Tag Archives: MMA

Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal Boxing Match Rescheduled to Independence Day Weekend

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Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal are now preparing for a real fireworks show in the ring.

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American mixed martial artist and professional boxer’s upcoming encounter with the 39-year-old Peruvian & Cuban American professional boxer and former professional mixed martial artist inside a boxing ring has a new date and venue.

Nate DiazDiaz vs. Masvidal, originally slated for June 1 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, will now relocate to the Honda Center in Anaheim and take place during Independence Day weekend on July 6.

The 10-round light heavyweight showdown will be presented on Fanmio PPV.

The original date was met with heavy competition as UFC 302 is scheduled for the same night in Newark, New Jersey, where Islam Makhachev will defend the lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier. The same day, Dmitry Bivol defends his WBA light heavyweight championship against late replacement Malik Zinad while Deontay Wilder returns to action against Zhilei Zhang on the same card.

“I sell pay-per-views for a living,” said Masvidal to ESPN. Masvidal is the promoter of Gamebred boxing as well as the bare-knuckle MMA promotion Gamebred Fighting Championship and MMA promotion iKON FC. “You don’t want to go up against other fight events and you definitely don’t want to go up against the UFC. I have been trying to switch the date from the beginning.”

Masvidal said that Diaz initially wasn’t cooperative and adamant that their boxing match take place on June 1. But the former UFC title contender said that making the move to a new date would prevent splitting the attention of fans who wanted to watch. He also stated that the event, billed as “Last Man Standing,” was moved to Anaheim to service a starved MMA fanbase that routinely turns out for UFC events in the city.

“It just doesn’t make sense but he’s not a boxer and he doesn’t have a boxing fan base,” Masvidal continued. “The fanbase he has is from MMA, from the UFC. Why go up against our own fanbase? As a promoter, I never wanted to go against them. I know fans may buy both events but why do it if there are other dates available? Finally, the promotion heeded my advice and we were able to change dates.”

The inaugural press tour for the fight was a contentious one as two fighters traded barbs with Masvidal accusing Diaz of being a “diva” during the promotion. “Gamebred” does have concerns that Diaz may not make it to the fight.

“I just felt like he didn’t want to be a part of the press tour,” Masvidal said. “I just hope he shows up to the fight because a big part of me doesn’t think he will. We have some backups out there. We have been making some calls and hunting them down because the feeling is out there that he won’t show up. I hope he proves me wrong, but we have a backup just in case.”

Diaz and Masvidal first squared off inside of the UFC‘s Octagon in 2019 when the two fan favorites competed for the inaugural BMF championship at UFC 244. The highly anticipated encounter ended on a sour note when a doctor’s stoppage due to a cut over Diaz’s eye awarded Masvidal the victory. Now the two will settle their differences in a different medium, but both fighters are looking for a definitive result on July 6

“After the fireworks on the Fourth of July you will get to see a funeral on July 6,” said Masvidal.

Alex Perez Scores Knockout of Matheus Nicolau 

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Alex Perez remains in the title hunt…

The 32-year-old Mexican American mixed martial artist scored a scintillating second-round knockout of Matheus Nicolau in a battle of flyweights jockeying for title contention on Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex.

Alex Perez Ranked No. 8 by the UFC, Perez (25-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) stepped into the main event picture after Manel Kape had to pull out of the bout with a rib injury.

Perez put a dramatic halt to a three-fight skid, using a high-volume approach to eventually break through Nicolau’s guard and sink him with a thudding right hand at the 2:16 mark in the second round.

Perez was the busier fighter early on with constant movement and feints. Nicolau, the UFC’s No. 5-ranked flyweight entering the night, remained composed in the opening frame and defended well as Perez routinely launched into multi-punch combinations.

Perez managed to get through with a few body shots and a leg kick before Nicolau got his attention with a counter left hand.

But the sheer amount of activity kept Nicolau on his back foot and without an answer to Perez’s salvos.

Perez kept the volume going in the second round as Nicolau attempted to counter and close the distance. A short right hand clipped the Brazilian and sent him stumbling backward. Perez immediately went for the finish as he rushed forward and launched into another violent barrage of punches as Nicolau’s back was up against the fence. A right hand slipped through and caught the Brazilian flush, immediately crumpling him along the cage wall.

“It feels amazing,” Perez said following the victory. “Everyone counted me out after three losses.”

Perez, who was coming off a loss to Muhammad Mokaev in March, was originally slated to face Tagir Ulanbekov on June 15 but took the opportunity to climb back into the top of the division with a higher-ranked opponent. It was a significant risk, but Perez was up for the challenge and cashed out in a major way.

“I tell people I don’t get paid to sit on the couch, I get paid to fight and this is the reason why,” he said about taking the fight on three weeks’ notice. “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”

Nicolau (19-5-1, 7-3 UFC) has dropped two in a row, both by knockout, after going on a four-fight winning streak. Saturday marked his first fight since a knockout loss to Brandon Royval last April.

With the win, Perez will keep a close eye on next week’s flyweight bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg at UFC 301. While a title fight might not be next, a victory of this magnitude will almost certainly land him a fight with title implications in the near future.

Danny Trejo to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Santa Fe Film Festival 

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Danny Trejo is preparing to receive a special honor…

The 79-year-old Mexican American actor and Machete star will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Santa Fe Film Festival on Thursday, during the festival’s opening night.

Danny TrejoIn addition to his iconic Machete character, Trejo is the star of From Dusk Til Dawn, Spy Kids, Con Air, Heat and hundreds of other films and television series.

His new film, American Underdog, will hold its U.S. premiere at SFFF that night, kicking off the event that runs in New Mexico’s capital city from April 25-28.

“Danny Trejo has developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard earned and atypical road to success,” the festival notes. “From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized in Hollywood and beyond, but it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction.”

Trejo’s co-star in American Underdog, Veronica Falcón, will receive the festival’s Trailblazer Visionary Award, recognizing her work on screen on shows including Ozark, Queen of the South and Perry Mason, and for her work off-screen as an activist. SFFF calls Falcón “an artist who has demonstrated excellence in the craft and served large in inspiring positive change in the world.”

Trejo got his start in acting in 1985, years after his release from San Quentin state prison in California. He had become a boxing champion behind bars and got a first start in movies by training Eric Roberts as a boxer for Runaway Train, which led to Trejo being cast in a small role in the film. That background in the ring served him well in American Underdog, “a redemption story set in the world of MMA by first-time Peruvian-American director, Gustavo Martin-Benites,” according to a release.

“Trejo essays the role of ‘Dennis,’ a trainer and former MMA fighter who reluctantly comes out of retirement to coach his ex-student – disgraced amateur MMA fighter, ‘Jai’, played by Indian-American actor Vishy Ayyar.”

Trejo says of the role, “My character ‘Dennis’ has come through the other side of the fire, and now he’s at a place in life where he’s got the experience, he’s lived it, and can give the wisdom and the guidance.”

Along with Trejo, Falcón and Ayyar, the film stars Taylor Treadwell, Suleka Mathew, Andrew Gray and Omi Vaidya. Naveen A. Chathapuram, Cristy Coors Beasley and Rashaana Shah produce the film. Ayyer co-wrote the American Underdog, which is based partly on his own experiences.

“After losing 50 million dollars in my real estate business, I was in shock as my life crumbled in front of me which led to filing for bankruptcy,” Ayyar said. “American Underdog is a testament that everyone comes to America as an underdog and can fall over and over again, but can find that redemption from the most unlikely of paths.”

Trejo’s own redemption story saw him overcome a childhood of abuse and addiction, to a career in Hollywood and now major success as an entrepreneur. As the festival notes, “Trejo’s expanding restaurant empire includes Trejo’s Tacos & Cantina, and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, with a fifth restaurant opening in downtown Los Angeles.” Two days ago, he was in London for the opening of a Trejo’s Tacos location in the English capital. He has authored two books, including Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from LA.

Trejo has 29 upcoming cinematic projects in various stages of completion, including Hollywood Heist, a caper movie starring Alec Baldwin, Nick Cannon, Mickey Rourke and Tara Reid.

Nate Diaz Protégé Chris Avila to Fight Former UFC Champion Anthony Pettis in Boxing Match

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Chris Avila is preparing to battle a former UFC champion in the boxing ring…

The 31-year-old mixed martial artist and Nate Diaz protégé will battle Anthony Pettis, once a UFC lightweight titleholder, on the undercard of Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal later this summer.

Chris AvilaThe event will take place on June 1 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, per ESPN. The bout is contracted for six rounds at 175 pounds.

Pettis, 37, made his pro boxing debut in April 2023, a majority decision victory over boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. The Milwaukee native is coming off a unanimous decision win over fellow former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson at Karate Combat in December 2023. Pettis, who last fought in MMA for PFL in 2022, held the UFC lightweight belt from 2013 to 2015.

Avila, 31, is 5-1 as a pro boxer and has had success in the influencer space of the genre. The Stockton, California, native owns boxing wins over MMA fighters Jeremy Stephens and Anthony Taylor, as well as influencers Paul Bamba and Mikhail “Dr. Mike” Varshavski. Avila is a longtime training partner of Diaz’s out of Nick Diaz Academy.

Diaz and Masvidal fought for the UFC’s symbolic BMF in 2019 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, with Masvidal winning via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) due to a Diaz cut. The two have harbored bad blood since before that bout.

Keanu Reeves & Fisher Stevens Co-Producing Documentary About Benny “The Jet” Urquidez

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Benny “The Jet” Urquidez’s life story is getting the Hollywood treatment.

Keanu Reeves is partnering with Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens to co-produce a documentary on the life story of the 71-year-old half Spanish/Mexican American former professional kickboxer, martial arts choreographer and actor, an iconic athlete who introduced mixed martial arts to the world.

Benny “The Jet” UrquidezTitled The Jet, the film is currently in production under the direction of Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor turned filmmaker Jennifer Tiexiera.

The film’s financiers are Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm of the newly formed Unapologetic Projects, a company dedicated to working with underrepresented creators.

Maura Anderson and Zak Kilberg of Stevens’ recently launched production company Highly Flammable will also serve as producers along with John Scalise and his FAYA Project.

Benny “The Jet” UrquidezNancy Weisler, Brian Maya and Chris Quintos Cathcart & Tyler Boehm of Unapologetic serve as executive producers on the project slated for release in 2025.

Nicknamed for his explosive spinning back kick, Sensei Benny “The Jet” Urquidez had a profound impact on martial arts in mainstream culture, as an actor, fight coordinator, and trainer to the stars.

Known for his exceptional skills in kickboxing and karate, he held six world titles in five weight divisions and remained undefeated over the course of his 20+ year kickboxing career.

In addition to his competitive achievements, Urquidez is renowned for his contributions to martial arts cinema, having appeared in numerous action films during the 1980s and 1990s.

Notable film credits include The Octagon, Road House and Grosse Pointe Blank. Over the years, he also trained and worked with the likes of Jackie Chan, Muhammed Ali, Elvis Presley, Mark Wahlberg, Nicole Kidman, Kurt Russell, Patrick Swayze, Nicolas Cage, Michelle Pfeiffer, Duff McKagan and many others.

“Benny’s fighting career was born out of his struggles with identity, poverty, and race, but he didn’t let those things define him,” Tiexiera said. “The result is a story about how struggle and sacrifice evolved into one about love, spirituality and deeper meaning.”

Stated Reeves, “Benny is a true mentor, and has had such a profound yet underappreciated impact on both cinema and martial arts. I’m very excited to help share his story with the world.”

Nate Diaz to Fight Jorge Masvidal in 10-Round Boxing Match This June

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Nate Diaz is sidestepping the Octagon for the boxing ring…

In a rematch of a marquee UFC headliner, the 38-year-old half Mexican American mixed martial artist and boxer will fight Jorge Masvidal again, this time in a boxing ring on June 1 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.

Nate DiazThe two fought in MMA in the UFC 244 main event on November 2, 2019 at Madison Square Garden, for the mythical BMF title. Masvidal won that bout via TKO (doctor’s stoppage).

Diaz vs. Masvidal is contracted for 10 rounds at 175 pounds.

The event, distributed by Fanmio, will be dubbed “Last Man Standing.” A multicity promotional tour is being planned.

Diaz and Masvidal, two of the UFC’s biggest stars of this era, have since departed the promotion, Diaz as a free agent and Masvidal via retirement.

The UFC approved Masvidal to take this fight, as he is still under contract. Diaz and Masvidal have been involved in three of the top 10 UFC pay-per-view events of all time.

Diaz made his pro boxing debut last August in a decision loss to YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul. Diaz went into that bout with an arm injury.

This will be Masvidal’s return to competition after retiring in April 2023 following a UFC loss to Gilbert Burns.

Masvidal beat Diaz in the fourth round at UFC 244 when the ringside physician halted the bout because of a Diaz cut. That is an impetus for the rematch. There is unfinished business; Masvidal wants to remove all doubt, while Diaz is out for revenge.

“Nate’s a dead man walking,” Masvidal said in a statement. “I can’t wait to prove that last time was no fluke. He got saved by the referee. Now we are boxing, which he says is his forte, but he’s got no shot at beating me. I’m not going to give him an inch in that ring to even breathe. If he thought our MMA match was bad, this is going to be much worse. I’m going to drown him. I want to put away any talk that him and I are the same, or that the referee saved the day. All of that talk ends June 1. Violence and throwing hands are in both of our bloods but as I proved before, I’m a far superior athlete and I’m a meaner fighter. When June 1 comes I’ll put all unanswered questions to rest, live for the world to see.”

Fanmio has distributed big combat sports events before, including Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul in 2021.

“When we started our journey into boxing, we wanted to bring only the most entertaining fights together that would help transcend the world of combat sports,” Solomon Engel, Fanmio CEO, said in a statement. “Being able to put together the Diaz vs. Masvidal rematch in the boxing ring is in line with that vision. These guys are the original and true BMFs, have continuously sold out arenas and sold millions of pay-per-views. June 1 gives each the opportunity to write a new chapter in their storied history, settle their score and show the world who will be the last man standing.”

Jorge Masvidal Reportedly Training for Boxing Match, Planning MMA Return

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Jorge Masvidal is thisclose to coming out of retirement.

The 39-year-old Cuban & Peruvian American former mixed martial artist and boxer has told ESPN that he’s training for a boxing match later this year and plans to fight again in MMA.

Jorge Masvidal“All I could tell you is I’m getting ready for some type of combat and it’s gonna be in the boxing realm,” Masvidal said in an interview this week. “I don’t know this or that or who it’s going to be.”

Masvidal, who announced his retirement in April after a loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, has been teasing on social media a potential boxing match with fellow former UFC star Nate Diaz. The two fought for the inaugural, symbolic BMF title in 2019 with Masvidal winning via TKO due to a Diaz cut.

But Masvidal doesn’t plan on stopping there. He has also expressed interest in fighting Justin Gaethje, the current BMF titleholder, and Colby Covington, Masvidal’s former best friend and now hated rival. Covington defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision in 2022 at UFC 272.

“I think he’s a f—ing great fighter, but I also think I’d whup his motherf—ing ass,” Masvidal said of Gaethje. “I don’t know why. Something about his style. And I like his style because he comes to fight. He’s not coming to f—ing score points. He’s coming to fight and end a motherf—er.”

Masvidal didn’t have as many positive words for Covington — or any. The deeply personal beef between the two was not quashed after they fought. In fact, Masvidal allegedly attacked Covington and punched him outside a steakhouse in Miami Beach in the weeks after the fight. Masvidal was arrested for the offense and took a plea deal in November, pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and getting sentenced to time served.

“[I’d fight him] in the UFC or f—ing in the parking lot of KFC, I don’t f—ing know,” Masvidal said. “But it’s going to f—ing happen, brother. That’s all I know.”

Masvidal has been focusing on being a promoter during his short-lived retirement. His Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion has an event Saturday in Orlando, Florida, headlined by a heavyweight title fight between former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and former UFC veteran Alan Belcher.

Renan Ferreira Knocks Out Ryan Bader in First Round in PFL vs. Bellator Event

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Make that four in a row for Renan Ferreira. 

The 34-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist (13-3) knocked out Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (31-8) in just 21 seconds on Saturday in the PFL vs. Bellator pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Renan FerreiraFerreira knocked Bader down with a right hand, before ending the fight with hammerfists on the ground in his fourth consecutive win by knockout, three of which came in the first round.

“I am the real problem,” Ferreira said. “I am the record setter. Francis, where you at? I’m the champion out here. I’ve always been ready to fight with the very best in the world. Francis it can be in [MMA] or boxing, whatever you want to do.”

Following his win, talk has begun about Ferreira’s next potential opponent… Francis Ngannou (17-3), who is scheduled to make his second appearance in professional boxing on March 8 in Saudi Arabia, when he takes on former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.

Earlier this week, however, Ngannou told ESPN he still intends to return to MMA with the PFL, and said he would likely face the winner of Saturday’s contest between Ferreira and Bader. Ngannou was present cageside during the main event.

Ferreira didn’t waste the opportunity to impress. The fight was essentially over before it began. He caught Bader with the right hand just moments in, after Bader moved forward with his own punches. Ferreira, who trains out of American Top Team in south Florida, has now recorded five first-round knockouts in the PFL, including finishes of 21 seconds, 50 seconds, 25 seconds and 31 seconds.

Ferreira claimed a “Super Belt” in the process, although he does not take ownership of Bader’s Bellator title. The real reward, however, is a future fight against Ngannou, which will also take place on PFL PPV.

Bader, a former two-weight champion in Bellator, saw a three-fight win streak snapped. He’d lost recently at light heavyweight against Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson, but had been dominant at heavyweight, including two wins over the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. It is the shortest loss of Bader’s professional career.

Saturday’s event marked the first PPV since PFL acquired Bellator late last year. Bellator champions fared well overall against their PFL counterparts. Welterweight champion Jason Jackson, middleweight champion Johnny Eblen and former champs Vadim Nemkov and AJ McKee all scored impressive wins over PFL opposition. Yoel Romero also picked up a win against PFL contender Thiago Santos.

Alex Pereira Becomes Fastest MMA Fighter to Two Championships in UFC History

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Alex Pereira is making swift championship moves…

The 36-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer has claimed the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship after stopping Jiri Prochazka via TKO at 4:08 of the second round on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden.

Alex Pereira,Pereira, who has been in the UFC for just two years, has now won championships in two weight classes.

Pereira is the ninth two-division champion in UFC history. He was previously the UFC middleweight champion earlier this year.

Pereira is the fastest to two championships in UFC history, doing it in just seven UFC fights. No other fighter has won titles at middleweight and light heavyweight.

“It’s incredible,” UFC CEO Dana White said in the post-fight news conference. “I don’t know about an all-time great [yet]. But it’s incredibly impressive what he’s done in a short amount of time.”

Pereira dropped Prochazka with a left hook with Pereira’s back against the cage. Prochazka was clearly hurt, and Pereira fell right into mount, landing punches and elbows in the process. Prochazka seemed to still be fighting back, but referee Marc Goddard stopped the bout. Some fans booed at the stoppage.

“I’m not surprised after the first left hook,” Pereira said in his post-fight interview. “He fell down on my legs, and I looked for the finish. I don’t think it was a bad stoppage.”

Prochazka said he agreed with the stoppage.

“I think it was right,” he said. “I was out. But you know, I will never stop.”

The UFC light heavyweight title has had a rough stretch since Jon Jones, the division’s all-time best fighter, voluntarily gave up the championship before moving to heavyweight. Perhaps Pereira will bring stability.

Prochazka vacated the belt in late 2022 due to a severe shoulder injury. Jamahal Hill then won it by beating Glover Teixeira in January. But Hill tore an Achilles tendon in July and had to relinquish the title.

ESPN had Pereira ranked No. 2 in the division coming into Saturday.

Afterward, Pereira called out Israel Adesanya to move up to light heavyweight and face him. Pereira and Adesanya have split their two meetings in the UFC, and Pereira has beaten him twice in kickboxing. It’s more likely Hill will be next for Pereira when Hill recovers.

Adesanya, who loss the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Australia, said last month that he is “not going to fight for a long time.”

“He doesn’t seem motivated and I think it’s a fight everybody would like to see,” Pereira said of Adesanya.

Pereira dropped Prochazka with a leg kick in the first round. Prochazka came back with a takedown late in the first and did some damage with elbows. Pereira continued to work the leg kicks in the second round, leading into the finish.

“He knew it. He kept kicking that leg,” White said. “And that leg was going to be a problem as the fight went on. The kicking power. The punching power. He moves like a middleweight. He’s pretty nasty.”

Pereira (9-2), a training partner of Teixeira, is the only fighter to headline back-to-back UFC cards at Madison Square Garden. The Brazilian-born fighter, who lives and trains in Connecticut, knocked out Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight title at MSG in November 2022.

Pereira is a former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion and was recently inducted into that promotion’s Hall of Fame. He is now 3-0 at MSG.

“It’s my house here now,” Pereira said of the Garden. “How do I get the key?”

Prochazka (29-4-1) had won 13 straight fights, including his first three in the UFC by finish. The Czech Republic native beat Teixeira to win the UFC light heavyweight title in June 2022. Prochazka, 31, is the former light heavyweight champion of Japan’s Rizin promotion.

Cris Cyborg to Return to Boxing Ring to Fight Kelsey Wickstrum in January

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Cris Cyborg is heading to the boxing ring…

The 38-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist, the current Bellator women’s featherweight champion, will fight Kelsey Wickstrum.

Cris CyborgCyborg, one of the greatest women’s fighters in MMA history, will face Wickstrum in a boxing event on January 19 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, according to sources.

The future of Bellator is uncertain. Showtime, its broadcast partner, has announced that it will be leaving the combat sports business at the end of 2023. Viacom, Bellator’s parent company, has the MMA promotion up for sale, and PFL is the front-runner to acquire it, sources said. That deal could be done in the near future.

Cyborg is 1-0 as a pro boxer and has another victory in a boxing exhibition in her home country of Brazil.

The California resident is coming off a first-round TKO over Cat Zingano at Bellator 300 last month to pick up her fifth title defense.

Wickstrum, 36, is 2-0 as a pro boxer with one knockout. The bout is contracted for 154 pounds over six rounds.

Cyborg is expected to compete in both MMA and boxing in the latter portion of an illustrious career. She is the only fighter in MMA history to win championships in four different major promotions: UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta. Cyborg has a total of 12 title defenses across those four title reigns.

Earlier this week, Chantelle Cameron, who is boxing Katie Taylor next, called out Cyborg for a fight in PFL or Bellator.