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Sean O’Malley doubles down on his demand to fight Ryan Garcia after next UFC title defense

Once Sean O’Malley takes care of some business with Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Sugar’ has his sights set on a crossover…

Once Sean O’Malley takes care of some business with Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Sugar’ has his sights set on a crossover clash with boxing star Ryan Garcia.

‘King Ryan’ is all the rage after he delivered a lights-out performance against WBC super lightweight world champion Devin Haney in Brooklyn. Since then, a slew of boxers have come out of the woodwork lobbying for a fight with Ryan, including Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Jaron Ennis, Conor Benn, and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

You can also add UFC bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley’s name to the list. Taking to social media, ‘Sugar’ suggested that after his next title defense, which is all but guaranteed to come against streaking Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili, he plans to box Ryan Garcia.

“After I KO Merab I’m boxing Ryan,” O’Malley wrote on X.

Considering the UFC chose to let Francis Ngannou leave rather than allowing him to box in between fights inside the Octagon, we’d say there is a 0.01% chance that Dana White allows O’Malley to take on one of the best boxers in the world today while they’ve got him under contract.

Aside from having a very tough test in front of him in Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley already has a slew of potential contenders to deal with at 135.

A proposed fight between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov will likely decide the division’s next title contender. You’ve also got Deiveson Figueiredo who has continued to climb his way up the bantamweight ranks after already claiming gold at flyweight.

And then there’s Petr Yan who got back into the win column at UFC 299 with a big win over Song Yadong in the main card opener.

Needless to say, there are plenty of fights to keep O’Malley busy without having to fish for a boxing match with the flavor of the month.

‘Nobody wants to see’ Sean O’Malley vs. Ryan Garcia

UFC fans were none-too interested in the idea of seeing Sean O’Malley step inside the ring with Ryan Garcia based on the backlash ‘Sugar’ received on social media.

TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel banks almost $85 million in 2023, including $20 million UFC bonus

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel banked nearly $85 million in 2023. According to a proxy statement filed with the Securities…

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel banked nearly $85 million in 2023.

According to a proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ahead of an annual stockholders meeting scheduled for June, Emanuel netted $65 million for his role as one of the top executives for TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded entity that currently houses both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment under the same roof.

Per a report from Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, the breakdown includes $911,538 in prorated salary based on the merger date to the end of the fiscal year on September 12, 2023, along with a $24 million bonus and just over $40 million in stock rewards.

Emanual also took home a $20 million transaction bonus from UFC that “was not tied to achievement of any specified performance measure and, as such, is not included herein.”

Ari Emanuel wasn’t the only executive who brought home the bacon in 2023

Next on the list was TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro who made $16 million, including a $9 million bonus and more than $6 million in stock awards. Shapiro brought in another $22.77 million attributable to Endeavor, bringing his total 2023 take to more than $38 million.

Chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer earned more than $8.7 million, with a $5 million bonus and more than $3.1 million in stock awards.

Also reaping the benefits was WWE President and TKO Group board member Nick Khan who took home more than $32 million in total compensation, which included a $15 million bonus and more than $12 million in stock awards.

TKO Group will likely continue to see its profits skyrocket after the WWE closed a five-year, $10 billion deal to move its flagship show, Monday Night Raw, to Netflix starting in 2025.

The UFC will also return to the negotiating table as its broadcasting deal with ESPN is set to expire at the end of next year.

The initial deal with ESPN was for five years with the the cable sports network paying out $1.5 billion for the rights before being extended for an additional two years. Early reports suggest the UFC could double that amount with its next broadcasting deal after seeing a massive boom in business over the last several years.

VanZant Stares Down Brooke Ahead Of Misfits Clash

“I have never been less intimidated,” Brooke wrote on Twitter. Former UFC strawweight sensation and part-time bareknuckle boxer Paige VanZant will make her “sweet science” debut against social media pugilist and current women’s …

“I have never been less intimidated,” Brooke wrote on Twitter.

Former UFC strawweight sensation and part-time bareknuckle boxer Paige VanZant will make her “sweet science” debut against social media pugilist and current women’s middleweight champion Elle Brooke as part of the upcoming Misfits Boxing 15 event on DAZN, scheduled for Sat., May 25, 2024 at NRG Arena in Houston, Texas.

You probably knew that already thanks to this leak.

“Make no mistake, this is a colossal clash in the world of crossover boxing,” said Kalle Sauerland, Co-President of Misfits Boxing. “Hands down, Elle Brooke taking on the legendary Paige VanZant is the biggest female fight we’ve ever had in this space and the number of people watching in the arena, and worldwide on DAZN, will be huge. Brooke is the No. 2 pound-for-pound female fighter in Misfits Boxing but facing VanZant, a proven and global star from UFC, is by far the biggest challenge of her boxing career.”

Tickets for Misfits Boxing 15 are currently on sale through Ticketmaster.

Islam Makhachev calls for Leon Edwards title fight after UFC 302: ‘I already gave a chance to fighters at 145’

Slated to headline UFC 302 in June, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is hellbent on challenging for a second…

Slated to headline UFC 302 in June, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is hellbent on challenging for a second title after his comeback this summer, specifically in a showdown with welterweight titleholder, Leon Edwards.

Makhachev, the current lightweight gold holder, is set to make his comeback to the Octagon this summer in New Jersey, taking on former interim champion, Dustin Poirier in the pair’s championship headliner atop UFC 302.

UFC Saudi Arabia postponed until June amid links to Islam Makhachev comeback fight — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Sidelined since December, Birmingham native, Edwards himself most recently took main event honors at UFC 296, himself turning in a one-sided unanimous decision victory against former interim champion, Colby Covington in the pair’s heated grudge fight.

Islam Makhachev calls for Leon Edwards clash

And forever staking his claim for a siege at a second title belt, Makhachev, the current pound-for-pound number one, claims his decision to welcome title challenges from Alexander Volkanovski in a featherweight rise, should allow him to challenge for welterweight spoils after UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev calls for division move after UFC 302 I've already beat everyone at lightweight — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

“My dream fight: I have to fight in the next division, 170 [pounds],” Islam Makhachev told The New York Post. “I have to fight Leon Edwards. I already gave a chance to fighters at 145 [pounds]. That’s why I need my chance at a second belt. …Honestly, I don’t have any exciting fights, because Dustin (Poirier) has just one-fight win streak.”

“And we have Arman (Tsarukyan), but I already beat this guy,” Islam Makhachev explained. “I don’t have some job in my division, in my opinion, honestly. And I think I have a chance. They have to give me the chance for a second belt because I already beat the old guys.”

Leon Edwards confirms he will fight at UFC 300 I will defend my title in April in Las Vegas — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself linked with a comeback fight at the end of July in Manchester, Edwards has been touted as a shoo-in to feature at UFC 304 in a home soil return – amid links to a title fight rematch with the streaking, Belal Muhammad.

Who wins in a future title ‘super fight’: Leon Edwards or Islam Makhachev?

Officer ‘Bad Boy’ Reporting For Duty!

Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Woop! Woop! That’s da sound of Ortiz!
Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, was recently sworn in as honorary sheriff for Lee County in Southwest Florida. Hopefully this en…

Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Woop! Woop! That’s da sound of Ortiz!

Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, was recently sworn in as honorary sheriff for Lee County in Southwest Florida. Hopefully this ends better than his disastrous run as mayor pro tempore in Huntington Beach.

“Feeling incredibly honored!” Ortiz wrote on social media. “Yesterday, I was sworn in as an honorary sheriff for Lee County by the amazing Sheriff Carmine Marceno. I’m beyond grateful for this privilege and so proud to serve in my new home of Cape Coral. Here’s to new beginnings and making a positive impact in our community!”

“I am deeply humbled by this privilege and have immense respect for our brave men and women in blue, not just in Cape Coral, but across the entire United States,” Ortiz continued. “Their dedication and commitment inspire me every day. Proud to be a part of this community and to support our law enforcement heroes!”

Not bad for a “blue-collared man” who “lost everything” in 2020.

Face Off! Nicolau Stares Down Perez At APEX!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

With the UFC Vegas 91 early weigh ins bagged and tagged (get full results and video here), the fighters competing on this Sat. night’s (April 27, 2024) ESPN and ESPN+ fight…

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

With the UFC Vegas 91 early weigh ins bagged and tagged (get full results and video here), the fighters competing on this Sat. night’s (April 27, 2024) ESPN and ESPN+ fight card from inside APEX in Las Vegas came together for the official face offs. That includes flyweight headliners Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez.

Check out their staredown embedded above.

“Good thing [the Manel Kape cancelation] was like four weeks before the fight, so we have enough time to make all the adjustments on the training, the strategy part, the technical part,” Nicolau said at the UFC Vegas 91 media day (watch it here). “So, it was enough time to make all the adjustments that we needed and to be ready to get this victory.”

“Honestly, after the fight, I will be looking up,” Nicolau continued. “That is the direction that I’m going, to the top of the mountain. I don’t want to think about Manel anymore.”

Here’s the light heavyweight co-main event between Ryan Spann and Bogdan Guskov:

Spann vs. Guskov pic.twitter.com/JCrlxzQ1fV

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 26, 2024

Nothing left to do now except fight.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 91 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card matchups, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN/ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 91 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here and here. For the updated and finalized “Nicolau vs. Perez” fight card and ESPN/ESPN+ lineup click here.