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.

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The issue centers around a federal tax lien worth over $7.25 million. The IRS filed this lien in Las Vegas, linking it to unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2023. A tax lien gives the government legal authority to claim assets or property if the debt remains unsettled, making this a serious financial and legal situation.

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What the IRS action means for Floyd Mayweather

Beyond the financial pressure, there is a bigger concern. The IRS has reportedly notified Mayweather that his U.S. passport could be revoked if the outstanding amount is not cleared. For someone who frequently travels for events, appearances, and exhibition fights, this could become a major obstacle.

Travel restrictions would not just be an inconvenience, they could directly affect his ability to participate in international events. Any planned appearances outside the United States could face uncertainty if the situation is not resolved quickly.

A familiar issue resurfacing

Despite being one of the highest-earning athletes in history, Mayweather has dealt with tax-related issues before. This latest development adds to a growing list of financial complications that have surfaced in recent times.

The amount involved might seem small compared to his career earnings, but federal tax matters carry serious consequences regardless of the figure. Legal enforcement from the IRS is structured in a way that ensures compliance, especially in high-profile cases.

What happens next?

At this point, the situation remains unresolved. Mayweather still has options, including settling the debt in full or arranging a structured payment plan. However, until that happens, the possibility of further action, including passport restrictions, remains real.

For a fighter whose career has been built on discipline and control, this situation presents a different kind of challenge. How quickly it gets resolved could determine not just his financial standing, but also his ability to stay active on the global stage.

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

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Alvarez, one of boxing’s biggest names, hasn’t stepped into the ring since his loss to Terence Crawford last year. That defeat cost him his undisputed super middleweight crown and was followed by elbow surgery, forcing him to take time away from competition. Now fully recovered, he returns with a clear objective — to climb back to the top and reclaim championship gold.

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A comeback for Canelo with everything on the line

Canelo Alvarez enters this fight with a record of 63-3-2, including 39 knockouts. While his resume is filled with elite victories, the loss to Crawford was a reminder that even the best face turning points. This upcoming bout feels like one of those moments where legacy and future direction meet.

Standing in his way is an undefeated and dangerous opponent. Mbilli, with a record of 29-0 and 24 knockouts, has been steadily building his reputation in the division. His last outing, a split draw against Lester Martinez, may not have been a clear win, but it still kept his momentum intact. Following Crawford’s retirement in December, Mbilli was elevated from interim to full WBC champion, setting the stage for this major opportunity.

What makes this matchup interesting is the contrast in experience and trajectory. Alvarez has been at the top for years, facing and beating some of the biggest names in boxing. Mbilli, on the other hand, is still rising, hungry to prove himself against one of the sport’s most established stars.

The Saudi Arabia setting adds another layer to the event, continuing the region’s growing involvement in hosting blockbuster boxing cards. While an official date hasn’t been confirmed yet, September is the expected window, and anticipation is already building.

For Alvarez, this is more than just another fight. It’s a chance to show that he still belongs at the very top. For Mbilli, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime to make a statement. If everything goes as planned, this could be one of the defining fights of the year.

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

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The 27-year-old southpaw makes his featherweight Muay Thai debut tonight against Elbrus Osmanov in the main event of The Inner Circle, live in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The weight move is not a retreat — it is a recalibration, and one Ratchasiesan believes will make him more dangerous.

“Moving up to featherweight definitely had to do with my last fight where I struggled with the weight, but there were other factors too,” he said. “My body just can’t stay at the old weight anymore. I’ve fought at that weight for years, but now, it’s like my body is fighting back. I’m a puncher, so when I fight at a weight where I feel comfortable and healthy, my natural power comes back. My punches will definitely be heavier this time.”

The timing of this debut adds an extra layer of purpose. A majority decision loss to PTT Apichart Farm last December, when Ratchasiesan was building genuine momentum toward a contract, reset the clock and sharpened his focus. He returned in March to knock out Uzair Ismoiljonov in the third round at ONE Friday Fights 147, then immediately began preparing for the most significant fight of his career at featherweight.

Osmanov presents a precise and specific set of problems. The Russian’s hand speed and volume output make trading at close range a calculated risk, and Ratchasiesan has built a game plan around removing the qualities that make Osmanov difficult to catch.

“I’m going to focus on heavy strikes. If he’s too fast and stays out of reach, I’ll start by chopping down his legs. If I take out his movement, his speed won’t matter anymore. Once his legs are hurt, he’ll slow down, and that’s when we’ll trade,” he said. “Plus, I’ve been fighting Muay Thai my whole life. I have more experience with the full range of weapons, especially in the clinch with elbows. If I find the chance to land one, I definitely will.”

The contract is the prize that runs beneath all of it. Ratchasiesan is 27, has been in and around the contract conversation for years, and understands clearly what tonight represents — and what another missed opportunity would cost.

“My goal for this fight is a knockout because I really want that contract. I had a chance when I fought with PTT, but I missed out, and now that I’m getting older, I can’t let these opportunities slip away again,” he said.

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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.

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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.

The 24-year-old Russian striker headlines The Inner Circle on Friday, May 1, taking on two-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Ratchasiesan Laochokcharoen in featherweight Muay Thai, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

The move up to featherweight has removed the weight-cutting burden that Osmanov believes was compressing not just his body but his mind in previous camps. Fighting closer to his natural size, he says he feels sharper, fresher, and more dangerous than ever.

“I feel like I have more power because I eat well, sleep well, and my mind feels good,” Osmanov said. “When you cut a lot of weight, your mind gets stressed, and your body too. But now it’s different. I feel fresher, and I really like it.”

Ratchasiesan is a credible test of that freshness. The 27-year-old carries a 76-21 record and a punishing southpaw left hand that has finished opponents at every level he has competed at, most recently scoring a third-round knockout over Uzair Ismoiljonov at ONE Friday Fights 147 in March. His durability is equally well-established — getting him out of a fight early requires a precise answer rather than a general approach.

Osmanov has one. After studying Ratchasiesan’s movement and defensive tendencies, he has identified the body as the point of attack and crescent moon kicks as the delivery mechanism.

“In my imagination, it will be a knockout in the first round. A body knockout. I will attack the body because he has a strong chin, really strong. But the body is different,” Osmanov said. “I will use crescent moon kicks — it’s a new weapon.”

His game plan tonight also deliberately expands beyond the boxing-heavy approach he used against Saemapetch Fairtex, which he views as too one-dimensional for a fighter of Ratchasiesan’s experience.

“This time it will be more mixed — punches, different kicks, more freestyle work,” he said. “My arsenal is bigger. I have elbows, back kicks, spinning elbows, everything. For me, he’s too slow.”

A statement win tonight moves Osmanov firmly into ONE’s featherweight Muay Thai conversation — and sets up the rematch he has been chasing since his lone promotional defeat.

“My dream fight is a rematch with Yuki Yoza. I want to fight him in Japan, at ONE SAMURAI,” he said. “I want the rematch with him in Japan.”

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The post Elbrus Osmanov Targets Body Knockout Against Ratchasiesan Laochokcharoen At The Inner Circle On May 1 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

SENSHI 31: Gladiators sees another thrilling one-night lightweight kickboxing Grand Prix take place inside the Ancient Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Saturday, 30th May. 

Following tradition, the tournament’s format sees eight lightweight strikers enter, with each competitor either moving on to the next round or being eliminated with a single defeat. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the victor must overcome three world-class opponents in one night to be crowned the ruler of SENSHI’s 70kg Grand Prix. 

The quarterfinals pack a punch from the get-go. First, Angelo Volpe scraps with Samo Petje, Aissam Chadid meets Brazil’s Bruno Gazani, and Japanese star Hirokatsu Miyagi takes on the Bulgarian dynamo Dragomir Petrov.

In addition, two reserve contests will be on hand in the tournament as Maxence Vignais clashes with Wiktor Kolaja, while Andres Casado takes on Mihail Velchovski.

After the quarterfinals have been settled, the semi-finals will go down before the highly-anticipated finale takes centrestage in front of the bustling crowd inside the Ancient Theatre.

Meanwhile, SENSHI 31 will also offer up three super fights. England’s Bart Horvath clashes with Bulgaria’s own Atanas Bozhilov in 75kg kickboxing. That’s quickly followed by heavyweight slugfests as Mantas Rimdeika and Thomas Bridgewater go to war, as Daniel Dinev and Benjamin Adegbuyi collide in 95+kg kickboxing action.

The full card for SENSHI 31 is as follows:

Lightweight Grand Prix:

Angelo Volpe vs. Samo Petje 

Aissam Chadid vs. Bruno Gazani 

Hirokatsu Miyagi vs. Dragomir Petrov 

Zehao Zhang vs. Marian Lapusneanu 

Maxence Vignais vs. Wiktor Kolaja

Mihail Velchovski vs. Andres Casado 

Super Fights:

KWU FULL CONTACT -75 kg: Bart Horvath vs. Atanas Bozhilov 

KWU FULL CONTACT 95+ kg: Mantas Rimdeika vs. Thomas Bridgewater

KWU FULL CONTACT 95+ kg: Daniel Dinev vs. Benjamin Adegbuyi 

Tickets can be purchased online at Eventim.bg, with prices ranging from £18/€21 to £44/€51. VIP packages are also still available. 

For more information, visit: https://senshi.com/tickets-for-the-senshi-31-gladiators-fights-in-plovdiv-are-now-on-sale/

READ MORE: Conor McGregor Expands Beverage Empire With Launch Of New Energy Drink MAC ENERGY

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The post SENSHI 31 Full Fight Card Announced For 30th May first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Since his last fight, McGregor has ventured into several businesses, including his newly launched energy drink brand called MAC ENERGY. The announcement regarding the launch of MAC ENERGY officially took place earlier this week during the Beverage Forum 2026 held in California.

According to McGregor, the drink’s main selling point is the inclusion of BHB ketones linked to alternative energy production mechanisms naturally. He claimed the beverage is the only energy drink containing five grams of BHB and stated the ingredient setup remains patented.

“Hey folks, I have founded my latest venture….while all the sleeping giants in the category have just been caught off guard by the MAC! They can do nothing about it! MAC ENERGY IS HERE! Enjoy, Beverage Forum, California! That’s how it’s done!” Conor McGregor via X.

Everything about Conor McGregor’s MAC ENERGY

MAC ENERGY contains 200mg natural caffeine alongside 250mg Cognizin Citicoline, a widely recognised ingredient supporting focus and cognitive performance naturally. The beverage reportedly includes between 2 and 5 grams of goBHB ketones, depending on various published sources available online.

MAC ENERGY also features a completely zero-sugar and low-calorie formula designed for consumers seeking healthier beverage alternatives daily. The brand is currently being marketed simultaneously as an energy drink, focus-enhancing nootropic beverage, and overall performance boosting supplement worldwide.

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Early reports surrounding MAC ENERGY have mentioned six different launch flavours expected to become available during the brand’s official release worldwide. The reported launch flavours include Proper Punch, Forbidden Green Apple, Honey Cream Soda, Macberry Lemonade, Orange Creamsicle, and Blackberry Lychee variants.

Conor McGregor continues to expand his beverage business

Conor McGregor steadily conquered beverage businesses after Proper No. Twelve whiskey exploded commercially, later expanding further through Forged Irish Stout. MAC ENERGY now pushes McGregor into the global energy drink market, which he described as a $90 billion industry.

The global energy drink market is already overcrowded with powerhouse companies like PRIME, Monster, Celsius, Ghost, C4, and Red Bull. Despite the market already being flooded with established competitors, many fans believe Conor McGregor still possesses enough star power, mainstream popularity, and proven beverage business experience.

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The post Conor McGregor Expands Beverage Empire With Launch Of New Energy Drink MAC ENERGY first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Takeru finished his professional career 46-5, having come into Ariake Arena carrying the psychological weight of the 80-second knockout Rodtang had put on him at ONE 172 last March. What followed across five brutal rounds — two knockdowns in the second, a war in the fourth, and a definitive finish in the fifth — was a performance that left no doubt about the quality of the man who delivered it.

“We saw the best Takeru and the knockout,” Chatri said. “This is how I want Japan and the world to remember him. He overcame so much adversity and I have so much love and respect for him.”

That adversity was real and well-documented. Takeru had spoken publicly about the nightmares that plagued him in the weeks before the fight, about the fear of whether his body would hold up at all, and about his decision to accept whatever came rather than retreat from the challenge. He walked into his retirement bout terrified and walked out as a ONE World Champion. For Chatri, that arc defines what Takeru means to the sport.

The same fight that elevated Takeru left Rodtang on the wrong side of a fifth-round stoppage for only the second time in his career. The Thai superstar has defined ONE Championship’s flyweight division for years, and the loss to Takeru was the second defeat of his ONE striking career after falling to Superlek in 2023. Chatri acknowledged the difficulty of the moment for Rodtang while leaving the door open for what comes next.

“Of course, very sad for Rodtang. I know he’s heartbroken,” Chatri said. “But he’s a World Champion fighter. If he recommits himself to training, learning, growing, and if he’s hungry again, he can be on top of the world.”

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

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The post ONE Boss Chatri Sityodtong Pays Tribute To Takeru And Sends Message To Rodtang After ONE SAMURAI 1 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

“Every day I was having nightmares about being knocked out, losing consciousness, or breaking my leg,” Takeru said. “I was terrified of disappointing everyone’s expectations.”

He walked into Ariake Arena on April 29 carrying all of it — the fear, the doubt, the weight of what a loss in his final fight would mean — and delivered arguably the greatest performance of his career. A fifth-round TKO of Rodtang gave Takeru the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title and the ending his career deserved.

The fear never fully left him, even as he controlled the first round, even as he dropped Rodtang twice in the second with left hooks, even as the fight descended into an all-out war in the fourth that tested everything he had left. He had made his peace with the consequences before the bell rang.

“My biggest anxiety was whether my body would even hold up enough to stand in the ring,” he said. “It was my last fight. I was prepared to die rather than fall, so I just took the punches.”

That willingness to absorb in order to find the finish, to walk through Rodtang’s left hands and keep hunting, defined every exchange of the contest. Rodtang hurt him. Takeru kept coming. In the fifth, a right hand buckled the Thai’s legs, a left hook followed, and another right sent him to the canvas. When Rodtang tried to rise and the ropes could no longer hold him upright, the referee intervened.

Takeru finished his professional career 46-5, collected a 15 million yen performance bonus, and walked out of Ariake Arena as a ONE World Champion. The relief that followed was as raw as anything that came before it.

“So right now, my overriding feeling is just, ‘I’m glad I came back alive,'” he said.

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The post Takeru Admits Greatest Fears Before Stopping Rodtang At ONE SAMURAI 1: “Every Day I Was Having Nightmares” first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.