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Turkmen mixed martial arts fighters Abdulla Babayev and Eziz Penjiyev are completing preparations for their upcoming international professional bouts. The athletes are scheduled to compete in late August at the Fight Nights 140 and Ural FC events hosted in Belarus and Russia.
Competing in the lightweight division, Abdulla Babayev will face Uzbekistan's Hindolbek Burijonov on August 27 at the Sports Palace in Minsk. Babayev, a three-time World Cup winner in combat sambo, holds a professional record of five victories and one defeat. His opponent is also a decorated athlete in kickboxing and boxing.
Meanwhile, Turkmen fighter Eziz Penjiyev will enter the octagon on August 29 in Perm at the Ural FC event against Russian athlete Kirill Kohnyuk. This match represents the seventh bout of Penjiyev's professional career, which currently stands at five wins and one loss.
Penjiyev's opponent, Kohnyuk, has completed four fights within the Ural FC promotion, securing three consecutive victories. Both Turkmen athletes aim to strengthen their international standings during the upcoming regional tournaments.
Financial Disagreements Derail Anticipated Heavyweight Bout Between Usyk and Wilder
Today in 04:59The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between former undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder has officially been canceled. Both camps had initially aimed to stage the blockbuster bout in the spring of 2027, generating immense excitement among boxing enthusiasts worldwide. However, negotiations between the prominent boxing stars ultimately collapsed behind closed doors.
According to prominent sports journalist Mike Coppinger and insider sources, the breakdown in talks stemmed directly from unresolved financial disputes and disagreements over purse splits. Negotiations were reportedly halted roughly three weeks ago after both sides failed to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement. As a result, the Ukrainian champion is currently left without a scheduled opponent, and his promotional team is not actively engaged in talks for an alternative match.
Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced regarding Deontay Wilder's potential next steps inside the squared circle. Reports indicate that Wilder has reached out to cruiserweight standout Jai Opetaia, attempting to entice him into a December 11 fight card. Speculation suggests Wilder hopes to position this high-profile matchup as a co-feature ahead of the eagerly awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
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