Tag: UFC on ESPN 47

Brunno Ferreira plans to give debuting Nursulton Ruziboev a UFC ‘welcome gift’

At UFC on ESPN 47, Brunno Ferreira aims to show debuting Nursulton Ruziboev that there are levels to MMA.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag] aims to show debuting [autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag] that there are levels in mixed martial arts.

Ferreira (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) welcomes newcomer Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Ferreira, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, impressed in his UFC debut when he knocked out Gregory Rodrigues in the first round in January. Although Ruziboev has more than four times his experience, Ferreira said those fights didn’t come in the octagon.

“Seeing some of his past fights, he also has a good kimura, which I’m aware of and I’ve looked at it,” Ferreira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “But being new to the UFC means that you are not familiar with a UFC athlete.

“You have not faced an athlete like myself. Fighting me is like a good welcome gift, so to speak, for him to the UFC. So, what he’s going to face is something he’s never seen before, and on Saturday I’m gonna go hard at him, he’s gonna come at me, and we’re gonna put on a show for everybody.”

To hear more from Ferreira, check out his complete UFC on ESPN 47 media day interview above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

UFC on ESPN 47 full card faceoff highlights, photo gallery: Kevin Lee breaks opponent’s gift

Official weigh-ins for UFC on ESPN 47 are complete following Friday’s session. Check out our photo gallery and faceoff highlights.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC on ESPN 47 fight card now is official following Friday’s weigh-in session.

Saturday’s event, which takes place at UFC Apex, is headlined by a middleweight clash between Sean Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) Abus Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). The entire card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Check out the faceoff highlights in the video above and a photo gallery below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

UFC on ESPN 47 video: Sean Strickland, Abus Magomedov have ‘awkward’ main event faceoff

Sean Strickland and Abus Magomedov had their first and only faceoff for the UFC on ESPN 47 main event, which Strickland called “awkward.”

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 47 headliners [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] and [autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag] had their first and only faceoff on Friday before sharing the octagon.

After both men successfully hit their marks at official weigh-ins, Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) engaged in a staredown.

Check out the video above to see Strickland and Magomedov face off before UFC on ESPN 47.

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ESPN 47 takes place at the UFC Apex. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Photos: UFC on ESPN 47 weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 47 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 46 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)

UFC on ESPN 47 weigh-in results: Record-setting 29-minute session at UFC Apex

Check out the results from the official UFC on ESPN 47 fighter weigh-ins in Las Vegas, featuring Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ESPN 47 fighter weigh-ins.

The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Among those weighing in were Sean Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and Abus Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who meet in the middleweight main event.

It was a historic session in terms of speed. All 24 fighters on the card made weight in a total of just 29 minutes, which UFC officials said was the quickest official weigh-in to ever go down at the UFC Apex.

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The full UFC on ESPN 47 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Sean Strickland (186) vs. Abus Magomedov (186)
  • Grant Dawson (156) vs. Damir Ismagulov (156)
  • Max Griffin (170.5) vs. Michael Morales (170.5)
  • Melissa Gatto (125.5) vs. Ariane Lipski (126)
  • Ismael Bonfim (156) vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (156)
  • Brunno Ferreira (185) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (183.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Rinat Fakhretdinov (171) vs. Kevin Lee (171)
  • Joanderson Brito (145.5) vs. Westin Wilson (146)
  • Karol Rosa (146) vs. Yana Santos (144.5)
  • Elves Brener (155) vs. Guram Kutateladze (155)
  • Luana Carolina (126) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125.5)
  • Blagoy Ivanov (259) vs. Alexandr Romanov (264)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

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UFC on ESPN 47 video: Sean Strickland, Abus Magomedov make weight for main event

The UFC on ESPN 47 main event is official after Sean Strickland and Abus Magomedov made weight.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC on ESPN 47 main event is official after [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] and [autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag] made weight on Friday.

Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) are set for a five-round middleweight bout on Saturday at the UFC Apex. The entire card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Before they can step in the octagon, though, both men had to do their business on the scale. They did just that, with Strickland registering at 186 pounds and Magomedov at 186 pounds, as well.

Check out the video above to see Strickland and Magomedov weigh in for the UFC on ESPN 47 headliner.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

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Nursulton Ruziboev out to show he’s worthy of UFC on ESPN 47 main card spot: ‘People will know me’

Nursulton Ruziboev didn’t expect to be on a main card for his UFC debut, and he’s looking to make a big first impression on fans.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag] aims to capitalize on his big opportunity at UFC on ESPN 47.

Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) meets undefeated finisher Brunno Ferreira (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Ruziboev admits he didn’t expect high billing in his UFC debut but is ready to show he belongs.

“I’m surprised that I was put on a main card right away,” Ruziboev told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “It’s a great surprise for myself, but I have to make sure that I show that I’m worthy of the main card. I’ll show a good fight, and people will know me after this Saturday.”

Currently riding an eight-fight winning streak, with 44 professional bouts under his belt, Ruziboev wasn’t sure if he’d ever make it to the UFC but never lost hope.

“Yeah, there have been moments like that where I thought maybe this will never happen,” Ruziboev said. “I thought maybe it will, maybe it won’t, and I knew that if I kept moving forward, I will make sure to get what I’m worth.”

To hear more from Ruziboev, check out his complete UFC on ESPN 47 media day interview above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Benoit Saint-Denis wants to ‘take Ismael Bonfim’s head off’ then fight at UFC Paris event

Benoit Saint-Denis plans on making a statement against Ismael Bonfim at UFC on ESPN 47 then a quick turnaround at home.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Benoit Saint-Denis[/autotag] plans on making a statement against [autotag]Ismael Bonfim[/autotag] then making a quick turnaround at home.

Saint-Denis (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets Bonfim (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Bonfim is coming off a highlight-reel knockout of Terrance McKinney at UFC 283, and Saint-Denis wants to steal his momentum.

“He’s a tough Brazilian, tough opponent,” Saint-Denis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “I think he must be better ranked than I am because he knocked (out) Terrance McKinney, so it’s a great opportunity to go higher in the rankings. I think it will be a great fight because it’s a good opponent to show your skills.”

Saint-Denis took part in the UFC’s debut show in Paris, where he had a standout performance against Gabriel Miranda this past September. His second-round TKO earned him a Performance of the Night.

The 27-year-old French fighter hopes he can beat Bonfim, then make a quick turnaround for the UFC’s next Paris show, which takes place on Sept. 2 at Accor Arena.

“First thing, I have to take Bonfim’s head off on Saturday,” Saint-Denis said. “And if it works, of course I would like to be in France. But first mission is to take Bonfim down.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

UFC on ESPN 47’s Melissa Gatto returns from year-long layoff more mentally ready than ever

For UFC women’s flyweight Melissa Gatto, the forced time off was more of a mental battle.

LAS VEGAS – For [autotag]Melissa Gatto[/autotag], the forced time off was more of a mental battle.

Gatto (8-1-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will return from a more than year-long layoff to face Ariane Lipski (15-8 MMA, 4-5 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 47 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

After suffering her first-career loss to Tracy Cortez last May at UFC 274, an injury forced Gatto out of action.

“I’m so happy,” Gatto told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “So excited to be back. Of course, it’s been a year with the surgery and the medical leave that comes after that. I’m happy to be back. I’ll be able to show how much I evolved, that I took that time to actually become better and to become a better fighter.”

Gatto explains that, while she’s made improvements in her skills, being out of action made her grow even more on the mental side.

“Anytime you have a high-performance athlete that’s removed from the daily routine, training, being there on the mat frequently, just getting better physically, it’s always challenging,” Gatto said. “It’s always tough being removed from that and not being able to do what you do for a living. It does teach you lessons, especially on the mental side. I do feel that I had to get stronger and prepare myself mentally. I feel more ready than I’ve ever been, especially on the mental side.”

Gatto will take on fellow Brazilian Lipski, who comes from the same state of Parana.

“When the UFC called, obviously happy to get the call to be able to match with her,” Gatto said. “She is a tough opponent. She’s an experienced opponent. I think she’s got 10 fights in the UFC. I do respect her a lot in the striking, which is her forte. I do feel like it’s gonna be a good matchup also because of the fact that she is from the same state as I am, and it’s going to be important for a lot of us, especially the Brazilian fans.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Abus Magomedov: Critics of UFC on ESPN 47 main event spot will ‘be quiet’ after I beat Sean Strickland

UFC on ESPN 47 headliner Abus Magomedov plans to prove he belongs at the top with a knockout of Sean Strickland.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag] hears the noise and criticism around him getting a UFC on ESPN 47 headlining spot despite just one fight with the promotion. However, he’s not bothered.

“I can understand the guys who said (I shouldn’t be here),” Magomedov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “But after the fight, they all will be quiet.”

After scoring a 19-second knockout win in his octagon debut, Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) got a big push into a middleweight main event with divisional contender Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex and airs on ESPN/streams on ESPN+.

Magomedov knows it’s a significant step up in competition and will be revealing about where he stands in the 185-pound hierarchy. However, he sees Strickland as a beatable opponent.

“He’s tough guy,” Magomedov said. “Tough opponent. He have a lot of experience with five-round fights. He fought already against really tough guys. But Saturday night, it will be my night. … My goal is always to finish the fight as early as possible. To get the KO. This is my goal. I will try on Saturday to do the same.”

Although Magomedov said he doesn’t care about any negative feedback toward the UFC or himself for being in this position so early in his tenure with the organization, he does want to prove the UFC brass was correct in giving him the opportunity.

“There’s a little bit of pressure, maybe, the UFC believed in you and give you big chance,” Magomedov said. “For me, it’s pushed me and motivates me. This was my goal to get main event, to get chance to become champion some day.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.