Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
See what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 9 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
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.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 9 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
New normal, no problem, says UFC bantamweight Louis Smolka ahead of his UFC on ESPN 9 bout with Casey Kenney.
[autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] is comfortable, despite the chaos.
Fighting Saturday at UFC on ESPN 9, fight week will be a bit different for Smolka (16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC). He’ll have to undergo COVID-19 testing – twice. He’ll have to self-isolate and use social distancing, and the UFC will be limiting his interaction with people outside of his team.
While some of his UFC on ESPN 9 counterparts may experience culture shock, Smolka thinks the secluded nature of the week may play into his hand. In a sense, he’s used to it.
“It’s not any different to me, dude,” Smolka told MMA Junkie on Monday. “This is what I do every day. It doesn’t matter. We’re going to fight. Me and one dude are going to fight in a cage, whether the crowd is there or not, whether we’re isolated there or not. I isolate myself anyway on fight week.
“On fight day, what I’ll spend my time doing is cleaning the room. I’ll clean the hotel room and organize. I’m doing the entire week. … I’m just over there waiting. It’s kind of torturous in a sense, but it’s what works for me. It keeps me focused and dialed in. All the outside distractions, all this other stuff, I don’t think it’s going to affect me.”
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Smolka will compete on the preliminary portion of the card against former LFA flyweight champion Casey Kenney. The two fighters share the same manager, so Smolka was familiar with the name when it was offered. Smolka said has a lot of respect for his opponent.
“He’s done pretty well in the UFC,” Smolka said. “He’s fought at 135. He’s fought guys, his first two fights, the guys didn’t even make weight and he still won. I give that dude props, man. He’s a gamer. He’s about it. He’s a pro. He’s here. He’s real. He’s not here for the IG fame or anything. He’s here to fight. I give the dude props and I’m ready to go to war with him.”
Despite his respect for Kenney (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Smolka is planning to finish the fight, and to do so in violent fashion.
“I’m going to hit him until he stops moving,” Smolka said. “I’m going to keep hitting him until he stops moving.”
UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
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Louis Smolka spoke with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 event in Las Vegas.
Louis Smolka spoke with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 event in Las Vegas.
A pair of matchups in the UFC’s lower-weight divisions will join the May 30 lineup.
A pair of matchups in the UFC’s lower-weight divisions will join the May 30 lineup.
[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (9-1 UFC, 1-0 UFC) will face [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a 150-pound catchweight bout, and [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will take on [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in a bantamweight matchup.
MMA Junkie confirmed both bookings after initial reports from MMA DNA.
The UFC’s May 30 event, which does not have a name, is slated for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, pending Nevada Athletic Commission approval on the resumption of combat sports. A meeting is set for May 27.
Carlyle made a successful UFC debut in February when he stopped Aalon Cruz in the first round. “The Alpha Ginger” is on a five-fight winning streak, with all but one of his pro wins coming by way of finish.
Former “The Ultimate Fighter” contestant Quarantillo got his second crack at the UFC when he stopped Kamuela Kirk in the third round at “Dana White’s Contender Series.” In his last outing, he submitted Jacob Kilburn for his sixth win in a row.
After winning his first two UFC fights, Casey saw his six-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili in February. He will look to rebound when he takes on veteran Smolka.
Since re-joining the UFC for his second stint in the promotion, Smolka returned to 135 pounds, going 2-1, with stoppage wins over Su Mudaerji and Ryan McDonald.
With the addition, the current May 30 lineup includes:
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Three new bouts have been added to UFC Columbus in March, including the return of controversial heavyweight Greg Hardy.
[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] has a date and opponent for his next UFC bout.
The controversial former NFL All-Pro will take on [autotag]Yorgan De Castro [/autotag]at UFC on ESPN+ 30 in Columbus, Ohio on March 28. The news was announced by the promotion Friday.
Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) last fought in Novembe,r where he suffered a decision loss to Alexander Volkov in the co-main event of UFC Moscow. Hardy took the fight on short notice. A few weeks prior, he had a unanimous-decision victory over Ben Sosoli changed to a no-contest due to unapproved use of an inhaler during the fight. Hardy won his previous two bouts before the Sosoli mishap.
On the other hand, De Castro (5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) last competed in October where he defeated Justin Tafa via knockout in his UFC debut. The 32-year-old fighter is unbeaten in his professional MMA career.
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Additionally, two more bouts were added to the card. [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will be taking on [autotag]Louis Smolka [/autotag](16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in a bantamweight bout and [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) will face [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag] (33-13 MMA, 10-8 UFC) in a light heavyweight contest.
UFC Columbus is headlined by heavyweight bout pitting Francis Ngannou against rising contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
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