Category Archives: Mmamania.com

Will competing in a glowing LED ball affect the fighters at UFC 306? UFC CEO Dana White admits we won’t know if the Sphere works as a sports venue until after September 14th

Dana White has been promoting the hell of of UFC 306 aka Riyadh Season Noche UFC at the MSG Sphere, saying the September 14th show is going to be the most spectacular event the promotion has ever held. And how could it not be, considering the fights are being held inside a 16K resolution wraparound LED screen?

We’re starting to hear a little bit more about how the UFC Sphere show will look: there will be 90 second acts in between fights that form a larger film that tells the story of Mexico and Mexican combat sports. Then the fights will take place in different ‘worlds’ … what that looks like, we don’t know. Will the UFC strip things down for the fights to avoid sensory overload? Will the fighters be getting blasted by disorienting lights and visuals as they try to compete?

In a new interview with Grind City Media, White admitted he wasn’t sure how the venue might affect the fights themselves.

“We don’t know. We won’t know until late Saturday night,” he said. “You know, I won’t do outdoor arenas because of wind, bugs, rain, and lots of other things that can happen. But this is still a controlled environment where on September 14th, sports and entertainment are truly gonna come together at the same time. Does it work? Is it great? Is it awesome? Does it suck? We don’t know. We won’t know until it’s over, but we’re gonna try it.”

If things don’t work out, it won’t be for a lack of effort or preparedness.

“We’re gonna rehearse the s— out of this thing,” White said. “I’ll still know every detail. What I don’t know is if this works.”

“It will be fascinating to pull off a sporting event here where we’re basically doing movies. There will be a movie that night and in between movies, you know, we call them chapters of the movie, there will be fights. And you’ll see our thought process and how we laid it out and how we figured this would work that night. But at the end of the night, we’ll know whether it does [work] or it doesn’t.”

It’s been exciting watching White pull the UFC out of it’s regular groove (rut?) and do something so strange and different. Even if it falls short of expectations and production can’t quite gel the Sphere’s trippy capabilities with the singular focus needed for sports broadcasting, it sure beats just another event at the UFC Apex or T-Mobile Arena.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA- Fighters stick together.

Chris Padilla scored a big win at UFC Vegas 97 last night (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024) when he mushed Rongzhu’s orbital bone with a horrific elbow to cause a doctor’s stoppage from inside the UFC Apex in “Sin City.”

During the fight, one of the UFC commentators and fans on Twitter compared Padilla’s vicious elbows to UFC legend Tony Ferguson’s. Afterward, during his post-fight interview with the media, “Taco” was asked about the comparison, to which he ripped fans for the recent Ferguson hate.

“That is one of the greatest honors of all time,” Padilla said. “This is the thing, I’m not going to lie to you, it makes me sick about MMA- a guy can go on a losing streak, and then he’s trash. Bro, if you don’t shut that up. Tony Ferguson gave us the greatest moments of his entire life. Tony Ferguson is the kind of guy who can be good at anything; that motherf—ker could be an astronaut if he wanted to. But guess what, he got in there and bled for us, fought monsters for us. Man, he’s an absolute legend.

So, to even be compared to someone of that nature so early in my career, it’s an honor,” Padilla continued. “Thank you, Tony, for giving us the best, man. Thank you for entertaining us, and thank you for giving us pure violence at every moment of the fight. I studied Tony Ferguson for this fight, so it was already in my head about how he throws elbows.”

Padilla makes a great point about fight fans turning on a legend of the sport, but to be fair, he is also on the longest losing streak in UFC history with eight losses. Nevertheless, Ferguson is still one of the best to ever do it and is far from trash.

Padilla is 2-0 since making his UFC debut this year with two finishes. He told MMAManai.com that he is taking the rest of the year off because his coach is having a baby and doesn’t want to add any extra stress.

Expect a return in early 2025.

For complete UFC Vegas 97 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Last night (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned home to UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC Vegas 97. Comparing Apex events to one another feels like a significant part of being a fight fan in 2024, and by those standards, this card was pretty solid! It’s a better night than average when both the main and co-main events are relevant and interesting fights. Gilbert Burns and Jessica Andrade played the role of experienced veterans, while their respective foils Sean Brady and Natalia Silva tried to shake up the status quo as up-and-coming talents.

Let’s take a look back over at UFC Vegas 97’s best performances and techniques:

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A Win’s A Win, But …

Maybe this is a minority opinion, but I wasn’t overly impressed by Sean Brady’s unanimous decision win over Gilbert Burns.

There were noticeable improvements to be sure. Most obviously, Brady has never jabbed so well. He doubled and tripled up the strike, convincing Burns to cover up before capitalizing with shots around the guard or takedown attempts. In general, Brady’s in-and-out movement on the feet looked more fluid than in past fights.

That’s all well and good, but it’s hard not to feel like Burns looked old here. He barely threw anything and was largely defensive from the first bell onward. When Burns did attack, it was pretty much just the wide overhand right without any setup. Burns’ didn’t push much at all, and Brady kept most of his strikes light touches rather than full commitments. As such, it’s difficult for me to know if Brady’s cardio is seriously improved or if Burns just didn’t make him work very hard.

Whatever the case, it’s always a bit of a downer when there’s a 25-minute fight and both men leave the cage with clean faces. Either way, Brady climbs into the Top Five regardless of my opinion, and a big match up is surely next.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A New Contender Emerges

Natalia Silva vs. Jessica Andrade was a lot of fun.

The dynamic of the fight was obvious: Andrade wanted to push forward and build combinations of powerful hooks from inside the pocket. Silva wanted to stay mobile and use her speed and range advantages to pick the former champion apart at distance, where her snappy punches and kicks were superior.

By and large, Silva got her wish. Andrade was able to get her licks in, but Silva landed way more quick punches and really chewed up Andrade as she tried to work inside. The close range side kicks were straight up awesome, and she even scored a perfect wheel kick straight to the chin of “Bate Estaca.”

At 27 years of age, Silva just scored the best win of his career to advance into the Flyweight Top Five. She seems ready for the best, so if the division ever gets moving again, a title eliminator next would be reasonable.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Garcia Keeps Building Momentum

How about Steve Garcia?!? The man started his UFC career with a 1-2 run, and he wasn’t exactly young. He seemed like any other Contenders Series product unlikely to receive a second UFC contract. Then, he beat Chase Hooper’s ass so badly that the prospect abandoned ship to Lightweight, and things started to change.

Last night, Garcia scored his fifth-straight knockout in the UFC against Kyle Nelson, a fellow veteran in the midst of an unexpected surge. Garcia had his back taken early, but as soon as he reversed his way into top position, “The Mean Machine” got running. He unleashed a genuinely nasty series of elbows, battering his opponent with an unending flurry of ground strikes. Nelson couldn’t get Garcia off him, and the damage accumulated quickly for a first-round stoppage.

Where’s Garcia’s ceiling? I have no idea. He’s already climbed much higher than most expected. Perhaps it’s time for a foe in the Top 15 next?

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A Flyweight Brawl

Cody Durden vs. Matt Schnell was exactly the banger that most predicted.

For five full minutes, the two tried hard to knock out one another. Both threw in combination, standing in the pocket and extending rapid-fire shots. Schnell’s stand up technique was a bit cleaner, but Durden made up for that gap with raw aggression. It was a highly competitive round, one that saw both men land damaging blows in an entertaining trade.

Then, Schnell tried a double leg takedown early in the second, and it backfired horribly. He seemed surprised and stunned by just how fast Durden sprawled on his shot, leaving him vulnerable. The wrestler quickly wrapped up a front choke, and Schnell was forced to frantically tap after failing to spin his way free.

After the defeat, Schnell left his gloves in the cage to signal his retirement. If you haven’t see his victory opposite Su Mudaerji, do yourself a favor and look it up — it’s one of the best comebacks of the last decade. “Danger” was an action fighter to his core, and what else can we really ask of the fighters?

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Additional Thoughts

• Chris Padilla defeats Rongzhu via second-round doctor’s stoppage: The incredibly gnarly finish doesn’t exactly reflect the rest of the fight. For most of two rounds Rongzhu and Padilla took turns standing in front of each other, kicking calves, and swinging wide. Rongzhu’s physicality and power seemed to have built a small lead, but it was very tit-for-tat. When Padilla started circling off, however, Rongzhu chased him and ran directly into a perfectly timed counter elbow that landed directly to the eye. Moments later, Rongzhu’s eye was fully swollen shut, and the doctor was forced to intervene.
• Isaac Dulgarian defeats Brendon Marotte via second-round arm triangle choke (HIGHLIGHTS): The biggest UFC favorite in history looked the part. Dulgarian effortlessly dominated his opponent, landing immediate takedowns and climbing into mount right away. Marotte was rendered defensive the entire time, and he eventually was forced to submit to one of Dulgarian’s many arm triangle choke attempts.
• Jaqueline Amorim defeats Vanessa Demopoulos via first-round armbar (HIGHLIGHTS): It’s a lot of fun to watch Amorim grapple. The jiu-jitsu world champion transitions very smartly, forcing her opponent to accept one bad position or another, often while landing ground strikes along the way. She dragged down Demopoulos and advanced to mount quickly, wrapping up an armbar seconds later when her opponent tried to explode out of the bad position. There was a bit of controversy about whether or not Amorim grabbed the glove in the process, but the first-round finish will almost certainly stand. Consequently, Amorim has now won her last three UFC fights all via finish!
• Nathan Fletcher defeats Zygimantas Ramaska via second-round arm triangle choke (HIGHLIGHTS): It’s really difficult to win fights from bottom in modern MMA. This pair of Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veterans were looking to earn a spot on the UFC roster, but Ramaska’s takedown defense simply failed him. He was active from his back, but slowly Fletcher figured out his offensive submission game and was able to counter with ground strikes. Over time, Fletcher built his lead, advanced position, and wrapped up the strangle for a successful Featherweight debut.

For complete UFC Vegas 97 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

UFC Vegas 97 comes to us LIVE on ESPN+ tonight (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024) with Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady in the main event. Watch all the action here!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back in Las Vegas, Nevada, TONIGHT (Sat., Sept, 7, 2024) with UFC Vegas 97. The mixed martial arts (MMA) event will be streamed LIVE on ESPN+. The main event features Welterweights Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady. Our co-main event is Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva in the women’s Flyweight division. The main card also sees Steve Garcia taking on Kyle Nelson and Matt Schnell facing late replacement, Cody Durden (full details here).

The “Prelims” card were supposed to feature Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann. However, an illness to Saint Preux has nixed that fight (full details here). Our replacement featured “Prelims” showdown is Road to UFC alum Rongzhu versus Chris Padilla. UFC Vegas 97’s “Prelims” also include Isaac Dulgarian vs. Brendon Marotte and Jaqueline Amorim vs. Vanessa Demopoulos.

UFC VEGAS 97 START TIME, DATE

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 97 card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which begin at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Burns vs. Brady” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 97 results. (Note: This will go from the top down; therefore, look to the top of the stream for the newest update).

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC VEGAS 97 QUICK RESULTS

170 lbs.: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady — Brady def. Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
125 lbs.: Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva — Silva def. Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
145 lbs.: Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson — Garcia def. Nelson via TKO (ground and pound), round 1 (3:59)
135 lbs.: Matt Schnell vs. Cody Durden — Durden def. Schnell via submission (anaconda choke), round 2 (0:29)
155 lbs.: Trevor Peek vs. Yanal Ashmouz — Ashmouz def. Peek via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
155 lbs.: Rongzhu vs. Chris Padilla — Padilla def. Rongzhu via TKO (eye injury due to elbow strike), round 2 (4:14)
125 lbs.: Isaac Dulgarian vs. Brendon Marotte — Dulgarian def. Marotte via submission (arm triangle), round 2 (4:19)
125 lbs.: Felipe dos Santos vs. Andre Lima — Lima def. Dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
145 lbs.: Yizha vs. Gabriel Santos — Santos def. Yizha via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
115 lbs.: Jaqueline Amorim vs. Vanessa Demopoulos — Amorim def. Demopoulos via submission (arm bar), round 1 (3:28) — HIGHLIGHTS!
185 lbs.: Andre Petroski vs. Denis Budka — Petroski def. Budka via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
145 lbs.: Zygimantas Ramaska vs. Nathan Fletcher — Fletcher def. Ramaska via submission (arm triangle), round 2 (1:13) — HIGHLIGHTS!

UFC VEGAS 97 ‘Burns vs. Brady’ PLAY-BY-PLAY

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 97 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Jake Paul may have bitten off more than he can chew with his latest UFC fighter callout.

After pummeling Mike Perry back in July, “The Problem Child” tried to strike back at naysayers who (accurately) accuse him of fighting smaller men all the time. In response, he called out Alex Pereira, the two-division UFC champion who is currently running roughshod over the Light Heavyweight ranks. “Poatan” is not only a credentialed knockout artist, but he’s one of the rare athletes that seems impossibly big no matter his weight class. Unlike other past Paul opponents, Pereira is still in his prime as well.

There’s a reason why he’s a title threat in three divisions.

Obviously, UFC isn’t likely to let their active champion wander into the boxing ring against Jake Paul, particularly since Paul and UFC CEO Dana White do not get along very well. All the same, on a recent episode of the BS w/ Jake Paul podcast, former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou strongly advised Paul against seeking the match up further. “The Predator” was very complimentary towards Pereira and told Paul to his face that the fight wouldn’t end well for him.

“He’s tough, dude, he has some tough hands,” Ngannou said of Pereira (via Sports Keeda). “I think you’re going to get some tough nights. I mean, he is a big size guy … This guy is big, solid, and he’s mean. He walks straight to you like, ‘I’m going to eat this guy.’”

Before Paul can try to line up a showdown vs. Pereira, he has to get through boxing legend Mike Tyson on November 15 from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a high-profile bout that’s set to air live and free on Netflix. Many are concerned about the health and safety of the 58-year-old former champion, who suffered a medical emergency back in May, but Ngannou isn’t worried.

On the same podcast, Ngannou predicted that Tyson is knocking out Paul!

As for “The Predator,” he’s crossing back into the cage after two losses two elite boxers in the ring. He’s scheduled to face Renan Ferreira on October 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in what will be his Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) debut.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Bellator Lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, will attempt to defend his crown opposite knockout artist, Alexander Shabliy, this weekend (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024) at Bellator Champion Series 4 inside Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

Forget all the weirdness with PFL purchasing Bellator and sidelining half of the roster: this is an outstanding Lightweight clash, one of the best possible non-UFC match ups in the world. It’s also the finals match of the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix, which began way back in March 2023.

The Nuragomedov hype is simultaneously absurd and completely justified. This is an athlete described as the most talented of the Dagestani bunch, which is silly … but he’s also undefeated in 18 pro fights and already a defending world champion at 26 years of age. Maybe it’s not silly? Shabliy is an excellent foil to the champion, an expert kickboxer with great wrestling and a ton of high-level experience on the Russian Lightweight scene.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy Betting Odds

• Usman Nurmagomedov victory: -455
• Usman Nurmagomedov via TKO/KO/DQ: +550
• Usman Nurmagomedov via submission: +350
• Usman Nurmagomedov via decision: -105
• Alexandr Shabliy victory: +320
• Alexandr Shabliy via TKO/KO/DQ: +800
• Alexandr Shabliy via submission: +3000
• Alexandr Shabliy via decision: +550
• Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

How Nurmagomedov Wins

Dominant wrestling is expected when a fighter has the Nurmagomedov family name. Usman separates himself from the family with perhaps the best striking of the lot, a varied and powerful kicking game that can end fights in an instant. Still, the reason Nurmagomedov has been so dominant in Bellator is that he can do it all. The champion kicks extremely well, has power in his hands, and can maul opposition on the canvas.

In this match up, wrestling feels like the best bet. Shabliy is an expert striker himself and might just hold the power advantage. It’s in Nurmagomedov’s best interest, then, to convince Shabliy that he’s in a kickboxing match only to frustrate him with well-timed shots.

Shabliy is a skilled and experienced veteran unlikely to fold just because he’s taken down a couple times, but that’s how Nurmagomedov can remain in the driver’s seat. We’ve seen Shabliy engage in low-volume fights against high-level strikers in the past (like vs. Tofiq Musayev), so a couple takedowns in a slower fight can make a huge difference.

How Shabliy Wins

Shabliy is a very well-rounded talent with a background in hand-to-hand combat as well as Combat Sambo. He can do it all, but Shabliy likes to strike and is more of a pressure fighter — and one hit knockout artist — than his opponent.

Fighters like Nurmagomedov who kick and wrestle exceptionally well are always difficult. Opponents want to pressure to stop the kicks, but they walk into takedowns. If they hang back, they just get kicked … and maybe still taken down along the fence. It’s a powerful dynamic that isn’t easy to answer. We just saw a very smart fighter in Cory Sandhagen successfully negate Umar Nurmagomedov’s wrestling, but he still couldn’t pressure and generate his own offense.

It’s a complicated task.

Nevertheless, it’s what Shabliy must accomplish here. Patient pressure aided by feints and smart shot selection is the key to victory. I’d like to see Shabliy look to chop into the calf at moments when Nurmagomedov cannot attempt to wrestle, like when he’s circling off, jabbing, or in the middle of his own kick. Shabliy’s front kick could be a good weapon as well, particularly if thrown at the end of combinations.

Combos are key here as well. It’s so hard to build offense against the Nurmagomedov fight team, but single shots just aren’t going to beat them.

Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy Prediction

It’s hard to go against the rising phenom.

I like Shabliy’s game and experience a lot. He’s definitely a top Lightweight who gives most anyone trouble, and that includes Usman Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately, Nurmagomedov is going to be the faster man, and it’s hard not to imagine his wrestling sealing at least one round. Shabliy could make something happen if able to gain the pocket consistently, but I expect he ends up stuck at the kicking range for long periods of the fight.

Usman Nurmagomedov remains Bellator’s undefeated champion and best overall fighter.

Prediction: Nurmagomedov via decision (-105)

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Quite simply, Demetrious Johnson might be the best to have ever done it.

“Mighty Mouse” challenged Dominick Cruz for the UFC Bantamweight crown way back in 2011, just two years into his professional career. He was too small to defeat “The Dominator,” but when the Flyweight division opened up a year later, Johnson arrived. He won the initial Flyweight tournament to become champion then defended his title a record-setting 11 times in the next six years.

“DJ” didn’t just defend his title either. He absolutely dominated the field, scoring 50-45 decisions, devastating knockouts, and flying armbars alike. Johnson was elite in just about every area and especially in transitioning between them. Truly, Johnson was a standout talent with unreal abilities, even if that never translated into being a huge pay-per-view draw.

Johnson’s UFC career ended with a debatable split-decision loss to Henry Cejudo. After the defeat — and actively ignoring Johnson’s earlier knockout win over Cejudo — UFC traded “Mighty Mouse” to One Championship for Ben Askren. The unprecedented move didn’t slow Johnson at all. He quickly captured the One Flyweight belt then ultimately was victorious in an all-action trilogy versus Adriano Moraes.

He walks away at 38 years of age still holding that title.

Johnson was emotional during his retirement speech, which took place on Friday (Sept. 6, 2024) at One Championship 168 inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. A teary-eyed Johnson thanked his team, coach, the fans, and his family in a lengthy retirement speech.

Check out the clip below:

Is “Mighty Mouse” the GOAT?

Insomnia

Dylan Budka addresses his weight miss … but seeing as he nearly collapsed on the scale, it sure seems like the doctor made the correct call!

The One situation is looking worse by the day, which is a shame since the promotion actually puts forth a really fun product.

I hope nobody ate a larger dinner tonight?

If it wasn’t for the fact that there’s absolutely zero money to be made, I would be interested in this sport.

I’ve heard this theory from several sources behind the scenes and in official interviews, and … I believe it.

Josh Emmett demonstrating that you don’t actually have to wail away on every non-pro that walks into the gym.

Boo!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Awesome combos and a remarkable ability to remain standing upright.

Half-speed punches upstairs lead to a crushing liver shot.

Squatted low and ripped a right hook:

Random Land

I love a twist.

Midnight Music: Rock, 1979

Anecdote of the Week: Here’s a mini one since Josh Emmett was in the column tonight. During Thursday morning boxing practice, I was lightly boxing sparring with Emmett, who is thankfully careful not to obliterate his training partners. As Emmett came forward, I got down behind my lead shoulder to roll a couple jabs and thought I had a good bead on his head, so I tried to come out of the shoulder roll with my own right cross.

Emmett threw his own simultaneous right hand, and thank God my head was off the center line enough that it didn’t hit me. Despite the missed connection, it was all I could think about for the rest of the day. Unintentional or not, training or not, big gloves or not — I tried to trade right hands with Josh Emmett. People have died for less. Idiot!

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

ONE Championship is back in North America tonight (Fri., Sept. 6, 2024) for its second show, returning to Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. It all goes down at 8 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime and we got you covered with highlights below.

In the main event, ONE Bantamweight kickboxing champion and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai champion, Jonathan Haggerty, rematches ONE Flyweight kickboxing champion, Superlek Kiatmuu9, for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai world championship. The pair of elite strikers met in 2018, where Superlek won via technical knockout in the second round.

Also on the card, former ONE Bantamweight champion and former UFC powerhouse, John Lineker, takes on Asa Ten Pow, while Adrian Lee — brother of Christian and Angela Lee — makes his second walk to the ONE Championship ring against Nico Cornejo.

ONE 168: Denver Quick Results:

Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9
Liam Harrison vs. Seksan Or Kwanmuang
Aung La N Sang vs. Shamil Erdogan
John Lineker vs. Asa Ten Pow
Isi Fitikefu defeats Hiroyuki Tetsuka via unanimous decision
Alyse Anderson vs. Victoria Souza
Adrian Lee defeats Nico Cornejo via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 2:37
Johan Ghazali defeats Josue Cruz via knockout (punch) Round 1, 3:00
Johan Estupinan defeats Sean Climaco via knockout (punch) Round 2, 4:28

ONE 168: Denver Highlights & Results:

Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9

ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title

Final result:

Liam Harrison vs. Seksan Or Kwanmuang

Muay Thai – 140-pound Catchweight

Final result:

Aung La N Sang vs. Shamil Erdogan

MMA – Middleweight

Final result:

John Lineker vs. Asa Ten Pow

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Final result:

Hiroyuki Tetsuka vs. Isi Fitikefu

MMA – Welterweight

Final result: Isi Fitikefu defeats Hiroyuki Tetsuka via unanimous decision

Alyse Anderson vs. Victoria Souza

MMA – Women’s Atomweight

Final result:

Adrian Lee vs. Nico Cornejo

MMA – Lightweight

Final result: Adrian Lee defeats Nico Cornejo via submission

Johan Ghazali vs. Josue Cruz

Muay Thai – Flyweight

Final result: Johan Ghazali defeats Josue Cruz via knockout

Sean Climaco vs. Johan Estupinan

Muay Thai – Flyweight

Final result: Johan Estupinan defeats Sean Climaco via knockout

To checkout the latest ONE Championship-related news and notes click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Just like the TV dinner, Daniel Cormier is a HUNGRY MAN.

The former two-division champion, who now serves as color commentator on UFC pay-per-view (PPV) cards, was caught stuffing his maw with handfuls of popcorn in between fights during a live broadcast. Then producers sent it back to the kernel-crazed “DC” for replay analysis and things got super awkward.

“Chael, you have to have popcorn, because you’re sitting in the best seat in the house,” Cormier explained to fellow UFC analyst Chael Sonnen during their “Good Guy-Bad Guy” segment for ESPN MMA. “What I did not expect, was the replay to come! It looked like we were going to the next thing; but hey, such is life. The boy got caught eating popcorn. You said, ‘why can’t I control myself?’ Why do I need to control myself, I’m living my best life out here Chael P.”

Maybe Hendo should have shipped Poppycock instead of Popeye’s.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming UFC Vegas 97 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which is set to go down tomorrow night (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024) on ESPN+ from inside APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC Vegas 97 features a middleweight main event between Top 10 title contenders Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady, a five-round headliner with major title implications for late 2024 and beyond.

Before we dive into the main and co-main event, which includes the flyweight showdown between Jessica Andrade and Natalia Silva, check out Andrew Richardson’s “X-Factor” breakdown for the rest of the UFC Vegas 97 main card by clicking here. Get all the latest “Burns vs. Brady” odds and betting props courtesy of DraftKings right here. For UFC Vegas 97 live results and play-by-play click here.

170 lbs.: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady

Gilbert “Durinho” Burns
Record: 22-7 | Age: 38 | Betting line: +150
Wins: 6 KO/TKO, 9 SUB, 7 DEC | Losses: 3 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 4 DEC
Height: 5’10” | Reach: 71” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.29 | Striking accuracy: 48%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.42 | Striking Defense: 54%
Takedown Average: 2.24 (38% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 50%
Current Ranking: No. 6 | Last fight: Knockout loss to Jack Della Maddalena

Sean Brady
Record: 16-1, 1 NC | Age: 31 | Betting line: -180
Wins: 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB, 8 DEC | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 0 DEC
Height: 5’10“ | Reach: 72” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.77 | Striking accuracy: 53%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.55 | Striking Defense: 61%
Takedown Average: 3.29 (57% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 87%
Current Ranking: No. 8 | Last fight: Submission win over Kelvin Gastelum

Gilbert Burns turned 38 back in July and is probably at the tail end of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career and unlikely to find himself back in title contention anytime soon. You can blame his back-to-back losses to Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, which are forgivable when you consider that “Remember the Name” is now the welterweight champion and “JDM” is a perfect 7-0 inside the Octagon with five nasty finishes. The Brazilian is a grappler by trade and has just one knockout over the last six year, a UFC Fight Night 170 finish over submission wizard Demian Maia. That said, “Durinho” has five post-fight bonuses and usually turns in an action-packed performance, win or lose. His position at No. 6 in the official rankings feels a bit generous when you consider his strength of opposition, as well as his habit of coming up short in the big spot.

“The mindset that I’m getting right now is like my debut,” Burns told reporters at the UFC Vegas 97 media day (watch it here). “Back in my debut, I didn’t care, I just want to go there, not overthinking. There’s always pressure, but I’m trying to let that aside and kind of like my debut. I’m going to go in there and show everyone how good I am. I’m going to go in there and beat this guy on Saturday night. I’m not bringing that, ‘I have to win.’ No, like my debut, I want to show them how good I am and that’s kind of the mindset.”

“I’m always positive and I’m happy,” Burns continued. “If I fight good, and I win the fight I celebrate Saturday night. For sure, I get the family to get some nice food with the team, but then Sunday is another day. We keep going that victory carries for maybe like four days or the next event, so I kind of get to celebrate not as crazy when I win, but I don’t go too crazy on myself if I lose. … A win or loss doesn’t change who I am. For sure, I want to win, but it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, I lost. Everything is done now.’ It’s not like that.”

Sean Brady was probably one victory away from a welterweight title shot, or title eliminator at the bare minimum, until he got leveled by Belal Muhammad at UFC 280 back in late 2022. At the time, it seemed like a catastrophic loss, but much like Muhammad’s victory over Burns, Brady gets a pass now that “Remember the Name” has gone on to become champion and prove that he is, in fact, “that guy.” It also helps that Brady rebounded by running through battle-tested veteran Kelvin Gastelum, finishing the fight by way of third-round submission. The 31 year-old Philadelphian is not unlike his fight night foe in that his bread-and-butter is jiu jitsu and that makes this an intriguing battle that could be a showcase for high-level grappling … or a sloppy kickboxing match between two ground fighters who cancel each other out on the mat. Either way, I’m expecting this contest to go all five rounds based on the combined talent of both combatants.

“Gilbert, amazing jiu-jitsu,” Brady told reporters at the UFC Vegas 97 media day (watch it here). “Obviously he’s won (world championships) and everything like that, but that was a long time ago, and that was in the gi. Gi and no-gi is completely different, and MMA jiu-jitsu is completely different, as well. I think he’s got great submissions. I’m sure he’s great on bottom, but I definitely think I have better jiu-jitsu, and I’m looking to test it.”

“I was kind of asking for Gilbert,” Brady continued. “I was asking for a lot of guys, but Gilbert was definitely one of them. I respect Gilbert. He’s an amazing fighter, and he’s done amazing things. He’s fought for the belt, and he had a competitive fight with some of the best guys. He had a great fight going with Jack until it didn’t go his way. I think it’s my first true veteran fight that I’m going to get to test myself against somebody who’s been there, done that.”

Burns has not looked great in his last couple of fights and I’m not sure his victory over a listless Jorge Masvidal is anything to brag about either. That doesn’t make him any less dangerous on fight night and his resume is leagues above Brady’s, I just wonder how well the former title challenger will hold up considering all the miles on those Brazilian tires. If Brady had better hands I would be more inclined to predict a finish; but as it stands, I think he shuts Burns down for most of the fight and cruises to a sweep on all three scorecards.

Prediction: Brady def. Burns by unanimous decision

125 lbs.: Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva

Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade
Record: 26-12 | Age: 32 | Betting line: +245
Wins: 10 KO/TKO, 8 SUB, 8 DEC | Losses: 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 3 DEC
Height: 5’1“ | Reach: 62” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 6.62 | Striking accuracy: 50%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 5.37 | Striking Defense: 55%
Takedown Average: 2.37 (55% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 72%
Current Ranking: No. 6 | Last fight: Split decision win over Marina Rodriguez

Natalia Silva
Record: 17-5-1 | Age: 27 | Betting line: -305
Wins: 5 KO/TKO, 7 SUB, 4 DEC, 1 DQ | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 2 DEC
Height: 5’4“ | Reach: 65” | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.53 | Striking accuracy: 44%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 2.10 | Striking Defense: 65%
Takedown Average: 0.50 (28% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 91%
Current Ranking: No. 8 | Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Viviane Araujo

Jessica Andrade competed five times in 2023 and suffered three straight losses for the first time in her career — all finishes — leading fans and pundits to wonder if the accumulation of damage after nearly 40 professional fights was starting to take its toll. Let’s face it, you don’t rack up double-digit performance bonuses by playing it safe. Andrade silenced all doubts by storming back in late 2023 and early 2024, laying waste to Mackenzie Dern at UFC 295 before splitting Marina Rodriguez at UFC 300. “Bate Estaca” hasn’t changed much over the years and employs the Tasmanian Devil offense, which is basically just a tornado of violence from start to finish. It’s not the most technical approach to cage fighting but it’s supremely effective, which is why Andrade has the most knockouts and the most finishes in the history of the strawweight division.

“I think this is great matchmaking,” Andrade told reporters at the UFC Vegas 97 media day (watch it here). “It’s two good styles of fighting. When the name came up we thought about a main event in August. It turns out it gave enough time for both of us. I think both of us have to do a hard weight cut. I think it’s a girl I see what she’s all about. I’ve seen her since she’s come to the UFC. I’ve followed her. I’ve cheered her on ever since she’s come here. So I think it’s going to be a good fight since she’s come here.”

Natalia Silva made her UFC debut back in early 2022 after several years on the regional circuit and has quietly racked up five straight wins, a streak that helped her break into the Top 10 at No. 8. Her most recent victory came against Viviane Araujo at UFC Vegas 85 last February and the bookies were so impressed with her body of work they pegged the 27 year-old Brazilian as the -305 betting favorite. That’s a pretty sizable number when you consider what Andrade has accomplished in her MMA career, which includes a UFC title, and we’ve yet to see Silva face anyone of elite status. In fact, two of her previous opponents, Victoria Leonardo and Andrea Lee, are a combined 1-9 across their last 10. It’s also worth pointing out that Araujo has dropped three of her last four, so it’s not outrageous to suggest that Silva has been given a few layups over the last two years.

“This is my opportunity,” Silva told reporters at the UFC Vegas 97 media day (watch it here). “I can do this. Jessica is a good name in UFC, and I needed to accept this opportunity and show my skills, my work. Now I am here to fight against Jessica. I trained for three rounds, but if I have an opportunity to finish the fight, I will take it.”

“A victory against Jessica will give me a new opportunity,” Silva continued. “I know I can fight for the belt and a victory against Jessica will give me an opportunity for this. Every fight that I go into I see as an opportunity to fight for the title. I see an opportunity to show my skills, show my hard work and going into the fight with Jessica, that’s how I approach it. But I think this is an opportunity for me for a higher goal, which is to be a champion.”

I haven’t seen enough from Silva to confidently pick her over Andrade. That said, this fight will be contested at flyweight and “Bate Estaca” does her best work at 115 pounds. The former champ will be giving up three inches in height and three inches in reach against a younger, fresher opponent who boasts 91% takedown defense. Still, I think Andrade can do enough (or at least be busy enough) to win two of the three rounds, assuming she doesn’t get flattened before she can get out of first gear.

Prediction: Andrade def. Silva by decision

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the UFC Vegas 97 main card predictions RIGHT HERE.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 97 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card matchups which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 97 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive here. For the updated and finalized “Burns vs. Brady” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts