“Hey people. Quick update. Unfortunately I won’t be fighting Pettis on dec 14. I am still not yet 100% n can’t commit to fight. UFC is going with someone else instead. It sucks but it is the best for both myself and the UFC. Please don’t worry. Ill be back and if I gotta fight someone else to get back to where I wanna be then that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m not bitter. Thanks”
“Hey people. Quick update. Unfortunately I won’t be fighting Pettis on dec 14. I am still not yet 100% n can’t commit to fight. UFC is going with someone else instead. It sucks but it is the best for both myself and the UFC. Please don’t worry. Ill be back and if I gotta fight someone else to get back to where I wanna be then that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m not bitter. Thanks”
It didn’t take Josh Thomson long to vault back to the top of the lightweight division. The former Strikeforce champion is now slated to fight Anthony “Showtime” Pettis in a lightweight title fight on December 14 at UFC on Fox 9.
The news was announced …
It didn’t take Josh Thomson long to vault back to the top of the lightweight division. The former Strikeforce champion is now slated to fight Anthony “Showtime” Pettis in a lightweight title fight on December 14 at UFC on Fox 9.
The news was announced immediately after news broke that Canadian grappler-turned-slugger TJ Grant is unable to fight Pettis on the date due to the same lingering concussion troubles that kept him out of a UFC 164 fight with then-champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson.
Pettis replaced Grant in that fight and won via first-round submission.
It’s an unfortunate turn for Grant, but is a massive opportunity for Thomson.
Thomson is one of the most enduring veterans of the lightweight division, who actually made his UFC debut at UFC 44, in the days before the post-BJ Penn collapse of 2004, which caused the division to be disbanded.
He joined Strikeforce shortly thereafter, where he would fight 13 times, racking up a 10-3 record (losing only to Gilbert Melendez and Clay Guida).
He rejoined the UFC after an eight-year hiatus and made the most of the opportunity by knocking out long-time contender Nate Diaz. He dominated the popular submission artist before scoring a fearsome knockout in Round 2. It was the first knockout loss of Diaz‘s career.
While he dropped a tight split decision to Gilbert Melendez before that at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, few are questioning the legitimacy of Thomson’s title shot.
There are currently no other fights attached to UFC on Fox 9. Stick with Bleacher Report for more details on the card as they become available.
(“So then Frodo was all like ‘Give me back the ring!’ and I was all like ‘No way, dude!’ Anyways, long story short, the sumbitch burned me. He burned me bad.” Photo via Getty.)
After unveiling that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter would feature a head-scratching, perhaps even nonsensical coaching matchup, the UFC Tonight gang actually hinted at and/or confirmed a few matchups that fans might actually give two shits about. It’s called progress, you guys. All three of these fights are being pegged for UFC on FOX 9, which goes down in Sacramento, California on December 14th, so let’s start with the only matchup to be confirmed last night.
Currently riding an impressive three-fight win streak, Urijah Faber will be facing an incredibly tough challenge in Michael “Mayday” McDonald at the aforementioned event. Both men are coming off wins over Yuri Alcantara and Brad Pickett, respectively, at Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun. Fun fact: This four fight stretch marks the longest Faber has gone without receiving a title shot of some kind (or defending a title) since his first five fights as a professional. Dude’s like the Mick Jagger of MMA.
In other, more tentative fight booking news…
(“So then Frodo was all like ‘Give me back the ring!’ and I was all like ‘No way, dude!’ Anyways, long story short, the sumbitch burned me. He burned me bad.” Photo via Getty.)
After unveiling that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter would feature a head-scratching, perhaps even nonsensical coaching matchup, the UFC Tonight gang actually hinted at and/or confirmed a few matchups that fans might actually give two shits about. It’s called progress, you guys. All three of these fights are being pegged for UFC on FOX 9, which goes down in Sacramento, California on December 14th, so let’s start with the only matchup to be confirmed last night.
Currently riding an impressive three-fight win streak, Urijah Faber will be facing an incredibly tough challenge in Michael “Mayday” McDonald at the aforementioned event. Both men are coming off wins over Yuri Alcantara and Brad Pickett, respectively, at Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun. Fun fact: This four fight stretch marks the longest Faber has gone without receiving a title shot of some kind (or defending a title) since his first five fights as a professional. Dude’s like the Mick Jagger of MMA.
In other, more tentative fight booking news…
UFC Tonight also hinted that the promotion is currently trying to book the lightweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and T.J. Grant for UFC on FOX 9 as well. The matchup hinders on whether or not Pettis’ knee will be healed up from the sprain he suffered in his title-winning effort over Ben Henderson at UFC 164 last month. All the signs seem to indicate that Pettis will be ready to go in a matter of weeks, so look forward to seeing this bout top what is already looking like another spectacular UFC on FOX card. The fight will also be Grant’s first since withdrawing from his fight with Bendo due to injury and being replaced by, you guessed it, Anthony Pettis. Let’s hope these two can stay healthy.
Additionally, a bout between Travis Browne and Stipe Miocic is also being put together for the December card. Browne is fresh off a come-from-behind KO victory over Alistair Overeem, also at Fight Night 26, whereas Miocic most recently bounced back from his first career loss with a three round beatdown of Roy Nelson at UFC 161. The only outside factor preventing this fight from being confirmed is that of the indefinite medical suspension Browne received after allegedly cutting his foot on Overeem’s glass chin (allegedly). Browne will need to be cleared for by an orthopedist and opthamologist before he can be given the go-ahead against Miocic.
Who do you like for this trio of sure-to-be-slugfests, Nation?
Anthony Pettis’ first lightweight title defense could come against TJ Grant at UFC on Fox 9.
During Wednesday’s premiere episode of UFC Tonight on Fox Sports 1, Ariel Helwani reported that UFC president Dana White would like to see the 155-pound champi…
Anthony Pettis‘ first lightweight title defense could come against TJ Grant at UFC on Fox 9.
During Wednesday’s premiere episode of UFC Tonight on Fox Sports 1, Ariel Helwani reported that UFC president Dana White would like to see the 155-pound championship matchup headline the December fight card.
According to Helwani, Pettis is prepared to accept a meeting with Grant at UFC on Fox 9. However, Grant told Helwani he’s still recovering from the injury that forced him out of a scheduled title shot with former champion Benson Henderson and would like to return in January.
Despite his wishes, Grant admitted he’d still consider a UFC offer to challenge Pettis in the promotion’s final Fox event of 2013.
Grant was booked to meet Henderson at UFC 164, which took place on Aug. 31. When Grant suffered a concussion in training, though, Pettis stepped in for a rematch with Henderson and dethroned the titleholder with an armbar.
Pettis was promised a UFC title shot after beating Henderson in the final fight in WEC history. However, a loss to Clay Guida ended up delaying Pettis‘ chance at UFC gold for two years. The 26-year-old Pettis is now champ, though, and could have a long reign ahead of him.
A former welterweight, Grant’s career has exploded in a good way since his move to 155 pounds. The Canadian has won five straight fights, most recently knocking out former title challenger Gray Maynard.
In addition to the matchup between Pettis and Grant, a bantamweight bout featuring Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald is also being considered for UFC on Fox 9. The event will be held on Dec. 14 at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
Sean Smith is a B/R MMA Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.
The night that Michael McDonald made his professional MMA debut in 2007, Urijah Faber was in the arena that night and saw the young 16-year-old fighter win impressively with a triangle choke in the first round.
Now six years later, with both fighters c…
The night that Michael McDonald made his professional MMA debut in 2007, Urijah Faber was in the arena that night and saw the young 16-year-old fighter win impressively with a triangle choke in the first round.
Now six years later, with both fighters competing in the UFC’s bantamweight division, Faber will meet McDonald in the newly announced co-main event for UFC on Fox 9.
UFC officials confirmed the bout via Twitter on Wednesday.
The event will land in Faber’s hometown of Sacramento, Calif. on December 14 from the Arco Arena.
According to an additional report from UFC Tonight, Faber was originally in consideration to coach on the 19th season of The Ultimate Fighter against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Unfortunately for Faber, Edgar decided he didn’t want to drop down to 135 pounds and UFC president Dana White nixed the idea of the two fighters meeting at a catchweight.
So now instead of coaching on the reality show for a second time, Faber will gear up for another training camp and a chance to fight in Sacramento for the first time since 2010.
Faber is a mainstay of the Sacramento area where he leads his fighters in Team Alpha Male and has pulled in a huge live crowd every time he competes there.
While he’s not from Sacramento, McDonald isn’t far away from that area either and will certainly have his own fan base coming down to see his performance at UFC on Fox 9.
McDonald had a blistering performance in his last fight where he finished off Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 26 with a second round triangle choke. The performance earned McDonald the “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” bonuses that night.
Now McDonald will look to become the first fighter to ever hand Faber a defeat in a non-title fight. Faber will look to keep his undefeated streak in non-title fights alive when he returns at UFC on Fox 9.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
Hometown fights have become something very special for most mixed martial artists.
Unlike many professional sports where a team will have the home crowd on their side for at least half a season each year, fighters in MMA never get such a luxury.
Travel…
Hometown fights have become something very special for most mixed martial artists.
Unlike many professional sports where a team will have the home crowd on their side for at least half a season each year, fighters in MMA never get such a luxury.
Traveling to new cities and locations is routine, but when the opportunity comes along to fight close to home with an arena full of supporters at their backs, most fighters will do just about anything to compete on a hometown card.
The moment UFC on Fox 9 was announced as landing in Sacramento, California on December 14, lightweight fighter Danny Castillo’s eyes popped open wide and a huge smile crept across his face.
Castillo grew up in the capital city of California, and while he did fight there during his WEC debut more than five years ago a lot has changed since that time.
“I’ve only ever really gotten the chance to fight in Sacramento one time and that was my WEC debut, and at the time I had been fighting less than year,” Castillo said. “Urijah (Faber) headlined and sold the place out, Arco Arena was rocking. Unfortunately, I lost so it would be able to fight there again in the UFC it would be awesome.”
Castillo came to the WEC with very little fight experience, and has learned how to be a true mixed martial artist while competing on the biggest stages in the UFC since moving there in 2011. Now with a new fight card planned for Castillo’s hometown, he couldn’t think of a better time to get back in the Octagon while targeting his third win in a row.
“Right now is like the perfect opportunity,” Castillo said. “December’s not too far away, I’ll sit out and wait for December for a fight in my hometown. I’ll do pretty much anything actually.
“I went to high school in Sacramento, I went to junior college in Sacramento, I’ve been here most of my life. It’s home. I’m a business owner here in Sacramento. It would be a huge homecoming for me. I get a little bit of chills running down my spine thinking about what it would feel like in there.”
While Castillo is quick to point out the good parts of competing close to home, there are also negatives that can happen when there’s no getting away from the fight. Training in the same town where everybody knows your name can result in a lot of additional media, ticket requests and pressure on fight night knowing that all of your friends and family are sitting nearby watching.
The veteran UFC lightweight doesn’t see it that way at all.
He’ll gladly tell anybody who will listen that the UFC only allows him so many tickets to give away, and if he has to do a slew of interviews about fighting in his hometown, Castillo welcomes the extra attention.
If anything, Castillo believes the intensity being ratcheted up by fighting in Sacramento would only focus his training and guarantee a great performance. After all, who wants to let their hometown fans down?
“I like to look at it as positive level,” Castillo said. “A positive level that’s going to push more towards a whole other level in terms of training, because the last the opportunity I had to fight in Sacramento I didn’t do so hot. This is my hometown and it’s my time to make a splash.”
Castillo doesn’t want to call any fighter out by name because it might narrow down the list of potential opponents that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva would consider when trying to put him on the Sacramento card.
In an ideal world, Castillo would face a top-notch opponent, but the reality is he just wants the chance to fight on the UFC on Fox 9 card. The person’s name on the other end of the bout agreement doesn’t matter all that much.
Castillo doesn’t ask the UFC for much, but if he’s cashing in on any past credit, this is the time he’s doing it.
“It would be an awesome opportunity I’ve definitely done some good things, I feel like I’ve been a good employee,” Castillo said. “I’ve taken five or maybe six fights on short notice, so if they could give me a little favor back and get me on that Sacramento card it would mean a lot.”
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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