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UFC 256 ‘Fight Motion’: Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno put on ‘Fight of the Year’ contender

Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno proved that the flyweight division is alive and well.

Flyweight champion Figueiredo (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Moreno (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) battled to a majority draw in the main event of UFC 256, which has been hailed as one of the best fights of the year. The draw ensured that Figueiredo retained his title by the slimmest of margins, but the two are expected to face off again in a rematch in 2021.

Both men stood in the middle of the octagon and traded, with big underdog Moreno showing incredible durability and toughness. Figueiredo was deducted a point for an inadvertent low blow, which effectively denied the Brazilian a victory, with to judges scoring the fight a draw, with one seeing it in Figueiredo’s favor.

Also featured in the super slow-motion UFC 256 “Fight Motion” highlights are Charles Oliveira’s masterful performance over Tony Ferguson, Kevin Holland’s incredible knockout of Ronaldo Souza, Ciryl Gane’s finish of Junior Dos Santos, and an array of stoppages from the prelims.

UFC 256 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Check out UFC 256 “Fight Motion” in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-fight-motion-deiveson-figueiredo-brandon-moreno-put-on-fight-of-the-year-contender

Yoel Romero surprised by UFC release: ‘Completely unexpected’

“First and foremost, it was something that was completely unexpected. I was already training very hard, getting ready. We were already thinking of fighting in January or February at 185 or 205. We were looking to fight with the top three in either division. My managers explained this to the presidency, the top of the UFC.”

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero made headlines across the sport recently, when UFC officials surprisingly released him from his contract.

Romero was ranked No. 5 in the UFC middleweight rankings at the time of his release, but his age and recent record were reasons given by UFC president Dana White for cutting him loose. White also indicated that Romero was just one of about 60 fighters that would be released by the end of 2020.

“Yoel has lost four of his last five. He’s 44 years old,” White said.

“It’s not just Yoel. We’re going to go through some serious cuts here at the end of the year. We’re probably going to have 60 cuts before the first of the year,” White added.

“Our roster is very inflated right now. We’re going to have some big cuts coming before the end of the year. You’re going to see a lot of names going here in the next several weeks.”

Still, Romero’s cut came as a surprise not just to fans and pundits, but to Romero himself, who had been gearing up to continue his run at a UFC championship.

“(The UFC) wanted (me) to fight with Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson, and we explained to them that it didn’t make sense for (me) to fight with these young men. We had an idea we were chasing, the world title,” Romero said in a recent interview with ESPN via a translator.

“My managers were back and forth non-stop with the matchmakers and with (UFC president Dana White),” Romero said. “They came back to us with an offer to fight Johnny Walker at 205. At 205, we wanted whomever triumphed between (Thiago Santos) or Glover (Teixeira).”

Romero lost four of his last five fights at middleweight. Three of the five bouts were supposed for the middleweight title or the interim belt. He missed weight for two of the three title fights.

But even though he was prepared to move up to 205 pounds, UFC officials and Romero’s team couldn’t seem to come to terms on an opponent. That’s when the UFC decided to cut him loose, according to Romero.

“The managers were initially saying we wanted to fight with Dominick Reyes, Glover Teixeira, ‘Marreta’ (Thiago Santos), or Anthony Smith, and it was kind of like a back and forth, kind of quiet on their end. Once they reached back it was to (tell me) that we couldn’t come to an agreement and they were going to commit to the release,” Romero explained.

“I would have never expected this.”

Romero has since inked a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA, where he is expected to debut in the promotion’s light heavyweight division sometime in early 2021.

Dana White recounts trying 2020, looks forward to 2021 | UFC 256 scrum

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/yoel-romero-surprised-by-ufc-release-completely-unexpected

Dana White says if UFC packed it in for COVID, fighters would have lost nearly $200 million

“If I decide forget it, we’re not gonna go, we’re just gonna sit this thing out like all these other businesses did, you’re talking, I’d have had to lay off probably 50-percent or more of my staff. You’d have cut all the executive salaries in half… or more. You’re talking almost $200 million that wouldn’t have been paid to fighters, and the list goes on and on.”

Dana White on BT Sport

Not shutting down the UFC for any longer than was required by government officials was company president Dana White’s proudest achievement of 2020.

While many businesses and other sports entities were ravaged by coronavirus pandemic restrictions, White battled his way around the globe to keep fights flowing not only in the United States, but also on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi for international based athletes.

As the pandemic plagued 2020 comes to a close, White sat down with BT Sport for a lengthy conversation with Caroline Pearce about his greatest achievements of 2020, but more so his plans for 2021, including the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones.

(Video courtesy of UFC)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-says-if-ufc-packed-it-in-for-covid-fighters-would-have-lost-nearly-200-million

Yoel Romero says ‘there’s a 90 percent chance’ he fights Anthony Johnson in Bellator debut

Looks like Yoel Romero believes he’ll have exactly Bellator debut fans want to see.

The multiple-time UFC middleweight title challenger said there’s a good chance he’ll take on Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in what would be both fighters’ Bellator debut sometime in early 2021.

Romero (13-5 MMA) signed with Bellator earlier this week after getting released by the UFC in a move announced Dec. 4. The news came in the heels of Bellator announcing the signing of Johnson, who’s a multiple-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger.

The fighter nicknamed “Soldier of God” said all options are still open, but the potential bout with “Rumble” is a strong possibility.

“Citing a name here is just a speculation, because there are still things that I can’t speak on right now, but it’s a great possibility,” Romero said in Spanish speaking with ESPN regarding a fight with Johnson. “There’s a 90 percent chance that he (Johnson) will be my first opponent. It’s a fight that a lot of people would be pleased (if it happens).”

Romero expects to compete at 205 pounds, a weight class above where he become a perennial UFC contender. Romero likes Bellator’s light heavyweight division and feels it’s a top quality weight class.

“I think there are many athletes at 205 with great quality,” Romero said. “We were looking at it with (his management team), the quality that exists in Bellator at 205.

“Taking out the champion the Russian guy (Vadim Nemkov), they currently have five or four athletes, Lyoto Machida who was champion of the UFC is in this division, plus three athletes that fought for world titles in the division and that they were ranked in the top five when Jon Jones was there, who in my opinion is the best pound for pound.”

Romero said he was training for a fight in January prior to the UFC release. The former Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler representing Cuba said he’s still training hard and could be ready to make his Bellator debut in the first quarter of 2021.

“I was training before they released me from the UFC to fight in January, so it was soon,” Romero said. “I’m still with the same training, so I’m ready to fight in February. I’m ready, I’m prepared and I’m happy waiting for big things to come. And for big things to come you need to be hungry and happy. All those top fighters at 205, that’s who we’re aiming for so we can get to the top.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/bellator-yoel-romero-anthony-johnson-90-percent-chance-fight-debut

Anthony Pettis entering final bout of UFC contract: ‘I’ve been on the chopping block for a long time’

It’s possible Anthony Pettis could step into the UFC octagon for the final time on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183.

Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC), a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, will fight the final bout of his contract when he meets Alex Morono (18-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a welterweight matchup at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Showtime” isn’t tying himself to a specific scenario going forward. However, he confirmed his contract is set to expire, and said there’s nothing firm in place as far as a new deal.

“It is my last fight on the UFC contract,” Pettis told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Under my current contract. So we’re in negotiations. Not sure where we’re going from here. My team keeps asking me questions and trying to figure out what’s next, but I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m in such a good spot mentally that I don’t want to fog that vision with what’s next.’ Because if I think about what’s next I’m not in the present moment.”

UFC Fight Night 183 will represent Pettis’ 20th UFC appearance dating back to his promotional debut in June 2011. He spent the two-and-a-half previous years fighting for the Zuffa-owned WEC, so his ties to the promotion go back well over a decade.

The possibility of Saturday being his final octagon walk exists. However, Pettis said he’s not letting any of that consume him. He’s got a fight to win, and that’s the priority.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I feel like whatever’s supposed to happen as far as where I’m going next or if I’m fighting in the UFC again or if I can make another title run, my performance on Saturday will dictate that,” Pettis said. “It’s not something I can control. I can’t go in there and meet with guys and say, ‘I’m going to do this.’ My performances are going to dictate what happens next.”

Although Pettis is doing this best to keep mentally focused on the task at hand, it’s impossible to ignore the reality. UFC president Dana White has confirmed multiple times in recent weeks that the promotion is trimming down on its roster size, and with the likes of Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson already splitting from the company, it’s not impossible to say Pettis could fall into that category.

But that doesn’t put additional pressure on Pettis, he insists. Because, ultimately, if the UFC decides it doesn’t want to do business with him any long, that’s not something within his contract.

“I think that the UFC is a great business,” Pettis said. “I’ve been part of this company for 12 years almost now. I’ve seen every stage of this company and I’ve been on the top of the top when I was getting on Wheaties box and was world champion. I’ve been fighting for my job when I had a three-loss losing streak from Rafael dos Anjos to Eddie Alvarez to Edson Barboza. I’ve been on the chopping block for a long time where if I let that mindset play in, there’s no coming back from that because that’s what you focused on. It’s a blessing for me to have this mindset right now with all the news about cuts and going to different promotions. I don’t feel pressure for that right now.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-fight-night-anthony-pettis-enters-final-fight-contract