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Yet another wild week in MMA was topped off with the focal point of this week’s action being Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and his steroid controversy.
Intriguingly, MMA fans will be treated to the return of the 'Queen of Suplexes', whose comments on her return have been detailed as well.
While Jones dealt with the CSAC, Nate Diaz went through a few similar issues of his own—something that we’ve revealed in this week’s edition of top 10 MMA News & Rumors.
#5 Rumor: Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold III to take place at 205 pounds
Michael Bisping has time and again stated that he plans on fighting just one more time, before hanging up the gloves for good.
On a recent edition of his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping asserted that he'd be open to fighting Luke Rockhold in their trilogy bout, and with Rockhold recently revealing that he's been struggling to make the 185-pound limit, Bisping is ready to face his old foe at 205 pounds. 'The Count' stated--
“If that motherf***** wants to throw down at 205 (pounds), yeah, we can entertain that, buddy...I’ve got no problem knocking you out again.”
“I exposed Luke Rockhold...I knocked him out--David Branch nearly knocked him out--Yoel knocked him out. I quite literally took his soul, so if he wants me to do it again, that is one that would stoke the fires so to speak.”
#5 News: Ronda Rousey makes WWE PPV debut
Women's MMA pioneer and former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey made her WWE PPV debut at this past Sunday's Elimination Chamber event.
While Rousey had previously appeared in a guest spot at Wrestlemania 31 alongside Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, and The Rock, 'The Rowdy One' is now officially a WWE Superstar who'll primarily be featured on the promotion's RAW brand. Rousey also appeared on the episode of Monday Night RAW which followed the Elimination Chamber PPV.
Furthermore, Rousey is set to be prominently featured on WWE programming in the days to come and is being touted as the next big female Superstar in the world of professional wrestling/sports-entertainment.
#4 Rumor: Darren Till vs. Gunnar Nelson in the works; weight-classes mean nothing to the "evil" one
Speaking to MMANytt, Darren Till revealed that he's been dealing with an illness, owing to which he's not been able to train properly.
Regardless, Till emphasized that he's ready to win the UFC Welterweight, Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight title belts. Till added--
“I’m not scared of anyone...I’m not scared of Gunnar’s grappling, I’m not scared of Usman’s wrestling, I’m not scared of Woodley’s power, and I’m not scared of Thompson’s karate. I don’t give a f**k about any of them--I’m not scared of any of them; they should be f**king scared of me because I’m a vicious little c**t, that’s what I am."
The vast majority of MMA experts believe that a fight against Gunnar Nelson in on the cards for Till. This is a rumor worth keeping your eye on, as a victory over Nelson could land Till a UFC Welterweight title shot or at the very least a fight for the number-1 contender status by the end of 2018.
#4 News: Jon Jones' license revoked; fined $205,000
Per MMAFighting, Jon Jones was extensively questioned at his CSAC (California State Athletic Commission) hearing and vehemently denied that he knowingly used steroids.
Jones pleaded innocence, and upon being questioned about his past actions--such as his hit-and-run incident as well as the drug tests for Clomiphene & Letrozole which he failed in 2016--Jones stated--
“To purposely do steroids like a week before a fight and ruin all those months talking to all those kids, it would just be stupid,” Jones added ."I’m absolutely not the same person I was three years ago when I got into a hit-and-run car accident.”
Regardless, Jones was fined $205,000 and had his MMA license revoked. He may face further sanctions from USADA later this year, however, if USADA chooses not to hand him a lengthy suspension, he could reapply for his license and return to the sport in late-2018 or early-2019.
#3 Rumor: Cain Velasquez wanting to capture "belt" in WWE
Cain Velasquez attended the WWE's Elimination Chamber PPV this past Sunday Night; as he Daniel Cormier and a few other UFC fighters cheered Ronda Rousey on as she performed in a WWE contract signing segment at the Elimination Chamber event.
Velasquez later posted a photo of himself in a pro-wrestling Luchador mask, asserting that he feels at home in WWE, and having previously defeated Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight title, he would gladly take another belt from Lesnar, only this time around in WWE.
With his MMA career presently at a standstill owing to injuries, Cain could work a lighter, part-time schedule in pro-wrestling. Although far-fetched as of this time, this would be a huge transition in the sports-entertainment world, should it come to fruition.
#3 News: Cat Zingano comments on her big return at UFC 222
Cat Zingano is widely regarded as one of the key figures in Women's MMA advent into the UFC.
The past few years have been tough on the 'Alpha' Cat--from her husband's suicide to several injury issues--Zingano has hit more than a few roadblocks on both the personal and professional front. Regardless, having taken about a year-and-a-half off from pro competition, Zingano returns to take on the undefeated Ketlen Vieira at UFC 222 this weekend.
Zingano asserted that she 100% believes that she is indeed the best female Bantamweight in the world today. Zingano added that she enters her fight in hopes of scoring a dominant win over Vieira, and proceed to likely challenge reigning UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes--a woman whom Zingano defeated by way of TKO in their UFC meeting a few years back.
#2 Rumor: Brock Lesnar returning to the Octagon
Brock Lesnar did not appear at Sunday's Elimination Chamber PPV in Las Vegas.
However, Lesnar was indeed in Vegas and was hanging out with UFC President Dana White. The latter posted a photograph of himself with Lesnar; teasing the Beast Incarnate's potential return to the UFC this year.
The MMA rumor mill is presently abuzz that Lesnar could return to the UFC, with his first fight back likely to take place this summer. Lesnar's UFC return could be a huge edge to the UFC this year, as he'll be completely free of his WWE contract either after Wrestlemania 34 in April or (if the WWE chooses to extend his contract) by August of this year.
#2 News: Nate Diaz lawsuit dismissed
Nate Diaz's former managers 'The Ballengee Group' filed a lawsuit in the Dallas County (Texas) District Court; accusing Diaz of not paying them a promised percentage after they helped him negotiate a deal with the UFC to fight Conor McGregor in a multi-million dollar fight at UFC 202.
The management group also alleged that they advised Diaz negotiate bouts with Rafael Dos Anjos and Michael Johnson. Apparently, per TMZ, the lawsuit against Diaz has now been dismissed. Diaz's attorney Jeremiah Reynolds issued the following statement on the same--
“We are very pleased the Court dismissed the case because Nate has not fought in Texas and the case should not have been filed in Texas."
Additionally, Ballengee's attorney Jason Friedman issued a statement to MMAFighting, alluding that they'll pursue the case either in California or Nevada--
“While it was my Client’s position that Diaz had availed himself to be sued in Texas, unfortunately, the Texas Court did not share the same view...However, the Court’s ruling has no effect on the merits of the case and my Client does intend to vigorously pursue its claims in another venue whether it be California or Nevada and is looking forward to its day in Court.”
#1 Rumor: Jon Jones facing 4-year suspension?
As we'd previously noted, Jon Jones was fined a significant sum of money and had his MMA license revoked by the CSAC.
However, his impending hearing with USADA is what'll truly determine how long of a suspension he faces, if any. Experts believe that should he be found guilty, Jones could be banned from professional MMA competition for no less than 4 years (retroactive from July of 2017).
The belief is that Jones and his team would be pushing for a 1-year retroactive suspension which would allow him to return in July of this year. Another option is a 2-year retroactive suspension which could result in Jones being out till July 2019.
The 4-year suspension could spell doom for Jones' career, and the next few months will indeed prove pivotal for the former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion.
#1 News: Frankie Edgar accuses Conor McGregor of fabricating UFC 222 story
On a recent edition of the MMA Hour, Frankie Edgar, who was initially set to challenge Max Holloway for the latter's UFC Featherweight title at UFC 222 but now fights late-replacement Brian Ortega at the event; accused Conor McGregor of fabricating his UFC 222 story.
McGregor set the MMA community abuzz earlier this week with claims that he was set to step in to face Edgar when Holloway pulled out with an injury. However, Edgar has refuted all banter of being offered a fight with McGregor at UFC 222. Edgar added--
“I’m putting it totally aside, because it’s easy with this whole Conor news and Max, it’s easy to get sidetracked and think about Max, think about Conor.” Edgar continued--“I’ve got to focus on Ortega, man. It’s a dangerous fight. Everyone says, ‘Oh, it’s a risky fight,’ and they’re right. I’m putting a lot of the line and that’s my focus.”
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