Tag: UFC 278

Merab Dvalishvili ponders flyweight with Jose Aldo win: ‘Me and Aljamain Sterling are never fighting each other’

Merab Dvalishvili is ready to change divisions before fighting his friend and training partner, UFC champion Aljamain Sterling.

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] is ready to change divisions before fighting his friend [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag].

Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) could find himself on the cusp of a title shot if he beats [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] at UFC 278 on Aug. 20, but with his training partner Sterling currently champion of the bantamweight division, Dvalishvili hinted at the possibility of dropping down to 125 pounds.

The rising contender from Georgia admits it would be a heavy cut, but if he can’t get another big name at 135 pounds, flyweight could be an option.

“I want to win,” Dvalishvili told Helen Yee in an interview. “I’m not going to let Jose Aldo beat me, and if Jose Aldo beats me, he’s next for the title shot. But I’m going to win. I don’t care (about) title fight now. After this win, maybe I will try cut and go 125 or I fight Sean O’Malley or somebody with a big name.

“I’m walking around like 155 and I cut like 20 pounds. I never have a nutritionist. I never asked somebody. Otherwise, I cut my old style when I was cutting 10 years ago – same style. Then I see people cutting 30 pounds. I cut 20. Everybody (else) cuts 30 pounds. Not everybody, but most people. So if they do it, I can do it, too. But we’ll see. I’m just focused on this fight and I know that I can make 125. If I kill myself, I’ll make 125.”

Sterling defends his title against T.J. Dillashaw in the co-main event of UFC 280 on Oct. 22. Dvalishvili has championship aspirations himself, but isn’t worried about chasing the title as long as Sterling is champion.

“I just want to win against Jose Aldo,” Dvalishvili said. “Even this win will be big for me and we’ll see what’s going to happen after. We all know, me and Aljo – we’re never fighting each other. I just want this win. We’ss see after, but this is good problem to have. We are best friends. So he’s champion and I’m OK. Aljo makes me tell (everyone) he beats me everyday in the gym.”

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Miranda Maverick wants Molly McCann after UFC 278: ‘I’m ready to derail that fake hype train’

Miranda Maverick wants to put a stop to Molly McCann’s momentum.

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag] wants to put a stop to [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]’s momentum.

McCann (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) followed up her spinning elbow knockout of Luana Carolina in March by starching Hannah Goldy in the first round this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 208, sending The O2 in London into a frenzy once again.

But Maverick (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) thinks McCann has yet to fight legitimate competition in the UFC.

“Let’s go – let’s fight it out,” Maverick told MMA Junkie Radio. “If she wants to fight now, she didn’t want to fight me before, she took on an opponent in Hannah Goldy who – I like Hannah just fine, but she’s a strawweight naturally, and she’s not even on a winning streak or anything. She’s had like three out of her last four fights were losses, and it was just another person to be thrown to Molly so that she could win in front of her home crowd. I’m ready to derail that fake hype train.”

But first, Maverick has to get past Shanna Young at UFC 278 on Aug. 20. McCann already has her sights set on Antonina Shevchenko, but Maverick explained why her against McCann is the fight to make.

“I’ve had people on both sides that are like, ‘She should get a ranked opponent,’ and I’m like, ‘She’s fought no one to where she deserves a ranked opponent,’ first of all,” Maverick said. “Two, the whole thing of, ‘You should get a ranked opponent – you don’t need to be going back down the rankings.’

“And I’m like, I plan on being in this sport for years to come. I don’t need to race my way to the top and then slowly fall back like all these fighters do. I’m ready to take my time and make money by the time I get it to the top.”

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UFC 278 official poster: Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards stare down their rematch

It’s been nearly seven years since Leon Edwards tasted defeat. At UFC 278, he gets a crack at champ Kamaru Usman, who beat him in 2015.

It’s been nearly seven years since [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] tasted defeat.

It just so happens, though, that his most recent loss came to [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] in Usman’s first fight after winning Season 21 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Usman won seven more fights after that, then took the welterweight title. He’s defended it five times since then.

Edwards has won nine straight since his loss to Usman, and he’s had some pretty killer names on his resume, including Nate Diaz, former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone and Vicente Luque. It’s been a long climb to get another fight with Usman, but it’s hard to deny Edwards has put in the work.

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Next month, Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) gets his rematch with Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) in the UFC 278 main event at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. The Aug. 20 main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Thursday, the UFC released the official poster for the event, which features Usman with his belt face to face with challenger Edwards. Check out the artwork below from the UFC Instagram account.

The current UFC 278 lineup includes:

  • Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards – for welterweight title
  • Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
  • Aori Qileng vs. Jay Perrin
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Daniel Da Silva
  • Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson
  • Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro
  • Miranda Maverick vs. Shanna Young

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.

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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Video: Watch the UFC 278 press conference live

Check out the UFC 278 pre-fight press conference with Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – Ahead of their upcoming title fight at UFC 278, UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] and challenger [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] participated in a pre-fight press conference at T-Mobile Arena.

The fight is set to take place at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Aug. 20.

The fight will be the second meeting between the two fighters. Their first bout took place at UFC on FOX 17 in 2014 and Usman (21-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) defeated Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) by unanimous decision. The rematch will be for much higher stakes with the welterweight title on the line.

Watch the full press conference in the video above.

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Michael Bisping: If Luke Rockhold beats Paulo Costa, don’t be surprised if he becomes UFC champion again

Michael Bisping thinks Luke Rockhold can make another run at the middleweight title.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] can make another run at the title.

Rockhold (16-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC), a former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion, has struggled in recent years. After he dethroned Chris Weidman at UFC 194 in 2015 to win the title, Rockhold has lost three of four by knockout, including his first attempted title defense against Bisping.

A failed stint at light heavyweight against Jan Blachowicz, who went on to win the 205-pound title, prompted Rockhold to take some time off. But the 37-year-old is set to return for the first time since July 2019 when he takes on [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC 278 on Aug. 20.

“If Rockhold beats (Costa), don’t be surprised if he becomes champion of the world once again,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.

Bisping thinks Rockhold’s well-rounded skill set and strong ground game could pose some problems for UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC), who defends his title against Jared Cannonier in Saturday’s UFC 276 headliner in Las Vegas. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Rockhold said he’s the only man who can beat Adesanya at 185 pounds.

“Adesanya needs fresh meat,” Bisping said. “What does Rockhold have that could trouble Adesanya? Well, for one, he’s about the same height. He’s probably about the same reach. Athletically, he’s just as good. Granted, he’s a little bit older, so maybe not quite as fast. Maybe the reflexes aren’t there. But we know about the ground game of Rockhold, we know about the top pressure, we know about how deadly he can be on the feet.

“I’m just saying, with this new reinvigorated Luke Rockhold, this new version, this samurai that went away and learned from his past mistakes and now has come back centered, grounded, hungry, sober, personal problems behind him, I think this Luke Rockhold could be a nightmare for a lot of people in the middleweight division.”

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Miranda Maverick vs. Shanna Young booked for UFC 278 in Salt Lake City

The Salt Lake City lineup continues to fill out.

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag] is staying active in 2022.

At UFC 278, Maverick (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will face former Invicta FC standout [autotag]Shanna Young[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a women’s flyweight matchup. The event takes place Aug. 20 at Vivint Center in Salt Lake City with the main card airing on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Maverick also confirmed the bout on Instagram.

Maverick, 24, will look to turn a standalone victory into a winning streak. Following consecutive decision losses to Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield, Maverick submitted Sabina Mazo in March.

Similar to her opponent, Young recently picked up a second-round finish victory on the heels of a two fight skid. After back-to-back losses to Macy Chiasson and Stephanie Egger, Young ground-and-pounded Gina Mazany en route to a TKO stoppage in April.

With the addition, the UFC 278 lineup includes:

  • Champion Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards – for welterweight title
  • Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
  • Amir Albazi vs. Francisco Figueiredo
  • Alexandr Romanov vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Jared Gordon vs. Leonardo Santos
  • Lucie Pudilova vs. Wu Yanan
  • Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Daniel Lacerda
  • Qileng Aori vs. Jay Perrin
  • A.J. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa
  • Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson
  • Miranda Maverick vs. Shanna Young

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Marvin Vettori doubts Paulo Costa makes weight for UFC 278 fight vs. ‘p*ssy’ Luke Rockhold

“I don’t think Paulo can make 185 anymore, but Luke is a b*tch.”

COSTA MESA, Calif. – [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] isn’t sure [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] makes 186 pounds against [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] at UFC 278. That’s because Vettori (18-5-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) has first-hand experience.

Vettori fought Costa last October in the UFC Fight Night 196 main event, but the matchup was moved to light heavyweight after Costa had trouble hitting the middleweight mark. Vettori won by unanimous decision.

Although UFC president Dana White said Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) must now move up to 205, the former title challenger has decided to remain at middleweight, but Vettori doesn’t think he makes weight.

“Luke is a p*ssy, bro,” Vettori told MMA Junkie. “That’s all you guys need to know. Luke is a p*ssy, but I’m gonna give you this: He wanted the fight with Paulo, and Paulo has been b*tching out. I don’t think Paulo can make 185 anymore, but Luke is a b*tch. That’s all you guys need to know.”

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Vettori was questioned about his strong words toward Rockhold (16-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC). While he didn’t elaborate, he referenced one time he wanted to train with the former UFC middleweight champion, and Rockhold apparently wasn’t interested.

“He’s been talking,” Vettori said. “Even though I don’t know him, I know him. I saw him one time at the gym, and I said, ‘Let’s spar. You’ve been talking sh*t.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh no, now I’m getting ready,’ this and that. It is what it is. He likes to talk, he’s been on and off, he’s probably broke right now, he wants to make some money. He was a champ for one time. I guess we’ve got to give him that, but other than that, I don’t make much out of him. It is what it is, but more than anything he’s a p*ssy.”

Vettori is on a quest to regain a shot at UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. He meets Robert Whittaker on Sept. 3 in Paris and thinks a dominant performance earns him a trilogy bout with “The Last Stylebender.”

Se agregaron 5 peleas a la UFC 278 en Salt Lake City, la estelar será Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards

Como se había anunciado antes, el campeón de peso welter Kamaru Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC), defenderá su título contra Leon Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) en la revancha de su pelea de diciembre 2015. También en el calendario, el antiguo campeón de …

Como se había anunciado antes, el campeón de peso welter Kamaru Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC), defenderá su título contra Leon Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) en la revancha de su pelea de diciembre 2015.

También en el calendario, el antiguo campeón de peso pluma de la UFC Jose Aldo (31-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) se enfrentará a Merab Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC), y los pesos medianos Paulo Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) y Luke Rockhold se verán las caras en una pelea esperadísima.

El lunes, la promoción anunció de forma oficial 12 peleas a realizarse durante el evento. Cinco de las peleas no habían sido reportadas con anterioridad. Sigan leyendo para ver las nuevas adiciones y al final les dejamos la alineación oficial.

Amir Albazi vs. Francisco Figueiredo

Recién viene de la cancelación de ESPN 38 debido a una lesión contra Tim Elliot, un oponente previamente arreglado, Amir Albazi (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) se reagendó rápidamente. Se enfrentará a Francisco Figueiredo (13-4-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), hermano del campeón de peso mosca de la UFC Deiveson Figueiredo.

 

Alexandr Romanov vs. Marcin Tybura

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – 9 de octubre: Alexandr Romanov de Moldavia (arriba) le pega a Jared Vanderaa en la pelea de peso pesado durante el evento de la UFC Fight Night en el UFC APEX el 9 de octubre de 2021, en Las Vegas, Nevada. (Foto tomada por Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

 

Uno de los pesos pesados más promocionados en toda la MMA, Alexandr Romanov (16-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) fue el gran favorito en la historia de la UFC cuando arrasó con Chase Sherman. En esta ocasión, se enfrentará al peso pesado ranqueado permanentemente de la UFC Marcin Tybura (22-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC).

 

Jared Gordon vs. Leonardo Santos

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – 30 de abril: (D-I) Jared Gordon pelea contra Grant Dawson en una pelea de peso ligero en el evento de la UFC Fight Night en el UFC APEX el 30 de abril de 2022 en Las Vegas, Nevada. (Foto tomado por Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC).

Un gran favorito del público por su gran historia de redención y por la presencia interactiva en redes sociales, Jared Gordon (18-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) se enfrentará al compañero de entrenamiento de Jose Aldo: Leonardo Santos (18-5-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) en una batalla de peso ligero.

 

Lucie Pudilova vs. Wu Yanan

De regreso en la UFC tras dos años y medios de ausencia, Lucie Pudilova (13-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) buscará regresar con mucho estilo contra Wu Yanan (12-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC).

 

A.J. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa

Tanto A.J. Fletcher (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) como Ange Loosa (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) fracasaron en su primer intento de lograr una victoria en la UFC. Ahora tendrán la oportunidad de palomear esa casilla al enfrentarse en Utah.

 

Aquí les dejamos las peleas actualizadas para la UFC 278

  • El campeón Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards – para el título de peso welter
  • Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
  • Amir Albazi vs. Francisco Figueiredo
  • Alexandr Romanov vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Jared Gordon vs. Leonardo Santos
  • Lucie Pudilova vs. Wu Yanan
  • Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Daniel Lacerda
  • Qileng Aori vs. Jay Perrin
  • A.J. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa
  • Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili in the works for UFC 278

Two top bantamweights will collide at UFC 278, pending bout finalization, as Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili is in the works.

A major UFC bantamweight bout is in the works.

Top contenders [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] and [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] are expected to collide Aug. 20 at UFC 278. The event takes place at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie of the targeted matchup Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The matchup was first reported by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.

Aldo (31-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) rides a three-fight winning streak into the bout, including victories over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. The streak that dates back to 2020 is Aldo’s best and only at bantamweight. After a reign as champion and then top contender at featherweight, Aldo dropped to 135 pounds in 2019. Since a 0-2 start to his divisional tenure, Aldo rallied and is now close once again to a UFC title shot.

Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meanwhile has streaked up the divisional ladder following an 0-2 start to his UFC tenure. Dvalishvili rides a seven-fight winning streak into UFC 278. Notable wins include Marlon Moraes, Cody Stamann, and John Dodson. At UFC on ESPN 10, Dvalishvili broke the UFC/WEC bantamweight record for most takedowns in a fight with 13.

With the addition, the UFC 278 lineup includes:

  • Champion Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards – for welterweight title
  • Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
  • Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson
  • Qileng Aori vs. Jay Perrin
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Jake Hadley
  • Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro

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Tyson Pedro booked for UFC 278 return vs. Harry Hunsucker in Salt Lake City

At UFC 278, Tyson Pedro will welcome Harry Hunsucker to the light heavyweight division.

A light heavyweight matchup is headed to Salt Lake City.

At UFC 278, [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) will drop down a weight class to fight [autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in a three-round light heavyweight bout. The event takes place Aug. 20 at Vivint Arena.

Two people with knowledge of the booking recently confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Hunsucker, 33, seeks his first UFC win in his third attempt. His first two promotional appearances were at heavyweight. After a knockout loss to Tai Tuivasa, Hunsucker was finished again, this time by a Justin Tafa head kick. Hunsucker has competed as a light heavyweight before, but not since his amateur days.

Pedro, 30, returned from a layoff of more than three years in April when he finished Ike Villanueva with strikes in Round 1. The win snapped a two-fight skid for Pedro, whose most recent win prior was in February 2018.

With the addition, the UFC 278 lineup includes:

  • Champion Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards
  • Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
  • Luis Saldana vs. Sean Woodson
  • Qileng Aori vs. Jay Perrin
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Jake Hadley
  • Harry Hunsucker vs. Tyson Pedro

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