Author: MMA Fighting Newswire

LAS VEGAS — Zach Makovsky talks about his win over Josh Sampo at UFC 170, why he wanted to be more offensive, how close he is to a title shot, when he wants to fight again, and much more.

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Before Ronda Rousey enters the Octagon on Saturday night, her rival Cris Cyborg had some strong words for the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. In a prepared statement to ‘Inside MMA’ on Friday, Cyborg vowed to defeat her by the end of the year.

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Here is the full statement below:

“In reference to Ronda’s statement that I am looking for a payday so that I can retire, you’re right, I am looking for a payday to retire you like I did Gina Carano. But to show it’s not only about money, I challenge you to a fight – winner takes all.  Or better yet let’s fight for FREE. ANYTIME! ANYWHERE! Ask your daddy Dana to make it happen.

My English is not that great, so sorry if I was misunderstood. I didn’t literally mean I would die if I made 135. What I meant was that my doctor recommended that I did not fight the rest of my career at 135, which is what the UFC wanted.

You have fought 154 in the Olympics and 145 in MMA. You can meet me at 140 easier than for me to go down to 135. The only reason you want the fight at 135 is because you feel that is your only chance because you hope the weight cut will affect me. You guys say I’m irrelevant, yet watch my highlights. The true MMA fans not only know me, but know I’m the best. Sad that you give the true MMA fans no recognition by saying that they don’t matter.

I’m currently training to fight at 145 on March 28 and in early May. My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135. I plan to challenge and win the Invicta 135 Championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your 135 belt in December.

Now I know critics will say “I thought you said you would die if you made 135.” All I’m promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen. If I do, I will still listen to my doctor’s advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasn’t luck. You can even have me tested every week up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass.”

LAS VEGAS — In this training camp journal, Patrick Cummins has breakfast with Chael Sonnen, gets an inspirational text message from his father, does some media interviews, participates in open workouts, and much more.

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LAS VEGAS — After the UFC 170 press conference, Daniel Cormier shoved Patrick Cummins. Check out all the staredowns in the video above.

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LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight and former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier spoke to the media Wednesday about facing Pat Cummins at UFC 170, trying to make light heavyweight for the first time, what he did when he found out he wasn’t going to face Rashad Evans and much more.

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Invicta FC announced that it had signed 15 new fighters to its roster Friday, spanning five different weight classes. Among the more notable signees were veterans Roxanne Modafferi and Peggy Morgan, both of whom appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 18.

The Kansas City-based promotion, which in two years has become the flagship of women’s MMA, also focused heavily on replenishing its strawweight class, after losing 11 fighters to the UFC in December. Among the strawweights signed were Brazilian Livia Renata Souza (5-0), Poland’s Karolina Kowalkiewicz (4-0), kickboxer Mellony Geugjes from the Netherlands, Herica Tiburcio (7-2) and Ashley Greenway.

In combing for talent all over the globe, the promotion also brought aboard Amber Brown (atomweight), Faith Van Duin (featherweight), and flyweights Rachel Ostovich (0-1), Polish fighter Joanna Jedrejczyk (4-0), Canadian Valerie Letoumeau (4-3) and Delaney Owen, who will be making her pro debut. Joining Modafferi and Morgan in the bantamweight division are Belgium fighter Cindy Dandois (5-1) and Irene Aldana (3-1).

“Women’s MMA is truly a global sport, and at Invicta we have scoured the globe in order to bring the best talent to our fans,” Invicta president Shannon Knapp in the press release. “There is talent all around the globe, and our goal at Invicta has been to provide athletes with a worldwide platform to display their talent.”

Modafferi is one of the more popular women fighters going, having fought in both Strikeforce and the UFC. Though she’s riding a five-fight losing streak, many in women’s MMA consider her one of the pioneers. She debuted all the way back in 2003 against Hikaru Shinohara in Japan, where she also lived for a number of years.

Morgan, a relative newcomer to MMA, lost to Jessamyn Duke at the TUF 18 Finale in November via unanimous decision.

“This new class provides me with added depth to put together match ups that we believe the fans want to see,” said newly christened matchmaker, Julie Kedzie.