Light heavyweight contender Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr., the consummate everyman, spent more than a decade as a union laborer on Long Island. He now owns and operates a tree service business, chopping and trimming trees when he’s not training.At 31 years old, this far-from-average Joe will battle Russian veteran Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world … [Read more...] about Joe Smith Jr. to Battle Maxim Vlasov for Light Heavyweight World Title February 13 on ESPN
Lightweight
Stevenson Dominates Toka Kahn Clary; Masayoshi Nakatani stops Felix Verdejo in Co-Feature at MGM Grand Las Vegas
The sensational Shakur Stevenson played the role of headliner and shined. Stevenson, the former featherweight world champion, secured a 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Toka Kahn Clary in the junior lightweight main event Saturday from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs), the WBO No. 1 junior lightweight contender, has a title shot … [Read more...] about Stevenson Dominates Toka Kahn Clary; Masayoshi Nakatani stops Felix Verdejo in Co-Feature at MGM Grand Las Vegas
Record-Setting Flyweight Championship Bout Headlines “UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno” in Las Vegas
The final UFC Pay-Per-View of the year promises to be an historic one, as flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo looks to set the record for fastest consecutive UFC title defenses when he faces No. 1 ranked contender Brandon Moreno. Also on the card, former interim lightweight champion and No. 3 ranked contender Tony Ferguson battles No. 7 Charles Oliveira. UFC 256: … [Read more...] about Record-Setting Flyweight Championship Bout Headlines “UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno” in Las Vegas
Super Middleweight Sensation Edgar Berlanga to Face Ulises Sierra at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Dec. 12
Super middleweight wrecking ball Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga has been “The Perfect One” thus far, knocking out all 15 of his professional opponents in the first round. Berlanga puts perfection on the line Saturday, Dec. 12, when he fights Ulises Sierra in an eight-round showdown from MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Berlanga-Sierra will open the ESPN-televised … [Read more...] about Super Middleweight Sensation Edgar Berlanga to Face Ulises Sierra at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Dec. 12
(#12) Islam Makhachev Welcomes Former Champion (#12 WW) Rafael Dos Anjos Back to Lightweight at UFC Apex in Las Vegas Nov. 14
UFC continues its run of events in Las Vegas with a pivotal lightweight main event as surging No. 12 ranked Islam Makhachev welcomes No. 12 ranked welterweight Rafael Dos Anjos back to the weight class he once ruled as champion. In the co-main event, explosive welterweight strikers clash as Abdul Razak Al-Hassan meets Khaos … [Read more...] about (#12) Islam Makhachev Welcomes Former Champion (#12 WW) Rafael Dos Anjos Back to Lightweight at UFC Apex in Las Vegas Nov. 14
October 31: Robson Conceição-Luis Coria, Jared Anderson and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Added to Inoue-Moloney/Brodnicka-Mayer Championship Doubleheader LIVE on ESPN+
Robson Conceição, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist for his native Brazil, seeks to notch the signature win of his unblemished professional career when he takes on Luis Coria in a 10-round junior lightweight fight Saturday, Oct. 31 from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. Conceição-Coria will serve as the chief support bout to the world championship doubleheader featuring unified … [Read more...] about October 31: Robson Conceição-Luis Coria, Jared Anderson and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Added to Inoue-Moloney/Brodnicka-Mayer Championship Doubleheader LIVE on ESPN+
Elite Strikers (#10) Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva Headline UFC Return to Las Vegas October 31
UFC returns to Las Vegas with a Halloween treat for fans as No. 10 ranked middleweight Uriah Hall takes on legendary former champion Anderson Silva in a clash of two of the most dynamic strikers in the sport. In the co-main event, No. 15 ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell looks to defend his spot in the rankings against the always-entertaining Andre Fili. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON … [Read more...] about Elite Strikers (#10) Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva Headline UFC Return to Las Vegas October 31
The New Lightweight King: Teofimo Lopez Topples Vasiliy Lomachenko
There is a new undisputed lightweight king. Teofimo Lopez toppled Vasiliy Lomachenko by unanimous decision in a superstar-making performance Saturday evening from the MGM Grand Conference Center, and in doing so, he became the youngest undisputed champion (23) in the four-belt era. Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) won by wide margins (119-109, 118-110 and 116-112), fulfilling the … [Read more...] about The New Lightweight King: Teofimo Lopez Topples Vasiliy Lomachenko
Battle for the Undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship UFC 254
UFC wraps up its second run on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with one of the most anticipated bouts of the year as UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje battle to unify the belts. In the co-main event, former middleweight champion and No. 1 ranked Robert Whittaker takes on No. 3 Jared Cannonier in a pivotal bout with title … [Read more...] about Battle for the Undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship UFC 254
Clay Collard-Quincy LaVallais 2 and Josue Vargas-Kendo Castaneda to Headline Lomachenko-Lopez Undercard Broadcast LIVE on ESPN+ Oct. 17
The breakout star of the Bubble, “Cassius” Clay Collard, is back for more. Collard, the MMA pro-turned contender for 2020 “Boxing Prospect of the Year,” will fight Quincy LaVallais in an eight-round middleweight bout on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez undercard on Saturday, Oct. 17 from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center. It is a rematch of their June 2019 … [Read more...] about Clay Collard-Quincy LaVallais 2 and Josue Vargas-Kendo Castaneda to Headline Lomachenko-Lopez Undercard Broadcast LIVE on ESPN+ Oct. 17