Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury is finally official with the heavyweights agreeing to meet on Dec. 11 in Cardiff, in the United Kingdom, and no one seems happier with the deal than Matchroom Boxing president Eddie Hearn.
Hearn has been publicly battling with UFC CEO Dana White about the date and location for the highly anticipated fight and it appeared the entire deal might fall apart in recent weeks. But then out of nowhere, a deal got struck and Joshua and Fury are finally scheduled to meet in December in the United Kingdom, which is where Hearn has always said the fight would take place.
“Dana White told everybody he's promoting the show, he's bringing the fight to America, he knows where the venue is, obviously we know that didn't happen,†Hearn told IFL TV on Thursday. “Dana White cannot be involved with this fight. Netflix clearly didn't get the memo. No one talks to each other. I speak to SELA and Turki [Alalshikh], Dana White is not involved in the fight and Netflix says ‘the fight is in conjunction with Dana White.'
“But as I've shown through the U.K. battle that we won, we stand by our contract and he cannot be involved.â€
Hearn claims White did everything possible to bring the fight to Madison Square Garden in New York but eventually everybody involved in the fight had to concede that Joshua vs. Fury needed to be in the U.K.
“Basically, they down talked, they gave up, they did everything they could to bring this fight to America,†Hearn said. “When I told them again it ain't happening, they gave up.â€
White hasn't addressed the fight since the announcement was made on Thursday but Hearn certainly feels like he's due a victory lap after promising for months that the UFC CEO wouldn't be involved in the matchup.
Now Hearn is doubling down on that fact while celebrating that Joshua vs. Fury is a done deal for December in the United Kingdom.
“You've lost,†Hearn said to White. “You did everything to bring this fight to America and rob the British fight fans of the fight. Give it up, son.â€
Darren Till gets honest about his performance in win over Yoel Romero
Jasmine Jasudavicius is looking to cement herself as a title contender at UFC Edmonton.
Jasudavicius is set to take on Erin Blanchfield in the co-main event of UFC Edmonton. Jasudavicius enters the bout as a +255 underdog while the American is a -350 favorite on FanDuel. The fight was supposed to happen at UFC 330 in August, but an injury to Blanchfield delayed it to August. Although the Canadian was frustrated to have the fight postponed, she is ecstatic for it to be taking place in Edmonton now.
“That is exactly it. It was like two weeks out that I heard it was being moved,†Jasudavicius said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “Initially, I was so frustrated because I just put in a whole camp. I was ready, my weight was good, and I was firing on all cylinders. It got moved, and at least we are fighting in Canada now. This works out even better.â€
With extra time, Jasudavicius said she did take some time off to avoid burnout. But she also feels like the extra time will only help her, as she knows Blanchfield is one of the best in the world.
“She's talented; she's one of the top fighters in the world. I won't be talking too much shit. She's skilled, but I know how skilled I am, and I am ready to test myself against the best girls in the world,†Jasudavicius said.
Jasmine Jasudavicius hopeful to earn title shot at UFC Edmonton
Although Jasudavicius is an underdog, she has full confidence in her skillset. She believes she is better on the feet. So, she expects Blanchfield to try and wrestle her a ton, especially once she lands a couple of punches.
If Jasudavicius can turn Blanchfield into just a wrestler, she is confident she will be able to pull off the upset win at UFC Edmonton.
“I'm not too sure. I've watched all of her fights, and it's not like she's going to the wrestling right away; she is comfortable with striking. But I do think once she feels these hands, she will be shooting a little bit more. … My hand will be raised at the end of the night,†Jasudavicius said.
If Jasudavicius gets her hand raised, she believes it will cement her as a title contender at flyweight. And, it would set up a rematch with Natalia Silva, which the Canadian would be thrilled to get the chance to not only avenge her loss, but to take the belt off her.
“It would mean a lot; it's a big milestone,†Jasudavicius concluded. “Just getting into the UFC is a big deal; getting 10 fights in the UFC is a big deal; to get 10 wins is another feather in my cap. … That would be my dream. She gave me the lost which hurt, so if I can take the belt off her, it would fulfill me. I show well, say I finish Blanchfield, it would be me in the talks to get a title shot.â€
Do you think Jasmine Jasudavicius will beat Erin Blanchfield at UFC Edmonton?
I know a lot of folks are looking ahead to UFC 333 next weekend, but up here in CANADA we're stoked for UFC Edmonton this Saturday, headlined by Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott.
OK, “stoked†might be overselling it a tad, but this card is not for you hosers! It's Canada vs. The World, with a ton of pressure on Malott to prove he's the real deal after being handed a top-10 opponent in Buckley. Time to deliver.
I know a lot of folks are looking ahead to UFC 333 next weekend, but up here in CANADA we're stoked for UFC Edmonton this Saturday, headlined by Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott.
OK, “stoked†might be overselling it a tad, but this card is not for you hosers! It's Canada vs. The World, with a ton of pressure on Malott to prove he's the real deal after being handed a top-10 opponent in Buckley. Time to deliver.