Tag: Steve Garcia

Why UFC’s Steve Garcia thinks about BMF title more than undisputed

For Steve Garcia, the BMF title has meaning that an undisputed UFC title cannot claim.

[autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] would look forward to fighting for the BMF title over an undisputed UFC championship.

Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), MMA Junkie’s 2024 Under the Radar Fighter of the Year, is on a five-fight knockout streak. His exciting style earned him an opportunity against perennial contender Edson Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) Feb. 22 at UFC Fight Night 252 from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (ESPN+).

Garcia loves nothing more than meeting his opponent in the middle and throwing down, which is why the idea of a BMF title excites him.

“If I would say that there’s a title I prefer to fight for, it would be the BMF title,” Garcia told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve been able to knock out a lot of these guys. There’s nothing against the undisputed title, but the undisputed title, you could literally win the undisputed title, and you can win on decisions the whole entire time.

“You could win on submissions the whole entire time. You can be great and do knockouts and stuff like that, too, but I think the BMF title, the meaning says it all. To be one of the baddest dudes to step into a cage, throw in my words, chingassos. You’re going for it.”

The current BMF champion is Max Holloway, and that’s a fight Garcia would absolutely love to have.

“I would love a fight with Max,” Garcia said. “I’m such a huge fan of him, but my goodness, if you want to watch something that can go off, I think that would be a good fight. I guess I’ve got to keep knocking people out and prove people what I’m able to do to maybe have that opportunity or that shot. I think about the BMF title more than I think about the undisputed title to be honest.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

UFC’s Steve Garcia hopes to command respect with knockout of Edson Barboza

Steve Garcia isn’t about to “act a fool” in order to get more attention ahead of his UFC Seattle clash with Edson Barboza.

With a five-fight knockout streak inside the octagon, [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] thinks he should be a bigger talking point going into UFC Fight Night 252.

After a string of definitive performances, Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) will get his biggest test to date when he takes on legendary striker Edson Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) in a featherweight bout on the Feb. 22 card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (ESPN+).

Although some are acknowledging his work, as MMA Junkie did by naming him the 2024 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year, Garcia admits he’s not feeling the love across the board.

“I’m definitely under the radar,” Garcia told MMA Junkie Radio. “I don’t feel like I get the respect that I’d like to think I probably deserve. But that said, each person’s opinion (is different). I’ve read articles where people don’t think I’m championship quality, people don’t think I’m ranked quality. They can think what they want to think. Every win in my UFC career is a finish. I’m not barely skating by. I’m not barely getting wins. I’ve been finishing all my opposition.”

Garcia, 32, understands the lack of attention around his name is partially of his own doing. As good as his fighting has been, Garcia, an honorable mention in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, said he could do a better job playing the game outside of the cage.

It’s not his nature to play that game, however, and if taking a longer road to the top is a consequence of not demeaning himself, then Garcia said he’s accepting of that fate.

“I want to be must-see TV,” Garcia said. “I’m not going to be acting a fool. If you want that out of me, and I’m not saying I won’t talk – there’s times and places for everything, but I’m not a clown. If I wanted to act a fool, I would’ve joined the circus. I’m not trying to make a fool out of myself. My parents didn’t raise me that way. I’m here to be as professional as I possibly can be, and if people want to hop on board, thank you very much. If you don’t, at least you’re going to have something to root for, whether it’s against me or for me. But I promise you’ll be entertained.”

Not much promotional effort is needed to generate excitement between Garcia and Barboza. The highlight reels on both sides are enough to know a Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night bonus is likely being issued after it’s done.

That’s what Garcia is chasing, he said, and he expects Barboza to be a willing participant in the style of fight he’s looking for.

“Sometimes you don’t got to control the chaos, you’ve got to thrive in it,” Garcia said. “I feel like, especially in my fights, that’s where I’ve been the most successful. The moment that chaos happens I seem to find my best shots. I’m hoping that’s what’s going to happen in Seattle. I think Edson’s notorious for welcoming a good striking match, and this is MMA, we get it, it can go up and down and it doesn’t matter, but at least in my eyes, let’s give the fans what they want to see and just go for it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

MMA Junkie’s 2024 Under the Radar Fighter of the Year: Steve Garcia

Although other fighters were under consideration, it’s hard to deny Steve Garcia given his current streak.

With the top of the UFC’s featherweight division featuring a slew of names that range from the reigning champ Ilia Topuria to the streaking Diego Lopes, it’s not hard to make a case for multiple 145ers on the come-up when it comes to awarding 2024’s Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year.

Although fighters like Lerone Murphy and Sean Woodson were under consideration, I found it hard to deny [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] given his current form and winning streak.

Despite technically competing just twice this year, Garcia was able to accrue violent, bonus-winning stoppages each time out.

Not only is Garcia riding a five-fight winning streak, but the “Mean Machine” currently finds himself tied for the fourth most consecutive knockouts in UFC history (5). All his wins on this run are finishes.

For those who’ve been following him since his days on the Bellator prelims, Garcia has always been an action-first fighter with a propensity for violence. However, his constant switching of weight classes appeared to lend itself to the inconsistency that the American was experiencing in the earlier parts of his career.

But with Garcia settling into his natural home of 145 pounds, he seems to be finally putting all of his skills together under the care of his longtime camp, Jackson-Wink MMA.

Whether Garcia is demonstrating improved grappling chops or ground-and-pound, the 11-year pro has proven to be a full-fledged MMA fighter who is undeniably in his prime.

I’m not saying Garcia will be your next champion or anything like that, but I think the stage is set for some big splashes at featherweight given the movement at the top of the division. And given Garcia currently is booked in a crossroads fight with a ranked veteran like Edson Barboza to start 2025, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him springboarded into some fun matchups en route to making his presence on the proverbial radar considering his fan-friendly style.

Honorable mention: Anthony Hernandez, Virna Jandiroba, Mingyan Zhang, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Aiemann Zahabi

Edson Barboza books UFC fight No. 31 vs. Steve Garcia

Always a banging UFC striker, Edson Barboza has the perfect opponent to give the fans a great show this February.

A cracking featherweight banger has been added to the UFC’s 2025 slate.

At a UFC Fight Night event Feb. 22, seasoned veteran [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] makes his 31st promotional walk as he battles surging Jackson Wink product [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]. A location and venue has yet to be revealed for the card.

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

Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) aims to bounce back from a unanimous decision defeat to Lerone Murphy. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak that was comprised of victories over Billy Quarantillo and Sodiq Yusuff.

Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has won five fights in a row – all by TKO/knockout before the midway point of Round 2. That streak includes Chase Hooper, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, Melquizael Costa, Seung Woo Choi, and Kyle Nelson.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 22 includes:

  • Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia

Steve Garcia ready for a break – unless he gets the call for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden

Steve Garcia is not looking to fight again in 2024, unless offered a specific fight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] is not looking to get in the cage anytime soon.

After competing twice in 2024, with his most recent bout being at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 242, Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) wants to take off the remaining of the year and come back strong in 2025. However, there is one event in particular that could entice him to fight again this year, which is the UFC’s expected November pay-per-view event in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“Right now, I’m kind of leaning toward a no,” Garcia told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 242 press conference. “The only one I’d probably consider would be MSG.

“I’d love to fight there, but I’m sure they’ll go there again. So if it doesn’t happen this time, I’m sure I can make my way to another card hopefully that’s over there. But right now, I don’t have any plans to do something anytime soon.”

Garcia got an impressive TKO win over veteran Kyle Nelson (16-6-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC) on the main card of Saturday’s UFC event at the Apex. Although it was a quick job, the training camp for the fight was not – which is why he’s looking to take some time off.

“Mentally, I just needed some rest,” Garcia said. “I put myself through the grinder, especially in training camp. I tried to go above and beyond, and I almost try to torture myself in a sense outside. Just going to classes and stuff, it’s never enough. So it’s all the extra stuff, and it definitely catches up to you. You can’t do that for very long.

“I was trying to pick and choose what I was trying to do and there were a couple of times when Greg (Jackson) was kind of like, ‘Oh, you need to relax. You don’t need to go as hard today.’ We were deliberately more fine-tuned, and it was kind of nice change of pace as far as that goes because I normally just go balls to the wall every single class. There’s a couple of moments I talked to Greg, and he was like, ‘You don’t need to grapple these last couple of rounds that hard.’ It’s just pushing through that barrier so you can come out on top and with the victory. I came here to kill. I don’t come out here to pitter-patter. That’s not me – you guys know already. I come here violently.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

UFC Fight Night 242 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Gilbert Burns, Jessica Andrade net $21,000

UFC Fight Night 242 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 242 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $157,500.

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 Fight Night 242 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 242 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Yanal Ashmouz[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevor Peek[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Rong Zhu[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Isaac Dulgarian[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brendon Marotte[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gabriel Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Yi Zha[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jaqueline Amorim[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Dylan Budka[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nathan Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zygimantas Ramaska[/autotag]: $4,000

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 2421 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 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 $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,482,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,219,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

UFC Fight Night 242 video: Steve Garcia pummels Kyle Nelson for fifth straight TKO finish

Could Steve Garcia be the dark horse of the UFC featherweight division?

The [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] trains keeps rolling down the tracks – and it’s picking up speed.

On the UFC Fight Night 242 main card Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) finished [autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag] (16-6-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC) with strikes at the 3:59 mark of Round 1.

Nelson was initially in control of Garcia, who turned the tables after an unsuccessful armbar attempt. Garcia methodically landed bursts of ground-and-pound punches and elbows until the stoppage came.

https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1832574488174592141

The TKO finish was Garcia’s fifth in a row as he continues to surge up the featherweight ranks. Nelson had a three-fight winning streak snapped in defeat.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 242 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC Fight Night 242

Will the judges be needed in the all-action showdown at UFC Fight Night 242 between Steve Garcia and Kyle Nelson?

[autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 242 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 6-0
UFC main cards, 2024: 76-61-3

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson UFC Fight Night 242 preview

After experiencing some growing pains in the UFC, Garcia (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has found his stride. Garcia went 1-2 in his first three fights in the UFC, but since then, he has won four straight, including two first-round finishes and two second-round stoppages. In his last outing, in July, Garcia stopped Seung Woo Choi in 96 seconds after a barrage of punches. … Nelson (16-5-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) is also on a hot streak as of late. His UFC carer began with a rough stretch as well, going 1-4 in his first five appearances. He’s since won three straight, including a first-round stoppage of Bill Algeo in his last fight in March.

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson UFC Fight Night 242 expert pick, prediction

Serving as another solid but impromptu offering on the main card is a featherweight action fight between Nelson and Garcia.
Nelson was initially scheduled to face Calvin Kattar, but will instead meet Garcia on roughly four weeks’ notice. However, despite technically having more time to prepare, Nelson found himself coming in a couple of pounds over the 146-pound limit for this contest.
I’m not sure how much that will affect Nelson’s performance given that he’s going against a fellow fast-starting featherweight, but I also don’t expect this fight to look very pretty if it gets past the first round.
It’s hard to know how Nelson will fair against southpaws since winning a split decision over Jonathan Brookins on the regionals was his only UFC-level sample in that department, but I suspect that Nelson’s durability, clinch game and counters will serve him well in this spot.
It’s hard not to be a fan of Garcia’s brand of southpaw violence, but I’ll semi-reluctantly side with Nelson to weather the storm and score in knockout in Round 2.

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson UFC Fight Night 242 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the short-notice fighter, listing Garcia -188 and Nelson +152 via FanDuel.

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson UFC Fight Night 242 start time, how to watch

As the feature main card bout, Garcia and Nelson are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 8:05 p.m. ET (5:05 p.m. PT). The fight will air on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

UFC Fight Night 242: Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 242 odds between Steve Garcia and Kyle Nelson, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 3-round men’s featherweight bout on the main card, Steve Garcia and Kyle Nelson meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 242 — also known as UFC on ESPN+ 100 and UFC Vegas 97 — at UFC Apex. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 242: Garcia vs. Nelson odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Records: Garcia (16-5-0) | Nelson (16-5-1)

Garcia is a southpaw who enters this bout with a 4-inch reach advantage. The 32-year-old also has a 5.00-to-3.65 significant strikes landed per minute advantage while hitting those strikes at a 63.64% accuracy. On the flip side, Nelson is just 50.18% on his significant strikes.

In the takedown average, the difference is rather negligible, with Garcia holding a slim 1.27-to-1.10 lead. Both fighters have a 0.63 submission average, too.

Garcia, a.k.a. “Mean Machine,” enters this bout with 4 consecutive victories, all via KO/TKO. That includes a win over SeungWoo Choi last time out in just 96 seconds and a Round 2 KO/TKO of Melquizael Costa prior to that in Dec. 2023.

Garcia’s previous 6 bouts have ended by way of KO/TKO, with 5 wins. The last time he didn’t have an early finish was a unanimous-decision loss to Luis Pena in his UFC debut Feb. 29, 2020.

For Nelson, he has snapped onto track after a rough start to his UFC career. After going 1-4 in his 1st 5 bouts with the company, Nelson has 3 straight wins, including a KO/TKO in Round 1 against veteran Bill Algeo last time out. Prior to that, he had a pair of unanimous-decision victories over Fernando Padilla at Noche UFC and Blake Bilder at UFC 289.

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UFC Fight Night 242: Garcia vs. Nelson odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:32 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Garcia -180 (bet $180 to win $100) | Nelson +152 (bet $100 to win $152)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over +136 | Under -174)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +450 | No -750)

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UFC Fight Night 242: Garcia vs. Nelson picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

It’s a little too expensive to back Garcia (-180) straight up on the 2-way moneyline, but despite the 3-bout win streak for Nelson (+152), the latter cannot be trusted.

Instead, let’s roll with GARCIA BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (-145) on the 5-way line. You could play just KO/TKO and DQ on the 7-way line, but it’s literally pennies more and you add the possibility of a tap out.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (+136) is worth a roll of the dice here.

Yes, Garcia has 6 straight bouts decided by KO/TKO, with each of the past 5 fights not making it past the halfway point of Round 2. So, playing Over will take a little bit of a leap of faith.

However, Nelson has gone the distance in 4 straight fights, so he knows how to hang around and avoid the big kill shot.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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Steve Garcia: ‘Stakes are a little higher than usual’ at UFC Fight Night 242 vs. Kyle Nelson

UFC Vegas 97’s Steve Garcia knows a win over Kyle Nelson could catapult him up the featherweight rankings.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] knows a win over [autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag] could catapult him up the featherweight rankings.

Garcia (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will look to make it five-straight wins when he meets Nelson (16-5-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 242 main card at the UFC Apex.

Nelson rides some momentum having won three in a row, but someone’s streak will have to come to an end in this matchup.

“Worthy opponent for sure,” Garcia told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Thursday. “He’s on a three-fight win streak I believe and one of our streaks has to end. Stakes are a little higher than usual. He’s good, durable. He looks strong. I’ll see that on Saturday. He’s definitely a game an opponent, I’m excited to share the cage with him.”

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Garcia steps in on relatively short notice to replace Calvin Kattar. He would have preferred a full camp, and would only entertain another quick turnaround for UFC 309, which takes place Nov. 16 in New York.

“My coaches said they don’t want to see me back in the gym for another month after this fight,” Garcia said. “But, I think the only one I would ever consider probably this month is if it’s at Madison Square Garden. I’ve always wanted to fight there, it’s a pretty iconic place. I’d consider a fight there, but I’ll probably wait until next year.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.