Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Ahead of Anderson Silva’s final fight in the UFC, check out how fighters describe the sports legend.
Ahead of Anderson Silva’s final fight in the UFC, check out how fighters describe the sports legend.
Adrian Yanez and Anderson Silva will share a card Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] and [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] will share a card Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 39 in Las Vegas.
Poetically, the shared fight date will mark the beginning for one fighter and a potential end for the other. Yanez (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his promotional debut against Victor Rodriguez on the prelims before the legendary Silva makes perhaps his final walk to the octagon in the main event.
“To me, the biggest cherry on top is that I’m fighting on Anderson Silva’s retirement card,” Yanez recently told MMA Junkie. “To me, it makes my (UFC debut) much more exciting.”
Yanez grew up watching Silva and admired the former UFC middleweight champion’s lengthy title reign, knockout prowess and public demeanor. Being a fan of “The Spider” was easy, recalled Yanez.
“I don’t see how people couldn’t look up to him. He’s soft spoken, and any time he would step into the cage it was something special,” Yanez said. “Man, that front-kick knockout of Vitor Belfort will forever be embedded in everybody’s head. He was the first fighter to be doing those types of crazy things and making it look super easy. It’s one of those things. If you weren’t looking up to Anderson Silva as a fighter, I don’t think you were a fight fan.”
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If he’d met Silva during UFC on ESPN+ 39 fight week, Yanez would likely fanboy out. It would be a struggle not to when he’s in the presence of one of his idols.
“I think I might shed a tear because that’s a guy who I idolized for a long time,” Yanez said. “I’ll tell you right now: I would probably not be able to speak if I were to run into Cain Velasquez or Anderson Silva, maybe even Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo. Those guys, man. I respect those guys so much and what they’ve done for the sport. I wouldn’t be able to speak. At the end of the day, I’m still a fan.”
Regardless of his sentimental side, Yanez wants to make a statement in his UFC debut. On Dana White’s Contender Series in August, Yanez flattened Brady Huang in 39 seconds to earn a UFC contract. On Saturday, Yanez predicts fans can see something similar when he fights fellow newcomer Rodriguez (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a bantamweight fight.
“(My last fight) was just (for) to get a contract and into the UFC,” Yanez said. “Man, now that I’ve got the chance to get $50,000? Of course, yeah. You’re going to see me gunning for that $50,000. Not for a contract, for $50,000. I’m going to be throwing a little bit more heaters his way, man. Hopefully they all can connect.”
UFC on ESPN+ 39 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
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UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event faceoff
UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event faceoff
The UFC on ESPN+ 39 fighter weigh-ins are in the books in Las Vegas. Check out the headliners’ trips to the scale.
LAS VEGAS – The UFC on ESPN+ 39 fighter weigh-ins are in the books in Las Vegas.
In the main event, [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) headlines a UFC show for the first time when he meets former longtime middleweight champion [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC). Both fighters hit their marks Friday at the official weigh-ins.
Check out their trips to the scale in the video above.
UFC on ESPN+ 39 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.
UFC on ESPN+ 39’s Adrian Yanez gunning for bonus, talks Anderson Silva fandom
UFC on ESPN+ 39’s Adrian Yanez gunning for bonus, talks Anderson Silva fandom
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN+ 39 headliner between Anderson Silva and Uriah Hall.
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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 39.
UFC on ESPN+ 39 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.
Staple info:
Supplemental info:
+ TUF 17 Finalist
+ 2x Ring of Combat Champion
+ Tiger Schulmann black belt (2nd degree)
+ Regional Muay Thai Titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 11 KO victories
+ 1 Submission win
+ 6 first round finishes
+ KO Power
+ Fast hands and feet
^ Counters and reads well
+ Dynamic kicking arsenal
^ Accurate/deadly spinning attacks
+ Underrated Grappling ability
^ Strong defensive instincts
+/- 2-2 against UFC-level southpaws
Staple info:
Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC middleweight champion
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 22 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 18 first-round finishes
+ KO Power
+ Superb offensive and defensive instinct
^ Deceptive setups and counter strikes
+ Precise striker
^ Intercepts and anticipates
+/-Heavily reliant on head movement
+ Strong clinch/Thai clinch
^ Deadly knees/solid base
+ Good guard retentions and triangle chokes
+/- Lost 6 of last 8 fights
Check out the MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event between Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva.
Check out the MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event between Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva.
The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 39, which features a Uriah Hall vs. Anderson Silva main event.
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The UFC returns from “Fight Island” to its home base Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 39, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
Another legendary fighter is set to move on from the octagon in the main event when former longtime UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) competes in his retirement fight against [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC).
“The Spider” has put together a UFC Hall of Fame resume over the course of his career. For more on the numbers, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Uriah Hall is excited for the opportunity to compete against someone he’s looked up to.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] is excited for the opportunity to compete against someone he’s looked up to.
Hall (15-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) faces former middleweight champion and certain future UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event.
Silva may not be currently ranked in the top 15 of the middleweight division, but for Hall, a fight with him is a good indicator of how far he’s come in his career.
“It’s one of the biggest fights,” Hall told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during UFC on ESPN+ 39’s virtual media day Wednesday. “Anderson Silva is a legend, so I’m just excited to go out there and go up against a guy that I watched growing up. To me, I made it. That’s how I look at it.
“Personally for me, Anderson has been someone I’ve idolized for years. So to me, that’s a trophy fight. It’s a championship fight to me in my mind. I personally feel like I made it.”
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In an intriguing matchup between two of the most dynamic and creative strikers in the UFC, Hall can understand and appreciate Silva’s style.
“He’s just fluid,” Hall said. “The way he moves and the way he fights, he’s in the moment, and a lot of people don’t really understand that dynamic. That’s why he says he doesn’t care about the whole fighting thing. It’s not about fighting. People can’t understand that concept because it’s the moment when you’re in there of letting go.”
UFC on ESPN+ 39 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+.
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Check out some key facts, figures and footnotes for the legend Anderson Silva.
Check out some key facts, figures and footnotes for the legend Anderson Silva.
