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USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Patricio Freire shares mixed feelings with first UFC win, wants Aaron Pico next
Patricio Freire had mixed feelings after winning his first UFC fight. NEW ORLEANS – Patricio Freire is conflicted over his first UFC victory. The former Bellator champion stepped into the octagon for the second time at UFC 318 to face Dan Ige, and came out with a unanimous decision nod. Despite getting his first win under the UFC banner, Freire (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) believes he could have done more to prove his skills against Ige (19-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC). "I'm happy, but I know I can do better," Freire told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. "Much respect to my opponent. Dan Ige's a very tough guy. ... He's very good, but I'm better. I proved it today." "Pitbull" made his UFC debut against former interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314, losing by unanimous decision. The scorecards were in his favor this time around, and while he was glad to get his hand raised, he wasn't satisfied with his performance. "I'm not very happy now – because I know I can do better," Freire said. "I was with a little pressure on my shoulder. I came from a defeat. Of course, I lost the April fight against Yair. He's very good. He was a former champion, but I know I'm better than these guys." Freire hopes to make a quick turnaround to face a fellow former Bellator competitor waiting to make his debut, Aaron Pico, who was scheduled to face Movsar Evloev at UFC on ABC 9 on July 26. "He's ready, I'm ready," Freire said. "I cut my nose now, but two days, I'm good. ... He can make his debut in the UFC against me. Now I'm a (UFC) veteran."
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Reinier de Ridder: Pressure key in beating Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 9
ABU DHABI – Reinier de Ridder plans on bringing the fight to Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 9. De Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) in the July 26 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. De Ridder won't put too much stock into Whittaker's quick submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. Instead, he expects the version who blasted Ikram Aliskerov for a first-round knockout at UFC on ABC 6. "He's been at the top for so long. We've seen him win spectacularly. We've seen him lose spectacularly," De Ridder told MMA Junkie of Whittaker. "The Khamzat fight I don't put too much in because it was clear that that wasn't a great choke. The positioning wasn't perfect, the positioning of his arms wasn't perfect. I just think he got lucky there. That injury was already in place, and he was able to take advantage of that. "But a little while before that against Ikram (Aliskerov), he did amazing. Robert did very well, and it showed us how dangerous he still is. It's a great warning for me that I cannot go into the fight like Ikram did. I cannot give him space. I cannot give him time to look and see, because he has real knockout power, and very nice, clean, straight shots. I've got to be very mindful of that." De Ridder was able to walk down previously undefeated Bo Nickal, wear him out, and finish him at UFC on ESPN 67. He plans on doing the same to Whittaker. "The pressure is the most important thing for me," De Ridder said. "I've got to put pressure on him. I've got to bring the heat early because I cannot let him move. I cannot let him see what's happening. I cannot let him play. He likes to bounce. He likes to look, and I'm sure I'm going to take him down. It's what I like the most, and I have to put him on his ass at least once. But we'll see if I can do damage meanwhile before."
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'Disappointed' Aaron Pico calls for scrapped Movsar Evloev bout to be rebooked at UFC 319
A post shared by Aaron Pico (@aaronpicousa) Aaron Pico's UFC debut will be delayed. Movsar Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was forced out of his featherweight co-main event against Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC on ABC 9 on July 26 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Evloev's reason for withdrawing remains undisclosed, but Pico suggests that the pair could be rescheduled for as soon as next month at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in Chicago – or at least that's what he's hoping for. "Not going to sugarcoat it. I'm pretty disappointed you pulled out of this one. I get that things happen, and I truly hope whatever's going on, you recover quickly. That said, my camps aren't cheap, and I'm ready to get in there and put on a show sooner rather than later. I understand there's an opening for us on August 16th in Chicago. We don't get promotions for calling in sick. I'll see you in Chicago." Pico's eagerness to compete is understandable, as the former Bellator standout hasn't fought since a finish over Henry Corrales in a lightweight bout in February 2024. Evloev is coming off a unanimous decision win against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling this past December at UFC 310.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Reinier de Ridder won't mind if Dricus Du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev wins at UFC 319
Reinier de Ridder has a vested interest in the UFC 319 main event. De Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will look to emerge into title contention when he takes on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 9 main event July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Less than a month later, Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event from United Center in Chicago. De Ridder sees pros and cons to either fighter winning when it comes to his title run. "I think if it's going to be Khamzat, then it might slow everything a bit down because he doesn't really fight that often," De Ridder told MMA Junkie Radio. "So, that being said, it would be nice if it's Dricus, but I don't really mind too much. "Khamzat would be nice because he's more of a guy with hype behind him than Dricus does, even with Dricus being the champ. But we'll see. We'll see what happens, and I imagine I'll be fighting both of them before next year's over anyway." De Ridder has surprised in his UFC run so far, scoring finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and most recently formerly unbeaten Bo Nickal at UFC on ESPN 67 in the span of six months. Nickal to Whittaker is a big step up in competition for the former ONE dual champion, but De Ridder doesn't see Whittaker underestimating him. "I don't know, he's not much of a trash talker anyway," De Ridder said of Whittaker. "I doubt we'll hear if he still doubts me, but we're going to find out. As you guys saw, the fights have been going very well, and I feel like I've really improved, as well, over the last year. Just because of the sheer amount I've been training with the guys of the highest level. So I don't think he's really doubting me, but we'll see."
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Movsar Evloev injured, out of Aaron Pico fight for UFC on ABC 9
Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico is a no go for UFC on ACB 9. Movsar Evloev will not be fighting Aaron Pico after all, at least for now. The top UFC featherweight contender has been forced to withdraw from the scheduled bout to due to an undisclosed injury he suffered in training camp. Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was scheduled to take on Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC on ABC 9 on July 27 at Etihad Arena. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with people close to the situation Tuesday following a report from Red Corner MMA. Those sources told MMA Junkie the UFC plans to keep the matchup and schedule Evloev vs. Pico for a later event. The UFC has yet to make the change official. Pico, who's been a standout fighter for quite sometime outside the UFC, was granted his release form PFL earlier this year, thus prompting his addition to the UFC roster. The fight with Evloev was supposed to be his promotional debut. Pico is on a three-fight winning streak. He last competed n February 2024, when he stopped veteran Henry Corrales in a lightweight bout. Evloev remains unbeaten in his pro career, including his first nine in the UFC – all of which have been decisions. Those wins have come against increasingly stiff competition, including Arnold Allen in early 2024 and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling late this past year.
