Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Sean Woodson is unbeaten in his past five fights at 4-0-1 – including a split decision win at UFC 297 in Toronto.
TORONTO – [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] beat Charles Jourdain with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 297 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Take a look inside the fight with Woodson, who is unbeaten in his past five fights at 4-0-1 – including two split decision wins and a split draw.
Julianna Peña was never convinced about Amanda Nunes’ retirement – and she still isn’t.
[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] was never convinced of [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]’ retirement – and she still isn’t.
Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC), who hung up her gloves after retaining her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana last June, was in attendance for Raquel Pennington’s title-winning performance over Mayra Bueno Silva in this past Saturday’s UFC 297 co-main event.
Nunes said she still feels like a champion when asked about a potential comeback to the octagon and didn’t entirely rule out a return. Peña caught plenty of grief when she booed Nunes during her retirement speech, so she finds the former two-division UFC champion’s comments laughable.
“Here’s the thing that really chaps my ass,” Peña said on “The MMA Hour.” “When I was at her last fight, I was booing because she was going into retirement and I was like, ‘Don’t go into retirement. We have literally the biggest fight in women’s history, a trilogy that’s never been done before. What are you doing saying you’re going to retire? What a joke.’
“It warrants a boo because she’s over there telling Megan Olivi that she’s coming out of retirement. So I was right, and it was ‘Mystic Peña’ once again. Like, they were going to get mad at me and all her fans are upset at me. ‘Why would you boo her? How dare you?’ But it’s like, how dare she? How dare she say that she’s retiring and then one women’s fight later now she’s saying she’s coming back. Get out of here.”
Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) scored a massive upset win over Nunes when she submitted her to become bantamweight champion at UFC 269. Nunes was able to avenge her loss in dominant fashion at UFC 277, and Peña has been eager to settle the score ever since.
“Look, great for business, I’ve been trying to coax her into coming back this entire time.” Peña said. “It’s absolutely beautiful for everyone, and I knew she wasn’t going to be able to stay away. She was just doing that retirement for attention. It’s just ridiculous.”
For now, Peña is turning her attention to newly crowned champion Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), whom she has history with. Both took part in Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which Peña won.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Chael Sonnen was in shock to find out that both Dana White and Joe Rogan scored the UFC 297 headliner for Sean Strickland.
[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] argues that [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] swept the scorecards at UFC 297.
Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) defeated [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) by split decision to claim the middleweight title in Saturday’s headliner at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Strickland thought he was robbed, and the likes of UFC CEO Dana White and Joe Rogan also scored the fight in his favor. But as much as Sonnen was rooting for Strickland, he thinks it was a clear win for Du Plessis.
“When I have a bias, I disclose it to you guys. I disclose it, and I still try to be impartial,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “So, I’m cheering for Sean. Sean and Colby, those are my guys; it’s different. I get a knot in my stomach; it’s different. So, we lost every round. We lost every round of the fight.”
Sonnen figured the judges would award Strickland the fifth round, but he’s not entirely convinced himself. Outside of that, he had all rounds for Du Plessis.
“In my heart, I think it was 5-0,” Sonnen said. “With a real bias for Strickland, it was 5-0, and in the absolute best case 4-1. I think the crowd for the most part agree with me.”
Sonnen was stunned that the fight was scored a split decision. He was even more confused when he saw other’s opinions.
“My bigger surprise was when all was said and done, Joe Rogan, who definitely qualifies as an expert in this space, Dana White, who definitely qualifies as an expert in this space, both had Strickland,” Sonnen said. “They both had Strickland. I thought, ‘Did we watch the same thing?'”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Daniel Cormier believes Raquel Pennington could have put Mayra Bueno Silva away at UFC 297.
[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] believes [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] could have put [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] away at UFC 297.
Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) defeated Bueno Silva (10-3-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) by unanimous decision to capture the vacant women’s bantamweight title in this past Saturday’s co-main event. Bueno Silva slowed down significantly throughout the fight, allowing Pennington to take top control on the ground, and Cormier thinks Pennington should have capitalized against an exhausted Bueno Silva.
“This fight was odd because it felt like Raquel could finish Mayra Bueno Silva,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “It felt like if she broke away from her and allowed for her or made her stand and trade with her, she could finish her.
“But, as she said inside the octagon, she was so close that she could feel it, that it was win at all costs and I mean, I can’t blame her. I can’t blame her. I know how taxing and how mentally challenging it is to try and become a UFC champion.”
Bueno Silva has far fewer UFC fights than Pennington, and Cormier said that was evident in her performance.
“Mayra Bueno Silva’s inexperience really showed in that fight,” Cormier said. “She was very tired very early. She expended way too much energy not only in the fight but in the build to the fight, because her expectation of the way it was supposed to play out was a tad bit unrealistic, and I think very quickly she was reminded that she was now fighting at a level that she had not competed at prior.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Mike Malott vows to come back stronger after UFC 297.
[autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag] vows to come back stronger after UFC 297.
After being in firm control throughout the fight, Canada’s Malott was finished by Neil Magny in Saturday’s main card at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The stoppage came at 4:45 of Round 3 where Malott appeared exhausted and defenseless while Magny rained down big ground and pound.
A disappointed Malott (10-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) issued a statement on his loss, apologizing to his home fans.
“Hey guys. I’m all right,” Malott said on his social media (h/t MMA Mania). “I tried my best. I’m really sorry. I hope I’m going to make you guys proud. I’m a little disappointed, but I felt really good this camp. No excuses, man, I felt really good. I felt good in the fight. I just wasn’t good enough tonight.
“I’m going to have to make some improvements, but I’m so, so touched by all the support I’ve gotten by all the fans. It really means a lot to me. I love you guys. I want to do my country proud. Thank you to my friends and family, my team, sponsors and everybody who’s supported me. I’ll be back. I’ll make you guys proud again. Thank you.”
Canadian male fighters went 0-6 on the night. Prior to getting stopped by Magny, Malott had finished his first three UFC opponents, earning two Performances of the Night bonuses.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Eric Nicksick thought Sean Strickland did enough to win at UFC 297, but it just didn’t look that way.
[autotag]Eric Nicksick[/autotag] thought [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] did enough to win at UFC 297.
Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) lost his middleweight title in a narrow split decision loss to [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Strickland’s head coach Nicksick was classy in his reaction to Du Plessis’ win. His initial thought is that his fighter won, but he plans on reassessing later.
“Congratulations to @dricusduplessis and his team. I never met a more classy opposing fighter during fight week, along with the skills to back it up. I’m happy for you, your team, and your country, you made them proud.
The fight was close. Close fights mean we needed to win the optics battle. Live, I had us winning 1,2, & 5, but all that matters are the 3 cage side. I’ll watch it again, to see where we/I can be better. Much love to everyone who supported us. On to the next!! #TTD ⚡︎
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Xv4j5Ok7b/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=673c7431-dee9-4b16-836c-c724bd60cd2c
Strickland also thought he won the fight. He pointed to an alleged accidental clash of heads he said busted him open and impaired his vision. He was able to fight through it and won Round 5 on all three judges’ scorecards. In his post-fight news conference, Du Plessis could not remember a head clash, and no definitive clash was shown on any broadcast replays.
Du Plessis responded to Nicksick, showing him gratitude for his praise.
“Thank you so much for the kind words coach, you and the team are incredible and it was an honour to battle the best in the business. Thank you for the war and the true warrior like respect before and after the war.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Chris Curtis got back in the win column with a split decision over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 297.
TORONTO – [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] beat Marc-Andre Barriault with a split decision Saturday on the main card at UFC 297 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Take a look inside the fight with Curtis, who has alternated wins and losses his past five results.
See how the UFC 297 winners and losers reacted on social media outlets such as X, 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 X, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.
Following Saturday’s UFC 297 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 MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,430, the fellas discuss everything surrounding UFC 297, including answering the question if the event lived up to expectations. They also break down who should be next for Dricus Du Plessis in his first UFC middleweight title defense, and more. Tune in!
Dricus Du Plessis surpassed Daniel Cormier’s expectations.
[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] surpassed [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag]’s expectations.
Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) dethroned Sean Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) by split decision to become middleweight champion in Saturday’s UFC 297 headliner at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Looking at the landscape at 185 pounds, Cormier is surprised to see Du Plessis on the throne. The South African fighter is unbeaten in the octagon.
“The amount of fight parties they had in South Africa to watch this guy is crazy,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “The entire country exploded when he became champion. I’ll tell you this: I never thought that we’d be here today where Dricus Du Plessis is the middleweight champion of the world. I didn’t know, but as he told me earlier in the weekend, as I now understand, he does things his own way.
“I am learning, even though I’ve been in this game for a long time, that all mixed martial arts doesn’t look the same. Sometimes it looks different, and Dricus Du Plessis looks different. But, as I now have gained an appreciation for his style, I know what it looks like to me now. It looks like a champion of the world, because that’s exactly what Dricus is.”
Du Plessis challenged former champion Israel Adesanya after the fight. Considering their history, Cormier thinks it’s the fight to make.
“I’m very interested to see what happens next, though,” Cormier said. “I want to see if they try to turn him around for UFC 300 to maybe fight (Khamzat) Chimaev or maybe fight (Israel) Adesanya. After that uncomfortable interaction inside the octagon with Adesanya, I’m all in on that one.
“I know there are going to be a lot of people that go, ‘Why would Izzy deserve a championship opportunity?’ Well, sometimes it’s about the story and Izzy and Dricus have a story that’s already written. I’m also interested to see what happens to Sean Strickland now as he tries to rebuild himself into a championship contender or a UFC champion once again.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
