Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez officially confirmed on Twitter Friday that his rumored fight with Anthony Pettis is a go, and will be taking place in Boston.
While not announced officially, the belief is that the fight will be on the UFC Fox Sports 1 show set for January 17th at Boston’s TD GArden, headlined by Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz.
One can make the case that with just those two fights alone, it is the biggest show the company has put on FS1 in their history.
By Dave Meltzer & Josh Nason, WrestlingObserver.com
On UFC Tonight Wednesday, UFC president Dana White announced that bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw would defend the title against former champion Dominick Cruz on Sunday, January 17, 2016, in Boston’s TD Garden.
The show will be on Fox Sports 1, and will be the second ever title fight in that network’s history as the UFC strawweight title was decided back in December 2014 following the TUF season.
The 29-year-old Dillashaw (12-2) will be looking for the third successful defense of the title that Cruz officially never lost. After being ravaged with injuries for three years due to a torn ACL and groin, the 30-year-old Cruz (20-1) was stripped of the title after several comeback attempts were postponed. He returned in September 2014 and steamrolled Takeya Mizugaki in 61 seconds at UFC 178, but found himself on the injured list yet again with a torn ACL in his other knee.
Similar to the January 2015 FS1 show featuring Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver, the event will be on a Sunday following an NFL playoff game. However, the show will be on the same day as the AFC and NFC divisional playoffs and not the AFC Championship game as last time.
The McGregor/Siver fight set an FS1 ratings record, and this show will be heavily promoted on FOX during their football telecasts.
It’s a whole new season and Conor McGregor is the reason, as he and Urijah Faber go toe to toe as coaching foes on The Ultimate Fighter. They won’t duke it out after the season is done, but there’s still pride on the line, not to mention Conor’s reputation as the newest badass on the block.
See what happens on episode one at 10 PM ET, 9 Central (7 PT) and join us each episode for “The Notorious Quote of the Week” as Conor puts his mouth where UFC’s money is! For example…
The Notorious Quote of the Week from McGregor to Faber: “You should walk around with a ring card and shake that chin.” WINNER~!
A slew of American and European fighters arrive at the gym in Las Vegas to open the show, all bragging about their credentials and which team will win, which is all just a build up to the arrival of the coaches. Dana White says it’s all Lightweights this season, but the interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor will coach the European team, and Alpha Male owner and bantamweight UFC star Urijah Faber is in charge for the American team.
Conor: “I don’t see Urijah as a competitor on my level. He’s just there. I smoked his teammate.” This comes with a clip of the McGregor vs. Mendes bout from UFC 189.
Faber: “Is Ireland known for cantaloupes? He looks like a cantaloupe on a toothpick. If they’re not known for them they should be now.”
Conor: “If this was Urijah against anyone else, it would not be what it will be.”
Our first fighters trying out are Johnny Nunez (5-1) vs. Ryan Hall (4-1). If the former seems familiar it’s because he fought (and lost to) Joe Condon at WSOF 17 on the main card via guillotine choke. Nunez proves he’s vulnerable to submission yet again as Ryan goes to the ground, locks up a leg, and Nunez taps out to the heel hook.
Next up are two Europeans. David Teymur (3-1) says he’s an outstanding kickboxer who is 41 out of 42 in muay thai fights. He’s facing Thibault Gouti (10-0), who notes that MMA is still illegal in France, which makes it much more difficult to be a pro fighter. Both rounds are cut down to highlights, although Teymur seems to be doing more damage in R2 thanks to his K-1 background. Teymur advances via majority decision.
Andres Quintana (8-1) will face Thanh Le (4-1) in our second American fight. Le is quickly branded “The Kung-Fu Man” by Faber due to his arsenal of kicks. His overhand right is equally dangerous. Le throws a wild spin kick that appears to nail Quintana in the head but Dana White thinks it hit a glove. Either way he survives for a second round. Le lands a clean straight right hand in R2 and one follow-up on the ground before it’s waved off. Le advances by knockout.
Between fights McGregor is talking smack. “Be glad you don’t have to face me. I’d kill you stone dead.” Faber: “I’d like to see you pull your massive f—ing head out of my armpit. It wouldn’t happen.”
McGregor’s friend, Russian ex-pat Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1) is next. He faces Mehdi Baghdad (11-3) from France, who says his advantage is he trains with Anderson Silva. Lobov is actually the one acting like Silva – dropping his hands and daring Baghdad to hit him some more. McGregor is calling out advice to him as he watches from the judging desk. He lands some hard shots and Baghdad shakes it off then connects with a kick to the chin. McGregor is begging Lobov to throw the left kick and left knee. There were enough hard shots on both sides that a second round is somewhat surprising.
Both men are quickly throwing hands to open R2. Lobov goes for a takedown, Baghdad sprawls, Lobov comes up bloody. Dana White is thrilled. Faber: “What a war.” White: “These guys are f—ing murdering each other.” The second round is cut down to highlights. Dana: “This fight was awesome. I honestly believe it should have gone to a third round.” Baghdad gets a majority decision. McGregor comes over to console Lobov and tells him it was a great fight. Dana says he’s “far from a loser” afterward.
Julian Erosa (14-2) vs. Jason Soares (8-0) for America is next, but this fight is cut down to “Performance Highlights.” Erosa stuffed takedowns and did more damage so Erosa wins by decision and does a backflip to celebrate.
Europeans are next. Saul Rogers (10-1) says he may be European for this show he’s Manchester, England all the way and will continue to put it on the map. Paulo Boer (10-1-1) is his foe and says the flight from Vegas was short so he’s ready for war. This is cut down to highlights too. Boer survived an early choke attempt but Rogers ultimately got his hand raised. Faber asks where the ring girls are.
The Notorious Quote of the Week: “You should walk around with a ring card and shake that chin.” WINNER~!
Brandon Ricetti (7-1) vs. Billy Quarantillo (6-1) is next for the Americans. This one is also cut down to the highlights. Ricetti hammers his way to a TKO in R2.
Frantz Slioa (4-0) faces Martin Delaney (10-1) for the Europeans next. Slioa seems to have one trick in the bag – going for takedowns and getting on top in scrambles. Delaney eventually takes advantage of that and gets a back mount with a body lock, getting an arm under the chin. Slioa goes out cold for Delaney’s rear naked choke – a win via technical submission.
Jason Gonzalez (9-2) vs. Tim Welch (12-5) is next for Team America. Welch is another fighter you may recognize going in, due to a couple of bouts in Bellator, if not for his bright red shock of hair. Welch quickly winds up on top in side control but is pushed back to guard. Gonzalez gets a leg around his neck but Welch pops free and is dropping some big right elbows which have Gonzalez’ sister and girlfriend worried.
After R1 is cut to highlights we go to R2 with Welch popping Gonzalez in the stand-up until Gonzalez clips him with one big liver shot and pounds it out on the ground, leaving Gonzalez’ family relieved. Gonzalez advances via TKO.
Abner Lloveras (19-7-1) from Spain faces Vlado Sikic (10-0) from Croatia. The latter definitely has the better smack talk – he says he loves to break people. Lloveras is flying all around the cage with kicks but Sikic takes him down 30 seconds in. Sikic’s shoulder pops out but he decides to keep fighting. Lloveras ultimately gets the verbal submission when he torques Sikic’s arm on the ground.
Mike Flach (7-1) takes on Tom Gallicchio (19-8). Faber on the latter: “That’s a HAIRY dude!” Gallicchio: “I’m like water. I don’t really know what that means but Bruce Lee says it so it has to be good.” I like him already. With that record I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. Gallicchio taps out Flach a little over a minute in via RNC.
Martin Svensson (14-5) will battle Mohamed Grabinski (10-1). Once again we’re only going to see “Performance Highlights.” Apparently they spent the entire first round escaping each other’s back takes. It’s a draw so we go to the third round and Svensson wins a unanimous decision.
Djamil Chan (9-2) takes on Marcin Wrzosek (10-2). Highlights again. ‘The Polish Zombie’ Wrzosek wins via submission.
Sascha Nitin Sharma (8-2) faces Sean Carter (10-1). Cut down to highlights. Dana White says the first was “a pretty uneventful round.” Sharma landed a lot of ground and pound, Carter went for a triangle too late, Sharma advances.
Austin Springer (8-0) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (12-1). I won’t lie – I’m pretty psyched about this one given I’ve interviewed Springer before. Both men are going toe to toe with shots from the start. Springer gets a big cut over his right eyebrow in one of the exchanges and gets clipped shortly after. Gruetzemacher nails him with a big knee before the end of the round in cut down highlights, but Springer survives to get R2.
Gruetzemacher hurts him with another knee, and Springer is warned twice not to grab the fence. Springer is trying like hell to stay in the fight, but he’s getting nailed with knees up the middle, and Dana White is calling for the fight to be stopped. “This kid’s got nothing left.” McGregor is begging the ref to stop it too when Springer takes another knee flush to the head. Dana is pissed. I am too. Faber: “Man that was a tough fight to watch.”
Needless to say Gruetzemacher advances via TKO.
Brennan Sevin (7-1) vs. James Jenkins (8-1) in another fight to join Team America. Jenkins gets a takedown quick and just as quickly is told to “improve his position.” He backs off for a second and gets right back in guard, with his girlfriend cheering him on. That’s where he stays for most of the round it seems as this is cut down to highlights.
The second round turns into a slobberknocker with both guys throwing haymakers trying to get the other to fall, with the coaches marking out for each blow that lands, Dana White being as loud if not louder. McGregor: “Good exchanges.” No s–t Conor!! Every other word out of Dana White’s mouth is being bleeped out. After a failed takedown they trade again for the final 17 seconds of R2.
Jenkins advances via the judges to conclude the qualifying TUF 22 fights.
Faber dubs his team the “Bad News Bears” but says they have a great mentality and will win with positive energy. McGregor says he doesn’t (yet) have an emotional bond with his team – it’s all business. Dana thanks everybody for being here and tells the losers we appreciate you but pack your bags and head out. To those who are left: “You fight like you fought today and you’ll do just fine.”
TEAM FABER WINS THE COIN TOSS and gets the first pick on Monday. What does that even mean? The show airs on Wednesday. Anyway that’s where the show ends.
Team McGregor (Europe): Abner Lloveras, David Teymur, Marcin Wrzosek, Martin Delaney, Martin Svensson, Mehdi Baghdad, Sascha Sharma, Saul Rogers
Team Faber (United States): Brandon Ricetti, Chris Gruetzemacher, James Jenkins, Jason Gonzalez, Julian Erosa, Ryan Hall, Thanh Le, Tom Gallicchio
Fight week continues on with the build-up to tonight’s UFC 191 event in Las Vegas with UFC 191 Embedded. In this episode, it is media day and we get to hear from the competitors fighting on the card. Alex Chambers shows off a unique way of cutting weight for her fight. We hear from Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes, teammates of Paige VanZant, as VanZant is shown cutting weight. Demetrious Johnson, John Dodson and Frank Mir enjoy final training sessions. It is then time for Friday’s Go Big event and the weigh-ins as the fighters weigh-in and have their final staredowns. All of that and more, so check out episode five of UFC 191 Embedded above.
Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is headlined by UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson making his seventh title defense, this time in a rematch against top contender John Dodson. The two met in January 2013, a bout Johnson won by unanimous decision. In the co-main event, former UFC Heavyweight Champions Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir meet as both men put their win streaks on the line. The action kicks off with preliminary card fights at 7 PM eastern time on UFC Fight Pass. The action moves over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM eastern time with additional preliminary fights before the main card kicks off at 10 PM eastern time on pay-per-view. We are looking for your thoughts on the show, so send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle as well as a best fight and worst fight to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
Coverage provided by Ryan Frederick, who is cageside at the event.
At today’s UFC Go Big press conference, a few new things were announced:
– There will now be UFC shows on 12/10, 12/11 and 12/12 in Las Vegas. The first two shows will be at the Cosmopolitan — a 1,500 or so seat arena that Invicta just ran. The 12/11 date was formerly announced for the MGM Grand, headlined by Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes and the TUF McGregor/Faber finals. They don’t have a card yet for 12/10.
– Dana White didn’t answer Ariel Helwani’s question regarding Fedor Emelianenko past saying “I don’t got it” and moved on.
– UFC 200 will be July 9, 2016 at the new MGM Arena in Las Vegas — a week later than first announced.
UFC just announced that Joanna Jedrzejczyk will defend her strawweight title on the 11/15 show at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne against Valerie Letourneau.
This will be the semi-mainevent to the Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm.
UFC wanted to do the obvious good booking of putting Joanna, who has a lot of charisma but her name isn’t that well known, on the same show as Rousey, particuarly since people who are more open to women fights will be the audience watching.
Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of the UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson weigh-ins from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada kicking off at 7 M eastern time. The event airs on Saturday on pay-per-view at 10 PM eastern time. Preliminary card action kicks off on UFC Fight Pass at 7 PM eastern time before moving over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM eastern time.
The event is headlined by UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson making his seventh title defense, this time in a rematch against top contender John Dodson. Johnson defeated Dodson by unanimous decision at UFC On FOX 6 in January 2013, and Dodson has won three straight fights since to earn another shot at winning gold. In the co-main event, former UFC Heavyweight Champions Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir put their win streaks on the line and try to potentially earn a title opportunity with a win. Also on the card is number-one ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson, and rising UFC women’s strawweight star Paige VanZant making her pay-per-view debut.
MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT):
Demetrious Johnson () vs. John Dodson () (UFC Flyweight Championship) Andrei Arlovski () vs. Frank Mir () Anthony Johnson () vs. Jimi Manuwa () Jan Blachowicz () vs. Corey Anderson () Paige VanZant () vs. Alex Chambers ()
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT):
Ross Pearson () vs. Paul Felder () Francisco Rivera () vs. John Lineker () Jessica Andrade () vs. Raquel Pennington () Clay Collard () vs. Tiago Trator ()
UFC announced three fights Thursday night, including two for the 12/12 UFC 194 show which is among the most loaded in recent years.
– Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit, originally scheduled for mid-November in Melbourne, Australia, has been rescheduled as the main event for UFC 195 on January 2nd, 2016, in Las Vegas. Lawler suffered a thumb injury that caused the delay.
– The December 12 UFC 194 event headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo and Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold got even deeper with the additions of Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz at bantamweight and Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens at featherweight.
The card for that show also includes Yoel Romero vs. Jacare Souza, Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson, Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson, and more.
Fight week continues with UFC 191 Embedded and the build-up to Saturday night’s UFC 191 event from Las Vegas, headlined by Demetrious Johnson defending the UFC Flyweight Championship against John Dodson. In this episode, the fighters take care of their final things before heading out for fight week. Dodson takes some family photos with his pregnant girlfriend before heading to Las Vegas, while Johnson goes in for a beard trim. UFC women’s strawweight star Paige VanZant goes shopping and then training. Alex Chambers and Frank Mir do some pad work. Andrei Arlovski, and his pitbull, make a visit to the chiropractor. Dodson arrives at The Ultimate Fighter Gym and meets members of the Detroit Pistons before getting an important phone call that his girlfriend has gone into labor and making the decision to head back to Albuquerque. All of that and more, so check out episode two of UFC 191 Embedded above.
