David Benavidez has proven that he is not afraid of any challenge in boxing, but one rumoured opponent is hoping that he ‘hasn’t scared Benavidez’ off from a potential cruiserweight battle.

‘The Mexican Monster’ reigned as the WBC light-heavyweight champion, but made the 25lb jump from 175lbs to 200lbs earlier this year to challenge for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified WBA and WBO titles – and scored an emphatic knockout to claim both belts.

Now, should he come through Michal Cieslak unscathed in December, Benavidez has revealed a three-fight plan that includes a potential undisputed title showdown with Jai Opetaia, a clash with Artur Beterbiev, and a possible move up to heavyweight.

When discussing the proposed battle with former undisputed light heavyweight champion Beterbiev, Benavidez joked to The Ring that he respects Beterbiev for pursuing a fight with him despite being ’45 years old’.

“Beterbiev has definitely reached out to our team. He’s actively been trying to make that fight. We want to give him what he wants. You know, I respect Beterbiev. He’s about 45 years old, and the fact he’s calling me out, I have great respect for him.”

In response, Beterbiev – who is actually 41 years old – has posted a training clip onto his Instagramhinting at a future fight with Benavidez in the caption.

“I hope nobody was scared off by my ’45-year-old’ physique!”

Beterbiev, who has a 90% knockout ratio from his 22 fights, is also being touted for a light-heavyweight trilogy with fierce foe, Dmitry Bivol, where a victory could tee up a mammoth meeting between he and Benavidez for mid-to-late 2027.

Dan Rafael suspects Paramount’s tight-lipped stance on the audience numbers for Ryan Garcia against Conor Benn signals a weak return on Zuffa Boxing’s massive financial commitment.

When Rafael reached out to network publicists for viewership data, he was met with complete radio silence. That lack of transparency led him to conclude the numbers missed internal targets, even though he lacks official data or direct confirmation from network executives.

“I didn’t even get a response. I mean, that to me was the biggest tell of all,” Rafael said to Total Boxing. “They were embarrassed by the numbers, I’m sure, for that fight.”

Putting Garcia in with Benn was designed to prove Zuffa’s ability to pull serious traffic by utilizing bankable headliners. Rafael acknowledges that fresh promotional outfits require runway to grow a following, yet he contends this specific headliner carried far loftier expectations. Benn had secured what Rafael termed astronomical pay for a prior Netflix undercard slot before stepping into the Paramount ring against Garcia.

“They had expectations to get some big bang for their buck,” Rafael noted.

With Paramount keeping the data sealed, the actual viewership remains anyone’s guess. Rafael’s view relies strictly on the hefty fighter purses, the brand value of the headliners, and the total lack of feedback to his media inquiries.

Still, Rafael praised Paramount for offering Garcia versus Benn to base subscribers without tacking on a pay-per-view fee.

His deeper critique targets the overall calendar. Rafael sees quality in-ring action on Zuffa’s preliminary bills, yet he likens the lower-profile lineups to the vintage ESPN2 Friday Night Fights broadcasts. A dedicated subscription platform must deliver steady marquee attractions to keep accounts active between developmental shows.

Rafael also pointed to Zuffa’s schedule leaning heavily toward UK venues and upcoming Saudi cards through the back half of the year, contending the promotion practically vacated the American territory throughout that run.

Paramount faces a steep climb that requires more than sporadic name-brand attractions. The platform must supply subscribers with consistent reasons to maintain memberships, while its costliest main events must generate figures the network can proudly broadcast.

Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 333 features two of the biggest title fights of the year as the Octagon returns to Abu Dhabi for a stacked card.

UFC 333 is just hours away as featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski looks to stop Movsar Evloev's meteoric rise in the Abu Dhabi headliner. Volkanovski returns to the Octagon after defeating Diego Lopes in a title rematch at UFC 325.

Evloev earned the title shot against Volkanovski after recent wins over Aljamain Sterling, Lerone Murphy, and Arnold Allen. He remains unbeaten in his career and finally gets his long-awaited featherweight title shot.

The UFC 333 co-main event pits reigning bantamweight champion Petr Yan against Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy fight. Yan defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in their second fight at UFC 323 in December.

UFC 333 also features the returns of Alexander Volkov, Dominick Reyes, Aaron Pico, and other savvy veterans. Emerging talents will also look to make statements on one of the biggest cards of the year.

Check out the latest edition of BJPenn's Best Bets, sponsored by BetOnline, ahead of UFC 333.

ALL betting odds courtesy of BetOnline.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev OVER 4.5 RDs (-275)

Volkanovski and Evloev have proven to be two of the most dominant fighters in UFC featherweight history during their careers. Ahead of their five-round battle at UFC 333, Volkanovski and Evloev have also shown a tendency to fight the long game inside the Octagon.

Volkanovski's last stoppage win came against then-interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. Entering UFC 333, Volkanovski is coming off back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Diego Lopes in his second featherweight title reign.

Meanwhile, Evloev doesn't have a single stoppage win through 10 UFC fights. His last stoppage win came against Rafael Dias at M-1 Challenge 95 in July 2018, his final fight outside of the UFC before making his promotional debut.

Evloev recently claimed he wants to go the full five-round distance with Volkanovski when they meet in the Octagon, but Volkanovski wants to earn a long-awaited finish. Their intriguing stylistic matchup could mean a slower-paced fight in the Octagon when Volkanovski and Evloev clash.

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev by KO/TKO (-140)

UFC light heavyweight prospect Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev will look to remain undefeated as he prepares to face the struggling Nikita Krylov on the UFC 333 undercard.

Yakhyaev has quickly risen in the light heavyweight division with three first-round finishes to kick off his UFC tenure. He secured a contract via Dana White's Contender Series with a 30-second knockout last year.

Three of Yakhyaev's last four fights lasted no longer than 33 seconds, including an eight-second knockout against Julius Walker in June. Eight of Yakhyaev's 10 wins have also finished by first-round stoppage.

Meanwhile, Krylov holds a significant experience advantage, but has struggled mightily since 2023. He's lost three of his last four fights, including against light heavyweight debutant Robert Whittaker at UFC 329 by TKO.

Yakhyaev's riding a lot of momentum heading into UFC 333, a trend that is worth betting on continuing against the struggling veteran.

Noah Gugnon ML (+136)

UFC lightweight prospect Noah Gugnon is one of the most overlooked talents preparing to fight at UFC 333. The French standout most recently submitted a fighter with twice his experience, Milos Janicic, in his promotional debut in August.

Gugnon has a well-rounded style with nasty grappling when he gets the fight to the ground. While Gugnon's opponent Kody Steele presents a similar challenge, Gugnon arguably has more ways to win inside the Octagon.

Gugnon vs. Steele has ‘Fight of the Night' potential at UFC 333. As a modest underdog, Gugnon is well worth taking a chance to continue his six-fight winning streak in Abu Dhabi.

What is your prediction for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev? Share your thoughts in the comments!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is ACTUALLY HAPPENING on Dec. 11 and while the Eddie-Dana beef has taken up plenty of oxygen, we're still about to see two of the best and most popular heavyweights of this generation finally throw down.

So I'm curious, with the bout less than two months away, how hyped are we for Fury vs. Joshua? Is it too little too late or is this the perfect time for two legends who have done it all to settle their beef?

What's your excitement level right now?

Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Dvalishvili is scheduled to challenge Petr Yan for
the bantamweight title in a trilogy bout at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. When a fan
recently asked him to predict the outcome, the former champion
jokingly suggested another decision victory.

Merab Dvalishvili jokes about his decision-heavy record ahead
of Petr Yan title fight at UFC 333

Dvalishvili is known for his relentless pressure and wrestling,
with 16 of his 21 career victories coming by decision. The Georgian
has recorded two finishes in the UFC: a technical knockout of
Marlon
Moraes in 2021 and a submission of Sean
O’Malley in his second title defense last year.

Asked how he would beat Yan, Dvalishvili described himself as a
“decision machine.â€

“There are three ways to win: knockout, submission, or decision,â€
Dvalishvili said in a brief
interview. “I’m a decision machine.â€

Floyd Mayweather has recently confirmed he still intends to rematch Manny Pacquiao, and the American has also declared that he believes another return fight is on the cards.

Mayweather-Pacquiao II was scheduled to take place in September following an announcement for the event from Netflix, until Mayweather’s legal issues caused it to be cancelled.

It is still believed that the pair will meet again in 2027, with ‘TBE’ willing to put his famous 50-0 professional record on the line, despite what will be a decade-long spell of professional inactivity when he returns to the ring.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao made his comeback in July 2025 and is currently being linked to a return to action on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in December, where he has been mentioned for a fight with two-time world champion Joe Cordina.

On the PBD PodcastMayweather revealed that a second showdown with Pacquiao is not the only rematch on his mind, admitting his interest in another battle with UFC superstar Conor McGregor.

“I actually think that me and Conor McGregor may lock up again, actually, absolutely.”

Mayweather beat McGregor by 10th round stoppage when they met in August 2017. The Irishman returned to fight in the UFC for the first time since 2021 when he faced Max Holloway earlier this year, but a knee injury brought the contest to an early end.

Continuing, 49-year-old Mayweather explained why a boxing bout with him would be a viable option for the Irishman next year.

“He didn’t break his hand, he broke his foot, right? Okay, well we going from the shoulders.”

Mayweather also reiterated his plans to face heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in an exhibition before the end of the yearin order to help him prepare for a professional comeback in 2027.

Ben Davison has once again come under fire in the days that have followed Fabio Wardley’s defeat to Daniel Dubois. Two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has shared his thoughts on his former trainer’s decision to throw in the towel.

Davison trained Fury for the first five bouts following his 2018 comeback, but was replaced by SugarHill Steward – whom ‘The Gypsy King’ has remained with ever since – for the iconic rematch with Deontay Wilder in 2020.

Since training Fury for his first meeting with Wilder, which ended in a draw, Davison has been on the losing side in four heavyweight world title bouts, cornering Anthony Joshua and Fabio Wardley, who both lost to Dubois, and Moses Itauma, who was defeated by Filip Hrgovic.

Saturday night was the latest of these defeats, as Dubois stopped Wardley inside two rounds in their rematch to retain the WBO heavyweight world title. On his InstagramFury described Dubois’ performance as ‘awesome’.

“It was absolutely awesome. Daniel Dubois just went straight to him and set about him. Wardley likes to throw hooks and Daniel threw straights and a straight always gets there first, before the hook.

“So, fair play to Dan and his team, to Don Charles and the rest of the guys in the corner. They did a fantastic job.”

Fury then said that Davison’s decision to intervene and ‘save Fabio Wardley from himself’ was a good one, perhaps learning a lesson from the first encounter, which saw his fighter take a sound beating before the eventual eleventh-round stoppage.

“It was good work by Ben Davison to throw the towel in, in my opinion. The last time he [Wardley] took too much punishment for my liking, he should have threw it in earlier.

“This time, people are complaining about it being too soon but I don’t think that Fabio was in any position to keep taking bombs around the head. I thought it was a good decision to throw the towel in early and save him from himself.

“He has got some chin on him, I will tell you that. ‘Triple D’ is a dynamite puncher and he was taking them flush and still standing, so credit to Fab’s chin.”

Davison will train Anthony Joshua against Fury on Friday, December 11, as he looks to score a first win as a trainer in a heavyweight world title contest, which would simultaneouslysee ‘AJ’ become a three-time champion of the division.

Chris Algieri argues that Canelo Alvarez must bring his absolute best to get past Christian Mbilli. His claim that Mbilli’s style naturally plays into Canelo’s hands doesn’t hold up, especially given the challenger’s relentless engine.

Algieri does give Canelo credit for stepping right into danger following surgery and significant time away, acknowledging the grueling physical test awaiting him.

“Can we give him a little respect for coming off a layoff and a surgery right into Mbilli?” Algieri pointed out to DAZN Boxing. “Yes, he has his faults. I think he falls right into Canelo’s style, but what Canelo are we getting? If Canelo is at all degraded, an 80% Canelo probably doesn’t beat Mbilli. He’s got to be top-notch for that fight.”

Even a peak version of Canelo might have struggled with this matchup. While aggressive fighters give Canelo plenty of targets, Mbilli refuses to give up the breathing room Canelo usually buys with crisp counterpunches.

Gennadiy Golovkin applied pressure behind a stiff jab, leaning on heavy single shots. Miguel Cotto relied on movement during the twilight of his prime. Neither fighter swarmed with the sustained, multi-punch bursts that define Mbilli’s game.

Canelo typically hurts opponents until they freeze. They back off, rethink their strategy, let him rest, and wait for his next opening. Mbilli simply ignores that script.

Mbilli isn’t invincible, of course. Charging forward recklessly leaves massive openings, and eating flush counter hooks could quickly check his enthusiasm. Canelo has the precision to make him pay for being aggressive. Yet landing clean shots is vastly different from dictating the tempo. If Mbilli walks through fire and keeps throwing, Canelo has to scramble back into a defensive shell before his lungs catch up with the previous exchange.

Managing that volume would test any elite fighter in his prime. Asking a 36-year-old coming off major surgery and ring rust to endure it is an entirely different proposition. Algieri is spot on about the danger here. His warning that an 80% Canelo falls short might ring true, but treating an ultra-high-volume brawler as tailor-made for him severely understates the threat.

If Canelo cannot discourage Mbilli inside the first four rounds, the math turns ugly very quickly. By round six, when Canelo’s output routinely dips and his feet go flat, he will be forced to shell up against the ropes while Mbilli pounds away at his arms, shoulders, and ribs. Heavy volume wears down legs just as fast as clean headshots, especially for an aging fighter carrying thirteen months of inactivity and repaired joints.

Surviving that kind of physical tax requires supreme conditioning and fluid defensive pivots. If Canelo is stuck playing defense just to survive the onslaught, he will not have the legs or the gas tank left to mount a mid-fight rescue. When a fighter relies strictly on finding one perfect counter shot to bail himself out, every missed swing empties the reserve that much faster.

In 2019, Canelo capitalized on a faded, battle-worn Sergey Kovalev, whose gas tank was depleted, waiting out Kovalev’s tired arm punches until round eleven to land the finishing blow. Now, the dynamic has flipped, and Canelo finds himself occupying the aging fighter’s corner against a younger, relentless pressure puncher.

Kovalev came into the fight at 36 with heavy miles and well-documented physical wear, and Canelo is carrying an even larger cumulative toll. With more than two decades in the professional ranks, chronic joint issues, and elbow surgery following a year on the shelf, the engine simply cannot turn over the way it once did.

The pattern across the Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, William Scull, and Terence Crawford bouts showed a fighter relying almost entirely on bursts, resting for extended stretches, and depending on defensive posturing to steal rounds on ring generalship. Against Crawford, the inability to sustain offense or dictate the terms of engagement laid bare what happens when elite opposition refuses to grant Canelo those customary rest periods.

Against Mbilli, relying on selective counterpunching becomes a dangerous gamble. Landing a crisp left hook or a sharp uppercut only helps if it forces the incoming fighter to step back, reset, and second-guess their entry. If Mbilli treats every clean counter as a cue to unload another four-punch salvo to the body, Canelo will never get the pauses he needs to recharge.

Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Russian
challenger has won all 10 of his UFC bouts by decision but believes
fans appreciate his fighting style.

Movsar Evloev argues wrestling can entertain UFC fans ahead of
Volkanovski title fight

The recent departures of Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat have fueled debate about whether winning is enough to
secure a new UFC contract. Neither fighter was re-signed despite a
winning streak, though a lack of finishes has not been established
as the reason for either departure.

Evloev believes finishes are not the only measure of a fighter's
value. He says fans also appreciate tactics, skill and
wrestling.

“I have zero finishes in UFC, but I'm still in the UFC and I'm
fighting for the title,†Evloev told MMA Fighting. “That means only
finishes are not important. To show a good fight is also important.
If you have no finish, you can still show a good fight, an exciting
fight; you can show the beauty of wrestling. There are not just
fans of MMA who just wait for blood. There are so many good fans
who know MMA, and they understand, and maybe because of them I'm
still in the UFC.â€

Muhammad Mokaev knows how it feels to win in the octagon and still lose with the UFC.