MMA news

• Paulo Costa injured, out of planned January fight with Yoel Romero

  07-11-2018 23:30
  A middleweight bout between Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa is once again off.
  Originally planned for last week’s UFC 230, “Soldier of God” vs. “The Eraser” was tentatively moved to the Jan. 19 card in Brooklyn after Romero wasn’t medically cleared to compete at Madison Square Garden. Costa decided to wait for Romero, but has now been forced out of the card due to an injury, sources confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report by ESPN.
  Costa, 12-0 as a profession
  
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• UFC 230 prelims averaged 635,000 viewers

  07-11-2018 23:00
  UFC 230 was hoped to be one of the year’s biggest shows.
  At the press conference, Dana White talked about it being the second biggest pay-per-view of the year, obviously trailing last month’s UFC 229.
  He wasn’t clear on what that meant, since it would be too early to get accurate pay-per-view numbers. By the end of the show, UFC would have its own streaming pay-per-view numbers, and that would be expected to be a strong indicator.
  But the early results are mixed.
  The prelims o
  
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• Ray Borg Withdraws from UFC Denver Due to ‘Medical Issues,’ Bout vs. Benavidez Canceled

  07-11-2018 22:19 via sherdog.com
  The bad luck continues for Ray Borg, who has been forced to withdraw from a proposed flyweight clash against Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Night 139 in Denver due to “medical issues.”
  
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• Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres says he’s one of the first cuts in impending UFC abolishment of flyweight division

  07-11-2018 22:09
  Jose Torres is no longer a UFC fighter and there are apparently more cuts on the way.
  “Shorty” announced the news Wednesday on his Twitter account, saying that he was no longer with the UFC and he’s one of the first releases en route to the UFC disbanding the entire flyweight division. The whispers of such an action have been heard for months, which only intensified when the UFC traded former 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship last month.
  Combate and Flo
  
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• Floyd Mayweather Denies Agreeing to Official Bout vs. Tenshin Nasukawa at Rizin 14

  07-11-2018 21:48 via sherdog.com
  Well, that didn’t take long.
  
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• Brennan Ward out of bare knuckle fight with Johny Hendricks due to contract dispute

  07-11-2018 21:30
  The World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation’s first event has hit another snag.
  Just a day after it was reported that ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman was withdrawing from his bare-knuckle boxing debut scheduled for Thursday’s WBKFF show in Casper, Wyo., the main event has also taken a hit as Brennan Ward announced on Instagram that a contract dispute has forced him to withdraw from his fight opposite former UFC champion Johny Hendricks. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Brennan
  
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• One Announces Flyweight, Lightweight Tourneys Featuring Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez

  07-11-2018 21:29 via sherdog.com
  One Championship’s two recent high-profile acquisitions will take part in grand prix tournaments in the near future.
  
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• Floyd Mayweather shoots down ‘misleading’ news of Tenshin Nasukawa fight

  07-11-2018 20:31
  Floyd Mayweather’s supposed return to action has been called off before it ever really became official.
  The legendary boxer took to Instagram on Wednesday to explain that the recent announcement that he would be fighting for Rizin Fighting Federation on Dec. 31 against kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa was actually all a big misunderstanding. View this post on InstagramNow that I am back on U.S. soil after a long and disappointing trip to Tokyo, I now have the time to address you, my fans
  
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• Ray Borg ruled out of fight against Joseph Benavidez at UFC Denver

  07-11-2018 19:15
  Ray Borg just can’t seem to buy a break.
  The former UFC flyweight title challenger has been ruled out of his UFC Denver matchup with longtime contender Joseph Benavidez due to reportedly what’s been termed “medical issues.” MMA Fighting confirmed an initial Wednesday report by MMA Junkie.Borg has undergone a series of issues dating back more than a year. He was scheduled to face then-champion Demetrious Johnson for the 125-pound title at UFC 215, but had to withdraw two
  
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• CFFC signs deal to air on UFC Fight Pass

  07-11-2018 18:48
  CFFC is the latest MMA promotion added to the UFC Fight Pass stable.
  Cage Fury Fighting Championships will now air its events on the UFC’s digital streaming service, beginning in December, sources told MMA Fighting on Wednesday. An official announcement is expected later Wednesday.
  The first CFFC card to air on Fight Pass will hail from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City and take place Dec. 14. That event will feature three title fights: Cesar Balmaceda fighting for the inter
  
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• Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez to headline ONE flyweight, lightweight tournaments

  07-11-2018 18:00
  Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez can count on their ONE Championship schedules to be busy right out of the gate.
  At a press conference in Singapore on Wednesday to promote the upcoming ONE: Heart of the Lion event (which takes place this Friday), the organization announced that Johnson (27-3-1) and Alvarez (29-6, 1 NC), the star talents who recently made the move over to ONE from the UFC, will both be competing in eight-man grand prix tournaments in 2019. MASSIVE NEWS
  Demetrious Johnson &am
  
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• ‘Jacare’ not impressed by Adesanya’s UFC 230 win: ‘I did better than him. Twice’

  07-11-2018 17:00
  UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is reportedly set to put his title on the line for the first time on Feb. 9, facing Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia, and two top contenders to the throne emerged at Saturday’s UFC 230.
  Ronaldo Souza became the first Brazilian to ever beat Chris Weidman in the sport, knocking him out in the third round of their co-main event bout at Madison Square Garden in New York, while Israel Adesanya improved to 15-0 with a dominant first-r
  
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• Former ‘Ultimate Fighter 20’ Hopeful Sharice Davids Elected to Congress

  07-11-2018 16:14 via sherdog.com
  Former mixed martial arts fighter Sharice Davids scored a major political victory in her home state, as she was elected in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night.
  
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• The A-Side Live Chat: UFC 230 fallout, Mayweather vs. Tenshin, Ben Askren, ONE, UFC Denver, Jon Jones, more

  07-11-2018 15:15
  This is The A-Side Live Chat on MMA Fighting.
  Today on the show, we’ll talk fallout from UFC 230 last weekend. Is Brock Lesnar really the right choice for Daniel Cormier’s farewell fight? Who should Israel Adesanya fight next? Has Ronaldo Souza earned a title shot?
  We’ll also discuss Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement to fight Tenshin Nasukawa at Rizin 14 on New Year’s Eve. What is there to be made from this stunning announcement? Will Mayweather fight in anything
  
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• Brock Lesnar’s new WWE deal may lead to Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 3

  07-11-2018 15:00
  After a busy week at UFC 230, even with the headlines focusing mainly on Daniel Cormier’s heavyweight title defense against Derrick Lewis and Jon Jones’ return from his latest suspension to face Alexander Gustafsson, the key takeaway from Cormier and Jones was that they both no longer have any interest in facing the other.
  For Cormier, he will tell you that his career is coming to a close and he has one fight left.
  For Jones, he will tell you that he’s already beaten Cormier t
  
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• Morning Report: Chris Weidman’s coach calls loss to Jacare ‘a big setback,’ discusses possible move to 205 pounds

  07-11-2018 14:00
  A lot was on the line for Chris Weidman at UFC 230. It was a chance for Weidman to earn the title shot he has been struggling back to since losing his belt in 2015. It was also a chance for redemption - to finally get a win in Madison Square Garden - and for the better part of two rounds, things looked great for “The All-American.” But in the third round, things went awry as Ronaldo Souza reached down deep and summoned a right hook that put Weidman down and, after some time allowed
  
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• Ben Askren: UFC Booked Me With Lawler Because They Don't Want Me To Win

  07-11-2018 13:46 via sherdog.com
  Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White promised that Ben Askren would be given a top-five welterweight in his debut and delivered, with Askren now scheduled to fight No. 5-ranked former champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 233 in January.
  
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• Daniel Cormier: 'I Truly Believe Lesnar Is A Tougher Fight Than Derrick Lewis'

  07-11-2018 13:34 via sherdog.com
  Daniel Cormier headed into his Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title defense against Derrick Lewis as the overwhelming favorite, with most observers expecting “DC” to nullify Lewis’ power with his Olympic-caliber wrestling. The fight played out as expected and set Cormier up with a much-hyped showdown against World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Brock Lesnar next March in what will apparently be the champ’s swan song fight.
  
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• UFC Denver Open Workouts Rich With Hometown History

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Almost 25 years to the day, the cultural force we now know as the UFC kicked off its meteoric rise here in Denver, Colorado. Fast-forward a quarter of a century and 455 events, and the promotion returns to its Mile High birthplace to celebrate the impressive milestone.Fight week often feels like it’s finally kicked off with the official open workouts, and Colorado was certainly no different. With the first crack of the glove against the mitt ringing through the crisp mountain air, the cele
  
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• TUF Heavy Hitters - Episode 9 Preview

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters on JULY 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)" align="center" />Last week saw the final elimination round matchup, with Macy Chiasson finishing Larissa Pacheco to punch her ticket to the semifinals that will kick off on the next episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters.With only four fights remaining this season, the semifinals are comprised of four fighters from Team Whittaker and four fighters fro
  
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• The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters - Episode 9 Recap

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  The first finalist on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters has been determined after heavyweights Justin Frazier and Michel Batista clashed on the latest episode.Prior to the battle between Team Gastelum and Team Whittaker getting underway this week, there was still plenty to deal with from the fight that capped off the elimination round last week.Actually, the fallout wasn't as much about the fighters involved as it was Maurice Greene becoming rather loud and obnoxious after the bout was over as
  
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• Pena out to prove he would have been TUF champion

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Luis Pena celebrates his submission victory over Richie Smullen during The Ultimate Fighter Finale event inside The Pearl concert theater at Palms Casino Resort on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)" align="center" />“Luis, you’ve got three rounds with Khabib.”The words from AKA head coach Javier Mendez to UFC lightweight Luis Pena would have been terrifying to most people. Pena knew it was coming, though, even b
  
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• Miller-Oliveira bout heading to Milwaukee

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Submission specialists Charles Oliveira and Jim Miller will make the trip to Milwaukee on December 15, as the lightweight vets square off in a Fight of the Night candidate at Fiserv Forum.In the UFC Milwaukee main event, which airs live on FOX, Kevin Lee faces Al Iaquinta in a highly-anticipated rematch.Owner of the record for most submissions in UFC history, Brazil's Oliveira used 2018 finishes of Clay Guida and Christos Giagos to move past Royce Gracie in the record books, and he'll attempt to
  
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• Borg-Benavidez scrapped from Denver card

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Due to medical issues, Ray Borg has been forced out of his Saturday bout with Joseph Benavidez. There will be no replacement bout and the card will proceed with 12 fights.UFC Fight Night , which is headlined by the featherweight bout between Chan Sung Jung and Yair Rodriguez, airs live on FS1 from Pepsi Center in Denver. Read the Full Article Here
  
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• An Improved Mike Perry Wants To 'Pick Up The Torch'

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Mike Perry punches Paul Felder in their welterweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)" align="center" />Six months into his time at Jackson-Wink MMA, Mike Perry couldn’t be happier.The flamboyant fighter decamped from his Florida home for the Albuquerque, New Mexico outpost two months prior to UFC 226, where he was initially scheduled to face Yancy Medeiros before
  
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• A Lot Has Changed, But He's Still 'The Same Old Cowboy'

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  The more things change with Donald Cerrone, the more things stay the same.The last six months have brought a whirlwind of changes and new experiences for the veteran UFC gunslinger but, as always, “Cowboy” is taking it all in stride and loving every minute of it.In June, he and his longtime girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son named Dacson Danger Cerrone, into the world. Six weeks later, he experienced a “total silt out” while cave diving, losing sight of the tow
  
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• 2018 A Life-changing Year for Devonte Smith

  07-11-2018 07:00 via ufc.com
  Ohio born and raised, Devonte Smith remembers his first training trip to Colorado earlier this year.“When I first came out here to train, that altitude really got to me,” he said. “I know somebody who ain’t used to this type of air, it’s gonna get to them.”Smith hopes that somebody is Julian Erosa, the man “King Kage” will be facing in his UFC debut in Denver this Saturday. It’s a home game for Smith, who trains with the Factory X squad in En
  
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• Former women’s MMA fighter Sharice Davids elected to Congress

  07-11-2018 04:28
  A former MMA fighter is going to Capitol Hill.
  Sharice Davids, who tried out for The Ultimate Fighter just four years ago, was elected to Congress on Tuesday night in the 3rd District of Kansas, multiple outlets are reporting.
  Davids, 38, will join Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as former mixed martial arts fighters serving in the United States House of Representatives. Davids, a Democrat, will also be one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first-ever openly gay Native
  
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• Former UFC Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Volkan Oezdemir Undergoes Knee Surgery

  07-11-2018 03:26 via sherdog.com
  Volkan Oezdemir has undergone knee surgery following his loss to Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night Moncton last month.
  
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• Felder-Vick Rebooked for UFC 233; Brawl Participant Makhachev Also Slated to Compete

  07-11-2018 03:00 via sherdog.com
  Two matchups have been added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first pay-per-view of 2019.
  
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• Belal Muhammad vs. Geoff Neal booked for UFC ESPN+ debut

  07-11-2018 03:00
  The UFC’s first card on ESPN+ is beginning to take shape.
  Newsday reported Tuesday that Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal have been booked to fight on the Jan. 19 card at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the first UFC event that will be broadcast via the ESPN+ streaming service. A weight class was not specified, but Muhammad and Neal have regularly competed at 170 pounds.
  Muhammad (14-2) was supposed to fight Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in August, but an injury forced Muhammad to withdraw. He&rsquo
  
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• UFC 232 Update: Chad Mendes vs. Alexander Volkanovski Set for Las Vegas

  07-11-2018 02:33 via sherdog.com
  A pivotal featherweight duel pitting Chad Mendes against Alexander Volkanovski has been added to the UFC 232 lineup.
  
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• Anthony Johnson says he’ll return only for heavyweight fight with Jon Jones or Daniel Cormier

  07-11-2018 02:00
  As content as Anthony Johnson appears to be with his retirement, there are apparently certain conditions that would make him amenable to a comeback.
  Johnson retired in April of last year after his second shot at light heavyweight gold, falling to defending champion Daniel Cormier, the same man who beat him for a vacant title back in May, 2015. The 34-year-old has stuck to his guns since, but on Tuesday he addressed a rumor started by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show
  
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• Chad Mendes vs. Alexander Volkanovski added to UFC 232 card

  07-11-2018 01:00
  The UFC has added a “money” fight to UFC 232.
  Chad “Money” Mendes will square off with rising Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 232 in Las Vegas. The company announced the fight on Tuesday.
  Mendes (18-4) returned from a two-year absence on July 14 to score a first-round TKO of Myles Jury, snapping a two-fight losing streak. It was the 10th career stoppage win of the Team Alpha Male standout’s career.
  Volkanovski (18-1), meanwhile, has put together one of the most low-ke
  
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• Calvin Kattar fed off adversity going into last fight of UFC contract

  07-11-2018 00:00
  It doesn’t take much to get Calvin Kattar geared up for fight night. But the chance to bounce back from a rare loss and impress the brass on the last bout of his contract certainly didn’t hurt.
  Kattar (19-3) returned to the win column in impressive fashion at UFC Moncton in October, needing less than a round to put away former Cage Warriors champion Chris Fishgold. It was the second TKO win in three fights for Kattar, who sandwiched those victories around a unanimous decision loss t
  
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