One of the biggest rematches of the year is good to go for Saturday.  Undisputed light heavyweigh...

<p>One of the biggest rematches of the year is good to go for Saturday.</p><p>Undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and former WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol made weight Friday before they square off for the second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Beterbiev and Bivol weighed in at 175 and 174.1 pounds, respectively.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Beterbiev defeated Bivol by majority decision last October to retain the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles and add the WBA belt, becoming the first undisputed 175-pound champion since 2000.</p><p>Bivol, 23-1 as a professional, is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career. Beterbiev, meanwhile, holds a 21-0 career record with 20 knockout wins.</p>

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 20: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol face off, ahead of their Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title Fight during press conference as part of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Boulevard City on February 20, 2025 in Riyadh, .

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Beterbiev, Bivol make weight for undisputed title rematch

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad doesn't anticipate it being very difficult to get past J...

<p>UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad doesn't anticipate it being very difficult to get past Jack Della Maddalena.</p><p>Muhammad, who's scheduled to defend his title for the first time against Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal, said he sees himself winning in every area.</p><p>"If I'm being honest with you, I'm better everywhere," Muhammad said Thursday on his "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/wrZWg9H7LCs">Remember The Show</a>" podcast. "People are gonna say and come out, like, 'Oh, he's got hands, he's got hands.' But I think they just underestimate my hands and my striking."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Muhammad was expected to face Shavkat Rakhmonov next, but UFC CEO Dana White announced earlier this week that Rakhmonov couldn't accept the fight due to an injury.</p><p>As a result, the promotion pulled Della Maddalena from the UFC London main event against former champion Leon Edwards on March 22. He'll now challenge Muhammad instead.</p><p>Della Maddalena, ranked No. 4 in the division, is 7-0 in the Octagon and has won 17 in a row overall. His biggest victory to date is a come-from-behind, third-round TKO of Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 last March.</p><p>Muhammad said he believes Della Maddalena will be in for a rude awakening in his first title fight.</p><p>"He has really good hands, he has good power, but he breaks a lot of these guys down because he hasn't fought anybody like me," Muhammad said. "His biggest weakness is his experience. He's never been in a big fight like that. He hasn't had a pressure fight yet. He hasn't fought a pressure fighter yet.</p><p>"So, for me, I think I'm gonna go in there and I'm gonna walk through him - like I thought I was gonna do to everybody else, and I've done to everybody else."</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Belal Muhammad of the United States looks on after a welterweight fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Muhammad says he'll 'walk through' Della Maddalena at UFC 315

It's easy to forget that Henry Cejudo is one of the greatest fighters in MMA history - particular...

<p>It's easy to forget that Henry Cejudo is one of the greatest fighters in MMA history - particularly in the lighter weight classes - when you see he's more than a 2-1 betting underdog for the UFC Seattle main event against Song Yadong.</p><p>Gone are the days of "Triple C" doing the unthinkable by dethroning Demetrious Johnson, knocking out TJ Dillashaw in under a minute to save the flyweight division, and finishing another all-time great in Dominick Cruz. Cejudo, 38, has lost two in a row since coming out of retirement in 2023, and at this point in time, he's far removed from the bantamweight title conversation.</p><p>Granted, Cejudo shouldn't feel <em>too</em> bad about his recent losses. He had two close fights against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Aljamain Sterling, the latter of whom is now a top-10 contender at featherweight. No shame in that.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Based on what we've seen from Cejudo in his last two fights (keeping in mind that one judge did score the Sterling fight in his favor), there's still a chance he could turn things around and perhaps even contend for a title again. Time isn't on his side, but we've seen some pretty unreal career turnarounds in this sport.</p><p>This is why Saturday's fight against Song is so important for Cejudo.</p><p>When Cejudo was in his prime five or six years ago - when he was a simultaneous two-division champion - he wouldn't have had much issue beating Song. The 27-year-old Chinese fighter is very good, but he has a clear ceiling in the bantamweight division, at least in his current form. (A unanimous decision loss to former champ Petr Yan last March was pretty evident of that.)</p><p>So, if Cejudo is even remotely the same fighter he was back in 2019 or 2020, he'll come out on top at UFC Seattle. But if the oddsmakers are right and Cejudo does suffer his third straight loss - something that has never happened before - he'll need to ask himself if there's any point in continuing.</p><p>Sure, Cejudo could theoretically fight until an athletic commission deems him unfit to do so, but it'd just be for the paycheck at that point. Right now, the Olympic gold medalist can hang on to the fact he was competitive against the current bantamweight champion just one year ago. But any glimmer of hope - in terms of being a contender or getting the belt back - all but disappears with a loss to Song.</p><p>And given that Cejudo has already retired from the sport once before, it wouldn't be surprising to see him walk away - for good this time - if the fight goes the wrong way.</p>

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Cejudo needs win at UFC Seattle to keep career alive

Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire has agreed to a deal with the UFC...

<p>Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire has agreed to a deal with the UFC and will make his debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami.</p><p>UFC CEO Dana White announced the news Wednesday.</p><p>Freire was granted his release from the PFL in January after he publicly criticized the promotion for not keeping its fighters active and communicating with them. The Brazilian featherweight came under contract with the PFL when it acquired Bellator in late 2023.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It's time to conquer a new crown," Freire <a href="https://x.com/PatricioPitbull/status/1892426802426990835">wrote</a> on X. "Featherweights, your future king has arrived."</p><p>Freire was the face of Bellator and is considered one of the greatest fighters who has never fought in the UFC. He held the Bellator featherweight title on three occasions and the lightweight belt once.</p><p>The 37-year-old most recently stepped into the cage last March, finishing Jeremy Kennedy by third-round TKO in a featherweight title defense at Bellator Champions Series Belfast.</p><p>Freire's most notable victory came against current UFC lightweight Michael Chandler in 2019. Freire knocked out Chandler in 61 seconds to capture the Bellator lightweight title. He has also beaten the likes of AJ McKee, Juan Archuleta, Emmanuel Sanchez, and Adam Borics.</p><p>Freire was Bellator's second-ever simultaneous two-division champion, defended the 145-pound title nine times overall, and has the most wins in Bellator history (24).</p><p>Rodriguez will look to snap a two-fight skid when he welcomes Freire to the Octagon. The 32-year-old Mexico native suffered a submission loss to Brian Ortega in February 2024 and a TKO loss to then-champ Alexander Volkanovski in a July 2023 featherweight title bout. Rodriguez is a former UFC interim champion and is ranked No. 5 in the division.</p>

Northern Ireland , United Kingdom - 22 March 2024; Patricio Pitbull, right, in action against Jeremy Kennedy in their featherweight title bout during the Bellator Champions Series at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

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Patricio 'Pitbull' signs with UFC, will debut vs. Rodriguez 

Sean Brady agreed to face former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC Lond...

<p>Sean Brady agreed to face former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London on March 22 after the promotion <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221689" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221689">pulled</a> Jack Della Maddalena from the card, UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday.</p><p>Brady, ranked No. 5 in the division, could secure a title shot with a win over Edwards. The 32-year-old Philadelphia native is coming off a unanimous decision win over Gilbert Burns in a UFC Fight Night main event last September. Brady has won two in a row and holds a 17-1 career record. His lone professional loss came against current 170-pound champ Belal Muhammad in 2022.</p><p>Edwards will be making his first Octagon appearance since dropping the title to Muhammad at UFC 304 last July in his home country of England. The unanimous decision defeat ended Edwards' 13-fight unbeaten streak.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 33-year-old Birmingham resident captured the championship with a knockout win over Kamaru Usman in 2022 and defended it twice - against Usman and Colby Covington.</p><p>UFC London will also feature a pivotal light heavyweight matchup between former champ Jan Blachowicz and Carlos Ulberg.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Sean Brady punches Gilbert Burns of Brazil in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Brady steps in vs. Edwards at UFC London with Della Maddalena out

The UFC's first trip to Montreal in over a decade will feature a pair of title fights.  Belal Muh...

<p>The UFC's first trip to Montreal in over a decade will feature a pair of title fights.</p><p>Belal Muhammad will defend the welterweight championship against Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 315 main event May 10 at Bell Centre, UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday.</p><p>Women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will face Manon Fiorot in the co-main event.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Della Maddalena, the fourth-ranked welterweight, is getting an unexpected crack at Muhammad's title after No. 2 Shavkat Rakhmonov was unable to take the fight due to an injury.</p><p>The promotion <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221694" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221694">pulled</a> Della Maddalena from his UFC London main-event bout against Leon Edwards on March 22 so he could challenge Muhammad for the title instead.</p><p>Muhammad will be making his first defense since dethroning Edwards in a unanimous decision victory at UFC 304 last July. The 34-year-old is riding an 11-fight unbeaten streak and hasn't lost since 2019.</p><p>Muhammad was scheduled to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last December but withdrew after developing a bone infection in his foot. Rakhmonov went on to defeat short-notice replacement Ian Machado Garry by decision.</p><p>"Big thanks to the UFC for offering me the shot at the belt first," Rakhmonov <a href="https://x.com/Rakhmonov1994/status/1892424493433573562">wrote</a> on X. "Unfortunately, due to injury, I won't be ready for May. I'll be facing the winner later this year."</p><p>Della Maddalena holds a 7-0 record in the Octagon and is riding a 17-fight winning streak dating back to 2016. He's coming off a knockout win over Gilbert Burns last March.</p><p>Shevchenko is set to defend the women's 125-pound title for the first time since reclaiming it with a dominant victory over Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 last September. Shevchenko faced Grasso in three straight outings, first losing the title to the Mexico native in March 2023 and then fighting her to a split draw that September.</p><p>Fiorot, the No. 2-ranked women's flyweight, earned a crack at Shevchenko's championship by winning seven straight fights to begin her Octagon career. The Frenchwoman beat Erin Blanchfield and former strawweight champ Rose Namajunas in her last two outings.</p><p>White also announced that a welterweight bout between Burns and Michael Morales will take place at UFC 315.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Jack Della Maddalena of Australia reacts after his TKO over Gilbert Burns of Brazil in a welterweight fight during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Muhammad-Della Maddalena, Shevchenko-Fiorot to headline UFC 315

Ilia Topuria is relinquishing the UFC featherweight championship and will move up to the lightwei...

<p>Ilia Topuria is relinquishing the UFC featherweight championship and will move up to the lightweight division for his next fight, UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday.</p><p>As a result, former 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski will take on Diego Lopes for the vacant title in the UFC 314 main event April 12 in Miami.</p><p>White said Topuria will officially lose the title when Volkanovski-Lopes begins. He didn't announce Topuria's next fight.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Topuria has felt like he's done all that he can in that division, and he feels like he's cemented his legacy," White said on Instagram Live. "And his body cannot make the weight anymore. ... We will announce what Topuria's next fight will be when we get it done."</p><p>Topuria captured the belt with a second-round knockout of Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024. The 28-year-old defended the title once, knocking out former champ Max Holloway at UFC 308 last October. The win over Holloway cemented Topuria as a candidate for Fighter of the Year.</p><p>Topuria, ranked No. 4 on the UFC's men's pound-for-pound list, hinted at a move to 155 pounds in December and has expressed interest in a superfight against Islam Makhachev.</p><p>The plan is for Topuria to challenge Makhachev for a second title later this year, according to <a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/1892432086876754151">Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani</a>, though the matchup hasn't been finalized.</p><p>Topuria, who represents Georgia and Spain, is one of the biggest stars in MMA at the moment. He's undefeated as a professional, holding an 8-0 record in the UFC and a 16-0 record overall. Topuria has fought at 155 pounds once before - in 2022 - and won the fight by knockout.</p><p>White announced several other notable matchups for UFC 314, including a five-round co-main event between lightweights Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett.</p><p>Chandler, the No. 7-ranked contender, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November. That was his first fight in over two years. Chandler opted to sit on the sidelines after a loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022 and pursue a megafight against UFC star Conor McGregor. It was scheduled to headline UFC 303 last June, but McGregor withdrew two weeks before the event due to a toe injury. Months later, Chandler decided to return to the Octagon against Oliveira instead.</p><p>Pimblett, ranked No. 12 at 155 pounds, will get the biggest test of his career when he faces Chandler. The 30-year-old Liverpool native is 6-0 in the Octagon, with wins over the likes of King Green and former interim champ Tony Ferguson.</p><p>UFC 314 will also feature a welterweight bout between top-15 contenders Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, as well as former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221699" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221699">highly anticipated debut</a> against Yair Rodriguez.</p><p>Here's the entire card as of Wednesday:</p><ul>
<li>Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes</li>
<li>Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett</li>
<li>Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Freire</li>
<li>Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates</li>
<li>Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes</li>
<li>Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson</li>
<li>Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba</li>
<li>Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper</li>
<li>Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa</li>
<li>Sedriques Dumas vs. Michael Oleksiejczuk</li>
<li>Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo</li>
<li>Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero</li>
</ul>

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26:Ilia Topuria of Spain prepares to face Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Topuria vacating UFC featherweight title; Volkanovski-Lopes set

Alexa Grasso's first fight since losing the UFC women's flyweight title is set.  The former champ...

<p>Alexa Grasso's first fight since losing the UFC women's flyweight title is set.</p><p>The former champion will face Natalia Silva at UFC 315 on May 10 at Bell Centre in Montreal, the promotion announced Tuesday.</p><p>Grasso dropped the title in a one-sided, unanimous decision defeat to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306 last September. The 31-year-old Mexican dethroned Shevchenko with a stunning submission victory in March 2023, and then the two fought to a split draw in an immediate rematch later that year.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>This will be Grasso's first fight against someone other than Shevchenko since October 2022.</p><p>Silva is one of the top up-and-comers in the women's 125-pound division. The 28-year-old Brazilian holds a 6-0 record in the Octagon and has won 12 straight overall. Silva is coming off a decision win over former strawweight champ Jessica Andrade last September.</p><p>Grasso and Silva are ranked No. 1 and No. 5 in the division, respectively.</p><p>The winner of the Grasso-Silva fight could be in line for a title shot. Shevchenko's next defense isn't booked yet, but most expect it to come against top contender Manon Fiorot. UFC CEO Dana White has also said a superfight between Shevchenko and strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili is a "possibility."</p><p>UFC 315 doesn't have a main event yet. It will mark the promotion's first trip to Montreal since April 2015.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Alexa Grasso of Mexico poses on the scale during the UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC Ceremonial Weigh-in at Sphere on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Grasso to return vs. Silva at UFC 315

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has a new opponent for Saturday's mega event in Riyadh,...

<p>WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has a new opponent for Saturday's mega event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Josh Padley agreed to challenge Stevenson on three days' notice, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, announced Wednesday morning.</p><p>Stevenson's original opponent, Floyd Schofield, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3220886" href="https://thescore.com/news/3220886">withdrew</a> from the title fight Tuesday due to an illness.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Padley is an undefeated 29-year-old from England. He's coming off a unanimous decision win over Mark Chamberlain last September on the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua undercard. Padley has four knockouts in 15 professional wins.</p><p>Stevenson is making the second defense of his 135-pound belt since capturing it with a decision win over Edwin De Los Santos in November 2023. The 27-year-old Newark native has been a champion in three different weight classes.</p><p>In Saturday's main event, Artur Beterbiev will defend the undisputed light heavyweight championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Dmitry Bivol. In the co-headliner, Dubois will put the IBF heavyweight title on the line against Joseph Parker.</p>

Josh Padley celebrates victory against Mark Chamberlain following the light weight bout at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday September 21, 2024.

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Padley steps in for Feb. 22 title fight vs. Stevenson

Jared Cannonier reminded the world he's still one of the top middleweights in the UFC on Saturday...

<p>Jared Cannonier reminded the world he's still one of the top middleweights in the UFC on Saturday.</p><p>The 40-year-old former title challenger rallied to finish Gregory Rodrigues with a TKO in the UFC Fight Night main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The stoppage came 21 seconds into the fourth round.</p><p>Cannonier, ranked No. 7 in the 185-pound division, snapped a two-fight losing streak with the victory.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I felt great," Cannonier said in his postfight interview. "I could do this for five more rounds if I needed to."</p><p>Cannonier overcame some early adversity to secure the win. Rodrigues started strong and dropped Cannonier twice in the first round, with a right hand and then a left hook. Cannonier recovered well from both knockdowns, but Rodrigues landed punches at a higher clip and pressured his opponent all round.</p><p>"I guess I was hurt enough to get jumped on my ass a couple of times in that fight," Cannonier said. "But naturally so. Gregory hits hard as hell, and he was slinging big ass shots. I was able to weather the storm and keep my composure even in those really tough spots."</p><p>The momentum shifted toward Cannonier in the second as Rodrigues began to slow down. Cannonier outlanded Rodrigues 35-26 in that frame.</p><p>Cannonier and Rodrigues traded heavy blows in the third, with Rodrigues getting the better of the exchanges. But Cannonier stole the round with a ferocious knockdown in the final 20 seconds, flooring Rodrigues with a right elbow in the clinch. Cannonier followed up with a handful of heavy shots on the ground, but time expired.</p><p>Cannonier said he didn't hear the horn and thought referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight - for good.</p><p>"I got up and I was looking around like, 'How come nobody's as excited as I am?'" Cannonier said. "But then they reaffirmed that it was just the end of the round, and I was like, 'Ugh, OK.'"</p><p>Rodrigues never seemed to truly recover from the knockdown. Cannonier, smelling blood, immediately went back on the attack at the start of the fourth round. "The Killa Gorilla" landed a barrage of shots up against the fence, hurt "RoboCop" again, and forced the referee to wave off the fight - this time, for good.</p><p>Cannonier earned his first victory since a unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori in June 2023 and his first stoppage win since knocking out Derek Brunson in February 2022.</p><p>The bout was Cannonier's third straight fight against an up-and-coming middleweight who was either ranked below him or not in the top 15 at all. Cannonier dropped losses to Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho - via fourth-round TKO and unanimous decision, respectively - last year, but he prevailed against the unranked Rodrigues to keep his top-10 position intact.</p><p>Rodrigues' three-fight winning streak ended as the 32-year-old Brazilian came up short for the first time since a knockout loss to Brunno Ferreira in June 2023.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Jared Cannonier punches Gregory Rodrigues of Brazil in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Cannonier rebounds with TKO of Rodrigues in UFC main event

PFL superfight heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou plans to return to boxing before he competes ...

<p>PFL superfight heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou plans to return to boxing before he competes in MMA again.</p><p>"I will do boxing next," Ngannou told <a href="https://www.sportsbookreview.com/picks/ufc/francis-ngannou-next-fight-deontay-wilder-jon-jones-jake-paul/">Sportsbook Review's James Bisson</a>. "I want to. I'm not done with boxing. It's not that MMA is easy - it's the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in - but I say go for boxing."</p><p>Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is 0-2 as a professional boxer. He lost to then-WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury by split decision in October 2023 and former titleholder Anthony Joshua by knockout in March 2024.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 38-year-old Cameroonian returned to MMA after the two lucrative boxing matches, earning a dominant, first-round TKO win over Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut last October. The victory marked Ngannou's first MMA fight in nearly three years.</p><p>Ngannou's head coach, Eric Nicksick, said after the Ferreira bout that he'd prefer to see "The Predator" stay in MMA.</p><p>However, Ngannou said he now has his sights set on a boxing match against Deontay Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champ who's reeling from back-to-back losses.</p><p>"There's an 80% chance that somebody will go to sleep," Ngannou said of how a potential Wilder fight would play out. "It will be one or the other."</p>

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 28: Francis Ngannou looks on prior to the Heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou at Boulevard Hall on October 28, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Ngannou says next fight will be in boxing ring, eyes Wilder

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's recent call-out apparently caught the attention of ...

<p>UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's recent call-out apparently caught the attention of unified heavyweight boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk.</p><p>Usyk told <a href="https://x.com/boxingontnt/status/1890025211573256269">TNT Sports</a> in an interview published Thursday that he would be willing to fight Pereira after the latter said in January that he was interested in the crossover bout.</p><p>"First, it's who wins next fight (between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker), Feb. 22," Usyk said. "But next, maybe (a) show fight with Alex Pereira. Maybe. Why not? Alex wants it."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3216567" href="https://thescore.com/news/3216567">said</a> earlier this week he plans to fight twice more before retiring from professional competition.</p><p>The 38-year-old Ukrainian is expected to face the winner of the IBF heavyweight title fight between Dubois and Parker next, though that plan has yet to be finalized.</p><p>Pereira, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters and biggest stars in mixed martial arts, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3205860" href="https://thescore.com/news/3205860">told</a> the "Jaxxon Podcast" he wants to step into the boxing ring before he retires from combat sports - and that his first choice would be a fight with Usyk.</p><p>"I'm the champ, I'd like to fight a champ," Pereira said through an interpreter. "So Oleksandr Usyk is the fight that I would want.</p><p>"I feel that I could do really good. ... I think I could go head-to-head with him."</p><p>Pereira is scheduled to defend his 205-pound title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas.</p><p>Usyk, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back wins over former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in 2024. Usyk beat Fury by split decision in May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champ since 2000 and then earned a more convincing unanimous decision victory in their December rematch.</p>

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 21: Oleksandr Usyk celebrates victory following the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight titles' fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2, Reignited card at Kingdom Arena on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Usyk open to 'show fight' vs. UFC's Pereira

Sean Strickland doesn't expect to have Eric Nicksick in his corner moving forward.  The former UF...

<p>Sean Strickland doesn't expect to have Eric Nicksick in his corner moving forward.</p><p>The former UFC middleweight champion said Wednesday he'll likely move on from the Xtreme Couture head coach as one of his cornermen after Nicksick <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3215909" href="https://thescore.com/news/3215909">criticized</a> Strickland's performance against Dricus Du Plessis earlier this week.</p><p>"I like Eric. He's a friend of mine. And he's gonna continue to be a friend of mine," Strickland <a href="https://x.com/SStricklandMMA/status/1889821960722587854">said</a> in a video posted to X. "Will he probably be in my corner? Probably not.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"We have so many great guys at Xtreme. ... We have so many savages that would love to corner me."</p><p>Strickland suffered a lopsided unanimous decision loss in a rematch with Du Plessis, the current 185-pound champion, at UFC 312 last weekend in Sydney, Australia. Strickland dropped a narrow split decision in his first fight against Du Plessis in January 2024.</p><p>Nicksick was critical of Strickland's most recent showing during a Tuesday appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show," calling it "very underwhelming" and "flat."</p><p>"I think (Strickland) needs to evaluate what he wants to do in this sport," Nicksick said. "If it's just to make money, then that's great - let us know. I want to coach world champions. My motivations are different. I think that just to kind of show up and do that and not really back it up, just, to me, was kind of uninspiring."</p><p>Strickland revealed Wednesday he faced numerous hurdles in the lead-up to UFC 312. He said he broke his arm during training camp and received stem cells in Colombia seven or eight weeks before the event. Strickland said he also developed a staph infection ahead of the fight.</p><p>"That entire fight camp was just a struggle," Strickland said.</p><p>He added: "This is not an excuse, but that entire camp was just a struggle of, 'I'm good, I'm good,' knowing you're not good. ... (The) bone healed fine, not an excuse, it just kind of weighs in the back of your head."</p><p>Strickland, 33, has now lost two of his last three fights and sits outside the title conversation. However, the Las Vegas resident - who pulled off an all-time upset against Israel Adesanya in 2023 to win the middleweight title - is adamant he still wants to compete.</p><p>"I don't fight to put belts on the wall," Strickland said. "I don't f-----g fight because Eric wants to go do a fancy podcast. That's not why I fight. ... I f-----g love it. I got a lot of fights left on my contract. I love fighting. I'm going back to the gym, I'm working my ass off, and I'm starting from f-----g square one.</p><p>"And that's just kind of how life is. You always get a setback, where you're like, 'All right, well, I gotta start over again.' And you have a choice: you either sack up and you do it, or you f-----g quit. And I'm gonna sack up and do it."</p><p> </p>

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 06: Sean Strickland is seen on stage during the UFC 312 press conference at Qudos Bank Arena on February 06, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

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Strickland says Nicksick unlikely to corner him after criticizing loss

A featherweight bout between Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy is expected to serve as the main event...

<p>A featherweight bout between Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy is expected to serve as the main event for UFC Fight Night on April 5, sources told <a href="https://x.com/MikeHeck_JR/status/1889778929478598858">MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Damon Martin</a>.</p><p>The card is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.</p><p>Emmett is returning to the Octagon for the first time since his Knockout of the Year-candidate win over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296 in December 2023. The 39-year-old Sacramento resident is 2-2 in his last four appearances and ranked No. 8 at 145 pounds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 11th-ranked Murphy is one of the division's rising contenders. He earned wins over Dan Ige and Edson Barboza last year, the latter of which came in his first UFC main event in May. The 33-year-old Englishman is 7-0-1 in the Octagon and 15-0-1 as a professional.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Josh Emmett enters the Octagon in a featherweight fight during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Report: Emmett-Murphy expected to headline April 5 UFC event

Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn could see a trilogy bout between Katie Taylor and Amanda Se...

<p>Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn could see a trilogy bout between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano coming to fruition in the near future.</p><p>"True," Hearn said Wednesday on "<a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/1889765552736051370">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>" when asked if he believes the fight will happen in 2025. "I'm not gonna go into it too much. But I've actually been having some pleasant conversations with Nakisa (Bidarian) and (Most Valuable Promotions) - about a number of stuff, but around this fight.</p><p>"It just makes so much sense. The opportunity, bouncing off the platform and the numbers it did last time - there is a very good chance that we see that fight next."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Hearn promotes Taylor, the undisputed women's junior welterweight champion, while Most Valuable Promotions promotes Serrano, who holds the WBA and WBO featherweight titles.</p><p>Taylor beat Serrano by a razor-thin unanimous decision in a highly anticipated rematch last November on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson undercard. The event, which streamed live on Netflix, broke numerous viewership records. Taylor previously earned a split-decision win over Serrano in an April 2022 undisputed lightweight title defense. Both matchups were Fight of the Year candidates.</p><p>Taylor has said that trilogy fights against Serrano and former undisputed junior welterweight champ Chantelle Cameron are both options for her next appearance in the ring.</p><p>"I think fight fans deserve it. I think Amanda Serrano deserves it," Hearn said of Taylor-Serrano 3. "She's given us two epic fights against Katie Taylor. Both fights were razor-thin decisions. Katie deserves everything. So, the talks continue, we'll have to see, but I'm confident you see that next."</p>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano 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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Hearn 'confident' Taylor-Serrano 3 will be next

Sean Strickland's coach believes the former UFC middleweight champion needs to look himself in th...

<p>Sean Strickland's coach believes the former UFC middleweight champion needs to look himself in the mirror after an "underwhelming" performance against Dricus Du Plessis.</p><p>Strickland suffered a unanimous decision loss in a rematch with 185-pound champion Du Plessis at UFC 312 this past weekend in Sydney, Australia.</p><p>Eric Nicksick, the head coach at Las Vegas' Xtreme Couture, was critical of Strickland's showing, calling it "uninspired fighting."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It just seemed like he was sleepwalking," Nicksick told "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFGUJ9e2j6U">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>" on Tuesday. "It was tough, man. I was just trying to dig him out of it through the rounds. I didn't know if he was trying to collect data in the beginning, or if it was just a slow start, or what was going on. But as the rounds began to progress, I could tell it just didn't feel like he was in it the way most of the times that he is."</p><p>Nicksick added: "It was a tough 25 minutes. To travel all the way out there. And let's not forget, this is a title fight. I take these title fights very seriously. I don't know. I was just disappointed, man. I was disappointed with the whole, entire outcome, the whole fight as a process. Just thought it was just kind of flat."</p><p>Du Plessis outclassed Strickland in the rematch after winning a split decision in their first fight at UFC 297 in January 2024. He shut out Strickland on two judges' scorecards and won four of five rounds on the third judge's scorecard. Du Plessis outlanded the challenger 147-128 in significant strikes in the rematch after Strickland had a considerable edge - 173-137 - in the first meeting.</p><p>Several people, including UFC broadcaster <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/2/9/24362061/din-thomas-rips-sean-strickland-after-lackluster-outing-at-ufc-312-hes-not-who-he-says-he-is">Din Thomas</a> and former middleweight champion <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/02/ufc-312-sean-strickland-overhype-underdeliver-luke-rockhold-reaction">Luke Rockhold</a>, have criticized Strickland since the fight. And Nicksick believes the criticism is warranted.</p><p>"We have to be real: It just was a very underwhelming performance in an opportunity to fight for the title," Nicksick said. "There's people in this sport that never even realize that potential to ever even be in an opportunity to fight for a championship. That should be enough to get you motivated, to get you off the couch. It just, to me, was - we didn't perform.</p><p>"It's on all of us. It's on me as a coaching staff, it's on Sean."</p><p>Nicksick said the 33-year-old former champion, who's lost two of his last three fights and is outside the title picture, needs to consider his goals moving forward.</p><p>"I think he needs to evaluate what he wants to do in this sport," Nicksick said. "If it's just to make money, then that's great - let us know. I want to coach world champions. My motivations are different. I think that just to kind of show up and do that and not really back it up, just, to me, was kind of uninspiring."</p>

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Sean Stricland of the United States of America and Dircus De Plessis of South Africa fight in their Middleweight Title Bout during UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena on February 09, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

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Coach slams Strickland's 'underwhelming' UFC 312 performance

YouTuber turned boxer KSI said Tuesday he pursued a matchup with former UFC star Nate Diaz before...

<p>YouTuber turned boxer KSI said Tuesday he pursued a matchup with former UFC star Nate Diaz before agreeing to face Dillon Danis on March 29 in Manchester, England.</p><p>"We reached out to so many other fighters," KSI told "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFGUJ9e2j6U">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>," adding, "My team reached out to Nate Diaz because we wanted to show the world that, 'OK, Jake (Paul) beat Nate Diaz in the way that he beat him. Let me show what I can do.'</p><p>"Similar to what I did with Tommy Fury. Tommy Fury obliterated Jake. Everyone who watches that fight goes, 'Yeah, Jake Paul got his ass handed to him, and he lost.' Whereas with the fight with me and Tommy, everyone's there like, 'KSI should've won that. Tommy Fury shouldn't have won.' I showed the levels. I showed that I was better than Jake, and I wanted to do it again with the Nate Diaz fight. I wanted to fully knock him out. And then he said no."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>KSI said he also tried to schedule boxing matches against former UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, former UFC title challenger Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, and former UFC interim champion Tony Ferguson to no avail. Masvidal was unable to take the fight because he's under contract with the UFC, while Cerrone and Ferguson turned it down, KSI said.</p><p>KSI said he eventually landed on the tilt with Danis, a former MMA fighter who lost a high-profile boxing match against Logan Paul in 2023.</p><p>"We're scrambling, like, 'All right, what are we gonna do? We need to try and find an opponent. We've got a date - March 29 - set, so we need to find someone,'" KSI said. "And eventually, (Misfits Boxing co-president) Mams (Taylor) comes through to me like, 'We got Dillon Danis.' And I'm like, 'Ah, great. ... You sure we don't have any more options?' And he was like, 'Nah, man, we're literally on the bare bones here.' So I was like, 'Screw it, let's just go, let's just have fun.'</p><p>"I finally get my hands on (Danis). Logan did his thing. I want to fully knock him out."</p><p>KSI added he thinks there's a chance a long-awaited matchup with Jake Paul will come to fruition in 2025.</p><p>"I'm pretty sure Netflix will see the Jake Paul-KSI fight and go, 'We need to do this. We need to make this happen,'" KSI said. "I imagine DAZN will also come into play. ... I feel like it has to happen. I want it to happen."</p>

KSI in the ring as he announces an upcoming boxing match against former Chelsea and England football player Wayne Bridge (not pictured) at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday January 18, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30209600/related

KSI: Nate Diaz, other ex-UFCers declined fight

Tatiana Suarez is holding her head high after losing her undefeated record at UFC 312.  The straw...

<p>Tatiana Suarez is holding her head high after losing her undefeated record at UFC 312.</p><p>The strawweight contender fell to 10-1 as a pro after dropping a lopsided unanimous decision to champion Zhang Weili this past weekend in Sydney, Australia.</p><p>"Win, lose, or draw, I'm right where I want to be," Suarez wrote Tuesday on Instagram. "Doing what I love to do every single day of my life. ... Living the dream."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>She added, "I've experienced it all: thrill, agony, happiness, heartbreak. That's what life is all about. I'm blessed to have this life. And I'll share these experiences with my children and the future generations to come."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF7_y31g8Rd/?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/p/DF7_y31g8Rd/?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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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF7_y31g8Rd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tatiana Suarez (@tatianasuarezufc)</a></p>
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<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>Suarez, who had been hailed as a future champion ever since she won "The Ultimate Fighter 23" in 2016, was the betting favorite against Zhang. But Zhang dominated Suarez in the final 20 minutes to earn a one-sided victory.</p><p>Suarez, 34, began her Octagon career with seven straight wins and earned a title shot by submitting former champion Jessica Andrade in August 2023. The California native ended an 18-month layoff in the loss to Zhang.</p>

Tatiana Suarez of the US reacts after her defeat to China's Zhang Weili during their women's strawweight title bout of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 312 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on February 9, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30206339/related

Suarez reflects on UFC 312 loss: 'I'm right where I want to be'

Dricus Du Plessis retained the UFC middleweight title in his rematch with Sean Strickland on Satu...

<p>Dricus Du Plessis retained the UFC middleweight title in his rematch with Sean Strickland on Saturday, earning a unanimous decision win over the former champion in the UFC 312 main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.</p><p>In the co-main event, strawweight champ Zhang Weili handed Tatiana Suarez her first career loss in one of the most impressive performances of the year so far.</p><p>Here are four takeaways from the pay-per-view card.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Strickland didn't belong in rematch with Du Plessis</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/cropped_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769666/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197903538.jpg?ts=1739133674 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">SAEED KHAN / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>As Du Plessis beat Strickland again - this time more dominantly than the first - I couldn't help but think it should've been Khamzat Chimaev in there with him instead.</p><p>Sure, dominating the rematch of a very close fight is a nice feather to have in Du Plessis' cap. But let's be honest: Du Plessis-Strickland 2 wasn't exactly in high demand going into Saturday. After the way it played out, it's clear there were better options for Du Plessis' second title defense.</p><p>Strickland's performance was subpar at best. He had a lower output than usual and struggled to get out of first gear. Strickland's 128 significant strikes were the fewest he's landed in a five-round fight that went the distance. In comparison, Strickland landed 173 in the first Du Plessis fight, 182 against Paulo Costa, 137 against Israel Adesanya, and 182 against Nassourdine Imavov.</p><p>All it took for Strickland to secure another title shot was a split-decision win over Costa last June. Chimaev, meanwhile, destroyed Robert Whittaker with one of the most violent submissions in recent memory and still got passed up as the No. 1 contender. Hopefully, the UFC will learn from its mistake and book Du Plessis-Chimaev next, because that's the fight that should've happened in the first place.</p><h3>Zhang shouldn't be overlooked again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/cropped_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769667/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198473286.jpg?ts=1739133788 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Zhang is a four-time defending champion and, yet, there was still room for her stock to rise significantly at UFC 312.</p><p>Her dominant win over Suarez felt unexpected, but maybe it shouldn't have. After all, this is the fighter who blitzed Jessica Andrade, won a Fight of the Year against Joanna Jedrzejczyk and then knocked her out with a spinning backfist in the rematch, ran through Carla Esparza, and who - outside of two losses to Rose Namajunas in 2021 that now feel like anomalies - is perfect in the Octagon.</p><p>The truth is, so many people thought this was going to be Suarez's long-awaited coronation. She was the betting favorite, which is rarely the case for challengers in UFC title bouts. Zhang was the underdog for just the second time in 12 UFC fights. But that wasn't because Zhang isn't an incredibly skilled and well-rounded champion; it was a testament to how good we thought Suarez was.</p><p>But Zhang shut Suarez down in a big way. Suarez won the first round on all three judges' scorecards and then Zhang swept the rest, including a 10-8 in the fifth round on one scorecard. She punished Suarez on the feet and exceeded expectations on the ground, becoming the first to take her down in the Octagon and racking up over 10 minutes of control time. Zhang's physical strength was one of the many difference-makers in this fight.</p><p>Let's take Saturday's co-main event as a lesson: never, ever underestimate Zhang Weili. She'll make you - and her opponent - pay.</p><h3>Shevchenko-Zhang is the fight to make</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/cropped_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745341/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172053864.jpg?ts=1726439907 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>After such an impressive performance, Zhang moving up a division to fight women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is suddenly a very intriguing option.</p><p>Zhang has all but cleared out the 115-pound division, with Virna Jandiroba being the lone top-five strawweight she has yet to face. Zhang, who first won the title in 2019 and then reclaimed it in 2022, is more than deserving of a chance to make history. And UFC CEO Dana White, who called Shevchenko-Zhang "a possibility" after Saturday's card, seems to agree.</p><p>Shevchenko, on the other hand, does have a clear-cut No. 1 contender waiting for a title shot: Manon Fiorot. But although Shevchenko-Fiorot is a tremendous fight itself, it might just have to wait.</p><p>Strike while the iron is hot.</p><h3>A banger on the prelims</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/cropped_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769668/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198445382.jpg?ts=1739133828 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Darrian Traynor / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>UFC 312 wasn't a good card by any means. Nine of 12 fights went the distance, and even the main event was a bit of a bore. But one of the bright spots was the undercard matchup between Rongzhu and Kody Steele.</p><p>The two young lightweights traded haymakers for three straight rounds and ended the fight with a Max Holloway versus Justin Gaethje-esque exchange. It was incredible stuff. If you missed the card, go back and watch this fight.</p>

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UFC 312 takeaways: Du Plessis-Strickland 2 didn't need to happen

UFC CEO Dana White says strawweight champion Zhang Weili could move up to challenge women's flywe...

<p>UFC CEO Dana White says strawweight champion Zhang Weili could move up to challenge women's flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko after her UFC 312 win.</p><p>Zhang defended the 115-pound title with a dominant victory over Tatiana Suarez in Saturday's co-main event in Sydney, Australia. The performance sparked interest in a superfight against Shevchenko throughout the MMA community, with many saying it should be next.</p><p>"It's a possibility," White said of a Shevchenko-Zhang matchup at the postfight press conference, according to <a href="https://x.com/MMAJunkie/status/1888487520343638423">MMA Junkie</a>. "It's a possibility."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Shevchenko is No. 1 in the women's pound-for-pound rankings and Zhang is just behind at No. 2. When asked who he thinks belongs in the top spot, White said: "I f-----g hate answering these questions, because I love them both. Maybe we'll just have to find out."</p><p>Zhang defended the belt for the third time of her second reign and the fourth time overall. The 35-year-old Chinese fighter reclaimed the title with a win over Carla Esparza in 2022 and has since beaten Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and now Suarez, who was a betting favorite heading into the fight.</p><p>Shevchenko recently became a two-time champion herself. The 36-year-old dominated Alexa Grasso in a trilogy bout at UFC 306 last September to regain the 125-pound title. Shevchenko lost the belt to Grasso in March 2023 and then fought the Mexican to a draw that September.</p><p>Zhang addressed the potential fight with Shevchenko, saying it will materialize if the "timing" is right.</p><p>"Let's talk with Dana later," Zhang said through an interpreter, according to <a href="https://x.com/MMAJunkie/status/1888490602477588838">MMA Junkie</a>. "But I think everything is about timing. So if there is a good time for both of us to make this fight happen, it happens."</p>

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 06: UFC CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 312 press conference at Qudos Bank Arena on February 06, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

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White: Shevchenko-Zhang superfight 'a possibility'

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/nick-baldwin/content_cards