Tag: UFC Fight Night 255

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 1: Brandon Moreno climbs to No. 2

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC on ESPN 64 in Mexico City.

UFC on ESPN 64 took place this past Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, producing a key move in the men’s flyweight division.

In the main event, former 125-pound champ Brandon Moreno finally picked up a UFC win on home soil by defeating former title challenger Steve Erceg in a unanimous decision.

Moreno entered the week at No. 3 in the flyweight division and, with the result, climbed up one spot to claim No. 2, behind the champ Alexandre Pantoja.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

Ex-champion Jan Blachowicz reacts to UFC Fight Night 255 loss: ‘I’ll leave the verdict for discussion’

Jan Blachowicz released a statement following his UFC Fight Night 255 loss.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] released a statement following his UFC Fight Night 255 loss.

In his first fight since July 2023, Blachowicz (29-11-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) was outpointed by Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in this past Saturday’s co-main event at The O2 in London.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion was disappointed in the outcome, and thinks the judges got it wrong.

“This camp was one of the best I’ve had. I missed this, every part of this game. The welcome and support during fight week #UFCLondon from the whole @ufc team was amazing – I knew you missed me, but I didn’t know it was like this! 😀 Thank you!

More controversy on the record, as it turns out the approach to significant strikes doesn’t align with the actual meaning. I’ll leave the verdict for discussion. What happened in the stands after the announcement, and what’s happening online right now, is pretty telling 😉 I appreciate it, but the verdict is out there, and unfortunately, it will stay on my record. We keep moving forward, going for more. Your support has been huge, and I’ll remember this moment for a long time #TeamJanek 🙌🏻

#LegendaryPolishPower.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHl7wQIMwr0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Blachowicz, 42, is now winless in his past three fights. He battled current champion Magomed Ankalaev to a split draw at UFC 282, dropped a split decision to ex-champ Alex Pereira at UFC 291, and now a unanimous decision to streaking contender Ulberg.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Din Thomas after UFC Fight Night 255: ‘I don’t think Leon Edwards in his heart is a true fighter’

Din Thomas questions Leon Edwards’ grit after UFC Fight Night 255.

[autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] questions [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ grit after UFC Fight Night 255.

Former welterweight champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was stopped for the first time in his career when he was dominated and submitted by Sean Brady in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London.

Thomas, who was in Brady’s (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) corner for the fight, thinks Edwards’ recent performances have proven that he lacks heart.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful toward Leon,” Thomas said on the “On Paper With Anthony Smith” podcast. “I still believe that skill for skill, like his body type and all that, that he was a great champion. He’s a great fighter. He’s still top-five material. But I just don’t think that Leon in his heart is a real true fighter.

“And I say in terms of, like, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, like these guys will fight you in a parking lot. I think he’s an athlete. I think he’s a performer. I think he’s creative. I think in the gym, he probably eats up everybody. He’s super magical. I just think when the lights come on and it’s time for him to really fight, despite not being a true fighter, he was still that good.”

Thomas pointed to the moment he knew Brady had Edwards. In Round 3, Edwards attempted a takedown of his own, but was immediately reversed.

“When he did that, I got quiet and I looked at John Marquez, the head coach, and said, ‘Did he just try to take Sean down?'” Thomas said. “And then when he got reversed, John was like, ‘Man, we could just play checkers and we could literally play chess right now because we don’t need to do anything.’ We just knew at that point, the fight was over. When Leon shot that takedown, he showed his hand that he did not want to be there anymore and that was a wrap.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Michael Chiesa touts former foe Sean Brady’s ‘mutant-like strength’ after Leon Edwards finish

Michael Chiesa verifies Sean Brady’s strength is different after their UFC fight, and thinks Leon Edwards should’ve known better.

[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] has experienced what it’s like to be in the octagon with [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag], and thinks Leon Edwards made a serious miscalculation in the UFC Fight Night 255 main event.

Chiesa (20-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) suffered a unanimous decision loss to Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 198 in November 2021. The welterweight veteran, who also serves as a prominent analyst for the UFC and ESPN, was intrigued to see how his former opponent would deal with ex-champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the biggest fight of his career this past Saturday at The O2 in London, and it turned out to be a one-sided affair that led to a fourth-round submission result.

In the aftermath of the fight, Brady criticized Edwards for not focusing enough on the task at hand and dwindling on his title loss to Belal Muhammad in July. Chiesa backed that stance, and thinks Edwards did not realize the caliber of opponent he was stepping into the cage with.

“Sean’s a tremendous athlete,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie. “Incredibly skilled, incredibly strong. I could’ve warned Leon about that heading into that fight. You can’t really makes jokes about the short-guy thing. … Somebody should’ve warned Leon. This isn’t some short guy. You’re not going to just lace this guy with a head kick. You are going to have to deal with the strongest fighter you’ve ever faced in your life. There’s no guy you can bring in to emulate the strength of Sean Brady, because you would have to find a guy that’s like 210 pounds. He’s that strong. I remember the first time he wrapped his hands around my waist when we fought, I was just like, ‘Holy crap. (Paul) Felder totally was right.’ He has like mutant-like strength. I wasn’t surprised.

“Sean really turned a corner after that Belal Muhammad fight and when you saw him fight Belal, you saw a lot more lateral movement, it looked like he was trying to be more technical on the feet. I think where he turned the corner after Belal is where he was just like, ‘Screw this.’ He can just walk these guys down with big punches, get them on their heels, get them on the mat and get them into his wheelhouse. He turned a corner after that Belal fight. It’s safe to say you could argue he could be the next guy to fight for the title. We’ll see how everything shakes out, but we’re seeing a big paradigm shift at 170 pounds and it’s very, very exciting.”

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Brady’s victory added further depth to the title picture at 170 pounds. Reigning champ Muhammad will next defend against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10, then undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov is expected to get the winner. Beyond that, Brady’s name is now in the fold, then someone like lightweight champion Islam Makhachev could be a factor if he ever moves up.

Much will be decided about who the best welterweight in the world is over the coming months. Chiesa thinks Brady might be that guy, but given what he’s seen thus far, his support remains behind Muhammad.

“I do think Belal beats JDM,” Chiesa said. “I think that’s a good fight for him. I’m not trying to be disrespectful or dismissive of his skills. He’s an incredible boxer. We’ve seen him have trouble in the past with the wrestling department. Belal is a pressure monster. He’s going to be in your face, he’s going to be in your face, he’s very durable. JDM has got to be ready to defend the takedowns, but not only ready to defend the takedowns, but defend the pressure. It’s hard to come forward with boxing pressure when the guy is going to mash you with wrestling, and Belal does a good job mixing up the wrestling with the striking to keep his opponents guessing. I see Belal winning this fight, but this time next year is going to be very interesting. I think the tougher matchups for Belal are on the horizon.

“I think Sean Brady, if they fought again, I think he’s a different fighter. His style is similar to Belal’s in terms of the pressure and the wrestling. But he’s just got that edge with the submissions. I don’t know how that fight goes. I think it would be a different fight. But you’ve got Shavkat the boogeyman waiting in the wings. He did look a lot more human against Ian Garry, but once the fight unfolded we found out he went into that fight with a knee injury. Islam going up could really shake things up. If Shavkat wins the title, I don’t know how Islam fares against him. The pick of the bunch, I think I’m going to stick with Belal Muhammad because I think people doubt him so much, I would like to think that he beats JDM, I would like to think he could beat Sean Brady again, but I think that’s the toughest of the fights for Belal, would be a fight with Sean Brady. I’m just picking Belal because I’m done picking against the guy.”

To hear more from Chiesa, check out his complete appearance on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Caolan Loughran pushes for Abu Dhabi fight after UFC London win

Caolan Loughran avenged a 2018 amateur loss to Nathan Fletcher with a close win.

LONDON – [autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag] beat Nathan Fletcher with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London.

Take a look inside the fight with Loughran, who avenged a 2018 amateur loss to Fletcher with the close win.

Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher

Result: Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Updated records: Loughran (10-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Fletcher (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Key stats: Fletcher landed nearly twice as many total strikes, but Loughran landed six takedowns.

Loughran on the fight’s key moment

Loughran on his Fletcher rivalry

Loughran on what he wants next

“I just want to fight in Abu Dhabi. Time wise, it just works well. It’s kind of a hub for MMA. I’d love to fight (Raul) Rosas Jr. … I’d like to fight Cameron Saiman if he can get a win. … There’s a lot of guys. Bantamweight is so good.”

To hear more from Loughran, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 25: Sean Brady cracks top 5

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 255 in London.

UFC Fight Night 255 took place this past Saturday at O2 Arena in London, producing a few key moves in multiple weight divisions.

In the main event, rising welterweight contender [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] soundly defeated former champion Leon Edwards by submission in a statement performance.

Brady entered the week at No. 7 in the welterweight division, but after his big stoppage win, lands at No. 2 in this week’s rankings update.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

Christian Leroy Duncan ready to make a middleweight run – forget 205! – after win at UFC London

Christian Leroy Duncan who won for the third time in four fights when he beat the debuting Andrey Pulyaev.

LONDON – [autotag]Christian Leroy Duncan[/autotag] beat Andrey Pulyaev with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London.

Take a look inside the fight with Duncan, who won for the third time in four fights.

Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev

Result: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Updated records: Duncan (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Pulyaev (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Duncan outstruck his debuting opponent 116-36.

Duncan on the fight’s key moment

Duncan on middleweight

Duncan on what he wants next

“My vision now is dominate all my fights going forward and head toward the rankings, the top 15, and get a number next to my name. No matter whoever they want to select for me to fight, I accept any challenge. But ultimately I want to make my way to the rankings now.”

To hear more from Duncan, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

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Sean Brady rips Ian Machado Garry for claiming he should’ve gotten UFC 315 title shot

Sean Brady doesn’t think Ian Machado Garry should be in the UFC title picture.

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] doesn’t think [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] should be in the UFC title picture.

Machado Garry was angry that the promotion didn’t consider him as a replacement opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov against welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the UFC 315 headliner May 10 in Montreal. The promotion opted to give Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) the shot instead.

Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) dominated and submitted former champion Leon Edwards in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 255 headliner in London. Meanwhile, Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is coming off a decision loss to Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

When asked if he’d consider facing Machado Garry next, Brady shut that idea down.

“I went out there, I took this opportunity – I heard he was b*tching that he didn’t get the fight with Belal,” Brady said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Bro, you lost your fight, What are you talking about? You came in second place. You don’t get to be rewarded for that.

“It made the most sense for it to be Jack. (Machado Garry is) No. 7 at this point? Lost his last fight. I’ve won my last three, just beat a former champion who was a really good champion. I’ve got bigger things going on than Ian Machado Garry.”

Instead, the now No. 1-ranked Brady has his sights set on either the welterweight title or a No. 1 contender bout.

“I would be interested in the loser of the title fight. I’d be interested in the winner of the title fight, or I’d be interested in Shavkat,” Brady said.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Ex-UFC champ Kamaru Usman zeros in on next opponent: ‘I like that matchup’

Sean Brady is on top of Kamaru Usman’s hit list after UFC Fight Night 255.

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] is on top of [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]’s hitlist after UFC Fight Night 255.

Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) dominated former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) with a Round 4 submission in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London.

Both Henry Cejudo and manager Ali Abdelaziz pitched the idea of Usman vs. Brady next. Usman was impressed with Brady’s performance and is on board with the suggestion.

“That’s a good point, Henry, because when you look at styles and the way that fights work, myself and Colby Covington, what did everyone say? ‘Oh, they’re both wrestlers. They’re both economical fighters.’ And you saw what that turned out to be,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Cejudo. “All right, we cancel each other out, we ain’t even going to try to grapple, let’s bang it out.

“Hey, this has the potential to be one of those fights. I like Sean Brady. I like the way he approaches the game, and of course he’s training with Din Thomas now, so that adds an extra element to the game. I like both, but I want to keep that streak of beating all of Din Thomas’ guys. I whooped at least three of his guys, so I want to keep that streak going, but I like that matchup.”

Usman’s pecking order

Usman will look to rebound from a three-fight losing skid. The former welterweight champion gave his order of preference on whom he wants next, with Brady No. 1 on that list.

“If I had to pick the order, I would say Brady, Shavkat (Rakhmonov), (Joaquin) Buckley,” Usman said. “That’s what makes sense because the winner of Brady and I, we fight for the title next because if you look at what Sean Brady just did, he just took out a former champion. Then you fight another former champion, and if he’s able to get through me, it’s hard to deny him that he shouldn’t fight for the title. Who else in the division has a resume like that? No one if Brady is able to do that.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Video: How did Sean Brady’s finish of Leon Edwards impact UFC welterweight title picture?

Sean Brady shook up the welterweight title conversation with his UFC London finish Leon Edwards. Can he get a title shot?

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] sent shockwaves through the welterweight division this past Saturday when he went into enemy territory and became the first to finish former champion Leon Edwards in the UFC Fight Night 255 main event.

Fresh off losing the belt to Belal Muhammad in July, Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was keen to deliver a statement that championships are not only in his past, but in his future, as well. Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) had a different plan, because he scored a fourth-round submission of “Rocky” in the headliner at The O2 in London.

[lawrence-related id=2813307,2812998,2813082]Sean Brady shook up the welterweight title conversation with his UFC Fight Night 255 finish Leon Edwards. Can he get a title shot? The “Spinning Back Clique” panel debates.

With Muhammad scheduled to put gold on the line against Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 315 main event on May 10 in Montreal, and Shavkat Rakhmonov stated to have dibs on facing the winner, there is much debate about where Brady now fits in among the highest echelon at 170 pounds.

That was a topic of conversation on this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” where the panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discussed how what’s now one of the UFC’s most intriguing divisions will unfold going forward.

For more, check out the entire episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

https://youtube.com/live/bzg9WJv9dvw

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.