Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal wants to return to the Octagon against ex-welterweight champion Le...

<p>Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal wants to return to the Octagon against ex-welterweight champion Leon Edwards.</p><p>Masvidal told "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izo_3OWO5fo">Submission Radio</a>" that he's interested in rescheduling a grudge match with Edwards and then fighting for the 170-pound title should he win.</p><p>"If the UFC wants to make this happen, this is what they do: Give me the Leon fight, and then after that, I fight whoever has that damn belt," Masvidal said. "Let's go. Leon just came off being the champion. Anyone else beats him, you give him the title shot. Why wouldn't they give (it to) me?"</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Masvidal, a former two-time welterweight title challenger, retired from mixed martial arts in 2023 but said last September he would "definitely" return to the UFC. Masvidal fought fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in a boxing match last July, losing by majority decision.</p><p>Masvidal and Edwards have an extensive history. They competed on the same UFC London card in 2019 and got into a physical altercation backstage after the event. Masvidal confronted Edwards and hit him with several punches, leading to the iconic "three-piece-and-a-soda" line.</p><p>The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 269 in December 2021, but Masvidal was forced out of the matchup due to an injury.</p><p>Edwards - who went on to become the welterweight champ in 2022 and lost the title last year - is coming off a fourth-round submission defeat to Sean Brady at UFC London last weekend.</p><p>Masvidal, 40, said he believes he would defeat Edwards "in every way, shape, and form."</p><p>"He can't wrestle me for five rounds, so I don't have to worry about the takedowns," Masvidal said. "And I know on the feet, he's fragile compared to me."</p><p>Masvidal, who came up short in a pair of title fights against Kamaru Usman in 2020 and 2021, said "it would mean everything" to return to the UFC and finally win a championship.</p><p>"Especially against (current champion) Belal (Muhammad)," Masvidal said.</p><p>He added: "Belal would definitely be a tough fight. ... But there's some areas where I think I'm better than him."</p>

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JULY 29: Jorge Masvidal holds the BMF Belt during the UFC 291 event at Delta Center on July 29, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Masvidal wants to make UFC return vs. 'fragile' Edwards

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will face Tyrrell Herndon in a 10-round fight June 27 ...

<p>Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will face Tyrrell Herndon in a 10-round fight June 27 in Wichita, Kansas, promoters told <a href="https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/44442330/former-champ-deontay-wilder-return-june-27-vs-tyrell-herndon">ESPN's Mike Coppinger</a> on Friday.</p><p>Wilder will be stepping into the ring for the first time in over a year. The 39-year-old suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang last June in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Wilder is riding a two-fight skid - which also includes a lopsided defeat to Joseph Parker in December 2023 - and is 1-4 in his past five appearances. He was last victorious in a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October 2022.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Promoter Joshua Chasse told Coppinger that the fight against Herndon is Wilder's "first step" in regaining the heavyweight throne.</p><p>"This is Wilder's legacy reloaded," Chasse said. "He's still one of the hardest punchers in boxing."</p><p>Wilder held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015-20 and made 10 successful defenses.</p><p>Herndon, a 37-year-old from San Antonio, has won three straight. He hasn't competed since last May. Herndon holds a 24-5 career record with 15 knockouts.</p>

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 23: Deontay Wilder looks on following the WBC International & WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker during the Day of Reckoning: Fight Night at Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Wilder to return vs. Herndon on June 27

It appears Conor McGregor's focus has shifted away from MMA competition - at least for now.  The ...

<p>It appears Conor McGregor's focus has shifted away from MMA competition - at least for now.</p><p>The former UFC two-division champion said Thursday night he's content with his career and that he's currently fixated on politics in his home country of Ireland.</p><p>"Last week, something happened to me," McGregor said at the BKFC 70 postfight press conference in Hollywood, Florida, according to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRJdVVjzTc">The Mac Life</a>. "I went to the White House. And my country - my heart bleeds for my country right now. There's a lot of stuff going on back home.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I'm happy with what I've done (in the UFC). There's something else for me that's in my gut right now. That's kind of where I'm going. So we'll see. Greatness doesn't rush."</p><p>Following a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, McGregor announced last week on X that he's planning to run for president in Ireland.</p><p>The 36-year-old hasn't stepped into the Octagon since breaking his leg in a July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. He was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 last June but withdrew two weeks before the event due to a toe injury.</p><p>McGregor reiterated that he has two fights left on his current UFC contract.</p><p>"The Notorious" said he recently received a fight offer from outside the promotion, and although it didn't materialize, he does indeed plan to compete again.</p><p>"There was an opportunity - or a deal, we'll say - to fight in Alcatraz, only recently," McGregor said. "There's an event going on in Alcatraz in, I believe, June. They came to me and it wasn't my worth. As a fighter, we've gotta know our worth. I hold every pay-per-view record in the book. I hold every gate record in the book. And my comeback will be slated as the greatest comeback, or the biggest, most anticipated comeback, of all time. So it has to be right.</p><p>"And right now, Ireland is in my thoughts. That's where I'm at. It will happen, I'm sure."</p>

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Conor McGregor prepares to fight Dustin Poirier in their lightweight bout during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

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McGregor: 'I'm happy with what I've done' in UFC

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira said Wednesday he thought about withdrawing fr...

<p>Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira said Wednesday he thought about withdrawing from his fight against Magomed Ankalaev after facing some obstacles throughout camp.</p><p>Pereira dropped the 205-pound title to Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier in March, losing by unanimous decision.</p><p>"(That was) one of the more complicated fights with everything that happened," Pereira said through an interpreter on "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N3Cej6oGV0">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Pereira didn't specify the issues he faced ahead of the Ankalaev fight, though he said he will "disclose everything" at a later date. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/3/25/24392810/morning-report-joe-rogan-claims-alex-pereira-fought-with-broken-hand-illness-at-ufc-313">said</a> last week that he'd heard Pereira fought Ankalaev "with a broken hand and norovirus," but Pereira said his hand was "fine."</p><p>"I do not try to take credit from Ankalaev," Pereira said. "Many people try to do that kind of thing. I'm not this type of guy. Everyone goes through problems. I'm sure he had his own problems, too. ... I don't want to use that as an excuse."</p><p>Even though the matchup didn't go his way, Pereira said he doesn't regret fighting Ankalaev at UFC 313.</p><p>"No," Pereira said. "I do not regret it, because like I said, I've conquered a lot. I've motivated a lot of people. Many times, I've pushed through things, I was able to overcome. Many times it worked, (but) this time was not my moment."</p><p>Pereira, also a former UFC middleweight champion, suffered his first loss as a light heavyweight against Ankalaev after rattling off three consecutive title defenses in 2024.</p><p>The 37-year-old Brazilian said he's "very motivated to win the belt back" and "100%" expects his next fight to be an immediate rematch against Ankalaev. Pereira said he would like to run it back with the 32-year-old Dagestani this summer, but that the UFC has yet to approach him with an offer.</p><p>"Nothing has come to me yet, but August is a good date," Pereira said. "As soon as the contract gets in, I'm signing it."</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: (L-R) Alex Pereira of Brazil faces Magomed Ankalaev of Russia in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Pereira considered not fighting at UFC 313, eyeing August rematch vs. Ankalaev

Colby Covington believes former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards should retire after his la...

<p>Colby Covington believes former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards should retire after his latest defeat.</p><p>Edwards came up short in the UFC London main event this past weekend, losing to Sean Brady via fourth-round submission. It was the first stoppage loss of his career.</p><p>Covington, a former interim champ who unsuccessfully challenged Edwards for the title at UFC 296 in December 2023, suggested Edwards no longer has the will to compete.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I kind of thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn't there anymore," Covington said on Tuesday's edition of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_IOcvdJDkg">Submission Radio</a>." "I could tell in the fight - I broke my foot immediately and he did nothing. He didn't try and come after me. He just tried to point-coast to a decision. I could tell after that fight he just wasn't hungry anymore.</p><p>"He's made too much money. I made him too much money at that press conference. I just don't think he's motivated anymore, and he should hang them up."</p><p>Brady beat Edwards in one-sided fashion, completing five takedowns, amassing 11 minutes of control time, and outstriking him 221-23 before forcing the tap with a guillotine choke.</p><p>Edwards has lost two in a row for the first time in his 28-fight career. The Jamaican-born Englishman dropped the belt to Belal Muhammad last July after successfully defending it twice against former champion Kamaru Usman and Covington. Edwards, 33, was unbeaten for seven years and 13 fights before his recent slump.</p><p>Covington, ranked No. 9 in the welterweight division, has hit a rough patch himself. The 37-year-old is coming off a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa last December and is 1-3 in his past four Octagon appearances.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: (R-L) Colby Covington punches Leon Edwards of Jamaica in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Covington: Edwards 'should hang them up' after UFC London loss

A pivotal women's flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber will headline UFC Fig...

<p>A pivotal women's flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber will headline UFC Fight Night on May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the promotion announced Tuesday.</p><p>Blanchfield and Barber are ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the division, respectively.</p><p>Blanchfield is coming off a unanimous decision victory over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC Edmonton in November. The 25-year-old is 7-1 in the Octagon. Her lone loss came against No. 1-ranked contender Manon Fiorot last March.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Barber will step into the cage for the first time since beating former title challenger Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299 last March. She was scheduled to headline UFC Denver against Namajunas last July but was forced to withdraw because of health complications. Barber, 26, is riding a six-fight winning streak.</p><p>The women's flyweight title will be up for grabs just weeks before the Blanchfield-Barber bout. Champion Valentina Shevchenko is scheduled to defend her belt against Fiorot in the co-main event of UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal.</p>

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 30: (L-R) Erin Blanchfield punches Manon Fiorot of France in a flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Boardwalk Hall Arena on March 30, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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Blanchfield-Barber will headline UFC's May 31 event

A California court sentenced former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to five years in pris...

<p>A California court sentenced former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to five years in prison for attempted murder.</p><p>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra sentenced Velasquez on Monday in San Jose on one count of attempted murder and multiple assault and weapons charges in connection to a 2022 shooting. <a href="https://x.com/NBCian/status/1904276337101259220">Ian Cull of NBC Bay Area</a> first reported the verdict.</p><p>Velasquez will be credited with 1,283 days for time served in jail and at home with an ankle monitor, shortening his sentence considerably, according to <a href="https://x.com/AmyLarson25/status/1904284671703503096">KRON4 News' Amy Larson</a>. His attorney, Renee Hessling, expects Velasquez will serve one year in prison, according to <a href="https://x.com/NBCian/status/1904286114133028969">Cull</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Today's results are bittersweet - we had hoped Mr. Velasquez would remain out of jail," Hessling said in a statement to <a href="https://x.com/mma_kings/status/1904308850687103254">MMA Junkie's Nolan King</a>. "However, the facts remain clear: Cain Velasquez is a good man, a devoted father, and a respected member of the community. What he and his family have endured has been nothing short of a living nightmare - one they did not deserve. Throughout it all, Cain has shown courage and strength of character. He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down today reflects the complexities of the situation and acknowledges the man behind the headlines. When he is released, he will continue to lead by example - protecting, contributing, and caring for the people around him."</p><p>Velasquez pleaded no contest to the charges last August. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office dropped a premeditated attempted murder charge - which carries a mandatory life sentence if a defendant is found guilty in a trial - as a result of the plea agreement.</p><p>Prosecutors were seeking a prison term of 30 years to life, while Velasquez's attorney asked the court for probation with no prison time, according to the <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/24/cain-velasquez-ufc-sentenced-attempted-murder-san-jose/">Mercury News' Robert Salonga</a>.</p><p>In February 2022, Velasquez was accused of repeatedly shooting at a vehicle carrying a man named Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez's then-4-year-old son at a daycare owned by Goularte's mother. Velasquez was accused of shooting Goularte's stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm and torso with a .40 caliber handgun during an 11-mile high-speed car chase. Bender suffered non-life-threatening injuries.</p><p>Goularte is facing one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. He pleaded not guilty in the case and is scheduled to go to trial June 2, according to <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/01/cain-velasquez-harry-goularte-arrest-court-trial-date">King</a>.</p><p>Velasquez, 42, spent about nine months in jail after his arrest and was released on a $1-million bail in November 2022.</p>

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 21: Cain Velasquez, right, appears for his arraignment with attorney Edward Sousa, who appeared with him, at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. Velasquez, the former UFC champion based out of San Jose, was charged with shooting at a man accused of molesting his child.

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Ex-UFC champ Velasquez sentenced to 5 years in prison for attempted murder

Sean Brady entered the UFC welterweight title mix Saturday with a dominant win over former champi...

<p>Sean Brady entered the UFC welterweight title mix Saturday with a dominant win over former champion Leon Edwards.</p><p>Brady submitted Edwards with a guillotine choke at the 1:39 mark of the fourth round in the UFC London main event at The O2 Arena.</p><p>It marked the first stoppage loss of Edwards' 28-fight professional career.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Brady smothered Edwards on the ground for the majority of the fight, completing five of seven takedown attempts and amassing over 11 minutes of control time. He outlanded the Englishman 221-23 in total strikes and 57-23 in significant strikes.</p><p>Brady accepted the fight on a month's notice after the UFC moved Edwards' original opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, to a title bout against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May.</p><p>"To be honest, I literally took this fight the day I got out of the hospital with my wife, with our newborn baby," Brady said in his postfight interview. "I knew this was a fight that I could do that in. I know I can do that against anybody in the division. I just showed that against one of the most prestigious champions as of recently. So I think I belong in the top three, top one for sure."</p><p>Brady and Edwards were the No. 5- and No. 1-ranked welterweights, respectively, coming in. A win of this magnitude would usually lead to a title shot, but Brady might need to fight once more to earn that opportunity. Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked No. 2 in the division, was unable to accept a May bout against Muhammad because of injury but is expected to still be next in line for the Muhammad-Della Maddalena winner.</p><p>The first round between Brady and Edwards was competitive and unfolded mostly on the feet. But from the second round onward, Brady outclassed the former champion in suffocating fashion. Brady dragged Edwards to the mat early into Round 2 and eventually took his back, applied a body lock, and softened up his body with punches. Brady looked for a kimura but Edwards escaped the submission.</p><p>In the opening minute of the third round, Brady took advantage of an ill-advised takedown attempt by Edwards and once again got him to the ground. Brady advanced to full mount and didn't give his opponent any room to breathe.</p><p>Brady landed a handful of punches on the feet to start the fourth and secured another takedown. He applied a single-arm, mounted guillotine choke and squeezed, forcing the tap from Edwards.</p><p>Brady is now riding a three-fight winning streak and is 18-1 as a pro. The 32-year-old Philadelphia native's lone career loss came against Muhammad in October 2022.</p><p>Edwards has now lost two in a row for the first time in his career. The 33-year-old, who was born in Jamaica and resides in Birmingham, England, also suffered his first defeat in London, falling to 5-1.</p><p>Edwards forfeited the title to Muhammad at UFC 304 in July after two successful defenses. He now holds a 22-5 (1 NC) record. Edwards went on a 13-fight unbeaten streak from 2016-23 before suffering the losses to Muhammad and Brady.</p>

Sean Brady (left) in action against Leon Edwards during the welterweight bout during UFC Fight Night at The O2, London. Picture date: Saturday March 22, 2025.

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Brady submits Edwards in 1-sided UFC London main event

UFC CEO Dana White teased Friday that a heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and ...

<p>UFC CEO Dana White teased Friday that a heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is all but signed.</p><p>"The fight's gonna happen," White told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYsB1eHbv_c">TNT Sports' Adam Catterall</a>. "It's just a matter of when now and getting it signed and done."</p><p>He added: "It's done, but it's not done. Not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date. But the fight's gonna happen. ... It's just a matter of getting it signed now."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Since Jones defended the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, White has remained optimistic that the long-awaited matchup between Jones and Aspinall would come to fruition.</p><p>But Jones hasn't seemed overly eager to unify the belts with the 31-year-old Englishman, saying after his win over Miocic that the UFC would need to pay him "f--k you money" to get him to agree to the fight.</p><p>Aspinall, who's held the interim heavyweight title since November 2023, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3247349" href="https://thescore.com/news/3247349">said</a> earlier this week that Jones "has to fight me or retire."</p><p>White said he thinks Jones-Aspinall will be the biggest fight in the division's illustrious and longstanding history.</p><p>"Me and my crew believe that this is probably the biggest heavyweight fight we've done," White said. "When we pull this off and actually make the fight, announce it, and start leading up to it, this will be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history."</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: UFC CEO Dana White holds a press conference after the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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White: Jones-Aspinall 'just a matter of getting it signed'

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett is interested in headlining a pay-per-view event against featherwe...

<p>UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett is interested in headlining a pay-per-view event against featherweight champion Ilia Topuria - even if there's no title on the line.</p><p>"I'd love to fight the chorizo, lad," Pimblett said Friday at a UFC London Q&amp;A event, according to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxQKCTji4SU">MMA Junkie</a>. "I've been saying it for years. I'd love to fight him. Now that he's moved up to '55, it's a real possibility.</p><p>"It looks like he's just sitting out, waiting for (lightweight champion) Islam (Makhachev), but I personally think I should be the one to welcome him to the lightweight division."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A rivalry formed between Topuria and Pimblett in 2022 when they competed on the same UFC card in London. The two got into an altercation at the fighter hotel in which Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria.</p><p>Pimblett said a fight against Topuria wouldn't need to be for a belt to perform well at the box office.</p><p>"It's got a built-in storyline," Pimblett said. "It wouldn't need a title on that pay-per-view. Me versus him could just headline the pay-per-view, know what I mean? You wouldn't need any other fight. It'd sell itself."</p><p>Their careers have played out in different lanes since the hotel incident, with Topuria running through the 145-pound division en route to a title win in February 2024 and Pimblett slowly rising to contention at 155 pounds. But a matchup between the two became a lot more realistic last month when Topuria decided he'd vacate his title to move up to the lightweight division and pursue a second championship.</p><p>Before Pimblett can seriously contemplate a fight with Topuria, though, there's someone he needs to get past first. The 30-year-old Liverpool native is scheduled to face former title challenger Michael Chandler in the UFC 314 co-main event in Miami on April 12.</p><p>Regardless, Pimblett is still confident he'd beat Topuria with ease.</p><p>"I think it'd be the exact same thing I'm gonna do to Michael Chandler: kick him in the face or submit him," Pimblett said.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Paddy Pimblett is seen on stage during the UFC 314 press conference at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Pimblett: Non-title fight vs. Topuria could headline UFC PPV

Tom Aspinall believes UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is running out of options.  "There's now...

<p>Tom Aspinall believes UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is running out of options.</p><p>"There's nowhere to go for Jonny," Aspinall told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehm_xK0Hj68">One On One's Adam Catterall</a> in an interview published Thursday. "He either has to fight me or retire now.</p><p>"And if he does retire, everyone knows that he will have been avoiding me."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Aspinall has sought a blockbuster matchup against Jones ever since claiming the UFC interim heavyweight title in November 2023. But Jones, who defended his belt for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, has shown a lack of interest in unifying the belts with the 31-year-old Englishman.</p><p>After his win over Miocic, Jones said the UFC would need to offer him "f--k-you money" for the Aspinall bout to materialize and that he preferred a superfight with then-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead.</p><p>However, Pereira no longer holds the 205-pound title after dropping a unanimous decision to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier in March. Aspinall believes Ankalaev's title win ruled out Jones-Pereira as a potential matchup.</p><p>"(Pereira's loss) couldn't have happened at a better time for me, personally," Aspinall said.</p><p>"There literally isn't another fight for Jon at the moment," he added.</p><p>UFC CEO Dana White <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3237948" href="https://thescore.com/news/3237948">said</a> earlier this month he's "very confident" Jones and Aspinall will fight this summer. Although Aspinall is getting tired of waiting around for Jones, he has no choice but to trust the UFC that the matchup will come to fruition.</p><p>"I don't know," Aspinall said when asked if he thinks the Jones fight will happen. "I want it to, obviously. I think I've been talking about it for, like, three years now. In all honesty, I've been in the rooms with the UFC brass - Dana, Hunter (Campbell), the rest of them - a few times, and they've told me it's happening. And that's all I can go off."</p><p>He added, "When I've sat down and spoken to them, they're confident it happens. So, I trust that it's gonna happen if they're telling me that."</p>

Tom Aspinall during the Heavyweight fight at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday July 27, 2024.

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Aspinall: Jones 'has to fight me or retire'

Warning: Video contains coarse language  KSI has been forced to withdraw from his March 29 boxing...

<p><em>Warning: Video contains coarse language</em></p><p>KSI has been forced to withdraw from his March 29 boxing match against Dillon Danis in Manchester, England, due to an illness, Misfits Boxing announced Friday.</p><p>The event will be rescheduled for a later date.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"A further update will be issued next week, including a new date for the event," Misfits Boxing <a href="https://x.com/MisfitsBoxing/status/1903127177505206756">said</a> in a statement.</p><p>This was the second time a matchup between KSI, a YouTube star turned prizefighter, and Danis, an MMA veteran, has been called off. They were initially scheduled to fight in January 2023, but Danis pulled out less than two weeks before the event.</p><p>KSI shed some light on his illness in a video posted to social media.</p><p>"My body has legit just given up," KSI said. "I'm currently in bed, taking antibiotics, trying to recover. But I'm struggling. ... I've been ill for almost three weeks, and it's just not gotten better. I've had doctors come around to try to decipher what is going on. And honestly, I've never been this ill for this long in my life."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHd-nGCta4M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHd-nGCta4M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>KSI, 4-1 (1 NC) as a professional boxer, was looking to get back on track from a unanimous decision loss to Tommy Fury in October 2023.</p><p>Danis, meanwhile, was set to compete for the first time since suffering a disqualification loss to Logan Paul in his boxing debut on the KSI-Fury undercard. Danis holds a 2-0 record in pro MMA but hasn't competed in that sport since 2019.</p><p>"I want to move the fight to another day, because I still want to knock out Dillion Danis," KSI said. "I didn't train this hard for nothing."</p><p>A fight between UFC veterans Darren Till and Darren Stewart was scheduled to co-headline the KSI-Danis card.</p>

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: KSI (Olajide Olayinka Williams) reacts 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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KSI vs. Dillon Danis postponed due to illness

Former UFC title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi is "very close" to reaching a deal to return to the p...

<p>Former UFC title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi is "very close" to reaching a deal to return to the promotion, sources told <a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/1902795448466936209">Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani</a>.</p><p>The UFC has discussed booking a flyweight bout between Horiguchi and No. 11-ranked contender Tagir Ulanbekov for a potential June event in Azerbaijan, Helwani added.</p><p>Horiguchi, the current Rizin FF flyweight champion, left the UFC on a three-fight winning streak in 2016. The 34-year-old Japanese fighter signed with Rizin FF and rose to stardom in his home country, capturing the promotion's flyweight and bantamweight titles. He also competed six times in the now-defunct Bellator, where he won the bantamweight belt.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Horiguchi trains out of American Top Team in Florida alongside UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.</p><p>Horiguchi was 23 when he began his first Octagon stint in 2013. He went 7-1, with his lone loss coming in a 125-pound title fight against Demetrious Johnson. Horiguchi has compiled a 16-3 (1 NC) record since his departure.</p><p>Horiguchi is coming off a unanimous decision win over Nkazimulo Zulu in his first Rizin FF flyweight title defense last December. He's riding a six-fight unbeaten streak.</p>

HONOLULU, HAWAII - APRIL 19: Kyoji Horiguchi addresses the media ahead of his Flyweight bout for Bellator 295 on April 19, 2023, at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30674670/related

Report: UFC close to re-signing Horiguchi

Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will return to action against Miranda Maverick at UFC ...

<p>Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will return to action against Miranda Maverick at UFC Fight Night on June 14, sources told <a href="https://x.com/DamonMartin/status/1902777569910431923">MMA Fighting's Damon Martin</a>.</p><p>Maverick also <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbe2jjRhaw/?hl=en">announced</a> the women's flyweight matchup on social media.</p><p>The June 14 event is reportedly expected to take place in Atlanta, though the promotion has yet to confirm its location.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Namajunas is looking to get back on track from a unanimous decision loss to Erin Blanchfield at UFC Edmonton last November. The 32-year-old is 2-2 since moving up to 125 pounds in 2023. Namajunas is ranked No. 6 at women's flyweight.</p><p>Maverick is riding a four-fight winning streak and hasn't lost since facing Jasmine Jasudavicius in June 2023. She's ranked No. 12 in the division.</p><p>Maverick revealed on Instagram that she has trained with Namajunas extensively and looks forward to continuing to do so after their fight.</p><p>"I watched (Namajunas) fight as I was coming up in the sport, and then I got to train with her on a regular basis," Maverick wrote. "We have been training together for the past few years but, luckily, train primarily at different gyms. Now it's time to duke it out in front of the world and then go back to sharpening each other's tools."</p>

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - NOVEMBER 01: Rose Namajunas poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Rogers Place on November 01, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Report: Namajunas to return vs. Maverick at June UFC event

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis was in talks with Jake Paul for an exhibition bout...

<p>WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis was in talks with Jake Paul for an exhibition bout this summer before he fought Lamont Roach Jr., sources told <a href="https://danrafael.substack.com/p/sources-tank-davis-jake-paul-exhibition">Fight Freaks Unite's Dan Rafael</a>.</p><p>Davis' team reportedly broke off discussions with Paul after the Roach fight, which headlined a March 1 pay-per-view event in Brooklyn and ended in a controversial majority draw. Davis opted to activate a rematch clause instead.</p><p>The Davis-Roach rematch is being planned for June 21 in Las Vegas or June 28 in Atlanta or Miami, sources told Rafael.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>An exhibition matchup between Davis and Paul would've been a blockbuster, as they're two of the biggest stars in boxing. Davis, undefeated at 30-0-1, is known for his devastating knockout power. Meanwhile, Paul, a YouTube star turned prizefighter, was involved in arguably the biggest - and most controversial - fight of 2024, defeating former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson by unanimous decision last November.</p><p>With Davis focused on Roach, Paul is still seeking his next opponent. "The Problem Child" was briefly linked to a blockbuster matchup against super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez in February, but it fell apart at the last minute after Álvarez signed a multi-fight deal with Riyadh Season instead.</p><p>Paul attended Davis-Roach earlier in March at Barclays Center to scope out his potential next opponent, but it wasn't meant to be. Roach, the WBA junior lightweight champion, shined as a massive underdog, outlanding Davis 112-103 in total punches.</p><p>Controversy surrounded the fight's result because the referee didn't rule a knockdown when Davis took a knee in the ninth round.</p><p>Roach's team appealed the bout's decision to the New York State Athletic Commission. However, the commission didn't overturn the result, saying in a ruling that referee Steve Willis should've declared the knee a knockdown but that it "was not outcome-determinative."</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Gervonta Davis in action against Lamont Roach Jr. during their bout for Davis' WBA lightweight title at Barclays Center on March 01, 2025 in New York City.

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Report: 'Tank' Davis was in talks with Jake Paul before Roach draw

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted Thursday to include boxing in the 202...

<p>The International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted Thursday to include boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.</p><p>The IOC executive board approved the addition of boxing Monday before Thursday's final vote.</p><p>World Boxing, a governing body formed in 2023, will organize the tournament for the first time. The IOC granted provisional recognition to World Boxing in February, a key step in putting the sport back on the program in 2028.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I thank you for the approval of having boxing back," IOC president Thomas Bach said Thursday, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/44326723/boxing-gets-ioc-approval-spot-los-angeles-olympics">ESPN</a>. "We can look forward to a great boxing tournament."</p><p>Significant doubts arose about boxing's Olympic future after the IOC initially excluded the sport from the 2028 Games.</p><p>The IOC ran the boxing tournament at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Olympics in 2024 after its relationship with the International Boxing Association (IBA) soured. The committee officially stripped the IBA of recognition in 2023 for failing to address governance and finance concerns and implement reform.</p><p>The IOC said last year it needed a new global body to replace the IBA.</p><p>"This is a great day for boxers, boxing, and everyone connected with our sport at every level across the world," World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst said.</p><p>He added, "World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right, and we are determined to be a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Movement."</p>

Abdumalik Khalokov in red of Uzbekistan competes with Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan during the men's 57kg final of boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 10, 2024.

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Boxing approved for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Jan Blachowicz has his sights set on a rematch with newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion ...

<p>Jan Blachowicz has his sights set on a rematch with newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev.</p><p>Blachowicz, who's scheduled to face Carlos Ulberg in the UFC London co-main event Saturday, said he wants to run it back with Ankalaev should he emerge victorious.</p><p>"I've got unfinished business with Ankalaev," Blachowicz <a href="https://x.com/UFCNews/status/1902041957230362975">said</a> in a UFC-produced interview. "But of course, I've got a job to do this Saturday and I focus about this. But I believe I'm gonna be a winner this Saturday, so maybe after that, I believe we have to finish what we started with Ankalaev."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Blachowicz and Ankalaev fought to a split draw in a vacant 205-pound title fight at UFC 282 in December 2022.</p><p>Ankalaev, who's unbeaten in the Octagon since then, dethroned Alex Pereira at UFC 313 earlier in March to become the new champion. The UFC hasn't scheduled Ankalaev's first title defense yet, though the Dagestani said he's willing to give Pereira an immediate rematch.</p><p>Blachowicz has fought just once since his bout against Ankalaev, dropping a split decision to Pereira at UFC 291 in July 2023. Multiple shoulder surgeries have sidelined him since then.</p><p>Blachowicz, a 42-year-old former champion from Poland, is seeking his first victory since May 2022 against Ulberg, the No. 6-ranked light heavyweight. Ulberg, 34, is a rising contender at 205 pounds and has won seven in a row.</p><p>Blachowicz said he sees himself knocking Ulberg out in the third round to potentially set up a second date with Ankalaev.</p><p>"He's got a big win streak, so I just think about how to stop him," Blachowicz said of Ulberg. "It's time to stop him. I believe I'm gonna be the one who stops his seven wins in a row."</p>

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JULY 28: Jan Blachowicz of Poland poses on the scale during the UFC 291 ceremonial weigh-in at Delta Center on July 28, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Blachowicz eyes 'unfinished business' with Ankalaev after UFC London

Middleweight contender Roman Dolidze got revenge against Marvin Vettori in their rematch.  Dolidz...

<p>Middleweight contender Roman Dolidze got revenge against Marvin Vettori in their rematch.</p><p>Dolidze defeated Vettori via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was Vettori's first Octagon appearance in 21 months.</p><p>With the victory, Dolidze avenged his unanimous decision loss to Vettori at UFC 286 in March 2023.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It was a big and important test for me," Dolidze said in his postfight interview. "Five rounds. I'm (competing) at a high level. I'm in here with killers, monsters. I need to be ready for anything."</p><p>Dolidze stayed busier than Vettori in what was purely a stand-up fight. Dolidze outlanded his opponent 141-111 in significant strikes and mixed up his arsenal well, connecting with heavy punches and kicks.</p><p>The 36-year-old Georgian overcame a big moment from Vettori in the third round - Vettori rocked Dolidze with a left hand early in the round. He followed up with a few more big punches, but Dolidze survived. That was the only round Vettori took on the judges' scorecards.</p><p>Dolidze stung Vettori with a hard shot in the fourth round and caught him with a knee in the fifth as he sealed the biggest victory of his career.</p><p>Dolidze is now riding a three-fight winning streak. The No. 12-ranked middleweight will likely move into the top 10 after beating Vettori, who was No. 8 coming in.</p><p>Dolidze set his sights on a pair of former middleweight champions for his next matchup.</p><p>"I deserve a top-five fight. 100%," he said. "There are two realistic fights for me: it's (Robert) Whittaker or (Israel) Adesanya. Let's go. Just give me a date. That's all I need."</p><p>Vettori returned to the Octagon for the first time since June 2023 and has now lost two straight. The 31-year-old Italian is a former title challenger at 185 pounds.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: (R-L) Roman Dolidze of Georgia punches Marvin Vettori of Italy in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30623847/related

Dolidze avenges loss, beats Vettori in UFC main event

Jeremy Stephens has re-signed with the UFC after more than three years away.  The veteran MMA fig...

<p>Jeremy Stephens has re-signed with the UFC after more than three years away.</p><p>The veteran MMA fighter will make his return against Mason Jones on May 3 in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, the promotion announced early Thursday morning.</p><p>The lightweight fight will mark Stephens' 35th appearance in the Octagon.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Stephens hasn't competed in MMA since November 2022, but he's returning to the UFC after an impressive win in bare-knuckle fighting earlier this year. Stephens defeated former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez via TKO in the main event of BKFC KnuckleMania 5 in January. Stephens revealed after the victory he was a free agent.</p><p>The UFC parted ways with Stephens, 38, in early 2022 on the heels of a six-fight winless streak. He signed with the PFL for its 2022 season but went 1-2 and didn't make the playoffs.</p><p>"Lil Heathen" then transitioned to boxing, where he fought former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo to a draw in April 2023 and lost to Chris Avila on the Jake Paul-Nate Diaz undercard that August.</p><p>Near the end of 2023, Stephens signed a deal with BKFC. He earned wins over Jimmie Rivera and Bobby Taylor before stopping Alvarez to lift his BKFC record to 3-0.</p><p>Now, Stephens - whose first UFC stint began in 2007 - will be seeking his first Octagon victory since he knocked out Josh Emmett in February 2018.</p><p>His opponent, Jones, is also returning to the UFC for a second tenure. The 29-year-old Welshman went 1-2 (1 NC) in the promotion from 2021-22 but has since won four in a row. Jones is a former Cage Warriors welterweight and lightweight champion.</p><p>UFC Des Moines will mark the promotion's first event in Iowa since UFC 26 in June 2000.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 17: (L-R) Jeremy Stephens battles Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 17, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Stephens re-signs with UFC for Des Moines fight

A middleweight bout between Bo Nickal and Reinier de Ridder is set for UFC Fight Night in Des Moi...

<p>A middleweight bout between Bo Nickal and Reinier de Ridder is set for UFC Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 3, the promotion announced.</p><p>Nickal will look to earn his fifth straight victory in the Octagon. The 29-year-old American Top Team product is coming off a unanimous decision win over Paul Craig at UFC 309 last November. His three other victories in the promotion have come via finish.</p><p>Nickal, a former standout collegiate wrestler, holds an undefeated pro record of 7-0.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>De Ridder, a former ONE Championship two-division titleholder, is 2-0 since signing with the UFC last year. The 34-year-old Netherlands native submitted Gerald Meerschaert in his debut last November before choking out Kevin Holland in the first round at UFC 311 in January. He's ranked 13th in the division.</p><p>Bantamweight contenders Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen will headline the event, while Jeremy Stephens will return to the UFC to take on Mason Jones at lightweight.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Bo Nickal prepares for a middleweight bout against Valentine Woodburn during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nickal won with a first-round knockout.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30583577/related

Nickal to face De Ridder at UFC Des Moines

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