Tag: Strawweight

‘Meatball’ Molly McCann announces move to strawweight amid back-to-back losses: ‘It’s time to drop down’

Molly McCannMeatball’ Molly McCann is making some adjustments as she once again looks to recover from back-to-back losses inside the Octagon. The Liverpudlian fan favorite came up short in her return at UFC London on Saturday, suffering a first-round submission loss at the hands of 11-7-1 fighter Julija Stoliarenko. McCann has now lost two straight via […]

Molly McCann

Meatball’ Molly McCann is making some adjustments as she once again looks to recover from back-to-back losses inside the Octagon.

The Liverpudlian fan favorite came up short in her return at UFC London on Saturday, suffering a first-round submission loss at the hands of 11-7-1 fighter Julija Stoliarenko. McCann has now lost two straight via submission in the first round, prompting ‘Meatball’ to make a much-needed change in her mixed martial arts career.

Taking to Instagram, McCann revealed that she will be moving down to strawweight in hopes of fighting women that better match her size and stature.

I have always had the toughest road and journey in life, that’s just the Molly McCann way, and I’m okay with that,” McCann wrote. “The highs are the highest and the lows, well I don’t think I have words that do the pain and hurt justice. But dare to dream ay! If there’s one thing I know, it’s how to always overcome adversity and this is no different. 20 months ago I was sitting in this same position, 2 back to back losses and ready to pack it in. Then a boss run and my world changed forever.

“We have one more adjustment to make and I believe that will make all the difference in the world, the smallest in the division makes it tough when the opponents are so much bigger. So for me it’s time to drop down and face the girls who are the same size!”

Molly McCann Has Been Here Before

Making her Octagon debut in 2018, Molly McCann came up short against Gillian Robertson, but quickly bounced back, rattling off three straight wins against Priscila Cachoeira, Ariane Lipski, and Diana Belbi??. However, her momentum came to a crashing halt when she lost back-to-back unanimous decisions against Taila Sanoto and Lara Fritzen.

Again, ‘Meatball’ bit down on her mouthpiece and landed three more wins, including star-making knockouts against Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy. The victories matched with her highly publicized friendship with Paddy Pimblett made McCann a bonafide superstar in her home country, but she has failed to capitalize on the momentum when it comes to making headway in the flyweight division.

A move to strawweight could open up a whole new world for Molly McCann as a plethora of fresh matchups and possibilities await her.

Tatiana Suarez: I Have The Skills To Be A Champ-Champ

UFC strawweight Tatiana Suarez believes she has the tools to become only the second women’s double champion in UFC history. Suarez is currently recovering from a knee injury on which she recently had surgery performed. For her return, she is anticipating competing at flyweight before returning to strawweight. The 31-year-old has not fought since 2019…

Continue Reading Tatiana Suarez: I Have The Skills To Be A Champ-Champ at MMA News.

UFC strawweight Tatiana Suarez believes she has the tools to become only the second women’s double champion in UFC history.

Suarez is currently recovering from a knee injury on which she recently had surgery performed. For her return, she is anticipating competing at flyweight before returning to strawweight.

The 31-year-old has not fought since 2019 but remains undefeated as a fighter. She holds remarkable wins over Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso, both of whom have gained serious momentum in their respective divisions since their losses to her.

Roxanne Modafferi was scheduled to face the undefeated prospect following her two-year absence but the knee injury forced Suarez to withdraw from UFC 266.

She’s now aiming for a return to the Octagon sometime this summer, preferably international fight week, as she aims to take on both the flyweight and strawweight divisions.

A goal of hers is to become the champion of both weight classes she told Helen Yee in an exclusive interview.

“Yeah, that is a goal of mine,” said Suarez. “I think that I have the skills to do it. People always say, ‘You have some of the best wrestling, or you’re one of the best wrestlers out there. You could be one of the best wrestlers.’ 100%, without a doubt in my mind, I am the best wrestler in women’s MMA… From featherweight to strawweight, I believe I can beat anybody in wrestling, in terms of that skill set. So, I think that is something that can get me two belts. Just because I’m far ahead in that discipline.”

In her way of accomplishing the ‘double champ’ status are both UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. It’s unknown which division Suarez will aim to conquer first yet with her return set to be at flyweight, her eyes will firmly be on the 125lbs crown for now.

Do you believe Tatiana Suarez has what it takes to become a UFC double champion?

Continue Reading Tatiana Suarez: I Have The Skills To Be A Champ-Champ at MMA News.

Zhang Weili: You Must Respect Rose Namajunas As A God

Former UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili has come to terms with her loss to Rose Namajunas, describing the 115-pound queen as a “god.” Having amassed a remarkable 21-fight winning streak that included championship fight wins over Jéssica…

Former UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili has come to terms with her loss to Rose Namajunas, describing the 115-pound queen as a “god.” Having amassed a remarkable 21-fight winning streak that included championship fight wins over Jéssica Andrade and Joanna J?drzejczyk, Zhang tasted defeat on MMA’s biggest stage for the first time against Namajunas at […]

Continue Reading Zhang Weili: You Must Respect Rose Namajunas As A God at MMA News.

Rose Namajunas’ Team Responds To Jessica Andrade’s UFC China Booking

The MMA world was just handed the somewhat surprising news that Jessica Andrade will reportedly make her first title defense against Weili Zhang in China. Former champion Rose Namajunas’ team has responded to the news. ‘Thug Rose’ was…

The MMA world was just handed the somewhat surprising news that Jessica Andrade will reportedly make her first title defense against Weili Zhang in China. Former champion Rose Namajunas’ team has responded to the news. ‘Thug Rose’ was brutally knocked out by a vicious slam from the newly-crowned Brazilian queen Andrade at last month’s UFC […]

The post Rose Namajunas’ Team Responds To Jessica Andrade’s UFC China Booking appeared first on MMA News.

Felice Herrig Trashes ‘Piece Of S**t’ Conor McGregor & His ‘Nuthugger’ Fans

The MMA world is almost collectively ecstatic that UFC 229’s main event will move forward as scheduled. Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov made weight and Conor McGregor did soon after at today’s UFC 229 early weigh-ins. That left most of the fight game ready to rejoice. But one person isn’t so excited, and it’s women’s strawweight veteran Felice […]

The post Felice Herrig Trashes ‘Piece Of S**t’ Conor McGregor & His ‘Nuthugger’ Fans appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The MMA world is almost collectively ecstatic that UFC 229’s main event will move forward as scheduled. Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov made weight and Conor McGregor did soon after at today’s UFC 229 early weigh-ins. That left most of the fight game ready to rejoice. But one person isn’t so excited, and it’s women’s strawweight veteran Felice Herrig.

Herrig will face Michelle Waterson in the opening bout of the UFC 229 main card from the T-Mobile Arena tomorrow night.

She’s apparently been getting some hatred online because of her anti-McGregor stance due to his controversial New York attack. Herrig was asked about this dynamic at the UFC 229 Media Day. She revealed to MMA Fighting (via Bloody Elbow) that it’s all because of his ‘nuthugger’ fans:

“I think because there’s controversy, and so many people they either love Conor or they hate him. So his nuthuggers are gonna be like ‘How dare you speak of the king like that? Blasphemy!’

Blind Followers?

‘Little Bulldog’ went on to offer her opinion that McGregor’s fan would follow him blindly no matter what he did. Those who would do anything at all for McGregor are the ones hating on her:

“I think it’s just because people will follow him blindly. He’s the kind of person who could be a cult leader and have all these little minions. The people that get pissed at me are his little minions who would kiss his feet. So that’s why I get hate, it’s because he’s so loved or hated or controversial.”

Yet Herrig is undeterred. She is not happy with his controversial assault earlier this year, and will never be. Herrig even went as far as to call McGregor a “piece of s**t” for his attack on several fighters:

“I don’t care, what he did was wrong,” she said. “I still think he’s a piece of sh-t, and I’m always going to think he’s a piece of sh-t.”

The post Felice Herrig Trashes ‘Piece Of S**t’ Conor McGregor & His ‘Nuthugger’ Fans appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC Strawweights Slam Mackenzie Dern’s Debut On Rankings

Two UFC strawweights are very displeased with Mackenzie Dern’s rankings debut…

The post UFC Strawweights Slam Mackenzie Dern’s Debut On Rankings appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Brazilian submission specialist Mackenzie Dern has skyrocketed through the strawweight division and has now broken into the top 15, but not everyone supports her presence in the top 15.

Especially Angela Hill and Felice Herrig, both of whom were bounced out of the top ten rankings to make room for Dern.

Both women recently took to social media to express their contempt for Dern’s presence on the strawweight top 15 rankings:

I’m going to weigh in on the @ufc #strawweight rankings with at least 7.5lbs of factual perspective: 1- For the most part 1-5 are pretty accurate across all weight divisions, but after that the rankings are a crap shoot. 2- These days hype trains seem to be gifted rankings over actually having to fight to the top. 3- #McenzieDern misses weight by 7.5 pounds, which makes her closer to a #Flyweight than strawweight. She beats an unranked fighter and takes @angieoverkill well earned #15 spot when her only actual win in the ufc as a #straweight was to #Ashleyyoder. McEnzie won by a very close split decision, while Angela won unanimously. So why does Angela get bumped?? 4- Justine Kish isn’t even in the top 15, although she beat #14 #NinaAnsaroff unanimously and #11 #RandaMarkos. Justine did move up to Flyweight but so did #calderwood. So why is Calderwood even in the rankings anymore? 5- If #waterson is #7 & I’m #8 then 9,10 & 11 are all out of order… 6- I beat #Grasso unanimous decision , I beat #casey split. Waterson beats casey split decision. Casey finishes Markos, while Grasso takes her to split. So the rankings should actually be: #7 Waterson #8 Herrig #9 Casey #10 Grasso #11 Markos Even if Dern made weigh there is no factual reasoning as to why or how she could take Angela’s spot other than a massive glitch in the matrix. LBD out!

A post shared by Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) on

Dern blasted through UFC 224 opponent Amanda Bobby Cooper with a nasty overhand right immediately followed up by a lightning-quick submission in the first round. However, Dern missed weight for that fight by seven pounds, coming in at a whopping 123 pounds for a 115-pound contest. Cooper accepted the catchweight bout regardless, and the rest is history.

UFC 224 marked the third time in Dern’s undefeated MMA career that she’s missed the strawweight limit, and even though the submission ace sports an impressive 7-0, the Cooper victory wasn’t actually a strawweight fight, making Dern’s ascent into the top 15 dubious at best.

Hill and Herrig rightfully put Dern and the UFC voters on blast for it, criticizing Dern’s replacement of Hill in the rankings. The overall themes of their criticism revolve around the fact that Dern didn’t even come close to making the strawweight limit and that other strawweights are far more deserving of Dern’s ranking and promotion.

Champion Rose Namajunas lords over the strawweight division with two victories over former kingpin Joanna J?drzejczyk.

Is Dern’s ranking legitimate or is it a product of the UFC marketing machine?

The post UFC Strawweights Slam Mackenzie Dern’s Debut On Rankings appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.