The Undisputed super welterweight champ, Jermell Charlo will need to submit all the medical charge sheets detailing his injury by January 2nd if he wants to keep hold of his titles. Charlo, 32, was due to face Australian, Tim Tszyu for the WBO mandatory title defence but a fresh knuckle injury has pushed him out of the event. The hard-hitter Tszyu has been lurking for this fight for the past year or so but it seems like the Aussie fighter will have to wait a bit more if he wants to get his hands on Charlo. Now with Charlo out of the action for an indefinite time, the sanctioning body has ordered the ‘Iron Man’ to show up with the cause of delaying this fight. And if the cause is genuine, the WBO might set up an alternative for Tszyu who has not fought since March 2022. Tszyu could be in line to face no.3 contender Tony Harrison next if Charlo doesn’t recover on time. But if the WBO finds Charlo’s reasoning unsatisfactory, the 32-year-old could see him losing the titles as the sanctioning body will likely order a title fight between the fighters next on the chart i.e Tszyu vs Harrison. The Texas native Charlo unified the division by knocking out his fierce rival, Brian Carlos Castano at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson in April.

The lightweight sensation Paddy ‘The Baddy’ is back in the headlines as he became the latest UFC fighter to invite a trash talker to spar with him and give the gibberish a taste of his own medicine. Pimblett is no stranger to the world of MMA as the Liverpool native has made massive progress in his short stint in the world’s premier MMA organization, UFC. And like most of the famed combatants, the Baddy has also been receiving mixed reactions from the onlookers both inside and outside the octagon. Recently, a troll was giving hard time to Pimblett in the comment section of one of his Instagram posts. The 27-year-old didn’t take it lightly and invited him over to his gym in Liverpool to experience what’s it like to be confronted by a top Mixed Martial Artist. €500 was there to be taken if the follower managed to engage Pimblett for unlimited rounds. Surprisingly, the detractor did appear in the gym at the agreed time and got straight into Paddy’s face. But to his dismay, Pimblett was no joking as he let him feel his power and strength during the short sparring drill. With a considerable crowd cheering from the outside cage, Pimblett wasn't letting him go without a lesson that he will dare not forget all his life. But once the session ended, it was all good between the two as the pair exchanged pleasantries afterwards. As a token of appreciation for showing up, Paddy also gave him money to get a nice meal in Liverpool.

Li Jingliang, the No.15 ranked welterweight in the world, has signed with Ali Abdelaziz's Dominance MMA. Li Jingliang's most recent match took place at UFC 279 against Daniel Rodriguez, where he was defeated by a unanimous decision. Many people believed Jingliang had done enough to ensure the victory, hence the judgement was somewhat disputed. The Leech spent his time getting ready for Tony Ferguson, but a last-minute switch put Rodriguez and Jingliang in a match at catchweight of 180 pounds. Li Jingliang is the newest addition to the Dominance MMA roster, and he will try to improve on his 3-2 record in his last five fights. Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas were two of the champions Ali Abdelaziz managed in 2021. However, Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion, is the only active champion under his management. Along with strawweight champion Zhang Weili and bantamweight Song Yadong, Li Jingliang is one of the top UFC competitors to come from China. The No. 15-ranked welterweight faced David Michaud in his professional debut at UFC 173 in 2014.

From UFC President to any UFC fighter linked with a potential fight against Jake Paul, everyone doubts the legitimacy of the boxing career of The YouTube star. But the UFC veteran Donald Cerrone was found giving his views in favor of Jake Paul. Cerrone, a UFC icon and anticipated Hall of Famer, has been in existence long enough to have witnessed the ascent of numerous talents who were once thought to be nothing but buzz. The American faced one of the greatest pay-per-view sellers for UFC, Conor McGregor, at UFC 246 back in 2020 when the Irishman was making a comeback after 2 years following the biggest defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Although Cerrone lost to McGregor in just 40 seconds, the main event recorded good figures for the promotion. "Cowboy" notices several commonalities between Jake Paul and Conor McGregor. Instead of disparaging the YouTube sensation, "Cowboy" has received praise for his boxing accomplishments, which include victories against Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren. “The Jake Paul phenomenon is kind of crazy, it’s gotten everybody calling him out and it’s kind of like the big Conor [McGregor] push [from early in McGregor’s career]. That’s what I feel like is happening with Jake Paul,” Cerrone recently told Thiccc Boi. “Everyone is wanting to fight him, and I don’t see why they wouldn’t because that’s a big money fight. But you can’t take away [his wins]. Like everyone is saying those are like rigged fights — I think he’s hitting hard. You know what I mean? I really do think those are legitimate shots and strikes, and he’s been practicing boxing and [the results] are showing he’s whooping their asses. “So I don’t think there’s any mis-hype. I think he’s got something going on there.” After losing by submission to Jim Miller at UFC 276 in July 2022, Cerrone decided to bid his farewell to the combat sport. Carrying the company records for fights, wins, finishes, bonuses, and more, He was a fan favorite of his era and was among the most experienced athletes not to earn a UFC title. However, after witnessing Paul knock out ex-MMA champs like Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren in the boxing ring, Cerrone expressed his desire to make some money if he is offered a fight with Jake Paul. “Would I like to fight him? F***, of course,” Cerrone said. “How could I say no to f****** millions of dollars. So I would definitely go out there and do it. “But I’m not sitting over here and saying, ‘Jake, you’re a f****** YouTuber, ain’t worth a f***.’ Nah, man. You’re making money. Make the f****** money. And if you want to throw some of that money my way, I’m with you.”

Tyson Fury has once again rang the excitement bells in the heart of boxing fans as he promises to punish Oleksander Usyk if the duo ever collide in the ring. The Fury-Usyk fight is one of the biggest fights to make in 2023. Both undefeated heavyweights have expressed their willingness to step into each others’ faces but no official announcement has been made yet. The Gypsy king decided to hang his gloves up for good after overcoming his compatriot Dillian Whyte in April. But soon had a change of mind as he came out of retirement and bashed Derek Chisora earlier this month. Now he has his eyes set on the Ukrainian Oleksander Usyk, who holds the IBF, IBO, WBO, and WBA titles. The WBC titlist, Fury has communicated his evil intentions if the pair ever collide in the ring. “I don’t think he’s big enough and strong enough to stand up to the punches… It’s a challenge, but he’ll be running away like a little b**ch all night. I will hunt him down, and when I get hold of him, he’ll be crushed,” said Tyson Fury. Usyk hasn’t got any opponent as of now. And with the Gypsy King itching to get his hand on him, it would be a perfect opportunity for the undefeated southpaw to give a shutdown to the loud-mouthed 6’9″ Brit. As far as official papers work is concerned, Fury’s longtime promoter, Frank Warren is hopeful to get both parties on the same page and give the fans the fight they have been wanting for so long.

After Geoff Neal was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC Fight Night 217 due to injury, many believed it would be nearly impossible to find a replacement with just over two weeks' notice. There haven't been many individuals appealing for the assignment against the undefeated rising contender, but Bryan Barberena is one person who has put his hand up in the hopes of getting the match. The catch to Barberena's availability is his inability to compete at the welterweight limit, where the original fight with Neal was set. Barberena (18-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC) stated that he is ready to fight and suggested a fight with Rakhmonov (at a catchweight of 180 pounds). Barberena, 33, is coming off a submission loss to former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos earlier this month at UFC on ESPN 42. His three-fight winning streak, which includes a TKO of Robbie Lawler and decisions over Matt Brown and Darian Weeks, was ended. Rakhmonov, 28, has defeated all four of his octagon opponents, including notables Neil Magny and Alex Oliveira. He accepted Barberena's offer and stated his desire to book the match.

Muhammad Mokaev sustained an injury that may compromise his desire to compete at UFC London.Mokaev (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has been vying for a spot on the UFC 286 card, which takes place March 18 at The O2 in London, but a dislocated right shoulder could derail his aspirations. Despite the necessity for surgery, Mokaev seemed to be hoping for a speedy recovery. Mokaev's first two octagon fights were in London. He rapidly submitted Cody Durden in March, then easily defeated Charles Johnson in July. In October, he finished the year by submitting Malcolm Gordon at UFC 280. The unbeaten 22-year-old hopes to become the UFC's youngest champion, which explains his desire to keep active. However, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Mokaev stated that he is still having difficulty finding opponents and showed desire in a fight with top-ten ranked flyweight Amir Albazi.

Andrew Tate, a content creator and former professional kickboxer, has been detained in Romania on suspicion of human trafficking. According to reports, a search warrant was issued for Tate's home in Romania on Thursday in relation to the kidnapping of two local girls. Tate and his brother were then taken into jail by the authorities. It's unclear whether Tate's home included any evidence directly connected to the girls' disappearances or if his arrest had nothing to do with them. Tate last competed in a kickboxing match in 2020, losing to Cosmin Lingurar at KO Masters 8. He also fought in MMA, finishing with a 2-1 record at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 13 in 2010. Tate has a sizable social media following thanks to his opinions on a range of topics. A number of platforms have permanently banned him after accusations of misogyny and spreading false information about COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Tate has also been connected to a number of UFC competitors, including Sean O'Malley and UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling. Sterling refuted Tate's provocative viewpoints and the notion that some of his earlier statements had been misinterpreted. Tate and his brother Tristan are being questioned by Romania's organised crime unit.

The UFC middleweight division is making progress which adds more spice to becoming the next title contender. Currently, Israel Adesanya is first in line for a deserving rematch against his bitter rival and reigning UFC champion Alex Pereira. Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa was announced and was expected to be a fight for the next title contender, but the bout got dropped due to the failure to reach an agreement with the Brazilian. Now the new entry to UFC 285 in March is a significant middleweight matchup between championship contenders Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plessis. The contest was confirmed on Wednesday by numerous sources familiar with the promotion's activities. The fight was first revealed by ESPN. The UFC 285 event takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 4th, 2023. After losing to Jared Cannonier in February and momentarily thinking about retiring, Brunson just said he intended to become significantly more involved in 2023 to schedule at least four fights. As Brunson attempts to get back to winning ways after having amassed an outstanding five-fight win streak before the defeat to Cannonier, it appears that his first challenge will occur in March. In the middleweight division, he is presently ranked #5, and a victory over du Plessis will get him closer to a shot at the crown. Dricus Du Plessis, who is now rated #10 in the middleweight class, plans to keep up his undefeated streak when he takes on UFC veteran Derek Brunson. The South African athlete has a flawless 4-0 record in the UFC, including a victory against Till that earned fight of the night accolades. At UFC 282, du Plessis wrapped up a vicious neck crank to defeat Till after a back-and-forth struggle. If du Plessis defeats Brunson and continues his winning streak, he might aim to become the next in position for the championship by the end of 2023. The latest UFC 285 lineup now includes: Derek Brunson vs. Dricus Du Plessis Viviane Araujo vs. Amanda Ribas Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci Farid Basharat vs. Da’Mon Blackshear Julio Arce vs. Cody Garbrandt Mario Bautista vs. Guido Cannetti Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Julian Marquez

Bellator MMA and Rizin have collaborated to organize an event to remember in MMA history. Five highly esteemed fighters from each promotion will face each other to pull off the most anticipated fights. But no titles will be on the line for the main event. The main event will take place on New Year's Eve December 31st, 2022, at Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo, Japan. The contests on the main card will adhere to the regulations of the Rizin promotion. The main card is headlined by a lightweight bout between A.J. McKee and Roberto "Satoshi" de Souza and in co-main event featherweight bout between Patricio Pitbull and Kleber Koike is set to happen. Unlike most of the MMA promotions where knees and kicks to the head are illegal when the fighter is grounded but Rizin doesn’t rule out the dangerous strikes. When Patricio Freire was asked about his opinion and counter strategy regarding the concerned rule of Rizin promotion, it doesn’t bother the Bellator featherweight champion. Due to his prior competition in Brazil, Freire is habituated to the Vale Tudo, or "everything goes," culture. He stated: “In my debut, I was training in those rules, so I’m very used to kick some heads on the ground,” Freire said during the Rizin 40 pre-fight press conference. “I’ve been fighting in MMA from when I was a little kid and in Brazil of course there’s Vale Tudo which is similar to the Rizin rules, so I’m used to those too.” Since Koike will be entering with a staggering 27 submission victories in his history, Freire didn't give adequate information about his course of action, but "Pitbull" anticipates that he would attempt to take Koike down and submit him. “He’s a jiu-jitsu guy and he’s gonna try every time to put me on the ground and finish me,” Freire said. “So maybe we will see I finish him.”

According to Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the organisation plans to create a new transgender category and will issue a call for interested athletes to submit applications in 2023. The projected category would follow the "at birth" rule, which means that a trans fighter assigned as a man at birth could only compete against another trans fighter assigned as a male at birth. "We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament," Sulaiman told The Telegraph. "In boxing, a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no grey area around this, and we want to go into it with transparency and the correct decisions. Woman to man or man to woman transgender change will never be allowed to fight a different gender by birth." Transgender issues have gained significant attention as sports try to strike a balance between diversity and preventing undue advantages. The world governing organisation for swimming, FINA, decided to ban transgender athletes from top women's competitions in June 2022. They also established a working group to create a "open" category. According to FINA's rules, transgender athletes must be fully transitioned by the time they turn 12 in order to compete in women's events.

Hollywood. As a result, the WWE Universe was eager to welcome him back as a major boxing celebrity, and both WWE and boxing fans were ecstatic to see him in action again. However, according to recent reports, The Gypsy King is having trouble obtaining a visa to enter the US. According to reports, Tyson Fury's immigration procedure is costing him millions of dollars, and his staff is working to find a solution. As per the US Sun reports, “Tyson and the legal team or getting this whole grey and tricky area resolved. But non-entry, quite simply put, means non-payment.” The source added, “The WWE works with foreign athletes all the time in aiding their visa processing for appearances. The legal team are on the sidelines offering support in this matter, but ultimately getting approval is on Tyson’s head and how US immigration assesses his case.” And let's not forget that his brother Tommy Fury's visa was earlier denied entry to travel from the United Kingdom to the United States due to the suspicion of ties to Irish criminal leader Daniel Kinahan. So, this might be another factor. It's possible that we won't see him straight away, but given that WWE is currently travelling to different countries for its events, it's plausible that we will again see him in Saudi Arabia in 2023