MMA news

• Report: UFC Vet Karlos Vemola Jailed for Running Three Cannabis Farms in England

  04-02-2016 23:36 via sherdog.com
  
  Six-time UFC veteran Karlos Vemola has been sentenced to one year in jail for running three suburban cannabis farms in England, according to a report from the International Business Times.
  
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• Shooto Brazil champion fails drug test, stripped of title

  04-02-2016 23:00
  
  Rafael Sobral won the vacant Shooto Brazil bantamweight championship with a decision win over Luciano Benicio on Nov. 13, but failed a drug test right after his win.
  The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) announced on Thursday that Sobral (5-6-1, 1 NC) tested positive for drostanolone. The 30-year-old fighter was issued a two-year suspension.
  CABMMA announced that Sobral’s win was overturned to a loss, making Nova Uniao’s Benicio (10-1) the new Shooto Brazil 135-pound champio
  
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• Report: Ex-UFC fighter Karlos Vemola sentenced to one year in jail for illegal cannabis farming

  04-02-2016 22:44
  
  Former UFC fighter Karlos Vemola has been sentenced to serve one year in jail for his role in a string of illegal cannabis farms within the United Kingdom, according to multiple reports.
  Vemola, 30, is reportedly one of four individuals jailed for his involvement in the farms, which stretched across three properties in Hertsmere, England. Authorities were reported to find approximately £20,000 ($29,179) worth of cannabis, "as well as UV lighting, ducting and plastic sheeting during raids o
  
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• If CM Punk loses in UFC debut, Dana White will leave fighting again 'up to him'

  04-02-2016 22:00
  
  The path for professional wrestler turned professional fighter CM Punk has been set. On Saturday, UFC newcomer Mickey Gall will get the first crack at Punk if he defeats Mike Jackson at UFC Fight Night 82.
  Punk has no athletic or competitive martial arts experience background and at age 37, no one is exactly sure what to make of his fighting ability. So, what happens if the fight with Gall happens and Punk loses badly? Will he fight again?
  "That's going to be up to him," UFC President Dana White
  
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• Laila Ali Predicts Holm-Rousey II Will Be The Same Or Worse As Their First Fight For Rousey

  04-02-2016 21:32
  
  https://youtu.be/Fjw4zqO6LyUFormer UFC title contender Chael Sonnen recently interviewed former women's boxing mega-star and the daughter of "The Greatest Of All-Time" Muhammad Ali -- Laila Ali -- for a new episode of "Beyond The Fight" this week. The former undefeated women's boxing champion got the attention of the MMA world by making a bold prediction for a potential Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey rematch.Ali spoke to "The American Gangster" about her own personal history with Holm before ultima
  
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• Alex Oliveira to Meet Donald Cerrone in New UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh Headliner

  04-02-2016 20:57 via sherdog.com
  
  It will be “Cowboy” vs. "Cowboy" in the main event of UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh.
  
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• Bubba Jenkins to Face Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 151 on March 4

  04-02-2016 20:34 via sherdog.com
  
  Featherweight prospects Bubba Jenkins and Goiti Yamauchi will collide at Bellator 151.
  
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• Tecia Torres vs. Rose Namajunas 2 targeted for UFC on FOX 19

  04-02-2016 20:16
  
  Another intriguing fight is close to being added to the yet-to-be announced UFC on FOX 19 card.
  According to sources close to the promotion, the UFC is targeting Tecia Torres vs. Rose Namajunas 2 on April 16. The UFC has yet to officially announce the card or its location at this time.
  Torres handed Namajunas her first professional loss in July 2013 when she won via unanimous decision at Invicta FC 6. Since then, Torres (7-0) has won four in a row, including most recently another unanimous decis
  
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• Dana White to Conor McGregor on UFC 196 poster change: 'You're right'

  04-02-2016 19:58
  
  UFC President Dana White has been making the media rounds at radio row in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl 50 and stopped by on Thursday, the Grant and Danny Show from Washington, D.C.'s 106.7 The Fan. White addressed a number of topics, not least of which is the noticeable change in fight posters and marketing angle for UFC 196: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor.
  McGregor, the reigning featherweight champion, is set to face dos Anjos, the reigning lightweight champion, in the main event of U
  
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• Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira in the works for UFC Fight Night 83 (updated)

  04-02-2016 17:49
  
  Another "cowboy" will step in to face Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 83.
  With Tim Means sidelined due to a potential USADA violation, Alex Oliveira offered to move up to 170 pounds and take on "Cowboy" Cerrone on short notice in the main event Feb. 21 in Pittsburgh.
  Sources close to the situation told MMAFighting.com that the only thing pending is Oliveira’s visa. Combate first reported the news. Update: UFC has confirmed the match-up as official.Oliveira (14-2-1, 1 NC) moves back to th
  
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• Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira in the works for UFC Fight Night 83

  04-02-2016 17:49
  
  Another "cowboy" could step in to face Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 83.
  With Tim Means sidelined due to a potential USADA violation, Alex Oliveira offered to move up to 170 pounds and take on "Cowboy" Cerrone on short notice in the main event Feb. 21 in Pittsburgh.
  Sources close to the situation told MMAFighting.com that the only thing pending is Oliveira’s visa. Combate first reported the news.
  Oliveira (14-2-1, 1 NC) moves back to the welterweight division after knocking out Piotr H
  
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• Dana White: Ronda Rousey to Face Holm-Tate Winner ‘Probably’ in November

  04-02-2016 17:29 via sherdog.com
  
  There finally appears to be a tentative date for Ronda Rousey’s Octagon return.
  
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• BJ Penn “Guarantees” He’s Returning At UFC 196: Nik Lentz Out, New Rumored Opponent

  04-02-2016 17:25
  
  With UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor challenging for a second title against UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos and Holly Holm making the first defense of her UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against Miesha Tate, it would seem like UFC 196 couldn't possibly get any bigger -- until now.On Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight, MMAFighting.com journalist Ariel Helwani reported that UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn "guarantees" he will be making his Octagon return at the event scheduled
  
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• Taisumov-Hadzovic, Tybura-Johnson Added to UFC Fight Night Zagreb Lineup

  04-02-2016 17:04 via sherdog.com
  
  The card for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s inaugural trip to Croatia continues to grow, as the Las Vegas-based promotion recently revealed two more matchups for the April 10 event.
  
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• Anderson Silva: Chris Weidman deserves immediate rematch

  04-02-2016 17:00
  
  UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that Chris Weidman will have an immediate rematch with Luke Rockhold for the middleweight title in June, and former champion Anderson Silva, who reigned as 185-pound king in the UFC from 2006 to 2013, believes he deserves one.
  "I think it’s fair," Silva told Passando a Guarda. "He was the champion, had good wins on his last fights, defeated tough opponents, and deserves respect from everyone, especially the other middleweights. He deserves thi
  
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• Matt Serra's advice to Sage Northcutt on haters: 'You gotta have a thick skin'

  04-02-2016 16:00
  
  WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. -- If anyone can counsel Sage Northcutt on the highs and lows of the fight game, it's Matt Serra.
  The first part of Serra's UFC career was a comedy of errors. There was the infamous spinning back fist knockout loss to Shonie Carter in the closing seconds of a bout he was dominating at UFC 31. At UFC 41, Serra was announced as the split decision winner over Din Thomas, only to find out later in the locker room there was a scorecard error and he had actually lost via split d
  
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• Goiti Yamauchi vs. Bubba Jenkins set for Bellator 151

  04-02-2016 15:30
  
  Two rising featherweight prospects will meet at Bellator 151, as Japanese-Brazilian Goiti Yamauchi faces Bubba Jenkins in Thackerville, Okla., on March 4. Sources close to the situation confirmed the match-up to MMAFighting.com.
  Yamauchi (19-2) holds a 5-1 record inside the Bellator cage with four stoppage victories, while Jenkins (10-2) knocked out four opponents in his 7-2 run in the promotion.
  "Winning this fight, I want and demand my shot at the title," Yamauchi told MMAFighting.com. I&
  
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• Official UFC 196 poster debuts -- and Conor McGregor's belt is on full display

  04-02-2016 15:00
  
  Conor McGregor wanted his belt on the poster. Conor McGregor got his belt on the poster.
  Weeks after McGregor's memorable rant at UFC 196's pre-fight press conference, during which the Irish champion derided the first wave of the event's promotional images as "absolute garbage," the UFC debuted a new official UFC 196 poster -- one which had McGregor's featherweight title on full display, along with a 'champion vs. champion' tagline opposite lightweight king Rafael dos Anjos.FIRST LOOK at th
  
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• Morning Report: Freddie Roach says Conor McGregor caught Jose Aldo with 'very common shot,' showed 'lack of experience'

  04-02-2016 14:00
  
  Jose Aldo may have been unbeaten for a decade, but that doesn't seem to impress Freddie Roach.
  The illustrious boxing coach to names like Manny Pacquiao and former UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre got a chance to see featherweight champion Conor McGregor's 13-second KO at UFC 194 and thinks Aldo has some work to do in the striking department.
  "The thing was, it was a great step back, because it's like people say, 'Don't move back in a straight line,' though," Roach told Marcos Villegas o
  
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• UFC stars predict outcome of Super Bowl 50

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Super Bowl 50 is set for Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, featuring the AFC Champion Denver Broncos, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, vs. the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers and quarterback Cam Newton.So who will prevail, the Broncos or the Panthers? We asked some of the UFC’s brightest stars, in Las Vegas for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson, for their game predictions: //
  UFC President Dana WhitePICK: Panthers“Listen, I am a b
  
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• The Downes Side: Fight Night Las Vegas predictions

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and enjoy another thrilling edition of the Downes Side!We may not have a heavyweight championship fight, but there will be plenty of MMA action to whet your whistle this weekend. Live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks tries to climb his way back to title contention against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The co-main event pits Jared Rosholt against Roy Nelson in a heavyweight bout. Who ne
  
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• Ovince Saint Preux incapable of breaking mentally

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  The long view perspective isn’t anything new to Ovince Saint Preux.From the early days of his Florida upbringing to the pursuit of his initial passion that played out later on in a Tennessee Volunteers football uniform, the journey of OSP has come equipped with an acute understanding that ground will be lost and gained at regular intervals. Nevertheless, as long as the determination to push forward never ceases, the desired end result can always be found.The foundation for that mindset was
  
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• Oliveira Steps Up to Face Cerrone on Feb. 21

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  A new main event is now set for the February 21 card at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone meets the Brazilian welterweight who shares his moniker, Alex "Cowboy" Oliveira.The five-round main event headlines a UFC Fight Night card that airs on FOX Sports 1. Cerrone's original foe, Tim Means, was removed from the card due to a Potential Anti-Doping violation.Moving to the welterweight division after a 15-4 run at 155 pounds in the Octagon, former world tit
  
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• Lobov looking to bounce back after disappointing debut

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Artem Lobov, who makes his second Octagon start this Saturday on UFC FIGHT PASS against Alex White, is a realist. As such, he’s not one for moral victories or flowery descriptions of the lessons he took away from his loss to Ryan Hall in the Ultimate Fighter 22 finale last December. He’s just happy he got paid.“I was really surprised that the UFC pays for those kinds of boring fights,” Lobov said. “I probably wouldn’t pay myself for that fight, but that was re
  
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• Holm on underdogs: believe you belong there

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Going into my fight with Ronda Rousey, I knew I was the heavy underdog. However, I’ve always thought that you have to believe you belong there, or you’ve already lost.What was it like preparing for a moment where I had to rise to the occasion? Where I had to defy the expectations of people who thought Ronda was a lock? It wasn’t always easy. There were days in training where I didn’t perform at the level where I needed to be. Sometimes, I’d just go in my car and cry
  
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• Chris Weidman shows off his catwalk skills

  04-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Chris Weidman as America's next top model? It's not as far fetched as it sounds.The Former UFC middleweight champion took to the catwalk during Men's NY Fashion Week, showing off his skills in the Grungy Gentleman show. //
  From the Octagon to the Catwalk, @ChrisWeidmanUFC on the runway at #NYFWM showing the @GrungyGentleman collection. pic.twitter.com/hkGkbjj9dN— UFC (@ufc) February 4, 2016How did he do? Let us know in the comments below. Read the Full Article Here
  
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• UFC Confirms Opponent For Luke Rockhold’s First UFC Middleweight Title Defense

  04-02-2016 06:56
  
  .@katienolan with another scoop! @LukeRockhold will rematch @ChrisWeidmanUFC in June #GTLive https://t.co/FPRrmAP9og— Garbage Time (@GarbageTime) February 3, 2016In addition to announcing that the Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones rematch is expected to take place in April and revealing that November is when Ronda Rousey will likely challenge for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Title against the winner of the Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate fight in March, Dana White confirmed who will get the first sh
  
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• Noad Lahat discusses threats received in Germany, fighting in Israel, UFN 82 and more

  04-02-2016 05:37
  
  LAS VEGAS -- Noad Lahat talks about his recent win in Germany, the media attention he receives in Israel, fighting Diego Rivas at UFN 82, Cain Velasquez's injury and more.
  
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• 'Countdown to UFC Fight Night 82' video

  04-02-2016 04:00
  
  The 'Countdown to UFC Fight Night 82' video video takes a closer look at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 82 event on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.In the main event, former UFC champion Johny Hendricks squares off against Stephen Thompson. Roy Nelson battles Jared Rosholt in a heavweight contest in the co-main event.
  
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• Dana White Reveals Exact Month Ronda Rousey Will Likely Fight For UFC Title

  04-02-2016 03:52
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK9o_VkdI8AIt sounds like former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey will be returning towards the end of the year. While Rousey is working on the remake of Roadhouse, Holly Holm will fight Meisha Tate at UFC 196 and the winner will take Rousey."The winner of that fight will fight Ronda probably in November," Dana White revealed on "The Neighborhood" with Big Boy on Wednesday. "[Rousey] is very intense. She's a bad ass. She'll be back."Rousey has yet to
  
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• Dana White Announces Exact Month Ronda Rousey Will Likely Fight For UFC Title

  04-02-2016 03:52
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK9o_VkdI8AIt sounds like former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey will be returning before the end of the year after all.While Rousey is working on the remake of the popular 1980s movie Roadhouse, Holly Holm will fight Meisha Tate at UFC 196 and the winner will take on Rousey. Until today, it wasn't clear if the Rousey title rematch would even take place in the 2016 calendar year.UFC President Dana White revealed during a radio interview on Wednesday
  
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• B.J. Penn Guarantees That He Will Fight at UFC 196, Siver Most Likely Opponent

  04-02-2016 03:42 via sherdog.com
  
  B.J. Penn promises that he will fight at UFC 196 -- even if it won’t be against Nik Lentz as originally desired.
  
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• UFC Fight Night 83 Main Eventer Pulled From Event Due To Potential USADA Violation

  04-02-2016 03:40
  
  Another fighter has been flagged for a potential violation UFC's new, strict anti-doping policy and as a result, a main event for an upcoming show is currently in serious jeopardy.Tim Means, who is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 83 against Donald Cerrone on February 21st in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is officially out of the fight and according to a statement released by the UFC, a replacement opponent for Cerrone will be announced shortly.Below is UFC's official statement regarding the si
  
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• UFC Planning Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier 2 For April

  04-02-2016 03:38
  
  It sounds like Jon Jones will be making his return to the octagon in April. On Wednesday, UFC president Dana white confirmed to FOX Sports that they're working on the rematch between Jones and Daniel Cormier. According to White, it'll likely go down in April.“It’s probably going to happen in April,” White told FOX Sports. “I don’t have the date or the venue, but April is looking like the month.We reported on Sunday that UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sh
  
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• Dana White Reveals When Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier II Is Expected To Happen

  04-02-2016 03:38
  
  It sounds like Jon Jones will be making his return to the Octagon in April.On Wednesday, UFC president Dana White confirmed to FOX Sports that they're working on the rematch between Jones and current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier. According to White, the Jones-D.C. rematch will likely go down in April.“It’s probably going to happen in April,” White told FOX Sports. “I don’t have the date or the venue, but April is looking like the month.We reported o
  
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• Tim Means Flagged for Anti-Doping Violation, Pulled from UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh

  04-02-2016 03:14 via sherdog.com
  
  The UFC Fight Night event in Pittsburgh has taken a major hit, as Tim Means was pulled from the Feb. 21 event’s headliner due to a potential Anti-Doping policy violation.
  
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• Tim Means flagged for 'potential' USADA violation, out of bout against Donald Cerrone

  04-02-2016 02:50
  
  Another day, another anti-doping violation. The UFC announced Wednesday that welterweight veteran Tim Means has been flagged for a "potential Anti-Doping Policy violation" stemming from an out-of-competition drug test with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
  As a result of the potential violation, Means is out of his UFC Fight Night 83 main event bout against Donald Cerrone. A replacement opponent for Cerrone is expected to be announced "shortly."
  The UFC's statement can be read b
  
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• UFC Fight Night 82 media day photos

  04-02-2016 02:43
  
  View this gallery here.
  
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• B.J. Penn 'guarantees' he'll fight at UFC 196; potentially against Dennis Siver

  04-02-2016 01:45
  
  B.J. Penn fully expects he'll make his return to the Octagon on March 5. And it probably won't be against Nik Lentz.
  The UFC Hall of Famer, one of just two fighters to hold UFC titles in two weight classes, "guarantees" he'll be fighting at UFC 196 on March 5 in Las Vegas, MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight.
  While there's no official opponent lined up, word has it that veteran Dennis Siver has emerged as a possible opponent for the former welterweight
  
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• Potential CM Punk opponent Mickey Gall calls UFC experience 'surreal'

  04-02-2016 01:32
  
  LAS VEGAS -- UFC newcomer Mickey Gall talks about his goals in the UFC, how he got the CM Punk, his UFN 82 fight against Mike Jackson, his message to the critics and more.
  
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• Mike Jackson: 'I've been nominated by hardcore fans to assassinate the character of CM Punk'

  04-02-2016 01:20
  
  LAS VEGAS -- Mike Jackson talks about his UFC Fight Night 82 debut against Mickey Gall, the strangeness of the situation, his desire to fight CM Punk, why he deserves a crack at Punk if he wins on Saturday, the limitations of Gall's skillset, whether Punk belongs in the UFC, and much more.
  
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• Roy Nelson questions Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez's decision to withdraw from title fight

  04-02-2016 01:14
  
  LAS VEGAS -- At UFC Fight Night 82 media day, Roy Nelson gives his thoughts on the Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez canceled fight, why he should have pulled out of the Josh Barnett fight, how close he is to a title fight, and more.
  
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• Jared Rosholt thinks criticism he received following UFC 193 win was fair

  04-02-2016 01:10
  
  LAS VEGAS -- Jared Rosholt discussed his UFC Fight Night 82 match-up against Roy Nelson, the fallout from Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez 2, Nelson's status as a gate-keeper at heavyweight, the changes he has made to his striking game, how far he is away from a title shot, and much more.
  
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• Dana White: Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman Rematch Will Happen at UFC 199

  04-02-2016 00:58 via sherdog.com
  
  Luke Rockhold will defend his middleweight championship in a rematch against Chris Weidman at UFC 199 in June.
  
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• Dana White: Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman 2 happening at UFC 199 in June

  04-02-2016 00:31
  
  Chris Weidman will get the rematch he wanted.
  UFC president Dana White told Garbage Time's Katie Nolan on Wednesday that Luke Rockhold will make his first middleweight title defense in a rematch with Weidman at UFC 199 in June. No exact date was given..@katienolan with another scoop! @LukeRockhold will rematch @ChrisWeidmanUFC in June #GTLive https://t.co/FPRrmAP9og
  — Garbage Time (@GarbageTime) February 3, 2016Rockhold (15-2) beat Weidman via fourth-round TKO at UFC 194 in December.
  
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• Dana White: 'I blew it' by letting Sage Northcutt fight with strep throat

  04-02-2016 00:26
  
  Dana White knew that Sage Northcutt was sick with strep throat last week. And the UFC president let him fight anyway. Now, he regrets it.
  "The kid was super sick and he still wanted to fight," White said on the Big Boy show this week. "His father said, listen we still want to take the fight, we still want to take the fight. I should have pulled the kid from the fight. He's 19 years old, he fought three times in [four] months. I should have pulled the kid from the fight."
  Northcutt, a top pr
  
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• UFC Fight Night 82 media day staredowns

  04-02-2016 00:05
  
  LAS VEGAS -- At UFC Fight Night 82 media day, the top fighters for this Saturday's UFC event squared off in front of the media and the fans.
  
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