UFC 191 Embedded, Episode 5: ‘The mummy returns’

In the latest episode of UFC 191 Embedded, the fighters go through UFC 191 media day and weigh-ins, Paige VanZant cuts weight, Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson make final preparations, and more.

In the latest episode of UFC 191 Embedded, the fighters go through UFC 191 media day and weigh-ins, Paige VanZant cuts weight, Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson make final preparations, and more.

Advised against surgery, Al Iaquinta looking at January return against Beneil Dariush

Long Island’s Al Iaquinta is hoping to return to action in January.
And the Serra-Longo fighter has lightweight Beneil Dariush in his crosshairs.
On Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight it was reported that Iaquinta visited with his doctor in …

Long Island’s Al Iaquinta is hoping to return to action in January.

And the Serra-Longo fighter has lightweight Beneil Dariush in his crosshairs.

On Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight it was reported that Iaquinta visited with his doctor in Los Angeles, who advised him to forego corrective surgery on his right knee. Instead the 28-year old Iaquinta will instead do approximately six weeks of stem cell injections and complete a course of physical therapy to get ready for his next fight.

Iaquinta, who was scheduled to face Gilbert Melendez at UFC Fight Night 71 in June, has been dealing with a lingering knee issue. When Melendez was forced out of the fight with a failed drug test, Iaquinta opted to have his knee evaluated. His doctor advised him to forego surgery, due to having very little cartilage left in his right knee.

After he’s gone through physical therapy, Iaquinta is hoping to fight Dariush upon his return. And according to UFC Tonight, Dariush’s management team, Dominance MMA, said that they like that idea as well.

Iaquinta has won four straight fights dating back to Sept. 14, when he scored a TKO victory over Rodrigo Damm. He won his last fight over Jorge Masvidal via a controversial split decision at UFC Fight Night 63 in April.

Dariush, meanwhile, is coming off a controversial split-decision victory over Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 73 on Aug. 8. He has won five fights in a row, and has gone 6-1 in the UFC since debuting against Charlie Brenneman in early 2014.

Heavyweight Travis Browne looking to fight against Matt Mitrione in return

Now that he’s cleared to fight again, heavyweight Travis Browne has his eye a November or December return.
And the fighter he’d most like to face is Matt Mitrione.
As UFC Tonight reported on Wednesday, Browne’s manager John Fosco said the Ha…

Now that he’s cleared to fight again, heavyweight Travis Browne has his eye a November or December return.

And the fighter he’d most like to face is Matt Mitrione.

As UFC Tonight reported on Wednesday, Browne’s manager John Fosco said the Hawaiian heavyweight is hoping for a fight against Mitrione. According to the report, Mitrione loves the idea too. The only thing left is for UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to make it happen.

The 33-year old Browne (17-3-1) was recently reinstated for competition after a company-mandated suspension, stemming from a domestic abuse allegation from his wife. A third-party FBI investigator found there was “inconclusive evidence” to support the claim.

Browne is coming off a TKO loss against Andrei Arlovski at UFC 187 in May, which went down as one of the best single rounds of the year. After getting hurt early in the fight, Browne wobbled Arlovski just as Arlovski came in for the finish. Recovering his bearings, Arlovski put Browne away at the 4:41 mark of the first round (punches).

Mitrione, 37, is coming off a submission loss to Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 68 in New Orleans. Before then he has won three straight fights over Shawn Jordan, Derrick Lewis and Gabriel Gonzaga, all via first-round TKO or KO.

Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor highlight finalized lineup for UFC ‘Go Big’ event

The UFC announced Wednesday the complete lineup for the launch of its ‘Go Big’ seasonal campaign.

In all, 19 fighters will be featured at a press event on Sept. 4 in Las Vegas to promote the upcoming end-of-year UFC schedule, including previously unannounced attendee, featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

The event takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena at 12:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. PT/ET, preceding UFC 191’s weigh-ins, and will stream live on MMAFighting.com.

The finalized ‘Go Big’ lineup can be seen below.

  • Daniel Cormier, UFC light heavyweight champion
  • Ronda Rousey, UFC women’s bantamweight champion
  • Jose Aldo, UFC featherweight champion
  • Conor McGregor, UFC interim featherweight champion
  • Rafael dos Anjos, UFC lightweight champion
  • Alexander Gustafsson, No. 2 UFC light heavyweight contender
  • Holly Holm, No. 8 UFC women’s bantamweight contender
  • Luke Rockhold, No. 1 UFC middleweight contender
  • Donald Cerrone, No. 2 UFC lightweight contender
  • Josh Barnett, No. 8 UFC heavyweight contender
  • Roy Nelson, No. 12 UFC heavyweight contender
  • Dustin Poirier, No. 13 UFC lightweight contender
  • Joe Duffy, UFC lightweight
  • Vitor Belfort, No. 4 UFC middleweight contender
  • Dan Henderson, No. 11 UFC middleweight contender
  • Matt Brown, No. 5 UFC welterweight contender
  • Kelvin Gastelum, No. 15 UFC welterweight contender
  • Frankie Edgar, No. 2 UFC featherweight contender
  • Chad Mendes, No. 3 UFC featherweight contender

The UFC announced Wednesday the complete lineup for the launch of its ‘Go Big’ seasonal campaign.

In all, 19 fighters will be featured at a press event on Sept. 4 in Las Vegas to promote the upcoming end-of-year UFC schedule, including previously unannounced attendee, featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

The event takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena at 12:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. PT/ET, preceding UFC 191’s weigh-ins, and will stream live on MMAFighting.com.

The finalized ‘Go Big’ lineup can be seen below.

  • Daniel Cormier, UFC light heavyweight champion
  • Ronda Rousey, UFC women’s bantamweight champion
  • Jose Aldo, UFC featherweight champion
  • Conor McGregor, UFC interim featherweight champion
  • Rafael dos Anjos, UFC lightweight champion
  • Alexander Gustafsson, No. 2 UFC light heavyweight contender
  • Holly Holm, No. 8 UFC women’s bantamweight contender
  • Luke Rockhold, No. 1 UFC middleweight contender
  • Donald Cerrone, No. 2 UFC lightweight contender
  • Josh Barnett, No. 8 UFC heavyweight contender
  • Roy Nelson, No. 12 UFC heavyweight contender
  • Dustin Poirier, No. 13 UFC lightweight contender
  • Joe Duffy, UFC lightweight
  • Vitor Belfort, No. 4 UFC middleweight contender
  • Dan Henderson, No. 11 UFC middleweight contender
  • Matt Brown, No. 5 UFC welterweight contender
  • Kelvin Gastelum, No. 15 UFC welterweight contender
  • Frankie Edgar, No. 2 UFC featherweight contender
  • Chad Mendes, No. 3 UFC featherweight contender