SUNDAY NEWS DIGEST 11/12: Bisping replaces Silva in UFC Fight 122 main event, Patricio Freire out of Bellator 188, Poirier wants rematch with Alvarez

Bisping replaces Silva in UFC Fight 122 main event

Michael Bisping has agreed to step in for Anderson Silva on three weeks’ notice and will face Kelvin Gastelum in the main event at UFC Fight Night 122. Anderson Silva was pulled from the card last week when he was flagged with a potential USADA violation. Bisping will need a doctor’s clearance in order to compete due to a 30 day medical suspension stemming from his UFC 217 loss to Georges St-Pierre.

Grocke’s POV: So much for all the retirement talk. While I commend Bisping for wanting to get back in the cage after losing his title, I don’t think this is a good idea. Sometimes fighters need to be saved from themselves; this is one of those times. It’s just too soon.

Patricio Freire out of Bellator 188

Bellator Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire has pulled out of his title fight against Daniel Weichel. Freire was forced to pull out due to multiple injuries and posted a statement on Instagram.

(Em português nos comentários) I’m sad to announce I’ll no longer be fighting in Israel next week. Multiple injuries prevent me to perform. A couple months ago due to a training accident I suffered a serious injury and started treating it immediately. I had to stop training for a few weeks and then I was able to start with several limitations. But due to those, other parts of my body were overcharged and new injuries kept piling up. I’ve been doing physical therapy three times a day, I was lent a 25k dollars machine to sleep with every day, and although I wasn’t in my best condition I had no intention to pull out. In all my years in Bellator I only pulled out of a fight once due to a hand fracture. Up until Wednesday the fight was 100% on. On Thursday came the doubt as one of the injuries aggravated. I deliberated with my team what to do up to 2am. I decided to test myself on Friday on my last sparring session. And then it became obvious I had no condition to step up in that cage. It’d be a disrespect to me, to the fans, to my opponent and to Bellator. I’ll have to take 30 days off and then I’ll be able to start training again. I plan to fight in February at the latest and defend my belt against Daniel Weichel. See you all soon.

A post shared by @patriciopitbull on Nov 12, 2017 at 11:04am PST

Grocke’s POV: The injury bug has finally made it to Bellator. After several UFC fighters were forced to pull out of fights, now we have one in Bellator pulling out. This is unfortunate; I was looking forward to this fight.

Poirier wants rematch with Alvarez

Dustin Poirier wants the rematch against Eddie Alvarez he feels he was cheated out of. Poirier will be pulling for Alvarez when he faces Justin Gaethje at UFC 218 in hopes to get another crack at the former UFC champion.

“I hope Eddie wins, so we can build this up to what it should be. I should have (had) an automatic rematch. He shouldn’t have been rewarded with a TV show and more publicity and another big fight against another ranked guy.

“He cheated and got out of a fight that he was losing, and he should have been forced to run it back with me.

“I’m the guy who got robbed in that fight,” Poirier said. “(Alvarez) got rewarded.”

LFA 27 Results

Robert Watley over Daryl Wilson by TKO – Punches (4:32 of Round 3)

Ryan Spann over Myron Dennis by TKO – Strikes (3:08 of Round 1)

Alex Hernandez over Derrick Adkins by TKO – Strikes (1:53 of Round 3)

Kendrick Latchman over Tyler Shinn by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Ed Cline over Levi Queen by Submission – Guillotine Choke (2:11 of Round 3)

Kyle Driscoll over Ken Coulter by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

ONE Championship 64 Results

Martin Nguyen over Eduard Folayang by Knockout – Punches (2:20 of Round 2)

Adriano Moraes over Danny Kingad by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (4:45 of Round 1)

Kevin Belingon over Kevin Chung by Unanimous Decision

Alex Silva over Hayato Suzuki by Submission – Armbar (1:22 Round 1)

Reece McLaren over Anatpong Bunrad by Submission – D’Arce Choke (4:52 of Round 1)

ZhiKang Zhao over Thai Rithy by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (2:31 of Round 1)

Gina Iniong over Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol by TKO – Strikes (2:12 of Round 2)

Joshua Pacio over Roy Doliguez by Knockout  – Spinning Back Fist (0:38 of Round 2)

Chao Xie over Kelvin Ong by TKO – Strikes (1:48 of Round 1)

Xuewen Peng over Phat Soda by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (2:15 of Round 1)

MMA News Notebook

Mirko Cro Cop is coming out of retirement and will face Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at Rizin FF 9: World Grand Prix Final Round.

Frank Mir vs. Fedor Emelianenko is close to being finalized for Bellator’s heavyweight tournament.

NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS NEWS: Holloway vs. Aldo 2 to headline UFC 218, Mike Mazzulli releases statement regarding McGregor, Anderson Silva fails an USADA test