Tag: UFC Orlando

Stephen Thompson: ‘I don’t even understand why’ Khamzat Chimaev is still a welterweight

A fair question regarding Khamzat Chimaev at 170 pounds: “Can he make weight?”

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] should move up to middleweight.

Chimaev missed weight by 7.5 pounds for his welterweight bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 in September. Due to the big miss, Chimaev ended up drawing Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight bout instead and ran through him in Round 1.

With Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) currently being linked to a matchup with former title challenger Colby Covington, “Wonderboy” is surprised to see him stick around at 170 pounds.

“From what I hear, he’s a very strong welterweight,” Thompson said in an interview with reporter James Lynch. “He should be at 185. I don’t even understand why he’s still at 170. I know they’re trying to get him to fight Colby Covington, which I think is gonna be a fun fight. That’s gonna be a fun fight (against) somebody who’s as strong a wrestler as Khamzat. But the thing is, is he gonna make weight? Can he make weight?”

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Thompson (16-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) will take on Holland (23-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) next in the main event of UFC on ESPN 42 on Dec. 3 in Orlando. Although Holland was quickly submitted by Chimaev, Thompson thinks he put up a valiant effort considering “Borz’s” strength.

“Don’t take anything away from Kevin Holland after that fight,” Thompson said. “I mean, it was a days’ notice. Fighting somebody as big and strong and wrestling savvy as Chimaev, I thought he held his own right there in the first round. A lot of crazy scrambles. He’s very scrappy on the ground. He really is; Kevin is. Which was kinda messed up, he goes in to give him a high five and he (Chimaev) shoots right in for the legs, ends up taking him down. I’m like, oh, come on, man. Should’ve just gave the guy a high five.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

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UFC’s Jonathan Pearce aims to make name for himself vs. Darren Elkins: ‘I belong in the top of the division’

Jonathan Pearce hopes a win over Darren Elkins skyrockets his UFC career. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] hopes a win over [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag] is what skyrockets his UFC career.

Since returning to 145 pounds, Pearce (11-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has racked up four straight wins, including a TKO finish of Makwan Amirkhani in July.

In Elkins (27-10 MMA, 17-9 UFC), Pearce faces a staple of the featherweight division, and he’s looking to take him out when they square off at UFC on ESPN 42 on Dec. 3 in Orlando, Fla.

“I’m happy with the matchup,” Pearce told MMA Junkie. “After I win this one, that’ll be five straight, and I’m looking to take on as many names as I can and build my resume.”

He continued, “I believe I belong in the top of the division, top 15, top 10. So whoever’s injured, you better get ready, because ‘JSP’ is coming.”

Pearce was able to overwhelm Amirkhani en route to a second-round finish at UFC Fight Night 208 in London. But Pearce knows when fighting Elkins, he’s facing an experienced fighter who has no quit in him.

“I feel honored to be able to fight a veteran of the sport and also make a name for myself and thankful that he took the fight,” Pearce said.

He continued, “Elkins has a little bit more heart than the last guy, so his cardio is gonna be a little bit better. He’ll stay in the fight a little bit longer, and my goal is not to make this a 15-minute fight, finish this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

UFC’s Eryk Anders says his best performances come at middleweight

Eryk Anders will look to get back in the winning column by dropping to middleweight at UFC Orlando.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag] will look to get back into the win column by dropping to middleweight.

Anders (14-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC) faces Kyle Daukaus (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 42, which takes place Dec. 3 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

Currently training out of Fight Ready MMA, Anders has alternated between middleweight and light heavyweight throughout his UFC career. But after dropping two straight fights at 205 pounds, he thinks the better version of himself is at 185 pounds.

“I get in where I fit in,” Anders told MMA Junkie. “(185), 205, I really don’t say no unless the timing isn’t right or whatever. I’m down for ’85, 205, but I think my best performances and my best preparation and getting ready for fights comes at 185.”

Daukaus, who is also looking to rebound, has finished all his fights by submission. With his opponent being a submission specialist, Anders is fully expecting him to try and grapple in their fight.

“He’s good everywhere,” Anders said. “He’s a Philly kid, so they don’t make them any other way other than tough in Philly. He’s been a tough outing for a lot of people, really skilled jiu-jitsu player. I believe he’s a blackbelt.”

He continued, “I’m sure I’ll have my hands full on Dec. 3, but for sure looking to go out there and get my hand raised at the end.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

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UFC’s Tracy Cortez thinks Amanda Ribas staying at flyweight is a ‘bold move’

Tracy Cortez is surprised to see Amanda Ribas staying at 125 pounds and hopes to use her name at UFC Orlando to leap into the top 10.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – [autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag] is surprised to see [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] sticking around at flyweight.

Cortez (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) meets Ribas (12-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 42, which takes place Dec. 3 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

Ribas has competed as a strawweight for the majority for her career. She submitted Paige VanZant in her flyweight debut in July 2020 but moved back down to 115 pounds for her next two fights. However, in her past outing, Ribas returned to flyweight and was edged out by former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian at UFC on ESPN 36. Despite the loss, the Brazilian has decided to stay at flyweight.

“That’s a bold move moving up to 125,” Cortez told MMA Junkie. “I personally don’t understand it, but maybe she just feels better, she feels healthier. I don’t know what the reason behind it is, but I hope she brings her best.”

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Unbeaten in the octagon, Cortez is currently in the UFC flyweight rankings. She hopes a win over Ribas lands her a spot in the top 10 so she can kickstart her title run.

“I’m really excited, because bigger names means I’m climbing up there, and I’m gonna showcase what I’m capable of,” Cortez said.

She continued, “I don’t even know how many win streaks I’m in right now. Honestly, after a fight, I don’t even acknowledge that victory. I just move on, because something that I don’t want to do is get content with where I’m at, and I see every fight as a challenge to move forward. That’s what it is. I’m gonna keep trying to move up in the rankings, and hopefully this one gets me in the top 10.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

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Daniel Cormier: UFC rewarded Kevin Holland with Stephen Thompson as ‘payback’ for Khamzat Chimaev fight

Kevin Holland wanted the UFC to give him a fight against a striker and that’s exactly what he got.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks the UFC has rewarded [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] for accepting to fight Khamzat Chimaev on short notice.

When Chimaev came in 7.5 pounds over the welterweight limit for his UFC 279 fight against Nate Diaz, the card was shuffled, and it was Holland (23-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) who was called up to fight the unbeaten star in a 180-pound catchweight bout.

Chimaev ran through Holland in one round, which deflated “Big Mouth” and led to a surprising retirement announcement. However, that was short-lived as Holland got his wish of tangling with an elite striker when he was matched up with Stephen Thompson (16-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) to headline UFC Fight Night on Dec. 3 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

“On the other side, custom suits and craft services is much nicer than tackling and concussion or whatever else you may receive playing football or fighting,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” ESPN show. “So I think you’ve got to be very careful with using the word retirement, but I believe honestly that this fight with ‘Wonderboy’ is payback. This is, ‘Here you go, Kevin Holland. You fought Khamzat Chimaev under the circumstances that you did, so here you go, an aging guy with a big name, in a main event, for you to hopefully regain some of the goodwill you had gotten since going down to 170.'”

Thompson was also hoping to draw a striker for his next bout. “Wonderboy” has been heavily out-grappled in his past two bouts against Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns and even admitted to turning down Shavkat Rakhmonov due to the stylistic matchup.

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Tai Tuivasa vs. Sergei Pavlovich added to UFC Fight Night in Orlando on Dec. 3

Heavyweight finishers Tai Tuivasa and Sergei Pavlovich will throw down in December at UFC Orlando.

Heavyweight finishers [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] and [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] will throw down in December.

Tuivasa (15-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) takes on Pavlovich (16-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on Dec. 3 at UFC Fight Night, which takes place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The matchup is expected to co-headline the event.

Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Tuivasa is coming off a knockout loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Fight Night 209 in Paris. “Bam Bam” became the first man to knock down Gane but was unable to get the finish. Their back-and-forth battle earned Fight of the Night. Prior to that, Tuivasa scored five straight knockout wins, including stoppages of Augusto Sakai and former title challenger Derrick Lewis.

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Since dropping his lone career loss to Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut, Pavlovich has won four fights in a row all by finish. In his most recent appearance in July at UFC 277, Pavlovich needed just 55 seconds to score a TKO over Lewis.

The latest lineup for UFC Orlando includes:

  • Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland
  • Tai Tuivasa vs. Sergei Pavlovich
  • Derek Brunson vs. Jack Hermansson
  • Tracy Cortez vs. Amanda Ribas
  • Darren Elkins vs. Jonathan Pearce
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Matt Schnell
  • Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Marc Diakiese vs. Michael Johnson
  • Clay Guida vs. Scott Holtzman
  • Emily Ducote vs. Angela Hill
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Rafael dos Anjos
  • Yazmin Jauregui vs. Istela Nunes

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Yazmin Jauregui vs. Istela Nunes added to UFC’s December return to Orlando

The lineup for the UFC’s return to Florida continues to grow with the addition of a women’s strawweight bout.

The lineup for the UFC’s return to Florida continues to grow with the addition of a women’s strawweight bout.

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is set to take on [autotag]Istela Nunes[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at the UFC’s Fight Night event in Orlando set for Dec. 3. A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Wednesday, but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The news first was reported by MMAFighting.com.

Jauregui and Nunes first were booked to fight in August, but Nunes pulled out of the bout with an injury. Jauregui fought Iasmin Lucindo, instead, for her promotional debut and won a unanimous decision.

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Jauregui, a Combate Global tournament winner in 2021, stayed perfect in her pro career with the win over Lucindo. The 23-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, has six of her nine career wins by knockout.

Nunes has been going in the opposite direction as Jauregui. She started her career 5-0, but was submitted by Angela Lee in a title challenge under the ONE Championship banner in 2017. She won her next bout in 2018, then turned her sights on the UFC. After a prolonged delay, she dropped her UFC debut in late 2021 when she was submitted by Ariane Carnelossi. In April, she lost a decision to Sam Hughes in her follow-up.

With the addition, the lineup for the UFC’s event in Orlando now includes:

  • Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland
  • Derek Brunson vs. Jack Hermansson
  • Tracy Cortez vs. Amanda Ribas
  • Darren Elkins vs. Jonathan Pearce
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Matt Schnell
  • Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Marc Diakiese vs. Michael Johnson
  • Clay Guida vs. Scott Holtzman
  • Emily Ducote vs. Angela Hill
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Rafael dos Anjos
  • Yazmin Jauregui vs. Istela Nunes

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