Tag: Yazmin Jauregui

Yazmin Jauregui wouldn’t be surprised if Amanda Lemos upsets Zhang Weili: ‘Lemos is going to give her war’

Top UFC prospect Yazmin Jauregui breaks down Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos.

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] thinks the UFC women’s strawweight title could change hands again.

The unbeaten prospect wouldn’t be surprised if come August, there’s a new champion in her division. Brazil’s Amanda Lemos challenges champion Zhang Weili in the co-main event of UFC 292 in Boston on Aug. 19. Keeping a close eye on the division, the matchup was a fight that was on Jauregui’s mind.

“I’ve been thinking about it, even before this fight was booked,” Jauregui told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’ve been looking at Lemos and thought she was next to fight for the title because she’s a tough rival. She’s very strong, she has several fights won by KO, she’s got some trajectory now, and I’m really excited to watch this fight.”

Jauregui sees both fighters having different advantages over each other. She sees Weili as the more complete fighter, but perhaps Lemos as the more dangerous.

“Honestly, I think Lemos is going to give her war,” Jauregui said. “Weili is very fast, she’s very aggressive, but she needs to be very intelligent because Lemos has a punch, and she’s strong. So if Weili doesn’t keep focused, a punch could wobble her.

“Weili is very complete, but she needs to be very intelligent here. The truth is that Lemos hits hard and she’s got good boxing. If Weili buys into the exchanges and aggressiveness, she could eat a punch. She needs to be smart. But again, Weili is very complete. I can’t miss that fight.”

As far as a prediction, Jaregui is on the fence. She respects the champion, but wouldn’t be surprised if Lemos takes the belt.

“Man, that’s a tough one,” Jauregui said. “I think Lemos could win. Lemos has a hard punch, but we’ll have to see how the fight goes on the ground. Weili is looking good. I think it was against Carla Esparza that she wrestled and wrestled well. She’s complete, but Lemos is super strong. I think she’s ready for this moment and could take the win.”

Jauregui (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) returns to the octagon in search of her third UFC win Saturday at UFC 290. She takes on Denise Gomes (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the preliminary card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

Yazmin Jauregui hopes to enter rankings with UFC 290 win: ‘That’s what I’m here for. I came here to get ranked’

Yazmin Jauregui is hoping to earn a spot in the rankings at UFC 290.

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] feels she’s on the verge of taking a big step in her fighting career.

Returning on the UFC 290 card on July 8, which serves as the crown jewel of International Fight Week, the Mexican prospect believes she’s fighting for a spot on the strawweight rankings. Jauregui (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) takes on Brazil’s Denise Gomes, and she’s confident a win over her would get her what she’s looking for.

“That’s what I’m hoping happens,” Jauregui told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “And the next fight, I know that it’s going to be against an opponent with an even higher level, more experience, and that’s what I’m here for. I came here to get ranked and continue undefeated. And yeah, I think it’s time to be among the ranked fighters.”

Jauregui is unbeaten in her MMA career and holds two UFC wins under her belt. At just 24, she’s considered one of the best prospects out of Mexico.

But despite the hype and even being the favorite on the odds, the Entram Gym product knows she can’t overlook Gomes, as she’s a dangerous and skilled adversary.

“Denise Gomes is a really young opponent as well, and she’s very hungry,” Jauregui said. “I’ve seen her fights in Invicta FC and her fights in Contender (Series), and she’s a gutsy fighter, she likes to go forward, and doesn’t shy away against anything.

“In the fights that I saw, wow, she has a lot of heart and in the end she gets her hand raised. She has punching power and this is a really cool challenge for me in the cage. And again, against another Brazilian. We know the toughness from the Brazilians. This is the third Brazilian I get. It’s not personal. I’m happy to be sharing the cage with a committed, professional rival. I’m prepared very well, and I’m going to give an incredible fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (April 24-30)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported 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 or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from April 24-30.

Prospect Yazmin Jauregui in no rush to enter UFC rankings, wants to prioritize growth

Mexican UFC prospect Yazmin Jauregui wants no shortcuts and believes “really nice, big things await for 2023.

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] wants to take her time.

The 23-year-old strawweight prospect is in no rush to get to the top of the UFC as she doesn’t want to skip any processes or lessons needed to reach her full potential.

Jauregui (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is coming off a TKO win over Istella Nunes this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 42. The victory kept her undefeated in her professional MMA career, with seven stoppages in just 10 bouts.

Although she’s looking very advanced for her age, Jauregui would like to stay away from the strawweight rankings – for now.

“I’m young, I’m only 23, I’m in no rush to enter the rankings,” Jauregui told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’ve already mentioned it before: Evolution for me is important. Also, for the people to get to know me, my fighting style, and how dominant I can be in that cage. That’s all good.

“I think in maybe a year – maybe 2024, 2025 – the opportunity (to enter the rankings) shows up depending on how I do. I’m just ready for my team to guide me.”

While many young fighters aspire to set the record for being the youngest champion in UFC history or just simply fight at a high-level early in their careers, Jauregui doesn’t see the need to rush. She is confident in her skills and in Entram Gym in Tijuana, where she trains. But she also understands there’s a lot to learn in this game.

“Yeah, why (rush)?,” Jauregui said. “We could be fighting, improving, getting to know more the octagon, making more money, have a good time in that cage. So why go out there and look to fight a top contender? I’m willing to earn my spot like it needs to be done and give myself the opportunity to continue to improve and evolve. That’s what’s most important. I have goals and everything has its time. I just need to keep preparing and be ready for my next fights.”

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Jauregui joined the UFC roster from Combate Global in mid 2022. She was able to fight twice in the octagon and notch two wins. The Mexican is over the moon with how things panned out this year and is excited to see what’s in store for 2023.

“I’m so thankful with God and all the opportunities that presented themselves,” Jauregui said. “I honestly, at one point, thought I’d only fight in August, but when the opportunity came up to fight in December, my head was immediately in fighting mode. I did a hard training camp, and I was able to get two wins in one year in such an important organization.

“And nothing, I’m just thankful for the opportunity I have to keep working, keep preparing. I believe really nice, big things await for 2023. I want to keep working, and I have goals to accomplish.”

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UFC on ESPN 42 post-event facts: Rafael dos Anjos first to reach 8-hour fight time milestone

Rafael dos Anjos became the first fighter in history to log eight hours of octagon fight time in his win at UFC on ESPN 42.

The UFC returned to Orlando, Fla., for the first time in nearly four years Saturday with UFC on ESPN 42, which took place at Amway Center and saw nine out of 14 fights end in a stoppage.

Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) earned the most memorable result of all in the main event. The longtime welterweight contender went to war with Kevin Holland (23-9 MMA, 9-6 UFC). He emerged on top by fourth-round TKO due to corner stoppage and netted another Fight of the Night award in the process.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 42.

UFC on ESPN 42 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: A record for non-PPV card

UFC on ESPN 42 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ORLANDO – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 42 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $297,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 42 took place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 42 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Genaro Valdez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Istela Nunes[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-42 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,932,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,109,500

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

UFC on ESPN 42 video: Yazmin Jauregui blows up Istela Nunes with TKO

Yazmin Jauregui faced some adversity at UFC on ESPN 42, but in the end she got the same result as all her other fights: A win.

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] faced some adversity in her second octagon appearance at UFC on ESPN 42, but in the end, she got the same result as all her other fights: A win.

After getting stunned and dropped early in the first round by Istela Nunes (6-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) on Saturday at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., Jauregui (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) turned the tide and began landing her own shots, and becoming the second strawweight in UFC history to land multiple knockdowns in a fight.

The damage began to add up in a big way by the end of the second round, and once Jauregui began to land a flurry of ground-and-pound, referee Keith Peterson stepped in and waved it off for the TKO.

Check out the replay of Jauregui’s victory below (via Twitter):

After the fight, the 23-year-old Jauregui said she was happy with her performance and to take the next step forward on her journey to the tap.

“I knew it was going to be a tough fight,” Jauregui told Daniel Cormier through an interpreter during her post-fight interview. “I’m very happy and very honored to share the octagon with Istela.”

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

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Yazmin Jauregui def. Istela Nunes at UFC on ESPN 42: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Yazmin Jauregui’s second-round TKO win over Istela Nunes at UFC on ESPN 42.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]’s second-round TKO win over [autotag]Istela Nunes[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 42 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODAY Sports)

Yazmin Jauregui doesn’t see UFC champ Zhang Weili being dethroned ‘until it’s our turn’

Yazmin Jauregui expects Zhang Weili to be champion for a while

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] sees the UFC women’s strawweight division finally have some consistency at the top.

The unbeaten prospect doesn’t think the championship will continue to change hands, as has been the case for the category in recent years. In the past four years, the UFC’s 115-pound title has been exchanged five times. The most recent example came earlier this month, when Zhang Weili dethroned Carla Esparza in the co-main event of UFC 281 in New York.

Jauregui (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) feels the Chinese fighter is positioned to be champion for the foreseeable future, including if she has a third fight with Rose Namajunas, whom she’s lost against twice already.

“I do feel like she’s going to keep her belt for a while,” Jauregui told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “Look, Rose is a very smart fighter and very strategic, but Weili is aggressive, and she’s not scared of anything. I think if Weili uses her smarts in the sense that she doesn’t fall in the game of Namajunas’, then she’s going to take the fight.

“I recently watched a fight between Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Lemos, and Lemos is coming hard. She could be a fighter that gives Weili a bit of war because she’s got a punch. She’s got a big punch and that could be a good fight down the line. But besides that, sincerely, I don’t see anyone beating her until it’s our turn.”

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Jauregui returns for her second UFC fight on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 42, which takes place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., and airs on ESPN/streams on ESPN+. The 23-year-old takes on Istela Nunes (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with hopes to follow her successful debut with a win in her sophomore octagon appearance.

Despite her youth, Jauregui made it clear she is on the hunt for UFC gold. She knows she first needs to climb the ladder, though, and there’s plenty of work to do. But for now, all she can do is sit back and admire the work of the champion, whom she respects very much.

“Weili is crazy, crazy,” Jauregui said “She’s a fighter who doesn’t fear anything, not even the ground game. She just goes in there and does her job. She has a lot of speed, she’s very aggressive, and she’s doing things very, very well. I think Weili is going to defend her belt two or three more fights.

“The fight (against Esparza), Weili stood out and looked very aggressive. She took the fight very well. From what I can see, she’s a very disciplined fighter, and she loves the sport. And that’s the result of all that.”

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

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Yazmin Jauregui opens up about nerves for debut, says ‘I don’t feel as pressured’ ahead of UFC on ESPN 42

Unbeaten prospect Yazmin Jauregui opens up about the nerves for UFC debut and her confidence ahead of return at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 42.

Little by little, [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] is settling in her new home.

The unbeaten strawweight prospect is days away from making her second walk to the octagon. Jauregui (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Istela Nunes (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando, Fla., which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

She looks to follow up a successful UFC debut, which she made back in August, with another win and continue her climb up the division. As she takes this next step, Jauregui is feeling much more comfortable in her shoes as a UFC fighter.

“I feel more complete, more confident, with more game,” Jauregui told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “And that’s very good, very good. I don’t feel as pressured as the last fight, which was a debut.

“I already know the UFC cage and the audience who lights everything up, so now I’m just waiting for the moment to show what I’ve been working on these last few months ahead of this fight.”

The 23-year-old Jauregui had to deal with a lot in her UFC debut. She had a short-notice opponent, fought in the featured bout on the main card just prior to the main and co-main event, and was the crowd favorite, as there were plenty of Mexicans in attendance.

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All this put a lot of pressure on Jauregui, she said.

“The truth is that for my fight, the debut, it was really important for me,” Jauregui said. “For me, it was everything. I had already visualized for many years entering the UFC and fighting with the best fighters in the world. For me, it was really important to take that victory.

“Another reason (why I felt pressured), was because I was in San Diego – a place that’s very, very close to Tijuana, so there was a huge Mexican crowd. You could feel the vibe super strong on August 13. And also, they switched the opponent on me at most like a month away from the fight, so there were those three things in play that I had to consider. But at the end of the day, I took home the win and I did the best job that I could do. Dana White was very happy.”

Jauregui doesn’t want to be known for her talk outside the cage, but for what she can do in it. She is not underestimating her opponent, but she feels something special is brewing for Saturday night.

“I don’t like to talk a lot, but I do believe something great is going to happen, I feel it in me, I’ve visualized it,” Jauregui said. “I believe in my myself and my team, and something big is coming. I’m visualizing it. I just want to fight and let all the work that I put in give me another win this year.”

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

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