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Mixed martial arts fans around the world were buzzing with excitement as Bellator MMA announced that Cris Cyborg had re-signed with the promotion. The news has set up a potential showdown between Cyborg and Cat Zingano for the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship. Cyborg, who has established herself as one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport. Being among the best in the world, the fans were waiting for a potential matchup with fellow featherweight standout Kayla Harrison. However, with Harrison currently competing in the Professional Fighters League, that fight remains a distant dream as Cyborg's free agency comes to an end. Cyborg kept herself occupied with two successful boxing bouts in the last quarter of the year while she investigated free agency. Despite the long absence, Cyborg wasted no time in getting back into the Bellator cage, quickly re-signing with the promotion that has been her home since 2020. And with Zingano waiting in the wings, fans can expect a thrilling matchup between two of the best female fighters in the world. “After receiving multiple offers from several promotions I’m very happy that I was able to come to terms with Bellator and remain the face of their women’s featherweight division,” Cyborg said in the press release. “Scott Coker is a promoter that I’ve worked with and respected for many years. He’s done so much to further women’s MMA and gives us a platform to showcase our skills. “When making this decision, it was important to me that I was signing with the organization that I felt had the biggest names and the top talent at 145 pounds for me to challenge myself against. There is no question that all the top female featherweights are signed with Bellator and I can’t wait to get back in there and defend my belt.” Nobody Cyborg has ever held championships in Bellator, the UFC, Invicta, and Strikeforce. She went almost 13 years undefeated before being shocked by UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who upped the weight to pursue a second championship. Following that, Cyborg captured another UFC win. She then switched to Bellator and won the championship there. Zingano, who made her Bellator debut with a stunning victory over Gabby Holloway, has been eyeing a shot at the featherweight title since signing with the promotion last year. She presents a formidable challenge for Cyborg, who will be looking to defend her title and cement her status as the top fighter in the division. Zingano is running on a 4-0 undefeated streak since joining Bellator. Her last outing was against Leah McCourt in which Zingano prevailed via unanimous decision at Bellator 293. As for Zingano, the matchup with Cyborg is a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a champion in a major MMA promotion. With a resume that includes victories over some of the top female fighters in the world, she is more than capable of pulling off the upset and capturing the title. With the stage set for a showdown between two of the best female fighters in the world, fans of the sport can expect an unforgettable night of action. Whether Cyborg retains her title or Zingano pulls off the upset, one thing is for sure - this fight will be talked about for years to come.

Josh Taylor Aims to Retire Teofimo Lopez, Plans to Cement Doubts Josh Taylor, the WBO 140-pound titlist from Scotland, has his sights set on retiring Teofimo Lopez when the two fighters meet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 10. Taylor is confident that he can add to the dent in Lopez's confidence after his upset loss to George Kambosos Jr. last year. In a recent interview on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Taylor revealed that he plans on giving Lopez such a beating that he doesn't think he's that guy anymore. Taylor acknowledged Lopez as a great fighter who has achieved a lot in the sport, including a victory over three division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. However, Taylor believes that Lopez's profile and attitude make him a prime target for retirement. “His ego has taken a massive hit. You can see he’s a bit mentally fragile, anyway. Me, with this fight, I plan on retiring this guy. I plan on giving him that much of a beating that he doesn’t think that he’s that guy anymore. He’s already got them doubts, I’m gonna cement them and retire him,” Taylor said. Taylor also recognized that Lopez is a great fighter and that he hasn't looked great in his last couple of fights, but neither has Taylor. He believes that the two fighters are evenly matched and that it will be an exciting fight for the fans. The 30-year-old Taylor has an impressive record of 18-0 with 13 knockouts and is the fifth person in history to become the undisputed world champion in the four-belt era. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Lopez has a record of 16-1 with 12 knockouts and is a former unified lightweight champion. Lopez recently made headlines for criticizing ESPN commentators Andre Ward and Tim Bradley and his promoter for what he perceived as preferential treatment to Black fighters on their roster. However, his comments have not seemed to affect his upcoming fight with Taylor, and both fighters are expected to bring their A-game come June 10.

A grinning Gervonta Davis demonstratively answered in the affirmative when Showtime’s Jim Gray asked him recently if he has added an unofficial title to his resume. “I’m definitely the face of boxing,” Davis replied to Gray’s question in the immediate aftermath of his seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia on April 22. “Abso-f----ng-lutely!” Canelo Alvarez admitted Thursday that he is a fan of the entertaining knockout artist from Baltimore. The 32-year-old Mexican superstar reminded Davis and his supporters, though, that the emerging star has much more to prove as an attraction and as a fighter before Davis can take that crown from him. “I’m not retired yet, my friend,” Alvarez told a small group of reporters during a virtual interview session. “They can say whatever they want, but, you know, it’s not that easy. One fight don’t put you in that position. You need to do a lotta things.” However, Davis-Garcia was a huge financial success, a sadly infrequently occurring encouraging sign for this star-starved sport. Hardcore and casual fans from their large fan bases combined to generate about 1.2 million pay-per-view purchases, the biggest for a boxing pay-per-view event since the Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin middleweight championship rematch in September 2018. A capacity crowd of 20,842 saw the Davis and Garcia-headlined Showtime Pay-Per-View event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which Alvarez has filled seven times since it opened in 2016. That ranks as Nevada's fifth-highest purse for boxing. The only main event in the top five in the state that didn't feature Alvarez or Floyd Mayweather, Davis' former promoter, was Davis-Garcia. T-Mobile Arena is the sixth location since July 2019 when a performance by Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) drew a full house. Although the four-division champion doesn't believe the 28-year-old Davis has accomplished enough to be regarded as the "face of boxing" just yet, Alvarez has taken note. “There are a lotta good fighters coming up,” said Alvarez, who has been boxing’s biggest attraction in the United States since Mayweather retired. “One of them is Gervonta, for sure. But he need to do more things, not just in one fight. But I like Gervonta. I like Gervonta Davis a lot. You know, but he need to do more things to be the face of boxing, not just one fight. And one fight with Ryan Garcia – I respect Ryan Garcia. But what he brings [to be] the face of boxing?” Nearby his hometown of Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, Alvarez's star power will be on full show on Saturday night. At Akron Stadium, the home of C.D. Guadalajara, a well-known soccer team, a sellout crowd in excess of 50,000 is anticipated to honour one of the best boxers of this generation. Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) will face British southpaw John Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) in the main event of a DAZN Pay-Per-View to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight belts.

Conor McGregor shocked the MMA community by attending Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 41 on April 29. The UFC superstar was spotted in the front row, sipping whisky and instructing Eddie Alvarez in his battle against Chad Mendes. Mike Perry defeated Luke Rockhold by TKO in the main event after Rockhold hurt his teeth. Perry summoned McGregor to the ring following the match, and the former UFC Lightweight Champion entered with a BKFC Championship. In the ring, McGregor and Perry locked eyes, and the former UFC champion expressed his support for BKFC. Many people were curious what UFC President Dana White thought about McGregor appearing in and promoting BKFC. In an interview, White stated that he was unaffected by McGregor's antics. “I think that Conor went out and was having fun and got caught in the moment, and you know the dude called him into the ring, and he did it. I also saw him pounding a bottle of Proper 12. I'm sure that probably had something to do with it too, but listen, man, at the end of the day, Conor has done a lot here. He's made a lot of money. The guy's out having fun, and it's all good," said White.”

Jon Jones has confirmed that his possible heavyweight title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic will most likely be his final fight — unless another former champion can make a comeback in the UFC. Jones will most likely face Miocic next after he won the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March. According to UFC President Dana White, the company is planning a blockbuster fight for later this year at Madison Square Garden. If he wins, Jones claims that defeating Miocic will be enough to seal his legacy and provide him enough money to call it a career. “I feel like the Stipe fight will be plenty for me, Jones told Fox Sports Australia. “I really don’t feel like I have much to prove after beating Stipe Miocic. I’ve been in the game a long time, and in fighter years, I’m an old guy. I’ve got some small injuries and I just really want to be around — I want to be around for my family, I want to be around for my kids, I want to be able to play with my kids and have a good head on my shoulders, and joints that work. So yeah, I can see it coming to an end really soon." Jones, on the other hand, isn't entirely slamming the door shut and locking the deadbolt on his career. When asked if another fight might keep him around a little longer, the 35-year-old adds that if current free agent and former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou can somehow return to the UFC, he would absolutely entertain that lucrative clash before riding off into the sunset. “I do believe a Francis Ngannou fight would be worth entertaining not retiring,” Jones explained. “I think a Francis fight would come with some serious revenue, and that would make it worth my while. Francis is a former champion, he’s pretty damn popular [in the U.S.], and across the world. It would bring in a lot of money, and for that, I’d be willing to come back.”

The UFC 288 co-main event is scheduled to feature a fight between Burns and Muhammad. This fight is crucial for the welterweight class. Whoever wins, in the opinion of both men, ought to be a potential contender for the UFC Welterweight Championship. In the world of mixed martial arts, fighters often face tough decisions in pursuit of their ultimate goals. For Gilbert Burns, that meant accepting a fight with Belal Muhammad despite being one step away from a title shot. While this decision may seem puzzling at first glance, a closer look reveals the reasoning behind it. Burns had been one step away from a shot at the UFC welterweight title after his impressive victory over Jorge Masvidal. However, with no clear timeline for when current champion Leon Edwards would be ready to defend his belt, Burns found himself in a holding pattern. Meanwhile, fellow contender Colby Covington was immediately promised a matchup against Leon Edwards soon after his first title defense against Usman, who is widely regarded as one of the top welterweights in the division. However, that bout has yet to materialize, leaving Covington in limbo as well. With both Burns and Covington stuck in holding patterns, the UFC offered Burns a matchup against rising star Belal Muhammad when the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Beniel Dariush fell off the main card of UFC 288. While Muhammad may not have the same name recognition as some of the other top fighters in the division, he is a dangerous opponent with an eight-fight winning streak to his name. Even though a victory over Muhammad would guarantee Burns a shot at the title, the Brazilian fighter saw it as an opportunity to stay active and potentially skip over Covington in the pecking order. Speaking to reporters during a media day session ahead of UFC 288, “Durinho” explained: “Leon Edwards gave an interview saying he’s injured, and he’s not looking to fight right now and just fight in October, and that’s when the first time I said, ‘OK, I have to fight,’” Burns said. “Then a couple of days after, I saw Charles Oliveira pulled out (of UFC 288), and I saw an opportunity there, but I was just thinking, ‘Who?’” “Sean Shelby hit me up and said, ‘We don’t have Colby. He’s not available. He’s going to fight for the title, but we have Belal Muhammad,’” Burns recalled. “And I said, ‘Done.’” Burns further said that UFC officials had promised whoever came out on top of this UFC 288 contest an opportunity at the welterweight belt. It is still to be observed if the UFC will truly abide by that alleged assurance. For fans of the sport, the matchup between Burns and Muhammad is an intriguing one. Both fighters are well-rounded and possess the skills to finish the fight on their feet or the ground. And with so much on the line for both men, it promises to be a high-stakes affair.

Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko: A Battle of Skill vs Dirty Tactics The upcoming lightweight title clash between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko has been touted as a war of the minds. Both fighters are renowned for their boxing skills, with neither being labeled as a knockout artist. However, Haney's recent comments suggest that he is anticipating a different approach from Lomachenko come fight night. Haney, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has accused Lomachenko of being a dirty fighter. Despite this, he acknowledges that his Ukrainian opponent brings much more to the table than just underhanded tactics. Lomachenko was once the unified champion of the lightweight division and was widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. But Lomachenko's reign came to an abrupt end in 2020 when he was defeated by Teofimo Lopez. Since then, Haney has positioned himself to take those very titles that Lomachenko once held. And now, with the tables turned, Haney is relishing the opportunity to prove that he's always been the better fighter. However, Haney's confidence won't be enough to distract him from Lomachenko's dirty tactics. Haney has called on Lomachenko to give him a fair fight and stop relying on sludgy tricks. But Haney knows that he can't let his guard down for a second and must be prepared for whatever Lomachenko throws his way. The clash between Haney and Lomachenko promises to be a battle of skill versus dirty tactics. Haney will rely on his honed craft, feints, awe-inspiring angles, and subtle foot movement to outbox Lomachenko. Meanwhile, Lomachenko will be looking to use his experience and unorthodox tactics to throw Haney off his game. In the end, it will be a test of who can impose their will on the other. Will Haney's superior boxing skills be enough to overcome Lomachenko's dirty tactics, or will Lomachenko find a way to get under Haney's skin and emerge victorious? Whatever happens, this promises to be a fight for the ages.

Eddie Hearn Admits Losing Purse Bid for Beterbiev-Smith by a Close Margin Eddie Hearn, a renowned British boxing promoter, recently expressed his disappointment after losing the purse bid for the light heavyweight unification clash between Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith. Hearn's Matchroom Boxing offered $2.1 million, but Top Rank, co-promoters of Beterbiev, beat their bid by just $15,000, making it Hearn's narrowest losing margin in a major purse bid ever. Hearn, who was eyeing home advantage for Smith, stated that he was gutted to have lost the bid by such a small margin, as he had never lost a purse bid by such a close figure before. However, he believes that Smith still has the ability to win the match by knockout on away soil. As per the WBC rules, Beterbiev will receive 70% of 90% of the winning bid, and Smith will claim 30%, while the remaining 10%, worth $211,500, will be on the line on the night. The fight is scheduled to take place within 90 days of the bid, and Hearn expects it to happen in Montreal since Top Rank and Group Yvon Michel now have the obligation to stage the fight. Despite the defeat, Hearn is optimistic that Smith has a great chance to dethrone the reigning light heavyweight champion. He cited Smith's ability to land a powerful left hook in catch-and-counter situations, which could knock Beterbiev out. He also noted that the time is right for Smith, as Beterbiev has had tough fights in the past, including his last outing against Anthony Yarde. In conclusion, while Hearn may have lost the bid for home advantage, he still believes that Smith can come out victorious against Beterbiev. Fans will eagerly wait to see whether Smith can fulfill Hearn's prophecy and claim the unified light heavyweight championship.

Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy rematch confirmed for August 5th in Dallas Undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will defend her belts for the first time in a rematch against former WBO featherweight titleholder Heather “The Heat” Hardy. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight) announced the deal on Thursday, with the fight set to take place as the co-main event alongside Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on August 5th. Serrano defeated Hardy in 2019 to win the WBO belt, starting her current title reign at featherweight. Hardy will attempt to avenge her loss and become an undisputed champion. This is a significant opportunity for both fighters, as the event will be distributed globally on pay-per-view by DAZN, in addition to all major cable, satellite, and local PPV providers. Hardy expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "In 2021, I came back to boxing with a renewed passion for the sport. My late trainer told me, the day before he died, that 2023 would be my year. Now, I have the opportunity to prove him right and become an undisputed champion. Thank you to Amanda and team for keeping their word on giving me the rematch, but come fight night, I only have winning on my mind and stealing the show from Jake Paul and Nate Diaz.” Serrano, the first Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, comes into the fight after winning a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February. The victory made her the undisputed featherweight champion but also left her with a hand injury, resulting in the cancelation of her much anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor. Serrano’s win against Cruz followed her previous victory over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England, adding the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Serrano spoke about the upcoming rematch, saying, "I am the undisputed featherweight champion today because Heather Hardy agreed to fight me in 2019 for her WBO title. That was the first step in my current run at featherweight. It’s only right that I give her the opportunity to earn it back. I’m excited to once again share the card with Jake and put on an exciting war. This will be the first time I get to fight in Texas, and I promise the fans that they will not be disappointed." Fans of both fighters are eagerly anticipating this rematch, which promises to be a thrilling display of skill and determination from two of boxing’s finest female athletes.

A big uproar among MMA fans was caused earlier this week when a podcaster claimed that the Professional Fighting League (PFL) would not only be buying Bellator MMA but was also actively working to close the deal. Fans and other media members, to this news reacted with a great deal of distrust, but after speaking under the condition of anonymity to several people from both companies who are in a position to know about any such transactions it is learned that the PFL is in actual negotiations to buy the rival promotion, being the crucial phrase in conversations. The Todd Atkins Show was the first to reveal that the "PFL was on the verge of buying Bellator" and that it was "close to a done deal." Earlier this year, Ariel Helwani claimed on the MMA Hour that Bellator was for sale. With the UFC’s current antitrust lawsuit waiting to be certified for class action and the FTC and DOJ taking much stronger positions with regards to horizontal mergers, we can probably write off Endeavor or the future UFC/WWE company as one of the potential suitors. Acquiring Bellator would make sense for the PFL, as it would help meet some of their most pressing needs, including that of more talent.

Fans of UFC 288 were eagerly anticipating the matchup between featherweights Bryce Mitchell and Movsar Evloev, but unfortunately, Mitchell has been forced to withdraw from the fight due to undisclosed reasons. However, the UFC has found a replacement in the form of Diego Lopes, who will step in to face Evloev on five days short notice on May 7th. Uncertain circumstances led to Mitchell's abrupt departure from UFC 288. This past Saturday was used to shoot the premiere of "Embedded," which features Mitchell on his farm near Searcy, Arkansas. His elbow and shoulder appeared damaged or purplish as he steps into an ice bath, although Mitchell did not claim that he had been harmed. “It’s been a long, hard training camp,” Mitchell said to the camera. “Everything in training went really good. I’m excited, I’m healthy, I’m in great shape.” Jonathan Pearce had been scheduled to meet Mitchell at UFC 288, but Pearce pulled out due to injuries last month. Mitchell intended to bounce back after his very first UFC setback. Bryce Mitchell was defeated in a second round via submission to Ilia Toupria back at UFC 282 in December. Movsar Evloev (16-0) is freshly off a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige and has a flawless 6-0 record in the UFC. Jonathan Pearce's sudden withdrawal from the battle against Mitchell prompted Evloev to accept this fight with barely a month's notification, but he now has to take on a brand-new opponent. Evloev has impressive victories in the UFC, including victories over Hakeem Dawodu, Nik Lentz, and Enrique Barzola. He is rated #10 in featherweight as well. With only five days' notice, Lopes is scheduled for his UFC debut. He possesses an ultimate record of 21-5 and has triumphed in three of his last four fights. When he competed in Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 and lost to Joanderson Brito, he was unable to get a deal with the UFC. Lopes is also a training partner of UFC champion Alexa Grasso. Although the matchup between Mitchell and Evloev was highly anticipated, the replacement fight between Evloev and Lopes is still an exciting prospect. Both fighters are known for their skills in different areas, with Lopes' striking ability potentially being matched up against Evloev's grappling prowess.

Eddie Hearn Optimistic on Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder Fight in December Matchroom head Eddie Hearn has expressed optimism that a deal could be struck for a fight between his charge, former heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder in December in Saudi Arabia. Hearn revealed that they have received positive indications that Wilder is in, and they are waiting to finalize some of the terms. If everything goes well, Hearn said they will have concrete offers for the fight coming in this week. There have been talks of a possible heavyweight bonanza taking place at the end of the year in Saudi Arabia, involving the Wilder vs Joshua fight, and a heavyweight unification fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury all on the same card. However, Hearn pointed out that Joshua's return to the ring in the summer, and his opponent, will depend on how successful he is in striking a deal with Wilder's team. Hearn is optimistic about Joshua getting back into the ring by the end of the summer, but said it won't be against an elite heavyweight. Joshua's last fight was against Jermaine Franklin, which he won by unanimous decision. Hearn said that Joshua's next fight will be a preparation for the Wilder fight, so they have to pick the right opponent. Hearn believes that getting back into the ring will help Joshua cement everything he has been doing, get more confident, and more comfortable with his team and tactics. However, he emphasized that their priority at the moment is to secure the Deontay Wilder fight, and every other decision will stem off that.