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Following a fascinating first encounter, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will renew their rivalries on December 21.

When these two heavyweight champions first met in May, it was the first time the undisputed title had been contested since Lennox Lewis won it almost a quarter of a century before.

In a close fight, both men had periods of success, though it was the Ukrainian southpaw who landed the standout blow of the battle and sent Fury spinning around the ropes to earn himself a knockdown.

After 12 rounds, he was awarded a split decision win to become the holder of all four major belts plus the Ring Magazine and lineal title, six years after doing the same down at cruiserweight, and 12 years after becoming an Olympic gold medalist.

Speaking to the Criminal Connection Podcast, former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno was asked for his view on who won the fight and said he scored it in favour Usyk.

“Usyk won, I think. You can’t really deny that. You can try and go round the corners or whatever but Usyk won.”

Since the final bell, Usyk has admitted he made mistakes that will not be repeated in the rematch, while Fury has said he was having too much fun and next time will get the job done properly.

Former Fury victim Dillian Whyte has claimed it could be hard for ‘The Gyspy King’ to turn things around in the second fight given the toll previous battles may have taken him and mindful of the fact that Usyk’s confidence will be through the roof after winning the initial meeting.

  • Joe Rogan delved into the possibility of the Ngannou vs Fury fight being fixed, but offered no concrete evidence, only speculation.
  • Rogan’s conversation with Rampage Jackson on the topic of fight fixes highlighted differing opinions on Tyson Fury’s strategy.
  • Francis Ngannou’s transition from the UFC to the PFL raises questions about his future fights and the potential for matchups with heavyweight fighters.

Joe Rogan has been the mouthpiece for the UFC since 1997. He started his podcast a little over 10 years later, which has been a longer format for fight fans to learn more about the MMA athletes they love and cherish. Rogan has been known to flesh out multiple scenarios for a single topic because of his three-hour-plus show. The UFC’s color commentator has an unrivaled eye when it comes to the sport. His passion and knowledge was a significant reason the sport became so popular in the early 2000s.

On a newly released episode, Rogan was joined by former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. “Rampage” has seen it all in the sport of MMA. Jackson was a prominent fighter for the Japanese-based MMA organization, PRIDE FC, where it has been heavily rumored that steroid use was rampant, with rumors of fixed fights, per Rampage.

 

Rogan And Jackson Talked About Fixes in Fighting

And discussed whether it’s possible the Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fight was fixed

It should be noted that neither Rogan nor Rampage provided any evidence one way or another, and were merely speculating on the show. Rogan brought up the theory to Jackson that the Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury fight was fixed because of a future match-up with Oleksandr Usyk. It is unclear, though, whether he thinks it could have been pre-written and the fighters followed a script, or if the judges had their scores already sorted regardless of what the fighters did.

“He’s fighting one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time and drops him in the second round. … And then he beat him up in the eighth round too. I thought [Ngannou] won that fight, but, you know, they were setting up that Usyk fight. They were not gonna let [Ngannou win], it just seemed like the fix was in a little bit.”

Rogan continued: “It was close enough that they could pull it off. You could go, ‘Ok, maybe. Maybe you could see him winning that,’ but I don’t think so. I thought Francis won it. A lot of people thought Francis won it.”

A contrasting viewpoint to Rogan’s was brought up a few weeks ago during one of his fight companion shows, where Rogan argued with the comedian Bryan Callen, who was saying that Tyson Fury ‘carried’ Francis Ngannou much in the same way Floyd Mayweather let Conor McGregor gain some success before closing the show himself.

“He might’ve had incentive to keep that fight going. The idea that Tyson Fury didn’t have a bag of tricks, that he didn’t carry him. For me, it’s very strange for me. It’s very strange. I don’t know maybe he didn’t train at all.”

Rogan’s response to Callen:

“Shut the f*** up! … If he was carrying , all that s*** would’ve went out the window after he got dropped or rocked like that!”

Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight

MMA record: 17-3 (12 KOs, 4 SUBs), Boxing record: 0-2, Best win: Cyril Gane

Though Ngannou has banked around $30 million — if not more — in his two massive boxing bouts, there is still a fire inside to prove to gain the respect of those that have doubted him. In an unceremonious affair, Ngannou parted ways with the UFC after UFC 270 because of his strict contract that wouldn’t allow him to explore the sweet science. The Cameroonian heavyweight fighter landed with the PFL, but is yet to debut in the tier 2 MMA organization.

The ultimate hope for Ngannou’s future as a Mixed Martial Artist is that now that the UFC and Riyadh have officially started to collaborate (starting with UFC 306), that we could get the greatest UFC heavyweight fight of all-time in Ngannou versus Jon Jones (barring Jones getting past Stipe Miocic in November). Another possible fight for Ngannou, could be a return to the ring against another heavy-handed puncher in Deontay Wilder.

  • Joe Rogan believes Ngannou was cheated in Fury fight due to upcoming Usyk match – controversy ensues.
  • Despite losses, Ngannou’s paydays in boxing satisfactory to Rogan, with hope for PFL debut in the future.
  • Rogan asserts Ngannou’s presence crucial for PFL’s success, believes debut necessary for organization’s growth.

In the aftermath of Francis Ngannou’s much-anticipated boxing debut against Tyson Fury last October, controversy continues to surround the bout. UFC commentator Joe Rogan has now voiced his belief that the outcome was manipulated.

Although nine months have passed since the fight, the split decision loss for Ngannou remains a hot topic in the combat sports community. Many, including Rogan, assert that Ngannou was the true victor, especially after he knocked down Fury in the third round.

Joe Rogan Believes Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury Was Fixed

The UFC Commentator Believes Fury’s Undisputed Fight With Usyk Was Protected

Rogan speculated on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, that the result may have been skewed to protect Fury’s upcoming match against Oleksandr Usyk.

“I thought Francis won that fight. But they were setting up the Usyk fight. It just seemed like the fix was in a little bit. It was close enough that they could pull it off and you go, ‘Okay maybe, maybe you can see Fury winning that,’ but I don’t think so. I thought Francis won it, a lot of people thought Francis won it.”

Despite the loss, Ngannou’s performance earned him a spot in the boxing rankings and led to a subsequent bout against Anthony Joshua. Unfortunately for Ngannou, Joshua knocked him out in the second round of that fight.

Rogan expressed satisfaction that Ngannou secured significant paydays from his boxing endeavors, despite the setbacks.

Rogan expressed satisfaction that Ngannou secured a significant payday from the Tyson Fury fight, particularly since many, including Dana White, had dismissed its importance. Ngannou’s knockdown of Fury and perceived victory in the eyes of many led to another substantial payday against Joshua. While Rogan is pleased Ngannou made money, he wishes it had been earned in the UFC.

Joe Rogan Believes The PFL Needs Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou

Ngannou signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) last year but has yet to debut in the Smartcage. PFL chairman Donn Davis hopes Ngannou will fight this year. The PFL heavyweight champion, Renan Ferreira, earned his chance to welcome Ngannou to the promotion by defeating Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader earlier this year. However, a date for Ngannou’s PFL debut remains unset.

Rogan believes Ngannou’s involvement is crucial for the PFL’s success. “Right now, the only way an organization could benefit – like PFL signed Francis. That’s probably the only way that PFL’s gonna get people to pay attention. You have to have someone like Francis,” Rogan concluded.

It is yet to be seen how The Predator bounces back from a devastating loss to Anthony Joshua and the death of his son Kobe.

Ngannou will likely make his return in late 2024 for his PFL debut.

The Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens reacts to LeBron James’ comment about his wife Simone Biles ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics

Jonathan Owens just hailed his wife Simone Biles alongside the NBA star Lebron James. Biles got her ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the entire nation wishes her luck, but Lebron James and Jonathan Owens’s wish is special. Where James claims that Biles is the best, and her husband Owens agrees by writing “can’t wait to watch her perform.”

Biles claimed her third consecutive ticket to the Olympics. With seven medals to her name, fans are anticipating that Biles is on the quest to grab her fourth title. However, looks like according to James and Owens, Biles will most probably win.

Jonathan Owens’ reaction

Biles is one of the most celebrated gymnasts of all time. As per ESPN, Lebron James hailed Biles, saying, “She’s the best. It’s that simple. She’s the best.” Like many others, Lebron James’ comment caught Jonathan Owens’ attention.

The Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens reacted to James’ comment by writing, “They all know. Can’t wait to watch.” Moreover, Owens has always been Biles’s first supporter. And he never shies away from applauding Biles in public.

Owens commented on BIles: “An inspiration to my daughter and to all, not only Black girls in the world but also, kids, anyone, not only just in gymnastics but any field.”  However, the Bears also extended their support toward Biles by providing Owens with leave from their mandatory camp.

Owens accompanies Simone Biles to the Paris Olympics

Bears granted their safety Owens to miss their mandatory training camp and support his wife Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics 2024. Highlighting this gesture by the Bears, Simone Biles said, “The Bears are literally granting him a few days off from training camp, so he’ll be there, sure. For only a brief little time. Anytime we are able to show up for each other in support, we simply get tremendously excited because our schedules don’t align that much.”

The 27-year-old Simone Biles is among the most preferred athletes to win at the Paris Olympics. But only time will reveal what the future holds for Biles. And Owens is one of the prime picks for the Bears in the off-season. However, one thing is for sure: both these top-class athletes in their respective sports are going to perform at their best.

Ledecky, winner of 10 Olympic medals and Biles, rated the top woman gymnast of all-time, are only two of 66 Olympic champions and 250 returning Olympians in a powerhouse US squad named on Wednesday.

Gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky headline a 592- member US Olympic team that will again be targeting the top of the medals table at the Paris Games starting this month.

edecky, winner of 10 Olympic medals and Biles, rated the top woman gymnast of all-time, are only two of 66 Olympic champions and 250 returning Olympians in a powerhouse US squad named on Wednesday.

At the Tokyo Olympics, the US won 39 gold, one more than China, and returned home with a Games best 113 medals in total.

“These remarkable 592 athletes of Team USA have demonstrated unparalleled dedication and passion in their pursuit of excellence on their road to earning a place on the 2024 US Olympic Team and representing the United States in Paris,” said Rocky Harris, USOPC chief of sport and athlete services.

“This summer, Team USA athletes will amaze us with extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit – and they will undoubtedly inspire the next generation.”

Three athletes, Diana Taurasi (basketball), Steffen Peters (equestrian) and McLain Ward (equestrian) will be appearing in their fifth Olympics while flamboyant sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and breaker Logan “Logistx” Edra are high-profile Games debutants.

The US roster consists of 314 females and 278 males, marking the fourth consecutive Games the US has sent more women than men to the Olympics.

There are at least six sets of siblings in the squad, including badminton twins Annie and Kerry Xu while gymnast Hezly Rivera is the youngest at 16 and equestrian Peters the oldest at 59.

The US will be represented in 44 sports at the Paris Games which begin on July 26 and run until August 11.

Simone Biles has issued a thinly-veiled swipe at MyKayla Skinner after her ex-USA teammate criticized the 2024 Olympic gymnastics roster for not having ‘work ethic’.

Skinner, who won a silver medal on vault at the 2020 Games in Tokyo after stepping in for Biles, took aim at the Team USA athletes selected to represent the country in Paris this summer in a now-deleted video on YouTube.

‘Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be,’ the 27-year-old said.

Along with Biles, current all-around Olympic champion Suni Lee is on the 2024 roster, with Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera making up the rest of the five-woman team.

‘The girls just don’t have the work ethic,’ Skinner continued before referencing the US Center for SafeSport – a non-profit organization set up to reduce sexual abuse of minors and athletes in US Olympic sports.

‘And it’s hard too because of SafeSport. Like, coaches can’t get on athletes and they have to be really careful what they say.

‘Which, in some ways, is really good. But at the same time, to get to where you need to be in gymnastics you do have to be, I feel like, a little aggressive and a little intense.’

Skinner’s comments sparked outrage on social media before she released an apology, insisting her words were taken out of context.

However, while she didn’t mention her by name, Biles has appeared to fire back at her former teammate in a post on Threads.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist wrote: ‘not everyone needs a mic and a platform’.

Biles and Skinner have known each other for quite some time after both representing USA at the 2014 World Championships in Nanning.

They also both picked up Olympic medals in Tokyo seven years later despite Biles withdrawing from several events with a case of the ‘twisties’ – a mental block that that sees a gymnast lose control of their body during a twisting skill in midair.

Amid the backlash over her recent comments, Skinner said in an Instagram video last week: ‘I feel like a lot of you guys had misinterpreted or misunderstood exactly what I was meaning or had said.

‘A lot of the stuff that I was talking about wasn’t always necessarily about the current team, because I love and support all the girls that made it and I’m so proud of them.

‘It was more about going back into my own gym and the work ethic is different compared to when we were doing gymnastics in the Marta [Karolyi] era. And I’m not sticking up for Marta or saying what she did was good, I’m just saying it was different.’

Alex Pereira has a big fan in heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua.

Joshua took time out of his weekend to lavish some praise on the UFC light heavyweight champion, tweeting that Pereira should compete in boxing someday. Pereira has become known for his fearsome, one-touch knockout power, which has carried him to world championships in multiple divisions in MMA and kickboxing.

An appreciative Pereira responded to Joshua, asking him who he thinks he should box.

See the social media exchange below.

“I’m honored you think so,” Pereira wrote in response to Joshua’s compliment. “It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

Pereira is no stranger to competing in the squared circle, having been a standout kickboxer for years before making his UFC debut in late 2021. He also has one boxing match on his résumé from June 2017, a third-round TKO win.

In his most recent outing, Pereira scored a second win over Jiri Prochazka, defeating his rival via second-round TKO to successfully defend his light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 303. Nine of Pereira’s 11 MMA wins have come by KO/TKO.

Joshua’s boxing career continues to chug along as he has won four straight fights. This September, he has the chance to become a heavyweight champion again when he fights Daniel Dubois for an IBF title recently vacated by Oleksandr Usyk.

Simone Biles is surprised with husband Jonathan Owens’ latest heartwarming gesture and it will surely melt everyone’s heart.

Simone Biles is all set to represent Team USA for the upcoming Olympics, scheduled to take place later this month in Paris. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, is cheering the gymnastics queen on every step, offering her unwavering support.

Owens has already taken some time off from his training camp with the Chicago Bears only to fly to Paris to be Biles’ biggest cheerleader. On top of that, he recently made another heartwarming gesture for the American gymnast that will surely melt everyone’s heart.

Simone Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens’ heartwarming gesture ahead of Olympics

Simone Biles’ heart melted over her husband’s latest display of affection. She quickly went on to share an Instagram story, showing her husband’s new tattoo, and also captioned it with a few emojis. The tattoo in her story shows a cursive “S” on Owens’ left ring finger, which is the initial of Biles’ first name.

This sweet gesture from the Bear’s safety comes days before Biles’ Olympics participation to demonstrate to his wife some love and support. The 27-year-old got automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics after her strong showing at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials.

A few days ago, Owens also shared an Instagram story, congratulating Biles for her third trip to the Olympics and expressing how proud he is of her. Moreover, he confirmed that he will be joining the four-time gold medalist for her upcoming tournament.

Simone Biles

Owens has already taken some time off from his training camp with the Chicago Bears only to fly to Paris to be Biles’ biggest cheerleader. On top of that, he recently made another heartwarming gesture for the American gymnast that will surely melt everyone’s heart.

Simone Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens’ heartwarming gesture ahead of Olympics

Simone Biles’ heart melted over her husband’s latest display of affection. She quickly went on to share an Instagram story, showing her husband’s new tattoo, and also captioned it with a few emojis. The tattoo in her story shows a cursive “S” on Owens’ left ring finger, which is the initial of Biles’ first name.

This sweet gesture from the Bear’s safety comes days before Biles’ Olympics participation to demonstrate to his wife some love and support. The 27-year-old got automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics after her strong showing at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials.

A few days ago, Owens also shared an Instagram story, congratulating Biles for her third trip to the Olympics and expressing how proud he is of her. Moreover, he confirmed that he will be joining the four-time gold medalist for her upcoming tournament.

Nevertheless, since she is back in action now, fans can anticipate top-tier performances from Biles at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are having a rather splendid year with oodles of good news. The two have stood the test of time and shown us all what true love actually looks like. What’s even more awe-inspiring is the fact that they come in clutch for each other in times of need and distress.

At various occurrences, Jonathan Owens was seen supporting his wife with a fervent dedication, and vice versa as well. From cheering Biles after she qualified for the Paris Olympics this season and witnessing her ‘big day’ to her supporting Owens throughout his NFL season, wins, losses etc., the power couple never hesitated to address their love publicly. Recently, the dynamic duo was again seen engaged in the same shenanigans when Olympian Simone Biles was seen hailing her husband like the ardent fan she is on his Instagram post. He was seen hustling at a training camp for his team and it’s safe to say that wifey came in clutch with her regards.

Mr. and Mrs. Owens have shown up as the prominent cheerleaders for each other from time to time. One such incident left their fans in ‘awe’ when the NFL safety for the Chicago Bears, Owens, posted a video of him training for the upcoming 105th NFL season, 2024. Owens evidently posted his rigorous training video on his Instagram handle on July 6th, captioning, “Work!!!! 1% better every day #7years.” Simone Biles couldn’t help but comment. She wrote, “1% every day babe.” There have been ample incidents where the romantic duo have stood by as a rock for each other.

This was not the first time Simone Biles was seen actively praising her husband. Last year, when Jonathan was still with the Green Bay Packers, Simone stood as a mainstay for her husband. She was frequently seen on social media cheering for Mr. Owens. Simone quoted, “Love supporting you & your dreams.” The Olympian was even seen wearing a black leather jacket with “Green Bay,” showing her love and support for her husband. There have been various occurrences when not only the legendary Simone Biles but also Jonathan were seen supporting his better half. Let’s delve into those.

Simone Biles

Jonathan Owen’s heartfelt tributes to wife Simone Biles

Owens and Biles, despite their individual growth in their respective fields, are seen acknowledging the importance of growing together. Not just Biles, but Owens is also seen standing for her wife through her ebbs and flows and important days. As Simone was bound for her Paris Olympics trials, Jonathan, in spite of his busy schedule, was seen cheering Simone to the fullest. Unfortunately, Owens was unable to be there for her during her twisties incident in 2021, yet he did make up for it this year. Simone revealed that the Chicago Bears have granted Owens a couple of days off. He made full use of his downtime to shower heaps of praises to wifey and he will be en route to Paris to be by her side. The Bears probably acknowledge the fact that family is paramount and thus decide to relieve Jonathan for some days.

Owens not only witnessed Simone’s power-packed comeback but also celebrated her triumph. He summed up his out-pour of emotions and pride by writing a heartfelt tribute to his wife on social media, captioning, “No words can describe how proud of you I am baby.” He added, “Cheers to going to your third Olympic Games!!!!!! Just sounds so surreal being able to say my wife is the best to EVER do it, how did i get so lucky 😌 I love you so much 🤞🏽🤞🏽” He this with a six-image carousel. The couple hyping each other is unmatched, and we’ll catch a sliver of their admiration for each other at the mega games. Until then, stay tuned.

Now, Jonathan Owens will accompany his wife, Simone Biles all the time, literally. In the past, the couple had to stay away from each other because of their sporting engagements. That absence often made Simone Biles crave for support that she needed to keep her mental frame in place. However, now, she may feel that her husband is bearing a sign of her with him all the time.

It is because of the ‘S’ tattoo that Jonathan Owens has worn on the ring finger of his left hand. A few days ago, the couple was found to enjoy a relaxed time together on the eve of the 4th of July holiday. At that love-filled moment, Jonathan complimented his wife by the name, “Passenger Princess” as she always let him drive the car when they savor a long drive or a roaming. But now, the newly added tattoo may put an additional color on their romantic hood. Ultimately, Simone Biles celebrated such a cherished love as she shared the snap of the tattoo on her IG story with love emojis. This could make the story go even-steven. But what actually? In the past, Simone Biles donned her husband’s name in public several times.

Remember last year’s Sunday night game between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs on Lambeau Field? Simone made her appearance noted there, by wearing a green puffer jacket. It came out to be an epitome to support Jonathan Owens, who was on Lambeau Field, for the GBP in the safety position. The green color of the puffer jacket did not only match with GBP’s jersey, furthermore, Simone’s jacket displayed JO’s name and jersey number behind. The custom-made jacket from Athleta remained silent on that field in reality, but by its presence, it drew a lion’s share of attraction toward it.

Above all, it flaunted the proud wife cheering her husband, who reached Lambeau Field after serving a fantastic season for his NFL squad. In the meantime, Simone Biles also wore a chain on her neck that had a locket named after Jonathan in its center. Now, Jonathan Owens would be cheering similarly as he is holding his wife’s name on his ring finger. However, such a tone of love mixed with pride has remained vocal in their story.

Jonathan Owens feels immense pride in Simone Biles

This year, Simone Biles’ every gymnastics contest has framed Jonathan Owens in the stands. The 28-year-old athlete has found no lack of breath while cheering his wife throughout all those contests. Eventually, in all those games, Simone has flouted any single chance of giving up or issues with mental state. Rather, she has thumped each of her opponents while securing her third Olympic qualification, being the oldest woman gymnast in the US Olympic history. So, what is Jonathan Owens’ take now, being the spectator and husband of the achiever?

After the Minneapolis trials episode, Jonathan gathered his emotions and put those into words. While penning those words on his social media, he did not feel to be defied by his experiences on the same platform because of his ‘catch’ comment. Instead, he went full ahead, jotting, “No words can describe how proud of you i am baby 🤎 Just knowing all the work that you put in and everything that you’ve been through, and to still come back and be as dominant as ever, i was speechless”. Such an emotional show moved Jonathan Owens’ current NFL squad, the Chicago Bears as well.

The squad allowed him to take leave to support Simone Biles in Paris, despite a packed schedule for the upcoming NFL season. Now, Jonathan is keeping himself ready for the upcoming days when his wife will need him alongside while making history.

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