Author: Anton Tabuena

Join us live for Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius.

Saturday night will have three big boxing events, with the evening ending with the biggest of them. Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will return after a year out, with the KO artist taking on Robert Helenius.

Wilder hasn’t fought since October 2021, when he badly lost to Tyson Fury. Helenius is 31-3, and the 38-year-old will come in as a pretty sizable underdog. The co-main is Caleb Plant, who was TKO’d by Canelo Alvarez last time out. He faces Anthony Dirrell.

Join us for live results starting with the prelims at 7 p.m. ET, and we’ll also have play-by-play of the main event. The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET, with Wilder’s walkout expected to happen around midnight. Videos and highlights will also be embedded throughout the event.

The Fox Sports PPV event is also available as a live stream on Fite TV, or on the embed below:

Full results:

Main Card (9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports PPV and FITE.tv)

Deontay Wilder vs. Robert Helenius

Round 1 – Wilder is significantly outweighed here. Wilder’s trying to move around early, but he still has that pretty awkward footwork. A few body shots from Helenius. Wilder misses on a wild haymaker. Left hook from Wilder, and Helenius pushes him to the ropes. Another body shot from Helenius. HUGE RIGHT HAND AND HELENIUS IS OUT IMMEDIATELY. FIGHT IS OVER QUICK! WOW.

Deontay Wilder KO’s Robert Helenius, R1.

Caleb Plant def. Anthony Dirrell by KO, R9

Frank Sanchez def. Carlos Negron TKO, R9

Emmanuel Rodriguez def. Gary Antonio Russell by technical decision, accidental head butt (100-90, 99-91, 97-93)

Prelims (FS1, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Vito Mielnicki Jr def. Limberth Ponce by Unanimous Decision (98-92, 99-91, 99-91)

Michel Rivera def. Jerry Perez by Unanimous Decision (79-72, 79-72, 80-71)

Gurgen Hovhannisyan def. Michael Coffie by TKO, R6

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Join us live for Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr. 2

Devin Haney picked apart Georges Kambosos Jr in his home country to win the undisputed lightweight titles. Kambosos triggered a rematch clause in the fight contract and here we are to do it all again just four months later.

The bout happens again in Australia, and will the hometown star in Kambosos find a way to win this time around? Or will Haney close the book and proceed to more intriguing match ups in this stacked division? I guess we are about to find out.

Join us for live results, starting with the undercard that will stream live on ESPN+ starting at 8 p.m. ET. The main event being broadcast on both ESPN and ESPN+, with the Haney and Kambosos walkouts expected to start around 10:30 p.m. ET.

Full results:

Main event (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN+)

Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr

Undercard (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+, ESPN and ESPN Deportes)

Jason Moloney vs. Nawaphon Kaikanha

Andrew Moloney vs. Norbelto Jimenez

Cherneka Johnson vs. Susie Ramadan

Nobuyuki Sakakibara wants to “focus on North America.”

Floyd Mayweather fought for the second time in RIZIN last September, which was technically an exhibition that ended up with another knocked out Japanese star. Former PRIDE and now RIZIN head Noboyuki Sakakibara expressed interest in bringing Mayweather back, and he already has a high-profile opponent in mind: Nate Diaz.

“Nick and Nate, they both have a great personality, their fighting style is very exciting, and we’ve known them since the PRIDE days,” Sakakibara told MMA Mania. “We had Nick fight in PRIDE before and we’ve known them from way back. So, if we were to do something with Floyd again, we always have to talk about an opponent.

“We do think we’re at a point where we can’t just only focus on the Japanese market anymore,” he continued. “We have to target the international audience. So, with that said, Floyd’s opponent doesn’t have to be a Japanese fighter anymore. It’s just one possibility thinking about the future. Not only Floyd’s opponent, but Nate Diaz as an individual has a great amount of character, fight style, and a great following internationally. So, as an individual, he would definitely be somebody we’d be interested to be talking to.”

Diaz recently completed the final bout on his UFC contract, but will still need to clear the UFC’s exclusive negotiation and matching periods before he’s truly a free agent. Diaz won’t have a shortage of suitors, but Sakakibara believes that Mayweather match up is the fight to make.

“It’s always nice to show the Mayweather exhibition challenges and whatever we can do to exceed people’s expectations, that’s the goal in terms of announcing a fight,” Sakakibara said. “Whatever gathers attention, surprises people, is what we want to shoot for. With that said, it would be interesting to start talking to Nate and bring up the idea to Floyd.

“Nate Diaz might even have a chance of beating Floyd, you know?” he said. “And for us to promote that ‘what if’ factor is definitely something that we need to promote for these exhibitions against Floyd. Making the people think maybe … that ‘if’ factor, Nate Diaz can bring all of that, so, we do think it’s a great idea.”

Interestingly enough, while Sakakibara says he really wants to “focus on the North American market,” he also recently met with Bellator President Scott Coker, who he has co-promoted events with in the past.

Both promoters teased a year end collaboration and a “big surprise” after they met in Hawaii.

“Working on some big business for Bellator MMA and RIZIN at the end of the year. Looking forward to sharing details soon,” Coker wrote.

“I’m back in Hawaii to meet Scott for final negotiations and adjustments before the end of the year,” Sakakibara tweeted in Japanese. “Please look forward to the big surprise that will be released.”

Watch highlights from Alistair Overeem vs Badr Hari 3.

Well over a decade since their first two fights, Alistair Overeem and Badr Hari finally settled their score and completed their trilogy.

In their first meeting at Dynamite 2008, Overeem pulled off a huge upset by knocking out Hari in the very first round. Their second meeting was a year later, in the 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix semi-final round, with Hari getting revenge and badly dropping Overeem twice and securing a TKO with the two knockdown rule.

The hulking figure dubbed as “Ubereem” went on an incredible tear holding multiple belts in both kickboxing and MMA in that era. For their main event bout at Glory Collision 4 several years later though, the now 42-year-old UFC veteran came in as an underdog to the 37-year-old Hari.

Hari started out strong but Overeem secured an incredible comeback by knocking him down twice. The UFC vet ended up with a unanimous decision win to close out their rivalry.

Check below for highlights and videos of the kickboxing headliner from Glory Collision 4.

Tyjani Beztati def. Stoyan Koprivienski via Split Decision (48-47×3, 49-46×2)[Lightweight title]

Petchpanomrung def. Abraham Vidales via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 50-45×4) [Featherweight title]

Sergej Braun def. Michael Boapeah by Majority Decision (28-28×2, 29-27×2, 30-26)

Sergej Maslobojev def. Tarik Khbabez by Split Decision (48-47×2, 47-48×2, 49-46) [Light heavyweight title]

Tiffany van Soest def. Sarah Moussaddak via Unanimous Decision (48-47×4, 49-46) [Super bantamweight title]

Alistair Overeem def. Badr Hari via Unanimous Decision (29-26, 28-27×4)

Everything you need to know about Glory Collision 4: Alistair Overeem vs Badr Hari 3.

Alistair Overeem and Badr Hari will complete their trilogy and rivalry that spans 13 years. The heavyweight kickboxers will battle to headline Glory Collision 4.

Overeem and Hari are 1-1 with each other, with their first match happening back at the end of 2008 in Japan. Overeem pulled off a huge upset in their original meeting, knocking out Hari in the very first round. Their second meeting was a year later, in the 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix semi-final round, with Hari getting revenge and badly dropping Overeem twice and securing a TKO with the two knockdown rule.

Hari is 37 and will be coming in as the favorite, while the UFC veteran is Overeem is now 42.

Join us for this third meeting, with the Glory Collision 4 event starting at 12:30 p.m. ET with a free prelims live stream on the embed below. The main card will start at 2 p.m. ET, and it can be viewed on an online PPV on Glory’s official website.

Main event walkouts for Overeem and Hari are expected to happen sometime around 4:30 p.m. ET.

The full Glory Collision fight card and results can be seen below:

Main Card:

Alistair Overeem def. Badr Hari via Unanimous Decision (29-26, 28-27×4)

Round 1: Both men fired a lot of punches. Later in the round Hari’s low kicks came into play. Nothing decisive but I score it 10-9 for Hari.

Round 2: Hari was leading early but Overeem hurt him with an uppercut to steal the round. 10-9 Reem, 19-19 overall.

Round 3: Overeem knocked Hari down with a right and just mauled Hari following the count. 2 knockdowns wins the fight for Overeem.

Tiffany van Soest def. Sarah Moussaddak via Unanimous Decision (48-47×4, 49-46) [Super bantamweight title]

Sergej Maslobojev def. Tarik Khbabez by Split Decision (48-47×2, 47-48×2, 49-46) [Light heavyweight title]

Tyjani Beztati def. Stoyan Koprivienski via Split Decision (48-47×3, 49-46×2)[Lightweight title]

Petchpanomrung def. Abraham Vidales via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 50-45×4) [Featherweight title]

Levi Rigters def. Kevin Tariq Osaro by Unanimous Decision (29-28×5)

Prelims:

Cesar Almeida def. Serkan Ozcaglayan by Unanimous Decision (29-26×5)

Donegi Abena def. Felipe Micheletti by Unanimous Decision (30-27×5)

Sergej Braun def. Michael Boapeah by Majority Decision (28-28×2, 29-27×2, 30-26)

Tom Aspinall hopes Nate Diaz makes as much money as possible.

We still don’t know what Nate Diaz will do next, but as he completed his UFC contract and tests the open market, there’s a lot of people rooting for his success. That includes heavyweight rising star Tom Aspinall, who believes Diaz and other long term UFC veterans deserve massive paydays.

“I want to see Diaz make as much money as he can because he deserves it,” Aspinall told Midnite. “As far as I know, his contract with the UFC is up and he’s not resigned.

“These veterans who have had as many fights as they’ve had – I want to see them make as much money as they can because they deserve it. They deserve not to have to work again.”

As for what’s next, Diaz spoke about moving into other sports such as boxing or jiujitsu, but Aspinall says he wants to see the Conor McGregor trilogy instead.

“I’d like to see Conor versus Nate Diaz for the third time, I’d love to see that. I’m a big Diaz fan and he looked great in his last fight. I think that would definitely be a fight that everybody would like to see.

“I think Diaz would win the third one. He’s looked very consistent recently, even though he’s taken a couple of losses, he’s looked good in the losses and Conor’s not looked himself, to be honest, but you never know.

“The layoff might do him good. The injury might do him good. He might come back refocused and it would be a very interesting fight – but I think Diaz wins.”