do the best for the fighters, I’m pretty sure about that. I’m glad someone takes good care of the fighters because there are a lot of promoters that don’t take seriously the fighters. I think this is good for boxing and for the fighters, especially.”
After a period of time where things appeared to be uncertain, it looks like Canelo Álvarez does have his plan laid out for Riyadh Season after all.
With a fight against Terence Crawford seemingly on the horizon for later this year, the WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion will defend his titles against William Scull on May 3 in Saudi Arabia.
This will mark the first time Álvarez is not in either Las Vegas or Mexico for a fight during Cinco de Mayo weekend since a bout in Texas in 2015 — with the exception of his suspension during 2018.
There seemed to be a time, however, where in spite of plenty of reports announcing a deal between Álvarez and Crawford was being finalized, Álvarez looked to be switching plans to a May encounter with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
In a span of hours, Canelo went from finalizing a deal with Crawford, to finalizing with Paul, to going back to Crawford and finalizing plans to face Scull prior to that.
Canelo To Face William Scull In May, Prior To Facing Terence Crawford
Oh, Jake Paul got entirely played by Canelo and used as leverage and his dumbass didn’t even realize it and now he’s throwing a big tantrum because he was used and was never getting that fight? pic.twitter.com/jUy3ROhZOy
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) February 8, 2025
Álvarez last fought in September, retaining his championships in a decision over Edgar Berlanga.
Paul, meanwhile, defeated Mike Tyson in an eight-round bout in November that was broadcasted on Netflix. The streaming platform would also have broadcasted a bout between him and Álvarez.
Crawford has not been seen since his lackluster decision win over Israil Madrimov to win the WBA and vacant WBO interim light middleweight titles. A fight with Álvarez would reportedly be at 168 pounds.
Dana White recently lauded Al Haymon, the mastermind behind Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), for securing the iconic MGM Grand as the venue for Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming bout.
On September 14, White will be in a rare showdown in Las Vegas as two major combat sports events clash. Alvarez is set to defend his unified super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga at the MGM-owned T-Mobile Arena, while the UFC makes history by hosting the first-ever live combat sports event at The Sphere with Noche UFC.
A HISTORIC fight week is about to begin ✨#UFC306 live from a venue like NO OTHER 😮💨
This allowed the UFC to stage one of its most expensive events on September 14, despite PBC securing the date with MGM Resorts International. Last year, White outpaced Canelo by launching the inaugural Noche UFC at T-Mobile Arena after the UFC claimed the date first. Alvarez fought Jermell Charlo two weeks later at the same venue.
The UFC and Canelo have previously locked horns over scheduling conflicts on the same night. However, White gained the upper hand on November 2, 2019, when Alvarez’s light heavyweight title fight against Sergey Kovalev was delayed by nearly two hours to avoid competing for viewers as Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal fought for the inaugural BMF title in the main event of UFC 244.
The UFC CEO initially wasn’t thrilled when PBC also locked in the September 14 date for a Canelo fight, but now he appears unfazed by the rival spectacle…
White Commends PBC For Going Head-to-Head with Noche UFC
During a recent interview with Vegas PBS, White was asked if the UFC was sending a message by going head-to-head with a Canelo event on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. The UFC head honcho, however, took the high road, praising PBC’s Haymon for his promotional acumen in securing both the September 14 date and the T-Mobile Arena for the showdown.
“I knew that there was going to be an event. You have to assume it’s going to be Canelo that night,” White said. “It is what it is. They’re going to do their thing; we’re going to do our thing. Al Haymon slid in there and stole that date from us, which I’ve got to give him props for. Al Haymon is a boxing promoter who is very, very bright, very sharp, and what makes him fascinating as a boxing promoter is that when you think of all the promoters throughout life, whether it’s P.T. Barnum, Vince McMahon, or [Bob] Arum, you’ve seen them a million times. Al Haymon is in the shadows; he’s a guy that you’ve never seen, yet he is one of the biggest fight promoters in the boxing business.”
White further added that if PBC hadn’t locked down the T-Mobile Arena for that same date, the UFC wouldn’t have opted for The Sphere as the venue for Noche UFC.
“Props to him; he [Haymon] slid in and stole my date at MGM. But if that didn’t happen, I believe everything happens for a reason. If that doesn’t happen and things don’t line up the way they did, I’m not at The Sphere, I’m not first, and a lot of other things. So this was meant to happen, and the fact that we’re going head-to-head with him that night—MGM is guaranteeing the gate to them, they’re guaranteeing them the money no matter whether they sell tickets or don’t. We actually sold the tickets that we’re selling.”
Noche UFC boasts a stacked roster of Mexican fighters and will showcase two title fights. Headlining the event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili. In the co-main event, Alexa Grasso will put her UFC flyweight championship on the line in a trilogy bout against former champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili on September 14, 2024. Riyadh Season Noche UFC is the most expensive UFC event ever and it’ll go toe-to-toe with a boxing event featuring Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga.
While UFC 306 is booked for the Las Vegas Sphere, Álvarez will defend one of his super middleweight titles against Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena. The date and timings of the boxing and MMA bouts will clash, and fans can’t help but anticipate which event will be a bigger commercial success.
According to Khabib Nurmagomedov’scoach, O’Malley won’t be able to outsell Álvarez in PPV terms despite the UFC calling its event a celebration of Mexican heritage…
Javier Mendez Blames Prices And Sean O’Malley Not Being As Popular As Conor McGregor For Underwhelming Noche UFC Sales
Nurmagomedov’s coach discussed whether O’Malley is a big enough draw to compete with Álvarez directly on the Javier Mendez Podcast recently. He outright highlighted the boxer’s massive following in Mexico and how “Suga” is yet to achieve Conor McGregor’s levels of stardom.
“That’s mexican’s day for pay-per-view, it’s always been that way for as long as I remember. And Canelo being the biggest superstar in Mexico fighting on that night, I think on a pay-per-view level, it’s going to be difficult to compete. On top of that, if you look at the prices.”
The Mexican Independence Day is September 16, and unsurprisingly, sporting events around the date have usually been headlined by the most popular Mexican athletes. Mendez called Álvarez the biggest star in Mexico and predicted that his fight could generate more revenue than Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
Mendez didn’t put all the blame on O’Malley, though. Despite the recent price drop, the cheapest tickets for Riyadh Season Noche UFC cost over $700. In contrast, the cheapest tickets to Canelo vs. Berlanga are $400 at the time of writing.
According to Nurmagomedov’s coach, unless someone’s a huge MMA fan, they would consider watching one of the biggest names in boxing history for a lesser price.
“I don’t think that O’Malley’s a huge star yet. I think he can be, and I, but I don’t think he’s Conor-ish. I don’t think he’s, honestly speaking, where he needs to be yet. I mean, he’s got all the charismatic personality. He’s got the fighting style. But I just don’t think he has that he has that, the people that can propel him into that next level.”
Mendez admitted that “Suga” has the personality and fighting style to be a much bigger star in the future. However, he’s more interested in the winner of the UFC 306 main event defending their belt against Umar Nurmagomedov, who potentially secured a title shot by defeating Cory Sandhagen recently.
As of now, around 1,700 Riyadh Season Noche UFC tickets remain to be sold and Dana White expects a sell-out and a record $21 million gate.
Dana said today that there are about 1,700 tickets remaining for #NocheUFC Expects a sell-out and said the gate will be a UFC record $21 million. HUGE night for Nevada Athletic Commission with Canelo doing massive gate down the street.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 30, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Pimblett scolds Muhammad after title win
Alalshikh gives strong prediction for UFC vs. Canelo
Sonnen points out that Aspinall is finishing big guys with ease
Paddy Pimblett Posts Reaction To UFC 304 Main Event, Belal Muhammad Becoming Champion
A video posted on Paddy Pimblett’s YouTube channel gives fight fans a behind the scenes look at his fight night experience this past weekend.
“The Baddy” delivered one of the performances of the night at UFC 304 in Manchester when he submitted King Green in the first round to earn a lightweight ranking.
The main event, however, did not end on such good terms for the UK fighters and fans as Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion.
In the video, Pimblett is seen reacting to the official decision before going on to label Muhammad as the “most boring champion ever.”
Turki Alalshikh Not Worried About Saudi-Backed UFC 306 Going Up Against Canelo Álvarez
It’s incredibly rare to see any major sporting events going up against the UFC, but that is exactly what Canelo Álvarez will look to do on September 14 with his fight against Edgar Berlanga.
Alvarez has a track record for fighting on Mexican Independence Day, but he missed out on this last year after the UFC booked the T-Mobile Arena for the first Noche UFC card.
The MMA leader will instead be hosting UFC 306 this year at the Sphere, which is being built up to be an event like no other.
Part of the reason that both events are going head-to-head in Las Vegas is because UFC 306 is being sponsored by Riyadh Season and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, which has allowed the UFC to go big on this particular card, meaning Álvarez could run the T-Mobile on this occasion.
Speaking to ESPN, Turki Alalshikh gave a short response to how he believes the Saudi-backed Sphere event will compete with Álvarez.
“We will eat him,”
Chael Sonnen Says Tom Aspinall Is Doing Something That Even Mike Tyson Struggled With
Tom Aspinall’s incredible ability to end fights early on means that he has unbelievably low amounts of Octagon time despite being a world champion.
The interim heavyweight champ has said it himself that he wants opponents to test him in deeper waters but nobody can take him there.
He compared Aspinall to arguably the greatest knockout artist combat sports has ever seen and said that he is even capable of finishing fights in ways that Mike Tyson couldn’t even accomplish.
“Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”
Jake Paul isn’t a fan of UFC welterweight Kamaru Usman’s chances in the boxing ring should he get an opportunity against Canelo Alvarez.
Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 for him in the boxing ring in which he earned three-straight wins to remain undefeated. He most recently knocked out former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in their short-notice rematch last December.
Paul has proven to never be afraid to speak his mind, similar to Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. In a recent interview, Abdelaziz predicted that Usman would make quick work of Alvarez if they were to fight.
Abdelaziz took a shot at Paul and other YouTuber-turned boxers by referring to them as “fake fighters from boxing”. This prompted quite the response from Paul on social media.
Mr. Informant… do us all a favor and shut your peanut head ass mouth. The only thing fake is your boy Usman’s boxing skills. He won the belt from Tyron Woodley by decision. You seen what I did😚 https://t.co/OMts2Pwnv6
“Mr. Informant… do us all a favor and shut your peanut head ass mouth,” Paul told Abdelaziz. “The only thing fake is your boy Usman’s boxing skills. He won the belt from Tyron Woodley by decision. You seen what I did.”
This isn’t the first time that Paul has taken a shot at Usman. In November, he claimed that the UFC’s pound-for-pound king is “past his prime” and wouldn’t be a difficult matchup for him.
Abdelaziz has also had his own history with Paul after predicting that Usman would knock him out inside four rounds. While Usman has improved his striking considerably over his past few fights, he has yet to make a debut in the boxing ring.
While the chances of a Usman vs. Alvarez boxing match remain unclear, this hasn’t stopped some like Paul downplaying the idea that Usman would stand much of a chance in the ring.
Do you agree with Jake Paul’s take on Kamaru Usman’s boxing?
Kamaru Usman is looking to become the face of the fight game with a win over Canelo Álvarez.
Usman is currently the pound-for-pound best in the UFC and has called out Álvarez for a boxing match. Although Usman is known as a wrestler, he is confident he would be able to defeat the Mexican. With that, promoter, Eddie Hearn said he would be open to making the match for his client Álvarez.
There’s no question if the two do end up boxing, Canelo would be a massive favorite, maybe the biggest in his career. However, Usman says his unusual boxing style would throw Álvarez off and he would get the win.
Kamaru Usman, Photo Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
“Obviously, the bigger the dream, the bigger the manifestation,” Usman said to The Sun. “And the more it scares me, the more I’m willing to prepare and go through [hell] to achieve it. It’s no surprise. Canelo is a tall glass for anybody—a tall pint.
“And it scares me, it scares me to death. But the real reason [I want the fight] is: I wanted to be welterweight champion, I got it,” Usman added. “I wanted to be pound-for-pound, I got it.
“I always thought this phrase was special, and the phrase that I’m after now is: ‘The Face of the Fight Game’. And Canelo, right now, can’t say [he’s the face of the fight game]. Yeah, he’s the face of boxing, but he can’t say he’s the face of the fight game.”
Even though Kamaru Usman is calling for the boxing match with Canelo, he is likely to defend his welterweight title in July against Leon Edwards. The Mexican, meanwhile, is expected to face Dmitry Bivol in May and then will have the trilogy match against Gennady Golovkin after that, but perhaps after that, the Usman fight will happen if the Nigerian-American gets his wish.
For now, however, both Usman and Álvarez have to defend their own titles before any fight becomes to fruition.
Would you like to see Kamaru Usman vs. Canelo Álvarez ?
Canelo Álvarez’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is open to potentially negotiating a crossover match with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Usman teased the idea of a potential fight against Canelo in the leadup to his fight against Colby Covington at UFC 268. After defeating Covington for a second time, the interest in a matchup with Álvarez has remained afloat.
Álvarez is getting ready for his fight against Dmitry Bivol for the WBA super light heavyweight title on May 7 in Las Vegas. At the same time, he also hasn’t dismissed the idea of a big-money fight with Usman happening in the future.
During a recent appearance on The DAZN Boxing Show, Hearn addressed the potential of a Usman vs. Canelo fight coming to fruition.
“He’s under contract with UFC, but if Dana White wants to do it, we’d love to discuss it,” Hearn said. (h/t Mirror)
Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has already communicated his interest in a matchup with Álvarez. He went as far as predicting that Usman would defeat the boxing superstar inside of three rounds.
While Usman and Canelo’s respective management teams seem on board with the prospect of a fight, UFC President Dana White and his promotion could be a major hurdle. White has shut down the idea of a Usman vs. Canelo fight, although he has been known to change his mind on various topics.
Usman and Canelo are both considered at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings in their respective disciplines. Usman is likely to face Leon Edwards in the UFC later this year but may focus on a potential fight with Canelo with a win.
Do you think we’ll see Kamaru Usman vs. Canelo Álvarez at some point?
Canelo Álvarez seems open to the possibility of one day fighting UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Both fighters are arguably the #1 pound-for-pound best in their respective sports and a potential crossover between the two could see them bring in colossal pay-per-view figures. Usman previously proposed the idea when discussing his boxing ability and wanting to showcase why he’s the best in the world.
Now, it appears Canelo’s certainly interested in what the fight would look like one day, as he was asked on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani whether he would entertain the fight.
“Payday,” joked Canelo. “That’s the payday I know. Maybe, why not, you never say no, right?”
However, it appears for now at least that Canelo remains tunnel-visioned on cementing his legacy amongst the greatest to grace the sport of boxing ahead of his fight against Dmitry Bivol.
“It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career then we can talk about other things right later.”
The 31-year-old’s aiming to retire by 37, meaning there’s still plenty of time for a crossover to occur. It still remains possible that we may see him take on Usman before then should the proposal for the super fight come his way.
With both fighters in the primes of their career, now would be the time to make it happen. Usman appears to be becoming less interested in defending his UFC welterweight title with every fight having previously spoken about his interest in fighting for the light heavyweight title.
One roadblock in the way of making the super fight happen would be Dana White’s stance on his #1 pound-for-pound fighting Canelo. Back in November, Usman again spoke of his interest in the fight. In response, White said “He doesn’t want to fight Canelo,” with the UFC president indirectly hinting at the boxing ability of Canelo being superior.
Would you be interested in seeing Usman taking on Canelo in a boxing match?
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed the important advice his fellow Mexican titleholder Canelo Alvarez gave him.
In one of the most heart-warming title wins of 2021, Moreno reached the 125-pound mountaintop at UFC 263 in June. It came just two years and six fights after he was released by the promotion following back-to-back losses against Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja.
Having returned to MMA’s biggest stage and built a three-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval, Moreno earned a shot at Deiveson Figueiredo’s gold. At UFC 256 last December, the pair went to war in a Fight of the Year contender, which ended in a majority draw.
After injuries to Askar Askarov and Alexandre Pantoja prevented them from challenging for the title, Moreno will defend his belt for the first time in a trilogy fight against Figueiredo at UFC 270 on January 22.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVY_1xfPR4y/
Moreno Learned A Thing Or Two From Boxing’s P4P King
Moreno will certainly be looking to put in a similar display when he shares the Octagon with Figueiredo for the third time. And a meeting with fellow Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez would certainly have done no harm to that quest.
A month out from his championship victory, Moreno joined boxing’s pound-for-pound best in the gym. Not only was it an opportunity for the flyweight champ to mingle with his nation’s top sportsman, but it was also a chance for him to learn from one of the greatest pugilists of all time.
“Yes, (it) was my first time (meeting Canelo). I just wanna say, that guy is amazing. He’s a really good guy because, a lot of people thing he’s a little bit like, I don’t know how you say in English, but a bad guy, not a good people, but the guy is serious, definitely is a little bit serious, but he’s very honest and he has a really good vibe. With him, and around him, all the people around him, it’s like, very professional, with really good vibes.”
If Brandon Moreno wasn't dangerous enough already, now he's in the gym, learning from @Canelo 😬
Canelo boasts a remarkable 57-1 record inside the squared circle. His only blemish came at the hands of the consensus greatest of all time Floyd Mayweather. Thanks to wins over the likes of Billy Joe Saunders, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, and Sergey Kovalev, the Mexican became the first boxer in history to become an undisputed champion at super middleweight.
Given Canelo’s incredible success and accomplishments in the ring, it stands to reason not many are more qualified to give lessons on dealing with fame and championship glory. With that in mind, Moreno said the boxing great reminded him to remain focused on his career, even with the “luxury” that will begin to surround him.
“I talked a little bit with him, with Canelo. He give me some advice about, you know, about the success, about the glory, what happens when you have all this success, what happens with the people around you. (He said) ‘You need to be focused on the goal, and you need to be focused in your career with all the luxury around you.’ But man, now I know why the guy is the best in the world right now in boxing.”
With Canelo’s advice under his belt, Moreno will push forward with his reign atop the flyweight throne. Given Figueiredo’s work with former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, it’ll seemingly be a battle of legends’ advice come January 22.
What do you make of Canelo’s advice for Brandon Moreno?
