Fightful Fix is your one-stop-shop for all of today's biggest combat sports stories — from "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung calling out Zabit Magomedsharipov to Michael Chandler starting camp for his UFC debut — conveniently compiled in one place. Take a look below.
Korean Zombie wants Zabit Magomedsharipov
Chan Sung Jung is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to Brian Ortega back at UFC Fight Island 6 on October 17th. But his sights are still set on the top of the UFC's featherweight division, telling MMAJunkie's Nolan King that he wants to face Zabit Magomedsharipov next.
“I want Zabit (Magomedsharipov),” Jung said. “That’s the fight that’s going to get me closest to a title shot. More than that, I want to once again try to prove myself against one of the hottest fighters in the division and prove that I’m still capable of competing at the highest level. Of course, I would understand if he doesn’t want to fight me.”
“This is a fight that would bring the fans to their feet,” Jung continued. “[He] and I are both entertainers and extremely competitive, so I think he’d like to step in the octagon with me. A win for both of us would mean a lot for our careers, and it would be an amazing match. The ball is in Zabit’s court; I want this fight to kick off 2021.”
Charles Oliveira believes win over Ferguson at UFC 256 makes him top contender at lightweight
Charles Oliveira vs. Tony Ferguson is one of the biggest fights left on the UFC's slate for 2020. 'Do Bronx' chatted with MMAFighting's Guilherme Cruz about the matchup with Ferguson and why a win would earn him a title shot.
“It’s very clear: Whoever wins this fight is the next title contender,” Oliveira said. “I have to stay focused and concentrated. He was coming off 12 wins in a row and I think he made a mistake against Justin Gaethje, so we can’t make mistakes in there.”
“Winning this fight I’ll be the next challenger, no doubt,” he said. “Seven wins in a row at the moment. It will be eight after this, and I don’t plan on leaving it in the judges’ hands. It will be eight finishes in a row. There’s no way I have to wait. I’m the next challenger.”
Michael Chandler begins fight camp for his UFC debut
Michael Chandler's UFC debut looks to be right around the corner. The former Bellator lightweight champion took to his personal Instagram to post the following.
Kayla Harrison wants anyone for Titan FC return
Former two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated prospect Kayla Harrison is having some problems finding an opponent for her return to the Titan FC promotion on December 18. She posted a tweet issuing an open challenge to anyone to fight her at a catchweight of 150 pounds.
If anyone wants to fight me on December 18th @TitanFighting at a catch weight of 150lbs please please contact @AliAbdelaziz00 !
— Kayla Harrison (@KaylaH) November 30, 2020
Brandon Moreno not afraid of Figueiredo ahead of UFC 256 clash
Brandon Moreno is confident heading into his flyweight title bout at UFC 256 against champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Moreno spoke to MMAJunkie's Danny Segura on his podcast Hablemos MMA about the showdown and how plans on showing no respect to the current flyweight king.
“Alex Perez did what he could, and he actually was doing OK until he got submitted," the flyweight contender said. "I expect this to be a hard fight, but I know what I’m getting myself into. I know what’s ahead. I know how big it is to be a UFC champion. Deiveson is not the champion for no reason, but I promise you that I have zero fear and I promise I’m not going out there to respect him at all.”
“I’m more technical, I have more tools and I’m a lot quicker than him,” he added. “The only thing you can say about Deiveson is that he’s a one-shot fighter, so I have to make that my advantage. I know that he can surprise. I know that he has a lot of tools, good elbows, good kicks. but I have a lot more speed than him and that’s going to be my advantage against him.”
Ignacio Bahamondes to drop to 155
Ignacio Bahamondes secured a viral front kick KO over Edson Gomez at Dana White's Contender Series 34. Bahamondes fought the contest at 170 pounds but told MMAJunkie's Danny Segura on his podcast Hablemos MMA that he plans on dropping to 155 for his UFC debut.
“We don’t have an exact date, but we hear of maybe fighting in February. So that’s what’s most likely, toward the end of February,” Bahamondes said in Spanish on Monday’s episode. “We just need to find an opponent and do a few tests to see what weight class we’ll compete at, but I think most likely we’ll end up at 155, the lightweight division.”
Take another look --
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2020
---- @JaulaBahamondes delivers with absolute style!
[ LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/OIeoi4aikp
Francisco Figueiredo signs with UFC, talks about competing with brother Deiveson
Francisco Figueiredo will join his brother UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, after signing with the promotion to compete in the same division. The younger Figueiredo chatted with AgFight's Carlos Antunes about the signing.
“It was a dream come true, not only for me but for my family and my grandfather, who passed away. He was always confident and that one day I would arrive. He called me and asked when I was going to fight. He wanted to know when I was going to fight and he gave me a lot of strength. I knew it was going to come at the right time, so I wouldn’t get discouraged to keep training. Everyone in my family gives me a lot of strength. I knew my time was coming,” Figueiredo said (h/t BJPenn.com).
UFC Vegas 15 Medical Suspensions
Seven fighters from the UFC's most recent outing UFC Vegas 15 all are facing potential medical suspensions. Rachel Ostovich, Takashi Sato, and Parker Porter lead the names facing six-month suspensions. The suspensions were released by mixedmartialarts.com on Tuesday.
Takashi Sato: Must have left orbital fracture cleared by OMF or ENT doctor, or a plastic surgeon, or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contest until Jan. 13, no contact until Dec. 29
Parker Porter: Must have left hand X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contest until Dec. 29, no contact until Dec. 20
Josh Parisian: Suspended until Jan. 28, no contact until Jan. 13
Bill Algeo: Must have left hand X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contact until Dec. 11
Spike Carlyle: Suspended until Dec, 29, no contact until Dec. 20
Norma Dumont: Must have right hand X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contact until Dec. 11
Ashlee Evans-Smith: Must have left hand X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contest until Jan. 13, no contact until Dec. 29 due to nasal laceration
Jonathan Pearce: Must have right foot X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contest until Dec. 29, no contact until Dec. 20
Kai Kamaka III: Suspended until Jan. 13, no contact until Dec. 29
Gina Mazany: Suspended until Dec. 13, no contact until Dec. 6
Rachael Ostovich: Must have right hand X-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until May 28; minimum suspension no contest until Dec. 29, no contact until Dec. 20
Malcolm Gordon: Suspended until Jan. 28, no contact until Jan. 13
Luke Sanders: Suspended until Dec. 29, no contact until Dec. 20 for upper lip laceration (h/t MMAFighting)
'UF-Sea' parody turns into good cause
Comedian John Oliver's criticism and parody of the UFC's promotion of Fight Island in Abu Dhabi has turned into a positive. Sales of a t-shirt that was inspired by Oliver's commentary and then trademarked by Dana White, raised $11,000 for the 14th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Gala. The event was promoted by The Bob Woodruff Foundation to help veterans financially. CEO of the foundation Anne Marie Dougherty said the following about the success of the t-shirt sales and event.
‘It’s so great to see two long-time supporters of the veteran community come together in unlikely ways,” stated Bob Woodruff Foundation CEO Anne Marie Dougherty in the release. “John Oliver has been a huge supporter of the Bob Woodruff Foundation over the years and now, thanks to some good-natured sparring with Dana White, the ‘UF – SEA’ t-shirt has helped raise critical funds to support our veterans at a time when they need it the most” (h/t MMAFighting).
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