Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 8 event.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 8 went with as their backing tracks in Jacksonville, Fla.
Miguel Baeza survives early scare, stops Matt Brown in the second round of their welterweight contest at UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Fla.
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[autotag]Miguel Baeza[/autotag] still is undefeated.
Baeza (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) picked up a second-round knockout at UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Fla., and stopped seasoned veteran [autotag]Matt Brown[/autotag] 18 seconds into the second round.
The welterweight bout closed out the UFC on ESPN 8 preliminary card at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
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It was a high-paced fight right off the bat with both fighters active on the feet. Deep into the first round, Brown (22-16 MMA, 15-10 UFC) landed a solid combination that wobbled Baeza and had him leaning against the cage. Baeza did a good job recovering, but Brown stayed on him and managed to hurt him again.
Just when it looked like it was Brown’s round, Baeza dropped him with a right hand and jumped into his half guard. Brown was able to get on his feet and fight back just before the end of the first.
Entering the second, Baeza brought all the momentum he picked up at the end of Round 1. The 27-year-old connected with a left hook on Brown and stopped him with follow-up strikes.
Baeza, who trains out of MMA Masters in Miami, now is 2-0 in the promotion after a successful UFC debut in October 2019. Brown’s two-fight winning streak came to a halt with the defeat. The 39-year-old is 2-4 in his past six bouts.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 8 results include:
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Yorgan de Castro breaks down his fight against Greg Hardy at UFC on ESPN 8 in Columbus and his progression so far in his career.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag] may only be one fight into his UFC career, but he’s already planning big things in the promotion’s heavyweight division.
De Castro (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned his spot on the UFC roster with a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in June 2019, then made a big impression in his official promotional debut four months later at UFC 243 when he took out Justin Tafa at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Now the Cape Verde-born fighter faces another high-profile assignment when he takes on [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28 in Columbus, Ohio. He said he’s happy for his opponent to receive all the attention heading into the bout.
“I’m going to enjoy every moment of this fight and let him be in the spotlight,” De Castro told MMA Junkie from his training camp in Las Vegas. “Everybody’s going to tune in to see him fight, but at the end of the night, everybody’s going to be talking about me.”
De Castro has been enhancing his preparation with training sessions at Xtreme Couture, and said being at a gym with a host of top-drawer heavyweights has only helped his game ahead of his upcoming bout.
“I love the work ethic here – I love (that) everybody works so hard,” he said. “I get to share the room with Francis Ngannou and a bunch of other different heavyweight guys. It’s been good to me. It’s been big.”
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With just six fights to his name, and only one inside the UFC, De Castro knows he’s still very much in the “proving himself” stage of his fighting career. But he said he’s excited to get back into the cage and showcase his improvements.
“I think to me, all the fights are going to be the same: to prove that I belong in the UFC,” he said. “Because I’m 6-0, a lot people will say that I’m green. So I’m always going to be excited. I take every fight like it’s my last fight.”
That “green” tag has also been applied to his upcoming opponent. Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) exploded into the UFC and has impressed with his athleticism. But like De Castro, he is still in the learning phase of his career. De Castro said he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from Hardy’s progression so far.
“I think he’s improved a lot,” he said. “If you see his first fight, he was walking in very aggressive, trying to finish the fight. Now he’s improved a lot, he’s taking his time. He knows his reach. He went three rounds with No. 7 in the world (Alexander Volkov), so I think he’s very good right now. He’s super athletic, his timing is getting better, his striking’s good – but I’m still gonna get it done.”
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Bantamweight stalwart Raphael Assuncao still has goals of becoming a UFC champion.
[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] still has goals of becoming a UFC champion.
The bantamweight stalwart has one of the more underrated resumes in the division, with wins over former UFC 135-pound champ T.J. Dillashaw, plus contenders Marlon Moraes, Pedro Munhoz, and Aljamain Sterling.
However, setbacks against Moraes in a rematch and Cory Sandhagen have momentarily pushed Assuncao out of the title picture after dropping back-to-back fights for the first time in his UFC career.
In his next outing, Assuncao (27-7 MMA, 11-3 UFC) takes on former UFC 135-pound champ [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 8 in Columbus. It’s a fight that gives the understated Brazilian an opportunity to bounce back against a notable name.
“It puts me right back in contention,” Assuncao told MMA Junkie. “I know there are a couple of guys out there like Sandhagen and Petr Yan (who) are up there respectfully, but I think a win over him (Cody) puts me right back into that contention, for sure.
“I want to stay relevant. It’s all I have in mind right now. My goal is not fulfilled yet, I’m not giving up. It’s still a grinding game, I’m happy to be a part of it, and I’m embracing this and I feel great right now. Just being a part of it, and having the chance again to really showcase what I have and stay relevant in that division.”
Garbrandt’s career has taken a drastic turn since capturing the bantamweight title. After a masterclass against the consensus greatest bantamweight of all time, Dominick Cruz, Garbrandt went on to lose his next three fights, to Dillashaw (twice) and Munhoz, all by the way of knockout.
But Assuncao isn’t surprised to see Garbrandt’s recent struggles, considering his aggressive fighting style.
“No, I wasn’t really surprised on how he fought,” Assuncao said. “I guess that’s who the guy is, that’s how he showcases his skills and his fighter demeanor. I had a feeling that (Munhoz) was going to be the fight right there and unfortunately, it didn’t play his way. It was a fight that was risky in both ends, strategy-wise, but yeah, I wasn’t surprised that he was going to bring that to the table.”
“(A) former champion, he used to be like the Mike Tyson of the bantamweight or whatever (but) I never looked it at that way. I just saw that he had some good fights, and he did OK, and eventually, it bit him in the butt.”
Assuncao has had plenty of success with his patient and technical style, frustrating opponents with his counter-striking. But regardless if Garbrandt decides to bring a more considered approach to the fight, Assuncao sees the matchup going his way.
“Whatever he brings to the table, it’s going to play in my favor, so it doesn’t matter what he’s going to do,” Assuncao said. “If he wants to brawl, I’m not a brawler. If he wants to play the technical game, I can do that so I think whatever he brings to the table, it’s going to play good for me. I’m a pretty patient guy. I’ve been patient for a long time. You look at what I’ve done at bantamweight, I’ve been pretty patient so Cody Garbrandt’s style isn’t going to change that.”
With both Assuncao and Garbrandt’s backs against the wall, Assuncao is confident that it will bring the best out of him.
“My prediction is going to be a good fight,” Assuncao said. “I feel really good about the matchup, really good about just getting back in there. With both coming for a little redemption which is good. I like a little pressure, I have a good opponent, and we’re looking at a great fight guys.”
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A bantamweight bout between Marlon Vera and former WEC champ Eddie Wineland has been added to UFC on ESPN 8 in Columbus, Ohio.
[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] might not be getting a ranked opponent for his next UFC bout, but he will get his hands on a former champion.
The Ecuadorian fighter will take on former WEC champ [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] in a bantamweight bout at UFC on ESPN 6 in at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 28.
MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup with a person with knowledge of the booking Friday after an initial posting by the UFC’s broadcast partner, ESPN.
Vera (15-5-1 MMA, 9-4 UFC) was scheduled to fight at UFC 247, but an injury sustained by Jimmie Rivera left him without an opponent. Vera currently is on a five-fight winning streak, all by stoppage. He most recently fought at UFC Tampa, where he picked up a TKO victory over Andre Ewell.
Wineland (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC) hasn’t set foot in the octagon since UFC 238 in June 2019, where he defeated Grigory Popov in front of his home-area fans in Chicago to snap a two-fight skid. The 35-year-old fighter holds notable wins over Takeya Mizugaki, Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen.
With the addition, the latest UFC on ESPN 8 lineup includes:
“At least now, I have something to focus on even though it’s not exactly what I wanted.”
[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] has openly vented his frustration with the stalling of the UFC’s heavyweight title picture.
UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic lost his title to Daniel Cormier in July 2018, and it took over a year to run things back. Cormier opted to have his first title defense against Derrick Lewis, then took his rematch with Miocic.
After Miocic regained his title in August by taking Cormier out at UFC 241, it seemed a trilogy was imminent, but it’s yet to be booked. Miocic has been sidelined with an eye injury, and while Cormier mentioned that the fight will likely take place in June, the UFC is hasn’t made an announcement just yet.
That has forced Ngannou, who’s climbed his way back to contention with three straight first-round knockouts, to take yet another fight before he gets a second shot at the title.
“Honestly about that, I don’t even know what to think anymore,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “We can speculate, like assume whatever we want to, but only the UFC knows what happened and when would that happen. I mean, I’m not surprised, the only thing is, it’s kind of bizarre to be in a division that the title is not running. The title is stopped, so we don’t even know if it’s going to happen or when. Maybe in six months, in one year, or when.”
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Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) faces undefeated [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 8 headliner on March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, and while a title shot is what he wanted next, he said he’s now just happy to have a task at hand.
“Being right around there, expecting it, it’s kind of a stressful thing, so I don’t want to think about it anymore,” Ngannou said. “At least now, I have something to focus on, even though it’s not exactly what I wanted. But yeah, I stay focused on Rozenstruik, and that keeps my mind busy.”
With fighters such as Jose Aldo and Yoel Romero getting title shots coming off of losses, there’s no real blueprint on what needs to be done to earn a title opportunity. But in Ngannou’s case, he thinks it’s not only because he’s been winning. His finishes over Curtis Blaydes and former UFC heavyweight champs Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, should speak for themselves, he said.
“In the right world, title shot should not be something that has to be guaranteed,” Ngannou said. “It will just be something if the athlete deserves it. If he puts himself in the spot for it, then he gets it.”
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Based off what Francis Ngannou has seen of Jair Rozenstruik, he’s not too impressed. But that doesn’t mean he’ll take him lightly at UFC Columbus.
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag]’s fast rise in the UFC has impressed just about everyone except [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag].
Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has long campaigned for another crack at the UFC heavyweight title but instead, he draws fellow knockout artist Rozenstruik (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 8 headliner.
The fight could very well determine the No. 1 contender for Stipe Miocic’s belt, pitting two surging competitors. Ngannou has knocked out his last three opponents in the first round, whereas Rozenstruik is coming off one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history, knocking Alistair Overeem out with less than 10 seconds left in a five-round fight he was on the verge of losing.
Based on what Ngannou has seen of Rozenstruik’s UFC career, he’s not too impressed, but that doesn’t mean he’ll take him lightly.
“No I haven’t seen nothing to impress me,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “Regarding that fight against Overeem, I mean, he got beat up the entire fight and he got lucky at the end of the fight basically by the early stoppage. The referee, in my opinion was early and you know, he gave him the win but honestly his UFC career, nothing to impress. I haven’t seen nothing, but with that being said, it’s not to underestimate him because he was a kickboxer and he has some good hands so he knows the striking game. Now lets find out what he knows about MMA.”
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Ngannou has called out Alexander Volkov for months, but claims Volkov has turned down the fight on numerous occasions. Instead, he drew Rozenstruik, someone he admits wasn’t even on his radar a few months ago.
“Honestly he wasn’t the one that I was expecting but they wanted him to fight me and that’s why they made it so fast,” Ngannou said. “The guy went from ranked what, he was ranked 13 or 14 to No. 5 basically with that fight, that fight he had against Alistair Overeem so it was clear that they just wanted to push him up and to make that fight happen.”
Following his win over Overeem, Rozenstruik called Ngannou out, something we don’t often see. For Ngannou, who’s been eager to compete, he’s happy to have found a top-ranked contender who’s willing to fight him.
“Realistically, Volkov was the one making sense but Volkov has been turning down the fight several times,” Ngannou said. “Rozenstruik was obviously calling me out which is something that doesn’t happen often so at least with Rozenstruik, you know for a fact that the fight will happen.”
In a battle of two powerhouses, Ngannou, who boasts a 100 percent finish rate in his 14 career victories, can only envision the fight going down one way.
“The only way I see the fight going is me knocking him out,” Ngannou said. “Round 1 or Round 2, I don’t know so I hope he’s good enough to pass Round 1 because Round 1 I’ll just take to set up.”
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The callout of Tyson Fury is not a one and done for Francis Ngannou, who has intentions of competing numerous times in a boxing ring.
[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] is serious about pursuing boxing.
The UFC heavyweight contender called out boxing champion Tyson Fury immediately after his big win over Deontay Wilder this past Saturday.
While many may roll their eyes at another MMA fighter calling out a boxer, Ngannou, who initially wanted to pursue a career in boxing, wants to remind everyone that it was, in fact Fury, who called him out first when expressing interest in transitioning to MMA.
“(I’m interested in) competing in the boxing match in general, but Fury and I have some little story together because he was first calling me out in MMA and everything,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “Basically, the man stands, after his fight yesterday as the best heavyweight. No argument about that – he stands as the best heavyweight. For someone looking to box, you definitely have to go through him to prove that you’re the best.”
But the callout of Fury is not a one and done for Ngannou, who has intentions of competing numerous times in a boxing ring.
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“I know for a fact that I’m going to do a few boxing matches,” Ngannou said. “I’m not just about one shot. I’m not just like, one big fight. I want to make my own little statement in a boxing career.
“I’m thinking about multiple boxing matches – like straight boxing matches. Let’s see how it plays out. Let’s see what’s on the table, what would be more attractive.”
Fury already got a taste of the MMA world when he took a trip to Liverpool to train with Darren Till at Team Kaobon. He was seen throwing knees, sprawling and hitting pads, hinting at the possibility of a future MMA fight.
Unsure if Fury was actually serious, Ngannou is just doing his part by showing that he is game and willing to compete against Fury whether in a boxing or MMA fight.
“I don’t know if he was (putting on a) show, as he is a showman, or if he really meant it, but let’s see what happens,” Ngannou said. “I’m here – that’s the point. I’m not going anywhere. So if it’s about to happen, it’ll happen”
However, Ngannou has business to attend to first. He headlines UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, against undefeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and hopes to earn another shot at the UFC heavyweight title.
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All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC and Bellator.
Featherweight: With Chas Skelly out, Darrick Minner (24-10 MMA, 0-0 UFC) steps in to fight Grant Dawson (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) (My MMA News).
Middleweight: With Puna Soriano out, Roman Kopylov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) steps in to fight Eric Spicely (12-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC).
Middleweight: Eryk Anders (13-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (21-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC).
Middleweight: Derek Brunson (20-7 MMA, 11-5) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
Two cards have been shaken up after one fighter was shifted off of UFC on ESPN 8.
[autotag]Puna Soriano[/autotag] won’t compete at UFC on ESPN 8 after all, but it didn’t take long for his next fight to be booked.
Originally expected to face [autotag]Eric Spicely[/autotag] March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, Soriano (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) now will meet [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] on May 16 at an event expected to take place in San Diego.
As for Spicely (12-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC), the submission will remain on UFC on ESPN 8 card to take on [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag] instead.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the Soriano-Hernandez booking but asked to remain anonymous as the UFC has yet to make an announcement. The promotion announced Spicely vs. Kopylov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Friday.
After earning a UFC contract on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Soriano made his promotional debut at UFC 245 in December. Taking on Oskar Piechota, Soriano leveled his Polish opponent en route to a knockout victory in Round 1. Soriano, 27, has finished six of seven opponents with five knockouts and one submission to his name.
Also a DWCS signee, Hernandez (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will look to turn a win into a winning streak. His most recent fight came in August, when he submitted Jun Yong Park by second-round anaconda choke. A former LFA champion, Hernandez has gone to decision only once. The MMA Gold Fight Team product has five submission victories.
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