UFC on ESPN 55 video: Jhonata Diniz freezes Austen Lane with KO combination

Former Glory kickboxer Jhonata Diniz finished former NFL player Austen Lane with punches in Round 2 of their UFC bout.

[autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] has a striking background, and it was on full display again Saturday at UFC on ESPN 55.

On the main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Diniz (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) froze and face-planted former NFL player [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) for a knockout stoppage at 2:12 of Round 2.

Diniz, 32, is a former Glory kickboxer who earned his UFC shot through a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. He maintains his 100 percent TKO rate and unblemished professional record.

Lane, 36, has lost back-to-back fights. With a no contest also under the UFC banner, Lane has yet to notch his first promotional win through three appearances.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 55 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 video: Uros Medic flattens Tim Means with uppercut TKO

Things were a little lackluster at the UFC Apex until Uros Medic bludgeoned Tim Means with a brutal uppercut knockout.

[autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] woke up the UFC Apex with a brutal knockout over a seasoned veteran.

Opening up the UFC on ESPN 55 main card, Medic (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) knocked out [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (33-16-1 MMA, 15-13 UFC) with an uppercut and follow-up punches at 2:09 of Round 1. The event took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

With the win, Medic bounces back from an upset loss to Myktybek Orolbai in November. Medic has now won three of his most recent four outings.

Means, 40, has now lost three of his last four outings. Prior to Saturday, he was coming off a knockout win over Andre Fialho in September.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 55 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 video: Chris Padilla makes James Llontop tap in first-round upset

Chris Padilla was tied as the biggest betting underdog at UFC on ESPN 55, then he came out and finished an overweight James Llontop.

Only one man could get their first octagon win in the battle of newcomers between [autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag] and [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 55, and it was the former who got the job done.

Padilla (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) showed off some slick ground skills when, during a scramble on the mat in the lightweight, he took the back of Llontop (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and locked in a rear-naked choke for the tap at the 4:33 mark of Round 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Taco” entered the event tied as the biggest betting underdog, but the fight didn’t look that way as he got the job done.

Check out the replay of Padilla’s handiwork below (via X):

Padilla, 28, made his MMA debut in March 2014. It took him more than a decade to get to the big stage, and took his opportunity as a replacement on four days’ notice. With the performance against Llontop, who missed weight, he proved deserving of a spot on the roster.

“It feels surreal, but at the same time I know I belong here,” Padilla said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “So I’m not surprised.”

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 55 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 video: Ivana Petrovic submits gritty Liang Na with… rear-naked arm-triangle choke?

Ivana Petrovic’s UFC on ESPN 55 submission of Liang Na was a weird one… but what exactly was it?

[autotag]Ivana Petrovic[/autotag] pulled off an unusual submission Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 prelims.

While it took her several attempts throughout the bout, Petrovic (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) eventually tapped [autotag]Liang Na[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 0-4 UFC) with what appeared to be a cross between an arm-triangle choke and a rear-naked choke. The official finish was categorized as an arm-triangle choke at 1:29 of Round 3.

Petrovic dominated much of the fight, outside of a brief armbar attempt by Na in Round 2. While Na survived much of the dominant ground attack, eventually she succumbed to the relentless attack of heavy ground-and-pound and grappling threats.

Take a look for yourself at the submission below:

With the victory, Petrovic picks up her first UFC win after an unsuccessful attempt vs. Luana Carolina in July. Petrovic, 29, is a former ARES FC champion.

Na comes up winless in her fourth crack under the UFC banner.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 55 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas

Check out these photos from the fights at UFC on ESPN 55 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos from the fights at UFC on ESPN 55 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Fight and venue photos courtesy of the UFC via Getty Images) (Gallery will update throughout the event.)

UFC on ESPN 55 predictions: Matheus Nicolau or Alex Perez in Las Vegas?

Check out our staff members’ picks and analysis for UFC on ESPN 55 in Las Vegas.

The UFC is back on its home turf after a week off, and a pair of flyweight contenders is at the top of the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 55

Tim Means clashes with Uros Medic in a battle of welterweight finishers on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card.

[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] and [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic UFC on ESPN 55 preview

Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC), who turned 40 in February, snapped the first three-fight skid of his career this past September with a Fight of the Night-winning third-round TKO of Andre Fialho. Despite Means’ reputation as a gunslinger, the bonus was his first since 2015 and just his third overall in 27 UFC fights. Means’ knockout against Fialho was his first finish with his hands since late 2018. … Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), a Dana White’s Contender Series product, returned to welterweight after three UFC fights at lightweight. Medic’s spinning backfist finish of Matthew Semelsberger in July 2023 came after a 14-month layoff. Medic needs a rebound after a submission loss to Myktybek Orolbai in November.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic expert pick, prediction

Last event’s results: 4-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2

Kicking off the main card on ESPN is a potential welterweight war between Tim Means and Uros Medic.

Although I can understand why many are favoring the younger fighter in this spot, I believe that Means is livelier than the betting spread leads on.

Despite both men being susceptible to the southpaw blindspot that exists over their lead shoulders, Means’ game – which has more layers and depth to it – appears to translate well in southpaw vs. southpaw matchups. Moreover, I believe that Means’ propensity to work the body could pay some serious dividends in this fight.

Add in Means’ quiet wrestling and grappling advantages inside of the smaller octagon of the Apex, and I find myself taking another flier on an old dog to get it done.

An abrupt knockout from Medic early wouldn’t shock me, but I’ll officially side with Means to survive the early storm and produce a finish in round 3.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic odds

Medic is a moderate -340 favorite, according to FanDuel. That’s the most favored Medic has ever been in his UFC tenure. Conversely, Means has only been as much as his +250 underdog status one other time before in the UFC, when he was a ‘dog against Kevin Holland.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic start time, how to watch

As the main card opener, Means and Medic are expected to make their walk to the octagon shortly after 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 55

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 55 bout between Jonathan Pearce and David Onama.

[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] and [autotag]David Onama[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama UFC on ESPN 55 preview

Pearce (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Onama (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) represent the lone featherweight fight on the UFC on ESPN 55 card. Both compete in their first fight of 2024… Pearce will seek to rebound from a submission loss to Joanderson Brito in November. The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak that included three finishes. … Onama looks to keep the momentum going from a knockout win over Gabriel Santos last June. The victory put him over .500 for his UFC Career, having split his first four octagon bouts.

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama expert pick, prediction

Last event’s results: 4-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2

The fight between Pearce and Onama serves as a solid offering at featherweight. Unfortunately, Onama missed weight for this contest (and will subsequently be fined 20 percent of his purse), but the fight is thankfully still on.

Despite Onama having the higher ceiling and finishing potential between the two, I suspect that Pearce’s pressure-grappling style could prove to be extra problematic in the smaller octagon of the UFC Apex.

I still want to see more improvements from Pearce, but I believe that Onama’s lack of defensive hand-fighting and reliance on athletic scrambling will get him stuck in quicksand.

Even though it’s “dog or pass” from a betting perspective, I’ll reluctantly take Pearce to grind out a decision win.

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama odds

The odds makers and the public are favoring the younger fighter, listing Jonathan Pearce (-170) and David Onama (+138) via FanDuel.

Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama start time, how to watch

As the second fight on the main card, Pearce and Lane are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 7:40 p.m. ET (4:40 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”

Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 55

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a quick look at the UFC on ESPN 55 bout between Jhonata Diniz and Austen Lane.

[autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] and [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane UFC on ESPN 55 preview

Diniz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) serve as the lone heavyweight bout on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card. … The undefeated Diniz makes his UFC debut following a first-round finish of Eduardo Neves in his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance in September. … Lane, a fellow DWCS veteran, steps into the octagon for the third time, looking for his first victory. His debut against Justin Tafa was ruled a no contest due to an eye poke, and Lane went on to lose the rebooking less than three months later.

Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane expert pick, prediction

Last event’s results: 4-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2

Death, taxes, and the current UFC matchmakers force-feeding us low-level heavyweights on Fight Night main cards.

Despite having solid bangers like Gabriel Benitez vs. Hayisaer Maheshate serving as the curtain-jerker on the prelims, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby seem to be continuing their trend of sullying Joe Silva’s memory with main-card bookings like Diniz and Lane (a fight that would’ve served as a dark match if the diminutive former matchmaker were still in charge).

Given the cult-like status that professional football holds in the North American sports space, I’m guessing that Lane is continually getting featured fights for the cup of coffee he had in the NFL.

Don’t get me wrong: Lane is a talented athlete and seems like a nice guy; I just find it funny that – at least promotionally – we keep treating former football players as some sort of ‘great white hope’ in MMA despite Brendan Schaub arguably being the best of that crop. But I digress.

I’m actually hoping that Lane has continued to improve and can extend this fight into deeper rounds in order to see more from both men. However, it’s hard not to give a decent edge to the former kickboxer in Diniz on the feet.

I definitely wouldn’t mind being wrong, but I’ll pick Diniz by first-round knockout.

Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian fighter this weekend, listing Diniz -265 and Lane +200 via FanDuel.

Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane start time, how to watch

As the third fight on the main card, Diniz and Lane are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”