Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,230, the guys brought on guest [autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag], who is preparing to fight Renato Moicano at UFC 271 next month. They also recapped this past Friday’s Eagle FC 44 card in Miami and Bellator 273 in Phoenix. Tune in!
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Rashad Evans had “the longest day” of his life prior to his first win in eight years at Eagle FC 44.
MIAMI – [autotag]Rashad Evans[/autotag] snapped a more than eight-year losing skid at Eagle FC 44, and his biggest moment of adversity may have come before the fight.
Evans (20-8-1), a UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC light heavyweight champion, defeated Gabriel Checco (12-6) by unanimous decision in Friday’s light heavyweight co-main event. It was his first fight since June 2018 following a retirement from the sport, and first win since November 2013.
The fight itself saw Evans put his wrestling to use. He wore out Checco on the mat to net 30-27 scorecards from the judges, and finally his five-fight losing skid came to an end.
“It was a long time coming,” Evans told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at Eagle FC 44. “I’ve dreamed about this moment many times since I retired. It just felt really good to be back out there. … It felt like it always did, but at the same time it felt different because I haven’t done it in so long. For some reason this is just a sport that you never get used to. You never get used to it. Every opponent’s different, every fight presents something different with training camp and the journey to the fight along the way.”
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Although Evas kept his composure for the 15 minutes in the cage, he said he was at risk of losing it beforehand. The hours leading up to fight time were a mental battle for Evans, who said he endlessly pondered the potentially negative scenarios and outcomes.
“All day, it was just the longest day of my life sitting in that hotel room until 7:30, until it’s my call time,” Evans said. “It was like sitting in purgatory. I couldn’t really rest. I just stayed in that mindset where you’re just battling yourself the whole time, believe that you got it, but at the same time trying to fight off the dark thoughts if things don’t go your way. But things turned out good today.
“I’d be lying to sit here and tell you that the majority of my day wasn’t sitting in a hotel room thinking, ‘I hope I don’t go out there and embarrass myself, embarrass the team that I work with to help me get ready.”
Evans isn’t 100 percent certain about what his future holds. He said the primary motivation around this fight was to shift his end-of-career narrative into something more positive, and he did that simply by getting his hand raised.
Eagle FC co-owner Khabib Nurmagomedov told reporters post-fight that he’s interested in signing Evans to a multi-fight deal. It remains to be seen if that gets done, but Evans said he does have the desire to compete, so long as the circumstances are right.
“As of right now I’ll say yeah. I feel really good. That was a good fight but I feel like there’s areas I have to improve. I do undertstand that I’m 42 years old, but it’s a mental thing at the same time. I want to test myself, but at the same time I want to be smart about how I do it. This is a young man’s sport, it’s a young man’s sport in so many different ways.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov is interested in bringing Jake Paul to Eagle FC.
MIAMI – It appears [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] has taken [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag]’s MMA tease seriously.
The former UFC lightweight champion and co-owner of MMA promotion Eagle FC says he’s sent out a contract to the YouTuber-turned-boxer. This comes after Paul recently said he’s be interested in pivoting from boxing to MMA.
“We offered him, we offered him (a contract),” Nurmagomedov told reporters, including MMA Junkie following Friday’s Eagle FC 44 event. “Now we’re waiting on his answer. If he wants, we’re here.”
Paul has only competed in boxing, but has been heavily linked to MMA. He’s knocked out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and former Bellator titleholder Ben Askren during part of his 5-0 run in the ring.
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“The Problem Child” has also been locked in a feud with UFC president Dana White over the past few years, but it’s intensified as of late with Paul being a vocal critic of UFC fighter pay.
Eagle FC joins other major MMA promotions that have shown interest in signing Paul. Bellator and PFL recently said they’d do business with Paul if the opportunity came.
Paul is coming off a successful 2021 inside the ring where he went 3-0 at the expense of past MMA greats. Last April, he knocked out Askren under the Triller Fight Club banner. The 25-year-old followed that up with an August split decision win over Woodley before viciously knocking out the longtime UFC welterweight titleholder in a rematch in December.
Both of those PPV headliners aired on Showtime, but Paul is currently a free agent as he decides his next career move.
Khabib Nurmagomedov learned that fight promotion isn’t so easy on Friday when he brought Eagle FC to U.S. soil for the first time.
MIAMI – [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] learned that fight promotion isn’t so easy on Friday when he brought Eagle FC to U.S. soil for the first time.
Nurmagomedov, a former UFC lightweight champion, has transitioned into a different side of the fight game since his retirement from competition in late 2020. He’s a co-owner in the Russian-based organization, which is now trying to expand into different regions.
Eagle FC 44, which saw notables Sergei Kharitonov, Rashad Evans and Ray Borg pick up notable wins atop the card, which took place at FLXcast Arena. The event largely went off without a hitch, but before it happen Nurmagomedov felt the magnitude of the moment.
“Today when I wake up I was nervous like I’m going to fight tonight,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at Eagle FC 44. “I have same feeling today when I wake up. I realized I’m not going to fight, I have a fighting show. It was a very nervous day, but right now I’m happy.”
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In December, UFC president Dana White was asked about Nurmagomedov’s decision to dip his toe into fight promotion. White said he would “learn the hard way” that it’s much more difficult than it looks.
Nurmagomedov made some bold statements prior to Eagle FC 44 about how the organization is looking to make a footprint in the MMA sphere and treat athletes as best as possible. That remains the goal, but Nurmagomedov admits it’s easier said than done.
Ultimately, Nurmagomedov doesn’t seem intent on making an enemy of White, but rather an ally. In fact, Nurmagomedov said he intends to meet with the UFC boss in the coming weeks for advice on how Eagle FC can become better.
“Nothing (about promoting is) easy, honestly,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s right, Dana White. I’m going to have meeting next month in Vegas with him. I’m going to talk with him a lot about all this kind of stuff. I’m just beginning. How many years he have experience? He’s the best in the game and it’s a big honor for me to learn from him.”
Sergei Kharitonov’s ground game was too much for Tyrone Spong in the Eagle FC 44 main event.
[autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag]’s grappling was too much for [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] in the Eagle FC 44 main event.
Kharitonov (34-9) utilized his most obvious path to victory in the heavyweight bout, which took place Friday at FLXcast Arena in Miami. He needed just two takedowns – one in the first and one in the second – to get Spong (2-1) in position to finish the fight with strikes in mount to secure the TKO at the 2:55 mark of Round 2.
In the first round, Spong didn’t hesitate to land heavy leg and body kicks. They were hard and sounded across the venue. However, Kharitonov looked to close the distance and pressure Spong with no stepping back.
A few seconds into the round, Kharitonov got a takedown. He went for a choke and neck crank from side control but Spong was able to defend and get out. From there Kharitonov moved to mount and began landing ground-and-pound while Spong looked to get up. The shots came often and heavy but Spong did enough to hang on and see the end of the round.
The second round was much better for Spong, but the Russian still managed to get the best of the fight. He was able to circle and stop Kharitonov’s takedowns for half the round while landing nasty leg kicks and combinations to the body and head. With about three minutes remaining, Kharitonov caught a leg kick and took the fight to the ground.
It didn’t take long for Kharitonov to get the mount, pour and ground-and-pound, and get the TKO win.
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In his 40’s, Kharitonov enjoying a solid run in combat sports. He’s 6-1 in his past seven fights, being 4-1 in MMA and 2-0 in boxing. His lone defeat came against Cheick Kongo in the main event of Bellator 265. Kharitonov has wins over many notable names such as Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum.
Meanwhile, with this result, Spong suffered his first combat sports career since 2014 where he had a leg break after throwing a kick against Gokhan Saki. It was Spong’s return to MMA competition, as he hadn’t fought in MMA rule set since fighting for World Series of Fighting in 2013.
“I want to continue to fight for Eagle FC and fight for the belt,” Kharitonov said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo.
Up-to-the-minute Eagle FC 44 results include:
Sergei Kharitonov def. Tyrone Spong via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:55
UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans returned from retirement at Eagle FC 44 and secured his first victory since November 2013.
UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Rashad Evans[/autotag] returned from retirement at Eagle FC 44 and secured his first victory since November 2013.
Evans (20-8-1), a former UFC light heavyweight champion, ended a five-fight losing skid in what was his first fight since he walked away from the sport in June 2018. He used his wrestling to secure a unanimous decision victory over Checco (12-6) in the 205-pound bout on Friday at the FLXcast Arena in Miami. The scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Evans was very cautious to begin the fight, allowing Checco to tee off on his legs and body with peppering kicks. He times one of those kicks, however, and used it to scoop Checco and slam him to the mat and into side control. He eventually recovered guard, but Evans was heavy on top and started to establish control and inflict some damage with short shots for the remainder of the round.
The 42-year-old came out looking to pick up where he left off in Round 2, and he did it by getting another takedown. Checco was much more aggressive off his back over the five minutes, however, attacking for leg locks over and over. Evans was wise to every submission attempt, though, and fended Checco off to make it to the end of the stanza.
In a critical third round, Checco came in too aggressive on a punch and got countered. Checco immediately went back to the leg lock attempts, but Evans stayed composed and found his way out again before moving to side control. Evans did his work from on top, landing punches and grinding his way to the final bell to secure the victory.
“The action happened fast and before I knew it I was just back in the fight. It felt like a dream,” Evans said in his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo. “I felt the love (for the sport) again. … I feel like I need to get in a better shape, but I’m open and I’m ready to roll. Eagle, I’m ready baby. Just put me in again.”
Ray Borg improved to 2-0 since leaving the UFC with a strong comeback win over Cody Gibson at Eagle FC 44.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] improved to 2-0 since leaving the UFC with a strong comeback win over [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag] at Eagle FC 44.
After falling behind early, Borg (15-5) went to his grappling and managed to grind his way to a unanimous decision win over Gibson (18-8) in the bantamweight bout on Friday at the FLXcast Arena in Miami. The scores were 29-27, 29-27 and 29-28.
Fight of the Year in our first US event ever? We'll take it.
Gibson opened the fight very strong, picking Borg apart with strikes over the first round and looking like the superior fighter by a large margin.
It was more of the same to begin Round 2, with all the momentum in Gibson’s favor. Borg landed a hard punch and a glancing spinning kick that took something away from Gibson, though, then he went to the grappling to dominate the remainder of the round from top position.
Now Borg answers with a spinning wheel kick to the head, gets taken down and reverses position!
With the fight hanging in the balance going into Round 3, Borg went straight back to the takedown and put Gibson on his back. He was heavy from on top, and he bloodied and battered Gibson until the fight came to an end.
Borg unceremoniously made his exit from the UFC following his final octagon appearance in May 2020. His tenure with the promotion was filled with weight issues, personal adversity and injuries. He’s still just 28, though, and now has won four of his past five fights.
“For me it’s getting this win for my son, getting a win for my team and showing I’m one of the best in the world no matter where I’m at, no matter who I’m fighting,” Borg said in his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo.
Yorgan De Castro is 2-0 after leaving UFC with a quick submission win at Eagle FC 44.
[autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag]’s second post-UFC fight ended in a quick and lopsided victory.
De Castro (8-3) needed just 64 seconds to submit Shaun Asher (13-5-1) on Friday at Eagle FC 44 in Miami, countering a takedown attempt with a guillotine choke to end the fight in the blink of an eye.
After being released from the UFC following a three-fight losing skid, De Castro won his first post-UFC fight in November under the CES banner. That set him up for the opportunity to compete for Eagle FC, where he said he intends to stay for the long term.
“I’ve been doing this in the gym all the time when people try to constantly take me down,” De Castro said in his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo. “When I get that neck I got a gorilla grip, and they’re done.”
Following along for live results from Eagle FC 44 in Miami.
Eagle FC 44 takes place Friday, and you can join us for live and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, now a promoter, has Eagle FC 44 set for FLXcast Arena in Miami.
In the heavyweight main event, [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] (33-9) will take on kickboxing specialist [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] (2-0), who hasn’t fought in MMA since 2014. And in the co-headliner, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (19-8-1) makes his return from retirement against Gabriel Checco (12-5).
For the first time in more than eight years, Tyrone Spong is going to get in an MMA fight.
MIAMI – For the first time in more than eight years, [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] is going to get in an MMA fight.
But it’s not like Spong has been inactive. The kickboxing standout in recent years has been boxing, a sport in which he’s 14-0 and holds the WBC Latino and WBO Latino heavyweight titles. He’s got more than 100 kickboxing wins on his record.
But he’s only had two MMA fights, both under the WSOF banner in 2012 and 2013. Friday, Spong (2-0) will return to the sport to take on Sergei Kharitonov (33-9) at the U.S. debut of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion in Miami.
Spong said training for an MMA fight took some getting used to, but feels ready for his return.
“It’s been years since I’ve had an MMA fight,” Spong told MMA Junkie. “Things have been going well. In the beginning, my body had to adjust (from) a long time of no grappling, wrestling. That was not fun, but I’m a very physical person, so I enjoy it. Right now, everything is locked in, but I feel good.”
Spong’s overall combat sports career is not short on experience. But he’ll be taking on a Russian opponent who has more than 20 times his experience in MMA. That’s just the math of it.
Spong said even that hasn’t caused him to dive into Kharitonov’s footage any more than he normally would – though he understands what he’s up against.
“I don’t really study my opponents. I never really have in my career,” he said. “I know the basics, and that’s enough. He’s a big guy, well experienced, fought the who’s-who in MMA. I look at the things he has, I look at the things I have: I’ve got to give him experience, I’ve got to give him size, maybe strength. But I’ve got speed, I’ve got fight IQ, explosiveness. So we’re going to play chess and use my advantage over his and try to secure the ‘W.'”
The bigger question for Spong may be whether or not he’s willing to play the long game with MMA after this fight. He admitted the original matchup with Antonio Silva, whom Kharitonov stepped in for, was something he took when an international boxing opportunity didn’t come to fruition.
But whether this is a one-off or not remains to be seen.
“We’re just focused on Friday now,” Spong said. “Friday is most important. I’ve got to come through that and get a ‘W,’ and then we’ll see. I’m not going to lie: I’m still passionate about boxing.”
