Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Karl Williams won for the seventh straight time and sixth by decision when he outworked Justin Tafa in the UFC on ESPN 53 co-main event.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag] beat Justin Tafa with a unanimous decision Saturday in the UFC on ESPN 53 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Williams, who won for the seventh straight time, six of which have been by decision.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Igor Severino didn’t get paid after he took a bite out of Andre Lima’s arm in their UFC on ESPN 53 fight.
After [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag] took a bite out of [autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]’s arm in their UFC on ESPN 53 fight, the Nevada Athletic Commission did the same with Severino’s pay.
All of it.
The NAC withheld Severino’s entire purse after he was disqualified for biting Lima in the second round of their bout this past Satuday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Monday following an initial report from MMA Fighting. The person requested anonymity.
It’s unknown how much money Severino was scheduled to make for the fight as the NAC does not disclose fighter purses.
News of Severino’s purse being withheld comes on the heels of UFC CEO Dana White announcing that Severino, who earned his first UFC contract through Contender Series last year, would be released.
“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters,” White told MMA reporter Kevin Iole. “If you get frustrated and want out of the fight, there are plenty of ways to do it, but the worst thing u can do is bite your opponent. Now you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life, not to mention he’s going to have real problems with the NSAC.”
Severino is likely to receive a heavy fine and lengthy suspension for his actions when the NAC holds its monthly meeting in April.
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On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit settlement, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and more.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.
This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:
Trey Ogden got introspective after his first official win since September 2022, a dominant decision over Kurt Holobaugh at UFC on ESPN 53.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag] beat Kurt Holobaugh with a unanimous decision Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Ogden, who got his first official win since September 2022.
Youssef Zalal reflects on his return win to the UFC at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53.
LAS VEGAS – You don’t often see it, but [autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag] is one of the few fighters that was able to work his way back in the UFC and return successfully.
After being cut from the promotion in 2022, Zalal (14-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) returned to the octagon this Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex. And after going on a three-fight wining streak outside the UFC, Zalal put on a clinic against Billy Quarantillo and submitted him in the second round of their featherweight contest.
It was a big moment for Zalal, as he feels he proved to himself he belongs in the best MMA organization.
“I feel like this is just to prove to myself that I am one of the best in the world,” Zalal said at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference. “For me, this is a whole different experience. I feel like we go in life in little bits of experience, and you always remember, ‘Man, I remember this. I remember when my kid was born.’ I think this is one of them.
“This is an experience I get to tell people about. ‘Man, everybody doubted you. You will never make it again,’ and then to come back and finish a guy that’s never been finished by submission. It feels really good.”
Zalal first joined the UFC in 2020 and had a start of 3-0 before losing three consecutive bouts and then tying another. It was that four-fight winless run that triggered his exit from the UFC. Those four fights were also in just 10 months.
Moving forward, Zalal wants to pump the brakes on his activity in the octagon and be a little smarter with his career management.
“Last time I was in the UFC, I fought five times in one year, so I’m going to slow my ass down a little bit and really take my time with it,” Zalal said. “I’m going to talk to my management and see what I need to do, but I just made the No. 19 look easy, and he had just fought the No. 14, so I don’t know if (Edson) Barboza is still 14. So whoever they give me, I really don’t care. I know I’ve got a great management team, and they’re going to upscale my career.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
Fernando Padilla got back in the win column and now is eyeing a fight for Mexican Independence Day at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag] beat Luis Pajuelo with a second-round submission Saturday to open up the main card at UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Padilla, who got back in the win column after a loss to Kyle Nelson this past September.
Andre Lima reacts to getting bit by his opponent mid-fight at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag] had a strange UFC debut to say the least.
The UFC newcomer won by disqualification this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 53 after getting bit by his opponent [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag]. Yes, that’s correct, Lima (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was bitten on his arm mid-fight and the referee had no alternative, but to disqualify Severino (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), giving Lima the win.
“I mean we were exchanging really well, and at that point, he tried to take me down,” Lima said in Portuguese at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference recalling the moment he was bitten. “I went down, but I got back up, and as I was getting up I yelled because I felt pain, a very sharp pain, and I really thought that the fence had gotten into me. I thought that’s what happened.
“I started yelling, ‘Ouch, ouch, ouch,’ and they started looking at me. I don’t know what’s happening, but I really thought it was the fence because there was absolutely no way that he would bite me, especially because the fight was going back and forth. It was good for me, and it had a lot of potential for Fight of the Night. But yeah, that’s why I started yelling, because I felt the pain, and then I realized he bit me, and that’s when I said, ‘He bit me.'”
It was a bizarre ending to what was turning out to be a great, back-and-forth fight. Lima was in disbelief when it happened and wanted to know the reason behind the bite since Severino was putting up a good showing. Unfortunately for Lima, he never got answers.
“I wanted to ask him, ‘Bro, why did you bite me?,” Lima said. “I really wanted to go and ask him why he did that, but they didn’t really give us the chance. They kind of separated us. Why would you do that? I wanted the bonus and this could’ve been Fight of the Night, and we had the ability to do that.”
After the DQ verdict, Severino was cut from the promotion. UFC CEO Dana White said the behavior was unacceptable.
Lima was sad to see the UFC terminate Severino’s contract, and thinks he should’ve gotten another opportunity. Either way, Lima is happy he got his hand raised and got a bonus as well.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish the way I wanted to, which was by knockout, but I was fighting well,” Lima said. “At one point, for some reason, he decided to bite me, but that’s the way God intended, and I’m happy with the win.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
Amanda Ribas is now 2-3 in the UFC at women’s flyweight after her UFC on ESPN 53 main event loss, and now she has a big decision to make.
(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Rose Namajunas after UFC on ESPN 53 win?)
[autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] came up short in her first main event opportunity Saturday against Rose Namajunas at UFC on ESPN 53.
Ribas’ (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) struggles to find consistency in her results continued in the unanimous decision defeat to two-time former UFC strawweight champ Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in the women’s flyweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and now the Brazilian has a losing record in the division.
Although Ribas previously said she was committed to 115 pounds, she continues to bounce across twoi divisions.
Should the loss to Namajunas serve as a wakeup call for Ribas? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on her future after UFC on ESPN 53.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
Former UFC champ Rose Namajunas got her first women’s flyweight win at UFC on ESPN 53, and now she’s in line for another marquee matchup
(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Amanda Ribas after UFC on ESPN 53 loss?)
[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] got her hand raised for the first time in nearly 2.5 years Saturday when she emerged victorious from the UFC on ESPN 53 main event vs. Amanda Ribas.
Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) outworked Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) to a unanimous decision victory at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, moving the two-time strawweight champion to 1-1 since she joined the women’s flyweight division in September.
After her win, Namajunas named three potential opponents: the winner of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 headliner between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot, or a showdown with Maycee Barber.
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What’s the best move for “Thug Rose” going forward? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on her future after UFC on ESPN 53.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
UFC prospect Payton Talbott would like to fight former champion Dominick Cruz next.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag] hopes his latest win in the octagon gets him some big opportunities.
The undefeated bantamweight made a big statement Saturday when he viciously stopped fellow prospect Cameron Saaiman on the main card of UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex. Talbott (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is hoping this gets him a fight in an arena and in front of a crowd next, as well as maybe even a big-name opponent.
“I don’t really know too many people in my division, but maybe Dominick Cruz,” Talbott said at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference when asked about whom he’d like to face next.
Talbott thinks the win over Saaiman (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) should show the MMA world he’s primed for big things.
“I’m exponentially passing up the rankings, and I’m going to try to get into the top 15 hopefully pretty soon,” Talbott said.
Talbott’s ultimate goal is to fight for the UFC bantamweight title. He knows there’s work to be done, but has no problem putting in the miles.
“I just need to keep having performances like that, do my dirty work and just keep beating dogs like that,” Talbott said. “Now I need to put my time in and solidify myself against game opponents, and I’m more than willing to do that.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.
