In the fast paced world of mixed martial arts we at Fighters Only know it’s hard to stay on top of all the latest news, so here’s five stories that may have flown under your radar.
Fights added to UFC on FOX 23
UFC on Fox 23 is starting to shape up nicely. Following his fourth consecutive win of the year, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone will meet Jorge Masvidal in what is certain to be an action packed fight at 170lb.
If that wasn’t enough, the UFC also announced heavyweight prospect Francis Ngannou will face former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski. Here’s what the card looks like right now.
Great additions to a card that already includes: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Julianna Pena, Raphael Assuncao vs. Aljamain Sterling, Hector Lombard vs. Brad Tavares, JC Cottrell vs. Jason Gonzalez and Alexandre Pantoja vs. Eric Shelton.
Tate gets Fox job
Following her loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 in New York City, Miesha Tate announced her retirement from the sport, but she won’t be going too far away.
Speaking whilst in Toronto last weekend, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the former bantamweight champion will be getting an analyst role with Fox Sports.
Gastelum staying at 185lb
Following his impressive win up at middleweight this past weekend at UFC 206, when he defeated Tim Kennedy via third round TKO, Kelvin Gastelum once again flirted with the idea of going back down to welterweight, a weight class he has long had battles with in terms of going through a successful weight cut.
Well it’s no longer a factor, at least for the time being, as the UFC this week announced former champion Vitor Belfort will take on Gastelum in a 185lb bout which will serve part of the UFC Fight Night 107 offering in Brazil on March 11th.
Mayweather fires back at McGregor
The back and forth between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor continued this week, and this time it was the Hall of Fame boxer who turned up the heat. In a periscope chat, which was later captured and posted on YouTube, Mayweather didn’t hide his feelings towards the brash Irishman.
“I ain’t never taking no ‘L’,” Mayweather said. “I’m f**king McGregor up, too. Where’s punk ass McGregor? I’mma slap the s**t out of McGregor when I see him.”
Pena wants title shot next
If Juliana Pena doesn’t receive a UFC bantamweight title shot with a win over Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on Fox 23 there will literally be hell to pay. Speaking on the Five Rounds podcast this week she shared her feelings on the fight.
“I’m not happy about this fight and it has absolutely nothing to do with Valentina and everything to do with me acquiring more of a resume than any female in the 135lb division. I have beaten everybody that they’ve put in front of me. I’ve yet to lose. I’ve still not been able to fight for a title.
“I don’t understand why that is. In this case I was offered a main event spot with a little bit of a more sweetened deal and that made me realize that this is the fight that I need to take now. Once I get past this one I can set my sights on the title shot which is what I’ve been gunning for this whole entire time.”
