Tag: UFC Fight Night 238

Jamie Pickett breaks down UFC retirement: ‘I want to play with my children when I get older’

The theme going around at UFC Fight Night 238 on Saturday seemed to be “Family comes first.”

LAS VEGAS – The theme going around at UFC Fight Night 238 on Saturday seemed to be “Family comes first.”

Tyson Pedro announced a somewhat surprising retirement after a decision loss in the co-main event, and a few fights prior [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag] did the same thing. Pickett (13-11 MMA, 2-7 UFC) dropped a decision to Eryk Anders (16-8 MMA, 8-9 UFC) to close out the prelims at the UFC Apex.

At 35, the North Carolina native said he wants to focus on spending time with his kids.

“I’m retiring. I knew it coming (into the fight),” Pickett told MMA Junkie and other reporters backstage after UFC Fight Night 238. “I was going to go out of here and leave it on the table and win. I have some issues I just don’t talk about. I’m not one of those people to make excuses about anything. If I lose a fight, I lost a fight. It doesn’t matter who it is about, what it is. … My losses are my losses, but I’ve had some problems for a while and I just don’t like to talk about them. I want to play with my children when I get older.”

Pickett wrapped up his UFC run with five straight losses, and it seems all of them could have an asterisk by them for him in terms of outside-the-ordinary fight things that happened.

He took a short-notice fight against Kyle Daukaus that was such a quick turnaround it was at a 195-pound contract weight. He lost by submission to start his five-fight skid. He lost to Denis Tiuliulin not long after Tiuliulin lost a point for a low blow.

He had to wait out a Bo Nickal injury and reschedule with him for what ultimately was a submission loss. Against Josh Fremd this past August, Fremd missed weight by three pounds. Against Anders this past Saturday, he finally seemed to have a “normal” fight, and he even knocked Anders down in the first round.

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“I’m not a person to make excuses and land on a crutch,” Pickett said. “I’ve never done that in my whole life. I’ve took the hard way around, everything I’ve ever done. I’m a hard worker, and I do what I have to do to make ends for my family. I’ve got a 6-year-old, and I’ve got kids that count on me, my little girls, and I want to be a positive role model in their lives.

“I want to show them, I want to help them, guide them through life, navigate through the world, and I can’t do it if I’m messed up from fighting. I’ve talked to two doctors about things. My body’s just not holding up. I love the sport. I’m very appreciative that UFC let me fight out my contract. If they came right now and told me they’d give me another two contracts, the answer would still be the same.”

Pickett got into the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 with a second-round TKO win. In an absolute rarity, Pickett’s DWCS win came in his third shot. In 20127, he was submitted by Charles Byrd. Two wins later, he got another shot, but dropped a decision to Punahele Soriano.

But the third time was the charm, and it led to nine fights in the promotion starting when he was 32.

“I’ve done everything I could do,” Pickett said. “I got in the UFC late, and I tried my best to make up for that. … I took care of almost every fight they’ve ever asked. I took it on short notice – I took it on seven days’ notice. I never said no, except for one time (against Alex Pereira), because I wanted to be something in this sport. But I got in a little too late, and I’m pretty banged up.

“Tonight, I tried to give everything I had. I wanted to put on a show for the fans. I wanted to make people where I’m from proud. I come from a very small county. I went from a troubled kid to someone who’s looked at as a role model. I’ve done a lot from where I’m from. It might not be a lot to a lot of people, but where I come from, it’s a lot. So, that’s it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Challenge issued after Brandon Royval throws shade on Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Fight Night 238 win

Brandon Royval and Muhammad Mokaev exchanged words as they both campaign for a UFC title fight.

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] and [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] exchanged words as they both campaign for a title fight.

Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) edged out former champion Brandon Moreno in the UFC Fight Night 237 main event in Mexico City. Prior to that, Royval fell short to flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for a second time in their title fight this past December at UFC 296.

A week after Royval beat Moreno, Mokaev (11-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) defeated former title challenger Alex Perez Saturday at UFC Fight Night 238. Royval took aim at Mokaev’s performance with a simple remark on X.

“This is y’all’s boy 😂😂.”

Mokaev, 23, wasn’t impressed with Royval’s win over Moreno either, suggesting they fight in a No. 1 contender bout.

“You got choked out by Pantoja then 45-50 in second fight UFC coming to Manchester in July, come fight me, I’m undefeated , you’re 16-8 in you career, taking same route as Artem Lobov.”

With Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) looking to defend his title at UFC 301 May 4 in Brazil, both fighters said they’ll be ready to go by then. Royval initially had a scare about his knee but confirmed he’ll be able to fight in May.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Spinning Back Clique LIVE: Sean O’Malley’s big moment, UFC 299 vs. UFC 300, Ngannou-Joshua stakes and more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel breaks down this week’s Francis Ngannou-Anthony Joshua boxing match, UFC 299, UFC 300 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’s panel of Farah Hannoun, Simon Samano and Brian “Goze” Garcia will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • A huge moment in [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s career is on deck this week: his first attempt at a defense of his bantamweight title, and he’ll do it against the only man to beat him – Marlon Vera. Considering O’Malley handpicked Vera for his first title defense, and he’s talked up a big game heading into UFC 299, is Saturday a must-win situation for the brash superstar? What would a loss do to his star power?
  • UFC 300 next month is the one that rightfully is getting the lion’s share of headlines – and it’s positively loaded. But holy smokes, let’s just be honest: UFC 299 on Saturday in Miami is plenty stacked, too – to the point there’s a legitimate argument to be made that it might be a better card than the big round number coming up a few weeks after it. Right? Right? We’ll break down the fights in Miami that could steal the show – and ponder if UFC 299 could steal UFC 300’s thunder when all is said and done.
  • Former interim lightweight champion [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag], the reigning “BMF” belt holder, meets former featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] in what should be an all-timer at UFC 300. But UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov said Gaethje-Holloway makes no sense because it leaves Islam Makhachev in limbo. And former dual-champion Henry Cejudo thinks Holloway should be pulled from UFC 300 to book him vs. Ilia Topuria in Spain. They’ve got us thinking: Did the UFC mess up by booking Gaethje vs. Holloway for a title that is merely a gimmick, given the potential impact on the two divisions?
  • By the end of the week, we should have a really good idea just how serious [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s boxing pursuits are going to become. The former UFC heavyweight champion, now signed to the PFL for MMA, boxes Anthony Joshua on Friday in Saudi Arabia. If he wins, on the heels of his knockdown and close loss to Tyson Fury in his pro boxing debut, there is talk he could wind up with a heavyweight boxing title shot. So how much pressure is on him in the Middle East?
  • At UFC Fight Night 238 this past Saturday, a pair of fighters had opportunities to really stake their claims for title shots. [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] outworked Alex Perez at flyweight and said afterward his performance suffered because he was sick the day of the fight. And [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] was dominant against short-notice newcomer Bekzat Almakhan at bantamweight – but got knocked down in the first round. Did merely winning do enough for them, or should they have won impressively to stand out? We’ll break down what’s likely next in each of their divisions.

Steve Erceg explains Brandon Moreno callout after UFC Fight Night 238 victory

Steve Erceg walloped Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 238, then called out former champ Brandon Moreno. Here’s why.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag] knows if he can beat them, he can join them.

That’s why Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) called out former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) on the microphone Saturday at UFC Fight Night 238 following his big knockout of Matt Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC).

“He’s one of the best in the world, a former titleholder,” Erceg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “He’s obviously coming off two losses and I’m looking to get myself into the top five. So I think a win over him not only improves my confidence because I’m beating somebody who was at that level, but really puts me into that title contention picture.”

Moreno, 30, is currently on a two-fight losing skid including a split decision main event loss Feb. 24 to Brandon Royval.

“I didn’t think that was his best performance,” Erceg said. “I don’t know if it was the range that was giving him trouble or – I’m not sure. He looked a little bit sloppy in that fight. Usually, he’s a really good boxer. He looked average last week.”

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If the UFC is as keen on the idea of the proposed matchup as he is, Erceg already has an event and location in mind.

“(I want to return) as soon as possible,” Erceg said. “Obviously, the Sphere (in Las Vegas in September). That’s a huge event. That’s UFC Noche. He’s Mexican. That would be absolutely epic. But if they come to Australia, I’d love to fight in Australia, as well, and have my home crowd cheering me on, getting to see me fight live.”

Erceg, 28, was thrown into the deep end immediately upon his UFC arrival. He fought then-UFC-ranked David Dvorak (and won) in his short-notice promotional debut. He then defeated short-notice newcomer Alessandro Costa prior to Saturday’s KO of Schnell.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC Fight Night 238 win?

Which name in the loaded bantamweight division makes most sense for Umar Nurmagomedov after his UFC Fight Night 238 win?

[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] didn’t get the flash win he was looking for at UFC Fight Night 238, but he got a win against Bekzat Almakhan.

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) kept his perfect record intact Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, beating Almakhan (14-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) by lopsided unanimous decision after taking an early knockdown.

The undefeated sensation has been clamoring for a marquee name in the bantamweight division, and his time might have just very well arrived as he’s seeking Cory Sandhagen or another top-ranked name.

Who makes most sense for Nurmagomedov next, though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 238.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

UFC’s Tyson Pedro retires to put more focus on family. And about those expenses …

After 11 fights in the UFC, Australia’s Tyson Pedro hung up his gloves after a loss in the UFC Fight Night 238 co-main event.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag] got his request out of the way early after UFC Fight Night 238.

“All right. Let’s do it. I’d appreciate (you) not trying to make me cry. That’d be nice,” Pedro said when he got to the podium Saturday after the co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Pedro (10-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) lost a unanimous decision to Vitor Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), and afterward said he made the decision to hang up his gloves in order to focus more on his family.

But getting through talking about his choice to walk away without shedding a few tears might have been about as hard as anything he ever had to do in the cage.

The 32-year-old Australian made a big splash when he came to the UFC in late 2016. He submitted Khalil Rountree in his promotional debut for a $50,000 bonus in front of his home fans in Melbourne. His next time out, he knocked out Paul Craig.

And while he hit a skid after that with three losses in four fights, he seemed to have rebounded after that and had won three of four before Saturday’s loss to Petrino.

“You put in all the costs, put on the cost to my family, I probably just can’t do it anymore,” Pedro told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the loss. “With the deductions and the loss of the fight tonight, I’m probably going to have to rob someone in the car park. So if anyone’s got any money on them – who’s got the most on them?”

He was joking, of course. But Pedro said it comes down to more than just financial considerations.

In particular, going to New Zealand for his training camps means time away from his wife and daughter.

“It’s been on my mind a little bit lately,” he said. “Mainly, (I’ve) just been away from my daughter. I’ve been away probably 12 months in the last two and a half years from my wife and baby. That’s obviously my choice going over to New Zealand (to train). I know that’s where I’m going to be the best mixed martial artist.

“… It’s more a family thing, definitely. I’ve got a change of dreams, so if I’m going to do that, I might as well spend it with my daughter. Who knows – you might see me on the Australian circuit, but that’s it for me for MMA.”

Pedro learned after his own announcement that Jamie Pickett, who lost to Eryk Anders a couple hours before Pedro’s fight, also said he’s calling it quits to focus on his family.

“I try not to complain about it too much. I get to do what I love,” Pedro said. “There’s people out there that are sacrificing this much doing a sh*t job, so I’m thankful for the opportunities that I’ve got. I got to live my dream, fight in front of the biggest crowds, fight for the biggest (MMA) company in the world, so it’s all positives for me. But I want to look back, and (I’d rather be) spending that time with my daughter … ooh, that one almost got me (crying). It’s close. It’s close. It’s shining up here.”

Pedro said it’s possible he could come back – which seems to happen more with MMA retirements than it doesn’t. But more than likely, his MMA journey is over.

“Never say never, but I can’t see it in the foreseeable future,” he said.

But when asked if his family might eventually think he’s home too much and request he return to fighting, Pedro couldn’t rule it out: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s probably the highest chance out of all of it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Jairzinho Rozenstruik after UFC Fight Night 238 win?

Jairzinho Rozenstruik named three realistic options for his next matchup after UFC Fight Night 238, but one stands out among the bunch.

[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] brought some stability back to his career Saturday when he defeated Shamil Gaziev in the UFC Fight Night 238 main event.

After losing three of his past four coming in, Rozenstruik (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) needed to get his hand raised to keep relevant in the heavyweight division. He did just that, beating Gaziev (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) by fourth-round referee stoppage TKO at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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Following his win, Rozenstruik said Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa or Serghei Spivac would all be realistic matchups for him next. But who should it be?

Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Rozenstruik’s future after UFC Fight Night 238.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Vinicius Oliveira wants ‘easy fight’ Umar Nurmagomedov for second UFC outing: ‘He just has wrestling’

After a UFC Knockout of the Year candidate, ‘Lok Dog’ Vinicius Oliveira shared some not-so-flattering thoughts about Umar Nurmagomedov.

LAS VEGAS – Not many, if any, are chomping at the bit to fight [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] – besides “Lok Dog,” that is.

Following his early Knockout of the Year contender at UFC Fight Night 238, [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] officially made it known his hand is raised for one of the more unpopular matchups in the division.

“I would like to (fight) against Umar Nurmagomedov,” Oliveira (20-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “… I’m sure if I fight against Umar Nurmagomedov, it will be an easy fight for me because he just has wrestling. He would be able to put me on the ground, but I’ve worked so hard on my defense.”

Nurmagomedov also competed Saturday, as he defeated newcomer Bekzat Almakhan by unanimous decision. Oliveira spoke as the fight was unfolding and didn’t seem impressed as it progressed.

“I’m almost sure I’d be able to defeat this guy in the first round, because my mistake today was only my takedown defense,” Oliveira said. “Now, I go back to the gym and I train so hard so it doesn’t happen again.”

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Regardless of what happens from here, “Lok Dog” has his tape etched in the eternal UFC highlight reel. His flying knee knockout of fellow newcomer  Bernardo Sopai (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was instantly praised by some as one of the best of its kind in promotion history.

Biased, sure, Oliveira agrees.

“I totally agree,” Oliveira said. “This knockout flying knee was amazing. I never seen it before. It would be a mark on the history of the UFC. My debut in the UFC was amazing. It will be a mark for a long time. All people will be talking about the knockout. So when some people are talking about the flying knee knockouts, the people will remember my name: ‘Lok Dog.'”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

UFC Fight Night 238 post-event facts: Umar Nurmagomedov on the rise in bantamweight books

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 238, which saw Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Muhammad Mokaev and Umar Nurmagomedov make noise.

The UFC opened its March schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 238, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event saw [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) overcome a slow start to batter [autotag]Shamil Gaziev[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a referee TKO stoppage after the end of the fourth round, putting him back on the winning track.

For more on the numbers behind the card, which featured six finishes in 11 fights – and a couple of them unique – check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 238.