Tuesday, January 31

Legacy Fighting Alliance Wants to Be the College Football of MMA

The UFC is a meat grinder that constantly requires new talent to feed the relentless machine that appears almost every week on TV or pay-per-view. 

Over the last seven years, the UFC has drastically expanded its operations, transforming itself into a regular fixture on network and cable television in addition to its steady efforts on pay-per-view. In 2009, the promotion ran 20 events and 215 total fights; in 2016, it held 40 events and 493 fights.

The newly formed Legacy Fighting Alliance, the result of the merger between the venerable Legacy Fighting Championship and Resurrection Fighting Alliance promotions, wants to dominate that pipeline and become known as the college football to the UFC's NFL.

The president and public face of LFA, Ed Soares, has been a fixture in MMA for a decade as the manager of stars such as Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and many more. He has left management behind now, focusing solely on promotion, after juggling both for years as president of RFA.

In a space where promotions come and go with regularity, Legacy and RFA were notable for their longevity and profitability. Mick Maynard ran Legacy for years before the merger and is still a partner in the new LFA, though he's no longer involved in the day-to-day operations after taking a new position in the UFC's matchmaking department. 

LFA plans to run 30 events in 2017, which sounds like a huge number for a smaller promotion. Soares pointed out, however, that Legacy and RFA did a combined 27 shows last year, which makes this just a small increase. "That's what being a good promoter is all about, making it sound bigger than it actually is," Soares said.

"We're smart and calculated," Soares continued. "We don't let our egos get ahead of us or take a bigger step than we can take. We're realistic about what we do. I want to constantly progress and make a better product, but I don't want to take too big a step and fall. Everything comes with time." In 2018, he said, LFA intends to expand further, with tentative plans to increase the number to 40 events.

Soares has no illusions about competing with the UFC or even Bellator on a national scale; instead, LFA wants to be the primary launching pad for tomorrow's stars, a developmental promotion where the biggest names and talents of the future can hone their skills in and out of the cage. 

"As a manager, I know what fighters need, and I know the platform we're building on AXS TV is exactly what they need," Soares said. "Before, you'd go from fighting in a ballroom to all of the sudden going into an arena with cameras and everything, and there was no in between. When you're a feature fighter on one of our cards, you're going to have a lot of media commitments."

Andrew Simon, CEO of AXS TV Fights, echoed Soares' sentiments. "Every Friday night, you've got something. Is it the best fighters in the world? No. Are they the best fighters of the future? No doubt. This is where those fighters are coming from. We want to be the building block."

Simon fondly recalled boxing's Friday Night Fights in the 1990s, watching young fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Bernard Hopkins climb the ranks. That's the goal with AXS TV Fights, which runs shows every Friday night. "We're creating the stars of the future. This is the place where you can say, 'I saw them first.'"

"The future is now," said Soares. "The next Jon Jones, the next Ronda Rousey, the next Conor McGregor, is most likely going to come from our organization."

Legacy and RFA have already sent more than 100 fighters to the UFC, Simon said. Holly Holm, Valentina Shevchenko, Sage Northcutt, Henry Cejudo, Sergio Pettis, Thomas Almeida and Mirsad Bektic are just a few of those alumni. If that weren't enough, World Series of Fighting featherweight champion Lance Palmer fought in RFA, and rising Bellator bantamweight Darrion Caldwell had his first three fights in Legacy.

The pipeline of talent is already making waves—Holm's knockout of Ronda Rousey certainly didn't hurt—and as these young fighters develop further, the top ranks of every UFC division are likely to include a few fighters who got their starts in LFA and its parent promotions.

To some extent, that has already happened: 12 fighters currently ranked in the UFC's Top 15, and a disproportionate percentage of the young, up-and-coming elite, had at least one fight in Legacy or RFA.  

The fact that Maynard is still a partner in LFA and also works as a UFC matchmaker seeking out new talent doesn't hurt, either.

But LFA isn't the only smaller promotion sending fighters to the UFC, and the UFC's own Fight Pass platform is the 800-pound gorilla in any conversation about the future of smaller shows. It hosts a staggering array of that sub-UFC content, from the well-known Titan FC and the all-female Invicta FC to Russia's Eurasia Fight Nights, Combate Americas, Shooto Brazil, the Midwest's Victory FC and Alaska FC.

Simon isn't shy about labeling Fight Pass competition for AXS TV Fights, but he's confident in the benefits of AXS TV over an online-only platform. Fight Pass has between 500,000 and 700,000 subscribers, Simon said, while AXS TV is currently in 46 to 50 million homes in the United States, not counting its overseas presence.

"It's the wave of the future, but I'm not sure the model is there for the promotions to be successful financially. I'm not sure the exposure is better," Simon said. "I'm not sure Invicta has better exposure today than they did when they were [streaming free] online. Some of the other promotions that are on there now that were with us are maybe not flourishing financially."

At least one promotion currently on Fight Pass that had formerly been on AXS TV (presumably Titan FC) has talked to Simon about returning to AXS, he said.

Soares had talked to Fight Pass about LFA, he acknowledged, but he touts the benefits of being on AXS TV. "Fight Pass is a great platform," Soares says, "but there's nothing like being on TV." 

Simon made that point even more forcefully. "Sean Shelby, Mick Maynard, they're clearly watching AXS TV Fights. You're not getting seen if you're on a regional show unless [UFC President] Dana [White] happens to come with Lookin' For a Fight. We are the place to be seen if you're looking to get to that level."

LFA will be taking up 30 of the 45 Friday-night slots on AXS TV this year, and it can no longer be considered a regional promotion. "Between Legacy and RFA, I believe we've done 21 states," Soares said. "In 2018, our goal is to be doing 40 shows. You'll see us doing 12 to 15 markets two or three times per year. We're going to be spreading that across the U.S., from the East Coast to the West Coast."

That requires a tremendous infrastructure of relationships with gyms, coaches, trainers, managers and of course fighters, but Soares isn't worried. "One thing there's not a lack of is talent. As we do these different areas all around the country, we have to develop talent from that area." 

Developing local talent is a necessity for LFA, not a choice. "A good percentage of our budget still comes from ticket sales," said Soares, which means the promotion needs local fighters to sell those tickets to friends, family and fans to fill the venue and generate revenue.

There's a refreshing lack of hyperbole in the approach that Soares and Simon have charted out for LFA and AXS TV Fights, and they're grounded in a deep knowledge of the business landscape of combat sports and a realistic appraisal of where they fit. It's still an aggressive, forward-moving approach but one based on sharp, sober analysis of what's possible.

"We know we have budgets," Simon said. "Our network is not Showtime or HBO, spitting off money. This is our budget. What can we do with this budget to get the promotions that make people want to tune in every Friday night?"

The answer to that question is to embrace the identity as the home to future stars, a halfway point between the developmental emphasis of Triple-A baseball and the inherently quality product of good college football.

Soares and Simon know exactly what they want to build and how they want to build it. They have a brand that focuses on providing quality fights between up-and-coming fighters every Friday night, and everything else builds off that foundation.

If this formula works, as it has so far for RFA and LFA, the benefits will be there for both the promotion and the fighters who fill its cards. There are no restrictions for any fighter who receives a contract offer from the UFC or Bellator, Soares says.

"The more successful they get, the more successful we become as a promotion. A lot of people say, 'I don't understand your concept. You build a guy up and then you let him go?' But that's why people are interested in watching us. People are tuning in to watch future superstars in the making right now. That's why you tune in.

"As these fighters move on in their career, and become successful and become superstars, that's what makes our content valuable," said Soares. "Their success is our success." 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey Receives Apology from Amanda Nunes for Post-UFC 207 Comments

Current UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes held nothing back after she swiftly defeated Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 on Dec. 30. 

On Tuesday, more than one month after her victory, she apologized to Rousey via her Instagram:

After disposing of Rousey in just 48 seconds by technical knockout, Nunes turned to the press and social media to go after her opponent further. 

First, she posted a Photoshopped picture of herself pushing Rousey in a baby stroller while holding a title belt:

She then told reporters after the fight that "I’m the best on the planet. [Rousey is] going to go do movies. Forget about her. She has a lot of money already," via Marissa Payne of the Washington Post.

It seemed as though Nunes developed such a chip on her shoulder during the buildup to the fight. Rousey was making a highly anticipated return to the Octagon for the first time since her loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015:

Nunes explained her dissatisfaction with the UFC to the media before their bout, via Martin Rogers of USA Today:

I feel like UFC want to make it easy for her, so she doesn’t feel like she’s not the champion anymore. They want to do this to make her feel strong or something. They try to promote her so she can see that — ‘Ronda, Ronda, Ronda.’ ... But she knows she is the challenger, I am the champion. Nobody can change this. Nobody can make Ronda the champion. She is not the champion anymore. They want to make things more soft for her.

With Rousey once again taking a leave of absence from the UFC, Nunes' attempt at extending the olive branch on Tuesday after those harsh post-fight comments shows that she is ready to move on in her bantamweight title defense. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Jon Jones Likely to Face Daniel Cormier-Anthony Johnson Winner, Says Dana White

Jon Jones may have a nice gift waiting for him when he comes back from his yearlong suspension: a UFC light heavyweight championship fight.

In an interview on the UFC Unfiltered podcast (h/t FoxSports.com's Damon Martin), UFC President Dana White said he expects Jones to face off against the winner of Daniel Cormier's title defense against Anthony Johnson at UFC 210 on April 8.

"[Jones] is supposed to return around July, so the timing is perfect," White said. "I haven't talked to him. I haven't talked to [Jones] since the whole incident. Depending on where Jon's head is and where he thinks he is, I would assume he would come right back and try to get his title back."

In November, the United States Anti-Doping Agency suspended Jones for one year after he tested positive for banned substances. Two estrogen blockers showed up on an out-of-competition drug test from Jones last June.

His suspension began retroactive to July 6, 2016, so he'd be eligible to return to the Octagon this summer.

Jones was set to fight Cormier at UFC 200 on July 9, but UFC removed him from the card following USADA's notification of his failed drug test. UFC cameras captured the moment White told Cormier of Jones' infraction (Note: Sequence begins at the 4:13 mark of the video below, and the video contains NSFW language):

Anderson Silva replaced Jones on the card, and Cormier earned a unanimous decision.

White's stance on Jones appears to have softened in recent months. He told TMZ Sports in November that he wasn't speaking to the former lightweight champion. Shortly thereafter, he said on the Jim Rome Show (via Martin) that he couldn't envision Jones in the main event of a pay-per-view anytime soon.

"I would never take the risk of headlining a show with [Jones] again," White said. "I'd put him on the card, but I wouldn't headline with him until he can consistently get back on track."

A rematch between Cormier and Jones in particular would put White's resolve to the test. Even with Jones out of action for over a year—his last fight was against Ovince Saint Preux last April—fans would be clamoring to see him and Cormier finally face off again.

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UFC Contender's Title Hopes in Jeopardy Due to Donald Trump's Travel Ban

Up until Friday, everything was going great for Gegard Mousasi's career.

Long the toast of the Japanese MMA circuit, Mousasi joined the UFC in 2013. After two up-and-down years with the company, he hit his stride in 2016 and has since rattled off four strong wins in a row. Set to face former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in April, he was poised to break his way into UFC title contention for the first time in his career.

Unfortunately, his dreams of holding UFC gold may have been shelved, and possibly dashed, by President Donald Trump's 90-day ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The fighter discussed how he may not be able to enter the United States for his UFC 210 bout in an interview with Dutch outlet Telesport.

"I don’t know," Mousasi said when asked if he will be able to compete (h/t MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi). "The UFC is working on it. The lawyers and guys that take care of the visas. I just have to wait. They’re gonna change some things probably in a couple weeks, because there’s a lot of protests [about] the change. I just have to wait and see."

Despite living in the Netherlands since age four, Mousasi was born in Iran, whose citizens are currently unable to enter the United States alongside people from Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. The ban has been met with worldwide criticism and has soured the new administration to many Americans due to the lack of nuance for who it keeps out. Mousasi, naturally, feels the ban goes too far.

"The rule is even if you're born in Iran, you’re a threat," he said. "It's gonna ruin the relationship between countries. I think the U.S. is on the wrong path."

The UFC acknowledged that it is aware of the ban and that it will affect numerous fighters on the UFC roster. It issued the following statement (per MMA Fighting):

"We are aware of the federal travel ban. There are numerous variables including a judicial injunction. We are monitoring and will be affirmatively engaged to ensure that our fighters and employees are able to go where they need to compete and do their jobs."

In addition to Mousasi, the travel ban could affect other UFC fighters such as Randa Markos (who is Iraqi-Canadian), Reza Madadi (Iranian-Swedish) and Makwan Amirkhani (Iranian-Finnish). All three are currently booked for fights, but none of them are attached to cards in the United States at this time. That said, they may be unable to compete on the majority of UFC cards due to the ban until things change.

There is still a chance Mousasi will be able to compete at UFC 210, which is set for April 8 in Buffalo, New York. Unfortunately, like many others, he will have to sit back and wait to learn what his future holds.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey's Future with UFC Commented on by Dana White on 'UFC Unfiltered'

Following consecutive decisive losses, UFC President Dana White believes Ronda Rousey may never again step foot inside the Octagon. 

On the latest episode of UFC.com's UFC Unfiltered (h/t Dann Stupp of MMAjunkie), White expressed his feeling that Rousey is leaning toward retirement: "In the conversation I had with her, if I had to say right here right now—again I don't like saying right here right now because it's up to her—but I would't say she fights again. I think she's probably done. ... She's going to ride off into the sunset and start living her life outside of fighting."

White added that losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes may have made Rousey realize there is more to life than fighting: "She's so competitive that her career and record meant everything to her. And then once she lost, she started to say to herself, 'What the [expletive] am I doing? This is my whole life. This is it? I want to experience and start doing other things.' And I think that's what she started to do, and she's got a lot of money. She's never going to need money again."

The 29-year-old was a perfect 12-0 before losing the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship to Holm via a second-round knockout at UFC 193 in 2015.

She returned in December 2016 after taking more than a year away from the sport, but the result was no better, as Nunes knocked her out in just 48 seconds at UFC 207.

Rousey has remained out of the spotlight since her latest loss aside from a statement provided to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne:

I want to say thank you to all of my fans who have been there for me in not only the greatest moments but in the most difficult ones. Words cannot convey how much your love and support means to me.

Returning to not just fighting, but winning, was my entire focus this past year. However, sometimes—even when you prepare and give everything you have and want something so badly—it doesn't work how you planned. I take pride in seeing how far the women's division has come in the UFC and commend all the other women who have been part of making this possible, including Amanda.

I need to take some time to reflect and think about the future. Thank you for believing in me and understanding.

The former Olympic bronze medalist in judo put women's mixed martial arts on the map, but the aura of invincibility that made her one of UFC's top draws is gone.

Rousey enjoyed success outside the Octagon as an author and actor during her one-year absence, and there should be plenty more outside opportunities for her to pursue should she decide to step away from MMA for good.

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The 10 UFC Fighters Who Are Most Fun to Watch

It's hard to pick just 10, especially given a burgeoning new guard of UFC action fighters.

That's what makes this job so hard. You think it's easy to narrow down the 10 UFC fighters who are the most fun to watch? I beg to differ, sir or madam. I beg to differ. So you want to be a slideshow writer...

The group we did end up selecting (plus the considerable honorable mentions list) pulls from a newer generation along with the more familiar contingent. Yes, purveyors of the spinning stuff figure prominently—we're not made of stone—but there is such a thing as an exciting grappler, and we have those as well. 

Be it for their individual fighting style, aggression, in-cage flair, finishing ability or some combination, these 10 guys and gals are must-see TV in the UFC. Extra weight given to fighters who are more active in current competition. After all, you can only be so exciting if you only fight once a year.

 

Begin Slideshow

The Question: Can Conor McGregor Versus Floyd Mayweather Actually Happen?

Like a cockroach that just won't die, the oft-discussed Floyd Mayweather (49-0) versus Conor McGregor (21-3) fight was once again pitched to the public on Saturday. On both sides of the Atlantic, McGregor in a pay-only media appearance and Mayweather on Showtime/SkySports, the principles took their case to the people in stereo.

"I have my eyes on one thing right now, and that's Floyd Mayweather," McGregor told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani during a pay-per-view interview in Manchester, England. "That fight is more than just being explored. There's a lot of steps, but it's the fight to make. It's the fight I want."

Mayweather echoed those sentiments in a Sky Sports 1 interview before the Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz fight in Las Vegas.

“That’s the only fight that will get me back in the ring," the retired boxer, who has applied for several trademarks related to a potential 50th professional victory, told the world.

And, while the dueling interviews generated headlines, obstacles to the fight remain firmly in place. Though they seem similar, there are significant structural differences separating boxing and mixed martial arts that might torpedo this fight before discussions ever really get started.

Can this fight really happen? And, perhaps more importantly, should it? Veteran reporters Josh Gross and Jonathan Snowden have spent years digging into the financial realities of combat sports, and join forces to tackle one of the most compelling questions plaguing modern fight promotion.

    

Josh Gross: Is there any quibbling with the notion that nothing is impossible in the fight game when enough money is involved?

Acknowledging the various contractual and regulatory differences between the way boxers and mixed martial artists go about their business, and the problems that oil-water mix could present in seeing this through, the answer is yes this spectacle can really happen because many millions of dollars at stake.

If Mayweather Promotions in conjunction with McGregor Promotions in conjunction with the Ultimate Fighting Championship can actually make it work at the negotiating table, that alone will be a feat.

The potential of massive gate receipts and obscene pay-per-view revenue are the only reasons this is even in discussion, of course.

We know it's not about competition or legacy or proving a point; it's a straight cash grab that will likely entice many, many people in the end. It will also expose a new set of hurdles that could cause it to fall apart because overseeing Mayweather-McGregor will require regulatory chutzpah.

Inherent issues of health and safety are at play, just as they would be if roles were reversed and an inexperienced Mayweather was coaxed into a cage against the Irishman.

On its face an all-time great boxer taking on a fighter whose talent and success as a mixed martial artist has netted him an 0-0 record in the ring would be a non-starter.

But, money.

If, for example, Nevada, California or New Jersey refuse to regulate the contest, where besides an offshore barge could the vested parties take the fight and not become a punchline? There are many risks here, Jonathan.

Which roadblocks (financial, regulatory or otherwise) could end up the promotion killer, and is it appropriate for this to be attempted in the first place?

    

Jonathan Snowden: I think the biggest road block should be McGregor's lack of anything resembling professional boxing experience. Like Mayweather or not, he's an extraordinarily gifted pugilist. Allowing him to fight a novice, even a famous one, is reprehensible and dangerous.

Then again, as you say, money tends to talk loudly enough to drown out decency and sportsmanship. Nevada, the best of a dodgy lot, allowed Muhammad Ali to fight long after it was clear he was deteriorating badly. The money here is big enough that regulators will cast their eyes down and live with it.

The real problem will be money. More specifically, it will be UFC's involvement in the process. If McGregor was a free agent (or a boxer), I believe they would easily come to terms on an arrangement that would make the rich much richer.

But, believe it or not, the boxing business is built on minuscule margins. When Mayweather fights, there is very little room for promoters to wet their beaks. The bulk of the revenue, from pay-per-view, to foreign television and concessions is shared by the fighters. The promoter can do well if the event is a success—but the top fighters are always going to walk away with most of the money.

As you reported at ESPN years ago, UFC runs a very different system, using a business model based closely on the WWE's. The UFC pockets almost all of the revenue, sharing less than 20 percent with the fighters.

That leaves a gulf filled with tens of millions of dollars separating the UFC from Mayweather's expectations. While a top boxing star can command upwards of 75 percent of the revenue, sources say Mayweather's split is closer to 90 percent. That doesn't leave much room for his own promoter to present a decent undercard and still make money. It leaves no space for UFC to insert itself into the event.

These are basic, systemic problems. If they are to be overcome, someone will have to bend. No one involved is used to that. Who, Josh, do you think is most likely to show some flexibility for the sake of the spectacle?

    

Gross: 1) Dana White. 2) Conor McGregor. 3) Floyd Mayweather.

The UFC is already bending in ways it never would for MMA, such as making an "official" money offer through the media. Why? The new regime needs to hit big earnings figures the next 18 months to meet "earn-outs," the first of which would pay $175 million in June if UFC increases its revenue by 61 percent from the year before. That means it needs to make $275 million compared to $170 million it produced EBITDA from 2015 to 2016. There's another $75 million waiting for bigger growth in 2018.

So yes the UFC has a ton of incentive to latch on to Mayweather-McGregor because it would be expected pull in the public and generate huge business, the first billion dollar fight. Even a smaller piece of that take than its usual haul from MMA contests puts the UFC in a great spot. It hold some chips, including no small thing in contractual control over McGregor's ability to compete in unarmed combat for money.

There is risk, though, because of the stark differences of the two businesses you spelled out, a potential rift with its biggest star if it gets in the way of the Mayweather fight, butting up closely to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, and the potential that McGregor puts his high-flying MMA career in peril by engaging in this boxing bout.

McGregor has always been a risk taker. Anyone who commands so much has to be. He'd easily come down from his early $100 million demands to get the payday and exposure. He risks putting himself through humiliation and potential physical damage for the prospect of boxing Mayweather, but like Muhammad Ali that's part of what makes him who he is.

Last is Mayweather. Unless he's been negligent with his career earnings, he shouldn't need another payday. But he wants that big number, and feels like its owed to him. This is the man who appears intractable in this equation. Mayweather wants that 50-0? OK. Getting it on 0-0 McGregor doesn't say much about his competitive drive. I suspect if it doesn't happen Mayweather will laugh about the time he screwed around with these UFC clowns, including the guy who carried his bags.

Add in the flexibility of a regulator like the state of Texas and the attractiveness of hosting at Jerry's World and you've got the makings of an extravaganza on your hands.

Then what? Tell me this: After the opening bell how long will it take set in that the fight was a bad idea?

    

Snowden: It wouldn't take long for onlookers, and likely McGregor himself, to realize he'd made a terrible mistake. While he's shown precision and power in the UFC cage, the skill and expertise of a top professional boxer is unmatched in the realm of combat sports.

Mayweather's dazzling footwork, timing, speed and uncanny instincts would make life exceedingly difficult for McGregor from the very beginning of the fight. Everything, from the ring to the range would be different, including gloves literally twice as big as the ones McGregor wears in the UFC Octagon.

Martial artists initiate attacks from long distances, the threat of a kick or takedown opening up opportunities that simply don't exist in boxing. A disciplined fighter like Mayweather would shred any such attempt to pieces. While not known for his power at 147 pounds, he would land the kind of clean punches that leave a lasting presence. Nate Diaz, a much less gifted boxer, gave McGregor fits, often easily countering his wild blows with punches that accumulated quickly.

In some ways, this fight reminds me less of a traditional athletic contest and more of a spectacle Josh in intimately familiar with. While the stakes and the prize money will be higher, this fight would be more Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki than it would be Ali's epic matches with Joe Frazier.

It's easy to see the allure of this fight, especially for Mayweather. For him, it's an enormous pay day with a minimal risk. It's the UFC and McGregor who should pause to consider the implications.

For Conor, an embarrassing performance may further dent a reputation that was scuffed after a loss to Diaz, a fighter who was seemingly settling into journeyman status. It's hard to sell a fighter as cool, brash and cocky when the world has seen him swing hopelessly at air for 36 minutes.

UFC would have even more to lose with such a bout. Not only does it risk the reputation of its top star in a fight that seems all but unwinnable, it also puts the company's hard earned pay structure at risk. Allowing McGregor to call the shots and upset the apple cart invites other to do the same. It's a gamble that only makes sense if the company truly believes McGregor can win and that it can control his rights in the ensuing chaos.

The UFC's $4 billion asking price made sense when it was a promotion with a carefully controlled pay roll. Opening that Pandora's Box for a one-time jack pot against Mayweather is reckless in the extreme. UFC President Dana White is a gambler, but beyond the blackjack table he's also a winner. From the revenue to result, this is Mayweather's fight to loseand that's why White will never allow it to happen.

    

Gross: I'm not nearly as confident as you that the UFC can pass up collecting a cut of Mayweather-McGregor. Generating blockbuster money is all that matters to the new ownership right now, and this easily is the biggest spigot they can open at the moment.

If it goes the way the fighters want (all they seem to care about is the same thing the UFC cares about), few people among the many who pay an exorbitant sticker price to watch will pick Mayweather to lose against this wild Irishman.

Here lies the only bit of charm that comes with the idea of this contest: Based on McGregor's profound track record in big moments anything can happen.

Mystic Mac calls out Mayweather, and somehow engineers it into a reality? If he can manage to do that, why can't McGregor go the distance? Or gives the crowd a glimmer of something miraculous when a left hand meets its mark?

That's the fairy tale people will buy if this falls into place, which remains fantasy enough.

    

Jonathan Snowden and Josh Gross cover combat sports for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Monday, January 30

Relive Jorge Masvidal's Backyard Fights vs. Kimbo Slice's Protege

This past Saturday at UFC on Fox 23, Jorge Masvidal put on the most impressive performance of his 14-year professional MMA career. His opponent, Donald Cerrone, had been knocked out only twice in his previous 40 MMA fights before stepping into the cage with Masvidal.

If you weren't familiar with Gamebred heading into this fight, you're probably not the only one. Despite his 42 professional MMA fights prior to this one, he had always come up short in his most high-profile bouts. He had yet to produce a star-making performance.

His victory over Cowboy changed all that. 

Given that Masvidal's name is hotter than ever, it's worth looking back in time when he competed in backyard fights. His two most high-profile fights came against Kimbo's protege. Ray was the bigger and seemingly stronger fighter, but Masvidal used his superior technique and speed to wear him down and pick him apart. In both fights, Ray was left with no choice but to quit (warning: NFSW language)

Masvidal recalled Kimbo's reaction to it all in an MMAjunkie interview last year: 

"He was going nuts. He took me out to eat dinner and at the time I was dead broke. He took me to this fancy-ass place and at the time I was like, 'Damn, this dude's balling.' And it was just cool as (expletive). I thought we were going to have to do some thugged-out (expletive), like run out on the bill, but he paid for the whole thing. I was like, 'Man, this is some crazy (expletive).'"

All these years later and Gamebred appears to be in the best fight shape of his life. Perhaps he's finally on his way to making a title run, assuming he can string together a few more impressive wins.

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Jorge Masvidal Talked to Donald Cerrone's Grandma After KO Win on Fox

After years of slugging it out against the nastiest dudes in the backyard, ring and cage, Jorge Masvidal scored a massive win Saturday night when he pounded Donald Cerrone on his way to a stoppage early in the second round.

The win—one the MMA world exploded over but Masvidal was reticent to accept as the biggest of his career—catapulted the Floridian onto the fringes of title contention.

"I'll let the fans say that [this is the biggest win of my career]," he told UFC Correspondent Megan Olivi after the fight. "Maybe the biggest win in UFC, but I've been all over the world kicking butt for a long time before I got here. So in my book, no, it's not the biggest."

With slick boxing, good scrambling and grappling, and years of honing his craft at the highest levels, Gamebred is now making his run as a relatively newly minted welterweight.

Yet despite his hardened visage and nasty outlook on the fight game, it appears the newest contender in the 170-pound division has a heart.

After he had gunned for Cerrone on his way to securing their meeting in Denver, made his disdain for his opponent known the whole way through the lead-up and then dispatched the iconic Cowboy in vicious fashion, it was an unforeseen meeting on the way back to his locker room that melted Masvidal.

He crossed paths with Cerrone's grandmother.

Among his biggest fans, Cerrone's grandmother has followed him to fights all over the country and remains close to one of the UFC’s most active stars. Masvidal said of the meeting: "She killed me, man. That was like a hard blow. She just came up to me and she said, 'That's my grandson, and you’re a great fighter, and nobody has taken out my grandson like that.'"

He went on to consider the idea he may be the "bad guy" in the lead-up to his fights, as his game face and the need to do harm push his heart to the back seat. Yet after talking to Cerrone’s grandmother, Masvidal was reflective: "Things like that, they get me. I don't wanna beat nobody in front of their mom or grandma. I have kids, I couldn't imagine seeing my kids going in there. So that hurt a little bit, you know?"

With the fight over and the knockout officially on the books, Masvidal was respectful of Cerrone's toughness and grit—something that will surely leave Nana Cerrone with a smile on her face, even despite her grandson's loss.

"The couple shots that I hit him with on the ground, not a lot of dudes would get back up and want to keep going," he said. "He gave it all he had, so he's got all my respect in the world."

There is no word on Masvidal's next matchup, but UFC President Dana White was highly impressed, so one could expect another high-profile bout is on deck.

    

Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder!

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Conor McGregor Comments on Nate Diaz's Conversation with Floyd Mayweather

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has lashed out at rival Nate Diaz, criticising his former opponent for lending his support to retired boxer Floyd Mayweather.

McGregor and Diaz faced off twice last year, with each man picking up a win in two memorable encounters. Following his win over Diaz, McGregor went on to win the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez, and speculation has raged about a possible showdown with Mayweather in the future.

The former boxer recently released a clip of a video call between himself and Diaz, in which they both aimed shots at the Irishman. Speaking during a pay-per-view interview (h/t Damon Martin of Fox Sports), McGregor made his feelings on the discussion clear:

Nate’s a (expletive). Nate’s a (expletive) (expletive). Let me tell you why. I had the biggest respect for Nate and I still have big respect for Nick (Diaz), he’s out doing his thing, but when he took that phone call, that video call off [Mayweather] and was like ‘hello, Floyd’s fans’ and he was Floyd’s (expletive) that night.

I was like you (expletive) (expletive). You absolute (expletive).

McGregor added that when Mayweather asked Diaz about his submission win over the Notorious, he should have told the former boxer to “shut your (expletive) mouth, I’ll strangle you, too.” The Irishman went on to suggest the Stockton fighter was “Floyd’s employee that night.”

Per Jonathan Bradley of Fox Sports, Mayweather told Diaz he was going to “put the finishing touches” on McGregor should they meet.

Although talk of a potential superfight between the two men has been dismissed as fantastical in the past, both camps have reiterated there’s a desire to make it happen.

Mayweather, who retired from the sweet science in 2015 after a perfect 49-fight career, told Sky Sports recently that “most likely the fight between me and [McGregor] will happen.” McGregor has also expressed a belief the bout will eventually take place, per Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting:

McGregor’s rise in the UFC has been a rapid one. In beating Alvarez, he became the first person in the history of the company to hold two championship belts at the same time, although he has since been stripped of the featherweight crown.

Diaz, meanwhile, hasn’t been in action since his loss to McGregor at UFC 202 in August. Per Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie, during the same interview, the Notorious also stated a third fight with Diaz will likely happen. 

“Nate and I will throw down again—100 percent Nate and I will finish it,” he said. “It’s one apiece. We’ll finish it off, and I imagine it will be for the lightweight world title.”   

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The Top 25 MMA Prospects for 2017, Part 2

The grind of high-level MMA is remorseless. Injuries, retirements and losing streaks all take their toll on the rosters of the major promotions, which means they constantly need a fresh supply of athletes. Local and regional promotions that run thousands of shows every year provide the grist for the mill.

It took 112 new fighters to keep the UFC running in 2016, but of that total, only a few will go on to achieve at a high level. Every year, Bleacher Report brings you its list of the 25 best prospects on the face of the planet—the young fighters you need to be aware of who have the most potential to break through to the very top of the sport. 

Scott Harris published part one of this list last week, and I am bringing you part two here. Be sure to check out the initial installment.

Here is who is excluded:

  • Fighters who have competed in the UFC
  • Champions from Bellator, World Series of Fighting or ONE Championship (others from these promotions are included sparingly)
  • Fighters age 30 or older, with exceptions possible for those who have switched careers to pursue MMA (e.g. Holly Holm, Daniel Cormier)
  • Fighters with more than five years of pro MMA experience

Let's check out the list.

Begin Slideshow

UFC on Fox 23 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

Valentina Shevchenko punched her ticket to a bantamweight title shot with a submission victory over Julianna Pena at UFC on Fox 23.

"Bullet" caught Pena off-guard in the second round with an armbar, and now, the division has a clear-cut championship bout to book. The rest of the card? Things aren't as transparent.

Jorge Masvidal ruined Donald Cerrone's upward swing in the welterweight division, and Francis Ngannou will force the UFC's hand in booking him against elite heavyweights.

What should the UFC do? That's what we're here for.

These are the matches to make following UFC on Fox 23.

Begin Slideshow

Conor McGregor Reveals He Will Not Have a Role on Game of Thrones

UFC star Conor McGregor dispelled the rumors he would be appearing on Season 7 of Game of Thrones, saying in no uncertain terms during an interview on the Good Times Network variety channel he wouldn't have a cameo on the show, as James Hibberd of EW.com relayed Monday:

That was everywhere and I've never even heard about it! I heard about it once after [a fight] … backstage in the dressing room. [UFC brass, including Dana White, were] in front of me and they were saying 'these [visitors] want you to be in Game of Thrones.' I'm banged up, my shin's in a heap, I've been kicking his knee's straight for 25 minutes, my leg's in bits, and he's trying to offer me a Game of Thrones role. And I'm saying, 'Listen, come at me with s--t I want to hear, I'm not trying to be in show business, I'm trying to be in the fight business. Come at me with a real number to fight again.' So that was the only time I ever heard the [words] Games of Thrones. And it went everywhere like months later! So I don't know where that came from. But I've never been in contact with nobody from Game of Thrones and now I'm starring in Game of f--king Thrones!

More to follow.   

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Sunday, January 29

UFC on Fox 23 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into Fight Night 104

UFC on Fox 23 is in the books. The results are as follows:

Main Card

  • Valentina Shevchenko def. Julianna Pena via second-round submission 
  • Jorge Masvidal def. Donald Cerrone via second-round TKO
  • Francis Ngannou def. Andrei Arlovski via first-round TKO 
  • Jason Knight def. Alex Caceres via second-round submission

Preliminary Card

  • Sam Alvey def. Nate Marquardt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Raphael Assuncao def. Aljamain Sterling via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Li Jingliang def. Bobby Nash via second-round TKO
  • Jordan Johnson def. Luis Henrique da Silva via unanimous decision
  • Eric Spicely def. Alessio Di Chirico via first-round submission
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Jeremy Kimball via first-round TKO
  • Alexandre Pantoja def. Eric Shelton via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jason Gonzalez def. J.C. Cottrell via first-round submission

Next up? The sneaky-good UFC Fight Night 104 from Houston on Saturday.

The Korean Zombie is back, ladies and gentlemen! Chan-Sung Jung is poised to return to the Octagon and is looking to step right back into the title shot queue at the expense of Dennis Bermudez. That's a tall order for the former contender, but even if he falls short, Jung has a knack for delivering high-octane action for the fans.

That's far from the only fan-friendly bout on this card, though, as Angela Hill returns to the UFC to face apocalypse-bringer Jessica Andrade, Abel Trujillo faces James Vick and much, much more!

So what are the biggest questions heading into the next UFC card? Read on and find out!

Begin Slideshow

CM Punk Says Next UFC Fight Is Being Discussed with Dana White

CM Punk has revealed that he's doing his all to get back in the Octagon in the not-too-distant future and has entered discussions with UFC President Dana White.

The WWE star turned UFC fighter lost out on his competitive debut against Mickey Gall back at September's UFC 203, but he's determined to make amends and is hand-picking who he'd like to take on.

In an interview with Fox Sports' Carrlyn Bathe, Punk said that he's back in training and is ready to return to action, per Damon Martin:

I am working on it feverishly. I'm throwing names at Dana (White), opponents, dates. I don't know if he's waiting for a Chicago show or what the deal is but if it doesn't happen in the UFC, it will happen somewhere else. I'm dedicated to fighting and training. We'll get there.

Despite Punk's poor showing in his UFC debut back in September, Martin writes that White had previously been open to giving the former wrester another chance in the spotlight.

The first-round submission he suffered at the hands of Gall didn't give fans much cause for encouragement, but Punk said he's feeling good about life: "First one's out of the way and life couldn't be better. I still don't have to wake up to an alarm so I really can't complain about much."

Should Punk get another chance, he'll have to put on far more of a spectacle than he did last time out and show why he deserves a shot in UFC.

An undercard fight will get Punk the brawl he so sorely craves, although a second successive loss could well end his MMA career before it's even taken off.  

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Conor McGregor Talks Potential WWE WrestleMania 33 Appearance

UFC superstar Conor McGregor confirmed Saturday he was in talks with the WWE about appearing at WrestleMania 33 on April 2 in Orlando, Florida.

"Never say never. I know there's been conversations," McGregor told Damon Martin of Fox Sports. "I know Triple H was at the show [UFC 205]. I'd love to go to that WWE and have a real knock. Let one of them have a real knock and see what's what. We'll see. There's conversations ongoing. I've turned down some things, conversations still ongoing."

Given McGregor's past comments about the WWE—he had some choice words for WWE superstars in August 2016—seeing him appear at WrestleMania would be all the more intriguing:

He wouldn't be the first UFC fighter—or professional athlete, for that matter—to make an appearance at WrestleMania. Ronda Rousey appeared at the event in 2015. And from Lawrence Taylor and Pete Rose to Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson, professional athletes have a long history of showing up at the event.

As for the aforementioned Mayweather, McGregor confirmed that a boxing match against the brash but retired superstar is still in his sights.

"I have my eyes on one thing and that's Mayweather," he said during a pay-per-view interview Saturday, per Martin. "That's the thing I have my eyes on."

He added: "Me and Floyd have got to get together and talk and figure it out the same way him and Manny [Pacquiao] figured it out. Once we come to a number, once we come to a set number that I'm happy with, that he's happy with and then we go to the customers. Then we go to the promoters, the buyers and then we get it done. That's next.

"I'll go to Vegas, I'll handle the commission or we'll figure that situation out and then we'll come to a dotted line and then we'll go, but this is happening."

It increasingly feels as though the next time fighting fans see McGregor it will either be in a wrestling or boxing ring. That may be a disappointment to UFC fans who want to see the 21-3 McGregor continue to defend his lightweight belt (he was also the featherweight champion before "relinquishing" it).

One thing remains a certainty: No matter where McGregor next appears, he continues to be one of the biggest draws in the fighting game.

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For Valentina Shevchenko, UFC Bantamweight Championship Seems Inevitable

Little by little, Valentina Shevchenko's MMA game peels away new layers, exposing a mastery far beyond what reveals itself in any cursory viewing. She can fight in and out, fast and slow. She can box and wrestle. She's sharp and tactical.

If there is any issue for Shevchenko, it's her size. She is a natural flyweight, but that's a division the UFC does not have for women, so she fights on and manages to excel one class above where she should be. 

She is so good, in fact, that her ultimate bantamweight destination is to be the division's champion. After Shevchenko beat Julianna Pena on Saturday at UFC on Fox, the only one standing between her and destiny is champion Amanda Nunes. 

Nunes, the same fighter who beat her once before, but who she dominated in the third round of their bout after the Brazilian ran out of gas. The next time they meet, it will be for five rounds. More time for Shevchenko to implement her fight IQ, her complete game, her stamina.

Shevchenko will almost certainly get the opportunity to face Nunes again after submitting Pena with a second-round armbar victory in Denver. She will almost certainly win. 

More on that later.

Saturday night was a crowning moment in itself, another one to follow her recent defeat of former 135-pound champ Holly Holm, a woman who is big enough to soon be fighting for the inaugural featherweight belt. 

This one was notable because it was different—the method of victory coming as a surprise that fully highlights Shevchenko's complete skill set. 

It had been years since she had tapped out an opponent. In fact, she hadn't pulled off the trick in a full decade, since tying up Yulia Nemtsova in an Ezekiel choke in March 2006. 

In the time since, she's mostly been viewed as a stand-up stylist who displays technical muay thai and poise. 

While it has been clear that her game has been rounding out, the close of the fight was a master's trap; the finish both measured and sharp. After spending over a minute on her back with Pena in her guard, she trapped Pena's right arm with her own, shifted her hips and completed the arm lock. 

It was a checkmate kind of moment, one predicated on ring smarts over sheer aggression. 

"I don't know what you guys thought, but I thought if the fight stays standing, Shevchenko wins all day," UFC President Dana White said in the post-fight press conference. "If it goes to the ground, Julianna Pena was going to submit her or ground-and-pound her or something. You never know. Shevchenko proved us wrong, that she's a very well-rounded mixed martial artist, and that she's ready for a title fight. Stylistically, I think it's a very fun fight with these two."

It will be, and Shevchenko should be considered the favorite in the bout due to Nunes' propensity for fading as fights go on. She has fast hands and crushing power, but both of those attributes have proved to be temporary weapons. 

Witness, for instance, the third round of their first bout. Final strike count of the third round? Shevchenko 17, Nunes three. And those FightMetric numbers aren't a one-off mirage. Nunes landed zero in the final round against Cat Zingano—a fight she dominated early before losing via third-round stoppage. It was a similar story against Alexis Davis several years ago. 

If Nunes begins to struggle around the 10-minute mark, 25 will seem like an eternity. In that kind of fight, you have to pick Shevchenko.

Her success feels like something of a throwback to earlier MMA, when there were clear distinctions between skill and size, and the former could make up for a lack of the latter. All these years later, the gap has mostly closed, and it's the rare athlete who can continually succeed while being undersized.

Yet that's exactly what Shevchenko is doing, much like Demetrious Johnson did in the men's bantamweight division before the UFC instituted his natural weight class, flyweight, allowing him to dominate. Even fighting up, Johnson came within a couple of rounds of winning the belt.

Shevchenko can go one step further later this year. 

Of course, she will have to play everything just right. Nunes' explosion is not to be ignored, but the same could have been said about Holm and Pena, who often fights with an intensity that makes it seem like there is something personal at stake. What she lacks in proficiency, she makes up for with aggression. Yet that kind of approach usually only works up to a certain level.

Pena found the dividing line Saturday, and early. After trapping Shevchenko against the fence in the opening minutes of the first, she threw a series of knees. However, Shevchenko recognized the pattern, caught one in the series and used it to sweep Pena's left leg, scoring a takedown.

Moments later, she did the same thing. 

In that moment, it was easy to get the feeling that they were playing on two different planes of enlightenment. 

"You know I can say exactly about Pena, she's good fighter," Shevchenko said in the press conference. "She's wild. But I'm a master."

With each passing round, she's proving that to be true. 

Always undersized and often outgunned, Shevchenko is something to see. And by the end of the next time we see her, she may have proof of her mastery strapped in gold around her waist.

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Floyd Mayweather Comments on Potential Conor McGregor PPV Fight

The speculation surrounding a potential superfight that would feature retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC star Conor McGregor continues to build in 2017.

In a Showtime interview Saturday night (via Mike Cranston of the Associated Press), Mayweather said a fight "can happen," noting it would ideally take place in the 147- to 150-pound range.

More to follow.

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Pena vs. Shevchenko Results: Winner and Reaction from UFC on Fox 23

With Ronda Rousey's career possibly over, the UFC women's bantamweight division is officially trying to move on. The first step in doing so? Determining the next challenger for reigning champion Amanda Nunes. While picking out the top contender can sometimes be a difficult task, the women's bantamweight was down to a two-horse race between UFC on Fox 23 main eventers Julianna Pena and Valentina Shevchenko.

Pena established herself as one of the most compelling young talents at 135 pounds on The Ultimate Fighter 18. Racking up wins over women's MMA pioneer Shayna Baszler, former rival Sarah Moras and accomplished boxer Jessica Rakoczy, she set herself up to become an instant contender in what was at the time a shallow division. 

A catastrophic knee injury saw her shelved for a prolonged length of time. But any doubts about her progression or health were dismissed when she returned in 2015 and broke off three consecutive wins, including a clean decision over former top contender Cat Zingano. That put her on strong footing for a title shot and likely would have been enough to secure her one, if not for Shevchenko's sudden rise.

That rise came at UFC on Fox 20. After taking a solid win over Sarah Kaufman in her UFC debut, Shevchenko was given a bout against Nunes in her second fight with the promotion. While she lost a straightforward 29-28 decision, she demonstrated strong cardio, resiliency and grappling to go along with her established striking. And that earned her a high-profile fight opposite Holly Holm.

Despite entering the fight as an underdog, Shevchenko shocked fans and pundits by neutralizing the former champ's offense and scoring a unanimous 49-46 decision win. That win, and the strong ratings it produced, vaulted Shevchenko right back into the title picture, despite her owing a loss from the champ that is less than a year old.

That gave this UFC on Fox 23 tilt big, clear stakes in the bantamweight division and beyond. And that bright spotlight gave Shevchenko a big opportunity to shine.

From the very beginning, both women's approaches were clear. Pena inched forward and steadily lowered herself for a shot while Shevchenko fought behind her punches. At first, it seemed like this would favor Pena, as she controlled much of the action with her clinch work, but Shevchenko managed to keep her striking in check with well-timed trips. Pena hunted for submissions from underneath, but ultimately Shevchenko took the round, likely on her minutes-long control from the top.

The second round was much of the same, but this time, Pena managed to avoid Shevchenko's sneaky clinch takedowns and eventually score a takedown of her own. That moral victory, however, was quickly followed by a legitimate loss.

After absorbing some punches in full guard position, Shevchenko whipped her hips around and locked up a lightning-quick armbar. Pena attempted to roll her way out, but Shevchenko stuck with her every move and forced the tap.

It was a shocking ending to a fight where Pena was expected to own a major advantage on the ground, and one that cements Shevchenko's place as an elite-level bantamweight. After the official decision was read, Nunes entered the Octagon and seemingly accepted a proposed rematch with the former muay thai champion.

Whether that rematch happens is a question for another time, but it's hard to dismiss Shevchenko's chances, should it come to pass.

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UFC on Fox 23 Results: The Real Winners and Losers from Denver Fight Card

If you slumbered on UFC on Fox 23, you missed a title eliminator bout, one of the best action fights possible in the welterweight division and the most exciting prospect in the heavyweight division.

You also missed Bruce Leeroy and Redneck Diaz. 

A lot was going on Saturday night on this UFC card in Denver, wedged into Pro Bowl weekend. In the main event, Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena, respectively the first- and second-ranked women's bantamweights on the UFC roster, did battle to see who would face champion Amanda Nunes.

In the co-main event, dynamic welterweights Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal faced each other. If that doesn't sell itself, you don't buy much of anything in MMA.

Later on the main card, heavyweight up-and-comer Francis Ngannou tried to get over against veteran Andrei Arlovski.

And those are only three of the evening's 12 fights. As usual, the final stat lines only reveal so much. These are the real winners and losers from UFC on Fox 23.

 

Begin Slideshow

UFC on Fox 23 Results: Winners, Scorecards for Shevchenko vs. Pena Card

UFC on Fox 23 unfolded Saturday evening at Pepsi Center in Denver, and Valentina Shevchenko stole the show in the main event with a second-round victory via submission over a fiery Julianna Pena. 

The triumph represented the second straight for Shevchenko, who bested Holly Holm via unanimous decision in July to rise up the bantamweight ranks. 

Pena secured the first clinch of the bout and used her knees to strike Shevchenko early, but Shevchenko countered by notching the first takedown. That said, Shevchenko didn't offer much in the way of effective offense, as SB Nation's Bloody Elbow observed: 

Pena followed up with a pair of takedowns in the second round, but Shevchenko came up with a stunning armbar as the frame drew to a close to wipe away thoughts of her initial inability to generate consistent strikes. 

And considering she's a kickboxer by trade, Shevchenko's ability to pull off a win in that fashion was remarkable, according to MMA Fighting:

By virtue of Saturday's win, Shevchenko is now primed for a showdown against Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight belt. 

And with Nunes in attendance, Shevchenko didn't hesitate to call out The Lioness in advance of one of the promotion's most anticipated tilts, via the UFC on Twitter: 

Before Shevchenko stole the show in dramatic fashion, the evening had a slew of compelling fights for the packed house to enjoy. Below, you'll find a rundown of Saturday's complete results along with a recap of the other three fights featured on the main card.  

         

Main Card

  • Valentina Shevchenko def. Julianna Pena via a second-round submission 
  • Jorge Masvidal def. Donald Cerrone via a second-round TKO
  • Francis Ngannou def. Andrei Arlovski via a first-round TKO 
  • Jason Knight def. Alex Caceres via a second-round submission

         

Undercard

  • Sam Alvey def. Nate Marquardt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Raphael Assuncao def. Aljamain Sterling via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Li Jingliang def. Bobby Nash via a second-round TKO
  • Jordan Johnson def. Luis Henrique da Silva via unanimous decision
  • Eric Spicely def. Alessio Di Chirico via a first-round submission
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Jeremy Kimball via a first-round TKO
  • Alexandre Pantoja def. Eric Shelton via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jason Gonzalez def. J.C. Cottrell via submission

         

Highlights and Analysis

Jason Knight appears to be going places. 

On the heels of a unanimous-decision victory over Dan Hooker at a UFC Fight Night event in November, The Kid secured arguably his most impressive win to date on Saturday evening. 

Matched up against Alex Caceres, the 24-year-old brought his tactical best and secured a victory via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round. 

Bloody Elbow broke down how Knight was able to stop Caceres in his tracks:

Knight has now won three fights in a row and is 3-1 in UFC fights, according to ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto.

And now that he's riding a hot streak and has carved out a place for himself in the featherweight division, Knight has his eyes set on a showdown against Dooho Choi, according to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani

The evening's second showdown didn't last as long.

As expected, Francis Ngannou made light work of Andrei Arlovski and dispatched his challenger 92 seconds into the first round. 

UFC on Fox provided a breakdown of some of the elite striking that allowed Ngannou to take control and never look back: 

With a third straight first-round win under his belt, Ngannou is now looking like a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. And as Helwani noted, his rising star could make him a tough out for even the toughest heavyweights moving forward: 

The final showdown before the main event featured a vicious brawl between Jorge Masvidal and Donald Cerrone, as the UFC documented on Twitter: 

Masvidal appeared headed for a first-round TKO when he had Cerrone on the canvas and started to blast away, but Cowboy was saved by the bell to ensure there would be a second round. 

As it turns out, the second stanza didn't last long. 

Masvidal continued to impose his will, and the fight was stopped in his favor a minute into Round 2, as UFC on Fox showed:

And while his performance was impressive from top to bottom, Okamoto raised an important point regarding Cerrone's fitness after he fought on Dec. 10 at UFC 206: 

Cerrone will be back in the Octagon soon if his grueling track record is any indication, but Masvidal needs to be monitored as a welterweight wrecking ball now that he's rattled off three straight wins over quality competition. 

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