Tag: Maki Pitolo

Video: Junior Dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum in great physical shape at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA faceoff

Junior Dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum came face-to-face ahead of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA – two of eight UFC alumni on the card.

Former UFC heavyweight champions [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] and [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] squared off for the final time ahead of their main event fight at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA – and they both appeared to be in great physical shape.

Other UFC alumni present at the faceoffs, set to compete Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., included [autotag]Brandon Jenkins[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Njokuani[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Joshua Weems[/autotag], [autotag]Irwin Rivera[/autotag], and [autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag].

Of course, promoter Jorge Masvidal was on hand, too, as he squared off each pairing of fighters. The event will stream live and free on MMA Junkie.

Dos Santos and Werdum rematch – without gloves – nearly 15 years after they fought one another at UFC 90 in October 2008. As a heavy underdog, Dos Santos knocked out Werdum in 81 seconds and kicked off a run in the promotion that would lead directly to the heavyweight title.

The winner of Saturday’s fight will face the winner of the promotion’s inaugural heavyweight title bout between Roy Nelson and Alan Belcher, which takes place Oct. 28 at a date and location to be announced.

The full Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA lineup includes:

  • Junior Dos Santos vs. Fabricio Werdum
  • Joel Bauman vs. Maki Pitolo
  • Irwin Rivera vs. Joshua Weems
  • Brandon Davis vs. Ago Huskic
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Anthony Njokuani
  • Joe Penafiel vs. Joey Ruquet
  • Tyler Hill vs. Jhonasky Soto
  • Corey Herbert vs. Reggie Northrup
  • Juan Alvarez vs. Chase Wingate
  • Carlos Guerra vs. Shahzaib Rindh

UFC veterans in MMA, bareknuckle MMA and kickboxing action Sept. 7-9

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC travels to Australia for UFC 293.

The pay-per-view event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney features a middleweight title fight between champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA, bareknuckle MMA and kickboxing this week from Sept. 7-9.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC veterans in MMA, boxing and bareknuckle action Nov. 16-20

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in action this week.

This week, the UFC is heading back to home base at the UFC Apex for a top 15 heavyweight clash following the epic UFC 281 pay-per-view in New York.

In addition to UFC Fight Night 215, there are a number of MMA, boxing, and bareknuckle events taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 20 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and boxing this week from Nov. 16-20.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Eagle FC 47: Best photos from Miami

Check out these photos from Eagle FC 47 which took place at FLXcast Arena in Miami.

Check out these photos from Eagle FC 47 at FLXcast Arena in Miami, which was headlined by Junior Dos Santos vs. Yorgan De Castro. (Photos courtesy of Eagle FC)

 

Eagle FC 47 full fight video: Maki Pitolo scores 30-second knockout with crushing left hook

UFC veteran Maki Pitolo picks up the second 30-second knockout of Eagle FC 47 in Miami.

MIAMI – What’s better than one 30-second knockout on a fight card? Well, two of them, of course.

In the feature bout at Eagle FC 47, [autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag] took on Doug Usher in a middleweight contest that had a finish written all over it. The result did not disappoint on that promise and resulted in a highlight reel moment in just 30 seconds, the second knockout finish of the evening in the same amount of time. Akhmed Aliev knocked out UFC veteran Darrell Horcher in a half-minute earlier at the event.

Pitolo (15-9) found a home for a beautiful left hook just as Usher (13-4) began to throw a punch of his own. As a result, Usher crashed to the canvas and the referee rushed in to prevent any further damage as he lay on the canvas.

Check out the full fight replay below (via Twitter):

Pitolo’s win marked his second straight after his exit from the UFC. “Coconut Bombz” entered the promotion after scoring a knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series, but hit a rough patch that led to his exit.

Usher decided to leave his gloves in the cage after the fight, telling in-cage interviewer Henry Cejudo that he was retiring from the sport.

Up-to-the-minute results of Eagle FC 47 include:

  • Maki Pitolo def. Doug Usher via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:30
  • Andrew Sanchez def. Gabriel Checco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Akhmed Aliev def. Darrell Horcher via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:30
  • Islam Mamedov def. Zach Zane via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:50
  • Ronny Markes def. Reggie Pena via submission (knee injury) – Round 2, 1:21
  • Roosevelt Roberts def. Alexandre Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Paulo Silva def. Sean Soriano via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Adi Alic def. Shawn Bunch via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Dylan Mantello def. Dennis Hughes via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00

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Eagle FC 47 official weigh-ins photos: JDS looking ripped

Eagle FC 47 weigh-ins took place Thursday, featuring UFC alums Junior Dos Santos, Yorgan De Castro, Hector Lombard, Thiago Silva, and more.

Check out these photos from the Eagle FC 47 official weigh-ins at the FLXcast Arena. (Photos courtesy of Ryan Loco, Eagle FC).

UFC parts ways with Maki Pitolo, three other fighters

Four fighters have departed the UFC roster, including Dana White’s Contender Series signee Maki Pitolo, MMA Junkie has learned.

Four more fighters have parted ways with the UFC.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of the roster moves but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion hasn’t made official announcements.

Check out the recent UFC departures below. The roster moves, unless explicitly noted, are not necessarily a “release.” The UFC may have elected not to re-sign certain fighters who were at the end of their contracts.

UFC on ESPN 31 pre-event facts: Rob Font, Jose Aldo battle for more accolades

The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN 31, which features a Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo main event.

The UFC kicks off its final stretch of 2021 events Saturday with UFC on ESPN 31, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN.

A very important fight in the bantamweight division serves as the main event of the card. [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will attempt to keep his winning streak alive in pursuit of a title shot when he takes on former longtime featherweight king [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] (30-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC), who continues chase a second belt at 135 pounds.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 31.

With Maki Pitolo out, LFA champ Gregory Rodrigues steps in to face Dusko Todorovic at UFC Fight Night 189

Just days after winning the LFA title, Gregory Rodrigues has gotten the UFC call.

Just days after winning the LFA title, [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] has gotten the UFC call.

[autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag] has been forced out of UFC Fight Night 189 and Rodrigues (9-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on June 5.

A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Tuesday. The person asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Fighter Path was first to report the new matchup.

Rodrigues has gotten a second opportunity to compete in the UFC. After failing to secure a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series when he was stopped by Jordan Williams, Rodrigues rebounded with back-to-back knockouts and claimed the middleweight title with a first-round finish of Josh Fremd at LFA 108 this past Saturday.

Todorovic, a Contender Series graduate, has split his first two UFC appearances. After stopping Dequan Townsend in the second round in his octagon debut, Todorovic endured his first career loss when he was knocked out by Puna Soriano at UFC on ABC 1 in January.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 189 lineup now includes:

  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Muslim Salikhov vs. Francisco Trinaldo
  • Walt Harris vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Tanner Boser vs. Ilir Latifi
  • Manon Fiorot vs. Maryna Moroz
  • Sean Woodson vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Montana De La Rosa vs. Ariane Lipski
  • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Dusko Todorovic
  • Roman Dolidze vs. Laureano Staropoli
  • Miguel Baeza vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Antonio Arroyo vs. Tom Breese
  • Mason Jones vs. Alan Patrick
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Claudio Puelles

UFC 258 medical suspensions: Kamaru Usman among eight facing potential six-month layoff

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is among eight fighters who could be facing lengthy time off after UFC 258.

UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] could be sidelined for up to six months after his most recent title defense.

Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC), who retained his title after stopping [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in the third round of the UFC 258 main event, will need doctor clearance for his right foot or he could be looking at a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Joining Usman with potential 180-day terms is [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag], who defeated [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] via unanimous decision. Grasso (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) must have an X-ray and MRI on her right knee. Barber (8-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), who returned after more than a year away, could be facing time on the shelf again, requiring an MRI on her right shoulder.

MMA Junkie on Tuesday obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC 258 medical suspensions includes:

  • Kamaru Usman: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Gilbert Burns: Needs right eyebrow and left orbital lacerations cleared by doctor, otherwise suspended 45 days; minimum suspension is 30 days.
  • Maycee Barber: Needs MRI of right shoulder, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Alexa Grasso: Needs X-ray and MRI of right knee, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right hand, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Dhiego Lima[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag]: Needs MRI of right elbow, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Gabriel Green[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eye laceration.
  • [autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of left knee, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.

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