Light-welterweight contender Adam Azim passed his toughest test to date with an impressive eighth-round stoppage win over Ohara Davies at London’s Copper Box Arena.

The 22-year-old from Slough dropped Davies with a body shot in the fifth round.

Davies, 32, gallantly fought on but was floored again three rounds later as a left hook landed flush.

The contest was waved off by the referee before he noticed Davies’ corner frantically waving the towel.

“It was my best performance. I had to be very switched on for him,” Azim, now unbeaten in 12 pro fights, said.

Azim expects to face Harlem Eubank next and then settle a rivalry with Sheffield’s Dalton Smith in 2025.

The pair were ordered to fight for the European title but Azim vacated his belt, leading to a public spat between the two teams.

Davies, meanwhile, said it “might be the end” for his career, after a fourth defeat in 29 pro fights.

“I feel like you have to know when your time is done. You don’t want to stay in this sport for too long and take too much,” he added.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

In the case of the PFL: Battle of the Giants main event Saturday, Francis Ngannou took height out of the occasion.

At Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ngannou (18-3) pounded Renan Ferreira (13-4) into unconsciousness with ground-and-pound punches from back mount for a knockout stoppage at 3:32 of Round 1.

Ngannou, 38, took the fight to the ground early. From there, Ferreira shot up a triangle. Once Ngannou escaped, it was practically game over. The former UFC heavyweight champion who never lost his title blasted his opponent with big punches to end the fight.

FIRST. ROUND. FINISH!

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 19, 2024

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 19, 2024

The bout was Ngannou’s first in MMA since his UFC departure in early 2023. He competed twice in boxing vs. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and lost both bouts. The first was by controversial split decision. The second was a knockout defeat.

Ferreira’s four-fight winning streak comes to an end. He emerged as the best option for Ngannou after knockout wins over Matheus Scheffel, Maurice Greene, Denis Goltsov, and Ryan Bader.

Up-to-the-minute PFL: Battle of the Giants results include:

MAIN CARD (DAZN pay-per-view, 4 p.m. ET)

• Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira via knockout (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 3:32
• Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – for women’s featherweight superfights title
• Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) – for Bellator middleweight title
• Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Paul Hughes def. A.J. McKee via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:01
• Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
• Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:51

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

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TEMPLEGATE tackles a busy Sunday of racing confident of picking out a few winners.

Back a horse by clicking their odds.

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BLAIRGOWRIE (4.35 Kempton, nap)

Has plenty of decent hurdles form on his CV including when scoring on his last spin over timber at Newbury back in 2022.

He then had almost two years off before showing lots of promise when second on his chase debut at the Berkshire track in January.

He has had a little nudge down the weights since then and looks set for a bright future jumping fences for Nicky Henderson.

SEEYOUINMYDREAMS (2.50 Kempton, nb)

This former bumper winner has won her past two spins over timber by a total of 38 lengths. She sees out this trip well and can land the hat-trick for Paul Nicholls.

TOMMIE BEAU (4.20 Sedgefield, treble)

He is as hard as they come and he can defend his Durham National crown. He’s had a cracking summer with three wins and he relishes Sedgey’s roller-coaster ride.

Templegate’s tips

KEMPTON

1.40 Model Approach

Game win at Sedgefield last time and has more to come.

2.15 Alien Storm

Plenty in hand when scoring at Plumpton 28 days ago.

2.50 Seeyouinmydreams (nb)

Won past two easily with much more to come.

3.25 Persian Time

Looked a nice prospect a couple of times last season.

4.00 Rubaud

Won this race last year on comeback and can strike again.

4.35 Blairgowrie (nap)

Lightly raced and more to come over fences for Hendo.

5.10 Far Sight

Can cope with penalty for easy win at Wincanton last time.

SEDGEFIELD

2.00 Jac Jumper

Takes a drop in class over a trip that suits.

2.35 Continuance

Solid form on the Flat and should make a nice hurdler.

3.10 Kabuki

Showed promise when fourth at Warwick last time out.

3.45 Big Bee Hive

Keeps running well and went close at Southwell last time.

4.20 Tommie Beau (treble)

Has won three of past five and took this last season.

4.55 Harper Valley

Has shown best form over this course and distance.

5.30 Karton Plein

Promising start when second in Irish point last time out.

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Cris Cyborg just continues to find a way.

The legendary Bellator featherweight champion delivered another classic performance as she showcased her entire MMA arsenal to beat Larissa Pacheco in the co-main event at PFL: Battle of the Giants on Saturday from Saudi Arabia.

Even with a pair of gashes over her eyes, Cyborg just kept coming, displaying her signature power and mixing in takedowns that just kept Pacheco guessing from the first round until the last. When it was over, all three judges saw the fight the same with 49-46 scores for Cyborg, who moves to 28-2 with one no contest in her career while notching her eighth consecutive win in a row overall.

“She’s a legend,” Cyborg said about Pacheck following the fight. “She’s a big name in the sport. She punched really hard. It’s a pleasure for me. I’m really thankful to be here. I’m really happy. I feel very blessed, very thankful. I have two more fights, I’m going to defend this title.”

An early takedown from Cyborg brought Pacheco crashing down to the canvas for a dramatic thud to start the fight. For a moment it looked like Cyborg might be setting up a Von Flue choke but Pacheco was able to recognize what was happening before scrambling free to get back to her feet.

Almost immediately after standing back up again, Cyborg unleashed a hellacious head kick that cracked Pacheco, who somehow ate the shot and kept coming forward. Cyborg followed with another big takedown with Pacheco attempting to counter with a guillotine choke but she couldn’t secure the submission.

Cyborg continued to dish out punishment but Pacheco displayed unreal durability to eat every shot and then just come back to ask for more. That led to another huge takedown from Cyborg, who really pressed down with all her weight to keep Pacheco trapped flat on her back.

Likely down two rounds, Pacheco knew she had to get some respect back from Cyborg so she immediately took the center of the cage at the start of the third and challenged the legendary Bellator champion to meet her there. Pacheco eventually pressed forward and actually ended up putting Cyborg on the ground with a well-timed takedown and then measured some nasty elbow strikes from the top.

With a nasty pair of cuts over Cyborg’s eyebrows, Pacheco’s confidence started to surge but for some reason, her activity slowed as the fight moved into the championship rounds. That left an opening for Cyborg to set up some solid combinations including a nasty right hand that blasted Pacheco as she retreated towards the cage.

Many close exchanges forced both fighters to try and do anything to gain an advantage with Cyborg unloading a huge overhand right followed with a nice jab behind it. Pacheco was also trying to react to Cyborg’s movement, which prevented her from just throwing her best strikes.

While she’s known for her highlight reel finishes, Cyborg showed off her maturity by not getting drawn into wild exchanges and instead displayed her full arsenal round after round to get the job done. It’s likely that Cyborg just vanquished the toughest possible challenge awaiting her in the PFL or Bellator but with two fights left in her career, she’ll now wait and see what the promotion can find for her next.