Tag: Blagoy Ivanov

UFC on ESPN 9 results: Augusto Sakai continues unbeaten UFC run, outpoints Blagoy Ivanov

Augusto Sakai remained undefeated in the UFC with a split decision win over Blagoy Ivanov.

[autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] remains undefeated in the UFC.

The Brazilian heavyweight picked up his fourth UFC win Saturday night, outpointing [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] in a split decision. The official decision read 27-30, 29-28 and 29-28.

The heavyweight bout was the UFC on ESPN 9 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

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Sakai (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) used his kickboxing and takedown defense to outpoint Ivanov (18-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

The first round between the two heavyweights was an even contest. Ivanov did appear to do most of the pressing and landed the better shots in the round, but Sakai also had his moments.

In Round 2, it was clear Sakai’s leg kicks and boxing were taking a big toll on Ivanov. The Bulgarian seemed to slow down and lose Round 2 despite getting a late takedown and finishing the round on top.

The third was mostly Sakai’s, but he did have a controversial moment. Sakai was doing most of the damage on the feet, but Ivanov turned it up late, making up some ground. In a clinch position, Ivanov looked to secure a throw on Sakai, but the Brazilian grabbed fence to defend the takedown. The referee didn’t penalize Sakai for the illegal move.

Sakai is unbeaten in his past five bouts. The last time he lost was against Cheick Kongo in 2017 in Bellator.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 9 results include:

UFC on ESPN 9 predictions: Do our Woodley-Burns picks match up with our readers?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 9 main card in Las Vegas, featuring Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns.

Woodley
vs.
Burns		 Ivanov
vs.
Sakai		 Carlyle
vs.
Quarantillo		 Roberts
vs.
Weaver		 Cifers
vs.
Dern
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 44-29		 woodley2020
Woodley
(60%)		 ivanov2020
Ivanov
(51%)		 carlyle2020
Carlyle
(57%)		 roberts2020
Roberts
(62%)		 dern2020
Dern
(86%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 55-18		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 53-20		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 53-20		 burns2020
Burns		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 52-21
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 52-21
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 52-21
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 51-22		 burns2020
Burns		 sakai2020
Sakai		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 50-23		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 50-23
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 woodley2020
Woodley		 sakai2020
Sakai		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 50-23		 burns2020
Burns		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 48-25		 burns2020
Burns		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 46-27		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 roberts2020
Roberts		 dern2020
Dern
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 43-30		 woodley2020
Woodley		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 weaver2020
Weaver		 dern2020
Dern
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 32-41		 burns2020
Burns		 ivanov2020
Ivanov		 carlyle2020
Carlyle		 weaver2020
Weaver		 cifers2020
Cifers

The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week for the first time since March for the start of what could be many shows closed to fans at its own facility.

UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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

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In the main event, former welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) takes on contender [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC). Woodley is the favorite in the fight at around -185, and he’s got a decent 9-5 edge in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] (14-1-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. It’s a pick’em fight with the oddsmakers, but a total blowout from our staff members, who are taking Ivanov at a heavy 12-2 clip.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a 150-pound catchweight bout. Quarantillo is the slight favorite, but Carlyle has a slim 8-6 edge in our picks.

[autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout that has Roberts installed as a heavy favorite around -350. But in our staff picks, it’s a dead heat at 7-7.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has a big challenger on her hands in [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who is the biggest favorite at the event at more than 4-1. Only one of our pickers is taking the soft-spoken Cifers in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Woodley (60 percent), Ivanov (51 percent), Carlyle (57 percent), Roberts (62 percent) and Dern (86 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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7 burning questions ahead of UFC on ESPN 9: Can Tyron Woodley rebound?

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head takes a look at the fight card’s seven biggest storylines ahead of the UFC’s Las Vegas return.

The bouts are signed and the commission paperwork has been rubber-stamped. The UFC is officially back in business in Las Vegas with Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 marking the promotion’s return to its home city.

With the sporting world tentatively looking to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC Apex will form the home of the UFC’s upcoming hometown events for the foreseeable future, with the purpose-built fight facility taking center stage with its maiden UFC-branded fight card.

UFC on ESPN 9 features a pivotal bout for the promotion’s welterweight division, with former undisputed champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] making his return after his title loss to Kamaru Usman. “The Chosen One” will look to reassert hit championship credentials against surging Brazilian contender [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] in the night’s main event.

Also set to feature on the card is a heavyweight battle, as rising prospect [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] takes on the teak-tough Bulgarian veteran [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]. There’s also a fascinating clash in the women’s flyweight division, as former title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] looks to bounce back with victory over [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag] after falling short in her title shot against Shevchenko’s flyweight champion sister, Valentina.

UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

So, without further ado, here are seven burning questions heading into fight night.

****

How will Tyron Woodley look after his long layoff?

After almost 15 months away from the cage, Tyron Woodley is stepping back into the octagon, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how he performs. “The Chosen One” was on his way to being considered as one of the best welterweight champions in UFC history, but that title reign was abruptly halted by Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in March 2019.

Woodley (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) didn’t look his usual self during his one-sided decision loss to Usman and he’s been away from the cage ever since. We know he’ll be super-motivated to get back to winning ways and position himself for another shot at gold, but there are many questions to be answered in his display this weekend.

How will the long layoff affect his performance, particularly early, in his fight with the dangerous Gilbert Burns on Saturday night? What tweaks and changes has he made to his game? And can he step straight back in and halt an in-form, surging contender like Burns, who possesses fight-ending knockout power to go along with his world-class grappling credentials?

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On top form and fighting aggressively, Woodley is a serious problem for everyone else at 170, but during his title reign we saw him fall into a very defensive approach at times, and he eventually lost his belt. Will we see Woodley go on the offensive again to deliver a statement?

He’ll be in shape – he always is – but his sharpness, and his fighting mentality, will be fascinating to watch on fight night.

Next up: Brazilian contender gets his shot at big-name opposition

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Augusto Sakai: Win over Blagoy Ivanov at UFC on ESPN 9 should put me in the top 10

Augusto Sakai is off to a great start to his UFC tenure and hopes to keep the momentum going Saturday.

[autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] is off to a great start to his UFC tenure and hopes to keep the momentum going Saturday.

Sakai (14-1-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) takes on Blagoy Ivanov in the UFC on ESPN 9 co-main event and expects a win to propel him to the top 10 of the heavyweight rankings.

“He has a great name. He’s a great opponent, so I think a win over him puts me in the top 10,” Sakai told MMA Junkie during a virtual media day Thursday.

Not only will this be the first time Sakai competes on the main card in the UFC, he will be the co-headliner, which should bring a lot more eyes to his fight.

“It’s definitely more motivation,” Sakai said. “There’s always pressure when you’re fighting in the UFC, so being able to fight in a co-main event is just a lot more motivation.”

Sakai was initially scheduled to face Ivanov on the May 9 card which was initially set to take place in Sao Paulo before COVID-19 hit, but the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate will still get to compete in familiar territory at the UFC Apex.

“I think maybe I’m going to miss having the crowd, especially the crowd in Sao Paulo, where I was supposed to fight,” Sakai said. “They were all going to be probably rooting for me. But I came up on the Contender Series, so I’m used to this. It’s not something foreign to me.”

UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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UFC on ESPN 9: Make your predictions for Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 9 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 9 is expected to take place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It first must be approved by the Nevada Athletic Commission at a Wednesday meeting. The card airs on ESPN and streams ESPN+.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

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Dana White announces full UFC on ESPN 9 lineup for May 30 in Las Vegas

UFC on ESPN 9 has a full lineup and location to go with its May 30 date, even if it doesn’t officially have approval from a governing body.

UFC on ESPN 9 has a full lineup and location to go with its May 30 date, even if it doesn’t officially have approval from a governing body.

On Thursday, UFC president Dana White announced the event – headlined by a previously reported welterweight clash between ex-champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] and [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] – will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. At the moment, combat sports have yet to be reinstated in Nevada, but that is expected to happen next Wednesday during a Nevada Athletic Commission meeting.

Woodley, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, is fighting for the first time since March 2019, when he lost the title to Kamaru Usman. No. 12 Burns, meanwhile, is riding a five-fight winning streak heading into his first UFC headliner, most recently defeating Demian Maia by TKO in March.

“This kid’s on fire right now. Him and Woodley should be fun,” White said. “… He matches up very well against Woodley. This should be a really, really fun fight.”

The UFC on ESPN 9 co-headliner pits [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Augsto Sakai[/autotag] in a heavyweight fight. Also featured on the card will be jiu-jitsu ace [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag], who looks to rebound from the first loss of her career. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] also will be fighting just two weeks removed from his 39-second victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC on ESPN 8.

The complete UFC on ESPN 9 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)

  • Gilbert Burns vs. Tyron Woodley
  • Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver
  • Hannah Cifers vs. Mackenzie Dern

PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)

  • Katlyn Chookagian vs. Antonina Shevchenko
  • Spike Carlyle vs. Billy Quarantillo
  • Klidson Abreu vs. Jamahal Hill
  • Tim Elliott vs. Brandon Royval
  • Casey Kenney vs. Louis Smolka
  • Chris Gutierrez vs. Vince Morales