Max Holloway’s masterpiece was at the same time a showcase of Brian Ortega’s heart
(https:)Heading into Saturday night, Max Holloway’s health was being fussed over in hushed tones, quiet enough not to disturb an otherwise fascinating fight. Coming out people were arguing his greatness in not only the canon of featherweights but the entire realm of anybodys who were ever anythings. One good fight was all it took to change reality. UFC 231’s main event was so good it even changed geography. As of Friday night, Toronto was a city up in Ontario. By Saturday night it was a Hawaiian island — the tenth of its kind, and the only one east of the Mississippi.
UFC 231 pre-event facts: Get reacquainted with Max Holloway's epic resume after long layoff
(https:)The UFC has loaded the deck for its final stop in Canada this year. UFC 231 takes place Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
A championship doubleheader tops the card. Featherweight champion Max Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) will finally clash with Brian Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the main event, while Valentina Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will decide the next women’s flyweight titleholder in the headliner.
For more on the numbers behind the intriguing UFC 231 main-card lineup, check below for 65 pre-event facts.
UFC 231 main event breakdown: Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega
(https:)As the minutes count down to UFC 231, uncertainty stands alongside excitement. For years, Max Holloway has been one of the most dependable fighters in the game. From the start of 2012 until the end of 2017, he fought 18 times, transforming into a powerhouse while capturing the UFC featherweight championship.
Donald Cerrone to fight Alexander Hernandez at UFC’s ESPN+ debut
(https:)When Donald Cerrone goes back down the 155-pound division, a fresh face will be waiting for him.
MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that “Cowboy” will fight 26-year-old Alexander Hernandez on the UFC’s upcoming ESPN+ debut show, which takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Jan. 19. The matchup was first reported by MMAjunkie.
Diego Ferreira draws short-notice replacement Kyle Nelson for UFC 231
(https:)Diego Ferreira will be competing this Saturday after all.
The Brazilian lightweight had already lost one scheduled opponent for UFC 231 when John Makdessi withdrew from their bout and was replaced by Jesse Ronson last week. Then on Tuesday, Ronson announced on social media that he was pulled from the Ferreira fight due to being deemed unfit to safely make the cut down to 156 pounds.
Why cross-promotional title fights could be just what Bellator and Rizin FF need right now
(https:)New Year’s Eve is just the beginning, according to Bellator President Scott Coker. When he sends Darrion Caldwell, his promotion’s bantamweight champ, across the Pacific to fight Kyoji Horiguchi for the Rizin FF title at the end of the year, he’s banking on it being the start of a beautiful – and mutually beneficial – friendship.
And, if they get the details just right and both sides stay true to their commitments, he might end up being right.
Conor McGregor granted continuance in Nevada Athletic Commission case
(https:)Conor McGregor will not be in Las Vegas next week as expected.
The UFC star’s legal team asked for and was granted a continuance in his Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) case in relation to the UFC 229 post-fight brawl, sources told MMA Fighting on Tuesday. Therefore, McGregor will not be at the NAC meeting for a disciplinary hearing Monday, nor will his potential sanction be discussed.
Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell to challenge Kyoji Horiguchi for Rizin title on NYE
(https:)It’ll be Bellator champ vs. Rizin kingpin on New Years Eve, with a new Rizin title on the line.
Bellator is sending their bantamweight champion to Japan to try to collect some more gold. During a press conference to announce their New Years Eve show, Rizin announced that Darrion Caldwell will challenge Kyoji Horiguchi for Rizin’s inaugural 135-pound title. Bellator also put out a press release confirming the bout, stating that it will be a three-rounder:
Anderson Silva, Israel Adesanya verbally agree to UFC 234 bout in Australia
(https:)A middleweight fight between an icon and one of the division’s future stars is heading to Australia.
Former champion Anderson Silva and rising star Israel Adesanya have verbally agreed to face each other at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia.
MMA Fighting confirmed an initial report by ESPN.
Adesanya (15-0), a multiple-time kickboxing champion, is coming off a violent first-round finish over Derek Brunson at UFC 230 earlier this month. This victory not only kept the New Zealand native’s perfect record intact but marked his 13th victory by KO/TKO. Prior to that performance, Adesanya picked up wins over Brad Tavares, Marvin Vettori and Rob Wilkinson.
Raoni Barcelos vs. Chris Gutierrez added to The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale in Las Vegas
(https:)As expected, a bantamweight matchup between Raoni Barcelos (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Chris Gutierrez (12-3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been added to this month’s The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale.
UFC officials recently announced the contest, which takes place on Nov. 30 at Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The complete bout order has yet to be revealed, but the featured bouts are on FS1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
Liddell vs. Ortiz 3: A (potential) buyer's guide to pay-per-view
(https:)It’s almost decision time for fight fans. The trilogy fight most of us stopped asking for a decade ago is almost upon us.
This Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif., Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will square off for the third time when Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions makes its first foray into the world of MMA.
And yeah, they’re selling this thing on pay-per-view – and the fighters themselves are reportedly depending heavily on good sales figures to make this worth their while.
Should you buy it? Should you try to find some means of watching it without paying for it? Should you ignore it altogether?
To answer these questions, maybe we need to start by asking and answering some others.
John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor was offered $5M to fight Chinese kickboxer
(https:)With the combat sports rumor mill buzzing about Floyd Mayweather’s on-again-off-again kickboxing exhibition bout with Japanese star Tenshin Nasukawa, it’s only natural that his rivals might be feeling left out.
That may explain why John Kavanagh dropped a rumor of his own in a recent interview about his student and good friend Conor McGregor, who just so happened to be the other half of Mayweather’s August 2017 crossover boxing bout that did blockbuster numbers. The former UFC two-division champion has already weighed in on Mayweather’s potential Rizin Fighting Federation meeting with Nasukawa, and now his coach is saying that “The Notorious” is no stranger to receiving wild offers himself.
Sean O’Malley says right now he’s ‘making around $4,500 a month through gaming’
(https:)Sean O’Malley is trying to stay positive while he’s stuck on the sidelines.
The undefeated 24-year-old bantamweight is currently serving a six-month suspension handed out by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine in a September drug test ahead of his UFC 229 fight against Jose Quinonez — a test result that O’Malley believes to be the result of a tainted supplement.
Giving thanks to the many wonderful things in MMA: 2018
(https:)The two most egregious acts in MMA this year — Conor McGregor’s Dolly Incident and Khabib Nurmangomedov’s timely rebuttal at (and after) UFC 229 — threatened to give this here sport a black eye. Yet we all know that’s impossible. In the sports family, MMA is the kid who ends up in the principal’s office quite a bit, which tends to cause the most prude observers to squirm — but everybody else?
LFA Champion Kevin Aguilar Signs with the UFC, Faces Rick Glenn at the TUF 28 Finale
(https:)Add another fighter to the list of LFA champions who have received the call up to the UFC.
It is being reported that Kevin Aguilar, the LFA Featherweight champion, will step in for an injured Arnold Allen to face Rick Glenn at the TUF 28 Finale. Currently on a 7-fight winning streak, Aguilar’s most recent win was a split decision victory on this past season’s Dana White’s Contender Series. Prior to that fight, Aguilar had finished 4 of his 6 opponents, which included a first round knockout over Than Le at LFA 40 to unify the featherweight titles.
Taekwondo master Valerie Loureda signs with Bellator, aims to be best fighter on planet
(https:)At just 20 years old, Valerie Loureda has been preparing her entire life for her Bellator debut.
“My mom was pregnant with me during her black belt test,” Loureda told MMAjunkie. “I guess you could say I was kicking from before I was even born. It’s in my blood. I haven’t gone a day in my life without throwing a punch or a kick. It’s who I am.”
A 4th dan taekwando black belt, Loureda (0-0) is a former member of the U.S. Olympic team. Her father served as her grandmaster, training her “very old school and very old-fashioned.” The dedication paid off, and she progressed up the ranks of the taekwondo scene. But a moment in 2017 made her realize her true future lied in another direction.
Ostovich attacked in Hawaii
(m.tmz.com)UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich -- who was scheduled to fight Paige VanZant in January -- was attacked in Hawaii and sources tell us it was so serious, she's being hospitalized for major injuries.
UFC Argentina bonuses: Two Argentine natives cash $50,000 checks
(https:)A pair of Argentinian fighters were among the bonus winners at the UFC’s debut event in the South American nation.
Argentina’s Laureano Staropoli and Mexico’s Hector Aldana shared “Fight of the Night” honors, while Argentina’s Santiago Ponzinibbio and Brazil’s Johnny Walker each earned “Performance of the Night” honors at UFC Fight Night 140, which took place Saturday at Parque Roca Arena in Buenos Aires. The card aired on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
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