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Dana White doubtful of UFC Mexico event this year: ‘I don’t know if it’s in the plans’

Despite boasting three promotional championships from Mexico, UFC president, Dana White has confirmed it is unlikely the Octagon returns to the country any time soon, also shutting down a Cinco De Mayo event to boot. The UFC, who have yet to venture to Mexico since hosting a UFC Fight Night Mexico City card back in […]

The UFC, who have yet to venture to Mexico since hosting a UFC Fight Night Mexico City card back in September 2019, saw that event end in less than ideal fashion, with a headliner between hometown favorite, Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens halted due to an opening minute eye poke

Initially claiming the organization would not be returning to the region for a UFC Mexico event, due to crowd trouble following the official ‘No Contest‘ – fans have clamored for a return ever since the crowning of three UFC champions from Mexico.

Firstly, undisputed flyweight kingpin, Brandon Moreno reclaimed his crown with a doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Deiveson Figueiredo in Brazil at UFC 283 in January.

Then, the above-mentioned, Rodriguez struck interim featherweight gold the following month with a submission win against Josh Emmett.

And earlier this month, Lobo Gym staple, Alexa Grasso turned in a huge upset to dethrone Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight, clinching the crown with her own submission victory.

UFC Mexico return unlikely for 2023 schedule

However, despite the emergence of generational talent from Mexico in the form of three Octagon champions, UFC boss, White does not see a return to the country in the near future for UFC Mexico.

“We would obviously love to get back to Mexico and do that [a UFC Mexico card in the country], but I don’t know if it’s in the plans right now,” Dana White told assembled media following UFC San Antonio. We’re building a PI (Performance Institute) down there right now, and wait until you guys see that.”

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“We got three Mexican champions,” Dana White continued. “We probably should he heading to Mexico – or at least be doing a Cinco De Mayo [event], but that didn’t work out either.”

Kamaru Usman continues slide further down pound for pound rankings following UFC 286 decision loss

Kamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards. With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not […]

Kamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards.

With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not be repeated, but ‘Rocky’ once again found a way to win.

Although there may have been several referee interventions against Edwards, including a point deduction after a fence grab, the Jamaican-born welterweight remained composed and clearly out-pointed Kamaru Usman over five rounds, winning by majority decision.

Kamaru Usman slips down the UFC pound-for-pound pile

This, just the second loss of Usman’s UFC career, steered him down three spots in the P4P rankings, taking him from #5 to #8.

Undisputed bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (#7), newly crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira (#6), and former champion Israel Adesanya (#5) all moved up ahead of the Kamaru Usman.

Pereira will defend his title for the first time at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida. This will be his fourth time exchanging blows with ‘The last stylebender’ in combat sports, and it will surely have a major influence on the next P4P update.

Sterling will go head-to-head with former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, as Cejudo returns following a three-year layoff.

While Jon Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic this summer, it is unlikely any result removes him from his P4P #1 status, a ranking he has been familiar with throughout his UFC career.

It is up to Alexander Volkanovski (#2), who will be returning to featherweight to fight interim champion Yair Rodriguez later this year, to put any kind of pressure on Jones’ position.

P4P #3 Islam Makhachev may have struggled immensely in his first championship defence, but he will have to remain consistent as Edwards crawls his way up the rankings.

Edwards is expected to hold his second title defence against Colby Covington as per Dana White.

Mexico’s Alexa Grasso ‘Motivated’ By Brandon Moreno & Yair Rodríguez’s Title Wins

UFC women’s flyweight contender Alexa Grasso is looking to become the latest fighter to bring gold back to her home country this weekend. While Jon Jones’ return and challenge for the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane is attractin…

Continue Reading Mexico’s Alexa Grasso ‘Motivated’ By Brandon Moreno & Yair Rodríguez’s Title Wins at MMA News.

Yair Rodriguez brands himself as undisputed UFC featherweight champion in Alexander Volkanovski’s potential absence

Yair Rodriguez is riding high after capturing the UFC interim featherweight championship at UFC 284. With reigning 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski moving up to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, the UFC established an interim championship which was won by Rodriguez following a second-round submission of Josh Emmett earlier this month. The next task […]

Yair Rodriguez is riding high after capturing the UFC interim featherweight championship at UFC 284.

With reigning 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski moving up to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, the UFC established an interim championship which was won by Rodriguez following a second-round submission of Josh Emmett earlier this month. The next task for Rodriguez is unifying the titles in a showdown with Volkanovski who was expected to return to the featherweight division after coming up short in his bid to become a two-division titleholder. However, that may not be the case.

If things go Alexander Volkanovski’s way, he’ll get another crack at Islam Makhachev after the pair delivered a highly entertaining and closely contested 25-minute war in the UFC 284 main event. Should the UFC decide to run back the battle of the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Yair Rodriguez will gladly take the undisputed crown and defend it himself.

Yair Rodriguez Will Not Wait Around for Alexander Volkanovski

Appearing on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Yair Rodriguez revealed that he has not heard anything from the UFC matchmakers as of yet, but if Alexander Volkanovski isn’t going to return to featherweight, he’ll move on to fighting someone else for 145-pound supremacy.

“Nothing,” Rodriguez said when asked if he had heard anything from the UFC. “I think it’s just too soon to hear something like that. But whatever, at the end of the day, if he decides not to defend the title, that would make me the undisputed champion. Why? Because I’m going to defend the belt against somebody else, and what’s going to happen? I’m going to be the undisputed champion.

“If he decides to come and fight at 145 pounds again, then whoever wins that fight will be the undisputed. So regardless of the situation, it’s one of those situations that are, like, you have to fight again. That’s why I didn’t want to take the Josh Emmett fight, because he’s a beast. You need to be really smart in this game because everybody’s tough in this game, everybody’s tough. … Now, if Alexander Volkanovski decides not to go down to 145 pounds, then I have to fight again to get the undisputed belt.”

Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev delivered a Fight of the Year contender that undeniably left fans wanting more, and many of them crying foul, believing ‘The Great’ did more than enough to deliver an upset and snatch the 155-pound title. Verdict, the popular fan-scoring app, also confirmed that fans around the world had Volkanovski winning the bout by a fair margin. Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan agreed, publicly stating that he saw it in favor of Volkanovski.

Alex Volkanovski defeated Islam Makhachev on the Verdict Scorecard.#UFC284 pic.twitter.com/ZGGF1dkNMO

— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) February 12, 2023

With fans and fighters seemingly split down the middle, a rematch between the two pound-for-pound titans would be an easy sell for the UFC. Unfortunately, doing so will leave some high-ranking lightweights along with Yair Rodriguez waiting for their time in the main event spotlight.

Teddy Atlas Compares Yair Rodriguez’s Striking To Boxers

Famed boxing coach and commentator Teddy Atlas recently delivered some lofty praise regarding Yair Rodriguez’s striking following the latter’s win at UFC 284. “El Pantera” joined the UFC in 2014 after winning Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin Ame…

Continue Reading Teddy Atlas Compares Yair Rodriguez’s Striking To Boxers at MMA News.

Yair Rodríguez Responds To Volkanovski’s ‘Green Light’ To Defend Interim Belt

Yair Rodríguez wants to become the undisputed champion, whether or not it’s against Alexander Volkanovski. Rodríguez defeated Josh Emmett for the interim featherweight title in the UFC 284 co-main event earlier this month. After ups and downs throughout his UFC tenure, he earned a belt and will likely face Volkanovski next. While Rodríguez vs. Volkanovski…

Continue Reading Yair Rodríguez Responds To Volkanovski’s ‘Green Light’ To Defend Interim Belt at MMA News.