Recent action across boxing rings and MMA cages has delivered significant shifts, with a major title change in boxing and dramatic knockouts impacting the UFC flyweight rankings and PFL heavyweight championship picture.
Mikaelian Avenges Loss, Claims WBC Cruiserweight Title
Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) has become a two-time WBC cruiserweight champion, successfully avenging his previous loss to Badou Jack (29-4-3, 17 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory at Ace Studios in Los Angeles. The rematch, held seven months after Mikaelian dropped a majority decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw a reversal of fortune for the Armenian fighter.
The closely contested bout was marred by fouls, with both fighters losing points for rabbit punching. Despite a strong start from the 42-year-old Jack, Mikaelian demonstrated superior composure and outworked him down the stretch, particularly after a near-brawl incident at the end of Round 8. The judges awarded Mikaelian the win with scores of 116-110, 116-110, and 115-111, reflecting his busier performance and cleaner punches in the later rounds.
With this crucial victory, Mikaelian now moves up to No. 4 in ESPN's cruiserweight rankings, while Jack falls to No. 5. Mikaelian has already set his sights on future challenges, suggesting a unification title fight with IBF champion Jai Opetaia or the winner of the proposed May 2 showdown between unified champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez and David Benavidez.
Kape's Dominant KO Caps UFC Year, Nemkov Takes PFL Heavyweight Gold
The final UFC event of the year was capped by a spectacular first-round knockout, as Manel Kape delivered a stunning performance against former title challenger Brandon Royval. This dominant win immediately propelled Kape up the flyweight rankings, placing him squarely into the championship picture for the division.
In other significant combat sports news this past weekend, the PFL heavyweight championship landscape saw a major shake-up. Renan Ferreira lost his championship opportunity and his spot in the rankings to Vadim Nemkov, who secured a swift first-round arm triangle submission in the PFL Lyon main event. These impactful results have led to updated ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, reflecting the latest shifts in the sport's competitive landscape.