Tag: Ray Rodriguez

UFC parts ways with Luke Sanders, four other fighters

Five fighters are no longer on the UFC roster.

[autotag]Luke Sanders[/autotag] and four others are the latest fighters to part ways with the UFC.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation recently confirmed to MMA Junkie the roster moves after TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter and Sherdog’s Tom Feely noted that the fighters were missing from the promotion’s online fan-ranking eligibility. The people who confirmed the roster moves asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

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

UFC Fight Night 187 medical suspensions: Belal Muhammad faces 30 days after eye poke

Belal Muhammad isn’t facing a long time off after suffering a nasty eye poke against Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 187.

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Thankfully, [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] isn’t facing a potentially long medical suspension coming out of UFC Fight Night 187.

Muhammad’s first headliner vs. Leon Edwards was ruled a no contest after Edwards accidentally poked him in the eye 18 seconds into the second round of their welterweight fight. Visibly in pain, Muhammad was unable to continue and, as a result, the fight was stopped without a winner.

Muhammad (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) was able to provide a positive update shortly after, stating that he suffered no permanent damage to his eye and was slowly starting to get his vision back. The medical report supports his claim as Muhammad will be prohibited from any contact for 21 days with no contest for 30 days, until he receives doctor clearance for his right eye.

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 Fight Night 187 medical suspensions includes:

  • [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • Belal Muhammad: Must have right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 30 days; minimum suspension is 21 days.
  • [autotag]Misha Cirkunov[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Darren Stewart[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: Must have left eye cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 30 days.
  • [autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right ear is cleared by ENT.
  • [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: Must have maxillofacial bones fractures cleared by maxillofacial surgeon and left lamina papyracea cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 180 days.
  • [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left scalp laceration.
  • [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until left fibula X-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right elbow X-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Cortney Casey[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right foot and right hand X-rays are cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]J.J. Aldrich[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jinh Yu Frey[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.

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UFC Fight Night 187: Make your predictions for Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 187 event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 187 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC Fight Night 187 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC Fight Night 187 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Irwin Rivera vs. Ray Rodriguez booked for UFC Fight Night on March 13

Bantamweights Irwin Rivera and Ray Rodriguez will look to rebound when they square off on March 13.

A pair of bantamweights will look to rebound on March 13.

[autotag]Irwin Rivera[/autotag] will face [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag] in an event that does not currently have a confirmed location or venue.

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

After picking up his first octagon win over Ali AlQaisi, former Titan FC bantamweight champion Rivera (10-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was edged out by Andre Ewell at UFC on ESPN+ 36 in September.

Contender Series veteran Rodriguez (16-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) fell short in his promotional debut, when he was quickly submitted by Brian Kelleher at UFC on ESPN+ 34 in September. Rodriguez stepped in on a little over 48 hours’ notice after weighing in as a backup.

The fight between Rivera and Rodriguez marks the first booking for a March 13 event.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 backup Ray Rodriguez to fight Brian Kelleher after Kevin Natividad removed

Brian Kelleher has a third opponent change in two weeks.

Will the third time be the charm for [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]?

Hours before his UFC on ESPN+ 34 fight, Kelleher (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC), has encountered his third opponent change in the past two weeks. With [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag] being removed from the matchup for undisclosed reasons, Kelleher will now take on Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag] at featherweight.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the switch up Saturday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

MMA Fighting was the first to report the change.

Natividad (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) partook in Thursday’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 virtual media day from his hotel room instead of the multi-purpose room the rest of the fighters streamed from. He asked about why he was in his room and said he was waiting for his COVID-19 test results.

However, on Friday, Natividad weighed in with the rest of the fighters, making weight. Rodriguez also weighed in and was announced as a backup fighter.

Prior to the Natividad booking, Kelleher (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC) was scheduled to fight Ricky Simon. However, Simon withdrew after a cornerman tested positive for COVID-19.

As for Rodriguez (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the Texas-based fighter will make his promotional debut on a little over 48 hours’ notice. He competed at DWCS in 2019, losing to now-UFC fighter Tony Gravely in a back-and-forth affair. Rodriguez, 32, has won 11 out of 13 entering Saturday.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

The current UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Karol Rosa
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez
  • Thiago Moises vs. Jalin Turner
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexander Romanov
  • Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith

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Ray Rodriguez signs with UFC, will serve as UFC on ESPN+ 34 backup fighter

Ray Rodriguez weighed in this morning and will serve as a backup fighter for Saturday’s card.

The UFC has signed a backup fighter for Saturday’s card.

Ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 34, the promotion has inked bantamweight [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag], who will serve as a standby replacement should [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag] or [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] be deemed unfit to compete.

Rodriguez (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was signed due to concerns over fight week COVID-19 tests taken by Natividad (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), multiple sources have informed MMA Junkie.

Natividad partook in Thursday’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 virtual media day from his hotel room instead of the multi-purpose room from where the rest of the fighters streamed. He asked about why he was in his room and said he was waiting for his COVID-19 test results.

However, Friday, Natividad weighed in with the rest of the fighters, making weight, which implies he’s in the clear. Rodriguez also weighed in and was announced as a backup fighter.

As for Rodriguez, the Texas-based fighter will make his promotional debut on a little over 48 hours’ notice. He competed at DWCS in 2019, losing to current UFC fighter Tony Gravely in a back-and-forth affair. Rodriguez, 32, has won 11 out of 13 entering Saturday.

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

The current UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Karol Rosa
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Kevin Natividad
  • Thiago Moises vs. Jalin Turner
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexander Romanov
  • Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith

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