UFC champ Nicco Montano says she's ready to fight Valentina Shevchenko on Sept. 8
(https:)UFC women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montano’s injury layoff has come to a sudden end.
Montano (4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) today announced she’s ready to take on No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Sept. 8, ending a long drama over scheduling the title bout.
Sept. 8 is the date targeted for UFC 228, though officials have yet to confirm the pay-per-view event, and a request for comment to UFC officials wasn’t immediately returned.
Brad Pickett ends retirement after 17 months, signs with ACB for August debut
(https:)Veteran bantamweight Brad Pickett has ended his retirement and will return to the cage just 17 months after declaring he was done competing for good.
It was announced today that Pickett (25-14) has signed a multi-fight deal with ACB and is expected to make his promotional debut Aug. 11 in his hometown of London.
“I’m delighted and excited to sign with ACB,” Pickett said in a press release. “They’re a great organization doing exciting things within the sport. I retired as I had fell out of love with the sport. My health and body are great, and coaching the fighters at the gym has given me a desire to return.”
Alexander Gustafsson wants to welcome Yoel Romero to UFC light heavyweight division
(https:)Alexander Gustafsson is on board for a matchup with Yoel Romero, or any other big fight the UFC will give him in the light-heavyweight or heavyweight divisions.
After Romero (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) missed weight for his UFC middleweight title fight against Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) at UFC 225 this past weekend, UFC President Dana White said he would like to see “The Soldier of God” move up a division and see what he can do at light heavyweight.
In particular, White said he would be interested in a showdown between Romero and two-time UFC title challenger Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), likely to determine who gets the next shot at current 205-pound champion Daniel Cormier (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC).
Tyrell Fortune vs. Josue Lugo added to Bellator 201
(https:)Standout wrestler Tyrell Fortune has been added to this month’s Bellator 201 preliminary card.
Fortune (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is slated to fight heavyweight Josue Lugo (8-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), officials announced.
Bellator 201 takes place June 29 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on the Bellator app.
The latest Bellator 201 card includes:
MAIN CARD (Paramount, 9 p.m. ET)
Champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Alejandra Lara – for women’s flyweight title
Saad Awad vs. Ryan Couture
Valerie Letourneau vs. Kristina Williams
Juan Archuleta vs. Robbie Peralta
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 7 p.m. ET)
Andy Murad vs. Ed Ruth
Keri Melendez vs. Tiani Valle
Tyrell Fortune vs. Josue Lugo
Kristi Lopez vs. Paola Ramirez
Jamal Pogues vs. Jordan Young
Joshua Jones vs. Jacob Rosales
David Conte vs. Jay Jay Wilson
Julio Aguilera vs. Ricky Furar
Damian Stasiak vs. Pingyuan Liu added to UFC Fight Night 134 in Germany
(https:)Next month’s UFC return to Germany – UFC Fight Night 134 – has a new bantamweight fight.
It features Damian Stasiak (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) vs. Pingyuan Liu (11-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), officials announced.
The latest UFC Fight Night 134 card includes:
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Mauricio Rua
Stefan Struve vs. Marcin Tybura
Marc Diakiese vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Jeremy Kimball vs. Darko Stosic
Ilir Latifi vs. Glover Teixeira
Justin Ledet vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Bartosz Fabinski vs. Emil Meek
Damir Hadzovic vs. Nick Hein
Abu Azaitar vs. Vitor Miranda
Alan Jouban vs. Danny Roberts
Pingyuan Liu vs. Damian Stasiak
Justin Gaethje vs. Al Iaquinta headliner, other bouts official for UFC Fight Night 135 in Lincoln
(https:)The fight card is taking shape for the UFC’s debut in Lincoln and just its third overall event in Nebraska.
UFC officials on Wednesday made official a slew of bouts, including a previously reported fight between lightweight contenders Justin Gaethje (18-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and Al Iaquinta (13-4-1 MMA, 8-3 UFC).
It serves as the main event of UFC Fight Night 135, which takes place Aug. 25 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. It airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, though the full fight card and bout order are still a long way from being finalized
The latest UFC Fight Night 135 lineup includes:
Justin Gaethje vs. Al Iaquinta
Antonio Braga Neto vs. Andrew Sanchez
Eryk Anders vs. Tim Williams
Luke Sanders vs. Rani Yahya
Drew Dober vs. Jon Tuck
Erick Silva kicks off post-UFC run, headlines LFA 45 on July 20
(https:)After a 15-fight run in the UFC, Brazilian welterweight Erick Silva now headlines LFA 45.
Promotion officials today announced that Silva (19-9) will face Nick Barnes (12-3) in the featured bout of the card, which takes place July 20 at Morongo Casino Outdoor Pavilion in Cabazon, Calif. The night’s main card airs on AXS TV.
The current LFA 45 card includes:
Erick Silva vs. Nick Barnes
Moses Murrietta vs. Casey Ryan
James Cannon vs. Blake Troop
Luc Bondole vs. Taylor Johnson
Dana White's Contender Series 9 results: Menifield UFC-bound, Hardy scores developmental deal
(https:)In his second visit to Dana White’s Contender Series, Alonzo Menifield (7-0) made a statement against Dashawn Boatwright (3-1)
In the opening seconds, the two men clashed in the center, and a Boatwright high kick turned out to be his undoing. Menifield pushed forward, and an off-balance Boatwright fell to the canvas. Menifield immediately jumped on top and punched away until referee Mark Smith called a halt to the contest just eight seconds after it began.
Complete Dana White’s Contender Series 9 results include:
Alonzo Menifield def. Dashawn Boatwright via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:08
Chris Curtis def. Sean Lally TKO (kick, punches) – Round 3, 1:37
Greg Hardy def. Austen Lane via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:57
Montel Jackson def. Rico DiSciullo via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:15
Kevin Holland def. Will Santiago via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
James Nakashima to Defend Welterweight Crown vs. Kyle Stewart in LFA 46 Main Event
(m.sherdog.com)A pair of fighters with Arizona ties will vie for welterweight gold when James Nakashima defends his 170-pound title against Kyle Stewart at Legacy Fighting Alliance 46.
The promotion announced the championship headliner on Wednesday. LFA 46 takes place at U.S. military facility Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Newport News, Va., and airs on AXS-TV at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. In the co-main event, Alexandre Bezerra will face Mike Pope at featherweight.
Nakashima, who trains at the MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz., is 8-0 as a professional. The former University of Nebraska wrestler last appeared at LFA 23, where he took a five-round split decision against Derrick Krantz in September 2017. According to a release, Nakashima has been sidelined by injuries since then.
UFC vet Erick Silva to make LFA debut vs. Nick Barnes on July 20
(https:)Once one of the UFC’s most intriguing welterweight prospects, Erick Silva is set to make a fresh start.
The 33-year-old Brazilian makes his Legacy Fighting Alliance debut on July 20 when he fights Nick Barnes (12-3) in the main event of LFA 45 at the Morongo Casino Outdoor Pavilion in Cabazon, Calif.
Silva’s contract with the UFC expired following his unanimous decision loss to Jordan Mein last December and he was in talks with several promotions before Wednesday’s announcement by the LFA. He lost four of his last five fights inside the Octagon.
Rafael dos Anjos reacts to UFC 225 loss to Colby Covington: ‘Bad guys win sometimes in real life’
(https:)Rafael dos Anjos had the chance to join the club of fighters who managed to win UFC titles in two different weight classes, but was defeated by Colby Covington for the interim welterweight belt in the co-main event of UFC 225 in Chicago in Saturday night.
Two days after the defeat, dos Anjos’ first loss since moving up from 155 pounds, the Brazilian released a statement on his social media, promising to bounce back a better fighter, like he did after his 2014 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, and losing to one of the “bad guys” in Chicago.
UFC 227 tickets: $362 gets you cageside for Dillashaw-Garbrandt, Johnson-Cejudo rematches
(https:)If you’re headed to Los Angeles for a pair of championship rematches, $362 will get on the floor for UFC 227.
Officials today announced UFC 227 ticket prices, which range from $62.10 for nosebleeds to $362.25 for floor/cageside seats.
UFC 227 takes place Aug. 4 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, though the full fight card and bout order haven’t been finalized.
Tickets, which are capped at eight per order, go on sale to to the general public beginning Friday at 10 a.m. PT. However, UFC 226 ticket pre-sale periods begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT for UFC Fight Club members and Thursday at 10 a.m. PT for UFC.com e-newsletter subscribers.
USADA suspends Michal Oleksiejczuk one year for testing positive for clomiphene
(https:)Michal Oleksiejczuk now has his complete sanctions.
USADA suspended the UFC light heavyweight for one year after his positive test for clomiphene in December, the UFC’s anti-doping partner announced Tuesday. Oleksiejczuk was already suspended one year in March by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) and his win over Khalil Rountree was overturned to a no contest. The suspensions will run concurrently.
Rolando Dy vs. Shane Young completes 12-bout lineup at UFC Singapore
(https:)A featherweight contest between the Philippines’ Rolando Dy (9-6-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and New Zealand’s Shane Young (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is the 12th and final addition to the UFC’s upcoming return to Singapore.
UFC officials recently announced the contest for UFC Fight Night 132, which takes place June 23 at Singapore Indoor Stadium and streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
X-ray shows hand injury suffered by Robert Whittaker at UFC 225
(https:)Robert Whittaker scored another decision victory over Yoel Romero in the main event of UFC 225 in Chicago, but it was a costly win.
“The Reaper”, who won a close split decision win in a five-round non-title bout Saturday night, fractured his right thumb early in the opening round, and his team released the X-ray on social media.
Michael Bisping’s on-air beef with Colby Covington was untimely (and unnecessary)
(https:)It’s exceedingly easy to hate on Colby Covington, especially after he vowed to take his newly won interim belt to the White House for Donald Trump to run a cold finger over. But it’s quite another to dress him down on a post-fight show right after he wins that belt, which Michael Bisping did late on Saturday night. If you expect high-road professionalism from Bisping in his role as an analyst, five words spring immediately to mind.
Good luck with that, booday.
In fact, the whole segment — which lasted five minutes and aired live on Fox Sports 1 after UFC 225 — took on the complexion of an SNL skit, with Covington on one half of the split screen sporting shades, his belt and his trademark smug smile, and Bisping on the other, taking umbrage at how Covington called the panel out for doubting his chances against Rafael dos Anjos. It was uncomfortable, weird, comical, even a little mortifying — and sometimes all of those things at once (like when poor Michelle Waterson forgot her question).
It was also untimely. Check it out for yourself.
Dana White says Rashad Evans told him that he’s retiring from MMA
(https:)Rashad Evans’ 53-second loss at UFC 225 could turn out to be the final Octagon appearance of his legendary career.
Evans suffered a nasty first-round knockout loss to Anthony Smith on Saturday night at UFC 225, a setback which extended his current losing streak to five straight. Afterward, UFC president Dana White said that he spoke to Evans in the aftermath of the Smith fight, and he indicated that Evans could be at the end of his 13-year run with the promotion.
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