Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, Simon Head hosts the panel of MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and Brian Garcia, as well as MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn. Let’s get after it!

• Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought to a draw in their exhibition boxing match. Despite the fact that both men are decades past their best, it didn’t stop combat sports fans from buying it. If you could book a “legends” fight in MMA, which would do best at the box office, and why?
• The UFC lightweight division is starting to warm up nicely. Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira are booked. What’s the next big fight coming at 155?
• What fights do you want to see Bellator make in 2021?
• YouTuber Jake Paul’s knockout of former NBA star Nate Robinson has gone viral, and shown again “celebrity” fights can be big box office hit. Are these types of matchups the future of combat sports?
• UFC on ESPN 19 takes place Saturday with a Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori main event. What other fights on the card do we need to keep an eye out for?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 55 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.

Spinning Back Clique: Should Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. inspire UFC legends fights?.
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Aleksei Oleinik has a return date for 2021.

The heavyweight veteran will meet Chris Daukaus on Feb. 20 at UFC Fight Night. The location for the event has yet to be announced by the UFC. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from Russian Instagram account <a href=” Oleinik (59-14-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC) last fought in August, when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Derrick Lewis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 174. The defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak for the Russian. Meanwhile, Daukaus (10-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) looks to continue his unbeaten run in the UFC sine joining the organization in 2018. The 31-year-old holds back-to-back wins over Parker Porter and Rodrigo Nascimento. With this addition, the updated Feb. 20 lineup includes: Chris Daukaus vs. Aleksei Oleinik Danny Chavez vs. Jared Gordon.

Aleksei Oleinik vs. Chris Daukaus added to UFC Fight Night on Feb. 20.
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Sabina Mazo is moving up in weight.

The 23-year-old Colombian is going to the bantamweight division for her next fight, as she takes on former UFC 135-pound title challenger Alexis Davis at the UFC Fight Night card on Feb. 27.

MMA Junkie confirmed the news with sources following a report by Milenio. Additionally, sources told MMA Junkie this is not necessarily a permanent move, and that she may take flyweight bouts again in the future.

Mazo (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is coming off a submission win over Justine Kish in September. it was her first finish in her UFC stint. The former LFA flyweight champion is currently on a three-fight winning streak.

On the other hand, Davis (19-10 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is looking for her first win since 2017. The 29-fight veteran is on a three-fight losing streak. Davis, who lost to then-champion Ronda Rousey in 2014, is  2-3 in her past five trips to the octagon.

Sabina Mazo to make 135 debut, faces Alexis Davis at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 27.
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Leon Edwards’s 2020 has been rocky to say the least.

The UFC welterweight contender tested positive for COVID-19 and has been forced to withdraw from his main event bout against rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Fight Night 183.

MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn confirmed the news following an initial report from UFC broadcast partner ESPN.

Now, a welterweight contest between Geoff Neal and former two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson will serve as the main event for the card.

Edwards’ coronavirus case has been severe, with the British standout losing 12 pounds. He is now recovering, and the UFC plans to rebook Edwards vs. Chimaev for early 2021.

The positive COVID test and bout withdrawal cap off what’s been a tumultuous year for Edwards, who hasn’t fought since July 2019 when he defeated former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos to extend his winning streak to eight.

Edwards was slated to return to action in March against former champion Tyron Woodley in London, but restrictions due to the global cornavirus pandemic forced the card to be canceled.

Following the cancellation of his fight with Woodley, Edwards had a tough time getting a fight. Travel restrictions didn’t help early on before callouts of Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington were unsuccessful.

Edwards was booked against Chimaev back in October. The 29-year-old Brit was briefly removed from the UFC official rankings but was reinstated once he was booked to fight Chimaev, who recently entered the UFC rankings at No. 15 on the heels of his dominant 3-0 start in the promotion.

Below is the updated line up for UFC on ESPN 19:

Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson Greg Hardy vs. Marcin Tybura Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja Belal Muhammad vs. Dhiego Lima Antonio Arroyo vs. Deron Winn Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad Drako Rodriguez vs. Aiemann Zahabi Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell.

Leon Edwards out of Khamzat Chimaev bout at UFC Fight Night 183 after severe COVID case.
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A welterweight matchup between Alex Morono and Anthony Pettis is a late addition to UFC Fight Night 183, bringing the current lineup to 15 fights.

MMA Junkie today verified with multiple people close to the situation that Morono (18-6 MMA, 7-3) and Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC) have agreed to match up on the Dec. 19 card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The people requested anonymity because UFC has yet to make an official announcement. <a href=” Morono, 30, gets the most high-profile fight of his career after winning four of his past five. The Fortis MMA product is fresh off a unanimous decision win over Rhys McKee at UFC Fight Night 182 on Nov. 14, and will make the quick turnaround to fight “Showtime.” Pettis, 33, a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, makes his return to action for the first time since UFC 249 in May, where he beat Donald Cerrone in their rematch. He lost back-to-back fights against Diego Ferreira – who is Morono’s teammate – and Nate Diaz prior to that. Below is the updated line up for UFC on ESPN 19: Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson Greg Hardy vs. Marcin Tybura Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja Belal Muhammad vs. Dhiego Lima Antonio Arroyo vs. Deron Winn Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad Drako Rodriguez vs. Aiemann Zahabi Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell Alex Morono vs. Anthony Pettis

Alex Morono vs. Anthony Pettis booked as 15th bout for UFC Fight Night 183 on Dec. 19.
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Daniel Cormier has a unique perspective on who Jon Jones should fight in his heavyweight debut.

In August, Jones (25-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) vacated his UFC light heavyweight title with the intention of moving up to heavyweight, but since then, no official talks for an opponent have been made public.

UFC president Dana White reiterated that Francis Ngannou is the next challenger to champion Stipe Miocic, which means Jones likely won’t get an immediate title shot unless he waits for the winner of that fight, which does not yet have a scheduled date.

But Cormier, a former UFC dual champion, has a different suggestion for Jones’ heavyweight debut. With this past weekend’s headliner between Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis falling off due to Blaydes testing positive for COVID-19, Cormier thinks that fight should be scrapped altogether in favor of Blaydes being the one to welcome Jones to the heavyweight division.

“Move Blaydes to Jones, Lewis to (Jairzinho) Rozenstruik” Cormier said on ESPN’s “DC and Helwani” show. “Those are two real good fights. It makes all the sense in the world because one, Jones beats Blaydes, nobody will ever say he doesn’t belong at heavyweight. Blaydes beats Jones, now he has beaten the greatest of all time in people’s mind going up to heavyweight; he’ll get his title shot right away. I think that’s what you should do.”

He continued, “Derrick’s gonna get taken down by Curtis Blaydes over and over again. It’s what’s gonna happen, but if Derrick fights Jairzinho Rozenstruik, they’re gonna be standing and banging in that small octagon. This makes all the sense in the world.”

Cormier initially suggested that Jones vs. Blaydes should be the co-main event to Miocic vs. Ngannou with the intention of having Jones there as a reserve but went on to retract his statement and admitted that Jones should certainly headline his own event.

“Jones’ heavyweight debut needs to be a main event,” Cormier said. “Put him in the pay-per-view the month before Ngannou (vs.) Stipe. … If Jon Jones is fighting in the main event, it’s a pay-per-view. Belt or no belt.”

Why Daniel Cormier thinks Jon Jones should fight Curtis Blaydes in UFC heavyweight debut.
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