Although you can cut the tension between Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw with a knife heading into their showdown at this Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 81 event, Cruz proved he still has his sense of humor as the fight draws closer, as he pulled a fast one o…
Although you can cut the tension between Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw with a knife heading into their showdown at this Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 81 event, Cruz proved he still has his sense of humor as the fight draws closer, as he pulled a fast one on the media and fans in attendance at the official open workouts on Friday.
Cruz, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion who never lost his title in the Octagon but was eventually stripped after multiple injuries and circumstances left him on the sidelines for longer than UFC could afford, scared everyone at the open workouts in Boston this weekend by showing up on crutches.
“The Dominator” managed to pull a fast one on everyone in attendance, as most would believe it at this point if Cruz somehow suffered another knee injury, as he has already dealt with more than most athletes ever do, and in a way where the timing is absolutely horrible.
A healthy Cruz, who proved he’s in good spirits with the practical joke, appears ready to enter the cage with Dillashaw and win back the title he never lost on Sunday evening. You can check out a video of Cruz fooling fans and media at the open workouts below.
Travis Browne declined to answer questions about anything he learned from his girlfriend Ronda Rousey’s loss at UFC 193, and made it clear he is only focusing on one thing right now: His fight against Matt Mitrione on Sunday. Browne and Mitrione will meet at UFC Fight Night 81, and Browne told MMA Junkie that this fight is important in his quest to be a champion in the UFC.
Following his loss to Andre Arlovski, Browne was hit publicly with domestic abuse allegations, and then news of his relationship with Ronda Rousey hit the media. Browne explained how he’s staying focused on the fight, and now things outside of the octagon:
“The only thing that really happened the last seven months is I was able to focus on my career,” Browne told MMA Junkie. “With everything else, you have to develop the mindset that you can only worry about the stuff you can control. That’s all I’m doing is worrying about the stuff I can control. That’s my mindset. Everything else is going to have its way. I have control over what goes on on Sunday and that’s what I’m focused on.”
“Coming off this year with the Andrei fight, this fight means everything,” he said. “You’ve got to come out and perform. I’m not here just to be second place. I’m here to be the champ, and every fight I have to go out there and make a statement.
“I’ve just got to go out there and perform. I’ve got to use the skills I’ve learned and just work hard. I’m excited to be in this fight, in this competition on Sunday. There’s no looking past it or anything like that. I’m genuinely excited to go in there and compete. That’s where my mind is on Sunday.”
UFC Fight Night 81 takes place on January 17 at the TD Garden in Boston, and will air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. We will have round-by-round coverage of the event on Sunday right here on MMANews.com.
Travis Browne declined to answer questions about anything he learned from his girlfriend Ronda Rousey’s loss at UFC 193, and made it clear he is only focusing on one thing right now: His fight against Matt Mitrione on Sunday. Browne and Mitrione will meet at UFC Fight Night 81, and Browne told MMA Junkie that this fight is important in his quest to be a champion in the UFC.
Following his loss to Andre Arlovski, Browne was hit publicly with domestic abuse allegations, and then news of his relationship with Ronda Rousey hit the media. Browne explained how he’s staying focused on the fight, and now things outside of the octagon:
“The only thing that really happened the last seven months is I was able to focus on my career,” Browne told MMA Junkie. “With everything else, you have to develop the mindset that you can only worry about the stuff you can control. That’s all I’m doing is worrying about the stuff I can control. That’s my mindset. Everything else is going to have its way. I have control over what goes on on Sunday and that’s what I’m focused on.”
“Coming off this year with the Andrei fight, this fight means everything,” he said. “You’ve got to come out and perform. I’m not here just to be second place. I’m here to be the champ, and every fight I have to go out there and make a statement.
“I’ve just got to go out there and perform. I’ve got to use the skills I’ve learned and just work hard. I’m excited to be in this fight, in this competition on Sunday. There’s no looking past it or anything like that. I’m genuinely excited to go in there and compete. That’s where my mind is on Sunday.”
UFC Fight Night 81 takes place on January 17 at the TD Garden in Boston, and will air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. We will have round-by-round coverage of the event on Sunday right here on MMANews.com.
Matt Mitrione (9-4) will be fighting Travis Browne (17-3-1) at UFC Fight Night 81, and regardless of the outcome, he plans to test the free agency market after the fight. The heavyweight bout against Browne will mark the end of Mitrione’s contractual obligations to the UFC.
As shown in the above video, Mitrione spoke with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting about how he and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta couldn’t reach a deal they were both happy with. Mitrione explained he would like to stay with the UFC, and his decision came only after he and Fertitta couldn’t agree on money.
UFC Fight Night 81 takes place this Sunday, January 17th, at TD Garden in Boston. The fights will air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Matt Mitrione (9-4) will be fighting Travis Browne (17-3-1) at UFC Fight Night 81, and regardless of the outcome, he plans to test the free agency market after the fight. The heavyweight bout against Browne will mark the end of Mitrione’s contractual obligations to the UFC.
As shown in the above video, Mitrione spoke with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting about how he and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta couldn’t reach a deal they were both happy with. Mitrione explained he would like to stay with the UFC, and his decision came only after he and Fertitta couldn’t agree on money.
UFC Fight Night 81 takes place this Sunday, January 17th, at TD Garden in Boston. The fights will air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC bantamweight prospect Aljamain Sterling has an MMA record of 11-0, with a UFC record of 3-0, and he wants to start getting paid. Sterling cited Sage Northcutt as a fighter who he would like to be in the same earnings bracket as. Northcutt earned over $80,000 at UFN 80. Sterling explained his current position in an interview with MMA Junkie:
“This was before the Sage Northcutt salary came out. And then after it came out, then I really got going. If he can get that, then I should be able to get that, too. I could beat those guys. I’m a (bantamweight). I could bump up two weight classes and take those guys out – and finish them. So it was like, what?
“They’re trying to scapegoat me as the guinea pig for a fighters union, but that’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m just trying to get paid, just like anybody else is.
“I honestly think I can fight for the belt this year if things play out and maybe if Faber or somebody gets hurt. I hate to wish injury on anybody, but if that were to happen, I think I’m the guy to step up and get the job done. Bring some real flavor to this division.”
Sterling’s last fight completed his UFC contract, and he is a free agent as of press time.
UFC bantamweight prospect Aljamain Sterling has an MMA record of 11-0, with a UFC record of 3-0, and he wants to start getting paid. Sterling cited Sage Northcutt as a fighter who he would like to be in the same earnings bracket as. Northcutt earned over $80,000 at UFN 80. Sterling explained his current position in an interview with MMA Junkie:
“This was before the Sage Northcutt salary came out. And then after it came out, then I really got going. If he can get that, then I should be able to get that, too. I could beat those guys. I’m a (bantamweight). I could bump up two weight classes and take those guys out – and finish them. So it was like, what?
“They’re trying to scapegoat me as the guinea pig for a fighters union, but that’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m just trying to get paid, just like anybody else is.
“I honestly think I can fight for the belt this year if things play out and maybe if Faber or somebody gets hurt. I hate to wish injury on anybody, but if that were to happen, I think I’m the guy to step up and get the job done. Bring some real flavor to this division.”
Sterling’s last fight completed his UFC contract, and he is a free agent as of press time.
During a recent interview, Justino shared her thoughts on the public reaction to Rousey’s first MMA loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November. Cyborg explained why no fighter likes to lose, however, she admits it does show you who really has your back and who doesn’t.
Cyborg offered the following comments regarding Rousey’s loss while promoting her own title defense against Daria Ibragimova at the Invicta FC 15 this Saturday, relating to the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion because of her own past troubles in public when she dealt with the reaction to her failed steroid test.
“It’s terrible. When you’re there, everybody is with you. I feel sorry about this. I know this, because before something happened in my career — the doping — and before everybody is with you [and then they’re not]. But I love my fans. Some fans kept with me and I’m sure she has that, too. It’s sad, but sometimes it’s good so you can see who’s with you. You can see who you really have to appreciate. This is not nice. Losing a fight, winning — it happens. But these people make fun. … I know it’s not nice.”
While she is understanding of the situation, she did say that Rousey should use this experience to work on being careful about what she says before a fight, pointing out the fact that it might come back around if you lose.
“I know she hurts now and I know depression. Always you can lose. You can lose, you can win. It’s not embarrassing. It’s embarrassing when you speak before you fight. It’s embarrassing speaking bad. I think you have to work hard on what you say, because if you lose, when you come back from the airport you have to have a pillow on your face. I think she’d like to use this to challenge herself and get better. To come in and change. Something bad in life has to happen before you change and grow. I can’t say anything bad about her. She’s been good for women’s MMA. She opened a lot of doors. I know I [fought] before her, but she had opportunities and she’s handled it and helped everybody.”
Now that it’s out in the open and officially confirmed by the UFC that UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor is moving up to challenge Rafael dos Anjos to attempt to win the UFC Lightweight Championship and hold both titles simultaneously, the Frankie Edgar camp is doing their part to get “The Notorious” champion back to defend his original UFC title against the man who deserves it.
Respected MMA coach Mark Henry took to social media, posting a very sarcastic comment taunting the Irishman for his belief that fear has motivated his move to the 155 pound division instead of defending his 145 pound title against the former 155 champion who earned the next 145 pound title shot — his fighter, Frankie Edgar.
Henry posted the following on his official Instagram this week:
“@thenotoriousmma and @coach_kavanagh unlike most of the 145 pd division that is upset you’re going up I’m not. I want to congratulate you on actually fighting men your own size. I mean walking 175-180 fighting at 155 takes a brave man. When you say 99 % of people couldn’t make the weight cut Conner makes to 145 your right, because 99 % of the fighters aren’t as scared as Conner to have to drop that much weight. Fear could will a man to do amazing things. Now why don’t you drop the security blanket and leave the 145 pd belt and go full blown BIG BOY. Congratulations again……. Almost. PS @frankieedgar walked 156 when he won 155 title.”
A photo posted by Mark Henry (@mark_henry7) on Jan 13, 2016 at 8:15pm PST
Now that it’s out in the open and officially confirmed by the UFC that UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor is moving up to challenge Rafael dos Anjos to attempt to win the UFC Lightweight Championship and hold both titles simultaneously, the Frankie Edgar camp is doing their part to get “The Notorious” champion back to defend his original UFC title against the man who deserves it.
Respected MMA coach Mark Henry took to social media, posting a very sarcastic comment taunting the Irishman for his belief that fear has motivated his move to the 155 pound division instead of defending his 145 pound title against the former 155 champion who earned the next 145 pound title shot — his fighter, Frankie Edgar.
Henry posted the following on his official Instagram this week:
“@thenotoriousmma and @coach_kavanagh unlike most of the 145 pd division that is upset you’re going up I’m not. I want to congratulate you on actually fighting men your own size. I mean walking 175-180 fighting at 155 takes a brave man. When you say 99 % of people couldn’t make the weight cut Conner makes to 145 your right, because 99 % of the fighters aren’t as scared as Conner to have to drop that much weight. Fear could will a man to do amazing things. Now why don’t you drop the security blanket and leave the 145 pd belt and go full blown BIG BOY. Congratulations again……. Almost. PS @frankieedgar walked 156 when he won 155 title.”
