For the sake of Joe Rogan’s last-minute screaming Pay-Per-View sales pitch with UFC president Dana White lets hope he never has to eat his words on this one.
Appearing on FOX Sports Live and responding to news that Chael Sonnen had offered himself as a late replacement to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 170 Feb. 22, Rogan says he’s not even interested in watching that fight.
“No, I don’t need to see that,” says Rogan. “I think if Chael was going to fight him I’d like to see him go through a full camp. [The fight] doesn’t make that much sense. Although I love Chael, it doesn’t make that much sense, especially after Rashad Evans destroyed him. Rashad Evans was [Cormier’s] opponent. For [Sonnen] to step in it really doesn’t make that much sense.
“Who’s [Cormier] going to fight? Well, there’s a lot of great fighters at light heavyweight. The real issue is who is he going to fight on such short notice. I don’t think anybody. I think they’re going to scrap the fight. I think they’re going to scrap the fight and Rory MacDonald and Demian Maia moves up to co-main, which is very, very unfortunate.”
Those feelings would seem to jive with a report from Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, who says the UFC plans on pushing the fight to UFC 172 in April.
@lorenzofertitta tells me he wants to keep @SugaRashadEvans Cormier fight intact. So with Evans injured, fight moving to April, off Feb. 22.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) February 13, 2014
With the Baltimore card headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, it would make sense to add the title eliminator right alongside.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Evans out. With Rashad Evans withdrawing from UFC 170 with an injury, Daniel Cormier is willing to fight anyone the UFC can find.
Overeem in hiding? After Dana White called him out claiming he’s ducking Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem tells us he’s just recovering from an injury.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas talks changes to the UFC’s bonus structure, Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi, the evolution of Ronda Rousey and more in this week’s live chat.
Exploring other options. Dana White says if Gilbert Melendez wants to compete in the UFC he should resolve his contract negotiations quickly and that ‘he better start looking elsewhere.’
Help for Ronda. Responding to Jon Jones’ comments about the UFC putting its weight behind her, Ronda Rousey says she’s owed whatever help she’s been given.
MEDIA STEW
By the Numbers: Machida vs Mousasi.
Ben Askren on Inside MMA.
Lyoto Machida training highlights.
Throwing it back. Gegard Mousasi vs. Ronaldo Souza at Dream 6.
Don Frye compares tournament fighting to sleeping with the ‘wrong’ type of women.
I got the wrecking ball vid, but have no idea what this is.
Long watches.
UFC 170 conference call audio (Does Rashad not sound too happy or is it just me?)
UFC Fight Night 36: Care/Don’t Care Preview
TWEETS
Heros, all.
.@dc_mma ya know I haven’t been crazy about you attitude as of late. Daddy ain’t ready, but he’s ready enough. Feb 22 just say my name…
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) February 13, 2014
@dc_mma @sonnench @danawhite soon it will happen. After my fight with @PhilMrWonderful it’ll happen asap. Sorry my boy got injured.
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) February 13, 2014
@dc_mma @Anthony_Rumble @danawhite I accept. See you in LV.
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) February 13, 2014
Hans Moleman. I’ve missed this.
The belt is mine. And I will run through everyone in my way.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 13, 2014
@TheNotoriousMMA @JamieKavanagh90 @dillo1888 Listen Connie you’re always welcome to come by our gym to pick up a reality check
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 13, 2014
@TheNotoriousMMA @JamieKavanagh90 You’re all talk. You had you’re chance in Vegas and you didn’t do shit
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 13, 2014
@CubSwanson @JamieKavanagh90 I told you I’m gonna run through you and all you could say was ‘why have you got a problem with me?’ Pussy talk
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 13, 2014
@CubSwanson @JamieKavanagh90 Lie. You wouldn’t even look. You got beat by the guy who got beat. “Please move up Jose, please” pussy talk.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 13, 2014
Metamoris 4?
@JonnyBones this can be arranged!
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 12, 2014
Bjorn?
Seeing this news about @GilbertMelendez has me excited. Who wants to see me welcome him to @BellatorMMA after I beat Eddie?
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) February 13, 2014
Oh no.
Just watched my fight 4 1st time. Really frustrating. 😐 @ufc @danawhite might have to take Herbs pic off my fridge 🙂 pic.twitter.com/P6hf1t1Y7Z
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) February 13, 2014
Never in doubt.
Twitter going bananas! Not running for anyone, on holiday right now & also rehabbing injuries so not ready to discuss a fight at this time.
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) February 13, 2014
Congrats.
“@bobbyrazak: Proudest day of my life 🙂 with @JoshLBarnett pic.twitter.com/4o4rrgIWGq” Congratulations Bobby.
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) February 13, 2014
You too, Steve Jobs.
@aplusk thanks for coming tonight bro and congrats on your promotion 🙂 2 stripe blue. pic.twitter.com/Lc0cLbOIHZ
— Bobbyrazakmovies.com (@bobbyrazak) February 13, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 12 2014)
cancelled Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 170
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Da Headbanger.
Everything You NEED to Know About UFC Fight Night 36 Main Card
With the UFC working to expand into new markets, the two weeks that will have passed between UFC 169 and UFC Fight Night 36 is likely about as long of a period of time that we can expect from this point on. Rabid fight fans can consider this to be a good thing. Casual fans… I’ll say that they should at least catch the main event of UFC Fight Night 36. Two former world champions (albeit in different organizations) clash in what could determine the next middleweight #1 contender. Lyoto Machida is a well-established name and has been in title contention (if not the champ) for the last 5 years. Gegard Mousasi is an unknown to those who only follow the UFC, but has a chance to make his name against Machida and has the talent to do so.
The rest of the card features another high stakes middleweight match, two (former?) prized prospects trying to right their ship against seemingly lesser opponents, and a low-key welterweight match. Nothing to truly blow your socks off, but should be good nonetheless.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.