Tag: UFC on ESPN 21

Gustavo Lopez not buying into Adrian Yanez hype: ‘I’m going to murder this guy’

To put it quite mildly, Gustavo Lopez is not buying into any of the hype surrounding fellow bantamweight prospect Adrian Yanez.

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LAS VEGAS – To put it quite mildly, [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] is not buying into any of the hype surrounding fellow bantamweight prospect [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag].

“I’m glad people are looking past me and thinking, ‘Oh, Gustavo is going to get knocked out by this dude,” Lopez told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a Wednesday media day at the UFC Apex. “Who is this random Yanez dude who supposedly has good striking and good footwork? I’m like, ‘Could he swim? How deep in the waters can he swim?’

“They say he likes to scramble and likes to wrestle. I’m like, ‘You don’t like to wrestle. Wrestlers don’t like to wrestle.’ I’m going to put you in some deep, deep waters, and he’s going to get drowned.”

Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meet on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 card at the UFC Apex. The featured bouts air on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

It’s just Yanez’s second UFC appearance, but he’s impressed in his octagon run thus far. This past August, he earned a UFC contract with a 39-second win over Brady Huang on Dana White’s Contender Series. Then in October, he debuted in the UFC with a “Performance of the Night” victory over Victor Rodriguez.

But Lopez says the level of competition Yanez has faced thus far falls short to that of his own, after facing veterans Merab Dvalishvili and Anthony Birchak in his first two UFC appearances.

“Talk to me about who he beat,” Lopez said. “Who has he beat that is like, ‘Oh, he’s beat f*cking – he fought the Merabs, the f*cking guys in the UFC’?

“He’s doing well, and he will be a good fighter, but I’m going to ruin his night. His whole hype is going to get taken off. I’m a different animal in this game. In a world of sharks, I’m the megalodon dude that gets you in the waters, and I’m going to drown this dude. It’s different. I’m a different beast.”

Oddsmakers currently have Yanez installed as a -225 favorite, implying a little less than 70 percent probability of victory. But Lopez believes he’s primed to deliver as an underdog, and to steal a little of Yanez’s shine in the process.

“Where’s the hype coming from on this dude?” Lopez asked. “I’m going to ruin this guy’s night. … I’m going to go out there, and I’m going to murder this guy. It’s going to be a bad night for him.”

To see the full media availability with Lopez, check out the video above.

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Tai Tuivasa plans to cheers Harry Hunsucker post-fight for saving UFC on ESPN 21 bout

Tai Tuivasa is eager to win, then “drink beer” to celebrate his birthday, and then get back home to his son.

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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] wasn’t leaving the U.S. without a fight.

Away from his family for months, Tuivasa (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) wants to fight, celebrate his birthday with a few (many) beers, and get back home as soon as possible. However, in order to bring a check back home, he needed a fight. When his opponent, Don’Tale Mayes, was pulled from UFC on ESPN 21 on Tuesday, promotional newcomer [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag] stepped up.

“It was funny,” Tuivasa told MMA Junkie at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “We were talking, me and my team this morning, I was like, ‘F*ck, I was so close to going out and getting pissed (drunk).’ I’ve changed my ways. I’m a good boy now, but I was close. I was like, ‘F*ck this, man.’ (I) trained all this time for nothing. Props to the fella that took it (Hunsucker) and I’m sure we can share a beer after, after punching each others’ heads in.”

Tuivasa’s son means the world to him. If Hunsucker (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) hadn’t stepped up, he may have been postponed to a future card. That would’ve been an unwanted, extended stay in America.

“I haven’t seen my son for three months, so I wasn’t leaving here without a fight, either in the cage or out back somewhere,” Tuivasa said. “… I miss my son. I miss my son. It’s probably the longest I’ve been away from him, since he’s gotten older. I think the older they get, you kind of miss them more or something like that.”

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If he wins Saturday, the celebration will be on. Tuivasa is already known as a fighter who enjoys a frosty beverage or two post-fight, but a win in Las Vegas during the week of his birthday? That’s a whole other level.

“I punch people’s heads in and I drink piss,” Tuivasa said. “I don’t want to be (anything else). I’m fine with that. I’m sweet.”

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

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After ‘stressful’ camp, married couple Cheyanne and JP Buys target history at UFC on ESPN 21

They’re the second married couple to share a UFC fight card, but Cheyenne Buys and JP Buys hope to be the first winners together.

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LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 21 this Saturday will have a historic narrative attached to it as [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] and [autotag]JP Buys[/autotag] will become the second married couple to share a fight card with the organization.

Mark and Montana De La Rosa were the first to do it back in February 2019 but came away with mixed results. Cheyanne (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who meets Montserrat Ruiz in a strawweight bout on the main card, and JP (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who takes on Bruno Silva at flyweight in the opening bout of the night, intend to be the first duo with winning outcomes.

“This is not our first time fighting on the same night,” Cheyanne told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 21 media day. “We’ve made history in LFA as the first married couple to both fight and win on the same night. So it’s about coming here and making a legacy and representing our family name. We’re not here for a long time, but a good time.”

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place at the UFC Apex. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

This unique situation was something both Fortis MMA-trained fighters wanted to happen but didn’t necessarily expect at this point in time. UFC on ESPN 21 marks the octagon debut for both members of the family, and to have it line up perfectly was kismet.

“We actually spoke to coach Sayif (Saud) about it and said we wanted to do it together,” JP said. “When we started, we actually said, ‘Oh, I’m going to be in the UFC before you, you’re going to be in there before me.’ So it was kind of a race thing. But God blessed us and put us out there at the same time.”

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Given the way things are structured, Cheyanne, 25, appears to be the one in the more challenging situation. She said she’ll be walking out with JP, 24, to corner him, then will return backstage to warm up to then enter the cage herself.

Even if JP goes unscathed and wins his fight easily, it’s an emotional rollercoaster in store for Cheyanne. Instead of worrying about the potential pitfalls of that, though, she’s thinking about how it can benefit her.

“Whenever he fights, I’m more nervous for him than when I fight,” Cheyanne said. I already know we’ve just got to go out there and do our jobs. I’m actually excited because I get to make the walk before I make the walk for myself. So I’m actually using this as motivation for myself. Like, ‘OK, I’m going to get the walkout jitters for him because I’m going to be a nervous wreck for him anyways.’ So for me, it plays out in my favor, anyways. Instead of a negative situation, I look at it as a positive situation.'”

Although this rare opportunity to share the spotlight on MMA’s biggest stage is something that’s genuinely exciting, the Buys family admits it hasn’t been the simplest road to get here.

Going through simultaneous training camps, dieting and weight cuts since getting the call to book the date two days before Christmas, it has not been easy. Both admitted as much, but said the joy of finally being on the cusp of a potentially historic moment outweighs any hardship over the past few months.

“We will do this again if they give us the call,” Cheyanne said. “Maybe next time one of us fights. It’s been some special times in our house. The mood swings. It’s all fun and games now that we’re here and laughing about everything. It’s been stressful. Maybe if they call us like short notice to both fight, but man, it’s been life changing or us this camp, the step up in competition to do this together.”

Kevin Holland expects to continue path toward UFC stardom – but hopes for co-main events only

Five-round fights don’t thrill Kevin Holland, but they could be in his future if 2020 was any indication.

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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] doesn’t plan on slowing down.

MMA Junkie’s 2020 “Fighter of the Year,” Holland (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) is days away from his first fight of the new year when he takes on Derek Brunson at UFC on ESPN 21 this Saturday. The fight will be Holland’s first UFC main event, his first accolade of 2021 after a fruitful 2020.

“I was the man,” Holland told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I was happy with all the accolades, all the accomplishments and stuff like that I got. That was amazing. I’ve been following MMA Junkie for a long time. So to get ‘Fighter of the Year’ from MMA Junkie, that felt amazing. To get ‘Fighter of the Year’ from a couple of other organizations, that felt amazing.”

One year ago, Holland was scheduled to fight Jack Marshman on the prelims of a UFC card in London that eventually was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward 12 months, and he’s within striking distance of the UFC’s middleweight top five. It’s been a crazy journey for the fighter out of Texas.

“2020 was amazing. 2021 has the potential to be even better,” Holland said. “(In) 2020, I was supposed to fight this same month in London against Jack Marshman. Now, I’m fighting somebody (in the) top 10 in the UFC middleweight division. Granted, it’s for 25 freaking minutes. Hopefully I finish him in two because I’m not trying to fight that long. Yeah, it’s amazing. Dude, it’s amazing. Look how far we’ve come in a year.”

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Holland had three months to sit back and reflect on his recent string of success, which might not seem like much time. However, Holland competed five times in the final seven months of 2020. Combine that with the fact he’s had to increase his training in anticipation of a potential 25 minutes vs. Brunson, and Holland’s layoff seemed like an eternity to him.

“I don’t like the idea of fighting for 25 minutes,” Holland said. “Let’s just be real here: It’s like, you hear Derrick Lewis talking about it all the time. It’s not his idea of a fight. That’s just the truth. Nobody wants to fight for 25 minutes. Where I’m from, you’re lucky if they fight for two-and-a-half. Do you know what I mean? Twenty-five minutes is a very, very long time.”

Holland appreciates the social media following that comes with main event status. “Big Mouth,” as UFC president Dana White has deemed him, is not shy in the spotlight. Holland joked that perhaps co-main events will be his ideal placement on cards going forward.

“You can make me the co-main champ,” Holland said. “I don’t need a belt if I need to fight for 25 minutes. (UFC middleweight champion) Izzy (Israel Adesanya), you could keep your belt. If you really want to fight, we can fight as a co-main event. You won’t have to worry about losing another championship fight. There you go, bucko.”

So how does Holland keep, or even build upon, his momentum against Brunson (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC)? Holland said he won’t try to be exciting, flashy, and dominant. It’s just going to happen on its own.

“As long as I go out there and do what Kev does, it’s special,” Holland said. “It’s like, if you watch every fight that I’ve ever had: win, lose, draw, whatever the case may be, Kev goes out there and fights. Kev is Kev. Usually, you put me away when I’m tired. I’ve been putting in strength and conditioning and stuff lately. … We’ll take it how it comes. It doesn’t need to be devastating fashion. It doesn’t need to be, but it will be.”

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

UFC on ESPN 21 poster: Derek Brunson, Kevin Holland stare down the lens ahead of main event clash

Check out the official poster for UFC on ESPN 21, featuring Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland.

Can [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] derail another hype train?

Brunson (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) will take on the streaking [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 main event, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Coming off a big win over the formerly unbeaten Edmen Shahbazyan in August, Brunson will look to prove once again that he’s here to stay when he faces the red-hot Holland. The perennial middleweight contender has fought the who’s who at 185 pounds and will look to make it four in a row against “Big Mouth.”

Holland tied the UFC record for most wins in a calendar year in 2020, when he notched five wins, including a “Performance of the Night” knockout of Jacare Souza at UFC 256 in December.

Check out the official poster for UFC on ESPN 21 below (via Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMI3AhaH1G6/?igshid=1evxwupxdus03

The current UFC on ESPN 21 card includes:

  • Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland
  • Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Gustavo Lopez vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan
  • Cheyanne Buys vs. Montserrat Ruiz
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Marion Reneau
  • Grant Dawson vs. Leonardo Santos
  • Roman Dolidze vs. Trevin Giles
  • Montel Jackson vs. Jesse Strader
  • Julia Avila vs. Julija Stoliarenko
  • JP Buys vs. Bruno Silva
  • Anthony Birchak vs. Johnny Eduardo

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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