Tag: UFC on ESPN 12

Invicta FC contenders Jinh Yu Frey, Kay Hansen to square off at UFC on ESPN 12

Jinh Yu Frey and Kay Hansen can now call themselves UFC fighters.

[autotag]Jinh Yu Frey[/autotag] and [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] are now members of the UFC roster.

The Invicta FC staples have signed with the promotion and are expected to face off against one another Saturday at UFC on ESPN 12. Oren Hodak of KO Reps management, which represents Frey, confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Sunday.

Frey (9-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former Invicta champion, alluded to her signing in an Instagram post Sunday. Hansen (6-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) announced her signing outright.

A professional since 2013, Frey has competed largely under the Invicta banner, with stops in RIZIN and Road FC along the way. In February, Frey defeated Ashley Cummins by unanimous decision. However, she was stripped of her title upon missing weight prior to the fight.

At 20, Hansen becomes the second youngest fighter on the UFC’s roster – one year the elder of Chase Hooper. Entering her UFC debut, Hansen won back-to-back fights against Nicolle Caliari and Liana Pirosin.

UFC on ESPN 12 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event will simulcast on ESPN and ESPN+.

With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 12 lineup now includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
  • Mickey Gall vs. Mike Perry
  • Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Maurice Greene vs. Gian Villante
  • Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy
  • Tanner Boser vs. Philipe Lins
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Kyle Nelson vs. Sean Woodson
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Takashi Sato
  • Jinh Yu Frey vs. Kay Hansen

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN 11

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 11 event.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

See what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 11 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.

* * * *

Curtis Blaydes def. Alexander Volkov via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46)

[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag]: “Encounter The Ultimate (Theme From Mortal Kombat)” by The Immortals

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: “25/17” by Zima Mama

Josh Emmett def. Shane Burgos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)

[autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag]: “Pain”/”Refuse 2 Lose”/”Sky Is The Limit” by Pusha T/Brotha Lynch Hung/Rebelution

[autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag]: “Invincible” by Machine Gun Kelly feat. Ester Dean

Raquel Pennington def. Marion Reneau via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

[autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag]: “Until We Rich” by Ice Cube feat. Krayzie Bone

[autotag]Marion Reneau[/autotag]: “Sprinkle Me” by E-40 feat. Suga-T

Belal Muhammad def. Lyman Good via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

[autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag]: “Remember Me” by Boss Sayf

[autotag]Lyman Good[/autotag]: “Destiny” by NF

Jim Miller def. Roosevelt Roberts via verbal submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:25

[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by Kiss

[autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: “Thug Life” by Rod Wave

RESULT

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: “On God” by RJMrLA

[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: “5 Minutes Alone” by Pantera

Tecia Torres def. Brianna Van Buren via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

[autotag]Tecia Torres[/autotag]: “Ivy Queen” by Vamos A Guerrear feat. Nengo Flow

[autotag]Brianna Van Buren[/autotag]: “Strong Will Continue” by Nad & Damian Marley

Marc-Andre Barriault def. Oskar Piechota via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:50

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: “Grateful” by NEFFEX

[autotag]Oskar Piechota[/autotag]: “Nowiny” by Paktofonika

Gillian Robertson def. Cortney Casey via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:32

[autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: “P.I.M.P.” by 50 Cent

[autotag]Cortney Casey[/autotag]: “Mr. Officer” by Tee Grizzley feat. Queen Naija

Justin Jaynes def. Frank Camacho via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:41

[autotag]Justin Jaynes[/autotag]: “People Back Home” by Florida Georgia Line

[autotag]Frank Camacho[/autotag]: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

Lauren Murphy def. Roxanne Modafferi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

[autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag]: “Time For Sum Aksion” by Redman

[autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag]: “Run” by Foo Fighters

Austin Hubbard def. Max Rohskopf via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00

[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: “At My Leisure (Freestyle)” by Steelo Bass

[autotag]Max Rohskopf[/autotag]: “Pony” by Ginuwine

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Raquel Pennington: Frustrating ‘hug match’ with Holly Holm relit fire for UFC on ESPN 11

Raquel Pennington knows her January fight with Holly Holm was a dud, and she’s looking to make up for it at UFC on ESPN 11.

[autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] doesn’t mince words about her UFC 246 rematch with Holly Holm. To her, it was a dud.

Pennington (10-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to avenge a loss to Holm last January in what was the co-main event under Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone. It was an underwhelming affair, though, with Holm taking a unanimous decision in a bout that received much negative feedback.

The result still irritates Pennington, and she said she’s using it as a source of motivation going into Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 11 matchup with Marion Reneau (9-5-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC).

“That was a one-of-a-kind fight,” Pennington told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Thursday’s UFC on ESPN 11 media day. “I was pretty bitter on that one. I’m not a poor sport or anything like that, but I will be the first to admit it: I was super bitter about that. It was a fight I wanted for five years. I wanted that rematch, and just to go out there and have that opportunity – we were on a huge card, we were the co-main event and for us to go out there and have it happen the way it happened. That fight was just – I don’t even want to go call it a fight. That hug match was frustrating.

“It was funny because back when I originally fought her I was like, ‘Man, I should’ve beat this chick.’ So it kind of lit the flame. Then I went on my winning streak and then I had setbacks going into my surgeries then coming back, then all of a sudden that fight did the same thing again. It lit the flame all over again. There’s a new fire burning, and I definitely want a different performance come Saturday.”

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UFC on ESPN 11 takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with Pennington vs. Reneau positioned as the featured bout on the ESPN/ESPN+ broadcast.

Pennington’s past five fights have either come against former or current UFC champions (Holm, Amanda Nunes, Miesha Tate, Germaine de Randamie) or names currently scheduled in top contender matchups (Irene Aldana). Although she’s no pushover, Reneau hasn’t reached quite that level in her career, so she represents a bit of a step down.

By no means does that mean Pennington is taking her next opponent lightly, but she thinks she can use this spot to shine.

“She is ranked No. 10 (in the UFC’s official rankings), and I’m not looking past her at all,” Pennington said. “A fight’s a fight, and anything can happen, but I’m super excited for this fight and this opportunity to get back out there.”

Top prospect Miranda Maverick debuts against Mara Romero Borella at UFC on ESPN 12

One of the top prospects in the women’s flyweight division will make her UFC debut this month.

One of the top prospects in the women’s flyweight division will make her UFC debut this month.

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag] has signed with the promotion and will step into the octagon for the first time on a little more than one weeks’ notice when she meets [autotag]Mara Romero Borella[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 12.

Both Maverick (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Borella (11-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) have confirmed the matchup on social media.

Maverick, 22, is coming off the biggest win of her young career in beating Pearl Gonzalez at Invicta FC 39 in February. She’s won three of her past four overall, with her lone blemish to DeAnna Bennett being avenged with a stoppage win in the rematch.

Borella, 34, will attempt to break out of a brutal funk in her career with four losses in her past five fights. She’s dropped three in a row, with her most recent bout being a first-round submission loss to Cortney Casey at UFC on ESPN 8 on May 16.

The latest UFC on ESPN 12 lineup includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
  • Mickey Gall vs. Mike Perry
  • Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Maurice Greene vs. Gian Villante
  • Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann
  • Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy
  • Tanner Boser vs. Philipe Lins
  • Kyle Nelson vs. Sean Woodson
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim
  • Mara Romero Borella vs. Miranda Maverick

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UFC on ESPN 12: Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker official poster revealed

The UFC has released the official fight poster for its June 27 event, with a pivotal lightweight clash headlining the card in Las Vegas.

A pivotal lightweight clash headlines the UFC’s June 27 event.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] faces [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Poirier (25-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC) last competed in September, when he failed to unify his title with champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. He will look to insert himself back in the title picture with a win over the surging Hooker.

Winner of seven of his last eight, Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is coming off a split-decision win over Paul Felder in February in a “Fight of the Night” effort.

Also featured on the poster is the co-main event that features a welterweight scrap between [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) and [autotag]Mickey Gall[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

Check out the official poster for the UFC’s June 27 event below:

The current June 27 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
  • Mickey Gall vs. Mike Perry
  • Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Maurice Greene vs. Gian Villante
  • Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy
  • Tanner Boser vs. Philipe Lins
  • Kyle Nelson vs. Sean Woodson
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Dan Hooker bites back after Justin Gaethje predicts he’ll get ‘merked’ by Dustin Poirier

Dan Hooker did not take kindly to Justin Gaethje’s prediction for his UFC on ESPN 12 main event.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] did not take kindly to [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag]’s prediction for next week’s UFC on ESPN 12 main event with [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag].

After Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) expressed his intent to knock out Poirier (25-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC) in the June 27 lightweight headliner during a recent interview with MMA Fighting, interim champion Gaethje (22-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) weighed in with a blunt prediction of how he expects the bout to unfold (via Twitter):

This dude is getting merked.

It didn’t take long for Gaethje’s comment to reach Hooker’s phone, and “The Hangman” had a snappy reply to Gaethje, whom he’s called out several times in the past and is still keen to fight (via Twitter):

Put your money where your mouth is, when I KO Poirier we fight in August for your plastic title! 😂

The “plastic title” Hooker speaks of is, of course, the interim belt Gaethje has in his possession after beating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May. It’s a ticket to a much bigger fight than Hooker, though – a title unification with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which is expected to take place in September.

If Hooker is able to get past Poirier, however, he will certainly be among the top contenders at 155 pounds.

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