Despite a recent two-fight skid, Loopy Godinez knew she had the support of Mexico behind her going into UFC on ESPN 64.
MEXICO CITY – [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] entered UFC on ESPN 64 with confidence that she would not only have the full support of the crowd, but also get her hand raised.
On the prelims of the event at Arena CDMX, Godinez (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) defeated Julia Polastri in what turned out to be one of the best fights of the entire night. Godinez clearly took the first two rounds of the fight, but Polastri (13-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) made it an all-out brawl in the last frame.
Throughout it all, the crowd chanted for the Aguascalientes-born Godinez, which was something the 31-year-old strawweight certainly expected fighting on home soil.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Godinez told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a post-fight news conference. “I knew it was going to be a crazy night. I know I have all the Mexicans behind me, and I wasn’t wrong.”
Godinez came into this matchup in a tough spot. She dropped back-to-back unanimous decisions to Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern, but those outcomes had no bearing on this fight, according to Godinez.
“I don’t put stress like that on myself, because I’m living the dream,” Godinez said. “I knew because I had such a great training camp and I knew how it went and how I was doing in my training camp, I knew I was going to get the win tonight.”
Check out Godinez’s full post-fight interview in the video above.
UFC Mexico fighters took home Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, with Kelvin Gastelum and Drew Dober leading the way.
MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $168,500.
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 on ESPN 64 took place at Arena CDMX in Mexico. The card aired on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN 64 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
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 $4,640; 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 $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-64 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Loopy Godinez is determined to rebound at UFC on ESPN 64.
MEXICO CITY – [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] is determined to rebound at UFC on ESPN 64.
Godinez (12-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets [autotag]Julia Polastri[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a strawweight bout on Saturday’s prelims (ESPN2, ESPN+) at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Polastri, who like Godinez is a former LFA champion, has far less octagon experience. The Mexican fighter is ready to prove why that matters.
“Obviously, I’m expecting the best version of herself,” Godinez told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day. “She’s well-rounded, she has a good clinch, good kicks – but I feel like my level and the girls I’ve been facing are at a higher level. I feel like it’s going to show.”
After notching four wins in 2023, Godinez will look to snap a two-fight losing skid, which came against top contenders Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba in 2024.
“I see everything I did wrong and everything I did good, and then from there I kind of just like change things and add things, take things away,” Godinez said. “This training camp, I changed a lot of stuff, and I feel like I improved a lot, and losing – I take it as a big learning experience.”
With a win, Godinez hopes to return to matchups against top contenders in the division.
“I feel like a win this Saturday will give me a ranked opponent,” Godinez said. “But honestly, I’m just thinking about this Saturday. I’m not really thinking ahead of myself or anything like that.”
[lawrence-related id=2813483,2813243,2695214]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 odds between Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez, with MMA picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
In a 3-round women’s strawweight bout on the main card, Mackenzie Dern and Loopy Godinez meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ABC 7: Dern vs. Godinez odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims begin noon ET, on ESPN2/ESPN+, while the main card starts at 3 p.m. ET, on ABC/ESPN.
Records: Dern (13-5-0) | Godinez (12-4-0)
Dern has lost the past 2 fights while going just 2-4 in the past 6 bouts. She suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 in her most recent fight. Prior to that, she suffered a Round 2 KO/TKO loss at UFC 295 against Jessica Andrade.
The fight against Andrade was a rarity, as Dern has gone the distance in 5 of the previous 6 outings.
Mexico’s Godinez suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Virna Jandiroba last time out March 30, snapping a 4-bout win streak. Like Dern, she often needs the judges to determine a winner. Since Oct. 16, 2021, Godinez has ended up going the distance 8 times in the past 9 outings.
Dern has a 2-inch reach advantage, and she is also 2 inches taller. Godinez has a 4.13-to-3.31 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, and the Mexican fighter is slightly more accurate with those strikes at 53.97% to 52.97%. Godinez also has a 3.04 takedown average, while Dern has a 1.31-to-1.01 submission average advantage.
GODINEZ (+102) is worth a look as the slight underdog. The Team RVCA fighter Dern (-120) has dropped 2 straight fights and 4 of the past 6.
Godinez throws a few more significant strikes per minute, and she is a little more accurate. In addition, she has tremendous takedown average numbers, while Dern’s only slight advantage is in the submission department.
GODINEZ BY POINTS (+135) is a little better of a value in the Method of Victory department, too, as this fight is more than likely to go the distance.
Yes (-215): Will the fight go the distance? will cost you more than 2 times your return. That’s way too much risk despite the tremendous frequency of going the distance for both of these fighters at the UFC level.
There is also no way to justify playing Over 2.5 Rounds (-260), which is even more expensive. Just focus on the 2-way line and method of victory.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
Mackenzie Dern and Loopy Godinez both struggle to connect their games, but who will get the job done at UFC Abu Dhabi?
[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 3-2 UFC main cards, 2024: 64-56-3
Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez UFC on ABC 7 preview
Despite her recent struggles, Dern (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) enters UFC on ABC 7 believing she can still be champion. If there’s any chance for that to happen, she must win Saturday after losing four of her past six bouts. Dern is coming off back-to-back losses to Jessica Andrade and Amanda Lemos. … Godinez (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) appeared to be inching oh so close to strawweight title contention as she was on a four-fight winning streak until losing a unanimous decision to Virna Jandiroba this past March.
Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez UFC on ABC 7 expert pick, prediction
Despite Dern being the more known and experienced product between the two of them, I’d argue that both ladies are still developing fighters.
Although there’s a lot to like about Godinez’s potential, she seems to be going through growing pains when it comes to connecting her game. The same can still be said for Dern, but there’s no denying the finishing upside she has over a decent majority of her peers.
Add in the fact that Dern appears to be back with well respected striking coach Jason Parillo, and I can’t help but be somewhat optimistic for the Brazilian in this spot.
It’s still a tight fight that I see having a high potential to go to decision, but I’ll semi-reluctantly side with Dern to edge out the scorecards for throwing with the kind of eye-catching power that (right or wrong) tends to catch the eyes of the judges.
Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez UFC on ABC 7 odds
Despite the oddsmakers technically opening the Mexican as the slight favorite, public money has come in on the Brazilian and flipped the line, listing Dern -130 and Godinez +106 via FanDuel.
Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez UFC on ABC 7 start time, how to watch
Dern and Godinez are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
Loopy Godinez welcomes Mackenzie Dern’s ground game at Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi.
[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] arguably has the best jiu-jitsu in women’s MMA, yet, her opponent, [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag], is not fazed by it.
Saturday, a pivotal women’s strawweight bout goes down on the main card of UFC on ABC 7 with Godinez (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) clashing against Dern (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC). Many look to avoid the ground and any type of grappling when it comes to fighting Dern, a decorated jiu-jitsu champion. However, Godinez is eager to put her own grappling to the test and welcomes the challenge.
“The truth is that I’m not afraid to go to the ground with her because I’ve also worked a ton on my jiu-jitsu, and also on stopping a jiu-jitsu fighter from doing their things,” Godinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “That’s also very important – it’s not just about me doing jiu-jitsu. We’re focused on that a lot, and obviously our hands are always improving and that’s going to show. The truth is that I want to work my wrestling, but we’ll see how things go down.”
Both Godinez and Dern, although ranked names in the 115-pound division, are coming off losses and are looking to get back in their winning ways so they can make a run for the title. Dern is coming off a loss to Amanda Lemos and Godinez to Virna Jandiroba.
Despite their defeats, the Lobo Gym product is convinced she’ll enter back into title contention with a win on Saturday.
“Nobody likes to lose, obviously, but I just take it how it is – a lesson,” Godinez said. “I can just try to do things better this time around. This is not the first time I’ve lost, but it is more crucial because I’m high in the rankings. But it happened, and it signals I need to adjust things, and I think it’s better to find out now than later on when I’m more ahead.
“Again, a loss is never good, but if I do something big in my performance, you never know – maybe I just get one more, and then I’m fighting for the title. Someone can also get injured, and then I get a shot. This sport is just too unpredictable. All I can do is stay positive and keep moving forward.”
There’s a Godinez sister in the UFC and in Paris for the Summer Olympics.
For as long as she can remember, [autotag]Ana Godinez[/autotag] wanted to be just like her sister, Loopy.
Two of four daughters in a family of Mexican immigrants in Western Canada, Ana and Loopy were inseparable despite the gap in age – Ana the youngest and Loopy the oldest.
“I used to just copy everything she did,” Ana recently told MMA Junkie. “I said I didn’t like mayonnaise because she didn’t like mayonnaise. Everything I did, I wanted to be like her. I looked up to her. She’s been a huge inspiration in my life – my whole life.”
Disdain for mayonnaise wasn’t the only influence Loopy had on her sister. One day when Ana was in high school, a family outing to support Loopy at a jiu-jitsu tournament changed her life forever.
“They were doing wrestling at the same tournament and she’s like, ‘You should try it. It’ll help your rugby and your tackles and whatever,’ Ana said. “So then, they had it at our school, so (our sister) Karla and I were like, ‘We should try it together.’ We tried it, and we both fell in love with it and started taking it seriously after a couple months.”
Image via Iridium Sports Agency
Ana was 16 at the time, and rugby was the passion she was most dedicated to. She was stuck to it like glue, but eventually the praise from her wrestling coaches got through. Coaches Frank Mensah, Jason Jahani, and Omid Farahani weren’t willing to let her talent go elsewhere.
“(Jahani) as like, ‘If you can get my leg, you can win the Olympics one day.’ So I worked with him every day, and one day I got his leg,” Godinez said. “He’s like, ‘You actually got my leg.’ I’m like, ‘You’re lying.’ He’s like, ‘I think you can go to the Olympics. If you can get my leg, you can win the Olympics.’ I’m like, ‘Whoa.’ That’s when I knew I was getting better. It just clicked.”
Olympic dreams
Earlier this year, the prophecy came one step closer when Godinez qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Godinez is ranked No. 7 in women’s 62kg freestyle wrestling. Her first match will be Aug. 9.
Despite competing on the world’s biggest athletic stage, Godinez remains grounded.
“A lot of people feel lost after the Olympics because they’ve worked so hard and for so long to get to this one moment,” Godinez said. “They’re trying to make it define them, this one moment and this one performance. It’s really, really hard to be the best on this one day. You can be the best on another day, but it might not be the Olympic day. That’s why it’s so extraordinary to win the Olympics.
“It would mean so much to me to be the best on that day. I’ve been training to beat everyone in my weight on my worst day. That’s what I’m working toward. Because I know I can beat everyone in my weight on my best day. This is why I’m focused when I’m tired or on my period or sick or not feeling the greatest, but yet I still have to go out there and wrestle. I want to be able to beat the best girls in the world on my worst day.”
COVENTRY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Sakshi Malik (blue) of Team India competes against Ana Godinez Gonzalez (red) of Team Canada during the Women’s Freestyle 62 kg Gold Medal match on day eight of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at on August 05, 2022 on the Coventry, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
A future in the UFC?
As Godinez excels in wrestling, she has no incentive to pivot elsewhere right now. However, that’s not to say MMA isn’t on the the road map. Godinez has helped her sister prepare for bouts in the past and has caught the MMA bug. It’s only a matter of time.
“I’ve definitely thought about it, and I’ve tried a little bit of it,” Godinez said. “I’ve gotten a little taste of it because of Loopy. I definitely like it, and I love learning. I think I already have the mindset for it, so I’ll definitely try it. I think it would be foolish for me not to try because it’s so easily available to me with my sister. That’s definitely something I’m looking into doing after I’m done wrestling. I don’t know when that’ll be, but I’ll definitely try it at least.”
Whether it’s through the Olympics or a crossover mixed martial arts, Godinez has another underlying goal: to elevate women’s wrestling in Canada. There’s no gold medal or belt associated with that accomplishment, but it might be even more fulfilling.
“I feel like the more we win, the more it’ll get promoted,” Godinez said. “I’m trying to do it. But I see there are a lot of girls coming up in Canada, doing better internationally. I feel like we’re going to follow the steps of the U.S. and expose wrestling to more schools and more girls. I really hope it does, because it’s such a great sport.”
MMA legends Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson will make their returns to the UFC this summer in the Middle East.
Legendary fan favorites [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] will be stepping into the octagon once again.
On Wednesday morning, UFC CEO Dana White announced the return fights for the two MMA veterans, which will happen Aug. 3 at UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Diaz will take on [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] in a five-round co-main event, and while Ferguson matches up with [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] on the main card. Both fights will take place at welterweight.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7jmK9FRwvc/
Diaz, older brother of Nate Diaz, hasn’t fought since losing to Robbie Lawler in 2021. That was also his first fight in six years. Diaz is now 40 and winless in his past four UFC bouts. His last win came against B.J. Penn in 2011 at UFC 237.
Luque is also looking to break out of a bad spell. He’s 1-3 in his past four performances, with his most recent a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in March.
Ferguson, like Diaz also 40, is hoping to snap a seven-fight losing streak when he meets Chiesa. White didn’t say this would be Ferguson’s retirement fight but did state this “could be” Ferguson’s final fight. Ferguson last fought in December when he lost a unanimous decision to Paddy Pimblett.
Additionally, a UFC women’s strawweight bout between [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] was also announced.
UFC on ESPN 54 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.
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 on ESPN 54 took place at Boardwalk Hall. The main card aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN 54 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
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 $4,540; 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 $54,000 while title challengers get $54,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-54 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
“UFC on ESPN 54: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot” – $173,000
Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC on ESPN 54 in Atlantic City.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – UFC on ESPN 54 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 54 (ESPN/ESPN+) took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
In the main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) took on Manon Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a likely women’s flyweight title eliminator. Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) took on Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in the welterweight co-feature, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned against Bruno Silva (23-11 MMA, 4-5 UFC).
Below, you can check out the results and play-by-play from UFC on ESPN 54.
