Sage Northcutt is returning to the world famous Octagon this summer. The UFC announced on Wednesday that Northcutt would fight Claudio Puelles in a lightweight bout at UFC 214. Northcutt, who was once an up and coming prospect, has not fought since December of last year at UFC on FOX 22 where he was submitted […]
Sage Northcutt is returning to the world famous Octagon this summer. The UFC announced on Wednesday that Northcutt would fight Claudio Puelles in a lightweight bout at UFC 214.
Northcutt, who was once an up and coming prospect, has not fought since December of last year at UFC on FOX 22 where he was submitted in the second round by fellow prospect Mickey Gall. Northcutt has had an up and down stint in the UFC with his most recent win coming against Enrique Marin at UFC 200 in July. Following his fight with Gall, which was at welterweight, Northcutt, who is just 21 years old, decided to drop down to lightweight (155 pounds) for this fight.
On the flip side, Puelles was a finalist on Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.” He fell short in the finale and suffered a second-round TKO defeat against Martin Bravo at UFC Fight Night 98 in November.
UFC 214 is set to take place on Saturday, July 29th at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. A portion of the preliminary card will air on the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass, while the rest of the prelims will air on FOX Sports 1. The main card will air on PPV (pay-per-view). Daniel Cormier is set to defend the light heavyweight title against Jon Jones in the main event. The bout order for the event has yet to be finalized, but you can see the updated card here:
Champ Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones – for light heavyweight title
This Sunday night (May 29, 2017), Alexander Gustafsson will face off with Glover Teixiera in the main event of UFC Fight Night 109 from the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. Both men are top-ranked contenders, with Gustafsson sitting at No. 1 and Teixeira sitting at No. 2, and both men are clearly elite-level light heavyweights. […]
This Sunday night (May 29, 2017), Alexander Gustafsson will face off with Glover Teixiera in the main event of UFC Fight Night 109 from the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden.
Both men are top-ranked contenders, with Gustafsson sitting at No. 1 and Teixeira sitting at No. 2, and both men are clearly elite-level light heavyweights.
“The Mauler” made his UFC debut back in 2009 and has since gone 9-4, scoring six stoppage victories in the process. He holds pivotal victories over the likes of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz and a win over Teixeira this weekend could very well earn him another 205-pound title shot.
Teixeira, on the other hand, has been in the UFC since 2012, amassing a 9-3 record in the Octagon. The Brazilian slugger holds notable victories over the likes of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Ryan Bader, Ovince Saint Preux and Rashad Evans. A win over Gustafsson could too earn him another title shot.
Each man’s resume speaks for itself, but the question here, however, pertains to the status of the light heavyweight division as well as the status of its top two contenders. In other words, does Gustafsson vs. Teixeira simply represent a battle of runner-ups?
Both men have had vast success in the UFC, but both men have also stumbled when nearing dangerously close to the pinnacle.
Gustafsson, for example, has competed in two UFC title fights to date. He took on then champion Jon Jones at UFC 165 in Sept. 2013 in what turned out to be one of the very best light heavyweight title fights of all-time. “The Mauler” pushed Jones to his limits, trading blows with “Bones” over the course of five rounds, while, at times, having him on the brink of defeat. In the end, however, Jones fought back to earn a decision victory.
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
A similar situation, played out at UFC 192 last October when Gustafsson challenged Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight strap. Another five round war took place and “The Mauler” once again had his opponent in trouble, as he nearly finished Cormier in the third round. When the final bell rung, however, “DC” was given a split-decision victory, sending Gustafsson home empty handed once again.
Teixeira’s title fight history has played out a bit differently as opposed to “The Mauler’s”. Prior to his UFC 172 title fight with Jones, Teixeira had won an incredible 20 straight fights. He had run through every opponent put in front of him up until that point and was considered to be a legitimate threat to Jones’ strap. That proved to be untrue, however, as “Bones” dominated the Brazilian over the course of five rounds to earn a decision victory. Since then, Teixeira has gone 4-2, with three of those victories coming by way of stoppage.
As far as the division goes, the title will be on the line on July 29 when Cormier faces off with Jones for a second time in the main event of UFC 214. The fight is expected to be amongst the biggest of the year and the winner of the bout could end up facing off with the winner of the fight between Gustafsson and Teixeira – but will it matter?
As history has shown, both Gustafsson and Teixeira have established themselves as legitimate contenders, but when matched up against the division’s top dogs in Cormier and Jones, they have fell short.
With that being said, are Gustafsson and Teixeira simply battling for second place?
Cris Cyborg is doing more than enough to stay in the public eye and earn a high-profile UFC bout. The former Invicta FC featherweight champion, who is far and away the best 145-pound female fighter in the sport and arguably the most dominant pound-for-pound woman in MMA overall, reportedly took offense to some incredibly personal tweets […]
Cris Cyborg is doing more than enough to stay in the public eye and earn a high-profile UFC bout.
The former Invicta FC featherweight champion, who is far and away the best 145-pound female fighter in the sport and arguably the most dominant pound-for-pound woman in MMA overall, reportedly took offense to some incredibly personal tweets from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) competitor and UFC women’s strawweight Angela Magana.
And according to a report from Ariel Helwani, when Cyborg ran into “Her Majesty” at this weekend’s UFC fighter retreat in Las Vegas, she had enough of the abuse and confronted Magana. Things escalated from there and Cyborg ended up punching Magana:
Cris Cyborg & Angela Magana just got into an altercation at the retreat. Words exchanged, tempers flared and Cyborg punched Magana.
But Magana’s close friend and fellow UFC women’s strawweight Bec Rawlings replied to explain that Magana wasn’t rocked and took the punch well despite having a busted lip:
@arielhelwani Magana was not rocked ???????? she took it like a G, but does have a busted lip.
Long feared as the most dangerous knockout striker to ever fight in women’s MMA, Cyborg has had trouble finding opponents who are even close to her size or skill level, leading to the suggestions that she has never had legitimate competition in the cage.
She’s currently campaigning for a bout with current Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson in an effort to show everyone she can defeat an elite fighter her size (well, in her weight class), but today, it seems she’s still taking it to women who are quite a bit smaller than she is.
But hey, it’s easy to see why Justino lost her cool after all the shaming social media posts she made about Cyborg over the past few years.
Earlier this year, the UFC introduced a women’s featherweight division to its promotion. Bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie moved up in weight to compete for the inaugural 145-pound title, with de Randamie scoring a somewhat controversial decision victory over Holm in the main event of UFC 208 from Brooklyn, New York. The […]
Earlier this year, the UFC introduced a women’s featherweight division to its promotion. Bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie moved up in weight to compete for the inaugural 145-pound title, with de Randamie scoring a somewhat controversial decision victory over Holm in the main event of UFC 208 from Brooklyn, New York.
The only problem, however, is that the division has not moved forward sense, as GDR hasn’t fought, while Cris Cyborg, the woman many consider to be the best featherweight in the world has been on the sidelines as well.
Cyborg, however, appears ready to compete, although de Randamie has been rumored to be dealing with personal issues. With that being said, the Brazilian slugger has urged the UFC to book her in a bout with Megan Anderson:
Anderson is a highly accomplished featherweight contender, having won her previous four bouts under the Invicta FC banner, with all four of those victories coming by way of stoppage. The Australian has yet to compete inside the Octagon.
There have also been rumors indicating that Cyborg could take on former bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano in her next bout, which she would like to take place at July 29’s UFC 214. That possibility doesn’t appear to interest her at all:
Make world rankings matter! #1 vs #3 in the world at FW don’t make #1 vs someone from a lighter weight class coming off consecutive losses https://t.co/UsXR08asOd
After last night’s revelation that Dana White had worked out Conor McGregor’s side of the deal and the follow-up news that McGregor had applied for a boxing license in Nevada, the mixed martial arts (MMA) universe is awash in the distinct possibility that the the infamous “Notorious” could actually be boxing Floyd Mayweather Jr. If
After last night’s revelation that Dana White had worked out Conor McGregor’s side of the deal and the follow-up news that McGregor had applied for a boxing license in Nevada, the mixed martial arts (MMA) universe is awash in the distinct possibility that the the infamous “Notorious” could actually be boxing Floyd Mayweather Jr.
If it actually does – and it’s far from being anything closely resembling a done deal – the majority of those familiar with combat sports still believe that Mayweather, a boxer whom many consider one of if not the best to ever compete, is going to wipe the floor with the UFC’s biggest star, who has no professional boxing experience.
One high-profile subscriber of the theory is UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who pulled no “Bones” about McGregor’s chances against the legendary pugilist in addition to any of the other rumored UFC vs. boxing bouts during today’s episode of UFC Tonight:
“He can actually go and fight Mayweather. He will lose. But the rest of these guys, they will get no money, and they will get slept.
“Look, James Toney fought in the UFC, and we had no problem showing the footage over and over again of James Toney getting beat by Randy Couture. These boxing promoters will constantly video of the heavyweight champion of the world getting slept by Anthony Joshua, or Jimi Manuwa, c’mon Jimi! Getting slept by David Haye.
These dudes will get slept, it’s going to be embarrassing, so no, it is not good for the UFC. Conor, hat’s off to you, make your money, but don’t get slept! Which might happen to ’em”
Cormier is currently set for his oft-scheduled (and oft-canceled) grudge match with former champion Jon Jones at July 29’s UFC 214, and as we’ve seen in the past, that fight is anything but a certainty to happen despite its high-profile nature. The current champion seems to be the heel in the eye of the fans, and perhaps that’s because he tells the facts how they are in a blunt manner, as he has with his recent back-and-forth with the embattled all-time legend.
And while he may be a public persona for the UFC as a co-host of UFC Tonight, Cormier told it like it is here with the cold truth that most if not all professional MMA fighters would stand little chance in the boxing ring against the sport’s top athletes, just like the top boxers would have no chance in the cage.
McGregor most likely isn’t concerned with that, however, as the possibility of an absolutely unparalleled payday is much more than enough to get past the probability that he may lose. That’s the current mindset of MMA’s biggest star, and he could be headed for a bout that does anything but make the UFC look good in any way.
But with big-money bouts few and far between in 2017, the promotion is looking for the biggest payday it can get. Is this one worth it?
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier continue to let the verbal shots fly ahead of their meeting at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California this July. Cormier will attempt to make his third light heavyweight title defense against “Bones”, who will return to Octagon action just in time as he is set to come off a United
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier continue to let the verbal shots fly ahead of their meeting at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California this July.
Cormier will attempt to make his third light heavyweight title defense against “Bones”, who will return to Octagon action just in time as he is set to come off a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspension which stems to a failed drug test prior to UFC 200. Jones and Cormier were initially scheduled to rematch at last summer’s event, however, Jones was flagged days out from the event and was removed.
It was announced during the UFC’s Summer Kickoff press conference last week that the hated rivals will finally get their opportunity to settle their differences once and for all. Jones recent joined UFC Tonight to discuss his upcoming bout with Cormier, and stated that although he may not be champ anymore, “DC” still wants what Jones has (quotes via FOX Sports):
“Daniel’s a guy, he wants what I have and I know that sounds weird cause he has the belt, but he wants what I have,” Jones said. “He wants to be known as the guy and he’s simply not no matter what he tries to tell himself. I can only imagine being in his position. He lost to me and I’m sure he’s a prideful guy, I know he’s a prideful guy and he considers himself a champion but the truth is you’re not a champion.
“You never won the NCAA’s. You never won at the Olympics. You never won the UFC light heavyweight championship and Strikeforce, I mean who can’t win that belt?”
Cormier immediately responded by stating that while he may have never won any of the prestigious tournaments he competed in, he at least got the opportunity to experience them – unlike Jones:
“He talks about I’m not the man. I didn’t win the NCAA tournament, I didn’t win the Olympics. I went to the NCAA tournament. I went to the Olympics. All these things he wished to have done in his life, I actually did and got to experience,” Cormier said. “When he talks about I want what he has, I believe his life would be good if it was the way that I did. Going to college, finishing school, having all these other things that I have accomplished. That’s your issue Jon Jones. You want what I got.
“July 29, you get to try to take it back. It ain’t happening. It’s not happening. I will beat Jon Jones down in Anaheim.”
In what may be quite possibly the most long-winded trash talk battle in UFC history, the smack talk continues between the two top light heavyweights in the world, and will do so until lte July 29 – if the fight even happens.
It’s been scheduled many times before, of course, and Jones is still yet to be cleared from his suspension, after all. The fight will almost certainly be one of the top drawing events of 2017, but fans will understandably be cautiously optimistic about the bout until the cage door is shut.
Cormier immediately responded by stating that while he may have never won any of the prestigious tournaments he competed in, he at least got the opportunity to experience them – unlike Jones: