It looks like Nate Diaz has responded to Tyron Woodley’s challenge for UFC 219. Also, there’s been a major breakthrough in the title fight many fans want to see…
Recent weeks have seen the rumor mill for UFC 219 churning with multiple possibilities. Prior to his outburst at Bellator 187, lightweight champion Conor McGregor was linked to the December 30 main event.
After he got done assaulting officials and allegedly getting removed from UFC 219, there were still options outside of ‘The Notorious.’ Next up came the reports of Nate Diaz’s UFC return.
Reportedly in talks for a comeback against UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, Diaz remained typically quiet. ‘The Chosen One’ issued a statement just yesterday, confirming he had signed the contract to fight Diaz and was simply waiting on his potential opponent.
Unfortunately, as per Ariel Helwani and Luke Thomas on the MMA Beat, Diaz has apparently turned down the title fight with Woodley:
Why do you think Nate Diaz is not taking the fight with welterweight champ Tyron Woodley? Watch #TheMMABeat LIVE: https://t.co/11sYrEm5Ug pic.twitter.com/Zb0V5HQQ8O
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) November 16, 2017
Damn It!
Talk about frustrating, but you have to respect Diaz holding out for the money he is worth, assuming that’s why he turned down Woodley. With McGregor sidelined for around six months, according to coach John, don’t be surprised if Diaz is potentially out even longer.
The 155-pound division continues to struggle in the absence of McGregor, with interim champion Tony Ferguson essentially doing the Irishman’s job. As for 170 pounds, Woodley has plenty of contenders in the absence of the unranked Diaz.
Anyway, back to UFC 219, and we now have a main event title fight. Again thanks to MMAFighting.com, Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm headlines the increasingly stacked December 30 pay-per-view:
Cyborg Defends Against Holm
Although negotiations for Cyborg vs. Holm appeared to have died recently, overnight it’s gone from zero to official at UFC 219. The Brazilian knockout artist gets her wish against fellow striker and former boxing champion Holm.
Widely considered the greatest female fighter alive, Cyborg is also the most avoided. When Germain De Randamie won the inaugural featherweight against ‘The Preacher’s Daughter,’ she literally vacated the bet rather than fight Cyborg.
Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza
Jimmie Rivera vs. TBA
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Carla Esparza
Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny
Gokhan Saki vs. Khalil Rountree
Matheus Nicolau vs. Louis Smolka
Myles Jury vs. Rick Glenn
Kamaru Usman vs. Emil Meek
Marc Diakiese vs. Dan Hooker
In other news, Fabricio Werdum’s attack on Colby Covington has led to the welterweight pressing charges. The former UFC heavyweight champion was filmed whacking ‘Chaos’ with a boomerang while in Australia, you literally couldn’t make this stuff up:
“He f*cked up,” Covington said. “There’s video and I speak the truth. He will be exposed soon, probably end up in Australia prison.”
“He wrote a check his ass can’t cash. He’s on video so all his lies will be told soon.”
If this all sounds a little familiar, it’s because Angela Magana essentially did the same with Cris Cyborg. After ridiculing Justino on social media, Magana called the cops when Cyborg punched her at the UFC athlete’s retreat.
This writers opinion; if you are willing to offend an entire nation of people, let alone a fellow fighter, you better get ready for a punch to the dome, or at least a boomerang.