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The announcement of Jake Paul's contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in January of this year generated a lot of buzz in the world of combat sports. Notably, a number of fighters, including as PFL lightweight contender Clay Collard, have declared their willingness to engage in an MMA match with the former YouTube star-turned-boxing sensation. PFL welterweight champion Ray Cooper III recently threw down the gauntlet, challenging Paul to his first-ever MMA match in August, adding to the expanding number of challengers. Cooper, an experienced fighter with a strong record, is anxious to face Paul in the cage and demonstrate his superiority in the sport. "I’m open in August, fight a real fighter." Cooper claims that he would fight a "real fighter" because "The Problem Child" has mainly competed in boxing battles against former MMA competitors like Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva. Fans and detractors have questioned Paul's readiness to go against current MMA fighters in the ring or octagon, where the rules and nature of the sport are very different. Jake Paul and recently retired UFC star Nate Diaz will face battle on August 5th at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas.

Chris Eubank Jr., a middleweight contender, acknowledges that his boxing career depends on the outcome of his impending rematch with former world champion Liam Smith. In January, Smith shocked everyone by increasing his weight and eliminating Eubank in four rounds. On June 17, in Manchester, their rematch is slated to take place live on Sky Sports Box Office. Eubank claimed that he didn't have any pressure before the first fight. He is under a lot of pressure for the rematch, though, as another defeat might mean the end of his professional career. "It's always interesting sitting across the table from a man you're going to fight in a few months, looking into his eyes, especially when that man has a win over you which he does," Eubank Jr told Sky Sports News. "This is a rematch, a very serious fight for me now, I cannot afford any mistakes, so I'm ready for the challenge. I may have, not underestimated him, but there wasn't as much pressure on me in the last fight. Now on the flip side all the pressure is on me, I have to go out there and perform, my career is on the line. "I've never been in this situation before where I'm fighting a man who has another win over me, so I'm interested to see how that might affect my preparation, my mindset, my performance on the night." On the other hand, Eubank is refusing to confirm that he'd announce his retirement if Smith is able to pull of another win. "I get asked this question every time I fight," Eubank said. "It seems like once you hit 30-years-old it's like, 'if you lose are you going to retire?'. "No, I don't have that mentality, I don't bring that into the universe, I don't talk about retirement. I'm going to do everything I can to win, if by some miracle he's able to pull off another win I won't say 'I'm going to retire'. As a fighter you fight, as long as my body can keep going through these training camps I'm going to do that."

Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Anthony Joshua, has travelled to Saudi Arabia to further negotiations for a possible fight in December with Deontay Wilder. It has been widely reported in boxing over the past few weeks that the Middle Eastern country hopes to host a heavyweight spectacle at the end of this year. The Saudis want to stage the undisputed heavyweight world title bout in December, provided Oleksandr Usyk wins his mandatory defence against Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury triumphs in his fight this summer. However, they have a highly ambitious idea to schedule Joshua vs. Wilder and Fury vs. Usyk on the same night. The top four heavyweights would go off on the same show in the proposed event, which would be the first of its type in boxing history. Of course, the majority of boxing fans are quite doubtful of the idea, but negotiations with the representatives of all four boxers are still going on in an effort to make it happen. On Thursday, Hearn posted a picture showing that he’d arrived in Riyadh after previously stating that he was set for meetings over the idea this week. The idea will now be to advance talks and attempt to make the dream event a reality. Last week, AJ told the Metro: “He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game. “I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion and he did it so I have to respect that. “It’s going to be a tough fight but I am confident in myself. I’m a better, more well-rounded athlete, a better, more well-rounded fighter. “In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 per cent there.” And when asked about the potential fight with Joshua, Wilder told ESNews: “Let’s make it happen. If that’s what’s going on, let’s make it happen. “Let’s put it like this, I’ll keep it sweet – I’mma give Saudi their first knockout victim. I can deliver that for them. “They haven’t had that much excitement as far of knockouts. I’mma bless them with it. “Any Deontay Wilder fight you can expect that, but this one’s gonna be real special.”

Mixed martial arts fans have been buzzing with excitement following the news that ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong has a meeting lined up with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. According to Sityodtong, the meeting will take place in Los Angeles and could potentially lead to the Cameroonian fighter signing with the Singapore-based promotion. Ngannou has been a dominant force in the UFC’s heavyweight division since his debut in 2015. He rose to fame with his devastating knockout power and has since become one of the biggest stars in the sport. He claimed the heavyweight title in March 2021 with a stunning second-round knockout of Stipe Miocic and successfully defended it in January 2022 with Ciryl Gane. However, Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC has been somewhat contentious. He expressed frustration with the promotion’s pay structure which put his contract issue in jeopardy. He also hinted that he could explore other options if the UFC didn’t offer him a satisfactory deal. After being under negotiation for a long time, Francis Ngannou’s contract was terminated and the former champion left vacating the heavyweight division title. Afterward, the promotion scheduled Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane to compete for the open championship. 'Bones' eventually submitted 'Bon Gamin' in round one to win the championship. The freshly minted champion's defense is already being prepared by the UFC, as Jones named out Stipe Miocic after the victory. While things are now back to normal with the promotion, this is not the scenario for Ngannou. The former champion, though, has remained remarkably silent. Ngannou had earlier hinted at a two-fight contract in Africa against Deontay Wilder, but it never manifested. The former UFC champion could soon be signed, according to Chatri Sityodtong of ONE Championship. There, the promoter said that they will be discussing it on Saturday. Additionally, he thinks he might secure Ngannou the highest offer to date. Sityodtong's remarks have merit because "The Predator" has already said that he's probably going to make a move with the PFL or ONE Championship. “Francis, we’ve been in discussions, I like Francis,” Chatri Sityodtong stated on The MMA Hour. “I think he brings a lot to the table… He has a bunch of offers on the table. He’s waiting for our final offer, we’ve given him, well my team did it, but I’m going to meet Francis this Saturday in [Los Angeles]. For sure, ONE can give him the largest offer on the table out of all those bids.” He continued, “It has to work for him, it has to work for us. I just believe that when meeting somebody, you get the energy… I think there’s going to be big news on Francis shortly, he’s taking his time.” If Ngannou were to sign with ONE Championship, it would be a major coup for the promotion. He would bring star power, knockout power, and a wealth of experience to the heavyweight division. He would also be a major draw for fans in Africa, where ONE Championship has been looking to expand its reach. Of course, there are still many questions to be answered. What exactly is the “biggest offer on the table” that Sityodtong referred to? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain – the MMA world will be watching closely as this story unfolds.

Lou DiBella’s promotional company’s long-running “Broadway Boxing” series may have finally found a permanent streaming home in DAZN. This Thursday night, DAZN will stream a six-fight card from Sony Hall in New York, featuring top talent such as Tsendbaatar Erdenebat, Brian Ceballo, and David Lopez. The International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter is confident that this partnership will be beneficial for both DAZN subscribers and the fighters. “It’s a grassroots, club-level boxing show, but it’s a high level of that kind of show,” DiBella told BoxingScene.com. “And my understanding is that [DAZN] has been looking at more developmental stuff with other promoters. Offering more content to your subscribers is a win for your subscribers. I think it’s a real plus for the service and it’s a real plus for the fighters.” DiBella praised DAZN for investing in club-level boxing, particularly in Manhattan, where costs can quickly mount up. He also credited Larry Goldberg and Boxing Insider for putting their money where their mouth is and trying to re-establish televised-quality club boxing in New York. However, to do a club show in New York, one must be willing to deliver a certain level of quality of fight. The New York commission is known for being one of the hardest commissions in the country to get a fight approved by. DiBella emphasized the importance of bringing a high level of talent to the show, and Goldberg’s partnership with Sony Hall, which provides excellent lighting for television and a lively crowd. “The fighters fighting on this ‘Broadway Boxing’ card are excited that this is being distributed by DAZN because DAZN does have cache in terms of being one of the biggest players in boxing. And there’s a lot of talent on this little, six-fight card [Thursday] night. And if you can offer those cards with regularity, it’s a real selling point to DAZN subscribers.” For fans of club-level boxing, this partnership between DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing” series and DAZN is exciting news. With regularity, fans can expect more high-quality fights and rising talent to be featured on the platform.

Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith has expressed his doubts about Chris Eubank Jr.'s true desire for their upcoming rematch. The two boxers are set to face off on June 17 at AO Arena in Manchester, following Eubank's contractual right to an immediate rematch after suffering a fourth-round knockout loss to Smith in January. However, Eubank has also been in negotiations for a rescheduled fight against Conor Benn, which has raised questions about his commitment to the rematch with Smith. During a press conference on Tuesday, Smith voiced his doubts, stating that Eubank only took the rematch to save face after failing to secure the Benn fight. Despite Eubank's claims that he should have been given the opportunity to continue in their first fight, Smith is confident that he will once again come out on top. He pointed to Eubank's disoriented state and inability to stay on his feet after the first knockdown, stating that any other fighter would have been stopped. Smith went on to suggest that Eubank has "a lot of demons to come over" and that he doesn't believe Eubank can do anything to beat him in their second encounter. Eubank, on the other hand, maintains that he should have been given the chance to continue in their first fight and that he will come out victorious in the rematch. The upcoming rematch between Smith and Eubank is highly anticipated, with both boxers looking to prove themselves in the ring. Smith has a professional record of 33-3-1 with 20 knockouts, while Eubank has a record of 32-3 with 23 knockouts. The fight will be a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view event and is expected to draw a significant audience. As the date of the rematch approaches, the tension between Smith and Eubank is likely to continue to build. Both fighters will be looking to come out on top and prove their worth in the ring, and fans can expect an intense and highly competitive fight.

In a disappointing turn of events, Deiveson Figueiredo has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled UFC 290 bout against Manel Kape. Figueiredo, the former UFC Flyweight Champion, has been unable to secure medical clearance to compete, leaving fans and fighters alike disappointed. Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno have been embroiled in one of the greatest feuds in UFC history over the past several years. Four times, the two men engaged in combat for the UFC flyweight title. They shared one victory apiece and a tie, thus they engaged in one last fight at UFC 283. In conclusion, Moreno won the contest and took home the trophy thanks to a doctor's stoppage. Figueiredo, on the other hand, was left to nurse his wounds as he tried to get up to bantamweight. However, news claims that Figueiredo has been eventually forced to withdraw from UFC 290 following an eye injury he got during his battle with Moreno in January. The former UFC flyweight champion confirmed his withdrawal on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca. Figueiredo stated: “I’m still injured,” Figueiredo told Trocação Franca. “I asked for a fight, told my manager I wanted to fight already, but when he gave me the fight and I talked to my physical therapist and my ophthalmologist, [they said] my eyesight is still not 100 percent. There are days I see things normal, but there are days it’s not OK, especially the days after I train, so they decided I had to go the full six-month [medical suspension] the ophthalmologist gave me [after UFC 283].” With Figueiredo out of the picture, Manel Kape will now be looking for a new opponent, and it remains to be seen who he will face. Several exciting fighters in the flyweight division would be worthy opponents for Kape. As fans eagerly await news of a replacement for Figueiredo, the speculation about who Kape will face next will undoubtedly continue. Unfortunately, Kape appears to be upset about the outcome and feels offended that his third fight was called off. In a furious tirade, "Starboy" criticized the Brazilian on Twitter. For now, we wish Deiveson Figueiredo a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in the Octagon soon. In the meantime, fans can look forward to the next exciting chapter in the world of MMA.

Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis Generates 1.2 Million Pay-Per-View Buys, Oscar De La Hoya Reacts The highly anticipated bout between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta "Tank" Davis did not disappoint, as it generated a massive 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and a gate of $22 million. While some may have been surprised by these numbers, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya was not. De La Hoya, who promotes Garcia, has long been a proponent of making the fights that fans want to see. He believes that if promoters can put together the right matchups, the fans will tune in, and the numbers will speak for themselves. That's precisely what happened with Garcia vs Davis. The fight was not without its challenges, as Golden Boy has an exclusive content deal with streaming service DAZN, while Davis is promoted by Premier Boxing Champions, who have an exclusive content deal with Showtime. The fighters, promoters, and competing networks had to come together to hammer out a deal that worked for everyone. But De La Hoya and Garcia were determined to make the fight happen, and their persistence paid off. Despite being dropped by Davis in the second round, Garcia put on a valiant effort, only to be put away with a well-placed body shot in the seventh. The pay-per-view figure of 1.2 million buys was the largest since the initial meeting between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin in 2018, cementing the fight's status as a must-see event. The gate of $22 million was also the fifth largest in Las Vegas history. De La Hoya is rightfully proud of his company's role in making the fight happen. He believes that Golden Boy has a unique ability to identify the best prospects and sell massive events at the top of the sport. And with fighters like Ryan Garcia in their stable, the sky's the limit. Overall, the Garcia vs Davis fight was a huge success for everyone involved. The fans got the matchup they wanted, the fighters put on a great show, and the promoters and networks made a lot of money. It's a win-win for everyone, and it's a testament to the power of putting together the right fights.

Former Bellator middleweight world champion Gegard Mousasi will put up his gloves after making one final run at the Bellator world title this year, beginning with Fabian Edwards. The UFC athlete notably signed with the promotion after quitting the UFC on a four-fight winning streak that includes victories over Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort, both world titles. And after a spectacular late-career run in which he has only lost twice, against Johnny Eblen and Rafael Lovato Jr., he is eager to leave on top. On May 12, at the Accor Arena in Paris, Mousasi will face Edwards in an all-or-nothing match to begin his pursuit of the gold, after which he will push for a rematch with Eblen. Morale will be high in his opponent's camp because the British fighter, who has spent the last year watching his brother Leon win and defend the UFC welterweight title, is within striking distance of winning gold for himself. "At the start of this training camp I had those feelings," Mousasi said of possible retirement. "I would fall asleep and wake up every 30 minutes or an hour so I couldn't get any sleep because my hand would fall asleep and I'd have to wake up and shake my hand and all of that. "I want one more try, Fabian if I beat him I'm going to fight for the belt and that's going to be it, probably. But I'm not looking too far ahead and nowadays I don't look much farther than one fight ahead because I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring, I could get a serious injury, I could lose and lose the desire.”

At UFC Kansas City earlier this month, Holloway expertly put an end to Arnold Allen's unbeaten streak in the octagon. The victory improved his record to 17-0 against featherweights demonstrating once more that "Blessed" is still among the best in the world despite losing to the current UFC champion three times. Following that, Holloway reiterated his resolve to pursue a potential fourth fight at 145 pounds versus Volkanovski. “I think so long as Volk’s fighting and I’m fighting, and I’m doing what I’m doing and he’s doing what he’s doing, I’m sure the fourth [fight] is going to line up somewhere,” Holloway explained. “I don’t know if it’s at ‘45, I don’t know if it’s at ‘55, I don’t know where it is — I think that fight is very reachable. I think we’ll fight each other again down the line at some point, 100 percent. So at the end of the day, that’s not really far off. “But if he’s asking me to give me a fight, I would love to fight Conor [McGregor]. I was the only guy that took Conor to a decision at ‘45.” Who will Holloway fight next? Comment and let us know.

Former UFC star Nate Diaz is in hot water after an arrest warrant was issued for him concerning a street fight that took place in New Orleans. However, Diaz is claiming that he acted in self-defense during the altercation. Diaz's representative, Zach Rosenfield, released a statement stating that Diaz's attorney, Walter Becker, has been in contact with court authorities in New Orleans and that they look forward to presenting all the facts about the incident to the District Attorney. “Nate’s attorney, Walter Becker, can confirm that Nate has received word of the arrest warrant, and Becker has been in contact with court authorities in New Orleans,” Rosenfield said. “Nate’s attorney looks forward to presenting all of the facts about this incident to the District Attorney, which clearly demonstrates that a trained fighter named Rodney Petersen aggressively pursued Nate with the intention of engaging him and once doing so, Nate acted entirely in self-defense. “No further comment will be made at this time.” The altercation in issue arose on Friday of last week on Bourbon Street, when Diaz was filmed on camera using a standing guillotine to choke Petersen until he passed out. Petersen was eventually revealed to be an amateur MMA fighter and professional boxer. The two had clashed amid a wider brawl. Petersen was shown with what seemed to be blood on the back of his head in a subsequent video. The brawl also involved Netflix star Chase DeMoor, who Diaz was separated from earlier that night at a Misfits Boxing event. DeMoor later challenged Diaz to a fight on social media. While no arrest has been made yet, if Diaz is found guilty of second-degree battery, he could face up to eight years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. Diaz is currently scheduled to fight Jake Paul in a boxing match on August 5th in Dallas, his first combat sports competition since leaving the UFC. The incident has caused a stir in the MMA community, with many taking sides and debating whether Diaz was justified in his actions. Diaz has a reputation as a tough and uncompromising fighter, but some are questioning whether his behavior in this situation crossed a line. Regardless of the outcome, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of street fighting and the importance of self-defense training for those involved in combat sports. Diaz's case will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans and fighters alike as it unfolds.

Floyd Mayweather, a former five-division world champion, has set a date for his upcoming exhibition fight with John Gotti III, the grandson of notorious organised crime figure John Gotti. The event is titled "Last Name Matter" and will held on Sunday, June 11 in Sunrise, Florida. Ozuna and Romeo Santos will perform. On Thursday in Florida, there will be a formal press conference where Mayweather and Gotti will face off. Marikit "Kitchie" Laurico, Mayweather's longtime helper who passed tragically unexpectedly in April, will be honoured at the ceremony. 30-year-old Gotti spent several years competing as an amateur before turning pro. After turning professional in 2017, he amassed a 5-1 record. He switched to boxing in October and made his professional debut after winning a four-round unanimous decision. This past January, Gotti made his return to the ring with a knockout victory. Mayweather, 46, ended his career in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record after defeating UFC fighter Conor McGregor in a mixed martial arts match. Since his retirement, Mayweather has participated in a number of exhibition fights, the biggest of which was his matchup with social media sensation Logan Paul in 2021. Mayweather took part in three exhibitions in 2022, including a bout with KSI's younger brother Deji. Mayweather made his UK debut in an exhibition with kickboxer Aaron Chalmers.