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Anthony Joshua survives 2 knockdowns, comes back to flatten Kristian Prenga in second round

Published

3 weeks ago

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Anthony Joshua survives 2 knockdowns, comes back to flatten Kristian Prenga in second round

Anthony Joshua almost suffered one of the most stunning upsets in history after Kristian Prenga scored two knockdowns on the former heavyweight champion in the opening round.

But just when it looked like Joshua was doomed to fail and his highly anticipated showdown against Tyson Fury would fall apart again, the British slugger recovered and came out launching bombs in the second round. With Prenga fading, Joshua unloaded a brutal right hand that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas and through the bottom rope.

It didn't take long for the referee to stop the fight with the end coming at 2:43 in the second round.

“It was more than me that just picked me up,†Joshua said about the stunning opening round. “It can't just be me. There's a higher power that's calling.â€

While he was celebrating his win, Joshua quickly turned his attention towards Fury with his promoter Eddie Hearn saying the long awaited fight was already signed for later this year.

“Have we got Tyson Fury in the room, actually?†Joshua shouted. “To more important matters, I'm going to rip his heart out. I'm the meanest and most vicious champion there's ever been. Nobody can stop me. Alexander? No, he's no Alexander.

“I respect everything that he's done and everything he's achieved but as a fighting person who's been calling for this fight for a long time … I think he fans will be in for a treat.â€

Before he gets to Fury, Joshua first had to leave the crowd on pins and needles after the way the fight started on Saturday.

In a shocking turn of events, Prenga launched an uppercut that blasted Joshua and sent him crashing to the canvas. Joshua was able to get back to his feet but he was obviously shocked at what just happened.

Prenga stayed on the attack as he kept swinging hammers trying to put Joshua back down again. Joshua was potentially dealing with some kind of leg injury after the knocked as he looked unstable whenever he was standing.

Prenga blasted Joshua with another ferocious right hand that wobbled and put the former heavyweight champion down again.

Another wild exchange ended he opening round as Joshua smiled at his opponent before returning to his corner.

As the second round got started, Joshua was aggressive throwing combinations and Prenga was seemingly losing steam. Joshua backed him into the corner and unloaded several stiff punches in succession as Prenga was forced to play defense.

Realizing that Prenga was still hurt, Joshua came after him with everything in his arsenal until he blasted the Albanian heavyweight a huge shot that put him down and he actually fell through the bottom rope. As soon as Prenga hit the canvas, it was pretty clear he was done but the referee gave him time to attempt to recover.

A moment later, the fight was waved off as Joshua celebrated his comeback victory after he hit the ground twice in the opening round.

The win puts Joshua in position for one of the biggest boxing matches of the year with all signs pointing towards a showdown against Fury before 2026 is over. There are still some details that have to be worked out like the location for the fight but it appears Joshua vs. Fury is finally going to happen.

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MMA

UFC 330 ‘Makhachev vs. Garry’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Published

6 hours ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

UFC 330 ‘Makhachev vs. Garry’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Sherdog’s live UFC
330 “Makhachev vs. Garry†coverage will begin Saturday at 5:30
p.m. ET.

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
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The Official Result

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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The Official Result

Round 1

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
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Round 2

Sherdog Scores

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
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Round 3

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The Official Result

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Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

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The Official Result

Round 1

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
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Round 2

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Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

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Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
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Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Scottie Smith scores the round:

The Official Result

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MMA

UFC 330 Results: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry

Published

7 hours ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

UFC 330 Results: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
UFC 330: Makhachev v Machado Garry - Ceremonial Weigh-in
UFC 330: Makhachev v Machado Garry - Ceremonial Weigh-in

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Opponents Islam Makhachev of Russia and Ian Machado Garry of Ireland face off during the UFC 330 ceremonial weigh-in at Xfinity Mobile Arena on August 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

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MMA

Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja have to be separated at UFC 331 press conference: ‘When someone talks, you shut your f*cking mouth’

Published

10 hours ago

on

August 14, 2026

By

Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja have to be separated at UFC 331 press conference: ‘When someone talks, you shut your f*cking mouth’

The rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja has some real heat behind it.

In December, Van took the UFC flyweight title from Pantoja, winning just moments into the fight when Pantoja dislocated his elbow while falling to the ground. Since then, Pantoja has been healing up from his injury, while Van defended his title with a fifth-round stoppage victory over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in May. Now, the two are set to run things back at UFC 331 next month, and at the opening press conference for the event on Friday, things got testy between the two.

“Had that not happened, I would have still whooped his ass that day,†Van said when asked about the injury that awarded him the title. “So September 19, it's just another opportunity for me to whoop his ass again.â€

“I think he needs to wash his mouth,†Pantoja replied. “I respect where I'm from. I'm from Brazil. In Brazil, you need to take care about what you talk. If not, maybe you lose your teeth.â€

Things only heated up from there as Van interrupted Pantoja while he was giving a long answer about what this fight means to him and his history in the division.

“Bro, talk about the fight on September 19,†Van said. “We're not here for your story, bro. We're here for the fight.

“Hey kid, when someone talks, you shut your f*cking mouth,†Pantoja responded. “You understand that?â€

“Shut up. What you gonna do about it?â€

In response to this, Pantoja stood up and started to walk across the dais toward Van, before security intervened to sit him back down, with Van mocking him the whole time.

“You ain't doing shit,†Van said. “Sit your ass down. Sit your ass down; you ain't doing shit. Somebody get him some milk.â€

“Hey kid, September 19, you're gonna be locked in the octagon with me,†Pantoja replied.

This is a new look from Van, who seemed to enjoy needling Pantoja and trying to rile him up. But for the former flyweight champion, this just looked like Van pretending to be something he's not.

“Nothing about Joshua surprises me,†Pantoja said. “He tries to make this character, tries to be the tough guy, but what I see, he's just a fraidy cat. He's afraid.â€

“I ain't afraid of shit,†Van responded.

“Oh, I'm so tough,†Pantoja mocked.

“My name is Fearless,†Van said. “I ain't scared of you.â€

The two then had their first faceoff for this fight, where things remained fiery, with both men jawing at each other and Dana White having to keep them apart.

UFC 331 takes place on Sep. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

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