What happened at women’s flyweight and lightweight after big performances in Bellator and the UFC?
The MMA rankings report is back with a look at moves after Bellator 254 and UFC 256.
Bellator 254 featured a women’s flyweight title fight between unbeaten champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and challenger Juliana Velasquez. Velasquez actually was the betting favorite in the fight, so her title win wasn’t an upset. Yet it’s still somewhat surprising to see a new champ in that Bellator division.
At UFC 256, we had a stalemate in the flyweight title main event with a majority draw. But below champ Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno, there were big wins from the likes of Charles Oliveira against former interim champion Tony Ferguson, as well as Mackenzie Dern at women’s strawweight, Ciryl Gane at heavyweight and Kevin Holland at middleweight.
MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and “Gorgeous” George Garcia walk you through those divisions and more in the latest edition of the rankings report.
See how the UFC 256 winners and losers reacted on social media outlets such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and, perhaps most importantly, social-media platforms.
Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.
Following Saturday’s UFC 256 event in Las Vegas, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.
Check out the latest episode of Spinning Back Clique with news of Yoel Romero’s move to Bellator, a UFC 256 wrapup and much more.
Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, host Simon Head is joined by panelists “Gorgeous” George Garcia from MMA Junkie Radio and MMA Junkie’s Nolan King and Danny Segura.
UFC 256 featured a legitimate “Fight of the Year” candidate in the main event. Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo went the distance with Brandon Moreno and settled for a majority draw – in large part because he had a point taken away for a low blow. We unpack that decision and what comes next.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos has lost four straight fights, all by knockout. If we were giving “Cigano” advice on what he should do next, what would it be?
Saturday is the final UFC event of the year. Who’s the biggest name we should be paying attention to at UFC Fight Night 183?
For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 57 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.
In this week’s edition, host Simon Head, ‘Gorgeous’ George Garcia, Danny Segura and Nolan King discuss the recent UFC 256 as well as the breaking news of Yoel Romero signing for Bellator.
In this week’s edition, host Simon Head, ‘Gorgeous’ George Garcia, Danny Segura and Nolan King discuss the recent UFC 256 as well as the breaking news of Yoel Romero signing for Bellator.
Tony Ferguson is “far from being retired” after the 36-year-old was soundly defeated for the second consecutive time.
For the first time in his career, [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] is on a losing streak after being soundly defeated once again. But if you think the longtime UFC lightweight standout is finished, think again.
On Monday, Ferguson issued his first statement roughly 48 hours removed from a dominant performance by Charles Oliveira against him, en route to a unanimous decision loss at UFC 256. For “El Cucuy,” the result meant a second consecutive defeat after Justin Gaethje battered him before getting the TKO finish in the fifth round of their UFC interim title fight last May.
Prior to that, Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) had been on an impressive 12-fight winning streak that lasted six years. And while a decline for the 36-year-old might appear evident based on these last two performances, Ferguson has no plan to slow down – or hang up his gloves.
“My search for that epic word called ‘greatness’ isn’t over,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “… We are far from being retired.”
At no point in the three-round fight with Oliveira was Ferguson ever in control, as indicated by 30-26 scores across the board. Ferguson didn’t want to make excuses but did acknowledge fight-week changes made things different.
“I felt flat. I went out and welcomed the attack instead of defend,” Ferguson said. “The warm-up time in the back for UFC hasn’t been the same since pre-COVID. Still no excuses. Times change and so do people.”
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Oliveira, who pushed his winning streak to eight, was especially dominant in the grappling department against a veteran who prides himself on his ground game. Ferguson was saved by the bell in the first round as Oliveira locked in a deep armbar that bent Ferguson’s arm backward.
Ferguson, who indicated that his arm is “alright,” gave credit to Oliveira for his smooth jiu-jitsu display but vowed to never be in that position moving forward.
“Chuck was looking to take my back or go for the armbar as soon as we hit the mat. Thus I didn’t worry about the mount,” Ferguson said. “Kid was slick but so am I. I was looking for the knockout standing and D’Arce (choke) from bottom position once we hit (jiu-jitsu) transitions. It was fun fighting against a wet blanket. Mark my words, that scenario won’t happen again. Period.”
You can see Ferguson’s Instagram post and read his full statement below:
My Crew 🍃 No Excuses, I Felt Flat. I Went Out & Welcomed The Attack Instead Of Defend. The Warm Up Time In The Back for @UFC Hasn’t Been The Same Since Pre-COVID. Still No Excuses, Times Change & So Do People 🍃🌱🍃 The Time From Hotel To UFC Apex Is Much More Condensed & The Aggressive Level We Needed Was Not Reached. My Fault. 💯
After The Fight, We Were Checked By Doctors & Went Back To The Hotel. I Felt It Was In Order To Hit Pads/Spar Immediately Because The Fight Was Fresh In My Mind & Blood Circulation In My Arm Was Needed. I Really Needed To Figure Out What The F’n Problem Was From The Fight, Solution **Pre-Fight Time🥇Management**
Chuck Was Looking Take My Back or Go For The Armbar As Soon As We Hit The Mat. Thus I Didn’t Worry About The Mount, Kid Was Slick But So Am I. I Was Looking For The Knockout Standing & D’arce From Bottom Position Once We Hit Jits Transitions. It Was Fun Fighting Against A Wetblanket (AKA “Heavy Pressure Opponent”) Mark My Words,That Scenario Won’t Happen Again. Period.
My Arm Is Aright, The Armbar Was Really Tight. The Thought Of My Son ArmandAnthony’s Ability To Be Double Jointed In His Elbow During That Sequence & My Mental Capacity To Endure Pain Got Me Through It. # Breathe # Mental🥇TUFness. One ☝️
I’m Beyond Grateful & Thankful For My Talents 🌱 I Have Learned So Much About Myself This Year & What My Purpose In Life Is. My Search For That Epic Word Called “greatness” Isn’t Over. Understand Crew 🍃 We Are Far From Being Retired, So Message To My Haters🖕🤓 👍 *ShaBam*
Shout Out To My Team I Put Together On Three Weeks Notice. We’re Still Green🥇Boys Thanks For Not Deserting💯Me. (Team, We’re Barely Scratching The Surface To What We Can Truly Accomplish & For That I Say Amen). It Was Great Making Weight & Being Around My Fight Fam For The Week. I Can’t Wait Til We Compete In Front Of A Big Loud Crowd Again, It’s Not The Same Without You All
🎶🦸♂️🎶
Recovery🔛Moad # Happy⛄️Holidayze Crew 🍃 Champ Shit Only™️ Mi Gente “Never Give Up & Keep The🙏Faith” Champ 🧢⚾️ -XTA- Hometeam 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 # BecauseHashbrownsAreDelicious 🥇
Rafael Fiziev is ready to break into the UFC’s lightweight rankings and has called out a former title challenger.
[autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag] says he’s ready to break into the UFC’s lightweight rankings, and he’s identified the ideal next opponent to help him make a splash at 155 pounds.
After picking up his biggest win to date over Renato Moicano this past weekend at UFC 256, Fiziev wants a crack at former lightweight title challenger [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag].
Fiziev (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), who earned the “Performance of the Night” bonus for his first-round finish of Moicano, took to Twitter to call Iaquinta out.
“What’s up @ALIAQUINTA? How about me vs you and @funkmasterMMA vs my brother @PetrYanUFC on the same card? @tigermuaythai VS Long Island “
After receiving some criticism on Twitter for not accepting the fight, Iaquinta went onto clarify that he’s currently rehabbing after undergoing two surgeries.
Iaquinta, who has lost three of his past four, hasn’t competed since October 2019, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 243.
Despite revealing a record-breaking year, UFC president Dana White said he can’t wait to put a turbulent 2020 behind him.
LAS VEGAS – The past year may have been the most turbulent in the UFC’s recent history, but despite the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has enjoyed a banner year.
Reflecting on a crazy year for the world’s top MMA organization, UFC president Dana White told reporters that he ended the year with mixed emotions as he marked the occasion of the promotion’s final pay-per-view event of the year by happily waving goodbye to 2020, while also paying tribute to his company’s successes during unprecedented times.
“Yeah, it’s funny, because every time we’ve been talking through this year I’ve been telling you, ‘I can’t wait for this year to be over,'” he told reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage at the UFC Apex after UFC 256. “I don’t know what I expected for 2021, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be any different. It’s going to be a lot of the same (expletive) next year.”
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Despite the difficulties involved in keeping the business running in the middle of a global pandemic, White hailed the UFC’s year as a success, and claimed the promotion has achieved remarkable results, despite the challenges they’ve faced.
“This year was a great year for us,” he explained. “We had a great year, great fights – business has never been better. I did an interview the other day with (Yahoo Sport’s) Dan Wetzel and walked through the business with him and, basically, our business is up – we broke records this year in almost every category, except live gate. So 2020 was a horrible year in many ways for us personally and professionally, but it was a great year for the UFC.
“The first fight in Jacksonville, Florida, when no other sports were going, we had Ferguson and Gaethje. It’s been a good run, and we’ve had nothing but great fights this whole year. It’s been a fun year of fights, considering everything being shut down and all the stuff that we went through this year. … There’s been some good stuff and a lot of young talent that has emerged this year.”
The continuing coronavirus crisis means the UFC’s hopes of throwing open the doors to events are set to be put on hold in the early part of 2021, at least, but after establishing a blueprint for how to operate during the pandemic means White is heading into 2021 confident of more success, with a host of exciting matchups, some already booked, set to give the promotion a flying start to the new year. But, despite the achievements of 2020, White can’t wait to move on from a tumultuous year and make a fresh start in January.
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“Tonight was our last pay-per-view of the year and I just wanted to get through this and put 2020 in the rearview mirror,” he admitted. “You guys know, you can already tell how next year’s shaping up. We’ve got awesome fights next year.”
The UFC president also said that he’s looking to simplify his approach and focus purely on what he can control as he looks to repeat, or eclipse, the UFC’s 2020 successes in 2021.
“I don’t know how the rest of the world is going to be, and I’ve already sort of set my mind,” he said. “I’m in a place where I don’t give a (expletive) what goes on with the rest of the world. This is the only world that I have to focus on and think about, and take care of my people, my family, and whatever else goes on, (expletive) it. Whatever, man. I’m just focused on what’s going on here, so yeah, that’s my attitude going into 2021.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will be live on SportsCastr beginning at noon ET.
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will be live on SportsCastr beginning at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
On Episode 3,113, the fellas look back at a packed weekend of fights. At UFC 256, Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno produced one of the best fights of 2020 to headline the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. There’s also a recap of Bellator 254, where Juliana Velasquez dethroned Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in the main event to win the promotion’s women’s flyweight title.
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.
The final UFC title fight of the year was a memorable one. [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] produced an instant classic in the UFC 256 main event, and in the end, there was no winner.
Figueiredo (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) fought Moreno (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) to a majority draw in Saturday’s main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. That means the Brazilian retained the flyweight title – giving him a record two defenses in 21 days – but there wasn’t the finality that’s desired out of a UFC championship contest.
Fortunately, that finality appears to be coming in 2021, with UFC president Dana White indicating an immediate rematch between the two will be necessary.
Is that the best option for the 125-pound division, though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on the future of Figueiredo and Moreno after UFC 256.
The UFC 256 headliner was the latest, and strongest, example of why it’s time to do right by the division.
The division the UFC all but killed produced one of the greatest fights in company history Saturday night.
Over the course of 2018 and 2019, the UFC essentially traded away former longtime champion Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship, cut a slew of 125 pounders from the roster, and let titleholder Henry Cejudo go up a weight class, win the bantamweight belt, and vacate the flyweight crown.
Who could have predicted at the start of the year, with the belt vacant and the division seeming to be on death’s door, the company’s pay-per-view slate would end with a pair of flyweights throwing down in what was highly likely the men’s “Fight of the Year”?
Yet that was precisely what happened Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Brazil’s [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] and Mexico’s [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] were put together in a shotgun marriage of a main event at UFC 256, bailing the promotion out on the year-end event after an announced bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling fell out and an expected featherweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson didn’t materialize.
For 25 minutes, the duo went at one another like a pair of Tasmanian devils. Figueiredo looked openly contemptuous of the upstart in the opening round, standing right in front of him and not respecting his power. Moreno, who calls legendary boxer Julio Cesar Chavez his combat sports hero, made it clear how much the notion of becoming the UFC’s first Mexican-born champion meant to him. What he might have lacked in the champ’s technique, he made up for with heart and toughness, and by Round 2 it was clear that not only was he not going away, but the champ had a real fight on his hands.
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We already knew this bout was a classic by the midpoint of the third round, and that’s when we all held our breath as Figgy drilled Moreno with a low blow of a kick. For a couple minutes it appeared the fight might careen to a halt just as it was reaching rarified air.
But Moreno wasn’t about to ask out. Referee Jason Herzog docked the champ a point for the infraction. The fight was back on and accelerated in the fourth, one of the greatest displays of nonstop action we’ve ever seen from two fighters.
Things slowed in the fifth, as a left arm injury caught up to Moreno, and Figueiredo, who for his part was hospitalized Friday night with a stomach ailment, took the round on two cards, which enabled him to keep his belt via majority draw, even with the point deduction.
That slower-paced fifth round might spell the difference for overall “Fight of the Year,” as Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 never had that drop-off. But the fact we’re even having this conversation after the women’s fight was long presumed a lock is a testament to the greatness of Saturday night’s fight.
A rematch between the duo is a no-brainer, and White indicated in the post-fight news conference that one is indeed on the way.
Both of these guys are going to take some well earned time off to heal up.
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
If you figure it’s going to be a good six months before these guys rest up, go through a camp, and fight again, then it’s also most likely several months more before whomever is next in the flyweight pipeline has the opportunity to step up for a title challenge.
This, essentially, gives the UFC just about all of 2021 to rebuild the 125-pound weight class. Maybe you coax Henry Cejudo, who we all know is going to return eventually, back to the cage. Maybe you give Cody Garbrandt a fight to prove he can make the weight, and line him up for the winner if he’s victorious. Maybe ONE’s house of cards finally collapses, and you give it another try with “Mighty Mouse,” who isn’t old.
Maybe, as the $7 billion company cuts scores of veteran fighters and pretends the wave of low-paid Contender Series types is mere coincidence, they can channel some fraction of those savings back toward rebuilding a division with real promise.
“We all know nobody cared about it,” UFC president Dana White claimed about the flyweights at the UFC 256 post-fight news conference. “I sat up here at press conferences before the fight telling everybody why you need to watch that division and why there were so many great fights, but people just didn’t give a (expletive). You can’t make people care. They gotta care or they don’t.”
That’s a highly debatable spin. A promoter’s entire job is about making people care. But anyway, this is the company’s chance for a full reset.
Two exciting, charismatic fighters bailed out a show that needed a main event with a short-notice classic. Time for the promotion to give these champions the deep division they deserve.
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