Anderson Silva would fight Jon Jones at catchweight

The pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Anderson Silva, recently made a U-turn on a proposed superfight between him and UFC 205-pound champ Jon Jones, telling an audience he would fight "Bones" at 190 pounds.

Previously, Silva suggested he wasn't interested in fighting Jones, tipped as a future UFC Hall of Famer. The report comes via Brazilian news outlet SporTV, and Silva is said to have stated the bout could take place in either New York City or a Brazilian soccer stadium.

FO SCORE: If true, this is the most directly Silva has ever spoken of the matchup. If it could be pieced together, it would be massive business for MMA, even though his suggestion of Jones making 190 pounds could be a dealbreaker for the American, who has said he could soon compete at heavyweight.

But Silva's frankness in discussing where the bout could take place may suggest talks between him, Jones, and the UFC have moved past speculation and into an early blueprint

Aldo earns lightweight shot with 145-pound defense against Pettis

UFC featherweight champion José Aldo has agreed to defend his belt against lightweight number-one contender Anthony Pettis after securing an opportunity at the 155lb championship should he defeat ‘Showtime.’

FO SCORE: The word is Aldo had initially been resistant to agreeing on a Pettis bout as he felt Pettis hadn’t earned it, but was swayed when offered the lightweight title shot. Which strikes as odd because even without the Pettis fight Aldo could probably walk into a 155lb title bout. Historically speaking, champions are default number-one contenders in parallel weight divisions. See former 155lb leader BJ Penn challenging for Georges St Pierre’s 170lb title in 2009

Wrestling cut from 2020 Olympics

Wrestling has been dropped from the 2020 Olympic games following a February vote by the International Olympic Committee.

The executive board voted based on criteria such as global participation and TV ratings. Wrestling now joins other sports contending for the sole remaining open spot on the 2020 Olympic program.

FO SCORE: There could be pros and cons for MMA. More top prospects might make the jump from circle to cage without an Olympic medal in sight, and perhaps it could mean room for MMA on the Olympic program in the future.

However, in the long run, this will surely mean less funding for wrestling worldwide, and perhaps fewer people choosing to wrestle in the first place, stunting MMA’s long-term talent influx.

On the radar: Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on

Mark Striegl

When Filipino-American featherweight Mark Striegl is on, he's on.

It just so happens that’s the majority of the time, having all but two of his wins by submission.

Most of his victories have seen him steamroll his opposition with ultra-slick, fight-finishing grappling – see his URCC 21 dismantling of Alcer Lozada and the quick work he made of veteran Harris Sarmiento at PXC 34.

He’s yet to face name competition,

but has competed all over the world, including the US, and the 24-year-old has shown enough composure to suggest he’d do well in the higher tiers.

Ayaka Hamasaki

A five-foot-two strawweight, Japan’s Ayaka Hamasaki isn’t afraid of aggressive striking exchanges in the pocket despite having no competitive stand-up experience before her MMA debut in 2009.

A product of the Abe Ani Combat Club (home to female legend Megumi Fujii) and the Jewels 115lb champ, her judo black belt shows through in her fighting style – showcased in her ground-based attack of Lacey Schuckman at Invicta 2.

She’s little known outside the female ranks, but that could change soon.

Russell Doane

Although Hawaii's Russell Doane was completely dominated on the ground by Japan’s Michinori Tanaka in 2012 to break an eight-fight win streak, he’s since picked up a quick submission victory to right his course.

He’s toasted low-level opposition with ease (seven of nine ‘W’s have been stops), all helped by venomous stand-up.

Quotes

“Whoever said that Hendo vs Machida was ‘the real main event,’ I wonder if they’re glad that it wasn’t. Ronda and Liz were the real main event.”

Vinny Magalhaes says what we’re all thinking, via Twitter

“Dan is always 100% in his mind. But his body, you know, his body wasn’t, I don’t know if I can say it, but it wasn’t 100% healthy. But Dan, whatever is going on with his body, is always 100% going into a fight mentally.”

Strikeforce champion and now UFC welterweight Tarec Saffiedine sheds some light on why perhaps we didn’t see the Dan Henderson of old against Lyoto Machida at UFC 157.

“This sport draws; wrestling doesn’t. I can’t be the guy to run out and try and save wrestling. I’ve been doing it for years. You know how many wrestling programs I funded over the past five, six years? A lot. Yeah, I don’t want to see wrestling go away either.”

UFC president Dana White talking about wrestling being cut from the 2020 Olympic games

“Nine years ago I was working three jobs and getting paid $150 to fight, with the dream of the UFC. Wiped away tears when the women walked out last night.”

Rousey-Carmouche: emotional for new UFC female bantamweight Julie Kedzie, likely inspiring for an entire gender.

“If a girl asks me what I weigh, I’ll tell her I fight 125, ‘But I walk around at like 150. I’m a man and everything.’”

Five-foot-four UFC flyweight Joe Benavidez is a strong, confident woman.

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