Author: Nathan McCarter

Rumble Learns of Daniel Cormier’s Knee Injury During a Morning Show Interview

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson picked up a bit of intel while doing the morning television show circuit alongside his UFC 206 counterpart Daniel Cormier.

Breakfast Television, a Canadian morning show, was the venue for the joint interview. Host Dina Puglies…

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson picked up a bit of intel while doing the morning television show circuit alongside his UFC 206 counterpart Daniel Cormier.

Breakfast Television, a Canadian morning show, was the venue for the joint interview. Host Dina Pugliese brought up Cormier‘s knee injury and asked Rumble if he sees that as Kryptonite for the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion.

Rumble responded quickly, “I didn’t know, but thank you for telling me.”

Whoops.

Cormier played it off jovially with the host as the interview continued. Pugliese tried to even the score by asking Johnson what his Kryptonite is, to which Johnson replied it would be his grandmother. It’s unlikely Cormier can use that to the same advantage as knowing about an opponent’s knee injury. Cormier said, “Grandmothers are off limits.”

Although, if he does try, we may see Grandma Rumble taking flight in several weeks at UFC 206.

After many contentious light-heavyweight rivalries from Tito Ortiz-Chuck Liddell to Cormier-Johnson, it is nice to see two combatants sit down cordially for interviews and even have a little fun, too.

Cormier and Johnson headline UFC 206 on December 10 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Their previous meeting was for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship, which Cormier won. The bout in Toronto will be Cormier‘s second title defense of the undisputed crown.

The waiting game is on, and Pugliese‘s additional info may result in UFC announcer Bruce Buffer shouting, “And new,” as Johnson gets his hand raised. It would certainly please Grandma Rumble.

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Jose Aldo to Meet with UFC Executives in Las Vegas Amid Dispute

Jose Aldo, reigning UFC interim featherweight champion, could be laying the foundation for his exit from the UFC and the sport of MMA as an active fighter.
MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz reports that Aldo is heading to Las Vegas to meet with his b…

Jose Aldo, reigning UFC interim featherweight champion, could be laying the foundation for his exit from the UFC and the sport of MMA as an active fighter.

MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz reports that Aldo is heading to Las Vegas to meet with his bosses to resolve the current issues.

Aldo was none too pleased that UFC President Dana White announced that Conor McGregor would not only fight Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight belt but also keep his featherweight championship as well. Aldo came right out and expressed his desire to be let go from the organization, per Combate (h/t Damon Martin of Fox Sports).

What makes this trip to Vegas curious is Aldo stating he would not fight for another organization. Per Cruz’s interview with the champion, “It’s not like I want to retire, I’m too young and still have a lot left, but I have no desire to fight. And I have no interest in going to another organization.” Aldo continued, “If I’m not in the UFC, I’m not fighting anywhere else.”

So why meet with the UFC if he isn’t going to continue fighting outside of the organization?

Cruz asked Aldo just that question, and it has to do with outside projects. “They (UFC) have the rights for everything, even my breath,” said Aldo.

UFC athletes have been outspoken on several issues as of late. Lightweight Al Iaquinta decided to retire from fighting due to an unwillingness of the UFC to restructure his contract. Iaquinta confirmed his retirement to Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen on Twitter.

Former middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva felt disrespected by White and Lorenzo Fertitta following UFC 200, per UOL (h/t MMAWeekly.com). And lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov feels the same way after being spurned for title shots. Nurmagomedov has even threatened to keep the UFC out of Russia if he doesn’t get a title shot should he defeat Michael Johnson (h/t The Luke Thomas Show).

Aldo is not alone, and time will tell if his situation sets precedent for the future.

Aldo has been focused on the McGregor rematch since eating canvas in 13 seconds last December, but the UFC keeping McGregor as the featherweight champion while he has not yet defended the belt has been an equal part of his frustrations with the organization.

The scheduled meeting with the UFC should produce interesting results. Can the UFC entice Aldo back into a defense of his interim belt? Will he be guaranteed a fight with McGregor in 2017? Or will Aldo be retiring from competition?

Whichever it may be, do not expect Aldo to go quietly into the night.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 204 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

Michael Bisping nearly got iced again, but a champion’s resolve was on full display at home for the Brit.
Bisping out-lasted Dan Henderson in the UFC 204 main event. It was the final fight in Henderson’s career and cemented Bisping as the undisputed ch…

Michael Bisping nearly got iced again, but a champion’s resolve was on full display at home for the Brit.

Bisping out-lasted Dan Henderson in the UFC 204 main event. It was the final fight in Henderson’s career and cemented Bisping as the undisputed champion as he defended the belt for the first time.

More was on the line at UFC 204, and now with it in the rear view mirror it’s time to look forward to what comes next.

Let’s answer that question that creeps up after every event.

Who is next on the docket for the winners and losers?

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UFC 204: Live Results, Play-by-Play and Fight Card Highlights

Will the “H-Bomb” land one more time for Dan Henderson to walk off into the sunset with UFC gold, or will the improbable title run of Michael Bisping continue onward? UFC 204 on Saturday night will tell the tale.
The longtime rivals meet for …

Will the “H-Bomb” land one more time for Dan Henderson to walk off into the sunset with UFC gold, or will the improbable title run of Michael Bisping continue onward? UFC 204 on Saturday night will tell the tale.

The longtime rivals meet for a second time to settle the score, as Bisping seeks to erase the pain of the famed UFC 100 knockout.

In the co-main event, middleweights Gegard Mousasi and Vitor Belfort clash to see who can return to title contention. Also seeking title contention in the light heavyweight division are Ovince Saint Preux and Jimi Manuwa.

Bleacher Report will have complete coverage of the card when it gets underway at 7 p.m. ET. Circle back.

    

UFC 204 Full Fight Card

  • Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
  • Vitor Belfort vs. Gegard Mousasi
  • Ovince Saint Preux vs. Jimi Manuwa
  • Stefan Struve vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
  • Mirsad Bektic vs. Russell Doane
  • Brad Pickett vs. Iuri Alcantara
  • Davey Grant vs. Damian Stasiak
  • Leon Edwards vs. Albert Tumenov
  • Lukasz Sajewski vs. Marc Diakiese
  • Danny Roberts vs. Mike Perry
  • Leonardo Santos vs. Adriano Martins

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UFC 204 Weigh-in Results: Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson II

The official weigh-in for UFC 204 has come and gone, and, yes, we have a title fight.
Michael Bisping (185) and Dan Henderson (184) both made weight for the middleweight title tilt that headlines the action in Manchester, England. The contest is a rema…

The official weigh-in for UFC 204 has come and gone, and, yes, we have a title fight.

Michael Bisping (185) and Dan Henderson (184) both made weight for the middleweight title tilt that headlines the action in Manchester, England. The contest is a rematch of the famed UFC 100 meeting that saw Henderson stiffen Bisping with his patented “H-Bomb.” Now, Bisping is champion and Henderson is seeking UFC gold one last time in his final MMA fight.

It’s not the only middleweight fight on the card.

Contenders Vitor Belfort (186) and Gegard Mousasi (185) will be the co-main event. A win is not likely to grant either man a title shot, but it will move them in the right direction toward their goal.

Also in action, heavyweights Stefan Struve (265) and Daniel Omielanczuk (239) are set to square off. And in the light heavyweight division, Ovince Saint Preux (205) returns to the Octagon to battle with Jimi Manuwa (205).

The weigh-in was not without its drama. As the clock ticked away, Ian Entwistle did not step on the scale. The UFC’s Europe Twitter account tweeted that he was taken off due to illness. He was scheduled to take on Rob Font on the card.

With the official weigh-ins completed, everyone can now turn their attention to the dog and pony show exhibition later today. The fighters will tip the scales again, sort of, for the fans at 1 p.m. ET, but they are officially on weight and the event is set.

Bleacher Report will continue its coverage of UFC 204. Stick around.

           
           

UFC 204 Weigh-in Results

  • Michael Bisping (185) vs. Dan Henderson (184)
  • Vitor Belfort (186) vs. Gegard Mousasi (185)
  • Jimi Manuwa (205) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205)
  • Daniel Omielanczuk (239) vs. Stefan Struve (265)
  • Mirsad Bektic (144) vs. Russell Doane (145)
  • Iuri Alcantara (136) vs. Brad Pickett (136)
  • Davey Grant (135) vs. Damian Stasiak (135)
  • Leon Edwards (169) vs. Albert Tumenov (169)
  • Marc Diakiese (156) vs. Lukasz Sajewski (156)
  • Mike Perry (170) vs. Danny Roberts (170)
  • Adriano Martins (155) vs. Leonardo Santos (156)

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 96 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

The UFC returned to Portland with a (sort of) bantamweight showcase that lived up to the hype.
John Lineker met John Dodson in a classic. The two flyweight-turned-bantamweight contenders stood toe-to-toe and hit each other with their best shots. It was…

The UFC returned to Portland with a (sort of) bantamweight showcase that lived up to the hype.

John Lineker met John Dodson in a classic. The two flyweight-turned-bantamweight contenders stood toe-to-toe and hit each other with their best shots. It was an incredible sight to see. In the end, Lineker edged Dodson with a split decision.

The co-main event was a catchweight as well, but it was not as entertaining or forgiving. Alex Oliveira, who came in five pounds overweight, defeated Will Brooks by TKO in the third round. The weight and post-fight antics spoiled any goodwill he may have had.

With those and every other fight on the card the UFC crew has to be hard at work on figuring out what’s next. That’s where we come in.

Welcome, UFC matchmakers. Please, take a seat and gaze into the crystal ball to learn who comes next for the winners and losers of UFC Fight Night 96.

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