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Black breaks down Road Rage Steve and emotional content management
Fast things in the universe: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, light, Floyd Sr at 66
Poster for UFC on ESPN 1 is not getting raves
Henry Cejudo is no Jake the Snake
Cejudo asks White point blank about future of flyweight division
Henry Cejudo: “With all due respect Dana, you did say at one point that women’s fighting would never enter. Ronda Rousey became one of the biggest superstars. I know there’s a place in your heart. What I am saying is: Let’s make a deal. I beat this man Saturday night, the flyweight division stays.”
Dana White: “We’ll see what happens on Saturday. Let’s see what happens.”
White: Amana Nunes vs. Cris Cyborg rematch will be huge but not happening next
Dana White: “There’s a reason we didn’t do it for a long time. It’s tough enough to defend one belt let alone two. Amanda’s going to have another fight. Cris is going to have another fight. We’ll see how that all plays out. Listen, everybody has their opinions or what they think they want at that point in time but should they both win another fight, I think a rematch between them is huge. It’s a big fight, it’s an important fight. Neither one of them were crazy about the first time either but we got it done. So we’ll see how everything plays out.” h/t MMA Weekly
Mike Tyson on the JRE
Zoila Frausto returns to MMA at Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA on 2/22
Former Bellator strawweight champion Zoila Frausto fights Jaimee Nievera at Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA on February 22 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Frausto has not fought in the cage since a decision win over Corina Herrera on February 18, 2016. However, she has since gone 4-0 in kickboxing. Nievera is coming off a loss to Antonina Shevchenko on 6/26 at Dana White's Contender Series. Prior to that, she was on a three-fight win streak, beginning with a decision win over Frausto's sister Corina Herrera at Bellator 183 on September 23, 2017. Pablo Sabori vs. Anthony Avila at a 150-pound catchweight serves as the main event.
Ronda Rousey to play Sonya Blade in 'Mortal Kombat 11'
Champ (champ?) Nunes: UFC women's featherweight division doesn't exist
Stephen Loman to defend belt vs. Smile on 3/15
Bantamweight champion Stephen 'The Sniper' Loman will defend his title vs. former featherweight champ Elias 'Smile' Boudegzdame in the main event of Brave 22 at Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on Match 15. Loman successfully defended the belt twice in 2018, vs. Felipe Efrain and Frans Mlambo, and is currently on a six-fight win streak. Boudegzdame is coming off the loss of his 145 belt to Bubba Jenkins at Brave 16 in September in Abu Dhabi. Brave Combat Federation is by far the sport's most international event, as will become increasingly apparent this year.
Why Rachael Ostovich feels she already won fight Sat vs. PVZ
“I had every reason to pull out or not be here today, but I felt it was important to me to fight because of that. I feel like it’s not only a challenge to myself – fighting in general is one of the most difficult sports not just physically, but mentally all around. Then I add all of this on me, this extra stuff, it’s really defining. I’m really figuring out and finding out who I am as a person. Hopefully, through my life people can get motivated and inspired through it. I actually did not have a moment [where I regretted staying in the fight]. I remember being on the hospital bed like still, ‘I need to fight. This is my fight.’ I knew it was something I needed to do. I was crushed when I was pulled out of it. Of course, my dad, my manager, they made a good decision that would be the right decision to make. It was all for my health, and I understand. I never thought that – it was never my choice to not fight. I knew I needed to fight. ... I don’t think anybody is going to lose out on this one. I want to get the win. I need to get the win. I feel like it’s my only option at this point, and it’s the only thing I’ve been envisioning, and I want to manifest that. Honestly, I already feel like I won. Just being here I feel like I won. That joy, I take it with me in there.” h/t MMAjunkie
Dan Hooker's impressive offer to man who stole his wallet from car on Sat
Polyana Viana was 'calm' beating up robber
"I would not recommend it [to others] at all. I'm a trained fighter. I knew how to defend myself because I have knowledge and more so because I managed to stay calm ... When he got close, I already thought if this guy is a thief, I'll do this and that. I already knew what I was going to do. I did not do it on impulse, I was calm, I knew what I was going to do. But I only did it because I knew he did not have a gun. ... I got to see how much people like me. My fans, family, friends, they all sent me messages asking me if I am OK or if I got hurt. I still haven´t answered every one." h/t CNN Sport
JoJo: Everything in my life feels perfect
Joanne Calderwood, 32, who tomorrow fights Brazil's 'Violence Queen' Ariane Lipski, on training with John Wood at Syndicate MMA: "Vegas has just clicked with me. I love the hot weather and I've just found a home there. Once you start loving yourself, things just fall into place - I'm not looking back now, I'm going with the flow and everything in my life feels perfect. There's going to be ups and downs - but it feels right and at the end of the day I'm happy, living in the moment. America does everything bigger and better, Halloween, Christmas, it was all over the top. I'm in the place I should be and nothing is going to stop me now. I've done this for 20 years, it's all I know. I have dedicated and nearly ruined my life for this sport so I feel like this is all I've to do and I'm good at it. When I win on Saturday it's on to the next fight - I want to be a UFC champion. Yeah, I've gone off track a little bit, but that's okay because I didn't give up and I'm back on track now." h/t BBC
Alexander Hernandez vows 'violent handoff' of torch from Cowboy Cerrone at UFC on ESPN+ 1 on Sat
“With all due respect to him, it’s going to be a violent handoff. I think that he’s presented himself as an active participant and entertainer. I’m on my way to the throne and about to enter the new age. I’m extraordinarily gracious that he would accept a fight with me. I don’t think it’s in his best interest, but I thank those f@$%king ‘Cowboy’ balls for accepting. Hat’s off to him. I do have respect for him, but there’s a difference between watching a guy on the screen and standing across from him in the octagon. I will be the most disrespectful man he could ever look across from on Saturday night.” h/t MMAjunkie
Brock Lesnar back on the mats for real
Why Amanda Nunes declines Cris Cyborg rematch
“Sorry Cristiane, but I’m done with 145. My Goal was to be a double champ. But, now I can help you build the division. I got someone for you [Kayla Harrison] is a true 145er. ... “Holly [Holm] would definitely be a great fight to defend my belt at 135. ... OKAY GUYS I’M DONE PLAYING. IM REALLY PLANNING ON GOING DOWN TO FIGHT FOR THE 125 BELT. ... Good night. Anything can change in this business.” h/t Twitter
Aldo plans to fight 3X in 2019 and retire healthy
“I want to end my career here in Brazil. That’s what we have planned. I want to do these three fights… I’ll fight in Fortaleza now, and I’m already negotiating my next one for May [UFC 237], if I’m not mistaken in Curitiba, and then finish it in the second semester, which I know will have another event in Brazil. ... There’s no reason to get here and aim for a title fight. But you can be sure that I’ll be a problem for whoever gets in front of me because I will win these three fights. You can be sure of this. I want to finish well and be healthy as well. ... I want to enjoy my daughter, my wife, be able to travel, without fighting until I’m 40. I see our great idols doing that and having bad performances… I always tell ‘Dede’, if one day I’m not in my rhythm in terms of performance, take me out of there because it’s not for me to be in there anymore. I don't want to fight for money. I’ve planned my entire life so I could stop without any problem.” h/t MMA Fighting
Cris Cyborg: UFC would be losing if they let me go
Cris Cyborg is unsure “if [the UFC] will invest in the [featherweight] division or not. I don’t know what they will do moving forward. I will keep fighting no matter where I am. My fans love watching my fights. If they decide to remove my division, and remove me from the UFC and let me go, I think the UFC would be losing with that, and the promotion that signs me would be winning. My fans follow me wherever I go. I’m very thankful because my fans are with me no matter if I win or lose. I want to continue working. The UFC is a great platform to continue [building] my division. ... My manager will meet them and see what’s the next step, but if they decide to remove the division, I will definitely continue shining somewhere else, like I’ve always done. Let’s see what happens. ... I asked for the rematch, but if it doesn’t happen, my life will continue. I will continue training and wait for my next fight. I lost my first fight and asked for a rematch, 13 years have passed and I never had it, and that didn’t stop my legacy. I kept fighting.” h/t PVT and MMA Fighting
