Tag: Tyrone Spong

Hungry and motivated Tyrone Spong ‘open to everything’ in rapidly evolving combat landscape

Tyrone Spong has been competing in combat sports for more than two decades, but he’s still driven to find fresh experiences.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] has been competing in combat sports for more than two decades, but he’s still driven to find fresh experiences.

Spong is one of the few athletes who has found success at a high level in kickboxing, boxing and MMA through the course of his career, even if some of his potential was hindered by injuries.

he hasn’t seen any sort of action in 14 months since he made a return to MMA to lose a main event fight against Sergei Kharitonov under the Eagle FC banner. It’s been a useful layoff, though, Spong said, because he traveled to his native Suriname and took some time to heal his mind and body.

“I think in life in general it’s a necessity to really do something for yourself, for your soul,” Spong told MMA Junkie of his journey through the Suriname jungle. “For your spirit, and that’s what I went and did.”

At 37 and with a fresh mindset, Spong said he’s “open to everything” as far as next career steps. He’s not contractually linked to anyone at the moment, and with the combat sports scene exploding in various different ways, Spong is willing to consider a move in any direction.

“The landscape of fighting is changing rapidly,” Spong said. “There’s a lot of new promotions, a lot of new styles of fighting. So, it’s a good time to be a fighter.

“Right now I’m back, I’m hungry, I’m motivated, I’m in the gym every day. I’m just getting in shape and getting ready for whatever. Let’s talk to (my manager) Ali (Abdelaziz) about that and see what he’s got for me. Other than that I’m feeling good.”

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Eagle FC 44 results: Sergei Kharitonov overwhelms Tyrone Spong on mat for TKO

Sergei Kharitonov’s ground game was too much for Tyrone Spong in the Eagle FC 44 main event.

[autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag]’s grappling was too much for [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] in the Eagle FC 44 main event.

Kharitonov (34-9) utilized his most obvious path to victory in the heavyweight bout, which took place Friday at FLXcast Arena in Miami. He needed just two takedowns – one in the first and one in the second – to get Spong (2-1) in position to finish the fight with strikes in mount to secure the TKO at the 2:55 mark of Round 2.

In the first round, Spong didn’t hesitate to land heavy leg and body kicks. They were hard and sounded across the venue. However, Kharitonov looked to close the distance and pressure Spong with no stepping back.

A few seconds into the round, Kharitonov got a takedown. He went for a choke and neck crank from side control but Spong was able to defend and get out. From there Kharitonov moved to mount and began landing ground-and-pound while Spong looked to get up. The shots came often and heavy but Spong did enough to hang on and see the end of the round.

The second round was much better for Spong, but the Russian still managed to get the best of the fight. He was able to circle and stop Kharitonov’s takedowns for half the round while landing nasty leg kicks and combinations to the body and head. With about three minutes remaining, Kharitonov caught a leg kick and took the fight to the ground.

It didn’t take long for Kharitonov to get the mount, pour and ground-and-pound, and get the TKO win.

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In his 40’s, Kharitonov enjoying a solid run in combat sports. He’s 6-1 in his past seven fights, being 4-1 in MMA and 2-0 in boxing. His lone defeat came against Cheick Kongo in the main event of Bellator 265. Kharitonov has wins over many notable names such as Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum.

Meanwhile, with this result, Spong suffered his first combat sports career since 2014 where he had a leg break after throwing a kick against Gokhan Saki. It was Spong’s return to MMA competition, as he hadn’t fought in MMA rule set since fighting for World Series of Fighting in 2013.

“I want to continue to fight for Eagle FC and fight for the belt,” Kharitonov said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo.

Up-to-the-minute Eagle FC 44 results include:

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Eagle FC 44 live and official results

Following along for live results from Eagle FC 44 in Miami.

Eagle FC 44 takes place Friday, and you can join us for live and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, now a promoter, has Eagle FC 44 set for FLXcast Arena in Miami.

In the heavyweight main event, [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] (33-9) will take on kickboxing specialist [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] (2-0), who hasn’t fought in MMA since 2014. And in the co-headliner, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (19-8-1) makes his return from retirement against Gabriel Checco (12-5).

Below are the official Eagle FC 44 results:

  • Tyrone Spong vs. Sergei Kharitonov
  • Gabriel Checco vs. Rashad Evans
  • Ray Borg vs. Cody Gibson
  • John Howard vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
  • Raimond Magomedaliev vs. Anthony Njokuani
  • Arman Ospanov vs. Dylan Salvador
  • Shaun Asher vs. Yorgan De Castro
  • Miles Hunsinger vs. Demarques Jackson
  • Shawn Bunch vs. Firdavs Khasanov
  • Loik Radzhabov vs. Zach Zane
  • Sitik Muduev vs. Ayadi Majdeddine

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Headliner Tyrone Spong not sure if Eagle FC 44 a one-off or start to bigger MMA return

For the first time in more than eight years, Tyrone Spong is going to get in an MMA fight.

MIAMI – For the first time in more than eight years, [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] is going to get in an MMA fight.

But it’s not like Spong has been inactive. The kickboxing standout in recent years has been boxing, a sport in which he’s 14-0 and holds the WBC Latino and WBO Latino heavyweight titles. He’s got more than 100 kickboxing wins on his record.

But he’s only had two MMA fights, both under the WSOF banner in 2012 and 2013. Friday, Spong (2-0) will return to the sport to take on Sergei Kharitonov (33-9) at the U.S. debut of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion in Miami.

Spong said training for an MMA fight took some getting used to, but feels ready for his return.

“It’s been years since I’ve had an MMA fight,” Spong told MMA Junkie. “Things have been going well. In the beginning, my body had to adjust (from) a long time of no grappling, wrestling. That was not fun, but I’m a very physical person, so I enjoy it. Right now, everything is locked in, but I feel good.”

Spong’s overall combat sports career is not short on experience. But he’ll be taking on a Russian opponent who has more than 20 times his experience in MMA. That’s just the math of it.

Spong said even that hasn’t caused him to dive into Kharitonov’s footage any more than he normally would – though he understands what he’s up against.

“I don’t really study my opponents. I never really have in my career,” he said. “I know the basics, and that’s enough. He’s a big guy, well experienced, fought the who’s-who in MMA. I look at the things he has, I look at the things I have: I’ve got to give him experience, I’ve got to give him size, maybe strength. But I’ve got speed, I’ve got fight IQ, explosiveness. So we’re going to play chess and use my advantage over his and try to secure the ‘W.'”

The bigger question for Spong may be whether or not he’s willing to play the long game with MMA after this fight. He admitted the original matchup with Antonio Silva, whom Kharitonov stepped in for, was something he took when an international boxing opportunity didn’t come to fruition.

But whether this is a one-off or not remains to be seen.

“We’re just focused on Friday now,” Spong said. “Friday is most important. I’ve got to come through that and get a ‘W,’ and then we’ll see. I’m not going to lie: I’m still passionate about boxing.”

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MMA Junkie Radio #3226: Guest Tyrone Spong, UFC on ESPN 32 recap

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,226, the boys bring on guest [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag], who headlines Eagle FC 44 against Sergei Kharitonov. Additionally, thy recap UFC on ESPN 32 and what comes next for Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze, as well as talk the latest headlines, including Dana White vs. Henry Cejudo. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Combat Rewind, April 26: A vintage ‘Cabbage’ Correira beatdown

If you weren’t around for prime “Cabbage” Correira, you missed some really fun fights. But now you can check him out in “Combat Rewind.”

There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.

So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:

  • Titan FC 54: [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Felipe Douglas [/autotag] – April 26, 2019
  • SuperBrawl 24: [autotag]Wesley Correira [/autotag]vs. [autotag]Kevin Jordan [/autotag] – April 26, 2002
  • IVC 5: [autotag]Milton Bahia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Eric Tavares[/autotag] – April 26, 1998
  • K-1 World Grand Prix 2008: [autotag]Tyrone Spong[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Azem Maksutaj[/autotag] – April 26, 2008
  • SuperBrawl 24, April 26, 2002: [autotag]Tim Sylvia [/autotag]vs. [autotag]Mike Whitehead[/autotag] – April 26, 2002
  • K-1 World Grand Prix 2008: [autotag]Freddy Kemayo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Catalin Morosanu[/autotag] – April 26, 2008

Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.