Tag: Aaron Jeffery

After quick upset of Austin Vanderford, Aaron Jeffery ready to get right back to work

Aaron Jeffery wanted to show off his Canadian wrestling, but a quick knockout of a recent title challenger will have to do.

[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] wanted to show off his Canadian wrestling, but a quick knockout of a recent title challenger will have to do.

Jeffery took his fight with Austin Vanderford on short notice for Bellator 284 this past Friday in South Dakota. Vanderford was looking to rebound from a title loss to now-former middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi. But Jeffery had other ideas.

Jeffery (13-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) shut down Vanderford (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) with a TKO just 85 seconds into their main card opener for an upset. The fight didn’t exactly play out like he imagined it, not that he has any complaints.

“It was short,” Jeffery said at his post-fight news conference. “I was just saying to my coaches I kind of wanted to see if I could hang with him in the wrestling and break him, but this is cool, too. … It felt different this time, maybe it was because it was short notice. Maybe it was kind of less pressure, even though it was a huge fight.

“It wasn’t a lot of time to prepare. I wrestle with the top university in Canada. I come from a strong wrestling gym. I felt like it was a good fight for me. … Knocking a guy out in a minute probably doesn’t do too much for Canadian wrestling, but I keep saying I can wrestle, so maybe one of these days (I’ll show it).”

Vanderford was No. 2 in Bellator’s middleweight rankings. Jeffery was unranked after his promotional debut in June, which was a second-round TKO of Fabio Aguiar. But considering two of Jeffery’s three losses came when he was trying to get to the next level on Dana White’s Contender Series to fighters who went on to get UFC contracts, it’s fair to say most were overlooking him against Vanderford.

It’s doubtful Jeffery will jump right up to Vanderford’s spot at No. 2, but he’s at least hopeful he’ll have a number next to his name. And he would prefer to get right back in there for some more action.

“I don’t know if they put me in right at No. 2, or if they put me somewhere arbitrary like No. 5,” Jeffery said. “We’ll see in a few days. … I know there’s still going to be haters, but this is big, man. That’s why I took this fight on eight days’ notice. I’ll get back in the gym and I’ll stay ready, and maybe I’ll get back in here soon. Scott Coker, put me on that (Bellator 286) card in Long Beach. Let’s go.”

Check out Jeffery’s full post-fight interview in the video above.

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Bellator 284 video: Aaron Jeffery wrecks Austin Vanderford with quick TKO

In 85 seconds, Aaron Jeffery finished Austin Vanderford with punches.

[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] stepped into his second Bellator fight on short notice and instantly notched contender status in shocking fashion.

At Bellator 284, Jeffery (13-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) finished recent middleweight title challenger [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) with punches at 1:25 of Round 1. The bout kicked off the main card Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Jeffery found success on the feet early and often. An overhand right began the final finishing sequence and dropped Vanderford to the canvas. Vanderford rolled to his side and covered up as Jeffery finished off the job with some more punches.

Jeffery, 29, signed with Bellator in early 2022. The move marked his first major promotional gig after years as a champion on the regional scene and two failed attempts on Dana White’s Contender Series. Jeffery made his Bellator debut in June with a second-round TKO win over Fabio Aguiar. The victory Friday extended his winning streak to three.

As for Vanderford, he now enters the first losing skid of his career after his first loss came in February against Gegard Mousasi. Prior to 2022, Vanderford was 11-0 as a professional with six finishes.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 284 results include:

  • Aaron Jeffery def. Austin Vanderford via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
  • Marcos Breno def. Josh Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • DeAnna Bennett def. Justine Kish via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Sullivan Cauley def. Tyson Jeffries via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 1:39
  • Pat Downey def. Keyes Nelson via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:36
  • Bailey Schoenfelder def. Mark Currier via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:35
  • Mitchell McKee def. Tony Ortega via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:28

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.

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Photos: Bellator 284 ceremonial weigh-ins

Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the final faceoffs at the Bellator 284 ceremonial weigh-ins in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Check out these photos of the main card fighters on the scale and the final pre-fight faceoffs at the Bellator 284 ceremonial weigh-ins in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photos courtesy of Bellator MMA)

Bellator 284 predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in Sioux Falls?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 284 main card in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Gracie
vs.
Yamauchi		 Moldavsky
vs.
Mowry		 Ellen
vs.
Macfarlane		 Saricam
vs.
Sowma		 Jeffery
vs.
Vanderford
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
131-79		 yamauchi2022
Yamauchi
(58%)		 mowry2022
Mowry
(61%)		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane
(79%)		 saricam2022
Saricam
(62%)		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
(68%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
143-72
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 gracie2022
Gracie		 mowry2022
Mowry		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
139-76		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
137-78
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
135-80		 gracie2022
Gracie		 mowry2022
Mowry		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
132-83		 gracie2022
Gracie		 mowry2022
Mowry		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
131-84		 gracie2022
Gracie		 mowry2022
Mowry		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
130-85		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 sowma2022
Sowma		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Nolan King
@mma_kings
127-88		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 ellen2022
Ellen		 sowma2022
Sowma		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
126-89
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
117-98		 gracie2022
Gracie		 mowry2022
Mowry		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
104-111		 gracie2022
Gracie		 moldavsky2022
Moldavsky		 macfarlane2022
Macfarlane		 saricam2022
Saricam		 vanderford2022
Vanderford

Bellator returns to South Dakota this week with a welterweight bout atop the card, plus two former champions and a recent title challenger on the bill.

Bellator 284 takes place Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) takes on first-time Bellator headliner [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) at welterweight. Gracie is a -200 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Yamauchi is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Gracie as one of two unanimous picks on the main card – but in a rarity, our readers disagree and are backing Yamauchi at a big 58 percent clip.

In the co-feature, former interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) takes on unbeaten up-and-comer [autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA). Moldavsky is more than a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, but he has the narrowest possible edge over Mowry in the picks at 6-5.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Bruna Ellen[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) takes on former women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA), who is fighting outside her native Hawaii or homebase of California for just the second time in nearly five years. Macfarlane is a slight favorite at -135, but is a near-unanimous pick with our staff members at 10-1. (It should be noted Macfarlane missed weight for for the first time in her MMA career. She came in at 129 pounds at Thursday’s weigh-ins.)

[autotag]Gokhan Saricam[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is a 2-1 favorite in his heavyweight bout against [autotag]Said Sowma[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), and he’s got a blowout from our pickers at 9-2.

And to open the main card, our second unanimous pick is recent middleweight title challenger [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA), who is a -200 favorite against late replacement opponent [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Vanderford has an 11-0 shutout from our staff members.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Yamauchi (58 percent), Mowry (61 percent), Macfarlane (79 percent), Saricam (62 percent) and Vanderford (68 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.

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With Anthony Adams out, Aaron Jeffery steps in to face Austin Vanderford at Bellator 284

Aaron Jeffery will get a big opportunity when he meets former title challenger Austin Vanderford.

[autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] will get a big opportunity when he meets a recent title challenger.

[autotag]Anthony Adams[/autotag] has been forced out and Jeffery (12-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) at Bellator 284, which takes place Aug. 12 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Jeffery confirmed the news on social media after an initial report from ESPN.

Jeffery fell short on two stints on Dana White’s Contender Series, losing to Brendan Allen in 2019 and Caio Borralho in September 2021. The former CFFC middleweight champion made a successful Bellator debut in June when he scored a second-round TKO of Fabio Aguiar.

Vanderford will look to rebound from his first career loss. After defeating Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259, Vanderford got a title shot against middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275 in February, but was stopped in just 85 seconds.

With the change, the Bellator 284 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi
  • Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
  • Bruna Ellen vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
  • Aaron Jeffery vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Gokhan Saricam vs. Said Sowma

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Marcos Breno vs. Josh Hill
  • DeAnna Bennett vs. Justine Kish
  • Sarvadzhon Khamidov vs. Jared Scoggins
  • Pat Downey vs. Jeff Souder
  • Mark Currier vs. Bailey Schoenfelder
  • Mitchell McKee vs. Tony Ortega
  • Jordan Newman vs. Lance Wright
  • Sullivan Cauley vs. Tyson Jeffries

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Dana White’s Contender Series takes on international theme, 10 fights added to upcoming season

Ten fights are on the docket for Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series.

The lineup for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 5 is slowly coming to form. Contracts are going out and fighters are putting their names on the dotted lines.

The upcoming installment has a different flare than recent years, with a large percentage of the roster coming from outside North America. The majority are from Brazil, Russia and beyond. Of the fights that have surfaced thus far, only a few Americans are set to partake in Season 5, which is set to begin in August.

The first known event date is Aug. 31. The series will extend at least through mid-October, with the latest event on the schedule currently set for Oct. 12.

A number of fights have leaked prior to the UFC’s official announcements. Scroll below to see the fights MMA Junkie has confirmed thus far.

CFFC announces back-to-back shows in March, including champs Collin Huckbody, Alberto Trujillo

CFFC is set to host the promotion’s first events of 2021 when the organization returns to Philadelphia on March 11-12 for a pair of shows.

CFFC is set to host the promotion’s first two events of 2021 when the organization returns to Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on March 11-12 for a pair of shows to stream on UFC Fight Pass.

The promotion today announced the two cards, which will serve as CFFC 92 and CFFC 93 and will take place with limited fans in attendance.

“Despite all the challenges that 2020 presented to us, it remained one of the best years in Cage Fury Fighting Championships history, and we’re committed to reaching even new heights in 2021,” CFFC President Rob Haydak stated. “We’re starting it out with two of our newest champions looking to defend their belts and continue their rise to the sport’s biggest promotions, while a pair of vacant belts will also be on the line as we look to find the best up-and-coming talent in MMA. With strong lineups already being planned for events in April and May, as well, fans can expect CFFC to continue providing action-packed events every time out.”

Four championship fights were announced for the two-night lineup.

At CFFC 92, flyweight champion [autotag]Alberto Trujillo[/autotag] (5-1) seeks the first defense of his belt when he takes on fast-rising Ray Longo product [autotag]Phumi Nkuta[/autotag] (2-0), while the co-main event sees Uzbekistan’s [autotag]Saidyokub Kakharamonov[/autotag] (7-2) face Charlie’s Combat Club’s [autotag]Tycen Lynn[/autotag] (8-4) for the bantamweight title recently vacated by Jared Scoggins.

Meanwhile, CFFC 93 sees middleweight champion and Dana White’s Contender Series winner [autotag]Collin Huckbody[/autotag] (9-2) put his title on the line for the first time when he faces top Canadian contender and fellow DWCS veteran [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] (9-2). Additionally, the vacant CFFC heavyweight title is up for grabs in the co-feature, when [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (10-6) takes on [autotag]Cody Goodale[/autotag] (7-4).

Additional bouts are expected to be announced shortly.

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make MMA big leagues with January wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.

This November, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

This month:

  • One of the top middleweights in Canada tries to catch the attention of major promotion matchmakers once again when he travels across the border to take on a fellow Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus.
  • Deemed “The Future” by teammates and coaches, a highly-touted JacksonWink MMA product will take his biggest fight to date in his LFA return.
  • Already on the UFC’s radar, a JacksonWink MMA bantamweight makes the shift up to 145 pounds after a failed weight cut on DWCS.
  • A Canadian welterweight finisher takes on arguably his toughest test to date with the hope of punching his ticket to the big show.
  • A 20-fight veteran who has cleared house on the regional scene hopes an LFA headline victory finally will earn him the call he’s long sought after.

Scroll through the following pages to see the five fighters who this month find themselves on the doorstep:

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