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Dricus du Plessis is eager to put this feud with Israel Adesanya to rest. Adesanya won the middleweight title at UFC 287 with a sensational second-round knockout of longtime adversary Alex Pereira. It was a triumphant moment for Adesanya, who lay the groundwork for a future challenge when, despite refusing to name du Plessis, he threatened to "drag his carcass across South Africa" if he continued to win fights. “For him saying that, does he think I’m scared of him?” du Plessis said on The MMA Hour. “I am not scared of that man? The fact that he put some threats out there, obviously he’s forgotten, because I don’t take kindly to threats. Over here, it doesn’t work like that. If you want to make threats, come and show me. Come and show me how you drag my carcass around. I would love to see you try. “And like I said in that message: UFC Africa is far away from being done. It’s probably going to happen next year. I don’t want to wait that long. I will beat him this year, and after that fight, if he still feels like he has all this power over me and he’s trying to intimidate me, that’s good. Then come to Africa next year, and we’ll fight for the belt in a rematch where I’m the champion. Because that fight’s not happening this year, and he does not scare me. Not one little bit.” Adesanya's hatred for du Plessis derives from comments made by the South African fighter about being "an African champion," claiming that he lives and trains in Africa but other African-born champions, such as Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, do not.

Contrary to what most of us would believe, there is a far deeper connection between martial arts and celebrities. While some famous people engage in the sessions to maintain their physical fitness and strength, others do it out of a pure passion for martial arts and the thrill of it all. Here are some celebrities that often engage in combat sports. Robert Downey Jr Robert is a major movie star and one of the highest-paid actors. He did, however, experience some personal demons at some point in his life, just like many of us. He claims that practicing Wing Chun has contributed significantly to his discipline, and he has a deep, everlasting love for martial art. A few years prior to the release of the first Iron Man movie, RDJ began developing his martial arts skills. In fact, he spent a lot of time studying with renowned Wing Chun practitioner Eric Oram when Sherlock Holmes was being filmed, often up to six times per week. Vladmir Putin Amongst the most famous personalities in this list who takes MMA lessons is Russia president Vladimir Putin. Putin has always been interested in martial arts. He possesses a black belt in judo, and according to many, he has been practicing the art for more than 40 years. Furthermore, Putin may be seen in numerous movies using Judo techniques while wearing a gi. According to some experts, Putin is legitimate, and his technique is quite effective. Putin is a passionate martial arts enthusiast as well, and he frequently attends the Olympics to cheer on Russian judo participants. Wiz Khalifa Wiz is renowned primarily for leading a wild and unhealthy lifestyle. You'll thus be amazed to hear that he has time for some serious martial arts training in addition to his work as a musician and his public passion for marijuana. Wiz claims that he first began training consistently for a few months with BJJ. But when he started practicing Muay Thai, he really got the bug and is now working out for up to three hours every day. That involves pad workouts with Muay Thai legend Saenchai. Henry Cavil Henry Cavill, a British actor, is best known for playing Superman in the DC Extended Universe film series. While Henry Cavill seems to have given Superman a new approach, the Man of Steel may not be known for his prowess in the ring. Cavill regularly practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and frequently competes alongside legends of the game like Roger and Renzo Gracie. Although he has some boxing experience as well, BJJ is his primary love. To use Cavill's own words: “Jiu-Jitsu has a way of kicking your arse and making you love it for the lessons you learned! Kinda like mother nature… or a big brother whom you annoyed one too many times. So good to be back on the mats.” Ed O’Neil The American actor and comedian are best known for playing Al Bundy in the television series "Married with Children" and Jay in " Modern Family." But Ed is also well-liked and respected in the martial arts community since he is a black belt. Ed O'Neill is a black belt in BJJ. And not just anyone - O'Neill earned his black belt under Rorion Gracie in 2007. Rorion is one of the few persons on earth with a 9th-degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a well-known member of the Gracie family. He is also well regarded as one of the pioneers who brought Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to America.

Boxing fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated fight between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis, set to take place on April 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This fight marks a rare occasion where two unbeaten fighters will face off, with both Garcia and Davis putting everything on the line to become the face of boxing. Former two-weight world champion, Andre Ward, has raised an important question ahead of the fight - can Garcia handle the power of Davis? Despite Garcia's impressive speed and technical abilities, Davis is known for his tremendous power, earning him the nickname 'Tank'. Garcia, with a record of 22-0 with 18 knockouts, has gained a considerable following on social media, making him one of the most popular young boxers in the world. Davis, on the other hand, boasts a record of 25-0 with 24 knockouts, cementing his reputation as a knockout artist. The clash of styles between Garcia and Davis is expected to be one for the ages. Garcia will rely on his speed and footwork to outmaneuver Davis, while Davis will be looking to land his power shots and end the fight early. This fight is not just about winning or losing, but about securing a place in boxing history. The winner of this fight will likely become the face of boxing, at least for the time being. Both fighters are young and have a long career ahead of them, but this fight could be the one that propels one of them into superstardom. As the anticipation builds for this fight, it's clear that boxing fans are in for a treat. The clash between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis is set to be one of the biggest fights of the year and could potentially be one of the greatest fights in boxing history. Only time will tell who will come out on top, but one thing is for sure - this fight will be one to remember.

Frank Warren would cheerfully match any heavyweight he promotes against Anthony Joshua, not just Tyson Fury. “I think Joe Joyce would knock him out,” Warren said during an interview posted to Queensberry Promotions’ YouTube channel. “As soon as he catches him. He will walk through him.” Warren admitted that Joyce will have a challenging foe on Saturday night at London's Copper Box Arena. Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) will fight formidable Chinese challenger Zhang Zhilei (24-1-1, 19 KOs) in the main event of a show that will be broadcast on BT Sport 1 in the UK and Ireland and streamed on ESPN+ in the US. Warren wouldn't think twice about pairing Joshua with the 2016 Olympic silver medalist if Joyce, 37, wins and keeps his WBO interim heavyweight belt. “I mean, they wanna pick up the phone and talk to us about that, we’ll do that immediately, if Joe comes through,” Warren said. “Remember, Joe’s the interim champion, so he’s the gatekeeper to the mandatory [position], the WBO mandatory. He is the gatekeeper for that fight. So, if anybody wants it, they know what they’ve gotta do. They’ve gotta fight him. And if Joshua wants to get himself into that position, we’ll gladly, gladly accommodate him for that. I can speak on behalf of Joe because Joe has told me he wants the fight.” London's Joyce has made a name for himself in the heavyweight division by displaying a rock-solid chin, incredible stamina, a reliable, stiff jab, and devastating power. At AO Arena in Manchester, England, on September 24, 6-foot-6, 270-pound Joyce defeated former WBO champion Joseph Parker in the 11th round to become the first combatant to accomplish this feat. Parker (31-3, 21 KOs) of New Zealand also competed against Joshua in a 12-round title unification bout at Cardiff, Wales' Principality Stadium five years ago. Joshua won on all judges scorecards.

Jake Paul, a former YouTuber who is now a boxer, claimed that his team had advised him to face KSI or another social media celebrity when he returned to the ring. Jake's older brother Logan Paul was defeated by KSI via a decision when competing in boxing. However, Paul ultimately made the decision to go on a well-known MMA veteran, and on Wednesday he formally declared that Nate Diaz would be his opponent. At the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the competition takes place on August 5. Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) recently suffered his first boxing loss. He lost an eight-round split decision to Tommy Fury, the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who had never lost. Paul may have used the right to an immediate rematch. Unknown factors led him to choose a different course of action. Paul has defeated many MMA veterans over his career, including Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Ben Askren. In their grudge battle, he thinks Diaz will be outmatched and defeated. “My last fight didn’t end the way I wanted, but the result was the best thing that could have happened to my professional boxing aspirations. Now, the world thinks I am vulnerable, when all I am is more focused than ever. My team wanted me to take an easy fight like KSI next, but that’s not how I am built. Nate Diaz is considered one of the most bad-ass fighters of all time, but he and his team have been running their mouths for too long,” said Paul. “People tell me Nate has been training with Andre Ward for years. That he has insane stamina. That he refuses to back down. Good for f------- Nate. I haven’t forgotten about the slap backstage in Arizona, and on August 5th, a Problem Child is going to piece up and knock out the Stockton G.”

The flyweight division is set to be ignited once again as the highly anticipated rematch between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja is headed to UFC 290 on July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The two warriors are set to battle it out for the flyweight championship in what promises to be an enthralling bout. Following a report originally received from Freak MMA, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell acknowledged the information with UFC broadcast partner ESPN. The rematch between Moreno and Pantoja promises to be a barnburner. However, both fighters have improved significantly since their first meeting. Moreno, the current flyweight champion, and Pantoja have previously met back in 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129. The fight was a back-and-forth affair, with Pantoja ultimately coming out on top with a unanimous decision victory. Moreno left the UFC following his defeat to Pantoja, but he eventually made the journey back after taking away the LFA flyweight championship. During his second UFC run, Moreno has seen a great deal of success. Over the past two and a half years, "The Assassin Baby" has been involved as part of one of the finest rivalries in the promotion's history. Since December 2020, the Mexican and Deiveson Figueiredo have battled in a record four fights inside the octagon, excluding a championship matchup against Kai Kara-France in the interim. While Moreno won at UFC 283 by doctor's stoppage TKO to regain the championship, he put a halt to his feud against Figueiredo. Pantoja, on the other hand, has also been making waves in the flyweight division. The Brazilian fighter has an impressive record of 25-5. Pantoja is a well-rounded fighter who possesses knockout power in his strikes and is also a proficient grappler. Following wins in each of his previous three matches—two of which were stunning submission wins—Pantoja has pushed himself closer to a championship opportunity. The South American emerged legitimately worthy of the championship with consecutive victories against Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, and Alex Perez. The flyweight division has seen a resurgence in recent years, with fighters like Moreno, Figueiredo, and Pantoja putting on some of the most exciting fights in the UFC. This rematch between Moreno and Pantoja is sure to add to the excitement of the division, and fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting July 8 to see who will emerge as the flyweight champion.

Matty Harris Making Waves in Heavyweight Division with Fourth Consecutive First-Round Finish British heavyweight Matty Harris has been turning heads in the boxing world with his impressive performances in the ring. The 23-year-old secured his fourth consecutive first-round finish in his last fight against Milos Veletic on the Harlem Eubank card at York Hall in London last month. Despite being only five fights into his professional career, Harris has already been tipped to reach the top of the division. Harris made his professional debut in November 2021, going the full four rounds in a points victory. However, since then, he has been dominant, stopping all of his opponents in the first round. In his most recent fight, he dispatched Veletic in just 23 seconds, showcasing his power and accuracy in the process. Harris' promoter, Kalle Sauerland, head of Wasserman Boxing, has been effusive in his praise of the young heavyweight. Sauerland has described Harris as carrying "dynamite" in both hands and as the "standout" young heavyweight in the division. With such high praise coming from a respected figure in the sport, Harris' future looks bright. Despite his impressive start to his professional career, Harris remains focused on continuing to improve and make a name for himself in the heavyweight division. With his combination of power and technical skill, he has the potential to become a major force in the sport in the years to come.

Chris Algieri Speaks Out on Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Boxing Chris Algieri, a former world champion boxer, has shared his thoughts on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the sport. Algieri faced Amir Khan in 2015 and Conor Benn in 2021, both of whom have since tested positive in doping tests. Benn's results led to his fight with Chris Eubank Jr being pulled at the last minute, and a resolution with the British Boxing Board of Control still not reached after six months. Khan's test was taken after his retirement bout with Kell Brook in February 2022, and he has been banned for two years. In an interview with iD Boxing, Algieri stated that there is "a lot of drug use in the sport" and that it is only getting worse. He expressed his disappointment at the situation and the effect it has on the integrity of the sport. Algieri's comments come at a time when boxing is facing increasing scrutiny over the use of PEDs. Despite the efforts made by anti-doping agencies and governing bodies, the problem persists, with some fighters continuing to test positive for banned substances. The issue of PEDs in boxing is a complex one, with many factors contributing to the problem. Some fighters may turn to PEDs to gain a competitive advantage, while others may do so to aid their recovery from injury. In some cases, fighters may be unaware that the supplements they are taking contain banned substances. Algieri's comments highlight the need for continued efforts to combat the use of PEDs in boxing. This includes education and awareness programs for fighters and coaches, as well as increased testing and harsher penalties for those who are caught using banned substances. As the sport of boxing continues to evolve, the importance of maintaining its integrity grows. It is imperative that all those involved in the sport work together to ensure a level playing field and a clean sport for all fighters.

Andy Ruiz Jr, also known as ‘The Destroyer’, is open to the possibility of facing WBC world champion Tyson Fury, following Bob Arum's comments about a potential fight between the two. Arum, who is the Top Rank boss, recently mentioned that a bout between Ruiz and Fury could take place this summer, as Fury looks for his next opponent after failing to secure an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk. Ruiz, who last fought in October 2020 when he outpointed Luis Ortiz, originally appeared to be in line to face Deontay Wilder in a final eliminator for the WBC world championship. However, negotiations between the two fighters stalled, making a shot at the full world title more likely for Ruiz. Upon hearing the news, Ruiz took to his Instagram account to share a post with quotes from Arum, along with an image of the WBC Belt with a crown over it. If he manages to secure a fight with Fury, it won't be the first time he faces a British boxer in the ring. In 2019, Ruiz made history when he stopped Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden to become the first Mexican heavyweight world champion. However, he later lost the rematch against Joshua that same year. Ruiz's fighting style has always been exciting, and a potential fight with Fury would undoubtedly be a must-watch for boxing fans worldwide. While nothing has been confirmed as of yet, it will be interesting to see if this fight comes to fruition and whether Ruiz can add another world title to his name.

In what is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches of the year, former UFC star Nate Diaz is set to make his professional boxing debut against none other than YouTube sensation turned-professional boxer, Jake Paul. Scheduled to take place on August 5 in Dallas, this fight promises to be one for the ages, as both fighters bring their unique skill sets to the ring. The event consists of an 8-round, 185-pound fight that will certainly take shape in American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas. Known for his brash personality and viral social media presence, Jake Paul has garnered a massive following and is sure to bring his A-game to the ring. For Jake Paul, this fight marks another opportunity to showcase his boxing abilities after getting dropped against Tommy Fury via split decision in February. The YouTuber (6-1) already has notable winnings including former UFC fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva. Nate Diaz becomes 4th athlete from UFC to square up in the boxing ring. Since the loss against Tommy Fury, Jake Paul has been consistently eyeing a fight against Nate Diaz. He quotes: “People tell me Nate has been training with Andre Ward for years, that he has insane stamina, that he refuses to back down. Good for F*cking Nate. I haven’t forgotten about the slap backstage in Arizona, and on August 5th, a ‘Problem Child’ is going to piece up and knock out the ‘Stockton G.’” Following fighting out the final year of his UFC agreement last year, Diaz has become a free agent, and as a result, there has been much conjecture about who and where he is going to compete. However, it has been widely speculated that Diaz wanted to enter the boxing ring. He will now ultimately get the opportunity. Throughout the last few years, Diaz and Paul have fought a nasty verbal battle, but now they'll square up in the ring to figure out their differences. And while he may be making his professional boxing debut, Diaz is no stranger to the sweet science, having trained extensively in boxing throughout his career. He is sure to bring his all to the ring as he looks to make a statement in his new venture. “Besides Canelo, he’s the biggest thang in boxing,” Diaz said in a statement. “I’m here to conquer that. I’m the king of combat sports, and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts. I f*cked up Conor for acting out and now here I am again, like a superhero of the Real Fight game, the king of the Real Fight game.” Whether you're a die-hard Jake Paul fan or a Nate Diaz loyalist, there's no denying that this fight is set to be a must-see event. So mark your calendars for August 5 and get ready for what promises to be a night of unforgettable boxing action.

Where Francis Ngannou will wind up after leaving the UFC in search of better opportunities will continue to be one of the biggest topics in the first half of 2023. In recent interviews, Ngannou has stated repeatedly that his objective is to box first — the most likely opponent at the time being Deontay Wilder — and then return to the cage. Professional Fighters League and One Championship are the two most likely landing destinations. Now there's a chance he'll be available on Amazon Prime in Singapore. Boxing coach John Hutchinson works with One champion Anatoly Malykhin at Tiger Muay Thai (12-0) and he has invited Ngannou to come to ONE. “When that little soft bum Arjan comes out of hiding,” Hutchinson wrote. “We promise it will be over very fast in a powerful blink of a eye. Making room faster than ever for the real fight to happen. @Francisngannou you should of stayed where your at when you had the chance. Your about to face the biggest challenge @anmalykhin ... Contract pending let’s see who’s the undisputed king is …” The savage knockout artist is favoured to unify the Heavyweight title against Arjan Bhullar this summer, and Hutchinson believes he'll meet "The Predator" after that. Despite concerns that Ngannou made a catastrophic mistake by quitting the UFC, it appears like he is on the verge of setting up many high-profile matches. Perhaps his fight purse demands weren't so outlandish after all!

After her tight defeat at UFC 287 on Saturday, UFC veteran Cynthia Calvillo is reportedly no longer on the promotional roster. UFC Roster Watch, the account responsible with tracking the most recent additions and subtractions to the UFC active roster, broke the news of Calvillo's UFC roster status. Calvillo was defeated by Loopy Godinez in a split decision at UFC 287 last Saturday. It was a close battle, with fans divided over who won between the two strawweights. Calvillo has now lost five consecutive fights, with her previous victory being in June 2020 against Jessica Eye. After four consecutive losses at flyweight, she decided to return to 115lbs. Calvillo made her UFC debut in March 2017, submitting Amanda Cooper in the first round. Before signing with the UFC, she competed on LFA's inaugural night against current UFC fighter Montana De La Rosa. She had a strong start to her UFC career, winning three straight fights before falling to former strawweight champion Carla Esparza. She then defeated Eye, Cortney Casey, and Poliana Botelho before falling to Katlyn Chookagian and Jéssica Andrade.