Tag: UFC on ESPN 15

Can you believe someone bet $25,000 on Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN 15?

This is insane considering the reward for the risk involved.

[autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] scored one of the biggest upsets in the UFC history Saturday night and, in the process, cost somebody a lot of money.

Dobson, who entered UFC on ESPN 15 as a +800 underdog, defeated massive favorite [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] by second-round TKO  Just how big of a favorite was Agapova? As high as -1400.

To put that into perspective, you’d have needed to bet $1,400 on Agapova to make $100 had she won. But get this: According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, a bettor placed a $25,000 bet on Agapova at those -1400 odds all so he/she could make … a whopping $1,775.

Seriously (via Twitter):

In the women’s UFC flyweight division tonight, a bettor at @SuperBookSports bet $25,000 on heavy favorite (-1400) Mariya Agapova. She lost to Shana Dobson in a huge upset.

The bet would have netted $1,775 if Agapova won.

Listen, I’m no sports betting expert, but that’s a terrible bet – and it has nothing to do with hindsight. I understand the basic premise of risk vs. reward, and win or lose, it’s insane to put up $25,000 with the hope of not even clearing two grand in winnings. That’s way too much risk with very little upside.

Insane.

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.

[vertical-gallery id=547338]

Shana Dobson TKOs Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN 15 for one of the biggest upsets in UFC history

Not since Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey has an upset this big taken place inside the octagon.

On Saturday at UFC on ESPN 15, [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] made [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] pay for calling her out.

After winning her UFC debut in impressive fashion earlier this year, Agapova (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) specifically asked to fight Dodson (4-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in her second octagon appearance. Agapova got her wish at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but the fight didn’t go according to plan.

The first round had a bit of back-and-forth, but Agapova was getting the better of it. It was clear she was exerting too much energy to maintain over a 15-minute fight, though, and she started fading in the second.

Dobson took advantage of the situation and managed to get top position during a scramble. She then brutalized Agapova with strikes until the referee decided he’d seen enough and called it off at the 1:38 mark of Round 2.

Watch the final sequence in the video below (via Twitter):

Dobson came into the fight with a sub-.500 record and on a three-fight losing streak. She hadn’t won since December 2017 and likely was fighting for her place on the roster. The odds reflected as much, and according to ESPN, it was the biggest upset to happen in the UFC in nearly five years, since Holly Holm’s stunning win over Ronda Rousey (via Twitter):

According to Jon Anik on the broadcast, Agapova was taken out of the octagon on a stretcher, “perhaps due to exhaustion.” Dobson, meanwhile, reveled in her victory.

“We saw this coming,” Dobson said in her post-fight interview with Anik. “We’re excited, but we’re not surprised. We expected to get this dub, no matter how we were going to get it.”

[vertical-gallery id=547335]

[vertical-gallery id=547338]

UFC on ESPN 15: Matthew Semelsberger post-fight interview

Matthew Semelsberger talks to media after his UFC on ESPN 15 victory over Carlton Minus.

Matthew Semelsberger talks to media after his UFC on ESPN 15 victory over Carlton Minus.

UFC on ESPN 15 video: Daniel Rodriguez TKOs Dwight Grant in ‘Round of the Year’ contender

Wow, what a comeback from Daniel Rodriguez to win his third UFC fight of 2020.

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] came out on the winning end of a wild one-round fight with [autotag]Dwight Grant[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 15.

In an action-packed welterweight bout that’s likely to hold up as a “Round of the Year” contender, Rodriguez (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) produced a thrilling rally against Grant (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) for the first-round TKO at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Grant came out of the gate extremely strong and hurt Rodriguez badly. He was swarming, causing referee Chris Tognoni to vocalize multiple warnings to keep moving. Rodriguez did enough to stay in it, then when he got back up, the momentum changed.

[lawrence-related id=547341]

Rodriguez landed a hard shot that staggered Grant then applied the pressure. He landed multiple powerful shots against Grant, who tried to persevere. He couldn’t keep upright from a final strike, though, and the referee stepped in at the 2:24 mark of Round 1 to conclude a thrilling affair.

Check out the replay below (via Twitter):

With the win, Rodriguez joined Merab Dvalishvili and Youssef Zalal as the lone fighters to win three times in the UFC in 2020.

[vertical-gallery id=547335]

[vertical-gallery id=547338]

UFC on ESPN 15: Trevin Jones post-fight interview

Trevin Jones talks to media after his UFC on ESPN 15 victory over Timur Valiev.

Trevin Jones talks to media after his UFC on ESPN 15 victory over Timur Valiev.

UFC on ESPN 15 video: Trevin Jones pulls off shocking comeback upset of Timur Valiev

Trevin Jones pulled off an all-time upset against Timur Valiev at UFC on ESPN 15.

[autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag] pulled off an all-time upset against [autotag]Timur Valiev[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 15.

Jones (13-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) accepted the catchweight fight on just three days’ notice against Valiev (16-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who could by found as high as a -2000 favorite by one oddsmaker going into the matchup, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

From the jump of the fight, it look as though Valiev was rightfully placed as the gigantic favorite. He completely dominated the first round, battering Jones with cruel body shots that could have easily justified a stoppage.

[lawrence-related id=437070,546971]

It seemed like Jones would be taken out early in the second, but he had other plans. He found a home for a clean right hand that badly hurt Valiev and sent him to the canvas. Jones jumped on top and followed up with an onslaught of strikes that put on a bow on the stunning turn of events at the 1:59 mark of Round 2.

See how it all unfolded below (via Twitter):

Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, Alonzo Menifield fight removed from UFC on ESPN 15

Tonight’s UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event is off.

The UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event is off.

Following a positive COVID-19 test, [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] has been removed from his UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event fight against [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], MMA Junkie confirmed with a person familiar with the situation.

The light heavyweight fight will shift Sept. 5 and Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will continue with nine fights.

According to his manager Oren Hodak, Saint Preux (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) had previously tested positive for COVID-19 but had since tested negative. Upon arriving in Las Vegas for UFC on ESPN 15, Saint Preux tested both positive and negative this week. Out of precaution, the promotion has decided to remove his fight against Menifield (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) from the event and reschedule it for a later date.

Hodak posted the following statement hours before the UFC on ESPN 15 start time (via Twitter):

With the removal, the current UFC on ESPN 15 lineup includes:

  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar
  • Marcin Prachnio vs. Mike Rodriguez
  • Mariya Agapova vs. Shana Dobson
  • Dwight Grant vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Mizuki Inoue vs. Amanda Lemos
  • Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki
  • Ike Villanueva vs. Jordan Wright
  • Carlton Minus vs. Matthew Semelsberger
  • Trevin Jones vs. Timur Valiev

[vertical-gallery id=446682]

Shana Dobson feels no pressure despite three-fight skid going into UFC on ESPN 15

Shane Dobson is not thinking about the fact her UFC job could be on the line.

Ahead of UFC on ESPN 15, [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Dobson (3-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) discussed her women’s flyweight bout with Mariya Agapova (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), whether she feels pressure while being on a three-fight losing streak, working on her master’s degree outside of the octagon, and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC on ESPN 15 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

[vertical-gallery id=492726]

UFC on ESPN 15 discussion thread

UFC on ESPN 15 takes place Saturday in Las Vegas, and you can discuss the event here.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 15 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which kicks off at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.

Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our UFC on ESPN 15 live results post, and then discuss the event in the comments section below.

Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the preliminary card and 8:30 p.m. ET for the main card.

UFC on ESPN 15 complete card fighter faceoffs

All the fighters for UFC on ESPN 15 face-off with their opponent one last time before fight night

All the fighters for UFC on ESPN 15 face-off with their opponent one last time before fight night