Search Results

The name, image, and likeness (NIL) industry are being entered by the UFC. The promotion is making a financial commitment to Bella Mir, who is perhaps the most promising fighter in women's MMA. Bella Mir, the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, has joined the world's largest MMA company as its first-ever NIL ambassador. Mir, a newcomer on the women's wrestling team at the University of Iowa, will be given the chance to attract new fans through sponsorships, social media activity, and presentations. NIL agreements were previously forbidden by the NCAA. “I’m super grateful and I honestly couldn’t be more thankful to [UFC President] Dana [White] and UFC for giving me this opportunity,” Bella Mir said in a press release statement. “I’m going to make sure I do my best to represent UFC and show the world what I’m all about.” The University of Iowa revealed in December of last year that the UFC has agreed to help fund the school's men's and women's wrestling teams. Mir competed in Nevada during his high school wrestling career and won four state titles. The 20-year-old flyweight is 3-0 in professional fights, with both of her most recent victories coming through first-round submission. It made perfect sense for the UFC officials to establish an initial bond and prepare Bella for the long term because her father Frank is wholly committed to her fighting career and believes Bella will ultimately become a champion of the world. "Bella was destined to become a member of the UFC family her entire life, and I'm proud that she's making history as our first NIL ambassador in one of the best programs at the University of Iowa," White said in a statement. "... Bella is an incredible role model for young women who are not only looking to get into sports, but also pursue their dreams. She's on another level, and we can't wait to see what she does next." Although NIL contracts do not guarantee that an athlete would compete for the UFC, Bella Mir's background makes it seem certain that she will do so in the future. It's unsure whether the UFC will provide NIL contracts to any additional college athletes. WWE, on the other hand, has a significant NIL program with more than 30 athletes signed during the previous two years. The first ever WWE NIL inductee in September 2021 was Olympic gold medalist in wrestling Gable Steveson, who also attracted consideration from the UFC.

The coaches for the upcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter" have not yet been announced. However, if Conor McGregor decides to accept a job as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter, there are speculations that he may face off against UFC nemesis Tony Ferguson. McGregor, who hasn't competed since losing to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and injuring his leg in the process, is anticipated to make his UFC comeback this year. For his comeback match, the Irishman has been associated with a plethora of potential rivals, notably Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Jorge Masvidal. Although a fight has not yet reached an advanced stage, McGregor is reportedly in talks to make a comeback, according to his coach John Kavanagh. The 34-year-old also said he had been given the chance to lead a team in The Ultimate Fighter, a UFC series, in his greatest hint to date. On Season 22 in 2015, McGregor coached alongside Urijah Faber, but they did not square off in the octagon. At the end of the season, the head coaches of the two teams frequently clash, but McGregor was scheduled to defend his featherweight belt against Jose Aldo. Conor McGregor indicated an interest in coaching the season and claimed to have gotten a proposal for it, though he didn't provide any further details. The formerly double UFC champion penned on Instagram: Tony Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion, now appears to have a similar offer. El Cucuy claimed that he was also offered the opportunity of selecting his opposing coach. Ferguson undoubtedly would have picked Khabib Nurmagomedov, but 'The Eagle' just decided to quit fighting indefinitely so next in line is the former two-division champion, Conor McGregor. El Cucuy' wrote on Twitter: Tony Ferguson, who participated in the 13th edition of the series as coach Brock Lesnar's third pick, is a TUF alum himself. El Cucuy was dominant throughout the entire show, and his first-round knockout victory over Ramsey Nijem in the show's finale earned him a deal with the UFC. Uncertainty exists around whether Ferguson and McGregor will face off inside the cage if they wind up coaching against each other on Season 31 of the series. Later this spring, the new season is anticipated to air on television.

The bout between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant, which will air on Showtime pay-per-view on March 25 and take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is already confirmed. The unbeaten super middleweight is promising a knockout victory. “I’ve been working my ass off like never before. This is my moment in life where I get to show why I am the best super middleweight in the world, and that’s exactly what all my fans will see,” Benavidez wrote on social media. “I promise all my fans I’m going to knock out Caleb Plant. Y’all ain’t gonna want to miss this one.” Although Plant (22-1, 13 KO) is undoubtedly his strongest opponent to date on paper, Benavidez (26-0, 23 KO) will undoubtedly be the betting favorite. That can't really be described any other way, but Canelo Alvarez, who Plant defeated in the 11th round in late 2021, is the only opponent Plant has faced who, on paper, comes close to Benavidez. In other words, the fight between Benavidez and Plant is the best one that can be made at 168 at the moment because Canelo is sort of set up on his own as the huge superstar and unquestioned champion of the category. It's even spicier because Benavidez and Plant have exchanged some harsh words with one another over the years. In a few months, this struggle will be something to look forward to.

Liam Smith has responded to Chris Eubank Jr's team's appeal claims by firing back at his rival and saying "Nobody believes you. You are embarrassing yourself." The controversial moment occurred in the fourth round of the fight, with Smith landing a powerful elbow strike on Eubank Jr, causing his guard to be broken, leading to the eventual strikes that ended the fight. Eubank Jr has yet to activate his rematch clause, but his team is reportedly considering the option of an appeal. They claim that the elbow strike was illegal and played a significant role in the outcome of the fight. Smith, however, is not taking these claims lightly. In a statement to the press, he said, "Chris Eubank Jr and his team are just grasping at straws. If that's the case, just take the rematch. What are you waiting for?" He also added "Nobody believes you, you are embarrassing yourself." The incident has caused heated debate and discussion among fans and experts in the boxing community. Some are calling for a rematch between the two fighters, while others argue that the fight should be overturned due to the alleged illegal strike. It is important to note that any decision to appeal the defeat or activate a rematch clause will have to be made by Eubank Jr and his team in consultation with the relevant authorities and governing bodies. This includes the British Boxing Board of Control and the World Boxing Organization, which sanctioned the fight. Smith's statement is a clear indication that he is not going to back down easily, and is confident in his victory. Eubank Jr and his team will have to weigh their options carefully before making any further decisions. The fans and experts in the boxing community will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. With Eubank Jr yet to activate the rematch clause and Smith's strong response to the appeal claims, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved.

After months of speculation, it has finally been announced that the highly-anticipated fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will take place on February 26th in Saudi Arabia. The two rivals have been engaged in a heated rivalry for some time, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see them clash in the ring. The fight had been delayed multiple times, with both fighters pulling out due to various reasons. Tommy Fury, the younger brother of Tyson Fury, had pulled out twice due to a suspected broken rib and visa problems that denied him entry to the US. However, with the fight now officially set, fans can finally look forward to seeing these two fighters go head-to-head. Jake Paul has been on a winning streak, having defeated Tyrone Woodley and combat sports legend Anderson Silva in his last two fights, taking his record to 6-0. On the other hand, Tommy Fury has had a successful career in the professional boxing ring, with an unbeaten record of 8-0, 4 of which by way of knockout. The two fighters have been trash talking each other for a while, and it would be interesting to see who comes out on top. The fight is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, which has become a popular destination for high-profile fights in recent years. The country's state-of-the-art facilities and its commitment to promoting sports events have made it an attractive location for major fights. In conclusion, the much-awaited fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury has finally been made official and will take place on February 26th in Saudi Arabia. The two rivals have been engaged in a heated rivalry for some time, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see them clash in the ring. With the fight now officially set, fans can finally look forward to seeing these two fighters go head-to-head.

At this point in his career, Artur Beterbiev places the biggest priority on accumulating world titles. The newly turned 38-year-old is just one title away from realizing his lifelong dream after ripping the WBO light heavyweight crown away from Joe Smith Jr.'s unconscious grasp. Unquestionably, Dmitry Bivol is in possession of the final component of the puzzle. The unified champion has consistently voiced a strong desire to take on his fellow contemporary. Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) will first attempt to get rid of Anthony Yarde before turning his attention to unifying the entire division. This Saturday, January 28, the two will formally face off at the Wembley Arena in the United Kingdom. Many people, including seasoned promoter Bob Arum, anticipate the crushing puncher to take care of business despite the fact that he is deserving. If everything goes according to plan, Arum will try to negotiate a deal that will have his light heavyweight champion fight Bivol. Arum agrees that, despite his desire to see Beterbiev establish himself as the unquestioned champion, Bivol has the right to choose to proceed in a different way. “Yea I think so,” said Arum to Boxing UK when asked if Beterbiev vs. Bivol could happen next. “But we gotta be realistic. I think Bivol is looking first to fight Canelo Alvarez, a much bigger financial fight for him. So if that fight happens, Bivol and Beterbiev won’t be until next year.” It's possible that Bivol could become distracted by an infinite amount of green, as Arum suggests. Following his victory over Alvarez in May 2022, Bivol earned a career-high salary and gained recognition all over the world. Since then, the Mexican boxer has resisted the temptation to just accept that Bivol is the superior opponent. Alvarez instead has every intention of fighting his soon-to-be opponent in the second half of 2023. Arum would be willing to book Bivol and Beterbiev for the end of the year if Alvarez changes his mind and chooses to seek other fights. “If the Canelo fight doesn't happen, then maybe we can do Beterbiev and Bivol this year.” Arum stated.

As the middleweight champion of the UFC, Alex Pereira has been thinking about his upcoming maneuver. After thrillingly defeating Israel Adesanya in the fifth round to win the 185-pound title in New York, "Poatan" stated in a conversation for MMA Fighting that re-entering the octagon in May would be "ideal," however the challenger has not yet been chosen. The preferred option, according to Pereira, is a fourth fight against Adesanya, two of which occurred in kickboxing and one in the UFC. However, former champion Robert Whittaker might also be brought up. Whittaker was supposed to face Paulo Costa in an eliminator for the title contender but the bout was off the table due to a failure in negotiation with the Brazilian. “I see these two guys [next],” Pereira said. “Adesanya was a dominant champion so he has the preference to be competing for the belt again, but if he doesn’t want that, it will be Whittaker. I don’t think they’ll put someone else in other than Whittaker. He already said his game doesn’t match well with Adesanya but would be a good fight with me, so I’ll be ready for both.” Before their fight at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya had never dropped a middleweight fight in mixed martial arts, but Pereira isn't interested in fighting again and he won't push for the fourth fight against the Last Stylebender for any lame reason. “I won’t do anything to hurt Adesanya’s plans and avoid this fight,” he said. “If that’s what he wants, we’ll fight. If for some reason he doesn’t want to fight me, that makes no difference to me, it’ll be Whittaker instead. And if Whittaker doesn’t want it, there are several others that do.” Adesanya is still unable to capitalize against the newly crowned UFC middleweight champion and he is currently 0-3 versus the Brazilian. But Pereira believes that defeating his longstanding foe in kickboxing would be tougher on his body than coming back to win in the UFC. "Poatan" expressed that he needs to have a strong mentality to challenge a person he has already defeated three times in a row. “I try to forget what has happened,” Pereira said. “If we think about having three wins over someone and think it’s going to be easy — I said it before the [third fight] that it makes no difference, I can’t cross my arms and expect him to go out in front of me. He’ll always try to evolve and come a better fighter, and I have to be better than last time to be fighting this guy because it will be a tough fight.” Alex Pereira has already started to look out for more available options in any case the anticipated fight against Adesanya doesn’t happen. Regardless of facing Robert Whittaker, the Brazilian has shown interest in moving up the division and seeking a revenge for his comrade Glover Teixeira. The Brazilian appeared in the comments section of Hill’s latest Instagram post, which was directed at injured former titleholder Jiri Prochazka, and issued a challenge to “Sweet Dreams”.

The anticipated Amanda Nunes-Irene Aldana matchup for the women's bantamweight championship at UFC 285 appears to be off the table. The UFC intended to schedule the pair's 135-pound title fight at the forthcoming UFC 285 pay-per-view program. But, following the latest Combate article, the UFC failed to secure that match. The top-ranked women's bantamweights simply don't agree on who their future opponents should be. Raphael Marinho further stated in the most recent Combate edition that although Julianna Pena seems to have been persistent on having her trilogy match versus Nunes, "The Lioness" is hesitant to give "The Venezuelan Vixen" one more opportunity to defend her championship. The writer also claimed that the UFC attempted to schedule a matchup between Aldana and Pena to prepare for Amanda Nunes' championship defense. Pena, however, refuses to engage in combat until there is gold at stake. Irene Aldana's challengers are being sought by the organization whereas Nunes is resolute about her demands. Finding a new opponent for the Brazilian superstar to prove herself against has turned out to be difficult due to Nunes' dominance during her reigns as the featherweight and bantamweight champion. Aldana would have been a strong contender as she currently ranks at #5. She might need to wait a little longer before receiving the go-ahead, though. In her most recent title defense, Amanda Nunes defeated Julianna Pena by a unanimous decision at UFC 277 to recapture the women's bantamweight crown. The victory was notable since it marked the second time in her tenure that she won titles in two divisions simultaneously. Aldana is currently unbeaten in two fights, both of which ended in TKO victories. It is unknown how UFC will proceed with planning out the title picture. On March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC 285 will take place. In the main event, Jon Jones will compete for the title against Ciryl Gane in the octagon for the first time in a very long time. In addition, Valentina Shevchenko shall face Alexa Grasso to challenge her women's flyweight title.

One of Eddie Hearn's top light heavyweight charges, in his opinion, will soon be in a position to compete for three of the four 175-pound belts. Hearn, the head of Matchroom Boxing, insisted that he thinks Liverpool's Callum Smith will eventually be required by the WBC to fight the victor of the upcoming light heavyweight unification fight between Russia's Artur Beterbiev, the WBC, WBO, and IBF champion, and Britain's Anthony Yarde, the WBO mandatory challenger. On January 28, the two will face off in London's OVO Arena Wembley. According to the WBC rankings, Smith is the top contender at light heavyweight. “Callum Smith has to fight the winner of that fight,” Hearn told iFL TV. “His next fight will be announced shortly, it will be in March. He is mandated to fight the winner of Yarde-Beterbiev from the WBC.” A definite bout featuring one of Hearn's other clients, Russian Dmitry Bivol, the WBA champion, would have to be postponed once more if the WBC were to compel Smith to face the winner of Beterbiev-Yarde. Additionally, Bivol's program for 2023 might already be in place. The Russian is anticipated to make a comeback in the spring before facing Canelo Alvarez again in the fall. Hearn's strategy appears to be to guarantee that Smith would have the opportunity to compete for the three belts before Bivol. However, there can be a political component that makes settling a dispute between Smith and the Beterbiev-Yarde victor challenging. Both Beterbiev and Yarde are supported by Top Rank, and both are promoted by Queensberry. Neither organization does much business with Hearn's Matchroom, and the leaders of both have frequently made fun of Hearn. Bob Arum, the founder of Top Rank, is infamous for saying last year that he would not permit Beterbiev to compete on a Hearn-promoted card. Smith, 32, a former super middleweight champion, has won two straight fights at 175 pounds since losing by wide margin to Alvarez in a 168-pound title unification match in 2020.

Chris Eubank Jr's team are considering appealing the defeat against Liam Smith in their recent fight, citing Smith's alleged use of an illegal elbow strike during the bout. The fight, which took place on December 19th, 2020, was a highly-anticipated matchup between two of the top junior middleweight fighters in the world. However, the bout ended in controversy, with Eubank Jr's team alleging that Smith used an illegal elbow strike during the fourth round of the fight. According to Eubank Jr's team, the elbow strike caused his guard to be broken, leading to the eventual strikes that ended the fight. It is important to note that this is not the first time that Smith has been accused of using illegal strikes in the ring. In his previous fight, he was penalized for using an illegal punch on his opponent, which resulted in a point deduction. This has led some to question whether Smith has a tendency to bend the rules in the ring. Eubank Jr has yet to make a formal statement regarding his decision, but has been vocal on social media about his disappointment with the outcome of the fight. He has also stated that he believes the elbow strike was illegal and that it played a significant role in the outcome of the bout. Many fans and experts in the boxing community have also voiced their opinions on the matter, with some calling for a rematch between the two fighters and others arguing that the fight should be overturned due to the alleged illegal strike. It is important to note that any decision to appeal the defeat or activate a rematch clause will have to be made by Eubank Jr and his team in consultation with the relevant authorities and governing bodies. This includes the British Boxing Board of Control and the World Boxing Organization, which sanctioned the fight. In any case, the controversy surrounding the alleged illegal strike has certainly added a new dimension to the Eubank Jr vs. Smith fight and has raised important questions about the use of illegal strikes in the sport of boxing. The fans and experts in the boxing community will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. The alleged use of an illegal strike is a serious matter, and if proven to be true, could result in a disqualification or a change in the outcome of the fight. The possibility of an appeal is also a significant development in the aftermath of the bout, as it could potentially lead to a rematch between the two fighters. Eubank Jr's team has yet to formally announce their decision on whether to appeal the defeat, but it is clear that they are taking the allegations of an illegal elbow strike very seriously. The outcome of the fight has also caused heated debate and discussion among fans and experts in the boxing community. The rematch clause is yet to be activated but the team of Eubank Jr is thinking about it as an option. Overall, the alleged use of an illegal elbow strike in the Eubank Jr vs. Smith fight has added a new layer of controversy to an already highly-contentious bout. With Eubank Jr and his team considering their options, including the possibility of an appeal, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved.

Derek Chisora looks set to take on Francis Ngannou in a highly-anticipated matchup that has been added to the Misfits x DAZN 005 card. The card, which was originally scheduled for February 25th, has been delayed to March 5th to accommodate this blockbuster fight. The news of this matchup was announced by the manager of Misfits Boxing, Mams Taylor. He revealed that the delay of the card was due to the team's efforts to secure a big fight for the card, and fans have been speculating that it would be a clash between Chisora and Ngannou. Ngannou, who recently became a free agent after leaving the UFC, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his next move. Some fans believed he would join the Professional Fighters League (PFL), while others thought he would join Jake Paul's super fight division. But it seems that Ngannou has decided to jump on the next Misfits card, much to the excitement of fans. Chisora, who has a record of 33 wins and 13 losses, is a seasoned veteran of the sport and will be a formidable opponent for Ngannou. The Cameroonian-French fighter, who has a record of 17 wins and 3 losses, is known for his powerful punches and has been dubbed "The Predator" for his ability to knock out opponents in the first round. This matchup promises to be an exciting and intense fight, and fans are eagerly awaiting the March 5th showdown between these two heavyweights. The Misfits x DAZN 005 card is shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, and fans will not want to miss this incredible matchup between Chisora and Ngannou. The addition of this fight to the Misfits x DAZN 005 card is a major coup for Mams Taylor and his team at Misfits Boxing. It is a clear indication of the company's growing influence in the sport and its ability to attract top-level talent. The future looks bright for Misfits Boxing, and fans can expect many more exciting and high-profile fights in the years to come.

The CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, is encouraging Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Ryan Garcia to generate significant pay-per-view revenue. To make the Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) fight happen, De La Hoya, who represents Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs), teamed together with Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, and DAZN. “We’re all working together to blow this one out of the water,” De La Hoya said on The MMA Hour. “We want to make sure that this event here, because it’s such a special fight, we want to make sure that this fight does 2, 2.5, 3 million homes. This is that type of event. Realistically, [it does] close to 2.5." The intended date is April 15, most likely at a location in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, Davis defeated the unbeaten Hector Luis Garcia in the ring. Garcia was willing to accept an interim bout, but he has changed his mind and wants to face Davis right away. De La Hoya is in possession of a contract and anticipates that it will be signed. “It’s real,” De La Hoya said. “I can assure you it’s going to happen April 15. A hundred percent. It’s a matter of just crossing the ts, dotting the is. We have the contract in our hands. It’s a very complex, very complicated contract, these big fights take a big deal of patience and negotiations. “But it’s actually been a pleasure to work with the other side, with PBC. Making this fight, they understand that this is the biggest fight in boxing to make. This is a fight where you have two undefeated fighters, you have two fighters who are in their prime. You have two fighters who are the best at what they do, so yeah, this is the biggest fight that boxing can have. So I’m excited about it. “You have DAZN, you have Showtime. You know Showtime always does a great job in putting these types of events together. But when you’re collaborating with a DAZN in this instance, you have to share territories, the split of revenues, it’s very complex, but we were able to put it together.”