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  • WWE results, Brussels: Dean Ambrose pins Triple H again

    By Jurgen De Roover

    10-15 minutes before the matches started, Byron Saxton came out so people could vote on twitter which match they wanted to see a short version of from WM32. Taker vs Shane was voted on in favor over Ambrose vs Lesnar & Reigns vs Triple H. (in that order)

    1) The opening match was for the IC title. Miz came out with Maryse to some good heat. They got some good heat and both played heels very well throughout the match. Dolph Ziggler came out as the challenger. This was a good match which was perfect to open the show. Miz got the win by Skull Crushing Finale after a distraction by Maryse. Miz wanted to attack Dolph with the belt after the match but he ducked and gave him the Zig Zag to end this.

    2) A very short match between Del Rio and Sandow. Sandow was over with the crowd and only had to stick a finger up to get cheers while Del Rio got some good heat. Del Rio won with the cross armbreaker.

    3) Del Rio asked if there was anyone in the back who was man enough to face him. Fandango came out with people doing his dance. Fandango won via Roll-up after a short match.

    4) Kevin Owens came out to a good pop to face Sami Zayn who was cheered on by the crowd too. Fun match with Owens mocking Zayn’s dance with his hat on too. It was a bit shorter than I expected and hoped because I mostly went for these guys & AJ. Sami won with the blue thunder bomb.

    5) 8 man women’s match: Naomi, Tamina, Lana & Summer Rae vs Natalya, Alicia Fox, Eva Marie & Paige.  Big pop for paige. Good pop for Natalya. Boo’s for Eva. Couple of Lana chants too. Eva portraited her heel character though being on the face team. Paige got the hot tag in the end and won with the Rampaige on Tamina.

    6) Chris Jericho vs AJ Styles.  GREAT heel work by Jericho throughout. Lots and lots of AJ Styles chants. (It was maybe a coincidence with who I was standing at the merchandise stand, but it seemed like AJ easily sold the most shirts. Though I’m not sure how correct that information is.) A good match with AJ winning by Styles clash.

    7) Curtis Axel (w/ Victor) vs Goldust.  Goldust won via rollup after a quick match. Got attacked after the match and Truth came out for the save. Some fun what’s up chants by both. Golden Truth chants too.

    8) US Title match: Kalisto vs Ryback. Good david vs goliath match. The whole crowd did the “Lucha Lucha” chant a lot. Kalisto reversed Shell Shocked twice and won via Solida Del Sol.

    9) Rowan & Stroman vs Big Show & Kane. Big Show got possibly the loudest pop of the night. It was an amazing sight seeing Stroman and Big Show face to face. You really don’t realise how big they are until you see it live. The win came when Kane sent Stroman over the top, Big Show chokeslammed Rowan for the 1-2-3. Stroman came in to attack after and received a double chokeslam for good measure. Nice to see the veterans get much respect from the crowd.

    10) Dean Ambrose vs Triple H.  Big pops for both of them. Mixed crowd with mostly boo’s for Triple H though there were a lot of “Let’s go Ambrose – Triple H!” chants. The
    crowd really appriciated Triple H being there. Funny segment where Triple H poked Dean in the eyes behind the ref and then Dean just did it back three times in front of the ref and was like “whaaaat?”.
    Dean reversed the pedigree a couple of times. Triple H pulled the ref in the corner so he took a hit instead of himself. Triple H with a low blow to Ambrose. Pedigree reversed, low blow by Ambrose and then dirty deeds to get the win.

    Overall, very enjoyable show with all the heels doing great heel work. The crowd was into it from start until finish and the biggest pops were for Big Show, Kevin Owens, Paige & the main event.

  • Samoa Joe beats Finn Balor to win the NXT Title

    Samoa Joe pinned Finn Balor with a muscle buster to win the NXT title in the main event at today’s house show in Lowell, MA at the Memorial Auditorium.

    It was the first night of a three-show Northeastern tour.

    Not much more in the way of details are available but it was a rare house show title change.  Balor was selling an ankle injury after the match.  It’s unclear if this was storyline or not, as he was down for a long time and unlaced his boot in the ring.  Unlacing his boot would tend to mean its storyline. One way or another, it wasn’t an impromptu title change as talk of the impending switch had gone around all afternoon.

    Josh Nason is traveling back from Lowell and will have a live report up shortly.

    Balor had been champion since July 4, 2015, when he defeated Kevin Owens at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, and his 292 days as champion broke the record of 287 set by Adrian Neville’s 2014 run.

    The rest of the show results were:

    • Mojo Rawley pinned Riddick Moss
    • Bayley & Carmella beat Peyton Royce & Dana Brooke – This would be Brooke’s return after a long injury absence
    • Chris Girard pinned Tommaso Ciampa – This match tore down the house.
    • Austin Aries pinned Manny Andrade
    • Shinsuke Nakamura pinned Elias Samson
    • Chad Gable & Jason Jordan beat Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson to retain the NXT tag titles
    • Asuka beat Alexa Bliss to retain the women’s title

  • WON Preview: Conor McGregor and UFC 200, TNA sale imminent

    READ IT HERE: April 25, 2016 WON: Conor McGregor and the fate of UFC 200, and the possible sale of TNA

    In this week’s Observer the Conor McGregor/UFC issue as it relates to UFC 200, and the future and possible sale of TNA are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    The top story runs down how the McGregor situation went down, how much money is at stake for the UFC if McGregor isn’t on the show, Dana White’s claims, a look at the most likely replacement fights and evaluating them, the possible UFC 200 momentum, as well as a rundown of UFC plans for what was expected to be the biggest weekend in its history.

    The second big story has to do with the potential sale of TNA to Aroluxe, the company looking at buying them, and the moves Dixie Carter has tried to make, where things stand, a look at the business of TNA and what is needed to turn it around, and more.

    There is also an update on the condition of Bray Wyatt, a look at the next WWE PPV show, Notes on the Total Bellas TV show, update on Total Divas and how badly this season declined in audience, more on the WWE drug test failuers, more on Undertaker pulling out of the European tour and HHH wrestling on it, an update on Steve Austin, an update on the Global cruiserweight tournament, Brock Lesnar’s next match, how WWE affects the USA Network overall, former major star honored in Chickasaw nation Hall of Fame, upcoming major NXT dates, Bret Hart talks current WWE, Ryback talks WrestleMania, and notes on the November European tour including why TV location is so notable.

    Also this issue has a rundown of all the WWE and NXT arena events of the past week as well as highlights and business notes on all of the shows.

    The Kumamoto earthquake caused the cancelation of a New Japan PPV. That changes some of the upcoming shows. This issue covers the new two big shows over the next few weeks, plans for English language broadcasts over the next few months, and early thoughts of the next Super Juniors tournament.

    This issuce has coverage of the UFC on FOX show, with all the things that went wrong before the show, business notes on the show, where different fighters are headed next, challenges made, plus business notes, match-by-match coverage, pay numbers and poll results.

    ROH is getting expanded TV coverage in Canada with The Fight Network, and other promotions. 

    I was at the 51st annual Cauliflower Alley Club banquet featuring Jerry Lawler, Lance Russell, J.J. Dillon, Arn Anderson, Trish Stratus, Ricky Steamboat, Paul Orndorff, John Layfield and others. In this issue, there is some history of the event, what happened that night, the decision to honor Stratus as the main award and other notes.

    Also in this issue is our monthly WWE & TNA business rundown so you can see how business is compared to recent years in attendance, ratings, on-line merch, DVD sales and what main events drew what kind of revenue.

    Details on the ratings for all the national shows over the past week, including who was watching, who tuned in, what groups tuned out or Raw the most, as well as John Cena’s new show, all in this issue.

    Finally, this issue contains results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows.

    You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer

    You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

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    If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

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    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: March 8, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF faces backlash for being risque, WCW’s Renegade passes away, tons more  WWF faces backlash for being too risque, former WCW wrestler Renegade passes away, plus tons of news.

    The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

    Also in this issue:

    • A major shooting across the street from a television taping
    • New TV show gets moved to a bad time slot in Mexico
    • The craziness that is the Octagon and Octagon Jr. mess
    • Top woman star taking time off due to pregnancy
    • The debut of the new Team Trump stable in wrestling
    • Dragon Gate’s Dead or Alive show notes
    • Update on the All Japan Champion Carnival tournament
    • Tag team sets title defense record
    • Independent star gets major contract offer
    • Notes on this week’s New Japan shows
    • Famous Olympic wrestler in tabloid rumor about marrying new Japan star
    • Kota Ibushi debuts with a new promotion next month, but a surprise where that is
    • MysterioMania debut show
    • A surprise about talks of a potential six straight events U.S. Dome show series in a few years and the holdups
    • Some strange stories coming out of WrestleMania weekend
    • Notes on Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion
    • Notes on Kurt Angle’s next match
    • A very notable inside NWA letter from 1953 about the world title and who promoters favored and the irony of how it turned out
    • 2016 NWA Hall of fame notes
    • Former TNA wrestler wins bodybuilding contest
    • New Lucha Underground signee
    • Lineup for the next ROH PPV show
    • What ROH star is New Japan looking at
    • What great worker is likely to be an ROH regular several months from now
    • Another personality leaves TNA
    • Notes on the UFC debuting in Madison Square Garden
    • UFC plans for New York State
    • Why this week’s PPV show is so interesting
    • Thoughts on Georges St-Pierre and financial issues of his comeback
    • Legislation that may be introduced to change MMA
    • More on the next season of Ultimate Fighter
    • Urijah Faber’s unique build up to the Cruz fight
    • UFC fighter getting a TV show
    • More notes on the arrest of Diego Brandao
    • Notes on Bellator’s next major show
    • Notes on Bobby Lashley and the Bellator heavyweight division
    • Notes on the Rizin show with Sakuraba & Tokoro vs. Tamura & Wanderlei Silva in a tag team match
    • Other pro wrestlers and notables on the show

    If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic

    issues sent to you today. 

    If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.

    New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    Rates are:

    For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

    If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

  • FREE WOL: Death of Chyna, Conor McGregor vs. UFC

    Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today with tons to talk about including discussion of by far the two biggest stories today, the death of Chyna and UFC vs. Conor McGregor over UFC 200. We’ve also got your phone calls, emails, text messages, an appearance by Dave Meltzer and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

    Right click save

  • Daily pro wrestling history (04/21): AWA Starrcage; Hulk Hogan defeats Triple H to win WWF World Title

    1966 

    Kansas City, Missouri:
    – Bob Geigel & Bob Brown defeated The Mongolian Stomper & Jerry Kozak  in a 2 out of 3 falls match

    1967

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – AWA World Tag Team Champions Harley Race and Larry Hennig defeated Verne Gagne and Don Leo Jonathon in a 2 out of 3 falls match to retain the titles
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Doug Gilbert
    – Danny Hodge drew Bob Boyer 
    – Ernie Ladd beat The Alaskan
    – Stan The Moose Mykatowich beat Bob Tuck 

    1973

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Giant Baba defeated Mark Lewin in the finals of the first ever  All Japan Pro Wrestling Champion Carnival tournament

    1975

    Tulsa, Oklahoma:
    – Ken Mantell beat Scandor Akbar
    – Bill Watts beat Cyclone Negro
    – AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Jerry Miller
    – Dick Murdoch beat Grizzly Smith
    – Pork Chop Cash drew Buck Robley
    – Ted Heath beat Mitsu Hata
    – Stan Hansen & Frank Goodish beat Johnny Eagle & Jay Clayton

    1979 

    New Orleans, Louisiana:
    – Mike George defeated Jerry Stubbs in for the Mid-South Wrestling Louisiana Heavyweight Title

    1980

    Madison Square Garden, New York City: 
    – Ken Patera defeated Pat Patterson for the WWF Intercontinental Title 

    1984

    Greensboro, North Carolina:
    – Ricky Steamboat defeated Dick Slater for the United States Heavyweight Title 

    1985 

    AWA Starrcage: St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – Cage match: Sgt. Slaughter & Jerry Blackwell beat Sheik Adnan & King Tonga & Masked Superstar
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors beat Larry Hennig & Curt Hennig dq
    – Verne Gagne & Greg Gagne beat Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito
    – Bob Backlund & Brad Rheingans beat Larry Zbyszko & Butch Reed
    – Baron Von Raschke & Buck Zumhofe beat Jim Garvin & Steve Regal
    – Jim Brunzell & Tonga Kid beat Billy Robinson & Bobby Duncum
    – Steve Olsonoski & Tom Zenk beat The Alaskans

    2002

    WWE Backlash: Kansas City, Missouri:
    – Big Show defeated Steven Richards    
    – Tajiri (with Torrie Wilson) defeated Billy Kidman to win the WWF Cruiserweight Championship    
    – Scott Hall (with X-Pac) defeated Bradshaw 
    – Jazz defeated Trish Stratus to win retain the WWF Women’s Championship    
    – Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) defeated Jeff Hardy 
    – Kurt Angle defeated Edge    
    – The Undertaker defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin
    – Billy and Chuck (with Rico) defeated Maven and Al Snow to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship
    – Hulk Hogan defeated Triple H to capture the Undisputed WWF World Heavyweight Title  
    – Eddie Guerrero defeated Rob Van Dam to win the Intercontinental Title

    2008

    Greenville, South Carolina:
    – William Regal defeated CM Punk to win the King of the Ring

  • Jimmy Jacobs’ eulogy for wrestler & best friend Christian Able

    The following was written by Jimmy Jacobs:

    Joshua Michael Burgess, known to the wrestling world as Christian Able passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2016.

    Christian Able was known for his charismatic presence, emotional promos, and in-ring strength. Josh was born January 11, 1985 in Berrien Center, Michigan. A life-long entertainer after graduating Coloma High School in 2004, Burgess attended Disney University in Orlando, FL, where he went on to perform as Pluto at various Disney parks.

    Josh began professional wrestling training in 2006 at Dan Severn’s Price of Glory Wrestling School in Coldwater, MI under Jimmy Jacobs and Josh Raymond. Burgess started his career working for various Midwest independent companies in a tag team with childhood friend Caden Ames under the team name Absolute Answer. Burgess later branched out to become a solo act for Ian Rotten’s IWA Mid-South and Detroit’s XICW. In 2008, Burgess continued training at the House of Truth Wrestling School under Truth Martini and the Can-Am Wrestling School under Scott D’Amore. Burgess’ most notable success was as a tag team with Josh Raymond managed by Truth Martini, under the team name the House of Truth.

    The team first stood out in Chicago independent company AAW and Scott D’Amore’s Can-Am Wrestling before debuting at Ring of Honor in 2009. The team was featured on Ring of Honor’s ROH on HDNet television show. The House of Truth had notable matches against the Briscoes, the Young Bucks, and Kevin Steen and El Generico. Roderick Strong was later added to the House of Truth in 2010. Burgess and Raymond would go on to assist Roderick Strong in winning the ROH World Title from Tyler Black on September 11, 2010 in the duo’s last appearance for ROH.

    Later that month, Burgess teamed with Josh Raymond to face Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black in Chicago in what would be Tyler Black’s final independent wrestling match before going to WWE to become Seth Rollins. Burgess continued to perform on and off for his remaining years, having his final match on April 2, 2016 in a dog collar match against his former tag team partner Caden Ames.

    Josh passed away unexpectedly in Michigan on April 13, 2016. He is survived by his parents Lynda (nne Burgess) and Kevin Smith, his brother Kyle Smith, as well family, friends, and brothers in professional wrestling. A tribute and ten bell salute was dedicated to Burgess on April 17 in Detroit, MI at XICW.

  • TMZ: UFC refuses to put Conor McGregor back on UFC 200

    According to TMZ, UFC is refusing to put Conor McGregor back on the UFC 200 show after his Facebook post today where he made it very clear he still wanted to be on the show and was not retiring.

    Given that UFC has not announced a new main event and thus started promoting a new fight, it makes no sense at this point not to put McGregor back on, unless the dispute was something very different than has been portrayed or if McGregor would not do the necessary promotional work such as appear on the promo commercial.

    McGregor’s earlier post was a public statement that he wanted to be on the show, but it was posturing for him to not be blamed for any issues that led to the fight falling apart. It is still unknown what the real behind-the-scenes issues are that are keeping the fight from taking place.

    But it is also still in everyone’s best economic interest for UFC 200 to be as big as possible, which can only happen if the fight ends up happening.

  • UFC/TUF Team Joanna vs. Team Claudia season premiere recap

    This season, both the women’s strawweight division and the men’s light heavyweight division will be competing. At the end of the season if both Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha, they’ll be fighting on the TUF 23 Finale LIVE with Joanna Champion defending her strawweight title. First up though are the qualifying fights for the teams on TUF 23. Let’s do this!

    115 pounds: Mellony Geugjes (0-1) vs. Amanda Cooper (1-1)

    Geugjes is in the red trunks and Cooper the black. Geugjes claimed in her pre-fight interview that she got into MMA because people refused to fight her any more in kickboxing. Cooper certainly didn’t refuse. Geugjes jumps into her guard after tripping her 23 seconds in and it was a big mistake – Cooper quickly trapped an arm and rolled and tapped Geugjes at the one minute mark.

    GEUGJES ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA SUBMISSION.

    205 pounds: Eric Spicely (8-0) vs. Kenneth Bergh (3-0)

    Spicely is in the red trunks and Bergh the black. Other than his face there doesn’t seem to be an inch of Bergh’s body from the knees up that isn’t tattooed. Spicely quickly double legs him to the ground and takes his back – tapping Bergh out to a rear naked choke in 33 seconds.

    SPICELY ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA SUBMISSION.

    115 pounds: Ashley Cummins (3-3) vs. Lanchana Green (2-1)

    Cummins is in the red and is an Invicta veteran. Green is in the black and runs her own gym with her boyfriend in England. Cummins secures a takedown to side control and Green tries and fails to back her off, eating elbows to the face as they spin. Green tries to grab a leg and sweep but ends up eating left hands to the head. Cummins takes the back with hooks in at2:47 then winds up on top again in half guard. Green keeps surviving but she’s eating lots of rights and elbows. Cummins gets a full mount at 4:18 then takes the back again. Green survives the RNC because the horn saves her.

    Green survives two takedown attempts and suddenly Cummins starts getting creamed with knees when she doesn’t break away cleanly from the fence. The ref warns her multiple times to fight back and finally steps in to save Cummins. It’s pretty much the story of Cummins career in a fight that doesn’t even officially count on her record. She always looks good until she makes a mistake – and then “Smashley” gets smashed.

    GREEN ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA TKO.

    205 pounds: Khalil Rountree (4-0) vs. Muhammed Dereese (5-0)

    Rountree has white trunks and Dereese is in the black. Dereese credits his Islamic background for why he’s a fighter instead of in jail. Rountree says MMA is what gave him direction and got him in shape. Dereese gets a takedown 12 seconds in and Rountree gets a warning for shots to the back of the head. Dereese hits a leg trip, takes the back, gets the back and Rountree escapes the submission. Dereese goes for the takedown again and Rountree is lighting him up. Wild action in round one.

    Rountree lands a nasty head kick and pours it on with kicks to the body on the ground until the referee steps in and saves Dereese.

    ROUNTREE ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA TKO.

    115 pounds: Alyssa Krahn (3-1) vs. Jamie Moyle (3-1)

    Moyle is the second straight Team Syndicate fighter competing on the show (Rountree was the first). Krahn wants to represent women’s MMA in Canada. Krahn is in the red trunks, Moyle the black. Krahn outwrestles her early on but gives up her back late and gets taped out to a rear naked choke at 4:10.

    MOYLE ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA SUBMISSION.

    205 pounds: Myron Dennis (12-4) vs. Jamelle Jones (6-2)

    Dennis is in the red trunks and Jones the black. Dennis says he’s light-skinned dynamite. Jones says he was a three time collegiate All-American. Dennis lights Jones up standing until the ref stepped in to save him – which was the right call since Jones seemed uncertain where he was. Dennis tells Dana White to get his checkbook out because he’s not a cheap date!

    DENNIS ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA TKO.

    115 pounds: Ashley Yoder (4-1) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-1)

    Yoder is a Team Quest fighter with Dan Henderson who discovered fighting after her brother passed away in an accident. Esquibel has been friends with Holly Holm for 16 years and her fiancee is former UFC star Keith Jardine – she’s also another Invicta FC veteran. Yoder is in the red trunks and Esquibel the black. Esquibel is landing big kicks and right hands and you can see her striking skill, but Yoder is getting advice from Hendo who tells her to get a single leg – and she does. She’s unable to get the RNC before the horn. After an action packed second round Dana White believes it’s going to a third, but “Big” John McCarthy says it’s over.

    YODER ADVANCES VIA SPLIT DECISION – DANA AND THE COACHES ARE APPALLED.

    205 pounds: Norman Paraisy (13-4-2) vs. Elias Urbina IV (3-0)

    Paraisy was a competitor on season 11 of TUF who quit between rounds of his fight with James Hammortree. He says that mistake made him a better man and now he’s back to prove he can do better. He’s in the white trunks. His brother Hector is in UFC with a record of 17-9-1 (1-1 in two UFC bouts). This fight is cut down to highlights. Dana scores the first round for Paraisy, says the second round both guys were gassed, but Urbina did enough to get it to the third – and ultimately to the judges.

    URBINA ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA DECISION.

    115 pounds: JJ Aldrich (2-1) vs. Kristi Lopez (2-0)

    This is cut down to highlights of Aldrich (who is a training partner of Rose Namajunas) beating the snot out of Lopez over the course of two rounds.

    ALDRICH ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA DECISION.

    205 pounds: Abdel Medjedoub (3-0) vs. John Paul Elias (3-0)

    Elias’ wife is Carly Lauren – Miss October 2013 in Playboy. This one is also cut down to highlights. Dana White says Medjedoub took Elias down and smothered him for the entire fight. The judges agree.

    MEDJEDOUB ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA DECISION.

    115 pounds: Tatiana Suarez (3-0) vs. Chel-C Bailey (2-0)

    Suarez is a cancer survivor. She’s in the red trunks. Bailey is friends with Bryan Caraway and Miesha Tate, who are there to offer her advice and support for the fight. Bailey has black trunks. Grappling is the story of round one, allowing Suarez to control position and attack effectively. Even Tate seems pretty clear Bailey didn’t win the first round. Suarez is relentless with the takedowns in R2, and she’s got a full mount with some nasty strikes in the last ten seconds. The winner seems clear.

    SUAREZ ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA DECISION.

    205 pounds: Phillip Hawes (3-0) vs. Andrew Sanchez (7-2)

    Hawes is a training partner for Jon Jones. Sanchez was a four time All-American and apparently can play ukelele judging by the pre-fight clip. Even though the hype was on Hawes, Sanchez was able to outwork him over two rounds.

    SANCHEZ ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA DECISION.

    115 pounds: Irene Cabello Rivera (6-2) vs. Kate Jackson (7-2-1)

    JACKSON ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA TKO.

    206 pounds: Cory Hendricks (3-0) vs. Marcel Fortuna (8-1)

    Hendricks is a WSOF veteran in the red trunks. Fortuna is the only Brazilian among the men and he’s in the black trunks. Hendricks stuffed almost all of the takedowns in the first round and landed a lot of hard leg kicks. The judges decide Fortuna did enough with takedowns in the second round for there to be a third.

    HENDRICKS ADVANCES VIA DECISION – THEY DON’T SAY IF IT WAS SPLIT OR NOT.

    115 pounds: Amy Montenegro (7-2) vs. Helen Harper (4-1)

    Montenegro is in the red trunks and Harper the black. Harper says she learned martial arts as a survivor of domestic abuse. She goes for Montenegro’s back and trips her to the ground. Montenegro gets back to her feet and delivers a nice elbow to the face, then goes for a single leg of her own. She loses it and Harper gets the back with both hooks in. She goes hard for a sub, Montenegro gets on top and tries to power bomb her way out of it but is ultimately forced to tap.

    HARPER ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA SUBMISSION.

    205 pounds: Josh Stansbury (7-2) vs. Trever Carlson (10-2)

    Stansbury has been here once before but lost a TUF 19 elimination fight when he broke his leg. He’s in the red trunks. Carlson is in the black and works in a gold mine. Stansbury ends up on top pounding the heck out of Carlson 40 seconds into the fight, Carlson tries to roll to save himself as Herb Dean warns him about shots to the back of the head, Stansbury moves to side control and traps the head, but Carlson keesps on surviving. Eventually though he sinks in the americana and Carlson taps.

    STANSBURY ADVANCES TO THE HOUSE VIA SUBMISSION.

    Team Selections with Gadelha going first:

    * Gadelha picks Tatiana Suarez.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks JJ Aldrich.
    * Gadelha picks Andrew Sanchez.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Joshua Stansbury.
    * Galdeha picks Kate Jackson.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Jamie Moyle.
    * Gadelha picks Eric Spicely.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Khalil Rountree.
    * Gadelha picks Amanda Cooper.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Ashley Yoder.
    * Gadelha picks Abdel Medjedoub
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Myron Dennis.
    * Gadelha picks Lanchana Green.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Helen Harper.
    * Gadelha picks Cory Hendricks.
    * Jedrzejczyk picks Elias Urbina IV.

    First fight: Jedrzejczyk picks Rountree vs. Hendricks. Hendricks has a foot injury though and may not be able to compete. Interesting that the two Syndicate MMA guys have to face each other right off the bat next week.

  • Conor McGregor releases statement regarding UFC 200

    Updated with additional thoughts by Dave Meltzer below

    Conor McGregor was removed from UFC 200 earlier this week and “retired” on Twitter, events that have taken the MMA world by storm this week. After hearing from Dana White several times, fans and media have been waiting for a response from the featherweight champion on his future and what is going on.

    One finally came on Thursday on Facebook.

    McGregor stated his desire to still compete at the year’s biggest event while doing less promotional work as he wants to focus more attention to training for his rematch against Nate Diaz. 

    He ended his statement emphatically, saying that he is not retired.

    Other key quotes:

    – “It is time to go back and live the life that got me this life. Sitting in a car on the way to some dump in Conneticut or somewhere, to speak to Tim and Suzie on the nobody gives a f*ck morning show did not get me this life.”

    – “I feel the $400 million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway.”

    – “There had been 10 million dollars allocated for the promotion of this event is what they told me. So as a gesture of good will, I went and not only saved that 10 million dollars in promotion money, I then went and tripled it for them. And all with one tweet. Keep that 10 mill to promote the other bums that need it. My shows are good.”

    – “For USADA and for the UFC and my contract stipulations – I AM NOT RETIRED.”

    The full statement is below:

    Additional thoughts from Dave Meltzer

    The game continues, and make no mistake about it, that is what this is.

    Conor McGregor put up a Facebook post today clearly designed to get him back in the main event at UFC 200 without being the one to back down, particularly when a lot of the court of public opinion wasn’t favorable to him since Dana White had done the media to get his side of the story over.  McGregor made it clear he’s not retired and still wants the fight with Nate Diaz on 7/9.  What he said was a calculated move to get back into that match without being the one to back down. 

    He claimed that he was paid to fight and not paid to promote, which explains his rationale and what the fight about getting him to come to the U.S. this week was.   

    His argument is that with the simple use of social media, he was able to garner tons of publicity without coming in to do press conferences and commercials this week, and what appears to be his concession is that he will do the New York press conference. But the key is the television commercial which UFC is spending $1 million on producing for the show, not the New York press conference.

    Part of the real story here goes back to last year when McGregor had great resentment that he was promoting both Jose Aldo fights so much harder than Aldo was.  The rationale from the UFC side was that McGregor was far more effective than Aldo at promoting, but McGregor felt Aldo not having to do as much tiring promotional work that would keep him from gym time was an advantage.  While McGregor won the fight, it was not a secret he wasn’t happy with Aldo not having anywhere near the media obligations he had, and that Aldo was benefitting by not wanting to promote.

    Then, there was a big UFC press conference with all the fighters, where McGregor stole the show, but midway through, Aldo left to fly back to Brazil to attend a wedding.  McGregor had made it clear he’d missed many social occasions to help promote his fights and this was the big press conference event of the year and Aldo, for his biggest fight, was given permission to leave early.

    McGregor made it clear he wasn’t retiring, just two days after he said he was and after his coach said he was, and after having photos taken by friends clearly pointing him out as a retired fighter. By making it clear he’s not retiring, it means he won’t be stripped of his featherweight title, which UFC threatened when he claimed to be retired.

    From both sides, they are playing a game to the public but the end result is that it is of great financial benefit to both sides for the Nate Diaz fight to take place as scheduled on 7/9.  Both obviously had a dispute, both dug in their heels, McGregor said he wasn’t coming to the U.S. this week and issued a retirement Tweet as his strategy. UFC and Dana White called his bluff by going everywhere and saying he was pulled from the show as their strategy.

    This Facebook post was a way to get the public to believe he’s ready to fight and make UFC the bad guys for not giving the fans a fight they want to see. And in offering to go to New York, he’s offering a compromise, but clearly by not coming to Las Vegas for the commercial, it’s a small concession. 

    The issue is within UFC there is a mentality that they’ve given in to McGregor over and over, and at some point, you have to say no.

    But from a business standpoint, when it comes to the show and the short-term (and almost all promoters think short-term), the best thing is to give the public the fight that will make the most money.

    But UFC is in the game long-term, and they are well aware of it.  Essentially the ball is back in their court, and the fight is getting a ton of mainstream publicity that it wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. 

  • WOR: Death of Chyna, Conor McGregor vs. UFC

    Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with special guest Filthy Tom Lawlor with a ton of topics to discuss, the two biggest of which being the death of Chyna and Dana White vs. Conor McGregor heading into UFC 200. Also, Smackdown, Adam Rose, mailbag and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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