Jake and Logan Paul are YouTube sensations that have been making waves in boxing, primarily because they’re good at promotion. But Logan Paul’s big exhibition bout opposite former Conor McGregor opponent Floyd Mayweather has been delayed.

The bout was set to happen on Feb. 20, but Fanmio CEO Solomon Engel recently told ESPN that the bout has been delayed with hopes to announce a new date soon.

“After an absolutely tremendous response to the fight announcement, we’re hoping to announce a new date very soon along with some new exciting details,” Engel said in a statement, giving no reason for why the bout was delayed.

Mayweather (50-0) last fought professionally when he TKO’d Conor McGregor in August of 2017. He then defeated kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in a 2018 exhibition bout.

Logan Paul has boxed twice. He fought to a majority draw opposite fellow YouTube sensation KSI in 2018. Paul then lost a split decision to KSI in their 2019 rematch, which was considered his professional boxing debut.

Logan’s brother, Jake, is 2-0 as a professional boxer, defeating another YouTuber, AnEsonGib, in his first fight and then beating former NBA star Nate Robinson in his second bout.

Jake now has a professional boxing bout lined up against former ONE Championship and Bellator champion Ben Askren on April 17.

TRENDING Nate Diaz doesn’t want a fight at lightweight, but wants Dustin Poirier

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/floyd-mayweathers-return-opposite-youtuber-logan-paul-gets-sidelined

COVID-19 took another bout off the books Wednesday. This weekend’s UFC Vegas 18 bout between Marion Reneau and Macy Chiasson has been postponed after Reneau tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 caused disease.

“Do you want the bad news or the good news first?

“BAD: The fight between Macy Chiasson and I has been cancelled for THIS weekend. Unfortunately, I tested positive for COVID. I am feeling 100% fine with no symptoms.

“GOOD: Macy and I have agreed to run it back on FEBRUARY 27! I appreciate Macy and her camp for being professional and willing to make this fight happen.”

Luckily, Reneau’s bout of COVID-19 appears to be asymptomatic, so they were able to reschedule the bout for Feb. 27, when she should be well clear of the disease.

Reneau (9-6-1) had been hoping to bounce back from a loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC Vegas 3 in June of last year. That was her third consecutive loss, putting her UFC tenure in a precarious position.

Chiasson (6-1) rebounded from a loss to Lina Lansberg in 2019 with a win over Shanna Young last February. So it will have been slightly more than year since she last fought when she and Reneau step into the Octagon on Feb. 27 at UFC Vegas 20.

UFC Vegas 20 is slated to feature a heavyweight bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Ciryl Gane.

TRENDING Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach: Conor McGregor rematch never going to happen

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-vegas-18-bout-between-marion-reneau-and-macy-chiasson-postponed

Sean O’Malley is raring to get back in the octagon – and he apparently has his next fight booked.

O’Malley announced Tuesday night on his YouTube channel that he will face Thomas Almeida on March 27 at UFC 260. According to O’Malley, he received a bout agreement earlier Tuesday, which he was ready to sign.

O’Malley (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who earned his way into the UFC through “Dana White’s Contender Series,” opened his professional career with 12 straight wins, including four in the UFC, before suffering his first loss against Marlon Vera last August at UFC 252. O’Malley, 26, was finished by first-round TKO and was taken off on a stretcher after suffering a foot injury. O’Malley hasn’t fought since.

Almeida, 29, is on a three-fight losing streak after dropping decisions to Jimmie Rivera and Jonathan Martinez with a TKO against Rob Font in between. Almeida (22-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) opened his professional career with 21 consecutive wins, including four in the UFC. He hasn’t tasted victory since November 2016 when he TKO’d Albert Morales.

With the addition, the UFC 260 lineup now includes:

• Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou – for heavyweight title
• Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega – for featherweight title
• Jimmy Crute vs. Johnny Walker
• Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
• Hannah Goldy vs. Jessica Penne
• Vicente Luque vs. Tyron Woodley
• Thomas Almeida vs. Sean O’Malley

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-260-sean-omalley-booked-thomas-almeida-fight

Alexander Volkov repositioned himself into heavyweight title contention with a pivotal win over one of the division’s most prolific finishers.

Looking to get back in the win column, Volkov (32-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) faced Walt Harris at UFC 254, which took place in October on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

It was an aggressive start from both men, as Harris came out firing. Volkov countered with a few solid shots of his own, pressuring Harris against the cage with a variety of strikes. Towards the end of Round 1, Volkov hurt Harris with a left hook, but Harris was able to weather the storm by throwing heavy leather to get out of harm’s way.

But in Round 2, Volkov kept his foot on the gas pedal, eventually landing a body kick that had Harris wincing. The Russian followed it up with a barrage of punches, stopping Harris just over one minute into the second round.

Volkov returns to action Saturday when he takes on Alistair Overeem (47-18 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 184, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before he faces Overeem, relive Volkov’s finish of Harris in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-free-fight-video-alexander-volkov-stops-walt-harris

Pound For Pound Rankings

UFC president Dana White has one more meeting set up with Nurmagomedov in Las Vegas, but it seems the reigning lightweight champ is content to stick to his retirement.

Already considered one of the greatest fighters of all-time, Jones said he wants to turn his attention to heavyweight and has no intention of returning to 205 pounds.

Upcoming Fight: vs Jan Blachowicz | Mar 06, 2021 – UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya

It was a meteoric rise for ‘The Last Stylebender’ to his place as UFC middleweight champion, and he’ll look for champ-champ status in March when he moves to light heavyweight.

Upcoming Fight: vs Adriano “Black Diamond” Moraes | Apr 07, 2021 – ONE on TNT I: Moraes vs. Johnson

After fulfilling his dream of adding a global belt to his collection of championships, ‘Mighty Mouse’ now looks to add ONE’s flyweight belt to the grand prix title he already earned.

Upcoming Fight: vs Gilbert “Durinho” Burns | Feb 13, 2021 – UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns

Usman may not be the most popular figure on the UFC roster, but he’s certainly effective and is starting to put his name in the history books with his dominant run.

Upcoming Fight: vs Francis “The Predator” Ngannou | Mar 27, 2021 – UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2

With his trilogy win over Daniel Cormier secured, Miocic is widely considered the greatest heavyweight in UFC history – and perhaps even all of MMA.

A point dediction for a low blow forced Figueiredo to settle for a draw against Brandon Moreno, and the two are expected to meet again in early 2021.

Bader was certainly disappointed to lose his Bellator champ-champ status, but he does still have one belt and promises to return in top form.

Upcoming Fight: vs Brian “T-City” Ortega | Mar 27, 2021 – UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2

It wasn’t as convincing as the first time around, but Volkanovski picked up a second win over Max Holloway and says he wants to continue taking out top contenders.

Poirier continues to be one of the most exciting fighters in the game, and his grit is immeasurable – qualities he hopes will net him another UFC title shot in the near future.

Holloway delivered a record-breaking destruction of Calvin Kattar and now looks like he’ll get a chance to regain the UFC featherweight title later this year.

Khabib Nurmagomedov proved to be too much for Gaethje at UFC 254, but ‘The Highlight’ could very well get another title shot in the very near future.

Upcoming Fight: vs Paulo Costa | Apr 17, 2021 – UFC Fight Night

With a fantastic win over Jared Cannonier, Whittaker seemed to prove himself the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s middleweight division, but Dana White said he’ll need one more win for a title shot.

Costa was frustrated after suffering the first loss of his career and will now face another monster in Robert Whittaker in his trail back to a title shot.

Upcoming Fight: vs Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling | Mar 06, 2021 – UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya

Yan and his devastating boxing skills have earned him a UFC title, and his first defense will come against an impressive challenger in Aljamain Sterling.

Honorable Mentions

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Feb. 2: Big month ahead at heavyweight

Alexa Grasso, Alexander Volkov, Alistair Overeem, Cory Sandhagen, Curtis Blaydes, Cyril Gane, Derrick Lewis, Frankie Edgar, Gilbert Burns, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Jimmie Rivera, Kamaru Usman, Maycee Barber, Pedro Munhoz, MMA Rankings, News, UFC

Ranking Criteria

The rankings take into account a fighter’s wins/losses, quality of competition, finishing rate/dominance and frequency of fights.

Fighters are no longer eligible to be ranked after they’ve been inactive for 24 months, either due to injuries, drug/conduct suspensions, contract disputes or self-imposed hiatuses.

Fighters serving drug/conduct suspensions are eligible to be ranked, so long as they’re not inactive for more than 24 months.

To the best of our ability, fighters will be ranked in their primary weight class. Catchweight fights and bouts outside the fighter’s primary weight class can have a positive or negative impact on the ranking. However, non-titleholders can be ranked in only one weight class at a given time, and in most cases, they won’t be ranked in a new weight class until they’ve had their first fight at that weight.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/usa-today-sports-mma-junkie-rankings-feb-2-big-month-ahead-at-heavyweight