Michael Chandler vs. Patricio ‘Pitbull’ lightweight title fight slated for Bellator 221
(https:)It’ll be a battle between perhaps the two most significant fighters in Bellator history.
Michael Chandler vs. Patricio Freire is slated for Bellator 221 on May 11 in Rosemont, Ill., sources confirmed Thursday with MMA Fighting. Chandler will put his lightweight title on the line against “Pitbull,” the featherweight champion, moving up in a true superfight. And one that has been building for some time between the two sides.
Dana White says Khabib Nurmagomedov can’t sit out until the end of the year with lightweight title
(https:)Khabib Nurmagomedov is playing a dangerous game.
Last month, the UFC lightweight champion was handed down a nine month suspension, retroactive to October, for his role in starting a brawl at UFC 229. His punishment also included a option to reduce the suspension by three months if he participated in an anti-bullying public service announcement. Instead, Nurmagomedov has gone the other way, saying not only does he refuse to do the PSA, he also refuses to fight again until the one-year suspension of his teammates, Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, are over as well and is targeting a November return.
UFC 234 Results: Winners, Bonuses, Highlights And Analysis
(https:)Almost everything about UFC 234 was disappointing. The one exception was the amazing show of respect between Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva after the former took a unanimous-decision victory in the makeshift main event in Melbourne, Australia.
Performance Bonus - Montana de la Rosa and Devonte Smith
Fight of the Night - Israel Adesanya vs
Anderson Silva
Robert Whittaker out of UFC 234 title fight with hernia
(https:)UFC 234 has lost its headliner just hours before the show is set to begin.
UFC President Dana White told ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto on Saturday (early Sunday morning locally) that middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is out of his scheduled title fight with Kelvin Gastelum after being hospitalized the night before. He was diagnosed with a hernia and will undergo surgery later today.
Alexander Volkov vs. Alistair Overeem Headlines UFC Fight Night St. Petersburg
(https:)A heavyweight division attraction is going to be headlining UFC Fight Night St. Petersburg according to Farah Hannoun as #5 Alexander Volkov is going to be in action against #6 Alistair Overeem.
Volkov (30-7-0) is looking to rebound from his first UFC loss, which came to Derrick Lewis via third round knockout at UFC 229. Volkov is undefeated in UFC main event fights, having previously defeated the duo of Stefan Struve and Fabricio Werdum in headlining encounters. Volkov is also a former Bellator MMA Heavyweight Champion, defeating Rich Hale at Bellator 84 to win the gold.
Welcome to the UFC: Zelim Imadaev
(https:)A top Russian prospect looks to be headed to the UFC, as Zelim Imadaev has inked a deal with the world’s premier MMA promotion.
Imadaev has signed a contract with the UFC, and has been in talks since November. First reported by Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev, the story was later confirmed by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. A debut date and opponent has yet to be announced.
Zelim Imadaev
6’0?
Welterweight
23-years-old
Moscow, Russia
Xtreme Couture
8-0
8 KO/TKO
Boston Salmon Faces Khalid Taha At UFC 236
(https:)A bantamweight division attraction has been re-booked for the upcoming UFC 236 card according to My MMA News as Boston Salmon is going to be in action against Khalid Taha.
The bout was originally set to happen at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale, but Taha pulled out of that fight due to a knee injury.
Salmon (6-1-0) is going to be making his UFC debut in this fight and is also returning to action for the first time in almost two years. Salmon competed on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Episode 1, defeating Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision. Salmon is also a longtime veteran of the Resurrection Fighting Alliance, winning five of six bouts in the promotion.
Roxanne Modafferi Faces Antonina Shevchenko At UFC Fight Night St. Petersburg
(https:)A women's flyweight division attraction has been added to UFC Fight Night St. Petersburg according to My MMA News as #8 Roxanne Modafferi is in action against Antonina Shevchenko.
Modafferi (22-15-0) has won just one of three bouts during her second UFC run, with that lone win coming over Barb Honchak at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. Modafferi has previously challenged for the UFC Women's Flyweight Title, losing to then champion Nicco Montano in the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 26. Modafferi has competed a total of thirty seven times as a professional MMA fighter and more than half of her fights went the distance.
Michel Tractor faces Ismail Naurdiev at UFC Prague
(mmabrasil.com.br)Brazilian midfielder Michel Tractor had no opponent after the injury of Russian Ramazan Emeev , but the UFC has already agreed to hire a fighter to enter as a substitute. As determined exclusively by MMA Brazil , the Austrian Ismail Naurdiev is the one who will face Tractor at UFC Prague on 23 February.
Ian Heinisch steps in to fight Tom Breese at UFC London
(https:)Tom Breese has another new opponent for UFC London.
The UFC announced Thursday that Ian Heinisch has signed on as a replacement for an injured Cezar Ferreira to fight Breese in a middleweight bout at The O2 Arena on March 16. Ferreira himself was a replacement for an injured Alessio Di Chirico.
Paul Daley thinks he's solved the 'MVP' puzzle, promises a 'simple victory' at Bellator 216
(https:)Paul Daley has been something of a cult figure among U.K. MMA fans for more than a decade, but now he thinks he is finally about to hit pay dirt with the biggest win of his career.
Daley (40-16-2 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) developed his reputation as a terrifyingly powerful striker who would test his skills against anyone in the world. He says he has solved the puzzle so many of Michael Page’s (13-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) previous opponents failed to master, and that he’s ready to halt the hype train of his countryman.
Former UFC champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk returning to strawweight
(https:) Joanna Jedrzejczyk is returning to the division where she long held UFC gold.
After a one-fight stop in the women’s flyweight division, Jedrzejczyk (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) said she will return to strawweight. First, though, she intends on taking more time to relax following her 125-pound title-fight loss to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231 in December.
Ben Askren vows never to fight UFC champ Tyron Woodley
(https:)Former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champ Ben Askren has called out a lot of fighters on the UFC roster.
Now that he resides on it, he’s got the chance to realize those matchups (some even want to fight him outside the octagon). But there’s one fight he’ll never pursue, and that’s UFC champ Tyron Woodley (19-3-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC).
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor suspended for UFC 229 brawl
(https:)UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor have been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their roles in the infamous UFC 229 brawl.
Nurmagomedov received nine months, while McGregor received six months. The suspensions are retroactive to the Oct. 6 fight card, which took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, meaning Nurmagomedov is able to return to the cage as soon as July 6 and McGregor on April 6.
