Former UFC welterweight bruisers Mike Perry and Thiago Alves will finally collide, taking off their gloves for the bareknuckle arena on Sat., April 27, 2024 at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, topping a stacked BKFC: “KnuckleMania 4” pay-per-view (PPV) fight card that also features former UFC heavyweight hurters Ben Rothwell and Todd Duffee!
Event: BKFC KnuckleMania 4: “Perry vs. Alves” Date: Sat., April 27, 2024 Location: Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California Broadcast: YouTube pay-per-view (PPV) for $ 29.99 Start time: 10 p.m. ET Main Card on PPV | 9 p.m. ET Free Prelims on YouTube
BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 4’ PPV Main Event:
185 lbs.: Mike Perry vs. Thiago Alves
BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 4’ PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):
265 lbs.: Lorenzo Hunt vs. Mick Terrill for BKFC Heavyweight Championship 265 lbs.: Todd Duffee vs. Ben Rothwell 175 lbs.: Alfredo Angulo vs. Jeremiah Riggs 135 lbs.: Crystal Pittman vs. Sydney Smith 175 lbs.: Evgeny Kurdanov vs. Julian Lane 135 lbs.: David Diaz vs. Shane Jordan 155 lbs.: Andrew Angelcor vs. Ruben Warr 135 lbs.: Frank Alvarez vs. Victor Rosas
Heavyweight hurters Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento will headline the upcoming UFC St. Louis MMA event, which airs LIVE on ESPN and ESPN+ on Sat. May 11, 2024 from inside Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Now they have an official poster.
Lewis (27-12, 1 NC) continues to struggle in what appears to be the twilight of his cage fighting career. “The Black Beast” has dropped four of his last five, including his decision loss to Jailton Almeida at UFC São Paulo late last year. As for Nascimento (11-1, 1 NC), he’s now captured three straight, having last competed in a winning performance over Don’Tale Mayes back on Nov. 4 in Brazil.
Here’s the current UFC St. Louis fight card and ESPN lineup:
UFC St. Louis Main Event on ESPN/ESPN+:
265 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
UFC St. Louis Main Card, Prelims on ESPN/ESPN+:
205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg 170 lbs.: Jared Gooden vs. Kevin Jousset 115 lbs.: Tabatha Ricci vs. Tecia Torres 145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson 125 lbs.: Jake Hadley vs. Charles Johnson 155 lbs.: Terrance McKinney vs. Esteban Ribovics 155 lbs.: Chase Hooper vs. Viacheslav Borshchev 170 lbs.: Trey Waters vs. Billy Goff 265 lbs.: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne 125 lbs.: JJ Aldrich vs. Veronica Hardy 155 lbs.: Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rębecki
UFC
For more on the upcoming UFC St. Louis card click here.
Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Johnson will be ‘MMA fighting in a cage’ in preparation to play Mark Kerr in the upcoming A24 movie set to hit theatres in 2025.
Hot off the heels of a headlining role at WrestleMania, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is kicking off an MMA training camp in preparation for his next movie.
Way back in 2019, Johnson announced plans to star in a biopic on NCAA Division I champion turned UFC and PRIDE FC fighter Mark Kerr. The wheels of Hollywood turn slowly, but the project is finally on the verge of filming under the indie production company A24 (Civil War, Midsommar) banner. Benny Safdie (best known for Uncut Gems) will direct, while Emily Blunt is rumored to co-star.
In a new Instagram video, “The Rock” shared his excitement for the project.
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“With WrestleMania behind me, my second training camp of 2024 begins tomorrow for my next role in a film titled The Smashing Machine,” he wrote. “My body’s banged up from Mania, but no injuries and feeling great – ready to go. Starting my MMA workouts tomorrow. I’m coming into this in pretty good conditioning and cardio shape, but MMA is a different animal. And Mark Kerr was a ‘one of one’ monster.”
Kerr was a fearsome fighter at his peak who used his wrestling pedigree to put opponents in bad positions and then smash them into a bloody mess. But as he reached the peak of the sport, his struggle with steroid addiction and depression overwhelmed him, costing him several fights and nearly his life.
“I run to this Smashing Machine journey with deep respect and love for all MMA fighters and the culture,” Johnson said. “Especially those who have struggled with addiction. I’ve lost so many friends (wrestlers) over the years from addiction and mental health struggle – from suicide to, it was just their time to go. This is my love letter to them. Let’s get to work.”
It will be interesting to see whether any of Dwayne’s MMA training makes its way onto his social media. “The Rock” isn’t one to let people see him struggle — for years, there have been persistent rumors that he was contractually required to win all his Hollywood fights. That won’t work for a biopic on Mark Kerr, who started his career on a twelve fight win streak but then went 3-11 on the downside of his combat sports days.
The Smashing Machine is currently slated for a 2025 release. Those too impatient to wait can check out the award winning 2002 documentary of the same name which captures Kerr’s tragic implosion in real time.
John Kavanagh is happy with how things are looking with his star pupil as they head towards a June 28th comeback fight with Michael Chandler.
Following a momentous night of fights at UFC 300, Dana White dropped some equally important news: UFC superstar Conor McGregor would make his long awaited return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler.
The fight announcement has been long awaited, and there were some doubts that McGregor would never sign on the dotted line and step back in the octagon. But with contracts locked in and a June 28th date in place, “The Notorious” is back to training hard at the Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, Ireland.
Head coach John Kavanagh recently spoke with Irish MMA outlet Severe MMA and gave his thoughts on how Conor is performing after such a long layoff.
“He’s looking super slick,” Kavanagh said. “There’s fighters that when they’re not fighting … it starts becoming a job. And it’s hard to keep the level of intensity. Even if it’s not physical, the level of mental intensity to always be thinking about training, always thinking about sequences, always thinking about techniques.
“That’s something Conor’s had naturally his whole career. So even though when there were times where he’s filming and he’s he’s doing this, he’s doing that, we’re still always having conversations back and forward. Whereas some fighters are like, ‘If I’m not fighting, I don’t even wanna look at shows. I’ll just get ready when there’s a fight coming up.’”
“He’s come back on the mats as sharp as ever,” he said. “Of course, we’ve gotta get the rounds in and get the conditioning up so as to be ready for competition, but his technique is as sharp as ever.”
Kavanagh dismissed concerns that McGregor has too much on his plate these days to focus properly on an MMA fight.
“Let’s say he has 20 different areas that he needs to focus on — martial arts will always be No. 1 because it’s because he really enjoys it,” Kavanagh said. “It’s it’s the most fun. Going through the paperwork on a really long complicated property deal, probably not the most exciting thing in the world. But for for martial arts, I feel I I have a trump card. I can always, like, send him a high send him a highlight, send him a technique and I’ll always pop to the top of the list. So I don’t feel I have to compete with those things.”
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“Conor’s very good at compartmentalization,” he added. “Training is realistically maybe two 1 hour sessions a day. There’s plenty of other time in the day where he can be focused on other areas. So when you’re in here, you’re on for the hour, you’re on for the 90 minutes, and then when you’re gone, you’re on for whatever it is you’re doing out there.”
While Kavanagh isn’t taking Michael Chandler lightly, he sees the fight playing out like a past McGregor victory.
“I see similarities to the [Chad] Mendes fight,” he said. “I’d be surprised if it can go two rounds. I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard. He’s too sharp. Is there gonna be scrappiness and take down stuff? Maybe. But every round starts on the feet, and his ability to get back there is underestimated. So I I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.”
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McGregor is back in training but still drinking. That could all change in five days as ‘The Notorious’ prepares for his UFC 303 fight on June 28th.
Conor McGregor is back to training in preparation for his UFC 303 fight against Michael Chandler. But he’s not quite done drinking just yet.
Over the past several years, McGregor went from full-time fighter to alcohol empire mogul with a combat sports side hustle. He’s sold stakes in his Proper 12 whiskey business for hundreds of millions of dollars, and he’s currently trying to recreate that magic with Forged Irish Stout. His socials are awash in photos and videos of “The Notorious” enjoying his own wares.
All of that could stop soon, according to the Mac. In a recent Instagram post where McGregor praised his buddy Justin Bieber, he included an interesting suggestion that he’s putting down the bottle.
“Five more nights on the delicious and then that be that,” he wrote.
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That would put McGregor’s dry-out date around April 25th, which is nine weeks before he’s set to weigh in on June 27th for UFC 303.
McGregor’s non-stop boozing has been noted by Michael Chandler, who still expects a formidable opponent to step into the cage across from him in Las Vegas.
“Nothing more powerful than hearing a sense of commitment & passion from what the masses consider an uncommitted person,” Chandler said back in August. “Never underestimate the human spirit.”
“I’m on the gargle every night and still gonna smack the s— out of you,” McGregor replied.
Will nine weeks be enough for Conor to shake off the effects of being a booze mascot for the past few years? Will it matter? Ryan Garcia just admitted he was drinking every night en route to his dominating win over Devin Haney. Jon Jones defeated the very best the UFC had to offer while going on fight week benders.
But can McGregor come back from a badly broken leg against a tough opponent while also staying on the sauce? It’s just another troubling factor for fans to worry about as McGregor’s long-awaited comeback approaches.
Ryan Garcia turned the boxing world upside down last night (Sat., April 20, 2024) when he shocked the previous undefeated Devin Haney by defeating him via a majority decision from inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (watch highlights!).
After the fight, during the post-fight press conference, Garcia was asked if he was interested in rematching Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the only person to defeat him.
“I don’t think Tank is going to beat Frank Martin, but if he did, he wouldn’t fight me because I’m moving up. I’m not doing 140 lbs, I’m doing 147 lbs. I can’t make 140,” Garcia said. “I technically next fought at 140. I fought every time at 143. My body literally cannot go lower than 143; it’s impossible. I tried every technique, I can’t do it.”
Garcia’s promoter, Oscar Del La Hoya, added, “The only way he’s going to fight Tank Davis is at a catchweight. Okay? At 145 lbs. Just the way they did it to him. Now he’s the man. Now, he’s the face of boxing. Come on now.”
Garcia concluded with, “I am the face of boxing. Confidently, I know I am.”
Davis vs. Garcia was a blockbuster super fight in 2023, raking in 1.2 million pay-per-view buys. However, the fight came with some controversy regarding the contracted weight and 10 lb dehydration clause.
Garcia revealed he felt weak during the fight but never used the dehydration clause as an excuse because ‘he signed the contract.’ Nevertheless, a vicious body shot stopped Garcia in the second round (watch it).
While a rematch between the two would be epic, Garcia has several options for his next opponent.
For complete Haney vs. Garcia results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
Ryan Garcia shocked the boxing world last night (Sat., April 20, 2024) when he defeated the previously unbeaten Devin Haney via a majority decision from inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (watch highlights!).
While the fight between Garcia and Haney was unbelievably fun, the lead-up to the fight was what everyone was talking about, as Garcia seemed to be entirely out of his mind.
And now, after the fight, there are some answers: he was drinking … every day.
“I don’t give a f—k what people say about me. I walked through the fire, and still held it down and still beat f—king Devin Haney, and still drank every day and still beat him – I did everything,” Garcia told reporters during the post-fight press conference. “What happened? False reality, right? I drank every single night, went out on the first Monday and Tuesday, and drank, drank, drank. What happened? I won. I’m not necessarily proud of it, but I’m just saying. It was a statement to say you guys can’t really f—k with me. I can do whatever I want.”
Garcia did open up and say part of the reason he drank is because he’s going through a lot in his personal life.
“I was just having fun, man. Look, I’m going through a lot,” Garcia said. “I went through a divorce, and a lot of s—t is happening to me, you know, outside my life, and it lowkey kind of broke me. So, I did what I felt like I needed to do to feel okay. So, I drank every day and did whatever I wanted. I’m not proud of it at all. I just pray for my kids, and hopefully, they are okay. I hope I made them proud.”
If Garcia was indeed intoxicated every day during training camp, it makes sense why he seemed completely unhinged on social media.
Hopefully, the 25-year-old boxing superstar will find peace after proving everyone wrong on 420.
For complete Haney vs. Garcia results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
One of the biggest boxing matches of the year takes place TONIGHT, live on DAZN and MMAmania.com will be right here calling the boxing action as it goes down in real time from “The Empire State.”
Haney vs. Garcia live stream results: Despite an embarrassing scale fail from the challenger at Friday’s official weigh ins (more on that here), Devin Haney will still fight Ryan Garciain a super lightweight non-title fight TONIGHT (Sat., April 20, 2024) on DAZN pay-per-view (order here) from inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Haney is the enormous favorite, in no small part due to his amazing ring skills and win streak, but also his strength of schedule, one that includes victories over some big names like George Kambosos (twice), Vasyl Lomachenko and Regis Prograis.
The “Haney vs. Garcia” event kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on DAZN PPV (order here) with main event ring walks taking place at approximately 11 p.m. ET.
It’s hard to write about Garcia and stick to just his athletic accomplishments. He’s a boxer with a 24-1 record and 20 of those wins have been knockouts. He’s 25 years old and is just starting to enter the prime of his career.
Outside of the ring, he kicked his manager/promoter out of his locker room before a fight. He divorced his wife as she was giving birth to their kid. He’s admitted to consumption of alcohol and marijuana while denying cocaine usage, but then put up a social media post wondering that if both he and Jon Jones were coked out, who would win in a fight. He had to put out a video explaining that he was actually alive, just that someone took his phone and his credit cards. In his own words, “I’m not dead, I believe in Jesus, all those are lies.”
And that’s just in the past year! Keep in mind that, per him, 99 percent of what he says is trolling. Either way, we’re about to find out, live on DAZN PPV (order here).
HANEY VS. GARCIA QUICK RESULTS:
140 lbs. Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia 140 lbs. Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Sean McComb 115 lbs. John Ramirez vs. David Jimenez — Jimenez def. Ramirez via unanimous decision, 117-111 x2, 116-112 160 lbs. Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Pierre Dibombe 153 lbs.: Charles Conwell vs. Nathaniel Gallimore — Conwell def. Gallimore in round six via technical knockout (referee stoppage), 0:52, Rd 6
HANEY VS. GARCIA LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia:
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Round 6:
Round 7:
Round 8:
Round 9:
Round 10:
Round 11:
Round 12:
Final result:
For the latest boxing-related news and notes click here.
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold made a successful return to combat sports earlier today (Sat., April 20, 2024) at Karate Combat 45 from Dubai, U.A.E., stopping veteran kickboxer Joe Schilling with a nasty third-round knockout (punches).
This was a bizarre booking to say the least, but one that sparked the interest of mixed martial arts (MMA) who remember just how good Rockhold was. The former UFC champion hasn’t captured a professional win in combat sports since a TKO victory over David Branch all the way back in 2017. This includes a three-fight losing skid to end his UFC career and a failed attempt to defeat Mike Perry in bareknuckle boxing.
On Saturday, Rockhold dusted the gloves off for a matchup with Schilling at Karate Combat 45. By taking away Rockhold’s ability to grapple the playing field was more or less even. Schilling is certainly a shell of his former self, but he can still crack. It was going to be an interesting watch for fight fans.
While the action was back-and-forth for the majority of the main event scrap it was Rockhold who pulled through with the finishing blow. He connected on a huge right hook in the third round that connected flush and dropped Schilling where he stood. Rockhold followed up with a few ground-and-pound shots before the referee peeled him off.
Check it out below:
LUKE ROCKHOLD FINISHES JOE SCHILLING AT #KarateCombat45
pic.twitter.com/XDtMHQPO3A
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) April 20, 2024
Clean right hook from Luke Rockhold to finish Schilling, followed by some GNP #KC45 pic.twitter.com/HrcdEW0gT4
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 20, 2024
Stick with Mania for more Karate Combat 45 results and coverage.
Aljamain Sterling may have been the only winner from UFC 300 to not receive a post-fight interview inside of the cage, but “Funk Master” still believes he had one of the most dominant performances on the card.
Sterling, who was coming off a TKO loss to Sean O’Malley back at UFC 292 in which he lost his UFC bantamweight title, was making his official UFC featherweight debut at UFC 300. “Funk Master” was matched up against a returning Calvin Kattar, who had not competed since blowing his knee out against Arnold Allen all the way back in Oct. 2022.
Needless to say, Sterling was the betting favorite to take care of business and return to the UFC win column in fashion.
Unfortunately, Sterling did not turn in the outing that many fight fans were hoping for. On a historic card like UFC 300 many were expecting for Sterling to come out guns blazing and do everything he could to find a finish against Kattar on the ESPN undercard. While Sterling dominated every minute of every round by utilizing his superior wrestling and grappling there weren’t too many moments of excitement. “Funk Master” has never been the most electric fighter on the roster, but he has some pretty solid submission wins under his belt and would have benefited greatly from a finish on the biggest card of 2024.
As expected, Sterling has received some backlash for his UFC 300 performance. On top of not getting a post-fight interview from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan the former UFC bantamweight king now finds himself defending his victory over Kattar. According to “Funk Master,” he had one of the best outings of anyone on the card.
Aljamain Sterling says he had the most dominant performance on #UFC300:
“Our fight on that particular night was not the most entertaining. But it was the most dominant fight I think you could’ve possibly looked at from the entire card…
You got a guy who, on average, lands… pic.twitter.com/IQutVfbtXV
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 19, 2024
“Our fight on that particular night of UFC 300 was not the most entertaining. But it was the most dominant fight I think you could’ve possibly looked at from the entire card from top to bottom. I think I’m arguably the top 3 most dominant on that entire fight card.
“You got a guy [Kattar] who, on average, lands about 4-5 strikes per minute, who was reduced to about 0.5.”
Sterling 34, now finds himself ranked No. 8 in the UFC’s featherweight division after his unanimous decision win over Kattar. His performance wasn’t good enough to land Sterling a No. 1 contender’s bout at 145 pounds, but a finish in his next Octagon appearance could leave “Funk Master” close to title contention.
For complete UFC 300 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
UFC 
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