The circus for Matt Riddle continues, as the recently retired mixed martial artist finds himself back in the game after a few short weeks. He was originally slated to compete in the Season 9 Bellator welterweight tournament, but a rib injury forced him out before he could enter the cage. Thinking that Bellator couldn’t get […]
The circus for Matt Riddle continues, as the recently retired mixed martial artist finds himself back in the game after a few short weeks. He was originally slated to compete in the Season 9 Bellator welterweight tournament, but a rib injury forced him out before he could enter the cage. Thinking that Bellator couldn’t get […]
Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak in the Octagon, and was going to serve as the UFC welcoming committee for Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion who has won his last three fights by stoppage, including his first-round submission of Ed Herman in January. No word yet if Souza will remain on the card against a different opponent…although the card could certainly use him. We’ll keep you posted.
* I mean, we’re assuming it happened during training. Maybe Costa participates in underground knife fights on the weekends to pick up extra beer money. Maybe it was a freakish eyebrow-plucking accident. Maybe he got scratched by one of his pet wolverines. I don’t know. We’ll just say “cut suffered in training” for now.
Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak in the Octagon, and was going to serve as the UFC welcoming committee for Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion who has won his last three fights by stoppage, including his first-round submission of Ed Herman in January. No word yet if Souza will remain on the card against a different opponent…although the card could certainly use him. We’ll keep you posted.
* I mean, we’re assuming it happened during training. Maybe Costa participates in underground knife fights on the weekends to pick up extra beer money. Maybe it was a freakish eyebrow-plucking accident. Maybe he got scratched by one of his pet wolverines. I don’t know. We’ll just say “cut suffered in training” for now.
During Thursday’s (March 28) passes as we ran wrestling exercises I lost my balance and pitched eyebrow in a very unfortunate way when I hit my head on one burpelaren. Immediately after it happened, I went to the hospital and sewed three stitches. I was quite prepared to compete until the doctors called and told me that cut is unfortunate and will not have time to heal in time until the gala.
It is of course extremely sad when träningscampet has gone very well. In addition to the eyebrow, I am in my best form and completely ready for the match. It is also sad for my opponent, Gegard Mousasi, who has also been training long and hard for this match.
I and my team have done everything we can to get set up and race despite the injury, but the decision is unfortunately not in our hands. I am extremely sorry for this and I feel with Gegard Mousasi. I also suffer with the fans who have been looking forward to this event and this match. Would also like to thank my entire team who have helped and supported me all the way. The next step now is that I sit down with the team and planning the future.
As you know, Gustafsson was eventually replaced by training partner Ikea Laticifer (or something like that), which would be fine and all, had Dana White not tweeted this photo of Gustafsson just hours ago…
(“Tell me, was it regular print or construction paper that was responsible for that boo-boo?” – Martin Kampmann’s axe wound.)
During Thursday’s (March 28) passes as we ran wrestling exercises I lost my balance and pitched eyebrow in a very unfortunate way when I hit my head on one burpelaren. Immediately after it happened, I went to the hospital and sewed three stitches. I was quite prepared to compete until the doctors called and told me that cut is unfortunate and will not have time to heal in time until the gala.
It is of course extremely sad when träningscampet has gone very well. In addition to the eyebrow, I am in my best form and completely ready for the match. It is also sad for my opponent, Gegard Mousasi, who has also been training long and hard for this match.
I and my team have done everything we can to get set up and race despite the injury, but the decision is unfortunately not in our hands. I am extremely sorry for this and I feel with Gegard Mousasi. I also suffer with the fans who have been looking forward to this event and this match. Would also like to thank my entire team who have helped and supported me all the way. The next step now is that I sit down with the team and planning the future.
As you know, Gustafsson was eventually replaced by training partner Ikea Laticifer (or something like that), which would be fine and all, had Dana White not tweeted this photo of Gustafsson just hours ago…
(“This pic was taken of Gustafsson today and u can’t even see the cut!!! Worst decision I have EVER seen to pull fight.” –DW, echoing the sentiment of Martin Kampmann’s axe wound via his Twitter.)
Now, far be it from us to disagree with the opinions of Sweden’s finest doctors, but we’re still three days out from UFC on FUEL 9. You mean to tell us that the man above is not medically fit to continue? Gustafsson’s cut required a mere three stitches to seal, stitches that — if the above photo is any indication — have long since been removed.
Granted, a good punch from Mousasi would have likely split that thing wide open, but damn, now we are stuck with a main event pairing a UFC rookie against a 7-2 unknown and a co-main event featuring another UFC rookie battling a mid-tier lightweight/featherweight. It’s pretty much the nadir of garbage-ass by UFC standards.
Let’s just hope this event pulls a TUF 16 Finaleand completely blows our expectations out of the water. Just don’t hold your breath waiting.
(Well, technically it *was* a training injury. Alexander was trying to train his dog to dance in a circle, and the dog clawed the shit out of his face. / Photo via AlexTheMauler)
As first reported yesterday by the Swedish news outlet SVT, UFC light-heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson suffered a gash in his eyebrow while sparring, which could lead to the cancellation of his UFC on FUEL 9 headlining bout against Gegard Mousasi this coming Saturday. A follow-up report from MMAnytt confirmed with the Swedish MMA Association that it will take several weeks before the injury heals up, and that Gustafsson won’t be medically approved for the fight “with 99% certainty.”
If Gustafsson indeed has to withdraw from his UFC on FUEL 9 match on short notice, it would be devastating, both for the event — which was being carried to a large extent by Gustafsson — and for Alexander himself, who was likely just one more impressive performance away from clinching a light-heavyweight title shot.
However, the fight hasn’t been formally canceled yet. As UFC president Dana White explained in a text message to Ariel Helwani, “The [Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation] has not said he can’t fight, and he wants to fight.”
We’ll update you if anything changes. In the meantime, you can bet that the UFC is turning over every rock to find a big-name backup opponent for Mousasi, because if the main event is switched to Ross Pearson vs. Ryan Couture at the last minute, you really couldn’t blame the Swedes for rioting.
(Well, technically it *was* a training injury. Alexander was trying to train his dog to dance in a circle, and the dog clawed the shit out of his face. / Photo via AlexTheMauler)
As first reported yesterday by the Swedish news outlet SVT, UFC light-heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson suffered a gash in his eyebrow while sparring, which could lead to the cancellation of his UFC on FUEL 9 headlining bout against Gegard Mousasi this coming Saturday. A follow-up report from MMAnytt confirmed with the Swedish MMA Association that it will take several weeks before the injury heals up, and that Gustafsson won’t be medically approved for the fight “with 99% certainty.”
If Gustafsson indeed has to withdraw from his UFC on FUEL 9 match on short notice, it would be devastating, both for the event — which was being carried to a large extent by Gustafsson — and for Alexander himself, who was likely just one more impressive performance away from clinching a light-heavyweight title shot.
However, the fight hasn’t been formally canceled yet. As UFC president Dana White explained in a text message to Ariel Helwani, “The [Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation] has not said he can’t fight, and he wants to fight.”
We’ll update you if anything changes. In the meantime, you can bet that the UFC is turning over every rock to find a big-name backup opponent for Mousasi, because if the main event is switched to Ross Pearson vs. Ryan Couture at the last minute, you really couldn’t blame the Swedes for rioting.
Following a failed drug test and a decisive loss at UFC 157, heavyweight slugger Lavar Johnson is no longer part of the promotion. MMA Junkie confirmed the news on Thursday, speaking with “sources close to Johnson.” This latest release comes on the heels of Johnson recently being outed on testosterone levels consistent with steroid use, highlighted […]
Following a failed drug test and a decisive loss at UFC 157, heavyweight slugger Lavar Johnson is no longer part of the promotion. MMA Junkie confirmed the news on Thursday, speaking with “sources close to Johnson.” This latest release comes on the heels of Johnson recently being outed on testosterone levels consistent with steroid use, highlighted […]
Whenever a fighter is given his walking papers by the UFC, the MMA community leaps to make it a more complex issue than it is. Conspiracy theories abound; expletives are hurled in Dana White’s direction; fans make the declaration that they’ll never again pay for a UFC Pay-Per-View, now that their favorite fighter has been […]
Whenever a fighter is given his walking papers by the UFC, the MMA community leaps to make it a more complex issue than it is. Conspiracy theories abound; expletives are hurled in Dana White’s direction; fans make the declaration that they’ll never again pay for a UFC Pay-Per-View, now that their favorite fighter has been […]
