Cris Cyborg seems to have taken issue with comments Cat Zingano made in an interview yesterday.
Zingano claimed she’d be open to fighting Cyborg, provided she agreed to independent drug testing prior to the bout.
Cyborg, not one to mince words, took to Twitter to air her feelings toward the former UFC featherweight.
Speaking at the Bellator 282 press conference, Zingano clarified that a fight with Cyborg was not offered to her, despite claims from Scott Coker that it had, and that she’s happy to wait for the right time.
“I know everyone’s excited about that fight, herself included, myself included. When it comes, it’ll just be that much sweeter.”
The AllStar MMA roundup
- Adrian Yanez on potential Sean O’Malley clash: “I stop him, I love this fight for myself”
- Road to UFC: Women’s MMA pioneer reflects on her journey to the Octagon
- Follow John Hyon Ko’s journey as he prepares to take an amateur fight in the Fight or Flight Blog Series: Phase 2
The best of the rest
- Cat Zingano wants independent drug testing to fight Cris Cyborg: ‘To make sure it’s a fair fight’ – MMAFighting.com
- Julianna Pena explains lack of trash talk at Amanda Nunes on The Ultimate Fighter 30: ‘Why kick a dog when it’s down?’ – MMAFighting.com
- Chris Curtis says ‘f*ck no’ to trying to grapple with Rodolfo Vieira at UFC on ESPN 38 – MMAJunkie.com
- Ciryl Gane expects interim title shot with victory at UFC Paris, whether ‘it’s Blaydes, Stipe or Jones’ – MMAMania.com
- Joe Lauzon responds to Dana White’s comments about not re-booking Donald Cerrone fight; “For me right now, it’s Cowboy or bust” – BJPenn.com
The call
Damien ‘Beat Down’ Brown is back with another take for this weekend’s card – this time, the co-main event between veteran Neil Many and surging prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov.
I’m a massive Magny fan but how can you look past Rakmonov. I think he stays undefeated this weekend.
Damien Brown to The AllStar’s Chris Ferguson
With the odds pretty well juiced to the gills on the ‘Nomad’, I’d suggest looking at taking him in a parlay with another fighter you’re high on – Damien said to keep an eye on Chris Curtis as an underdog. That would be my take too.
Neil Magny (26-8) vs Shavkat Rakhmonov (15-0)
The soapbox
Merab and Thug Nasty getting some work in:
Nate takes aim at everyone:
Kevin Holland really angling for the Diaz lottery:
Bellator’s potential star Danny Sabatello has been going scorched earth on his upcoming opponent:
The morning view
DC addresses recent criticism and the Phil Hawes incident:
The Weasle breaks down the happenings of the UFC’s bantamweight division:
Izzy and Volk have a laugh:
Some of the best ‘copy-cat’ finishes by In The Pocket MMA:
Done deals
This week
- Loma Lookboonme to fight Diana Belbita at September 17th UFC event (per John Hyon Ko)
- Marcin Tybura to fight Alexandr Romanov at UFC 278 on August 20th (per UFC)
- Amir Albazi to fight Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278 on August 20th (per UFC)
- Lucie Pudilova to fight Wu Yanan at UFC 278 on August 20th (per UFC)
- AJ Fletcher to fight Ange Loose at UFC 278 on August 20th (per UFC)
- Leonardo Santos to fight Jared Gordon at UFC 278 on August 20th (per UFC)
- Dominick Cruz to fight Chito Vera at UFC San Diego on August 13th (Per Carlos Legaspi/ESPN Deportes)
- Nasrat Haqparast to fight John Makdessi at UFC Paris on September 3rd (per Marcel Dorff)
- Shamil Gamzatov to fight Misha Cirkunov at August 6th UFC event (per MMA Fight Universe)
- Randy Costa to fight Guido Cannetti at October 1st UFC event (per Carlos Legaspi/ESPN Deportes)
The Last Word
A quick note on the numbering of UFC Fight Night cards in recent times:
It’s f*cking ridiculous.
As anyone who covers the sport in any context would tell you, keeping track of the many titles the ‘free to air’ cards go by – whether it’s UFC on ESPN 38, UFC Vegas 57, UFC Fight Night: whatever the f*ck – is a nightmare. It chops and changes like the wind, and I’m forgetful as is.
The pandemic years have been somewhat kind to our fair sport in terms of popularity, but this is one of the negative residual effects we’re left to deal with.
On this day in MMA…
On June 23, 2002, a 27-year-old Anderson Silva made make his Pride FC debut opposite Alex Stiebling at Pride 21: Demolition in Japan.
Silva would win the bout by doctor stoppage just 1:23 into the first round after a shin to the head opened a significant cut above Stiebling’s eye.
