RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Dan Hardy makes a case for Renan Ferreira being the best heavyweight in MMA if he can emphatically beat Francis Ngannou.

Ferreira (13-3) meets former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou (17-3) in Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN/ESPN+) main event at The Mayadeen.

PFL has been promoting Ngannou vs. Ferreira as a fight to determine “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” but with UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall looking unbeatable as of late and heavyweight champion Jon Jones widely considered the greatest fighter of all time, many disagree with that narrative.

Hardy believes an argument can be made for Ferreira if he’s able to look levels above Ngannou.

“If Renan comes through his weekend looking like a world beater, I think a lot of people are going to look at him and go, ‘You know what, he’s 6-foot-8, he’s trained at ATT (American Top Team), he’s dangerous in striking, he’s got great grappling and takedown defense since he’s moved there, I can make an argument for him,’” Hardy told MMA Junkie. “Jon Jones, for me, is still not a proven heavyweight. Stipe is way past his peak. I love Stipe, but he’s way past his peak. So, I don’t think Jones benefits a great deal from beating Stipe at this point.

“The benefit from the UFC’s perspective is that the very, very casual fans still feel like Stipe is at the top of the game. … For me, the Jones-Stipe fight, it doesn’t hold a great deal of interest. Jones-Aspinall, that’s the fight I want to see, and I think that determines the best heavyweight in the UFC. I think this fight determines the best heavyweight outside of the UFC. If ever there was a day where we could see the winner of these two fights face each other, I mean that would be a real treat for the fans.”

Despite the PFL’s promotion surrounding Ngannou vs. Ferreira, Hardy has a different opinion on who’s currently the No. 1 heavyweight in MMA.

“We know that Francis is an elite-level heavyweight, and I very much feel like Renan is, even though a lot of people may not consider him to be right now,” Hardy said. “Ryan Bader is no joke, and that was what, 40 seconds?

“And I feel like the improvements I’ve seen in Renan Ferreira’s game in the last couple of fights in particular, it gives me the confidence that he’s going to be able to hold his own against much better heavyweights. Tom Aspinall, for me, is probably the best heavyweight in the world right now, outside of the conversation with these two guys.”

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

Sydney Sweeney is almost unrecognizable in new photos she posted after transforming into boxer Christy Martin for a new role she’s playing in an upcoming biopic.

The Euphoria actress showed off first look photos from set as she flexed her muscles and showed off her new hair to play the legendary women’s boxer.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring,” Sweeney wrote on her Instagram. “Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon.”

Sweeney is playing the lead role as Martin, who is a former boxing champion who competed from 1989 to 2012 and she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020 — the first year that women were on the ballot. Martin also survived an attempted murder by her husband James Martin after he stabbed her multiple times and shot her at their home in Florida.

James was later convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The untitled biopic is being directed by David Michod with actor Ben Foster playing Martin’s husband James with additional cast members including Merritt Weaver, Katy O’Brien, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman and Tony Cavalero.

Production on the film just got underway in North Carolina with a release date still to be determined.

While she’s best known for roles in TV series like Euphoria and The White Lotus, as well as films such as Anyone But You and Immaculate, Sweeney actually started training MMA when she was only 14 years old and even participated in grappling competitions before turning her full attention towards acting in Hollywood.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are in talks with a potential investor that could lead to the club avoiding administration.

Discussions are expected to take place with the investor on Thursday, with the club’s board meeting on Friday.

The Scottish League 1 outfit revealed earlier this month that administration was the most likely course of action but could be averted if fundraising efforts reach £200,000.

A crowdfunding website set up to meet that target currently sits at £85,000.

Losses ran to £1.2m last season and a similar loss is forecast for this term, but the club have warned that figure would not include money spent on restructuring following relegation from the Championship.

Duncan Ferguson’s side are second bottom of their division and host Annan Athletic on Saturday.

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.