Tag: Jimmy Flick

UFC on ESPN 19 loses three fights hours before event starts after positive COVID-19 tests

Another week, another UFC event, another week of the coronavirus wreaking havoc on a UFC event.

Another week, another UFC event, another week of the coronavirus wreaking havoc on a UFC event.

Just hours before UFC on ESPN 19 was set to kick off Saturday night, the promotion announced the cancellation of three bouts: [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag], [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag], and [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag].

The UFC confirmed that De La Rosa vs. Santos and Evloev vs. Landwehr were scrapped because of positive COVID-19 tests, while Durden was forced to withdraw because of a “non-COVID related medical issue.”

According to MMA Fighting, one of De La Rosa’s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. According to Combate, Evloev tested positive for COVID-19.

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UFC on ESPN 19 will proceed with eights from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The updated lineup is below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori
  • Jamahal Hill vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Gabriel Benitez vs. Justin Jaynes (156)
  • John Allan vs. Roman Dolidze
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Matt Wiman

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Jose Quinonez vs. Louis Smolka
  • Damon Jackson vs. Ilia Topuria
  • Jake Collier vs. Gian Villante

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Jimmy Flick to make UFC debut vs. Cody Durden on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas

An intriguing flyweight fight is tap for the UFC’s first December event.

A flyweight matchup is on tap for Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.

UFC newcomer [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] and divisional newcomer [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag] will square off on the UFC’s first card of the year’s last month, which is headlined by middleweights Jack Hermansson and Darren Till.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Bloody Canvas was the first to report the news Monday.

Durden (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0-1 UFC) took a short-notice bantamweight fight against Chris Gutierrez for his UFC debut on Aug. 1. A betting underdog, Durden took Gutierrez to the judges’ decision. The fight was declared a unanimous draw.

Flick (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) signed with the UFC after an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series on Sept. 1. Flick showed off his high-level submission game, grappling his way to a third-round arm-triangle choke victory over Nate Smith.

With the addition, the Dec. 5 lineup includes:

  • Jack Hermansson vs. Darren Till
  • Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cody Stamann
  • Bethe Correia vs. Yanan Wu
  • Jake Collier vs. Gian Villante
  • Maryna Moroz vs. Taila Santos
  • Cody Durden vs. Jimmy Flick

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Jimmy Flick would love a future UFC showdown with fellow ex-LFA flyweight champ Brandon Royval

Jimmy Flick has his eyes on a future clash with fellow former LFA flyweight champion Brandon Royval now that they’re both in the UFC.

LAS VEGAS – Fresh off his UFC contract, [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] has his eyes on a fellow former LFA flyweight champion.

Flick (15-5) punched his ticket to the UFC when he submitted Nate Smith in the third round Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 31.

It’s been a big year for Flick, who less than two months after capturing the LFA flyweight title already finds himself as part of the UFC roster.

The submission specialist notched his third straight submission win and is ready to test his skills against top-10 ranked flyweight and fellow LFA champ [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag].

“I like Brandon Royval,” Flick told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after his win at the UFC Apex. “He was the last LFA champ and he won in 23 seconds. I won the LFA title in 38 seconds. He jumped in the UFC and he picked up a submission win. He’s got a 23-second submission win, I’ve got a 38-second submission win. That’s a guy I want to get in the future. I think we would match up really well together and we’re both LFA champs, so I would love to fight that guy.”

With the UFC’s flyweight division looking like it was going to dissolve at one point, Flick was uncertain of his future. But with the roster continuing to grow and a new flyweight champion recently crowned, Flick is excited about his future.

“I thought my career was going to be over at mid-20s,” Flick said. “I took a few losses at 135 because we thought the UFC was going to cut the 125-pound division, so that had me worried there for a little bit. But the flyweight division is solidified again and we’ve got Cody Garbrandt coming down. I think that’s going to bring more fans to the flyweight division. And then I went out here and put on an awesome performance and just tell people, ‘Don’t give up.’ I’m 29. I’m at the prime of my career now, and if you look at everybody that fought on the card, not as many fighters have as much experience as I do.”

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Dana White’s Contender Series 31 live results (8 p.m. ET)

Follow along live as MMA Junkie brings you all the action from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Dana White’s Contender Series returns for another Tuesday night of intriguing action, as up-and-coming competitors fight for the chance to earn a UFC contract.

In the featured bout, Ring of Combat featherweight champion [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag] (4-1) takes on [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] (4-1). Plus, LFA flyweight champion [autotag]Jimmy Flick [/autotag](14-5) meets [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] (6-0).

MMA Junkie has you covered on all things DWCS 31. Stay here all night for the latest from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Up-to-the minute Dana White’s Contender Series 30 results include:

  • Dennis Buzukja vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
  • Jimmy Flick vs. Nate Smith
  • Jose Johnson vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • Cody Brundage vs. William Knight
  • Chase Gibson vs. Tucker Lutz

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JP Buys out of DWCS 31 bout vs. Nate Smith due to pandemic-induced work permit delays

JP Buys won’t be getting his second shot on Dana White’s Contender Series – at least not on a planned date of Sept. 1.

[autotag]JP Buys[/autotag] won’t be getting a second shot on Dana White’s Contender Series – at least not on a planned date of Sept. 1.

Due to unforeseen delays in obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (temporary worker permit), Buys (8-2) has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag].

Buys, who is married to U.S.-born Dana White’ Contender Series Season 4 fighter Cheyanne Buys, applied for the permit in early 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process is facing a lengthy delay.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the situation Tuesday but asked the remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Smith is expected to still compete at some point during the current season of Dana White’s Contender Series. According to one source, the current frontrunner to replace Buys is LFA flyweight champion [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] (14-5).

Buys, a South African flyweight, competed on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. He lost to Joby Sanchez by second-round TKO. Buys, who now trains at Fortis MMA, has won four straight fights – all ended inside the distance.

With the change, the current DWCS 31 lineup includes:

  • Cody Brundage vs. William Knight
  • Jose Johnson vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • KB Bhullar vs. Bruno Oliveira
  • Tucker Lutz vs. Victor Martinez
  • Nate Smith vs. TBA

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‘Inside LFA with Ron Kruck:’ Latest on new champ Jimmy Flick, LFA 87 preview, DWCS notes

Check out the latest on what’s happening in LFA.

“Inside LFA with Ron Kruck” is LFA’s weekly look at prior and upcoming fights, as well as the latest news and notes within the promotion, and you can watch Episode 7 in the video above.

WHAT’S COVERED:

  • Check out last Friday’s LFA 86 highlights, where a new champion was crowned.
  • As mentioned, at LFA 86, [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] claimed the vacant flyweight title with an arm-triangle choke submission of Greg Fischer in just 38 seconds, the second fastest finish in an LFA title fight. Listen to what the confident Flick had to say afterward.
  • Check out a preview of the LFA 87 main event where, on Friday, [autotag]Bryce Logan[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacob Rosales[/autotag] will fight for the vacant lightweight title. Both Logan and Rosales, a Dana White’s Contender Series veteran, have yet to lose in their five combined LFA bouts. Listen to what both men had to say heading into their fight.
  • Of note, the LFA has sent almost 200 fighters to the UFC, and with DWCS set to kick off next week, that number could grow even more. Check out the list of names who are set to compete on the show this season.

Video: LFA 86 highlights, including the crowning of a new champion

Check out the highlights from a fight night in which every fight except one had a finish.

The LFA’s run of Friday night July events in South Dakota continued July 24 with a memorable evening at LFA 86.

A new flyweight champion was crowned, and in emphatic fashion, at that. [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] needed a mere 38 seconds to finish Greg Fischer via arm-triangle choke and claim the promotion’s 125-pound title.

That was one of five bouts out of the evening’s six that finished inside the allotted time. So have a glance at the complete results below, then check out all the highlights from a fun night of fights in the video above.

Complete LFA 86 results included:

  • Jimmy Flick def. Greg Fischer via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:38 – to win LFA flyweight title
  • Arthur Estrazulas def. Dominic Clark via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:26
  • Fabio Cherant def. Erick Murray by submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 0:57
  • Mando Gutierrez def. Jeff Jepsen by submission (rear-naked choke)–  Round 1, 1:57
  • Mark Martin def. Tony Grant by TKO – Round 1, 3:52
  • Jordan Heiderman def. Jacob Heavlin by unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

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LFA 86 results: Jimmy Flick claims vacant belt with 38-second finish of Greg Fischer

Jimmy Flick made it quick at LFA 86 to claim the vacant flyweight title.

[autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] made it quick on Friday to claim the vacant LFA flyweight title.

Flick (14-5) needed just 38 seconds to submit [autotag]Greg Fischer[/autotag] (10-2) and win the title in the headlining bout of LFA 46, which took place at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

It was one-way traffic from beginning to end for Flick. He immediately shot for a takedown on Fischer, who tried to defend around his legs. Flick jumped right on the neck with an arm-triangle choke.

Fischer attempted to resist the submission, but Flick had it locked in and forced the tap just seconds after the fight began.

Afterward, Flick celebrated himself as the most dangerous flyweight grappler in the world, and said he wants to back that statement up under the UFC banner.

“This means everything to me,” Flick said in his post-fight interview with Ron Kruck and Pat Miletich. “I was ready to go five, five-minute rounds. I’m the best 125 grappler in the world, and I’m ready to prove it on the big stage.”

Complete LFA 86 results included:

  • Jimmy Flick def. Greg Fischer via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:38 – to win LFA flyweight title
  • Arthur Estrazulas def. Dominic Clark via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:26
  • Fabio Cherant def. Erick Murray by submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 0:57
  • Mando Gutierrez def. Jeff Jepsen by submission (rear-naked choke)–  Round 1, 1:57
  • Mark Martin def. Tony Grant by TKO – Round 1, 3:52
  • Jordan Heiderman def. Jacob Heavlin by unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

‘Inside LFA with Ron Kruck:’ Latest on new champ Vanessa Demopoulos, LFA 86 preview

Check out the latest on what’s happening in LFA.

“Inside LFA with Ron Kruck” is LFA’s weekly look at prior and upcoming fights, as well as the latest news and notes within the promotion, and you can watch Episode 6 in the video above.

WHAT’S COVERED:

  • Check out last Friday’s LFA 85 highlights, which featured five finishes in six bouts.
  • At LFA 85, the promotion crowned its inaugural strawweight champion after [autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag] overcame an early onslaught from Sam Hughes to score a slick inverted triangle choke in the fourth round to win by technical submission. With that feather in her cap, Demopoulos received a call from the UFC offering her a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series, which she accepted.
  • LFA 85 was a big night for the Natividad brothers, Kevin and Christian, with both men scoring huge knockout wins. For Christian, it was a walkoff in his professional debut.
  • Check out a preview of the LFA 86 main event where, on Friday, [autotag]Greg Fisher[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] will fight for the vacant flyweight title. UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa breaks down the matchup between submission specialists.

LFA returns from coronavirus shutdown with four July events in South Dakota

No one is confusing South Dakota for “Fight Island,” but LFA is kicking back into full gear nonetheless.

It’s not exactly “Fight Island,” but LFA will return to action in July after four months away due to the coronavirus pandemic with a set of shows in South Dakota.

On four consecutive Fridays, from July 10-31, LFA, which last held an event on March 6, will run fights at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Similar to the UFC’s model since returning in May, LFA’s Sioux Falls events, which will air on UFC Fight Pass, will be held behind closed doors and follow strict safety protocols.

“I am excited to announced that LFA will be returning with live weekly MMA events in July,” LFA CEO Ed Soares said in a statement. “We brought the first sanctioned MMA event to the state of South Dakota six summers ago and have a great working relationship with South Dakota Athletic Commission and Sanford Pentagon. This will allow us to set up a safe environment for our fighters and staff, while implementing strict coronavirus (COVID-19) testing and safeguards to control and ensure a healthy LFA residency on our fight campus in Sioux Falls.”

Each event will be headlined by a championship fight:

  • On July 10, [autotag]Justin Gonzales[/autotag] (10-0) meets [autotag]Jake Childers[/autotag] (8-0) for the vacant featherweight title.
  • July 17’s LFA 85 main event is [autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag] (4-0) vs. [autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag] (4-1) to crown the company’s inaugural strawweight champ.
  • July 24 sees [autotag]Greg Fischer[/autotag] (10-1) and [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] (13-5) square off at LFA 86 to fill the flyweight title vacated when Brandon Royval signed with the UFC.
  • The slate closes July 31 with LFA 87, where South Dakota’s own [autotag]Bryce Logan[/autotag] (11-4) and SoCal’s [autotag]Jacob Rosales [/autotag](12-5) fight for the vacant lightweight title, a bout that was scheduled for April 17 and then postponed due to the pandemic.