– Alistair Overeem appeared on Wednesday’s “UFC Tonight” just days ahead of returning to the Octagon to meet Ben Rothwell. That fight is the co-main event for Friday’s UFC Fight Night 50. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion has been in the news for weeks concerning Jon Jones.
During a recent training session in New Mexico at Jackson’s MMA, Jones went down with a knee injury. The UFC light heavyweight champion has already had surgery, and is scheduled to return in January to face Daniel Cormier. Overeem was the person “Bones” was working out with when the injury occurred.
“It was very innocent. It happened in warm up. It was a freak accident,” he said. “Nothing intentionally happened. I was bummed, too, that the fight isn’t happening.”
Overeem only recently joined the gym, leaving his former training facilities in Florida and the Netherlands to work with the likes of Jones, Donald Cerrone, Tim Kennedy and countless others.
“I’m learning every day. I went in with an open mindset. It was the right choice,” Overeem said. “Everyone is fantastic. I’m expecting good results from the high altitude training.”
– Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua appears set to make his return to action, as “UFC Tonight” reported Rua is interested in a bout with Jimi Manuwa.
Rua (22-9) is just 1-3 in his last four, including a March third round TKO loss to Dan Henderson. Manuwa (14-1) suffered his first career defeat when he was stopped by Alexander Gustafsson that same month. The two could be set for the November 8 UFC card in Brazil.
– Alexander Gustafsson appeared dead-set on waiting for his shot at the UFC light heavyweight title. Now, “The Mauler” is starting to warm up to the idea of taking a fight while champion Jon Jones recovers and fights Daniel Cormier.
In a report on “UFC Tonight,” Gustafsson’s manager stated his fighter is willing to take on someone while he waits to cash in his title shot. Rumors of a potential Gustafsson-Anthony Johnson bout have been floating around.
Gustafsson (16-2) suffered a knee injury in training as he was preparing for a September fight with Jones. After Cormier stepped in as a replacement, Jones went down with his own injury and the bout was postponed until January.
– – Current UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is set to make history, as “Showtime” will grace the cover of Wheaties. Pettis won an online vote by fans to earn the breakfast cereal box cover.
“This is huge for the sport!!” Pettis wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to everyone who voted. December 6th I will silence the critics.”
Pettis is set to make his first title defense in December against Gilbert Melendez. The two will also be the coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, which debuts later this month.
– A pair of MMA events will go head-to-head Friday night, as UFC Fight Night 50 airs on FOX Sports 1 and Bellator 123 is broadcast on Spike TV. Weigh-ins for both shows took place Thursday evening. Ironically enough, both fight cards take place from Connecticut.
The UFC card features a five-round middleweight battle between former Strikefore champions Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Gegard Mousasi, along with heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Ben Rothwell.
For Bellator, they will headline with featherweight champion Pat Curran meeting Patricio “Pitbull” Freire for a second time. Also, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Bobby Lashley and Cheick Kongo are all in action. On both cards, only one fighter – Charles Oliveira – missed weight.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 50 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Main Card (FOX Sports 1/10 p.m. ET)
Gegard Mousasi (xxx lbs.) vs. Ronaldo Souza (185)
Alistair Overeem (248) vs. Ben Rothwell (264)
Matt Mitrione (255) vs. Derrick Lewis (264)
Joe Lauzon (155) vs. Michael Chiesa (156)
Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1/7 p.m. ET)
Nik Lentz (146) vs. Charles Oliveira (150)
John Moraga (126) vs. Justin Scoggins (126)
Al Iaquinta (155) vs. Rodrigo Damm (156)
Chris Camozzi (186) vs. Rafael Natal (185)
Chris Beal (135) vs. Tateki Matsuda (135)
Chas Skelly (145) vs. Sean Soriano (145)
BELLATOR 123 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Main Card (Spike TV/8 p.m. ET)
Bellator Featherweight Championship
Pat Curran (144.75 lbs.) vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (145) for Curran’s championship
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (202.5) vs. Dustin Jacoby (203.75)
Tamdan McCrory (184) vs. Brennan Ward (186)
Bobby Lashley (248) vs. Josh Burns (262.75)
Cheick Kongo (238) vs. Lavar Johnson (249.75)
Preliminary Card (Spike.com/6 p.m. ET)
Scott Cleve (145.5) vs. Matt Bessette (146)
Brandon Fleming (136) vs. Blair Tugman (136)
Phillipe Martins (146) vs. Pete Rogers, Jr. (144)
Mike Mucitelli (204) vs. Mark Griffin (204)
Perry Filkins (186) vs. Dan Cramer (185)
Mike Wessel (253.75) vs. Josh Diekmann (242)
Steve Garcia (135) vs. Kin Moy (135)
Marvin Maldonado (135.25) vs. Rico Disciullo (135.5)
