Tag: Esteban Ribovics

UFC’s Esteban Ribovics ‘a bit bitter’ over Nasrat Haqparast loss, sees future rematch

Esteban Ribovics opens up about his split decision loss to Nasrat Haqparast at UFC Fight Night 253 in March.

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] is not too happy with how things went down in his last UFC fight, but feels he’ll get an opportunity to redeem himself in the near future.

Ribovics (14-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) came up short in a split decision against Nasrat Haqparast (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 253 in March. Although they won Fight of the Night and each fighter took home an extra $50,000 bonus, the Argentinian is not happy with the whole experience.

“I’m a bit bitter to have lost because losing is never good, but I know I trained hard, and I put on a show,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “It could’ve gone either way. He was maybe a bit superior in the judges’ eyes, and you have to accept it. Fighting the decision and being upset at it, I’m not going to solve anything, so head held up high, and I’m going to come back stronger.”

Many online thought Ribovics did enough to get the nod from the judges. Two of the judges gave 29-28 to Haqparast (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and one a 29-28 Ribovics way, resulting in the split decision. Nine out of the 11 media members that submitted scorecards on MMA Decisions saw the fight for Ribovics.

“It was very close,” Ribovics said. “Maybe he did win. He might’ve connected with lets shots, but did more damage, so maybe that’s what the judges’ saw. I had a lot of volume, but they weren’t that strong. I just have to learn from it.”

Ribovics, 28, says everything leading up to the fight went basically well. However, he got very heavy after cut to lightweight and felt it during the fight, especially in the first round, which he lost.

“I felt good in the weight cut, but like I told you, the only thing is that I did feel heavy,” Ribovics said. “With Daniel Zelluber, I stepped in the cage at 177 pounds. For this fight, I bounced back to 185.

“I need to see what happened in the recovery and why I got so heavy. I felt strong, but very heavy. It was only in the second round where I woke up, and I was able to get moving. So that was my only issue, I felt heavy.”

Ribovics hopes to stay active and is already back in training. He hopes to return in June or July.

As far as Haqparast, Ribovics wishes him well and believes he’ll meet him again in the near future.

“I know this is not the only fight we’ll have,” Ribovics said. “We’ll meet each other again. Nasrat, I’ll see you soon, very soon.”

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Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics prediction, pick, start time for UFC Fight Night 253

Streaking lightweights Nasrat Haqparast and Esteban Ribovics look to continue their ascent. Who has the edge at UFC Vegas 103?

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] and [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC Fight Night 253 main card at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 5-0
UFC main cards, 2025: 15-10-1

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC Fight Night 253 preview

Haqparast (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) enters this contest running hot on a four-fight winning streak stretching back to 2022. On his current run, Haqparast has picked up decision wins over John Makdessi, Landon Quinones and Jared Gordon, as well as a first-round finish of Jamie Mullarkey. … Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will look to extend his winning streak to four. Ribovics picked up a Fight of the Night award in his split decision win over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306, which was one of the best fights of the year. Prior to that, he stopped Terrance McKinney in 37 seconds.

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC Fight Night 253 expert pick, prediction

Despite Ribovics turning in both Knockout of the Year and Fight of the Year candidates in 2024, the UFC matchmakers, in all their wisdom, are rewarding the Argentinian with a UFC Apex booking opposite Haqparast, who arguably lost his last fight.

Although I was initially high on Haqparast upon his initial arrival to the promotion, I haven’t been the biggest fan of how his style has progressed. In his defense, Haqparast headhunts less and goes to the body more, but I suspect that bodywork is a two-way street that’s felt more on his end (at least if his last fight with Jared Gordon is any indication).

In fact, Gordon – who trains at Kill Cliff FC alongside Ribovics – was able to find some success from southpaw that his teammate could replicate.

Perhaps my fandom for Ribovics’ style is bleeding into the analysis here, but I suspect that he can pull ahead of Haqparast after a somewhat sketchy start.

The pick is Ribovics by unanimous decision.

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC Fight Night 253 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the fighter from Argentina, listing Ribovics -280 and Haqparast +220 via FanDuel.

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC Fight Night 253 start time, how to watch

Haqparast and Ribovics are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:10 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.

Esteban Ribovics hopes a win over Nasrat Haqparast gets him into UFC’s lightweight top 15

Esteban Ribovics knows the test in front of him Saturday is against someone with significantly more experience.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] knows the test in front of him Saturday is against someone with significantly more experience – and that’s just what he’s hoping pays off.

Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) takes on Nasrat Haqparast (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in a lightweight bout on the UFC Fight Night 253 (ESPN+) main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Ribovics thinks a win, which would be his fourth straight, would be a ticket to the next level.

“I think a win over him is going to take me closer, or take me into the top 15 of the division,” Ribovics said Wednesday at a media day for the event.

The experience thing, he thinks will only play a factor up to a certain point. After that, he’s banking on some intangibles.

“He has a lot more fights than me. He has a lot more experience in the UFC. But I want the glory. I’m going for the glory. And besides the experience, I want it more than him,” Ribovics said. “I always say (my fights are) going to be bang-bang. I am not sure if he’s going to go out and trade, but I am ready for that.”

After a 90-second KO win on DWCS in 2022 got him into the UFC, his 11-0 unbeaten record was spoiled with a loss to Loik Radzhabov in his promotional debut.

But since then, he has wins over Kamuela Kirk, Terrance McKinney, and a Fight of the Night split decision over Daniel Zellhuber this past September. Saturday will give him three fights in a little more than nine months, and that’s the kind of activity level Ribovics is hoping for.

“I want to fight three times this year,” he said. “I usually fight two, but I want to do it three times this year. I know fighting three times is going to get me to my goal faster that way.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.

#UFCVegas103

Daniel Cormier ‘not falling victim to the name’ when picking 2024 Fight of the Year

Daniel Cormier was not swayed by big-star names when making his pick for Fight of the Year.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] was not swayed by big-star names when making his pick for Fight of the Year.

Like many, Dominick Cruz went with Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, which saw Holloway score an iconic last-second knockout. Chael Sonnen picked middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ submission win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

However, Cormier went with [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]’ wild battle with [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] at UFC 306 from Sphere, a brawl that saw numerous momentum swings. Ribovics wound up winning the bout by split decision.

“I’m not falling victim to the name,” Cormier said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Chael Sonnen. “As pundits, as fans, and as people who watch the sport, at times, we fall in love with the name. It’s honestly why you’ll fight in a pay-per-view, and you’ll get a Fight of the Night bonus or Performance when you really don’t deserve it. You’re in the main event, you’re making more money than everybody else on the card, and you win, but there’s all those fights in the beginning that are better. So, I’m not falling victim to the name.

“I’m actually going with the fight between Zellhuber and Ribovics at UFC 306 when those guys fought at the Sphere. Remember how bad Daniel Zellhuber had him hurt early? Remember how bad he (Ribovics) had Daniel Zellhuber hurt late? The grit, the determination that these two young men showed on Mexican Independence Day to show why they were put on that Sphere card. It was all stand up, barely any wrestling, it was tit for tat. It was as good of a fight as any we saw all year. I’m not falling victim to the blockbuster.”

Ribovics has recently been booked for his next fight. He takes on Nasrat Haqparast in a lightweight bout on March 1 at UFC Fight Night 253 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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Esteban Ribovics too busy in moment to realize UFC 306 slugfest with Zellhuber was instant classic

Esteban Ribovics picked up $50,000 for Fight of the Night in a bout that will be talked about as a potential Fight of the Year.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] beat Daniel Zellhuber with a split decision Saturday on the main card at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Ribovics, who picked up $50,000 for Fight of the Night in a bout that will be talked about as a potential Fight of the Year three months from now.

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Result: Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Updated records: Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Key stats: Ribovics and Zellhuber threw a combined 653 punches in a fight that was contested virtually entirely at striking range.

Ribovics on the fight’s key moment

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“I’m very proud. All the hard work paid off. It was all worth it. Physically, I feel like sh*t. I knew how hard he was. I knew that he could take punches, and I also knew he was very good dodging the punches, going backwards. That’s why I didn’t rush forward. But I can also take a punch, as you guys saw. It was a tough fight and it was exactly as I as I envisioned.”

Ribovics on the potential to fight Zellhuber again

“Honestly, all I knew was that I thought that the second round could go either way. I knew I had to go out full on in the third round and that’s what I did. That elbow knocked me down, but I managed to get up and all I all I could think was, ‘Keep connecting hands. Keep landing. I’ve got to keep punching. Keep going forward.’

“It would be fantastic and an honor to share the octagon with him again. Maybe we can fight again in the future when we’re both stronger. I love this kind of fight where I take punches and I give punches. It would be a good (rematch) for the future.”

Ribovics on what he wants next

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“I feel pretty bad right now, so I’ve got to make sure nothing’s broken or anything like that. So hopefully before the end of the year, early next year – but as I said, I don’t feel great right now. I’ve got to go back, maybe see how I feel in a month’s time. I do want to be within the top 15 rankings by the end of next year.”

To hear more from Ribovics, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

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UFC 306 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: O’Malley, Grasso net $42,000 for entering as champs

Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso got the biggest checks from the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program fro UFC 306, which paid $239,500.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 306 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $239,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 306 took place at Sphere. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 306 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,721,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,458,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Esteban Ribovics’ split decision win over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]’ split decision win over [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. (Fight and venue photos by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA Today Sports)

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC 306

Who wins when a pair of Dana White’s Contender Series alums trending in the right direction get the Sphere spotlight at UFC 306?

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 0-5
UFC main cards, 2024: 76-66-3

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 preview

A pair of Dana White’s Contender Series alums trending in the right direction will get the spotlight when Ribovics and Zellhuber meet in a lightweight bout. … Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) enters on back-to-back wins after beating Kamuela Kirk and most recently Terrance McKinney by first-round head kick knockout. … Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is on a three-fight winning streak, most recently beating Francisco Prado by unanimous decision.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 expert pick, prediction

Although I have some admitted bias toward Zellhuber due to his relationship with Eric Nicksick and Xtreme Couture MMA, I’m honestly a big fan of Ribovics.

An Argentinian fighter with an incredibly fun style, Ribovics provides reliable pocket boxing and counters (from both stances) that ensure high-temperature affairs whenever he’s in the octagon.

Ribovics’ wrestling defense leaves something to be desired, but the 28-year-old demonstrates decent submission defense and a solid ability to scramble. That said, I suspect that a long, athletic fighter like Zellhuber could provide a decent amount of problems on paper.

Not only will Zellhuber’s kicks and jabs have play on paper, but his underrated grappling skills could also come in handy for this contest.

For that reason, I’ll officially side with Zellhuber to edge out the scorecards in a fight that I see being competitive down the stretch.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Zellhuber (-225) and Ribovics (+184) via FanDuel.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 start time, how to watch

Ribovics and Zellhuber are expected to walk out to the octagon at approximately 10:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. locally in Las Vegas). The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics envisions UFC 306 knockout of Daniel Zellhuber: ‘At some point, he will fall’

Esteban Ribovics predicts a knockout win over Daniel Zellhuber at Saturday’s UFC 306.

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] is confident he will do something big in his next UFC bout, and he certainly has the stage for it.

The Argentine fighter will be taking on fellow rising prospect [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] on the main card of UFC 306, which takes place Saturday at Sphere in Las Vegas. This is a massive event that celebrates Mexican Independent weekend, and Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has all the intention to spoil the party for Mexico’s Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).

“I expect a war,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’m obviously going to get hit, but he’s going to take hits, as well. In my head, at some point, he will fall. That’s what I believe. That’s what I feel, and from my point of view, at some point he will fall.”

Ribovics has the chance to get on a three-fight win streak should he beat Zellhuber at Noche UFC. He doesn’t think a big win over Zellhuber will get him in the UFC lightweight rankings, but it would certainly be a big step in his career.

“I want to be in the rankings soon,” Ribovics said. “God willing, maybe by the end of next year I’ll be in the rankings. So yeah, I think getting a win in this type of event, and if I win in a big way, how I have it visualized, I think it will get me a lot closer to the top 15.”

As far as playing the spoiler role at UFC 306, Ribovics is enjoying it all. He’s not pressured at all by the Mexican presence, and in fact, he feels fueled by it.

“I don’t feel pressured, but you do see a lot of Mexican events happening this weekend with all the posters for music artists and other Mexican events,” Ribovics said. “You can tell this week it will get very Mexican in Las Vegas, but no, I love feeling like the bad guy. This motivates me and I always like fighting as the visitor, so it’s something that brings out the demon in me. I’m happy, very happy.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics wishes Daniel Zellhuber fight happened further down line, but excited for UFC 306

Two rising UFC lightweights will collide at Sphere in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] respects UFC 306 opponent [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag], but he also recognizes where they are both headed.

Before Saturday’s event at Sphere, Argentina’s Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) voiced excitement for the matchup vs. Mexico’s Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).

“I think so. I think there’s hype because he’s a great fighter,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference. “I respect him a lot. As I said previously, I wish we had the opportunity to fight him further along in my career. Maybe we could have a chance to develop and grow together. But yeah, this is a great fight now. I’m ready for this fight. I think it’s going to be an insane fight and no one wants to miss it. Yeah, I have nothing but respect for him. He’s a great fighter, a great contender, coming up from Mexico.”

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Ribovics is 28 with three UFC fights to his name. Zelluber is 25 with one more, at four UFC fights. Ribovics will step into the Mexican Independence Day-themed event as a bit of an outsider, but embraces the challenge that comes with it.

“Fights are fights, man. I wish we were going to fight further up,” Ribovics said. “But the opportunity came up now. I’m happy to accept it. I’m happy for this fight. But yeah, I’m just going to see how it goes down.

Ribovics signed a new multifight deal with the UFC prior to this fight. He looks to continue momentum from a big head kick knockout of Terrance McKinney in May.

“Man, I needed that win. I’m glad I did it. And yeah, you’re right. I got a new contract, a couple of fights more on the new contract, which gives me more stability. I’m able to focus and train better. Things are looking up. That just gives me more drive and motivation to keep going forward.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.