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Report – Ex-ONE Championship title challenger Iuri Lapicus dies in motorcycle crash

Iuri Lapicus, ONE Championship Iuri Lapicus, who fought for MMA promotion ONE Championship, has sadly passed away following a motorcycle crash in Milan last week. “The ONE Championship team is heartbroken over the tragic passing of Iuri Lapicus,” the promotion said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones at this difficult time.” The […]

Iuri Lapicus, who fought for MMA promotion ONE Championship, has sadly passed away following a motorcycle crash in Milan last week.

“The ONE Championship team is heartbroken over the tragic passing of Iuri Lapicus,” the promotion said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones at this difficult time.”

The incident was first reported by Milano Today, who said Iuri Lapicus was forced into a coma after striking a car driven by a 69-year-old woman. He was airlifted to a Milan hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday.

Iuri Lapicus was a Standout in ONE Championship

Iuri Lapicus, a 27-year-old, two-division fighter, started his career with a 14-fight unbeaten streak. The Moldavon-born standout competed at both lightweight and middleweight. He fought former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez at ONE at TNT 1 in April 2021, a fight that was deemed a no-contest due to illegal head strikes.

The former title challenger also fought current two-division champion Christian Lee. He holds a victory over former featherweight titleholder Marat Gafurov.

Iuri Lapicus (14-2-1 NC) most recently competed in a losing effort against Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 1 last August.

ONE Championship’s Iuri Lapicus Dies from Injuries Sustained in Motorcycle Crash

Former ONE Championship title challenger Iuri Lapicus died Monday in Italy at the age of 27 from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident last week, per…

Francis Ngannou expects to make return with PFL or ONE Championship after UFC exit: ‘We are very close’

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has confirmed that he will make a return to professional mixed martial arts following his Octagon departure in January – revealing he is close to penning deals with either the PFL (Professional Fighters League), or ONE Championship. Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the […]

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, departed the Dana White-led organization back in January of this year, after he completed his contractual obligations in the month prior.

The Batié native was subsequently stripped of his heavyweight title, removed from the official rankings and granted his immediate release from the organization – with the UFC also waiving their exclusive matching rights period, allowing Ngannou to field offers from other promotions.

Francis Ngannou confirms he is close to inking a deal with the PFL, or ONE Championship

Confirming that former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder is the current frontrunner to welcome him to professional boxing, Ngannou stressed that he would first enter the the squared circle in his post-UFC, before making a return to MMA. And the Cameroonian has confirmed either PFL or ONE Championship will gain his services.

“I have made a decision,” Francis Ngannou told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Without making a done deal, I know what my next move is going to be. I know that I want to fight boxing first and then after that I will fight MMA. I’m going to sign with one MMA promotion. I haven’t made a decision on that yet [but I’m] very close. … PFL and ONE FC fright now, we are very close. We will see.”

In his most recent Octagon walk, Francis Ngannou managed to successfully unify the heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision win over former interim champion, Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 back in January of last year.

Ngannou also recently denied claims issued by the above-mentioned, White, that he intentionally avoided a fight with newly minted heavyweight champion, Jon Jones before his January UFC departure, claiming he initiated talks to fight the Endicott native after winning the crown back in 2021.

Francis Ngannou flirts with PFL, ONE Championship moves, reveals ‘Serious’ talks have taken place

Francis Ngannou revealed that he has “serious” offers from multiple combat sports promotions including the Professional Fighters League and ONE Championship. In January, UFC president Dana White revealed that the promotion was parting ways with its then-heavyweight champion after nearly two years of negotiations hit a stalemate. Since then, the UFC has crowned a new […]

Francis Ngannou revealed that he has “serious” offers from multiple combat sports promotions including the Professional Fighters League and ONE Championship.

In January, UFC president Dana White revealed that the promotion was parting ways with its then-heavyweight champion after nearly two years of negotiations hit a stalemate. Since then, the UFC has crowned a new heavyweight king in the returning Jon Jones. After more than three years away from the Octagon, ‘Bones’ returned to deliver a showstopping two-minute submission of Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant heavyweight championship.

As for Francis Ngannou, ‘The Predator’ is hoping to secure his first foray into professional boxing this summer, but during an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Ngannou revealed that he is in serious talks with multiple combat sports organizations, including one set to make their North American debut this May.

“I have been having some serious conversations with PFL. Also with ONE [Championship],” Ngannou revealed. Not so much with Bellator, but there’s not a rush since my first fight has to be in boxing so that’s where my focus is at right now. If I have some good conditions, if I have a reason, I think there is a right contract with the right terms, maybe. I have no problem making an agreement before I step into a boxing fight.”

Who Will Win the Francis Ngannou Lottery?

Those words from Francis Ngannou are likely a sting to the eardrums of Bellator CEO Scott Coker who, by all accounts, has made a strong play for Ngannou’s services following his departure from the UFC. Appearing on The MMA Hour, Coker said that it was “50/50” as to whether or not they would be able to sign ‘The Predator’ to a mutually-beneficial contract. Based on Ngannou’s own words, it sounds like Bellator may be forced to walk away from the negotiating table.

Francis Ngannou has been previously tied to talks with the PFL. Given its tournament format and the million-dollar top prize, it would likely be a perfect fit for the Cameroonian.

With ONE Championship scheduled to make its long-awaited U.S. debut on May 5 at the 1stBank Center in Colorado, the promotion’s founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong is likely to make a strong play for ‘The Predator’ in order to boost its North American profile and take a chunk of the pie that the UFC has been hoarding for three decades. ONE Championship would also provide Francis Ngannou with some genuinely intriguing matchups.

The promotion is currently home to 17-time BJJ world champion Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almedia who is 4-0 in his still-developing MMA career. There is also a potential meeting with ONE Championship’s Fighter of the Year, Anatoly Malykhin. The Russian juggernaut stunned fans with a first-round knockout of former ONE light heavyweight world champion Reinier de Ridder in December and currently sits as a two-division titleholder.

Demetrious Johnson touts Jon Jones as ‘GOAT’ following UFC 285 win: ‘Look what he did to Ciryl Gane’

Former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has touted recently minted heavyweight champion, Jon Jones as the definitive greatest mixed martial artist of all time this week – complimenting his UFC 285 victory over Ciryl Gane. Johnson, himself touted as one of the sports greatest ever, holds the record for most successful consecutive title defenses […]

Johnson, himself touted as one of the sports greatest ever, holds the record for most successful consecutive title defenses under the UFC banner – racking up a staggering eleven separate defenses of his undisputed flyweight throne.

Demetrious Johnson believes Jon Jones is now the certified sport GOAT

Discussing the conversation of sport greats following last weekend’s pay-per-view event, Johnson claimed that Jones’ victory over Gane – along with his esteemed success at light heavyweight, make him the undeniable greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

“I’ve had the longest consecutive title defense [record in the UFC], and I’ve also had 14 world title fights,” Demetrious Johnson told TMZ during a recent interview. “I believe he’s (Jon Jones) at 15 [straight title fight wins] now. You look at GSP (Georges St-Pierre), I think he took four years off and he fought in 2013 against Johny Hendricks. Then he came back in 2017 and beat Michael Bisping, who was a champion. You look at Anderson Silva, we’ve all done amazing things in mixed martial arts.”

“Jon Jones – what he did to Ciryl Gane Saturday night, I mean, he took him down and choked him out,” Demetrious Johnson explained. “I truly believe he could’ve done that at 205 [pounds]. The one thing that separates those guys from me, those guys gone up and competed and won a world championship in a different weight class, where I haven’t. Henry Cejudo’s done it, Jon’s done it, Randy Couture’s done it, the list just goes on and on of all the guys who have done it, and that’s one thing I haven’t done.”

Slated to return in May, Johnson is booked to headline ONE Fight Night 10 as part of ONE Championship’s first fight in the United States – taking on Adriano Moraes in the pair’s championship trilogy fight in Broomfield, Colorado.

MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes Of The Week (2/26 – 3/4)

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes of the week! Every week there’s highlight-reel finishes all across the MMA world, and we’ve found some of the absolute best ones to showcase. The clear highlight of last week’s MMA calen…

Continue Reading MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes Of The Week (2/26 – 3/4) at MMA News.