Devin Haney's fans seemed preoccupied with his outward look, despite the fact that he stood tall and flexed for his Australian supporters. The 24-year-old Haney appeared to be in bad condition as he stepped onto the scale before his second matchup with George Kambosos Jr. Many onlookers believed Haney's time in the lightweight division was almost over after he reduced his constantly expanding body to the 135-pound limit. Naturally, Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) knew for sure that he would keep his lightweight status for at least one fight against Vasiliy Lomachenko before moving on to defeat Kambosos. However, Bill Haney, Devin's father, trainer, and manager, revealed that his son fully plans on defending his throne for at least one full year, even though the undisputed kingpin appears to be on the way out to another division. Shakur Stevenson's reaction to hearing that Haney had unpacked his lightweight luggage and was settling in was nothing short of hilarious. Due to the dominance of his rivals, the former Olympic silver winner now holds the world titles at 126 and 130 pounds. But Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs), who had been struggling to stay in the super featherweight class, finally decided to move five pounds up. On April 8 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson will compete in his first match in his new weight division against Shuichiro Yoshino. Stevenson is focused on defeating the unbeaten Japanese fighter, but he's also motivated by the arrogant words of team Haney. Initially, he thought Haney would leave the lightweight division after his fight against Lomachenko, but now he believes Haney will stay longer. Stevenson is eager to take Haney's championship title if he stays. “The way Devin talking, Devin talking like he’s gonna stay at 135,” said Stevenson to BoxingScene.com. “His father said there will not be another champion in 2023 so I’m here to prove him wrong.”

Woodley has had a difficult time since his reign as UFC welterweight champion from 2016 to early 2019. "The Chosen One" has now lost six consecutive fights, beginning with his title loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 and most recently failed in back-to-back boxing contests against Jake Paul in 2021. Woodley, 40, is presently a judge on the PFL's Challenger Series, determining which champions advance to the main season. Meanwhile, he continues to investigate the various choices available in the combat sports sector. “I’m a free agent and I’m enjoying my liberation. I’m enjoying doing what I want to do,” Woodley told BJPenn.com. “Fighting when I want to fight and fighting for the amount of money I want. I’m the only guy in this sport that can do that.” “I know some guys are just recently free agents but with the magnitude of what I’m doing right now, nobody is doing. To be the trailblazer and the one and only and be the first fighter that can go and box, kickbox, Muay Thai, I can do Bellator, ONE, PFL, or Glory. I can do my own s*** and make top dollar. I’m very thankful, very blessed.” Dealing with PFL has also led to discussions of fighting for the former UFC champion. Woodley stated that he and PFL President Peter Murray would likely look into PPV event options before the Challenger Series ended. The promotion will begin its new PPV venture with two events outside of the usual season schedule in 2023. After leaving the UFC on a four-fight losing streak and believing he was not treated fairly as champion, Woodley believes a return to the UFC is not out of the question. “I have no door closed,” Woodley said. “I’m a businessman, I can fight in any business I want to. I can fight in any organization I want to. ONE, Bellator, Glory, PFL, UFC. I don’t get my feelings hurt in business.”

Dustin Poirier has announced his ambition to return to the octagon three months after his fight-of-the-night performance and has requested the UFC to book him a bout. When he stepped in against Michael Chandler at UFC 281 late last year, 'The Diamond' promised a fantastic performance and delivered. Despite things not going as smoothly as he had hoped, the back-and-forth brawl ended when the 34-year-old became the first man to ever submit the former Bellator fighter. In response to a fan who stated on social media that he was "patiently waiting" for a Dustin Poirier bout announcement, the lightweight called out the UFC as he appears to be ready to return to the cage. Although never having held undisputed gold in the promotion, Poirier has been a consistent challenger since moving from featherweight in April 2015. The veteran had certainly found a home in his new weight class after scoring three knockouts and a decision victory in his first four appearances at 155 pounds. Dustin Poirier, who is now rated #2 in the division, is in an unfortunate position and must either wait to compete or risk losing his ranking to a much lower-ranked opponent. With Charles Oliveira facing Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje against Rafael Fiziev, the promotion is running out of choices for Dustin Poirier.

Josh Taylor, the WBO super-lightweight champion, is set to defend his title against American boxer Teofimo Lopez after the WBO ordered a mandatory defence. This comes after Taylor suffered a torn plantar fascia tendon while preparing for a rematch with rival Jack Catterall. Although Taylor vacated three of his belts in an attempt to ensure the rematch with Catterall, he was forced to withdraw due to the injury. Despite rumours that Taylor was avoiding the rematch, he denied these claims and said he was determined to fight Catterall. He stated that the injury was a setback and he had to “go with the punches”. The WBO’s intervention has changed his plans, and he is now focused on defending his remaining title against Lopez. Lopez is a unified lightweight champion who moved up to 140lbs after losing the WBO, IBF and WBA belts to George Kambosos. He has won twice in his new division, stopping Pedro Campa and then edging past Sandor Martin on a split decision. The fight between Taylor and Lopez is expected to be a tough challenge for both fighters. Taylor expressed disappointment that the Catterall rematch couldn’t take place and revealed that the injury caused “horrendous pain”. He stated that he was gutted as he had given up a lot and sacrificed a lot to make the fight happen. Despite this setback, he remains determined to continue his career and defend his remaining title against Lopez. Taylor also dismissed claims that he was avoiding a rematch with Catterall, and called him and his team “moaning cry-babies, sore losers”. He acknowledged that the rivalry between them remains fierce, but stated that he is focused on the Lopez fight at the moment. He did, however, leave the door open for a future rematch with Catterall, saying that it could happen “further on down the line”. Overall, Josh Taylor remains determined to defend his title against Teofimo Lopez and continue his successful career in boxing. While the Catterall rematch may not be happening anytime soon, Taylor remains focused on the challenges ahead and is confident in his ability to succeed in the ring.

Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith has been given a world title shot opportunity against WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly after winning just one fight in the 160-lb division. On Wednesday, the WBO ordered 160-lb champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KOs) and #1 Liam Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) to begin negotiations, giving them 20 days until March 14th to put together a deal before a purse bid was ordered. For Smith, this title shot is a welcome opportunity, as he’s been trying to get another title shot for the last five years since losing to Jaime Munguia in a bid to capture the WBO 154-lb belt. However, he is currently looking forward to a rematch against Chris Eubank Jr in May or June, which makes his schedule a bit tricky. Eubank Jr has already activated his rematch clause in the contract for his recent fight against Smith last month on January 21st, effectively tying Smith’s hands. On the other hand, Janibek vs. Liam Smith would be an exciting fight for the fans. Janibek, unlike Eubank Jr, is not weight drained at 160, and he won’t make the same mistakes that Eubank Jr made in his fight against Smith, such as backing into a corner and letting Smith unload on him with everything but the kitchen sink. If Smith were to beat Janibek, he’d have to do it in the center of the ring, and he’d be facing an active fighter in the prime of his career. Eubank Jr, on the other hand, has thrown his career away by fighting rarely and only against domestic-level opposition since losing to George Groves in 2018. For that reason, it wasn’t unexpected that Eubank Jr was stopped in four rounds by Liam last January. However, if Smith beats Eubank Jr in the rematch, he’ll likely have a chance to fight Gennadiy Golovkin, Conor Benn, or Billy Joe Saunders. Those fights will pay better than a title shot against Janibek. Golovkin holds the WBA middleweight title, but he hasn’t said whether he’d be interested in facing Smith. We could hear something if Smith defeats Eubank Jr a second time. The World Boxing Organization will work down their top 10 ranking until they find a contender willing to challenge Janibek. It is worth noting that Janibek has been avoided by the top guys at 160, starting with the former WBO champion Demetrius Andrade, who vacated rather than fight him. All in all, this WBO title fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Liam Smith has the potential to be an exciting fight. If Smith can come out victorious, it could lead to bigger and better fights in the future.

Conor Benn, the British boxer, has been cleared by the World Boxing Council (WBC) of any wrongdoing in relation to his positive drugs test for the banned substance Clomiphene. The positive test came ahead of his fight against Chris Eubank Jr. in October 2021. The WBC, in a statement, ruled that there was “no conclusive evidence that Mr Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene”. Benn had denied any wrongdoing from the outset and claimed that the banned substance was due to his diet in the lead-up to the fight. The WBC investigation found that Benn and his team had provided a detailed breakdown of his diet and supplements, which supported his explanation that the positive test was due to his excessive consumption of eggs. The organization noted that Benn’s consumption of eggs was highly elevated during the period relevant to the sample collection, which provided a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding. Despite the WBC’s clearance, Benn remains subject to an investigation by the UK Anti-Doping Agency and the British Board of Boxing Control. The WBC stated that it would continue to work with Benn to avoid any future adverse analytical findings, and that he would be subjected to regular drug testing. The WBC also plans to correspond with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding its concerns about Clomiphene as a food contaminant and the potential for false positives caused by the ingestion of contaminated food. The clearance by the WBC is a boost for Benn, who is the son of former world champion Nigel Benn. He has a record of 19 wins and 0 losses, and has been rising up the ranks of the welterweight division. The positive drugs test had cast a shadow over his career, but the WBC’s ruling has provided some relief for the young boxer. In conclusion, the WBC’s clearance of Conor Benn is a positive development for the British boxer, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The WBC’s statement provides a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding, and the organization has committed to working with Benn to avoid any future issues. With this clearance, Benn can now focus on his career and look to build on his unbeaten record.

Jake Paul, the YouTube star turned boxer, is set to receive an official ranking from the WBC in the cruiserweight division if he beats Tommy Fury in their upcoming fight on February 26. The WBC has announced that Paul will be ranked among the world’s best cruiserweights if he emerges victorious from his first fight against a professional boxer. Boxing’s four sanctioning bodies have a top 15 list for every weight class, which determines eligibility to challenge for world titles. However, the WBC extends their list to a full top 40, leaving some ambiguity around Paul’s eligibility for a world title shot in his next fight. Conveniently, WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu is set to defend his belt against Badou Jack on the undercard of Paul vs Fury. If Paul is ranked high enough after his fight against Fury, he could even look to fight the winner of Makabu vs Jack for the world title. The WBC’s statement regarding Paul read, “Jake has dedication and respect to the sport. The WBC will not tolerate discrimination against anyone, he deserves the opportunities that any other boxer has. He demonstrated punching power and improved skills as well as a solid chin.” In addition to Paul, Tommy Fury will also earn a WBC ranking if he beats Paul, meaning both fighters could be in line for shock world title contention. The WBC will analyze the result and place the winner anywhere from the top 40-15, depending on the nature of the performance. If either fighter impresses enough, they could receive a top 15 rating and be eligible for a world title fight. While some may see this as an ambitious move by Paul, who has only fought against non-professional boxers thus far, he has made it clear that he wants to win a boxing world title. The upcoming fight against Tommy Fury will be his first test against a professional boxer, and it will be interesting to see how he performs and where he lands in the WBC’s rankings. Regardless of the outcome, this move will undoubtedly generate buzz in the boxing world and add another layer to the already fascinating career of Jake Paul.

The UFC has announced another exciting matchup, with heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich set to go head-to-head in a fight that is sure to have fans on the edge of their seats. The two heavyweights will headline a UFC Fight Night event on April 22. The fight has its importance as it might crown a new no.1 contender in the heavyweight division. The UFC rankings now list Pavlovich and Blaydes at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, which increases the significance of their five-round fight in April. Blaydes, who hails from the United States, has an impressive overall record of 17 wins and 3 losses and has been a dominant force in the division for several years. He has been vying for the heavyweight belt for some time nowadays because he steadily has climbed upward in the rankings. Tom Aspinall, a British heavyweight who had just suffered a severe knee injury, was the opponent in his most recent victory. Before that, Blaydes defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Chris Daukaus in quick succession. Russian-born Pavlovich has an overall record of 17 wins and 1 defeat. In the past few years, he has been dominating the division in the UFC. The Russian fighter has won five straight matches by first-round knockout. Pavlovich hasn't lost in five outings to the octagon following dropping his UFC introduction against Alistair Overeem in late 2018. Most recently, in December, the 30-year-old defeated Tai Tuivasa in just 54 seconds. Fans of the UFC will undoubtedly be excited to see how this matchup plays out. With both fighters known for their aggressive style and ability to finish fights, this fight is sure to be action-packed from start to finish. The UFC has not yet announced the location for this event, but fans can expect it to be a high-energy affair with plenty of excitement both inside and outside the octagon. As we get closer to April 22, expect more details to emerge about this highly anticipated matchup, including predictions from analysts and fighters, and pre-fight press conferences. In the meantime, fans can look forward to the rest of the UFC's packed schedule, with events happening around the world in the coming weeks and months. As always, the UFC continues to bring the best fighters in the world to compete on the biggest stage in MMA.

Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Brent Primus Added to Grand Prix after Sidney Outlaw Tests Positive for Three Banned Substances Bellator MMA has been rocked by yet another doping scandal, as Sidney Outlaw, a fighter in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, has tested positive for not one, not two, but three banned substances. The announcement was made just days before Outlaw's scheduled bout against Mansour Barnaoui at Bellator 296 on May 12th, 2023, in Paris. Eight of the promotion's lightweights will compete inside the cage, Scott Coker recently revealed this year. The promotion has disclosed some of the early bouts. Usman Nurmagomedov's first title defense against Benson Henderson and A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull are two of the opening bouts. The Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix is a highly anticipated tournament featuring some of the best fighters in the world. With 8 fighters competing, the winner will be crowned the Bellator Lightweight Champion and earn a hefty prize of one million dollars. Mike Mazzulli, president of the Associate of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, who oversees Bellator's out-of-competition drug testing, reported on Tuesday that Outlaw provided a urine specimen during the Bellator 290 fight week in California that tested positive for ostarine, cardarine, and anastrozole. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which establishes the criteria used by the ABC, forbids the use of all three drugs. Outlaw's failed drug test has resulted in his removal from the Grand Prix and a significant blow to his career. However, the news is not all bad for fans of the tournament. Brent Primus, a former Bellator Lightweight Champion, has been added to the line-up to take Outlaw's place. Given that he has no previous record of testing positive for a drug test, Outlaw has not released any public comments regarding his examination nor expulsion from the tournament. Primus, who hails from Eugene, Oregon, has a professional record of 11 wins and 3 losses. He won the Bellator Lightweight Championship in 2017 but lost it to Michael Chandler in his first defense. Since then, Primus has had mixed results, but he has shown flashes of brilliance in his fights. Fans of Primus will undoubtedly be excited to see him compete in the Grand Prix. He has proven himself to be a skilled fighter with knockout power and an unrelenting grappling game. With his addition to the line-up, the tournament has become even more competitive and intriguing. The news of Outlaw's failed drug test is disappointing, but it also highlights the importance of clean sport in MMA. Fighters who use performance-enhancing drugs not only put their opponents at risk but also tarnish the integrity of the sport. Fortunately, Bellator has a strict drug-testing policy and is committed to keeping the sport clean. They regularly test their fighters and have a zero-tolerance policy for performance-enhancing drugs. As fans eagerly await the next round of the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, the addition of Brent Primus is sure to add to the excitement. With his skills and experience, he is a formidable opponent and a worthy replacement for Sidney Outlaw.

Jake Paul thinks Tommy Fury's dad is having a negative impact on him. Jake Paul, a former YouTube star who is now a professional boxer, thinks Tommy Fury's father, John Fury, is to blame for making the boxer Tommy Fury a worse fighter. Paul will take on Fury on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. Fury is Tyson Fury's younger sibling and the WBC heavyweight champion. With an 8-0 record and 4 knockouts, Fury is unbeaten, but most observers think his opposition has been very weak. Paul, who is also undefeated with a 6-0 record and 4 knockouts, has yet to fight a real boxer; instead, the majority of his victories have come over MMA champions. Paul's most recent triumph was a close call over MMA legend Anderson Silva. Since April of last year, Fury has not participated in a recognized matchup. John Fury assures that Paul will suffer a lopsided thrashing this weekend. Paul, 26, believes Fury could have improved as a boxer if he had trained under a different trainer. "I’m getting 33 percent better each year, because I’ve only been boxing three years. I am increasing exponentially, whereas Tommy's done it for 12 years, so how much can his skill level really improve? He’s really stuck in his ways of how he is as a boxer, especially with his dad training him," Paul told The Sun. "He’s worked with other trainers who are way better, but his dad is actually hindering him and making him a worse fighter." On two previous occasions, the two rivals were supposed to fight. Due to a training camp injury, Fury pulled from their fight in 2021. After Fury was unable to obtain entry into the United States in 2022, the fight was again postponed.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was first established in 1993 as a tournament-style mixed martial arts (MMA) competition that aimed to answer the question of which martial arts style was the most effective. The first ever UFC event was held on November 12, 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, and it was a groundbreaking moment in the history of combat sports. The event was called UFC 1: The Beginning, and it was the brainchild of advertising executive Art Davie and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Rorion Gracie. The two men had the idea to bring together fighters from various martial arts disciplines, including boxing, karate, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to compete in a single elimination tournament to determine the best fighter. The event was unique in that there were no weight classes, rounds, or time limits. The fighters were only prohibited from biting, eye-gouging, and groin strikes. The only way to win a fight was by knockout, submission, or the corner throwing in the towel. The first ever UFC match was between Royce Gracie, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and Art Jimmerson, a professional boxer. The two men came out to the Octagon, which was the new name given to the UFC fighting area, and the crowd was excited to see what would happen. Jimmerson came out wearing one boxing glove, which he quickly removed before the fight began. Gracie wasted no time taking the fight to the ground, and he quickly secured a mount position on top of Jimmerson. Gracie then took Jimmerson's back and applied a rear-naked choke, which forced Jimmerson to submit. The fight only lasted two minutes and 18 seconds, and it set the tone for the rest of the tournament. Gracie went on to win three more fights that night, including a victory over Ken Shamrock in the final, to become the first ever UFC champion. The first ever UFC event was a huge success, and it sparked a revolution in combat sports. The tournament format, combined with the no-holds-barred rules, created a level of excitement and unpredictability that had never been seen before in the world of martial arts. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a martial art, and it helped to popularize MMA around the world. Since that first event in 1993, the UFC has grown into a global phenomenon, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the world's best fighters compete in the Octagon. The sport has evolved, with new rules and weight classes, and it has become more mainstream, with many of the top fighters becoming household names. Despite the changes, the spirit of the first ever UFC match lives on, and it will always be remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of combat sports.

In the coming weeks, Billy Joe Saunders is expected to be prepared to start light training as he prepares for a ring comeback. The former middleweight and super-middleweight WBO world title hasn't competed since being defeated by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. In May 2021, the Mexican stopped Saunders after eight rounds; he also sustained numerous eye socket fractures. He has named a fellow former world champion as a possible ideal opponent for his comeback, though he is not seeking an easy touch in his first fight back. The former WBO super-welterweight champion Liam Smith most recently made headlines in Manchester last month when he defeated Chris Eubank Jr. at the city's AO Arena in just four rounds. And Saunders would be open to competing against the Liverpudlian. “If they said ‘do you want to face anyone’ I’d rather face Liam Smith first fight back,” Saunders told iFL TV. “Of course, he’s won. You gotta give him the credit. Forget about the biggest fight. Sometimes, it’s all right to just grab the money, but thank god I’m okay. I can feed my family.” Saunders earned a career-high payday against ‘Canelo’, a man who ‘Beefy’ was stopped by inside nine rounds back in September 2016, but an all-British tussle between the pair is well on the way to being finalized, it seems, with the seeds beginning to be sewn. “It’s about, for me, to get in the ring with somebody who’s obviously going to bring something to the table where I question myself and think I’ve got to be on my game,” Saunders added. “Liam Smith, I got to be on my game. Eubank, looking at that, have I got to be on my game? No. You haven’t got to be on your game.”