MMA
Ryan Bader makes history by defeating Fedor Emelianenko in 35 seconds at Bellator 214
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaRyan Bader stops Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 214. Photo: Lucas Noonan/ Bellator
ANGELS – Ryan Bader won the Bellator Grand Prix heavyweight title here at the Forum with an incredible left hook and right hand combination, defeating legendary Russian Fedor Emelianenko in just 35 seconds and making history. That made Bader, of Arizona, a champion in the burgeoning fight league owned by media conglomerate VIACOM. Bader’s rise to becoming both delicate heavyweight and heavyweight champion was shown in a simulcast on Paramount, and the event was also broadcast by the OTT streaming service DAZN.
Emelianenko dropped to 38-6 and Bader picked up his 27th victory. Bader was magnanimous in victory.
“He’s one of the best to ever do it,” Bader said in an in-cage interview with John McCarthy after the quick finish. “To win the heavyweight title against this man. . . “
Bader, 35, said he blocked the historic performances Emelianenko enjoyed during his career as the former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight champion, who reigned for a decade with 27 straight victories before losing to Fabricio Werdum in San Jose in 2010.
“I tried to hold on [those thoughts] away . . . not only that, there is a lot at stake for the title,” Bader said. “It’s surreal. What a night.”
Bader, who was preparing to apply his exceptional wrestling skills and renowned cardio to annihilate Emelianenko, revealed that he consistently practiced throwing a left hook from his jab. “I saw how challenging he fell. We practiced it [punch for when] he was setting up that right hand,” Bader said.
The recent double champion also added that he is ready to defend both belts when the time and opponents come. Bellator CEO Scott Coker said Bader is currently among the “top three pound-for-pound in MMA,” adding that “his striking is getting better and better. It depends on Ryan (where he fights) as long as the lightweight isn’t tight. We will give him freedom to defend, but first he will defend the delicate heavyweight title.
Regarding Fedor’s potential retirement, Coker added: “My job is to send the best fighters to fight. Fedor seemed fine afterward and wasn’t seriously injured, but it’s never effortless to watch your friends get hurt or knocked out. It’s up to him (whether he retires or not). He fought for me in Strikeforce. It’s up to him, the truth is he doesn’t have to fight anymore. His contract is over.”
Coker insisted the Russian fighter remains one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest. “He who has been undefeated in MMA boxing or combat sports in general for 10 years has not missed anyone. He’s the GOAT, that’s all. He fought everyone.”
“The tournament was a very good event; was released in 160 countries around the world. We didn’t just organize a tournament, we had eight substantial names and brands in the sport.”
Coker later told The Telegraph that he would like to see Fedor do a retirement tour. “He may be fighting in Tokyo, Novel York, Moscow, fighting fights, not against 30-year-olds in their prime, but against fighters that fans want to see.”
Much like the main event, the co-main event saw another brutal ending.
Henry Corrales responded to a knockdown with a right uppercut from another Whittier fighter, Aaron Pico, and his opposite right hand landed squarely on Pico’s jaw. The fight ended after 1:07 of the first round. Pico was able to apply his great wrestling when Corrales was hurt, but the fight became a defining moment for Corrales, trained in Arizona by John Crouch and Benson Henderson. They are a team.
“What happened happened. Who [heck] is he next?” Corrales asked in the cage. “It’s the fifth in a row [victories while training in Arizona]. I gathered my things. Corrales, commented Coker, triumphantly entered the fight for the title.
Gareth A Davies, sports journalist/broadcaster, boxing and MMA correspondent, Twitter: @garethadaviesdt
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MMA
Demetrious Johnson equaled Anderson Silva’s UFC title defense record
Published
6 months agoon
May 19, 2024By
J. HumzaDemetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defended his flyweight title at UFC “Fight Night Kansas City,” looking to stop challenger Wilson Reis and make UFC history.
After beating Reis from the opening bell and submitting him via armbar at 4:49 of the third round, Johnson did exactly what he wanted. With this victory, Johnson has now won 12 straight fights, but more importantly, it is his 10th defense of the UFC flyweight title, tying Anderson Silva’s record for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history.
The spectacular, historic victory left Johnson more placid and reserved than usual after the fight.
“GSP, Anderson, they are great champions, but I am the best champion that has ever stepped foot in this Octagon,” Johnson said. “I finish off all my opponents. There is no other champion who can mix it all, fight, punch and clinch like me.
Johnson scored the victory by punching and softening Reis while staying out of danger first. The champion then took him to the ground, pounded him some more, and then delivered a neat submission to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
Going from a full mount to an armbar submission faster than anyone else in the UFC to end the event, “Mighty Mouse” showed why he’s considered the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world today.
“It was a damn good night,” Johnson said in his post-fight Octagon interview. “It’s probably the best training camp I’ve ever had, and my head coach kept telling me, ‘Just be yourself.’ I came back and did a lot of things differently at this camp and it was the best effort I’ve ever felt.
Even if people like UFC president Dana White call him the “GOAT” of the UFC, putting his name first alongside Silva, who ruled the middleweight division and pound-for-pound rankings from 2006-2013. Johnson remains focused on taking his division and legacy to heights never before seen in MMA.
“I’m like any champion, whether it’s a team sport like the Michael Jordan Bulls or something like the UFC, I want to win as many championships as possible,” Johnson said at the post-fight news conference. I’ve got 10 title defenses now and I can take this belt home and hopefully next time I can break through and maybe I can get 13 or 14 titles, so why not set the bar high. Just like Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, I’m the fastest man in mixed martial arts, so I’m going to continue to prove that and hopefully set the record at 15 years and then I can retire.
Even with 10 consecutive wins inside the Octagon, UFC interim featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway never had the opportunity to fight for the undisputed championship.
That will all change on Saturday when Holloway faces UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in a unification fight at UFC 212 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This will be only the second time in his career that Holloway will headline a pay-per-view card, but he is extremely confident of entering enemy territory in pursuit of his lifelong dream.
“I’ve been in the spotlight in my career, I’ve had a five-round fight outside the UFC and I’m ready for anything,” Holloway said during a recent conference call.
“I’m just ready to show the world what I’m about and why I’m the best fighter in this division.”
“Blessed” has finished seven opponents in his 10-fight winning streak, including a TKO over former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis to become interim champion.
Holloway and Aldo are two of the best all-around strikers in MMA today, but there aren’t many other similarities both inside and outside the Octagon. What they have in common, however, is that their last defeat came against UFC’s most recognizable star, “Notorious” Conor McGregor.
For Holloway, losing to McGregor four years ago was a good thing. He regrouped, became a more complete fighter and put together one of the greatest winning streaks in UFC history.
However, despite his incredible success at the championship level over the past few years, the UFC has been reluctant to put its hype machine behind Holloway, much to the surprise of many in the media and fans.
Even with this lack of pressure, Holloway is very excited to reign supreme in a division that has only had two undisputed champions in its compact history.
“I just can’t wait to do the damn thing; get in there and fight one of the best of all time,” Holloway said. “He is one of the greatest in our sport, but it is time for a up-to-date era.”
“I have been an underdog my whole life. I do not care. I shouldn’t be here. Max Holloway shouldn’t be talking to any of you. I shouldn’t be here. It is what it is. “Actions speak louder than words, and I have done many things.”
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MMA
Amanda Nunes withdraws from UFC 213 title fight
Published
6 months agoon
May 18, 2024By
J. HumzaAfter being hospitalized hours earlier, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has been withdrawn from her UFC 213 main event bout against top-ranked Valentina Shevchenko, UFC president Dana White confirmed.
The report of Nunes’ illness and withdrawal was first revealed by mmafighting.com’s Ariel Helwani. White told LA Times writer Lance Pugmire via text message: “I don’t know why Nunes (14-4) withdrew from the card after being examined by a doctor.
“The doctor cleared her to fight. She said she wasn’t feeling well,” White said. “It is what it is. You can’t force anyone to fight.”
Now, the scheduled co-main event fight for the interim middleweight title between Yoel “The Soldier of God” Romero and Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker will be upgraded to main event status at UFC 213. The fresh co-main event will be a heavyweight fight between the former champion Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem, who will fight for the title of number 1 contender to champion Stipe Miocic.
Many commented on how exhausted Nunes looked, as fighters often do, at the official weigh-in on Friday morning around 10 a.m. PST. It must be admitted that in her nine-year MMA career, “The Lioness” has never officially made weight or withdrawn from a fight due to weight loss problems, until today.
The fight will likely be postponed soon. Bob Bennett of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said Nunes had problems beyond the weakness resulting from the weight cut that led to her withdrawal.
Meanwhile, undefeated women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk spent Saturday morning “begging White to fight via text messages and social media.” Jedrzejczyk last fought at UFC 211 in May and plans to fight in November at UFC 217, but she was in town for International Fight Week and told White she would face Shevchencko.
Much to the disappointment of fans and the media, the strawweight champion has no chance of fighting tonight because medical tests and other clearances require a little longer before the NSAC will clear her. So everyone has to hold on tight to see how this story unfolds over the next few days
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