Bellator new-boy Anthony "Rumble Johnson" will compete against reigning heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at SUG 19 — Fightful has the story on Rumble's return and all the recently announced fights all in one convenient article.
For full details of each fight upcoming in MMA, please check out our events section!
Ryan Bader rematches against Anthony Johnson in short-notice SUG contest
Bader will step up and face Johnson in a grappling contest at Submission Underground 19. Bader will replace Fabricio Werdum. The pair have actually met before in a professional MMA bout when "Rumble" knocked out Bader in 2016. This may not be the only time we see these fighters square-off as they now both fight with Bellator. Bader lost his light-heavyweight championship to Vadim Nemkov but still holds the heavyweight championship and Rumble has teased his interest in competing at that weight class.
Bader steps in to face RUMBLE on 5 days notice!
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) December 15, 2020
SUG ISLAND is real and coming this Sunday only on @ufcfightpas pic.twitter.com/4SPH4wZNbJ
Kayla Harrison rematch against Jozette Cotton off
Reigning PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison's fight vs. Jozette Cotton has been called off due to Cotton being sent to the hospital from trying to make weight as reported by MyMMANews.com. Harrison and Cotton faced one another in 2018 for PFL, with Harrison winning by TKO in the second round. Cotton has had to pull out from the fight as she was hospitalized from trying to make the weight.
BREAKING: Kayla Harrison will not be fighting tomorrow at #TitanFC66. Kayla successfully made weight for the event, but her opponent Jozette Cotton was hospitalized after a failed weight cut. I am told Cotton weighed more than 180-pounds for the 155-pound bout.
— Eric Kowal - MyMMANews.com (@MyMMANews) December 16, 2020
Khalil Rountree and Marcin Prachnio added to UFC 257
Khalil Rountree and Marcin Prachnio have been added to the UFC 257 card headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier. Rountree was last in the Octagon when he lost to Ion Cutelaba by TKO in the first round. Prachnio has been 0-3 in the UFC with losses to Sam Alvey, Magomed Ankalaev, and Mike Rodriguez. Both fighters will be eager for a win with the UFC preparing to cut up to 60 fighters.
Muslim Salikhov withdraws from fight vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Muslim Salikhov announced on his Instagram he has been forced to withdraw from his fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio due to health issues that arose after contracting COVID-19 in September. The pair were due to compete on UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Kattar card and it remains uncertain whether the promotion will reschedule the fight for a later date or search for a replacement to fight the Argentinean, who hasn't fought since defeating Neil Magny in 2018.
Dhiego Lima vs. Belal Muhammad off UFC Vegas 17 due to positive COVID-19 test
COVID-19 has struck again, this time postponing Dhiego Lima and Belal Muhammad which was due to take place at UFC Vegas 17 but has now been canceled due to Muhammad revealing he has tested positive for coronavirus. MMA Fighting reports that the fight is being aimed to take place now on Fight Island in January.
Woke up yesterday feeling like crap got tested and i was positive for covid sucks but I’ll be back
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 15, 2020
Matt Schnell and Tyson Nam has been rescheduled once more
Matt Schnell and Tyson Nam will have to wait a bit longer to face each other as the bout has been rescheduled for the second time. The fight originally was due to take place at UFC Vegas 17 on Dec. 19, the pair are now expected to square off at UFC Fight Night on Wednesday, Jan. 20 as per MMA Junkie. The fight was scheduled for UFC on ESPN+ 35 in September but, one day before the event, Schnell collapsed during his weight cut and the fight was scrapped.
Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews reported to-be set for UFC 259
MMA Fighting reports that Sean Brady and Jake Matthews will be added to the UFC 259 card. The card has yet to be announced fully and a location and venue TBA. The fight will take place at welterweight, with Bardy looking to keep up his 3-0 run in the UFC, as well as being 13-0 as a professional. Matthews is coming off of wins over Emil Meek and veteran Diego Sanchez in 2020.
RIZIN 26 adds four fights to its card
Rizin announced in a press conference that its New Year's Eve card has had 3 MMA and 1 kickboxing fights added to its event: Mikuru Asakura vs. Satoshi “Dominator” Yamasu, Taiyo Nakahara vs. Kazuma Kuramoto, and Kyle Aguon vs. Kleber Koike Erbst, all under MMA rules. In kickboxing, Nadaka Yoshinari will face Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit.
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