The UFC has just made a major announcement that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will serve as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 31," before they face each other in a highly anticipated fight. This will be a major event in the world of MMA, as two of the best lightweights in the sport prepare to square off. Ariel Helwani confirmed that the season will run between May and August, with Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler set to headline a Pay-Per-View in September. Conor McGregor, the former two-division champion, is widely considered to be one of the biggest stars in the history of the UFC. With a professional record of 22 wins and 4 losses, McGregor is known for his striking prowess and knockout power. In 2015, he became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously, when he defeated José Aldo for the featherweight championship and then Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title. McGregor is a polarizing figure in the sport, but there is no denying his impact on the UFC and the sport of MMA. Michael Chandler, a former three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion, is a highly decorated wrestler and a talented striker. With a professional record of 22 wins and 5 losses, Chandler has shown that he can finish fights both by knockout and submission. Chandler's signing with the UFC was met with much excitement from fans, as he is widely considered to be one of the best lightweights outside of the organization. Chandler has been pushing for the fight versus McGregor for a very long time and was found calling him out in a post-fight interview. The news that McGregor and Chandler will serve as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 31" is a major coup for the UFC. The show will provide a platform for up-and-coming fighters to showcase their skills and earn a shot at the UFC. The young athletes will get an opportunity to learn from the one of bests in the UFC lightweight division. In addition to coaching on "The Ultimate Fighter 31," McGregor and Chandler will face each other in a highly anticipated bout. The fight between the two top lightweights promises to be an exciting and entertaining affair, as McGregor and Chandler each look to make a statement in the Octagon. Chandler, who is known for his knockout power and finishing ability, will have the opportunity to make a statement in his UFC debut against one of the biggest stars in the sport. Meanwhile, McGregor will look to bounce back from his last loss and show the world that he is still one of the top fighters in the game. The anticipation for the upcoming season of TUF features McGregor and Chandler as coaches continue to build, with fans eagerly waiting for details on the exact date and venue of the highly anticipated bout. The show will give fans an inside look at the preparation and mindset of two of the best lightweights in the sport, while the bout promises to be an exciting and entertaining affair. Fans can expect a classic striker vs. wrestler matchup that will determine who is the top lightweight in the UFC.

Fedor Emelianenko is considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. The retired Russian fighter dominated the heavyweight division for over a decade, earning the nickname “The Last Emperor” for his impressive record and reign as champion. Throughout his career, Emelianenko won numerous titles and accolades and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the sport. In recent years, many fans have speculated about Emelianenko’s plans for after retirement. With the recent retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the biggest stars in the sport, many have wondered if Emelianenko will follow a similar path. It’s worth noting that many retired MMA fighters have chosen to remain involved in the sport after hanging up their gloves. This is often due to the deep passion and connection that these athletes have for the sport. Whether it’s through coaching, commentating, or working with promotions, there are many ways for retired fighters to stay involved in MMA. In the case of Khabib Nurmagomedov, he announced his retirement from MMA following his final fight in October 2020. However, he has since remained active in the sport, serving as a coach for his younger fighters. Despite his retirement from competition, Nurmagomedov continues to be a dominant force in the sport, and his influence can still be felt in the UFC and the wider MMA community. But last year, Nurmagomedov suddenly retired again as he couldn’t give proper time to his loved ones and had to travel for a long period. This time planned to leave MMA entirely. “This is Khabib’s decision,” Emelianenko continued. “That’s his choice. We spend so much time outside of our families because of the sport in [training] camps, sometimes you call it quits, and that’s it, especially when you have young kids and they’re waiting for you.” Emelianenko does not strongly feel that he will quit as Khabib Nurmagomedov did. Fedor disclosed his plans during the Bellator 290 pre-fight press conference. The PRIDE legend said that he still has the wisdom to share with younger athletes that he instructs because fighting is in his DNA. “Of course, I’ll be involved still because I have my team,” Emelianenko explained at the Bellator 290 pre-fight press conference. “These guys are like family to me. No matter what’s going to happen, I’ll be next to them all the time. I will try to do my best and help them in any way I can. All my life I was in sport. The sport is part of my life.” This next Saturday, "The Last Emperor" will take the last walk against Ryan Bader. The duo will square off in a showdown for the heavyweight championship at Bellator 290. The legend was once defeated by "Darth" in the heavyweight Grand Prix finals in 2019. In conclusion, the retirement of Fedor Emelianenko from the MMA competition is likely to be a significant event in the history of the sport. Whether he chooses to remain involved in MMA in a coaching or commentating role, or steps away from the sport entirely in the future, Emelianenko’s impact on the sport will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.

UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev believes his next fight with Alexander Volkanovski has not been properly marketed. Volkanovski and Makhachev will square off in the main event of UFC 284 on February 11 in Perth. He will face the featherweight champion Volkanovski in a super bout to defend his lightweight belt. The Makhachev/Volkanovski bout is one of the biggest 'champion vs. champion' fights in UFC history. Both athletes have had recent success in the Octagon, highlighted by Makhachev's triumph over Charles Oliveira. Nevertheless, the Makhachev/Volkanovski battle is coming up soon, and some fans could have forgotten about it. Makhachev believes that a larger promotional effort should be made before fight night for the Volkanovski clash. Makhachev recently expressed dissatisfaction with the UFC in an interview with RSport Russia. “I see that it is not such big promotion,” Makhachev said. “Dana White himself has some problems; he does not pay much attention to this fight…in terms of pay-per-view, yes, more could have been done.” “I only saw Volkanovski once, in Sydney. A tour could be organized around the world, a conference could be held in America.” On the UFC's pound-for-pound list, Makhachev, a top protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov, is now rated second. His UFC 284 rival Volkanovski presently holds the top rank. The winner of Makhachev vs. Volkanovski will be able to claim the title of top pound-for-pound fighter. This makes the fight much more significant, yet it is debatably not receiving a lot of attention in the run-up to the event.

Contract talks have already begun between the longstanding rivals, KSI (4-0-1, 3 KO's) and Jake Paul (6-0, 4 KO's), despite the fact Jake is already contracted to fight Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KO's) later this month in Saudí Arabia. Both fighters have made it no secret that this is the fight they want the most, with both men throwing shade at one another for years and KSI marking his comeback to boxing down to wanting to beat Jake Paul and end his career. While on the other hand, Jake is willing to look past current opponent to strike a deal with the Brit. But things have not been as easygoing it may seem as the face a roadblock in negotiations. That being weight. It is reported that KSI sent a contract for 170 pounds, which was promptly rejected by Jake who last fought at 187, sending a counter offer for 185, with KSI's team reportedly rejecting. It was then that KSI's manager suggested the two should meet in the middle at 180, something that is yet to become an official offer but a solution that seems fair enough on paper. Especially as Jake Paul has publicly stated he wants to move down the weight classes in his career. Jake Paul, however, has bigger priorities right now as he lines up to face Tommy Fury in a grudge match and will surely be making this his priority in a fight that will take him overseas for the first time in his professional boxing career.

Liam Neeson has launched a stunning tirade at "little leprechaun" Conor McGregor, whom he thinks "gives Ireland a terrible reputation." The action hero was asked by Men's Health during an interview if he follows The Notorious or MMA in general, according to The Sun. The native of Antrim then attacked McGregor and mixed martial arts as a whole, pulling no punches in the process. “UFC I can’t stand. That to me is like a bar fight,” he said. “I know the practitioners are like, ‘no, you’re wrong—the months of training we do …’ Why don’t you just grab a beer bottle and hit the other guy over the head? “That’s the next stage of the UFC. I hate it.” “That little leprechaun Conor McGregor, he gives Ireland a bad name. I know he’s fit, and I admire him for that. But I can’t take it.” He then joked that McGregor will have words for him the next time he's in Dublin Airport while putting on his best north Dublin accent. This might lead to the most recent of the former two-weight world champion's many celebrity fights. He got into a strange argument in December with Paul McGrath as well as PJ Gallagher.

Through eight fights and 18 months in the professional ranks, Nico Ali Walsh maintained his perfect record. With a unanimous decision victory over Eduardo Ayala of Phoenix after six rounds, the 21-year-old fighting grandson of the late, renowned Muhammad Ali improved to 8-0 (5KOs). On Friday night from Glendale, Arizona's Desert Diamond Arena, judges Dennis O'Connell (60-53) Esther Lopez (59-55) and Tim Cheatham (59-55) all had Ali Walsh comfortably winning the match. Ayala arrived to perform for his native audience. The chubby but tenacious middleweight from Phoenix frequently connected in the first round with his right hand. The better parts of the round belonged to Ali Walsh, who made excellent use of his right uppercut. The unbeaten middleweight, though, momentarily had trouble getting into rhythm. Round two marked a significant change in that. Ali Walsh, a native of Chicago who now resides in Las Vegas and holds a degree from UNLV, delivered the fight's opening knockdown. It was a right hand that knocked Ayala to the ground immediately after the second round's minute mark. Ayala survived Ali Walsh's subsequent volley and outlasted the count to make his way back inside. Emanuel Savoy, Ali Walsh's head trainer, was shocked by the rekindled confidence displayed by Ayala and warned his protege to be cautious when at close quarters. In the third round, Ali Walsh presented a more methodical attack, sticking to the fundamentals and landing precise combinations. Ali Walsh continued to be uneasy and succeed with his right hand and a left hook behind it in round four, despite Ayala's ability to quicken the tempo. Ali Walsh prevailed in a fight with the right hands, briefly knocking Ayala out near the conclusion of round four, despite having to deal with a gash along his cheekbone. At the conclusion of round five, Ayala's embrace of Ali Walsh provided a "glad to be here" moment. Even though the 30-year-old local boxer believed the bout was over, he was forced to regroup before the sixth and final round. Ayala attempted to shake things up by beginning the round with a southpaw stance, but Ali Walsh still had plenty left in the tank. In the last seconds of the battle, Ali Walsh successfully connected with a crisp left hook as Ayala (9-3-1, 3KOs) took a moral victory for his valiant effort. But the ultimate result put an end to his three-fight winning streak.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Marlon Vera, which was originally slated to serve as the event's main event at UFC San Antonio, will now take place on March 25. A story from SI.com regarding the rescheduling of the contest, which unfolds at the AT&T Centre in San Antonio, Texas, was corroborated by UFC President Dana White. The match was originally slated to serve as the main event of the Fight Night event on February 18 at UFC Apex. The initial intention for the main event of UFC San Antonio was Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana 2. With Vera vs Sandhagen being scrapped from the main event, it is still unclear, who will be headlining the February 18th, 2023, fight card. Both Sandhagen as well as Vera want to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight championship. Sterling currently holds the gold strap. Vera and Sandhagen currently rank #4 and #5 respectively in the bantamweight rankings. After 'Chito' defeated Davey Grant in June 2021 to avenge his defeat to Jose Aldo, he is currently on an undefeated streak. Since that day, he has prevailed spectacularly against Frankie Edgar, Rob Font, and most recently Dominick Cruz. In his most recent fight, Cory Sandhagen defeated Song Yadong via TKO to get back on the winning track. Previously, he lost by split decision to TJ Dillashaw and then by back-to-back decisions to Petr Yan for the interim title. Sandhagen now has an 8-3 UFC record. He had notable victories versus Marlon Moraes, Edgar, Raphael Assuncao, and John Lineker during his time in the UFC. The lineup for UFC San Antonio following Vera vs. Sandhagen is as follows: Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen Andrea Lee vs. Maycee Barber Chidi Njokuani vs. Albert Duraev Holly Holm vs. Yana Kunitskaya Sean Brady vs. Michel Pereira CJ Vergara vs. Daniel da Silva Alex Perez vs. Manel Kape Daniel Pineda vs. Tucker Lutz Trevin Giles vs. Preston Parsons Alex Caceres vs. Nate Landwehr Steven Peterson vs. Lucas Alexander

The main and co-main events for the Professional Fighters League's (PFL) first three regular-season fight shows in 2023 have been revealed. All three fight nights will occur at The Theatre at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, with the PFL resuming on April 1 and the remaining two events being held on April 7 and April 14, respectively. PFL unveiled the main and co-main bouts for future events in addition to its first three fight cards. Brendan Loughnane, the 2022 featherweight champion, will battle former UFC title contender Marlon Moraes in the main event of the opening card on April 1. The co-main event features former UFC fighter Thiago Santos, who also decided to sign with the PFL after becoming a free agent this past year, versus 2022 light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson. In his second season with the PFL, Loughnane had a solid game that was finished with a convincing victory against Bubba Jenkins that earned him the featherweight belt plus $1 million. In opposition, Moraes lost by knockout to Sheymon Moraes in his PFL introduction in November, extending his current losing record to five bouts, counting four within UFC. After suffering consecutive defeats in two encounters, Thiago Santos was given his departure from UFC. He lost to Jamahal Hill via Knockout last time out after losing a decision against Magomed Ankalaev. The Brazilian is 1-5 in his previous six, but the other three defeats were against Glover Teixeira, Aleksandar Rakic, and Jon Jones for the UFC championship. Heavyweight champion Ante Delija and recently signed PFL signee Yorgan De Castro square off in the 2nd PFL main event. De Castro defeated Junior dos Santos in his recent fight while competing for Eagle FC. Larissa Pacheco, the women's lightweight champion, competes against featherweight Julia Budd in the co-main event; this marks the first time the PFL has introduced that weight division. In November of last year, Pacheco stunned the odds by defeating two-time Olympic gold champion Kayla Harrison, handing her maiden MMA setback. The 2022 PFL Men's Lightweight Champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier will welcome UFC star Shane Burgos to the league for his debut game on the third and final event released on Thursday, which airs on ESPN2 and takes scheduled for April 14. Following his agreement with the UFC expired this past year, Burgos enrolled with the PFL as a free agent. Burgos was supposed to make his appearance in November of the previous year, but he failed to do so due to an injury. Sadibou Sy, the 2022 PFL welterweight champion, will compete against Jarrah Al-Silawi in the co-main event on April 14. Al-Silawi is making a comeback following a 2-1 record with the company last year. The PFL is the only prominent MMA organization to use a regular season schedule that involves single-elimination playoffs and championship bouts. Furthermore addition, the PFL has a pay-per-view category that is newly launched and features professional boxer Jake Paul as well as its Challengers Series for up-and-coming talents.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that heavyweight Anthony Joshua's return match will take place on April 1 at the O2 Arena in London. American Jermaine Franklin, who was defeated by Dillian Whyte on points last November, is most likely to face Joshua, 33. The fight will be formally announced during a press conference the following week. "It's a really tough fight with loads of pressure to come back because if AJ doesn't win this fight, then we've got a major problem," said Hearn. "I believe you'll see a statement from a guy who is very dangerous, very motivated to become a three-time heavyweight world champion." Joshua has lost his last two matches, both to Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight world champion. The Watford boxer has 24 victories as well as three losses and is a two-time heavyweight world champion. Hearn, the promoter for Matchroom, rejected the assertion. Franklin, who is 29 years old, was a simple challenge for Joshua. Franklin, who had a perfect record prior to his defeat to Whyte, disagreed with the outcome of the bout and thought he had won it. "There's so much contradiction: 'Anthony Joshua is finished, mentally he's shot, but he'll knock out Jermaine Franklin inside three rounds,'" Hearn told 5 Live Boxing in New York. "The same people that say Jermaine Franklin beat Dillian Whyte but he's a terrible opponent for Anthony Joshua, in a comeback fight after two defeats to the pound-for-pound number one. "What this guy has done from a resume perspective is unbelievable. "And I'm telling you now, this guy - still top-three heavyweight, capable of regaining his heavyweight world title."

When they square off on pay-per-view March 25 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a 168-pound title eliminator, David Benavidez and Caleb Plant are both confident they'll kick each other's butt. They merely express it in other ways. Benavidez occasionally uses a reckless style of speech when speaking. When he discusses what he intends to do to his opponent, the former two-time beltholder doesn't hold back. “On March 25, I guarantee that I’m knocking Caleb Plant out before round six,” Benavidez said to Plant at a predictably spirited kickoff news conference Thursday in Los Angeles. “This has been a fight in the making for the last five years and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m at my best right now mentally and physically. On March 25, I finally get to put hands on Caleb Plant. “When you’re on the ground bleeding, you’ll learn how to respect a real fighter. I’m what you want to be. You’re a chump.” Plant was more reserved but essentially expressed the same thing. I’m coming,” he said. “We’re prepared. I’ve been at this level before and I know what it takes. From now until March 25 it’s just about who can train the hardest and keep their foot on the gas. "This is a legacy fight for me and my team. On March 25, I see myself getting my hand raised.” Over the previous few years, Benavidez and Plant haven't been respectful to one another, possibly helping to advertise a fascinating battle they believed would inevitably happen. Or perhaps they genuinely dislike one another. In any case, this conflict has been simmering for a long time. Even if they are both confident, if they didn't respect one another as competitors, the fight wouldn't take place. Following his stoppage loss to undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez in the eleventh round, which cost him the belt in November 2021, Plant is coming off the most stunning victory of his career, a one-punch knockout of Anthony Dirrell in the ninth round in October. Plant's most recent performance was acknowledged by Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs), who also suggested that it adds sparkle to the approaching match-up. “He had a sensational win against Anthony Dirrell and I take nothing away from that,” he said. “This is the best time this fight could have happened. It was the right move for both of us. I’ve been wanting to fight him for a long time and now the winner of this fight gets to be the mandatory for Canelo Alvarez. I’m super motivated.”

The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight championship fight is one of the most eagerly awaited boxing events in recent history. The fight was initially set for March 4, but has now been rescheduled for April 29, and fans are eager to find out where the battle of the heavyweights will take place. There are two options on the table: either in the scorching deserts of Saudi Arabia or the historic Wembley Stadium in London. The negotiations are in full swing, and a decision is expected to be made in the next few days. Both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk must agree to the terms with the organizers for the fight to be officially signed. Tyson Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, has confirmed that the fight will take place on April 29, no matter what. He stated in an interview, "We've got to make a deal". Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk has already agreed to the terms with the organizers in Saudi Arabia, while Tyson Fury's negotiations are still ongoing. Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, is known for his flamboyant personality and unorthodox fighting style. The "Gypsy King" has an impressive record of 33 wins and no losses, with 24 wins coming by way of knockout. On the other hand, Oleksandr Usyk, the former unified cruiserweight champion, is a highly skilled boxer with a record of 20 wins and no losses, with 13 wins coming by way of knockout. This heavyweight championship fight is set to be the biggest event in boxing this year. With two of the best fighters in the world battling it out, fans are eagerly waiting to see who will come out on top. Tyson Fury is known for his powerful punches and quick reflexes, while Oleksandr Usyk is renowned for his technical proficiency and slick footwork. The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight is not just a boxing match, but a clash of two completely different fighting styles. It will be a test of power against precision, and a battle of nerves under pressure. This fight promises to be an unforgettable showdown and fans are already counting down the days until April 29. So, grab your popcorn, mark your calendars, and get ready for the biggest boxing event of the year!

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reacted to Joe Rogan's criticism of him in a recent podcast episode. Helwani and Rogan are two of the most well-known names in combat sports today. Rogan spoke on Sean Brady's claims on The MMA Hour that he received death threats prior to UFC 280 during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with Belal Muhammad. Rogan questioned Brady's comments while discussing it with Muhammad and made a suggestion that Helwani had forced Brady into saying them. Helwani responded quickly when a fan brought up Rogan's remark on his broadcast. “What the fuck is that all about?” Helwani replied to Rogan. “First of all, I didn’t get Sean Brady to say that. Sean Brady just offered that up on his own. How could I have gotten him to say that? "But I mean, of course, we know what the history is with Joe. He’s Dana’s boy." “Amazing to me that a guy who sits in his chair with his headset and some version of a microphone thinks that I’m getting people to say things. What are you talking about?” Helwani continued. Two of Helwani's rivals, UFC President Dana White and former fighter Brendan Schaub, are good friends with Rogan. Although he has never had a problem with Helwani, he has provided his own account of the events that led to Helwani's brief suspension from the UFC due to the Brock Lesnar/UFC 200 news. Rogan seems to be Helwani's most recent target after some back-and-forth with other sports figures.