Tag: UFC Vegas 17

UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Neal Medical Suspensions Released

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released its medical suspensions from UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Neal. UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Neal took place from the UFC Apex Saturday, December 19. The main event saw Stephen Thompson defeat Geoff Neal via …

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released its medical suspensions from UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Neal. UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Neal took place from the UFC Apex Saturday, December 19. The main event saw Stephen Thompson defeat Geoff Neal via unanimous decision, and the co-main event saw former featherweight champion Jose Aldo defeat […]

Rob Font Wants TJ Dillashaw Or Headlining Spot Following Win Over Marlon Moraes

FontRob Font wants TJ Dillashaw or a headlining spot next. Font earned arguably the biggest win of his career following an emphatic first-round knockout of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at UFC Vegas 17 last night. It put him on a three-fight winning streak in addition to four wins in his last five outings. Following […]

Font

Rob Font wants TJ Dillashaw or a headlining spot next.

Font earned arguably the biggest win of his career following an emphatic first-round knockout of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at UFC Vegas 17 last night. It put him on a three-fight winning streak in addition to four wins in his last five outings.

Following the victory, Font called for a fight with the returning former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw next. He explained why he wanted Dillashaw further at the post-fight press conference while adding that if that wasn’t the case, he would prefer a headliner fight at the very least.

“I would love to fight that guy,” Font said of Dillashaw (via MMA Fighting). “He’s an ex-champ. Big name, huge name.

“If I don’t get that fight, I just would love to headline a card. I want someone big, either a big name, some type of headline, I would even fill in for the champ, we’ll figure something out.”

With Jose Aldo also calling for a fight with Dillashaw, it’s possible Font may be overlooked. However, his finish over Moraes was certainly more impressive than Aldo’s unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera.

The finish also went just as planned according to Font.

“It went the way I planned, I just figured it would happen in the second round” Font explained. “I figured it would be a rough first round either on the ground or standing, but after that I felt like I was gonna be able to push forward and get the finish in the second round.”

Add in the fact that Aldo — albeit controversially — lost a decision to Moraes and Font certainly has a better claim at getting the Dillashaw fight.

Regardless of who he ends up facing next, Font hopes to eventually become champion in 2021 alongside New England Cartel teammate Calvin Kattar who faces Max Holloway next month.

“2021, Calvin Kattar and myself will be fighting for the title,” Font added.

Who do you want to see Font face next?

Jose Aldo Reveals 3 Names He Wants To Fight Other Than TJ Dillashaw

AldoJose Aldo is not only targeting TJ Dillashaw. Aldo returned to the win column as well as earned his first victory at bantamweight when he outpointed Marlon Vera over three rounds in the UFC Vegas 17 co-headliner last night. Following the win, Aldo called for a fight with the former bantamweight champion in Dillashaw who […]

Aldo

Jose Aldo is not only targeting TJ Dillashaw.

Aldo returned to the win column as well as earned his first victory at bantamweight when he outpointed Marlon Vera over three rounds in the UFC Vegas 17 co-headliner last night.

Following the win, Aldo called for a fight with the former bantamweight champion in Dillashaw who will be eligible to return to action starting next month.

Aldo later clarified his callout was nothing personal either as he believes it’s a fight that simply makes sense for everyone.

However, should the UFC decide on a different opponent for Dillashaw, Aldo has three other names in mind.

“I think the category has new names coming up,” Aldo told AG Fight (via BJ Penn). “There’s TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, Frankie Edgar, who has a fight with Cory Sandhagen.

“If it isn’t (Dillashaw), it could be Dominick too, it could be anyone. We have to be busy, to draw attention to our category. Or even (Henry) Cejudo himself, if he comes back, we are willing to make this fight.”

The name that stands out in particular is Cruz — even if he is slated to face Casey Kenney at UFC 259 on March 6.

Cruz was the bantamweight champion at WEC as well as the UFC at the same time Aldo was featherweight champion in those organizations.

It led to many fans wanting to see a fight between the pair at some point. While both fighters are seemingly past their prime, it would still be a fascinating matchup even in 2021.

Then again, so would the other options Aldo mentioned other than Edgar who he has already defeated twice, albeit at featherweight.

Who do you want to see Aldo face next?

Geoff Neal Releases Statement, Says He Couldn’t See Out Of Eye For 4 Rounds

NealGeoff Neal had to go through plenty of adversity leading up to his fight with Stephen Thompson. Neal suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Thompson in the UFC Vegas 17 headliner last night as he was completely outclassed by the former title challenger over 25 minutes. The 30-year-old released a statement soon after the fight […]

Neal

Geoff Neal had to go through plenty of adversity leading up to his fight with Stephen Thompson.

Neal suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Thompson in the UFC Vegas 17 headliner last night as he was completely outclassed by the former title challenger over 25 minutes.

The 30-year-old released a statement soon after the fight where he detailed all the adversity he had faced leading up to the fight — including congestive heart failure earlier this year — as well as not being able to see out of his eye for four rounds.

“I want to take the time to thank all my supporters and friends. I haven’t replied to everyone but just know I love y’all! Not the outcome I wanted but I had fun nonetheless. Some much adversity dealing leading up to this fight.. sepsis, congestive heart failure, 3 of my corners testing positive for covid, with one of them being the general @sayifsaud, but I still made that walk and fought that fight.

“Couldn’t see out of my right eye for 4 rounds and still managed to hang in there with a guy whose been kicking ass since I was like 9yrs old lol. I don’t know about y’all but I’m proud of me! Shoutout to my teammates and coaches who did everything to get me ready for this moment.”

Neal’s injury to his eye appeared to have come from an accidental headbutt with Thompson towards the end of the first round as both fighters were cut and bleeding as a result.

However, “Handz of Steel” is not using all of that as excuses either, as he made sure to give props to “Wonderboy” for his performance as well as how he conducted himself during the fight.

“And big shout out to @wonderboymma. True definition of a martial artist. Never stop being you my man. And tell your pops I said thanks for the water ???

“P.S this is not an excuse @wonderboymma is good af lol”

What did you think of Neal’s performance despite all the setbacks he had to deal with?

Anthony Pettis Wants Rematch With Tony Ferguson Following UFC Vegas 17

PettisAnthony Pettis wants to run things back with Tony Ferguson. Pettis made it two wins in a row following an impressive unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono in their welterweight bout at UFC Vegas 17 on Saturday night. As a result, the former lightweight champion is now on a winning streak for the first time […]

Pettis

Anthony Pettis wants to run things back with Tony Ferguson.

Pettis made it two wins in a row following an impressive unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono in their welterweight bout at UFC Vegas 17 on Saturday night.

As a result, the former lightweight champion is now on a winning streak for the first time since 2014. However, he stated in his post-fight interview that he plans on going back down to his old division.

As for who he wants? He believes a rematch with “El Cucuy” makes sense.

“I think Tony makes sense, man,” Pettis said at the post-fight press conference. “I think Tony Ferguson coming off his two losses — and he’s fighting tough dudes — that’s what I hate about this sport. Guys are like, ‘oh, Tony’s done.’ Dude, he’s a dangerous dude.

“But I think that would be a good fight for me to jump back in the lightweight mix and he’s still right up there.”

Ferguson, of course, defeated Pettis via second-round TKO when they met in a lightweight contest in the co-main event of UFC 229 back in October 2018.

Following UFC 256 last weekend, however, Ferguson is now on a two-fight losing streak. And Pettis believes with some adjustments in addition to a proper camp, he can come out on top against the former interim champion.

“Man, he got me early with those elbows,” Pettis added. “I think I make some adjustments in there and actually have a full training camp. Not taking anything away from him but I took that fight on short notice, the weight cut was horrible and I just wasn’t mentally there in that process. I was just doing these 155 fights because I kind of had to, not because I want to.

“That’s the difference right now. I’m making the decision outside the Octagon to make these fights go easier.”

Do you want to see this fight next?

Stephen Thompson Grabs Decision Win Over Geoff Neal With Masterful Striking Display – UFC Vegas 17 Highlights

ThompsonIt’s two consecutive victories for two-time UFC welterweight title challenger, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. The road to the 170-pound top-five still goes through Simpsonville, South Carolina with fan-favourite Thompson displaying some of the most technical striking in recent memory to score a dominant judging win over Geoff ‘Handz of Steel’ Neal. Utilzing his phenomenal footwork from […]

Thompson

It’s two consecutive victories for two-time UFC welterweight title challenger, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. The road to the 170-pound top-five still goes through Simpsonville, South Carolina with fan-favourite Thompson displaying some of the most technical striking in recent memory to score a dominant judging win over Geoff ‘Handz of Steel’ Neal.

Utilzing his phenomenal footwork from the get-go, Thomspon fired from ranfe on cue, countering and evading the pace-pushing and pressuring from Neal. With just over a minute remaining in the round, Thompson and Neal unfortunately clashed heads during an exchange — opening a cut on both of their eyebrows. Round one in the books and a round for Wonderboy.

Closing the distance with a lot more urgency given the location of his cut, Neal clinched alongside the fence against Thompson, after eating a front-leg side-kick to the body. Picking each shot with aplomb, Thompson landed his shot of choice before changing direction and evading any incoming counters. Doing his best work before the buzzer, Neal clipped Wonderboy with a nice short left-hook. Another round under Wonderboy’s belt, however.

Again clinching after some more masterful striking from Thompson, Neal, who seemed somewhat dejected managed to control the Simpsonville native at the fence. Thompson again nabs a round with a more aggressive approach to the final exchanges of the third.

More of the same in the penultimate round for Thompson who landed his best shots in the center of the Octagon as Neal retreated as the former evaded. Worryingly for the karate practitioner, he noted a potentially injured right leg with some major swelling above the 38-year-old’s knee. Battling through the apparent injury, Thompson traded in the pocket with Neal, however, it was too little too late for the Fortis MMA mainstay as Wonderboy makes it two in two with a unanimous decision win.

Following the announcement of the official decision, Thompson called for an NMF vs. BMF rematch with recent welterweight title challenger, Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal.

Below, catch the highlights from Wonderboy’s second straight win as he dominates surging contender, Neal.