Currently sitting at No. 2 in the UFC heavyweight division, Daniel Cormier has come to terms on a long-term deal with the promotion. According to Ariel Helwani’s report on Wednesday night’s UFC Tonight, Cormier was mum on the terms of the deal, but said he’d signed on for eight more fights.
Additionally, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans tells Helwani he’s been in talks to possibly meet Cormier in the former Olympian’s move down to 205 pounds. Cormier has spent 2013 slimming down for his future at light heavyweight, going from 235 pounds against Frank Mir in his promotional debut at UFC on FOX 7 in April, down to 224 against Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in October. While Cormier says he’s looking to fight as soon as possible, Evans claims talks are centered around March 2014.
Evans most recently scored a first-round TKO finish of Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 in November, while Cormier earned a decision nod against Nelson, improving to 13-0. The pair joked post-fight following Evans’ bout that a matchup down the road was a possibility, ‘Suga’ ribbing Cormier about past training sessions where he’d managed to take down the former U.S. Olympic team member.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Bigfoot plans. Antonio Silva says he wants Josh Barnett after he submits Mark Hunt this weekend. “I will fight whoever the UFC puts in front of me. But if they give me the opportunity to choose, I’d like to fight Barnett. We have a history, and that’s why I’d want this fight.”
Fights to watch. Your guide to everything MMA on one of the most action packed weekends in recent memory.
Full rundown. Duke Roufus talks Ben Askren’s situation with fight promotions and Anthony Pettis‘ injury woes.
PPV hike? After pledging in 2009 to never raise UFC Pay-Per-View prices, Dana White and Co. could be doing just that.
Cyborginho. With talk of UFC rolling out a new 115 pound women’s division, Invicta strawweight Joanne Calderwood says she’ll chase the best no matter where they fight. “I’ll follow where the best go, so if the other girls go to the UFC I’ll be trying my hardest to get there, because I want to be number one, and I want to fight all the best in the world.”
MEDIA STEW
UFC Fight Night 33 weigh ins.
Dana White talks Hunt-Silva, Shogun retirement conversation, Anderson’s mistakes, Roy Jones, Jr. and Ronda-Tate.
Zulu Boy – trailer.
Sort of leads well into this:
Cast revealed for TUF: Nations.
Invicta FC 7 open workouts and photo shoot.
Cage Warriors 62 promo.
Random action:
Gilbert Durinho vs. Paulo Bananada at Coliseu EF 8.
Edcarlos Lima vs. João Prudencio at Coliseu EF 8.
Alex Bilobrovka vs. Luiz Tosta at UCMMA 37.
Tina Lähdemäki vs. Karla Benitez at Cage 24.
Enver Salahdinov vs. Muslim Makhmudov at M-1 Challenge 44.
TWEETS
Good luck.
I made weight and I am feeling great! Now for more food and drink and the fight tomorrow I can’t wait!
— Anthony Perosh (@AnthonyPerosh) December 6, 2013
Lol yes I made weight and now it’s GAME TIME BABY !!!!
— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) December 6, 2013
All weighed in 🙂 make sure not to miss the fight tomorrow http://t.co/c0kYKjOjMq
— Ben ‘Manimal’ Wall (@BenWallMMA) December 6, 2013
Warning: put butt in my face I will grab =P @BenWallMMA pic.twitter.com/b4lwts8Lei
— Bec Rowdy Hyatt (@RowdyBec) December 6, 2013
160lbs right now, feeling great!
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) December 6, 2013
Calm before the storm chillin back stage before weigh in #ufc #mma #teamvillain http://t.co/fqqDsb74pY
— Dylan Andrews (@dylanthevillian) December 6, 2013
Idk I think @TankScogginsMMA may have stole the face off haha @jennyscoggins @jscogg71 pic.twitter.com/kyRTfexQZx
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) December 6, 2013
RIP
R.i.P Nelson Mandela pic.twitter.com/hctJoKRMwf
— gokhan saki (@gokhantherebel) December 6, 2013
Life’s greatest battles are not fought in a ring or a cage. R.I.P. Nelson Mandela ((True Warrior ) pic.twitter.com/v2Xz6oac2n
— Pedro Rizzo (@pedrorizzo1) December 6, 2013
I got it. He died. You won’t be getting an inspirational quotes from me. Keep it in perspective. #NelsonMandela pic.twitter.com/dMTBbaEUeS
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) December 6, 2013
We lost a great leader and an example to all. In mainly for us blacks pic.twitter.com/z7lYlwDRad
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) December 6, 2013
RIP Nelson Mandela pic.twitter.com/AfZiWfIIiU
— Dana White (@danawhite) December 6, 2013
Heart, Soul, Dignity and Honor; Nelson Mandela the world will miss you a great deal.
— Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) December 5, 2013
Get well soon.
Since everyone wants to know how bad & long I’m out for. Thanx y’all for caring so much and I’ll be… http://t.co/vWnxs8O1hu
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) December 6, 2013
Congrats.
4yrs today, I won the Ultimate Fighter! #tuf10 @ufc Thanx so much 4 all of the people that continue to support & watch! Much appreciated
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) December 5, 2013
Ronda’s mom has heard this story.
What? You’re going to try to stop @RondaRousey from throwing & armbarring you? No one has ever thought of that before!
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) December 6, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 5 2013)
Gesias Cavalcante out, Justin Gaethje vs. Lewis Gonzalez at WSOF 8
Yves Jabouin vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC on FOX 10
John Moraga vs. Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night 35
Nick Catone vs. Tom Watson at UFC 169
Walt Harris vs. Nikita Krylov at UFC on FOX 10
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via RealRadioBlog.com.
The People’s Main Event: Shogun vs. Te Huna
The People’s Main Event is a feature we will be doing each fight week in order to promote one of the more intriguing matchups that may not be getting all the love that comes with being a true main event on a UFC main card. The UFC gives more than enough attention to the headline fighters with all the countdown shows, TV spots, and free fights, and we thought out time and effor would be better spent building up one of the other, less promoted bouts.
This week’s featured fight is an exciting matchup in the light heavyweight division between Mauricio Shogun Rua vs. James Te Huna.
MAURICIO ‘SHOGUN’ RUA
At one point in time, Shogun was one of, if not the most feared striker in mixed martial arts. Out of his 21 wins, 18 came by way of knockout, and 15 of which occurred in the 1st round of action. It’s worth noting that many of these 1st round finishes took longer than the UFC standard of five minutes per round and even more involved the use of now-foreign terms like ‘soccer kicks’ and ‘stomps’. Although, when names like Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin, Mark Coleman, Rampage Jackson, and Little Nog stand among your list of victims, I think you’ve earned the right to ignore any statistical asterisks that may be attached to your name.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.