Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight predictions, odds, start time, undercard, preview, where to watch

Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight predictions, odds, start time, undercard, preview, where to watch

by with No Comment Uncategorized

One of the biggest fights of the year takes place on Saturday when WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev meets WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in a long-awaited clash to crown an undisputed champion. The fight takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

For years, Bivol and Beterbiev have dominated the 175-pound division, with a bout between the two seemingly inevitable, though failing to come together until the two sides finally reached an agreement to meet on June 1. That fight ended up getting delayed to Saturday after Beterbiev suffered a training camp injury.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KO) is the only current champion in boxing with a 100% stoppage rate. That power suggests Beterbiev is a pure brawler, and his mauling style backs up that assumption. Beterbiev is, however, a talented technician who was a successful amateur who won European and world championships before turning professional.

In 2017, Beterbiev stopped Enrico Kolling to win the IBF title, his first world championship as a professional. Interestingly, Beterbiev stopped Kolling with just 27 seconds remaining in the 12th and final round, the closest he’s come to reaching the judges’ scorecards.

Beterbiev stopped Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a much-anticipated 2019 unification bout to add the WBC title to his collection. Three fights later, Beterbiev thumped Joe Smith Jr. in the second round to capture the WBO title. He has gone on to defend his three world titles against Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith.

“I don’t know about it but if [Alalshikh] helped for this fight to happen, I think we know that man. He helped us for this fight. But we never know if it wouldn’t have happened [without him],” Beterbiev said. “Every good boxer wants to have an opportunity like this. I’m really happy. I’ve been working toward this goal everyday.”

Like Beterbiev, Bivol (23-0, 12 KO) transitioned from a successful amateur career to the professional ranks. His path to becoming the WBA “super” champion was a fairly confusing one.

Bivol defeated Felix Valera in 2016 to win the WBA interim title. He would fight four times, twice defending the interim title, before being elevated to “regular” champion in late 2017 after a chain of events that saw Andre Ward retiring as “super” champion and Badou Jack vacating the “regular” title.

Bivol would defend the “regular” version of the title five times before finally being elevated to the true world championship “super” champion status in 2019.

While already recognized as one of the best boxers in the world, Bivol finally got exposure in the larger boxing world when he was selected by generational superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as an opponent in Alvarez’s attempt to move up to light heavyweight and become a 175-pound champion for the second time in his career.

Against Alvarez, Bivol put on a boxing masterclass, using effective defense and technique to score a massive upset and hand Alvarez just the second defeat of his professional career.

“Just like how a soldier wants to be a general, [becoming undisputed champion] is the same,” Bivol told TNT Sports this week during his “Face-Off” with Beterbiev. “This is the final step for all of pro boxers. What are you going to achieve more in this weight class if we talk about trophies and belts? Everything was for this.”

With Bivol and Beterbiev cemented as the best light heavyweights in the world, the wills preventing their meeting have finally been broken down and the pair now meet with an upcoming bout between David Morrell and David Benavidez establishing an immediate “next man up” for the winner.

Elsewhere on the card, IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is back when he puts his strap on the line against Jack Massey. Opetaia, the 29-year-old Aussie, has looked tremendous in recent outings. He bested the veteran and former cruiserweight titleholder Mairis Briedis in May to claim the vacant IBF title. Opetaia has stopped 19 of the 25 opponents he’s faced in the ring.

“I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight. I’ve prepared for a hard 12 rounds, he’s very durable, he’s been in the ring with some great fighters,” Opetaia told iFL TV. “I’m going to adapt in the ring, find it and capitalize on it. We’re comfortable being uncomfortable. We’re always chasing pain in the gym. This is just another day in the office for us.”

Plus, there’s some more international flair to the rest of the undercard. Heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke are set to square off. Wardley is 17-0-1 with 16 knockouts on his resume. There’s also Chris Eubank Jr. set to return when he takes on Kamil Szeremeta in a middleweight contest. And women’s WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicholson is set to defend her crown against Raven Chapman in an intriguing contest.

Let’s take a closer look at the complete fight card with the latest odds before getting to predictions and expert picks on the main event.

Bivol vs. Beterbiev fight card, odds

  • Dmitry Bivol (c) -125 vs. Artur Beterbiev (c) +110, undisputed light heavyweight championship
  • Jai Opetaia (c) -2000 vs. Jack Massey +900, IBF cruiserweight title
  • Fabio Wardley -140 vs. Frazer Clarke +125, heavyweights
  • Chris Eubank Jr. -2500 vs. Kamil Szeremeta +1000, middleweights
  • Skye Nicolson (c) -600 vs. Raven Chapman +400, WBC featherweight title
  • Ben Whittaker -2000 vs. Liam Cameron +900, light heavyweights

Where to watch Bivol vs. Beterbiev

  • Date: Oct. 12
  • Location: Kingdom Arena — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Start time: 6 p.m. ET (main event
  • Streaming: ESPN+ for main event, DAZN PPV for undercard fights ($19.99)

Prediction

Brian Campbell: In what can only be described as a true, 50/50 matchup between future Hall of Famers, this light heavyweight summit comes down to whether Bivol can handle the power of Beterbiev in the second half, particularly into the championship rounds when Beterbiev typically is at his best. Bivol has never been knocked down as a professional and a large part of that is due to his quickness, defense and ability to dart in and out of trouble. But to win a fight against a boxer as talented as the power-punching Beterbiev, it will require Bivol taking more chances than ever before. Look for Bivol to claim the majority of the first six rounds as he establishes his rhythm as the younger and busier boxer. But even Bivol is bound to find out what all 20 of Beterbiev’s opponents already have: no one lasts 12 full rounds against this absolute destroyer. Beterbiev via KO10

Brent Brookhouse: On a surface level, this fight would appear to be a battle between Bivol’s technical prowess and Beterbiev’s brute power. That overlooks that Bivol — while not as powerful as Beterbiev — has enough power that it must be respected, and Beterbiev — while not a ring tactician like Bivol — is only able to apply his power because he has phenomenal technique.

The odds shading slightly Bivol’s way make sense considering Beterbiev, 39, is starting to see his body break down a bit. He has had a plethora of injuries in recent years and has only fought three times since the start of 2022. Beterbiev has been dominant in those fights, mind you, but in a fight as competitive as Bivol vs. Beterbiev, you’re looking for the little things that could determine a fight and Beterbiev’s age may be that “little thing.”

Even so, Bivol’s chin is going to have to hold up because Beterbiev is going to land, and when he lands, it hurts. Ultimately, the fight comes down to whether or not Bivol can use his ring IQ to stay off the ropes and out of corners where Beterbiev can best ply his trade. Given how well Bivol navigated the dangers of his fight with Alvarez, there’s reason to think he’ll be able to do so against an even more dangerous opponent in Beterbiev. Pick: Dmitry Bivol via UD

Who wins Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who was up more than $4,000 for $100 bettors over the past 67 picks, and find out.




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UFC Fight Night prediction — Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint Denis: Fight card, start time, odds, live stream

by with No Comment Uncategorized

UFC Fight Night takes over Accor Arena in Paris on Saturday with a dynamite lightweight main event. Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint Denis are two of the division’s more reliable finishers, and they look to make a play for the official UFC top 10 on Saturday.

Moicano (19-5-1) has been a UFC fighter for 10 years, but he’s recently become a success story. Moicano’s active three-fight winning streak is the best since his first three fights with the promotion, and it’s coming against arguably better competition. Moicano found success not only in his performances but also with his voice. “Money” Moicano’s explosive and expletive-filled post-fight speeches have made him a hit among regular mixed martial arts viewers.

“Be yourself, but be a little louder. People will pay attention…” Moicano told CBS Sports. “If you try to play a character you don’t like, you’ll hate doing it all the time. For me, I usually talk the way I am. If people like it, I’m a little bit louder. Especially with the emotions. If you have the emotions, let it flow.”

Saint Denis (13-2, 1 NC) is the first French fighter not named Ciryl Gane to headline a UFC card in Paris. “The God of War” is true to his nickname, winning all his fights by stoppage. Saint Denis rode a five-fight win streak to the biggest opportunity of his career, fighting former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier in the co-main event of UFC 299. Saint Denis performed well in Round 1 but succumbed to a knockout blow in Round 2. Saint Denis, who fought Poirier with a staph infection, learned valuable lessons in defeat.

“Never underestimate anybody and be 100% healthy and prepared when you fight,” Saint Denis told CBS Sports. “Everything has been going very fast in my career. There were a lot of things at the time I wasn’t able to manage. When you become a huge fighter in the UFC, you sort of become your own CEO. All this together, I wasn’t able to manage it well. I had no pleasure in going to train anymore. I had to work on a lot of stuff to bring all parameters back to green.”

Check out the full interview with Benoit Saint Denis.

The co-main event also features a big French name as Nassourdine Imavov looks to continue his strong run at middleweight against another division stalwart in Brendan Allen. Imavov is coming off an impressive — and controversial — stoppage of veteran Jared Cannonier. The questionable referee decision left many fans wondering if it was the right call or not. Regardless of feeling, Imavov has only been beaten once in his last seven appearances and that was against former middleweight champion Sean Strickland in a light heavyweight contest. Allen, meanwhile, is also undefeated in his last seven.

“I thought the stoppage was a little early, but it wasn’t his fault,” Allen told CBS Sports about Imavov’s victory over Cannonier. “The punch that started it was very nice but the stoppage was very bad.”

The rest of the undercard is filled with many European talents with a few Americans looking to get back in the win column. Joanderson Brito is set for a featherweight fight with William Gomis in a featured slot. American Bryan Battle is back in an interesting matchup with Kevin Jousset at welterweight. And opening the main card is veteran lightweight Matt Frevola with he takes on French star Fares Ziam. 

Below is the rest of the fight card for Saturday with the latest odds before we get to a prediction and pick on the main event.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

Benoit Saint Denis -290 Renato Moicano +235 Lightweight
Nassourine Imavov -210 Brendan Allen +175 Middleweight
Joanderson Brito -300 William Gomis +240 Featherweight
Bryan Battle -160 Kevin Jousset +135 Welterweight
Morgan Charriere -700 Gabriel Miranda +500 Featherweight
Fares Ziam -125 Matt Frevola +105 Lightweight

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Sept. 28 | Start time: 3 p.m. ET (main card)
Location: Accor Arena — Paris
TV channel: ESPN+

Prediction

Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint Denis: Saint Denis’ stubborn defensive gaps should prevent him from being an elite lightweight, but it’ll likely overwhelm Moicano. Saint Denis fights like the Tasmanian Devil, a nonstop whirlwind of a force. Saint Denis pairs crushing power punches with relentless wrestling and solid submissions. The combination makes him a finishing threat at nearly all times. While his 42% striking defense cost him against Poirier, Moicano’s striking isn’t quite at that level. Moicano is one of the top lightweight submission players with good striking defense. Saint Denis and Moicano have advantages in striking and jiu-jitsu respectively, but Saint Denis’ advantage is a bigger immediate threat. How effectively wrestling is used could be a determining factor, but I suspect Moicano’s imperfect chin will be his downfall at age 35. Saint Denis via KO2




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How much does he make per fight?

by with No Comment Uncategorized

UFC 306 fight week is here, and it is one of the most anticipated events in the 2024 calendar of the UFC. The event will see the promotion make its debut at the Las Vegas Sphere, and it will have two title fights serving as the headlining bouts. One of those will feature a top name in the UFC currently. That is Sean O’Malley.

O’Malley made his UFC debut in late 2017 and, less than seven years later, he now finds himself at the helm of the promotion’s bantamweight division. Beyond that, O’Malley is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars within the promotion’s current landscape. O’Malley now has his second bantamweight title defense looming, and his run at the top of the 135-pound division has certainly increased his financial status and standing. But just how much is O’Malley worth?

According to Essentially Sports, O’Malley is estimated to be approximately worth $3 million. This is as of August 2024. In August 2023, O’Malley’s net worth was $2,200,000. This would mean that, in a year, O’Malley’s total earnings have seen his net worth increase by approximately $800,000.

O’Malley, much like other fighters, has several partnerships and endorsements. These align with his career as an athlete, and ultimately also add to his earnings. O’Malley’s endorsements include Sanabul, Crypto.com, and MyBookieMMA.

Whilst a majority of O’Malley’s earnings come from his professional career as a mixed martial artist, there are other ways he earns money too. O’Malley also has a YouTube channel, which he uses to also promote his endorsements, and it certainly adds to his earnings. O’Malley also has a Twitch channel, which reportedly earns him about $4,500 per month (MMA Salaries). In his MMA career, his earnings have been quite impressive too.

For his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series season two, O’Malley earned a total of $12,500. Having earned the contract, O’Malley made his promotional debut in December 2017, and he got a total of $23,500. O’Malley’s first fight against Marlon Vera took place in August 2020, and he had a $60,000 base salary. O’Malley would ultimately lose that bout but, still earning $4,000 in sponsorship revenue, he walked away with a total of $64,000 at UFC 252.

At UFC 276, O’Malley faced Pedo Munhoz, and he had a $1.5 million base salary, marking the first time in his career that such happened. The fight ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke, thus resulting in O’Malley only getting an additional $6,000 in sponsorship. This meant that O’Malley had a total of $1,506,000.

At UFC 280, O’Malley faced Petr Yan, and had a base salary of $150,000. O’Malley would go on to win the bout, thus earning a $150,000 win bonus and a $50,000 performance bonus. With $6,000 in sponsorship, this meant O’Malley walked away from that fight with $356,000 in total.

UFC 292 took place in August 2023, and the event would see O’Malley challenge Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title. Walking into the bout, O’Malley had a base salary of $500,000 and, despite winning the bout, he did not get a win bonus. He did, however, receive a PPV payout of $600,000 and a performance bonus of $50,000. His sponsorship payout for this bout was $32,000, which ultimately meant that O’Malley walked away with $1,182,000 from that event.

At that point of his career, O’Malley had earned more than $4 million. Although the fights progressively earned O’Malley more career with each passing bout, none surpass his most recent fight.

O’Malley made his first defense of the bantamweight title at UFC 299, and it was a rematch against Vera. O’Malley received a $1.5 million base salary and, once again, even though he won the bout, he did not receive a win bonus. O’Malley’s PPV payout would be $725,000 and he would get a $50,000 performance bonus. The sponsorship payout was $42,000, and this made up a total event earning of $2,317,000 for O’Malley. This remains, to date, O’Malley’s biggest payout, per MMA Salaries.

UFC 306 is quite a major event and, although the promotion has already spent a lot of money on their Las Vegas Sphere spectacle, there are plans for the promotion to make that money and more back. Being featured on such a card, it can be expected that O’Malley and his peers will be compensated well. But just how much could O’Malley walk away with from his main event bout?

According to Sportskeeda, based off of previous earnings, it is anticipated that O’Malley will earn upward of $2.5 million in total. If this is accurate, the UFC 306 event could see O’Malley earn more than he ever has before in his entire career. O’Malley could very well be the highest-paid fighter on the UFC 306 card.


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Canelo Alvarez Is a Substantial Favorite Over Edgar Berlanga in Title Fight

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LAS VEGAS — Edgar Berlanga has yet to taste defeat after 22 professional fights — 17 by knockout — and he not only said he’s intent on keeping his undefeated record intact, but to win in six rounds Saturday night.

But if forced to go the distance, Berlanga allowed that would be fine as well.

Canelo Alvarez isn’t buying any of it.

“It’s easy to say you’ll knock me out, but it’s much more difficult to do it,” Alvarez said. “Saturday night is going to be very difficult for him for sure. I’ve prepared for the knockout. I love the feeling of a knockout and I’m going to do my best to get it done.”

Oddsmakers share Alvarez’s skepticism, making him a 25-1 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Related Story: Canelo Álvarez Inspires Big Crowd at Hispanic Foundation Gala

Multiple Title Bouts on the Card

Alvarez, the WBC and WBO super middleweight champion who also sports a 61-2-2 record with 39 knockouts, headlines a card that also includes two other title bouts. WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara faces Danny Garcia, and Caleb Plant fights Trevor McCumby for the interim WBA super middleweight title.

This is one of two major combat sports events competing against each other on Mexican Independence Day weekend, both trying to appeal to fan bases from that country.

Guadalajara native Alvarez, 34, takes top billing at T-Mobile Arena. Just three miles away, the UFC makes its debut at the Sphere with seven Mexican fighters in the lineup.

Alvarez figures to again have the crowd on his side, Las Vegas becoming his second home to his native Mexico.

“It’s an honor to fight on this date,” Alvarez said. “Mexican Independence Day is very important for us. It’s very special and I’m very proud to fight for the Mexican people.”

He faces Berlanga, a New York native whose parents are from Puerto Rico.

“I could be the face of Puerto Rican boxing after Saturday night,” Berlanga said. “I’ve wanted that for many years and now it’s my turn to do it.”

Related Story: Ramirez Defeats Barthelemy in Front of Hometown Crowd

Berlanga Faces Uphill Battle Against Legendary Boxer

It certainly will be quite the challenge for the 27-year-old Berlanga, who takes on a legendary boxer even if Alvarez is past his prime.

He hasn’t ended a fight early since registering a technical knockout of Plant nearly three years ago to become the undisputed champ. The IBF removed Alvarez’s title after he decided to take on Berlanga rather than fight its No. 1 challenger, William Scull.

Alvarez’s three most recent title defenses, however, were not close even if all went to the judges’ cards.

“We trained very hard because we know this fight isn’t about physicality or size,” said Mark Farrait, Berlanga’s trainer. “It’s about experience and intelligence, which Canelo thinks Edgar has none of. We’re here to make a statement and show the world our patience and our execution.

“I know Canelo is going to come out and fight smart. He’s not going to fight Edgar right away because if he does, it’s going to be fireworks early on. This is our opportunity to knock the king off the throne.”

Related Story: Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’

Alvarez and Oddsmakers Confident in Champion’s Victory

Alvarez isn’t buying it.

Neither are oddsmakers.

And the expected pro-Canelo crowd probably doesn’t see that happening, either.

“We’ve trained hard because we know we are facing a young fighter coming to take our spot,” said Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s manager and trainer. “Berlanga is strong and he wants to prove himself against Canelo.

“We’ve been very thorough in training for his fight. We have everything we need for Berlanga and we’re coming to make history.”


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Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga: Fight prediction, odds, undercard, start time, live stream, expert picks

by with No Comment Uncategorized

In the 11 years since he made his headlining pay-per-view debut against Floyd Mayweather, the fight capital of the world has been largely owned, from a boxing standpoint, by the commercial presence of Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez. 

That trend will only continue on Saturday as Alvarez returns in yet another Mexican Independence Day weekend pay-per-view clash, this time at T-Mobile Arena, to defend his unified super middleweight crown and boldly go head-to-head with a historically unique UFC 306 on the other end of the world famous Las Vegas strip at The Sphere.

The only negative associated with Alvarez’s high-profile return, at least from the standpoint of his critics, has been his choice of opponent. Edgar Berlanga, a 27-year-old unbeaten slugger, will enter as a sizeable betting underdog in the biggest fight of his career against Alvarez while more coveted matchups by fans — from David Benavidez to Terence Crawford — will need to wait. 

The main hook of the fight’s biggest selling point is that Alvarez, 34, will add another chapter to the celebrated boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico (and the first since he edged out Hall-of-Famer Miguel Cotto in 2015) when he faces Berlanga, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who proudly leans on his family’s heritage while courting attention from celebrities like rapper Fat Joe. 

Whichever side of the court of public opinion you stand upon when it comes to his decision making, Alvarez remains confident and ready to put on another show, some four months removed from the dominant decision win against unbeaten Jaime Munguia during Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. 

“I just can’t wait for Saturday night, this is going to be a great matchup for the people,” Alvarez said. “Mexico vs. Puerto Rico is always exciting. It’s an honor to fight on this date. Mexican Independence Day is very important to us. It’s very special and I’m very proud to fight for the Mexican people.

“I always put 100% into my fights and into training, no matter who I’m fighting. It’s the same mentality every fight. This is no exception.”

While there was never a question whether Berlanga had the commercial potential to one day share the ring with Alvarez, the opportunity came much faster than anyone would have anticipated. After opening his career with a notable streak of first-round knockouts in his first 16 fights, Berlanga struggled at times in decision wins over his next five fights and parted ways mutually with original promoter Top Rank. 

To Berlanga’s credit, he quickly signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport and reunited with trainer Marc Farrait. In February, he also began a new knockout streak by stopping unbeaten Padraig McCrory in the sixth round and has shown zero signs of fear when facing off or trading barbs with Alvarez on the build to the fight. 

“It’s going to be a big fight Saturday and it’s gonna be something amazing. We’re going to make history and become legends,” Berlanga said. “It means everything to be in this position. I’m not supposed to be here. I’ve been doubted since before I turned pro. But I knew that I was bound to end up in this position.”

The experience gap between the two fighters simply can’t be overlooked as Alvarez has nearly twice as many career knockouts as Berlanga has victories. But even though Alvarez has been installed as high as a 20-to-1 betting favorite, Berlanga has a few things going his way in this matchup, including everything from youth and a 5.5-inch height advantage to his confident swagger and a reputation as being a big puncher. 

“I’m a knockout artist. Every fighter wants the knockout,” Berlanga said. “We know that he’s a legend and we can’t just go swing for the fences. We have to do it the right way. Sixth-round knockout, that’s what we’re going for. But we’re ready for all 12 rounds if we have to.”

Just two years ago, it became a popular opinion to openly question whether Alvarez was slowing down with age, particularly throughout a three-fight stretch against Dmitri Bivol (Alvarez’s first loss since 2013) and in decision wins over Gennadiy Golovkin (in their trilogy) and John Ryder. But the hand injury, which limited his training during that stretch, appeared to be the true culprit as Alvarez has bounced back with authoritative wins over Jermell Charlo and Munguia to help him keep pace among the pound-for-pound top 10.

“I just want to show everyone that I’m still the best,” Alvarez said. “I still love this sport. When I stop loving it, you’ll know. I love my routine and I love going to the gym every day.”

To Berlanga, the fight is about even more than proving his critics wrong or establishing himself, for the first time, among the true elite in the sport. 

“I could be the face of Puerto Rican boxing after Saturday night,” Berlanga said. “I’ve wanted that for many years and now it’s my turn to do it.”

In addition to the big main event, PBC has loaded this card with former champions looking to knock off some ring rust after decent layoffs. WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara looks to defend his crown against former junior welterweight and welterweight king Danny Garcia in the co-main event. Garcia, 36, has just one fight in the last four years and gets this opportunity without ever fighting at 160 pounds. Elsewhere, former super middleweight champion Caleb Plant looks to get back in the win column when he takes on Trevor McCumby. Plant has also been somewhat inactive with just two fights in three years, including a decision loss at the hands of Benavidez. The card also features the return of former champions Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Stephen Fulton.

“Trevor himself knows that I’m not a bum, and that’s why he wants to fight me. He wants to be on the big stage, and that means facing a real fighter. Right now, he’s looking at a real fighter. He’s fought only bums, but he’s not fighting a bum now,” Plant said at the final press conference. “We’ll see what he brings on Saturday. He’s undefeated and he’s looking to stay that way. So he’ll come motivated.”

“We’re ready to fight. It’s very motivating to be on a card with all of these great fighters and I’m grateful to be up here with them for this great event,” McCumby said. “There’s no bad blood on my side, I’m just ready to fight. Things are gonna be said at these press conferences and I think Caleb needs to make his opponent the villain when he gets in there. I don’t really let things get in my head like that. I go in there to handle business.”

Let’s take a closer look at the complete fight card with the latest odds before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event.

Fight card, odds

  • Canelo Alvarez (c) -1800 vs. Edgar Berlanga +900, WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight titles
  • Erislandy Lara (c) -250 vs. Danny Garcia +205, WBA middleweight title
  • Caleb Plant -1400 vs. Trevor McCumby +750, super middleweights
  • Rolando Romero -250 vs. Manuel Jaimes +205, junior welterweights
  • Stephen Fulton -900 vs. Carlos Castro +550, featherweights

Where to watch

  • Date: Sept. 14 
  • Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Prime PPV (Price: $89.95)

Prediction

Make no mistake, Berlanga possesses both the size and power to be a problem for Alvarez, particularly should the decorated champion take him lightly or get lured into a bit of a scrap early on. But, really, those scenarios would represent the extreme, best-case scenario for Berlanga and would require of him a certain level of smarts and craft that he has yet to put together in a single fight. 

Until Alvarez shows up old in a big fight, it’s hard to imagine that happening. Alvarez is not only so incredibly responsible defensively, and in terms of his head movement, he also owns one of the best chins in the history of the sport and has never been knocked down, even against power punchers like Golovkin, Danny Jacobs and the much larger Bivol. 

If the same Alvarez from the Munguia fight just four months ago enters the ring on Saturday, the reality of what he can do as an efficient sharpshooter and counter puncher has all the makings to be way too much for Berlanga to handle. 

For everything good you can say about Berlanga as an athlete or as a puncher, he’s visibly lacking the kind of poise and adaptability necessary to succeed at this level. And should he fall behind and feel the need to aggressively rally against Alvarez, all it would probably do is speed up his exit from the fight.

Alvarez admitted this week that he carried Munguia for most of their May fight and purposely chose not to finish his Mexican countryman. But given the trash talk between he and Berlanga, that’s a scenario that isn’t as likely to take place. 

Pick: Alvarez via TKO8

Who wins Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who was up more than $4,000 for $100 bettors over the past 65 picks, and find out.




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US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R) fights with US boxer John Gotti III during an exhibition fight at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City on August 24, 2024. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III full fight video highlights

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US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R) fights with US boxer John Gotti III during an exhibition fight at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City on August 24, 2024. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)

Boxing great [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] returned Saturday for another exhibition bout as he battled [autotag]John Gotti III[/autotag], the son of the infamous American mobster.

The rematch at Arena CDMX in Mexico City was eight two-minute rounds and headlined a DAZN pay-per-view event.

One day after the fight, DAZN has released a full highlight video of the contest, which can be viewed above.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III full fight video highlights


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Hillary Clinton urges Democrats to fight for Harris win • SC Daily Gazette

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CHICAGO — Hillary Clinton, the first woman to clinch a major political party’s presidential nomination, on the first night of the Democratic National Convention praised Vice President Kamala Harris — the second woman in U.S. history to be nominated — for her bright vision for the nation and her ability to lead the country forward.

“The story of my life and the history of our country is that progress is possible, but not guaranteed,” Clinton told a packed crowd in the United Center. “We have to fight for it. And never, ever give up.”

Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, said that together, women have put “a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

“On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris taking the oath of office as our 47th President of the United States,” she said. “When a barrier falls for one of us, it … clears the way for all of us.”

Clinton said that Harris’ historic nomination, as the first Black and South Asian woman at the top of a major party ticket, is an opportunity for the country to progress.

Clinton said that every generation has “carried the torch forward,” and that Harris will carry that torch as she pushes for the restoration of abortion access, affordable housing and child care.

Harris has often promised to restore Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that gave Americans the constitutional right to an abortion. However, in order to pass legislation in Congress, Democrats would need to control the House and have 60 votes in the Senate to advance legislation past the filibuster.

Women in history

Clinton highlighted Democratic women who had broken barriers throughout history.

She cited the late U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first woman to run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, and the first Black person to seek to be a major party’s candidate for president, and the late U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated for the vice presidency by a major political party.

Clinton said that accepting the presidential nomination was the greatest honor of her life. She touched on her loss to Donald Trump in 2016, and noted that despite it, there was a wave of women who ran for public office following Trump’s ascension to the White House.

“We refused to give up on America,” she said.

Clinton said that when she looks at Harris’ campaign she sees freedom.

“I see freedom from fear and intimidation, from violence and injustices, from chaos and corruption,” she said.

Harris indeed has framed her campaign as a fight for freedom, and as an effort to move forward as opposed to Trump and the GOP. Additionally, Beyonce’s song “Freedom” is the campaign’s anthem.

Harris speaks

Harris, who made a brief surprise appearance before Clinton spoke, thanked President Joe Biden for his leadership before she stressed that the November elections are a fight for the future.

“This November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people, we are moving forward,” Harris said. “We all have so much more in common than what separates us.”

Harris is expected to give her speech accepting the nomination on Thursday night.

Clinton said that Harris would be “for the people,” which was also the theme of the first night of the convention. Clinton criticized Trump and said that the former president only cares about himself, not Americans.

She said that Democrats have Trump “on the run,” but urged them to not get too comfortable, even as Harris’ campaign has energized Democrats across the nation. Clinton warned Democrats to not rely on the polls, which have shown Harris either gaining on Trump or ahead, and said they must keep campaigning until November.

Since Biden suspended his reelection campaign, after a disastrous June debate that rattled his party’s belief in his ability to defeat Trump, several battleground states that were leaning toward Republicans, such as Georgia, Nevada and Arizona, moved to a “toss-up,” according to The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. 

“No matter what the polls say, we can’t let up,” Clinton said.


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UFC 305 predictions — Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya: Fight card, odds, prelims, preview, expert picks

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Israel Adesanya aims to become a three-time middleweight champion at UFC 305 when he takes on current champion Dricus du Plessis. “DDP” will be making the first defense of the title he won against Sean Strickland in his most recent fight while Adesanya is looking to rebound from losing the belt to Strickland in a shocking upset at UFC 293.

UFC 293 was supposed to feature Adesanya defending the belt against du Plessis, but du Plessis was not ready to compete after defeating Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator two months prior. That opened the door for Strickland to upend things at 185 pounds.

Now, Adesanya and du Plessis face off after a rivalry that has featured some unfortunately ugly moments in which the two fighters, both African-born, have exchanged words over which is the “real African.” Adesanya was born in Nigeria before his family moved to New Zealand while du Plessis is South African-born and still fights out of the country.

The undercard features some interesting matchups with many stars from the region. A battle of Australia vs. New Zealand is set for the co-main event when Steve Erceg takes on Kai-Kara France at flyweight. Erceg came up short in a title opportunity earlier this year — a title shot many were surprised to see him receive. Kara-France, meanwhile, could end a two-fight losing skid after a also coming up short in an interim title shot in 2023. Plus, rising lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot is set for a tough challenge against veteran Dan Hooker. And more fireworks are expected earlier in the card when heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tai Tuivasa throw down.

With so much happening on Saturday night, let’s take a closer look at the full fight card with the latest odds before we get to our staff predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities.

UFC 305 fight card, odds

  • Israel Adesanya -120 vs. Dricus du Plessis (c) +100, middleweight title
  • Steve Erceg -160 vs. Kai Kara-France +135, flyweights
  • Mateusz Gamrot -350 vs. Dan Hooker +275, lightweights
  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik -220 vs. Tai Tuivasa +180, heavyweights
  • Carlos Prates -350 vs. Li Jingliang +275, welterweights
  • Junior Tafa -130 vs. Valter Walker +110, heavyweights
  • Josh Culibao -140 vs. Ricardo Ramos +120, featherweights
  • Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos, women’s flyweights
  • Jack Jenkins -700 vs. Herbert Burns +500, featherweights
  • Tom Nolan -1200 vs. Alex Reyes +750, lightweights
  • Song Kenan -175 vs. Ricky Glenn +145, welterweights
  • Stewart Nicoll -240 vs. Jesus Aguilar +200, flyweights

With such a massive main event on tap, the crew at CBS Sports went ahead with predictions and picks for the main card. Here are your pick makers: Brent Brookhouse (Combat sports writer), Brian Campbell (Combat sports writer), Shakiel Mahjouri (writer), Michael Mormile (producer) and Brandon Wise (senior editor).

UFC 305 picks, predictions

du Plessis (c) vs. Adesanya du Plessis du Plessis Adesanya Adesanya du Plessis
Erceg vs. Kara-France Kara-France Erceg Erceg Erceg Kara-France
Gamrot vs. Hooker Gamrot Gamrot Gamrot Gamrot Gamrot
Rozenstruik vs. Tuivasa Tuivasa Rozenstruik Rozenstruik Tuivasa Tuivasa
Prates vs Jingliang Prates Prates Prates Prates Prates

du Plessis vs. Adesanya

Campbell: If the 35-year-old Adesanya proves unable to hurt du Plessis and actively force him to disengage, this could be a difficult night for the former champion. Not only is Adesanya dealing with the demands of age and an 11-month layoff that is the longest of his UFC career, he must deal with the mental toll of having lost two of his last three fights (which left many questioning him getting this title shot). Adesanya was stopped by Alex Pereira and widely outpointed by Sean Strickland after being dropped in the opening round. Considering du Plessis, a small betting underdog, can also bring the fight to the ground by using his massive build as a gigantic middleweight, there are enough reasons to believe that Adesanya’s window is closing fast in his bid to become the UFC’s first three-time middleweight king. And all signs have pointed in recent years to right now being DDP’s time. 

Brookhouse: It’s entirely reasonable to think Adesanya should win, and possibly win easily. Were this the Adesanya of a few years ago, I’d consider that something of a lock, while expecting the fight to look similar to Adesanya’s humiliation of Paulo Costa. Like Costa, du Plessis is a heavy-handed pressure-based fighter, though du Plessis applies his aggression a bit more effectively. But it’s hard to shake the image of Adesanya looking like a man who couldn’t figure out how to pull the trigger against Sean Strickland his last time out. Time catches up especially hard to preternaturally gifted strikers and that could have been the fight where Adesanya went through a transformation similar to that of late-career Roy Jones Jr. Until I’m given reason to believe that was a one-off showing and not the new normal for Adesanya, I lean toward du Plessis putting so much pressure that he just brute forces his way to a successful title defense.

Mahjouri: This is a hard fight to gauge: Du Plessis over-delivers when least expected while Adesanya fumbled terribly against big underdog Sean Strickland. Adesanya’s slick movement and counterstriking have stifled other middleweight juggernauts like Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa. Adesanya’s familiarity with du Plessis’ build benefits him even if the champ’s willingness to walk through the fire to muscle opponents around gives me pause. This will be a quick fight or an ugly one. I anticipate Adesanya’s movement will allow him to steal key rounds, or set him up for a knockout blow, but don’t be surprised if du Plessis makes the challenger uncomfortable with ragdoll takedowns and power punches. I’ll cautiously take Adesanya by decision in what will likely be one last run as middleweight champ.

Erceg vs. Kara-France

Campbell: In his last fight, Erceg came as close as one could come to capturing the UFC’s flyweight title only to lose the five-round affair — in just his fourth UFC appearance — after making a late strategic error. The native of Perth returns just three months later to fight New Zealand’s Kara-France, who happens to be riding a two-fight losing skid. But at 31, and knowing that a third straight defeat would be disastrous towards his title hopes, don’t count out the slight underdog’s chances of getting back into true title contention. Remember, Kara-France was seemingly on his way to defeating former champion Brandon Moreno two fights ago in their interim title fight in 2022 only to be stopped in Round 3 by a brutal body kick (that was followed up by split-decision loss to rising contender Amir Albazi). Kara-France has three times the UFC experience of Erceg and should be motivated to aggressively seek a finish in order to keep things out of the judges’ hands. 

Brookhouse: Kara-France is a good fighter, to be sure. But Erceg showed a lot in his loss to Alexandre Pantoja and could have left that fight as flyweight champion if it wasn’t for a disastrous decision to go for a fifth-round takedown that actually shifted the deciding round in Pantoja’s favor. Expect Erceg to have learned from his mistake and to outwork Kara-France to take a decision in an entertaining scrap.

Mahjouri: This fight feels like two flyweight contenders trending in opposite directions. Erceg opened many eyes with a spirited loss to Alexandre Pantoja in a UFC title fight that came sooner than anyone expected. I anticipate he’s learned valuable lessons that will benefit him against the flyweight elite. Erceg’s technical striking and strong submission game should be enough to overwhelm Kara-France, who is suspectable of losing by KO, submission or decision. Kara-France’s power is always a threat but Erceg’s too smart to get caught slacking. Give me Erceg by decision.

Gamrot vs. Hooker

Brookhouse: As much as I think Hooker is a very live dog here, Gamrot’s wrestling game will likely be too much. He averages more than 5.25 takedowns per 15 minutes of Octagon time. No matter how good Hooker’s takedown defense is, it’s not so good that he’s going to stop Gamrot over and over. If Gamrot decides to try and prove a point by forcing a stand-up fight, he could well be on the receiving end of an upset with Hooker’s length in the striking game shifting things in his favor. Still, Gamrot should win this fight more times than he loses it.

Mahjouri: Hooker knows exactly how Gamrot will approach this fight, but I’m not sure Hooker can do much to stop it. Gamrot is one of the best pure wrestlers in any UFC weight class. The Polish fighter relentlessly chains takedowns together, averaging nearly three a round. Hooker is a ferocious striker. Naturally, he’s diligently trained his takedown defense to support his offensive goals. Gamrot lacks the top control and submission prowess that buoyed Islam Makhachev to a dominant win over Hooker in 2021, but Gamrot has the tools to neutralize Hooker’s game. Gamrot will find himself in trouble periodically but should be able to overcome it and restore the grappling advantage.

Who wins UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC Fight Night, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $1,200 on UFC main-card picks, and find out.




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Browns rookie DT Mike Hall Jr. arrested on domestic violence charge after fight with fiancee

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CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was arrested Tuesday and charged with domestic violence after police said he threatened his fiancee with a gun during a fight.

Hall was booked and arraigned at Avon Lake Municipal Court, said James M. Drozdowski, a public information officer with Avon Police. He posted bond and was released, the officer told The Associated Press.

Hall appeared in court with his attorney, Kevin Spellacy, who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Browns said in a statement they were aware of the incident involving Hall, a second-round pick from Ohio State.

“Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities,” the team said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”

The team did not practice Tuesday as players were only getting treatment and working out at Cleveland’s training facility in Berea, Ohio. The Browns are hosting the Minnesota Vikings for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday before playing an exhibition game on Saturday.

A detailed incident report obtained by the AP said officers responded to a call at 10 p.m. Monday night from a woman who claimed that Hall had pushed her daughter and struck her with a baby bottle.

According to the report, the woman told police she is engaged to Hall and they share an 11-month-old daughter. The woman said their fight escalated after the couple were discussing financial needs for the child. The woman told police Hall is not the biological father.

The woman said Hall, 21, became “increasingly agitated,” threw her belongings outside and dragged her on her back along a porch and driveway. At one point, the woman said Hall put a gun to her temple and said, “I will (expletive) end it all. I don’t care.”

The woman did not seek medical treatment.

Hall locked the woman out of the house and left in a pickup truck, according to the report.

Police said they found evidence including a damaged door frame and a hole in a door the woman said Hall had punched. Officers also seized two handguns — a .40-caliber Glock and a 9mm Smith & Wesson.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl


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Fight erupts after France eliminates Argentina in 2024 Olympics – NBC10 Philadelphia

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Tempers flared at the conclusion of the France vs. Argentina men’s soccer quarterfinal game at the Paris Olympics Friday.

After the final whistle, fighting broke out between the two nations that took a few minutes to deescalate.

France secured a 1-0 win to advance to the semifinals, but tensions were high before and during the game.

The senior Argentine men’s team were seen on video recorded by a player singing racist chants towards French players after winning the Copa America. The French federation filed an official complaint.

Though this game featured predominantly under-23 players that were not on the Copa America squad, it was the first time the two nations played since the incident.

Argentina had also beat France in the 2022 World Cup Final, which initially started the ongoing rivalry.

It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked Friday’s situation, but France head coach Thierry Henry apologized after the game.

“We don’t take this match as revenge because the World Cup was with other teams,” the French soccer icon said, via Argentina reporter Gaston Edul. “Having scored the goal quickly gave us a decision. I apologize for the final disturbance. It’s not what I wanted and I couldn’t control it. In fact, they kicked out a player.”

Center-back Nicolas Otamendi, who was on the World Cup-winning squad and was one of three overage players for the nation, commented on French players celebrating in front of Argentine fans.

“It makes me very angry that they went to where the relatives were to celebrate in their faces,” Otamendi said, via Edul. “(Loic Bade), if he feels like celebrating, let him come to where we are and we’ll solve it there. We talk about what needs to be talked about.

“Before becoming world champion I went through defeats and I know what it’s like. The boys did well. We missed the goal.”

With the result, France will play Egypt in the semifinals. Morocco and Spain are on the other side of the bracket.




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