Watch Marlon Moraes’ knee-to-the-jaw knockout of Aljamain Sterling (UFC 238 fight video)

(Courtesy of UFC)

Marlon Moraes rose to prominence during his undefeated run under the World Series of Fighting banner, where he became the promotion’s bantamweight champion. Having defended the WSOF bantamweight belt on five occasions, he eventually made the move to the UFC. 

Moraes stumbled out of the gate in his first Octagon appearance, losing a split decision to Raphael Assuncao. That was his only faltering, however, as he has since reeled off four consecutive victories, including avenging the loss to Assuncao. 

Now, Moraes steps into the main event at UFC 238 on Saturday, June 8, where he squares off with flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, who is moving up a weight class to try and become only the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold championship belts in two divisions simultaneously.

The bantamweight belt was vacated by TJ Dillashaw when he was hit with a two-year suspension for violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Moraes and Cejudo meet at UFC 238 in Chicago to determine the next bantamweight titleholder.

TRENDING Watch Tony Ferguson defeat Anthony Pettis in a blood bath (fight video)

Before UFC 238 takes place, take a look back at Moraes’ stunning first-round knockout of Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night 123, Moraes’ second trip to the Octagon.

While Moraes and Cejudo headline UFC 238, the fight card also features UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko putting her title on the line for the first time, as she squares off with Jessica Eye. The card also pits top lightweight Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone against one another, as they try to determine the next challenger to the title currently held by Khabib Nurmagomedov.


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-marlon-moraes-knee-to-the-jaw-knockout-of-aljamain-sterling-ufc-238-fight-video

 

Mexican Rocky upsets Dana White’s boxing superstar Anthony Joshua (fight highlights)

UFC president Dana White has been teasing his entry into the world of boxing promotion ever since he allowed Conor McGregor the opportunity to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a blockbuster boxing payday in 2017.

White has taken numerous jabs at boxing for its lack of quality promotion and failure to build superstars. One of his most targeted boxers, at least as an example of failed promotion, has been Anthony Joshua, who sat atop the heavyweight division. Joshua was 21-0 and monstrously favored to beat Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night. 

Somehow, that didn’t happen. Despite the odds on Joshua pointing to a “can’t lose” fight, he did just that… lost. Ruiz took the fight to Joshua and put him on the floor several times before the former heavyweight champion leaned on the ropes in the corner and the referee waved off the fight. 

The fight will have to go down as one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, if not history. It was such a monumental upset that the announcers were calling Ruiz “the Mexican Rocky,” as he followed in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone’s mythical Rocky Balboa.

TRENDING Alexander Gustafsson confirms his retirement from MMA: ‘I’m done’

So what does that do to White’s interest in Joshua, whom he was heavily rumored to have been courting for when he announces what he and the UFC plan to do when boxing becomes another arm of its promotional strategy?

Watch Andy Ruiz Jr. (aka the Mexican Rocky) take out Anthony Joshua in major boxing upset!

(Courtesy of DAZN USA)


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/andy-ruiz-jr-anthony-joshua-fight-highlights-dana-white-boxing

 

Conor McGregor taunts Floyd Mayweather; congratulates Andy Ruiz Jr on Anthony Joshua upset

Former UFC dual-division champion Conor McGregor is perhaps most famous for simply willing things into existence. That was evidenced by his blockbuster boxing debut against the undefeated former champion Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Now eight months without a mixed martial arts bout, McGregor threw out another boxing challenge on Saturday night, trying to tempt Mayweather into a rematch.

McGregor was in attendance as Andy Ruiz Jr. (aka the Mexican Rocky) upset Anthony Joshua in shocking route. McGregor went on a Twitter tirade, not only congratulating Ruiz on the victory and giving props to Nate Diaz in the process, but also attempted to taunt Mayweather into a rematch.

“Boxing is great, I am going to relish another go! I challenge Juan Manuel Mayweather to a rematch,” McGregor tweeted. Mayweather has yet to respond to McGregor’s taunt.

McGregor was in attendance largely to support undefeated Irish boxer Katie Taylor, who emerged victorious in a tough battle with Belgian boxer Delfine Persoon.

TRENDING Mexican Rocky upsets Dana White’s boxing superstar Anthony Joshua (fight highlights)

Watch Andy Ruiz Jr. (aka the Mexican Rocky) take out Anthony Joshua in major boxing upset!

(Courtesy of DAZN USA)


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-taunts-floyd-mayweather-congratulates-andy-ruiz-jr-on-anthony-joshua-upset

 

Alexander Gustafsson confirms his retirement from MMA: ‘I’m done’

Alexander Gustafsson is officially calling it a career.

On Saturday in Sweden, the three-time UFC title contender laid down his gloves and announced his retirement following a fourth round submission loss to Anthony Smith in the main event.

While the loss was certainly disappointing it was still a shock for Gustafsson to declare that he was finished with fighting. Even after the emotion of that moment wore off, Gustafsson confirmed his retirement while explaining why he’s walking away from the sport right now.

“Yeah I am. I’m done,” Gustafsson told the UFC Fight Night post fight show. “It feels like I don’t have it in me anymore to be honest. I did a mistake that I shouldn’t do and I just have a feeling it’s the time now.

“I don’t want to be a journeyman. I don’t want to do this just because I’m getting paid. I just want to do this because I love it and I want to be at the top.”

Gustafsson made no excuses for his defeat while adding that he had a tremendous training camp to prepare for Smith before stepping into the Octagon on Saturday.

Unfortunately he came up short and decided now was the time to retire from fighting.

“I’m disappointed with the outcome of the fight,” Gustafsson said. “I was ready for this. I’ve been training hard and I was just ready. I was in my zone and it felt good. I don’t do this for the money or anything. I do this because I want to be the best and beat the best so if I can’t do that, it is what it is.”

Gustafsson, who came up short in three attempts to become UFC light heavyweight champion, says that the fight with Smith was supposed to serve as the starting point to regain his momentum in the division after falling to Jon Jones last December.

The loss to Smith was a devastating setback and Gustafsson just didn’t see a reason to continue if he wasn’t going to be building back towards title contention again.

“I lost my third title fight. It’s the top guys, I thought I can rebuild that. I can start with Smith and take it from there but well I lost this time, too,” Gustafsson said. “It is what it is.

“I had a great journey. I have everything in my life because of this sport, because of the UFC and I’m thankful and it’s been a great journey.”

TRENDING Anthony Smith retires Alexander Gustafsson with fourth round submission win in Sweden

As far as what comes next, the 32-year-old veteran is looking forward to some much needed family time while he continues to build the sport in his native Sweden.

He may be gone from competing in the UFC but Gustafsson will always be a presence in the fight game after dedicating his life to martial arts.

“I’m just going to spend time with my kids. I own the gym I train in and I’ve got some projects going on here. Let’s see what the next chapter will be,” Gustafsson said.

“I’m very grateful for my career as a fighter and being able to fight for the UFC for so long.”

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/alexander-gustafsson-confirms-his-retirement-from-mma-im-done

 

Jon Jones doubts Alexander Gustafsson’s UFC retirement

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones doubts that Alexander Gustafsson will remain retired, despite making the announcement following a loss at UFC on ESPN+ 11 on Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden, but if he does, Jones wishes him well. 

Gustafsson’s career has spanned more than a decade, but despite remaining entrenched at the top of the 205-pound division for years, he was never able to put UFC gold around his waist. Gustafsson (18-6) fought for the title on three different occasions, but lost once to current UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and twice to Jones.

After Gustafsson lost to Anthony Smith in Saturday’s main event on his home turf in Sweden, he determined that his career had run its course and dropped his gloves to the Octagon floor, saying, “The show is over, guys.”

He later added, “I (fought) because I want to be the best and if I can’t be the best then it is what it is. Now I’ll focus on my kids. I own a gym and have a couple of other projects going on. Let’s see what’s next. I built the life that I wanted, so let’s see what is the next chapter.”

Though the public chatter between Jones and Gustafsson has been contentious at times, it came with a heavy does of respect for one another. That’s something that, despite Jones doubting Gustafsson’s resolve to remain retired, he didn’t overlook in his comments to Gustafsson on Twitter.

“Honestly, I don’t believe you, but if you’re serious, thank you for everything,” Jones wrote. “You held the division to a standard and made us better. Go kick ass with the family.”

TRENDING UFC Stockholm Main Card Highlights: Remember the name, Aleksandar Rakic lands head-kick KO!

If it is indeed the end of his career, Gustafsson will forever be remembered as the fighter that put Swedish mixed martial arts on the global radar. He has been involved in numerous Fights of the Night, and his Fight of the Year with Jones at UFC 165 in 2013 will go down as one of the greatest MMA bouts in history.

Jon Jones Tweets his respect to Alexander Gustafsson following The Mauler’s UFC retirement

 

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/jon-jones-doubts-alexander-gustafssons-ufc-retirement

 

 

House of Nutrition

 

WELCOME


*** READ ME ***

Welcome to FightFan.net. Your home for local combat sports news and info. Be sure to set up your account for full access. Its EASY. Click the “register” link above. Fill in your name and email. We’ll send a funky password to your email. You log in to your account and set up something not so funky. Oh yeah, and when you’re ready to come back and start checking everything out, just click the “Your home for local combat sports” link at the top of the page. That's it, you’re a member! Tons of stuff to check out, so get after it.