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Robert Whittaker: I could give Jon Jones a run
"He’s kind of cleaned out his division ... we’ll have to wait and see. I’m gonna fight Adesanya, then I’ll be a little free myself. I’ll definitely move up, not down. But if he’s looking for opponents, that’s a fight, that’s a great fight. I think I could just give him a run for his money. I surprise a lot of people and I’m full of tricks, and I think the intensity I bring into a fight is something that a lot of people aren’t prepared for. But he’s a great fighter, he’s super, super dangerous. I’m under no illusion how hard it would be, and yeah, I think it would be fun.” Listen to Submission Radio
Angela Magana's coach posts positive update
Brave champ Al-Selwady: Trash talk is a 'sign of weakness'
"I see that [Luan 'Miau' Santiago] likes to talk a lot, saying that he's hungry for the championship. But I'm not your average champion. I don't feel like I did everything I wanted to do. I'm still hungry, hungrier than every other fighter. Even though I'm the champion, I'm hungry to stay as champion. Luan thinks he's going to finish me, and that actually makes me very happy. I love when my opponents think they're stronger than me, and are so confident. To me, that's a weakness they're showing me. It always feels great fighting in my hometown [of Jordan on Friday at Brave 23], this is where I started my career. It's always a great atmosphere, as my friends and family are here too. I'm coming back home to defend my title in front of my people, and this is a very special night for me. First, because I don't ever want to lose, I always want to win. Friday night will be special because I've had the longest fight camp ever. I didn't stop training from my last fight in November."
UFC 238 poster released
Roxanne Modafferi : 'Physical strength has been my weakness’
Modafferi, fighting pro since 2003, comments on her fight vs. hot prospect Antonina Shevchenko on Saturday in St. Petersburg: “I’m feeling pressure coming off a loss. I think a lot of fighters do, especially when they’re in the UFC. I just want to get the win and whatever happens after that I don’t care! I just want to get the win. Physical strength has been my weakness throughout my whole career. I’m old school, we just went to the gym and did technique training. It was before mixed martial arts became a sport. Fighting [used to be] no holds barred. I only started doing professional strength and conditioning about three or four years ago. I’m trying to catch up to all these young girls who started training everything. I’m only starting to come into my athletic build, so to speak. I wouldn’t consider myself athletic. It sucks when I’m in the fight and I’m like, ‘I know what the technique is but I can’t physically do it.’ That sucks. I’ve always been a big ‘technique over power’ kind of girl because I love judo and jiu-jitsu. I’d still like to believe that, but when skill is similar, strength pushes you over.” h/t BE • Listen
Shaq , Poirier comfort ‘Mini-Blessed’ after his daddy's loss
Frankie Edgar demands shot vs. featherweight champ Max Holloway
”I think everybody knows it should go to me. Even the guys who want the shot, you [hear] them say ‘Well, I know Frankie should get it, but...’ You know? Alexander Volkanovski is fighting Jose Aldo in a few weeks and that may have an impact, but I think everybody knows it’s me. I’ve worked my entire career for it to be me. The fact I put it on the line the last time Max and I were supposed to meet up, that holds some weight. I know the UFC likes to reward people who are willing to just let it fly. I’ve done that my whole career. I’m ready for that reward. I know I’m only on a one-fight win streak. But people do realize that I took a risk and went for it. And I’d do it again, because that’s the kind of guy I am.” h/t ESPN
Anderson Silva: Israel Adesanya 'crossed the line' with Jon Jones trash talk
“The way I see it, as an athlete, he disrespected Jon Jones. I think for the business, for Dana, it’s great. It’s great business for the UFC. Regardless of whether they fight or not, the UFC wins – and the fans. But there is a lack of respect. I think he crossed the line a bit. With time, he’ll learn how to deal with those things. I think he has to respect everything Jon Jones has done. It’s two great fighters. In the future, who knows – they might fight. But I’m from a time when you have honor. You respect everyone’s space. And that’s my opinion. That’s my personal opinion because Israel is young and Jon Jones has a great story for a long time in this sport. I think Adesanya needs to respect Jon Jones, but for the business, it’s good for Dana. I respect all fighters, especially Jon Jones. Jon Jones is my young brother and I don’t have a problem talking about Jon Jones. He’s the best fighter in the world.” h/t MMA Junkie • Watch
Latest 10 UFC fight announcements, today's in bold
•Cole Smith vs. Mitch Gagnon at UFC on ESPN+ 8 on 5/4 in Ottawa
•Charles Oliveira vs. Nik Lentz 3 at UFC on ESPN+ 9 on 5/18 in Rochester
•Danny Roberts vs. Michel Pereira at UFC on ESPN+ 9 on 5/18 in Rochester
•Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier Formiga 2 at UFC on ESPN 4 on 6/29 in Minneapolis
•Luke Rockhold vs. Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239 on 7/6 in Vegas
•Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Jack Marshman at UFC 239 on 7/6 in Vegas
•Paulo Costa vs. Yoel Romero in June, date/place TBA
•Austin Hubbard vs. Davi Ramos at UFC on ESPN+ 9 on 5/18 in Rochester
•Sergey Spivak vs. Walt Harris at UFC on ESPN+ 8 on 5/4 in Ottawa
•Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Alexa Grasso booked at UFC 238 on 6/8 in Chicago
Conor contradicts UFC on knockdown record
Ngannou: Title shot only makes sense with win vs. JDS
Francis Ngannou lost his first title shot vs. Stipe Miocic, but bounced back beating Cain Velasquez and Curtis Blaydes in under one minute, combined. Now he fights JDS at UFC 239 on 7/6 and with a win, has well-earned another title shot. “After the last fight I thought I would get the title fight back, but it didn’t happen, I don’t know why. I’m so happy to have the fight against Junior. He don’t have the belt, but we all know he’s a champion. We have seen him since he comes back, he looks like a champ. I think after this there will be no issues with the belt. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Kevin Lee and RDA may make an extreme case for super lightweight
MMA needs a 165 division as part of a comprehensive approach to ending the culture of extreme weight cutting; UFC boss Dana White feels otherwise. Kevin Lee, making his welterweight debut vs. Rafael dos Anjos at ESPN+ 9 on 5/18, says the pair may take an extreme step to make the case - both fighters weighing in at 165: “It might be a little backroom deal that we got on there. ... I’ll ask him, see what he thinks about it. If he’s down with it, I’d be down – and I’d cut an extra little five pounds for that, make a statement, make some noise. It’s in our contract, we ain’t got to, but I like to push some buttons. I think [a super lightweight division] is inevitable. I think we all kind of see that. I think it creates more work for them, and they don’t really see that much more benefit out of it. But, at the end of the day, when you talk about fighter safety and you talk about not having to dehydrate your brain and getting to fight a similar opponent, that’s what we’re looking for, is an even playing field." h/t MMA Junkie • Watch
Congratulations Court McGee
Dana White: UFC MDs must evaluate Tony Ferguson before he fights again
Former Interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is on medical hiatus due to mental health issues, but recently tweeted that, "I Was Offered A Fight Last Week Before UFC 236. Guess Who? That Means I Don’t Need Additional Clearance." However, the UFC boss recently offered clarification: “I don’t know if Tony’s ready to fight, I don’t know if that’s absolutely accurate. We haven’t had anybody evaluate him yet.” h/t MMA Junkie
Jordan Burroughs responds to Chael Sonnen callout
Dominick Cruz: T.J. Dillashaw 2 year suspension is a gift
“Realistically, I have no attachments to T.J. Dillashaw or his decisions. I just don’t. He chose this. ... I actually feel bad for him. Regardless of what I think, the world believes that there’s an asterisk next to him. Same with Jon Jones. There’s an asterisk next to the story. So at this point, I think he’s going to come back. Two years really is nothing. I’ve been out longer than that injured. And he’s just going to get healthy. That’s all that’s going to happen. T.J. Dillashaw’s going to take two years, raise his kid. Probably be a good father to his kid which is better for his family. He’s going to heal up. Who knows what he’s going to do in his off time. Who knows how much healthier, how much better he gets, if he fills any gaps. I honestly think that when T.J. Dillashaw comes back he’s going to be better than he was when he left. Because he’s going to be rested and he’s going to have time for his family. [It's being played out as a much bigger picture than it is. If anything it’s a gift.” h/t Sherdog • Watch The Ariel Helwani MMA Show
Dustin Poirier tattoo tour
