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Saturday’s UFC event in Louisville, Kentucky was headlined by a middleweight bout between fourth-ranked Jared Cannonier and seventh-ranked Nassourdine Imavov.  

Cannonier entered the fight riding a two-fight win streak.  After losing to Israel Adesanya for the 185-pound championship at UFC 276 in July 2022, Cannonier rebounded with wins over Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori.  He was looking to extend his winning streak at the Yum! Center against Imavov.  

Imavov made the walk to the octagon coming off a close decision win over Roman Dolidze and looking to pick up the biggest win over his career.  

Cannonier landed to the body with a right hand after missing with a combination.  Imavov connected with a counter left off a leg kick by Cannonier.  Imavov landed a right hand and the two cliched.  Cannonier tripped Imavov to the canvas.  Imavov got back to his feet and the two separated.  Cannonier targeted Imavov’s leg with a kick followed by another one.  Imavov responded with a leg kick.  Cannonier backed Imavov up with a combination.  

With two minutes remaining in the first round, Imavov caught a leg kick and took Cannonier down.  Cannonier got back to his feet and the two clinched.  Cannonier remained in the clinch perhaps to slow Imavov down a bit.  Imavov defended a takedown attempt.  The round ended with the two in the clinch along the cage.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cannonier.  

Cannonier delivered a leg kick to start the second frame.  Imavov responded with a jab.  Cannonier continued to invest in leg kicks.  Cannonier connected and quickly changed levels looking to get the fight to the ground.  He pressed Imavov against the cage but backed away.  At distance, the two exchanged jabs and Cannonier clinched.  Imavov landed a right hand and began to pressure Cannonier.  Cannonier initiated the clinch and the two worked for position along the cage.  Imavov landed an elbow and a right hand as the round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Imavov.  

Cannonier began the third round with a clean right hand.  He went to the body with a right hand.  Imavov clinched after absorbing a right hand.  He drug Cannonier to the canvas but Cannonier quickly got back to his feet.  Cannonier reversed the position along the cage.  Imavov turned Cannonier and the two separated.  Cannonier delivered a hard leg kick that buckled Imavov’s leg.  He clinched and pressed Imavov against the fence before backing away.  Cannonier sprang forward with a right hand.  Imavov’s jab forced Cannonier to clinch.  They separated with seconds remaining.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cannonier.  

Cannonier landed a left hand to start the fourth.  He connected with a back elbow and Imavov tied him up.  The separated and Imavov landed a right hand that staggered Cannonier.  He landed another right hand.  Cannonier is in big trouble.  Imavov delivered a knee.  Cannonier fired back and the referee stopped the fight.  It was a terrible stoppage.  Cannonier was on his feet with his hands up and intelligently defending himself.  

The official time of the stoppage was 1:34 of the fourth round.  

I mean, this is really awful. Watching live, I thought Cannonier lost a mouthpiece or something. He was robbed here. I’d love to understand why Herzog, who is typically solid, made this call. One of the worst in recent memory. https://t.co/WxvbM19l75

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 9, 2024

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After the UFC on ESPN 57 fights at the Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the big winners answered questions from the media during the event’s post-fight press conference.  

The fight card was headlined by a middleweight bout between fourth-ranked Jared Cannonier and seventh-ranked Nassourdine Imavov.  Imavov got the win in the fourth round via TKO but many, including the commentary team, believed the bout was stopped prematurely.  

UFC Louisville Post-Fight Press Conference

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The UFC octagon is at the Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky for tonight’s UFC on ESPN 57 event.  The fight card is headlined by a middleweight bout between fourth-ranked Jared Cannonier and seventh-ranked Nassourdine Imavov.  It’s the second event that fight promotion has held in Kentucky’s largest city.  

Start Time: 

• Preliminary Card begins at 4 p.m. ET

• Main Card begins at 8 p.m. ET

UFC Louisville Live Results and Analytics

UFC Louisville Live Results

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

• Jared Cannonier () vs. Nassourdine Imavov ()
• Dustin Jacoby () vs. Dominick Reyes ()
• Raul Rosas Jr. () vs. Ricky Turcios ()
• Brunno Ferreira () vs. Dustin Stoltzfus ()
• Julian Marquez () vs. Zach Reese ()
• Miguel Baeza () vs. Puna Soriano ()

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

• Ludovit Klein () vs. Thiago Moises ()
• Carlos Prates () vs. Charlie Radtke ()
• Jesse Butler () vs. Brad Katona ()
• Montana De La Rosa () vs. Andrea Lee ()
• John Castaneda () vs. Daniel Marcos ()
• Denise Gomes () vs. Eduarda Moura ()
• Taylor Lapilus () vs. Cody Stamann ()
• Rayanne Amanda () vs. Puja Tomar ()

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Following an earlier delay to their matchup, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s fight has been given a new date.

‘The Problem Child’ wants to continue his rise in the sport of boxing, but to do so he will have to survive the knockout power of Tyson. The YouTube star has made a name for himself in the ring, earning wins over former UFC champions and even a professional boxer.

Most Valuable Promotions–Jake Paul’s company–issued a statement to announce the rescheduling of the fight. The new date will now see the pair come face to face on November 15, four months later than their original date.

“Our team has worked diligently with all parties involved to reschedule this monumental fight to a date that ensures both Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are fully prepared, with equal training time, as well as allowing us to keep the event at AT&T stadium.”

“We appreciate the outstanding dedication, collaboration, and flexibility of our partners at Netflix and AT&T Stadium.”

“Paul vs. Tyson is the most cross generational sporting event in history, and we are committed to providing fans worldwide with this unforgettable night of boxing, live globally on Netflix.”

“We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, November 15 for a showdown that will be talked about for generations to come.”

More details here: https://t.co/6m0E9VA1td

— Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) June 7, 2024

Related: Mike Tyson pictured in wheelchair following serious health scare

The fight had to be rescheduled when Mike Tyson suffered a health scare while on board a flight. 

Tyson was overwhelmed with dizziness and nausea, but has since recovered and is in much better health.

Jake Paul took to social media to announce the new fight date. The 27-year-old insisted that, even with the date being changed, the outcome will remain the same.

As aforementioned, those interested can watch Jake take on Tyson on Netflix. The headlining bout get underway on November 15.

New date, same place, same fate#PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/ihfIOEllKW

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) June 7, 2024

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Conor McGregor has been putting in the work and is now looking incredibly sharp in his sparring sessions ahead of his scheduled return.

Uncertainty clouded the Irishman’s future in the sport after he was blamed for the cancelation of his press conference in Dublin, Ireland. Alongside the failed media appearance, ESPN MMA removed all things related to UFC 303 from their website, leading fans to believe the fight would not go ahead.

While a lot of confusion still surrounds the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler matchup, there could be hope. Amid all of the negative news about the fight, ‘The Notorious’ has released a training montage on social media.

Not only does this silence those who believes McGregor has not been training, but he also continues to look incredibly dangerous on the feet. The former two-division UFC champion showcased some excellent timing and power during his striking exchanges, and gave fans a brief look at his defensive grappling.

As we’ve come accustomed to, McGregor was finishing his sparring partners with huge shots to the body and head. 

Check out the sparring footage below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)

Related: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler set for cancelation?

Conor McGregor’s two-year layoff would have been accompanied by a record-breaking return to the cage. According to Dana White, UFC 303 has already broken the record for the highest gate received in the company’s history.

Michael Chandler has been waiting in limbo for news on his fight, which is now just three weeks away. If McGregor doesn’t turn up, one former champion has welcomed the chance to be his replacement.

Once news surfaced that the UFC 303 main event could be in jeopardy, Alexander Volkanovski jumped at the opportunity. Wasting no time, the Australian insisted that if McGregor couldn’t make it on June 29, he would happily step in to face the dangerous Chandler on short notice.

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Dustin Poirier showcased just how much of a dog he is at UFC 302 after he took Islam Makhachev to the brink before his eventual collapse late in the final round. Despite putting on a show and entertaining fans around the world, Poirier sustained several injuries throughout the fight.

‘The Diamond’ has been a UFC mainstay since his arrival over a decade ago. Doing almost everything in the sport but win an undisputed title, many believe the fan-favorite has a huge chance of making the company Hall-of-Fame.

Dustin Poirier’s closely contested matchup against Islam Makhachev only adds to his legacy of being one of the very best lightweights to ever compete in mixed martial arts. While his stock did rise following UFC 302, not everything has been positive for the Louisiana native.

In a short post on social media, Poirier confirmed that he suffered multiple injuries during his last performance. 

“Nose is broken bad, rib is broken and my ACL is partially torn,” Poirier stated on social media. “FIGHT LIFE.”

Nose is broken bad, rib is broken and my ACL is partially torn.

FIGHT LIFE ⚔️

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 5, 2024

Both men were bloodied and battered during their fight of the night showcase. While damage was done on both sides, Poirier claimed that it wasn’t a legal strike that damaged his nose.

Related: UFC 302 Bonuses: Main event earns ‘Fight of the Night’

In a separate update, the 155er insisted that it was a headbutt that caused his broken nose.

“Knee hit my face. It was the headbutt before. It was accidental, but it hurt.”

Knee hit my face. It was the headbutt before. It was accidental, but it hurt https://t.co/WhAJwfKZhw

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 5, 2024

However, Dustin Poirier wasn’t the only one who was at a disadvantage during the fight. 

Earlier this week, Islam Makhachev confirmed that the rumors were true. Heading into fight week, concerns were raised about Makhachev’s health as media day pictures seemed to show staph infection on his leg. 

While it’s unclear if this did play a role in the fight, fans stated that the Russian looked more fatigued than usual.

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Sean Strickland is ready to create one of the biggest podcasts in the world of mixed martial arts, and he already has an idea on who his ideal co-hosts will be.

The former middleweight champion divides opinion in the MMA space. His fight style is an all-action approach as he looks to press forward and exhaust his opponents, making him a joy to watch for some. While he is too brash for some people outside of the sport, others love him for his controversial qualities–which has played a huge role in his ever-increasing popularity on social media.

To capitalize on his stardom, Sean Strickland has proposed what could be the most wacky podcast of all time. Strickland believes himself, Bryce Mitchell, and former UFC title challenger Jake Shields should come together to start up a podcast for the fans.

Alongside fellow fighters, the 33-year-old would like to see comedic YouTube stars The Hodgetwins join the team.

“Me, Jake Shields, and Bryce Mitchell podcast, but I think we need one black guy,” Strickland stated online. “Hodgetwins together make 1 black guy.”

Check out Sean Strickland’s podcast proposition comment below.

Me @jakeshieldsajj and @ThugnastyMMA podcast…. but I think we need one black guy lol……@hodgetwins together make 1 black guy.

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 5, 2024

Related: Sean Strickland caught on tape throwing urine

Not unlike Sean Strickland, Bryce Mitchell has managed to build a name for himself due to his unique personality.

‘Thug Nasty’ is a proud Arkansas native who is known for being eccentric both inside and outside of the cage. Pairing Mitchell with Strickland is a wild choice on its own, and involving Jake Shields only adds to that.

Shields is another fighter who will speak his mind, no matter who it offends. The former Strikeforce middleweight champion can often be found butting heads with others on the social media platform, X.

Sean Strickland is no stranger to podcasts. Alongside Chris Curtis, the 185 lbs contender hosted a show called ‘The Man Dance’, which is available on YouTube.

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Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev successfully defended his title for a third time against former interim titleholder Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event last Saturday.  The title bout earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors.  

Two of the judges had the fight tied after four rounds.  Poirier was able to fend off most of Makhachev’s takedown attempts after the opening round keeping the match on their feet.  While Makhachev consistently looked to get the fight to the ground, he wasn’t outmatched in the striking department.  

Most known for his grappling prowess with 12 submission wins, Makhachev isn’t exactly a fish out of water when it comes to striking.  Five of his 26 wins have been by knockout.  He stopped former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick followed by punches in his previous fight heading into the UFC 302 title bout against Poirier.   

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley believes Makhachev’s striking is largely underrated.  “Islam is underrated striking,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel.  “He was ripping some sweet combos.”  

The title loss may have been Poirier’s last octagon performance.  Having lost three title fights, Poirier will go down as arguably the greatest UFC fighter never to hold win UFC gold.  

UFC 302 took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  The lightweight title bout between Makhachev and Poirier headlined the pay-per-view event.  The event marked the fight promotion’s tenth event in Newark.         

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On Sunday, the UFC abruptly canceled a planned UFC 303 press conference that was scheduled to take place tonight at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.  At the time of the cancellation, no reason was given.  

On Monday, Dublin’s own Conor McGregor, who headlines the fight card against Michael Chandler, released a statement about the press conference postponement.  

“In consultation with the UFC, todays press conference was cancelled due to a series of obstacles outside of our control. I apologize to my Irish fans, and fans around the world, for the inconvenience and appreciate all your passion and support. I can’t wait to put on the greatest all-time show in the Octagon,” McGregor wrote on social media. 

In consultation with the UFC, todays press conference was cancelled due to a series of obstacles outside of our control. I apologize to my Irish fans, and fans around the world, for the inconvenience and appreciate all your passion and support. I can’t wait to put on the greatest…

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 3, 2024

 UFC 303 takes place on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  McGregor has been out of action since suffering a broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.  The event set a new UFC live-gate record with over $ 20 million in ticket sales. The Dublin press conference was a free event but tickets were issued. As expected the tickets were claimed within minutes.

McGregor and the fight promotion apologized to the fans that planned to attend the press conference.  UFC CEO Dana White left the UFC 302 Post-Fight Press conference on Saturday to travel to Dublin to meet with McGregor.  Chandler found out about the cancelation before traveling to Ireland.      

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Watch the UFC 302 highlights video and recap from Saturday’s UFC 300 main event between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier.

UFC 302 took place on Saturday, June 1st, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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