Khabib Nurmagomedov targeting return to defend UFC title toward end of 2018
(https:)The UFC lightweight division has no shortage of potential title contenders. And it seems like it’ll have plenty of time to sort itself out before the title gets defended again.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, the UFC’s 155-pound champion, wrote Sunday in an Instagram post that he’s not planning a return to the Octagon until November or December.
Volkan Oezdemir vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua pulled from UFC Chile
(https:)Volkan Oezdemir’s fight with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is off.
The light heavyweight duo was scheduled to meet at UFC Chile in Santiago on May 19. However, complications related to Oezdemir’s ongoing legal situation means the South Florida-based fighter won’t be able to leave the country and take the fight.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani confirmed an initial report by Combate. Additionally, MMA Fighting has learned the UFC is going to attempt to re-book the bout at a later date, preferably some time over the summer.
Santiago Ponzinibbio out of UFC Chile main event due to injury
(https:)UFC Chile is going to need a new main event.
Sources confirmed with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that Santiago Ponzinibbio has been forced to withdraw from his headlining bout opposite Kamaru Usman that was scheduled to take place on May 19 at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, due to a hand injury.
Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega title fight in the works for UFC 226 in Las Vegas
(mmajunkie.com)It appears Max Holloway will get his desired date and location for his next UFC featherweight title defense.
A matchup between Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) and top contender Brian Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is in the works for UFC 226, MMAjunkie learned from two people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the UFC has yet to make anything public.
UFC 226 takes place July 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Holloway vs. Ortega is expected to co-headline the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis slated for UFC 226
(https:)A much-anticipated heavyweight fight is close to being added to UFC 226.
Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis is scheduled for the July 7 card in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting has learned. The promotion is expected to finalize the fight in the coming days.
Marion Reneau vs. Cat Zingano among three bookings slated for UFC Fight Night 133 in Boise
(mmajunkie.com)Among the first additions to UFC Fight Night 133 is a crucial women’s bantamweight bout between streaking contender Marion Reneau and former title challenger Cat Zingano.
Also set for the card are a pair of flyweight bouts. Former 135-pound title challenger Liz Carmouche meets former Invicta FC champ Jennifer Maia. And Justin Scoggins also takes on a promotional newcomer in Said Nurmagomedov, who is the cousin of the UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Barb Honchak rebooked for TUF 27 Finale
(https:)Two of the best — and most well-known — women’s flyweight fighters in the world are set to collide this summer.
Roxanne Modafferi and Barb Honchak will meet at the TUF 27 Finale on July 6 in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting confirmed Thursday.
Also added to the TUF 27 Finale card, per the Review-Journal, was a bout between two other TUF 26 contestants — Rachael Ostovich vs. Montana de la Rosa. Former Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series star Julian Marquez will face Alessio Di Chirico as well.
Magomed Bibulatov off of UFC Atlantic City due to injury
(https:)UFC Fight Night Atlantic City could be down a bout.
Sources told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that flyweight Magomed Bibulatov has been forced to withdraw from his flyweight bout vs. Ulka Sasaki scheduled for Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., due to a back injury.
Rory MacDonald and Ben Askren tweet about fighting each other in Bellator, but how possible is that?
(mmajunkie.com)Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald vs. Ben Askren: Is this a matchup that piques your interest?
Because it’s been talked about now between the two fighters.
A Twitter user today asked MacDonald, who already said he wants to move up to middleweight, if he would be interested in facing Askren, the former ONE Championship and Bellator 170-pound titleholder, who retired undefeated last November.
MacDonald responded, and that got things going between him and Askren. Check it out:
Islam Makhachev vs. Kajan Johnson set for UFC on FOX card in Canada
(https:)Islam Makhachev and Kajan Johnson are set to fight in a lightweight bout at an upcoming July 28 UFC on FOX show that is expected to take place in Calgary, Alberta. Sources confirmed the matchup with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani following an initial report by TASS.
A featherweight bout between Calgary’s own Hakeem Dawodu and Austin Arnett has also been added to the card.
David Teymur welcomes Don Madge to the Octagon at UFC Liverpool
(https:)David Teymur will put his four-fight UFC win streak on the line when he faces debuting former EFC lightweight champion, Don Madge, at UFC Liverpool.
UFC announced the bout through its social media channels Wednesday, three hours after Madge initially disclosed the bout on his Instagram page.
Report: ESPN + FOX to bid jointly for UFC television rights
(mixedmartialarts.com)The point MMA became mainstream is a matter of debate, but could date to 2011 when the UFC and FOX signed a seven-year television deal, worth approximately $120 million per year by the end. Now it’s 2018, the deal is up, and the UFC reportedly wanted $300-400 million per year.
FOX balked, perhaps because viewership is down. Big FOX shows are down 22% compared to the year before, while Fight Night events are down 17%. However, Andrew Wallenstein and Daniel Holloway report for Variety that rivals ESPN and FOX have teamed up in a joint bid for UFC television rights, that could bring as many as 15 fight events to the ESPN+ subscription streaming service.
