Jai Opetaia did what no one else could, stopping Noel Mikaelian in Saturday’s co-main event in Las Vegas, but the real fireworks exploded moments later. Unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez stepped straight into the ring to challenge him, agreeing to a unification superfight next May 2027 in Las Vegas. Fans at T-Mobile Arena absolutely went wild.
The Brutal Grind to a Historic Finish
First, let’s talk about the fight itself. Opetaia, now 31-0 with 24 KOs, put in some serious work, becoming the first opponent ever to stop Mikaelian. It wasn’t always pretty, a real grinding affair, but Opetaia steadily broke down Mikaelian, who came in at 28-4 with 12 KOs. Mikaelian kept it competitive, landing some good right hands. He even caught Opetaia with a counter right in the seventh round that rocked the Australian, but he couldn’t follow up for more damage. Opetaia later brushed it off, saying, “Yeah, he clipped me. I’m sort of used to getting clipped in a fight. Those little shots, they always slide through. But I’m still here.” Mikaelian’s solid chin and defense kept him in it, but you could tell he was fading.
Big men fights can turn on a dime, and this one sure did in the ninth round. Halfway through, Opetaia landed a solid right hook. Mikaelian tried to hold on, pinning Opetaia’s right hand. No problem for Opetaia, who then unleashed a wicked succession of lethal left hooks. Those shots blasted Mikaelian back to the ropes, desperately holding on to avoid hitting the canvas. Referee Harvey Dock immediately ruled a knockdown and started the count. Mikaelian was totally out on his feet, his eyes rolling back, and Dock wisely called the fight finished at 1:30 of the round. It was Mikaelian’s first stoppage loss ever. Opetaia, grinning, gave him credit: “Noel is tough as nails. You know, I knew he was going to be experienced, I knew it was a good fighter. It’s good to share the ring with him. Hey, who’s next?”
The “Mexican Monster” Calls His Shot
That “who’s next” question didn’t have to wait a second. Unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, known to everyone as “the Mexican Monster,” was ringside watching the whole thing unfold and he was already making his way into the ring. This guy is dangerous, but Opetaia wasn’t backing down. Grinning from ear to ear, Opetaia said, “I respect him. You know he’s done a lot for the sport. It’s been awesome. You know, and what better for that to make? How exciting! You know, respectfully, let’s get it on!” Benavidez matched that grin, saying, “Let’s do it right here, shake them out next year! This is a great fighter right here, the strong fighter, but they’re only be one monster in this weight division.”
So, there you have it, folks. We’re looking at May 2027 for this massive unification superfight in Las Vegas. Opetaia versus “the Mexican Monster” Benavidez is going to be an absolute must-watch event, uniting the division and giving us some serious fireworks. Start planning your trips now, because this one is going to be epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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