Latest news with #MixedMartialArts
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Kevin Lerena Promotes Fistic Havoc: A New Era for African Boxing
BOYD Allen will be headlining the bill of the Aquilla Boxing Promotions hosted Fistic Havoc at the Sandton Convention Centre. | Supplied It is a fight that excites Lerena: 'This fight speaks to everything we're trying to do at Aquila. It's about opportunity, it's about quality matchups, and it's about putting African talent on a bigger stage. We don't want to just put on fights, we want to raise the standard. If you're fighting under the Aquila banner, it means you're part of something bigger.' Allen, a former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar takes on Botswana's undefeated Kagiso Bagwasi with the IBO All Africa Super Welterweight title at stake. To be headlined by the fast-improving Boyd Allen, whose switch from Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) to boxing has been phenomenal, the eight-fight bill promises to be a thrilling affair. The fledgling promotions company has been steadily carving out a new lane for local boxing, one that respects tradition but demands excellence. And this latest offering on June 21 speaks to exactly that. FRESH FROM successfully defending his WBC Bridgerweight title, Kevin Lerena trades the gloves for a suit this month in his role as promoter when his Aquilla Boxing Promotions hosts Fistic Havoc at the Sandton Convention Centre. It is what Allen wanted when he made the switch of sport – he took a rare move for a competitor, he abandoned the world of success and started anew. "I wanted it to be consistent. I wasn't looking for the sporadic flashy matchup. I wanted to construct something again.' And he has done exactly that alright, the man who had built up a 16-6-1 MMA record in featherweight and lightweight fights chalking up eight victories with a draw and a defeat in the sweet science of boxing. 'He's not a crossover guy, he's a total pro," Lerena says. "What Boyd's accomplished is a one-off. He did not just show up- he evolved. This is his new normal.' On paper, Allen is ring-wise. He's been tested. He's been around the block a few times. He's fought under adversity. But facing him in the ring will be a real headache – Bagwasi is a rising star from across the border with an impressive unbeaten record in his six fights – three of which he won by stoppages. His explosive first-round knockout of Almighty Moyo in March raised eyebrows across the region and made him a serious title contender. For Allen, the mission is clear: win the belt, silence any lingering doubts, and continue building toward a legacy not just as an MMA standout, but as a legitimate boxing force. He's not chasing hype — he's chasing greatness. 'This fight is important,' Allen has said. 'Not just for the title, but for everything I've put into this sport since stepping away from MMA. I'm all in.' Also all in are the backers of Lerena and Aquila Boxing Promotions, a fact the man they call Two Guns is quick to acknowledge. "We're beyond grateful to have powerhouse partners in our corner, the kind who don't just support the vision, they supercharge it. Massive thanks to my sponsors: World Sports Betting, Tigris Wealth, Supersport, JCP Steel, and HP. Without your backing, this event wouldn't be the premier, high-calibre showcase it is today. You don't just elevate the event — you define it." Boyd will be out to define his already blossoming career on fight night.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Dan Hooker's controversial 32 fighter contest held in backyard
A controversial and apparently unregulated backyard fight contest, had at least one gang member smashing it out for a $50,000 dollar prize. Social media posts show the event promoted by a well known MMA fighter Dan "Hangman" Hooker took place in someone's Auckland backyard. It was billed as 32 fighters going head to head in one minute scraps to be the last man standing and crowned king of the streets; no professionals allowed. Terry Hill, President of the New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Poirier to retire from MMA in Louisiana fight with Holloway
NEW ORLEANS, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — It started in Louisiana, it will end in Louisiana. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier is finishing his career in his home state. Local sports news Poirier made his professional debut at USA MMA 7 – River City Rampage in Shreveport. In his last fight, the Lafayette native will be the main event at UFC 318 in New Orleans against long-time rival Max 'Blessed' Holloway. To end his career on a positive note, Poirier has to beat Holloway for the third time. The two have fought twice before. In their first bout, Poirier beat a relatively inexperienced Holloway with a triangle-armbar submission. The 2012 fight was Holloway's first in the UFC and came just two years after his professional debut. Their second fight was much closer, with Poirier winning a unanimous decision in a 2019 showdown for the interim lightweight championship. The fight came at a time when Holloway looked unbeatable, having won 13 consecutive fights at featherweight. Louisiana news Poirier has been publicly mulling over retirement for almost a year since a June 1, 2024, submission loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. At 36 years old Poirier is not past his prime, he challenged for a championship in his last fight, but a 16 year career in MMA has taken a physical toll on him. Poirier has not won back to back fights since 2021, alternating wins and losses in his last six outings. The last time Poirier was unable to put together consecutive wins was 2013. Poirier has a 30-9 record and has finished his opponent in 23 of his wins. Holloway is 26-8 with 14 wins by finish. The biggest difference is that Poirier has never been an undisputed champion. When a fight between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov left Nurmagomedov as the lightweight champion, and a brawl after the fight left him suspended, Poirier claimed the interim championship by defeating Holloway for the second time. ESPN is rolling out a new streaming service: How it will impact ESPN+ users Porier's interim championship reign ended with a submission loss to the returning Nurmagomedov in a fight to unify their championships. He's fought for championships two other times, losing both by submission as well. Those championship losses have not hurt Poirier's in the eyes of MMA fans. He remains one of the most popular fighters in the history of the sport. He will wrap up his career with fight number 40 on July 19 at UFC 318 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Free Malaysia Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
UFC to hold first event in mainland China since pandemic
UFC held a Fight Night in semi-autonomous Macau in November. (EPA Images pic) SHANGHAI : Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold its first event in mainland China since the Covid-19 pandemic, it said today, announcing a Fight Night in Shanghai this summer. The top MMA promotion has poured resources into developing the China market and has a multimillion-dollar performance institute in Shanghai. But its ambitions were hampered by the tight travel and quarantine restrictions of China's zero-Covid era, which led to the cancellation of most international sports events in the country until the policies were lifted at the end of 2022. A planned Shanghai Fight Night in December the following year was relocated less than a month beforehand to Las Vegas because of 'logistical issues'. Kevin Chang, UFC's head in Asia, said this year's event will take place on Aug 23. 'This promises to be an action-packed weekend that will showcase both the city and our sport, and China power, to the world,' he told a press conference. UFC held a Fight Night in semi-autonomous Macau in November, but its last event in mainland China was in 2019 in Shenzhen. However, it has maintained a presence in the country through its performance institute, which was opened in 2019 to develop Asian mixed martial artists. The centre has a partnership with the Chinese Olympic committee.
Gulf Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
World's top fighters to compete at 971 MMA Championship in Dubai
The '971' Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship is set to bring together some of the world's top fighters in a series of highly anticipated bouts. The event, held under the patronage of the Dubai Sports Council, will take place on June 14 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. Mounir Lazzez, Chairman of the Organizing Committee—and the first Tunisian and Arab fighter to secure a professional win in the UFC—confirmed that fans of combat sports can expect a night of elite-level action featuring international stars. He described the organization of the '971' Championship as a new milestone in his journey, aimed at developing the sport in the region and offering rising talents the opportunity to shine alongside global champions. He also emphasised that choosing Dubai as the host city reflects its world-class sports infrastructure and ongoing governmental support for combat sports. The championship will feature 14 diverse bouts, including a mix of rising local talent and renowned international fighters. The support of the Dubai Sports Council for this event underscores its commitment to major global sporting events—especially in MMA, which has seen a surge in popularity both regionally and worldwide. This event continues Dubai's successful legacy of hosting premier MMA tournaments in recent years.
