Tag: Johnny Eblen

Video: Is Cris Cyborg the No. 1 P4P in women’s MMA? What’s next for A.J. McKee? More on PFL: Battle of the Giants

Cris Cyborg continues to come up with big wins after he lopsided performance against Larissa Pacheco. We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

A lot happened outside the heavyweight main event at PFL: Battle of the Giants.

This past Saturday, MMA legend [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] returned to the cage to add yet another belt to her decorated career. She did so by defeating [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] in a hard-fought unanimous decision win. Cyborg wasn’t the lone champion in the card as [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] defended his Bellator middleweight title against [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]. Bellator star [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] also competed but had his momentum halted by Ireland’s [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag].

Should Cyborg be considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in women’s MMA? What’s next for both Eblen and McKee?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Dan Tom, Mike Bohn, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George discuss some of the key results at Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants.  

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/cbzHrkO75mA

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Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Francis Ngannou dominates, UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway preview, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses Francis Ngannou’s successful MMA, the upcoming UFC 308 event, and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] reminded the MMA world why he’s one of the most terrifying fighters to ever set foot in the cage. This past Saturday, the former UFC heavyweight champion viciously stopped [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] in the main event of PFL: Battle of the Giants in Saudi Arabia. It was a big win that shook up the heavyweight landscape. Now that he’s back in MMA, can we say Ngannou remains the “Baddest Man on the Planet”? What should be next for Ngannou? We discuss.
  • Ngannou’s TKO win wasn’t the only thing that made headlines at PFL: Battle of the Giants. Women’s MMA legend [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] picked up a decision win over former PFL champion [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] defended his Bellator belt in a rematch against [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag], and [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag] pulled off an upset by defeating [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag], among other things. We react to some of the key results on PFL’s pay-per-view event.
  • Over in the UFC side of things, [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] dominated [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245. It was a big win that put Hernandez on a six-fight winning streak, with five of those coming by stoppage. Is Hernandez a serious threat to the middleweight title? Where does Pereira go from here? We dissect the main event of UFC Fight Night 245.
  • Finally, it’s UFC 308 fight week. That’s right, in just a few days time, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] will defend his UFC featherweight title against [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] Preview in an extremely highly-anticipated matchup. There’s a lot on the line here. Could Topuria steal Fighter of the Year with a win over Holloway? Could a win cement Holloway as the greatest to ever do it at featherweight? We break down this championship fight along with other bog bouts in the card, including [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag].

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Johnny Eblen rips Donald Cerrone wanting UFC return after steroid use: ‘It’s not a good look’

Bellator champ Johnny Eblen has a firm stance against steroid use and fighters competing past their prime.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Bellator middleweight champion [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] is not a fan of UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] eyeing a comeback to MMA.

Cerrone (36-17 MMA, 23-14 UFC) retired after a submission loss to Jim Miller, and was quickly inducted as a part of the UFC’s 2023 Hall of Fame. Retirement from professional fighting can undoubtedly have its perks, and Cerrone discovered something he thoroughly enjoyed: PEDs.

“I mean, right now, all the good sh*t after the non-USADA approved sh*t, I feel like I’m f*cking 21 again,” Cerrone told reporters last year on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “You know what I’m saying? I’m telling you, guys – any of you fighters, when you’re done, go ahead and get on the TRT and put your wife in a bind because that’s when you’ll feel like an 18-year-old boy again.”

At the time, Cerrone said it would take “a crazy number” monetarily to bring him out of retirement. However, in recent days, Cerrone said he wants to return to the UFC for two more fights to reach 50 Zuffa fights across his WEC and UFC careers.

Considering his admitted use of steroids and other PEDs, Eblen is firmly against “Cowboy’s” return to action.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to like retire, take a bunch of steroids, and then come back and fight again,” Eblen told reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It’s not a good look, man.”

Eblen also believes Conor Mcgregor, who hasn’t competed since breaking his lower leg in a trilogy fight against his American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier, has started a trend of getting on PEDs while out of the drug testing pool in order to get ready for a big return.

“I think Conor paved the way, and I think he’s influencing a lot of other people to do it,” Eblen said. “I think people are trying to fight past their prime and use all these substances, and it’s just not natural. It’s not good. Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids, so all that CTE just adds up.

“I’m very against steroids. I’m very against people fighting past their prime.”

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Johnny Eblen showed his ‘whole deck of cards’ in Bellator title rematch, reveals ‘hit list’ of next opponents

Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen has a solid list of opponent he wants to see in the cage after beating Fabian Edwards in Riyadh.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Bellator middleweight champion [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] has a few names he wants to check off his list after another successful title defense at PFL: Battle of the Giants.

For the second time in 13 months, the undefeated Eblen (16-0) faced Fabian Edwards in a title fight. Eblen stopped Edwards (13-4) the first time around in the third round. This time, things were different as the fight went the distance, and the location played a factor too, according to the champ.

“I feel like it kind felt the same as the first time around, but this time I showed my whole deck of cards,” Eblen told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a post-fight news conference. “I utilized my wrestling a bit more. It was a similar type of fight, except the last fight, I caught him. This fight, I could have caught him. I hurt him early.

“I think the time change, it was a big, big impact on me. I really felt it in the fifth round. I think next time I fight out here, I’m going to have to come out earlier.”

Unless Edwards goes on an undeniable run, which is hard to do given Bellator’s event schedule, there won’t be a trilogy fight against Eblen. So the champ will be looking forward to facing a new opponent. In fact, Eblen has made it easier for the Bellator and PFL matchmakers by laying out a “hit list” of names.

“Derek Brunson, Costello van Steenis and Impa (Kasanganay), those are the guys that are on my hit list,” Eblen said. “Whoever’s ready to fight first.”

UFC veteran Brunson (24-9) won his PFL debut last November in a unanimous decision over Ray Cooper. Van Steenis (15-3) is 7-2 under the Bellator banner, and picked up a win over Gregory Babene in May.

Kasanganay (18-4) would be an exciting rematch from their February bout at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions. Eblen won the fight by split decision, but it took a late rally to get the job done. Kasanganay is also a month away from potentially securing his second consecutive light heavyweight PFL championship.

For now, Eblen will enjoy the fruits of his labor after securing his third Bellator title defense, and await the next challenge that promotion produces.

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Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards at PFL: Battle of the Giants: Best photos

Check out these photos from Johnny Eblen’s Bellator middleweight title defense over Fabian Edwards at PFL: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag]’s Bellator middleweight title defense over Fabian Edwards at PFL: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh. (Photos courtesy of PFL MMA)

PFL: Battle of the Giants watch-along and prelims live stream with MMA Junkie Radio

Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of PFL: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh.

PFL: Battle of the Giants goes down Saturday with three title fights atop the bill, including the return of one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live-streamed watch-along right here at 1:30 p.m. ET. 

In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] makes his highly anticipated return to the sport against 2023 PFL season winner [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag]. And in the co-main event, Bellator women’s featherweight champ [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] meets two-time PFL champ [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag]. At stake in both bouts are the first PFL Super Fights title belts.

Also featured on the card is a Bellator middleweight title-fight rematch between champ [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] and [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]. Eblen won their first fight in September 2023.

PFL: Battle of the Giants takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, with a main card that streams on pay-per-view (ESPN+, DAZN). As part of the watch-along, the full preliminary card will stream in the video above. 

Below is the complete PFL: Battle of the Giants lineup:

PFL: Battle of the Giants main card

  • Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira – for heavyweight super fights title
  • Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco – for women’s featherweight super fights title
  • Champ Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards – for Bellator middleweight title
  • Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen
  • A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes

PFL: Battle of the Giants preliminary card

  • Marcos Breno vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Dedrek Sanders vs. Makkasharip Zaynukov
  • Nacho Campos vs. Ibragim Ibragimov
  • Taha Bendaoud vs. Tariq Ismail

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

PFL: Battle of the Giants results: Johnny Eblen suffocates Fabian Edwards to retain title in rematch

Johnny Eblen closed out his chapter with Fabian Edwards in definitive fashion to defend the Bellator middleweight title.

[autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] closed out his chapter with [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] in definitive fashion.

Eblen (16-0) out-grappled Edwards (13-4) for a unanimous decision win to retain his Bellator middleweight title at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Round 1 started with both men exchanging leg kicks. A straight right by Eblen stumbled Edwards back. Eblen charged forward with a combination and stacked Edwards against the cage. Edwards broke free, but Eblen nicely timed a double leg takedown and got him down. He slammed Edwards down a couple of times, but struggled to keep him down as the round ended.

Eblen took Edwards down early in Round 2 and controlled him for the majority of the five minutes. Edwards eventually made his way back up and landed a nice left hook in a flurry as time wound down.

Edwards looked much sharper on the feet to start off Round 3. Midway through the round, Eblen shot for a takedown and was successful. Eblen tried to take Edwards’ back, but Edwards defended well. Edwards scrambled back to his feet and landed a nice left. Eblen shot for another takedown, as he stacked Edwards against the cage.

In Round 4, Edwards found a home for the left counter twice. Eblen continued to stalk him as he eventually landed a takedown two minutes in. Eblen rode out back control for the rest of the round, before Edwards broke his grip, and charged forward with a combination to end the round.

Just 20 seconds into Round 5, Edwards landed a body kick, followed by an accidental eye poke. Moments later, Edwards committed another inadvertent foul by landing a low blow. The action resumed as both fighters traded. Edwards continued to attack the body. Eblen shot for a takedown, but was stuffed.

A tired Eblen drove Edwards against the cage with about a minute left in the fight. Edwards broke free as his corner urged him to press forward. This was easily Edwards’ best round, but his high output wasn’t enough to take out Eblen.

https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1847760493038940205

All three judges had it 48-47 for Eblen, who has now defeated Edwards twice in title fights.

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Up-to-the-minute results of PFL: Battle of the Giants include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards prediction, pick, start time, odds for PFL: Battle of the Giants

Should we expect anything different from the last time Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards fought each other?

[autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] and [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of PFL: Battle of the Giants at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards PFL Super Fights preview

Eblen (15-0) hopes to stay undefeated by defending his Bellator middleweight title for the third time when he rematches Edwards (13-3). The last time these two met, it was competitive until Eblen found the knockout just 21 seconds into the third round. … Since that fight, Eblen won a split decision against 2023 PFL champion Impa Kasanganay this past February. … Edwards rebounded from his title-fight loss with a unanimous decision win over Aaron Jeffery this past March.

Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3)

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards expert pick, prediction

Their first fight, which went down in September of last year, was a very competitive contest that saw Eblen sustain a potentially fight-ending cut before emphatically finishing Edwards in the following frame.

Since then, both fighters have had to dig out hard-fought wins, but I believe that the fighting dynamic between these two has remained the same.

Edwards, for as talented as he is, is not urgent enough when it comes to both striking output and getting his back put to the fence.

For that reason, I have a hard time picking against a tactically flexible fighter like Eblen who will – at least in theory – always have the wrestling option in his back pocket.

The official pick is for Eblen to pitch a shutout on the scorecards with a unanimous decision win.

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards odds

The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the sitting champion, listing Eblen (-480) and Edwards (+330) via FanDuel.

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards start time, how to watch

As the featured bout, Eblen and Edwards are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view in the U.S. and DAZN pay-per-view internationally.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Video: PFL: Battle of the Giants ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs with three title fights, McKee vs. Hughes, more

PFL: Battle of the Giants ceremonial weigh-ins are complete, and the fighters came face to face one final time before Saturday’s event.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – PFL: Battle of the Giants ceremonial weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face to face one final time before Saturday’s event.

The event, headlined by [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag], takes place at The Mayadeen and airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view and DAZN following prelims simulcasted on MMA Junkie. Along with Ngannou vs. Ferreira, two other title fights are on the bill – [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] and [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag].

Check out the video above to see the athletes from all nine matchups get one final look at each other.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Video: PFL press conference faceoffs with Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira, Cyborg vs. Pacheco, more

The build to PFL: Battle of the Giants is getting stronger after the two superfight title bouts faced off at Thursday’s press conference.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The build to PFL: Battle of the Giants is getting stronger after seeing the two superfight title bouts face off at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

The inaugural heavyweight title contest of [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (17-3) vs. [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (13-3) and women’s featherweight championship matchup of [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (27-2) vs. [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (13-3) had staredowns after answering questions from media members, and now weigh-ins are the remaining obstacle before fight night.

Bellator middleweight champion [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] (15-0) also squared off with challenger [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (13-3) for their main card title rematch, and ex-Bellator champ [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (22-1) faced off with lightweight opponent [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag] (12-1).

Check out the press conference staredowns for Saturday’s event, which takes place at The Mayadeen and airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view and DAZN following prelims simulcasted on MMA Junkie.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.