BodySlam

Category: Combat

The latest in combat news, results, and recaps from UFC, boxing, Professional Fighters League, Real American Freestyle and more.

  • Fury vs. Joshua Is Finally Signed

    Fury vs. Joshua Is Finally Signed

    It’s the fight that everyone has been desperate to see for a number of years, but it’s never quite got over the line in terms of signatures on a contract. However, all that has changed thanks to the involvement of Turki Al-Sheikh, who has managed to do separate deals with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, leading to the heavyweight bout finally being agreed upon. It’s expected that the fight will take place in London later in the year.

    It’s Finally Agreed

    Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been on a collision course for quite a while, with both men having been heavyweight champions at various times in their decorated careers. However, while talks have progressed to the final stages on multiple occasions, it’s seemingly never been possible to get both sides to agree to the terms.

    Since Turki Al-Sheikh arrived in the sport, it’s been possible to make the big fights due to how he goes about putting together deals. It’s widely known that Turki will negotiate separately with each fighter and their teams, ensuring both sides are happy and that there are no disagreements on purses or splits. This approach has led to Fury vs. Joshua being officially agreed, with the former starting as the slight favorite according to top sports betting odds.

    Joshua Warm-Up Fight Was An Indication

    Rumors were swirling ahead of Fury’s comeback win over Arslan Makhmudov that an agreement for the fight with Joshua was close, but at that point, Eddie Hearn, AJ’s promoter, suggested nothing was signed. He did, however, indicate that his fighter would prefer a warm-up fight ahead of the mega bout, and when that was in place, it would indicate that the Joshua vs. Fury fight was contracted, as the warm-up bout was part of the overall deal.

    Joshua, 36, who last fought YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, will take on Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh. AJ, who was scheduled to make a comeback earlier in the year, suffered injuries in a car crash in Nigeria, with two of his close friends dying in the accident. But he’s now ready to make his return to the ring, and is in camp with Oleksandr Usyk and his training team.

    The Fight Will Land On Netflix

    Netflix is continuing with its strategy of broadcasting huge sporting events to subscribers on their platform. It has collaborated with Turki and those associated with him previously, such as Riyadh Season and Ring Magazine, with the Saudi Arabian promoter keen to abolish pay-per-view events.

    There could have been a stumbling block due to Joshua being a fighter exclusively tied to DAZN, “the global home of boxing,” but an agreement has been made, as it was previously when AJ knocked out Paul live on Netflix in December. Joshua having a warm-up fight, which will be streamed live on DAZN, is thought to have been part of the deal for him to be permitted to take on Fury on Netflix.

    Conclusion

    Fury vs. Joshua is a fight that many thought would never happen. Not only because of past failed negotiations, but because Fury had seemingly retired from the sport again. But after persistence from all parties, and especially Turki Al-Sheikh, the bout was agreed and officially signed. All eyes will now turn to Joshua vs. Prenga, in the hope that AJ comes through what should be a routine run out unscathed.

  • Sean O’Malley: Alex Pereira’s Butt Is Bigger Than A Miami BBL

    Sean O’Malley: Alex Pereira’s Butt Is Bigger Than A Miami BBL

    Sean O’Malley kept it honest when asked about the Heavyweight move by Alex Pereira.

    As Alex Pereira looks to make history for himself by becoming a three-division UFC Champion, he is currently in the middle of bulking up and ensuring he is in fighter shape when the time comes to fight Ciryl Gane at the White House for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship.

    Former UFC Bantamweight Champion, Sean O’Malley is also fighting on the card, but was asked about the transformation made by Pereira and kept it very honest when answering about the size of Pereira in his heavyweight setting.

    “His ass is bigger than a Miami b*tch’s BBL. It was mind-blowing. Holy sh*t. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve f*cking jacked off. It was huge. I looked at his butt for like 7 seconds.”

    Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya to become the Middleweight Champion before moving up and defeating Jiri Prochazka. He will now fight Gane on June 14 at the White House to crown an interim Heavyweight Champion to determine who fights for the Undisputed gold against Tom Aspinall when cleared.

     

  • Roy Jones Jr Bashes Zuffa Boxing: If You Don’t Do Good By Your Own People, What Makes Me Think You’ll Do Good By Mine?

    Roy Jones Jr Bashes Zuffa Boxing: If You Don’t Do Good By Your Own People, What Makes Me Think You’ll Do Good By Mine?

    Roy Jones Jr called out Zuffa Boxing and wants to get to the bottom of the charades he feels they’re playing.

    Roy Jones Jr believes the sport of Boxing is in jeopardy with Zuffa Boxing with a TKO-backed bill that would allow the operation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), which would change how boxing operates in America today, as under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.

    UBOs would be able to introduce their own titles instead of sanctioning bodies. Supporters of the bill highlight positive aspects such as minimum pay per round, while opponents, such as Jones Jr., see UBOs creating a monopoly in the sport by skirting around the protections implemented by the original Ali Act.

    “First of all, if you made the Muhammad Ali Act to save or look out for the boxers, why would you go change it for a promoter?” Jones Jr. told Fight Hub TV. “You basically change it back saying, ‘OK, you put these security bars on the building so no one can break in, but since he lives in the neighborhood now and we know he likes to break in stores, we’ll give him the key to it and change it so he can get in. Come on, bro? Really?

    “… If it was that good, all the ex-UFC fighters would be talking about it, and they would be saying good things about it. They don’t. So, if you didn’t do good by your own people, what makes me think you’ll do good by mine?”

    “Look at most of the fighters that retire from the UFC,” Jones Jr. said. “Even the ones that come to boxing to make their real payday. They built up a name in UFC, but they couldn’t make a payday. So, you want me to bring that same ol’ to boxing? Why would I do that? So, I can’t accept it. I’m sorry. I’m not the guy that says, ‘Oh, you evil.’ I’m not gonna say all that, but I can’t accept that. My sport gives better payout to your people than your sport did, then why would I want you change my sport? It just don’t make sense.”

    “It probably is (going to pass), but it’s gonna ruin boxing, though,” Jones Jr. said. “It’s going to ruin boxing, totally. … They’re going to be basically slaves. They’re going to be owned sheep. You don’t get to decide what you wear no more, you don’t get to decide who you are no more, you have no identity. You’re basically a sheep that does what your master says do, and that’s wrong – but if that’s what they want, it’s on them. I’m through with boxing, thank God, because if it was me, I would have moved out the country.

    “… They’re going to determine if you become that superstar. Not your skills, not your ability, not your talent. They gonna determine who becomes who. Same as UFC. They determine who becomes who. It’s not about talent and winning no more, it’s about who they want there. That’s what they’re trying to do to boxing. I’m Sorry, that’s not right, I don’t care who you are.”

    Recently, it was reported that Shakur Stevenson would be making the move to Zuffa Boxing in the future.

    h/t to MMA Junkie for the transcription.

  • Firas Zahabi: If Khamzat Chimaev Trains With Me, He’ll Never Lose

    Firas Zahabi: If Khamzat Chimaev Trains With Me, He’ll Never Lose

    The former coach for the legendary Georges St-Pierre wants to ensure Borz never suffers defeat again.

    In the headliner of UFC 328, the Middleweight Championship was on the line between champion, Khamzat Chimaev and bitter rival, Sean Strickland. In the end, the two had a very close fight that would be awarded by split decision to Strickland to become a two-time Middleweight Champion in the UFC.

    After Firas Zahabi saw the fight, he put out a video on his YouTube Channel urging Chimaev to come train with him and that Zahabi could ensure that Borz would never lose another fight in his career ever again.

    “I’m begging you. Somebody get this out there,” Zahabi said on his YouTube channel. “Khamzat, come train with me. Come to Montreal. Come train with me. I promise you, if you come train with me, you’re not going to fade. I promise you. Come and train with me. Bring Arman Tsarukyan. Khamzat Chimaev, Arman Tsarukyan, come train with me. Come see how we prepare to make sure that your fitness level will be better than ever, your striking will be sweeter than ever, your footwork will be sweeter than ever. I promise you.

    “If Khamzat Chimaev, you come and train with me, this will never happen to you again. So I really hope he gets this message. Please come train with me and Georges St-Pierre, and we will make sure that we do our absolute best to get your hand raised, no matter what the cost, what the energy expenditure, how many hours we have to do, we will focus on you getting your hand raised. So, if Khamzat Chimaev is listening, or anybody who knows him, get this message to him. Please let him know he’s more than welcome, and I would love to have him as soon as possible training at my facility.”

    Chimaev had told Dana White that he wanted to move up to the Light Heavyweight division, despite that, rumors have surfaced that he wants a rematch for the gold in Abu Dhabi, no word yet on if that’s being planned.

    h/t to MMA Junkie for the transcription.

     

  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis Set For Real American Freestyle 10 On June 13

    Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis Set For Real American Freestyle 10 On June 13

    This exciting mat wrestling matchup has been officially confirmed for next month for RAF.

    Real American Freestyle are pulling out the best matchups they can for their tenth event, this time around, it features a former UFC Champion in Khamzat Chimaev taking on former Bellator MMA fighter, Dillon Danis.

    https://x.com/RAFWrestlingUSA/status/2054291705742901300?s=20

    Chimaev recently fought against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 where he lost for the first-time in his MMA career, which also cost him his Middleweight Championship by split-decision in a heated rivalry between both sides.

  • Amanda Ribas vs. Fatima Kline Set For UFC Oklahoma City

    Amanda Ribas vs. Fatima Kline Set For UFC Oklahoma City

    A big women’s bout has been officially signed for the UFC’s trip to OKC.

    Oklahoma City might be partying to the rooftops at the moment with how dominant the NBA’s Thunder have been, but the stakes are getting higher when the world of MMA makes their arrival at the Paycom Center for a night of chaos and action on both sides.

    It was reportedly first announced by Nolan King of MMA Junkie that Amanda Ribas would be battling Fatima Kline in OKC. Ribas has been on a three-fight skid and with Kline’s domination throughout her run, this is an all-or-nothing fight that will take the most out of both to pick up the victory at the end of the night.

    Alex Behunin reports that UFC Oklahoma City will also feature a middleweight clash between UFC veterans Brad Tavares and Marc-Andre Barriault.

  • Nate Diaz To Dustin Poirier: Don’t Involve Me, You’re A P*ssy

    Nate Diaz To Dustin Poirier: Don’t Involve Me, You’re A P*ssy

    Nate Diaz did not keep his words light when asked about the opponent that got away in the UFC.

    Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz were originally scheduled to fight each other a few years back, however, that never happened when both sides could not come to a financial agreement and the negotiations for the bout fell out immediately with both men taking jabs at each other ever since.

    Diaz is set to compete on May 16 against Mike Perry in his first MMA bout since his last fight with the UFC where he submitted Tony Ferguson and departed from the promotion for the first time in over a decade.

    When asked about The Diamond, Diaz did not keep any words of his shy from his rival, in fact, he let him know the fight would still be on the table if Poirier never hung up the gloves following a retirement fight against Max Holloway.

    “I am (interested) if he f*cking gets in there and starts fighting people,” Diaz said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I don’t fight retired fighters. He jumped ship a little early, so it’s not someone that I’m that interested in. Get back in the game and start squabbling with people. Where the hell did you go? ‘I’ll come back for you now.’ No, don’t come back on account of me. Get some sleep. Get you some sleep. He got emotional when he fought somebody, and he’s like, ‘I’m retired. Oh, this was so great.’

    “A whole f*cking little lady moment where he needed to talk about his feelings and how he was all done with all this. And then he went, ‘Oh, what the f*ck did I do?’ Yeah, you were being a b*tch in your post-fight interview, and you set your gloves down and you shed a tear, and then two weeks later he’s like, ‘I want to fight Nate, I’ll come back for Nate.’ Like, you didn’t even leave, stupid. You f*cking p*ssed out. Don’t involve me in that sh*t. You’re a p*ssy. Get back in the game and start squabbling.”

    The bout between Diaz and Perry will take place on Netflix for MVP MMA’s first-ever card.

    h/t to MMA Junkie for the transcription.

  • Melquizael Costa: I Knew My Time Would Come To Headline UFC Card

    Melquizael Costa: I Knew My Time Would Come To Headline UFC Card

    Melquizael Costa is ready to take on the very best in Arnold Allen in his first UFC headliner.

    UFC Vegas 117 will feature Melquizael Costa’s first-ever main event spot as “The Dalmation” looks to keep his winning ways going with a shot at the always dangerous Arnold Allen.

    Nolan King of MMA Junkie spoke with Costa at the pre-fight interviews and asked about how Costa is basking into the spotlight before one of his biggest opportunities yet.

    “It’s all new. It’s all exciting. It’s great,” Costa told MMA Junkie through a Portuguest-language interpreter Tuesday. “… I always believed that I would fly high one day. I knew my time would come, and thankfully the organization saw that, too.”

    Costa’s opponent, Arnold Allen is 2-3 in his last five fights, picking up a decision loss to Jean Silva in his last outing.

    h/t to MMA Junkie for the transcription.

  • Ronda Rousey: Hunter Campbell Is A Chauvinist Prick

    Ronda Rousey: Hunter Campbell Is A Chauvinist Prick

    Ronda Rousey did not keep her words light when she spoke about the Chief Business Officer of the UFC.

    Most Valuable Promotions is set to bring the biggest fight in Women’s MMA history on May 16 between Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Carano retired in 2009 after suffering her first loss in the sport to Cris Cyborg and would transition to the world of acting in entertainment.

    However, Rousey would go on to dominate the sport for the next couple of years, bringing MMA to the UFC, and retaining the Women’s Bantamweight Championship consecutive times before losing her first MMA fight to Holly Holm, then Amanda Nunes a year later in her attempt at reclaiming the throne.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Rousey opened up about how the UFC and her idea for this fight did not work out and who she blames for it not happening on that side of the world of MMA.

    “No, it wasn’t personal. With Hunter it was personal because he was a fucking asshole about it,” she said. “He was just being such a chauvinist prick and so dismissive. Just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get go and acting like this isn’t the greatest thing that has fallen into his lap since he’s been there. He’s like, ‘Oh, you guys are so much older. I don’t know how it’s going to do.’ Who the fuck is this guy? I didn’t even know who he was. I was told, ‘He’s the lawyer that is going to come and show you your pay-per-view numbers.’ Fine, I’m going to knock this out of the park. I love having my pay be performance-based. Fuck you, I’ll show you. Dana mentioned that he wanted me and Gina to fight for the 145 title because it was vacant and it was a way to retire the belt. Hunter is like, ‘Yeah, then we can get rid of that division.’ The way he spoke of it and how dismissive he was and the disdain he had for the fighters at that weight, motherfucker, my husband is 6’7”, my girls are not going to be 135. This is what you think about women who are heavier than 135 pounds, that they can’t offer you anything and are worthless? It just really rubbed me the wrong way. This fucking guy is going to be shepherding the company that I helped build? It rubbed me the wrong way. I was talking to my mom about it. He was like, ‘I met your mom, she is so great. Tell her I said hi.’ After the meeting, I’m like, ‘Mom, do you know who Hunter Campbell is?’ ‘Yeah, he’s a fucking asshole. Screw that guy.’ ‘Why don’t you like him?’ ‘He’d sell tickets to Christians being fed to lions.’”

    Rousey vs. Carano is set to headline the first-ever MMA event held by Most Valuable Promotions at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • TKO Announces New Seven-Event Partnership Over Three Years With The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance

    TKO Announces New Seven-Event Partnership Over Three Years With The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance

    TKO has announced a new Seven-Event partnership over three years with Arizona Sports & Events Alliance.

    TKO sent out a press release today announcing a new Three Year, Seven Event partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance that will see them bring marquee UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing events to Arizona.

    Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, Event Development and Operations for TKO, commented on the new partnership stating: “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state. We look forward to creating unforgettable moments for fans across the region over the next three years.”

    Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, also commented on the new partnership saying, “Arizona has proven time and again that we are built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to join forces with TKO on this multi-year partnership. This partnership reflects the momentum and innovative spirit of our community, and the dedication to creating high-impact experiences that drive tourism, economic impact and global visibility for our state.”

    You can read the full press release below.

    TKO AND ARIZONA SPORTS & EVENTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO BRING MARQUEE UFC, WWE, PBR, AND ZUFFA BOXING EVENTS TO ARIZONA

    Seven-event partnership over three years will feature premier live sports and entertainment experiences in Arizona

    PHOENIX, ARIZ. and NEW YORK, NY – May 12, 2026 – TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), together with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, today announced a multi-year agreement that will stage a series of premier UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in Arizona.

    The seven-event agreement will span three years and feature some of TKO’s most high-profile live events, creating new opportunities for fans to experience UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in one of the country’s leading sports and entertainment markets.

    “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state,” said Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, Event Development and Operations for TKO. “We look forward to creating unforgettable moments for fans across the region over the next three years.”

    “Arizona has proven time and again that we are built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to join forces with TKO on this multi-year partnership,” said Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance. “This partnership reflects the momentum and innovative spirit of our community, and the dedication to creating high-impact experiences that drive tourism, economic impact and global visibility for our state.”

    Additional details, including event-specific information, dates, and ticket information will be shared at a later date.

    TKO’s agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance is one of a growing number of partnerships between TKO and government and private partners in communities around the world that are eager to host TKO’s marquee live events. Through these partnerships, TKO is reaching more fans in more markets, delivering memorable experiences while generating meaningful economic and cultural impact for host communities.

    About TKO
    TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

    About UFC®
    UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 363 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while distributing programming to an estimated 1 billion broadcast and digital households across 210 countries and territories. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

    About WWE
    WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network and The CW. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

    About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
    PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 800 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. In 2022, the organization launched PBR Teams—10 teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship—as well as the PBR Challenger Series with more than 60 annual events nationwide. PBR events are broadcast on CBS Television Network and Paramount+. PBR is a part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, X at X.com/PBR, Instagram at Instagram.com/PBR and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

    About Zuffa Boxing
    Zuffa Boxing is a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (“TKO”) (NYSE: TKO) and Sela, the entertainment conglomerate. TKO serves as managing partner, providing day-to-day operational expertise, management, and oversight of the promotion, with executive leadership anchored by UFC President and CEO Dana White and WWE President and TKO Board Member Nick Khan. The promotion aims to reimagine the sport of boxing by evolving the current model to restore the sport’s rightful place in the forefront of the global sports ecosystem. For more information, follow @Zuffa_Boxing on X; and @ZuffaBoxing on Snapchat, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

    About Arizona Sports & Events Alliance (the Alliance)
    The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance is the state’s lead organization dedicated to attracting, planning and hosting major events for Arizona. As Arizona’s front door for world-class sports, entertainment and commercial events, the Alliance unites civic, business, tourism, Native American and sports leaders with governing bodies to deliver exceptional experiences, fuel economic growth and elevate Arizona’s global profile. For more information, visit AZSportsAlliance.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/AZSportsAlliance, X at X.com/AZSportAlliance, Instagram at Instagram.com/AZSportsAlliance, TikTok.com/@AZSportsAlliance and LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/company/arizona-sports-events-alliance.