Dan Hardy back in training; UFC return imminent?

Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy hasn’t been seen in the UFC Octagon since being diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome following a September 2012 win over Amir Sadalloh.

The UFC initially encouraged him to retire but further tests have gone well and Hardy is now cleared for return. The UFC has said it expected to see him back at some point in 2015 and now some news from a Nottingham training room suggests that Hardy is gearing up for war in the not too distant future.

Premier kickboxing league GLORY World Series today announced that this Friday's Superfight Series 20 card will air on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

GLORY's original arrangement with CBS Sports had the network airing the Superfight Series cards one week after they took place, so to have the broadcast moved forward to a mere 24 hours tape-delay is a big result for the organization and the fans.

One of the card's most interesting fights will see the young British prospect Chad Sugden make his official GLORY debut. He faces the Turkish welterweight Atakan Arslan, currently ranked at #10 in the official contender lists.

What makes Sugden so interesting is that he is just 20 years old (he turns 21 in April) yet he has amassed considerable international experience and caught the eye of experienced observers. In 2013, the ISKA, one of kickboxing's oldest and most prestigious sanctioning bodies, made him ‘Fighter of the Year 2013'.

Sugden's father was a world champion in WKA Kickboxing (the long-pants version of kickboxing which was a spin-off from karate) and has trained Chad since the age of five. His siblings are also fighters; one of them - Regis - is with BAMMA, the UK's top domestic promotion.

The family is from the Nottingham area, which is also home to several of the MMA world's household names. Chad has had the advantage of training with big-name international professionals who have in turn wanted to utilize his stand-up skills for sharp sparring.

Most recently Sugden was training with Dan ‘The Outlaw' Hardy, with the former welterweight contender apparently getting himself back on the road to full fitness with a view to re-entering the UFC Octagon this year.

"I have done a bit of sparring with Paul [Semtex] Daley, Andre Winner and Dan Hardy. It is good having those guys nearby, though obviously they are more MMA-oriented so it's not always worth them training stand-up with me because they are preparing for a different kind of fight," he says.

"I sparred with Dan about two weeks ago. He was headed out to Poland to train with some of their UFC guys and he wanted to sharpen up and get some quality stand-up sparring in. he's looking alright, he is getting back into shape.

"I didn't know he was back in training until about a month ago when I saw him in the gym. He's so well-spoken and such a nice guy in person, it's funny because when you see him in the cage he is so aggressive, you would never think he was like that."

Sugden says Hardy is hoping for "one or two more fights" in the UFC but is unsure if he will fight as a welterweight or a lightweight. Sugden personally doubts Hardy could make lightweight (70kgs/155lbs) "because he's a pretty stocky guy".

GLORY Superfight Series 20 is also airing via online pay-per-view priced at $9.99, for those who want to watch the event live. A separate stream for GLORY 20 DUBAI is also available and is also priced at $9.99

Hardy will be in Poland to commentate on the UFC Fight Night 64: Gonzaga vs. CroCop event taking place on Saturday April 11 in the city of Krakow. Mirko ‘CroCop’ headlines in an attempt to score revenge on Gabriel Gonzaga for an infamous 2007 knockout loss. US viewers can watch live via UFC Fight Pass.

Ronda Rousey on WrestleMania 31 appearance with The Rock: 'We're just getting started'

It seems "Rowdy" isn't one-and-done with her appearances on WWE soil.

The Steiner Brothers, The Legion of Doom, The British Bulldogs, The Hart Foundation...

The Rock and Ronda Rousey?

There have been plenty of infamous and dominant World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) tag teams in the past, but could "Rowdy" be in line to be one half of the next championship duo?

Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on what you take away from Rousey's latest tweet.

The night: Historic. The moment: Electric. The Rock, Ronda &the WWE Universe: Magic. We're just gettin' started... http://ift.tt/1EsuYHs

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) March 30, 2015

Of course, it didn't take long for "The Rock" to give his seal of approval and add more fuel to the fire:

Co-sign. @espn: After her #WrestleMania triumph, @ufc star @RondaRousey says she & @TheRock aren't done in @WWE​: http://t.co/VqLCF6QiAN

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 31, 2015

The promising duo got off to one fine start this past weekend (Sun., March 29, 2015) at WrestleMania 31, where "Rowdy" turned the wrestling world on its head by making an appearance at the event alongside her "Furious 7" co-star and laying the smack down on the WWE higher ups.

Relive it here.

But that's apparently just a taste of what they have in store, as Rousey hints at future involvement with the WWE Universe. Sure, she's very busy with her day job as a pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, along with her side gig of budding Hollywood star, but it seems she's intent on adding more work (and play) to her already impressive resume.

And judging by these "Ronda Rousey" chants on Monday Night Raw, it seems WWE fans love them some "Rowdy."

You dig?

Shinya Aoki vs. Koji Ando headlines ONE: 'Warrior's Quest' on May 22 in Singapore

ONE: "Warrior's Quest" is set for the Singapore Indoor Stadium on May 22nd and the headlining attraction will be a lightweight title bout which sees Shinya Aoki make the second defense of his belt against fellow Japanese fighter Koji Ando.

Ando (11-3-2) is riding a five-fight win streak and in his two ONE Championship fights to date he has finished top lightweight contenders Zorobabel Moreira and Rafael Nunes, while the 30 year old signed for the organization on the back of a victory over current 145-pound king Jadamba Naruntungalag which won him the Legend FC lightweight title.

Aoki (37-6-0-1) has won his last seven fights but in his entire MMA career, Ando has never been finished and this promises to be the toughest test for the ONE Championship lightweight titleholder since he faced Eddie Alvarez under the Bellator banner in 2012.

The card will also feature a potential lightweight title eliminator between Lowen Tynanes (6-0) and Kuat Khamitov (18-3-1) which sees the undefeated Hawaiian return to the ONE Championship cage for the first time in two years to take on a promotional newcomer from Kazakhstan who is riding a six-fight win streak.

The organization's CEO Victor Cui stated that he believes Ando has the potential to cause Aoki some problems:

"ONE Championship returns to Singapore on 22 May with a blockbuster main event. Shinya Aoki is the greatest submission grappler the sport has ever seen. He has been on a tear with seven straight victories, but he now faces his toughest test yet. Koji Ando has proven to be one of the best lightweights in the world. Ando has both the striking and grappling skills to defeat Aoki. This is a clash that you do not want to miss! Get ready for a night of exciting world-class mixed martial arts action as ONE Championship goes live around the world from the Singapore Indoor Stadium."

More upcoming fights will be announced in the coming days.

http://ift.tt/1hkuc0Q

Ronda Rousey's WWE Run Cements Her as Biggest Star in UFC History

If there were any doubts that Ronda Jean Rousey is the Ultimate Fighting Championship's biggest star (and perhaps its biggest-ever star), those notions were dispelled on Sunday.

As you may have heard by now, Rousey jumped the railing at WrestleMania and, side by side with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, appeared to set up a tag team match for next year's WrestleMania in Dallas: Rousey and The Rock vs. the real-life husband-and-wife power duo of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Paul Levesque (Triple H's real name) and his wife are the future operators of World Wrestling Entertainment (provided Vince McMahon is not, in fact, immortal).

Already their fingerprints are being felt on the product, Rousey included. Even one year ago, the idea of a UFC champion being involved in what was essentially one of the two biggest angles on the WWE's biggest and most prideful show of the year was an unthinkable one.

But Rousey has reached a plateau that few, if any, UFC stars have ever reached.

She is a raging success in her own sport and might be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw. She is on the silver screen. She appears effortless on morning talk shows, charming hosts and viewers alike. She is the perfect billboard for advertisers seeking a total badass with a touch of elegance and class.

Her appearance at WrestleMania perfectly illustrates her popularity. Popular mixed martial artists have appeared on wrestling programs in the past. The usual response from wrestling fans is something along the lines of: Who is that person, and why is he here? Either that or almost total indifference, which is not the reaction the company was going for.

But not Rousey. When The Rock began walking toward Rousey's ringside seat, the sound of the crowd at Levi's Stadium totally changed. There was a buzz. And then it began, slowly, but picking up steam quickly as the audience realized what was about to happen: chants of "Ronda Rousey."

And then Rock turned and smiled at Rousey, and she jumped over the railing, and the crowd went ballistic. Over the course of the next five minutes, one of the more surprising (and memorable) moments in WrestleMania history would unfold. This wasn't a wrestling crowd who was indifferent to Rousey. They all knew exactly who she was. They knew exactly what she was there for. And they knew exactly what they wanted to see: Rousey putting her signature armbar on McMahon.

Instead, we got something of a build for what will almost assuredly be a feature bout on next year's WrestleMania in Dallas. The promotion has a big stadium to fill. There are a lot of seats in Cowboys Stadium, and it'll be gunning for its all-time attendance record.

So Rousey did not armbar McMahon; instead, she hip-tossed Triple H (who do you think would win in a fight between Rousey and a Triple H?) and then used the same sort of armlock Jon Jones used on Glover Teixeira to dispose of McMahon. A moment was created, and the foundation for a future moment was poured out like cement.

And what of this? The fact that Rousey was the linchpin to all of this and not Johnson—one of Hollywood's biggest stars and a complete returning hero to all wrestling fans—absolutely revealed just how big of a star she has become.

Rousey has utterly transcended the UFC. She is not the world's biggest action-film star. Not yet, anyway. But she has nearly reached the threshold of being called a household name.

I tend to use my mother as a metric when determining how well-known a fighter is with non-fans, because my mother cannot stand violence and wouldn't watch a mixed martial arts fight if you forced her to. But she knows who Ronda Rousey is, and she likes her, and she'll ask me from time to time about her upcoming fight, even though she has no intention of watching it.

If you pass the Mom test, you're a star. If you make 76,000 people in Levi's Stadium stand up and cheer your name, you're a star.

We already knew Rousey was the UFC's biggest star. We just didn't know by how much. But now, we have that answer: Nobody else is close. And she might just be the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts, and that includes human money-making machine Brock Lesnar. Lesnar drew millions of wrestling fans to the UFC.

Rousey will pull mixed martial arts fans to the WWE. But she'll also have something of a reverse effect, bringing back the wrestling fans she gains in WWE back to the UFC.

And if she continues doing both, dabbling in wrestling while continuing to crush her competition with ease in the UFC, by the time next year's WrestleMania is over, there will be no doubt who is the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

This is What Happens When Conor McGregor Steals Jose Aldo’s UFC Belt

Tyson Fury: If pretend fighters like Brock Lesnar can win UFC title, it doesn't say much about MMA

Burn?

WBO International heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, is still intent on proving to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans that his skills are too much for the best Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has to offer.

Cain Velasquez included.

After Fury labeled Cain a "small, stiff idiot" that he could knock into next week, Velasquez responded by saying the undefeated (24-0) boxer wouldn't be getting a "free ticket" to the title based on his talk alone.

But according to Fury, if a "pretend" fighter like Brock Lesnar can come into the Octagon and win the most prestigious prize in MMA, then it doesn't say a whole lot about UFC's heavyweight division, or the sport, for that matter.

His words to WHOATV:

"We all know WWE is pretend. And if a pretend fighter can come in and win the heavyweight championship of the world in what is supposed to be the ultimate fighting competition, it doesn't say a lot, does it? I haven't changed my mind, anytime, any place, anywhere, tell Dana White to bring Velasquez to me and I'll knock him into next week. As I said before, they are not on my level, they are bums compared to me. Anyone one of them. To be honest, he is just a six foot fat podding. Alright, he's a wrestler. He wrestles about and grapples on the floor a bit. But there is no match for the power and size of me. When I connect on him, finished. Listen, he's never been punched proper before. Getting slapped from the inside of the gloves is not like getting punched with straight with knuckles to the jaw. Dana White knows where to find me. He's already offered me a fight before. But I told him, and I'll tell you again, when he can afford it come and see me. Until then, forget about it."

He went on to say that he does indeed have respect for any man who is willing to go into a cage or a ring for one-on-one combat with another trained fighter because it takes a "rare breed of man" to do so.

Still, Fury is adamant that Cain -- or any other fighter on the UFC roster -- can't hang with him.

Apparently, Dana White's pockets weren't deep enough for Tyson's taste the first time around to find out. Perhaps now that the company saved some coin after losing out on this guy, White and Co. can step to the boxer with a better offer.

Who wants it?

Michael Bisping doesn’t understand injury-prone fighters: I don't pull out of fights

UFC middleweight Michael Bisping reveals his dismay with regards to the constant slew of fighter injury withdrawals.

Dana White says UFC will be back to Dublin in 2015 – and eyes Croke Park

Conor McGregor

The UFC is apparently set to make a return to Ireland before the end of 2015, according to company President Dana White.

A date and location was not announced, but at today’s “UFC 189 World Championship Tour” news conference in Dublin, White said the octagon would return to the country before the end of the year.

The organization’s most recent trip to Ireland took place in July 2014 at The O2 in Dublin. Hometown superstar Conor McGregor headlined the event in a featherweight bout against “The Ultimate Fighter 14″ winner Diego Brandao in front of a capacity crowd of 9,500.

Prior to that event, the company was absent from Ireland from the country for more than five years. UFC 93, headlined by Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson, took place in January 2009. The promotion also traveled to Northern Ireland for UFC 72.

White said the UFC wants to put on a card at Dublin’s famed Croke Park soccer stadium, which holds in excess of 80,000 people, and said it’s in the cards if regulatory hurdles with the city can be cleared.

White was in Dublin for the final stop in the UFC 189 Championship World Tour, featuring UFC 189 headliners Jose Aldo (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who attempts his eighth title defense at the July 11 pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, and McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Filed under: MMA Rumors, News, UFC

BEDLAM IN DUBLIN! Watch full video replay of insane UFC 189 world tour press conference

It wasn't a smack, but it was the next best thing (but only if you're a McGregor fan).

Conor McGregor steals Jose Aldo's belt at UFC Dublin press conference

Conor McGregor has eyes only for Jose Aldo's gold.

The UFC's World Championship Tour is ending on a wild note. Today at their final, Dublin event, Conor McGregor decided he wasn't waiting until July to get a hold of Jose Aldo's belt. The presser started with a huge ovation from the Irish fans and a lot of hate for Aldo. It was a raucous crowd, and when Jose Aldo told the crowd that he was the "real king of Dublin" and that they would be bowing to him once he'd beaten McGregor, things got a little out of hand.

McGregor, ever the promotional opportunist used the raucous energy as the perfect chance to lunge in and snatch Aldo's belt from in front of him. White stepped in to seperate the two men, as McGregor shouted at Aldo "You're looking at the king. You're not the king of Dublin, you're nothing." It's been nothing but controlled chaos all the way through, it's just too bad the fight is still so far off.

Ryan Bader: I want to knock Daniel Cormier out and earn a title shot

UFC light-heavyweight Ryan Bader suggested that he is capable of knocking Daniel Cormier out.

Stream or download MMAjunkie Radio #1932 with Justin Gaethje, Ray Sefo, Ali Abdelaziz

Stream or download Monday’s edition of MMAjunkie Radio with guests Justin Gaethje, Ray Sefo, Ali Abdelaziz and John Morgan.

Gaethje talked about his lightweight title defense at WSOF 19, at which he went toe-to-toe with Luis Palomino in what is being called a “Fight of the Year” candidate. WSOF executives Sefo and Abdelaziz stopped by the studio to talk about the WSOF 19 card, quite possibly their best ever, and to give insight into WSOF 20 and WSOF 21. Morgan co-hosted a segment and previewed his trip to Florida, where he will visit the Blackzilian and American Top Team camps.

You can listen below, or directly download (right click) the episode.

Filed under: News, Radio, WSOF

Jeremy Stephens vs. Dennis Bermudez booked for UFC 189

An already-stacked UFC 189 card will feature another bout between ranked fighters in the featherweight division.

UFC 189 is slowly starting to fill out. We already know that the featherweight title is on the line in the July 11th Vegas event, as evidenced by the world tour featuring champion Jose Aldo and challenger Conor McGregor. Now the UFC has added a second 145-pound bout to the bill, with Dennis Bermudez facing off against Jeremy Stephens.

Bermudez (14-4, 7-2 UFC) took a seven-fight win streak into his bout with Ricardo Lamas at UFC 180, but was submitted in the first round. He is currently ranked at number six in the UFC's featherweight division in the official UFC rankings.

Stephens (23-11, 10-10 UFC) entered the featherweight division in mid-2013 with his job on the line, and he was able to deliver with three straight wins. Consecutive losses to Cub Swanson and Charles Oliveira have him worried about his job security once again though.

The bout will likely take place on the undercard. UFC 189 will feature two title fights on top, with Aldo/McGregor for the featherweight title and Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald for the welterweight title.

Pic: Cris Cyborg drops her drawers to reveal 'Brazilian Bootay,' fears cut to 135 will give her 'white girl bum'

The Beaten Path: 5 MMA Prospects to Watch in April

Whether the UFC is running shows or taking the weekend off, the MMA world is constantly turning. Prospects are gaining experience and looking to make a name for themselves, with their ultimate goal of making the major leagues.

Our job at the Beaten Path is to keep an eye on these top fighters and point you in their direction. These are fighters who one day will grace top promotions and potentially be title contenders.

April is full of MMA prospects, but who are the ones to watch out for? Here are the five prospects you should keep tabs on in April.

Begin Slideshow

Co-Main Event Podcast: Episode No. 147 available with Ben Fowlkes, Chad Dundas

Episode No. 147 of the Co-Main Event Podcast now is available for streaming and download.

MMAjunkie/USA TODAY columnist Ben Fowlkes and Bleacher Report lead MMA writer Chad Dundas host the weekly show (also dubbed the “CME,” if you nasty). This week, the men least likely to get in a WWE ring with Ronda Rousey yap about the Aldo-McGregor world tour, Bellator 135, WSOF 19 and the upcoming UFC Fight Night 63.

Check it out at www.comainevent.com, or download the podcast directly.

Filed under: News

Tweets of the Day: This is how Khabib Nurmagomedov greeted Cowboy Cerrone on his birthday

Donald Cerrone just turned 32. This is how his next opponent, Khabib Nurmagomedov greeted him.

Last Sunday, Donald Cerrone turned 32-years-old. His upcoming UFC 187 opponent in Khabib Nurmagomedov found out, and this is how he greeted Cowboy on twitter:

Hey @Cowboycerrone now your old 32 year old. You're going to fight a young eagle who's going to eat you alive @lorenzofertitta @arielhelwani

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 31, 2015

As Khabib did a brief 'ask me anything' type of segment on twitter, he also followed up with a few more interesting tweets today about Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor:

If my opponent ever thinks of touching me before our fight, him and @danawhite will be in big trouble @ufc 187 @lorenzofertitta

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 31, 2015

@joaovxavier i'll fight both same day

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 31, 2015

And finally, Khabib spoke about his training partner needing help with some paperwork:

@WassupStevenn Bear need a visa

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 31, 2015

Chael Sonnen: UFC 187's Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson 'won't happen, mark my words'

Chael Sonnen gave interesting answers about Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson and Anderson Silva's failed drug test

Chael Sonnen was on Reddit for one of their 'Ask Me Anything' sessions, and the former two-division UFC title challenger fielded dozens of questions from fans. Interestingly enough, he had the same answer on two separate questions about the upcoming light heavyweight title between Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.

Here's how the conversation went:

Fan: Will Jon Jones lose to Rumble?

Sonnen: JJ/AJ won't happen.

A few questions down later, he was asked the same thing:

Fan: Hey Chael big fan! What do you think about Jones vs Johnson?

Sonnen: Won't happen. Mark my words.

Sonnen didn't elaborate, but there are very few ways a big fight like this gets cancelled, with the more common ones being due to an injury or a failed drug test. Although as I'm sure you may know, sometimes the latter doesn't even lead to a fight cancellation these days.

Speaking of drug tests, Sonnen also fielded questions about another former opponent in Anderson Silva:

Fan: Do you think Anderson silva was juicing when he fought you?

Sonnen: By todays standards? Sure. More than I was? Doubtful.

The 37-year-old recently retired from MMA competition, but will be part Metamoris as he joins the submission only grappling event against Renato Sobral this May.

UFC 189: Aldo vs. McGregor World Tour press conference live video stream from Dublin

Watch the UFC 189: Aldo vs. McGregor press conference in Dublin, Ireland right here on Bloody Elbow on Tuesday, March 31st at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT.

If you've been following the UFC 189 World Tour press conferences featuring Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, you've witnessed some high quality fight promotion between the reigning featherweight champion and the #1 contender. What's added to the build-up of this July 11th bout is the crowd reaction in every city the UFC has hit thus far, particularly the pro-McGregor clan in New York and Boston, and the raucous Brazilian support in Rio de Janeiro to kick things off.

Today, it's Dublin, Ireland's turn to join in on the fun. Bloody Elbow is your place to watch and discuss the latest stop on the World Tour press conference, which starts at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT. The live video stream is playable at the top of the page by pressing the "play" button, and we will have highlights from the press conference, which will feature Aldo, McGregor, Rory MacDonald, Robbie Lawler, and UFC president Dana White.

Make no mistake about it, this presser is all about Aldo and especially McGregor, who will have scores of Irish fans chanting his name and likely booing Aldo relentlessly. Hopefully we get more golden moments like we've had over the past week or so.

UFC Fight Night 72: Josh Thomson vs Tony Ferguson set for San Diego

Oft-injured Josh Thomson -- who has competed just three times over the last two years -- will look to make it back inside the Octagon against Tony Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 72, which is scheduled for Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on July 15, 2015.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) shared the good news earlier this evening on its official website.

Thomson, who was supposed to battle Gilbert Burns earlier this month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before being sidelined with a thumb injury, is in the midst of a two-fight losing skid. "Punk" failed in his bid to capture the Lightweight title from then-champion Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 10 in Jan. 2014 via split decision. Six months later, Bobby Green did the same thing at UFC on FOX 12.

On the wrong end of 35, Thomson needs to first show up, then deliver a solid performance to demonstrate that he is still a 155-pound threat.

Ferguson, meanwhile, has been nothing but a threat -- he has strung together five straight impressive wins. And he has done it against stiff competition such as Gleison Tibau, Abel Trujillo and Katsunori Kikuno, among others, in decisive fashion.

Indeed, it appears The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 is hitting his stride. And a win over an established former No. 1 title contender like Thomson would get him right in the thick of the Lightweight title chase.

It's unclear at this time who will headline UFC Fight Night 72; however, expect the promotion make that announcement -- and many more for "San Diego" -- in the coming days and weeks.

UFC signed off on Ronda Rousey's appearance at WrestleMania 31 months ago

Vince and Dana working hand in hand, folks.

Ronda Rousey made an impromptu performance last night (Sun., March 29, 2015) at Wrestlemania 31 in Santa Clara, Calif., much to the delight of professional wrestling fans across the globe ... and to the chagrin of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Relive the scripted drama right here.

But, her appearance alongside "The Rock" wasn't that spontaneous to ZUFFA brass, as the agent for the women's Bantamweight champion at William Morris Endeavor (WME), Brad Slater, confirmed to MMA Fighting that Dana White and Co. gave their blessing for the appearance months ahead of time (despite playing coy).

Otherwise, she wouldn't have done it.

"I've told you many times how I work with Dana (White). I always, always call him and make sure he is okay with anything we ever do in movies, television and otherwise."

Slater also serves as agent to Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a "The Rock," whom Rousey tag-teamed with at WrestleMania to take down part of "The Authority."

Rousey's latest endeavor seems to have gone over well with both WWE and UFC fans alike. And judging by this tweet, WWE divas have no issue with Rousey taking a sip of their Kool Aid and stepping into their domain.

In fact, they welcomed it.

The honorary member of Team Anti Diva @RondaRousey http://ift.tt/19y8erI

— A.J. (@WWEAJLee) March 30, 2015

Solid.

For Rousey, the success of her appearance on WWE soil only gives her yet another avenue to explore once her days of fighting inside the Octagon are done.

Just not anytime soon.

Josh Thomson vs. Tony Ferguson set for UFC Fight Night in San Diego

A lightweight match-up between Josh Thomson and Tony Ferguson is on tap for UFC Fight Night in San Diego this July.

The quest for lightweight Tony Ferguson to extend his winning streak to six heads to San Diego, California on July 15th. "El Cucuy" will take on top 10 ranked Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night on Fox Sports 1. UFC officials confirmed the news earlier today and the bout will air on the night's main card.

Ferguson (18-3) has been on a tear since a surprising 2012 loss to Michael Johnson and subsequent long layoff due to injury. The TUF 13 winner has finished 4 of his last 5 opponents, including consecutive rear-naked choke stoppages over Gleison Tibau and Abel Trujillo.

Thomson (20-7) is on a two-fight losing streak, but you could consider him unlucky to be on the wrong-end of split decisions to Ben Henderson and Bobby Green. In fact, Thomson's last 3 losses (adding in Gilbert Melendez) have all been split calls. The former Strikeforce champion was due to face Gilbert Burns in Rio two weeks ago, but he pulled out due to injury.

On paper, it's the biggest step-up in competition for Ferguson to date. Ferguson is 13th in the UFC's official LW rankings, while Thomson is 9th.

UFC Fight Night: San Diego is the Wednesday after Aldo vs. McGregor. It currently does not have a main event or any other fights announced aside from this one.

UFC Fight Night 63 fight card: Clay Guida vs Robbie Peralta fight preview

Clay Guida and Robbie Peralta will slug it out this Saturday afternoon (April 4, 2015) at UFC Fight Night 63 inside the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. In a wrestler vs. striker match up, what adjustments must be made for either man in order to claim victory? Find out how below!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweights Clay Guida and Robbie Peralta clash this Saturday (April 4, 2015) at UFC Fight Night 63 on FOX Sports 1 from inside the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Since dropping to featherweight, Guida has experienced mixed results, alternating wins and losses. Though he's in the top 10, Guida recently left his longtime gym to train with both Team Alpha Male and the Glendale Fight Club in order to further develop his game.

One of the hardest hitters in the division, Peralta has carved himself a home inside the Octagon. The knockout artist has yet to announce himself as a top contender, but he has that opportunity here.

Let's take a look at the keys to victory for both men.

Clay Guida

Record: 31-15

Key Wins: Anthony Pettis (TUF 13 Finale), Rafael dos Anjos (UFC 117), Tatsuya Kawajiri (UFC Fight Night 39)

Key Losses: Dennis Bermudez (UFC on FOX 12), Chad Mendes (UFC 164), Gray Maynard (UFC on FX 4)

Keys to Victory: Guida is well-known for his relentless wrestling, incredible conditioning, and habit for getting into wild brawls. Though he's been trying to tone down that last part, "The Carpenter" is still willing to throw down if need be.

In this bout, that's hardly the best game plan. Guida's certainly tough enough to brawl with Peralta, but his opponent is simply too dangerous.

Instead, Guida should use his nonstop movement to frustrate Peralta. At times, Guida can bounce in with a jab or kick. Peralta, being the aggressive striker that he is, will look to land heavy counters or chase Guida with punches.

Either way, Guida will have an opportunity to get in on his opponent's hips and score a takedown. From top position, Guida should stay active and look to pass, as Peralta's jiu-jitsu from his back is not particularly impressive. If Guida can move into a dominant position, he could find his opponent's neck.

If Guida has a difficult time securing the takedown early, he needs to chain his attempts together. Even if that ultimately fails the first few times, it will quickly tire Peralta, an issue that Guida has never faced.

Robbie Peralta

Record: 18-5

Key Wins: Rony Jason (TUF Brazil 3 Finale), Estevan Payan (UFC 168)

Key Losses: Thiago Tavares (UFC Fight Night 47), Akira Corassani (UFC on Fuel TV 9)

Keys to Victory: A Taekwondo black belt, Peralta spends most of his Octagon time walking his opponent down and throwing bombs. He's clearly doing something right, as 13 of his victories came via knockout.

In order to make Guida his next victim, Peralta needs to take control of the bout immediately. He needs to force Guida to respect his power and react to his feints, rather than the opposite.

Peralta should also focus on moving forward and cutting off the cage. He cannot get wild -- that will open up the takedown too easily -- but Peralta can control the bout with his kickboxing. Then, if he manages to trap Guida against the fence, Peralta can unleash with his strikes.

If Peralta is controlling the center of the Octagon and staying on his feet, he's almost certainly winning the fight. In that situation, Guida will be forced to act and make something happen, which could end up with him running into a punch.

Bottom Line: Guida is fighting to prove that he's still a top featherweight, while Peralta is looking for his big break.

While Guida put on a very strong showing against Kawajiri, the verdict is still out of his overall featherweight potential. If Guida can quickly dispatch Peralta, he'll really solidify his position as a top-notch 145-pound scrapper.

On the other hand, if Guida falls to Peralta, he'll fall out of the top 10 for the first time in years. In addition, it could raise questions as to whether or not his move from lightweight was sound decision.

At nearly 30 years old and with over 20 professional fights, the time is now for Peralta to make an impact. After his last loss -- in which he didn't land a single strike before quickly being submitted -- it's very important for Peralta's career that he earns a victory here.

While it's definitely a risky bout for "Problems," it could potentially be the biggest win of his career.

At UFC Fight Night 64, Clay Guida and Robbie Peralta will go to war. Which fighter will have his hand raised?

New York Open Judo Team Tournament 2015 - VIDEOS

Check out over two dozen videos from the NY Open Judo Team Tournament, including the men's and women's finals featuring Marti Malloy & Kayla Harrison.

Frank Mir accepts Todd Duffee's challenge, willing to help get his name out there

Because as the former heavyweight champ says, Todd's previous fights have failed to do so.

A few days ago, Frank Mir wasn't too keen on the idea of facing Todd Duffee, because fighting someone not ranked in the top 15 offered no upside for his own career.

But, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion seems to have changed his tune, as he recently told The Fight Corner (via The MMA Hour) that he backs down from no challenge and is willing to battle Duffee if UFC matchmakers have no one else lined up at the moment.

Though it should be noted that Frank still isn't overly impressed with Duffee's previous track record, which includes a quick knockout loss to Alistair Overeem and getting iced by a former cop who had a broken hand.

"I think Todd did a good job of getting his name out there. Obviously, career-wise, he's only fought one guy that would probably know who it is, and that's Alistair, who knocked him out in 19 seconds. The other fight that was of some note is the Russow fight. He did great in that fight, in fact I actually helped him train for it. He even broke Russow's arm, which Russow is a tough guy. He came back and was able to knock Todd out cold. That was disappointing. I mean, I understand what Todd is doing, I have no ill will, he's a young guy that's been in the UFC for a little while. He's out of the UFC, in the UFC, and he wants to make a name for himself. His fights themselves haven't garnered him that much recognition, so I guess he figures that if he talks a little bit on the Twitter and gets things going, that it will help. It did, I called up UFC and said, 'Hey, if you have nobody else for him to fight, if that's what you guys want, then I'm open.' I have never turned down a fight from anybody."

Talk about subtle.

Mir earned himself some more time inside the Octagon after knocking Antonio Silva clean out last month at UFC Fight Night 61 from Gigantinho Gymnasium in Porto Alegre, Brazil (video replay here). A much-needed victory that finally put an end to Mir's four-fight losing streak.

As for Duffee, he's been doing pretty good for himself as of late, winning three straight which includes two first-round knockout victories inside the eight-walled cage against Anthony Hamilton and Philip De Fries.

But, the hulking heavyweight has a bigger name in mind, one who is world renowned and has the resume and accolades many hope to achieve. In his view, Mir fits that bill perfectly and fortunately for him, the longtime veteran is more than willing to fill his dance card.

The ball is now in your court, Joe Silva.

Watch Conor McGregor's 'slap' to Jose Aldo's shoulder in Episode 8 of UFC Embedded

It's the power move that apparently drove Jose Aldo nuts, Conor McGregor gave Jose Aldo a squeeze of the shoulder while at the TSN studios and left Aldo fuming.

Wanderlei Silva discusses being a ‘slave’ to the UFC: I don’t want to work for them anymore

Former PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva discusses the UFC's approach to controlling him.

Ben Askren on CM Punk: ‘He’s still got a ways to go’ before he can fight in the UFC

ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren discusses CM Punk’s gradual development as an MMA fighter.

UFC 184, UFC 185 drug tests clean; second test clears undisclosed fighter

Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano

No failed drug tests resulted from UFC 184 and UFC 185, according to the event’s overseeing athletic commissions.

Although one male fighter from UFC 184 was under suspicion as the result of an initial test, a subsequent confirmatory test cleared him of any banned substances, California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster today told MMAjunkie.

Foster declined to give the fighter’s name while citing state medical privacy laws.

“I am very pleased that UCLA’s Olympic Analytical Laboratory has reported the drug testing results have all come back clean,” Foster wrote in a prepared statement. “The Commission would like to commend the fighters at this event and for upholding the best traditions of martial arts.”

UFC 184 took place Feb. 28 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. UFC 185 took place March 14 at Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Both events aired on pay-per-view.

On behalf of the CSAC, Foster directed in- and out-of-competition testing for UFC 184 headliners Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano, and in-competition tests on the remainder of the fight card. In both cases, blood and urine samples were collected.

Prior to UFC 184, rumors swirled about a potential positive test from Zingano, who denied any trouble with the CSAC. The final results clear her of any wrongdoing.

The CSAC orders a follow-up test, including a carbon isotope ratio (CIR) to detect synthetic testosterone, when a sample is found with a banned substance. In one recent case, the commission has ordered a second test prior to informing a fighter of a failure.

All of the fighters on UFC 185’s card, including headliners Rafael dos Anjos and Anthony Pettis, were tested on fight-night via urine for performance-enhancers and drugs of abuse by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s Combative Sports commission. All came back negative.

For complete coverage of UFC 184 and UFC 185, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

Filed under: News, UFC

Report: UFC Berlin main event will be Alexander Gustafsson vs. Glover Teixeira

An unconfirmed report coming out of Sweden says that light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson will headline the UFC's return trip to Berlin against Glover Teixeira this June.

Alexander Gustafsson's next fight will apparently headline the UFC's latest trip to Berlin. According to a report from Swedish MMA website Kimura.se, Gustafsson will take on Glover Teixeira in a five-round light heavyweight fight on June 20th in the German capital at The O2 Arena. UFC officials haven't confirmed the fight themselves but according to Kimura's sources an announcement will be made later this week.

Gustafsson (16-3) was once in line to rematch Jon Jones at UFC 178 after the Swede finished Jimi Manuwa last March, but an injury to Gustafsson led to him being replaced by Daniel Cormier, and the immediate fanfare for Cormier vs. Jones led to Gustafsson needing to take another fight. He was matched up with dangerous striker Anthony Johnson inside a Stocholm soccer stadium at UFC on Fox 14 in January, but he suffered the first (T)KO loss of his career just 2 minutes into the fight, reducing Gustafsson to post-fight tears and the partisan crowd into stunned silence.

Teixeira (22-4) faced Jones for the light heavyweight title right after Gustafsson's loss to the reigning champion, losing a shutout unanimous decision and seeing his winning streak snapped at 20. A surprising unanimous decision defeat to Phil Davis at UFC 179 put him on his first ever losing skid. The Brazilian planned to face Rashad Evans in February but he pulled out with an injury, and evidently Evans would've had to do the same after he underwent another knee surgery.

Again, this is not a signed, sealed, and delivered fight just yet, but we will have updates on this potential bout when more information becomes available. If the UFC does make it official, the Berlin card is presently set to broadcast on Fight Pass, marking Gustafsson's 2nd appearance on the online subscription network in his last 3 fights.

Ex-UFC champ Benson Henderson vs. Michael Johnson? Count them in

Benson Henderson

How about a fight between former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and rising contender Michael Johnson?

It’s far from a done deal, but the fighters apparently support the matchup.

This past weekend, Henderson headed to Twitter to openly ponder potential matchups. The 31-year-old lightweight recently rebounded from back-to-back losses to now-champ Rafael dos Anjos and contender Donald Cerrone with a short-notice submission win over welterweight Brandon Thatch in February’s UFC Fight Night 60 headliner.

Henderson (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) is apparently anxious to build off the victory, and he politely called out everyone from ex-lightweight champ Anthony Pettis to welterweight contender Tyron Woodley to reigning 205-pound champion Jon Jones (he seemed serious about all but that last one). He also mentioned Johnson (16-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC):

What's up @FollowTheMenace, we doin this or what???…tell @ufc to get the ball rolling, ;-D…I'm gonna start calling out other folks soon

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 28, 2015

Point being there's a way to ask another fighter to dance w/o being a trash-talking fool…sick of guys being told to act foolish…

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 29, 2015

Johnson, who’s riding a four-fight winning streak and is now No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings (where Henderson is No. 5), agreed to the proposed matchup (via Twitter):

@BensonHenderson were gonna fight don't worry! No need to ask everyone. Ill be your huckleberry!! Just be ready when that date is set!!

— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) March 29, 2015

.@FollowTheMenace sounds good, I'm trying to get it in asap…don't worry tho, I'll be ready when it's time…@ufc two guys here ready to go

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 30, 2015

There’s no potential date for the possible bout, though both appear eager to get back in the cage.

While a May fight between Cerrone (27-6 MMA, 14-3 UFC) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is likely to determine the next challenger to dos Anjos’ recently won title, the Henderson vs. Johnson winner could stand out and make a solid case for the next shot or a title eliminator.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Filed under: MMA Rumors, News, UFC

Ben Askren details awkward, not-so-great bus ride with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva

Knuckle Up #372: Bellator 135, WSOF 19, Mendes v. Lamas + a genius breakdown of all of the above

Literary gunslinger Eugene S. Robinson lends his "one"-of-a-"kind" "perspective" to fights that we widely suspect you might have missed on the BELLATOR 135 and WSOF 19 cards, as well as a look ahead at UFC FIGHT NIGHT: MENDES v. LAMAS and exactly what the hell it all might mean. That's the simple version. For simpletons. The more complex version? Straight ahead full-speed ahead.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao Videos: Fight camp social media round up

Ronda Rousey Is a Great Choice to Lead Public Charge for MMA in New York

Ronda Rousey is the hottest star in mixed martial arts today. Her star continues to grow as she crosses over from the Octagon to mainstream fame. Her appearance at WWE ’s WrestleMania proves just how recognizable she has become. It is that same fame that the UFC and MMA as a whole should ride as the sport continues to fight for legality in New York.

New York continues to be the last great frontier for the sport of mixed martial arts. In 2015, MMA is still illegal and not regulated. Zuffa and the UFC have spent years working to change this fact, but due to circumstances beyond their control, they have been unable to break through to those with the power to make decisions.

However, the UFC may have a new weapon against those that speak out against the establishment of MMA in NYC. That weapon is Rousey herself.

Recent reports have come out about Rousey taking more of a central role in the growth of the sport.

According to Kenneth Lovett of the New York Daily News , Rousey spent time in the state to push politicians toward changing their perception of the sport.

“I really want to make this a priority during my visit to New York,” Rousey said to the New York Daily News during an interview. “It’s pretty much ridiculous that MMA is not regulated here.”

The effort to have MMA legalized has been a long and arduous fight. Legislation has passed part of the process in the past, only to continually be defeated before the ban can be lifted. Rousey feels that this year may be different.

"I really feel optimistic this year," Rousey told Good Morning America host Robin Roberts (video via Yahoo Sports). “I've talked to the governor. I feel like he's in our corner. It’s passed six years in a row in the Senate [and] it’s never been brought to a vote yet in the Assembly. I think it will this year.”

The UFC and the sport of MMA as a whole would benefit by continuing to push Rousey as the face of the entire community. Since moving over to the promotion in 2013, she has captured the attention of the mainstream media with every move she makes. She now has major films to her credit, coverage on major outlets such as ESPN and recently inked a new deal with the UFC (via Sherdog ). All of these steps continue to build her into the star that the sport needs.

As the face of MMA, Rousey can gain the coverage that the fight for legalization in NYC needs. Her fanbase continues to grow and currently, she has not put herself into any position in which negative publicity may follow. These advantages are exactly what should be leveraged by both Rousey and the UFC.

Ronda Rousey is becoming a household name. With appearances on WrestleMania, Good Morning America and major summer movies, MMA finally has a true face that the entire sports community can appreciate. This power makes her the go-to person to be the face of the sport's growth in NYC and beyond.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Photos: Pinoy Pride 30: Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes Gallery - Part 2

View this gallery here.

Video: Justin Gaethje believes he is the best lightweight in the world, has no urgency to leave WSOF

Following his sensational title defense over Luis Palomino at World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) 19 this past Saturday night (March 28, 2015), undefeated lightweight champ Justin Gaethje told Sherdog he is the best lightweight in the world, and has no urgency to fight elsewhere because he is "getting paid well and loves it." The 14-0 Arizona native also discussed how tough Palomino was last night, when he wants to return to the cage next, and a whole lot more. For highlights of the wildly entertaining title fight, click here.

Ronda Rousey enters ring at WrestleMania 31 with The Rock, judo throws HHH

Worlds collided tonight in Santa Clara when UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey entered the WWE ring at WrestleMania 31 after being summoned by The Rock.

Ronda Rousey showed up at WrestleMania 31. The UFC women's bantamweight champion was sitting in the front row when The Rock came out, and was confront by HHH and Stephanie McMahon, who are the big bad bosses in WWE storylines. After some hinting that led 77,000 people to chant Ronda's name, The Rock called Ms. Rousey into the ring, and she proceeded to verbally tear Stephanie apart, and gave HHH a good old judo throw. Seriously

STEPH: "Get the Hell out of my ring!" RONDA: "Any ring I step into is MINE!" #WrestleMania http://ift.tt/1Icz980

— WWE (@WWE) March 30, 2015

Here's the judo toss:

#WrestleMania http://ift.tt/1IcDEQ4

— LARIATOOOOO!!! (@SenorLARIATO) March 30, 2015

UFC president Dana White was quick to react on Twitter:

— Dana White (@danawhite) March 30, 2015

You might not be a fan of WWE, but this came off really well. Ronda was a huge star in the eyes of the fans and it could lead to some great business, as it was a clear setup for a match with Stephanie. It has been expected for a while that The Rock (real name Dwayne Johnson) is set to take on HHH at WrestleMania 32. Could Ronda be in on that? We'll find out.

UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas fight card

A look at the early afternoon Saturday, April 4th UFC event on Fox Sports 1 in Fairfax, VA, where featherweight contenders Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas square off in the main event.

The UFC doesn't normally host daytime events in the United States, but with the NCAA college basketball Final Four taking place that evening, MMA fans are treated to a special "UFC Fight Night" except the card starts in the morning. The main event of this Fox Sports 1 show in Fairfax, Virginia pits Chad Mendes against Ricardo Lamas in a featherweight scrap, with Mendes coming off his thrilling decision loss to Jose Aldo last October. Jorge Masvidal has had three different opponents scheduled for his co-main event slot -- first Bobby Green, then Ben Henderson, and now he's facing Long Island's Al Iaquinta.

Aside from the first two bouts on the preliminary card, the entire lineup consists of fights at weight classes no heavier than 155 pounds. Former featherweight contender Dustin Poirier kicks off the main broadcast with a lightweight tilt vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira, while TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena returns from her knee injury to take on Milana Dudieva.

Here's the lineup for next Saturday's special event:

Main Card (FS1, 1 PM ET/10 AM PT)

Chad Mendes vs. Ricardo Lamas

Jorge Masvidal vs. Al Iaquinta

Michael Chiesa vs. Mitch Clarke

Julianna Pena vs. Milana Dudieva

Clay Guida vs. Robbie Peralta

Dustin Poirier vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira

Preliminary Card (FS1, 11 AM ET/8 AM PT)

Liz Carmouche vs. Lauren Murphy

Gray Maynard vs. Alexander Yakovlev

Shamil Abdurahimov vs. Timothy Johnson

Ron Stallings vs. Justin Jones

Video: Watch the full Hideo Tokoro vs. L.C. Davis fight from Bellator 135

Watch a replay of the full fight between Hideo Tokoro and L.C. Davis from the Bellator 135 main card.

During Friday night's Bellator 135 broadcast, a main card bout between Hideo Tokoro and L.C. Davis captured the hearts of those watching in attendance or at home on their TV screens.

Far from the most technical of encounters, the two bantamweight veterans put on a fight brimming with heart and determination - one that had several momentum shifts and riveting moments. In the end, Davis was awarded the split decision victory for his efforts in the co-main event.

Later on, the main event of the evening would see Marcos Galvao usurp Jo Warren's bantamweight title with a verbal submission to a kneebar attempt.

FOTY? Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino full fight video highlights from WSOF 19 last night in Arizona

No Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, no problem! World Series Of Fighting (WSOF) took center stage this past Saturday night (March 28, 2015), airing the promotion's 19th event on NBC Sports Network from the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona (results here). The main event featured a fight of the year candidate as lightweight champ Justin Gaethje and No. 1 contender Luis Palomino left everything inside the cage in an incredible back-and-forth contest. In the end, the WSOF champ retained his belt via third round (technical) knockout thanks in large part to a brutal series of leg kicks. Check out the highlights above, and for more on WSOF 19, click here.

Alistair Overeem amazed by Roy Nelson's durability at UFC 185

The former Strikeforce and K-1 champ spoke to Fox News about his UFC 185 win over "Big Country" in Dallas.

Alistair Overeeem spoke with Fox Sports after his UFC 185 win over Roy Nelson and had some complimentary things to say about "Big Country."

"I've rewatched (the fight) a couple of times. It was a very good performance. I broke Roy's ribs, he broke his hands on my head, I destroyed his leg," Overeem said. "He took like six or seven solid shots to the head. I tried to finish that fight. I was in phenomenal shape. My hat goes off to Roy Nelson, who absorbed it all. He took everything.

"It's not really healthy, but I have to say it was really good, although those kinds of fights aren't good for your career because it literally takes a couple of years off, but he took it," Overeem said. "He didn't go down, and he stayed dangerous until the end. I would say 99 percent of the other heavyweights would have been finished," Overeem said.

Reem credited the training he did with Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn for his win.

Photos: Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes take big wins at Pinoy Pride 30

View this gallery here.

Dana White to MMA reporter after asking Jose Aldo about pay: 'You're a dick!'

All the traveling and media obligations for the UFC 189 World Tour may be getting to UFC President Dana White -- or maybe he was just having a bad day. Either way, MMAJunkie has released video of the UFC head honcho calling Bloody Elbow reporter Brian D'Souza a "dick" for asking featherweight champ Jose Aldo about his "pay situation" for the upcoming UFC 189 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for July 11, 2015, inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. White was not too happy with the question, even though Aldo himself has complained about his pay multiple times. With White and Conor McGregor both expecting major PPV buys for UFC 189, I think Aldo's wallet will be just fine later this year.

Tecia Torres looking to prove she's more than just a striker at UFC 188

Ex-UFC champ Anthony Pettis wants RDA rematch next, but Nate Diaz is on the list

The former lightweight champ doesn't care for the flak he's been getting from the younger Diaz and would like to settle it in the cage.

Nonito Donaire after TKO win: 'I'm still at that elite level. I can compete with Rigondeaux and Santa Cruz'

Nonito Donaire says that his Pinoy Pride 30 victory showed that he's still at the elite level.

At the same venue of the classic Thrilla in Manila, Nonito Donaire made quick work of William Prado and successfully returned to the win column. After just 5 minutes of action, The partisan crowd erupted as The Filipino Flash battered the Brazilian challenger with a series of hard lefts that forced the referee to stop the contest.

"I think it's definitely a statement on where Nonito Donaire is at. If I had trouble with him, I wasn't at that level," Donaire said following the bout. "You guys could see the difference in talent, and this guy was no joke in terms of being a prospect and up-and-comer."

"But with my power and everything that I have, I did feel that I was above that level," he states. "We got to see where I'm at in terms of my ability, and I feel like I'm still at that elite level. I can sill compete with guys like Rigondeaux and Santa Cruz."

After successfully returning to the 122 lb weight class, Donaire referred to the two other super bantamweight champions in Guillermo Rigondeaux and Leo Santa Cruz. The five-division world champ already fought Rigondeaux to a decision in 2013, and says he still has "unfinished business" with the WBA title holder.

"Anytime. If Rigondeaux allows it, we're ready", his father and coach said in Filipino.

As for his performance in his home country, Nonito only needed less than 2 rounds to get back in the win column, but he was still a bit critical of his showing.

"In terms of strategy-wise, there was still something missing for me," Nonito said. "There's still that lack of follow-up, and I was only throwing one punch at a time."

"I rate my performance probably as a 7 out of 10, or 6 out of 10."

"I still have tendencies of the old, which is to go out there and just 'destroy', like a seek-and-destroy type of mentality. I was nanggigigil," he continued. "So I stepped back, and I realized I just need to open this guy up since I already hurt him."

"One thing that I was proud of, was that I used a lot of my jab, which you guys haven't seen me do in a long time."

His coach and father also agreed with his son's assessment of the fight.

"He still didn't follow the game plan!" Nonito Sr. said in Filipino with a laugh. "I told him we should wait until the 6th round, but he was still rushing and trying to go for the quick knockout."

"It's because that bad habit has been in his system for a while now. But at least we was listening to my specific instructions during the fight and he was able to execute well."

As for their future plans, the 32-year-old boxer says he wants to get back at it as soon as possible as he look to climb back up the 122 lb ladder.

"I definitely (want to fight again) soon... Tomorrow!" Donaire exclaimed. "I'm not damaged, and I can do it tomorrow."

Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena

Pinoy Pride 30: Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes Full Boxing Coverage: Videos, Results, Highlights, and News

Full Video: Nonito Donaire stops William Prado in 2 rounds at Pinoy Pride 30

Street fight results in death threats for UFC title challenger Bethe Correia

UFC bantamweight title challenger Bethe Correia has found herself in the middle of controversy following an apparent street fight between her boyfriend and a cab driver.

Trouble just seems to find some people, and right now it's all over Bethe Correia. The woman bantamweight contender is set to take on champion Ronda Rousey for a shot at the belt late this summer, but right now she's more worried about threats on her life stemming from a reported recent altercation with a taxi cab driver.

Apparently, Correia and her boyfriend, Edelson Silva (a boxing coach for Anderson Silva) called a taxi to be picked up from their hotel in Rio de Janeiro. While waiting for the cab, it seems, they changed plans and decided to walk to a nearby restaurant. When they cab arrived and they informed the driver (reportedly named Cleonardo de Freitas Alves) of their change in plans, supposedly, he demanded that they pay him for his time lost. By Correia's account, unhappy with the amount of money they offered him, the cab driver threatened that he would get his gun if they didn't pay him more. And that's when the fight started.

MMAFighting spoke to Correia about the incident and the fallout from it:

"He wanted us to pay him five reais (approximately two dollars), and I gave him seven. But he kept asking Edelson for more money, saying we wasted his time," Correia told MMAFighting.com. "They started to argue and Edelson told him to f--k off, and that's when the taxi driver left the car and started the fight with Edelson. They started to fight, to punch each other. My sister and I didn't do anything.

"(Alves) said he would grab a gun at the glove compartment. When he said that, my sister went after him, but I pulled her away. I could have used all my martial art knowledge to stop him, but I didn't want to fight. I was calm, but he was threatening us.

"The taxi driver didn't even recognize me. When the police showed up, they wanted to take Edelson with him, but the hotel's receptionist said ‘ah, that fighter over was also involved', so they called my room and asked for me to go with them. The taxi driver didn't recognize me, but now he wants to use this to become famous. Edelson was just protecting us. This is bulls--t. What would you do if a man says he's grabbing a gun to threaten your family? Edelson was protecting us."

Now, Correia says she's been receiving threats over social media. She says she's deleted most of them, but she's saved a least one, since the man making it brandished a gun and called her a "Coward son of a bitch.... shitty monkey." And has apparently made threats on her life as well as her boyfriend's. You can see the messages below:

No information yet as to whether this will affect her ability to compete at UFC 190. Most likely it will not, but we'll be sure to keep you updated with more information as it becomes available.

Gonzalez vs. Russell, Jr. results and LIVE fight coverage

Two of the featherweight division's more entertaining combatants will duke it out at The Pearl at the Palms this Saturday (March 28, 2015) as WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez takes on prospect Gary Russell, Jr.

MMA Mania will have LIVE coverage of the event, starting with the Showtime broadcast at 10:00 PM EST.

Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KO), a veteran of almost sixteen years, shocked the world in August of 2013, laying out -1350 favorite and pound-for-pound ranked Abner Mares with a tremendous left hook, lifting the WBC title from him in a single round. He's fought twice since, most recently putting away fellow Mexican veteran Jorge Arce last October.

Russell (25-1, 14 KO), long touted for his exceptional hand speed, got his first crack at a world title against two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko last June. Despite it being just Lomachenko's third pro fight, the Ukrainian ran roughshod over his fellow prospect, seemingly justifying the complaints that Russell had not been seriously tested. He's since re-entered the win column by taking a decision over Christopher Martin in December.

In the co-feature, unbeaten super welterweight Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KO) will take on former title challenger Vanes Martirosyan (35-1, 21 KO), who fell short in his bid for the vacant WBO crown against Demetrius Andrade in 2013.

Quick results and round-by-round coverage below.

Featherweight Championship: Jhonny Gonzalez (c) vs. Gary Russell, Jr.

Super Welterweight: Jermell Charlo vs. Vanes Martirosyan

Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Gary Russell, Jr.

Round one:

Round two:

Round three:

Round four:

Round five:

Round six:

Round seven:

Round eight:

Round nine:

Round ten:

Round eleven:

Round twelve:

Final result:

-end-

Jermell Charlo vs. Vanes Matirosyan

Round one:

Round two:

Round three:

Round four:

Round five:

Round six:

Round seven:

Round eight:

Round nine:

Round ten:

Final result:

-end-

Matt Hamill withdraws from WSOF 19, Thiago Silva now faces Teddy Holder

Matt Hamill

Just hours before he was set to return from retirement, Matt Hamill has withdrawn from tonight’s WSOF 19 event.

WSOF rep Mike Afromowitz announced the change on Twitter. MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed with WSOF officials it was an illness that forced Hamill out of the bout.

The withdrawal forced a series of changes on tonight’s event.

Hamill’s intended opponent, Thiago Silva, now faces Teddy Holder, who was scheduled to fight Jake Heun. Meanwhile, Heun gets Clifford Starks, who was scheduled to fight Eddie Arizmendi.

Arizmendi goes without a fight but is expected to receive his contracted show and win money.

More on this in just a moment.

Filed under: News

World Series of Fighting 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino results, discussion, and live video stream

Discuss and watch tonight's World Series of Fighting 19 event right here on Bloody Elbow! The main event pits undefeated WSOF LW champion Justin Gaethje taking on Luis Palomino.

No UFC tonight? No problem, because World Series of Fighting has your MMA fix for this Saturday evening in Phoenix, Arizona. Undefeated lightweight champion Justin Gaethje defends his belt against hard-hitting Luis Palomino in the main event, while controversial signing, ex-UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva makes his promotional debut vs. Matt Hamill. Silva vs. Hamill, a rematch of their 2013 UFC fight which was a slow, plodding decision win for Thiago. This bout represents the first half of the LHW tournament semifinals, with Dave Branch and Ronny Markes set to compete later in the year. Jake Heun and Teddy Holder, who are also on the main card of tonight's broadcast, are the reserves in this tourney.

The NBC Sports Network televised main card starts at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, but you can watch the entire preliminary card for free by viewing the online streaming player at the top of the page starting at 6:15 PM ET/3:15 PM PT. Following the conclusion of WSOF 19 we will have results and highlights.

Be sure to check out Zane Simon and Victor Rodriguez's MMA Vivisection, as well as Roy Billington's fight card preview.

MAIN CARD (NBCSN, 9 PM ET/6 PM PT)

Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino

Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva

Jake Heun vs. Teddy Holder

Timur Valiev vs. Ed West



PRELIMINARY CARD (Online, 6:15 PM ET/3:15 PM PT)

Eddie Arizmendi vs. Clifford Starks

Benny Madrid vs. Jimmy Spicuzza

Joe Gigliotti vs. Brendan Tierney

Andres Ponce vs. Juan Archuleta

Dan Huber vs. Israel Aquino

Matthew Frincu vs. Eric Regan

Joe Madrid vs. Erik Villalobos

LC Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro full fight video highlights from Bellator 135 last night in Oklahoma

Bellator MMA hosted arguably the year's best fight thus far this past Friday night (March 27, 2015) as World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran LC Davis took on Bellator debutant Hideo Tokoro in the bantamweight co-main event of Bellator 135 live on Spike TV from the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma (results here). After a wild 15 minute affair, Davis earned the hotly contested split decision victory, and called for either a No. 1 contender or title shot next. Could newly minted bantamweight champ Marcos Galvao be taking on Davis for his first title defense? For more on Bellator 135, click here.

Phil Baroni claims he's on his way to the WWE

Veteran MMA fighter Phil Baroni says that he's going to sign a developmental deal with the WWE, but other sources claim otherwise.

Is The New York Bad Ass on his way over to pro wrestling? Well that's what Phil Baroni would like you to believe. The 38-year-old has fought in nearly ever MMA promotion you can name, and apparently he thinks it's time to step into the squared circle. He recently tweeted that he's going to WrestleMania 31 in California this weekend, and will be signing a contract with the WWE:

Just got my flight and tickets to @Wrestlemania. I'm getting flown it to sign my contract and see what the @wwe and @Wrestlemania are about

— phil baroni (@philbaroni) March 27, 2015

He also claimed in another tweet that he was 225 pounds and "clean as a whistle". Baroni (15-18) is on a three-fight losing streak in MMA, most recently getting stopped by Karo Parisyan last July in Bellator. That upped his losing streak to three.

While life in the WWE might be a good fit for the outspoken fighter, other sources (Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report) are claiming that there is no deal in place:

Think Baroni is working his own angle. WWE source tells me they have zero interest in him. Said perhaps ten years ago. But too old now.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) March 28, 2015

WSOF 19 preliminary card stream (6 p.m. ET) and live results

Prior to tonight’s NBC Sports Network broadcast, you can watch seven WSOF 19 preliminary-card fights here on MMAjunkie at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). Outside the U.S., you can watch the full lineup, including the main card, here.

In addition, MMAjunkie will have live results and recaps of the event here throughout the night. In the main event, lightweight champion Justin Gaethje puts his title on the line against Luis Palomino. In addition, there are a pair of fights in the opening round of the promotion’s light heavyweight tournament.

WSOF 19 takes place at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. Don’t miss the prelims starting here at 6 p.m. ET before the shift to the main card on NBCSN.

MAIN CARD (NBCSN, 9 p.m. ET)

• Champ Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino – for lightweight title


• Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva – light heavyweight tourney opening round


• Jake Heun vs. Teddy Holder – light heavyweight tourney opening round


• Timur Valiev vs. Ed West

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6 p.m. ET)

• Eddie Arizmendi vs. Clifford Starks


• Benny Madrid vs. Jimmy Spicuzza


• Joseph Gigliotti vs. Brendan Tierney


• Juan Archuleta vs. Andres Ponce


• Israel Aquino vs. Dan Huber


• Matthew Frincu vs. Eric Regen


• Joe Madrid vs. Erik Villalobos

For more on WSOF 19, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

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