Tag: WMMA

Rodriguez Says J?drzejczyk Should Lose Her Ranking Due To Inactivity

UFC women’s strawweight Marina Rodriguez doesn’t understand why former champion Joanna J?drzejczyk is still ranked at 115 pounds. Rodriguez was in action this past weekend at UFC Vegas 39. In her second consecutive main event, the 34-year-old faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Mackenzie Dern. Heading into the headlining clash as the underdog, Rodriguez hoped to spring […]

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UFC women’s strawweight Marina Rodriguez doesn’t understand why former champion Joanna J?drzejczyk is still ranked at 115 pounds.

Rodriguez was in action this past weekend at UFC Vegas 39. In her second consecutive main event, the 34-year-old faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Mackenzie Dern. Heading into the headlining clash as the underdog, Rodriguez hoped to spring an upset and enter the division’s top-five.

After five rounds of action, Rodriguez established herself as a legitimate title contender. Having survived a considerable amount of time on the ground with the extremely dangerous Dern in the second round, the Brazilian kept the fight on the feet for almost the entirety of the remaining 15 minutes and outstruck the 28-year-old convincingly. Following a comfortable unanimous decision win (49-36 x3), Rodriguez will see a rise up the strawweight ladder in this week’s rankings update.

Attention has now turned to who Rodriguez could meet next inside the Octagon. Rose Namajunas is set to make the first defense of her second reign as champion against Zhang Weili at UFC 268 next month. Given the fact many believed Carla Esparza deserved the Madison Square Garden co-main event spot, “Cookie Monster” will likely be next for the November 6 victor, a sentiment which was echoed by Rodriguez herself.

Also, considering Esparza defeated Rodriguez last July, it seems unlikely she’ll be forced to fight the Brazilian again before challenging for the gold. That effectively leaves just #2-ranked J?drzejczyk. A clash between the Polish star and Rodriguez to determine the woman behind Esparza in the queue seemingly makes sense. However, neither woman appears keen on the matchup.

Speaking during the UFC Vegas 39 post-fight press conference, Rodriguez addressed the former champion’s previous hesitation about a booking against the surging contender. The Rio Grande do Sul-born strawweight also questioned how J?drzejczyk still has a place in the rankings given her lengthy period away from action.

“Yeah, honestly, Joanna already said that she doesn’t want to fight me. And let’s be honest, she shouldn’t even be ranked anymore at this point because she’s been out of action for so long. And if she doesn’t want to fight me, I guess I don’t want to fight her.”

J?drzejczyk was last in action at UFC 248 last March. In one of the greatest fights in UFC history, the former 115-pound champ and 125-pound title challenger came inches away from taking the gold away from Zhang. After five rounds of fierce action, which included a gruesome hematoma for J?drzejczyk, “Magnum” retained her belt via split decision.

Having not fought in over a year-and-a-half, many have suggested the 34-year-old needs to return to action soon in order to keep her place in the strawweight top five. Given Rodriguez’s latest performance, perhaps she’ll be tempted to throw hands with the Brazilian.

Do you think Marina Rodriguez vs. Joanna J?drzejczyk makes sense next?

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Marina Rodriguez Says Carla Esparza Should Get Title Shot Before Her

UFC strawweight Marina Rodriguez is poised for an imminent title shot following her win on Saturday, but she feels the only woman to have beaten her, Carla Esparza, deserves it first. Rodriguez once again proved that she’s one of the best in the women’s 115-pound division by earning a unanimous decision victory over Mackenzie Dern […]

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UFC strawweight Marina Rodriguez is poised for an imminent title shot following her win on Saturday, but she feels the only woman to have beaten her, Carla Esparza, deserves it first.

Rodriguez once again proved that she’s one of the best in the women’s 115-pound division by earning a unanimous decision victory over Mackenzie Dern at UFC Vegas 39. It wasn’t without adversity, however, with Rodriguez escaping a few precarious situations on the ground against Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Dern.

The Fight of the Night performance was Rodriguez’s third successive victory, having previously defeated Michelle Waterson and Amanda Ribas this year. Her last and only loss of her career came via a narrow split decision against Esparza in July 2020.

For Dern, the loss snapped her four-fight win-streak, and came against an opponent she didn’t initially plan on fighting. Last month, Dern said that Ezparza had turned her down before the matchup with Rodriguez materialized, in what she believed was an effort to hold out for a title shot.

Marina Rodriguez Dern
PHOTO: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Marina Rodriguez Says Carla Ezparza Deserves Title Shot Next

Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will run it back with Weili Zhang at UFC 268 on 6 November, but as to who will face the victor, it’s still anyone’s guess. In addition to Rodriguez, #3 ranked Esparza, who’s riding a five-fight win-streak, probably has the strongest case for a title shot. But there’s also Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who remains ranked at #2, despite not fighting since her instant classic with Zhang in March last year.

Speaking at the UFC Vegas 39 post-fight press conference, Rodriguez magnanimously conceded that Esparza deserves a title shot even more than herself, and that she should be facing Namajunas in November instead of Zhang.

Marina Rodriguez Esparza
Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez square off in July 2020. (PHOTO: ESPN)

“Yeah, that’s the thing,” said Rodriguez. “I really think that Carla was the one that should have been getting the title fight…but if the UFC does offer me a title fight ahead of her, who am I to say no to it? But I would much prefer (to) let her go fight for (the) title, maybe get that belt, and then we can do the rematch for the belt.”

Marina seems an incredibly humble person, however, she doesn’t have infinite patience.

“But I don’t have all the time in the world, so (she’s) gotta get moving,” said Rodriguez.

What do you think? Should Carla Esparza get a title shot before Marina Rodriguez?

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Agapova On Maryna Moroz: “I’d Like To Punish This Bitch For Lying”

UFC women’s flyweight Mariya Agapova has vowed to “smash” former teammate Maryna Moroz for talking smack behind her back. Agapova earned a Performance of the Night bonus for her victory over Sabina Mazo at UFC Vegas 39 on Saturday. After dropping Mazo early in the third round, the 24-year-old masterfully latched onto her back and […]

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UFC women’s flyweight Mariya Agapova has vowed to “smash” former teammate Maryna Moroz for talking smack behind her back.

Agapova earned a Performance of the Night bonus for her victory over Sabina Mazo at UFC Vegas 39 on Saturday. After dropping Mazo early in the third round, the 24-year-old masterfully latched onto her back and sunk in a rear-naked choke, taking her UFC tally to 2-1. 

It was Agapova’s first fight in over a year, and in that time, the Kazakh has had a series of scandalous accusations flung at her by former American Top Team peer Moroz. The Ukrainian claims that Agapova was forced out of the gym for a motley of indiscretions, including drug use, threatening to stab several individuals, and stalking the pregnant wife of a fellow fighter.

In July, Agapova’s manager, Alex Davis, denied the accusations, saying that while “Mariya went through some difficult moments” her expulsion from American Top Team “had nothing to do with drugs.”

Agapova Mazo
PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

Agapova Calls Out Moroz, Vows To “Smash Her Face”

Following her victory over Mazo, Agapova wasted no time in calling out Moroz, and in her post-fight interview, laid into her former teammate for running her mouth. 

“Yeah, she’s just jealous,” said Agapova. “She’s jealous. Second, she’s sneaky. She’s trying to destroy my career. I lost sponsorship because of her interview and got really big trouble situation. And I would like to punish this bitch because she’s trying to destroy my career. I want to smash her.”

Mariya explained that the accusations, which she flatly denies, have severely damaged her reputation. Not only did she lose sponsorships, but also fans. The former Dana White’s Contender Series alum said that she was in fact expelled from American Top Team due to an argument with “some guy,” and counter-accused Moroz of cheating her manager out of mone before expressing her desire to “beat her ass” and “smash her face.”

So if all the sordid allegations leveled against her are untrue, why does Agapova feel her ex-teammate is lying? 

“I think she’s just trying to put me down because I left, I have trouble, I have trouble with my health, and she just used it like my weakness to put me down, to destroy my career,” said Agapova. “And this is super sneaky and not nice. Like now, I’m good, and I (called her out for a fight). So if you want to talk shit, be ready to answer for your words.”

Would you like to see a bad-blood matchup between Agapova and Moroz?

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Namajunas Says UFC 261 Kick “One Of 10 Ways” She Could Finish Zhang

UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas has suggested the head kick she used to knock Zhang Weili out at UFC 261 was just “one of 10 ways” she could finish “Magnum.” In front of the first sold-out crowd at a UFC event in well over a year, Namajunas became the first woman in UFC history […]

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UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas has suggested the head kick she used to knock Zhang Weili out at UFC 261 was just “one of 10 ways” she could finish “Magnum.”

In front of the first sold-out crowd at a UFC event in well over a year, Namajunas became the first woman in UFC history to reclaim a title after losing it. “Thug Rose” had previously won and defended the title against Joanna J?drzejczyk. She lost the 155-pound gold in 2019 after being on the receiving end of a brutal slam against Jéssica Andrade.

Having exacted revenge on the newly-beltless Brazilian at UFC 251 on Fight Island, Namajunas booked her spot against the high-flying champion Zhang. In the April pay-per-view’s co-main event, the 29-year-old provided one of the most memorable moments in UFC history, knocking the Chinese star out with a vicious left head kick. In achieving victory, Namajunas handed Zhang her first loss in the promotion and ended her remarkable 21-fight win streak.

Now set to run it back with her third opponent in a row, Namajunas is confident of getting the better of Zhang for the second time this year. The pair are set to collide again at UFC 268 next month.

In an interview with The Schmo ahead of the first title defense of her second reign, “Thug Rose” acknowledged the challenge she’ll be facing come November 6. However, in her mind, if she performs to her best ability, she is the best at 115 pounds.

“I’m highly confident in this fight. Knowing what’s ahead of me, I have a big task ahead of me. But I think there’s a lot of stuff that’s working in my favor. I think sometimes I take that and I spin it the other way around and I go, ‘Alright, so I gotta make sure that I’m really on top of my game because it’s easy to be sleepy.’ As long as I’m doing my best, I am the best.”

Assessing what tools she may use in her rematch against “Magnum,” Namajunas revealed she’ll be using another kick-heavy attack. Despite suggesting she could look to finish Zhang in the same way she did at UFC 261, the Wisconsin-native claimed the head kick is just one of many ways she envisions herself being able to stop the former champ.

“Well it worked [the head kick]. We can always test that out [again]. I’m always going to be throwing those kicks now. That’s my original martial arts… that’s what I started in is Taekwondo. I’ll definitely be doing that and a lot more. That was just, kind of, one of 10 ways that I see myself finishing her.”

Despite the red-hot form of the inaugural strawweight queen Carla Esparza, who has built a five-fight win streak that includes victories over Yan Xiaonan, one half of this weekend’s main event Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Waterson, and Alexa Grasso, Zhang has had her wish for an immediate rematch with Namajunas granted. Her chance for redemption will be the first of two blockbuster championship rematches set to go down inside Madison Square Garden.

In the main event, UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will revisit his rivalry with Colby Covington. Having already beaten “Chaos” at UFC 245 in 2019, “The Nigerian Nightmare” will look to repeat the feat on November 6.

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 268, Rose Namajunas or Zhang Weili?

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Dern Admits Idea Of Moving Up To Challenge Shevchenko Is “Attractive”

Mackenzie Dern has admitted the idea of challenging UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is getting more and more “attractive.” Since becoming 125-pound queen in 2018, Shevchenko has developed into one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. In six title defenses, which is a record among active champs in the promotion, “Bullet” has […]

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Mackenzie Dern has admitted the idea of challenging UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is getting more and more “attractive.”

Since becoming 125-pound queen in 2018, Shevchenko has developed into one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. In six title defenses, which is a record among active champs in the promotion, “Bullet” has fought off the challenges of Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, Jéssica Andrade, and Lauren Murphy.

Shevchenko’s most recent retention came at UFC 266 last month. Against Murphy, the Kyrgyzstani star put her incredible ability to hit and not be hit on full display. After controlling a fairly lacklustre three rounds, largely due to little resistance from “Lucky,” Shevchenko turned the heat up in the fourth round. With a flurry of punches and elbows, the champ gave the T-Mobile Arena crowd the brutal finish they were looking for.

With the remaining competition in the current flyweight division wearing thin, Shevchenko may have to look elsewhere for her future challenges. While many have suggested it’s time for a trilogy fight with featherweight and bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes, one strawweight contender has revealed her desire to bring a new threat to “Bullet.”

Speaking to reporters at UFC Vegas 39 media day ahead of her upcoming fight, Mackenzie Dern suggested she could look to find championship success at both 115 and 125 pounds.

“I’ve fought at 125 before, but it was kind of not a very strong Mackenzie. It was kind of like a little bit lazy Mackenzie, like not so professional. So definitely just watching Valentina, she’s (been champion for a long time). The girls are trying, were trying, but I’m like, ‘Man, we need someone to fight her.’ Maybe a jiu-jitsu girl is someone to beat her. Who knows? But definitely, I can see myself getting to 125 but as a fit Mackenzie. So that idea is getting more and more attractive to me to go and try and just make history.”

Dern previously fought at flyweight under the promotional banner of LFA. In 2017, she defeated Mandy Polk by way of a rear-naked choke in her 125-pound debut.

While Shevchenko looks for her next challenger, Dern will be preparing for her first UFC main event. The Arizona-born Brazilian will enter the Octagon with Marina Rodriguez in this weekend’s UFC Vegas 39 headliner.

Since returning from maternity leave with her one and only defeat in MMA against Amanda Ribas, Dern has been on an incredible run of form. Her active four-fight win streak, which includes wins over Randa Markos, Virna Jandiroba, and Nina Nunes, has seen her collect three Performance of the Night bonuses and three first-round submissions.

Should she be victorious over Rodriguez, the skilled jiu-jitsu practitioner will certainly move into contention for a title shot in the near future.

How do you think Mackenzie Dern would fare against UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko?

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Mackenzie Dern Says Pregnancy In “Man-Based Sport” Put Sponsors Off

UFC women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern has opened up on the sponsors she lost during her pregnancy and hiatus from MMA in 2019. After going 7-0 in the sport, a record which included two UFC victories over Ashley Yoder and Amanda Cooper, Dern announced in February 2019 that she would be taking maternity leave from the […]

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UFC women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern has opened up on the sponsors she lost during her pregnancy and hiatus from MMA in 2019.

After going 7-0 in the sport, a record which included two UFC victories over Ashley Yoder and Amanda Cooper, Dern announced in February 2019 that she would be taking maternity leave from the promotion ahead of the birth of her daughter.

In her first fight back, the Brazilian-American saw the only blemish to date added to her record by Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night 161. Since then, the 28-year-old has looked unstoppable. Consecutive first-round armbar submissions against Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos brought her back into contention, before wins against top contenders Virna Jandiroba and Nina Nunes saw her enter the 155-pound top-five.

While she’s returned to the Octagon since her pregnancy with as much motivation and commitment as before, Dern has admitted that many didn’t expect her to achieve success after becoming a mom. In an interview with MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, the former world No.1-ranked IBJJF competitor discussed why she’d lost sponsors during her 2019 hiatus.

“So, in sponsors, hey, it’s business you know, it’s money, I understand. (I’m) not gonna be in the media, not gonna be those things. But now I think they are probably like, ‘Oh, maybe we shouldn’t have done that.’”

Dern added that the masculine nature of the sport likely had a part to play in the attitude towards her pregnancy. But while many doubted the future of her MMA career, the Arizona-born Brazilian said she was, and still is, determined to prove everyone wrong.

“I mean, I understand that we’re a more man-based sport. Of course that’s kinda like my role is just trying to inspire women to kind of identify more themselves with my story. Like, hey, moms can fight—or even if they’re not moms but women. Maybe sometimes they get scared like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna fight and maybe not be too feminine anymore. But we can still say the same. So I know that we have (a) more male base. And of course, if you can see a hot girl fighting and also she’s pregnant—I already was having problems with making weight before, so everyone’s just kinda like, I guess they just left and, ‘OK, she’s never gonna come back to fighting, nothing.’ And it was good. For me it was like, ‘OK, I need to prove everyone wrong.’”

As her charge to the title continues, Dern will look to get past fellow contender Marina Rodriguez in this weekend’s UFC Vegas 39 main event. While the 28-year-old will ride a four-fight win streak into Saturday’s headliner, the 34-year-old will look to carry the momentum from consecutive triumphs over Amanda Ribas and Michelle Waterson into her clash with Dern.

Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC Vegas 39 main event, Mackenzie Dern or Marina Rodriguez?

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