MMA Tracker: Cain Velasquez News, Vitor Belfort Update, Much More

Good morning, MMA fans! Welcome to the MMA News Tracker! Here are some of the latest happenings across the world of MMA. Reason For Vitor Belfort’s Hasim Rahman Jr. Fight Pullout Revealed Vitor Belfort was forced to pull out of his boxing matchup…

Good morning, MMA fans! Welcome to the MMA News Tracker! Here are some of the latest happenings across the world of MMA. Reason For Vitor Belfort’s Hasim Rahman Jr. Fight Pullout Revealed Vitor Belfort was forced to pull out of his boxing matchup originally scheduled for this weekend against Hasim Rahman Jr. It was initially…

Continue Reading MMA Tracker: Cain Velasquez News, Vitor Belfort Update, Much More at MMA News.

Latifi Handed Temporary Suspension Following Staph Admission

UFC heavyweight Ilir Latifi has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he fought Aleksei Oleinik with a staph infection. At UFC Vegas 61 earlier this month, Latifi and Oleinik collided in a clash of veterans. After goi…

UFC heavyweight Ilir Latifi has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he fought Aleksei Oleinik with a staph infection. At UFC Vegas 61 earlier this month, Latifi and Oleinik collided in a clash of veterans. After going the full three-round distance as part of the event’s preliminary card, “The Sledgehammer” took…

Continue Reading Latifi Handed Temporary Suspension Following Staph Admission at MMA News.

Oleinik Shares Why He Considered Postponing Fight Against Latifi

Prior to UFC Vegas 61, UFC heavyweight veteran Aleksei Oleinik explained why he almost pushed for a delay to his fight against Ilir Latifi. This weekend at UFC Vegas 61, Oleinik entered the Octagon for the 17th time in what was his 78th professional ou…

Prior to UFC Vegas 61, UFC heavyweight veteran Aleksei Oleinik explained why he almost pushed for a delay to his fight against Ilir Latifi. This weekend at UFC Vegas 61, Oleinik entered the Octagon for the 17th time in what was his 78th professional outing in MMA. Across a lengthy career, the Russian has shared…

Continue Reading Oleinik Shares Why He Considered Postponing Fight Against Latifi at MMA News.

Watch: Sterling, UFC Fighters Speak To New England Patriots

Nothing speaks to how mainstream the UFC has become quite like seeing Aljamain Sterling, Forrest Griffin, Claudia Gadelha, and Ilir Latifi speaking to six-time Superbowl winning NFL team the New England Patriots. The UFC has made a massive impact in ma…

Nothing speaks to how mainstream the UFC has become quite like seeing Aljamain Sterling, Forrest Griffin, Claudia Gadelha, and Ilir Latifi speaking to six-time Superbowl winning NFL team the New England Patriots. The UFC has made a massive impact in mainstream culture since the ESPN deal, especially after being the only sport running during the…

Continue Reading Watch: Sterling, UFC Fighters Speak To New England Patriots at MMA News.

Ilir Latifi Content With Staying At Heavyweight Despite UFC 247 Loss

Ilir LatifiIlir Latifi says he will remain a heavyweight despite losing to Derrick Lewis at UFC 247. When the fight was booked, many thought it was a total mismatch given Latifi is someone many thought should have gone to middleweight. Lewis, meanwhile, is one of the bigger heavyweights but that didn’t matter in the fight. It […]

Ilir Latifi

Ilir Latifi says he will remain a heavyweight despite losing to Derrick Lewis at UFC 247.

When the fight was booked, many thought it was a total mismatch given Latifi is someone many thought should have gone to middleweight. Lewis, meanwhile, is one of the bigger heavyweights but that didn’t matter in the fight. It was a close scrap where “The Black Beast” won it by decision.

Following the loss, Ilir Latifi makes it clear he will be remaining at heavyweight. He also says he plans on being a giant slayer.

“I’m taking my time to getting used to this division,” Latifi said at a recent Dominance MMA media day (via MMA Junkie). “I had some complications before the fight, and I just pushed on. I needed this fight. It was a big matchup, and I look forward fighting in this division.

“I started my career in heavyweight, and I will probably finish in heavyweight. But I’m a person that loves challenges. I’ve been an underdog all my life, so I could go down to 205 later in the future, too, but right now, I see myself fighting in the heavyweight division. I’m coming for the biggest guys in the division. I’m a giant slayer, so you know it.”

When Ilir Latifi will return to the Octagon is to be seen. But, he wants to return as soon as possible and believes he beat Lewis.

“Right now, just focusing on getting used to the division, and I see myself coming back as soon as possible as I’m ready,” Latifi said. “I don’t see this fight as a loss. I beat a top-five contender in the heavyweight division, a guy that finished a lot of guys in the first round, and to be honest, I think I controlled him pretty easy, three rounds.”

Who do you think Ilir Latifi should fight next at heavyweight?

Ilir Latifi Content With Fighting At Heavyweight: ‘I’m A Giant Slayer’

Ilir Latifi remains confident that he will have success at heavyweight. When it was announced he would make the move up to heavyweight to take on Derrick Lewis at UFC 247 it had mixed views. Some thought he should be dropping down in weight instead. Ot…

Ilir Latifi remains confident that he will have success at heavyweight. When it was announced he would make the move up to heavyweight to take on Derrick Lewis at UFC 247 it had mixed views. Some thought he should be dropping down in weight instead. Others thought his wrestling could lead to him having success […]

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