MMA News Thread

[RM211]

UFC champ Johny Hendricks to undergo surgery next week for torn bicep

Newly minted UFC welterweight champ Johny Hendricks (16-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) is expected to undergo surgery next week for a torn bicep he suffered prior to his title-winning bout against Robbie Lawler (22-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC), and he could be sidelined between two and three months.

Hendricks today told Los Angeles radio station KROQ that he sustained the bicep injury less than two weeks prior to his headliner at UFC 171, which took place this past Saturday in Dallas, and also suffered a fractured shin in the first round of his title fight.

His longtime manager, Ted Erhardt, confirmed the injuries and expected recovery window to MMAjunkie.

In an interview Monday with MMAFighting.com, Hendricks said he suffered an elbow injury and contemplated backing out prior to the grueling five-round pay-per-view fight. He didn’t and went on to win a unanimous decision.

Hendricks seized the belt left vacant by the semi-retired Georges St-Pierre, whom he recently called to rematch after a controversial UFC 167 loss to the former champ in November. He appeared Monday on MMAjunkie Radio to make the request and added he would put the welterweight strap in a bank vault.

Several standout welterweights have emerged since Hendricks’ win to call for the next shot at the belt, including Tyron Woodley and Hector Lombard, who both were victorious in separate bouts at UFC 171. The UFC is waiting to decide who will get the title opportunity.

After his trip to the bank, Hendricks plans on taking some much-needed time off to spend with his family.

 

[RM211]

Johny Hendricks’ coach on future UFC title challengers: 'It’s an interesting puzzle'

In the crowded UFC welterweight division, it seems everyone has an opinion on what should be next for recently crowned champion Johny Hendricks.

Marc Laimon is no different.

Hendricks’ head coach at Team Takedown isn’t as firm on his stance as the fighters pleating for a crack at the gold. He just wants a name so he can get a head start on preparation.

“I don’t really care [who’s next],” Laimon recently told MMAjunkie Radio. “Right now we have such a deep talent pool of killers in the 170-pound division. Each guy is dangerous in a different way. I don’t know who the UFC is going to throw in there, but each one is a unique challenge.”

After narrowly failing to take the belt from Georges St-Pierre’s in November Hendricks (16-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) got some vindictation when he outpointed Robbie Lawler (22-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) to take home the strap in the UFC 171 main event this past Saturday in Dallas.

While the challenges are only going to get more difficult, Laimon said that regardless of whose name comes up, he’s already chomping at the bit to strategize for his student.

“Going from GSP to Lawler, it’s a completely different dynamic,” Laimon said. “Whoever you throw in there next, it’s an interesting puzzle that the coaching staff and the fighter have to figure out. I can’t wait to see who it is so we can get to work on that. It’s a lot of fun breaking guys down and how to attack them.”

Even though the likes of Tyron Woodley, Hector Lombard, Rory MacDonald and even Nick Diaz have been suggested as potential title challengers, Laimon refuses to throw a specific name in the mix.

Why? Because just like Hendricks has said in the past, the king doesn’t get a choice in who attempts to knock him off his throne.

“I just have to get Johny ready for whomever they put in front of us,” Laimon said. “Woodley, Lombard – all those guys present interesting problems, interesting body types. As a fan, I would be excited for any of those matchups.”

Laimon is one of the most dedicated coaches in the sport and was jubilant to see his prized pupil finally reach his goal of winning a world championship. Now, he wants the name of Hendricks’ next opponent as soon as possible, but a bicep injury that will require surgery is going to force the newly minted 170-pound titleholder to delay his first defense, likely until late 2014. That could be looked at as a negative for the weight class, but it could also provide time for an undisputed No. 1 contender to rise to the surface.

While everything else is being figured out, Laimon is still riding high after coaching a fighter to a UFC title for the first time. And though he would like to pat himself on the back for his contribution to that success, Laimon insisted the fighter would still be here without him.

“I wish I could take credit for it,” Laimon said. “It’s all Johny – that heart and that will to win. He has an unquenchable thirst to be No. 1. Johny is a very special individual, and I can’t take credit for it.

“I’ve definitely played a part in Johny’s success, but most of it is his will, determination and willingness to sacrifice for victory.”

 

[RM211]

UFC Fight Night 38 pre-fight facts: 'Shogun' could claim UFC/PRIDE wins record

The UFC returns to Brazil for a rare Sunday-night event this weekend, and the headliner is a rematch of one of the greatest fights in company history.

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua (22-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) and former PRIDE/Strikeforce titleholder Dan Henderson (29-11 MMA, 6-5 UFC) meet for a second time, roughly 28 months after their 2011 “Fight of the Year” at UFC 139.

Henderson was fortunate enough to get home-field advantage in the first affair, but in the rematch, the tables have turned, and “Shogun” gets to compete in his home country of Brazil, where – over the course of 14 UFC events in the country – Brazilian fighters hold a 70-28 advantage against foreign opposition.

The rematch marks a crossroads for both fighters. Each man is 2-4 all-time in UFC main events, and while Rua will be trying to put together his first winning streak since 2009, Henderson is desperately looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

After combining for 304 total strikes landed in the first bout, both men likely will be searching for a finish in the rematch. Both, though, are ready to partake in another five-round slugfest if need be.

This weekend’s event from Natal’s Ginasio Nelio Dias marks the fourth and final fight card of March for the UFC. To take a closer look at the 24 fighters scheduled to compete on the card, here are 50 pre-fight facts about UFC Fight Night 38.

MAIN EVENT

mauricio-rua-ufc-on-fox-5Rua is 4-0 in his career when fighting in Brazil. “Shogun” stopped Forrest Griffin by first-round knockout the most recent time he fought in his home country.

Rua has suffered all eight of his professional defeats to a fighter who once held or challenged for a UFC championship. He has avenged three of those eight losses, defeating Griffin, Mark Coleman and Lyoto Machida in rematches of their original meetings.

Rua has defeated his opponent by knockout in 19 of his 22 professional victories with 18 of those stoppages coming in the first round. All six of his UFC victories are by knockout. Rua is winless (0-3) in his UFC career in fights that go to a decision.

Rua’s 18 light-heavyweight victories under the UFC/PRIDE banner are tied with Quinton Jackson for the most in the combined history of the two organizations.

Rua’s 15 knockout victories in UFC/PRIDE competition are the most by any fighter in the weight class. Wanderlei Silva trails Rua with 12 finishes in 205-pound competition. Rua’s six knockout wins under the UFC banner are tied with Rashad Evans for second most in 205-pound history behind Chuck Liddell (nine).

Rua’s 825 significant strikes landed in UFC/PRIDE competition are the second most in the weight class behind Jackson (949). His 52.4 percent significant striking accuracy is third highest among active UFC light heavyweights and fifth highest in UFC light-heavyweight history.

Rua’s nine leg-lock-submission attempts in UFC/PRIDE competition are tied for third most in UFC/PRIDE history.

dan-henderson-ufc-161Henderson, 43, is the oldest fighter on the UFC’s active roster. He’s also, of course, the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete on the card.

Henderson enters the event on a three-fight losing streak, the longest skid in his 40-fight career. His most recent fight saw him suffer the first knockout loss of his career when Vitor Belfort stopped him with strikes at UFC Fight Night 32.

Henderson has not finished his opponent in any of his eight UFC light-heavyweight contests.

Henderson is the only fighter in UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce history to hold two titles simultaneously, once reigning as the PRIDE welterweight (183-pound) and middleweight (205-pound) champion.

Henderson has beaten 10 former UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce champions throughout his MMA career. All four of his UFC fights since returning the organization in 2011 have come against former 205-pound champions.

Henderson has earned 17 total knockdowns in his UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce career, which ranks fourth behind only Mirko Filipovic (18), Anderson Silva (18) and Wanderlei Silva (27) in the combined history of the three promotions.

Henderson’s 527 significant strikes landed in his PRIDE career were the third-most in the promotion’s history.

Henderson has landed 87.5 percent of his takedowns from the clinch in UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition. His 48 takedowns landed in the three promotions are the fourth most ever by a fighter competing at 183 pounds or heavier.

Henderson’s 31 takedowns landed in his PRIDE career were the second most of any fighter in the now-defunct promotion’s history behind Kazushi Sakuraba (40).

Henderson’s average fight time of 16:03 as a UFC light heavyweight is the longest in company history.

CO-MAIN EVENT

cezar-ferreira-4.jpgCezar Ferreira’s (7-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the middleweight division behind Chris Weidman (seven), Brad Tavares (five) and Belfort (four).

Ferreira can become the first winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show franchise to start his UFC career with a 4-0 record since Season 8 winner Ryan Bader. He could also become the first international “TUF” winner to accomplish the feat.

Ferreira’s 47-second submission win over Thiago Santos at UFC 163 is the third fastest in UFC middleweight history (Rory Singer def. Ross Pointon, TUF 3 Finale, 0:44; Rousimar Palhares def. Thomasz Drwal, UFC 111, 0:45).

C.B. Dollaway (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) will fight a “TUF” contestant or winner for the fifth time in his UFC career. “The Doberman” has also faced Daniel Sarafian, Tom Lawlor, Jesse Taylor and Amir Sadollah inside the octagon.

Dollaway’s 26 takedowns landed in UFC competition are the fifth most in middleweight history behind Chael Sonnen (35), Ed Herman (29), Yushin Okami (27) and Nate Marquardt (27).

Dollaway lands exactly four takedowns per 15 minutes of fighting, the third highest rate among active middleweights and fourth highest in middleweight history (minimum of five fights).

Dollaway is an accurate takedown artist. He’s connected with 53.1 percent of his attempts, the third highest takedown accuracy among active middleweights and fifth highest in divisional history (minimum of five fights and 20 attempt). Oppositely, Dollaway’s opponents have had few opportunities to take him down, and they’ve largely proven unsuccessful. He’s stuffed 12 of 14 opponent attempts for a takedown defense of 85.7 percent, over 26 percentage points higher than the UFC average of 59 percent.

Dollaway’s Peruvian necktie submission victory over Jesse Taylor at UFC Fight Night 14 is the only submission of its kind in UFC history.

REMAINING MAIN CARD

leonardo-santos.jpgLeonardo Santos (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC), lightweight winner of “TUF: Brazil 2,” will compete for the first time since winning the show and earning his six-fight UFC contract this past June.

Santos, 34, is the second oldest fighter to win an edition of “TUF” behind Roy Nelson.

Norman Parke’s (19-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the sixth longest active streak in the lightweight division behind T.J. Grant (five), Rafael dos Anjos (five), Khabib Nurmagomedov (five), Myles Jury (five) and Anthony Pettis (four).

Parke has earned all three of his UFC victories by decision.

Mairbek Taisumov (21-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned all but two of his 21 professional victories by knockout (10) or submission (nine).

Steven Siler’s (23-11 MMA, 5-2 UFC) five UFC featherweight victories are tied for the sixth most in divisional history behind Dustin Poirier (seven), Chad Mendes (seven), Darren Elkins (six) Jose Aldo (six), and Dennis Bermudez (six).

Siler has suffered all but two of his 11 professional defeats by submission (five) or knockout (four).

Siler’s 494 total strikes landed in UFC featherweight competition are the sixth most in divisional history behind Elkins (619), Bermudez (549), Dennis Siver (545), Nam Phan (540) and Poirier (536).

Siler’s knockout of Mike Brown at 0:50 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 26 is tied for the sixth fastest knockout in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

Siler has attempted 10 submissions inside the octagon, tied for second most in UFC featherweight history behind Elkins (14).

Rony Jason (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned all three of his UFC victories by a different method. He has recorded one knockout, one submission and one decision win.

Jason’s submission of Mike Wilkinson at 1:24 of Round 1 at UFC on FUEL TV 10 was the fifth fastest submission in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

 

[RM211]

PRELIMINARY CARD

scott-jorgensen-ufc-on-fox-9Scott Jorgensen (14-8 MMA, 3-4 UFC) enters the event with a 1-4 record in his past five UFC appearances. “Young Guns” will compete in his second flyweight bout after losing his divisional debut to Zach Makovsky at UFC on FOX 9.

Jorgensen holds the record for most wins in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition with 10.

Jussier Formiga (15-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC defeats by knockout.

Formiga’s career losses have come to top-ranked UFC flyweights Joseph Benavidez, John Dodson and Ian McCall.

Fabio Maldonado (20-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) enters the event on his first two-fight winning streak since 2010.

Maldonado’s 60.9 percent significant strike accuracy is the best in UFC light-heavyweight history and the second highest percentage overall in UFC history behind Anderson Silva (67.2 percent).

Maldonado’s lands 5.72 strikes per minute of fighting, the second most in light heavyweight history behind Glover Teixeira (6.35). It’s also the third best rate overall in UFC history behind Teixeira and Cain Velasquez (6.21).

Maldonado’s 722 total strikes landed inside the octagon are the third most amongst active 205-pound fighters behind Jon Jones (878) and Rashad Evans (743). Similarly, his 462 significant strikes landed rank third behind Jones (686) and Evans (463).

Maldonado also absorbs a lot of punishment. He’s hit with 4.34 significant strikes per minute, a rate far higher than the UFC average of 2.61. As an example, Maldonado absorbed 64 significant strikes from Teixeira in Round 1 of their bout at UFC 153, the third most strikes ever absorbed by a light heavyweight in a single round.

Maldonado lost to Igor Pokrajac at UFC on FUEL TV 3 despite out-landing Pokrajac by a count of 98 to 36. His +57 significant strike differential is the most for a losing fighter in UFC history.

Diego Brandao (18-9 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is 3-2 since becoming the Season 14 “TUF” winner.

Brandao’s 85.7 percent takedown defense accuracy ranks third in UFC/WEC featherweight history behind Jose Aldo (91.6 percent) and Dennis Bermudez (91.3 percent).

Will Chope (19-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) started his professional career with a record of 1-5. Since then, “The Kill” has won 18 of his 20 fights, all but three of which have come by some form of stoppage.

Chope will become the first UFC fighter to compete twice in 2014. He suffered a knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 34 in January.

Chope, 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete on the card.

Kenny Robertson (12-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) is the author of the only “Suloev Stretch” submission in UFC history. He used the rare technique to finish Brock Jardine at UFC 157.

Thiago Perpetuo (9-2-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) drops to the welterweight division for the first time after going 1-1 in his first two UFC bouts as a middleweight.

Noad Lahat(7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who makes his debut at the event, will compete in just his third MMA bout since May 2010.

 

[RM211]

Benson Henderson-Rustam Khabilov headline June UFC event in Albuquerque

For the first time, the UFC will touch down in Albuquerque.

The promotion will head to the New Mexico city in June for a “Fight Night” card headlined by former lightweight champion Benson Henderson (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and Rustam Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) – who fights out of the famed Jackson-Winkeljohn camp in Albuquerque.

“UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov” will take place June 7 at Tingley Coliseum. The event was first reported by the Albuquerque Journal.

Tickets for the card go on sale to the general public on April 18. No broadcast plans were revealed for the card, though it’s likely to air on FOX Sports 1 and stream on UFC Fight Pass.

Henderson got back on track in January when he took a split decision from Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 10 in Chicago. This past August, he lost his UFC title and seven-fight winning streak to Anthony Pettis with a first-round armbar in Milwaukee. Pettis also took Henderson’s WEC lightweight title in December 2010.

Khabilov, from Dagestan, is unbeaten since coming to the UFC in late 2012, when he knocked out Vinc Pichel at the TUF 16 Finale. He flowed that up with a UFC 159 win over Yancy Medeiros, and this past November, he took “Fight of the Night” honors for his unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal at the UFC’s third “Fight for the Troops” show.

Now he’ll headline a UFC card for the first time, and he’ll do it in front of the fans in his adopted home city.

 

[RM211]

Holly Holm nearing UFC deal, plotting eventual Ronda Rousey showdown

Holly Holm‘s manager is optimistic the fighter will be in the UFC, but the sides must narrow a financial gap to sign a deal.

Lenny Fresquez today told MMAjunkie that his principal concern is getting Holm (6-0) paid for fighting women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey after building her as a contender.

“This is a superfight,” he said. “This is the biggest women’s fight in the history of any type of women’s [combat] sports. It’s a lot of money involved in this payday. I just want to make sure Holly gets her share.”

Fresquez said he met Saturday with UFC executives Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White and Sean Shelby at Dallas’ American Airlines Center following this past Saturday’s UFC 171. Holm did not attend the meeting, he said, because direct negotiations are relatively young.

Although he described the meeting as “positive,” Fresquez said there are several deal points to hammer out before there is an agreement to bring Holm into the octagon.

“Offers went back and forth,” he said. “We already had guidelines of what we were going to agree on and what we weren’t going to agree on. We’re still a little ways (apart) and there’s still a couple of items. We’re very excited about getting Holly into the UFC. It’s just my job to put Holly in the right hands.”

In the meantime, Holm is scheduled to fight Juliana Werner in the headliner of Legacy FC 30, which takes place April 4 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a boxer, kickboxer and MMA fighter, Holm has fought in several bouts promoted by Fresquez, including an MMA bout this past December that saw her go to the scorecards for the first time in six pro bouts.

The manager said Holm has two fights remaining with the the Texas-based Legacy FC, and while she will fulfill her next bout, her contract contains an out clause should a deal materialize with the UFC. If the sides can’t agree on terms, however, he expects Holm to finish out her contract with the Texas-based promotion in June.

Holm’s success in Albuquerque presents a benchmark for what Frequez expects in compensation from the UFC.

“She’s got to make at least what she makes here, and we’re close on that,” said Fresquez. “The thing is making sure we get paid for Ronda. We’ve gotta get paid to fight Ronda.”

Currently, Rousey’s next challenger is not set. While Cat Zingano is expected fulfill the No. 1 contender spot she earned this past April before becoming injured, the UFC isn’t rushing to confirm the bout despite her recent statement that she could fight in June.

The delay could stem from rumored negotiations with another women’s MMA star, Gina Carano. Fresquez said UFC execs confirmed that Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino remain potential opponents for Rousey.

“I asked them, ‘Who’s Ronda going to fight?’” Fresquez explained. “They said, ‘She could fight ‘Cyborg’ or fight Gina Carano.’ Those were the couple of other options that they were looking at. But I also know ‘Cyborg’ can’t make 135 pounds, and Gina can’t make 135 pounds, so I know those fights can’t be made for the UFC title.”

Naturally, Fresquez believes Holm is the best challenge for Rousey and could benefit from the UFC’s publicity “machine.” But he isn’t ready to sign any deal.

“We have always planned every move Holly has made for 10 years precisely and with precision,” he said. “The UFC is a little bit different monster for me, because I know when I hand her over to them, they kind of take control.”

 

[B-Buzz]

reminder that this premieres tonight

 

[Foul Mouth]

Holly Holm didnt get the UFC deal.

in order to get in UFC, she's gonna have to get paid shit and get takin advantage of. maybe if she wins a few more times she'll raise her value. UFC will still pimp her for shit.

 

[InfamousICON]

in order to get in UFC, she's gonna have to get paid shit and get takin advantage of.

Why do you say that? Her manager is asking for 6 figures per fight and an instant shot at Rousey and won't budge. Holly Holm has spent a career in both boxing and now MMA crushing cans in Indian casinos in New Mexico. The UFC isn't gonna hand her 6 figures per fight until she fights somebody with a name outside of the Indian casino in New Mexico.

She should take a 3 fight deal, win her fights and then negotiate. She should also realize crushing cans isn't gonna get her 6 figures and an instant fight with Rousey.

 

[Foul Mouth]

i think she was asking 6 figures and instant Rousey shot prior to this specifc negotiation, which is ridiculous. that was turned down. i doubt she was asking that again. money was obviously the issue tho.

you right about taking a 3 fight deal and winning. but thats where my quote (that you quoted) comes in.

who did Rousey fight prior to UFC? only chick she beat with any name weight at the time was fine ass Miesha Tate. then Dana just gives her the UFC belt and 45K just to fight in her first UFC event. she got on cus of her 5 or so first round arm bars. why is Rousey more special? who else is there for her to fight in the UFC? anybody else in that weight class (except Cat Zingano) is weak and not much of a match, and aint gonna bring in no money. Rousey can not hold a PPV event by herself. she's a star, but that depends on what you (and Dana) consider a star. she aint bringing money into the UFC like that. Dana just pumpin it up, so she can bring in more money to the UFC.

Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis both left WEC as champs and came into the UFC making crumbs. Rousey got plugged tho. Hollys manager knows what she's worth. she would (probably) win her first fight or 2 in the UFC and Dana would want to jump in there and give her Rousey, cus aint no one left, and Holly vs Rousey would make money. she wants to get paid if she fights Rousey. Nate Diaz just re-negotiated his contract. dude was making like 15K per fight. thats sucka shit for the audience he brings and what he brings and how he pumps a fight. UFC will dick who they can. Dana wants her bad. he just acts like she aint shit and dont want to pay her.

 

[RM211]

she also gets paid more in Legacy so...

 

[RM211]

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mark Munoz set for UFC Fight Night 41 main event in Berlin

WOW, IT DOESNT GET ANY EASIER FOR MUNOZ. HE MIGHT HAVE TO CALL IT QUITS AFTER THIS.




The UFC’s third trip to Germany, and first trip to Berlin, now has its main event.

Iranian-born Dutchman Gegard Mousasi (34-4-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will meet American Mark Munoz (13-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in a middleweight bout at UFC Fight Night 41. UFC officials announced the headliner on Thursday.

UFC Fight Night 41 takes place May 31 at O2 World Berlin in Germany. The card will stream on UFC Fight Pass in the United States. Later that day, the UFC is set to put on an event in Brazil expected to be headlined by Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen, part of two international shows on the same day.

Mousasi will be looking to get back on track after his main-event unanimous decision loss to Lyoto Machida this past month at UFC Fight Night 36 in Brazil. That fight was Mousasi’s return to middleweight after a run at light heavyweight that included winning the Strikeforce 205-pound title in 2009.

Mousasi, also a former DREAM champion, came to the UFC after the merger with Strikeforce, where he went 4-1-1. He was scheduled to fight Alexander Gustafsson nearly a year ago in his promotional debut, but the Swede was forced out just days before the fight and replaced by Ilir Latifi. Mousasi beat him by unanimous decision in Stockholm.

Munoz also has to recover from a loss – and also from one to Machida. This past October at UFC Fight Night 30 in Manchester, England, Munoz fought his friend and sometimes training partner in the main event. Machida stopped him with a head-kick knockout in the first round.

Earlier in 2013, Munoz returned after a yearlong layoff and beat Tim Boetsch at UFC 162 to get back in the win column after a knockout loss to Chris Weidman the year prior. That setback snapped a four-fight winning streak for the two-time All-American wrestler from Oklahoma State.

Tickets for UFC Fight Night 41 start at €50 and go on sale to the general public on April 4. UFC Fight Club members get a pre-sale period beginning April 2, and UFC.com e-newsletter subscribers can buy tickets on April 3.

The UFC’s two previous trips to Germany took place with UFC 99 in Cologne, where Rich Franklin defeated Silva in the pay-per-view headliner. A year later, Oberhausen played host to UFC 122 and Yushin Okami’s win over Nate Marquardt on Spike TV.

 

[RM211]

UFC champ Jose Aldo: Anthony Pettis talks a lot, but runs when it's time to fight

NATAL, Brazil – With Anthony Pettis signed up to fight Gilbert Melendez later this year, UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo says his long-discussed move to lightweight has been put on hold. And that previously scheduled fight with Pettis? Aldo is beginning to doubt it will ever happen.

“Anthony Pettis talks a lot,” Aldo on Thursday told MMAjunkie through an intepreter. “He goes to the media and says that he’ll fight me in any division, but then he knows that (UFC President) Dana (White) is not going to have him move down a weight because they want me to give up my belt. Also, I think he’s going to lose to Melendez, so then he’s going to have to move back a little bit, and our time to fight will have gone by.”

Aldo (24-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC), the UFC’s first and, to date, only featherweight champion is a perfect 14-0 in combined bouts under the UFC and WEC banners. At 27 years old, his frame has grown naturally larger over the years, and he’s long discussed a potential move up to 155 pounds.

The bout with Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was originally scheduled to take place this past August, with Pettis dropping to 145 pounds to fight for Aldo’s belt. However, “Showtime” withdrew from the bout, citing a knee injury. Four weeks after that UFC 163 fight was to take place, Pettis instead fought Benson Henderson at UFC 164, earning the promotion’s lightweight title in the process.

Aldo returned to action at February’s UFC 169 event, dispatching of Ricardo Lamas in the sixth consecutive defense of his featherweight belt. Afterward, he again offered to fight Pettis, but that plan was soured when the lightweight champ signed on to coach opposite Melendez on “The Ultimate Fighter 20,” as the two will fight following the series.

Aldo said he wasn’t shocked that Pettis went in a different direction, but he’s getting annoyed at his lack of commitment to the long-rumored superfight.

“I wasn’t that surprised because the UFC had told me that Pettis would take a while to come back and that with his knee, we didn’t really know when he was going to fight,” Aldo said. “I was prepared for that possibility. Now I’m going to have to weight for ‘TUF’ and see what happens.

“Pettis likes to talk a lot, but he does very little. So for right now, the plan is for me to stay at 145 pounds and defend the belt because obviously Pettis is going to be on ‘TUF.’ He’ll have all that time while he’s shooting the show, and he already has a fight scheduled with Melendez, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Aldo said he’s still not sure when he’ll fight next, but with top contender Cub Swanson recently booked to face Jeremy Stephens in June, the champ believes a rematch with Chad Mendes – currently ranked No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings – is the most likely scenario.

“It was between Cub and Chad, and I already knew that, but they scheduled the fight for Cub. But for me, it doesn’t matter. I fought Chad before, and he’s as good of a competitor as any. I’ve also fought Cub, so for me it’s the same. Both of them earned it. Chad made it back to the top, so he deserves it.”

Aldo didn’t speculate on a date for the likely matchup but did say he’s willing to fight anywhere in the world and whenever the UFC needs him.

“I’m already training, and I’m already thinking about the fight, so it’s up to my trainer, [Andre Pederneiras],” Aldo said. “Whenever they decide to put on the fight, I’ll do it.”

And that fight with Pettis? Well, Aldo is still willing to sign the contract. He’s just tired of Pettis not doing the same.

“Anthony Pettis talks a lot to people, but when it comes time to actually make the fight happen, he runs,” Aldo said.

 

[RM211]

UFC Fight Night 38 headliner Dan Henderson: MMA career will continue without TRT

UFC light heavyweight Dan Henderson was the first mixed martial artist to legally use testosterone-replacement therapy, and he might be the last.

The industry-leading MMA promotion’s ban on the treatment takes effect after Henderson’s rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, which headlines UFC Fight Night 38 on Sunday in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (5 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1).

Although Henderson’s name bookends a list of TRT users in a controversial epoch for the sport, he said his longevity won’t be defined by testosterone, or lack thereof.

“It’s business as usual,” Henderson, who was first approved for TRT in 2007, tells USA Today Sports. “I’ll deal with the changes after this fight. Obviously, I’ll have to.”

Henderson, 43, believes the promotion’s TRT ban misses a bigger issue of performance-enhancing-drug abuse in MMA and said random drug testing would be more effective. But he’ll nonetheless look into alternatives for the treatment as he nears his 17th anniversary as a professional fighter.

“I don’t think TRT has anything to do with my skills as a fighter,” he says. “I think I get sick a little bit less and have a little more energy. I don’t lay on the couch as much when I’m on TRT, but it’s not the reason I’ve done as well as I’ve done in the sport.”

Jeffrey Brown, a Texas-based endocrinologist who’s treated dozens of professional athletes, says there are alternatives for TRT, such as human chorionic gonadotropin and clomiphene citrate. But they are on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances, and for Henderson, they “would take a long time to work in a person who has been on TRT that long.”

Henderson, though, has no plans to hang up his gloves if he can’t find a suitable switch.

“I have no plans of retiring at all,” Henderson says. “I just signed a six-fight deal, and I plan on achieving my goals within those six fights.”

A former two-division champion in PRIDE and a two-time UFC title challenger, Henderson’s push for a UFC belt hit a major snag in 2013; he dropped three straight bouts and was knocked out for the first time in his career in a rematch with Vitor Belfort, who also is gearing up to fight TRT-free.

Some have speculated whether the UFC might force Henderson to retire with a fourth loss, but Henderson, who took a salary cut when he re-signed, says the promotion knows he’s a draw and will keep him in the fold.

If anything, UFC execs are hoping he can recreate the fireworks of his first bout with Rua (22-8, 6-6), which came at UFC 139 in 2011 and was the most recent time Henderson had his hand raised.

Henderson wrote off his recent knockout loss as a tactical mistake and said he simply needs to balance aggression with smart execution inside the cage.

“Hopefully, this next year will be a good year,” he says. “I had a bad year last year, and I’m just moving forward.”

 

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Duane 'Bang' Ludwig in limbo after Team Alpha Male coaching notice goes public

Team Alpha Male coach Duane Ludwig said he had decided to start his own gym long before he gave notice to Team Alpha Male head Urijah Faber.

But his timeline for striking out on his own has been moved up now that his departure has been made public.

“It wasn’t f–king supposed to be like this, man,” Ludwig told MMAjunkie on Wednesday afternoon following word of his departure via “UFC Tonight.”

“Bang” said he met this morning with Faber to reveal his plans to return to his home state of Colorado and to assure he wouldn’t miss out on upcoming training camps for team members.

“I’m not going to bounce on anybody’s fight camp,” he said. “Then he f–king went and told the team and did a press release before I knew. I’m like, ‘What the hell?’”

According to Ariel Helwani on “UFC Tonight,” Ludwig will remain on as coach until May 24. A posting on Team Alpha Male’s website lists an opening for a head coach. Faber did not respond to a call requesting comment.

Ludwig said he’ll train a handful of the team’s fighters who are appearing in UFC events over the next two months, but added his return to his home state to start his own business is now “up in the air.”

“That’s why it was a bit sudden, because I was just giving Urijah the heads up; I didn’t really have much planned,” he said. “I think he kind of jumped (the gun).”

The coach nonetheless intends to keep an open door to future work with the team and said he’ll gladly work in Sacramento if asked. He said Team Alpha Male fighters are also welcome to train with him in Colorado. But moving forward, he said, his priority is creating a source of income not dependent on his physical health.

“I’ve been working for other businesses since I was 15, and it’s just time I do my own thing, man,” Ludwig said. “I gave Sacramento a year-and-a-half of my life and coaching. If I got hurt on this job, I would have no more income. There’s no residual income here, and I’m just at the point in my life where I’ve got to set up a residual business for myself.

“I’m still working paycheck to paycheck. I’ve got to set up a business; that’s just the smartest move. Plus, Colorado’s home. I’ve got to get my family back and get my life situated again. I’ve got to be smart about my finances, and right now, this isn’t a smart thing to do.”

Ludwig (21-14), 35, retired from active competition in 2012 with an injury TKO loss to Che Mills at UFC on FUEL TV 5, which marked his third straight loss. A protege of Bas Rutten, he made his MMA debut in 2000 and fought in kickboxing and MMA bouts for more than 12 years.

“I’m still going to have an open window for them to come train with me and to bring me out for training camps and seminars and stuff,” he said of his relationship with Alpha Male. “They’re still going to be an affiliate of mine with the ‘Bang Muay Thai System.’ It’s just time to open my own business.”

 

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Initial injury diagnosis confirmed for Carlos Condit, who needs knee surgery

Carlos Condit‘s preliminary diagnosis of a partially torn meniscus and possible torn ACL was recently confirmed by a follow-up exam, according to a rep from his camp.

Greg Jackson today confirmed to MMAjunkie that the onetime welterweight title challenger will need surgery, but hasn’t decided when and where he’ll complete the procedure.

MMAjunkie first reported Condit’s preliminary diagnosis following his injury TKO loss to Tyron Woodley (13-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at this past Saturday’s UFC 171 in Dallas. Condit (29-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) was in the second round of the fight when he planted awkwardly on his right knee after taking a leg kick and dropped to the mat in pain.

The fight was waved off at the 2:00 mark of the fight, which served on the event’s pay-per-view main card. The loss was Condit’s third in four appearances and sapped a potential title shot against newly minted welterweight champ Johny Hendricks. He has yet to publicly comment since the fight.

 

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Cub Swanson-Jeremy Stephens set for main event of UFC Fight Night in San Antonio

The UFC’s first visit to San Antonio, announced over the weekend, now has its main event.

A key featherweight matchup between Cub Swanson (20-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Jeremy Stephens (23-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) will headline the card. UFC officials confirmed the news to FOXSports.com on Wednesday. The winner could emerge as the next top contender in the 145-pound division.

“UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens” will take place June 28 at AT&T Center, the home of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. Although the UFC has not visited the city and venue, the now-defunct WEC put on a card there in October 2009 headlined by a title fight between Benson Henderson and challenger Donald Cerrone.

Swanson has won five straight fights since his lone loss in the UFC, a submission setback to recent title challenger Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FOX 1. Since then, he has four knockouts, leaving George Roop, Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver in his wake. Only Dustin Poirier was able to go the distance with him, and he dropped a decision. Swanson has three fight-night bonuses in that five-fight stretch, as well. But it will be nearly one year since his most recent fight, the knockout of Siver at UFC 162, when he steps in against Stephens.

Stephens snapped a three-fight skid at lightweight by dropping down to featherweight, where he has gone 3-0 with wins over Estevan Payan, Rony Jason and, most recently, Darren Elkins, whom he outpointed at UFC on FOX 10 in Chicago in January. Prior to the move to featherweight, Stephens had been one of the UFC’s most exciting lightweights with three “Knockout of the Night” bonuses and a “Fight of the Night” on his resume, even if his record in the division – 7-8 – wasn’t stellar.

No other fights have yet been announced for the card

 

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Bellator 113's Emanuel Newton doesn’t care about friendship, wants to fight 'Rampage'

Despite having a relationship with Quinton Jackson that dates back nearly a decade, Emanuel Newton says he is hopeful for a future showdown with “Rampage” inside the Bellator cage.

While Newton’s (22-7-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) immediate focus is firmly planted on his title unification bout with 205-pound titleholder Attila Vegh (29-4-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) at Bellator 113 this Friday, he’ll have a close eye on May’s tournament final between Jackson and Muhammed Lawal, as it will determine a No. 1 contender in the division.

Having twice defeated Lawal under the Bellator banner this past year, Newton wants a fresh challenge in “Rampage.” And with intimate knowledge of both at his disposal, he believes that’s exactly who he’ll get.

“I see ‘Rampage’ knocking ‘Mo’ out,” Newton told MMAjunkie. “‘Rampage’ has awesome takedown defense and ‘Mo’ is going to try and take him down. I think it’s going to become a standup war and ‘Rampage’ will get on the inside and probably put ‘Mo’ out with a hook. That’s how he’ll get it done.”

Jackson recently created some buzz in the online community when he posted a training picture with Newton by his side on his official Instagram account. Some wondered why the two fighters would opt to train together when they could be just one victory away from facing off, but Netwon says this is nothing new. In fact, he’s had interaction with Jackson in a training environment for nearly 10 years.

“We have the same trainer – we both have Antonio McKee,” Newton said. “We’re just training partners. It may get a little weird at times. I’m sure it can be a little weird for him, too. But at the same time, it’s business. When we have to fight, we have to fight. I think the sport is changing and it’s going to start becoming more (common) – it’s martial arts.

“I don’t hate my opponents. I don’t dislike any of my opponents. This isn’t a bar brawl. We’re both professionals. We’re going to train together and go out there and give our best performance. I enjoy his friendship. ‘Rampage’ is a good guy. There’s no bad blood between us.”

While training alongside a veteran of Jackson’s caliber would be beneficial for most fighters, Newton says publicizing the relationship also has a secondary intention. That intention is to irritate Lawal, who is a bitter rival of both men.

“We’re just making sure we get under ‘Mo’s skin,” Newton said. “He ran his mouth so much when he fought me. He’s running his mouth about fighting ‘Rampage,’ and we just want to make sure he knows he made a bad mistake. He bit off more than he can chew fighting both of us.”

Newton is confident he’s going to defeat Vegh and go on to fight Jackson in the first defense of his undisputed championship later this year. However, if Lawal spoils those plans and earns a third crack at Newton, he’ll be more than willing to take out the self-proclaimed “King” yet again.

“I’ll gladly fight ‘Mo’ again because I know he’s going to be the same ‘Mo,’ maybe even worse,” Newton said. “He lost to me twice and might have to fight me again. The only way he’ll be able to pump himself up is by talking s–t, having a big ego and doing the usual things he does. All that’s going to do is just motivate me even more.”

If the decision were left up to Newton, though, the choice to fight Jackson would be an easy one regardless of their personal relationship.

“I prefer to fight ‘Rampage’ because I think that’s what the fans want to see,” Newton said. “I think that’s what would be better for Bellator and better for our careers. That’s what I would like to do.”

While it’s fun to daydream about what the future potentially holds, Newton is fully aware he must win to get his desired fight with Jackson. Considering Vegh already defeated him less than two years ago, Newton is looking at the rematch as a brand new fight and, unlike the last bout, has no plans to allow the judges to decide his fate.

“My style, my technique, my timing and my strength are all different from the fighter I was then,” Newton said. “It’s not going to go to the judges this time. I’m not going in here for another decision. I’m not going in here for another freaking five-round fight, I’ve had too many of those already. I’m over it. I’m going in there looking to finish him.”

Bellator 113 takes place Friday at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

 

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Frankie Edgar-B.J. Penn headline TUF 19 Finale card July 6 in Las Vegas

The UFC will make a little promotional history in July, and we now have the headliner for the tail end of back-to-back cards in the same venue.

After coaching opposite each other on Season 19 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” former lightweight champions Frankie Edgar (16-4-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC) and B.J. Penn (16-9-2 MMA, 12-5-1 UFC) will headline the TUF 19 Finale card on July 6 in Las Vegas. News of the card’s main event came from Ariel Helwani on Wednesday night’s edition of “UFC Tonight” on FOX Sports 1.

The TUF 19 Finale will take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas with a main card on FOX Sports 1. The night before, the UFC 175 pay-per-view takes place at the same venue. Both cards are part of the promotion’s “International Fight Week,” which includes a UFC Fan Expo, as well as fan events throughout the community.

“The Ultimate Fighter 19” which debuts later this year on FOX Sports 1. The season sees middleweight and light heavyweight hopefuls competing for a six-figure UFC contract.

Edgar and Penn met twice in 2010, with “The Answer” victorious over “The Prodigy” in both contests. At UFC 112, Edgar claimed the UFC lightweight title. He then defended the belt four months later at UFC 118. Both results came via unanimous decision.

Edgar fought as a lightweight for the majority of his career. He made the drop to 145 pounds this past year, but failed to unseat champJose Aldo in a title fight at UFC 156. In July, he bounced back with a win over Charles Oliveira.

Penn is a former titleholder at both 170 and 155 pounds. However, the fight with Edgar will mark his first at featherweight, and if he could find a way to make a championship run, he could become the first fighter in UFC history to earn titles in three different weight classes. Penn previously served as a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” which aired in 2007. “

 

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Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino passes random NSAC test in advance of kickboxing title fig

A week before her title bout for muay Thai promotion Lion Fight, Cristiane Justino has passed a random drug test requested by Nevada’s boxing commission.

“Cyborg,” a former Strikeforce and current Invicta champ, was screened for performance-enhancers and diuretics, Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed to MMAjunkie.

On Feb. 25, the commission informed the fighter through Lion Fight’s promoter that she was required to report to a testing facility the next morning by 10 a.m. in her adopted hometown of San Diego. She complied, and the test results were today confirmed.

Justino received a one-year fight license from the NSAC this past September when she took on Jennifer Colomb at Lion Fight 11 and won a third-round TKO.

Several weeks prior to the surprise test, Justino’s now-former rep Tito Ortiz’s issued a statement telling UFC President Dana White “test her or stop lying about her” on performance-enhancers.

Justino, who was flagged and suspended for a steroid in late 2011, is the latest fighter confirmed to have taken part in a random drug test from the Nevada commission, which is waiting on the results of a test administered this past week to World Series of Fighting 9 headliner Rousimar Palhares.

In her first high-profile fight of the year, Justino (12-1) meets Jorina Baars for the Lion Fight featherweight title in the co-headliner of Lion Fights 14, which takes place March 28 at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The night’s main card airs live on AXS TV.

Justino is expected to defend her Invicta FC featherweight belt in June, after which she said she will drop to bantamweight for a couple of fights to prove she is capable of fighting in the division dominated by UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.