Combat Sports Coming Up This Summer

Combat Sports Coming Up This Summer

By: Franklin Ward

With increased interest in combat sports recently, I compiled a list of significant upcoming events for combat sports.

The Return of Jake Paul

While serving as a co-promoter for one of the most prominent women's boxing matches, Jake Paul (5-0) announced that he would return to boxing. After two wins over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, Jake Paul has garnered the eyes of both the boxing and the MMA community through emphatic knockouts and his juvenile but successful trolling of MMA royalty such as UFC president Dana White, Nate Diaz, and former UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

With the eyes of boxing fans, MMA, and the fanbase he developed as a vlogger, Jake Paul has become a pay-per-view star in the past year, headlining multiple Showtime pay-per-views in 2021. Despite being very new to boxing, Jake Paul has gathered the respect of plenty of boxing and MMA analysts like Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for starting to develop a complex and adequate skill set for professional boxing.

With the growth in skill and increased boxing tournament winnings, Jake Paul will have to find better opponents to keep consumer intrigue. Many combat sports fans want to see former UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva fight Jake. However, Silva just fought Bruno Machado in Dubai, and it is uncertain of his return. Still, many possibilities exist for Paul, including WBC and Ring Magazine Lineal Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury's brother, Tommy Fury, or former UFC champion, Vitor Belfort. As a result, Jake Paul's options are unlimited.

Kambosos vs. Haney (Top Rank)

On June 5th, the WBA, IBF, WBO, and WBC world lightweight titles will be up for grabs when two undefeated boxing world champions, George Kambosos (20-0) and Devin Haney (27-0), will face off against each other at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

After a split, though clear decision win over former Undisputed world lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez for the WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles, George Kambosos rose from "under the radar" talent to a champion who garners unanimous respect from the Boxing community.

On the other side of the upcoming contest is Devin Haney. Haney has long been a bastion of this new generation of 135 that includes other names like Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Ryan Garcia. Haney anointed himself one of the kings at 135, with wins over his two most recent opponents, including former world champions Jorge Linares and Jojo Diaz. This fight has significant implications for the future of boxing, so stay tuned on June 5th!

UFC 275 on June 11 when the UFC 205-pound/Light Heavyweight champion, Glover Teixeira ( 33-7) will face off against the pride of the Czech Republic, #2 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC Jiri “Denisa” Prochazka (28-3). If Prochazka wins, MMA fans all across the world could witness the making of a future pay-per-view star.

UFC 276 on July 2 when the UFC 185 pound/Middleweight champion of the world Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya (22-1) will take on the #2 ranked middleweight contender in the world, Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier (15-5). Adesanya will defend his 5th title in a weight class in which he looks unstoppable after beating icons of 185 like former champions like Robert Whittaker and Anderson Silva.