Category: UFC

Breaking News: Jon Jones Out Of UFC 200

It what is being called the biggest card in the UFC to date, it seems that it’s taken a major hit.

The anticipated rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title is now off due to the USADA flagging him for a possible dopping violation.

The UFC has issued this statement on the situation.

The UFC organization was notified tonight that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jon Jones of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on June 16, 2016.
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed.
However, because Jones was scheduled to compete against Daniel Cormier this coming Saturday, July 9 in Las Vegas, there is insufficient time for a full review before the scheduled bout and therefore the fight has been removed from the fight card. As a result, the three-round heavyweight bout between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt will become the UFC 200 main event.
Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information or UFC statements will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
Ticket refunds available upon request at primary point of purchase.

Does this news surprise you or did you see this coming? Weigh in on the comment section below.

UFC Veteran Ryan Jimmo Dead After Hit-And-Run Incident

Source: MSN

Canadian light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo is dead at 34.

 MMAjunkie on Sunday confirmed with a person with first-hand knowledge of the accident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter that Jimmo was the victim identified in an initial CBC News report of a fatal hit-and-run collision.

Edmonton Police Service officials were not immediately available for comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.

According to CBC News, “an altercation occurred between the drivers of two vehicles at around 2:15 a.m.” this morning in the parking lot of H2O Lounge in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The report continues that “the 34-year-old driver of one vehicle walked up to the occupants of the other vehicle. When he began to walk away, police say the suspects’ vehicle accelerated and struck him before leaving the scene.

“The suspects’ vehicle, a dark-colored pickup truck police say was occupied by two Caucasian males, then fled … and nearly hit a red car.”

The suspects are reportedly still at large.

A lifelong martial artist, Jimmo (19-5) began his professional MMA career in 2007, initially fighting exclusively in Canada and eventually rising to the rank of Maximum Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion.

He made his UFC debut in July 2012, scoring a “Knockout of the Night” bonus in a seven-second win over Anthony Perosh. Jimmo would fight six more times under the UFC banner, earning two victories in that span, including a “Performance of the Night” knockout win over Sean O’Connell in April 2013 at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale.

Jimmo fought most recently in May 2015, losing a unanimous decision to Francimar Barroso. He was released from the promotion shortly after.

CM Punk To Make anticipated UFC Debut At UFC203

According to UFC.COM the former professional wrestler Phill “CM Punk” Brooks will make his long awaited UFC debut against Mikey Gall at UFC203 in Cleveland Ohio on September 10th in a welterweight bout.

The PPV will be headlined as hometown hero Stipe Miocic defends his newly won heavyweight title against Alister Overeem and in the Co main we will see Fabrico Werdum take on Ben Rothwell.

CM Punk Not Debuting At UFC 202 This August?

Source: WrestlingINC

It appeared CM Punk’s UFC debut vs. newcomer Mickey Gall was set for UFC 202 in late August but according to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the fight will not be taking place during WWE’s SummerSlam weekend.

Helwani tweeted that the fight date is far from a done deal but it’s looking like it will happen at UFC 203 on September 10th in Cleveland. Helwani wrote the following on Punk, who signed with UFC in December 2014:

UFC Denies Report Of $4.2 Billion Sale

Source: WrestlingINC

Jeremy Botter of FloCombat reported yesterday that Zuffa has accepted a $4.2 billion bill to sell the UFC to a group consisting of WME-IMG, the Dalian Wanda Group, The Kraft Group and Tencent Holdings. It was noted that while the bid was accepted, the sale hasn’t been completed.

The UFC sent an email to employees denying the report. The email read (h/t to MMA Junkie):

“A report today by FloCombat.com indicating that the company has been sold is false. This follows other false speculation in the press recently.”Such misrepresentation of facts in the media negatively impacts our business, staff members and athletes. We have instructed our attorneys to investigate and take all appropriate legal actions against the parties publishing and contributing to these false stories.

“With International Fight Week and the historic UFC 200 rapidly approaching, we look forward to once again delivering a series of events that our fans won’t soon forget. We appreciate your hard work, diligence and commitment, and thank you for your focus as we continue to take the sport to new heights.”

Mark Hunt Reacts To What He Thinks Is A USADA Excemption For Brock Lesnar – Lesnar Tested By USADA Ahead Of UFC 200

Source: MSN SB Nation

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will make his mixed martial arts (MMA) return against Mark Hunt in the UFC 200 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, which is scheduled for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., July 9, 2016.

Thanks to a special exemption from Untied States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which allowed the WWE superstar to bypass the four-month window for all mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters choosing to come out of retirement for one (or more) fights.

Hunt told FOX Sports Australia it’s a big pile of BS:

“I think he’s juiced to the gills, and I still think I’m going to knock him out. I don’t think [USADA exemption is] fair. I think it’s load of bulls–t, I think it’s rubbish. I don’t think anyone should be exempt from testing. If they’re trying to clean the sport up, mixed martial arts, this is a bad way to do it. I don’t care who you are. It’s ridiculous. I’ve already voiced my opinion to Dana about it but apparently he (Lesnar) has been getting tested but he’s probably been off a couple of cycles anyway. I don’t think it’s an even playing field. But it doesn’t mean you’re not going to get knocked out. Frank Mir was juicing and he got knocked out. The same thing’s going to happen with Brock Lesnar.”

Lesnar (5-3) hasn’t stepped foot inside the Octagon since suffering back-to-back technical knockout losses to Cain Velasquez (UFC 121) and Alistair Overeem (UFC 141), but never failed a blood or urine test during his time as a pro fighter.

The eye test?

That’s another story, according to Hunt.

 

Source: WrestlingINC 

WrestlingINC.com mentioned in a report this week that Brock Lesnar received a USADA exemption for his return to MMA, but the U.S. Anti Doping Association wasted no time in testing Lesnar when he became eligible.

According to Yahoo’s Kevin Iole, Lesnar was tested by USADA Wednesday. The results should show up on the agency’s official website next week. This comes after Lesnar’s opponent Mark Hunt did an interview (seen above) saying that Lesnar was ‘juiced to the gills.’

It’s worth noting that a first time failure of USADA’s policies can result in a two-year ban from the sport.

 

WWE Trying To Get Ronda Rousey For WrestleMania 33?

Source: WrestlingINC

As if CM Punk, Brock Lesnar and potentially Paige VanZant weren’t enough for potential UFC and WWE crossovers, it appears as if the WWE is hoping to land Ronda Rousey for next year’s WrestleMania 33 event.

According to a report by Forbes, the WWE is looking to angle the Brock Lesnar UFC fight to potentially get Rousey on WrestleMania. As you may remember, Ronda Rousey participated in WrestleMania 31, working an angle with Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and the Rock.

As we mentioned earlier, the WWE is also hoping to get UFC stars to appear at Summerslam.

Kimbo Slice Was Awaiting Heart Transplant, UFC Comments On Slice, Spike TV Special

Source: WrestlingINC

Just a couple of days after legendary street fighter, boxer and mixed martial artist Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson passed away at 42, additional details have emerged regarding his death.

According to The Sun-Sentinel, Slice was admitted to Northwest Medical Center in Margate last Friday for abdominal pain, which according to those close to him, started in March. The decision to pull out of his scheduled Bellator 158 fight with James Thompson had already been made.

Slice passed way at 7:30 PM EST as doctors were preparing to transport him to Cleveland. There, he would have been placed on an organ donor list, as it was revealed that he’d require a heart transplant.

Bellator and Spike TV announced that they’ll be airing a one-hour tribute to Kimbo on Friday, June 24 at 7 PM EST.

The UFC issued a statement on Kimbo’s passing:

UFC is saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Ferguson, known to fans around the world as Kimbo Slice.Slice will forever be a part of UFC history as a contestant on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2009, and for having fought twice inside the Octagon at The Ultimate Fighter Finale and UFC 113. He carried himself as a true professional during his time in our organization.

While he will never be forgotten for his fighting style and transcendent image, Slice will also be remembered for his warm personality and commitment to his family and friends.

UFC offers its sincere condolences to Slice’s family, friends and teammates at American Top Team.

Brock Lesnar On Vince McMahon’s Reaction To UFC 200

Source: WrestlingINC

Brock Lesnar made the media rounds on ESPN yesterday to promote his upcoming fight against Mark Hunt at UFC 200. During an interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, which you can watch below, Lesnar was asked about how Vince McMahon reacted when approached about the upcoming fight.

“I said, ‘Listen, old man, we can do this the hard way or the easy way,'” Lesnar recalled. “I said, ‘Do you wanna arm-wrestle for it?’ He was like, ‘Aw yeah, what the hell.’ So, I ended up beating him and here we are.”

Lesnar said that McMahon had no hesitation allowing Lesnar to do the fight.

“Who would you [have any hesitation]?,” Lesnar asked. “I believe that in the WWE brand, I’m a legit athlete in that brand, and I bring lots to the company. For me to get back in the Octagon legitimizes why the WWE has me in their company. It’s a win-win for all of us. It’s a win for me, it’s a win for WWE and it’s a win for the UFC.”

Lesnar again wouldn’t reveal how much he is making for the fight, but said that it was “lots of money” and stated that he was a prizefighter.

“You don’t get in the cage for nothing,” Lesnar noted. “It’s a lot of money… I’m not gonna relay how much money I’m making on it, I wouldn’t do that to either one of the companies.”

WWE reportedly interested in UFC’s Paige VanZant

At just age 22, Paige VanZant is arguably one of the best fighters in the ever growing Strawweight division. With just two losses under her belt in her professional MMA career many would say she’s the next huge crossover star.

She’s already been endorsed by Reebok and was in the finals of Dancing with the Stars this past season, and now according to MMA Junkie the biggest company in professional wrestling known as the WWE has an interest in “12 gage”

VanZant has reportedly been in talks with the WWE about appearing at their biggest PPV of the summer, SummerSlam, says her manager Mike Roberts.

No word has been said what type of role PVZ will play in the PPV if she does indeed appear. Still it’s interesting to think about especially with the news that broke this past weekend of WWE’s Brock Lesnar competing at UFC200. Let’s not forget the appearance by Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 31.

All of this begs the question of could it be possible that the WWE and the UFC be in some type of under the table partnership? We here at WNB sure think so.