Check out some of Gillian Robertson’s most popular Instagram posts ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 38.
Social media is part of life in the fight game for most fighters. Many of them turn to Instagram to keep their fans and followers informed and entertained since (for now) its reputation is less vitriolic than some of its contemporaries.
Ahead of her fight against Taila Santos (16-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), check out some of the most popular Instagram posts from women’s flyweight [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag] Gillian Robertson (9-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) over the past year.
Robertson and Santos fight on the main card at UFC Fight Night 183, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will be live on SportsCastr beginning at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
On Episode 3,096, the guys will talk to guest [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] and look back at Bellator 249 and Cyborg’s title defense on CBS Sports Network, as well as UFC on ESPN+ 38 and Brian Ortega’s big return. Plus, they’ll talk about Chris Weidman, Cynthia Calvillo, the World Series, boxing, and more.
Brian Ortega says fight fans should expect some future rounds between himself, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway.
ABU DHABI – If all goes according to the plan UFC president Dana White laid out before Saturday’s event, [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] has penciled himself in as the next featherweight title challenger.
At UFC on ESPN+ 38, Ortega (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) stepped into the cage for the first time in 22 months. In what White called a No. 1 contender fight, Ortega dominated “The Korean Zombie,” Chan Sung Jung Jung (16-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC), en route to a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).
“It felt great to come back and trust my team with everything we’ve been working hard to do and come out here and show the world,” Ortega told MMA Junkie at the post-fight news conference. “… I knew I could do that once I actually stuck to a game plan and not get emotional like I used to. Of course, man. I’ve been working with these guys for a while now. While everyone had been watching the UFC and everything, I kind of disappeared from the face of the earth. I was in the frickin’ dungeon down there just grinding away, looking at these fights and going, ‘Don’t worry. I’m going to have my time.'”
During his time away from the in-cage action, Ortega kept a close eye on all of the featherweight division’s happenings. Current UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] twice beat [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag], the man who handed Ortega his first UFC loss 22 months ago.
“I watched his fights – both of his fights with Max,” Ortega said, of Volkanovski. “Obviously, after that, I had to watch that. (He’s) very methodical, very technical with the way he approached everything.”
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All signs point toward him being the next challenger for Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC), but Ortega hasn’t forgotten about the former champion Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC), either.
“I said this in the beginning, in the very, very beginning when the fight was first set up: ‘We will meet again.’ He’s going to stay at the top,” Ortega said. “He’s not just a guy that’s going to drop right off the bat and just spiral down his career. I’m not a guy that’s going to just fall off like that. Clearly, tonight, I showed the world that’s not me.
“He’s going to stay on top. I’m going to be on the top. Volkanovski’s going to be on the top. Believe me. We’re going to have some rounds with all of us. We’re going to keep you guys entertained.”
The first fight against Holloway headlined UFC 231 in December 2018. In a fairly one-sided affair, Holloway struck his way into a dominating opening 20 minutes. The fight was stopped in between the fourth and fifth rounds, with Holloway winning by TKO via retirement.
If they fight again, Ortega predicts a different outcome.
“It would just look different,” Ortega said. “I’m not here to promote anything and say this or that. I just know I’m a better fighter than I was when I fought him and it would go a lot different.”
UFC on ESPN+ 38 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event streamed on ESPN+.
Jimmy Crute is keen on a clash with Nikita Krylov following a brutal knockout win at UFC on ESPN+ 38.
ABU DHABI – [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] is keen on a clash with [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] following a brutal knockout win at UFC on ESPN+ 38.
Crute (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) scored a highlight-reel first-round knockout of Modestas Bukauskas (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in their featured light heavyweight bout on Saturday’s card, which took place at Flash Forum at Yas Island. He was rewarded a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his efforts, but said he wasn’t particularly pleased with it.
Although Crute said he gave Bukauskas the utmost respect coming in, he felt like the result was a forgone conclusion from the moment he signed the contract, so the high of victory wasn’t as great as normal.
“I’m not as happy as I usually am after a win, but I think it’s because I think I knew I was going to win this time,” Crute told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN+ 38. “I did all the work necessary. I did all the work and then some. I’ve been training for a fight since June. I haven’t stopped. I haven’t let it up.”
Following his victory, Crute said during his in-cage interview with Daniel Cormier that Krylov (26-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) would be an appealing fight for him next. The Ukrainian has nearly three times the pro experience Crute has, and has 26 of his 27 career victories by finish.
That’s an appealing test Crute said, but if the UFC sees a different path for him, he’s all for it.
“I like (Krylov) because he has Kyokushin spirit,” Crute said. “I just like him. I reckon that’d be a banger. It’d be the toughest of my career. But if not, I’ll fight anyone. I don’t give a (expletive).”
James Krause thinks the world is getting a false perception of who Joaquin Buckley really is after his viral UFC knockout.
ABU DHABI – [autotag]James Krause[/autotag] believes the world is getting a false perception of who [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] really is after his viral UFC knockout.
Following Krause’s (28-8 MMA, 9-4 UFC) unanimous decision win over Claudio Silva on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 38, which took place at Flash Forum at Yas Island, he was asked about Buckley.
Krause said Buckley (10-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who became a global sensation after his one-legged back kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay a week ago, attempted to train with him over the summer. The fallout of that apparently created some hard feelings.
“The dude’s a clown, man,” Krause told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN+ 38. “Listen, this dude – people just know him from his viral video, for his viral knockout. (It was a) beautiful knockout. I’m not going to rag on that. The dude’s a (expletive)box. He’s from my neck of the woods and all he does is sit on social media and talk (expletive) all day. He called me to come train and I told him to get (expletive). I don’t want that type of culture in my gym, I don’t need that type of culture. No. He took offense to it, and it is what it is. And he can get it, too.”
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Krause took the fight with Silva on just 12 days’ notice, but managed to end the Brazilian’s perfect start under the UFC banner. Krause is now on a five-fight winning streak in the welterweight division, but has made it well known he’s balancing his fighting career with coaching.
Although he would like a natural progression up the 170-pound pecking order, Krause is willing to go out of his lane to settle the beef with Buckley next. If the UFC offered it, he said he would be more than willing to make another temporary trip to middleweight.
“I’ll go back up to middleweight and whoop his ass,” Krause said. “I don’t give a (expletive). Normally I need only 24 hours to go up to middleweight. He can get it, though. We can figure this out no problem. I know he’s got a fight set, but I’ll go back up middleweight for that. No problem. Easy work.”
Jessica Andrade explains how she’s a much-needed addition for the flyweight division and champ Valentina Shevchenko.
ABU DHABI – [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] views herself as a welcome addition to the UFC women’s flyweight division.
At UFC on ESPN+ 38 on Saturday, Andrade (21-8 MMA, 12-6 UFC) made a statement whenshe finished former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian with a body shot late in Round 1. With the victory, Andrade made history by becoming the first UFC female fighter to win in three different weight classes.
“I feel really good,” Andrade told MMA Junkie at the post-fight news conference. “It’s one more accomplishment – one win in another division. I have to thank my master, my team, my wife – and let’s go to the next.”
A former UFC women’s strawweight champion, Andrade’s weight cut to 115 pounds has become more difficult. Moving up to 125 pounds, Andrade was thrown right in the mix against the No. 1 UFC-ranked women’s 125-pounder.
In her opinion, she passed the test with flying colors – successfully enough to perhaps warrant a title shot against the winner of UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko’s title defense against Jennifer Maia at UFC 255 on Nov. 21.
“I think I can make a difference in this division,” Andrade said. “I think I can put up a fight against Valentina. It’s something that should have happened already in other organizations, so I think I’m going to make a difference and put on shows in this division.”
With women’s title fights booked at 125 and 145 pounds, Andrade declared her willingness to accept a short-notice fight if the UFC needs her. She’ll be ready.
“For sure,” Andrade said. “I’m going to stay ready. If that happens, I’ll be there if needed. In any other division – 135, 145 – I’ll be ready. I haven’t felt this happy and haven’t had this vigor to fight. I just feel very good tonight.”
UFC on ESPN+ 38 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The card streamed on ESPN+.
