Tag: Holly Holm

UFC Fight Night 206 post-event facts: Jailton Almeida delivers shutout in heavyweight debut

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 206, which saw six of 11 fights end in a finish including a shutout.

The UFC closed its May schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 206, which went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and saw six of 11 fights end in a finish.

The main event was among the bunch to go to the scorecards. [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) edged former UFC champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) by split decision in the women’s bantamweight headliner, marking her second consecutive win over a former UFC champion.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 206.

Twitter reacts to Ketlen Vieira’s narrow split decision vs. Holly Holm at UFC Fight Night 206

See how fighters and the MMA community reacted to Ketlen Vieira’s controversial decision win over Holly Holm at UFC Fight Night 206.

[autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] got her hand raised, but some fighters and media members don’t think she should’ve.

The Brazilian bantamweight contender picked up a split decision win over former UFC champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 206 in Las Vegas. The judges’ scorecards read 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47 in favor of Vieira.

It was a closely contested bout, but many online had Holm up on the scorecards after 25 minutes. Even Vieira’s coach, Andre Pederneira, told her she was down three rounds to one entering the fifth.

Below is how the MMA community reacted to the decision:

UFC Fight Night 206 results: Ketlen Vieira outpoints Holly Holm, who disagrees with decision

Holly Holm believes she was robbed at UFC Fight Night 206: “”I gave her Round 2, and I feel like I won all the rest of the rounds.”

[autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] believes she was robbed at UFC Fight Night 206.

Competing for the first time in 19 months, Holm dropped a close split decision to [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] on Saturday in the main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The judges scored the fight 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47 for Vieira, who dropped to her knees in tears the moment Joe Silva announced the result.

Holm, meanwhile, very much disagreed.

“I thought I won the fight,” Holm told Daniel Cormier inside the octagon. “I gave her Round 2, and I feel like I won all the rest of the rounds. I always feel like I can do more and be more perfect, but I thought I won the fight. I don’t feel like it was a question.”

Who was to blame for the negative outcome? Holm or the judges? The fight was hard to score right from the get-go.

Round 1 was lackluster, with Holm (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) closing distance and controlling Vieira (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in the clinch – which would become a theme for a good chunk of 25 minutes – but Holm didn’t inflict much damage.

The fight picked up in Round 2 and beyond, with Vieira finding her timing on counters often when Holm attacked. Holm was nearly finished in the second when Vieira caught her in a standing rear-naked choke that turned Holm’s face purple, but without hooks she managed to sneak her left arm out and turn into the choke.

That proved to be the biggest moment of the fight, although both women certain had their moments trading.

“I came here to knock her down. She came here to stall,” Vieira said. “… She’s the ‘Preacher’s Daughter,’ but I had the glory of God here.”

Vieira continued, “She’s a great boxer, and because of that my camp was planned for me to actually grab onto her. But she came tonight (looking to grapple), and that was confusing to us. But I knew that God was gonna help me on this night.”

With the win, Vieira, 30, has her second consecutive win over a former UFC bantamweight champion after beating Miesha Tate last November. She made it clear that she wants a title shot against the winner of Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2, which is slated to headline UFC 277 on July 30.

“I’m next. I’m ready. I’m here.”

Holm, 40, had a two-fight winning streak snapped and is back to the drawing board in her quest to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title she hasn’t held since 2016.

Complete UFC Fight Night 206 results:

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UFC Fight Night 206: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 206 odds and lines between Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a women’s bantamweight bout in the main event, Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 206 – also known as UFC Vegas 55 – at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC Fight Night 206 Holm vs. Vieira odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The fights can be viewed on ESPN+ with the prelims starting at 4 p.m. ET. and the main card at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Holm takes the walk to the octagon for the first time since October 2020. She won via unanimous decision last time out against Irene Aldana, her second straight win following a first-round KO/TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 239 in a title fight. Four of Holm’s last 5 fights have ended up going the distance, and she has won the last 3 UD bouts.

The 30-year-old Vieira, a.k.a. “Fenomeno”, has alternated wins and losses across her last 5 bouts. Each of her last 3 fights has ended in a unanimous decision, with two wins and a loss. She topped Miesha Tate last time out in November.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 206 Holm vs. Vieira odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 3:45 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Holm -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Vieira +195 (bet $100 to win $195)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -260 | No +180)

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UFC Fight Night 206 Holm vs. Vieira picks and predictions

Records: Holm (14-5-0) | Vieira (12-2-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Holm (-260), a.k.a. “The Preacher’s Daughter”, should be able to return with a victory against Vieira. She is positioned well for another title shot if she can stack a couple of victories.

However, risking more than two and a half times your potential return is not a good investment.

PASS, and look to the method of victory instead.

Over/Under (O/U)

HOLM ON POINTS (-113) is a much more economical play.

Holm has gone the distance in 4 of her last 5 fights, and 6 of the previous 8 bouts. Meanwhile, Vieira has needed the help of the judges to figure out a winner in each of her last 3 fights, while going the distance in 6 of her 8 contests since arriving at the UFC level.

While it’s a good bet this fight goes the distance, playing Yes (-260): Fight to go the distance is just a little too expensive here.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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UFC Fight Night 206 video: Holly Holm, Ketlen Vieira resist breaking off staredown

Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira came face-to-face for the first time ahead of UFC Fight Night 206 following weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] and [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] came face-to-face for the first time ahead of the UFC Fight Night 206 main event following Friday’s weigh-ins.

Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) and Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) are set for a five-round matchup of contenders in the women’s bantamweight division on Saturday, and as is tradition, they engaged in a staredown where neither fighter wanted to be the first to look away before stepping into the octagon.

Both fighters were respectful as they locked eyes in under the supervision of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, but the intensity was evident as Holm, No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, looks to defend her position against No. 9-ranked Vieira.

Check out video above to see Holm and Vieira first and only staredown between Holm and Vieira.

UFC Fight Night 206 takes place at the UFC Apex. The entire event streams on ESPN+.

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UFC Fight Night 206 video: Holly Holm, Ketlen Vieira make weight for main event

Holly Holm’s return from a 19-month layoff is official after she and Ketlen Vieira made weight for UFC Fight Night 206.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag]’s return to the octagon from a 19-month layoff is official. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and opponent [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] have weight for the UFC Fight Night 206 headliner.

Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) and Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) are slated for a crucial divisional contender matchup on Saturday at the UFC Apex. The main event bout, along with the rest of the card, streams on ESPN+.

Both fighters stepped on the scale during Friday’s official weigh-in window, with Holm registering at 135.5 pounds, and Vieira clocking in at 136 pounds. Now the five-round fight can proceed as planned.

Holm, No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, hasn’t seen action since a unanimous decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC on ESPN 16 in October 2020. She’s been on the sidelines with injuries and health issues, and is now set to return and compete for the first time since turning 40.

No. 9-ranked Vieira will attempt to derail Holm’s comeback in defeat a former UFC champion for the second consecutive fight. The 30-year-old Brazilian is coming off a unanimous decision win over Miesha Tate at UFC Fight Night 198 in November.

Watch the video above to see Holm and Vieira weigh in for the UFC Fight Night 206 headliner.

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UFC Fight Night 206 official weigh-in results (noon ET)

Check out the results from the official UFC Fight Night 206 fighter weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC Fight Night 206 fighter weigh-ins.

The weigh-ins take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday’s card, which airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

Among those weighing in are former women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] and her main event opponent [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag]. Co-main welterweight competitors [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] and [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] are also among the 22 fighters recording their official weight.

The full UFC Fight Night 206 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Holly Holm () vs. Ketlen Vieira ()
  • Michel Pereira () vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio ()
  • Chidi Njokuani () vs. Dusko Todorovic ()
  • Jailton Almeida () vs. Parker Porter ()
  • Tabatha Ricci () vs. Polyana Viana ()
  • Eryk Anders () vs. Junyong Park ()

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Alen Amedovski () vs. Joseph Holmes ()
  • Uros Medic () vs. Omar Morales ()
  • Jonathan Martinez () vs. Vince Morales ()
  • Felipe Colares () vs. Chase Hooper ()
  • Sam Hughes () vs. Elise Reed

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UFC Fight Night 206 headliner Holly Holm still chasing gold after 19-month layoff

Holly Holm knows a UFC Fight Night 206 main event win over Ketlen Vieira will lead to something big.

[autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] will return from the longest layoff of her prestigious combat sport career when she meets Ketlen Vieira in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 206 main event.

That’s not an easy fact to digest for Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC), who will compete for the first time since turning 40 with the women’s bantamweight headliner vs. Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

Holm, a former UFC champion, hasn’t stepped foot in the octagon since putting on one of the most complete performances of her career with a dazzling unanimous decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC on ESPN 16 in October 2020. The more than 19 months without action since then haven’t been by choice. It’s quite the opposite, in fact.

The discovery of a long-present kidney issue that required an operation, as well as a knee surgery, has kept Holm on the sidelines. It’s been an agonizing experience for “The Preacher’s Daughter,” but that’s made her appreciate the opportunity to fight again even more.

“It feels good to be in a place that I’m actually competing,” Holm told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 206 media day. “I’ve been training. Even through the stuff I had going on, I’ve been training. Not to where I could really go 100 percent and have this goal I’m shooting for. … It feels good to get in there, and it also comes with all the nerves that come with it. Which also makes me know it’s real.

“I feel it. I’m living life. I care if I win. I think that’s another thing. I think those nerves just remind me that I care.”

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Holm has seen and done it all during a more than 20-year run in boxing and MMA. She’s been a world champion in both sports and reached the highest of highs, but she said she’s still motivated to dedicate her life to this craft. With her age and experience come wisdom, too, and Holm knows how important this fight is to her overall goal of getting UFC gold back around her waist.

With Julianna Peña expected to rematch Amanda Nunes this summer for the 135-pound title, a win could put Holm in prime position for a crack at the belt. She’s well aware of that, but she said all of those grander narratives are swallowed up by her hunger to defeat Vieira this weekend.

“I have to win regardless,” Holm said. “I hate to lose. I just hate to lose, period. No matter what’s on the line. Whether I’m in practice training – I want to win the rounds when I’m in training. If I’m in front of two people, if I’m in front of 2 million people, I’m if I’m front of the whole world. I just hate to lose. That’s No. 1. I want to get in there and I want to win on Saturday.

“But as far as a career, if you don’t win your next steps and your next options are never as many as you want and they’re more limited. You take a step back instead of a step forward. So yes, in the long run I need this win so that I can keep progressing forward because I want to get to the belt.”

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Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira in the works for UFC Fight Night main event on May 21

Women’s bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira have secured a UFC main event in May.

A key women’s bantamweight matchup between [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] and [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] will headline a UFC card in May.

Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) and Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) have agreed to a five-round bout at UFC Fight Night on May 21, multiple people with knowledge of the situation verified to MMA Junkie following an initial report from MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.

The people requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement. Contracts for the bout have not yet been signed.

The UFC Fight Night card does not currently have an official location, venue, or broadcast plans.

Holm, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, hasn’t seen action since an October 2020 win over Irene Aldana. The 40-year-old has been booked multiple times since then, but the former UFC champ and boxing champ has suffered injuries and health issues that have prevented her from getting back in the octagon.

No. 9-ranked Vieira, meanwhile, will look to topple her second consecutive former UFC titleholder. The 30-year-old Brazilian is coming off a unanimous decision win over Miesha Tate in the UFC Fight Night 198 main event in November, and she’ll look to build on that against Holm.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night on May 21 lineup includes:

  • Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Felipe Colares vs. Chase Hooper
  • Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ben Rothwell

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Best fight bookings of 2021 that got away due to injuries, COVID-19, and more

Check out these incredible matchups in 2021 that fell through due to various issues outside of the cage.

2021 was a year filled with fight cancellations and rescheduling due to various factors.

On top of unfortunate injuries that occurred in training camp that caused fights to fall apart, health and safety protocols due to COVID-19 led to a number of scheduling issues throughout the year.

From title fight rematches, top contender bouts, highly-anticipated returns, to numerous undercard bouts, the full story of 2021’s year in MMA cannot be told without looking back on some of the biggest matchups that did not make it to the cage.

Take a look below at some of the biggest pairings and why they did not go ahead as planned (in order of scheduled date).