Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will stream live on SportsCastr at noon ET.
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will stream live on SportsCastr beginning at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
On Episode 3,100 of the podcast, the guys will talk to guest UFC flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez, look at Thursday’s Bellator 250 and Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 events and more. Tune in!
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
“Inside LFA with Ron Kruck” is LFA’s weekly look at prior and upcoming fights, as well as the latest news and notes within the promotion, and you can watch Episode 20 in the video above.
WHAT’S COVERED:
Inaugural strawweight champion Vanessa Demopoulos puts her title on the line for the first time at LFA 95 on Friday when she takes on Lupita Godinez. Will a win have Demopoulos on her way to the UFC?
Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 event has five former LFA fighters on the card – and they make up half the main card in Las Vegas: Kevin Holland, Maurice Greene, Greg Hardy, Thiago Moises and Bryce Mitchell.
The LFA has put more than 200 fighters into the UFC.
UFC on ESPN+ 39 is getting at least one late-notice change.
UFC on ESPN+ 39 is getting at least one late-notice change.
With Makhmud Muradov out, [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] is now expected to face promotional newcomer [autotag]Charlie Ontiveros[/autotag] on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the new booking to MMA Junkie’s Nolan King after an initial report by MMA Fighting.
The reason for Muradov’s withdrawal has not been disclosed.
Ontiveros (11-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), 29, will make his UFC debut riding a two-fight winning streak, with both wins coming under the Fury FC banner. This will mark Ontiveros’ first fight of 2020. He won his most recent bout by first-round knockout last December.
Holland, 27, will look to win his fourth consecutive fight. After back-to-back TKOs, Holland (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) eked out a split decision over Darren Stewart last month at UFC on ESPN+ 36.
With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 39 lineup includes:
[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] is more than happy with his MMA development, but his work is far from done.
The former NFL All-Pro began fighting professionally a little more than two years ago after switching from football to MMA. Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) now finds himself in the UFC, the premiere MMA organization in the world and a few days removed from his 10th professiona fight.
Hardy, who meets Maurice Greene in a heavyweight bout Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 39 in Las Vegas, is glad with the way his skill set has come along.
“Two-and-a-half years ago I didn’t know how to throw a punch. I didn’t know how to throw a leg kick,” Hardy told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during a UFC on ESPN+ 39 virtual media day on Tuesday. “I’m so far ahead from what I was supposed to be and where I thought I’d be. We’re in a whole different planet and whole different organism. It’s inhuman.”
[lawrence-related id=562296,562286]
Hardy ranks his current state fairly high, but he knows there are other levels ahead.
“I’m reaching assassin level, man,” Hardy said. “I had some valleys to get over, I’m not going to lie. I had to go through some tough times, especially in my last two fights. The last one, I didn’t have to, but I prolonged it just to get some time in the ring. With Volkov, having to figure stuff out and being in there with an assassin, as you saw last weekend.
“If I was a C- or D-level fighter, yeah, I’d say I was a D level fighter. I think I’m in the B class (now). I’ve added some tools and knowledge to where I’m about to start finishing fights and head hunt, looking for a rank next to my name. It’s time.”
Hardy, who trained outside of American Top Team and instead with Din Thomas and Rashad Evans, believes he can be six months to a year away from being among the best heavyweights in the UFC.
“I want to take it up a couple of notches because I’m starting to realize to get to that goal level. … By this time next year we need to be top-ranked level. We need to be top-10 talent. We need to be moving as if I’d been here for 10 years.”
Uriah Hall is of the opinion that Israel Adesnaya is hand-picking opponents he matches up well against.
[autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] doesn’t think UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] is fighting the right guys.
Hall (15-7 MMA, 8-9 UFC) believes Adesanya has been picking certain matchups that favor his style. Hall, who fights Anderson Silva this weekend in the UFC on ESPN+ 39 main event, said he sees what Adesanya is doing.
“Adesnaya is picking his fights, man,” Hall told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during UFC on ESPN+ 39 virtual media day. “He sees what I see. He sees holes in all these guys, and he’s already picking (Jared) Cannonier. He’s looking for easy fights. Yeah, I said it.
“So I know why he’s picking certain fights, but I’m dynamic, especially where I’m at right now. I’m laser focused, so it’s a matter of time. I’m just going to play the politics card and whoever the UFC needs me to beat and get to the top.”
[lawrence-related id=560316,562053]
Hall is currently on a two-fight winning streak and 3-1 in his past four fights. The 36-year-old currently sits at No. 10 in the official UFC middleweight rankings.
“Prime Time” is excited to share the cage this Saturday against one of the biggest stars in UFC history.
“Yeah, this is one of the biggest fights,” Hall said. “Andeson Silva is a legend. I’m just excited to go out there against a guy I watched growing up. To me, I made it. That’s how I look at it.”
