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An American boxer, who challenged for the World Boxing Council women’s featherweight title in June, died Saturday morning after being hit by a motorist in Texas.
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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Colby Covington says he will not face Belal Muhammad in Real American Freestyle after their confrontation at the RAF 11 post-fight press conference. Instead, the former UFC interim welterweight champion wants a second match with Arman Tsarukyan.

Covington and Muhammad had both competed on Saturday, July 18, at RAF 11 in Milwaukee. Covington beat Tsarukyan 5-3 to become the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover champion, handing the UFC lightweight contender his first loss in the promotion and moving Covington’s RAF record to 3-0. Muhammad beat Ben Askren 6-3 in the co-main event.

The two welterweights then had a heated exchange during the post-fight press conference, where a prospective matchup was discussed. Video from the event shows Muhammad and the US-born wrestler clashing after the announcement, with security stepping in.

But Covington said in an interview with Submission Radio that he has decided to leave the Muhammad matchup behind.

Colby Covington vs Belal Muhammad match OFF

“I’ve made an executive decision. You know I’m a shareholder in RAF. We are going to move away from the Belal matchup,” Covington said. “First off, he’s on the mic at the post-fight press conference, he’s claiming to be a man of the people and be a good example, and the next second he stands up and throws a soccer kick at me and tries to attack me like a filthy animal. Like a delinquent, like a criminal. It’s just disgusting; there’s no professionalism on his side.”

Covington added that he believes he would finish the contest quickly if it happened, saying, “The company know I’ll beat him in 60 seconds or less.” He then pivoted back to Tsarukyan: “Arman deserves the rematch.”

That call is an interesting one considering the American wrestler had just beaten Tsarukyan in a tight title match. The score was level through much of the contest before the former UFC interim champion pulled ahead and controlled the closing stretch, winning 5-3. Tsarukyan entered the main event with a 7-0 RAF record, while Covington brought a wrestling background that included Division I All-American honors at Oregon State.

A Covington-Muhammad RAF match had looked like a natural next move after their public confrontation. Their planned RAF contest had reportedly been linked to RAF 12 in Cleveland, but the RAF champ has now publicly removed himself from it.

For now, the US-born wrestler appears more interested in a sequel with Tsarukyan than settling his latest score with Muhammad. Whether RAF follows his preferred direction remains to be seen, but the RAF champion has made one thing clear: the Belal matchup is no longer part of his plans.

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UFC

Conor McGregor expects to return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship next year.
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It’s UFC 329 fight week, and Conor McGregor has finally checked into the T-Mobile Arena, the same venue where he suffered the horrific leg injury in 2021 that kept him out of the octagon for five years.
However, now, the former UFC double champ is in great shape and will look to deliver a ‘spectacular performance’ this weekend when he runs it back with Max Holloway, whom “The Notorious” previously beat by unanimous decision in 2013.

Conor McGregor plans to remain busy after UFC 329 and is “optimistic that will be the case”

At the T-Mobile Arena, ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto interviewed Conor McGregor. During the chat, the Irishman, who has 2 more bouts left in his UFC contract, said that he would love to fight multiple times a year and “hopes to keep going.” He said:

“I love this arena. I love fight night, fight week. And God willing, I’m back here next week and the week after. How many weeks are in a year? 54? There you go. You know, I could fight every week if it’s a go. Before the injury, I had maybe three within the year. People don’t recall that. And yeah, now there you go. We plan on getting busy here. I believe I wish for it. I wish for it.”

“So, if I’m the man in the arena, right? I’m the one that’s making the walk. So, if I’m the one who’s pushing for it and campaigning for it, I’m sure that is the case. Now, I’ve said my peace with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and their staging of my bouts, and they’ve said their peace, and it’s kind of fallen on. Let’s let it happen on Saturday night and let’s talk. And I’m fine with that. I’m absolutely fine with that. Two fights left on the contract. It’s still as is. This one will be, then one. So, you know, I hope to keep going, and I’m optimistic that will be the case.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

McGregor loves to stay active and fight at least two times a year, if not more. He has maintained that kind of schedule before, competing three or at least two times every year from 2013 to 2016, before injuries or other distractions kicked in.

Conor McGregor also said during the same interview that the catastrophic leg injury he suffered has fueled his determination to stage the biggest comeback in MMA history. This weekend at UFC 329, he plans to remind the world why he is on another level. He added:

“[I feel] absolute confidence and excitement to do my job. You know, you got to dig deep, and you got to prove to yourself you are what you say you are. And so that was what it was for me. I was using it as motivation. It takes a lot of deep internal work to return from an injury like that, and I just used that as motivation. Lovely! I wish for it to be that way cuz now I can show, and on Saturday night I’m going to show.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

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