Former WWE Superstar Phil “CM Punk” Brooks will probably be making his debut at UFC 199, according to UFC President Dana White. On Friday White appeared on Toucher & Rich to promote Fight Night 81 and revealed Punk’s first fight could take place earlier than expected.
“The CM Punk fight is probably going to be in June,” White said. “UFC 199 is what I’m thinking.”
He also acknowledged this will be an uphill battle for Punk and he doesn’t have the amateur wrestling background that Brock Lesnar brought to the table.
“The guy has never fought, he just started training and, you know, this is a tough business to get into,” White said. “When Brock Lesnar came into the UFC, he had a serious wrestling pedigree. And not just WWE wrestling. Legit collegiate wrestling. CM Punk doesn’t have any of that, so it’s going to be tough for him.”
Punk’s opponent for his Octagon debut will be Mickey Gall, if Gall can get through Michael Jackson at UFC 196.
Former WWE Superstar Phil “CM Punk” Brooks will probably be making his debut at UFC 199, according to UFC President Dana White. On Friday White appeared on Toucher & Rich to promote Fight Night 81 and revealed Punk’s first fight could take place earlier than expected.
“The CM Punk fight is probably going to be in June,” White said. “UFC 199 is what I’m thinking.”
He also acknowledged this will be an uphill battle for Punk and he doesn’t have the amateur wrestling background that Brock Lesnar brought to the table.
“The guy has never fought, he just started training and, you know, this is a tough business to get into,” White said. “When Brock Lesnar came into the UFC, he had a serious wrestling pedigree. And not just WWE wrestling. Legit collegiate wrestling. CM Punk doesn’t have any of that, so it’s going to be tough for him.”
Punk’s opponent for his Octagon debut will be Mickey Gall, if Gall can get through Michael Jackson at UFC 196.
With the TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz main event getting the majority of the attention heading into Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 81 event fans may have forgotten that former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis will be …
https://youtu.be/TJ9z-100J90
With the TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz main event getting the majority of the attention heading into Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 81 event fans may have forgotten that former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis will be fighting for the first time since losing his title to Rafael dos Anjos in March of last year.
Pettis, who Dana White was already trying to promote as the new number one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and next top draw for the UFC, lost a one-sided decision to the reigning champion, Dos Anjos, and after several quiet months, “Showtime” will attempt to regain the momentum he had built when he meets former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez in the co-main event of this weekend’s event in Boston.
A confident Pettis told MMA journalist Ariel Helwani that he doesn’t feel like waiting for title shots anymore, explaining why he likely won’t be waiting for a title shot if he defeats Alvarez on Sunday. According to Pettis, his new contract pays enough to justify the grueling pre-fight training camps.
“I don’t feel like these guys are on my level when I’m 100 percent,” Pettis told Helwani this week in a new video interview for MMAFighting.com. “When I’m 100 percent, I don’t think anybody in the world can beat me. Yes, I was told [that I’d get a title shot], but I don’t know if I’m going to wait anymore. I feel like I have been waiting for belts. I have a new contract with the UFC. I’m getting paid what I want to get paid and I feel like now is the time to get out there and just keep fighting.”
Headlined by the Dillashaw-Cruz title fight and featuring the Pettis-Alvarez co-main event, UFC Fight Night 81 takes place on Sunday, January 17, 2016 from the TD Garden in Boston, Mass., and airs live and free on Spike TV.
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.
