FRIDAY NEWS DIGEST 6/2: Dana White gets snippy as he says GSP vs. Bisping won’t happen, Liddell update (w/Analysis)

By Cole Henry, MMATorch contributor

Michael Bisping (photo credit Jake Roth © USA Today Sports)

White: GSP vs. Bisping not happening

Michael Bisping has stated recently that he thinks it’s possible that his potential fight with Georges St. Pierre is still a possibility. Dana White seems to disagree. On a recent episode of UFC Unfiltered, White stated that with the announcement of the Interim Middleweight Title fight, Bisping will have a clear challenger soon, and St. Pierre once healthy will fight the UFC Welterweight Champion. White sounded more than a bit salty when saying, and I quote: “I don’t wait for anybody. The world moves on.” This was, of course, spoken in reference to GSP saying that he would not be ready to fight until October.

Henry’s Analysis: This can’t be good news to either fighter. Bisping’s best shot at a victory in his next fight would have been against GSP, and St. Pierre’s best shot at a win would be against Bisping. Bisping will instead have to settle for Robert Whitaker or Yoel Romero, two fighters who are more than capable of giving him problems at this stage of his career. With that being said, Bisping was ready and willing to fight as early as July, but St. Pierre just wasn’t ready. GSP will now have to fight Tyron Woodley, or perhaps Damian Maia, and he will have to miss out on possibly becoming a two-division champion. Perhaps White is just annoyed, and this fight is still booked at some point but, as White mentioned, the booking of an Interim Title fight makes this seem unlikely.

Jon Fitch vs. Brian Foster will headline inaugural PFL event

And just like that it was gone… The World Series of Fighting is no more, but it’s not dead, it’s just reborn. The Professional Fighters League will now host many of the fighters who formerly competed in WSOF, but under a new tournament format. While the tournaments won’t start until 2018, the PFL will hold an inaugural event at a NASCAR race in June. The four-fight event will be headlined by a fight between the final WSOF Welterweight Champion, Jon Fitch, and Brian Foster. (SOURCE)

Henry’s Analysis: I hate to be a downer about this, but I feel like this is already starting in the wrong direction. First, “Professional Fighters League” sounds like it popped out of a generic promotion naming machine. It’s a step down from the World Series of Fighting name, in my opinion, which was unique. Having your first event at a race car show seems like something that would have been done in the ’90s. Bellator did it recently with several unknown prospects, but not with a major show, which is what PFLs debut show should be. Just because some guy likes fast cars does not mean that he will like fighting, and I’m just not sure that I get the point of doing stuff like this. Now the tournament format hasn’t started yet, and it’s possible that this is just a test run, but I do wish I was more impressed with what PFL has shown us so far.

Scott Coker has lunch with Chuck Liddell

When Scott Coker said, he would speak to Chuck Liddell, he wasn’t kidding, but perhaps the reason for doing so is not what we expected. Scott Coker sat down with Chuck Liddell today to discuss bringing the UFC Hall of Famer into the company, but not as an active fighter. Instead, Liddell would be used as a brand ambassador, in a role like Royce Gracie’s. Liddell apparently still has quite a following, so this should be seen as a potentially good move for Bellator. (SOURCE)

Chan Sung Jung out of UFC 214 with injury

An undisclosed injury has taken Chan Sung Jung out of his scheduled bout with Ricardo Lamas at UFC 214. This would have been a clash between two former title challengers, and would have served as Jung’s second bout back after the completion of his military service. The UFC is searching for a replacement opponent for Lamas. (SOURCE)

NYSAC denies Anthony Johnson UFC 210 appeal

If you’ve been holding your breath, fill your lungs because the wait is over. As reported by Brett Okamoto, the New York State Athletic Commission has rejected Anthony Johnson’s appeal, and the case of “towel gate” can be closed once and for all. (Assuming legal action isn’t taken by Johnson’s attorneys). The appeal was filed after Johnson lost a UFC Light Heavyweight Title fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 and after a controversial weigh-in where Cormier was accused of using a towel to aid him in making weight.

-Sara McMann vs. Ketlen Vieira announced for UFC 214.

UFC 212 Weight Ins

MAIN CARD

Champ Jose Aldo (145) vs. interim Max Holloway (145) – featherweight title unification bout

Claudia Gadelha (116) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115)

Vitor Belfort (185) vs. Nate Marquardt (186)

Paulo Borrachinha (186) vs. Oluwale Bamgbose (184)

Yancy Medeiros (171) vs. Erick Silva (171)

PRELIMINARIES

Raphael Assuncao (136) vs. Marlon Moraes (136)

Antonio Carlos Junior (185) vs. Eric Spicely (184)

Johnny Eduardo (136) vs. Matthew Lopez (136)

Iuri Alcantara (136) vs. Brian Kelleher (134)

UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS

Jamie Moyle (116) vs. Viviane Pereira (113)

Luan Chagas (171) vs. Jim Wallhead (170)

Marco Beltran (126) vs. Deiveson Alcantara (126)


NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: THURSDAY NEWS DIGEST 6/1: Apparently Gustafsson is deep in Jon Jones’s head (w/Hiscoe’s Analysis)

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