Daily Update: Bisping vs. Rockhold at UFC 199, NJPW, Cyborg to 135?

  • F4W Staff
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In MMA, you never know when injury is going to lead to opportunity…even when that opportunity may be something better served up at a later date.

In Michael Bisping’s case, that opportunity is a much-awaited shot at the UFC middleweight title, something he has worked for and pined for since coming off the TUF show so many years ago. Every time he got close, an ill-timed loss would put him back in line. But coming off three straight wins — including one over one of the best of all time — and with other top contenders hurt, Bisping took his opportunity.

Cue imposing music. That opportunity comes in less than three weeks time at UFC 199 and against a man who is peaking at the right time and one that has soundly beaten him before in champion Luke Rockhold. When the lines open, Bisping will undoubtedly be an underdog. He hasn’t been training for a fight and three weeks is not the camp a title challenger would ever want.

But stranger things have happened and as we know, anything can happen in a fight. Bisping will talk the the talk, and him even getting a title shot is, at least, an interesting storyline going into 199. Unfortunately, the chances of a happy story book ending aren’t great for the British standout, but that’s why outcomes are never won on paper.

[Josh Nason]

THE ROUND UP

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Figure Four Weekly 5/16/2016: WWE concussion lawsuit deposition takes a strange turn – Details on the developments in WWE’s concussion lawsuit, and more. Find out all the details in this weeks issue of Figure Four Weekly.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE: May 16, 2016 Wrestling Observer newsletter: Potential UFC sale, WWE releases, plus tons of news

Our lead story updates the talks of a UFC sale, plus an updated look at how the WWE is doing as a business, a look at WWE cuts, the booking behind the ROH Global Wars PPV and how New Japan and ROH are working together even more closely than on the surface, Global Wars coverage, a look at the status of a lot of ROH talent, coverage of the UFC debut in Holland, the hidden story of just how much of the male audience has been lost by WWE, as well as what WWE can learn from the NBA, and historical bios on Billy Wicks and Kato Kung Lee.

There is also a look at the ESPN story on the potential sale of the UFC, what we know is legit, numbers being thrown around, who actually owns UFC, Dana White’s reaction to the story, moves UFC has made, Dana White’s long-term future if there is a sale, timing of the sale and sustaining the brand popularity.  Plus there’s also a look at the various companies listed that are in talks of buying.

An update on WWE financials is in this issue, plus a look at the WWE Network numbers, what last year’s patterns tell us about the numbers, the company’s profits and losses, how well every division does for WWE and what is the most important for the bottom line, how well the company is doing financially compared to last year, what is projected by WWE this year for the WrestleMania quarter, update on injured wrestlers and their returns, Vince McMahon talks WWE injuries, and how much cash on hand the company has right now.

There is also a look at how WWE is going to be changing how it reports information and what information they are going to be keeping secret as compared to the past. Also, there is a look at the dichotomy between social media numbers and WWE network subscribers and what it says.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS

NJPW announced early Wednesday they will put on three daily matches for the Bushiroad’s Charaexpo in Singapore’s Expo Hall 7 on July 9-10. Bushiroad owner Kidani and Tetsuya Naito were in attendance. Naito cut a post-announcement promo on Kidani, challenging him to show up at the NJPW Dominion show on 6/19. Reader Alvin Lim sent along the following:

9 July:

  • Finlay v Bushi
  • Gedo and Okada v Evil and Naito
  • Yano, Yoshihashi and Goto v Tanahashi, Juice Robinson and Magabe

10 July:

  • Finlay v Robinson
  • Tanahashi and Magabe v Yano and Yoshihashi
  • Naito, Evil and Bushi v Gedo, Okada and Goto

“Kimbo Killer”, former MMA fighter and Tom Lawlor BFF Seth Petruzelli is busy teaching WWE’s NXT rookies how to throw a punch.

Cris Cyborg’s nutritionist feels she could easily make 135 but it would likely negatively affect her performance in the Octagon.

Adam Cole was on Busted Open Radio talking about his recent Bullet Club turn, sharing leadership duties with Kenny Omega, and more.

WWE & Pro Wrestling

UFC & MMA

  • Tachi Palace Fighting Championships 27 runs tomorrow from their homebase of Lemoore, CA, with a big show for them featuring former UFC fighter Cody Gibson challenging Rolando Velasco for the group’s bantamweight title. Jared Papazian, also formerly with UFC, takes on Alex Perez in an undercard fight. Paul Fontaine has a look at the complete show, which streams live on Sherdog at 9 pm eastern / 6 pacific on Thursday.
  • Bellator 155 airs Friday on Spike TV, headlined by a middleweight title fight between Champion Rafael Carvalho defending against Melvin Manhoelf. Pat Curran, who was the last sparring partner of the recently deceased Jordan Parsons, takes on Georgi Karakhanyan in the co-main.
  • Saturday night, Venator FC 3 takes place in Italy and at least at this point, there doesn’t appear to be any way to view the show either online or on North American television. This is the show featuring the return of Jason “Mayhem” Miller after all of his legal issues as he takes on Luke Barnett. Also fighting on the show are Matt Hamill, Rousimar Palhares, Sokoudjou and Karl Amoussou.
  • Bellator is starting to round out its July 16 London debut, adding a heavyweight tilt between Mark Godbeer (great name!) and James Mulheron to the main card.

Miscellaneous & Events