Ariane Lipski gets new opponent for UFC Sao Paulo after Veronica Macedo forced to withdraw

Ariane Lipski will now face newcomer Isabella de Padua at UFC on ESPN+ 22 after Veronica Macedo was forced to withdraw.

Newcomer [autotag]Isabella de Padua[/autotag] will step in on just a day’s notice to take on [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in Sao Paulo.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

According to French website La Sueur, Lipski’s (11-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) original opponent [autotag]Veronica Macedo[/autotag] (6-3-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC), was forced to withdraw due to severe headaches. The Brazilian athletic commission did not clear her to fight. The news of de Padua (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) stepping in was first reported by MMA Fighting.

Brazil’s de Padua has won five straight fights, with her most recent win coming by second-round TKO due to a doctor’s stoppage at SFT 17 in October.

After dropping her first two UFC bouts to Joanne Calderwood and Molly McCann, Lipski will look to notch her first promotional win. De Padua will be her third different opponent for UFC Sao Paulo.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 22 lineup now includes:

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

Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza
Paul Craig vs. Mauricio Rua
Jared Gordon vs. Charles Oliveira
Antonio Arroyo vs. Andre Muniz
Markus Perez vs. Wellington Turman

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

James Krause vs. Sergio Moraes
Eduardo Garagorri vs. Ricardo Ramos
Bobby Green vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Warlley Alves vs. Randy Brown
Renan Barao vs. Douglas de Andrade
Isabella de Padua vs. Ariane Lipski
Tracy Cortez vs. Vanessa Melo

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The MMA Road Show with John Morgan, No. 242 – Las Vegas – Catching up with Cold Coffee

Episode No. 242 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” podcast is now available for streaming and download.

MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan hosts the show while traveling the world to cover the sport.

John Morgan and Cold Coffee are home in Las Vegas, and there’s plenty to talk about in the world of MMA, which they happily discuss while enjoying a few frosty beverages from their friends at Latchkey Brewing.

Check it out on iTunes or at themmaroadshow.com. You can also subscribe via RSS.

5 burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN+ 22

MMA Junkie’s Dave Doyle previews UFC on ESPN+ 22 with the top storylines heading into the Brazil card.

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A stretch of weekly UFC events dating back to Aug. 31 winds to its conclusion Saturday, as the company heads back to one of its most reliable international markets, Brazil, for UFC on ESPN+ 22, before things shut down for a couple of weeks.

As is usually the case when the promotion goes to one of the sport’s true hotbeds, there’s an interesting array of matchups featuring several big names in consequential fights.

This includes the main event, an important light heavyweight showdown with potential championship-picture implications between [autotag]Jan Blachowicz [/autotag]and [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag].

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Without further ado, here are five burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN+ 22.

****

How will the move up to light heavyweight go for ‘Jacare’ Souza?

After dropping two of his past three fights and three of his past five, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Souza (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC) makes the move up to 205 pounds for his main event bout with Jan Blachowicz (24-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC).

It’s hard not to draw a comparison to the other former champs who have recently attempted to refresh their careers with moves up in weight.

And, well, it hasn’t exactly gone so well.

Luke Rockhold made the jump earlier this year at UFC 239, where he get mauled in short order by Blachowicz. Chris Weidman tried it out last month, and he didn’t last two minutes before he was finished by Dominick Reyes.

Add in that “Jacare” is a month shy of his 40th birthday, and, well, it doesn’t look good on paper. Until you look a little deeper, that is.

Rockhold, who spent years sparring hard in the gym with bigger fighters in Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier at American Kickboxing Academy, was knocked out badly by Michael Bisping and Yoel Romero at middleweight before moving up. Weidman, for his part, was on an even worse string of results, including getting stopped by Souza and Rockhold.

“Jacare,” on the other hand, lost a debatable split decision to Kelvin Gastelum and accepted a dangerous short-notice foe in Jack Hermansson last time out, where he still went the distance before losing.

Blachowicz is no less dangerous for Souza than he was Rockhold, but the simple fact of the matter is this move doesn’t seem to present the same red flags as his fellow standouts who have made the jump.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3001: Nick Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit, UFC Sao Paulo, more

Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” break down the latest MMA news, including Nick Diaz’s possible return, Jorge Masvidal’s rise and more.

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On episode 3,001 of the podcast, the guys break down the latest MMA news and notes, as well as look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 22 this weekend in Sao Paulo.

The rundown

Could [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] actually happen, or should Diaz be fighting at all?
Just how big of a star is “Gamebred” right now?
[autotag]Demetrious Johnson[/autotag] wanted to collect belts from around the world, but even he didn’t anticipate this.
Women’s MMA pioneer [autotag]Tara LaRosa[/autotag] is back in the news, but it’s in a very odd way.
[autotag]Gilbert Melendez[/autotag] no longer in the UFC
[autotag]Carlos Condit[/autotag] out at UFC on ESPN 7; who should Mickey Gall face?
UFC Sao Paulo breakdown.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

‘Shogun’ Rua and the last of PRIDE in the UFC

A look at one of the final seven remaining PRIDE veterans on the UFC roster whose run was the stuff of legend.

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MMA legend [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] will return to the octagon on Saturday when he meets Paul Craig in the UFC on ESPN+ 22 co-main event.

“Shogun,” though still only 37, is essentially a relic of the sport these days. He’s among the last of a dissolving generation of fighters who made their fame outside of the UFC. Rua’s pre-octagon stage was with PRIDE Fighting Championships.

The Japan-based promotion, which held its final event in April 2007, was a breeding ground for some of the sport’s biggest stars before it was bought out and had much of its top talent transferred to the UFC. Rua’s run of success with PRIDE was among the best in company history, though, and he will forever be among the prominent names built under the PRIDE banner.

It won’t be long until fighters with PRIDE bouts on their record fall by the wayside for good, though. Rua, a former UFC light heavyweight titleholder, is one of the few still representing in the UFC, and he’s having as much or more success than any of his fellow alumni, with five wins in his past six octagon appearances.

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These are the PRIDE veterans who are still part of the UFC roster, and where they stand today:

Nick Diaz (PRIDE record: 0-0 with one no contest): Diaz only fought once in PRIDE, throwing down a memorable gunslinger with Takanori Gomi at the promotion’s sophomore U.S. event in February 2007. His gogoplata submission win was overturned to a no contest because he failed a post-fight test for marijuana. It’s been nearly four years since Diaz fought, but he just recently pushed for a fight against Jorge Masvidal.
Robbie Lawler (PRIDE record: 1-0): Like Diaz, Lawler only made one PRIDE appearance, but it was memorable. He scored a 22-second flying knee knockout of Joey Villaseñor at PRIDE 32 in October 2006 before bouncing around various promotions for the next several years until returning to the UFC, where he would become welterweight champ. “Ruthless” is currently sitting on three straight losses, though, and is awaiting his next booking in 2020.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE record: 8-2): Although he never achieved championship success in PRIDE like his brother, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Lil’ Nog” had many notable moments in PRIDE, including the 2005 “Fight of the Year” against Rua. Nogueira has been in the UFC for a decade and, at 43, has lost four of his past six. He said he plans to fight once more in 2020 before retiring from MMA.
Alistair Overeem (PRIDE record: 7-7): Overeem was a mainstay in PRIDE in the mid-2000s, fighting many of the biggest names the promotion had to offer with mixed success. It wasn’t until after PRIDE fizzled that Overeem retuned to heavyweight and changed his career trajectory. He went on a run that eventually landed him in the UFC, where he’s already fought once for the title. He’s trying to get back there now, too, and gets a big opportunity when he headlines UFC on ESPN 7 against Jair Rozenstruik on Dec. 7.
Mauricio Rua (PRIDE record: 12-1): Rua’s run through PRIDE was the stuff of magic. It’s one of the great stretches from any fighter in MMA history, and his only blemish in 13 fights with the organization came when he dislocated his arm 49 seconds into a fight with Mark Coleman. “Shogun” was among the faces of PRIDE during its final years, but eventually he would go to the UFC, where he would claim the light heavyweight belt. Injuries have plagued Rua’s octagon tenure, but he’s still won many fights and is on the cusp of a co-main event slot against Craig in his home country.
Anderson Silva (PRIDE record: 3-2): Silva’s PRIDE stint lasted less than three years and included the high of his flying knee knockout against Carlos Newton, as well as the low of his flying scissor heel hook loss to Ryo Chonan. He found his way to the UFC a couple years later and went on the greatest winning streak in company history at 16 fights. Those days seem long removed. “The Spider” is now 44 and has earned just one victory in his past eight fights.
Fabricio Werdum (PRIDE record: 4-2): Werdum’s run in PRIDE was relatively short, all things considered. He fought there six times over 17 months but was still very young in his MMA career. More than eight years would pass before the Brazilian would become UFC heavyweight champion, and it’s been more than three years since he lost it. Werdum is now 42 and in the middle of serving a USADA suspension that doesn’t expire until May 2020.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 breakdown: Is Jan Blachowicz’s Polish power too much for ‘Jacare’ Souza?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Sao Paulo headliner between Jan Blachowicz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 22.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Jan Blachowicz (24-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC)

Staple info:

Height: 6’2″ Age: 36 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 78″
Last fight: Knockout win over Luke Rockhold (July 6, 2019)
Camp: WCA Fight Team (Poland)
Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ KSW light heavyweight title
+ Muay Thai accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 6 knockout victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Excellent jab
+ Dangerous uppercuts and hooks
+ Will switch stances
^ Favors liver kicks from southpaw
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Solid transitional grappler
^ Submission savvy from top or bottom

Ronaldo Souza (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC)

Staple info:

Height: 6’1″ Age: 39 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 72″
Last fight: Decision loss to Jack Hermansson (April 27, 2019)
Camp: Fusion X-cel Performance (Florida)
Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:

+ Former Strikeforce middleweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 8 knockout victories
+ 14 submission wins
+ 18 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Heavy right hand
^ Throws well off feints and shifts
+ Improved overall boxing ability
^ Variates well to the body
+ Solid wrestling skills
^ Favors takedowns along the fence
+ Dangerous in transition
^ Superb scrambles and back-takes
+ Slick submission setups

Point of interest: Entering the pressure cooker

The main event in Sao Paulo features an interesting light heavyweight matchup between two men who are familiar with pressure.

Stepping onto the UFC scene as a persistent, pressuring stalker who can come forward in combination from either stance, [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] has steadily developed into a deceptively effective counter striker when he wants to be. In the heat of combat, the Pole packs a mean uppercut-hook return that he keeps on a hair-trigger, something he was able to show against both Jared Cannonier and Jimi Manuwa.

Blachowicz also employs a stiff and serviceable jab that he quietly uses to string together his offense, which may help him stave off the aggression coming his way. When he’s feeling in stride, the 36-year-old has no issue shifting to southpaw to deliver crushing liver kicks.

However, given his current counterpart, I suspect that Blachowicz may shelf kick attempts that are south of a headshot.

Enter [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag].

A marauding, athletic phenom who has consistently improved his striking since his days on the Strikeforce scene, Souza can truly call himself a multi-dimensional threat.

Steadily stalking his prey with palpable pressure, Souza will use feints to bait opponents into exchanging with him. Once able to get a bite, he will typically unleash a wicked counter cross or change his level to shoot for a takedown. Souza also occasionally shifts to southpaw when he needs to, often accompanying this move with a check hook for safety (something that could come in handy considering the success Thiago Santos had in his fight with Blachowicz).

When Souza senses that he has someone hurt, the 16-year veteran has no problem letting his hands fly liberally, varying in between uppercuts and hooks along the way. And in Souza’s last few outings, he’s displayed upgraded boxing techniques and sensibilities, incorporating more inside slips and left hooks to the liver (both of which play very well off of his patented right hand).

Still, the pressure that Souza brings usually comes with a tangible price tag to go along with the gas that it requires, which means that this battle – which will see Souza carrying 20 more pounds than usual – should get even more intriguing the longer it goes.

Next point of interest: Jacare’s world

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 pre-event facts: What record will Charles Oliveira set next?

The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 22, which features a Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza main event.

The UFC makes its final Brazil stop of the year on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 22, which takes place at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo with a 12-fight lineup set to stream entirely on ESPN+.

An important light heavyweight matchup headlines the card. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) will look to improve his status as a top contender when he meets [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC), the former Strikeforce champ who is moving up to 205 pounds for the first time with hopes of a fresh start.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 22.

* * * *

Main event

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Blachowicz competes in his second UFC headliner. He’s 0-1 in previous main events.

Blachowicz is 5-1 in his past six UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.

Blachowicz is one of two light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 53.

Blachowicz lands 52 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition, the second highest rate in divisional history behind Lyoto Machida (65 percent).

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Souza competes in the light heavyweight division for the first time in his career. He’s never fought above 194 pounds.

Souza has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 8 in April.

Souza has earned 22 of his 26 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his nine UFC wins.

Souza’s 14 victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are tied for third most in combined divisional history behind Michael Bisping (16) and Luke Rockhold (15).

Souza’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Rockhold (13).

Co-main event

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[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (26-11 MMA, 10-9 UFC) competes in his 20th UFC light heavyweight bout, tied with Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans and Ovince Saint Preux for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Jon Jones (21).

Rua’s 22 victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s 18 stoppage victories in UFC/PRIDE/WEC/Strikeforce competition are fourth most in combined organizational history behind Mirko Filipovic (21), Wanderlei Silva (20) and Donald Cerrone (20).

Rua’s 17 knockout victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s eight knockout victories in modern UFC light-heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Chuck Liddell (nine).

Rua is the only light heavyweight in UFC history to earn his first six victories with the organization by knockout.

Rua’s 14 knockdowns landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Liddell for most in divisional history.

Rua’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light-heavyweight fights are tied with Jones for most in divisional history.

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[autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 56-day stretch. He won at UFC on ESPN+ 17 on Sept. 21.

Craig has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He won his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.

Craig has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage.

Craig’s victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 is the latest submission in a three-round UFC fight.

Remaining main card

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[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) is 6-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in April 2017. He’s 8-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.

Oliveira’s average fight time of 5:08 in UFC lightweight competition is the second shortest in divisional history behind Manny Gamburyan (4:45).

Oliveira’s five-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Marlon Vera for the longest active streak in the company.

Oliveira’s 14 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort for second most in company history behind Cerrone (16).

Oliveira’s 13 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Oliveira’s six submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Oliveira’s four guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are tied with Nate Diaz for most in company history.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple submission victories via anaconda choke. Phil Davis also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with six different techniques. Frank Mir also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a calf-slicer submission victory. Brett Johns also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira has been awarded 14 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the fourth most in company history behind Cerrone (18), Diaz (15) and Joe Lauzon (15).

Oliveira has been awarded eight “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.

Oliveira is the only fighter in UFC history to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses in two separate divisions.

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[autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.

[autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Preliminary card

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[autotag]James Krause[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since August 2018. He hasn’t fought more than once in a calendar year since 2015.

Krause is 3-0 in the UFC when competing at welterweight.

Krause enters the event on a five-fight UFC winning streak. He hasn’t suffered an octagon defeat since February 2016.

[autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) moves up to the featherweight division after spending his previous five UFC appearances at bantamweight.

Ramos is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC 217. Dong Hyun Kim is the other fighter to win with the technique.

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[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC), 41, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Trinaldo, 41, is the oldest active fighter in the UFC lightweight division.

Trinaldo becomes the 12th fighter in UFC history to make 20 or more lightweight appearances.

Trinaldo is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two arm-triangle submission victories from half-guard.

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (24-9-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) is 1-4 (with one no contest) in his past six fights dating back to November 2014.

[autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]’ (13-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) three guillotine choke submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind Oliveira (four) and Diaz (four).

[autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) returns to the featherweight division for the first time since his UFC debut in February 2014. He went 4-2 at bantamweight.

Andrade is 3-3 in his past five fights after starting his career on a 23-fight unbeaten streak.

Andrade is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 98.

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[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]’s (34-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Barao is 2-7 in his past nine fights after going on a 33-fight unbeaten streak that lasted more than nine years.

Barao returns to the featherweight division for the first time since September 2016. He went 0-4 during his most recent bantamweight stint before moving up.

Barao is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back kick to the head. He accomplished the feat at UFC 165.

Barao defends 92.5 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC competition, the sixth highest rate in company history.

Barao holds the record for most consecutive takedown attempts stopped in UFC history (33).

Barao’s five fight-night bonuses for UFC bantamweight bouts are tied for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).

[autotag]Veronica Macedo[/autotag] (6-3-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC) is 1-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in May 2018.

Macedo’s submission victory at 1:09 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the fastest finish in UFC women’s flyweight history.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

Tracy Cortez proud of large following she’s cultivated before UFC debut

Tracy Cortez attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase – an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

[autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag] attributes a number of factors to the growth of her wide-ranging fanbase, an uncommonly large following for a UFC debutant.

Cortez (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is ready to add to her popularity when she takes a step up to the big leagues at this weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 against Vanessa Melo.

Currently, Cortez owns an Instagram fanbase of almost 100,000 followers. Combine that with her Facebook likes and Twitter follows, and she’s sitting at approximately 116,000 fans.

But she hasn’t achieved this feat through a typical “Insta-famous” route many other influencers take. Cortez attributes her success on social media as a result of being real and interacting with fans, even as it becomes more time-consuming.

“I’ve been building my followers,” Cortez told MMA Junkie. “I kind of take pride in that because my fans go hard for me, and I love my fans. I honestly don’t just post and not interact. I try to interact with every single person who leaves me a comment or sends me beautiful messages.

“I think they see that. They see that I’m a normal person chasing their dream. I don’t put on a front and I think that’s how they started flocking to me. I don’t know why they follow me, but they follow me.”

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The relationship between Cortez and her fans is a two-way street, according to the Fight Ready MMA product. She sees great value in promoting a real version of herself on social media.

The 25-year-old Arizonan views fighters as a commodity. They need to sell themselves to the fans and give them a reason to watch. Through her outreach on social media and in-person, Cortez believes she’s done just that.

“As fighters, we’re entertainers, and we really have to let people know who we are outside of the cage and get that connection with our fans,” Cortez said. “That’s what I try to do. I want everyone to know that I’m just a regular person just like everyone else. I’m just working hard. I have big dreams, and I don’t let fear stop me.”

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On brand with her “being real” theme, Cortez opened up on the mix of emotions she’s taking with her into Saturday’s matchup against Melo (10-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

“Honestly, I’m excited,” Cortez said. “I was just talking to my coaches about how, man, we worked hard for this. I say ‘we’ because they’ve been a part of this journey for me. My coach Santino Defranco, he knows how hard I’ve been working. I’m actually going to fight for something I’ve been training so long for. I’m going through every emotion right now.”

This mix of emotions doesn’t weigh her down, according to Cortez. In fact, it does quite the opposite. It gives her the “push” she needs to stay motivated, stay focused, and attack the task at hand.

“I’m fighting for something that I always wanted,” Cortez said. “It makes training easier.

“Now? We’re here.”

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 fight breakdown: Blachowicz vs. Souza

Check out the MMA junkie’s John Morgan and Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the Event Name main event between Jan Blachowicz and Jacare Souza.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 free fight: Jan Blachowicz brutally shuts Luke Rockhold’s lights out

Relive Jan Blachowicz’s brutal second-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 239.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] has defeated a number of notable names in his career, but perhaps none bigger than former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

In July, Blachowicz brutally knocked out Rockhold in the second round of their UFC 239 clash in Las Vegas. The matchup was Rockhold’s debut at 205 pounds in the UFC.

In the final seconds of the opening round, Blachowicz nailed Rockhold with a big left hand. The shot staggered Rockhold, who fell to the ground. However, Rockhold was saved by the bell.

The buzzer wasn’t able to save Rockhold in the opening two minutes of the second round, however. Blachowicz landed another massive left hand and finished Rockhold with a big follow-up punch at 1:39 of round 2.

The victory was Blachowicz’s fourth in five fights and placed him back in the win column after suffering a loss to future-UFC title challenger Thiago Santos. The defeat was Rockhold’s third time being finished by strikes in four fights.

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Saturday night, Blachowicz (24-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) will look to turn a win into a win streak when he takes on another light heavyweight newcomer Ronaldo Souza (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN+ 22 main event.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Check out Jan Blachowicz’s brutal knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 239 in the video above.

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