Latest news with #Middleweight
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joe Pyfer fires back at critics: 'I Didn't Get Fraud Checked!', aims at Bo Nickal in fiery rant
The post Joe Pyfer fires back at critics: 'I Didn't Get Fraud Checked!', aims at Bo Nickal in fiery rant appeared first on ClutchPoints. Joe Pyfer has had enough of the 'fraud checked' label. At UFC 316 media day, the surging middleweight prospect addressed the MMA community's favorite insult after his decision loss to Jack Hermansson, and he didn't hold back. In a pointed statement, Pyfer argued that his defeat was nothing like the so-called 'fraud check' that fans and pundits love to throw around. Instead, Pyfer redirected the term squarely at fellow prospect Bo Nickal, whose recent TKO loss to Reinier de Ridder sent shockwaves through the division. The message was clear, Pyfer doesn't see his setback as evidence that he was overhyped or exposed, unlike what he claims happened to Nickal. What Does 'Fraud Checked' Really Mean? The term 'fraud checked' has become MMA's go-to for describing fighters who, after a wave of hype, are exposed as not being as good as advertised. It's a label that stings, especially for rising stars with big promotional pushes. Pyfer, however, insists the label is being misapplied to his own UFC journey. Advertisement Pyfer explained that his loss to Hermansson was a close, competitive affair where he wasn't dominated, finished, or embarrassed. He pointed to the circumstances around the fight, his first main event, his first five-rounder, and coming in less than 100%. Despite the adversity, Pyfer went the distance, losing a narrow decision. 'A lot of people focus on my fight with Jack Hermansson, which is understandable. That was my first major event, my initial significant challenge, and I entered that fight not at my best due to various issues. It wasn't my finest showing, but I wasn't knocked out, I didn't get submitted, and I definitely wasn't fraud checked. If we're talking about who got fraud checked, it would be Bo Nickal, as he was finished in his first loss. I, on the other hand, lost by a split decision, essentially three rounds to two.' Pyfer's argument is simple: a 'fraud check' is when a fighter is thoroughly exposed, finished, dominated, or shown to be out of their depth. By his definition, a hard-fought decision loss to a top-10 veteran doesn't qualify. Bo Nickal: The Real 'Fraud Check'? Pyfer's comments weren't just about defending his own reputation, they were a direct shot at Bo Nickal. Once considered the UFC's next can't-miss superstar, Nickal's aura of invincibility took a major hit when Reinier de Ridder finished him with a brutal knee to the body at UFC Des Moines. Nickal, a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, was touted as a future champion but was stopped in the second round by the more experienced de Ridder. The MMA world pounced. Social media was flooded with 'fraud checked' memes, and Nickal faced a wave of criticism for his performance. Many saw the loss as proof that Nickal's wrestling pedigree wasn't enough to carry him through the upper echelon of the division. Advertisement Pyfer seized on this moment, using it to draw a clear distinction between his own loss and Nickal's. According to Pyfer, Nickal's defeat, where he was finished and his weaknesses exposed, fits the textbook definition of a 'fraud check.' 'Let's redefine what fraud checked is. If anybody got fraud checked, we could say it's Bo Nickal. He got finished on his first loss. I lost a split, basically a split decision, three rounds to one or to two. So it is what it is.' Bo Nickal Responds to the 'Fraud Check' Label For his part, Bo Nickal has handled the criticism with humility. In interviews following the de Ridder fight, Nickal acknowledged the backlash but refused to let it define him. Nickal's focus remains on improving as a fighter, and he's made it clear that he won't be deterred by the noise. Advertisement With Pyfer set to face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316, the stakes are higher than ever. A win would put him back on track and further validate his claim that he's no fraud. For Nickal, the path forward is about rebuilding and proving that one loss doesn't erase his potential. Related: UFC 316: Can a fully healed O'Malley dethrone Dvalishvili or is the 'Suga Show' over? Related: Nassourdine Imavov isn't waiting for a title shot, he's forcing the UFC's hand at UFC Paris
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who Got Fraud Checked? NOT THIS GUY!
Joe Pyfer thinks fight fans are overlooking him. The Middleweight knockout artist holds a 4-1 record inside the Octagon, and each of those victories came via stoppage. However, he feels like the focus remains on the sole loss of his UFC career, a February 2024 upset loss to Jack Hermansson. In that bout, Pyfer was able to start strong, but he lost moment as the fight wore on, and Hermansson's movement really gave him trouble. Advertisement Before the official scorecards had even been read, fans cried, 'FRAUD CHECK!' Pyfer doesn't think that's fair. In his opinion, he suffered a competitive loss to a veteran, and it's not like he got knocked out or anything. Compared to something like Bo Nickal's recent implosion against Reinier de Ridder, it's not such a bad loss! 'I think a lot of people go off my Jack Hermansson fight, which is fine,' Pyfer said. 'That was my first big show, first big test. Walked into it not 100%, had some thigns going on and it wasn't my best performance. But, I didn't get rocked, I didn't got dropped, I didn't get submitted — I didn't get fraud checked. Let's redefine what fraud checked is. If anybody got fraud checked, it's Bo Nickal. He got finished on his first loss. I lost basically a split-decision, three rounds to two.' I actually don't disagree with a lot of Pyfer's comments here. Losing to Hermansson is understandable for a man with relatively few UFC fights, and at 28 years of age, Pyfer has plenty of time to rebound and get better. He's not a fraud for losing a single UFC fight, not when champions like Charles Oliveira have proven that an indirect path to UFC gold is possible. Advertisement The 'split-decision' in question though? Hermansson won that fight cleanly. As for not being 100%, every fighter shows up injured to some degree, so take Dustin Poirier's advice and hush it up! This weekend (Sat., June 7, 2025), Pyfer will finally face off versus veteran Kelvin Gastelum. The two were supposed to square off in Mexico City two months ago, but a last-second stomach problem ejected him from the contest and permanently pissed him off. More from
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum, boxing hall of famer and three-time champion, dies at 68
Mike McCallum is lifted up by his ring team after he retained his World Boxing Association junior middleweight title against Julian Jackson in Miami Beach, Aug. 23, 1986. (Joe Skipper / Associated Press) Mike "The Body Snatcher" McCallum was so feared for his impeccable technique that the "four kings" of the 1980s declined to fight him. Nevertheless, McCallum won world titles at super welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. McCallum, the first Jamaican-born champion, died Saturday in Las Vegas at 68. The Jamaica Observer reported that McCallum fell ill while driving to a gym and pulled off the road. He was found to be unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead. Advertisement Not that his inability to secure a bout with Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard or Marvin Hagler spoiled his mood. It was particularly telling that Hearns wouldn't fight McCallum, because they were longtime sparring partners before becoming champions. McCallum was disappointed but remained all smiles outside the ring, consistently carrying himself with a pleasant, if serious, disposition. In the ring, his attention to detail and faultless technique enabled him to post a 49-5-1 record. McCallum earned his nickname by repeatedly punching the body and head. More often than not, bouts ended in knockouts — he recorded 36 KOs and was never knocked out. The Ring magazine ranked him in 2011 as eighth on their list of the "10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years." Advertisement "None of 'The Four Kings,' wanted anything to do with that guy and I know that for a fact because I tried to make some of those fights," Hall of Fame boxer Lou DiBella told longtime boxing writer Kevin Iole. "He was the most perfect technical fighter I've ever seen, and he wasn't a pitty-pat guy." Read more: Georgia O'Connor, beloved and unbeaten British boxer, dies at 25 McCallum became the first Jamaican boxer to win a world title when he defeated Irishman Sean Mannion by unanimous decision in 1984 at Madison Square Garden for the WBA Junior Middleweight crown. Jamaican Sport Minister Olivia Grange issued a statement upon learning of McCallum's passing, saying, "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. Advertisement 'I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican." Michael McKenzie McCallum was born Dec. 7, 1956, in Kingston, Jamaica, and began boxing as a teenager, racking up as many as 250 amateur bouts before turning pro in 1981. He represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals. He boxed professionally until 1997, successfully defending the WBA junior middleweight crown six times, including wins over Julian Jackson, Milton McCrory and Donald Curry before moving up a weight class to middleweight. Read more: Commentary: Thirty years ago Freddie Roach didn't take sage advice, opened Wild Card Boxing Club Advertisement McCallum defeated Herol Graham in 1989 to become WBA middleweight champion and defended the belt with wins over Steve Collins, Michael Watson and Sumbu Kalambay. He won his third division title in 1994 by again stepping up in weight class and defeating Jeff Harding for the WBC light heavyweight crown. He met his match against James Toney, fighting to a draw Dec. 13, 1991, before losing to Toney twice. McCallum also dropped a 12-round decision to Roy Jones in a 1997 light heavyweight title fight. He retired shortly thereafter and became a successful trainer, taking great pride in teaching his body-punching technique to young boxers. Jones expressed sadness to Kevin Iole, saying, "Man, we lost another beautiful boxing soul. May he rest in peace.' Advertisement Jones also lamented that McCallum was unable to book fights against the four kings. 'In the junior middleweight division, everyone always went around Mike McCallum, and that says a lot about him," Jones said. "Not even Marvin [Hagler] ever talked much about fighting Mike McCallum. You don't have to listen to what they say [about him]. You watch what they do and everyone wanted to go around him for a reason.' In a post on X, the WBC said: "Rest in Peace to the legendary Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum. Former WBA world champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. Thank you for the fights, the lessons, and the greatness. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
New York Post
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Legendary boxer Mike ‘The Bodysnatcher' McCallum dead at 68
Legendary boxer Mike 'The Bodysnatcher' McCallum died over the weekend in Las Vegas. He was 68 years old. McCallum was driving to a Las Vegas gym Saturday, and he fell ill and had to pull over to the side of the road, The Jamaica Observer reported. Advertisement 5 Mike McCallum celebrates after winning an October 1986 fight. Reuters He was then found unresponsive before later being pronounced dead, though his official cause of death remains unknown and Las Vegas police have yet to publicly comment on the matter. In a statement to The Jamaica Observer, Sport Minister Olivia Grange expressed shock and sadness over McCallum's death. Advertisement 5 Mike McCallum is pictured working out in April 1979. Frank Empson / The Tennessean 'It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum,' Grange said in a statement. 'I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican.' 5 Mike McCallum is pictured in August 2015. Marcel Thomas/ZUMA Wire 5 Mike McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. AP Advertisement McCallum was revered during his time in the ring over the years, having won across three different weight classes and becoming the first Jamaican boxer to win a world title in 1984 when he defeated Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden for the WBA Junior Middleweight title. He fought in 55 bouts throughout his career, winning 49 and losing five, while one ended in a draw. 5 Mike McCallum tries to dodge a punch during a fight against Roy Jones Jr. Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire Advertisement McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2011, Ring Magazine included him on a list of the '10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years.' 'Greatly saddened by passing of Mike McCallum. Mike was lovely guy, humble guy, great champion,' Rich Marotta, the founder of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, wrote on X. 'He was an Inaugural year inductee of @nvbhof and, as resident of Las Vegas, always wanted to be part of the events, big or small. Had greatest nickname in boxing, 'The Bodysnatcher' RIP.'
Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch UFC Fight Night Sandhagen vs Figueiredo: Live Stream, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Saturday night, fight fans can enjoy another UFC Fight Night - UFC's free-to-watch event - a card that will be headlined by two fan-favorites: Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil and Cody Garbrandt exchange strikes during their bantamweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil and Cody Garbrandt exchange strikes during their bantamweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo byHow to Watch UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Time: 10:00 p.m. ET Venue: Wells Fargo Arena Channel: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes Stream: Fubo (try for free) Sandhagen enters Saturday night with a 17-5-0 record, but is coming off a defeat in his latest fight. Facing off against Umar Nurmagomedov, Sandhagen lost a five-round fight due to judges' unanimous decision. The fight was a UFC Bantamweight title eliminator matchup, meaning Sandhagen, now 33 years old, is going to have to string together a few wins if he wants another shot at UFC's Bantamweight title. Tonight's matchup against the much-feared Figueiredo presents a great opportunity for Sandhagen to make a big-time statement. Figueiredo, a former two-time UFC Flyweight champion, is a hard-hitting fighter who boasts a 24-4-1 record. The Brazilian striker had won three fights in a row before falling via unanimous decision to Petr Yan back on Nov. 23, 2024. Figueiredo can make a statement if he's able to bounce back by defeating Sandhagen, who's more of a wrestler, here tonight. Other exciting fights in tonight's UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo include a promising up-and-comer, Bo Nickal, taking on No. 13 ranked Middleweight fighter Reinier de Ridder, and Santiago Ponzinibbio facing Daniel Rodriguez in a Welterweight bout. Tune in to ESPN2 or ESPN Deportes at 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday night to watch what will be a thrilling night of fights at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo, featuring some other well-known fighters facing off in important showdowns. Live stream Deiveson UFC Fight Night Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo for free on Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
