Three Gifts The UFC Needs In 2019

Christmas is here, and the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) could certainly use some gifts for 2019. With the UFC leaving their longtime home at FOX and beginning a new journey with ESPN, the possibilities are endless. Big changes could be coming to the promotion, but there are certain ones that fight fans want […]

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Christmas is here, and the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) could certainly use some gifts for 2019.

With the UFC leaving their longtime home at FOX and beginning a new journey with ESPN, the possibilities are endless. Big changes could be coming to the promotion, but there are certain ones that fight fans want to see happen first. All that being said, let’s take a look at three gifts the UFC needs for 2019.

Faster-Paced Events

One of the biggest complaints fight fans tend to have about the UFC is the pace of their events. Unless it’s on pay-per-view (PPV) or UFC Fight Pass, UFC events tend to drag on a bit on television. While we all love fights, having to sit through such a slow-paced card for several hours can get tiresome.

If the UFC doesn’t want to have fans tune out to their product out of boredom, this is a situation they’d do well to address upon their move to ESPN.

Fewer Cards

The old phrase “less is more” fits the UFC’s situation perfectly. It seems like there’s a UFC event every week nowadays, as opposed to the promotion’s beginnings when events were in fewer numbers. If the events become so frequent, they’ll deplete in appreciation.

Less cards with more fights would not only benefit the promotion, but the fighters as well. A UFC event should be treated as more of a spectacle, and spectacles don’t come around on a weekly basis.

More Weight Classes

Finally, something both fighters and fans have been calling for for quite some time. The UFC plays host to several weight classes at the moment, however, the jump from lightweight to welterweight is far too great. The gap between 155 and 170 pounds must be addressed.

For fighters like Rafael dos Anjos, Kevin Lee, and many more, a 165-pound division would be much more beneficial. Not only for competition, but for their health. Weight cutting has been an issue in MMA for the past several years. Fighters are oftentimes hospitalized for bad weight cuts, forcing high-profile fights to fall through in the process.

If fighters are given more options in regards to weight classes, this will allow the competitors to find a home in which they can compete at the absolute peak of their abilities. It will also ensure less fights falling through due to a bad weight cut, and championship bouts remaining intact.

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Several UFC 233 Fights Moved To ESPN+ Cards

The UFC recently announced that their UFC 233 pay-per-view (PPV) from Aneheim, California on January 26th has been cancelled. A main event was never locked down for the card, thus forcing the promotion to call the event off altogether. Now, the fights that were already scheduled to take place on the card will be moved […]

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The UFC recently announced that their UFC 233 pay-per-view (PPV) from Aneheim, California on January 26th has been cancelled.

A main event was never locked down for the card, thus forcing the promotion to call the event off altogether. Now, the fights that were already scheduled to take place on the card will be moved to upcoming events. The UFC has already officially announced where several of those contests will be moved.

First, EPSN reports Paul Felder’s match-up with James Vick will once again be rebooked. They were initially scheduled to fight at UFC Boise in July. However, Vick was forced to pull out with an injury. After having their UFC 233 date scrapped, they’ll now meet on the UFC’s television premiere on ESPN on February 17th. The show goes down from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

ESPN also reports that the flyweight match-up between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueired will now take place at ESPN+ 1 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on January 19th. However, MMA Fighting reports that a January 19th date is too soon for Figueired, and Yahoo Sports reports Benavidez will instead serve as an alternate for TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo at ESPN+ 1.

Also, ESPN reports Cynthia Calvillo’s match-up with Cortney Casey has also been moved to the Feb. 17th card; as well as a bantamweight bout between Manny Bermudez and Benito Lopez. Aleksandra Albu and Emily Whitmire’s strawweight fight will also take place on the card.

MMA Junkie reports a March 9th ESPN+ event (location to be determined) will now play host to the bantamweight match-up of Yana Kunitskaya vs.Marion Reneau. They also report a middleweight contest between Anthony Hernandez and Markus Perez has been moved to ESPN+ card on February 2nd from the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil.

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UFC on FOX Was A Success, But ESPN Can Take MMA To Next Level

It’s hard to believe the UFC’s run with FOX is almost done, over seven years after it started. Back in 2011, the UFC signed a deal with FOX that was expected to help take the sport of mixed martial arts to the next level. The promotion gave…

It’s hard to believe the UFC’s run with FOX is almost done, over seven years after it started. Back in 2011, the UFC signed a deal with FOX that was expected to help take the sport of mixed martial arts to the next level. The promotion gave FOX a huge fight right out of the […]

The post UFC on FOX Was A Success, But ESPN Can Take MMA To Next Level appeared first on MMA News.

‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs. Alexander Hernandez Agreed for UFC on ESPN+ Debut in Brooklyn

The upcoming UFC on ESPN+ debut card just got even bigger with the addition of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone returning to lightweight to take on rising star Alexander Hernandez on Jan. 19 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sources close to the contest confirmed t…

The upcoming UFC on ESPN+ debut card just got even bigger with the addition of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone returning to lightweight to take on rising star Alexander Hernandez on Jan. 19 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sources close to the contest confirmed that bout agreements have been issued for the fight. MMAJunkie initially reported the contest. Cerrone […]

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Greg Hardy Expected to Make UFC Debut on First ESPN Card in January

Controversial Ex-NFL player Greg Hardy is expected to make his official UFC debut on Jan. 19 at the first ever card airing on ESPN and ESPN+. UFC president Dana White confirmed that the fight is nearly finalized, although contracts had not been signed …

Controversial Ex-NFL player Greg Hardy is expected to make his official UFC debut on Jan. 19 at the first ever card airing on ESPN and ESPN+. UFC president Dana White confirmed that the fight is nearly finalized, although contracts had not been signed when speaking to ESPN on Tuesday. Hardy is expected to face Dana […]

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Two Light Heavyweight Bouts Added To UFC on ESPN+ 1

UFC on ESPN+ 1 is stacking up to be one heck of a card. The card already features some entertaining fights and the UFC just added two light heavyweight fights to the card. First reported by Mark La Monica of Newsday, Glover Teixeira will face Ion Cutelaba and Alonzo Menifield will fight Vinicius Moreira Castro on ESPN+’s […]

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UFC on ESPN+ 1 is stacking up to be one heck of a card. The card already features some entertaining fights and the UFC just added two light heavyweight fights to the card.

First reported by Mark La Monica of Newsday, Glover Teixeira will face Ion Cutelaba and Alonzo Menifield will fight Vinicius Moreira Castro on ESPN+’s debut card on Jan. 19, 2019, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Teixeira (27-7) has alternated between losing and winning since his August 2016 bout with Anthony Johnson. The 39-year-old was once a title contender but has fallen on hard times as of late. He was forced to pull out of his fight with Jimi Manuwa this last September with a shoulder injury.

Cutelaba (14-3) has won two straight via first-round knockouts. The 24-year-old is on the verge of becoming a series light heavyweight contender.

Menifield earned his way to the UFC with the fastest knockout in DWTNCS history. He only needed eight seconds to sleep Dashawn Boatwright and earn a UFC contract. Menifield has won al of his fights via KO. Moreira Castro earned his UFC contract by submitting John Allen on DWTNCS Brazil, Episode 3.

UFC on ESPN+ 1, also known as UFC Fight Night 143, will also feature a women’s flyweight matchup between Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich.

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