IBM and UFC Partner to Launch AI-Powered Insights Engine for Enhanced Fan Experience

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IBM and UFC®️ have announced a groundbreaking partnership that will bring the power of IBM’s AI platform, watsonx, to the global audience of the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. With this collaboration, IBM becomes UFC’s first-ever Official Global AI Partner, introducing a new dimension to live event viewing.

Central to the partnership is the development of the UFC Insights Engine, which will utilize IBM’s AI and data technology, including Granite large language models, alongside UFC’s extensive data feeds. This engine aims to provide UFC fans with real-time, advanced insights during live events, such as fighter tendencies, match projections, and potential victory outcomes. These insights will continuously update on-screen as live data rolls in, offering fans an enriched experience.

Expected to launch in early 2025, the Insights Engine will integrate branded stats and graphics into key UFC platforms. Fans can expect to see this technology across UFC Pay-Per-View broadcasts, pre-event programming, social media, and in-venue displays, reaching millions in 170 countries.

“This partnership with IBM is one of the most significant milestones for UFC and a game changer for how fans will experience our sport,” said Grant Norris-Jones, Head of Global Partnerships at TKO. “IBM is an iconic blue-chip, global brand with decades of experience in sports marketing. Together, we’re pioneering a product to revolutionize analytics and information in live sports. This partnership marks a pivotal win, not only for UFC and IBM, but also for fans around the world who will experience our sport in a whole new way.”

This partnership not only marks UFC’s expansion into AI-driven experiences but also IBM’s commitment to redefining fan engagement. Together, IBM and UFC are set to deliver real-time, data-driven content, enhancing viewer connection to each fight and offering unparalleled access to in-depth UFC fight information.

“Data and AI solutions like UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx can offer current fans entirely new ways to connect with their favorite athletes and sports, while also building excitement among new generations of MMA fans,” said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. “Leveraging watsonx and our Granite models also allows UFC to enhance its digital operations and to harness the power of its extensive library of match data – all to the benefit of current and future fans.”

“IBM watsonx is synonymous with AI, and they have been leading the charge in this space from the beginning,” said Alon Cohen, Senior Vice President, UFC Research and Development. “UFC has been working on the concept of the Insights Engine for several years,  and now we finally have the right partner in IBM with the depth of expertise in AI to bring it to life. We’re looking forward to rolling this out to our fans in the months ahead.”

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Lil Pump Brutally Choked Out By MAGA UFC Fighter

Lil Pump had a huge rise to fame back in 2017, however, since that time, his music has certainly fallen off in terms of popularity. However, he has been able to maintain his relevancy thanks to his devotion to former President Donald Trump. Pump infamously went on stage during a Trump rally in 2020, only to be called “Lil Pimp.” Subsequently, Pump has continued to cape for Trump and now that the former President is running for office again, the rapper has been showing his face everywhere.

In fact, Lil Pump has been spending a lot of time with other figures who have made their entire personality the MAGA movement. One such person is UFC fighter Colby Covington. Covington is known for walking out to fights in a MAGA hat. Furthermore, he has even had Trump and figures like Candace Owens at his fights. As you can see down below, Pump got into the Octagon with Covington. However, with consent, Pump got absolutely demolished thanks to a chokehold.

Read More: Joe Budden Calls Lil Pump “A Sh*t Stain”

Lil Pump Feels The Pain

Pump tapped out numerous times, however, Covington kept going and eventually knocked Pump out cold. This made for a viral clip of sorts that ultimately made the rounds on social media. For Covington, it was a bad look and for Pump, it was even worse. It just goes to show that at this stage, he is simply just looking to farm clout, by any means necessary. It’s not surprising in the least but, but it doesn’t stop being at least a little embarrassing.

Let us know how you feel about Lil Pump and his antics, in the comments section down below. How do you feel about the rapper’s foray into MAGA politics? Do you believe he is being paid by the Trump team or some sort of Republican operative? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.

Read More: Lil Pump Vulgarly Threatens Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Mothers Over Kamala Harris Endorsement

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SOURCE SPORTS: UFC Mistakes Terence Crawford For Kendrick Lamar During Broadcast

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The UFC organization is being called everything from insensitive to racist after they aired a broadcast where boxer Terence Crawford was mistaken for famed Compton emcee Kendrick Lamar.

The “Not Like Us” lyricist spit this verse on “Euphoria”, saying, “I’m Terence Crawford, yeah, I’m whooping feet.” Many people laughed at the coincidence of his predictions, but they still launched a campaign accusing the UFC of racism, which is understandable. Crawford and Lamar are in two different forms of entertainment, and no insult to either, but the two personalities do not look alike at all.

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UFC has yet to comment on the viral mishap.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: UFC Mistakes Terence Crawford For Kendrick Lamar During Broadcast first appeared on The Source.

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Terence Crawford Laughed Off Being Mistakenly Identified As Kendrick Lamar During A UFC Broadcast

Terence Crawford Canelo Alvarez Edgar Berlanga fight 2024 (1024x437)
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What happens in Sin City is supposed to stay there. Well, unless it is broadcasted to millions of viewers around the world. Professional boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford found himself in the middle of a viral joke due to an error by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Yesterday (September 14), the UFC mistakenly identified Terence Crawford as Kendrick Lamar during the broadcast of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga fight. Those in attendance at T-Mobile Arena might not have caught the flub, but viewers at home sure did.

Immediately after supporters of the “Not Like Us” rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) with an endless amount of meme swapping out Kendrick for Crawford on album covers and more.

In a post shared to Crawford’s official Instagram page (viewable here), he laughed off the misidentification, writing: “Damn, Kendrick Lamar 😂.”

Crawford went on to use Kendrick Lamar’s song “Euphoria” to soundtrack the image captured during the event. Crawford is no stranger to the world of sports (despite the botched identification) having secured several titles in the ring. Nor is Crawford a hip-hop novice. Back in July 2023, Crawford had Eminem perform “Lose Yourself” as his ring walk out track.

Fans now know of Crawford’s lighthearted sense of humor.

Terence Crawford Reacts To The UFC’s Kendrick Lamar Mix-Up

The UFC has to answer some odd questions about their broadcast, as they made a major mix-up during a recent match. Moreover, the television stream identified boxer Terence Crawford in the stands as Kendrick Lamar, which understandably resulted in some backlash and racism accusations. What’s more is that it’s possible that this was actually intentional, albeit miscommunicated and confusingly presented. K.Dot actually references Crawford on “euphoria,” which is why many folks online saw this as more of a joke. We might never know for sure, and you will have your opinion on whether it’s insensitive even with this possible intent in mind.

However, it seems like Terence Crawford couldn’t help but laugh at this situation, so it seems like there are no hard feelings. “Damn @kendricklamar [two crying-laughing emojis],” he wrote on his Instagram Story this weekend along with a screenshot of UFC’s mix-up. It played Kendrick Lamar’s “euphoria” verse shouting Terence out in the background. Maybe Crawford and the “Watch The Party Die” MC have a more strong criticism of this practice. But for now, the former is just reacting to the antics and having fun with them.

Read More: Terence Crawford Net Worth 2024: What Is The Boxer Worth?

Terence Crawford Laughs Off The UFC’s Kendrick Lamar Mix-Up

As far as other Kendrick Lamar news, Usher recently gave him advice for his Super Bowl halftime show. “Everybody has this fifteen minutes of fame idea, but it’s really your fifteen minutes of fame,” the singer remarked on Live with Kelly and Mark. “You have to play hits. You’ve got to get right to it.” “I want no part of that. I’m sorry,” he joked about the possibility of mediating the Drake beef. “Let’s just say, it’s been a great experience to say that I could play the Super Bowl. I understand how much pressure comes with it and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. But I would wish it on you if you’ve had the career.”

50 Cent agrees, as he called Kendrick Lamar’s battle “good for the culture.” “Both Drake and Kendrick produced quality music faster because they had to compete with each other,” he shared on The Talk. “That competitive nature made them go work and have responses. Hip-hop is still – it’s not just a genre where you can just make a song and sit back. You have to make a song and be ready to make a song again right away with other artists.”

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Allegedly Cost Compton Businesses Thousands Of Dollars With His Viral “Not Like Us” Video

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UFC Mistakes Terence Crawford For Kendrick Lamar During Broadcast

We all know the popular meme these days: between double meanings and bold predictions, Kendrick Lamar is being hailed as a prophet. But did a recent UFC broadcast really have to go to this extreme to make that idea true? Moreover, a recent event saw the television team confuse superstar boxer Terence Crawford for K.Dot. The “Watch The Party Die” lyricist actually had the following line on “euphoria”: “I’m Terence Crawford, yeah, I’m whooping feet.” However, even though a lot of people laughed at this coincidence and manifestation of his predictions, they still launched accusations of racism against the organization, which is understandable.

Maybe we’ll never get an explanation for this viral mishap. Either way, this wasn’t the only recent tinfoil hat reach (that may or may not be true) concerning some of Kendrick Lamar’s latest moves, an unsurprising tendency given all his lyrical depths in his Drake disses and beyond. For example, folks connected his Super Bowl halftime show announcement to his diss tracks, pointing out some of the lyrical nods and other similarities. Many continue to dismiss these readings, but at the end of the day, their intentionality doesn’t change how these connections resonate with fans.

Read More: 50 Cent Divulges His Thoughts On Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show & Drake Beef

Terence Crawford Is Kendrick Lamar?

Elsewhere, Usher was the latest artist to comment on Kendrick Lamar’s headlining slot. “Everybody has this fifteen minutes of fame idea, but it’s really your fifteen minutes of fame. You have to play hits. You’ve got to get right to it,” he shared on Live with Kelly and Mark. “I want no part of that. I’m sorry,” the singer shared when asked whether or not he could help squash the Drake beef. “Let’s just say, it’s been a great experience to say that I could play the Super Bowl. I understand how much pressure comes with it and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. But I would wish it on you if you’ve had the career.”

Some other controversy is afoot, such as the “Not Like Us” music video allegedly costing Compton businesses thousands of dollars. Hopefully a reimbursement can uplift these affected enterprises or some other form of agreement can level things out. With all this in mind, all eyes are on Kendrick Lamar. They’ve been like that since “Like That,” so you’d think folks would be able to recognize him easily… Especially a huge sports organization.

Read More: Terence Crawford Net Worth 2024: What Is The Boxer Worth?

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Drake Brutally Trolled By Dricus Du Plessis Following Israel Adesanya’s Aganozing Defeat

Drake is someone who likes to make various wagers on sports. Overall, it was an affliction that was highlighted in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Meet The Grahams.” However, at this stage, it appears as though Drizzy does not care. He continues to place bets on various sports, and he does it because of his deal with Stake. In fact, much has been made about whether or not Drake is even putting up his own money. The allegation is that Stake funds every single one of his bets.

This past weekend, Drake placed a bet on Israel Adesanya, who was fighting against Dricus Du Plessis. It was the biggest fight on this past weekend’s UFC card, and fans were excited to see how it would all play out. Knowing that Drizzy bet on Izzy, it was almost a guarantee that Du Plessis was going to win. In the end, that is exactly what happened. Du Plessis won via submission, and following the big win, he took to Twitter to thank Drake for cursing his opponent.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Hints At Drake’s Next Move

Drake Loses Another Bet

“From the bottom of my heart once again THANK YOU @Drake,” Du Plessis wrote on Twitter. At this point, the Drake curse seems to be incredibly real. While this might hurt Drake fans to hear, it doesn’t work out so well when he bets on certain teams and athletes. The most recent example of all of this working for Drizzy, was when he bet on the Kansas City Chiefs a while back. That actually worked out for him quite nicely, and we’re sure he will bet on them again in the future.

Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe Drake might be gambling a bit too much? Did you watch the Adesanya and Du Plessis fight and if so, how did you enjoy it? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.

Read More: Drake Trolls Chingy On Instagram Over His Old Lyrics

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Conor McGregor Parties Hard In Wild Night Out Ahead Of UFC 303

Conor McGregor can still have a wild night on the town despite his training routine. As seen on social media, McGregor let off steam this past weekend at his bar, The Black Forge Inn in Dublin, Ireland. He returns to the cage on June 29 to take on Michael Chandler at UFC 303. As per MMA Junkie, the 35-year-old removed a celebratory Instagram post, but his Instagram Story had a link to a video that showcased footage from the bar on the platform. “Stocky tills at @theblackforgeinn,” McGregor wrote in the deleted post. “Quarter past 2 in the mornin ye hahahaaha.”

In one video, McGregor and his fiancée, Dee Devlin, were shown driving up in a beautiful automobile to the bar and then entering via fireworks. In one clip, McGregor was seen holding his Proper No. Twelve whiskey behind the DJ booth, but in other reels, he was seen posing for pictures close to it. McGregor even happened to run into Lee Hammond, another Irish mixed martial artist.

Read More: Conor McGregor Calls Out Ryan Garcia After Positive PED Test

Conor Mcgregor Cuts Loose Ahead Of UFC Return

 
 
 
 
 
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None of the images or videos depict Conor McGregor drinking; during his fight preparation, he had abstained from alcohol for six weeks before the match, as he stated on a Duelbits live broadcast. McGregor seems to be having fun completely naturally without the aid of alcohol. After spending almost three years out of the ring, McGregor will make his comeback at UFC 303. He last competed at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he was defeated by Dustin Poirier. McGregor (22-6) and his UFC 303 opponent, Chandler (23-8), will compete at welterweight. They previously trained against one other on The Ultimate Fighter season two. 

Chandler told The Post that he expects to end McGregor’s career. “I truly believe what I’m going to do to him on June 29 is going to warrant and merit him never stepping back into the octagon,” he said. Conor Mcgregor has been appearing in movies and generally out of the UFC fight world for a couple of years. His return is very much anticipated, but it will not be an easy fight. Overall, McGregor should enjoy himself while he can before locking in 100% for the fight. 

Read More: Conor McGregor Gets Tricked Into Saying The N-Word On Kick Stream

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Conor McGregor Gets Tricked Into Saying The N-Word On Kick Stream

Conor McGregor, the renowned mixed Martial Arts champion, made his much-anticipated streaming debut on Kick yesterday. McGregor, a former UFC double champion, is currently preparing for his return to the Octagon at UFC 303, where he is scheduled to face off against Michael Chandler, who has boldly announced his intention to ‘retire’ Mcgregor from the competition. McGregor, known for his versatility, has been exploring various ventures, including a role in the recent Roadhouse remake. However, it was his streaming debut on Kick that took an unexpected turn when the chat managed to trick him into saying the N-word.

That doesn’t mean, though, that he can’t find time for a little of his own kind of amusement. When McGregor appeared on Kick in a sponsored partnership with Duelbits, he went after his rivals in the USC. He seemed to be having a pretty good time playing blackjack and engaging with questions about his training routine for his upcoming fight. With the clever use of usernames and McGregor shouting out everyone in the chat, he got tricked into unknowingly saying the N-word.

Read More: Conor McGregor Calls Out Ryan Garcia After Positive PED Test

Conor McGregor Tricked By Chat To Saying The N-Word

Conor Mcgregor got fooled into saying the N-word during his kick stream. Mcgregor also went in on his past and future MMA opponents, not saying any words against them. At first, McGregor was just playing blackjack for fun, but he couldn’t help but respond to chat requests to share his opinions about other UFC fighters. Longtime opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov and former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman were among those caught in the crossfire. McGregor said, “Khabib owes his bollocks to the Russian government, that’s typical rat behavior.” McGregor responded to questions about Usman with the same fury.

“F**k Kumaru Usman he’s a bum. Don’t give a f**k about Usman,” McGregor said of the Champion. He went on to go down the list of people he doesn’t like in the UFC. He is preparing to return to the Octagon. Overall, we will see if Conor still has what it takes to compete in the violent fight game. His streaming debut went pretty well outside of the little moment that he had. 

Read More: Jake Paul Responds To Conor McGregor Criticism Of Mike Tyson Fight

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Michael Chandler Confirms Conor McGregor Bout

Michael Chandler has confirmed that he will be fighting Conor McGregor this year. “I’ve got the official announcement. It’s happening this summer. I can’t tell you the actual date, but it’s happening this summer!” Chandler told TMZ. This news came days after McGregor told he wanted to fight Mike Tyson this year. That in itself would be an impressive feat, given that Tyson is already scheduled to fight Jake Paul. However, it looks like McGregor will instead be looking to return to his natural habitat of MMA.

McGregor had previously teased a fight with Chandler for the summer. “I’d like to announce the return date for myself, ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor. The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas, International Fight Week of June 29. The opponent, Michael Chandler — and the weight, Mr. Chandler, 185 pounds,” McGregor announced in a video on X on New Year’s Eve. However, the UFC did not, and has not, confirmed that fight. That may change given Chandler’s new announcement.

Read More: Conor McGregor Dodges Charges On Alleged NBA Finals Rape

Conor McGregor Accused Of Cocaine Addiction After Bizarre Interview

Elsewhere, A number of fans have theorized that McGregor is being kept out of the octagon due to a cocaine addiction. “Bro is absolutely geeking ❄. The UFC brass is trying to keep him away from the octagon because they know how bad his cocaine addiction has gotten,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Their evidence for this was a particularly energetic interview with McGregor in which he didn’t appear entirely sober.

As mentioned, McGregor is expected to return to the Octagon later this year. Furthermore, McGregor’s previously stated 185-pound weight is interesting as it’s well beyond the “natural” weight of both fighters. McGregor and Chandler both traditionally fight at 155 lbs. McGregor has previously fought as high as 170 lbs but never at 185 lbs. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how McGregor fares after two years away. His last two fights were convincing losses before he was sidelined with a broken leg.

Read More: Ronda Rousey Finally Reveals True Reason For Retirement

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