talkSPORT.com brings you the latest news from the world of mixed martial arts…
Hype it
The UFC hype machine has been initiated with the organisation releasing the promo for the Conor McGregor vs Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone fight.
The fighters will meet in Las Vegas on January 18 at UFC 246, which will be the first time ‘Notorious’ has stepped into the Octagon since his fourth-round submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.
McGregor has not won in the UFC since knocking out Eddie Alvarez in November 2016 to win the lightweight title, while Cerrone, who holds the UFC record for most wins and finishes in the company’s history, was knocked out by Justin Gaethje in September.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyQR5RhT7GU&feature=emb_title
My rules
Dana White has suggested UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal will fight in the not too distant future.
Usman successfully defended his title in a thrilling clash against Colby Covington, whose jaw he broke in the main event at UFC 245.
And UFC boss White thinks title fight between the two fierce fighters would be big.
“Yeah, Masvidal fight vs Usman, it’s a big deal. He fought Diaz for the ‘BMF’ belt and now to fight for the actual title against the guy who’s tough as nails, it’s fun.”
However, Usman is eyeing a fight against Leon Edwards, whom he beat in 2015.
The moment Covington’s jaw shattered
After the title fight at UFC 245, a video emerged, which is believed to capture the moment Usman broke his opponent’s jaw.
After the third round, Covington told his coaches he believed he broke his jaw, with the UFC confirming via a medical report after the event that he had a non-displaced midline mandible fracture.
“I was going in there just trying to take his head off,” Usman said afterwards.
“This was a bona fide mano a mano fight. He said a lot of things and I wanted to make him pay. I said all week I was gonna punish him for four and a half rounds, and then I was gonna get him out of there. That’s exactly what I did.”
More plans
Having identified a fight for Usman, White is already lining up Covington’s next opponent.
Former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has not fought since losing to Usman for the title at UFC 235 in March.
Woodley and Covington were both training partners at American Top Team, but could face off in 2020.
“I don’t have a problem with him. I don’t have a problem with Covington,” White said post fight at UFC 245.
“I’d love to do him and Woodley next. That would be a fun fight, but if [Covington] has a broken jaw, he ain’t going to be around for a minute.
“After a war like this, he’s going to have to go rest, take care of himself for a while and then we’ll see what he wants to do.”