Archie Walters
The past month has been eventful in the world of combat sports, with significant developments that have captured the attention of fans worldwide. Here’s a roundup of the top stories:
1. Dmitry Bivol Becomes Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion
In a thrilling rematch, Kyrgish boxer Dmitry Bivol defeated Russian Artur Beterbiev to claim the undisputed light heavyweight titles. The bout, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, went the full 12 rounds and concluded with a majority decision in Bivol’s favor, with judges scoring it 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113. Bivol showcased exceptional technique and resilience against Beterbiev’s aggressive offense, setting the stage for a potential trilogy to settle their rivalry definitively.
2. TKO Group and Saudi Arabia’s PIF Collaborate on New Boxing League
TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and WWE, is finalizing a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to launch a new boxing league. This venture aims to feature up-and-coming boxers exclusively tied to the league, with TKO acting as the managing partner and receiving a share of the revenue and equity.
UFC President Dana White is expected to play a significant role in this initiative, which seeks to revitalize the boxing landscape by introducing a structured league format. UFC president Dana White (middle left) and Nick Khan (right) will lead the organization funded by Turki Al-Sheikh (middle right).
3. UFC 314 Announced
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has officially announced its upcoming events, UFC 315 and UFC 314 which feature exciting title fights and fresh contender match ups.
UFC 314 live from the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Florida will be headlined by Alexander Volkanovski looking to regain the UFC Featherweight Championship against number two ranked contender Diego Lopes.
(Alexander Volkanovski hasn’t fought since he suffered a KO loss to Ilia Topuria in February of 2024)
