MMA News
WBC president declares Francis Ngannou a top 10 heavyweight in official rankings
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 29, 2023
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou went from being a massive underdog in a boxing match with Tyson Fury, to being a top 10 WBC heavyweight. Ngannou stunned the boxing world when he gave Fury a world of trouble in their clash on Saturday night (October 28). Fury found himself on the canvas, and struggled with Ngannou’s pressure at times. In the end, Fury did enough in the eyes of two of the ringside judges to earn the split nod after 10 rounds of action.
Former boxing champion Carl Frampton gushes over Francis Ngannou's performance against Tyson Fury
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 29, 2023
Ex-boxing world champion Carl Frampton has some high praise for Francis Ngannou following his impressive showing against Tyson Fury. Ngannou was expecting to fold against Fury in their boxing match, but stunned fight fans despite not leaving Saudi Arabia with a win. Ngannou was competitive against the general consensus best heavyweight in the world, and even scored a knockdown. Ultimately, Ngannou fell short via split decision.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland advises aspiring MMA fighters to do something else: "This entire life you could have spent building a life"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 29, 2023
UFC middleweight king Sean Strickland thinks it would be wise for parents to not support their kids’ dream of becoming an MMA fighter. Strickland is known for going against the status quo, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Strickland recently turned some heads, advising aspiring MMA fighters to spend their youth doing something else to build their lives. It’s a take that not many top MMA fighters have, but Strickland isn’t like many.
Kamaru Usman on Francis Ngannou's split decision loss to Tyson Fury: "The judges are going to do what they’re going to do"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 29, 2023
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has weighed in on the controversial outcome to the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou boxing match. Usman was in attendance for the big boxing match that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28. He was also joined by former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in walking Ngannou down to the ring. Ngannou shocked the world despite not emerging victorious. He scored a knockdown on Fury during the fight and went the distance for a split decision loss.
Francis Ngannou reacts following split decision loss to Tyson Fury
Chris Taylor - October 28, 2023
Francis Ngannou has reacted following his controversial split decision loss to Tyson Fury this evening in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou (17-3 MMA) and Fury (34-0-1 Boxing) squared off in the headliner of this afternoon’s DAZN Boxing pay-per-view event. The bout was sanctioned as a professional boxing match, but Fury’s WBC heavyweight title was not on the line.
Conor McGregor weighs in on the controversial Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou result
Chris Taylor - October 28, 2023
Conor McGregor has shared his thoughts on Tyson Fury’s controversial split decision win over Francis Ngannou. Fury (34-0-1) and Ngannou (17-3 MMA) squared off in a sanctioned professional boxing match this afternoon on DAZN pay-per-view. The bout was scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds and Fury’s WBC heavyweight title was not up for grabs.
Tyson Fury reacts following split decision win over Francis Ngannou
Chris Taylor - October 28, 2023
Tyson Fury shared his immediate reaction following his controversial split decision win over Francis Ngannou this evening in Saudi Arabia. Fury (34-0-1) and Ngannou (17-3 MMA) squared off in a sanctioned professional boxing match this afternoon on DAZN pay-per-view. The bout was scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds and Fury’s WBC heavyweight title was not up for grabs.
Pros react after Tyson Fury defeats Francis Ngannou by split decision
Chris Taylor - October 28, 2023
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou served as the headliner of today’s DAZN Boxing pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia. Fury (33-0-1) was returning to action for the first time since December of 2022, where he scored a tenth-round TKO victory over Derek Chisora. Prior to that, ‘The Gypsy King’ had earned a sixth-round TKO victory over Dillian Whyte.
Israel Adesanya claims hiatus will last until 2027: "I’ll see you then"
Cole Shelton - October 27, 2023
Israel Adesanya claims he will be taking a couple of years off. Back in September at UFC 293, Adesanya suffered a lopsided decision loss to Sean Strickland to lose his middleweight title. It was a shocking result, and immediately after the event, his team claimed they wanted an immediate rematch.
Tom Aspinall opens as the underdog against Sergei Pavlovich for interim heavyweight title at UFC 295
Cole Shelton - October 27, 2023
Tom Aspinall has opened as the betting underdog for his interim heavyweight title fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Originally, the main event of UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden was supposed to be Jon Jones defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic. Yet, just over two weeks out from the event it was revealed that Jones suffered a torn pec and was forced out of the fight.
Shannon Briggs vs. Rampage Jackson allegedly set for February 17th in Florida
Josh Evanoff - October 27, 2023
It seems that Shannon Briggs and Rampage Jackson will get to face off in the boxing ring after all. ‘The Cannon’ and the former UFC champion have teased a potential fight against each other for years now. In 2021, Shannon Briggs and Rampage Jackson even coached in the short-lived Triller Triad Combat, against one another. At the time, the two heavyweights stated that a fight between the two was on the books for 2022.
Ian Garry reveals that Leon Edwards had him kicked out of Team Renegade: "Someone is weak-minded"
Josh Evanoff - October 27, 2023
UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry won’t be training with Leon Edwards any time soon. ‘The Future’ has been out of action since a unanimous decision win over Neil Magny in August. That victory was Ian Garry’s 13th in a row, and he made it clear post-fight that he wasn’t done. Now booked to face Vicente Luque in December at UFC 296, his title aspirations are on the line.
Kamaru Usman uncertain about his next move after UFC 294 loss to Khamzat Chimaev
Cole Shelton - October 27, 2023
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman doesn’t know what his next step will be. Usman stepped up on less than two weeks’ notice at UFC 294 as he moved up to middleweight to face Khamzat Chimaev. Usman entered that fight coming off back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards to lose his welterweight title, so he decided to move up to middleweight.
Stipe Miocic reacts to interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 295: “I don’t know why I didn’t get picked”
Susan Cox - October 27, 2023
Stipe Miocic is reacting to the interim heavyweight title fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall at UFC 295. It was to be Jon Jones (27-1 MMA) vs. Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA) in main event heavyweight title fight at UFC 295 on Saturday, November 11th.
Anthony Smith explains why there was no foul in Islam Makhachev’s knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski: “The rule is that you can't target the back of the head”
Harry Kettle - October 27, 2023
UFC fighter Anthony Smith has explained why there was nothing wrong with Islam Makhachev’s finishing sequence against Alexander Volkanovski. Last weekend at UFC 294, Islam Makhachev knocked Alexander Volkanovski out and successfully retained the UFC lightweight championship. In doing so, he cemented his status as the best 155-pounder in the world.
Dana White is hopeful for an eventual heavyweight title unification bout following UFC 295 shakeup: “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man”
Harry Kettle - October 27, 2023
UFC CEO Dana White hopes to see a heavyweight title unification bout one day between the winners of Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic and Tom Aspinall vs Sergei Pavlovich. Heading into UFC 295, the promotion’s heavyweight division is a bit of a mess. Jon Jones was initially scheduled to defend his undisputed belt against Stipe Miocic in the main event, but an injury has forced him out. Now, instead, we’ll see Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall competing for the interim championship in the co-main event.
Video | John Fury challenges Mike Tyson to fight during Fury vs. Ngannou press conference
Harry Kettle - October 27, 2023
John Fury issued a challenge to his icon Mike Tyson during the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou press conference. It’s no secret that John Fury is quite an eccentric individual. For years now, he’s been by the side of his son Tyson Fury on his rise to the top of heavyweight boxing. In recent times, though, he’s become part of the story himself, largely due to his over-the-top personality.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones issues statement following withdrawal from UFC 295
Susan Cox - October 26, 2023
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has issued a statement following his withdrawal from UFC 295. UFC 295 takes place on Saturday November 11th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.