In the fast paced world of mixed martial arts we at Fighters Only know it’s hard to stay on top of all the latest news so here’s five stories that may have flown under your radar.
Joanna double champion?
Undefeated UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has big plans for 2017 and one of them includes becoming a two-weight champion like European colleague Conor McGregor.
“Sure, I think that can happen in 2017,” Jedrzejczyk told The MMA Hour. “I think that I earned that, I deserved that, and I feel like I’ve gotten so much attention from the media, the international media, and from Dana [White].
“I’ve put on great work again, a great fight, and I think this might happen. I’m very calm, enjoying my victory. I have some stuff to do, I’m going to enjoy my time with my family, and then, I’m going to talk to the UFC, talk to Dana, and we’ll figure out what to do.”
And if she’s going to do it anywhere the dream scenario would be to do it her home country of Poland. “Of course, I want this show in Poland, and I think that I will fight in the second part of 2017. Why not?”
Bigfoot wants his rematch
Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, who suffered a shocking points decision loss to ‘undefeated’ Russian Ivan Shtyrkov last weekend, is chasing the rematch and is happy to return to Eastern Europe to get it, although admits he’s not holding his breath.
Silva said: “The referee stopped the fight in two different occasions and I had no idea why he was doing that. And they even finished the third round before it was over. The Russian crowd booed the decision because I absolutely won the fight. But I don’t think he will want (a rematch) because he had to go to the hospital after the fight. I don’t think he will want a rematch.”
Tate in ‘transition’
Following here surprise retirement announcement at UFC 205, Miesha ‘Cupcake’ Tate described her decision to the media in Melbourne, Australia, this week as a transition rather than a retirement.
“I just knew after like the first exchange that I just didn’t want to do it anymore,” Tate said. “So it was just kind of one of those things that just like stuck it out, but I knew I had a lot more to give, and I just didn’t give it.
“I prefer the term ‘transition’ – just transition into, like, more promoting events. I’m still going to be involved. Actually, you might see more of me now.”
JDS wants another crack at Miocic
Already holding a win over current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, Junior Dos Santos would love to get another shot at the champ if the Alistair Overeem rematch doesn’t materialise. Speaking to MMAjunkie the former heavyweight champion believes the two would put on a crowd pleasing fight.
“I’m coming from a good victory against Ben Rothwell,” said JDS. “I was the last guy to beat Stipe Miocic. If the UFC wants to see a really good fight between the stand-up heavyweights, they will make that fight happen.”
MVP promises to be back to his best
Although he got the win, the manor in which Michael Page defeated Fernando Gonzalez last weekend at Bellator 165 was not exactly pleasing on the eye. Taking to his Instagram account, it appears ‘Venom’ just needed a short trip to Las Vegas to recharge the batteries as the Londoner promises to get back to his spectacular best.
“After a rare bad week in my world of MMA, Vegas had me feeling like boss mode,” he commented. “The Venom is back. The best hands down. This break was just what I needed.”
