CombatSports.org

submitted by /u/Yodsanan [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Five new fighters earned UFC contracts on the latest episode of Contender Series.

On Tuesday night, the seventh episode of season eight of Contender Series took place in Las Vegas at the UFC APEX, and after five fights, UFC CEO Dana White handed out contracts to all five winners on the night, only the second time this season that’s happened.

Voievodkin stuns Schoenfelder

In the main event of the evening, Danylo Voievodkin stunned Bailey Schoenfelder with a first-round submission victory that earned the 24-year-old a UFC contract.

The biggest underdog on the card, Voievodkin didn’t look it in the cage with Schoenfelder, setting the pace right from the opening bell. Schoenfelder tried to stick and move but it didn’t take Voievodkin long to drop the former Minnesota Golden Gopher football player and immediately jump onto a rear-naked choke, getting the finish in just over one minute.

Frunza outlasts Kutsyi

In the penultimate fight of the evening, Daniel Frunza outlasted Vadym Kutsyi to score a second-round TKO and earn a UFC contract.

With an impressive 17-1 resume coming into Contender Series, Kutsyi had a lot of hype coming into the bout but Frunza started out hot, buzzing the Belarussian early with combinations. That lead Kutsyi to fall back on his wrestling for the remainder of the round, even landing some big shots from on top. But once the second round started, Kutsyi’s gas tank was gone and Frunza turned up the heat, overwhelming Kutsyi with strikes to earn the finish and a UFC contract.

Christian submits Mazzeo

In the third fight of the evening, Kevin Christian pulled off a small comeback, submitting Francesco Mazzeo with a triangle armbar in the second round.

An impressive sight at 6-foot-7 as a light heavyweight, Christian got off to a rocky start as Mazzeo scored an early takedown and spent most of the first round in top position. Christian attempted a few submissions but had little success and was also unable to get back to his feet. But in the second round, Mazzeo hit a cardio wall and after securing another takedown, this time Christian was able to throw on a triangle choke, finishing the maneuver quickly with an armbar extension added in for good measure.

After the fight, Dana White wasn’t quite sure whether to sign Christian, but Mick Maynard made the call and ultimately Christian earned his spot in the UFC.

Vallejos dazzles against Teague

In the second bout of the evening, Kevin Vallejos put on a dazzling display of striking against Cam Teague, earning a first round knockout and a UFC contract.

Only 22 years old, Vallejos fell short in his first attempt at Contender Series last year when he faced Jean Silva and suffered his first career defeat. This time around the Argentinian fighter had no such issues, lighting Teague up with combinations to the head and body, overwhelming the previously undefeated fighter. It was a near-perfect performance from Vallejos and Dana White awarded the young man a UFC contract as a result.

Thainara out-works Conceicao

In the opening bout of the evening, Alexia Thainara won a unanimous decision over Rose Conceicao and earned her spot in the UFC.

Thainara and Conceicao actually have a history of training together and while sometimes that can lead fighters to be timid, that certainly wasn’t the case for Thainara who came out guns blazing from the opening bell. Conceicao simply couldn’t keep pace with Thainara’s aggression and activity as she got out-worked every round. Ultimately, Thainara handed her former training partner the first defeat of her career and earned a contract from Dana White.

Check out the DWCS week 7 results below.

Danylo Voievodkin def. Bailey Schoenfelder via submission (rear-naked choke) — R1, 1:13

Daniel Frunza def. Vadym Kutsyi via TKO (punches) — R2, 3:30

Kevin Christian def. Francesco Mazzeo via submission (triangle armbar) — R2, 4:17

Kevin Vallejos def. Cam Teague via TKO (punches) — R1, 2:23

Alexia Thainara def. Rose Conceicao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

MMA Fighting – All Posts

UFC

submitted by /u/rmma
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Dana White is serious about moving into boxing this time.

Over the past several years, the White has made numerous claims about jumping into the sweet science, even promoting Zuffa boxing as far back as 2017 when Conor McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather. But for as often as White has declared his “in” on boxing, he’s just as often decried the sport for being “so broken that it can’t be fixed.” But earlier this week, White teased another venture into boxing and on Tuesday night he expounded a little on the matter.

“I did my first fight in Ireland and we’ll start announcing stuff here [at the] beginning of 2025,” White told reporters following the latest episode of Contender Series.

White is referring to the Callum Walsh vs. Przemyslaw Runowski fight he attended this past weekend in Dublin, Ireland. White and Walsh’s promoter Tom Loefller have a long-standing relationship and the event was streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

At this point, it’s unclear what White’s foray into boxing will look like, and the UFC CEO is unwilling to divulge further information at this time. Given White’s many stops and starts with boxing in the past, some are skeptical that this time will be any different, but White insists that this time it’s real.

“Every time I get on the phone with these guys I go, ‘Am I out of my f*cking mind?’ But I think that obviously now is the time or I would have done it then,” White said. “I was kicking around — I was even talking about Anthony Joshua at one time and stuff like that. I’m glad that I pumped the brakes and we waited. Everything is about timing. Is now the time? We’re going to find out…

“There’s a million reasons why now is [the time],” White continued. “If you notice, as far as boxing goes, even as much money as Sheik Turki is throwing into this thing, television deals aren’t really abundant right now. There’s just a lot of things that I think I can do that other people haven’t done yet.”

Promotion is very different between boxing and MMA, primarily due to the Ali Act, which provides federal oversight and certain protections to fighters that do not currently extend to MMA. But White insists he has a plan for how to handle the different promotional aspects of things.

“I have a plan. I’m going to implement that plan and we’ll see how it works,” White said. “We’ll see how this thing works. People have been talking about the demise of boxing for 30 years and we’re still here talking about boxing right now.

“I have always had an idea of how I thought it should be done. I don’t know if that’s possible, but we’re going to find out. I’m coming in guns blazing.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Trilogy?
| BJPenn.com

It’s that time!

Contender Series keeps rolling on for 10 straight weeks of mixed martial arts (MMA) action. Week five goes down tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, in front of UFC CEO, Dana White, as well as his cadre of matchmakers.

As has become standard for the program of late, all four fighters earned UFC contracts last week.

In the main event this evening, Cage Fury FC (CFFC) Heavyweight champion, Bailey Schoenfelder (5-0), takes on Ukraine’s Danylo Voievodkin (6-0), who has never fought past three minutes with six finishes. In the co-main event, Romanian knockout artist, Daniel Frunza (8-2) and Vadym Kutsyi (17-1) — who looks to be the second fighter from Belarus to make it to UFC — meet in a Welterweight clash. The “Featured” bout has Light Heavyweight finishers as Francesco Mazzeo (4-0) takes on Kevin Christian (8-2). Kevin Vallejos (13-1) returns looking for a contract against Cam Teague (7-0) and Strawweights kick off the card as LFA champion, Rose Conceicao (7-0), fights Alexia Thainara (10-1).

‘Contender Series’ Quick Results:

Danylo Voievodkin defeats Bailey Schoenfelder via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 1:13
Daniel Frunza defeats Vadym Kutsy via TKO (punches) Round 2, 3:30
Kevin Christian defeats Francesco Mazzeo via submission (triangle) Round 2, 4:17
Kevin Vallejos defeats Cam Teague via TKO (punches) Round 1, 2:23
Alexia Thainara defeats Rose Conceicao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

‘Contender Series’ Highlights & Results:

265 lbs.: Danylo Voievodkin defeats Bailey Schoenfelder via submission

170 lbs.: Daniel Frunza defeats Vadym Kutsy via TKO

205 lbs.: Kevin Christian defeats Francesco Mazzeo via submission

155 lbs.: Kevin Vallejos defeats Cam Teague via TKO

115 lbs.: Alexia Thainara defeats Rose Conceicao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more Contender Series news and notes, be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

submitted by /u/idcman999 [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Alexia Thainara and Rose Conceicao were training partners and roommates not that long ago. Now, they fight each other for a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series.

The strawweight prospects previously shared a place in Varginha, Brazil, training alongside UFC star Amanda Ribas at the local gym. They even fought on the same card that year, with Thainara dismantling her opponent in just eight seconds to move to 6-1 as a professional, and Conceicao improving to 5-0 with a second-round submission.

Conceicao left the team months after that, eventually moving to Pitbull Brothers’ team in Natal, and destiny brings them face to face at Tuesday night’s DWCS card in Las Vegas after their original opponents Alice Ardelean and Fatima Kline signed straight deals with the UFC as replacements.

“We spent three months training together,” Conceicao said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “To think we know each other because we trained together could be a trap, because it depends on the mindset of each athlete. They might think they know my game, and end up surprised by a completely new game, so I tried not to worry about it. In the end, I don’t think the fact that we lived together and know each other makes any difference.”

Thainara told MMA Fighting they had no contact since Conceicao left Ribas Family to join another camp, and “a lot has changed” since their training sessions back in 2022.

“It’s completely different,” Thainara said. “We always have new knowledge that makes a big difference, but there are always some triggers. A lot has changed since then. My fighting style is completely different, and I’m sure it’s going to be a war. She’s not here anymore, and we’re both chasing our dreams. There can only be one champion and there’s no second place. She left, I stayed, and we’re both after our dreams. so let’s brawl in there.”

“We had a pleasant time living together but after that, each one followed their own path,” Conceicao said. “I don’t look at people as possible opponents, it’s all natural. I always say we show in the fight who we are outside of it. I respect her as I would respect any other person, but there was no friendship. But we know how competitive the world can be, right? There could be a friendship, but when we have to defend what’s ours, it all changes. I’m cool about it. I’m focused on those around me, spending my time with my family and friends instead of worrying about that.”

Thainara believes Conceicao’s striking has changed a little bit over the past few years “but nothing that scares me.” On the other hand, Conceicao said she hasn’t watched any of Thainara’s recent fights, and plans on showing the division she has the striking and grappling to go to war against the best.

“I see this fight ending by knockout or also by submission, and not because of holes I’ve seen in her game, but because I’ve trained hard for both scenarios,” Conceicao said. “We have a gameplan but when we’re talking about [DWCS], we’re talking about winning impressively. Maybe a boring strategy doesn’t convince [White], and I think that makes this fight easier because you’re there to be signed for your skills.”

Thainara said her gameplan to win Tuesday night — and be offered a deal the CEO of the UFC — is to “brawl and be versatile”.

“The show begins from the weigh-ins, with your style, your look, your hair, and your joy to fight,” Thainara said. “When you don’t do what you love with joy, you won’t put on a show even if you’re the world’s best. There is pressure every time you’re fighting, because you’re not fighting a dummy, but a person who worked hard to be there. Things go right when you’re well-trained and focused on the goal.”

Conceicao, a former LFA interim strawweight champion who’s unbeaten in seven professional bouts, said this match “will put me among the best in the world” in the UFC.

“I don’t wanna just get in the UFC to be part of it and then leave, I want to make a run there,” Conceicao said. “I want to get in and stay there for good. Being in the UFC will change my life completely — and quickly. And I don’t say financially, or because of the attention and things like that, I mean hard work. I’ll have to focus more, change my habits, and completely re-shape my entire life so I can go there and make history because it’s the world’s biggest event with the world’s best athletes.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

submitted by /u/event_threads
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts