Jack Della Maddalena is aware that Danny Roberts “brings it every time” and expects that at UFC Fight Night 215.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] is expecting a game [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 215.
Maddalena (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will look to make it 13 consecutive wins when he faces Roberts (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.
Roberts has engaged in many standup battles, and Maddalena doesn’t see him backing down from a firefight this time either.
“I think it’s a cool matchup,” Maddalena told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “If you watch him fight, he brings it every time. He’s a tall, fast southpaw, and yeah, he’s gonna bring it. I think he gets hit, and he decides to bite down and swing, and it’s gonna be a cool fight. Fight of the Night.”
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Maddalena is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts. Another quick finish would be beneficial considering he’s looking to make a quick turnaround in his hometown of Perth, Australia at UFC 284 on Feb. 11, but the Aussie prospect is just looking for a clean performance.
“My game plan is to go in there and hit and not be hit,” Maddalena said. “Whether it’s three rounds, it doesn’t really matter. That’s sort of my game plan. I’m good to go three rounds, and I’m prepared for three rounds.”
With an “anyone, anytime, anywhere” mindset, we should’ve expect otherwise from Danny Roberts heading into UFC Fight Night 215.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] is relishing the underdog role against [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag].
Roberts (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets Della Maddalena (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215 main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
According to Tipico Sports Book, Roberts is a +425 underdog, whereas the Aussie prospect is a heavy -575 favorite. But Roberts is not deterred by the odds.
“Anyone, anytime, anywhere,” Roberts told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “I’m one of the guys who, as a fan favorite, will just go out there and just put it on the line. I love taking risk. I love being the underdog. I believe I’m the biggest underdog on the card, which again, I love that sh*t, and I’m just in the position where I want to go out there and perform.”
He continued, “I liked the fight. Stylistically, I think it works out perfect. It plays into my hands. It’s something which beckons me to bring out the performance and to really put it all on the line. So every single part of it for me is what I want, is what I relish, so I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
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When asked about Della Maddalena’s comments saying he isn’t a technical striker, Roberts just brushed them off.
“Shut your mouth,” Roberts replied. “Who are you, bro? You’ve had two fights in the UFC. Like, whatever. When it comes down to it, styles make fights, and there’s a lot of elements that have been going on with me and have done throughout the time I’ve been in the UFC, but guess what? I’ve prevailed. I’ve got substance. I’m still here. I’m still fighting, and I think that’s something that speaks volumes in itself regardless of the outcomes that have been had.”
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Oct. 17-23.
Check out these photos from Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Check out these photos from Randy Brown’s split decision win over Khaos Williams at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. (Photos courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Check out these photos from Francisco Trinaldo vs. Danny Roberts at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Check out these photos from Francisco Trinaldo’s unanimous decision victory over Danny Roberts at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. (Photos courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 02: Jason Servis, trainer of Maximum Security, looks on after morning workouts in preparation for the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Mar 26, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; View of an empty Dodger Stadium on what was scheduled to be opening day against the San Francisco Giants The game was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The main event of the 10-fight card saw [autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) outwork [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) to a unanimous decision in the women’s featherweight matchup.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card – where two of the UFC’s all-time winners added to their totals – check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC Fight Night 195.
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from May 17-23.
Both [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] and [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] are out of their respective bouts, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, who asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Reasons for both Roberts and Rakhmonov withdrawing were not disclosed. No replacement has been found for either of their opponents, Nicolas Dalby and Ramazan Emeev.
Roberts (17-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC), who snapped a two-fight losing streak with a knockout over Zelim Imadaev last November, originally was slated to face Dalby on March 21 in London, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight was rebooked for the July 25 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, but Roberts has been forced to withdraw.
Rakhmonov (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will have to wait once again to make his UFC debut. He was initially scheduled to face Bartosz Fabinski on March 21 in London before the event was canceled. The undefeated Kazakhstani fighter was then matched up with Emeev on July 25 but has been forced out.
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With the changes, the current July 25 lineup includes:
MMA Junkie’s resident Brit, Simon Head, takes a look at five key matchups involving U.K.-based fighters on the UFC’s “Fight Island.”
The launch of the UFC’s “Fight Island” events in Abu Dhabi next month marks the moment for a group of fighters from the international roster to return to action.
That group includes a host of U.K.-based fighters who, up to now, have been in MMA exile while international travel restrictions keep them from traveling to the U.S. to compete.
The advent of “Fight Island” and the UFC’s detailed travel regimen for fighters jetting into Abu Dhabi have opened the door for some of the promotion’s most exciting fighters from the U.K. to return to action.
Ahead of the UFC’s four-event run on Yas Island, here are five fights to keep an eye on that feature returning U.K. fighters.
Without further ado …
****
Molly McCann vs. Talia Santos, July 15
There’s been something special about some of the matchups we’ve seen during the UFC’s lockdown era so far, and you can bet your last dollar (or British pound) that [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] will look to add to that growing list of memorable fights.
McCann (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) arrived in the UFC as the Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion, but was submitted by Gillian Robertson on her debut in her hometown of Liverpool. But since that defeat McCann has bounced back superbly with a trio of unanimous decision victories over Priscilla Cachoeira, Ariane Lipski and Diana Belbita.
“Meatball” is getting better with every fight, and will be keen to show her latest improvements against Contender Series graduate [autotag]Talia Santos[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who is bidding to claim her maiden UFC victory after suffering her first career defeat on her UFC debut against Mara Romero Borella.
The fight represents the toughest assignment of McCann’s UFC career since her debut, but a fourth straight win for the energetic Evertonian will push the 30-year-old toward the division’s big names later in 2020.
“Fight Island” is real, and now the four cards that will take place there are real, as well.
“Fight Island” is real, and now the four cards that will take place there are real, as well.
UFC president Dana White today announced the complete lineup for the four cards that will take place next month in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The unique setup has been necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult to get international fighters into the U.S. to compete.
“I think this is going to be a really unique experience, not just for the fighters, but for us,” UFC president Dana White said during the announcement. “It’s going to be cool. It’s going to be something different. It’s never been done before, and however long this thing goes on, and however long it’s hard to get people in from other countries, we will have these fights at ‘Fight Island’ – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.”
First up, it’s UFC 251 on July 11, which features a trio of title fights.
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] – for welterweight title
Champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] – for featherweight title
[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] – for vacant bantamweight title
[autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]
[autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag]
[autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag]
[autotag]Makwan Amirkhani[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Danny Henry[/autotag]
[autotag]Roman Bogatov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Leonardo Santos[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Alexander Romanov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]
[autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]
[autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Karol Rosa[/autotag]
[autotag]Martin Day[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]
Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige
The promotion then returns on July 15 with an event headlined by featherweight contenders [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC).
The complete lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (10 p.m. ET)
Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige
[autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]
[autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]
[autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag]
[autotag]Chris Fishgold[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY (7 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Vinicius Moreira[/autotag]
[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag]
[autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]
[autotag]John Phillips[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag]
[autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]
[autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Liana Jojua[/autotag]
Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo
Three days later, on July 18, the promotion hosts its third card in eight days, when top flyweight contenders [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) meet for a second time with the vacant UFC flyweight title on the line.
The full card includes:
MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET)
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez – for vacant flyweight title
[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]
[autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag]
[autotag]Luana Carolina[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]
[autotag]Askar Askarov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khadis Ibragimov[/autotag]
[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nad Narimani[/autotag]
[autotag]Joel Alvarez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Joe Duffy[/autotag]
[autotag]Montel Jackson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag]
[autotag]Aleksander Doskalchuk[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag]
[autotag]Davi Ramos[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]
[autotag]Carlos Felipe[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]
Darren Till and Robert Whittaker
Finally, the UFC’s run in Abu Dhabi ends on July 25 with a much-anticipated middleweight contest between former champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and former welterweight title challenger [autotag]Darren Till[/autotag] (18-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC).
That night’s full lineup includes:
MAIN CARD
Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till
[autotag]Antonio Rogerio Nogueira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag]
[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Peter Sobotta[/autotag]
[autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]
[autotag]Nicolas Dalby[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD
[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jake Collier[/autotag]
[autotag]Raphael Pessoa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]
[autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mike Grundy[/autotag]
[autotag]Bethe Correia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]
[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]
[autotag]Ramazan Emeev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag]
