Pros react to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331: “Horrible judgingâ€
Credit: Giorgio VIERA / AFP
Amanda Serrano's former rival, Heather Hardy, seeks $10 million in damages from Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions.
Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions continue to make their presence felt throughout combat sports. But one of its former fighters is taking significant legal action against them after claiming to have suffered a significant injury during a loss to one of the promotion's stars, Amanda Serrano.
Former WBO featherweight titleholder Heather Hardy filed a $10 million+ lawsuit in a Texas courtroom accusing MVP and Paul of negligence and Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act violations. Hardy lost to Serrano by decision in August 2023 in Dallas, and the 44-year-old Hardy recently announced she suffered a ‘permanent brain injury' in the fight.
Hardy accuses Paul and MVP of ignoring potential warning signs about her health before the Serrano fight. She launched a GoFundMe campaign earlier this year to help with basic living expenses and necessities.
Jake Paul, MVP respond to Heather Hardy's $10 million lawsuit
After the news broke of Hardy's filing, MVP issued a lengthy statement on the pending legal battle.
“MVP has great respect for Heather Hardy,†MVP and Paul responded to Hardy in a statement to ESPN. “We recognize the difficulty of her circumstances and extend our sincere sympathy and hope that she receives the care and support she deserves.
“Heather's participation on our August 5, 2023 card was arranged through her promoter, Lou DiBella, who contracted for the fight, and Heather publicly expressed her gratitude for the opportunity both before and after the fight. MVP followed applicable protocols for the fight, Heather was medically cleared to compete by the athletic commission overseeing the event, and the bout proceeded under the commission's authority and supervision in accordance with their standard medical and safety requirements…
“MVP remains committed to fighter safety and supporting the athletes who compete in our events in full compliance with commission standards.â€
As of this writing, Paul hasn't issued an individual statement on Hardy's lawsuit. Paul hasn't fought in boxing since a TKO loss to former heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua last year.
Do you think Jake Paul will box again? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Raoni Barcelos' first gold medal came when he was 8 years in
1994. | 📷: Marcelo Alonso
Raoni
Barcelos has provided a positive update after a frightening
conclusion to his
Ultimate Fighting Championship main event clash against
Raul
Rosas Jr.
Barcelos was stopped in the fifth round on Saturday at Meta Apex
after appearing to go limp during an exchange with Rosas Jr. in the
UFC Vegas 121 headliner. He was subsequently removed from the
Octagon on a stretcher and transported to a hospital for
evaluation. It was later reported that Barcelos was conscious, and
the UFC subsequently confirmed that he was stable, alert and
responsive.
The Brazilian veteran has now addressed fans directly.
Raoni Barcelos addresses fans after his UFC Vegas 121 loss to
Raul Rosas Jr.
Barcelos provided an update in the comments section of a post on
the UFC Brazil Instagram account.
“Hello everyone, I just want to say to all of you that I’m really
fine and as soon as possible I’ll do a video for you guys,â€
Barcelos wrote. “I promised a great fight and delivered. Thank you,
God and everyone that fought with me inside and outside of that
Octagon.â€
Barcelos' coach, Davi Ramos,
also previously reassured fans that the Brazilian was doing well
while undergoing further medical checks. Barcelos reportedly
remains under medical supervision.
Josh
Hokit isn't buying Tom
Aspinall's claims regarding his eye issues.
Aspinall hasn't fought since his
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title defense
against Ciryl Gane
ended in a no contest in October 2025. The Englishman was unable to
continue after Gane poked him in both eyes in the first round.
Aspinall recently vacated the title amid further issues with his
right eye. Hokit, however, claims the former champ is faking his
injury in an attempt to leave the UFC.
Josh Hokit claims Tom Aspinall is exaggerating his eye injury
to get out of his UFC contract
Hokit claims Aspinall is exaggerating the seriousness of his eye
injury. The undefeated American suggested that Aspinall is looking
for a way out of his UFC contract and speculated that he could be
pursuing a lucrative move to boxing instead.
“Honestly, I don't even think that sh*t's real,†Hokit told Ariel
Helwani. “I think he has his teammates farting on his pillow, then
he goes to sleep, gets pink eye, posts that shit on Instagram like,
‘Hey, everybody, feel bad for me. I can't fight still.' He has fake
surgery, all that other sh*t. I think he's just trying to get out
of his deal, if I'm being 100% honest… That sh*t is all fake, gang.
It's not real. I don't know if he's paying doctors, but I think
he's trying to get that bag in boxing.â€
Meanwhile, Gane (14-2) has been promoted to undisputed champion
after Aspinall vacated the title. The Frenchman is scheduled to
defend his title against Hokit (9-0) at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Josh Hokit
believes Tom
Aspinall is faking his injury to try to get out of his UFC
deal:
“Honestly, I don't even think that shit's real. I think he has his
teammates farting on his pillow, then he goes to sleep, gets pink
eye, posts that shit on Instagram like, ‘Hey, everybody… pic.twitter.com/PL1VQmHUwQ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
September 28, 2026
Chris
Curtis isn't looking to bury the hatchet with Luis
Hernandez.
The beef between Curtis (32-13) and Hernandez (9-0) started at a
Tuff-N-Uff card last year. Hernandez defeated Curtis'
Xtreme Couture teammate Miles
Hunsinger. “The Stache†then proceeded to mock Curtis and
Sean
Strickland, who were cornering Hunsinger. Both Curtis and
Strickland entered the cage before security intervened to stop an
all-out brawl.
Chris Curtis reveals conversations with UFC matchmakers as he
campaigns for Luis
Hernandez fight
Hernandez earned his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract on
Dana White's Contender Series earlier this month. Curtis claims
he called the UFC matchmakers immediately after, asking for a fight
against the Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputy.
However, the matchmakers allegedly told Curtis that Hernandez was
still too green to fight him. Hernandez then made a 10-day
turnaround for his UFC debut and submitted Sedriques
Dumas on two days' notice at
UFC Vegas 121. Curtis claims he called the matchmakers again
regarding a fight against Hernandez, but was denied a second
time.
Nevertheless, “The Action Man†is willing to wait till the
matchmakers consider Hernandez ready to fight him. A teammate of
Hernandez reportedly told Curtis that “The Stache†was looking to
settle their feud. However, Curtis says he is too petty to let go
of the beef.
“I am petty as hell,†Curtis said on Instagram. “The moment Luis
Hernandez gets signed to the UFC, I message matchmakers. And the
response from both was, ‘He's not ready yet. He's got no fights;
he's not ready yet.' Last night he gets his win; I immediately
messaged matchmakers. And I get the response, ‘He's still not
ready. He's not on your level.' So, I can't fight him right now;
I've tried… But I want him to do well; I want him to get a few
wins. Because the moment he gets a few wins, the moment he is not
brand new in the UFC, I'm gonna fight him. I've been circling this
man like a shark in the water… I'm going to fold this man like a
cheap suitcase. I cannot wait… I ran into one of his boys the other
day; he's like, ‘Oh, [Hernandez] wants to squash the beef.' I told
him I'm gonna pop his head like a grape when I see him. There's no
forgiveness, there's no letting it go… I'm gonna strangle you and
drown you like a bag of unwanted puppies.â€