Author: Scott Polacek

Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino to Fight Tonya Evinger over Megan Anderson at UFC 214

Cris “Cyborg” Justino will face Tonya Evinger instead of Megan Anderson for the vacant featherweight championship at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, on July 29.
Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reported Tuesday UFC officials confirmed Anderson withdrew from t…

Cris “Cyborg” Justino will face Tonya Evinger instead of Megan Anderson for the vacant featherweight championship at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, on July 29.

Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reported Tuesday UFC officials confirmed Anderson withdrew from the scheduled bout because of personal reasons. Evinger—who is the 135-pound champion of Invicta FC—will take her place.

Justino boasts a 17-1 record and would be a formidable opponent for even the best UFC foes. Evinger is a current champion in the all-female fight promotion Invicta FC, but this matchup figures to be a daunting challenge.

Still, Okamoto called it “a huge development” for the fighter, who was previously set to headline an Invicta event on July 15.

The showdown with Justino will be a co-main event at UFC 214 alongside the light heavyweight championship between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.

As for a potential matchup between Anderson and Justino, Okamoto noted Anderson’s representatives said she is “looking forward to fighting Cyborg for a UFC title at a later date.”

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Michael Chiesa Says Ref Should Quit After Controversial Loss to Kevin Lee

There was controversy during Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City, and Michael Chiesa was not pleased with the officiating.
He “should just crawl in a hole” and “never referee again” Chiesa said of official Mario Yamasaki, per Mike Bohn of USA…

There was controversy during Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City, and Michael Chiesa was not pleased with the officiating.

He “should just crawl in a hole” and “never referee again” Chiesa said of official Mario Yamasaki, per Mike Bohn of USA Today.

The comments came after Kevin Lee submitted Chiesa with a rear-naked choke late in the first round, although Chiesa never tapped out or went to sleep, per Lucas Rezende of Bloody Elbow. Yamasaki still stopped the fight, causing Chiesa‘s outrage.

UFC fighters Michael Johnson, Chris Camozzi and Aljamain Sterling did not agree with Yamasaki‘s decision to stop the fight, either:

To be fair to Lee, he was in control throughout the first round and appeared well on his way to victory if things followed suit. While the controversial ending will be remembered, he was the better and more physical fighter before being declared the winner.

“It was coming anyway,” Lee said of his victory, per Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting. “I didn’t feel the tap. I never do. I just did what Mario told me.”

Raimondi explained “this is the latest in a string of controversial endings involving Yamasaki, most of which are late stoppages.” Raimondi pointed out UFC president Dana White even “blasted” the official for what he saw as a late stoppage last year.

For his part, Chiesa challenged Lee to a rematch after the loss, so UFC fans may get the opportunity to see this fight again—likely with different officiating.

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Darrell Horcher Wins 1st Match Since Near-Fatal Accident at UFC Fight Night 112

Darrell Horcher’s comeback now includes a UFC victory. 
He beat Devin Powell by split decision Sunday in a lightweight bout on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City, per Ben Fowlkes of MMA Junkie. It was Horcher’s first figh…

Darrell Horcher’s comeback now includes a UFC victory. 

He beat Devin Powell by split decision Sunday in a lightweight bout on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City, per Ben Fowlkes of MMA Junkie. It was Horcher’s first fight since a near-fatal motorcycle crash.

“After going through the past year, I have such an appreciation for being back in the UFC and doing what I love,” Horcher said, per MMAFighting.com.

      

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, BIG3 Involved in Venue, Schedule Conflict

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor may be united in a venue fight before they ever fight each other.
On Saturday, TMZ Sports wrote the Aug. 26 date for the much-anticipated fight may present a conflict with Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. TMZ n…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor may be united in a venue fight before they ever fight each other.

On Saturday, TMZ Sports wrote the Aug. 26 date for the much-anticipated fight may present a conflict with Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. TMZ noted UFC President Dana White said the bout will occur in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the BIG3 championship game is already booked and scheduled at the arena that night.

According to TMZ’s sources, “there are plans in motion to move BIG3 to the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena.”

While that may be the case, the BIG3 didn’t back down from the scheduled title game when it tweeted an image of the arena with the date and its logo on the exterior:

There is plenty of star power and intrigue with the new BIG3 league, but the showdown between McGregor and Mayweather has the chance to be the sporting event of the summer. What’s more, boxing is so often associated with Las Vegas, with many of the sport’s biggest events taking place in marquee venues.

T-Mobile Arena just opened last year and may have the opportunity to host Mayweather’s 50th win in 50 tries in a fight that also features the intrigue of one of the biggest MMA stars in the world.

That, along with TMZ’s sources, suggest Ice Cube and the BIG3 may be moving down the Las Vegas strip to the MGM Grand Arena.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, BIG3 Involved in Venue, Schedule Conflict

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor may be united in a venue fight before they ever fight each other.
On Saturday, TMZ Sports wrote the Aug. 26 date for the much-anticipated fight may present a conflict with Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. TMZ n…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor may be united in a venue fight before they ever fight each other.

On Saturday, TMZ Sports wrote the Aug. 26 date for the much-anticipated fight may present a conflict with Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. TMZ noted UFC President Dana White said the bout will occur in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the BIG3 championship game is already booked and scheduled at the arena that night.

According to TMZ’s sources, “there are plans in motion to move BIG3 to the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena.”

While that may be the case, the BIG3 didn’t back down from the scheduled title game when it tweeted an image of the arena with the date and its logo on the exterior:

There is plenty of star power and intrigue with the new BIG3 league, but the showdown between McGregor and Mayweather has the chance to be the sporting event of the summer. What’s more, boxing is so often associated with Las Vegas, with many of the sport’s biggest events taking place in marquee venues.

T-Mobile Arena just opened last year and may have the opportunity to host Mayweather’s 50th win in 50 tries in a fight that also features the intrigue of one of the biggest MMA stars in the world.

That, along with TMZ’s sources, suggest Ice Cube and the BIG3 may be moving down the Las Vegas strip to the MGM Grand Arena.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Matt Hughes ‘Awake and Responsive’ After Car Accident Involving Train

Retired MMA fighter Matt Hughes is “awake and responsive” after his truck crashed into a moving train Friday.
The update came from the former fighter’s manager, Monte Cox, who also told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani on Saturday the doctors are “opt…

Retired MMA fighter Matt Hughes is “awake and responsive” after his truck crashed into a moving train Friday.

The update came from the former fighter’s manager, Monte Cox, who also told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani on Saturday the doctors are “optimistic and hopeful” about Hughes, via Helwani’s colleague Marc Raimondi.

Although Hughes’ eyes are still closed, Cox said the fighter “can squeeze hands.”

The incident occurred in Illinois, and Raimondi cited a police report stating the train hit the passenger side of Hughes’ truck after he crossed the tracks in front of it.

The UFC shared a message on its Twitter account:

Hughes was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2010 and won two welterweight titles throughout his career with the organization.

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