Two fights have been added to May’s UFC 187 fight card. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 finalist Rose Namajunas will face Nina Ansaroff in a strawweight bout while male flyweights Josh Sampo and Justin Scoggins will face one another. The UFC a…
Namajunas, 22, last competed on the TUF 20 Finale in December of 2014 where she lost to Carla Esparza via third-round rear naked choke. Her professional record stands at 2-2.
Ansaroff, 29, is also trying to get back on the winning track after dropping her UFC debut to Juliana Lima at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. St. Preux in November of 2014. She currently holds a 6-4 professional record.
Sampo, 30, 1-2 inside the Octagon. He most recently lost to Patrick Holohan in July via first-round rear naked choke. He sports a professional record of 11-4.
Scoggins, 22, also wants to improve his 2-2 record in the UFC. He last competed at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Jacare where he lost via guillotine choke in the second round to John Moraga. His record stands at 9-2.
UFC 187 takes place on May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight card is as follows:
Heading into UFC 184, Ronda Rousey is facing two opponents.
First, there’s Cat Zingano, Rousey’s opponent on Saturday night. Zingano (9-0) is a vicious striker with plenty of power and a bit of a crazy streak, as evidenced by her bloodcurdling scream i…
First, there’s Cat Zingano, Rousey’s opponent on Saturday night. Zingano (9-0) is a vicious striker with plenty of power and a bit of a crazy streak, as evidenced by her bloodcurdling scream in the UFC 184 promo commercial. And if Rousey has the best mean mug in the sport (she does), Zingano has to be near the top of the rankings.
Point being, Rousey might have a challenge on her plate. Or maybe not. She is a nearly 10-1 favorite on some sportsbooks, and it is hard to imagine Zingano pulling off what would be considered an all-time upset. As my colleague Jonathan Snowden and I noted, Rousey is the most dominant fighter in UFC history and is on a completely different level in terms of athleticism.
I suppose it is no surprise, then, that the major pre-fight storyline for Rousey has centered not on Zingano, but on one of the bikini-clad women who will carry a numbered placard around the Octagon on Saturday night, informing the public which round is coming up.
Rousey and Octagon girl Arianny Celeste have sniped at each other ever since a 2012 interview Rousey did with Maxim. The magazine named Rousey to its Hot 100 list. In the accompanying interview (h/t MMA Fighting), she took a shot at Celeste: “It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste… Like, ‘Ha-ha, it’s your job to show your t—–s—I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year,” Rousey said. “She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”
“I don’t really like the way she carries herself, I don’t think she’s a good role model for women,” she said. “I think that women should empower each other and give each other a little pat on the back.”
The pair remained mostly silent until last week, when Rousey took a subtle shot at Celeste during a media day at Glendale Fighting Club, her home gym in Los Angeles. Rousey said that fighters should get paid more than the ring girls.
“And I don’t know if the ring girls get paid too much or the fighters don’t get paid enough,” she said. “But yeah. There’s definitely a lot more in what the fighters do than what they do.”
On Tuesday’s edition of MMAjunkie Radio, Celeste told hosts Brent Brookhouse and Brian Garcia that Rousey is “a big bully” and that people don’t understand how difficult her job is.
Not only are you walking around in a bathing suit where people are critiquing you for that, but try having a camera in your face and showing your personality and being a host of a TV show. Trying being like a live mannequin and having clients put you in a million different outfits, and you’re wanting to go home, but you’re not able to because you have 50 different more outfits.
My first reaction upon reading Celeste’s statement?
I laughed. I laughed a good, long hearty laugh.
There are millions of people in the real world with difficult jobs, and here is Celeste, complaining about having to try on a bunch of outfits and wear a swimsuit with a camera in her face.
The fighters inside that Octagon are putting their health, brains and future at risk. She’s on the outside, walking around in a circle and holding up a card.
And while I’m sure it isn’t fun enduring the morons who whistle and shriek and yell out horrible things at the Octagon girls as they dutifully walk their circles, there is just no comparison between what they’re doing and, oh, just about any other real and difficult job on the planet.
I am sure this all sounds mean. I do not intend it to be so. But there’s just no way to take Celeste seriously when she’s trying to tell us how difficult her job is.
Go tell the incredible UFC production crew that essentially works three straight days with very little sleep to set up an arena that your job is difficult. Perhaps they’ll have some sympathy. I doubt it, but I guess there’s a chance.
“I’m sorry, but she wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fighters. She wouldn’t,” Rousey said. “Do you think her walking in circles around the two guys or two girls out there like, fighting for their lives is worth more? You think she works harder than they do?
“I didn’t say that she needed a pay cut. I said either the ring card girls are paid too much or the fighters aren’t paid enough.”
I don’t know how much Celeste is paid for her work as an Octagon girl, nor do I care. And I suppose the Octagon girls are an essential part of the UFC experience. Ring card girls are a tradition in combat sports, after all. They are probably paid substantially more than many of the fighters on the UFC roster, especially those who are just starting out on preliminary cards. I don’t have to agree with it, and Rousey’s stance on the matter is quite clear.
But don’t go around telling everybody that your job is difficult, because it isn’t. I understand that Celeste felt the need to defend herself against Rousey’s attacks. We’ve all been there.
But this is one battle she won’t win. Because much like Rousey’s opponents in the Octagon, Celeste is outgunned.
James Krause is fired up. Not that the Missouri-based scrapper ever needs any added motivation going into a fight, but there is something stinging him leading into his next tilt at UFC 184. A quick look at the hard-charging lightweight’s career reveals he’s traveled a hard road to make it to the biggest stage in […]
James Krause is fired up. Not that the Missouri-based scrapper ever needs any added motivation going into a fight, but there is something stinging him leading into his next tilt at UFC 184. A quick look at the hard-charging lightweight’s career reveals he’s traveled a hard road to make it to the biggest stage in […]
Isn’t it wild what a win will do for you? Riding a four-fight losing streak and facing what effectively amounted to a win-or-retire match against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC Fight Night 61, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir survived to live another day, toppling the Brazilian giant in less than two minutes this past Sunday to stave off retirement and score his first victory in over three years.
Now he’s already planning his next move.
According to manager Malki Kawa, Mir, 35, hopes to compete at least twice more in 2015, and if all plays out right, ideally one of those fights would be a trilogy match against Mir’s old rival, former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar.
MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported the news on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight.
A decorated two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Mir (17-9) has captured a myriad of records throughout his 15-year tenure inside the Octagon, including most heavyweight wins (15), most heavyweight fights (24), most heavyweight finishes (12), and most heavyweight submissions (8).
Mir and Lesnar, of course, also share quite a history. Back in 2008, Mir served as the welcome party for Lesnar’s UFC debut, tapping the wrestler with a first-round kneebar at UFC 81. Lesnar got his revenge 17 months later though, brutally beating Mir en route to a second-round TKO stoppage in a bout that ultimately cemented Lesnar as a legitimate threat in MMA’s heavyweight division.
Since then the two have largely gone their separate ways, with Mir continuing to contend in the UFC, while Lesnar returned to WWE stardom following a back-to-back losses and a crippling battle with diverticulitis. Lesnar, however, will reportedly reach the end of his WWE contract after headlining Wrestlemania 31 on March 29, and should the 37-year-old want to give another shot at MMA, Mir would “absolutely” be down to settle their stalemate.
“If Brock Lesnar decides to come back, [I would] welcome him back,” Mir said recently at UFC Fight Night 61’s post-fight press conference.
“I think it would be a huge, big fight. I think it’s something that would catapult my name even higher up. I mean, a rubber match between the two of us would be a phenomenal fight.”
Isn’t it wild what a win will do for you? Riding a four-fight losing streak and facing what effectively amounted to a win-or-retire match against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC Fight Night 61, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir survived to live another day, toppling the Brazilian giant in less than two minutes this past Sunday to stave off retirement and score his first victory in over three years.
Now he’s already planning his next move.
According to manager Malki Kawa, Mir, 35, hopes to compete at least twice more in 2015, and if all plays out right, ideally one of those fights would be a trilogy match against Mir’s old rival, former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar.
MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported the news on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight.
A decorated two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Mir (17-9) has captured a myriad of records throughout his 15-year tenure inside the Octagon, including most heavyweight wins (15), most heavyweight fights (24), most heavyweight finishes (12), and most heavyweight submissions (8).
Mir and Lesnar, of course, also share quite a history. Back in 2008, Mir served as the welcome party for Lesnar’s UFC debut, tapping the wrestler with a first-round kneebar at UFC 81. Lesnar got his revenge 17 months later though, brutally beating Mir en route to a second-round TKO stoppage in a bout that ultimately cemented Lesnar as a legitimate threat in MMA’s heavyweight division.
Since then the two have largely gone their separate ways, with Mir continuing to contend in the UFC, while Lesnar returned to WWE stardom following a back-to-back losses and a crippling battle with diverticulitis. Lesnar, however, will reportedly reach the end of his WWE contract after headlining Wrestlemania 31 on March 29, and should the 37-year-old want to give another shot at MMA, Mir would “absolutely” be down to settle their stalemate.
“If Brock Lesnar decides to come back, [I would] welcome him back,” Mir said recently at UFC Fight Night 61’s post-fight press conference.
“I think it would be a huge, big fight. I think it’s something that would catapult my name even higher up. I mean, a rubber match between the two of us would be a phenomenal fight.”
Former Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle Waterson is currently in negotiations to join the UFC, sources close to the situation told MMAFighting,com’s Ariel Helwani, as reported on Wednesday’s episode of UFC Tonight.
A congenial and marketable atomweight affectionately nicknamed “The Karate Hottie,” Waterson, 29, was expected to be the lynchpin of the Invicta FC brand following the UFC’s mass signing of the 115-pound division and filming of The Ultimate Fighter 20.
Waterson (12-4) currently remains under contract with Invicta FC, although a contract buyout would not be without precedent. Waterson would assumedly shift up to the strawweight division if signed by the UFC.
Over the course of her Invicta FC tenure, Waterson captured the promotion’s 105-pound title in April 2013 with a stunning and electrifying fourth-round armbar victory over Jessica Penne, then defended it once with a three-round beatdown of Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 — which marked the all-female promotion’s first event to broadcast exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
Her road hit an unexpected speed bump this past December though, when Waterson met unheralded 22-year-old Herica Tiburcio in the main event of Invicta FC 10. Waterson and Tiburcio battled back-and-forth for three gripping rounds before the young Brazilian caught Waterson in a nasty guillotine choke and stole away the 105-pound belt, becoming the youngest champion in Invicta FC history.
The loss snapped a six-fight win streak for Waterson, who trains out of Jackson/Winklejohn in Albuquerque, N.M. and has competed professionally since 2007.
Former Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle Waterson is currently in negotiations to join the UFC, sources close to the situation told MMAFighting,com’s Ariel Helwani, as reported on Wednesday’s episode of UFC Tonight.
A congenial and marketable atomweight affectionately nicknamed “The Karate Hottie,” Waterson, 29, was expected to be the lynchpin of the Invicta FC brand following the UFC’s mass signing of the 115-pound division and filming of The Ultimate Fighter 20.
Waterson (12-4) currently remains under contract with Invicta FC, although a contract buyout would not be without precedent. Waterson would assumedly shift up to the strawweight division if signed by the UFC.
Over the course of her Invicta FC tenure, Waterson captured the promotion’s 105-pound title in April 2013 with a stunning and electrifying fourth-round armbar victory over Jessica Penne, then defended it once with a three-round beatdown of Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 — which marked the all-female promotion’s first event to broadcast exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
Her road hit an unexpected speed bump this past December though, when Waterson met unheralded 22-year-old Herica Tiburcio in the main event of Invicta FC 10. Waterson and Tiburcio battled back-and-forth for three gripping rounds before the young Brazilian caught Waterson in a nasty guillotine choke and stole away the 105-pound belt, becoming the youngest champion in Invicta FC history.
The loss snapped a six-fight win streak for Waterson, who trains out of Jackson/Winklejohn in Albuquerque, N.M. and has competed professionally since 2007.
TORRANCE, Calif. — Arianny Celeste didn’t take kindly to Ronda Rousey’s comments last week that fighters should make more money than the UFC’s Octagon girls.
Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio on Wednesday that Rousey was a “big bully” who “continuously picks on me.” The UFC women’s bantamweight champion also made incendiary remarks about Celeste in 2012.
Rousey went back at Celeste on Wednesday afternoon after UFC 184 open workouts at UFC Gym, saying nothing that she said last week made her a bully.
“What did I say that was a bully?” Rousey said. “That the fighters should get paid more than the ring girls? How does that make me a bully? That makes me f*cking right. I’m sorry, but she wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fighters. She wouldn’t. You think her walking in circles around the two guys or two girls out there fighting for their lives is worth more? Think she works harder than they do?”
Three years ago, Rousey took a shot at Celeste, the UFC’s most tenured Octagon girl, when the two were both ranked in the Maxim Hot 100. Rousey was not in the UFC at the time.
“It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said at the time. “Like, ‘Haha, it’s your job to show your t*ts – I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”
Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio that she’s sick of the “bullying” and people “don’t know how hard it is to be a model, be a host, be an Octagon Girl.” Celeste said she tries to separate herself from the MMA world due to harsh critics and doesn’t appreciate people looking down on her or her peers.
“I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter,” Celeste said. “I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”
Rousey, 28, who meets Cat Zingano in the main event of UFC 184 on Saturday in Los Angeles, was surprised that Celeste took the fighter pay quotes personally.
“You know what would have been the best thing for her to say?” Rousey said. “‘Oh my God, you know, these fighters work so hard and I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them. I just admire them so much. And yeah, I definitely think that they should get paid more than anybody in the arena tonight.’ There ya go. That’s a PR lesson for her.”
Rousey said she isn’t particularly against Octagon girls in general, adding that she has “a lot of respect” for Celeste’s partner Brittney Palmer.
“She went and became a ring card girl to pay her way through art school and become a renowned artist,” Rousey said. “And her being ring card girl helps her promote her art. If you’re working at Hooters because you’re trying to pay your way through medical school, then f*ckin’ work it girl. I respect the hustle. But don’t think you’re hot sh*t just because you work at Hooters. Use it to further yourself in life; don’t think that you’re awesome just because you do that. I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed with the job in itself.”
TORRANCE, Calif. — Arianny Celeste didn’t take kindly to Ronda Rousey’s comments last week that fighters should make more money than the UFC’s Octagon girls.
Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio on Wednesday that Rousey was a “big bully” who “continuously picks on me.” The UFC women’s bantamweight champion also made incendiary remarks about Celeste in 2012.
Rousey went back at Celeste on Wednesday afternoon after UFC 184 open workouts at UFC Gym, saying nothing that she said last week made her a bully.
“What did I say that was a bully?” Rousey said. “That the fighters should get paid more than the ring girls? How does that make me a bully? That makes me f*cking right. I’m sorry, but she wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fighters. She wouldn’t. You think her walking in circles around the two guys or two girls out there fighting for their lives is worth more? Think she works harder than they do?”
Three years ago, Rousey took a shot at Celeste, the UFC’s most tenured Octagon girl, when the two were both ranked in the Maxim Hot 100. Rousey was not in the UFC at the time.
“It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said at the time. “Like, ‘Haha, it’s your job to show your t*ts – I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”
Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio that she’s sick of the “bullying” and people “don’t know how hard it is to be a model, be a host, be an Octagon Girl.” Celeste said she tries to separate herself from the MMA world due to harsh critics and doesn’t appreciate people looking down on her or her peers.
“I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter,” Celeste said. “I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”
Rousey, 28, who meets Cat Zingano in the main event of UFC 184 on Saturday in Los Angeles, was surprised that Celeste took the fighter pay quotes personally.
“You know what would have been the best thing for her to say?” Rousey said. “‘Oh my God, you know, these fighters work so hard and I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them. I just admire them so much. And yeah, I definitely think that they should get paid more than anybody in the arena tonight.’ There ya go. That’s a PR lesson for her.”
Rousey said she isn’t particularly against Octagon girls in general, adding that she has “a lot of respect” for Celeste’s partner Brittney Palmer.
“She went and became a ring card girl to pay her way through art school and become a renowned artist,” Rousey said. “And her being ring card girl helps her promote her art. If you’re working at Hooters because you’re trying to pay your way through medical school, then f*ckin’ work it girl. I respect the hustle. But don’t think you’re hot sh*t just because you work at Hooters. Use it to further yourself in life; don’t think that you’re awesome just because you do that. I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed with the job in itself.”
Heading into 
