A daily roundup of all the news in the combat sports world from Khabib Nurmagomedov wanting $100 million to return to the UFC, early odds for Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul, and more!
Fightful Fix is your one-stop-shop for all of today’s biggest combat sports stories — from Khabib Nurmagomedov naming his asking price for his UFC return to Evander Holyfield being optimistic about a Tyson trilogy fight — conveniently compiled in one place. Take a look below.
Khabib lists the asking price for UFC return
Undisputed lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov remains in the headlines, as speculation continues around his potential return to the Octagon. According to Marca, the undefeated current UFC lightweight champion said the following about what it would take financially for him to end his retirement.
“If you decide to finish, finish,” said Khabib (h/t talkSPORT). “But the most likely thing is that Dana offers me money. If, for example, it’s 100 million dollars, it would be hard to make a decision. We’ll see what he’s thinking. I think it’s something that will follow me until the end of my life.”
Henry Cejudo challenges Jake Paul
Ever since going viral from knocking out former NBA player Nate Robinson, YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul has had no shortage of call-outs. Most recently in the form of former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejduo, who posted the following on his Twitter.
Yo @jakepaul since you really think your a legit fighter by beating up on retired NBA D lister’s who really deserves a academy award for best fall. How about we fight and if I can’t stop you I’ll give all money to charity of your choice. #dontbescaredhomie — — pic.twitter.com/cLXKxLtNuY
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) December 6, 2020
Danielle Nickerson, Mike Perry’s ex-wife, raising awareness for Domestic Violence
Danielle Nickerson the ex-wife of UFC welterweight Mike Perry, accused Perry back in October of domestic violence while speaking with MMAJunkie’s Simon Samano. She now recently sat down with Bloody Elbow‘s Alexandra Scaffidi about some of the backlash she has received for opening up about her experiences with Perry.
“Overall, since the video of me explaining what happened came out I would say the response was 95 percent positive and only five-percent negative,” Nickerson explained. “Prior to that, when I just posted the photo saying I was ready to speak out about it I would have said the exact opposite response, 95 percent negative and only five-percent positive.”
Francis Ngannou frustrated waiting for title shot
Francis Ngannou is becoming impatient and frustrated while waiting on his rematch with current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic He spoke recently on the difficulties of the process and how it’s even hurt his motivation as of late.
“It’s been a lifetime [since I last fought],” Ngannou told MMAFighting. “It’s still kind of like frustrating even though I’m trying to take it out of my mind knowing that I can’t do nothing to change it. Even before fighting in May, I’ve been through this same story, this same situation and it got me ready to face it again. I was waiting for Stipe and D.C., who was in August and obviously I was expecting something in December. That’s why after their fight, I just came back from Cameroon expecting maybe sometime in December because it’s four months away, or maybe January at the latest, I might have a fight.”
“Obviously, now I don’t know,” he continued. “What I know, they just said March but it’s not official. Who knows. Who knows how that will play out.”
Floyd Mayweather opens up as an enormous favorite over Logan Paul
To no surprise to anyone, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has opened up as an enormous favorite over YouTuber Logan Paul ahead of their February 20 exhibition match. BetOnline.ag has the initial odds for the bout listed and “Money” is currently sitting at a -5000 favorite.
Evander Holyfield hopeful for Tyson Trilogy
After the recent success of Mike Tyson’s recent bout with Roy Jones Jr, it looks like he already has another suitor lined up for his next outing. Former undisputed heavyweight champion and Tyson rival Evander Holyfield spoke to TMZ Sports and seems optimistic about getting a third fight with “Iron Mike.”
“We’ve definitely had conversations with them. It looks like it’s going to happen,” Holyfield said (h/t BJPenn.com). “Let’s do it, baby. Simple as that. Let’s do it.”
TUF 18 contestant Rafael de Freitas charged with criminal sexual penetration
In a disturbing story, former TUF 18 contestant Rafael de Freitas has been arrested and charged with third-degree criminal sexual penetration. As first reported by Matthew Reisen of the Albuquerque Journal de Freitas was arrested after one of his clients accuses him of drugging and raping her during a private Jiu-Jitsu lesson.
Per the criminal complaint, the woman claimed Freitas drugged her during the lesson on Nov. 7 at her house (h/t MMAFighting). The woman turned over to police a video from a home security camera that captured the lesson and the alleged assault. The detective investigating the case watched the video and claimed Freitas “possibly” put something in the woman’s drink and, after she passed out, forced oral sex on her and used her apparently limp hand to masturbate him.
“Suga” Sean O’Malley says Thomas Almeida turned down UFC 258 offer
An exciting bantamweight tilt between Sean O’Malley and Thomas Almeida that was apparently planned for UFC 258 on February 13 has been canceled. At least according to one of the two fighters in the matchup. O’Malley spoke on his show “The Sugar Show” about Almeida’s decision to not take the fight.
“I was supposed to be fighting Feb. 13 against—I didn’t say it, because I didn’t know,” O’Malley said (h/t MMAFighting). “I got offered Thomas Almeida. He turned it down, he said my right hand was too powerful or something along those lines of COVID or something, so he turned the fight down. Good decision on his part, would have been a nasty KO.”
Dana White on recent COVID cancellations
UFC President Dana White spoke with reporters after this weekend’s UFC Vegas 16 event and was asked about how COVID-19 has affected recent events.
“Who knows?” White said (h/t MMAFighting). “I have no idea; the COVID thing is more rampant now. Another friend that I talked to today, who lives on an island in Alaska, somewhere where they have a population of 4,000 people, over 40 people have COVID there now, and it’s like a big, huge deal.”
“This stuff is definitely spreading,” he continued. “When we were first going through this stuff, I didn’t know anybody that had it, and then, you know, one employee came up with it and got through it quick. But personally, somebody that I was friends with hadn’t had it yet, and now everyone’s got it, you know what I mean?”
Bellator commentators weigh-in on potential Yoel Romero signing
After the UFC’s surprising release of former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero, it’s not taking long for people to speculate where he may end up next. Bellator commentators Josh Thomson and John McCarthy talked about Romero potentially signing with the promotion on their podcast “Weighing In” and both sounded a little hesitant about the idea.
“It’s an age thing, it really is,” Thomson said on Sunday’s episode of the podcast. (h/t MMAJunkie). “He’s 43-years-old. They (UFC) know that he’s not going to be champion.”
“Biologically, he’s 43, but he might be older than that,” McCarthy said. “So he might even be older than 43, but you look at what he really is and you look at his body, and that dude is like 32 years old. He’s a stud. He’s made out of a different material than 99.9 percent of us.”
Jordan Leavitt talks Slam KO of Matt Wiman at UFC Vegas 16
Dana White’s Contender Series alum lightweight Jordan Leavitt picked up a highlight-reel knockout via a slam over longtime veteran Matt Wiman at this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 16 event. He spoke to the media after the event and talked about the viral KO over Wiman.
“If you slam somebody, they can turn like a cat and predict where they fall,” Leavitt said (h/t MMAFighting). “Me grabbing onto him and slamming him allows me to hold on, allows me to know exactly where his head is going to bounce, or not bounce.”
Jordan Leavitt with the SLAM FINISH —@jojo_monkeyking ends it 20 seconds in at #UFCVegas16
—— Live on TSN 3/5 & RDS 2 pic.twitter.com/qlVXCAUh71
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) December 6, 2020
UFC cuts four more fighters
The release of middleweight Yoel Romero seemed to be an indicator of things to come and the UFC looks to be starting a series of cuts. MMAJunkie’s Nolan King reported that the promotion has parted ways with Collin Huckbody, Justin Ledet, Bevon Lewis, and Jussier Formiga. No other cuts or releases have been made available at this time.
Boxer Viviane Obenauf arrested
Former Brazilian pro boxer Viviane Obenauf has been arrested in Switzerland on suspicion that she beat her 61-year old husband to death. First reported by Globo, Obenauf is a former WBF International lightweight and WBA international super featherweight champion.
Globo reported that the victim died at a residence he shared with Obenauf and that an investigation determined he had died of a “sustained violent assault” (h/t BloodyElbow). The victim’s death was ruled as a result of “serious injuries” caused by a blunt object.
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