The tale of UFC 221 sums up the strengths and weaknesses of the promotion of the over the last 18 months as well as moving forward. On paper UFC 221 was a thin card but in practice the event still featured of the best MMA fighters on Earth. The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill understands.
The UFC is over saturating the market but their wealth of fighter talent can often cover their mistakes. Rock and a hard place, the UFC insists on having weekly shows but they have the talent to make many of their events interesting despite themselves.
With over 600 fighters on the roster and TV plus PPV demands the UFC has backed itself into a corner. How the promotion solves this problem is the $4 billion question and the UFC coming up with an answer will shape the future of the sport.
As always these are rumors that have been talked about behind closed doors between MMA higher ups, so take them as MMA rumors.
Turn to the Fight Gods and search for the answers written in the stars, then deep dive into your Sunday Morning Rumor Mill.
- Usually if a fighter misses weight and nearly torpedoes a PPV they end up in the UFC’s doghouse, not so with Yoel Romero. The UFC still wants to give Yoel a big push and for marketing reasons is the company’s preferred 185 pound champ. Expect Yoel to get another shot at the belt in the early summer in a PPV headliner
- The rumored main event for UFC 224 in Brazil is now Amanda Nunes vs. Raquel Pennington. With no co-main event set for the card, all signs point to the women’s bantamweight title fight headlining the event.
- Huge if true but there is now talk of Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley feud in the WWE post-WrestleMania. Now free of other other pro wrestling obligations Lashley may debut with wrestling promotion right after Mania and his push will largely depend if Lesnar plans to stay with the WWE heading into the summer.
- Rumor is CM Punk’s next fight will be at UFC 225 in Chicago regardless of opponent. Mike Jackson appears to be opponent and win or lose UFC 225 will likely be his final UFC fight.
If you have heard of any interesting Sunday Morning Rumor Mill MMA rumors that you would like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section below, on our Facebook page, tweet us or mail them to us in an unmarked envelope. Just remember they are rumors and not confirmed as fact, so please take them as such.
