*For Immediate Release to Publish
Roselle, Park, NJ (January 2, 2026)– Welcome to the Real Combat Media Boxing & MMA Fights of the Week, where we discuss the week’s most significant news and the most notable fights in the sports of boxing and MMA, so you can save time by getting your best combat sports news expeditiously.
In boxing news, this past weekend, Naoya “The Monster” Inoue 32, (32-0, 27 Kos) dominated Mexican challenger David Picasso, 25 (32-1, 17 Kos), winning by unanimous decision (119-109, 120-108, 117-111) to retain his undisputed super bantamweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showcasing incredible skill, however, he failed to get a knockout against Picasso’s tough defense, setting up a massive 2026 super fight with fellow undefeated countryman Junto Nakatani, 27,(32-0, 24 Kos). Inoue becomes the first fighter to defend his Ring Title 4 times in one year since Heavyweight legend Larry Holmes accomplished it in 1983. You can read the recap and view the main event video highlights here.
On the same card, Junto Nakatani, 27,(32-0, 24 Kos) defeated knockout artist, Sebastian Hernandez, 25 (20-1, 18 Kos) by unanimous decision at Super Bantamweight to put him in position to challenge Inoue.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who just defeated Jake Paul last week, was a passenger in a fatal car crash in Nigeria on Monday, December 29, 2025, that killed two of his close friends and personal training team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital a few days later. You can view part of the rescue video here. You can also read Robert Brizel’s story on the cause of the accident here.
Not much is taking place this week in either MMA or boxing with the holidays ending; however, it is a very significant night in women’s boxing history with a loaded card Jake Paul MVP card, where future Hall of Famer Amanda Serrano, 37, (47-4-1, 31 Kos) takes on undefeated young contender Reina Tellez, 22, (13-0-1) from San Antonio, Texas, for the WBO & WBA Women’s Featherweight Titles. The fight will have a controversial change of rules and be contested in a 3-minute round with 10 rounds instead of a 2-minute round. This is a huge opportunity for Reina as she is replacing Erika Cruz on short notice after she failed a drug test for clenbuterol. Amanda is looking to rebound from her very close loss to Katie Taylor in July of 2025.
In the co-main event, former UFC Champion who was the first women to defeat Ronda Rousey and 3 sport combat athlete, Holly Holm, 44, (34-2-3,9 Kos), attempts to make history and become one of the oldest world champions in history as she takes on Stefanie Han, 35, (11-0, 3 KOs) for the WBA lightweight championship. Holm returned to boxing, dominating undefeated Mexican Olympian, Yolanda Vega, 30, (10-2-1 Kos), winning all 10 rounds in the women’s lightweight bout after a 12-year hiatus in boxing. Han defeated Paulina Angel in August of 2025 in her last fight. On paper, this appears to be an evenly matched fight.
The fights will take place at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and will be streamed live on DAZN. You can view Robert Brizel’s preview, betting odds, predictions, presser, and weigh-in video here.
You can view the current international boxing rankings here.
In MMA News, The RIZIN 10th Anniversary Super Powerhouse Festival, also referred to as RIZIN Year-End Super Powerhouse Matsuri, was RIZIN’s landmark 2025 New Year’s Eve event that takes place each year in Saitama, Japan.
In the main event, for the Featherweight Title, undefeated champion Razhabali Shaydullaev, 25 (17-0) defended his belt by defeating Japanese star Mikuru Asakara, 33 (19-6-1NC) via TKO (punches) at 2:54 of Round 1. Ilkhom Nozimov, 30, (13-3) shocked the world by dethroning longtime champion Roberto Satoshi de Souza, 36, (20-4) in just 13 seconds via KO (knee and punch). You can view the full card results and video highlights here.
UFC 324 returns on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a loaded card, marking the UFC’s debut on Paramount+ for numbered events, headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the Interim Lightweight Title and a massive co-main event with Amanda Nunes challenging Kayla Harrison for the Women’s Bantamweight Championship. The rest of the card will feature other stars like Sean O’Malley and Derrick Lewis. There will be no UFC events for the next 3 weeks to prepare for the new network deal. You can sign up for Paramount+ here.
For PFL start times, more information, and to watch PFL events, click here.
To view the current UFC rankings, click here.
Get prepared for the UFC in 2026 and sign up to Paramount+ here.
For the most current news from the #2 MMA Promotion PFL, click here.
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