After Conor McGregor’s first-round demolition of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, UFC president Dana White said a rematch between “The Notorious” and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is the fight to make next. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
On opening night at the UFC’s newest facility, the UFC Apex, the promotion signed Punahele Soriano and Yorgan De Castro to contracts after their performances on Dana White’s Contender Series. UFC president Dana White explains why he signed the fighters he did.
The UFC Apex will officially open as Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series kicks off on June 19. Here’s a look at what the promotion’s newest facility in Las Vegas has to offer.
UFC President Dana White gave the Review-Journal an exclusive interview where he spoke about the promotion’s new facility, the UFC Apex, their new deal with ESPN, when Conor McGregor may return to the octagon and more.
UFC lightweight stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson again have been booked to fight. The bout will headline UFC 223 on April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. UFC officials will formally announce the event at a Friday news conference in Boston. UFC president Dana White discussed the bout during a radio appearance Wednesday in Boston, saying he expected the fight to be in April. Ferguson holds the interim belt, and Nurmagomedov is the unquestioned top contender, but Conor McGregor still has the title in the division. White has said McGregor, who last fought in the UFC in November 2016, could be stripped of the title if he doesn’t fight again soon. The UFC 223 bout will mark the fourth time Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have been scheduled to fight. Ferguson won the interim title with a submission of Kevin Lee in December, his 10th straight victory. Nurmagomedov is 25-0 overall, 9-0 in the UFC.
Bantamweight competitor Sean O’Malley earned a contract with the UFC when he knocked out Alfred Khashakyan in the second episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.
1. A Las Vegas police officer used a Taser on a man 7 times before using a chokehold for more than a minute Sunday before his death. According to police, officer Kenneth Lopera believed Tashi Brown was attempting to carjack someone outside of The Venetian when Lopera used a Taser on Brown 7 times, struck him and administered a chokehold before Brown became unresponsive. The driver of the truck says he didn’t feel he was being carjacked and Brown would not have faced any charges had he survived. Officer Lopera is currently on paid leave while Brown’s death is investigated.
2. Henderson police chief Patrick Moers faces an internal investigation after he sent out mailers to local businesses promoting Friends of Henderson Police Department Foundation, which Moers said was the department’s only authorized fundraising group. Henderson Mayor Debra March said she was concerned by the mailer and a spokesman with the police department says the city is reviewing its policies in regards to charitable activities.
3. UFC president Dana White and Conor McGregor have agreed on a deal to fight boxer Floyd Mayweather. White said late Wednesday that UFC and McGregor came to terms on a deal and now they must work on a deal with Mayweather’s team. Terms have yet to be released.
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