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Edition 59October 27, 2023

The Fight Forum has been on fire and has brought the Verdict Community together. Check out the most debated discussion of the week here.

1
The UFC signs a sponsorship deal with Bud Light

Details: Bud Light will be the official beer of the UFC starting on January 1st, 2024, replacing Modelo. The UFC revealed it's a 9-figure contract and the biggest sponsorship deal in the company's history. Official numbers weren't disclosed, but if it is indeed their biggest sponsorship deal, it surpasses the $350 Million sponsorship deal with DraftKings.

Criticism: Bud Light has been at the forefront of controversy since April since the Dylan Mulvaney sponsorship. Anheuser-Busch's stock dropped nearly 20%, and Bud Light lost its status as the top-selling beer in the United States to Modelo, a spot they held for 20 years. Many fans have criticized the UFC about the partnership, but Dana White has stood firm behind the new deal, stating that Bud Light shares the same core values as the UFC.

2
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou has no rematch clause

Why? Tyson Fury ultimately decided not to have a rematch clause, as he's stated that rematch clauses have tied up his career and cost him millions of dollars in court cases throughout the years.

If Ngannou wins? He'll be the most valuable athlete in combat sports, and Tyson Fury's team would have to pay him a lot of money to secure a rematch. With that said, it's still a big 'if'.

3
Max Holloway calls out Justin Gaethje to fight for the BMF title

The call out: Holloway respectfully asked Gaethje to fight him for the fans with the hashtag BMF. This excited many fans as Holloway and Gaethje are two of the most aggressive fighters in the sport today.

How likely? Holloway is at the stage of his career where he wants big fights only. Fighting Gaethje for the BMF title is certainly a bigger deal than fighting another contender in the Featherweight division. Gaethje has his eyes on the Lightweight title, but Islam Makhachev could be tied up for a while with a potential Welterweight title fight or a defense against Max Holloway. It's a fight that makes sense for both parties.

4
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is cancelled

What happened? Jon Jones tore his pectoral muscle off the bone while training wrestling earlier this week. Dana White confirmed that he'll be out of action for 8 months. The UFC plans to rebook Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic sometime in 2024.

Updates to UFC 295: Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall will compete for an interim Heavyweight title, while Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira for the Light Heavyweight title will now serve as the main event.

5
Charles Oliveira intends to fight Islam Makhachev next

Oliveira's thoughts: He's motivated and believes that he's the rightful #1 contender in the Lightweight division, and he's ready to fight for the belt soon. He told Ariel Helwani that he doesn't fight for money. He fights for legacy and history.

Is it next? Luckily for Oliveira, Dana White also wants to see him fight Islam Makhachev next. Dana has also been saying he doesn't want to see Makhachev move up to the Welterweight division yet.

6
Dan Henderson spoke with the Verdict Community last week

How? We hosted an AMA with Henderson on the Fight Forum 1 hour before UFC 294. He enjoyed answering questions about his career and speaking with the Verdict Community. One community member won a signed copy of his book Hendo: The American Athlete.

What did he talk about? He spoke about what he thinks would have happened if he had fought Jon Jones, his most memorable knockout, the moment that changed his career, and his favorite pizza. You can see the entire AMA here.

7
Robert Whittaker wants to fight Kamaru Usman

Whittaker said: "What's next for Usman? Is he going to stay at Middleweight? I don't know. But that fight interests me. I like that fight. I'd fight a Middleweight Usman."

How likely? It all depends on Kamaru Usman's decision to stay at Middleweight or return to Welterweight. Usman has fought nearly everyone in the Welterweight division, while Whittaker has fought nearly everyone in the Middleweight division. They're both legends and former Champions, making it a big fight for everyone.

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OverUnder
All of your weekly MMA updates in one place.
Keeping up to date with combat sports news can take up a lot of time, so we’re simplifying the process by bringing the most important stories directly to you. We read the internet all week and then summarize what you need to know in 3-4 minutes.
Enter your email to sign up for the OverUnder newsletter. The first email newsletter in MMA.
By subscribing, you will receive a weekly MMA newsletter from Verdict MMA. You can unsubscribe at any time.