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In preparation for a title defense, Justin Gaethje claims to have the ability to take out champion Islam Makhachev. However, he understands that he must earn the match, so he is prepared to defeat Dustin Poirier to do so. Gaethje, 34, who is currently ranked third among lightweights in the UFC, appeared with Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV program. He discussed a variety of topics, including who he wants to face next, how he would fare against the champion, how long he sees himself competing, and Conor McGregor's recent use of the term "handicap" to describe him on Twitter. Regarding who Gaethje wishes to face after a convincing victory over rival Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 in March: "I think that's the obvious choice, Dustin. He's sitting at number 2 right now, I gave the new guys a chance and I proved that I am elite, and I need to fight elite fighters to fight for a belt. I think Dustin's the obvious choice. I think the loser of Dariush and Oliveira is also an option, but outside of those two, I do not see an option." Gaethje also spoke about the fact that how a fight between him and Islam would look like in the future. "I think [Islam is] a hard fight for anybody. Just create damage. I'd have to fight the perfect fight," Gaethje told us, adding he recognizes he wouldn't be on the Dagestani fighter's level when it comes to "submission grappling," but Justin believes with his power, he can shut anyone's lights out. "I think I can knock him out. I think I can knock anybody out with the power that I possess." He also added that the biggest difference between Khabib and Islam is that Islam has been finished once in his UFC career. "I think they're very similar. I think the biggest difference is Islam has been finished. He's lost a fight. He's been finished. So that aura of invincibility is there, but it's not based on 100% facts like Khabib has, I think that's the biggest factor, the biggest difference."

Lyndon Arthur kept his world title hopes alive with a convincing victory over Boris Crighton on Saturday night. The Manchester-based fighter dominated his opponent throughout the 10-round contest and showed his punching power by flooring Crighton in the final round. Originally scheduled to face Braian Suarez for the vacant IBO light heavyweight world title, Arthur had to adapt to a late change of opponent after Suarez failed a medical. Despite this setback, Arthur remained focused and determined to put on a good performance. Crighton, a former sparring partner from Scotland, proved to be a spirited opponent and made life difficult for Arthur at times. However, the Manchester fighter stayed composed and used his superior skills and experience to control the fight. Arthur's victory means he is now the mandatory challenger for the vacant IBO light heavyweight world title and is scheduled to fight for the belt in May. The identity of his opponent has yet to be confirmed, but Arthur is confident he can become a world champion. Speaking after the fight, Arthur said: "Crighton literally came in at the last minute and I was supposed to be fighting someone completely different, with a completely different style, for the title. It was scrappy at times but, in the end, it was a good 10 rounds for me and we keep moving." Wasserman Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, also confirmed the news, stating: "We have had it confirmed by the IBO that Lyndon is now mandatory challenger for the vacant belt and we will find out his opponent in the next few weeks, but there will be a world title for Lyndon Arthur in May." Arthur's record now stands at an impressive 22-1, and with his sights set on world title glory, he will no doubt be pushing himself even harder in the coming weeks to ensure he is fully prepared for the biggest fight of his career.

Israel Adesanya isn't leaving anything to chance ahead of his rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 287 next weekend. In all of their combat sports clashes, there has been one recurring pattern between Adesanya and Pereira, and sadly for "The Last Stylebender," that there has been Pereira winning. Before their recent confrontation in mixed martial arts (MMA) this past November 2022, the two fought thrice in kickboxing. Adesanya had a good lead through the first four and a half rounds of their UFC 281 fight before succumbing to a wild comeback effort from "Poatan" by technical knockout. UFC 287 marks the culmination of the Pereira vs. Adesanya rivalry, and Adesanya believes it is his last chance to reclaim the Middleweight title. “I’m hunting, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “The mindset is different, definitely. Even [coach] Eugene [Bareman] and I are on the same page. The mindset is definitely different. “I like it because it puts it all on me, and it’s kind of poetic in a way,” he concluded. “One life: Roll the dice. This is my last shot, and I’m going to give it all I’ve got in every sense of the word.” Adesanya's loss against Pereira in November 2022 was only the second of his remarkable 25-fight career (his first at Middleweight). Pereira stormed his way to the top of the division in no time, winning his first three UFC fights in less than a year to earn his title chance.

Ilia Topuria has been handed the biggest opportunity so far in his UFC career According to a report from KOImenero, Georgia's Topuria (13-0) is scheduled to headline his first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on June 17, 2023, against recent interim Featherweight championship challenger Josh Emmett (18-3). The venue for the UFC Fight Night event has not yet been chosen. When Topuria faced Bryce Mitchell on the main event of UFC 282 this past December 2022, he shone brightest on his biggest stage. "El Matador" defeated "Thug Nasty" all over the place in just two rounds, eventually choking him with an arm-triangle hold. After the match, Topuria demanded a match with two-time championship challenger Brian Ortega, but "T-City" isn't fully healthy, which may be the reason for his new opponent. Emmett will attempt to recover from his first title defeat, which occurred in February 2023. In his match for the interim championship at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia, Emmett battled Yair Rodriguez. Emmett, a 145-pound knockout artist, was unsuccessful thanks to a second-round triangle choke submission.

Moses Itauma Added to Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang Card at Copper Box Arena Highly-touted heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma has been confirmed to fight at the Copper Box Arena on April 15, as part of the undercard for Joe Joyce's showdown with Zhilei Zhang. The 18-year-old Itauma, who boasts a record of 2-0 as a professional, recently defeated Ramon Ibarra to earn his second win. The young fighter, who won both World and European youth gold medals, will step up to six-round action in London. Itauma's inclusion on the card adds to an already stacked event, which features Joyce's defense of his WBO Interim-world heavyweight title against the towering Chinese fighter Zhang. The winner of that bout will get a mandatory shot at the unified world champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Also on the card is former unified super-featherweight belt-holder Mikaela Mayer, who will be making her lightweight debut against former two-time super-lightweight world champion Christina ‘Medusa’ Linardatou. Denzel Bentley is set to defend his British middleweight title against Scottish challenger Kieran Smith, while Sam Noakes will put his WBC International Silver and Commonwealth lightweight titles on the line. In addition, Eithan James, a super lightweight from Northampton, will feature over eight rounds, while Sonny Liston Ali will fight in a six-round super lightweight bout and Dagenham super welterweight Joel Kodua will fight over four rounds. Itauma's addition to the card adds further excitement to the already highly-anticipated event, with many fans keen to see how the young heavyweight prospect performs on the big stage. With a strong undercard featuring some of the sport's biggest names, the Copper Box Arena is set to be the site of an explosive night of boxing.

Lawrence Okolie, the WBO cruiserweight champion, successfully defended his title against David Light in a unanimous decision victory on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester. Okolie, who was out of the ring for over a year, showcased his dominant performance by winning with scorecards of 119-108, 117-110, and 116-112. The fight was the first with his new trainer SugarHill Steward, who helped Okolie control the range with a pawing jab that prevented Light from landing any significant shots. Although the fight was not easy on the eyes due to a lot of holding and wrestling, Okolie showed his dominance by losing just one point in the eleventh for excessive holding. Light showed his toughness by taking several big shots in the later rounds and surviving the storm when Okolie had him in trouble. Despite Okolie's dominance, he was impressed with Light's performance. After the fight, Okolie said, "David Light was extremely tough, but there’s no excuses, and we use it to get better." Okolie is open to fighting anyone who thinks they can beat him, including potential unification bouts and domestic showdowns with Richard Riakporhe and Chris Billam-Smith, who are both fighting under the Boxxer banner on Sky Sports. Okolie's return to the ring was also his first bout with his new promoter, Boxxer, who provides the bulk of boxing content for Sky, the prominent UK broadcaster. With this victory, Okolie has proven that his decision to switch from Matchroom to Boxxer was a wise one. Overall, Okolie's victory against Light was an impressive performance, showcasing his dominant skills as a fighter. The win puts Okolie in a great position for his future fights, and we can expect to see him in several exciting matchups in the future.

According to Henry Cejudo, a rising challenger is poised to put the bantamweight class on notice. Cejudo will compete for the UFC bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 in May. He returns to the ring after a three-year absence after proclaiming his retirement following a victory at UFC 249. Cejudo hopes to reclaim the bantamweight title and debunk the idea of "ring rust." When he returns to the division he once ruled, it has become more stacked and talented. Cejudo is unsure how long he will fight, but he has his sights set on a surging Dagestani. Cejudo labeled Umar Nurmagomedov as the division's dark horse in a recent broadcast on his YouTube channel. “Umar is the most dangerous guy,” Cejudo said. “At 135 pounds, out of all these cats that I see, Umar Nurmagomedov is the toughest challenge for any of them, including myself. "He can wrestle, he can strike, he can box, he’s well-rounded. He’s seen his brother and his cousin win world titles and he wants to be next.” Umar, Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin, is undefeated in professional MMA. He's progressed through the bantamweight ranks with recent victories over Nate Maness and Raoni Barcelos. Nurmagomedov is reportedly awaiting his next UFC assignment after a fight against Merab Dvalishvili slid through the cracks.

There is a tonne of potential in the UFC's featherweight division right now, and Brian Ortega is one athlete that is in great demand. Ortega, who was formerly undefeated in 14 straight matches and considered to be among the most lethal submitting fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), has recently suffered a run of poor luck. He received his first career championship chance in a heavily hyped battle against Max Holloway in December 2018, but ultimately fell victim to a fourth-round technical knockout (TKO) following a doctor's stoppage between rounds. The 32-year-old has made two outings since that day and is now on a two-fight winless run. He has a record of 1-2. The former title challenger lost to Yair Rodriguez by first-round TKO at UFC Long Island in July of last year because of a shoulder injury, plus he continues to not be fully recovered. Emerging rivals such as Ilia Topuria, who is anxious to face Ortega afterward following an amazing submission victory over Bryce Mitchell in December, have been trying to call Ortega. “I see people like Topuria calling me out constantly,” Ortega told The Schmo. “Two things come to mind, right? One, I’ll never back down to any fighter. I’ve fought the best of the best. I fought the people that you wish you could fight. Two is, I’m not even able to fight so let me get back on my s***. Let me get back to training and then that’s it. “I’ll gladly humble someone if I have to and once they earn their way up to where I’m at, you can come join me. But you can’t use your mouth to come up here. This is the fighting world. You can only do so much with your mouth and this time you’re gonna have to fight. I know he has a fight lined up, good for him. If he earns his way up, let’s do it. Anyone that my manager says we gotta do it with then that’s what it is. I’m ready, I’ve never backed out of any fight, and I’m excited to come back.” Although Ortega tends to not step away from competition, he intends to concentrate on returning to camp and recovering from his injury issues before he accepts any further bouts. He thinks that rather than using their mouths to get publicity, opponents must advance until they get to his level. Nonetheless, Ortega is looking forward to making his return and is prepared to face anybody his manager believes he must battle. Throughout his 13 fights, Topuria has never lost, and he is presently rated No. 9 in the official UFC standings. Since that Topuria's planned engagements are yet to be formally disclosed, Ortega may know that the public is unaware of. The featherweight division is already growing big and powerful even though Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning champion, lost to Islam Makhachev in a champion vs champion contest in the lightweight division in February 2023. Ortega has fought top contenders of the division before and is interested in watching the way things are going to work out at the top of the division. Both a replay against Makhachev as well as a defense against Rodriguez, in his opinion, are due for Volkanovski, and he predicts that Volkanovski will win both contests.

The PFL is set to showcase one of its most exciting events this Saturday, as Thiago Santos is set to make his debut against the reigning champion Rob Wilkinson. Santos requested and received his withdrawal from the UFC to join the PFL. Numerous people were shocked by the announcement, but the Brazilian, who is 39 years old, stated he was interested in a new endeavor because he has very little time left. “At this point in my career, I don’t have years and years to do something different,” Santos said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “I decided to do it at this moment and do something new, new goals, new projects. PFL gave me this opportunity which is why I’m here.” Santos had no idea who he was going to fight in his premiere when he joined up with PFL to compete in the event. But after being offered the opportunity to compete against Wilkinson, the champion from the last year, he took advantage of the opportunity to show off his skills. “I was open to fighting anyone, but it couldn’t be better. To get the last light heavyweight champion, I’m very excited about that,” Santos said. “A big fight, he’s a tough opponent and he’s making me very excited and working very hard.” Santos, a Brazilian mixed martial artist, is known for his explosive striking ability and dynamic fighting style. He has amassed an impressive record of 22 wins and 11 losses in his professional career, with 15 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Whereas Wilkinson, an Australian fighter, has an impressive record of his own with 17 wins and 2 losses in his career. The stage is set for an epic battle between two of the best fighters in their respective weight classes. Santos will be looking to make a statement in his debut and prove that he is a force to be reckoned with in the PFL. Thiago Santos anticipates Rob Wilkinson primarily striking him during PFL 1, but he won't be shocked if the Australian attempts to wrestle. Santos is certain that his strength will prove to be too great and that he will ultimately defeat the Australian although if Wilkinson does engage in wrestling. “He is a striker, he is aggressive. He moves forward and I like this kind of fight, it’s going to be fireworks,” Santos explained. “I’m going out there to win and I will do my best and I’m ready for that… I think he is going to strike with me, but I believe at some point he will try and take me down. But, no question, 100 percent, I can finish anyone. I can finish anyone, so it’s what I’m going to do.” Santos is aware of finishing Wilkinson will put him in a good position to win the tournament this year. He is also aware of how important it's going to be to his reputation and himself financially if he wins the belt and the $1 million. “Man, it will be good for my family. Become the PFL light heavyweight champion, have my belt, and get $1 million. That’s it,” Santos said. As fight night approaches, anticipation and excitement are building for what promises to be an unforgettable battle between two of the best fighters in the world. Don't miss out on the action – tune in to the PFL this Saturday to witness Thiago Santos and Rob Wilkinson go head-to-head in what is sure to be a classic encounter.

Joe Joyce, the Olympic silver medalist, is eager to step in and face WBC world champion Tyson Fury, following the collapse of negotiations for Fury's unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk. Joyce believes that the fight would be an easy one to make, as both he and Fury are promoted by Frank Warren. While Fury was deep in negotiations for the unification bout with Usyk, the fight fell apart after both sides failed to agree on the monetary split for the rematch. Joyce is currently scheduled to defend his WBO interim-title against fellow Olympian Zhilei Zhang on April 15. However, Joyce is ready to take on Fury in the ring after his upcoming fight with Zhang. "Yeah, I'm ready to step in. Fury said he wanted to face me if he didn't fight Usyk. Of course, I've got to beat up big Zhilei first," Joyce said. "It would be very easy to set up. We're both with Frank Warren. He's already said he wants to fight me, it's a great fight. People are interested in seeing that fight." Daniel Dubois is currently the mandatory challenger to Usyk. The World Boxing Association has ordered the two of them to collide. Joyce previously picked up a knockout win over Dubois in 2020. Joyce is currently the mandatory challenger, under the WBO, but his former foe Dubois will get a mandatory title shot first. "I'm not surprised by anything in boxing. I just get on with what I need to do and progress in my career and get the best out of it. I'm looking to be in some great fights this year and next year," Joyce said. Joyce is hopeful that the fight with Fury will come to fruition, saying "Let's make the [Fury] fight happen. Please!"

Charles Oliveira has a plan for his next chapter in the UFC, and he pledges that nothing and no one will stand in his way. "Do Bronx" is set to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 288, which takes place May 6 in New Jersey, and feels he is one win away from a rematch with Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Yet, while he claims he will not change anything from his last fight, Oliveira is changing his method to project how he will perform in the cage. “I’ve said [how I’ll win] it before, I’ve been wrong before — and I won’t be wrong again,” Oliveira said recently on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca. “I’ll tell you the truth, being real here, I’ll hunt in this fight. I’ll walk forward the entire time. I don’t care if it’s a knockout, a submission, or a decision, I’ll hunt in this fight. “I can’t say I’ll do a strategic fight, that I’ll be waiting. No, that’s not Charles fighting. Charles walks forward, he hunts the entire time. So if you want to watch a boring fight, don’t come to watch my fight. You’ll see me get knocked down, dropped, and get back up. As you said, [Dariush] has been knocked out before, he’s been submitted. He has holes, just like I do. That’s what matters the most, wanting to win no matter what.” Over the course of their MMA careers, both Oliveira and Dariush have demonstrated various fighting styles, winning via knockouts and submissions. It will be interesting to see who will come out on top when they face each other in the cage.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to face Jermaine Franklin on April 1 at the O2 Arena in London. The upcoming fight will see Joshua aiming to rebound after back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk, while Franklin will be seeking redemption after a close points loss to Dillian Whyte. In the lead up to the fight, Franklin has revealed his plans to verbally abuse Joshua during the bout. While he is usually quiet in the pre-fight build-up, Franklin intends to make things rough once he faces Joshua in the ring. “I talk trash in the ring but not before the fight. In the ring I might call him soft, or a p-ssy, I start my talk in the ring. Outside the ring I might not say much, but inside you might hear me tell him: ‘Your momma hits harder than you’. "Trash talk outside the ring is not my persona, I do it in the ring, during the fight, in the clinches," Franklin said to The Sun. He believes that trash talking in the ring will help him frustrate Joshua and gain an advantage in the fight. “I want to frustrate my opponent in the ring. I’m probably too silly to trash talk outside of it, I will make myself laugh and not be able to stop giggling. But my switch flicks in the ring and I get more ruthless. In my Dillian Whyte fight in November I called him weak. One time he hit me and I told him: ‘You’re too soft’.” Franklin also expects to face the best version of Joshua possible and believes that the London star is far from a finished product. He recognizes Joshua's achievements in the sport and will not turn on him despite his recent losses to Usyk. “I love the sport so — until someone can show me that AJ is finished — I will not question him, he has done too much. As a fighter, I cannot just turn on him when he is an Olympic gold medal winner who reigned as a world champion for a long time," Franklin said. Franklin acknowledges that Joshua's stock has taken a hit due to his losses to Usyk, but believes that it will increase if Usyk remains unbeaten. He hopes to be greater than Joshua in the future and is looking forward to their upcoming fight. The upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin promises to be an intense affair, with Franklin planning to use verbal abuse to gain an advantage in the ring. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly anticipated bout.