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UFC 244 press con live at 7:00 p.m. ET
ATT owner: I doubt Colby Covington leaves the team
Colby Covington has gleefully adopted a heel persona on a par with The Iron Sheik; in a sport billed as as real as it gets, there are consequences. ATT teammates Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier have said they will jump Covington on sight, and Stipe Miocic wants a word. However, ATT owner Dan Lambert says Covington will likely not leave the team over it: “We got a big gym, and we got a lot of coaches with a lot of experience in dealing with issues that arise between fighters. So I’d be surprised if anyone exited the gym over a beef with another fighter. That’s just not the way it works. People leave gyms for different reasons. I don’t think having beef with another fighter at the gym is a real good reason. There’s no need to have to train together. There’s no need to have to be together. So, you don’t like someone in your place of work, you just quit your job?” Covington still trains at ATT, but is managed by The Balengee Group, with Lambert standing by in an advisory role. 'Choas' hopes for a shot at lightweight champ Kamaru Usman. h/t MMA Junkie • Watch The Score interview
Jorge Masvidal on why there will be no Conor McGregor fight
Stipe Miocic wants to have a word with Colby Covington
"I’m kinda upset with that kid. He was saying stuff to my wife, after my fight. I’m gonna have to talk to him about that. I’m not trying to start anything here, I’m just saying, a normal conversation. I’m not gonna go out and take his head off. I just want to talk to him like a normal person. My wife was walking to the cage, and I guess he was saying something to her and my manager being the man he is told him to shut his, he told him to shut the f@$% up. To this day my manager won’t tell me what he said, so I’m going to find out. I’m very good, I’m like the FBI. I will find out what he said and I’m just gonna go up to him and talk to him about it. ... Listen, I’m a normal guy. I’m just gonna go up to him and talk to him, I’m not gonna take his head off. I’m gonna go, ‘Hey man, what’s your problem’. I’m not mad at the kid, I just want to talk to him about it.” h/t MMA Fighting • Watch 77 WABC interview (18:48)
Jorge Masvidal fighting Nate Diaz for BMF belt, but has nothing but respect
“Tons of respect - No allegations of steroids, dude comes to fight. He’s gotten outpointed in the past but his will has never been questioned. He’s never given up in a fight or taken a step back. So those types of fights, it’s like you feel alive. You wake up a little bit earlier, you go to sleep a little bit earlier, you eat what’s right because on the other side I have somebody that wants to take my soul. He wants to murder me. He wants to embarrass me and I’m not going to let that happen. Nobody is taking my lunch money. It makes you go through the suffering, the hell a little bit easier knowing that my opponent is that game that he’s going to come to get it just like I am. Those are the fun ones for me. ... There’s a couple guys I faced in my career, Yves Edwards was another guy where I was like, 'Whoa this guy might end me.' With Till too, I was very motivated, very in good shape, my mind very focused. These guys are killers, I’m not getting killed. I’m going to be the killer.” h/t MMA Fighting • Watch The Dan LeBatard Show (1:49:53)
Fight posters are better in Japan
ONE partners with Vaseline in SHINE #HealingChampions campaign
ONE has embarked on a 9-month journey with SHINE Children and Youth Services in the #HealingChampions Martial Arts Program along with Vaseline, the world leader in body care. The program runs from April to November 2019. Selected youth participate in a 6-month martial arts program at Evolve MMA, which consists of one session per week. Vaseline has long played a significant role in combat sports events, as the popular jelly is often used in pat-downs before matches and in between rounds in athletes’ corners in order to provide skin protection, especially around the face area. Because ONE Championship places great value in the safety and well-being of its martial arts athletes, they deserve only the very best. Vaseline is used extensively for this purpose and more in all ONE Championship events. Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong: “ONE Championship aims to work with the biggest brands in the world that champion the same principles and values our company represents - the true martial arts values that are integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline and compassion. Vaseline is a brand that has taken care of people for years and our partnership opens the door to amazing possibilities and opportunities to further serve the people."
Yair Rodriquez plans to hit Jeremy Stephens 'hard as f@$%'
“I think he’s a really aggressive guy. Whenever he comes, he comes to fight. He’s always pushing forward. I think he has a lot of experience. He almost triples the number of fights that I have, so for me that makes him better at the sport. He’s pretty tough and pretty strong, but I barely have eight fights in the UFC. I think the fight is going to be shorter than five rounds. I don’t think the fight is going to go five rounds. He’s really aggressive and we know anything can happen, so if I stay static he can connect [on] me. I’m going to be smart and keep him moving. That exactly is my advantage. I’ll take the opportunity and if I see a clean shot, I’m going to take him hard as f@$%, that’s it.” h/t MMA Junkie • Watch interview (9:59)
'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings and 'Jack Swagger' will fight at Bellator 231 on 10/3 at Mohegan
Former WWE star Jake Hager, AKA Jack Swagger, will have his third heavyweight fight vs. Anthony Garrett at Bellator 231 on October 25 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. On the same card, Bec Rawlings will make her promotional debut, vs. Ilana Joanne, at flyweight. Frank Mir and Roy Nelson rematch in the main event.
Jeremy Stephens vows to put Yair Rodriguez's brains on the canvas
“It’s just an honor let alone to be fighting in Mexico. I have roots here. My daughter is Mexican. My wife is Mexican. I love Mexican food and I love the people, most of all. [Yair Rodriguez] is a kid. He’s a chamaco and I’m a man. I fight like a man. I don’t run. I’m here to whoop his ass. I’m here to embarrass him and outpoint him every single step of the way. Yair can’t f@$%ing wrestle for $#!@. He’s in trouble. I’m going to slam him on his head and cut him open. He thinks Frankie Edgar swole his eye? Wait until I cut him open. ... What is new generation? What are you going to show me that I haven’t seen me or Bruce Lee hasn’t shown on a movie. What the f@$% are you going to show me that’s new? ... It’s a new journey and experience and I embrace it. I’m enjoying every minute. I’m relaxed, cool as a cucumber, and I can’t wait to put his brains into the canvas Saturday night.” h/t MMA Junkie
The Prelim Primer: UFC Mexico City
The Prelim Primer is the one and only podcast dedicated to the curtain jerkers. Catch host Daniel "Gumby" Vreeland, who is joined this week by Jason Floyd from The MMA Report, as they break down all of the prelims of UFC Mexico City.
•Follow host Gumby Vreeland on Twitter
•Follow co-host Jason Floyd on Twitter
Tyson Nam, 35, plans to make huge statement at UFC debut Sat vs. Sergio Pettis
“It’s a dream come true. This was literally the one thing on top of my bucket list when I started watching MMA before I even started training in MMA. It’s definitely a dream come true. I could die happy after this first fight because it’s all I ever wanted. It couldn’t have been at a [more] perfect time. I’ve been very active as of recent. My weight has been okay. I was in shape. I’ve never competed at that [Mexico City] elevation, but I was getting ready for a fight; a five-round fight; so I feel I should be able to perform at my very best. I’ve always watched his fights and I’m always thinking I would knock that fool out. I love the match-up. I love the competitiveness. I love that he’s one of the top flyweights in the world. I’ll get to show, again, that I’m one of the best flyweights in the world. I’ve not only done it once, I’ve done it already twice, but I’ll make it a third time on this. In my UFC debut I’m going to make a huge statement.” h/t MMA Weekly
David Branch suspended for 2 years by USADA, released
UFC middleweight David Branch, 37, of Montville, N.J., has received a two-year sanction after testing positive for ipamorelin as the result of a urine sample he provided out-of-competition on May 24, 2019. Ipamorelin is a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue that stimulates the brain to release human growth hormone and is used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug. Branch’s two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, began on July 26, 2019, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. h/t USADA
Nick Newell signs 4-fight contract with Bellator MMA
Why Jeremy Stephens spent nearly $30k to train for UFC Mexico City
Jeremy Stevens fights Yair Rodriguez on Saturday in Mexico City, at 7,300 feet, an altitude that notably inhibits athletic performance, so Lil Heathen trained for 6 weeks at altitude at a cost of 30k, more than twice what it would have cost at home in San Diego, at sea level: "Cain Velasquez is a cardio machine ... When he got in there, he looked sloppy. He was definitely taken out [within two rounds. He was gassed out. I was like, 'OK, altitude is real.' Money doesn't really matter to me when it comes down to overall winning and beating someone's ass in their own country. What's that gonna do for me? It's gonna skyrocket my name, skyrocket my career. ... I feel like that's where you get your most learning, when you put yourself in the most uncomfortable places. This isn't my home, this isn't my bed. The hot water doesn't even work half the f@$%ing time. I'm in uncomfortable territory, I'm in unfamiliar territory. But honestly, I feel right at home here. I feel great being uncomfortable." h/t ESPN
Latest 10 UFC fights, today's in bold
•Brandon Davis vs. Giga Chikadze at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen, Denmark
•Shane Burgos vs. Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 244 on 11/2 in New York, NY
•Anthony Rocco Martin vs. Ramazan Emeev at UFC on ESPN+ 21 on 11/9 in Moscow, Russia
•Robbie Lawler vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 245 on 12/14 in Las Vegas, NV
•Peter Sobotta OUT vs. Alessio Di Chirico, Makhmud Muradov IN at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen, Denmark
•Brad Riddell vs. Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 243 on 10/6 in Melbourne, Australia
•Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar rescheduled to UFC on ESPN+ 21 on 11/9 in Moscow, Russia
•Zelim Imadaev vs. Danny Roberts at UFC on ESPN+ 21 on 11/9 in Moscow, Russia
•Gilbert Burns IN with Thiago Alves OUT vs. Gunnar Nelson at UFC on ESPN+ 18 on 9/28 in Copenhagen, Denmark
•Zabit Magomedsharipov OUT vs. Calvin Kattar at UFC on ESPN 6
Jacare: I think I will fight better at LHW
Longtime MW contender Ronaldo Souza, 39, moves up to LHW for the first time, vs. #5 Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 22 on 11/16 in Sao Paulo. Given the lack of potential title challengers, a win could conceivably see Jacare in a title shot. Although not committed to 205 permanently, Jacare says he is 211-213 right now, and sees advantages at LHW: "I’ve always won more openweight titles than in my weight class in my jiu-jitsu days. I thought it would be a good idea to try. ... Andre Pederneiras is my new manager now and he loved this idea as well. ... It’s not good for us, physiologically speaking, to cut so much weight. We start to feel it as time goes by. I think that’s why many move up in weight. When you’re young you don’t feel the weight loss that much, you recover well, go there and fight. Your body reacts faster. But when you’re doing that for such a long time, I don’t think that’s an advantage. Maybe I’m talking crap here, but I think that’s why many move up in weight." h/t MMA Fighting
Paul Felder feels disrespected by Edson Barboza’s UFC 242 appeal
Edson’s Barboza plans to appeal his SD loss vs. Paul Felder at UFC 242, and The Irish Dragon is not impressed: “I knew it was razor close, I’d never deny that. ... I know he’s upset and I know that he has not had the best winning record lately, so I feel for him, I feel for his family and I know how much the money means to him. ... we both thought we won that fight so I get it. ... did it leave a bad taste in my mouth that these guys who I thought I was really cool with are basically saying that it was robbery? That’s what’s upsetting me most. ... I kind of do [feel disrespected], I’ll be honest with you. I can’t sit here and say that I don’t feel slighted in some way. So much of my social media, I should be talking about this win and being seventh in the world, instead, I’ve got his fans trying to trash me. ... At the end of the day, [a trilogy fight] is a possibility. Does that mean I want to do it right away, no. I’m No. 7 in the world right now and there are some guys ahead of me that I’m itching to face that are scheduled to fight.” h/t MMA Fighting • Listen to EuroBash podcast (54:00 mark)
Angela Lee aims to bring ONE Championship to Hawai'i, but...
“I have been asking them since I signed with ONE Championship to have a show in Hawai'i. ... I love traveling the world and fighting in new countries, but I think fighting in Hawai'i and the U.S., that people would love ONE Championship. They would love the production and the whole show. ... I was actually there when the Bellator show was in Hawai'i. Definitely it was nice to see Ilima get a reaction like that and I’m sure ONE Championship could do a great job. ... I’m like 90 percent sure that it’s going to happen." But, Angela's younger brother Christian is also a ONE world champ, and he holds the same dream of fighting in The Aloha State. “It’s a little difficult for us to have two world championship fights on the same night. We had that before where we fought on the same card and it’s a lot of pressure. So for now at least we’re going to try to keep it separate because we both want to be there for each other and it’s really difficult when we have to fight the same night.” h/t MMA Junkie
Colby Covington is not impressed with the UFC
“They do the bully tactics. They do the slave labor negotiations. It’s sick, man. They don’t want to pay any of the fighters because they want everybody to be poor, so they keep back coming back and fighting all the time, and fighting six times a year. ... They’ve made me so many promises - ‘Oh, do this and we’ll give you a favor here. We’ll throw you a bone next time.’ They never end up throwing that bone back, man. They just use you even more next time. ... I’m not going to be played for a fool anymore, man. ... I showed up with no camp [vs. Lawler], to save the UFC, to save the main event, to bring the First Family, to get the President Tweeting about the UFC. To get all the troops all over the world watching in their bases because I’m America’s and the troops’ favorite fighter. The UFC still doesn’t do good for me. I make them millions and millions and they just continue to just pocket all that money, and they don’t want to pay me a fraction — not even 5% of any of that money. It’s ridiculous how they can pocket 95, 98% and not give the fighters anymore than the 2, 3%.” h/t BJPenn.com • Listen to BJ Penn Radio (1:27:07)
Arlene Blencowe calls out Cris Cyborg
Bellator MMA featherweight Arlene 'Angerfist' Blencowe, 36, who lost a title fight via SD, and is now on a 2-fight win streak: “Throughout my whole career everyone would ask me when I was going to fight Ronda Rousey but, for me, the only fight I ever wanted was against Cyborg. I turned down a contract with the UFC to remain with Bellator. I would have only wanted to switch to the UFC to fight her and beat her, but I stayed loyal to Bellator and now she’s come over to us. A fight against Cyborg will happen, it will 100 percent happen – it’s just a matter of time. I know it will be the hardest fight camp of my career, but I think I’m ready for it. I think I have what it takes to beat her and I won’t back down. ... By this time next year I would have already fought Cyborg and I’ll already be world champion.” h/t Western Weekender
