Tag: UFC on ESPN+ 37

Tracy Cortez: ‘I don’t know much’ about new UFC on ESPN+ 37 foe Stephanie Egger

Tracy Cortez admits she’s not fully informed on UFC on ESPN+ 37 opponent Stephanie Egger.

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37, [autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Cortez (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) discussed her women’s bantamweight bout with Stephanie Egger (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), her long layoff due to health issues, a late change in opponent, what she expects in her return, and much more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC on ESPN+ 37 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

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Impa Kasanganay promises to show growth despite quick turnaround for UFC on ESPN+ 37

Impa Kasanganay explains how he’s making great strides to his skillset despite the short window between fights going into UFC on ESPN+ 37.

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37, [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Kasanganay (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) discussed his middleweight bout with Joaquin Buckley (10-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), the quick turnaround from his UFC debut in August, having his father in his corner and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC on ESPN+ 37 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

 

Makwan Amirkhani eager to achieve full potential after setting aside distractions

No more distractions for Makwan Amirkhani, who says his full focus is now on his fighting career.

[autotag]Makwan Amirkhani[/autotag] feels like a new man.

The UFC featherweight has made several life changes in recent months, in order to maximize and put himself in the best position possible to succeed in his professional fighting career.

Amirkhani (16-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 37 in Abu Dhabi. He takes on seasoned veteran Edson Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) in the co-main event.

Amirkhani fought in July, submitting Danny Henry at UFC 251. “Mr. Finland” feels he’s carrying good momentum entering UFC on ESPN+ 37, much of which he attributes to some of the choices he’s made outside of the sport.

“I have not so many friends around me anymore,” Amirkhani told reporters at the UFC on ESPN+ 37 media day. “I told my family just to leave me alone and let me do my thing, and when I’m done, I’ll come back. I’m not coming to your job and interrupting your work and stuff like that, so just give me peace and let me focus on this. Let me be fully me and let me see how far it can take me. This is just the beginning.”

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Amirkhani said he felt people were distracting him and shifting his focus to things which weren’t helping his career. The 31-year-old had to cut many friendships so he can set his sight on what truly matters for him – MMA.

“I was one day looking at the mirror and I started to cry,” Amirkhani said. “I think it was because I was thinking, ‘How could I let these people, who I thought were people who took care of me always pushing me to the right direction and helping me to go forward, how can these people let me do these things that harm my career and all that I have built?’

“Then I had to burn all those bridges with those people. I just wanted to make my life simple. To be honest with you guys I haven’t hurt a bee or not even a small ant for two years just because I wanted to be OK with myself. Whatever comes to me, I’ve earned that.”

Amirkhani said now he is focused on Barboza, his fighting career and nothing else.

“I spent like six or seven hours in the gym every day,” Amirkhani said. “I’m not interested in anything else. All I want to do is train hard and fight.”

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Michael Chiesa: Risk of Khamzat Chimaev matchup outweighs reward for ranked fighters

Michael Chiesa explains why fear has nothing to do with top-10 fighters declining Khamzat Chimaev.

ABU DHABI – UFC welterweight [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] would be happy to fight [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] when the time is right – but that time has not yet arrived.

Like his fellow ranked top-10 welterweights Leon Edwards and Stephen Thompson, Chiesa (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) isn’t interested in fighting Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) until the Russian takes another step up in the division’s ladder.

“You’ve got to think about it like this,” Chiesa told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Wednesday. “He beats a guy, like a veteran – let’s say, theoretically, he beats a ‘Wonderboy.’ Now, it’s lucrative. Now, it’s like, ‘Hell yeah.’ Now, he’s proven he’s the real thing.”

Right now, the risk outweighs the reward when it comes to a fighter with the skills of Chimaev, explained Chiesa. Turning down a fight out of fear or declining due to it being bad business are two different things.

“If he beats me, he takes my spot. If I beat him, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a flash in the pan.’ You know what I mean?” Chiesa said. “I probably don’t move up the rankings either. It’s like, dude, I’m trying to fight for a world title. You’ve got to do smart business. … The guy is legit. I respect his skills. I just don’t know if that’s the fight I want right now. He beats a guy and gets ranked? That’s a different story.

“I can see why all these guys don’t want to fight him. “It’s not that they’re (scared). There’s not a guy on the roster that’s afraid of anybody. When someone says, ‘Joe Schmo is afraid of John Smith?’ Like, (expletive) no.”

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Chiesa, 32, has not competed since UFC on ESPN+ 24 in January when he defeated former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision.

Recently, “The Maverick” has been recovering from a July surgery but has his sights set on a early 2021 return.

“The surgery did not go good,” Chiesa said. “I was on crutches for two months. I haven’t had sparring yet. Just in the last month, I’ve been able to get back rolling and stuff. I’m stilling have some issues but I’d like to think by January I could get in there.

“When you look at the landscape of the division, I’ve got to be on point for whoever I fight next. I’m looking ahead of me. I think I’m going to get a guy ahead of me by the way things are looking. I’ve got to be ready. I’ve got to be on point, 100 percent. That’s the main focus. It’s being healthy.”

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Changed by split decisions, Edson Barboza targets featherweight title ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37

Edson Barboza has a new approach to the fight game.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] learned plenty from his latest performances.

The seasoned veteran is on a rough stretch with back-to-back split-decision defeats to Paul Felder and Dan Ige. Both bouts where controversial, and many fans thought the Brazilian did enough to win. The close calls left Barboza with a bad taste in his mouth.

“It’s hard; it’s not easy,” Barboza told reporters at the UFC on ESPN+ 37 media day. “It hurts because I give my best every single day in the gym. I really pay the price to get my ‘W.’ And when you go there and watch the fight, the people around me say, ‘Hey, you definitely won the fight,’ and I see the judges give the fight to the other guy. It’s not a good feeling. It hurts a little bit, but it’s over and now I’m focused on my next fight.”

Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) looks to break what’s a three-fight skid overall on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 37, which takes place at Flash Forum at Yas Island and streams on ESPN+. He takes on Makwan Amirkhani (16-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in what will be Barboza’s second UFC bout at 145 pounds.

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The split-decision losses have changed Barboza’s mentality, he said. He vows to be a different fighter when he sets foot in the octagon against Amirkhani.

“I changed a little bit,” Barboza said. “I always fight to win, especially in my last couple of fights. I went in there to win and don’t think about the knockout, just go there to win and not risk – that’s changed.

“I’m going there to finish now. Every punch, every kick, every knee, and if the fight goes to the ground, I’ll try to finish there for 15 minutes. I don’t want to pass through what happened to me in my last two fights. I don’t want to go through that again.”

Barboza has been fighting professionally for over a decade now. The 34-year-old has yet to get ahold of UFC gold, but his pursuit for the belt is still strong, despite the recent set backs.

“I dropped to 145 to be a champion,” Barboza said. “I dropped to be a featherweight champion of the world and it didn’t happen in my last two fights, but something inside of me said, ‘Bro, now is your time. You don’t have time to play the game, you have to go.’ You guys will see a different Edson Barboza, and I’m here to be a champ.”

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After ‘ugly’ loss, Cory Sandhagen using UFC on ESPN+ 37 to prove he’s ‘championship-level’

Cory Sandhagen has learned from his first UFC loss – and UFC on ESPN+ 37 will be the time to prove it.

ABU DHABI – Compared to his previous outing, [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] hopes a more positive result comes out of his UFC on ESPN+ 37 main event clash with Marlon Moraes.

Sandhagen (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) most recently competed at UFC 250 in June against fellow top bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling. In what was pegged by many as a No. 1 contender fight, Sandhagen was submitted in 88 seconds.

“You know how I approach these things,” Sandhagen told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN+ 38 media day. “I approach it a little more like an artist. That was a really ugly painting. I want to show everyone what I’m actually capable of, so I’m excited to do that.”

Throughout MMA history, fighters have occasionally labeled quick losses as “flukes,” but not Sandhagen. Although he felt lethargic on fight night, he’s reviewed the defeat and has learned from it – even though it was so quick.

“I’m definitely not just writing it off,” Sandhagen said. “There’s a reason that things happen like that – especially something like that where I know I’m not that bad of a grappler. It’s like, something else was going on. I’ve been kind of hesitant to call it because I don’t want it to seem like an excuse, you know? But I wasn’t a good enough fighter on that night to know where I am capable of performing at a high level as far as where my intensity needs to be.”

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If he ever questioned his worth as a top UFC contender, Sandhagen’s concerns were alleviated with his UFC on ESPN+ 37 booking. Despite the coming off a loss, Sandhagen was matched against top contender Moraes (23-6-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a five-round bantamweight headliner.

“I thought they were either going to brush me off or they were going to give me another opportunity,” Sandhagen said. “I’m grateful they’re giving me another opportunity. They still see some stock in me and I just feel really grateful for that.”

If he defeats Moraes, Sandhagen expects to solidify his spot as one of the promotion’s best 135-pounders. The win will move him one step closer to his ultimate goal: a UFC title fight.

“I think Marlon gets a lot of respect – at least he gets a lot of respect from me,” Sandhagen said. “I think he gets a lot of respect from other fighters and the fans as well. I think me having the performance I foresee in my head is going to really solidify me. …

“I’m still a championship-level fighter. I still think I can be the best. You just have to be the best on the night you have to be the best, which is easier said than done. So, no, I plan on taking that 16-hour flight home and going home as the No. 1 contender.”

UFC on ESPN+ 37 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event streams on ESPN+.

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Poland’s Marcin Tybura inspired by Jan Blachowicz title win ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37

Marcin Tybura believes Jan Blachowicz has taken Polish MMA to a new level with his title win and wants to keep it going at UFC on ESPN+ 37.

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37, [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Tybura (19-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) discussed his heavyweight bout with Ben Rothwell (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC), where a win puts him in the divisional rankings, drawing inspiration from Polish countryman Jan Blachowicz winning the UFC light heavyweight belt and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC on ESPN+ 37 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

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UFC on ESPN+ 37’s Ben Rothwell ‘got ripped to shreds’ for speaking on Kenosha protests

Ben Rothwell explains the fallout of speaking on the Jacob Blake shooting and protests in his hometown of Kenosha ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37.

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 37, [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Rothwell (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) discussed his heavyweight bout with Marcin Tybura (19-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), the fallout of speaking out on the Jacob Blake shooting and subsequent protests in his hometown of Kenosha, Wis., trying to deliver his best performance in the upcoming fight.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC on ESPN+ 37 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

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Marlon Moraes: UFC on ESPN+ 37 opponent Cory Sandhagen ‘a better version of Dominick Cruz’

Marlon Moraes has quite the high opinion of UFC on ESPN+ 37 opponent Cory Sandhagen.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] has quite the high opinion of UFC on ESPN+ 37 opponent [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag].

Moraes (23-6-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets Sandhagen (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in Saturday’s bantamweight headliner, which takes place at Flash Forum at Yas Island and streams on ESPN+. It’s a key fight for the weight class, and one that has real implications on the title picture.

Although Moraes is coming off a win over Jose Aldo, and Sandhagen is coming off a loss to Aljamain Sterling, the Brazilian said the matchup is logical. He was originally pushing for a showdown with Dominick Cruz, but he could track the former champion down. Moraes said he got the next best thing, though, and he actually views Sandhagen as the superior fighter.

“I think Cory is a better version of Dominick Cruz,” Moraes told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN+ 37 media day. “I want to get in there and show the caliber of fighter I am. Getting there against a highly skilled opponent like Cody. Cody’s not an easy fight for anybody. In my opinion he’s one of the best fighters in the division and he’s one of the hardest guys to fight.”

Moraes, a former WSOF champion, has picked up some spectacular wins in the UFC. His most recent bout saw him edge Aldo in a split decision, but he wasn’t rewarded with a title shot, and in fact, Aldo got one instead.

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Many were up in arms about Aldo getting a championship opportunity off back-to-back defeats, but Moraes said he didn’t have a problem being passed over. He missed his chance to claim gold from then-champ Henry Cejudo just two bouts ago, and he always felt more work would be needed to get a second crack.

“Not (mad) at all with not getting the title shot,” Moraes said. “I knew I needed another fight after beating Aldo and it was a close fight and I just fought for the title. People want to see someone get in there with a statement, and that fight was a good fight with a legend, but it wasn’t a statement. Here I am now. I focus on the fight and the performance I’m going to put on.

The UFC’s 135-pound belt is currently in possession of the Petr Yan. He’s expected to be challenged by Sterling next, but the UFC has yet to pin down a date or location for that matchup.

Yan fueled the fire of the UFC potentially moving away from the fight in a recent social media post, telling Sterling he should be “worried” about losing his shot. The door is seemingly open for Moraes or Sterling to swoop in if they do something impressive, and Moraes said it’s certainly crossed his mind.

“With the UFC everything changes,” Moraes said. “It’s all about your last performance and Sterling fought – I don’t remember when he last fought, so it must’ve been two, three months ago. We’re fighting Saturday and a lot of people are going to remember what happens Saturday.”

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