A high stakes flyweight bout will now headline the UFC’s return to Atlantic City.

The promotion announced on Thursday that the scheduled matchup between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot has been promoted to the main event of UFC Atlantic City, which takes place March 30 at Boardwalk Hall.

UFC CEO Dana White originally announced that a welterweight contest between Sean Brady and Vicente Luque would be the main event, but the bout never fully materialized due to Brady dealing with an injury.

Blanchfield enters her second UFC headliner on an impressive nine-fight win streak, including a 6-0 start to her octagon run. “Cold Blooded” went 2-0 in 2023, including a main event finish of former world champ Jessica Andrade at UFC Vegas 69, along with a decision win over one-time title challenger Taila Santos at UFC Singapore this past August.

Fiorot hasn’t lost a fight since her pro debut in 2018, and is also 6-0 in the UFC. “The Beast” enters her first UFC main event coming off of her highest profile win to date against former champ Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris in September.

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Just days after his controversial demolition of social media standout Seanko, Sean Strickland is ready to go head-to-head with another influencer.

The former UFC middleweight champion saw his first title reign end last time out in a razor-close decision defeat to Dricus Du Plessis. The bout was so close, that fans are petitioning for a rematch between the 185ers to take place next, with UFC 300 rumored to be the ideal destination.

However, his successes inside the octagon don’t seem to phase some internet celebrities. Following his spar with Sneako and subsequent back-and-forth with Jake Paul, Sean Strickland is now preparing to teach another online personality a lesson.

“You all wanna see a dead body?” Strickland said as he shared a picture of his message to Bryce Hall. “God this is the only thing I’ve ever wanted. Please, please. I never ask you for anything. Please!”

You all wanna see a dead body??? God this is the only thing I've ever wanted…. Please please I never ask you for anything….. please!!! pic.twitter.com/nF7FFrMMDl

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 12, 2024

After Bryce Hall responded with a post of his own on social media, Sean Strickland wasted no time in firing back.

“I’m so sick of these f***s, didn’t know this man existed until the other night. Please, Jesus, give me the strength to not catch a case if I ever see this maggot of a man in person.”

Despite admitting that a mixed martial arts bout between the two wouldn’t go in his favor, Hall claimed there was nothing great about Strickland’s boxing.

“Sean CTE Strickland is mad that I haven’t sparred him in boxing yet. [To be honest], yes. You would hurt me if we were doing MMA (which we’re not).”

“If we only use our hands, there’s nothing that’s impressive about you. I’m all in.”

Sean CTE Strickland is mad that I haven’t sparred him in boxing yet. Tbh yes, you would hurt me if we were doing MMA ( which we’re not ) but if we only use our hands there’s nothing that’s impressive about you. I’m all in https://t.co/EYnklZFol4

— Bryce Hall (@BryceHall) February 12, 2024

Bryce Hall continued, issuing a proposal of his own. If the two do spar and Hall comes away victorious, he wants Strickland to do a TikTok dance.

“If I beat you in a spar, you have to do a TikTok dance, Sean Strickland.”

If I beat you in a spar you have to do a tiktok dance @SStricklandMMA

— Bryce Hall (@BryceHall) February 12, 2024

Related: Jake Paul proposes $ 1 million bet, Sean Strickland responds with death threat

Most recently, Strickland asked fans whether he could kill both Bryce Hall and Jake Paul if the fight took place in Texas. In Texas, citizens can compete in mutual combat, though those involved have to consent and no serious harm can be done.

“Can I kill Bryce Hall in Texas? Mutual combat and stand your ground state. There you go, Jake Paul. Also, can you bring the million or more? You won’t be needing it after.”

Can I kill @BryceHall in Texas? Mutual combat and stand your ground state….. There you go @jakepaul….. also can you bring the million or more… You won't be needing it after lmao… fuck I wish…. pic.twitter.com/1zmvY2Z8kB

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 12, 2024

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Hiatus over
| BJPenn.com

UFC

Volkanovski to the rescue? ‘The Great’ is ready to turn around quick after UFC 298 and headline UFC 300 if needed.

Alexander Volkanovski is still game when it comes to last-minute bookings.

You’d think after the way his UFC 294 fight against Islam Makhachev went, he wouldn’t be down to accept any more fights without a full training camp. But during promotion for his UFC 298 featherweight title fight against Ilia Topuria, he confirmed he’d be willing to turn around and fight again at UFC 300.

“I’m more than happy to fight in the UFC 300 main event,” Volkanovski said (via Sports Illustrated). “It wouldn’t be a featherweight fight. It would have to be a lightweight opponent, and I’d be more than happy to take that on.”

UFC 300 still doesn’t have a main event, and a lot of wild card fighters are coming out and clarifying their ability to compete on April 13th — which is less than two months away. UFC CEO has said he’d announce the card’s headliner after UFC 298. Which technically makes Volk a slight possibility.

Alexander “The Great” sees a big difference between a UFC 300 turnaround and his last-minute UFC 294 rematch with Makhachev.

“I’d been undisciplined in the months leading up to that, and you’ll never see that again,” he said. “I’m fine with it. A lot of people talk the talk, saying they’ll fight anyone, anywhere. I know I’ll do it. That was a terrible circumstance, the worst in my past 13 years. But I backed myself.”

“I knew I wasn’t ready, but I told myself I’d be the most dangerous I’d ever been because I knew I couldn’t win by decision. There was no way I was going five rounds, so I went for it.”

That fight ended with Volkanovski getting head kick KO’d three minutes into the bout.

Ilia Topuria has been extremely cocky coming into UFC 298, acting like victory is all but assumed. Alexander Volkanovski hasn’t been as directly vocal, but this statement about fighting at UFC 300 implies he’s confident in an easy win without much damage.

UFC 298 goes down on Saturday February 17th. Keep it locked to MMA Mania for all the news and results coming out of that card, and the post-fight press conference afterward.

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You can find his fight with Jack on YouTube if you search Darcy vendy jack Della. My friends and I always thought Darcy's knee caused jacks nose shape but looking at it now it may have been a bit bent before the fight started. Obviously no disrespect to Jack, I'm celebrating my boy by mentioning Jack because Jack is a fuckin superstar. submitted by /u/OtiseMaleModel [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Brian Ortega is ready to cause some chaos within the 145-pound ranks.

It’s been a tough couple of years for Ortega since his rise through the featherweight division as an undefeated 14-0 superstar. The 32-year-old submission wizard has gone 1-3 in his four fights that have followed his first title shot against Max Holloway in December 2018.

Ortega last fought in July 2022 when he suffered a shoulder injury in round one of his UFC Long Island main event vs. Yair Rodriguez. Therefore, the result was a TKO loss on “T-City’s” record and he will seek redemption in a rematch at UFC Mexico City next weekend. This Saturday, however, the division’s crown is on the line between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Ilia Topuria. The latter has already said he won’t be giving any past title challengers like Ortega a future title shot as long as he holds gold.

“You have to win the belt for that to happen. That was my first thought,” Ortega told CBS Sports when he heard Topuria’s comments. “Let’s say you do win and you’re not going to give us a shot, then I’m going to make sure to ruin every contender. Simple as that. One, you have to win it. Two, I’m going to take all the contenders away from you. If you don’t want to fight us then I’m going to take all your people.”

The first Rodriguez fight is the only non-title fight he’s lost and it was under uniquely unfortunate circumstances, so Ortega has proven to be capable of his goal when active. Losses to all-time greats Max Holloway and Volkanovski are nothing to be ashamed of.

In Ortega’s Holloway title tilt, it was a similar position to Topuria who is also 14-0 ahead of his first title fight. There are still plenty of questions out on the European finisher, Ortega has his own, but comparing the situations, he leans towards the defending champion.

“There’s always the question of, ‘Is he ready or is he not?’ Skillfully he’s looked good against the people he’s faced,” Ortega said. “He’s technically sound. He’s the full package when it comes to striking, wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You can’t look at him and say he has one full weakness that’s exploitable. But I do believe that guys such as ‘Volk’ have a different type of level of chess.

“That’s why these fights are amazing to watch. You have someone confident, someone who is ready as if he’s already the champ and defended it three times. And then you have the guy who has been at the top of the mountain and is kicking everyone down. It’s a good fight. A lot of questions will be answered after this weekend but it’s hard to go against ‘Volk.’”

TOP STORIES

Rivals. Ian Machado Garry unloads on Sean Strickland, Colby Covington for past comments

Legals. Cain Velasquez attempted murder trial pushed back again, attorneys discussing possible plea deal

Stakes. Henry Cejudo confirms he’ll ‘100 percent’ retire with UFC 298 loss: ‘This is all or nothing’

Sure. Henry Cejudo, Eric Albarracin explain real split behind viral breakup prank: ‘A Shakespeare romantic thing’

Turf. Cédric Doumbé fires back at Benoit Saint Denis saying he’s not the face of MMA in France

Return. Paige VanZant announces she accepted boxing match with date expected in May or June

Done. Jack Hermansson wants out of UFC APEX: ‘Experience is nowhere near to be fighting in front of a huge crowd’

Points. Patricio Pitbull prefers Bellator over PFL, not a fan of ‘bullsh*t’ season scoring system

VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

UFC 298 Media Day.

Embedded 3.

Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo preview.

History of undefeated UFC title challengers.

Biaggio’s first pro-fight camp.

CCC Road to Redemption.

Mokaev at Bangtao.

LISTEN UP

No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss if Ilia Topuria is the man to finally dethrone Alexander Volkanovski.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Nice.

Love in the air.

Cruz-Love

Variety is the spice of life.

Cali in February.

GSP <3

Media day.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

James Llontop (14-2) vs. Gabe Green (11-5); UFC Fight Night, April 27

FINAL THOUGHTS

Fair plan on Ortega’s part. He’ll just have to bump up those activity numbers for that to be applicable.

Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.

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Before he was the Irish megastar worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Conor McGregor was rockin’ a fake Rolex.

McGregor is not just the most successful mixed martial artist of all time. He’s one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. But it wasn’t always like that for the Irishman. When he was 17 years old, he moved from Crumlin to Lucan, Dublin, Ireland, where he worked as an apprentice plumber. In 2006, he began training in MMA alongside Tom Egan and made his pro debut on the regional scene in Ireland two years later.

In 2013, Conor McGregor stepped inside the Octagon for the very first time against Marcus Brimage at an event broadcast on the now-defunct Fuel TV.

The rest is history.

“You ever hear the term, you gotta fake it til you make it? Before anything, I was getting the fake ones,” McGregor revealed in an interview with GQ Sports. “I was rockin’ the fake ones proud. Funny enough, my first ever real watch that I got was a gift post-UFC Dublin, which was in [2014] and it was a gift for me from Lorenzo Fertitta who was the owner of the UFC at the time. He gifted me a solid gold Rolex Sky Dweller.

“So after the belt, I won the belt. Got a knockout in the first round. It was a mega-successful event. We all went out to dinner after with the Fertitta family and they gifted me this Rolex. It was my first real watch. Before that, I was at the press conference wearing a fake one. You gotta fake it til you make it.”

Fast forward to 2024, Conor McGregor is responsible for eight of the 10 highest-grossing pay-per-views of all time — his iconic clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov being the only instance where the promotion eclipsed two million buys.

McGregor has not competed since he suffered a brutal leg injury in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021, but UFC CEO Dana White has guaranteed that the Irishman will return to the cage in 2024.

LowKickMMA.com

UFC

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts