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Combate signs 3-year deal with Univision and Televisa
Combate Americas has reached a three-year partnership with Univision and Grupo Televisa worth an eight-figure sum. This is the first cross-border deal for combat sports, with Univision and Televisa set to deliver live fights via their recently relaunched TUDN sports brands in the U.S. and Mexico. While Combate fights have aired on Univision since 2018, the new deal dramatically expands the relationship. The agreement includes more than a dozen live events through the end of 2019 and 35 of them in 2020. CEO Campbell McLaren: “Not since I launched the UFC, have I done anything this big for the sport. This historic deal will bring MMA to a completely new audience and new generation of fans and accelerate our company mission to become the No. 2 sport globally with Hispanic fans.” h/t Deadline
DC: Dominick Reyes has the one key to give Jon Jones problems
“I think it’s a good matchup. Dominick Reyes has a good body. He showed he can stop takedowns. I think it will be a great fight between those two. I believe this kid is the real deal. He’s done everything right up to this point. I’m really impressed with Dominick Reyes. He’s healthy after that big fight and Jones just got through his most recent court problems or whatever it was – so why not let him fight? He has the one key thing that has proven to give Jones pause, and that’s size.” h/t MMA Junkie
Chatri Sityodtong ONE: CENTURY pre-event speech to the fighters
Dana White wants to have a conversation with Chris Weidman about retirement
Chris Weidman is not 35, and lost five of his last six fights, all by KO, most recently on Friday night in about 100 seconds as Weidman tried moving up a division vs. Dominick Reyes with a title shot on the line. At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White commented: “What he said tonight didn’t sound to me like he’s considering retirement. So it’s a conversation that he and I definitely need to have. This was his move up to light heavyweight, which obviously didn’t go well for him. So maybe he goes back down to middleweight, or thinks about maybe retiring.” h/t MMA Fighting
Maycee Barber: I will ruin PVZ's instagram career
Martin Brown misses weight for Titan FC 57, stripped of lightweight title
Titan FC lightweight champion Titan FC lightweight champion missed weight by one pound for his title defense vs. Johnasser Paulino in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has been stripped of his title. Titan FC COO Lex McMahon: “It was a heartbreaking decision. It’s heartbreaking but at the same time it is protocol and it had to be done. Champions must come in on the mark during a title defense, and because Martin Brown came in at 156 pounds, we have to follow the rules and take the belt from him. If Johansser Paulino wins the fight tomorrow night, he will be the new Titan FC lightweight champion. If Brown wins, he wins, but he does not go home with the belt." The event will stream live tonight on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.
POST-FIGHT PRESS CON: UFC on ESPN 6
Greg Hardy win changed to NC over use of imhaler
There was bafflement when disgraced heavyweight Greg Hardy used an inhaler between Rounds 2 and 3. Hardy and his corner Din Thomas said the use of the inhaler was okayed by an Inspector - “I was in the ring, me and my coach asked the commission if it would be OK to use my inhaler, and they said yes, so I took it. I’m still the new guy in this sport. I did what I do in every situation. I asked permission, I got permission. And I did what I was told.” However, use of an inhaler must be pre-approved by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission, and the inspector did not have the authority to OK the usage, so the bout outcome has been changed from a Unanimous Decision to No Contest. Hardy's manager Abraham Kawa plans an appeal. This was Hardy's third UFC fight; the first one ended in a DQ for an illegal knee. And those transgressions are as nothing compared to his pre-MMA behavior.
Dominick Reyes destroys Chris Wediman, calls out Jon Jones
Dominick 'The Devastator' Reyes started fighting amateur in 2013 and ten months later was 5-0 and turned pro. Friday night he destroyed Chris Weidman, pushed his record to 12-0 (6 in the UFC), and called out light heavyweight champion Jon Jones: “Hey Jon, I don’t want any party favors. I want that belt, baby, let’s go.” Weidman is now 1-5 his last 6, with all losses coming by way of KO, but remains undeterred: “It’s the game we play. I’ll be back better.” h/t MMA Fighting
John Allan Arte suspended for 1 year by USADA
UFC light heavyweight John Allan Arte, 26, of Parana, Brazil, has been suspended by USADA for one-year after testing positive for 3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifen, a metabolite of the Hormone and Metabolic Modulator tamoxifen, as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at UFC Sacramento on July 13, 2019. After being notified of his positive test, Arte came forward with evidence of his use of the prohibited substance before entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program. Upon being added to the UFC Anti-Doping Program, athletes are required to declare all medications and supplements they have used in the previous 12 months. An athlete who declares the prior use of a prohibited substance will not be deemed to have committed a violation but, depending on the substance, may be required to refrain from competition for a period of at least six months and provide at least two negative samples. Arte did not declare the use of tamoxifen on his onboarding declaration form. Arte’s positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of CSAC, which has likewise imposed a one-year sanction and will additionally overturn Arte’s victory at UFC Sacramento to a No Contest and fine Arte $4,800. h/t USADA
Weili Zhang wants Shevchenko or Namajunas, not 'struggling' Joanna Jedrzejczyk
"Joanna is not the fighter she used to be. She's not in the condition she used to be. I'm not very interested. ... If I had the chance, I would like to go up a weight class and fight the best; right now I think Valentina is one of the best female fighters. I want to fight the best. I think Rose is also a good opportunity. ... Definitely [Joanna] needs me more than I need her. She is struggling in the division to fight me, but I don't know if I will give her the chance." Watch TMZ Sports interview (2:17)
