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Statement from @SenFeinstein of California re #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/hXAlMpIAEf

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) April 9, 2020 A prominent U.S. Senator is calling for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to reconsider holding its upcoming UFC 249 card.

On Thursday, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California sent out a press release requesting the UFC to delay UFC 249. The event is scheduled to take place on April 18, and reports are indicating that it will be held at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif. Yahoo Sports was first to report on the release.

Feinstein’s statement reads as follows:

“I’m concerned by reports that Ultimate Fighting Championship plans to hold a pay-per-view event in California, in defiance of the state’s shelter-in-place order. This event would involve dozens of individuals flying to California and driving to a casino for a purpose no one can honestly claim is essential.

“I understand this event is s…

Not surprisingly, so much movement in terms of fights right now. Very little staying as planned. Chris Weidman is looking for a new opponent on 5/2, Overeem - Harris looking like it’s getting moved 5/16, Dern - Cifers on 4/25, Cejudo-Cruz ... so many moving parts. Wild times.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 9, 2020 One Ultimate Fighting Championship fight scuttled on Thursday has already seen a replacement step up.

On Thursday, reports came out that multiple Brazilian fighters would no longer be able to compete at U.S.-based UFC cards due to visa restrictions. One such matchup that fell off was a bout between Mackenzie Dern (7-1) and Ariane Carnelossi. The latter unable to travel to the U.S. for the April 25 UFC Fight Night card, ESPN first reported that Hannah Cifers (10-4) will be taking the bout on short notice. It is presumed the two will meet at strawweight.

Dern is looking to bounce back from her first career defea…

Não é só José Aldo: dificuldade para obter visto tira 14 brasileiros dos próximos eventos do UFC | combate | Globoesporte https://t.co/2TKYPTI6sG com @AnaHissa e @marbarone

— Raphael Marinho (@raphamarinho) April 9, 2020 The implications of the coronavirus stretch far beyond the actual illness itself, as a multitude of upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship matchups are now off the table.

On Thursday, Combate reported that Jose Aldo would no longer be able to compete at UFC 250 due to visa issues. The event was previously scheduled to take place at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but the card was forcibly relocated when the arena was converted into a hospital.

It has since been reported that UFC 250would move to the United States, and a potential destination is the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, Calif. Providing UFC 250, and several other announced events, are being relocated to the U.S., a plethora of Brazilian…

RIP Isaiah Chapman pic.twitter.com/3oIiqldqVU

— Rich Chou (@rich_chou) April 8, 2020

Former Bellator MMA and World Series of Fighting competitor Isaiah Chapman is dead at the age of 30.

Bellator matchmaker Rich Chou brought word of Chapman’s death on Twitter. According to Ohio-based MMA journalist David McKinney, Chapman was shot and killed outside his Akron home on April 7. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Chapman’s funeral expenses and to provide aid for his three children.

A native of Barberton, Ohio, Chapman last fought at Bellator 232, where he was submitted in the opening round by top bantamweight prospect Patrick Mix in the first round this past October. “The Beast” also appeared one under the WSOF banner in September 2014, dropping a unanimous verdict to Timur Valiev. Chapman was 9-4 as a professional overall.

The statement on Chapman’s GoFundMe page is as follows:

On April 7th, 2020 Isaiah “The …

Rose Namajunas’ long-awaited Octagon return won’t happen at UFC 249.

Just days after the promotion announced a 12-bout card for the event that included the original co-headliner between Namajunas and Jessica Andrade, the former strawweight champion has withdrawn from the event. Combate was first to report the news. The reason behind Namajunas' exit is currently unknown.

UFC 249 takes place on April 18 and is headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. While a location for the event has yet to be officially confirmed by the UFC, it will reportedly take place Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Leemore, Calif. The promotion is currently seeking a replacement opponent for Andrade.

Namajunas hasn’t competed since relinquishing the 115-pound belt to Andrade at UFC 237 in May 2019. “Thug” Rose contemplated retirement after the slam KO defeat but ultimately elected to resume her MMA career. Namajunas owns an 8-4 career mark that i…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urReflS-2SI&w=560&h=315]

Count veteran commentator Joe Rogan among those who is looking forward to the new UFC 249 main event.

On Monday, the promotion announced that Justin Gaethje would step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov and face Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight crown on April 18. Nurmagomedov was unable to leave Russia due to travel restrictions imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the sport’s most notorious action fighters, Gaethje enters the matchup on riding the momentum of consecutive first-round KO/TKO wins over James Vick, Edson Barboza and Donald Cerrone.

“Justin Gaethje is a monster,” Rogan said on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. “He is a terrifying individual. In a sport that’s violent — it’s an inherently violent sport — he stands out as the most violent.

“You watch his knockout of Edson Barboza. You watch how that motherf—er attacks people. There’s a reckless abandon to his calculate…

Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

A middleweight clash pitting Marvin Vettori against Karl Roberson has been added to the UFC Fight Night 173 lineup.

Roberson confirmed the pairing on social media following an initial report from MMAFighting.com. UFC Fight Night 173 takes place on April 25 and is expected to be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira.

Vettori was scheduled to face Darren Stewart at UFC Fight Night 170 in London on March 21, but that card was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The Italian Dream” went 2-0 in 2019, posting decision triumphs over Andrew Sanchez and Cezar Ferreira.

Roberson, meanwhile, was booked against Makhmud Muradov at UFC 249, but travel restrictions for Muradov resulted in the cancellation of that contest. “Baby K” has been victorious in three of his last four Octagon appearances.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will reportedly be heading to tribal land for its upcoming UFC 249 pay-per-view event.

According to the New York Times, the Las Vegas-based promotion will hold the April 18 card at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Leemore, Calif. The venue was initially reported by Sherdog.com founder and veteran MMA journalist Jeff Sherwood.

Tachi Palace Casino is located on land belonging to the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, which means that the UFC will not be subject to the state government mandated stay-at-home order due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It also allows the promotion to circumvent the California State Athletic Commission’s ban on combat sports events that runs through May. Tachi Palace Casino closed on March 20.

“The commission echoes the guidance of California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Department of Public Health, local health officials, and the recommendations of the Association of Ringside Physicians regarding the cancellation of even…

14 years oldme ,and myopponent of 25 yearsold One of the first professionalfights in my martial arts carrier! It took place in Oman.That time female fights in Muslimcountries was kind of rare)They tried force me to put on the helmet, but having my rebel character- I refused pic.twitter.com/Dn5y9piKf6

— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) April 7, 2020

Valentina Shevchenko is the quintessential definition of a lifelong martial artist.

The reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion recently shared a video of herself at 14 years old squaring off against a 25-year-old opponent in what appears to be a kickboxing match. Shevchenko is not wearing headgear in the contest, but she nonetheless gets her hand raised at the end of the bout.

“14 years old me, and my opponent of 25 years old,” Shevchenko wrote on Twitter. “One of the first professional fights in my martial arts [career]! It took place in Oman. That time female fights in Musl…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrlXgLDBi_4&w=560&h=315]

The MMA media has once again drawn the ire of UFC president Dana White, this time for reporting on a statement made by veteran commentator Joe Rogan during a recent podcast.

Rogan, who usually calls the UFC’s pay-per-view events, said recently on “The Joe Rogan Experience” that he didn’t plan on being part of the broadcast team for the promotion’s upcoming card on April 18, seemingly due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

“The UFC is talking about putting on a fight on April 18. I don’t know how they’re gonna do that. I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to do it in the United States. They’re talking about doing it in a place with less than 10 people. Just an open arena,” he said.

“I guess someone’s going to commentate it – it’s not gonna be me.”

That was before the promotion unveiled a full card for UFC 249. While the location hasn’t been announced, it appears as though it’s goi…

STRAP IN. #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/jXPNYAjX3h

— UFC (@ufc) April 6, 2020

UFC 249 officially has its new main event, as the promotion announced Monday that Tony Ferguson will square off against Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship.

“The fight is signed and is 100 [percent] on live ESPN somewhere on Earth,” UFC president Dana White wrote on social media.

According to ESPN, the Las Vegas-based organization is close to finalizing a venue on the West Coast of the United States. Ferguson was initially slated to face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249, but the reigning lightweight champion remains stranded in Russia due to travel restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. It is the fifth time a matchup between Ferguson and Nurmagomedov has been canceled.

Ferguson previously fought for interim gold at UFC 216, where he submitted Kevin Lee in the third round of their encounter in October 2017. “El C…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7xxJN4Tzg&w=560&h=315]

It was not a successful weekend for Ultimate Fighting Championship veterans in the sports entertainment realm.

Former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar relinquished his WWE heavyweight title to Drew McIntyre in the Wrestlemania 36 main event on Sunday night at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla. The match was taped at the venue ahead of time and didn’t have any fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight king, has consistently been one of the biggest stars in the WWE. The former NCAA championship wrestler flirted with a return to the Octagon to face Daniel Cormier but ultimately elected to return to the WWE.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MioWKP7ipWY&w=560&h=315]

Meanwhile, “The Ultimate Fighter 18” cast member Shayna Baszler was defeated by Becky Lynch in a match for the WWE Raw women’s championship in a taped bout that aired on Satur…

One Championship will not go forward with its plan to hold a series of closed-door, audience free events this month due to ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

One CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the news in a post on his Facebook account Sunday, citing a partial lockdown in the promotion’s home base of Singapore as well as additional travel restrictions in nearby countries.

“Unfortunately, One Championship will have to postpone its closed-door, audience-free events for April due to new COVID-19 restriction,” Sityodtong wrote. “To extinguish the recent growth of the coronavirus, the Singapore government has just wisely ordered a partial lockdown of the country, whereby effective tomorrow (April 7) onwards, only essential services (such as food, healthcare, and transportation) are allowed to operate. Additionally, major countries (China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Russia, India, Vietnam, Japan, etc) have temporarily closed their borders.”

Last…

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt sees his future at 125 pounds.

“No Love” is currently on a three-bout skid and hasn’t competed in the Octagon since a first-round TKO loss against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 in March 2019. He was expected to return against Raphael Assuncao in a 135-pound bout at UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28, but pulled out before the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ohio native is confident that cutting to flyweight won’t be an issue in the long run.

“I never really cut weight at [135],” Garbrandt recently told ESPN. “I’m looking at going to [125]. That’s what I want to do. I’m young. I can do it. I walk around at 145 pounds. Sometimes after sparring sessions 142, 143. I’m still strong, fast before my weight cut, and I feel I can keep that at [125]. That’s the plan. We spoke about doing this.”

While his long-term plans seem to be at 125 pounds, Garbrandt first wants to see his fight with Assuncao rescheduled.…

UFC president Dana White has been named in a lawsuit as the alleged prominent Las Vegas businessman victimized by a $200,000 sex-tape extortion, according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

In a lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court on Friday, Ernesto Joshua Ramos accused White of breaking an agreement made in April 2016 to pay him $450,000 for not naming the UFC boss in a criminal extortion case. Ramos pleaded guilty to the federal extortion scheme and served 366 days in jail as result.

“I just found out that a bulls—t lawsuit was filed against me yesterday,” White said in a statement provided to the Review-Journal. “This guy went to federal prison for trying to extort me over five years ago. Now he’s hired a lawyer who is also a convicted felon, and he’s trying to extort me again for $10 million. He got no money from me last time and he won’t be getting any money from me this time. I look forward to the court dismissing this quickly so I can get rid o…

With the highly-anticipated Khabib Nurmagomedov-Tony Ferguson clash likely to be canceled for a fifth time, Tyron Woodley is offering his services to help save UFC 249.

The former welterweight champion revealed on Twitter that he has given his management permission to pursue a spot on the April 18 card. Woodley has targeted longtime rival Colby Covington as a potential opponent.

Just wanted you guys to know I'm in for #UFC249 I gave my management team executive permission to make it happen. Im training like a machine & ready to walk through someone! @uFC what's the word? Colby in or not? Are you guys going to pull the trigger on this its 2wks away?

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) April 4, 2020

Woodley was supposed to face Leon Edwards in the UFC London main event on March 21, but that card was postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The promotion is still planning to hold UFC 249, but a venue and location for the event h…

"They want to get back. They gotta get back. They can't do this. Their sports weren't designed for it. The whole concept of our nation wasn't designed for it."

President Trump on today's conversation with various sports executives.

(: @atrupar) pic.twitter.com/mgy3O053nn— Front Office Sports (@frntofficesport) April 4, 2020

Dana White was among 12 major sports commissioners and executives to participate in a conference call with United States President Donald Trump on Saturday.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke by telephone with commissioners of major league sports to discuss the all-of-America response to COVID-19,” read a statement from the White House. “The President recognized the good work being done by many teams and players to care for their communities, workforces and fan bases across the nation. The commissioners thanked president Trump for his national leadership and for his interest in the sports industry…

"He never can do nothing with me. Inside the cage, he is zero. When we fought, what did he do? He did zero."@TeamKhabib questions "fake" Conor McGregor saying he is in fighting shape. (via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/DxhX7qINfb

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 3, 2020 Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov is sick of the MMA community attacking him for the UFC 249 headliner cancellation.

Nurmagomedov first wrote a statement on Wednesday expressing his frustrations about his UFC 249 match with Tony Ferguson being scuttled. He explained that he was “staying home in quarantine” while regretting that he “can’t control it all.”

Later that day, Ferguson harshly criticized the champ on ESPN, claiming that Nurmagomedov was not only “scared” and “running,” but that the title should be stripped from Nurmagomedov. Not to be outdone, on Thursday, Conor McGregor entered the fray by posting on Twitter that Nurmagome…

If it were up to One Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, there would be some superfights once MMA gets back on track.

On Thursday evening, Sityodtong held a Facebook Live Q&A session answering questions from fans. Over the course of around 40 minutes, he was posed questions about free agents as well as his version of “The Apprentice.” However, the question that brought the most significant response was one about co-promotion, along with the dream matchups he would put together if he could.

To do so, he acknowledged that the Ultimate Fighting Championship would likely balk at such a request. This did not discourage him, as he said, “I would definitely like to see the best of the East vs the best of the West. UFC vs ONE Championship I think would be phenomenal, I think the whole entire world would watch it. And I’d love to see world champions vs world champions so definitely, for sure, I’m open to it.”

Sityodtong bolstered his interest in potenti…

California has canceled all combat sports events until June, per the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs. Full story coming to @espn.

— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 2, 2020 The coronavirus has made one state take wide-sweeping action, forcing all California combat sports events to shut down until June.

According to ESPN on Thursday, the California Department of Consumer Affairs has shuttered every event pertaining to combat sports for the next two months. This includes boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, grappling and MMA, and the ban will be in effect until June. The Department will revisit the ban in the future and make a later decision on if it needs to be extended, as it observes the fallout from the coronavirus.

On the California State Athletic Commission event schedule, 22 cards will no longer proceed forward, and most notably this will impact UFC San Diego. That event is slated to take place at Pechanga Arena in San…

The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell. With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony’s favour. Khab scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk.Congrats Tony.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 2, 2020 Tony Ferguson is not the only Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter upset by the headliner of UFC 249 changing.

On Thursday morning, Conor McGregor posted on Twitter to dig into Khabib Nurmagomedov for withdrawing from the April 18 card. Nurmagomedov officially pulled out of the fight on Wednesday, although it was expected earlier in the week that the fight would not take place as planned.

McGregor wrote, “The fact of the matter is, both Tony and Khabib [were] engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell. With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony’s favour. Khab scurr…

If Tony Ferguson had his way, the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title would be vacant now.

Ferguson appeared on SportsCenter on ESPN on Wednesday night, where he ripped into Khabib Nurmagomedov’s decision to pull out of their UFC 249 matchup. In his interview with Ariel Helwani, he claimed that Nurmagomedov was “scared” and “running” and that the champ should be stripped of his title.

On Monday, Ferguson previously wrote on social media that he was willing to face “The Eagle” at any location, regardless of any travel bans that may prevent their meeting. He said that he did not want the Russian to back out of their contest, and when Nurmagomedov did do exactly that, Ferguson laced into him.

The appearance for “El Cucuy” on SportsCenter was preceded by Nurmagomedov’s post on Instagram where the latter officially announced his withdrawal from the April 18 event. Nurmagomedov explained that he was home in quarantine, and that he was “definitely upset more than…

Per sources, UFC has been working with fighters scheduled to compete on the canceled UFC London card on March 21 in terms of compensation, including headliner Leon Edwards, who almost flew to the US at the last minute in an effort to keep his fight together.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 2, 2020 The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been trying to make it up to fighters after the UFC London card was scratched earlier in March.

MMA Junkie first reported on Wednesday that multiple UFC London competitors have been paid by the promotion. Fighters including Marvin Vettori, Nicolas Dalby and Kevin Holland have all posted on their respective social media accounts that the UFC has paid them at least some amount for their time. UFC London was set to take place on March 21 at the O2 Arena in London, but was scrapped on March 16 due to the coronavirus.

Although the UFC briefly attempted to relocate the event from London to …

Dustin Poirier and the Ultimate Fighting Championship seem to have differing views regarding the promotion’s upcoming schedule during the coronavirus pandemic.

Once word got out that Khabib Nurmagomedov would be unable to leave Russia to compete at UFC 249 due to travel restrictions in the country, Dustin Poirier quickly offered to step in against Tony Ferguson on April 18.

I just threw it out there….that I’m open,” Poirier told ESPN. “I’m not out here begging for fights, but if they need somebody and nobody’s taking it at 155 or nobody’s ready, then I’ll do it. Any chance I get on a big fight like that, I’m always down.”

Poirier is currently supposed to face Dan Hooker in the UFC Fight Night 175 headliner in San Diego on May 16. According to Poirier, promotion officials told him to keep getting ready for that bout.

“They told me keep preparing for what I’m supposed to be preparing for, and they’ll let me know what’s going on. That’s it,” Poirier said. “The…