Category: Radio Highlight

Huge favorite Josh Silveira ready for PFL war with ‘killer,’ ‘monster,’ ‘nightmare’ Ty Flores

Top PFL light heavyweight playoff seed Josh Silveira said it won’t be “Skittles and rainbows” on the way to a shot at $1 million.

There are plenty of high hopes around [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] heading into the PFL’s 2023 playoff season.

But the American Top Team light heavyweight has been here before. In 2022, Silveira (11-1) went into the playoffs unbeaten in his career, but was upset as a 2-1 favorite by Omari Akhmedov. This season, after two first-round stoppages in the regular season. Silveira (11-1) is the 205-pound division’s No. 1 playoff seed against Ty Flores (13-4).

The two fight on Friday’s PFL playoff opener at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

Silveira told MMA Junkie Radio the mental hurdles in the PFL’s format help prepare him for the postseason and what he hopes is a run to the $1 million title this year.

“MMA in general is a stressful sport. Just knowing that you’re going to get locked in a cage with somebody, that’s already a stressful moment just by itself,” Silveira said. “… The physical break – I’ll get breaks. My dad will give me breaks. He’s like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go rest.’ But it’s the mental aspect. You win a fight in the PFL and you already have another fight announced already. ‘Here’s your next opponent. This is the next guy you’re fighting right here.’ Boom, you win. Boom, you win. Boom.

“I think there’s a mental barrier sometimes where I’m just like, man, this is such a long season. I feel like I don’t get a mental break. But that’s the job. You’ve got to cope with that the best you can. You have to understand that fighting for $1 million dollars isn’t going to be Skittles and rainbows and ‘what a beautiful day it is outside.’ There’s going to be tornadoes and hurricanes and tsunamis and it’s just about being consistent – understanding that it is a long season … understanding that you’ve got to respect your body, respect how you feel, respect the moment. And just show up to the gym just getting it in – just showing up and understanding that this is a long season.”

Silveira choked out Sam Kei in the first round in April for 6 points. Against Delan Monte in June, he picked up a TKO win 90 seconds in due to a Monte injury for another 6. He was one of just three fighters across six divisions to get the max of 12 points in the regular season.

At -650, Silveira is far and away the biggest betting favorite on the card. That doesn’t mean he’s taking the fight as a walk-through to the $1 million final against the winner of Friday’s second light heavyweight semifinal between Marthin Hamlet and Impa Kasanganay.

“I think of Ty Flores as a killer ready to take me out, ready to take what’s mine, ready to embarrass me on TV, on ESPN,” Silveira said. “I take all of that very seriously. I want to prepare for this monster, this nightmare, and when I get there, I’ll make adjustments. If it is as bad as I think it is, then we’re ready. And if it’s not that, then it’s going to be a hard night for him. I’m ready. I’m a finisher, but I’m ready to fight 15 minutes. I’m ready to fight 25. I don’t give a crap.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Playoffs 1.

PFL’s Bubba Jenkins explains why soccer star Lionel Messi inspires him

Bubba Jenkins takes inspiration from Lionel Messi’s success in sport.

[autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] takes inspiration from [autotag]Lionel Messi[/autotag]’s success in sport.

Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time – if not the greatest. Jenkins can relate to Messi’s small stature in competition, and how he was able to excel regardless of being undersized.

“My son is a Ronaldo fan so he’s not a Messi guy, he’s a Ronaldo fan,” Jenkins told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s like, ‘Dad, why do you like Messi?’ and I was like because Messi is small, Messi is our size. Messi is a little guy, he’s smaller, and he gets the job done at the highest levels in his way, and I obviously know he’s in what you would consider the Arena League of soccer, killing everybody.

“So, it makes sense that he’s doing what he’s doing. But, it also highlights his greatness. He could have done it anywhere, doing it anywhere, but he decided to do it his way, how he wanted it. Pick up a smaller group of people, he likes to collaborate, and I love that.”

Jenkins (21-6) takes on Jesus Pinedo (21-6-1) in the 145-pound semifinal at 2023 PFL Playoffs 1, which takes place Aug. 4 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

2023 PFL Playoffs 1 will mark the first event Jenkins headlines, and he can’t wait for the opportunity to shine.

“I’m very excited, I can’t be more excited, and I’m the main event,” Jenkins said. “So, when it comes to me feeling like PFL finally got it right or giving the people what they want, it’s this. It’s ‘Bad Man Things’ in the main event, in Texas, all things are big in Texas, they do it big there. So, I couldn’t be more excited, more pumped for the position, the platform, and the stage.”

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UFC’s Ode Osbourne: Debuting Asu Almabaev ‘not going to make a name off of me’

Ode Osbourne wants to show UFC newcomer Asu Almabaev that there are levels in this game.

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag] wants to show UFC debutant [autotag]Asu Almabaev[/autotag] that there’s levels in this game.

Osbourne (12-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) takes on Almabaev (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 50 on Aug. 5 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Almabaev is on a 13-fight winning streak, with wins over former UFC fighters Chris Kelades and Zach Makovsky.

Osbourne has been training in Las Vegas with the likes of UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, Bellator interim champ Patchy Mix, and top UFC flyweight contender Amir Albazi. He will look to put a halt to Kazakhstani fighter Almabaev’s momentum in statement-making fashion.

“My goal this fight is to – this guy is a (newcomer), he’s coming off I don’t even know how many wins, 17-2, but he’s not going to make a name off of me,” Osbourne told MMA Junkie Radio. “So, my goal is not just to win this fight, but to finish him because I’m not just somebody you can just make a name off of.

“So, I’m definitely looking to finish this guy and take it to him, just show what Ode Osbourne can do against a different kind of fighter because this guy is more of a grappler-wrestler type, so I’m interested in showing how dynamic of a fighter I am.”

If Osbourne gets past Almabaev, he will have won four of his past five fights which he thinks should be enough to land him a ranked opponent next.

“This fight, I haven’t really given it much thought other than that I want to face a top 15-ranked opponent in my next fight granted things go my way, which I believe it will,” Osbourne said.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 50.

Patricky Freire hopes to draw Usman Nurmagomedov rematch in grand prix final: ‘It’s a good fight to make history’

Crossing paths with Usman Nurmagomedov in the grand prix final could make a storybook ending for Patricio Freire.

Crossing paths with [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] in the grand prix final could make a storybook ending for [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag].

Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA) lost his lightweight title to Nurmagomedov in his most recent outing at Bellator 288 last November, and now has to get through a grand prix to win it back.

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA), who submitted Benson Henderson in the opening round, is slated to face Brent Primus in the semifinals. If both men can get through their side of the bracket, 37-year-old Freire hinted that it could be the final fight of his career.

“It’s a good fight to make history,” Freire told MMA Junkie Radio on rematching Nurmagomedov. “Take my belt again, take $1 million, maybe finish my career, I don’t know. Let’s see.”

First up for Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA) is A.J. McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) in the opening round of the 155-pound grand prix at Bellator X Rizin 2 on July 30 near Tokyo. Waiting for the winner of Freire vs. McKee is Alexandr Shabliy, who scored a TKO of Tofiq Musayev to advance to the semifinals.

Freire watched his brother Patricio split his two appearances with McKee, where he regained his featherweight title in a close decision win. McKee has since moved up to lightweight, but Freire isn’t expecting anything different from what he’s already seen.

“He don’t change nothing,” Freire said. “He fights the same style. Maybe he tried to change something, but I don’t believe too much.”

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Coach Freddie Roach: MMA striking is ‘definitely getting a lot better’

Freddie Roach has seen a lot of progression with the state of striking in MMA.

[autotag]Freddie Roach[/autotag] has seen a lot of progression with the state of striking in MMA.

In the early years of MMA, there was plenty of criticism to be had about the level of fundamental and technique in the sport.

The level of training and athletes has come a long way in recent years, though, and noted boxing coach Roach – who has also worked with many MMA notables, from Georges St-Pierre to Rafael Dos Anjos to Aaron Pico – sees the overall growth.

“It’s definitely getting a lot better,” Roach told MMA Junkie Radio at UFC X Radio Row earlier this month. “The thing is, I’m with the MMA guys a lot in the gym – Georges St-Pierre and so forth, and working with him, learning this sport, also, so I can be a better coach. It works out well.”

Watch the video above for Roach’s complete interview with MMA Junkie Radio.

Adrian Yanez eyes return on UFC’s Sept. 16 Mexican Independence Day event: ‘I want to get really active’

Adrian Yanez has been chomping at the bit to return after suffering his first octagon loss.

[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] has been chomping at the bit to return after his first octagon loss.

Yanez (16-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was stopped by first-round TKO against Rob Font at UFC 287 in April. It was a tough pill to swallow for the red hot bantamweight prospect, but Yanez is ready to climb his way back up.

Prior to the Font loss, Yanez was on a nine-fight winning streak with seven finishes.

“I’ve been hammering for a fight for a month already,” Yanez told MMA Junkie Radio. “Once I got cleared by the doctor, I immediately got off the phone with the doctor, got on the phone with my manager Jason, and I was like, ‘Hey, what’s up? What are we doing? What’s next?’ and trying to get something going.

“I know for the longest time, the division was kind of being held up with what Henry (Cejudo) was going to do. Is Henry going to fight (Marlon) ‘Chito’ (Vera)? Is he going to fight Merab (Dvalishvili)? And I think that was up in the air for like a month. I was sitting back trying to wait like, ‘Hey what am I going to do? I’m not up there, I’m back here. What am I doing?'”

Yanez is OK fighting backward in the rankings, just as long as it’s someone with momentum. He’s hoping to compete on the UFC’s rumored Mexican Independence Day card Sept. 16, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

“I’ll fight somebody just outside the top 15 who deserves to be in the top 15 if nobody in my general area (of the rankings) is trying to get matched up,” Yanez said. “I don’t mind fighting. I just want to start getting active because I’ve only fought once in a year, and I don’t like that feeling.

“I want to fight again. I want to get really active. The last I heard, Sept. 16 might be a date, but I told them it’s either Sept. 16 or before. I’m already training. I’m already looking to get back in there, so hopefully I hear some news soon.”

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Raul Rosas Jr. turns to old wrestling coach in Kyrgyzstan after first career loss

18-year-old UFC prospect Raul Rosas Jr. went back to his roots after his first career loss.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag] went back to his roots after enduring his first career loss.

Rosas (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was upset by Christian Rodriguez when he lost a unanimous decision in the main card opener of UFC 287 in April. Rosas had Rodriguez in trouble early when he almost submitted him with a rear-naked choke in Round 1, but then he was heavily outgrappled in Rounds 2 and 3.

After the loss, Rosas went back to his old wrestling coach, who he credits for helping him make strides in such a short amount of time.

“I just went back to my wrestling coach, he’s from Russia, but we met in Kyrgyzstan,” Rosas told MMA Junkie Radio on Radio Row at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. “I didn’t know any wrestling. The only wrestling I knew I learned in like a month. I knew he was really good because all the wrestling I know, I learned in a month thanks to him. We went back and trained for another month and he helped us improve in a lot of positions that I could have done better for my last fight and just in general. I feel great about it.”

Rosas, who is the youngest UFC winner in history, had plenty of hype surrounding him that was momentarily halted by Rodriguez. But the goal remains the same for the 18-year-old.

“We’re still chasing the dream, so right now just working hard and ready for what’s next,” Rosas said. “For my next fight, I should be announcing it soon, and I should be getting a fight soon. I can’t wait to be able to go back in this year and put on a show for the people.”

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UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez live-streaming watch-along with MMA Junkie Radio

Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of UFC 290 in Las Vegas.

UFC 290 takes place Saturday headlined by two title bouts, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live streaming watch-along right here, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.

In the main event, featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) takes on interim champ [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in a title unification bout. And in the co-headliner, flyweight champ [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) makes the first attempted defense of his second title reign when he meets [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) in a rematch.

UFC 290 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

Below is the lineup of fights included in the watch-along:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. interim champ Yair Rodriguez – featherweight title unification fight
  • Champ Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja – for flyweight title
  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner
  • Bo Nickal vs. Val Woodburn

PRELIMINARY CARD (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
  • Edgar Cháirez vs. Tatsuro Taira
  • Denise Gomes vs. Yazmin Jauregui
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

A.J. McKee on Patricio Freire: ‘I still think we’ve got unfinished business’ with series tied 1-1

A.J. McKee’s focus is on the Bellator lightweight grand prix, but he’s willing to return to featherweight for a Patricio Freire trilogy.

For [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag], his story with [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] is still being written.

McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) and Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) have split their two fights against each other, with McKee submitting Freire to win the featherweight grand prix in 2021 and “Pitbull” avenging his loss i to regain his belt in a unanimous decision win.

McKee has since moved up to lightweight, and Freire eventually dropped down to bantamweight. Freire failed in his bid to claim a Bellator title in a third division when he lost to champion Sergio Pettis in June, but that hasn’t changed McKee’s mind on a potential trilogy.

“I wanted Patricio to do good,” McKee told MMA Junkie Radio. “It sucks he took an ‘L.’ Obviously nobody wants to lose, but I still think we’ve got unfinished business – one-one, he was the champ-champ. I’m looking forward to becoming the champ-champ myself, and then maybe I’ll come back down to ’45, and we can fight that trilogy out at 145.”

McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) meets Freire’s brother, former lightweight champion Patricky Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA), in the opening round of the 155-pound grand prix at Bellator X Rizin 2 on July 30 near Tokyo.

While his focus is on lightweight, McKee is willing to return  to featherweight to complete his rubber match with Freire or take on any notable challenge.

“I can do a couple more fights maybe at ’45, but for the most part, I’m pretty much done with ’45,” McKee said. “I feel I’ve made a pretty good statement at 145 pounds that the division and, anybody in the world, I know I’m the best, period.

“If anybody wants to test it, then I’m more than willing to do it. I’m more than capable to do it. Other than that, I feel being named the best 145 pounder is hands down. That’s not a question. So, for now, lightweight is my home, and that’s where I’m willing to work to be called the best at that division now.”

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Jon Anik thinks Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva should enter UFC Hall of Fame: ‘One of the greatest heavyweight fights’

Jon Anik would like to see a memorable heavyweight war enter the UFC Hall of Fame.

Jon Anik would like to see a memorable heavyweight war enter the UFC Hall of Fame.

On Friday, the UFC will induct the eighth bout into the Fight Wing of its Hall of Fame: Robbie Lawler’s title-fight barnburner with Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 in 2015.

When asked which fight he’d induct next, Anik picked [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag]’s majority draw vs. [autotag]Antonio Silva[/autotag], which headlined a UFC Fight Night in Brisbane, Australia in 2013. Hunt won the rematch by first-round TKO at UFC 193 less than two years later.

“The lead horse: Mark Hunt, Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva on Larry Bird’s birthday, Dec. 7, 2013,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “Dateline: Brisbane, Australia. One of the greatest heavyweight fights in UFC history. It happened in the A.M. in Australia, and I remember me and Kenny Florian saying to each other as we were walking out of that arena, getting soaked by the sun in Brisbane, and we were thinking, ‘Man, I hope people in the U.S. are watching this.'”

Anik isn’t sure if the UFC will agree with him due to Hunt’s differences with the promotion. Hunt filed a lawsuit against the UFC in January 2017, claiming the company knew Brock Lesnar was taking performance-enhancing drugs prior to their July 2016 fight. Lesnar won, but the decision was overturned when he failed a drug test. In 2019, the state of Nevada ruled in the UFC’s favor on all counts.

“Sometimes you don’t know promotionally where certain athletes stand, (but) obviously Mark Hunt and the UFC have their issues,” Anik said. “But to me, if I could put any fight I have done into the Hall of Fame, it would be that one or Matt Brown vs. Erik Silva main event, Cincinnati, 2014.”

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