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The upcoming IBO light heavyweight world title showdown between Lyndon Arthur and Braian Nahuel Suarez promises to be an explosive affair as the dynamite-fisted Argentinean vows to cause an upset and leave Arthur’s plans for huge domestic clashes in tatters. Suarez, who has KO’d 17 opponents, has arrived in the UK ahead of the fight on Friday night, which will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 in association with Ladrbrokes, Numan and Infinitium Entertainment. The winner of the bout will take home the IBO belt and put themselves in the frame for some bigger fights in the packed 175 lbs division, including potential clashes with Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez, and other top talent on the UK shores. “Everyone wants to fight in big fights and I believe that if I defeat Arthur I should be given my chance against Buatsi, Azeez and the other fights that he is chasing,” said Suarez. “Arthur is a good boxer with great skills, he is tall and uses the distance well, but he also has weaknesses like everyone and I plan on taking advantage of them.” Suarez, a former youth football player for Velez Sarsfield and River Plate, will be fighting outside of his homeland for the first time as a professional. However, the 30-year-old from Buenos Aires is not worried about being the away fighter and is fully prepared and ready for the challenge. “For me this is an honour to be able to fight in the UK and represent my country abroad. I am extremely motivated for this fight,” Suarez said. The Arthur vs. Suarez fight will headline a Wasserman Boxing card at the University of Bolton Stadium, with the excitement set to begin at 10pm on Friday night. Boxing fans won’t want to miss this must-watch event that could have a significant impact on the UK light heavyweight scene.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum's time with the PFL has officially ended after one bout. During a recent interview with Canal Encarada, Werdum revealed that his PFL contract had been formally canceled. Throughout his PFL career, Werdum only engaged in one fight, losing to Renan Ferreira in May 2021. Ferreira appeared to have tapped out to a submission early on in the bout, which led to the match subsequently being declared a no-contest. Werdum missed the start of the 2021 PFL regular season and hasn't competed since. Over the previous year, he hinted at a comeback to the PFL, but a fight booking never materialised. Werdum defeated Alexander Gustafsson via first-round submission in his UFC final before joining with the PFL in free agency. After the finish over Gustafsson, he appeared to be in position to earn his second victory in a row. Werdum traded victories and defeats inside the Octagon after Stipe Miocic defeated him for the heavyweight championship at UFC 198. Before leaving the UFC, he defeated Walt Harris, Marcin Tybura, and Travis Browne. With six straight victories, Werdum got off to a strong start in the UFC. At UFC 188 in 2015, he defeated Cain Velasquez to claim the heavyweight championship.

Jorge Masvidal wants to face Colby Covington in the Octagon at least once more before deciding to quit MMA. Masvidal will make a comeback to take on Gilbert Burns in Miami at UFC 287 next month. He has been away for a year due to unresolved legal issues following his defeat to Covington at UFC 272. Covington and Masvidal's feud deteriorated further ahead of their rematch at UFC 272. Covington brought up Masvidal's family, and more especially, his kids, during the trash talking prior to the bout. Days after the altercation at the restaurant in the Miami region, caused Masvidal to confront Covington, attacking him, and inflicting severe injuries. Masvidal is facing legal action from Covington, and if he is found guilty of aggravated violence, he might go to jail . Masvidal, who is 38 years old, might be a year or two away from calling it quits in the ring. But he intends to run it back with Covington no matter how UFC 287 turns out. Before hanging up his gloves, Masvidal promised to square off with Covington once more during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. "He showed his true colors for the money, for the pay-per-view," Masvidal said. "He knows the relationship I have with my kids, and you're trying to use that against me? You f***ing piece of s**t... "That wasn't the best version of me... what happened, happened, but I promise you, before I close this chapter of my life in MMA, I'm gonna f***ing take his soul...I wasn't my best at that time for different reasons, but I know I can f***ing end this guy."

Larissa Pacheco, the Brazilian mixed martial artist, has made a bold move by setting a price for a non-season fight against two-time Olympic gold medallist Kayla Harrison. This comes after Pacheco expressed her frustration at waiting for a fight against Harrison in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This past November, Larissa Pacheco defeated Kayla Harrison for the first time in MMA, winning the PFL lightweight title as well as a million-dollar bonus. It's doubtful that the two will face up as well this season with Harrison withdrawing from the regular season in 2023 with Pacheco weighing in at 145 pounds. A fourth fight between Pacheco and Harrison "would be amazing" in regards to publicity and an opportunity to conclude the rivalry, although Larissa emphasized that she won't wait around for her. Pacheco suffered two decisions against Harrison in 2019 until gaining her vengeance three years later. “If they offer me a great purse, or at least something equivalent to what they offer her, I would obviously [do it],” Pacheco said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “But am I going to wait for her to decide when she wants to fight? PFL offered me a spot in the season, so I took it.” Harrison's return date and rival are yet unknown, however, the two-time Olympic gold winner is anticipated to take part in the new PFL pay-per-view format. “If I were on the same stage of hers in terms of money and was sure of my contract, relax,” Pacheco said. “Like, ‘I need time for my mind, I need time to assess everything that’s going on and decide which way I wanna go.’ I would possibly do the same thing. “Kayla has won so many millions of dollars with the PFL and sponsors and everything, so I think she’s happy about that. She wants big names and big fights. Maybe she needs more time to see what’s going on in her life, and all she needs right now are super fights. I’m still very young, I still have a lot to grow. I can’t simply not work just because she doesn’t want [to fight] right now, or because they won’t want to book it right now. I’ll continue working and doing my part.” Pacheco has a lot to gain from a fight against Harrison. A win against the two-time Olympic gold medalist would be a significant boost to her career and reputation. It would also put her in the spotlight, potentially leading to more high-profile fights and opportunities. For the time being, Pacheco's only goals are to sweep the 2023 featherweight season, claim two titles in the PFL, and complete the calendar year with additional million dollars in her pocket. Whether or not the fight happens, Pacheco's bold move has put her in the spotlight and shown that she is willing to do whatever it takes to advance her career. She is a fighter to watch in the coming months and years, and MMA fans can't wait to see what she does next.

Holly Holm, one of the most recognizable names in the UFC, has recently signed a new six-fight deal with the organization ahead of her upcoming bout in San Antonio. The deal is a testament to the fighter's enduring popularity and the faith that the UFC has in her ability to continue delivering exciting fights for fans. Lenny Fresquez, the manager of the former world champion, had earlier this morning verified the information to MMA Fighting. The Albuquerque Journal published the announcement of the new agreement in its initial report. The Albuquerque native has had an impressive career thus far, with notable victories over the likes of Ronda Rousey, Bethe Correia, and Megan Anderson. However, the former bantamweight champion is hungry for more and has her sights set on another title shot. After her keynote performance opposite Ketlen Vieira in May of last year, "The Preacher's Daughter" has not performed. Holm believed that winning the match would guarantee her a crack at the title. Even though the decision was highly contentious, the Brazilian finally pulled off the shocker. The former champion will compete on Saturday, almost a year after that loss. This weekend at UFC San Antonio, Holm will compete against Yana Santos in the co-main event. After losing by knockout to Irene Aldana at UFC 264 in July 2021, "Foxy" has not competed. Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera's five-round bantamweight fight is anticipated to be the main event of the night. Fresquez announced the new deal along with additional information. With one or two more victories, Holm hopes to contend for the crown. It certainly wouldn't be hard to come up with the argument given the status of the women's bantamweight category right now. Overall, Holm has competed in five UFC title fights and has spent the last eight years consistently near the highest spot in the rankings. “We expect to get a title shot with one or two more wins,” Fresquez said in a message to MMA Fighting. Even though Holm did lose to Amanda Nunes, the current UFC bantamweight champion doesn't currently have many opponents lined up to challenge her. Nunes has been out of action since July 2022 when she reclaimed the 135-pound title with a decisive win over Julianna Pena at UFC 277. It may put Holm on Nunes' handful of prospective opponents in the future, but she must first defeat Santos on Saturday. Fans of the UFC will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Holm's upcoming fight against Aldana, as well as her future bouts in the octagon. With her new six-fight deal in place and a renewed hunger for championship gold, there's no telling what the future holds for this legendary fighter.

The WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury's manager, Frank Warren, will make every effort to rearrange the bout with Oleksandr Usyk. The WBO, IBF, IBO, and WBA heavyweight champion Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk recently declared that a matchup with Fury is presently in doubt. For the past few weeks, the fight has been in intense talks with a showdown scheduled for April 29 at London's Wembley Stadium. Usyk and his handlers claim that after their party agreed to accept a 70-30 financial split in the Gypsy King's favor, Fury began to make unabated demands. Krassyuk claims that the conflict is presently over and that they will look into other options. “If I start telling you the list of things [Fury] wanted, one, five, ten, or 15 minutes will not be enough. There was a list of things he wanted to get in his favor that was absolutely unacceptable, which were completely disrespectful to the unified champion and former undisputed [cruiserweight] champion," Krassyuk told Talk Sport. “I cannot disclose the negotiations, it’s part of the ethics. So, if I start to go into the details, it won’t look good. Maybe, if the other party would be willing to take the decision to disclose what were the things then we can talk about it. At this time, I cannot do this just for this reason…. With huge regret in my heart, I must admit [the fight is off]… [Usyk] will take a short break and comply with his mandatories.” However, Warren is not ready to close the book on their negotiations. The veteran promoter explains that the only big sticking point is the rematch clause. “Tyson publicly stated that we should scrap the rematch, this was to simplify the deal. Rematch clauses can be very difficult and Tyson’s been there before when a rematch blocked a fight with him and Anthony Joshua [in 2021] when Deontay Wilder took him to court. That kyboshed that fight with Joshua," Warren told Talk Sport. “Anyway, I convinced Tyson to take the rematch [with Usyk] and he did. So I told them on Sunday we’re gonna go with the rematch. Then we got into a situation with how the rematch money is gonna be split and that’s what we’ve been working on… Why can’t it be overcome if he wants the fight? We want the fight, why can’t it be overcome?… There’s no reason for this fight to be off.” “Tyson publicly stated that we should scrap the rematch, this was to simplify the deal. Rematch clauses can be very difficult and Tyson’s been there before when a rematch blocked a fight with him and Anthony Joshua [in 2021] when Deontay Wilder took him to court. That kyboshed that fight with Joshua," Warren told Talk Sport. “Anyway, I convinced Tyson to take the rematch [with Usyk] and he did. So I told them on Sunday we’re gonna go with the rematch. Then we got into a situation with how the rematch money is gonna be split and that’s what we’ve been working on… Why can’t it be overcome if he wants the fight? We want the fight, why can’t it be overcome?… There’s no reason for this fight to be off.” Because of the money at stake, Warren claims that Usyk and his handlers have been pushing to include a rematch provision. If Usyk fulfills his obligatory obligations, Daniel Dubois, the WBA's "regular" champion, will be the opponent for his mandatory defense. The obligatory defenses for the WBO against Joe Joyce and the IBF against Filip Hrgovic follow. “You know why they want the rematch clause? Because it’s two paydays. Where are they gonna earn the type of money they can earn fighting Tyson twice? They aren’t gonna get that type of money to fight Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois. But Tyson brings a lot of money to the table, that’s why they want it," Warren detailed. “We are willing to take the same deal as what they did for their rematch with Anthony Joshua. I know what that deal is so we’ll go with that, no problem with that.”

It is no mystery that David Benavidez and Caleb Plant are not fond of one another. Not now and never will. Benavidez has been relatively low-key prior to the biggest fight of his career, while Plant appears to be fighting everyone on social media in the immediate run-up to the interim WBC super middleweight championship fight. That doesn't imply that the Arizonan has lost all motivation or desire to take revenge on Plant. “Emotion, especially anger, is a great motivator to train,” Benavidez said. “The people who are telling me not to be emotional, haven’t laced up the gloves before. I couldn’t be more ready. I leave all my emotions outside of the ring when it’s time to go to work.” It's a fascinating development because ever since the fight was announced, many people have held the opinion that even though Benavidez is the bigger, stronger force, someone whose power and pressure will lead him to victory, if the more technically adept Plant is to get his hand raised, it will be because he kept his composure and refused to let his emotions get the better of him on fight night. Benavidez is seemingly the one keeping his eye on the task at hand before the fight that may finally see him fulfil his potential. “This is the most important fight of my career to this date,” Benavidez said. “I feel like after this fight, I’m going to pass that threshold and get to where I want to be. Every fighter has one of these grudge matches that brings the best out of them. I don’t like Caleb at all, but I want to thank him for bringing the animal out of me. I’m more motivated than ever.” Perhaps this is what the 26-year-old needed to cross that barrier and establish himself as the star that many had predicted he would be years ago, as well as to earn the opportunity to face Mexican superstar "Canelo" Alvarez. The Benavidez family has long complained that they are being sidelined, but let's face it: Benavidez has previously failed to make weight for a world title fight, had a legal dispute with his promoters, Sampson Boxing and Top Rank, and he recently tested positive for cocaine. To put it another way, could Benavidez be allowed to oversee the entirety of a pay-per-view event, from signing to fight night? But now that he is older and presumably wiser, he is aware that each action he takes will put him one step closer to his goals. “On March 25,” Benavidez said. “I guarantee that I’m knocking Caleb Plant out before round six.”

Eddie Hearn Blames Advisers for Talent Drain From Matchroom Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom, has criticized the “group of people” who advised his former clients, Lawrence Okolie and Joshua Buatsi, to leave his promotional outfit for Boxxer, the content provider for Sky. Hearn did not name the individuals in question but claimed that they lacked industry knowledge and were responsible for the recent talent drain on his roster. Hearn’s comments came after Buatsi, who had been promoted by Matchroom since 2016, announced that he was joining Boxxer in search of greater exposure on national television. Hearn was critical of Buatsi’s decision and claimed that he was not confident enough to take on big fights. Meanwhile, Okolie, a cruiserweight titlist, is set to defend his WBO title against David Light on a Boxxer/Sky Sports card this weekend. Both Okolie and Buatsi had been managed by 258 MGT, a fighter-advisory company founded by former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Hearn’s Matchroom had been the exclusive boxing content provider to Sky before he entered into a multi-year deal with DAZN in 2021. Hearn claimed that some advisers had got in the ear of Okolie and Buatsi and convinced them to leave his promotional outfit. He was frustrated by the similarities in the way both fighters had departed and claimed that people were filling Buatsi’s head with stuff. Hearn’s criticisms come as Matchroom faces increasing competition from rival outfits, with Boxxer, in particular, seeking to expand its stable of fighters and attract more viewers. The talent drain on Matchroom’s roster is likely to be a concern for Hearn as he seeks to maintain his company’s position as one of the leading promoters in the sport.

Mauricio Lara is a name that’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore in the world of boxing. The Mexican featherweight fighter recently landed a devastating left hook to the chin of Leigh Wood, scoring a seventh-round technical knockout win against the Brit in Nottingham. The win earned Lara the WBA featherweight crown and put him back on track for a swift return to the squared circle. Matchroom Boxing, the company behind the bout, is eager to see Lara face either Wood or former two-time foe Josh Warrington in his next fight. Eddie Hearn, the company’s promotional head, stated that Lara’s next fight could be against Wood on May 27, or against Warrington if Wood decides to pass on the opportunity for a rematch. Wood was up on all three scorecards before Lara landed the final punch of the fight, forcing coach Ben Davison to throw in the towel. Despite the loss, Wood is reportedly interested in a rematch against Lara, and the Mexican fighter is ready to oblige. “I think that Wood gave me an opportunity without being mandatory, and as a [former] champion, he deserves a rematch,” said Lara. “But whatever comes, I will take it.” If Wood decides against a rematch, Lara’s archrival Warrington is waiting in the wings. The two fighters met twice in 2021, with Lara winning the first bout by TKO and the second bout being ruled a technical draw after Lara suffered a cut to his left eye in the second round due to an accidental head clash. Warrington was ringside for the Lara-Wood fight and was on the receiving end of Lara’s anger when he walked toward him and spat on him immediately after knocking out Wood. The bad blood between the two fighters is palpable, and a rematch would undoubtedly be an explosive affair. Lara’s recent win against Wood and his previous victories against Warrington have established him as a serious contender in the featherweight division. The 25-year-old fighter has a record of 26-2-1 with 19 knockouts, and his powerful left hook has proven to be a lethal weapon in the ring. As Lara sets his sights on his next opponent, boxing fans can expect to see more of the bucking bronco that is Mauricio Lara. His explosive fighting style and impressive knockout record have made him a fighter to watch, and it’s clear that he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Dustin Poirier has responded to former opponent Justin Gaethje's latest request for a rematch following UFC 286. After defeating Michael Chandler in their "Fight of the Year" candidate last November, Poirier is awaiting his next UFC duty. Poirier occupies an odd position at the top of the UFC lightweight division. At 155 pounds, he has lost two title fights, although against former champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Oliveira. Poirier is still one of the best fighters in the world and is well-known in the UFC despite his defeats in title fights. He may have an opponent that matches his passion for an explosive collision inside the Octagon as he seeks to continue his third attempt at winning the UFC championship. Gaethje demanded a rematch with Poirier following his victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC286. He also suggested other potential opponents. Poirier recently showed interest in a rematch with Gaethje in an interview with FanSided MMA. "It's a fight that makes me nervous," Poirier said. "When I hear a name, and I get nervous, it's motivation. Those are the kind of fights that I want. Same thing with Chandler, when I heard Chandler's name, I was nervous because I knew the dangers of those kinds of fights, and that's what motivates me." "Same thing with Justin. If they do call me, and he's the name that they say, maybe it happens. We'll see."

The boxing world has been no stranger to Irish boxers over the years, and one of the most revered fighters in Ireland’s history is Stevie Collins. Collins, who beat British legends Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn twice apiece during a remarkable run in 1995 and 1996, was the last Irish fighter trained by Freddie Roach who boxed in Boston during his rise as a prospect. Now, Roach has comparable hopes for another rising Irish star, Callum Walsh, who will headline a card at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Walsh, a 22-year-old junior middleweight from Cork, has an impressive record of 6-0 with five knockouts. He will face Wesley Tucker, a southpaw from Toledo, Ohio, in a 10-round main event that will be streamed by UFC Fight Pass. Roach, who has been training Walsh since he arrived unannounced at Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California two years ago, believes that Walsh has what it takes to become a special fighter. “I put him in with guys who come to fight,” Roach said. “The thing is, I don’t want my guy chasing a guy for 10 rounds. I want a fight. I want my guy to show that he can punch. I know our opponent can punch, also, so we’ve gotta be careful about that. But I want him to go out there and fight the best fighters he can fight.” Walsh, who wanted to represent Ireland at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his plans, has been sparring with some of the best fighters at Wild Card Boxing Club, and Roach believes that training in that competitive environment has accelerated his development as a fighter. “He comes to work every day, works hard. The only problem I had with him so far is that he didn’t really believe in roadwork. And I said, ‘Don’t you do roadwork?’ The kid said, ‘No,’ so I said, ‘Well, you do now.’ Since he started doing roadwork, he’s a whole different person. I changed that with him, so that’s been a great improvement. I think this kid can be something special.” With his dangerous left hand and growing confidence, Walsh has the potential to make a big splash in the boxing world, and Roach is excited to show him off to the fans in Boston. “It’s gonna be a lotta fun,” Roach said. “He’s an Irish fighter, so it reminds me of back when Stevie Collins was back there and made a big splash at that time. Now he’s the new Irish kid and I can’t wait to show him off, because he’s a very good prospect.”

Alexa Grasso, newly crowned champion in the UFC's women's flyweight division, has her sights set on a rematch with champion Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso is hoping to face Shevchenko in September, ideally in her home country of Mexico. Grasso and Shevchenko first faced off in March of 2023 at UFC 285, with Grasso emerging as the clear winner surprisingly via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the 4th round of impressive performance. However, Grasso believes that she has learned from that loss, and is ready to give another chance to the former champion. Shevchenko suffered his first defeat in his illustrious flyweight career at the end, and after the fight, the former champion demanded a rematch right away. Shevchenko, who had made seven successful defenses preceding UFC 285, will probably receive that chance, and she is more than willing to accept. Alexa Grasso hinted at a showdown with former flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko for the upcoming September event on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Mexico's Independence Day, which also falls on a Saturday this year, is celebrated on September 16. In some kind of a perfect scenario, the UFC would indeed come to host its first pay-per-view in Mexico since UFC 188 in 2015. “I don’t know the chances, but I would love, I would love, I truly would love for this second fight to be in Mexico,” Grasso said. “And I would love that this fight could happen in Guadalajara. Imagine that. Canelo’s going to fight here in Guadalajara. Imagine to bring the UFC to my city, that would be huge. But if it’s Mexico City, that would be great too.” "September sounds like a great [time to come back]. September sounds amazing, you know? But yeah, let's see. Of course, before the end of this year, I would like to fight. Like I said - two fights every year sounds good. And yeah, I truly hope that this [can be done] in Mexico." The conditions of the battle and the intention for a quick rematch only increase this ambition. Shevchenko appeared to be in a strong position to keep her championship even though the battle remained close the entire time. However, Grasso reversed a mistimed spinning kick by grabbing Shevchenko's back, which resulted in the fight-ending submission. She is now preparing to repeat it to solidify her position as champion. “I’m truly excited for the second fight and I also know that people will love to see it because a lot of people say it was a mistake from her and it was a fluke,” Grasso said. “Of course, I don’t think it was a fluke because I trained so much for that [move], but I think it’s going to be important to show everyone that I’m the champion.” Fans of the UFC will surely be keeping an eye on Grasso's progress and if a rematch with Shevchenko does happen, it is sure to be one of the most anticipated fights of the year considering the sharpness of the Mexican champion.