Category: MMA

CM Punk’s UFC Debut Delayed Again, Set For Surgery

Source: WrestlingINC

CM Punk detractors are going to have some more ammunition, as the former WWE Champion will have his UFC debut delayed yet again. He’ll be undergoing back surgery to repair a herniated disc, according to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani.

Punk told Helwani that his back is something that has always bothered him, and he figured that it was simply professional wrestling injuries. As it turns out, it was.

“It got bad enough to the point where I couldn’t do anything the week before I went to train with the New Jersey Devils last month. One day I could manage, the next day I couldn’t. I’ve been in agony for almost a month. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy, nothing worked,” Punk told MMA Fighting.

CM Punk was linked to both July’s UFC 200 and June’s UFC 199 to take on Mickey Gall. Gall defeated Mike Jackson at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 82 to earn the right to take on Punk in his UFC debut.

Many fans, fighters and media have speculated that Punk’s UFC career is simply a publicity stunt, and that he has no intent to fight. According to my sources close to the camp, Punk has always had the actual intent to fight, along with his trainers at Roufusport. Punk, 37, still insists he will fight in the UFC.

CM Punk’s first UFC opponent has been named 

In late 2014 former WWE superstar CM Punk announced that he would be transitioning from pro wrestling to MMA. The straight edge Chicago native hoped to debut in 2015 but due to legal issues and even an injury his debut kept getting pushed back.

Punk who has an (0-0) record in MMA received tons of mixed reactions when he made the announcement. Some fans were excited while others felt he didn’t deserve a spot on the UFC roster.

Whether you love or hate Punk it’s no secret that the fans have been waiting to find out who his first opponent would be and tonight at UFC Vegas we got our answer. His name is Mickey Gall.

Gall won the fight over Mike Jackson in quick fashion, dropping Jackson with a punch before following him to the ground and locking on a rear naked choke submission. CM Punk was at cageside watching the fight.

Gall was discovered on UFC President Dana White’s Looking For A Fight reality program, where he scouts talent from throughout the country. Highly touted prospect Sage Northcutt was also recruited on the show. After winning a regional bout, Gall told Dana White that he wanted to challenge CM Punk. An impressed White gave Gall the shot.

As for Gall he is now (2-0) in his MMA career and looks to square off against punk later this year.

Sorce: Wrestlinginc.com 

UFC Fighter Tecia Torres Signs First Commercial Deal

UFC  women’s strawweight fighter Tecia Torres announced in a video she posted on Twitter that she has signed her first commercial deal with a Toyota dealership.

Here is her video of her announcement she posted on Twitter:

Ronda Rousey Slated To Return In November 

UFC President Dana White recently had an interview with BigboyTv where he discussed the future of former Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

He said Rousey will probably  be making her return to the octagon in November of this year. If Rousey does indeed return in November it’ll be one year after her devastating loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193

White also went on to say that whoever wins at UFC 196 their next title defense will be against a returning Rousey. Whether that’ll be Holly Holm or Miesha Tate remains to be unseen.

Regardless who wins at UFC 196 it’ll be a rematch for Rousey and that alone is the making of an anticipated fight.

Fox Sports Suspends Kenny Florian

Source: WrestlingINC

Fox Sports has suspended former UFC title challenger Kenny Florian after being exposed for plagiarism earlier this week. Florian wrote an article earlier this week previewing UFC Fight Night 81, while taking parts of analysis from Lee Wylie of The Fight City. Florian copped to the claims, but said he did it on accident.

UFC on Fox’s tweeted about the matter:

It’s official: Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha to coach TUF23 

  
The Ultimate Fighter Team Joanna vs. Team Claudia will kick-off on FS1 on Wednesday, April 20 with a two-hour season premiere airing at 10 p.m. ET as 32 competitors fight for one of 16 slots – eight in each weight class – available to be coached by two of the sport’s best. The season will continue with 11 one-hour shows Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET. The series is the highest rated and most watched original program since the network’s inception in August 2013.

Poland’s first UFC champion, Jedrzejczyk (11-0, fighting out of Olsztyn, Poland) stormed onto the scene in 2014 with her first Octagon appearance. Since then, she’s gone on to win five straight, won the strawweight title, cemented her place on the top pound-for-pound list and is widely considered as one of the best strikers in the sport. She’ll now lend her expertise to the next generation of athletes who hope to follow in her footsteps and one day wear UFC gold themselves. 

Gadelha (13-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) trains at the renowned Nova Uniao gym, home to former champions Jose Aldo & Renan Barao. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist hopes to get another crack at current strawweight champion, Jedrzejczyk, who provided Gadelha with the only blemish on her record – a three-round split decision loss in late 2014. Their contrasting styles should provide for an entertaining season between the two teams. The Brazilian’s comfort zone is on the canvas and will provide a stark contrast to the Pole’s highly skilled striking attack brings a completely different skillset to the show. 

The series culminates on live on FS1 Friday, July 8 in Las Vegas as part of International Fight Week and will be headlined by Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha in a championship

Source: UFC.com

UFC News: Rousey Not Fighting At UFC 200, Nick Diaz’s Ban Reduced

UFC President Dana White tells Yahoo Sports that Ronda Rousey has asked for more time off and will not fight at UFC 200 in July.

It was announced that UFC Welterweight Nick Diaz’s 5-year ban has been reduced to 18 months, making Diaz eligible to fight beginning in August. Diaz was suspended in September after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 183 on January 31, 2015.

McGregor & Holm Booked In Title Fights For UFC 197

Bleacher Report is reporting that UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor got his wish and will be fighting UFC Lightweight Champion Rafeal dos Anjos in a huge champion VS champion fight at UFC 197 on March 5 in Las Vegas. McGregor stated that he wanted to become a two-division champion and actively defend both championships.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm will defend her title at UFC 197 against Miesha Tate. Ronda Rousey will still get her title rematch when she’s ready to return, but Holm wanted to fight in the interim.

Dana White Made Announcement On Holly Holm’s Next Fight

On last night’s episode of UFC Tonight, UFC President Dana White announced that UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm will compete again before her rematch with Ronda Rousey. He didn’t name an opponent for Holm, but it’s been speculated that she’ll fight Miesha Tate sometime this Spring.

Ronda Rousey To Host SNL

Ronda Rousey will make her debut as host of Saturday Night Live on January 23 with musical guest Selena Gomez.

This is sure to be Rousey’s first major television appearance since her crushing defeat to Holly Holm on November 14, 2015 at UFC 193.

Source: Deadline