Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas.
UFC Fight Night 244 took place last weekend in Las Vegas, producing an update in the men’s flyweight rankings.
In the main event at the UFC Apex, [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] handed [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] his first career loss in a thrilling 25-minute bout.
Royval entered the contest at No. 3 in the men’s flyweight division. After winning, he gets one spot closer to the top, swapping positions with No. 2 Amir Albazi.
Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
Julia Polastri picked up her first UFC win after a loss in her promotional debut in June, but was surprised at the scoring.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Julia Polastri[/autotag] beat Cory McKenna with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Polastri, who picked up her first UFC win after a loss in her promotional debut in June.
Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna
Julia Polastri
Result:Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) Updated records: Polastri (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), McKenna (8-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) Key stats: Polastri outstruck McKenna 142-98 and more than doubled up on her in significant strikes. She also stuffed five of McKenna’s six takedown attempts.
Polastri on the fight’s key moment
Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna, UFC Fight Night 244 1
“I knew she was still grappling with me. When she grappled with me, I was stronger than her and I saw that I frustrated her. That was the strategy and I think that I did the game plan right. But she surprised me because I didn’t know that she was so tough. She’s very tough, but it’s cool because we could bring a good fight for you.”
Polastri on the split decision
“I was really confident because I saw that I took control of all the fight, but it surprised me. But OK – the win came. That’s what matters.”
Polastri on what she wants next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (R-L) Julia Polastri of Brazil punches Cory McKenna of Wales in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I’d really like to fight again this year. If we can do it at the last card of the year, it will be awesome because my camp (can start) in November and until the last card, we have eight weeks. I jumped in this fight with three weeks’ (notice), so if I have eight weeks, I can do a lot more and it will be awesome to do another fight this year.
“I think for now, I need to put my feet on the ground. I’d really like to fight again (this year), but I don’t have a name specifically. I really like to be prepared for anybody that they bring me. I know I’m just beginning, but I I have a lot of potential to show and I’d really like to catch a fight with my camp complete. Anybody that they bring to me, I’m going to be happy to fight.”
To hear more from Polastri, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Pat Sabatini rebounded from a first-round knockout loss to Diego Lopes for one of just two upsets at UFC Fight Night 244.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] beat Jonathan Pearce with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Sabatini, who rebounded from a first-round knockout loss to Diego Lopes.
Pat Sabatini def. Jonathan Pearce, UFC Fight Night 244 (via UFC)
“I would say I’m happy, but it’s just not cutting it. It’s way, way beyond that. I’m ecstatic. I am thrilled. Right now, it’s just another level of happiness. This is why I do it – this feeling right here. With this sport – and this is the reason why I do this sport – when the actual win is great, but it’s overcoming myself and becoming a better person, better fighter and evolving as a person – and I feel like I took a nice step tonight.”
Sabatini on his personal growth
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Pat Sabatini battles Jonathan Pearce in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I fell down, and instead of falling down and staying down, I chose to get back up and turn into a better fighter, better person, and it showed tonight. This sport’s so much more mental than physical – it’s crazy. I had to get uncomfortable in order to get to that next level.
“… Working with a sports psychologist – I actually just got off the phone with him; I had to give him a call and be like, ‘Hey, our stuff worked’ – it gives you the tactics and the actual tools to stay present and just put yourself in the best possible position to perform at your best.
“I think ego for a lot of people gets in the way of voicing it, but I’m not ashamed to say I’ve been a prisoner in my own mind. I’ve been the ruler of my own mind. The mind is everything in this game.”
Sabatini on what he wants next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Diego Lopes of Brazil punches Pat Sabatini in a featherweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“I do have two losses in the UFC. I would love to avenge either one of them or both, even if it comes in time. I have no names in particular, no times in particular, but you can best believe I’m going to stay ready. It could be it could be in Australia, it could be here in Vegas, it could be in Bristol, Pa. – doesn’t matter.”
To hear more from Sabatini, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
What’s next for Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira following their wild fight at UFC Fight Night 244? We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”
[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] and [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] gave MMA fans one of the best fights, if not the best fight, of 2024.
The two flyweights went back and forth in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas. With many momentum swings, Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) ended up getting the better of Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) over the course of 25 minutes, winning a split decision.
Now 2-0 since fighting for the UFC flyweight title, has Royval done enough to secure another crack at the belt? How much does Taira’s stock drop after his first professional defeat?
MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Matthew Wells, Danny Segura, and host Gorgeous George discuss what’s next for Royval and Taira following their Fight of the Night bout at UFC Fight Night 244.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.
Cody Haddon won his UFC debut just a couple months after a contract win on Dana White’s Contender Series.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Cody Haddon[/autotag] beat Dan Argueta with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Haddon, who won his UFC debut just a couple months after a contract win on Dana White’s Contender Series.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Cody Haddon of Australia punches Dan Argueta in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I 100 percent prepared for that. I was so scared and nervous coming into this fight because I knew that it was going to take it out of me. I nearly threw up back there after I came out the octagon, so I knew that Dan’s that type of guy. You could hit him 1,000 times with so many bombs, and he’s just going to keep coming forward. … He’s had a lot of experience and I knew that it was going to be a very tough fight. I’m just glad that I could get the job done, to be honest. He was super strong in there, but somehow I pulled it off again.”
Haddon on being in exciting fights
“I’m exhausted. That was a f*cking back-and-forth battle. Like I said my last fight in the press conference when I was sitting up here: The moment I’m in a boring fight, Dana (White) can cut me, and I stand by that. Hopefully I can make some money in the process.”
Haddon on what he wants next
Cody Haddon def. Dan Argueta, UFC Fight Night 244 (via UFC)
“It’s the most active I think I’ve been ever in my MMA career, so it feels really good, actually, stringing them together like that. I guess now’s the time. Everyone has their time. I’ve had a few ups and downs and injuries and illnesses and people on the regional scene avoiding me and not fighting me. I’m not mentioning any names, but a lot of people didn’t want to fight me on the regional scene, and obviously (me being at the UFC level) is why. But the UFC, they want to push me and obviously I hope they like what they saw tonight, and hopefully I’ll be back in February. I hear there’s a card in Australia coming. I want to be on that one so I can bring all my fans from Australia. … A fight on Aussie soil? I’ll blow the roof off the place. I really will. That’s a dream, and hopefully they can book that for me.
“… I’m not the type of person to call people out. I feel like every bantamweight in the UFC, they’re here for a reason. They’re all great fighters. I don’t hate anyone. I’m not trying to pick out people. Just give us a name, I’ll most likely say yes, and it will be a banger on my behalf. I’ll bring a fight to anyone.”
To hear more from Haddon, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Themba Gorimbo, one of the card’s biggest favorites, won for the fourth straight time when he outworked Niko Price at UFC Fight Night 244.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag] beat Niko Price with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Gorimbo, who was one of the card’s biggest favorites and won for the fourth straight time.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (R-L) Themba Gorimbo of Zimbabwe punches Niko Price in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I think that was a tough fight. I thought Niko would go out sooner, but he’s a tough guy. I’m blessed to have won. Obviously, as a person you want a better performance, like knock the guy out and stuff. My mindset today was trying to finish the fight.”
Gorimbo on going the distance
“I feel good about (going 15 minutes). This is a tough sport. You need to be smart and win smartly and knock guys out and get out of there quicker, but sometimes guys are prepared for you at this level. It’s hard to get finishes. When you’re blessed to have one, celebrate it because sometimes it can go away very soon. Niko is tough. It was a good fight for me mentally because he took me to a place where a lot of people failed to, and it was a blessing.”
Gorimbo on what he wants next
Themba Gorimbo def. Niko Price, UFC Fight Night 244
“I would like to come back and fight early January, latest. I have to earn my spot out of the Apex, but I don’t mind fighting at the Apex. The last card of the year, or 11th of January – I’d like to have one more fight before my 34th birthday. I’m no spring chicken. I know Black don’t crack. I look good, but I would like to fight on the 11th of January, start the year with a bang. I would love to fight in December if Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque – if one of them pulls out. I would love to fight one of them.”
To hear more from Gorimbo, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Junior Tafa struggled in the first, but came on in the second to spoil Sharaf’s short-notice UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 244.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Junior Tafa[/autotag] beat Sean Sharaf with a second-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Tafa, who struggled in the first, but came on in the second to spoil Sharaf’s short-notice UFC debut.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (R-L) Junior Tafa of Australia punches Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I was really quite excited to have someone who’s going to trade off standing up – we can entertain the fans and get a better chance of winning that bonus, so it was quite freaking annoying when he started shooting on me.”
Tafa on two late changes
“I only got called up for this fight as a replacement fighter. I was actually on vacation with my family and my kids when I got told about this fight, and I ended up having like a week’s worth of training to coming in here. We had a game plan for Chris Barnett, and then they switched up fight week for a new opponent – which then, the game plan switches again. It just became fight whatever is in front of you. The game plan switched that quick. ”
Tafa on what he wants next
Junior Tafa def. Sean Sharaf, UFC Fight Night 244
“My name is ‘Mr. Anytime.’ Give me a call and I’m there. This is my second late-notice fight this year. I took a fight in Anaheim (Calif.) in March on less than 24 hours’ notice. I’m here less than a week’s notice (opponent), so it’s like you can call me ‘Mr. Anytime’ now … ‘Mr. Anytime, Anywhere.'”
To hear more from Tafa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Clayton Carpenter stayed unbeaten in his return after a 20-month layoff and called out recent flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Clayton Carpenter[/autotag] beat Lucas Rocha with a second-round technical submission Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Carpenter, who stayed unbeaten in his return after a 20-month layoff and called out recent flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg for his next test.
Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha, UFC Fight Night 244
“As soon as I took the back, I felt like it was pretty sunk already before it was really under his chin. It took me a second to really get my second hand involved. I was trying to choke him out with one arm. I wanted to ‘Nate Diaz’ him – I wanted to choke him out with one arm like Nate Diaz and try to get the $50K (bonus), but I was like, I’ll probably just stick to the finish.”
Carpenter on his layoff and Steve Erceg
May 4, 2024; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) fights against Steve Erceg (blue gloves) during UFC 301 at Rio Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports
“It was the roughest sh*t ever. I mean, I could give two f*cks if people forgot about me. But for me, it was bullsh*t. It felt like the biggest c*ck block of my life: I get in here, first-round sub, win my (UFC) debut, the next thing you know, I’m out. And I was supposed to fight f*cking Stephen Erceg. I was all hyped. He was ducking me the first few times, ducking me on (Dana White’s Contender Series) and postponed our second fight (booking). It was after that postponed that I had my stuff happen to me (and I was out).”
Carpenter on what he wants next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Clayton Carpenter punches Lucas Rocha of Brazil in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I’m going to talk to my coaches about that. I dealt with some adversity in this fight camp that I had to power through. I’m going to talk to my manager and talk with my generals and see what the best decision on that is. I am counting the days (for Erceg) … counting the days. (I) can’t wait”
To hear more from Carpenter, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
The ascent of Japanese sensation [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] took a hit in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 in the form of his first career loss.
Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) entered his headliner against Brandon Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with aspirations of a title shot, but unfortunately reality proved out different with a split decision defeat in a Fight of the Year contender.
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The result was hardly a defining point for Taira, who had the victory within reach on multiple occasions. The 24-year-old is sure to display growth from the experience, and if this performance was any indication, he will be a top contender at 125 pounds for years to come.
Where does Taira go after he sustained his first career blemish? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 244.
Daniel Rodriguez wants a spot on the UFC’s rumored event in Los Angeles following his win at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] entered UFC Fight Night 244 not under the best circumstances.
The UFC welterweight veteran was on a three-fight losing streak prior to his fight with Alex Morono this past Saturday at the UFC Apex. Fortunately for Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC), he was able to edge out Morono (24-11 MMA, 13-8 UFC) in a close, split decision.
“I worked so hard for this fight and for so long, you know,” Rodriguez said. “It feels great to be back in the win column.”
Some online were split on who had done enough to warrant getting their hand raised. Rodriguez felt he had a shaky start, but is confident with the3 work he put on rounds two and three.
“I feel like this fight went a little tougher than I expected to, but hat’s off to him,” Rodriguez said. “He did a great job, and he was trying to knock my head off in that first round. I knew he was going to gas out, but I just stayed composed and used my veteran skills.”
Now back in the win column, Rodriguez is hoping to fight in his hometown. Nothing has yet been made official by the promotion, but Rodriguez said he’s heard that the UFC is planning an event for the “City of Angels” at the start of 2025.
“I hear that the UFC is coming to Los Angeles in January and me being an L.A. hometown boy I feel like it’s only right for them to put me on the card. So please UFC, put me on L.A.”
