It will be Ngannou’s return to MMA since his last title bout against Renan Ferreira back in 2024 under the PFL banner. Ahead of the bout, Ngannou is the betting favourite to win given his superior knockout power.

It’s been four years since Ngannou last fought inside the UFC Octagon before leaving the promotion. In a recent interview, the Cameroonian-French shared the behind-the-scenes of his fallout with Dana White‘s promotion.

“I think the mistake that the UFC did was they got to the point that hit my ego. I felt like I wasn’t respected, and that was the moment I was like, ‘I’m getting out of this contract.’ When something touches my ego, I don’t care about anything,” said Francis Ngannou via Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel.

Francis Ngannou left the UFC after contract negotiations collapsed because the promotion refused to offer him significantly higher financial compensation. Following his departure, Ngannou publicly criticized UFC leadership, while Dana White claimed the former heavyweight champion remained difficult to work with professionally.

Ngannou strongly denied those accusations afterward, insisting disagreements surrounded contractual freedom, financial respect, and fair treatment throughout negotiations. Since leaving the UFC, Ngannou participated in several massive boxing and MMA events, earning substantially more money than previously reported.

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Francis Ngannou discusses the possibility of Jon Jones attending his upcoming fight

Before leaving the UFC, Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones’ heavyweight battle was something that the fans wanted desperately. The bout never took place, but it certainly promoted both superstars to engage in an online altercation.

Ahead of the fight, Ngannou recently talked about the potential to see Jon Jones in his upcoming fight with Philipe Lins. “It’s going to be interesting to see Jon Jones in the same arena. … It’s very interesting to see how it’s going to be,” Francis Ngannou via presser.

Similar to Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones also experienced a major fallout with the UFC, damaging their longstanding professional relationship. Their respective departures from the UFC could potentially increase possibilities for Ngannou and Jones finally competing together inside another MMA promotion.

READ MORE: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: Preview and Prediction

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The post “It Hit My Ego”- Francis Ngannou Opens Up About His Controversial UFC Fallout Ahead of MMA Return first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

The fight will take place on May 16 inside the Dome located in Los Angeles, California, with massive attention surrounding it. Ahead of the fight, let’s see which among these has a better chance of winning the bout.

Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz is one of the most popular fighters in MMA after delivering unforgettable performances throughout his UFC career. Diaz earned massive respect from fans because of his fearless fighting style, incredible durability, and legendary rivalries.

After parting ways with the UFC, Diaz explored new opportunities and was part of two high-profile boxing bouts. Now, Diaz is preparing for another huge fight, hoping to remind everyone why he remains one of combat sports’ biggest and most respected stars.

Mike Perry

Mike Perry built his reputation in the UFC and was part of many entertaining fights, but had an inconsistent record. Following his UFC departure, Perry found massive success in bare-knuckle boxing and quickly became one of BKFC’s biggest stars.

The former UFC fighter earned widespread attention because of his toughness, knockout power, and fearless approach inside the ring. Now, Perry is preparing for another major showdown, hoping to continue proving why he remains one of combat sports’ most dangerous and entertaining fighters.

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How to watch

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the upcoming Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry card live exclusively on Netflix during fight night weekend. The early prelims are expected to begin around 11 PM BST, while the main card will likely start at 3 AM BST Sunday.

Viewers in the United States can catch the fight live exclusively on Netflix during the highly anticipated return event weekend. The early prelims are expected around 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT, while the main card should begin at 10 PM ET.

Fight Analysis and Prediction

Nate Diaz is well known for his durability, high-volume boxing combinations, and relentless pressure whenever fights extend into the later rounds. Throughout his career, Diaz has overwhelmed several opponents through superior cardio, constant forward pressure, and his ability to maintain a pace for long periods.

If the fight enters the later rounds, Diaz could hold a major advantage because of his experience in high-pressure battles. On the other hand, Mike Perry securing an early knockout against Diaz appears difficult because of Diaz’s toughness and recovery ability.

Perry will likely attempt to pressure Diaz with explosive power shots, but matching Diaz’s pace across multiple rounds could become far more difficult. With his elite endurance, experience, and ability to control fights through volume striking, Diaz clearly has a stronger chance of winning through unanimous decision this weekend.

Final Prediction: Nate Diaz via unanimous decision.

READ MORE: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: Preview and Prediction

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The fight will take place on May 16 inside the Dome located in Los Angeles, California, with massive worldwide attention surrounding it. Going into the fight, the hype remains extremely massive, and fans continue debating which legendary fighter currently holds the better winning chances.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey became one of the biggest stars in women’s MMA after dominating multiple opponents and capturing championship success during her legendary career. Rousey later retired from mixed martial arts following difficult losses against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, ending her UFC journey.

After leaving MMA competition behind, Rousey successfully transitioned into professional wrestling and eventually became one of WWE’s biggest female superstars. Now, Rousey is finally returning to combat sports competition, hoping to silence doubters and prove she still belongs among elite fighters.

Gina Carano

After her successful MMA career, Gina Carano eventually stepped away from professional fighting after suffering a major loss against Cris Cyborg. Following her retirement from combat sports competition, Carano successfully transitioned into Hollywood and built a strong career within the entertainment industry.

The former fighter appeared in several major movies and television projects, becoming widely recognized outside MMA. Now, Carano is finally making her long-awaited return to combat sports competition, hoping to prove she still belongs among elite fighters.

Tale of the Tape

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How to watch

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the upcoming Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey card live exclusively on Netflix during fight night weekend. The early prelims are expected to begin around 11 PM BST, while the main card will likely start at 3 AM BST Sunday.

Viewers in the United States can catch Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey live exclusively on Netflix during the highly anticipated return event weekend. The early prelims are expected around 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT, while the main card should begin at 10 PM ET.

Fight Analysis and Prediction

Ronda Rousey is well known for her elite grappling abilities and relentless pressure whenever she successfully closes distance inside the Octagon. During her prime years, Rousey dominated several opponents through superior ground control, dangerous submissions, and aggressive transitions.

If the fight enters the later rounds, Rousey could maintain the advantage due to her experience handling high-pressure moments. On the other hand, Gina Carano securing an early knockout against Rousey appears difficult because of Rousey’s toughness and defensive grappling abilities.

Carano will likely attempt to keep the fight standing, but stopping takedowns from Rousey could become far more difficult than many expect. With her championship experience and dominant grappling threat, Rousey clearly has a stronger chance of winning through unanimous decision against Carano this weekend.

Final Prediction: Ronda Rousey via unanimous decision.

READ MORE: Tang Kai Finds New Motivation Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 43 Title Defence

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Going into the fight, Chimaev was undefeated and was the fan favourite to win with his superior wrestling. However, the reality turned out to be different as Strickland took home the win via a split decision.

From the beginning of the fight, Khamzat Chimaev tried to impose his relentless pressure and keep Strickland on the ground. However, the ‘Tarzan’ made sure to use his striking and takedown defence to keep the champion at bay and ultimately won the fight.

“When you go and fight another man, your soul is just exposed. When you’re bleeding, I want to quit; he wants to quit. You just have this level of respect that transcends race, religion, and nationality. You kinda become someone’s brother,” said Sean Strickland while squashing his beef with Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland mentioned that, unlike other UFC fighters, he tries his best to entertain the fans and is saving UFC. With the win, Strickland is now a two-time UFC middleweight champion and is ready to defend his title soon.

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UFC CEO confirms Khamzat Chimaev’s light heavyweight move following Sean Strickland’s loss

Khamzat Chimaev started his career in the UFC welterweight division and had issues with weight cutting, and moved up. However, during his last weight cut ahead of UFC 328, many fans and experts pointed out how it affected his performance.

The fighter had been giving thoughts about moving up to the light heavyweight division, and it turns out, following the last loss, things are clearer. UFC CEO Dana White has also confirmed that Chimaev has decided to move up next.

“He literally walked up to me after the fight said, ‘ I wanna move up, I don’t wanna fight in this weight class anymore’. Him moving up is exciting,” said Dana White via UFC 328 post-fight presser.

In the light heavyweight division, Chimaev has an ongoing beef with the current champion, Alex Pereira. The light heavyweight division is stacked, and according to fans, a wrestler like Chimaev can become very successful.

READ MORE: “Severe Mismatch”- Chase DeMoor Predicts One-Sided Outcome in Tommy Fury vs. Eddie Hall Mega Fight

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The post Sean Strickland Becomes Two-Time UFC Middleweight Champion After Defeating Khamzat Chimaev first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Both Fury and Hall are popular names and are eager to fight each other in the main event. Fury will be making his comeback after a year since his last win against Kenan Hanjalic.

On the other hand, for Eddie Hall, it’s an opportunity to get a win and make him a big name in the boxing scenario. Recently, Chase DeMoor talked about this fight in detail and shared his opinion.

“I think it’s a severe mismatch. They’re fighting six two-minute rounds. On paper, Tommy should win that. Unless Eddie got some crazy wild punch, which I really don’t see happening. I would be interested to get in there and finally get that Tommy Fury fight,” Chase DeMoor via IFN TV.

This can be covered

Chase DeMoor has aggressively pursued a long-awaited Tommy Fury fight, constantly exchanging insults and challenges across social media. Recently, DeMoor officially announced a crossover boxing matchup against Aleks Petrović, scheduled for June 6th, headlining an event in Germany. If Fury defeats Hall convincingly, his rivalry against DeMoor could finally become Misfits Boxing’s next blockbuster attraction.

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Tommy Fury talks about Eddie Hall’s power

Eddie Hall became World’s Strongest Man in 2017 after dominating strongman competitions through incredible consistency and record-breaking performances. Hall later transitioned into combat sports, competing professionally in boxing and mixed martial arts events against experienced fighters.

The British powerhouse gained valuable combat experience through exhibition boxing matches, intense training camps, and MMA appearances. In a recent interview, Fury was asked about dealing with Hall’s power, and Fury shared his honest opinion.

“He’s the strongest man in the world, but that doesn’t mean he could hit hard. In boxing, you got to know how to punch through your back and shoulder,” said Tommy Fury via Fred Neck.

Fury hasn’t knocked out anybody since 2020, but is known for his durability to take fights to decisions and win. It would be interesting to see how the upcoming fight with Eddie Hall goes and who comes out as the winner.

READ MORE: UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland: Preview and Prediction

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The post “Severe Mismatch”- Chase DeMoor Predicts One-Sided Outcome in Tommy Fury vs. Eddie Hall Mega Fight first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Ahead of the bout, the crowd around it is massive, given the bad blood and history between Chimaev and Strickland. Let’s take a look at which among them has a better chance of winning the title showdown.

Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev became the middleweight champion by beating Dricus Du Plessis back at UFC 319, and since then hasn’t fought. The fighter is undefeated and plans to continue his winning streak this weekend.

Chimaev and Strickland have had a nasty history with both fighters crossing boundaries while trash-talking. The ‘Borz’ plans to shut down the challenger and finish this rivalry once and for all, and potentially move up to the light heavyweight division.

Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland is a former middleweight champion and is undoubtedly one of the most controversial fighters on the UFC roster. Strickland has previously shocked everyone by beating Israel Adesanya and winning the belt, and plans to do the same this time.

The ‘Tarzan’ has accused Chimaev of being a terrorist and brought massive attention to the fight. Strickland believes his takedown defence will be enough to beat Chimaev and take back his belt.

Tale of the Tape

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How to watch UFC 328

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the upcoming UFC 328 live on TNT Sports. The early prelims are expected to begin around 11 PM BST, while the main card will likely start at 3 AM BST on Sunday.

Viewers in the United States can catch UFC 328 live on Paramount +. The early prelims are expected around 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT, while the main card should begin at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT.

Fight Analysis and Prediction

Khamzat Chimaev is well known for his relentless and suffocating pressure with his dominant wrestling skills inside the octagon. In his last bout, Chimaev dominated the former champion for 21 minutes and prevented him from initiating any offense whatsoever.

If the fight goes into the later rounds, the Russian definitely has the upper hand because of his incredible cardio advantage. On the other hand, Strickland securing an early round finish by knockout or submission against Chimaev appears extremely unlikely.

The challenger plans to keep the fight standing, but defending takedowns against Chimaev might become much harder than expected. With his momentum and wrestling threat, Chimaev clearly has a better chance to beat the ‘Tarzan’.

Final Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision.

READ MORE: Elbrus Osmanov Eyes Next Move After Earning ONE Championship Main Roster Contract

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The post UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland: Preview and Prediction first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Promoters unveiled a custom solid gold “Fight of Britain” championship belt featuring patriotic Union Jack-inspired detailing throughout the design. Neither fighter currently holds recognized heavyweight championships, making the symbolic golden belt centerpiece, replacing traditional organization titles.

Tyson Fury recently returned from retirement, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov comfortably before immediately demanding a long-awaited Joshua super fight. Anthony Joshua is scheduled to fight Kristian Prenga in two months, although negotiations surrounding Fury continue progressing positively behind closed doors.

Early betting odds slightly favor Fury because analysts believe his movement, experience, and size create difficult stylistic matchup problems defensively. Wembley Stadium currently appears to be their favorite hosting venue, and many boxing fans consider this matchup Britain’s greatest heavyweight fight, commercially speaking.

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Francis Ngannou predicts Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury mega fight

In his last bout, Anthony Joshua beat Jake Paul via a brutal knockout and then took home a whopping $90 million. However, the fighter was involved in a fatal accident and took time off from fighting.

During that time, Tyson Fury decided to tone down his trash-talking towards AJ, but the rivalry has now been revived. In a recent interview, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou shared his prediction for this upcoming bout.

“It depends on how the fight goes. If it’s going to a decision, I give the decision to Fury, and if it’s like a knockout, I think Joshua has a chance,” said Francis Ngannou via Sky Sports.

Ngannou has shared the ring with both AJ and Fury and has lost on both occasions. He got knocked out by Joshua, but his fight with Fury was rather close. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see both AJ and Fury getting into more verbal spats as the fight date approaches.

READ MORE: Elbrus Osmanov Eyes Next Move After Earning ONE Championship Main Roster Contract

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The post Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Set To Clash For Exclusive Pure Gold Title In Historic British Heavyweight Battle first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

The main event bout between Chimaev and Strickland has particularly piqued interest, given the history behind both fighters. Now, let’s take a look at the full fight card and other details about UFC 328.

How to watch

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the upcoming UFC 328 live on TNT Sports. The early prelims are expected to begin around 11 PM BST, while the main card will likely start at 3 AM BST on Sunday.

Viewers in the United States can catch UFC 328 live on Paramount +. The early prelims are expected around 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT, while the main card should begin at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT.

Main Event

Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t stepped into the UFC Octagon since winning the middleweight belt back in UFC 319. The fighter is undefeated and is looking forward to continuing his streak and settling his bad blood against Strickland.

Sean Strickland, in his last bout, beat Anthony Hernandez and proved why he’s the best in the division to challenge the Russian. Going into the fight, both fighters have shared multiple verbal exchanges, which have made it entertaining.

Chimaev is well known for relentless wrestling, which he uses to dominate his opponents for five rounds. Despite being the underdog, Strickland believes he can counter those takedowns and beat the ‘Borz’.

Full Fight Card

Main Card

• Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland – Middleweight title bout
• Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira – Flyweight title bout
• Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta – Heavyweight
• Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley – Welterweight
• King Green vs Jeremy Stephens – Lightweight

Preliminary card

• Patricio Pitbull vs Aaron Pico – Featherweight
• Kevin Holland vs Randy Brown – Welterweight
• Mateusz Gamrot vs Esteban Ribovics – Lightweight
• Tatiana Suarez vs Lupita Godinez – Women’s Strawweight
• MarQuel Mederos vs Chris Padilla – Lightweight
• Kelvin Gastelum vs Vicente Luque – Middleweight
• Charles Radtke vs Francisco Prado – Welterweight

READ MORE: Elbrus Osmanov Eyes Next Move After Earning ONE Championship Main Roster Contract

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The post UFC 328: Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Event Details and Full Fight Card first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Khabib Nurmagomedov put Dagestan on the map and became a global superstar, especially after his fight with Conor McGregor. The fighter also met Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 and has maintained a good relationship with him.

Recently, top UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan talked about how Putin helped Khabib Nurmagomedov build his gym. According to the fighter, any top Russian athlete gets help from the government in creating infrastructure and expanding.

However, Khabib Nurmagomedov denied such claims immediately by commenting on the video. “This is absolutely not true. No one ever paid for my bills or built gyms for me,” wrote Khabib Nurmagomedov via Instagram.

Previously, UFC CEO Dana White had confirmed that after the McGregor fight, Putin gave Nurmagomedov $20 million worth of property. And there were reports about other influencial individual in the Middle East.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov explains what’s wrong with the current UFC

Despite his retirement, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been busy coaching and helping his fighters to become champions. Islam Makhachev, Usman, and Umar Nurmagomedov have become huge names in the current MMA scene.

Russian fighters have definitely dominated the top MMA promotions in the world; however, Nurmagomedov does have some complaints regarding UFC.

According to the former lightweight champion, UFC focuses too much on flashy fighters and doens’t promote fighters who are quiet and don’t trash talk. “I don’t like this. They need somebody who talks, drinks, all this stuff. This is sport, best vs best. Not like best dancer, best haircut, or who has the most followers. It has to be fair,” said Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have often complained about how UFC delayed their title opportunity because they were considered boring. On the other hand, fighters who participate in trash talking, like Sean O’Malley, Paddy Pimblett, etc., often get pushed by the promotion.

READ MORE: Jake Paul Issues Massive MMA Challenge to Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov

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The post Did Russian President Vladimir Putin Help MMA Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov Build His World-Class Gym? first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Khamzat Chimaev enters UFC 328 defending his championship after defeating Dricus Du Plessis and capturing gold at UFC 319 previously. His long-standing rivalry against Sean Strickland has intensified recently, transforming their upcoming encounter into a highly anticipated grudge fight.

Ahead of their massive championship clash, Strickland repeatedly expressed strong resentment toward Chimaev through interviews and press conferences. During one viral interview, the outspoken American shocked MMA fans after making controversial comments.

“I’m gonna pull my gun out and shoot him… If you come up to me with three goat f*cker. Chechnyans that don’t speak English, I’m gonna pull my gun, and I’m gonna shoot each and every one of you,” said Sean Strickland via UFC Media Day.

Sean Strickland is well known for using guns, sharing videos online, and carrying guns in the gym. In a recent video, he was seen showing former UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou his gun in the gym. On the other hand, he has always been critical of Khamzat Chimaev’s relationship with the Russian warlord and crypto controversy.

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Khamzat Chimaev warns Sean Strickland before title clash

Khamzat Chimaev is regarded as one of the most dominant and aggressive champions of the current UFC roster. The fighter is undefeated, and his wrestling is too overwhelming for his opponents to survive.

However, according to Sean Strickland, he has the takedown defence to defend against the ‘Borz’ and bring the belt back to America. Given their ongoing exchanges on social media, the champion recently mocked Strickland in an interview.

“What’s your reaction when you see a clown in a circus? My friends confronted Sean once about his talk, and he said he’s only doing it to get the fight. I don’t like fake people,” said Khamzat Chimaev via Adam Zubayraev.

Following the shooting comments from Strickland, Chimaev has responded strongly, claiming that New Jersey is his home due to the Muslim community. According to the Russian, Strickland is a loudmouth and is doing all this just to create hype for the fight.

READ MORE: Jake Paul Issues Massive MMA Challenge to Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov

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The post “I’m Gonna Pull My Gun”- Sean Strickland Sparks Controversy With Threat Aimed At Khamzat Chimaev Before UFC 328 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.