Joaquin Buckley has an inkling that Stephen Thompson will not show up to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov. Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) takes on Rakhmonov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) at UFC 296 on Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Buckley is eyeing a December…

Jermall Charlo was an afterthought over the last few years. The current WBC middleweight champ has been sequestered on the sidelines due to a nagging back injury but more importantly, personal issues. It may have taken two-plus years, but Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) has finally…

Shohjahon Ergashev recognizes that he hasn’t encountered anyone as dangerous as Subriel Matias in any of his first 23 professional fights. Ergashev’s impressive record has been built against mostly modest opposition. That’s among the reasons why the strong southpaw cannot wait to meet Matias in…

LAS VEGAS – From Demetrius Andrade’s vantagepoint, he and David Benavidez need each other. Both boxers would’ve preferred to challenge Canelo Alvarez next for super middleweight supremacy, but the Mexican icon has shown little interest in fighting Andrade or Benavidez. They were therefore left to…

David Benavidez doesn’t like to do too much talking. Now of course, if you stick a microphone in his face and ask him a few intrusive questions, he’ll begin boastfully talking about himself. But naturally, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) isn’t the type that enjoys when…

Lamont Roach saw weakness in Hector Luis Garcia when he watched Gervonta Davis stop the Dominican southpaw in Garcia’s last fight. Garcia’s reaction to Davis’ devastating punches late in the eighth round has convinced Roach that he can make the WBA super featherweight champion wilt…

Colby Covington insists his title shot is deserving unlike UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ when he got his. Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) challenges Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) for the 170-pound title in the UFC 296 headliner Dec. 16 in Las Vegas. Covington, who’s…

Hector Luis Garcia feels each of his last three opponents were better than Lamont Roach. The Dominican southpaw beat two of them, former 130-pound champions Chris Colbert and Roger Gutierrez, by unanimous decision in 12-round fights in 2022 that completely changed his career. The third,…

Jim Miller has made it clear he wants on UFC 300, but he’s taking one more before then. Wednesday, the UFC announced Miller’s next bout (his 43rd) will be Jan. 13 against Gabriel Benitez. The UFC Fight Night event is slated for the UFC Apex…