Tag: Dusko Todorovic

With Maki Pitolo out, LFA champ Gregory Rodrigues steps in to face Dusko Todorovic at UFC Fight Night 189

Just days after winning the LFA title, Gregory Rodrigues has gotten the UFC call.

Just days after winning the LFA title, [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] has gotten the UFC call.

[autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag] has been forced out of UFC Fight Night 189 and Rodrigues (9-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on June 5.

A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Tuesday. The person asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Fighter Path was first to report the new matchup.

Rodrigues has gotten a second opportunity to compete in the UFC. After failing to secure a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series when he was stopped by Jordan Williams, Rodrigues rebounded with back-to-back knockouts and claimed the middleweight title with a first-round finish of Josh Fremd at LFA 108 this past Saturday.

Todorovic, a Contender Series graduate, has split his first two UFC appearances. After stopping Dequan Townsend in the second round in his octagon debut, Todorovic endured his first career loss when he was knocked out by Puna Soriano at UFC on ABC 1 in January.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 189 lineup now includes:

  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Muslim Salikhov vs. Francisco Trinaldo
  • Walt Harris vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Tanner Boser vs. Ilir Latifi
  • Manon Fiorot vs. Maryna Moroz
  • Sean Woodson vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Montana De La Rosa vs. Ariane Lipski
  • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Dusko Todorovic
  • Roman Dolidze vs. Laureano Staropoli
  • Miguel Baeza vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Antonio Arroyo vs. Tom Breese
  • Mason Jones vs. Alan Patrick
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Claudio Puelles

UFC on ABC 1 medical suspensions: Calvin Kattar, Justin Tafa face lengthy time off

UFC on ABC 1 headliner Calvin Kattar absorbed 445 significant strikes over the span of 25 minutes.

UFC on ABC 1 is in the books and its competitors have been handed their medical suspensions.

Atop the list of lengthiest post-fight suspensions is headliner [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag], who endured a high volume of punishment from former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] in the card’s main event. Kattar (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) received a 180-day suspension for a broken nose, but can return sooner if cleared by a doctor.

MMA Junkie on Monday obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

Tyson Chartier, Kattar’s manager and head coach, told MMA Junkie on Sunday that in addition to a broken nose suffered in the unanimous decision loss, his fighter also received eight staples in his head.

His opponent, Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) walked away relatively unscathed, and received a 30-day suspension for a “hard bout.”

Only one fighter from the event’s undercard was handed as lengthy of a suspension as Kattar. Preliminary card competitor and UFC heavyweight [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] also received a potential 180-day suspension. Tafa (4-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) suffered a split decision loss to Brazil’s [autotag]Carlos Felipe[/autotag].

The Australian will have to sit on the sidelines for the six-month duration, or until his left thumb is cleared by a doctor.

The full list of UFC on ABC 1 medical suspensions includes:

  • Max Holloway: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout”
  • Calvin Kattar: Suspended 180 days or until nose is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
  • [autotag]Carlos Condit[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Matt Brown[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days due to knockout loss.
  • [autotag]Alessio Di Chirico[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days due to knockout loss.
  • [autotag]Puna Soriano[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to TKO loss.
  • [autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Wu Yanan[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • Carlos Felipe: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • Justin Tafa: Suspended 180 days or until left thumb x-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Ramazan Emeev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]David Zawada[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left eyelid laceration.
  • [autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Sarah Moras[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Austin Lingo[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to chin laceration.
  • [autotag]Jacob Kilburn[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”

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UFC on ABC 1 post-event facts: Max Holloway’s masterclass shatters all striking records

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ABC 1, which saw Max Holloway beat Calvin Kattar in Abu Dhabi.

The UFC kicked off its 2021 campaign on Saturday with a monumental event. UFC on ABC 1 marked the promotion’s return to network television, with the card unfolding at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

A performance worthy of the grand stage unfolded in the main event. Former UFC champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) snapped his two-fight losing with one of the greatest performances in UFC history. “Blessed” delivered record-setting output against [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) to take a unanimous decision in one of the most lopsided bouts to ever occur inside the octagon.

For more on the numbers behind Holloway’s incredible win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for

Video: Punahele Soriano rocks Dusko Todorovic, gets UFC on ABC era started with a bang

Punahele Soriano wasted little time getting the UFC on ABC era started with a bang.

[autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag] will go into the record books as the first fighter to win a UFC bout on ABC, and he did so in emphatic fashion.

In the first UFC meeting of undefeated fighters since Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa at UFC 253, Soriano (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was a buzzsaw, dropping [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] over and over before their UFC on ABC 1 middleweight main-card opener was waved off at the 4:48 mark of the opening round Saturday.

Soriano pushed a fast pace from the outset and didn’t hold back on putting everything into his punches. Todorovic (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) did his best to use low kicks to try to establish range. But Soriano paid them no mind, as he waded in and landed big left hands over and over.

Several times, those lefts led to knockdowns. Todovoric kept getting back up. Late in the round, Todovoric got a breather when his mouthpiece got stuck between the bottom of the fence and the canvas. But it was to no avail, as Soriano once again landed a left for an unofficial fourth knockdown, and that time, referee Herb Dean called off the fight.

[lawrence-related id=580776,580592]

“I expected that exact fight,” Soriano said in his post-fight interview. “He hit me with some good shots and was kicking me no matter how hard I hit him. He was still focused and still trying to hit back.”

UFC on ABC 1 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card aired on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

You can check out Soriano’s handiwork in the videos below:

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 1 results include:

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UFC on ABC 1 predictions: We’re split down the middle on Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar

Check out our staff members’ predictions for the UFC on ABC 1 main card in Abu Dhabi.

Holloway
vs.
Kattar		 Brown
vs.
Condit		 Jingliang
vs.
Ponzinibbio		 Buckley
vs.
Di Chirico		 Soriano
vs.
Todorovic
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 0-0		 holloway2021
Holloway
(68%)		 condit2021
Condit
(63%)		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio
(82%)		 buckley2021
Buckley
(85%)		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
(57%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 0-0
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 0-0		 holloway2021
Holloway		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 0-0
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
Simon Head
@simonhead
2021: 0-0
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 holloway2021
Holloway		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 0-0
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 0-0		 holloway2021
Holloway		 mbrown2021
Brown		 jingliang2021
Jingliang		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 0-0
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 mbrown2021
Brown		 jingliang2021
Jingliang		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 mbrown2021
Brown		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 0-0		 holloway2021
Holloway		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 todorovic2021
Todorovic
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 0-0		 kattar2021
Kattar		 condit2021
Condit		 ponzinibbio2021
Ponzinibbio		 buckley2021
Buckley		 soriano2021
Soriano

The UFC is back for its first event of 2021 – and the first of three cards in eight days on “Fight Island.”

UFC on ABC 1 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former featherweight champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (22-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC). Holloway is a slight favorite at BetMGM at -165, but for the first headliner of the year, our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are split down the middle at 7-7.

In the co-feature, longtime UFC welterweights [autotag]Matt Brown[/autotag] (22-17 MMA, 15-11 UFC) and former interim champion [autotag]Carlos Condit[/autotag] (31-13 MMA, 8-9 UFC) meet. Condit is the slight favorite, but he’s got a big 11-3 lead from our pickers.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is a heavy underdog at welterweight against [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), and Ponzinibbio has a big 12-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is the only unanimous pick from our staff members in his middleweight fight against [autotag]Alessio Di Chirico[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC). He’s nearly a 3-1 favorite at the sports books, and he’s got a 14-0 shutout from our staff members.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is a slight underdog at middleweight against [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Both are undefeated, but it’s Soriano with a 9-5 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holloway (68 percent), Condit (63 percent), Ponzinibbio (82 percent), Buckley (85 percent) and Todorovic (57 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC on ABC 1: Make your predictions for Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 event in Abu Dhabi.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 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 ABC 1 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ABC 1 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the five main card fights below.

UFC on ESPN 16 predictions: Holly Holm is the favorite – but do we like Irene Aldana?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 16 main card on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.

Holm
vs.
Aldana		 De Castro
vs.
Felipe		 De Randamie
vs.
Pena		 Todorovic
vs.
Townsend
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 106-68		 holm2020
Holm
(56%)		 decastro2020
De Castro
(73%)		 derandamie2020
De Randamie
(58%)		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
(75%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 117-57		 aldana2020
Aldana		 carlos2020
Felipe		 pena2020
Pena		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 116-58		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 pena2020
Pena		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 116-58		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 114-60		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 113-61
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 pena2020
Pena		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 113-61		 holm2020
Holm		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 113-61
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 110-64
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holm2020
Holm		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 109-65		 aldana2020
Aldana		 carlos2020
Felipe		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 107-67		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 pena2020
Pena		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 106-68		 aldana2020
Aldana		 decastro2020
De Castro		 pena2020
Pena		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 105-69
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holm2020
Holm		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 103-71		 holm2020
Holm		 decastro2020
De Castro		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 todorovic2020
Todorovic
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 73-101		 aldana2020
Aldana		 carlos2020
Felipe		 derandamie2020
De Randamie		 townsend2020
Townsend

(Note: The fight between Cameron Else and Kyler Phillips was added to the main card too late for our picks deadline.)

The UFC has its second of five straight “Fight Island” shows Saturday, and a former champion is atop the card.

UFC on ESPN 16 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC). Holm is just a slight favorite in the fight at -125, but our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are siding with Aldana at a 10-4 clip.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Carlos Felipe[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. De Castro is a heavy favorite, and he’s got a big 11-3 picks lead.

Also on the main card, former women’s featherweight champ [autotag]Germaine de Randamie[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Julianna Pena[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC). Pena is a slight favorite, but it’s de Randamie with a fairly sizable 9-5 picks lead.

And [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is the main card’s heaviest favorite in his middleweight bout against [autotag]Dequan Townsend[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 0-3 UFC). Only one of our pickers is going with Townsend in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holm (56 percent), De Castro (73 percent), de Randamie (58 percent) and Todorovic (75 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Dusko Todorovic vs. Dequan Townsend targeted for UFC event on Oct. 3

A middleweight bout is in the works for the UFC’s first October event.

A middleweight bout is in the works for the UFC’s first October event.

The promotion is targeting a fight between [autotag]Dequan Townsend[/autotag] and [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] for Oct. 3 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

People with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Townsend (18-10 MMA, 0-3 UFC) has been largely unsuccessful in his career to date. Bouncing between middleweight and light heavyweight, Townsend is still in search of his first UFC victory.

As for Todorovic (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the Dana White’s Contender Series Season 3 winner has had his debut fight scheduled and canceled three times. All but one of Todorovic’s professional fights have ended with him winning inside the distance.

The UFC’s Oct. 3 event takes place at Flash Forum as the second card on the promotion’s second stint on “Fight Island.” The main card will stream on ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN.

With the addition, the Oct. 3 lineup includes:

  • Irene Aldana vs. Holly Holm
  • Germaine de Randamie vs. Julianna Pena
  • Carlos Condit vs. Court McGee
  • Loma Lookboonmee vs. Jinh Yu Frey
  • Yorgan De Castro vs. Carlos Felipe
  • Heili Alateng vs. Casey Kenney
  • Tom Breese vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Kyler Phillips vs. TBA
  • Jessin Ayari vs. Luigi Vendramini
  • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Jordan Williams
  • Dusko Todorovic vs. Dequan Townsend

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