MMA

FRANCIS NGANNOU could have both an MMA return and rematch with Tyson Fury to look forward to. Ngannou last year walked out on the UFC to sign for rivals the Professional Fighters League.
Francis Ngannou left the UFC for PFLCredit: @francis_ngannou
But the PFL permitted his switch to boxing for a crossover clash against Fury in Saudi Arabia.
And Ngannou almost caused the mother of all upsets by scoring a shock knockdown – only to lose a controversial split-decision.
But still, the ex-UFC champion earned himself another blockbuster bout this time against Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Saudi.
PFL CEO Peter Murray has backed Ngannou all the way in the fight – and expects to see him in the cage again by summer time.
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Murray told BBC Sport: “We’ll have another event in the second half of the year, this summer likely, and we expect Francis to return to MMA in the PFL Smartcage.
“And we’re very excited for Francis and his upcoming bout against Anthony Joshua.
“I would not rule out Francis Ngannou in this fight, don’t underestimate him.”
Fury, 35, was forced out of his scheduled February 17 title unification with Oleksandr Usyk, 37, after suffering a horror cut in sparring.
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The heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed decider has since been rescheduled to May 18 in Riaydh.
And Fury was quick to talk down retirement as he named Joshua, 34, and Ngannou, 37, in his future plans.
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou shake hands in first meeting since Saudi showdown last year
He said: “I’m hearing talk of people saying that I should retire or I’m gonna retire soon, or whatever. I ain’t retiring anywhere.
“I’ve got two fights with Usyk, for the undisputed twice. Then I’m gonna fight AJ at least once.
“Maybe twice if there’s a rematch, if he wants one after the first battering I give him. And then I’m gonna fight Ngannou again.  
“And that’s just to start. So there’s five little fights for you to whet your appetite with. I ain’t going nowhere. Nowhere.
“I’m 35-year-old in the prime of my life.” 
Tyson Fury wants to rematch Francis NgannouCredit: Reuters More

BIAGGIO ALI WALSH is the grandson to the most iconic fighter of all time – but it is not something he ever wanted people to know. The former college football prospect grew up doing his best to avoid anyone finding out he was related to the legendary Muhammad Ali.
Biaggio Ali Walsh is the grandson of Muhammad Ali
Ali pictured with a young BiaggioCredit: biaggioaliwalsh
It was only after his family ties were revealed in the press that Biaggio’s cover was blown forever.
He told SunSport: “When I was younger, a lot of people didn’t know who I was, we kept it a secret, me and my family.
“The only people who really knew where my closest friends who are still my closest friends today that would come over to the house and they would see all this Muhammad Ali stuff.
“When I was playing football, Max Preps came out with something and to this day I still don’t know how they found out who I was related to.
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“I guess word spread like wildfire, I don’t know. But since high school everyone knew that I was Ali’s grandson and now I’m participating in a combat sports it’s only getting worse.”
Biaggio set his sights on completely distancing himself from the family trade, despite auntie Laila being a boxing champion and brother Nico also turning professional.
He dreamed of playing in the NFL after getting a scholarship to play in California but by 2019 he hung up his boots and instead picked up the gloves.
But not the boxing gloves that gave his family so much legacy – as Biaggio instead began training in MMA and by 2022 he had his first fight.
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Now a 7-1 amateur, the American makes his pro debut in Saudi Arabia on February 24 on the PFL vs Bellator card.
It comes almost 50 years on from Ali’s infamous hybrid fight against Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio reveals decision to turn professional in MMA ahead of PFL vs Bellator
Biaggio, 25, said: “I think it’s cool that an Ali would be fighting in MMA.
“I think it was in 76’ my grandfather did a cross-martial arts thing with a wrestler.
“So like that’s kind of how MMA started, the boxer versus the wrestler, jiu jitsu versus karate, taekwondo against the judo guy.
“It was kind of like what martial arts is the best and that was going on in the 70s when my grandfather did a cross fight with a wrestler.
“So yeah, I think it’s cool to say like, ‘The Alis are a boxing family but Biaggio does MMA.’”
Biaggio was signed to the Professional Fighters League in 2022 and won all five of his bouts by knockout.
And from the get-go – while still an amateur – Biaggio had the eyes of the world on him having carried his famous fighting name into the cage.
It is the same pressure he has dealt with from the moment his family roots were revealed – so nothing will be new when he returns this time as a pro.
He said: “It doesn’t feel different. I’m always going to have a target on my back even when I was playing football I had a target on my back.
“Especially when I was running to the touch down and they were behind me and they could see that big target on my back! And it’s only really going to get worse, really.
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“The media interviews are going to pile up, the haters are going to get much worse, the online comments, it’s all going to get completely worse. So I’m ready for it, come on. I don’t care.”
Biaggio Ali Walsh is set to make his MMA debutCredit: Getty More

OLEKSANDR USYK has been offered sparring by 6ft 8in MMA champion Renan Ferreira to help prepare for the giant Gypsy King. Usyk was due to fight Tyson Fury in the first ever four-belt heavyweight unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
MMA star Renan Ferreira is ready to help Oleksandr Usyk in sparringCredit: Getty
Usyk’s fight with Tyson Fury has been postponedCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But the historic undisputed title decider has been moved to May 18 after Fury received over ten stitches for a sparring injury.
Usyk had drafted in a squad of humongous heavyweights to replicate Fury’s hard-to-come-by 6ft 9in frame.
But he could add one more to his arsenal after Brazilian MMA star Ferreira – who stands a huge 6ft 8in – proposed his services.
He told SunSport: “Absolutely, it would be a great opportunity to learn, an honour really to share the ring with Usyk and learn from all the accolades he has. 
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“And hopefully be able to help him with some of the things I have to offer.” 
Ferreira last year won the Professional Fighters League season, scooping the heavyweight belt and $1million cash prize.
And he returns on February 24 in Riyadh against former Bellator champ Ryan Bader.
Last year, the PFL took over Bellator and to kick off their merger, rivalling title holders will battle for bragging rights.
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But on the line for Ferreira, 34, and Bader, 40, will be the chance to welcome Francis Ngannou back to the cage.
Ngannou, 37, last year put his MMA career on hold to cross over to the boxing ring to fight Fury, 35.
New footage appears to show moment Tyson Fury was cut by an ELBOW causing Oleksandr Usyk fight to be scrapped
He astonishingly scored a shock knockdown but was controversially beaten by split-decision.
Fury snubbed a rematch to instead focus on Usyk, 37, so Ngannou instead signed to fight Anthony Joshua, 34, on March 8.
But Ferreira is waiting in the wings and would even face Ngannou in the boxing ring.
He said: “I’ve always been a massive fan of boxing and that martial art.
“It’s definitely something I would like to do in my career, test myself in a boxing ring. And to do that against Francis, I think it would be awesome.” 
Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson FuryCredit: GETTY More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been accused of fighting Francis Ngannou only as a means to one-up Tyson Fury. Ngannou last year put his MMA career on hold to cross over to the boxing ring to face Fury in October.
Anthony Joshua squaring off with Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
And Fury almost suffered the most disastrous of nights having been dropped in round three and taken to the wire over ten rounds.
He managed to escape with a controversial split-decision, keeping his undisputed title decider with Oleksandr Usyk, set for February 17, alive.
So with a rematch ruled out, Ngannou struck a deal with AJ, whose super-fight with Deontay Wilder was blown after the American was beaten.
But retired former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch believes Joshua is only fighting Ngannou to try and better Fury’s performance.
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He told Lord Ping: “It’s bad for boxing because who wants to watch it?
“Because when Joshua wins, what’s he done? What’s he achieved? F*** all.
“All he wants is bragging rights to say he did a better job than Fury, but no one cares.
“Joshua-Ngannou is a pointless fight. It’s doing nothing for boxing.
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ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
“Sure, it keeps him ticking over while he waits for the winner of Fury versus Usyk, but why not fight a real boxer; fight Zhilei Zhang, fight Joe Joyce, fight Daniel Dubois.
“There are fights available to Joshua against top contenders and real boxers. But instead he’s jumping in with Ngannou in a pointless exhibition.”
Despite Froch’s blast, boxing bosses in Saudi want the winner of Fury and Usyk’s unification bout to then fight the victory of Joshua and Ngannou.
Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: EPA
Former super-middleweight world champion Carl FrochCredit: AFP More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been backed to beat Francis Ngannou by the ex-UFC champion’s former sparring partner. The humongous heavyweights collide on March 8 in Saudi Arabia in just Ngannou’s second boxing bout.
Francis Ngannou with ex-sparring partner Darren SealyCredit: Instagram @darrensealy
Anthony Joshua with Ngannou ahead of their March 8 fightCredit: Getty
He put his MMA career on hold last year and in October faced WBC world champion Tyson Fury.
And to prepare for the bout, he called on 6ft 9in British heavyweight Darren Sealy.
Sealy is now in camp with Oleksandr Usyk, again mimicking Fury, but he has tipped AJ to defeat former sparring partner Ngannou.
He told SunSport: “It’s a tricky one, both extremely powerful but I feel the last two, three fights, especially the last fight in December with Otto Wallin, AJ looked brilliant. 
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“Everything was firing on all cylinders and I do feel that AJ will be victorious on the night. 
“I don’t know how in terms of round by round or decision but I do feel he will definitely get the better of Ngannou.”  
Ngannou and Usyk – Fury’s last two opponents – both called on Sealy’s towering frame to prepare for the Gypsy King.
And if Joshua, 34, beats Ngannou and Fury defeats Usyk, the long-time rivals will be on course to finally stage their Battle of Britain.
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So again Sealy is willing to offer his hard-to-come-by services to AJ.
He said: “It’s a business and a sport and all boxers and athletes understand that so you have to go where the wind blows. 
“If the opportunity is there and Fury’s the opponent or another very tall opponent and they call me in, then I’ll be there.” 
When Ngannou’s crossover clash with Fury was announced, Sealy messaged the MMA star’s boxing coach Dewey Cooper.
And following a press conference in London, the two sparred and before long Sealy was invited out to his camp in Saudi Arabia.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
Two weeks of sparring followed before Ngannou, 37, dropped Fury, 35, and was deemed unfortunate to walk away with a split-decision loss.
It means Fury now faces Usyk, 36, in an undisputed title decider on February 17 in Riyadh.
And it allows Sealy to be a part of another historic fight in boxing history.
He said: “I reflect on it when I’m not sparring, when I’m having my own personal time.
“I think it’s important to reflect and live in the moment because if I’m thinking too far ahead or thinking what’s next then I’m not soaking up the atmosphere, not relishing the opportunity. 
“I know there’s not too many people that are my height and have the privilege to be a part of these camps. 
“So by all means I am living up to the opportunity but I am living up to the expectation. It’s been two amazing experiences, two amazing camps.”
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Sealy, far right, is now in camp with Oleksandr UsykCredit: instagram More