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Dana White: Why Henry Cejudo's next fight isn't Urijah Faber
"You'd have to look at Joe [Benavidez, at flyweight]. Next, [Cejudo] should defend title - he would go to 125, defend that title, then we would decide who he would fight next. I think that as long as Cejudo is willing to defend both titles, I think he's the guy that could carry both [flyweight and bantamweight divisions], by both I mean both divisions". h/t Watch TMZ interview
Manager: Jorge Masvidal will fight for title or Conor McGregor and that's it
DC: With 2nd win vs. Stipe, I'm the heavyweight G.O.A.T.
“I can’t do this better than I did the first time. I’m not gonna knock Stipe Miocic out in four minutes. He’s got a great coach, and he’s a good fighter that’s gonna make adjustments to not get put to sleep. But that does not mean he’s gonna win the fight. I’m gonna win the fight. And I get to go out there and defeat the guy that people thought is the best of all time again. .. The more I do in this division, the more it cements a legacy in this division. Because after this, beating the guy that supposed to be the greatest of all time twice and never losing in this division ever, they gotta start to put me atop those leaderboards of the greatest heavyweight of all time.” Daniel Cormier and Stip Miocic fight in the main event of UFC 241 on 8/17. h/t Sherdog • Watch ESPN interview
Kajan Johnson: Ryan Hall is the evolution of MMA
“I’m not saying [Hall] is going to go on and be a champion for 25 years, although he very well could ... His approach to mixed martial arts is so far out of the box of what everybody else is doing. When we start seeing more and more people that are thinking outside the box, asking different questions, addressing positions in different ways and creating different theories and principals — we are going to see a huge f@$%ing jump in skill level. ... I think it’ll take time for us to get outside of this box. We know that this works so it is hard to go to something that we don’t know will work. I spent six-months training Wing Chun because I have theory all martial arts will eventually go back towards traditional martial arts like karate and Kung Fu. I think it’s quite possible there are other truths that we don’t know yet that still exist in older martial arts... It’s going to take creative, ballsy people to go and explore it. To bring back the data and prove it in the fight.” h/t BE • Watch Pull No Punches podcast
ATT owner Dan Lambert comments on departure of Robbie Lawler
"Fighters come and fighters go. We focus on the fighters that are at the gym, not fighters who have left. I don’t have anything bad to say about Robbie Lawler. Even if I did, he’d be the last person I’d say something bad about, I mean look at the guy. Look at the guy and look at his status in the sport. You’re going to try and get into a PR battle with that guy? You’re going to lose that one every time but you know, we focus on people that are at the gym. Try to make them better, get them to fight. Colby is at our gym, Robbie is not so we’re focusing on Colby.” Colby Covington fights Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5 on 8/3. h/t MMA Junkie
Maia vs. Modafferi: She who sheds her blood with me today ...
Roxanne Modafferi lost to Jennifer Maia via SD in 2016 at Invicta FC 19 for the flyweight belt in the fight of the night. The pair rematch at UFC on ESPN+ 14 on Saturday, and the Brazilian is a model of respect, in a league where trash-talking puts asses in seats and thus dollars in pockets: “I’ve evolved since we last saw each other, and so has she – a lot. ... The more improved fighter will win. It’s been a while since I’ve won by KO or submission. I’ve been winning by points lately. This time, I’d love to get a finish before the final buzzer. I’m training hard to put on a great show for the fans. [I] enjoy Roxanne’s positive style. We have zero rivalry outside the cage. We chat. We message each other sometimes. I like Roxanne’s harmonious nature. In the cage, we try to finish each other, but when it’s all done, we’ll hug. We both have the same dream, and we depend on each other to make it happen." h/t MMA Junkie
Dan Hardy mulling return to the Octagon
Dan Hardy, 37, hasn't fought since 2012, as he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a genetic condition causing most patients to have heart palpitations and a rapid heartbeat. Hardy, however, is symptom-free, with a resting pulse rate of 42, and a maximum of 200. 'The Outlaw' decided to forgo surgery, but commissions and his employer feared for his safety in the absence of surgery. “I’m always mulling a return. ... There’s no point I’ll be able to take my gloves off and leave them in the Octagon, especially because I want to come and hang them to the wall in my gym as well. I never leave gloves behind. Yeah, I would love to fight again. I absolutely would. I’ve got ideas in my head of who I would like to fight and where I would like to fight, but none of that’s relevant right now. What I need to do is get myself into a position where my body’s moving well over a couple of months, and the USADA testing pool will give me that time. I just gotta jump in instead of dipping my toe in the water every now and then when I see [UFC anti-doping czar] Jeff Novitzky." h/t MMA News • The MMA Hour
Latest 10 UFC fights, today's in bold
•Alen Amedovski vs. John Phillips at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen
•Brian Ortega vs. Chan Sung Jung in the works for UFC on ESPN+ 17 on 9/21 in Mexico City
•Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. OSP official for UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen
•Alessio Di Chirico vs. Peter Sobotta at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen
•Askar Askarov Faces Brandon Moreno at UFC on ESPN+ 17 on 9/21 in Mexico City
•Ion Cutelaba vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen
•Macy Chiasson vs. Lina Lansberg at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen
•Li Jingliang vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC on ESPN+ 15 on 8/31 in China
•Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie at UFC on ESPN+ 19 on 10/12 in San Francisco
•Yorgan De Castro vs. Justin Tafa to square off atUFC 243 0n 10/6 in Melbourne
Dana White's office is the G.O.A.T.
Darren Till moving to middleweight?
Tito Ortiz open to rematch vs. Ryan Bader
UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz, who guillotines current Bellator champ champ in 2011, has signed a two-fight contract with Combate Americas, and fights Alberto Del Rio later this year, is open to a rematch: “I would possibly like to do a cross-promotion, this is something that I’d like to talk to Campbell about. Let’s do a cross-promotion. I know Ryan Bader is the champion at Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight. Let’s do a cross promotion, let’s do the rematch. Let’s give that chance back to Bader. I am willing to give him the chance. The kid deserves it. He’s a hard-working man, he’s the champ. I respect him, and I think Ryan Bader is an awesome human being, awesome fighter, awesome father. I look up to the guy and respect him for being champion. Let’s get in there and try number two and see if I was lucky the first time." h/t MMA Mania • Watch Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show
Boxing support of BRAVE continues: Eubank family to attend London event
Boxing royalty is supporting BRAVE Combat Federation's vision for the development of mixed martial arts in Europe and beyond. First British champion Amir Khan was confirmed to attend BRAVE 24 on 7/25 inside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London; now both Chris Eubank Jr. and his father Chris Eubank Sr. will also be in attendance to witness a historic, invitation-only evening. The show is designed to connect the highest level of influencers, celebrities, businessmen, and politicians to the sport of MMA, as BRAVE Combat Federations seeks to elevate the sport to another level in terms of building a new global ecosystem, focused on the sports industry instead of the events industry. Eubank Jr., 29, is the IBO super middleweight champ; Sr. is one of the best boxers of his generation having held world titles in two different weight classes; he was undefeated for the first ten years of his career and remained without a loss at Middleweight.
Two take pleas in fatal shooting of Aaron Rajman
On July 3, 2017, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigators said several people entered fighter Aaron Rajman’s family’s home in suburban Boca Raton; a fight broke out and Rajman, 25, was fatally shot. Investigators said he was targeted, but authorities have released few details about the incident since. On Monday, two of the three people charged pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County court to lesser charges. Summer Church, 18, and Jace Swinton, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. They were sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation by Circuit Judge Rosemarie Scher. Church and Swinton, along with Roberto Ortiz, the third alleged co-defendant in the shooting, were charged with first-degree murder and home invasion two months after Rajman’s death. At the time of their arrests, Swinton and Ortiz were 18 years old and Church was 16. Ortiz, who remains in the Palm Beach County Jail on first-degree murder charges, is scheduled to be in court in October. h/t Palm Beach Post
Ready for UFC Africa
Bellator Featherweight World GP opening brackets set
Bellator 226, 9/7, San Jose, CA: Derek Campos vs. Daniel Straus • Pedro Carvalho vs. Sam Sicilia • Tywan Claxton vs. Emmanuel Sanchez • Adam Borics vs. Pat Curran.
Bellator 228, 9/28, in Inglewood, CA: 'Pitbull' Freire vs. Juan Archuleta • Saul Rogers vs. Daniel Weichel • Georgi Karakhanyan vs. A.J. McKee • Darrion Caldwell vs. Henry Corrales.
Quarterfinals, which will be 5 rounds to maintain parity with titleholder, are set by random draw on 9/30, with fighters picking who they’d like to face. GP winner earns $1 million, sponsored by 50 Cent's Le Chemin du Roi (The King's Path) champagne.
Aljamain Sterling to Urijah Faber: Stop the BULL$#!@ title talk
I usually don’t do this but when I do, it’s to stop the bullshit! Back to business! Your title challenger is here! Faber, great finish, but you need to at least beat someone in the Top 10. I’ll handle CeDooDoo, aka Triple Chump from here!" Funk Master' is currently on a four-fight streak, most recently decisioning Pedro Munhoz at UFC 238 on 6/8 in Chicago. h/t Facebook
Eddie Alvarez back in ONE lightweight tournament
The UnderGround King lost his promotional debut vs. Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE 99, but the Russian is injured, so the American is back in, and fights former champion Eduard Folayang in a lightweight tournament semi-final bout. This is not some sleight of hand to keep the high-profile Alvarez in the tournament; in fact, of the four semi-finalists, three are subs. Amir Khan lost to Ariel Sexton but is back in due to a Sexton injury, Folayang is in for Lowen Tynanes, and Alvarez is in for Nastyukhin. ONE Championship 99: Dawn of Heroes on 8/2 at Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines will feature the Alvarez-Folayang semifinal fight, as well as Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight tournament semifinal fight vs. Tatsumitsu Wadam.
Ronda Rousey WWE return said to be 'imminent'
Uirjah Faber callout of Henry Cejudo continues: Deez nuts
Artem Lobov to attend BRAVE 24; has huge Amir Khan plan
A long-time member of SBGi, Lobov will personally support his teammates at the invite-only, groundbreaking BRAVE 24: London, set for the Copper Box Arena, inside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, on July 25th. The fighter turned bare-knuckle athlete is one more VIP guest confirmed for the historic show, which will connect the highest level of influencers, celebrities, politicians and businessmen to the sport of mixed martial arts. "The Russian Hammer" is interested in facing world champion Amir Khan in a boxing match. According to SBG Ireland leader and Lobov's mentor John Kavanagh, the fight could take place at BRAVE Combat Federation's November show, set for the International Combat Week, the largest combat sports festival in Asia. As it happens, Khan has also been confirmed to attend BRAVE 24: London and Lobov will no doubt look to get face time with BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid and Amir Khan himself in order to get negotiations going about a potential crossover bout.
Claressa Shields: I'm the G.W.O.A.T. not Amanda Nunes
"They are calling her the greatest MMA fighter of all-time, not the greatest fighter. I'm the G.W.O.A.T., the greatest woman fighter of all-time. She ain't been to the Olympics two times. I've been to the top of the world two times. And I'm not putting myself against Amanda because we're both woman athletes. Actually I praise her like I praise Cris [Cyborg]. She's the greatest women's fighter in MMA and I'm the greatest women's fighter in boxing. And if we were to fight, I would win. That's what I think. [In MMA I wouldn't win], I can't wrestle. But in boxing, yeah [I would win], Amanda Nunes would go to sleep." h/t Boxing Scene • Watch TMZ interview
