John Dodson to fight Marlon Moraes at UFC Norfolk
(https:)The UFC’s upcoming trip to Norfolk, Va., has added a high-level bantamweight clash to the card.
John Dodson (19-8) and former World Series of Fighting champion Marlon Moraes (18-5-1) are set to meet at UFC Fight Night 120 on Nov. 11 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz confirmed Thursday with sources. “The Magician” announced the matchup via Twitter on Friday following an initial report by journalist Farah Hannoun.
Management group settles with Leslie Smith, moves suit against Nate Diaz to federal court
(mmajunkie.com)The Ballengee Group is dropping a management lawsuit against UFC women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith after settlement terms were reached, the firm’s attorney attorney Jason Friedman told MMAjunkie.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and Smith declined comment. Ballengee is still pursuing legal action against Nate Diaz and attorney Sam Awad, named as co-defendants in the suit, and moved its complaint to Texas federal court earlier this month.
Michael Chiesa signs new four-fight deal with the UFC
(https:)Michael Chiesa will remain a UFC fighter, at least for a little while longer.
The winner of season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter has signed a new four-fight deal with the promotion. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani confirmed the news on Wednesday.
Chiesa had one fight left on his old UFC contract, but decided to re-sign with the promotion instead of fighting out his contract and testing free agency. “Maverick” is not currently scheduled to compete, but hopes to fight one more time before the end of this year.
Andrew Sanchez vs Ryan Janes Booked For ‘TUF 26’ Finale On DEC. 1
(sherdog.com)Andrew Sanchez and Ryan Janes will lock horns at “The Ultimate Fighter 26” finale.
Promotion officials announced the pairing on Wednesday. The “TUF 26” finale takes place in Las Vegas on Dec. 1 and will crown the promotion’s inaugural female flyweight champion.
Sanchez began his UFC tenure with back-to-back decision triumphs over Trevor Smith and Khalil Rountree. In his last outing, “El Dirte” suffered a third-round knockout loss to Anthony Smith. The 29-year-old owns a 9-3 career mark, with seven wins via knockout, technical knockout or submission.
Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee officially announced as UFC 216 main event
(https:)An interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee has long been set for UFC 216, but now it’s confirmed that it will be the main event.
On Tuesday, the UFC officially announced in a press release that Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will serve as the main event of UFC 216 on October 7th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dana White had revealed two weeks ago that Ferguson and Lee would contend for the interim lightweight title, but at the time it wasn’t confirmed that the fight would be the headlining act. This is the first time that either Ferguson or Lee has been in the main event of a UFC pay-per-view.
Tatiana Suarez, Viviane Pereira meet at UFC Fight Night 120
(https:)Tatiana Suarez will face an undefeated Brazilian next time she steps inside the Octagon.
The 26-year-old fighter will meet fellow 115-pound prospect Viviane Pereira at UFC Fight Night 120 in Norfolk, Va., on Nov. 11, sources told MMA Fighting following a report by Combate.
Suarez (4-0) competed on the 23rd season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, going 3-0 in the reality show before defeating Amanda Cooper in the tournament final in July 2016. Suarez returns for the first time since pulling out of a fight with Juliana Lima last December due to an injury.
DWCS winner Julian Marquez to make debut vs. Vitor Miranda at UFC on FOX 26
(mmajunkie.com)Julian Marquez’s first opportunity to make a name for himself in the UFC will come in December.
Marquez, who earned a UFC contract earlier this month thanks to Dana White’s Contender Series, will meet veteran Vitor Miranda at UFC on FOX 26 in a middleweight bout. The event, which takes place Dec. 16 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, will air on FOX with prelims on the same channel and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC Norfolk books Joe Lauzon vs. Clay Guida
(https:)The UFC’s upcoming trip to Norfolk, VA is getting a lightweight bout between two of the promotion’s longest tenured action fighters.
Surely this fight has happened before. It must have happened; has to have already been done. Both Clay Guida (33-17) and Joe Lauzon (27-13) entered the UFC as lightweights in 2006 – Guida through the acquisition of the WEC, while Lauzon debuted against Jens Pulver – and neither man has had a year without at least one bout in the promotion since. For those at home, that’s 11 solid years of cage fighting, without ever sharing the Octagon.
UFC gets late replacement for injured Germaine de Randamie in Rotterdam
(https:)Brazilian Talita de Oliveira has apparently agreed to step in on short notice to take on Marion Reneau for the UFC’s September 2nd card.
It looks like the UFC has managed to find a short-notice replacement for Marion Reneau after Germaine de Randamie pulled out of their bout less than one week away from fight night. MMA Brasil reports, Brazilian newcomer Talita de Oliveira has agreed to step in and save the match.
Talita de Oliveira (5-1) comes into the fight on a four-fight winning streak in the Brazilian and Polish MMA circuits, with three of those wins coming by way of submission and one by decision. Her sole loss came in April 2015, when she was defeated by Juliana Velasquez via unanimous decision.
DWCS 7 winner Mike Santiago meets Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC-Rotterdam
(mmajunkie.com)Dana White’s Contender Series continues to prove its value as a pipeline for UFC talent, with a winner from this past week’s episode now competing in a UFC event this week.
MMAjunkie today confirmed with UFC officials that Mike Santiago (19-9 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is filling in for an injured Nick Hein and will face featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov at this week’s UFC Fight Night 115 event, which streams live this Saturday on UFC Fight Pass from Ahoy Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
After loss to Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor says he's free agent, open to boxing and MMA
(mmajunkie.com)UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor held off on committing to a UFC return, but said he’s got options for his future.
“I have many options in MMA,”McGregor told MMAjunkie at the press conference for “The Money Fight,” which followed his 10th round TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I’m sure there’s options that will present themselves in the boxing game. Right now, I’m a free agent. My name is on the ring.”
A little loose from his eponymous whiskey, McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC, 0-1 boxing) spoke proudly of his effort against Mayweather (50-0 boxing) and his ability to get his name on the canvas as a promoter of the lucrative Showtime pay-per-view.
How clicks and likes made Mayweather-McGregor a fight for the Internet age, for better or worse
(mmajunkie.com)It’s one of the best and the worst things about the Internet age: Wherever you go, whatever you click on, you are seen. You are counted. The all-seeing eye of the web knows where you came from, what you read and watched, and how long that precious bit of content held onto the frantic sparrow of your attention before it flew away, carried off on a new current.
Because the Internet knows where you go, it also knows what to give you. You click, you like, and it resupplies with more of the same to feed your addiction. Which helps explain how we got here, with just a few days to go before one of the most improbable fights in combat sports history finally becomes real, while maybe also becoming the biggest of all time.
Germaine de Randamie out at UFC Fight Night 115, promotion seeking replacement
(mmajunkie.com)Former UFC women’s featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie (8-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is out of next week’s UFC Fight Night 115 co-headliner, and the promotion is looking for a new opponent for Marion Reneau (7-3-1 MMA, 3-2-1 UFC).
MMAjunkie today confirmed with UFC officials that injury has forced de Randamie out of the contest. A timetable for her return was not immediately established.
Tom Duquesnoy says he's fighting Cody Stamann at UFC 217 in New York
(mmajunkie.com)The lineup for the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden this fall continues to build with the addition of a new bantamweight bout.
Tom Duquesnoy (15-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) used his Instagarm account to announce a fight against Cody Stamann (15-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 217 in November. UFC officials, however, are yet to make a formal announcement of the booking.
UFC 217 takes place Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, and is expected to feature three title fights, just like the UFC’s first show there in November 2016.
50 million Americans (nearly 1 in 6) could end up watching Mayweather-McGregor fight
(mmajunkie.com)Conor McGregor’s improbable challenge of Floyd Mayweather could be seen by a staggering 50 million people in the United States as fans and the curious gather in small and large parties.
The fight Saturday night threatens the pay-per-view revenue record set by Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao two years ago and could dwarf it in viewership as people use the event as a reason to have friends and family over for a little escapism and controlled violence.
UFC Fight Night 119 Update: Demian Maia, Colby Covington to Meet in Sao Paulo
(sherdog.com)Recent welterweight title challenger Demian Maia will attempt to take down one of the division’s top prospects when he faces Colby Covington at UFC Fight Night 119 in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian media outlet Combate was the first to report the bout. UFC Fight Night 119 takes place at Ibirapuera Gymnasium on Oct. 28 and is headlined by a middleweight clash between Lyoto Machida and Derek Brunson.
Maia won seven straight fights from May 2014 to May 2017 to become the welterweight division’s No. 1 contender. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace came up short in his title bid at UFC 214, however, losing a five-round verdict to reigning champion Tyron Woodley.
Joanne Calderwood vs. Bec Rawlings set for UFC Sydney
(https:)With both women coming off losses at strawweight, a flyweight matchup has been booked between veterans Joanne Calderwood and Bec Rawlings for UFC Fight Night in Sydney, Australia. The UFC announced the matchup following a report from the Brisbane Times.
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