A grudge match between top-15 middleweights Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen has been rescheduled...

A grudge match between top-15 middleweights Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen has been rescheduled for UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, sources told <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2025/5/7/24425877/bad-blood-brendan-allen-vs-marvin-vettori-re-booked-for-ufc-318-in-new-orleans">MMA Mania's Alex Behunin</a> on Wednesday.Vettori and Allen were initially slated to square off in a UFC Fight Night main event in April 2024, but an injury forced Vettori out of the matchup. Weeks later, the two <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3055063" href="https://thescore.com/news/3055063">got into a brawl</a> on a casino floor after a PFL event in Florida.Vettori, ranked No. 10 in the division, is looking to get back on track from the first losing streak of his professional career. The 31-year-old Italian is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Roman Dolidze in a March main event. Vettori hasn't won a fight in over two years.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Allen, the No. 11-ranked middleweight, has also lost two straight. The 29-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to Anthony Hernandez in February after falling short to current No. 1 contender Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris last September. Allen had won seven in a row before the recent slump.In the UFC 318 main event, Dustin Poirier will make the final walk of his MMA career in a trilogy bout against former featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

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

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Report: Vettori-Allen rebooked for UFC 318 in New Orleans

Bo Nickal is taking the first loss of his MMA career in stride.  The UFC middleweight prospect ca...

Bo Nickal is taking the first loss of his MMA career in stride.The UFC middleweight prospect came up short for the first time this past weekend, suffering a second-round TKO defeat to Reinier de Ridder in Des Moines, Iowa.Nickal reflected on the setback Tuesday on "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdFehoNurYc">The Ariel Helwani Show</a>," vowing to continue to improve his game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I don't really feel like the goal or myself or anything has changed," Nickal said. "It's unfortunate to kind of have to experience that because I hate losing. But I think even now, having gone through many, many losses in the past, and feeling like those were some of the biggest catalyzing moments in my career, I'm already very grateful for it. I think this is nothing but a learning opportunity and an experience that I think will just help me grow and improve and get better."Nickal, a three-time Division-I national champion in folkstyle wrestling, joined the UFC in 2023 as one of the brightest prospects in years. He found immediate success in the Octagon, scoring four straight wins, including three by stoppage.But De Ridder, a former ONE Championship two-division titleholder with a significant edge in MMA experience, was too much for Nickal. De Ridder overpowered Nickal on the feet before finishing him with a devastating knee to the body in the second round.Nickal said he was underprepared but credited De Ridder for being the "better fighter" and uncovering some holes in his skill set."When I look at that fight and some of the things that kind of were his biggest positives in the fight, those were things that I really wasn't prepared for," Nickal said. "So now it's like, 'All right, that's eye-opening.' I realized there were certain situations where I was vulnerable and certain weaknesses I had in my game, and those have been exposed. And now I get to work on them, which is a good thing."When asked if he overlooked De Ridder, Nickal said he didn't - and that his mindset was much different."I looked at (De Ridder) as a really big test. ... Knowing the danger of the fight going in, I felt like there was a lot of opportunity and chances for me to have weaknesses in my game exposed, and that's exactly what happened," Nickal said. "I wasn't really afraid of that going in. I think more than being overconfident, it's just being naive. Being in certain situations and not realizing that I'm in danger. It just comes with experience."Again, I had an experience this past weekend that I'm gonna be really, really grateful for in the long run. He fought his fight, and I fought his fight, too. That's something that, moving forward in the future, I'm gonna know not to do."Nickal, who now sits at 7-1 in pro MMA, said he hopes to return to the cage sooner than later."I'll talk to the coaches and see what's best," Nickal said. "Got to get back to 100% and feel like I can put a training camp together. We'll see. I would like to fight a couple more times this year. So getting back as quickly as possible would be good for me."

DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Bo Nickal reacts after his TKO loss to Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Nickal says he was 'exposed' in 1st UFC loss

Naoya Inoue stopped Ramon Cardenas in a thriller to retain the undisputed junior featherweight ch...

Naoya Inoue stopped Ramon Cardenas in a thriller to retain the undisputed junior featherweight championship Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.The finish came at the 0:45 mark of the eighth round. Inoue dropped Cardenas late in the seventh and then stopped him with a flurry of punches early in the eighth.Inoue had to overcome a huge moment of adversity to secure his latest title defense. Cardenas <a href="https://x.com/trboxing/status/1919230259758583825">floored him with a left hook</a> late in the second round. However, Inoue returned to his feet and made it to the bell.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The Monster" shook off the cobwebs and turned up the heat in the fourth, landing power punches in the pocket to Cardenas' head and body. And Inoue's onslaught continued into the next few rounds. Cardenas showed immense heart as Inoue stalked him in the fifth and sixth, even catching the champion with a solid body shot.But eventually, Inoue was too much for the challenger. He pressed the action early in the seventh and finally <a href="https://x.com/trboxing/status/1919235290285187577">scored his lone knockdown of the fight</a> with 25 seconds left in the stanza. Inoue came out in the eighth and pummeled Cardenas with a barrage of punches up against the ropes, forcing the referee to intervene.Inoue now holds a 30-0 career record with 27 knockouts. The 32-year-old Japanese superstar has defended the undisputed 122-pound championship four times since winning it in December 2023.Inoue was fighting in the United States for the first time since 2021, having competed in his native Japan in his last nine bouts before Sunday.One of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the sport, Inoue used to hold the undisputed bantamweight championship before moving up in weight in July 2023.Cardenas suffered just the second loss of his career, falling to 26-2. The 29-year-old San Antonio native's 14-fight winning streak ended.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 04: Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (R) punches Ramon Cardenas in the first round of their title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Inoue survives knockdown, TKOs Cardenas in 8th round

Cory Sandhagen put his fellow bantamweights on notice with a dominant performance against Deiveso...

Cory Sandhagen put his fellow bantamweights on notice with a dominant performance against Deiveson Figueiredo.Sandhagen stopped Figueiredo in the second round of the UFC Des Moines main event Saturday night. Figueiredo tapped out after suffering a knee injury during a ground exchange.The finish came at the 4:03 mark of the round and was officially ruled a TKO win for Sandhagen.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It wasn't a shame (how the fight ended)," Sandhagen said in his postfight interview. "If you don't know how to play 50/50 (guard), your knee gets popped. It happened to TJ (Dillashaw), it happened to Figgy. If you just don't know how to play that position, you lose. And I'm better there, so I put him there, I sat up, it popped, and that's how it goes."Sandhagen was dominant from start to finish, outlanding Figueiredo 54-6 in significant strikes and 92-8 in total strikes. Sandhagen and Figueiredo secured two takedowns each.Sandhagen got off to a terrific start in the first round. After Figueiredo tried to initiate a ground exchange, Sandhagen got on top and made him pay. Sandhagen pummeled Figueiredo with punches to the head throughout the rest of the stanza and defended his opponent's nonstop heel hook attempts.Early in the second round, Sandhagen picked Figueiredo apart on the feet before taking him down again. Sandhagen continued to land ground-and-pound and appeared to be en route to a masterful win. In the final minute, he shredded Figueiredo's knee during an exchange on the mat and forced the Brazilian to tap.Sandhagen, the No. 4-ranked bantamweight, bounced back from a unanimous decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi last August. Sandhagen, 33, is now 4-1 in his last five Octagon appearances.Sandhagen called for a title shot against the winner of Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley 2, which is scheduled to headline UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark."I'm ready to win that belt," Sandhagen said. "Sean O'Malley, Merab, I want the winner. I'll be the backup if they want. I've dreamed of being a world champion for more than half of my life now. UFC, please give me an opportunity to show how great I am to the whole world."Figueiredo has now suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. The 37-year-old is 3-2 since moving up to 135 pounds in 2023. Figueiredo came in as the No. 5-ranked bantamweight.

DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Cory Sandhagen punches Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Sandhagen stops Figueiredo in UFC Des Moines main event

Reinier de Ridder pulled off a stunning upset against Bo Nickal, handing the top UFC prospect his...

Reinier de Ridder pulled off a stunning upset against Bo Nickal, handing the top UFC prospect his first career loss.De Ridder finished Nickal with a devastating knee to the body in the co-main event of UFC Des Moines on Saturday night. The TKO win came at the 1:53 mark of the second round.Nickal, a former standout NCAA wrestler, falls to 4-1 in the UFC and 7-1 as a professional MMA fighter.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nickal was attempting to crack the top 15 of the middleweight division against the No. 13-ranked De Ridder, but instead, he's headed to the drawing board for the first time in his career.After the fight, De Ridder expressed interest in a matchup against former champion Sean Strickland.A former ONE Championship two-division titleholder, De Ridder improved to 3-0 in the UFC with the win over Nickal. He made his Octagon debut last November and has beaten Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and now Nickal.

DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands reacts after his TKO victory over Bo Nickal in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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De Ridder hands Nickal 1st career loss with brutal TKO

Canelo Álvarez defeated William Scull via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 119-109) to once ...

Canelo Álvarez defeated William Scull via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 119-109) to once again become the undisputed super middleweight champion Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Álvarez entered with the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles, while Scull held the IBF belt.Following the fight, Turki Alalshikh announced Álvarez will defend the undisputed championship against Terence Crawford on Sept. 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Álvarez and Crawford faced off in the ring afterward.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Álvarez and Scull delivered a lackluster affair, breaking the <a href="https://x.com/DanCanobbio/status/1918887491181928822">CompuBox</a> record for fewest punches thrown in a 12-round fight (445 combined). Álvarez outlanded Scull 56-55 in total punches and 48-28 in power punches, while Scull had a 27-8 edge in jabs.With the victory, Álvarez improved his professional record to 63-2-2. He's now a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion. Álvarez was stripped of the IBF title in July 2024 after booking a fight with Edgar Berlanga instead of a mandatory defense against Scull.The 34-year-old Mexican has now recorded nine super middleweight title defenses dating back to 2020.Scull, a 32-year-old from Cuba, suffered the first loss of his career, falling to 23-1.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 03: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez looks on during super middleweight fight against William Scull on the Fatal Fury City of Wolves card at ANB Arena on May 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Canelo beats Scull, to fight Crawford in September

Ryan Garcia didn't like fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square.  Garcia suffered a shocking unanim...

Ryan Garcia didn't like fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square.Garcia suffered a shocking unanimous decision loss in Friday's welterweight main event in New York."I wasn't a fan of that at all," Garcia <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54YMRp8ogw">said</a> at the postfight press conference of the event's quiet atmosphere. "It felt like a sparring match, and it felt like you could hear everybody. It just didn't feel authentic to me. But no excuses. It is what it is."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The event - put on by Turki Alalshikh and The Ring in the middle of Times Square - was invite-only, with around 300 VIP guests in attendance.Garcia, one of the biggest stars in boxing, competed for the first time since he was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for multiple failed drug tests.Garcia was coming off a no-contest against former WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney in April 2024, originally a majority decision victory that was later overturned.Romero scored the only knockdown of Friday's fight, as he dropped Garcia with two left hooks in the second round. It was a rather uneventful matchup, with Garcia edging out Romero 66-57 in total punches. "It was a pretty off night," Garcia said. "Rolly did what he does. He does a lot of good power shots, caught me in the second round. But just even at the start of the fight, it just didn't feel like my feet were under me, like I had anything. But I just had to fight through it, and just found myself very off after the year layoff."He added: "I just didn't feel there. Didn't feel there at all. ... I just didn't let my hands go in any way, shape, or form. It's as simple as that."The 26-year-old fell to 24-2 (1 NC) after the first decision loss of his professional career."That whole year (during the suspension), it was a lot for me, mentally. So the fact that I got here and I'm in the position I am and my mind is as clear as it is, is a victory for me, I would say," Garcia said. "But I'm extremely disappointed in the way I fought. It definitely isn't my best in any way."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Ryan Garcia throws a punch at Rolly Romero during a fight for the WBA Welterweight title in Times Square on May 02, 2025 in New York City.

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Garcia: Times Square fight 'didn't feel authentic'

Rolly Romero pulled off a huge upset against Ryan Garcia, defeating him via unanimous decision (1...

Rolly Romero pulled off a huge upset against Ryan Garcia, defeating him via unanimous decision (115-112, 115-112, 118-109) in the welterweight main event of Friday's event in Times Square.Romero scored the only knockdown of the fight, flooring Garcia with two left hooks in the second round.Garcia returned to the ring for the first time since serving a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for multiple positive drug tests.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The fight was relatively lackluster over the course of 12 rounds. Garcia topped Romero 66-57 in total punches and 48-39 in jabs, though they tied in power shots with 18 each.With the victory, Romero is now riding a two-fight winning streak and improved to 17-2 as a professional. The 29-year-old hasn't lost since facing Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz in March 2024.Garcia was coming off a no-contest against Devin Haney in April 2024. The 26-year-old originally earned a surprise majority decision win, but it was later overturned. Garcia, one of the biggest stars in boxing, is now a career 24-2 (1 NC).

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Rolly Romero lands a punch on Ryan Garcia during a fight for the WBA Welterweight title in Times Square on May 02, 2025 in New York City.

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Romero shocks Garcia to win decision in Times Square headliner

Devin Haney stepped into the ring for the first time in 13 months and earned a lackluster victory...

Devin Haney stepped into the ring for the first time in 13 months and earned a lackluster victory over Jose Ramirez, winning via unanimous decision Friday in New York City's Times Square.The judges scored the fight 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110 in Haney's favor.Haney, the former undisputed lightweight champion and former WBC junior welterweight champion, is back in the win column following a no-contest against Ryan Garcia in April 2024.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He didn't conduct a postfight interview after the win over Ramirez.Haney controlled the action in Friday's co-main event, though there were very few significant moments or drama. Haney outlanded Ramirez 70-40 in total punches.With the victory, the 26-year-old San Francisco native is now 32-0 (1 NC) as a professional. Haney's megafight against Garcia last year was originally ruled a majority decision loss - the first of his career - but it was overturned to a no-contest after Garcia failed multiple drug tests.Ramirez, a former unified junior welterweight titleholder, has now lost two straight.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Devin Haney throws a punch at Jose Ramirez during a fight in Times Square on May 02, 2025 in New York City.

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Haney returns to win column in timid fight vs. Ramirez

Teofimo Lopez defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. to retain the WBO junior welterweight title in the firs...

Teofimo Lopez defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. to retain the WBO junior welterweight title in the first of three blockbuster fights scheduled for Friday's event in Times Square in New York.Lopez earned a lopsided unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110.The 27-year-old New Yorker cruised to victory in his latest title defense, outboxing Barboza over the course of 12 rounds. Lopez outlanded the challenger 126-70 in total punches, 54-38 in jabs, and 72-32 in power shots. Barboza tagged Lopez with a hard right hand in the sixth but was unable to overcome Lopez's sharp punching throughout the fight.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lopez is now riding a six-fight winning streak and has defended the WBO title four consecutive times. He remains unbeaten since a stunning loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021.Barboza earned a title shot against Lopez by capturing the interim belt with a split decision win over Jack Catterall in February. The 33-year-old California native suffered his first career loss Friday, falling to 32-1 as a professional.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Teofimo Lopez prepares to throw a punch during a fight for the Ring and WBO Super Lightweight titles in Times Square on May 02, 2025 in New York City.

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Lopez dominates Barboza in 1st fight of Times Square tripleheader

PFL women's flyweight Taila Santos has been suspended for six months by the United States Anti-Do...

PFL women's flyweight Taila Santos has been suspended for six months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after failing a drug test.Santos tested positive for oxandrolone, its metabolites, and clenbuterol in an out-of-competition test March 21, USADA said in a statement Wednesday.The World Anti-Doping Agency classifies oxandrolone and clenbuterol as anabolic agents. They are prohibited at all times under the PFL anti-doping policy.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Santos' suspension is retroactive to the date of the drug test, meaning she will be eligible to return Sept. 21.The 31-year-old Brazilian was ruled out of the PFL World Tournament earlier this month. She was scheduled to fight Juliana Velasquez in the first round April 11 in Orlando, but the promotion removed her from the matchup days before the event.Santos was the women's flyweight runner-up in the 2024 PFL season, losing to Dakota Ditcheva in the November final. Santos went 3-1 overall in her first PFL campaign after parting ways with the UFC in late 2023. She's a former UFC title challenger.

UNCASVILLE, CT - JUNE 13: Taila Santos looks on before fighting Jena Bishop during PFL 2024 week 4 at the Mohegan Sun Arena on June 13, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

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PFL's Taila Santos suspended 6 months for positive drug test

The last time the UFC hosted an event in Montreal, Georges St-Pierre was on his MMA hiatus - and ...

The last time the UFC hosted an event in Montreal, Georges St-Pierre was on his MMA hiatus - and still two years from capturing the middleweight championship in what would be his final Octagon appearance.A decade later, St-Pierre will be taking in the action at the Bell Centre as a happily retired legend of the sport.The UFC returns to Quebec's largest city on May 10 with a welterweight title fight between champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena taking top billing. St-Pierre, a UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division titleholder, will be cornering bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi in a main-card bout against Jose Aldo.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>theScore sat down with St-Pierre to discuss the event, the state of Canadian MMA, what else he's up to these days, and much more.(Editor's note: Interview lightly edited for length and clarity. Watch it in video form <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdANhe05gwE&amp;t=25s">here</a>.)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                         </center></figure>theScore: Why do you think it's been this long since the UFC has held an event in Montreal?St-Pierre: Normally, they use local guys to headline the card. They have a few guys fighting: (Marc-Andre) Barriault is fighting, Aiemann (Zahabi) is fighting Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo is one of the best to ever do it. (Zahabi) is a friend of mine. I'm gonna be in his corner. For me, it's fun to go back in there and - I don't compete anymore, but I can get that feeling back a little bit as a trainer, as a cornerman.theScore: And you've cornered some fighters in the UFC before, right?St-Pierre: Yeah, yeah I did. So it's not my first rodeo.theScore: What's more nerve-racking? Being in the cage or being in someone's corner?St-Pierre: Being in the cage is scarier because you can die out there. It's crazy. But I'm still very nervous when I'm in the corner for someone because I care about the person. But you have to be completely objective and emotionless. That's what a good cornerman is.theScore: Zahabi's fight against Aldo, another UFC Hall of Famer, is a big one. What's on the line?St-Pierre: He's gonna crack the top 10 and become a serious contender if he wins. It's now or never.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/cropped_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782991/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182548708.jpg?ts=1745876073 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>theScore: In the UFC 315 main event, welterweight champ Belal Muhammad will defend his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena. What do you make of Muhammad's reign so far? Are you a fan of his?St-Pierre: Yeah, I like to watch him fight. He's a very well-rounded fighter. He's good everywhere. He's got a very unorthodox style, especially standing up and striking, which throws people off. He switches stances, he's got relentless pressure. He's got a style that is very, very hard to deal with for a lot of fighters.theScore: Do you think he beats Della Maddalena?St-Pierre: It's hard to say. But I think he's got all the tools to do so. Jack is on a winning streak, and momentum sometimes wins fights. However, I think Belal Muhammad has more experience in big fights and is more well-rounded.theScore: Ahead of UFC 315, Bud Light <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wWRtD2RO0c&amp;feature=youtu.be">released a gold beer can</a> and apparently infused the gold from one of your championship belts into the paint of the cans. Is this true?St-Pierre: Yeah, they took some of my gold. The last time I fought in Montreal, it was against Nick Diaz. I raised the belt, and we wanted to give a chance to the fans who supported me for so many years to raise gold as well. It's a way to give back to the fans.theScore: So they actually used one of your belts?St-Pierre: Yeah, they melted some gold in the product. It's a good promotion, and it's limited edition.theScore: Did they use the belt from the Nick Diaz fight or a different one?St-Pierre: Yeah, I think it was the Nick Diaz one.theScore: You were the face of Canadian MMA for many years. What are your thoughts on the state of Canadian MMA right now? Is it in a good place, both in the UFC and on the regional scene?St-Pierre: It goes by waves. When I was competing at one point in my career, I was very lucky - I had the chance to have incredible training partners. I had David Loiseau, Patrick Cote, Rory MacDonald, Denis Kang. I had an incredible group of very high-level training partners, and most of us were training in different gyms. Once a week, we were meeting each other to exchange and train. It was very competitive, but it was not a malicious competition. It was an inside competition. I think that helped us to be very competitive at the international level.I feel like today, everybody is training at their own gym. It's a little bit more selfish. And they don't have any alliance. In Canada, if we want to be competitive at the international level, I think we need to exchange more. We need more variety of training partners at a high level. Because if we don't do that, we don't have the numbers of the United States, Brazil, or Russia, or some other countries in Europe as well. We're too small. We need to train with each other.I think that's maybe one of the reasons why it's missing. And it goes by waves. One era was the American wrestler, the other era was the Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Brazil, now it was the Dagestani, and at one point it was the guys from Australia and New Zealand. Now I feel like it's going toward the Georgians. They're very good. Merab (Dvalishvili), Ilia Topuria. And there are a few other Georgians. And I don't know why. When one breaks to the top, it sort of inspires the others. Maybe we'll have another kick at it soon, hopefully.theScore: Maybe there'll never be another GSP, but you believe Canada will get to a point where it's producing champions and top contenders again?St-Pierre: Absolutely. There are many ways to get to the top. Records are made to be broken, my friend.I don't like when people try to compare themselves to me. We're all different. I never tried to compare myself to someone at the time who was higher than me. I tried to compare myself to what I was yesterday and get better every day by a little bit. By doing that, and in the long run, you look back and you're like, "Wow, what an improvement." That's how you should do it. People try to make big leaps. Life doesn't work like that, especially in sports and martial arts. It's a small leap every day, and that's what matters the most.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/cropped_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/w220xh124_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/w320xh180_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/w640xh360_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/w768xh432_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782967/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1846044256.jpg?ts=1745869007 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>theScore: You have lots going on in your life. Your own clothing brand, supplements, and even a line of vodka. Are you busier now than when you were fighting?St-Pierre: Yeah, I'm busier now. When I was fighting, everything was centered toward being the strongest man in the world. But now I'm more of an entrepreneur. I have different businesses, always related to health and fitness, most of it. I have a fitness equipment company, I've got food supplements, vodka, online betting. I've got instructional videos, seminars, conferences. I even have movies in the pipeline that are coming up. So I'm very busy now.theScore: You're covering all the bases.St-Pierre: And on top of it, I have a lot of time for my personal stuff that I like to do. My passions - something I didn't have much time for back then.theScore: And you're still training almost every day, right?St-Pierre: Yeah. It's very important for me. It's very therapeutic. I'm not training to be the best, but even though I still improve, I train just because it's therapeutic. And when I want to get a kick at it in terms of competition, I go in the gym and go at it with some of the young guys who are getting ready for fights, and it's enough for me. I don't need to prove it to anyone anymore. I'm 43 years old.theScore: Still at Tristar?St-Pierre: Yeah, I'm training at different places. TriStar, Montreal Wrestling Club, I go to H2O sometimes. I go to Houston, Texas, and New York sometimes. I go to many different places. Freddie Roach in Los Angeles. I travel a lot.theScore: Do you still see Rory MacDonald from time to time? Do you guys keep in touch?St-Pierre: Yeah, I saw him a few weeks ago in the gym. He looks very good. He looks like he's in good shape and very happy.theScore: Is there anything else you still want to cross off the bucket list?St-Pierre: I'm working with a friend of mine, a training partner of mine, Erik Owings, and we're working on making, for me, one of the best tutorials for fitness. It will be more for people who are not really fit than for experts. It's gonna be interesting. It's more appealing for the average person. Most people are not athletes. They work every day. We want to give them a blueprint of all the things they can do in the most efficient ways.theScore: You said you have some movies in the works. Will acting become an even bigger focus at some point?St-Pierre: Yeah, it's a passion. It's fun. And when I like the project, I'm on board.

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Q&A: Georges St-Pierre on UFC's return to Montreal, state of Canadian MMA

Ian Machado Garry overcame a late surge from Carlos Prates to win the UFC Kansas City main event ...

Ian Machado Garry overcame a late surge from Carlos Prates to win the UFC Kansas City main event via unanimous decision Saturday night at T-Mobile Center.The judges scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in Garry's favor.Garry, the No. 7-ranked welterweight, handed Prates his first UFC loss. Prates, ranked No. 13, debuted in the promotion in February 2024 and won each of his first four fights by knockout.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Garry's performance was exceptional through the first four rounds of the fight. He stayed busier than Prates on the feet, controlled the distance, and picked his opponent apart with a variety of strikes. Garry also secured four takedowns on 19 attempts. He said he used his ground game to stop Prates from "getting comfortable on the front foot.""If you let him get comfortable, he'll put your ass out," Garry said.Prates rallied hard in the fifth round in search of a come-from-behind finish. He walked Garry down, landing combinations, and then wound up on top with a minute left following a scramble on the ground. Prates battered Garry with ferocious ground-and-pound, but Garry survived and comfortably won on the scorecards.Garry said he wasn't badly hurt during Prates' late onslaught."I was conscious at every moment," Garry said.He added: "I was completely in control. Just wanted to be safe and not do something stupid, because that can happen in some of these fights."Garry returned to the win column after suffering his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last December. UFC CEO Dana White said the 27-year-old Irishman will be the backup fighter for the UFC 315 main event between welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, which takes place May 10 in Montreal."In two weeks' time, I'm flying to Canada," Garry said. "I'm the official backup for the world title fight, and I'm next in line for that world title."Garry, who made his Octagon debut in 2021, lifted his promotional record to 9-1 and his professional mark to 16-1.Prates, a 31-year-old from Brazil, fell to 4-1 in the UFC and 21-7 as a pro.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: (R-L) Ian Machado Garry of Ireland faces Carlos Prates of Brazil in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at T-Mobile Center on April 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Garry holds off Prates to win UFC Kansas City main event

Anthony Smith came up short in the final fight of his career, suffering a TKO loss to Zhang Mingy...

Anthony Smith came up short in the final fight of his career, suffering a TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.The stoppage came at the 4:03 mark of the first round after Zhang brutalized Smith with elbows on the feet and then forced the finish via ground-and-pound. Zhang opened up a nasty cut on the top of Smith's head earlier in the round."Five years ago, that's a beatable guy," Smith said after officially retiring. "I'm aging. It is what it is."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Following the bout, Smith was visibly emotional as the UFC aired a video package featuring his career highlights."Lionheart" finishes his MMA career on the heels of a three-fight losing streak. Smith, a 36-year-old who fights out of Omaha, Nebraska, fell to 37-22 as a professional and 13-13 in the Octagon.Smith, who challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title in 2019, defeated the likes of Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, and Volkan Oezdemir throughout his 59-fight career dating back to 2008.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: Anthony Smith is interviewed after his final fight in the UFC after facing Zhang Mingyang of China in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at T-Mobile Center on April 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Smith TKO'd by Zhang in final fight of UFC career

Randy Brown delivered a highlight-reel knockout at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.  Brown floo...

Randy Brown delivered a highlight-reel knockout at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.Brown floored Nicolas Dalby with a devastating right hand in the second round of their welterweight bout, leaving the 40-year-old face down on the canvas.The final 30 seconds of the fight was a back-and-forth brawl up until Brown's finish.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
RANDY BROWNNNNNNNNN!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCKansasCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCKansasCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/pRjcexFC7P">pic.twitter.com/pRjcexFC7P</a>— HelmsMMA (@HelmsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/HelmsMMA/status/1916309116445987200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Brown, 34, is now 4-1 in his past five Octagon appearances and said he wants to face a top-15 opponent next.Dalby suffered his first stoppage loss in 30 professional fights.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: Randy Brown of Jamaica reacts after defeating Nicolas Dalby of Denmark in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at T-Mobile Center on April 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Watch: Brown caps slugfest vs. Dalby with face-plant KO

Chris Eubank Jr. earned a unanimous decision win over Conor Benn in a thrilling middleweight bout...

Chris Eubank Jr. earned a unanimous decision win over Conor Benn in a thrilling middleweight bout Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.All three judges scored the grudge match 116-112 in Eubank's favor."Everything surprised me," Eubank said after the victory. "I didn't know (Benn) had what he had in him. I really didn't. I thought I would break him early. I underestimated him. I didn't train for a fight like that.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I didn't know he had that in him. He's never shown that. But then again, he's never had to show it. He had to show it tonight. And so did I."Eubank and Benn traded heavy punches throughout 12 rounds to deliver the immediate front-runner for Fight of the Year.Benn had a strong start, but Eubank found his rhythm in the second half of the fight to secure the decision. Eubank topped Benn 367-215 in total punches, 140-35 in jabs, and 227-180 in power punches, according to Compubox."I felt like it was a close fight," Benn said. "I'll go watch it back. I stayed on the ropes maybe a bit too long. He worked harder toward the end."Saturday's main event was three years in the making. Eubank and Benn were scheduled to square off in October 2022, but the fight was canceled after Benn failed a drug test. Benn was cleared to compete in the United Kingdom late last year.Eubank's and Benn's fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, fought each other twice in the 1990s. Both were in attendance to watch their sons meet in the ring.Eubank is now riding a three-fight winning streak, improving to 35-3 as a professional. The 35-year-old Englishman missed weight for the fight, coming in 0.05 pounds over the 160-pound limit.Benn suffered his first career loss, falling to 23-1. The 28-year-old London native stepped into the ring for the first time since a February 2024 win over Peter Dobson.Benn usually competes at welterweight but moved up to middleweight to face Eubank. He said he hopes to fight Eubank again or challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title next."If we don't do the rematch - which I'd love to avenge that loss - (I'll) go back down to welterweight and win the WBC world title," Benn said. "It's either Mario Barrios or the rematch with Eubank. Whichever happens next, I'll be content with."

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Chris Eubank Jr looks on with a cut to his eye during the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn as part of the Fatal Fury - Fight Night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26, 2025 in London, England.

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Eubank tops Benn in Fight-of-the-Year candidate

Eddie Hall made quick work of Mariusz Pudzianowski in their highly anticipated "World's Strongest...

Eddie Hall made quick work of Mariusz Pudzianowski in their highly anticipated "World's Strongest Fight."Hall defeated Pudzianowski via TKO at the 0:30 mark of the first round at KSW 105 on Saturday in Gliwice, Poland. Tap <a href="https://x.com/connerburks/status/1916216354111164434">here</a> to watch the finish.Hall-Pudzianowski was a battle between retired strongmen. Hall was the 2017 World's Strongest Man champion and the first man to deadlift 500 kg. Pudzianowski, one of the greatest strongmen of all time, is a five-time World's Strongest Man champion and has competed in MMA since 2009.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hall, who came into the fight with far less combat sports experience than Pudzianowski, is now 1-0 in professional MMA after winning a 2-on-1 fight in 2024. The 37-year-old Englishman lost to fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson in an exhibition boxing match in 2022.Hall hurt Pudzianowski with the first punch of the fight, a right hand across the temple. He swarmed the 48-year-old Pole and eventually got on top, where he earned a ground-and-pound stoppage.After the victory, Hall said he's interested in squaring off with Pudzianowski for a second time."If the rematch is there, I'll take it, I think," Hall said.He added: "I've got no aspirations to be No. 1 in KSW. That's just not for me. I want to come and have fun. I want to fight my heroes. I want to fight the freaks of the world."Pudzianowski, whose pro record fell to 17-10 (1 NC), hinted at retirement following the loss."I'm not thinking about the future," Pudzianowski said. "I turned 48, almost 49. The sport is for young people. What's next? I don't know."

STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Britain's strongest man Eddie Hall attends the match between Stoke City and Everton at the Britannia Stadium on February 06, 2016 in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

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Eddie Hall runs through Mariusz Pudzianowski for 30-second TKO

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis denied rumors Thursday that he's sidelined with an in...

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis denied rumors Thursday that he's sidelined with an injury.Rumors began swirling on social media earlier this week that Du Plessis had injured himself in training and was therefore unable to commit to a potential fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas. Top contender Caio Borralho took the opportunity to call for an interim title bout with Chimaev instead.However, Du Plessis said on Instagram his next title defense will be finalized in the near future.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Everyone had their opinions and rumors and stories about a shin break and injuries," Du Plessis <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI06GEMtusC/?hl=en">wrote</a>. "I found it all very entertaining. Unfortunately, none of it is true. Myself and the UFC already discussed a fight date and opponent. The June fight was never signed. I did not pull out of any fight."I am the champion, I know when I fight. You as a contender just show up when we tell you to. Fight announcement coming soon. Stay tuned."Du Plessis didn't specify when his next fight will take place, though it appears likely he'll be ready to step into the Octagon again in 2025.The South African is coming off a unanimous decision victory in a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February. Du Plessis, 31, has defended his belt twice.

South Africa's Dricus du Plessis celebrates his victory over Sean Strickland of the US after their men's middleweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 312 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on February 9, 2025.

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Du Plessis shuts down injury rumors, teases fight announcement

Lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot will put his top-10 ranking on the line against the surging ...

Lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot will put his top-10 ranking on the line against the surging Ludovit Klein at UFC Fight Night on May 31, the promotion announced Thursday.The event is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.Gamrot, the No. 7-ranked fighter at 155 pounds, is coming off a split-decision loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 305 in August. Before that, the 34-year-old Pole had won three in a row, including a stoppage of Rafael Fiziev and a decision over former champion Rafael dos Anjos.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Klein will get the biggest test of his career on the heels of a seven-fight unbeaten streak that dates back to March 2022. The 30-year-old Slovak last defeated Roosevelt Roberts by unanimous decision in September. Klein made his UFC debut in 2020 and holds a 7-2-1 record in the promotion.A women's flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber is slated to headline the event.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mateusz Gamrot of Poland reacts after his victory over Rafael Fiziev of Kazakstan in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Gamrot to return vs. Klein at May 31 UFC event

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has a name in mind for his next fight.  Adesanya...

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has a name in mind for his next fight.Adesanya said he's targeting a rematch with fellow ex-champ Sean Strickland in hopes of avenging a loss from two years ago."I have a feeling who I want to fight," Adesanya <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo1MWNxayFA">said</a> in a video published Tuesday on his YouTube channel. "You'll like this one: I gotta get some get back. Strickland. I'm gonna get him back."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Strickland and Adesanya squared off at UFC 293 in September 2023. Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in promotion history, earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory to capture the 185-pound title.Adesanya, 35, is 0-2 since that fight."I don't want to make excuses because he beat me. But I just want to show him if he beat me at my best," Adesanya said. "This time, I'm gonna come at him correctly."Adesanya is coming off a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia in February. The No. 4-ranked middleweight said he was ready to pursue his next fight after sparring with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman earlier this month in South Florida. Adesanya said it was his first sparring session "in months.""I didn't spar after my last fight. ... I knew once I sparred, it'd be like, 'Man, y'all got any fights?'" Adesanya said. "So for me now, I told (UFC chief business officer) Hunter (Campbell) already, I told my coach, 'Yeah, it's time.' I just knew."Strickland, ranked No. 2 at 185 pounds, has been idle since losing a unanimous decision in a rematch with current champ Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 in February.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Sean Strickland of United States trades punches with Israel Adesanya of Nigeria (L), during the UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena on September 10, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

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Adesanya eyes Strickland rematch: 'I'm gonna get him back'

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