Martial Arts News

An intriguing strawweight showdown between Michelle Waterson and Amanda Ribas is on tap for UFC 257 on Jan. 23.

ESPN was first to report the booking. UFC 257 does not yet have a location or venue but will reportedly be headlined by a lightweight tilt between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. That contest has not been finalized, however.

Waterson is coming off her third headlining appearance in the Las Vegas-based promotion, as she edged Angela Hill via split decision in the UFC Fight Night 177 main event on Sept. 12. That snapped a two-bout skid for “The Karate Hottie, who had previously dropped back-to-back bouts against Carla Esparza and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

The 27-year-old Ribas has emerged as an interesting prospect at 115 pounds following victories in her first four Octagon appearances. The Brazilian last competed at UFC 251, where she submitted Paige VanZant in the opening stanza at UFC 251 on July 11.

A flyweight bout pitting Katlyn Chookagian against Cynthia Calvillo has been targeted for UFC 255.

ESPN was first to report the pairing. Contracts have not been signed, but the Las Vegas-based promotion is close to finalizing the matchup. UFC 255 takes place on Nov. 21 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a men’s flyweight title fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez, while Valentina Shevchenko puts her 125-pound strap on the line against Jennifer Maia in the co-main event.

UFC 255 will mark Chookagian’s fourth Octagon appearance of 2020. She suffered a third-round TKO loss to Shevchenko in a title bout at UFC 247 before outpointing the champion’s sister, Antonina Shevchenko, at UFC on ESPN 9. Most recently, “Blonde Fighter” fell to Jessica Andrade via first-round KO at UFC Fight Night 180.

Calvillo, meanwhile, made a successful foray to flyweight with a five-round verdict over former No. 1 contender Jessica Eye at UFC on ESPN 10 on June …

A positive COVID-19 test has knocked Pearl Gonzalez out of a matchup with Erin Blanchfield for the vacant flyweight crown at Invicta FC 43 on Nov. 20.

Gonzalez announced the news in a tearful video on her Instagram account Monday.

“I’m really sorry, but I’m not fighting on Nov. 20,” Gonzalez said in a video. “I got COVID and I’m really sick these last couple of days. My camp, [Invicta FC President] Shannon [Knapp], myself, just decided it would be best and that if I hold out. One, I might not be cleared of the COVID test anymore and two, I’m really f—-ing sick. This is really f—-ing brutal.

“I just wanted to tell you guys that I’m really sorry. I’m heartbroken. But I’m gonna focus on getting stronger.”

A promotion official confirmed to MMAFighting.com that Gonzalez vs. Blanchfield will be postponed until a later event. Meanwhile, a strawweight championship showdown between Emily Ducote and Montserrat Ruiz will serve as the new Invicta FC 43 main event.

I…

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The COVID-19 virus has caused a couple changes to Thursday’s Bellator 251 lineup.

Both Chris Curtis and Nainoa Dung have withdrawn from the event due to positive COVID-19 tests. Curtis was slated to face Austin Vanderford, while Dung was scheduled to meet Piankhi Zimmerman. As a result, Vanderford will square off against current CES MMA champ Vinicius de Jesus in a main card affair at middleweight, while Zimmerman will lock horns with Ali Zebian on the preliminary draw at lightweight.

Meanwhile, a preliminary light heavyweight clash pitting Terrance Jean-Jacques against Gustavo Trujillo has been canceled for unknown reasons.

Sherdog.com confirmed the updates to the card with a promotion official on Monday following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com. MyMMANews first brought word of Curtis’ positive COVID-19 test.

Bellator 251 takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticu…

Veteran action fighter Tim Means will replace Robbie Lawler and lock horns with Mike Perry at UFC 255.

ESPN was first to report the new booking. UFC 255 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Nov. 21 and is headlined by a flyweight championship clash between Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko defends her 125-pound belt against Jennifer Maia.

Means has won two of his last three Octagon appearances and is coming off a three-round verdict against Laureano Staropoli at UFC Fight Night 174 on Aug. 8. The 36-year-old New Mexico native is 12-9 with one no contest over the course of his promotional tenure.

Perry, meanwhile, halted a two-bout skid with a unanimous decision triumph against Mickey Gall at UFC on ESPN 12 on June 27. The 29-year-old known as “Platinum” is 14-6 as a pro and 7-6 in UFC competition.

Keri Melendez will return to action when she faces Emilee King in a preliminary strawweight clash at Bellator 252.

Sherdog.com confirmed the bout with a promotion official on Monday along with two featherweight pairings: Gabriel Varga vs. Brandon Phillips and Lucas Brennan vs. Andrew Salas.

Bellator 252 takes place on Nov. 12 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and is headlined by a featherweight grand prix matchup pitting Patricio Freire against Pedro Carvalho. In the co-main event, Daniel Weichel will square off against Emmanuel Sanchez another grand prix quarterfinal.

Melendez is 4-0 in her MMA career, with all of her victories coming under the Bellator MMA banner. Most recently, the wife of former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez outpointed Mandy Polk at Bellator 229 on Oct. 4.

After beginning her professional tenure with four consecutive defeats, King enters the matchup with Melendez on a four-bout winning streak. She enjoyed a successful …

Khalil Rountree is still going strong in his mixed martial arts career.

After announcing on social media in late 2019 that his next fight would be his last, the 30-year-old light heavyweight apparently has undergone a change of heart, revealing that he has re-signed with the UFC.

I’m extremely happy to announce that I’ve decided to extend my contract with the [UFC] and will be making my return at the start of 2021,” Rountree recently wrote on Instagram. “After being away from the sport for over one year now it feels like I have the opportunity to start fresh.

“I’m back in the game 100% like I’ve just begun, ready to put on the most exciting fights you’ve seen from me yet. I’ve had lots of down time to reflect, reinvent and tighten my circle. I’ve taken the time to look at myself from the inside out and I’ve shared with you all the ups and downs publicly. Now it’s time to bite down and fight harder than ever. I’m ready, and you should be too.”

The 30-year-o…

Jon Jones had to defend his property on Sunday night, and he has the video evidence to prove it.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, carrying a shotgun, chases away an alleged burglar from his property. The individual appears to be approaching the vehicles — and even opens the door of one car — at Jones’ home before the Albuquerque resident emerges from his garage to chase him away.

The last part of Jones’ confrontation with the intruder as described by the UFC star in his caption is not caught on camera.

“Ended up tapping on this guys driver side window with the muzzle of my shotgun last night. Next time you try to rob someone, make sure you’re fast enough to out run them,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “He’s lucky I’m smart enough to not shoot a man while he’s retreating. People I know times are getting hard but your life isn’t worth a few material possessions.

“What are your thoughts on this video, what w…

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There has been a late addition to the UFC on ESPN 17 lineup, as Giga Chikadze will square off against James Krause-Simmons in a featherweight contest.

Adjarasport.com was first to report the matchup, and Chikadze later confirmed the booking via social media. UFC on ESPN 17 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira.

A former Glory Kickboxing competitor, Chikadze enters the matchup with Krause-Simmons on a six-bout winning streak that includes four triumphs in UFC competition. The 32-year-old Kings MMA representative has been active thus far in 2020, posting decision triumphs over Jamall Emmers, Irwin Rivera and Omar Morales.

Krause-Simmons, meanwhile, has been victorious in seven of his nine career professional outings. He is currently on a three-fight finishing streak on the regional circuit.

For the time being, Khabib Nurmagomedov will remain the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight title holder.

“The Eagle” surprisingly announced his retirement following a second-round submission victory over Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 headliner on Oct. 24. During a recent interview, UFC president Dana White said that he had a “feeling” Nurmagomedov would eventually return in hopes of pursing a 30-0 career mark.

Following UFC Fight Night 181 on Saturday, White reiterated that sentiment at the evening’s post-fight press conference.

“Well, he didn’t say that he’ll fight, but he didn’t say no,” White said. “He’s considering the 30-0. His father wanted it and I think that he was super-emotional. (He) had the mumps, measles or whatever, broken toe, trained on a stationary bike for that fight, and then came in and fought, and he was super emotional.”

When Nurmagomedov made his announcement, he said his decision was based on a promise he made to his moth…

Make it victories in 2020!

@Trailblaze2top keeps his electric year going.

[ #UFCVegas12 - LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/RuxVTTAqDN — UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2020

Although Charlie Ontiveros had to be taken from the Octagon on a stretcher following his loss to Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night 181, the Fury Fighting Championship veteran appears to be on track to make a full recovery.

Ontiveros, who accepted the middleweight matchup on short notice, verbally submitted after Holland secured a body lock and brutally slammed him to the canvas near the cage at the 2:39 mark of Round 1. Moments earlier, Holland had threatened with a Von Flue choke before his opponent momentarily scrambled to his feet.

“I didn’t feel like the slam was that hard, but I guess it was. It was a good slam,” Holland said. “I feel like it was the Von Flue that kind of sucked. I think when I slammed him again it hurt. You have to give the guy props. He li…

Uriah Hall became a part of history on Saturday night when he shared the Octagon with Anderson Silva in what will likely be the legendary Brazilian’s final UFC bout.

After a slow start, Hall gathered his composure and floored “The Spider” twice en route to a technical knockout victory at the at the 1:24 mark of Round 4. Shortly after the finish, the two middleweights shared an emotional moment of mutual respect in the cage. Hall was brought to tears by the exchange.

“It’s hard to describe when you’re in it. But just to share that moment, knowing it could be his last bout and him knowing how much I respect him, I couldn’t hold [the emotion] back. I feel good to have shared that moment. That was really important,” Hall said.

“I know for a fact that we respected each other. We were both trying not to show that as much. But we have so much respect for each other. We had to separate that. There’s nothing bad I can say about the guy. He knew I looked up to him and fol…