Tag: UFC Fight Night 103

Yair Rodriguez ‘Never Asked For Fight’ With B.J. Penn

Yair-Rodriguez-640x400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyDHpwNlRA

The main event of next Sunday night’s (Jan. 15) UFC Fight Night event in Phoenix will feature a featherweight clash between a prospect and a legend. Rising 145-pounder Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his surge when he meets Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer B.J. Penn.

When Rodriguez steps inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena to compete, he will be doing so against a former two-division champion. “El Pantera” spoke with MMAJunkie.com to discuss the importance of this bout:

“Fighting B.J. Penn is a pretty big deal. He’s already a two-time world champion in two different weight classes, so it makes it a pretty big deal for me, a pretty big test for my career. It’s a good opportunity to be tested by the UFC and see if they want to give me the title shot soon or not. I think this fight puts me in a good position for that title shot if I win.”

There’s a belief that the Mexican bruiser sought after a bout with Penn. Rodriguez denied ever asking to fight “The Prodigy.”

“B.J. is saying that I asked for this fight, and I never asked for this fight. I don’t know who told him that. The UFC just offered me the fight, and I said yes, so here we are, preparing ourselves to get in a war on Jan. 15. I don’t know who told B.J. that I was asking for the fight, but he is wrong.”

Regardless of whether Rodriguez asked or not, the fight will play out inside the Octagon. A win for Penn would be his first since Nov. 2010 when he knocked out Matt Hughes in 21 seconds. Penn has gone 0-3-1 since that time and is coming out of retirement.

Rodriguez has only suffered defeat once in nine bouts. In his eight victories, “El Pantera” has two knockouts and one submission. His last fight was a split decision win over Alex Caceres in a “Fight of the Night” performance.

Yair-Rodriguez-640x400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyDHpwNlRA

The main event of next Sunday night’s (Jan. 15) UFC Fight Night event in Phoenix will feature a featherweight clash between a prospect and a legend. Rising 145-pounder Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his surge when he meets Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer B.J. Penn.

When Rodriguez steps inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena to compete, he will be doing so against a former two-division champion. “El Pantera” spoke with MMAJunkie.com to discuss the importance of this bout:

“Fighting B.J. Penn is a pretty big deal. He’s already a two-time world champion in two different weight classes, so it makes it a pretty big deal for me, a pretty big test for my career. It’s a good opportunity to be tested by the UFC and see if they want to give me the title shot soon or not. I think this fight puts me in a good position for that title shot if I win.”

There’s a belief that the Mexican bruiser sought after a bout with Penn. Rodriguez denied ever asking to fight “The Prodigy.”

“B.J. is saying that I asked for this fight, and I never asked for this fight. I don’t know who told him that. The UFC just offered me the fight, and I said yes, so here we are, preparing ourselves to get in a war on Jan. 15. I don’t know who told B.J. that I was asking for the fight, but he is wrong.”

Regardless of whether Rodriguez asked or not, the fight will play out inside the Octagon. A win for Penn would be his first since Nov. 2010 when he knocked out Matt Hughes in 21 seconds. Penn has gone 0-3-1 since that time and is coming out of retirement.

Rodriguez has only suffered defeat once in nine bouts. In his eight victories, “El Pantera” has two knockouts and one submission. His last fight was a split decision win over Alex Caceres in a “Fight of the Night” performance.

UFC Phoenix’s Ben Saunders Has Submissions ‘That Have Never Been Seen Before’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdEL0SQc54o&t=87s

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Ben Saunders will return to the Octagon next Sunday night (Jan. 15). His opponent will be The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 11 winner Court McGee…

ben-saunders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdEL0SQc54o&t=87s

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Ben Saunders will return to the Octagon next Sunday night (Jan. 15). His opponent will be The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 11 winner Court McGee. They will do battle inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

Early in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, Saunders was known for his stand-up game. For a while, “Killa B’s” background was Jeet Kune Do. Years later, Saunders has developed a reputation for having an effective guard and submission skills.

Luke Thomas recently had Saunders on his SiriusXM Rush show as a guest. “Killa B” revealed what made him decide to improve his guard:

“I knew that if I started as a striker and people take me down, I’m going to have to get a good defensive and offensive guard and jiu-jitsu game off my back. My ultimate goal was, ‘okay we’re gonna keep working on our striking, but they are going to try to take me down.’ I always felt that it was good, I felt my defense was probably the strongest.”

There was one fight above the rest that stood out to Saunders when it came to focusing on his guard. When he lost to Jon Fitch via unanimous decision, he knew he needed to rev things up off his back.

“One hundred percent after taking the Jon Fitch fight and then going that way, it was an absolute turning point in my career. Where not only do I need to excel at learning takedown defense more and wrestling, but I need to get more aggressive and more offensive off my back.”

“Killa B” is no stranger to the head honcho of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Bravo. Saunders has been doing training camps with the highly regarded jiu-jitsu specialist. As a result, Saunders has added more submissions to his game than ever before.

“Eddie Bravo’s system just worked so well into what I already had as my bases and my go-to that it was kind of a no-brainer. When it started working for me and I started working his system and then actually going out and training with him, it just brought things to a whole new level. There’s submissions that I have in my arsenal that have never been seen before, let alone the UFC.”

Jimmie Rivera Pulled Out of UFC Phoenix in Fear of ‘Looking Like A Bully’

Jimmie Rivera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SZH9y6c-4I

No. 6 ranked bantamweight Jimmie Rivera was scheduled to fight Bryan Caraway next Sunday night (Jan. 15) inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. When Caraway went down with an injury, John Dodson offered to fill in. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced Marlon Vera as the replacement.

“El Terror” initially agreed, but quickly changed his mind.

MMAFighting.com reached out to Rivera for an explanation. The Tiger Schulmann’s fighter gave his reasoning:

“I found out Monday [that] Caraway was out. [I] didn’t find anyone new until Thursday. My coach and I discussed that it wouldn’t be a fair fight for the guy. I’m not bullying some guy who wins some and loses some. I want to fight the best of the best. I trained for Caraway, so either I wait for him to get better or fight someone at the very top of the weight class.”

Rivera admitted accepting the fight to begin with was a hasty decision.

“That was me thinking as a fighter and not being realistic. I’ve always got fights that no one wanted. First fight was [a] late-notice fight, knocked the guy out [Marcus Brimage]. Next was a Brazilian in Brazil, beat him [Pedro Munhoz]. Next was Yuri [Alcantara] who no one wanted to fight, beat him. Then, [Urijah] Faber and beat him toe-to-toe. I trained two and half months for Caraway. Two weeks out he says he got hurt.”

“El Terror” wanted it to be known that he is no bully. He said a replacement only makes sense when it benefits his career.

“All I ask, if it’s going to be replacement, give me someone who’s going to benefit me. If I fight Vera, it makes me look like a bully and I teach my kids not to be a bully. Plus, he’s got a daughter that he’s trying to make money to get her surgery done. I got a heart man, I can’t stand there and stop that.”

Jimmie Rivera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SZH9y6c-4I

No. 6 ranked bantamweight Jimmie Rivera was scheduled to fight Bryan Caraway next Sunday night (Jan. 15) inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. When Caraway went down with an injury, John Dodson offered to fill in. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced Marlon Vera as the replacement.

“El Terror” initially agreed, but quickly changed his mind.

MMAFighting.com reached out to Rivera for an explanation. The Tiger Schulmann’s fighter gave his reasoning:

“I found out Monday [that] Caraway was out. [I] didn’t find anyone new until Thursday. My coach and I discussed that it wouldn’t be a fair fight for the guy. I’m not bullying some guy who wins some and loses some. I want to fight the best of the best. I trained for Caraway, so either I wait for him to get better or fight someone at the very top of the weight class.”

Rivera admitted accepting the fight to begin with was a hasty decision.

“That was me thinking as a fighter and not being realistic. I’ve always got fights that no one wanted. First fight was [a] late-notice fight, knocked the guy out [Marcus Brimage]. Next was a Brazilian in Brazil, beat him [Pedro Munhoz]. Next was Yuri [Alcantara] who no one wanted to fight, beat him. Then, [Urijah] Faber and beat him toe-to-toe. I trained two and half months for Caraway. Two weeks out he says he got hurt.”

“El Terror” wanted it to be known that he is no bully. He said a replacement only makes sense when it benefits his career.

“All I ask, if it’s going to be replacement, give me someone who’s going to benefit me. If I fight Vera, it makes me look like a bully and I teach my kids not to be a bully. Plus, he’s got a daughter that he’s trying to make money to get her surgery done. I got a heart man, I can’t stand there and stop that.”

UFC Phoenix Free Fight: Joe Lauzon Steamrolls Diego Sanchez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js5mfmtUXIo

Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon will compete for the 39th time in his professional career when he meets Marcin Held. The two 155-p…

joe-lauzon-kos-diego-sanche

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js5mfmtUXIo

Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon will compete for the 39th time in his professional career when he meets Marcin Held. The two 155-pounders will trade leather next Sunday (Jan. 15) in Phoenix, Arizona.

“J-Lau” is 2-3 in his last five bouts. He fell short to Jim Miller in a rematch at UFC on FOX: Maia vs. Condit back in August 2016. Lauzon’s two victories in that stretch were by TKO over Takanori Gomi and Diego Sanchez. He’ll look to get back in the win column when he meets Held.

“The Polish Prodigy” was once a Bellator mainstay. He competed inside the Bellator cage 14 times. After failing to win seasons four and seven of Bellator’s lightweight tournament, Held finally climbed the top of the mountain in season 10. He defeated Patricky Freire to win the tournament. Held eventually got a title shot against Will Brooks, but lost via unanimous decision.

The UFC is on the promotional grind once again. Today, they rolled out another free fight on their official YouTube channel. This time it’s Lauzon’s bout with Sanchez from UFC 200. “Nightmare” was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Miller. “J-Lau” looked to rebound after a loss to Evan Dunham.

UFC Fight Night Phoenix’s prelims will begin at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). The action continues on FS1 with the main card beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Headlining the event inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena will be rising featherweight Yair Rodriguez taking on UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion B.J. Penn. It’ll be “The Prodigy’s” 145-pound debut.

Also on the main card will be a welterweight clash between Court McGee and Ben Saunders. Bantamweight Jimmie Rivera has been removed from the card. Lauzon vs. Held is expected to serve as the co-main event.

Jimmie Rivera Says He’s Off UFC Fight Night Card in Phoenix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J74cVq6lzII

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is going to Phoenix, Arizona next Sunday night (Jan. 15). Unfortunately, it looks like they’ll be going without No. 6 ranked bantamweight Jimmie Rivera. That means …

Jimmie Rivera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J74cVq6lzII

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is going to Phoenix, Arizona next Sunday night (Jan. 15). Unfortunately, it looks like they’ll be going without No. 6 ranked bantamweight Jimmie Rivera. That means they are down to three fights on the main card.

“El Terror” was supposed to face No. 5 ranked Bryan Caraway in a crucial bout in the UFC’s 135-pound division. “Kid Lightening” went down with an injury. Former flyweight contender John Dodson offered to step in. The promotion went with Marlon Vera instead.

Now it looks like Rivera has been scrapped from the card. He took to his Twitter account to break the news:

Stick with MMANews.com for more details as they develop.

Bryan Caraway: ‘I Trained Too Hard & my Shoulder Gave Out’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-kTKfdM5lM

No. 5 ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight Bryan Caraway was recently bitten by the injury bug. “Kid Lightening” had a chance to make his strongest case for a title bout yet at UFC Figh…

bryan-caraway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-kTKfdM5lM

No. 5 ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight Bryan Caraway was recently bitten by the injury bug. “Kid Lightening” had a chance to make his strongest case for a title bout yet at UFC Fight Night in Phoenix. Caraway was set to meet No. 6 ranked Jimmie Rivera next Sunday (Jan. 15).

That fight won’t be happening anytime soon as Caraway was forced to pull out. Some Twitter users reached out to the Xtreme Couture fighter including LowKickMMA’s Jon Fuentes to find out what went wrong. Caraway responded:

Caraway reached out to fight fans to express his grief over being forced to pull out of the event. He said the doctors simply wouldn’t give him the okay to compete.

“I am sorry fans. I was urged to go to the doc and the doc told me I couldn’t fight. I am devastated by this news and injury.”

The 135-pounder also offered an apology to Rivera.

When news broke out of Caraway’s injury, former flyweight contender John Dodson offered to step up to fight “El Terror” inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Instead, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) went with Marlon Vera.

Caraway’s entry to the UFC was through The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). He was suffered a TKO loss to Diego Brandao in the semi-finals of season 14. “Kid Lightening” was still offered a UFC contract and won two straight bouts. After a split decision loss to Takeya Mizugaki, Caraway won two straight once again.

He lost fell short against Raphael Assuncao in Oct. 2014. Just like he did following his last two losses, Caraway won two in a row. His biggest victory was against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt. Sterling was undefeated going into the match-up.

There’s no word on how long Caraway will be out of action. Stick with MMANews.com for more details as they become available.