Combat sports fans might have a choice to make this September, or at the very least are facing an expensive Saturday in front of the boob tube.
According to a report from ESPN boxing reporter Mike Coppinger, [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] (61-2-2), arguably the most popular boxer in the world, is wrapping up a deal for a super middleweight title defense against Edgar Berlanga (22-0).
Canelo Alvarez, boxing's top star, is in the process of finalizing a deal for a super middleweight championship defense vs. Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN.
The fight will go head-to-head with UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/EbzQJ3YoiS
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 23, 2024
But on this one, the fight itself might be less intriguing than the date: The fight reportedly will take place Sept. 14 in Las Vegas, presumably at T-Mobile Arena, on the same night the UFC puts on UFC 306 a couple clicks up the Strip at The Sphere.
The UFC 306 card is expected to be a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, which takes place Sept. 16. “Noche UFC” now will go head-to-head against Alvarez, from Mexico, in a fight that will pit Mexico against Puerto Rico, where Berlanga is from.
The UFC reportedly will have at least two title fights on the card at The Sphere, but UFC CEO Dana White recently said to expect just 10 fights. A typical UFC pay-per-view has 13 bouts.
The UFC is not likely to have trouble selling out The Sphere for the event. In less than a year, it has become one of the most sought-after venues in entertainment, and the UFC will be putting on the first live combat sports event there.
The leading candidates to head up UFC 306 are a bantamweight title fight with champion Sean O’Malley and challenger Merab Dvalishvili and a women’s flyweight title fight with champ Alexa Grasso and her next challenger, but the promotion has not made any formal fight announcements.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.