Tag: UFC Fight Night 229

UFC Fight Night 229 video: Bobby Green snubs Grant Dawson’s handshake, questions antics

Bobby Green had a lot to say to Grant Dawson when they got face-to-face for their UFC Fight Night 229 staredown.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] had a lot to say to [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] when they got face-to-face for their UFC Fight Night 229 staredown.

After Green (30-15-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC) spent most of fight week downplaying the “boring” skills of his opponent, while Dawson (20-1-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) propped up his foe as a “nice guy” behind the scenes, they finally confronted each other before Saturdays’ lightweight main event, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

Dawson attempted to shake Green’s hand, but “King” wanted no part of it as they talked smack back-and-forth before being ushered off stage by UFC security.

Check out the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

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UFC Fight Night 229 video: Grant Dawson, Bobby Green make weight in Las Vegas

Saturday’s UFC main event is official after headliners Grant Dawson and Bobby Green made weight Friday.

LAS VEGAS – Saturday’s UFC main event is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 229, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] (20-1-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (30-14-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

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Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229 weigh-in results: Full card makes weight in 72 minutes

Check out the results from the official UFC Fight Night 229 fighter weigh-ins in Las Vegas, featuring Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC Fight Night 229 fighter weigh-ins.

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

Among those weighing in were Grant Dawson (20-1-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) and Bobby Green (30-14-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC), who meet in the lightweight main event, and middleweights Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) vs. Joe Pyfer (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who fight in the co-feature.

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It was a flawless session on the scale, with all 22 fighters scheduled to compete making weight in a little more than an hour.

The full UFC Fight Night 229 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Grant Dawson (156) vs. Bobby Green (156)
  • Abdul Razak Alhassan (184.5) vs. Joe Pyfer (185)
  • Joaquin Buckley (170) vs. Alex Morono (170.5)
  • Drew Dober (155.5) vs. Ricky Glenn (155.5)
  • Bill Algeo (146) vs. Alexander Hernandez (145.5)

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

  • Ion Cutelaba (205.5) vs. Philipe Lins ()
  • Diana Belbita (115.5) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (116)
  • Nate Maness (126) vs. Mateus Mendonca (125.5)
  • Vanessa Demopoulos (116) vs. Kanako Murata (115.5)
  • Johnny Munoz (136) vs. Aori Qileng (136)
  • JJ Aldrich (125.5) vs. Montana De La Rosa (126)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

Grant Dawson: Islam Makhachev ‘beatable,’ Charles Oliveira rematch ‘a much more competitive fight’

Grant Dawson expects a much better showing from Charles Oliveira in his UFC 294 title rematch with Islam Makhachev.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] expects a much better showing from [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] in his rematch with [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag].

Lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is scheduled to run things back with Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) in the UFC 294 headliner on Oct. 21 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

In their first fight at UFC 280, Makhachev dominated Oliveira en route to a second-round submission. Dawson, who faces Bobby Green in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 headliner at the UFC Apex, can’t imagine Oliveira doing worse in his second opportunity.

“Short answer: Islam wins again,” Dawson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “Long answer, it’s a much more competitive fight this time. 99 percent of the nerves going into a fight is the unknown.

“I don’t know how strong this guy is, I don’t know how fast this guy is. Charles knows all of that. Also, Charles has nothing to lose. He’s going to go in against a guy that’s already beaten him. He can do nothing but look better against Islam in this next fight.”

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Dawson also points to Makhachev’s past fight as a big factor. Makhachev edged out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a decision win at UFC 284 in February in a fight which ended with him in bottom position taking a barrage of punches.

“Islam has looked mortal,” Dawson continued. “Islam has looked like a real person against a 45’er. So, it kind of shows the division that yes, he’s really good. Yes, he’s the best in the world, but he is beatable, and there are guys out there that can beat him.

“And somebody like Charles Oliveira could get it done. Would you be shocked if you read that he got a guillotine win? He’s got one of the best guillotines in the game. So, I think Islam still wins, but it’s a much more competitive fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229’s Philipe Lins plans to keep winning streak rolling through Ion Cutelaba

Philipe Lins doesn’t see his perfect run at light heavyweight coming to an end against Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night 229.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag] doesn’t see his perfect run at light heavyweight coming to an end against Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night 229 on Saturday.

Lins (17-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is undefeated in three fights since dropping down from heavyweight in April 2022, and although Cutelaba (17-8-1 MMA, 6-7-1 UFC) is dangerous, the Brazilian said his confidence has never been higher.

“(I’ve won) three in a row and this make a lot of good things in my head,” Lins told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “The things that I am dreaming for. I am very happy. But I’m focused on my next challenge. I want to keep my win streak.

“It’s a great opportunity to fight (Cutelaba). He’s a great name. … I’m ready for the challenge. It doesn’t matter what he’s doing and what he’s best at. I’m ready.”

Lins, 38, meets Cutelaba on the main card of the event at the UFC Apex. The entire lineup streams on ESPN+.

To hear more from Lins, was his complete UFC Fight Night 229 media day interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

Ricky Glenn says UFC Fight Night 229 clash vs. Drew Dober overdue: ‘Had my eye on him since 2008’

Ricky Glenn sees Drew Dober as a big opportunity and he plans on capitalizing on it.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ricky Glenn[/autotag] sees his matchup with Drew Dober as a big opportunity he needs to capitalize on.

Glenn (22-7-2 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) takes on Dober (26-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 main card at the UFC Apex. The event streams on ESPN+.

Dober has competed 20 times in the octagon, facing the likes of current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, top contender Beneil Dariush, and event headliner Bobby Green. Glenn says Dober has been on his radar for a long time, and is looking forward to testing himself against a fellow veteran.

“He’s a big name,” Glenn told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “He’s been around for a while. I actually fought on the same card he made his pro debut on back in 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska.

“I’ve kind of had my eye on him since 2008, quite a while. He’s beat some big names, I know this is a big opportunity. I’m looking forward to taking a hold and seizing the moment and leveling up big time in my career.”

It wasn’t too long ago when Glenn battled one half of Saturday’s headliner Grant Dawson to a majority draw, but that was followed by his first-event knockout loss against Christos Giagos  in April. He sees the fight with Dober as a chance to right the ship and put his career on the upward swing again.

“Going back to the drawing board and it’s the game we play,” Glenn said. “We come out here, we roll the dice in that octagon and control things I control, and it didn’t go my way. It sucked pretty bad, but I’m looking for some redemption on that one.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229’s Bill Algeo: Alexander Hernandez tends to ‘fold, break a little bit’

Bill Algeo thinks Alexander Hernandez breaks when he faces adversity.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag] breaks when he faces adversity.

Algeo (17-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC) meets Hernandez (14-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 main card opener at the UFC Apex. The event streams on ESPN+.

Hernandez has had some moments of brilliance in the octagon, but has recently lost four of his past seven fights. Algeo plans on pushing him to a breaking point – a weakness he sees in him as a fighter.

“Explosive, for sure he’s a good athlete,” Algeo told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “Utilizes everything, he does everything well. It’s just he tends to fold, he tends to break a little bit, and I tend not to.”

Algeo is riding some momentum having won three of his past four, most recently a Fight of the Night submission over T.J. Brown in April. Algeo has been a part of numerous entertaining scraps in the octagon, and aims to keep that style.

“That’s what gets people paid,” Algeo said. “That’s what puts butts in seats. At the end of the day, that’s why I’m here. I don’t know if there was a Fight of the Night that was that short so, I’m happy with my performance. I thought I was in control. Yeah, he (Brown) landed some stuff, but I felt in control the whole time honestly. But yeah, it was a cool finish, cool celebration, everything.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229’s Alex Morono hopes to fulfill goal of 20 octagon wins

Alex Morono enters UFC Fight Night 229 just eight victories from joining the UFC’s prestigious 20-win club.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] needs eight more UFC wins to reach one of his biggest career milestones.

Morono (23-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC) takes on Joaquin Buckley (16-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 welterweight featured bout at the UFC Apex. The event streams on ESPN+.

The Fortis MMA fighter has quietly won five of his past six fights – including big wins over Donald Cerrone, Matthew Semelsberger, and, most recently, a submission of Tim Means at UFC on ABC 4 in May.

“I’ve definitely achieved a lot, but I still have things I’m looking to achieve,” Morono told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “I use to have a goal of 20 fights, but now I have a goal of 20 wins. So, I’ve got some work to do.”

Morono takes on a dangerous knockout artist in Buckley, but is confident that his experience will help him pull through.

“I fought a lot of guys like him,” Morono said. “Thankfully I’m coming off a southpaw fight camp, but yeah, nothing to underestimate. The dude’s a beast. I trained my butt off for this one. Thankfully we had a big crop of welterweights over at Fortis so I’ve been training with some really good guys.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229’s Bobby Green gushes over possible ‘sick-ass-fight’ with Max Holloway

Bobby Green loves the idea of a potential matchup with Max Holloway.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] loves the idea of a potential matchup with [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag].

Green (30-14-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC) gets the second octagon headliner of his career when he faces Grant Dawson (20-1-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 event at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.

Green has always been willing to fight anyone. He’s competed against the likes of current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, former interim champ Dustin Poirier, and most recently Tony Ferguson at UFC 291 in August. One other name he’d love to add to his resume, however, is former UFC featherweight champ Holloway (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC).

“He’s got the record for most amount of hits in his division, I got the record in my division, that would be a sick-ass fight,” Green told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day.

“Holloway is dope. I got nothing but respect for those type of guys like that. That would be sick, and then we’re both going to talk to each other and we’re going to talk sh*t, too, and beat each other up? That’s a great-ass fight.”

Green, 37, hopes to compete four times this year. He fought three times in 2022, and four times in 2020, making him one of the most active lightweights on the UFC roster.

“My plan was to fight this fight, and fight one more in December,” Green said. “Right now I’m the most active. Nobody’s fighting more than me right now. … Old as I am, 46 fights, nobody’s still doing it like me. I’m the most active, how are you young guys letting me beat you? How are you letting me get more work than you guys? I should be banged up and at the house.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.

UFC Fight Night 229’s Alexander Hernandez seeks consistency after getting past ‘personal rut’

Alexander Hernandez is ready to finally make an impact at UFC Fight Night 229 after an up-and-down octagon run.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag]’s career has not met the expectations he’s set out for himself during his octagon tenure, but he intends to change that at UFC Fight Night 229.

Hernandez (14-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) has had some big moments, such as his shocking 42-second knockout of Beneil Dariush in his promotional debut. But since then he’s struggled to put it all together that same way. However, he thinks he’s dialed in for Saturday’s featherweight matchup with Bill Algeo (17-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.

“I’ve always been my worst enemy,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “I kind of hit a hole. Just a personal rut. I had to work some things out. I was able to get to the root of it, hit the nail on the head.”

After dropping three of four fights from 2021-2022, Hernandez is coming off a major confidence-boosting performance. He defeated all-time UFC wins leader Jim Miller as a replacement on just 10 days’ notice at UFC Fight Night 219 in February, and now he wants to build off it.

“Winning is not just everything for our psyche and trajectory in the sport, but two checks,” Hernandez said. “That’s a big difference getting that second check. Definitely got me back on track. Got my mind right. I overcame a lot getting to that point, then having to take that short notice fight I had to prove some things to myself. It set me right.”

Hernandez, 31, thinks his UFC Fight Night 229 opponent Algeo is a “threat.” He’s taking the fight seriously, and Hernandez knows he needs this one if he’s going to start to carve out a sustainable place for himself in the division.

“I want the checks,” Hernandez said. “I’m open. I’ve never turned down a challenge. That’s where I’m sitting, like that top 20 pocket at ’45. So just give me some action around there. I want to get the volume up.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.