Khamzat Chimaev might be moving up to the middleweight division for his next fight. The current number three ranked contender in the UFC Welterweight rankings has demonstrated his ability to fight in multiple weight classes. However, in his last bout, he was too heavy, missing weight by 7.5 pounds for his scheduled match against Nate Diaz. Despite this, Chimaev dominated Kevin Holland and secured a win via a d’arce choke submission in just over two minutes. He now thinks that a high-stakes middleweight fight against the former champion of the division is on the horizon. “I think I will fight Robert Whittaker,” Chimaev told Red Corner MMA. “He’s got no opponent. Paulo Costa ran away after talking that much about me and Robert. So, I will fight Whittaker. I want this fight although I like him as a human being. He is a solid guy, doesn’t talk trash, doesn’t cross any lines. “We are going to have fun at the press conference and fight each other,” he concluded. Whittaker was scheduled to face Paulo Costa this weekend (Saturday, February 11, 2023) at UFC 284. However, things went sour when Costa's contract negotiations caused the fight to end. Chimaev has already had two fights at middleweight in the Octagon, easily defeating John Phillips and knocking out Gerald Meerschaert in just 16 seconds. If he were to fight Robert Whittaker, it would be his biggest challenge yet, regardless of the weight class. Although Chimaev has faced top middleweight contender Jack Hermansson in grappling, he has never faced a top contender in MMA. Despite this, with the upcoming welterweight title trilogy between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman set to take place at UFC 286 on March 18th, Chimaev still sees himself as a potential challenger for that title. “Whoever takes it will face me,” Chimaev said of Edwards versus Usman 3. “I think it’s going to be another close fight. Let’s see if Leon will be able to take Kamaru out once again. To be honest, I expected Usman to retire after getting knocked out like that.”

Islam Makhachev's criticism of the organization's promotion of UFC 284 is unjustified, according to UFC President Dana White. This Saturday's UFC 284 main event will pit Makhachev against UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. Despite being just days away from what will likely be his biggest fight of his career, Makhachev is dissatisfied with the way UFC 284 has been promoted. He believes that he and Volkanovski should have been allowed to go on a global media tour, among other promotional activities, in the run-up to fight night. This weekend, UFC 284 has the potential to break Conor McGregor's pay-per-view record. When White learned of Makhachev's remarks, he responded against the UFC lightweight champion. During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White addressed Makhachev's criticisms of UFC 284 marketing. Yeah, that’s not true,” White replied. “First of all, I’ve talked to Islam. First of all, who interviewed him? Who translated for him? I mean, the guy speaks Russian. Taken out of context. “First of all, he lives in Dagestan. What does he know about what’s going on for the promotion of the fight? He doesn’t know anything,” White continued on Makhachev. "And this thing is trending right now to be the biggest pay-per-view event in Australia, which, it’s like six percent behind the Conor McGregor [vs. Dustin] Poirier 3 fight. It’s probably going to break the record. So to say that the fight hasn’t been [promoted], that’s just ridiculous. That’s what you call some internet BS.” By winning this weekend, Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov's top protege, could take over the #1 slot in the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings. Despite Makhachev's reservations, his fight with Volkanovski will undoubtedly be one of the biggest in 2023.

Ryan Bader, former UFC light heavyweight champion and current Bellator heavyweight champion, recently expressed his displeasure with the disclosed pay for Bellator 290. At Bellator 290 over the weekend, "Darth" came back against Fedor Emelianenko. The fight was a replay of their previous encounter in the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix final. During that contest from January 2019, Bader prevailed through a first-round knockout. The outcome was identical more than four years later, with the Russian losing by first-round knockout once more. Emelianenko quit after the loss, ending with one of the finest MMA careers in the 20th century. Fans were perplexed when payments were announced because of that success which has sparked a heated debate among fans and industry insiders alike. The issue of fighter pay has been a long-standing one in MMA, with many fighters struggling to make ends meet despite the rapidly growing popularity of the sport. This is due in part to the limited revenue streams available to fighters, with the majority of their income coming from their fight purses. Given that the two were fighting for the heavyweight championship, the numbers seemed a bit low. Fortunately, fans don't have to worry about Ryan Bader's salary. The Bellator heavyweight champion with Ariel Helwani recently appeared on The MMA Hour, where they talked about his income. He stated clearly that he received a significant amount of money than was disclosed here anyway. “No, I made significantly more,” Bader said on The MMA Hour. “You get that a lot. They’ll release that and people are like, ‘Fedor only made $100,000 for this fight?’ No. I wouldn’t be fighting if I was making that. “This is a job for me and I’m making the kind of money where it’s hard to walk away from — to walk in a cage at our level, and how good we are, and leave that money on the table. The bigger players, in there, the champions, that kind of stuff, it’s disclosed pay, but Bellator treats us very, very well and I know they treat Fedor even better.” Bader feels certain that switching to Bellator when he did because he is now much more stable financially. Bader witnessed two very different perspectives of the fighter pay debate between the UFC and Bellator. “Oh yeah, like eight, nine times more [than the UFC paid me],” Bader explained. “Look, we know they put out those numbers, and it’s the same with the UFC, but Bellator takes care of us. I’ve never been happier. “I love the vibe over there. The people there, I’ve gotten to know them since 2017 and I have nothing but great things to say about them since and I never regretted it one time coming over.”

Jon Jones, one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, recently signed a new contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship which includes 8-fights and has made him highest paid athlete of the promotion. He has also announced his return to the sport after a long layoff of 3 years. In the main event of UFC 285 on March 4 in Las Vegas, Jones will make his heavyweight comeback when he challenges Ciryl Gane for the vacated heavyweight championship. Jones has been with the promotion since 2008 and has established himself as one of the best light heavyweight fighters of all time, with a record of 26 wins and only 1 loss. The 33-year-old fighter has been preparing for his return to the octagon with a renewed focus on his physique. He has been working tirelessly in the gym, focusing on building strength, power, and endurance. Fans and analysts are excited to see how Jones' improved physique will translate into the octagon. During a Monday Twitter Spaces with Kanpai Pandas, Bones claimed that the contract he already had had the same number of fights; nevertheless, when questioned about whether White was offering him extra, Jones vehemently agreed. “Oh yes, he sure did,” Jones said. “I had eight fights left on my contract; I just wasn’t happy with my percentages. We just bumped up the pay and pretty much picked up where we left off with my commitment to the UFC. Hopefully, I can get through all eight fights, that’s a lot of fighting at 35 years old. We’ll see.” Jones has his sights set on reclaiming the heavyweight championship and has made it clear that he wants to fight Stipe Miocic for the title after UFC 285. Miocic is the former heavyweight champion and is considered one of the best heavyweights of all time. A match between Jones and Miocic would be a dream fight for fans and would determine who is the greatest mixed martial artist of their generation. “I’ve got my sights on Stipe Miocic,” Jones said. “I think it just means the most. There’s a lot of guys out there, but for me, personally, for my legacy, to defeat the greatest heavyweight of all time, it just means the most to me. Jones relinquished the light heavyweight championship upon beating Dominick Reyes in his most recent battle at UFC 247 in February 2020 to move up to the heavyweight division to take on Francis Ngannou, who was the champion at the time. Ngannou has since left the business as champion because the fight was never scheduled. The 35-year-old has grown in terms of size and muscle ever since. Jones responded when queried how challenging that journey had been. “One of the hardest things was not being able to lose my shape while still trying to pack on 40 pounds,” Jones explained. “I think when the fans see me, they’ll be surprised that I still look a lot like I used to — [although] my shoulders are a lot more broader, I freaking gained a whole bunch of ass, unfortunately — but just trying to keep that shape and doing it the right way.”

Adrien Broner has expressed support for Gervonta Davis in his upcoming fight against Ryan Garcia. Broner stated that he is favoring Davis a lot to win the match. In a recent interview, Broner stated that he is favoring Davis in the upcoming bout. He said that he has a lot of respect for both fighters, but he believes that Davis has the edge in this match-up. Broner cited Davis' impressive track record and knockout power as the reasons for his support. Gervonta Davis, also known as "Tank", is a highly-regarded lightweight champion. He has a professional record of 24 wins, 23 of which have come via knockout. Davis has shown himself to be a powerful and relentless fighter, and has been compared to some of the greatest boxers of all time. Ryan Garcia, on the other hand, is a rising star in the sport. He has a perfect record of 20 wins, and has quickly become one of the most talked-about boxers in the world. Garcia is known for his speed, agility, and quick hands, and has already defeated several notable opponents in his young career. The match between Davis and Garcia has been highly anticipated by boxing fans around the world. Both fighters are known for their exciting and explosive styles, and it is sure to be an action-packed battle. The winner of this fight will likely be considered one of the top boxers in the world, and will set themselves up for even bigger and more lucrative fights in the future. Broner's support for Davis in this fight is not surprising, given his own background as a successful professional boxer. He knows what it takes to succeed in the sport, and he believes that Davis has the skills and attributes to come out on top in this match. In conclusion, the upcoming bout between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia promises to be one of the most exciting fights of the year. With both fighters at the top of their game, and Broner favoring Davis, it is sure to be a must-see event for boxing fans everywhere.

Francis Ngannou has chosen Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Tyson Fury as his three probable opponents for his boxing debut. Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion, is now a free agent because he declined to sign a new contract when his one with the organisation ran out in December. The Cameroonian turned down a guaranteed $8 million to defend his UFC title against Jon Jones and is now hoping to earn more money by competing against the best heavyweights in boxing. 'The Predator' hinted to his next bout by posting a photo of Wilder, Fury, and Joshua with the word "decisions" on Monday evening. Eddie Hearn, the owner of Matchroom Boxing and Joshua's promoter, recently began discussions with Ngannou about a prospective matchup with the British fighter. Ngannou spoke to Hearn on his own behalf because he doesn't have a manager. "I reached out to Francis just to say, 'look, I'm getting all these approaches from people claiming to represent Francis Ngannou, just tell me who I need to speak to', and the answer was, 'me'. Obviously, the Tyson Fury fight is there for him as well. I think he should fight Anthony Joshua, these guys have a mountain to climb in terms of the challenge of fighting an elite boxer." Fury previously outlined his conditions for a fight with Ngannou that would take place in a cage with MMA gloves and follow Queensbury rules, even joking that boxing legend Mike Tyson may act as a special guest referee. By uploading the interview clip on Twitter and concluding with the words "What else? - Baddest Man on the Planet," Ngannou acknowledged accepting the conditions Fury had set. Ngannou has never fought in boxing but began training in the sport before being persuaded by one of his old teachers to switch to MMA. Despite having no prior boxing experience, the Cameroonian has been given the go-ahead to compete against elite heavyweights like Fury and Joshua by Curtis Blaydes.

Jermaine Franklin has undoubtedly been waiting a long time. The Saginaw, Michigan native has been fighting professionally for about eight years and has competed in 22 fights, but he has been patiently waiting for a huge opportunity. Before traveling across the Atlantic to Wembley Stadium for a long-awaited shot at the big time—in this case, a match with recently unsuccessful title challenger Dillian Whyte—he spent his first seven years and 20 fights working the sport's less-noticed back rooms in towns like Youngstown, Tacoma, and Flint. It didn't work out for Franklin in the short term because of a majority decision loss that he considers to be a robbery, but now that the 29-year-old has hooked an even bigger fish in the form of the reigning two-time champion Anthony Joshua, it may offer a significant long-term dividend. “I’m ready to show the world why it’s time for me to take my place at the top of the heavyweight division,” Franklin said. “Joshua had his time. It’s my time to shock the world. This fight isn’t going to the judge’s card. I will have win No. 22 come April 1. That ain’t no April Fool’s joke.” Franklin won 17 fights before competing in Atlantic City in April 2019. He won the 10-round match against Rydell Booker. Later he won another fight against Jerry Forrest. After that, he had trouble with his management and money and had to work a full-time job. He returned to fighting in May 2022 and won against Rodney Moore. He then went to London in November to fight Whyte, which was not exactly what he had planned, but it showed his skills. Franklin's next opponent, Joshua, is taller and has a longer reach. Joshua also has a better record with 22 wins out of 24 fights and is ranked higher by the WBC. However, Joshua has lost 3 out of his last 5 fights and Franklin has won against opponents who have lost only a few times. And if he defeats Joshua, who has been pegged as anything between an 8-to-1 and a 12-to-1 favorite, he won't be difficult to track down. Franklin signed a contract with Salita Promotions before the end of 2018 and anticipates that the partnership will soon produce household name benefits. “In my mind I am the best heavyweight in the world,” he said. “I may be 6-foot-2, but my heart and skills are 8 feet tall. Not too many fighters are going to measure up to that. Boxing is about balance. I am a balanced athlete who's also strong, fast, athletic, and getting fitter and better with each fight. “I expect (recognition) to happen very shortly. Salita Promotions is doing everything to make that happen. That is why I'm happy that I signed with Dmitriy and his company. They have made me feel like my dream will come true and let the world know who I am.”

Dana White has revealed that he does’t believe Fedor Emelianenko deserves to be ranked amongst the best in the sport. The illustrious Emelianenko fought in his final fight on Saturday in the main event of Bellator 290, when he was defeated by heavyweight champion Ryan Bader via first-round knockout. Emelianenko was then honoured in a ceremony inside the cage among other sports greats like Randy Couture, Matt Hughes, Quinton Jackson, Frank Shamrock, and Mark Coleman. “Listen, what is the guy, like, 46?” White said at the UFC Vegas 68 post-fight press conference. “He shouldn’t be fighting. But he’s a grown-ass man who can do whatever he wants to do, but yeah, he probably should have hung it up a few years ago.” Emelianenko is renowned for being the finest fighter who has never fought inside the octagon in addition to being one of the best fighters of all time. Over the years, there were reportedly multiple stop-and-start conversations between UFC and Emelianenko's camp, but no deal was ever reached. Prior to returning to the UFC in 2008, Couture attempted to set up a fight between Emelianenko and himself outside of the organisation due to a contract disagreement. White stated that despite their turbulent past, the inability to reach an understanding with Emelianenko was never personal. “No, I don’t dislike Fedor or anything like that,” White said. “But no, it didn’t happen. We gave it a shot. You can’t say we didn’t try. We gave it a shot and it is what it is.” When asked if he believed that Emelianenko damaged his legacy by competing after his peak, White initially tried to be polite before making it quite plain that, in his opinion, Emelianenko's record isn't all that it's piled up to be. “I don’t want to s*** on the guy,” White said. “He’s retiring tonight and all that stuff, but you guys know the deal with interviews with me, I never thought Fedor was that — I mean he got knocked out by middleweight Dan Henderson. I was never one of the guys that thought he was one of the greatest of all-time.””

Anthony Pettis, the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, is set to face legendary former boxing champion, Roy Jones Jr., in the main event of Gamebred Boxing 4 on April 1, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The event will be streamed on pay-per-view on UFC Fight Pass. The news of the event and the full fight card was announced by UFC star Jorge Masvidal, the owner of Gamebred Boxing. Pettis, who has no history in professional boxing, will take on Jones Jr., who has a professional boxing record of 66-9, and held championships in four different weight classes. Jones Jr. was last seen in a boxing ring in November 2020 when he fought Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout, which resulted in a draw. In the co-main event, former UFC and WEC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo, will take on former opponent, Jeremy Stephens. The rest of the card is composed of several other former UFC fighters, including Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza, Paul Daley vs. Anthony Taylor, and Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany. The highly anticipated Gamebred Boxing 4 will feature a lineup of top fighters, and the main event between Anthony Pettis and Roy Jones Jr. promises to be an electrifying showdown. It will be exciting to see how the former UFC champion will perform in the boxing ring, as he takes on one of the greatest boxers of all time. The fans of combat sports are in for a treat on April 1, as Gamebred Boxing 4 promises to be an action-packed event, full of excitement and drama. The card is full of talented fighters, and the matchups are sure to deliver some unforgettable moments. Get ready for an exciting night of fights, as Gamebred Boxing 4 takes center stage.

Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion, has recently sparked excitement amongst combat sports fans after agreeing to Tyson Fury's request for a mixed-rules bout. Ngannou, affectionately known as ‘The Predator’, left the UFC last month due to a failed agreement on a new contract and was stripped of his heavyweight title. Although Ngannou stated that a return to the UFC is not out of the question in the future, he is currently focusing on a boxing match in July. Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, has been inactive since his knockout win over Derek Chisora in December and is currently in talks for a title unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk later this year. However, in the event the fight doesn't happen, Fury had another idea up his sleeve. He recently offered Ngannou a mixed-rules bout, where the two could fight in a cage with four-ounce gloves, under Queensberry rules. Fury even went as far as suggesting the possibility of having Mike Tyson as a special guest referee. Ngannou was quick to show his agreement to Fury's requests, taking to Twitter and checking off all of Fury's conditions while asking if there were any more requests. He signed off the tweet as the “baddest man on the planet”, leaving fans eagerly anticipating a potential showdown between the two heavyweight champions. Despite the excitement surrounding a potential bout with Fury, Ngannou has other options on the table. Both Misfits Boxing and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing have revealed they are currently in talks with the former UFC heavyweight champion. It remains to be seen who Ngannou will face next, but one thing is certain, fans of both boxing and mixed martial arts are eagerly awaiting his next move.

Negotiations for the highly anticipated Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight on April 15th have hit a roadblock over the rematch clause. The fight is in jeopardy unless one of the sides gives in. The issue is with the one-sided rematch clause, which can only be activated by Tank Davis if he loses to Ryan Garcia. PBC and Showtime, Tank's current lead promoters, want to continue to be the lead promoter for the rematch, even if Tank loses. However, Ryan's promoters at Golden Boy and network, DAZN, feel it's only fair for them to be the lead promoter in the event of a rematch, given that Ryan would be the winner. According to ESPN's Mike Coppinger, the disagreement over the rematch clause has yet to be resolved, causing the deal for the April 15th fight to be unfinished. If Ryan wins and the rematch clause is activated, Golden Boy and DAZN want to be the lead promoter and PPV producer/distributor, while PBC and Showtime want to maintain the same promoter and network for a potential rematch. Many on social media are siding with Ryan and believe that if he beats Tank, then his promoters at Golden Boy and network, DAZN, should be in charge of the rematch. If Tank, PBC, and Showtime do not agree to what Ryan wants, he can walk away and be the A-side against anyone at 135 or 140. However, if Ryan just wants to cash out, then he should consider giving in to Tank's side and their desires for the lead promoter and network for the rematch. In reality, Tank is likely to win the April 15th fight, making the issue of the rematch clause inconsequential. Ryan has not yet proven himself against top-level competition, making this fight essentially a cash-out for him. Therefore, he should consider giving in to what Tank's side wants. Tank has a trial on February 16th in Baltimore, and it is unclear whether he will be taken to jail immediately if found guilty or if the verdict can be delayed. Overall, the issue of the rematch clause is an easily solvable one, but it depends on how badly the two sides want this fight. If Ryan Garcia wants to make big money, he should give in to what Tank Davis' side wants.

After a two-year hiatus due to a serious leg injury, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is ready to make his return to the octagon. With four surgeries behind him and a projected return in June, the 38-year-old fighter is determined to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his - the UFC middleweight belt. "I’m not coming back to be just a B-rated fighter or a gatekeeper,” said Weidman in a recent interview. “I’m going to try to get back what is mine and get that belt.” The former champion has his sights set on a top 10 or top 15 fighter for his comeback fight, with the ultimate goal of fighting for the title once again. Despite a 2-5 record since losing the belt to Luke Rockhold in 2015, Weidman is confident in his ability to make a title run. He believes his skills match up well with the current top fighters and is ready to take on the challenge. "I'm trying to shock the world again," declared Weidman. "There's not going to be too many people thinking I can come back, and that excites me. It puts a chip on my shoulder." Get ready for the comeback of one of MMA's biggest stars, as Chris Weidman sets out to make a stunning return and reclaim his place as UFC middleweight champion.