Tag: UFC on ESPN 58

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, June 18: Undefeated Tatsuro Taira takes a leap

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following 2024 PFL 4 and UFC on ESPN 58.

Following UFC on ESPN 58 and 2024 PFL 4, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings required updating.

The PFL event in Uncasville, Conn., saw the rapidly rising [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] stop her opponent, Chelsea Hackett, in the first round. The undefeated flyweight is making waves and enters the honorable mentions for the first time.

In the feature bout of the UFC event in Las Vegas, undefeated flyweight [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] picked up the biggest win of his career thus far in a TKO over Alex Perez. Entering the week at No. 11, the 24-year-old from Japan leaps up to No. 7, placing him in the mix with former champions and title contenders.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Melquizael Costa wants birthday fight at UFC’s Sphere show after entry into 7-7-7 club

Melquizael Costa submitted Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC on ESPN 58 for his first finish in the promotion.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Melquizael Costa[/autotag] beat Shayilan Nuerdanbieke with a third-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 58 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Costa, who picked up his first finish in the UFC.

Result: Melquizael Costa def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:50
Updated records: Costa (21-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Nuerdanbieke (39-12 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Key stats: Costa became the first to stop Nuerdanbieke in roughly five years.

Costa on the fight’s key moment

“As soon as I kind of timed it wrong, he actually got to me. I put some heavy weight on my hips. When I got down to the ground, then I saw that I was able to turn things around and pull them and I was like, ‘He’s all stretched out. We’re going to finish this right here.'”

Melquizael Costa def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, UFC on ESPN 58

Costa on 7 KOs, 7 subs, 7 decision wins

“From the start, I wanted to finish. This is something we always try to do. We always want to win, but I knew that this particular one, if I got the (submission), it would be seven submission wins, seven knockouts, seven decisions on my resume.”

Costa on what he wants next

“I always say I need a month, and within a week, I want to train again. We’re going to go back into training pretty soon, and I just heard Noche UFC, the show would be on Sept. 14. Actually, that’s my birthday. So that would be a great gift to have if somebody wants.”

To hear more from Costa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

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Josefine Knutsson sends message to women’s strawweights after UFC on ESPN 58 win over Julia Polastri

Josefine Knutsson stayed unbeaten with her sixth straight decision win and said 115-pounders are on notice.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Josefine Knutsson[/autotag] beat Julia Polastri with a unanimous decision Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 58 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Knutsson, who stayed unbeaten with her sixth straight decision win.

Result: Josefine Knutsson def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Knutsson (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Polastri (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Knutsson outstruck Polastri 145-86.

Knutsson on the fight’s key moment

“My corner is always very honest with me, and that’s what I love with my corner – I want to know exactly how it is. They told me, first round is yours, but your opponent is desperate and she’s going to try to do some stuff to you. So that’s what I needed to hear and to be ready for the next round.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 15: (R-L) Josefine Knutsson of Sweden punches Julia Polastri of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Knutsson on fighting in Las Vegas

“I’m pretty new. This is my second fight in UFC, and now I’m 8-0. But still, I want everybody to know that I’m here and I’m here to fight and I’m here to give a war. I just want everybody to watch out for me. It’s always amazing, and especially being here in Vegas, it’s just a different feeling. I can’t explain it exactly in words, but I really feel the energy from the from the city.”

Knutsson on what she wants next

“I want to fight more, but I want to get a date as soon as possible so I can prepare myself smarter. I know it might sound hard, but I would love to have three more fights (this year). I’d be very active.”

To hear more from Knutsson, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

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Video: Does Tatsuro Taira have potential to become UFC flyweight champion?

Is Tatsuro Taira a future UFC flyweight champion in the making? We discuss on the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique.”

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel reacts to [autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag]’s latest win.

This past Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 58 in Las Vegas, Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) picked up a injury TKO win over former title challenger Alex Perez. Although victorious, Taira’s victory came following a knee injury sustained by Perez (25-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) while Taira was on his back.

With the somewhat inconclusive result, where does the undefeated Japanese contender go next? Does he have the potential to hold gold at flyweight?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Farah Hannoun, Danny Segura and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discuss the result from the UFC on ESPN 58 main event.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/jM4-H41mykQ

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Brady Hiestand has warning for UFC bantamweights once he hits his stride: ‘Everyone’s screwed’

Brady Hiestand returned at UFC on ESPN 58 after 14 months away and picked up his first post-fight bonus award.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Brady Hiestand[/autotag] beat Garrett Armfield with a third-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN 58 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Hiestand, who returned after 14 months away and picked up his first UFC post-fight bonus award.

Result: Brady Hiestand def. Garrett Armfield via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:52
Updated records: Hiestand (9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Armfield (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Key stats: Hiestand landed six takedowns.

Hiestand on the fight’s key moment

“The fact that he got out of that choke in the first round – I’ve been subbing people with that. I got my fingers caught in the glove, unfortunately, and so I wasn’t able to get the angle that I usually get. So good on him for defending that, but I’m going to get someone with that one day.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 15: (L-R) Brady Hiestand punches Garrett Armfield in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Hiestand on becoming dominant

“I want to go out there and have dominant performances and, having a back-and-forth battle is fun. It’s good for the fans – not good for my wellbeing. I just want to have dominant performances. I want to showcase that I am the top of the top, which I know I am. That was, me and my coach will say, probably like a B- of my skills. As soon as I figure out how to do an A+ in the cage, everyone’s screwed.”

Hiestand on what he wants next

“I’m all gas. No brakes. I want to fight two more times this year. I called for Abu Dhabi (on) Aug. 3. That’s what I want. I want to fight then, and then that leaves room for one more fight. So three fights, 2024. I’ve had a 14-month layoff and I was telling them I was so pissed because ever since I was 16, I fought two times a year, and since I’ve been in the UFC, I’ve had two year(long) layoffs.

“I’m done wasting time being out on the sidelines. I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to make money. And I’m ready to make a legacy. … I see my career taking off. I want to be in the top 15 by the end of 2024 and then climbing for that title in 2025. Let’s go, baby.”

To hear more from Hiestand, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

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UFC upset winner Westin Wilson has an ‘FTO’ and a middle finger for the doubters

Westin Wilson submitted Jeka Saragih with just the 12th triangle-armbar in UFC history and maintained his 100 percent finish rate.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Westin Wilson[/autotag] beat Jeka Saragih with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 58 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Wilson, whose first UFC win was just the 12th triangle-armbar in company history and maintained his 100 percent finish rate.

Result: Westin Wilson def. Jeka Saragih via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:49
Updated records: Wilson (17-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Saragih (14-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Key stats: Wilson has not been out of the first round since 2019 with 14 straight bouts ending in the opening frame.

Wilson on the fight’s key moment

“I knew it when I knew the arm-in guillotine, it wasn’t tight. There was nothing there. But I knew that he was scrambling and he actually almost gave me mount. … I was like, ‘OK, he’s really trying to get his head free. He’s giving me white belt moves right now.’ When he did, he left his arm and I had that overhook and I worked that quite a bit. I get a lot of guys in the gym and other gyms I train at when I travel, so I knew I had the arm. How many submission attempts did I get in that 30 seconds? That’s got to be a record, right? Four submission attempts in less than a minute? Yeah, so I knew I had it.”

Westin Wilson def. Jeka Saragih, UFC on ESPN 58

Wilson on pulling off the card’s biggest upset

“FTO, baby, FTO: Forget The Odds. All you degenerate gamblers, I’m hoping I made you guys some money. … A lot of the media, you guys think I’m like the worst-signed UFC prospect. I got so much crap from you guys for the last year about how I’m like the worst guy in the featherweight division, so it’s kind of great: middle finger to you guys. And all you oddsmakers giving me +800, +900, +450, I’m glad you guys lost all your money tonight on me. Next time, give me a little bit more respect.”

Wilson on what he wants next

“If there is a Salt Lake City card, I want it, guys. I really want the Salt Lake City card, if there is one. I don’t care. Give me a grappler. I’ve been fighting these freaking jacked-up strikers. Give me a grappler. Let me show off my grappling. Hell, I don’t care. Give me anybody. Let me be the A side for once, though. I’ve been the B side every fight.”

To hear more from Wilson, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

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UFC on ESPN 58 winner Asu Almabayev: ‘I know that my level is top five’

Asu Almabayev is ready to take on the upper echelon of the flyweight division after UFC on ESPN 58.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Asu Almabayev[/autotag] is ready to take on the upper echelon of the flyweight division after UFC on ESPN 58.

Almabayev (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) extended his winning streak to 16 when he defeated Jose Johnson (16-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC) by unanimous decision Saturday at the UFC Apex.

Almabayev called out former title challenger Kai Kara-France, and thinks he deserves a top contender for his next fight.

“My record is 20-2, and I’m a very long time in this sport, and I was facing a lot of good fighters,” Almabayev told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC on ESPN 58 post-fight press conference. “I know that my level is top five. That’s why I’m ready.”

Despite his confidence, the 30-year-old Kazakh fighter was slightly critical of his performance vs. Johnson.

“Of course I had a lot of mistakes. I need to learn more,” Almabayev said. “So as they say, as long as you live, as long as you learn. I need to watch the fight and I don’t want to praise myself. That’s why I’m all the time not satisfied with my performance.”

You can watch Almabayev’s full post-fight news conference in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Lucas Almeida attributes UFC on ESPN 58 win to mental work: ‘There was nothing to fear’

Lucas Almeida opens up about working on his mental struggles, which allowed him to leave victorious at UFC on ESPN 58.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Lucas Almeida[/autotag]’s two fight losing streak came to an end this past Saturday.

The Brazilian featherweight defeated Timmy Cuamba (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous decision on the main card of UFC on ESPN 58 at the UFC Apex. Almeida (15-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) entered the bout with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but he was able to handle it just fine due to the work his done on improving his mental fortitude.

“After my last two fights, my coach mentioned that I wasn’t making mistakes in my training,” Almeida said at the UFC on ESPN 58 post-fight press conference. “The training was the same, it was mentally that I needed to change.

“I went back to (my psychotherapist) and we did a wonderful job to strengthen me up mentally and also to bring my family close to church, which helped us a lot and strengthened all of us. My coaches said I was a different person, and I was mentally strong, I was bulletproof. The mental job that was done after my last fight and getting closer to Church that made me mentally stronger.”

Almeida said his mental work revolved around addressing his fear, which were holding him back in the fight game.

“During the work with my psychotherapist, I identified my fears,” Almeida said. “I realized there was nothing to fear. I identified what it was and what I needed to fear. I knew I didn’t have to be afraid of my opponent. Cuamba is a young guy, and he’s going to be better, just like how I learned from mine. I’m going to get better as well. You’re going to see a mentally stronger person when I come back.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Tatsuro Taira after UFC on ESPN 58 win?

Tatsuro Taira moved to a perfect 16-0 at UFC on ESPN 58, and now he’s in line for a big fight at flyweight – or maybe even a title shot.

[autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag] showed flashes of brilliance in his first octagon headliner Saturday at UFC on ESPN 58, even if it didn’t end in the most satisfying way.

Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) got a second-round TKO over Alex Perez (24-9 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in the flyweight main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but the finish came after a sequence in which Perez hurt his knee while trying to fend off an unusual takedown attempt.

Nevertheless, Taira’s status as one of the top prospects at 125 pounds and in the UFC overall continues to rise, and he is in position for something significant going forward.

What comes next for the undefeated Japanese sensation? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Taira’s future after UFC on ESPN 58.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Miles Johns: UFC Apex main event vs. Ricky Simon ‘would be kind of cool’

Miles Johns believes it’s time he headlines a UFC Fight Night show at the Apex in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag] just competed in his fist UFC co-main event bout, and now he wants to step things up.

The UFC bantamweight called for a main event slot for a UFC Fight Night at the Apex following his win over Douglas Silva de Andrade this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 58. Johns (15-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who defeated Silva de Andrade (29-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) by decision, would like that headliner bout to be against veteran Ricky Simon, who’s currently scheduled to fight Vinicius Oliveira on June 29.

“Maybe Ricky Simon vs. Miles Johns in the Apex would be kind of cool, after Ricky beats this Oliveira dude,” Johns told MMA Junkie at the UFC on ESPN 58 post-fight press conference. “Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. We’ll see what happens.”

Johns knows his division is stacked, and that there are many possibilities for him to climb the ladder. He ideally wants Simon, but is not married to the idea.

“As much as I would like that fight, I’m not sure if Ricky is still top 15 or not,” Johns said. “There’s lots of matchups, and Sean (Shelby) does his job well, so I’m here for whatever.

“As good as I feel after a win, I always feel super happy, and I’m on a high, but I also have this pit in my stomach where I’m like, ‘Bro, bantamweight is full of monsters. You struggled to get the four wins in a row. How many can we make it? How many dice can we stack?’ And if you take an ‘L,’ that’s fine. You get back up and keep stacking. But it’s just a scary division to be in, so I’ll just be patient and see what comes next.”

As far as his win, Johns is happy to have defeated a seasoned fighter like Silva de Andrade. He’s proud of his performance but knows there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“I’m happy with that one,” Johns said. “I would’ve loved to put him away, but the dude is a tough dude and he has a warrior spirit. I knew that coming in, but I think when I go back and work on a few things, then I’ll start finding my finishes a little better. The only complaint that I have is that I didn’t put him away.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

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