Conor McGregor posts mocking message after Max Holloway’s UFC 222 withdrawal
(https:)Conor McGregor’s new nickname may as well be Mr. Rub Salt in the Wound.
Just hours after UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was forced to pull out of his UFC 222 title defense against Frankie Edgar on Saturday due to a leg injury, McGregor fired an extra shot at his former foe over social media, mocking Holloway with an Instagram photo from the Irishman’s 2013 decision win over “Blessed.”
Aspen Ladd vs. Leslie Smith among additions to UFC Fight Night 128 in Atlantic City
(mmajunkie.com)The UFC’s spring return to New Jersey has started to build with the addition of three fights.
Aspen Ladd (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will take on Leslie Smith (10-7-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in a women’s bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 128.
In addition, Merab Dvalishvili (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will meet Augusto Mendes (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at bantamweight and Magomed Bibulatov (14-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will fight Ulka Sasaki (20-5-2 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at flyweight. UFC officials announced the new bookings Saturday during the UFC Fight Night 125 broadcast.
UFC Fight Night 128 will take place April 21 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card will air on FS1 following prelims on FS2 and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC announces UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro, UFC 225 in Chicago
(https:)The Octagon is visiting some familiar stomping grounds, and also making some history, this spring.
During Saturday’s UFC Belem broadcast, a pair of pay-per-view dates were announced. UFC 224 will take place at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro on May 12, while UFC 225 is booked for the United Center in Chicago on June 9.
Wilson Reis fights John Moraga at UFC on FOX 29
(https:)Wilson Reis and John Moraga will have to step over one another if they hope to get back into title contention.
The former flyweight championship challengers have been booked to fight at UFC on FOX 29 on April 14 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., officials announced Saturday.
Both Reis and Moraga are considered to be top contenders at 125 pounds and among the list of fighters who have taken a crack at knocking off divisional king Demetrious Johnson.
Max Holloway Withdraws from Title Defense vs. Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 Due to Injury
(sherdog.com)UFC 222 needs a new headliner.
Reigning featherweight champion Max Holloway has withdrawn from his scheduled title defense against Frankie Edgar at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 3 due to an unspecified injury. Multiple outlets have confirmed the news following an initial report from ESPN.com on Saturday.
The promotion has not officially pulled Holloway from the card, but it is reportedly exploring other options for a new UFC 222 headliner.
Holloway and Edgar were originally booked to fight at UFC 218 in December, but Edgar was forced to pull out of that bout due to injury. Instead, Holloway successfully defended his title with a third-round stoppage of Jose Aldo. Holloway claimed undisputed featherweight gold with a technical knockout of Aldo at UFC 212. The Hawaiian has won 12 fights in a row.
Alex Perez meets Eric Shelton at UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando
(mmajunkie.com)Three weeks before the event, a flyweight fight appears to be the final piece to the puzzle for the UFC’s return to Florida.
Alex Perez will take on Eric Shelton on the preliminary card at UFC on FOX 28. UFC officials recently announced the new booking for the UFC Fight Pass portion of the event.
John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz off of UFC Belem
(https:)UFC Belem has lost its co-main event.
Pedro Munhoz failed to make weight for his co-main event bout with John Dodson on Friday morning, coming in four pounds overweight, and MMA Fighting has learned that Dodson has decided not to take the fight.
UFC 224 set for May 12 in Rio de Janeiro
(mmajunkie.com)It looks like the UFC will return to Brazil later this spring for a pay-per-view card.
The promotion is making its debut in Belem this week in Para, Brazil, for UFC Fight Night 125. But according to a report from Brazilian MMA news outlet Combate, UFC 224 will go down May 12 in Rio de Janeiro.
