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New UFC champ Jessica Andrade open to Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk rematches (video)

(Courtesy of UFC)

Jessica Andrade new it wouldn’t be easy, but she stayed the course and her patience paid off, as she took the strawweight championship from Rose Namajunas at UFC 237 on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In her post-fight interview, Andrade admitted that she knew Namajunas would hurt her in their fight – and she did, as witnessed by the cut and stitches across Andrade’s left eyelid – but she also knew that it was her time to become a world champion.

Though she scored a knockout victory with her slam of Namajunas at UFC 237, Andrade wasn’t about to rule out the possibility of giving the former champion an immediate rematch. She also wouldn’t mind running back a loss to Joanna Jedrzejcyzk.

Listen in as Jessica Andrade talked with the UFC’s Megan Olivi about her UFC 237 bout with Rose Namajunas, winning the strawweight belt, and what comes next.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/new-ufc-champ-jessica-andrade-open-to-rose-namajunas-and-joanna-jedrzejczyk-rematches-video

Dominick Cruz and Daniel Cormier recap UFC 237, preview Furgeson vs. Cowboy and Diaz vs. Pettis

(Video courtesy of ESPN MMA | Viewing may be limited by broadcast rights restrictions)

To say that Jessica Andrade made the most of her moment in the UFC 237 headliner on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro would be a tremendous understatement.

Andrade overcame a razor-sharp Rose Namajunas to slam her way into becoming the UFC strawweight champion. The victory was impressive enough to earn her not one, but two bonuses. Andrade and Namajunas shared Fight of the Night honors, while Andrade also received a Performance of the Night bonus for the slam knockout.

Jared Cannonier put on a tremendous performance in the UFC 237 co-main event, picking apart Anderson Silva’s lead leg en route to a fight-finishing kick that buckled Silva’s knee late in the first round.

But that wasn’t all, there were several other stunning performances, including Alexander Volkanovski’s dominant decision win over Jose Aldo, one of the greatest featherweight champions in mixed martial arts history.

Following UFC 237, Dominick Cruz and Daniel Cormier broke down all the action and previewed the recently announced upcoming bouts between Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone as well as Nate Diaz’s return to face Anthony Pettis.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dominick-cruz-and-daniel-cormier-recap-ufc-237-preview-furgeson-vs-cowboy-and-diaz-vs-pettis

Conor McGregor is back in training, but if he’s ready, who is next?

Footage of Conor McGregor sparring surfaced on Monday, but is the former champ-champ ready to return to the UFC Octagon?

McGregor has been busy on social media since losing to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in October of last year, but most of that has been focused on building his Irish Whiskey brand Proper No. 12.

He did at one point tease a potential showdown with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, but it never materialized. With footage of McGregor training starting to appear recently and with Cerrone having moved on and defeated Al Iaquinta, pundits started to wonder if a Conor vs. Cowboy bout might materialize this summer.

Cerrone certainly wanted the bout, saying after his win over Iaquinta, “I want the title, whatever that means, unless Conor McGregor you want to fight me in July.”

Cerrone, however, has since been linked to a fight with Tony Ferguson targeted for UFC 238 in June.

So where does that leave McGregor?

That’s a good question. Even if he is prepared to return to the Octagon, McGregor has made it clear that he only wants the biggest fights on the biggest stages.

He wants the rematch with Nurmagomedov, but the champion and his team don’t think McGregor deserves a rematch; at least, not without getting another win or two under his belt first. Nurmagomedov is already lined up to return to unify his belt with interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September anyway.

But if McGregor is training and preparing for a fight, who is left?

There’s always the possibility of a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz lurking. They split the first two bouts, which produced two of the biggest UFC pay-per-views in history. But Diaz hasn’t fought since he lost to McGregor in 2016, and seems to be at odds with the UFC’s plans for him versus his plans for him.

Right now, McGregor appears to be in a no man’s land when it comes to ideal match-ups to leverage his stardom. But if he’s ready to go, who should he fight next?

That’s not to say there’s no one out there. How about Justin Gaethje or Al Iaquinta? Those are logical fights for McGregor from a sporting aspect, but has his stardom outgrown his skill?

Sparring with @thenotoriousmma is like juggling dynamite ? You never know when or where it will explode. Always great times with #conormcgregor and @sbgnaas

A post shared by Hans Molenkamp (@hansmolenkamp) on May 6, 2019 at 8:49am PDT

Based on popular demand @platinummikeperry wins the gloves! *Best caption wins a pair of Gold and white LACE UP @triumphunited Tiger 1’s ⠀ Most people don’t like to show themselves getting cracked in the face ⠀ I’m ok with it, considering the #champchamp caught me flush. ⠀ I felt it down my neck, through my stomach, in my balls, down into my toes. ⠀ Lol @thenotoriousmma literally making dreams in my head happen. ? ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #conormcgregor #ufc #mma #ireland #sbgireland #facepunch

A post shared by Hans Molenkamp (@hansmolenkamp) on May 6, 2019 at 3:37pm PDT

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-is-back-in-training-but-if-hes-ready-who-is-next

UFC 237: Daniel Cormier previews Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade (video)

(Courtesy of UFC)

UFC Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier previews the strawweight title fight between Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade set to headline UFC 237 on Saturday, May 11. It will be Namajunas’ second title defense and the second time Andrade has fought for the strawweight belt.

Tune in Saturday, May 11, for full UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade live results from Rio de Janeiro, where Rose Namajunas puts her strawweight belt on the line opposite Jessica Andrade. Jarod Cannonier looks to take a step up the light heavyweight ladder when he faces all-time great Anderson Silva in the UFC 237 co-main event.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-237-daniel-cormier-previews-rose-namajunas-vs-jessica-andrade-video