1 Cerrone on hold for UFC title shot

Lightweight contender Donald Cerrone has been informed by the UFC he’ll finally get his title shot – but he’ll have to wait for it. The Jackson-Wink MMA gunslinger was keen to add to the outstanding eight-fight win streak that’s seen him rocket up the rankings towards a rematch with UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, who is the last man to beat him.

However, Zuffa hierarchy forced ‘Cowboy’ to take a break from fighting until the champion returns from a knee injury and is ready to defend the belt. Never one to miss an opportunity, Cerrone hit the road with a bunch of big boys’ toys loaded onto the back of his truck and was last seen headed for Mexico.

FO SCORE: As much as we’d all enjoy watching Cerrone fight every week, it’s good news the UFC has finally reined him in. A loss would ruin a perfectly good rematch between the two leading 155lb’ers at the end of summer.

2 Bellator & Glory to promote hybrid event

Bellator will join forces with the Glory kickboxing promotion for its Dynamite event on September 19th. A cage and a ring will be built in the SAP Center in San Jose, California, for what Bellator president Scott Coker called a “three-tiered mega event.”

The main attractions are set to be a 205lb title fight between current champ Liam McGeary and Tito Ortiz, three kickboxing fights and a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament featuring new signing Phil Davis, Linton Vassell, King Mo and former champion Emanuel Newton. The winner will earn the next shot at the belt.

FO SCORE: Bellator has pulled out all the stops to make sure its next ‘tentpole’ event is another huge hit with fans in an effort to repeat the success of the Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock ratings bonanza in June.

3 Holloway VS. Oliveira heads to Canada

Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira will battle it out in a 25-minute main event later in the year when the UFC marks its debut in Canada’s Saskatchewan province.

UFC Fight Night 74 will take place in the 15,000-capacity SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on August 23rd. The two surging featherweights are on impressive runs in the Octagon lately, with Holloway on a six-fight win streak with five finishes and Oliveira winning four on the trot with three finishes since he lost to Frankie Edgar in 2013.

UFC director of Canadian operations Tom Wright said: “I honestly believe that whoever wins this fight will be in a number-one contender’s fight next.”

FO SCORE: With so much talent at 145lb right now it’s good to see guys are willing to battle it out for pecking order. And this five-rounder has ‘Fight of the Year’ potential written all over it.

ON THE RADAR

Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...

Ed Arthur, 6-0

Seen as one of the brightest prospects in the UK, the 25-year-old BAMMA star has built his reputation with a string of impressive performances. The bantamweight is relentless in his pursuit for the finish, putting constant pressure on opponents with powerful ground ‘n’ pound and good guard passing. His aggression may get him in trouble against more experienced foes, but thus far he’s been able to overwhelm most of his opponents.

Khalil Rountree, 3-0

Training out of Black House MMA and Anderson Silva Muay Thai, you’d be right to expect ‘The War Horse’ to be a solid and unconventional striker. The 25-year-old has incredible power in both his hands and feet, and loves nothing more than to batter opponents with both. After going 6-0 as an amateur, largely on Tuff-N-Uff cards, the Los Angeles middleweight turned pro with RFA last summer and so far appears legit.

Khusein Askhabov, 10-0

Despite being only 20, the Chechnya native has plenty of fighting experience, beginning his career in March 2013. With a background in combat sambo and karate, ‘Lion’ is comfortable keeping the fight standing or going to the ground and is proficient at finishing everywhere. A marquee victory against a more reputable opponent could get him on the radar of the UFC or Bellator before the end of the year.

STAR SIGHTING

Who? Movie director Where? UFC Fight Night 68

When he’s not directing blockbuster movies like Lone Survivor or working on the critically acclaimed HBO show The Leftovers, you’ll find Hollywood big shot Peter Berg sitting cageside at the UFC cheering on the fights. The 53-year-old was front and center for Dan Henderson’s devastating knockout win over Tim Boetsch at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

QUOTES

“For sure when I fought Fedor Emelianenko in 2010 it was an amazing fight and nobody believed in me again. This moment today is the best moment in my life because the best heavyweights in the world are in the UFC.”

Fabricio Werdum reminds us all why he’s the man.

“First of all, he goes in with a kid like Marquardt and stands right in the pocket with him and exchanges. His standup looked great tonight, but... I honestly don’t believe he can make 170lb.”

Kelvin Gastelum’s aim to return to 170lb is checked by Dana White.

“I’m just saying, I don’t believe every division is going to look the same after July 1st. If anyone takes offense to that, maybe they ought to look at themselves and look at their problems.”

Ben Rothwell clearly believes the UFC has a PED problem.

“I will dance with anybody. I like doing the tango and waltz, the waltz especially.”

Mark Hunt hopes to return at UFC Adelaide.

“I want to say that I lost the integrity in myself and the integrity of this sport. I will not sit here and deny that I took it or act like I didn’t know what I was taking or blame it on someone else. I am a cheat, plain and simple and there is no excuse or reason that is valid enough to dispute the reasons why I cheated the sport and myself by using it.”

Post Bellator 133, Mike Richman comes clean about his PED bust.