UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier isn’t fighting Brock Lesnar next. “DC” will instead put his title on the on the line in a rematch against former titleholder Stipe Miocic on Aug. 17 in Anaheim, Calif.

ESPN first reported the news and MMAWeekly independently confirmed that the two fighters have agreed to the bout. Bout agreements haven’t been signed but all indications are that the fight will soon be a done deal.

Cormier captured the heavyweight crown by defeating Miocic by knockout at UFC 226 in July 2018. He successfully defended it at UFC 230 in November 2018 by defeating Derrick Lewis by submission.

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Miocic hasn’t fought since the loss to Cormier and has lobbied for the rematch.  Heading into their first fight, Miocic had defended the belt a UFC record three times.  He believed he should have gotten an immediate rematch.  He’ll get his shot at redemption on Aug. 17, more than a year after losing the belt.

The event is expected to be UFC 241, although the numbering could change.

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/daniel-cormier-vs-stipe-miocic-2-headlines-aug-17-ufc-pay-per-view

Looking back on his January unanimous decision victory over Lucas Rota at LFA 57, middleweight Adam Stroup if pleased to have picked up the win, but not happy having to go the distance in the bout.

Stroup feels that the timeframe he had to prepare for his bout with Rota may have played a factor in it going the distance.

“I liked that I won, obviously, but I think I could have done better,” Stroup told MMAWeekly.com. “Unfortunately I took a fight a little over two weeks before then, and when I get these short notice fights a lot of my time goes towards making weight.

“I feel like if I could get five or six weeks, I feel like I could do a better performance. I’m not complaining, but I’m just saying. I liked the fight but I would have liked to have gotten the finish.”

For Stroup, short notice fights are nothing new, as is unfortunately having bouts cancelled for one reason or another. Since October of 2017, Stroup has only managed to get in three fights, which has been disappointing to say the least.

“What was really frustrating with what happened to me over the last two years, is when I got scheduled for a fight and then two weeks before it’s supposed to happen the whole show gets cancelled,” said Stroup.

“I’m fortunate enough that my work will give me the time off that I need, so I can take a few weeks off, but I’m not getting paid for that. When the fights are cancelled there is no payday, so it is frustrating and heart-breaking.”

Stroup (13-5) will look to raise his current winning streak to four when he faces Hayward Charles (16-12) in a main card 185-pound bout at LFA 65 on Friday in Vail, Colo.

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“I’ve actually rolled with Hayward before,” Stroup said. “He’s really good on the mat and is really slick. He’s a legit black belt, so we’ve got to keep that in mind. We’re going to come out and do our game and fight and come out on top.

“When we rolled it was purely Jiu-Jitsu, and this is an MMA fight. There’s going to be knees, elbows, it’s going to get ugly. In Jiu-Jitsu he’s very technical, very skilled, but this is a fight, and I plan on taking advantage of all the MMA rules. It’s different in a fight than training no doubt.”

Though he’s had difficulties with consistency in his scheduling, Stroup is nonetheless at a high point in his career and he’s looking to parlay that into a move up in competition in 2019.

“I would like to have four fights this year, four wins, and if I do that I think I will be back where I was before that three fight skid (in 2016/17),” said Stroup. “It really hurt where I was because I felt like I had to start over from scratch. I’m positive that if I finish out the year with four wins I’ll get a shot somewhere.”

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/adam-stroup-its-going-to-get-ugly-against-hayward-charles-at-lfa-65

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Monday announced its return to the Middle East in September with UFC 242, which is likely to be headlined by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s return. Will Nurmagomedov be back in the Octagon in Abu Dhabi?

TRENDING  UFC 242 marks return to Abu Dhabi; Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier likely

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/low-down-podcast-will-khabib-nurmagomedov-return-at-ufc-242-in-abu-dhabi

Liam McGeary had hoped to exact a measure of revenge on Phil Davis at Bellator 220 on Saturday night in San Jose, Calif. Instead, the result ended being much worse than the first time.

Davis broke McGeary’s jaw in the second fight.

Admittedly worrying too much about Davis’ takedowns early in the fight, McGeary got cracked across the jaw in the second round. That’s not simply saying he took a hard shot, Davis actually fractured McGeary’s jaw.

McGeary soldiered on, but his demise came at 4:11 of round 3. It marked two defeats at the hands of the former Bellator light heavyweight champion.

“Ugh… the jaw cracked in the second round and the tooth went in the 3rd. Soon as that arm came round and touched my jaw that was enough for me guys!! That hurt like a mutha f—- and you know I can take some s–t too!!! F— it man, I was too worried about the takedowns in the first. I was hesitant,” McGeary said in an Instagram post.

“S— you took me down in the 3rd and I got right back the f— up! I’ve stepped my game up man, wrestlers don’t bother me anymore…. just the bloody dentist hahah.

“Congrats Phil, good s— mate, enjoyed throwing down with you man. I’ll see you in the bar for a beer when I get done here.”

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(Click the right hand arrow to see the x-ray of McGeary’s fractured jaw.)

Ugh… the jaw cracked in the second round and the tooth went in the 3rd. Soon as that arm came round and touched my jaw that was enough for me guys!! That hurt like a mutha fucka and you know I can take some shit too!!! Fuck it man, I was too worried about the takedowns in the first i was hesitant. Shit you took me down in the 3rd and I got right back the fuck up! I’ve stepped my game up man, wrestlers dont bother me anymore…. just the bloody dentist hahah Congrats @philmrw good shit mate, enjoyed throwing down with you man. I’ll see yo uin the bar for a beer when I get done here

A post shared by Liam Mcgeary (@liammcgeary1) on Apr 27, 2019 at 10:17pm PDT

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/liam-mcgeary-posts-x-ray-of-cracked-jaw-issues-statement

Though their fight ended with a less-than-desirable result, welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and challenger Jon Fitch, along with light heavyweight Phil Davis, towered over the remainder of the Bellator 220 roster when it came down to payroll.

MacDonald was paid $200,000 for fighting Fitch to draw. Fitch, meanwhile, made $140,000 for the fight. Neither was slated to earn a win bonus.

The two exchanged takedowns and battled back and forth over the course of their five-round main event, but neither could find a route to the significant damage necessary to earn a clear-cut victory. 

Though Fitch spent a large portion of the fight in top control, MacDonald landed many of the bigger shots that looked like might swing the fight to his favor.

At the end of 25 minutes of action, two of the judges scored the fight 47-47, while the other had it 48-46 in favor of Fitch. With two judges scoring it a draw, the overall result is scored a majority draw. As such, MacDonald keeps his belt and moves on in the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, where he will next face Neiman Gracie.

Davis broke Liam McGeary’s jaw in their rematch, leading to his $160,000 payday, which included an $80,000 win bonus.

Women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, despite bloodying and defeating Veta Arteaga in the Bellator 220 co-main event, wasn’t all that close to the top of the payroll. She was paid $75,000 with no win bonus for her third successful title defense.

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Bellator 220: MacDonald vs. Fitch Fighter Salaries

• Rory MacDonald: $200,000 (no win bonus) vs. Jon Fitch: $140,000 (no win bonus)
• Ilima-Lei Macfarlane: $75,000 (no win bonus) def. Veta Arteaga: $40,000
• Benson Henderson: $100,000 (no win bonus) def. Adam Piccolotti: $22,000
• Phil Davis: $160,000 (includes $80,000 win bonus) def. Liam McGeary: $75,000
• Gaston Bolanos: $15,000 (no win bonus) def. Nathan Stolen: $10,000

Bellator 220: MacDonald vs. Fitch Fight Highlights

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/rory-macdonald-jon-fitch-and-phil-davis-tower-over-bellator-220-fighter-salaries