Author: admin

Aspen Ladd To Replace Holly Holm, Fight Norma Dumont On October 16

Aspen LaddAspen Ladd will replace the injured Holly Holm who was expected to main event alongside Norma Dumont at UFC Vegas 40 on October 16. On Wednesday, Ariel Helwani reported that the former bantamweight champion had been forced out of the bout due to a knee injury. “Per sources, Holly Holm is out of the headliner […]

Aspen Ladd

Aspen Ladd will replace the injured Holly Holm who was expected to main event alongside Norma Dumont at UFC Vegas 40 on October 16.

On Wednesday, Ariel Helwani reported that the former bantamweight champion had been forced out of the bout due to a knee injury.

“Per sources, Holly Holm is out of the headliner fight versus Norma Dumont due to a knee injury,” Helwani wrote on SubStack. “It’s unclear at this time what the UFC will do with the main event now. Holm, according to sources, is hoping to return to action by the end of 2021.”

Soon after, ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto announced on social media that Ladd would be stepping in to replace Holm, he wrote.

“Per sources, UFC working to finalize a new main event with Aspen Ladd (@TheAspenLadd), following Holly Holm’s withdrawal against Norma Dumont due to injury.”

Ladd hasn’t fought since picking up a third-round TKO win over Yana Kunitskaya back in December 2019 due to injury. With her injury troubles behind her, Ladd was scheduled to face Macy Chiasson at UFC Vegas 38 but that fight was canceled after she struggled to weigh in at the bantamweight limit (136lbs). Ladd was visibly shaking when she stood on the scale and appeared to be on the verge of passing out during her failed attempts to hit the mark.

After the fight was scrapped from UFC Vegas 38, Ladd took to social media to explain that her weight cut issues were more complex than people might think.

Fight is off. Again. All my fault,” Ladd wrote. “Straight up started my period 2 days back and made this cut absolutely miserable. Did the best I could, hit 137, the scale situation was a mess because the last thing I wanted was to bleed in front of the media. The fight wasn’t pulled, my opponent then decided she would rather not go through with it, as is her right. I’m going to get slammed regardless, so let it begin.”

The fight against Dumont will take place at featherweight so hopefully, that means Ladd will be able to safely make weight and the UFC Vegas 40 main event will go ahead as planned.

Do you think Aspen Ladd can make good on her first UFC main event slot?

Revised UFC Vegas 40 Fight Card, ESPN+ Lineup

UFC

With Holly Holm injured, Aspen Ladd will move up to featherweight on short notice to battle 145-pound up-and-comer Norma Dumont atop the UFC Vegas 40 fight card in Las Vegas. Event: UFC Vegas 40: “Ladd vs. Dumont”Dat…


UFC

With Holly Holm injured, Aspen Ladd will move up to featherweight on short notice to battle 145-pound up-and-comer Norma Dumont atop the UFC Vegas 40 fight card in Las Vegas.

Event: UFC Vegas 40: “Ladd vs. Dumont”
Date: Sat., Oct. 16, 2021
Location: APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. ET)

UFC Vegas 40 Main Event On ESPN+:

145 lbs.: Aspen Ladd vs. Norma Dumont

UFC Vegas 40 Main Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Carlos Felipe
155 lbs.: Erick Gonzalez vs. Jim Miller
125 lbs.: Manon Fiorot vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
185 lbs.: Julian Marquez vs. Jordan Wright — CANCELED (full details here)
145 lbs.: Ludovit Klein vs. Nate Landwehr

UFC Vegas 40 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Andrew Sanchez vs. Bruno Silva
170 lbs.: Ramazan Emeev vs. Danny Roberts
125 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Loopy Godinez
135 lbs.: Danaa Batgerel vs. Brandon Davis
115 lbs.: Ariane Carnelossi vs. Istela Nunes

*Fight card, bout order and number of fights remain subject to change due to COVID-19.*

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 40 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here. For more upcoming UFC events click here.

Sean O’Malley Is Receiving Criticism Despite Fighting A Ranked Fighter

Sean O’Malley returns at UFC 269 against the #15-ranked Raulian Paiva on Dec. 11 but is still catching flak for not fighting ranked fighters. After the masses called for O’Malley to face a ranked opponent, they got their wish–even though Paiva isn’t the most recognizable name, O’Malley maintains he’s a ranked opponent nonetheless. Fresh off […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Is Receiving Criticism Despite Fighting A Ranked Fighter at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley returns at UFC 269 against the #15-ranked Raulian Paiva on Dec. 11 but is still catching flak for not fighting ranked fighters.

After the masses called for O’Malley to face a ranked opponent, they got their wish–even though Paiva isn’t the most recognizable name, O’Malley maintains he’s a ranked opponent nonetheless. Fresh off his beatdown of UFC newcomer Kris Moutinho, O’Malley’s stock couldn’t be higher.

“Suga” holds a professional record of 11-1. The 26-year-old was tasked with fighting Marlon Vera in his fifth UFC appearance. During the fight, O’Malley was doing well with kicks from range. However, while trying to disengage from the clinch, the rising star twisted his ankle and “Chito” capitalized. Shortly after O’Malley fell to the ground, Vera rained elbows from guard until the referee stepped in to stop the contest.

O’Malley, who is now on a two-fight winning streak, spoke on his podcast, the TimboSugarShow to address all of the antagonists giving him guff about not fighting ranked fighters.

“Now I’m fighting someone ranked, they’re like who’s this? O’Malley said.

Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was the latest to attack O’Malley. The two sparked up some tension after gabbing back and forth on social media a little over a month ago.

“I hope you don’t get knocked out at strawweight because it won’t look as good when I knock you out. Good luck.” O’Malley posted.

Garbrandt was last seen in the Octagon against Rob Font in May. While the former 135-pound titleholder lost a unanimous decision, Garbrandt at least showcased his renewed durability. Following his most recent loss to Font, Garbrandt is taking his services to flyweight against Kai Kara-France at UFC 269.

As of this writing, it appears Garbrandt and Sean O’Malley are headed in different directions but will be fighting on the same card when December arrives. With the rivalry in their back pocket for now, perhaps the two will meet down the line.

Do you think Cody Garbrandt could grind Sean O’Malley out with wrestling?

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Is Receiving Criticism Despite Fighting A Ranked Fighter at MMA News.

TJ Dillashaw Thinks Aljamain Sterling Will Retire Following Neck Surgery

TJ DillashawFormer two-time UFC bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw thinks the man who is currently holding gold at 135lbs will retire without attempting to defend the belt. Aljamain Sterling picked up UFC gold back in March 2021 at UFC 259 after an illegal knee strike from Petr Yan left him unable to continue and the Russian was […]

TJ Dillashaw

Former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw thinks the man who is currently holding gold at 135lbs will retire without attempting to defend the belt.

Aljamain Sterling picked up UFC gold back in March 2021 at UFC 259 after an illegal knee strike from Petr Yan left him unable to continue and the Russian was disqualified from the bout.

Prior to winning the belt, Sterling put together a five-fight streak to earn his shot at the streaking Russian fighter. The 32-year-old beat the likes of Cory Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, and Jimmie Rivera on his way to the top.

Post-fight, Sterling underwent surgery on a neck issue. ‘The Funk Master’ was then booked to face off against Yan for the second time at UFC 267 on October 30 at the Etihad Arena. However, Sterling was still having lingering issues related to the surgery and withdrew from the fight. Yan will now face Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title later this month.

During a recent appearance on MMA Fighting’s MMA Hour, Dillashaw explained why he thinks we will see either Yan or Sandhagen upgraded to the undisputed champion in the near future.

“I don’t even know if Aljo’s ever going to come back to be honest,” Dillashaw said. “From what he had done, it’s kind of crazy. If I was him, I would have waited to get that done. My coaches, my strength and conditioning coach as well as my wrestling coach, sells the medical equipment that did his neck, don’t believe he’s ever going to come back.

“I think he’s just holding onto this belt as long as he can. I’ve had that feeling already so when he pulled out of the fight, I wasn’t surprised. I bet he’s dealing with nerve damage. I bet he’s dealing with a lot of stuff. You go get your neck cranked on with what he’s had done, it’s definitely not good. We’ll see. I could be completely wrong but I don’t know if he’s ever going to come back.”

Do you think TJ Dillashaw could be right? Will Aljamain Sterling retire without attempting to defend his bantamweight title?

Quadruple C? White explains why he’s not a fan of Cejudo vs Volkanovski

UFC president Dana White speaks at a press conference at the UFC APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages

“You’ve been off all this time and you want to come back and fight Volkanovski and jump …


UFC president Dana White during a post-Contender Series presser.
UFC president Dana White speaks at a press conference at the UFC APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages

“You’ve been off all this time and you want to come back and fight Volkanovski and jump the line and jump over Max and all these other guys that have been there?”

UFC president Dana White needs to have a ‘tough conversation’ with Henry Cejudo following ‘Triple C’s’ featherweight title shot request against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Cejudo wants to make UFC history by becoming the first three-division champ in the promotion’s history but White doesn’t like the idea of the former flyweight and bantamweight champion leapfrogging the likes of Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez who are scheduled to collide in a number one contender’s bout at UFC Fight Night 197 on Nov. 13.

“Listen, he retired,” White said of Cejudo, who recently re-entered USADA’s drug-testing pool, following Tuesday night’s Contender Series. “You’ve been off all this time and you want to come back and fight Volkanovski and jump the line and jump over Max and all these other guys that have been there? It’s a tough conversation.”

Cejudo retired last year following his TKO victory over Dominick Cruz in their bantamweight title bout at UFC 249. He has since called out everyone from Jake Paul to Amanda Nunes, which is why Volkanovski can’t take the Olympic gold medalist seriously.

“He’s always chirping. He’s chirping about everyone. Obviously we’ll see what they do, but my bet on it’s not going to happen. I don’t even think Dana White answers his calls. That’s why he’s going to go and just keep calling people out, but nothing’s ever on paper, because I don’t think they take him serious.”