Tag: UFC 295

‘Breaking a family curse’: Jared Gordon details powerful MSG connection after UFC 295 win

Jared Gordon competed at MSG for the first time at UFC 295, but his previous connections to the arena are quite powerful.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag] never competed at Madison Square Garden until UFC 295, but he was quite acquainted with the venue.

Like many of his fellow New Yorkers, Gordon (20-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) feels an attachment to the place the Knicks and Rangers play, one of the most prolific sporting arenas in the world.

The ties are stronger than that, however. Gordon is a former heroin addict. He used to shoot up in Penn Station, which is attached to Madison Square Garden.

“I used to shoot dope in that bathroom and the bathroom in Penn Station,” Gordon told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “When I see these places, it’s like nostalgic for me. Heroin is like a nostalgic thing for me. It might sound weird, but I can really remember and feel it. It’s awesome to be like, now instead of getting high here, I’m fighting in the UFC here. It’s pretty cool.”

After he knocked out Mark Madsen (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Saturday, Gordon couldn’t help but reflect on the symbolic full-circle journey – particularly because he wasn’t the first of his bloodline to win a professional fight at MSG.

“It’s crazy. My grandfather was a pro boxer,” Gordon said. “He grew up in Harlem. He was 38-3 as a pro. He was a really good boxer. It’s really funny because I walk in his footsteps. He got arrested in Detroit. I can actually pull the article up on Google. It was the largest heroin bust in Detroit history. He did eight years in Michigan. I have pictures of him in prison boxing. He boxed the whole eight years he was there. He died an alcoholic. He came out of prison and he came back to being a criminal. He ended up dying an alcoholic.”

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Gordon has been sober for eight years. The pivot toward a straightedged lifestyle came after his third overdose in 2015. Having the historic combat sports lineage is cool, but he’s perhaps even happier about the differences between him and his grandfather.

“My mom always says to me, it was her father, that I turned it around,” Gordon said. “He ended his life as an addict alcoholic and I’ve gotten sober. I don’t know. I’m kind of breaking a family curse. It’s pretty crazy.”

For those still struggling, Gordon continues his attempts to be an example that even in the depths of addiction, a road to success is possible and plausible.

“There’s always a way out, no matter how far down the hall you are,” Gordon said, of advice he’d give addicts. “You can turn it around. You just need to have faith in a higher power and take some suggestions from people. If you’re sick, get some professional help. That’s how it goes.”

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

Glover Teixeira: New UFC champ Alex Pereira on different level than other light heavyweights, but Jamahal Hill a great fight for him

Glover Teixeira likes Jamahal Hill as a next opponent for new UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, his student.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] likes [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] as a next opponent for [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) captured the vacant light heavyweight title when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in the second round in this past Saturday’s UFC 295 main event at Madison Square Garden.

Although Pereira called out former foe Israel Adesanya after his win, UFC CEO Dana White said ex-champ Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is the fight to make. If Hill is indeed next, Teixeira feels confident about the matchup.

“If that’s the fight, I think it’s going to be a great fight,” Teixeira told MMA Junkie. “Like I said about Jiri, they’re great warriors – guys that I fought. Between Jiri and Jamahal, we had 50 minutes there, pretty much. It’s a great fight for Alex. Alex is a different level – he’s a different beast.”

It’s been an incredible run for Pereira in the UFC so far. He’s captured titles in two weight divisions in just seven octagon fights. Pereira was able to chop Prochazka’s legs down and make him pay on the counter before he got the finish.

“It was amazing the way the result came out,” Teixeira said. “I’m just so happy for the guy, the way he works. In the beginning of the round, I was just like, ‘Oh man, when is he going to pick up’ because he was not doing the shots fast. I was like, ‘He’s doing a trap’ or something, or ‘He’s going to get knocked out quick.’ Soon, two minutes into the fight, I knew it was going to be a quick night for Alex.”

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

Jamall Emmers says UFC 295 win that much sweeter remembering those who laughed at him

Jamall Emmers jerked the curtain in quick and thrilling fashion with a 49-second knockout of Dennis Buzukja to open UFC 295 in New York.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag] beat Dennis Buzukja with a first-round TKO Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Take a look inside the fight with Emmers, who jerked the curtain in quick and thrilling fashion, but was ineligible for a post-fight bonus because he missed weight.

Tom Aspinall scoffs at Ciryl Gane’s callout, suggests he fights Jailton Almeida

New interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall shut down Ciryl Gane’s callout after UFC 295.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] shut down [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag]’s callout after UFC 295.

Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round to become interim heavyweight champion in Saturday’s co-headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Prior to getting the call to face Pavlovich, Aspinall flew to Paris to watch Ciryl Gane beat Sergei Spivac. Aspinall wanted Gane next, but “Bon Gamin” was solely focused on fighting up the rankings. Now that Aspinall is interim champion, Gane is interested in the fight.

“Congratulations, Tom. You are now the champion and become the one being pursued, and I am the hunter. See you soon 👀.”

Aspinall flipped the tables on Gane, suggesting he fight [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag] (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) instead.

“That’s interesting after I just called him out, went to France, and he turned the fight down,” Aspinall told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 295 post-event news conference. “I think he should fight Almeida. I think them guys should fight each other first and see what happens there.”

Almeida agrees with Aspinall. The Brazilian, who’s unbeaten in the octagon, called out Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) after he dominated Derrick Lewis in the UFC Fight Night 231 headliner. Almeida doubled down on his callout.

“I have bad news for you, my friend. You will have to face me before! 🖊️📄 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”

“The champ already said Bon Gamin. The time is now. Me and you. Almeida vs Gane and the winner go to the title! Lets do it! Can be in France, can be in Brazil, can be in Saudit Arabia, can be UFC 300, anyplace, any time @ciryl_gane @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”

Aspinall hopes to land his dream fight against UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones next. However, Jones is expected to have his title fight with Stipe Miocic rebooked once he returns from injury.

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

Loopy Godinez reacts to historic fourth win in calendar year: ‘I’m making records by accident’

At UFC 295, Loopy Godinez became the first woman in the promotion’s history to record four wins in a calendar year.

NEW YORK – UFC strawweight [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] has set a record by just showing up and doing what she does best. If you ask her, it happened by accident.

At UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden, Godinez (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) set a record in the promotion by becoming the first woman to win four fights in a calendar year.  She picked up a split decision win over Tabatha Ricci (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), a result which had a controversial scorecard in her opponent’s favor.

Setting the record is just something that happened while simply trying to be an active fighter in the UFC who is doing what she loves.

“I’m making records by accident I think, because it’s not like I’m doing it like, ‘Oh, I want to do this,'” Godinez told reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I just love fighting. That’s what I do every day, I don’t do anything else. That’s my life. So of course, I just put all of my love and heart into this, and of course, good things are going to come out of this.”

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The fight against Ricci appeared to be a clear decision win in her favor after the final horn in the third round. However, one of the official cageside judges gave everyone pause when Bruce Buffer announced a score of 30-27 in Ricci’s favor. Godinez thought she won the fight, but knows MMA judging can produce some wild results.

“You never know with the judges, and we’ve seen it in so many fights, like weird decisions,” Godinez said. “I wasn’t surprised because of that reason, because never leave the fight to the judges. We all see different things and we all root for different people. So, that happens.”

Making Godinez’s new record even more impressive is that she didn’t have her first fight of 2023 until April. If she has it her way and stays healthy, she would like to see what happens in 2024 if she begins earlier in the year with a similar pace. It’s all a part of her plan to eventually become the first Mexico-born UFC strawweight champion.

“Of course, my goal is to get the strap and be a dominant champion and we’re working for that,” Godinez said. “I know I have a lot to improve, a lot to learn and a lot to do, but we’re doing it. I recently made the move to Guadalajara to change camps, and I feel like I can see it, I can feel it. We’re just getting better. I’m just showing that I’m in. I’m 100 percent in this game.”

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

Dana White blasts co-promotion suggestion for Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou as ‘the dumb question of the night’

UFC CEO Dana White still has zero interest in co-promoting Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou – or co-promotion at all.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] still has zero interest in co-promoting [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] – or co-promotion at all.

Jones and Ngannou were on a collision course when Ngannou was UFC heavyweight champion. But when “The Predator” opted to leave for PFL, the fight fell apart.

When asked about the possibility of the UFC co-promoting with PFL to make Jones vs. Ngannou happen, White immediately shut the question down.

“I’m not interested in that,” White told MMA Junkie at Saturday’s UFC 295 post-fight news conference. “We tried to make that fight. They didn’t want to do it. It’s done. He doesn’t fight here anymore. I’m not interested.”

White was asked again about the idea of co-promoting with the PFL, which bothered him. The UFC CEO boasted about his promotion’s live gate numbers at Madison Square Garden in response.

“Should I (co-promote with PFL)?” White said. “We’ve got 1, 2 and 3 (in MSG history). They can’t sell a f*cking gate. It’s a stupid question, but go ahead. Talk to me. Why would I do that?

“I tried to make the fight here. They didn’t want to do it. But I should co-promote with like a Bellator or a PFL? Why should I do that? Because of ESPN? You win the dumb question of the night. Congratulations, sir.”

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

Jamahal Hill reacts to Alex Pereira’s win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295: ‘Neither one of these dudes are on my level’

Jamahal Hill was not impressed with Alex Pereira’s title win over Jiri Prochazka.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] was not impressed with [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s title win over [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag].

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) captured the vacant light heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Prochazka in this past Saturday’s UFC 295 headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Hill thought referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight a little too early, but draws confidence after watching Pereira and Prochazka (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) fight.

“I thought it ended a little early,” Hill told ESPN during the UFC 295 post-fight show. “But all in all, I was just thinking, like, neither one of these dudes are on my level. Neither one of them – I don’t think they are (as good as me) in any facet of the game, and I can’t wait to get back in full health and be able to show that.”

UFC CEO Dana White said former champion Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will face Pereira next upon his return from injury – a ruptured achilles tendon which forced him to vacate his 205-pound title. Hill praised Pereira for his game plan against Prochazka.

“I think he did well,” Hill said of Pereira. “I think he came out and he chopped the leg, he got busy on it early. He stayed patient. He showed that you can’t just come out and grab him and take him down and just have that be an easy road to victory.

“He showed a lot of things. He showed he can do what he did at middleweight, at light heavyweight, essentially, so it’s exciting. He made me really excited to get back.”

Hill didn’t think Prochazka showed any ring rust returning from a 16-month layoff. He would have liked Goddard to give Prochazka more of a chance to fight when he was dropped, even though Prochazka agreed with the stoppage.

“(Prochazka) still had his arms clinched around his waist and things like that,” Hill said. “You’ve got to let a champion go out. Jiri is a champion and I feel he did deserve that respect of letting him try to fight through some adversity, and I don’t think he was given that chance fully. But it’s the game.”

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

Mackenzie Dern apologizes for UFC 295 loss to Jessica Andrade: ‘I got caught in the emotional fight’

Mackenzie Dern opened up on her loss at UFC 295.

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] opened up on her loss at UFC 295.

Dern (13-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) suffered a second-round TKO to former UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] (25-12 MMA, 16-10 UFC) on this past Saturday’s main card at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Dern showed toughness when she got back up from multiple knockdowns, but Andrade’s power ultimately was too much. Sporting a shiner under her right eye, Dern posted on Instagram to discuss the loss.

“Everything happens at the right time. Of course I was wishing my best performance at MSG and not my first TKO loss, lol but I Trust in Gods plans! I have to learn to control my emotions! I got caught in the emotional fight, which wasn’t the plan. I wanted to do a lot, but not get in big exchanges, where it’s risky. I took 4 knockdowns, that was the first lol. Once again I was tested, given the opportunity and didn’t pass. This is the risk when we enter the octagon, I knew it was going to be a good fight, because we both go for the finish. But I learned a lot and the focus is the belt! Thank you everyone who believed in me, who supports me in victory and defeat, and who continues to believe in me. Sorry for any disappointment, I’m fine, my heart is tight, it hurts, but the rest is all right. Going back to my daughter now and enjoy time with my family and train more because I’ll be back soon. The goal continues, I just need to work more calmly, this warrior has a lot of emotion in everything she does! Lol fall 7 times and get up 8!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Czj-s32yGe6/

Dern now has alternated wins and losses in her past six outings. Prior to getting stopped by Andrade, Dern earned a Fight of the Night bonus for a main event decision win over Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night 223.

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

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 295 fallout for Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall and more, plus a look at Bellator 301

Our “Spinning Back Clique” crew discusses the fallout from the reshuffled UFC 295, looks ahead to Bellator 301 and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, we welcome in guest panelist John Gooden, the UFC’s play-by-play voice for most of its shows in Europe and Asia and one of the promotion”s chief analysts. He’ll join Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Simon Samano with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • The light heavyweight title continued its game of musical chairs Saturday when [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] won it against former champ Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 295 main event. Jon Jones, Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira, Prochazka, [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag], and now Pereira – all since 2020. So what makes sense as the next move for Pereira? Is it Hill, or should an [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] MMA trilogy fight happen for him?
  • [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] became the interim heavyweight champion at UFC 295. In theory, now he’s supposed to wait for champ [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] to fight ex-titleholder [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag], and then he’ll get the winner. But that’s a long ways off thanks to Jones’ injury. Should the UFC change its mind and keep Aspinall active? If so, how will that work with titles and interim belts and all the craziness?
  • Highly decorated grappler [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] came to the UFC with tons of promise, but it hasn’t panned out the way she likely hoped. The up-and-down nature of her UFC career continued Saturday when she was knocked down four times by former women’s strawweight champ [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] and eventually was pounded out for a TKO setback. Has the ship sailed for her potential, or can she bounce back and live up to the expectations? And what of Andrade? Is she a gatekeeper now, or can she contend for a title again?
  • The UFC announced three big title fights for 2024: new champ Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis at middleweight; long-reigning titleholder Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria at featherweight; and new champ Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera at bantamweight. Did the UFC get those bookings right, and which one is the most intriguing?
  • Alex Pereira is the ninth fighter to win titles in two divisions in the UFC, and he did it faster than anyone else. Of the nine to do it, who did it best?
  • … and much more.

Israel Adesanya responds to Alex Pereira’s callout at UFC 295: ‘Last time I checked, you were f*cking slept’

Israel Adesanya congratulated Alex Pereira on his title-winning victory at UFC 295, but thinks it’s funny he’s still on his mind.

Former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] congratulated his longtime rival for winning a second UFC title, but also found humor in Alex Pereira bringing up his name during his post-fight interview.

At UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Pereira became champion of the light heavyweight division by stopping Jiri Prochazka with vicious punches and elbows in the second round. Pereira, who has now won UFC titles in the 185-pound and 205-pound divisions, used a portion of his in-cage post-fight interview to send a message to his rival Adesanya.

Pereira recalled an old interview from Adesanya in which the former middleweight champ stated that Pereira would be drinking in a bar somewhere, living off the memory of his kickboxing victories, while he was still actively having success in combat sports. “Poatan” credited Adesanya’s words for motivating him to become a better fighter, and ultimately a UFC champion. He encouraged Adesanya to not “waste his talent” by taking extended time away from the sport.

Pereira said in English, “Adesanya, come to daddy.”

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Pereira and Adesanya have fought four times across kickboxing and MMA. Pereira won both kickboxing bouts, but they each have a stoppage win in the UFC’s octagon. In their last fight at UFC 287, Adesanya violently knocked out Pereira in the second round.

“The fact that it sits with him,” Adesanya said in a video on his YouTube channel. “It hurts his spirit, I like it. But he did it. Same arena, getting that belt again, yeah. I think Jamahal Hill is probably next for him, but I know for a fact it hurts his spirit, which I like.”

Pereira recorded a standing TKO victory over Adesanya to become the middleweight champion at UFC 281, which also took place at MSG. In the video, Adesanya said that Pereira claiming his second title in the same building made for a good story.

However, Adesanya found humor in his name being mentioned during the post-fight interview. After all, if they never meet again for a fifth fight, Adesanya got the last laugh in their rivalry.

“What did he say? Come to daddy? Last time I checked, you were f*cking slept.”

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