Month: January 2020

Having lost to both, Edson Barboza feels ‘more creative’ Ferguson has advantage over Khabib

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, UFC Interview, UFC News

It’s no surprise, given their long tenures inside the UFC’s lightweight division, that Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov would have a few opponents in common. Gleison Tibau, Michael Johnson, Rafael dos Anjos, and even Abel Trujillo have all fought both men. Notable as well, among that select group, is longtime lightweight action standout Edson Barboza.

Barboza fought Nurmagomedov back in December of 2017, at UFC 219, losing the bout by unanimous decision. Two years before that, however, he was on the wrong end of a D’Arce choke—slapped on by none other than ‘El Cucuy’ at the Ultimate Fighter 22 Season Finale. It’s a history that gives him a pretty solid view of what both men are capable of inside the Octagon. And he recently spoke to MMA reporter Helen Yee to give his read on the upcoming lightweight title bout.

“It’s gonna be a great fight—very excited for this one,” Barboza enthused. “But I think, it’s gonna be a great fight. It’s funny, because sometimes I see the fight – I think about this fight – I say, ‘Man, I think it’s a good fight for Khabib.’ But, at the same time, I say, ‘Man, Ferguson’s a hard fight.’ Because, his style, he’s a little bit, you know, different with everybody. Very excited. It’s gonna be a great fight.”

When asked more specifically, who he thought had the advantage, the American Top Team fighter ultimately landed on Ferguson and his creativity.

“I think Ferguson has a little bit here,” Barboza explained, “because he’s a little bit better striker, he’s a little more creative. He’s a little—you know? Everybody knows what Khabib doing, but he’s doing it very well. Everybody knows, but nobody can stop it. But, I feel Ferguson have a little bit, because he’s more creative, you never know what’s coming.”

Barboza did admit, however, that he thinks Khabib is the more powerful fighter, “especially on the ground.” Ultimately, the match-up should lead to a thrilling contest no matter which way it goes.

Barboza himself last fought in September of 2019, where he took a hard split decision loss to Paul Felder, in a rematch of their 2015 battle. The loss was Barboza’s second straight, coming on the heels of a KO to Justin Gaethje in March of that same year. No word yet on when he might be returning to the Octagon, but when he does, Barboza will be looking to do so at 145 lbs.

“I feel I need some new motivation,” Barboza said, recounting his long history at 155 in the UFC. “I think right now, the best choice for me is to drop for 145. Try this new division. It definitely put something inside; motivates me to come here, train every day. I’m very excited for the new challenges.”

UFC 249 takes place on Apil 18th, in Brooklyn, NY. The event is expected to be headlined by the Nurmagomedov/Ferguson lightweight title fight. A women’s strawweight rematch between former champions Jessica ANdrade and Rose Namajunas has been set for the card as well.

Diego Sanchez hit with 3-month USADA suspension for Ostarine

Posted on by Zane Simon in Drugs and PEDs, Front Page, UFC News

If it wasn’t already apparent, nutritional supplements tainted with Ostarine have become a bane for UFC fighters. Diego Sanchez is just the latest addition to a list of athletes suspended for the banned ‘selective androgen receptor modulator’ (SARM), a list that includes Sean O’Malley, Thibault Gouti, Amanda Ribas, Nicco Montano, Marvin Vettori, Augusto Mendes, Polo Reyes, Josh Barnett, Zubaira Tukhugov, Ruslan Magomedov, Jim Wallhead, Tom Lawlor, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and Tim Means.

Unfortunately, for fighters like Lawlor, Ferreira, Tukhugov, Magomedov and others who went through lengthy ordeals over their failed drug tests, as time has gone on USADA seems to be taking a less harsh approach to athletes found to have tested positive for the substance. That’s very fortunate for Sanchez, however, who finds himself on the receiving end of only a three-month suspension for his December 12th failed drug test.

“During an investigation into the circumstances of the positive test, Sanchez provided containers of products he was using at the time of the test for analysis at the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah,” USADA commented, in a written statement released on their website. “Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement labels, the analysis revealed that the products contained the selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) for which Sanchez tested positive.”

USADA went on to note, that while the supplements Sanchez was using were not part of the recently released “certified” supplement list for UFC athletes, “USADA determined that Sanchez’s exposure to these substances began on October 26, 2019, prior to the current UFC Anti-Doping Policy being announced.” USADA’s statement also notes for the future, that “…athletes who do not use one of the Certified Supplements designated in the UFC Anti-Doping Policy in light of the clear opportunity and benefit to do so should expect to receive a lengthier sanction.”

Interestingly, the drug testing agency reports that Sanchez’s 3-month period of ineligibility started at “the date he began using the products,” October 26th, 2019. That will leave him free and clear for his planned upcoming fight against Michel Pereira on February 15th, in Rio Rancho, NM. However, it appears to be an unusual policy decision considering most athlete suspensions are linked to the date of their first failed drug test. Bloody Elbow has reached out to USADA for comment, but has not received a reply at the time of posting.

Sanchez last competed against Michael Chiesa, back in July of last year—losing the bout by unanimous decision. That loss broke a two-fight win streak, with victories over Mickey Gall and Craig White.

UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho is set to be headlined by a light heavyweight rematch between Corey Anderson and Jan Blachowicz. Sanchez vs. Pereira is scheduled for the co-main event.

Nate Diaz picking up what Stephen A. Smith is putting down: ‘Rogan and Conor’ owe him an apology

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, UFC News

UFC 246 seems to have left a lasting argument in its wake. For many during the lead up, the main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone had the look and feel of a tune-up. A notable name matchup for McGregor, that nonetheless presented a perfect compliment to his fast-starting, power-punching style.

And that’s more or less how the fight itself played out—with McGregor starching ‘Cowboy’ in the opening minute of the bout. However, it was a result that, even for fans and pundits that may have seen it coming, felt somewhat anti-climactic. And has brought some notable backlash with it.

ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith lambasted Cerrone’s performance in the fight, a critique that – in and of itself – drew responses from both Conor McGregor and Joe Rogan.

But, if Stephen A. was “disgusted” and felt that Cowboy “gave up,” it seems he’s got a couple of notable supporters in his read on the fight. Chael Sonnen backed up Smith’s view, and now he’s been joined by the man who gave McGregor two of the hardest fights of his career, former lightweight title contender Nate Diaz.

“Rogan and Conor should give Stephen Smith a apology,” Diaz wrote in a Tweet posted on Thursday, January 29th, in response to the ‘Notorious’ former champion’s own demand that Smith apologize to Rogan and Cerrone.

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Diaz was last seen in the cage taking on top ranked welterweight Jorge Masvidal for the UFC’s hastily constructed ‘BMF’ title. He lost the bout via doctor’s stoppage at the end of the third round. And while he bides his time waiting for a new potential fight, the war of words over UFC 246 and Donald Cerrone’s performance appears to be keeping everyone busy.

The MMA Depressed-us: Busted prospects – Minowaman vs. Sokoudjou

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, MMA History, MMA Podcasts

MMA’s history as a major televised sporting contest may only be a few decades old, but that short span is already filled with stories of what might have been. Young fighters who appeared to have all the tools necessary to become future stars, only to find their careers suddenly flamed out. Or, perhaps, relegated to a journeyman status; once bright prospects forever hopping from promotion to promotion, picking up wins and losses as fans slowly forget that they were once heralded as the next big thing.

Sounds like prime fodder for some depressing MMA. And what a better time to glut ourselves on the world of notable mixed martial arts busts than a UFC off-week. With UFC 247 just around the corner, we’re watching Konstantin Erokhin vs. Viktor Pesta, Brandon Thatch vs. Siyar Bahadurzada, and MMA’s ‘could have been’ king Sokoudjou vs. Ikuhisa Minowa—for the Super Hulk Grand Prix Final no less (you can find that fight here).

If you’d like to watch along with us, then pull up the first two fights on Fight Pass and hit play when Zane counts down. For viewers that don’t have Fight Pass, but do have the fights, they can join in by starting round 1 along with Connor’s prompt. So strap in. And if we didn’t get to dive deep enough into the world of wasted potential, don’t worry, we’ll be revisiting this topic a lot.

Be sure to follow Zane on twitter @TheZaneSimon, follow Connor, @BoxingBusch, follow Phil @EvilGregJackson, and follow @BloodyElbow for all the latest in MMA happenings. If you enjoyed our show, give us a shout out in the comments here on Bloody Elbow, or give us a “like”, share & subscribe over on one of our other BE Presents Channels: SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes & Apple TV, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, TuneIn, OverCast, or Player FM – whichever one happens to be your listening platform of choice. While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to Bloody Elbow Presents; that way you’ll always be the first to get all of BE’s daily MMA offerings. For previous episodes of the show, check out our playlists on all of our BE Presents channels.

Tyron Woodley ‘blew through a lot of f-ing money’ during UFC title reign

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, UFC News

Sports is a world built on cliches. Everyone is ‘giving it 110%,’ ‘proving their doubters wrong,’ ‘hustling 24/7,’ and on and on. But more than stock phrases, it’s also a world where past narratives are repeated over and over. Prospects rise, former stars stumble, underdogs mount improbable comebacks, and champions dominate.

One of the more tragic, and longest running narratives in sports, however, is that of the successful athlete who finds themselves as a newly minted millionaire—only to blow their sudden wealth on the trappings of a high class lifestyle. Unfortunately, that sounds something like the spot former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley may be in.

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, the ‘Chosen One’ revealed that he’s had to make some serious lifestyle adjustments since losing the belt to Kamaru Usman back in March of last year.

“I blew through a lot of fucking money, man,” Woodley told ESPN. “A lot. A lot of money. And I was—jewelry and VIP and all these experiences, all these things that came with the championship life. You really – when you come from where I come from – you never imagine making that type of money; you never imagine being in that type of position. You work hard for it – and I didn’t get there by accident (because I was busting my ass) – but nobody taught me finance.

“Everybody taught me 1+1 is 2. That’s math. That ain’t finance. That ain’t wealth, that ain’t investing, that ain’t saving, that ain’t tax. That’s basically: you made money and, fucking, you spend it. Because when I was growing up, we spent it when it came in. My mom’s check was already cut up, it was done before she even got it. She had to pick which utility bills was not gonna be on that, that month. And it was something that I didn’t recognize, as a kid, that it wasn’t normal. I thought everybody had to do that.

“So, when you started making money? I bought, like, seven cars and, fucking, two houses—and all these trips. And nobody ever lifted a fucking hand when we was at a restaurant; 10-15 people went to dinner. And I was going to VIP clubs and all this shit, like, every other week. And I just imagined making that amount of money for a very long time. And they very quickly said, ‘Poof!’ Damn! I’m on it like, ‘You gonna tell me, March 3rd, that this is different? It’s not the same?’ And it’s just a lesson learned.”

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Woodley has yet to return to action since losing his title to Usman at UFC 235. A planned rematch against fellow former-champ Robbie Lawler fell by the wayside last June due to a lingering hand injury—one Woodley has since had surgically repaired. Now, though, the Ferguson, Missouri-born fighter is set for a return to action in the main event of UFC London, on March 21st, against Leon Edwards. Edwards enters the bout on an eight-fight winning streak, most recently defeating former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos.

The fight should offer a great opportunity for Woodley to reinsert himself into the welterweight title picture. And, more than that, a chance to get back to making money in the Octagon again.

UFC Raleigh: Blaydes vs. Dos Santos – Fights to make

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, UFC Editorial, UFC Results

In some senses, UFC Raleigh over-performed. It had a few moments that really dragged, but Curtis Blaydes got a chance to shine in a main event where most people thought he’d grind his way to a win. The co-main may not have been a thriller, but Michael Chiesa picked up the biggest win of his career. And Alex Perez and Angela Hill both added some rock solid footage to their highlight reels.

So, is there any chance that Blaydes can get himself a title shot without having to fight Francis Ngannou again? Will Colby Covington give Chiesa’s call-out any real consideration? And is Rafael Dos Anjos’ time as an elite fighter finally at an end?

I’ll be answering all those questions, and not much else, using the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking methods from years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. So, let’s get to the bouts!

CURTIS BLAYDES

For about two minutes, it looked like Curtis Blaydes had run himself right into trouble. The massive 250 lb heavyweight has prided himself on being a takedown machine, but against Junior dos Santos, he couldn’t buy a double leg. Instead, he relied on what has to be the most consistent boxing performance of his career—countering numerous lead uppercuts on his way to a standing TKO. It’s not the performance anyone expected, but it’s exactly the kind he needed to keep himself in the conversation for an eventual title fight (whenever Stipe Miocic decides to fight again). Still, unless Francis Ngannou loses or gets injured, Blaydes will probably always be second in line to the ‘Predator.’ If Jairzinho Rozenstruik manages to put the Cameroonian-born Frenchman away on March 28th, then Rozenstruik vs. Blaydes is a great fight to make. But, without being able to depend on that, then Blaydes better hope Derrick Lewis beats Ilir Latifi. Since even that isn’t a given, however, book Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov. It’s the only clear option available.

JUNIOR DOS SANTOS

Well, he stopped Blaydes’ wrestling game. It’s just that he didn’t have an answer for much of anything else Blaydes threw at him. The uppercut wasn’t a bad idea as a dissuasion, but JDS clearly went to the well too often on it. And the eventual right cross counter that put him away was perfectly timed to take advantage of the Brazilian’s predictability. Still, it’s not the kind of loss that’s going to march Dos Santos out of the division any time soon. As a popular former champion, as long as he wants to stick around and fight, the UFC will probably give him opportunities to do so. If Jairzinho Rozenstruik loses to Francis Ngannou, then JDS vs. Rozenstruik is must-see action. But, for now, I think a rematch against Alistair Overeem would be a solid idea. Both men’s styles always lend themselves to interesting fights, and flirt with the danger of getting badly rocked. Their first bout was decisive, but it’s a fight I’m sure JDS would love to get back, and could easily make a fight night headliner. It’s either that or try and play spoiler to Walt Harris when Harris decides to step back in the cage. JDS vs. Overeem 2 feels like it’s worth seeing.

MICHAEL CHIESA

Absolutely the best win of Michael Chiesa’s career. He showed a fantastic ability to keep his top control flow going, and not just against Diego Sanchez, but a former champ in Rafael dos Anjos. That will unquestionably set him up for bigger things. He called out Colby Covington for a fight in July, which is definitely the right ambition, but I doubt it’s the fight he gets. A bout against the winner of Demian Maia vs. Gilbert Burns is much more the right speed. Maybe, if he’s lucky, even the loser of Woodley vs. Edwards. And hey, there’s always Stephen Thompson out there looking for a bout. In fact, since Thompson is coming off a win, and doesn’t have anything to do, why not? Book Michael Chiesa vs. Stephen Thompson. Give Chiesa a chance to prove his takedown acumen against one of the most elusive fighters in the division.

RAFAEL DOS ANJOS

One of the most anemic performances of RDA’s career. Even recent losses to Edwards, Usman, and Covington all saw the former lightweight champ battling hard all the way through. And while dos Anjos clearly had a big advantage against Chiesa standing, he just looked totally resigned in grappling exchanges. He’s had the same problems with pressure wrestling and takedowns for while now, but ‘Maverick’ didn’t even need a successful kickboxing game to set them up. I might have dismissed the matchup a couple months ago, but maybe it’s time for a rematch between dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone? If Cerrone is headed back to lighweight that probably won’t happen. And considering his injuries they may not be on the same schedule anyway, but I’d like to see it. If not that, then I guess he can fight Vicente Luque? Or maybe the loser of Maia vs. Burns? RDA vs. Cowboy would be … oh wait, he actually beat Cerrone twice already!? Fine, RDA vs. Luque will work.

ALEX PEREZ

Decisive, powerful win for Perez. One that highlights just how physically dominating he can be at 125 lbs. As soon as he got Espinosa to the mat, he put him in danger. And the power he showed with that arm triangle from the wrong side was just scary stuff. If Joseph Benavidez wins the title, he may not have a super clear path to the belt, but Perez even had a strong idea for what his next step could be. He could easily take on Alexandre Pantoja, or the winner of Kai Kara-France vs. Tyson Nam. But, Perez called out Askar Askarov. Can’t see any reason that fight doesn’t get made. A great chance for Perez to continue showing his physicality. And the kind of powerful fighter Askarov will have to beat if he hopes to challenge for the title in the future. Askarov vs. Perez is a fantastic booking.

ANGELA HILL

‘Overkill’ has positioned herself as one of strawweight’s few go-to action fighters. Need someone who can step in on a moment’s notice and still provide a surefire fun performance? Hill is there to do the job. Unfortunately, what that also means is that she’s already fought 75% of the division. But, there’s an upcoming bout that should provide another chance for a good contest. And that’s Tecia Torres vs. Mizuki Inoue. Torres and Hill once fought way back in their Invicta days, but (especially with Torres’ recent struggles) it feels like past time for a rematch. And a bout between Mizuki Inoue and Angela Hill is one I’d absolutely love to see. Hill vs. the Torres/Inoue winner is great, but she’ll probably just step in for whatever strawweight gets injured next.

ARNOLD ALLEN

No question, Nik Lentz came well prepared for Allen and took what seemed like a step sideways for the Brit and turned it into a valuable test. Still, it’s a test that Allen passed well. He kept on his jab, kept his footwork clean, and pushed the pace perfectly as Lentz started to slow. Allen’s planned bout against Josh Emmett would have been a great step to solidify a spot in the top 15 and, if Emmett is going to be healthy sometime soon, it’s worth re-booking. However, if not, then a fight with Shane Burgos is right there—and that would be a hell of a lot of fun. Likewise, a bout with Ryan Hall or the winner of Ige/Kattar would be must see stuff. But, end of the day, I think that Shane Burgos bout is too good. Arnold Allen vs. Shane Burgos, for an all-action featherweight war.

SARA MCMANN

A dominating return to form for McMann, who took advantage of her clear technical wrestling and grappling edges to put Lansberg on the mat early each round and keep her there. Not exactly a thriller, but a fight that reaffirms McMann’s place in the division as a gatekeeper to the top 5. That could mean a fight against Irene Aldana. But, given all her time off, I’d be fine seeing the UFC go winner vs. loser here. There are great fights to be made against either Yana Kunitskaya or Raquel Pennington. In fact, Pennington vs. McMann seems like a fight that should have been made years ago. And it’d be interesting given Pennington’s really decent ground game. Book it, and see if McMann can keep her comeback tour rolling. Sara McMann vs. Raquel Pennington needs to happen sooner or later.

BRETT JOHNS

It’s been a minute since Johns last stepped into the Octagon, but this was a great reminder as to why he was once considered one of the brightest prospects coming out of the UK. Gravely was able to match much of the Welshman’s offense for the first ten minutes. But Johns was regularly able to turn his takedowns into good grappling positions, where Gravely just ended up back in the scramble when he took the advantage. By round 3, that made all the difference. It’s a good win for Johns, but not the kind of fight likely to see him pushed back into the deep end where he struggled so much before. Instead, he should take on a seasoned veteran who also recently righted the ship after a rough couple outings: Brian Kelleher. ‘The Boom’ picked up a similarly strong win over a DWCS newcomer last time out. Let these guys get a little momentum toward the top fifteen, rather than picking off the freshmen. Kelleher vs. Johns to see which bantamweight is ready to make a run.

HERBERT BURNS

Burns’ UFC debut couldn’t have gone any better. I expected him to get a takedown against Landwehr’s porous wrestling defense, but once Landwehr fought off the sub, it seemed like Burns was going to be in danger. Not the case. The Brazilian blasted his former M-1 champ opponent with a gorgeous clinch knee, sleeping him early in the first round. That should set him up nice for another fun scrap at 145. And there’s a few opponents perfectly positioned for it. Burns could fight Billy Quarantillo, Sean Woodson, or Chase Hooper. But, I think a fight against Charles Jourdain is just exactly right. Jourdain had a shocking upset win over Korean power-puncher Dooho Choi. A fight with Burns would give him a chance to show off his aggressive striking, while having to watch out for a legit high level sub grappler. And for Burns, Jourdain is a tough-as-nails battler who will keep testing the ‘Blaze’ in standing exchanges. Burns vs. Jourdain should be a ton of fun.

OTHER BOUTS: Hannah Cifers vs. Alexandra Albu, Jamahal Hill vs. Alonzo Menifield, Darko Stosic vs. Dalcha Lungiambula, Bevon Lewis vs. Anthony Hernandez, Dequan Townsend vs. Marc-Andre Barriault, Nik Lentz vs. Darren Elkins, Justine Kish vs. Ariane Lipski, Lucie Pudilova vs. Nadia Kassem, Montel Jackson vs. Kyung Ho Kang, Felipe Colares vs. Vince Morales, Lina Lansberg vs. Bethe Correia, Tony Gravely vs. Ode Osbourne, Nate Landwehr vs. Luiz Eduardo Garagorri

Bellator 238: Cyborg vs. Budd weigh-ins livestream video and results

Posted on by Zane Simon in Bellator, Events, Front Page, Videos

The Bellator weigh-ins are taking place on Friday, January 24th at the Forum, in Inglewood, CA. The same venue that will host Saturday’s DAZN fight card, featuring a women’s featherweight title bout between champion Julia Budd and former UFC & Strikeforce belt holder Cris Cyborg. The bout will mark the Brazilian’s debut in her new promotional home, after leaving the UFC in 2019.

Cyborg enters this bout off a win over former Invicta champion Felicia Spencer, in what was her final bout in the Octagon. That win came on the heels of her shocking defeat at the hands of Amanda Nunes, who claimed the UFC featherweight title in the process. The loss to Nunes was the first for the long reigning queen of the 145 lb weight class, since her pro debut in 2005.

Budd enters this fight on her own impressive win streak, having last lost to Ronda Rousey way back in 2011, when both women were in Strikeforce. Budd first debuted for Bellator back in 2015, having put together a 4-fight unbeaten run in Invicta. She won the inagural Bellator women’s featherweight title back in 2017, defeating women’s MMA pioneer Marloes Coenen. Her upcoming fight with Cris Cyborg will be her fourth title defense. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for all the news and updates on Bellator 238 as fight night approaches.

Here are the weigh-in results:

MAIN CARD
Julia Budd (144.5) vs. Cris Cyborg (143.8)
Darrion Caldwell (144.6) vs. Adam Borics (144.9)
Sergio Pettis (135) vs. Alfred Khashakyan (135.9)
Raymond Daniels (169.8) vs. Jason King (169.7)
Ava Knight (114.5) vs. Emilee King (115.2)
Juan Archuleta (145.5) vs. Henry Corrales (145.3)

PRELIMS
Aaron Pico (145.8) vs. Daniel Carey (144.9)
Jay Jay Wilson (146) vs. Mario Navarro (146)
Anthony Taylor (154.6) vs. Chris Avila (156)
Miguel Jacob (169.6) vs. David Pacheco (170.8)
Brandon Bender (159.3) vs. Joshua Jones (160.0)*
Ricardo Seixas (155.6) vs. Dominic Clark (155.1)
Tony Bartovich (144.5) vs. Jarett Conner (146)
AJ Agazarm (145.4) vs. Adel Altamimi (146)
Curtis Millender (178.8) vs. Moses Murrietta (179.5)

*Joshua Jones missed weight on his first attempt, but made the agreed upon 160 lb limit on his second attempt.

Maycee Barber’s dad pins loss on ‘bad luck,’ Roxanne Modafferi responds: ‘Fathers are supposed to be biased’

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, UFC News

On the one hand, there’s no doubt that Maycee Barber’s torn ACL severely affected her bout with Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246. By the 3rd round, the ‘Future’ had been effectively reduced to one leg, barely able to move while standing.

On the other hand, she also looked like she was fairly significantly out-classed by Modafferi on multiple technical levels. Including early standing striking exchanges, previous to any clear sign of injury. It could even be argued, that the injury looked like a direct result of the trouble Barber was having gauging distance and timing on the feet. Whether or not that’s the case, however, it’s a narrative that Maycee’s father, Bucky Barber, looked to largely dismiss in a since deleted Instagram post (h/t WMMARankings).

“The work was in, the skill level at its peak her only way of defeat is if bad luck kissed her on the cheek,” Barber’s father wrote on Instagram. “Ten seconds in a complete ACL tear turned the probable into the unlikely. Though she had her moments and showed more heart than most have ever witnessed the night ended with an [sic] Loss. However was it a loss? She was not beaten by a better skill set. She was beaten by one unfortunate step and turn of events. That is out of her control. The victory we take from this is we now know we have the highest level of heart to match the highest level of skill in the game. I have seen how athletes react when this injury occurs. Very very few stay standing let alone fight an MMA fight for 15 minutes and still survive. That is insane.

“She will be back stronger and more dominant than ever and we as a team could not be more proud. The Future is real do not get confused with one step. The worst of luck smiles at us all! All we can do is smile back. She will see you all very soon. That which does not kill us makes us stronger. The Future, Version 2.0 to be feared.”

‘The Happy Warrior,’ and many fight fans, may not be buying into that narrative, but that hasn’t left Roxanne Modafferi any less upbeat, or pragmatic about how she feels about her recent victory—or the kindness she’s shown to Barber before, during, and after the fight.

“Meh, fathers are supposed to be biased and say stupid thing,” Modafferi wrote in a post on Twitter, replying to Barber’s father’s statement. “Mine used to say, “I’m proud of you…so are you retiring yet?” Not anymore, though. 🙂 At least she didn’t say it. I still respect Macyee [sic] for being a warrior.”

Her big upset victory has bumped Modafferi up to #5 in the UFC women’s flyweight rankings, and provided a nice bounceback from a tough defeat at the hands of Jennifer Maia back in July of 2019. For Barber, the loss snapped her 8-fight unbeaten streak—the first defeat of her professional career. How she recovers from her first major professional setback remains to be seen.

The MMA Vivisection – UFC Raleigh: Blaydes vs. Dos Santos MAIN CARD picks, odds, & analysis

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, MMA Podcasts, UFC Gambling

This week’s UFC card is… kinda miss-able. The main event, between Junior Dos Santos and Curtis Blaydes is a solid, meaningful fight. And RDA vs. Michael Chiesa in the co-main at least has a certain gravitas. But everything under it? There’s not a lot of sizzle heading to Raleigh, NC this Saturday.

Despite all that, we’re breaking down all the action from every bout on the main card. And, for those who want to dive deeper into the undercard, they can find our Prelims Vivi right here, so be sure to check that out.

The MMA Vivisection is brought to you by Combat Wombat, makers of combat sports themed artwork featuring MMA’s legendary fighters and legendary fights. Visit chrisrini.com for the latest pieces and commissions. Get your Combat Wombat themed Vivi t-shirts today!

Here’s a look at the fight card as it stands right now, bout order subject to change:

UFC RALEIGH MAIN CARD | SAT. JAN. 25 – 8PM/5PM ETPT
Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior dos Santos – 3:30, Odds 16:33
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Michael Chiesa – 19:05, Odds 28:56
Jordan Espinosa vs. Alex Perez – 29:16, Odds 36:21
Hannah Cifers vs. Angela Hill – 38:29, Odds 42:52
Jamahal Hill vs. Darko Stošić – 43:15, Odds 48:42

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 5PM/2PM ETPT
Bevon Lewis vs. Dequan Townsend – 3:38, Odds 12:33
Arnold Allen vs. Nik Lentz – 14:28, Odds 20:39
Justine Kish vs. Lucie Pudilová – 21:27, Odds 27:41
Montel Jackson vs. Felipe Colares – 28:45, Odds 33:48
Sara McMann vs. Lina Länsberg – 34:10, Odds 39:33
Brett Johns vs. Tony Gravely – 39:52, Odds 48:58
Herbert Burns vs. Nate Landwehr – 49:25, Odds 59:15

Be sure to follow Zane on twitter @TheZaneSimon, follow Connor, @BoxingBusch, and follow @BloodyElbow for all the latest in MMA happenings. If you enjoyed our show, give us a shout out in the comments here on Bloody Elbow, or give us a “like”, share & subscribe over on one of our other BE Presents Channels: SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes & Apple TV, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, TuneIn, OverCast, or Player FM – whichever one happens to be your listening platform of choice. While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to Bloody Elbow Presents; that way you’ll always be the first to get all of BE’s daily MMA offerings. For previous episodes of the show, check out our playlists on all of our BE Presents channels.

The MMA Vivisection – UFC Raleigh: Blaydes vs. Dos Santos PRELIMS picks, odds, & analysis

Posted on by Zane Simon in Front Page, MMA & Boxing Gambling, MMA Editorial, MMA Podcasts, UFC Editorial, UFC Gambling

This week’s UFC event in Raleigh, NC isn’t one of the promotion’s strongest offerings. The main card has a couple bouts of note on it, but otherwise fans will have to be forgiven if they look at much of the lineup and wonder just who any of these fighters are.

Notable bouts include Arnold Allen vs. Nik Lentz and Sara McMann vs. Lina Lansberg. The opening bouts between Herbert Burns & Nate Landwehr and Brett Johns & Tony Gravely should both be pretty action filled. But that’s not exactly a lot to hang a hat on.

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Here’s a look at the UFC Raleigh Prelims as they stand right now:

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 5PM/2PM ET/PT
Bevon Lewis vs. Dequan Townsend – 3:38, Odds 12:33
Arnold Allen vs. Nik Lentz – 14:28, Odds 20:39
Justine Kish vs. Lucie Pudilová – 21:27, Odds 27:41
Montel Jackson vs. Felipe Colares – 28:45, Odds 33:48
Sara McMann vs. Lina Länsberg – 34:10, Odds 39:33
Brett Johns vs. Tony Gravely – 39:52, Odds 48:58
Herbert Burns vs. Nate Landwehr – 49:25, Odds 59:15

For those interested in all the main card bouts, check back in tomorrow for the main card Vivi on Thursday.

Be sure to follow Zane on twitter @TheZaneSimon, follow Connor, @BoxingBusch, and follow @BloodyElbow for all the latest in MMA happenings. If you enjoyed our show, give us a shout out in the comments here on Bloody Elbow, or give us a “like”, share & subscribe over on one of our other BE Presents Channels: SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes & Apple TV, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, TuneIn, OverCast, or Player FM – whichever one happens to be your listening platform of choice. While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to Bloody Elbow Presents; that way you’ll always be the first to get all of BE’s daily MMA offerings. For previous episodes of the show, check out our playlists on all of our BE Presents channels.