Oscar De La Hoya says Canelo Alvarez’s next fight after Saturday will be in a courtroom.
De La Hoya, the head man behind Golden Boy Promotions — and the former promoter of Alvarez — announced that he plans to sue Alvarez following a fiery press conference ahead of Alvarez’s upcoming fight with Jaime Munguia in Las Vegas. Alvarez claimed on multiple occasions that De La Hoya “steals” from his fighters, and the former champion boxer plans to clear his name in the legal world.
“I’m definitely going to sue for defamation,” De La Hoya told ESPN.
“Imagine the damage it can do to my reputation. Imagine what it can do to my business to fighters [who] are going to believe that.”
Alvarez alleged during Wednesday’s press conference that De La Hoya stole from him, and questioned whether or not Gennaidy Golovkin was paid from a rematch against Alvarez.
De La Hoya told ESPN that Golovkin was paid “everything he’s owed.”
“I’m going to defend myself when somebody’s speaking negative about me and that’s what I did,” De La Hoya said of his exchange with Alvarez. “This was my perfect moment to let him know how I feel. It felt so good. Finally — I was just holding my tongue for all these years — and finally I can f*cking tell him in his face, put some f*cking respect on my name.”
MMA Fighting will provide coverage of the Alvarez vs. Munguia fight card on Saturday night.
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Dillon Danis just picked another fight he can’t win.
The grappler and ex-Bellator athlete, who last competed in MMA in 2019, got rather upset after Paige VanZant proclaimed “Dillon Danis is not a fighter” when asked about MMA fighters attempting to make the crossover into boxing as she prepares to make her own debut at a Misfits card in May.
In response, Danis fired back on social media, stating that VanZant was just upset he didn’t “wife” her, and added, “don’t make me bring up our two trips to Vegas and ruin your marriage.”
How fast they forget! Haha, relax, Paigey baby, just because I didn’t wife you doesn’t mean you have to be petty. Don’t make me bring up our two trips to Vegas and ruin your marriage. https://t.co/yisMPZl4YO pic.twitter.com/4OQTgE1cDc
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) May 1, 2024
VanZant, who is married to one-time Bellator title challenger Austin Vanderford, took to Instagram to offer her side of the story, which obviously didn’t match what Danis claimed. Instead, she unloaded with both barrels on Danis as she recounted her one and only memory of running into him in Las Vegas.
“It has come to my attention that there is a certain clown on Instagram by the name of Dillon Danis trying to talk some shit and stir up some drama,” VanZant said. “So let’s f*cking go, right? Dillon, obviously I said you’re not a real fighter. My bad, I triggered you. I understand that hurt your feelings. But instead of coming back and talking shit about me and saying I’m not a real fighter, what did you do? You kind of f*cked yourself, right? You backed yourself into a corner because now you have to come with proof of this alleged affair, right?
“Because the only time I remember ever seeing you in Vegas was at the UFC athlete retreat. You walked up to me in a bar and asked me to peg you in front of multiple other UFC fighters, and I laughed in your face. That’s not the definition of a relationship, is it?”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant)
VanZant didn’t stop there, especially when it came to Danis attempting to damage her marriage with his claims about some past relationship between them.
“Stirring up drama on the internet to try to fight my husband, there’s definitely better ways you could handle that,” VanZant said. “He’s got three things you absolutely will never have. One, a wife. Two, friends. And three, a real MMA résumé.
“So Dillon, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, but when you’re a piece of shit like you are, it’s pretty f*cking easy. Have a good one.”
For his part, Vanderford also weighed in, throwing down a challenge if Danis really wanted to fight him in MMA, or even in boxing.
“I’m sure there will be some corny excuse ‘who is he?’, ‘he doesn’t have a following’, ‘he lost his last fight’, ‘not the same weight class’…. Blah blah blah,” Vanderford wrote on Instagram.
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A post shared by Austin Vanderford (@austinvanderford)
Since securing his Bellator release following the PFL merger, Vanderford has been seeking out his next opportunity, and it seems as if Danis has piqued his interest as an opponent.
Outside of his two fights in Bellator nearly five years ago, Danis has only competed once since then, and that ended in a disqualification loss in a boxing match against Logan Paul following an embarrassing performance across six rounds this past October.
Danis also faces a lawsuit from Paul’s fiancée Nina Agdal due to repeated online harassment and claims that he may have hacked into one of her social media accounts.
Jiri Prochazkamight not have to wait very long for another shot at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold.
Alex Pereira, 36, made more history at UFC 295 this past November 2023. Battling for vacant gold against the former Light Heavyweight champion, Prochazka, Pereira became a two-division champion with his second round technical knockout win (watch highlights) after previously holding the Middleweight crown.
Both fighters returned to action at UFC 300 this past month (April 13, 2024). Before Pereira successfully defended his title with a first round knockout of Jamahal Hill (watch highlights) in the main event, Prochazka provided a rude welcome back for the perennial contender, Aleksandar Rakic, with a second round technical knockout (watch highlights). Despite the win getting Prochazka back on a one-fight winning “streak,” it appears to have been enough to put him in title fight consideration.
Sorry, Magomed Ankalaev.
“Breaking news,” Pereira said at a UFC 301 media scrum (h/t MMA Fighting). “I think if I wait for that fight it will take too long. I want to fight earlier than that and I think, as far as we know, most likely the next in line is going to be Prochazka. Ankalaev is going to have to wait a little bit. I know Jamahal Hill’s been talking some trash, but is also going to have to wait a little longer. I think Prochazka’s the next one.”
Few fighters have been as unlucky as the top Light Heavyweight, Ankalaev, in recent years. Holding a 10-1-1 (1 no contest) record in UFC (18-1-1, 1 no contest overall), the Russian has been undefeated since his promotional debut in March 2018. Unfortunately for him, his lone bid for gold against Jan Blachowicz resulted in a split draw at UFC 282 in December 2022. He’s been stuck dealing with Johnny Walker ever since.
Ideally, Pereira hoped to make a ridiculously quick turnaround after his recent win by fighting at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this weekend (Sat., May 4, 2024). Unsurprisingly, nothing came together for the event and the headliner remains the Flyweight title clash between the champion, Alexandre Pantoja, and challenger, Steve Erceg.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 fight card on fight night, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/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 301: “Pantoja vs. Erceg” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive events archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 301 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.
Losene Keita after becoming a two-division champion
It’s not often a regional fighter declines multiple UFC offers, but that’s exactly what top prospect Losene Keita did before signing a new deal to stay with Europe-based promotion Oktagon MMA.
The 26-year-old fighter, who moved to Belgium from Guinea when he was just a boy, always dreamed of shining under the brightest lights in the UFC. It’s a fantasy he still hopes to fulfill one day, but Keita just didn’t feel the time was right when the UFC came calling.
“Oktagon is like a home for me,” Keita told MMA Fighting. “Oktagon gave me a lot of chances and the fans love me and I’m very popular there. For me, the UFC was my first option, but I’m like, why should I leave my home to go somewhere else?
“I’m 26 years old, I have a good record, I’m still learning everyday. I can still have a lot of experience before going to the UFC. I never say the UFC dream is done, but for me, Oktagon is now my home and I’m happy there.”
Keita admits it’s impossible for money not to play some part in where he fights, but it’s not the only factor in his decision to stick with Oktagon over the UFC. While he certainly appreciates that the UFC sees him as an asset worth multiple offers, Keita felt like Oktagon really understood his value to the organization.
Keita is currently the featherweight and lightweight champion of Oktagon.
“[UFC tried to sign me] three times already,” Keita revealed. “It doesn’t happen, but I don’t think a lot of fighters are in my shoes. That’s why it doesn’t happen [very often]. I’m getting paid and I’m getting paid well in Oktagon. I am one of the biggest stars there.
“Going to the UFC, fighting for $ 12,000 [to show] and $ 12,000 [to win] or $ 15,000 and $ 15,000 is crazy. I know the UFC is the biggest organization and I know my worth. In Oktagon, they know my worth, they respect my worth. That’s it.”
Perhaps the closest example of another athlete opting for a route similar to the one Keita travels now is current UFC star Paddy Pimblett, who also turned down multiple offers from the promotion before finally signing there as a free agent in 2021.
Pimblett openly stated that he wanted more time to develop his game and feel truly ready for the competition he’d face in the UFC. The decision seemed to work out well for him; Pimblett is undefeated in five UFC appearances and has become one of the promotion’s biggest names over the past couple of years.
Keita understands the comparisons he’ll get to Pimblett because they both passed on UFC offers, but he promises they couldn’t be further apart outside of that lone similarity.
“I know if I go to the UFC, I don’t want to be a contender. I want to be the champ,” Keita said. “I want to be a double champion in the UFC. It’s not the time yet to go to the UFC. I’m learning everyday. I’ve been six or seven years in MMA, I’m still young, so now is not the time. Also, financially, it’s not the time.
“I’m not arrogant but I’m confident. I can be in the UFC right now and be in the top 10. Paddy, I could beat him in the first round right now actually. I’m ready [for the UFC]. The first time [UFC reached out], they gave me an opponent, I already had the date, everything, but financially I feel great in Oktagon, it’s my home. I walk on the street and everybody knows me. I go to the UFC, I’m nobody there yet. I know that can change quick, but I’m attached to the fans of Oktagon so I don’t want to change that yet.”
Keita says he also passed on an offer from PFL to join the company’s featherweight season, where eight fighters compete for the chance to win a $ 1 million grand prize.
As much as he appreciates the interest, Keita commends Oktagon for putting up that same amount of money for their own lightweight tournament, which goes down Saturday in Germany. Keita is, of course, a part of that tournament.
“The most interesting one was actually PFL, because PFL wanted me in the $ 1 million featherweight tournament,” Keita explained. “It’s a great deal actually. But I said I can win a million there or I can win a million here, but one place I’m home and one other place I’m not home.”
Keita knows there’s risk attached to staying in Oktagon rather than just taking the offer to join the UFC. He already faced that kind of adversity in his only professional loss after Keita broke his leg in a fight back in July 2023, which serves as the only defeat on his record.
He bounced back rather quickly with a knockout win this past December, and now Keita is laser focused on the lightweight tournament starting for him on Saturday.
Keita expects the UFC will eventually seek him out again, and if the time is right, he’ll obviously listen to the offer. But for now, he’s happy hearing his name being chanted by 20,000 rabid fans closer to home.
“Imagine a kid from the street, walking into an arena with 20,000 people screaming your name. It’s crazy,” Keita said. “So imagine going to PFL now and I need to walk out and nobody knows me. I know I can change that around quickly, but I don’t want to do that to the fans.
“Every time I see the fans chanting my name, there’s just a feeling walking into the arena with 20,000 people screaming your name, it’s just crazy.”
Jon Jones may vacate his UFC heavyweight title once he cashes in on a money fight with former two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic.
‘Bones’ indicated that much during an active Thursday afternoon on social media. Responding to fan comments, one user suggested Jones “vacate the belt.” Jones responded suggesting that he may do just that once his long-awaited fight with Miocic is in the books.
“Maybe after I win this next one. Can’t have anyone trying to catch up to my record now,” Jones replied on X.
It’s certainly not the first time Jones has indicated that he would walk away from the sport once he puts a stamp on his career by defeating the consensus heavyweight GOAT inside the Octagon. That has many fight fans questioning 1) what’s the point of even booking Jones vs. Miocic if both fighters are going to fade into retirement right after and 2) if that means Tom Aspinall is going to be promoted from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion, why not just do it now and stop wasting everyone’s time.
Unfortunately, neither Jon Jones nor UFC CEO Dana White are interested in doing what’s right for the division.
UFC Fans Demand Jon Jones Unify his title against tom Aspinall
However, maybe not all hope is lost. Amid his many posts throughout the day, ‘Bones’ did ask fans who they would rather him fight after Miocic with the options being Tom Aspinall or current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“Who would you guys want to see me fight the most, Alex or Tom?” Jones questioned.
![Alex Poatan has just said that for now he has given up on the idea of moving up to the heavyweight division of #UFC . [He brought it up with the UFC], but as it didn't move forward, he will keep his focus on light heavyweight. According to him, Jiri Prochazka should be his next rival.](https://external-preview.redd.it/7FzOrG7G96Tjh1F0mTlgDozjl7_uY6OlgSnSFDhPBiE.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=27d80c2ef2e9462c4ba5aae9b962da500893fe83 "Alex Poatan has just said that for now he has given up on the idea of moving up to the heavyweight division of #UFC . [He brought it up with the UFC], but as it didn't move forward, he will keep his focus on light heavyweight. According to him, Jiri Prochazka should be his next rival.")
![Alexander Volkanovski thinks Jose Aldo is the Featherweight GOAT: “For me, I’m gonna say Aldo [is the greatest featherweight of all time] because he was a champion for a very long time. Obviously people are gonna look at competition and all that, but to be champion that long… “](https://external-preview.redd.it/12iCY2rW-h4ORUKHmYeP3paAgbhUqS-JJuwc9f344cE.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=d538167d8f22118553e246586fbd0d26eb63d1c8 "Alexander Volkanovski thinks Jose Aldo is the Featherweight GOAT: “For me, I’m gonna say Aldo [is the greatest featherweight of all time] because he was a champion for a very long time. Obviously people are gonna look at competition and all that, but to be champion that long… “")
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