Cruz: DJ would do ‘great’ against Garbrandt and Dillashaw
(mmafighting.com)For now, the top of the UFC bantamweight division appears to be a three-horse race between current UFC champion Cody Garbrandt, the man challenging for the title next, T.J. Dillashaw, and the man with the most decorated reign in the division’s history, Dominick Cruz. But a fourth horse could soon enter the race in the form of Demetrious Johnson, the reigning flyweight king who sits only one title defense away from breaking the coveted UFC record held by Anderson Silva, and has talked extensively in the past about moving up to 135 pounds for a superfight once that record is his.
As the only person in that quartet to have fought the other three members, that gives Cruz a unique perspective on Johnson’s chances against the best that bantamweight has to offer. And Cruz thinks “Mighty Mouse” would do just fine if he ever decides to make the move.
Gastelum win over Belfort overturned, plus 90-day suspension
(mixedmartialarts.com)The UFC’s independent drug testing agency does not test for recreational drugs outside of competition. However, recreational drugs including marijuana are tested for in-competition. Alcohol is treated in a similar fashion – you are not tested for alcohol out of competition, but are prohibited from fighting while drunk.
Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs have a cutoff of 50 ng/ML. World Anti-Doping Agency has a threshold of 150 ng/ML. USADA uses 180 ng/ML. UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum tested positive above that level at UFC Fight Night 106: Belfort vs. Gastelum on March 11 in Fortaleza, Brazil. Gastelum was then removed from a scheduled fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ex-WSOF champ Justin Gaethje says UFC contract signed, wants 'scariest lightweight possible'
(mmajunkie.com)Now former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje late Wednesday night said his next move is a done deal.
Gaethje (17-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), currently ranked No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, said on his official Twitter account he has signed his contract to fight in the UFC. Although he didn’t call out anyone by name, he said he wants the “scariest lightweight possible” for his first bout in the promotion.
‘Bigfoot' Silva back on TRT for Vitaly Minakov fight in Russia
(mmafighting.com)Antonio Silva is looking to snap a four-fight losing skid, and he's cleared to go on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) once again.
“Bigfoot", one of the few UFC fighters allowed to go on TRT before the treatment was banned by the Nevada Athletic Commission, is set to meet former Bellator heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov at Fight Nights Global, scheduled for June 2 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
USADA suspends UFC’s Ricardo Abreu for four years after second anti-doping violation
(mmafighting.com)As expected, Ricardo Abreu won’t be fighting in the UFC any time soon. Or, more likely, ever again.
The middleweight fighter was suspended for four years by USADA after failing a drug test while serving a previous USADA suspension for a positive test, it was announced by the UFC’s anti-doping partner Friday. The second anti-doping policy violation resulted in the sanction length being doubled.
Abreu, 33, tested positive for nandrolone metabolites and other 19-norsteroids stemming from a sample collected Dec. 21, 2016. The non-natural origin of the agent was confirmed by carbon isotope-ratio analysis, per the USADA release. The substances Abreu tested positive for fall under the anabolic agents category in the UFC’s anti-doping policy.
‘Baby Slice’ Kevin Ferguson Jr. returns against D.J. Griffin at Bellator 179 in London
(mmafighting.com)Kevin Ferguson Jr. — a.k.a. ‘Baby Slice’ — is fighting again in 15 days.
It was reported on Friday by The Sun that Ferguson will take on D.J. Griffin at Bellator 179, which will take place on May 20 at the SSE Arena in London, England. Bellator officials have confirmed the bout.
After making his amateur debut in March 2016, Ferguson — who is the son of the late Kimbo Slice (Kevin Ferguson Sr.) — made his MMA debut last November against Aaron Hamilton. He ended up losing via second-round submission (guillotine).
Georges St-Pierre to Michael Bisping: I’ll fight you any time ‘after October’
(mmafighting.com)Don’t plan on seeing the UFC middleweight title defended until late in 2017.
Georges St-Pierre posted a video message to middleweight champion Michael Bisping on Friday, saying he’d be ready to fight for the belt “any time after October.” The bout has already been announced, but a timeframe has been up in the air until now.
“Mr. Bisping, I cleared my entire schedule to get ready for training camp after the summer,” St-Pierre said. “So I can fight you any time after October. Pick the date. Let’s get it on.”
UFC 211 gets two late fights added, including replacement, bringing card to 14 total
(https:)The UFC’s summer return to Dallas is officially jam packed.
Two bouts have been added to the May 13 fight card at American Airlines Center, one of which replaces a last-minute scratch.
As first reported by dallasnews.com, Dallas heavyweight and LFA veteran Rashad Coulter (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his octagon debut against Chase Sherman (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC). Additionally, a light heavyweight matchup between Joachim Christensen (14-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Gadzhimurad Antigulov (19-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has been confirmed by the promotion, bringing the total number of bouts to 14.
Charlie Ward welcomes newcomer Galore Bofando to octagon at UFC Fight Night 113
(mmajunkie.com)As Conor McGregor previously announced, his SBG Ireland teammate will compete at UFC Fight Night 113 in Scotland.
UFC officials today announced that Irish welterweight Charlie Ward (3-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will face English newcomer Galore Bofando (4-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at the event, which takes place July 16 it SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
A main event for the card has yet to be announced. The main card airs on FS1.
Cris 'Cyborg' and Megan Anderson appear to be all-in on UFC 214 clash
(mmajunkie.com)As the status of UFC women’s featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie continues to remain a mystery, frustration among fellow fighters in her weight class is beginning to boil over.
Although the UFC’s women’s 145-pound division technically only consists of two fighters in de Randamie (7-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Cristiane Justino (17-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), the UFC is having a difficult time booking a championship fight between the two. De Randamie is apparently not ready to fight despite winning the gold nearly three months ago with a unanimous decision over Holly Holm at UFC 208.
Gerald Meerschaert meets Thiago 'Marreta' Santos at UFC 213 in Las Vegas
(mmajunkie.com)A middleweight bout between Gerald Meerschaert and Thiago “Marreta” Santos is the latest addition to July’s UFC 213 lineup.
Brazilian outlet Combate.com first reported the matchup between Meerschaert (26-8 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Santos (14-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC). MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed the news with representatives from both sides of the fight.
UFC 213 takes place July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, though the bout order hasn’t been finalized.
Chris Wade meets Frankie Perez in Ring of Combat rematch at UFC on FOX 25
(mmajunkie.com)The UFC’s debut event on Long Island this summer has another fight featuring a local – and it’ll be a rematch.
Long Island’s own Chris Wade (11-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will take on Frankie Perez (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a lightweight fight when the UFC heads back to New York for UFC on FOX 25. The bout was reported by Long Island-based Newsday.com, though it hasn’t been officially announced by the promotion.
Matt Bessette meets new challenger Reynaldo Trujillo in CES MMA 44 headliner
(mmajunkie.com)Injury has forced Jeremy Spoon (20-3) to withdraw from a planned CES MMA 44 headliner, and a replacement opponent has been secured.
Veteran Texan Reynaldo Trujillo (21-18) has agreed to step in on short notice and now challenges CES MMA featherweight champion Matt Bessette (21-7) at the event, which takes place May 12 and airs on AXS TV from Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I.
“It’s frustrating when we were so close to making this fight happen, but thankfully CES found a man to step up and fight,” Bessette stated. “Rey Trujillo likes to fight, not pretend he likes to fight. Those are the best scraps that get me amped.”
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