
UFC on ESPN 64: Loopy Godinez expects experience, level of opposition to play a factor vs. Julia Polastri
MEXICO CITY – Loopy Godinez is determined to rebound at UFC on ESPN 64.
Godinez (12-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets Julia Polastri (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a strawweight bout on Saturday's prelims (ESPN2, ESPN+) at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Polastri, who like Godinez is a former LFA champion, has far less octagon experience. The Mexican fighter is ready to prove why that matters.
'Obviously, I'm expecting the best version of herself,' Godinez told MMA Junkie at Wednesday's media day. 'She's well-rounded, she has a good clinch, good kicks – but I feel like my level and the girls I've been facing are at a higher level. I feel like it's going to show.'
After notching four wins in 2023, Godinez will look to snap a two-fight losing skid, which came against top contenders Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba in 2024.
'I see everything I did wrong and everything I did good, and then from there I kind of just like change things and add things, take things away,' Godinez said. 'This training camp, I changed a lot of stuff, and I feel like I improved a lot, and losing – I take it as a big learning experience.'
With a win, Godinez hopes to return to matchups against top contenders in the division.
'I feel like a win this Saturday will give me a ranked opponent,' Godinez said. 'But honestly, I'm just thinking about this Saturday. I'm not really thinking ahead of myself or anything like that.'
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.

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NBC Sports
29 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland and many other had a chance to win the U.S. Open, then Oakmont happened
Watch the best shots and key moments from a chaotic, thrilling final round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. OAKMONT, Pa. — Tyrrell Hatton, in the mix in the final round of a major for the first time in the late Sunday gloom at the U.S. Open, watched his tee shot on the 17th hole drift to the right and exhaled. If there was a place to 'miss,' Hatton knew it was to the right of the green on the uphill, 314-yard par 4. And he was right. At just about every place but Oakmont. When Hatton reached the top of the hill, the fiery Englishman whose emotions are never too far from his sleeve discovered his ball had settled into the course's signature knotty rough on a downslope above a greenside bunker. Just about anywhere else, the shot rolls into the sand below, and he splashes out with a chance to maybe even take the lead. Only there isn't anywhere else like the iconic links-style course carved out of the Western Pennsylvania hills. Hatton's pitch from an impossible downhill lie didn't reach the green, and he slammed his club into the ground in protest. A chip and two putts later, he was two back. When his tee shot on the par-4 18th sailed into the rough again, it was over. 'What happened on 17 is going to hurt a lot for a long time,' Hatton said after tying for fourth at 3-over 283, four back of winner J.J. Spaun . 'It was the first time I've been in contention in a major, and that was exciting, and unfortunately, I feel like through a bit of bad luck I had momentum taken away from me and ultimately ended up not being my day.' Asked about what exactly constituted the 'bad luck,' Hatton bristled but only briefly. He'd made his frustration about a course design that includes having most of its 160-plus bunkers well-guarded by an already penal rough well known on Saturday, when he was forced to take an awkward stance to hack out of a sand trap alongside the 15th green on Saturday, leading to a bogey. What happened in the waning minutes of a rain-delayed and chaos-filled final 18 holes of the championship was just more of the same. 'I've missed it in the right spot and got punished, which ultimately I don't think ends up being fair,' Hatton said. That's Oakmont. Besides, Hatton was hardly the only one who found himself creeping up the leaderboard as the frontrunners faltered, only to ultimately succumb themselves. Carlos Ortiz, a member of LIV Golf like Hatton, was part of a five-way tie for the lead on the back nine. Ortiz's tee shot on the 503-yard par-4 15th sailed left, forcing him to punch out to the fairway. A wedge from 134 yards landed 40 feet short of the cup. Three putts later, he was on his way to a 3-over 73 finish and a tie for fourth. 'It was a great week, but obviously I'm disappointed right now the way it happened,' said Ortiz, who became the first Mexican player since 1972 to place inside the top 10. 'I did everything I can.' Golf Channel Staff, Viktor Hovland, who was out on the practice range nearly until dusk on Saturday night trying to find something — anything really — to build on, began the day two shots off the lead but never managed to get to pull even with the scrum in front of him. The Norwegian, who was grouped with Spaun, 'saw a lot of stuff' as the leaderboard continued to shuffle and re-shuffle over the final 90 minutes. Keeping track was difficult, particularly with the electronic boards having 'dangerous weather' alerts splashed across them. Ultimately, Hovland couldn't find the rhythm necessary. Instead, it was Spaun who delivered with a pair of birdies, including a 64-footer on the 18th that immediately etched itself into U.S. Open lore. In a way, the ending helped. Spaun went out and took a tournament up for grabs and grabbed it. Hovland, who called the last of Spaun's 279 strokes 'absolutely filthy,' had to settle for third, his fourth finish inside the top three at a major. All without being the one standing on the green afterward with the trophy in hand. Yet he tried to remain upbeat. He believes he's trending back to where he was in 2023, when he finished tied for seventh at the Masters and then tied for second at the PGA a month later. He's already won this year, though he complained about his form afterward. There was none of that on Sunday. Oakmont is hard enough as it is. No need to pile on. 'I've been tearing myself down a little too much,' Hovland said. 'Even though I do know I need to work on some stuff and get back to where I used to be in a way mechanically, but in the interim, I can still perform at a really high level, and there's a lot of good stuff.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge reacts to tying Lou Gehrig in franchise history
The post Aaron Judge reacts to tying Lou Gehrig in franchise history appeared first on ClutchPoints. The notion that 'records are meant to be broken' unquestionably applies to New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Yesterday, Judge achieved history against the Red Sox by hitting the mark of 23 home runs and batting .396 through 64 games. Advertisement In addition, his two home runs equaled him to the 'iron horse' Lou Gehrig with his 43rd career multi-homer game, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. This places him 3rd in Yankees franchise history, with Mickey Mantle (46) and Babe Ruth (68) at the top. Afterward, Judge spoke candidly about the significance of being placed among these Yankees greats. 'Any time you get mentioned with those legends, it's quite an honor,' he said. 'But it would've been sweeter to talk about it after a win.' Along with his batting average, Judge has 95 hits, 23 home runs, and 55 RBIs. Even though the Yankees lost 11-7, they are still first in the American League East at 39-25. Meanwhile, Judge continues his pursuit of history. In late April, Judge was in the quest of Ruth by batting .343 with 63 home runs and 137 runs over 162 games. In truth, Judge has already solidified his place in Yankees history. Advertisement The question begs, what is there left to do? Aaron Judge can make more Yankee history. In addition to surpassing Gehrig, Judge can certainly add more to his pantheon of greatness. He's on pace to bat .400 this year, the first time for a Yankee. Judge is leading in the AL in the categories of batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. If he keeps it up, he could very well win the Triple Crown. Also, Judge could finish with another 60+ home run season at the pace he is at. In 2022, Judge hit 62 home runs, surpassing Ruth, who hit 60 in 1927, and Roger Maris, who hit 61 in 1961. Whatever happens, there is virtually no stopping Judge's continuous journey through history. Related: Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins backs controversial Yankees quip with 'fun' admission Related: Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. calls out 'crazy' Red Sox rookie


San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hatton, Ortiz and Hovland had a shot at the US Open. Then Oakmont happened
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Tyrrell Hatton, in the mix in the final round of a major for the first time in the late Sunday gloom at the U.S. Open, watched his tee shot on the 17th hole drift to the right and exhaled. If there was a place to 'miss,' Hatton knew it was to the right of the green on the uphill, 314-yard par 4. And he was right. At just about every place but Oakmont. When Hatton reached the top of the hill, the fiery Englishman whose emotions are never too far from his sleeve discovered his ball had settled into the course's signature knotty rough on a downslope above a greenside bunker. Just about anywhere else, the shot rolls into the sand below, and he splashes out with a chance to maybe even take the lead. Only there isn't anywhere else like the iconic links-style course carved out of the Western Pennsylvania hills. Hatton's pitch from an impossible downhill lie didn't reach the green, and he slammed his club into the ground in protest. A chip and two putts later, he was two back. When his tee shot on the par-4 18th sailed into the rough again, it was over. 'What happened on 17 is going to hurt a lot for a long time,' Hatton said after tying for fourth at 3-over 283, four back of winner J.J. Spaun. 'It was the first time I've been in contention in a major, and that was exciting, and unfortunately, I feel like through a bit of bad luck I had momentum taken away from me and ultimately ended up not being my day.' Asked about what exactly constituted the 'bad luck,' Hatton bristled but only briefly. He'd made his frustration about a course design that includes having most of its 160-plus bunkers well-guarded by an already penal rough well known on Saturday, when he was forced to take an awkward stance to hack out of a sand trap alongside the 15th green on Saturday, leading to a bogey. What happened in the waning minutes of a rain-delayed and chaos-filled final 18 holes of the championship was just more of the same. 'I've missed it in the right spot and got punished, which ultimately I don't think ends up being fair,' Hatton said. That's Oakmont. Besides, Hatton was hardly the only one who found himself creeping up the leaderboard as the frontrunners faltered, only to ultimately succumb themselves. Carlos Ortiz, a member of LIV Golf like Hatton, was part of a five-way tie for the lead on the back nine. Ortiz's tee shot on the 503-yard par-4 15th sailed left, forcing him to punch out to the fairway. A wedge from 134 yards landed 40 feet short of the cup. Three putts later, he was on his way to a 3-over 73 finish and a tie for fourth. 'It was a great week, but obviously I'm disappointed right now the way it happened," said Ortiz, who became the first Mexican player since 1972 to place inside the top 10. 'I did everything I can.' Viktor Hovland, who was out on the practice range nearly until dusk on Saturday night trying to find something — anything really — to build on, began the day two shots off the lead but never managed to get to pull even with the scrum in front of him. The Norwegian, who was grouped with Spaun, 'saw a lot of stuff' as the leaderboard continued to shuffle and re-shuffle over the final 90 minutes. Keeping track was difficult, particularly with the electronic boards having 'dangerous weather" alerts splashed across them. Ultimately, Hovland couldn't find the rhythm necessary. Instead, it was Spaun who delivered with a pair of birdies, including a 64-footer on the 18th that immediately etched itself into U.S. Open lore. In a way, the ending helped. Spaun went out and took a tournament up for grabs and grabbed it. Hovland, who called the last of Spaun's 279 strokes 'absolutely filthy,' had to settle for third, his fourth finish inside the top three at a major. All without being the one standing on the green afterward with the trophy in hand. Yet he tried to remain upbeat. He believes he's trending back to where he was in 2023, when he finished tied for seventh at the Masters and then tied for second at the PGA a month later. He's already won this year, though he complained about his form afterward. There was none of that on Sunday. Oakmont is hard enough as it is. No need to pile on. 'I've been tearing myself down a little too much,' Hovland said. 'Even though I do know I need to work on some stuff and get back to where I used to be in a way mechanically, but in the interim, I can still perform at a really high level, and there's a lot of good stuff.' ___