UFC announces cast for The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated
(https:)The big news Friday was the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 27 — UFC champions Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, who will fight for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 226 on July 7 in Las Vegas.
But also announced Friday by the UFC was the cast for TUF 27: Undefeated. None of the lightweight and featherweight fighters on the show have ever lost a bout before.
Joe Warren vs. Joe Taimanglo booked for Bellator 195
(https:)Joe Warren has his first fight set for 2018.
The three-time Bellator titleholder returns to action in a bantamweight bout vs. Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 195 on March 2 at the WinStar World Casino in Thackervile, Okla. Officials announced the bout on Friday’s Bellator 193 broadcast.
Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier set for champion vs. champion superfight at UFC 226; will also coach TUF 27
(https:)For the first time in the history of The Ultimate Fighter, two current champions, in two different weight classes, will serve as head coaches.
The UFC has tapped heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier as the next head coaches of the reality show, the UFC announced Friday. Filming is scheduled to commence next week.
Following the conclusion of the show, the duo are scheduled to fight at UFC 226 on July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Miocic’s heavyweight title. Should he win, Cormier would become just the second fighter in UFC history to be a champion in two different weight classes at the same time, and the fifth fighter in total to be a two-division UFC champion.
Michal Oleksiejczuk fails USADA drug test, facing anti-doping policy violation
(https:)It’s Michal Oleksiejczuk’s turn to deal with the USADA.
On Thursday, officials announced that Oleksiejczuk failed an in-competition drug test taken in conjunction with his Dec. 30 fight vs. Khalil Rountree at UFC 219 in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old Pole defeated Rountree by unanimous decision, but could see that result overturned in addition to facing other sanctions from both the USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Demetrious Johnson wants to fight T.J. Dillashaw on “a stacked card,” not afraid of being stripped of his title
(https:)Since reclaiming the UFC bantamweight title with a knockout win of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217, T.J. Dillashaw has been aggressively calling for a flyweight title shot against pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson but “Mighty Mouse” has been mostly disinterested in the fight. But with the tides of inevitability moving inexorably towards the superfight taking place, Johnson has gotten fully on board with the bout, just so long as it takes place on a major pay-per-view event.
Speaking recently with ESPN, Johnson explained that he was ready to fight Dillashaw but he wanted to do it on a “stacked” card, one that would be sure to draw in large PPV numbers and guarantee a big payday for the all-time great.
Liam McGeary vs. Vadim Nemkov official for February's Bellator 194
(mmajunkie.com)A light heavyweight matchup between a former champion and a contender on the rise is now official for next month’s Bellator 194 event.
MMAjunkie today learned from Bellator officials that Liam McGeary (12-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) will indeed take on Vadim Nemkov (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at the event, which takes place Feb. 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Nate Diaz teases that he’s ready for UFC return
(https:)Is Nate Diaz ready for a comeback?
The wildly popular UFC fighter posted a fairly cryptic Instagram message Tuesday night, which followed a string of videos and photos from his fights. The final one was a picture of Diaz flipping his trademark double bird with a major hint about a return fight.
Diaz wrote that he’s “sick of sitting around waiting” and that there’s “no excitement in this fight [sh*t].”
“Step your games up,” he wrote. “I’ll see u around may,June.”
Diaz signed off with: “Sincerely The Real Champ.”
Sources told MMA Fighting that the social media barrage is legitimate and he’s ready to fight again in the timeframe mentioned.
Angela Hill vs. Maryna Moroz booked for UFC on FOX 28
(https:)Maryna Moroz didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity to step in the cage.
The 26-year-old strawweight was supposed to fight Jamie Moyle this past weekend at UFC 220, but Moyle was forced out of the bout with an undisclosed injury days before the event. Rather than rush to find a replacement for Moyle, the matchmakers instead waited to re-book Moroz for a meeting with Angela Hill at UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando, Fla.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir set for Bellator 196
(https:)Two of the heavyweight division’s all-time greats will finally meet.
On Monday, officials announced that the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix opening round matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Frank Mir will take place at Bellator 196 on April 28 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The event will air live on the Paramount Network.
