Tag: UFC News

Urijah Faber Understands The Fight Game Isn’t All About “Title Fights, Super-Fights”

urijah-faber-full-blast

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ymj5vt2jpM[/embed]

Even if he fails to ever achieve UFC gold, Urijah Faber will go down as one of the all-time greats in MMA.

Faber takes on Jimmie Rivera this Saturday night at UFC 203 looking to bounce back after falling to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in June.

For “The California Kid,” this represents yet another young challenger thrown in front of him as he tries to keep his spot on the ladder. Until a 2015 loss to Frankie Edgar, Faber (33-9) had never been defeated in non-title fights.

“I’ve had a lot of fights where the guy is virtually unknown, but very tough,” Faber said. “The ones that stand out are obviously the big fights — title fights and super-fights — but this is part of the game. Part of the reason people love to watch me is because I fight. I’m not here to protect a legacy or anything. I’m excited for this fight.”

He claimed WEC gold before that promotion was absorbed by the UFC and has since faced the likes of Cruz and Renan Barao for the bantamweight title. Each time, though, Faber came up empty.

In Rivera, he’ll get a 27-year-old who has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon and is 19-1 overall in his career. He hasn’t lost since his second pro fight in 2008.

“I like this kid’s attitude. I like what he represents,” Faber said of Rivera. “He’s a hard-working guy and a respectful guy. He’s put in his time and it sounds like guys are dodging him, because he’s tough and not many people know him. There are a bunch of wussies out there. This is not a sport to be a baby.”

urijah-faber-full-blast

Even if he fails to ever achieve UFC gold, Urijah Faber will go down as one of the all-time greats in MMA.

Faber takes on Jimmie Rivera this Saturday night at UFC 203 looking to bounce back after falling to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in June.

For “The California Kid,” this represents yet another young challenger thrown in front of him as he tries to keep his spot on the ladder. Until a 2015 loss to Frankie Edgar, Faber (33-9) had never been defeated in non-title fights.

“I’ve had a lot of fights where the guy is virtually unknown, but very tough,” Faber said. “The ones that stand out are obviously the big fights — title fights and super-fights — but this is part of the game. Part of the reason people love to watch me is because I fight. I’m not here to protect a legacy or anything. I’m excited for this fight.”

He claimed WEC gold before that promotion was absorbed by the UFC and has since faced the likes of Cruz and Renan Barao for the bantamweight title. Each time, though, Faber came up empty.

In Rivera, he’ll get a 27-year-old who has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon and is 19-1 overall in his career. He hasn’t lost since his second pro fight in 2008.

“I like this kid’s attitude. I like what he represents,” Faber said of Rivera. “He’s a hard-working guy and a respectful guy. He’s put in his time and it sounds like guys are dodging him, because he’s tough and not many people know him. There are a bunch of wussies out there. This is not a sport to be a baby.”

Jessica Eye Calls UFC 203 “Do-Or-Die” For Herself, Opponent Bethe Correia

jessica-eye

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U537uIY6i8c[/embed]

Jessica Eye knows the importance of headlining the prelims for a pay-per-view.

Eye and Bethe Correia will be given a stage Saturday night to perform on at UFC 203, completing the early prelims on FOX Sports 1.

For Eye, the bout could be described as the most important of her career to date. The 30-year-old Ohio native currently calls Cleveland home and will be competing in front of friends and family.

Add in the fact that she is just 1-4 over her last five and hasn’t won since 2014, and it is easy to see why Eye (11-5) is focused solely on topping Correia, a former title contender.

“This is an important time in my career. This is do-or-die for both Bethe and me,” she said earlier this week. “I’ve not been told I’m getting cut, but I’m looking at it that way. Up until now I’ve been underestimating myself, but now it’s time to turn it on.”

Eye has tested herself against the best of the bantamweight division, falling to former champion Miesha Tate via decision, top contender Julianna Pena via decision and former title challengers Sara McMann and Alexis Davis via decision. The loss to Davis was a split that went against her that night.

“I believe there’s a reason I’m here under these circumstances,” she said. “Maybe I was feeling sorry for myself, or thinking I’d made it this far so I should be happy, but how can I just settle? I’ve always told people I’m the kind of woman who doesn’t just settle. I keep going.

“It’s going to be a knockout Saturday night. I’m not settling for anything less.”

jessica-eye

Jessica Eye knows the importance of headlining the prelims for a pay-per-view.

Eye and Bethe Correia will be given a stage Saturday night to perform on at UFC 203, completing the early prelims on FOX Sports 1.

For Eye, the bout could be described as the most important of her career to date. The 30-year-old Ohio native currently calls Cleveland home and will be competing in front of friends and family.

Add in the fact that she is just 1-4 over her last five and hasn’t won since 2014, and it is easy to see why Eye (11-5) is focused solely on topping Correia, a former title contender.

“This is an important time in my career. This is do-or-die for both Bethe and me,” she said earlier this week. “I’ve not been told I’m getting cut, but I’m looking at it that way. Up until now I’ve been underestimating myself, but now it’s time to turn it on.”

Eye has tested herself against the best of the bantamweight division, falling to former champion Miesha Tate via decision, top contender Julianna Pena via decision and former title challengers Sara McMann and Alexis Davis via decision. The loss to Davis was a split that went against her that night.

“I believe there’s a reason I’m here under these circumstances,” she said. “Maybe I was feeling sorry for myself, or thinking I’d made it this far so I should be happy, but how can I just settle? I’ve always told people I’m the kind of woman who doesn’t just settle. I keep going.

“It’s going to be a knockout Saturday night. I’m not settling for anything less.”

Video: Werdum Tells Browne During Face-Off: “I Will Break Your Face, Bastard”

https://youtu.be/Ob3WPvyRsfQ

At the final UFC 203 pre-fight press conference in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, one of the main topics discussed after the presser was the intense face-off between Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne, which included the fo…

werdum-browne-ufc-203-face-

https://youtu.be/Ob3WPvyRsfQ

At the final UFC 203 pre-fight press conference in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, one of the main topics discussed after the presser was the intense face-off between Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne, which included the former UFC Heavyweight Champion saying something to “Hapa” Browne in Portuguese.

Werdum, who will fight Browne in the co-main event this Saturday in a rematch of their first Octagon meeting, which saw the Brazilian soundly defeating the highly-regarded heavyweight contender, made it clear that he intends to “break” Browne this time around.

After telling his own teammates in Portuguese, “let’s break this motherf*cker,” Werdum moved closer to Browne for their formal face-off in front of the MMA media in attendance. It was at that point that the Brazilian reiterated that same point a couple of times to “Hapa” Browne’s face in Portuguese.

“I will break your face, bastard,” Werdum told Browne during their intense face-off (view above). “I’ll break your rib, clown. You know I will break you. You know I will break you. You know that.”

Werdum-Browne II takes place as the co-main event of UFC 203 this Saturday. With a win, particularly if he does “break” Browne this time around, Werdum would likely find himself positioned as the next challenger to the UFC Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the UFC 203 main event between Stipe Miocic, the man he lost the title to in his last Octagon appearance, and another former rival of his, Alistair Overeem.

UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem is scheduled to go down live from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio this Saturday, September 10, 2016, exclusively on pay-per-view. If you aren’t ordering the event on PPV, join us here at MMANews.com for live round-by-round results coverage of the show.

H/T to Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com for translating the above Fabricio Werdum quotes from Portuguese to English.

Video: Final UFC 203 Pre-Fight Press Conference For Saturday’s PPV In Cleveland

https://youtu.be/Jqe0h5hcPmc

As we get closer to the big show this Saturday, the final fight week traditions are nearly completed for the UFC 203 pay-per-view in Cleveland, Ohio.

On Thursday, the final pre-fight press conference for UFC 203 took …

cm-punk-203-pre-fight-press

https://youtu.be/Jqe0h5hcPmc

As we get closer to the big show this Saturday, the final fight week traditions are nearly completed for the UFC 203 pay-per-view in Cleveland, Ohio.

On Thursday, the final pre-fight press conference for UFC 203 took place at the venue that will host the PPV event this Saturday evening, the Quicken Loans Arena.

Above is a complete archive of the UFC 203 pre-fight press conference, which featured the Heavyweight headliners — Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne — as well as the two men who will be competing in arguably the fight with the most “casual interest,” CM Punk and Mickey Gall.

Headlined by the hometown boy, Stipe Miocic, who makes his first defense of the UFC Heavyweight Championship against dangerous striker Alistair Overeem, UFC 203 takes place this Saturday, September 10, 2016 from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Join us here at MMANews.com this Saturday for live round-by-round results coverage of the UFC 203 pay-per-view!

Exclusive Interview With Headliner Andre Harrison Ahead Of Titan FC 41 On UFC Fight Pass

andre-harrison-titan-fc-41

For many different reasons, those most deserving, aren’t always in the UFC. Sometimes fighters have to spend years in other pro organizations. Proving over and over again that they have what it takes and that they are ready to answer when called upon. The next “Top” prospect, the long time veteran, fighting anyone and everyone to prove you belong in the sports top organization. Andre “The Bull” Harrison has done that for almost 5 years. Posting a 13-0 record and hoping that with an impressive win over Alexandre Bezerra on September 9th, he might finally get that long awaited call.

Andre has been here before, on the brink of stardom. Needing just that one great showing to prove that he is ready to take the UFC’s featherweight division by storm. While eager to show he belongs, Harrison understands that he can’t go crazy, just to try and impress. ” Ya know. First and foremost you have to win, ya know? I would rather win by decision than lose tryin to throw wildly just to try and get a knockout or force a submission and get caught and stuff like that. I’m definitely going to try and get the finish, but I’m not gunna force it.”

Listen to the full interview and hear Andre’s thoughts on living with UFC fighter Randy Brown, staying with his original team in Long Island, and his hopes to one day fight Clay Guida. Watch Andre ” The Bull” Harrison fight this Friday Sepember 9th, as he defends his Featherweight title against submission expert Alexandre Bezerra.

andre-harrison-titan-fc-41

For many different reasons, those most deserving, aren’t always in the UFC. Sometimes fighters have to spend years in other pro organizations. Proving over and over again that they have what it takes and that they are ready to answer when called upon. The next “Top” prospect, the long time veteran, fighting anyone and everyone to prove you belong in the sports top organization. Andre “The Bull” Harrison has done that for almost 5 years. Posting a 13-0 record and hoping that with an impressive win over Alexandre Bezerra on September 9th, he might finally get that long awaited call.

Andre has been here before, on the brink of stardom. Needing just that one great showing to prove that he is ready to take the UFC’s featherweight division by storm. While eager to show he belongs, Harrison understands that he can’t go crazy, just to try and impress. ” Ya know. First and foremost you have to win, ya know? I would rather win by decision than lose tryin to throw wildly just to try and get a knockout or force a submission and get caught and stuff like that. I’m definitely going to try and get the finish, but I’m not gunna force it.”

Listen to the full interview and hear Andre’s thoughts on living with UFC fighter Randy Brown, staying with his original team in Long Island, and his hopes to one day fight Clay Guida. Watch Andre ” The Bull” Harrison fight this Friday Sepember 9th, as he defends his Featherweight title against submission expert Alexandre Bezerra.

UFC 203: Ian McCall – Again – Loses Out On Fight Days Before Event

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caokreA9N1Q[/embed]

Ian McCall really has no luck at all.

Just days before his planned UFC 203 bout with Ray Borg, McCall found out that his fight will be scrapped for a second straight time.

According to…

ian-mccall

Ian McCall really has no luck at all.

Just days before his planned UFC 203 bout with Ray Borg, McCall found out that his fight will be scrapped for a second straight time.

According to a report by FOX Sports, Borg is ill and cannot compete Saturday from Cleveland.

Just six weeks ago, McCall vs. Justin Scoggins was scratched right around the same time after Scoggins’ body failed to continue cutting weight. He has since moved to the bantamweight division.

McCall was paid for the bout with Scoggins back at UFC 201. He has not competed since January 2015 when he lost to John Lineker in a bout that Lineker came in five pounds heavy for.