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DC previews Adesanya vs. Silva (2:03)
Robert Whittaker: UFC has monopolized MMA, underpays fighters
"We're underpaid. We're sorely underpaid for what we do. It's just one of those things when UFC has monopolized the whole sport, and if you want to make it in the field you have to fight with the UFC. When they're the only ones that own the sport, they can pay you what they like." Whittaker defends his belt against Kelvin Gastelum, tonight. h/t SMH
Dana White: Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya title fight would be 'massive'
If Whittaker and Adesanya win Saturday night, the UFC president says the Nigerian-New Zealander will challenge the New Zealand-Australian for the belt: “That fight’s massive,” White told MMAjunkie. “That fight’s massive. We’ll see what happens [at UFC 234] and we’ll go from there.” Whittaker wisely has a more immediate focus: “I’m not thinking that far ahead. Sunday’s too close, too hard.” h/t MMAjunkie
Combate Americas Mexico vs. Spain two-part series begins 3/8 live on DAZN
The two-part, live fight series featuring a lineup of top rising stars from Mexico and Spain facing off against one another, beginning with a showdown at the historic Lucha Libre venue, Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on Friday, March 8, live in Spanish in the U.S. on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and UDN (12 a.m. ET), and in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (10 p.m. ET). The complete card will be announced shortly. The series will conclude in Spain in the fall. Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren: “Mexico and Spain are two of the fastest rising MMA scenes in the world. This is nothing short of a global battle for supremacy.”
Adesanya: Anderson and I are slumdogs
"He’s Brazilian, I’m Nigerian. We both come from the gutter, you know, like, that part of the world where it’s like you’ll fight tooth and nail to get what you want. And he might be rich and a millionaire now, but that slumdog is still in him. And it’s in me as well.” h/t Submission Radio
Whiskey, it's not just for breakfast anymore
Israel Adesanya: It will be an honor to take Anderson Silva out of the game
"We both have big tests ahead of us. I've seen the odds this week and I was like, 'Man, ya'll must have forgot.' I think a lot new fans weren't around during his reign, what it felt like. You might have come around the Ronda Rousey era or the McGregor era. You don't realize who this guy is. This guy inspired me to believe a skinny black guy can come in here and f@$% everyone up. So he brought me into this game, and it'll be an honor to take him out of this game." h/t Stuff
Trailer for 'A Violent Man' with Chuck Liddell and John Lewis, now released
Dana White: This could be Anderson Silva's last fight
Adesanya talks about his time training and fighting in China
The Last Stylebender is known as The Black Dragon in China, and he speaks Mandarin: "My Chinese was a little bit better when I was there because if you don't use it you lose it, so maybe I should have had a Chinese girlfriend and I might have kept it up along the way ... When the UFC goes back to China I will probably headline the event. ... I quit my job on September 4, 2013, and the next day I was on a plane to China and I was there for about ten months and during that time I just racked up fights. At one point I fought four times in one month because my style is not one where I stand and bang and get hurt and can't fight for months. I fight smart. So I was able to rack up fights and gain a lot of vital experience. I was a big black guy in the middle of China and most people thought I played basketball. But at one point I fought in stadium with a capacity of 60,000, so I was able to get used to big fights and people staring at me. It got me ready for all of this, so I'm really grateful for the time I had there and I will always cherish those moments." h/t Xinhua
Cowboy conveys contest vs. Conor will be for interim belt, with Nurmagomedov suspended
Silva, Adesanya shed tears after weigh-ins
After weighing in, the UFC G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva, was overcome with emotion and said, "“Thank you, guys, thank you. I work my entire life for this sport and I try to do my best, and I need to say thank you God for giving one more time the opportunity to give great show for you guys. Thank you so much Australia, thank you Dana, thank you. Thank you, guys." Israel Adesanya too choked up: "He tried to make me cry. F@$% him. He's trying to make me cry. Blaaahhh. "I'm a fan of this man. But just because I'm a fan, doesn't mean he can't catch these hands, and feet, and knees." h/t Yahoo Sports • Watch
UFC 234 Embedded, Episode 5
Raulian Paiva: UFC 234 fight preparation is ‘therapy’ after girlfriend’s death
On 10/22 Brazilian flyweight Raulian Paiva and his girlfriend Tieli Alves were attacked outside a night club, and Alves was struck by a vehicle, ultimately succumbing to his injuries. The fighter considered retirement, but now makes his league debut vs. Kai Kara France on Saturday, and says the training helped him heal emotionally: “The camp and the fight were kind of a therapy for me. ... It was very tough in the beginning, but I had to put my head back in the right place and focus in my career. That only made me more focused. My training partners helped me and I had an intense training camp, so I’m very well prepared. ... He just made the top 15 of the flyweight division, so that motivates me even more to go there and win so I can take his spot. ... There’s this pressure, I have to put on a good fight and a big win in my debut, so if they indeed cut the flyweight division, I can move up to bantamweight.” h/t MMA Fighting
UFC clips to celebrate 22nd anniversary of Joe Rogan in the league
We don't deserve Max Holloway
Britain's Sky Sports signs exclusive broadcast deal with Bellator
The one-year deal sees a minimum of 20 US and international Bellator events live to a UK and Irish audience. The first event will be Bellator 216: MVP vs. Daley, which takes place on Saturday, February 16, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut at 3:00 a.m. GMT. Bellator pesident Scott Coker: “We are thrilled to finally bring LIVE Bellator events to our passionate fanbase there. We have worked diligently to find the right network in the U.K. and Sky Sports will undoubtedly deliver for our viewers. I’m excited that our fans overseas will now be able to be part of our events that take place around the globe and witness some of the best athletes in the sport today.” h/t Off The Ball
White: Tony Ferguson deserves Khabib Nurmagomedov next
Nurmagomedov could return in April if he cuts a PSA, but has no interest in being dictated to morally by a state that revels in gambling, prostitution, drinking, and drugs. And he says he won't return until his teammates can fight, which pushes it until October. Dana White: “I hear these things in the media and things like that. I haven’t heard it from Khabib, so when we talk, we’ll figure it out and we’ll see what happens. Of course Tony deserves it. He’s the No. 1 contender. He’s the guy. That’s the fight.” This would be the 5th time the UFC tried to make the T Ferg vs. Eagle fight. h/t MMAjunkie
White confirms UFC 234 co-main winner gets title shot at main winner
UFC president Dana White confirmed at Friday's pre-fight press conference that the UFC 234 Israel Adesanya vs. Anderson Silva co-main event winner gets the next shot at the title. Adesanya said it took some convincing: "After 230 I texted him straight after the fight saying I want to fight this guy and he was like 'pump the brakes'. But when we had the meeting (in November) and spoke face to face, I told him this ain't my first rodeo. I've been doing this for a long time as well. So the cat's out of the bag and I'm about to be champion, 2019." h/t Stuff
White: Wants McGregor return in summer, Cowboy is front runner
“Those two want to fight each other; they’ve both earned it. Cowboy’s fought anybody we’ve ever put against him. We throw this young killer Hernandez at him, ‘Cowboy’s’ the underdog and he goes in and does it the way he did it, then Conor’s fought everybody. If these two want to fight, I’m down.” h/t MMAjunkie
Why Anderson Silva, 43, fights on, despite family wishes
“When I talk to my kids and my wife and all my family, it’s all the same — ‘Why?! Don’t do that!’ And I say, OK. Let me tell you something. This is my life, this is me. And I need to do something for me. Because when I stop, I never come back. And at this point, my family say, ‘OK, just do it. Do it. Do it the best you can and come back safe for home.’ It’s not easy. Everybody here has a family and everybody’s families try to stay close to you, doing something for your [safety]. Because it’s a war. Inside the cage, everybody is not joking. Sometimes big accidents happen. I broke my leg. Sometimes you cut your face and back to home and look at your family and look at your kids. Everybody looks at you and says, ‘Why do you do that?’ It’s a passion. You love your job, you keep doing it. My family respects my job and respect my dreams. That’s why I continue to fight.” h/t MMA Fighting
