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DLH still has a few things to learn, like his main eventer's name
Joanna Jedrzejczyk ruthless to hapless reporter over Conor McGregor question
Rumors abound that Jon Jones will headline UFC 230 on 11/3 at MSG
UFC Fight Night 136 attendance and live gate
Officials have just announced the live gate and attendance for UFC Fight Night 136 at Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Moscow, Russia. UFC Moscow drew 22,603 fans, with a live gate of $1.84 million. This was the largest MMA event ever in Russia, and the fifth largest in UFC history. And the UFC has only just begun - this was the league debut in Russia.
Jan Blackowicz makes it four in a row, and calls out Daniel Cormier
In rare, even inexplicable error Herb Dean lets Khalid Murtazaliev vs. C.B. Dollaway go on too long
Swing and a miss and a beating as Magomed Ankalaev stops Marcin Prachnio in Round 1
UFC eyes Russia as next major market
Many US-based companies are curtailing their presence in Russia, but the UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein says UFC Moscow, which sold 20,000 tickets, will help leapfrog Russia into its top 10 countries by revenue in a “short period of time." ... "Russia has all the characteristics of a major market for the UFC. We have a lot of athletes that come from the market. There is a cultural affinity for the product as people in Russia enjoy combat sports. And you have a large economy. Russia has been a market that we have been thinking about devoting more energy and resources to for quite some time. Frankly, in the past, we simply didn’t have enough bandwidth. There is a lot of talent in Russia and the CIS countries. It is going to be easier for us to have more Russian talent on the roster because people like to fight closer to home." H/T Las Vegas Review-Journal
Liddell responds to Ortiz's 'The Snowflake' + shell of a man jibes
Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz chewed each other out at the first official media event for their Oscar De La Hoya-promoted trilogy fight on November 24. TITO - "I’m 43 years young. I’ve watched guys, the greatest, like Bernard Hopkins be 52 and be a world champion. See guys who are the greatest, like Randy Couture, at 43 being the world champion. You’re going to see Tito Ortiz on November 24th, at 43, getting his hand raised over an old man, a shell of a man, Chuck ‘The Snowflake’ Liddell.” CHUCK - “Tito, I know you’re hoping I’m a shell of the man that I was, because that’s the only way you have a chance of beating me. But he’s going to find out real quick, November 24th, that I’m not. I still hit just as hard, I still wrestle just as well, and he’s gonna get knocked out. ... I’m excited to prove to everyone that I’m not too old. You can do anything you put your mind to. I will be there, I will be in shape, and I will be ready. This guy’s getting knocked out, and I am going to enjoy it.” H/T MMA Fighting
Fan love for MMA in Russia is deep and wide
Matt Riddle misses MMA, but ...
Matt Riddle was cut by the UFC after failing tests multiple times for the demon weed marijuana. He moved on to pro wrestling and recently signed with the WWE. During an appearance on MMAjunkie Radio, Riddle expressed ambiguity about his years in MMA. “I do miss it,” said Riddle. “I watch the fights. I watched Tyron Woodley dominate this week. I feel bad for the fighters and I know exactly – things are a little different now – but I know my world when I was in MMA, everything was tough. Life was just so tough. Everything was a struggle. Bills were a struggle. Even when you’re on top in the UFC, you only get paid a couple times a year. I’m just really glad to have that all behind me and focus on my craft. ... I just kept my nose down and kept working, kept grinding and basically became undeniable in this industry. I’ve been working pretty hard after my little run with the UFC and not having the greatest luck with stuff. Kind of found myself down and started pro wrestling about three years ago and it’s been awesome. Even before WWE it’s been pretty awesome.” H/T MMAjunkie
Big John breaks down Douglas Lima vs. Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 206, 9/29 on DAZN
25th anniversary event poster for UFC Fight Night 139 goes old school
Nikita Krylov: I left UFC to become more famous in Russia
UFC light heavyweight Nikita Krylov left the league after a loss to Misha Cirkunov that ended a five-fight win streak, because the offered contact was less than he thought he was worth, and the international travel was time away from family. He went 4-0 in Russian-based organizations, and is back at UFC Fight Night 136 in Moscow on Saturday, vs. Jan Blachowicz. “I left the UFC to become more famous in Russia, and right now is a dream coming back with an event in Moscow. I’m pretty sure that whether [or not] Daniel Cormier is coming back, [myself] and [Blachowicz] are one of three people who will get the next title shot. And I’m pretty sure that’s going to be me.” H/T MMAjunkie
