Tag: UFC Fight Night 215

UFC Fight Night 215 faceoff highlights video, photo gallery from Las Vegas

Check out photos and video highlights from Friday’s UFC Fight Night 215 weigh-ins and faceoffs.

LAS VEGAS – All the pre-fight activities are in the books for UFC Fight Night 215 following Friday’s official weigh-ins and faceoffs.

A matchup between heavyweight title hopefuls serves as the headliner of the card.

At the conclusion of the official weigh-ins, the fighters came face to face for final staredowns. Check out the highlights in the video above and a photo gallery from the weigh-ins and faceoffs below.

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

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

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UFC Fight Night 215 video: Derrick Lewis crowds Serghei Spivac at final faceoff

Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac had their first and final pre-fight encounter on Friday ahead of the UFC Fight Night 215 main event.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] had their first and final pre-fight encounter on Friday ahead of the UFC Fight Night 215 main event.

After both men came in under the heavyweight limit at official weigh-ins, Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) and Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) came face-to-face for a standard staredown prior to Saturday’s headliner, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

Lewis was his standard intense self at the faceoff, while Spivac remained unfazed.

Check out the video above to see the Lewis vs. Spivac staredown ahead of UFC Fight Night 215.

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

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UFC Fight Night 215 video: Derrick Lewis, Serghei Spivac combine for 517 pounds at weigh-ins

The main event of UFC Fight Night 215 is official after Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac came in under the heavyweight limit at weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – The main event of UFC Fight Night 215 is official after [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] came in under the heavyweight limit at Friday’s weigh-ins.

As expected, there was no drama on the scale for Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) and Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) ahead of their headlining bout, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

Lewis registered at 263 pounds on the scale, while Spivac was the lighter of the pair at 254 pounds.

Check out the video of both men making weight above.

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

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UFC Fight Night 215 weigh-in results: No misses for midday card

Check out the results from the official UFC Fight Night 215 fighter weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC Fight Night 215 fighter weigh-ins.

The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday’s card, which streams on ESPN+.

Among those weighing in were Derrick Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) and Serghei Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who meet in the heavyweight main event, and Ion Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) and Kennedy Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), who fight in the light heavyweight co-feature.

All 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event successfully made weight in the two-hour window. No one needed additional time, nor did anyone need to strip down to step on the scale.

The full UFC Fight Night 215 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Derrick Lewis (263) vs. Serghei Spivac (254)
  • Ion Cutelaba (206) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (205)
  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta (259) vs. Chase Sherman (256)
  • Andre Fialho (170.5) vs. Muslim Salikhov (170)
  • Jack Della Maddalena (170) vs. Danny Roberts (170)

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 1 p.m. ET)

  • Charles Johnson (125.5) vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (126)
  • Jennifer Maia (125) vs. Maryna Moroz (124.5)
  • Miles Johns (136) vs. Vince Morales (136)
  • Kevin Natividad (135.5) vs. Ricky Turcios (136)
  • Vanessa Demopoulos (116) vs. Maria Oliveira (115.5)
  • Fernie Garcia (136) vs. Brady Hiestand (135)
  • Tereza Bleda (125.5) vs. Natalia Silva (125)

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

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Despite getting new booking, Chase Sherman frustrated with Josh Parisian’s withdrawal: ‘I definitely want that fight back’

Chase Sherman wants to fight Josh Parisian sooner or later.

LAS VEGAS – Sooner or later, [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] wants to fight Josh Parisian.

The UFC heavyweight veteran is hoping to get re-booked against Parisian, as he’s not happy with the way things went down the last time they were booked to fight in the octagon.

Sherman (16-10 MMA, 4-9 UFC) and Parisian were set to meet at UFC Fight Night 214 earlier this month. Both fighters went through a complete fight week – doing media and successfully weighing in. However, on the day of the fight, Parisian withdrew from the matchup, citing chest pain and heart palpitations.

The situation didn’t sit well with Sherman.

“Yeah, I definitely want that fight back,” Sherman told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “It was very frustrating. I’m not a doctor, but I read the statement they released, and you know, to me, it seemed like may have had an anxiety attack, but whatever.

“I want that fight back. … I’m trying to be really nice right now because that was really frustrating, and I didn’t get to see my kids for two months and then that fight got pulled, and I had to call my son and tell him I wasn’t going to be home for another two weeks. I had an opponent change, and having to prepare for that and all these other things that come with someone pulling out the day of the fight. Someone’s got to pay the piper, you know what I’m saying. I’m going to take it out of his ass, and I want the fight.”

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Sherman is now set to compete against undefeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC). They meet on the main card of UFC Fight Night 215 this Saturday. Sherman doesn’t think the matchup is drastically different than the one with Parisian.

“It’s not like one was a heavy striker and one was a collegiate wrestler,” Sherman said. “It’s not having to change the game plan that much. It’s just finding a few different key points we want to use to attack.”

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

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Kennedy Nzechukwu not afraid by potential antics from Ion Cutelaba: ‘I’m Nigerian’

Kennedy Nzechukwu has seen it all.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] is unfazed by what may come in the lead up to fight his fight against Ion Cutelaba.

The UFC light heavyweight says he’s not worried about Cutelaba’s customary pre-fight antics ahead of their clash in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215. Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) is known for trying to agitate his opponents in the build up to a fight, as he’s shoved and yelled at opponents, among other things during pre-fight faceoffs.

Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) isn’t worried about what Cutelaba may or may not do before they step into the octagon.

“No, not really, I’m Nigerian,” Nzechukwu said at the UFC Fight Night 215 media day on Wednesday when asked about any potential concerns with Cutelaba’s antics. “I’ve been scared since I was a toddler, so nothing can really scare me or spook me.

“Regardless of what happens, there’s no ill will towards him. He’s just doing him. He’s just being himself. The main thing is about fight night on Saturday. Both of us are going to be locked in that cage, and we’re going to have to fight. I’m ready.”

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Cutelaba has had a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to his results in the UFC. “The Hulk” has won in quick finishes, gone to the distance, been submitted, drawn, you name it.

Nzechukwu will be fighting for the third time in 2022. He started his year off with a split decision loss to Nicolae Negumereanu in March, but rebounded very nicely with a third-round TKO finish of Karl Roberson in July.

Whatever may come on Saturday, Nzechukwu is ready.

“Whether it’s tough or easy, I’m ready to fight,” Nzechukwu said. “I’m prepared mentally, physically, and I just want to show my skill set, display what I’m made of. I know Ion Cutelaba is a tough fight, so I’m expecting the toughest version of him to show up. I’m ready, I’m prepared.”

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

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UFC’s Andre Fialho admits he overlooked Jake Matthews: ‘I thought I won even before the fight started’

Andre Fialho says he underestimated Jake Matthews, and it cost him.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag] says he underestimated [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag], and it cost him.

Matthews ended up putting on a striking clinic on Fialho at UFC 275 in June en route to a second-round knockout. Fialho (16-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) entered the fight a heavy favorite having knocked out Miguel Baeza and Cameron VanCamp, which made him overconfident against Matthews.

“I believe I lost that fight to myself,” Fialho told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “I looked past him. I thought I won the fight even before the fight started. I wasn’t as sharp. I didn’t spar that much for that fight. Even for VanCamp.

“I got hit in the Baeza fight, and I thought I had to preserve my brain, but I wasn’t sharp going into the fight. I never thought he had the courage to strike with me. I was just waiting for the takedowns, so I never really got into the fight and then the fight was kind of over in my mind. So in my head, I never really fought if that makes any sense.”

Fialho will be the first to enter the octagon five times in 2022 when he faces Muslim Salikhov (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215 main card at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.

“I always wanted to fight him,” Fialho said on Salikhov. “I always want to fight the best guys. I think he’s a very good striker, and I always wanted to test my abilities against him.”

He continued, “I’ll try to follow my game plan, be sharp, and if I connect, I believe it’ll be a short night.”

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

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Jack Della Maddalena expects Fight of the Night with Danny Roberts at UFC Fight Night 215

Jack Della Maddalena is aware that Danny Roberts “brings it every time” and expects that at UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] is expecting a game [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 215.

Maddalena (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will look to make it 13 consecutive wins when he faces Roberts (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.

Roberts has engaged in many standup battles, and Maddalena doesn’t see him backing down from a firefight this time either.

“I think it’s a cool matchup,” Maddalena told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “If you watch him fight, he brings it every time. He’s a tall, fast southpaw, and yeah, he’s gonna bring it. I think he gets hit, and he decides to bite down and swing, and it’s gonna be a cool fight. Fight of the Night.”

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Maddalena is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts. Another quick finish would be beneficial considering he’s looking to make a quick turnaround in his hometown of Perth, Australia at UFC 284 on Feb. 11, but the Aussie prospect is just looking for a clean performance.

“My game plan is to go in there and hit and not be hit,” Maddalena said. “Whether it’s three rounds, it doesn’t really matter. That’s sort of my game plan. I’m good to go three rounds, and I’m prepared for three rounds.”

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

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Danny Roberts on being big underdog vs. Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night 215: ‘I love that sh*t’

With an “anyone, anytime, anywhere” mindset, we should’ve expect otherwise from Danny Roberts heading into UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] is relishing the underdog role against [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag].

Roberts (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets Della Maddalena (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215 main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

According to Tipico Sports Book, Roberts is a +425 underdog, whereas the Aussie prospect is a heavy -575 favorite. But Roberts is not deterred by the odds.

“Anyone, anytime, anywhere,” Roberts told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “I’m one of the guys who, as a fan favorite, will just go out there and just put it on the line. I love taking risk. I love being the underdog. I believe I’m the biggest underdog on the card, which again, I love that sh*t, and I’m just in the position where I want to go out there and perform.”

He continued, “I liked the fight. Stylistically, I think it works out perfect. It plays into my hands. It’s something which beckons me to bring out the performance and to really put it all on the line. So every single part of it for me is what I want, is what I relish, so I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

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When asked about Della Maddalena’s comments saying he isn’t a technical striker, Roberts just brushed them off.

“Shut your mouth,” Roberts replied. “Who are you, bro? You’ve had two fights in the UFC. Like, whatever. When it comes down to it, styles make fights, and there’s a lot of elements that have been going on with me and have done throughout the time I’ve been in the UFC, but guess what? I’ve prevailed. I’ve got substance. I’m still here. I’m still fighting, and I think that’s something that speaks volumes in itself regardless of the outcomes that have been had.”

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

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