Liam Lindsay

The UFC has cut Jailton Almeida from the organization, according to Laerte Viana. 

## The Cause

Almeida (22-5, 8-3 UFC) was ranked number 8 in the Heavyweight division before his release. The decision comes following back-to-back losses to Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev. Almeida lost a split decision to Volkov at UFC 321 in October, then dropped a unanimous decision to Kuniev at UFC Fight Night 266 on February 7th. The Brazilian had gone 8-3 in the UFC with wins over notable names including Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Serghei Spivac, but the recent skid proved costly.

What do you make of this release? Is it a good move or a cruel one by the UFC? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.


Jailton Almeida Released by UFC After Back-to-Back Heavyweight Losses

The UFC's White House card on June 14th is sneakily approaching, and Dana White confirmed this week that matchmaking meetings are underway with fights expected to be finalized by the weekend. The event less than four months away, and there's not  much clarity to build off. The event is set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House, and will reportedly only feature 6 to 7 fights, opposed to the usual 12-14 fights on a UFC PPV or Fight Night card.

## Topuria vs. Gaethje: The Likely Main Event

The most rumored matchup for the White House card is a Lightweight title unification bout between current Champion Ilia Topuria and interim Champion Justin Gaethje.  Gaethje has been vocal about his desire to compete on the historic event, telling The Pat McAfee Show that "Ilia Topuria on the White House. Has to be. No other option."

Gaethje recently captured his second interim lightweight title by dominating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, while Topuria has been sidelined dealing with personal issues. The matchup makes sense from a promotional standpoint, as Gaethje is currently one of only two American UFC champions on the roster, and the only male American UFC Champion.

## Jones vs. Pereira: Dead in the Water?

Despite speculation earlier, the potential superfight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira appears unlikely to happen. Dana White has expressed reluctance to book Jones due to trust issues stemming from his abrupt retirement, and Pereira recently posted "Looks like the White House is a NO GO!!!" on Instagram. Jones himself admitted the situation is out of his control, and has since opened up about severe arthritis in his hip that may keep him retired for good. Three months ago, this fight was the frontrunner to headline, now it doesn't seem likely.

## McGregor's Return Remains Unclear

Conor McGregor has campaigned hard for a spot on the card, but Dana White has shot down the long-rumored matchup with Michael Chandler. McGregor has not fought since 2021 where he suffered a first round doctor stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Michael Chandler has also campaigned for a spot on the card, calling out Max Holloway for the BMF title, or Arman Tsarukyan.

## Harrison vs. Nunes Cutting it Close

The Bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes was originally scheduled for UFC 324 but was postponed due to Harrison undergoing neck surgery. As the only current female American UFC champion, Harrison seemed like a lock for the White House card, but only if she can recover in time. Her manager Ali Abdelaziz has expressed hope she can still make the June date if her recovery goes well, though nothing is confirmed.

## What's Next?

With Dana White and the matchmakers meeting this week to finalize the card, fans should expect official announcements soon. The limited number of bouts means only the biggest names and most compelling matchups will make the cut. Whether that includes McGregor, Harrison, or other top stars remains to be seen.

What fights do you want to see on the UFC White House card? And who should headline this historic event? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Who Is Fighting on the UFC White House Card?

Jailton Almeida is heading back to Light-Heavyweight after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. The Brazilian submission specialist has informed the UFC of his decision to return to 205 pounds, according to his manager Leonardo Pateira.

## Malhadinho's Rough Patch

Almeida, now 22-5, has hit a wall at Heavyweight, dropping consecutive fights to Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev. The losses mark the first time in his career he has lost back-to-back fights, a reality check after looking like a potential title contender just months ago. Before the skid, Almeida was on a tear with wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Derrick Lewis, and Serghei Spivac. But the Heavyweight division has proven to be a different beast, and Almeida is looking for a fresh start.

## Blaydes Set the Tone

The wheels started coming off against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299. Almeida controlled the first round with his grappling, landing multiple takedowns and setting a UFC Heavyweight record with 9 takedowns in a single round. But Blaydes turned the tables in the second, knocking Almeida out in just 36 seconds into the round.

## What's Next?

The move back down makes sense for Almeida. He made 205 during his first two UFC fights, and his submission game could be a nightmare for the top guys at Light-Heavyweight. The division is wide open right now, with few wins, Almeida could be right back in title contention and erase the sting of his first career losing streak.

What do you think about Almeida moving back to Light-Heavyweight, and how do you see him matching up with the top guys in the division? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Jailton Almeida to Return to Light-Heavyweight After Back-to-Back Losses

Ilia Topuria has settled his legal dispute with ex-wife Giorgina Uzcategui, clearing the path for his UFC return. The resolution comes after months of uncertainty that saw 'El Matador' step away from competition to handle the personal matter.

## White House Bound?

According to MARCA's Irati Prat, Topuria is preparing for a bout expected to take place at the UFC's White House event on June 14. Alvaro Colmenero reports there's a "90%" chance that Topuria will face interim champion Justin Gaethje on that card. The matchup would unify the Lightweight Championship and serves as the a great fight for the White House card, with Gaethje currently being the only male American UFC Champion.

The White House event is scheduled for June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. With multiple title fights planned for the card, Topuria vs. Gaethje could likely serve as the headliner, especially given that Gaethje won the interim belt while representing the United States.

How do you see a fight with Topuria and Gaethje playing out? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje Likely for UFC White House Event

The UFC has officially announced its return to London's O2 Arena on March 21st, 2026, headlined by an undefeated Featherweight showdown between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. The promotion confirmed the card on Monday, with the event streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2018355205658787997?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## The Main Event

Evloev (19-0) returns after defeating Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December 2024, while Murphy (17-0-1) is coming off a knockout victory over Aaron Pico at UFC 319. Both fighters are ranked in the top five of the Featherweight division, and the winner sets themselves up for a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, who just successfully defended his belt against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 this past weekend.

Murphy will be fighting on home soil, looking to continue his momentum after that devastating spinning elbow knockout. Evloev, meanwhile, has never lost in MMA, but has drawn criticism for his decision-heavy fighting style. All nine of his octagon wins have gone the distance.

## Supporting Bouts Announced

The co-main event features Luke Riley, longtime teammate of Paddy Pimblett, taking on Michael Aswell in a lightweight contest. Bellator veteran Michael "Venom" Page also makes his return to welterweight against Sam Patterson in the featured bout.

Other notable matchups include surging middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan facing Roman Dolidze, Mason Jones taking on Axel Sola at Lightweight, and Austen Lane dropping down to Light-Heavyweight to face Polish prospect Iwo Baraniewski. Lane has struggled at heavyweight with four losses in five UFC fights, making this weight change crucial for his future with the promotion.

The full card also features British fighters Nathaniel Wood, Mick Parkin, and several others looking to deliver in front of their home crowd.

What do you think of this main event matchup between Evloev and Murphy? And who do you see getting their hand raised in London? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

UFC London Full Fight Card Announced: Main Card and Prelims

Jiri Prochazka has confirmed that no contracts have been signed for a potential bout with Carlos Ulberg. The Light-Heavyweight matchup is currently in negotiations, with UFC 327 in Miami being discussed as the targeted event. But if a new date comes to the table, or if complications arise, Prochazka will have to rule the fight out.

## BJP's Timeline

While UFC 327 is the date being targeted, Prochazka has expressed his preference to compete sooner. The former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion is expecting his first child in April, which creates scheduling complications for a Miami fight that would likely take place around that timeframe.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/2008660584812999124?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```


## What is Next?

The fight remains in the negotiation stage, meaning fans will need to wait for official confirmation before getting too excited. But don't believe any rumors; at least for now, this fight is not official. Both fighters are top contenders in the Light-Heavyweight division, making this a key matchup regardless of when it materializes. It also brings Alex Pereira into question, who many fans expected to fight again soon against Carlos Ulberg.

What do you think of this potential matchup between Prochazka and Ulberg? And what does it mean for the Light-Heavyweight division right now? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg is NOT Official... Yet.

Merab Dvalishvili had one of the most active championship runs in UFC history during 2025, fighting four times in a single calendar year, with all four being for the Undisputed Bantamweight Championship. The Georgian fighter started the year by defending his newly won title against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on January 18th, earning a unanimous decision victory and another Fight of the Night bonus.

His second defense came against Sean O'Malley, the man he defeated for the title the first time, in a rematch at UFC 316 on June 7th, where Dvalishvili submitted the former champion with a north-south choke in the third round. The finish earned him a Performance of the Night award and also marked Dvalishvili's first finish since 2021, when he TKO'd Marlon Moraes.

Dvalishvili's third title defense came against former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 on October 4th, securing another unanimous decision victory. Just two months later, he faced former champion Petr Yan in a rematch at UFC 323 on December 6th, where his run came to an end via a dominant unanimous decision loss.

## Time For a Break?

Following Dvalishvili's loss to Yan, former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping weighed in on what's next for the former champion. Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, Bisping suggested a reccomended approach for Dvalishvili's return.

"I think if Merab takes some time off, maybe 6 months off, let Petr Yan fight Umar Nurmagomedov, and then come back and fight the winner. Taking 6 months away, go to Georgia, spend time with family, and don't think about fighting."

This move would affect Dvalishvili's brand, who's built himself up as one of the most active fighters in the UFC across the last year and a half, but it might be a necessary change. But, at the same time, if he believes he can defeat Petr Yan and reclaim his title, he won't want to miss out on the oppotuntiy to fight in the trilogy immediately

What do you think Merab Dvalishvili should do in 2026? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Should Merab Dvalishvili Slow Down in 2026?

A big Middleweight matchup is reportedly being in the works for UFC 326 on March 7th in Las Vegas. Top contenders Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder are set to face off, according to Leo Guimaraes MMA.

**Borralho Looking to Bounce Back**

Caio Borralho (17-2, 1 NC) suffered his first loss in the UFC in September when he dropped a decision to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. Before that, the lead Fighting Nerd was undefeated in the octagon with an 8-0 record and wins over notable names like Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig, and Abus Magomedov. The Fighting Nerds product was on the verge of a title shot before the setback, so he'll be looking to restart his climb to the title.

**De Ridder's Momentum Halted**

Reinier de Ridder (21-3) also saw his first UFC loss in October when his corner stopped the fight before the fifth round against Brendan Allen. The former ONE Championship double champ had gone 4-0 in just nine months with wins over Robert Whittaker, Bo Nickal, Kevin Holland, and Gerald Meerschaert. However, he was soundly beaten by Brendan Allen in Canada and couldn't make the call for the fifth and final round.

Both fighters need a win to re-establish themselves at the top of the Middleweight division. The matchup pits Borralho's well-rounded game against de Ridder's unorthodox grappling and finishing ability, with the winner likely setting themself up with a title eliminator later in the year.

What do you make of this matchup, and who do you think comes out on top? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder in the Works for UFC 326

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is live from the Apex for the final time in 2025 for a card headlined by a Flyweight showdown between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape. Follow along with the card's results as they happen, right here.

## Prelims

## Flyweight Bout: Tereza Bleda vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

**Result:** Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (Punches) Round 1, 2:05

## Heavyweight Bout: Allen Frye vs. Guilherme Pat

**Result:** Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Bantamweight Bout: Luana Santos vs. Melissa Croden

**Result:** Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Heavyweight Bout: Sean Sharaf vs. Steven Asplund

**Result:** Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (Punches) Round 2, 3:49

## Featherweight Bout: Joanderson Brito vs. Isaac Thomson

**Result:** Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Welterweight Bout: Neil Magny vs. Yaroslav Amosov

**Result:** Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via Submission (Anadonca Choke) Round 1, 3:14

## Main Card

## Catchweight Bout: King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.

**Result:** King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via Decision (Split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Heavyweight Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha

**Result:** Draw (Unanimous) (28-28, 28-28, 28-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Featherweight Bout: Morgan Charrière vs. Melquizael Costa

**Result:** Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charrière via KO (Head Kick) Round 1, 1:14

## Middleweight Bout: Cesar Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk

**Result:** Cezary Oleksiejczuk def, Cesar Almeida via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Featherweight Bout: Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos

**Result:** Kevin Vallejos def. Giga Chikadze via KO (Spinning Backfist and Elbows) Round 2, 1:29

## Flyweight Bout: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape

**Result:** Manel Kape def. Brandon Royval via TKO (Punches) Round 1, 3:18

UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape Results

The fighters competing at PFL Lyon hit the scales on Friday ahead of Saturday's event at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. Two world championship fights headline the card, with all fighters successfully making weight. Full results below.

## Main Card

**PFL Heavyweight Championship:** Vadim Nemkov (**241.9 lbs**) vs. Renan Ferreira (**258.8 lbs**)

**PFL Women's Featherweight Championship:** Cris Cyborg (**144.6 lbs**) vs. Sara Collins (**144.6 lbs**)

**Welterweight:** Patrick Habirora (**171 lbs**) vs. Kevin Jousset (**170.5 lbs**)

**Bantamweight:** Taylor Lapilus (**135.9 lbs**) vs. Liam Gittins (**136 lbs**)

**Featherweight:** Asaël Adjoudj (?) vs. Fred Dupras (?)

## Prelims

**PFL Europe Bantamweight Final:** Baris Adiguzel (**134.9 lbs**) vs. Dean Garnett (**135.9 lbs**)

**PFL Europe Lightweight Final:** Connor Hughes (**155.9 lbs**) vs. Aleksandr Chizov (**156 lbs**)

**Light Heavyweight:** Boris Atangana (**205.9 lbs**) vs. Guilherme Soares (**205.4 lbs**)

**Bantamweight:** Gustavo Oliveira (**136 lbs**) vs. Movsar Ibragimov (**135.9 lbs**)

**Women's Flyweight:** Paulina Wiśniewska (**125.9 lbs**) vs. Sabrinna de Sousa (**126 lbs**)

What are your predictions for the two championship fights? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

PFL Lyon: Nemkov vs. Ferreira Weigh-In Results

View

DEBUNKED: Aspinall is not vacating or stripped 

Live and free on YouTube RIGHT NOW, first fight was already a very quick head kick ko, no ufc tomorrow so make sure to get your fix in.

125. Joshua Van vs John Dodson
125. Joseph Benavidez vs Manel Kape 
135. Petr Yan vs Mario Bautista 
135. Cody Garbrandt vs Marlon Moraes
145. TKZ vs Diego Sanchez
145. Alexander Volkanovski vs Cub Swanson
155. Mateuz Rebecki vs Eddie Alvarez 
155. Dan vs Estoban Ribovics 
170. Colby Covington vs Islam Mackachev 
170. Diego Sanchez vs Robbie Lawler
185. DDP vs Anderson Silva
185. Gregory Rodrigues vs Israel Adesanya 
205. Jiri Prochazka vs Jon Jones 
205. Stephan Bonnar vs Khalil Rountree Jr. 
265. Andrei Arvlovski vs Josh Hokit
265. Steven Asplund vs JDS

2 dream fights for each division

Dana's worst attempt at promotion yet??

Gordon Ryan leaked as pedo by Craig jones 

Took advantage of this nicer weather, with a run and some pad work 👊🏻

1) Aleksandar Rakić 🇦🇹🇷🇸
Rakić used to be a very technical striker. I was really impressed by his performance against Jimi Manuwa, and his fight with Volkan Oezdemir was very close. He even won a round against Magomed Ankalaev and lost that fight 29–28.
Honestly, I don’t know what happened to this guy, but it feels like he’s lost a lot of his sharpness. Still, we shouldn’t forget that he has been losing to the best of the best. In my opinion, he took some terrible matchups: Jiří Procházka, Jan Błachowicz, and Ankalaev — probably the 3–4 most dangerous guys in the division.
But I was shocked by how he got knocked out cold by Azamat Murzakanov. That was a really bad look and raised serious questions about his current level.

2) Tai Tuivasa 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Tuivasa has basically never improved during his UFC career, but he seems to have some Dana White privilege because he’s exciting and does the shoey after wins. He’s like a modern-day Mark Hunt in terms of style and entertainment value.
That said, his skill set is very limited: almost zero BJJ and zero ground game. I still don’t really understand how he managed to beat Derrick Lewis. Recently, he’s been on a terrible losing streak (0–5 or 0–6 in his last fights), and it really looks like he’s hit his ceiling as a fighter.

3) Michael Chandler 🇺🇸
Yes, when Chandler came to the UFC, he knocked out Dan Hooker. And sure, a lot of people have finished Hooker, but it’s still not easy to do it, especially on the feet. Even prime Dustin Poirier couldn’t finish Hooker standing.
After that, though, Chandler started losing to guys like Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira. In the Oliveira fight, he was winning until he got caught and finished.
In general, he came to the UFC late in his career, and he doesn’t fight very smart. He just goes in and brawls, sometimes not even using his wrestling at all. Chandler is close to retirement, and honestly, he might also be close to getting cut from the UFC.

4) Gilbert Burns 🇧🇷🇧🇷
This man almost beat Khamzat Chimaev. If Khamzat has taken 120 significant strikes in his entire career, probably 110 of them came from the Burns fight.
Burns lost to Belal Muhammad because of an injury, and then he lost to Jack Della Maddalena, even though he was doing well until he got caught by that brutal knee. Yeah, he’s getting old, and the UFC might eventually cut him from the roster because of that.
But overall, Burns is a great person both inside and outside the octagon, and a true warrior.

Who’s Next? My Picks for Possible UFC Roster Cuts (MODPICKS)

I’ve got a question for everyone on here that does some type of combat sport, what’s your goal with it? Just training for fun, do you want to compete? what’s the goal? 

I’ve not been able to train for 3 weeks due to a minor back injury so I’ve reflected a lot on this as I always do tho. Personally my goal is very far fetched but I want to become a world champion in mma. It’s gonna be very hard but the good thing is that I train at a great gym that has great opportunities with an elite manager and straight way through to oktagon. But what’s y’all’s goals and what combat sport do u train?

For the community, for the ones that do a combat sport. 

four months after the finger-in-the-eye incident:
- He is still unable to track moving objects with his eyes.
- He has to put 32 drops into his eyes every day.
- If he suddenly changes direction, he becomes dizzy and nauseous.
- He misses people's hands when he wants to shake hands.
“He has to be driven by other people because he can’t drive himself.”
- He has difficulties even when playing with his own children.
- A black spot remains in his vision, which does not disappear.

Tom Aspinall's career is in jeopardy 

Just got someone into MMA

Some sources are saying that Gane vs Poatan is confirmed for the interim at the white house. Not sure about trustworthyness but would be a good fight. And there is a Chance Tom wont come back and they will be real champion.

Curtis Blayeds vs Hokit aimed for 327. Stupid matchmaking I hope it’s not real

Rule: fighter has to have been active 2010 and before. 

What is everyone’s favorite Legend/Pioneer of MMA?

HBD Dan Prostitute ! The Hangman is 36 today ! 

One order of Derrick Lewis’ ball sweat and Tracy Cortez bathwater please

1) Merab Dvalishvili 🇬🇪🇬🇪
Undisputed. He doesn’t win his fights with power — he wins with cardio. Even when he can’t finish takedowns or fully control his opponents, he breaks them by exhausting them. He just keeps pushing, pushing, pushing until they fall apart. His pressure and pace are on another level

2) Anthony Hernandez 🇲🇽 🇺🇸
This guy is basically the middleweight version of Merab, but he was discovered very late. Watching what he did to Roman Dolidze felt like being dragged through the Amazon jungle. That rear-naked choke was crazy — he literally dragged him down. But before that, he broke him with pressure and pace. Now the question is: can he do the same thing to Strickland?

3) Alexander Volkanovski 🇦🇺
He’s a complete fighter in every area, and his conditioning is elite too. In my opinion, his cardio is one of his biggest weapons. Just look at the Ortega fight — he survived that guillotine partly because of his conditioning and composure. This guy is built for five-round fights. No debate.
4) Max Holloway
This man just doesn’t get tired. He holds the record for the most significant strikes landed in UFC history at featherweight (and overall for a long time). Even though he’s not a huge one-punch knockout artist, his cardio and durability are on another level. He’s a perfect example of pace + chin + volume.

5) Belal Muhammad 🇵🇸
Yes, I know a lot of people didn’t expect to see this name here. Some probably expected Jiri or Kamaru Usman instead. But most of Belal’s fights go to decision — and he wins by fighting at a high pace for five rounds. You can’t consistently win decisions at this level without great cardio. His conditioning advantage is real, and he’s still very underrated.

Endless Cardio: My Top 5 Gas Tanks in the UFC 

since buckley was arguing with shakur stevenson and tbud online i thought i give my opinion on the matter. no boxer in the world can win a street fight or an mma fight against any welterweight or above. and as for the lighter weight classes, a select few fighters like ilia, arman and maybe charles (charles is 50/50) could win against a pro boxer (except usyk bc i think he has trained mma for a while). they simply wouldn’t be able to defend the low kicks, or the wrestling, or do anything in a thai clinch, or respond to the submission attempts. one you grab a hold of a boxer they can only fight to get out, which is a space where many ufc fighters thrive in, even in the lighter weight classes. 

and as for ilia fighting bud in a boxing match, i think that would go like the mcgregor vs mayweather match. ilia does beat bud in a street fight or an mms fight, but you can’t compare someone who doesn’t even have boxing as their main discipline to someone who has trained their whole life. ilia wouldn’t get knocked out, but he would lose a decision to bud. i don’t think it would matter a lot for his legacy, similar to mcgregor’s loss, but ilia would lose in boxing nonetheless, and if you think ilia knocks out bud, you’re a casual.

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