Tag: UFC 295

Henry Cejudo ‘jumping ship,’ wants Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall next – not Stipe Miocic

Tom Aspinall has made Henry Cejudo lose interest in Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] has made [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] lose interest in [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag].

Heavyweight champion Jones was scheduled to make his first title defense against Miocic this past Saturday at UFC 295, but the bout was scrapped when Jones tore his pectoral muscle. The promotion opted to book Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich for the interim title, a fight in which Aspinall claimed gold by first-round knockout.

With Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) looking so impressive, Cejudo is ready to see him fight Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) next.

“A Tom Aspinall like that, who is able to do that to somebody like Sergei who only has one loss, 19 (15) knockouts, it says a lot,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “What’s next for a guy like Tom Aspinall? How will he do against a guy like Jon Jones? How will he do against a guy like Stipe Miocic? Only time will tell. I personally think I like this fight better now for Jon Jones, and that’s Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones.

“I like that better than the Stipe fight. I’m jumping ship. Why? Because this fight, the Jones/Stipe saga, has gone on for several years now that I’ve lost interest. But that new kid on the block, Tom Aspinall, that people are super high about, that has knockout power, that has agility – he reminds me of Ciryl Gane but with bigger power. He’s dangerous. He is super, super dangerous.”

Aspinall called for Jones after his win. However, UFC CEO Dana White previously said that the plan is to rebook Jones vs. Miocic when Jones returns from injury, with the winner hopefully fighting Aspinall.

[lawrence-related id=2695643,2695448,2695469,2694554]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Why Daniel Cormier didn’t love Alex Pereira calling out Israel Adesanya after UFC 295 win

Daniel Cormier thinks Alex Pereira made a mistake by calling out Israel Adesanya after UFC 295.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] made a mistake by calling out [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) issued Adesanya a challenge after he knocked out Jiri Prochazka to claim the vacant light heavyweight title in this past Saturday’s UFC 295 headliner at Madison Square Garden. He accomplished the feat of becoming a two-weight UFC champion, something Adesanya failed to do.

Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) laughed off Pereira’s callout, claiming he is living “rent free” in his head. Although Adesanya recently knocked out Pereira at UFC 287, he’s no longer middleweight champion after a surprise lopsided loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. So by calling out Adesanya, Cormier thinks Pereira just gave him the upperhand again.

“My thought on the whole rivalry over accomplishment, for me, is I think he’s a little wrong to be looking back at Izzy,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Because you know what he does? He gives Izzy power over him. Izzy’s just sitting on the couch watching. You saw Izzy’s reaction. He’s laughing at him.”

Ben Askren, Cormier’s co-host for their show “Funky & The Champ,” argued that although Pereira has beaten Adesanya three times in kickboxing and MMA, he wants the last laugh.

But Cormier insists that Pereira giving Adesanya importance is not a good look.

“I get it. You want to beat him and put him in his place,” Cormier said. “But every time, especially when you’re on the mountaintop, you speak to him. You give him power.

“He’s giving Adesanya power. … He (Adesanya) goes, ‘I own a lot of property, Most of my real estate is in Alex Pereira’s head.’ Because when Alex Pereira is the king of the world, he’s calling for him. So by putting this rivalry and making it so important to him, he is giving the guy the power, and I don’t think he understands that.”

[lawrence-related id=2695640,2695599,2695481,2695445]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Video: Should the UFC reconsider Stipe Miocic vs. Jon Jones and book Tom Aspinall instead?

How can the UFC deny Tom Aspinall his “dream” fight with Jon Jones?

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] is the UFC interim heavyweight champion after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich this past Saturday in the UFC 295 co-main event.

It was quite the showing and accomplishment under the circumstances as heavyweight champ Jon Jones was forced out of his scheduled title defense vs. Stipe Miocic because of pectoral injury expected to sideline him at least eight month. UFC CEO Dana White said prior to and reiterated after UFC 295 that the plan is still to re-book Jones vs. Miocic when Jones is ready. Aspinall, though, made a case that he deserves to fight Jones not just with his performance but also his post-UFC 295 plea to have his “dream” fight with Jones.

Do you wish the UFC would reconsider the Miocic fight and book Jones vs. Aspinall instead? Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn, Nolan King and special guest John Gooden answered that question with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their discussion in the video above and check out this week’s full episode on YouTube below.

Video: Could Alex Pereira be a longstanding light heavyweight champion after UFC 295?

The UFC light heavyweight belt has been passed around a lot since Jon Jones’ departure, but could that change with Alex Pereira as champ?

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag][autotag] knocked out Jiri Prochazka this past Saturday to claim the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 295, making him the ninth two-division champ in UFC history.

Nobody has accomplished the feat faster than former middleweight champ Pereira, however, as he needed just seven UFC appearances to do it.

Since Jon Jones’ departure from the 205-pound division, this title belt has been passed around quite a bit. Do you see Pereira having a long reign at the top? Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Simon Samano answered that question with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their discussion in the video above and check out this week’s full episode on YouTube below.

Daniel Cormier marvels at Alex Pereira’s incredibly quick success in UFC: ‘It’s unheard of’

All it took was seven UFC fights for Alex Pereira to become a two-division champ, and Daniel Cormier can’t believe it.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] can’t fathom [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s fast rise in the UFC.

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) claimed the vacant light heavyweight title when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) this past Saturday in the UFC 295 headliner – making him one of nine two-weight champions in the history of the promotion. In just 11 MMA bouts, including seven with the promotion, Pereira has captured UFC titles at light heavyweight and middleweight.

Considering Pereira’s inexperience in MMA, Cormier finds it incredible that he’s been able to capture two UFC belts in such a short amount of time.

“His ability to find his shots, his ability to adjust when he’s in trouble, his ability to just win,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “This man has 11 MMA fights, seven UFC fights, and he’s won two belts. It’s unheard of.”

Cormier also loves the bond between Pereira and his coach, Glover Teixeira, who held the UFC light heavyweight title less than two years ago.

“You know what’s even more special to me? Watching Glover Teixeira react in the way that he does when Alex Pereira does something special,” Cormier continued. “He is his mentor, Alex Pereira is his protege. So, there is no jealousy. It’s all happiness, it’s all support, and I love the relationship between these two.”

In the fight-ending sequence, Pereira clipped Prochazka with a short counter then rained down numerous elbows, which caused Prochazka to go limp. The stoppage was debated by many but not by Prochazka.

“Would we have have liked to see him take a little more damage? Absolutely, it’s a title fight, but I have no problem with it,” Cormier said. “Dude will work his way back to a championship opportunity. It’s only a matter of time.”

[lawrence-related id=2695640,2695630,2695623,2694549]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

New UFC champ Alex Pereira opens as slight underdog in potential Israel Adesanya rubber match

Even though momentum is on Alex Pereira’s side, oddsmakers favor Israel Adesanya to beat him in a potential MMA trilogy bout.

UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] has opened as a slight underdog in a potential MMA trilogy fight vs. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

Since losing his middleweight title to Adesanya by knockout, Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) moved up to 205 pounds and defeated ex-champ Jan Blachowicz then Jiri Prochazka by knockout this past Saturday to claim the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 295.

After picking up his first win against “Poatan” at UFC 287, Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) was dethroned by Sean Strickland in a stunning upset at UFC 293. Pereira called out Adesanya after beating Prochazka, and if he gets his wish, oddsmakers aren’t currently favoring him to win – despite the momentum being on his side.

According to BetMGM, Pereira is a +110 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the champion would win $110 profit. Adesanya is a -135 favorite, meaning a $135 bet would be needed on the former champion to return $100 profit.

Pereira holds three wins over Adesanya – two in kickboxing and one in MMA. Pereira scored a late TKO of Adesanya at UFC 281, but Adesanya was able to exact his revenge when they rematched this past April by scoring a knockout of his own.

Adesanya is currently taking some time off after losing to Strickland, but Pereira urged him to not waste his prime and fight him. However, the UFC’s current plan is to have Pereira fight former champ Jamahal Hill once Hill returns from injury.

[lawrence-related id=2695640,2695630,2695623,2695599]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Joshua Van disappointed he didn’t deliver on promise of finish at UFC 295

Joshua Van entered the UFC with a 100 percent finish rate but has earned decisions in his first two octagon appearances.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag] shined at UFC 295, but he didn’t get the finish he was looking for.

Myanmar’s Van (9-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) defeated Kevin Borjas (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) by unanimous decision this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Van entered the UFC with a 100 percent finish rate, but his first two octagon wins have come by decision.

“I’m feeling great, but at the same time I feel a little bit of disappointment,” Van told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Because last time I told you guys I was going to get the finish. We didn’t get the finish, so I guess next time for sure.”

Van had Borjas hurt to the body multiple times but said he was too tentative throughout the fight.

“The thing is I was trying to time his timing,” Van said. “I was trying to get his timing right. So, I think I waited too long and that’s what got me messed up in the fight. Next time I’ll push the pace from the start to the finish.”

Having competed five times in 2022, and just twice in 2023, Van would love it if he could return as soon as possible.

“What’s next for me is they told me I’ve got to wait seven days to fight, so I want to fight next week,” Van said. “But I want to stay as active as possible, you know, while I’m young.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

John Castaneda calls out Adrian Yanez after UFC 295 win: ‘Stylistically I think we can put on a banger’

John Castaneda doesn’t typically call people out, but he’d like love a “banger” with Adrian Yanez coming out of UFC 295.

NEW YORK – [autotag]John Castaneda[/autotag] doesn’t typically call people out, but he has his eye on one particular bantamweight.

Castaneda (21-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) continued his rise up the 135-pound ranks when he defeated Kyung Ho Kang by unanimous decision this past Saturday at UFC 295.

Hoping for an active 2024, Castaneda thinks [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) would make for an entertaining next fight.

“I want to have at least three fights next year, minimum,” Castaneda told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I won four out of my last (five) fights. I feel like I’m at least due for – put me in the conversation for a top-15 guy. I’m always analyzing the top 15 guys, especially 10 through to 15.

“Stylistically, I feel like I match up well against them, a lot of them. I’m not one to call people out, but if I were to call somebody out, I really, really would love a fight with Adrian Yanez. Not because it’s like a disrespect thing, but stylistically I think we can put on a banger. Absolutely.”

After a hot start to his octagon tenure with five straight wins, four by knockout, Yanez has dropped two straight by TKO – most recently by leg kicks against Jonathan Martinez at UFC Fight Night 230 this past October.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Steve Erceg disappointed by UFC 295 performance, wants to reset with ranked opponent

Steve Erceg won at UFC 295, but that wasn’t enough for him to walk out of Madison Square Garden feeling content.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag] exited the cage at UFC 295 both victorious and disappointed.

Although Erceg (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) defeated short-notice opponent Alessandro Costa (13-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) by unanimous decision on Saturday’s prelims at Madison Square Garden, the performance left much to be desired during self-reflection.

“I’m happy I won,” Erceg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. It’s not the way I thought I would go out there and do it but that’s the fight game, right? I’ll take my lumps, take my wins. It is what it is.”

Initially the fight appeared to swing lopsidedly in Erceg’s favor. He displayed crisp boxing, strong grappling, great range, and good head movement. In Round 2, Costa turned the tables, however, and landed two hard rights that caused an off-balance Erceg to pull guard.

“Obviously, I didn’t want to get dropped,” Erceg said. “I was thinking I was going to work him on the shots and really outclass him. After I dropped him in the first round, I got too eager. As my dad said, I was trying to make it a man-battle instead of a thinking-battle. … I think it was me being bad, not him being good.”

[lawrence-related id=2695657,2695662]

Erceg was originally scheduled to fight promotion-ranked [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC), who withdrew due to injury. Should that matchup be available next, Erceg seems to be open to a rebooking, considering he thinks Saturday’s test might prove more difficult.

“I still think Alessandro Costa was better than Schnell was going to be,” Erceg said. “I’m not saying Schnell is bad or anything. I just thought stylistically and everything, Costa was a worse matchup for me. I still think… I should be in the top 15 fighting top 15 opponents. I just have got to be better.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Mateusz Rebecki tired of opponents saying no, wants top-15 test after UFC 295

Mateusz Rebecki beat Roosevelt Roberts with a first-round submission Saturday at UFC 295 – his 16th straight win.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag] beat Roosevelt Roberts with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Take a look inside the fight with Rebecki, who won for the 16th straight time.