MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
UFC's Hector Lombard considering a drop to welterweight
After a successful middleweight run outside the UFC and mixed results in the organization, Hector Lombard is considering a drop to welterweight.
FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" reported the possibility on Tuesday.
Lombard (32-4-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) dominated the competition from 2007-2011, which included a 24-0-1 record and a lengthy title run with his former home at Bellator MMA.
However, after signing with the UFC this past year, Lombard suffered a split-decision loss to Tim Boetsch in a flat promotional debut. He rebounded for a knockout victory over Rousimar Palhares, but this past month at UFC on FUEL TV 8, he dropped a split decision to perennial contender Yushin Okami.
Lombard, who recently employed the services of weight-cutting and dieting consultant Mike Dolce, will do a test weight cut to 170 pounds before making a final decision.
However, many factors are working against him, including his stocky build and his age (35). In fact, Lombard had to strip and stand behind a towel to make weight for the Okami fight. Additionally, the Cuban-Australian and Olympic judoka also previously competed as heavy as light heavyweight earlier in his career.
Lombard currently is awaiting surgery on a broken nose he suffered in the loss to Okami before he resumes a full training camp.
After a successful middleweight run outside the UFC and mixed results in the organization, Hector Lombard is considering a drop to welterweight.
FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" reported the possibility on Tuesday.
Lombard (32-4-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) dominated the competition from 2007-2011, which included a 24-0-1 record and a lengthy title run with his former home at Bellator MMA.
However, after signing with the UFC this past year, Lombard suffered a split-decision loss to Tim Boetsch in a flat promotional debut. He rebounded for a knockout victory over Rousimar Palhares, but this past month at UFC on FUEL TV 8, he dropped a split decision to perennial contender Yushin Okami.
Lombard, who recently employed the services of weight-cutting and dieting consultant Mike Dolce, will do a test weight cut to 170 pounds before making a final decision.
However, many factors are working against him, including his stocky build and his age (35). In fact, Lombard had to strip and stand behind a towel to make weight for the Okami fight. Additionally, the Cuban-Australian and Olympic judoka also previously competed as heavy as light heavyweight earlier in his career.
Lombard currently is awaiting surgery on a broken nose he suffered in the loss to Okami before he resumes a full training camp.
Rick Story replaces Gunnar Nelson, meets Mike Pyle at UFC 160
An injury has forced Gunnar Nelson (11-0-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) out of next month's UFC 160 event, and Rick Story (15-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has stepped in as his replacement and will fight fellow welterweight Mike Pyle (24-8-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC).
UFC officials announced the change overnight.
UFC 160 takes place May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Story vs. Pyle is expected to be the featured FX prelim.
Story recently knocked out Strikeforce import Quinn Mulhern at UFC 158, and afterward, he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio*–*MMAjunkie.com), he wanted a rematch with Jake Ellenberger, whom he defeated in their pre-UFC years. Instead, he'll get Pyle, who's currently ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA welterweight rankings.
Story had won six consecutive UFC fights before back-to-back decision losses to Charlie Brenneman and Martin Kampmann in 2011. Since then, he's 2-1 with wins over Brock Jardine and Mulhern, and a submission loss to fast-rising contender Demian Maia.
Meanwhile, Pyle looks to build on the strength of an impressive three-fight win streak that includes first-round finishes of James Head, Josh Neer and Ricardo Funch. Currently in one of the best stretches of his professional career, Pyle is 6-1 in his past seven fights with the lone loss coming to top contender Rory MacDonald.
The latest UFC 160 card includes:
Champ Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva - for heavyweight title
Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt
James Te Huna vs. Glover Teixeira
T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard
Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons
Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Stephen Thompson
Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
Estevan Payan vs. Jeremy Stephens
Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
An injury has forced Gunnar Nelson (11-0-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) out of next month's UFC 160 event, and Rick Story (15-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has stepped in as his replacement and will fight fellow welterweight Mike Pyle (24-8-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC).
UFC officials announced the change overnight.
UFC 160 takes place May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Story vs. Pyle is expected to be the featured FX prelim.
Story recently knocked out Strikeforce import Quinn Mulhern at UFC 158, and afterward, he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio*–*MMAjunkie.com), he wanted a rematch with Jake Ellenberger, whom he defeated in their pre-UFC years. Instead, he'll get Pyle, who's currently ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA welterweight rankings.
Story had won six consecutive UFC fights before back-to-back decision losses to Charlie Brenneman and Martin Kampmann in 2011. Since then, he's 2-1 with wins over Brock Jardine and Mulhern, and a submission loss to fast-rising contender Demian Maia.
Meanwhile, Pyle looks to build on the strength of an impressive three-fight win streak that includes first-round finishes of James Head, Josh Neer and Ricardo Funch. Currently in one of the best stretches of his professional career, Pyle is 6-1 in his past seven fights with the lone loss coming to top contender Rory MacDonald.
The latest UFC 160 card includes:
Champ Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva - for heavyweight title
Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt
James Te Huna vs. Glover Teixeira
T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard
Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons
Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Stephen Thompson
Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
Estevan Payan vs. Jeremy Stephens
Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
Twelve-bout TUF 17 Finale lineup set, includes Casey-Samman, Andrews-Quinlan
With the taped content for "The Ultimate Fighter 17" now in the books, the promotion has released the evening's 12-bout lineup. Among the additions are semifinalists Josh Samman (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Dylan Andrews (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who meet Kevin Casey (5-2 MMA, 0-0 uFC) and Jimmy Quinlan (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), respectively.
The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale takes place Saturday at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center. The evening's main card, featuring a Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen headliner and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall TUF 17 championship fight, airs on FX.
Both of those fights take place one the FUEL TV-broadcast preliminary card.
Additional fights involving "TUF 17" cast members include Robert "Bubba" McDaniel (20-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. Gilbert Smith (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the night's FX-aired main card, as well as Luke Barnatt (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. Collin Hart (4-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and Clint Hester (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. "TUF 16" contestant Bristol Marunde (12-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who makes his official UFC debut.
Following the taping of "The Ultimate Fighter 17," UFC President Dana White promised that all 14 cast members would receive an official UFC fight.
"TUF 17" cast members Tor Troeng and Adam Cella fought at this past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 9 event, with Troeng taking home a first-round submission win in his native Sweden. With the release of Saturday's bookings, Zak Cummings (15-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) remains the lone "TUF 17" fighter left to be scheduled.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) learned from sources close to the fighter that Cummings was expected to compete on the finale but was injured and will be rebooked at a later date.
With the additions to the card now revealed, the full lineup for The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale includes:
MAIN CARD (FX, 9 p.m. ET)
Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall - "TUF 17" tournament final
Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano
Travis Browne vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Robert McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith
PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV, 7 p.m. ET)
Kevin Casey vs. Josh Samman
Luke Barnatt vs. Collin Hart
Dylan Andrews vs. Jimmy Quinlan
Clint Hester vs. Bristol Marunde
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Cole Miller vs. Bart Palaszewski
Justin Lawrence vs. Daniel Pineda
Maximo Blanco vs. Sam Sicilia
With the taped content for "The Ultimate Fighter 17" now in the books, the promotion has released the evening's 12-bout lineup. Among the additions are semifinalists Josh Samman (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Dylan Andrews (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who meet Kevin Casey (5-2 MMA, 0-0 uFC) and Jimmy Quinlan (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), respectively.
The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale takes place Saturday at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center. The evening's main card, featuring a Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen headliner and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall TUF 17 championship fight, airs on FX.
Both of those fights take place one the FUEL TV-broadcast preliminary card.
Additional fights involving "TUF 17" cast members include Robert "Bubba" McDaniel (20-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. Gilbert Smith (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the night's FX-aired main card, as well as Luke Barnatt (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. Collin Hart (4-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and Clint Hester (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. "TUF 16" contestant Bristol Marunde (12-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who makes his official UFC debut.
Following the taping of "The Ultimate Fighter 17," UFC President Dana White promised that all 14 cast members would receive an official UFC fight.
"TUF 17" cast members Tor Troeng and Adam Cella fought at this past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 9 event, with Troeng taking home a first-round submission win in his native Sweden. With the release of Saturday's bookings, Zak Cummings (15-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) remains the lone "TUF 17" fighter left to be scheduled.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) learned from sources close to the fighter that Cummings was expected to compete on the finale but was injured and will be rebooked at a later date.
With the additions to the card now revealed, the full lineup for The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale includes:
MAIN CARD (FX, 9 p.m. ET)
Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall - "TUF 17" tournament final
Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano
Travis Browne vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Robert McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith
PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV, 7 p.m. ET)
Kevin Casey vs. Josh Samman
Luke Barnatt vs. Collin Hart
Dylan Andrews vs. Jimmy Quinlan
Clint Hester vs. Bristol Marunde
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Cole Miller vs. Bart Palaszewski
Justin Lawrence vs. Daniel Pineda
Maximo Blanco vs. Sam Sicilia
Rashad might drop to 185 with defeat to Henderson
Rashad Evans has added a new angle to his forthcoming fight with Dan Henderson by revealing he could drop to middleweight if he loses.
Evans is suffering from the worst spell of his career, losing back-to-back bouts to Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. It is a streak he must correct against Henderson on June 15 at UFC 161.
The former light-heavyweight champion has been quoted as saying he fears the cut if he loses to Henderson. It appears those quotes were misrepresented, but Evans does admit he would consider a drop to middleweight if beaten again.
"I'm not worried about losing my job. I put in a lot of good fights at the UFC and I'm confident that I'm not going to lose my next fight," he told UFC Tonight.
"If I lose my next fight, I would consider dropping down a weight class. If I drop down to 185 and things weren't going right, then I would think about retiring."
A drop to middleweight would throw up the potential for a meeting with champion Anderson Silva, in what on paper would seem a highly intriguing style match-up. However, for now, Evans is only focusing on Henderson.
"Dan Henderson is no secret," he said. "The power of Dan Henderson is in his huge right hand. He has great takedown offence, he has a wrestling background and he will get you on the ground and do ground-and-pound.
"For me, what I need to do is fight my fight. I need to have my transitions, from my punches to my takedowns, and they need to be sharp. No lazy half-shots. No pitty-pat punching. I need hard punching and hard takedowns."
Rashad Evans has added a new angle to his forthcoming fight with Dan Henderson by revealing he could drop to middleweight if he loses.
Evans is suffering from the worst spell of his career, losing back-to-back bouts to Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. It is a streak he must correct against Henderson on June 15 at UFC 161.
The former light-heavyweight champion has been quoted as saying he fears the cut if he loses to Henderson. It appears those quotes were misrepresented, but Evans does admit he would consider a drop to middleweight if beaten again.
"I'm not worried about losing my job. I put in a lot of good fights at the UFC and I'm confident that I'm not going to lose my next fight," he told UFC Tonight.
"If I lose my next fight, I would consider dropping down a weight class. If I drop down to 185 and things weren't going right, then I would think about retiring."
A drop to middleweight would throw up the potential for a meeting with champion Anderson Silva, in what on paper would seem a highly intriguing style match-up. However, for now, Evans is only focusing on Henderson.
"Dan Henderson is no secret," he said. "The power of Dan Henderson is in his huge right hand. He has great takedown offence, he has a wrestling background and he will get you on the ground and do ground-and-pound.
"For me, what I need to do is fight my fight. I need to have my transitions, from my punches to my takedowns, and they need to be sharp. No lazy half-shots. No pitty-pat punching. I need hard punching and hard takedowns."
Robbie Lawler vs. Tarec Saffiedine targeted for UFC on FOX 8 in Seattle
The final welterweight champion in Strikeforce history will make his UFC debut this summer.
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is targeted for a meeting with Robbie Lawler (20-9 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at 170 pounds at UFC on FOX 8. Sources close to the fight on Thursday confirmed the booking to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com).
UFC on FOX 8 takes place July 27 at KeyArena in Seattle. The main card will air on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Saffiedine in January fought Nate Marquardt for Strikeforce's welterweight title and won a five-round unanimous decision in the last fight in the promotion's history. That win gave him four straight in the promotion, all by decision. His lone loss in the promotion came by decision to Tyron Woodley in January 2011.
But in the three months that have passed since that fight, Saffiedine was one of the last to cross over from Strikeforce to the UFC still waiting for a fight booking. Now the Belgium-born 26-year-old, who trains at Team Quest with Dan Henderson, finally has his first UFC fight.
Lawler in February returned to the UFC after more than eight years and upset Josh Koscheck with a first-round TKO. That fight also was Lawler's return to the welterweight division after years at middleweight, which included winning the EliteXC 185-pound title.
The past four years have been up and down for Lawler with a 5-5 mark. But all five wins have come by knockout, including his "Knockout of the Night" bonus winner over Koscheck at UFC 157. Prior to that, Lawler had dropped three of four fights, starting with a Strikeforce middleweight title loss to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in January 2011.
Along with the new Lawler-Saffiedine booking, UFC on FOX 8 also includes a recently announced welterweight bout between contenders Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger, plus a lightweight fight between Mac Danzig and Melvin Guillard.
The latest UFC on FOX 8 card now includes:
•Jake Ellenberger vs. Rory MacDonald
•Mac Danzig vs. Melvin Guillard
•Robbie Lawler vs. Tarec Saffiedine*
* - Not officially announced
The final welterweight champion in Strikeforce history will make his UFC debut this summer.
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is targeted for a meeting with Robbie Lawler (20-9 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at 170 pounds at UFC on FOX 8. Sources close to the fight on Thursday confirmed the booking to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com).
UFC on FOX 8 takes place July 27 at KeyArena in Seattle. The main card will air on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Saffiedine in January fought Nate Marquardt for Strikeforce's welterweight title and won a five-round unanimous decision in the last fight in the promotion's history. That win gave him four straight in the promotion, all by decision. His lone loss in the promotion came by decision to Tyron Woodley in January 2011.
But in the three months that have passed since that fight, Saffiedine was one of the last to cross over from Strikeforce to the UFC still waiting for a fight booking. Now the Belgium-born 26-year-old, who trains at Team Quest with Dan Henderson, finally has his first UFC fight.
Lawler in February returned to the UFC after more than eight years and upset Josh Koscheck with a first-round TKO. That fight also was Lawler's return to the welterweight division after years at middleweight, which included winning the EliteXC 185-pound title.
The past four years have been up and down for Lawler with a 5-5 mark. But all five wins have come by knockout, including his "Knockout of the Night" bonus winner over Koscheck at UFC 157. Prior to that, Lawler had dropped three of four fights, starting with a Strikeforce middleweight title loss to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in January 2011.
Along with the new Lawler-Saffiedine booking, UFC on FOX 8 also includes a recently announced welterweight bout between contenders Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger, plus a lightweight fight between Mac Danzig and Melvin Guillard.
The latest UFC on FOX 8 card now includes:
•Jake Ellenberger vs. Rory MacDonald
•Mac Danzig vs. Melvin Guillard
•Robbie Lawler vs. Tarec Saffiedine*
* - Not officially announced
Jake Ellenberger vs. Rory MacDonald added to July's UFC on FOX 8 in Seattle
A bout between top-shelf welterweights Rory MacDonald (14-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Jake Ellenberger (29-6 MMA, 8-2 UFC) should further shrink the ranks of title contenders.
Canada-based newspaper The Province today passed along word of the matchup, which is set for UFC on FOX 8 on July 27 at Seattle's KeyArena, and UFC officials confirmed it.
Although the fight's position on the summer card isn't set, it's expected to serve on the event's FOX-televised main-card, which follows prelims on FX and Facebook.
MacDonald returns to action on the heels of a neck and back strain which forced his removal from this past month's UFC 158 and scratched a rematch with Carlos Condit. According to several reports, the welterweight prospect re-injured himself, which pushed back his timetable for recovery. It appears, however, that not only has the Condit fight taken a back seat, but he'll be fight to fight this summer.
MacDonald's trainer, Firas Zahabi, told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) he was trying to get his fighter to train smarter and not harder.
"He's too aggressive," Zahabi said. "I really try to hold the reigns. I tell him, 'OK Rory, we're going to do less today,' and we always end up doing more. Emotions get in the way, and he wants to spar more."
Still, whatever the 23-year-old is doing, it's working. MacDonald has won his past four inside the octagon.
Ellenberger, meanwhile, is enjoying back-to-back wins. He was set to fight No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks at UFC 158 before MacDonald's injury shuffled the card, and he was rebooked to fight Nate Marquardt. In a quick drubbing, he knocked out the ex-Strikeforce champ in three minutes and secured a "Knockout of the Night" bonus.
A bout between top-shelf welterweights Rory MacDonald (14-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Jake Ellenberger (29-6 MMA, 8-2 UFC) should further shrink the ranks of title contenders.
Canada-based newspaper The Province today passed along word of the matchup, which is set for UFC on FOX 8 on July 27 at Seattle's KeyArena, and UFC officials confirmed it.
Although the fight's position on the summer card isn't set, it's expected to serve on the event's FOX-televised main-card, which follows prelims on FX and Facebook.
MacDonald returns to action on the heels of a neck and back strain which forced his removal from this past month's UFC 158 and scratched a rematch with Carlos Condit. According to several reports, the welterweight prospect re-injured himself, which pushed back his timetable for recovery. It appears, however, that not only has the Condit fight taken a back seat, but he'll be fight to fight this summer.
MacDonald's trainer, Firas Zahabi, told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) he was trying to get his fighter to train smarter and not harder.
"He's too aggressive," Zahabi said. "I really try to hold the reigns. I tell him, 'OK Rory, we're going to do less today,' and we always end up doing more. Emotions get in the way, and he wants to spar more."
Still, whatever the 23-year-old is doing, it's working. MacDonald has won his past four inside the octagon.
Ellenberger, meanwhile, is enjoying back-to-back wins. He was set to fight No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks at UFC 158 before MacDonald's injury shuffled the card, and he was rebooked to fight Nate Marquardt. In a quick drubbing, he knocked out the ex-Strikeforce champ in three minutes and secured a "Knockout of the Night" bonus.
Alexander Gustaffson camp requests Lyoto Machida or UFC injury fill-in
Taken out of a key fight due to injury, Alexander Gustafsson (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) would like to fill the gap if the UFC later finds itself in a similar jam.
Gustafsson trainer Eric Delfierro today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that the Swedish light-heavyweight recently made two requests to UFC matchmakers: be an injury replacement for the division's next title fight, or face ex-champ Lyoto Machida.
Of course, since Lyoto Machida is the No. 1 contender, he might wind up doing that anyway if the winner of an upcoming title bout between champ Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen is hurt or takes an extended break. Jones and Sonnen headline UFC 159 later this month.
Machida, who outpointed Dan Henderson to secure a title shot, recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio*–*MMAjunkie.com) that he'd rather stay active than wait for the opportunity.
Delfierro said Gustafsson is on vacation for at least another week following a disappointment in his native country. Scheduled to fight ex-Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi at UFC on FUEL TV 9 this past Saturday, he sustained a cut above his left eye in training, which prompted the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation to nix his participation in the fight.
UFC President Dana White criticized the commission's decision, releasing a photo shot by MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan that made the cut appear less severe than one shot immediately after the injury, which showed a bright red gash in a bad area above Gustafsson's eye.
"Worst decision I have EVER seen to pull fight," White wrote.
Gustafsson, 26, was expected to secure a title shot if victorious over Mousasi, who wound up dominating Gustafsson's training partner, Ilir Latifi.
"The Mauler" has won six straight inside the octagon.
Taken out of a key fight due to injury, Alexander Gustafsson (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) would like to fill the gap if the UFC later finds itself in a similar jam.
Gustafsson trainer Eric Delfierro today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that the Swedish light-heavyweight recently made two requests to UFC matchmakers: be an injury replacement for the division's next title fight, or face ex-champ Lyoto Machida.
Of course, since Lyoto Machida is the No. 1 contender, he might wind up doing that anyway if the winner of an upcoming title bout between champ Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen is hurt or takes an extended break. Jones and Sonnen headline UFC 159 later this month.
Machida, who outpointed Dan Henderson to secure a title shot, recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio*–*MMAjunkie.com) that he'd rather stay active than wait for the opportunity.
Delfierro said Gustafsson is on vacation for at least another week following a disappointment in his native country. Scheduled to fight ex-Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi at UFC on FUEL TV 9 this past Saturday, he sustained a cut above his left eye in training, which prompted the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation to nix his participation in the fight.
UFC President Dana White criticized the commission's decision, releasing a photo shot by MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan that made the cut appear less severe than one shot immediately after the injury, which showed a bright red gash in a bad area above Gustafsson's eye.
"Worst decision I have EVER seen to pull fight," White wrote.
Gustafsson, 26, was expected to secure a title shot if victorious over Mousasi, who wound up dominating Gustafsson's training partner, Ilir Latifi.
"The Mauler" has won six straight inside the octagon.
Veteran MMA ref Josh Rosenthal cops plea, awaits sentencing in marijuana case
Veteran MMA referee Josh Rosenthal awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute.
One year ago, federal agents raided an Oakland, Calif., warehouse owned by Rosenthal and an associate that contained 1,356 marijuana plants, according to a copy of the agreement, which MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) obtained from the U.S. District Attorney's office in Oakland.
The drug's street value was estimated at more than $6 million.
Rosenthal is due in U.S. District Court on May 17. The government is recommending 37 months in jail, fines and five years of probation, during which he would be subject to random searches, according to the agreement. Without a deal, he faced 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and a minimum of five years' probation.
However, the court ultimately will decide Rosenthal's sentence.
Rosenthal, who agreed to a plea deal in January, did not respond to request for comment. His lawyer of record, Ted W. Cassman, was unavailable for comment.
A jiu-jitsu practitioner and martial artist, Rosenthal has officiated dozens of high-profile bouts in the UFC, including a heavyweight title fight at UFC 116 between then-champ Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. The Nevada State Athletic Commission chose Rosenthal after Lesnar and UFC officials objected to veteran ref Steve Mazzagatti getting the assignment.
After the fight, UFC President Dana White praised Rosenthal's restraint in the bout's first round, when Carwin unleashed a flurry of punches upon the downed Lesnar. The now-retired Lesnar went on to win the bout via second-round submission.
As of late, Rosenthal has been conspicuously absent from major MMA events. Earlier this month, he gave an interview to website BloodyElbow.com in which he said his absence was the result of a staph infection. He said he would be officiating an event in May and made no mention of legal trouble.
Veteran MMA referee Josh Rosenthal awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute.
One year ago, federal agents raided an Oakland, Calif., warehouse owned by Rosenthal and an associate that contained 1,356 marijuana plants, according to a copy of the agreement, which MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) obtained from the U.S. District Attorney's office in Oakland.
The drug's street value was estimated at more than $6 million.
Rosenthal is due in U.S. District Court on May 17. The government is recommending 37 months in jail, fines and five years of probation, during which he would be subject to random searches, according to the agreement. Without a deal, he faced 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and a minimum of five years' probation.
However, the court ultimately will decide Rosenthal's sentence.
Rosenthal, who agreed to a plea deal in January, did not respond to request for comment. His lawyer of record, Ted W. Cassman, was unavailable for comment.
A jiu-jitsu practitioner and martial artist, Rosenthal has officiated dozens of high-profile bouts in the UFC, including a heavyweight title fight at UFC 116 between then-champ Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. The Nevada State Athletic Commission chose Rosenthal after Lesnar and UFC officials objected to veteran ref Steve Mazzagatti getting the assignment.
After the fight, UFC President Dana White praised Rosenthal's restraint in the bout's first round, when Carwin unleashed a flurry of punches upon the downed Lesnar. The now-retired Lesnar went on to win the bout via second-round submission.
As of late, Rosenthal has been conspicuously absent from major MMA events. Earlier this month, he gave an interview to website BloodyElbow.com in which he said his absence was the result of a staph infection. He said he would be officiating an event in May and made no mention of legal trouble.
NSAC: Gonzaga appeal not yet filed, TUF 17 Finale result change in AG's hands
UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga has yet to appeal his loss to Travis Browne at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that any appeal would be forwarded to the state's attorney general's office, who would make the final decision on any possible change to the official result.
Kizer added he didn't know of any "legal or factual" basis to change the decision.
Gonzaga (14-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and Browne (14-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) met on the FX-televised main card of the event, which took place this past Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Early in the first round, Browne delivered a series of devastating elbows to Gonzaga's head as the Brazilian worked for a takedown against the fence. The fight was waved off after Gonzaga fell unconscious to the canvas.
At least one of the elbows in Browne's onslaught clearly was illegal and hit the back of Gonzaga's head, though the Brazilian appeared to lose consciousness prior to the blow. None of the elbow strikes appeared to be of the illegal "12-to-6" variety.
Many referees and commission representatives contend that illegal blows landed as the direct result of legal blows are not counted as fouls. So if Gonzaga went unconscious due to the previous elbows he took, Browne would not be held responsible for the illegal blow.
Gonzaga's manager, Marco Alvan, announced on Monday he would file an appeal of the official decision, which was ruled a KO at the 1:11 mark of the first round.
"I need to review it to count how many illegal elbows, but it's a fact that it was illegal," he wrote. "I never [complain] about a [loss] who knows me know that I handle it good but illegal we can not accept."
Alvan was unreachable for comment when contacted today.
The loss snapped a three-fight win streak for Gonzaga, a onetime UFC heavyweight title challenger who rejoined the UFC this past year after a nearly two-year layoff. Previously, he earned back-to-back submission wins over Ednaldo Oliveira and Ben Rothwell.
Browne, meanwhile, returned to the winner's column following a first-round TKO loss to Antonio Silva.
Browne's first UFC bout was marred by a similar controversy. Fighting James McSweeney at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, he was accused of landing illegal elbows that aided a first-round TKO win. McSweeney ultimately decided against an appeal.
UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga has yet to appeal his loss to Travis Browne at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that any appeal would be forwarded to the state's attorney general's office, who would make the final decision on any possible change to the official result.
Kizer added he didn't know of any "legal or factual" basis to change the decision.
Gonzaga (14-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and Browne (14-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) met on the FX-televised main card of the event, which took place this past Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Early in the first round, Browne delivered a series of devastating elbows to Gonzaga's head as the Brazilian worked for a takedown against the fence. The fight was waved off after Gonzaga fell unconscious to the canvas.
At least one of the elbows in Browne's onslaught clearly was illegal and hit the back of Gonzaga's head, though the Brazilian appeared to lose consciousness prior to the blow. None of the elbow strikes appeared to be of the illegal "12-to-6" variety.
Many referees and commission representatives contend that illegal blows landed as the direct result of legal blows are not counted as fouls. So if Gonzaga went unconscious due to the previous elbows he took, Browne would not be held responsible for the illegal blow.
Gonzaga's manager, Marco Alvan, announced on Monday he would file an appeal of the official decision, which was ruled a KO at the 1:11 mark of the first round.
"I need to review it to count how many illegal elbows, but it's a fact that it was illegal," he wrote. "I never [complain] about a [loss] who knows me know that I handle it good but illegal we can not accept."
Alvan was unreachable for comment when contacted today.
The loss snapped a three-fight win streak for Gonzaga, a onetime UFC heavyweight title challenger who rejoined the UFC this past year after a nearly two-year layoff. Previously, he earned back-to-back submission wins over Ednaldo Oliveira and Ben Rothwell.
Browne, meanwhile, returned to the winner's column following a first-round TKO loss to Antonio Silva.
Browne's first UFC bout was marred by a similar controversy. Fighting James McSweeney at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, he was accused of landing illegal elbows that aided a first-round TKO win. McSweeney ultimately decided against an appeal.
Jon Jones lobs steroid accusation at Chael Sonnen ahead of UFC 159 title fight
UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has noticably dialed down the trash-talk ahead of next weekend's UFC 159 headliner with Chael Sonnen, but he's thrown a substantial accusation at the title challenger.
When asked why he said Sonnen doesn't have a "championship soul" in a recent interview, Jones let loose on Tuesday's edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV.
"Chael Sonnen is a guy who people know he's done steroids throughout his career," he said. "It's probably the reason why his testosterone is low now. I don't think that's the heart or an attitude of a champion. That's what I meant when I said he lacks a championship soul."
Sonnen, a recent middleweight title challenger who was granted an immediate shot at the belt with his move up to light heavyweight, has never tested positive for steroids, though the California State Athletic Commission suspended him in 2010 over his use of prescribed testosterone.
"Chael Sonnen is doing what he does best, which is promoting the fight," Jones said. "And I'm going to let him do it."
Jones (17-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and Sonnen (27-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) headlined UFC 159 on April 27. The event airs on pay-per-view from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has noticably dialed down the trash-talk ahead of next weekend's UFC 159 headliner with Chael Sonnen, but he's thrown a substantial accusation at the title challenger.
When asked why he said Sonnen doesn't have a "championship soul" in a recent interview, Jones let loose on Tuesday's edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV.
"Chael Sonnen is a guy who people know he's done steroids throughout his career," he said. "It's probably the reason why his testosterone is low now. I don't think that's the heart or an attitude of a champion. That's what I meant when I said he lacks a championship soul."
Sonnen, a recent middleweight title challenger who was granted an immediate shot at the belt with his move up to light heavyweight, has never tested positive for steroids, though the California State Athletic Commission suspended him in 2010 over his use of prescribed testosterone.
"Chael Sonnen is doing what he does best, which is promoting the fight," Jones said. "And I'm going to let him do it."
Jones (17-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and Sonnen (27-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) headlined UFC 159 on April 27. The event airs on pay-per-view from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Tyrone Spong vs. Angel DeAnda co-headlines WSOF 3 on June 14
A light-heavyweight bout between kickboxer Tyrone Spong (1-0) and experienced striker Angel DeAnda (11-2) will co-headline World Series of Fighting 3 in June.
WSOF President Ray Sefo confirmed the bout on Twitter.
WSOF takes place June 14 in Las Vegas, though a venue hasn't been finalized. The main card, including a Jon Fitch vs. Josh Burkman welterweight headliner, airs on NBC Sports Network.
Spong, a Surinamese-Dutch striker with a 69-6-1 pro kickboxing record, fights in an MMA cage for just the second time. Back in November, he made his highly anticipated MMA debut and made short work of Travis Bartlett, whom he knocked out in the first round. This past month, the 27-year-old Spong, who trains with the Florida-based Blackzilian team, returned to kickboxing and headed to England, where he scored a second-round knockout of Remy Bonjasky at GLORY 5.
DeAnda, meanwhile, most recently fought in November, when he knocked out former Strikeforce title challenger Anthony Ruiz at a Tachi Palace Fights event. It marked the California-based fighter's fourth straight win and his 10th knockout in 11 career victories. His only loss in his past 11 fights came to UFC vet James Irvin.
The latest WSOF 3 card now includes:
Josh Burkman vs. Jon Fitch
Angel DeAnda vs. Tyrone Spong
John Gunderson vs. Dan Lauzon
A light-heavyweight bout between kickboxer Tyrone Spong (1-0) and experienced striker Angel DeAnda (11-2) will co-headline World Series of Fighting 3 in June.
WSOF President Ray Sefo confirmed the bout on Twitter.
WSOF takes place June 14 in Las Vegas, though a venue hasn't been finalized. The main card, including a Jon Fitch vs. Josh Burkman welterweight headliner, airs on NBC Sports Network.
Spong, a Surinamese-Dutch striker with a 69-6-1 pro kickboxing record, fights in an MMA cage for just the second time. Back in November, he made his highly anticipated MMA debut and made short work of Travis Bartlett, whom he knocked out in the first round. This past month, the 27-year-old Spong, who trains with the Florida-based Blackzilian team, returned to kickboxing and headed to England, where he scored a second-round knockout of Remy Bonjasky at GLORY 5.
DeAnda, meanwhile, most recently fought in November, when he knocked out former Strikeforce title challenger Anthony Ruiz at a Tachi Palace Fights event. It marked the California-based fighter's fourth straight win and his 10th knockout in 11 career victories. His only loss in his past 11 fights came to UFC vet James Irvin.
The latest WSOF 3 card now includes:
Josh Burkman vs. Jon Fitch
Angel DeAnda vs. Tyrone Spong
John Gunderson vs. Dan Lauzon
UFC 159's Chael Sonnen: Jon Jones could beat up Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali
In recent years, Chael Sonnen has proven himself as a master of self-promotion. So why is it that in advance of his UFC 159 clash with Jon Jones, he seems more interesting in hyping his opponent than himself?
"I don't regret anything ever," Sonnen said on a Tuesday media call promoting UFC 159. "But as far as my perception of Jon, I mean, it changed in about 30 seconds – about the first 30 seconds I was around him. I mean, he's a good guy. He's a very nice guy.
"You know, I hear people that insult him a lot, and I'm going, 'Well wait a second, this guy is the world champion. This guy has achieved what everybody else is dreaming of.' I think people should copy Jon more than attempt to correct me."
Jones (17-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and Sonnen (27-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) headline Saturday's pay-per-view event, which takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
It's a bold new world for Sonnen, who's probably best known for his epic (and sometimes maniacal) rants ahead of a pair of clashes with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen has also offered a few choice words for Jones in past years, honing in specifically on the UFC champion's 2012 DUI arrest.
It was that tension that was expected to play a central role on "The Ultimate Fighter 17," where the two served as coaches in advance of their title fight. However, Sonnen instead appeared to take the "kill him with kindness" approach.
On Tuesday, Sonnen continued his praise for Jones' work as a head coach on the show.
"He cared a lot about his team," Sonnen said. "He took coaching very seriously. He was on time every time. And he inspired a bunch of guys that really needed it. … They looked up to him, and he was there for them. And, you know, I think he should be credited for that.
"He was a nice person. And, you know, there's not a lot else I can say."
In fairness, it wouldn't serve much purpose to question the skills of Jones, who at just 25 years old can tie Tito Ortiz's record of five consecutive UFC light heavyweight title defenses with a victory.
Of course, that didn't stop Sonnen from attacking Silva, who's widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. But the self-proclaimed "gangster from West Linn, Oregon" isn't taking that approach this time around. In fact, it's quite the opposite, and when Jones admitted he aspires to have his name one day mentioned alongside pugilistic greats Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, Sonnen suggested he was already there.
"As great as Jon is, I don't think that he understands how good he is," Sonnen said. "You know, for him to pay tribute to Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali earlier was a very nice thing for him to do. The reality is Jon Jones could beat up Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in the same day.
"And when he says he wants to be the best ever, Jon, news flash, buddy, you are the best. And as far as tying Tito Ortiz, yes maybe he had a couple more wins but he hasn't had the competition that you've faced. And, you know, that's not a secret. I'm not going to degrade Jon or what he's done. He's the world champion. He's the best in the weight class, and he's the best the weight class has ever seen."
What does all the praise mean in terms of Saturday's fight? Only time will tell. It could be completely irrelevant. After all, Jones is a 9-to-1 favorite according to most oddsmakers.
But perhaps Sonnen's praise will have a palpable effect on the fight. Could an emotionless Jones prove listless in the fight? Could "Bones" buy into his own hype and approach things any differently than he did in five former UFC champions?
"This is a tough guy and a tough environment," Sonnen said. "But you know, that's the sport.
"As far as a competitive standpoint, I think I can beat him. I love watching him. I think he's very good – but I think I can beat him."
In recent years, Chael Sonnen has proven himself as a master of self-promotion. So why is it that in advance of his UFC 159 clash with Jon Jones, he seems more interesting in hyping his opponent than himself?
"I don't regret anything ever," Sonnen said on a Tuesday media call promoting UFC 159. "But as far as my perception of Jon, I mean, it changed in about 30 seconds – about the first 30 seconds I was around him. I mean, he's a good guy. He's a very nice guy.
"You know, I hear people that insult him a lot, and I'm going, 'Well wait a second, this guy is the world champion. This guy has achieved what everybody else is dreaming of.' I think people should copy Jon more than attempt to correct me."
Jones (17-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and Sonnen (27-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) headline Saturday's pay-per-view event, which takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
It's a bold new world for Sonnen, who's probably best known for his epic (and sometimes maniacal) rants ahead of a pair of clashes with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen has also offered a few choice words for Jones in past years, honing in specifically on the UFC champion's 2012 DUI arrest.
It was that tension that was expected to play a central role on "The Ultimate Fighter 17," where the two served as coaches in advance of their title fight. However, Sonnen instead appeared to take the "kill him with kindness" approach.
On Tuesday, Sonnen continued his praise for Jones' work as a head coach on the show.
"He cared a lot about his team," Sonnen said. "He took coaching very seriously. He was on time every time. And he inspired a bunch of guys that really needed it. … They looked up to him, and he was there for them. And, you know, I think he should be credited for that.
"He was a nice person. And, you know, there's not a lot else I can say."
In fairness, it wouldn't serve much purpose to question the skills of Jones, who at just 25 years old can tie Tito Ortiz's record of five consecutive UFC light heavyweight title defenses with a victory.
Of course, that didn't stop Sonnen from attacking Silva, who's widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. But the self-proclaimed "gangster from West Linn, Oregon" isn't taking that approach this time around. In fact, it's quite the opposite, and when Jones admitted he aspires to have his name one day mentioned alongside pugilistic greats Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, Sonnen suggested he was already there.
"As great as Jon is, I don't think that he understands how good he is," Sonnen said. "You know, for him to pay tribute to Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali earlier was a very nice thing for him to do. The reality is Jon Jones could beat up Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in the same day.
"And when he says he wants to be the best ever, Jon, news flash, buddy, you are the best. And as far as tying Tito Ortiz, yes maybe he had a couple more wins but he hasn't had the competition that you've faced. And, you know, that's not a secret. I'm not going to degrade Jon or what he's done. He's the world champion. He's the best in the weight class, and he's the best the weight class has ever seen."
What does all the praise mean in terms of Saturday's fight? Only time will tell. It could be completely irrelevant. After all, Jones is a 9-to-1 favorite according to most oddsmakers.
But perhaps Sonnen's praise will have a palpable effect on the fight. Could an emotionless Jones prove listless in the fight? Could "Bones" buy into his own hype and approach things any differently than he did in five former UFC champions?
"This is a tough guy and a tough environment," Sonnen said. "But you know, that's the sport.
"As far as a competitive standpoint, I think I can beat him. I love watching him. I think he's very good – but I think I can beat him."
UFC champ Georges St-Pierre: Lightweight move likely easier than middleweight
For years, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has teased the idea of moving up to 185 pounds. While he's not ruling out such a change, he believes a cut to lightweight would be much easier.
"I don't do much cutting," St-Pierre said on Tuesday's new edition of "The Joe Rogan Experience." "It would be easier for me to go fight at 155 than fighting at 185. I would be more at my weight naturally at 155.
"There's guys at 155 that walk around at 190 like me. They think I'm big because I have a large frame, but I'm not a big guy. I'm not thick."
St-Pierre was on Rogan's show to promote the Tuesday release of his autobiography, "The Way of the Fight." But the 70-minute discussion touched on a number of topics, including St-Pierre's fighting future.
The welterweight champ recently defended his title against Nick Diaz, and many fans and pundits alike have suggested now is the time to book a long-discussed superfight with middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. But as he has suggested many times before, St-Pierre again pointed out fighting at 185 pounds isn't necessarily an ideal move.
"Anderson Silva is very big," St-Pierre said. "He's 230 pounds. He's a very big guy walking around, and I'm 190 pounds. It's a lot of weight difference. If this fight happens one day, we're going to have to decide what weight class and everything."
It's often been suggested that St-Pierre and Silva could meet at a catchweight, but UFC President Dana White has generally said he would prefer the fight take place at either 170 pounds or 185 pounds to ensure a championship belt is on the line.
Silva has in the past competed as low as 168 pounds, but that was nearly 12 years ago. Still, "The Spider" has sometimes hinted that he could drop all the way down to welterweight. If he can pull it off, St-Pierre said he'd be happy to accept the fight.
"If he can make 170, he can weigh 170, I can weigh 170, and everything is fine," St-Pierre said.
And so the long-discussed superfight still seems to have a few hurdles before it can become a reality. In the meantime, of course, Silva still needs to beat Chris Weidman at this summer's UFC 162 event. And at welterweight, top contender Johny Hendricks is itching for his shot at St-Pierre. White said he has yet to ask the French-Canadian champ what he'd prefer to do next, but St-Pierre seems to be leaning toward staying at 170 pounds for the time being.
"We'll see," St-Pierre said. "Anderson is fighting Weidman. Hendricks is freaking out. He wants to fight me. We'll see what's going to happen in the future – probably Hendricks."
For years, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has teased the idea of moving up to 185 pounds. While he's not ruling out such a change, he believes a cut to lightweight would be much easier.
"I don't do much cutting," St-Pierre said on Tuesday's new edition of "The Joe Rogan Experience." "It would be easier for me to go fight at 155 than fighting at 185. I would be more at my weight naturally at 155.
"There's guys at 155 that walk around at 190 like me. They think I'm big because I have a large frame, but I'm not a big guy. I'm not thick."
St-Pierre was on Rogan's show to promote the Tuesday release of his autobiography, "The Way of the Fight." But the 70-minute discussion touched on a number of topics, including St-Pierre's fighting future.
The welterweight champ recently defended his title against Nick Diaz, and many fans and pundits alike have suggested now is the time to book a long-discussed superfight with middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. But as he has suggested many times before, St-Pierre again pointed out fighting at 185 pounds isn't necessarily an ideal move.
"Anderson Silva is very big," St-Pierre said. "He's 230 pounds. He's a very big guy walking around, and I'm 190 pounds. It's a lot of weight difference. If this fight happens one day, we're going to have to decide what weight class and everything."
It's often been suggested that St-Pierre and Silva could meet at a catchweight, but UFC President Dana White has generally said he would prefer the fight take place at either 170 pounds or 185 pounds to ensure a championship belt is on the line.
Silva has in the past competed as low as 168 pounds, but that was nearly 12 years ago. Still, "The Spider" has sometimes hinted that he could drop all the way down to welterweight. If he can pull it off, St-Pierre said he'd be happy to accept the fight.
"If he can make 170, he can weigh 170, I can weigh 170, and everything is fine," St-Pierre said.
And so the long-discussed superfight still seems to have a few hurdles before it can become a reality. In the meantime, of course, Silva still needs to beat Chris Weidman at this summer's UFC 162 event. And at welterweight, top contender Johny Hendricks is itching for his shot at St-Pierre. White said he has yet to ask the French-Canadian champ what he'd prefer to do next, but St-Pierre seems to be leaning toward staying at 170 pounds for the time being.
"We'll see," St-Pierre said. "Anderson is fighting Weidman. Hendricks is freaking out. He wants to fight me. We'll see what's going to happen in the future – probably Hendricks."
UFC releases veteran heavyweight Cheick Kongo after UFC 159 loss
After a seven-year run that included 18 fights in the organization, veteran heavyweight Cheick Kongo is a UFC fighter no more.
His management team today made the announcement.
"I am sad to report that Chiek Kongo was released by the UFC today," Alden Halpern of MMA Elite wrote.
The release comes a few days after Kongo (18-8-2 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) suffered a knockout loss to Roy Nelson (19-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on UFC 159's pay-per-view main card, which took place April 27 in Newark, N.J.
Kongo, 37, was one of the UFC's longest-employed and most experienced fighters. He made his promotional debut way back at UFC 61 in 2006, where the French kickboxer knocked out Gilbert Aldana as part of a 7-2 start to his UFC career.
Kongo, in fact, was on a 4-1-1 run before the setback to Nelson, which came just two minutes into this past weekend's fight.
However, that's been a theme of his time in the UFC. While he sports an overall 11-6-1 mark in the organization, Kongo struggled against the elite of the division, including notables such as Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Mark Hunt. The big-fight losses stalled any title hopes, though he proved a tough out for just about anyone, including Velasquez, who's earned stoppage wins against everyone but dos Santos and Kongo.
Halpern gave no indication of what may be next for Kongo, who's currently ranked 14th for the most fights in UFC history.
Kongo also is currently ranked No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA heavyweight rankings.
After a seven-year run that included 18 fights in the organization, veteran heavyweight Cheick Kongo is a UFC fighter no more.
His management team today made the announcement.
"I am sad to report that Chiek Kongo was released by the UFC today," Alden Halpern of MMA Elite wrote.
The release comes a few days after Kongo (18-8-2 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) suffered a knockout loss to Roy Nelson (19-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on UFC 159's pay-per-view main card, which took place April 27 in Newark, N.J.
Kongo, 37, was one of the UFC's longest-employed and most experienced fighters. He made his promotional debut way back at UFC 61 in 2006, where the French kickboxer knocked out Gilbert Aldana as part of a 7-2 start to his UFC career.
Kongo, in fact, was on a 4-1-1 run before the setback to Nelson, which came just two minutes into this past weekend's fight.
However, that's been a theme of his time in the UFC. While he sports an overall 11-6-1 mark in the organization, Kongo struggled against the elite of the division, including notables such as Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Mark Hunt. The big-fight losses stalled any title hopes, though he proved a tough out for just about anyone, including Velasquez, who's earned stoppage wins against everyone but dos Santos and Kongo.
Halpern gave no indication of what may be next for Kongo, who's currently ranked 14th for the most fights in UFC history.
Kongo also is currently ranked No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA heavyweight rankings.
Demian Maia vs. Josh Koscheck reportedly targeted for UFC 163
Top-shelf welterweights Demian Maia (18-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) and Josh Koscheck (17-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) are expected to meet at UFC 163 in August.
Brazilian website NewsMMA first reported the matchup, through the UFC hasn't made an official announcement.
UFC 163 takes place Aug. 3 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. As MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) earlier reported, featherweight champ Jose Aldo meets Anthony Pettis in the event's headliner.
UFC 163's main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Maia returns to action while hoping to cinch his fourth consecutive win and, likely, the next shot at the welterweight title. Since dropping from 185 to 170 pounds, the submission specialist has won bouts against Dong Hyun Kim, Rick Story and Jon Fitch.
The Fitch victory solidified Maia as a top contender, and while Johny Hendricks currently holds the position of No. 1 contender, the Brazilian could be within a win or two of the same designation.
Koscheck, meanwhile, is badly in need of redemption. The former title challenger has dropped two straight bouts, including a decision to Hendricks and, most recently, a first-round TKO to Robbie Lawler. Prior to that, he had won back-to-back bouts over Matt Hughes and Mike Pierce.
While it may be too early to say Koscheck is in a must-win situation, his relevancy in the division hangs in the balance.
The latest UFC 163 card now includes:
Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis - for featherweight title
Josh Koscheck vs. Demian Maia*
Cezar Ferreira vs. opponent TBA*
Top-shelf welterweights Demian Maia (18-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) and Josh Koscheck (17-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) are expected to meet at UFC 163 in August.
Brazilian website NewsMMA first reported the matchup, through the UFC hasn't made an official announcement.
UFC 163 takes place Aug. 3 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. As MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) earlier reported, featherweight champ Jose Aldo meets Anthony Pettis in the event's headliner.
UFC 163's main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Maia returns to action while hoping to cinch his fourth consecutive win and, likely, the next shot at the welterweight title. Since dropping from 185 to 170 pounds, the submission specialist has won bouts against Dong Hyun Kim, Rick Story and Jon Fitch.
The Fitch victory solidified Maia as a top contender, and while Johny Hendricks currently holds the position of No. 1 contender, the Brazilian could be within a win or two of the same designation.
Koscheck, meanwhile, is badly in need of redemption. The former title challenger has dropped two straight bouts, including a decision to Hendricks and, most recently, a first-round TKO to Robbie Lawler. Prior to that, he had won back-to-back bouts over Matt Hughes and Mike Pierce.
While it may be too early to say Koscheck is in a must-win situation, his relevancy in the division hangs in the balance.
The latest UFC 163 card now includes:
Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis - for featherweight title
Josh Koscheck vs. Demian Maia*
Cezar Ferreira vs. opponent TBA*
Sources: Visa issues scratch Tyrone Spong from WSOF 3's co-main event
Kickboxer-turned-MMA fighter Tyrone Spong (1-0) won't be able to fight Angel DeAnda (11-2) at World Series of Fighting 3 next month.
Multiple sources today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that visa issues have scratched Spong, a Dutch-Surinamese fighter who trains with the Blackzilians at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
Sherdog.com, which stated Spong is expected back in the WSOF cage in August, first reported the news.
WSOF 3 takes place June 14 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on NBC Sports Network.
A source said the WSOF is expected to promote a matchup from the existing card to the evening's co-main event. It's not yet clear whether DeAnda will receive a replacement opponent.
WSOF 3 is headlined by a welterweight matchup between onetime UFC title challenger Jon Fitch and UFC vet Josh Burkman.
Spong, a K-1 veteran, made his MMA debut this past November at WSOF 1, where he knocked out the unheralded Travis Bartlett in the first round.
Spong's management team couldn't be reached for comment.
Kickboxer-turned-MMA fighter Tyrone Spong (1-0) won't be able to fight Angel DeAnda (11-2) at World Series of Fighting 3 next month.
Multiple sources today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) that visa issues have scratched Spong, a Dutch-Surinamese fighter who trains with the Blackzilians at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
Sherdog.com, which stated Spong is expected back in the WSOF cage in August, first reported the news.
WSOF 3 takes place June 14 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on NBC Sports Network.
A source said the WSOF is expected to promote a matchup from the existing card to the evening's co-main event. It's not yet clear whether DeAnda will receive a replacement opponent.
WSOF 3 is headlined by a welterweight matchup between onetime UFC title challenger Jon Fitch and UFC vet Josh Burkman.
Spong, a K-1 veteran, made his MMA debut this past November at WSOF 1, where he knocked out the unheralded Travis Bartlett in the first round.
Spong's management team couldn't be reached for comment.
UFC's Chael Sonnen will fight on at 205 pounds, wants Wanderlei Silva
Despite suffering a devastating loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at this past weekend's UFC 159 event, Chael Sonnen (27-13-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) will continue his fighting career – and he'll do it at 205 pounds.
Sonnen revealed his plans on Tuesday's new edition of "UFC Tonight" while simultaneously calling out MMA legend Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC).
"I will definitely continue – and at 205 pounds, unless they come up with a catchweight," Sonnen said. "They have a couple of people that do that. I know Rich Franklin has fought at catchweights a bunch, but I'm not going to be in contendership anytime soon, and neither is Rich Franklin or a pool of other guys. So there is a little bit of room where we could meet in the middle.
"Now that I've dropped Rich's name, this wasn't my way of challenging Rich. I was speaking to the point of the catchweight situation. I'm going to stick around."
Sonnen said his decision to stay at light heavyweight was based on a lack of appropriate opponents at 185 pounds, as well as the benefit of not needing to cut weight to compete at 205 pounds.
"I'd rather give up the size but have a smile on my face."
Sonnen said he wouldn't completely rule out the idea of a return to middleweight if there's a fight that makes sense in the class, for instance if Chris Weidman is able to unseat middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva at this summer's UFC 162 event.
But for now, Sonnen's immediate plans are to compete at light heavyweight. And if he could hand-pick his opponent, it would be against Wanderlei Silva, a man he's openly bickered with in the past.
He's called me out before, and I've called him out, but the fight never really made sense," Sonnen said. "I was a contender, and he was just a guy on the card. Now I think the fight does make it a little more sense.
"I'm not leaving this sport. Whenever I get asked about retirement, I never say it, but I always think it: I'm not going anywhere until me and Wanderlei straighten this thing out once and for all."
Despite suffering a devastating loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at this past weekend's UFC 159 event, Chael Sonnen (27-13-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) will continue his fighting career – and he'll do it at 205 pounds.
Sonnen revealed his plans on Tuesday's new edition of "UFC Tonight" while simultaneously calling out MMA legend Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC).
"I will definitely continue – and at 205 pounds, unless they come up with a catchweight," Sonnen said. "They have a couple of people that do that. I know Rich Franklin has fought at catchweights a bunch, but I'm not going to be in contendership anytime soon, and neither is Rich Franklin or a pool of other guys. So there is a little bit of room where we could meet in the middle.
"Now that I've dropped Rich's name, this wasn't my way of challenging Rich. I was speaking to the point of the catchweight situation. I'm going to stick around."
Sonnen said his decision to stay at light heavyweight was based on a lack of appropriate opponents at 185 pounds, as well as the benefit of not needing to cut weight to compete at 205 pounds.
"I'd rather give up the size but have a smile on my face."
Sonnen said he wouldn't completely rule out the idea of a return to middleweight if there's a fight that makes sense in the class, for instance if Chris Weidman is able to unseat middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva at this summer's UFC 162 event.
But for now, Sonnen's immediate plans are to compete at light heavyweight. And if he could hand-pick his opponent, it would be against Wanderlei Silva, a man he's openly bickered with in the past.
He's called me out before, and I've called him out, but the fight never really made sense," Sonnen said. "I was a contender, and he was just a guy on the card. Now I think the fight does make it a little more sense.
"I'm not leaving this sport. Whenever I get asked about retirement, I never say it, but I always think it: I'm not going anywhere until me and Wanderlei straighten this thing out once and for all."