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Mixed martial arts fans around the world are eagerly anticipating one of the most exciting matchups in UFC history. The long-awaited trilogy between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena is finally set to take place, with the women’s bantamweight title on the line at UFC 289. A trilogy match has been lined up for UFC 289, according to UFC president Dana White. Aaron Bronsteter of TSN broke the information ahead of them. On June 10, Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena will serve as a main event on the fight card, and it will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Rogers Center has been picked as the venue for the gathering. Following dropping to Cat Zingano at UFC 178 in 2014, Nunes embarked on a winning streak that included sweeping 12 straight fights, notably victory over Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm. Nunes had a shaky 9-4 career start. When Nunes lost to Pena at UFC 269 in 2021, it was her first defeat since 2014. In the second round of their first fight, Pena submitted her with a rear-naked choke, shocking everyone in the entire world and ending the Brazilian Powerhouse's reign of supremacy. However, she regained the title during a rematch at UFC 277 the following year. Nunes outlasted Pena to win by unanimous decision and take back the women's bantamweight title. During the past handful of years, the 34-year-old Nunes has been ruling women's MMA, conceivably surpassing Ronda Rousey's achievements during her reign as champion. For Nunes and Peña, this is the opportunity they have been waiting for. It's a chance to settle the score once and for all. Pena, with another victory against Nunes, would elevate her to a higher level and demonstrate that her first triumph was not by mistake. Considering one more victory against Pena, Nunes can dispel any doubts concerning her status as the most outstanding female MMA fighter in the history of the sport. As the countdown to UFC 289 begins, fans can't wait to see what happens next.

Anthony Joshua's evolution as a fighter is not necessarily a bad thing Anthony Joshua is not the same fighter he was when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. While this is an uncontroversial statement, the disagreement lies in whether this indicates a decline in Joshua as a fighter, and whether it is necessarily a bad thing for Joshua to have adapted his game. Joshua's fight against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night left some observers disappointed that he did not score a knockout. However, Joshua controlled almost every round of the fight and was never in any danger. He landed some flush right hands and big uppercuts but never put together a sustained flurry during which one got the sense that Franklin needed to "survive" it. Joshua admitted that he did not see any openings to go for a knockout, but some observers felt that there were opportunities that he could have taken. Joshua is correct that he had a tricky, defensively sound operator in front of him on Saturday. Some observers will counter that while Joshua says he didn’t see any openings to go for a knockout, that they did, or at least, ones could have appeared if he’d tried harder to create them. However, neither party is wrong in this case. A different fighter, perhaps a younger, more brash operator, very well could have stopped Franklin. Joshua’s evolution as a fighter does not necessarily mean he is declining. He has become more cautious and technique-focused, and this has allowed him to control fights without being in danger. While some fans may be disappointed that he is not the same fighter he was in 2017, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Joshua is still one of the best heavyweights in the world and his evolution as a fighter has allowed him to be more effective in the ring.

Anthony Joshua's victory against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night was a much-needed win for the former heavyweight champion, who hadn't emerged from a fight victorious in 27 months. Although Joshua soundly out-pointed Franklin in their 12-round bout, the 33-year-old was disappointed with his performance because Franklin made it to the final bell at a sold-out O2 Arena in London. Joshua's ultimate goal was a knockout, which he was unable to achieve against Franklin, who has not been knocked out in 23 professional fights. Joshua has won only one of his six bouts by knockout since his technical knockout victory over Alexander Povetkin in 2018. After back-to-back, 12-round decision defeats to Ukrainian southpaw Oleksandr Usyk, the ex-IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO champ won a fight for the first time since he knocked out Bulgarian contender Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round of their December 2020 bout at OVO Arena Wembley in London. Joshua believes he could have stopped Franklin inside the distance had he let his hands go more than he did. However, Franklin's sturdy chin enabled him to take Joshua's hardest punches. Franklin lost by wide distances on the scorecards of judges Steve Gray (118-111), Fabian Guggenheim (117-111), and Alex Levin (117-111). Although Joshua was not entirely satisfied with his performance, veteran trainer Derrick James appeared pleased overall with his performance in their first fight together. Joshua just wishes he would have taken advantage of the opportunities he felt he should have exploited to knock out Franklin, who stands four inches shorter than him and weighed in 20-plus pounds lighter than Joshua. In conclusion, Anthony Joshua's win against Jermaine Franklin was crucial for his career as he had not won a fight in over two years. Although he was not able to achieve his ultimate goal of a knockout, he hopes to build on this win and come back stronger in future fights. Joshua's performance shows that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level in the heavyweight division.

Ian John-Lewis Criticizes British Boxing Board of Control for Scoring Controversy Ian John-Lewis, a veteran referee and judge, has expressed his disagreement with the British Boxing Board of Control's decision to single him out for his controversial scoring of the Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall undisputed 140-pound bout last year. John-Lewis was one of the three judges involved in the infamous Taylor-Catterall title bout, which sparked controversy as many fans and observers felt it was one of the worst decisions in recent memory in British boxing. John-Lewis's scorecard, which had Taylor winning by the widest margin (114-111), received the most criticism, and he was subsequently demoted from his position in the A Star class of referees to A class after a hearing with the Board. Earlier this year, John-Lewis sued the Board for treating him like a "scapegoat." In a recent interview with Boxing News, John-Lewis suggested that the Board had bowed under social media pressure rather than acting out of due diligence. He claimed that he was scapegoated and that the Board had picked on the wrong guy. He stated that he was not worried because the truth would come out during the hearing. John-Lewis explained that he felt his hands were tied after the Taylor-Catterall fight because referees are not allowed to freely justify what went into their scorecards. He said that officials often feel aggrieved when they cannot explain their decisions, and not talking to the press looks like there is something to hide. The Taylor-Catterall fight led both fighters to pursue a rematch, but after almost a year of multiple postponements, Taylor finally went his separate way. Taylor is projected to defend his lone WBO 140-pound title against former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in New York City in June. On the other hand, Catterall recently signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing after being previously linked with Boxxer.

Twenty years ago, while watching UFC 42 from the stands, Jorge Masvidal was motivated to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. After a career filled with high points and memorable moments, he lost to Gilbert Burns on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 287 at the Kaseya Center in his native Miami, Florida, and left the sport, in his words, "as a multi-millionaire." Burns won with scores of 30-27 and 29-28 from the judges, but it is obvious that his victory was not as impressive as he had claimed it would be in order to shock UFC president Dana White. Masvidal had suffered four straight losses, and he lacked the passion he had displayed for the majority of his career. “Sometimes, your favorite basketball player can’t hit the 3-pointer any more,” Masvidal said. “Sometimes your favorite quarterback loses that rifle. I don’t feel the same when I get in here no more. It’s been 20 years. I love all of you. The UFC came here 20 years ago and it inspired me to chase this dream.” Burns' victory was significant because he wanted to outperform White so that he would give him the next opportunity to face UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards. Burns won the battle hands down, but he didn't completely blow everyone away as White predicted before the bout. “I am the only guy in the division, maybe the only guy in the whole UFC, willing to fight anyone at any time,” Burns said. Burns then called out both Edwards and Covington and said he’d fight them no matter the terms. It was one of the biggest wins of his career and ran his winning streak to three in a row. He’s also won four of his last five.

At UFC 287 in Miami, Florida, Israel Adesanya stunned longtime foe Alex Pereira to win back the middleweight championship. In the second round, with his back to the cage, Adesanya, 33, unleashed two crushing right punches that knocked Pereira, 35, to the ground. With this win, Adesanya atones for three prior losses to Pereira. In kickboxing matches in 2016 and 2017, as well as at UFC 281, he suffered three defeats. "I hope every one of you can feel this level of happiness for one time in your life," said Nigeria-born New Zealander Adesanya. "But guess what - you'll never feel this level of happiness if you don't go for something in your life. When they knock you down, if you stay down you will never get that resolve. "Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness. I'm blessed to feel this again and again and again." According to Adesanya, his rivalry with Pereira has given rise to the "greatest storyline in MMA history."

Vasiliy Lomachenko Considers Himself Undefeated Ahead of Devin Haney Bout Vasiliy Lomachenko may officially have two losses on his professional record, but in his mind, he’s still undefeated. The Ukrainian boxer, who is set to face off against undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney on May 20, said in a recent interview that he doesn’t think he’s ever lost a fight in his career. “In my mind, I didn’t lose a fight in professional boxing. That’s why I sleep very well. In my mind, I’m undefeated. If you understand boxing,” Lomachenko said. The 35-year-old fighter’s confidence may stem from his impressive amateur career, where he tallied 396 wins and just one loss, which he later avenged twice. However, since moving up to 135 pounds, Lomachenko has struggled to maintain his dominance. Lomachenko’s last fight, against Jamaine Ortiz, was a close call, with the Ukrainian narrowly taking a unanimous decision victory. And while he may be viewed as the underdog going into his bout against Haney, Lomachenko is determined to prove himself once again. “This is my second chance, and I will try my best. Thank you to Team Haney for the opportunity. We are all prepared for this,” Lomachenko said. The Lomachenko-Haney fight will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Diego Pacheco, the 22-year-old super middleweight prospect from Los Angeles, is looking forward to a potential fight with fellow 168-pounder Edgar Berlanga, who is also signed with Matchroom Boxing. Pacheco recently boosted his appeal with a dominant stoppage over veteran Jack Cullen at Echo Arena in Liverpool. Speaking to SecondsOut.com after the fight, Pacheco offered an enthusiastic endorsement of the potential matchup with Berlanga. "He's a great fighter, I'm a great fighter. As long as everyone wants to see that fight and everyone asks for that fight, I don't see why that shouldn't happen," Pacheco said. Berlanga, 25, recently signed with Matchroom after parting ways with his longtime promoter Top Rank. One of the reasons why Berlanga signed with Hearn appears to be because of a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez, the current undisputed champion at 168. However, in order to earn that opportunity, Berlanga would need to rack up a few wins over top opposition. Pacheco, who signed with Matchroom straight out of the amateurs when he was only 17, believes that the win over Cullen has taken him out of the "prospect" category. "I needed a performance like this to convince people that I wasn't a prospect anymore and that I can compete with the best," Pacheco said. "With this performance, like Eddie said, I feel like I'm a contender now. I could compete with anyone. I'm ready and excited for the future." A potential fight between Pacheco and Berlanga would be a highly anticipated matchup between two of boxing's best young fighters. While it remains to be seen whether the fight will come to fruition, both fighters have expressed a willingness to take on the challenge. "I think in a few fights, the Berlanga fight will happen," Pacheco said. "We're both some of the best young fighters. Let's give the fight fans an amazing fight."

In an action-packed fight at PFL 2, Larissa Pacheco showed why she's a force to be reckoned with in the women's lightweight division. Pacheco outpointed former Bellator champion Julia Budd in a closely contested bout that had fans on the edge of their seats. In the second and third rounds of the fight, Budd improved her performance by landing a right hand on Pacheco early in the second round and exchanging punches with her toward the end of the fight. Although she hoped to score points with takedowns, Pacheco managed to reverse positions several times, particularly in the final moments of the fight, where she impressed the judges with a series of ground and pound strikes. Despite being smaller in size, Pacheco had better grappling skills and came close to securing submissions, including an armbar in the first and third rounds after escaping Budd's back control. This win marked Pacheco's first victory since causing a major upset by defeating two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison, making her a woman to watch in 2023. Budd's record in PFL is now 1-3, and she joined the organization after losing her title to featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, which marked the end of her reign at the top of that division. Larissa Pacheco may have an easier time this season as she won the PFL women's lightweight 2022 championship last November, overcoming Kayla Harrison's undefeated record in a stunning upset and earning a $1 million bonus. However, despite moving down a weight division and without Harrison's participation, Pacheco's recent performance on Friday night might suggest that it is not as effortless as it sounds. Pacheco secured three points in the season standings with her decision, but Amber Leibrock has taken the top spot in the women's 145-pound division after earning six points with a first-round knockout of Martina Jindrova. In another noteworthy outcome, Olena Kolesnyk won a majority decision over former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd.

Jamahal Hill is open to facing Alex Pereira if the Brazilian decides to move up to light heavyweight. After Hill became the UFC’s light heavyweight champion, Pereira hinted at moving up to face the newly crowned champion. He thought he would have success at 205lbs but of course, he is tabbed to headline UFC 287 in his first title defense as he rematches Israel Adesanya. Yet, with the status of Jiri Prochazka still uncertain, Hill says he welcomes Pereira trying to move up to fight him. “Come on in, come on in, come on in, bro. I’m here for everybody. Just put a dish on the plate so I could eat,” Hill said to Inside Fighting. Hill was quick to respond when asked how he thinks the conflict between him and Pereira will play out. “A dominant victory for me, dominant. I don’t care what nobody says, dominant, you know what I said, dominant. I will dominate him,” Hill added. Alex Pereira will surely need to defeat Adesanya on Saturday night in order to advance to face Jamahal Hill. But if he does, it will be a tremendous and exciting fight. Hill, on the other hand, believes he'd like to meet Jiri Prochazka next. He claims he has heard Prochazka will be returning sooner than planned and would love to fight him before facing Pereira.

Eddie Hearn Confident Anthony Joshua Will Challenge Tyson Fury for WBC Heavyweight Title Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, has expressed his confidence that the British boxer will want to challenge Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight title if the opportunity presents itself. However, Hearn also acknowledged that facing Fury in his next bout may not be the best move for Joshua's development with his new trainer, Derrick James. After defeating Jermaine Franklin on all three scorecards on Saturday night, Joshua’s first fight with James in his corner, Hearn admitted that there is still plenty of room for improvement. While Joshua is keen to take on Fury, Hearn said it was important to get the right balance between the opponent and how much the fight will generate in terms of viewership and revenue. Hearn believes that if Joshua does not fight a more challenging opponent than Franklin in his next fight, the paying public’s patience may be tested. Dillian Whyte, Joshua’s British rival, is eager for a rematch, but it remains unclear who Joshua will face in the second of what he hopes will be three fights in 2023. Hearn said, “I don’t think the public are necessarily gonna want him to have another two fights at the Jermaine Franklin level. They’re gonna wanna see him step up. If that’s Dillian Whyte, if that’s Tyson Fury, if that’s [Deontay] Wilder. And, you know, those guys will fancy their chances against AJ because they’ll think, ‘Oh, you know, there’s a chance that he’s not the fighter that he was,’ etcetera, etcetera. But I think AJ will box better against a high level of opposition, particularly people that are coming to win.” Although Hearn feels Joshua needs more time with James before facing Fury, he is confident that Joshua will ultimately take the challenge. The heavyweight division has been eagerly awaiting this match-up, and fans are hoping that it will happen soon. In the meantime, Joshua will continue to work on his skills, and we can expect to see him face tougher opponents in the coming months.

This Saturday, Adesanya will face Alex Pereira in an MMA rematch; that will be their fourth bout overall, counting kickboxing, so it's make-or-break time for him. Only six months had passed since the two had last fought, and Pereira came back in the last round while behind on the scoreboards by landing his trademark left hook. The referee ended up being forced to stop the match and award a new champion when the Brazilian followed it up with hooks. Before their fight this weekend, Israel Adesanya seems to be thinking about the issue surrounding Islam Makhachev's suspected use of an IV at UFC 284. The lightweight champion received an accusation of rehydrating with an IV after a challenging loss of pounds. After the dispute, Ali Abdelaziz, Makhachev's co-manager, claimed on Twitter that there is a "legal limit" to how much IV fluid a fighter may get. Abdelaziz also unintentionally suggested that an individual in the Dagestani camp had utilized more IV than as permitted by law. Both fighters have the exceptional striking ability, but Pereira has a size edge against the former champion. 'Poatan' apparently weighed more than 25 pounds over the 185-pound limit during their November fight. A person's well-being and athletic ability are likely to be seriously impacted by such a drastic weight loss, but there are plenty of techniques to get back to normal more quickly and effectively. One of these possibilities is to rehydrate using an IV, which is prohibited if it contains more than 100 ml in 12 hours. The Last Stylebender a few days prior tweeted that he wanted USADA to monitor Pereira around the clock after the official weigh-ins to guarantee that he wasn't rehydrating unlawfully: Adesanya resumed the IV usage topic yesterday along with tweeting the following message, seemingly mocking Makhachev and Abdelaziz: