Tag: UFC Fight Night 215

UFC Fight Night 215 winner Natalia Silva: My ‘will to win was stronger’ than Tereza Bleda’s

After a back-and-forth battle, Natalia Silva was able to stop Tereza Bleda with a spinning back kick at UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag] spoke to the media after her UFC Fight Night 215 win.

Silva (14-5-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) talked MMA Junkie and other media members through her spinning back kick TKO of Tereza Bleda (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), how the fight played out, and much more.

“It’s what my master Carlos Borracha always says: ‘Your will to win has to be way more than hers, and it has to be higher and stronger than your opponent,'” Silva told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter. “Whenever you fight, you have to understand that you’re not going to be on top all the time. The fight game is sometimes about you being down. You have to understand how to deal with adversity and actually being behind in the game. Your will to win always has to be stronger than your opponent and my will to win was stronger.”

UFC Fight Night 215 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Watch the video of Silva’s complete post-fight media availability above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Ricky Turcios: Rematching Brady Hiestand would be ‘Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar type legend stuff’

Ricky Turcios thinks he and fellow UFC Fight Night 215 winner Brady Hiestand would deliver another memorable fight if they rematched.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ricky Turcios[/autotag] spoke to the media after his UFC Fight Night 215 win.

Turcios (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) answered questions from MMA Junkie and other media members after edging out Kevin Natividad (9-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) by split decision on his win, a potential rematch with “TUF 29” finalist [autotag]Brady Hiestand[/autotag] and more.

“Brady, that’s my dude,” Turcios told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “We were there inside ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ house training and stuff like that, and we had the war, and I’m glad he was shining and got that victory, too. So congratulations to him. He got the victory tonight. I got the victory tonight. We’re all connected in this circle of life, so everything happens for a reason. But if one day, me and Brady have to rematch, then we’re on that Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar type legend stuff, you know what I’m saying? Let’s go.”

UFC Fight Night 215 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Watch the video of Turcios’ complete post-fight media availability above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Miles Johns: James Krause being banned from my corner is ‘a rug being pulled out from under your feet’

“I wasn’t worried about the details in that moment, it’s just a rug being pulled out from under your feet.”

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag] spoke to the media after his UFC Fight Night 215 win.

Johns (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) answered questions from MMA Junkie and other media members after defeating Vince Morales (11-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) by unanimous decision on why his coach [autotag]James Krause[/autotag] was pulled from his corner, who he wants next, and much more.

“I’m not really sure the details about what exactly happened,” Johns told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “They just called him last night and said he was unable to corner me today. I’m sure you guys will be finding out soon enough as will I, but for me I wasn’t worried about the details in that moment, it’s just a rug being pulled out from under your feet at the pre-fight night dinner. So yeah, there was a little bit of adversity with that but we’re here now, we got the W, it’s all good.”

UFC Fight Night 215 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Watch the video of Johns’ complete post-fight media availability above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Charles Johnson on Zhalgas Zhumagulov win at UFC Fight Night 215: ‘I felt like I won every round’

Charles Johnson thinks the judges got it right in his split decision win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag] thinks the judges got it right at UFC Fight Night 215.

Johnson (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) edged out Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-8 MMA, 1-5 UFC) by split decision this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was a decision that reportedly caused Zhumagulov to retire out of frustration.

All but one media score submitted to MMA Decisions scored the bout for Zhumagulov, but Johnson thinks he did enough to win.

“I haven’t looked at social media, but I feel like – I don’t know,” Johnson told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “My coach said each round was close, but I felt like I won every round, honestly in my opinion. I didn’t feel like he did enough to win rounds. He was just throwing big shots, and sometimes they land. But it’s a five-minute round. So I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Johnson picked up his first UFC win after a rough debut against unbeaten prospect Muhammad Mokaev at UFC Fight Night 208 in March. He hopes for a quick turnaround to keep the momentum going.

“It’s great – I’m happy,” Johnson said on his first UFC win. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters in this sport. I want to be active, so if you’re losing, they don’t really have any incentive to put you back in here.

“I think that (Tagir) Ulanbekov is a great fight for me, and I think Tim Elliott is a great fight for me, and I think anyone ranked is a good fight for me, honestly. I’m a champion before I got here. I’ll be a champion when I leave, and I’ve fought nothing but champions.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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How Brady Hiestand used ‘next-level’ grappling to rally and beat Fernie Garcia at UFC Fight Night 215

Brady Hiestand was able to turn a rough start into a win by using his grappling at UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Brady Hiestand[/autotag] was able to turn a rough start into a win by using his grappling.

Hiestand (6-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) defeated Fernie Garcia (10-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous decision this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 215 for his first octagon win.

But Hiestand’s return to the octagon was almost spoiled when he was dropped by Garcia’s first punch landed.

“I feel like the first round I didn’t perform as well as I could,” Hiestand told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I made mistakes. Obviously, Fernie is a high-level striker. I made a mistake and he capitalized on it and dropped me. But I feel like the two rounds, second and third, really showcased what kind of fighter I am and what I’m going to be from here on out.”

Hiestand, a Season 29 “Ultimate Fighter” finalist, returned for the first time in 15 months. The long layoff showed when he was dropped early, but he rallied with his wrestling for the win.

“The game plan was to showcase more of my striking,” Hiestand said. “I feel like we’ve worked so hard on my striking and in the second and third round I think it showed. And obviously my grappling is next level, so just a little bit of that.

“I think Round 2 and 3 was a reintroduction of who Brady is. I think Round 1 was dusting the cobwebs off. Ring rust might have been a little bit of a factor, but Round 2 and 3 is who I am and I’m only going to get better from here on out.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Muslim Salikhov determined to make UFC title run, wants Neil Magny or top-10 fighter next

Muslim Salikhov is still eyeing UFC gold after getting back in the win column.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag] is still dreaming of fighting for a UFC title.

The veteran welterweight is ready to build another winning streak and make a case for getting a shot at the belt. Salikhov (19-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) successfully returned to the win column this past Saturday, scoring a TKO over Andre Fialho (16-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on the main card of UFC Fight Night 215. It was an impressive finish that earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

The win over Fialho was Salikhov’s first fight since losing to Li Jingliang in July – a defeat that put an end to a five-fight wining streak. Salikhov is ready to build another streak and wants a notable name as the next building block.

“Maybe Neil Magny,” Salikhov told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I want to fight with him. Maybe him or a good name, a top 10.”

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Salikhov has been fighting professionally since 2011 and in kickboxing since 2006. The 38-year-old feels like he’s running out of time to achieve his dream of becoming a UFC champion. He’s hoping for a quick return and wants to stay busy.

“I don’t have much time. I’m 38 years old,” Salikhov explained. “So I have to go home, because in December my wife will bring one more kid for me, so I have to go there, see him and then comeback to Miami for one more camp. I want to go back on a winning streak and (make a) run to the belt.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Vanessa Demopoulos wants on main cards, pay-per-views after UFC Fight Night 215 win

Vanessa Demopoulos’ popularity in the UFC continues to grow. Now she wants the platform to go with it.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag]’ popularity continues to grow, and now she wants the platform to go with it.

Demopoulos (9-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) picked up her third straight win when she defeated Maria Oliveira by unanimous decision this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 215. She topped off her performance with her signature celebration and jumped into Michael Bisping’s arms in her post-fight interview in the cage.

The former LFA women’s strawweight champion’s celebration was introduced when she jumped into Joe Rogan’s arms after she submitted Silvana Gomez Juarez at UFC 270. Now she thinks she’s earned a bigger spot on some bigger shows.

“Start putting me on some of these main cards. Let’s go for these pay-per-view events,” Demopoulos told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “Like, what are we doing here? I think this is like my third trip here to the (UFC) Apex, which I love – don’t get me wrong. But I want to be on these bigger shows, and I’m willing to show out. I hope that I’ve been entertaining enough thus far. Let’s go. What are we talking about?”

Winning only will help Demopoulos get on bigger shows and she sees her performance against Oliveira as one of her most refined to date.

“I feel like this was one of my more dominant performances – especially when it had gone to a decision,” Demopoulos said. “I had a lot of control time. I had a lot of ground-and-pound. I almost KO’d her entirely even on the feet, so I felt like I really got to show off this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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‘Perth is a long way to travel to get beaten up,’ but Jack Della Maddalena hopes someone willing to at UFC 284

After another dominant finish, Jack Della Maddalena seeks a fight on home soil at UFC 284.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] remains on a roll and wants it to continue at home early next year.

Della Maddalena was the biggest betting favorite on the card Saturday at UFC Fight Night 215, and he showed why when he overwhelmed Danny Roberts for a first-round TKO at the UFC Apex. It was an impressive finish that earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

It was also Della Maddalena’s 13th consecutive win, which includes finishes in all three of UFC fights in 2022.

As for what’s, it’s a no-brainer what Della Maddalena wants: a fight on home soil at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 in Perth, Australia.

“A hundred percent,” Della Maddalena told reporters, including MMA Junkie.

In fact, Della Maddalena (13-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) hopes a ranked welterweight is ready to take him on, but he understands that “Perth is a long way to travel to get beaten up.” So, really, anyone will do. Della Maddalena will say yes to whomever the UFC offers him so long as he gets the chance to fight at home.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Kennedy Nzechukwu after UFC Fight Night 215 win?

See who Kennedy Nzechukwu should fight next after his victory over Ion Cutelaba in the UFC Fight Night 215 headliner.

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] got an unexpected main event win Saturday when he defeated Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night 215.

It’s not that Nzechukwu (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) getting his hand raised was a shock. It’s that it happened in the headliner, as he wasn’t originally supposed to be there until Derick Lewis was forced to withdraw vs. Serghei Spivac.

Nzechukwu made the most of it, scoring a second-round TKO of Cutelaba 16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) in the light heavyweight contest at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

With wins in five of his past seven octagon appearances, what should be next for Nzechukwu? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 215.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Jennifer Maia relieved to snap losing streak at UFC Fight Night 215: ‘I feel like a cleansed soul’

Former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger Jennifer Maia can breathe a little easier after picking up a win.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jennifer Maia[/autotag] can breathe a little easier now that she’s got a win under her belt.

The former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger ended a two-fight losing skid at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215. Maia (20-9-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) defeated Maryna Moroz (11-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) by unanimous decision on the preliminary portion of the card.

It was the first time Maia entered a bout with two consecutive defeats. She’s relieved that number didn’t extend to three.

“I’m obviously very happy,” Maia told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I feel like a cleansed soul after a win. I feel like I could’ve done more, but I tried to fight smart and intelligently to come out with the win.”

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Maia admits she felt pressured going into UFC Fight Night 215. She felt like she was in a must-win situation.

“Surely, obviously coming off the losses and also fighting someone below me in the rankings, it’s an added pressure,” Maia said. “I needed this win for myself.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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