This Weekend's UFC News Recap

By Muk

This weekend was filled with several big rumors, fights being made, and fights falling through. With UFC 205, the UFC's debut card in New York, rapidly approaching big time fights are being added to the card with each day, but the card took a big hit this weekend as a fan favorite fight between Cowboy Cerrone and Robbie Lawler being scrapped from the card as Lawler is apparently battling an injury, possibly still stemming from his huge KO-loss to Tyron Woodley. Cowboy has however, expressed his interest to stay on the card, asking for Lightweight Champ Eddie Alvarez, but in the least shocking news ever, says he will fight anyone. Along with Cowboy still looking to stay on the card, the former 185 pound champion Chris Weidman looks to take on Yoel Romero in his home state of New York. This fight will likely produce the next challenger for Michael Bisping's belt, assuming Bisping defeats challenger Dan Henderson at UFC 204. We will also see Rashad Evans making his Middleweight debut, dropping from 205 to 185 pounds to take on all-around badass Tim Kennedy. This could be Suga Rashad's last hurrah, following a huge knockout loss to Glover Texieria just a few months ago. Now on top of these three big name fights, there have been several superstars been rumored to be looking into a 205 appearance. First, we know Conor McGregor has expressed interest all year about fighting in New York, and he would clearly create enough hype to most likely single handedly make the card the biggest ever. Who would Conor fight? Well now that is the tricky part, along with the possibility of Conor being injured still from his fight with Nate Diaz. But, if he were to fight on the card, I think it would simply make the most sense for it to be against Jose Aldo, unless he is truly comfortable with releasing his 145 pound belt in pursuit of the 155 pound belt, in which him and Eddie Alvarez would be an exciting stand-up fight. Next we have the Light Heavyweight belt, that should either be on the line at UFC 205, or a #1 Contender match, between Jon Jones and Rumble Johnson. I think we see Rumble at 205 regardless, whether it be against champion Daniel Cormier or against former champ Jon Jones. 
Big news for the middleweight division, on top of Weidman vs Romero, is Rockhold vs Souza, at UFC Fight Night in Melbourne. This fight will be the week after UFC 205, and just a few weeks after UFC 204, so the MiddleWeight division will be looking for its next title challenger, and it will have it's pick, between the winner of Weidman & Romero, and Rockhold & Souza, against Michael Bisping if he defends his belt. However, if by chance Bisping is defeated by 45 year old Hendo, who has said he will retire win or lose at UFC 204, we might get the pleasure of seeing the two contender fight winners fighting for a vacated belt. 
The UFC's first New York card is beginning to shape up nicely, but as of now the rumors are more exciting than the actual announced fights, but I expect that to all change in the upcoming weeks.