Ketlen Vieira was almost robbed in Las Vegas, but she was able to earn the win over Cat Zingano. For the first time since 2016, Zingano made her way to the Octagon. She did battle with Vieira on the main card of UFC 222. The action took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, […]
Ketlen Vieira was almost robbed in Las Vegas, but she was able to earn the win over Cat Zingano.
For the first time since 2016, Zingano made her way to the Octagon. She did battle with Vieira on the main card of UFC 222. The action took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zingano got things underway with a leg kick. Vieira landed a right hand followed by a knee to the body. She landed an elbow on the break. Zingano connected with a right hand. A knee to the body was there for Zingano. Vieira was able to counter her opponent and stuffed a takedown. She was able to score a takedown with a little over one minute to go in the opening frame.
Vieira scored a judo throw early in the second stanza. She went for an arm trianglebut Zingano was able to break free of the hold. Vieira remained in control. Vieira stood in control for the remainder of the round.
Zingano fired away at the start of the final frame. She connected with a right hand. Vieira checked a kick and Zigano hobbled on her foot. Vieira was able to gain top control as a result. Despite her injury, Zingano popped up and klanded a knee to the body. The action in the clinch was broken up. Zingano moved forward with strikes. Vieira thwarted the attack by pushing her opponent against the fence until the final horn sounded.
The score totals were read and somehow one judge gave the fight to Zingano. Luckily, the other two judges used common sense.
Final Result: Ketlen Vieira def. Cat Zingano via split decision (29-28. 28-29, 29-28)
Round 1: Zingano opens up the fight with a nice right hand and they clinch up. Vieira has Zingano against the cage and eats an elbow as they separate. Zingano comes in on a takedown but it’s stuffed. Vieira with a nice hook as Zingano comes insid…
Round 1: Zingano opens up the fight with a nice right hand and they clinch up. Vieira has Zingano against the cage and eats an elbow as they separate. Zingano comes in on a takedown but it’s stuffed. Vieira with a nice hook as Zingano comes inside. Zingano is eating shots when she gets inside the pocket […]
A women’s featherweight title fight between Cris “Cyborg” Justino and Yana Kunitskaya isn’t exactly the main event UFC brass envisioned for UFC 222, but it’s the one that’s going to have to do.
When a lightweight title fight between Max…
A women’s featherweight title fight between Cris “Cyborg” Justino andYana Kunitskaya isn’t exactly the main event UFC brass envisioned for UFC 222, but it’s the one that’s going to have to do.
When a lightweight title fight between Max Holloway andFrankie Edgarfell through because of an injury to the former, the UFC was left to put together a short-notice main event that would attract viewers.
Fortunately, Cyborg, as her nickname might suggest, is usually prepared to offer up violence when called upon, so viewers will get another title defense against former Invicta FC bantamweight champion Kunitskaya.
Edgar is still on the card despite Holloway’s absence. He’s one-half of the co-main event. Undefeated Brian Ortega will meet him in a high-profile featherweight bout that could determine who next challenges Holloway for his title.
Here’s a look at the entire card along with odds and predictions for the biggest fights.
Frankie Edgar (-175) vs. Brian Ortega (+145), featherweight
SeanO’Malley(+115) vs. AndreSoukhamthath(-150), bantamweight
Andrei Arlovski (+155) vs. StefanStruve(-190), heavyweight
KetlenVieira(-160) vs. CatZingano(+130), women’s bantamweight
Prelims (Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET)
MackenzieDern(-450) vs. AshleyYoder(+325), women’sstrawweight
BeneilDariush(-375) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+285), lightweight
John Dodson (-170) vs. PedroMunhoz(+140), bantamweight
CBDolloway(+120) vs. Hector Lombard (-150), middleweight
Prelims (Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET)
ZakOttow(-280) vs. Mike Pyle (+220), welterweight
Bryan Caraway (+130) vs. CodyStamann(-160), bantamweight
Jordan Johnson (-305) vs. AdamMilstead(+235), light heavyweight
Cris Cyborg vs.YanaKunitskaya
Kunitskayais trying to sell this fight.
“I know that she’s strong, but I don’t think she has that strong of knockout power,”Kunitskayasaid, perMikeBohnand John MorganofMMAjunkie. “She has no clean knockouts where girls go down, like Holly (Holm) have. But yes, she’s very tough. She finishes all the fights by technical knockout. I think I’m strong, too, strong enough to compare with her.”
To say Cyborg doesn’t have “that strong of knockout power” is akin to saying Tom Brady doesn’t throw “that good of a spiral.”
It’s difficult to find anyone who can challenge Cyborg in any real way. Her combination of power, speed and technical skill is too much for most fighters in the division to handle.
HollyHolmwas the most recent to try, and she prevailed in surviving the fight, but she couldn’t topple the Brazilian.
Kunitskayaisn’t on Holm’s level, though.Holmis one of the best out-fighters in her division, with the ability to stick and move without engaging on her opponent’s terms.Kunitskayais the kind of fighter who is going to look to close the distance and get Cyborg to the mat.
That’s generally a recipe to find some devastating strikes and see a shortened night.
Prediction: Cyborg via first-round TKO.
Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega
The crown jewel of this fight card is the co-main event.
Edgar could have waited around for Holloway to heal up, but he chose to take a fight with Ortega, and the fans should be grateful—it is the most intriguing high-profile fight on the card, and it isn’t particularly close.
The former lightweight champion is one of the known quantities in the division and has fought for the featherweight crown twice, losing both times to Jose Aldo. The Brazilian is still the only man to beat him at 145 pounds.
Ortega is a strong threat to be the second man on that list, though. The 27-year-old is on a tear, with his 13-0 career record highlighted by five straight finishes.
T-City is an especially stronggrappler, but he will come into the bout at a striking disadvantage with Edgar.
The question is when we will see a decline in Edgar’s athleticism. Ortega is by no means a dynamo, but he will aggressively pursuetakedownsand isn’t afraid to exchange to set them up. If Edgar isn’t his usual hard-to-hold-down self, it could be bad news for him.
At 36, the time might be coming soon. Ortega has been steadily taking on increasingly difficult challenges. He’s up to the task and should be the No. 1 contender coming out of UFC 222.
Prediction: Ortega via third-round submission.
KetlenVieiravs. CatZingano
On a relatively light main card, the opening bout between CatZinganoandKetlenVieiradoes at least provide some intrigue.
It features the return of a former women’s bantamweight challenger inZinganoand an undeniable fast-riser in the division inVieira.
ForZingano, it’s a chance to return to relevance. She’s ranked No. 6 in the division, but that’s largely on reputation. She was obviously a top contender in the RondaRouseyera, but the division is changing, and it will be her chance to prove she still belongs.
Still, despite the inactivity and injuries,Zinganobelieves she’s the best fighter in the division.
“I 100 percent think I’m the best 135-pound girl in the world,”Zinganosaid, per MMA Fighting‘s Eugene Leydon. “I always have. You know, I haven’t lost that, and I do realize that there are circumstances that go into proving it. The point is proving it is what matters.”
Vieira, at 26, represents the new guard. With a relentless approach and a strong grappling game, she’s shown a penchant for wearing down opponents until they lose a decision or fall into a submission.
IfZinganois to prove she is still one of the elite fighters in the division, it’s going to be a hard night.
It’s more likelyVieirapicks up an important win in her quest to break into the top of the division.
The stage is nearly set for tomorrow’s (Sat., March 3, 2018) UFC 222 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighters participating in the pay-per-view event weighed in an today’s official early weigh-ins, and each fighter made weight without instance for this card. The event features a late-notice women’s featherweight title fight between Cris Cyborg […]
The stage is nearly set for tomorrow’s (Sat., March 3, 2018) UFC 222 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fighters participating in the pay-per-view event weighed in an today’s official early weigh-ins, and each fighter made weight without instance for this card.
The event features a late-notice women’s featherweight title fight between Cris Cyborg and Invicta FC bantamweight champion Yana Kunitskaya, and the event also has the potential to be a huge leaping point for future stars like Brian Ortega, who will meet stalwart contender Frankie Edgar in the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern, who will face Ashley Yoder in her UFC debut, and exciting bantamweight Sean O’Malley.
All that’s left before they square off in Sin City tomorrow night is to step on the scales and face off, so watch the UFC 222 ceremonial weigh-in video streaming live at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST right here:
Cat Zingano may have been gone for a while but she’s never forgotten. The former UFC title contender returns this weekend where she will face Ketlen Vieira in what could ultimately be a No. 1 contender’s bout in the women’s bantamweig…
Cat Zingano may have been gone for a while but she’s never forgotten. The former UFC title contender returns this weekend where she will face Ketlen Vieira in what could ultimately be a No. 1 contender’s bout in the women’s bantamweight division. While Zingano is coming off two straight losses, she faced nothing but top […]
After 20 months out of action, former UFC women’s bantamweight title contender Cat Zingano will finally return to the Octagon at this weekend’s (Sat., March 3, 2018) UFC 222 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, she’ll meet surging undefeated Ketlen Vieira on the opening main card bout, but Zingano has her eyes on […]
After 20 months out of action, former UFC women’s bantamweight title contender Cat Zingano will finally return to the Octagon at this weekend’s (Sat., March 3, 2018) UFC 222 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
There, she’ll meet surging undefeated Ketlen Vieira on the opening main card bout, but Zingano has her eyes on a much bigger prize.
As the only female to beat women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in the Octagon when she stopped ‘The Lioness’ at 2014’s UFC 178, Zingano told MMA Junkie Radio that while Nunes has gotten better she has as well. From a personal standpoint, Zingano feels she was at her lowest in 2014 after dealing with a serious knee injury and the suicide of her husband but was still able to ‘break’ Nunes in their fight:
“She says she’s improved since then, but there’s no way I didn’t improve since then. I didn’t stop training, and that was my first fight back after blowing my knee. It was the first fight back after losing my husband and coach to suicide and having a completely different camp – and having no idea what I was going to do with myself now that there’s a new normal.
“Everything is different now, so to think that I haven’t improved since then, or that was even my best – that’s ridiculous. She had everything in her favor that fight. Everything in her favor in that fight, and I still broke her.”
There’s little doubt that Zingano’s win over Nunes, even in 2014, was a telling reminder of just how much “Alpha” possesses when healthy and focused on fighting, as do her previous wins over current title contender Raquel Pennington and former champion Miesha Tate.
The win over Nunes was her last, however, as injuries and long bouts of inactivity have kept from establishing any tangible momentum in the last few years. Still, with the women’s 135-pound division lacking in true top contenders, Zingano said her bout with Vieira is a potential title eliminator that could put her right back at the top with an impressive finish:
“This fight, they said it has potential to be a No. 1 contender fight,” Zingano said. “That could be one fight away; that could be two fights away. Either way, I’m focused on this fight, I’m focused on getting through this one in the most fantastic way possible. Of course I want those title shots. Of course I want to jump right back in to where I left off and do everything the way that I know I’m capable of doing. I also understand there’s a patience that comes with it and a believing in myself that comes with it, and taking little steps to get to the big steps.”
The words may suggest she’s looking forward to a title fight with Nunes or Pennington, but Zingano then shifted focus to Vieira, admitting the rising Brazilian was no joke while bringing the confidence of being undefeated to UFC 222:
“Ketlen is not a joke,” Zingano said. “She’s a great fighter, and she’s done good. I know what it’s like to be undefeated and to put that pressure on her and do everything I need to do to end up breaking her down from that feeling, I’ve got work to do. It’s a dangerous fighter that’s undefeated. But what’s next is still to be written.”
This weekend could mark the return of one of the division’s biggest stars, or it could mark her further decline, putting Zingano in yet another tough spot in her mercurial five-year career.
She’s been through it – and much worse – before, but will she be able to climb back up the mountaintop this Saturday?
A women’s featherweight title fight between Cris “Cyborg” Justino and