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After Chael Sonnen, Mark Hunt has cut some slack on the newly crowned UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. In his Heavyweight debut, the former two-time light heavyweight champion took Ciryl Gane down quickly and submitted him with a guillotine in just over two minutes. The win strengthened Jones' position as the arguably greatest fighter of all time and added a new divisional title to his extensive list of victories and achievements. Hunt, a former heavyweight title contender for the UFC, wasn't at all impressed. “The @ufc heavyweight champion of the world [world emoji] ladies and gentlemen,” Hunt said on Facebook. “there u have it a cheating steroid rat [rat emoji] who runs into pregnant women and runs off a rat that hides under the octagon for 10 hours hiding from being tested for drugs.” “this is your @ufc heavyweight champion this is the rat u need to look upto this is the rat we promote please be upstanding and raise your glass to a company that has zero credibility [multiple crying laughing emojis] worthless belt worthless champion.” Hunt last competed in the UFC and MMA in December 2018, losing to Justin Willis by unanimous decision. Since then, the 48-year-old "Super Samoan" has taken part in two boxing contests, going 1-1, with his most recent victory being in November 2022 against Sonny Bill Williams via technical knockout in the fourth round. What do you think of Hunt's comment? Comment and let us know. For more articles like this, follow our website fight.tv

In the world of mixed martial arts, rivalries between countries have always played a significant role in hyping up fights. These rivalries often transcend the sport itself, reflecting longstanding political and cultural tensions between nations. Petr Yan has never been a personal favorite of Merab Dvalishvili. Well before their upcoming fight at UFC Fight Night this week was set, Dvalishvili discovered himself against Yan in his prior matchup with his teammate Aljamain Sterling, the current UFC bantamweight champion. In the upcoming fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan, the stakes are high for both fighters, but especially for Dvalishvili, who is carrying the weight of responsibility for his home country of Georgia. Dvalishvili declared the significance of this matchup, calling it "Russia vs. Georgia". This is not just a fight between two individual fighters, but a clash between two nations with a long history of conflict. Being a representative of his nation, "The Machine" feels a huge sense of duty and is aware that his fellow Georgians will be eagerly watching his actions in the octagon. He is adamant that he will win for his country since he feels that this struggle is not only about him but rather about his entire nation. Merab Dvalishvili, the No. 3 ranked UFC bantamweight contender, recently spoke with The Schmo regarding his impending contest versus Petr Yan and the tremendous responsibility he carries to depict his native Georgia. "I just want to win this fight that's it. That will better than win title you know, because despite it not only fight this is personal fight for me. My country supporting me you know." The Georgian native further added: "It's not secret that, Russian they are not treating Georgia and Ukraine good. And this is like Russia vs. Georgia and this is sport but this is big-big modern fight for me."

In the world of mixed martial arts, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a name that needs no introduction. The former UFC Lightweight Champion is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport, with an impressive record of 29-0. In 2022, it was reported that Khabib Nurmagomedov had expressed an interest in training French heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane in Dagestani wrestling. This news immediately caught the attention of the MMA community, with fans and analysts alike speculating on what this could mean for Gane's career. Dagestani wrestling, also known as Khabib's fighting style, is a form of grappling that emphasizes takedowns and ground control. It has been a key factor in Khabib's success, allowing him to dominate his opponents and maintain an undefeated record. For Gane, who was already considered one of the most promising heavyweights in the UFC, the prospect of learning from Khabib was certainly an exciting one. Despite his impressive striking skills, Gane's grappling had been called into question in some of his previous fights, and training with Khabib could potentially fill that gap in his game. Last weekend's main event featured Gane and Jon Jones in a heavyweight title bout. Bon Gamin came into the fight fresh off a shocking knockout victory over Tai Tuivasa, while Bones made his comeback following a three-year absence. The Frenchman, however, found it to be too much of a moment, and two minutes into the first round, Jones had already forced him to the ground and secured the decisive win with a guillotine choke. Following his defeat at UFC 285, Ciryl Gane will probably regret not training with Khabib Nurmagomedov in Dagestani wrestling. The defeat to Jones marked Ciryl Gane's second loss in a heavyweight title fight. In January 2022, the 32-year-old was defeated by Francis Ngannou in a unanimous decision to lose the championship. Like Jones, "The Predator" decided to employ wrestling to defeat Gane since they saw it as the French fighter's disadvantage. UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov promised to teach Gane Dagestani wrestling after his defeat by Ngannou. In a message to "Bon Gamin", Khabib promised that if Gane started working under him for a year or two, he would win the title. "Ciryl Gane come to Dagestan brother. You have to come to Dagestan, stay there one and a half, two years, learn about wrestling...We have a lot of heavyweights who can wrestle with him. He [has] to learn wrestling and after a few years he can be champion.”

Daniel Garcia earned a knockout victory over Elnur Abduraimov on Sunday night at the Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana, Mexico, after Abduraimov’s corner decided to stop the fight due to a hand injury. The highly-anticipated clash between the unbeaten junior lightweights was an intriguing one, as Abduraimov, a southpaw, outboxed Garcia and landed harder punches early in the fight. However, in the second round, Abduraimov hurt his left hand after landing a punch, and this impacted his ability to throw powerful punches for the remainder of the bout. Sensing Abduraimov’s injury, Garcia took the initiative, becoming more aggressive and putting Abduraimov on the defensive. After the seventh round, Abduraimov’s corner, which includes trainer Joel Diaz, made the decision to stop the fight based on the injury and to fight another day. Garcia, who resides in nearby Ensenada and is promoted by Zanfer Promotions, improves to 15-0 with 12 knockouts. Abduraimov, who is originally from Gazalkent, Uzbekistan and now resides in Indio, California, drops to 10-1 with 9 KOs. Despite the loss, his team believes the decision to stop the fight was the right one, given the severity of his injury. Aliko Frolov, who co-manages Abduraimov along with Vadim Kornilov, said, “The plan was to box for the first four-five rounds, then press the action (in the) later rounds. He hurt his left hand, and it was getting worse (with each passing) round. It is what it is. (He) will come back stronger.” The fight between Garcia and Abduraimov was the main event of a card that also featured several other exciting bouts. In the co-feature, welterweight Dubiel Sanchez of Tijuana stopped Brandon Perez Pena at 10 seconds of the seventh round, improving to 19-1-2 with 14 KOs. Meanwhile, Ruben Aguilar of Ensenada and Mexico City’s Ricardo Salas Rodriguez fought to a majority decision draw over eight rounds. Other notable fighters on the card included 2012 Olympic Gold medalist from Cuba Roniel Iglesias, who improved to 3-0 with 2 KOs by stopping Eleazar Valenzuela in the third round, and junior featherweight prospect Arturo Popoca, who stopped Tijuana’s Edwyn Flores in the second round. In a clash of unbeaten heavyweights from Tijuana, Kevin Martinez defeated Francisco Cantabrana Soto by unanimous decision, while Pedro Turcios of Oxnard improved to 7-0-1 with 7 KOs by stopping Mexico City’s Martin Albarran in the second round. Overall, the night was filled with exciting action, and fans were treated to some thrilling fights. Despite Abduraimov’s injury, he remains a highly-decorated prospect with a bright future in the sport, and we can expect to see more from him in the years to come. For now, however, it’s Daniel Garcia who gets to celebrate his impressive victory, and he’ll be looking to build on this success in his next outing.

Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime Sports, is still determined to make the highly anticipated fight between welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford happen. Despite the failure to reach an agreement between the two fighters last year, Espinoza remains optimistic about the potential for a future matchup. During an interview on the Boxing with Chris Mannix Podcast, Espinoza offered measured optimism regarding the possibility of a deal being reached. He stated that he would not stop trying to find a way to make the fight happen as long as both fighters remained active in the sport. The failure to make the fight happen last year was a disappointment for many boxing fans. Crawford went on to fight David Avanesyan in December, winning by a sixth-round technical knockout. Meanwhile, Spence only fought once last year due to the bungled negotiations. Despite this setback, Spence is expected to return to the ring later in the spring, possibly against Keith Thurman. Crawford, on the other hand, is a free agent and has been reportedly in talks with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to fight Alexis Rocha, a move that the WBO has formally ordered. Despite these developments, Espinoza remains optimistic about the potential for a Spence-Crawford fight, rating the likelihood of it happening at 6.5 out of 10. He believes that there is still interest and a desire for the fight on both sides and that as long as neither fighter has given up, there is still a possibility for the fight to happen. Espinoza acknowledged that there are obstacles that need to be overcome, such as the Rocha fight that has been ordered by the WBO. However, he emphasized that he would not give up until either one or both of the fighters retired. In conclusion, Stephen Espinoza’s determination to make the Spence-Crawford fight happen is a promising sign for boxing fans. Although there are obstacles to overcome, Espinoza’s measured optimism and refusal to give up on the fight offers hope for a future matchup between two of the sport’s top fighters.

It seems that not everyone was impressed with Jon Jones impressive comeback at the UFC 285 main event. Jones created history as was the seventh two-division champion in the UFC 285 main event. He became the third person to succeed in the Octagon at both light heavyweight and heavyweight, joining Randy Couture and Daniel Cormier. The former two-time 205-pound ruler resumed his reign of dominance after a break of more than three years, but this time in a different setting. Jones defeated Ciryl Gane, the top-ranked contender and former interim champion, in his heavyweight debut to win the vacant crown. Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion challenger Chael Sonnen recently posted a video to his YouTube account in which he discussed Jon Jones' much awaited comeback to action inside T-Mobile Arena. Jones has received a lot of praise since winning the heavyweight title on his first attempt, but "The American Gangster" came to a different conclusion than others about his former rival's comeback. “It’s a very interesting position that Jon has found himself in. Last night is the worst we’ve seen Jon Jones perform aside from his match with ‘OSP’ (Ovince Saint Preux),” Sonnen said.” “That was the single worst version of Jon Jones the sport has ever seen. That takedown that Jon got was clumsy. It wasn’t on purpose. That wasn’t a plan. That wasn’t something that was drilled. It was clumsy,” Sonnen continued. “When Jon got him down to the canvas with what was easily the sloppiest takedown in the night, possibly the sloppiest takedown in the history of the division.” Do you agree with Chael Sonnen assessment? Comment and let us know.

Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier has revealed his two biggest regrets from his illustrious career. After losing to Stipe Miocic twice in a row, Cormier (22-3 MMA) decided to call it quits in 2020. Nearly three years after that setback, "DC" acknowledges that he wishes he had hung up his gloves a little earlier. “I probably would have retired after I beat Stipe the first time or beat Derrick Lewis,” Cormier said of his career regrets at a UFC 285 Heavyweight fan Q&A. “Just to be done. Because I threw my back out and I just wasn’t as good.” “Also, I might not have thrown that kick against Frank [Mir],” he added. “You remember that kick I tried to do? When I jumped and tried to kick you. You looked at me like, ‘What the f—k are you doing?’ I might have not done that in the Octagon because people still make fun of me about jumping trying to kick Frank. They called me the Kung-Fu Panda.” During his seven-year career as an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, Cormier had an 11-3 record. At UFC 187 in 2015, he won the vacant light heavyweight title by submitting the late great Anthony Johnson with a rear-naked choke in the third round. In the following three defences of that championship, "DC" triumphed over Volkan Oezdemir, Alexander Gustafsson, and Rumble. Later, Daniel Cormier would defeat Stipe Miocic via first-round knockout at UFC 226 to win the heavyweight world championship for the UFC. Before losing the title in a rematch with Stipe Miocic, he made one defence of the title through submission of Derrick Lewis in November 2018.

MMA fans around the world are eagerly anticipating Bellator 292, which is set to feature a highly anticipated matchup between two of the sport's top fighters: Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson. For many months, Bellator CEO Scott Coker was already alluding to a Lightweight Grand Prix, and now it has happened. Bellator 292 is set to take place in San Jose, California on March 10th, 2023. Nurmagomedov, the younger cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, is an up-and-coming star in the world of MMA. The 23-year-old Russian fighter is undefeated in his professional career with a record of 16-0 and has quickly made a name for himself in the sport. He won the lightweight title at Bellator 288 when he defeated Patricky Freire in a five-round unanimous decision on November 18. 13 of the American Kickboxing Academy graduate's 16 victories have been decided within the given time limit. Henderson, on the other hand, is a seasoned veteran of the sport. The 39-year-old American fighter has a record of 30-11 and has previously held titles in both the UFC and WEC. Henderson recently defeated Islam Mamedov and Peter Queally twice in a Bellator competition. In his time with the California-based promotion, "Smooth" is 7-6, with important wins over Patricio Freire, Myles Jury, and Roger Huerta among his other opponents. The matchup between Nurmagomedov and Henderson is a highly anticipated one, with both fighters known for their impressive skill sets. Nurmagomedov is known for his striking ability. Meanwhile, Henderson is known for his well-rounded game, with a mix of striking and grappling skills. Another Lightweight Grand Prix matchup is set to feature too as a co-main event at Bellator 292. Tofiq Musayev will square off against Alexandr Shabliy for a chance to fight for the gold strap. Musayev, a former Rizin Fighting Federation champion, made his professional MMA debut in July by finishing Sidney Outlaw in just 27 seconds at Bellator 283. The 33-year-old native of Azerbaijan has won 16 of his last 17 contests. Shabliy will go into his matchup with Musayev riding a seven-bout winning streak. The 29-year-old Russian is 3-0 in Bellator, with his most recent victory coming at Bellator 282 when he TKO'd Brent Primus in the second round. Overall, Bellator 292 is shaped to be an exciting night of MMA action. With the Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson matchup at the center of the event, fans are sure to be in for a treat. Be sure to tune in on March 10th to catch all the action live.

The world of MMA is buzzing with excitement as Dana White, the president of the UFC, has expressed interest in a potential matchup between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Colby Covington. In a recent interview with ESPN, White was asked about the possibility of the two welterweights going head-to-head in the octagon, to which he responded, "That's a fun one." For fans of the sport, this is big news. Rakhmonov, the undefeated Kazakhstani fighter, has quickly made a name for himself in the UFC with 5 impressive wins, maintaining his 100% finish rate under his belt. His most recent victory came at UFC 285 when he defeated American fighter Geoff Neal in the third round via submission. “He’s a great opponent, no one finished him before in a fight,” Rakhmonov said about Neal during the UFC 285 post-fight press conference. “I’m very happy. I’ve been saying one or two fights before the title shot. I’m ready now. You know Colby Covington; you are next or a title shot next.” Nomad said he’s OK waiting until the end of the year for his opportunity at the belt. “I’m in no rush,” Rakhmonov said. “We have Ramadan month ahead of us, but saying that, a title fight in Abu Dhabi would be great. Etihad Arena would be full of Kazakhstan fans. It would be great for my country.” Covington, on the other hand, is a well-known name in the UFC. The former interim welterweight champion has a record of 17-3 and is known for his brash personality and trash-talking abilities. Covington hasn't fought since defeating Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision in March of last year. Belal Muhammad and others have publicly called him out, but White, responding to the post-fight interview with Shavkat, rejected the idea that Covington has been declining contests. “That’s fun. It’s a fun one,” White said during the presser. “I’m not making the fight [right now]. I’m just saying I didn’t know [Rakhmonov called him out], but we’ll see. Colby’s ready to fight. He’s ready to fight anybody. We’ve reached out to him for a couple of different fights, and he said yes to it, but it just didn’t work out.” While a matchup between Rakhmonov and Covington has yet to be officially confirmed, the fact that White is open to the idea is a promising sign. So, what can fans expect from this potential matchup? Rakhmonov is known for his impressive grappling skills, with all three of his UFC victories coming by way of submission. Meanwhile, Covington is known for his striking ability and his relentless pace in the octagon. If this fight does come to fruition, it's sure to be a clash of styles that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. The winner could potentially earn themselves a shot at the welterweight title, currently held by Leon Edwards. For now, fans will have to wait and see if Rakhmonov vs. Covington becomes a reality. But with White expressing interest in the matchup and both fighters eager to step into the octagon, it's a fight that could very well happen soon. And if it does, it's sure to be one that MMA fans won't want to miss.

British boxer Conor Benn has called for all drug cheats to be banned for life, after rejecting the suggestion from the World Boxing Council (WBC) that his recent positive test for Clomifene may have been caused by consuming an excessive amount of eggs. Benn, who tested positive for the banned substance ahead of a scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr in October, has consistently maintained his innocence and claims that he never had Clomifene in his body at all. The WBC recently reinstated Benn to their rankings after suggesting that the adverse finding may have been caused by the consumption of eggs containing the substance. However, Benn rejected the WBC’s suggestion, stating that he believes there was never any Clomifene in his body in the first place due to a number of negative tests, including those taken with UK Anti-Doping. He also insisted that drug cheats should be banned for life because of the damage that can be caused, citing his father’s fight with Gerald McClellan as evidence of that. Benn also revealed that the past five months have left him feeling suicidal. “I didn’t think I was going to make it through this period. I was taking it day by day. I was having night terrors and panic attacks. I was really struggling, in a really bad way and I was coping terribly with it. It’s still hard for me and I still can’t believe I’m in this situation,” he said. The boxer also revealed that he has received abusive comments on social media, including racist comments directed towards his son. Benn’s case is a reminder of the importance of stringent drug testing in sports and the consequences of positive tests, both for the athlete’s career and their mental wellbeing. The issue of doping in boxing has been a concern for many years, and the sport has made significant efforts to tackle the problem, including increased testing and harsher penalties for offenders. However, cases like Benn’s highlight the need for continued vigilance and support for athletes who may be unfairly accused of doping.

The highly anticipated rematch between Tommy Fury and Jake Paul could take place as early as July, according to recent reports. The first fight, which took place in Saudi Arabia last month, ended with Fury securing a split-decision victory over the American YouTuber-turned-boxer. Despite the defeat, Paul was quick to call for a rematch, citing illness and injury as factors that contributed to his loss. Reports now suggest that a second bout between the two is already in the works, with the summer being targeted as a potential date. While the location of the fight remains unknown, it is clear that both fighters are eager to step back into the ring and settle the score. Paul exercised his clause for a rematch straight after the first fight, stating that he believes they “deserve that rematch.” Meanwhile, Fury has welcomed the challenge, confident that he can replicate his victory in the first fight. Fury has stated that he believes he will stop Paul in the rematch, noting that he was a bit cautious in the first fight since it was his first main event and he had never gone eight rounds before. With one fight under his belt against Paul, Fury believes he now knows what to expect and is ready to take on the challenge again. The potential rematch comes after two failed attempts to get the fighters in the ring. In December 2021, Fury had to withdraw due to a broken rib, and the fight was rescheduled for August 2022 in the United States. However, it was ultimately cancelled due to visa problems. The first fight between Fury and Paul was a major event, drawing a lot of attention from both boxing fans and casual observers alike. The rematch is expected to be even bigger, with both fighters eager to prove their worth and cement their status in the boxing world. Only time will tell whether Paul can bounce back from his first defeat or whether Fury will emerge victorious once again. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain – the rematch is sure to be an exciting and highly anticipated event in the world of boxing.

In a thrilling WBA final eliminator, Ohara Davies produced a clinical performance to stop Lewis Ritson in the ninth round, securing a shot at the WBA super-lightweight title. The Hackney fighter broke Ritson’s resistance with a powerful right hand followed by a left hook to the body, sending the former British lightweight champion crumpling to the canvas. Ritson had started strongly, landing some heavy jabs in the early rounds, but Davies was able to weather the storm and gradually take control of the fight. The Londoner’s barrage of body shots began to take their toll on Ritson, and a particularly spiteful shot in the sixth round rattled his ribs and left him visibly weakened. Davies continued to pour on the pressure in the later rounds, and it was clear that Ritson was struggling to stay in the fight. The end came in the ninth round, as Davies unleashed a flurry of punches that left Ritson unable to continue. With this impressive victory, Davies has earned a shot at the WBA super-lightweight title, currently held by Alberto Puello. Puello is set to defend his belt against Rolando Romero next, but Davies will be waiting in the wings for his own chance to compete for the coveted title. Davies’ performance in this fight was a testament to his skill, power, and determination. He showed great resilience in weathering the early storm from Ritson, and his relentless body shots eventually broke his opponent’s will. With his sights set firmly on the WBA super-lightweight title, Davies will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the months ahead. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in the upcoming title fight between Puello and Romero, but one thing is for sure – whoever comes out on top will face a tough challenge in the form of Ohara Davies. With his impressive record and devastating power, he has firmly established himself as one of the top contenders in the super-lightweight division, and his title shot can’t come soon enough.