RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Bellator champion Johnny Eblen dubs himself and former UFC champion Sean Strickland the best middleweights in the world.

Eblen (15-0) defends his title against Fabian Edwards (13-3) in a rematch at Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants main card (DAZN, ESPN+) at The Mayadeen. Eblen is undefeated in his professional MMA career, with his most recent four wins coming over Gegard Mousasi, Anatoly Tokov, Edwards, and Impa Kasanganay. Meanwhile, Strickland has won four of his past five fights, including a title win over Israel Adesanya.

Having trained with Strickland at Xtreme Couture, Eblen spoke highly of the former UFC champ.

“I’m going to have to go with my boy Sean Strickland,” Eblen told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Every time I go out and train with him in Vegas, it’s tough rounds. He gets me sometimes, and I get him sometimes.

“I think truly we’re the best middleweights in the world. The fact that I get to train with him, and we happen to be in different promotions right now is kind of cool. And that we get to train together, and also we’re both making good money.”

Eblen knocked out Edwards in the third round of their first title meeting in September 2023. The judges were split on the scorecards prior to the knockout, with one judge having Edwards up 2-0, one judge having Eblen up 2-0, and the third judge having it tied 1-1 heading into the third.

This time, Eblen wants to make sure he leaves no doubt that he’s the better fighter.

“I think I dominate every single minute of every single round,” Eblen said. “Whether I get a finish in the first or the fifth, it doesn’t really matter. I’m prepared for everything he’s going to throw at me. I don’t think he’s prepared for everything I’m going to throw at him.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Ian Machado Garry is putting the ball in Colby Covington’s court.

According to the undefeated welterweight contender, he has been pursuing a fight against Covington and Covington is yet to respond. Garry took to social media to give his take on the situation, which can be seen below.

“A month ago, I was offered a fight with Colby Covington,” Garry said. “It took me all of 20 seconds to respond to the e-mail saying, ‘Yes, I’m in.’

“A month later, we’ve still got no response from Colby. He’s avoiding me like the plague and there’s one reason and one reason only this fight isn’t happening and his name’s Colby Covington.”

Covington is yet to respond to Garry’s claim.

The callout makes a lot of sense for Garry, who seeks another statement win to secure a welterweight title shot. Covington sits at No. 6 in the UFC’s official rankings, one spot ahead of Garry. “The Future,” 8-0 in the UFC and 15-0 as a pro, is coming off of a unanimous decision win over former Bellator star Michael Page that failed to generate sparks.

Covington (17-4) has competed sporadically since 2019, though three of his appearances came in welterweight title fights. He lost twice to rival Kamaru Usman and in his most recent fight this past December, lost a lopsided decision to then-champion Leon Edwards.

Police bodycam footage shows UFC veteran and BKFC star Mike Perry was hostile toward police and hurled homophobic slurs at them while he was arrested following a traffic stop in Florida.

The footage, obtained by TMZ and shared Wednesday, shows what happened in the early hours of Oct. 12 when Perry was pulled over for speeding by two officers from the Clermont Police Department at approximately 1 a.m. In the video, Perry immediately talks back to one officer as he tells Perry he can smell alcohol from the vehicle.

“Well, you’re talking a little slow, and I can smell it coming out of this side when I came over here,” the officer says.

Perry responds, “Well, you’re talking a little fast.”

“I’m talking a little fast?” the officer replies. “OK, I’ll slow it down just for you. Is that better?”

At that point, the video shows the officer request that Perry step out of his vehicle, which he did without incident. But Perry refused to take a sobriety test, forcing the officers to arrest him and place him in handcuffs. While the officers conduct the arrest, Perry yells to console his wife, Latory, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and uses homophobic slurs to describe the officers.

“Latory, I’m getting arrested because I’m not doing this bullsh*t sobriety test,” Perry tells her. “Just relax, honey. I’ll be home soon. They know exactly who I am. They’re f *cking mad. F*ck these f*ggots! Couple of f*ggots! They’re a couple of f*ggots, forget about it!”

MMA star “Platinum” Mike Perry called officers gay slurs during his DUI arrest.👮 #Exclusive full video in bio! pic.twitter.com/5VkH4GOKAd

— TMZ (@TMZ) October 16, 2024

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Perry, 33, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, along with refusing to sign a citation requiring a court appearance, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office records. Perry is due in court at 8 a.m. on Oct. 30.

Perry, who spent five years in the UFC, has become the face of BKFC as the promotion’s reigning “King of Violence” champion after finishing Eddie Alvarez last December. Perry followed up that victory with another TKO of Thiago Alves last April.

Perry was “fired” publicly by Conor McGregor, who recently became a minority owner in BKFC, after his TKO boxing loss to Jake Paul. But McGregor indicated Perry could be welcomed back.

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

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Michael Cohen

College Football and College Basketball Writer

Welcome to the College Football Playoff conversation, Indiana.

In his first year as the program’s head coach, Curt Cignetti has helped guide Indiana to a perfect 6-0 record and the No. 16 ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll. Cignetti’s Hoosiers are set to take on Nebraska (5-1) in a Week 8 Big Ten showdown on FOX (Noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App).

Indiana currently sits just outside RJ Young’s latest College Football Playoff predictions, but a victory over Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers could push this program one step closer to making its first-ever CFP appearance.

There are several other eye-catching matchups across the country in Week 8, including a massive SEC showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Georgia in Austin, Texas. No. 7 Alabama visits No. 11 Tennessee in another must-see SEC battle, while No. 22. Illinois welcome No. 24 Michigan in a top 25 Big Ten tilt.

FOX Sports college football writers Michael Cohen and RJ Young are here to preview the biggest storylines heading into Week 7.

Indiana, sitting at 6-0, is set to host Nebraska at Noon ET Saturday on FOX. This season has been filled with plenty of great storylines, but where does Indiana rank among the top storylines in college football seven weeks into the season?

Michael Cohen: Given how precipitously the Hoosiers had fallen during the final three years under former head coach Tom Allen — a 2-10 record in 2021; a 4-8 mark in 2022; a 3-9 finish in 2023 — it’s fair to consider Indiana the best team storyline so far this season, an unexpected challenger to an expanded Big Ten hierarchy that now includes Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and Michigan as the three-time defending conference champion. 

Not only is head coach Curt Cignetti the only coach in program history to begin his tenure with six straight wins, but it’s also just the second time IU has ever started a season 6-0, joining the 1967 squad that was selected for the Rose Bowl and finished 9-2 overall under John Pont. With six straight wins by double figures, Cignetti’s group has set a new school record for most consecutive victories by 10-plus points, eclipsing the previous mark of five that spanned the 1905-06 campaigns. The Hoosiers are one of only two teams that have yet to trail in a game this season. And quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio, is the first IU player to throw at least three touchdown passes in three Big Ten games since Harry Gonso accomplished that feat in ’67. 

So, while it’s true that the caliber of Indiana’s opponents has left plenty to be desired thus far — the Hoosiers’ strength of schedule through Week 7 ranks 108th nationally and second-to-last in the Big Ten, according to Pro Football Focus — the comprehensive nature of Cignetti’s victories shouldn’t be overlooked ahead of Saturday’s date with Nebraska. 

RJ Young: Like Army, Navy, Iowa State and BYU, Indiana has emerged as one of the most surprising and exciting teams in the country with this wildly unexpected hot start to the season. At 6-0, the Hoosiers have matched their best start to any season since 1967, and they’ve done it in style.

Curt Cignetti garnered attention last December when he left no doubt about who he is and what he expected to do as head coach at Indiana.

“I win,” he said. “Google me.”

Google, we did. Cignetti has never coached a losing season as head coach. He is 125-35 all time, and he hasn’t lost more than three games in a season since back in 2018. He has since cooled on the rhetoric, though.

“You know, I made a couple comments when I first got hired,” Cignetti said ahead of IU’s game against Nebraska. “I was out there on a limb a little bit, felt like that’s what I needed to do. I think it’s more of a reflection on how the team has played and the success that they’ve had on the field that’s gotten people excited, and this is just a byproduct of that.”

On the other hand, Dylan Raiola was one of the top stories in college football through the first three weeks of the season before the Cornhuskers fell to Illinois in overtime in a Week 4 thriller. Raiola and the Huskers have quietly won back-to-back games since then and sit at 5-1 heading into this showdown against Indiana. Would a win over the undefeated Hoosiers put Raiola and the Huskers back in the national spotlight?

RJ: Almost certainly. Nebraska played in prime time before earning a top 25 ranking, and, prior to its loss to a top 25-ranked Illinois team, the Cornhuskers were enjoying even more attention than Indiana is now. With Raiola at QB, the Huskers have a player under center who gives them a chance to win nearly every game they play. He’s helped by a defense that has shown itself to be more than capable of playing winning football.

Nebraska ranks 13th among FBS teams in total defense, 18th in TFLs and 26th in takeaways. The Huskers have recorded seven interceptions in six games and give up just 11 points per game. They’ll need to play great football against any team coached by Cignetti, who is 4-1 after bye weeks, excluding the 2020 season.

Michael: Without question. The Cornhuskers climbed into the AP Top 25 after their resounding 28-10 win over Colorado in Week 2 to avenge a nationally televised loss from the 2023 season. By then, head coach Matt Rhule’s team was 3-0 overall with an average margin of victory north of 27 points per game. Nebraska checked in at No. 22 ahead of its high-profile Friday night game against then-No. 24 Illinois, a matchup the Cornhuskers ultimately lost in overtime. Their stay in the national rankings proved to be little more than a one-week cameo. 

But back-to-back wins over Purdue (away) and Rutgers (home) gave way to a bye on Oct. 12 that extended Nebraska’s unbeaten streak to three calendar weeks at a time when ranked teams were losing at a torrid pace, including four last Saturday alone. All of which meant that the Cornhuskers kept climbing behind the scenes, and they’ll enter this weekend’s game against Indiana having received the second-most votes of anyone outside the Top 25, which effectively ranks them No. 27 overall. If Rhule & Co. can become the first team to corral an explosive Indiana offense and topple the 16th-ranked Hoosiers away from home, there’s little question that Nebraska will be back in the national rankings next week ahead of a mammoth showdown with No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 26. 

Georgia travels to Austin to battle No. 1-ranked Texas this weekend in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. Georgia has been up and down this year, while Texas has been steadily dominant through the first seven weeks of the season. What do you expect to see in this top-five SEC showdown?

Michael: Coming into the season, one of the biggest questions surrounding Texas was how well the offense could replace a handful of playmakers who departed for the NFL. The Longhorns bid farewell to their top running back (Jonathan Brooks: 1,139 yards and 10 TDs) and their five leading receivers (Xavier Worthy: 1,014 yards and 5 TDs; Adonai Mitchell: 845 yards and 11 TDs; Ja’Tavion Sanders: 682 yards and 2 TDs; Jordan Whittington: 505 yards and 1 TD; Brooks: 286 yards and 1 TD) from a 2023 squad that fell a play or two short of reaching the national championship. And while it’s true that head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff did an excellent job replacing them in the transfer portal and through the high school ranks — with players like former Alabama wideout Isaiah Bond, former Houston wideout Matthew Golden and five-star freshman receiver Ryan Wingo — it was unclear how much time the new pieces would need to jell. 

But after six games and six blowout victories, it’s quite clear that the Longhorns, who rank seventh nationally in scoring offense (43.2 points per game) and seventh nationally in total offense (495.7 yards per game), don’t have much to worry about on that side of the ball, even though they missed starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for multiple games. 

This week’s matchup with Georgia offers the first real test for Texas’ defense, which is among the more interesting storylines to watch. A closer look at the numbers confirms the Longhorns have hardly been tested in that regard at the midway point of the season. Consider the offensive rankings of Texas’ six opponents thus far: 

Colorado State — 86th in total offense; 107th in scoring offense

Michigan — 119th in total offense; 102nd in scoring offense

UTSA — 67th in total offense; t-105th in scoring offense

UL Monroe — 128th in total offense; t-105th in scoring offense

Mississippi State — 78th in total offense; t-71st in scoring offense

Oklahoma — 126th in total offense; t-96th in scoring offense

The Bulldogs will present a much more thorough challenge this weekend on the shoulders of quarterback Carson Beck, a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a player who ranks ninth nationally in passing yards with 1,818. Georgia ranks among the top 30 in total offense (452 yards per game) and the top 35 in scoring offense (33.5 points per game), despite facing a schedule that is No. 24th in difficulty, according to Pro Football Focus. This game will offer plenty of insight about whether Texas’ defense is for real. 

RJ: I expect to see Georgia play a complete game of football for the first time all year. In every game it has played against FBS opponents so far, either the offense or the defense has underwhelmed us. And that underwhelming performance by the defense against Alabama cost them dearly. They didn’t look much better against Mississippi State last weekend, which is worrisome. Kirby Smart knows better than most that Georgia doesn’t need to play its best game on Saturday, but it does need to show itself to be one of the 12 best teams in the sport.

Meanwhile, Texas hasn’t faced an elite offensive opponent all year. Michigan ranks 110th in the country in yards per play, and Oklahoma ranks 127th. And those are the Longhorns‘ two best wins. Couple that with the knowledge that Georgia ranks No. 17 in the country in yards per play.

The Bulldogs have scored at least 31 points in each of their last three games. If Georgia’s defense can stand up against a still maturing Texas offense, there’s no reason to believe the Dawgs can’t leave Austin with the best win in college football this season — a defeat of a No. 1-ranked opponent on the road.

“I want to see them play their best game against Texas,” Smart said. “I mean, simply stated, we have not played our best game. We have not put a complete game together, and that’s what every coach’s goal is, right? To play your best game moving forward. That’s what’s going to be needed to go on the road at Texas. We got to play better and that’s the only goal I’m thinking about right now.”

There are 11 remaining undefeated teams in the FBS right now, including Indiana and Texas. Make your case for which team has the best chance to finish the season with an undefeated record?

RJ: Army. The Black Knights haven’t just been winning games. They’ve been hurting people. They’re mauling opponents for a nation-leading 369 rushing yards per game, while also possessing the nation’s fifth-best scoring offense. They are whooping their competition by an average of 30 points per game. There are only two teams left who might be favored against Army this season: undefeated Navy and a Notre Dame team that already showed itself capable of losing to a directional Illinois program.

Michael:  Liberty. This selection is neither an endorsement of the Flames as an elite team nor a knock to any of the other 10 undefeated programs, all of whom would likely be favored in a head-to-head matchup with Liberty. Rather, it’s a reflection of just how weak the teams in Conference USA really are this season, which means head coach Jamey Chadwell and his players might have the cleanest path toward an unblemished record. Thus far, Liberty’s strength of schedule ranks 129th, according to Pro Football Focus. And Liberty’s remaining schedule, which includes games against Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee State, UMass, Western Kentucky and Sam Houston, ranks 128th in difficulty. The only teams in the country with easier run-ins are Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and Florida International. 

So, even if Liberty finishes undefeated for a second consecutive season, it still might not be viewed as an impressive accomplishment by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Especially after the Flames were pummeled, 45-6, by Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl last year. 

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young.

Michael Cohen covers college football and basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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Tom Aspinall is UFC interim heavyweight champion and the backup fighter for the upcoming UFC 309 title clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16, but PFL star Renan Ferreira sees him as the UFC’s most dangerous heavyweight today.

“Problema” enters the PFL cage Saturday in Saudi Arabia for the biggest fight of his career, welcoming ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou back from the boxing world, and he explained why he doesn’t consider Jones the No. 1 heavyweight in the octagon.

“I think Aspinall [is the UFC’s toughest heavyweight] because of the moment he’s going through right now,” Ferreira said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “He’s young and is on a rise. But Jon Jones is the greatest of all time, in my opinion. He’s super experienced and proven himself, showed what he can do for the sport. You can’t deny him.”

PFL co-founder Donn Davis recently suggested a “winner takes all” tournament between PFL stars Larissa Pacheco and Cris Cyborg and UFC’s Kayla Harrison and Julianna Peña, and Ferreira loves the idea of doing something similar with the PFL and UFC’s heavyweight divisions.

“It would be a clash of giants, right?” Ferreira laughed. “It would be very interesting, and fans would be the winners. Great athletes with different styles fighting each other and defending their promotions as well. This tournament would get a ton of attention.”

It’s highly unlikely that the UFC would ever agree to such offer, and Ferreira still wonders how Jones will do against heavier competition. The former 205-pound champion only fought once since moving up a division, tapping Ciryl Gane with ease. Aspinall has won eight of nine in the UFC with eight stoppages, including finishes over Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich.

“[Jones] was a bit heavier and had a hard time throwing strikes,” Ferreira said of Jones’ performance against Gane. “He’s moving up in weight and hasn’t fought real heavyweights yet, with heavy hands, so I think he could have some trouble there.”

Ferreira could be seen as the lineal heavyweight champion of the world with a win this weekend considering that Ngannou left the UFC without losing the belt, but isn’t sure that fans would agree with that.

“The UFC still is a huge platform,” Ferreira said. “The champions there are undisputed, but I’m building my legacy and my history by fighting the best. I don’t think too much about fame and what could happen and what people think. I just focus on what I’m doing with hunger and heart, and the rest will come from that. … We’ve had some many champion [from Brazil], people who wrote their names in the history books so MMA would be as respected as it is today, so that is my mission now. I’m focused on this.”

Battle of the Giants: Ngannou vs. Ferreira takes place Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Who’s going to win the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight? That’s not the only question being asked about the heavyweight bout.

Another question: Will the fight – scheduled for Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and to be shown on Netflix – actually take place?

It’s already been postponed, so what’s to keep it from being canceled altogether?

There are reasons for optimism and reasons for pessimism.

Tyson vs. Paul: Reasons to believe it WILL happen

Jake Paul looks on during his cruiserweight fight against Mike Perry (not pictured) at Amalie Arena on July 20, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)

Since resuming training in late July, after a six-week layoff following his medical emergency, Tyson has released a handful of video clips of him training. They’re not enough to demonstrate he has the reflexes to win, but the 58-year-old former world champion does look fit and powerful.

Tyson and Paul have benefited from the immense prefight publicity while pitching a variety of products. But to walk away prematurely would be to pass up on the massive payoff from the fight. Additionally, bailing out now would tarnish their legacies.

There’s no prefight out-of-competition drug testing, so Tyson can consume all the cannabis he wants without putting the fight at risk. During training, Tyson has said he’s used cannabis, a banned drug in combat sports competition in Texas. Though random drug testing is implemented on the day of the fight, however, those test results won’t be available for several days. That means a positive drug test by either fighter will not result in the bout being canceled.

(A positive drug test triggers a six-week suspension and, if the winner tests positive, the outcome is changed to no decision.)

Like Tyson, Paul faces the risk of an injury between now and the fight. But the chances of that happening to a 27-year-old boxer are remote.

Tyson vs. Paul: Reasons to believe it WON’T happen

Boxer Mike Tyson on the field before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in September at AT&T Stadium (Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)

In May, Tyson had a medical emergency his team attributed to an “ulcer flareup.’’ Not only did it lead to the fight being postponed, but it also served as a reminder that Tyson is 58.

“I think that’s a safe statement,’’ said Lawrence Kosinski, a Chicago-area gastroenterologist, “but I suspect there are other contributing factors.’’

Among the factors, according to Kosinski, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen an older athlete might depend on to offset pain from strenuous training. The ongoing use of NSAIDs could put Tyson at risk of more ulcer issues.

“We continue to monitor the situation and will conduct the usual pre-fight physicals the day before the fight,’’ said Tela Mange, communications manager for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees combat sports in Texas.” I cannot speak to whether we would require any further testing between now and the pre-fight physicals.’’

In August 2022, Tyson was spotted in the Miami International Airport in a wheelchair and at the time was using a cane because of back issues. It was another reminder that Tyson’s health is far less reliable than when he deserved the title of Baddest Man on the Planet.

 Tyson has said he doesn’t need the money he’ll be collecting from the fight, which means he doesn’t need the fight at all. There’s nothing to keep him from walking away if he has a last-minute change of heart.

This story was originally published by USA TODAY Sports.