Tag: Johnny Munoz

UFC books Johnny Munoz vs. Liudvik Sholinian for Nov. 5 event

Another bantamweight bout has been added to the November docket.

A bantamweight bout is the newest addition to the UFC schedule.

[autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and [autotag]Liudvik Sholinian[/autotag] (9-2-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) are set to square off at a UFC Fight Night event Nov. 5. The card doesn’t currently have a publicly-known location or venue.

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

Munoz, 29, has one UFC win to date, a submission against Jamey Simmons, that’s bookended between losses to Nate Maness and Tony Gravely.

Sholinian, 32, is a “The Ultimate Fighter, Season 29” alumnus from Ukraine. His lone UFC appearance to date was in September 2021 when he lost to Jack Shore. He was scheduled to fight in March against Nathaniel Wood but withdrew due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Nov. 5 includes:

  • Mario Bautista vs. Benito Lopez
  • Nate Maness vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
  • Ramona Pascual vs. Tamires Vidal
  • Johnny Munoz vs. Liudvik Sholinian

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UFC Fight Night 207 video: Tony Gravely sleeps Johnny Munoz with nasty uppercut in first round

Tony Gravely put away Johnny Munoz with a nasty uppercut at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 207.

[autotag]Tony Gravely[/autotag] had a quick night at the office.

The UFC bantamweight just needed a little over a minute to put away his opponent [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] in the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 207 in Las Vegas. Gravely (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) officially defeated Munoz (11-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) by first-round TKO at the 1:08 mark.

Gravely connected with a well-timed uppercut, as Munoz looked to change levels and go for a takedown. The shot immediately sent Munoz to the canvas where Gravely only needed a couple of follow-up shots to get the referee to stop the bout just over a minute into the fight.

Below you can watch the quick finish.

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Gravely now finds himself on a two-fight winning streak, as he was coming off a decision win over Saimon Oliveira at UFC 270 back in January. Prior to that, he suffered a TKO loss to Nate Maness in September of last year.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC Fight Night 207 include:

  • Tony Gravely def. Johnny Munoz Jr. via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:08
  • Jeff Molina def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Michailidis via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
  • Erin Blanchfield def. JJ Aldrich via submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:38

After failed booking, Johnny Munoz vs. Jamey Simmons in the works for UFC 265

Originally scheduled for UFC 261, two bantamweight up-and-comers will collide Aug. 7.

[autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] and [autotag]Jamey Simmons[/autotag] have been matched up again following their failed booking that was scheduled for UFC 261.

The promotion is targeting the two fighters for a bantamweight clash at UFC 265, which takes place Aug. 7 at a location and venue that has yet to be announced.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie on Monday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

The original booking was scheduled for April 24 in Jacksonville, Fla., but Simmons (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) withdrew from the fight. Rather than find a replacement to fight Munoz (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on short notice, the promotion elected to reschedule the bout.

Both UFC sophomores, Munoz and Simmons will seek their first promotional victories against one another. A KOTC standout, Munoz made his UFC debut in August when he lost a unanimous decision to Nathan Maness. Five weeks later, Simmons lost his debut fight against Giga Chikadze via first-round TKO.

With the addition, UFC 265 now includes:

  • Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena – for women’s bantamweight title
  • Vince Morales vs. Drako Rodriguez
  • Johnny Munoz vs. Jamey Simmons

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With Mark Striegl out, Jamey Simmons targeted to fight Johnny Munoz at UFC 261

Johnny Munoz has a new UFC 261 opponent.

The UFC 261 lineup has been tweaked.

The promotion is targeting a bantamweight fight as [autotag]Jamey Simmons[/autotag] replaces [autotag]Mark Striegl[/autotag] to take on [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag]. The fight is expected to take place on the April 24 pay-per-view card, which will be the first the UFC has held in front of a full capacity crowd since March 2020.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the change but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

It’s unclear why Striegl withdrew from the originally scheduled matchup.

Both UFC sophomores, Munoz (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Simmons (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will seek their first promotional victories against one another. A KOTC standout, Munoz made his UFC debut in August when he lost a unanimous decision to Nathan Maness. Five weeks later, Simmons lost his debut fight against Giga Chikadze via first-round TKO.

UFC 261 takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card streams on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC 261 lineup includes:

  • Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal – for welterweight title
  • Champ Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas – for women’s strawweight title
  • Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade – for women’s flyweight title
  • Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Anthony Smith
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Kevin Natividad
  • Brendan Allen vs. Karl Roberson
  • Qileng Aori vs. Jeffrey Molina
  • Johnny Munoz vs. Jamey Simmons

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 31, where Motley Crue met AC/DC

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 31 event.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

See what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 31 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.

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Derek Brunson def. Edmen Shahbazyan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:26

[autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag]: “Victory Lap” by Nipsey Hussle feat. Stacy Barthe

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: “Use This Gospel” by Kanye West

Jennifer Maia def. Joanne Calderwood via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:29

[autotag]Jennifer Maia[/autotag]: “TNT” by AC/DC

[autotag]Joanne Calderwood[/autotag]: “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue

Vicente Luque def. Randy Brown via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:56

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: “Baby Baby” by Troopkillaz

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: “Dela Move” by Chronixx

Bobby Green def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: “White Friday” by Yo Gotti

[autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag]: “On The Road” by Post Malone feat. Meek Mill & Lil Baby

Jonathan Martinez def. Frankie Saenz via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 0:57

[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: “El Papa De Los Pollitos” by Los Tucanes De Tijuana

[autotag]Frankie Saenz[/autotag]: “Calm Like A Bomb” by Rage Against The Machine

Nate Maness def. Johnny Munoz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

[autotag]Nate Maness[/autotag]: “Real” by NF

[autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag]: “El Rey” by Vincente Fernandez

Jamall Emmers def. Vincent Cachero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

[autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: “Florida Boy” by Rick Ross

[autotag]Vincent Cachero[/autotag]: “Ooh LA LA” by Run The Jewels

Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden ends in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)

[autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: “Bandolero” by Don Omar feat. Tego Calderon

[autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: “Hail Mary” by Tupac

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Twitter Mailbag: Will Georges St-Pierre vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov happen?

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King tackles that question and more in this week’s Twitter Mailbag.

Questions on your mind about recent happenings in the UFC or the sport of MMA in general? MMA Junkie’s Twitter Mailbag with @mma_kings is here – and this week he answers:

  • Will [autotag]Georges St-Pierre[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] happen?
  • What are your thoughts on [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag]?
  • Who should be next for [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]?
  • What August fight is flying under the radar?

Those are answered in the video above. You can also read on a few more topics below.

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Which Contender Series prospect, with the assumption they win their fight, do you think will make the quickest impact in the UFC?

This a great question, Doug. Every Dana White’s Contender Series season has a different vibe. This season, the vibe is great matchmaking – something that I thought was lacking the past two seasons. There are a lot more toss-ups, which makes it harder for fighters to stick out of the crowd in a prediction sense.

If I had to throw out a few names:

  • [autotag]Matt Dixon[/autotag]: A talented, undefeated welterweight who has largely been tied up with a regional scene contract finally gets a shot at the big show after his LFA debut.
  • [autotag]Mana Martinez[/autotag]: Fans might not know his name yet, but Martinez is about as stylistically pleasing a fighter as is possible. He’s a flashy knockout artist who is still improving leaps and bounds in between every fight.
  • [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag]: Kasnaganay is a legitimate anomaly. His pro career began in January 2019. His DWCS, Season 3 performance was one of the best of the season – yet he didn’t get a contract. Another strong performance and that should change.

Where will Sean O’Malley be in three to five years?

That’s a lot of time. Anything can happen. But if [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] continues his improvement at his current clip, he could very well be a UFC champion.

I’ll admit it, I wasn’t buying the hype after O’Malley’s DWCS appearance in 2016. He had flash, style, charisma, and flair, but at the time I needed to see improvements.

Before long, however, he made the adjustments. Each and every fight since he’s showed new wrinkles in his game. He’s battled adversity inside and outside the cage like a champ. That’s huge.

There are all really promising signs, indicative of a fighter destined for greatness – championship greatness.

To ask a question of your own, follow @MMAjunkie on Twitter and let us know.

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Ray Borg out of UFC on ESPN+ 31; Nathan Maness expected to fight Johnny Munoz

The bad luck continues for Ray Borg.

The bad luck continues for UFC bantamweight [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag].

Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) has fallen out of a fight once again, this time from his UFC on ESPN+ 31 matchup against [autotag]Nathan Maness[/autotag]. Borg is out for undisclosed reason.

A replacement has been found, however. Maness (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is now expected to fight fellow promotional newcomer [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] pending bout finalization. The fight will be contested up a weight class at featherweight.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the change early Friday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion had yet to make an announcement just hours before-weigh-ins.

Borg now has missed back-to-back bookings. At UFC on ESPN 10 in June, Borg was supposed to fight Merab Dvalishvili. However, two days before the bout, Borg left Las Vegas and returned home for personal reasons.

A former flyweight title challenger, Borg’s history includes four weight misses, a withdrawal from the first scheduled date for his shot at then-flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in 2017, and removal from UFC 223 when he was a victim of Conor McGregor’s attack on a fighter van following a media day.

Maness, 29, is a former TKO MMA champion. The Kentucky-based fighter has picked up six finishes (four knockouts and two submissions) in 12 professional bouts. His lone career loss was suffered to former UFC bantamweight Taylor Lapilus in May 2019.

Munoz (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) comes into UFC on ESPN+ 31 as the KOTC bantamweight champion. Out of 10 professional victories, Munoz has finished eight inside the distance. Prior to signing with the UFC, Munoz was expected to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer.

UFC on ESPN+ 31 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ after prelims simulcasted on ESPN/ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 31 lineup includes:

  • Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Randy Brown vs. Vicente Luque
  • Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata
  • Trevin Giles vs. Kevin Holland
  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Frankie Saenz
  • Ed Herman vs. Gerald Meerschaert
  • Nate Maness vs. Johnny Munoz
  • Markus Perez vs. opponent TBA
  • Vincent Cachero vs. Jamall Emmers
  • Cody Durden vs. Chris Gutierrez

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7 fighters who should fill remaining spots on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 is right around the corner – and its lineup is filling up quickly.

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 is right around the corner – and its lineup is filling up quickly.

While many top regional fighters and high-ceiling prospects have been snatched up by the promotion, some very worthy prospects still remain without a contract.

The UFC is working on fights for the first six events but the final four still seem largely open. Here are five of the most deserving candidates to snatch one of the final slots.

Johnny Munoz (Bantamweight, 10-0)

One of the best pound-for-pound prospects in North America, it’s about time for [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] to be noticed. One of the faces of King of the Cage for the past five years, Munoz is ready to venture outside the promotion. A versatile, multi-faceted finisher, Munoz presents a puzzle no opponent has been able to figure out yet. He holds an 80 percent finishing rate with five submissions and three knockouts. He currently holds the KOTC bantamweight title. To put it simply, Munoz on DWCS is an absolute no-brainer.

Nikolas Motta (Lightweight, 11-3)

[autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag] first entered the national and international spotlights as a participant on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.” He went through the proverbial wringer, competing in Shooto Brasil in his native country. All the while, he trained with UFC champs Jose Aldo and Renan Barao. Dedicated to his craft, Motta moved to the United States in order to find fights, where he began training with Eddie Alvarez. He competed for 864 Fighting Championship, then took on a plethora of challenges and won the vacant CFFC title. Sure he’s had a couple losses, but the final product is better because of them. He’s already ready, but if the UFC needs him to prove that one more time on DWCS, so be it.

More fighters on next page:

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10 bantamweights you can expect to see on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4

Dana White’s Contender Series is right around the corner. Check out 10 bantamweights who could be featured.

Dana White’s Contender Series has become a focal point for fighters on the regional scene. Since its inception in 2017, the UFC Fight Pass-turned-ESPN+ summer original removed some of the guesswork for up-and-comers trying to make it big.

With UFC president Dana White and matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby cageside, the stakes are high. Have an impressive, exciting win on the show, and you’re in.

Rumored for a late-June start date, DWCS Season 4 is almost here. The lineups haven’t been announced quite yet, but advanced planning is underway. While there are hundreds of fighters qualified to compete on the show, we’ll be narrowing each divisional pool to 10 fighters you should expect to see on the show this summer.

Up next, the bantamweights…

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Jose Johnson

Record: 11-5
Age: 24
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: Flint, Mich.

In November 2019, [autotag]Jose Johnson[/autotag] made his presence felt with a single, vicious elbow. At LFA 78, Johnson took on Rafael Costa, a top Brazilian prospect. As the fight approached the two-minute mark, Johnson landed a clean elbow that flattened Costa to the ground. The brutal manner in which the fight ended created a big-time highlight – one that went viral in a matter of hours. The knockout was Johnson’s fifth in as many fights. Eight of his 11 victories have come inside the distance. The UFC brass stresses how much they enjoy exciting fighters on DWCS. Johnson fits the mold.

Taylor Lapilus

Record: 16-3
Age: 27
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: France

[autotag]Taylor Lapilus[/autotag]’ four-fight UFC tenure ended in surprising fashion. The French fighter went 3-1 in the UFC from 2015-2016 with wins over Rocky Lee, Ulka Sasaki, and Leandro Issa. His lone promotional loss came to Erik Perez. A training partner of Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane under coach Fernand Lopez, Lapilus is angling for a 2020 UFC return. With French MMA legalization going into effect in February, Lapilus seems like a layup signing for a home-country UFC return. What better way to get his foot back in the door than DWCS?

More fighters on the next page:

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