Category: UFC

Henry Cejudo: Michael Chandler must ‘consider retirement’ after one more fight

Henry Cejudo can relate to Michael Chandler’s current situation.

MIAMI – [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] can relate to [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]’s current situation.

Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) suffered his third consecutive loss when he was stopped by Paddy Pimblett in Saturday’s UFC 314 co-main event at Kaseya Center.

On a three-fight losing skid himself, Cejudo (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is looking to compete one more time before calling it a career. He urges Chandler to consider doing the same.

“I’m 0-3 now, so I get it, Chandler,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “He probably has to get one more and just consider retirement. That’s a lot of beatings, man.”

Cejudo thinks Chandler never lived up to his potential in the UFC. The former Bellator champion had competitive fights with the upper echelon of the UFC’s lightweight division but wound up falling short against Charles Oliveira twice, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.

“I think Chandler could have been the best in the world,” Cejudo said. “He’s too much of a crowd pleaser and that has really bit him in the ass. Mike Perry was a crowd pleaser, too. There’s only a certain time before the UFC just says, ‘Hey man, thank you for pleasing us, but we got to move on.’ I feel like Chandler, they’re probably going to, at this point, maybe the UFC might give him a younger guy, and that’s typically what happens in this game.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Movsar Evloev reacts to Yair Rodriguez’s call for title shot after UFC 314: ‘You have to beat me first’

Movsar Evloev doesn’t think Yair Rodriguez has done enough to deserve a UFC title rematch against Alexander Volkanovski.

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] wants his crack at the UFC featherweight title. And if that doesn’t happen, he wants whomever the UFC sees as the No. 1 contender.

Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) has campaigned for a title shot for quite some time, but he hasn’t been able to secure it. He’s hoping to be next now that there’s a champion in the division, given that Alexander Volkanovski won the vacant belt this past Saturday in the main event of  UFC 314 in Miami.

However, fan-favorite [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] also wants in, which could be problematic for Evloev’s title dreams.

“Yair, if you want to fight for the title, you have to beat me first, and then you deserve it,” Evloev told MMA Junkie.

Rodriguez called for a rematch with Volkanovski after defeating former Bellator champion Patricio Freire at UFC 314. Evloev said the Mexican had a good showing but still not enough to merit a championship fight as he was coming off two consecutive defeats.

“I think it was the best fight for Yair Rodriguez in forever, and with ‘Pitbull,’ he’s a dangerous opponent, but I don’t think that’s enough to fight for the tile,” Evloev said. “Because he had his chance, and he just skipped it.”

Evloev is training and ready to fight in a UFC championship fight whenever needed. He’s even willing to sit on the sidelines should Volkanovski need more time before a title defense.

“If Volkanovski is looking for the fight with me, I can wait and improve myself and stay ready, improve my skills, everything,” Evloev said. “Even if it’s like September, October, December, it doesn’t matter. I can wait as much as he needs. But if they have another one for the title, I’m not going to wait too much.”

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Ian Machado Garry promises to finish Carlos Prates at UFC on ESPN 66: ‘I feel it in my heart’

Ian Machado Garry is oozing confidence as he takes on a surging contender at UFC on ESPN 66.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] is oozing confidence as he takes on a surging contender at UFC on ESPN 66.

Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) faces [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the April 26 welterweight main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Prates has been on a tear since joining the UFC roster, scoring four knockouts and four Performance of the Night bonuses. Machado Garry knows the Brazilian is dangerous but has a gut feeling that he’ll emerge victorious in emphatic fashion.

“I think he’s been successful, I think he’s done very well, and there’s a reason he’s on a 10-fight knockout streak, and fair play to him,” Machado Garry said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “That’s great. I think his team is phenomenal, I love watching his team, I think his team are awesome. They’re having a lot of success at the moment, and they’re a lot of fun to watch. I’m impressed with him to a certain extent. Then I think of him as an opponent and I’m like, ‘Hmm, that’s not going to work out well for you, mate.’

“I’m of the most elite welterweights on the planet. So, if this man thinks he’s as good as he is, and when he steps across the octagon April 26 against me, that’s his do-or-don’t time. I promise you, you’ve seen it from me every time when I step into the octagon, I look phenomenal. And, I promise you right now, I promise you, I feel it in my heart, see it every time I close my eyes, I’m going to finish this guy.”

Machado Garry vs. Prates came together on short notice after the original UFC on ESPN 66 headliner between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree was scrapped. This will mark the second-straight fight where Machado Garry competes on short notice after he lost a unanimous decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 this past December.

The risk didn’t pay off for Machado Garry last time so, why try it again?

“Is that not what I’m in this sport for?,” Machado Garry responded. “The excitement, the yeah f*ck it, let’s go, let’s have a short notice fight against one of the most dangerous up and comers in the UFC. Let’s do it, why not? That’s the type of things that excite me, that makes me want to go out and prove to the world that I’m the best.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 66.

Marco Tulio happy to leave UFC 314 with another stoppage after chaotic fight week

Marco Tulio dealt with a robbery event in Brazil, then a car accident in Miami. Then he got another stoppage win at UFC 314.

MIAMI – [autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag] met the media Saturday after his win over Tresean Gore at UFC 314.

Tulio (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) put away Gore (5-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) with a second-round TKO on the prelims at Kaseya Center. It was his 10th straight win and fourth straight stoppage. But leading up to the event, there was plenty of chaos for Tulio – including a robbery in his native Brazil and a car accident once he got to Miami.

“I kept my cool with everything – cool head, cool heart, just making sure I was focused,” Tulio said at his post-fight news conference. “Obviously, there was the robbery event in Sao Paulo, and coming here there was the accident. But I felt very cool.

“… I want to be a very active worker in this company, so maybe two fights more this year.”

The 30-year-old middleweight now has 10 of his 11 stoppage wins by knockout.

Check out Tulio’s post-fight news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

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Max Holloway ‘super stoked’ to see Alexander Volkanovski reclaim UFC featherweight title

Max Holloway can’t help but be happy for Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 314.

[autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] can’t help but be happy for [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] after UFC 314.

Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) reclaimed the featherweight title when he defeated Diego Lopes (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s UFC 314 main event at Kaseya Center in Miami.

Holloway, who lost to Volkanovski three times in title bouts, scored the fight 49-46 in favor of Volkanovski.

“That was a real good fight,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “I just thought that’s what Alex would do: be smart, land his points, and not get suckered in. I think Alex won four rounds – one, two, three, and then the fifth

“They told him he wasn’t going to get it back. (Lopes’) eye was busted. I didn’t even notice that during the fight. Animal, animal. He’s about to catch up (to Aldo), one more.”

Holloway isn’t sure who’s next for Volkanovski but sees him holding onto his title regardless. Despite their history, Holloway was excited to see Volk rebound after back-to-back knockout losses.

“Whoever is next, Volk might beat them,” Holloway said. “I don’t know. Yair (Rodriguez), but Yair is a rematch. Movsar (Evloev), but I don’t know if they give Movsar the fight. Maybe they give Aaron Pico someone high (in the rankings) so they can try and fast-track Aaron Pico to the title shot.

“What a night of fights, man. Truly amazing. … Good to see Volk going out there and creating some history, making some records, always happy to see. It’s always good to see a former rival do their thing. We ain’t even rivals, man. It’s all love. Super stoked for him, super stoked for his family.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Michal Oleksiejczuk defends stoppage after UFC 314 finish, lauds Fighting Nerds move

Michal Oleksiejczuk lost four of five fights and three straight. He made a dramatic training change, and it paid off at UFC 314.

MIAMI – [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] met the media Saturday after his win over Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314.

Oleksiejczuk (20-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) put Dumas (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) away with a first-round TKO, but Dumas protested the finish just past the halfway mark of the opening round, even though it didn’t seem to be a particularly questionable stoppage given the amount of time he was on top punching.

“I remember the moment – my ground-and-pound was very intensive,” Oleksiejczuk said. “I threw a lot of punches. The referee said to him, ‘Defend. Defend,’ and my opponent didn’t turn side to side (to defend himself). He wasn’t active (defending). THe situation was very dangerous for him.”

Oleksiejczuk spent most of his training camp in Brazil with the Fighting Nerds camp for the first time. He had lost four of five fights, including one to Caio Borralho nearly two years ago. Borralho was the key Fighting Nerds member who worked with Oleksiejczuk to help him break his three-fight skid against Dumas.

Check out Oleksiejczuk’s post-fight news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

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Jean Silva makes case for title shot after UFC 314 finish of Bryce Mitchell

“I’ve already proven that I deserve it and that I’m the best,” Jean Silva said after running through Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314.

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag] argues why he should be next for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Silva (16-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) remained unbeaten in the octagon when he ran through Bryce Mitchell for a Round 2 submission this past Saturday at UFC 314 in Miami. With the win, the Fighting Nerds member debuted in the UFC featherweight rankings at No. 11.

Silva took to X to explain his case for a shot at newly crowned featherweight champion Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), who defeated Diego Lopes to reclaim the vacant belt in Saturday’s main event.

“I don’t think anyone is going to give me anything,” Silva said. “If it’s not a title shot, then it better be a fight that puts me right there. But let’s look at the facts: Volk said he wants to stay active and face the best in the division. I’ve already proven that I deserve it and that I’m the best. Diego Lopes got a title shot with five wins and one loss, with two of those wins by decision, while I have five wins, all by finish. This is the fight that makes sense. I deserve it, and I’m ready!

“I faced the biggest knockout artist at lightweight and knocked him out. I took on one of the best grapplers in the division and submitted him. I beat a guy who had never been knocked out, and I knocked him out. And I also faced a multi-time world kickboxing champion and knocked him out, too. If I don’t deserve a title shot, I don’t know who does. I trust the UFC, Dana White, Hunter (Campbell), and Sean Shelby. I’m ready for whatever they decide.”

Silva also took a dig at frontrunner Movsar Evloev, whom Volkanovski mentioned as a possibility before and after UFC 314.

“I’m thinking here after I respectfully said that I wanted to face Volk next that a bunch of guys that nobody cares about showed up and start to talk about that fight too. I’m definitely in the right way.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Michael Bisping: UFC 314 loss to Paddy Pimblett ‘a career-killing performance’ for Michael Chandler

Michael Bisping has officially ruled out Michael Chandler as a top lightweight contender after UFC 314.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] has officially ruled out [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] as a top lightweight contender after UFC 314.

Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) suffered a third-round TKO loss to [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at Kaseya Center in Miami. The former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger now has lost three consecutive fights and five of his past six.

Chandler constantly uses the moniker “see you at the top,” but Bisping believes those days are over.

“I don’t say this lightly, but that was a career-killing performance for Michael Chandler,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Yes, of course, he’ll fight again. Yes, he’ll still make money. Yes, people will want to tune in. But that’s it. There ain’t no more title talks, there is no more,’see you at the top.’ There’s none of that.

“Paddy Pimblett just put an end to all of that. If he was 30 years old, he could have another go. He could dust himself off and have another crack at the whip. But no, father time is undefeated. He’s 38 years old, and there ain’t no way that he’s getting back into title contention ever again.”

On the contrary, Bisping was very impressed with Pimblett’s largely one-sided performance against Chandler.

“Paddy Pimblett looked ridiculous,” Bisping said. “He looked like the guy that he’s always spoke about, the person that he says that he is, the person that calls out everyone, that dismisses all the opposition at the top. And for someone who doesn’t call people out, he called out everyone.

“Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, he did not give a single f*ck and rightly so. The man is coming to be a champion. Will he do that? We don’t know, but I’ll tell you what: After this performance, everyone’s going to be taking him a lot more seriously. He looked like a killer tonight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Su Mudaerji positive he did enough in split decision at UFC 314, calls out Manel Kape

Su Mudaerji was surprised his fight against Mitch Raposo was a split decision when many observers thought he won all three rounds.

MIAMI – [autotag]Su Mudaerji[/autotag] met the media Saturday after his win over Mitch Raposo at UFC 314.

Mudaerji (17-7 MMA, 4-4 UFC) won a split decision against Raposo (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) on the prelims at Kaseya Center, but the vast majority of MMA media who scored the fight had it for Mudaerji, and most at 30-27.

“He was constantly looking for a submission, wrestling against me,” Mudaerji said at his post-fight news conference through a translator. “But this was my first time fighting an opponent so much shorter than me, so sometimes he was making moves that were almost invisible to me. It was exhilerating (to win). I was so happy. But now the emotions have settled. I’ve got so much to work on in the future, but I’ll come back stronger.

“The judges made the right decision. After he brought me to the floor, he was trying to control me, but he couldn’t make any real moves on me.”

Mudaerji said he has no injuries from the fight and wants to be more active than he has been in the UFC so far, due to injury struggles. He called out Manel Kape (21-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) for a flyweight fight. Kape is coming off a bonus-winning knockout of Asu Almabayev in March.

Check out Mudaerji’s post-fight news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

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UFC’s Marvin Vettori mourns tragic death of younger brother after house fire in Italy

Former UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori paid tribute to his brother with a heartbreaking message.

[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] is mourning the death of his brother as the former UFC middleweight title challenger announced Tuesday that he died.

According to Italian news station TgCom24, Patrick Vettori died in a house fire. He was 30.

TgCom24 reported that a fire broke out at Patrick’s apartment in Mezzocorona located in the province of Trento in northern Italy.

Stunned by the news, Marvin, 31, shared a heartbreaking tribute to his brother on Instagram, which included a series of childhood photos.

“You were and always will be number 1 my little brother!” Marvin wrote. “You left a void that cannot be filled. I will love you until my last breath. I don’t think I’ll be the same after today because maybe I never told you, but you’ve always been my strength.”

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Since losing his lone title fight to Israel Adesanya in June 2021, Marvin Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) is 2-3 in his past five bouts. He’s currently on a two-fight skid after most recently losing a unanimous decision to Roman Dolidze last month in the UFC Fight Night 254 main event. It was Vettori’s first fight after a 19-month layoff.