MMA WeeklyDana White offers The Rock some advice on his XFL football league purchase: Go Big!
<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>* * *UFC president Dana White knows a thing or two about seizing the moment. After all, he led the UFC back to action, re-igniting the professional sports world from a COVID-19 forced shutdown. White has been openly offering to help any other sports leagues with their plans to restart their sports safely during the continued coronavirus pandemic, and now he's offering to help his friend, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who just purchased the XFL football league.The XFL is a football league that is considered an alternative to the NFL. It has twice tried to get some traction, but has twice been forced to cease operations, most recently because of the COVID-19 shutdown. Johnson, his business partners, and a group of investors recently purchased the XFL for $15 million."The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that's rooted deeply in two things -- my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans," Johnson said in a statement. "With pride and gratitude for all that I've built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans and everyone involved for the love of football."Addressing the purchase, White told TMZ Sports that it was a smart move by Johnson and that he should move forward full steam ahead to seize the opportunity, as Americans are pining for live sports."If I was the Rock, I'd get that rolling as fast as I could. I'd try to get that on TV ASAP. I guarantee there's a ton of networks that'll do it, that'll give it a try right now," White declared."They're dying for live sports programming. I'm actually going to call (The Rock) today and walk him through what I think he needs to do on the COVID side of this thing and I have some ideas for him. He's a guy that will actually f---ing listen to me."Timing is everything and now is the time to go." (Video courtesy of TMZSports* * *TRENDING > Daniel Cormier compares Jon Jones rivalry to Stipe Miocic trilogy* * * Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to portray former UFC champ Mark Kerr(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)
MMA WeeklyDustin Jacoby believes his experience will shine in Dana White’s Contender Series main event
Initially after picking up a win in his lone MMA fight of 2019, light-heavyweight Dustin Jacoby thought he was going to make his move to the biggest stage of MMA, but the opportunity never came.Looking to make that goal a reality in 2020, Jacoby was hoping to get into action earlier in the year, but the novel coronavirus forced him to have to wait until late summer to make it happen.“My last fight last year was against a tough UFC vet at heavyweight, Cody East, and I beat him pretty easily I would say; 50-45 unanimous decision. I thought I would get the call to the big show but it never came,” Jacoby told MMAWeekly.com.“We started the year training, just the same way we ended the year, and looking for a fight. When my manager said about doing the Contender Series I was all about it, but then I found out it wasn’t until June, and this was in March. And then Covid ended up pushing that back to August."While the coronavirus pushed back his return to fighting, it did not slow down Jacoby’s training as much as it did other fighters.“It’s been business as usual,” said Jacoby. “We’ve been training. We never really stopped. We trained where we could, when we could. We’ve just been training, grinding, using each day to get better and get ready for Aug. 4.“Our motto is ‘1 percent better daily,’ and if you can just show up, get through the practice and train, you’re getting better. I think I just continue to better. We’ll put a grade on the performance after Aug. 4 and see if we’re doing the right stuff or not.”On Tuesday in Las Vegas, Jacoby (11-5) looks to punch his ticket to the UFC when he takes on Ty Flores (7-2) in the main event at Dana White's Contender Series 2020: Week 1.* * *TRENDING > Daniel Cormier compares Jon Jones rivalry to Stipe Miocic trilogy* * *“The Contender Series is looking for up and coming guys, and I feel like I’m more than a contender,” Jacoby said. “I’m a veteran of the game. I’ve been at it for a decade now. I think that my experience and my maturity inside the cage is going to show that night.”As someone who doesn’t get worked up thinking about the future too much in his daily life, Jacoby is seeking to apply the same outlook to his fight career.“It’s how I live my life: one day at a time,” said Jacoby. “I’m laid back. I don’t let much get to me. Everyone gets so worked up and freaked out, but it’s just business as usual, it’s life, you take it one day at a time and learn to adjust on the fly. That’s how it’s worked for me.“I’m going to go in there and take care of business Aug. 4, get my contract, and fight again when they call and give me the opportunity.”
MMA WeeklyJennifer Maia’s submission win leads UFC Vegas 5 bonuses
Jennifer Maia claimed her shot at the UFC flyweight title with a bonus winning performance over Joanne Calderwood at UFC Vegas 5 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.No. 6 ranked Maia went toe to toe with the No. 3 Calderwood on the feet before submitting her with an armbar once the fight hit the canvas.The victory not only earned her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, but also a shot at UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.Maia proclaimed her desire to fight Shevchenko next, and the champ tweeted, "See you soon Jennifer Maia." UFC president Dana White during the UFC Vegas 5 post-fight show agreed with both women, saying he wanted to make Shevchenko vs. Maia "as soon as possible."Joining Maia as a Performance of the Night bonus winner was Vicente Luque, who knocked out Randy Brown with a knee and punches late in the second round of their main card bout.The Fight of the Night honors went to Bobby Green and Lando Vannata, who opened the main card on ESPN+. Though both fighters earned $50,000 bonuses for their efforts, it was Green that dominated the bout, winning unanimous 30-27 scores from all three judges.The UFC is likely staying in Las Vegas for August and September before considering a return to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.* * *TRENDING > Watch the final victory of Ronda Rousey’s UFC career* * * UFC Vegas 5 Performance Bonuses * Performance of the Night: Vicente Luque * Performance of the Night: Jennifer Maia * Fight of the Night: Lando Vannata vs. Bobby Green
