I’ll give McCall credit, though: He’s a good talker, and every division needs at least one. After warping our minds with a statement like “I’m the greatest flyweight of all time, for the past year,” he follows it up with the more straightforward “I need my weight class, it’s mine, give it to me, because I’m gonna beat up everybody.” Demetrious Johnson responds in humble fashion, which is no way to get attention.
It’s no secret that Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has planned on bringing the flyweight division to MMA‘s biggest company. He even stated that he wanted the 125-pound division established before the …
It’s no secret that Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has planned on bringing the flyweight division to MMA‘s biggest company. He even stated that he wanted the 125-pound division established before the end of 2011. That hasn’t happened yet. Considering that we’re in December, fans might have to wait until at least […]
Bad news: Coach Wonka insists that checks be written out to Team Oompa directly, not to the fighters. (Pic: Smosh.com)
The little guys will get a chance to make their debut in the UFC, just not as soon as earlier predicted. Dana White is now eying early 2012—not the end of this year—as a likely introduction of the Flyweight class.
In addition to the frantic pace that the diminutive fighters bring to the cage, they could potentially help tip the scales in Zuffa’s favor as they try to break into the Japanese MMA market. Many consensus top-10 Flyweight mixed martial artists hail from the Land of the Rising Sun, and with the whole Akiyama thing not working out so well, they could use dozens of tiny helping hands in their efforts abroad.
Just as we saw with the addition of the Bantam and Featherweight divisions, White expects many fighters to shed some pounds when the opportunity to compete in a lower weight class presents itself. Some fighters have allegedly already begun that process.
Bad news: Coach Wonka insists that checks be written out to Team Oompa directly, not to the fighters. (Pic: Smosh.com)
The little guys will get a chance to make their debut in the UFC, just not as soon as earlier predicted. Dana White is now eying early 2012—not the end of this year—as a likely introduction of the Flyweight class.
In addition to the frantic pace that the diminutive fighters bring to the cage, they could potentially help tip the scales in Zuffa’s favor as they try to break into the Japanese MMA market. Many consensus top-10 Flyweight mixed martial artists hail from the Land of the Rising Sun, and with the whole Akiyama thing not working out so well, they could use dozens of tiny helping hands in their efforts abroad.
Just as we saw with the addition of the Bantam and Featherweight divisions, White expects many fighters to shed some pounds when the opportunity to compete in a lower weight class presents itself. Some fighters have allegedly already begun that process.
(Dana White runs down some current events with Ariel Helwani following the press conference. Props: MMAFighting)
The UFC hosted a press conference in Vancouver yesterday in advance of UFC 131, but the most interesting announcements had nothing to do with Saturday’s “Dos Santos vs. Carwin” event. Here’s a recap…
Five-round non-title fights: UFC president Dana White announced that the UFC will make non-title main event fights five rounds from now on; previously, only title fights were worthy of the five-round distinction. The rule doesn’t apply to non-title main events that are already booked — Dos Santos vs. Carwin, or Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis at UFC 133, for example — but it will apply to every non-title main event signed in the future, even for UFC Fight Night and UFC Live events.
Flyweight division in the works: According to White, the UFC will be adding a 125-pound division “really soon,” possibly by the end of 2011. He expected that some of the UFC’s current bantamweights would make the drop.
(Dana White runs down some current events with Ariel Helwani following the press conference. Props: MMAFighting)
The UFC hosted a press conference in Vancouver yesterday in advance of UFC 131, but the most interesting announcements had nothing to do with Saturday’s “Dos Santos vs. Carwin” event. Here’s a recap…
Five-round non-title fights: UFC president Dana White announced that the UFC will make non-title main event fights five rounds from now on; previously, only title fights were worthy of the five-round distinction. The rule doesn’t apply to non-title main events that are already booked — Dos Santos vs. Carwin, or Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis at UFC 133, for example — but it will apply to every non-title main event signed in the future, even for UFC Fight Night and UFC Live events.
Flyweight division in the works: According to White, the UFC will be adding a 125-pound division “really soon,” possibly by the end of 2011. He expected that some of the UFC’s current bantamweights would make the drop.
Nick Diaz to vacate Strikeforce welterweight title: When Diaz returns to the UFC to challenge Georges St. Pierre for GSP’s welterweight title in October, he’ll be leaving his own belt behind. Said DW: ”[Diaz] will give up his Strikeforce title. He will come in and fight Georges St-Pierre, two guys will fight for the vacant belt in Strikeforce and we’ll go from there.”
Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson slated for September: The rumored light-heavyweight title scrap between Bones and Rampage will take place at UFC 135 (September 24, Denver), pending medical clearance for Jones’s hand. Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes is also expected for that event.
TUF 14 hype-up of the day: “The fights to get into the house happened Tuesday,” White said. “I’m going to figure out a way to make sure every one of those fights airs on TV. The best fights ever in the history of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’…There’s some nasty guys on this season. Just the show open is better than the entire last season’s fights.”
