Fightful Fix is your one-stop-shop for all of today's biggest combat sports stories — from Conor McGregor leaking the UFC 246 PPV numbers and more — conveniently compiled in one place. Take a look below.
Conor McGregor releases UFC 246 PPV numbers
Former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor sent out a series of tweets leaking documents from the UFC. According to the paperwork, his UFC 246 headlining fight with Donald Cerrone has turned out to be the promotion's biggest of 2020. McGregor released the following image that shows the event did around $1.3 million PPV buys.
Congrats to the @ufc on a well fought 2020! The only sporting company on the planet to come through the entire year! Incredible!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 21, 2020
I am honoured to secure their highest PPV of the year with McGregor Vs Cerrone.
Congrats Donald, and also on his double submission win last night. #No1 pic.twitter.com/Xvh76Gki3U
100% offence. 100% defence.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 21, 2020
Highest PPV. Highest gate.
Fastest Main Event KO of the year.
2020. 40 seconds.
Roll on 2021! #McGregorSportsAndEntertainment pic.twitter.com/C0ueay2R7p
Greg Jackson making push for New Mexico Congressional spot
MMA legend and training icon Greg Jackson will look to utilize his talents in a different place other than combat sports. Jackson announced he will make a run at a House of Representatives seat with the United States Government and representing the state of New Mexico. Jackson spoke with AXIOS's Russell Contreras about his motives behind the decision.
"I'm exploring a run because I care about this community and I feel I can make a difference," Jackson said.
Dana White takes aim at the media
UFC President Dana White has had a delicate relationship with the media for a long timenow. That relationship continued to sour as White posted a video on Twitter mimmicking a Trump campaign ad, criticizing members of the media who doubted the UFC's ability to put on shows in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we roll into 2021, I just wanted to remind everyone there’s ALWAYS a solution to every problem! So, cut through all the bullshit, and don't let these people that don't matter tell you how to live your life. pic.twitter.com/HPMbtojjJx
— danawhite (@danawhite) December 21, 2020
Deiveson Figueiredo believes he defeated Moreno at UFC 256, talks rematch
UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is coming off an instant classic fight with Brandon Moreno in the headlining bout of UFC 256. He talked to MMAFighting's Guilherme Cruz to reflect on the fight with Moreno, why he believes he won every round, and looking ahead to an eventual rematch with the Mexican contender.
“Analyzing every round, I won all rounds,” Figueiredo said in the interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened for them not to give me the [win]. There was that point deduction, but even with a draw in that round I still won all rounds. Now I’ll go back for this rematch and break Moreno so there is no doubt anymore.”
Figueiredo continued on about the potential rematch against Moreno.
“I want this rematch so it leaves no doubt,” Figueiredo said. “I want to be well and show my work. That guy that fought Moreno, that wasn’t me. He can be sure of that. I’ll train hard for him now and it will be a completely different fight.”
Israel Adesanya awarded BJJ purple belt from Andre Galvao
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya continues to add to his game and sharpen up his skillset, recently being awarded his purple belt in jiu-jitsu from BJJ world champion and legend Andre Galvao. The coach spoke with MMAFighting's Guilherme Cruz about promoting the middleweight champ to purple belt status.
“I promoted him to blue belt in 2017, and I would have to promote him to purple this year,” Galvao said. “The fact that he stayed here with us [for five weeks] was great because I could adjust some mistakes and develop his technique. And not only that, he trained with all of my students. That helped him a lot. He had a big improvement; it was almost a mini jiu-jitsu camp here. He said he’ll be more active in jiu-jitsu now, training with the gi — he trains no-gi more often.”
Dos Santos believes he was hit with an illegal strike in loss to Gane at UFC 256
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos continues to protest his second-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 256. Dos Santos released the following video on his Instagram explaining why he believes he was hit with an illegal blow which led to the stoppage.
Daniel Cormier wishes he would've retired after Derrick Lewis fight
Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier said, on ESPN's DC & Helwani about, that he should have retired after his win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 because of the back surgery that followed the victory.
“When I had that back surgery in 2018 after [fighting] Derrick Lewis, it was over… I should have probably stopped. I wasn’t the same guy.”@dc_mma spoke about how back surgery limited his ability to train for his final two fights. pic.twitter.com/NySfLJQNde
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 21, 2020
Michael Bisping critical of Tony Ferguson's antics post UFC 256
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is never one to shy away from speaking his opinions. He recently let his feelings be known on Tony Ferguson following the lightweight contender's most recent loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 256. Bisping said on his show Believe You Me that Ferguson needs to accept that he's declining as a fighter.
“If we know Tony Ferguson, he’’s not the type of guy to sit around and say, ‘Oh, no, no, no, I’m done. I’ve taken too much damage.’ No, he’s gonna say the opposite,” Bisping said (h/t MMANews). “He’s gonna say, ‘No, I’m fine. I got beaten. Maybe there was some mistakes in camp’ or whatever. Tony’s not going to accept that he’s on the decline."
“That’s what fighters do. Fighters never accept that,” Bisping continued. “Fighters need somebody else, a third party to step in: a manager, a loved one, a wife, a coach, a friend, president of the UFC…who knows, we’ve seen that happen many times…to step in and say, ‘Tony, Tony, Tony, you’ve taken a lot of damage these days.’”
Chris Weidman could see UFC release with loss to Uriah Hall at UFC 258
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman knows his upcoming fight with Uriah Hall at UFC 258 on February 13 is an important one. Speaking with MMA journalist James Lynch for Fanatics View, Weidman talked about how he wouldn't be surprised if the promotion released him after a potential defeat to Hall in February.
“I’m not really worried about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Weidman told Lynch (h/t MMAJunkie). “There’s nothing that surprises me. I don’t think I’m more special than anybody to where they’re just gonna go like, ‘Oh, Chris Weidman’s a guy we’re just going to keep forever no matter what.’ If I don’t prove I am a world class fighter and prove that I’m still title challenger ready, then yeah, I can 100 percent see that.”
Bellator signs ACA champion Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
Bellator made some big splashes in free agency in recent weeks, bolstering their light heavyweight division with the additions of former UFC title challengers Anthony Johnson and Yoel Romero. The promotion has continued to add to their 205 roster, recently signing ACA champion Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. The 31-year old is 18-5-1 overall and is currently riding an eight-fight win streak, most recently defeating Aleksei Butorin at ACA 103 by unanimous decision.
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov finishes Batraz Agnaev and becomes ACB Light-Heavyweight Champion!#ACA92 pic.twitter.com/0mjVdfxysu
— ACAMMA (@ACA_League) February 8, 2019
Marcin Tybura thanks supporters after Greg Hardy win
UFC heavyweight Marcin Tybura quietly had one of the best years of any fighter in 2020, going 4-0 and most recently defeating Greg Hardy by a second-round TKO at UFC Vegas 17. Tybura made a series of posts to his Instagram thanking his supporters and team on what was an excellent year for the veteran.
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