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Watch Pope Francis Bless, Autograph WBC Title

Boxing used to have the great white hope.
Now it has the great white pope, thanks to the recent support from Pope Francis. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman recently paid a visit to the head of the Catholic Church for a special bl…

Boxing used to have the great white hope.

Now it has the great white pope, thanks to the recent support from Pope Francis. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman recently paid a visit to the head of the Catholic Church for a special blessing ahead of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk title fight this weekend in Riyadh.

“Pope Francis has a foundation,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports. “I learned there was a program called Football with Values. I proposed to the Pope to do Boxing with Values. So he accepted, immediately embraced boxing. I brought the belt, he blessed the belt and he signed it.”

“[The Pope] signed one side [of the strap] and he said I must sign the other side otherwise this fighter is going to think I’m cheering for him and not the other,” Sulaiman continued. “[He] doesn’t have a favorite. He’s looking forward to May 18!”

Fury is the current WBC titleholder while Usyk carries the WBA, IBF, and WBO straps. Boxing has a different title for each of its governing bodies and this weekend’s “Ring of Fire” pay-per-view (PPV) in Riyadh (order it here) will (finally) unify them … barring a draw or some other wacky circumstance.

For the completed “Fury vs. Usyk” fight card and DAZN PPV lineup click here. For more boxing news and notes click here.

Ex-UFC fighter Brendan Schaub snaps back at Ronda Rousey’s ‘mind games’ accusation: ‘It was awful’

Brendan Schaub snapped back at Ronda Rousey after an excerpt from her latest book claimed that the ex-heavyweight standout…

Brendan Schaub snapped back at Ronda Rousey after an excerpt from her latest book claimed that the ex-heavyweight standout played “f*cked-up mind games” during their relationship.

Before Rousey married another former UFC heavyweight fighter, Travis Browne, ‘Rowdy’ dated Schaub before the two inevitably parted ways. Interestingly, Browne and Schaub would go on to fight one another inside the Octagon in December 2014.

Rousey, who recently released a new book titled Our Fight: A Memoir admitted to reveling in Browne’s decisive first-round finish of Schaub.

“When Travis knocked him out at the end of the first round, I didn’t think it could get any more gratifying,” Rousey wrote.

Rousey also accused Schaub of being insecure and playing mind games during their time together.

Responding to the accusations on a recent episode of his The Fighter and The Kid podcast with Bryan Callen, Schaub denied Rousey’s claim, suggesting that if any mind games were being played, it was coming from her camp.

“But to bring it up 14 years later? I mean she has kids and it obviously worked out and like it’s just life, we weren’t a match so like when she says mind games, no it’s not mind games. The mind games came from, in all honesty, her camp like that was the trouble she had and that’s a whole other issue that she can address.

“I have nothing to do with that, I didn’t train at her camp, I don’t know the coach, I have nothing to do with that. I guess when she means mind games, that would mean it wasn’t a match so yeah and you were around during that time and you knew this. I’d be like ‘Dude, I don’t know what to do. Love the girl as a friend but when it came to that like dude, it’s just not, she’s not my person.’ I found my person” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Brendan Schaub reveals why he broke up with Ronda Rousey

Schaub also dished some details on the pair’s awkward split, insinuating that it was he who ultimately decided to end things with the women’s MMA pioneer.

“I had to have that conversation and it was awful,” Schaub added. “You just know. The last conversation, the last words I ever said to her, I just told her how I felt and it’s just not gonna work. Clearly, we’re both upset and I said ‘And you will never talk to me again, I know you and we will never talk again’, and we’ve never talked again.”

Two years after Brendan Schaub wrapped up his career following the loss to Browne, Ronda Rousey competed for the final time in mixed martial arts, suffering a brutal 48-second knockout loss to eventual two-division champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. ‘Rowdy’ has not strapped on the four-ounce gloves since.

Video – Mike Tyson terrifies reporter at Jake Paul presser over ‘Gimmick’ fight jab: ‘What did you just call me?’

Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared to scare a reporter during a press conference for his upcoming fight…

Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared to scare a reporter during a press conference for his upcoming fight against Jake Paul.

Tyson is set to return to the ring on July 20 against Jake Paul in a fight airing live on Netflix. It’s a fight that some fans are looking forward to, while others think it is a gimmick fight.

At the press conference, one fan called it a gimmick fight, which made Mike Tyson mad as he asked the reporter ‘what did you call me?’ and seemed to genuinely get angry.

“Age is not a determinant of strength, will or skill. It’s about character and conviction,” Tyson later said.

Boxing Mike Tyson to face Jake Paul in a professional

It was a heated exchange as Tyson was not a fan of the reporter calling him a gimmick, or an easy fight, which he seemed to imply by asking Jake Paul when he’s going to box a real fighter.

Mike Tyson guarantees violence Against Jake Paul

Although Mike Tyson is 57-years-old, he still has insane power and can knock anyone out.

However, the fight against Paul will only be two minute rounds, which Tyson says he asked for as he believes it will lead to violence.

“I wanted the shorter rounds because I wanted more action. If we only have two minutes, we’ll fight more,” Tyson said… “He was a new up-and-coming guy on the scene, and I like shaking the sports world to its core and I’m doing it now. It’s just something I want to do.”

Paul, meanwhile, is confident he has more power than Tyson and plans to prove that on July 20.

Mike Tyson — Mandatory Credit: Joe Scarnici – USA TODAY Sports

“I’m a natural born heavyweight. This is what I was born to do, to move up into this weight class. I’m going to show Mike who has more power because he’s underestimating me. I think everyone else is underestimating me and I believe that I hit harder. I know it’s going to be tough. I know I’m going to have to fight through adversity. I know I might even go to the canvas. I’m scared, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not about the fear stopping me. It’s about going into it, even though I am scared. That’s what true bravery is,” Paul said.

Paul is currently a -170 favorite to defeat Tyson who is a +130 underdog.

Video – UFC star Alex Pereira pranks his kids dressed as grizzly bear: ‘Always bringing that chama energy’

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira pulled a prank on his kids. Pereira had a fake bear in the…

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira pulled a prank on his kids.

Pereira had a fake bear in the house and when his kids walked downstairs, they stumbled and immediately ran in the other direction. Pereira was under the bear skid and it even made a sound that made his kids run away, and when they did, he got up and had a good laugh.

Alex Pereira tipped to enter GOAT debate with third title fight victory over Jon Jones UFC — Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports

Alex Pereira seemed to have a good laugh at the expense of his kids being scared thinking there is a real, live bear in their house.

Alex Pereira likely to face Jiri Prochazka next

Alex Pereira is coming off a first-round knockout win over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 to defend his light heavyweight title next time out.

Alex Pereira unsure if his legacy is better than Israel Adesanya's I won two title he tried to — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Pereira is now expected to rematch Jiri Prochazka next time out, who he beat by knockout in November to win the vacant light heavyweight title.

Speaking to the media at UFC 301, Pereira said Prochazka would likely be his next opponent.

“I think if I wait for that fight, it would take too long,” Pereira said ahead of UFC 301 (via MMAFighting). “I want to fight earlier than that. I think as far as we know, most likely the next in line is Jiri Prochazka. Ankalaev is going to have to wait a little bit. I know Jamahal Hill’s been talking some trash but he’s going to have to wait a little longer. I think Prochazka is the next one.”

According to Pereira, Ankalaev wouldn’t have been ready in time for when the Brazilian wants to fight. Although nothing is booked, Pereira says he has told the UFC when he wants to fight.

Alex Pereira distances himself from fight with Magomed Ankalaev he's going to have to wait — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“We told them when we want to fight,” Pereira said. “[We’ve not gotten anything official yet,] we don’t know, but they said due to the time frame, it will most likely be Prochazka. But anybody out there they want to put [in there], we’re good with it.”

Pereira is currently 10-2 as a pro and is a perfect 3-0 since moving up to light heavyweight.

LIVE! Fury Vs Usyk Weigh Ins Results!

Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

WBC heavyweight kingpin Tyson Fury will step on the scale alongside WBA, IBF, and WBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk for the official “Ring of Fire” weigh ins on Friday, held ju…

Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte - Weigh In - BOXPARK Wembley — Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

WBC heavyweight kingpin Tyson Fury will step on the scale alongside WBA, IBF, and WBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk for the official “Ring of Fire” weigh ins on Friday, held just one day in advance of their championship pay-per-view (PPV) boxing event this Sat. night (May 18, 2024) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (order it here). The winner will be crowned “Undisputed” heavyweight champion.

The LIVE weigh ins stream gets underway at 1 p.m. ET in the embedded video above.

“In boxing there is a saying that the most important division is the heavyweight division,” promoter Bob Arum said at the “Ring of Fire” press conference (watch it here). “When we have the opportunity to have an undisputed heavyweight champion crowned, as we will on Saturday night, it is something very, very significant. The last fighter to be crowned undisputed is sitting out in the audience and it happened 25 years ago for Lennox Lewis.”

To order Fury vs. Usyk “Ring of Fire” click HERE.

“Saturday night will be a very important night for boxing because, not only will we be crowning the undisputed heavyweight champion, but the two participants have never ever lost a fight,” Arum continued. “How great is it that this fight on Saturday that will be held here in the Kingdom with the eyes of the world, not just boxing fans, will be focusing on the arena, on this fight. Believe me, it will be a great one.”

For the completed “Fury vs. Usyk” fight card and DAZN PPV lineup click here. For more boxing news and notes click here.

LIVE! UFC Vegas 92 Early Weigh Ins Results!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from its upcoming UFC Vegas 92 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, headlined by a 145-pound showdown between lon…

UFC Fight Night: Yusuff v Barboza Weigh-in — Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from its upcoming UFC Vegas 92 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, headlined by a 145-pound showdown between longtime veteran Edson Barboza and undefeated up-and-comer Lerone Murphy. The action gets underway this Sat. night (May 18, 2024) on ESPN+ from inside the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also features a welterweight co-headliner between 170-pound fan favorites Khaos Williams and Carlston Harris.

Before the ESPN+ live stream gets underway this weekend in “Sin City,” which includes the strawweight showdown pitting Angela Hill opposite Luana Pinheiro, all 24 fighters must hit the scale to prove themselves worthy. Note: Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights.

The UFC Vegas 92 weigh ins will stream LIVE in the embedded video player above beginning promptly at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT). We’ll also have real-time text updates for the “Barboza vs. Murphy” weigh ins listed below, updated as they happen. Remember too that staredowns will commence at the conclusion of today’s weigh ins (roughly 2 p.m. ET).

Complete UFC Vegas 92 weigh ins text results below:

UFC Vegas 92 Main Card on ESPN+:

145 lbs.: Edson Barboza () vs. Lerone Murphy ()
170 lbs.: Khaos Williams () vs. Carlston Harris ()
170 lbs.: Themba Gorimbo () vs. Ramiz Brahimaj ()
135 lbs.: Adrian Yanez () vs. Vinicius Salvador ()
115 lbs.: Angela Hill () vs. Luana Pinheiro ()

UFC Vegas 92 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN+:

185 lbs.: Abus Magomedov () vs. Warlley Alves ()
?205 lbs.: Oumar Sy () vs. Tuco Tokkos ()
155 lbs.: Victor Martinez () vs. Tom Nolan ()
135 lbs.: Melissa Gatto () vs. Tamires Vidal ()
115 lbs.: Piera Rodriguez () vs. Ariane Carnelossi ()
115 lbs.: Vanessa Demopoulos () vs. Emily Ducote ()
135 lbs.: Heili Alateng () vs Kleydson Rodrigues ()

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 92 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card matchups, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 92 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive here. For the updated and finalized “Barboza vs. Murphy” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.