pfl | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career

Former UFC heavyweight contender Blagoy Ivanov won’t be making his sophomore appearance under the PFL banner anytime soon. Ivanov, a former Bellator fighter and WSOF champion, competed eight times in the UFC, defeating Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa en route to the rankings early into his Octagon tenure. The Bulgarian fell to consecutive decision defeats […]

Continue Reading Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career at MMA News.

Former UFC heavyweight contender Blagoy Ivanov won’t be making his sophomore appearance under the PFL banner anytime soon.

Ivanov, a former Bellator fighter and WSOF champion, competed eight times in the UFC, defeating Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa en route to the rankings early into his Octagon tenure.

The Bulgarian fell to consecutive decision defeats opposite Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov in 2023, after which he departed mixed martial arts’ leading promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League.

The veteran made his SmartCage debut at event one of this year’s regular season, battling Sergei Bilostenniy in a memorable three-round war. Ivanov once again failed to earn the judges’ nod, and that marked his sole shot at putting points on the board.

Ivanov was scheduled to next face Oleg Popov in June but was pulled on late notice. That cancellation now has some aded context following the announcement of an indiscretion in the drug test department.

Ivanov Slapped With Lengthy Suspension After Failing Drug Test

On Wednesday, USADA officials announced that Ivanov tested positive for a substance that violated the PFL’s anti-doping policy during an out-of-competition test on March 28, 2024.

As a result of the drug test failure, the former UFC heavyweight-turned-PFL newcomer has been handed a 22-month suspension, a reduced term due to his cooperation throughout the investigation.

“Ivanov, 37, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of an out-of-competition sample collected on March 28, 2024,” a USADA statement read. “His urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin.

“Ivanov received a reduction to the default period of ineligibility for his full and complete cooperation. Ivanov’s 22-month period of ineligibility began on March 28, 2024, the date his positive sample was collected.”

It remains to be seen whether Ivanov will remain a part of the PFL roster following confirmation of his failed drugs test and subsequent suspension.

What is certain, however, is that the Bulgarian won’t be a part of the 2025 heavyweight season or any other events until January 2026 at the earliest.

Read More: Aljamain Sterling Calls Movsar Evloev A Drug Cheat: ‘Same Thing People Were Saying About TJ Dillashaw…’

Continue Reading Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career at MMA News.

Kayla Harrison Believes Pacheco’s Power and Hunger Will Be Too Much for Aging Cris Cyborg

Decorated MMA and Olympic champion Kayla Harrison has offered her opinion on the upcoming showdown between Larissa Pacheco and…

Decorated MMA and Olympic champion Kayla Harrison has offered her opinion on the upcoming showdown between Larissa Pacheco and MMA legend Cris Cyborg.

Kayla Harrison on Larissa Pacheco vs. Cris Cyborg

Kayla Harrison was a multi-time gold medalist in the Olympics and a multi-time PFL MMA world champion. After a loss to Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco, Harrison jumped over to the UFC. The US-born Olympian has since submitted former champion Holly Holm.

Brazil’s Cris Cyborg will be seeking her fifth MMA world title in the PFL as she takes on Pacheco on October 19. Cyborg has captured gold in Bellator, Strikeforce, Invicta, and the UFC.

Kayla Harrison predicted that Pacheco would defeat Cyborg in their fight at PFL: Battle Of The Giants. This event will be part of the debut of the promotion’s PPV Super Fights division, with both the winner of this fight and the main event between Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira receiving a new Super Fights belt.

“I think Pacheco wins. She’s young, I mean unless she’s been goofing off, you know. Couple mil will do that sometimes. Couple mil in the bank account makes it hard to get out of bed but she’s young, she’s hungry, she keeps getting better, she’s got real power. Cyborg’s at the end of her career.”

Harrison believes that Pacheco’s youth and hunger give her an advantage, provided she remains dedicated despite her financial success. She noted that Cyborg, at 39, is in the latter stages of her career, which might work in Pacheco’s favor. Harrison pointed out that Cyborg, who began her career in 2005, has not shown significant progress or growth in her fight strategy, unlike Pacheco.

“Yeah I think she’s a little bit older and I just think that we like we haven’t seen a lot of progress from her like I don’t see her fight IQ growing. I haven’t seen progression really, she fights the same way now that she fought, you know, however long ago so I think Pacheco is gonna win.”

Harrison is back competing later this year at UFC 307.

When Dana White claimed Jon Jones should be scared of Francis Ngannou

Footage has once more reemerged of UFC CEO, Dana White singing the praise of former heavyweight titleholder, Francis Ngannou…

Footage has once more reemerged of UFC CEO, Dana White singing the praise of former heavyweight titleholder, Francis Ngannou ahead of a long-mooted fight with Jon Jones — before switching his tune on the pairing following the Cameroonian’s exit from the promotion at the beginning of last year.

Jones, a former two-time undisputed light heavyweight champion and a current heavyweight gold holder, is all but set to headline UFC 309 at the end of the year in November — taking on the returning soon-to-be common-foe, Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.

Francis Ngannou on fighting through grief: ‘This is for my son’

As for Ngannou, the former undisputed UFC heavyweight gold holder has been sidelined from mixed martial arts since January of 2022, most recently successfully unifying the heavyweight crowns with an impressive unanimous decision win over the then-unbeaten common-opponent, Ciryl Gane.

Departing the promotion in January of last year, Batie native, Francis Ngannou is now slated to make his long-anticipated PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut in two months time in Riyadh, taking on heavyweight star, Renan Ferreira in a blockbuster showdown.

Francis Ngannou scoffs at Jon Jones' prediction of easy win over him in your dreams you're fat

Dana White once picked Francis Ngannou to beat Jon Jones before UFC exit

However, amid continued links to a future grudge title fight between Jones and Ngannou down the line — footage has once more emerged of UFC boss, White heaping praise on his former undisputed champion, Ngannou — after urging Jones to pursue a middleweight drop.

If I’m Jon Jones, and I’m watching this fight [Stipe MIocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2], then I’m moving to 185 [pounds],” Dana White told assembled media three years ago. “I could sit here all day and tell you what show me the money means. You can say you want to fight somebody, but do you really want to?”

Those comments from White provide a stark difference in his take on the failed matchup today — boldly claiming that Ngannou would not agree to fight Jones in a heavyweight title fight, despite touting the Cameroonian as a terrible matchup for the former pound-for-pound number one.

In recent weeks to boot, Jones has been cast as the best fighter to ever compete in combat sports across the board ahead of his expected title fight comeback at UFC 309 — in a bid to promote the former two-weight titleholder.

Francis Ngannou still hungry for boxing as he eyes Wilder and Usyk clashes: ‘Why not fight everyone?’

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut…

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut in two months time, former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has vowed to compete in his pursuit of a first win in the squared circle — eyeing former titleholder, Deontay Wilder as well as Oleksandr Usyk.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, is slated to headline a PFL event in October, making his SmartCage debut in a matchup opposite Brazilian heavyweight star, Renan Ferreira in a return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

However, most recently fighting earlier this year, Cameroonian knockout artist, Ngannou dropped a devastating second round knockout loss to former two-time world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua in the Middle East.

Late last year to boot, Batie superstar, Ngannou made his professional boxing debut in a matchup against the then-unbeaten WBC heavyweight gold holder, Tyson Fury — dropping the Morecambe native with a stunning knockdown before dropping a controversial split decision loss in the desert.

Francis Ngannou welcomes Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk boxing fights

However, ahead of his clash with Ferreira in October, Ngannou has welcomed the chance to made a third walk to the boxing ring — against everybody from the likes of Wilder to current world champion, Usyk.

Renan Ferreira walks back controversial comments made to Francis Ngannou

“Absolutely, I would love that fight,” Francis Ngannou told talkSPORT of a matchup with Deontay Wilder. “Pure boxing, don’t be delusional here. That’s where we both stand a chance, but if we go MMA only one man stands a chance. It’s a fight that I want, I always wanted that fight. At some point we had a discussion that didn’t go too far, but we wanted to make this fight happen.”

“And even more boxers — Usyk? Why not,” Francis Ngannou explained. “I have the (Tyson) Fury rematch then Deontay Wilder on the wish list. (Martin Bakole) not really. That is the fight I would choose as the last option because I see him more like a brother. I’d fight anyone else beside him, plus he’s dangerous.”

Francis Ngannou still hungry for boxing as he eyes Wilder and Usyk clashes: ‘Why not fight everyone?’

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut…

Francis Ngannou welcomes Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk boxing fights

Larissa Pacheco predicts war against Cris Cyborg: ‘Who goes down first?’

Ahead of her massive super fight with undisputed Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg in October, PFL (Professional Fighters…

Ahead of her massive super fight with undisputed Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg in October, PFL (Professional Fighters League) favorite, Larissa Pacheco is expecting an all-out war with her compatriot, expecting one of them to suffer a big knockout loss in Riyadh.

Pacheco, fresh from a PFL featherweight tournament success last year after a prior lightweight tournament win the year prior, most recently landed a unanimous decision win over Marina Mokhnatkina in November of last year in the tournament’s finale — extending her stunning winning spree to 10 bouts straight.

As for Cyborg, the former undisputed UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC featherweight champion, turned in her sixth straight win under the banner of Bellator MMA back in October, successfully defending her featherweight crown for a fifth time with a dominant first round knockout win over fellow Octagon veteran, Cat Zingano.

Larissa Pacheco expects war showdown with Cris Cyborg in October

And ahead of their super fight in the desert in October, Pacheco — who features against Cyborg before a massive heavyweight clash between Renan Ferreira, and Francis Ngannou, is expecting a huge war with the Curitiba striker when they share the SmartCage.

“We have an idea of how the fight will play out, but we never know for sure,” Larissa Pacheco told MMA Fighting. “We have a similar style, we’re both aggressive and walk forward the entire time, no turning back. For some people, it’s like a lottery.”

“Who goes down fight? I don’t know, it’s hard to say,” Larissa Pacheco explained. “But all I know is that we’ll both give our all in there. Cris (Cyborg) has a unique style and will do everything she can to win, so it’s going to be a historic fight.”

Also during her 10-fight winning run, Pacheco became the first fighter to defeat former two-time lightweight tournament winner and UFC contender, Kayla Harrison with a unanimous decision success.