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A heavyweight match between contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes headlined Saturday’s UFC Vegas 71 fight card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Pavlovich entered the bout ranked third in the division while Blaydes was ranked fourth. Both men were looking to move a step closer to a title shot with a win. Blades used his jab to try and keep Pavlovich on the outside. Both men connected during an exchange in the middle of the cage. Pavlovich stepped in with a right hand that knocked Blaydes down, but Blaydes immediately bounced back to his feet. Pavlovich landed a stiff jab that wobbled Blayes. Blaydes fired back and remained on his feet. Pavlovich connected with another stiff jab that bounced Blaydes’ head back. He landed a right hand that had Blaydes out on his feet. Blaydes fell to his knees and the referee stepped in to prevent Blaydes from taking more damage. The end came at 3:08 of the first round. Pavlovich was the backup fighter for the Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane title fight at UFC 285. “Where’s my belt,” he said after the win on Saturday. “Big respect to Curtis Blaydes. He’s great, but, hey, someone was saying that he was going to easily take me down. What are you going to say now.” The Russian will now look to get a title shot against Jon Jones and set up a gigantic Heavyweight matchup

On the undercard of the highly anticipated Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia bout at the T-Mobile Arena, 20-year-old junior middleweight prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. put on a dominant performance against Jose Sanchez Charles. Mielnicki, who hails from Roseland, New Jersey, delivered a crushing right hand to Charles early in the fourth round, knocking him out for the third time in their scheduled 10-round bout. Referee Robert Hoyle immediately stopped the fight, giving Mielnicki his 10th knockout victory and improving his record to 15-1. Mielnicki's handlers believe that his impressive punching power is a result of his developing man strength, and his performance on Saturday certainly supported this belief. Before knocking out Charles in the fourth round, Mielnicki had already dropped him twice in the third round with a right hand and a right-left combination. Charles managed to make it to the end of the third round, but he didn't last much longer in the fourth. This was a significant win for Mielnicki, who has been on a seven-fight winning streak since his upset loss to James Martin in April 2021. Charles, a veteran fighter from Mexico, had never been knocked out in his 12-year, 25-fight professional career before facing Mielnicki. He had lost his previous two fights to former WBA 154-pound champion Austin Trout and now to Mielnicki. Mielnicki's knockout victory on the Davis-Garcia undercard was a clear statement of his potential as a rising star in the junior middleweight division. At only 20 years old, he has already shown impressive power and skill in the ring, and his future looks bright. With his handlers guiding his career carefully, there is no doubt that we will be seeing more of Mielnicki in the future.

Fiodor Czerkaszyn Dominates Elias Espadas in 9th Round Stoppage Fiodor Czerkaszyn, the undefeated Polish middleweight contender, put on an impressive performance on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He slowly but surely broke down Elias Espadas, the Mexican veteran, before the referee stepped in to stop the fight 2:07 into the ninth round. Czerkaszyn, who boasts a record of 22-0 with 14 knockouts, displayed his power and precision, landing heavy shots to Espadas' head and body throughout the bout. Espadas, who has now suffered back-to-back stoppages, complained about the stoppage, but it was clear that he was taking too much punishment. The end came after Czerkaszyn landed a right hand that hurt Espadas, followed by a left to the body that prompted the referee to intervene. Czerkaszyn's dominance was evident from the middle rounds onwards, as he continued to land clean shots and back Espadas up against the ropes. This victory was especially impressive considering that Espadas had previously gone the distance with world-class opponents such as Jaime Munguia and Sebastian Fundora. Czerkaszyn's performance could catapult him into the upper echelon of the middleweight division, and his name may soon be in the mix for a world title shot. On the other hand, Espadas will need to reassess his future in the sport after suffering two consecutive stoppage losses. It was a disappointing night for the Mexican veteran, who struggled to keep up with Czerkaszyn's pace and power. In conclusion, Fiodor Czerkaszyn put on a dominant performance on Saturday night, showcasing his skills and power in a decisive victory over Elias Espadas. With this win, Czerkaszyn has announced himself as a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division, and boxing fans will be eagerly anticipating his next bout.

Sandy Ryan delivered a spectacular performance in her first major title fight, outclassing Marie Pier Houle of Canada to win the vacant WBO welterweight title. The judges scored the fight in favor of Ryan with wide margins, with Christophe Beaurain scoring it 99-91, Howard Foster 98-92, and Marco Moscadelli 97-93. The fight was aired on DAZN and took place on Saturday evening at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Ryan demonstrated her superior skills by not getting dragged into her opponent's pace, which led to her only career loss in just her fourth professional fight a year ago. The former amateur standout from Derby used her jab and slick footwork to avoid early punishment. Meanwhile, Houle charged forward behind her jab and tried to work the body. Houle closed the gap and landed a combination upstairs late in the second round, but Ryan took the shots well and returned to her desired distance before connecting with a right hand in the final ten seconds. Ryan displayed greater commitment to power shots in the third round, connecting with a lead uppercut that Houle brushed off but had no immediate response to. Houle was forced to tie up Ryan after taking an overhand right late in the round. Despite Houle's determination to win the major title, her aggression played into Ryan's hands, as Ryan consistently landed uppercuts and left hooks on the unbeaten Quebecer in round five. Although Houle showed a sturdy chin, she was unable to respond, and Ryan ended the round with a digging left hook to the body. Ryan opened the second half of the fight with the same tools that produced frequent success in the preceding rounds. Although Houle extended her jab and offered looping left hooks, she was often beaten to the punch before she could launch her own shots. Ryan walked through a left hook to rattle off a flurry of power shots upstairs, trapping Houle along the ropes. Houle stormed back in the seventh round, but Ryan widened her attack in the eighth round. Ryan's jab remained key, and she followed up with right hands around the high guard of a defensive-minded Houle. Action remained one way in round nine, which saw Houle frequently clinch as Ryan pressed forward in an effort to stamp her arrival on the title scene. A right uppercut snapped back the head of Houle with 30 seconds to go in the ninth. In the final two minutes, Ryan continued to push for the knockout before eventually settling for the wide decision win. Houle showed heart and grit but was forced to accept her first defeat as she fell to 8-1-1 (2KOs) in her first title fight and also first career fight outside of North America. Ryan advanced to 6-1 (2KOs) with the win, her third straight since a ten-round, split decision loss to former titlist Erica Farias just thirteen months ago. An early indication of her resilience came in her insistence to immediately run it back, winning their rematch just five months later and following up with a ten-round shutout of former lightweight titlist Anahi Esther Sanchez last November 26. The WBO belt was relinquished by Jessica McCaskill in the weeks following her defeat to Chantelle Cameron in their undisputed junior welterweight championship last November 5 in Abu Dhabi. Chicago's McCaskill still holds the lineal, WBC, and WBO welterweight titles and also fights for her old IBF belt in a forthcoming clash versus Ivana Habazin later this June.

Joe Cordina has reclaimed his IBF junior lightweight title after winning a hard-fought split decision victory against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. In their DAZN-aired main event held at Cardiff International Arena in Wales, Cordina secured the win with a fifth-round knockdown that proved to be the difference in the card of Phil Edwards. The final scorecards were 114-113 in favor of Cordina and 115-112, also in favor of Cordina, by judges Phil Edwards and Pawel Kardyni, respectively. Cordina entered the fight as a favorite and made the most of his homecoming, displaying crisp jabs and right uppercuts as well as slick footwork. Rakhimov, on the other hand, remained in Cordina's face throughout the match, but his aggression came at a cost. In the second round, Cordina floored Rakhimov with a straight left, which put the defending titlist in an early hole. Rakhimov rallied back in the fifth round, snapping back Cordina's head with an overhand right, but Cordina was able to survive and even hurt Rakhimov in the closing seconds of the round. Cordina repeatedly caught Rakhimov coming in with right hands and landed them at will, causing a cut over Rakhimov's left eye and causing it to swell shut. Rakhimov refused to give up, even as Cordina seemed to be gaining the upper hand, and rallied late in the ninth and eleventh rounds. But despite his efforts, Cordina's superior skill set prevailed, and he secured the split decision win to become a two-time IBF junior lightweight titlist. Cordina had previously held the title but was forced to vacate it after suffering a broken hand in his first day of training camp last fall, which prevented him from defending the belt against Rakhimov in November. Despite never losing his title in the ring, Cordina was forced to play the role of challenger in his second homecoming. The victory over Rakhimov marks another milestone in Cordina's career, as he previously won the belt in a sensational second-round knockout of Japan's Kenichi Ogawa in the same venue last June.

The middleweight division of the UFC has been on fire lately, and the latest news has sent shockwaves through the MMA community. Robert Whittaker, former UFC middleweight champion, is set to take on the rising star Dricus du Plessis, with the winner earning a shot at the current middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. Robert Whittaker will face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 on July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a post-Dana White made on social media on Friday. While the winner would face Adesanya for the next middleweight title opportunity, White also declared the bout to be a legitimate title contender. The announcement of multiple middleweight contests, including Vettori-Cannonier and Strickland-Magomedov among others, had been announced by White the day before. “The winner of that fight will fight [Israel] Adesanya later this year, and that fight is targeted for Sydney, Australia,” White announced on social media. Whittaker, who is presently rated #2 at middleweight, is 8-2 in his previous 10 fights. His only defeat, which cost him his championship, likewise came to Adesanya, but the second time it was via KO. The former middleweight champion of the UFC had significant victories against Yoel Romero twice, Jared Cannonier, Kelvin Gastelum, Darren Till, and Jacare Souza among others during his career. At UFC 285, Dricus Du Plessis defeated Derek Brunson by second-round TKO increasing his record to 5-0 overall in the UFC. Even before that, he defeated Darren Till by submission at UFC 282 in December. The South African is ranked #6 at middleweight and has victories over Trevin Giles, Darren Till, Markus Perez, and Brad Tavares by knockout and decision, respectively. The winner of this fight will face off against Adesanya, one of the most dominant champions in the UFC today. Adesanya has been on a tear in the middleweight division, with notable wins over Whittaker, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. However, both Whittaker and du Plessis have what it takes to dethrone the champ, and a win over either fighter would be a huge accomplishment. Overall, UFC 290 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events of the year, with the Whittaker vs. du Plessis matchup being one of the most highly anticipated fights in recent memory. The middleweight division is stacked with talent, and this fight will go a long way in determining who will be the next challenger for Adesanya's title. Fans can expect a thrilling fight, with both fighters leaving it all in the octagon in their quest for UFC glory.

One of the hottest topics surrounding the highly anticipated clash between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia is the 136-pound catchweight contract, which both fighters agreed to before the bout. While Davis insisted on the weight clause to prevent Garcia from overpowering him, the latter expressed his frustration, stating that Davis was trying to drain him before the fight. Garcia, who prefers to fight at 140 pounds, last fought at the super lightweight limit in his last two bouts. Meanwhile, Davis, a two-division champion, has been dominant at 135 pounds and was looking to secure an advantage over his opponent by limiting Garcia's size advantage. Vasiliy Lomachenko, a three-division champion who has fought larger opponents throughout his career, weighed in on the controversy, stating that Garcia's size advantage can be a disadvantage in this bout. Lomachenko believes that the weight restriction will favor Davis, as Garcia's size may hinder his speed and agility, making him more predictable when it comes to his offense. He added that Garcia's limited experience at 135 pounds could also work against him in this bout. While the weight clause is undoubtedly a talking point leading up to the fight, the real test will be in the ring. Both Davis and Garcia are highly skilled and have the power to end the fight at any moment. The outcome of the bout will be determined not by the weight restriction but by the fighters' ability to execute their game plans and capitalize on their opponent's weaknesses. As the boxing world eagerly awaits the highly anticipated showdown between Davis and Garcia, the weight clause controversy continues to stir debate. But one thing is certain: come fight night, both fighters will leave it all in the ring to prove who is the better fighter.

Martin Bakole's return to the ring after an 11-month layoff was nothing short of breathtaking. The Scottish heavyweight contender produced a stunning performance to crush the little-known Ihor Shevadzutskyi in just three rounds, reminding the world of his immense talent and power. Bakole, who has previously sparred with top heavyweights such as Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, aims to fight one of the world champions in the heavyweight division. However, he has faced difficulty securing fights, with his bout against Shevadzutskyi only his fourth in three and a half years. Despite the long layoff, Bakole had little sign of ring rust, working patiently in the first round before unleashing an onslaught in the second. His left hook, right hand combination sent Shevadzutskyi down, but he managed to get back up, only to be knocked down again moments later by a right uppercut followed by a scything left hook. Shevadzutskyi managed to survive the rest of the round, but the damage had been done, with Bakole relentlessly attacking him with devastating body shots and heavy punches to the head. It was clear that Bakole was in no mood to let the fight go the distance. With this impressive victory, Bakole has cemented his status as a genuine contender in the heavyweight division. He has proven that he has the power, speed, and skill to compete at the highest level, and it's only a matter of time before he gets his shot at a world title. Of course, Bakole will face stiffer competition in the future, but his performance against Shevadzutskyi was a statement of intent. He has sent a message to the other heavyweights in the division that he's coming for them and that he's not to be underestimated. Bakole's next fight is yet to be announced, but one thing is certain: the Scottish heavyweight is ready for the big stage, and he's not going to back down from any challenges that come his way.

It's a battle for supremacy, a fight that has been teased for months and has finally arrived. The undefeated, unstoppable force Gervonta "Tank" Davis will take on the lightning-quick, daring Ryan "KingRy" Garcia in a clash that has the potential to become one of the biggest battles in lightweight history. The stakes are high, as this will be the biggest challenge of each fighter's career. The winner will undoubtedly catapult themselves to the top of the division, while the loser will have to reassess their trajectory. Davis, with his intimidating 28-0 record, is the favorite going into the fight. He's already held world titles in the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions, and his impressive track record in major title fights speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Garcia is a rising star, with a remarkable record of 23-0 and 19 KO's. He's been on a tear, winning his last two fights by knockout, including a stunning knockout of Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell. The two fighters have contrasting styles, but both have the ability to knock out their opponents with one devastating punch. Davis is known for his power, with 26 of his 28 victories coming by way of knockout. He's a southpaw who can hit his opponents with both hands, and his striking accuracy is unparalleled. Garcia, on the other hand, is known for his speed and agility, with incredible footwork and a lightning-fast jab. He's a natural counterpuncher who always seems to find an opening to land his shots. The fight will be a true test of wills, with both fighters looking to prove that they're the best in the game. For Davis, a win against Garcia would cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in boxing. For Garcia, a victory would show that he's ready to take on the world and become the face of the sport. The Davis vs. Garcia showdown will take place on Saturday night, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome. Will Davis continue his unbeaten run, or will Garcia be the one to upset the odds? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain - this is a fight you won't want to miss. Get ready for an explosive encounter that will have the boxing world talking for years to come.

Ray Borg, 29, announced his retirement from MMA on Friday, following a botched weight cut that resulted in his Bellator release. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title candidate didn't even make it to the scale before the promotion cancelled his fight, albeit it was later revealed that he was indeed struggling to make weight, the fifth time he's failed to do so. Borg has previously declared that if he failed to hit his stride again, he would retire from the sport. And, true to his word, he did exactly that. The UFC released him from his contract in 2020, and he went on to win three straight fights in two separate promotions before signing with Bellator. “Things did not go as planned this weekend and I will not be fighting,” Borg wrote on Facebook. “I made a promise to myself that if another incident like this ever happened I would retire. So going forward I am officially out of the game and hanging it up. “I just want to formally apologize to those I have let down and thank those that have been by my side throughout these crazy years. I am on a different journey in life now and I appreciate and love you all for always being team Borg.” Borg was scheduled to make his Bellator debut on Saturday in a flyweight encounter against former Bellator champion Kyoji Horiguchi, but the fight was canceled on Friday owing to Borg's recent weight-loss issues.

Alex Pereira, a Brazilian kickboxing legend and former Glory middleweight champion, has made waves in the MMA world with his impressive striking skills. He made his UFC debut in October 2021 and knocked out Andreas Michailidis with a stunning knee to the body. Since then, fans have enthusiastically enjoyed seeing his fights in the octagon. Israel Adesanya stunned Alex Pereira earlier this month, rendering him unconscious. The Brazilian dropped his middleweight UFC title in the course of events. 'Poatan' declared after his defeat that he will be going up to light heavyweight, even though many fans had hoped to see a trilogy match between the two fighters. It appears like he may enter title contention with only one or two victories given the status of the division right now. Of course, there remain a few outstanding fighters in that region, and the Brazilian will face several of them. However, there's one opponent that former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier believes Pereira should avoid: Magomed Ankalaev. “That’s the matchup that you as Alex Pereira would want to avoid,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I think that’s the only one at 205 that you want to avoid right now is Ankalaev because Ankalaev can wrestle, and we saw that in the fight against Jan Blachowicz, where he took him down for the last three rounds.” Ankalaev, a Russian fighter, is currently ranked #2 in the UFC's light heavyweight division. He has a professional record of 18-1-1 and is known for his striking and grappling skills. He's also on a 9-fight win streak, with his most recent outing coming against Jan Blachowicz in December 2022 resulting in a split draw. Other than Ankalaev, Cormier doesn't believe Pereira poses a significant grappling danger at light heavyweight. “Now there’s very few wrestlers,” Cormier said. “So if you are Alex Pereira, you really aren’t as concerned about going up to 205 then you might have been in the past because there just doesn’t seem to be as many guys for you to worry about just taking you down and laying on you.” Jamahal Hill, the current light heavyweight champion, is expected to face Jiri Prochazka in his first title defense, thus Cormier prefers Pereira to appear in his debut in the weight division versus Blachowicz, a previous champion. Regardless of who Pereira fights next, there's no doubt that his striking skills will continue to be a major asset in the octagon. And if he does eventually face Ankalaev, it will be an intriguing matchup between two of the UFC's most exciting young fighters.

Mixed martial arts fans were eagerly anticipating the showdown between Kyoji Horiguchi and Ray Borg at Bellator 295, but unfortunately, the highly anticipated bout has been scratched from the lineup, Bellator officials announced Friday. The news came as a huge disappointment to MMA fans who were looking forward to seeing two of the sport's top prospects compete in what was expected to be an explosive match. Horiguchi, a former Rizin and Bellator champion, was set to take on former UFC standout Ray Borg, who was looking to make a statement in his Bellator debut. Although the company doesn't have a flyweight division, the main event at Honolulu's Neal S. Blaisdell Arena was slated to start with a fight contested at 125 pounds. According to a Bellator representative, Borg's weight management concerns were the cause of the scrape. The former UFC championship contender previously struggled to reach the flyweight limit, and his last four fights took place at bantamweight. After winning three straight matches while playing for Eagle FC and UAE Warriors, Borg joined with the promotion. The slate of events will now include 12 fights after the 165-pound catchweight match featuring Yancy Medeiros and Charlie Leary is moved up to the main card. The bantamweight grand prix final between interim champion Raufeon Stots and Patchy Mix will serve as the main event at Bellator 295. While it is a shame that Horiguchi vs. Borg will not be taking place, MMA fans know that weight cuts issues are a part of the sport and are hopeful that both fighters will be able to compete at the highest level once again. See the official Bellator 295 weigh-in results here. Main Card: Raufeon Stots (134.2) vs. Patchy Mix (135) Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (126) vs. Kana Watanabe (125.6) Aaron Pico (145.6) vs. James Gonzalez (145.8) Yancy Medeiros (162.4) vs. Charlie Leary (164.2) — 165-pound catchweight bout Preliminary Card: Mads Burnell (144.4) vs. Justin Gonzales (145.6) Kai Kamaka III (145.4) vs. Adli Edwards (145.6) Sumiko Inaba (124.4) vs. Veta Arteaga (125.8) Bobby King (155.4) vs. Aalon Cruz (156) Davion Franklin (259.2) vs. Kasim Aras (251.8) Ilara Joanne (125.4) vs. Bruna Ellen (125.6) Alexey Shurkevich (170.8) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (169)