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Chatri plans to make ONE bigger in Japan than Pride ever was
ONE will make their first trip to Japan in 2019, holding two shows in Tokyo in March and October. CEO Chatri Sityodtong: “Japan is at an all-time low in terms of martial arts, MMA. Since the Pride days, it’s literally gone south, and it’s because of the whole mafia connection that used to run the martial arts scene here. My goal is to make it bigger than Pride ever was in Japan. We’re already much much bigger than Pride ever was in terms of, if you look at our viewership numbers and stuff like that, we’re far bigger than Pride ever was, but I’m talking about Japan, specifically. I believe we have the chance to be much bigger than Pride ever was. For me it’s an opportunity for a revival, a renaissance if you will, and we ignite Japan. If you look at Japan, every child in Japan is dealing with Karate, Kendo, Aikido, Judo, that’s teaching kids values. I think it’s a huge opportunity, if done in the right, authentic way, to bring back martial arts and make it the most popular sport again." h/t SportsKeeda
UFC 231 Fight Motion
Theodorou's next fight is changing the 'stigma of medical cannabis'
“My next fight isn’t against one man, it’s against the stigma of medical cannabis, and that means working to push through my therapeutic-use exception with USADA to medicate. It’s a competitive disadvantage that I currently find myself in. Anything worth fighting [for] is hard and long, and it’s a fight I’m willing to take.” Theodorou also referenced his win over Eryk Anders at UFC 231 on Sat: “He said he was going to be the first person to finish me. Instead, he lost to the first ring boy ever.” h/t MMAjunkie
Cowboy Oliveira gets a Blair Witch mark courtesy of Gunnar Nelson
Shevchenko has forgotten Montano's name, but will defend vs. Jessica Eye 'no problem'
UFC parent company names new president
Mark Shapiro has been promoted to the position of president of Endeavor, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His new role comes after the media executive had spent the previous four years overseeing content operations at IMG, which Endeavor also owns, having acquired the company in 2014. Shapiro, who in the past has served as a senior executive with ESPN and Dick Clark Productions, joined IMG as chief content officer in 2014. He is said to have played a key role in UFC’s US media rights deal with ESPN. In his new role, he will continue to work on new rights agreements, while also overseeing IMG’s content output, which focuses on documentary and live event production. h/t Sports ProMedia
Joshua 'The Passion' Pacio to defend ONE strawweight title in rematch vs. Hayato Suzuki on 1/19
The main event of ONE: ETERNAL GLORY, set for Istora Senayan in Jakarta on 19 January, will be reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, 22, of the Philippines defending his title vs. the last man to defeat him, Hayato Suzuki of Japan. Pacio, who trains at the mighty Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, won the strawweight world championship with a UD win over former titleholder Yoshitaka Naito at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES last September. Suzuki, 32, who hails from Takahagi City, Japan, first met Pacio in his promotional debut at ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS in August 2017 and scored a shocking first-round submission victory, forcing the Filipino to tap out via rear-naked choke. Since then, the Japanese grappler has been on a tear, winning his last three bouts with the same submission hold.
Latest 10 UFC fight announcements
Jessica Penne vs. Jodie Esquibel at ESPN debut on 1/19
Thomas Almeida returns vs. Cory Sandhagen at ESPN debut on 1/19
Kai Kara-France vs. Raulian Paiva at UFC 234 on 2/10
Johnny Walker vs. Justin Ledet at UFC Fight Night 144 on 2/2
Nick Diaz Vs. Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235 on 3/2 confirmed by Dana White
Diego Ferreira vs. Kyle Nelson at UFC 231 on Saturday, with Jesse Ronson out due to weight cutting issues
Greg Hardy vs. Allen Crowder at ESPN debut on 1/19
Henry Cejudo vs. T.J. Dillashaw moved from UFC 233 to ESPN debut on 1/19
Joanne Calderwood vs. Ariane Lipski moved from UFC 233 to ESPN debut on 1/19
Dominick Cruz vs. John Lineker at UFC 233 on 1/26
Why Bellator's Ilima-Lei Macfarlane wont talk trash ahead of Saturday fight vs. Letourneau
“I’ve always looked at this sport like a sport. It’s not a life-and-death situation for me. I’m not trying to go out there and kill someone, or end their career. It’s a sport, and that’s just my mentality going in. That’s me personally, so I think that’s what helps me not make it personal. I’m not a trash talker either, and I’m not going to be somebody I’m not. It doesn’t matter if it sells more or brings in higher ratings. I’d rather be authentic and true to myself rather than selling out. Me and Valerie, we respect each other 100 percent. But I know that we are going to throw down. And that, in my opinion, is how we respect someone. Giving anything less than 100 percent is disrespectful. So the way we respect each other is to throw down." h/t MMAjunkie
Poirier calls out El Cucuy
Officials assigned for UFC 232 main and co-main on 12/29
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson - referee Herb Dean and judges Sal D’Amato, Derek Cleary, and Junichiro Kamijo.
Cris Cyborg vs. Amanda Nunes - referee Marc Goddard and judges Chris Lee, Dave Hagen, and Mike Bell.
Chandler plans to PURGE Primus at Bellator 212 on Friday on DAZN
Askren calls Kamaru hypocritical for taking Colby fight
ATTN media and photographers: Cris Cyborg open workout in HB on Wed
Cris Cyborg 30 mins Open Workout + 30 Q&A
Wednesday, December 12
Open to the media and photographers
5842 W McFadden Ave Q, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
To attend email PR@paradigmsports.com
Brave Combat Federation adopts new 165 and 175 pound divisions
Wise words from Katlyn Chookagian following SD loss to Jessica Eye on Saturday
McGregor and now Nurmagomedov granted continuances to not appear at NAC meeting Monday
The Nevada Athletic Commission holds a regular meeting that fell on this Monday, and Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor had been scheduled to appear at it to answer for their roles in the UFC 229 post-fight melee. However, both fighters requested and were granted continuances. In October NSAC chair Anthony Marnell said that both athletes would have to appear in person before the commission to answer questions. The next regularly scheduled meeting falls on 29 January 2019.
