Khabib Nurmagomedov to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

Undefeated former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 2.

Nurmagomedov (29-0) was in attendance at UFC 272 in Las Vegas on Saturday when the UFC announced he'd join the 2022 Hall of Fame Class. The 33-year-old from Dagestan, a Russian republic, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame's modern fighter wing.

"Khabib is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in professional sports," UFC president Dana White said. "No one dominated their opponents the way Khabib did, and to retire undefeated, as lightweight champion and the No. 1 pound-for-pound athlete in the world is an incredible accomplishment. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer."

Nurmagomedov won the lightweight title in 2018 and held it until he officially announced his retirement in October 2020 in one of the more memorable scenes in mixed martial arts history.

Nurmagomedov retired in tears and laid his gloves on the mat following his UFC 254 victory against Justin Gaethje. The win occurred four months after he lost his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, to complications from COVID-19.

-reuters

Return of the Mac-killer: Nate Diaz ends hiatus at UFC 241

ANAHEIM, California — The mostly empty arena rumbled with outsized excitement when Nate Diaz stepped onto the stage. The fans erupted into cheers while Diaz lit a joint and took a big drag before doing a little shadowboxing for the cameras.

Even before he said a word at his open workout four days before UFC 241, Diaz showed he can captivate an audience like no active fighter in the mixed martial arts world. Fighters can train for almost every skill in the game except charisma, and the Diaz brothers are laden with it.


The younger Diaz (19-11) returns from a three-year hiatus on Saturday night, taking on Anthony Pettis in his first bout since his two showdowns with Conor McGregor in 2016. A heavyweight title rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic is the main event, but many fans at Honda Center and around the world will be watching mostly to see what Diaz does next.

“I’m here as a businessman and a natural born killer,” Diaz said. “I’m here to get the job done, and he’s the guy to do it on, so there’s no problem. It’s all good with me. I’m just here to kill and stay alive for the weekend.”

Diaz and his older brother, Nick, receive a level of adulation in the MMA world that exceeds even their considerable accomplishments. It’s difficult to explain the Diaz appeal to observers who don’t have a full historical perspective on the pugnacious, thoughtful brothers’ omnipresence in their sport’s attitudes and images during the past 15 years, even when they weren’t competing very often.

Their swashbuckling attitude, angry disregard for authority, profane words of wisdom and athletic fighting styles all appeal tremendously to many people who support a young sport that’s still seen as repellent counterculture by a big segment of mostly aging sports fans.


Put it this way: A 22-year-old Nate Diaz once completed a submission finish with his legs while simultaneously thrusting two middle fingers in the air. You might love that or hate it, but you have an opinion.


“That’s the way I’ve been from Day One,” Diaz said. “It’s going to stay this way, too, until I’m 100 years old. I’m the Don of all this. If anybody is going to step in this room and say they’re the (butt)-whipper, I beg to differ.”

Even Anthony Bourdain, the late traveler and gourmand, famously filmed a segment with Nick and Nate for his CNN show on Los Angeles, not because the Northern California natives knew much about LA and its cuisines — other than the best weed, probably — but simply because Bourdain, a jiu-jitsu practitioner and MMA fan, was fascinated by the brothers’ outlaw ethos.

Some of the brothers’ behavior seems performative, but some of it isn’t: Both Nick and Nate have essentially walked away from the UFC for long stretches of their prime, turning down countless millions in prize money because they refused to compromise what they considered to be their principles.

Diaz split two tremendously entertaining matchups with McGregor and became one of the UFC’s biggest stars in 2016, but he is 34 years old now, and Saturday’s fight will be only his fifth since November 2013.


Diaz said he felt mistreated by the UFC, although he struggles to explain how its persistent attempts to book one of its most popular fighters constitute disrespect. Diaz turned down matchups worth millions, including a probable shot at Georges St. Pierre, and he lost a chance to return last year when future champ Dustin Poirier was injured before their bout.

Diaz also said he doesn’t fight for money. He and his brother, Nick, who hasn’t fought in nearly five years, are busy with Nick’s thriving gym in their native Stockton, California. Nate said they’ve also got a successful CBD business, to absolutely nobody’s surprise.

“They’ve been trying to degrade me the whole time I’ve been out,” Diaz said. “They’re trying to put me low on the card against not very big names. They also tried to give me huge names, but those fell through. It don’t matter. I believe I’m the main event in any event they’ve got. They’ll do the best they can to keep me from that.”

Diaz’s complaints are more likely a distilled version of that everyone-is-against-me mentality that drives so many athletes. But he was tempted back by a matchup with Pettis, who nurses a grudge against Diaz that apparently isn’t mutual.

Diaz dismissively refers to Pettis as “this Wheaties box” in reference to Pettis’ former endorsement deal with the cereal, but has mostly ignored Pettis’ pointed criticisms.

Diaz won’t say whether he plans to fight again, or whether he would like his first UFC title shot since 2012. He will stick to his own timetable and goals while nursing the same attitude that kept him on top of the UFC star pyramid even during three years away.

“No one on the roster for the last three years even read the blueprints,” Diaz said. “I’m right there. Why don’t you go take it? And nobody did, and tomorrow, if some of these young guys say they’re going to step up and take my position, I’m not with that.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

UFC 235: Jon Jones retains light heavyweight belt

LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones defended his light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on Saturday night, overcoming a two-point deduction for an illegal knee to Smith’s head in the fourth round.

Kamaru Usman claimed the UFC welterweight title in the penultimate bout at T-Mobile Arena, dominating Tyron Woodley in a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

Ben Askren, Woodley’s close friend and training partner, survived an opening-minute beating and rallied to choke out Robbie Lawler midway through the first round of his own UFC debut.

Jones (24-1) had little trouble in an expert display of his all-around brilliance against the overmatched Smith (31-14), who had no answers for the likely pound-for-pound champion of mixed martial arts.

Jones dominated on his feet, against the cage and on the ground until he got in trouble in the fourth round when his knee struck Smith’s head while the challenger was in a downed position. Referee Herb Dean deducted two points from Jones, who apologized to Smith after the bell.

“This MMA thing is really hard,” Jones said. “Some days you’re going to look amazing, and some days at work you’re not going to perform at the level you hold yourself to.”

Jones finished uneventfully and remained unbeaten since 2009, winning a decision for the fifth time in his last seven fights.

Jones won 48-44 on all three scorecards.

Jones has been the UFC’s 205-pound champ for long stretches of the past eight years, but also has been stripped of his belt twice. After doping suspensions and other woes limited Jones to just two fights in a nearly four-year stretch of his prime, he returned to the cage at UFC 235 just nine weeks after beating Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232 last December to reclaim his belt.

Smith, a tough veteran fighter from Texas, got a title shot when Jones decided to make a quick return to the cage. Although Smith had won three consecutive fights, he was a heavy underdog at the Vegas sports books, but Jones emerged with respect for Smith’s fighting spirit.

“I have never had anyone talk to me while I’m hitting them,” Jones said. ”(Smith was) saying like, ‘That was nice,’ or, ‘Was that all you’ve got?’”

soure: sports.inquirer.net

Mixed martial arts star Georges St-Pierre retires at 37

MONTREAL, Canada—Georges St-Pierre retired Thursday after a career in which he put mixed martial arts on the map in Canada and helped fuel the UFC’s worldwide expansion.

The 37-year-old Canadian made the announcement at the Bell Centre. St-Pierre, a two-division champion, leaves with a record of 26-2-0 and a 13-fight winning streak.


“It takes a lot of discipline to become and stay champion,” he said in a statement. “It also takes a lot of discipline to stop while still feeling that you’re in the best physical and mental shape of your life. But I’ve always planned to leave the sport when I’m at the top and in good health.”

He has fought just once since stepping away from the sport in late 2013 after nine straight welterweight title defenses. But in November 2017 he dethroned middleweight champion Michael “The Count” Bisping in his comeback bout at UFC 217.

St-Pierre gave up the 185-pound crown a month later, citing concerns with ulcerative colitis. Despite limited activity, he is eighth in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He was nominated for best fighter at the ESPY Awards in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2018.

He thanked family, fans and coaches as well as trainers, training partners, sponsors and agents. He also made it a point to laud his opponents.

“All of them are incredible athletes who brought out the best in me,” he said. “I retire from competition with great pride at having had a positive impact on my sport. I intend to keep training and practicing martial arts for as long as I live and I look forward to watching the new generation of champions carry our sport into the future.”

St-Pierre debuted on the big stage with a unanimous decision over Karo Parisyan in 2004. He won his first welterweight championship by knockout over Matt Hughes in 2006. After losing the title to Matt Serra, he recaptured the belt by TKO in their rematch in Montreal.

“Georges has cemented his legacy as one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters ever,” UFC President Dana White said. “He beat all the top guys during his welterweight title reign and even went up a weight class to win the middleweight championship. He spent years as one of the biggest names in MMA and remains one of the best ambassadors for the sport.”

In 2011, St-Pierre set the largest UFC gate outside the U.S. at more than $12 million when he headlined UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The crowd of 55,724 was the second-largest attendance in UFC history.

source: sports.inquirer.net

McGregor in custody after backstage melee ahead of UFC 223

UFC star Conor McGregor has turned himself into police in the wake of a backstage melee he instigated after a news conference for one of UFC’s biggest cards of the year.

Video footage appears to show the promotion’s most bankable star throwing a hand truck at a bus full of fighters , injuring at least one scheduled to compete Saturday.

McGregor was being processed and no charges had been filed as of Thursday night.

Video showed McGregor with a group of people causing chaos Thursday as they took an elevator to the loading dock at Barclays Center. He can be seen tossing trash cans and being prevented from throwing a barricade at a bus during his unannounced appearance in New York.

The New York Police Department said McGregor threw a hand truck at a bus causing minor injury to an individual on the bus. At least two fights at Saturday’s UFC 223 card have been scrapped as a result of the incident.

“The organization deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow,” UFC said in a statement. “Individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at tomorrow’s ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Center.”

McGregor hasn’t fought for UFC since November 2016 and was stripped this week by UFC President Dana White of the 155-pound championship he had never defended. White also said this week he did not expect McGregor to attend Saturday’s fights.

McGregor profanely responded on Twitter and wrote, “You’ll strip me of nothing.”
McGregor last fought at all in a boxing match he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26, 2017.

The popular Irishman is tight with UFC 223 fighter Artem Lobov, who was involved this week in a scuffle in a hotel with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov fights Max Holloway for the lightweight championship left vacant by McGregor.

Lobov was yanked from the card. Michael Chiesa was sent to the hospital with injuries sustained in the attack and was forced out of his scheduled fight against Anthony Pettis.

“A decision was made by the New York State Athletic Commission to pull me from UFC 223,” Chiesa tweeted. “I’m devastated to say the least. @showtimepettis I hope to run this match up ASAP. June 9th in your backyard. That’s all I have to say for now. Much love.”

Flyweight Ray Borg also was injured in the wake of the McGregor attack.

UFC President Dana White said this week in New York that McGregor would fight again for UFC this year. McGregor’s actions now put any future fights very much in doubt.

The 29-year-old McGregor once held the 145 and 155-pound championships at the same time and boldly stated he wanted an ownership stake in UFC. But the trash-talking, egocentric has been out of the fight game except for his boxing dalliance with Mayweather that made him wealthy enough to never have to fight again. McGregor and his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son, in May 2017.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Dillashaw TKOs Garbrandt for UFC bantamweight title

NEW YORK — T.J. Dillashaw dropped undefeated Cody Garbrandt with a right and finished him off in the second round to win the 135-pound championship at UFC 217 Saturday (Sunday Manila time).

Dillashaw (15-3) was rocked in the first round and stumbled to his stool when he took a shot to the face to end the first. Garbrandt, predicted by many as UFC’s next big star, even ducked under Dillashaw’s left leg as he kicked and did a little dance to the delight of the crowd.

But Dillashaw stunned Garbrandt with a high left kick to the head and then a right hook that corkscrewed Garbrandt’s body and effectively ended the bout. UFC President Dana White strapped the belt around Dillashaw’s waist as the new bantamweight champ.

“No Love” Garbrandt (11-1) earned one of the loudest ovations of the night when he was shown on the screen walking into MSG. He walked out having lost his shot at taking the next step as UFC’s hopeful breakout star.

Dillashaw won the bantamweight title in 2014 and had two successful defenses before he lost the belt to Dominick Cruz in 2016.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pooping in MMA fight will now result in TKO loss

Mixed martial arts is arguably one of the craziest and most unpredictable sports there is, as anything can happen inside the cage.

One of the most bizarre incidents happened in June, when UFC Strawweight Justine Kish lost control of her bowels and visibly soiled herself mid-fight.

Ahead of UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden in New York this weekend,  the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has made a bold move by getting rid of unwanted bodily fluids inside the octagon.

The governing body, which is responsible for regulating MMA fights in the state, has now banned poop, urine and vomit while competing.

According to the new rules in place relayed by MMA Imports, any fighter who would release the body fluids will forfeit the fight by technical knockout (TKO).

As of this writing, only the NYSAC has imposed such a rule and it remains unclear if other governing divisions in other states will soon follow.

The new regulation will take effect on Saturday’s event (Sunday in Manila), headlined by a UFC Middleweight title fight between champion Michael Bisping and the returning Georges St. Pierre. Khristian Ibarrola /ra

source: sports.inquirer.net

Why Luis Manzano loves combat sports

Chased by legions of fans, a shirtless Luis Manzano seeks cover in his dressing room. Not that the girls are swooning over the TV host’s buff body. They are actually running after a can of tuna in his hand.

Since the airing of that Century Tuna commercial a few months ago, sales of its corned variant, which Manzano is an endorser, have skyrocketed.

“He is very masa yet upscale,” commented Greg Banzon, general manager of Century Pacific Food, on Manzano’s influence. “An approachable and genuine authority figure, while being funny at the same time.”

Manzano admitted to Inquirer Lifestyle that he was chunky before the commercial was shot. Last year, he indulged in pizzas and chocolates, particularly hazelnut and white variants. “I have a sweet tooth,” he said.

His mother, actress and Lipa City Rep. Vilma Santos, was concerned since her son works in a visual and unforgiving medium. She remarked, “Anak, tumataba ka na. Ang pangit ng leeg mo. Mag-kuwelyo ka, anak. (Son, you are putting on weight. Your neck looks awful. Wear a collar, son).”

At the time of the interview, the 35-year-old celebrity had lost 10 lbs for the commercial and planned to lose more.

Manzano has since been on a low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet, and eats chocolates only as a reward.

He wakes up to a clove of garlic or cinnamon for their medicinal properties, and eats blueberries for antioxidants.

A typical meal would include whole wheat bread, quinoa or brown rice with tuna, naturally, and broccoli and carrots. He eases up during Sunday meals with his mother.

Manzano keeps fit with martial arts—tae kwon do, aikido, judo, jiujitsu, tabemina Balintawak (Filipino reflex training with sticks), mixed martial arts and Muay Thai (Thai boxing).

He picked up his penchant for combat sports from his father, actor-host, Edu Manzano, who is a judoka, a judo expert.

The younger Manzano fell in love with mixed martial arts for its simplicity and complexity.

“You get the best from each discipline and put them all together to be as effective as possible,” he said. “It’s primal. You’re always surging with adrenaline.”

Between hosting schedules, he works out at the Ultimate Fitness Center, where he trains for Muay Thai and jiujitsu under different coaches.

Physically and mentally

“The workouts balance you physically and mentally. One thing I’ve learned from my coach is that you always assume that your opponent is more skilled than you. There’s always the bigger fish,” said Manzano.

To improve his skills, he even attended a Muay Thai fight camp in Phuket, Thailand. His coach started fighting at age 7 to escape poverty, recorded 500 fights and retired at age 39. The coach would flunk Manzao if he didn’t do well.

Combat sports are not without injuries. In Thailand, Manzano had a month-long bump from shin-to-shin sparring. Then there were the usual shoulder strains from pulling punches and low back pains for not warming up properly or when learning a new movement. He’s had to lay off for weeks to recover from an injury.

Nonetheless, Manzano doesn’t let injuries get in the way of his goal, which is improving his technique and building endurance.

Since stamina is his Achilles heel, he does CrossFit to complement his combat sports. If he wakes up early, he drinks a glass of water and coffee and works out for 30 minutes, swinging kettle bells or rowing.

Manzano loves the thrill of competition. However, his celebrity parents, his girlfriend, actress Jessy Mendiola, and his manager have prohibited him from competing. “I can’t say ‘I have a shoot tomorrow, please don’t hit my face!’ I could easily get a black eye or worse, a cut,” he said.

He sensibly chose work over passion. Asked what motivates him to pursue combat sports, he cited health reasons: “I see people at a young age getting sick. Some friends die because of health problems. My main goal is to spend quality time with my future family.” —CONTRIBUTED

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Ortiz chokes out Sonnen in 1st round to wrap up MMA career

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Tito Ortiz choked out Chael Sonnen midway through the first round at Bellator 170 on Saturday night, putting a remarkable finish on a two-decade MMA career.

Ortiz (19-12-1) hadn’t fought since September 2015, and he claims this fight was his last. He stepped into the Forum cage two days before his 42nd birthday to face Sonnen (28-15-1), who made his Bellator debut after a 3 1/2-year absence from MMA.

After only 100 seconds of grappling, Ortiz escaped trouble and sunk a rear naked choke, forcing Sonnen to tap out 2:03 into the opening round. The victory was just the fourth in 10 years for Ortiz, the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

Sonnen’s verbal barbs repeatedly infuriated Ortiz during the promotion for their fight, and Ortiz was visibly emotional before the bout began.

Ortiz, a native of nearby Huntington Beach, put that fury to use in what could be a fitting finale for an MMA pioneer.

“He never had me,” Ortiz said. “It was never tight. I’m just happy that I was able to do this in a respectful way in front of my hometown. … This is the last time that I’ll be fighting. Thank you guys for the support for 20 years.”

The main event was Bellator’s latest matchup of two big-name mixed martial artists likely past their primes for a surefire television ratings bonanza.

Ortiz and Sonnen are two of the biggest names in MMA history, but both came off significant layoffs. The 39-year-old Sonnen hadn’t fought since September 2013 after leaving the UFC in the wake of a failed drug test.

Sonnen and Ortiz have a two-decade history. Sonnen pinned Ortiz in a college wrestling match, but Ortiz rose swiftly in MMA while Sonnen toiled for years in minor-league shows before honing his promotional voice and MMA skills.

Ortiz was a pillar of MMA’s rise to prominence early in the 21st century, with his “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” persona cemented in memorable bouts against Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Ken Shamrock. Ortiz held the UFC 205-pound title from 1999-2003, and he has reigned as one of MMA’s most popular fighters ever since.

But Ortiz’s career waned over the past decade, and he had won just one of his previous nine fights when he angrily left the UFC in 2013, claiming the promotion had disrespected him. He won his first two Bellator bouts, but hadn’t fought since losing a light heavyweight title shot to Liam McGeary in September 2015.

Sonnen used his formidable wrestling skills and even more impressive promotional skills to rise to the top of the UFC, getting three title shots in two weight classes and becoming one of his sport’s best television draws from 2009-13.

Sonnen walked away after his second failed drug test, increasing his broadcasting work and taking a spot on the new season of “The Celebrity Apprentice.” After his suspension expired, Sonnen announced he was never serious about retirement — but he surprised the MMA world by signing with Bellator instead of returning to the UFC.

Sonnen said he was on a legends retirement tour in Bellator, planning to beat up fellow big-name fighters for entertainment value. He immediately set his sights on Ortiz to fulfill his long-held desire to test himself against an MMA pioneer.

In the co-main event, English welterweight veteran Paul Daley (39-14-2) knocked out Brennan Ward with a spectacular flying knee in the first round, bringing the Forum crowd to its feet in shock.

Ward (15-5) appeared to be out cold after leaning into the right knee, and he was removed from the cage on a stretcher while wearing a neck brace. Ward raised both arms and waved while being taken away.

source: sports.inquirer.net

MMA: Jones stripped of UFC title after drugs ban

LOS ANGELES, United States — Mixed martial arts star Jon Jones, suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned drug, has been stripped of the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight interim title, UFC president Dana White said Wednesday.

White told an ESPN podcast that Jones “has blown it in every way, shape and form a guy with that much talent can blow it.”

“Greatest talent ever and the biggest screw-up ever,” White said of the 29-year-old, who was handed a one-year ban after taking a sexual-performance pill tainted with a performance-enhancing substance.

The US Anti-Doping Agency announced the ban on Monday, saying it will be applied retroactively to the date of the positive test and that Jones will be free to fight again in July of 2017.

Jones was dubbed the interim champion in April, when he defeated Ovince St. Preux at UFC 197. He had been scheduled to fight Daniel Cormier for the official title, but Cormier pulled out with an injury.

“It doesn’t make sense with all the stuff that is going on for him to still be the interim champion,” White said.

Jones was already serving a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a positive test conducted in June for clomiphene and Letrozole, both testosterone-boosting drugs.

In 2015, the UFC stripped Jones (22-1) of the official title after he was arrested on a hit-and-run charge. CBB

source: sports.inquirer.net

Bisping keeps UFC title, beats retiring Henderson

MANCHESTER, England — Michael Bisping retained his UFC middleweight title early by taking a unanimous decision victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 204 at the Manchester Arena on Sunday, ending the retiring American’s career in defeat.

The fight started tentatively, with Henderson wary of combinations from Bisping, and the Englishman concerned about the right hook with which Henderson had knocked him out at UFC 100.

With 30 seconds to go in the first round, however, the 46-year-old Henderson landed the shot for which he is known, almost finishing Bisping and creating prominent swelling under his left eye.

With Bisping controlling the second round, a groin strike not spotted by the referee, and led to an ailing Henderson hitting the right hook, dropping Bisping once more, although again he was able to recover.

The remaining rounds were less dramatic, although Bisping continued to land more strikes. That led to the judges awarding the hometown favorite the fight, despite the differences in overall damage.

“He just kicked my ass, man. He’s as tough as old boots,” said a relieved Bisping after the fight.

Henderson had announced his retirement prior to the fight, and confirmed it afterward.

“That was the last time anyone will see me fight live,” Henderson said. “I appreciate all the support throughout my career, worldwide. I gave my heart and soul to this sport.

“I came up a little short, but not bad for an old man.”

In the co-main event, Gegard Mousasi defeated Vitor Belfort in the middleweight division.

After an early flurry of punches by Belfort, he took a head kick in round two, and referee Marc Goddard stopped the bout quickly when the Brazilian fell to the ground and covered up under fire from punches.

“(Belfort) is a legend. Fighting him is an honour,” said Mousasi after the bout. He then challenged UFC legend Anderson Silva, stating that “it would be a good fight for me.”

Jimi Manuwa delivered three good punches to take his fight against interim light-heavyweight contender Ovince St. Preux.

After being out-wrestled in round 1, Manuwa landed a left to the body, an overhand right, and a left-hook to stop the bout, and invigorate a crowd that was beginning to wilt at just after 4 a.m. local time, with the event timed to suit U.S. television audiences.

Stefan Struve became the first man to finish Daniel Omielanczuk in MMA competition, winning via d’arce choke for the 17th submission victory of his career. After the bout, he reminded UFC’s matchmakers that he holds a TKO victory over current heavyweight title-holder Stipe Miocic.

Bosnia’s Mirsad Bektic returned to action for the first time since May 2015 and took a rear naked choke victory over Russell Doane in the featherweight division, giving him a 4-0 record in the UFC.

In the final fight of the preliminary card, London’s Brad Pickett was rocked by a spinning back elbow, never fully recovering before submitting to Iuri Alcantara’s triangle choke./rga

source: sports.inquirer.net

UFC 203: Miocic keeps heavyweight title, KOs Overeem

CLEVELAND—Stipe Miocic climbed to the top of the octagon and threw his legs over its sides, straddling the cage like he was riding a horse.

He had defended his title in stunning fashion, and Cleveland’s hometown hero has no plans to give it up.

“I’m going to stay champ for a long time,” he said.

Floored by an early punch, Miocic recovered and knocked out Alistair Overeem at 4:27 of the first round to conclude UFC 203 on Saturday night in front of nearly 20,000 delirious fans.

Miocic, whose title in in May set off a run of championships in a city that didn’t celebrate one for 52 years, was in big trouble after Overeem caught him on the jaw with a short left. Overeem pounced on Miocic, a Cleveland fire fighter, and put him in a guillotine hold as he tried to choke him out. But the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Miocic, urged by the crowd chanting “Stee-pay, Stee-pay,” escaped the hold and quickly pressed the action.

In the final minute of the round, Miocic stunned Overeem with a punch and then held him down and delivered four devastating right-handed punches to the challenger’s head to finish him off.

“When I got on top of him, game over,” Miocic said.

When the fight was stopped, Miocic ran and climbed the cage, a move he had planned for months. Soon after, he took the microphone and yelled “O-H” to the crowd, which responded “I-0,” to the local champ, whose knock out of Fabricio Werdum this spring was followed by the Cavaliers overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State in the NBA Finals.

“I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life,” Miocic said.

Overeem almost ruined things for Miocic when he knocked him on his butt and attempted to end the fight. But Miocic wasn’t going to be denied and was offended when he learned that Overeem had thought he tapped out.

“I don’t remember tapping out,” Miocic said. “I remember punching him in the face until he was unconscious.”

Before Miocic’s stunning comeback, former WWE superstar CM Punk could have used a folding chair or a tag-team partner.

Out of pro wrestling’s scripted ring, his first visit into the octagon didn’t last long.

Punk, who was one of WWE’s biggest stars when he left it two years ago to try his hand in ultimate fighting, tapped out just 2:14 into the first round after he was pummeled and choked by welterweight Mickey Gall.

The 38-year-old Punk charged Gall but was on his back less than 10 seconds into the fight. Pinned up against the fencing, he was unable to get out from under Gall, who smashed a right hand into Punk’s temple and then kneeled on top of him and swung both arms like a pendulum, connecting with one hard shot after another.

Punk nearly got free, but Gall regained a dominant position and squeezed his opponent’s head like he wanted to snap it off. Punk had no choice but to tap his hand on the mat, ending the fight the way many inside UFC predicted.

“Yeah you know in life you go big or you go home,” Punk said afterward. “I just like to take challenges. It was a hell of a climb, I didn’t get to the summit tonight but it doesn’t mean I’m going to give up it doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere, it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop.”

The 24-year-old Gall never doubted he would crush Punk.

“I know my kill stuff would be more than his kill stuff,” he said. “I knew what to expect and I was ready to dominate.”

Prior to Miocic’s bout, former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum won a unanimous decision over Travis Browne.

Following the heated bout, Werdum put his gloved hands to his face and was pretending to wipe away tears when he was confronted by Browne’s coach Edmond Tarverdyan. Werdum tried to kick Tarverdyan and security rushed into the ring as both corners jawed at each other.

Just climbing the steps into the octagon was something of a victory for Punk, who became a villain of sorts inside UFC circles as fans, wrestlers and fellow fighters questioned his motives for taking up a new sport with no experience.

He was accustomed to the outside distractions – media requests, fans and travel – for years. But despite working with Duke Roufus and other top trainers at the Roufusport Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee for the past year, he wasn’t ready for Gall.

Still, Punk intends to stick with his new love.

“Obviously, Mickey’s a hell of a fighter. I will be back, believe it or not,” Punk said. “This was the most fun I’ve had in my life, second best night of my life after marrying my wife. I know there’s a lot of doubters but listen, life’s about falling down and getting back up. Doesn’t matter how many time you get knocked down, get back up.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

UFC: McGregor will return to FW after Diaz bout, Dana White says

Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Conor McGregor (19-3) has has yet to step inside the octagon for his rematch with Nate Diaz, but Dana White has already laid out the plans for his next fight.

According to the UFC president, the Irish sensation will make his return at 145 lbs, regardless of the outcome of his upcoming fight at UFC 202 in Las Vegas on Aug. 20.


“I fully expect Conor to come back and defend his 145-pound title,” White officially confirmed in a report on UFC.com.


“The Notorious” has been a hot commodity for fighters looking for a hefty payday in recent months, including recently crowned UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (28-4), who also expressed his desire to have a crack at the victor of the UFC 202 main event.

“I know Nate Diaz is fighting Conor McGregor and I would like to try and get the winner of that fight,” Alvarez was quoted as saying in the report. “Hopefully somebody comes out on top there and they sign on the dotted line.”

Although there has yet to be an announcement on his possible opponent, longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo (26-2) is believed to be the next in line for McGregor, after his hard-fought five-round victory against perennial contender Frankie Edgar.

White, meanwhile, hyped the McGregor-Diaz rematch as potentially the biggest in UFC history, and expects it to be just as good, if not better, than the first fight.

“If you look at how big Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather was and how big Diaz-McGregor 1 was – Diaz-McGregor delivered,” White said. “That fight delivered on all the hype and all the excitement and energy, and this one will, too.”

The 47-year-old UFC head honcho further explained his high hopes for the highly anticipated bout, which Diaz won in the second round with a rear-naked choke.

“Just stylistically and the way these guys fight, it’s impossible for Diaz-McGregor not to be a ridiculous fight,” White told UFC.com. “If you look at the first fight, Conor was absolutely just dominating and then gassed out. Diaz took every ounce of punishment and then as soon as he saw Conor started to slow down and was tired, he jumped right on him. It’s everything you love as a fight fan,” he added.

Aside from McGregor’s future, the UFC President also shed light on the current UFC Welterweight title picture, as reigning champion Tyron Woodley requested to be matched against the reportedly returning George St. Pierre  or Nate Diaz’ older brother and main event staple, Nick Diaz.

“I think that Nate feels his brother should have the fight at 170, but Nick is not going to come back and fight for the title right away,” White said.

“There are other guys deserving of a title shot. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is going to fight for the 170-pound title and then we’ll see what happens with Nick and Nate.”  Khristian Ibarrola

source: sports.inquirer.net

LOOK: Conor McGregor bares it all on ESPN’s Body Issue

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Conor McGregor leads the top athletes who have gone nude for the 2016 edition of ESPN magazine’s Body Issue.

McGregor took to social media to share a photo of his shoot, where he was seen naked while training with a punching bag.

“If I only had to focus on boxing, hell, I’d be neck and neck with Floyd [Mayweather Jr.] right now,” McGregor was quoted as saying by ESPN on Instagram.

McGregor is set to have a rematch against Nate Diaz in August, after falling short in their last outing.

McGregor is the sixth mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to grace in the special edition magazine, following the appearances of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey; current champion Miesha Tate; interim UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; Invicta featherweight champion Cristiane Justino; and her one-time husband, Cyborg Santos.

ESPN’s Body Issue is an annual collection of famous athlete’s nude bodies and the stories behind them that aim to serve as an inspiration to others.

The other athletes that grace this year’s edition are Nathan Adrian (swimming), Jake Arrieta (MLB), Antonio Brown (NFL), Emma Coburn (Steeplechase), Courtney Conlogue (surfing), Elena Delle Donne (WNBA), Ryan Dungey (motocross), Adeline Gray (wrestling), Greg Louganis (diving), Von Miller (NFL), Chris Mosier (triathelete), Nzinga Prescod (fencing), Christen Press (soccer), April Ross (beach volleyball), Allysa Seely (paratriathlete), Claressa Shields (boxing), Dwyane Wade (NBA), and Vince Wilfork (NFL). YG

source: sports.inquirer.net

Bisping stops Rockhold to claim title in UFC 199 stunner

INGLEWOOD, California, United States — Michael Bisping waited 10 years and 26 fights for the chance to win a UFC title.

When he finally got it, Bisping stunned Luke Rockhold and the mixed martial arts world.

Bisping won the UFC middleweight championship with a first-round knockout of Rockhold on Saturday night, earning his first title belt at UFC 199.

Bisping (30-7) spectacularly won the UFC 185-pound title just over two weeks after accepting the bout as an injury replacement for former champion Chris Weidman.

Bisping abruptly knocked down Rockhold midway through the round with a left hand to the jaw of the backpedaling champion. Rockhold (15-3) bounced back up and engaged Bisping, who knocked him down for good with another left hand, finishing it with 1:24 left in the round.

Bisping, an Englishman who lives in Orange County, had never fought for a title in a decade with the UFC.

“This was my dream. Nobody was taking this away from me,” Bisping said. “Two weeks? Two days, two hours, two minutes. I’ll fight anybody on a moment’s notice.”

Dominick Cruz also defended his UFC bantamweight title with a clear unanimous decision over Urijah Faber, settling a nine-year feud in the third bout between the two California fighters.

But the crowd at the historic Forum south of downtown Los Angeles was left in disbelief by the main-event heroics of Bisping, who is having a jaw-dropping year after defeating longtime UFC champion Anderson Silva in February.

“Apart from my children and my wife, this is the greatest day of my life,” Bisping said.

The 37-year-old Bisping was on set in Toronto — playing a villain in a new Vin Diesel movie — when he got the call last month to replace Weidman, who had to drop out of his rematch due to a neck injury.

Bisping immediately began trading insults with Rockhold, who won his title in December with a fourth-round stoppage of Weidman. Although Bisping acknowledged he was an underdog, the loquacious brawler claimed he had learned enough to shock the world while losing to Rockhold by second-round submission 19 months ago in Sydney.

Turns out it wasn’t just talk from Bisping, who couldn’t contain his emotions when the title belt was wrapped around his waist.

Rockhold, who acknowledged training with a knee injury for this fight, took just his second loss in 16 bouts since 2007. He didn’t argue with referee John McCarthy’s stoppage after Bisping’s final barrage of punches left him motionless with his back to the cage.

“I should have fought my fight instead of messing around with him,” Rockhold said.

Cruz (22-1) largely dominated his 13th consecutive victory and his first title defense since reclaiming the 135-pound belt earlier this year after four years of injury setbacks. Although Cruz never appeared to be close to a stoppage, the clear victory was even sweeter coming against Faber (33-9), his longtime rival.

“Nothing surprising,” Cruz said about the win. “I’m just glad I’m here. It feels so good to be able to compete again. I thought I lost this at one point.”

Faber’s beef with Cruz began in 2007 and it never cooled during their two previous bouts and Cruz’s years out of the sport with knee woes that forced him to vacate the title. Faber beat Cruz in their first meeting nine years ago, but Cruz evened the series with a rematch victory in 2011.

The bantamweights opened their bout at a breakneck pace, but Cruz landed the majority of the biggest punches, including a shot that dropped Faber early in the second round. Cruz repeatedly tagged Faber with left hands while largely staying out of range for Faber, who grew frustrated with his inability to engage the champion in the final four rounds.

“He caught me in the second,” Faber said. “Trust me, he’s got a little power. He’s a heavy hitter.”

Although the 37-year-old Faber is among the most accomplished fighters in MMA history, he has lost seven consecutive championship bouts dating to the defunct WEC promotion in 2008. Afterward, Faber said he will think about retirement.

Dan Henderson also knocked out Hector Lombard with a spectacular back elbow to the head in the second round, giving the beloved 45-year-old veteran his third victory in nine fights.

Henderson (32-14) also indicated he is strongly considering retirement from his 19-year professional career after he knocked the 38-year-old Lombard stiff with an elbow while Lombard (34-6-1) was holding his leg. Henderson, who fought at UFC 17 in 1998, posed for photos in the cage with his wife and four children, who all attended one of his fights together for the first time.

“We’ll see what happens, but that could have been the last one of my career,” Henderson said.

Featherweight contender Max Holloway also won his ninth consecutive fight, decisively beating Ricardo Lamas.

The UFC paid tribute to Muhammad Ali with a highlight video narrated by President Dana White, who praised Ali’s anti-war activism and leadership. The Forum crowd spontaneously broke into several chants of “Ali! Ali!”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Conor McGregor a no-show, and off of UFC 200

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor’s seat was vacant, and so now is his spot headlining the big UFC 200 card this summer.

The Irish fighter was a no-show at a press conference Friday promoting the card, and UFC President Dana White said he would not meet Nate Diaz in a rematch on top of the July 9 card in Las Vegas.

“You have to show up to promote the fight,” White said. “It’s part of the job. It’s what we do here.”

Not to be outdone, McGregor tweeted that he respected the fact other fighters traveled to the press conference “but not everyone up there made the company ($)400 million the last 8 months.”

The dispute over promotional duties means UFC’s biggest card of the year will be without McGregor, the wildly popular fighter who lost to Diaz last month in a major upset. Diaz indicated he might not fight, either, though White said he was looking for an opponent for him.

“If it doesn’t happen I’m going on vacation,” Diaz said.

White left a seat on the dais vacant at a press conference at the MGM Grand, though McGregor made it clear earlier this week that he wouldn’t be attending. McGregor posted on Facebook that he couldn’t afford the time he would need to leave his training camp in Iceland for a series of promotional appearances for the card.

But White noted the fight was nearly three months away, and that UFC is spending $10 million to promote the card and needed McGregor to participate in the promotion.

“People (other fighters on the card) came from Poland and Brazil. Is that fair?” White asked. “It sets a bad precedent. These guys came in from all over the world and they’re here.”

McGregor had asked for a quick rematch with Diaz, after moving up in weight to lose to him in a fight he dominated early. The two signed contracts, but McGregor disrupted plans when he refused to travel to Las Vegas from Iceland to promote the bout.

White said he is not angry with McGregor and expects him to fight again, just not on the landmark UFC 200 card that will be held at the new T-Mobile arena on the Las Vegas Strip. He said McGregor could fight the winner of the bout between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, which is on the UFC 200 card.

Also on the card is Miesha Tate, who upset Holly Holm last month and will meet Brazil’s Amanda Nunes. White said it is also possible that light heavyweight Jon Jones could meet Daniel Cormier on the card if Jones wins his fight Saturday against Ovince Saint Preux.

McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view attraction the UFC has, but White said the card will have plenty of attractive fights. He said he understands fans want to see McGregor on UFC 200, but that he had to take a stand.

“It’s an unpopular decision, but it’s the right decision,” White said.

The press conference took place before the weigh-in for UFC 197, which features Jones vs. Saint Preux for the light heavyweight title and Demetrious Johnson against Henry Cejudo in a flyweight title bout.

source: sports.inquirer.net

UFC: Jon Jones jailed for violating probation, rematch with Cormier in jeopardy

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is once again at odds with the law, after an Albuquerque judge issued a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday, March 29 (Wednesday, March 30, Manila time).

The troubled mixed martial arts (MMA) star turned himself to authorities in the wake of the citation he got for allegedly drag racing near a traffic stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last week—citing reports from MMA website mmamania.com.

It probably didn’t help that Jones, who was once ranked number one in the UFC’s pound for pound list, was videotaped losing his cool and calling the police officer at the scene a ‘despicable pig’.

The 28-year-old New York native is under strict probation due to his involvement in a hit-and-run case in 2015.

One of the terms for his indefinite parole was to stay away from legal trouble—a promise he clearly violated which prompted his arrest.

Jones, who spoke with the MMAHour about the incident, insisted that the details about his felony was completely fabricated by the police officer.

“I think he was a DWI [Driving While Intoxicated] cop. He wanted to find a drunk driver, and once he saw that I was sober, he wanted to find something to justify pulling me over,” said the accused Jones.

He did, however, admit to spatting unpleasant things to the police officer, which Jones claims as something he ‘regrets doing’.

“Bones” is still expected to headline the upcoming UFC 197 pay-per-view (PPV) event on April 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada, against longtime rival and current 205-pound titleholder Daniel Cormier.
Meanwhile, the UFC has recently released a statement to the media addressing the situation via MMA Fighting:

“UFC is aware that Jon Jones turned himself into the Albuquerque Police Department this morning for a potential probation violation stemming from a traffic stop last week. The UFC has been in touch with Jones’ legal team and will have no further comment until the organization has had appropriate time to gather necessary information,”.

source: sports.inquirer.net

McGregor earns $1M in loss to Diaz

Conor McGregor may have lost to Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 196, but he still came out of Las Vegas as the biggest winner.

In a report from MMA Junkie, the UFC featherweight champion, arguably the biggest draw in the sport, earned $1,000,000 despite the defeat.

Diaz and Holly Holm, who yielded her title to Miesha Tate, each took home $500,000.

Tate received $92,000 including a $46,000 win bonus in the co-main event.

Based on the disclosed paydays from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, UFC 196 churned out $2,871,000 to all the fighters.

McGregor was forced to tapped out in the second round due to the rear-naked choke applied by Diaz while Holm was also submitted using the same technique by Tate in the fifth round.

What’s not included in the report was the payout given by UFC president Dana White to Diaz and McGregor for “Fight of the Night” honors and to Tate for delivering the “Performance of the Night.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Diaz submits McGregor in round 2 at UFC 196

Nate Diaz silenced Conor McGregor via rear naked choke in a major upset at UFC 196 on Sunday.

McGregor pretty much dominated Diaz in the majority of the fight, even opening a cut above the latter’s right eye.

Diaz then managed to put the brash Irish fighter in a submission, forcing the featherweight champion to tap out in the second round.

Their non-title fight started off with McGregor consistently teeing off on Diaz even until the second round.

Diaz managed to find an opening, using his length to land big strikes on the featherweight champion and giving him the opportunity to transition to the choke out.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Johnson, UFC's little big man, headlines UFC 174

Demetrious Johnson is one of the most exciting fighters in mixed martial arts.

The Kirkland, Wash., resident is 9-1-1 over the past four years. He has won five consecutive fights. He has established himself as a dominant champion in his division, one capable of one-punch knockouts, slick submissions holds, or going all 25 minutes when needed.

Yet he still has his share of detractors, for one simple reason: Johnson lords over the Ultimate Fighting Championship's lightest men's division, flyweight. And the haters seem to think a 5’3”, 125-pounder can't develop into a draw, no matter how big the size of the fight in the dog.

"I don't even hear the critics anymore," said Johnson, whose 11 fights with UFC parent company Zuffa over the past four years makes him most active fighter on the company's 500-fighter roster. "Yeah, I'm not tall. Doesn't mean I can't fight."

Whether he hears detractors or not, he'll have a chance to prove them wrong Saturday night (Sunday, PHL time), as he headlines one of the UFC's marquee pay-per-view events for the first time. Johnson (19-2-1) will defend his championship against Dagestan's Ali Bagautinov (15-2) in the main event of UFC 174 in Vancouver.

For his part, Johnson says he's not too worried about the platform, as long as there's a cage in the arena when he gets there.

"It's just another fight," Johnson said. "It's on pay-per-view and that's cool, but I don't care if it's pay-per-view or on FOX or on cable. Just another fight, to me."

Johnson experienced success as an undersized bantamweight (135 pounds) before the UFC instituted a 125-pound class in 2012, with his only loss in the past four years a decision against then-bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz.

Since then, the fighter known as "Mighty Mouse" has found his groove at 125. He won the inaugural title in Sept. 2012 by defeating Joseph Benavidez. The UFC has attempted to maximize his exposure, with some encouraging results. His first title defense, a decision win over John Dodson in Jan. 2013, peaked at 5.2 million viewers, one of the UFC's strongest numbers in three years on FOX. His most recent defense, a first-round knockout in a rematch against Benavidez, drew a near-sellout crowd of 11,573 to Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena in December.

Inside the industry, Johnson's gotten respect for his well-rounded talents. He ranks fourth in the current MMAFighting.com pound-for-pound poll, behind UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, longtime featherweight champ Jose Aldo Jr., and heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez.

Saturday, the 27-year old's latest challenge is the unheralded Bagautinov. The 28-year old, who trains at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, has won 11 straight fights, and is 3-0 in the UFC. While he entered the UFC with a reputation as a finisher, he's gone the distance in his past two fights.

"Ali is a solid fighter from a great camp who I have to respect," Johnson said. "But he can't do all the things I do, standing up, on the ground, everywhere. I respect Ali but I'm not worried."

The co-feature bout is a welterweight showdown with championship implications, as Rory MacDonald (16-2) takes on Tyron Woodley (13-2)

The 24-year old MacDonald, a British Columbia native, trains with former longtime champ Georges St-Pierre in Montreal and was considered his heir apparent before a pair of lackluster performances set him back. But a solid February win over veteran Demian Maia got him back on track. St. Louis' Woodley, meanwhile, has made his case with finishes of veterans Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit.

While the winner of a July 26 bout between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown has been promised the next shot at welterweight champ Johny Hendricks, nothing is ever etched in stone in the UFC, and a solid showing by the winner of this fight could cause them to jump the line. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com