Tag: UFC News

Ricardo Ramos, Jordan Griffin Receive New Opponents For UFC Minneapolis

Ricardo Ramos and Jordan Griffin have both been given new opponents ahead of UFC Minneapolis which takes place June 30 at Target Center. Ramos was originally supposed to face Sergio Pettis in a bantamweight contest. However, the latter pulled out for undisclosed reasons last week. Instead, the Brazilian will now face promotional newcomer Journey Newson. […]

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Ricardo Ramos and Jordan Griffin have both been given new opponents ahead of UFC Minneapolis which takes place June 30 at Target Center.

Ramos was originally supposed to face Sergio Pettis in a bantamweight contest. However, the latter pulled out for undisclosed reasons last week. Instead, the Brazilian will now face promotional newcomer Journey Newson.

Newson is 7-1 and most recently competed at COGA 60 last year in February. He will now get the biggest opportunity of his career when he makes his promotional bow later this month. As for Ramos, it is a chance to get back to winning ways after suffering his first UFC defeat via TKO at the hands of Said Nurmagomedov in February. He was previously 3-0 in the UFC.

Griffin, meanwhile, will also face a short-notice UFC newcomer in Vince Murdock in a featherweight clash. Griffin suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Dan Ige in his official UFC debut in December, and was also looking to get back to winning ways against Chas Skelly. However, Skelly had to pull out through injury.

Stepping in for Skelly is Murdock, who is 10-5 and currently on a two-fight losing streak, having last competed in March last year. Both bouts were announced on the UFC’s official website.

UFC Minneapolis will be headlined by a heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and former champion Junior dos Santos.

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Paige VanZant Talks ‘Terrifying’ Valentina Shevchenko, Gives Update On Comeback

Paige VanZant does not see herself facing UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko anytime soon. Shevchenko continued to showcase her dominance at 125 pounds when she brutally knocked out Jessica Eye with a head kick at UFC 238 earlier this month. It was her first title defense and also put her at 3-0 since making […]

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Paige VanZant does not see herself facing UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko anytime soon.

Shevchenko continued to showcase her dominance at 125 pounds when she brutally knocked out Jessica Eye with a head kick at UFC 238 earlier this month. It was her first title defense and also put her at 3-0 since making the move down to flyweight.

There doesn’t seem to be any real next contender for “The Bullet” either, and nobody can blame them. And VanZant, who is 1-1 since moving up to flyweight, believes the champion is on a completely different level than the rest of the pack.

“I am going to be real honest — she is terrifying,” VanZant said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “I plan on being in the UFC, training and fighting forever. She will probably retire before I fight for the title, to be totally honest.

“You know, I am only 25 so I want to work my way up. As far as anyone I see right now to dethrone her, no, there is nobody, she’s amazing. I know she has said bad things about me in the past, but I don’t care. Her striking is absolutely next level. She is so, gosh, methodical in her striking and technical. It’s like nothing I have ever seen before. So I am working on being like her. I want striking like hers. So, congrats to the champ, that was just an awesome performance.”

VanZant Provides Comeback Timeline

First, VanZant will need to return to the Octagon and remain active. The 25-year-old was sidelined once again as she had to undergo surgery last week after fracturing her right arm earlier this year.

The surgery fortunately went well as “12 Gauge” now expects to be back in training in 12 weeks. Her ideal return date is the UFC’s end-of-year card in December:

“12-week recovery process,” VanZant added. “It was 12 weeks from last Thursday so we’re one week into it so far. There’s always a really big card at the end of the year for the UFC so I’m hoping for that end of the year card.”

If that is the case, it would be just her fourth fight since December 2016. It is also notably the last fight on her UFC deal.

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Alexander Hernandez vs. Francisco Trinaldo Added To UFC San Antonio

The UFC San Antonio card continues to shape up as a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo has now been added to the event. The card takes place July 20 at the AT&T Center and despite having a number of fights initially announced for the card, the UFC was struggling with a main […]

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The UFC San Antonio card continues to shape up as a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo has now been added to the event.

The card takes place July 20 at the AT&T Center and despite having a number of fights initially announced for the card, the UFC was struggling with a main event. There were plans for a women’s flyweight title fight before UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier recently revealed there were plans for him to headline the card to no avail.

In the end, a pivotal welterweight headliner between Rafael dos Anjos and Leon Edwards was booked. And now, the UFC has announced Hernandez will be facing Trinaldo on the card as well.

Hernandez, who has fought in Texas for most of his professional career, will be returning to action for the first time since his TKO loss to Donald Cerrone in January. He was previously unbeaten in eight fights leading up to that setback.

As for Trinaldo, the Brazilian has alternated between wins and losses, but most recently defeated Evan Dunham via TKO back in September. With Hernandez ranked No. 13 in the lightweight rankings, a win could see Trinaldo return to the top 15.

Here is how the card looks as of now:

  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Leon Edwards
  • Alexander Hernandez vs. Franciso Trinaldo
  • Aleksei Oleinik vs. Walt Harris
  • Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell
  • James Vick vs. Dan Hooker
  • Greg Hardy vs. Juan Adams
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana
  • Sam Alvey vs. Klidson Abreu
  • Alex Caceres vs. Steven Peterson
  • Domingo Pilarte vs. Felipe Colares
  • Mario Bautista vs. Jin Soo Son
  • Ray Borg vs. Gabriel Silva
  • Roxanne Modafferi vs. Liz Carmouche

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Elias Theodorou Speaks Out On UFC Release: ‘I Have No Ill Will’

Former UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou finally broke his silence on his unexpected release from the Las Vegas-based promotion. Following his unanimous decision defeat to Derek Brunson last month, it emerged that Theodorou had been released from the company. Some sections of mixed martial arts fans were happy with the news as the Canadian was not […]

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Former UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou finally broke his silence on his unexpected release from the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Following his unanimous decision defeat to Derek Brunson last month, it emerged that Theodorou had been released from the company. Some sections of mixed martial arts fans were happy with the news as the Canadian was not the most exciting fighter. However, others were shocked as despite his conservative style, Theodorou still had an 8-3 record in the UFC.

Finally speaking in-depth on his release, Theodorou revealed in a recent interview that he holds no grudges toward the UFC:

“I have no ill will toward the UFC,” Theodorou told MMA Junkie. “I don’t think being upset about it does anyone good. Especially myself. I don’t want to burn any bridges, but I also want to look at it in the positive aspects where I’m happy and healthy, and I’ve been successful in 20 of my professional times.”

The good news for “The Spartan” is that he will likely not be out of work anytime soon, as he claims a number of promotions have already reached out to him.

“There are many organizations that have already reached out that pretty much pay what the UFC pays in some capacity,” Theodorou said. “And now with the avenue of having sponsors potentially involved, there are avenues I could make the same money as a UFC fighter elsewhere.”

Theodorou Speculates On Release

So what was the actual reason Theodorou was released? The 31-year-old is not sure, but speculated it may have been a financial decision.

“The UFC does have 600 athletes,” Theodorou added. “I think they just looked at what I was making now being 8-3 in the UFC, the five or seven Canadian fighters they recently added, they probably can pay every single one of their paychecks with my paycheck.“

That’s not to say Theodorou did not accept responsibility for his lackluster fight with Brunson. In fact, he’s considering reinventing his style as he doesn’t rule out a future return to the UFC.

“I’ve kind of looked at myself as a Pollack painting,” he said. “Abstract with its own beauty. But it seems if you don’t look at MMA as a sport, but rather entertainment, I’ve gotta be more Van Gogh, and cut my ear – or someone else’s ear.”

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Jared Cannonier Targeting Fight With Kelvin Gastelum

Ever since his win over Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier has struggled to book an opponent. Cannonier made it two finishes in a row since moving down to 185 pounds when he defeated Silva via TKO at UFC 237 last month in Brazil. He had previously knocked out David Branch, and his performances seem […]

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Ever since his win over Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier has struggled to book an opponent.

Cannonier made it two finishes in a row since moving down to 185 pounds when he defeated Silva via TKO at UFC 237 last month in Brazil. He had previously knocked out David Branch, and his performances seem to have made an impact as he claims he is getting turned down by a number of middleweights.

Appearing on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, “The Killa Gorilla” revealed there were even plans for him to headline the upcoming UFC San Antonio card on July 20 — only to be turned down by four middleweights.

“From my perspective, we are all fighters, we all have a job to do,” Cannonier said. “Picking and choosing fights is one thing I’ve never done. I’ll fight whoever comes along. I understand people have to consider their career if they want to get to a title shot and all that stuff, but, you know, in this division if you want to get to a title shot, you’re gonna have to meet me eventually.

“The longer you wait, the worse it’s going to be. So you better come see me now or wait until it’s going to be damn near impossible to beat me.”

Cannonier Wants Gastelum

In the end, the UFC decided to book a welterweight headliner between Rafael dos Anjos and Leon Edwards for the San Antonio card. And to his credit, Cannonier decided not to name any of the four opponents who turned him down. However, he does have one opponent in mind where a win could usher him into a title shot:

“I heard a little birdie tell me that one Kelvin Gastelum is looking to fight at the end or the middle of September, I think in Mexico City,” Cannonier added. “So that would be a good fight. That fight would put me closer to a title shot.

“[Israel] Adesanya just fought him, beat him for the interim title. So he’s next in line. But before that, Adesanya fought Anderson. I beat Anderson in a more impressive fashion.“

Gastelum is coming off a back-and-forth war with Adesanya at UFC 236 in April. However, he should be raring to go by September. Cannonier is not the only one who wants him, though, as the likes of Jack Hermansson and Ronaldo Souza have also called out the former welterweight.

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Renato Moicano Expects Fight of the Night vs. Korean Zombie

Renato Moicano will be headlining UFC Greenville this weekend when he takes on Chan Sung Jung, better known as The Korean Zombie in a featherweight duel. Heading into the fight, Moicano (#5) believes that a fight against the #12-ranked Zombie does litt…

Renato Moicano will be headlining UFC Greenville this weekend when he takes on Chan Sung Jung, better known as The Korean Zombie in a featherweight duel. Heading into the fight, Moicano (#5) believes that a fight against the #12-ranked Zombie does little for him in terms of repositioning himself for a title shot, but he […]

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