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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Ariane da Silva rides the longest win streak of her UFC career heading into her UFC Vegas 91 clash against flyweight prospect Karine Silva this Saturday, and sees the matchup as an opportunity to prove she belongs among the elite of the sport.

Da Silva, formerly Ariane Lipski, forced Casey O’Neill to tap to an armbar this past December to go 3-0 in 2023 and enter the top 15 of the UFC’s flyweight rankings. Now she aims for another big jump by stopping Silva’s fast — and thus far undefeated — UFC rise.

“I believe that I can enter the top 10 with a win in this fight,” da Silva told MMA Fighting. “I’ve trained hard to show I’m ready to go to the top of the division. I want to put on a great performance and show how much I’ve evolved and how mature I am as an athlete, to show that I’m ready to go to the top.”

Da Silva hopes to repeat her successful 2023 and score a trio of UFC victories this year, especially since things are moving “slow” in the title picture, with the belt only expected to be defended by Alexa Grasso in the fall in a trilogy bout with Valentina Shevchenko.

“I think three fights are the right number to go where I want to go,” da Silva said. “I want to go faster because things are quite slow up there in the top five. My focus is to fight and win this fight, then it’s all in God’s hands. It will happen when the time is right, but I will be ready for the opportunities that present themselves.”

Da Silva previously left American Top Team to train at Amanda Nunes’ private gym in Florida, and is now training at the UFC Gym in Miami following Nunes’ retirement, but still keeps the same group of coaches that assisted her for her recent UFC victories.

“The goal is always the same since I entered the UFC,” da Silva said. “Every time I fight is another step to climb the division. The goal and focus are always the same. Winning three fights last year obviously gives me more confidence, entering the ranking the way I did also gives me more confidence, but the mindset is always the same. I’m always training to evolve and fight the best in the world.”

Finishing O’Neill in December was “the icing on the cake” to cap off “a perfect year” in the UFC, but da Silva stills misses knocking people out.

Here opponent Silva has been victorious in her past eight bouts, a run highlighted by four submissions under the Zuffa umbrella, so Lipski knows what to expect from her.

“I almost got my first knockout in the UFC [against O’Neill], but the submission was good, it got me a [performance] bonus, and the focus now is on the April 27 fight,” da Silva said. “We always focus on standing and striking, but not because of my opponents, but for my game, to impose what we do. My goal is to become a well-rounded MMA athlete and I’m always prepared for everything. I’m always going for the finish, for a knockout or a submission, but winning if the ultimate goal.

“I have a strategy to follow and I’m trained for whatever happens, on the feet or on the ground, but I definitely want to keep it standing. That’s my zone. I want to go there and show all the techniques I’ve learned from my coach Renato [Silva]. I have so much to show, and I want to do that. Karine is a grappler with good attacks, but I’ve fought grapplers and strikers before. I’m one of the most experienced fighters in the division so I feel prepared.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Matheus Nicolau headlines Saturday’s UFC Vegas 91 card seven days before UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja puts his flyweight title on the line against Steve Erceg at UFC 301, and Nicolau is willing to serve as the backup fighter for the Rio de Janeiro event.

Nicolau battles Alex Perez in the main event of UFC Vegas 91 and told MMA Fighting that cutting down to 125 pounds twice in one week isn’t smart from a physiological standpoint, but could fast track him to the top of the division.

“If the UFC calls, we would do it,” Nicolau said. “I think it would be hard, but it’s possible [to make weight again on May 3]. It’s not a smart thing to do. Honestly, it would be one of those things that I would do hoping that nothing goes wrong [with Erceg] and I don’t have to fight, you know? Cutting weight twice in one week is hard for the body, your system, metabolism, and etc. But if the UFC gives me that opportunity, I can’t say no. If you want to fight for the belt, sometimes you have to take risks and jump on the opportunity.”

UFC hasn’t announced a backup plan for UFC 301’s championship bout. There were talks about Brandon Royval possibly serving as the backup, per sources, but ultimately that didn’t happen. Nicolau, who lives and trains in Rio de Janeiro, believes claiming that position could earn him a chance against the UFC 301 main event winner.

Nicolau’s recent loss to Royval ended a six-fight winning streak that included victories over the likes of Manel Kape, Tim Elliott, and Matt Schnell.

“‘Did you make me cut weight for nothing? At least give me a title shot after,’” Nicolau said with a laugh. “The fact that the title fight is so close to my fight puts me on the same timeline of the champion and that helps, no doubt about it.”

Nicolau picks Pantoja to retain his flyweight title in Rio de Janeiro, but warns his former teammate that Erceg is a dangerous foe.

Erceg enters the bout with a 12-1 pro record and is 3-0 since joining UFC in June 2023, having climbed the ranks with wins over David Dvorak, Alessandro Costa, and Matt Schnell.

“Being ranked No. 10 doesn’t mean he’s an easy fight,” Nicolau said of Erceg. “He’s tough and he’s coming in hungry to give his all and win. He’s dangerous on the feet and in the grappling area, and he’s big for the division. He appears to be strong for the division too, so it’s definitely going to be a big challenge for Pantoja, but I’m hoping that Pantoja wins.”

Nicolau could insert himself in the title discussion with a win over Perez, and he sees the American as a tricky opponent despite the fact that Perez enters the cage on a three-fight losing streak, having fallen to Deiveson Figueiredo, Pantoja, and Muhammad Mokaev.

“I see him as a super tough opponent,” Nicolau said. “I see him as I see every man I fight, as the most important and difficult fight of my life. Even though he lost his last three, those were losses to tough opponents, one of them being the champion. His last one was against Mokaev, a rising prospect, and he was able to stop his grappling, and some people think he won.

“He’s a dangerous guy, and a great challenge for the first five-round fight of my career. I’ve always said that I would like to be in a five-round main event before fighting for the belt because that benefits my style. I’m a patient guy who will have time to build to the victory. And it’s obvious that being the main event, you’re in the spotlight and have more attention on you, and that’s important for a title fight. I’m super motivated and happy with this challenge.”

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Interesting
| BJPenn.com

Fight fans have witnessed some pretty gnarly knockouts in women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) history, but Kendra McIntyre’s head kick finish at LFA 182 on Friday night (April 26, 2024) reached an entirely different level.

McIntyre. 28. isn’t known for his knockout ability as she’s captured unanimous decisions in two other professional wins. The flyweight prospect has shown off her striking skills along the way, but nothing that prepared fight fans for her performance on Friday night. It was simply incredible.

McIntyre was matched up against fellow prospect, Katarina Legorreta, who came into the fight with a 2-0 professional record. The two women fought hard over the first two rounds, but Legorreta would ultimately meet her demise in the third. That’s because McIntyre launched a devastating head kick that caught an exhausted Legorreta directly in the face. Legorreta instantly went out and violently crashed into the cage. The fight was immediately called off.

Check out the brutal finish in the above video player.

Women’s MMA has produced some memorable head kick knockout finishes — including Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko over Jessica Eye — but where does this nasty stoppage by McIntyre rank among them?

Sound off!

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Don’t blame Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez for the lack of buzz around the UFC Vegas 91 main event.

The original headliner for Saturday was to feature Manel Kape facing Nicolau in a rematch, with the expectation that a win for Kape would vault him towards a title shot. Unfortunately for all parties involved, Kape suffered a rib injury and was forced to withdraw, the latest in a long line of bout cancellations for the would-be contender.

So in steps Perez—no stranger to cancellations himself—a one-time title challenger in the midst of an unfortunate three-fight slump. With Nicolau also coming off of a loss, it’s understandable that this matchup isn’t exactly lighting up social media.

Still, top-ranked flyweights are not to be taken for granted, and with No. 14-ranked light heavyweight Ryan Spann competing in the co-main event, and fringe flyweight contenders Ariane da Silva (formerly Lipski) and Karine Silva also featured, there are a smattering of intriguing fights to sink your teeth into tonight.

What: UFC Vegas 91

Where: UFC APEX in Las Vegas

When: Saturday, April 27. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+, followed by a six-fight main card at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook

(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings)

Matheus Nicolau (T10) vs. Alex Perez (12)

Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez both utilize a ton of movement to get where they want to go, but they differ on the path. For Nicolau, he does his best work on the outside, poking at his opponents and mixing in his grappling when the situation calls for it. Perez circles until he can find an opening to rush in, then he attacks with combinations and takedowns. It’s going to be a 25-minute chess match when these two step into the cage.

As cliché as that sounds, it’s the most accurate way to break this one down. That’s not to say that neither is capable of finding a finish, just that it’s more likely these two favor tactics over bonus hunting. Add in the sterile APEX environment and the recipe is there for a fun, if somewhat low-key main event.

I always favor Nicolau if he goes to the scorecards. He’s a point fighter, which doesn’t go over well with the fans, but again, what fans? It’s the APEX! Nicolau will be at his workmanlike best, frustrating Perez from range and using his all-around game to take a decision.

Pick: Nicolau

Ryan Spann (14) vs. Bogdan Guskov

Is it just me or does Ryan Spann getting a third chance to beat Anthony Smith feel a little excessive?

OK, maybe Bogdan Guskov isn’t identical to Smith, but you can’t blame anyone if they have a sense of déjà vu seeing Spann standing across from another member of the bald brotherhood so soon after his unsuccessful Smith rematch.

Guskov is your classic light heavyweight slugger. He wants to circle to get into range to throw a heavy right hand and relies on a sturdy chin to keep himself out of trouble. That might not be the best strategy against the speedy Spann.

Though Spann has been on the wrong end of his fair share of highlight-reel knockouts, I give him the technical and defensive edge in this matchup. Spann should also consider changing levels here and grounding the dangerous Guskov before the standup action gets too hairy.

Spann by submission.

Pick: Spann

Ariane da Silva vs. Karine Silva

The name of the game here: Physicality.

Ariane da Silva (f.k.a. Ariane Lipski) has been the best version of herself in her past three fights. “The Queen” joined the UFC in 2019 with a reputation for high-octane offense, but it took time for her to find her footing. Now, she’s won three straight and four of her past five fights with timely striking and punishing pressure.

She can do some damage on the ground too, but shouldn’t play around with her fellow Brazilian down there. Karine Silva has been a submission machine lately and she’ll aim to take da Silva down and attack on the mat. Unlike some of Silva’s previous opponents, I’m not sure she can just hulk da Silva onto her back.

Silva can surprise on the feet. She has raw strength and confidence in her hands, which could result in a few thrilling exchanges. Still, her main goal should be to challenge da Silva’s submission defense.

Da Silva has never been submitted, but Silva has never won by decision. Something has go to give. I have Da Silva on points.

Pick: Da Silva

Austen Lane vs. Jhonata Diniz

I don’t like this one for Austen Lane at all.

The former football player has certainly made a name for himself as a scorecard-adverse, hard-hitting heavyweight that is guaranteed to deliver a highlight, win or lose. In this instance, I get the sense that Lane is being used to put over recent Contender Series signing Jhonata Diniz.

A former kickboxer, Diniz’s skills have translated well into MMA to the tune of six knockouts in six pro bouts. Lane likes to use his long legs to establish the kicking game, but that’s probably not a good idea against Diniz. The more combat-tested Diniz is going to walk Lane down and unless Lane has been relentlessly drilling takedowns, they’ll likely stay on the feet where Diniz wants to operate.

There’s a chance that Lane throws caution to the wind and gets to Diniz first, but the safe pick here is Diniz by KO/TKO in Round 1.

Pick: Diniz

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

Uros Medic prefers to fight on the outside, utilizing crisp footwork to set up counters, while Tim Means is going to be in his face from the opening bell.

You have to like Medic’s chances of scoring a knockout here. Means has an excellent chin, but it’s weathered, and Medic will be eager to chip away at it until it cracks. If he can set the tone early and force Means to fight his fight, he can definitely end this one inside the distance.

On the other side, Means has to pressure, pressure, and pressure some more to give Medic no chance of establishing a rhythm. This is Means’ 29th UFC appearance and at this point in his career, he always fights like he’s in a hurry. I expect Means’ game plan will be to bury Medic with volume striking.

It’s a solid strategy that has worked well for Means in many of his wins and I expect it to carry him to a decision nod here.

Pick: Means

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama

First off, finger wag of shame for David Onama after he missed weight by over two pounds on Friday. If it’s a medical issue, then hopefully Onama is OK; if it’s a diet or discipline issue, then that has to be fixed. Because when Onama is on, he’s one of the most exciting up-and-coming fighters at 145 pounds.

Jonathan Pearce will make you pay if you’re not fully locked in. He throws everything to finish and approaches from some unexpected angles, too. Look for him to push the pace early to check if Onama is showing any ill effects from a botched weight cut. That’s a dangerous game to play though considering how hard Onama hits.

You also have to factor in Onama’s athleticism, which is a cheat code of sorts. He’s capable of pulling off moves that 90 percent of the division wouldn’t even attempt. I’m just concerned with whether or not his weight miss affected his cardio. If Pearce drags him into deep waters, that could be a wrap.

Onama has enough in the tank to go the distance, but Pearce outworks him for the win.

Pick: Pearce

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts