MMA Breaking News: Urijah Faber Vs Frankie Edgar, Daniel Cormier Vs Ryan Bader and a 99% Made Battle Between Donald Cerrone & Khabib Nurmagomedov
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By Barnaby Kellaway
After a week in which the greatest mixed martial artist of all time tested positive for performance enhancing drugs it was essential that the UFC did something to put the smiles back on the faces of its enduring fans. It has gone some way to doing that within the last twenty four hours by announcing three intriguing match ups.
First up the announcement of Urijah Faber versus Frankie Edgar to headline the first ever UFC event in the Phillipines on May 16th. This is a fight between legendary former champions that fans have been fantasizing about for years.
Only a fortuitous series of events have made the fight possible. Many, including the man himself, believed Edgar was next in line for a title shot but the star power of Conor McGregor meant he was overlooked. Then last week Faber’s upcoming fight against Raphael Assuncao was cancelled due to a training injury incurred back in December.
Overall we can be very happy with the eventual outcome.
Soon after Daniel Cormier announced that he’d be fighting Ryan Bader in his home state of Louisiana on June 6th: ‘DC is going back to New Orleans and I’m bringing the UFC with me’.
Many had slated Cormier to fight Alexander Gustafsson next seeing as they were both coming off losses and they sit next to one another in the rankings. However UFC president Dana White has hinted that the two contenders will face each other in a number one contender fight if they win their next bouts.
It is a good matchup for Cormier after coming off the first loss of his professional career. Whilst Bader is a legitimate top ten competitor Cormier should win the fight comfortably. After such a high profile and devastating defeat to Jon Jones this is what DC needs.
Finally came the (almost) announcement that Donald Cerrone will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 187. I say almost because although this fight is announced it’s not yet official. But both fighters want it and the deal is 99% done.
Of the three announcements this is the most important. Whoever wins this fight will certainly get a shot at the lightweight title. It’s not hard to see why, both men are in championship shape. Cowboy, probably the hottest fighter in the UFC at the moment, is on a seven fight winning streak having fought twice this year already. Whilst Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since April the he holds an undefeated record and has looked unstoppable in each of his UFC encounters.
Despite the rough week behind us we can at least look forward with eagerness to three juicy contests. Hopefully they’re not cheating too…
