The latest edition of our MMA News Roundup is here to catch you up on some of the biggest stories in the world of mixed martial arts. First on the list is a new update on Daiane Silva, a rising star in the PFL featherweight division who is currently facing a battle outside the cage. Next, we shift our focus to the upcoming UFC 308 featherweight title clash between Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria which has now got an added layer of rivalry with the involvement of a soccer giant!

Speaking of soccer, at Francis Ngannou’s return at the PFL Superfights: Battle of the Giants, the cameras managed to spot Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to ‘The Predator’ doing what he does best. So, without waiting anymore, let’s dive in and take a glimpse at these developments!

PFL Chairman Donn Davis provides his statement on Daiane Silva’s condition  

Daiane Silva, a promising PFL featherweight’s dream debut with Bellator turned into a nightmare after a failed weight cut. Just a day before her fight against Eman Almudhaf on September 14, Silva was admitted to the ICU at Northwick Park Hospital in London, unable to make the 145-pound mark. What happened in that crucial moment?

Mike Mazzulli, an official from the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation and President of the Association of Boxing Commissions was called to send a doctor to check on Silva just ten minutes before the scale closed. Shockingly, she never weighed in, and a pre-fight physical didn’t take place. Now, at just 29 years old, Silva is recovering from kidney failure and has been placed in an induced coma.

In light of this situation, Donn Davis, PFL founder and chairman finally broke his silence on Silva’s ordeal. Speaking to Mike Heck, Davis stated, “She experienced a very difficult weight loss, which resulted in a medical emergency that was dealt with, seriously and appropriately. And she’s been in long term hospitalization, and we’ve had everything possible to support her recovery. And to say anything other than that, is not our place. This is her business and her privacy, that everything I just said is the news, and that’s the news that is well known. And and that’s the news that, we wouldn’t wanna say anything more than that news.”

While there was criticism labeled against the organization for not releasing a statement in the aftermath, Davis explained that “And in this case, I think respecting her privacy, a very sensitive time versus giving constant updates to anyone who wants to know is the right thing. It might not appear to be the easy thing.”

In an update from her manager, Alex Davis, the team has reported that while Silva is still sedated, she is showing signs of improvement. As fans and the MMA sphere hope for her full recovery, let’s shift our focus over to the world of UFC and the upcoming highly anticipated featherweight title clash at UFC 308.

Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria’s rivalry gets another layer as soccer clubs pick sides

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are set to throw down at UFC 308 when the Octagon heads to the Etihad Arena on October 26. The two have been involved in a heated build-up with words flying back and forth between the pair. But now, there’s an added layer to their rivalry! What is it?

Recently, Holloway was gifted an FC Barcelona jersey ahead of his clash with Topuria. For those unaware, ‘El Matador’ is a staunch Real Madrid supporter and was even invited to perform the honor of the ceremonial kick-off earlier this year when his favorite team took on Sevilla. The ceremony took place after Topuria snatched the crown from Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.

Another interesting aspect of this soccer-MMA crossover is that Barcelona and Real Madrid will be playing each other in the ‘El Clasico’, an iconic La Liga showdown that will be taking place at the same time at UFC 308. Using this to fire off another jab at Topuria, Holloway shared in his ESPN interview, “Barcelona kit so I guess Barcelona go 2-0 on Saturday night”.

With the challenge being made, it remains to see what the results would be, both for Holloway’s aspirations to regain his title, and Barcelona’s attempt to beat their storied rivals on the same night. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the only MMA-soccer crossover as Cristiano Ronaldo also showed up last weekend to watch Francis Ngannou return to the cage at the PFL Superfights: Battle of the Giants!

Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to Francis Ngannou’s MMA comeback goes viral

When Francis Ngannou stepped into the cage against Renan Ferreira, there were a lot of questions swirling in the MMA sphere. Had his foray into boxing dulled his sharpness in the world of MMA? Would the tragic loss of his son affect his performance? Well, true to his nickname, ‘The Predator’ left no doubts as he demolished Renan Ferreira in the very first round with vicious ground and pound.

The cheers and gasps echoing from the crowd illustrated the connection he shares with his fans, including the soccer legend who has become one of his biggest supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo sat ring-side as Ngannou took on Tyson Fury last year and while that fight ended in a controversial loss, this time, ‘CR7’ was left exclaiming his joy as the former UFC heavyweight champion made an explosive return to the cage.

In a video released by the PFL, Ronaldo can be seen nervously watching as Ngannou hunts for the finish against Ferreira. But as soon as the referee steps in to call the fight, Ronaldo screams out in joy and hugs a fellow spectator, caught in the euphoria of the moment.

The fight has shown why Ngannou is considered one of the ‘baddest men on the planet’, but the questions remain, will he stick to MMA in the future or is there another boxing super-fight on the cards for the ‘Predator’? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!