Light Heavyweight Championship (205)
[#1/#1P4P] Jon Jones (23-1-0, -1032) vs. [#5] Anthony Smith (31-13-0, +615)
Jon Jones is the All-Time #1 ranked Light Heavyweight and #3 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Jon Jones (2-0-0, 1 NC)
2018-12-29: W vs. [#4LHW] Alexander Gustafsson (18-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:02 of round 3
2017-07-29: NC vs. [#1HW+/#3DD/#2P4P] Daniel Cormier (22-1-0)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#19LHW] Ovince St. Preux (23-12-0) via UD (50-44, 50-45, 50-45)

Last 3 Fights: Anthony Smith (3-0-0)
2018-10-27: W vs. [#11LHW] Volkan Oezdemir (15-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:26 of round 3
2018-07-22: W vs. [#22LHW] Mauricio Rua (26-11-0) via KO (Elbow) in 1:29 of round 1
2018-06-09: W vs. [*] Rashad Evans (21-8-1) via KO (Knee) in 0:53 of round 1

Odds Favorite (Implied): Jon Jones – Win%: 86.69
Elo Favorite (Standard): Jon Jones (2390.23) [+386.04] – Win%: 85.37
Elo Favorite (Modified): Jon Jones (2377.12) [+379.53] – Win%: 84.04
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jon Jones 63, Anthony Smith 126
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight Championship (170)
[#1/#4DD/#6P4P] Tyron Woodley (19-3-1, -189) vs. [#3] Kamaru Usman (14-1-0, +155)
Tyron Woodley is the All-Time #3 ranked Welterweight and #19 ranked Absolute fighter.
Kamaru Usman is the All-Time #34 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Tyron Woodley (3-0-0)
2018-09-08: W vs. [#4WW] Darren Till (17-1-1) via Submission (Brabo Choke) in 4:19 of round 2
2017-07-29: W vs. [#12WW] Demian Maia (26-9-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
2017-03-04: W vs. [#5WW] Stephen Thompson (14-3-1) via MD (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)

Last 3 Fights: Kamaru Usman (3-0-0)
2018-11-30: W vs. [#6WW] Rafael dos Anjos (28-11-0) via UD (49-45, 50-43, 48-47)
2018-05-19: W vs. [#12WW] Demian Maia (26-9-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
2018-01-14: W vs. [#33WW] Emil Meek (9-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Odds Favorite (Implied): Tyron Woodley – Win%: 62.51
Elo Favorite (Standard): Tyron Woodley (2368.66) [+156.96] – Win%: 67.20
Elo Favorite (Modified): Tyron Woodley (2274.94) [+124.21] – Win%: 63.27
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tyron Woodley 175, Kamaru Usman 92
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#9] Robbie Lawler (28-12-0, +219) vs. [*] Ben Askren (18-0-0, -275)
Robbie Lawler is the All-Time #4 ranked Welterweight and #24 ranked Absolute fighter.
Ben Askren is the All-Time #31 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Robbie Lawler (1-2-0)
2017-12-16: L vs. [#6WW] Rafael dos Anjos (28-11-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#4LW] Donald Cerrone (35-11-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-07-30: L vs. [#1WW/#4DD/#6P4P] Tyron Woodley (19-3-1) via KO (Punches) in 2:12 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Ben Askren (3-0-0)
2017-11-24: W vs. [#67WW] Shinya Aoki (42-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:57 of round 1
2017-09-02: W vs. [#56MW] Zebaztian Kadestam (11-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:09 of round 2
2017-05-26: W vs. [#314MW] Agilan Thani (9-3-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:20 of round 1

Odds Favorite (Implied): Ben Askren – Win%: 70.05
Elo Favorite (Standard): Robbie Lawler (2126.98) [+15.38] – Win%: 51.76
Elo Favorite (Modified): Ben Askren (2090.31) [+41.31] – Win%: 54.51
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Robbie Lawler 441, Ben Askren 463
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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There have been few fighters in recent boxing memory as captivating and awe-inspiring as Vasyl Lomachenko. Every time the Ukrainian maestro takes to the ring, it’s a huge event for the sport, one which fans around the world don’t want to miss a second of.  The next opportunity to witness modern day boxing greatness from the 31-year-old will fall on April 12th, when British hope Anthony Crolla will be the next challenger to contest Lomachenko’s WBA ‘Super’ and WBO lightweight titles.

A Safe Bet

It’s at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, where Lomachenko will aim to defend his 135-pound belts again. Vasyl is considered a strong favorite at odds of -5000. Notably, the Ukrainian ace also holds the prestigious and highly-regarded Ring Magazine strap, having won it when he brilliantly dethroned Jorge Linares back in May last year.

Incredibly, that victory for ‘Loma’ over the stylish and very popular Linares at the world famous Madison Square Garden in 2018 was his maiden ring outing at lightweight. His 10th-round stoppage success over the Venezuelan saw him become the fastest ever three-weight world champion, earning another slice of history in his already sublime career in the professional ranks.

Lomachenko shot to prominence in a short amount of time as a professional and dazzled anyone who’s had the opportunity to view his incredible credentials up close. Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, regarded as the favorite in the UFC odds to overcome Henry Cejudo before his eventual upset, was previously involved in the Ukrainian’s camp while the MMA fighter prepared for an upcoming bout in the Octagon.

TJ Dillashaw by K.O. Artist Sports (CC BY 3.0)

Through the ages, long before the term ‘Mixed Martial Arts’ has ever been uttered or even conceived, the practitioners and spectators of various martial arts and combat sports have asked the question: which art is the most effective of them all? And the beginnings of modern MMA were intended to precisely answer that question (and the answer, at least around the time of early UFCs, was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). Of course the days of “style vs style” are long behind us, and today to be a successful mixed martial artist, one needs to have a diverse skill set that borrows from a plethora of martial arts and styles. However we still experience an occasional cross-over matchup between practitioners of different arts. In this article, I will examine some of the most notable cross-overs between mixed martial arts and boxing.

Conventional wisdom dictates a significant “home court” advantage in a style-vs-style matchup: if a boxer faces a mixed martial artist in a ring under boxing rules, the boxer is a lot more likely to win than if the bout took place under MMA rule set – and vice versa. Betting odds reflect this, and so do most of the past fight outcomes. So if you’re a gambler, you could place a large, relatively safe bet for a comparatively small payoff on the odds favorite. Or you could take a big risk with a small bet on the underdog, in hopes of a big payoff if your prediction comes true.  Either way, next time your favorite MMA star steps into the boxing ring, you can get some help from the UK’s betting sites.

Art Jimmerson vs Royce Gracie

While this can’t be exactly be called a “boxing vs MMA” matchup – since MMA did not exist yet, and Royce Gracie represented BJJ in the first UFC – we have to start at the beginning. The very beginning might technically be Muhammad Ali vs Antonio Inoki, but UFC 1 is usually a good starting point for anything MMA-related. Of course the first UFC was organized and promoted by the Gracie family as a means of letting the world know about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and to show that GJJ/BJJ was the supreme martial art. To this end, rumor has it that UFC 1 competitors were not truly the best of the best at their individual sports, to assure an easier path to victory for Royce. Art Jimmerson is a good example of this – while he had a respectable boxing record of 29-5 prior to his fight with Gracie, Jimmerson did not earn many accolades in the boxing world. He also went 4-13 upon returning to the right after his brief UFC stint, indicating that he may have already been past his prime when he faced Gracie. Regardless, Art clearly had no clue of what he was getting himself into – of course, neither did most other UFC 1 contestants. Inexplicably, Jimmerson showed up to his one and only match in the Octagon wearing a single boxing glove, and was quickly taken down and mounted by Gracie. Trapped on his back with no idea how to escape the position, Jimmerson panicked and tapped out rather than absorb needless punishment. And thus began the legend of Royce Gracie.

Light Heavyweight (205)
[#7] Thiago Santos (20-6-0) vs. [#10] Jan Blachowicz (23-7-0)
Jan Blachowicz is the All-Time #50 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Thiago Santos (3-0-0)
2018-12-08: W vs. [#21LHW] Jimi Manuwa (17-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:41 of round 2
2018-09-22: W vs. [#34MW] Eryk Anders (11-3-0) via TKO (Elbows) in 5:00 of round 3
2018-08-04: W vs. [#80MW] Kevin Holland (14-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-26, 29-27)

Last 3 Fights: Jan Blachowicz (3-0-0)
2018-09-15: W vs. [#24LHW] Nikita Krylov (24-6-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:41 of round 2
2018-03-17: W vs. [#21LHW] Jimi Manuwa (17-5-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2017-12-16: W vs. [#10MW] Jared Cannonier (11-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Elo Favorite (Standard): Thiago Santos (1987.74) [+90.57] – Win%: 60.20
Elo Favorite (Modified): Thiago Santos (1990.61) [+64.27] – Win%: 56.99
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Thiago Santos 77, Jan Blachowicz 161
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Heavyweight (265)
[#27] Stefan Struve (28-11-0) vs. [#50] Marcos Rogerio de Lima (16-5-1)

Last 3 Fights: Stefan Struve (0-3-0)
2018-07-22: L vs. [#17HW+] Marcin Tybura (17-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2018-03-03: L vs. [#34HW+] Andrei Arlovski (27-18-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2017-09-02: L vs. [#9HW+] Alexander Volkov (30-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:30 of round 3

Last 3 Fights: Marcos Rogerio de Lima (2-1-0)
2018-11-03: W vs. [#80HW+] Adam Wieczorek (10-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2017-04-22: L vs. [#19LHW] Ovince St. Preux (23-12-0) via Submission (Shoulder Choke) in 2:11 of round 2
2017-01-28: W vs. [#80LHW] Jeremy Kimball (16-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:27 of round 1

Elo Favorite (Standard): Marcos Rogerio de Lima (1629.95) [+76.67] – Win%: 58.67
Elo Favorite (Modified): Marcos Rogerio de Lima (1662.24) [+54.06] – Win%: 55.89
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Stefan Struve 216, Marcos Rogerio de Lima 112
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#34] Gian Villante (17-10-0) vs. [#59] Michal Oleksiejczuk (14-2-0)

Last 3 Fights: Gian Villante (2-1-0)
2018-10-27: W vs. [#60LHW] Ed Herman (23-14-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2018-06-01: L vs. [#23LHW] Sam Alvey (33-12-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2018-01-20: W vs. [#38HW+] Francimar Barroso (22-7-1) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

Last 3 Fights: Michal Oleksiejczuk (3-0-0)
2017-12-30: W vs. [#78LHW] Khalil Rountree (7-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2017-05-12: W vs. [#150LHW] Riccardo Nosiglia (7-1-0) via TKO in 1:39 of round 1
2017-04-01: W vs. [#347LHW] Charles Andrade (34-42-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:00 of round 1

Elo Favorite (Standard): Gian Villante (1652.60) [+61.93] – Win%: 57.03
Elo Favorite (Modified): Gian Villante (1640.57) [+9.57] – Win%: 51.05
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Gian Villante 119, Michal Oleksiejczuk 420
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Whether you are a boxing fan or not, you probably dream of having a body like a professional boxer. Boxers usually have a well-chiseled chest and ab muscles as a clear indication of the hard work they put into their sport. Besides that, they are well conditioned, capable of even going toe to toe for 12 rounds of intense boxing. Many boxers, especially the most successful ones, don’t dwell on power alone; they also rely on speedy handwork and footwork to bamboozle their opponents.
So, the question becomes: how can you get yourself a body like one? Here is an in-depth guide that’ll take you through how to train like a pro boxer.
Most exercises in this list will be bodyweight exercises, meaning you won’t need a gym to practice – only yourself and some space.

Burpees
Burpees are an excellent option for strength and conditioning training. With burpees, you work all the major muscle groups in your body.

How To Do a Burpee
Stand upright with your feet some distance apart for better stability. Quickly switch to a squatting position. Once in a squatting position, throw your feet back and get into a plank. Return to the squat and jump as high as you possibly can. You can add a few twists such as do two squats instead of one or do a sideways lateral jump rather than jumping straight up.

Heavyweight (265)
[#3] Francis Ngannou (12-3-0, +175) vs. [*] Cain Velasquez (14-2-0, -217)
Francis Ngannou is the All-Time #32 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Cain Velasquez is the All-Time #3 ranked Heavyweight and #20 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Francis Ngannou (1-2-0)
2018-11-24: W vs. [#6HW+] Curtis Blaydes (10-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:45 of round 1
2018-07-07: L vs. [#4HW+] Derrick Lewis (21-6-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2018-01-20: L vs. [#2HW+/#10P4P] Stipe Miocic (18-3-0) via UD (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)

Last 3 Fights: Cain Velasquez (2-1-0)
2016-07-09: W vs. [*] Travis Browne (18-7-1) via TKO in 4:57 of round 1
2015-06-13: L vs. [*] Fabricio Werdum (23-8-1) via SUB in 2:13 of round 3
2013-10-19: W vs. [#8HW+] Junior dos Santos (20-5-0) via TKO (Slam and Punch) in 3:09 of round 5

Odds Favorite (Implied): Cain Velasquez – Win%: 65.30
Elo Favorite (Standard): Cain Velasquez (2092.67) [+170.04] – Win%: 68.50
Elo Favorite (Modified): Cain Velasquez (2122.02) [+203.87] – Win%: 70.94
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Francis Ngannou 85, Cain Velasquez 953
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#16] Paul Felder (15-4-0, -134) vs. [#21] James Vick (13-2-0, +108)

Last 3 Fights: Paul Felder (2-1-0)
2018-07-07: L vs. [#27WW] Mike Perry (12-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2017-12-02: W vs. [#10LW] Charles Oliveira (26-8-0) via TKO (Elbows) in 4:06 of round 2
2017-07-16: W vs. [#55LW] Stevie Ray (22-8-0) via KO (Elbows) in 3:57 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: James Vick (2-1-0)
2018-08-25: L vs. [#12LW] Justin Gaethje (19-2-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:27 of round 1
2018-02-18: W vs. [#22LW] Francisco Trinaldo (23-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-11-04: W vs. [*] Joseph Duffy (16-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:59 of round 2

Odds Favorite (Implied): Paul Felder – Win%: 54.35
Elo Favorite (Standard): James Vick (1906.18) [+110.12] – Win%: 62.32
Elo Favorite (Modified): James Vick (1876.06) [+32.15] – Win%: 53.51
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Paul Felder 225, James Vick 176
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: James Vick leads 1-0
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Women Strawweight (115)
[#12] Cynthia Calvillo (7-1-0, -284) vs. [#14] Cortney Casey-Sanchez (8-6-0, +225)

Last 3 Fights: Cynthia Calvillo (2-1-0)
2018-11-17: W vs. [#29SW] Poliana Botelho (7-2-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:48 of round 1
2017-12-30: L vs. [#11SW] Carla Esparza (13-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-07-16: W vs. [#10FLY] Joanne Calderwood (13-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Cortney Casey-Sanchez (1-2-0)
2018-08-25: W vs. [#16SW] Angela Hill (8-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2018-04-14: L vs. [#9SW] Michelle Waterson (16-6-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-12-02: L vs. [#17SW] Felice Herrig (14-8-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Odds Favorite (Implied): Cynthia Calvillo – Win%: 70.61
Elo Favorite (Standard): Cynthia Calvillo (1536.11) [+96.63] – Win%: 60.86
Elo Favorite (Modified): Cynthia Calvillo (1588.36) [+112.20] – Win%: 62.04
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cynthia Calvillo 92, Cortney Casey-Sanchez 176
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Cynthia Calvillo leads 2-0
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Middleweight Championship (185)
[#1/#6DD/#8P4P] Robert Whittaker (20-4-0, -254) vs. [#4] Kelvin Gastelum (15-3-0, +203)
Robert Whittaker is the All-Time #12 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Kelvin Gastelum is the All-Time #46 ranked Middleweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Robert Whittaker (3-0-0)
2018-06-09: W vs. [#2MW] Yoel Romero (13-3-0) via SD (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
2017-07-08: W vs. [#2MW] Yoel Romero (13-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2017-04-15: W vs. [#5MW] Ronaldo Souza (26-6-0) via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in 3:28 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Kelvin Gastelum (2-1-0)
2018-05-12: W vs. [#5MW] Ronaldo Souza (26-6-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-11-25: W vs. [*] Michael Bisping (30-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:30 of round 1
2017-07-22: L vs. [#7MW] Chris Weidman (14-4-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 3:45 of round 3

Odds Favorite (Implied): Robert Whittaker – Win%: 68.49
Elo Favorite (Standard): Robert Whittaker (2327.23) [+161.48] – Win%: 67.65
Elo Favorite (Modified): Robert Whittaker (2255.13) [+134.21] – Win%: 64.28
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Robert Whittaker 245, Kelvin Gastelum 273
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#8] Israel Adesanya (15-0-0, -625) vs. [*] Anderson Silva (34-8-0, +435)
Anderson Silva is the All-Time #1 ranked Middleweight and #4 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Israel Adesanya (3-0-0)
2018-11-03: W vs. [#11MW] Derek Brunson (18-7-0) via TKO (Knees and Punches) in 4:51 of round 1
2018-07-06: W vs. [#16MW] Brad Tavares (17-5-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
2018-04-14: W vs. [#72MW] Marvin Vettori (12-4-1) via SD (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Last 3 Fights: Anderson Silva (1-2-0)
2017-02-11: W vs. [#11MW] Derek Brunson (18-7-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-07-09: L vs. [#1HW+/#3DD/#2P4P] Daniel Cormier (22-1-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2016-02-27: L vs. [*] Michael Bisping (30-9-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

Odds Favorite (Implied): Israel Adesanya – Win%: 82.18
Elo Favorite (Standard): Israel Adesanya (1990.72) [+3.22] – Win%: 50.37
Elo Favorite (Modified): Anderson Silva (2003.84) [+30.29] – Win%: 53.31
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Israel Adesanya 98, Anderson Silva 728
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Bantamweight (135)
[#17] Rani Yahya (26-9-0, +109) vs. [#24] Ricky Simon (15-1-0, -134)
Rani Yahya is the All-Time #26 ranked Bantamweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Rani Yahya (3-0-0)
2018-08-25: W vs. [#78BW] Luke Sanders (12-3-0) via Submission (Heel Hook) in 1:31 of round 1
2018-02-24: W vs. [#98BW] Russell Doane (15-8-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:32 of round 3
2017-08-05: W vs. [#473BW] Enrique Briones (16-8-1) via Submission (Kimura) in 2:01 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Ricky Simon (3-0-0)
2018-08-04: W vs. [#16BW] Montel Jackson (7-1-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2018-04-21: W vs. [#62BW] Merab Dvalishvili (8-4-0) via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 5:00 of round 3
2018-03-23: W vs. [#167BW] Vinicius Zani (11-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:59 of round 1

Odds Favorite (Implied): Ricky Simon – Win%: 54.47
Elo Favorite (Standard): Rani Yahya (1781.11) [+44.00] – Win%: 55.01
Elo Favorite (Modified): Rani Yahya (1803.67) [+92.13] – Win%: 59.95
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Rani Yahya 168, Ricky Simon 189
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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