UFC angling to kick off 2021 on ABC

The UFC may return to network television as soon as Jan. 16 to kick off its slate of events in 2021.

UFC Fight Island 7 features former featherweight champion Max Holloway squaring off against No. 6 ranked Calvin Kattar in the main event. It takes place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, the first of three UFC events over an eight-day span that culminates in Conor McGregor’s return to rematch Dustin Poirier in the UFC 257 main event on Jan. 23.

If plans are finalized, UFC Fight Island 7 would air on ABC’s broadcast network. It would mark the first time the UFC airs on network television since the company parted ways with FOX and moved to ESPN.

It is not yet clear how many bouts would air on ABC or how the remaining preliminary bouts would be scheduled across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+.

ABC and the ESPN family of channels are all owned by The Walt Disney Company.

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Dana White’s final media scrum of 2020

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-angling-to-kick-off-2021-on-abc

 

Former UFC champ Anthony Pettis signs with PFL for 2021 season

Less than 24 hours after giving notice that he was going to explore free agency, former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis inked a new deal. He will be fighting under the PFL MMA banner beginning with the 2021 season, which kicks off on April 23 on ESPN2.

“I am excited to announce that the PFL has signed two-time world champion, Anthony Pettis,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League, in announcing Pettis’s signing. “Not only is Anthony a transcendent athlete within the sport of MMA, but he is also an innovator in the cage who is known for his charismatic fighting style and determination to win. I am confident that Anthony will bring that ‘wow’ factor into every matchup he participates in over the course of our season format, and we’re excited for him to join the PFL family.”

Having been a champion with Zuffa LLC under the WEC banner and the UFC banner, Pettis is a tremendous addition to the PFL’s roster.

“I am really looking forward to this next big challenge after signing with the PFL to compete in the lightweight division.” said Pettis. “I’m super impressed with what the PFL has built, how they are growing the sport, and the amazing talent they have added. I’ve been watching the Brazilian guy [Natan] Schulte who is the champion and he is really good but there isn’t anyone I’m scared of.

“The season format is great; I think it will be an amazing new journey for me and to get to wrap it up over the course of one year will be awesome. I can’t wait to get another world championship to add to my collection.”

Pettis is the latest in a string of prominent fighters that have inked deals with the PFL. Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum recently signed to fight for PFL, as well as world champion boxer Clarissa Shields.

The PFL’s 2021 season will begin on April 23 on ESPN2. The remaining Regular Season events will take place on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.

TRENDING Anthony Pettis steps away from UFC to explore free agency

Anthony Pettis following his final UFC fight

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/former-ufc-champ-anthony-pettis-signs-with-pfl-for-2021-season

 

Video: Take a look at how Nick and Nate Diaz spent 2020 quarantine

Nate Diaz hasn’t been in the public eye much in 2020, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t stay sharp throughout the year.

In a video recently released on Diaz’s YouTube channel highlighting what quarantine has been like, the former UFC lightweight title challenger is seen weightlifting, sprinting, watching fight tape, sitting in an ice bath, and hitting pads. Non-training activities feature off-road dune buggy-riding, skateboarding, and – you guessed it – smoking weed.

The video focuses mostly on Nate, but brother Nick Diaz, is featured plenty, as well.

Nate, 35, most recently fought at UFC 244 in November 2019 when he lost to Jorge Masvidal in the promotion’s lone “BMF” title fight. which was stopped in between the third and fourth rounds after Diaz suffered a facial laceration.

UFC president Dana White briefly linked Diaz to a Masvidal rematch in 2020, however, the fight was nixed for unknown reasons.

Nick, 37, hasn’t fought in more than five years – but if his manager’s prediction is correct, that will change in 2021. Recently, the brothers’ manager, Kevin Mubenga, provided insight into Nick’s return.

You can watch the Diaz brothers in action in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-news-nate-diaz-releases-video-2020-quarantine-nick-diaz

 

Video: Which UFC champion is most likely to lose title in 2021?

Not a single UFC champion who entered 2020 with a title lost it this year.

While there were belts claimed between interim and vacant title fights, none of the champions in 14 undisputed title fights left the cage without their belt. Not since 1999, when the UFC had just five divisions and held three undisputed title fights, has this happened.

Looking ahead to 2021, we’re wondering which champion is most likely to lose his or her title before the year is over. Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of “Gorgeous” George Garcia, John Morgan, and Mike Bohn make their picks, as well as who they think is a lock to retain all year.

You can watch in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/which-ufc-champion-likely-to-lose-title-2021

 

Bellator signs ‘Russian Ronda’ Irina Alekseeva to multifight contract

“Russian Ronda” is headed to Bellator MMA.

Flyweight Irina Alekseeva, also known as “Russian Ronda” (as in Rousey) according to her Tapology page, has signed a multifight deal with the promotion.

A Bellator official recently informed MMA Junkie of the signing after an Instagram announcement post by Alekseeva’s manager, Brian Butler. No debut date or opponent was revealed by Bellator or Butler.

Alekseeva (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a three-time silver medalist at the Russian Judo Championships and a Russian and European gold medalist at Sambo Worlds. Additionally, she is a multiple-time “hand-to-hand combat champion.”

The 30-year-old joins Bellator coming off a loss suffered in ProFC in December 2019. The defeat, a unanimous decision to Liliya Kazak, was the first of her professional career. Prior to the loss, Alekseeva had won three straight fights which included one victory by submission and another by the opponent’s “refusal to fight.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/bellator-russian-ronda-irina-alekseeva-signs-multifight-deal

 

 

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