Author: Dan Hiergesell

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Now that Dominick Reyes has officially claimed the next shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones the undefeated contender can breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Reyes, 29, was hoping to parlay his recent knockout victory over former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman this past October into a future bout with Jones, but fellow light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson, who is coming off a TKO win over Johnny Walker, was trying to spoil those plans.

Luckily for Reyes, UFC president Dana White stuck to his guns, ignored Anderson’s cry for a title fight, and awarded the next shot at Jones to the man known as “Devastator.” Reyes is obviously happy with the promotion’s decision, but the young contender knew nothing was certain until the contracts were signed.

“You never really know, to be honest with you,” Reyes told MMA Junkie. “You can only control things you can control. That’s all I really focused on. I can control what I do in this fight. I can control how I live my life. I can control how I react. But I can’t control what other people do or say.

“I tried not to concern myself too much with the goings-ons of other people. I just focused on what I can do and fight the best I possibly can.”

Reyes, who has amassed a 6-0 record since his Octagon debut back in 2017, isn’t the biggest of stars at 205 pounds, but he remains one of the best finishers. So while other contenders try to talk their way into stardom and an eventual UFC title shot, Reyes has let his fighting do the talking.

“I’m a good fighter, I’m a good athlete,” Reyes said. “I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m in the upper echelon of the fighters. For me, the hard part in my career has been finding that thing that makes me relatable to the fans. Finding that thing that is going to get people really excited about. I’ve found that knocking people out helps.”

While Reyes and Jones have remained somewhat cordial over the past month, that may change leading up to their fight early next year. Reyes has already been ridiculed by Jones for reaching out and showing “fake respect,” but the undefeated contender seems unfazed by the champ’s claims.

“I think his comments are that he’s just confused,” Reyes said. “He doesn’t know how to take me. He hasn’t met me, I’ve never met him. He doesn’t know whether I’m being cocky or what. I have a tremendous amount of a respect for Jon – a huge amount of respect for Jon. Especially in the cage as a fighter and as a champion. As a person? Not as much.

“But he’s still Jon Jones. He’s still the greatest ever. Pound-for-pound number one, right now. If I fight him, it’s huge. It’s this huge opportunity to fight the best fighter ever. I’m aware of what he is. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. It doesn’t mean when I get in the cage I don’t have a tremendous amount of respect for him. We’re fighting. You’re not my friend.

Reyes continued, “I don’t care – I don’t care who you are or what you did before that. This moment is all that matters and your past means zero to me.”

Jones vs. Reyes is scheduled to take place on Feb. 8 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Stick with Mania for more ‘Jones vs. Reyes’ fight card news.

Photo by Gene Blevins/MB Media/Getty Images

Undefeated heavyweight sensation Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO) is set to defend his WBC title later tonight (Sat., Nov. 23, 2019) live on FOX PPV from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, against veteran contender Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO).

This is one of the biggest matchups of the year for boxing as Wilder and Ortiz turned in an instant classic last year in Brooklyn, New York. Wilder ended up winning that fight via 10th-round TKO, but had trouble with Ortiz’s technical approach.

Leading into the reboot, both heavyweights have much to gain. Wilder has the chance to get another win over Ortiz and set up a rematch with Tyson Fury sometime next year. For Ortiz, this is his chance to exact revenge and score the next big upset in heavyweight boxing.

But when exactly can fight fans expect “Bronze Bomber” and Ortiz to step inside of the ring for their anticipated rematch?

Boxing is always tricky to time given the lengthy in-event promotions and introductions, but Wilder and Ortiz should begin their respective walks to the ring sometime around midnight 12:00 a.m. ET (subject to change so keep it tuned into Mania for any updates). That will be right after WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz takes on Miguel Flores for the vacant WBA super featherweight title in the co-main event.

Make sure you don’t miss the action as Wilder tries to solidify his ranking as boxing’s best heavyweight and create even more hype around his potential rematch with Fury.

MMAmania will have LIVE coverage of the main event, which caps off a 9:00 pm Eastern FOX pay-per-view.

Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Surging WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO) will look to solidify his status as the baddest man on the planet this evening (Sat., Nov. 23, 2019) live on FOX PPV from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he runs it back with Cuban contender Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO).

This will be a rematch from their first encounter back in March of 2018. That fight took place inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and produced one of the most memorable finishes of the year.

After getting outclassed on the feet early into the fight, Wilder was forced to make up ground in the later rounds. “Bronze Bomber” did just that as he launched his patented looping power punches and ended up catching Ortiz with a 10th-round TKO. It was the second-latest finish of Wilder’s professional boxing career.

Check out the full fight video replay above courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

Not only did this win keep Wilder’s undefeated professional boxing record in tact but it helped set up his late-2018 clash with Tyson Fury. “Bronze Bomber” will now have another chance to take out Ortiz and lock down a rematch with “Gypsy King” next year.

MMAmania will have LIVE coverage of the main event, which caps off a 9:00 pm Eastern FOX pay-per-view.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov is in control of his own MMA future. When you’re 28-0 and the reigning UFC lightweight champion you tend to have that type of freedom.

With the ball in his court, “Eagle” is hoping to land in Brooklyn early next year for a long-awaited clash with Tony Ferguson. The two lightweights have tried to come together a total of four times in the past, but injuries and botched weight cuts have prevented the fight from ever happening.

Now, after taking out Dustin Poirier via third-round submission back at UFC 242, Khabib is focusing on another title defense against “El Cucuy.” While nothing is set in stone, it’s likely that Nurmagomedov gets the date and location he’s asking for.

As you may have guessed, Khabib is not looking to return to Las Vegas for the fight.

“Even if they (Vegas) apologize or not, we found a new venue for the fight,” said Nurmagomedov in a recent interview in Uzbekistan (shown below). “It’s going to be in Brooklyn most likely, I’m not sure about the date yet. We’re still discussing it with the UFC but it looks like it will happen at the beginning of April.”

Nurmagomedov, 31, is unwilling to fight in Las Vegas again after his scuffle with Team McGregor at UFC 229 back in 2018. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) ended up coming down pretty hard on the Russian champion for his role in the infamous post-fight brawl, handing him a nine-month suspension and $500,000 fine. After that type of treatment no wonder “Eagle” doesn’t want to fly over Sin City anytime soon.

If Nurmagomedov sticks to his guns and isn’t swayed by UFC officials to have his next title fight in Vegas, Brooklyn is about to get the fight it was expecting at UFC 223 in early 2018. Nurmagomedov was supposed to take on Ferguson for the vacant UFC lightweight championship, but a freak injury during fight week nixed the matchup and Al Iaquinta stepped in on short notice. Khabib would end up defeating Iaquinta via unanimous decision to claim the 155-pound title.

Only time will tell how this entire booking situation plays out, but at least all parties involved are trying to get this fight done and not getting trapped into a Conor McGregor rematch.

Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Reigning WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO) is expected to make a huge payday later tonight (Sat., Nov. 23, 2019) live on FOX PPV from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as he defends his title against familiar foe and perennial contender Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO).

According to The Athletic and ESPN, Wilder is guaranteed to bank $20 million for his rematch with Ortiz. Wilder’s official fight purse stands at $3 million, but “Bronze Bomber” is setup to earn nearly seven times that number after PPV buys, ticket and merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals are calculated.

As for Ortiz, who is making his PPV debut tonight in Las Vegas, he is expected to earn a $1.5 million fight purse, but his guaranteed number is closer to $7 million. That would be a career high for the 40-year-old Cuban veteran, which is crazy considering Ortiz has been fighting professionally for nine years.

Not too shabby for both heavyweights. And if their rematch is anything like their first encounter back in 2018, which ended with a 10th-round TKO by Wilder, these payouts will be well worth it.

Check out the complete ‘Wilder vs. Ortiz 2’ main card salaries below (via ESPN):

Deontay Wilder: $3 million (guaranteed $20 million)
vs. Luis Ortiz: $1.5 million (guaranteed $7 million)

Leo Santa Cruz: $750,000 (guaranteed $2 million)
vs. Miguel Flores: $100,000

Brandon Figueroa: $200,000
vs. Julio Ceja: $50,000

MMAmania will have LIVE coverage of the main event, which caps off a 9:00 pm Eastern FOX pay-per-view.

Photo by Gene Blevins/MB Media/Getty Images

It all goes down later tonight (Sat., Nov. 23, 2019) live on FOX PPV from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO) puts his title on the line against veteran contender Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO) in a highly-anticipated main event rematch.

In case you forgot, Wilder and Ortiz fought once before back in March of 2018. Wilder really had to dig deep in that fight to battle through some early adversity, but “Bronze Bomber” was able to claw his way back and score a massive TKO victory over Ortiz in the 10th round. It is the second-latest stoppage in Wilder’s storied career, having finished Johann Duhaupas via 11th-round TKO back in 2015.

Needless to say, Wilder’s first win over Ortiz was massive. Not only did it prove that Wilder can rebound from early troubles to take out a true veteran heavyweight of the sport, but it paved way for “Bronze Bomber’s” epic matchup with Tyson Fury in late-2018, which ended in the well-known draw. Those course of events have helped shaped the boxing landscape over the past year and brings us to Wilder’s awaited rematch with Ortiz this weekend in Vegas.

Be sure to catch all the action later tonight as Wilder attempts to extend his unbeaten record and solidify himself as the best heavyweight boxer in the world today. Check out below for all the ways to view the “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” fight card in its entirety:

Start Times

• Saturday, November 23, 2019 from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
• FS2 “Prelims” undercard begins at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
• FOX PPV main card begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” main event begins around 12:00 a.m. ET (Sun) / 9:00 p.m. PT (Sat)

Online Viewing

• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” PPV main card can be viewed through the FOX Sports web site for $74.99.

Television Viewing

• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” undercard can be viewed via FS2.
• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” PPV main card can be purchased for $74.99 through local cable and satellite providers. Check listings HERE.
• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” PPV main card can also be purchased for $74.99 through the FOX Sports App. Find out more information HERE.
• FOX Sports App is accessible via Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, LG Smart TV, Samsung TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, or Xbox.

Mobile Viewing

• “Wilder vs. Ortiz 2” PPV main card will be accessible through the FOX Sports App via Android, Amazon Fire, and Apple.

Fight Card

FOX Sports PPV main card:

Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO) vs Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO), rematch, heavyweight, 12 rounds

Leo Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19 KO) vs Miguel Flores (24-2, 12 KO), super featherweight, 12 rounds

Brandon Figueroa (20-0, 15 KO) vs Julio Ceja (32-4, 28 KO), super bantamweight, 12 rounds

Leduan Barthelemy (15-0-1, 7 KO) vs Eduardo Ramirez (22-2-3, 9 KO), rematch, super featherweight, 10 rounds

FS2 “Prelims” undercard:

Viktor Slavinskyi (10-0-1, 6 KO) vs Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-1-1, 8 KO), super featherweight, 8 rounds

Marsellos Wilder (5-1, 2 KO) vs Dustin Long (2-1-2, 2 KO), cruiserweight, 6 rounds

Swing: Shon Mondragon (4-0, 2 KO) vs Juan Centeno (4-3-1, 1 KO), super bantamweight, 6 rounds

MMAmania will have LIVE coverage of the main event, which caps off a 9:00 pm Eastern FOX pay-per-view.