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Dana White, the president of the UFC and producer of Power Slap, has a straightforward reply for his critics: You don't know what the f*** you're talking about. Before this Saturday's Power Slap League finale, the outspoken, no-holds-barred White spoke with OutKick. White compared the phase of the programme at the moment to the beginning of the UFC. The Power Slap League, according to Dana White, is transforming the financial circumstances of its competitors. “You have these guys who do nothing, know nothing, have never built anything – nobody’s ever depending on them for a paycheck and you listen to them for their opinions, their attacks or whatever you want to call it that these guys are doing… and it’s been fascinating to watch,” White said. “And I believe because of all the negativity and its attempt to kill it.” “I mean we had guys writing stories about us saying that, Oh the ratings were terrible on TBS, it’ll be cancelled after Episode 2… oh, it’s definitely not making it to future Episodes,” White continued. “What the f*** do you people know about ratings? And what it means and what’s going on? According to Dana White, the Power Slap League has the potential to become into a major international event, much like the UFC. White has frequently drawn comparisons between the current stage of the slap fighting league and the early years of the UFC organisation.

After winning his debut, middleweight prospect Bo Nickal might not have to wait long before receiving his next Octagon assignment. Following the highly-touted UFC prospect's recent debut victory, another middleweight has called out Bo Nickal and says he's next in line to face him. Nicka beat Jamie Pickett at UFC 285 to ace his first UFC test. Following a successful NCAA wrestling career at Penn State, he is still unblemished in professional mixed martial arts. Nickal has high goals for his UFC career, one of which is a potential confrontation with UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev. Yet, he must climb the middleweight pecking order before he can hope to compete against the 185-pound elite. Several middleweight contenders are eager to face Nickal in the Octagon. The UFC reportedly promised one of them, a former star on The Ultimate Fighter, for a bout against Nickal later this year. The Ultimate Fighter 29 finalist Tresean Gore claimed a fight with Nickal is purportedly in the works in a recent Instagram post. "The [UFC] let me know about 4 or 5 days ago about this potential match up and I’m all in and agreed the moment the opportunity was offered to me!" Gore posted. "I’ve been waiting patiently on my return we both received each others name and that’s that! How do you guys feel about me and Bo July 10th international fight week.” “The night two legends Collide [Jon Jones] and [Stipe Miocic] how would y’all feel about us opening up that Pay per View because again I’m in!!! I respect [Bo Nickal] and the wrestling skills but this is no wrestling match!! I’m waiting for you bro LETS GOOO!!!! I will come the best I’ve ever been! Send the contract!!!"

The highly anticipated fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia is set to take place on April 22, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout is expected to be one of the most profitable pay-per-view events in the United States during the first half of 2023, and industry insiders predict that it has the potential to surpass the numbers generated by the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather fight in May 2007. De La Hoya, whose company promotes Ryan Garcia, has compared the upcoming fight to his own bout against Mayweather, which generated approximately $136 million in revenue from 2.45 million pay-per-view buys and over $19 million in ticket sales. He predicts that Davis-Garcia could break those records and generate over 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. Some have called De La Hoya’s prediction “crazy,” but he argues that Davis and Garcia are among the best fighters in the sport, with both holding world titles and boasting significant followings on social media. He believes that the fight between the two young stars is the perfect storm for a record-breaking pay-per-view event. Mayweather’s victory over De La Hoya propelled him to superstardom, and he went on to become the highest-paid boxer in history, thanks in part to his fight against Manny Pacquiao in 2015. De La Hoya, a six-division champion and 1992 Olympic gold medalist, was the biggest non-heavyweight pay-per-view star before Mayweather came along. The Davis-Garcia fight has generated significant buzz among boxing fans and is seen as a major event in the sport. With both fighters in their prime and boasting impressive records, the bout promises to be a thrilling showdown that could go down in history as one of the sport’s most memorable moments. As the fight approaches, anticipation is building among boxing fans around the world. Only time will tell whether Davis-Garcia can live up to the hype and break the records set by De La Hoya and Mayweather in 2007. Regardless of the outcome, the fight promises to be a major moment in the sport’s history and a must-watch event for boxing fans everywhere.

Promoters for the eagerly awaited heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are expressing doubts that the fight will take place as scheduled on April 29. The fight, which would feature Usyk, the WBO, WBA, IBO, and IBF champion, and Fury, the WBC titlist, has been in the works for months, but negotiations appear to have unraveled after plans to stage the fight in Saudi Arabia were scuttled. Promoters then looked to Wembley Arena in London for the fight, but there are concerns that there may not be enough money to satisfy both fighters. Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, Fury’s promoter, expressed doubts over the weekend, and now Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, has echoed those sentiments. Krassyuk told iD Boxing that he anticipates the fight will not take place on April 29th, saying that the terms for the fight are too short. He also noted that there has been no indication that Fury and his team are in training, which he sees as a signal that Fury has already decided not to fight. Much has been made about the financial split for the fight, with Usyk’s side insisting on a 50/50 proposition and Fury’s American promoter, Bob Arum, saying that it would only be fair for Fury to get the “lion’s share” of the revenue. Krassyuk said his team proposed a 60/40 deal, but Fury rejected that option. Krassyuk believes that the issue of a financial split is immaterial at this point and that Fury is demanding a flat fee that proceeds from the fight at Wembley simply will not cover. Krassyuk implored Fury to take the 60/40 split, saying that even if Fury is confident in fighting Usyk, he is still asking for something impossible, which is a common tactic used when a fighter does not actually want to fight. The Usyk-Fury fight was eagerly anticipated, but it appears that the negotiations have hit a snag, and there are doubts that the fight will happen as scheduled. With both sides at an impasse, it remains to be seen whether they can come to an agreement that will allow the fight to take place.

Dan Azeez has secured his place in history by becoming the European light-heavyweight champion after stopping Thomas Faure in an epic battle that will be talked about for years to come. Azeez, who had won every belt at domestic level, stepped up to fight for the European title against Faure in his home country of France. The atmosphere was electric as the French national anthem rang out at the Zenith de Paris, and Azeez knew he was in for a hostile environment. Faure, who towered over Azeez, was throwing long jabs down at him, but the Londoner responded with jabs to the body and his powerful right hand. By the second round, Faure's nose was already bleeding freely, and Azeez was nodding to himself in his corner at the bell. The Briton continued to break the tall man down in the third round, and Faure looked weary as he tried to fight back. In the fourth round, Faure was forced to work off the ropes, but he managed to slice sudden straight shots through Azeez's guard. However, Azeez continued to land his hard right hand in the fifth round and urged Faure on when the Frenchman caught him and traded punches. Faure opened the sixth round with combinations, but a powerful right hand from Azeez wobbled him, and he was wilting under the constant pressure. However, Faure showed heart and came roaring back, using the crowd to lift him up. Azeez continued to land punishing blows in the seventh and eighth rounds, and even though Faure had his most successful round in the eighth, he was taking punch after punch to the head. In a gesture of sportsmanship, Azeez hugged Faure at the start of the final round, but the ending was vicious. Azeez's right hand smashed into Faure, leaving him out on his feet, and the referee stepped in just in time to save the stricken Frenchman. Although Faure protested the stoppage, it was the right decision, and Azeez was crowned the European light-heavyweight champion. The fight between Azeez and Faure was a tremendous display of skill, heart, and determination from both fighters, and it will be remembered as one of the greatest battles in the history of the sport. Azeez proved that he is one of the best in the world, and his victory in France will go down as one of the most memorable moments in boxing history.

In a crossroads heavyweight clash, Carlos Takam (40-7-1, 28 KOs) outworked and shocked Olympic gold medal winner Tony Yoka (11-2, 9 KOs) to win a ten round split decision. The scores were 96-94 for Takam, 96-94 for Yoka and 96-94 for Takam. Yoka was returning for the first time since suffering his first career defeat at the hands of Martin Bakole in May of last year. Takam was coming forward from the start. Yoka was able to catch him with a jab and was landing more often. Takam began to really bang away at the body in the third. Takam continued to rally with punches from both hands, especially to the body, in the fourth. At the outset of the fifth, Takam really started to pick things up. Yoka was moving and gripping a lot while throwing few punches, but Takam eased off the gas as the round went on. The area around Yoka's left eye developed a laceration. In the sixth round, Takam resumed his aggressive work style and simply barraged Yoka with body and head strikes. Simply put, Yoka was not doing enough. In the seventh, Yoka was displaying a solid jab but also allowing Takam to outwork him and land clean too many times. During the eight, Yoka was throwing at the mid-range and looking a little better. Takam was still throwing often and connecting too often. Yoka began to move around the ring and jab. In the ninth, both came out throwing. Takam was connecting with the more eye-catching punches. In the tenth and final round, Takam came out letting his hands go in close. Yoka was doing his best to fight back, but he was being outworked and oulanded

Merab Dvalishvili is referred to as "The Machine" for a reason. At UFC Fight Night inside The Theater at Virgin Hotels on Saturday, Dvalishvili (16-4) defeated former champion Petr Yan (16-5) by unanimous decision after dominating the fight for five rounds. This was the greatest victory of his career. Dvalishvili, who started as a 2-1 betting outsider, won the 135-pound contest 50-45 on the unanimous decision of the three judges. In winning, the Georgian bantamweight put on a legendary display. In total, he attempted 49 takedowns, breaking the previous mark of 33 held by former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in 2012. Of those, 11 were successful. UFC Stats show that Dvalishvili also connected with 202 of 401 total punches, as opposed to Yan's 87 of 155. "I said before -- it was personal for me," Dvalishvili said. "I tried to keep it professional. My team was telling me that I was taking this fight different. Thank God, I did professional. He called me a zero. Who's the zero now?" There was clearly bad blood between the two all fight week. Dvalishvili made a point to voice out against Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. He has a tattoo of the Georgian flag on his chest as a result of the UFC recently banning fighters from entering the Octagon while carrying their national flag. Yan flees Yekaterinburg, a region in Russia. A sizable audience of Georgian supporters attended Dvalishvili's performance on Saturday and delighted in his victory over a former UFC champion and contender in the pound-for-pound category. "I am so proud, thank you all Georgians who came here and watching from home," Dvalishvili said. "We are only five million, but we are strong. I'm so happy to be here and represent my country." What Dvalishvili's victory on Saturday means is less certain. Aljamain Sterling, the reigning champion, and Merab are close friends and training partners. Sterling beat Yan twice in their rivalry between 2021 and 2022. The two friends, who compete under the names Ray Longo and Matt Serra, have made it plain that they will not engage in a bout, even if a belt is at stake.

The Bellator 292 event held on March 11th, 2023, was a night of intense fights and high emotions. However, one fight in particular left fans and fighters alike shaken - the bout between Goiti Yamauchi and Michael Page. At the very start of the 1st round of their fight, Yamauchi suffered a gruesome injury that forced him to retire from the fight. After landing a kick to Page's leg, Yamauchi stumbled back and collapsed in pain, clutching his knee. As the referee noticed Yamauchi was motionless, he intervened and declared the fight over. That was a powerful and heartbreaking conclusion. The injury was a devastating blow to Yamauchi, who was forced to watch from the sidelines as Page celebrated his victory. For Page, the win was bittersweet, as he had hoped for a fair fight and didn't want to see his opponent injured. “It’s hard to even celebrate when he’s right there,” Page said. “I’m actually a fan of him and his work. It was a pleasure to grace the cage with him, but I really do wish him a speedy recovery.” At the Bellator 292 post-fight news conference, Bellator President Scott Coker verified what Yamauchi's manager had informed him: that preliminary testing indicated the knee was in poor condition. “Based on the x-ray, it’s a patella tendon rupture,” Coker said. “So that sounds very painful.” Yamauchi, a 10-year Bellator professional, currently owns the milestone for the promotion's number of submissions (9) accomplished. He had just defeated strong contender Neiman Gracie in a distinguished knockout as he joined Bellator 292. The Brazilian welterweight's loss to Page ended a three-fight unbeaten run that had brought him extremely close to championship contention. With the win, Page completed an effective MMA comeback. His last match took place in August under the BKFC brand. He was defeated by Mike Perry in unanimous consent. Before that, Page was defeated by Logan Storley for the Bellator interim welterweight championship by a split decision. The defeat against Storley ended "MVP's" six-fight winning streak. Page didn't waste any time just after the fight in demanding a championship chance immediately against Yaroslav Amosov, the unbeaten Bellator welterweight champion. Yamauchi's injury was a stark reminder of the risks involved in combat sports. MMA fighters put their bodies on the line every time they step into the octagon, and injuries like Yamauchi's are a reminder of the sacrifices they make for the sport.

The Bellator 292 event held on March 11th, 2023, was one for the books as Usman Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title against veteran fighter Benson Henderson, retiring him in the first round with a powerful finish and extending his win streak to 17-0. The crowd was electric with anticipation as the two fighters made their way to the cage. Nurmagomedov, the cousin of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, had already made a name for himself in the MMA world with an undefeated record. Henderson, on the other hand, had a wealth of experience with a record of 30 wins and 11 losses. It was a battle of the new generation versus the old guard. Henderson was knocked out of the fight early on by a head blow from Nurmagomedov. Usman then made his way up and began to pelt the ground with blow after blow. Amazingly, Bendo continued to move to escape being struck, but Nurmagomedov was lying flat on his back. Usman expertly positioned a rear-naked choke, trapping Henderson on the ground and forcing the submission. Following his victory, Nurmagomedov advances to the semi-final round against the winner of a Bellator 295 bout between Mansour Barnaoui and Brent Primus in May. Henderson gave an inside-the-cage statement to commentator John McCarthy following the bout in which he made his decision to retire. Henderson, who already had two more fights left under his Bellator agreement, claimed that before agreeing to the deal, he promised himself that if he failed, he would give up fighting. He fulfilled his commitment on Friday and is now concentrating on his wife, Maria, who is about to start her own MMA odyssey. Among the most accomplished lightweights of his time, Henderson earned two championships in the UFC and WEC throughout his 17-year MMA career, including victories over Frankie Edgar (2 times), Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Donald Cerrone (2 times), Jorge Masvidal, Josh Thomson, and many others. “These last four fights I signed with Bellator, I told myself that if I lose at all any of these last four fights, then it’s about that time,” said an emotional Henderson. “I’ve had a nice, long run. I’ve done a lot of great things and was able to do a lot of amazing accomplishments and thank you to everybody around the world. Thank you, guys, for your love and support, I appreciate that.” For Henderson, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite his years of experience, he was unable to overcome the younger, faster Nurmagomedov. However, he can still hold his head high knowing that he gave his all to this sport. The retirement of Henderson after the fight added to the emotional drama of the event. A former WEC and UFC champion, Henderson has been a fan favorite for years, and his presence in the sport will be missed. But as one chapter ends, another begins, and the rise of fighters like Nurmagomedov ensures that the future of MMA is in good hands.

Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in 1988, but there was one man who challenged his claim: Michael Spinks. Spinks was the former light heavyweight champion who had moved up to the heavyweight division and defeated Larry Holmes twice to become the Ring and lineal champion. Spinks was undefeated in 31 fights, and many considered him the best boxer in the world. On June 27, 1988, Tyson and Spinks met in a fight that was billed as “Once and For All”, to determine the true heavyweight champion. The fight took place at the Atlantic City Convention Hall, in front of a crowd of 21,785 and a pay-per-view audience of 1.5 million. Tyson was the overwhelming favorite, with odds of 5-1 in his favor. Spinks was paid $13.5 million, while Tyson received $22 million, the highest purse in boxing history at the time. The fight was a massacre. Tyson came out aggressively, throwing powerful punches at Spinks, who tried to keep his distance and use his jab. Tyson knocked down Spinks with a left hook to the body in the first minute of the fight, but Spinks managed to get up. Tyson continued to pressure Spinks, who looked nervous and overwhelmed. Tyson landed a devastating right to the body and a left uppercut to the head that sent Spinks crashing to the canvas, unconscious and motionless. The referee counted to 10 and waved off the fight. The official time was 1:31 of the first round. Tyson proved his dominance and ferocity with this knockout, which is considered one of the fastest and most brutal in heavyweight history. He unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, Ring and lineal titles, and became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Leon Spinks in 1978. He also improved his record to 35-0, with 31 knockouts, 16 of them in the first round. Spinks never fought again, and retired with a record of 31-1, with 21 knockouts. The Tyson-Spinks fight was a historic event that showcased the power and skill of Mike Tyson, who was at the peak of his career and popularity. It was also a brutal display of the violence and danger of boxing, as one punch can end a fight and a career in an instant.🥊 Do you agree? Comment and let us know. For more articles like these, follow fight.tv #MiketysonvsMichaelspinks

Islam Makhachev, the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, has recently revealed his choice for his next title defense. In an interview with BT Sports, Makhachev stated that he wants Beneil Dariush to win against Charles Oliveira at UFC 288 on May 6th, 2023, as he sees Dariush as a more challenging opponent. After defeating featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a pound-for-pound match this past February at UFC 284, the UFC lightweight champion is seeking his second title defense. The Dagestani champion could soon have an outcome thanks to the UFC's addition of matches like Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev but also Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush. Makhachev is extremely hesitant to schedule another championship fight against the Brazilian superstar because of the lopsided contest in which he dropped Oliveira to become the champion. Makhachev will indeed so choose to battle Dariush over those alternatives. “I hope Beneil wins because I already beat Oliveira and I need some new challenge,” said Makhachev in a recent interview with BT Sport. “Dariush is going to be a good fight because this guy has good skills — striking skills, wrestling skills, and grappling skills,” continued Dariush. “That’s why it’s going to be a good fight. Oliveira, if he wants a rematch, if he shows a good performance, maybe he’s going to be next. I don’t know.” At UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev and Dariush were initially supposed to square off, however, Dariush withdrew due to an ankle injury. After accepting a last-minute bout against Bobby Green, Makhachev defeated the veteran by first-round knockout to win his first shot at the crown. Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are anticipated to square off following their coaching showdown on The Ultimate Fighter 31. Although Makhachev isn't giving McGregor or Chandler a major focus, he is aware of the potential financial impact of a battle with the well-liked McGregor. “I’m not watching this because they’re both such smart guys,” Makhachev said. “Conor chose Chandler. Chandler lost on purpose because if he beat a couple of guys it was never going to happen, versus McGregor. Of course [I think he lost on purpose.] He fights like crazy like he comes from the streets. That’s why they make the fight.” “[McGregor] does not deserve [a title shot] if he beats Chandler or some of the guys,” Makhachev added. “But if UFC want, why not? Make some good money. Let’s go.” Makhachev is prepared to agree when the time comes, that much is clear. The UFC lightweight champion fought Volkanovski for five tough rounds, but he appears to be free of major chronic injuries, and he plans to return to the octagon eventually.

Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom, is no stranger to controversy. His recent comments about Tyson Fury have caused a stir in the boxing world. Hearn believes that Fury is to blame for the holdup in negotiations for the undisputed heavyweight championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn pointed to the fact that his fighter, Anthony Joshua, fought Usyk twice without any issues during negotiations. Hearn accused Fury of being greedy and not being the draw he thinks he is. Fury has insisted that Usyk deserves only a 30% split against his 70% from the revenue of the fight. Hearn believes that Fury is asking for too much money and is not willing to compromise. Hearn also took a swipe at Fury for his comments on social media, where he said he would fight for free as long as the tickets were free for the general public. Hearn believes that Fury is not focused on legacy and is only interested in money. He urged the public to wake up to what he feels is a charade from Fury. Hearn also patted himself on the back, saying he is the only promoter of note who has promoted shows in the Middle East. Hearn has staged three heavyweight championship boxing matches in the Middle East, all three featuring Joshua, including the two fights with Usyk. The negotiations for the Fury-Usyk fight went south after the promoters were unable to consummate a deal with investors from Saudi Arabia, where both fighters would have been paid handsomely. Now that the fight has pivoted to London’s Wembley Arena on April 29, the payouts are accordingly smaller. Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, recently expressed doubt that April 29 is still viable for the fight. Hearn’s comments are not surprising given his close association with Joshua. Hearn has always been a vocal supporter of Joshua and has always tried to promote him as the best heavyweight in the world. Hearn’s comments will only add to the already tense relationship between the two camps. Fury has always been a thorn in the side of Joshua, and Hearn’s comments will only add fuel to the fire. In conclusion, Hearn’s comments about Fury are not surprising given his close association with Joshua. Hearn believes that Fury is asking for too much money and is not focused on legacy. Fury, on the other hand, believes that he deserves a bigger split of the revenue from the fight. The negotiations for the Fury-Usyk fight have hit a snag, and it remains to be seen whether the fight will take place on April 29 at London’s Wembley Arena.