For three rounds at The Inner Circle 25, three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian reminded everyone exactly why he is one of the sport's most dangerous fighters.
The Armenian delivered a striking masterclass against Russian standout Mamuka Usubyan in Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium this past Friday, August 7, officially booking his ticket into the semifinals of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament.
Grigorian walked into fight week supremely confident he had the technical tools to get the job done, and that reminder came exactly as advertised on the subscriber-exclusive spectacle on live.onefc.com.
The Hemmers Gym representative relied heavily on his Dutch-style kickboxing throughout the clash, utilizing heavy punch-kick combinations, relentless forward pressure, and masterful footwork that left his foe with very few answers.
Fresh off his 71st professional triumph and a fourth successive win on the global stage, the 35-year-old took a moment to thank the fans for their unwavering support:

#kickboxing #World #marat

Hailey Bieber showed off her playful side as she helped Kylie Jenner celebrate her 29th birthday with a wild party in Beverly Hills over the weekend.
The 29-year-old Rhode founder gave her nearly 60 million Instagram followers a glimpse inside the intimate celebrations, which saw guests embrace a "princess kitty" theme with tiaras and feather boas.
In one particularly cheeky photograph, Hailey was pictured wearing a sparkling tiara and fluffy pink feather boa as she posed on her knees behind a friend, playfully sticking out her tongue towards her pal's lower back.
Hailey Bieber showeing off her playful side (Instagram)
The photograph was originally shared by Devon Lee Carlson, another member of Kylie and Hailey's close circle, before Hailey reposted it to her own Instagram Stories.

#hailey #Instagram #feather

For the third consecutive series, the Giants have won the opener and lost the last two.
While quality pitching, along with some shoddy defense, couldn't sustain itself over the entire game on Saturday, blame for Sunday's extra inning 3-1 loss rests solely on the shoulders of San Francisco's hitters.
After Willy Adames's 5th inning solo shot on Friday night, the offense had laid nothing but eggs against Detroit pitchers. Jackson Jobe and Co. held them scoreless yesterday. A couple of fortunate breaks on ******* in play and a throwing error helped the Giants complete their only circuit of the bases against a dominant Troy Melton (fun fact: he's a former teammate with Casey Schmitt at SDSU). But when the game came down to the wire, the final 7 hitters from the 8th to the 10th innings did this: ground into a bases loaded double play, then strike out six times.
Over the last 21 innings of this series, the offense scored just one run.
A run that was nearly enough for Logan Webb, who stifled a hot Tigers team over 8 innings. The work was fast too. Webb pitched at a brutal pace and attacked the zone with 66% strike-percentage. From his main trio of offerings, the sweeper was Sunday's star. He leaned on it heavily on his first trip down the order, and overall, nearly half (14 of 30) of his breaking ******* went for called strikes. Clearly Detroit hitters were sitting on the change-up and sinker and Webb played coy with those main offerings, withholding them early in the count, feathering them in more and more the deeper he got into the game.

#webb

Kylie Jenner celebrated her 29th birthday early with a star-studded "Princess Kitty"-themed party at her Beverly Hills home
Sisters Kim, Khloé and Kendall joined friends including Hailey Bieber, with guests embracing the party's head-to-toe pink theme
The bash featured elaborate cakes, crowns and feather boas, while Jenner said her "heart" is so "full" after her "dream" birthday night
Kylie Jenner gave fans a peek inside her star-studded 29th birthday bash, complete with a playful "Princess Kitty" theme.
Jenner, whose birthday is on Monday, Aug. 10, celebrated the big day early with friends and family at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 8. She shared a carousel of photos from the bash the following day on Instagram.

#kylie #princess

During a recent rare public date night in Canada, Meghan Markle revealed one of Prince Harry's passions, which has a long-held significant royal connection.
The couple made a glamorous surprise joint appearance at the David Foster Foundation's star-studded 40th anniversary gala on Friday night, during which they walked past a line of musicians with bagpipes – an instrument the Duke of Sussex holds an affinity for, according to his wife. A smiling Meghan quipped that her husband "loves bagpipes" in a behind-the-scenes video from the night shared to her Instagram grid.
"Where are mine?" Harry joked, before clarifying "pipes and drums, just to be clear". The royals walked hand-in-hand past musicians dressed in traditional Scottish pipe band uniforms, consisting of a red and black tartan cloth draped over the shoulder and a ceremonial feather bonnet.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take a selfie in Canada (Instagram/ meghan)
The bagpipes hold special and historical significance for the royal family, dating back to Queen Victoria's reign. The instrument holds a deep connection to Scotland, where the royal family have residences at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire.

#royal #prince

Originally appeared on E! Online
It ends with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni both trying to move on.
But two years ago, the media frenzy surrounding their movie It Ends With Us was just beginning. Based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name, the film—which Lively and Baldoni starred in and he also directed—debuted in theaters Aug. 9, 2024. And while social media users sensed tension between the two actors after the premiere and press tour, fans never anticipated the contentious legal battle that started just four months later.
Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and several ******* ociates in December 2024, accusing them of launching a smear campaign to ruin her reputation in retaliation of her voicing concern about ******* ual harassment she said she experienced on the film's set from him and others. Baldoni and Wayfarer's legal team vehemently denied the allegations.
Then in January 2025, Baldoni, Wayfarer and others filed a lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist in which they accused them of defamation and extortion. They alleged Lively seized control of the movie and worked to "tar and feather" them in the press after she received backlash for her promotion of the film. Lively's attorneys slammed the accusations.

#movie

With the MMA action in the books from UFC Vegas 120 earlier tonight (Sat., Aug. 8, 2026) LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can check out the post-fight presser for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.
On a night that featured a main event matchup between lightweight staple Mateusz Gamrot and rising youngster Quillan Salkilld, a co-main event between lightweight veteran Carlos Diego Ferreira and former featherweight brawler Billy Quarantillo, and the return of rising talents like Manoel Sousa, Ty Miller, and Alexia Thainara, there will be a lot to discuss when the fighters take to the stage.
The post-fight presser is scheduled to go LIVE in the above video player around 11:15 p.m. ET. It will feature the biggest winners and losers from the card, as well as UFC CEO, Dana White, if we're lucky.
For complete UFC Vegas 120 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

#post

Dwyane Wade celebrates how LeBron James' dedication continues to help him stay in the NBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As fellow 2003 draftees, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James know each other very well. They are also quite a famous duo from their time playing together on the Miami Heat. While Wade has been retired since 2019, James has continued to play and stand out.
Now that he is entering his 24th NBA season, James still has elite physical strengths. That is unheard of from any NBA player, but it seems LeBron continues to stand out because of what he does behind the scenes, something that D-Wade is quite familiar with.
James is now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, which is his fourth NBA team. Since he has won with all the other three, James wants to become the first NBA player to ever win a ****** le with four different teams. It is also another feather in his cap regarding longevity.
Wade and James entered the league at the same time, but the latter is the only one who has stayed in the league this long. Carmelo Anthony was the most recent 2003 draftee who stayed alongside James, but he retired in 2023. Now, LeBron continues to prove he's one of the most special athletes in the world.

#james #wade

Originally appeared on E! Online
Kylie Jenner is feeling purr-fectly marvelous about her birthday.
With her 29th birthday coming up on Aug. 10, the Kylie Cosmetics founder kicked off the celebrations by sharing an inside look at her princess kitty-themed early birthday party, complete with all the bejeweled vibes that were ready to make the whole place shimmer.
In one video posted to Instagram Stories Aug. 7, Kylie showed one of her friends donning a cat tail and a pink T-shirt that had "Meow" on the back and a collage of kitties on the front.
And Kylie herself kept the "kitty" theme going in a short pink halter-top dress with a plunging neckline that she paired with a furry headband, pink boa and pink feather kitten heels. She posted a video of herself walking around in the heels with the caption, "My pre bday princess kitty party." And, of course, she matched her nails to the pink of her dress.

#posted #herself

Darren Elkins was hoping to end his UFC career on a good note earlier tonight (Sat., Aug. 8, 2026) at UFC Vegas 120 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside the revamped Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, but his retirement sendoff ended in disaster at the hands of a 35-second knockout by featherweight prospect Yadier del Valle.
Elkins, 42, was coming off a long layoff after not competing since a TKO loss to Julian Erosa back in April 2025. The long-time veteran was looking to push his UFC record to 20-11 with a win on Saturday night and walk off into the sunset, but he was a very large betting underdog to do so. That's because of his age and ability to get hit, as well as del Valle's promise as a future contender.
Sadly for Elkins, his final trip to the Octagon was his fastest UFC loss ever. Del Valle needed just 35 seconds to hurt Elkins in the opening exchange and then track him down for a brutal left hand. Elkins went stiff and crashed onto canvas. The referee was all over it and quickly rushed in to stop "Damage" from taking any unnecessary punishment.
Check out the video highlights below!
For complete UFC Vegas 120 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

#vegas #valle #long #live

Kylie Jenner rang in her 29th birthday a few days early with a princess-kitty birthday celebration.
At the pre-party, Jenner stunned in a hot-pink bodycon minidress with a plunging neckline.
She styled the figure-hugging dress with feathery kitten heels, a pink feather boa, and a matching birthday crown.
Kylie Jenner is embracing her inner Elle Woods ahead of her 29th birthday.
On August 7, the Kylie Cosmetics founder kicked off her birthday weekend festivities with a princess-kitty pre-party featuring all things pink. As the guest of honor, Jenner wore head-to-toe hot pink, including a plunging, bodycon minidress and a pair of feathery kitten heels.

#jenner #pink #princess

Kylie Jenner just flaunted her perfect figure. The KHY founder started her birthday celebrations early with posts to social media that showed off her impressive physique.
Kylie, who turns 29 on Sunday, August 10, posted a series of photos to her Instagram story on Saturday, August 8. In one photo, she posed in a plunging, hot pink micro dress with light pink, feathery kitten heels. In another, she accessorized the look with a pink boa and pink feather crown.
"My pre bday princess kitty party," Kylie wrote over a video of her walking in her home. The mom-of-two also shared videos of "the cutest cakes" her friends gave her – a jeweled cake and a cake shaped into a woman wearing a bikini, and a pink cake with four cats drawn on it.
Kylie had a hot pink moment for her birthday (Instagram)
These were just the beginning of her birthday celebrations!

#pink #birthday #jenner #sunday

Uncrowned has Cherneka Johnson vs. Dina Thorslund live results, round-by-round updates, highlights, ring walks and start time for the MVPW-05 fight card on Saturday at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Cherneka Johnson puts her undisputed bantamweight ******* les on the line against Dina Thorslund in a 10-round main event.
Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs) is Australia's first undisputed champion of boxing's four-belt era. A former IBF super bantamweight ******* leholder, "Sugar Neekz" captured her undisputed crown with a ninth-round TKO of Shurretta Metcalf in July 2025, then defended it with a decision over Amanda Galle in December on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua undercard.
Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) is a former WBO super bantamweight champion and former unified bantamweight champion. She vacated her ******* les in June 2025 due to pregnancy, then returned in January with a decision win over Almudena Alvarez to claim the WBC interim featherweight ******* le.
In the night's co-featured bout, unified WBO and IBF middleweight champion Desley Robinson (12-3, 4 KOs) against Tamm Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs).
The Johnson vs. Thorslund prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN, with main event ring walks expected around 11:30 p.m. ET.

#johnson #round #bantamweight #undisputed

Pete Crow-Armstrong went on a podcast last week and said with a laugh he likes the theory that Babe Ruth never existed. Baseball's internet treated it like a confession.
"This is gonna be crazy," the Cubs center fielder told Kristin Cavallari on her show "Let's Be Honest." Then he brought up the theory that the sport's greatest player may never have existed. He picked up the theory from Tayler Saucedo, a Mariners pitcher at the time, who floated it on a podcast in 2024 because he had barely seen any video of Ruth playing. Saucedo said this was a discussion in the Mariners bullpen and that they also decided that Ted Williams' legendary 500-foot home run never happened either.
Crow-Armstrong piled on Ruth saying the game has changed so much since then that pitchers back then might as well have been throwing underhand.
Then everybody lost it. One site used the quote to worry about American public education. Another brought up the plague of misinformation. A bunch of them criticized the young Cubs outfielder. It raised eyebrows and ruffled feathers! That's a lot of coverage for a 24-year-old answering a question about an unpopular opinion on a podcast hosted by somebody from "Laguna Beach."

#ruth #never #armstrong

LAS VEGAS – It will be nearly 20 months between fights for Billy Quarantillo, and the time off may have been worth it.
Quarantillo (18-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) not only went under the knife, but he also made a major decision to move from the featherweight division up to lightweight. He'll get a chance to show off his new frame in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 284 at the Meta APEX (Paramount+), when he takes on Diego Ferreira.
"I had knee surgery last year, so obviously, that takes a lot of time away, and then just focusing on rehab, doing everything right," Quarantillo told reporters at media day about his absence. "Then I decided to move up a weight class because I'm getting older, but bigger, stronger. It's been great so far keeping the size on, but obviously, a long layoff."
The 37-year-old says he's been contemplating a switch after his most recent results, which did not go his way. He was stopped by Youssef Zalal and Cub Swanson in his last couple of appearances, but he felt he had to fight not only his human opponent but also an inanimate one: the scale. Moving forward, he's going to be focused moreso on fighting the person standing across the cage from him, and is optimistic the results will turn around.
"It's been one of those things that's been building up for the last couple of fights," Quarantillo said. "... Before the Youssef Zalal fight, I actually made weight, and I was puking the night before. Pretty much all night. As a fighter, I was like, 'Oh man, at least I lost some weight doing this.' Looking back on it, that was awful.

#fight #weight #zalal

The New York Giants were supposed to have a laid-back practice on Thursday afternoon but two players had other ideas.
According to The Athletic's Dan Duggan, wide receiver Xavier Gipson and cornerback Nic Jones got into a fight after the very last play of practice.
Jones and Gipson ended up coming to blows before their teammates broke it up.
"Some fireworks after the last play of a light practice as WR Xavier Gipson and CB Nic Jones looked like a couple featherweights exchanging punches. Teammates moved in quickly to separate them but not before each fired off a few punches (both were wearing helmets)," Duggan reported.
Because the Giants had practiced with pads the last three days, they were allowed to do so again on Thursday.

#teammates

Alexander Volkanovski's next ***** le defense could be one of the worst-kept secrets in MMA.
The UFC featherweight champion awaits the second defense of his second ***** le reign following a second decision win over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 this past February. Undefeated contender Movsar Evloev is expected to get the call and Volkanovski is already preparing to face the Russian grappling specialist.
"It's not locked in, but it's pretty obvious it's probably going to be Movsar," Volkanovski said in a vlog. "So get all that wrestling in nice and early."
Injuries and a lack of signature finishes have hindered Evloev's No. 1 contender case, despite a spotless 20-0 record. He hasn't finished any of his 10 UFC opponents, but holds notable wins over Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, and Lopes, the latter of whom has received two ***** le fight opportunities.
Volkanovski has stated on multiple occasions he expects to fight Evloev and with numbered UFC events in October, November, and December still needing headlining bouts, the matchmakers have several opportunities to slot that championship matchup in before the end of the year.

#second

Kaito Ono arrived in ONE Championship as one of ******* an's most highly respected strikers. But after his first two appearances on the global stage, the decorated fighter found himself trapped in a period of unfamiliar darkness.
Mohammad Siasarani spoiled his promotional debut by unanimous decision in May 2025, before Marat Grigorian stopped him at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April, leaving the 28-year-old with hazy memories of the bout.
Kaito now rematches Siasarani in the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament quarterfinal, which serves as the co-main event at ONE SAMURAI 2 this Saturday, August 8. The explosive card broadcasts live in Asia primetime on live.onefc.com from Tokyo's EBARA WAVE Arena Ota.
A victory would perfectly avenge his first ONE loss, earn a coveted semifinal place in the eight-man bracket, and move him one step closer to reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
He recalled:

#samurai #first

On Monday, Conor McGregor posted a video to his Instagram account announcing that he was going to have knee surgery.
"Well folks, here we go again," he captioned the video. "Surgery number 5 of my career coming up! All things considered that is an ok number! Let's do it, WE GOT THIS!"
The former two-division champion headlined the UFC 329 fight card on July 11 in a rematch with former featherweight champion and former BMF ******* leholder Max Holloway. To begin the bout, McGregor rushed across the cage and leaped into the air with a jumping switch kick. He landed awkwardly on his right leg and fell to the canvas. He fell twice more, once while throwing a kick and later a punch. The referee stepped in once it was obvious McGregor had suffered an injury.
It was later determined that McGregor to his ACL and MCL, the same injury he fell victim to in his first fight against Holloway in 2013.
On Wednesday, McGregor provided an update following successful surgery and remains confident that he'll eventually return to the octagon. He's targeting next summer for a return date. The 38 year-old has one fight remaining on his UFC contract.

#mcgregor #kick #once

LAS VEGAS – "This is it, brother."
Those were the first words out of Darren Elkins' mouth after he took to the stage at Meta APEX on Wednesday and made it officially official. A bit more weathered and sporting a few more scars than the 25-year-old who made his promotional debut vs. Duane Ludwig at UFC on Versus 1 in March 2010, Elkins (29-12 MMA, 19-11 UFC) said his time has come.
"I'm older in age now," Elkins told MMA Junkie and other reporters. "But mostly I'm starting to get hurt a little bit more often. Getting to train all the time is taking more of a toll on my body than it used to. It's time. I've been contemplating it for a while. I just talked to my family, worked it all out. I'm like, 'I've always wanted to lay my gloves in the octagon and do it where most people don't get that chance. They either get cut, or they just have to say on social media that they retired. I wanted it to be in the moment, lay my gloves down, and ride off into the sunset."
Elkins, 42, is one of the promotion's longest-tenured roster members. He'll put a bow on a near-20-year professional fighting career Saturday when he makes the final walk to the cage to battle Yadier del Valle (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a three-round featherweight bout at UFC Fight Night 284.
While some fighters might be nostalgic and emotional, Elkins said he's more appreciative and grateful than anything else. The sport has come a long way, and Elkins is proud to have evolved with it.

#elkins #wanted #vegas

One more "Damage" fight incoming.
Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight veteran and all-around violent fighter Darren Elkins returns to action against Cuban prospect Yadier del Valle in the "Featured" fight of UFC Vegas 120 this weekend (Sat., Aug. 8, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And this weekend will be his final UFC fight.
"This is it, brother," Elkins told MMAmania.com during UFC Vegas 120 media day. "I'm older in age now, but mostly, I'm starting to get hurt more often. Training more and more is taking a toll on my body more than it used to, so it's time.
"I mean, I've been contemplating it for awhile, and I talked with my family," Elkins continued. "I've always wanted to lay my gloves in the Octagon, and most people don't get that chance — they either get cut or have to say it on social media. So, I wanted to do it and ride off into the sunset."

#i 've #weekend #wanted #damage

Billy Q is back!
Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Billy Quarantillo returns to action — in a new weight class — against Brazilian veteran Diego Ferreira in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 120 this weekend (Sat., Aug. 8, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Quarantillo last competed at UFC Tampa in 2024, where UFC legend Cub Swanson knocked him out cold in the third round (watch highlights).
Then, poof! Billy Q disappeared
So, where did he go?

#vegas #ultimate

Masaaki Noiri believes every piece of his grand redemption story has already fallen into place. Now, the ***** anese superstar simply must deliver the definitive results to complete it.
The former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion will rematch "Spirit Dragon" Liu Mengyang in the quarterfinals of the highly anticipated ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 2. The blockbuster event takes place on Saturday, August 8, broadcasting live from Tokyo's EBARA WAVE Arena Ota, streaming via live.onefc.com.
Their first meeting in December 2024 ended with Liu handing Noiri his second straight loss in ONE Championship, marking the very first time the ***** anese standout had suffered consecutive defeats in his illustrious career. The Chinese striker stepped in on short notice, surprised Noiri in the first round, and ultimately earned a unanimous decision.
More than a year and a half later, the 33-year-old finally has the coveted opportunity to settle the score and advance in an elite eight-man tournament. The eventual winner of this prestigious bracket will earn a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
The ***** anese veteran recalled:

#japanese

Brian Ortega's long-talked-about move to 155 pounds is here.
Ortega, a former two-time UFC featherweight **** le challenger, is moving up to the lightweight division to take on veteran Renato Moicano in a rematch on Sept. 19 at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. UFC officials announced the rematch on Wednesday.
This bout was originally expected to go down in March at UFC 326, but Ortega withdrew from the matchup due to injury. Ortega and Moicano fought back in 2017. Ortega submitted Moicano in a bout that won Fight of the Night awards.
Ortega's move to lightweight has been talked about for several years, as he'd had trouble making 145 pounds for quite some time. In his last outing back in August, Ortega was unable to make the featherweight cut, thus pushing his bout with Aljamain Sterling to an 153-pound catchweight bout. Ortega lost the fight by unanimous decision. "T-City" is finds himself on a two-fight losing streak and 1-4 in his past five bouts.
Moicano looks to build some momentum in his career after submitting American Top Team teammate Chris Duncan in April at UFC Fight Night 272. The win got him back on his feet after a pair of defeats to Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev, who he fought for the UFC lightweight **** le at the time.

#move

British boxer Raven Chapman has undergone emergency brain surgery in Denmark after collapsing following a sparring session, her management has confirmed.
The 32-year-old, who competed for the WBC world featherweight ****** le back in 2024, was placed in a medically induced coma after the procedure to address a bleed and swelling on her brain.
Chapman is now off sedatives and is awaiting medically supervised repatriation to a UK hospital, where a lengthy rehabilitation is anticipated. A GoFundMe page has been established to support her recovery.
Her management company, Vote Boxing, issued a statement detailing the incident.
"On Friday, July 24, Raven unexpectedly collapsed after a sparring session in Denmark," the statement began. "Emergency services were called immediately, and she was airlifted to a local hospital. She was diagnosed with a brain haematoma and cerebral oedema. Raven underwent emergency surgery immediately.

#chapman #sparring #medically

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers' explosive ESPN appearance on the Pat McAfee show has led to a strong response from Dr. Anthony Fauci's lawyer.
The prime of the COVID-19 pandemic is over half-a-decade behind the world now, but the fractures in social discourse from that traumatic time remain.
Sports stars like Aaron Rodgers embraced controversial stances such as doubting the vaccine advocated by the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Rodgers criticising Dr. Fauci again in 2026 has ruffled some feathers.
After Rodgers' recent appearance on ESPN's 'The Pat McAfee Show,' where he called Dr. Fauci a 'coward,' David Schertler, the doctor's attorney, responded with a simple but blunt message.

#mcafee #anthony

Liu "Spirit Dragon" Mengyang has unfinished business with Masaaki Noiri, and the ultimate prize waiting at the end of the tournament makes the stakes even higher.
The 23-year-old Chinese striking sensation faces the former ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion in the highly anticipated main event of ONE SAMURAI 2 on Saturday, August 8. The blockbuster event broadcasts from the EBARA WAVE Arena Ota in Tokyo, ******* an, streaming live via live.onefc.com.
The high-stakes bout serves as a quarterfinal matchup in the prestigious ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament, with the eventual winner of the 8-man bracket earning a guaranteed World ******* le shot against reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
When these two elite strikers last met in December 2024, Liu announced himself to the world in the most spectacular fashion possible.
Inside the opening 20 seconds, the Chinese powerhouse dropped Noiri to the canvas before expertly controlling the remainder of the contest to earn a unanimous decision. It was a shocking result that stunned the kickboxing ecosphere and firmly established Liu as one of the division's premier forces.

#kickboxing #World #featherweight #stakes

TommyMcMillen claims AlexanderVolkanovski has no path to victory against him.

McMillen is currently one of the most hyped featherweight prospectson the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster. The undefeated28-year-old is high in confidence, as reflected in his recentcomments about the reigning champion in his division.
McMillen is open to fighting Volkanovski next for the right amountof money. "Gun" doesn't think the 37-year-old UFC featherweightchampion can beat him and the same goes for any other145-pounder.

"I'll take Volk. He's like 42 years old, he's 5'5", what's his pathto victory?" McMillen said on the One Night with Steiny podcast."He's gonna bang with me for five rounds? I've never even seen afourth or fifth round; those are gonna be my best rounds. If theUFC came to me and paid the right amount of money, yes, I'll gostep in there and fight anybody in the top 15, knowing I can win.There's not a man at 145 pounds that I don't look at and be like,'Oh, I know I can beat him.'"

McMillen (11-0) has earned $100k bonuses for both of his UFC winsso far. He also set the record for landing the most significantstrikes in a three-round UFC fight (513) in his recent win overAlbertoMontes. His contract-winning performance on Dana White's Contender Series remains his only bout that hasgone the distance.

Meanwhile, Volkanovski (28-4) defended the featherweight **** le fivetimes in his first **** le run before losing it to IliaTopuria in 2024. "The Great" has since won the vacant **** le anddefended it against DiegoLopes. While there's no official confirmation as yet, theAustralian has indicated that unbeaten contender MovsarEvloev is next in line for the belt.

#title #i 'll #contender #year

Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let's start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
Conor McGregor officially headed for surgery for torn ACL – 'We got this': Compared to the shattered leg, ACL recovery should be a walk in the park.
A UFC fighter died on Monday, clueless Dana White called it a 'great day': I understand how it happens (and purposefully reorganized my column last night to avoid a similar tonal whiplash), but this is not a great look.
UFC Featherweight prospect Danny Silva hospitalized by sudden pulmonary embolism: 'I won't give up': All the best to Danny Silva in his recovery.

#silva #look

Confidence has never been in short supply for three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian, and that self-belief shows no signs of wavering as he heads into his next test at The Inner Circle 25.
The Armenian knockout machine carries that same conviction into the first round of the eight-man ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament against Russian standout Mamuka Usubyan.
Their clash will be part of several exciting matchups on the Asia primetime spectacle inside Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium, which will broadcast live exclusively to subscribers at live.onefc.com.
Grigorian arrives on the back of a three-fight winning streak. Two of those victories ended in highlight-reel fashion, first against Abdelali "Black Diamond" Zahidi, then against Kaito at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April in Tokyo.
Sandwiched between those finishes was a hard-fought win over Rukiya "Demolition Man" Anpo at ONE 173, a rivalry that carried its own share of fireworks.

#first #live #confidence #champion