UFC 251 takes place at Dana White's new-look Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates this Saturday night.
Jorge Masvidal has been confirmed as Kamaru Usman's opponent after Gilbert Burns was dramatically pulled from the event for testing positive for coronavirus.
As well as a packed MMA schedule over the next seven days, we've got the very latest on Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III and Mike Tyson's incredible potential return to the ring.
Follow all the latest fighting talk from the world of boxing and MMA below…
KAM YOU BELIEVE IT
Jorge Masvidal is confident of beating Kamaru Unman on Fight Island.
He told ESPN: “I’m going to baptise his a**e.
“That’s a fact. That’s what you can bet on. That’s the secret sauce right there. I’m going to baptise him.”
“I’m going to do it in violent fashion and I’m going to separate myself from the pack even more than I have in the past.”
RIDDLE LATEST
WWE star Matt Riddle has denied claims of sexual assault made against him – but admitted to cheating on his wife with the accuser.
The SmackDown star's lawyer acknowledged the claims last month – saying Candy Cartwright was in fact stalking his client.
But Riddle, 34, has now admitted to having an affair with the woman – herself an independent wrestler.
READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE.
TYSON’S FURY
Peter McNeeley has opened up on feeling Mike Tyson’s fury in his 1995 comeback fight after serving three years in jail.
McNeeley told the Rocky Road: Rewind podcast: “That first punch that I went down, I was terribly off balance, I was standing square. But he caught me a good straight right and people didn’t even see it because he was that fast.
“In the history of Mike Tyson’s career, the uppercut was always his best punch and he caught me with it on the chin — and I went down on my face.”
PUL THE OTHER ONE
Kubrat Pulev is confident he can beat Tyson Fury after dethroning Anthony Joshua – because he has already beaten the “better Fury”
His co-promoter Ivan Gotzev told World Boxing News: “Kubrat’s thinking, let them do all the planning. Then let me get that Tyson Fury fight.
“Because defeating AJ will create a great podium for a Tyson Fury showdown.
“He’s already beaten the younger Fury (Hughie). Kubrat feels is the better Fury.”
JORGE WOE
Jorge Masvidal has revealed he is “devastated” after losing his long-time cornerman Mike Brown for his UFC 251 fight against Kamaru Usman due to coronavirus.
He told ESPN: “It sucked emotionally just because I want him there when I get that belt.
“I needed this individual to be there because he’s a huge part of my career. He’s been there for such a long time.
“We’ve been friends for such a long time as well. It took the air from all of us.
“Every single one of me and my cornermen were devastated by it.
“Thank god, Mike doesn’t have any symptoms, nothing, any cold symptoms or sore throat or nothing. So he’s great right now.”
RICH PICKINGS
Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are in the top five for money earned per day's work.
But which other sportsmen are on the list?
Check it out here!
FURY ROAD
Tyson Fury has been cleared by the WBC over “ridiculous” glove tampering allegations made after beating Deontay Wilder.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports: “It’s ridiculous. It’s difficult to understand.
“I was present in both fights, I was in the dressing room, in both fights. Both Wilder and Fury dressing room.
“One was in California, the other one was in Nevada. In both cases, there were at least three inspectors in each dressing room.
“I was there before and after the fight. And I saw the hand wraps, I saw them with the gloves.
“I was in the ring when they came into the ring, and I was sitting right there during the fight.
“At no moment, in either fight, I saw anything that would look suspicious whatsoever.
“After the fight, they take off the gloves, they are handed to the commission.”
HOME RUN
Could this be the future of sport with no fans?
Creepy dancing robots and dogs have replaced fans at a Japanese baseball ground.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks had 20 of them dancing on an otherwise empty platform ahead of their Nippon Professional Baseball game against Rakuten Eagles yesterday.
How would you feel about seeing this at a football match, or a boxing fight, or an F1 race?
IN FOR THE DILL
Dillian Whyte and trainer Mark Tibbs have parted ways.
The shock announcement comes just six weeks out from Whyte's clash with Alexander Povetkin.
Marking the end of their four-year relationship, Whyte said: “Just to let everyone know Mark Tibbs and I are no longer working together as boxer and trainer.
“I’m training in Portugal and Mark has a young family and his own new gym in the UK. It means it just hasn’t worked out in the way we had both hoped.
“Mark came into my team four years ago and has helped turn me into the world class boxer that I am today.
“Mark is a great trainer and I will always be grateful to him and his Dad for all they have done.”
STRAP UP
UFC president Dana White revealed Jorge Masvidal’s ‘Baddest Mother F***er’ belt will not be on the line against Kamaru Usman.
Masvidal, 35, won the unprecedented title against fellow fan-favourite Nate Diaz, also 35, last November.
And despite challenging welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, 33, on a week’s notice at UFC 251, the BMF strap will not be contested.
White told TMZ Sports: “It’s not on the line. Usman wants it to be on the line so bad.
“He will not stop texting me saying ‘I don’t understand why this belt isn’t on the line. This guy’s running around saying he’s the BMF champion.’
“He’s like ‘I want to squash it all. He’s not going to take my title, and I’m going to take his BMF belt.’
“Believe me, Usman has not stopped terrorising me about this.”
TWEET REVENGE
Billy Joe Saunders is facing another battering from the British Boxing Board of Control and social media giants Twitter over his warped message to Chris Eubank Jr.
The supremely gifted super-middleweight world champ continued his dismal disciplinary record by mentioning his rival’s mum during a heated social media exchange this week.
The sick post attracted dozens of responses and upset a handful of women’s groups, especially as Saunders has previous form.
Twitter took the serious step of suspending his account until he removes them and the BBBofC are now trying to arrange another hearing to address the southpaw bad boy.
Twitter told SunSport: “The account is temporarily locked for violating our Abusive Behaviour Policy.”
HOLLO VICTORY
Max Holloway wants his rematch against Alexander Volkanovski to be switched from an indoor arena to Fight Island’s beach Octagon.
Holloway, 28, faces Volkanovski, 31, in the UFC 251 co-main event as he challenges for the featherweight title he lost seven months ago.
But the challenger wants to fight outside, in the cage which is situated on the sand, instead of the arena specially built to stage the pay-per-view show behind closed doors.
Holloway said: “We’re here in the Octagon. I talked to Dana, I told him I don’t wanna fight over there, I wanna fight on the beach.
“We move our fight to the beach.
“So we’re on the Octagon beach, we’re getting ready it’s early in the morning couple hours till what would be fight time.”
TIBB OFF
Dillian Whyte has decided to split from his trainer Mark Tibbs with six weeks before his fight with Alexander Povetkin.
Whyte and Tibbs have been working together for the last four years but have now decided on an amicable split.
Whyte posted the news on social media, writing: “Just to let everyone know Mark Tibbs and I are no longer working together as boxer and trainer.
“I’m training in Portugal and Mark has a young family and his own new gym in the UK. It means it just hasn’t worked out in the way we had both hoped.
“Mark came into my team four years ago and has helped turn me into the world class boxer that I am today.
“Mark is a great trainer and I will always be grateful to him and his Dad for all they have done.”
JORGE CAME PREPPED
Jorge Masvidal has been training to fight Kamaru Usman for weeks – even after their original talks broke down.
Masvidal, 35, agreed to step in on just a week’s notice to challenge welterweight champion Usman, 33, at UFC 251 on ‘Fight Island’.
The American initially failed to agree terms for the bout, disputing his cut in the pay-per-view sales, which led to 33-year-old Gilbert Burns taking the title fight.
But after Brazilian Burns dramatically failed a coronavirus test, the UFC turned once again to Masvidal and a last-gasp deal was finalised with just days to go.
It turns out Masvidal had anticipated the scenario, as training partner Dustin Poirier – who beat Dan Hooker at the end of June – was in camp with the welterweight challenger.
Poirier told the Teddy Atlas podcast: “It’s short notice because he didn’t have the contract signed.
“But let me tell you what. This guy was there my whole training camp, he was my main sparring partner.”
FLAIR PLAY
WWE star Charlotte Flair set pulses racing as she shared a stunning lingerie shot with her fans.
The 34-year-old is taking an extended break from wrestling for surgery and some personal time off.
But she’s still managing to keep her fans entertained on social media.
Flair, daughter of WWE legend Ric, shared a snap from a recent photo shoot to her Instagram page.
The former NXT Women’s Champion left little to the imagination as she posed in black lingerie.
Fellow American wrestler Dasha Kuret commented: “Beautiful!!!!”
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CON ARTIST
Jorge Misvidal has snubbed Conor McGregor when asked who he’ll target if he brushes aside champion Kamaru Usman.
The 35-year-old takes on Usman at UFC 251 on Saturday after stepping in on a week’s notice after original opponent Gilburt Burns tested positive for coronavirus.
He told ESPN: “There are two guys that are on my radar and Nate is definitely one of them.
“Because no matter what, there’s a good fight and me, nor the world, got the result we wanted [when they fought for the BMF title].
“I know Nate wants to run it back. I’m telling you, speaking from the heart, I want to run it back.
“So when I get this title, nothing would be better than to give him the same opportunity he gave me to fight for his BMF belt.”
GOOD MORNING FIGHT FANS
Dillian Whyte will NOT step aside to let Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua in a unification blockbuster.
The Bodysnatcher is approaching 1,000 days as the WBC's mandatory challenger – but he has had to watch on as Fury beat Deontay Wilder to win the belt.
Speaking to The Telegraph the 32-year-old Brixton banger, who has been calling out Fury for weeks, said: “Nah, there's to be no step-aside. I’ve waited long enough.
“I’m not getting any younger, I’m getting older. I just want to be world champion and reign and unify.
“So the sooner I can get the world title the sooner I can go about that. So, no I’m not looking to step aside at all.”
Meanwhile, the UFC have released inside pictures of Fight Island ahead of its debut this weekend.
Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman flew out to the Middle East ahead of their UFC 251 headliner.
The fight was only agreed at the start of the week following last-gasp talks as Gilbert Burns was ruled out after testing positive for coronavirus.
Burns had been given the fight after Masvidal initially failed to agree terms to challenge for the title after a pay row.
But the UFC were able to come to an agreement with the welterweight fan-favourite, salvaging their main event.
On the undercard Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title in an immediate rematch with Max Holloway.
Finally, Floyd Mayweather is selling customised messages on Cameo for $999 – £795 – a pop, the most expensive celebrity on the site.
The undefeated 50-0 champ has vowed to become the first star to make a cool million from Cameo, the custom video request site.
He said: “I want to be the first celebrity to make a million dollars on Cameo.”
NFL legends Ray Lewis and Brett Favre also use the service while Mike Tyson charges less than a third of Mayweather at $300, while Roy Jones Jr punches at $199.
EXCLUSIVE BY WALLY DOWNES JR
Luke Campbell faces a horrible fight to convince his terrified son that a world-title dream is worth risking his life for.
Hull’s Olympic 2012 golden boy has fallen short in two attempts at a lightweight crown, against future hall-of-fame stars Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
But the 32-year-old remains as driven as ever to land a 9st 9lb title — and is chasing a fight with Mexico’s latest powerhouse Ryan Garcia for the WBC’s interim strap.
However, nothing could have prepared Campbell for his eldest son Leo, 10, reminding him of the terrifying risks his job involves.
READ THE REST OF OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LUKE CAMPBELL HERE.
CON ARTIST
Conor McGregor has taken to Twitter to remind fans of his goals from 2013, while raising hope of a UFC return by determinedly assuring followers that he will complete them all.
These include attaining a prestigious jiu-jitsu black belt, as well as a Hall of Fame plaque – potentially hinting at a UFC return.
Having defeated Max Holloway three months earlier, McGregor tweeted in November 2013: “I just want two gold belts, a jiu-jitsu blackbelt, a hall of fame plaque and 25 million in the bank. Is that too much to ask? Gym time!!”
And reminding fans of these goals today, he wrote: “My 2013 dreams and aspirations. Close on some. Exceeded on others. The ones I’m close on are still in play though.
“God bless and happy Tuesday everyone!WORK TOWARDS YOUR DREAMS! gymtime“
PIZZA THE ACTION
Jorge Masvidal stopped off in Rome to buy PIZZA for his flight to UFC 251 Fight Island despite being more than a stone overweight.
The MMA star, 35, shared a picture of himself outside Rome airport and another scoffing a slice of the good stuff on a private jet.
Masvidal agreed to step in on just a week's notice to challenge welterweight champion Kumaru Usman at UFC 251.
Masvidal shared the pictures to Instagram, captioned: “Was in the mood for some pizza so made a quick stop theresurrection“.
TURN THE PAIGE
Paige VanZant revealed she plans to become a mum but not until she feels financially secured.
VanZant told MMA Fighting: “I’ve added up all the money I’ve made in the UFC over six years, and I could have just had a regular job with the same pay.
“I’m so thankful for everything the UFC has done for me, the platform they’ve given me. This is nothing against the UFC.
But the contract I signed is what I signed and I know I need to honor it.
“That’s why I’m fighting this last fight out and I was never trying to break it early.
“It’s important to fight this fight out, honour my contract and then say listen this is my value and this is what I need to be paid to make it worth it.”
A RICKLE IN TIME
Ricky Hatton has called on boxing authorities to “save Mike Tyson from himself” as the sports legend plots a comeback.
Speaking on the Gary Newbon Sports Show, as reported by MailOnline, Hatton said: “I hope he's taking the micky with his talks about making a comeback.
“For his age he looks fantastic in that gym – but he's still 50-plus and I don't want to see any of my heroes get hurt.
“I hope I'm in the same shape as Tyson when I'm 54 but we've got to save Tyson from himself, or the boxing authorities have got to save him from himself.
“We can't let Mike fight, no matter how fantastic a shape he's in.
“Let's calm it down Mike, you know?!”
WHAT'S EATING GILBERT
Gilbert Burns is rooting for Kamaru Usman to retain his UFC title – fearing Jorge Masvidal would make a “circus” of the welterweight division.
He told ESPN: “I want Kamaru to win. First of all, because I kind of like the guy.
“He’s not anymore, but he used to be my training partner, so for sure I got Kamaru. And if Masvidal wins, the things are gonna get crazy.
“It’s going to be a circus in that division. He’s going to fight who else, I don’t know, I think he wants to fight Conor or maybe Nate Diaz.
“I don’t think the division is going to run correctly, with the number one, number two guys fighting for the title.
“He’s going to make it a mess, so that’s another reason I want Kamaru to win.”
REEL DEAL
Floyd Mayweather is selling customised messages on Cameo for $999 – £795 – a pop, the most expensive celebrity on the site.
The undefeated 50-0 champ has vowed to become the first star to make a cool million from Cameo, the custom video request site.
He said: “I want to be the first celebrity to make a million dollars on Cameo.”
NFL legends Ray Lewis and Brett Favre also use the service while Mike Tyson charges less than a third of Mayweather at $300, while Roy Jones Jr punches at $199.
MAC ATTACK
Conor McGregor has slammed Dustin Poirier after the UFC ace claimed he’d rather fight Khabib Nurmagomedov than the Dubliner.
Poirier suffered a first round defeat to McGregor back in 2014 in the early stages of their UFC careers.
And yesterday the American claimed he would rather face Russian star Khabib again – to try and hand him his first career defeat.
He explained: “If the belts weren’t on the line, just for my legacy, I would love to beat Khabib.
“Nobody’s ever beat him. Nobody’s ever climbed that mountain. I would love to be the first one. That’s historic. That’s legendary.
“That’s the stuff I’m out to do. I’m not out for rematches and grudge matches and revenge.”
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