It’s the start of a new week, which means it’s once again time to step outside of the squared circle and back into the Octagon for the latest MMA News Roundup.
Coming off of Saturday’s UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya pay-per-view in Las Vegas, Nevada, there is plenty of news in the MMA world. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of the bigger news items to come out of the MMA community so far this week.
GEORGES ST-PIERRE TO DANA WHITE: “YOU DON’T OWN ME”
Georges “Rush” St-Pierre has already made quite a few headlines since dusting off his MMA shorts and returning to the UFC.
After defeating Michael Bisping in his first fight back in the Octagon in over four years at UFC 217, GSP immediately relinquished the belt after the fight. According to St-Pierre, he couldn’t defend it against Robert Whittaker as he was contractually obligated to do due to him coming down with ulcerative colitis. On Monday, St-Pierre appeared as a guest on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour to talk about his current UFC status.
According to St-Pierre, he could still very well fight again. In fact, GSP mentioned a number of different weight-classes as options, depending on the circumstances. He didn’t seem interested in a fight against Nate Diaz or Conor McGregor, claiming neither fight would add to his legacy.
Regarding the fact that he came back for one fight, won the title and immediately relinquished it and disappeared, there have been rumors of issues between he and UFC President Dana White. During his appearance on Helwani’s show on Monday, St-Pierre addressed these rumors.
“If I would’ve lost [to Bisping at UFC 217], I would’ve lost big,” said GSP. “It was a risk. I took the risk and [UFC President] Dana [White] maybe is not happy about it, because he doesn’t control me. Maybe he’s used to dealing with people that he controls, but he does not control me.”
St-Pierre continued, “I don’t depend on fighting. I don’t need the UFC to live. I have been there, done that, but I don’t depend on fighting. I have other stuff on the side that has nothing to do with the UFC, and I don’t need to fight for the rest of my life if I don’t want to.”
MIRKO CROCOP SIGNS WITH BELLATOR MMA, WILL FIGHT ROY NELSON
In what came as a bit of surprising news to MMA fans this week, Bellator MMA made another noteworthy talent signing. Bellator MMA announced that they have signed MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.
Cro Cop, a former UFC, PRIDE and K-1 legend, will make his Bellator MMA debut on Friday, May 25th at the Bellator 200 event in London, England, as he takes on Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
The two previously fought way back in October of 2011, when “Big Country” knocked out Cro Cop in the third round of their fight at the UFC 137 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC CHAMP MAX HOLLOWAY MOCKS CONOR MCGREGOR’S BURGER KING ADS
For those who haven’t seen it yet, Conor McGregor has debuted new Burger King commercials for the fast-food restaurants Spicy Chicken Sandwiches.
In response to the ads, UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway, whom “The Notorious” one defeated way back at UFC Fight Night 26 in August of 2013 by unanimous decision, took to social media to mock the former UFC Featherweight and reigning UFC Lightweight Champion.
“You went from King of Ireland to King of “chicken”? Looking forward to the two strips meal coming April 7,” wrote Holloway. “PS Shout out to the real fighting Irish. The ones who value whats in heart before whats on waist. Hawaii respects you and welcomes you with open arms.”
Holloway added in an additional tweet, “Yo Wendys if you need a fighter whos about the REAL BEEF in your burgers you know who to call.”
Max Holloway defends his UFC Featherweight Championship against Brian Ortega in his next fight. The bout is rumored to take place alongside Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic in the “champion versus champion” super fight at UFC 226, as part of UFC’s annual International Fight Week.
LOOKING AT POTENTIAL OPPONENTS FOR BROCK LESNAR
If Brock Lesnar returns, who could “The Beast Incarnate” find himself standing across from inside the cage?
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MMANews.com looked at this question from every possible angle, analyzing every potential matchup awaiting the reigning WWE Universal Champion in UFC’s Heavyweight division. Additionally, the possibility of Lesnar signing with the Viacom-backed Bellator MMA organization is examined.
How about potential showdowns for Lesnar against Bobby Lashley, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop or even “The American Gangster” Chael Sonnen? What about that long-awaited trilogy bout against the man he fought twice before in the UFC, Frank Mir?
All of this and more is examined in the editorial piece, which you can check out at the following link: Looking At Potential Opponents For Brock Lesnar In UFC & Bellator MMA.
That will do it for this installment of the MMA News Roundup. Make sure to visit our MMA affiliate website, MMANews.com, for all of the latest news, results and exclusive interviews from the world of mixed-martial arts.