Heading into his bout versus Chris Fishgold at UFC Fight Night 138 last October, featherweight Calvin Kattar admittedly felt he had something to prove.

Coming off a loss in his previous bout to Renato Moicano six months previously, Kattar knew he had to defeat Fishgold should he want to remain in the UFC, and was able to pick up a first round TKO to ensure his tenure in the promotion.

“I was coming off going 2-1 in the UFC and a year, year and a half, removed from my debut, and they wanted to renegotiate my contract,” Kattar told MMAWeekly.com. “At that point they wanted me to earn that and see it through.

“I went into that with a little chip on my shoulder wanting to earn my spot. I had a dominant performance in the first round, but now we’re renegotiated and I’m ready to move on to the next.”

For Kattar, having an edge in a fight is always a good thing; whether it’s something to prove to himself or others.

“You’ve always got to find something,” said Kattar. “For me it’s beating a quality guy like Ricardo Lamas (in my upcoming fight) and testing myself against a guy who has called himself the best.

“I grow each and every time I step in there. I feel like I’ve learned more in the last couple years than I have in my whole career. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve and get an edge.”

At UFC 238 on Saturday in Chicago, Kattar (19-3) will look to get past Lamas (19-7) in a 145-pound preliminary bout and move into the next stage of his career with the promotion.

TRENDING  Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier official for UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi

“I’ve just got to do what I do and come out aggressive and show why I’m the better fighter,” Kattar said. “I feel confident wherever it goes. I’m well-prepared and I’m ready to go, and I’m excited to go out and show that I’m the better fighter in all areas.

“(Lamas has) been a title contender for a while now, so beating a guy like that will put me in that category.”

Now that he’s got his contract situated, Kattar is focused on June 8 and open to whatever opportunity comes his way next.

“We’re on Ricardo Lamas right now, and after him we’ll see what options present themselves, but right now Ricardo Lamas has my full attention,” said Kattar. “It would be unwise to overlook him. He has my full attention for now. I’ll take him out and just see what the UFC offers me next.”

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/calvin-kattar-sees-ricardo-lamas-at-ufc-238-as-next-step-to-title-contention

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-espn-4

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko was complimentary to the promotion’s first-ever dual-division women’s champion Amanda Nunes in her upcoming bantamweight title defense against Holly Holm, but also had a message for her as she feels they have “unfinished business.”

Shevchenko lost a unanimous decision to Nunes in a battle for the bantamweight belt at UFC 196 in March of 2016. She’d certainly love to run that one back and avenge the loss, but she is currently preparing for her flyweight title defense against Jessica Eye at UFC 238, which takes place on Saturday in Chicago.

TRENDING Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye: UFC 238 Countdown

Tune in to MMAWeekly.com on Saturday, June 8, for full UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes live results from Chicago. Flyweight champion Henry Cejudo squares off with Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC bantamweight belt, while Valentina Shevchenko puts her flyweight title on the line for the first time when she faces Jessica Eye. Also featured is a critical lightweight contenders bout between Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/unfinished-business-valentina-shevchenko-invites-amanda-nunes-to-the-ufc-flyweight-division-video

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

UFC 238 features two title fights at the top of the card, but one of the fights with the most fan interest is a lightweight bout that certainly has championship implications written all over it.

When UFC 238 lands in Chicago on Saturday, all eyes will be on Tony Ferguson vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. It’s a bout that could produce the next challenger to the UFC lightweight title currently wrapped around Khabib Nurmagomedov’s waist. It also promises fireworks, as neither man knows how to have a boring fight.

On the UFC 238 edition of Unlocking Victory from ESPN, Dominick Cruz and Gilbert Melendez preview the Tony Ferguson vs. Donald Cerrone lightweight fight.

TRENDING Cowboy Cerrone vs. Tony Ferguson: UFC 238 Countdown

Tune in to MMAWeekly.com on Saturday, June 8, for full UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes live results from Chicago. Flyweight champion Henry Cejudo squares off with Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC bantamweight belt, while Valentina Shevchenko puts her flyweight title on the line for the first time when she faces Jessica Eye. Also featured is a critical lightweight contenders bout between Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-238-tony-ferguson-vs-cowboy-cerrone-breakdown-preview-video

It’s been eight months since Conor McGregor fought in the Octagon and lightweight contender Justin Gaethje is tiring of the Irishman hemming and hawing about a UFC return. He’s so fed up with McGregor that Gaethje threw out an ultimatum to the former dual-division champion.

“Do it the right way p—y. Stop sh—ing on the integrity of the sport,” Gaethje wrote in an expletive-laced tirade. “You want (Kahbib Nurmagomedov) again, you fight me or the winner of Cowboy (Cerrone) and (Tony) Ferguson or get the f— out of here and enjoy all that money.”

That tweet on Tuesday was in response to one that McGregor issued while in attendance at some boxing matches over the weekend, where he once again tried to taunt Floyd Mayweather into a rematch of their blockbuster payday in August 2017.

“Boxing is great, I am going to relish another go!” McGregor tweeted excitedly, as he was ringside in support of fellow Irish fighter Katie Taylor. “I challenge Juan Manuel Mayweather to a rematch. Under the tutelage of my old club. We’ll see then mate.”

Mayweather has for the most part remained retired, save for an exhibition bout in Japan, since he and McGregor fought in one of the highest grossing single-day sports events in history. 

McGregor, meanwhile, returned to face Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October of 2018. He lost the bout via a fourth-round submission. He was on suspension for the next six months following a post-fight brawl that erupted when Nurmagomedov climbed over the Octagon fence to get after one of McGregor’s cornermen after their fight. McGregor has been linked to several bouts, but none have materialized. Now he has indicated that he suffered an injury in training.

TRENDING Breaking down UFC 238’s Tony Ferguson vs. Cowboy Cerrone move-by-move (video)

Gaethje is currently the No. 5 ranked contender in the UFC lightweight division, while McGregor is ensconced at No. 3 in the division. Ferguson and Cerrone are ranked at 2 and 4, respectively; they are slated to fight this weekend at UFC 238 in Chicago. Nurmagomedov is scheduled to headline UFC 242 in September, when he will unify his UFC lightweight title with the interim version held by Dustin Poirier.

Do it the right way pussy. Stop shitting on the integrity of the sport. You want @TeamKhabib again you fight me, or the winner of Cowboy and Ferguson or get the fuck out of here and enjoy all that money.

— Justin Gaethje ?? (@Justin_Gaethje) June 4, 2019

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/justin-gaethje-challenges-conor-mcgregor-to-fight-or-leave-the-ufc