Tag: UFC 198

Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic Heavyweight Title Fight Set for UFC 198

Fabricio Werdum will defend his UFC heavyweight title for the first time on May 14, when he faces Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 198 in Brazil.
UFC officials formally announced the bout Friday, as first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting…

Fabricio Werdum will defend his UFC heavyweight title for the first time on May 14, when he faces Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 198 in Brazil.

UFC officials formally announced the bout Friday, as first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. Adding additional spice to the announcement was the news that UFC 198 will take place at the Arena da Baixada, a large soccer stadium in Curitiba.

The 38-year-old Werdum (20-5-1) has not competed since winning the belt from Cain Velasquez last June at UFC 188. The two were originally supposed to wage a rematch last month at UFC 196. However, after Velasquez pulled out just weeks before the fight with an injury, Werdum also withdrew, citing an injury of his own. The entire event was subsequently pulled off pay-per-view and turned into the cable-only UFC Fight Night 82.

Miocic, meanwhile, has been fairly busy. The 33-year-old Cleveland native has won his last two, both by knockout. Most recently, Miocic (14-2) floored Andrei Arlovski in January to gain an inside track for the title shot.

An internationally decorated jiu-jitsu player, Werdum has experienced a later-career renaissance in MMA. He has won nine of his last 10 contests and has not suffered a defeat in the six bouts he’s completed since rejoining the UFC in 2012.

Miocic has won five of his last six. Known mainly for his boxing, he dropped a unanimous decision to Junior Dos Santos in 2014; however, the bout did net Miocic and Dos Santos a $50,000 Fight of the Night performance bonus from the UFC. Miocic has earned five such bonuses in 10 career UFC fights—a lucrative testament to a high-powered style that has garnered him 10 knockouts across his pro MMA career.

A bout between Brazilian middleweights Ronaldo Souza and Vitor Belfort will now serve as UFC 198’s co-main event.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Cris Cyborg Starts Push To Compete At UFC 198 In Brazil

For Invicta FC champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino, the chance to fight inside the world-famous Octagon in her native country of Brazil is a dream she has.

Now, with the UFC set to return to the country later this year for UFC 198, Justino is starting up…

Cris Cyborg

For Invicta FC champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino, the chance to fight inside the world-famous Octagon in her native country of Brazil is a dream she has.

Now, with the UFC set to return to the country later this year for UFC 198, Justino is starting up an online push to secure a spot on the card.

“It has been almost 10 years since I last fought in my home country of Brazil. I am very lucky that over the last decade my Brazilian Fans have continued to support me and my career as I chased my dreams as a World Champion, while living and competing in America,” she wrote on her personal website. “This May the UFC will be promoting an event in my hometown of Curitiba Brazil, a city very rich in fight history. It would be an honor to return back to the city I was born in, and to step inside of the Octagon with an opportunity to prove myself as one of the best female fighters in the sport.

“I know that the UFC does not have my division, which is why I am asking my fans to help make this fight!”

Justino is signed under the Zuffa umbrella as she goes on to mention thanks to her contract with Invicta FC. She was rumored for a fight with Tonya Evinger, but those plans have been put aside for the time being.

“As many of you know I am already a ZUFFA Contracted Athlete despite fighting for Invicta. Let the UFC know you would like to see me fight at UFC Curitiba Brazil this May by letting your voice be heard on Social Media!” she continued. “Show your support by posting a picture using the Hashtags #CyborgNoUFCBrazil (Portuguese) #Cyborg2UFCBrazil (English) on your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook . Once you have done this you will be automatically entered into an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Cyborg Wants To Fight At UFC 198

Invicta featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino (15-1, 1 NC) was rumored to fight 135lb champ Tonya Evinger at Invicta FC 17, but that that’s not happening. Evinger is expected to defend her title against Colleen Schneider at the event. Now, Cyborg is looking ahead, and fighting in the UFC is something that she is interested

The post Cyborg Wants To Fight At UFC 198 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Invicta featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino (15-1, 1 NC) was rumored to fight 135lb champ Tonya Evinger at Invicta FC 17, but that that’s not happening. Evinger is expected to defend her title against Colleen Schneider at the event. Now, Cyborg is looking ahead, and fighting in the UFC is something that she is interested in now. In the past, Cyborg wanted the UFC to create a weight division (women’s featherweight) for her and then she would join the promotion. However, the UFC is against doing that.

Cyborg recently explained in a statement that she posted on her website that she wants to fight at the UFC 198 event in Brazil.

“It has been almost 10 years since I last fought in my home country of Brazil.  I am very lucky that over the last decade my Brazilian Fans have continued to support me and my career as I chased my dreams as a world champion, while living and competing in America.”

“This May the UFC will be promoting an event in my hometown of Curitiba, Brazil, a city very rich in fight history.  It would be an honor to return back to the city I was born in, and to step inside of the Octagon with an opportunity to prove myself as one of the best female fighters in the sport.”

Cyborg understands that they do not have her women’s featherweight division so she is asking the fans to tell the UFC who she should fight.

“I know that the UFC does not have my division, which is why I am asking my fans to help make this fight!” Justino said.

“As many of you know I am already a Zuffa contracted athlete despite fighting for Invicta (Fighting Championships). Shannon (Knapp, Invicta FC owner) and Zuffa have a great relationship as you have seen with the sharing of fighters.  If Invicta and the UFC could come to an agreement to let me defend my 145-pound belt in Curitiba it would be an honor,” “Cyborg” told FOX Sports in an exclusive interview.  

“I cannot choose my opponent as a champion and so I would accept whoever they felt would make the most exciting fight for my fans.”

UFC 198  takes place on May 14th in Brazil. There is no venue announced for this event as of this writing. The event will be broadcasted on PPV, Fox Sports 1, and UFC Fight Pass.

The UFC has yet to comment publicly on Cyborg’s involvement at the event.

 

The post Cyborg Wants To Fight At UFC 198 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Report: Sources Confirm Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic For UFC 198

After Cain Velasquez pulled out of his scheduled rematch with heavyweight champion Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum earlier this month, No. 2-ranked Stipe Miocic stepped up on short notice to fill in. However, Werdum would also withdraw, and the bout was scrapped completely. Rumors began to swirl indicating that the UFC still planned on booking Werdum

The post Report: Sources Confirm Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic For UFC 198 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

After Cain Velasquez pulled out of his scheduled rematch with heavyweight champion Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum earlier this month, No. 2-ranked Stipe Miocic stepped up on short notice to fill in.

However, Werdum would also withdraw, and the bout was scrapped completely.

Rumors began to swirl indicating that the UFC still planned on booking Werdum vs. Miocic, possibly in May.

According to Sherdog, sources close to the situation have confirmed that “Vai Cavalo” will indeed defend his title against Miocic at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016 in Brazil.

An anticipated middleweight showdown between Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort will serve as the co-main event.

Werdum has won six straight since re-entering the UFC in 2012, most recently scoring a submission win over Velasquez last June to secure the title.

Miocic, on the other hand, has come out victorious in five of his last six bouts, his only loss in that stretch coming in a five round war opposite former champion Junior Dos Santos. The Croatian slugger has picked up back to back stoppage wins over Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski, enough to finally award him his long awaited shot at gold.

Who will rule the heavyweight division in the aftermath of UFC 198?

The post Report: Sources Confirm Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic For UFC 198 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Report: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira-Patrick Cummins At UFC 198

According to a report out of Brazil by Combate, light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Patrick Cummins will square off at UFC 198.

Set for May 14 in Brazil, the event is rumored to be the host-site for UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werd…

patrick-cummins

According to a report out of Brazil by Combate, light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Patrick Cummins will square off at UFC 198.

Set for May 14 in Brazil, the event is rumored to be the host-site for UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic. Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has already been announced, as that would fill the co-main event role.

Nogueira (21-7) is coming off a pair of losses to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Anthony Johnson since his 2013 decision vs. former champion Rashad Evans. The Brazilian, who will turn 40 years old in June, is 4-4 over his last eight fights.

Cummins (8-3) dropped to 4-3 with the UFC after a November second round TKO loss to Glover Teixeira in Brazil. The former NCAA wrestling standout is 1-2 over his last three following a three-fight win streak in 2014.

Other previously announced fights include Demian Maia-Matt Brown, Leonardo Santos-Evan Dunham and Nate Marquardt-Thiago Santos.

Fabricio Werdum vs Stipe Miocic Scheduled For May, Report Says

The UFC is reportedly trying to make things right with fans and top fighters following the disaster that UFC 196 (now UFC Fight Night 82) is. First, Cain Velasquez pulled out of the event with a back injury. Then, Fabricio Werdum pulled out of his scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic at the event. So

The post Fabricio Werdum vs Stipe Miocic Scheduled For May, Report Says appeared first on LowKick MMA.

The UFC is reportedly trying to make things right with fans and top fighters following the disaster that UFC 196 (now UFC Fight Night 82) is. First, Cain Velasquez pulled out of the event with a back injury. Then, Fabricio Werdum pulled out of his scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic at the event. So the UFC moved the show to FOX Sports 1 and changed it to UFC Fight Night 82.

According to Combate.com, the UFC will move the Fight Night card on May 14th and will hold UFC 198 on that date instead. Combate reports that the pay-per-view card will have two top fights featured on that card. In the co-main event, Vitor Belfort will fight Ronaldo Jacare, but the main event is the kicker. The UFC will reportedly not give Velasquez his immediate rematch, but will rather have Werdum make his first title defense against Miocic.

Velasquez underwent successful back surgery this past week so it’s possible that he will fight the winner of Werdum – Miocic later this year.

The UFC has yet to confirm this event or the reported bouts as of this writing.

What do you think of these fights? Are they what you want to see or should Velasquez get his immediate rematch with Werdum? Let us know.

The post Fabricio Werdum vs Stipe Miocic Scheduled For May, Report Says appeared first on LowKick MMA.