Tag: UFC on ESPN+ 25

Diego Sanchez backs trainer after heavy criticism from UFC Rio Rancho disqualification win

After his DQ win in the UFC on ESPN+ 25 co-main event, Diego Sanchez thinks criticism of his trainer Joshua Fabia, is unwarranted.

[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] is standing by his lone cornerman.

For the second straight fight, Sanchez, a Season 1 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter,” has had only one man in his corner: School of Self-Awareness founder Joshua Fabia.

Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC) beat Michel Pereira by disqualification due to an illegal knee in the UFC on ESPN+ 25 co-main event Saturday. It was a fight Sanchez was on the way to losing on the judges’ scorecards.

Sanchez mounted little offense in the fight, and while he still is competing at a high level after almost 15 years in the UFC, the concern from his critics came from the cornering advice he received from Fabia.

But former Jackson Wink MMA staple Sanchez thinks the criticism of Fabia is unwarranted.

“School of Self-Awareness is exactly why I have had a record low damage since he has coached. I guess you are just not aware enough to see the change in my movement?? Probably didn’t notice thee size difference or the age?? But hey maybe your a great coach or trainer. How many thousands have trusted you for their better wellbeing? My guy has trained enough to help anyone from me to you my friend. Maybe you could be ok with me being me and making my own decisions. Oh how come you all don’t attack any other coaches for the athletes performance @gregjacksonmma or @jacksonwink_mma never were blamed for my performance but they always got credit for any successes. Speak truth. The real question to all you haters is why does @joshuafabiaknowbody bother you…What’s you real problem??? Honestly you guys may need @schoolofselfawareness more than you realize #truth”

Heading into the third round, Fabia told Sanchez that he had won Round 1, which left UFC analyst and longtime MMA coach Trevor Wittman baffled at the lack of technical advice that Sanchez was receiving. All three judges had Pereira up 20-18.

Although it will go down as a win on Sanchez’s record, perhaps he could have used some added advice in his corner. For now, he stands by Fabia and is carving his own path with his unique methods.

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Up-and-down Lando Vannata ready to stay up after UFC Rio Rancho win

Take a look inside Lando Vannata’s win over Yancy Medeiros at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag] beat Yancy Medeiros with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Take a look inside the fight with Vannata, who got back in the win column and won a decision for the first time since 2013.

Result: Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Vannata (11-4-2 MMA, 3-4-2 UFC), Medeiros (15-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC)
Key stat: Vannata outstruck Medeiros 100-68.

Vannata on the fight’s key moment

“Getting this win is massive for my confidence and reminds me that I am what I think I am and that I belong here on the big stage. I thought I was going to get a finish here tonight. I’ve seen him finished before and I really thought I could put him away. He’s tough, he’s durable, he’s funky with weird defense – he was a great opponent, and I’m happy with how it played out.”

Vannata on fighting at home

“I loved fighting here at home. I woke up this morning in my own bed, I was cuddled up with my dog, I ran sprints in my front yard. It was like another day of training, it was great.”

Vannata on what he wants next

“I want to fight at least twice more (in 2020), preferably (against a) big name. That’s when I thrive. That’s what makes me happy and brings out the best in me – guys who have built a name for themselves and guys who I think are very good. Whoever the UFC decides is good with me – twice more this year and really establish myself in this division again.”

To hear more from Vannata, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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Daniel Rodriguez not surprised he rose to the occasion under UFC Rio Rancho pressure

Take a look inside Daniel Rodriguez’s submission upset of Tim Means at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] beat Tim Means with a second-round submission Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Take a look inside the fight with Rodriguez, who got a $50,000 performance bonus in his short-notice UFC debut.

Result: Daniel Rodriguez def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:37
Updated records: Rodriguez (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Means (29-12-1 MMA, 11-9 UFC)
Key stat: Rodriguez was the third biggest underdog on the card.

Rodriguez on the fight’s key moment

“I knew when I stunned and dropped him at the end of the first that it would take a whole lot longer than a minute to recover. Coming into the second round, I wanted to see how his movement was and just stuck to the game plan and didn’t rush it to try and get the finish. It worked out perfectly.”

Rodriguez on stepping up on short notice

“This is long overdue. I’ve been thinking about this since the first day I stepped into an MMA gym. I’ve worked so hard to be here. When I got the call on short notice, I thought to myself, ‘Who am I to turn down the UFC?’ I was going to fight, regardless.”

Rodriguez on what he wants next

“I feel like Tim Means is a very respected guy and I took him out. I always rise to the occasion. When the pressure is on, I perform way better. I don’t break under pressure, and that’s what I showed. I believe in myself and my team and I know I can keep showing I belong in there with anyone.”

To hear more from Rodriguez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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Finally with first UFC win, Raulian Paiva has goal to be world’s best

Take a look inside Raulian Paiva’s knockout of Mark De La Rosa at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag] beat Mark De La Rosa with a second-round knockout Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Take a look inside the fight with Paiva, who snapped a two-fight skid for his first win in the UFC.

Result: Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 4:43
Updated records: Paiva (19-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC), De La Rosa (11-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC)
Key stat: De La Rosa landed just a few more significant strikes, 50-46, but Paiva landed the big right hand that counted late in the second.

Paiva on the fight’s key moment

“We knew that he had a very good grappling game and that his wrestling is very good, so a lot of the camp was focused on takedown defense and keeping the fight standing. I believe in my jiu-jitsu. I know that I could compete with him there, but I know that my standup is on a different level than his.”

Paiva on getting his first UFC win

“I am just beginning. In 2019, I had two good fights, but unfortunately there was some more luck that I needed. I believe I won the first one, but I left it in the judges’ hands. Now I know that I am finally starting my UFC career and I’m here to show the world and my hometown that I am one of the best fighters in the world.”

Paiva on what he wants next

“I hope that this shows the UFC that I am worthy of being here and that I get more opportunities to show how good I am and how far I can go in the division.”

To hear more from Paiva, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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Brok Weaver wants to run it back with Kazula Vargas after DQ at UFC Rio Rancho

Take a look inside Brok Weaver’s disqualification win over Kazula Vargas at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] beat Kazula Vargas with a first-round disqualification Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Take a look inside the fight with Weaver, who got a win in his promotional debut – albeit not in the way he wanted to get his hand raise.

Result: Brok Weaver def. Kazula Vargas via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 1, 4:02
Updated records: Weaver (15-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Vargas (11-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Key stat: Vargas outstruck Weaver 50-6 for the time they were in the cage before the DQ.

Weaver on the fight’s key moment

“I wanted to come out calculated, keep the altitude in mind, get his timing and speed down, and take it from there. He got a good takedown in. I figured he would try to wrestle and push the pace. I went for my guillotine, thought it was close, but he peeled it off. I was getting up and he kneed me in the face. It was in the heat of the moment. Things happen.”

Weaver on the disqualification

“Illegal knee: I don’t care. Where I’m from, nothing is illegal. It’s a loss in my book. He came in swinging. I knew he would come in trying to rush me because I usually rush everyone. If I was him, I would have done the same thing – get a fast start on the fast guy.”

Weaver on what he wants next

“We can run it back. I told him that. I don’t know him, but he’s a Christ follower, so I figure he didn’t do that with intent. I hate to get a victory like this, especially for my debut. I felt comfortable. (My) weight cut was perfect. I felt great. I had fun tonight. I can’t wait to be back. Anything can happen in this sport.”

To hear more from Weaver, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Jan Blachowicz and UFC on ESPN+ 25’s other key winners?

See who Jan Blachowicz should fight next after his knockout victory over Corey Anderson at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Corey Anderson after UFC on ESPN+ 25 loss?)

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC on ESPN+ 25’s most noteworthy winning fighters.

Those winners include [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who scored a first-round knockout of Corey Anderson (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the light heavyweight headliner at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., as well as [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC), [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

* * * *

Macy Chiasson

NIcco Montano

Should fight: [autotag]Nicco Montano[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Chiasson rebounded from her first career loss with a strong performance in a unanimous decision win over a durable late replacement opponent in Shanna Young.

The previous fight marked a setback for Chiasson, as not many expected the upset loss to Lina Lansberg. That outcome didn’t make her gun-shy going into the next fight, though, because she left it all out there against Young.

Chiasson was originally scheduled to fight Montano (4-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the card, but the former UFC champ withdrew less than a week out due to an undisclosed injury. Chiasson said following her win that she would like to reschedule that matchup so her previous efforts don’t go to waste, and so long as whatever Montano isn’t dealing with anything too serious, it makes sense to grant that request.

John Dodson

Rob Font

Should fight: [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]
Why they should fight: In a critical career moment, Dodson came through big. After struggling through two rounds to Nathaniel Wood, “The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner found the chin of his opponent in the third round for the TKO.

Dodson came into the matchup with a surging prospect in Wood on a two-fight skid. He took 11 months off coming into the fight, and needed to prove he still belongs into the conversation of the top names in the bantamweight division.

He certainly did that with the finish of Wood, and now “The Magician” has put himself back in position for a noteworthy matchup. Font (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is not the biggest name at 135 pounds, but with five wins in his past seven fights, has built enough stock in the division to be worthy of an important fight. Dodson would represent that for him.

Diego Sanchez

Demian Maia

Should fight: Loser of [autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 28
Why they should fight: Of his now 19 UFC victories, Sanchez’s win over Michel Pereira was arguably the most bizarre as he was awarded the disqualification after being hit with a damaging illegal knee strike from his Brazilian foe.

Sanchez was losing in a big way up until the fight-ending blow landed in the third round. He was outsized and overpowered by Pereira, but nevertheless it’s technically a win on his resume, and there’s no doubt “The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner will be looking to return to action once he recovers.

Whenever that time comes, a showdown with the loser of the March 14 fight between Maia (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) and Burns (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) would be a logical booking, especially if it’s Maia. Sanchez has been calling for that matchup for a long time, and Maia has expressed interest, too. They are both among the all-time UFC leaders in fights and wins, and it’s a matchup that would seem fitting before one or both of them hang up the gloves. Should Burns come out on the short end for this scenario, it would be an entertaining fight with Sanchez, too.

Jan Blachowicz

Jon Jones

Should fight: [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Blachowicz should challenge Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) for the light heavyweight title next.

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Corey Anderson after UFC on ESPN+ 25 loss?

See who Corey Anderson should fight next after his knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Jan Blachowicz and UFC on ESPN+ 25’s other key winners?)

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]’s opportunity to solidify a chance to fight for a UFC title was soured on Saturday when he fell short against Jan Blachowicz in the UFC on ESPN+ 25 headliner.

Anderson (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was stopped with a brutal first-round knockout courtesy of the Polish punching power possessed by Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC). As a result, Anderson’s four-fight winning streak came to an end.

Still only 30, what does the loss mean for Anderson? Watch the video above for analysis on his future and why [autotag]Misha Cirkunov[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) would be a compelling matchup coming out of the main event loss at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Jan Blachowicz continues rematch mastery with Corey Anderson KO: ‘It’s a mental thing’

Jan Blachowicz remained perfect in rematches when he avenged yet another career loss, this time against Corey Anderson.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] remained perfect in rematches when he avenged yet another career loss on Saturday, this time against Corey Anderson.

Following an utterly one-sided unanimous decision loss to Anderson (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) at UFC 191 in September 2015 that included a pair of 30-25 scorecards, Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) avenged the loss with force by scoring a brutal first-round knockout in the UFC on ESPN+ 25 headliner.

The win, which took place at Santa Ana Star Center, may have solidified Blachowicz’s chance to next challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title. He felt he would be able to make the necessary adjustments to get one back on Anderson, and that’s exactly what happened.

“I think it was going to be that way but in the second round,” Blachowicz told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN+ 25. “You can check my interview before the fight. I think it’s going to be a left or right hand in the second round, not the first. But first is good with me.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I beat the guy who beat me in the first fight really badly. Like I said before: Same opponent, new story, so it tastes really, really good. To beat someone who destroyed me in the first fight this way, it’s amazing.”

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The result marked the third time in Blachowicz’s career that he won a second encounter with an opponent after losing the first. Anderson joined Jimi Manuwa and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou as fighters who succumbed to Blachowicz’s rematch adjustments.

Blachowicz said he doesn’t know exactly why he thrives in rematches, but he’s not ignorant to the trend.

“I think this is something in my head,” Blachowicz said. “When I fight against someone a second time – not only in fights, but also in training when someone comes the second time. I’m always much better. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a mental thing. I don’t know.”

Blachowicz said the fight with Anderson was over so quick that he couldn’t really scout the evolution in talent since the first meeting. He managed to keep the fight standing and avoid grappling situations that led to his demise less than five years ago, though, and it’s hard for Blachowicz to be anything but pleased with the outcome.

“Hard to say (how much he changed) because it was just three minutes of the fight,” Blachowicz said. “But I knew it would be a different Corey, and I would be different, too, because it was five years ago and everything changed.”

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Audio: Listen to ‘strange’ corner advice Diego Sanchez received at UFC Rio Rancho

Diego Sanchez walked into the cage at UFC on ESPN+ 25 with just a single cornermen following in support – Joshua Fabia.

[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] walked into the cage at UFC on ESPN+ 25 with just a single cornermen following in support – School of Self-Awareness founder Joshua Fabia.

Fabia has recently assumed the role of trainer and manager for Sanchez, the longtime Jackson Wink MMA fighter and winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 1,” and he’s been in the New Mexican’s corner for each of his past two fights.

At Saturday’s event, Fabia’s contributions came into question when UFC commentator and longtime MMA coach Trevor Wittman admitted he was a bit perplexed at what he heard between rounds. After the first frame, as the ESPN+ broadcast returned from commercial, Wittman said he found the cornerwork to be “very strange.”

“Listening to that last corner work was very strange,” Wittman said. “I mean, there was – I don’t know if it’s code or what, but he’s talking about being ‘tight’ and ‘sticky’ and keep the movement but don’t keep the movement. Like, I just – like, this is – I’ve known Diego a long period of time. This is just strange to me.”

Fabia complete directions were caught on camera, and you can read a transcription of his advice following the first round. below

Five recovery breaths. Five recovery breaths. Sip the water. Do your thing. Good. Five recovery breaths. In the nose, out the mouth. Listen carefully. Listen carefully – you are stopping your motion. Do not wait to see your work. I need forward, forward pressure. I need you to get off the line before you attack – off the line before you attack. V drill. V drill Think of the shadow, shadow. I need you to get in, OK? Get in, get behind. If it gets tight, gets sticky, take him to the ground. Get on top. Give me some ride time. Give me some ground and pound.

Wittman, along with fellow commentators Brendan Fitzgerald and former UFC double champ Daniel Cormier, questioned the gameplan in place for Sanchez, as well as the lack of adjustments being made on the fly. Known for a dangerous wrestling-based attack, Sanchez elected to stand and trade with the much larger and much flashier Pereira.

As the second round came to a close, all three judges had Sanchez down 20-18 on the cards. Fabia had it scored a bit differently, and he told Sanchez the score was even heading into the final round.

Listen to me. You need to go, all right? You need to go. I need to see you go swinging. You know why? Because you’ve got nothing to lose now. He just won that round with that throw. You had the other round on points, on contact. All right? So you’ve got to get a takedown. You’ve got to hold him down. You’ve got to work this mother(expletive) over. You hear me You’ve got to do your (expletive) job. Get to work. All right? Quit acting like you don’t know how to do it. Do not let him trigger you.

When asked, Wittman understandably disagreed.

“Oh, he didn’t win the first round,” Wittman said flatly. “The thing, is give him some – he needs some technical advice on how does he close the gap, what does he need to do. Yes, we know his go-to. He’s got to wrestle, but give him some technical stuff. I just feel like what’s going on tonight, watching this is crazy. It’s crazy to me.”

Pereira would continue to dominate the action in the third, as well, but an illegal knee to a downed Sanchez left “The Nightmare” unable to continue. Due to the infraction, referee Jason Herzog awarded Sanchez the win via disqualification at the 3:09 mark of the final frame.

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.

No rematch? Dominick Reyes reacts to potential Jones vs. Blachowicz title booking

Dominick Reyes’ hopes for a rematch with Jon Jones took a hit at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag]’ worst-case scenario occurred on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] needed to do something spectacular against Corey Anderson in the light heavyweight contender matchup in order to shift the conversation away from a rematch between Reyes and champion Jon Jones.

He did just that.

Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) scored a brutal first-round knockout of Anderson, and did so with Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) sitting cageside. The pair engaged in a colorful post-fight moment, and it felt Reyes’ chance to run it back may have just slipped away.

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It’s clear Reyes (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) sensed at much, because he took to social media and did the only thing he could: Accuse Jones of avoiding a fight with him (via Twitter):

Duck Duck Goose 🦆 @ufc

Reyes pushed Jones to his very limit at UFC 247 this month, falling just short in a controversial unanimous decision. There’s been plenty of talk about booking a second fight immediately, and it still remains a possibility.

Jones spoke to MMA Junkie post-fight at UFC on ESPN+ 25, which took place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and although he thinks Blachowicz asserted himself as a title-worthy contender, he didn’t rule out the rematch with Reyes.

“It’s something that I definitely consider, but in order for a Dominick Reyes rematch to happen it just needs to take a few meetings with the UFC to make that happen,” Jones said. “But if we don’t rematch, I’m fine with that, too. I think I won the fight, definitely won Rounds 3, 4, 5.”

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