UFC on ABC 4 – Page 6 – Syndication Server

UFC on ABC 4 predictions: Can Jairzinho Rozenstruik upset Jailton Almeida in Charlotte?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ABC 4 main card in Charlotte, N.C.

	Rozenstruik vs. Almeida	Smith vs. Walker	Garry vs. Rodriguez	Potieria vs. Ulberg	Means vs. Morono
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 66-49	Almeida (77%)	Walker (50.1%)	Garry (61%)	Ulberg (83%)	Morono (77%)
Matt Erickson @MattE 75-40	Almeida	Walker	Garry	Ulberg	Morono
Simon Samano @SJSamano 73-42	Almeida	Walker	Garry	Ulberg	Morono
Nolan King @mma_kings 71-44	Almeida	Smith	Rodriguez	Ulberg	Morono
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 70-45	Almeida	Smith	Garry	Ulberg	Morono
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 70-45	Almeida	Smith	Garry	Ulberg	Means
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 68-47 2014 Champion	Almeida	Smith	Rodriguez	Ulberg	Morono
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway -65-50 2018, 2022 Champion	Almeida	Smith	Rodriguez	Ulberg	Morono
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 65-50	Rozenstruik	Walker	Garry	Ulberg	Means
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 63-52	Almeida	Walker	Garry	Ulberg	Means
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 62-53	Almeida	Walker	Garry	Ulberg	Morono
Brian Garcia @thegoze 62-53 2017 Champion	Rozenstruik	Smith	Garry	Potieria	Morono

The UFC is back on the road this week for a rare daytime event in North Carolina, and heavyweights top the lineup.

UFC on ABC 4 takes place Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC at 3 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ that start early at 11:30 a.m.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at heavyweight. Almeida is more than a 5-1 favorite at some sportsbooks, and he’s got a big lead in the picks from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who have it as a blowout for Almeida at 9-2.

In the co-feature, the closest fight on the main card from a betting perspective is between former light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (36-17 MMA, 11-7 UFC) and [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (20-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC). The fight nearly is a pick’em at the betting window, and it’s close with our staff members, too, who have Smith with the smallest possible edge at 6-5.

Also on the main card, up-and-coming Irish welterweight [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) puts his unbeaten record on the line against his most accomplished opponent yet, [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC). Garry is about a -250 favorite and he has a big 8-3 picks lead.

[autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight fight that has Ulberg as a big betting favorite at -450. He’s got a near-unanimous lead in the picks, too – just one of our staff members has Potieria in an upset.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (32-14-1 MMA, 14-11 UFC) takes on [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] (22-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) at welterweight. Morono is more than a 2-1 favorite and he has a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Almeida (77 percent), Walker (50.1 percent), Garry (61 percent), Ulberg (83 percent) and Morono (77 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

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UFC on ABC 4 weigh-in results: One fight scrapped , one misses weight in Charlotte

Check out the results from the official UFC on ABC 4 weigh-ins in Charlotte, N.C., featuring Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

The weigh-ins are in the books for the UFC’s return to North Carolina and the card is official – but with one less fight than planned.

In the main event, Jailton Almeida (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) takes on Jairzinho Rozenstruik (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at heavyweight. Rozenstruik weighed in at the top end of the heavyweight limit at 265 pounds. He’ll have a fairly large weight advantage over Brazil’s Almeida, who was 231.

In the co-feature, former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith (36-17 MMA, 11-7 UFC) meets Johnny Walker (20-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC). Both fighters were 205.5 to make the bout official.

One prelim fight was scrapped from the lineup during the weigh-ins. Pete Rodriguez (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) never came to the scale for his scheduled lightweight bout against Natan Levy (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). UFC officials announced during the weigh-ins that Rodriguez was out of the fight due to weight management issues. A career welterweight, he was making his first cut to lightweight – two weeks after he had to pull out of another booking with Levy due to illness.

In addition, two other fighters missed weight for their bouts on their first attempts. Bryan Battle (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was 173 pounds for his welterweight bout against Gabe Green (11-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who was 170.5 early in the two-hour weigh-in window. Battle will be fined a percentage of his purse, but the fight will go on.

And Daniel Rodriguez (17-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) was 171.5 for his welterweight fight against Ian Machado Garry (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on the main card. Although he weighed in late in the window, Garry was 170.5. Rodriguez took advantage of the additional time and made 170 on his second attempt.

The official weigh-ins took place at the UFC host hotel and preceded the ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans, which take place at 4 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Complete UFC on ABC 4 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

Jailton Almeida (231) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (265)
Anthony Smith (205.5) vs. Johnny Walker (205.5)
Ian Machado Garry (170.5) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (170)*
Ihor Potieria (204.5) vs. Carlos Ulberg (204.5)
Tim Means (170.5) vs. Alex Morono (169.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Matt Brown (170) vs. Court McGee (170.5)
Chase Sherman (254) vs. Karl Williams (239.5)
Douglas Silva de Andrade (139.5) vs. Cody Stamann (139) – 140-pound contract weight
Mandy Bohm (126) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (126)
Bryan Battle (173)* vs. Gabe Green (170.5)
Jessica-Rose Clark (135.5) vs. Tainara Lisboa (134)

*Rodriguez missed the welterweight limit on his first attempt, but made 170 on his second try.
**Battle missed the welterweight limit and will be fined a percentage of his purse.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

Natan Levy vs. Pete Rodriguez scratched from UFC on ABC 4

UFC on ABC 4 has lost a lightweight matchup.

[autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag](8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. [autotag]Pete Rodriguez[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is off Saturday’s prelims at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., due to weight management issues on Rodriguez’s side.

UFC officials announced the fight’s removal during the official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel, and Levy announced the news in a post on Instagram, as well.

A furious Levy took aim at Rodriguez for failing to make it to the scale.

“Guys I’m really sorry,
Fight is off, Fat Pete couldn’t get anywhere near the weight.

He blew my opportunity to perform, earn a bonus & make history tomorrow, He probably killed his own career.
Extremely unprofessional.

Anyone that bought a ticket,
I’m really sorry, I will go to the event and would love to meet you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsJREv9OKFM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

Additionally, Levy posted that Rodriguez’s side first asked for a 158-pound contract weight, which Levy said he agreed to. They he was asked for 160 pounds, which he said he agreed to, as well. But Levy then said Rodriguez quit cutting weight at 162 pounds, still 2 pounds shy of what he’d need for 160 pounds, and 6 pounds of the non-title lightweight limit.

Just to be clear, we were scheduled to fight at 155(+1),
They asked for a catchweight so I agreed to fight him at 158, then they asked for 160 and I said Yes. I was about to go weigh in when I heard he was crying and losing his shit and quit at 162.
If you can cry you still got…

— Natan Levy ✡︎ (@Natan_Levy) May 12, 2023

This is the second time Rodriguez has withdrawn from a scheduled bout with Levy. The pair was booked to square off two weeks ago at UFC on ESPN 45, but Rodriguez pulled out due to illness.

With the change, the UFC on ABC 4 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker
Ian Machado Garry vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill
Tim Means vs. Alex Morono

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Matt Brown vs. Court McGee
Chase Sherman vs. Karl Williams
Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Cody Stamann
Ihor Potieria vs. Carlos Ulberg
Mandy Bohm vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Bryan Battle vs. Gabe Green
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Tainara Lisboa

UFC on ABC 4 takes place Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

Daniel Rodriguez: Ian Machado Garry is not ready for me at UFC on ABC 4

Daniel Rodriguez thinks his Saturday opponent may have too much hype behind his name, and he wants to show the attention’s on the wrong guy.

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] thinks his Saturday opponent may have a little too much hype behind his name, and he wants to show the attention’s on the wrong guy.

Rodriguez (17-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on unbeaten Irish prospect Ian Machado Garry (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a featured bout on the UFC on ABC 4 main card Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Rodriguez had some serious momentum halted this past November when he was submitted by Neil Magny and had a four-fight winning streak snapped. Included in that streak were wins against top-shelf names like Mike Perry, Li Jingliang and former interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee.

Before that, Rodriguez’s only two losses were a split decision in 2017 and a loss to Nicholas Dalby after he started his UFC tenure 3-0. He thought he was going to try to rebound against jiu-jitsu standout Gunnar Nelson until Nelson pulled out with an injury.

“(I want to) just bounce back from my last fight – in my opinion, my first real loss,” Garry said at Wednesday’s media day for UFC on ABC 4. “(I’m) just working on my holes and just trying to bounce back and come back stronger.

It’s a little bit of a better matchup – a whole different training camp. My last fight (against Magny) was a lot of grappling, and this one was like, ‘I get to do what I love to do – let’s focus on striking.'”

Garry is considered one of the top prospects in the UFC’s welterweight division. “The Future” is just 25 and trains at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida with renowned striking coach Henri Hooft. Against Rodriguez, the former Cage Warriors champ has arguably his toughest and most accomplished test yet, particularly in name value after UFC fights against Jordan Williams, Darian weeks, Gabe Green and Song Kenan.

“I had only heard his name once,” Rodriguez said of Garry. “I didn’t really think nothing much of it. The only reason why I took this fight is he called me out on a social media post saying he could outstrike me. So I’m going to hold him to that. … I feel like he’s still very green and young in the game and in the sport. I feel like I’m his toughest matchup to date. He ain’t really fought nobody, really. He’s still young and he needs to be humbled, and I’m here to humble him.

“It’s not really about his skill. I mean, he does have a pretty good skill set. I don’t think he’s ready for it. He’s not a phenom. He’s not knocking dudes out. He’s not like he’s got a little hype off of him. I feel like they’re building him up, and I’m here to take all that away.”

Rodriguez said he does think it’ll be a standup matchup – one of those proverbial Fight of the Night on paper type of fights. Garry has been a favorite of at least 2-1 in all his UFC fights so far; the oddsmakers have him around -250 against Rodriguez, and he was a more than 7-1 favorite ahead of his third-round TKO win over Kenan in March, in which he had to rally.

But Rodriguez does wonder if Garry might not be ready for his striking.

“I see a banger – one (punch) for one (punch), one for the fans,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t believe that he’s been hit as hard as I could hit. I’m a real dog in there, and he’s going to have me in his face the whole time. I could see him backing away and running away from me the whole time.

“His last opponent, (Kenan), I hate to say it, but he’s one of those guys where you’re supposed to beat that guy. I’d destroy that guy if I fought that guy, and (Kenan) dropped him. That just goes to (show) it’s a little suspect, his chin and his experience level. He pulled through that and was able to win the fight, but I think in a situation where he’s fighting a real dog like me – I don’t train to fight. I train to finish, and I’ve got a lot riding on this fight. I’m coming off a loss, and I didn’t fight Gunnar Nelson, but I felt like I’ve been in a fight camp. I’ve been in a real long fight camp and I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been. I’ve been just the most consistent and most dedicated I’ve been for a fight in a long time.

“I don’t put pressure on myself. I say I’ve got a lot riding on this is because I’ve got a lot planned for the future. I’m thinking ahead. I do plan on showing I’m the better fighter. I belong in my position, and he’s not ready for me.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

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Video: Watch Friday’s UFC on ABC 4 ceremonial weigh-ins live on MMA Junkie at 4 p.m. ET

Check out a live video stream of the UFC on ABC 4 ceremonial weigh-ins from Charlotte, N.C., with Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

UFC on ABC 4 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the early and official UFC on ABC 4 weigh-in results from earlier in the day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

Ian Machado Garry predicts highlight-reel stoppage, ‘the fall of Daniel Rodriguez’ at UFC on ABC 4

Ian Machado Garry says he’s going to change Daniel Rodriguez’s career at UFC on ABC 4 in Charlotte – and not in a good way.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] thinks there’s something big in store for him Saturday at UFC on ABC 4.

The welterweight prospect takes on veteran Daniel Rodriguez on the main card at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Garry (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is confident he will badly beat Rodriguez (17-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), enough to add another stoppage to his unbeaten record and have him be the biggest talking point of the weekend.

“This is the fall of Daniel Rodriguez,” Garry told reporters at UFC on ABC 4 media day. “When you lose the way you’re going to lose to me, you don’t come back from that. I’m going to piece him up in every which way, and I’m going to make him hate that he was in there.”

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The 25-year-old also thinks a win over Rodriguez will put him into the UFC’s official welterweight rankings.

“I will do everything in my power to steal the show, and I believe that everyone will be talking about the fact that I earned the top 15 ranking in the world,” Garry said. “This is me earning and achieving such a big achievement in my life, which is being ranked (top) 15 in the world. … It’s exciting. I have a whole road ahead of me to success and that world title, so this is the start of the next journey.”

In terms of the actual task at hand, Garry sees himself putting away Rodriguez. He’s confident Rodriguez doesn’t have the skills to make it to the final bell.

“I think I’m going to get him out of there by the end of the second round,” Garry said. “I believe that based on just cardio and speed. I’m just going to have too much to offer, and I’m going to be too quick for him, and he’s going to get lost and fumble in the speed. He’s going to start making errors, overreach, (and) make wrong steps because he’s going to get desperate.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

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Jairzinho Rozenstruik didn’t want Jailton Almeida, expected higher-ranked opponent at UFC on ABC 4

Jairzinho Rozenstruik explains why he was hesitant taking a heavyweight fight against Jailton Almeida at UFC on ABC 4 in Charlotte.

[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] didn’t want to fight Jailton Almeida, at least under the current circumstances.

Rozenstruik (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) hoped to get someone higher in the rankings and with an established name in the heavyweight division, not a rising contender. But despite not wanting the fight, Rozenstruik finds himself fighting Almeida (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the headlining slot of UFC on ABC 4, which takes place Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.

“We didn’t want to do the fight,” Rozenstruik told reporters at the UFC on ABC 4 media day. “Me and my team, we discussed it right away. We were coming off a good win and we wanted to fight someone higher in the rankings. The UFC really wanted the fight, so the fight is happening.”

The 35-year-old is coming off a 23-second knockout over Chris Daukaus at UFC 282 in December, a finish that won him a $50,000 bonus for Performance of the Night. Prior to that, Rozenstruik was on a two-fight skid.

Rozenstruik has no problem fighting Almeida himself. His issue had to do with rankings.

“It’s not that I don’t want to fight him,” Rozenstruik said. “I want to fight someone higher in the rankings. If he was ranked high above me, yeah, why not? But we work for the company, not the company working for us, so the fight is happening – and that’s it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

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UFC on ABC 4 headliner Jailton Almeida continues to be ‘finish oriented’, seeks quick KO of Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Finishes don’t just happy by accident when UFC heavyweight standout Jailton Almeida fights.

Finishes don’t just happy by accident when [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag] fights. The UFC heavyweight standout is always looking for them.

The proof is in the fact that Almeida (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has scored a finish in all 18 of his career wins. That includes his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance last year that earned him a UFC contract, as well as his first four promotional fights all within a year.

Almeida’s rampage has led to a No. 12 ranking by the UFC and his first main event, which takes place Saturday at UFC on ABC 4. Almeida will meet No. 9 Jairzinho Rozenstruik (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., with a huge opportunity to make a statement before a national TV audience.

If Almeida is feeling any pressure to live up to his reputation as a finisher, he didn’t show it during Wednesday’s media day.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure,” Almeida told reporters through an interpreter. “I’m always ready for the full length of the fight. For this one, I’ve trained everything for five rounds. I guess the style is just more effective than most.

“We are very finish oriented, so that’s what we’re always looking for. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first round, the fifth round, whenever I get a chance to do it. No added pressure, something that I just go with the flow.”

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Given the 31-year-old’s rapid rise up the heavyweight division, Almeida feels grateful for this moment more than anything.

“Honestly, things have been going pretty quickly,” Almeida said. “I have like a year and change in the organization. To not only be in a main event but being ranked and everything that’s happened since I got in, I really appreciate the organization for giving me the opportunity.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

Johnny Walker confident he’s primed to fight for UFC title: ‘One-hundred percent, I’m ready’

UFC light heavyweight Johnny Walker believes his time to fight for gold is almost here.

[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] believes he’s in the middle of a career high at the moment, enough to lead to UFC gold.

The UFC light heavyweight contender returns to the octagon Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ABC 4 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. Walker (20-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) takes on Anthony Smith in a light heavyweight bout.

And ahead one of the biggest fights of his career, the Brazilian is entering knowing he may earn himself an opportunity to fight for the UFC belt.

“Beating him up, whatever it takes, it’s going to show that I finish the guy that’s No. 5 in the rankings and that I’m ready for the title shot,” Walker told reporters at the UFC on ABC 4 media day on Wednesday.

“One hundred percent, I’m ready, but I’m going to keep training every day, and I’m going to develop my skills. You can get better every time you train, every camp you train, but depending on the performance that I’m going to put on, it’s going to tell me and everybody else if I’m ready or not.”

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Walker is currently on a two-fight winning streak, having stopped Paul Craig in January and submitted Ion Cutelaba in September. He respects Smith (36-17 MMA, 11-7 UFC) but believes now is his time.

“He’s a very good fighter, a very experienced fighter, and he’s a really dangerous fighter,” Walker said when asked about Smith.” But I train really hard, and now I’m very committed to my career, and now I’m showing this in my last two fights. Whatever he has for me, I’m ready. I’m ready for the worst, so let him bring it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.

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UFC on ABC 4 breakdown: How will Jairzinho Rozenstruik handle ‘absolute unit’ Jailton Almeida?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC on ABC 4 headliner between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Jailton Almeida.

UFC on ABC 4 takes place this Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., where ranked heavyweights [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] and [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag] square off in the main event.

Almeida (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who’s No. 12 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings, is a big 5-to-1 favorite over No. 9 Rozenstruik (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) as “Malhadinho” looks to make a statement and remain undefeated in the UFC in his first promotional headliner.

Will he get the job done?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom has studied the film to offer his thoughts and prediction on the matchup, which you can watch in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.