IBJJF champ Renato Canuto debuts in MMA with brutal kicks to body of grounded opponent
IBJJF champion Renato Canuto showed he has more than submissions during his MMA debut.
Canuto (1-0) didn't clock in much time to pick up his first professional win Thursday as he ran through opponent Corey Stewart (0-3) at Tuff-N-Uff 144 at Observatory North Park in San Diego. The TKO stoppage came 51 seconds into the fight.
Canuto's trophy case displays championships of all sorts. From IBJJF to KASAI to UAEJJF to Marianas Open, Canuto has won tournaments all over the world. Given his continued success in grappling and upcoming commitments with UFC Fight Pass grappling, Canuto doesn't expect a hard pivot away from grappling. It'll be more of a gradual process, but Canuto wants three or four MMA fights in 2025, he told MMA Junkie in February.
"I do respect the game of MMA a lot," Canuto said. "I know it's a whole different sport, and I have to go and test the waters first before I think too big about my dreams. As far as my goals go, I'm really hoping that I get to do at least four, five fights before I start talking about Contender (Series) or something like that. I want to take my time. I'm not too eager to get to the UFC if that means I'm going to go there and underperform. I need to be ready when the opportunity does come because I know sometimes you get the opportunity to go and you get excited."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 319 co-main event
Aaron Pico will still get a big opportunity in his promotional debut at UFC 319. Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico preview Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) originally was scheduled to make his octagon debut against No. 1-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi, but the bout was scrapped when Evloev withdrew. Instead, Pico gets No. 6 ranked Lerone Murphy in the UFC 319 co-main event in Chicago. Unbeaten in his professional MMA career, Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) is on an eight-fight winning streak, and is coming off a main event win over Josh Emmett at UFC on ESPN 65 in April. Meanwhile, Pico hasn't competed since a first-round TKO of Henry Corrales in February 2024. Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico odds According to FanDuel, Murphy is a slight +124 underdog against UFC newcomer Pico, who's a -158 favorite. How to watch Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico at UFC 319
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Phillies Urged to Replace Zack Wheeler in Key Role After Big Game Turns Heads
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Philadelphia Phillies are enjoying the benefits of one of the best pitching rotations in the sport, but the emergence of a young starter could create a bit of a problem down the line. In his fifth career season with the Phillies, Cristopher Sanchez has dominated to the tune of a 2.40 ERA and 145 strikeouts across 22 starts. The performance has placed him firmly in the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award, though he might have some competition from veteran teammate Zack Wheeler. Now in his sixth season for the Phillies, Wheeler has a 2.64 ERA with 182 strikeouts across his own 22 starts so far. As a result, it's difficult to say which starter in Philadelphia is having a better season. But after a big performance in a marquee matchup against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, former general manager Steve Phillips is giving the edge to Sanchez and said the young southpaw should replace Wheeler as the Phillies' first playoff starter. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 09: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks to the dugout before the start of Game Two of the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October... ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 09: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks to the dugout before the start of Game Two of the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 09, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo) More Elsa/Getty "Their best pitcher right now is a young left-hander who went out and dominated yesterday the Detroit Tigers, who might be a World Series matchup," Phillips said in an MLB Network segment on Monday. "Cristopher Sanchez is the best starting pitcher right now for the Philadelphia Phillies and so, for me, he gets Game 1. And then, Joe Torre used to talk about how Game 2, how important that was, throw Zack Wheeler in that one. But give me Sanchez Game 1 to get off to a good start." Anointing Sanchez as the Game 1 starter in a likely Phillies playoff run would mark a harsh replacement for Wheeler, despite the fact that he's enjoying a comparable season. Wheeler started the Phillies' first game in last year's National League Division Series against the New York Mets and he has a 2.18 ERA in 12 postseason appearances. Given Wheeler's experience and production in the playoffs to date, it seems unlikely that Sanchez would really supplant him as the team's Game 1 starter. Ultimately, the Phillies should be happy to have two strong options in a likely postseason series. But depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, there's suddenly at least a possibility that Sanchez has emerged as the team's strongest ace option. More MLB: Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton Ready for Drastic Change Once Aaron Judge Returns
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chael Sonnen says it's unfair to question Khamzat Chimaev's conditioning ahead of UFC 319
Chael Sonnen doesn't see Khamzat Chimaev's cardio being a cause of concern at UFC 319. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Many pundits and fighters have predicted the Chimaev vs. Du Plessis fight in the same way – if Chimaev can't finish Du Plessis early, he likely will get outlasted. But Sonnen disagrees. "Chimaev has got to get him down," Sonnen told MMA Junkie. "He can't just go fight him anywhere. Then there's a big question around Chimaev's conditioning. I don't know if that's fair. We've seen Chimaev get exhausted. Fedor (Emelianenko) used to get exhausted, but he never stopped. It never slowed him down. And it's the same thing with Chimaev. "I don't think it's fair to question his conditioning. I think he's got a bunch of energy and he uses it all, which is what he's supposed to do. That's going to get tested and we are going to find out if that's accurate. I am also giving Dricus a lot better of a look than I was when Chimaev beat Whittaker and the fight got announced." Sonnen, a two-time UFC middleweight title challenger, says this weight class is more stacked with talent than it's ever been. He thinks the winner of Du Plessis vs. Chimaev needs to be rewarded even more than just holding the UFC belt. "As the king of middleweights – and I will tell you when I had my run I had no equal, I was not losing fights, I was not losing rounds, I was not losing moments of fights – but I will tell you I didn't have anything as difficult as it is today," Sonnen said. "We had one or two guys that, at that time, could be top-five guys now. Maybe three guys that fit into the top 10. I have never seen 185 so hard. I don't know who the best guy is. "I always assumed it was Chimaev because that's what we were told every day. But all of a sudden this guy named Dricus steps forward. ... It is murderer's row. One thing I will accurately tell you about middleweight: Whoever comes out of this fight doesn't just leave with the championship; they need to be moved in the pound-for-pound rankings. If you're the champion of 185, and it's deeper than it's ever been, that needs to be considered – and I don't think it will be. I don't think people are realizing this weight class has never been this difficult." To hear more from Sonnen, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319: Khamzat Chimaev's conditioning doesn't concern one analyst
