Tag: UFC 266

Cynthia Calvillo Expects Title Shot With Victory Over Andrade At UFC 266

UFC women’s flyweight Cynthia Calvillo believes she can secure a title shot with a victory over Jéssica Andrade this weekend at UFC 266. Calvillo fell to just the second loss of her MMA career when she was last in action at UFC 255. Against former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian, the 34-year-old was on the wrong […]

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UFC women’s flyweight Cynthia Calvillo believes she can secure a title shot with a victory over Jéssica Andrade this weekend at UFC 266.

Calvillo fell to just the second loss of her MMA career when she was last in action at UFC 255. Against former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian, the 34-year-old was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision.

However, Calvillo’s record certainly did enough to bring her into title contention beforehand. The Californian has defeated the likes of Joanne Calderwood, Cortney Casey, and Jessica Eye since debuting in 2017. A win against former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion and Valentina Shevchenko’s most recent challenger Andrade on Saturday could see her first shot at gold secured.

Speaking to MMA News’ own James Lynch, Calvillo previewed her 10th walk to the Octagon. According to the #5-ranked women’s flyweight, Andrade won’t be able to handle her pressure and speed in the UFC 266 main card opener. The 34-year-old anticipates a submission or ground-and-pound finish.

“I feel like I’m gonna outwork her. I think I’m gonna be a lot faster. I’ll be able to outclass her with my striking. I just gotta weather the storm. But I feel like I’ll be able to pick my shots, and find the right entries, and, like I said, take her down, submit her or ground-and-pound. But I’m super confident. I really feel like that’s how the fight’s gonna go.”

Addressing what’s next for her if she is to defeat the former 115-pound champ, Calvillo told MMA news that’s she’s anticipating a shot at flyweight gold soon after having her hand raised inside the T-Mobile Arena this weekend.

“With her (Andrade) being (a) former champion and being the number-one contender, everybody else in the top 5 has already fought Valentina. And of course, Lauren’s up next, so I think that, of course, if I win I’m definitely gonna be up next for the title. But if it doesn’t happen, like I said, we’re gonna keep it going. We’re gonna get busy. I’m down to fight whenever in December, as soon as possible.”

Catch our full interview with Cynthia Calvillo ahead of UFC 266 below:

If Calvillo can secure her place opposite the champ, she’ll square off with either Valentina Shevchenko or Lauren Murphy. The pair will clash for the title a few bouts after Calvillo vs. Andrade at UFC 266. In the co-main event, “Lucky” will look to end the dominant reign of “Bullet.”

Shevchenko, meanwhile, will hope to record her sixth successful title defense. If she does so, she’ll maintain her place as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. Calvillo will certainly be keeping a close eye on that fight if she emerges victorious in her own earlier in the night.

Do you think Cynthia Calvillo would be next in line for a shot at the flyweight belt with a win this weekend?

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Jessica Andrade Was Surprised By Shevchenko’s Game Plan At UFC 261

Jessica Andrade isn’t used to being tossed around.  Whether she’s lifting her opponents above her head to slam them on the mat or landing one-punch KOs, not many women can match Jessica Andrade’s muscle in the Octagon. But when the former strawweight champion turned flyweight contender met Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 261, she got a […]

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Jessica Andrade isn’t used to being tossed around. 

Whether she’s lifting her opponents above her head to slam them on the mat or landing one-punch KOs, not many women can match Jessica Andrade’s muscle in the Octagon. But when the former strawweight champion turned flyweight contender met Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 261, she got a taste of her own medicine. 

“I was somewhat surprised when I faced Valentina,” explained Andrade while speaking with MMAJunkie. “We put together a strategy for her, but she brought a different game. After she took me down, I found myself in the place I planned to have her. That’s my game – it’s what I do in my fights. It confused me that she took me down, in my style, since she’s such a good striker. But each fight is unique.” 

Shevchenko had little issue getting Andrade to ground in their bout. Known for her background in Muay Thai, the flyweight champion landed seven of seven takedowns attempted that night. Andrade went 0-2 looking for her own. The women find themselves on the same card again this weekend, but with different opponents. 

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade, UFC 261
Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from a couple of close defeats to Amanda Nunes, Shevchenko has looked all but unstoppable since joining the UFC. This weekend, “Bullet” will attempt to defend her strap for a sixth time when she meets Lauren Murphy. Andrade will open the PPV portion of the card against Cynthia Calvillo as both women will be looking to move back into the win column. 

Should Andrade and Shevchenko meet again down the road, Andrade believes things would go differently. 

“Someone has to win, and someone has to lose. It wasn’t my day. With a rematch, I’m very confident I’ll be ready for everything – takedowns and striking. I feel if she had chosen to use her boxing or muay Thai, I would have done a lot better.”

Were you also surprised by the way the Shevchenko/Andrade UFC 261 fight played out?

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Murphy Shares A Story For Her Doubters Ahead Of Shevchenko Fight

Lauren Murphy has taken some time to address her doubters, though she doesn’t let their words bother her. Following her split decision win over Joanne Calderwood, Lauren Murphy extended her winning run to five and ultimately earned herself a shot at the 125lb title. While this could well be her final push for UFC gold, […]

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Lauren Murphy has taken some time to address her doubters, though she doesn’t let their words bother her.

Following her split decision win over Joanne Calderwood, Lauren Murphy extended her winning run to five and ultimately earned herself a shot at the 125lb title. While this could well be her final push for UFC gold, the ever-dangerous Valentina Shevchenko stands in her way.

Since dropping down to flyweight, Valentina Shevchenko has been flawless, besting all seven women who have opposed her and looking unstoppable while doing so, making her arguably the most dominant champion with the promotion.

Despite the champ’s division dominance, 38-year-old Lauren Murphy looks intent on ending Shevchenko’s reign and hopes to do prove the doubters wrong when the two come face to face at UFC 266 this weekend.

Lauren Murphy (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

While talking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Lauren Murphy replied to those who believe she has no chance of winning this Saturday by sharing a brilliant story of herself overcoming the odds.

“It doesn’t affect me. People have really said that about me my whole career. Like, I fought for a championship way back in Alaska, and that’s my home state, and I fought for the championship, and people were saying it about me even in Alaska. They were like, ‘She doesn’t have a chance!’ this and that,” Murphy said. “That was one of the best wins of my life. It was one of the bloodiest TKOs I’ve ever been a part of, and it make the win that much sweeter in the end.”

As she continued, Murphy expressed her disinterest in involving herself with pre-fight talk in order to stay focused on the task at hand.

“Somebody asked me the other day, we were in the gym, and somebody I hadn’t seen in the while was asking me about it, and they were like, ‘So, is it time to shut a bunch of people up?’ And I was like, ‘People are gonna talk no matter what I do. So I don’t even think about it like that because if I start thinking about, ‘I’m gonna control what other people say about me,’ or ‘I’m gonna control what other people think about me,’ then it takes me off course.”

Lauren Murphy will be hoping to shock the world in less than a week’s time when she puts herself to the test against one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time in Valentina Shevchenko.

Will we see Lauren Murphy pull off a huge upset against Valentina Shevchenko this weekend?

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Lawler Chronicles How Blockbuster Nick Diaz Rematch Came About

Robbie Lawler has explained how his rematch with Nick Diaz came to be and it wasn’t his doing. Lawler and Diaz will mix it up again this Saturday night (Sept. 25). They’ll collide in a five-round welterweight bout on the main card of UFC 266. The two had their first scrap back in April 2004. […]

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Robbie Lawler has explained how his rematch with Nick Diaz came to be and it wasn’t his doing.

Lawler and Diaz will mix it up again this Saturday night (Sept. 25). They’ll collide in a five-round welterweight bout on the main card of UFC 266. The two had their first scrap back in April 2004. Diaz won the bout via second-round knockout.

During an interview with FanSided, Lawler said that while a rematch with Diaz motivates him, it wasn’t a bout that he was begging for.

“I didn’t really think of it at all really. It just came when I came I wasn’t out there looking for it.

“I think the UFC probably wanted it and I have no idea actually because I don’t really play those games. It’s like alright, usually they come to me, ‘let’s fight’ so could have been a conversation between my manager, and then who knows but obviously it’s a big fight and definitely one that gets me training hard.”

Lawler went on to say that he played things by ear when he was first offered the fight.

“It was one of those things where they offered me the fight, my manager told me about and I’m like, ‘Okay, I guess we’ll see if it happens’ and just, week after week they’re like okay it looks like it’s gonna happen so you never know with Nick and obviously there’s been talk of him fighting in the past so just obviously a big opportunity to fight a big name. A lot of fans are excited.”

For Lawler, this fight goes beyond seeking revenge. The 39-year-old is on a four-fight skid. He hasn’t won a bout since July 2017.

Diaz hasn’t competed inside the Octagon since Jan. 2015. He initially suffered a unanimous decision loss to Anderson Silva. That result was changed to a No Contest after Silva tested positive for banned substances.

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Volkanovski Eager To Break Streak Of Decision Wins At UFC 266

Alexander Volkanovski is looking for a wild finish at UFC 266 to end a streak of decisions. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is looking to defend his title for the second time as he prepares to take on Brian Ortega this weekend. This bout will finally come to fruition after a long delay. The bout […]

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Alexander Volkanovski is looking for a wild finish at UFC 266 to end a streak of decisions.

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is looking to defend his title for the second time as he prepares to take on Brian Ortega this weekend. This bout will finally come to fruition after a long delay. The bout was originally scheduled for March, but due to a COVID-19 diagnosis for Volkanovski, the fight was delayed. Now, these two are finally going to meet inside the Octagon and Volkanovski has a plan for a finish.

“I’ve always been confident in the job I need to do, but right now my confidence is on a whole other level to where winning is just not enough,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “Going out there, winning is good, people always remember the winner, but at the same time, you go out there and send a statement, you go out there and entertain, that’s what people are gonna remember.”

Four of Volkanovski’s last five wins have all come from decisions. Knowing this he feels an exciting, wild finish would be just the thing he needs. In the time between the first fight cancellation and now, Volkanovski and Ortega have gotten to know each other pretty well. The two coached the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite one another. Because of this close proximity, Volkanovski feels he has want he needs to end Ortega’s night early on the 25th.

“He’s obviously proved that he has a great chin, and he’s hard to be finished, but I know I said this last fight, but I need to go out there, and I need to finish this fight,” Volkanovski said. “I want to go out there, and I want to put him away, and I want to put him away early.”

Perhaps his time in TUF and reality TV has made him more of an entertainer. Volkanovski is a personable guy and now he wants to showcase this inside the cage. He is looking for star power.

“It’s all about the entertainment this time,” Volkanovski explained. “I want to go out there, and obviously I’m gonna go out there and win, but at the same time, I want to do it in wild fashion. I want to go out there and really send a statement.”

Do you think Volkanovski has what it takes to get a finish against Brian Ortega at UFC 266?

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Calvillo Has Grim Outlook On Murphy’s Chances Against Shevchenko

Cynthia Calvillo doesn’t like Lauren Murphy’s chances against Valentina Shevchenko. This Saturday night (Sept. 25), Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title fight will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. Murphy earned this opportunity after amassing a five-fight winning streak. Calvillo will also be in action at UFC […]

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Cynthia Calvillo doesn’t like Lauren Murphy’s chances against Valentina Shevchenko.

This Saturday night (Sept. 25), Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title fight will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. Murphy earned this opportunity after amassing a five-fight winning streak.

Calvillo will also be in action at UFC 266. She will take on former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade. The bout will be contested in the flyweight division.

Speaking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Calvillo explained why she doesn’t see Murphy’s night ending well against Shevchenko.

“I mean, if you see it on paper, obviously, you can see, all right, Lauren’s really tough. She’s on a great winning streak. But how does she win her fights? She barely wins her fights. They’re split decisions. When Valentina fights the people that Lauren Murphy barely wins by decision, Valentina murders them. So it’s really hard to see Lauren win this fight. You can’t barely win a fight to beat the champion. To beat the champion, you have to beat them decisively or finish them. And I don’t really see Lauren pulling it off. So that’s why I definitely see Valentina getting the job (done), whether it’s by finish or very decisively.”

Shevchenko has been on a tear in the 125-pound division. She is undefeated in the weight class with a record of 8-0. Her first flyweight fight was actually outside of the UFC. Shevchenko captured the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship, defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision back in Dec. 2018.

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