<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> Fight Night 187's feature fight between <keyword id="9828609" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leon-edwards">Leon Edwards</keyword> and <keyword id="10925686" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="belal-muhammad">Belal Muhammad</keyword> was ruled a no contest.</li><li>Edwards accidentally gouged Muhammad eye in the second round, compromising his vision.</li><li>Watch footage of the incident below.</li></ul>A headlining <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> match was called off when one fighter couldn't see after an accidental but painful eye gouge.<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/leon-edwards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leon Edwards</a> returned to the Octagon after almost two years on the sidelines when he fought Belal Muhammad in the main event of Saturday's behind-closed-doors UFC Fight Night 187 show that took place at the Apex in Las Vegas.The UFC boss <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> said earlier in the week that if Edwards looked spectacular he would be guaranteed a title shot in the welterweight division.Edwards won the first round on all three of the judges' scorecards but before the second round had finished, the bout was brought to an unspectacular end as an accidental poke left Muhammad with compromised vision.The unintentional foul took place 18 seconds into the second round when both fighters collided as Muhammad stepped to Edwards as the latter threw a body kick with his left hand, and fingers, outstretched.Upon impact, Muhammad immediately withdrew while clutching his eye. A referee called time on the bout before a no contest (no result) was announced.Watch the accidental gouge here:"My heart is shattered my first main event ended like that, but God's the best of planners," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYuoc3Bm8B/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said Muhammad in a statement on Instagram</a>."I'm sorry to the fans and the UFC [because] you deserved a full fight," added Muhammad. "Alhamdillah, the vision is coming back and no permanent damage to the eye."I'll be back and want to run it back," he finished.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYuoc3Bm8B" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>"I didn't mean to do it, you know. I went for the cross [and] head kick, he stepped into it, and I really apologize," Edwards said."I'd rather a loss than that. It's heartbreaking. I don't know what to say."

A headlining UFC match was called off when one fighter couldn't see after an accidental but painful eye gouge

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Colby Covington appeared to threaten broadcaster Jon Anik in an unhinged rant Tuesday.</li><li>It was seemingly all over an innocuous tweet Anik posted last week.</li></ul>American wrestler <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/colby-covington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colby Covington</a> appeared to threaten a TV commentator's life in an unhinged rant Tuesday."Dude, I don't want your kids to grow up without a dad," he said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ3RX48LeHQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during an interview with MMA Fighting</a>, in a statement aimed at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> analyst Jon Anik."[But] just realize, you live in Boca, I live in Miami, motherfucker. You're not too far from me so you better shut your fucking mouth."A possible reason for Covington's grievance with Anik stems from events that unfolded in the build-up to the UFC's last big pay-per-view event in London.One day before UFC 286 at the 02 Arena — where Leon Edwards went on to defeat Kamaru Usman for a second time in a welterweight title defense — Covington surprised observers when he weighed in as a backup for the main event.Covington wasn't needed on the night but is now in line to fight Edwards in the Briton's second title defense later this year."[I] understand acutely why Colby Covington was the back-up but hard not to feel for Belal Muhammad," <a href="https://twitter.com/Jon_Anik/status/1636863084559052800" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anik tweeted at the time</a>, alluding to Muhammad's nine-fight unbeaten streak.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1636863084559052800">March 17, 2023</a></blockquote>Anik went on to point out that the fighter "hasn't lost in 4-plus years" and just knocked out "a previously undefeated fighter" in Sean Brady.<h2>This seemed to rankle Covington</h2><div type="image" title="Colby Covington." height="741" width="1200" msid="98924096" hostid="261" sizebytes="22998"></div>It is unclear if Covington was playing up to a gimmick he has seemingly created, in which he says heinous things, or if he really has animosity toward Anik — a respected figure in the MMA industry.However, of Anik, Covington said: "He's supposed to be impartial, he's supposed to have that headset, he's supposed to be an interviewer, he's supposed to remain impartial."You want to be a cheerleader? Put down the headset, pick up the pom-poms, go on the side, and be a cheerleader."He finished by later remarking: "You poke the bear, now you get the bear comes after you."<h2>Muhammad leaped to Anik's defense</h2><div type="image" title="Jon Anik and Belal Muhammad." height="1333" width="2000" msid="98924098" hostid="261" sizebytes="146188"></div>It didn't take long for Muhammad, who will likely have to fight rising phenom Shavkat Rakhmonov to earn his own title shot, to leap to Anik's defense."You're coming at a guy like Jon Anik, who is the nicest guy in the world, and why? Because Jon Anik gave me an interview?" Muhammad said in <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/3/22/23651429/belal-muhammad-trashes-coward-colby-covington-promises-slap-him-after-threats-aimed-at-jon-anik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a separate interview with MMA Fighting</a>.The UFC's next pay-per-view show is in Covington's hometown of Miami, for UFC 287 at the Miami-Dade Arena, and Muhammad said he hopes to bump into his welterweight rival there."I told Jon, I texted Jon, and I said I can't wait to come to Miami in two weeks because I'm cornering my teammate Ignacio Bahamondes, and I wish I see Colby there."I wish that he even looks at Jon in a certain way of disrespect. I swear I'm going to walk right up to him and slap him right in his mouth."He finished: "You're threatening a commentator, and you're acting all this tough talk right now to a guy like Jon Anik? It just pisses me off."Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya headline the UFC 287 main event, with Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal in the co-main.As the UFC's lead play-by-play guy, Anik will likely resume his role in the commentary booth for the broadcast package available to ESPN subscribers.

UFC fighter Colby Covington appeared to threaten a TV commentator's life in an unhinged rant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>MMA fighter Sean Brady said fans have sent him and his wife abusive messages via social media.</li><li>One person reportedly said they'd kill Brady and "bury him in the desert."</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> star Sean Brady said during Monday's <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/10/31/23433488/sean-brady-reveals-fan-threatened-to-kill-me-bury-me-in-the-desert-if-he-beat-belal-muhammad-ufc-280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The MMA Hour show on MMA Fighting</a> that a fan threatened to "kill" him and "bury him in the desert" if he won his match against <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/belal-muhammad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belal Muhammad</a> at UFC 280.Brady said the threats were made to his wife, Kristen Green, via direct messages on social media."Someone messaged her and said that if I won the fight against Belal that they would kill me and bury me in the desert," Brady told The MMA Hour host Ariel Helwani. "It was pretty bad."Brady fought Muhammad on October 22, suffering a knockout defeat via strikes in the second round of a marquee UFC show at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Brady said during the interview that his wife was even receiving messages during the event.<h2>'These fans, they're scumbags,' said Brady</h2><div type="image" title="Belal Muhammad overcame Sean Brady in October." height="1439" width="2000" msid="95262914" hostid="261" sizebytes="151534"></div>"These fans, they're scumbags," he said. "Don't get me wrong, there's great fans, then there are these people with fake profiles that write to you afterward."I read this message that was like, 'You're a piece of shit'," said Brady. "They just say the most wild things to you."Brady said he does not let the social media abuse get to him, but he finds it abhorrent when people are messaging his wife with similar messages."She's a registered nurse — all she does is take care of people, and people are threatening her, calling her this, calling her that."Message me," Brady said. "Don't message my wife, especially if you're a man. Be a man. Say it to me, don't say it to my fucking wife, because my wife could probably beat you up."<h2>'I'd like to slap the shit' out of trolls, Brady said</h2><div type="image" title="Sean Brady." height="1434" width="2000" msid="95262915" hostid="261" sizebytes="124782"></div>He continued by saying that people who send abusive messages on social media would never say the same things to his face."That's the problem," he said. "Those people get to hide behind these screens and say these things. I lost a fight, but my life isn't over. I still live my dream every day. These people hate their lives, and that's why they do what they do."I almost kind of feel bad for them, but I'd like to slap the shit out of them at the same time."

A UFC star said a fan threatened to kill him and 'bury' him 'in the desert' if he won a recent fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13938557" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="viviane-araujo" source="Orion">Viviane Araujo</keyword> came from behind to beat <keyword id="13938558" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="andrea-lee" source="Orion">Andrea Lee</keyword> in convincing fashion Saturday.</li><li>Lee almost finished Araujo in the first round with a head kick that would have KO'd most people.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — Viviane Araujo romped to a bruising <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> win after overcoming a first-round kick that could have taken her head off.Araujo fought Andrea Lee in a women's flyweight three-round bout Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas.It could have been a quickfire knockout loss for Araujo as she was kicked in a way reminiscent of Holly Holm's iconic, career-defining knockout win over Ronda Rousey in 2015.But though she got knocked down, Araujo unlike Rousey was never knocked out. Mere moments later she tossed Lee to the canvas herself to assert her own dominance in the fight. By the round's end, Lee's nose had been bloodied.If Araujo had lost the opening round through the knockdown, she came into the second with all guns blazing as she aggressively targeted Lee's body with shots.She dominated Lee regardless of whether the fight was stand-up or on the ground, shifting control positions and attempting arm-triangle chokes.Araujo took Lee to the ground once again early in the third, and again showcased superior skillsets regardless of where combat took place.By the fight's end, Araujo had out-thrown, out-landed, and out-grappled Lee. She connected with 96 of her 160 strikes for a 60% accuracy compared to Lee's 64 from 103 (62%).Araujo succeeded in three of five takedown attempts compared to Lee's one from two.Unsurprisingly, Araujo won a unanimous decision with scores of 29-27 (twice) and Derek Cleary.This photo shows the impact Lee's kick had in the first round, and how it could have ended the fight there and then:<div type="image" title="Andrea Lee kicks Viviane Araujo in a UFC match." height="1411" width="2000" msid="91572546" hostid="261"></div><h2>Lee's cornerman Tony Kelley could be heard making disparaging remarks</h2>Araujo's come-from-behind victory was overshadowed somewhat by remarks Tony Kelley, Lee's coach and a <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> fighter himself, could be heard making during the live ESPN broadcast.In between rounds, Kelley appeared to say: "That's what they're going to do, they're dirty fucking Brazilians — they're going to fucking cheat like that."Araujo did not attend the post-fight press conference so Insider could not ask the fighter if she heard Kelley's controversial comment to Lee."Ok that corner work was terrible," UFC fighter Belal Muhammad tweeted, adding: "Lee keeps dating racists."Lee's former husband Donny Aaron had multiple Nazi-affiliated tattoos, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/6/3/17422688/andrea-lees-husband-coach-donny-aaron-apologizes-for-nazi-tattoos-wont-get-them-removed-or-covered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a 2018 article on MMA Fighting</a>.Kelley is Lee's current partner.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1525653587904212994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Araujo was transported to a local hospital after her win.Victory advanced her pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> record to 11 wins (three knockouts, four submissions, and four decisions) against three losses.Elsewhere on the card, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-andre-petroski-chokes-nick-maximov-unconscious-2022-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andre Petroski rendered Nick Maximov unconscious with a 76-second anaconda choke</a>.

Viviane Araujo romped to a bruising UFC win after a first-round kick that could have taken her head off

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13951910" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tony-kelley" source="Orion">Tony Kelley</keyword> was slammed Saturday for disparaging remarks made about Brazilians.</li><li>The <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> fighter and cornerman said his comments weren't racist.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — A <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> cornerman and fighter Tony Kelley said the "dirty Brazilians" comment he made live on ESPN was not racist.Kelley was helping coach his partner <keyword id="13938558" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="andrea-lee" source="Orion">Andrea Lee</keyword> during the kickboxer's flyweight fight against Viviane Araujo at the UFC Vegas 54 event broadcast Saturday from the Apex.<a href="https://www.insider.com/viviane-araujo-recovered-from-devastating-head-kick-to-win-ufc-2022-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lee almost kicked Araujo's head off</a> in the opening round but the Brazilian fighter battled back to earn a unanimous decision with scores of 29-27 (x2) and 29-28.Midway through the bout, though, Kelley could be heard making disparaging comments about Araujo to Lee."That's what they're going to do, they're dirty fucking Brazilians — they're going to fucking cheat like that," Kelley said between rounds, <a href="https://www.insider.com/viviane-araujo-recovered-from-devastating-head-kick-to-win-ufc-2022-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as previously reported by Insider</a>.The comment was rebuked by numerous people involved with the UFC at the time."Ok that corner work was terrible," UFC fighter Belal Muhammad tweeted, adding: "Lee keeps dating racists."Lee's former husband Donny Aaron had multiple Nazi-affiliated tattoos, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/6/3/17422688/andrea-lees-husband-coach-donny-aaron-apologizes-for-nazi-tattoos-wont-get-them-removed-or-covered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a 2018 article on MMA Fighting</a>.Kelley is Lee's current partner.In a response to his own comments, and to the backlash, Kelley took to Twitter. "Cancel Culture is real," he said instead."What I said was real and in the heat of battle, and in no way had any type of racist connotations meant … but if that's the way you take it, idgaf."So many people quick to say racist. That shits getting so old. My reference was to a dirty eye poke."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Tony Kelley (@TonyKelleyMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1525730384394104832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Kelley fights Adrian Yanez on June 18 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, for a UFC on ESPN 37 event.

A UFC cornerman and fighter Tony Kelley said his 'dirty Brazilians' comment was not racist

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13633710" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="heili-alateng" source="Orion">Heili Alateng</keyword> scored a quick-fire 47-second knockout against Kevin Croom.</li><li>The Chinese fighter barely broke a sweat, and wasn't even bruised, such was his dominance.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — Heili Alateng scored a quick-fire 47-second knockout against Kevin Croom on Saturday at the Apex, a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>-owned facility near the Las Vegas strip.The bantamweight bout introduced a 14-bout card as the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> returned to Vegas following events in London, Ohio, and Florida.Alateng ensured the UFC came back with a bang to the city as he limited his opponent to just two shots landed from 12 thrown, while cracking Croom's skull with nine from 17 shots of his own.The Chinese fighter's relentless accuracy in attack forced Croom back, onto the deck, and left him unable to continue mere moments after the opening bell.Alateng made it look easy when fighting, really, is anything but.The beginning of the end arrived 40 seconds after the opening bell, when Alateng threw a jab at Croom's body to disguise what was then to come — a powerful right hand over the top that wobbled the American.Instinctively, Alateng attached a left hand to the end of the sequence, regrouped, and then threw another flurry of strikes when Croom's back was against the fence. He was really in trouble now.And so it was not long before Croom was on the deck. He tried to pop back up but Alateng was there, ready to just keep throwing shot after shot at him.The referee, though, didn't even allow him to. He waved the contest off. It was all over.Watch the action right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1515444290582851589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2022</a></blockquote>With victory, Alateng advanced his pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> record to 15 wins (five knockouts, three submissions, and seven decisions) against eight losses.Elsewhere on the prelims, Sam Hughes out-pointed Istela Nunes, Jordan Leavitt decisioned Trey Ogden, and Rafa Garcia submitted Jesse Ronson.The main event, a welterweight bout, pitted Vicente Luque against Belal Muhammad in a 170-pound that had potential ramifications for the championship landscape in that division.

A bantamweight UFC fighter scored a lightning-quick 47-second knockout after going ham with strikes

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12584885" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cody-durden" source="Orion">Cody Durden</keyword>'s fellow fighters criticized him for his insulting language at a <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> event Saturday.</li><li>Durden defeated Mongolian fighter Aoriqileng and said he had to "send him back to where he came from."</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> flyweight Cody Durden attracted backlash from fellow fighters for insulting comments he made after beating 125-pound opponent Aoriqileng at an <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> event Saturday in Las Vegas.The American fighter said immediately after the win that he had to send Aoriqileng, who is from the Inner Mongolia region of China, <a href="https://www.insider.com/cody-durden-said-he-sent-ufc-opponent-back-to-china-2021-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"back to China where he came from."</a>His comment attracted boos from those who attended the show inside the Apex, and though Durden claimed the comment was not racist, his peers begged to differ."Racism is never cool," women's flyweight fighter Casey O'Neill tweeted.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1462174691947257861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2021</a></blockquote>UFC welterweight Belal <a href="https://twitter.com/bullyb170/status/1462175339656929292" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muhammad called Durden a "bozo,"</a> the American light heavyweight Jamahal Hill said <a href="https://twitter.com/JamahalH/status/1462174508777938958" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"way to shit on your own performance,"</a> and UFC new boy Mohammad <a href="https://twitter.com/muhammadmokaev/status/1462181905638596611" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mokaev challenged Durden to a fight</a>.Jared Gordon, a New Yorker, said Durden's language made "white people look dumb."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1462181622569222147">November 20, 2021</a></blockquote>Durden was undeterred at the opposition to his post-fight statement."If they don't like it, do something," <a href="https://www.insider.com/cody-durden-said-he-sent-ufc-opponent-back-to-china-2021-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he told reporters at the post-fight press conference</a> on the night. "Sign the contract, it doesn't matter to me. I said what I said and it is what it is."Emotions were high. It's the fight business. He's punching me in the face and I was punching him in the face. It's his family or mine, and tonight my family eats."Durden, though, later apologized on Twitter. "I apologize if I offended anyone," he said.

Elite UFC fighters rebuke American athlete Cody Durden's insulting trash talk saying 'racism is never cool'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6130340" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jake-Paul">Jake Paul</keyword> knocking out <keyword id="10357032" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ben-askren">Ben Askren</keyword> would bring shame to the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> community.</li><li>Regardless, it would also be pretty funny to watch.</li><li>That's according to the UFC star Leon Edwards, who foresees an easy win for the YouTube star.</li></ul>It will be a humiliating day for combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> when the internet sensation Jake Paul beats the former MMA champion Ben Askren in their upcoming <a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showbiz boxing</a> bout, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> star Leon Edwards said.The crossover match takes place April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the home of NFL side Atlanta Falcons. The Triller Fight Club bout will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event with a $49.99 price tag.Askren takes far more fighting experience into the ring than YouTube creator Paul. He is a former Bellator MMA champion, a former One Championship titleholder, and a former UFC competitor.Paul, in contrast, is yet to compete against an actual fighter. He's fought in two professional <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> bouts, but neither has been against a true pro. He first toppled fellow creator AnEsonGib before <a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-scored-a-highlight-reel-ko-for-the-ages-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flattening the former NBA player Nate Robinson in 2020</a>.Regardless, Paul appears to be the favorite to defeat Askren. That's largely because Askren is renowned for his wrestling and ground-game, as opposed to his striking.As such, Edwards foresees a demolition job that will bring shame to the MMA community."He's going to get knocked out, I'm serious," Edwards said of Askren during a virtual media roundtable Insider attended last month."It's going to be bad for MMA … I don't know who agreed to this," the British fighter added. "I don't think it's going to be good for MMA, and he's going to get chinned. But … it's going to be funny to see it."<h2>Edwards headlines Saturday's UFC Fight Night 187 event</h2><div type="image" title="Leon Edwards UFC" height="750" width="1500" msid="81433162" hostid="261"></div>Edwards is one of the best welterweight fighters in the world, but has not competed since 2019.The 29-year-old has beaten a who's who of 170-pound competitors since a 2015 loss to Kamaru Usman, tallying wins over Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson, and Rafael dos Anjos.Edwards was supposed to fight the UFC super prospect Khamzat Chimaev but the bout had to be rescheduled three times because both fighters tested positive for the coronavirus at separate times.While Edwards has recovered from COVID-19, <a href="https://www.insider.com/khamzat-chimaev-struggling-with-covid-unclear-when-hell-fight-again-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chimaev continues to suffer issues</a>.He was flown to the US from Europe for treatment, <a href="https://www.insider.com/khamzat-chimaev-hints-at-ufc-retirement-battles-covid-aftermath-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coughed-up blood, and hinted</a> at retirement <a href="https://www.insider.com/khamzat-chimaev-chechan-warlord-convinced-ufc-star-to-unretire-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">until a phone call from the Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov</a>.Edwards, meanwhile, returns to the Octagon for Saturday's behind-closed-doors UFC Fight Night 187 event against Belal Muhammad, and wants to use the bout as a springboard to a title shot later this year."I've proven to the world and myself that I belong in the top five," Edwards said."I've got an amazing body of work behind me and this will be the ninth win in the row when I go out and beat Belal Muhammad, which is the third-most in the whole promotion's history."He said he cannot be denied a title shot and is determined to force one by continuing to do he has done best for the last six years - winning.

Jake Paul beating Ben Askren will be a humiliating but hilarious day for MMA, according to UFC welterweight Leon Edwards

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="90687" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Evander-Holyfield">Evander Holyfield</keyword> has hinted that <keyword id="43688" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mike-Tyson">Mike Tyson</keyword> may be avoiding a third <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> match.</li><li>Tyson returned to the ring with great success in November.</li><li>Holyfield is challenging Tyson to lace them up one more time. "Tyson … where you at?"</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mike-tyson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson</a> may be avoiding a lucrative trilogy boxing match, his old rival <a href="https://www.boxingscene.com/holyfield-claims-mike-tyson-dragging-his-feet-finalize-trilogy--156041" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evander Holyfield hinted on the Boxing Scene website</a> this week."Tyson … where you at?" Holyfield said.The two former heavyweight champions fought twice in the late 1990s. Holyfield won the first via 11th round knockout ahead of a third-round victory in the immediate rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting.Talk of a third bout has escalated because of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising popularity of showbiz boxing</a> - a separate entity to <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">professional boxing</a>.The best-selling boxing pay-per-view in 2020 was the Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. sideshow in November.At the post-event press conference, <a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-landed-more-punches-roy-jones-earned-draw-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyson told reporters that he smoked marijuana before the fight and enjoyed it so much he wants to do it all again.</a>This pointed toward an anticipated showdown involving 58-year-old Holyfield, who has said he's desperate to get his hands on the 54-year-old again."[I'm] waiting on my dance partner now, Mike Tyson, to show up. Where you at?" said Holyfield."My side tried to make the fight happen, and we got nothing but excuses. Now I can see why he wanted a tune-up fight before thinking about fighting me."Roy Jones was a good local opponent for Mike, but a fight with me would be a global event, and the only fight that anyone wants to see is a fight between us."Holyfield believes a trilogy bout with Tyson would generate $100 million."The fight would be big because so many people want the fight," <a href="https://www.insider.com/evander-holyfield-says-everyone-wants-a-mike-tyson-trilogy-fight-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he told Brian Custer on The Last Stand</a> podcast in February.Showbiz boxing returns April 17 with a crossover match that pairs the YouTube celebrity Jake Paul against the former MMA champion Ben Askren.The UFC star Leon Edwards, who headlines <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the UFC Fight Night 187</a> event Saturday when he fights Belal Muhammad, recently said <a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-beating-ben-askren-humiliates-mma-leon-edwards-says-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it would be a humiliating but hilarious day if Paul batters Askren</a>.

Mike Tyson may be avoiding a lucrative trilogy boxing match, his old rival Evander Holyfield hinted

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9359272" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aljamain-sterling">Aljamain Sterling</keyword> is barred from fighting for two months.</li><li>The bantamweight won the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> championship after his opponent <keyword id="9561302" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="petr-yan">Petr Yan</keyword> was DQ'd for an illegal knee.</li><li>Sterling was one of 20 athletes to be slapped with medical suspensions after UFC 259.</li></ul>The American fighter Aljamain Sterling can't compete for two months because of a medical suspension after he was clattered with an illegal knee Saturday <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the big UFC 259 event</a> in Las Vegas.Sterling, the No. 1 contender in the bantamweight division, challenged Petr Yan for the Russian striker's championship title and, after a back-and-forth battle, left the Octagon victorious, winning by disqualification.<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-illegal-knee-disqualifies-petr-yan-from-aljamain-sterling-fight-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yan hit Sterling with a knee to the face</a> when Sterling was in a down position.The referee gave Sterling time to recover and brought the doctor in to check on him.Sterling said he didn't want the fight to end like that but was deemed unfit to continue and therefore was awarded the win by DQ.Mixed Martial Arts, the official record-keeper for <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword>, sent Insider a statement Monday detailing medical suspensions for athletes competing at the UFC 259 event.Because the show took place in Las Vegas, the suspensions are handled by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.Medical suspensions are common in combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> to ensure the winning and losing fighters get enough time off from competitive sport, as well as contact sparring, to recover physically and mentally.Sterling is prevented from contact sparring until April 21 and will not be able to compete until May 6, according to Mixed Martial Arts.The commission handed out 19 other medical suspensions on a wild night of fights that included <a href="https://www.insider.com/elliot-asked-if-ufc-opponent-was-woman-beater-espinosa-denied-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Elliot asking his opponent whether he was a woman-beater</a> in the middle of their fight, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-amanda-nunes-dominates-megan-anderson-hit-twice-ufc-259-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amanda Nunes dominating Megan Anderson so resoundingly she was hit only twice</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/jan-blachowicz-beat-israel-adesanya-rare-clash-of-two-champions-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jan Blachowicz derailing Israel Adesanya's quest to be the best with a signature win</a> of his own.Jordan Espinosa, who was Elliot's opponent, is barred until April 6; Anderson must have an MRI scan on her right elbow; and Adesanya must receive clearance from X-rays on his left foot and right ankle.The next UFC event is the UFC Fight Night 187 show scheduled for March 13 at the Apex in Las Vegas. The welterweight Leon Edwards is set to fight Belal Muhammad in the show's main event.

American fighter Aljamain Sterling is barred from fighting for 2 months after he was poleaxed by an illegal knee

<ul class="summary-list"><li>What <keyword id="2959098" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Meghan-Markle">Meghan Markle</keyword> is going through is unacceptable, says <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> fighter <keyword id="9828609" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leon-edwards">Leon Edwards</keyword>, who is Black.</li><li>The welterweight is from the UK and said there is a difference in racism in the US and in Britain.</li><li>In the US, racism is out in the open, Edwards said, but in the UK there is "hush racism."</li></ul>It's unacceptable what Meghan Markle is "still going through" as the Duchess of Sussex, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fighter Leon Edwards, a Black athlete from the UK, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2021/03/08/leon-edwards-meghan-markle-prince-harry-racism-claims-royal-family-archie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told TMZ Sports this week</a>.Markle and her husband Prince Harry's interview with Oprah, which aired Sunday and cost CBS $7 million, has sent ripples through the UK and the US, and led to crisis talks in the British <keyword id="72980" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="royal-family">royal family</keyword>.In the interview, <a href="https://www.insider.com/harry-and-meghan-oprah-interview-racism-large-part-leaving-uk-2021-3">Harry noted that racism was "a large part"</a> of why the couple left the UK. He added that it was hurtful that <a href="https://www.insider.com/prince-harry-hurt-over-tabloid-racist-treatment-of-meghan-markle-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the royal family never acknowledged the tabloid media's racist treatment of Markle</a>.Markle, meanwhile, told Winfrey that members of <a href="https://www.insider.com/royals-concerns-over-archie-skin-tone-meghan-harry-oprah-interview-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the royal family had "concerns and conversations" about how dark their son Archie's skin would be</a> before he was even born.After the interview had been broadcast, Edwards was one of a number of elite athletes to express their support for Markle, and their condemnation of her treatment."It's unacceptable, obviously. It's heartbreaking to hear what [Markle] went through, what she's still going through," he told TMZ.He added: "[She's] a new mom, just got married. This should be a fun time in her life. Should be enjoying her family, enjoying her baby, but this is what she has to deal with."The 29-year-old fighter, who was born in Jamaica but moved to England when he was nine, said that there's a difference between racism in the US and in the UK."There's racism, but it's very hush racism, right? It's not like in America, there's blatant racism sometimes. But, in the UK, it's like very down low racism, but it's there, and it's sad to see in 2021."You can't keep an old monarchy in 2021. They need to come up to date with the times," said Edwards. "I wish [Markle] well, and she can get through it."<div type="image" title="Leon Edwards UFC" height="750" width="1500" msid="81412092" hostid="261"></div>One of the top welterweights in mixed martial arts, Edwards returns to the Octagon this weekend after a coronavirus-enforced period of inactivity in 2020.The Brit fights Belal Muhammad in the headline bout of the UFC Fight Night 187 event that takes place behind-closed-doors inside the Apex, Las Vegas.He previously told media during a virtual roundtable that Insider attended that he plans to win, in style, so that he can force a 170-pound title shot later in the year.

UFC star Leon Edwards 'heartbroken' by Meghan Markle's Oprah interview and claims of racism in the Royal Family

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9643917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="khamzat-chimaev">Khamzat Chimaev</keyword>, 26, hinted at retirement from the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> as he suffers lingering COVID effects.</li><li>The UFC boss <keyword id="1358348" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dana-White">Dana White</keyword> countered this with his own statement, saying he could still fight in June.</li><li>One of Chimaev's rivals, <keyword id="9828609" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leon-edwards">Leon Edwards</keyword>, hopes the Russian recovers in speedy fashion.</li></ul>The 26-year-old super prospect <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khamzat-chimaev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khamzat Chimaev</a> hinted at a retirement from <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the UFC</a> as he continues to battle the long-term effects of the coronavirus."Thank you all so much for supporting me in my journey in this sport," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL5cum2lU4R/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said Monday in an Instagram post</a>. "I think I'm done."Chimaev <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-khamzat-chimaev-become-an-undeniable-ufc-star-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took the MMA world by storm in 2020</a> when he won two fights in 10 days - a UFC record - on <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fight Island</a>, before <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-khamzat-chimaev-wins-17-second-knockout-at-ufc-vegas-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulldozing through his third UFC opponent in 17 seconds with a merciless one-punch knockout</a>.His fourth bout was supposed to take place December against the top tier welterweight Leon Edwards, however, the match was rescheduled several times for coronavirus-related reasons.The UFC flew Chimaev from Europe to the USA in February so he could receive treatment there, after saying he thought "he was going to die" because of lingering COVID effects months after testing positive.Insider wrote at the time that <a href="https://www.insider.com/khamzat-chimaev-struggling-with-covid-unclear-when-hell-fight-again-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it was unclear when he'd be able to return to the Octagon.</a> Now it seems that may never happen.<a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/3/1/22308488/khamzat-chimaev-appears-to-announce-retirement-but-dana-white-says-star-emotional-will-return" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to MMA Fighting</a>, Chimaev said this week: "I don't know what this disease is but it is not easily outlived."He also posted a photograph on an Instagram story that appeared to show he had been coughing up blood.<h2>Dana White issued a statement saying Chimaev will be back</h2><div type="image" title="Khamzat Chimaev UFC retire" height="671" width="1342" msid="81294388" hostid="261"></div>Chimaev's social media message is at odds with a statement that the UFC boss Dana White later <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/03/dana-white-khamzat-chimaev-emotional-but-not-retiring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave to MMA Junkie</a>.White said that Chimaev had been prescribed medication and was supposed to be relaxing. Instead, the Russian fighter continues to train."When he got here, the doctors took care of him, and they put him on prednisone which is a nasty f------ steroid," White said."He's supposed to be taking this thing and chilling, relaxing, and letting himself recover. He went in and f------ trained today, felt like s---, and got super emotional and posted that."He's not supposed to be training, but you know, this guy's a savage. He wants to fight like every f------ weekend, and now he can't even train, so he just got emotional and posted that, but he ain't quitting."White said Chimaev is "going to be fine."He added: "He's training when he's supposed to be resting. He's got to stay off, at least while he's on this medication."<h2>Leon Edwards wishes Chimaev a speedy recovery</h2><div type="image" title="Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev" height="500" width="1000" msid="81294390" hostid="261"></div>Leon Edwards told Insider at a virtual media roundtable event last week that he hopes his rival gets better soon.Edwards competes March 13 against Belal Muha<keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">mma</keyword>d, an opponent who was brought in to replace Chimaev as the MMA fighter could not compete on the card because of his COVID issues.The British welterweight, who himself tested positive for the coronavirus last year, said: "I had it as well and understand the effects of it."At the end of the day, a fight's a fight but your life and your health is more important. I wish him a speedy recovery, I wish him well, and hopefully, we can [fight] down the line."

You Searched For "belal muhammad" and got 12 results

A headlining UFC match was called off when one fighter couldn't see after an accidental but painful eye gouge

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UFC fighter Colby Covington appeared to threaten a TV commentator's life in an unhinged rant

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A UFC star said a fan threatened to kill him and 'bury' him 'in the desert' if he won a recent fight

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Viviane Araujo romped to a bruising UFC win after a first-round kick that could have taken her head off

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A UFC cornerman and fighter Tony Kelley said his 'dirty Brazilians' comment was not racist

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A bantamweight UFC fighter scored a lightning-quick 47-second knockout after going ham with strikes

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Elite UFC fighters rebuke American athlete Cody Durden's insulting trash talk saying 'racism is never cool'

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Jake Paul beating Ben Askren will be a humiliating but hilarious day for MMA, according to UFC welterweight Leon Edwards

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Mike Tyson may be avoiding a lucrative trilogy boxing match, his old rival Evander Holyfield hinted

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American fighter Aljamain Sterling is barred from fighting for 2 months after he was poleaxed by an illegal knee

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UFC star Leon Edwards 'heartbroken' by Meghan Markle's Oprah interview and claims of racism in the Royal Family

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26-year-old super prospect Khamzat Chimaev hinted that COVID complications might force him to retire from the UFC

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