Why UFC champion turned away from rugby
Many know Merab Dvalishvili as the loud, comedic, UFC Bantamweight champion, but a select few know the Georgian fighter once had dreams of playing rugby.
Combat Sport
Redcliffe rematch for Wilson after controversial Navarrete title loss
Queensland boxer Liam Wilson is eyeing a rematch with the man who took the title he believes should be his, and it could be held on home soil this year.
Strange bedfellows: Whittaker’s secret weapon to the title
It was a cold call to Israel Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman which has turned two of the UFC’s biggest rivals into training partners, and now friends. And it could take Robert Whittaker back to the promised land.
The gruesome injury that ended Goodman’s superfight dream
A cut eye has reopened causing Sam Goodman to postpone his superfight against Japan’s Naoya Inoue for a second time. Graphic Warning: Click here to see the photo.
Is Ramirez next? Opetaia calls out WBO champion after scary KO
Jai Opetaia inflicted a devastating knockout of David Nyika and then issued a warning to Gilberto Ramirez, while his promoter suggested an even bigger fight. WATCH FULL HIGHLIGHTS
Opetaia warns rival for ‘world of hurt’ in pursuit of greatness
Jai Opetaia has warned his dangerous rival David Nyika to brace for a world of hurt and declared there will be no complacency in his relentless quest for boxing “greatness”.
‘Sucks he won’t be there’: Tragedy inspiring Opetaia’s world title defence
As he prepares to defend the IBF cruiserweight world title, Jai Opetaia reflects on his end goal – taking care of his friends and family – and pays tribute to one mate that won’t be there to support him.
Is this the final year for … Tomic, Simmons, Gorry, Volkanovski
Father Time, a change of scenery, and injuries – these are the high-profile Australian athletes facing tough decisions in 2025.
Kyrgios, Kerr, Tszyu, Ricciardo: The Aussie athletes on comeback trail in 2025
Self-imposed gap years, injuries, shock setbacks, retirement backflips – these are the Australian athletes and coaches on the comeback to their respective sports in 2025.
Golden hauls, spats, tears: Top 100 sporting moments of 2024
From Australia’s record golden haul at the Paris Games to controversies that split the sporting world – we look back at 100 moments that shaped the sporting calendar.
How Aussie star swapped ditch-digging for a life-changing payday
Sam Goodman freely admits he wasn’t cut out to dig ditches. Listen to the podcast to hear how he landed a life-changing world title fight.
Kostya jets in to join son Tim Tszyu’s wedding celebrations
Tim Tszyu has married long-term partner Alexandra in Sydney in an intimate ceremony in front of 120 people. SEE PICTURES FROM INSIDE THE WEDDING.
‘Crazy man’: Fury, Usyk camps trade barbs after blockbuster clash
Oleksandr Usyk is still boxing’s undisputed kingpin, holding off legend Tyson Fury in a 12-round slugfest in Saudi Arabia – but the fight continued after the unanimous decision.
‘Bordering on insult’: Aussie prepares to shock Tyson 2.0
Demsey McKean says he’s undaunted by the task of taking on Britain’s Moses Itauma — a boxer hailed the second coming of Mike Tyson. PETER BADEL has the latest on the historic bout.
Tszyu’s beauty: Inside sport’s wedding of the year
The big day has arrived with champion boxer Tim Tszyu and fiancee Alexandra Constantine set to exchange vows at a special ceremony in Sydney’s east.
Hypebeast triggers Jarvis rivalry with noisy social media mission
Ben ‘Hypebeast’ Hussain has added fuel to the fire of a domestic rivalry with Brock Jarvis, taking to social media to trigger a fight campaign and declaring he’s ‘too dangerous’ for his rivals.
Revealed: Two Aussies added to Sydney’s stacked UFC 312 line-up
Sydney’s UFC 312 line-up is getting stacked as two Aussies are added to the drawcard, with Jack Jenkins declaring his plans to springboard in to the top 15 in 2025.
WATCH: 15-year-old Aussie’s stunning 74-second knockout
Australia’s youngest ever pro boxer is now the youngest winner in Australian boxing history. Fifteen-year-old Benji Birchell secured a first-round knockout on debut – and celebrated with pizza.
After near-disaster, Goodman’s shot at glory is ‘even bigger now’
Sam Goodman’s team will celebrate Australia Day on January 24th in Tokyo, with his rescheduled super-bantamweight world title now even more important according to the man himself.
‘Ruining careers’: Fenech unleashes after ‘disgusting’ boxing robbery
Jeff Fenech has put the blowtorch to the judging of domestic boxing following one of the worst decisions in Australian boxing history, calling for more accountability for “ruining peoples’ lives and the sport”.
Bitter family feud on agenda as Tszyu eyes March blockbuster
Nikita Tszyu will be back in the ring early next year – with a domestic pay per view blockbuster on the cards. And it could be a chance to settle a bitter family feud.
‘Crying on a podcast’: UFC champ’s warning to Sydney challenger
Dricus du Plessis says he’d love to link up with Robert Whittaker in preparation for his rematch with Sean Strickland, and the South African champ has sent a brutal message to his opponent.
‘No technology, just pure grind’: Tszyu’s comeback blueprint
Tim Tszyu has apologised to Australia for his shock world title defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev and has already begun planning his comeback to the top of the boxing world.
Goodman world title fight back on after opponent’s selfless move
Sam Goodman’s world title blockbuster is back on after initial fears a training mishap would shatter his historic bid for glory.
Jarvis calls out Tszyu as Star City witnesses boxing ‘robbery’
Brock Jarvis had little trouble defeating his opponent and wasted no time in calling for a more famous foe to fight him next, but it was the result of the co-main event that caught the eye of many.
‘I’ll never forget’: Tszyu vow over Zerafa’s ‘b**** move’
Tim Tszyu has revealed the vow he made to his grandpa about never fighting Michael Zerafa after the controversial cancellation of their blockbuster bout in 2021.
Why Jazzy Parr could be the hero ‘teenage girls need’
It’s taken years of hard work behind the scenes, but as Jasmine “Jazzy” Parr prepares to face another storied opponent, one member of her team believes she can be the role model girls need.
Jarvis vows Rodriguez five round defeat, eyes up Tszyu blockbuster
Brock Jarvis has just lit the fuse on a big Nikita Tszyu domestic rivalry, while the comeback kid takes another shot at a bitter enemy, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.
How Aussie hero can land a 2025 UFC title shot
Aussie hero Jack Della Maddalena could be just one win away from booking a welterweight world title fight – there’s just one thing he needs to tick off.
‘Not a loss, it’s a lesson’: Paro vows to bounce back
Queenslander Liam Paro has promised to rebuild after suffering the first loss of his professional career, falling to Richardson Hitchens in Puerto Rico.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/combat-sport/page/4