Dana White says Ronda Rousey will fight Holly Holm next UFC president Dana White mentioned on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike Thursday that newly crowned women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm make her first title defence in a rematch against Ronda Rousey. “I think that if we didn’t make the rematch, me and Lorenzo [Fertitta] should probably lose our promoters’ license. That fight’s going to happen. I don’t know when, but that’s the fight that will happen.” White didn’t mention however when this fight could take place. With Rousey’s outside commitments to movies it’s not entirely clear when this potential rematch might be. Chris Wade replaces injured Beniel Dariush against Mairbek Taisumov at UFC Fight Night 81 UFC officials announced Beneil Dariush is injured and Chris Wade will now be facing Maribek Taisumov. Wade (10-1) has gone 2-0 in the UFC with wins over Cain Carrizosa and Lipeng Zhang. Taisumov (24-5) is coming of a “Performance of the Night” performance when he knocked out Alan Patrick at UFC Fight Night 69 in June. UFC Fight Night 81 takes place Sunday Jan. 17th. at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Jason Knight replaces Mirsad Bektic against Tatsuya Kawajiri at TUF 22 Finale Per UFC.com former Titan FC featherweight Jason Knight has signed with the UFC and replaces the injured Mirsad Bektic against Tatsuya Kawajiri. Knight (13-1) has won eight straight fights and is coming off a submission victory over Musa Khamanaev at Titan FC 35 in September. Kawajiri (34-8-2) as been on a 7-1 run since dropping down to featherweight in 2011, with his only setback coming to Clay Guida at UFC Fight Night 39 last year. The TUF 22 Finale takes place at the Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan on Dec. 11 and features a featherweight main event between Frankie Edgar taking on Chad Mendes. Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center plays host to UFC Fight Night 82 on Feb. 21 MMAjunkie is reporting that the city of Pittsburgh will play host to UFC Fight night 82 on Feb. 21st. No bouts have been officially added to the card however it will air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass, though there are yet to be any bouts announced for the card. The UFC last went to Pittsburgh in June 2011 for UFC on VERSUS 4, which featured one of the most memorable comeback victories in UFC history, when Cheick Kongo knocked out Pat Barry. . Conor McGregor on a move to lightweight “It’s almost set in stone” At Wednesday’s UFC 194 media lunch, Conor McGregor mentioned that he’d like to move to lightweight after his unification bout with Jose Aldo at UFC 194. “I feel like it’s almost set in stone — KO Jose and KO whoever holds that lightweight belt. And within the next two fights, I will be a two-weight world champion once again. But this time within the UFC.” There hasn’t been a champion in UFC history that has held titles in two weight classes at the same time. B.J. Penn held the lightweight and welterweight titles at different times, as did Randy Couture with the light heavyweight and heavyweight belts. It should be noted McGregor held the featherweight and lightweight belts in Cage Warriors. Up first though is the aforementioned showdown with Jose Aldo which takes place in Las Vegas on Dec. 12th. Commentator Joe Rogan unsure of future with the UFC Joe Rogan revealed on a recent episode of his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” that his contract with the UFC is up in August and he’s not sure if he’ll re-sign. Transcribed by MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn, Rogan mentioned “It’s possible [I’ll re-sign]. I like doing sh-t that scares me. I like doing stuff – I like taking chances in that I like walking away from things. I like doing that. I like experiencing new things. You open up new doors, your mind starts firing in a different way. I’m not a big fan of doing the same sh-t over and over and over again. Rogan has worked for the UFC in various roles dating back to 1997 but has had his responsibilities reduced to working PPVs and FOX televised cards only.
MMA Odds and Ends for Friday: White says Rousey vs. Holm rematch next, Dariush injured, Knight faces Kawajiri
