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Canelo Alvarez went toe-to-toe with UFC 306 last weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the boxing superstar still pulled off huge numbers.
Despite the massive event that was Noche UFC from inside the Sphere in “Sin City,” Alvarez still booked a title defense against Edgar Berlanga for the same night in the same town. It was a ballsy move for all parties involved as UFC spent over $20 million to stage UFC 306. No doubt, it was going to be a huge test for Canelo’s drawing power to see if he could steal the attention in Vegas.
Surprisingly, the middleweight champion still pulled off huge numbers. According to a recent report by Sports Business Journal, 650,000 people purchased the Alvarez vs. Berlanga pay-per-view (PPV) and watched Canelo dismantle the New York native over 12 rounds (highlights HERE). In addition to the PPV buys, the gate for Canelo vs. Berlanga came in at a whopping $17 million. That’s short of UFC 306’s massive $22 million gate — which is a new company record — but still a huge cash grab for Canelo.
It’s unknown at this time what the PPV numbers look like for UFC 306, but it could be close to Canelo’s.
Insomnia
Surprising? Sucks either way.
I believe God has a plan and is protecting me to give my best for @MovsarUFC. I need all my tools for an opponent like Movsar and hopefully he’s willing to fight me when I’m healed up. Thank you to the @UFC medical team for looking out for my health and protecting me from myself.… pic.twitter.com/9nJVf14mew
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 18, 2024
The benefits of being champion.
Merab asking “Can I touch?” while Ailin Perez was twerking pic.twitter.com/8yYYfUpyMX
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 18, 2024
Isn’t Islam supposed to be injured?
Islam Makhachev faces off against footballer Egas Cacintura in a penalty shootout ??#UFC #MMA #Footballpic.twitter.com/GrTe0h5i7l
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 19, 2024
Is Deiveson Figueiredo ducking Cory Sandhagen?
| Cory Sandhagen has claimed that Deiveson Figueiredo turned down a fight with him for an event in December.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/vLbrat71zo
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 18, 2024
Does this spell disaster for Robert Whittaker?
| Khamzat Chimaev has reunited with his first ever wrestling coach ahead of his #UFC308 clash with Robert Whittaker.
Chimaev says these coaches have a much bigger focus on rest and recovery and that he no longer trains to exhaustion.
[per @RedCorner_MMA] pic.twitter.com/NFiCfy8U52
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 18, 2024
Looks like Tom Aspinall officially got his backup spot.
Dana White says Tom Aspinall is the back up fighter for Jones/Miocic. pic.twitter.com/OQiWnXF5G1
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 18, 2024
Tommy Fury is ready for Jake Paul inside of a cage!
Tommy Fury called out Jake Paul to an MMA fight after training with Tom Aspinall pic.twitter.com/yMIzsWPvi2
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 18, 2024
Will we ever see Brian Ortega at featherweight again?
?? Brian Ortega shows his damaged eye and swollen calf after Diego Lopes fight at UFC 306.
Best wishes. pic.twitter.com/EwUTyVFD5O
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 18, 2024
GSP doing GSP things.
If you are not aware of this topic, it is high time you learn more about it. UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) are now called UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) because these strange things have sometimes been detected not only in the air but also in the water by… pic.twitter.com/8s8PFWb2EM
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) September 18, 2024
T.J. Dillashaw doing whatever he can to stay relevant.
TJ Dillashaw is CLOWNING neon because he can’t lift 60 pounds pic.twitter.com/d5RxByDhtU
— (@blondedmma) September 18, 2024
Sean O’Malley is still feeling it after losing his title at UFC 306.
Sean O’Malley still upset after his loss to Merab
“F*** the Sphere.”
Snapchat / @SugaSeanMMA #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/xAKlFQ2NDy
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 18, 2024
Luckily, he may not have to wait long to get another shot at gold.
Umar Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz says Sean O’Malley deserves a title shot coming off a loss:
“I would like Sean O’Malley to take as much time he wants off, and I believe Umar will beat Merab. After that, Umar will give him a title shot coming off a loss.
Sean O’Malley,… pic.twitter.com/EbfOKDrYQL
— Full Violence ™ (@Full_Violence) September 18, 2024
Who takes this?
Daniel Rodriguez will fight Alex Morono at #UFCVegas98 on October 12th. (first rep. @espnmma) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2024 pic.twitter.com/R2AHzf7UXL
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) September 18, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Not much out there on a Wednesday night so here’s some new Conor McGregor training footage.
Random Land
What’s your weapon of choice against Michael Myers?
You can now be Michael Myers on “Call Of Duty: Season 6” pic.twitter.com/AbjsnukG49
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) September 18, 2024
Sleep well Maniacs! We’ll be back for more tomorrow night.