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Ronda Rousey Reportedly Agrees to 3-Movie Deal with Lifetime Network

UFC superstar Ronda Rousey reportedly reached an agreement with the Lifetime Network on a three-picture movie deal with a focus on empowerment projects.
Denise Petski of Deadline first reported the news on Wednesday. Damon Martin of Fox Sp…

UFC superstar Ronda Rousey reportedly reached an agreement with the Lifetime Network on a three-picture movie deal with a focus on empowerment projects.

Denise Petski of Deadline first reported the news on Wednesday. Damon Martin of Fox Sports noted Rousey is going to develop and produce the features but “from the sound of things” isn’t currently expected to play the starring roles.

The deal is to “bring stories that reflect her passions about empowerment to the screen,” according to the Deadline report. No further information about the films was immediately released, though.

Rousey skyrocketed to stardom during during the 11-0 start to her MMA career, which featured a string of dominant performances. Only once during that stretch did her opponent survive the first round, and nine times she finished the fight within the first round.

Not only did that run of success make her one of the UFC’s biggest draws, but it also opened the door to opportunities outside of the Octagon. That included appearances in Hollywood films such as The Expendables 3, Furious 7 and Entourage.

More recently, the 29-year-old California native was chosen to star in a remake of Road House and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.

Rousey lost her first career fight to Holly Holm back in November by second-round knockout. Even before that defeat, however, she was talking about getting away from the sport for a while, as she explained in an interview with Mike Bohn of Rolling Stone:

I would like to wait until UFC 200 to fight again. I’m going to be filming [movies] in the meantime, so I’m still going to be keeping busy. When I’m filming it’s kind of weird, I’m on camera the whole time, but nothing really goes out until a year or two later. It is kind of like disappearing in a way.

The timeline has changed since those comments, though. Artem Safarov of SB Nation’s Bloody Elbow noted UFC President Dana White said during an interview on ESPN last month that she isn’t scheduled to make her return until “October or November.” UFC 200 is set for July 9.

Clearly, Rousey is keeping her promise to stay busy during her time away from the UFC, though. She generated a lot of mainstream appeal while crushing opponent after opponent in the Octagon, and despite the loss, she’s turned that into new ventures.

So, while MMA fans eagerly await her comeback, inking the deal with the Lifetime Network will allow Rousey to pursue her other passions in the meantime.

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Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2: Early Odds for UFC 200 Main Event

UFC officially announced Wednesday that the rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight championship is set to headline UFC 200 in July.
The highly anticipated clash replaces another rematch, Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor, as …

UFC officially announced Wednesday that the rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight championship is set to headline UFC 200 in July.

The highly anticipated clash replaces another rematch, Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor, as the main event after McGregor’s retirement saga. Odds Shark passed along the early odds as Jones looks to pick up another victory over Cormier after winning the first bout by unanimous decision:

Jones and Cormier were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 197 last week. The light heavyweight champion was forced to pull out with a foot injury, however, so Jones fought Ovince Saint Preux for the interim belt instead and eased to victory by unanimous decision.

That triumph marked the 28-year-old New York native’s first bout since his initial battle with Cormier 15 months prior. In between, he went through a series of highly publicized personal issues that kept him away from the Octagon.

Jones wasn’t anywhere close to his best against Saint Preux, who merely didn’t have enough weapons to compete with a top-tier opponent, even one dealing with rust after an extended break. He’ll need to improve markedly in order to score a second straight win over his rival.

Cormier certainly didn’t come away from that fight impressed, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports:

He got the job done. A lot of times most guys they don’t have their best performance, they lose, they don’t get it done. So it shows how special Jon is.

With that being said, very disappointed that I didn’t get to compete tonight because I do believe if he showed up in the form that he did tonight or if this is the new Jon Jones, there’s no way that guy can beat me.

Now the MMA world is going to get a chance to find out if that forecast from the 37-year-old veteran is accurate. He won the vacant title with an impressive submission victory over Anthony Johnson while Jones was away and backed it up by beating the powerful Alexander Gustafsson by split decision.

Although UFC went through a period of turmoil while McGregor was claiming retirement and Cormier’s status was unclear due to injury, it appears everything is going to work out in the end. Jones against Cormier in a unification bout is a rock-solid fight to headline the marquee event.

The biggest question will be which version of Jones shows up in Las Vegas on July 9. The one who looked beatable against Saint Preux or the formerly dominant champion who owned the light heavyweight division for years. The answer will likely determine who walks out as the champ.

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Jones vs. Saint Preux: UFC 197 Odds, Predictions and Pre-Fight Twitter Hype

It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect when Jon Jones returns to the Octagon for the first time in 15 months at UFC 197 on Saturday night. The dominant former light heavyweight champion has gone through a lot in his personal life since his vict…

Saturday’s event was supposed to feature a rematch with Cormier, who had to pull out three weeks before the fight with a foot injury. Instead, Jones will take on unheralded foe Ovince Saint Preux and look to quickly establish himself as the pound-for-pound king once again.

Let’s check out all of the important information for Jones’ return to action. That’s followed by a look at the odds and a prediction for the hyped main event.

UFC 197 Details

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

When: Saturday at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view

Live Stream: UFC TV

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

Jones vs. Saint Preux Odds

Main Event Preview

As mentioned, it’s been a difficult stretch for Jones since his last UFC fight as he’s dealt with several issues outside of competition. Now, the onus is on him to get both his professional career and personal life back on track.

He opened up about the situation to Martin Rogers of USA Today. The New York native explained that marijuana had taken complete control of his life:

One thing people don’t realize is that you can be a drug addict even if you are a stoner. If you are waking up every day and smoking, smoking before you eat, smoking before you train, smoke before you sleep, smoking before you watch a movie, smoking before your study session, you are an addict. It doesn’t have to be a hard drug to be an addict.

The 28-year-old star heads into his clash with Saint Preux sporting a 21-1 career record. At his peak, his combination of length and technical ability made him virtually unbeatable. He completely owned the light heavyweight division and often made it look easy.

As a result, it’s no surprise the numbers provided by Reed Kuhn of Fightnomics lean heavily in Jones’ favor ahead of Saturday’s fight:

It’s not a guarantee that version of Jones shows up, though. Being able to replicate that type of success after such an extended layoff is a tricky task, especially for a fighter who showcased such a consistent rhythm and flow in his fights.

Saint Preux is a dangerous opponent for somebody who could be dealing with some rust, too. While Jones holds an advantage in most areas, the 33-year-old veteran is powerful and will likely come out aggressively, hoping to catch the former champion with some heavy shots before he settles in.

That said, the underdog isn’t expecting Jones to suffer much of a drop-off, per Steven Marrocco and John Morgan of MMAJunkie.

“The version I’ve always seen,” Saint Preux said. “That’s the version I want to fight, anyway. It makes me that much better. It’s just going to make the fight that much more epic.”

MMA Beef passed along another breakdown of the intriguing matchup:

The bottom line is that this bout is a good measuring stick for Jones. It’s a fight he should win so long as he performs anywhere near the level he did before the extended absence. But Saint Preux is talented enough to pull off the upset if the favorite is sluggish in the early going.

Mike Bohn of Rolling Stone noted it could also be somewhat of a warm-up fight:

Ultimately, Jones has too many weapons at his disposal as the better all-around fighter, and that should pay off in the end. Even if he’s not able to finish it in the middle rounds, he should win a comfortable decision to set the table for a marquee battle with Cormier.

Prediction: Jones by unanimous decision

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Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 Announced for UFC 200: Full Match Card, Reaction

UFC officially announced Wednesday that a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will take place at the milestone UFC 200 event at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 9.
UFC Tonight on Twitter reported the news of the fight card’s ma…

UFC officially announced Wednesday that a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will take place at the milestone UFC 200 event at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 9.

UFC Tonight on Twitter reported the news of the fight card’s main event, and it also posted several other bouts on the slate for this summer’s MMA showcase:

The other notable showdown not mentioned above is an interim featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, also announced by UFC Tonight on Wednesday. Those two previously dueled at UFC 156 in February 2013, and Aldo came out on top by way of unanimous decision.

Diaz stunned McGregor in the main event of UFC 196 in early March, winning by submission with a rear-naked choke in the second round. It marked the first UFC defeat for the Irish sensation, who’s skyrocketed into the mainstream sports spotlight thanks to his boisterous style.

Now he’ll get a chance to exact some revenge on his American counterpart.

It’s possible the numbers pushed UFC to seek out the rematch. Damon Martin of Fox Sports passed along comments from UFC President Dana White, who confirmed UFC 196 was a record-breaking show for the promotion.

“These are things that captures people’s imaginations,” White said. “That’s why the thing does 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, cause it captures the imagination of fight fans and then when it lives up to the building, when it lives up to what it was supposed to be.”

He added: “Nobody left disappointed on Saturday night.”

More than anything else, those numbers show the type of attraction McGregor has become. His status as a top-tier draw could be in peril if he’s not able to beat Diaz in the rematch, though.

The way he promotes fights is entertaining, but it’s an approach that quickly loses its luster if not backed up by victories in the Octagon. He needs a win in July to solidify his place, or questions will arise about his long-term staying power.

Matt Boone of MMA News noted McGregor confirmed during an interview with TMZ Sports after the loss that he wanted another shot at Diaz.

“I think I’d like to see that, yea? I mean, it’s one that interests me, most certainly,” McGregor said. “You know, when I look at the fight I was winning the fight. I won the first round and a half, I feel. I’d love to get that one back. We’ll see how it goes. Money talks. Life is good.”

Not everybody is happy about the selection, though. Rafael dos Anjos, who was supposed to fight McGregor at UFC 196 for the lightweight title before suffering a foot injury, provided his reaction on social media:

Even though it should be a star-studded card once finalized, McGregor’s effort to level the score with Diaz will undoubtedly be one of the top storylines. It will be intriguing to see whether the increased preparation time—the first battle was confirmed less than two weeks beforehand—makes a difference.

The rematch is also a golden opportunity for Diaz. He’s fought sporadically over the last couple of years because of a contract dispute with the promotion. Beating such a high-profile opponent twice in a row would make a statement and illustrate his value.

As for now, expect plenty of verbal warfare between the fighters as they begin getting ready for July’s marquee event.

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Dana White Says Conor McGregor Wants to Return to Fight at UFC 200

UFC president Dana White stated this week that Conor McGregor is eager to get back in the Octagon after his loss to Nate Diaz last weekend and could return for UFC 200 in July.
Jeff Cain of MMA Weekly passed along comments White made during an appearan…

UFC president Dana White stated this week that Conor McGregor is eager to get back in the Octagon after his loss to Nate Diaz last weekend and could return for UFC 200 in July.

Jeff Cain of MMA Weekly passed along comments White made during an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Russillo & Kanell Today on Tuesday. He made it clear the details are still being worked out, but the featherweight champion wants to take part in the milestone event.

“He wants to fight again as soon as possible,” White said. “He wants to jump back in there, and he wants to fight again. We’re working on who the next opponent will be.”

He added: “In this business, it has to burn. It has to be a desire inside you to fight. [McGregor] is a perfect example. This guy’s going to turn around and fight on [UFC] 200 again.”

The loss to Diaz, which came via submission in the second round of their welterweight clash, marked McGregor’s first defeat since joining UFC in 2013. He also become one of the promotion’s top draws during his seven-fight winning streak thanks to his brash, outspoken style.

BJ Penn highlighted some potential opponents for the Irish star’s return to action:

Regardless of the choice that’s ultimately made, the next bout is perhaps the most important of McGregor’s career. The biggest question after a fighter of his caliber loses is whether they can bounce right back or if it’s a sign of a bigger letdown ahead.

Coming right back at UFC 200 and successfully defending his featherweight belt in dominant fashion should get him on track again. However, another loss would raise questions about his staying power in terms of being a mainstream attraction for the promotion.

McGregor clearly wants to get out there as soon as possible to prove himself once again.

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McGregor vs. Diaz: Weigh-in Info, Top Comments Before UFC 196

Conor McGregor has become one of the top individual attractions in sports by talking a lot of trash and then backing it up in the Octagon. He faces a new challenge on Saturday night, as he moves up two divisions for a welterweight clash with Nate Diaz …

It’s an intriguing battle in large part because Diaz returned from a yearlong absence to score a hard-fought victory over Michael Johnson in December. He’s lacked consistency in recent years, but that fight showed he may be trending back toward top form. The featherweight champion will test that progress.

Let’s check out all of the important information for Saturday’s marquee encounter. That’s followed by a look at the weigh-in results and a preview of the hyped matchup.

UFC 196 Details

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

When: Saturday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view

Live Stream: UFC.com

Tickets: ScoreBig

Weigh-In Info

Comments and Preview

The biggest question heading into the fight is whether Diaz will attempt to survive a toe-to-toe slugfest with McGregor. The other, seemingly more probable, option is trying to slow the pace in the hope he can find an opening to go for a submission.

Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports passed along comments the American made about his approach during an interview with KXTV in his native California. As you’d expect, he didn’t provide many specifics.

“The game plan is to go in there, pfff pff, hit him with some good s–t, don’t get hit and come home with a pocket full of cash,” Diaz said. “I’ve got my team with me. I got all the boys. [I’m] ready to try and get the job done.”

For the sake of entertainment, hopefully Diaz is in all-out attack mode and withstands the initial barrage from McGregor. That’s something Jose Aldo couldn’t do against the Irishman, who scored a knockout just 13 seconds into the featherweight unification bout in December.

Reed Kuhn of Fightnomics provided the numbers behind what could become a fast-paced brawl:

McGregor doesn’t believe his opponent is ready for the big moment, though. Mike Bohn of Rolling Stone provided the polarizing superstar’s thoughts on what he’s seen from the typically boisterous Diaz. The answer is a lack of assertiveness.

“I sense a different Nate, I think it’s clear as day,” McGregor said. “He’s not himself, he’s timid, his voice is quivering, but I still have respect for him. But ring the bell and I’m coming out fast, I’m coming out spinning and his head is coming off. I think our speed difference is going to be really, really evident.”

If the fight is that simple and he scores another convincing victory, the next step would be trying to figure out what’s on the horizon in terms of giving him a serious foe.

One extremely long-shot idea that’s been floated out there is fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. The undefeated boxer retired last year, but John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, believes it’s something that would create a massive amount of revenue, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.

“I think it would be incredible,” Kavanagh said. “From us, it’s a ‘yes’—whether it’s boxing, kickboxing or MMA, it’s a yes from us. It would be insane. What an honor it would be. A record-breaking event. The best MMA fighter versus the best boxer. Let’s do it.”

The mainstream interest is undoubtedly there, which translates into big bucks. And the build up to the fight would be nothing short of amazing. But nobody should get their hopes up.

Mayweather built his 49-0 through tremendous boxing ability but also smart business sense. He always preferred the known over the unknown in terms of opponents. McGregor would represent the ultimate unknown, and all the pressure would be on Money.

But as unlikely as a bout between the two is, it’s something fun to think about.

For now, McGregor must focus on the task at hand. He’s moving up a couple of weight classes, and Diaz is a dangerous, well-rounded opponent despite losing three of his past five fights.

While it’s still a bout the featherweight champion should win, it could be a little trickier than it seems on paper. Some drama would only add to what should be a great atmosphere.

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