PFL standout Cédric Doumbé is poised to make a triumphant return to the SmartCage in Paris, where he is expected to receive a rousing reception from fans for his upcoming bout. According to a report, Doumbé is scheduled to face Baissangour Chamsoudinov (8-0-0) on March 6th in what promises to be an exhilarating showdown. Doumbé's return to the SmartCage comes on the heels of his spectacular victory over Jordan Zébo, whom he dispatched in a stunning nine seconds last September. With an unblemished record of 5-0-0 in his professional MMA career, Doumbé has quickly made a name for himself in the sport after a successful tenure in kickboxing. The upcoming bout against Chamsoudinov represents a significant challenge for Doumbé, as he prepares to face a tough opponent following his recent string of victories. Despite his brief stint with the UFC, which was unfortunately derailed before his promotional debut in 2022, Doumbé has found a new home in the PFL after signing with the organization in free agency. His journey in professional MMA began in November 2021 with a decisive first-round win over Arbi Emiev in SuperKombat Universe, followed by a successful stint in regional MMA in France, where he caught the attention of top promotions. On the other hand, Chamsoudinov will be making his PFL debut after an impressive run in Ares FC, where he remained undefeated in four consecutive fights. His most recent victory came against UFC veteran Efrain Escudero last June, securing a second-round TKO.

Francis Ngannou has expressed his belief in possessing the skill and punching power necessary to knock out former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua. Ngannou, who will be stepping into the boxing ring for only the second time as a professional, is set to face Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ngannou's foray into professional boxing began in October of last year when he made his debut in a non-title fight against WBC world champion Tyson Fury. In a surprising turn of events, Ngannou managed to drop Fury in the third round and engaged him in a highly competitive battle for the remainder of the contest. Despite his impressive performance, Fury emerged victorious with a close ten-round split decision win. Speaking about the upcoming bout with Joshua, Ngannou exuded confidence, stating, "The day is set. It's two months from now, and if any of them think they are going to have easy money, too bad for them. If AJ takes the punch that Fury took, I don't guarantee that he's [getting back] up. I have heard that he doesn't have a chin. I'm going to find out." Joshua, known for his active presence in the ring, fought three times last year. His most recent bout on December 23 saw him deliver a dominant performance against top contender Otto Wallin, securing a fifth-round stoppage victory. While many praised Joshua's performance, Ngannou remains steadfast in his assessment of the British star. "I think he's still the same fighter," Ngannou remarked. "Being the same fighter doesn't mean you can't lose. He lost to Andy Ruiz. He lost to Oleksandr Usyk, and he can still lose. By the way, I'm really intending to hand him a loss on March 8. You can still be who you are but still lose. Nobody is undefeated." Follow FIGHT.TV for more news stories like this.

The much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura has been rescheduled, moving from UFC 298 to take center stage as the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event on March 16 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, announced UFC CEO Dana White on Friday. Originally slated for UFC 298 on Feb. 17 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, the decision to push the bout back one month adds an extra layer of anticipation to the matchup between the No. 9 ranked heavyweight, Tai Tuivasa, and the No. 10 ranked heavyweight, Marcin Tybura. Tuivasa finds himself in a challenging phase, grappling with a three-fight skid that includes knockout losses to Sergei Pavlovich and Ciryl Gane, as well as a submission defeat against Alexander Volkov in his most recent outing at UFC 292. Eager to rebound and reclaim his position among the heavyweight elite, Tuivasa welcomes this rescheduled opportunity with renewed determination. On the other side of the octagon, Tybura aims to bounce back from his recent setback. Having suffered defeat at the hands of the current interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, at UFC London, Tybura looks to revive his momentum. His prior two-fight winning streak, featuring stoppage wins over Greg Hardy and Walt Harris, showcased his prowess and earned him the No. 10 spot in the UFC Rankings. The decision to move this heavyweight showdown adds intrigue and suspense to the UFC Fight Night in March, promising fight fans an explosive battle between two determined heavyweights eager to make their mark in the division. As Dana White confirmed the rescheduling, fight enthusiasts are left anticipating the clash between Tuivasa and Tybura, wondering if the extra month will bring strategic adjustments or further intensify the rivalry. The March UFC Fight Night is set to be a pivotal event, and this rescheduled heavyweight headliner is expected to take center stage with all eyes on the octagon.

Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, is gearing up for his upcoming boxing match against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou recently signed a deal to return to the boxing ring, following his split-decision loss to Tyson Fury. With Deontay Wilder's unexpected defeat to Joseph Parker, Ngannou secured the opportunity to face Joshua in a heavyweight clash scheduled for March 8th. Originally, Wilder was slated to fight Joshua, but his loss prompted Saudi Arabia to consider alternative opponents. This turn of events opened the door for Ngannou, who is eager to secure a rematch with Fury by defeating Joshua. In a surprising move, Ngannou has decided to forego training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and will instead train in Saudi Arabia. Although his head coach, Eric Nicksick, won't join him until next month, Ngannou will have the support of Dewey Cooper and other trainers. There are also rumors that Mike Tyson, who recently established a boxing gym in Saudi Arabia, may assist Ngannou in his preparations. Dewey Cooper, Ngannou's coach, expressed his enthusiasm for the fight, stating, "The fight gods, the gods of boxing, the gods of entertainment came together and made this [fight] happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen. … Now [Joshua] has no one to fight. Well, guess what? There’s someone that’ll fight him. There’s an MMA fighting champion that’ll fight him." Both Ngannou and Joshua have made significant changes in their training camps leading up to the bout. Joshua started working with Ben Davison, Tyson Fury's former trainer, before his recent victory over Otto Wallin.

Artur Beterbiev showcased his concussive power as he defeated the durable challenger Callum Smith in a high-stakes battle for the light heavyweight titles. The ruthless Russian knockout artist delivered a dominant performance at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada, overwhelming Smith with his aggressive style and heavy-handed blows. Beterbiev, known for his relentless pursuit of victory, dropped Smith twice during the seventh round, demonstrating his superiority in the ring. As the fight reached a critical juncture, Smith's trainer, Buddy McGirt, made the tough decision to stop the contest, conceding victory to Beterbiev. The official stoppage occurred exactly two minutes into the seventh round, with Beterbiev emerging victorious and retaining his IBF, WBC, and WBO light heavyweight titles. The victory marked a significant milestone for Beterbiev, who maintained his perfect professional record of 20 wins, all by knockout. He also made history by becoming the first fighter to knock out Smith, a formidable opponent with a record of 29 wins and 2 losses, including 21 knockouts. Beterbiev's triumph denied Smith the opportunity to secure a world championship in a second weight division, a goal that had eluded the former WBA super middleweight title-holder. In his post-fight interview with ESPN's Bernardo Osuna, Beterbiev expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, acknowledging Smith's resilience while emphasizing the role of strategy and luck in securing victory. Looking ahead, Beterbiev revealed his desire to face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in a highly anticipated showdown, aiming to unify the light heavyweight division and become the undisputed champion. For Smith, the defeat came after a valiant effort, with his only previous loss being a decision to the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez, in December 2020. Despite showing glimpses of his skill and determination, Smith struggled to withstand Beterbiev's relentless assault, ultimately succumbing to the Russian's overwhelming power. The fight showcased Beterbiev's dominance in the light heavyweight division, cementing his status as one of the sport's most formidable champions.

In a blockbuster announcement, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the much-anticipated showdown between former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and former UFC flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo is officially on the cards for UFC 300. The tricentennial event, set for April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promises to be a historic night, and this matchup adds a thrilling layer to the celebration. The road to this clash of titans has been paved with anticipation and a bit of history. After Garbrandt's spectacular knockout victory over Brian Kelleher at UFC 296, he wasted no time in calling for a showdown with Figueiredo. This desire for a matchup wasn't new, as the two fighters were initially booked to meet in August 2020. Unfortunately, illness forced Garbrandt to withdraw from the bout, leaving fans to wonder about what could have been. Now, with both fighters in peak form, Garbrandt (14-5) is ready to test his mettle against Figueiredo (22-3-1) at 135 pounds. Garbrandt's journey includes a successful return to bantamweight with victories over Trevin Jones and Kelleher in 2023, following a flyweight debut that ended with a knockout loss to Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. On the flip side, Figueiredo made a successful divisional debut in December, securing a decision win over Rob Font. As a two-time flyweight champion, Figueiredo's journey in the octagon has been nothing short of remarkable, with a memorable four-fight series against Brandon Moreno from 2020-23. As the date for UFC 300 approaches, fight fans can expect fireworks in the T-Mobile Arena. Get ready for an epic clash as Garbrandt and Figueiredo step into the octagon to make their mark on the tricentennial event.

In a captivating co-main event at UFC Vegas 84, seasoned lightweight Jim Miller secured a triumphant victory over Gabriel Benitez, tapping him with a face crank at 3:25 of the third round. The win not only marked Miller's second consecutive victory, following his June stoppage of Jesse Butler, but it also positioned him for a potential blockbuster matchup at UFC 300. From the opening bell, Miller (37-17) showcased his striking prowess with crisp combinations and punishing leg kicks. Every strike from Benitez (23-12) was met with intensified retaliation from Miller, who dominated brief clinch battles with well-placed knees to the body. Round 2 saw Benitez attempting to shift momentum, but Miller's relentless exchanges and a strategic takedown kept the contest fiercely contested. Entering the final round with both fighters showing signs of battle, Miller continued to trade heavy blows with Benitez. A decisive takedown led Miller to Benitez's back, where he secured a face crank for his 12th UFC submission win. The victory not only solidified Miller's reputation as a submission specialist but also set the stage for a potential showdown at UFC 300. “I’ve got three months to heal up and stay in shape and stay ready,” Miller declared in his post-fight interview. “Now it’s just find an opponent at this point. There’s a couple of names that have been thrown out that intrigued me a bit, one sitting at the desk, Paul Felder. I think that would be a fun fight.” Paul Felder, who retired in 2020 and transitioned to the commentary desk, has recently teased a return to the octagon. Miller's callout adds an exciting layer to the narrative surrounding UFC 300, with CEO Dana White previously confirming Miller's special placement on the card, making him the only fighter to compete on all three century mark events. As Miller eyes a historic appearance at UFC 300, the lightweight division braces for a potential clash between two veterans eager to make their mark on this monumental milestone in the UFC's storied history.

In a spectacular showcase of skill and determination, Magomed Ankalaev delivered a brutal second-round knockout to settle the score with Johnny Walker in the main event of UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday. The clash marked a redemption for Ankalaev, who sought to put to rest the unfinished business from their previous encounter that ended in a disappointing no-contest. The Russian powerhouse bided his time, waiting three months for another shot at Walker, and when it came, he seized the opportunity with gusto. Throughout the second round, Ankalaev asserted dominance, strategically putting Walker on his back foot. The climax arrived with a devastating right hook that landed flush on Walker's jaw, followed by a ruthless uppercut that left the Brazilian's nose in ruins and forced referee Marc Goddard to swiftly halt the fight. “I was prepared for this a long time,” Ankalaev declared after his triumph. “I wanted the rematch right away. When I come out here, I am open for the hunt and everybody in front of me is the hunted.” As Ankalaev had foreseen, Walker began the fight aggressively, searching for an explosive finish with a flurry of shots. However, Ankalaev exhibited poise in the face of the Brazilian's fiery opening, avoiding Walker's best strikes and maintaining composure. Despite a momentary setback from a low blow, Ankalaev regrouped and methodically pursued Walker, denying him any counter opportunities. The culmination of Ankalaev's measured approach came in the form of a perfectly timed right hook that sent Walker crashing to the canvas. With Walker stunned and defenseless, Ankalaev unleashed a massive uppercut, resulting in a nose-shattering explosion. The victory not only avenged the unresolved business from their previous bout but also showcased Ankalaev's 11-fight undefeated streak, including a draw with Jan Blachowicz and the previous no-contest against Walker. “I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev asserted confidently. “I have 10 victories in a row, it’s been a long time. I’m worth it. Give me that fight for the title now!” While former champion Jamahal Hill is set to face UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira, Ankalaev's resounding victory may have just propelled him into the title conversation. The Russian fighter's aspirations for gold burn brighter than ever as he solidifies his place as a force to be reckoned with in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Following the official acquisition of Bellator by the PFL in November, anticipation has been building for an event that will feature top fighters from both promotions facing off against each other. The 2023 PFL World Championship card, which took place after the acquisition, showcased several PFL titleholders alongside Bellator champions, generating excitement among fans for matchups that were previously unthinkable. PFL chairman Donn Davis confirmed that the promotion is aiming for a PFL vs. Bellator event in the first quarter of 2024. According to Al Zullino, the highly anticipated clash of champions is scheduled to occur on February 24 in Saudi Arabia. Zullino also reported that the event will be broadcast live on pay-per-view, adding to the buzz surrounding the showdown. Additionally, the first matchup for the card has been confirmed, with Jesus Pinedo set to face off against Patricio Pitbull in a PFL vs. Bellator clash. Pinedo, who had a remarkable year in the PFL's featherweight tournament, secured his spot in the finals by avenging his loss to Gabriel Braga. During the announcement of the upcoming event, Pinedo engaged in a staredown with Pitbull, the reigning Bellator featherweight champion, setting the stage for an intense showdown. With the confirmation of this exciting matchup, fans can expect a thrilling night of mixed martial arts action as PFL and Bellator champions collide in Saudi Arabia next month.

UFC fans can mark their calendars for March 30 as the welterweight clash between Vicente Luque and Sean Brady takes center stage at UFC Atlantic City. The announcement, made by none other than UFC CEO Dana White, has ignited anticipation for a night of thrilling fights at Boardwalk Hall. The headline bout promises fireworks as top-tier welterweights Luque and Brady lock horns. For Luque, this matchup is a chance at redemption after a canceled fight with Ian Machado Garry due to Garry contracting pneumonia. Undeterred, Luque now sets his sights on Brady, aiming to build on his recent victory against former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Brady, too, is riding a wave of success, having bounced back with a submission win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Austin. This victory not only showcased Brady's resilience but also reignited his title aspirations, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown against Luque. The UFC Atlantic City event doesn't stop at the headlining bout; it promises even more excitement with a pivotal flyweight clash between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot. With both fighters hungry for success, this matchup is poised to add another layer of intensity to an already stacked fight card. As fight night approaches, fans can expect nothing short of high-octane action from these skilled warriors. Get ready for a night of fierce competition and unforgettable moments as Luque and Brady prepare to leave it all in the octagon at UFC Atlantic City.

In the world of mixed martial arts, where warriors clash within the octagon, fighters are expected to adhere to a code of honor. One fundamental aspect of this code is making weight before the fight, ensuring a fair and even playing field. Unfortunately, not everyone seems to respect this code, as evidenced by the recent fallout between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 84. The stage was set for an intense showdown between Nicolau and Kape, but the bout was marred when Kape missed weight by a staggering 3.5 pounds. This not only jeopardized the fight but also triggered a fiery response from Nicolau, who didn't hold back in expressing his disappointment and frustration. Nicolau, a seasoned UFC flyweight, took to social media to call out Kape's actions, labeling him as "irresponsible, reckless, and disrespectful." The Brazilian fighter accused Kape of attempting to gain an unfair advantage by, in his words, "cheating the system." "I went through that entire war. I’ve been cutting weight for 5 weeks now with a restrictive diet. Today, I woke up at 5 am to finish the process and weigh in at the 126 pounds, what was needed for the fight to happen. Kape didn’t," Nicolau stated in his scathing remarks. In the aftermath of the weight miss, Kape claimed to be sick two weeks prior to the fight and alleged that Nicolau refused a catchweight bout. However, Nicolau wasn't having any of it, dismissing Kape's excuses as mere attempts to shift blame. The consequences were clear – the highly anticipated Nicolau vs. Kape clash was canceled. UFC Vegas 84, however, soldiers on with an 11-fight card, now headlined by a light heavyweight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. As Nicolau vs. Kape fades away, a new co-main event takes shape, featuring a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Gabriel Benitez. The show must go on, but the echoes of Nicolau's disappointment and Kape's alleged disrespect will undoubtedly linger in the minds of MMA fans, leaving a weighty mark on the sport.

World Fighting Championships (WFC) is set to make a grand return on January 19 at the picturesque Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, featuring a thrilling card headlined by Cris Cyborg taking on Kelsey Wickstrum in the main event. Cris Cyborg, known as one of the top female MMA fighters globally, is set for her second professional boxing match after a successful debut in 2022 where she defeated Gabrielle Holloway in a dominant four-round unanimous decision in Omaha. Expressing her excitement about the upcoming fight, Cyborg stated, “I am excited to be making my California boxing debut with Pechanga Casino and WFC. Kelsey Wickstrum is ranked #3 in the USA at super welterweight for women’s boxing, and it will be a great challenge.” Cyborg's opponent, the undefeated Kelsey Wickstrum (2-0, 1KO), is coming off a first-round stoppage win over Sudana Moore in April 2023 in Maryland. Wickstrum shared her thoughts on the upcoming bout, saying, “My team and I feel great about this fight. I am very grateful for the opportunity. This is the biggest fight of my career against a legendary woman in the world of mixed martial arts and women's combat sports. All my preparation leading up to this fight was to make sure I am prepared mentally and physically to handle this fight, no matter what direction it may go." WFC CEO Matt McGovern expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This is a great card to kick off 2024 for World Fighting Championships. We’re excited to have Cris Cyborg on the card, and she is facing a very tough opponent in Kelsey Wickstrum. We’re very grateful to Pechanga Resort Casino and the Pechanga Band of Indians for partnering with us on this event.” In the co-main event, San Diego’s Jesus Resendiz (7-0-1, 5KO) will face Rosekie Cristobal (15-6, 11KO) of the Philippines in a six-round welterweight bout. Resendiz is coming off a third-round knockout over Jose Leon, while Cristobal will be returning to the ring for the first time since 2021. The stacked card also features exciting matchups such as San Diego super lightweight Angel Estrada (10-1-1, 7KO) facing off against San Antonio's Frank Brown (3-3-2, 1KO) and super welterweights Angel Munoz (5-0, 4KO) and Keith Carson (1-6-1) going head-to-head.