Danny Sabatello is starting to experience what it might be like to have a chunk of the Bellator bantamweight strap around his waist as match day draws nearer. Sabatello competes versus interim champion Raufeon Stots in the main event of Bellator 289's bantamweight Grand Prix. The fight occurs at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday. Both fighters have used harsh words in the lead-up to the battle. It has been difficult to come across any supportive remarks about their rival from either guy, although Sabatello vehemently defended his strategy. “We’re very different and I just don’t like him in general,” Sabatello told reporters at media day on Wednesday. “Also, obviously, if I’m going inside a cage with somebody, and we’re gonna go toe-to-toe and he’s gonna almost, potentially, maybe kill me, and I’m almost potentially, maybe gonna kill him, why the f*ck would I be this guy’s friend?” In any of the contentious arguments over the past few months in multiple interviews, Stots has not yielded. However, Sabatello immediately responded, "Negative 2," when queried how he would evaluate Stots' trash talk. Irrespective of how Sabatello feels about his opposition's propensity for banter, the 29-year-old ATT prospect could be in line to win the Bellator championship in just his fourth matchup with the organization. “I’m getting f*cking chills just thinking about it,” Sabatello said. “It’s an absolutely dream come true. You know, all I want to be is just the best fighter on f*cking Earth, and I can obviously have that fortune to display my skillset in just two days and get it. “Obviously, it’s a massive fight just in general. But to add to it, getting this f*cking belt, which by the way, is not for the interim f*cking belt. Sergio Pettis is not the champion of this division. Sergio Pettis is a p*ssy. He couldn’t even make it in the f*cking world grand prix. So right now, to me, Stots is the champion, and when I beat him, I will be the f*cking champion.” Sabatello gave his opponent Stots a unique accolade, admitting that Stots is the greatest bantamweight in the category. Naturally, that is concerning himself. The winner of Friday's Bellator 289 main event will compete in Saturday's Grand Prix final against the victor of Magomed Magomdeov vs. Patchy Mix, which takes place earlier on the main program.

Cris Cyborg claims that even though she is still a free agent, she expects to re-sign with Bellator. The co-main event of this Saturday's Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan WBO welterweight title fight bill pits Cyborg vs Gabrielle Holloway. Having beaten Simone Silva by a unanimous decision back in September, this will be Cyborg's second run in boxing this year. Despite her recent emphasis on the beautiful game, Cyborg claims that her MMA career is still very much alive. “I’m not done in MMA,” Cyborg told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “MMA is my life and I love what I do. I’m the Bellator champion and for sure I’m going to defend my title. But the opportunity showed up. This is one of my dreams. When I did my first boxing fight it was my dream and just getting called, ‘Hey Cris, we’d like to have you on the card.’ So I just kept training and the opportunity came up and it was a dream come true.” After defeating Julia Budd for the featherweight championship in 2020, Cyborg now possesses the championship. In her most recent contest, which served as the last contest of her contract with Bellator, she defeated Arlene Blencowe by unanimous decision. Despite being a free agent, Cyborg is expected to re-sign with Bellator given her relationship with CEO Scott Coker and the promotion's interest in keeping her on board. Cyborg concurs. “Not yet,” Cyborg said when asked if she had resigned. “After this fight, I’m going to sit down and talk to Scott, but I’m Team Bellator.” At the CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE, Gabrielle Holloway will face Cyborg on Saturday, December 10. Cyborg must then consider what will happen to her going forward. The super fight versus Kayla Harrison was what the majority of spectators were hoping to see, but it was severely derailed by Harrison's defeat to Larissa Pacheco in the PFL Championships in November. However, Cyborg isn't completely ruling out the possibility of another battle taking place in the future. For the time being, though, Cyborg is hoping that Cat Zingano will be her opponent in her following MMA match. “I know [Harrison’s] got two fights left with the PFL,” Cyborg said. “She can rematch Pacheco, she can fight Aspen Ladd — she just signed with the PFL — and then maybe she can come to Bellator. “For me, I have a big fight next. Cat Zingano’s a big fight for me. She’s undefeated at 145, she beat Amanda Nunes, she beat Miesha Tate, and she beat a lot of good girls. I think she’s the next fight for me.”

The first step in Davis' retirement strategy is Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia. Davis plans to retire from boxing after establishing his legacy in fights against Garcia, Shakur Stevenson, and Devin Haney. Due to the politics of booking fights between various promotions and broadcast rights holders, Davis vs. Garcia had long eluded fans. Davis and Garcia deserve enormous credit for leading the fight and overcoming difficult obstacles in the hopes of meeting early in 2023. "Tank" respects Garcia's commitment to the fight and sees their clash as a springboard to booking more fights between the sport's top lightweights. "He definitely wants the smoke," Davis told CBS Sports and "Morning Kombat" host Luke Thomas. "I think it's good for the sport. I think it's definitely good for the sport because both of us are in our prime. He's hungry. For sure, I'm hungry. There ain't no other young fighters fighting each other right now. I feel like this is the start. "I think this is the start of the top 135 fighters fighting each other. This is the spark to it. Deals can be done." Davis, 28, sees the Garcia fight as the first of three stops on his way to retirement. Davis intends to cement his legacy against Stevenson and Haney before moving on to a position where he can help the next generation of boxers reach their full potential "I think it's opened up doors. I ain't going to lie. I ain't really trying to be in this too much longer. So that's the answer right there for you," Davis said. "Once I get them guys out of there, I'm gone. "I want to help people who are coming behind me. I feel that is more important. The future... It's something that is instilled in me. It's loyalty that people are missing out here. I feel if you're in a position to help somebody, help them. For the right reasons."

David Avanesyan will face undefeated southpaw Terence Crawford for the WBO world title this weekend in what will be the toughest fight of his career. 'Ava' is well-known among UK fans for defeating Josh Kelly, who won the British title last weekend, but the Russian is taking on a much bigger challenge this Saturday. The 34-year-old from Nottinghamshire takes on pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of his generation. Avanesyan has previously challenged for a world title, losing a unanimous decision to Lamont Peterson in 2017. He has dominated the European level since then, defeating Kerman Lejarraga for the EBU title and defending it six times, winning all six by knockout. Ava now believes he is ready to return to the world stage and is confident of pulling off the upset, according to British Boxing News. “I know going in that I’m a huge underdog and no one is giving me a chance, but let me tell you, I’m going to surprise everyone watching. I’ve had enough time to prepare, so I’ll be ready for the southpaw.” “There’s a reason Terence Crawford is considered the best fighter in boxing, his skill set is amazing, and he knows how to win. I know my hands are full, but I’m going to do everything I can to become a world champion. I need to stick to the game plan we have in place, and if adjustments need to be made during the fight, I will have to make them.” “Today I’m a completely different fighter in the ring, and my last six fights have shown my growth when it comes to my power punching. I believe my aggressive style is going to give Crawford problems.” “I’m coming into hostile territory, his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, all his fans will be there in abundance. I’ve fought most of my career in people’s backyards, and I love it because it gives me an extra buzz. This is what being an underdog is all about. When I walk out of the arena with a monumental victory, I believe I will win his fans over.”

In 2023, the long-awaited ONE Championship will mark its U.S. premiere with an eagerly awaited trilogy fight. Demetrious Johnson, the current flyweight champion of ONE, will face former champion Adriano Moraes in their third encounter and serve as the event's main attraction, ONE said on Monday. ONE on Prime Video 10 will take place May 5 at 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. “This is a monumental day in the history of ONE Championship as we announce our U.S. on-ground debut in Colorado on Friday, May 5,” ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said in a news release. “We are very grateful for the support of the state athletic commission and look forward to putting on an unforgettable show for our passionate fanbase in the U.S. and watching around the world.” The 36-year-old Johnson, a former UFC flyweight champion, defeated Moraes in the fourth round of their showdown in August to claim the flyweight (135 pounds) championship of ONE. In April 2021, the duo first clashed. In the second round of that battle, Moraes used a knee to finish off Johnson. After spending decades in the UFC, Johnson joined ONE in 2019 and has since gone 4-1. Before his inevitable fight against Moraes 18 months ago, he clinched the promotion's Flyweight Grand Prix in 2019. Brazil's Moraes, 34, has been competing for ONE for almost ten years. He earned the first flyweight championship in 2014, followed by an interim championship in 2016 and a final championship in 2017. In a duel with Geje Eustaquio in 2018, he dropped the title, but just six months later, he defeated him. Before his loss against Johnson, he had won seven of his previous eight contests. In the upcoming months, more fights for the event are anticipated to be revealed.

The battle between two of the most brutal finishers in Bellator welterweight history has been scheduled. Brennan Ward and Sabah Homasi have been set to clash on February 4 at Bellator 290 after recently pushing for a matchup. A Bellator representative was among the three who were told of the booking and confirmed the news about the potential fight. The main event will be held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, which will be headlined by Emelianenko, who will challenge heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader, for the title in what will be his final fight. Whereas Yoel Romero, a former UFC Middleweight title contender and current champion Vadim Nemkov are anticipated to face off in the co-main event of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. Homasi, who was reborn under the Bellator brand, is on a two-fight unbeaten streak and has won six of his last eight fights. The back-to-back successes were both stopped in the first round. Homasi has 14 finishes in 17 victories. Due to a persistent drug habit, Ward took a break from MMA competition for over five years before making a comeback in February. Ward won his comeback fight against Brandon Bell at Bellator 274 by way of a second-round TKO. At Bellator 282 in June, he TKO'd Kassius Kayne in the second round. Ethan Hughes and Yusuf Karakaya's welterweight fight has also been included in the preliminary round. Following his stunning TKO victory over former Olympian Mahmoud Sebie at Bellator 271—one of the biggest betting surprises of the year—Hughes inked a multi-fight contract with Bellator in 2021. For sure more fights will be announced later on which will be part of the most anticipated Bellator 290 lineup.

Conor McGregor's claim that refusing drug tests is necessary for his recovery is rejected by Rafael dos Anjos. Dos Anjos still wants to fight him, regardless of whether the former two-division champion is acting dishonestly behind the scenes. “I’ll fight him now,” dos Anjos said Monday on The MMA Hour. “Just say OK, come to Las Vegas. That’s a guy that everything he’s for, I’m against. All his values are against my values. Let me put it this way: If we are in high school, that’s the type of guy that we’re going to fight in the school. That’s for sure. I don’t like him, and I want this fight.” Dos Anjos called out McGregor in his post-fight speech this past Saturday at UFC Orlando after defeating Bryan Barberena, making that very clear. He claims that because McGregor will soon be making a comeback following breaking his leg at UFC 264, he should be given the chance to complete their unfinished business since he was forced to withdraw from UFC 196 due to a broken foot. “When I’m putting myself in his shoes, who [is he] going to fight?” dos Anjos asked. “Is he going to fight Poirier again for the fourth time? He’s going to fight Michael Chandler, who’s not even in the division he wants to fight? He looks like he’s juicing up – he’s not going to fight at 155 any more. He’s going to fight at 170, and also, with all due respect to Michael Chandler, he’s been putting on great fights, but he’s been losing a lot. “We have a history. We were supposed to fight two or three times already, and let’s go. Let’s bring the bad blood again. It will be a fun fight.” Since it was revealed that McGregor had left the USADA drug testing pool, his comeback has been under under scrutiny. The Irish star has previously been accused of doping by at least one notable UFC athlete, who also voiced displeasure over what he saw to be a double standard for other fighters who are only permitted to leave the pool if they retire or are dismissed from their contract. As a result, McGregor has slammed detractors and justified his absence as an essential component of his recovery. He recently stated that his treatment plan was "completely known before I began" and expressed the goal of joining the testing pool again in February 2023. Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman were mentioned by McGregor as fighters who might relate to his situation. However, those combatants support dos Anjos' argument, in his opinion. He referred to the notion that "The Notorious" would have to withdraw from the testing pool due to a broken leg as "absolute BS." “I broke my jaw, man, in two pieces,” dos Anjos said. “I’ve went through a lot. All the fights, Anderson Silva, Chris Weidman, and actually that injury looks bad. I’m not a doctor, but I know what I’m talking about. That injury looks bad, but it’s not worse than an ACL re-injury. You recover from that way quicker than an ACL injury, because that’s bone to bone. When it heals, you put in a plate, you’re 100 percent. You’ve just got to do some tgherapy, but ACL injury is way worse than that. So that’s no an excuse.” The Brazilian vet can think of just one reason for McGregor's behaviour. If McGregor did really utilise prohibited performance enhancers, why would he remove himself from the USADA pool, he was questioned directly. He seems bulked up. He seems large. He wouldn't withdraw himself from the USADA pool if he weren't. That's strange. Dos Anjos insists on getting what he wants despite his disapproval of McGregor and his persona, and he thinks the UFC is on board. “I got the sense [the UFC likes the idea], and I think the fight was supposed to happen seven years ago,” he said. “On that card, [Kamaru] Usman was fighting Leon [Edwards] on the prelims. Francis Ngannou was doing his debut. I’m still here winning fights, finishing people, and I deserve that fight for everything I’ve done for the company. I believe it would sell a lot.”

Michel Pereira, a welterweight contender in the UFC, is impatient. The Brazilian, who defeated Santiago Ponzinibbio back in May, is perplexed as to why the UFC is taking so long to find another opponent, but he does have a theory. Pereira recently accused his fellow rated welterweights of deliberately dodging him in an interview with Ag Fight, blaming them for the lengthy break. In order to identify a challenger, "Demolidor" mentioned some of the most well-known figures in the division, including Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, the recent victor of the UFC Orlando event, who has previously stated a readiness to take on the Brazilian. “I’m training, I’m ready,” Pereira explained. “My managers are trying to get me a fight in Rio, but it’s been hard to find an opponent. Those are guys are way too picky. I’ve been waiting for the ranked guys in my division to man up and fight me. I’d fight (Li) Jingliang, the one Chimaev almost killed. This fight was offered to me and I took it, the it was offered to him and he turned it down. I don’t know what those guys are thinking, the reason why they won’t fight me,” “I’d fight (Colby) Covington,” Pereira said. “I’d really like to fight (Khamzat) Chimaev, because he talks too much. I’d fight Thompson. The only ones I wouldn’t fight are (Vicente) Luque and (Gilbert) Burns. The rest of them, I’m ready for them, they can all come at me. I ask, but they don’t accept it. They’re sissies. Whoever wants it, I’m here.” Prior to his most recent victory against Ponzinibbio, Pereira (28-11-2 NC), who is now on a five-fight winning run, had defeated Zelim Imadaev, Khaos Williams, Niko Price, and Andre Fialho. The 29-year-old's recent loss came in a DQ match against Diego Sanchez in February 2020 as a result of an illegal knee.

After an unexpected victory over Kayla Harrison, Larissa Pacheco is unsure of her next move, but she undoubtedly has some plans. Pacheco understood that she would ultimately face Harrison soon, perhaps even in her next match, after delivering the two-time judo Olympic gold champion her first loss in mixed martial arts. The 28-year-old Brazilian is aware that Harrison now has two victories over her and that there is still an unresolved matter among them. “Like I told her [after our fight on Friday], I’ll gladly give her the rematch,” Pacheco said on The MMA Hour. “It’s the fight to happen and she deserves it. I’m losing 2-to-1 so I need to catch up with her.” The PFL has not yet finalized any choices regarding the scheduling for the 2023 campaign, though Pacheco expects to run into Harrison once more. Harrison had already made up her mind that she wouldn't compete in the traditional regular-season tournament style the next year, preferring to concentrate on more manageable "super fights" for her physique. While Pacheco is open to the concept of those same one-off fights that may give her the chance to face Harrison again or other elite competitors in the same division, she, however, is not opposed to re-joining for another season, which could award her an additional $1 million payout.' “Everybody’s talking about super fights,” Pacheco said. “Kayla was talking about the super fight with [Cris] Cyborg. Now I’m in the game, too. Let’s do a super fight, Cyborg. Let’s do it at 155. They’re super fights, let’s do these things. I’m here too, now." Harrison has been publicly requesting a matchup with Cris Cyborg, but her defeat will probably diminish any anticipation for a future matchup. While Pacheco thinks she may be in the queue for that bout now that she's riding the crest of her shocking victory over the two-time PFL champion. “I just fought Kayla. I have the utmost respect for Cyborg,” Pacheco said. “This is what we do. This is what she does. This is what we do. This is what the fans want. “Yeah, I want to be in this game. I’d like to fight Cyborg. I want to fight Kayla. I want to be in the middle of this. I want to make it happen.” Aspen Ladd, an ex-UFC fighter who won a split decision over Julia Budd at the PFL championship event this past Friday, made a convincing introduction with the PFL and could be a second legit contender who tickles Pacheco's attention in 2023. After her victory, Pacheco was given praise for executing the necessary adjustments to defeat Harrison, but Ladd later disparaged both women by saying that their reputations "are nothing compared to the people that I have fought." Pacheco responded that she did not comprehend why Ladd saw the urge to attack her, but maybe underneath it all, it was just an effort to garner extra limelight by running after the champion of the show's main event while she was participating on the undercard. “I don’t know why she’s saying these things,” Pacheco said. “She just got here. I think she’s trying to come over to the window and trying to catch the bus in movement. She got cut from another organization because she couldn’t make weight.”

T.J. Dillashaw, a two-time UFC bantamweight champion, has informed the organization that he would no longer compete in mixed martial arts. Dillashaw decided to retire after having to have yet another major surgery to fix shoulder injuries caused following his most recent defeat to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280. Prior shoulder issues have troubled Dillashaw, who underwent surgery on both arms during facing a two-year suspension for violating the UFC's anti-doping policy by ingesting recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). Executives from the UFC acknowledged that Tiki Ghosn, Dillashaw's manager, notified the organization of Dillashaw's desire to quit. The news was initially announced on Twitter by Michael Wonsover. According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Tiki Ghosn disclosed that his client's choice was motivated by the shoulder operation. Helwani said: "Basically, around a month ago, he had the shoulder surgery, coming off the Aljamain Sterling fight. And afterwards, when he met with his surgeon, the surgeon told him that it's going to be a long road, and there's a chance that he might need a second surgery down the line, that it's a very delicate injury, that it's one of the worst injuries to a shoulder that that particular surgeon had ever seen." T.J. Dillashaw's choice, according to Helwani, surprised both the UFC and his manager, and the organization only recently learned about it. Dillashaw was anticipated to be absent following the most recent procedure for at least the upcoming year, with the possibility of more surgery. The move to inform the UFC that he will be retiring from MMA was made as a result of the realization that that was eventually a bridge too far for Dillashaw to foresee any realistic schedule to return to competition. Dillashaw departs as one of the best bantamweights in MMA history with two distinct title stints in the UFC if his departure includes all combat sports. In 2014, Dillashaw defeated Renan Barao in a surprise upset to win the title. A little over a year afterward, he recreated the feat by dominating the Brazilian. Following a razor-thin split decision loss to Dominick Cruz, he won two consecutive fights before actually knocking out Cody Garbrandt, an ex-teammate, to win back the title. Dillashaw decided to try for a two-division championship following defeating Garbrandt a second time, descending to flyweight to contend for the 125-pound crown. He was unsuccessful, losing to Henry Cejudo in just 32 seconds. After admitting he had screened positive for EPO and received a two-year suspension, Dillashaw gave up his bantamweight belt. When he ultimately came back, he defeated Cory Sandhagen before losing to Sterling. Dillashaw leaves the sport with a career record of 17-5.

Briton Anthony Yarde has vowed to turn "his belief into reality" and upset Artur Beterbiev to take his IBF, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight belts. Yarde, 31, fights 37-year-old Beterbiev at Wembley Arena on 28 January. "It feels like the right time for me. I came from nothing and if I get an opportunity I take it," said Yarde. Russia-born Beterbiev, who now lives in Canada, has won all of his 18 fights inside the distance - the only current world champion to have done so. "I need to stop fighting monsters but I got into this sport to fight the best," added Londoner Yarde. "Lions have no choice but to hunt if they are going hungry. "Since I've started boxing I've not had more than one week out of the gym. Beterbiev had more than 200 amateur fights and 18 professional, but I'm going to be sharp and focused. "In the light-heavyweight division he has been nothing but a wrecking ball, knocking out every opponent so far. He's very powerful but I feel I'm faster and, by age, I'm fresher, but in experience I'm behind him." It will be Beterbiev's first professional bout in Britain, but he has fought a British fighter before - beating Callum Johnson via a fourth-round knockout in Chicago in October 2018 - although he was knocked down for the first time in his career. "Anthony Yarde is a good fighter, he is strong - he is a body builder," said Beterbiev. "I respect him and respect all my opponents... be ready." For Yarde, it will be his second attempt to win a world title after being stopped in the 11th round when fighting away against Russian Sergey Kovalev for the WBO belt in August 2019. "I'm getting a second chance and last time it did not feel the right time," he added. "I was a rising prospect and only had 18 fights after 12 amateurs and I got chucked in. "My career began at Wembley Arena and this has never been done before, a unification fight, with a British fighter at light-heavyweight coming up against a world champion on British soil. "When I hear 'and the new' my belief will become a reality so that's what I'm looking forward to hearing." Their news conference took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Tyson Fury defeated Derek Chisora to retain the WBC heavyweight belt on Saturday. Veteran promoter Bob Arum, the chief executive of Top Rank who promote Beterbiev, added: "I've promoted some great light-heavyweights but I've never seen anybody with the power and skills of Artur Beterbiev. "He is really something special. He's a tremendous puncher and it will take an unbelievable performance by an opponent to be able to beat him."

After defeating Derek Chisora in London on Saturday, Tyson Fury faced off against Oleksandr Usyk; Fury and Usyk have both stated that they want to engage in an undisputed fight next year. Joe Joyce has emerged as the most likely replacement for Fury as his next opponent. According to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, Tyson Fury will face Oleksandr Usyk at the "ideal time" if the heavyweight world champions can agree on terms for an undisputed meeting soon. Fury made an outstanding voluntary defense of his WBC championship on Saturday, stopping Derek Chisora before facing battle in the ring with IBF, IBO, and WBO champion Usyk. Both boxers have shown a desire to fight, and Sullaiman has stated that the WBC is willing to back an undisputed fight while they wait for a final eliminator between former champions Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr to determine a new mandatory challenger. "This is a perfect time to do a unification," Sulaiman told in an interview on Monday. "We ordered a final elimination between Wilder and Andy Ruiz. At this time we have no mandatory contenders, so this is a perfect moment for the unification. There has been speculation that Filip Hrgovic's status as mandatory challenger for Usyk's IBF title could scupper plans for the undisputed bout, but Sulaiman has urged the other governing bodies to help ensure the Ukrainian meets Fury with all the belts on the line. "Hopefully it will not get to that point, and the four organisations will accept to sanction the ultimate undisputed fight and keep it that way," Sulaiman added. British heavyweight Joe Joyce was also ringside at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Fury said he would be willing to fight if the Usyk fight could not be made. Joyce has put together a string of outstanding performances to put himself in contention for the title, and Sulaiman stated that the WBC would not stand in the way of an all-British clash with Fury.