Rashad Evans may have wanted to fight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, but it looks like he’ll have to settle for another of the division’s elder statesmen instead.
“That fight’s probably not going to happen. If any fight happens, it would probably be Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson,” UFC President Dana White revealed on Tuesday edition of UFC Tonight.
Both Evans (17-3-1) and Henderson (29-9) are looking to right their ship after suffering listless defeats this past month; Evans to Antônio Rogério Nogueira and Henderson to Lyoto Machida.
Prior to his most recent stumble, Evans saw a four-fight win streak snapped at the hands of his former training partner, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Likewise, Henderson rode his own four-fight streak before a last-second knee injury spoiled a meeting with Jones and sunk UFC 151’s entire card. Henderson ultimately sat on the sidelines for 14 months before falling to Machida on Saturday.
7 MUST-READ STORIES
Evans vs. Hendo. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will likely fight Dan Henderson next, according to UFC President Dana White.
Henderson wants GSP. UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson intends to request a blockbuster match-up against UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre following his upcoming title defense against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on April 20, 2013 at UFC on FOX 7.
Johnson-Moraga out, Faber-Jorgensen in. An undisclosed injury forced UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson out of his upcoming title defense against John Moraga at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. UFC officials booked a bantamweight bout between Uriah Faber and Scott Jorgensen as the new main event.
Riddle released. TUF 7 alum Matt Riddle tested positive for marijuana following his UFC on FUEL 7 victory over Che Mills, according to a report from MMA Junkie. Riddle, who compiled an 8-3 (1 NC) record inside the UFC and hasn’t lost since 2011, was subsequently released from the promotion.
TUF 17 results. Team Jones’ Josh Samman knocked out Team Sonnen’s Tor Troeng in the sixth episode of The Ultimate Fighter 17.
UFC 157 PPV numbers. Early pay-per-view numbers indicate UFC 157 outdrew UFC 156 by 40-percent, making it “the most successful lighter-weight fight the company has had in more than a year.”
Straus injured. Bellator season six featherweight tournament winner Daniel Straus suffered a broken hand in training, leading to the cancellation of his upcoming Bellator 95 title fight against champion Pat Curran.
MEDIA STEW
If you missed last night’s episode of TUF 17, feel free to check it out below.
Filmmaker Bobby Razak released his latest on Tuesday, a superb mini-doc on DEEP women’s champion Amanda Lucas.
Reddit user kizzzzurt sums this one up the best: “As soon as he switched his stance the way he did, all I could think was holy s–t this is going to be bad.”
(HT: Reddit)
From Kenny Robertson’s gnarly hamstring destroyer to Ronda Rousey’s patented finish, you just knew Ryron and Rener couldn’t resist the call of UFC 157.
Urijah Hall sat down with the folks at Fightland to talk us through his stunning knockout of Adam Cella.
You knew it was inevitable. Check out the latest from Masato Toys:
Props to GDCMMA.
HE SPEAKS
Want to thank everyone for all the support and thoughts. I should have news this week on where I will be fighting next.
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) February 25, 2013
Getting on a plane to Japan right now. Can’t wait. Been awhile since I was in Tokyo.
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) February 25, 2013
So bright i gotta wear shades RT @omgitsmacattack: @jonfitchdotnet the future is bright bro
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) February 25, 2013
YUP, REALITY TV
Damn they edit the shit out of that episode shit didn’t go down like that but bring on the haters
— Uriah Hall (@UriahHallMMA) February 27, 2013
NOT THE BEST START TO THE WEEK
Happy our lost luggage finally got here a day later then us, underwear and socks were starting to get very crispy @ufc
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) February 27, 2013
BROKEN HAND
@patcurranmma no worries homie, we will dance. I appreciate the well wishes champ
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) February 26, 2013
@nickstrickland3 6-8 weeks
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) February 26, 2013
“@mele5150: I sure hope it wasn’t @danielstraus pimp hand that was injured.” It was. Should’ve used more pimp powder
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) February 26, 2013
CAMPAIGNING
@danawhite Hey if the main event is out I’d love to headline the April 13th card!! What do you say @catzingano? Fans??
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 27, 2013
YODA VOLKMANN
Check out WSOF!I am.
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) February 26, 2013
#WECNEVERDIE
Me n @urijahfaber gonna putting on damn show at @ufc tuf finale live. Crazy I wouldn’t be fighting if he hasn’t talked me into in college!
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) February 27, 2013
@urijahfaber @danawhite @tufonfx shit just outta control! Hahaha see ya in 6 weeks bud
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) February 27, 2013
@scottjorgensen @urijahfaber got a couple extra pairs of blue gloves if you guys wanna rock ’em. #NeverForget 🙂
— WEC (@WEConVERSUS) February 27, 2013
BEWARE THE PASTRIES
Your not alone lol, maybe we should start a support group “@timkennedymma: Cupcakes will be a major hurdle for me when I cut to 170lbs.”
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 26, 2013
DON’T THINK THAT’S HOW TWITTER WORKS, TITO…
G’day Tito I’m a big fan from down under,in my opinion u made mma and UFC to what It is today.Congrats on all your success,true roll model
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 26, 2013
Thank you. Rt @hadley82: G’day Tito I’m a big fan from down under,in my opinion u made mma and (cont) tl.gd/l5nj89
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 27, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Tuesday, February 26, 2013):
- UFC on FX 8: Evan Dunham (14-3) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (18-6)
- TUF 17 Finale: Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) out with injury opposite John Moraga (12-1), bout canceled
- TUF 17 Finale: Urijah Faber (27-6) vs. Scott Jorgensen (14-6) booked as main event
- TUF 17 Finale: Sam Sicilia (11-2) vs. Maximo Blanco (8-4-1)
- UFC on FX 8: Evan Dunham (14-3) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (18-6)
- Bellator 95: Daniel Straus (21-4) out with injury opposite Pat Curran (18-4), bout canceled
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day sees tigerlee bring us the latest edition of: MMA Transaction Wire: Feb 14-20
Name Record Weight (Rank) Transaction Info (Date) Fight Card Opponent (Rank) Cristiane Santos 10-1-0,1nc 145 (4) Signed by Invicta FC, Feb 15 IFC 5, Apr 5 Ediane Gomes (2) Brandon Thatch 8-1-0 170 (78) Signed by Resurrection FA, Feb 15 RFA 7, Mar 22 Leandro Silva (139) Leandro Silva 18-7-0 170 (139) Signed by Resurrection FA, Feb 15 RFA 7, Mar 22 Brandon Thatch Jeremy Kimball 8-3-0 177 (80-MW) Signed by Resurrection FA, Feb 15 RFA 7, Mar 22 Chidi Njokuani (127-WW) Leandro Veal 1-0-0 265 (NR) Signed by Resurrection FA, Feb 15 RFA 7, Mar 22 Carl Potsma (NR) Joni Salovaara 12-5-0 145 (107) Signed by Cage Warriors UK, Feb 18 CWFC 53, Apr 13 Jim Alers (77) Chris Scott 6-1-0 185 (192) Signed by Cage Warriors UK, Feb 18 CWFC 53, Apr 13 Mats Nilsson (86) Brandon Halsey 2-0-0 205 (NR-I) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Rocky Ramirez (NR) Rocky Ramirez 4-3-1 205 (NR) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Brandon Halsey Shad Smith 12-16-2 145 (NR) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Aaron Miller (143) Maurice Jackson 3-2-0,3nc 265 (NR) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Manny Lara (249) Willie Parks 5-2-0 185 (289-WW) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Keith Berry (NR) Keith Berry 13-10-0 185 (NR) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Willie Parks Ricky Legere Jr. 15-4-0 170 (185) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Sabah Homasi (NR) Eric Uresk 7-5-0 145 (NR) Bellator prelim, Feb 19 BFC 92, Mar 7 Cleber Luciano (221) Jon Fitch 24-5-1,1nc 170 (18) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Vladimir Matyushenko 26-7-0 205 (33) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Terry Etim 15-5-0 155 (436) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Ulysses Gomez 9-4-0 125 (56) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Josh Grispi 14-5-0 145 (228) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Che Mills 15-6-0,1nc 170 (69) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Jorge Santiago 25-11-0 170 (53) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Paul Sass 13-2-0 155 (63) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Motonobu Tezuka 19-6-4 135 (78) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Jay Hieron 23-7-0 170 (28) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD C.J. Keith 8-2-0 155 (337) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Wagner Prado 8-2-0,1nc 205 (217) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Mike Russow 15-3-0,1nc 265 (35) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Mike Stumpf 11-4-0 170 (NR) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Simeon Thoresen 17-4-1 170 (308) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD Jacob Volkmann 15-4-0 155 (44) Released by UFC, Feb 20 TBD TBD *All Rankings taken from Fight Matrix at time of writing. NR-I indicates Inactive fighter
Notable regional results after the jump…
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.