No one in the top 15 of the UFC bantamweight division has a fight booked following Petr Yan's big...

No one in the top 15 of the UFC bantamweight division has a fight booked following Petr Yan's big win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau on Saturday, so there's no time like the present to put on our matchmaker hat.Here are five matchups we want to see come to fruition at 135 pounds - one of the promotion's deepest weight classes - as we get closer to 2025.<h3>Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov</h3>Nothing needs to be said about this one. The UFC wants it, Nurmagomedov wants it, and Dvalishvili is at least open to it - it's just a matter of figuring out the timing and putting pen to paper. Nurmagomedov earned a title shot by beating Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August, and there's no way anyone should leapfrog the undefeated Dagestani. It might not be a pay-per-view blockbuster, but Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov will be one of the most anticipated matchups among hardcore fans next year. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Sean O'Malley vs. Petr Yan 2</h3>After seeing Yan beat Figueiredo, a rematch with O'Malley - ideally over five rounds this time - makes a lot of sense as a No. 1 contender bout. O'Malley pulled off a major upset against Yan in 2022, beating him via split decision. But it was an extremely controversial result. O'Malley needs a win before he can think about getting the title back, and so does Yan. Why not run it back and leave no room for questions? The winner would likely get the next title shot against either Dvalishvili or Nurmagomedov.<h3>Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo</h3>Though Sandhagen and Figueiredo are two of the top bantamweights in the UFC - No. 4 and No. 5, respectively - they're both coming off losses. And they need to get back on track if they want any shot of competing for a title in the foreseeable future. Stylistically, Sandhagen-Figueiredo could be a lot of fun, and it would be a good way to find out which one of them is a true title contender.<h3>Marlon Vera vs. Henry Cejudo</h3>Vera and Cejudo were scheduled to square off at UFC 292 in August 2023 before Cejudo pulled out with a shoulder injury. Neither has had any luck this year, going a combined 0-3 in the Octagon, so this matchup is a solid option for both men. Vera lost back-to-back fights to O'Malley (for the title) and Figueiredo, while Cejudo came up short to Dvalishvili. Cejudo likely has only one or two fights left before he retires for a second time, and a matchup with "Chito" would allow him to make one last push toward the top of the division.<h3>Jose Aldo vs. Dominick Cruz</h3>Cruz said last week he wants to have "one last dance" in 2025 before hanging up the gloves for good. Some would say the 39-year-old has been semi-retired for a while - he last fought in August 2022 and frequently serves as a UFC color commentator and analyst. If Cruz's next walk is indeed his last, the only opponent the promotion should consider is UFC Hall of Famer and former featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Two of the best fighters of the 2010s, Cruz and Aldo were champions at the same time in the WEC and then again in the UFC. A clash between these two legends would be iconic.

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5 UFC fights to make at bantamweight after Yan's win over Figueiredo

Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill will meet in a battle of former light heavyweight champions at UF...

Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill will meet in a battle of former light heavyweight champions at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.Prochazka <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCuRw6rs1OU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=0b3cbc9e-e69d-4312-a35f-f225a2fe31e2">announced</a> the matchup on social media Saturday after it was first mentioned on the UFC Macau postfight show.Prochazka is coming off a knockout loss to current champ Alex Pereira in a rematch at UFC 303 in June. That was his second knockout loss to Pereira, with the other occurring in November 2023. The 32-year-old Czech fighter earned a stoppage win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300 between his fights with Pereira.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Prochazka captured the title in June 2022 and vacated it that November due to an injury.Hill also challenged Pereira for the title earlier this year and lost via knockout, with his defeat coming in the UFC 300 main event in April. The 33-year-old American dominated Glover Teixeira to win the vacant belt in January 2023 but relinquished it later that year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon. Hill had won four straight before facing Pereira.Prochazka and Hill are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the 205-pound division, respectively.UFC 311, which marks the promotion's first event at the brand-new Intuit Dome, doesn't yet have a main event.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic looks on before the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 303 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Prochazka, Hill to fight at UFC 311 in January

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan put on a vintage performance as he defeated Deiveson Fi...

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan put on a vintage performance as he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) in the UFC Macau main event Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau, China.Yan handed Figueiredo, a former flyweight champ, his first loss since moving to 135 pounds.Yan earned his second win of the year, putting himself back in the title conversation and a somewhat recent three-fight losing streak fully behind him. Yan and Figueiredo were ranked No. 3 and No. 5 in the division coming in, respectively.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"No Mercy" called for a rematch with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in his postfight interview."Before my fight, Merab said Deiveson Figueiredo was No. 1 contender who deserved title fight," Yan said. "I want to say, Merab, what you say now when I beat No. 1 contender in my division? I want to do rematch with Merab. Let's go."Yan returned to the Octagon just eight months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. He suffered the injuries in a win over Song Yadong at UFC 299 in March.The 50-45 scores for Yan do not reflect the competitive nature of Saturday's matchup against Figueiredo, an entertaining, back-and-forth affair that primarily took place in the stand-up department. Yan mixed up his offense on the feet well and stayed quite a bit busier than Figueiredo, but Figueiredo had his moments and even wobbled Yan in the fourth round.Yan's output was indeed the difference-maker in the end, though, as he outlanded Figueiredo 121-53 in significant strikes. Neither fighter officially scored a knockdown, but Yan appeared to sit Figueiredo down with a short uppercut in the third round, and Figueiredo hurt Yan with a right hand in the fourth.Yan completed one of four takedown attempts, while Figueiredo converted two of eight. They each racked up about three minutes of control time on the ground.In the first round, Figueiredo scored an early takedown before Yan spun out of the position and and got on top two minutes later, landing a few punches. Yan closed the round with a knee. The second was very close, with Yan staying composed as he landed kicks to Figueiredo's head, body, and legs. Figueiredo connected on a big right hand and partially landed a spinning kick to the body that Yan shrugged off.Yan's best round was the third. He began to take control of the fight and pull away from Figueiredo as he hurt him with an uppercut and landed a flurry of heavy punches. Yan continued to chew Figueiredo up on the feet in the fourth, picking him apart with a variety of strikes. But Figueiredo made the round close by briefly flooring Yan with a right and then landing a big punch to the body.Yan stayed busier than Figueiredo in the fifth, sealing the victory on the judges' scorecards.The 31-year-old Russian has now won at least two in a row for the first time since 2020. Yan earned a unanimous decision win over Song in March, snapping a three-fight skid that consisted of split-decision losses to former champions Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley in 2022 and a lopsided defeat to Dvalishvili in 2023. Yan held the 135-pound belt from 2020-21.Figueiredo falls to 3-1 in the bantamweight division with the loss."What a fight," Figueiredo said. "Tonight was Petr Yan's night. ... I will come back stronger. I always do this."The 36-year-old Brazilian moved up in weight last year and beat Marlon "Chito" Vera, Cody Garbrandt, and Rob Font to become a top-five contender. Before Saturday, Figueiredo hadn't lost since dropping the 125-pound belt to Brandon Moreno in January 2023.

MACAU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 23: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia punches Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Galaxy Arena on November 23, 2024 in Macau, China.

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Yan beats Figueiredo in UFC Macau main event

Feng Xiaocan left the Octagon on a stretcher after a scary knockout loss at UFC Macau.  Shi Ming,...

Feng Xiaocan left the Octagon on a stretcher after a scary knockout loss at UFC Macau.Shi Ming, a 6-1 underdog, flattened Feng with a devastating head kick early into the third round of the Road to UFC strawweight final Saturday at Galaxy Arena.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SHI MING WHAT A HEADKICK <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCMacau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCMacau</a> <a href="https://t.co/xiB4azmc0B">pic.twitter.com/xiB4azmc0B</a>— Steven Rae (@stevenrae_) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevenrae_/status/1860267027228725568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The UFC and local medical officials agreed to take Feng out on a stretcher - and transport her to a hospital - because she was unconscious for four minutes, UFC commentator John Gooden said in an update on the broadcast before the start of the main card.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Out of precaution, Feng Xiaocan will be transported to a nearby hospital after her defeat at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCMacau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCMacau</a> <a href="https://t.co/SUJTenwwOg">pic.twitter.com/SUJTenwwOg</a>— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1860269609196167326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Feng was unresponsive when she first regained consciousness but began speaking in the ambulance, according to the broadcast. She was unaware of what had happened.Gooden said in a second update that Feng was moving all extremities.Feng underwent a precautionary CT scan of the head at the hospital, and a doctor said the results "looked good" upon preliminary viewing, per the broadcast. She has no fractures or injuries in her neck.The UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai will "follow up with the necessary concussion protocols" when she is cleared to go home, Gooden said.Feng suffered the first knockout loss of her career at UFC Macau, ending the 22-year-old Chinese fighter's eight-fight winning streak.Shi, a 30-year-old also from China, earned a UFC contract with the victory and has now won five in a row.

MACAU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 23: (R-L) Shi Ming of China kicks Feng Xiaocan of China in their Women’s Strawweight RTU Tournament Final fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Galaxy Arena on November 23, 2024 in Macau, China.

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Feng Xiaocan leaves on stretcher after head-kick KO

Gable Steveson can envision himself pursuing a career in mixed martial arts.  The two-time Divisi...

Gable Steveson can envision himself pursuing a career in mixed martial arts.The two-time Division I wrestling champion said Wednesday that being part of UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones' recent training camp has motivated him to step into the cage one day."That definitely put a major spark in me to go out there and do MMA," Steveson told "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB8GK48n_Xc">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>." "Not sure of the promotion yet, but Jon definitely lit a fire under me and was like, 'Hey, I think you should go back to wrestling, I think you should try MMA. We got a great team here in Albuquerque if you wanna join us.'"<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Steveson, 24, announced last week he was returning to the University of Minnesota for his fifth and final season of collegiate wrestling after more than two-and-a-half years away from the sport. He's scheduled to make his season debut Sunday.Steveson's return to collegiate wrestling came after a brief stint with the NFL's Buffalo Bills - during which he competed in three preseason games before being waived - and a three-year tenure in WWE's developmental program, which ended earlier this year.Steveson said he's dabbled in MMA training "for a while," including earlier this year at the Kill Cliff FC gym in South Florida under head coach Henri Hooft and former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. Most recently, Steveson spent several weeks working alongside Jones, who defeated Stipe Miocic last weekend at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden."It was just fascinating how I got into something so quick, and when I put on the gloves, everything felt like home base," Steveson said of training with Jones. "With the wrestling, with the boxing work, with the jiu-jitsu, I feel like I could be very good really quick."Jones believes Steveson has "everything it takes" to be a world-class MMA fighter."He's gonna be very scary when he decides to do MMA," Jones <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD3imLizSIs">said</a> at the UFC 309 postfight news conference. "He knows how to make men appear very weak, me being one of them. When he learns how to box and learns a little about jiu-jitsu, it's not a matter of if he'll become a UFC champion, it's when he'll be a UFC champion."When asked if he expects to compete in MMA between now and 2028, Steveson said it'd be too soon."I do not have an MMA fight. I do have a path that can lead me to somewhere great," Steveson said. "We are discussing it, and I think it'll be a really good path for me to get out there and showcase who I am."I'm gonna take some time to make sure everything is 100% ready and make sure that I am physically capable of being who I am - which I know I am, but you just know it's gonna take time like every other thing."

CHIBA, JAPAN AUGUST 6, 2021: Gold medalist USA's Gable Dan Steveson celebrates the golden medal after the men's freestyle 125kg wrestling competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo on August 6, 2021. (

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Gable Steveson sees 'path' to MMA after training with Jon Jones

A fight between former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Eryk Anders has been rescheduled f...

A fight between former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Eryk Anders has been rescheduled for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the promotion announced Wednesday.The bout will be contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds.Weidman and Anders were initially slated to square off at UFC 309 last weekend in New York, but Anders withdrew on fight day after contracting food poisoning.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Weidman is seeking his first winning streak since 2015 after beating Bruno Silva by technical decision in March.Anders is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jamie Pickett in March and is 2-1 in his last three Octagon appearances.Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is scheduled to defend his title against Kai Asakura in the UFC 310 main event.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Opponents Chris Weidman and Eryk Anders face off during the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-in at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2024 in New York City.

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Weidman-Anders rebooked for UFC 310

Jon Jones didn't retake the top spot on the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings after his win over Sti...

Jon Jones didn't retake the top spot on the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings after his win over Stipe Miocic.The UFC heavyweight champion moved ahead of light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira to claim the No. 2 position after beating Miocic with a devastating third-round TKO in his first title defense at UFC 309 on Saturday in New York. However, he didn't surpass lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev for No. 1.Jones posted Tuesday on X that he's fine with where he sits on the list.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Being ranked number 2 pound per pound at 37 years old, I’m happy with that. ☀️— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1858966954918506548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>UFC CEO Dana White <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/11/dana-white-mad-jon-jones-pound-for-pound-rankings-ufc-309">expressed frustration</a> with the voting panel Monday after it kept "Bones" out of the top spot. He's long argued Jones deserves to be ranked No. 1.Jones' nonchalant reaction is different than what we're used to hearing from the future UFC Hall of Famer. In 2020, Jones took issue with then-lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov calling to become the pound-for-pound king after Nurmagomedov beat Justin Gaethje and subsequently retired."People want me to stay quiet and let (Nurmagomedov) have his moment while I just sit back and watch my hard work get moved down the rankings," Jones wrote on X back then. "It's not fair to my family or the team of people who have sacrificed to get me this far."Jones, 37, returned from a 20-month layoff to defend his title against Miocic at Madison Square Garden, extending his UFC-record unbeaten streak to 20 fights.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Jon Jones battles Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City.

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Jones 'happy' with No. 2 pound-for-pound ranking after UFC 309

Usman Nurmagomedov will defend the Bellator lightweight championship against Paul Hughes at a PFL...

Usman Nurmagomedov will defend the Bellator lightweight championship against Paul Hughes at a PFL event Jan. 25 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.The PFL announced Wednesday a multiyear partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Sport Council to bring annual events to the city.All Bellator Champions Series events "will now be co-branded as 'Road to Dubai,' as each show culminates (in) the finale set in the new fight capital," a press release reads.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nurmagomedov is seeking his third consecutive title defense since becoming champion in 2022. The 26-year-old Dagestani is coming off a unanimous decision win over Alexander Shabliy in September. Nurmagomedov, a cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib, is undefeated as a pro at 18-0.Hughes has made a huge splash since signing with the PFL earlier this year. The 27-year-old Irishman upset former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee by split decision at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in October to move to 2-0 in the promotion. Hughes, a top prospect who came over from Cage Warriors, holds a 13-1 career record.

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Usman Nurmagomedov looks on before fighting against Alexander Shabliy during Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena on September 7, 2024 in San Diego, California.

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Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov to face Paul Hughes in Dubai

Jake Paul and Katie Taylor were the big winners at Netflix's inaugural boxing event.  Paul, the Y...

Jake Paul and Katie Taylor were the big winners at Netflix's inaugural boxing event.Paul, the YouTuber turned boxing star, cruised to a unanimous decision win over 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in the highly forgettable main event Friday at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Taylor, on the other hand, put on a show in the co-main event, eking out a decision win over Amanda Serrano in a thrilling rematch to remain the undisputed women's junior welterweight champion.Below, we put on our matchmaking hat and determine what could be next for Paul and Taylor.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Jake Paul</h3>Should fight: Tommy Fury vs. Darren Till winnerPaul will likely aim to fight another popular name in the combat sports world after hitting a home run - commercially - with the Tyson fight. His two matches against journeymen Andre August and Ryan Bourland in late 2023 and early 2024, respectively, failed to drum up much interest, and fighting over-the-hill former champions is what made Paul one of the biggest stars in prizefighting in the first place.Fury - who handed Paul his lone career defeat in 2023 - is scheduled to square off with former UFC title challenger Till in a boxing match Jan. 18 in Manchester, England. A fight against the winner could line up well for Paul, who took virtually no damage in the Tyson bout. Paul would either get an opportunity to avenge his only loss or add yet another win over an MMA fighter to his resume.Wild-card option: Jorge MasvidalMasvidal, one of the most popular fighters in the UFC at one point, is planning to return to MMA in 2025 after a two-year retirement. But a sizable paycheck could sway the 40-year-old to step into the ring against Paul. Masvidal made his boxing debut against former UFC star Nate Diaz in July, losing a controversial decision. Paul and Masvidal have talked about fighting each other several times, and the matchup would be a legitimate pay-per-view draw.<h3>Katie Taylor</h3>Should fight: Chantelle CameronTaylor and Cameron have unfinished business after fighting twice last year and taking home one victory apiece. Cameron shocked Taylor by a majority decision in May 2023, handing the Irishwoman her first career loss. But then Taylor got revenge with a convincing victory six months later to claim the undisputed women's junior welterweight title. Cameron is 2-0 since the loss to Taylor, capturing the fringe WBC interim belt, and she recently called for a fight against the Taylor-Serrano winner. It makes a lot of sense for Taylor and Cameron to complete the trilogy, especially given how much excitement their first two fights provided.Wild-card option: Amanda SerranoNo one would complain if Taylor and Serrano fought three times a year for the rest of their careers. They're two of the three best women's pound-for-pound boxers in the world, and both of their meetings were Fight of the Year candidates. The reality is many people thought Serrano should've gotten her hand raised in Friday's rematch. It was a competitive fight - and an absolute barn burner - so it's hard to call the decision a robbery, but many would argue that 2-0 Taylor doesn't quite tell the full story of their series. Taylor-Serrano 3 is a highly sellable fight, and they both seem interested in it. Doing the trilogy right away wouldn't be a bad option.

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What's next for Jake Paul, Katie Taylor after blockbuster wins?

Jon Jones retained the UFC heavyweight title for the first time Saturday, defeating Stipe Miocic ...

Jon Jones retained the UFC heavyweight title for the first time Saturday, defeating Stipe Miocic - and sending the former champion into retirement - with a devastating third-round TKO in the UFC 309 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.In the co-headliner, former lightweight king Charles Oliveira got back on track with a unanimous decision victory in a rematch with Michael Chandler.Here are four takeaways from the pay-per-view event.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Time to back up the Brink's truck</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/cropped_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755893/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185190455.jpg?ts=1731882298 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>UFC CEO Dana White isn't wrong when he says Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall is one of the biggest fights in the sport, especially after Jones dismantled Miocic the way he did. Now it's time for White and the rest of the brass to do everything humanly possible to convince Jones to stick around and unify the belts.By all accounts, that starts and ends with the number of zeros on Jones' check.Jones has made it very clear in the last week that he prefers a superfight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira over a unification bout against Aspinall. (Jones provided a few reasons why: legacy, money, and because Aspinall is a plain old "asshole.") But the heavyweight champ left fans with a sliver of hope Saturday night that maybe he really will fight Aspinall after all, saying it would take <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3131194" href="https://thescore.com/news/3131194">"f--k you money</a>." Unlikely, maybe, but not impossible.The UFC hasn't been known to back up the Brink's truck for too many fighters or fights, preferring to keep its 20% revenue share right where it is. But if there's any fight worth paying up for, this is it.Of course, it's also on Jones to agree to the fight. But he will if the money's right. The UFC already lost out on a big fight between Jones and Francis Ngannou, so it wouldn't be a good look if it loses out on this one, too, especially as a company that prides itself on giving fans the fights they want.It'd be a disservice to Jones, arguably the greatest fighter of all time; to Aspinall, the interim champion and the fighter many believe is the future of the division; and to the fans if the UFC doesn't do whatever it takes to make Jones-Aspinall happen.<h3>Miocic didn't belong in there</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/cropped_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755895/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185191821.jpg?ts=1731882355 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Miocic's performance confirmed everyone's biggest fear: He looked every bit the 42-year-old man he is and was several steps behind Jones.The UFC tried to justify giving Miocic a title shot by hyping him up as the greatest heavyweight in promotion history (which he is), and some people tried to reason that Miocic getting knocked out by Ngannou in 2021 didn't necessarily mean there was nothing left in the tank. But Father Time waits for no one, Ohio's finest included.It wasn't nearly as bad as 58-year-old Mike Tyson stepping into the boxing ring against 27-year-old Jake Paul, but Miocic was hesitant and didn't have much to offer in the way of offense. At least it wasn't a first-round blowout, but it was still painfully obvious that Miocic didn't belong.However, it was nice to see Miocic go out with a huge fight at the Garden, even if the bout itself didn't remotely go his way. Miocic is the most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history and deserved one last big payday before moving on to a new chapter in his life.<h3>Chandler was entertaining in defeat - again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/cropped_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755896/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185187435.jpg?ts=1731882401 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Chandler can win or lose, and he'll still put on a show every single time.Oliveira dominated the first four rounds of the co-main event, controlling Chandler on the ground for over 13 minutes and outstriking him in each round.But in the fifth round, Chandler hurt Oliveira with an overhand left, landed a flurry of ground-and-pound, and came oh so close to a dramatic Hail Mary knockout.And just like that, Chandler became the story of the fight, even though Oliveira held on for a lopsided decision win that likely secured him a title shot against the winner between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. Chandler got on the mic afterward and called out Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, and his next fight is guaranteed to be another big one.Chandler's ability to thrill has kept him relevant, even if his performances inside the Octagon have made it clear he's a level below the very best at 155 pounds.<h3>Bo Nickal hype cools down</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/cropped_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755897/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185185053.jpg?ts=1731882446 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>There are multiple ways to look at the first decision win of Bo Nickal's career, an underwhelming fight against Paul Craig that had the fans at Madison Square Garden booing and calling the three-time Division I national wrestling champion "overrated."Sure, it was a bit of a letdown since Nickal was a 17-1 betting favorite and was coming off three straight stoppage victories in the UFC. Most expected another ferocious finish and instead got a somewhat timid stand-up affair in which Nickal attempted zero takedowns and edged out Craig 54-47 in significant strikes. But Nickal still controlled the action for the most part against his toughest opponent yet, and these kinds of fight miles are crucial to his growth.Nickal is still a promising prospect - one dud of a fight won't change that. And hey, he still won all three rounds. But Saturday's victory was proof he still has a long way to go before he's a top middleweight in the UFC. Getting to work with some of the world's best coaches and fighters at American Top Team is huge for Nickal. His wrestling background promises to take him a certain distance, too, but Nickal needs time to evolve his game.

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UFC 309 takeaways: Dana White needs to pay up for Jones-Aspinall

Jon Jones wants the UFC to make it worth his while to step into the Octagon again - especially if...

Jon Jones wants the UFC to make it worth his while to step into the Octagon again - especially if it's against Tom Aspinall.After finishing Stipe Miocic in his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 309 on Saturday, Jones said it'd take a "very, very high" amount of money for him to forgo a superfight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira to unify the belts with Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champ."If I give (Aspinall) the opportunity to fight me, I want to be so compensated - I want to say I want that f--k you money," Jones <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD3imLizSIs">said</a> at the postfight press conference. "Honestly. That's just what it is. ... My life is perfect without him. I don't need him at all, and he needs me."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>During fight week, Jones was adamant he had no interest in facing Aspinall and went as far as to say he'd vacate the heavyweight title to set up a fight with Pereira. However, UFC CEO Dana White said he'd only make the Jones-Pereira matchup if the heavyweight champion fought and beat Aspinall first.Jones hinted at retirement several times leading up to Saturday's fight with Miocic, including Wednesday when he said he'd walk away from the sport if the UFC didn't want to book the Pereira fight.Jones said in the Octagon on Saturday that he'd likely continue his career - if the UFC pays him well.White said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5olmOUfrfc">said</a> at the postfight press conference that Jones "will be" paid adequately to face Aspinall."I know that Dana wants what he wants. He wants some big fights," Jones <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRqHDB-Q4Y0">said</a> on the postfight show. "I just wanna see if he's willing to compensate me. I see these guys out there making some really, really big bucks - Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and all that type of stuff. ... If he could consider me in that conversation, then I'd love to stick around. But I'm really ready for my life to be changed in a much different way."Jones added that his preference is still to face Pereira, even if it isn't for the heavyweight belt."I'm not really worried about the Tom fight," Jones said. "I'm really worried about the Pereira fight. That's what I want to do. If the UFC wants to have me back, then I think that's the fight they'll make."He added: "Tom can have the heavyweight championship. I don't really care about it. ... I've created something much bigger. I want Pereira."White said he lost even more interest in Jones-Pereira after seeing Jones dominate Miocic. The UFC CEO said he believes Jones would be "too big" for Pereira, a former middleweight. However, he'd at least entertain the matchup if they both want it."It just doesn't make sense to make that fight," White said. "If they both want it bad enough and they're both f-----g hounding me or something, maybe I would do it. ... And I'm sure the fans want to see it, I'm sure you want to see it. I guess we'll talk about it."White said he thinks Jones-Aspinall "would be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history by a long shot.""If that doesn't interest Jon Jones, then I don't know what else we can do," Aspinall <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY2nHmwp7vI">said</a> on the postfight show. "Everybody knows that this is the fight to make. ... This is the fight that has to happen now."Jones said he'd be satisfied if UFC 309 ended up being his final fight."If that was my last fight ever, then I'm cool with that," Jones said. "That was the way to do it. ... I think one of the really good things about negotiating is being willing to walk away from a deal. That's the deal that I want (the Pereira fight), and if that's not what the fans want, then I guess I'll say sayonara."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Jon Jones of the United States of America reacts after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic of the United States of America in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City.

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Jones seeking 'f--k you money' to face Aspinall

Boxer Tommy Fury and former UFC fighter Darren Till will square off in a boxing match Jan. 18 at ...

Boxer Tommy Fury and former UFC fighter Darren Till will square off in a boxing match Jan. 18 at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.The fight is being promoted by Misfits Boxing and will stream live on DAZN pay-per-view.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 💥 Tommy Fury and Darren Till lock horns in a HUGE start to 2025 in Manchester 👊 Who you backing? 👀 Watch live and exclusive worldwide on <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZNBoxing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DAZNBoxing</a> PPV 🍿 <a href="https://twitter.com/PrimeHydrate?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrimeHydrate</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/KickStreaming?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KickStreaming</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MF_DAZNXSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MF_DAZNXSeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/qyLCyXbrQG">pic.twitter.com/qyLCyXbrQG</a>— Misfits Boxing (@MisfitsBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/MisfitsBoxing/status/1858204768365420576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Fury is returning to the ring for the first time since beating KSI by unanimous decision in October 2023. Fury, the half-brother of former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson, is the only person to beat Jake Paul, earning a split-decision victory in February 2023. The 25-year-old Manchester native holds a 10-0 professional record with four knockouts.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Till competed in an exhibition bout in July - which marked his boxing debut - and won with a controversial TKO finish. The 31-year-old Liverpool native was scheduled to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the undercard of Paul's win over Mike Perry earlier this summer but withdrew from the bout.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Tommy Fury looks on during the Misfits Cruiserweight fight between KSI (Olajide Olayinka Williams) and Tommy Fury at AO Arena on October 14, 2023 in Manchester, England.

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Tommy Fury, Darren Till to meet in Jan. 18 boxing match

Jon Jones is still the baddest man in the UFC - though a certain Englishman may disagree.  Jones ...

Jon Jones is still the baddest man in the UFC - though a certain Englishman may disagree.Jones finished Stipe Miocic with a spinning back kick to the body to retain the heavyweight title in the UFC 309 main event Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The TKO finish came at the 4:29 mark of the third round.Jones ended a 20-month layoff as he defended the heavyweight title for the first time.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"HOW GOOD IS JONNY BONES?"<a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonnyBones</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC309?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC309</a> <a href="https://t.co/RFUsUppQfz">pic.twitter.com/RFUsUppQfz</a>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1858044576964939917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Miocic announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after the fight. The 42-year-old former two-time champion - widely considered the greatest heavyweight in UFC history - returned to the sport after a four-year hiatus to challenge Jones. Many expected Miocic would end his career if he came up short."I'm done," Miocic said in his postfight interview. "I'm hanging them up. I'm retiring."Jones' future, on the other hand, is not so clear. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall of England should be next in line for a crack at the undisputed title. However, Jones said earlier this week he isn't interested in unifying the belts with Aspinall and instead wants to face light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Jones was adamant he would retire if the promotion didn't book the Pereira fight.In the Octagon on Saturday, Jones revealed he will likely continue his career following the victory over Miocic. He didn't name any specific opponents but acknowledged he has "options.""As far as my future in the Octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire," Jones said. "I have some conversations to have with (UFC CEO) Dana (White) and (chief business officer) Hunter (Campbell). We have some negotiating to do, and if everything goes right, maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see."He added: "I know that we have options. I'm just gonna see what Uncle Dana wants and what Uncle Hunter wants, and you guys will hear about it soon, I'm sure."Jones dominated Miocic from start to finish. He dumped the challenger to the ground a minute-and-a-half into the first round and unleashed several devastating elbows from top control. Jones kept Miocic on the mat until the horn and opened up a cut on his cheek in the last few seconds.Miocic was tentative in the second round, seemingly wary of the takedown threat. Jones mixed up his offense well on the feet, landing kicks and knees to the body, jabs, and a solid counter left. Miocic had a bit more success to start the third, landing a few left hands and briefly backing Jones up toward the fence.However, Jones hurt Miocic with a right hand and continued to show off his many tools in the stand-up department, mixing in knees and kicks with punches. Jones caught Miocic with a clean left.With less than 40 seconds left in the third round, Jones spun and landed a devastating kick to Miocic's rib cage. Miocic immediately hunched over and, as Jones swarmed him, crumpled to the ground. Jones landed a few shots before referee Herb Dean stepped in.Jones earned the first finish in a UFC title fight stemming from a spinning back kick to the body and the sixth finish overall, according to <a href="https://x.com/MJCflipdascript/status/1858033830105354244">research analyst Michael Carroll</a>.With the victory, Jones improved to a career 28-1 (1 NC) and extended his UFC-record unbeaten streak to 20 fights. The only blemish in that span is a 2017 no-contest against Daniel Cormier. And the only other blemish on Jones' record is a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill in 2009 for landing 12-6 elbows, a type of strike that was legalized under the Unified Rules of MMA earlier this year.Jones was a longtime champion at light heavyweight before he moved up to heavyweight in March 2023 and submitted Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant title. The New York native was the eighth fighter in UFC history to win belts in two different divisions.Jones is now the fourth fighter in UFC history to successfully defend titles in two weight classes, joining Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Henry Cejudo.Miocic hadn't stepped into the cage since he dropped the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou in a March 2021 knockout defeat.Miocic said he "felt good" against Jones but wasn't able to follow his game plan."I just didn't do what I was supposed to do," Miocic said. "He won."The Ohio native captured the UFC heavyweight championship in 2016 and then again in 2019. Miocic, a surefire future Hall of Famer, finishes his career with a 20-5 record.

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Jones retires Miocic, retains UFC heavyweight title with vicious TKO

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira made it 2-0 against Michael Chandler in their re...

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira made it 2-0 against Michael Chandler in their rematch, defeating him via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) in the UFC 309 co-main event Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.Oliveira survived a dramatic fifth round in which Chandler hurt him with an overhand right and landed a barrage of ground-and-pound shots.The Brazilian won the first four rounds on all three judges' scorecards, using his trademark jiu-jitsu skill set to control Chandler on the ground. Oliveira converted four of nine takedown attempts and amassed over 13 minutes of control time.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Oliveira previously defeated Chandler via second-round knockout in May 2021 to capture the vacant 155-pound championship.Following the victory, Oliveira expressed interest in challenging the winner of the planned title bout between champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.Chandler, meanwhile, called out former champions Max Holloway and Conor McGregor."Maybe Max Holloway for the BMF belt," Chandler said of his next opponent. "Or Conor McGregor, if you can ever get your house back in order ... we've been wondering where you've been. Come beat me - if you can."Chandler returned to the Octagon for the first time since November 2022. He spent the last two years of his career waiting for a megafight against McGregor that failed to materialize. Chandler was scheduled to face McGregor at UFC 303 in June, but the Irishman withdrew with a broken toe. The two served as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 31" in 2023.Chandler is now riding a two-fight skid and falls to 2-4 in the promotion.Oliveira got back on track after suffering a split-decision defeat to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April. "Do Bronx" has alternated wins and losses in his last five appearances.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: (L-R) Charles Oliveira of Brazil sits on top of Michael Chandler of the United States of America in a lightweight fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City.

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Oliveira survives 5th-round rally, beats Chandler in lopsided decision

Bo Nickal was booed by fans in attendance at UFC 309 after the middleweight prospect went the dis...

Bo Nickal was booed by fans in attendance at UFC 309 after the middleweight prospect went the distance for the first time in his career, and he said afterward he believes the crowd reaction was uncalled for.Nickal remained undefeated with a unanimous decision win over Paul Craig in a main-card bout Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. All three judges scored the fight 30-27.Nickal, a former standout collegiate wrestler who's now 4-0 in the UFC, didn't attempt a takedown and instead relied on his striking to secure the victory. He outlanded Craig 54-47 in significant strikes.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Some fans in the crowd chanted "overrated" toward the end of the matchup."I felt great. I dominated for 15 minutes," Nickal said in his postfight interview. "These guys want blood. The reality is these guys are all professional fighters who have been training for a decade."I thought that was an amazing performance. I was happy with it."Nickal made his highly anticipated Octagon debut in March 2023 and rattled off three straight stoppage victories, two of which were submissions and one knockout.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Bo Nickal of the United States of America punches Paul Craig of Scotland in a middleweight fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City.

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Nickal goes distance, defends 'amazing' UFC 309 win over Craig

Mike Tyson doesn't regret returning to professional boxing for Friday's blockbuster fight against...

Mike Tyson doesn't regret returning to professional boxing for Friday's blockbuster fight against Jake Paul."This is one of those situations when you lost but still won," Tyson <a href="https://x.com/MikeTyson/status/1857886940097556646">wrote</a> Saturday on X, his first public comments since exiting the ring. "I'm grateful for last night. No regrets to get in (the) ring one last time."Tyson, 58, suffered <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3129911" href="https://thescore.com/news/3129911">a unanimous decision loss</a> to Paul, 27, in an eight-round bout at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event streamed live on Netflix.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The former heavyweight champion said in his postfight interview he wasn't sure if he'd officially retire after the defeat.Tyson was originally scheduled to face Paul in July but was forced to withdraw after suffering an ulcer flare-up on a flight in May. He shed some light on the health scare last week, saying he threw up blood and lost a total of 26 pounds. Tyson shared even more horrifying details Saturday."I almost died in June," he wrote. "Had eight blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25 pounds in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight. So, I won."Tyson competed for the first time since a 2020 exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. It was his first professional fight in 19 years."To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboys stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for," Tyson wrote.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: Mike Tyson fights during LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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Tyson: 'No regrets' about fighting Paul

Netflix announced that 60 million households worldwide tuned in for Friday's main event between J...

Netflix announced that 60 million households worldwide tuned in for Friday's main event between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.Paul, the 27-year-old YouTuber turned boxing star, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3129911" href="https://thescore.com/news/3129911">cruised to a unanimous decision win</a> over Tyson, the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, in the eight-round heavyweight bout at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Most Valuable Promotions, which promoted the event, said the Paul-Tyson fight peaked at 65 million "concurrent streams."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The boxing mega event dominated social media, shattered records, and even had our buffering systems on the ropes," Netflix's official X account <a href="https://x.com/netflix/status/1857906492235723244">posted</a> Saturday.In comparison, Super Bowl LVIII in February averaged 123.7 million viewers across television and streaming platforms.Netflix added that nearly 50 million households worldwide watched the co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Taylor edged out a unanimous decision victory in a thrilling rematch to retain the undisputed women's junior welterweight championship; she beat Serrano by split decision in April 2022.Their second fight is likely the most-watched professional women's sporting event in U.S. history, according to the streaming giant.Netflix has 280 million subscribers worldwide.Most Valuable Promotions said Paul-Tyson set a record for the biggest boxing gate in U.S. history outside of Las Vegas, surpassing $18 million. Approximately 72,300 fans attended the event.Friday's card was Netflix's first foray into live combat sports, though it didn't go off without a hitch. Thousands of subscribers reported streaming and buffering issues throughout the event, according to the website Downdetector. Paul acknowledged in the ring after his fight that he and Tyson "crashed the site."

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: Jake Paul punches Mike Tyson during LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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Netflix: 60M households watched Paul-Tyson fight

Eryk Anders was forced out of his preliminary bout against Chris Weidman at UFC 309 on Saturday i...

Eryk Anders was forced out of his preliminary bout against Chris Weidman at UFC 309 on Saturday in New York after coming down with an illness, it was announced on the broadcast.The event will proceed with 12 fights. Weidman said he was "gutted" after hearing about the cancellation."I am super bummed out," Weidman <a href="https://x.com/chrisweidman/status/1857929313263419737">said</a> in a video posted on X. "I felt so good for this fight. I was so ready. My head is spinning right now that this is happening."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Anders was seeking his second victory of the year after beating Jamie Pickett in March. Weidman, meanwhile, was looking to put together his first winning streak since 2015.The former middleweight champion last earned a technical decision win over Bruno Silva in March, which pushed his record to 1-1 since coming back from a broken leg.A heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and former champ Stipe Miocic will headline UFC 309, the promotion's annual event at Madison Square Garden.As a result of the Weidman-Anders cancellation, a heavyweight tilt between Marcin Tybura and Jhonata Diniz was moved up to the televised preliminary card.

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Anders out of UFC 309 bout vs. Weidman due to illness

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 309 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event...

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 309 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event in New York.<h3>Heavyweight championship</h3>Jon Jones (27-1, 1 NC) vs. Stipe Miocic (20-4)One of the greatest mixed martial artists we've ever seen, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns from a 20-month layoff to make his first title defense against former two-time champ Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Not too many people - including oddsmakers - are giving Miocic a shot to become the first to truly defeat Jones. theScore Bet has the 42-year-old as a +425 underdog. Jones is the rightful favorite, but don't have too much confidence in any scenario. Jones, 37, is coming off a devastating pectoral tear, which forced him out of a fight (due to injury) for just the second time in his UFC career. Neither of these guys are in their prime, which opens up the door - just a little bit - for chaos to ensue.That said, this is still Jon Jones we're talking about. He's the man who's never legitimately lost a fight, and the man who sliced through Ciryl Gane as if he was butter the last time he stepped into the Octagon back in March 2023. One of the many reasons he's a future Hall of Famer and a championship-caliber fighter in his late 30s is his fight IQ. Jones is one of the smartest minds in the fight game, and he knows exactly how - and where - to win fights.Sometimes it's on the feet, like when he fought an elite wrestler in Daniel Cormier. Sometimes it's on the mat, like when he fought an established Muay Thai fighter in Gane.On Saturday, I see Jones mixing things up but primarily using his ground game to get the job done.Miocic is a competent wrestler; longtime fans will remember he scored six takedowns and compiled over 16 minutes of control time to beat Mark Hunt pre-UFC title reign. But Miocic's best work over the last eight years has come standing up. There's an argument to be made that he's even a better pure boxer than Jones.Jones has many tools in the striking department that could be effective against Miocic, such as oblique kicks, elbows, and high kicks. But again, an aging and smart fighter like Jones will almost always take the path of least resistance. We haven't seen much of Miocic off his back, so expect Jones to try to win rounds by pushing the former champ against the fence and scoring takedowns.It's hard to say whether Jones will find a finish - Miocic is tough to put away - but I could see him either winning with ground-and-pound or a submission in the championship rounds.The pick: Jones, fourth-round submission<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/cropped_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755508/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184969058.jpg?ts=1731691494 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Lightweight bout</h3>Charles Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) vs. Michael Chandler (23-8)Charles Oliveira scored a knockout victory the first time he stepped into the cage with Michael Chandler three years ago. This time, I see the former UFC lightweight champion getting his hand raised with a trademark submission.Not only is Oliveira the more skilled, dangerous fighter on paper, but Chandler spent the last two years waiting for a fight with Conor McGregor that never materialized. Now Chandler is back to try to revitalize his career at the age of 38. That'll be tough to do in a deep lightweight division that tends to favor younger talent.Chandler absolutely has a puncher's chance - he nearly finished Oliveira in their first fight before succumbing to strikes himself - but it's exactly that: a puncher's chance. If Oliveira can keep Chandler at range on the feet, avoid the knockout blow, and then get hold of him, this is the Brazilian's fight to lose.The pick: Oliveira, second-round submission<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/cropped_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755509/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184960404.jpg?ts=1731691515 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Middleweight bout</h3>Bo Nickal (6-0) vs. Paul Craig (17-8-1)Middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is looking to keep the train rolling in his fourth UFC fight. But Paul Craig has played spoiler before and is hoping to do so again.Nickal is a whopping -1500 favorite on theScore Bet, which is quite wide given that Craig is his toughest challenge to date. But who are we kidding? Nickal's got this in the bag.Young fighters often make significant improvements between each fight, so expect to see some new tricks from Nickal. I suspect he'll keep things on the feet in this matchup, even though he's a phenomenal wrestler, simply because of the threat of Craig's submissions. We've seen Craig get knocked out before, and I'm afraid the Scottish fighter is in for a rough one again.The pick: Nickal, second-round TKO<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/cropped_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755510/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184959779.jpg?ts=1731691532 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Other main-card predictions: Karine Silva def. Viviane Araujo by decision; Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop by TKO

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UFC 309 predictions: Can Miocic shock the world vs. Jones?

Jake Paul cruised past Mike Tyson in their highly anticipated boxing match Friday night, winning ...

Jake Paul cruised past Mike Tyson in their highly anticipated boxing match Friday night, winning via unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 79-73) at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Paul handled Tyson with ease in what was an extremely forgettable fight between the YouTube star turned prizefighter and the former heavyweight champion. Paul appeared to carry Tyson to the scorecards and was booed after the fight.Tyson stepped into the ring for the first time since 2020 and competed in his first pro bout in 19 years.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He's the greatest to ever do it," Paul said of Tyson in his postfight interview. "I'm inspired by him. This man is an icon. It's just an honor to be able to fight him. It was really tough like I expected it to be."Paul outlanded Tyson 78-18 in total punches and 47-13 in power punches, controlling the action from start to finish. Tyson connected with a few shots, but he was inactive for much of the fight and appeared to have difficulty moving around.Paul-Tyson was sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as a professional bout despite Paul, 27, being more than three decades younger than Tyson, 58. It was the first live combat sports event to stream live on Netflix. (Widespread streaming issues seemed to overshadow what could've been a monumental night for the future of the broadcasting landscape.)Though Paul-Tyson was a pro bout, there were a couple of modifications to the rule set. The fight consisted of eight two-minute rounds (instead of the usual three minutes per round), and Paul and Tyson wore 14-ounce gloves (instead of the typical 12-ounce gloves).The matchup was originally scheduled to take place in July, but Tyson was forced to withdraw after suffering an ulcer flare-up on a flight.Tyson said he was "happy" with the outcome of the fight and wasn't surprised it went the distance."I came to fight," Tyson said. "I didn't prove nothing to anybody, just to myself."Tyson said he wasn't sure if he'll step into the ring again but didn't rule out the possibility. Tyson said he could "maybe" take on Paul's older brother Logan, who famously fought Floyd Mayweather in a 2021 exhibition bout. Logan, who was in the ring to celebrate Jake's victory, was confident he could beat Tyson.Paul said he tried to hurt Tyson "a little bit" throughout the fight but was "scared that he was gonna hurt me.""I did my best," Paul said.With the victory, Paul's pro record improves to 11-1 with seven knockouts. He's now riding a five-fight winning streak and hasn't lost since facing Tommy Fury in February 2023. The Ohio native's last three wins before Friday came via knockout.Tyson falls to a career 50-7-2 with the defeat to Paul. The former heavyweight champion squared off with Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout in November 2020 but hadn't competed professionally since a TKO loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.Paul said he can fight "anyone" he wants next after putting on "the biggest event" with Tyson and refused to make a specific call-out. However, Paul did address a potential matchup against unified super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez."We crashed (Netflix)," Paul said. "Everyone is next on the list. ... Canelo needs me, so I'm not gonna even try to call him out. He knows he needs the payday, so he knows where the money man is at."

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight during LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson by decision in blockbuster fight

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