Tag: breaking

Video: Anti-Trump protester subdued by MMA veteran Tara LaRosa during Portland rally

Tara LaRosa may not have been looking for trouble, but it found her – and she has the bite mark to prove it.

[autotag]Tara LaRosa[/autotag] may not have been looking for trouble, but it found her over the weekend – and she has the bite mark to prove it.

LaRosa, an MMA veteran who competed on Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” spent Sunday at a flag-waving rally for Veterans Day weekend in Portland. She was there alongside members of Proud Boys, which the FBI classifies as an “extremist group” with ties to white nationalism.

When an anti-Donald Trump protester got involved in the rally, that’s when things got out of hand.

Here’s video of how it started:

And here’s video of LaRosa subduing the woman who hates Trump:

“There are conflicting versions of the events, so we are gathering all of the information we can and referring it to the district attorney,” Portland Police Sgt. Kevin Allen told The Oregonian.

The video shows the anti-Trump protester attacking a woman, who isn’t LaRosa, after being antagonized by someone with a flag stick pointed close to her face. That apparently is when LaRosa got involved.

“To be honest, what really pisses me off the most about this whole incident is that I tore the shit out of my knees trying to calm her down & keep her safe,” LaRosa said on Twitter.

The anti-Trump woman can be heard on the video claiming to be a professor. She also complains of not being able to breathe and says she’s “half naked.” LaRosa repeatedly tells her to calm down but to no avail.

On Wednesday, LaRosa tweeted photos of an apparent wound she suffered after the anti-Trump woman allegedly bit her chest while being held down.

UPDATE: It’s been 72 hours since I was bitten by the woman who attacked us at the Veteran’s Day flag wave in Portland, OR. Luckily, her mouth did not make contact with my skin. She bit me through a hoodie, a T-shirt, and my sports bra.

Linton Vassell dismisses skid ahead of Bellator 234: ‘You can’t just give up’

Linton Vassell is only looking at the upside of his Bellator 234 headliner with Sergei Kharitonov.

[autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] is only looking at the upside of his Bellator 234 headline matchup with Sergei Kharitonov.

Despite a three-fight losing skid, Vassell (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) gets the main-event spot against heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov (29-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) on Thursday. Another defeat would seemingly be detrimental to the 36-year-old’s his career, but Vassell said he’s not fretting over his position.

“You can’t just give up because you lose a few fights,” Vassell told MMA Junkie. “I know where I’m at. I know the people I’ve fought before and beat. It’s the fight game. You win, you lose and it’s just part of the game.”

To his credit, Vassell’s recent losses have come against two-division Bellator champ Ryan Bader, former champ Phil Davis and highly touted prospect Valentin Moldavsky.

Vassell can wipe away the hardship of his skid in one moment, though, and that comes at Bellator 234. The event airs via tape-delay Friday on Paramount from Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Kharitonov enters the matchup riding a eight-fight unbeaten streak. The Russian has managed to earn all of his Bellator wins by knockout, but Vassell said he doesn’t see himself succumbing to that same fate.

“This is my time,” Vassell said. “I don’t think he’s ever fought anyone like me before. A lot of his last fights were strikers and I like to take people down and beat them up and choke them out, as well as strike. I’ll bring more to the table other than just try to knock him out standing. I’m going to beat him up. I have a lot of tools for him.”

Vassell feels those tools are going to take him forward in prosperous fashion. Bellator 234 marks his second fight since moving up to heavyweight, and while his debut didn’t go according to plan, Vassell said he’s used the past eight months between fights to physically and mentally prepare for what’s to come.

“I’ve been watching the division,” Vassell said. “I’ve been watching everyone. They’re big guys but they don’t like to work. If they have to work they lose. They get taken down and they’re stuck. You’ve seen my ground game. I feel my style works really well against the big guys.”

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Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior Dos Santos to headline UFC Raleigh event on Jan. 25

A matchup between heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Junior Dos Santos will headline the UFC’s return to North Carolina.

A matchup between heavyweight contenders [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] and [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] will headline the UFC’s return to North Carolina after two years.

Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will meet Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC) in the five-round main event of the UFC’s recently announced Jan. 25 card at PNC Arena in Raleigh, which is expected to stream on ESPN+.

MMA Junkie verified verbal agreements are in place for the matchup with a person close to the situation following an initial report from ESPN.

Blaydes, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA heavyweight rankings, has just one lost in his past nine octagon appearances, which came against Francis Ngannou. He’s been calling for big-name fights in the division, and now he’ll finally get his chance when he faces a former UFC champion for the first time.

No. 4 Dos Santos was supposed to fight Alexander Volkov at this past weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 21 event, but had to pull out due to a serious and graphic leg infection. The Brazilian also suffered his most recent loss against Ngannou, but will look to bounce back with a win against another top contender.

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Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi in the works for UFC 246 on Jan. 18

In a matchup that will touch all generations of women’s MMA, Maycee Barber will meet Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246.

In a matchup that will touch all generations of women’s MMA, unbeaten rising star [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] will meet veteran former title challenger [autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag].

The women’s flyweight bout will take place at UFC 246, according to two people familiar with the booking but not authorized to discuss it publicly. Both Barber (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Modafferi (23-16 MMA, 2-4 UFC) have verbally agreed for the event slated for Jan. 18.

Barber, No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA women’s flyweight rankings, has put together three consecutive knockout victories since making her UFC debut in November 2018. “The Future” has set the goal of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history and, at 21, has less than two years to break Jon Jones’ record.

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She’ll get a big step up in competition against No. 7 Modafferi, who made her MMA debut in 2003 and will compete in her 40th professional bout at UFC 246. The 37-year-old has alternated wins and losses in five fights since returning to the UFC for a second stint in December 2017.

UFC 246 doesn’t have a location but will air on pay-per-view following prelims likely on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

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The latest UFC 246 lineup now includes:

  • Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
  • Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly
  • Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi

Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann in the works for UFC event on Feb. 8

The UFC is currently targeting a return to Houston this February, and a pair of light heavyweights are on deck.

A light heavyweight matchup is in the works for a yet-to-be announced UFC event this February.

A bout between former interim title challenger [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] and former LFA champion [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] is in the works for a Feb. 8 event. The card is currently being targeted for Houston.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the prospective booking but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

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In September, Saint Preux (24-13 MMA, 14-9 UFC) rebounded from back-to-back losses when he submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC on ESPN+ 18 in Copenhagen. Saint Preux’s method of submission? His signature Von Flue choke.

It was the fourth time Saint Preux had pulled off the rare submission under the promotion’s banner. The submission has only been successfully carried out six times in UFC history.

His opponent Spann (17-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is riding a seven-fight winning streak. After punching his ticket to the UFC on the inaugural season of “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Spann defeated Luis Henrique by unanimous decision in his promotional debut.

In his sophomore outing in October, Spann knocked out Brazilian legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueria in vicious fashion. Spann followed up his first UFC stoppage by strikes with his first submission. In his most recent outing, Spann submitted Devin Clark in the second round.

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 breakdown: Is Jan Blachowicz’s Polish power too much for ‘Jacare’ Souza?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Sao Paulo headliner between Jan Blachowicz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

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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+ 22.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Jan Blachowicz (24-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 6’2″ Age: 36 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 78″
  • Last fight: Knockout win over Luke Rockhold (July 6, 2019)
  • Camp: WCA Fight Team (Poland)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
  • Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ KSW light heavyweight title
+ Muay Thai accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 6 knockout victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Excellent jab
+ Dangerous uppercuts and hooks
+ Will switch stances
^ Favors liver kicks from southpaw
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Solid transitional grappler
^ Submission savvy from top or bottom

Ronaldo Souza (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 6’1″ Age: 39 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 72″
  • Last fight: Decision loss to Jack Hermansson (April 27, 2019)
  • Camp: Fusion X-cel Performance (Florida)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
  • Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:

+ Former Strikeforce middleweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 8 knockout victories
+ 14 submission wins
+ 18 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Heavy right hand
^ Throws well off feints and shifts
+ Improved overall boxing ability
^ Variates well to the body
+ Solid wrestling skills
^ Favors takedowns along the fence
+ Dangerous in transition
^ Superb scrambles and back-takes
+ Slick submission setups

Point of interest: Entering the pressure cooker

The main event in Sao Paulo features an interesting light heavyweight matchup between two men who are familiar with pressure.

Stepping onto the UFC scene as a persistent, pressuring stalker who can come forward in combination from either stance, [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] has steadily developed into a deceptively effective counter striker when he wants to be. In the heat of combat, the Pole packs a mean uppercut-hook return that he keeps on a hair-trigger, something he was able to show against both Jared Cannonier and Jimi Manuwa.

Blachowicz also employs a stiff and serviceable jab that he quietly uses to string together his offense, which may help him stave off the aggression coming his way. When he’s feeling in stride, the 36-year-old has no issue shifting to southpaw to deliver crushing liver kicks.

However, given his current counterpart, I suspect that Blachowicz may shelf kick attempts that are south of a headshot.

Enter [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag].

A marauding, athletic phenom who has consistently improved his striking since his days on the Strikeforce scene, Souza can truly call himself a multi-dimensional threat.

Steadily stalking his prey with palpable pressure, Souza will use feints to bait opponents into exchanging with him. Once able to get a bite, he will typically unleash a wicked counter cross or change his level to shoot for a takedown. Souza also occasionally shifts to southpaw when he needs to, often accompanying this move with a check hook for safety (something that could come in handy considering the success Thiago Santos had in his fight with Blachowicz).

When Souza senses that he has someone hurt, the 16-year veteran has no problem letting his hands fly liberally, varying in between uppercuts and hooks along the way. And in Souza’s last few outings, he’s displayed upgraded boxing techniques and sensibilities, incorporating more inside slips and left hooks to the liver (both of which play very well off of his patented right hand).

Still, the pressure that Souza brings usually comes with a tangible price tag to go along with the gas that it requires, which means that this battle – which will see Souza carrying 20 more pounds than usual – should get even more intriguing the longer it goes.

Next point of interest: Jacare’s world

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Tracy Cortez proud of large following she’s cultivated before UFC debut

Tracy Cortez attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase – an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

[autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag] attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase, an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

Cortez (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is ready to add to her popularity when she takes a step up to the big leagues at this weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 against Vanessa Melo.

Currently, Cortez owns an Instagram fanbase of almost 100,000 followers. Combine that with her Facebook likes and Twitter follows, and she’s sitting at approximately 116,000 fans.

But she hasn’t achieved this feat through a typical “Insta-famous” route many other influencers take. Cortez attributes her success on social media as a result of being real and interacting with fans, even as it becomes more time-consuming.

“I’ve been building my followers,” Cortez told MMA Junkie. “I kind of take pride in that because my fans go hard for me, and I love my fans. I honestly don’t just post and not interact. I try to interact with every single person who leaves me a comment or sends me beautiful messages.

“I think they see that. They see that I’m a normal person chasing their dream. I don’t put on a front and I think that’s how they started flocking to me. I don’t know why they follow me, but they follow me.”

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The relationship between Cortez and her fans is a two-way street, according to the Fight Ready MMA product. She sees great value in promoting a real version of herself on social media.

The 25-year-old Arizonan views fighters as a commodity. They need to sell themselves to the fans and give them a reason to watch. Through her outreach on social media and in-person, Cortez believes she’s done just that.

“As fighters, we’re entertainers, and we really have to let people know who we are outside of the cage and get that connection with our fans,” Cortez said. “That’s what I try to do. I want everyone to know that I’m just a regular person just like everyone else. I’m just working hard. I have big dreams, and I don’t let fear stop me.”

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On brand with her “being real” theme, Cortez opened up on the mix of emotions she’s taking with her into Saturday’s matchup against Melo (10-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

“Honestly, I’m excited,” Cortez said. “I was just talking to my coaches about how, man, we worked hard for this. I say ‘we’ because they’ve been a part of this journey for me. My coach Santino Defranco, he knows how hard I’ve been working. I’m actually going to fight for something I’ve been training so long for. I’m going through every emotion right now.”

This mix of emotions doesn’t weigh her down, according to Cortez. In fact, it does quite the opposite. It gives her the “push” she needs to stay motivated, stay focused, and attack the task at hand.

“I’m fighting for something that I always wanted,” Cortez said. “It makes training easier.

“Now? We’re here.”

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

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Brok Weaver wishes Jason Knight luck at BKFC 9 by sharing old bathroom fight video

We know Jason Knight can scrap inside the cage or ring – but find out how he fared against two opponents in a bathroom stall.

Over the years, [autotag]Jason Knight[/autotag] has endeared himself to MMA and bare knuckle boxing fans alike for his balls-to-the-wall, brawling style.

His signature trash talk and disregard for his own safety have made him appear, at times, as if he was in a street fight instead of the cage or ring. The parallel can be even further drawn now that an actual video of Knight brawling in the civilian world has been posted on social media. This is all thanks to Knight’s buddy, UFC lightweight [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag].

Tuesday, Weaver posted an Instagram video of Knight engaging in a bathroom altercation with two unknown adversaries. Along with the video, Weaver hyped Knight’s upcoming fight against Artem Lobov at BKFC 9.

The video didn’t include sound, nor were any other details about the bathroom fight revealed.

Check out the video of Knight battling two unknown opponents inside a bathroom stall (courtesy of Weaver’s Instagram):

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Francis Ngannou happy to fight Tyson Fury in MMA, then return favor in boxing

Francis Ngannou is down to fight Tyson Fury in both the octagon and the boxing ring.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] is more than willing to fight [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] in the octagon and the boxing ring.

Yes, that’s “and,” not “or.”

With boxing world champion Fury appearing to be dead set on making an eventual move to MMA, he proceeded to call out several heavyweights, including Ngannou, who wasted little time with his response.

“I’m like man, I don’t have a fight and anyways I was about to come find you in your territory, so if you come to my own, that would be great,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “And I can return you the favor because I want to cross to boxing sometime soon. That’s exactly how I feel right now.”

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Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), whose initial dream was to become a pro boxer, is very familiar with the the sweet science. His boxing background has translated very well into his MMA career, with 10 knockouts on his resume, taking out his last three opponents in the first round.

And while he’s been eager to get his next UFC fight, Ngannou says naturally, he’d be interested in facing Fury, since he comes from boxing roots himself.

“Maybe the frustration, the situation is teasing me, but my background is boxing,” Ngannou said. “I was going to do boxing before I discovered MMA. My dream was always boxing, so I took MMA because it was the opportunity that came to me, and I just needed it.”

Fury has already made his first step towards MMA, when he paid a visit to middleweight contender Darren Till at Team Kaobon, and was seen hitting pads, and drilling some takedown defense with Till during the training session.

“I think Fury is taking himself seriously,” Ngannou said. “I think he’s very serious about when he said he’s going to move to the octagon. He likes the show. He’s a showtime guy – you can see when he walks out in the fight. You can see like recently he was in WWE, so I think at this point in his life, he’s just there for the show.”

“Once again the video is just the proof of what I’m saying: He’s serious,” Ngannou added. “He’s taking himself really serious, and I wonder if he has been training. I think he’s been training on the ground you know, like in secret because he seems to be liking it, to like MMA, which many people do, and they just do it in secret, but now he just came out with his passion and obviously the intention to, actually.”

Ngannou, himself, has also been taking a potential fight with Fury seriously as he was seen hanging out with boxing legend and former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, who he said has agreed to coach him if he were to fight Fury.

“Mike Tyson is a very spiritual guy,” Ngannou said. “I feel like when he was talking, I can recognize myself about almost all what he said. Very wise way to see life, he understands how life works. I mean not only sports, but life. It was very great, very interesting,”

UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic was also on the list of heavyweights that Fury called out, as he recently said that he’d actually rather fight Fury over a Daniel Cormier trilogy.

But Ngannou believes Miocic only started entertaining the idea, when he saw the back and forth between him and Fury, and the progress they’ve made towards a potential fight.

“I’m not having a problem for Stipe to fight somebody,” Ngannou said. “I just want to fight, and I want the title shot. Maybe if it’s happening, him fighting Tyson Fury, and they let me fight for the belt, let’s go, but I think Stipe is reacting like that now because how Tyson Fury and I have been going back and forth.”

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MMA rankings report: UFC on ESPN+ 21, Bellator 233 fallout

What does another big weekend of MMA action mean for the rankings? We walk you through it all in this week’s rankings report.

It was another eventful weekend in the MMA world. Consider the highlights:

  • [autotag]Zabit Magomedsharipov[/autotag] continued his climb up the 145-pound ladder with a win over Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 21.
  • [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] returned to action, as the former Bellator champion decisioned Greg Hardy in the UFC Moscow co-feature.
  • [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] proved she’s still a factor in the Bellator featherweight division with her impressive unanimous-decision victory over Leslie Smith.

So what does this all mean for the weekly USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings? Let MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and “Gorgeous” George Garcia walk you through the changes in the video above.

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