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Welterweights Vicente Luque and Rafael dos Anjos are expected to compete in a main event bout on July 15, with the card most likely taking place in Las Vegas. Several sources with knowledge of the contest and verbal agreements from the competitors confirmed the details on Saturday. Luque, who is regarded as one of the most thrilling competitors on the roster, has lost his last two fights. Luque has been a mainstay in the 170-pound rankings in recent years. Luque lost to Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal after racking up four straight victories, including finishes over Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa, two former UFC champions. As the Brazilian looks to build on his return to welterweight after he defeated Bryan Barberena with a second-round submission this past December, Luque will now try to get back on track when he faces another former champion in dos Anjos. Dos Anjos has a record of 3-1 overall in his last four fights, with his lone defeat coming against Rafael Fiziev at lightweight. The July 15 show, which follows UFC 290 and is likewise scheduled to take place in Las Vegas to close out International Fight Week 2023, is set to feature Luque vs. dos Anjos as the main event.

Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event in Las Vegas was supposed to be a competitive bout between two bantamweight prospects. It turned into a one-sided showcase fight for Song Yadong. Yadong defeated Ricky Simon by TKO in the fifth round of their five-round headliner on Saturday. After torching Simon with a perfect counter left hook, Yadong pounced on Simon and landed a string of follow-up punches until referee Herb Dean waved it off. At just 25 years old, Yadong has already won nine fights in the UFC. He called for a top-five opponent next, suggesting contenders Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera. "I'm extremely happy," Yadong said. "Simon is a very tough opponent. I'm sorry, but today is my night. I want to fight top five next -- O'Malley or 'Chito' Vera." The finish, Yadong's sixth in the UFC, capped off a brilliant performance. ESPN scored every round for Yadong leading up to the TKO. He dropped Simon (20-4) with the same left hook in the final second of the fourth round and outlanded him 102-44 in total strikes, according to UFC Stats. A native of China who now fights out of Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, Yadong looked extremely comfortable during the fight and even between rounds. He smiled playfully at Simon in certain moments and laughed occasionally after just missing a big strike. Yadong's body work was especially impressive, as he routinely loaded up with left hooks to the body. He also defended seven of Simon's nine takedown attempts, which was probably viewed as his greatest challenge going into the matchup. Although his punches drew the most attention, he also landed a string of sneaky good leg kicks to Simon's lead leg. The victory comes nearly four years after Yadong's mentor, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, upset Simon in a high-profile bout in Sacramento. Faber was in Yadong's corner on Saturday.

Mike Perry played spoiler to Luke Rockhold’s post-UFC venture when he emerged victorious in Saturday’s BKFC 41 main event. Perry continued to shine in the world of bare-knuckle boxing when he picked up arguably the biggest win of his combat sports career with a second-round TKO of former UFC champion Rockhold in their middleweight headliner, which took place at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. After the fight, former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor stepped in the ring for an unexpected faceoff with Perry. Luke Rockhold is not retired, but he may not be back to bare-knuckle after his BKFC 41 loss to Mike Perry. The former UFC middleweight champion told fans he could “check bare knuckle off the list” after a brutal mouth injury ended his fight with Perry in the main event of Saturday’s pay-per-view card. Rockhold gave Perry his props for teeth-shattering shots to his mouth in their two rounds together. He said a “beard” or “better mouthpiece” might have extended his night. “It’s a shame it had to end that way,” he said. Referee Dan Miragliotta waved off the fight at the 1:15 mark of the second frame after Rockhold looked at him and signaled something was wrong with his mouth; his lower lip appeared to be badly cut. Later, BKFC President David Feldman explained Rockhold wasn’t able to continue because his “teeth got messed up pretty good.”

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has refused to sanction a potential undisputed fight between light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman, revealed that the organization cannot accept a fight involving Bivol due to the WBC's stance on Russian athletes amid Russia's ongoing military conflict with Ukraine. Beterbiev, who holds the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles, is based in Canada, while Bivol is still a Russian national. Bivol and Beterbiev's camps tried to reach an agreement earlier this year, but Bivol's manager, Vadim Kornilov, disclosed that the offer was not good enough. Sulaiman clarified that if Bivol and Beterbiev do reach an agreement for a future fight, the WBC title will not be at stake. Sulaiman also insisted that Beterbiev must fight his mandatory challenger, Callum Smith, before any future fights. While Beterbiev's path is clear, Bivol has several options in front of him. He shocked the boxing world with a dominant twelve-round decision win over Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez last year, followed by another dominating win over mandatory challenger Gilberto Ramirez. If Canelo wins in May, Bivol may face him in a September rematch. Sulaiman's stance on Russian athletes demonstrates the WBC's commitment to supporting Ukraine during a time of military conflict. While it is an unfortunate situation for Bivol and Beterbiev, the WBC's refusal to sanction their potential fight demonstrates the organization's commitment to political neutrality and to standing in solidarity with those affected by the ongoing conflict.

Shakur Stevenson Sets Sights on Gervonta Davis After Lightweight Debut Win Shakur Stevenson has recently made headlines with his successful lightweight debut and his call out of Gervonta Davis, one of boxing’s hottest rising stars. The 25-year-old Newark native has already won two world titles in different weight classes, and he is now eager to make his mark in the 135-pound division. Stevenson's recent victory came on April 8 against Japanese fighter Shuichiro Yoshino, whom he stopped in the sixth round. Despite his impressive performance, Stevenson is not satisfied with just one win in his new division. Instead, he is already targeting some of the biggest names in the sport. In a recent interview with TMZ, Stevenson commented on Davis’ latest fight, a dominant win against Ryan Garcia. Stevenson did not hold back in his assessment of Garcia's performance, describing him as "preschool" and "not on that top level." In contrast, Stevenson sees himself as a fighter who possesses both the ring IQ and the ring smarts to compete at the highest level. He believes that he has what it takes to beat Davis, and he is willing to make the fight happen. A potential super fight between Stevenson and Davis would require Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions to work together and stage a co-promotion. While this may seem like a long shot, the prospect of two of boxing's brightest young stars facing off against each other is certainly an enticing one. In terms of his own career, Stevenson has already achieved a great deal, but he is not content to rest on his laurels. He sees the lightweight division as his next big challenge, and he is eager to prove that he belongs among the elite fighters in the sport. Stevenson's call out of Davis is just the latest example of his ambition and determination. While it remains to be seen whether the fight will happen, one thing is clear: Stevenson is a fighter to watch in the coming months and years, and he is sure to make his mark on the sport in a big way.

Joe Joyce, the British heavyweight Olympic silver medalist, is already looking towards his next fight following a loss to Zhilei Zhang earlier this month. Joyce, who had been in a mandatory position with the WBO, lost to Zhang due to a badly injured right eye and is now considering his options for the future. In an interview with Sky Sports at the Sports Industry Awards, Joyce explained that he had met with his promoter, Queensberry, to discuss his next steps. "There will be some news coming out soon [about his next fight]," he said. Joyce has the right to execute an immediate rematch clause against Zhang, but is also considering taking an interim-fight. "There are plenty of options," he said. "It's not the be all and end all [to do the rematch next]." Despite the loss, Joyce remains optimistic about his future prospects. "I was in that great position and I didn't really need to take that fight but it's something I'd like to avenge and get back in the driving seat and move onto bigger and better fights," he said. "I don't regret taking it, it's just part of the story, I lost my 0 but I'll still continue and be in some great nights." Joyce also expressed his respect for Zhang, acknowledging that he was a great opponent. "It was a tough fight," he said. "It was very frustrating but one I'd like to avenge, hopefully we'll do it again." Fans will have to wait to see what Joyce's next move will be, but one thing is certain: the British heavyweight is not going to let one loss define his career.

The war of words between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz has been heating up as they prepare to face each other in the boxing ring. In a recent tweet, Diaz accused Paul of being on steroids and called for an extra four rounds to make it a 12-round fight. Paul, who is known for his social media presence and willingness to engage in verbal battles with his opponents, fired back with a challenge of his own. He reminded Diaz that he had tested positive for steroids in the past and suggested that they make it a 15-round fight. The trash-talking between the two fighters has been building for months, and fans are eagerly anticipating their clash on August 5th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. While the fight is currently scheduled for eight rounds, Diaz's call for an extra four rounds indicates that he is confident in his ability to go the distance with Paul. Paul was not mentioned in the Tweet by Diaz, but he certainly saw it since on Friday night, 'The Problem Child' responded. The former UFC championship contenders' latest chaotic weekend in New Orleans gave the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz bout the appearance of being placed at risk, but Diaz's representative said the TUF 5 winner was recently given the all-clear to head out immediately following being granted bail. “Bond has been granted and posted with the full permission from the court to resume travel which includes returning to Stockton today. We appreciate how we were treated by the New Orleans Police Department, the court, and their staff.” Both fighters come from very different backgrounds, with Paul making his name as a YouTube personality turned boxer, and Diaz being a veteran of the UFC with a reputation for being a tough and gritty fighter. Despite their differences, they share a love for combat sports and a desire to prove themselves in the ring. For Paul, this fight represents another opportunity to silence his critics and show that he is a legitimate boxer. He has been working hard in training camp and is determined to build another unbeaten streak in the ring since getting dropped by Tommy Fury in his last outing. Diaz, on the other hand, is looking to prove that he is still a top-level fighter and can compete with the best in the world. He last competed against one of the greats in UFC, Tony Ferguson, which was his last fight under the UFC banner. With both fighters talking a big game, the stage is set for an explosive showdown between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz. Whether it's an eight-round or 12-round fight, fans can expect to see two warriors leave it all in the ring on August 5th.

Conor McGregor is known for his fiery personality and his willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. And it seems that his rival, Max Holloway, is no exception. Recently, McGregor took to social media to express his approval for a potential rematch with Holloway. The Notorious is now getting ready for his comeback versus Michael Chandler at training camp. The two acted as coaches for The Ultimate Fighter's most recent season, however, their duel's weight division and date haven't yet been announced publicly. The season's production was completed early this year, and the series will debut next month. The two fighters first met in August 2013, with McGregor emerging victorious in a unanimous decision. Since then, both fighters have gone on to achieve great success in the UFC, with McGregor becoming a two-division champion and Holloway dominating the featherweight division for several years. The former featherweight champion came in the most recent episode of The MMA Hour to challenge McGregor. “I would love to fight Conor. I was the only guy that took Conor to a decision at 145, and he’s big right now, we’ll see what happens. I know he wants to come back, and that would be a fight that is super interesting, super fun. There’s a lot of questions, a lot of unknowns, we’re just two different fighters from when we fought back then.” “I think a lot of fans would love that fight, a lot of fans been asking for that fight. We’ll see what happens you know, at the end of the day it’s not even a weight thing bro. I’d fight him open weight, whatever the commission will tell us, just show up at the weight bro. You don’t have to worry, I’d just like to test him.” A rematch between the two fighters would undoubtedly be one of the most highly anticipated fights in UFC history, with fans eager to see who would emerge victorious this time around. But what makes this potential rematch even more intriguing is the fact that both fighters have undergone significant changes since their first meeting. With both fighters at the top of their game, a rematch between McGregor and Holloway would be an epic battle, showcasing the best that the UFC has to offer. A prospective fight between the two was endorsed by Conor McGregor only a couple of days following Max Holloway's remarks. On Twitter, the Irishman reacted to the request for candidates and expressed excitement. There is plenty to wait for a rematch because McGregor said he had no intention to leave the sport. But will the rematch happen? Only time will tell. McGregor has been known to make bold claims on social media before, only to backtrack or change his mind later. And with Holloway currently focused on defending his featherweight title, it remains to be seen if the two fighters will be able to agree on when and where to fight. Regardless of whether the rematch happens or not, McGregor's statement has once again reminded us of his unwavering commitment to the sport of mixed martial arts. And for fans of the UFC, that's a reassuring thought - knowing that we'll continue to see McGregor in the octagon for years to come.

Don’t expect ONE Championship to co-promote with any other MMA organizations in the near future. That’s according to ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who responded to a question about the Singapore-based company possibly teaming up with another promotion like what Bellator MMA has done with RIZIN in recent years. Co-promotion has been very rare across MMA and Sityodtong doesn’t really see a need to explore that option for ONE Championship unless the opportunity was there to potentially work with who he considered the other biggest show in town. “Only UFC,” Sityodtong said on The MMA Hour. “Look, again, if you look at the largest players in the combat sports industry, pure facts and figures. Forget about marketing. Pure facts and figures. The Nielsen industry report, if you’re a fan an don’t know anything, go look at the followers that ONE has. We have 70 million social media followers globally, when you include China and stuff. I think the UFC has 100 million plus. “It’s very clear there are two big giants — one in the east and one in the west.” Chatri Sityodtong, the CEO of ONE Championship, referred to a study conducted by Nielsen Sports in 2021, which ranked the biggest sports properties worldwide based on various factors such as organic reach on television, social media influence, and video views across multiple platforms. The study consistently highlighted ONE Championship and UFC as the two major players in combat sports. In terms of television reach, ONE Championship had 406 million viewers globally, while UFC had 259 million. Sityodtong cited this study to support his claim that UFC and Bellator are the only viable competitors to ONE Championship in promoting MMA events globally. He emphasized the importance of relying on hard facts and numbers to assess the market position of various combat sports organizations.

Devin Haney is bursting with confidence as he prepares for his match against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN+. pay-per-view. Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), the undisputed lightweight champion, is the betting favourite to defeat Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs), the previous three-division champion, just because bookmakers think Haney is more talented. “There is nothing that Loma can do better than me. I'm better than him in every aspect, every attribute,” Haney said in an interview with BoxingScene.com and other reporters. “We have to see what version of Loma shows up. I'm prepared for whatever he brings to the table. I've been studying Loma for years, and now I'm dissecting him. I know what type of Loma will show up, and we're going to be ready for what he brings.” When it comes to the tale of the tape matchup versus Lomachenko, who is 11 years older than Haney, the 24-year-old will have a number of advantages. Officially, Lomachenko is one inch taller than Haney (5'8"), but to the unaided eye, Haney appears to be a little bit taller. Haney will also have a reach advantage of about six inches. Haney should look even more physically intimidating when he enters the ring after rehydrating. “I'm a big lightweight at the end of the way,” said Haney. “He has fought taller guys, but at the end of the day, size doesn't matter when you get in that ring. We both weigh in at 135. Loma has fought bigger guys. The best man is going to win that night, and it's going to be me. “With each training camp and fight, I am getting better. It's a blessing. My body is maturing and I am getting stronger. I'm 24 years old now and my man strength is definitely coming in. I feel great. I am excited. “I'm a young hungry lion who is going into his prime and ready for whatever he brings.

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has expressed his interest in returning to the octagon to face the current champion, Israel Adesanya. Rockhold believes that he poses a unique set of challenges for Adesanya and is confident that he could reclaim the belt. After three years away, Rockhold made his UFC 278 return in August of last year and lost to Paulo Costa by decision. He suffered his third straight loss, and following the defeat, he declared his retirement from combat. But shortly after a bit of deliberation, he requested and was granted his UFC ejection, and he is scheduled to fight in opposition to Mike Perry at BKFC 41. The former UFC fighter Luke Rockhold said he is not ruling out a comeback, but it is unlikely to occur under an extended deal. Rather, he only intends to contend with Israel Adesanya because he anticipates the middleweight champion will face many difficulties against him. “I’m not opposed to it, on my terms, for sure,” Rockhold said on Just Scrap Radio. “I’ve always been intrigued by an Israel fight, I think he is awesome and an amazing fighter. I think I’m getting better and I can test him, my striking has gotten so much better over the years, and as long as I’m in shape and I get things, I think I present a lot of problems for Izzy.” Although Luke Rockhold's return to the UFC remains uncertainty, he still expects to fight Israel Adesanya just before his professional career is concluded. Adesanya, at the same time, has reclaimed his title as middleweight champion after defeating Alex Pereira by KO at UFC 287. Adesanya is a great champion, according to Rockhold, however, he is convinced that he can be defeated. “I thought it was insane. The mental ability to go in there after three losses and stay composed and do his thing,” Rockhold concluded. “He put everything into it and people say what they say but he took the shots, got compromised, and landed the blows. All the credit to Izzy, I have nothing but respect and I like watching the kid fight. He’s f*****g awesome, a true champion.” Rockhold's return to the UFC would certainly add another exciting element to the middleweight division, which has already seen some incredible matchups in recent years. A fight between him and Adesanya would be highly anticipated, with fans eager to see if Rockhold can reclaim the belt he lost to Michael Bisping back in 2016. Of course, whether or not the UFC will grant Rockhold's wish remains to be seen. But if he does get his shot at Adesanya, it will undoubtedly be a fight to remember.

The UFC has been on a roll lately, and it looks like they're not slowing down anytime soon. Fans can now look forward to another exciting event as a bantamweight bout between Cody Garbrandt and Mario Bautista is reportedly in the works for August 19 with the location for the card still to be determined. Mario Bautista issued his intention to face former champion Cody Garbrandt following his excellent submission victory over Guido Cannetti at UFC Fight Night 221 in March. It appears that his desire has come true. Garbrandt recovered from a difficult run in recent years, which included a quick stop at flyweight, with his most recent match after defeating Trevin Jones by a unanimous decision at UFC 285 in March. Garbrandt was able to pick up a win after suffering consecutive defeats against Rob Font and Kai Kara-France. It served as an essential victory for Garbrandt, who was formerly in control of the UFC bantamweight championship before sustaining three straight defeats, two of which came at the hands of T.J. Dillashaw, a former teammate. Garbrandt will now want to continue his recent winning streak after defeating Jones. When it comes to Bautista, he is presently on a four-fight undefeated streak of his own, winning three of those matches through submission. which includes submission victories over Benito Lopez and Brian Kelleher. The 29-year-old Bautista hasn't had a defeat since Jones stopped him with a rear naked choke in 2021. For Bautista, a win over a former champion like Garbrandt would be a huge feather in his cap. It would show that he's capable of beating top-level competition and put him on the fast track to title contention. Overall, this is a fight that fans won't want to miss. Both Garbrandt and Bautista are exciting fighters with plenty of skills, and the matchup promises to be a thrilling one. As we get closer to August 19, fans can look forward to more news and updates about this exciting bantamweight bout.