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The Valentine’s Day edition chronicling the hottest news & banter in the MMA world takes a look at yet another roller-coaster week in the hurt business.
We examine some intense training, a Nate Diaz comeback, legends retiring…UFC vs. Bellator, “Marijuana Mantra”, beautiful violence and so much more…
Sportskeeda brings you the top-10 MMA news & rumors of the week—
#5 Rumor: Ronda Rousey could face towering WWE Superstar in her first feud
Per WWE’s RAW General Manager Kurt Angle, Ronda Rousey will sign her WWE contract inside the squared circle at the promotion’s upcoming Elimination Chamber PPV, which takes place later this month.
Apparently, the Women’s MMA icon and former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Rousey, isn’t likely to compete in a match at the event. However, Rousey has teased possibly revealing her first WWE feud, that could take place against 6-feet-plus Samoan powerhouse Nia Jax.
Jax has taken a few shots at Rousey on social media, and while the Rowdy One has remained relatively calm, experts believe that the two powerful performers could collide on the Road to Wrestlemania 34. This is indeed a rumor worth keeping an eye on, as Rousey’s first rivalry in the WWE is being eagerly awaited by her fans & critics alike, as it’s paramount to her success in the world of professional wrestling.
#5 News: UFC vs. Bellator
As reported by MMAMania, ahead of his all-important Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix matchup against old foe Roy Nelson, Matt ‘Meathead’ Mitrione opined that the UFC is impeding its own progress by mistreating its fighters.
Mitrione raked up the long-running controversy surrounding the lack of brand-diversity in sponsorships after the UFC-Reebok deal came into effect. He reiterated that a move to Bellator allows fighters to avail considerable sponsorship money, whereas UFC’s deal with Reebok has proven to be a huge disadvantage to the promotion’s fighters as they miss out on a ton of lucrative sponsorships owing to said deal. He also criticised the UFC’s handling of its fighters’ social media accounts, and added—
“I feel like they are, not in a colossal nose dive, but I do not think they are in the right spot. I feel like what Mr. Coker does very casually is what he needs to do to bring fans, eyes over to Bellator. And I think the production is completely different over at Bellator. It’s a spectacle, he took a page out of old Japanese MMA and made it bananas.”
#4 Rumor: Nate Diaz training for Tyron Woodley
A post shared by natediaz209 (@natediaz209) on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:06pm PST
Nate Diaz is known for his religious boxing and BJJ training. Interestingly, over the years, both Nate and his brother Nick have known to accord more time and effort to boxing & BJJ training than wrestling.
That, in turn, has resulted in the Diaz brothers often getting out-wrestled when matched up against fighters with a good wrestling pedigree. In light of the same, it’s intriguing how Nate Diaz seems to be training with a few top-notch wrestlers as of late.
This rumor is one that could potentially turn into something huge, as Nate’s next fight is guaranteed to be a high-profile showdown. And considering his engagement in serious wrestling training, experts believe that he may indeed end up challenging UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley—one of the best MMA wrestlers today—for the belt very soon.
#4 News: Joe Lauzon literally busts his training partner’s testicles
Joe Lauzon is widely respected for his professionalism and work-ethic.
The UFC Lightweight is perhaps one of the most beloved, particularly by the hardcore MMA fans. However, an accident that transpired at his hands, seems to have literally busted his training partner Devin Powell’s private parts…or rather ‘part’, to be specific.
While training knees on the ground, Lauzon hit Powell in the groin area, and injured him. Surprisingly, Powell waited for about a day-and-a-half before checking into a medical facility, but after doing so discovered a blood clot in the injured area—something he’s undergoing surgery on.
#3 Rumor: Conor McGregor following the Diaz brothers’ “Marijuana Mantra”
A post shared by MMA Netherlands 🇳🇱 (@mmanetherlands) on Feb 11, 2018 at 11:34pm PST
Nate Diaz and his older brother Nick are one of the most popular personalities in the marijuana industry today. In fact, per several claims made by Stockton’s most beloved brothers, they’re indeed raking in big money by way of sponsorships and advertisements in the industry.
Considering that, the MMA community was set abuzz by the aforementioned Instagram post, which shows Nate Diaz’s longtime rival and current UFC Lightweight kingpin Conor McGregor at a coffee shop in Amsterdam—with a tub of marijuana prominently featured in the post.
Apparently, the shop is also known to sell marijuana, and McGregor was reportedly said to be “chilling” at the hangout, while in The Netherlands. That, in turn, has led to MMA fans and experts speculating as to whether McGregor could possibly be taking to the Diaz brothers’ mantra of utilizing marijuana—something they’ve been known to use before and after training sessions for relaxation & recovery—ironically enough, taking a page out of his rival Nate’s playbook.
#3 News: Joanna Jedrzejczyk blames team physician
After blaming her nutritionist for failing her ahead of her UFC Straw-weight Championship match & loss to Rose Namajunas, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has now revealed yet another person who may have been responsible for her upset loss to Namajunas. Below are a few excerpts from her statements regarding the same (*courtesy Polsat Sport via Bloodyelbow*)—
“I know that in sports, I win and lose, and I know that my last fight did not go my way, because people from my team failed me. The doctor, who had a big impact on how I felt 30 hours before the fight, failed. People who are not in sports, in which you need to watch this weight, do not know what it’s eating. It often has negative effects on our health and even life, (and) I am asking for patience, just like I have to wait for the day when I will receive a Straw-weight belt.”
#2 Rumor: Bellator to promote boxing under their promotional banner
Bellator has been known to co-promote several kickboxing/MMA hybrid events in the past.
Keeping in tradition with the same, per several Bellator fighters including Ana Julaton and Heather Hardy—both accomplished professional boxers who now compete in MMA—Bellator may soon commence promoting pro-boxing bouts under its promotional banner.
This is indeed a rumor that, if true, could serve to speed up Dana White and the UFC’s Zuffa Boxing endeavors, particularly considering the fact that Bellator is widely regarded as the UFC’s biggest rival MMA organization today.
#2 News: Alexander Gustafsson calls out Luke Rockhold
Longtime UFC Light-Heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson has taken to social media so as to call out former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold.
Rockhold recently suffered a brutal KO loss to Yoel Romero, at UFC 221, and the former is said to be contemplating moving up to the 205-pound division. Gustafsson, who has previously fought Rockhold’s AKA team-mate Daniel Cormier to a close decision loss, asserted that he’d love to welcome Rockhold to the big boys’ division and knock him out, until Cormier returns to the Light-Heavyweight division.
As of this writing, ‘Gus’ still seems to be waiting on a concrete reply from Rockhold on the same.
#1 Rumor: Holly Holm to get title shot in next UFC outing
Holly Holm could face the winner of Amanda Nunes vs. Raquel Pennington.
While Nunes and Pennington are likely to compete for the former’s UFC Women’s Bantamweight title later this year, Holm is likely to receive a shot against the winner of the bout.
While Holm came up short in her bid to dethrone UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg, she had a strong showing in the fight, and experts believe that the UFC brass plan on according Holm another title shot, albeit in the Bantamweight division. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ is back in training for her next fight, that’s yet to be announced.
#1 News: Rashad Evans hints at possibly retiring soon
In an appearance on the MMA Hour, former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans hinted at retirement. Below are a few excerpts from his statements regarding the same—
“I’m in a weird space, to be honest—I want to compete, I still want to compete, but then I am almost in a position to where do I continue to compete because then I am like, ‘Does it mess up my legacy? Why am I even competing? What is the point?’”
Evans was recently said to be booked for a fight in London against Michael Bisping—with both fighters retiring after the bout. However, that bout didn’t come to fruition, and Evans may indeed be hanging up the gloves for good this year.
