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.

Cris Cyborg, one of the most dominant female fighters in mixed martial arts history, has recently expressed interest in testing her skills in the world of bare-knuckle boxing before she says goodbye to combat sports. The Brazilian-born athlete, who currently holds the Bellator featherweight championship, has made it clear that she is open to the idea of competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and even wants to train with Mike Perry before making her debut. Cris Cyborg is undoubtedly one of the all-time top female competitors in mixed martial arts. She has won titles in a number of prestigious organizations, and in recent years, she has only suffered a single loss to Amanda Nunes, who many people believe to be the greatest female fighter of all time. She has also broadened her field of expertise by dabbling in professional boxing. The veteran looks to be capable of everything, and she is constantly eager to demonstrate this. Whatever she's going to do next is still uncertain, but after witnessing BKFC over the weekend, it appears that the Brazilian might be considering switching. “I think it would be fun [bare-knuckle boxing]. People know I like to finish my fights by punches. I know it’s different, a little bit. Maybe if I did boxing, did Muay Thai. I love the challenge, I love training, maybe I could train with Mike Perry and learn a couple of things.” I don’t know, it’s different, but for sure.” “I’ve seen some of their stuff online – maybe, you know. Why not? Finish my career doing everything, finish it right!” If Cyborg does make the transition to BKFC, she will be joining a rapidly growing sport that has gained popularity in recent years. Bare-knuckle boxing is a sport that requires fighters to rely on their technique and endurance, as the absence of gloves means that every punch can cause serious damage. However, the sport has strict rules and regulations in place to ensure the safety of the fighters, and it has attracted many high-profile athletes who are looking for a new challenge. Luke Rockhold, Chad Mendes, and Eddie Alvarez recently made an appearance at BKFC with Conor McGregor there in attendees which generated a good number of sales. Cyborg's desire to train with Mike Perry is also an interesting development. Perry is a former UFC welterweight fighter who has recently made his debut in BKFC in 2022 and maintains a record of 3-0. He has already shown his ability to adapt to the sport. Perry's aggressive style and knockout power make him a formidable opponent in the bare-knuckle arena, and his experience could be invaluable to Cyborg as she makes the transition.

Light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi has his sights set on a world title fight, but is also open to domestic showdowns with Anthony Yarde and Dan Azeez. Buatsi, who currently holds the number one spot in the WBA rankings, faces Pawel Stepien on Saturday at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. With nearly a year of inactivity due to promotional issues, Buatsi knows he needs a win to maintain his ranking. Despite his focus on a world title shot, Buatsi is eager to mix it up with other top light-heavyweights in England, including Yarde and Azeez. "These are fights that are available and possible," Buatsi said. "It would be good to really mix it with these other light-heavies from England." Buatsi praised Yarde for his heart in his two world title challenges, stating that the time could be now to make a fight between them. After years of back-and-forth banter between the two, Buatsi believes it's time to finally settle the score in the ring. "At the end of the day he has fought for a world title twice and I haven't. I know he was stopped in both of them but he gave a good account of himself. I'll always give you the respect you deserve. Maybe now is the time to get it, maybe in a month's time, two months whatever it is. I'm sure he has his views about it as well." But first, Buatsi must focus on his upcoming fight against Stepien. The undefeated Polish fighter will be hungry to make a name for himself and climb the rankings. "I know he hasn't lost before, 18-0-1 with a good knockout percentage so a Polish fighter that's going to be hungry, that's going to fight, that's going to have the mentality of if I beat this guy who's highly ranked it puts him up there," Buatsi said. "That makes him a dangerous fighter." Buatsi knows the importance of a win and keeping his ranking intact. With a world title shot in his sights, he is determined to make a statement in the ring on Saturday.

Tony Bellew, a former cruiserweight champion, has expressed his belief that if David Haye had fought Tyson Fury in 2013, he would have emerged as the winner. The two rivals were scheduled to fight each other, but the fight was called off twice due to Haye's injuries. In 2013, Haye would have been the toughest opponent of Fury's career, according to Bellew. Bellew said that Haye was the brightest prospect in world boxing in 2004 and 2005, adding that if Haye had fought Fury at the time, he would have won. He acknowledged that Fury tied Haye up in knots with his words, but physically, Fury was so undeveloped at that stage. Bellew added that Steve Cunningham nearly beat Fury, and Haye was twice the puncher and twice the fighter that Cunningham ever was. Bellew is convinced that if Haye hurts you or drops you, you're done. He believes Haye is probably one of the best finishers this country has ever seen and is that prolific. The only finisher Bellew has ever seen better than David Haye is Nigel Benn. When Haye gets you hurt, he takes you out. Fury moved forward with his unbeaten run after the fight with Haye fell through. He went on to have a career-defining win over Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight titles. Fury currently holds the WBC world title and is considered the top man in the weight class. His next fight is slated to take place on the tentative date of July 22 at Wembley Stadium. In conclusion, Bellew's comments indicate that Haye would have posed a significant threat to Fury in 2013. However, it is difficult to say for sure who would have come out on top if the fight had taken place. Fury has since developed into one of the most skilled and dominant heavyweight boxers in history, while Haye's career has come to an end.

Both parties are committed to an Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder fight this year, according to Eddie Hearn. For many years now, the two heavyweights' careers have been concurrent. They rose to the top of the professional pile undefeated following their Olympic success—Gold for "AJ" and Bronze for Wilder. 2015 saw Wilder win the WBC heavyweight crown, and 'AJ' followed in 2016 with the IBF crown. Later, he would expand his collection by including the WBA and WBO. The supporters, who were eager to see an undisputed champion in the division, began to group their names together at this point. Of course, this didn't happen, as they ultimately lost the belts to Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. It might be too late for a four-belt showdown, but the rounds' outcome still holds interest, and fans are closer than ever to witnessing it. “We’re being told that Wilder’s in. And, subject to finalising some of the terms, we’re in. So, in his mind, he’s fighting Deontay Wilder in December. Once that gets papered, we then work backwards to the end of July or first week of August.” “I want him to fight. I think he wants to fight. I think Derrick James wants him to fight. So we’ve just to pick the right opponent, because what it is is really a preparation for the [Wilder] fight.” Joshua had announced that he would be skipping a previously-promised summer scrap to move straight towards his winter war, but this seems to have been re-evaluated now. Dillian Whyte was the previous frontrunner, but Hearn is realistic in how they’ll match make. “My priority right now is secure the Deontay Wilder fight, and every other decision will stem off that.” The December bout will land in the Middle East, a territory willing to throw huge money to make it happen. The same goes for Usyk versus Fury.

UFC President, Dana White, broke the news today (Tues., May 2, 2023) that a major shift has taken place atop UFC 289 on June 10, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original Bantamweight title main event trilogy between reigning roost-ruler, Amanda Nunes (22-5), and former champion, Julianna Pena (12-5), is off after “Venezuelan Vixen” suffered a broken rib. Now, Aldana (14-6) , the No. 5-ranked contender out of Mexico, is set to fill in for her first UFC title shot. Before the Pena trilogy was formally announced, the Nunes-Aldana pairing was one that many in the mixed martial arts (MMA) community anticipated. Aldana has won her previous two fights by spectacular knockout victories over opponents like former featherweight championship contender Yana Santos and Macy Chiasson, the featherweight champion of season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Prior to Raquel Pennington's injury, Aldana was scheduled to face Pennington again in the main event of UFC Vegas 73 on May 20, 2023. Aldana's replacement in the Pennington fight has not yet been revealed, and it is unknown whether the Bantamweight contender will continue to compete in that main event spot.

Veteran welterweight Neil Magny will compete on June 24 in Jacksonville for the second time this year against rival Phil Rowe. The featherweight contenders Josh Emmett and Ilia Topuria will be the event's featured fighters, and the #11-ranked Magny will try to recover from the terrible setback he experienced in Brazil in January at the fight. The unranked Phil Rowe will share the cage with "The Haitian Sensation" inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, according to reports from MMA Junkie's Nolan King and Farah Hannoun. Magny and Rowe will travel to Florida the following month with different objectives thanks to the booking. Magny (27-10), a longtime challenger, will be hoping for a strong showing. The 35-year-old made an unfortunate journey to Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, where he lost to the #5-ranked Gilbert Burns via submission in the first round. He will aim to regain the form that saw him force the highly regarded Daniel Rodriguez to submit in November at UFC Vegas 64 when he faces Rowe. The inability to do so could result in "The Haitian Sensation" going on its first losing streak since 2013. Rowe (10-3), who has climbed the welterweight ladder with the help of three straight victories since losing his promotional debut to Gabe Green in 2021, will be the one aiming to break him out of that slump.

Masvidal announced his retirement from fighting last month at UFC 287 in his native Miami, Florida, following his fourth straight defeat. Despite a valiant effort, "Gamebred" was ultimately unable to defeat "Durinho's" all-around game as he won by a unanimous decision. It was Masvidal's (35-17) 52nd fight, and despite no longer being a competitor, he is still well-established in the combat sports community. The 38-year-old experienced welterweight, who is the head of Gamebred FC and Gamebred Boxing, is concentrating on his promotional duties. Although it is intended to keep things that way, Masvidal will not rule out the possibility of returning. “I love this sport so f****** much, bro. I love it so much,” Masvidal told ESPN. “As people would assume, I cried for many days after retirement. Not because I’m f****** so hurt, this and that, it’s because I love this sport. Since 11, 12 years old this is all I did. Whether it was in a karate class then after that I went to a kung-fu class, but I’ve been training once or twice a day every day for this. Waking up just in love with what I do and being in love with the same thing for 20 years. There’s so much love and passion in my heart. “I’ll never say like, ‘I’ll never come back’ because I love this sport so much. I have so many great memories that just fill me and will stay with me forever about this sport. So, I’ll never say I can’t come back.” Do you think Masvidal will come back for one final time? Comment and let us know

In the world of MMA, there are always exciting matchups being discussed and speculated upon by fans and fighters alike. One potential matchup that has been gaining steam in recent weeks is a main event bout between former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and rising star Khamzat Chimaev. Usman, who holds an impressive record of 20-3, is widely considered one of the best fighters in the world today. He has dominated the UFC's welterweight division since capturing the title in 2019 and has defended it successfully five times since then. Usman is a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and grappling skills and is known for his relentless pace and cardio. Nevertheless, the situation has changed over the past 12 months. Last summer, Leon Edwards banged him out, causing him to concede the title. In March, 'Rocky' defeated him once more by majority decision. Since his title loss and trilogy bout with Leon Edwards, Usman has been thinking out of the box. The pressure of being a champion has been released which made him lookout for some exciting fights and Khamzat Chimaev is the person he has been targeting. “A fight with myself and Khamzat? Boom,” Usman said to ESPN. “I’m kind of in a place now where I’m having fun with it, and what’s the biggest, funniest, most intense fight that really makes me feel something? That’s a fight right there. That could headline a pay-per-view.” Chimaev burst onto the scene in 2020 with a series of impressive victories, including two wins in the span of just 10 days. He has since become one of the UFC's most hyped prospects, with many pundits and fans predicting big things for him in the future. Chimaev (12-0) is a ferocious striker with a dangerous ground game and has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career. “He’s a fighter and I’m a fighter at the end of the day,” Usman said. “I fight these guys' hearts, not their weight. I’ve been able to deal with middleweights and light heavyweights in the gym. And if he wants a shot at the welterweight strap, you kind of have to give a little bit and show I can get down there and do it. But if it’s up a weight, potentially.” Since, Chimaev may be making his way up to middleweight sooner rather than later which was also confirmed by UFC President Dana White after struggling to make the scales in his last fight against Kevin Holland at UFC 279, but we can all agree that this fight would be a total firecracker.

Former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder was arrested in the early hours of this morning in Los Angeles on a charge of possession of a concealed weapon. The hard-hitting heavyweight was stopped at around 1.15am by police during a routine traffic stop, with officers believing that his car windows were illegally tinted and that his licence plate was obstructed, according to TMZ. Mirror Fighting can confirm that the arrest was in relation to a firearm, and that Wilder, 37, was subsequently released after posting a $35,000 bond at 6.34am. Wilder was booked at 3.13am, meaning he spent just over three hours in the facility. He has since had a court date of May 23 set in Los Angeles, where he could face a felony charge and be fined up to $10,000. The boxer is currently in talks for a December super-fight with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. At the time of publication, the Media Relations Division of the Los Angeles Police Department did not have a comment on the arrest. Wilder took to Twitter to make a cryptic and brief statement, telling his 776,700+ followers: "I’d rather be safe than sorry. The End." Wilder has been training in California for his inevitable ring return, with talks currently underway for a bout between he and fellow former champion Joshua. The pair are in discussions to meet in Saudi Arabia, where the Brit has fought twice and his American rival visited as a spectator back in February for Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury. It is believed that Saudi Arabian officials are looking to get the two ex-title holders to face off in the semi-final of a tournament in which Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk would fight for the undisputed gold. Fury dethroned Wilder as WBC champion in 2020 before a 2021 trilogy bout defence, while Usyk defeated Joshua twice for the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in 2021 and 2022. Both Wilder and Joshua have made returns to action since losing their belts over the past few years. First of all, back in October, the American viciously knocked out Robert Helenius within a round before his British counterpart came back to the UK to face Jermaine Franklin, winning by unanimous decision in a relatively lack-lustre bout. It remains to be seen if Wilder's arrest will have any impact at all on talks for his next fight.