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'

Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are in the process of finalizing a rematch for July 12 at Wemble...

Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are in the process of finalizing a rematch for July 12 at Wembley Stadium in London, sources told <a href="https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/oleksandr-usyk-vs-daniel-dubois-being-finalized-for-july-12-at-wembley">The Ring's Mike Coppinger</a>.Usyk, the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight champion, and Dubois, the IBF titleholder, would meet for the undisputed championship.Usyk defeated Dubois via ninth-round knockout in August 2023 in Wroclaw, Poland, to defend the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Since then, the 38-year-old Ukrainian is 2-0. He beat Tyson Fury by split decision last May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000. Usyk, who was forced to relinquish the IBF title following that victory, earned a unanimous decision win over Fury in their December rematch in defense of his three belts.Dubois has also maintained a perfect record since losing to Usyk, winning three in a row. The 27-year-old London native is coming off an upset knockout win over Anthony Joshua last September, successfully defending the IBF title for the first time. Dubois captured the interim belt with a stoppage of Filip Hrgovic last June and was later elevated to full champion when Usyk gave up the strap.Dubois was scheduled to face WBO interim heavyweight champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but he withdrew during fight week due to an illness.

WROCLAW, POLAND - AUGUST 26: Oleksandr Usyk punches Daniel Dubois during the Heavyweight fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois at Stadion Wroclaw on August 26, 2023 in Wroclaw, Poland.

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Report: Usyk-Dubois 2 being finalized for July 12 in London

Alexander Volkanovski is once again the king of the featherweights.  Volkanovski defeated Diego L...

Alexander Volkanovski is once again the king of the featherweights.Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) to capture the vacant 145-pound championship in the UFC 314 main event Saturday night at Kaseya Center in Miami.Volkanovski joined Jose Aldo as the second-ever two-time featherweight champion in UFC history.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 36-year-old Australian returned to the Octagon for the first time since dropping the title in a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024.Topuria made one successful defense and then relinquished the belt to move up to the lightweight division, prompting the promotion to schedule the Volkanovski-Lopes bout."It's good to be back," Volkanovski said in his postfight interview. "I promised my girls I would bring the belt back to them. ... A lot of people counted me out."Volkanovski made history with Saturday's victory. He's the first fighter 35 or older to win a UFC title fight at 155 pounds or lighter, lifting the record to 1-17. Volkanovski is also the first fighter to capture an undisputed championship coming off back-to-back losses.The main event was back and forth and earned Fight of the Night honors. Volkanovski started strong, staying busier than Lopes on the feet and stinging him with a left hand. Volkanovski closed the round with a takedown and a few punches from on top.Volkanovski continued to control the pace of the fight in the second round, using his sharp jab to keep Lopes at bay. However, Lopes' takedown defense held up in this stanza and throughout the rest of the fight. In the final seconds of the round, Lopes caught Volkanovski with a hard right, scoring a flash knockdown. Volkanovski survived, but Lopes stole the round on two of three judges' scorecards.Volkanovski bounced back well in the third, landing the more effective punches, but then Lopes hurt him again in the fourth. Lopes hit Volkanovski's eye with a punch and put him on the back foot for over a minute. Lopes aggressively hunted the finish, but Volkanovski held him off and eventually got his bearings back.Volkanovski took a measured approach in the fifth round, outpointing Lopes with his jab and using footwork to stay out of danger. Lopes tried to entice Volkanovski into a fire fight in the final 20 seconds, but Volkanovski stayed calm and sealed the decision victory.Volkanovski got his hand raised for the first time since stopping Yair Rodriguez via TKO at UFC 290 in July 2023. Many questions surrounded Volkanovski ahead of UFC 314 as he was coming off back-to-back knockout losses to Topuria and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. But Volkanovski largely returned to full form after a 14-month break from the sport.Lopes' five-fight winning streak ended. The No. 3-ranked featherweight hadn't lost since facing Movsar Evloev in his short-notice UFC debut in May 2023.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia celebrates after defeating Diego Lopes of Brazil to win the featherweight title during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Volkanovski beats Lopes to reclaim UFC featherweight title

Paddy Pimblett put on a career-best performance against Michael Chandler, dominating him en route...

Paddy Pimblett put on a career-best performance against Michael Chandler, dominating him en route to a TKO finish in the UFC 314 co-main event Saturday night.The referee stepped in at the 3:07 mark of the third round at Kaseya Center in Miami.Pimblett, who entered as the No. 12-ranked lightweight, said afterward he wants to face a top-five opponent next.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I want that world title," Pimblett said. "I want Dustin (Poirier), Justin (Gaethje), Charles (Oliveira), or Arman (Tsarukyan). Any of them four."Pimblett pummeled Chandler on the ground to score the biggest win of his career.Early in the third round, Pimblett opened up a massive cut on Chandler's face with a knee. Moments later, he scored a takedown and took Chandler's back. Pimblett landed a barrage of elbows and punches on the ground and constantly attacked the rear-naked choke. Pimblett continued to rain down punches as he advanced to full mount and then took his back again, forcing the referee to wave off the fight.Pimblett, a 30-year-old from Liverpool, England, improved his UFC record to 7-0 with the victory.Chandler, 38, is now riding a three-fight skid. The former Bellator champion fell to 2-5 in the promotion.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Paddy Pimblett of England punches Michael Chandler in a lightweight bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Pimblett mauls Chandler in UFC 314 co-main event

Yair Rodriguez spoiled Patricio "Pitbull" Freire's long-awaited UFC debut, defeating the former B...

Yair Rodriguez spoiled Patricio "Pitbull" Freire's long-awaited UFC debut, defeating the former Bellator two-division champion via unanimous decision at UFC 314 on Saturday night at Kaseya Center in Miami.All three judges scored the fight 30-27 in Rodriguez's favor.Rodriguez, a former UFC interim featherweight champ, had his way with Freire from the start. He scored one knockdown, dropping the Brazilian with a straight right in the third round before pummelling him with ground-and-pound. Rodriguez topped Freire 70-17 in significant strikes.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>After the impressive performance, Rodriguez said he wants to challenge the winner of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for the featherweight title at UFC 320 on Sept. 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico."I want to fight for the title there," Rodriguez said. "Whoever wins tonight, I want to fight that guy in Mexico."Rodriguez used his reach advantage to keep Freire at a distance and pick him apart. Rodriguez landed several kicks - including a heavy one to Freire's head - and won most of the exchanges.Freire attempted an armbar late in the third, but Rodriguez escaped the submission.With the victory, Rodriguez snapped a two-fight losing streak. This was the 32-year-old's first win since submitting Josh Emmett to claim the interim title in February 2023.Freire, who was coming off a TKO win over former UFC fighter Jeremy Kennedy in a Bellator featherweight title defense in March 2024, is now 1-3 in his past four outings. Freire, 37, was widely considered one of the top fighters to never compete in the UFC before leaving the PFL and signing with the promotion earlier this year.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Yair Rodriguez of Mexico kicks Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire of Brazil in a featherweight bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Rodriguez spoils Pitbull's UFC debut with decision win

Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell with a ninja choke at the 3:52 mark of the second round at UF...

Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell with a ninja choke at the 3:52 mark of the second round at UFC 314 on Saturday night at Kaseya Center in Miami.Silva, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the featherweight division, moved to 5-0 in the Octagon with the victory. He will likely debut in the top 15 next week after beating Mitchell, who was ranked No. 13 coming in.Silva's performance was tremendous from start to finish. He dropped Mitchell with a straight right early in the second round. Silva got in Mitchell's face and landed several hard shots, including an elbow against the fence and a combination to the head and body.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>With a little more than a minute left in the frame, he got hold of a standing ninja choke, took Mitchell to the ground, and forced the tap. Mitchell was already unconscious when Silva let go of the submission.Silva is now 2-0 in 2025 after scoring a first-round knockout of Melsik Baghdasaryan at a UFC Fight Night event in February. All five of his Octagon wins have been finishes. Silva is one of the top fighters who competes out of the budding Fighting Nerds camp in Brazil, training with the likes of middleweight Caio Borralho and welterweight Carlos Prates.Mitchell, who was coming off a TKO win over Kron Gracie at UFC 310 in December, is now 1-2 in his past three outings.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Jean Silva of Brazil works for a submission against Bryce Mitchell in a featherweight bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Silva submits Mitchell with ninja choke in 2nd round

Former UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this sum...

Former UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer as part of the 2025 class, the promotion announced Saturday night.Nunes was in attendance at UFC 314 in Miami when play-by-play commentator Jon Anik revealed the news. "The Lioness" trained out of South Florida throughout her career.Widely regarded the greatest women's fighter of all time, Nunes was a longtime champion at bantamweight and featherweight. She retired from mixed martial arts following a win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023, though she <a href="https://x.com/ufc/status/1910791527208804722">hinted</a> at a return to the Octagon earlier this week at the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nunes first captured UFC gold in 2016 when she submitted Miesha Tate in the first round of the UFC 200 main event to become the women's bantamweight champion. She defended the title three times - including against Ronda Rousey - before adding the 145-pound belt with a knockout of Cris Cyborg in 2018.Nunes defended the 135-pound title twice more before dropping it in a shocking defeat to Julianna Pena in 2021. However, she dominated the rematch with Pena to regain the championship the following year. Pena also defended the featherweight title two times.The 36-year-old Brazilian finished her MMA career with a 16-2 record in the UFC and a 23-5 record overall.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: Two-division champion Amanda Nunes is seen on stage during the UFC 289 press conference at Prudential Center on May 05, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Nunes to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 314 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event...

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 314 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event in Miami.<h3>Featherweight championship</h3>Alexander Volkanovski (26-4) vs. Diego Lopes (26-6)Former champion Alexander Volkanovski is looking to make history when he takes on Diego Lopes for the vacant UFC featherweight title in Saturday's main event.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Fighters 35 and older are 0-17 in UFC title fights at lightweight and below. Volkanovski, 36, was unable to buck the trend in his last fight against Ilia Topuria, but he has a second chance against Lopes.If he gets his hand raised, Volkanovski will be the first fighter 35 or older to win a title fight in the lighter weight classes, and he'll also be the first fighter to claim an undisputed championship after back-to-back losses.Statistically, Volkanovski's back is up against the wall. But if anyone can overcome adversity, return to full form, and begin a second reign as featherweight champion, it's probably "The Great."This fight could come down to whether or not Volkanovski's chin is gone. If it is, don't be too surprised if Lopes lands big punches and puts him away within the first two rounds. Lopes is ferocious on the feet and won't let Volkanovski off the hook if he hurts him.But if Volkanovski weathers the storm - and I ultimately think he will - I see the Australian taking over midway through the fight and using his edge in experience to reach another championship.The pick: Volkanovski, unanimous decision<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/cropped_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/w220xh124_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/w320xh180_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/w640xh360_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/w768xh432_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780039/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2016525326.jpg?ts=1744377200 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Lightweight bout</h3>Michael Chandler (23-9) vs. Paddy Pimblett (22-3)This is the moment of truth for Paddy Pimblett: Is he ready to be a contender in the stacked lightweight division?I've gone back and forth on this one way too many times, but yeah, I think Pimblett's ready.Admittedly, it feels weird to be picking Pimblett - a blond, floppy-haired Liverpool native who was never truly expected to be a top contender - over Chandler, a former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger who has fought the who's who of the division. But the more I think about it, the more it seems like Pimblett has a better chance of outworking Chandler, and that'll be crucial if the fight goes to the scorecards.Pimblett is undoubtedly a skilled grappler, but he's also become a competent striker as well. If Saturday's co-main event is on the ground, he'll almost certainly be winning, and if it's on the feet, it could be competitive. Chandler's best path to victory is a knockout, but Pimblett can take a punch - he's never been knocked out in 25 career fights.Let's go with Paddy "The Baddy" to mix the martial arts and score his biggest win to date.The pick: Pimblett, unanimous decision<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/cropped_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w220xh124_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w320xh180_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w640xh360_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w768xh432_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Featherweight bout</h3>Yair Rodriguez (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Patricio Freire (36-7)Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire is getting a tough test in his long-awaited UFC debut.And he's going to pass it.On paper, Yair Rodriguez should probably win. He's five years younger than Freire and has a significant height and reach advantage. And this fight is almost surely going to play out on the feet. But something tells me Freire isn't going to let this big opportunity slip away. If he beats Rodriguez, he's suddenly in the top five of the featherweight division and either in line for the next title shot or one win away.Freire is no stranger to having to beat people bigger than him, and he'll stay committed with his jab and low kick to secure a 1-0 start to his Octagon career.The pick: Freire, unanimous decision<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/cropped_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/w220xh124_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/w320xh180_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/w640xh360_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/w768xh432_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758910/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2097713538.jpg?ts=1733351011 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> David Fitzgerald / Sportsfile / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Featherweight bout</h3>Bryce Mitchell (17-2) vs. Jean Silva (15-2)This fight is either going to be really fun or really bad.Bryce Mitchell is by far the biggest test of Jean Silva's young UFC career, and his grueling - but effective - wrestling style could grind Silva's momentum to a halt.Or Silva could take a move out of Josh Emmett's playbook and score his fifth straight knockout victory.It would be a shame if this fight turns out to be a stinker, given the anticipation surrounding it. Mitchell could play spoiler, but I'll side with Silva to land something big.The pick: Silva, first-round TKO<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/cropped_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780131/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209637342.jpg?ts=1744408210 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Roach / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Light heavyweight bout</h3>Nikita Krylov (30-9) vs. Dominick Reyes (14-4)Are we witnessing the resurgence of Dominick Reyes?The former light heavyweight title challenger, just 17 months removed from a catastrophic four-fight losing streak, is now seeking his third consecutive victory against Nikita Krylov. And if Reyes does indeed beat Krylov and re-enter the top 10, he'll be approaching the title picture again - something that seemed impossible not long ago.Krylov hasn't fought since a submission win over Ryan Spann in March 2023, but he remains a tough out for most at 205 pounds, including Reyes. But I think Reyes can stay just sharp enough on the feet to eventually find a finish late in the fight.The pick: Reyes, third-round TKO<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/cropped_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/w220xh124_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/w320xh180_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/w640xh360_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/w768xh432_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632748/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2156712383.jpg?ts=1718309156 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>

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UFC 314 predictions: Will Volkanovski retake featherweight throne?

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes made weight Friday before squaring off for the vacant feath...

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes made weight Friday before squaring off for the vacant featherweight title in the UFC 314 main event Saturday in Miami.Volkanovski and Lopes both weighed in at 145 pounds.Lightweight contenders Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett were also on the mark for the co-main event. Both came in at 156 pounds.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here are the full UFC 314 weigh-in results:<h3>Main card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Alexander Volkanovski (145) vs. Diego Lopes (145)</li>
<li>Michael Chandler (156) vs. Paddy Pimblett (156)</li>
<li>Yair Rodriguez (146) vs. Patricio Freire (145)</li>
<li>Bryce Mitchell (146) vs. Jean Silva (146)*</li>
<li>Nikita Krylov (206) vs. Dominick Reyes (206)</li>
</ul><h3>Preliminary card (ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Dan Ige (146) vs. Sean Woodson (146)</li>
<li>Yan Xiaonan (116) vs. Virna Jandiroba (116)</li>
<li>Jim Miller (156) vs. Chase Hooper (156)</li>
<li>Darren Elkins (145) vs. Julian Erosa (146)</li>
</ul><h3>Early preliminary card (ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)</h3><ul>
<li>Sedriques Dumas (185) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (186)</li>
<li>Sumudaerji (126) vs. Mitch Raposo (126)</li>
<li>Tresean Gore (186) vs. Marco Tulio (186)</li>
<li>Nora Cornolle (137.5)** vs. Hailey Cowan (136)</li>
</ul>* Made weight on second attempt; missed by 1 pound on first attempt ** Missed weight by 1.5 pounds, fined 20% of purse

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia poses on the scale during the UFC official weigh-in at Hyatt Regency on April 11, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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UFC 314 weigh-in results: Volkanovski, Lopes cleared for title fight

Dillon Danis is feeling discouraged after having multiple fights called off in recent weeks.  Dan...

Dillon Danis is feeling discouraged after having multiple fights called off in recent weeks.Danis was scheduled to return to action against former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson in the headliner of the Global Fight League's second event next month. But the GFL's inaugural doubleheader - slated for May 24 and 25 in Los Angeles - was <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263171" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263171">canceled</a> Wednesday.Danis was also supposed to square off with KSI in a boxing match in late March, but the latter withdrew eight days before the event due to an illness.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Being real, I'm frustrated as hell," Danis <a href="https://x.com/dillondanis/status/1910352932366647473">wrote</a> Thursday in a post on X. "I wanted to stay as active as possible for myself and for everyone who supports me in 2025. First KSI canceled on me, then said he wouldn't be fit to reschedule. We couldn't lock in a replacement. I said yes to everyone. And now with the Tony Ferguson fight being moved, I get the criticism."Danis, who rose to fame years ago as a training partner of Conor McGregor, hasn't competed in MMA since 2019 and hasn't stepped into the boxing ring since a disqualification loss to Logan Paul in October 2023. Danis is 2-0 as a professional MMA fighter - with both wins coming under the now-defunct Bellator banner - and 0-1 in pro boxing.Over time, the 31-year-old New Jersey native has gained a reputation for backing out of fights or choosing to sit on the sidelines, but he hopes to change that."I know what people say about me not fighting," Danis wrote. "I don't want that to be the narrative, and I've been doing everything I can to change it. I just want to back up everything I've been saying and prove I'm the best in the world."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Dillon Danis reacts during the Misfits Heavyweight fight between Logan Paul and Dillon Danis at AO Arena on October 14, 2023 in Manchester, England.

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Danis 'frustrated as hell' after GFL fight cancellation

UFC 314 is upon us.  In Saturday's main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will battle ...

UFC 314 is upon us.In Saturday's main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will battle it out for the vacant featherweight title. And in the co-headliner, Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett will square off in a pivotal lightweight matchup.Here are four key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to Kaseya Center in Miami.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Is Volkanovski still one of the best?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/cropped_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/w220xh124_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/w320xh180_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/w640xh360_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/w768xh432_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752014/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2019382334.jpg?ts=1730056625 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Between 2016 and 2023, Volkanovski strung together win after win - and then title defense after title defense - to cement himself as one of the best featherweights in UFC history. But things change quickly in MMA, and there's an enormous amount of doubt surrounding Volkanovski and his career heading into this fight against Lopes. After a 14-month layoff and back-to-back knockout losses, Volkanovski's back is up against the wall in a big way.Volkanovski has some fair excuses for his last two losses against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champ Ilia Topuria (the latter of whom officially relinquishes the title when the UFC 314 main event begins). There's no shame in getting knocked out by a bigger man in Makhachev. And some would argue that Volkanovski returned to the Octagon far too soon when he dropped the 145-pound crown to Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024.But Volkanovski has spent over a year on the sidelines, resting and spending time with his family. Now it's time to see if the 36-year-old Australian is still championship material. Saturday's main event will tell us exactly what we need to know about where Volkanovski stands and what his future looks like.Either the all-time great is still that, or the division has passed him by.<h3>Is Pimblett a real title contender?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/cropped_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w220xh124_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w320xh180_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w640xh360_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w768xh432_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738630/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2163995624.jpg?ts=1722138635 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Pimblett could put himself on track for a title shot starting at UFC 314.The bleach-blond, floppy-haired Liverpool native has always had superstardom in his blood, but ascending to title contention seemed a tad out of reach when he first joined the UFC - especially with guys like Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira at the top of the division.However, that will be Pimblett's reality if he passes the biggest test of his career this weekend - a five-round matchup against Chandler, the UFC's No. 7-ranked lightweight.Pimblett would immediately become one of the most recognizable names in the promotion, and a No. 1 contender bout would likely come knocking later this year.If Pimblett loses, it may be a sign that he'll never get over the hump.<h3>Will 'Pitbull' thrive in the UFC?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/cropped_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/w220xh124_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/w320xh180_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/w640xh360_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/w768xh432_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/621648/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2097712838.jpg?ts=1711147354 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> David Fitzgerald / Sportsfile / Getty</figcaption></figure>At long last, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire is in the UFC.The former Bellator two-division champion will make his highly anticipated debut this weekend in a pivotal featherweight matchup against former interim champ Yair Rodriguez.Long considered one of the best fighters outside the UFC, Freire now has the chance to prove his worth in the premier MMA organization. It'll be fascinating to see how he does.In his prime, Freire hangs with the best of them. His first-round knockout win against Chandler in 2019 holds up very well. The big question is whether or not Freire is too far past his peak. At 37, he's pretty old to be making his UFC debut and even older for a title run, particularly in a lighter division that favors younger talent. Freire looked rejuvenated in his last fight, a third-round TKO of former UFC fighter Jeremy Kennedy in March 2024, but he lost two in a row before that. It's not like Freire has been untouchable these last few years.And if anyone can touch him, it's the 5-foot-11 Rodriguez, who has a 71-inch reach, sharp stand-up skills, and knockout power in all four limbs.That's what makes this a must-watch debut.<h3>Mitchell, Silva could steal the show</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/cropped_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779778/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203878123.jpg?ts=1744239158 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>While Volkanovski-Lopes, Chandler-Pimblett, and Rodriguez-Freire have the biggest stakes, the fight that could make the biggest splash at UFC 314 is Bryce Mitchell versus Jean Silva.Silva is one of the most promising up-and-comers in the featherweight division. He has devastating power in his hands and four straight knockout victories as proof. The Fighting Nerds product is getting the biggest test of his career against Mitchell, an elite-level grappler ranked No. 13 at 145 pounds.The lead-up to the fight has been memorable; Mitchell and Silva were the center of attention at March's prefight press conference. Silva brought a globe to the event, poking fun at Mitchell's flat Earth conspiracy theory, and started a "f--k Bryce Mitchell" chant.Buckle up because this one could get pretty wild.

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4 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 314

Former Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico has signed with the UFC, his manager told ESPN's Brett O...

Former Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico has signed with the UFC, his manager told <a href="https://x.com/bokamotoESPN/status/1909729226821190060">ESPN's Brett Okamoto</a>. Pico's UFC debut date and opponent have yet to be announced. The 28-year-old became a free agent earlier this year after his contract with the PFL - which acquired Bellator in 2023 - expired.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Pico hasn't stepped into the cage since knocking out Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champs event in February 2024.Pico has spent his entire MMA career under the Bellator/PFL banner. A former standout freestyle wrestler, he made his pro debut in 2017 and has since compiled a 13-4 record with 11 finishes. He's riding a three-fight winning streak and has lost just once since 2019.The California native is the latest fighter to jump ship from the PFL to the UFC after former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire signed with the promotion in February.Pico joins a stacked UFC featherweight division that includes the likes of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, who vie for the vacant title at UFC 314 next weekend in Miami, as well as Yair Rodriguez and Aljamain Sterling.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 24: Aaron Pico walks to the cage before fighting against Henry Corrales during the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event at Kingdom Arena on February 24, 2024 in Riyadh.