Tag: UFC Mexico City

UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards. With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week. Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, […]

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, February 16, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

For those matchups, including the planned main event for the Apex on April 5, check out the list below:

But it wasn’t all positive, with four fights falling through or being adjusted:

UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Potential No. 1 Contender Fight For Zhang Weili’s Title Booked

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards. With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week. Between Monday, February 3, and Sunday, […]

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

Between Monday, February 3, and Sunday, February 9, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

For those matchups, including one that could determine the next challenger to UFC 312 winner Zhang Weili’s strawweight title, check out the list below:

But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted:

Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Official For UFC Mexico City Main Event

Brandon Moreno is heading back to Mexico City, where he will take on Steve Erceg in the main event. MMA Mania (following initial posts from Kevin K on X) reported that the UFC had put together a new headliner for their rematch to Arena CDMZ on March 29, with the former two-time flyweight champion topping […]

Brandon Moreno is heading back to Mexico City, where he will take on Steve Erceg in the main event.

MMA Mania (following initial posts from Kevin K on X) reported that the UFC had put together a new headliner for their rematch to Arena CDMZ on March 29, with the former two-time flyweight champion topping the bill.

The UFC officially confirmed the booking during Saturday’s UFC 312 pay-per-view broadcast.

The original main event was reported to be a featherweight contest between Mexico’s Yair Rodríguez and Brazil’s Diego Lopes.

Moreno previously fought in Mexico City last February where he suffered a split decision loss to Brandon Royval before deciding to take some long overdue time off. He returned in Edmonton last November where “The Assassin Baby” looked back to his best, convincingly beating Amir Albazi to bring his opponent’s winning streak to an end.

Whilst the Tijuana born contender is sure to receive another incredible reception from his home fans, March 29 is a huge opportunity for his opponent. Erceg currently finds himself coming off of back-to-back losses for the first time in his career.

“Astroboy” was catapulted into a flyweight title shot off the back of a three-fight winning streak inside the Octagon and though he put on a good performance against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301, he was unable to leave Brazil with the gold. Erceg’s attempt to bounce back in front of his home crowd in Perth came to a sudden halt when he was stopped by Kai Kara-France in the first round at UFC 305 in August.

The 29-year old was originally booked to take on the #8-ranked Asu Almabayev on March 1 until the promotion seemingly changed their plans around in order to book a fitting main event for the Mexican fans. Rather than fighting an opponent that was one spot above him in the rankings, Erceg will now take on the #2-ranked contender.

Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodríguez Among The Options For UFC Mexico Main Event In March

Diego Lopes could be finally getting his chance to headline a UFC event for the first time. The surging UFC featherweight sensation enjoyed a stellar run last year, racking up three consecutive victories inside the Octagon. His most recent outing was at UFC 306 in September, where he claimed a commanding unanimous decision victory over […]

Diego Lopes could be finally getting his chance to headline a UFC event for the first time.

The surging UFC featherweight sensation enjoyed a stellar run last year, racking up three consecutive victories inside the Octagon. His most recent outing was at UFC 306 in September, where he claimed a commanding unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Brian Ortega.

After that victory, Lopes set his sights on high-profile matchups that could bring him one step closer to his first title shot. Among those he targeted was former kingpin Alexander Volkanovski for a potential title eliminator. However, “The Great” swiftly dismissed the challenge, revealing that he was instead focused on a rematch with the reigning champion, Ilia Topuria.

It seems the 30-year-old Brazilian is already forging ahead with his journey, as he revealed in a social media post on Wednesday that he has officially begun training for his first fight of 2025. From the looks of it, he’s landed the big-name opponent he’s been aiming for.

According to a recent report from Home of Fight’s Jake Noecker, Lopes is in line to face off against former interim 145-pound champion Yair Rodríguez in the headlining bout at UFC Mexico City. The upcoming Fight Night event is slated for March 29 at the Arena CDMX in Mexico.

Canadian reported Ariel Helwani later clarified the extent to which the bout is a done deal, noting that it’s one of the options for the main event in Mexico but is “far from set.”

Rodriguez has been on the sidelines since his third-round submission loss to Ortega in February 2024. He’s now on a two-fight skid, with his slide beginning after a knockout defeat to Volkanovski in their title unification bout at UFC 290 in July 2023.

“El Pantera” secured the interim title at UFC 284 in February 2023, delivering a dominant third-round submission victory over Josh Emmett.

Brian Ortega opens as betting favorite as next foe for UFC star Ilia Topuria in title fight

Brian Ortega opens as betting favorite to fight Ilia Topuria for UFC featherweight title nextFormer two-time featherweight championship challenger, Brian Ortega has opened as a significant betting favorite to emerge as the next…

Brian Ortega opens as betting favorite to fight Ilia Topuria for UFC featherweight title next

Former two-time featherweight championship challenger, Brian Ortega has opened as a significant betting favorite to emerge as the next chaser to the throne following the coronation of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 earlier this month – beating out former champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and ex-duel-weight kingpin, Conor McGregor.

Ortega, a former two-time title challenger at 145 pounds, returned to the winner’s enclosure at UFC Fight Night Mexico City over the course of the weekend, turning in a third round arm-triangle choke submission win over former interim titleholder, Yair Rodríguez in the pair’s rematch.

As for Topuria, the Spaniard turned in a spectacular second round KO win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 earlier this month, ending the Australian perfect-promotional run at the featherweight limit, to snatch the crown at his first time of trying.

And weighing up a slew of potential suitors to his featherweight title next ahead of his newly-minted reign, Topuria is most likely to face off with grappling ace, Brian Ortega as per new odds released – with the latter opening as a +150 betting favorite to draw the 15-0 gold holder first and foremost. 

Brian Ortega backed to fight Ilia Topuria next

With the ex-title challenger welcoming the opportunity to compete in a much-rumored first landing in Spain for the organization later htis year, fans and punters can use a host of bitcoin sports betting sites to bet on the possibility of Brian Ortega challenging Ilia Topuria for the undisputed featherweight champion. 

Coming up short in a pair of championship fights with Max Holloway, as well as the above-mentioned, Volkanovski, Brian Ortega arguably came closest to stopping the Australian – with a late guillotine choke attempt in their 2021 title affair.

And striking a victory for the first time since a decision success against the now-retired, Chan Sung Jung the year prior with his submission victory against Rodríguez, Ortega, who holds the number three rank in the featherweight pile, has now primed himself for a fight with Topuria next.

Staking his claim for a first featherweight title defense in his residency in Spain, German-born champion, Topuria has weighed up fights with the likes of the above-mentioned duo of Volkanovski, and McGregor since his ascension – as well as a stunning lightweight title charge against pound-for-pound kingpin, Islam Makhachev. 

Predicting a stunning win over the dominant Russian, Makhachev claimed the lightweight titleholder was “in trouble” if they ever share the Octagon in the future, before poking fun at his 2015 knockout loss to Brazilian stalwart, Adriano Martins. 

Amongst other potential opponents on the list for Topuria, the Spaniard has been backed to fight the likes of surging long-time foe, Movsar Evloev, as well as former champion, Holloway – who features at UFC 300 in April, and even Rodríguez, who has found himself in the midst of a heated rivalry with the newly-minted gold holder in recent weeks. 

Issuing a stark warning to Volkanovski who is pursuing a re-run against him, Topuria urged the New South Wales native to avoid a rematch, for his own “sake” and heath in the immediate aftermath of their UFC 298 grudge fight.

Who wins in a featherweight title fight: Ilia Topuria or Brian Ortega?

Brian Ortega welcomes title fight with Ilia Topuria after UFC Mexico win: ‘I’m happy to go to Spain’

Brian Ortega welcomes title fight with Ilia Topuria after UFC Mexico I'm more than happy to go to SpainTurning in his first victory inside the Octagon in four years overnight, former two-time featherweight title challenger, Brian Ortega…

Brian Ortega welcomes title fight with Ilia Topuria after UFC Mexico I'm more than happy to go to Spain

Turning in his first victory inside the Octagon in four years overnight, former two-time featherweight title challenger, Brian Ortega managed to salvage triumph from the jaws of defeat in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City, and now welcomes the prospect of a championship battle with new gold holder, Ilia Topuria.

Ortega, the current number four ranked featherweight contender, co-headlined UFC Fight Night Mexico City last night in a rematch with former interim champion, Yair Rodríguez – surviving significant adversity in the opening round.

Suffering a pair of quickfire knockdowns at the hands of the lightning-fast striker, Ortega turned in a dominant second frame against the Chihuahua native, before mounting him in the third frame and setting up an arm-triangle submission win. 

The victory came as Los Angeles-born challenger’s first win since a 2020 decision victory against Chan Sung Jung in Abu Dhabi, before back-to-back losses against Alexander Volkanovski, and the above-mentioned, Rodríguez. 

Brian Ortega weighs up Ilia Topuria title fight

Weighing up the prospect of a third stake at featherweight gold, Ortega welcomed the possibility of a title clash with newly-minted champion, Topuria – if it means he has to travel to Spain to secure a charge.

“Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) was a great champ,” Brian Ortega told assembled media after his UFC Mexico City win. “For people to kick him down right now, I find it disrespectful for everything that he’s done. If (Volkanovski) decides that he does not want to fight and chill, I’m more than happy to go to Spain.” 

Himself winning spoils earlier this month, Topuria shocked the world and his featherweight peers with a stunning win over dominant gold holder, Volkanovski – stopping the Australian with a blistering second round KO in Anaheim, California at UFC 298.

Who wins in a future title clash: Ilia Topuria or Brian Ortega?