Tag: UFC 252

Dana White: ‘No debate’ that Stipe Miocic-Daniel Cormier trilogy winner is heavyweight GOAT

“Saturday will determine who the man is.”

LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White agrees that legacy is at stake in the UFC 252 main event.

Heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) will defend his title against former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) on Saturday in a trilogy fight that many believe will determine the greatest heavyweight of all time.

With the score tied 1-1, both men are vying to cement their position, and White thinks this fight undoubtedly determines who the best heavyweight in the history of the sport is.

“I’m so pumped for that fight,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Tuesday night. “First of all, both the fights before the trilogy have been incredible. The way that Cormier won the first fight and the way that Stipe won the second fight, and it’s one of the best trilogies ever. I saw some debate on if the winner of this fight would go down as the greatest heavyweight – it’s no (expletive) debate. There’s no debate. The winner of this fight is the greatest heavyweight ever. Not of this era – ever in UFC history and mixed martial arts.

“I know there’s talk about other guys, you gotta look at who they fought, and there’s just no doubt. There’s no question that these two – Saturday will determine who the man is.”

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Former PRIDE heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko, who at one point went on a remarkable 27-fight unbeaten run, is widely regarded by many as the greatest heavyweight of all time, but White scoffed at that notion when it was brought up.

White thinks there’s no comparison when looking at the level of competition that both Miocic and Cormier have gone up against throughout their careers.

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+.

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UFC 252 free fight: Sean O’Malley delivers spectacular walk-off knockout of Eddie Wineland

Relive Sean O’Malley’s highlight-reel knockout over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] continues to rise to the occasion.

After a successful return at UFC 248 in March, O’Malley (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) faced veteran Eddie Wineland at UFC 250 in arguably his toughest test to date.

O’Malley fought long, throwing an array of kicks and jabs, while Wineland tried to close the distance. Wineland clipped O’Malley with a solid right as he continued to pressure, but O’Malley did a good job of circling away to regain the center of the octagon.

O’Malley started to ramp up the aggression, landing a body kick, a right hand, then a spinning back kick that Wineland ducked under. But as soon as O’Malley got back up, he starched Wineland with a straight right that knocked him out cold.

O’Malley returns to action when he meets Marlon Vera (17-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 252, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Before he faces Vera, relive O’Malley’s finish of Wineland in the video above.

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UFC 252 free fight: Junior Dos Santos hands Tai Tuivasa his first career defeat

Relive Junior Dos Santos’ finish of Tai Tuivasa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 142.

Former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] reminded everyone why he’s no stepping stone.

Dos Santos (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) faced formerly unbeaten [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] in the main event of UFC Fight Night 142 in Australia, where he was determined to take out the surging contender on enemy territory.

Tuivasa charged at Dos Santos and put the pressure on him right off the bat. Dos Santos remained calm, and utilized his jab to keep Tuivasa at bay, but “Bam Bam” did a great job of cutting him off. Tuivasa continued to lunge forward at Dos Santos and forced the Brazilian against the fence before landing with a heavy leg kick. He then followed up with a nice combination and finished an encouraging first round by clipping Dos Santos before the buzzer.

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Tuivasa continued his aggressive approach in Round 2 as he backed Dos Santos up against the cage once more, before tagging him with big overhand rights. However, Tuivasa started to get reckless and Dos Santos clipped him hard with a big counter right that dropped the Australian to the canvas. Dos Santos followed his man to the ground, transitioned to full mount and claimed the finish with ground strikes.

Dos Santos went on to take out Derrick Lewis and extend his winning run to three in a row, but then suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes.

Dos Santos returns to action on Aug. 15 when he meets Jairzinho Rozenstruik (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at UFC 252, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Before he faces Rozenstruik, relive Dos Santos’ finish of Tuivasa in the video above.

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Ion Cutelaba tests positive for COVID-19; Magomed Ankalaev rematch off of UFC 252

Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev won’t be running it back at UFC 252.

[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] won’t be running it back at UFC 252.

Ahead of Saturday’s rematch at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Cutelaba (15-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) was removed from the fight following a positive COVID-19 test. As a result, Cutelaba is currently in quarantine.

A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the situation after an initial report by TASS. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

No replacement will be sought to face Ankalaev (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), but the fight “will likely” be rebooked for Aug. 29, according to one source.

The original fight between the two light heavyweight competitors took place at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in February. After a sequence of brain-rattling kicks and punches from Ankalaev, referee Kevin MacDonald waived off the fight. The stoppage came despite Cutelaba still being on his feet and throwing back, which got a protest out of the Moldovan fighter as well as many fans and media members.

The fight was immediately rebooked for April 18, however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be canceled.

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+.

With Cutelaba’s removal, the latest UFC 252 lineup includes:

  • Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – for heavyweight title
  • Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
  • Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
  • John Dodson vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
  • Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
  • Jorge Gonzalez vs. Ike Villanueva
  • Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda
  • Chris Daukaus vs. Parker Porter
  • Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley

Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley in the works as late addition to UFC 252

A fight between two UFC newcomers is being finalized for Saturday’s card.

A late addition is being finalized for UFC 252.

Promotional newcomers [autotag]Kai Kamaka III[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Kelley[/autotag] have agreed to fight Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Contracts are expected to distributed shortly.

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

Kamaka (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has competed for KOTC, Bellator and, most recently, LFA. At LFA 87 on July 31, Kamaka beat undefeated fighter Michael Stack by unanimous decision. Kamaka, 25, has won five straight fights entering UFC 252.

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Kelley (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has competed only once since a 2016 split decision loss to now-UFC featherweight Kevin Aguilar at Legacy FC 57. In his lone fight since then, Kelley defeated Andy Brossett at Rite of Passage 7 in May 2019.

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+.

With the addition, the latest UFC 252 lineup includes:

  • Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – for heavyweight title
  • Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
  • Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
  • John Dodson vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
  • Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
  • Jorge Gonzalez vs. Ike Villanueva
  • Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda
  • Chris Daukaus vs. Parker Porter
  • Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley

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Marlon Vera on Sean O’Malley dying hair with Ecuador colors: ‘Fans have always supported me’

Marlon Vera is unfazed by Sean O’Malley’s antics ahead of their UFC 252 fight.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] is glad his next opponent is repping his country’s colors.

The 27-year-old bantamweight fights in the co-main event of UFC 252 this Saturday against Sean O’Malley – one of the UFC’s most popular names in the bantamweight division. O’Malley (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) recently made headlines after dying his hair with the colors of Vera’s home country of Ecuador. Vera (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is unfazed by O’Malley’s antics and supports the change in look.

“The truth is that the fans have always supported me, and it’s something very gratifying to my country that he dyed his hair those colors,” Vera said in Spanish on Monday’s episode of “Hablemos MMA.” “He already knows who’s going to dictate the fight.”

As far as the actual fight, Vera recognizes O’Malley is a game fighter but said he wasn’t taken away by his last performance. O’Malley knocked out former WEC champion Eddie Wineland in June.

“He’s a guy that has talent,” Vera said. “He knows how to fight well. He has power in his hands. He has his style, but let’s be honest, people want to make that fight was his breakout moment, a fight that put him the highest. But the casual fans forget that Eddie Wineland was knocked out the same way by Johnny Eduardo. It was a very similar knockout.

“The people who don’t study the UFC that much that are only fans at night; obviously they’re going to think he’s the best, and good for him because that gets him more money, gets him to the title quicker. But at the end of the day, Eddie Wineland was knocked out like that a few years ago, so Eddie Wineland bout in my opinion doesn’t count.”

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Despite the co-main event billing on a UFC pay-per-view card, and facing someone with the popularity of O’Malley, Vera is not buying into the hype of the moment and sees the contest as another day in the office.

“I always think that the next fight is the biggest of my career no matter who it is,” Vera explained. “In its time, it was (John) Lineker. In its time, it was (Brad) Pickett. In its time, it was (Brian) Kelleher, who was coming off a win against someone in the rankings.

“If the fighter has fame or not, that doesn’t make the fight for me. Every fight is the most important. It’s big, but just like any other fight. There’s nothing special about it. What’s special is that I’m ready, and I know I have the weapons to put this guy away.”

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+.

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The War Room: Dan Hardy breaks down Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera at UFC 252

Dan Hardy breaks down the bantamweight co-main event bout between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera ahead of fight night at UFC 252.

UFC 252 features a pivotal bout in the bantamweight division, as surging prospect [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] looks to push his way toward title contention against the dangerous [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in their 135-pound co-main event clash.

O’Malley (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has looked outstanding since emerging as a potential star of the future in Dana White’s Contender Series, and now the 25-year-old will look to move one step closer to the division’s big names with victory over Ecuador’s Vera (17-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who is looking to bounce back into the win column following his May defeat to Song Yadong at UFC on ESPN 8.

Ahead of their bout, former UFC welterweight title challenger and UFC analyst Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy invites us into “The War Room” as he takes a deep dive into the matchup and offers his technical pointers ahead of the fight. Check out his pre-fight assessment via the video above.

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+.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

UFC 252 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Family pool time for Stipe Miocic

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

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

Sean O’Malley gets his hair done by his multitasking wife. Daniel Cormier sets off for an old-school Las Vegas experience. Stipe Miocic spends time with his family in the pool.

Also see:

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Felice Herrig’s first children’s book is out the week of her UFC 252 return

This was going to be a big week for Felice Herrig one way or another, but it turned out to be doubly big.

This was going to be a big week for Felice Herrig one way or another, but it turned out to be doubly big.

Approaching two years since she most recently fought, Herrig (14-8 MMA, 5-3 UFC) finally will step back in the cage Saturday against Virna Jandiroba (15-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC 252. She’s been sidelined recovering from an ACL injury and will be trying to snap a two-fight skid.

But adding to her excitement this week is the release of her first book, which is out Tuesday. Herrig wrote “The Lil’ Bulldog: Lemons into Lemonade,” a children’s book based on her recent injury recovery with D.M. Eason. And as an added bonus, the book is illustrated by Herrig’s father, Kirk Herrig.

“Lemons into Lemonade” is available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and an additional 39,000 retailers through Ingram’s Lightning Source publishing service, according to Herrig’s longtime management team at SuckerPunch Entertainment.

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Herrig said the book’s release timed to her UFC 252 fight week wasn’t intentional, though.

“The timing of it was purely coincidental,” Herrig posted on Instagram. “Although I like to look at the little signs life gives me telling me I’m on the right path.”

Here’s what a news release for the book has to say about Herrig and the book:

With the same super tenacious, always moving forward, pushing the pace style that makes her a fierce competitor in three fighting sports, professional mixed-martial artist Felice Herrig reminds young fans that in the Octagon and in life, sweet victory follows on the heels of a positive attitude and dogged determination. In her new children’s picture book, The Lil’ Bulldog, Lemons into Lemonade, the cartoon version of The Lil’ Bulldog wins another big fight, but an injury threatens to sour her victory. Instead of throwing in the towel, she works her way back while learning new things with the help of Quinn the Cat and a host of animal friends.

Publishing the book marks a deeply personal accomplishment for Herrig.

“I come from a very artistic family, but my dad just has this raw gift when it comes to illustrating,” Herrig says. “When I was seven years old, my two-year-old brother died of pancreatic cancer, and my dad hasn’t really drawn since around that time. I knew approaching this book that I wanted my dad to do the illustrations. It wasn’t until the quarantine (coronavirus) that I convinced him to draw again. That’s when my dad and I started developing characters. And of course we are dedicating the book to my brother who passed away.”

A world class kick boxer, Muay Thai fighter, and mixed martial artist, Felice Herrig has earned multiple amateur and professional titles in more than 30 boxing and kickboxing matches and 24 MMA fights. She’s paved the way for women to compete and be recognized on shows like Fight Girls, Chuck Norris’s World Combat League, Ultimate Fighter 20, and American Ninja Warrior. And she blazed a trail for female fighters as one of the first strawweights signed to the UFC. With her debut children’s picture book, The Lil’ Bulldog, Lemons into Lemonade, she hopes to inspire young fans to stick to their dreams, no matter what.

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+.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Spinning Back Clique: Will Miocic vs. Cormier 3 determine the heavyweight GOAT?

Check out this week’s edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” which examines the stakes for arguably the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history.

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, John Morgan hosts and is joined by MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze,” as well as MMA Junkie reporter Nolan King. Let’s go!

SHOW TOPICS

  • After his stoppage win over Aleksei Oleinik at UFC on ESPN+ 32 on Saturday night, [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] dropped three names when asked about his next matchup. “The Black Beast” name-checked Curtis Blaydes, Francis Ngannou and Alistair Overeem as opponents that “make sense.” Which of those opponents would you like to see next? Or is there an alternative selection that makes even more sense?
  • Friday night saw former three-time Bellator lightweight champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] head into free agency with a stunning first-round finish of former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson. He says he’s in his fighting prime, and it’s hard to disagree given his most recent performance. But if we’re to assume that all potential avenues are open, where do you think Chandler will end up, and how far will he go with his new promotion?
  • It’s the big one this coming Saturday night, as [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] throw down for all the marbles in arguably the biggest heavyweight title fight in UFC history at UFC 252. The winner, will of course, be the UFC heavyweight champion, but will they also be the greatest heavyweight of all time, as some are saying this would determine?
  • Sticking with UFC 252 this weekend, the fight card is stacked with superb matchups, but while the main event is obviously going to pull the majority of the attention ahead of fight night, the co-main has some real potential for fireworks. In just his fifth fight for the promotion, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] is featured in the co-main event of a pay-per-view. Do you expect him to capitalize on the opportunity in a matchup with a tough opponent in Marlon Vera, or is the hype too much at this point in his career?
  • AND FINALLY, we’ve seen some solid successes from mulleted fighters in recent weeks, with [autotag]Andrew Sanchez[/autotag]’s superb knockout this past weekend following hot on the heels of [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]’s two finishes in June and July. They’re the current flag bearers for the “Business in the front, party in the back” look, but who is your favorite mulleted fighter of all time? Who wore it best?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 41 of “Spinning Back Clique” above. 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+.

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