Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov verbally agree to headline UFC Saskatoon
(https:)A heavyweight headliner is in the works to headline the UFC’s return to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov have verbally agreed to face off June 20 in a five-round main event fight. Thursday, MMA Junkie confirmed the agreement following an initial report from Russian outlet Sports.ru.
Dana White open to Figueiredo vs. Benavidez rematch: ‘We’ll do it again’
(https:)What should have been a triumphant weekend for Deiveson Figueiredo turned into a memorable one for the wrong reasons as his goal of becoming UFC flyweight champion was stifled by his inability to beat the scale.
Figueiredo did manage to beat Joseph Benavidez in the UFC Norfolk main event, and based on that effort, UFC President Dana White is open to running the matchup back.
Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker in the works for UFC San Diego main event
(https:)Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is expected to return against of one of the division’s surging contenders in a main event.
Although contracts have yet to be signed, a matchup between Poirier and Dan Hooker is in the works to headline the UFC’s return to San Diego on May 16, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. They requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an announcement.
Dana White: Henry Cejudo deserves respect for wanting to fight Jose Aldo
(https:)UFC president Dana White thinks Henry Cejudo deserves credit for chasing after a legend like Jose Aldo.
Cejudo (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will attempt to make his first bantamweight title defense at UFC 250 when he takes on Aldo (28-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in enemy territory.
Aldo failed to make good in his bantamweight debut and was narrowly defeated by Marlon Moraes in a controversial split decision loss, which prompted heavy criticism when the UFC decided to grant Cejudo’s wish. But White, who scored the fight for Aldo, understands where the former dual-champ Cejudo is coming from with his callout of the former long-time featherweight champ.
Marlon Moraes vs. Petr Yan targeted to headline UFC Kazakhstan
(https:)The first half of an unofficial tournament for the next bantamweight title shot is in place.
Onetime title challenger Marlon Moraes and top contender Petr Yan have verbally agreed to headline the UFC’s first trip to Kazakhstan, which takes place June 13 at Astana Arena in the capital city of Nur-Sultan. Contracts are expected to be signed shortly for the matchup, which was first reported by MMA Junkie and confirmed to MMA Fighting by sources close to the fighters.
Gillian Robertson vs. Taila Santos, Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Oskar Piechota join UFC Saskatoon lineup
(https:)Two undercard matchups are the first additions to UFC Saskatoon.
Gillian Robertson will take on Taila Santos in a flyweight bout, and Marc-Andre Barriault will fight Oskar Piechota at middleweight in the UFC’s first trip to Saskatoon since 2015.
MMA Junkie confirmed the matchups Wednesday after an initial report from Saskatoon StarPhoenix. The event will take place June 20 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and is expected to be either an ESPN or ESPN+ event.
Israel Adesanya says there are ‘no concerns’ about staph infection ahead of UFC 248
(https:)This weekend, UFC 248 takes place in Las Vegas, main evented by newly minted middleweight champion Israel Adesanya making his first title defense against Yoel Romero. But this past weekend, concerns about the fight cropped up when, in a video interview with Combat TV, Adesanya was shown with an open wound on his left arm.
This led to rampant speculation among MMA fans about Adesanya having a staph infection and how this might affect or even jeopardize the fight.
Colby Covington challenges 50 Cent to a fight, blasts Rosie O’Donnell
(https:)As he seeks a rematch with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman later this year, Colby Covington is currently taking aim at some celebrity detractors, who couldn’t help but dance on his grave after he suffered a fifth-round TKO loss this past December.
After a back and forth war for more than 20 minutes, Covington ultimately got knocked down and finished by Usman in their bout at UFC 245.
Afterwards, hip-hop star 50 Cent blasted Covington while calling him a “racist piece of sh*t” while celebrating the fact that he got his jaw broken during the fight. Actress Rosie O’Donnell also chimed in while saying that she enjoyed watching Covington “limp out with a broken jaw.”
UFC flyweight title mess may be the division’s poetically heartbreaking end
(https:)Fighting in his first UFC main event, Deiveson Figueiredo chose to walk out to the theme song from “Mission Impossible.” Which is fitting after he missed weight the day before, thereby making himself ineligible to win the UFC flyweight championship. The tune also worked as the official sounds of the UFC Norfolk main event.
After all Joseph Benavidez has been through, after all the flyweight division has experienced, impossible seems about the right descriptor. And somehow, afterward, it fit even better. No one left with what they wanted and the whole weight class ended in flux...
Manager: Deiveson Figueiredo open to Joseph Benavidez rematch at UFC 252
(https:)Deiveson Figueiredo knocked out Joseph Benavidez at Saturday’s UFC Norfolk, but didn’t claim the flyweight championship after he missed weight by 2.5 pounds on Friday morning.
The UFC has yet to announce what’s next for the weight class and the vacant title, but Figueiredo’s manager Wallid Ismail told MMA Fighting the company is interested in booking an immediate rematch for the 125-pound title.
Henry Cejudo: I’ll fight ‘ugly detached Siamese twins’ Figueiredo and Benavidez in one night
(https:)Henry Cejudo is having a field day with the limbo at the top of the flyweight division.
The former 125-pound champ, who relinquished his belt the moment Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez clashed at UFC Norfolk, talked tough after Figueiredo’s knockout win left the division without a successor.
Responding to UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith’s frustration over the weight miss that ruled Figueiredo out of the title, Cejudo tagged Dana White and played to the UFC president’s political leanings.
Brandon Vera to defend ONE heavyweight title against Arjan Bhullar at ONE Infinity 2
(https:)ONE Championship’s second “Infinity Series” event has a heavyweight main event, with two familiar names to UFC fans set to go head to head for championship gold.
Reigning ONE heavyweight champion Brandon Vera will put his title on the line against Canada’s Arjan Bhullar in the main event of ONE Infinity 2 at the Mall of Asia, Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 29. The event will be streamed live on B/R Live following prelims on MMA Junkie.
