Tag: ufc 307

UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals…’

Kayla Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the crucial role of being a positive influence, particularly for the younger generation. She stands as a beacon of mastery in women’s combat sports. Her unmatched accomplishments speak volumes, positioning her as the very definition of greatness. Harrison began her judo career in 2008, swiftly dominating her competition […]

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Kayla Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the crucial role of being a positive influence, particularly for the younger generation. She stands as a beacon of mastery in women’s combat sports. Her unmatched accomplishments speak volumes, positioning her as the very definition of greatness.

Harrison began her judo career in 2008, swiftly dominating her competition at both the Junior and World Judo Championships with an unstoppable streak. She then carried that momentum into the 2012 London Olympics, where she etched her name in history by securing the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in judo.

Harrison replicated her Olympic triumph at the 2016 Rio Games, claiming her second gold medal in the 78 kg division. Following this historic achievement, the 34-year-old Ohio native set her sights on the world of MMA. She made her debut under the PFL banner in July 2018, and within just two years, she ascended to the top, capturing the promotion’s women’s lightweight championship.

After an impressive 16-1 run in the PFL, Harrison made her long-awaited UFC debut in spectacular fashion, dismantling former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300 this past April – that too in bantamweight, a weight class she had never previously competed in.

Harrison’s career has been marked by nothing but success, and she remains focused on staying above the fray in her quest to be a shining example for others to follow.

Harrison On Being Role Model: ‘I Take It Very Seriously’

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison was asked about leveraging her popularity to inspire young girls to pursue MMA. The former PFL lightweight champion expressed that being a role model is a responsibility she takes to heart, and it remains one of her ongoing goals.

“My goal is always to be the light in the world that I want to see,” Harrison said. “I take being a role model very seriously. I consider it an honor and a responsibility.”

She emphasized that this is why she makes a conscious effort to avoid any controversy, ensuring that kids can look up to her as a positive example.

“That’s why, hopefully, knock on wood; as long as I don’t have a nervous breakdown, you’ll never see me with DUIs or scandals or anything like that because of how I carry myself. I want little girls and boys all over the world to know that if you work hard, surround yourself with people who believe in you and believe in yourself; there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.”

Harrison is preparing for her second appearance in the Octagon, where she’ll face Ketlen Vieira in a pivotal clash at UFC 307 that could serve as a bantamweight title eliminator. The pay-per-view event is set to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.

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Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin

Stephen Thompson recently disclosed the one fib from Shavkat Rakhmonov that truly irked him after their matchup. “Wonderboy” is gearing up to square off against Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight clash on the preliminary card of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Thompson is set to […]

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Stephen Thompson recently disclosed the one fib from Shavkat Rakhmonov that truly irked him after their matchup.

“Wonderboy” is gearing up to square off against Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight clash on the preliminary card of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thompson is set to make his comeback to the Octagon after a 10-month hiatus, having not competed since his second-round submission defeat to the unbeaten Rakhmonov at UFC 296 in December 2023.

In the lead-up to their clash, both fighters had agreed to engage exclusively in striking. However, Rakhmonov chose to grapple and ultimately secured a swift victory.

While Thompson respects the 29-year-old Kazakh fighter’s skills, he feels disheartened by his opponent’s attempt to rationalize his change in approach, claiming he suffered a serious ankle injury before their bout despite having promised to prove he was the superior striker.

Thompson Critiques Rakhmonov & Team For Justifying Change In Strategy After Their Bout

During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Thompson reflected on his defeat to Rakhmonov, voicing his dissatisfaction with “Nomad’s” coach, Henri Hooft, for attempting to explain the decision to pursue takedowns during the fight.

“Wonderboy” noted that he recalls Hooft making similar remarks following his bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 264.

“It was funny because afterward the same coach as Gilbert Burns, and after the Gilbert Burns fight, the coach came up and was like, ‘I’m sorry the fight was boring, but that’s the only way to beat you,’” Thompson said. “He said the same thing after the Shavkat fight.”

Thompson acknowledged that grappling is an integral aspect of the sport and emphasized that he should have been better prepared for it. However, he expressed disappointment that Rakhmonov didn’t honor his commitment to keep their bout strictly to striking.

“So I knew that’s what they were planning on. He was not planning to strike with me. He wanted to hem me up, get me to the floor, and submit me, which he did very well. That’s part of the game. I’ve got to be ready for that. But especially after the fight, they’re saying that. You can say that during the fight to get me thinking one thing, but after the fight, you’re saying, ‘I was going to strike with the guy, but I hurt my ankle.’ Nah, dude. It got me a little bit. Very few things frustrate me — that got me a little bit. Just admit it.”

“Wonderboy” once enjoyed an impressive seven-fight win streak. However, since his title rematch loss to Tyron Woodley at UFC 209 in March 2017, the 41-year-old South Carolina native has struggled to reclaim his former glory. In his last 10 bouts, he has tallied a disappointing record of 4-6.

Continue Reading Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin at MMA News.

UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

Julianna Peña is set to return at UFC 307 after being away from competition for nearly two years. The last time that she stepped inside the Octagon, it was as the women’s bantamweight champion. Though she came up short on that night in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277, her comeback will see […]

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Julianna Peña is set to return at UFC 307 after being away from competition for nearly two years.

The last time that she stepped inside the Octagon, it was as the women’s bantamweight champion.

Though she came up short on that night in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277, her comeback will see her look to reclaim the gold on October 5.

To do so, Peña will need to answer some questions about whether her time away and injuries will play a factor in her attempt to dethrone Raquel Pennington in Salt Lake City.

Jon Anik Says That Juliana Peña’s Meanness Will Help Her Overcome Ring Rust At UFC 307

UFC commentator Jon Anik expressed in a recent interview with Middle Easy that he isn’t concerned about Peña’s time away from the Octagon heading into this fight.

Though he did say that ring rust can be a factor depending on the fighter in question, he believes that the challenger is not someone that it will phase.

Anik referenced how if you listen to how the former champion’s coaches and teammates speak about her, they will immediately make reference to her aggressive mindset when she’s in the cage.

With this in mind, he doesn’t think that we will see anything less than the very best that Peña has to offer, come October 5.

“It’s amazing to listen to Juliana Peña’s coaches, to a man, talk about her relative meanness and nastiness. They can’t even get to the skills because Rick Little and Mike Valley both are just like dude, meanest man or woman in the gym, you know what I mean? So I don’t worry about her, I just think she’s sort of one of these ultimate competitors. The layoffs not ideal, the injury history is not ideal and Raquel Pennington just knows how to win fights.”

Read also: Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

Continue Reading UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307 at MMA News.

Aljamain Sterling Interested in Diego Lopes Fight After Withdrawing from UFC 307

Aljmain Sterling Interested in Diego Lopes Fight After Withdrawing from UFC 307After his fight with Movsar Evloev fell through, Aljamain Sterling has his eyes on a potential scrap with the…

Aljmain Sterling Interested in Diego Lopes Fight After Withdrawing from UFC 307

After his fight with Movsar Evloev fell through, Aljamain Sterling has his eyes on a potential scrap with the surging Diego Lopes.

After a successful featherweight debut at UFC 300 in April, the ‘Funk Master’ was scheduled to square off with Evloev on October 5 in Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, Sterling was forced to bow out of the bout due to an injury.

Aljamain Sterling

Though it sounds like he won’t be on the shelf for very long, the former bantamweight champion is already looking past Evloev, eyeing a fight with the featherweight division’s No. 3 ranked contender instead.

“I don’t know [who could be next], maybe Diego Lopes. “Sterling told The Schmo while discussing his UFC return. “Maybe that would be a battle for the three [ranking]. If we’re talking the next best fight if Movsar declines, I don’t know who else we would fight. But, if you give me the option, I always wanted Brian Ortega so I could get the next closest spot to the top.

“Now that next closest guy is Diego Lopes. That’s all it is. It has nothing to do with what this guy did or that, but it’s the name value, what it gets me, the risk vs. reward. If I’m going to risk it for the biscuit, that’s the guy I’d want to risk it with” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev likely to be rebooked

Lopes thrust into the featherweight top five at UFC 306 via a unanimous decision victory over ex-title challenger Brian Ortega. He is now 5-1 inside the Octagon with wins over the likes of Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, and Dan Ige.

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With Evloev unable to secure a short-notice opponent for UFC 307 next month, the promotion will likely reschedule his bout with Sterling for some time in late 2024 or early 2025, but we can’t help but be excited by a potential meeting between the explosive Lopes and one of the best grapplers in the game.

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Former UFC Champion Touts Khalil Rountree To Beat Alex Pereira ‘At His Own Game’

A former UFC middleweight champion recently praised Khalil Rountree, claiming he has what it takes to defeat Alex Pereira by outclassing him in his own area of expertise. “The War Horse” is preparing for his first title shot as he challenges reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 307, set for […]

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A former UFC middleweight champion recently praised Khalil Rountree, claiming he has what it takes to defeat Alex Pereira by outclassing him in his own area of expertise.

“The War Horse” is preparing for his first title shot as he challenges reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Poatan” has been a relentless powerhouse since making his mark in the 205-pound division last year, firmly establishing his dominance by defending his belt twice within the span of two months. Pereira is coming off a second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 303 this past June.

While Pereira may be renowned for his crushing power and world-class kickboxing that dismantles his opponents, Rountree has made it clear that he won’t resort to takedowns, opting instead to keep the battle standing.

Michael Bisping believes that “The War Horse” is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the Brazilian champion in a striking showdown…

Bisping Warns ‘Poatan’ To Respect Rountree’s Abilities: ‘Pereira Has To Take Him Seriously’

During a a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Count” gave his thoughts on the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The UFC Hall of Famer highlighted some of the notable names the American challenger has taken down in recent bouts, pointing out that while “The War Horse” may appear hittable, he’s proven his prowess by defeating elite-level kickboxers like Gokhan Saki.

Bisping emphasized that Pereira should tread carefully in striking exchanges, as Rountree is no stranger to top-tier competition.

“Anthony Smith was able to land some straight rights, and if Smith can land them, you’ve got to think that Pereira is going to land them,” Bisping said. “But if we dig a little deeper, if we look at some of the other people that he’s [Rountree] beaten, there’s a name that stands out, and that name is the one and only Gokhan Saki… When he went up against Khalil Rountree, he got knocked out in the first round.”

“Who is Khalil? Well, Khalil was a kickboxer. He has the confidence to put it out there and truly mean it by saying that he’s not going to shoot. He’s going to stand there, go toe to toe, and try to beat Pereira at his own game.”

Rountree is currently enjoying the success of a five-fight win streak. The 34-year-old was initially slated to face former champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 303, but Rountree had to withdraw after receiving a 4.5-month suspension for testing positive for a steroid hormone. Fortunately for “The War Horse”, the suspension ended on September 18, clearing the path for his return.

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‘They Scared Of The Future Champ’ – Fans React As Movsar Evloev Removed From UFC 307 Card After No Replacement Stepped Up

Some MMA enthusiasts aren’t surprised at UFC featherweights’ unwillingness to do battle with the undefeated Movsar Evloev on short notice. One of the key bouts set for the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 took a hit earlier this month when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling announced his withdrawal through […]

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Some MMA enthusiasts aren’t surprised at UFC featherweights’ unwillingness to do battle with the undefeated Movsar Evloev on short notice.

One of the key bouts set for the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 took a hit earlier this month when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling announced his withdrawal through injury.

“Funk Master” was scheduled to share the cage with the #6-ranked Evloev in what would have marked his second outing in the 145-pound division.

The promotion had hoped to keep the unbeaten Russian on the lineup, which also boasts the likes of Kayla Harrison, José Aldo, and Kevin Holland below championship headliners that will see Alex Pereira and Raquel Pennington defend their titles.

Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, the UFC failed in its pursuit of a replacement opponent, with nobody agreeing to fight Evloev on the Oct. 5 date.

Evloev Off UFC 307 Lineup, Fans React

After Evloev called the weight class out on social media in the hopes of keeping himself on the UFC 307 card following news of Sterling’s injury, a few names emerged. But while notable contenders like Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell expressed a willingness to face the Russian, they required more time.

Fans were quick to give their thoughts on Evloev’s forced withdrawal on social media. Takes varied, with some using the absence of willing foes as evidence of Evloev’s talents and others suggesting that he won’t be missed at UFC 307 given his lack of Octagon finishes.

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