Tag: UFC on ESPN+ 34

UFC on ESPN+ 34 video: Brian Kelleher has fast finish of late replacement Ray Rodriguez

Brian Kelleher had a late change of plans Saturday night, but he nonetheless wasted no time taking care of business.

[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] had a late change of plans on Saturday, but that didn’t stop him from taking care of business in short order.

Kelleher (22-11 MMA, 6-4 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Kevin Natividad at UFC on ESPN+ 34 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. On the morning of the fight, Natividad was pulled from the bout due to coronavirus concerns. He was replaced by Ray Rodriguez, who signed with the UFC earlier in the week, then weighed in as a potential replacement on Friday.

That turned out to be a lot of maneuvering for a short encounter. Rodriguez 16-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) immediately shot for a takedown, and Kelleher just as quickly turned it into a guillotine choke, for which he got the tap at the 39-second mark of the opening round.

It’s just the latest night’s work for the Long Island native, who, pandemic or no, has kept busy in 2020. This marked the fourth fight of the year for Kelleher, who has bounced between 135 pounds and 145. He’s won three of those four bouts, all of the wins coming by finish, and the past two have netted him postfight bonuses.

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He’s hoping to get one more in before the year’s out.

“I’ve been a company guy,” Kelleher said. “Stepping up, taking last minute, replacement, I’m just a guy who wants to fight no matter what. so yeah I want to stay active, I want to get one more in this year. Doesn’t matter, featherweight, bantamweight.”

Check out Kelleher’s nifty submission work below.

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 discussion thread

UFC on ESPN+ 34 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+ 34 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.

Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our UFC on ESPN+ 34 live results post, and then discuss the event in the comments section below.

Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 7 p.m. ET for the event.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 at seven fights after Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexander Romanov scratched

Yet another fight has been removed from Saturday night’s UFC card in Las Vegas.

At UFC on ESPN+ 34, there will be no preliminary card.

Heavyweights [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Romanov[/autotag] are the latest fighters to have their bout canceled in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Saturday, the UFC announced the news less than 90 minutes before the event’s new start time of 7 p.m. E.T. The card will now proceed with a seven-fight main card and no prelims.

Combate was the first to report the news.

Thiago Moises vs. Jalin Turner was also canceled Saturday due to coronavirus concerns, shortly after Kevin Natividad was removed from his featherweight fight against Brian Kelleher.

The promotion’s announcement statement reads:

“Due to positive COVID-19 test results, the following bouts have been canceled from today’s card: Alexandr Romanov vs Marcos Rogerio De Lima and Thiago Moses vs Jalin Turner.

Additionally, as a precaution, Kevin Natividad has been removed from his bout against Brian Kelleher and will be replaced by Dana White Contender’s Series alum Ray Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who appeared on the show last season, has won 11 of his last 13 bouts.”

The current UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 loses Thiago Moises vs. Jalin Turner hours before event starts

Another fight has been removed from tonight’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 has taken yet another hit.

The lightweight bout between [autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] scheduled for the main card has been canceled and is off tonight’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the fight cancellation to MMA Junkie following an initial report from Combate, which attributed the change to “coronavirus concerns” pertaining to Moises. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an announcement.

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If Moises was indeed removed for COVID concerns, it would mark the third straight week a fighter who stepped on the scale at Friday weigh-ins tested positive and had their fight removed on fight day.

Earlier in the day, Kevin Natividad, who was scheduled to fight Brian Kelleher, was also removed from UFC on ESPN+ 34 and replaced by “backup” fighter Ray Rodriguez.

The current UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Karol Rosa
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexander Romanov
  • Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 backup Ray Rodriguez to fight Brian Kelleher after Kevin Natividad removed

Brian Kelleher has a third opponent change in two weeks.

Will the third time be the charm for [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]?

Hours before his UFC on ESPN+ 34 fight, Kelleher (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC), has encountered his third opponent change in the past two weeks. With [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag] being removed from the matchup for undisclosed reasons, Kelleher will now take on Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag] at featherweight.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the switch up Saturday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

MMA Fighting was the first to report the change.

Natividad (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) partook in Thursday’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 virtual media day from his hotel room instead of the multi-purpose room the rest of the fighters streamed from. He asked about why he was in his room and said he was waiting for his COVID-19 test results.

However, on Friday, Natividad weighed in with the rest of the fighters, making weight. Rodriguez also weighed in and was announced as a backup fighter.

Prior to the Natividad booking, Kelleher (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC) was scheduled to fight Ricky Simon. However, Simon withdrew after a cornerman tested positive for COVID-19.

As for Rodriguez (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the Texas-based fighter will make his promotional debut on a little over 48 hours’ notice. He competed at DWCS in 2019, losing to now-UFC fighter Tony Gravely in a back-and-forth affair. Rodriguez, 32, has won 11 out of 13 entering Saturday.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

The current UFC on ESPN+ 34 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Karol Rosa
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez
  • Thiago Moises vs. Jalin Turner
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexander Romanov
  • Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 faceoff video highlights, photo gallery

After the UFC on ESPN+ 34 weigh-ins took place Friday, so too did fighter faceoffs, and MMA Junkie was on the scene.

LAS VEGAS – After the UFC on ESPN+ 34 weigh-ins took place Friday, so too did fighter faceoffs, and MMA Junkie was on the scene.

In the main event, former heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem (46-18 MMA, 11-7 UFC) takes on Augusto Sakai (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). Overeem was 252.5 pounds. Sakai was 261.5. Their faceoff was plenty cordial.

But the one between Zelim Imadaev (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and Michel Pereira (23-11 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was anything but pleasant.

You can watch the faceoffs in the video above.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

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Dana White talks about Pereira, Imadaev altercation at UFC on ESPN+ 34 faceoffs

Dana White talks about Pereira, Imadaev altercation at UFC on ESPN+ 34 faceoffs

Dana White talks about Pereira, Imadaev altercation at UFC on ESPN+ 34 faceoffs

UFC on ESPN+ 34 predictions: Who’s taking Augusto Sakai over Alistair Overeem in changing of the guard?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 34 main card, featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai at heavyweight.

Overeem
vs.
Sakai		 Menifield
vs.
Saint Preux		 Imadaev
vs.
Pereira		 Kelleher
vs.
Natividad		 Moises
vs.
Turner
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 88-58		 overeem2020
Overeem
(71%)		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
(55%)		 pereira2020
Pereira
(73%)		 kelleher2020
Kelleher
(N/A)		 moises2020
Moises
(64%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 100-46		 sakai2020
Sakai		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 turner2020
Turner
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 100-46		 overeem2020
Overeem		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 99-47		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 97-49
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 96-50		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 95-51
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 sakai2020
Sakai		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 94-52		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 turner2020
Turner
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 94-52
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 93-53		 overeem2020
Overeem		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 92-54
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 sakai2020
Sakai		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 89-57		 overeem2020
Overeem		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 88-58		 overeem2020
Overeem		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 87-59		 overeem2020
Overeem		 menifield2020
Menifield		 pereira2020
Pereira		 kelleher2020
Kelleher		 moises2020
Moises
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 61-85		 sakai2020
Sakai		 saintpreux2020
Saint Preux		 imadaev2020
Imadaev		 natividad2020
Natividad		 turner2020
Turner

The UFC is home in Las Vegas again this week with a former heavyweight title challenger atop the card.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (46-18 MMA, 11-7 UFC) takes on [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. Overeem is a -165 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 10-4.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in a light heavyweight fight that was delayed from a couple weeks back. Menifield is a slight favorite, but our pickers have the bout split down the middle at 7-7.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Zelim Imadaev[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (23-11 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at welterweight. There was bad blood at Friday’s weigh-ins, culminating in a shove from Imadaev. But when it comes to the picks, even though the fight is a pick’em at some sportsbooks, our staff members have Pereira with a massive 13-1 lead.

The other near-unanimous pick on the main card goes to [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC), who is more than a 2-1 favorite against short-notice featherweight opponent [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Only one of our pickers is taking Natividad to pull the upset.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is a slight favorite against [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in their lightweight bout. But our pickers have Moises with a big lead at 11-3.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Overeem (71 percent), Saint Preux (55 percent), Pereira (73 percent), Kelleher (N/A percent) and Moises (64 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC on ESPN+ 34’s Michel Pereira and Zelim Imadaev come to blows during fighter faceoffs

UFC on ESPN+ 34’s Michel Pereira and Zelim Imadaev come to blows during fighter faceoffs

UFC on ESPN+ 34’s Michel Pereira and Zelim Imadaev come to blows during fighter faceoffs