Tag: ufc fight night 120

Andrei Arlovski Relieved To Snap Long Losing Streak

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is finally back in the winner’s column. Arlovski hadn’t picked up a victory inside the Octagon since September of 2015 before last night (Sat. November 11, 2017) in Norfolk, Virginia, as he took home a unanimous decision win over Junior Albini. “The Pitbull” had suffered five-straight losses to the […]

The post Andrei Arlovski Relieved To Snap Long Losing Streak appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is finally back in the winner’s column.

Arlovski hadn’t picked up a victory inside the Octagon since September of 2015 before last night (Sat. November 11, 2017) in Norfolk, Virginia, as he took home a unanimous decision win over Junior Albini. “The Pitbull” had suffered five-straight losses to the likes of Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, Francis Ngannou, and Marcin Tybura. He was finished in four out of those five defeats.

Shortly after his victory, Arlovski spoke to the media to discuss his bout with Albini, crediting sticking to his game plan for the positive result (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Finally my hard work pays off and for the first time in a long, long time I stick to my gameplan,” Arlovski said. “It was not 100 percent, but 95 percent. I kept my hands up. Coach told me, ‘Don’t clinch,’ but I clinched a couple times. I’m very happy now.”

Arlovski claimed to have no ill will towards his opponent, and in fact, went to check on him in the medical room afterward in a sign of respect:

“I have a lot of respect for Junior,” Arlovski said. “I came after the fight to the medical room, and I wished him luck in his future fights. Respect. Tonight it wasn’t personal, it was just business. Tonight I think I needed it more than he does. Of course I look for the KO, but my coach said when I go out, and I just need to keep my hands up. I did this pretty well.”

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey – USA TODAY Sports

The former UFC champ claimed he’d be ready to get back to work come early 2018 and was simply relieved to have ‘finally’ broken his long string of losses:

“I want to go back home to my wife and my son, but I think I’ll be ready by February or March,” Arlovski said. “Of course it’s up to Dana White and the UFC. 2016 sucks for me, beginning and middle of the year in 2017 was same thing. Finally I broke the streak of losing fights.”

The post Andrei Arlovski Relieved To Snap Long Losing Streak appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Diego Sanchez Issues Statement On Loss To Matt Brown

If you’re a fan of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 winner Diego Sanchez – and who isn’t – then his fight vs. fellow longtime veteran Matt Brown at last night’s (Sat. November 11, 2017) UFC Norfolk was hard to watch. Sanchez has been competing under the UFC banner since 2005 and has put on some […]

The post Diego Sanchez Issues Statement On Loss To Matt Brown appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

If you’re a fan of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 winner Diego Sanchez – and who isn’t – then his fight vs. fellow longtime veteran Matt Brown at last night’s (Sat. November 11, 2017) UFC Norfolk was hard to watch.

Sanchez has been competing under the UFC banner since 2005 and has put on some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts of all time. After starting off his career 17-0 Sanchez has shared the Octagon with the likes of Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Nick Diaz, BJ Penn, Jake Ellenberger, Gilbert Melendez, Ricardo Lamas, Joe Lauzon, Al Iaquinta, and so many more. Last night he went to war with a fellow longtime veteran in Matt Brown, and it didn’t end too well for “The Nightmare.”

After starting off the round rather aggressively, including a few failed takedown attempts and some wild shots, Sanchez had one of several thrown kicks caught by Brown, who then loaded up and unleashed a hellacious elbow that rendered Sanchez unconscious. The loss marked Sanchez’s fourth of his last six and his second consecutive KO defeat.

Shortly after the bout Sanchez took to social media to release a statement, and despite the opinion of many within the MMA community, he expressed his intentions to continue on with his fighting career:

“I love y’all fans hope you guys liked the fight, what can I say but it hurts to let down the family. But that’s the fight game. I still have fight in me I’m not done yet I know that @iamtheimmortal what a classy competitor”

The post Diego Sanchez Issues Statement On Loss To Matt Brown appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Five Best Fights To Make After UFC Norfolk

UFC Fight Night 120 took place last night (Nov. 11, 2017) from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia and it ended up being an exciting night of fights. In the main event, rising contender Dustin Poirier continued to move up the lightweight rankings, scoring a third-round submission (via injury) victory over former 155-pound […]

The post Five Best Fights To Make After UFC Norfolk appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC Fight Night 120 took place last night (Nov. 11, 2017) from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia and it ended up being an exciting night of fights.

In the main event, rising contender Dustin Poirier continued to move up the lightweight rankings, scoring a third-round submission (via injury) victory over former 155-pound champion Anthony Pettis. In the co-main event, veterans Matt Brown and Diego Sanchez did battle, with Brown scoring a vicious elbow knockout victory in the opening round.

Also on the main card, former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski returned to the win column, scoring a decision victory over Junior Albini.

With the event now in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look ahead at five fights to make after UFC Fight Night 120:

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dustin Poirier vs. Eddie Alvarez/Justin Gaethje

At UFC 218 on Dec. 2, 2017, No. 4-ranked former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will take on No. 5-ranked former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) titleholder Justin Gaethje, and Poirier should take on the winner.

Poirier and Alvarez have already faced off, as they did battle at UFC 211 last May in Dallas, Texas. “The Diamond” appeared to be winning the bout before Alvarez landed an illegal knee and the fight was deemed a no-contest. Poirier campaigned for an immediate rematch after the fight, but he wasn’t granted his wish. If Alvarez beats Gaethje, Poirier should be given that rematch.

And if Gaethje wins, the UFC could put together a bout between him and Poirier, which would essentially be a bout between two of the division’s most exciting contenders, with a title shot possibly hanging in the balance.

The post Five Best Fights To Make After UFC Norfolk appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Dustin Poirier Says Anthony Pettis Was A ‘Broken Man’ At UFC Norfolk

Dustin Poirier continued his trek up the lightweight rankings last night (Nov. 11, 2017), scoring a dominant third-round submission (via injury) victory over former 155-pound champion Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 120 from Norfolk, Virginia. At the time of the stoppage, Pettis was noticeably in pain, suffering what appeared to […]

The post Dustin Poirier Says Anthony Pettis Was A ‘Broken Man’ At UFC Norfolk appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Dustin Poirier continued his trek up the lightweight rankings last night (Nov. 11, 2017), scoring a dominant third-round submission (via injury) victory over former 155-pound champion Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 120 from Norfolk, Virginia.

At the time of the stoppage, Pettis was noticeably in pain, suffering what appeared to be a broken rib. Poirier, however, feels as if “Showtime” was a ‘broken man’ more than anything else:

“I think it was a broken man more than a broken rib. But, that’s my thought on it,” Poirier said during the post-fight press conference.

“Hopefully nothing is wrong with the guy, but I felt like the fight was slowly slipping away from him after that cut. And after the takedowns he realized that I was strong and that I was going to stay on top,” he added.

Although he lost a relatively one sided bout, Pettis did indeed try to finish the fight, attempting multiple submissions throughout the bout. Poirier, however, didn’t seem to be too concerned with “Showtime’s” attack:

“He couldn’t submit me. All them triangles he threw up, I knew his legs were going to be tired once we got back up because I used to be a bottom guy, chase triangles, chase armbars,” Poirier said. That takes a lot out of your legs, especially if you’re a mover like he is, bouncing around. Like I said, I hope is okay, but I think it was more of a broken man than a broken rib,” he concluded.

Now 6-1-1 since returning to lightweight, Poirier has established himself as a legitimate contender in the 155 pound division. Moving forward, “The Diamond” has expressed interest in taking on the winner of UFC 218’s bout between Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje.

The post Dustin Poirier Says Anthony Pettis Was A ‘Broken Man’ At UFC Norfolk appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Highlights: Matt Brown Knocks Out Diego Sanchez In Possible Retirement Fight

In the co-main event of last night’s (Sat., November 11, 2017) from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, longtime UFC veteran Matt Brown made what may be the final Octagon appearance of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career against Diego Sanchez. Brown’s last notable win streak came from 2012 to 2014 when he […]

The post Highlights: Matt Brown Knocks Out Diego Sanchez In Possible Retirement Fight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

In the co-main event of last night’s (Sat., November 11, 2017) from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, longtime UFC veteran Matt Brown made what may be the final Octagon appearance of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career against Diego Sanchez.

Brown’s last notable win streak came from 2012 to 2014 when he strung together seven straight wins before being defeated by Robbie Lawler in July of 2014. He would go on to lose five of his next six fights, including his most recent bout in which he suffered a devastating third-round knockout loss to Donald Cerrone last December. “The Immortal One” was hoping to end his fighting career on a high note by picking up a win over Sanchez.

Sanchez’s fighting career had been very up-and-down in the past several years as well. Sanchez had lost five of his last eight fights inside the cage and was most recently knocked out by Al Iaquinta in Nashville this past April. The 35-year-old veteran was hoping to spoil Brown’s retirement plans with a big win.

In the opening round Sanchez attempted to blitz Brown with a barrage of punches and takedown attempts, but after “Immortal” caught a kick from Sanchez and pressed him against the cage it was all over. Brown loaded up for a huge elbow that planted Sanchez on the canvas unconscious – picking up a first-round knockout win to potentially end his career.

Watch the highlights of his monstrous KO win here:

The post Highlights: Matt Brown Knocks Out Diego Sanchez In Possible Retirement Fight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Highlights: Dustin Poirier Ends ‘Showtime’ In Brutal UFC Norfolk Headliner

Looking to secure pivotal positioning in the deeply talented UFC lightweight division, No. 8-ranked Dustin Poirier met No. 13 former champion Anthony Pettis in the main event of last night’s (Sat., November 11, 2017) UFC FIght Night 120 from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and the result was one of the best fights […]

The post Highlights: Dustin Poirier Ends ‘Showtime’ In Brutal UFC Norfolk Headliner appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Looking to secure pivotal positioning in the deeply talented UFC lightweight division, No. 8-ranked Dustin Poirier met No. 13 former champion Anthony Pettis in the main event of last night’s (Sat., November 11, 2017) UFC FIght Night 120 from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and the result was one of the best fights of the year.

The action was furious from the opening bell, with Poirier using his trademark pressure style to stalk the more striking-focused Pettis with some effective takedowns and follow-up ground and pound, but “Showtime” used a crafty ground game to reverse position and land his own damage.

Poirier eventually opened a cut over Pettis’ eye with an elbow and it began to gush, so the bout became a bloody, all-out war with both fighters stringing chain scrambles together and big punches as they sought position but were unable to keep any one spot due to the sheer amount of blood all over them.

In the end, Poirier locked on a tight body triangle and took Pettis’ back, and reversed to mount after failing to lock up a rear-naked choke. When he did, Pettis tapped out due to what looked like a rib injury. It was an anticlimactic finish to one of the year’s best fights, but it will remain just that nonetheless. Watch the highlights of the brutal UFC Norfolk main event here:

The post Highlights: Dustin Poirier Ends ‘Showtime’ In Brutal UFC Norfolk Headliner appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.