Tag: UFC 256

Mackenzie Dern eyes title in 2021, but first comes key UFC 256 fight vs. Virna Jandiroba

Mackenzie Dern said her work with new striking coach Jason Parillo is paying immediate dividends, and she believes a title shot could come soon.

Long known as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] said her work with new coach Jason Parillo is paying immediate dividends, and she believes a UFC title shot could be coming soon.

“Definitely in 2021, I want to try and pick a little bit more my fights to really get me one step closer to the belt, not just fight anyone for anytime for anything,” Dern said Thursday during a virtual media day ahead of UFC 256. “I really want to fight the top fighters and show that I have the level to be the champion. I don’t want to get there by just fighting anyone. I want to get there by proving myself, and I think the best way to prove it is by fighting the top contenders.”

Dern (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will take a step in that direction at Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where she takes on former Invicta FC strawweight champion Virna Jandiroba (16-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). The main-card bout streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

It’s a meaningful fight at 115 pounds, with Jandiroba sitting at No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie strawweight rankings, and Dern checking in at No. 13. It’s also an intriguing matchup stylistically, with both fighters being sensational grapplers. However, Dern believes her game is a bit more well rounded.

“I think her grappling is a lot of pressure and passing and things like that, and people see me doing these crazy armbars and leglocks and kind of a little bit looser and stuff like that, but man, I’m a complete fighter,” Dern said.

A lifelong jiu-jitsu practitioner, grappling is second nature to the 27-year-old at this point in her career. But recent work with Parillo, which started ahead of her September win over Randa Markos, made her much more confident in her standup game, as well.

Dern said her strategy is certainly not built primarily around striking but thinks her improvements on the feet will prove beneficial.

“Of course my plan is not to win the fight striking, but I definitely think it’s going to give a lot more opportunities to show and maybe hurt her a little bit on my striking so the jiu-jitsu will be even easier, but I think it’s going to be a great fight,” Dern said.

The winner will certainly take a big step forward in the UFC’s increasingly deep strawweight division, which is expected to feature some marquee matchups early in 2021. With a two-fight winning streak built since suffering the lone loss of her career, Dern wants to be a part of those fights and believes Saturday is her chance to get her name in the mix.

“I’m seeing such a big evolution on my game, my striking,” Dern said. “I’m training more my boxing than my jiu-jitsu, and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m seeing such a big evolution’ and everything, so I really want to try to take advantage of this momentum that I have for my last two fights, take advantage of my training with (Parillo) and how much potential he’s showing me that I have. So I’m really happy, and I’m excited to see if I can show everyone with this fight.”

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UFC 256’s Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she is a star just yet, out looking for respect though

UFC 256’s Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she is a star just yet, out looking for respect though

UFC 256’s Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she is a star just yet, out looking for respect though

UFC 256: Cub Swanson excited about good matchups, not just rankings

UFC 256: Cub Swanson excited about good matchups, not just rankings

UFC 256: Cub Swanson excited about good matchups, not just rankings

UFC 256 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Tony Ferguson has quite a day at the Las Vegas Circus Center

Go behind the scenes with the fourth episode of “Embedded” leading up to UFC 256 headlined by a flyweight title fight.

The UFC returns Saturday night with its final pay-per-view of the year, UFC 256, which features a quick turnaround flyweight title fight as top billing.

UFC 256 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

In the main event, [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] will defend his 125-pound championship against [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] just 21 days since both men last fought. And in the co-main event, [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] looks to get back to his winning ways when he meets rising contender [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] in a pivotal lightweight clash.

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows some of the big names. Here’s the UFC’s description from YouTube:

Tony Ferguson does cardio a la trampoline; Brandon Moreno starts quarantine. Charles Oliveira begins his weight cut. Mackenzie Dern eyes sub of the year; champ Deiveson Figueiredo expects another KO. Figueiredo, Moreno and Kevin Holland attend media day.

Also see:

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MMA Junkie Radio #3112 with guest Jamahal Hill, UFC 256 and Bellator 254 previews

Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze”!

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On Episode 3,112, the guys welcome UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill, fresh off his TKO win over Ovince Saint Preux this past Saturday. The guys also look ahead to Thursday night’s Bellator 254 and Saturday’s UFC 256, as well as react to the latest MMA news and notes, including Anthony Johnson making the move to Bellator. 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.

Jared Vanderaa tests positive for COVID-19, out of UFC 256 fight vs. Serghei Spivac

Another fight is off UFC 256 due to a positive COVID-19 test.

UFC 256 has lost another fight due to COVID-19.

This time it’s the heavyweights. The preliminary card fight between [autotag]Jared Vanderaa[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] has been canceled. Vanderaa (11-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) tested positive for COVID-19 and was subsequently removed from Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the cancellation to MMA Junkie on Thursday.

It is unclear at this time whether or not Spivac (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will remain on the card. With weigh-ins less than 24 hours away, the UFC is certainly pressed for time in finding a replacement.

The cancellation marks the 11th publicly-known fight UFC 256 has lost.

Earlier this week the card lost three fights due to positive COVID-19 tests: Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill (Hill was later replaced by Sam Hughes), Karl Roberson vs. Dalcha Lungiambula, and Dwight Grant vs. Li Jingliang.

With the addition, here’s the updated lineup for UFC 256:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno
  • Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira
  • Rafael Fiziev vs. Renato Moicano
  • Kevin Holland vs. Ronaldo Souza
  • Junior Dos Santos vs. Ciryl Gane

PRELIMS (ESPN2, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Daniel Pineda vs. Cub Swanson
  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba
  • Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker
  • Tecia Torres vs. Sam Hughes

EARLY PRELIMS (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Serghei Spivac vs. TBA
  • Peter Barrett vs. Chase Hooper

Positive COVID-19 test forces Charles Oliveira’s head coach to miss UFC 256

Facing his biggest fight against Tony Ferguson, Charles Oliveira will make the walk without head coach Diego Lima by his side.

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] will make the walk at UFC 256 without head coach Diego Lima by his side.

In an interview with UFC.com, Lima revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 just days before the team left Sao Paulo for Las Vegas, which will keep him from cornering Oliveira for his co-main event fight vs. Tony Ferguson on Saturday.

“As I was without symptoms and at the same time excited for the fight that we asked for so much, we can’t believe it when something like this happens,” Lima said in Portuguese, as translated by Google Translate. “I even did other tests, but they ended up positive, too, so there was no other way out.”

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Oliveira (29-8 MMA, 17-8 UFC), who’s riding a seven-fight winning streak, is entering the biggest fight of his career as he looks to take one step closer to securing his first UFC title shot. In his corner will be MMA veteran Jorge Patino and Gia Santos.

Charles Oliveira believes it’s his destiny to be UFC champ: ‘It’s written’

Ten years into his UFC run, Charles Oliveira finds himself in the biggest fight of his career, and he believes bigger fights are on the way.

Ten years into his UFC run, [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] now finds himself in the biggest fight of his career, and he believes bigger fights are on the way.

In his mind, Oliveira sees a simple destiny: The UFC lightweight title will be wrapped around his waist in 2021.

“For sure,” Oliveira said through an interpreter at a virtual media day promoting UFC 256. “That’s all planned out. It’s written.”

The way Oliveira sees it, reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will remain true to his promise to never fight again. “The Eagle” called it a career following his October win over Justin Gaethje, but UFC president Dana White has stood firm in his believe that the undefeated Nurmagomedov will return to the cage in search of an additional win to bring his career record to an incredible 30-0.

But Oliveira believes Nurmagomedov, whose father passed away from COVID-19 complications earlier this year, will keep the promise he made.

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“I have no doubts in my mind,” Oliveira said. “The champ in the division swore on his father’s grave that he’s not going to fight again, so why would he fight again?”

As Oliveira sees it, with the belt up for grabs, there’s a natural tournament set up on the schedule.

Oliveira (29-8 MMA, 17-8 UFC) faces former interim champion Tony Ferguson (25-4 MMA, 15-2 UFC) in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 256 event, which airs on pay-per-view from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. From there, he sees the winner facing off with the victor of the UFC 257 headliner in January, with Conor McGregor facing Dustin Poirier.

While UFC officials haven’t even hinted at such a plan, it’s not a far-fetched scenario. All four fighters Oliveira mentioned, including himself, are currently in the top six in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings – with Nurmagomedov and Gaethje filling out the list.

For Oliveira, who’s in the middle a career-best seven-fight octagon winning streak, Oliveira knows it’s his chance to break into an exclusive club that has long evaded his grasp.

“The top five guys have been this little group fighting each other,” Oliveira said. “I knew the opportunity was going to come. At some point, those guys weren’t going to have an opportunity. Thankfully I’m in that position now.”

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