Tag: DWCS 52

DWCS 52 winner Mateusz Rebecki tired of fighting strikers, hopes to draw grapplers moving forward

Mateusz Rebecki wants to test his mat skills against top-tier grapplers in the UFC.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag] wants to test his mat skills against top-tier grapplers in the UFC.

Rebecki (16-1) needed just one round to submit Brazilian striker Rodrigo Lidio (12-3) with a rear-naked choke to earn a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series 52 on Tuesday.

Rebecki had to walk through a huge head kick from Lidio before getting a takedown, but once he was able to keep him down, it was smooth sailing for the Polish fighter. Rebecki doesn’t care whom he fights next, but he’d rather face a grappler over another striker.

“It doesn’t matter for me,” Rebecki told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I’m a normal fighter. I want to soon get some fight with anybody – it’s not a problem. Maybe just opponent who tries takedowns, a different style. Every one of my opponents is a striker. Maybe change my style of opponent.”

Rebecki earned high praise from UFC president Dana White for his performance and he’s happy to see his work getting recognized on the big stage.

“It’s very important for me that Dana White watches my fight and I just want to show my best performance, and I do this,” Rebecki said. “It’s good for me.”

He continued, “It’s good because I’ve been training really hard and someone sees this and understands how I’ve been doing everything to be here and show what I do.”

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Dana White sick of Jake Paul talk, but ‘it’s about time he’s got a real fight’ if Anderson Silva reports are true

UFC president Dana White is beyond sick of Jake Paul talk, but admitted it’s “about time” an Anderson Silva matchup rolled around.

LAS VEGAS – Dana White is sick of talking about [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag], but even he tipped his cap, albeit however small, at the notion of the YouTuber-turned-boxer fighting [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] – if the rumors are true, of course.

At a Dana White’s Contender Series 52 post-fight news conference Tuesday, White expressed his distaste and disgust for Paul-related questioning at his news conferences – reluctantly weighed in on the matchup anyway.

“I don’t give a sh*t, do you know what I mean?” White told reporters including MMA Junkie. “If he’s really fighting Anderson Silva, and that’s true, it’s about time he’s got a real fight on his hands there. Regardless of how old Anderson is, yeah, that’s a real fight.”

Paul vs. Silva has not been confirmed, but multiple outlets reported Monday and Tuesday the bout is being finalized for Oct. 29. Veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael also reported Phoenix as the targeted location for the Showtime pay-per-view event.

Paul, 25, is 5-0 but has never faced an opponent with previous boxing experience (with the exception of his Tyron Woodley rematch, in which Woodley’s only past experience was their first meeting). It’s not without attempts, however, as matchups against boxers Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. were canceled when Paul’s opponents pulled out.

Paul holds wins over former UFC fighters Woodley and Askren, as well as former NBA standout Nate Robinson and YouTuber Ali Enson Gib.

Silva, 47, is 3-0 in boxing. After his UFC departure in 2020, Silva reentered the boxing world – a place he went 1-0 prior to mainstream MMA tenure. In his post-UFC boxing appearances, Silva won a split decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and knocked out Tito Ortiz.

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UFC main event Sean Strickland vs. Jared Cannonier canceled, says Dana White

The Oct. 15 main event is off after Sean Strickland’s finger got badly infected.

LAS VEGAS – A UFC Fight Night main event is taken a hit.

Middleweight contender [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] is out of his Oct. 15 headliner vs. [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag], UFC president Dana White announced Tuesday after Dana White’s Contender Series 52 at the UFC Apex. White indicated the bout has been scrapped entirely with no replacement incoming.

In the days prior, Strickland (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) shared on social media an ongoing saga with a badly infected finger. According to Strickland, he suffered a cut in training when he sliced it on a sparring partner’s tooth. The wound was infected and Strickland shared Tuesday he’ll have to undergo surgery.

“Yeah, it does (effect the upcoming fight). He’s out,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters Tuesday. “We had matchmaking today and that was when I found out there was something wrong with him. … I think we just scrapped the fight.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chw6Ogst8Vt/

Strickland most recently competed at UFC 276 in July when he was knocked out by Alex Pereira. Manager Tim Simpson, of Paradigm Sports, recently told MMA Junkie he thought Strickland was one fight away from a title shot.

Meanwhile, Cannonier is coming off a loss on the same card. He was defeated by champion Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision in the UFC 276 main event.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Oct. 15 includes:

  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Cub Swanson
  • Askar Askarov vs. Brandon Royval
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Alexa Grasso
  • Mike Jackson vs. Pete Rodriguez
  • Misha Cirkunov vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Sam Hughes vs. Piera Rodriguez
  • Tatsuro Taira vs. C.J. Vergara
  • Brandon Davis vs. Mana Martinez
  • Raphael Assuncao vs. Victor Henry
  • Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Joanderson Brito

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Video: Japan’s Yusaku Kinoshita bludgeons Jose Henrique, ends DWCS 52 with a bang

For the first time in DWCS history, a Japanese fighter earned a UFC deal on the show.

[autotag]Yusaku Kinoshita[/autotag] ended Dana White’s Contender Series 52 with a bang.

In the DWCS 52 main event Tuesday at the UFC Apex, Kinoshita (6-1) put down and finished 6’5″ welterweight opponent [autotag]Jose Henrique[/autotag] (5-1) with punches to end the fight at 0:43 of Round 3.

After a competitive, strike-heavy first two rounds, Kinoshita continued to throw haymakers early in Round 3. Following an eye poke and timeout seconds into the round, a hellacious left hand from the Japanese fighter clattered upside the head of his lanky opponent. The blow dropped Henrique to the canvas and Kinoshita elected to pound away.

While Henrique survived total unconsciousness, improper defense caused referee Jason Herzog to dive in. Henrique was unhappy with the stoppage, as commission officials and cage-side physicians attended to him.

The  DWCS 52 headliner finish sent UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby to their feet.

After the fight, Kinoshita revealed he injured his leg on a kick in the second round but fought through it for the victory.

With the win, Kinoshita became the first fighter in DWCS history to earn a UFC contract. He extended his winning streak to two and kept his perfect finishing rate in victories intact. His only professional loss came in 2021 when he grabbed the cage and was disqualified.

As for Henrique, he loses for the first time as a professional.

The full DWCS 52 results include:

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Video: ‘The Slim Reaper’ Sedriques Dumas storms through DWCS opponent, wows Dana White

At Dana White’s Contender Series 52, Sedriques Dumas quickly strangled opponent Matej Penaz – much to the delight of the UFC president.

Tuesday, fight fans across the world were introduced to “The Slim Reaper” on an international stage for the first time.

[autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag] (7-0) seemingly made the most of a potential UFC contract opportunity when he submitted [autotag]Matej Penaz[/autotag] (6-1) via a standing guillotine choke 47 seconds into Round 1. The bout took place as part of DWCS 52, a five-fight card Tuesday at the UFC Apex.

The quick victory had UFC president Dana White visibly pleased and hyped up Dumas who yelled at him over the cage.

“I told everybody, man,” Dumas said in his post-fight broadcast interview, prior to a celebratory dance. “I’m here to stay. I’m making a point. Listen, I came from Pensacola, Fla., where everybody knows Roy Jones (Jr.) is from in boxing. I’m trying to make another come-up in that city, man.”

Dumas, 27, remains undefeated as he picks up his sixth finish in seven fights. His troubled past of legal issues and subsequent life turnaround was highlighted thoroughly during the broadcast. That made his victory all the much sweeter for him.

“That UFC contract would mean a lot, man,” Dumas said. “It would mean my kids, me, something doing right. I’ve never experienced something like this. I’ve never came to Vegas. I’ve never ate high, fancy restaurants. I never did none of this, but I’m here now. Hopefully, Dana, hopefully I can stay on your show, man, bossman. Don’t count me out yet, but I’ve got you man.

The up-to-the-minute DWCS 52 results include:

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Video: Mateusz Rebecki submits Rodrigo Lidio with hookless rear-naked choke at Dana White’s Contender Series

At Dana White’s Contender Series 52, Mateusz Rebecki submitted Rodrigo Lidio with a rear-naked choke without any hooks.

UFC hopeful [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag] didn’t even need hooks to get the tap at Dana White’s Contender Series.

At DWCS 52, Rebecki (16-1) submitted [autotag]Rodrigo Lidio[/autotag] (12-3) via rear-naked choke at 3:05 of Round 1. The light bout served as one of five on the card Tuesday at the UFC Apex.

Relentless with his takedowns from the opening bell, Rebecki made it clear early that he wanted to drag the fight to the canvas. Lidio rose back to his feet after the first successful takedown by Rebecki, but he couldn’t repeat it.

Upon the second takedown, Rebecki immediately maneuvered to get to side control. Lidio turned into the Rebecki as he shifted. Rebecki grabbed hold of the rear-naked choke and then Lidio tried to shift back to his original position. This left Rebecki with a tight grip of the rear-naked choke, but without hooks. Essentially chest-to-chest with Lidio, Rebecki squeezed until he got the tap. The unusual submission got visual and audible approval from UFC president Dana White who expressed his delight with the finish.

Rebecki, 29, is one of the most experienced fighters featured on the entire DWCS, Season 6. He extends his winning streak to 13 with the victory. Fourteen of his 16 pro wins have come inside the distance.

The up-to-the-minute DWCS 52 results include:

  • Mateusz Rebecki def. Rodrigo Lidio via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:05
  • Viktoriya Dudakova def. Maria Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Blake Bilder def. Alex Morgan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:15

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