REVENGE AND REIGN: MIKAELIAN MASTERCLASS UNSEATS JACK FOR WBC CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE
Noel Mikaelian corrected a "debatable" first fight by using his smart jab and combinations to defeat Badou Jack via a clear unanimous decision for the WBC title.
Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) has finally grabbed that world title he's been chasing for a year, beating Badou Jack (29-4-3, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision. The win at CMH 2: Rematch Season secures him the WBC Cruiserweight World Championship for the second time.
After a tight, debated first fight, Mikaelian came to Los Angeles ready to leave no room for doubt. He used his jab, constant combinations, and smarts in the ring to control the fight from start to finish.
“We fixed it. This time, I got my hand raised,” Mikaelian said, celebrating in front of his fans.
“It felt like home having so many fans here. I'm happy to show how important mental health is—it means a lot because of what I've been through.”
Jack, a two-time world champ, came with his usual aggression but couldn't get his game going. “He gets dirty. He was pushing with his head, and the ref didn’t say anything. He was also holding my hand. I had to change my plan. I don't get angry in the ring, but you have to let loose sometimes,” Mikaelian explained.
Looking back, Jack gave props to the new champ. “This wasn’t my best night, but no excuses. He was better tonight, dirty tricks or not. I thought I had a great training camp; he did too. I don’t need to prove anything. I’ve done it all. I love to fight, so we’ll see what happens.”
With this win, Mikaelian not only got the world title but also set himself up for a possible fight with David Benavidez, but only if Benavidez beats Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Fight Highlights – Main Event
From the start, Mikaelian’s jab set the tone, keeping Jack away and landing good counters. For the first three rounds, Mikaelian was in charge, setting the pace and making Jack defend.
Around the middle of the fight, Jack tried to put on the pressure, working inside and forcing them to hold each other. But Mikaelian’s quick counters and footwork stopped Jack from gaining any ground.
In the later rounds, Mikaelian stayed calm and in control. He threw more punches, landing clean combinations and taking advantage of openings when Jack got too aggressive. These attacks showed Mikaelian’s control and how he planned the fight. When it was over, the judges' scores showed a clear win for Mikaelian: 116-110, 116-110, 115-111.
Rising Stars Shine on the Undercard
Jonny Mansour (6-0, 2 KOs) honoured his mother, who passed away, with a solid unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Jaurez (12-10-3, 5 KOs).
“We aren’t promised tomorrow. "Everyone wants money and success, but you will be remembered for how you loved your family," Mansour said.
Robert Daniels Jr. (9-2, 8 KOs) is back with a first-round knockout of Tristan Hamm (1-3, 1 KO), making it eight KOs in a row and showing his power at cruiserweight.
Brook Sibrian (9-2, 4 KOs) won the vacant WBC International Light Flyweight Championship, beating Gloria Munguilla (8-3) by majority decision, turning around last year’s loss.
“It all started when I lost to her earlier this year. It’s been a great ride, and I’m happy to end the year on a high note,” Sibrian said.
Julius Ballo (2-0), moving up two weight classes, scored a knockdown in the fourth round and took a unanimous decision over Juan Centeno (10-25-4, 2 KOs), showing he’s more experienced than he is.
Other fighters who won on the undercard include Devi Davitan, Samvel Gandillian, Angel Lozano, Isaac Anguiano, and Sergio Herrera, who gave Jose Vargas Quintana his first loss, proving that CMH 2 brings together top talent and up-and-coming fighters.
EDDIE HEARN ADMITS AUSTIN WILLIAMS CANNOT OUTBOX WBC CHAMPION CARLOS ADAMES
Austin Ammo Williams faces a life-changing chance Saturday as Hearn plots a late-round breakdown of Carlos Adames.
Eddie Hearn isn’t trying to convince anyone that Austin “Ammo” Williams is a better boxer than Carlos Adames. He’s not pitching skill or finesse; he’s talking about grit. If Williams is going to win the WBC middleweight title on Saturday, it won’t be by outboxing Adames. Hearn’s hoping his guy drags Adames into the late rounds, toughs it out, and breaks him down physically.
Here’s the approach: Williams needs to pressure Adames, stay close, and make it ugly. A straightforward boxing match pretty much goes to Adames. So, Williams has to turn it into a dogfight.
“You just got to be a dog in there. You’ve got to hang with him, find a way, and try to combat the skill,” Hearn told DAZN Boxing. “You’ve got to try and trade with him, beat him up on the inside. You just have to not give in and find a way to break him.”
That’s the plan. Hearn figures the real shift probably happens late in the bout, maybe round nine, ten, or eleven, when toughness matters more than clean boxing or early dominance. Williams has to withstand as much punishment as he dishes out, keep pushing, and hope Adames finally breaks.
Hearn’s honesty actually tells you everything. “I don’t think Ammo is going to go in there and outbox Carlos Adames,” he said. He’s not pretending Williams is the slicker guy or has more tools. The path is straightforward: close the gap, trade shots, wear Adames down.
Still, Hearn sees a life-changing opportunity if Williams manages to pull it off. “If Ammo can become a middleweight world champion, he changes his life forever. The opportunity sits right in front of him on Saturday,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s a big chance. But it’s a rough road. If all you’ve got is to “find a way” through a gruelling fight, it usually means the champ has the edge when the boxing gets clean.
WHY NATE DIAZ SIGNED WITH JAKE PAUL’S MVP FOR MMA RETURN
Nate Diaz signs with Jake Paul’s MVP to face Mike Perry in an MMA return on the Rousey vs Carano Netflix card.
Nate Diaz is set to join the impressive undercard for the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout. The UFC veteran has recently signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and will take on Mike Perry at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on May 16.
Diaz hasn’t stepped into the MMA cage since he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 back in 2022. After that, he tried his hand at boxing, debuting in the ring a year later, where he lost a points decision to Jake Paul. However, he bounced back in his next boxing match by securing a win against Jorge Masvidal.
There had been buzz about a potential fight between Diaz and Conor McGregor for McGregor’s UFC return, but those plans seem to have fallen through. Their history is well-known; they split victories in 2016, with Diaz dealing McGregor his first UFC loss. Many fans were hoping for a trilogy match, possibly headlining the promotion’s historic White House card.
Now Diaz is gearing up to face Perry at welterweight, following unified MMA rules over five rounds. He’ll be sharing the card with notable names like Francis Ngannou, who recently parted ways with PFL and is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event.
Diaz expressed his excitement about the return, saying, “Glad to be back in action." It’s time. Don’t forget where this all came from. I’ve got plans to keep going for the next decade, wherever it takes me. Time to set the bar again; get ready for a new takeover, again and again.”
He’s been hinting at this comeback for months and even called out Perry as part of a three-fight target list earlier this year. Diaz has openly admitted he has unfinished business in combat sports, aiming to capture gold before he retires.
His signing with MVP raises questions among MMA fans about whether the UFC had discussions with him beforehand, similar to what we saw with Rousey. She revealed she had talks with UFC CEO Dana White before announcing her Netflix fight against Carano, though she later criticised the UFC as a shadow of its former self, saying it no longer delivers the best fights.
While Diaz is undoubtedly the bigger name, Perry brings his own intensity to the card. Known as 'Platinum', Perry had a stint in McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving the UFC in 2021. He, too, has boxed and lost to Jake Paul before making a comeback to combat sports with a win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last October.
Perry isn’t holding back, stating, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the face.” The fight is set to be streamed on Netflix, with Perry promising Diaz will go “lights out” on May 16.
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s CEO, commented on the event’s massive potential, highlighting their record-breaking boxing viewership and expecting to smash those records again with this MMA card. He emphasised the matchup intensity, calling Diaz “the Real BMF” and Perry “the King of Violence", promising a battle from the first press conference through to the final bell.
This event in Los Angeles looks to be one of the biggest nights in combat sports, and Netflix’s involvement signals a bright future for MMA’s growth. More bouts for the card are expected to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates as the date approaches.
