Francis Ngannou shares heartbreaking message following the tragic death of his 18-month-old son

Francis Ngannou shares heartbreaking message following the tragic death of his 18-month-old sonFrancis Ngannou has suffered a loss that no parent should have to experience. According to information obtained by journalist…

Francis Ngannou shares heartbreaking message following the tragic death of his 18-month-old son

Francis Ngannou has suffered a loss that no parent should have to experience.

According to information obtained by journalist Joseph Essama and reported by 237online.com, the former UFC heavyweight champion’s 18-month-old son has passed away. No additional details regarding the tragedy have been revealed at this time.

Francis Ngannou

“What’s the purpose of life if what we’re fighting tooth and nail to get away from is what finally hit us the hardest!? Why is life so unfair and merciless? Why does life always take what we don’t have? I’m f*cking tired,” Ngannou wrote on X.

The combat sports star received a flood of support from the MMA community, including Conor McGregor who offered his condolences to the Cameroonian.

“I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time,” McGregor replied.

Francis Ngannou
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Ngannou’s longtime coach Eric Nicksick also commented on the tragic turn of events online.

“It’s been a heavy few days, words can’t express the pain we all feel for the Ngannou family during this time,” Nicksick wrote. “Please keep Francis and his family in your heart, and may this be a reminder of the fragility of life. Say “I love you,” more often, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”

the Combat Sports Community Rallies Around Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou
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Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou
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It’s uncertain how this will impact his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts under the PFL banner, but that is likely the least of his concerns at this time. On behalf of everyone at LowKick MMA, we offer our sincere condolences to Francis Ngannou and his family during this trying time.

Go Pro? Texas Commission Rules On Paul Vs Tyson

Francois Nel/Getty Images, Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will be a professionally sanctioned boxing match.
The heavyweight showdown pitting Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) against Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) on Sat…


Francois Nel/Getty Images, Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will be a professionally sanctioned boxing match.

The heavyweight showdown pitting Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) against Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) on Sat., July 20, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was recently approved by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) and will feature eight, two-minute rounds with 14 oz. gloves.

The event will stream live on Netflix.

“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” said Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul Vs Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.”

“MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with two or three minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup,” Bidarian continued. “Paul vs Tyson and Taylor vs Serrano 2 will both be contested with two-minute rounds and each mega-fight will have its winner. Thank you to the TDLR and Holden Boxing for their efforts throughout this process to date and we look forward to working closely with them as we approach fight night.”

In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), will rematch unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs).

More on this in just a bit.

Aging Alves ‘Going Back To Retirement’

Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images

Stick a fork in him, he’s done.
Thiago Alves fought like a 40 year-old veteran looking for a paycheck in the BKFC “KnuckeMania 4” main event last weekend in Los Angeles, Calif., which …


Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship - Thiago Alves v Julian Lane
Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images

Stick a fork in him, he’s done.

Thiago Alves fought like a 40 year-old veteran looking for a paycheck in the BKFC “KnuckeMania 4” main event last weekend in Los Angeles, Calif., which is a dangerous game to play in combat sports, especially against a cavity creep like Mike Perry, because every fight carries the risk of serious injury … or worse.

That’s why the former UFC welterweight title challenger is punching out.

“I’m going back to retirement,” Alves said at the “KnuckleMania 4” post-fight press conference. “I pretty much was already retired, but didn’t make an announcement, anything because I wanted to do one more, and this was it. Unfortunately it didn’t go my way, but I’ve been fighting professionally since I was 15 years old. I took this fight on eight-weeks notice, and I lost my mother on April 5. So I’ve been through a lot, and I put my family through a lot already. I’m happy being a coach, living the life that I live, but I got no regrets. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to go out on top when you’re competing at this level, but I’m happy with the man I see in the mirror.”

Hopefully he sees himself and not Josh Koscheck.

Alves previously teased a return to MMA after everyone at BKFC “forgot his name” but it appears that comeback is also off the table at this stage of his career. The Brazilian finishes with a 23-15 record in cage fighting and a 2-1 mark in gloveless combat, having scored BKFC wins over Julian Lane and Ulysses Diaz.

As for Perry, he’s moving on to the next big challenge — or the next big “Gorilla.”

Breaking – Mike Tyson’s clash with Jake Paul will be sanctioned pro bout, will feature on post fight records

Mike Tyson's fight with Jake Paul sanctioned as professional match will appear on both's professional recordsAhead of their July clash in Arlington, Texas, reports have confirmed how former world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson’s fight…

Mike Tyson's fight with Jake Paul sanctioned as professional match will appear on both's professional records

Ahead of their July clash in Arlington, Texas, reports have confirmed how former world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson’s fight with outspoken social media influencer, Jake Paul will be an officially sanctioned professional boxing match – with the bout appearing on both’s professional records.

Tyson, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, revered as one of the most devastating knockout punchers of all-time, returns to the ring for the first time in a professional setting since his 2005 retirement.

Jake Paul plans to test power of Mike Tyson in boxing fight I can't wait to give him a death stare
Mandatory Credit: Netflix

As for Paul, the polarizing Ohio native turned in his ninth professional boxing victory back in March in his residency in Puerto Rico, landing a first round TKO win over former Golden Gloves winner, Ryan Bourland.

Jake Paul set to fight Andre August in professional boxing match in December
Mandatory Credit: Sam Hoddle

MIke Tyson set to compete in professional fight with Jake Paul

And this Monday afternoon the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations confirmed that Tyson’s fighting return against Paul will be an official, sanctioned professional boxing match – with the pair competing over the course of eight rounds – lasting two minutes, and contested in  14 ounce gloves.

“Mike Tyson and Jake signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” Nakisa Bidarian, the co-founder of Most Valubable Promotions confirmed in a statement released to ESPN. “Over the past six weeks, MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licesning and Regulations to sanction Paul vs. Tyson, and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.”

Mike Tyson

Last competing back in 2020 in Los Angeles, California, Tyson took on former cruiserweight world champion and fellow boxing icon, Roy Jones Jr. in an official exhibition bout to a split decision draw in the pair’s WBC scored pairing. 
Throughout the build up to their July fight in Texas – which will be broadcast globally on streaming platform, Netflix, both Tyson and Paul have vowed to turn in devastating knockout victories over each other, respectively.

What are your thoughts on Mike Tyson fighting Jake Paul professionally?

Max Holloway reacts to Ilia Topuria’s lenghty call out: ‘I’m not reading this, bro. What the hell is wrong with you?’

Max Holloway reacts to Ilia Topuria call out I'm not reading that what the hell is wrong with you UFCReceiving a rather lengthy call out from undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria after his stunning UFC 300 victory, Max…

Max Holloway reacts to Ilia Topuria call out I'm not reading that what the hell is wrong with you UFC

Receiving a rather lengthy call out from undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria after his stunning UFC 300 victory, Max Holloway admitted he was taken aback at the Georgian’s offer – claiming he didn’t even take the time to read the response. 

Holloway, a former undisputed featherweight champion and the recently-minted symbolic BMF titleholder, earned that second crown in emphatic fashion at UFC 300 earlier this month.

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En route to an eventual decision win over then-holder Justin Gaethje, Holloway urged the former to stand and trade with him in the final seconds of the fifth round, turning in a blistering left hook knockout with a single second remaining in the bout.

As for Topuria, the Spaniard resident headlined UFC 298 back in February, ending the dominant featherweight title run of Alexander Volkanovski with a crushing second round KO win in Anaheim.

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Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Weighing up a slew of fights in the aftermath of his stoppage win against Gaethje, Hawaiian favorite, Holloway welcomed clashes with lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev, as well as a featherweight return to tangle with the above-mentioned, Topuria.

Laying out his demands to defend his title with Holloway on home soil, Topuria claimed if the former would not oblige, he would simply face off with would-be common-opponent, Brian Ortega instead.

Max Holloway reacts to Ilia Topuria call out

However, taking umbrage with Topuria’s comments, Holloway claimed he was surprised at the length of the defending champion’s social media response.

Holloway BMF title UFC 300
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“He (Ilia Topuria) writes like a freakin’ paragraph to me,” Max Holloway said during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. “I didn’t even read it, that’s how long it was. He writes a paragraph to me, and I was just tripping out. It was like an angry girlfriend text, you know, Like my wife don’t even text me like that.”

“I read the first sentence and I was like, ‘I’m not reading this, bro,”’ Max Holloway continued. “‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ I don’t know what’s going on. I rea the first two and then I saw you had to scroll, I was like ‘What the f*ck? Did I make my wife mad?’ I had to make sure it wasn’t her.” 

Furthermore, during Rogan’s conversation with Holloway – the long-time color-commentator claimed he had heard Topuria turned down the chance to fight the above-mentioned, Volkanovski in a UFC 305 title fight rematch in August.

Who wins in a future championship fight: Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway?

Jiri Prochazka urged against drop to middleweight: ‘He’s borderline psychiatric, he could do it’

Jiri Prochazka urged against middleweight move He's borderline psychiatric he could do itFormer undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has been urged against a potential drop to the middleweight limit of…

Jiri Prochazka urged against middleweight move He's borderline psychiatric he could do it

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka has been urged against a potential drop to the middleweight limit of 185lbs by former divisional champion, Robert Whittaker – who described the Czech Republic native as “borderline psychiatric”.

Prochazka, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion, managed to land himself the number one rank at the divisional limit once more after UFC 300 earlier this month – turning in a stunning come-from-behind knockout win over fellow European talent, Aleksandar Rakic.

Jiri UFC 300 Zuffa LLC
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

And weighing up a potential rematch with former-foe, Alex Pereira in an attempt to reclaim light heavyweight championship spoils after his victory over Rakic, Prochazka also claimed if he wanted to pursue a middleweight move in the future, he could likely make weight without issue.

Robert Whittaker vows to flog next opponent in UFC return
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

However, the above-mentioned, Whittaker – who made the move from welterweight to middleweight where he found his stunning Octagon form en route to an undisputed title win, urged Prochazka away from a drop to 185lbs.

Jiri Prochazka urged to consider middleweight move

“I think he (Jiri Prochazka) has the mentality to get to 84kg (185 pounds), don’t get me wrong, the dude is borderline psychiatric,” Robert Whittaker told MMArcade during a recent podcast appearance. “If he wants to get to 84kg, he’ll do it – whether or not it’ll be a good move is hard to say.”

“I can’t see him at 84kg, I’ve seen him in real life,” Whittaker explained. “I’ve been up close with him and he’s a big dude, it’s not just like he’s physical like he’s got a big frame, he’s got wide shoulders, he’s quite tall like 6’4 – he’s a big, big guy.” 

Jiri Prochazka
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

A career light heavyweight, Prochazka, a former RIZIN FF champion, struck UFC gold back in 2021 in a trip to Singapore, rallying to land a highlight-reel fifth round rear-naked choke win over defending champion, Glover Teixeira. 

Do you think JIri Prochazka could find success at 185 pounds?