UFC
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UFC Fresno Results: Swanson vs. Ortega
Main Card (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. ET)
Brian Ortega def. Cub Swanson via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:22 of R2
Gabriel Benitez def. Jason Knight via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
Marlon Moraes def. Aljamain Sterlingvia KO (knee) at 1:07 of R1
Scott Holtzman def. Darrell Horchervia unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eryk Anders def. Markus Perez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)
Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Main Card (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. ET)
Brian Ortega def. Cub Swanson via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:22 of R2
Gabriel Benitez def. Jason Knight via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
Marlon Moraes def. Aljamain Sterlingvia KO (knee) at 1:07 of R1
Scott Holtzman def. Darrell Horchervia unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eryk Anders def. Markus Perez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)
Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi
Zak Cummings was expected to face former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Thiago Alves at the event. However just two days before the bout, Cummings injured himself after falling and the bout was canceled.[6]
At the weigh-ins, Mads Burnell weighed in at 150 pounds, 4 pounds over the featherweight non title fight upper limit of 146 pounds. As such, the bout will proceed at a catchweight and Burnell is expected to forfeit 20% of his purse to his opponent Mike Santiago. Meanwhile, Uriah Hall did not weigh in as he fainted en route to the weight-ins[7] and his fight against Vitor Belfort was canceled.
UFC 221
Robert Whittaker was to defend the championship against former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold in the main event,[9]however on January 13th it was announced that Whittaker had withdrawn from the event due to injury and was replaced by Yoel Romero. Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero will now fight for the Interim Middleweight Championship,[10] and the winner will then face Whittaker in a title unification bout.
Zak Cummings was expected to face former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Thiago Alves at the event. However just two days before the bout, Cummings injured himself after falling and the bout was canceled.[6]
At the weigh-ins, Mads Burnell weighed in at 150 pounds, 4 pounds over the featherweight non title fight upper limit of 146 pounds. As such, the bout will proceed at a catchweight and Burnell is expected to forfeit 20% of his purse to his opponent Mike Santiago. Meanwhile, Uriah Hall did not weigh in as he fainted en route to the weight-ins[7] and his fight against Vitor Belfort was canceled.
UFC 221
Robert Whittaker was to defend the championship against former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold in the main event,[9]however on January 13th it was announced that Whittaker had withdrawn from the event due to injury and was replaced by Yoel Romero. Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero will now fight for the Interim Middleweight Championship,[10] and the winner will then face Whittaker in a title unification bout.
Main card (Fox Sports 1)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Donald Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros
Heavyweight Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura
Lightweight James Vick vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Welterweight Thiago Alves vs. Curtis Millender
Featherweight Steven Peterson vs. Brandon Davis
Lightweight Sage Northcutt vs. Thibault Gouti
Preliminary card (Fox Sports 1)
Lightweight Jared Gordon vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
Welterweight Brian Camozzi vs. Geoffrey Neal
Flyweight Roberto Sanchez vs. Joby Sanchez
Women's Bantamweight Sarah Moras vs. Lucie Pudilová
Max Holloway now meets Khabib Nurmagomedov for undisputed lightweight title
Seriously.
UFC officials today announced UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s UFC 223 headliner, and featherweight champion Max Holloway will now meet Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC’s undisputed lightweight title – a belt currently held by Conor McGregor, at least until “Blessed” and “The Eagle” step into the cage on Saturday night.
MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed the switch with UFC President Dana White. This now marks the fourth time the bout has been scheduled, though it has fallen apart for a variety of reasons each time. White told ESPN.com that Ferguson knee injury is the culprit this time around.
Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is expected to be stripped of his interim title as a result of the withdrawal.
Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is currently the No. 1-ranked featherweight in the world according to the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings. Nurmagomedov (25-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) is No. 3 in the lightweight division.
UFC 223 takes place Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Holloway, the current UFC featherweight champion, now looks to join Conor McGregor as the only fighters in UFC history to simultaneously hold titles in two different weightclasses. Holloway would also be the youngest fighter in UFC history to ever earn titles in multiple divisions.
Holloway was in action most recently in December, scoring a third-round TKO winover former featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 218. He was supposed to defend his 145-pound belt against Frankie Edgar at March’s UFC 222 card, but a Holloway ankle injury forced him out of the matchup. The Hawaiian native’s next move had not yet been announced prior to this short-notice assignment.
Seriously.
UFC officials today announced UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s UFC 223 headliner, and featherweight champion Max Holloway will now meet Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC’s undisputed lightweight title – a belt currently held by Conor McGregor, at least until “Blessed” and “The Eagle” step into the cage on Saturday night.
MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed the switch with UFC President Dana White. This now marks the fourth time the bout has been scheduled, though it has fallen apart for a variety of reasons each time. White told ESPN.com that Ferguson knee injury is the culprit this time around.
Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is expected to be stripped of his interim title as a result of the withdrawal.
Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is currently the No. 1-ranked featherweight in the world according to the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings. Nurmagomedov (25-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) is No. 3 in the lightweight division.
UFC 223 takes place Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Holloway, the current UFC featherweight champion, now looks to join Conor McGregor as the only fighters in UFC history to simultaneously hold titles in two different weightclasses. Holloway would also be the youngest fighter in UFC history to ever earn titles in multiple divisions.
Holloway was in action most recently in December, scoring a third-round TKO winover former featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 218. He was supposed to defend his 145-pound belt against Frankie Edgar at March’s UFC 222 card, but a Holloway ankle injury forced him out of the matchup. The Hawaiian native’s next move had not yet been announced prior to this short-notice assignment.
Damn! Again!
Max Holloway out of UFC 223 main event against Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC 223 is having a rough week.
Featherweight champion Max Holloway has been pulled from Saturday’s main event fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov after being deemed medically unfit to compete. MMA Fighting confirmed the news Friday morning during UFC 223’s official weigh-ins following an initial report by ESPN.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported that commission doctors put a halt to Holloway’s weight cut in fear of his safety, however Holloway wished to continue. At the time of the decision, Holloway wanted to “keep pushing” and was “close,” a member of Holloway’s team told Helwani.
The loss of Holloway vs. Nurmagomedov marks the fourth fight to be scratched from UFC 223 over a 24-hour span, adding to the trio of fights lost on Thursday because of Conor McGregor’s attack on a fighter bus.
Holloway, 26, accepted the bout against Nurmagomedov on Sunday after an injury to Tony Ferguson derailed UFC 223’s main event six days out from fight night. Holloway’s nutritionist George Lockhart told MMA Fighting that Holloway’s impromptu weight cut was expected to be “tied for the largest weight cut” Lockhart had ever managed.
UFC 223 is having a rough week.
Featherweight champion Max Holloway has been pulled from Saturday’s main event fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov after being deemed medically unfit to compete. MMA Fighting confirmed the news Friday morning during UFC 223’s official weigh-ins following an initial report by ESPN.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported that commission doctors put a halt to Holloway’s weight cut in fear of his safety, however Holloway wished to continue. At the time of the decision, Holloway wanted to “keep pushing” and was “close,” a member of Holloway’s team told Helwani.
The loss of Holloway vs. Nurmagomedov marks the fourth fight to be scratched from UFC 223 over a 24-hour span, adding to the trio of fights lost on Thursday because of Conor McGregor’s attack on a fighter bus.
Holloway, 26, accepted the bout against Nurmagomedov on Sunday after an injury to Tony Ferguson derailed UFC 223’s main event six days out from fight night. Holloway’s nutritionist George Lockhart told MMA Fighting that Holloway’s impromptu weight cut was expected to be “tied for the largest weight cut” Lockhart had ever managed.
Damn.
ESPN to broadcast 30 UFC events per year during 5-year deal
ESPN and the UFC have agreed to a five-year deal that will bring the mixed martial arts league's entire rights package to ESPN in 2019.
This new agreement, which was announced on Wednesday, follows a deal announced earlier this month between ESPN and the UFC.
The entire rights package will cost $1.5 billion over the length of a five-year deal, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Variety first reported the agreement on Wednesday morning.
The deal consists of 30 UFC Fight Night events per year, including 10 main cards on ESPN's television networks. The other 20 will stream on ESPN+, the company's newly launched streaming service.
UFC Fight Night events consist of 12 bouts.
Additionally, ESPN networks will air preliminary bouts prior to 12 pay-per-view events in 2019.
"ESPN's unparalleled multimedia platform is the perfect home for the UFC and will deliver tremendous value to both parties," ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said. "UFC fans are passionate and loyal and we plan to bring the full power of ESPN's live coverage, powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution to serve them in an unprecedented fashion."
"Every year for the last 18 years, we've done something to take the sport to another level, and we did it again with this deal," UFC president Dana White said. "It's massive on so many different levels. We're on what everyone looks at as the world leader in sports."
Fox Sports, the UFC's exclusive rights partner since 2011, was originally interested in staying in business with the UFC until NBC declined its option to match for WWE's "SmackDown Live" and Fox won those rights instead.
The domestic television deal with ESPN should bring further stability to the UFC's profits, as it has historically relied heavily on a pay-per-view model. That model is volatile, due to the possibility of proven stars losing or retiring and injuries, among other factors.
"We are ecstatic about the deal, we are ecstatic about the partner and we are ecstatic about the platform," added Mark Shapiro, co-president of WME-IMG, which owns the UFC.
ESPN and the UFC have agreed to a five-year deal that will bring the mixed martial arts league's entire rights package to ESPN in 2019.
This new agreement, which was announced on Wednesday, follows a deal announced earlier this month between ESPN and the UFC.
The entire rights package will cost $1.5 billion over the length of a five-year deal, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Variety first reported the agreement on Wednesday morning.
The deal consists of 30 UFC Fight Night events per year, including 10 main cards on ESPN's television networks. The other 20 will stream on ESPN+, the company's newly launched streaming service.
UFC Fight Night events consist of 12 bouts.
Additionally, ESPN networks will air preliminary bouts prior to 12 pay-per-view events in 2019.
"ESPN's unparalleled multimedia platform is the perfect home for the UFC and will deliver tremendous value to both parties," ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said. "UFC fans are passionate and loyal and we plan to bring the full power of ESPN's live coverage, powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution to serve them in an unprecedented fashion."
"Every year for the last 18 years, we've done something to take the sport to another level, and we did it again with this deal," UFC president Dana White said. "It's massive on so many different levels. We're on what everyone looks at as the world leader in sports."
Fox Sports, the UFC's exclusive rights partner since 2011, was originally interested in staying in business with the UFC until NBC declined its option to match for WWE's "SmackDown Live" and Fox won those rights instead.
The domestic television deal with ESPN should bring further stability to the UFC's profits, as it has historically relied heavily on a pay-per-view model. That model is volatile, due to the possibility of proven stars losing or retiring and injuries, among other factors.
"We are ecstatic about the deal, we are ecstatic about the partner and we are ecstatic about the platform," added Mark Shapiro, co-president of WME-IMG, which owns the UFC.
Max Holloway withdraws from UFC 226 with concussion-like symptoms
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been forced to withdraw from UFC 226 just days before the card.
"Max's team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week," Holloway's manager Brian Butler told ESPN via a prepared statement. "This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
"He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed OK, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been forced to withdraw from UFC 226 just days before the card.
"Max's team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week," Holloway's manager Brian Butler told ESPN via a prepared statement. "This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
"He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed OK, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24000924/max-holloway-his-ufc-226-featherweight-title-fight
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been forced to withdraw from UFC 226 just days before the card.
"Max's team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week," Holloway's manager Brian Butler told ESPN via a prepared statement. "This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
"He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed OK, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been forced to withdraw from UFC 226 just days before the card.
"Max's team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week," Holloway's manager Brian Butler told ESPN via a prepared statement. "This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
"He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed OK, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24000924/max-holloway-his-ufc-226-featherweight-title-fight
Three of UFC’s most dominant champions are black — why it’s worth noting
In the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization’s 25 years of existence, there have been nine African-American world champions.
Daniel “DC” Cormier, Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson are all reigning UFC world champions, with Cormier’s and Johnson’s names often being tossed around in the conversation of the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts. MMA is a sport in which most of the fighters and fans are white, which makes it significant to have three African-Americans dominate at the same time.
This weekend, light heavyweight champion Cormier has a huge opportunity to stake his claim as the greatest of all time in MMA as he’ll take on UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 226 in Las Vegas. A win by Cormier would make him only the second fighter in UFC history, along with Conor McGregor, to hold two title belts simultaneously. Not bad for a guy who turns 40 next year.
“It’s very fulfilling to be in this position, because anybody that starts a sport wants to be remembered and go down as one of the best to do it,” Cormier said while preparing for his megafight. “As a result, I’m fighting to win this weekend to ensure that I will always be remembered for all of my accomplishments within mixed martial arts.”
The trio has held their title belts simultaneously the past 705 consecutive days and have combined to hold their world titles for 3,956 days in their careers, with Cormier (1,139) and Johnson (2,112) each holding the belt for more than 1,000 days. Jon Jones knocked out Cormier at UFC 214 in July 2017, but Jones tested positive for an anabolic steroid and the bout was turned into a no contest. Cormier was reinstated as champion, which kept his belt-holding streak intact, according to UFC. Since 2012, Cormier, Woodley and Johnson have defended their belts a combined 17 times, with a UFC-record 11 of those title defenses coming from flyweight champion Johnson.
Each fighter is a household name in MMA circles, but their names have failed to register in the African-American community because youths have been more focused on becoming the next LeBron James, Dak Prescott or Floyd Mayweather Jr. rather than the next UFC superstar.
“I feel it is all three of our responsibilities to help grow the sport and show kids in the inner city there are different avenues to being successful, because kids today think they only have drugs, gangs, basketball, football and boxing to get a life,” said the 36-year-old Woodley. “I’ve been doing my best to grab what I call the ‘barbershop demographic,’ which often argues about NBA playoff games, NFL games and boxing on a consistent basis. Because I feel if I can grasp that demographic and other demographics myself, it can show those young inner-city kids and kids everywhere that mixed martial arts are a positive way to help you change your situation.”
Woodley’s sentiments are co-signed by Cormier, who plans on retiring next March to coach wrestling while continuing to help grow MMA.
“I’d love to be an ambassador for MMA and help the sport reach the kids in the inner city, because there is so much talent in these areas which need to be exposed to the sport,” Cormier said. “I know myself and Tyron are from the inner city, where there are a lot of hard-nosed kids who are willing to fight and all they need is an opportunity to be introduced to the sport we are selling them.”
Cormier and Woodley plan on talking to kids at inner-city high schools to bring more awareness toward MMA.
The fight to grow MMA with African-American audiences hasn’t come without challenges for the championship fighting trio. Woodley has had a public disagreement with UFC regarding the way African-American fighters are promoted.
FullArticle:https://theundefeated.com/features/...ant-champions-are-black-why-its-worth-noting/
In the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization’s 25 years of existence, there have been nine African-American world champions.
Daniel “DC” Cormier, Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson are all reigning UFC world champions, with Cormier’s and Johnson’s names often being tossed around in the conversation of the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts. MMA is a sport in which most of the fighters and fans are white, which makes it significant to have three African-Americans dominate at the same time.
This weekend, light heavyweight champion Cormier has a huge opportunity to stake his claim as the greatest of all time in MMA as he’ll take on UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 226 in Las Vegas. A win by Cormier would make him only the second fighter in UFC history, along with Conor McGregor, to hold two title belts simultaneously. Not bad for a guy who turns 40 next year.
“It’s very fulfilling to be in this position, because anybody that starts a sport wants to be remembered and go down as one of the best to do it,” Cormier said while preparing for his megafight. “As a result, I’m fighting to win this weekend to ensure that I will always be remembered for all of my accomplishments within mixed martial arts.”
The trio has held their title belts simultaneously the past 705 consecutive days and have combined to hold their world titles for 3,956 days in their careers, with Cormier (1,139) and Johnson (2,112) each holding the belt for more than 1,000 days. Jon Jones knocked out Cormier at UFC 214 in July 2017, but Jones tested positive for an anabolic steroid and the bout was turned into a no contest. Cormier was reinstated as champion, which kept his belt-holding streak intact, according to UFC. Since 2012, Cormier, Woodley and Johnson have defended their belts a combined 17 times, with a UFC-record 11 of those title defenses coming from flyweight champion Johnson.
Each fighter is a household name in MMA circles, but their names have failed to register in the African-American community because youths have been more focused on becoming the next LeBron James, Dak Prescott or Floyd Mayweather Jr. rather than the next UFC superstar.
“I feel it is all three of our responsibilities to help grow the sport and show kids in the inner city there are different avenues to being successful, because kids today think they only have drugs, gangs, basketball, football and boxing to get a life,” said the 36-year-old Woodley. “I’ve been doing my best to grab what I call the ‘barbershop demographic,’ which often argues about NBA playoff games, NFL games and boxing on a consistent basis. Because I feel if I can grasp that demographic and other demographics myself, it can show those young inner-city kids and kids everywhere that mixed martial arts are a positive way to help you change your situation.”
Woodley’s sentiments are co-signed by Cormier, who plans on retiring next March to coach wrestling while continuing to help grow MMA.
“I’d love to be an ambassador for MMA and help the sport reach the kids in the inner city, because there is so much talent in these areas which need to be exposed to the sport,” Cormier said. “I know myself and Tyron are from the inner city, where there are a lot of hard-nosed kids who are willing to fight and all they need is an opportunity to be introduced to the sport we are selling them.”
Cormier and Woodley plan on talking to kids at inner-city high schools to bring more awareness toward MMA.
The fight to grow MMA with African-American audiences hasn’t come without challenges for the championship fighting trio. Woodley has had a public disagreement with UFC regarding the way African-American fighters are promoted.
FullArticle:https://theundefeated.com/features/...ant-champions-are-black-why-its-worth-noting/
Nicco Montano vs. Valentina Shevchenko UFC 228 title fight cancelation
UFC 228 lost a championship fight today when women’s flyweight champ Nicco Montano was hospitalized, forcing the cancelation of her planned title defense against Valentina Shevchenko.
Montano (4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons and ruled out of her planned defense against Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC), which was set to co-headline Saturday’s pay-per-view lineup following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass from American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The status of the 125-pound champ remains unknown at this time, but what is certain is that she will not be defending her belt at UFC 228. Shevchenko foreshadowed as much earlier in the week, claiming she would not believe the fight is going to happen until she was standing in the octagon.
UFC 228 lost a championship fight today when women’s flyweight champ Nicco Montano was hospitalized, forcing the cancelation of her planned title defense against Valentina Shevchenko.
Montano (4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons and ruled out of her planned defense against Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC), which was set to co-headline Saturday’s pay-per-view lineup following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass from American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The status of the 125-pound champ remains unknown at this time, but what is certain is that she will not be defending her belt at UFC 228. Shevchenko foreshadowed as much earlier in the week, claiming she would not believe the fight is going to happen until she was standing in the octagon.
This sucks. I think Montano would have gotten murked by Valentina, but I think it would have been a better fight than most think. Montano is tough.
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Fight_Night:_Santos_vs._Anders
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Fight_Night:_Santos_vs._Anders
Daniel Cormier-Derrick Lewis official
The UFC has booked a heavyweight title fight between champion Daniel Cormierand Derrick Lewis to headline its UFC 230 pay-per-view event on Nov. 3 in New York.
UFC president Dana White broke the news to ESPN on Tuesday, and Cormier confirmed it to ESPN. The heavyweight fight will take place on the UFC's annual card at Madison Square Garden.
With a new main event in place, Valentina Shevchenko will be moved back to her original fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant women's flyweight title at UFC 231 on Dec. 8 in Toronto, according to White.
The UFC had canceled that fight last week in order to have Shevchenko headline UFC 230 against Sijara Eubanks. But with the Cormier-Lewis title bout set as the new headliner, the promotion decided to move Shevchenko back to the Dec. 8 card.
Cormier (21-1) is the UFC's light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. He is also the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to ESPN's rankings.
His next heavyweight title bout was expected to come against Brock Lesnar in 2019, but the UFC wanted to beef up next month's pay-per-view event, and Cormier had expressed a willingness to fight one more time this year. He is coming off a historic knockout victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July.
Cormier, who is based out of San Jose, California, has said he will retire next spring, around his 40th birthday.
Lewis (21-5), of Houston, is coming off a stunning come-from-behind knockout victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 last weekend in Las Vegas. Lewis was trailing in the fight until the final 20 seconds, when he dropped Volkov with a right hand. He has won nine of his past 10 bouts.
A lightweight fight between Nate Diazand Dustin Poirier is currently scheduled to serve as the co-main event at UFC 230
The UFC has booked a heavyweight title fight between champion Daniel Cormierand Derrick Lewis to headline its UFC 230 pay-per-view event on Nov. 3 in New York.
UFC president Dana White broke the news to ESPN on Tuesday, and Cormier confirmed it to ESPN. The heavyweight fight will take place on the UFC's annual card at Madison Square Garden.
With a new main event in place, Valentina Shevchenko will be moved back to her original fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant women's flyweight title at UFC 231 on Dec. 8 in Toronto, according to White.
The UFC had canceled that fight last week in order to have Shevchenko headline UFC 230 against Sijara Eubanks. But with the Cormier-Lewis title bout set as the new headliner, the promotion decided to move Shevchenko back to the Dec. 8 card.
Cormier (21-1) is the UFC's light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. He is also the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to ESPN's rankings.
His next heavyweight title bout was expected to come against Brock Lesnar in 2019, but the UFC wanted to beef up next month's pay-per-view event, and Cormier had expressed a willingness to fight one more time this year. He is coming off a historic knockout victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July.
Cormier, who is based out of San Jose, California, has said he will retire next spring, around his 40th birthday.
Lewis (21-5), of Houston, is coming off a stunning come-from-behind knockout victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 last weekend in Las Vegas. Lewis was trailing in the fight until the final 20 seconds, when he dropped Volkov with a right hand. He has won nine of his past 10 bouts.
A lightweight fight between Nate Diazand Dustin Poirier is currently scheduled to serve as the co-main event at UFC 230
Dustin Poirier injured, out of UFC 230; Dana White says Nate Diaz off card, too
How stoked were you for the Nate Diaz vs. Dustin Poirier fight? Now prepare to be completely bummed.
Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) has suffered an injury and is out of his UFC 230 lightweight fight against Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC). Poirier’s manager confirmed the news to MMAjunkie on Tuesday night following an initial report from ESPN.com.
As a results, Diaz “also will not fight on the card,” UFC President Dana White told the Los Angeles Times. When asked by ESPN.com’s Ariel Helwani what would happen in the wake of Poirier’s withdrawal, Diaz responded: “I’ll just fight Khabib (Nurmagomedov) when he’s ready.”
UFC has yet to make an official statement on the status of Diaz vs. Poirier as of Wednesday morning.
UFC 230 takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC), No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, was going to fight for the fourth time in a year. “The Diamond” has won three consecutive event headliners by knockout, stopping former UFC champAnthony Pettis, former WSOF champ Justin Gaethje and, most recently at UFC on FOX 30, former UFC and Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez.
Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) hasn’t competed since UFC 202 in August 2016 when he lost a second welterweight encounter against Conor McGregor by majority decision. The fight was an immediate rematch of a UFC 196 encounter in March 2016, which Diaz won with a stunning second-round submission.
Diaz and Poirier each posted on social media recently that they wanted to fight for a 165-pound title in the main event. The 165-pound division is does not exist in the UFC, and White subsequently shut down their talk of such a proposal.
On Tuesday night, Diaz had suitors starting to make their names known in case he stays on the card, including Jorge Masvidal
How stoked were you for the Nate Diaz vs. Dustin Poirier fight? Now prepare to be completely bummed.
Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) has suffered an injury and is out of his UFC 230 lightweight fight against Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC). Poirier’s manager confirmed the news to MMAjunkie on Tuesday night following an initial report from ESPN.com.
As a results, Diaz “also will not fight on the card,” UFC President Dana White told the Los Angeles Times. When asked by ESPN.com’s Ariel Helwani what would happen in the wake of Poirier’s withdrawal, Diaz responded: “I’ll just fight Khabib (Nurmagomedov) when he’s ready.”
UFC has yet to make an official statement on the status of Diaz vs. Poirier as of Wednesday morning.
UFC 230 takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC), No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, was going to fight for the fourth time in a year. “The Diamond” has won three consecutive event headliners by knockout, stopping former UFC champAnthony Pettis, former WSOF champ Justin Gaethje and, most recently at UFC on FOX 30, former UFC and Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez.
Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) hasn’t competed since UFC 202 in August 2016 when he lost a second welterweight encounter against Conor McGregor by majority decision. The fight was an immediate rematch of a UFC 196 encounter in March 2016, which Diaz won with a stunning second-round submission.
Diaz and Poirier each posted on social media recently that they wanted to fight for a 165-pound title in the main event. The 165-pound division is does not exist in the UFC, and White subsequently shut down their talk of such a proposal.
On Tuesday night, Diaz had suitors starting to make their names known in case he stays on the card, including Jorge Masvidal