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GSP: I would come back to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov if ...
Georges St-Pierre: "If the right fight came along, they know where to find me. We tried to make the right fight [vs. Khabib]. It didn't work. If everything is aligned contractually, if everything is good, as we speak now, yes, I would [return to fight Khabib]." UFC president Dana White too left the door open, in a September interview with TMZ: “Tony Ferguson is the fight that needs to happen. We’ve tried to do it four other times, so hopefully, we can get it done this time. But that’s the fight that makes sense. GSP can happen, too. We’ll see what happens with Tony. Tony’s had opportunities before that he didn’t take, so if he doesn’t, then I would be interested in talking about GSP.” h/t Yahoo Sports • Watch ESPN interview (2:32 of 3:52)
Demetrious Johnson: ONE can sell out MSG for first US event
“When One Championship made this deal with TNT they were gonna be showing more live events. When One comes to North America they’re gonna be broadcasting more on TNT. Everybody can expect to see more. If we go to Madison Square Garden, I think we can sell the place out. If you bring some high-level martial artists over there, you bring over Rodtang, you bring over Giorgio Petrosyan, you bring over Christian Lee, there’s so many great athletes. Put on some kick-boxing, Muay Thai in four-ounce gloves. If you’re a true martial arts fan, and you wanna see some high-level striking and mixed martial arts, I think you would not be disappointed. From what I’ve been told they’re talking about East Coast. It’s a big arena, a symbolic place, everybody’s fought there. I wouldn’t be surprised if MSG’s one of them.” h/t SCMP • Watch The Ariel Helwani Show
Khabib Nurmagomedov: I'll fight another two years, It's impossible to stay undefeated
“Before, I never thought about this – but right now, it’s like I’m almost there. 28-0, and in the next couple of years I’m going to compete because I just [turned] 31. This is not too much for this sport, but for sure I think I’m going to finish [at] 33, 34. ... I think a couple of years. Two, three – maximum three. I think maybe two years, in my opinion, because I don’t want to fight all my life because I know it’s very hard. I know a lot of young, hungry guys are coming, and I know to always be undefeated, undisputed, is not almost impossible – I think it’s impossible. You can watch in history. If you watch all athletes like soccer, boxing, MMA, everywhere, one day you’re going to lose. You have to know when you need to stop. I think maybe two years.” h/t MMA Junkie • Watch Arab News interview
Aspen Ladd appeal of 16-second loss to GDR denied
#2 ranked women's bantamweight Germaine de Randamie dropped #4 ranked Aspen Ladd in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 13 on 7/13 in Sacramento, CA, and referee Herb Dean stopped it in just 16 seconds. That tied GDR with Ronda Rousey for fastest T/KO in division history, moved her to 3rd place for most stoppages in division history (3), and earned a title shot vs. champ champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 245 on 12/14. Ladd appealed the decision, seeking to have it changed to a No Contest; the first available hearing is tomorrow. Ordinarily, an official's decision can be overturned only in the case of collusion, a math error in scoring, or an official's lack of knowledge. The appeal was denied by CSAC by a vote of 3-2, in an argument that centered on equal treatment for female fighters. The loss stands. h/t ESPN • Marc Raimondi
James Vick reflects on upkick KO loss on Saturday night
Preview of BBC documentary on English WMMA fighters
'Shorty' Torres gets Brave title shot on 11/15
As it returns to its home in the Kingdom of Bahrain for BRAVE CF 29, the fastest-growing MMA promotion in the world will put a gigantic card for fight fans from around the world. And two of the best lighter weight fighters on the planet will lead the way for announcements, as Jose “Shorty” Torres faces off against top Brazilian striker Marcel Adur. The inaugural BRAVE CF Flyweight title will be on the line when they meet, but it won’t be a new experience for Adur. Last year, he traveled to Bahrain in hopes of becoming the first-ever Flyweight champion, but saw his opponent Velimurad Alkhasov fail to make weight, and beat him, leaving the title unscathed. Another announced bout for the show is a Bantamweight showdown between Bahrain's own Hamza Kooheji and Nahuel Gandolfi, from Argentina.
ESPN's top 25 fighters under 25 list
1. A.J. McKee, Bellator, turns 25 4/7/2020 • 2. Sean O'Malley, UFC, turns 25 10/24/2019 • 3. Edmen Shahbazyan, UFC, turns 25 10/20/2022 • 4. Nasrat Haqparast, UFC, turns 25 8/22/2020 • 5. Aspen Ladd, UFC, turns 25 3/1/2020 • 6. Maycee Barber, UFC, turns 25 5/18/2023 • 7. Jimmy Crute, UFC, turns 25 3/4/2021 • 8. Song Yadong, UFC, turns 25 12/2/2022 • 9. James Gallagher, Bellator, turns 25 10/24/2021 • 10. Ricardo Ramos, UFC, turns 25 8/1/2020 • 11. Michal Oleksiejczuk, UFC, turns 25 2/22/2020 • 12. Gillian Robertson, UFC, turns 25 5/17/2020 • 13. Aaron Pico, Bellator, turns 25 9/26/2021 • 14. Angela Lee, ONE Championship, turns 25 7/8/2021 • 15. Ismail Naurdiev, UFC, turns 25 8/18/2021 • 16. Jack Shore, UFC, turns 25 2/6/2020 • 17. Montana De La Rosa, UFC, turns 25 2/14/2020 • 18. Pedro Carvalho, Bellator, turns 25 8/8/2020 • 19. Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC, turns 25 1/3/2021 • 20. Thiago Moises, UFC, turns 25:3/23/2020 • 21. Jalin Turner, UFC • turns 25 4/18/2020 • 22. Christian Lee, ONE Championship, turns 25 6/21/2023 • 23. Sabina Mazo, UFC, turns 25 3/25/2022 • 24. Sage Northcutt, ONE Championship, turns 25 March 1, 2021 • 25. Arman Tsarukyan, UFC, turns 25 10/11/2021 h/t ESPN
Best fighter under 25 months revealed in viral video
Kai Asakura did this to Yuta Susaki at RIZIN 19
Bellator MMA kickboxer gets his eye turned into a ear
Demetrious Johnson vs. ONE FLW champ Adriano Moraes next
Johnson beat Danny Kingad in the finals of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix at ONE: CENTURY this weekend. Now he is next in line vs. reigning ONE Flyweight world champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes. CEO Chatri Sityodtong: “DJ for Adriano Moraes for the World Championship. DJ says he want to rest, he said it’s been a very exhausting year, so let him rest, let him enjoy, then we’ll get back to the drawing board but I would expect maybe March of next year, maybe earlier." h/t ABS-CBN
UFC borrows a page from Boss Logic in latest BMF belt promo
10 Latest UFC Fights: Today's in bold
•Karol Rosa OUT with knee injury, replacement sought vs. Julia Avila at UFC on ESPN+ 20 on 10/26 in Kallang, Singapore
•Thiago Alves vs. Tim Means at UFC on ESPN 7 on 12/7 in Washington, D.C.
•Santiago Ponzinibbio OUT with staph infection vs. Robbie Lawler at UFC 245 on 12/14 in Las Vegas, NV
•Thiago Alves vs Tim Means at UFC on ESPN 7 on 12/7 in Washington, DC
•Irene Aldana vs. Ketlen Vieira set for UFC 245 on 12/14 in Las Vegas, NV
•Enrique Barzola vs. Movsar Evloev at UFC on ESPN+ 20 on 10/26 in Kallang, Singapore
•Mike Davis IN vs. Thomas Gifford on 4 days notice at UFC on ESPN+ 19 on Sat in Tampa, FL
•Randa Markos vs. Ashley Yoder at UFC on ESPN+ 20 on 10/26 in Kallang, Singapore
•Veronica Macedo drops to SW vs. Amanda Lemos at UFC on ESPN+ 23 on 12/21 in Busan, South Korea
•Brok Weaver OUT vs. Thomas Gifford, replacement sought for UFC on ESPN+ 19 on Sat in Tampa, FL
Why Team Adesanya would prefer Stipe over 'someone like' Jon Jones
Adesanya’s head trainer, Eugene Bareman: “I believe me and Israel are in a certain place where we don’t have to give a person of Jon’s nature the opportunity that Israel can bestow upon him. That’s why I suggested, and this isn’t set in stone or anything, but if we were going to do a super fight we would much rather do it against Stipe. A good dude, a nice guy. A stand up guy. Let’s do it against him, let’s not give someone like Jon Jones an opportunity. That’s just how my team operates.” h/t MMA Mania • Watch The Ariel Helwani Show (3:39:43)
Be like water? Be like salmon!
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reports foot is not broken
“It’s good news. Both feet are very swollen but it’s good. I’m happy it’s not broken. I don’t need surgery. I will be back faster so I can fight faster. ... I was really surprised. All the exams they did before when they touched the foot, they said 'oh it’s broken, it’s fractured' but in the end when after I was at the ER yesterday morning, they came and told me that it was not broken. I was like really? We were all really surprised. But it was good news. It was a good message. I need to rest, get better and I can be back to training sooner than later. ... After the fourth round, I decided to not kick anymore but in the fifth I did. I’m a warrior. I was like if it’s broken, what worse can happen? It’s going to be broken in three or four pieces, they’re going to put it back together in one piece. ... I wouldn’t have signed this agreement for the fight with Michelle Waterson if my next fight wasn’t going to be for the belt. My next is going to be for the belt. If they make me wait, I will wait." h/t MMA Fighting
BMF Diaz vs. Masvidal promo
Rumble aims to drop to 205, fight Jon Jones
Anthony Johnson fought at 170, 185, 205, heavyweight, 205, and then retired 2.5 years ago, and got HUGE. Now he wants to return to 205, if ... “I’m gonna wait until ... when I lose about 10 more pounds, 235. I wanna see how my body feels and then if it feels good, then I’m going to probably make 205. ... We’ll make it happen if I get low enough. We’ll fight at 205. That’s a fight I wanted. I think Jon wanted that fight too, before everything happened. That situation, which, it’s over with, it’s in the past. When we see each other there’s no animosity between each other. We show each other love, you know what I mean? But that was a fight, that’s why I went up to 205. That’s the guy I want and then you know, when I get my heart broken, I have to fight DC, it’s not as motivating. The fire wasn’t in me to fight DC but I fought him, kind of fought him, you know what I’m saying, but it wasn’t the same drive.” h/t MMA Fighting • Watch Below the Belt (0:56)
