Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The commentary team of Brendan Fitzgerald, Dominick Cruz and Paul Felder will call the action at UFC Fight Night 237 in Mexico City.
The UFC continues its February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 237, which goes down at Mexico City Arena in Mexico.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
* * * *
The commentary team for UFC Fight Night 235 on Saturday is set, including Laura Sanko’s first appearance cageside this year.
The UFC opens its February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 235, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in “Sin City” to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
* * * *
Michael Chiesa thinks Leon Edwards’ well-rounded skillset plays to his detriment.
[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ well-rounded skillset plays to his detriment.
Welterweight champion Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his belt in a lackluster unanimous decision win over Colby Covington at UFC 296.
Edwards’ performance was criticized by many, especially with Covington looking rusty after almost two years off. Chiesa theorizes that Edwards’ conservative showing could have come because he was in firm control of the fight against Covington.
“He definitely slowed down in the Colby fight,” Chiesa said on his “Round-Up” show with Paul Felder. “He didn’t even get a vintage Colby pace. I think Leon is not underrated, skill-wise. I think if anyone underrates his skills, then they don’t know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to mixed martial arts. There’s not a person I’ve talked to who says he lacks in the skill department. But on the flip side of that, sometimes the people that are the most skilled go for it the least.
“When a guy has maybe deficits in his skills, they’re more prone to putting themselves – you have to put yourself in harm’s way sometimes to get a finish. When you’re like Leon, the perfect head kick KO like he had against Kamaru (Usman), they’re definitely counter strikes. Sometimes you have to just not try to be so skilled and just take a chance. Really skilled guys will be really reserved instead of putting themselves out there.”
Chiesa compared Edwards to former UFC dual-champion Georges St-Pierre, who got most of his wins by decision, but reigned over the welterweight division for more than five years.
“Unless (Edwards) landed a good counterstrike to hurt you, I don’t see him trying to force an opportunity to create a finish,” Chiesa said. “It’s one of those things where he’s almost too skilled. Sometimes when someone is too skilled, they don’t go for it enough. They just try to be perfect – kind of like what Georges used to do.”
[lawrence-related id=2706638,2705430,2705432,2705256]
Apparently, Randy Brown has been left on read by UFC-ranked Michael Chiesa.
UFC welterweight [autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag] wants a fight against a ranked opponent, but so far, a direct call out to Michael Chiesa has fallen on deaf ears.
Brown (17-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) was set to compete on the prelims of UFC 287, but had to withdraw due to illness just a couple of days before the final pay-per-view of the year. “Rudeboy” was aiming to make it two in a row after a unanimous decision win over Wellington Turman in June, but his next appearance will have to come in the new year against a new opponent.
According to Brown, he and Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) have discussed meeting in the past, and he thinks the timing of the matchup makes sense.
In a video posted on social media, Brown revealed a recent direct message he sent to Chiesa, respectfully calling out the UFC-ranked No. 14 welterweight.
“What’s up Mike. I hope all is well,” Brown started. “My fight fell through last weekend as I got sick. I know we spoke about fighting a few times briefly, but it didn’t make sense for you at those times. I got a ton of respect for you and I’d still love an opportunity to scrap with you. I think it makes a lot more sense now. What do you say?”
Chiesa did not respond to Brown’s message, but instead called out former title challenger Colby Covington.
Chiesa why does it have to come to this? When i seen You in person you told me let's make it happen. Now the UFC says ur not interested. Colby ain't fighting you. pic.twitter.com/C6XspYXSaB
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) December 26, 2023
“Everybody wants to fight up, and I understand it, but everybody wants to fight up,” Brown said. “I completely get that, but bro, you’re on a three-fight skid. That’s the only reason I want to fight you is because you’re in the rankings.”
Chiesa has dropped his last three outings, two of which were by stoppage. After building a four-fight winning streak, he was submitted by Vicente Luque and dropped a unanimous decision to Sean Brady in back-to-back 2021 bouts, and then was tapped by Kevin Holland in his only appearance of 2023.
Brown went on to say he would fight any ranked fighter out there, but he believes Chiesa makes the most sense right now given their most recent results.
[lawrence-related id=2661106,2652928,2706083]
Check out a full recap of 2023’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.
Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2023’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.
Broadcast assignments are set for UFC on ESPN 52 in Austin, the final UFC event outside of Las Vegas in 2023.
The UFC opens its December schedule Saturday with UFC on ESPN 52, which goes down at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in the “City of the Violet Crown” to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and Dominick Cruz will be part of the UFC Fight Night 230 commentary team.
The UFC continues its October schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 230, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
* * * *
Check out the commentary team and desk analyst lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 226 event in Paris.
The UFC closes its busy August schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 226, which goes down at Accor Arena in Paris.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
* * * *
The star-studded UFC 292 broadcast in Boston will feature the likes of Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, Jon Anik, Chael Sonnen, and more.
The ninth numbered UFC event of the year is rapidly approaching with UFC 292 on Saturday at TD Garden in Boston.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
* * * *
At UFC 291, Michael Chiesa removed his gloves in the cage, but he never set them down. Hours later, he clarified his future plans.
[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] took his gloves off in the cage at UFC 291 leading to speculation about his fighting future. But in an Instagram post after the bout, he cleared up doubt he’d fight again.
Despite his disappointment in the result, a first-round loss to [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (25-9 MMA, 12-6 UFC) by D’Arce choke submission, Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) said he’s not done yet.
“Well that sucked,” Chiesa wrote. “Congrats to @trailblaze2top and his team. Kevin is a helluva fighter, one of the most game fighters in combat sports. I knew this was a very challenging opponent to face coming off almost a two year layoff but I’ve never said no to a fight. I’ll dust myself off, get back in the gym and get back to work. I ain’t done yet.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvTk0nzOT9M/
The fight Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City was Chiesa’s first UFC appearance since November 2021. Due to multiple bout cancellations, Chiesa struggled to remain active – and also confirmed at a news conference before the bout he’s been battling a back issue. Chiesa, 35, has now lost three fights in a row.
[lawrence-related id=2664763,2663852,2664013]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
