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UFC's Dana White Not Entertaining Nick Diaz vs. Kamaru Usman Fight

Jun 8, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 25: (L-R) Nick Diaz punches Robbie Lawler in their middleweight fight during UFC 266 on September 25, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 25: (L-R) Nick Diaz punches Robbie Lawler in their middleweight fight during UFC 266 on September 25, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Nick Diaz might want to face Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title, but UFC President Dana White doesn't plan to make it happen.

"I need to look out for Nick and make sure that Nick doesn't get hurt," White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports.

Diaz returned from a six-year hiatus to face Robbie Lawler in September and suffered a third-round TKO loss by retirement. He later said he wants to continue his comeback.

"I wanna fight for the title. I don't wanna do all this—I'm 38 years old," Diaz told TMZ Sports in May.

When asked about facing Usman, the veteran responded, "I think I'll beat him."

White wasn't confident it would be a fair fight.

"Listen, there's no denying the Diaz brothers are tough kids, man. But talk to me about Nick Diaz versus Usman," White said. "Usman is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world."

Usman is ranked the top pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC with a 20-1 career record and a perfect mark since joining the organization in 2015. Since winning his belt in 2019, the Nigerian Nightmare has successfully defended it five times.

White said May 31 he is setting up a fight between Usman and elite contender Leon Edwards.

As for Diaz, his popularity doesn't outweigh the fact he hasn't won a match since 2011. He has shared the Octagon with some big names, including Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre, but he hasn't proved enough to earn a bout against Usman.

Former UFC Champ Tito Ortiz's Home Burglarized

Jun 4, 2022
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Tito Ortiz looks on during a press conference ahead of his cruiserweight fight against Anderson Silva on September 11 at The Harbor Beach Marriott on September 9, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Tito Ortiz looks on during a press conference ahead of his cruiserweight fight against Anderson Silva on September 11 at The Harbor Beach Marriott on September 9, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The California home of former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz was allegedly burglarized Friday, and an investigation is underway.

The Huntington Beach Police Department confirmed to TMZ Sports it was called about a burglary, but it didn't provide details about what type of items were missing.

Ortiz wasn't home at the time of the incident, per TMZ.

The longtime MMA star is a Huntington Beach native. He was elected to the City Council as its Mayor pro tempore in 2020 but stepped down after just six months.

"To put it simply, this job isn't working for me," Ortiz said while announcing his resignation at a June 2021 meeting.

His last MMA fight was a victory over Alberto Rodriguez, also known as former WWE wrestler Alberto Del Rio, at a Combate Americas event in December 2019. His career record stands at 21-12-1.

More recently, Ortiz faced off with fellow UFC alum Anderson Silva in a September 2021 boxing match. He lost by first-round knockout.

The 47-year-old grappler confirmed his intention to remain focused on the boxing ring after the loss.

"Yeah, I'll continue to box," Ortiz said. "I still want to box, I'd love to box. I'm just learning. I'm obviously inexperienced. I'm not a boxer, I'm a wrestler. And I'm gonna learn. I'm gonna keep learning."

No further information about the robbery was immediately released.

UFC's Paulo Costa Denies Striking Nurse After COVID-19 Vaccination Card Argument

Jun 1, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 23: Paulo Costa of Brazil prepares to fight Marvin Vettori of Italy in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 23: Paulo Costa of Brazil prepares to fight Marvin Vettori of Italy in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC middleweight fighter Paulo Costa has denied that he struck a nurse with his elbow after a dispute involving a COVID-19 vaccination card in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

TMZ Sports relayed information from an original report that appeared on globo.com regarding the allegations:

The outlet reported that Costa told nurses he wanted a vaccination. But, according to the report, Costa backed out of getting the shots, yet still wanted the filled-out vaccine card.

Globo.com reported when a female nurse tried to stop him from leaving with the card, the 31-year-old hit her with an elbow. She reportedly complained of swelling in her lips.

According to Jesse Holland of MMA Mania, Costa claims he is vaccinated and just wanted an immunization record. He denies throwing an elbow at the nurse.

Costa was questioned by police and released.

In response to the accusations, Costa released a statement through his technical and legal teams on social media (h/t Danny Segura of MMA Junkie):

The recent articles published by the media involving athlete Paulo Costa – 'Borrachinha' [sic] referring to what happened in a shopping mall in the city of Contagem/MG generated questions, so we must present come clarifications. First, tending to sensationalism, these are reckless and inconsistent. The athlete Paulo Costa – 'Borrachinha' [sic] and his entire team reject any type of violence.

'Borrachinha' is a high-performing athlete, full time dedicated to training, to following the rules, guidelines, and disciplines. According his philosophy and human conduct this kind of allegations are completely incompatible with his history and way of life. The accusations and facts narrated do not reflect the reality of what happened.

The fact will be carefully investigated and the appropriate legal measures for their perfect clarification will be taken.

Costa (13-2) is the No. 4 middleweight contender, per the UFC rankings. The 31-year-old Brazilian started his career 13-0 before losing a UFC middleweight title bout to champion Israel Adesanya and then a unanimous decision to No. 3 middleweight contender Marvin Vettori.

Costa is scheduled to fight Luke Rockhold (16-5) at UFC 278 on August 20.

Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards Fight Set for Undetermined Date, UFC's Dana White Says

May 31, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: (R-L) Kamaru Usman of Nigeria punches Colby Covington in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 268 event at Madison Square Garden on November 06, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: (R-L) Kamaru Usman of Nigeria punches Colby Covington in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 268 event at Madison Square Garden on November 06, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Kamaru Usman will defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards, UFC President Dana White confirmed Tuesday on BT Sport (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting).

No date is set, however, as Usman recovers from his surgery in February to repair a ligament in his hand. 

"As soon as [Usman] gives us the OK that his hand is ready to go, we'll make that fight," White said Tuesday.

Usman's manager Ali Abdelaziz initially targeted a July return after the surgery, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. 

ESPN's Porter Larsen speculated the two could battle on Aug. 20, which would be UFC 278, but the sides are still in negotiations.

Usman (20-1) has emerged as one of the best fighters of his era, currently ranked as the best pound-for-pound fighter in UFC. After beating Tyron Woodley for the title in 2019, he has defended the belt five times, including two wins over Jorge Masvidal and two over Colby Covington.

The 35-year-old has not lost since joining the UFC in 2015. Interestingly, he beat Edwards by unanimous decision in December of that year—his second fight in the UFC.

Edwards (19-3) has not lost since, tallying nine more wins to finally earn his first title shot.

"I think Leon is much improved, his grappling is much improved, his wrestling is much improved," Usman said of his rival in March, "but I'm also much improved."

Edwards has not fought since defeating Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in June 2021. He was scheduled to face Masvidal in December, but the opponent withdrew due to an injury.    

UFC’s Jorge Masvidal: Conor McGregor is ‘Too Scared or Too Stupid’ to Fight Me

May 31, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 05: Jorge Masvidal for UFC 272 on March 5, 2022, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 05: Jorge Masvidal for UFC 272 on March 5, 2022, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor are quipping back and forth again.

Masvidal responded to McGregor calling him "stupid" by saying his UFC counterpart is "either too scared or too stupid" to agree to what would be "the biggest fight of your life."

Anton Tabuena of SB Nation noted McGregor previously said he doesn't plan on returning to the Octagon at 155 pounds after adding some weight, to which Masvidal responded to by suggesting he used steroids.

"He is fake," Masvidal told ESPN Deportes (h/t Tabuena). "He knows that I am a man who hits hard and that I come to kill. I don't come to hug in the cage. I'm going to give everything inside me to kill him.

"I'm a little bigger. Although now he's shooting up and putting steroids and all kinds of things, but he's still a little boy," he said.

Masvidal has lost three straight fights, with two coming against Kamaru Usman and one against Colby Covington. His last victory was in November 2019 against Nate Diaz.

McGregor lost his last two fights to Dustin Poirier and hasn't competed in the UFC since July 2021.

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