This Week In MMA – Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez book returns, Jon Jones delays heavyweight leap

Take a look back on a week in MMA where former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones announced that he’s happy to delay his long-awaited move to the promotion’s heavyweight division by another year, claiming that a timely climb would only serve to benefit his divisional peers. Also hitting the headlines, an eye-catching expected featherweight title-eliminator between former champion, Max Holloway and the #3 ranked, Yair Rodriguez will headline a UFC Fight Night event on July 17th.

Beginning the week in not such ceremonious circumstances, Joshua Fabia, the former manager and coach of former UFC lightweight title challenger, Diego Sanchez aimed some notable accusations toward the Albuquerque native amid their professional split, claiming that Sanchez was influenced by the UFC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission to throw his July 2019 fight with Michael Chiesa.

Fabia also claimed that Sanchez has been dealing with substance abuse issues including Kratom and alcohol, as well as “thirty other substances“, and how he was acting as the New Mexico veteran’s sponsor. Fabia then explained that it was clear to see that he was the one who was being taken advantage of, and not Sanchez — for the last two years, in fact.

Reflecting on his disappointing UFC Vegas 27 defeat to the #3 ranked bantamweight challenger, Rob Font last weekend, former bantamweight best, Cody Garbrandt explained that he felt like he was battling himself throughout the clash with Font — as he suffered his fourth Octagon loss in his last five walks.

Recently minted UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira envisioned a potential premier title defence against either Dustin Poirier or Conor McGregor for him, and insisted that no matter whom he draws from the victor of that July 10th. headliner — he’ll need to work on his striking ability and sure that up first and foremost.

Former UFC welterweight champion and promotional alum, Tyron Woodley featured in a music video titled REDD (Swim) by fellow St. Louis native, Mai Lee this week — playing the R&B artist’s love interest and featuring prominently in the screening. 

In a series of tweets throughout the week, the above-mentioned, Jones confirmed that he would be willing to sit out until this time next year as he continues to prepare for a highly-anticipated move to the organization’s heavyweight division. The promotion is expected to run with a rematch between current division champion, Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 this August, amid rather public negotiation fallouts with Jones.

Giving his thoughts on reigning middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, former division pacesetter, Luke Rockhold, who is set to return to the Octagon before the culmination of the summer has claimed that the City Kickboxing mainstay is “beatable in so many ways“.

Streaking Bellator striker, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who sits at #2 in the official welterweight pile has claimed that he eventually wants to step foot under the UFC’s banner before the close of his professional career, outlining that he still has some work to accomplish under the Scott Coker-led promotion first, however. 

Booked for a mouthwatering UFC Fight Night main event on July 17th. — a featherweight title-eliminator between former division leader, Holloway and the returning Rodriguez. The victor is to the consensus anyway, the rightful challenger to either Alexander Volkanovski or Brian Ortega’s throne — with those two set to meet toward the tail end of this year with 145lbs spoils on the line. 

Commenting on the situation surrounding the above-mentioned, Sanchez and Fabia, UFC president, Dana White claimed that if Sanchez ever needed him for anything, all he needed to do was call him. Sanchez had previously claimed that he had attempted to set up a meeting with White for at least two years, ultimately to no avail. 

Slated for BKFC 19 on July 23rd. — a rematch between UFC alums, Paige VanZant and promotional newcomer, Rachael Ostovich is set. 

Off the back of his second round knockout loss to the aforenoted, Oliveira at UFC 262 earlier this month, the #4 ranked lightweight contender, Michael Chandler expressed his interest in finally standing opposite former interim division titleholder, Justin Gaethje, in what he believes in the most fan-friendly fight the promotion could put together at the moment. 

Taking Garbrandt to task over the course of five rounds last weekend, the above-noted New England Cartel standout, Font claimed that he wants to remain active within the bantamweight division landscape and that the “best-case scenario” for him would come in the form of an interim championship showdown against former undisputed titleholder, Petr Yan. 

UFC leader, White also claimed that he was unsure about the possibility of offering The Ultimate Fighter 1 victor, Sanchez a one-fight promotional return in a bid to complete his retirement tour, explaining that he wasn’t all that supportive of Sanchez’s originally penciled retirement clash against Donald Cerrone in the first place prior to his release.