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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.

Even more money was made from the Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia bout than those responsible for organising it anticipated. According to information obtained, the Showtime Pay-Per-View main event sold almost 1.2 million copies in the US. The majority of experts  predicted that it would generate between 450,000 and 750,000 buys, which would still have been a success given the state of the boxing pay-per-view market in the United States. A reported sellout crowd of 20,842 people attended the 136-pound, non-title bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which brought in an additional $22.8 million in ticket revenue. Only Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao (almost $72.2 million), Mayweather-Conor McGregor (more than $55.4 million), Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin I (more than $27 million), and Alvarez-Golovkin II (more than $24.4 million) have earned more money in Nevada boxing history. Although Davis, 28, and Garcia, 24, are two of the most popular boxers in the sport, pay-per-view sales have recently suffered due to piracy and exorbitant prices. However, their battle enthralled both casual and passionate boxing fans, making it Showtime Pay-Per-View's most lucrative event since Mayweather-McGregor in August 2017. With 4.3 million pay-per-view purchases, Mayweather-McGregor came in second only behind Mayweather-Pacquiao in May 2015. A record 4.6 million people watched Mayweather-Pacquiao, and the event generated over $600 million in revenue.

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is gearing up for a shot at the title once again. After securing two impressive victories against Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal, Burns is set to face Belal Muhammad in a co-main event five-round bout next month at UFC 288. Burns is hoping that a win against Muhammad will earn him a shot at the welterweight title. Despite UFC president Dana White indicating that Colby Covington will face the champion, Leon Edwards, Burns is not giving up hope of jumping ahead of Covington in the queue. In his UFC career, Durinho has only ever faced up for a title bout. At UFC 258 on February 13, 2021, Kamaru Usman was the opponent. Burns put Usman to the ground quickly during the fight, however in the third round of the clash, the referee awarded a technical knockout victory to Usman. “I would love to say the winner is next for [Leon Edwards] but Colby is definitely next,” Gilbert Burns stated in a recent interview with Submission Radio. “Let’s see, and everything is about the performance. If I go in there and knock this guy out or submit him or do something spectacular, they’re going to say, ‘Why Colby? Why not this guy?’ so that’s another thing I’m doing too.” He continued, “I was looking forward to getting a finish against Masvidal, didn’t. I couldn’t make that spectacular, but I do think if I get a spectacular finish this time I might jump over this guy. Maybe, we’ll see.” Burns is confident that he has what it takes to earn a title shot, and he plans to make a statement in his upcoming fight against Muhammad. While he acknowledges that it is a slim chance that he will jump ahead of Covington, Burns is determined to give it his all in May. The welterweight division has been heating up recently, with several fighters vying for a shot at the title. Burns is one of the most exciting prospects in the division, with his impressive grappling skills and heavy hands making him a dangerous opponent for anyone. If he can secure a win against Muhammad in impressive fashion, Burns may just earn himself a shot at the title. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how he performs and whether he can make a statement that cannot be ignored. Overall, it looks like the welterweight division is set for an exciting few months, with plenty of top contenders hoping to earn a shot at the title. Gilbert Burns is just one of the many fighters looking to make their mark, and if he can deliver an impressive performance, he may just get his chance to become champion.

Gervonta Davis' Toughest Opponent Was Not Ryan Garcia, Says Rolando Romero Many boxing fans and experts believed that Ryan Garcia would be Gervonta Davis' toughest opponent to date. However, after Davis defeated Garcia in a dominating performance, former Davis foe Rolando "Rolly" Romero disagreed with the sentiment. Romero, who lost to Davis almost a year ago, believes that he is actually Davis' toughest opponent. He argues that Davis has not faced anyone as unique and dangerous as him. Romero is currently preparing for his upcoming fight against Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA 140-pound title. He is determined to win his first world title and is already envisioning himself as a target for Davis. Romero also stated that a rematch with Davis is inevitable. He plans to win his world title first and then challenge Davis again. While Davis may have defeated both Garcia and Romero, it is clear that Romero still sees himself as a major threat to Davis. Fans and experts alike will have to wait and see if Romero's words hold true in the ring.

Whittier's George "El Yuyu" Acosta put on a dominant performance against Bogota's Cesar Villarraga in the main event of Thompson Boxing's "New Blood" card on Friday. Acosta, now 15-1 with 2 knockouts, won by unanimous decision to extend his winning streak to eight fights. From the outset, Acosta was in control of the fight, landing more punches and staying busy throughout. After moving down to super featherweight in his last few fights, he showed that he's a stronger fighter at this weight class. Villarraga tried to outbox Acosta but couldn't avoid the constant pressure. Acosta used his jab and combination punching to keep Villarraga on his back foot for the entire bout. The judges' scorecards read 78-74 and 80-72 twice. "I feel like I got better in the ring in this fight," said Acosta. "Villarraga was using a lot of lateral movement, so I had to keep the pressure on him. I was in great shape and all the hard work I put in during training camp showed. I'm hoping this is the year I make a run to the top 10 rankings. I'm happy that I've been staying busy; it's a tremendous blessing." In the co-main event, Rigoberto Hermosillo of Los Angeles defeated Blas Ezequiel Caro of Santa Fe, Argentina. Hermosillo, a southpaw, dropped Caro with a left hook to the body in round five. Throughout the fight, Hermosillo landed the harder shots, though Caro had some shining moments. The scorecards read 79-72 and 78-73 twice, all in favor of Hermosillo. Anthony Chavez of Redlands, CA, won a majority decision over Diuhl Olguin of Jalisco, Mexico, in a scheduled 6-round lightweight bout. Chavez took control of the early rounds by landing the cleaner shots. Both fighters were landing counter punches, and midway through the bout, Chavez landed some nice right hands. In the end, Chavez won by majority decision. Scorecards read 60-54, 59-55, and 57-57. Bryan Hall of Fresno, CA, defeated Arnulfo Cazares of Tecate, Mexico, by way of majority decision in a scheduled 4-round heavyweight clash. Hall, who is six inches taller than Cazares, used his height and reach advantage to control distance and won on two of the judges' cards. Scorecards read 39-37 twice, and 37-37. In the opening bout of the evening, Kevin Salgado of Mexico defeated Steven Walker of Long Beach, CA, in a 4-round welterweight bout. Salgado outworked Walker for most of the fight, and while Walker landed some nice shots early, he came up short. Salgado won by majority decision.

The stage is set for a rematch that promises to be an exciting encounter for boxing fans worldwide. Japan's former WBO super flyweight world champion, Kazuto Ioka, will face the current WBA champion Joshua Franco of the United States in a highly anticipated rematch of their recent world title unification bout. Ioka's gym officially announced the fight on Monday at a press conference, much to the delight of boxing fans across the globe. The fight is scheduled to take place on June 24 at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium, which is the same venue where the pair battled to a twelve-round draw on New Year's Eve. Following the draw, the World Boxing Organization ordered Ioka to make a mandatory defense against his countryman, Junto Nakatani. However, Ioka chose to vacate his title to have a rematch with Franco, as settling things with his opponent was of utmost importance to him. Speaking at the press conference, Ioka said, "Fighting a title defense was not an option for us at all. The point is to carry on the fight from last year in the next bout and settle the matter with [Franco]." Franco, who is the older brother of world champion Jesse 'Bam Rodriguez,' expressed his excitement for the rematch and his motivation to come out on top this time. "My motivation is higher than it was in December, and I'm expecting a heated encounter," he said. Ioka boasts an impressive record of 29-2-1, with 15 wins by knockout, while Franco has a record of 18-1-3, with eight wins by knockout. The rematch promises to be a closely contested affair, with both fighters determined to emerge victorious and set the record straight. With the fight just a few weeks away, boxing fans can hardly wait to witness what promises to be an unforgettable encounter between two of the world's best boxers. The stage is set, and the world is watching, as Ioka and Franco go head-to-head to determine who will emerge as the undisputed champion.

The Ultimate Fighter 17 champion Gastelum, who had a rough 1-5 record inside the Octagon, was just one position from dropping out of the middleweight rankings. That is why, to put it mildly, his return after more than a year away was so important. In his matchup with Chris Curtis, Gastelum displayed glimmers of his former self on the feet and ultimately won by unanimous decision. With the comeback victory, Gastelum moved up the middleweight rankings four spots to #11, staking his claim to a title eliminator against Dricus Du Plessis. But, after being shot down by the South African, who is now scheduled to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 290, Gastelum has made a huge decision. Although Gastelum initially appeared dedicated to another middleweight title run and pursuit of a rematch with Israel Adesanya, who Gastelum lost to in a 2019 interim championship match, it has since been revealed that the 31-year-old Californian is considering leaving the category. Gastelum previously competed in the welterweight division between 2013 and 2015, making his divisional debut one match after his triumph on The Ultimate Fighter. In his five 170-pound scheduled fights, Gastelum missed weight twice, tipping the scales in the wrong direction for his victories over Nico Musoke.

In a new 4-part documentary series that will premiere on Netflix on May 17, Conor McGregor will describe his career and recovery from a terrible broken leg. McGregor Forever was created by Religion of Sports and directed by renowned documentarian Gotham Chopra. Chopra was previously in charge of documentaries like Tom vs. Time, which won a Sports Emmy for its inside look at Tom Brady, and Shut Up and Dribble, which followed LeBron James and other athletes caught up in the nation's expanding cultural and political debates. In the first video from the series to be aired, McGregor is still in the hospital bed recovering from surgery to fix a terrible broken leg he sustained during his most recent fight with Dustin Poirier. McGregor says in the documentary that even he believed his career would be ended after suffering that injury, despite the fact that he has come a long way since then. “I thought it was over as well,” McGregor said. “I thought it was over as well, that’s why I flipped into a different mode. It was the adrenaline as well and I know I would have came down but part of me was thinking, Jesus, imagine it was taken from me like that, I would be a different person and it was a bit scary, to be honest with you. “But it’s McGregor forever. That’s it. It’s done. It’s McGregor forever and don’t you forget it.” Each episode in the series will be one-hour long with behind-the-scenes footage from McGregor’s career as well as the aftermath from that broken leg as well as his rehabilitation.

In the world of mixed martial arts, few things are more exciting than a heated back-and-forth between two fighters who are eager to prove themselves in the octagon. And that's exactly what we're seeing right now with Paulo Costa and Jan Blachowicz. The two fighters were slated to go head-to-head at UFC 288, but the fight fell through due to a last-minute change in the card. Blachowicz claimed that Costa had turned down the fight, but Costa is now firing back, saying that it was Blachowicz who declined. According to Costa, he had been negotiating the fight for several days and was excited about the opportunity to face off against Blachowicz. The UFC had offered him the chance to fight at light heavyweight, which would have required him to move up a weight class, but he was more than willing to do so. Costa declared that he is interested in returning to middleweight so that he could beat Chimaev in October followed by challenging champion Israel Adesanya again because the latter knocked Costa out in a title bout in 2020. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, the #5 ranked middleweight stated: "Jan, he's lying. I never turned down a fight. Actually, in fact, he is who turned down the fight. I have always been negotiating that fight. For three or four days, I was negotiating with the UFC. I never pulled out the fight. I was actually very happy with that fight." Paulo Costa added why the fight failed to materialize: "I accept the fight, but the UFC suggested to me that once I beat him, I don't come back to 185 [pounds]. They said 'once you beat Jan, you need to stay at 205 and hold your position because Jan is No.3 so you need to hold at 205'. I told them, 'guys, I have business to finish at 185 so I cannot go right now to 205'." Costa said that Jan Blachowicz turned down the fight when the UFC opted to comply with his requirements. Costa made the assertion that he was not expecting such an outcome from the former light heavyweight champion, but it doesn’t matter as it was a short-notice fight, and maybe the Polish was not a good shape or training these days or maybe he was injured. Now, Costa is hoping to secure another bout, which will end his current agreement and begin a new UFC deal with a large salary rise. He is capable of reaching Chimaev more quickly if he desires it done first.