Sunday, March 15
Original UFC on ESPN+ 29 card in shambles
With U.S. travel restrictions extended to the U.K. and England among countries banning large gathering, UFC on ESPN+ 29 – scheduled to take place Saturday in London – effectively has been scrapped. Some fights remain, while others are canceled altogether.
The UFC has sent out an internal memo to managers in wake of the situation, essentially opening the door for any fighters – on the UFC roster or not – to volunteer their services for a makeshift event.
This is an email they are sending out to managers and reps about this new card next week. As you can see, they are even open to signing fighters who currently aren’t on the roster to fill it up, as well. pic.twitter.com/qYcYCDvdyo
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 15, 2020
Woodley vs. Edwards headliner canceled
The UFC on ESPN+ 29 lineup takes a big blow as the headliner between [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] and [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] is canceled. Edwards made the announcement on Instagram.
“We have been working with the UFC on possible solutions to keep the fight alive,” Edwards said, “but unfortunately with such a short window of time, nothing was viable.”
Covington volunteers to fight Woodley
With UFC on ESPN+ 29 in need of a headliner, [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] says he’s willing to fight longtime rival Tyron Woodley on six days’ notice.
Word on the street is @LeonScott is out. The @ufc and America need a hero. Who wants see America’s Champ put the #MAGA cape on and beat the fuck out of @twooodley live on @ESPN next week for your entertainment and my own personal pleasure? 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 15, 2020
Woodley says he is interested.
Woodley calls Covington’s bluff
Even though [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] says he’s willing to fight in the UFC on ESPN+ 29 main event, [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] claims he wasn’t serious.
Woodley says he accepted but that Covington said he was “just kidding.”
Burns in mix as possible Woodley opponent?
Fresh off a first-round TKO win over Demian Maia last Saturday, [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] hints that he’s been offered to step in and fight Tyron Woodley. All that awaits is for Woodley to accept.
The fight has being offered! As always I said yes! On my way to Miami! Can’t wait to as soon as a land tomorrow to have a @ufc contract on my email! Waiting on you @TWooodley to say YES! @danawhite @AliAbdelaziz00 @seanshelby 😤😤 Let’s go #AAA pic.twitter.com/hh8rH9cL3a
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 16, 2020
The fight has being offered! As always I said yes! On my way to Miami! Can’t wait to as soon as a land tomorrow to have a @ufc contract on my email! Waiting on you @TWooodley to say YES!
Cage Warriors to the rescue?
Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan tells MMA Junkie that he is willing to put previous UFC London fights on his card this Friday. Cage Warriors 113 is expected to go on behind closed doors.
“We have been trying to save a couple of the UFC London fights and have them compete at the show as contracted UFC fights on Cage Warriors,” Boylan said. “I’m just trying to help the fighters not miss out on competing. It may or may not happen, as it’s a fast-moving situation and trying to pull all the moving parts together is super tricky.”