Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
UFC on ESPN+ 24 takes place Saturday in Raleigh, N.C., with Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior Dos Santos. You can discuss the event here.
RALEIGH, N.C. – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 24 event at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., which kicks off at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.
Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our UFC on ESPN+ 24 live results post, and then discuss the event in the comments section below.
Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 5 p.m. ET for the preliminary card and 8 p.m. ET for the main card.
Brett Johns talks about his recent tough period in which MMA became “like a job” to him.
RALEIGH, N.C. – After suffering setbacks ranging from losses to injuries, Welsh bantamweight [autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] started to question his MMA future.
Johns (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) hasn’t competed since August 2018, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Pedro Munhoz in a fight he described as “an absolute barnburner.” It marked his second straight loss, an unfamiliar feeling for the formerly undefeated fighter.
“At the time, it did really dent my confidence, coming off two losses,” Johns told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “But watching them guys progress after that, it kinda picked me back up.”
But the next year and a half only got more difficult for Johns, who had to nurse an array of injuries from the fight and a knee injury suffered in a 44-second loss in a grappling match at Polaris 8.
So he decided to take some time off to heal and engage a little bit in other aspects of his life away from the sport. After a conversation with his brother, Johns decided to head to Las Vegas to visit the UFC Performance Institute and get a full physical checkup.
“When I went out there, I think subconsciously I was in this rut, and it was very, very disappointing to be in that rut,” Johns said. “I’m a guy who loves this sport, but going through the beginning of 2018 all the way through to like the middle of 2019, it became a job, really. When I went to Vegas and came back, I was a new fighter completely and I felt like it was a new me.”
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The rut forced Johns to rethink his passion for the sport, and he admitted that he was on the verge of walking away from MMA completely.
“I’ve been in this game a very long time, bear in mind,” Johns said. “Everybody gets sick of their job at some point, and I definitely went through that rut. And after I got back from Vegas, I think I was really close to stopping fighting. Knowing full well that you were at the brink of stopping and then you kind of take in consideration that you know where you’re going after that is a huge deal for me.”
Rejuvenated from the time off, Johns is set to make his return Saturday when he takes on Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Tony Gravely (19-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a fight that Johns calls the most important of his career.
“Tony is a strong athlete overall,” Johns said. “I’ve looked at his game and he has not been taken lightly. I fought No. 2 and No. 5 in the world, but my hardest fight this Saturday is Tony Gravely.”
With a tough test ahead of him, Johns looks determined to bounce back from a difficult time in his career, and he admits he’s heading into Saturday’s clash with a point to prove.
“It has put a chip on my shoulder, I guess,” Johns said. “I’m like, Yeah, I need to perform.’ But in the same breath, this fight on Saturday is more than this sport. For me, it’s a massive personal goal to win this fight. This isn’t for MMA. This isn’t for UFC. This isn’t for my sporting career. This is for my life. I know full well that I need this win to be mentally the best I’ve ever been.”
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Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 24 main card in Raleigh, N.C., featuring Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior Dos Santos.
| Blaydes vs. Dos Santos |
Chiesa vs. Dos Anjos |
Espinosa vs. Perez |
Cifers vs. A. Hill |
J. Hill vs. Stosic |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 3-1 |
 Blaydes (62%) |
 Dos Anjos (62%) |
 Perez (85%) |
 Cifers (52%) |
 J. Hill (63%) |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 4-0  2017 Champion |
Blaydes |
Dos Anjos |
Perez |
 A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 4-0 |
 Dos Santos |
 Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 3-1 2019 Champion* |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 3-1 |
Dos Santos |
Dos Anjos |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 3-1 |
Blaydes |
Dos Anjos |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 3-1 |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 3-1 |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
Cifers |
J. Hill |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 3-1 2014 Champion |
Blaydes |
Dos Anjos |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 3-1 |
Dos Santos |
Dos Anjos |
Perez |
Cifers |
J. Hill |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 3-1 |
Dos Santos |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 3-1 |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 2-2 2018 Champion |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 2-2 |
Dos Santos |
Chiesa |
Perez |
A. Hill |
J. Hill |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 2-2 |
Blaydes |
Chiesa |
Perez |
Cifers |
 Stosic |
The has touched down in a new North Carolina city for the first time, and a former heavyweight champion is atop the card.
UFC on ESPN+ 24 takes place Saturday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The card streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, former heavyweight champ [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC) will try to get back on track when he takes on [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC). Dos Santos lost to Francis Ngannou this past July and had a three-fight winning streak snapped. Blaydes has lost just twice in his career – both to Ngannou. But he’s working on a two-fight streak since his most recent setback to him, and he’s a fairly heavy favorite in the fight at around -260. Blaydes has a big 9-5 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, former lightweight champ [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC) continues his run at welterweight when he takes on [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who is 2-0 since he moved to the division from 155 pounds. Although dos Anjos is a big favorite around -270, it’s Chiesa who has a 9-5 lead from our pickers.
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We have one unanimous pick on the main card. [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has the support of all 14 of our pickers in his flyweight bout against [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) has a heavy 11-3 picks lead over North Carolina local [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in their women’s strawweight bout – though Hill is just a slight favorite at the sports books, and our readers are picking Cifers.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) nearly is a unanimous pick in his promotional debut at light heavyweight against [autotag]Darko Stosic[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Only one picker is taking Stosic in what would be a mild upset.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Blaydes (62 percent), dos Anjos (62 percent), Perez (85 percent), Cifers (52 percent) and Jamahal Hill (63 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
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Check out the video highlights from the UFC on ESPN+ 24 weigh-in faceoffs in Raleigh, N.C.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The weigh-ins are in the books for the UFC’s debut in a new North Carolina city.
UFC on ESPN+ 24 takes place Saturday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The card streams on ESPN+.
In the main event, Curtis Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC). In the co-feature, Michael Chiesa (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) meets ex-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos (29-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC) at welterweight.
Friday, the fighters made weight at the official weigh-ins in the morning, then got face to face quickly afterward at UFC’s host hotel in Raleigh. Check out the highlights in the video above, and don’t miss our exclusive photo gallery below.
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UFC on ESPN+ 24 weigh-in faceoffs
UFC on ESPN+ 24 weigh-in faceoffs
Check out a live video stream of the UFC on ESPN+ 24 ceremonial weigh-ins.
RALEIGH, N.C. – UFC on ESPN+ 24 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT).
The weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in Raleigh, N.C. PNC Arena hosts Saturday’s event, which streams on ESPN+.
In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the early and official UFC on ESPN+ 24 weigh-in results from earlier in the day.
Hannah Cifers sees her matchup with fellow striker Angela Hill at UFC on ESPN+ 24 being a fun one.
RALEIGH, N.C. – [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] is expecting to entertain her home crowd this Saturday.
North Carolina native Cifers (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) at UFC on ESPN+ 24, in a matchup against a game striker who’s willing to throw down.
“She brings a lot of experience, you can never count that out,” Cifers told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “She’s a really skilled striker. That’s mainly where she shines, it’s on the feet, so it’s going to be pretty fun. I’ve been working a lot of areas in my game, trying to smooth out some of those spots and just getting better.”
Since dropping her UFC debut to Maycee Barber on short notice, Cifers has notched back-to-back wins over Polyana Viana and Jodie Esquibel. Now, with a fight already scheduled in the first month of the year, Cifers is hoping for an active year in 2020.
“I like to be really hard on myself and set goals but also, as far as fighting, take it more one fight at a time,” Cifers said. “I’m focused on this fight but, since it is early in the year, I would like to fight maybe a couple more times this year.”
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Check out the results from the official UFC on ESPN+ 24 fighter weigh-ins, featuring Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior Dos Santos.
RALEIGH, N.C. – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday’s early and official UFC on ESPN+ 24 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT).
The early weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in Raleigh, N.C. Unlike most UFC events, there are no ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans ahead of Saturday’s card, which takes place at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The event streams on ESPN+.
Among those weighing in are Curtis Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who meet in the heavyweight main event, and Michael Chiesa (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) and ex-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos (29-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC), who meet in the welterweight co-feature.
The full UFC on ESPN+ 24 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)
MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle walks you through the key questions that could be answered at UFC Raleigh.
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The UFC’s traveling roadshow heads to Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday for UFC on ESPN+ 24. And while the card isn’t of the same significance as last week’s UFC 246, it still offers plenty of reasons for fans to tune in.
Like the main event, which is a classic clash of an up-and-comer trying to make his name at the expense of a former champion. Heavyweight standout [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] already has impressive names on his resume, but none would be bigger than former UFC titleholder [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag], who, for his part, is looking to prove he still belongs in the mix.
The co-headliner also has a former champion, but there’s a twist in this one. In this case, it’s former UFC lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos, who likewise wants to prove he still belongs among the elite. He’ll be taking on a veteran who has been knocking on the door for a long time in Michael Chiesa. The twist is that the bout is at welterweight, where RDA is trying to get back into the title mix and where Chiesa is showing signs he might reach greater heights than he ever did at 155 pounds.
UFC on ESPN+ 24 takes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The card streams on ESPN+.
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Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) went on an impressive run in 2017 and 2018, winning four fights that included names like Aleksei Olienik, Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem.
Then he met up with Francis Ngannou and, like many before him, that’s where Blaydes’ fun ended, as Ngannou finished him in just 45 seconds.
So the UFC did a smart thing in allowing Blaydes to regroup against lesser-ranked competition, and Blaydes responded with a strong pair of performances in victories over Justin Willis and Shamil Adburakhimov.
Now he’s getting ready to fight the big dogs once again. This time, he meets Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who hasn’t been on the greatest run of late but also seems to perform well when counted out. Will this be the time Blaydes demonstrates once and for all that he belongs in the title mix? We’ll find out.
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Consider Curtis Blaydes a fan of Stipe Miocic heading into the third fight with Daniel Cormier.
RALEIGH, N.C. – [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] thinks it’s in the best interest of the “murky” UFC heavyweight division for [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] to emerge from his expected trilogy bout against [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] with his status as champion in tact.
After a two-fight series in which they traded the UFC belt, Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) are set to have one final meeting sometime this year. Cormier has vowed that, win or lose, it will be his MMA retirement fight. Meaning if he wins, he will give up the title and leave the position vacant.
That could be good news for someone like Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who meets former UFC titleholder Junior Dos Santos in a main event matchup on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 24. It’s a key fight for the weight class, and Blaydes already has said he thinks a win could get him a crack at the gold.
But but if Cormier defeats Miocic, he anticipates a negative impact.
“If DC wins it again, he’s gonna milk it,” Blaydes told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “He might still retire, but he’s not going to do it immediately. He don’t want to immediately leave the spotlight. You don’t just drop it and drift off in the sunset. (If) he wins that belt again, he’s going to do the whole tour. I think it would be worse.
“DC’s got the greatest chance to be beat him. He’s done it once before, and he can do it again, but if you’re asking me would I prefer to keep the division moving more fluid? I think that Stipe is a lot more open to just being active.”
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Blaydes’ theory runs deeper. Cormier might claim the next fight will be his last, but money and opportunity have significant influence. Cormier with the title back around his waist is a money maker for the UFC, and he’s a key ingredient to marquee fights.
“If DC wins it, maybe he starts to hold the Jon Jones thing again,” Blaydes said. “Like, ‘Oh, bump up to heavyweight.’ Then him and Jon are going back. I don’t want to be sitting just waiting for those, because that’s what I’ll do. And I get it: It’s his belt. If he gets it he can do what he wants with it, but it doesn’t help me.
“I’m in the prime of my career. I need to keep stuff moving.”
Blaydes will try to do his part when he meets Dos Santos at UFC on ESPN+ 24, which takes place at PNC Arena and streams on ESPN+.
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