Jon Jones (28-1) knocked out Stipe Miocic (20-5) in the third round to retain the heavyweight championship at UFC 309 from Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jones opened with a couple shots up top, a leg kick, and eventually a takedown. On top, Jones worked the ground and pound, refusing to give Miocic any room on the ground in a dominant first round — but while it looked like Jones could have ended it early, Miocic was able to hang on.

Miocic opened the second round with a more measured approach, waiting for his own opportunities to attack without being taken down. The former heavyweight champion was relatively flat-footed before opening a more active approach in the third, but as Miocic moved, it was Jones who picked apart Miocic.

Jones hurt Miocic with a big right hand midway through the round, but kept the champ at bay with a combination of his own. Jones hurt Miocic with a spinning back kick to the body, then finished him off with lefts and rights on the ground before the referee stoppage.

Jones’ return to the UFC on Saturday was just his second bout in the heavyweight division. He hadn’t fought since last year, claiming the UFC Heavyweight belt in his debut in the heavyweight division against Ciryl Gane. Jones is arguably the greatest fighter in UFC history, but his background is riddled in controversy amid two victories over another greatest of all-time contender, Daniel Cormier.

Miocic hadn’t fought since 2021, when he suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou.

Jones as the winner has an interesting path forward. On one hand, the interim champ, Tom Aspinall, is waiting in the wings and ready to prove himself against an all-time great. On the other hand, Alex Pereira seems prepped to climb to the heavyweight division, making possibly two weight jumps in three year as the former middleweight and current light heavyweight champion. Jones hasn’t seemed as interested in Aspinall recently, but opened the door to that fight after the win.

After his loss, Miocic retired from the UFC.

When TNT Sports lost the rights to the NBA this summer, with the league opting for a three-network deal with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, the biggest question from fans was what would the future look like for ‘Inside the NBA’. After initially sounding as though it would end after this season, TNT was able to get Charles Barkley to agree to stick around for the remainder of his contract, with plans to continue the show in some capacity.

Now, we know what that will be, and instead of TNT airing the fellas talking about various sports (as was rumored at one point), they will continue to cover the NBA as part of ESPN’s NBA coverage in a unique licensing deal between Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the Wall Street Journal and Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, the deal will see TNT Sports continue producing the show, but it will air on ESPN.

Separately, Warner Bros. Discovery struck a deal with Disney to license the TNT show “Inside the NBA” to ESPN and ABC starting next season, according to the people familiar with the matter. The show, which features the former players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, has an enthusiastic and large following. The show will air throughout the course of the season.

This all happens alongside a larger settlement between the NBA and WBD, which will see WBD continue running NBA TV and the league’s digital platforms, with Bleacher Report and House of Highlights maintaining rights to NBA videos. That is all excellent news for those at TNT Sports and those outlets, and sources inside TNT Sports tell Dime that they are “considering it a best case scenario” after losing NBA game broadcasts — particularly considering NBA TV is their lone year-round property.

For NBA fans the biggest news is that Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson will still be on our televisions — one would assume from Studio J in Atlanta still if TNT is producing it — each week during the NBA season. One would expect they’ll move from their Thursday slot to Wednesday for ESPN’s biggest night of games — as the other options are Friday and Sunday and I have a hard time imagining them moving to either of those. The move allows the best show to continue without any changes to talent in front of or behind the camera, which is particularly important, and one would think if ESPN is adding the show they will understand what makes it so good and give it the kind of space and time it deserves, rather than what they currently do with their studio offering. It remains to be seen what happens with NBA Countdown, as they’ll still need to have something for those Friday and Sunday games, but may shake up their main crew with the Inside fellas becoming their A-crew and Finals team.

Gwen Stefani’s sonic exploration both as a solo act and the frontwoman of No Doubt has run the gambit. Some of her musical ventures earn sparked backlash over claims of cultural appropriation. But fans believe she’s right at home in country music (heard on Gwen’s new album Bouquet) and her marriage to Blake Shelton (one of the genre’s stars).

As deeply in love as the couple appears to be, during an interview with The Guardian confessed she actually wasn’t aware of him or his professional accomplishments.

“I never listened to country music,” she said. “So while Blake was super successful, I never even knew he existed before I met him.”

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s love story can be traced back to their time on music competition show, The Voice. The two recording artists battled in out beginning in 2014 on the hit television program.

Since then the couple have been inseparable. However, they haven’t hit the booth much for original collaboration. Gwen and Blake have shared the stage together on multiple occasion. Later in the chat, Gwen addressed that oversight. “When he heard ‘Purple Irises,’ he loved it so much he ended up singing on it,” she said. “I love singing with him. He’s very humble and doesn’t realize how good he is. There’s something so attractive about that.”

When asked if they plan on following up their first collaboration with an album, Gwen replied: “I would love to.”

So Blake, the ball is in your court.

Bouquet is out now via Interscope. Find more information here.

Ariana Grande is proudly Team USA. (with even prouder Italian roots). But during a recent sit down, “The Boy Is Mine” singer crowned another country the leaders in vocal prowess.

Just as Ariana Grande had the chance to unlock her “inner theater kid” for Wicked, others around the world are doing the same. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio traveling around the globe to promote the forthcoming film (due out on November 22) tributes of the musical’s classic tunes have begun to pour in.

While chatting with television host Lyn Ching for their 24 Oras appearance (viewable here), Ariana made an interesting confession. “Filipinos are the best singers in the world,” she said.

Even Erivo, a Nigerian-British Tony Award-winning vocalist, seems to agree with Grande’s remark. “Yes. No, they do,” she echoed.

Grande took her bold statement to the next level, saying: “No, honestly, they have the best voices, too.”

Well, Ching allowed the Filipino people’s voices to prove Grande’s point. Ching went on to play a group of Filipinos submitted a video tribute performing Wicked’s standout and extremely technical ballad “Defying Gravity.” After the video ended, both ladies were left speechless.

Both ladies referred to the performance as “amazing” and “beautiful.”

Grande ended it off saying, “Those harmonies at the end. That was stunning.”

Kanye West (Ye) and Adidas’ lengthy courtroom battle is supposedly over. However, the “Carnival” musician is still facing a mountain of loaded lawsuits.

According to Rolling Stone, Kanye West along with his Yeezy brand and Donda Academy is being sued by a former staffer. In the documents obtained by the outlet, a supposed ex-employee, Murphy Aficionado, is accusing West of fostering a hostile work environment, discrimination, wrongful termination, labor code violations, and failure to pay wages.

Within the filing submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by lawyers Carney R. Shegerian and William Reed, Aficionado claimed West went on “antisemitic tirades” on a “daily occurrence.”

The document transcribed one of the alleged encounters retold by Aficionado as: “The Jews are out to get me. They froze my bank account. The Jews got Kim [Kardashian] and my kids. The Jews convinced Kim [Kardashian]. She has Jewish masters.”

Aficionado continued, saying: “Ye’s antisemitic tirades and conspiracies were a daily occurrence. Often, these outbursts involved how Jews controlled the Kardashians. Other times, Ye recounted how Jews were going after him and his money.”

He also accused Kanye West of subjecting him to flashes of his wife Bianca Censori’s exposed body and a loud intimate moment between Censori and West in the middle of a meeting.

Kanye West has not issued a public response to this lawsuit.

Pharrell has found himself in the middle of controversy yet again. but this time it has nothing to do with his hot takes on celebrities’ involvement in politics.

In the famed producer’s animated biopic, Piece By Piece, he showcased his ability to maintain his cool under pressure. Following after the GQ Men Of The Year Party in West Hollywood, California onlookers witnessed it firsthand. As the “Happy” musician attempted to leave the annual shindig, held on November 14, Pharrell was aggressively confronted outside of his car service.

During the exchange, captured by The Hollywood Fix (viewable here), the animal rights advocates can be heard screaming: “Shame on you, you animal murder. You are a loser. What type of person still uses fur?”

Initially, Pharrell lashes back at the protester mocking them repeating back, “Shame on you.” Then as the cameras grew closer, Pharrell let his frustrations go. He then says, “I don’t use fur. God bless you.”

Afterward, Pharrell attempts to cut their tension with a hug. However, the activists were not open to the embrace. Back in September, Pharrell’s Piece By Piece screening, the event was crashed by PETA supporters carrying a sign which read: “Pharrell: Stop Killing Animals For Fashion.”

PETA and Pharrell jagged relationship is tied to his post as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director.

The heart wants what it wants and for Sabrina Carpenter fans that’s more collaborations with Christina Aguilera. Back in September, the pop darlings joined forces for The 25th Anniversary Of Christina Aguilera | Spotify Anniversaries Live. Together the singer reimagined Aguilera’s 1998 hit “What A Girl Wants” off of the self-titled album.

Well, shortly after the official video for the debut was shared that visual went viral. Now, fans can’t get enough of the two. So, yesterday (November 15) when Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet Tour made a stop at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California their highly requested reunion happened.

As Carpenter played a game with the sold out crowd of what she should cover, Aguilera’s name came out of the winner (viewable here). But before she could belt a note, Aguilera beat her to it hitting her signature run as she appeared from underneath the stage. Aguilera got straight to work performing her 2006 track, “Ain’t No Other Man,” (viewable here) from the Back To Basics album.

In awe, Carpenter and Aguilera exchange warm glances. From time to time you can hear Carpenter pitching in with a few supporting background vocals. But the now beloved duo were sure to treat concertgoers to what first drew their fans bases in, before the performance returns to its originally scheduled program Sabrina Carpenter and Christina Aquilera delivered a bubbly duet of “What A Girl Wants.”

Just like that, supporters have begun to request an original record between the acts. Who knows if that will ever happen. But users online are surely holding out hope for it.

Sexyy Red has moxie. There’s no absolutely no denying that. The “Pound Town” rapper’s venture into cosmetics is all the proof you’ll need. Yesterday (November 15), Sexyy Red announced her budding beauty brand, Northside Princess, secured a partnership with Club Kuma. So, that means her lip gloss line and its viral cringeworthy names are here to stay.

If you would like to rub Sexyy Red’s ‘Coochie Juice,’ ‘Booty Hole Brown,’ ‘Nut,’ ‘P*ssyhole Pink,’ ‘Yellow Discharge,’ ‘Gonorrhea,’ ‘Blue Ballz,’ ‘Sex On My Period’ sheen pigments on your mouth you can do so soon with the Sexyy Gloss collection. Beginning on Black Friday (November 29), the limited edition ‘Sexyy Gloss Kit’ will be available for purchase.

In a statement Sexyy Red expressed her pride in the upcoming release. “I’m so excited to share my Northside Princess brand and my Sexyy Gloss collection with y’all,” she said. “This is real personal for me because this is the relaunch of something I worked on years ago, and it’s coming back better than ever. It’s cute and it smell real good too. If you wanna feel as Sexyy as me with this lip gloss on, my personal favs is Coochie Juice and Blue Ballz!”

Club Kuma’s co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jenny Hsu echoed Sexyy Red’s excitement, saying: “At Club Kuma, our priority is partnering with creators who are driving culture forward. Sexyy Red brings a fresh perspective to everything she does, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with her on Northside Princess. The Sexyy Gloss Kit captures Sexyy’s fun and uninhibited spirit perfectly, and we’re excited to share it.”

The “Sexyy Gloss Kit” is set to go on sale on November 29 at 9am Pacific. In addition to Sexyy Red’s Gloss Kit, a supporting Northside Princess merch and apparel will be made available at the side time. Find more information here.

Netflix is in the Tyler Perry business, and business is good.

In October 2023, the prolific filmmaker agreed to a first-look deal for eight movies with the streaming service. Months later, in February 2024, he continued the creative partnership with a multi-year pact for new TV shows, beginning with Beauty in Black. The drama premiered in October and, like most of Perry’s movies and shows, it’s a hit: Beauty in Black was the most-watched show on Netflix during its second week of release. It’s still in the top 10.

Considering its success, Beauty in Black is obviously getting a season 2 (which is technically the second half of season 1). Here’s everything we know about what’s next, including plot details and a potential release date window.

Plot

Set in Atlanta, Beauty in Black follows Kimmie (played by Taylor Polidore Williams), an exotic dancer who struggles to make ends meet after her mother kicks her out, and Mallory (Crystle Stewart), the wealthy owner of a hair care company. Eventually, the pair become entangled in each other’s lives.

“The hair care business here is huge [and strip club] Magic City is huge, and I was like, what happened if those worlds collided — the stripper world and this hair care business?” Perry explained to Tudum about his inspiration for the show. “Never ever underestimate the power of the underdog.”

Season 1 (Part I) ends on a cliffhanger. No spoilers here, but Perry wants “people talking about it around the water cooler, and on [social media], and trending, and just loving it.” As for season 2 / part II, he teased, “I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to figure out where it’s going and how that rise of power happens with Kimmie. It’s going to be mind-blowing for people.”

Cast

Beauty in Black features many actors who have previously appeared in Tyler Perry projects, including leads Taylor Polidore Williams as Kimmie and Crystle Stewart (fun fact: she’s a former Miss USA winner) as Mallory Bellaire.

In an interview with Classix ATL, Polidore Williams described how Perry pitched the show to her. “He was like, ‘Read it, whatever you need, you can do it,’ and I think that trust that he had in me gave me the confidence to kind of go from there and do my thing and to prepare for such an emotionally taxing role,” she said. “It was in the story, so I didn’t have to do too much creation in my mind. It’s pretty helpful with what’s going on.”

The show also stars Amber Reign Smith as Rain, Debbi Morgan as Olivia, Richard Lawson as Norman, Steven G. Norfleet as Charles, Julian Horton as Roy, Terrell Carter as Varney, Shannon Wallace as Calvin, Xavier Smalls as Angel, Charles Malik Whitfield as Jules, Ursula O. Robinson as Delinda. There’s also Ricco Ross as Horace, Bryan Tanaka as Officer Alex, Joy Rovaris as Gillian, Tamera “Tee” Kissen as Body, Ashley Versher as Lena, and George Middlebrook as Officer Trackson.

Release Date

Netflix gave Beauty in Black a 16-episode order when it was announced. The first eight episodes premiered on October 24, 2024. The other eight will debut in 2025, possibly as soon as the spring.

Trailer

If you haven’t watched Beauty in Black, you can see what all the hubbub is about in the trailer for season 1.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cordae, Denzel Curry, and Lil Nas X.

Big week, no time for preamble. Let’s get into it.

The Golden State Warriors recruited P-Lo to lead an all-star cast of Bay Area rap faves including G-Eazy, LaRussell, Saweetie, and more on “Players Holiday ’25.”

Lil Baby returned with “5AM,” a new single aimed at kicking off the Atlanta rapper’s next album, WHAM (Who Hard As Me.

Speaking of comeback albums, Lil Nas X’s “Light Again” video delivered an unexpected glimpse at his upcoming Dreamboy era.

Finally, Juice WRLD’s posthumous release, “AGATS2 (Insecure)” reconnected him with Nicki Minaj and hearkened back to his breakout hit.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending November 15, 2024.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Cordae — The Crossroads

Two years removed from his last full-length release From A Birds Eye View, Cordae has plenty of life experiences and an insatiable drive to prove himself as a rapper. Fortunately, he’s chosen the perfect cast of characters to complement his heady wordplay, including Anderson .Paak, Joey Badass, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.

Dave East & AraabMuzik — Living Proof

Sourpuss attitude about modern hip-hop aside, Dave East is one of New York’s finest contemporary rappers, waving the flag for that gritty, late-90s/early-00s sound. AraabMuzik is a fitting collaborator, as his production buttressed many of the mixtapes that defined that era; adding guest stars Benny The Butcher, Fabolous, and Ransom to the recipe just sets off their chemistry.

Denzel Curry — King Of The Mischievous South

Curry’s ode to the lineage of the Dirty South’s regional styles and sounds runs the gamut from mid-90s Memphis trap to Houston chopped-and-screwed. As the polished version of the mixtape he released earlier this year, it contains a handful of new tracks and a slew of fitting collaborators, from the ASAP Mob to Juicy J.

Kash Doll — The Last Doll

Is the title perhaps a cheeky reference to the glut of doll-themed rappers Kash came into the rap game alongside, only to be the sole surviving relevant member of her rap class? We’re sure DreamDoll is still kicking around somewhere, but it certainly seems Kash is the last woman left standing, and her latest is a testament to the street certified skills that kept her there.

Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne — Sli’merre 2

Young Nudy is a fascinating case. He’s one of the more unique representatives of Atlanta hip-hop, but he’s also something of an iconoclast among his Peach State brethren, delaying his breakout in spite of a massive groundswell of support from a tapped in fandom. While he’s grown in acclaim with each release, most recently 2023’s Gumbo, his 2019 joint album with producer Pi’erre Bourne still constitutes the high point of his commercial endeavors. Perhaps going back to that creative well will see him reach a new commercial peak.

Singles/Videos

Armani White — “TTSO.”

The Philadelphia native remains fashion focused on his new single, promising to “throw that sh*t on” rather than stressing the hate or pressure that comes with his newfound levels of success.

Killer Mike — “Still Talkin That Sh*t” Feat. Key Glock & Project Pat

Killer Mike’s last few releases have been autobiographical, spiritual, and uplifting, so it makes sense Mike wants to prove he can still “talk that sh*t.” Debuting the new song with a From The Block performance, he’s joined by Memphis standouts Key Glock and Project Pat, who suit the production style, a departure from Mike’s usual preference.

Quando Rondo — “Grow Up”

The controversial Georgia star’s new album, Here For A Reason, is out today, and its focus track is a nostalgic, uplifting meditation on his unusual rags-to-riches biography. It’s also somewhat of a departure from some of his mainline material — a change that oddly mirrors a similar shift from his ostensible rival Lil Durk. Let’s hope it doesn’t have similar motivations.

Ray Vaughn — “East Chatt” Feat. Isaiah Rashad

TDE’s Long Beach flag waver trades in his usual hyperactive production to pair up with the more mellow Isaiah Rashad to prove that he can do a little a bit of everything. The video repurposes performance footage from last year’s TDE holiday concert to remind fans that Christmas is coming, and Ray Vaughn is certainly very gifted. This year’s concert is on December 19, by the way.

Tyga — “Mmphh”

Man, if this came out in May, it would have been inescapable. The beat is hypnotic, Tyga’s deep in his bag, and the energy just screams summer house/pool party. It’s probably still be in heavy rotation at the clubs for the rest of the year.