UFC 252 – Page 11 – Syndication Server

UFC 252: Marlon Vera virtual media day interview

Marlon Vera answers questions at the UFC 252 virtual media day

UFC 252: Merab Dvalishvili virtual media day interview

Merab Dvalishvili answers questions at the UFC 252 virtual media day

Sean O’Malley modeling Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya’s rise to stardom ahead of UFC 252

Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya represent two of UFC’s biggest rises, and Sean O’Malley wants to enter that discussion.

Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya represent two of the most significant UFC rises over the past decade. [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] is hoping to turn it into a three-pronged discussion.

O’Malley (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has flourished quickly in the octagon and appears to be positioned to make another big leap with a co-main event spot against Marlon Vera (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at UFC 252, which takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Ahead of his first co-headlining position on a pay-per-view card, O’Malley was asked which fighters he would like to emulate in terms of making a quick leap to star status. McGregor, the former two-division UFC titleholder, and Adesanya, the reigning middleweight champ, were the two examples on the tip of his tongue.

“I think obviously Conor’s career went well,” O’Malley told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC 252 virtual media day. “Israel Adesanya’s career went well and I feel like I want a similar career like that.

“(McGregor and I are) pretty similar in fighting styles. We knock people out in the first round. We’re not afraid to say how the fight will play out.”

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O’Malley appears to have all the necessary attributes to be a star for the UFC. The promotion seemingly has a great interest in seeing him succeed, and “Suga” has done the right things outside the cage in terms of establishing his own brand, personality and following.

He said none of that matters if he’s not delivering inside the octagon, though. Many hope to see O’Malley get a marquee fight in the bantamweight division if he gets past Vera at UFC 252, but in O’Malley’s mind, merely winning isn’t enough.

“I think it totally depends how I go out there and finish ‘Chito,'” O’Malley said. “If I win a decision I don’t get that big, big next fight name. I could, because if I win a decision it will be a very impressive decision. But if I starch him I think I will get whoever I want.”

O’Malley said he does expect to “starch” Vera, even despite the fact no one has been able to finish the Ecuadorian fighter in his six career losses. With that, he’ll make the statement he desires.

“He’s in the UFC, he’s tough, he’s beat people in the UFC, he’s finished people in the UFC and he’s never been finished,” O’Malley said. “All around it’s a tough fight. He’s my toughest opponent to date and with that said, I’ll probably still drop him in the first round.”

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UFC 252: John Dodson virtual media day interview

John Dodson answers media questions ahead of his bout at UFC 252

UFC 252’s Jairzinho Rozenstruik: ‘I’m right there’ for title shot with win over Junior Dos Santos

UFC 252 pre-event facts: Stipe Miocic makes history with third straight Daniel Cormier fight

The best facts and figures about UFC 252, which features a Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight title trilogy in the main event.

The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252. The five-fight lineup follows prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A pivotal moment in the sport’s history will unfold in the main event as UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and former two-division titleholder [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will clash for the third and final time. The winner not only will have the belt and bragging rights for winning the trilogy, but they’ll also carry the distinction of greatest heavyweight in UFC history, according to UFC president Dana White.

Miocic and Cormier both bring extraordinary and decorated resumes to the octagon. For more on the numbers behind their fight, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC 252.

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Main event

Miocic becomes the first in history to face the same opponent in three consecutive UFC fights.

Miocic is one of four heavyweight champions in UFC history to have multiple reigns.

Miocic’s five UFC heavyweight title fight victories are tied with Tim Sylvia for second most in divisional history behind Randy Couture (six).

Miocic’s three consecutive UFC heavyweight title defense during his first reign were the most of any champion in divisional history.

Miocic’s 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (18), Frank Mir (16), Junior Dos Santos (15) and Derrick Lewis (15).

Miocic’s nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (11), Dos Santos (10) and Cain Velasquez (10).

Miocic’s stoppage victory at UFC 241 despite a -58 significant strike deficit is the second largest comeback in a UFC title fight behind Anderson Silva’s win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 (-60).

Miocic and Cormier combined for 304 significant strikes landed at UFC 241, the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight fight.

Miocic’s nine fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are the most in divisional history.

Cormier is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.

Cormier is one of seven two-division champions in UFC history. McGregor, Nunes, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.

Cormier is one of three fighters in UFC history to record successful title defenses in two weight classes. Cejudo an Nunes also accomplished the feat.

Cormier is one of five fighters in UFC history to win a belt while coming off a loss. He accomplished the feat against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.

Cormier is one of two fighters in UFC history to win two title fights following a loss or no-contest. Couture also accomplished the feat.

Cormier competes in the 17th heavyweight bout of his career. He’s 15-1 overall in the weight class.

Cormier lands 62.9 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Alistair Overeem (74 percent) and Anthony Hamilton (65.6 percent).

Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson combined for 260 significant strikes at UFC 192, a single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.

Cormier’s 140 significant strikes landed against Gustafsson are second most in a UFC light-heavyweight bout behind Cyrille Diabate’s 146 at UFC on VERSUS 3.

Cormier is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from the crucifix position. He accomplished the feat at UFC 220.

Cormier is 9-0 in his career when he lands at least two takedowns in a fight.

Cormier has spent just 12 seconds in bottom position in UFC heavyweight competition, the least in divisional history for anyone with at least five fights.

Co-main event

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (seven) Aljamain Sterling (five) and Marlon Vera (five).

Marlon Vera’s (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Sterling for the second longest active streak in the division behind Yan (seven).

Vera has earned eight of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.

Vera’s seven stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Urijah Faber for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).

Vera’s four submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).

Featured bout

[autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.

Dos Santos’ total fight time of 3:50:40 in UFC heavyweight competition is second most in company history behind Arlovski (4:48:42).

Dos Santos’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17) and Mir (16).

Dos Santos’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Lewis (11).

Dos Santos’ 14 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Dos Santos has landed 1,075 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.

Dos Santos and Ben Rothwell combined for 234 significant strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86, the third most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Miocic vs. Cormier (304) at UFC 241 and Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (282) at UFC Fight Night 121.

Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Rothwell are second most in a UFC heavyweight fight behind Cormier (181) at UFC 241.

Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed against Rothwell are the UFC heavyweight record for a single fight.

Dos Santos defends 81.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Tybura (82.1 percent).

[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Rozenstruik’s nine-second knockout at UFC on ESPN+ 12 is the second fastest in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second finish at UFC 102.

Rozenstruik’s knockout of Alistair Overeem at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 at UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.

Remaining main card

[autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since March 2014. He went 8-2 with two no contests between stints with the promotion.

Pineda has earned all 26 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 18 of those wins by submission.

[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 4-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 5-4 in the weight class overall.

Dodson has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.

Dodson has fought to three split decision results in UFC bantamweight competition, tied for second most in divisional history behind Kyung Ho Kang (four).

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.

Dvalishvili’s 39 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.

Dvalishvili is one of two fighters in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson also accomplished the feat.

Dvalishvili outlanded Terrion Ware by 183 total strikes at UFC Fight Night 136, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.

Preliminary card

[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 21-13 UFC) competes in his 36th UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 34th lightweight appearance is also a divisional record.

Miller’s total fight time of 5:21:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.

Miller’s 21 victories in UFC competition are third most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22).

Miller’s 19 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Miller’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13).

Miller’s 10 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Royce Gracie for third most in history behind Charles Oliveira (14) and Maia (11).

Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.

Miller’s 43 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.

Miller’s 11 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are tied with Nate Diaz for third most in divisional history behind Cerrone (15) and Lauzon (15).

[autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is 3-1 since he returned from a career-long layoff that lasted from May 2014 to June 2017.

Pichel lands 60.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the division behind Islam Makhachev (68 percent).

[autotag]Felice Herrig[/autotag] (14-8 MMA, 5-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 6, 2018. The 679-day layoff (nearly two years) is the longest of her more than 11-year career.

[autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera prediction | UFC 252 breakdown

Check out the MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC 252 co-main event between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.

Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier prediction | UFC 252 breakdown

Check out the MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC 252 main event between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier.

UFC 252 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Daniel Cormier plays the trilogy on EA UFC 4 video game

How do you think it turned out?

The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252, and the promotion’s popular “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.

UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

In the main event, a highly anticipated trilogy takes place. Heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] will defend his title against former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] to settle their 1-1 tie. And in the co-headliner, rising prospect [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in a key bantamweight showdown.

The third episode of “Embedded” follows the fighters as fight night draws near. Below is the UFC’s description:

Daniel Cormier plays as himself in the UFC 4 video game. Felice Herrig, John Dodson, Junior Dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik check in. Marlon Vera video chats with his wife; Sean O’Malley starts his quarantine. Stipe Miocic puts his coaches to work.

Also see:

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Inside the Numbers: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 | UFC 252 pre-fight facts

Check out the key facts, figures and footnotes for UFC 252, which is headlined by Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier.