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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

MMA Fighting has a live stream watch party for Saturday’s UFC 299 event, which takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. In the main event, Sean O’Malley defends his bantamweight title for the first time against the only to man to ever defeat him inside the octagon in Marlon Vera.

Join MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Conner Burks, and other special guests to watch along with UFC 299 as the main card happens.

In the co-main event, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier takes on surging contender Benoit Saint Denis in a scheduled five-round contest.

UFC 299 will also feature a welterweight battle as fan-favorite Kevin Holland welcomes longtime Bellator veteran Michael Page to the octagon, as well as another high stakes 170-pound clash between one-time title challenger Gilbert Burns and Jack Della Maddalena.

The UFC 299 main card opens up with an intriguing bantamweight matchup between former champion Petr Yan and Song Yadong.

Watch MMA Fighting’s UFC 299 Watch Party at 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT.

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Well then
| BJPenn.com

UFC

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is defending his 135-pound title in a five-round rematch against bitter rival Marlon Vera … which would have sounded strange a couple of years ago but alas; here we are just a few hours ahead of the UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) event. Dustin Poirier will collide with lightweight sensation Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 299 co-main event, taking place at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., with some other familiar faces joining the lineup, as well. It’s also worth mentioning that Michael Page will finally get the opportunity to prove he was more than just a big fish in a small Bellator pond against a very tough out in the form of welterweight “Trailblazer” Kevin Holland.

Before we break down the five-fight PPV main card, which also features an important bantamweight battle between former champion Petr Yan and fan favorite Song Yadong, be sure to take a closer look at our comprehensive preview and predictions for this weekend’s preliminary undercard action on ESPN and ESPN+ by clicking here and here. The latest UFC 299 odds and a complete betting guide for the entire “O’Malley vs. Vera” PPV lineup can be located here.

Let’s take a look at what the main card has in store for us tonight in “The Sunshine State.”

135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight champion “Suga” Sean O’Malley (17-1, 1 NC) vs. Marlon “Chito” Vera (23-8-1)

Sean O’Malley is bantamweight champion and the growing consensus seems to be that “Suga” is merely keeping the belt warm until the promotion grants wrestling “Machine,” Merab Dvalishvili, a shot at the 135-pound title. It’s hard to know at this juncture what O’Malley’s legacy will be as champion because of his bizarre path to the title. If you include his “Contender Series” destruction of Alfred Khashakyan back in summer 2017, “Suga” has 10 wins inside the Octagon and eight of those opponents are no longer competing under the UFC banner. The two wins he does have over active competition are big ones, edging out former champion Petr Yan at UFC 280 before stopping Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.

The big talking point ahead of his Marlon Vera rematch is the outcome of their first fight. O’Malley fans will attribute the UFC 252 loss to injury; which is fine, but they conveniently leave out the fact that Vera’s leg kicks were a contributing factor. No question they’ll be on the menu tonight in “The Sunshine State” but my concern heading into UFC 299 is the challenger’s output, which seems to have dwindled over the last few years. I can also admit I wasn’t blown away by his decision victory over notoriously tough out Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, which followed a decision loss to Cory Sandhagen at UFC San Antonio. Still, it feels like nitpicking when you look at his violent finish over Dominick Cruz at UFC San Diego, as well as his clinic against Rob Font at UFC Vegas 53.

What makes this fight so compelling is the fact that O’Malley has incredible one-punch power while Vera has a beard made of stone, competing in over 30 professional fights without ever getting finished. It’s been said that every fighter loses their chin if they stay in the game long enough, I just don’t know if this fight will be violent enough to test that theory. O’Malley is at his most dangerous when he’s playing matador, a strategy that will fail him at UFC 299 if Vera doesn’t take the bait. I know it sounds crazy to think two fighters with a combined 16 post-fight bonuses might turn in a boring match, but this could devolve into a 25-minute chess match with each combatant waiting for the other to make the first mistake.

I’ve never wanted to be so wrong in my life.

Prediction: O’Malley def. Vera by unanimous decision

155 lbs.: Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (29-8, 1 NC) vs. Benoit “God of War” Saint-Denis (13-1, 1 NC)

Dustin Poirier may not have the “BMF” title, but he should certainly be wearing the “MVP” belt. If you examine what “The Diamond” has done across his UFC career it’s nothing short of extraordinary. Forget wins and losses, just look at his level of competition — a veritable murderer’s row dating back to summer 2016. Not many lightweights in his position would risk their place in the division Top 5 by taking on a younger brute like Benoit Saint Denis but that’s what makes Poirier such a special athlete. That said, you have to wonder what the Louisianan has left in the tank after 15 years of back-and-forth violence. I don’t want to put him out to pasture because he was stopped by Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 because losing to “The Highlight” is nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, Poirier turned 35 back in January and Father Time is undefeated. He’s also facing an all-action killer who at age 28, is competing in his athletic prime.

Saint Denis was a highly regarded prospect coming out of Brave Combat Federation in late 2021, though his Octagon debut against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos left a lot to be desired (and marked the first loss of his professional career). Undaunted, the reinvigorated “God of War” came storming back with five straight wins, with all five ending by way of knockout or submission. That includes his “Performance of the Night” against Matt Frevola at UFC 295 last fall. The counterargument is that Saint Denis has not faced anyone in the division Top 10 and was able to rack up highlight-reel finishes against less than stellar competition. We also don’t know how well the Frenchman will hold up in a five-round fight in the off chance it lasts that long. The two times Poirier went all 25 minutes, he captured “Fight of the Night” honors against Max Holloway and Dan Hooker. Not surprisingly, pundits are leaning toward Saint Denis early and Poirier late.

This is a very difficult fight to predict because of the unknown. Poirier has been in countless wars in the past and won most of them, outboxing strikers like Conor McGregor and submitting wrestlers like Michael Chandler. This will not be new territory for him. At the same time, “The Diamond” will have to shine on defense and not allow himself to be dragged into the phone booth, where he remains most vulnerable against the taller and longer Saint Denis. Assuming that strategy comes to pass, it’s easy to envision the more experienced Poirier weathering an early storm, then settling down and taking over the bout after “God of War” blows his load and fades in the second half of the fight. It’s not a confident pick by any stretch of the imagination, but when push comes to shove, it’s hard to bet against the proven commodity, regardless of its wear and tear.

Prediction: Poirier def. Saint Denis by technical knockout

170 lbs.: Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (25-10, 1 NC) vs. Michael “Venom” Page (21-2)

Kevin Holland is an exceptional fighter who sometimes lets his jackassery get in the way of a serious run at the 170-pound title. That’s not entirely his fault, because it’s more important — financially speaking — to be a successful personality than it is a successful fighter. It’s also a lot easier, so sometimes it pays to just do enough to not get killed inside the cage. Some of the previews of this fight have drawn comparisons to the Stephen Thompson loss. Like “Wonderboy,” Michael Page is a rangy striker who presents a unique set of problems on the feet. That said, we can’t overlook the fact that “Trailblazer” broke his hand early in the Thompson fight and was basically a sitting duck until a merciful, fourth-round corner stoppage. What followed were back-to-back wins — and back-to-back finishes — over veteran bruisers Santiago Ponzinibbio and Michael Chiesa, later spoiled by a loss to welterweight wunderkind Jack Della Maddalena. I don’t think anyone will ever mistake Holland for being a wrestler but he’s been able to rattle off a couple of offensive takedowns when the occasion calls for it — and it just might against Page.

“Venom” was one of the must-see attractions in Bellator and built up a reputation for delivering highlight reel knockouts (get a sample here). I have a pretty strong stomach after covering this sport for nearly 20 years but what he did to the skull of Evangelista Santos remains uncomfortable to watch. It’s been said the Englishman was the best striker not signed to UFC and he certainly looked the part … though he had a little help from the promotion. Is anyone breaking out the good champagne for stoppages over Charlie Ontiveros and Charlie Ontiveros? Combined, they’ve been knocked out 16 times in MMA. It’s also worth noting that Page looks mortal when opponents don’t play his game. Decisions against Logan Storley (L) and Douglas Lima (W) come to mind. “Venom” is also turning 37 next month and will be dealing with a younger opponent who has a longer reach. Personally, I would have liked to see Page get a tune-up fight before getting thrown into the PPV shark tank, because I think Holland presents a unique (and difficult) challenge.

Page is a former kickboxing champion and will probably look like one this weekend in Miami. As for Holland, his awkward style and penchant for showmanship may make him a difficult target. I also think he’s going to use his in-cage antics as bait and let an overconfident Page get too close for comfort, resulting in a surprise submission that “Venom” won’t see coming until its already too late.

Prediction: Holland def. Page by submission

170 lbs.: Gilbert Burns (22-6) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (16-2)

Gilbert Burns has managed to hang around the Top 5 of the division for the last few years but hasn’t really looked like a Top 5 fighter. The Brazilian was able to score a 170-pound title shot by knocking around a 42 year-old Demian Maia, which preceded a decision victory over a washed Tyron Woodley. Burns went on to get knocked out by Kamaru Usman in early 2021 and in the years that followed, compiled a 3-2 record with his lone finish coming against Neil Magny at UFC 283. Burns turns 38 in July and is clearly on the back nine of his combat sports career and UFC 299 marks the first time “Durinho” will fight an opponent under 30 since his submission win over Mike Davis at UFC Ft. Lauderdale back in early 2019. Wrestling is clearly his bread-and-butter and carves a path for his top-shelf submission game, though his striking leaves a lot to be desired. Burns does have power, he just lacks the fundamentals to set it up effectively. When you combine his age with the injury he suffered against Belal Muhammad early last year, it’s hard to feel good about his chances in this fight.

That’s assuming Jack Della Maddalena is the talent we think he is, based on what we’ve seen thus far in his UFC career. There’s also the very real possibility that he’s just a tornado of violence who is likely to get exposed when facing the experience and composure of combatants nestled in the upper echelon of the division. Maddalena made a name for himself on Dana White’s “Contender Series” back in late 2021 and has since compiled six straight wins, though his last two were not the lights-out finishes fans have become accustomed to. I’m not going crazy over his performance against Bassil Hafez last July, because the Aussie was tasked with fighting a short-notice opponent he didn’t train for and knew nothing about. That bewilderment became obvious during multiple grappling exchanges that had fans cursing the injury bug. The follow up to that win was another tough outing against Kevin Holland, which had some pundits casting doubt on Maddalena’s future, but I saw it the other way: he faced a Top 15 fighter and proved he had the mettle to get it done.

Burns will try to exploit Maddalena’s takedown defense and for good reason. His success in that department will likely dictate the outcome of this fight. If Burns does not succeed in grounding his Australian foe, he’s likely to get battered from pillar to post. Maddalena has better hands and more importantly, produces more volume. That’s a critical component in a three-round contest, which could mirror the Khamzat Chimaev fight in terms of insane, back-and-forth action. Expect this to be in the running for “Fight of the Night” and my apologies to all the “Durinho” fans, but I think this is Maddalena’s coming out party.

Prediction: Maddalena def. Burns by technical knockout

135 lbs.: Petr “No Mercy” Yan (16-5) vs. Yadong “Kung Fu Kid” Song (21-7-1, 1 NC)

Less than two years ago, Petr Yan was ranked No. 1 in the bantamweight division and among the Top 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings. These days, it seems like fickle fight fans are ready to wipe “No Mercy” from the list of eligible contenders based on his recent performances. True, Yan has dropped three straight, but his opponents were current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, No. 1-ranked title contender Merab Dvalishvili, and former 135-pound titleholder Aljamain Sterling. There’s no disputing the loss to Dvalishvili but you can make arguments than Yan won his split decisions against O’Malley and Sterling. Of the 26 media outlets who scored UFC 280, only one scorecard landed in favor of “Suga.” Part of the issue for Yan, also apparent in his victory over Cory Sandhagen, is how long it takes for the Russian bruiser to get out of first gear. He’s an exceptional striker with a formidable wrestling base but sometimes seems content to do … nothing. Other times it looks as though Yan is mailing it in or attending a timeshare seminar. If he’s checked out for his UFC 299 return, or spends the first round trying to figure things out, “No Mercy” could find himself in big trouble.

Song Yadong is just 26 years old but already has 30 professional fights, which is both impressive and concerning. The “Kung Fu Kid” has been a fantastic addition to the bantamweight division with his all-action style, good enough for six post-fight performance bonuses, including one “Fight of the Night” opposite Marlon Vera at UFC Jacksonville. Cory Sandhagen showed that Yadong still has room to grow (har har) but again, at just 26 years old, the Chinese prospect has yet to reach his competitive prime. You wouldn’t know it by his output, which comes with devastating power, often at the expense of technique. That could be the deciding factor against Yan, who may present a broader palette to work from, in terms of the standup. The bigger concern is how Yadong will deal with the wrestling, having already been grounded en route to a decision loss to Kyler Phillips. Again, that all depends on how aggressive Yan wants to be with just 15 minutes to work. With a deeper toolbox and a more decorated resume, Yan feels like the right pick. Don’t expect it to come easy and we cold have an early contender for “Fight of the Night,” as well as another close decision for fans to argue about over the next few days.

Prediction: Yan def. Yadong by decision

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 299 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 299: “O’Malley vs. Vera” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 299 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Sean O’Malley is poised to take his stardom to another level. But there’s a lot of work to be done.

In the main event of UFC 299 on Saturday, O’Malley can kill multiple birds with one stone. His rematch with Marlon Vera marks his first defense of the bantamweight title, a chance to avenge the lone loss of his career, and a statement performance that could cement him as the kind of marquee combat sports act that can call his shots. Should he defeat “Chito” in highlight-reel fashion, there’s no telling what’s next for O’Malley. (He should probably just fight Merab Dvalishvili, but you get the picture.)

Vera presents an enormous challenge, and not just because he already owns bragging rights in the rivalry. The consummate company man is being handsomely rewarded for his anytime, anywhere attitude, and he has little to lose and everything to gain. O’Malley is known for his flashy knockouts, but how is that going to work against an opponent that will not stop coming forward for five rounds and has never been finished? Then again, there’s a first time for everything.

Dustin Poirier looks to prove that in the five-round co-main event against Benoit Saint Denis, who is yet to lose in the UFC when competing at 155 pounds. Saint Denis is a juggernaut who has finished his past five opponents and he’s coming to take Poirier’s long-held spot in the rankings. Win or lose, no one can ever say that Poirier isn’t up to face the toughest and hungriest challengers.

In other main card action, Kevin Holland welcomes former Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page to the UFC, one-time welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns takes on Jack Della Maddalena, and former bantamweight champion Petr Yan aims to stop a career-worst skid when he fights Song Yadong.

What: UFC 299

Where: Kaseya Center in Miami

When: Saturday, March 9. The card begins with a five-fight early prelims portion on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with continuing coverage of the four-fight prelim card on ESPNews and ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The five-fight main card begins at 10 p.m. ET and is available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook

(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings)

Sean O’Malley (2) vs. Marlon Vera (9)

Bold prediction time: Sean O’Malley by knockout.

As mentioned above, Chito has never been knocked out and that’s no small feat given that he has been in there with some sluggers. He’s incredibly tough and routinely grows stronger as a fight progresses. Add in effective counters, heavy hands, and sharp leg kicks and you can see why he’s a popular pick to upset O’Malley.

It’s the slow starts that have me concerned for Vera. O’Malley isn’t one to just come out guns blazing, but he has a knack for pouncing when his opponents make a mistake or give up too much ground. From their first fight, O’Malley learned the dangers of playing Vera’s game, so he’s likely to change tact here and test Vera’s defense early. This should be O’Malley on the offensive from the opening bell.

That approach comes with risk as Vera will probably be thrilled to see O’Malley marching right into range. But O’Malley’s tricky movement should keep him from absorbing too many damaging blows until he can find the openings he needs to do some damage. That said, nothing in this fight will come easy for either fighter and if it goes into the championship rounds, we’ll have to see a side of O’Malley that he hasn’t had to show before if he wants to retain.

I’m not expecting it to go that far. O’Malley stings Vera somewhere in the first 10 minutes, sending Vera into a spiral that he won’t recover from. From there, O’Malley pours it on for a finish that will silence plenty of doubters.

Pick: O’Malley

Dustin Poirier (T5) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (13)

Benoit Saint Denis has done a brilliant job of bullying his past few opponents and trucking his way to victory. You don’t bully Dustin Poirier.

I can definitely see this one getting hairy for Poirier at the start, especially if Saint Denis is determined to make a statement. Even in the loaded lightweight division, Saint Denis’ physicality stands out and he’s going to win a lot of fights through sheer brute force. That’s not to take away from his all-around skills, which are considerable, but it’s his dogged pursuit of the finish that makes him even more dangerous.

This is where Poirier’s experience comes into play. You could easily make the argument that Poirier’s history of grueling wars makes him ripe for the picking in this matchup, but I’m choosing to focus on the positive. Outside of a handful of elite names, few fighters can dust off “The Diamond” early. He should be able to survive Saint Denis’ opening onslaught and take it to the later rounds where he has the advantage.

Saint Denis is ridiculously durable, so I don’t expect him to go away even as Poirier picks up momentum. However, I do expect Poirier to pull away on the scorecards with a focused striking attack that Saint Denis can’t match at this stage of his development. There are career-defining wins ahead for Saint Denis, he just won’t be adding Poirier to that list this weekend.

Pick: Poirier

Michael Page vs. Kevin Holland (15)

Kevin Holland: Dangerous, unpredictable, and exactly the type of guy to rain on someone’s parade.

The arrival of Michael Page in the eight-sided cage is long overdue and as much as I enjoyed his time with Bellator, he deserves a fresh set of opponents and the UFC presents a number of intriguing challenges at 170 pounds. You couldn’t ask for a better greeter than Holland, who has popularity, a crowd-pleasing style, and sits just on the edge of the top 15. Beating Holland gives Page instant credibility for those unfamiliar with him.

That will be doubly true if he KOs Holland and creates yet another meme-able moment. Page’s showmanship is second to none and his highlights typically generate the kind of mainstream buzz that the UFC and ESPN are desperate for. His slick karate style will give Holland some bad Stephen Thompson flashbacks, but Page is capable of more explosive maneuvers than “Wonderboy” even if he isn’t as consistent as the two-time welterweight title challenger.

Holland won’t be psyched out by any of Page’s theatrics; if anything, sharing the cage with the animated Page will probably embolden Holland to show off his boisterous personality even more. This one could get silly in a hurry.

In the end though, the audience will get the instant classic finish they’re looking for, just maybe not from the fighter they’re expecting. Holland shrugs off a frustrating first round to catch Page in the second and leave him flat on the canvas.

Pick: Holland

Gilbert Burns (5) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (13)

We can glean a lot of data from Jack Della Maddalena’s past two split decision wins, even if they came against opponents with little in common.

Two fights ago, Bassil Hafez put Della Maddalena’s grappling defense to the test. The Australian slugger didn’t do too poorly on the ground, allowing Hafez to maintain control while nullifying much of the UFC debutant’s offense, and did more than enough in the standup to win on the scorecards.

More recently, Della Maddalena had to navigate Kevin Holland’s considerable reach advantage and the results were mixed. His impactful punches earned him the nod, but he almost allowed Holland to drown him with volume. He needs to do a better job of filling in the gaps when he’s not the one pushing forward.

Gilbert Burns presents a physical challenge closer to Hafez than Holland. The top 5 contender is a proven finisher on the feet and on the ground, so I’m curious to see if he focuses on the latter given the success Hafez had with takedowns. If Burns plays it smart and focuses on getting this fight to the ground, it could be a long 15 minutes for Della Maddalena.

Burns mixes the martial arts and takes a decision win.

Pick: Burns

Petr Yan (6) vs. Song Yadong (12)

When you think about it, Petr Yan’s recent struggles aren’t that bad, right?

The first Aljamain Sterling fight, we all know what happened. In a championship fight that Yan would have been leading on the scorecards had it gone to the final round, he launched the most poorly timed illegal strike in history and cost himself a belt. Weirdness.

He bounces back with a fantastic win over Cory Sandhagen, then drops the rematch to Sterling in a razor-close fight. Then he loses to Sean O’Malley in an absolute barnburner that also could have gone his way and then there was a clear-cut decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili.

Outside of that last setback, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Yan is still that dude at 135 pounds, so I’m picking him. That’s right, I’m going with all the higher ranked fighters this Saturday. UFC 299: Hold Serve.

At some point, I should probably stop doubting Song Yadong (I did correctly back him in his most recent fight against Chris Gutierrez). He’s improved every year he’s been in this business while not getting away from the fan-friendly style that brought him to the dance. But can he win a standup battle against Yan, who I still consider to be one of the best boxers in MMA?

The younger Song likely takes Round 1, but Yan’s greatest strength is his ability to analyze and adjust. He’ll take five minutes to download Song, then unleash hell in the next 10. Nothing would make me happier than Song proving me wrong. For now, I have Yan putting on a vintage striking performance and breaking out of his slump.

Pick: Yan

Preliminaries

Jailton Almeida def. Curtis Blaydes

Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara

Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael dos Anjos

Pedro Munhoz def. Kyler Phillips

Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba

Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian

Assu Almabayev def. CJ Vergara

Joanne Wood def. Maryna Moroz

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Following the shocking announcement of his boxing match showdown this summer, naive striker, Jake Paul has opened as a rather heavy betting favorite to beat former world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson as the pair prepare for a blockbuster July showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Paul, who made his return to the ring earlier this month, managed to turn in a one-sided first round TKO win over the hugely-overmatched, Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico, stopping the Golden Gloves winner in the pair’s cruiserweight clash.

And as for Tyson, the soon-to-be 58-year-old has been sidelined from professional boxing since he fought Kevin McBride in an eventual sixth round knockout loss back in 2005.

Briefly returning in an exhibition clash with fellow former world champion slickster, Roy Jones Jr. four years ago, Brooklyn fan-favorite, Tyson fought to a split draw with his compatriot in a bout scored by the WBC.

Jake Paul opens as favorite to beat Mike Tyson this summer

And officially slated to fight Tyson in a boxing match this summer in ‘The Lone Star State’, the above-mentioned Paul is available as high as a -360 betting favorite to beat the reveared knockout artist, Tyson – who is available as a +300 betting underdog to hand the outspoken social media star his second professional loss in their Netflix broadcast clash.

Fans and punters alike hoping to get in on the action early — on a line which is sure to fluctuate throughout the coming weeks ahead of their July clash, can bet online on this summer’s showdown between Jake Paul, and Mike Tyson — as part of a card which almost is sure to garner worldwide attention as part of it’s broadcasting deal with global streaming service, Netflix.

Making his tenth trip to the squared circle in his fight against the above-mentioned veteran, Bourland, Paul extended his winning run to three straight fights with his dominant opening frame knockout win.

Turning in a similarly one-sided victory over Andre August in a highlight-reel first round KO via one punch last December, Paul had previously taken former undisputed UFC lightweight title chaser, Nate Diaz, the full 10 round limit in Texas, landing a one-sided decision win as well as an eye-catching knockdown.

In his sole professional loss, Paul, who also holds wins over former mixed martial arts championship winners, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren – both via knockout, saw his unbeaten record halted by reality television star, Tommy Fury – the half brother of WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury. 

One of the most iconic boxers in the sport’s long and storied history, Tyson – a devastating knockout artist and former WBA, WBC, and IBF world heavyweight champion, ended his storied professional career in the midst of a disappointing two fight skid.

Last seeing his hand raised off the back of a knockout win over Clifford Etienne back in 2003, Tyson was warned that his lights would be shut off by Ohio native Paul this summer in Arlington, who described their surprising showcase as the biggest fight of the 21st century to boot. 

“Promotion promotion promotion, if I’m being honest it don’t need that.” Jake Paul posted on his official X account, accompanied by a poster of his bout with Mike Tyson. “The biggest fight of the 21st century, in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world…that’s the MVP way.”

“Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you’re team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you’re not going to want to miss this event,” Jake Paul continued. “I could not be more excited to make this amazing fight available to all Netflix subscribers alongside the hardest hitter of all time, Mike Tyson, on Saturday, July 20th.”

“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion of the world, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time,” Jake Paul wrote. “Time to put ‘Iron’ Mike to sleep.”

Who wins this summer in Texas: Jake Paul or Mike Tyson?

LowKickMMA.com

UFC