UFC president Dana White is intent on signing women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano, so much so he told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto Friday that it was just a matter of sitting down and making it happen.
“I’m going to meet with Gina next week and get that f—ing thing done,” White said. “It’s just a matter of me and Lorenzo [Fertitta] going to jump on a plane to Los Angeles, get in a room with her and her lawyer and get this thing done.”
According to Bleacher Reports’ Jeremy Botter, a source very close to the situation believes quickly signing Carano for a possible year-end title bout with women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey might not be so simple.
Gina Carano to the UFC is not as much of a lock as I thought it was yesterday. Movie conflicts. Studio has to sign off.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014
Studio worried that losing to Ronda will hurt Gina’s action hero allure. And yeah, it would.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014
Not to say it won’t get done. Just that more forces are at play than just Dana negotiating with her agent. Not as simple.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014
White and the UFC seem eager to book Carano against Rousey, as both he and the newly-signed Holly Holm believe she isn’t quite ready to step into a title shot. White told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times Thursday he ‘plans to give Holm at least one non-title fight before matching her against Rousey.’ Holm, recovering from a broken arm suffered Apr. 4 in a successful five-round title claim for Legacy FC, echoed those same sentiments Jul. 12 on Inside MMA.
“I never have picked who I fight my entire career and I don’t really want to start now,” said Holm. “You don’t want to be thrown to the wolves but you definitely want to take challenges. I kind of just let the people around me lead the way and just take the challenge as it comes.”
Rousey most recently defended her title in a 16-second TKO of Alexis Davis at UFC 175 on Jul. 5, while Carano has been absent from fighting since being stopped in the first round by Cris Cyborg in 2009. Taking place in Strikeforce, the bout was heralded at the time as being the biggest fight in women’s MMA history.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘He was taking it all and then some.’ Wanderlei Silva believes Chael Sonnen will return to MMA once his suspension is up and hopes the fight can still come together.
These two. Jose Aldo calls Chad Mendes a ‘p***y’ and accuses him of using PED’s. Mendes responds.
Rankings. Catch up on SB Nation’s most recent updated MMA rankings for women (here) and middleweights (here).
Statement. The UFC has released a response after it was discovered Ali Bagautinov failed his drug test before UFC 174.
Pound-for-Pound. Ronda Rousey’s trainer says she should be ranked ‘in the top 3’ in MMA’s P4P rankings.
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao.
Free fight: Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard.
A nice random (questions) interview with Dana White.
Georges St-Pierre still looking for motivation to return.
HEAR Magomed Malikov break his leg against Brett Rogers.
The Tim Kennedy videos get more and more strange.
Long watches.
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Sherdog Radio Network “Rewind” with Jack Encarnacao and Dave Meltzer.
TWEETS
In response to Aldo’s ‘p***y’ and PED comments.
Supplement deez nuts @josealdojr while ur home restin that neck Im out bustin my ass a… http://t.co/XCaoGVyXDu pic.twitter.com/ozDDDNxRBr
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) July 12, 2014
Fighting Irish.
In 6 days the world will bow to the fighting Irish once again!!! @dethrone http://t.co/dNDT5lbxYH #StayReady pic.twitter.com/eLlSXGvQuy
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 13, 2014
can’t wait to go to @ufc fight night in Dublin where I’m not considered pale
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) July 13, 2014
Not really sure where the @ufc is putting us up in Ireland, but this is what I’m imagining in my head @ForrestGriffin pic.twitter.com/6E7AxFv4uh
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 14, 2014
Fighting Lukes.
So let me get this straight. Wand ran from test in states. Is now testing himself. Says he’s clean and wants to fight me in Brazil?
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) July 14, 2014
Is @wandfc calling out Lukes? Forget the tests he can take whatever he wants.. I’m drinking from the fountain of youth let’s go Old Man @ufc
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) July 14, 2014
… and the internet was predictably awful.
Lunch with my friend @junior_cigano Almoçando com o amigo,damos muitas risadas juntos “Solta minha mão leao” rsrsrs pic.twitter.com/wVRCJUaLOf
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 13, 2014
Burkman vs. The World.
“@ASSAULTMMA: Tarec Saffiedine wants Rory MacDonald: ‘I know I can beat that guy’ #MMA #UFC” I will beat both of them.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) July 12, 2014
I would beat him 1st minute of the 1st rd. I train w many UFC WW. They all get beat up. @jewboy951 @MMARoasted @ASSAULTMMA @tarecfighter
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) July 13, 2014
I wonder how many of you I could beat at the same time?… Probably 6. Rethink you profile pic flex. @sdpowell81 @MMARoasted
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) July 13, 2014
Intriguing.
https://t.co/BpJCexkXGc guys, above is the trailer for our short film for our preparation for the… http://t.co/NtTIbS7dNp
— ROBERT DRYSDALE (@robertdrysdale) July 13, 2014
Nice.
I have the best fans, I must confess, awesome wall painting!! Thank you so much for all of your love… http://t.co/jZjNyjm0Kf
— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) July 13, 2014
Brutal.
Stole this video from @jiu_jitsu_saved_my_life – it’s me fighting in a local grappling tournament in 2009-10 responding to an opponent’s attempt to jump guard – the ref reaction could be the best part though lol
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jul. 11-13 2014)
cancelled Michael Johnson vs. Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 12
cancelled Bobby Green vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Saint Preux
Bobby Green vs. Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 12
Ross Pearson vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Saint Preux
Chris Camozzi vs. Rafael Natal at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Souza
Anthony Hamilton vs. Ruan Potts at UFC 177
Rodrigo Damm vs. Al Iaquinta at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Souza
Lewis Gonzalez vs. Luis Palomino at WSOF 12
Ronny Markes vs. Kelvin Tiller at WSOF 12
Yushin Okami vs. TBA at WSOF 12
Pat Curran vs. Patricio Freire at Bellator 123
Igor Araujo vs. George Sullivan at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2
Mike Rhodes vs. Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Ramsey Nijem at UFC 177
Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson at UFC 178
Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard at UFC 178
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Davis8185.
With so many UFC events, it is very tough to create a UFC star. This week the UFC has two events, one on Wednesday featuring Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller, and one on Saturday featuring Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao. Just from the aspect of most entertaining fight, Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller should be the top choice this week. However, the Conor McGregor card in Dublin in the more intriguing card because of the “star power” of McGregor.
Conor McGregor has generated a lot of buzz because of his demeanor and his trash talking ability. Conor has called out everyone from Dustin Poirier, Diego Sanchez, Cub Swanson, and even featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Obviously with two fights in the UFC, McGregor has not “deserved” all the hype he has been getting.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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