Francis Ngannou’s MMA return happens this Saturday as the PFL returns to pay-per-view for Battle of the Giants in Saudi Arabia. With the PFL needing to badly get some buzz, does Ngannou have to beat Renan Ferreira — not just for himself, but for the PFL as a whole?
On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses Saturday’s big fight card, how important it is that the card delivers as a whole, and what happens based on the result of the main event. Additionally, topics include Dana White once again ripping the UFC rankings panel after UFC 307, the promotion returning to the APEX this Saturday for UFC Vegas 99 headlined by Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira, Donald Cerrone announcing he’s ending his retirement with hopes of two more UFC bouts, UFC 310 fight announcements including Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov for the welterweight title, and more.
Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and UFC lightweight Grant Dawson.
Watch the show live at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT in the video above.
If you missed the show live, you can still watch above, or listen to the podcast version, which can be found below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your pods.
PFL co-founder Donn Davis continues to lay down the gauntlet to Dana White and the UFC.
Davis spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia, headlined by Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira. The outspoken Davis went on to explain why White is afraid of booking a PFL vs. UFC cross-promotional event.
“Yes, the UFC’s brand name is bigger, we recognize that, we’re the new guy,” Davis said. “We have to work harder. We’re in year five, they’re in year 30. But if push came to shove, and it was five fights — we pick five, they pick five — let me tell you, they wouldn’t do that. Because we’d win half, and they’d win half. … That’s why Dana, hashtag Dana scared, would never do that. He knows that and we know that.
“But be fans of all of us. We love all fighting, we root for all fighters. Watch them both.”
Davis has not been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to White, the UFC, and the strength of the PFL roster. In fact, Davis believes that the winner of Ngannou’s return to the MMA cage for the first time since making the choice to vacate the UFC heavyweight title and sign with PFL — no matter who wins — is the best in the world at the weight class.
Another gauntlet was laid down by Davis for current UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones to face Ngannou, or the winner of this fight.
“This is the fight everyone wants to see,” Davis explained. “Whoever comes out of this fight is the No. 1 [heavyweight] in the world. So whoever wants to claim the No. 1 spot goes through the winner of this fight — not through the UFC, this fight. So whoever wants to claim that position better be calling us after Saturday, not calling them.
“We’ve said at PFL, we want to give fans what they want. … Francis Ngannou has said he’ll take on all comers. I think Jon Jones wants to cement his legacy. There’s only one obstacle to that fight, and we know who that is.”
Hollywood leading lady Sydney Sweeney returns to the big screen to play former WBC super welterweight champion and boxing hall of famer Christy Martin in a new biopic from Black Bear Pictures, directed by David Michod.
To help prepare for the role, Sweeney underwent rigorous physical training to transform her body to look more like a professional athlete. Some of her recent Instagram photos reflect those changes, leaving her nearly unrecognizable.
“Well the cat’s out of the bag thanks to some [paparazzi] in the bushes so here’s a little BTS from my film I’m working on right now,” Sweeney wrote. “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman — a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon.”
Fighter biopics are all the rage these days.
In addition to her trailblazing run throughout the 1990s, Martin had a tumultuous personal life, surviving a murder attempt by her then-husband in 2010. “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” now 56, finished with a professional record of 49-7-3 with 32 knockouts.
The untitled project does not yet have a release date.
Former champion Gegard Mousasi filed a lawsuit in New Jersey against Bellator, and the promotion’s new owners at PFL, over numerous complaints including breach of contract.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday with several PFL executives named in the lawsuit including company co-founder Donn Davis, PFL CEO Peter Murray and matchmaker Mike Kogan.
The claims from Mousasi against Bellator include “breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, a claim for relief for Monopsonization.”
In the 81-page filing, Mousasi’s attorneys detail the contract that the veteran middleweight signed with Bellator in 2017 and then agreed to an extension in 2020 that was later amended in 2023.
Under the terms of the deal, Mousasi would be paid a “guaranteed purse of $ 150,000 for his first four bouts, and then after his first four bouts were completed, Gegard would receive guaranteed purse for each subsequent bout of $ 200,000.”
Mousasi would also receive a “finish bonus of $ 50,000 for any bouts won by knockout or submission, plus a promotional fee for each such bout of $ 600,000. Accordingly, after his fourth bout was completed, Gegard was guaranteed to earn $ 800,000 per bout, and up to $ 850,000.”
The lawsuit details Mousasi’s complaints over his lack of activity after completing the first four fights under his contract and then accepting a fight against Fabian Edwards “despite carrying an injury that effectively forced him to fight Edwards with one arm” because he was worried that the promotion was going to sideline him indefinitely.
Mousasi claims that his situation only got worse after Bellator sold to PFL in November 2023 and a lack of communication with promotion officials continued to keep him out of action. The former UFC fighter expressed his frustration when speaking to MMA Fighting back in April.
“The problem is we cannot get ahold of them,” Mousasi said at the time. “They refuse to answer us back. I’ve been training, I’ve been ready. But like I said, they don’t promote me, or people think I’m retired actually. People don’t even know. After my fight, Fabian Edwards fought twice, and since then, they don’t even talk to us. I know I have a contract with them. I know they are obligated to give me those fights. I’m just waiting and I don’t know. Just waiting, what can I do?
“I talked to Mike Kogan, he suggested, ‘Well, you make too much money.’ He said, ‘I would get back to you after I talk to them because they cannot let you hang like this.’ I haven’t heard from him either.”
The lawsuit lays out months of back and forth between Mousasi’s manager and PFL executives as attempts were made to resolve the situation, although the now 39-year-old fighter remained out of action.
Then in May, PFL and Bellator announced that Mousasi had been released from his contract after threatening legal action.
Now Mousasi has followed through with the lawsuit alleging breach of contract and claims that Bellator/PFL “engaged in anti-competitive monopsony conduct” while claiming he was misclassified as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
Mousasi is seeking “compensatory, consequential and/or equitable monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but not less than $ 15 million” as well as punitive damages and attorney fees.
Cody Garbrandt | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Cody Garbrandt has a big decision to make.
The former UFC bantamweight champion is set to complete his current contract with the promotion on Nov. 9, when he fights Miles Johns at a UFC APEX show in Las Vegas on Nov. 9. When fight night rolls around, that’s 16 octagon appearances for Garbrandt, once one of the UFC’s most popular fighters.
Garbrandt discussed his contract status on a recent episode of the JAXXON podcast.
“Still going through some things with the UFC,” Garbrandt said. “It’s my last fight on the contract, so we’ll get together with them and see what we can come up with.”
After beginning his pro MMA career with five straight wins, Garbrandt went 5-0 in the UFC with four knockout wins to earn a shot at bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in December 2016. Garbrandt put on a virtuoso performance to claim the title at 25 years old, but then lost back-to-back fights by knockout to rival T.J. Dillashaw.
Since winning the title, Garbrandt has won just three of his past nine fights and appears to be well past his prime. He would still garner plenty of attention in free agency given his past accolades and he’ll likely consider other offers even if his preference is to stay put.
“I’d love to [re-sign],” Garbrandt said. “I love the UFC, especially the way the sport’s going. I love mixed martial arts. Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in there, but you know, money talks.”
Should the Johns fight go poorly, there’s also the chance that Garbrandt decides to call it a day, though he hasn’t discussed retirement as a possibility. When asked what he plans to do when he’s done competing, Garbrandt mentioned he’d like to stay involved in combat sports, though he’ll pass on the responsibility of coaching.
“I haven’t put too much thought into it—well, a little bit of thought into it,” Garbrandt said. “I try to not stay focused on one thing, but I’ve been in the sport for so long. Wrestling my whole life, boxed, did MMA, it would be in that realm. Maybe a gym.
“I don’t know if I could be a coach and deal with a lot of the fighters because a lot of the fighters are pretty crazy. Maybe I have a gym, maybe get in some management.”
TOP STORIES
Tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones of UFC and Bellator veteran Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos, dead at 38.
Doubt. Matt Brown weighs in on Francis Ngannou’s star power and what that means for this Saturday’s milestone PFL event.
More beef? Ilia Topuria has yet another rivalry cooking as he is now trading shots with Conor McGregor.
Rankings. Dana White vows to fix the UFC rankings.
Deplorable. Mike Perry used some disgusting language during his recent arrest.
Duck? Ian Machado Garry claims Colby Covington hasn’t accepted a fight offer.
G’day Mate. The UFC returns to Sydney in February.
VIDEO STEW
PFL stars tackle media day.
Francis returns.
The baddest of BMFs.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred. Jed Meshew brings you your best bets for PFL: Battle of the Giants and UFC Vegas 99.
Geeking Out. Matt Serra and guest Frankie Edgar go deep on the film oeuvre of the great Jean-Claude Van Damme.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Tribute.
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Ah yes, perhaps “Poatan” can finally get some of that elusive KO power.
Nothing makes me wish the knockout game was real more than “Steven Seagal condescends to pro fighters” videos. pic.twitter.com/m8btAAhV9Y
— Luke Thomas ️♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 15, 2024
Amanda Ribas catching a body.
125 pound UFC fighter Amanda Ribas slammed a professional bodybuilder on his face pic.twitter.com/JTq6WcrDiR
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 14, 2024
Atomweights been here.
They got some serious catching up to do. https://t.co/qgG6Hhkbp8 pic.twitter.com/XQc8oEsCq5
— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) October 16, 2024
Happy birthday!
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Not the worst idea.
I’ll be ready when he is. Would love to share the cage with a legend! A couple of vets putting on a show. https://t.co/mEeAiD6mGa
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) October 16, 2024
Fight Circus.
The FREAKS come out at night! Especially in Malaysia
Tickets on SALE NOW – DM for more details Fight Circus Vol. 11: The Brawla in Kuala, a Halloween Party ️ Oct 19th, 2024 @pittclubkl ***For table reservations contact @pittclubkl#FightCircus #FMD #PittClubKL… pic.twitter.com/DRZgqqfmDY
It’s been almost eight years since Cody Garbrandt won the UFC bantamweight title and, somehow, it feels longer than that? It’s safe to say we’ve never quite seen a career decline as steep as Garbrandt’s and it’s unclear how much he has left in the tank. Perhaps he can be reborn in bare-knuckle boxing? Just spitballing.
EXIT POLL
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