In this episode, Zac Pomilio, a seasoned boxing matchmaker, reveals the intricate details of building fights, the challenges in today’s boxing landscape, and the evolution of the sport from his perspective. We explore the importance of matchmaking, industry dynamics, and how boxing has shifted over the decades.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays (2026/#18)
Still trying to get out of this hole…
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 7 fights in the prior 7 years, including 1+ loss. If the loss was in their debut, then 2+ losses are required.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Saturday, August 22nd 2026: Professional Fighters League PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira | |||
 [#1 W145] Cristiane Justino | [#4 W135] Ketlen Vieira | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#2 W145] Sara Collins Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 5/16/2026 [UFC] Last Opponent: [#10 W135] Jacqueline Cavalcanti Last 5: W L W L W | ||
| Thursday, September 10th 2026: Rizin FF - Super Rizin 5 | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#16 W105] Rena Kubota | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#8 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 12/31/2025 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#2 W105] Seika Izawa Last 5: W L W W L | ||
| Saturday, July 25th 2026: Pancrase 364 / Pancrase Blood 11 | |||
| [#11 SW] Kanji Funada | [#13 SW] Shunma Sasaki | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 3/14/2026 [Pancrase] Last Opponent: [#4 SW] Yuta Miyazawa Last 5: W W W W L | Last Fight Date: 3/14/2026 [Pancrase] Last Opponent: [#52 SW] Takafumi Ato Last 5: L W W W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#164 WW] |  Conor McGregor | [#1 LW] |  Justin Gaethje | |
| [#6 WW] | Kamaru Usman | [#6 LW] |  Paddy Pimblett | |
| [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | |
| [#3 MW] |  Dricus Du Plessis | [#58 WW] |  Seok Hyeon Ko | |
| [NR] | Khabib Nurmagomedov | [#5 LW] | Max Holloway |
FBI Says Explosive Drone Plot Targeted UFC Freedom 250 on White House Lawn
Washington, D.C. – UFC Freedom 250 was already one of the most surreal sports events in American history. The lawsuit had failed. The weather had held. The fights delivered. Seven bouts ended in seven finishes. Justin Gaethje shocked Ilia Topuria on the White House lawn. Dana White walked away with a one-of-one spectacle that somehow lived up to the impossible hype.
Then, two days later, the story took a darker turn.
Federal authorities now say the same event that became a historic UFC triumph had also been the target of an alleged terror plot involving explosive-laden drones, firearms, sniper-style attacks, and plans to strike “high value targets” near one of the most secure buildings in the world.
5 Hidden Pitfalls You Can Easily Avoid by Sticking to a Genuine UFABET Direct Website
The online betting industry has seen a big increase in the last ten years. Now, people have more fun and can make bets from anywhere. The way to place bets is now much easier. But with this growth, there are more scam sites trying to look like real betting platforms. They do this to trick people who may not know better. These fake sites can look real when you first see them. But, they often do not have good safety, clear rules, or the trust of good betting sites.
Knowing the risks of unofficial betting websites can help people make better choices. There are five hidden problems that you can avoid if you pick a real and checked platform.
Decoding MMA Betting Odds: How to Spot Value in UFC and Combat Sports
The UFC and other major promotions in the fight industry have seen their popularity rise, so have the number of people betting on their matches.
However, many bettors are only interested in the odds if they believe they will win, not if they’re a good value.
Being successful at a game of betting does not just involve making a prediction of the winner. It’s really about recognizing when outcomes have a higher probability than would be normally expected.
By learning the terminology of the odds in MMA betting, you can make better decisions and will not make common mistakes that make casual bettors lose money.
Live Betting on 1Win Moldova: Football In-Play Markets and Where the Viewer Finds Value
Playing the waiting game with pre-match betting has its advantages. Understanding stats, studying the form, and anticipating lineups before the first whistle all aid an informed wager. Reactionary bets rely on what is happening on the pitch. Limping. Struggling. Sudden changes in tactics or strategies. These give insight into potential bets that the pre-match player simply doesn’t have.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi 2 (06-20-2026)
Flyweight (125)
[#3][#3UFC] Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5-0, +135) vs. [#5][#5UFC] Manel Kape (22-7-0, -163)
Kyoji Horiguchi is the All-Time #16 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Manel Kape is the All-Time #22 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Kyoji Horiguchi (3-0-0)
2026-02-07: W vs. [#21FLY] Amir Albazi (17-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2025-11-22: W vs. [#15FLY] Tagir Ulanbekov (18-3-0) via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 2:18 of round 3
2024-12-31: W vs. [#113FLY] Nkazimulo Zulu (16-9-1) via UD ()
Last 3 Fights: Manel Kape (3-0-0)
2025-12-13: W vs. [#7FLY] Brandon Royval (17-9-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:18 of round 1
2025-03-01: W vs. [#11FLY] Asu Almabayev (23-3-0) via TKO (Retirement) in 2:16 of round 3
2024-12-14: W vs. [#41FLY] Bruno Silva (15-10-2) via TKO (Body Kick and Punches) in 1:57 of round 3
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Manel Kape | -163 | 59.29% | |
| Elo K170 | Kyoji Horiguchi | 2154.68 | +150.19 | 70.36% |
| Elo Modified | Kyoji Horiguchi | 2113.33 | +156.13 | 71.07% |
| Glicko-1 | Kyoji Horiguchi | 2173.03 | +142.34 | 69.41% |
| WHR | Kyoji Horiguchi | 2041.43 | +98.05 | 63.75% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Kyoji Horiguchi 35.7, Manel Kape 32.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Kyoji Horiguchi 133, Manel Kape 189
Previous Match-up Record: Kyoji Horiguchi leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#26][#17UFC] Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1, +258) vs. [#36][#22UFC] Navajo Stirling (9-0-0, -331)
Last 3 Fights: Ion Cutelaba (2-1-0)
2026-03-14: W vs. [#40LHW] Oumar Sy (12-2-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:24 of round 1
2025-05-10: L vs. [#28LHW] Modestas Bukauskas (20-7-0) via SD (29-28, 30-27, 27-30)
2025-02-22: W vs. [#125LHW] Ibo Aslan (14-4-0) via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) in 2:51 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Navajo Stirling (3-0-0)
2026-03-28: W vs. [#82LHW] Bruno Lopes (14-3-0) via NC in 4:05 of round 2
2025-09-27: W vs. [#51LHW] Rodolfo Bellato (13-3-1) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2025-05-10: W vs. [#55LHW] Ivan Erslan (15-6-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Navajo Stirling | -331 | 73.33% | |
| Elo K170 | Navajo Stirling | 1738.31 | +22.51 | 53.24% |
| Elo Modified | Navajo Stirling | 1764.96 | +6.16 | 50.89% |
| Glicko-1 | Ion Cutelaba | 1831.65 | +26.53 | 53.81% |
| WHR | Ion Cutelaba | 1706.25 | +19.13 | 52.75% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Ion Cutelaba 32.5, Navajo Stirling 28.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ion Cutelaba 98, Navajo Stirling 84
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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Featherweight (145)
[#88][#46UFC] Hyder Amil (11-2-0, +131) vs. [#119][#55UFC] Christian Rodriguez (12-4-0, -159)
Last 3 Fights: Hyder Amil (1-2-0)
2025-11-08: L vs. [#70FW] Jamall Emmers (22-8-0) via UD (30-27, 29-27, 30-27)
2025-06-28: L vs. [#52FW] Jose Delgado (11-2-0) via KO (Knee and Elbows) in 0:26 of round 1
2025-03-01: W vs. [#41FW] William Gomis (15-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Christian Rodriguez (1-2-0)
2025-08-09: L vs. [#64FW] Andre Fili (25-13-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2025-03-29: L vs. [#21FW] Melquizael Costa (26-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2025-01-11: W vs. [#154FW] Austin Bashi (14-1-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Christian Rodriguez | -159 | 58.64% | |
| Elo K170 | Hyder Amil | 1562.95 | +16.08 | 52.31% |
| Elo Modified | Christian Rodriguez | 1574.23 | +60.24 | 58.58% |
| Glicko-1 | Christian Rodriguez | 1582.84 | +54.32 | 57.75% |
| WHR | Christian Rodriguez | 1553.45 | +65.38 | 59.30% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Hyder Amil 36.0, Christian Rodriguez 28.5
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Hyder Amil 224, Christian Rodriguez 315
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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Keep Reading
Paulette “La Heredera” Cuesta – The Fighter & Her Puerto Rico Victory
Who Is Paulette Cuesta?
Paulette “La Heredera” (The Heiress) Cuesta (19-5-1, 4 KO) is a professional boxer. She is in the Mexican super bantamweight division. Her nickname is more than a brand – it reflects genuine boxing royalty in her bloodline. Cuesta began boxing at 23, initially training for fitness before quickly transitioning to competition.
New Feature: Returning Fighters
New feature: Returning Fighters lists previously top-ranked fighters who had been inactive, but recently fought or have a fight scheduled. Helps to keep an eye on your old favorites!
UFC Fight Night 279 – Kape vs. Horiguchi 2
Jun 20, 2026 | UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States
[#5 FW | #2 UFC] Manel Kape (22-7-0) vs [#3 FW | #5 UFC] Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5-0)
Preview and Prediction
The main event of UFC Fight Night 279 features one of the most intriguing flyweight rematches in recent MMA history as Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi meet nearly nine years after their first encounter.
The two fighters originally faced each other on December 31, 2017, at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017. On that night, Horiguchi showcased his championship-level versatility by defeating Kape via third-round arm-triangle choke. Since then, both athletes have continued to evolve and establish themselves among the world’s elite flyweights.
Today, the rematch arrives under very different circumstances. Kape enters as one of the UFC’s leading title contenders, while Horiguchi returns to the Octagon carrying the experience of a legendary career that includes championships in both Bellator and RIZIN.
FightMatrix and RFP: One Year of Partnership
On May 16, 2025, FightMatrix and Real Fight Promotion (RFP) officially began a partnership built on a shared commitment to the growth and promotion of mixed martial arts.
Interestingly, both FightMatrix and Real Fight Promotion were founded in 2007. Over nearly two decades, each organization has established a strong reputation within its field. FightMatrix has become one of the sport’s most respected independent rankings and analytical platforms, while RFP has grown into one of Ukraine’s longest-running and most active MMA promotions, organizing more than 100 events.
UFC Freedom 250 Was Bigger Than the Hype, Louder Than the Critics, and Better Than Anyone Could Have Scripted
UFC Freedom 250 arrived surrounded by lawsuits, political arguments, weather concerns, security questions, and weeks of speculation over whether the most ambitious night in UFC history could actually be pulled off. By the time the final fireworks exploded over Washington, D.C., all of that noise felt small compared to what had just unfolded on the White House South Lawn.
The UFC did not just stage a fight card at the White House. It staged a spectacle that somehow lived up to the madness around it. The lawsuit had been dismissed. The storm held off. The production worked. The crowd delivered. The fighters delivered even more. And, in the end, UFC Freedom 250 became exactly what Dana White promised it could be: a once-in-a-lifetime collision of sports, history, patriotism, entertainment, and violence.
It was not perfect because it was normal. It was perfect because it was unlike anything the sport had ever seen.
Beste Wettanbieter mit Cash Out (2026): Gewinne sichern und Verluste minimieren
Die Zeiten, in denen man nach Abgabe eines Wettscheins nur noch nervös auf den Schlusspfiff warten konnte, sind endgültig vorbei. Eines der wichtigsten Werkzeuge für moderne Sportwetter ist der Cash Out. Die Suche nach einem Wettanbieter mit Cash Out ist 2026 der absolute Standard, denn diese Funktion gibt Ihnen die volle Kontrolle über Ihre Wetten zurück – noch bevor das Spiel beendet ist.
Casino en ligne retrait immédiat : Top 2026 pour un casino à retrait instantané
Dans le monde trépidant des jeux d’argent en ligne, l’attente est souvent l’ennemi du plaisir. Qui n’a jamais rêvé de voir ses gains instantanément crédités sur son compte ? Cet article explore les meilleurs casinos retrait immédiat en 2026, vous permettant de profiter pleinement de vos victoires sans délai. Que vous cherchiez un casino retrait instantané ou un casino retrait rapide, notre guide vous aidera à faire le bon choix.
Current MMA Rankings Updated (06-15-2026)
- New feature coming soon – “Returning Fighters” page, that will show previously top-ranked fighters who recently fought or are expected to fight after a long period of inactivity.