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Why Anthony Pettis would never fight teammate Ben Askren
“I would never fight Ben Askren, I’d save myself the embarrassment. That dude is a f@$%ing monster - the type of guy that, you can never count him out. I spinning back kicked him one time, right in the chin, I could tell he was hurt, he double legs me, gets on top, and just starts grinding me out. He’s one of them tough, deep-down guys. He’s really good. ... There's a ways to get to that belt. And my name, and where I’m at, a great win, I think I’m right there in the line for this. First, I’ve got to get through ‘Wonderboy' [on Saturday]. This is a big risk, going up a weight class to fight the No. 4 in the world, this isn’t an easy task. But I just feel amazing, man." h/t MMAjunkie
Florida to end zero tolerance policy on cannabinoids
The Florida State Boxing Commission is immediately changing its zero-tolerance policy on cannabinoids to now reflect international standards. The World Anti-Doping Agency’s policy allows up to 150 mg/nL of cannabinoids in an athlete’s system before a violation is registered, and only during the in-competition window of testing. The UFC’s drug testing program, administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Policy, follows the same guideline. Under the FSBC’s current policy, all cannabinoids are prohibited in-competition. The move comes after Titan FC flyweight champ Juan Puerta was pulled from a title defense minutes before he was to fight, due to a CBD gummie he took on Monday or Tuesday to control anxiety. UFC on ESPN 3 on Saturday will be free from the antiquated rules. h/t MMAjunkie
Dozens of new PFL fighters named
The Professional Fighters League has revealed an additional 29 male members of the 2019 tournament season. HW: Alex Nicholson, Kelvin Tiller, Denis Goltsov, Ben Edwards, Ante Delija. LHW: Smealinho Rama, Jordan Johnson (10-0, left UFC for shot at $1 million), Viktor Nemkov. WW: Zane Kamaka (cousin to Ray Cooper III), Ray Cooper III, Magomed Magomedkerimov, Sadibou Sy, David Michaud. LW: Chris Wade, Nate Andrews, Yincang Bao, Loik Radzhabov. FTW: Andre Harrison, Luis Rafael Laurentino (33-1), Alex Gilpin. Season 2 of the PFL begins May 9 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, and will appear on ESPN2, ESPN, and ESPN+.
DAZN rates going up, and down
DAZN, home to Bellator MMA, Combate Americas, and some leading boxing stars, has been $9.99 per month, with some members treating it like an ongoing service, while others used it as a PPV, buying for the event they want, and then canceling. In response, the company has raised the per month rate to $19.99, but offers a year for $99.99 (which comes out to $8.33 per month). Existing subscribers are grandfathered in, and be able to keep subscriptions at $9.99 per month for one more year. h/t MMA Fighting
Dana White wants Robbie Lawler rematch for Ben Askren
"Askren has been fun. This guy’s smart, he’s funny, he likes to mix it up with everybody in a fun way, too. So it’s been good. I’m glad he’s here. Timing is everything in life and this was the perfect time for Ben Askren to be in the UFC. ... I’m trying to make the Lawler rematch. First of all, that fight was awesome, it was fun, it was controversial but it’s the fight to make right now. It’s terrible when [controversy] happens. That’s the fight we want to make.” h/t MMA Mania • Watch
Latest 10 UFC fight announcements, today's in bold
•Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Ian Heinisch at ESPN+9 card on 5/18 in Rochester
•Fabian Edwards vs. Falco Neto Lopes at UFC on ESPN+ 8 on 5/4 in Birmingham
•Kane Mousah vs. Mateusz Piskorz at UFC on ESPN+ 8 on 5/4 in Birmingham
•Kevin Lee vs. Rafael dos Anjos at WW at ESPN+9 card on 5/18 in Rochester
•Luke Rockhold vs. Jan Blachowicz at LHW at UFC 239 on 7/6 in Vegas
•Donald Cerrone vs. Al Iaquinta at UFC on ESPN+ 8 on 5/4 in Ottawa
•Said Nurmagomedov vs. Raoni Barcelos at UFC 237 on 5/22 in Rio
•Alan Jouban vs. Dwight Grant at UFC 236 on 4/13 in Atlanta
•Jalin Turner vs. Matt Frevola at UFC 236 on 4/13 in Atlanta
•Max Griffin vs. Zelim Imadaev at UFC 236 on 4/13 in Atlanta
Dominick Cruz's Neo footwork is a thing of beauty
Holm Holm signs six fight contract
With two fights left on her old contract, Holm's agent Lenny Fresquez says the 37-year-old former UFC bantamweight champ has signed a new six-fight contract: "I'm very happy with the deal. We worked feverishly with the UFC to get this done. We're ready to get to work. I'm sure the UFC will have some great plans to announce for Holly in the near future." There could even be a fight vs. champ Amanda Nunes coming. h/t ESPN
Conor McGregor responds to T.J. Dillashaw adverse test finding
Mini Karate Hottie will be the next president
Pettis: I'll shock the world vs. Wonderboy
Anthony Pettis, coming off a Fight of the Night-winning loss to Tony Ferguson at UFC 229, now makes his WW debut vs. Stephen Thompson at UFC on ESPN+ 6: “My gameplan — striking — is gonna shock the world. I feel like the way I’m gonna attack this fight, no one’s seen it before and I’m just gonna continue building off of this.” h/t BE
Henry Cejudo responds to Dillashaw test fail
“I feel bad for him. Obviously, you have your own exceptions out there. Some people have been wrongly accused in the past. But people like Lance Armstrong or Marion Jones — and I’ve looked up to her in the past — they have to live with the regret and the dishonesty for the rest of their lives. I honestly feel bad for them. I want to reserve judgment, but I also want to stay I never wish to anyone who uses PEDs again. There’s no place for that in MMA. This isn’t baseball or basketball. This is another human being with four-ounce gloves hitting another human being. Prayers to him and his family.” h/t BE
In 2017 Garbrandt accused Dillashaw of being on 'everything'
When T.J. Dillashaw left Team Alpha Male, former teammate Cody Garbrandt was not impressed, and lashed out: “Oh yeah, the guys on everything. He’s on everything. ... You’re the one that showed everyone how to do it on Team Alpha Male. ... Look at him, he has nothing to say.” h/t BE • Watch
Dillashaw reportedly suspended one year by NYSAC
Dillashaw 'voluntarily' giving up BW belt following adverse USADA finding
Jussier Formiga: With win at UFC on ESPN+ 6 It's impossible I'm not next for title shot
Formiga, the #1 contender, on a 3 win streak, fights Deiveson Figueiredo on 3/23: “I’m not worried about the flyweight division possibly being abolished. The media made a lot of noise about that. Cejudo was just able to prove that he’s a great flyweight by defeating T.J. Dillashaw, who’s one of the UFC’s top fighters, pound-for-pound. After beating Deiveson, I’ll be on a four-fight winning streak. There’s nothing else to do after that, other than waiting for Cejudo. It’s impossible that I wouldn’t be next."
Comedian and blue belt Russell Peters helps stop jewelry thief
Tony Ferguson receiving help
Phil Baroni's house burns down
Dana White doesn't blame Jorge Masvidal or Leon Edwards for tussle
“A lot of people overreacted on the Conor and Khabib thing. We had that thing contained like that (snaps fingers). ... It’s the fight business and our job is to make sure these things don’t happen onstage, behind the scenes, but sometimes it does. ... I do blame my staff. There’s never a scenario where you let guys walk up to each other like that backstage. I’m super disappointed in my whole crew for that one. These guys are fighters. They’re in the heat of the moment. He just won, he’s got the adrenaline pumping, this guy comes by, plus Masvidal isn’t a guy that — he’s that guy, you know what I mean? As soon as he started walking up the ramp with his hands behind his back, 10 people that work at the UFC should have jumped in there. That stuff shouldn’t happen. ... [Fighters] don’t live by the same rules that we live by. They’re different. That’s why they’re professional fighters and they were put on this earth to do that.” h/t MMA Fighting • Watch
