If Evans-Smith’s name sounds vaguely familiar, there’s a reason for that. Carrying a 3-0 professional record, Evans-Smith is best known as the woman responsible for giving transgendered fighter Fallon Fox her only loss, via third-round TKO last October. Evans-Smith also got destroyed by Veronica Rothenhausler in five seconds during an amateur bout in July 2012.
From a competitive standpoint, Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Raquel Pennington is actually a more compelling fight than Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington, which seemed like an obvious mismatch designed to put Holm over. I don’t know…I’m just trying to find a silver lining here. UFC.com currently lists Evans-Smith vs. Pennington as a part of the UFC 181 prelims broadcast on FOX Sports 1. A heavyweight bout between Todd Duffee and Anthony Hamilton has been moved up to the main card in the wake of Holly Holm’s withdrawal.
If Evans-Smith’s name sounds vaguely familiar, there’s a reason for that. Carrying a 3-0 professional record, Evans-Smith is best known as the woman responsible for giving transgendered fighter Fallon Fox her only loss, via third-round TKO last October. Evans-Smith also got destroyed by Veronica Rothenhausler in five seconds during an amateur bout in July 2012.
From a competitive standpoint, Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Raquel Pennington is actually a more compelling fight than Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington, which seemed like an obvious mismatch designed to put Holm over. I don’t know…I’m just trying to find a silver lining here. UFC.com currently lists Evans-Smith vs. Pennington as a part of the UFC 181 prelims broadcast on FOX Sports 1. A heavyweight bout between Todd Duffee and Anthony Hamilton has been moved up to the main card in the wake of Holly Holm’s withdrawal.
In advance of their welterweight title fight rematch at UFC 181 (December 6th, Las Vegas), the UFC has released the full video of Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler 1 — the Fight of the Year candidate that took place at UFC 171 in March. Hendricks won the bout by unanimous decision (48-47 across the board) following a wild brawl that we stopped trying to score after the second round. In particular, the third round, which starts at the video’s 15:18 mark, is an incredible testament to both fighters’ ability to give and receive damage. It’s a true classic, and not a bad way to spend a half hour if you’re bored at the office today.
In advance of their welterweight title fight rematch at UFC 181 (December 6th, Las Vegas), the UFC has released the full video of Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler 1 — the Fight of the Year candidate that took place at UFC 171 in March. Hendricks won the bout by unanimous decision (48-47 across the board) following a wild brawl that we stopped trying to score after the second round. In particular, the third round, which starts at the video’s 15:18 mark, is an incredible testament to both fighters’ ability to give and receive damage. It’s a true classic, and not a bad way to spend a half hour if you’re bored at the office today.
Holly Holm’s withdrawal from UFC 181 was a definite hit against the card, but the UFC scooped up another interesting prospect to replace her in former Championship Fighting Alliance women’s featherweight champion Ashlee Evans-Smith. Evans-Smith will st…
Holly Holm‘s withdrawal from UFC 181 was a definite hit against the card, but the UFC scooped up another interesting prospect to replace her in former Championship Fighting Alliance women’s featherweight champion Ashlee Evans-Smith. Evans-Smith will step in and face The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 alumnus Raquel Pennington.
Evans-Smith, who comes from a wrestling base, owns a 3-0 professional record with two TKO victories. She is best known for her 2013 win over controversial transgender fighter Fallon Fox and was last seen at World Series of Fighting 10 defeating Marciea Allen via TKO in Round 3. Evans-Smith was interviewed by Bleacher Report earlier this year by Riley Kontek as part of the Beaten Path series.
Holm was forced to withdraw from the fight due to a herniated disk, as she revealed in an interview with AXS TV’s Inside MMA. While the injury is relatively serious, the former boxing champion is not expected to be out for long.
As stated, Evans-Smith will face Pennington, who made it to the semifinals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 18’s women’s bantamweight tournament by defeating current Invicta FC fighter Tonya Evinger and Jessamyn Duke. She owns a 4-4 professional record (1-1 in the UFC) and most recently dropped a split decision to Jessica Andrade at UFC 171.
Pennington vs. Evans-Smith goes down at UFC 181 in Las Vegas on December 6. The card is headlined by two championship bouts in Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler 2 and Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez. Stick with Bleacher Report for more details on the card as it develops.
UFC bantamweight Sergio Pettis, younger brother of lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, will clash with Matt Hobar at UFC 181 on Dec. 6.
Pettis comes into the contest a winner, scoring a unanimous-decision victory over veteran ground specialist Y…
UFC bantamweight Sergio Pettis, younger brother of lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, will clash with Matt Hobar at UFC 181 on Dec. 6.
Pettis comes into the contest a winner, scoring a unanimous-decision victory over veteran ground specialist YaotzinMeza. In the bout, Pettis used an effective combination of striking to defeat the 33-year-old. At 21 years old with a record of 11-1, Pettis is talented but still evolving, and he knows that.
“I was starting to get a little bit more loose,” Pettistold MMAFighting following the contest. “I’m going to get back in the gym right off the seven-day break they’re giving me. I’m going to get back in the gym and work on my game.”
Pettis made his professional debut when he was just 18 years-old and won via a blistering head kick in the first round. He then went on to score three straight wins by submission. Pettis sometimes ends up on his back, but by no means does that make for a disadvantage.
The blue belt in jiu-jitsu has submitted two men while fighting off his back. Like his older brother, Pettis utilizes an active guard. The duo trains at Roufusport, which is ran by owner and head mixed martial arts coach Duke Roufus. Roufus, who was a longtime champion kickboxer, believes Sergio is on a path similar to his brothers’.
“Sergio is doing great,” Roufustold CagePotato. “He looked great in that fight [UFC debut] against an excellent fighter [Will Campuzano], and he can do even better. He was nervous, but he handled it very well.”
The Milwaukee native earned a UFC contract by defeating James Porter with a first-round kimura. Multiple times in the fight, Pettis was pressured but utilized his butterfly guard to keep the wrestler elevated. Pettis would secure wrist control on Porter’s left arm before rolling him over to finish the fight.
His UFC debut was put in jeopardy when his original opponent, Vaughan Lee, pulled out of the fight because of an injury. Pettis instead fought UFC and WEC veteran Campuzano, whom he defeated in a fairly one-sided contest.
“The nerves were there,” Pettis said of his debut, per MMAFighting. “I tried to showcase my jiu-jitsu a little bit. I thought it was a lot closer fight than how they [the judges] called it.”
Next up for Pettis would be top-15 bantamweight Alex Caceres. Despite the ranking, Pettis was the favorite heading into the fight. The unpredictable striker proved to be a tough puzzle to crack, but Pettis was clearly the aggressor on the night. However, a late mistake on a takedown attempt cost the young bantamweight.
“It’s very tough to lose,”PettistoldMMAFighting. “It taught me a lot, and the next fight, for sure, I’m going to prove myself.”
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to give the fans what they’d like to see, which is perhaps what happened in the Caceres fight. Pettis appeared to have outsmarted himself in looking to put an exclamation point on a fight that he was likely winning. He successfully shook off the cobwebs against Meza, opting for the less attractive approach that he and his brother are known for.
In less than a month, both brothers fight on the UFC 181 card in Las Vegas with a lot at stake. Anthony will be defending his 155-pound title for the first time against top contender Gilbert Melendez and is coming off PCL surgery. His disciple, Sergio, will look to build some steam and show why he’s a real threat to the rest of the bantamweight division.
Hobar, the man he will be facing on that early December night, presents a stylistic matchup that Pettis is all too familiar with. The Texas native grounded Aaron Phillips back in late August by stifling his attack with six takedowns and followed that up with short punches.
Pettis will be dealing with a foe who is four inches taller and a southpaw. He hasn’t faced many southpaws outside of Caceres, but his performance against “Bruce Leeroy” should serve him well. Hobar, who has much success with his ground-and-pound, will have a much more difficult time adjusting to the high-level ground game of Pettis. If the fight stays standing, the advantage will be in Pettis‘ corner.
He has dealt with wrestlers before, and now with a healthy amount of UFC opponents under his belt, he can trust his instincts and skills to carry him to a win. Pettis knows his time will come and that finishes are on their way.
“They’re [critics] going to keep comparing me to him [Anthony],” Pettistold MMAFighting following his latest victory. “He’s finishing his fights, and I’m still going to decisions. It’s just a matter of time before I get to that point.”
It took his older brother a setback to rejuvenate his career. It’s time to see if it’s the younger brother’s coming out party.
Holm’s injury is a setback for the UFC bantamweight division, as she was being groomed as a potential threat to untouchable champion Ronda Rousey. There is no current timetable for Holm’s return. The former boxing champion has been inactive from MMA competition since April, due to a broken arm suffered in her last fight.
In retrospect, it’s kind of a crazy that Holm was booked to fight Pennington in the first place. Anyway, UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 goes down December 6th in Las Vegas, and still features a bunch of good fights. For now, at least…
Holm’s injury is a setback for the UFC bantamweight division, as she was being groomed as a potential threat to untouchable champion Ronda Rousey. There is no current timetable for Holm’s return. The former boxing champion has been inactive from MMA competition since April, due to a broken arm suffered in her last fight.
In retrospect, it’s kind of a crazy that Holm was booked to fight Pennington in the first place. Anyway, UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 goes down December 6th in Las Vegas, and still features a bunch of good fights. For now, at least…
Undefeated women’s bantamweight prospect (7-0) Holly Holm has suffered an undisclosed training injury and will not be able to fight Raquel Pennington December 6 at UFC 181.
Brazilian media outlet MMA by Neko first reported the news, and…
Undefeated women’s bantamweight prospect (7-0) Holly Holm has suffered an undisclosed training injury and will not be able to fight Raquel Pennington December 6 at UFC 181.
Brazilian media outlet MMA by Neko first reported the news, and Bleacher Report has subsequently confirmed that Holm has withdrawn from her scheduled UFC debut:
Holm, the inaugural Legacy Fighting Championships Women’s Bantamweight champion, was a three-division titleholder in boxing before making her MMA debut in March 2011.
While her grappling skills remain untested inside the cage, many pundits give Holm a fair chance against UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey due to her impressive striking pedigree.
Holm signed a five-fight deal with the UFC back in July, per MMA Junkie, while it was announced last month that her first fight with the company would be against Pennington, per FOX Sports.
According to the UFC’s official rankings, Holm is the No. 15 women’s bantamweight in the world.
Due to an obvious discord between UFC President Dana White and Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, it appeared that the UFC may pass on signing Holm as recently as March, per UFC Tonight (via Yahoo! Sports).
Pennington, a member of Rousey’s close group of fighter friends, the Four Horsewomen, has lost three of her past four contests and is just 4-4 overall as a professional mixed martial artist.
Her last bout was a close split-decision loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 171 in March.
The UFC is yet to formally comment on Holm’s injury so there is no word on if a replacement will step up to the plate to fight Pennington on less than one month’s notice.
UFC 181 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is headlined by a welterweight championship fight between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
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