Category: Featured

Linton Vassell dismisses skid ahead of Bellator 234: ‘You can’t just give up’

Linton Vassell is only looking at the upside of his Bellator 234 headliner with Sergei Kharitonov.

[autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] is only looking at the upside of his Bellator 234 headline matchup with Sergei Kharitonov.

Despite a three-fight losing skid, Vassell (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) gets the main-event spot against heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov (29-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) on Thursday. Another defeat would seemingly be detrimental to the 36-year-old’s his career, but Vassell said he’s not fretting over his position.

“You can’t just give up because you lose a few fights,” Vassell told MMA Junkie. “I know where I’m at. I know the people I’ve fought before and beat. It’s the fight game. You win, you lose and it’s just part of the game.”

To his credit, Vassell’s recent losses have come against two-division Bellator champ Ryan Bader, former champ Phil Davis and highly touted prospect Valentin Moldavsky.

Vassell can wipe away the hardship of his skid in one moment, though, and that comes at Bellator 234. The event airs via tape-delay Friday on Paramount from Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Kharitonov enters the matchup riding a eight-fight unbeaten streak. The Russian has managed to earn all of his Bellator wins by knockout, but Vassell said he doesn’t see himself succumbing to that same fate.

“This is my time,” Vassell said. “I don’t think he’s ever fought anyone like me before. A lot of his last fights were strikers and I like to take people down and beat them up and choke them out, as well as strike. I’ll bring more to the table other than just try to knock him out standing. I’m going to beat him up. I have a lot of tools for him.”

Vassell feels those tools are going to take him forward in prosperous fashion. Bellator 234 marks his second fight since moving up to heavyweight, and while his debut didn’t go according to plan, Vassell said he’s used the past eight months between fights to physically and mentally prepare for what’s to come.

“I’ve been watching the division,” Vassell said. “I’ve been watching everyone. They’re big guys but they don’t like to work. If they have to work they lose. They get taken down and they’re stuck. You’ve seen my ground game. I feel my style works really well against the big guys.”

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 breakdown: Is Jan Blachowicz’s Polish power too much for ‘Jacare’ Souza?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Sao Paulo headliner between Jan Blachowicz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 22.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Jan Blachowicz (24-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 6’2″ Age: 36 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 78″
  • Last fight: Knockout win over Luke Rockhold (July 6, 2019)
  • Camp: WCA Fight Team (Poland)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
  • Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ KSW light heavyweight title
+ Muay Thai accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 6 knockout victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Excellent jab
+ Dangerous uppercuts and hooks
+ Will switch stances
^ Favors liver kicks from southpaw
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Solid transitional grappler
^ Submission savvy from top or bottom

Ronaldo Souza (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 6’1″ Age: 39 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 72″
  • Last fight: Decision loss to Jack Hermansson (April 27, 2019)
  • Camp: Fusion X-cel Performance (Florida)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
  • Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:

+ Former Strikeforce middleweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 8 knockout victories
+ 14 submission wins
+ 18 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Heavy right hand
^ Throws well off feints and shifts
+ Improved overall boxing ability
^ Variates well to the body
+ Solid wrestling skills
^ Favors takedowns along the fence
+ Dangerous in transition
^ Superb scrambles and back-takes
+ Slick submission setups

Point of interest: Entering the pressure cooker

The main event in Sao Paulo features an interesting light heavyweight matchup between two men who are familiar with pressure.

Stepping onto the UFC scene as a persistent, pressuring stalker who can come forward in combination from either stance, [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] has steadily developed into a deceptively effective counter striker when he wants to be. In the heat of combat, the Pole packs a mean uppercut-hook return that he keeps on a hair-trigger, something he was able to show against both Jared Cannonier and Jimi Manuwa.

Blachowicz also employs a stiff and serviceable jab that he quietly uses to string together his offense, which may help him stave off the aggression coming his way. When he’s feeling in stride, the 36-year-old has no issue shifting to southpaw to deliver crushing liver kicks.

However, given his current counterpart, I suspect that Blachowicz may shelf kick attempts that are south of a headshot.

Enter [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag].

A marauding, athletic phenom who has consistently improved his striking since his days on the Strikeforce scene, Souza can truly call himself a multi-dimensional threat.

Steadily stalking his prey with palpable pressure, Souza will use feints to bait opponents into exchanging with him. Once able to get a bite, he will typically unleash a wicked counter cross or change his level to shoot for a takedown. Souza also occasionally shifts to southpaw when he needs to, often accompanying this move with a check hook for safety (something that could come in handy considering the success Thiago Santos had in his fight with Blachowicz).

When Souza senses that he has someone hurt, the 16-year veteran has no problem letting his hands fly liberally, varying in between uppercuts and hooks along the way. And in Souza’s last few outings, he’s displayed upgraded boxing techniques and sensibilities, incorporating more inside slips and left hooks to the liver (both of which play very well off of his patented right hand).

Still, the pressure that Souza brings usually comes with a tangible price tag to go along with the gas that it requires, which means that this battle – which will see Souza carrying 20 more pounds than usual – should get even more intriguing the longer it goes.

Next point of interest: Jacare’s world

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 pre-event facts: What record will Charles Oliveira set next?

The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 22, which features a Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza main event.

The UFC makes its final Brazil stop of the year on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 22, which takes place at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo with a 12-fight lineup set to stream entirely on ESPN+.

An important light heavyweight matchup headlines the card. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) will look to improve his status as a top contender when he meets [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC), the former Strikeforce champ who is moving up to 205 pounds for the first time with hopes of a fresh start.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 22.

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Main event

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Blachowicz competes in his second UFC headliner. He’s 0-1 in previous main events.

Blachowicz is 5-1 in his past six UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.

Blachowicz is one of two light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 53.

Blachowicz lands 52 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition, the second highest rate in divisional history behind Lyoto Machida (65 percent).

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Souza competes in the light heavyweight division for the first time in his career. He’s never fought above 194 pounds.

Souza has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 8 in April.

Souza has earned 22 of his 26 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his nine UFC wins.

Souza’s 14 victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are tied for third most in combined divisional history behind Michael Bisping (16) and Luke Rockhold (15).

Souza’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Rockhold (13).

Co-main event

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[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (26-11 MMA, 10-9 UFC) competes in his 20th UFC light heavyweight bout, tied with Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans and Ovince Saint Preux for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Jon Jones (21).

Rua’s 22 victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s 18 stoppage victories in UFC/PRIDE/WEC/Strikeforce competition are fourth most in combined organizational history behind Mirko Filipovic (21), Wanderlei Silva (20) and Donald Cerrone (20).

Rua’s 17 knockout victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s eight knockout victories in modern UFC light-heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Chuck Liddell (nine).

Rua is the only light heavyweight in UFC history to earn his first six victories with the organization by knockout.

Rua’s 14 knockdowns landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Liddell for most in divisional history.

Rua’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light-heavyweight fights are tied with Jones for most in divisional history.

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[autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 56-day stretch. He won at UFC on ESPN+ 17 on Sept. 21.

Craig has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He won his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.

Craig has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage.

Craig’s victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 is the latest submission in a three-round UFC fight.

Remaining main card

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[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) is 6-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in April 2017. He’s 8-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.

Oliveira’s average fight time of 5:08 in UFC lightweight competition is the second shortest in divisional history behind Manny Gamburyan (4:45).

Oliveira’s five-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Marlon Vera for the longest active streak in the company.

Oliveira’s 14 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort for second most in company history behind Cerrone (16).

Oliveira’s 13 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Oliveira’s six submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Oliveira’s four guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are tied with Nate Diaz for most in company history.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple submission victories via anaconda choke. Phil Davis also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with six different techniques. Frank Mir also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a calf-slicer submission victory. Brett Johns also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira has been awarded 14 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the fourth most in company history behind Cerrone (18), Diaz (15) and Joe Lauzon (15).

Oliveira has been awarded eight “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.

Oliveira is the only fighter in UFC history to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses in two separate divisions.

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[autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.

[autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Preliminary card

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[autotag]James Krause[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since August 2018. He hasn’t fought more than once in a calendar year since 2015.

Krause is 3-0 in the UFC when competing at welterweight.

Krause enters the event on a five-fight UFC winning streak. He hasn’t suffered an octagon defeat since February 2016.

[autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) moves up to the featherweight division after spending his previous five UFC appearances at bantamweight.

Ramos is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC 217. Dong Hyun Kim is the other fighter to win with the technique.

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[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC), 41, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Trinaldo, 41, is the oldest active fighter in the UFC lightweight division.

Trinaldo becomes the 12th fighter in UFC history to make 20 or more lightweight appearances.

Trinaldo is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two arm-triangle submission victories from half-guard.

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (24-9-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) is 1-4 (with one no contest) in his past six fights dating back to November 2014.

[autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]’ (13-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) three guillotine choke submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind Oliveira (four) and Diaz (four).

[autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) returns to the featherweight division for the first time since his UFC debut in February 2014. He went 4-2 at bantamweight.

Andrade is 3-3 in his past five fights after starting his career on a 23-fight unbeaten streak.

Andrade is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 98.

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[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]’s (34-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Barao is 2-7 in his past nine fights after going on a 33-fight unbeaten streak that lasted more than nine years.

Barao returns to the featherweight division for the first time since September 2016. He went 0-4 during his most recent bantamweight stint before moving up.

Barao is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back kick to the head. He accomplished the feat at UFC 165.

Barao defends 92.5 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC competition, the sixth highest rate in company history.

Barao holds the record for most consecutive takedown attempts stopped in UFC history (33).

Barao’s five fight-night bonuses for UFC bantamweight bouts are tied for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).

[autotag]Veronica Macedo[/autotag] (6-3-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC) is 1-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in May 2018.

Macedo’s submission victory at 1:09 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the fastest finish in UFC women’s flyweight history.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

Tracy Cortez proud of large following she’s cultivated before UFC debut

Tracy Cortez attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase – an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

[autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag] attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase, an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

Cortez (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is ready to add to her popularity when she takes a step up to the big leagues at this weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 against Vanessa Melo.

Currently, Cortez owns an Instagram fanbase of almost 100,000 followers. Combine that with her Facebook likes and Twitter follows, and she’s sitting at approximately 116,000 fans.

But she hasn’t achieved this feat through a typical “Insta-famous” route many other influencers take. Cortez attributes her success on social media as a result of being real and interacting with fans, even as it becomes more time-consuming.

“I’ve been building my followers,” Cortez told MMA Junkie. “I kind of take pride in that because my fans go hard for me, and I love my fans. I honestly don’t just post and not interact. I try to interact with every single person who leaves me a comment or sends me beautiful messages.

“I think they see that. They see that I’m a normal person chasing their dream. I don’t put on a front and I think that’s how they started flocking to me. I don’t know why they follow me, but they follow me.”

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The relationship between Cortez and her fans is a two-way street, according to the Fight Ready MMA product. She sees great value in promoting a real version of herself on social media.

The 25-year-old Arizonan views fighters as a commodity. They need to sell themselves to the fans and give them a reason to watch. Through her outreach on social media and in-person, Cortez believes she’s done just that.

“As fighters, we’re entertainers, and we really have to let people know who we are outside of the cage and get that connection with our fans,” Cortez said. “That’s what I try to do. I want everyone to know that I’m just a regular person just like everyone else. I’m just working hard. I have big dreams, and I don’t let fear stop me.”

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On brand with her “being real” theme, Cortez opened up on the mix of emotions she’s taking with her into Saturday’s matchup against Melo (10-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

“Honestly, I’m excited,” Cortez said. “I was just talking to my coaches about how, man, we worked hard for this. I say ‘we’ because they’ve been a part of this journey for me. My coach Santino Defranco, he knows how hard I’ve been working. I’m actually going to fight for something I’ve been training so long for. I’m going through every emotion right now.”

This mix of emotions doesn’t weigh her down, according to Cortez. In fact, it does quite the opposite. It gives her the “push” she needs to stay motivated, stay focused, and attack the task at hand.

“I’m fighting for something that I always wanted,” Cortez said. “It makes training easier.

“Now? We’re here.”

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

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Francis Ngannou happy to fight Tyson Fury in MMA, then return favor in boxing

Francis Ngannou is down to fight Tyson Fury in both the octagon and the boxing ring.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] is more than willing to fight [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] in the octagon and the boxing ring.

Yes, that’s “and,” not “or.”

With boxing world champion Fury appearing to be dead set on making an eventual move to MMA, he proceeded to call out several heavyweights, including Ngannou, who wasted little time with his response.

“I’m like man, I don’t have a fight and anyways I was about to come find you in your territory, so if you come to my own, that would be great,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “And I can return you the favor because I want to cross to boxing sometime soon. That’s exactly how I feel right now.”

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Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), whose initial dream was to become a pro boxer, is very familiar with the the sweet science. His boxing background has translated very well into his MMA career, with 10 knockouts on his resume, taking out his last three opponents in the first round.

And while he’s been eager to get his next UFC fight, Ngannou says naturally, he’d be interested in facing Fury, since he comes from boxing roots himself.

“Maybe the frustration, the situation is teasing me, but my background is boxing,” Ngannou said. “I was going to do boxing before I discovered MMA. My dream was always boxing, so I took MMA because it was the opportunity that came to me, and I just needed it.”

Fury has already made his first step towards MMA, when he paid a visit to middleweight contender Darren Till at Team Kaobon, and was seen hitting pads, and drilling some takedown defense with Till during the training session.

“I think Fury is taking himself seriously,” Ngannou said. “I think he’s very serious about when he said he’s going to move to the octagon. He likes the show. He’s a showtime guy – you can see when he walks out in the fight. You can see like recently he was in WWE, so I think at this point in his life, he’s just there for the show.”

“Once again the video is just the proof of what I’m saying: He’s serious,” Ngannou added. “He’s taking himself really serious, and I wonder if he has been training. I think he’s been training on the ground you know, like in secret because he seems to be liking it, to like MMA, which many people do, and they just do it in secret, but now he just came out with his passion and obviously the intention to, actually.”

Ngannou, himself, has also been taking a potential fight with Fury seriously as he was seen hanging out with boxing legend and former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, who he said has agreed to coach him if he were to fight Fury.

“Mike Tyson is a very spiritual guy,” Ngannou said. “I feel like when he was talking, I can recognize myself about almost all what he said. Very wise way to see life, he understands how life works. I mean not only sports, but life. It was very great, very interesting,”

UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic was also on the list of heavyweights that Fury called out, as he recently said that he’d actually rather fight Fury over a Daniel Cormier trilogy.

But Ngannou believes Miocic only started entertaining the idea, when he saw the back and forth between him and Fury, and the progress they’ve made towards a potential fight.

“I’m not having a problem for Stipe to fight somebody,” Ngannou said. “I just want to fight, and I want the title shot. Maybe if it’s happening, him fighting Tyson Fury, and they let me fight for the belt, let’s go, but I think Stipe is reacting like that now because how Tyson Fury and I have been going back and forth.”

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MMA rankings report: UFC on ESPN+ 21, Bellator 233 fallout

What does another big weekend of MMA action mean for the rankings? We walk you through it all in this week’s rankings report.

It was another eventful weekend in the MMA world. Consider the highlights:

  • [autotag]Zabit Magomedsharipov[/autotag] continued his climb up the 145-pound ladder with a win over Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 21.
  • [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] returned to action, as the former Bellator champion decisioned Greg Hardy in the UFC Moscow co-feature.
  • [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] proved she’s still a factor in the Bellator featherweight division with her impressive unanimous-decision victory over Leslie Smith.

So what does this all mean for the weekly USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings? Let MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and “Gorgeous” George Garcia walk you through the changes in the video above.

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Jorge Masvidal confused by Nick Diaz interview: ‘Is he asking to fight, or are we going for a walk?’

Jorge Masvidal was left nonplussed by Nick Diaz’s recent comments to ESPN, which hinted at a possible UFC bout between the pair.

It’s fair to say that life has changed somewhat for [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] following his victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) may have kept the same energy throughout a career that has taken him from street fighter to Strikeforce fighter to UFC fighter to the official “BMF” of the game. But, while “Gamebred” has stayed true to himself throughout his career, he’s started to notice the world around him change since he became the UFC’s latest superstar.

Now, the man who struggled to get people to accept fights with him earlier in his career is the flavor of the month – and the subject of a host of big-name callouts.

Conor McGregor suggested he wanted to face the winner of Masvidal’s “BMF” title fight with Diaz at UFC 244 while, more recently, Masvidal’s name dropped from the lips of Nate’s older brother, [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag], who hinted at a possible return to the UFC to face the Florida native sometime in the future.

“You want to talk about baptizing my younger brother? That’s on you,” Diaz told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “I never had nothing disrespectful to say. But you don’t talk about baptizing my younger brother. So you’re already in a (expletive) position if you fight with me. You don’t talk about (expletive) baptizing someone’s brother. That’s my baby brother. You don’t talk like that to nobody.

“So who is riding on whose side? You want to say that, you want to do that, you want to walk, that’s on you. I can relate to you, that’s why I ain’t mad at you. But if you want to walk, that’s on you.”

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Masvidal heard the interview but was left slightly confused as to whether the former Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion was calling him out or not.

“Is he asking to fight?” he asked on ESPN’s “The Dan Le Batard Show” on Tuesday. “I was confused. Or are we going for a walk someplace?

“He’s asking for a fight? He’s asking for a fight or to go for a walk? Does he know who he’s asking for a fight, because I love to fight, especially when I get a little something on top of that.”

After more than a decade-and-a-half in the game, Masvidal is finally getting top dollar for his performances, and the 35-year-old says the tables have finally turned in his favor after years of being on the outside of the upper echelon, looking in.

With a possible rematch with Nate, a fresh matchup against his brother Nick, a potential superfight with Conor McGregor or a shot at the UFC welterweight title all seemingly realistic options for Masvidal in 2020, “Gamebred” appears to have a host of big-money options as he ponders his next move. And the Miami man said his final decision will come down to whichever matchup proves to be the most lucrative for his career.

“We don’t know who’s next, but everybody’s looking like cash symbols, cash money, to us right now,” he said. “The next person is going to be the one that puts the most zeros in the bank account.

“Everybody wants to call me out now. So it’s funny to me because these same guys, they didn’t want to fight me two or three years ago.”

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Tyson Fury answers Stipe Miocic’s challenge, offers boxing match ‘after I get Wilder out of the way’

Undefeated former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury said he’d be prepared to face Stipe Miocic in a boxing match, but the matchup would have to wait.

Undefeated former heavyweight boxing champion of the world [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] has accepted [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag]’s challenge and says he’d be happy to face the UFC heavyweight champ – inside the boxing ring.

Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) told ESPN on Monday that he had turned his sights from a trilogy bout with Daniel Cormier to a matchup with Fury (29-0-1 boxing), saying he’d be interested to face the 6-foot-9 Brit in the octagon or the boxing ring.

And, in an interview conducted by his management team MTK Global, Fury formally accepted the challenge and said he’d happily face Miocic in a boxing match a little further down the line, once he has dealt with his unfinished business with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

“Stipe says he wants to box me; that would be a good fight for sure,” Fury said. “After I get Wilder out of the way, I’ll fight Stipe in a boxing match if he wants it. It would be a big crossover fight like Mayweather and McGregor.”

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Fury has a return to the ring penciled in for February 2020 and hopes that Wilder will agree to face him in a rematch of their epic December 2018 clash that finished in a hotly-disputed split draw in Los Angeles. But, once Fury has faced “The Bronze Bomber” again, he said he’d be interested in a potential matchup with Miocic.

“I’m open to that fight, so he should come and see me,” Fury said. “It would be the same outcome for any of them: They’ll all get smashed.”

Fury’s comments made clear that he’d be looking to face Miocic under boxing rules, rather than the Unified Rules of MMA, but that doesn’t mean Fury has no respect for the sport. Indeed, he spent some time cracking the pads as he worked his elbows, knees and sprawls with Darren Till at the Liverpudlian’s training base at Kaobon Gym last week.

“It was exciting training with Darren Till and we get on like a house on fire,” said Fury, who shares the same management company with Till.

“He put me through a hard training session, and it was really good.”

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Derek Anderson out of Bellator Europe 6 main event with Michael Page

Bellator is searching for a short-notice replacement so “MVP” can stay atop the card in London.

Bellator Europe 6 is in need of a new main event matchup after one of the headliners needed to drop out.

[autotag]Derek Anderson[/autotag], who was slated to face Michael Page in the welterweight main event of the Nov. 23 card in London, had to pull out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury.

MMA Junkie confirmed the news through a person with knowledge of the situation after an initial Tuesday report by FanSided.

The company confirmed it is seeking a short-notice replacement to meet Page for the card at SSE Arena, Wembley.

Page is looking to make it two consecutive victories, as he followed his first career loss (a knockout to current welterweight champion Douglas Lima) with a flying-knee finish of Richard Kiely at Bellator 227.

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Austin Vanderford says toughest test of career lays ahead at Bellator 234

Austin Vanderford is not lost on the significance of what his fight at Bellator 234 means for his overall career prospects.

[autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] understands the significance of what his fight at Bellator 234 means for his overall career prospects.

That’s why Vanderford (8-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is taking his middleweight matchup with Grachik Bozinyan (10-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) extremely seriously. No one outside the most hardcore of fans know of the Russian, but Vanderford said he’s done his homework.

“I think this is definitely the toughest guy I’ve fought so far,” Vanderford told MMA Junkie. “It’s going to be the toughest fight of my career. He’s a very skilled fighter, a tough fighter and he has a lot of finishes on his resume. I’m going into the fight with that in mind and with that, I’m going to be the most prepared and ready Austin there is.”

Vanderford is the more recognizable name in the matchup with Bozinyan at Bellator 234, which takes place Thursday (and airs via tape-delay Friday on Paramount) from Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. However, he’s also the one with more to lose, and he’s trained hard to ensure a misstep doesn’t occur.

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Thus far, Vanderford’s Bellator run has been smooth. He’s picked up stoppage wins in his two fights since debuting with the promotion in February, and making it 3-0 under the Bellator banner is when some real momentum could start to pick up.

“I’ve had a good couple showings, I’ve got a couple finishes and I’m just kind of looking to go off that,” Vanderford said. “I really just focus on taking it one fight at a time and they presented this fight to me like two days after my last fight and I jumped right on it and I was thankful to make it through my last fight with no injuries and jump right back into a fight camp and start preparing for this fight.”

Vanderford said he’s not sure how close he’d be to a title shot with a win at Bellator 234. He will only have nine total fights after the upcoming bout, and other 185-pound contenders have put in more work. Vanderford will ultimately let his performances decide his path, though, and he anticipates a good one against Bozinyan.

“We just keep going a fight at a time and I think I’ll keep going up in competition,” Vanderford said. “I want to fight for a world title. Every win you rack up I just one step closer.”

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