Tag: UFC on ABC 3

Matt Schnell: ‘We’ve got everyone’s attention now’ after crazy comeback win at UFC on ABC 3

Not long after his win at UFC on ABC 3 on Saturday, Matt Schnell still wasn’t too sure what went down.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Not long after his win at UFC on ABC 3 on Saturday, [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag] still wasn’t too sure what went down.

And frankly, a lot of fans watching probably weren’t sure just what they were witnessing, either. But it turned out to be one of those epic comebacks that likely will go down in UFC history – and almost certainly will be talked about in five months when the best-of-the-year lists are being compiled.

Schnell (16-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) pulled off an insane rally to submit Su Mudaerji (16-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in the second round of their flyweight bout on the main card in Elmont, N.Y. But to get the win, which got him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, he had to go through the proverbial hell of an onslaught of punishment from Mudaerji’s relentless elbow attacks.

“I’m still not sure – I thought I won the first round,” Schnell told MMA Junkie at the post-event news conference. “So when people are saying ‘craziest comeback ever,’ I’m like ‘I won the first round. What are you talking about?’ But I guess I was stepping in potholes out there and took some clean elbows and took some clean punches. He had me hurt. He had me close to out of there. But your boy’s a dog. I’d rather not take punishment.

“I felt the tides turn. He was having some success, and I was just trying to clear the cobwebs a lot of the second round.”

Schnell pulled out the win after a two-fight skid, and he said there were some doubts in his mind, as a fighter, during the hard times.

“It means everything,” Schnell said. “I’m trying to get out here and win fights, and sometimes, when things aren’t going your way, you start feeling like you don’t have it anymore or something like that. But my wife, my team, the people around me – we know we’re just one performance away from being back on top, and look at us: Here we go. We’ve got everyone’s attention now.

Check out Schnell’s full post-fight interview in the video above.

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Amanda Lemos ‘rejuvenated’ by finish of Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3

Amanda Lemos is ready for bigger and better after tapping out Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3.

ELMONT, N.Y. – [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] was eager to show off her jiu-jitsu against Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3, and she did just that.

Lemos (12-2-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) showed power in her strikes as she broke into the strawweight rankings, but then she stumbled in April with a historic submission defeat against Jessica Andrade. She said she wanted to show better grappling ability, and got the job done by tapping Waterson (18-10 MMA, 6-6 UFC) with a guillotine choke in the second round of the co-main event at USB Arena.

After suffering a key setback, Lemos said she’s energized by the performance.

“I feel rejuvenated that I’m back in the win column,” Lemos told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter at the UFC on ABC 3 post-fight news conference. “I’m taking one week off – one week off to spend time with my family and rest. That’s how I like to do it.”

With wins in five of her past six fights, Lemos is keen to continue her upward trajectory at 115 pounds. She said there was no one else on her mind outside Waterson coming into fight week, so as long as her next opponent represents a step up, she’ll be satisfied.

“I have one next fight: receive a phone call with the name of the next opponent, and I’ll be ready,” Lemos said. “I’ll take anybody that’s ranked above me. Anybody that’s ranked above me, I’m ready to fight.”

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Miesha Tate issues statement on bloody UFC on ABC 3 loss, makes no excuses

Miesha Tate is taking her defeat to Lauren Murphy at UFC on ABC 3 in stride.

[autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag] is taking her defeat to Lauren Murphy at UFC on ABC 3 in stride.

Tate (19-9 MMA, 6-6 UFC), a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, made an unsuccessful first drop down to flyweight Saturday when she came out on the wrong end of a unanimous decision against Murphy (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

It was a tough go for Tate, who had her left eye and nose badly damaged by Murphy’s punches over the course of three rounds. The fight was set up perfectly for Tate to cut to a new division and earn a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko from the outset, but it didn’t go her way.

Tate isn’t further beating herself up over the outcome, though. She issued a statement in the hours after the fight and made it clear she won’t be discouraged by a losing result (via Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgGRioHuCkq/

Some women pay a lot of money for lips like these! All I had to do was get in a little fist fight! Tonight wasn’t my night, congratulations to @laurenmurphymma and we continue to learn the lessons of life! I had the most UH-mazing dinner at my favorite restaurant @cheeseboatbk and met Mama Cheeseboat herself. I’m still blessed beyond measure win lose or draw! Thank you to all those who continue to love and support me regardless, you know who you are 💜

After retiring from the sport in late 2016 and being away for nearly five years, Tate now is 1-2 since resuming her fighting career. She’s now encountered roadblocks in top-five opponents at 135 and 125 pounds in the form of Ketlen Vieira and Murphy, leaving questions about her path to eventually regaining UFC gold.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 3.

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Brian Ortega calls UFC on ABC 3 loss to Yair Rodriguez a ‘freak accident,’ wants rematch

Brian Ortega is struggling to digest his bad lack in defeat at UFC on ABC 3.

[autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] is struggling to digest his bad lack in defeat at UFC on ABC 3.

Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first round of his featherweight headliner with Yair Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on Saturday at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., resulting in a TKO defeat and much disappointed for an anticipated clash between contenders.

Although just over four minutes of fight time had elapsed when Ortega’s arm popped out of the socket, he felt he was shining inside the octagon. It’s impossible to say what would’ve happened without the injury, but Ortega thinks he was on his way to the win.

“The grip was tight on my arm and it dislocated – that was it – no armlock, no nothing,” Ortega told Megan Olivi on the UFC on ABC 3 post-fight show. “It was dislocated. Freak accident. It just sucks. The first time it’s every happened in my entire career. The first time it’s ever happened. I’m just taken aback by it.

“Everything was going my way. Literally I was winning every minute of the fight. I was sticking to the game plan because I do get emotional. … The world saw I was about to show what I do best, which is grapple and take control. Then the second we hit the ground my freaking arm just came out.”

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At this point, Ortega is just crossing his fingers that there’s no long-term damage to his shoulder. He’s undergone surgery twice before, and while he claims this is a new injury that he’s never experienced before, he voiced concerns about the severity.

“I’m going to MRI this as soon as I can,” Ortega said. “Do what I have to do. I pray to God that I don’t have to get surgery. I’ve already had two shoulder surgeries as it is, so I’m praying I don’t have to go under that knife again because it just sucks when you have to get surgery.”

Whenever Ortega is ready to fight again, he said he hopes Rodriguez is the man standing across from him so they can have a definitive end to the matchup.

“He said he’s willing to run it back – I definitely want to get it back,” Rodriguez said. “The second I’m physically healthy to do it, I want to get back in. I’m not trying to take anything off. I’m upset. But yeah. Trying to smile and now – I put in way too much work. Sacrificed everything just for something stupid like this to happen.

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Yair Rodriguez reacts to Brian Ortega’s UFC on ABC 3 injury: ‘I saw him doing a face, so something happened’

Yair Rodriguez walks through the injury that ended his fight with Brian Ortega.

ELMONT, N.Y. – [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]’s latest UFC win came under unexpected circumstances.

The featherweight contender got his hand raised in the UFC on ESPN 3 main event after opponent Brian Ortega suffered a shoulder injury in the first round.

With about a minute remaining in the opening frame, Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) popped his shoulder while escaping an armbar from Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC). It was an unfortunate and bizarre situation that no one saw coming.

“When I went to the floor, I went for the armbar, and I was trapping him really hard, trying to push him away to go for the armbar in the bottom,” Rodriguez said at the post-fight news conference at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. “I think at the moment when he was trying to get the arm out from there, I think I saw him doing a face, so something happened.

“He went to the floor, he grabbed his shoulder, and I stopped fighting. I realized something was going on, so I let him and I stopped fighting. I asked him, ‘Hey, what’s going on? What happened?’ And he was like, ‘Oh my shoulder, my shoulder.’ So I stopped, and that’s it.”

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Despite the unfortunate ending to the fight, Rodriguez thinks his performance was solid for the little time the fight lasted.

“I think I was doing really well,” Rodriguez said. “I connected with a couple of solid jabs. I think I connected with a good right hand a couple of times, an overhand, and like a cross, and I kind of saw him wobbling. I hit him with a couple of good low kicks, high kicks.”

As far as what’s next, the Mexican standout says he’s in full disposal to do whatever the UFC deems fit for the division.

“The ideal fight would be (champion Alexander) Volkanovski, but he’s out, and I guess whatever Dana (White) says.”

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UFC on ABC 3 bonuses: Seven finishers get $50,000 extra checks

The UFC handed out seven post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card with all but one stoppage winner getting an extra check.

The UFC handed out seven post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card with all but one stoppage winner getting an extra check.

After UFC on ABC 3, seven fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Elmont, N.Y. Check out the winners below.

Dana White reacts to injury ending Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega: ‘It sucks’

Dana White gives his thoughts on the unfortunate injury that ended Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Like most, [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] wasn’t pleased with the way Saturday’s UFC event ended.

The UFC president was disappointed to see an injury put an end to Yair Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. Brian Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC). Rodriguez and Ortega battled in a key featherweight matchup in the main event of UFC on ABC 3 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

Unfortunately for Ortega, he suffered a shoulder injury toward the end of Round 1 that ended the fight, giving a TKO victory to Rodriguez.

The matchup was highly anticipated given the history of both fighters. That’s why White was disappointed to see the fight come to an end the way it did.

“It sucks,” White said at the post-fight news conference. “It sucks. It’s a rough sport and these things happen. And it looked like it was shaping up to be a great fight. So, you know, these things are going to happen. What are you going to do? It sucks.”

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White respects that both fighters were open to a rematch immediately after the fight ended, but he’s not sure if that’s what’s next for both fighters.

“(Ortega) probably needs shoulder surgery now,” White said. “I had shoulder surgery. It’s a nightmare, and it takes a long time to recover from. We’ll see what happens. I’m not even thinking about that right now. But awesome that they both want to do it.”

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Yair Rodriguez def. Brian Ortega at UFC on ABC 3: Best photos

Check out these photos highlighting Yair Rodriguez’s injury TKO win over Brian Ortega at UFC on ABC 3.

Check out these photos highlighting [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]’s injury TKO win over Brian Ortega at UFC on ABC 3 from UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photos by Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)

Amanda Lemos def. Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3: Best photos

Check out these photos highlighting Amanda Lemos’ submission win over Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3.

Check out these photos highlighting [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]’ submission win over Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3 from UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photos by Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC on ABC 3 results: Yair Rodriguez wins after Brian Ortega suffers early shoulder injury

An unfortunate injury put an end to the Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega main event at UFC on ABC 3.

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] got what he wanted, just not the way he expected it.

The UFC featherweight contender defeated [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 after a shoulder injury put an end to the bout in the very first round.

In the official result, Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) by TKO (injury) at the 4:11 mark of Round 1. The featherweight bout was the UFC on ABC 3 main event at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

The bout was quick, but Rodriguez clearly did the most damage while it lasted.

The Mexican star was tagging Ortega with leg kicks and shots to the head and body. Ortega did press and control Rodriguez for some time against the cage. He shortly after got a takedown. Rodriguez would attempt an armbar and as Ortega slipped out of the submission, he popped his shoulder. Ortega immediately fell back to the canvas in pain, and the fight came to an end.

With this win, Rodriguez is back in the win column after coming off a decision loss to former champion Max Holloway back in November. Rodriguez is 3-1 with one no contest in his past five UFC outings.

Meanwhile, Ortega is now on a two-fight losing streak. This is the first time in his career that he has back-to-back defeats. Ortega entered UFC on ABC 3 on the heels of a decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski in a featherweight title bout last September. This was the first time Ortega suffered a loss outside a championship fight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 3 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 3.

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