In a night of electrifying action at PFL 4 in Atlanta, Brendan Loughnane's reign as the PFL featherweight champion ended abruptly. Headlining the event, Loughnane squared off against the determined Jesus Pinedo, with both fighters vying for a coveted spot in the 2023 playoffs. Little did the audience know they were about to witness one of the most astonishing upsets in PFL history—a breathtaking 94-second knockout by "El Mudo" Pinedo. Right from the opening bell, it was evident that this clash would be explosive. Loughnane and Pinedo wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of strikes as they aggressively pressed forward. Pinedo, showing remarkable movement and precision, connected with several powerful right hands that set the tone for the fight. Sensing the urgency to regain control, Loughnane attempted to close the distance and engage in the clinch. Unfortunately for him, this decision proved to be his downfall. Seizing the opportunity, Pinedo executed a devastating knee strike that rocked the reigning PFL champion, sending him crashing to the canvas in disbelief. Pouncing on his wounded opponent, Pinedo quickly followed up with a series of punishing hammer fists, delivering Loughnane his first stoppage loss in his professional career. With this stunning victory, Jesus Pinedo solidified his place in the highly anticipated 2023 featherweight playoffs. Pinedo’s next challenge awaits in the form of top-seeded contender Bubba Jenkins—a showdown that promises to captivate fans with its intensity and high stakes. Meanwhile, Loughnane's dreams of defending his featherweight title were dashed, as he now finds himself eliminated from this year's playoffs. But the resilient champion will undoubtedly use this setback as fuel to bounce back stronger, setting his sights on reclaiming the prestigious championship in the following year. Jesus Pinedo's lightning-quick knockout victory over Brendan Loughnane sent shockwaves through the division, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe of the Peruvian fighter's skill and determination. As the journey toward the PFL playoffs continues, the anticipation for future clashes intensifies, as fighters like Pinedo and Jenkins strive to etch their names in the annals of PFL history. The stage is set for an unforgettable showdown in the playoffs, where the pursuit of glory will reach its apex.

In a recent Facebook Live session, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong addressed the uncertain future of atomweight champion Angela Lee. Sityodtong revealed that Lee is leaning towards retirement from mixed martial arts following the heartbreaking death of her sister, Victoria Lee, who was also a talented ONE Championship athlete. The 18-year-old Victoria tragically passed away in December of last year, leaving the Lee family devastated. "Angela Lee is likely not coming back due to the loss of her sister," Sityodtong announced during the Facebook Live session, reflecting on Angela's potential retirement. While Angela Lee has not made a definitive decision, Sityodtong shared with the South China Morning Post that the promotion intends to crown an interim atomweight champion in her absence. The focus is on arranging a matchup between Stamp Fairtex and UFC veteran Seo Hee Ham, with the interim title on the line. The CEO also confirmed that Angela's older brother, Christian Lee, who holds the ONE lightweight and welterweight titles, will be taking a break for the remainder of 2023. However, he expressed Christian's intention to return to competition in 2024. In the meantime, ONE Championship plans to establish interim champions in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions until Christian Lee's comeback. "Angela is still undecided on her return, but could likely retire," Sityodtong stated. "Stamp [Fairtex] versus [Seo Hee] Ham is interim [for the atomweight division]." “I spoke to Christian, he wants to fight 100 percent but he will take the rest of the year off. He will return next year. We will do interim title fights in both divisions this year to keep everything moving.” Since the tragic loss of their sister six months ago, neither Angela nor Christian Lee has directly addressed their future in the sport. While no official announcements have been made regarding the contenders for the interim lightweight and welterweight titles, preparations are underway for these highly anticipated bouts later this year. The potential retirement of Angela Lee, a formidable athlete who has captured the hearts of fans worldwide, marks a significant turning point in the world of MMA. Known for her dynamic fighting style and indomitable spirit, Lee has been an inspiration to many throughout her career. Should Lee choose to retire, the sport would bid farewell to a remarkable talent, but her decision to prioritize her well-being and healing should be respected above all. As the MMA community awaits Angela Lee's final decision, ONE Championship remains committed to keeping the momentum going by introducing interim title fights in the lightweight and welterweight divisions this year. The path forward for both the Lee siblings and the promotion will undoubtedly be challenging, but their determination and resilience will continue to inspire fighters and fans alike as they navigate this difficult period.

Marlon Moraes has announced his retirement, but this time around it seems like he's for real. The 35-year-old bantamweight, a former World Series of Fighting champion and former UFC title contender, was defeated by Gabriel Braga in a knockout at PFL 4 on Saturday in Atlanta. His sixth loss in a row—all by knockout or technical knockout—came as a result of that. When the battle ended and Moraes stood up, he took off his gloves and said with tears in his eyes that Thursday's fight would be his last. “I started here with World Series of Fighting, and when I announced my retirement, I was in the UFC,” Moraes shouted. “I wasn’t home. Now, I’m home. I wish I had better performances here, but I gave all my heart. I trained hard. I can look myself in the mirror everyday and be proud of myself. I’ve been kickboxing, MMA, since I was 9. I’m 35. 26 years, I gave all my life for this.

MMA fans were shocked when boxing legend Deontay Wilder attended PFL 4 on June 8 during their live broadcast. According to talkSports' Simon Jordan on April 12, Saudi Arabia is interested in having Wilder fight Joshua in December as well as World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury challenging World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation, and International Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk in a title unification fight. Hearn provided an update in an interview with iFL on June 8 by revealing that he has received a non-binding offer from Saudi Arabia. The expected heavyweight fight between Wilder and Joshua appears to be going well, but "The Bronze Bomber" hasn't stopped considering other possibilities. When Wilder made an appearance at PFL 4, he updated Randy Couture, Sean O'Connell, and Kenny Florian on his fighting career and let them know that he might be boxing in August or September. "The Bronze Bomber" exhibited interest in MMA combat when O'Connell inquired about it. “Aye Francis, if you listening, we discussed this before, and hey, we got many space and opportunity to discuss it once more. Aye, I'm looking for a two-fight crossing over. I'm willing to just go in the octagon as well as the original plans, but you know, the fans want to see it. I want to be a part of it. So let's give them what they want to see," said Wilder.

Óscar De La Hoya is really interested in making a Broner v.s Garcia fight if Broner wins this weekend . He sent Broner a messege to tell promotor Don King to call him to set that fight up. This fight would do well I believe because both men know how to sell, but I think De La Hoya just wants to milk Ryan Garcia before his contract is up and leaves Goldenboy, so might as well take advantage of their star power while you still can. Ryan and Óscar have been having their issues in social media but weather Ryan likes it or not he is under contract with Goldenboy.

During Pride FC's golden era you would see Wanderlei Silva, Big Nog , Fedor, Hendo and Cro Cop but not many remember a short Ukraininan heavyweight terrorizing the división knocking most opponents out. He first started in boxing but quickly went to kickboxing going 61-2-0 as a pro. In mma he competed from 1997- 2000's. Begining his carreer with a 37 fight winning streak, he has second longest winning streak with Fedor having the first place. He also has second place for the most KO's in mma second to Travis Fulton. In his career he won championships in 9 organizations having 12 championship titles in total. Some were even bare knuckle, Back in the early Vale Tudo days those mma fights were bare knuckle where in some of those tournaments he would fight up to 4 fights in one night. Thats the way it was in the early days of mma. It wasnt for the faint in heart. He had alot of famous showdowns like when he fought Mark Kerr, Paul Varlens, Gary Goodridge, Sakuraba, Gilbert Yvel, Rampage Jackson, Alistar Overeem, CroCop and the list goes on and on. Igor Vovchanchyn was a pioneer in mma and a true legend. He know lives in the Ukraine and still has a friendship with Fedor. Now if you didnt know who Igor was your not that big of an mma fan.

Amanda Nunes, the dominant two-division champion of the UFC women's division, has expressed doubts about the possibility of a trilogy fight with Valentina Shevchenko. The sentiment arises particularly because Shevchenko recently lost her UFC women's flyweight title to Alexa Grasso a couple of months ago. During a pre-fight news conference for UFC 289, Nunes was asked about the likelihood of facing Shevchenko for a third time. She responded with skepticism, stating: "I have a lot of noise at 135, and I don't think the UFC is going to stop and then go back with the Valentina thing. That don't sell nothing." Nunes and Shevchenko have a history, having fought twice before in 2016 and 2017, with Nunes emerging victorious on both occasions. However, there is an ongoing debate about the outcome of their second fight, as many believe that Shevchenko did enough to win, sparking interest in a potential third meeting. Shevchenko, known for her impressive title defense streak in the UFC women's division, suffered a setback when Grasso submitted her in the co-main event of UFC 285 in March. While this surprised some, Nunes was not taken aback by the result. “I was not surprised,” Nunes said. “I fought Valentina when she was in her prime, and we were both growing. Last fight, we were both growing as a fighter. Valentina has a lot of holes that I can see. I wasn’t able to do back then, but I see how Alexa Grasso would be able to finish her.” Nunes, with an impressive record of 22 wins and 5 losses, is now focused on defending her women's bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289. Interestingly, Aldana is a teammate of Grasso, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming event, which will take place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The potential super fight between Nunes and Shevchenko was once a highly anticipated matchup in the world of MMA. However, given Shevchenko's recent loss and Nunes' busy schedule, it appears that the chances of a trilogy fight between these two formidable fighters are diminishing. As fight fans eagerly await the outcome of Nunes vs. Aldana at UFC 289, they must come to terms with the possibility that the Nunes-Shevchenko trilogy might remain nothing more than a dream. Nonetheless, with the ever-changing landscape of MMA, anything can happen, and surprises are never far away.

Amanda Nunes acknowledges that she gave retirement serious thought right after Julianna Pena defeated her for the bantamweight championship. She having lost her 12-fight, six-year unbeaten record, and after reigning as a simultaneous two-division UFC champion, there was little doubt that she had nothing more to show. In reality, Nunes had defeated each and every female bantamweight or featherweight champion in the history of the UFC. Nunes suddenly changed her mind as a terrible realisation hit her like a pail of cold water. “I decided to not retire, because if I retire, I leave my belt with Julianna,” Nunes said during UFC 289 media day. “No way. No way. It can be with somebody else, but with Julianna, no.” Nunes' defeat in 2021 was very painful for her because she believed in her heart of hearts that she was far superior to Pena. The UFC title was lost to her due to what was considered one of her poorest performances in her career. It took Nunes some time to realise that everything went wrong for her that night, and it seemed as though everything was set up for Pena to win. “I know I could kick her ass any time I want,” Nunes said. “She was supposed to win that day, I was supposed to make the mistakes that I made to fight without being in great shape, and I paid for it, and I’m never going to do that again. Ever, ever, ever. “I was confused a little bit, but I got my foot in the floor, I got home, and everything was ready to go. My mindset was ready to get the belt back and never lose again.” Nunes proved her point with a lopsided unanimous decision over Pena in a rematch, again making her the UFC bantamweight champ.

Bellator x RIZIN 2 is shaping up to be a thrilling event this summer, as two exciting main card bouts have just been added to the line-up. Welterweight strikers Andrey Koreshkov and Lorenz Larkin are set to clash in what promises to be an explosive showdown, while bantamweight contenders Magomed Magomedov and Danny Sabatello are primed to test their skills in the cage. Andrey Koreshkov, a seasoned fighter at 32 years old, is riding a wave of success with four consecutive victories. His recent TKO wins at Shlemenko FC 4 showcased his prowess and resilience. Notably, Koreshkov has had the opportunity to showcase his skills both inside and outside of Bellator, a testament to his talent and versatility. Lorenz Larkin, a force to be reckoned with at 36, has been on a tear, remaining undefeated in his last eight fights. The dynamic striker has showcased his ability to excel in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions. His recent standing elbow knockout of Mukhamed Berkhamov sent shockwaves through the MMA world, solidifying Larkin as a formidable threat. Whereas Magomed Magomedov, a 31-year-old bantamweight contender, aims to rebound after a submission loss to Patchy Mix in a grand prix semi-final. Before that setback, Magomedov showcased his skills with a quarterfinal victory over Enrique Barzola. His determination and technical prowess make him a compelling fighter to watch. Danny Sabatello, 30, is eager to make a statement following a bantamweight grand prix semifinal loss to Raufeon Stots. Sabatello swiftly rebounded in April with a second-round submission victory over the talented Marcos Breno. His resilience and skill set him apart as a rising star in the division. Set to take place on July 30 at the iconic Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, this event promises to deliver fireworks. Bellator x RIZIN 2 is a collaboration between two premier mixed martial arts promotions, bringing together top fighters from around the world to compete on the grand stage. Mark your calendars for this explosive summer event that is sure to leave fans on the edge of their seats. Bellator x RIZIN 2 is where legends will be made, dreams will be shattered, and the relentless pursuit of victory will be on full display. Get ready for a night of unforgettable action in the heart of Japan's fighting spirit. With the additions, the Bellator x RIZIN 2 lineup includes: A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Freire – lightweight grand prix quarterfinal Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu – for inaugural flyweight title Magomed Magomedov vs. Danny Sabatello Veta Arteaga vs. Kana Watanabe Andrey Koreshkov vs. Lorenz Larkin

Teofimo Lopez doesn't seem to have any plans to lessen his hatred towards Andre Ward and Timothy Bradley, two ESPN analysts. During an ESPN broadcast of his last bout against Spaniard Sandor Martin in December, Lopez stirred up controversy by accusing Hall of Fame fighters Bradley and Ward of bias against him. Lopez accused both commentators of distorting the public's perception of his split-decision victory over Martin. Undoubtedly, a camera saw Lopez questioning himself verbally after the incident. The recent undisputed lightweight championship bout between champion Devin Haney and challenger Vasiliy Lomachenko, which ended with Haney winning a unanimous decision, prompted Lopez who will face Josh Taylor this Saturday at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City for Taylor's WBO 140-pound title to reprimand Ward and Bradley. Lopez launched into an absurd tirade against Bradley, a former two-division champion who defeated legendary welterweights Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. This coming Sunday, Bradley and Carl Froch will both be officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Ward was admitted the previous year. “I don’t even know how Tim Bradley is in the Hall of Fame, to be real,” Lopez said. “I don’t understand that part. I don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer. Andre Ward could be what it is. He retired undefeated, he faced some tough caliber fighters. I don’t think Bradley is a Hall of Famer. There’s other guys, other f-----g fighters that definitely out-did his career and his resume.” “Maybe one guy (that Bradley beat that is worthy of Hall of Fame credentials), Juan Manuel Marquez. Okay. But Pacquiao? Pacquiao beat him. Ain’t no way he beat Pacquiao. Know what I’m sayin’? To each his own.”

There is no love lost between ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan Bhullar and interim titleholder Anatoly Malykhin. The highly awaited heavyweight world title unification fight will finally come to a conclusion on June 23 when the two, who have previously engaged in multiple back-and-forth fights, square off in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 22. After a lengthy absence, Arjan Bhullar will make his long-awaited return to the ONE stage in this month's fight. The Indian MMA world champion joined the Singapore-based organization in 2019, defeating Mauro Cerilli before winning the coveted divisional gold against Brandon Vera in May 2021. 'Singh' has been sidelined due to injuries and contract talks after those two successful appearances, which has resulted in a longer layoff than most people would've anticipated. Arjan Bhullar acknowledged in an interview that he had nothing but admiration for the Russian titan. However, the latter's language and demeanour have increased his desire to subdue the two-division champion. Arjan said: "This guy is the biggest...he’s a useful idiot is what he is." Their heavyweight unification match, which begins on June 23 at ONE Friday Fights 22, will be the centre of attention.

IBF flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards stated a few things about WBC flyweight champ Julio Cesar "Rey" Martínez . He said that its a shame Martínez calles himself the champ if he has been set up with easy fights like the 11-3-0 and the 15-7-0. He calls himself the champ when he won a vacant title and a failed drug test and yet still gets pampered with easy fights.