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After a 1,258-day absence from competition, Tatiana Suarez shone on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 220 when she defeated Montana De La Rosa. Suarez (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who had not fought in nearly four years, returned to the cage and earned a decisive victory by applying a guillotine choke to De La Rosa (12-8-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) in the second round of their women's flyweight match at the UFC Apex. Suarez regained her form in the second round after De La Rosa displayed some resilience in the first round. She seized control of the scuffle before navigating her way into the choke to complete her comeback in emphatic fashion. Due to her extended absence from the octagon, Suarez fought at 125 pounds for this match; however, she made it clear that she will be moving back down to strawweight for the following match and plans to continue her championship campaign there. “I’m coming for the belt,” Suarez said. “115 here I come. Im going to come back down. I’m going to do what I know I can be, and be the world champion.

Jalin Turner, a promising UFC lightweight contender, recently made headlines by praising his upcoming opponent Mateusz Gamrot for stepping up to fight him on a pay-per-view event. The two fighters are set to face off at UFC 285, which is scheduled to take place later this year. Dan Hooker, who was supposed to be Turner's challenger for the UFC 285 event on March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, pulled because of a broken hand. Turner, who seemed to be determined to remain on the board, received a possibly much great fit in higher-ranked lightweight Gamrot, who according to Turner is the only opponent that accepted the challenge. “I’m just happy he stepped up, somebody stepped up,” Turner told MMA Junkie. “I wanted to stay on the card. I could have sat back and waited for somebody else on another card, but I was like – I just wanted to stay on 285 so, they made it happen.” He continued, “He’s the only one that stepped up. Nobody else wanted to fight me on this card. They didn’t want that three-week notice fight, so I took the challenge.” The matchup between Turner and Gamrot is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both fighters possessing the ability to finish the fight with strikes or submissions. The fight is also important for both men in terms of their rankings and prospects in the division. “He’s a good opponent,” Turner said. “He’s going to come in, try to shoot, try to wrestle. I already kind of expected that from Dan (Hooker) a little bit, so I was a little bit prepared. It’s just another fight. I’m ready to take on whoever wants to step up and I always showcase it every time.” For Turner, a win over Gamrot would be a significant boost to his career and could potentially lead to bigger and better opportunities in the UFC. For Gamrot, a victory over Turner would solidify his status as a rising star in the division and potentially set him up for a top-five matchup. Overall, the matchup between Turner and Gamrot is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing fights on the UFC 285 card. With both fighters possessing elite skills and a hunger to win, fans can expect a thrilling contest that could potentially produce a future title contender in the lightweight division.

In a thrilling battle for the ONE Championship bantamweight title in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Fabricio Andrade emerged victorious over John Lineker after Lineker's corner stopped the fight due to eye damage in the late rounds. In October 2022, when the two initially faced off for the crown, terrible things happened to each of them. Lineker first forfeited the championship by failing to weigh in, however after Andrade unintentionally struck Lineker in the third round with a cheap shot, the event was declared a no-contest. Andrade, a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a record of 8-2-1, put on a masterful performance against the heavy-handed Lineker, who came into the fight with a 35-9-1 record. Andrade was able to use his superior striking skills to take Lineker down and control him throughout the fight, while also landing several significant strikes with the feet. However, Lineker remained dangerous throughout the fight, constantly looking for opportunities to land his devastating punches. And in the later rounds, he appeared to be gaining momentum, throwing heavy shots, and landing some clean strikes on Andrade. But then, disaster struck Lineker as he suffered a serious eye injury. His corner quickly realized the severity of the situation and made the difficult decision to stop the fight after the 4th round of the main event, handing the victory and the ONE Championship belt to Andrade. “I have no words to explain what this means to me,” an emotional Andrade said through tears. “It’s been just such a long journey, so many hard things that I’ve been through in my life, with the dream to get here and become the world champion — and to be able to change my life and my family’s life, it’s unbelievable.” Lineker suffers his first loss while competing in the ONE Championship. The UFC veteran prevailed in his previous four fights with the organization, stopping Bibiano Fernandes to claim the belt last March. It was a disappointing end for Lineker, who had put on a valiant effort and showed his trademark toughness throughout the fight. But ultimately, the safety of the fighters must come first, and Lineker's corner made the right call in stopping the fight. “Man, he came to fight,” Andrade said of Lineker. “The first fight, he was scared. But this fight, he came to fight. You could see, I’ve got a lot of damage [on my face].” For Andrade, the victory was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication to his craft. The 25-year-old fighter has been steadily rising through the ranks of the bantamweight division and has now cemented himself as one of the top fighters in the ONE Championship organization. Andrade suggested that his first championship defense take place versus Stephen Loman, the 27-year-old who defeated former champion Bibiano Fernandes last November, during his post-fight interview.

Ruiz Sr. tells ESPN KnockOut that the decision to leave Premier Boxing Champions, which Julius Julianis disclosed last night, was mutual. Ruiz (35-2, 22 KO), who has only competed twice since his catastrophic rematch with Anthony Joshua in 2019, is unsure of his future plans. Filip Hrgovic and an interim IBF title fight were set to take place, and the sanctioning body even agreed to bend its own regulations regarding purse bids for interim titles because of "mutual interest," but that proposal was subsequently withdrawn yesterday. The other significant choice was a WBC final eliminator against Deontay Wilder, which was ordered by Mauricio Sulaiman shortly after Ruiz and Wilder's wins over Luis Ortiz and Robert Helenius, respectively. Although it's still conceivable, Julianis claims that PBC was attempting to put it together, raising questions about whether Ruiz is actually going after it. Right now, all we can do is watch to see where Ruiz goes. Although 33 is not particularly ancient by heavyweight standards, he has displayed an odd lack of urgency to get back into the mix, and there hasn't been much to get excited about in terms of his career lately.

Khamzat Chimaev’s coach Andreas Michael believes that a fight between his trainee and Connor McGregor would be blockbuster fight. Few fighters have entered the MMA scene with the style and pace of Chimaev. After utterly crushing his opponents in 2020, "Borz" was propelled to the top of the welterweight division and is now firmly established as a major contender. Chimaev's high-profile fight with veteran fighter Nate Diaz this past September was called off due to recent weight difficulties, but a return to the welterweight division may be possible given the appropriate opportunity. With several returning to work, including Conor McGregor, things are looking up for the greatest UFC stars in 2023. Andreas Michael, the coach of Chimaev, thinks a contest between the two would be about as significant as it gets. “That is a megafight,” Michael told Submission Radio. “At the end of the day, it’s not me that’s making weight. If Khamzat feels that he wants to go down to welterweight, I believe that he can do it. He can do whatever he wants. If you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want. Piece of cake." “It would be a blockbuster. It would be an amazing fight, box office hit pay-per-view. That is — what a fight that would be, wow.” Before there is talk of Chimaev vs. McGregor, the Irishman must first complete The Ultimate Fighter 31 as a coach alongside Michael Chandler. After the season's end, McGregor and Chandler are expected to square off at an undisclosed weight later this year, most likely at 155 or 170 pounds. On the other hand, Chimaev keeps looking for what's next after defeating Kevin Holland in his shake-up fight following his weight infractions in September. Chimaev's next fight in the cage appears to be at middleweight, but he will first concentrate on Ramadan. Michael would like to see his protégé compete for the title, but the most practical scenario is for him to face a top competitor.

Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia have finally announced their long-awaited showdown in Las Vegas on April 22. After months of prolonged negotiations, two of the most exciting talents in American boxing will share the ring as they put their unbeaten records and proud reputations at stake. The venue for the fight in Vegas is still to be confirmed, with the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena being considered, although organisers have explored the possibility of bringing it to Allegiant Stadium, the home of NFL franchise the Las Vegas Raiders. Davis, 28, and Garcia, 24, will meet at a contracted catch weight of 136 pounds for their 12-round, non-title fight. Davis has won 26 of of his 28 fights by knockout, while Garcia has 19 stoppages in his 23 wins. The duo were set to take interim bouts before they fought, but only Davis pressed ahead with that plan as he defeated Hector Luis Garcia by ninth-round technical knockout in Washington on January 7. Garcia was linked with a fight against Filipino southpaw Mercito Gesta, but he ultimately decided to skip that bout in favour of heading straight into the Davis fight. In his last fight, Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna in the sixth round, flooring the Dominican southpaw on three occasions before forcing the stoppage in Los Angeles on July 15.

Scott Coker, the president of Bellator, has a plan to give Francis Ngannou a couple things off his list if they reach an agreement. Ngannou is still a free agent after leaving the UFC earlier this year. He has been stripped of the UFC heavyweight championship, which will now be fought between Ciryl Gane and Jon Jones. During his free agency, Ngannou has received numerous offers from MMA and boxing promotions. He's talked to the PFL, Bellator, and other major organisations. The lack of contract flexibility was a major cause for Ngannou's departure from the UFC. He wanted to box and compete in MMA at the same time, but the two parties couldn't agree. Coker said: “I think we have great company to offer both sides of the combat sports business that he’d like to, which is MMA and also box. I think we’re a great fit. There’s ongoing discussions, so we’ll see what happens.” Showtime, Bellator's primary television partner, hosts the majority of the world's elite boxing events. The network has hosted boxing contests starring some of the sport's top names, including Gervonta Davis, Jake Paul, and Artur Beterbiev. Ngannou has great goals for his boxing career, including potential fights with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. According to Ali Abdelaziz, Ngannou wants about $30 million to compete in boxing. If so, he would compete for the title of highest-paid boxer with individuals like Wilder and Canelo Alvarez. Ngannou is in talks with Bellator about signing with them, and they may be one of the few organisations that can provide him what he wants.

Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that is known for its intensity and brutal nature. However, some actions are considered unsportsmanlike, even in the world of MMA. One such action is hitting an opponent below the belt. This is something that happened in the recent fight between John Lineker and Fabricio Andrade, and Lineker is already preparing for the rematch for the vacant bantamweight title. Although the first clash between both the rivals more than lived up to the expectations it had generated, it also came to an extremely depressing conclusion. Andrade landed a low blow on Lineker, which led to a stoppage in the fight. Lineker was clearly in pain and could not continue his fight and it resulted in a no-contest. On this week's Trocaço Franca podcast, Andrade stated that he was "astonished" that his fellow Brazilian had consented to rematch following the first fight for the bantamweight title concluded as a no-contest because of an unintentional cheap shot. Lineker quips about his only worry this time is to safeguard his groin in a quick chat with Trocaço Franca. “He’s a talented guy, a tough one, so I have to work hard,” Lineker said. “I’ll predict a third-round finish again. And don’t hit me in the nutsack again, Fabricio [laughs].” Many fans were unhappy with Andrade's actions. The strike was that much powerful that it shattered Lineker’s protective cup. However, Lineker seems to be taking a different approach to the rematch. To prevent similar occurrences in the future, Lineker took the proactive step of obtaining a more durable cup before the world title rematch. John Lineker stated in a South China Morning Post interview: “Yes, I bought a steel cup so that won’t happen again.” The lucrative zeroes in Lineker and Andrade's promotional win-loss statistics are now in jeopardy because their first fight resulted in a no-contest. Lineker has three knockouts and a perfect record of 4-0 in the ONE Championship. Andrade, in contrast, has a record of 5-0 with three knockouts and one victory via submission. Ultimately, MMA is a sport that is built on toughness and resilience. Fighters are expected to be able to take a certain amount of punishment, but there are limits to what is acceptable. Low blows are not something that fans or opponents want to see, and Lineker's decision to wear a steel cup may be seen as an attempt to skirt the rules.

Mixed Martial Arts has taken the world by storm over the past few decades, and there have been many great fighters that have graced the Octagon. But who among them is the greatest of all time? It's a debate that has raged on for years, and one that will likely continue for years to come. Whenever there is any debate going on regarding the GOAT of the octagon, Jon Jones is on the top of the list every time, ahead of other legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva. While rankings and opinions may differ, there's no denying that Jones has had an incredible career thus far. Jones made his debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division. His unique fighting style, which included his incredible reach and striking ability, made him a nightmare for opponents. He won the UFC light heavyweight championship in 2011 and defended it numerous times. However, Jones' career has not been without controversy. He has faced multiple suspensions and legal issues outside the Octagon, which have tarnished his reputation to some extent. Nevertheless, his skills in the cage are undeniable. Jon Jones was recently questioned about his top five UFC competitors in an appearance with RMC Sport. The 35-year-old chose to list himself first, before rivals like Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. "My top 5? Let's see here. If I'm allowed, I would say myself, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jose Aldo. Those are my favorites at least." One of Jones' biggest rivals in the sport has been Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite being ranked behind Jones on the all-time great list, Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 with a perfect record of 29-0. His dominant grappling and ground-and-pound style made him a nightmare for opponents, and he quickly established himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva are two other fighters that are often mentioned in the GOAT conversation. St-Pierre dominated the welterweight division for years, winning the title multiple times and defending it on nine occasions. Silva, on the other hand, was known for his incredible striking ability and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history. While it's impossible to definitively say who the greatest MMA fighter of all time is, there's no denying that Jones, Nurmagomedov, St-Pierre, and Silva are among the most dominant fighters to ever grace the sport. Their legacies will continue to be discussed and debated by MMA fans for years to come.

Jake Paul thinks Nate Diaz, a former UFC champion, will be his next opponent after he defeats Tommy Fury on Sunday. When discussing the possibility of squaring off against Diaz, Paul stated the following on The MMA Hour: "I think [Nate Diaz's team is] ready. I'm getting through Sunday and we're gonna line that one up ASAP. I think that's next. Probably mid-year, maybe sometime summer. "I think that's what the fans want, and that's who I want. There's been a lot of back and forth, we've said our stuff, but it's time to get down to business." Even though Paul vs. Diaz would probably be a big draw in the world of combat sports, Paul must first face Fury, who is undoubtedly the toughest opponent of his brief boxing career thus far. Paul has a perfect record of 6-0 in six professional fights, but to this point, he has only fought a YouTuber, a former NBA player, and a few former MMA fighters. The first professional fighter he has faced will be Fury. Uncertainty surrounds whether Paul's contest with the younger half-brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury will have any effect on a potential encounter with Diaz, but the UFC veteran is unquestionably in Paul's sights. Paul added that he would like to face Diaz in both a boxing match and MMA fight, but noted he isn't certain if Diaz is open to that: "I want to do one fight boxing, one fight MMA, but I'm not sure if Nate's team is like fully aligned on that yet. Or I don't know if they realize how serious I am about that. I think they thought I was just doing it for hype, but I'm dead ass." Diaz, 37, has been a professional MMA fighter since 2004, and he first entered into UFC in 2007 as part of The Ultimate Fighter. Despite competing against some of the biggest stars in the sport, including McGregor, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, Benson Henderson, Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and Jorge Masvidal, Diaz never took home a UFC championship. At UFC 279 in September, Diaz competed in his final match under his deal with the organization and defeated Tony Ferguson by fourth-round submission. Diaz was a fan favorite throughout his UFC career because of his frank demeanor and propensity for exciting fights, which made him seem like the ideal opponent for Paul and a perfect match for the world of boxing.

The highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk appears to be on the brink of collapse, with negotiations hitting a major snag. The hopes of taking advantage of the vast money available in Saudi Arabia have reportedly vanished, as Fury's team is said to have asked for too much money. As a result, there is talk of moving the fight to Wembley Stadium in London, but even that option seems unlikely. According to Eddie Hearn, there's no way for the Fury-Usyk fight to take place in the UK because the money isn't there for that kind of fight to make either fighter happy. Fury's dad, John Fury, has added fuel to the fire, saying that Usyk needs to forget about a 50-50 deal and treat Tyson like the "great champion" he is. This has been interpreted by many as a message to Usyk to accept a smaller payout and to treat Fury like royalty from Buckingham Palace. However, Usyk is the one with all the belts, while Fury's lone WBC title was won after he defeated Deontay Wilder in a fight that saw Wilder put over by a rabbit punch. Usyk is not the type of fighter to be intimidated by Fury's bluster or John Fury's messages, and he will not be treated like a second-class citizen. Many people believe that Fury is intentionally fouling up the negotiations because he wants no part of a fight with Usyk, who is all wrong for him. Instead, they believe that Fury wants the easy money against boxing novice Francis Ngannou, who has never fought inside the squared circle. The question of who is the A-side in this fight is a contentious one. John Fury believes that Tyson is the A-side and that Usyk is not worthy of a 50-50 split. However, others argue that Usyk is the one with all the belts and that Fury is just a one-belt champion. Regardless of who is the A-side, it's clear that both fighters are determined to get what they believe they deserve. In the end, it remains to be seen whether the Fury-Usyk fight will take place or not. With negotiations appearing to be on their last legs, it's clear that both fighters will have to make some compromises if they want to make this fight happen. Whether they are willing to do so remains to be seen.

Derek Chisora, a former WBC heavyweight title challenger, has spoken out against the WBC’s decision to offer YouTube star Jake Paul a place in their cruiserweight rankings. In an interview with The Mail, Chisora suggested that if Paul were to be given a ranking position, all current WBC champions should vacate their belts and join a different federation. Paul is set to take on Tommy Fury, brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, in a highly anticipated fight in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The victor of the bout is expected to be awarded a place in the top 40 of the WBC’s cruiserweight rankings. Chisora, who is helping to promote the event, has spoken out against the WBC’s decision, calling it unfair to other fighters who have been working hard to earn their ranking positions. He argued that Paul, who has only faced non-boxing opponents in the ring, has not earned the right to be ranked among professional boxers. Chisora’s comments are likely to spark a debate among boxing fans and professionals about the value of belts and rankings in the sport. While belts are seen as a symbol of a fighter’s achievement and status in the sport, some argue that they have become too commercialized and that rankings are often arbitrary and based on politics rather than merit. Chisora also questioned the importance of belts in boxing, saying that they do not pay the bills for most fighters. He quoted former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who famously dismissed the importance of belts in the sport. The upcoming fight between Paul and Fury has generated a lot of hype, with many fans eager to see whether Paul can prove himself against a professional boxer. However, Chisora’s comments suggest that not everyone in the boxing world is convinced of Paul’s legitimacy as a professional fighter. Regardless of the outcome of the fight, Chisora’s comments are a reminder that the world of boxing is not just about belts and rankings, but also about hard work, dedication, and respect for the sport. While Paul may be a popular figure among younger audiences, it remains to be seen whether he can earn the respect of the boxing community as a whole.