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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Joe Pyfer considers Kelvin Gastelum fight 'one of them layups,' stands by Mexico insults
Joe Pyfer considers Kelvin Gastelum fight 'one of them layups,' stands by Mexico insults Joe Pyfer sees a big incentive in beating Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316. Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) vs. Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) was rebooked for June 7 in Newark, N.J. The pair were originally scheduled to fight at UFC on ESPN 64 in Mexico City this past March, but the bout was scrapped after Pyfer withdrew from the fight hours before due to illness. 'No, I was scared that I wasn't going to be able to run it back with him, man," Pyfer said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I think this is a great opportunity for me. I think this fight is kind of one of them layups for me to really perform, and it's no discredit to him. I have respect for him. I haven't heard him say anything, to my knowledge, of him talking sh*t, or I'd have a different demeanor. But I think he's been respectful. I think I've been respectful of him, and I've trained my ass off for him." Gastelum hasn't been performing like the fighter who once pushed Israel Adesanya to the brink, but his durability has held on. Pyfer wants to test his chin. "I've literally had f*cking double dreams of everything," Pyfer said. "Every scenario, I've had a double f*cking dream. I'm just tired of picturing his fat-ass f*cking face in my brain every f*cking day. I'm over it. I'm just ready to do the dance. I'm ready to throw down. He's an exciting guy, I'm an exciting guy. Obviously I'm the prospect. He's the vet. ... I want to be the first guy to knock him out, man, just quite frankly. I know I can do it." Pyfer stands by calling Mexico 'sh*thole' When Pyfer pulled out of his first fight with Gastelum, he labeled Mexico as a "sh*thole" country and vowed to never return again. He didn't walk back his comments when addressing what happened. "Look at it this way: I don't have to go into specifics, but if the country was so great, we wouldn't have so many problems,' Pyfer said. "What I said was misconstrued. I said, 'If that's what fighting in that country is, then f*ck that place, it's a sh*thole,' and so on and so forth. I don't understand why we would risk fighting there. The risk is so great. I got sick twice, and I never said anything about it. "There's people who still have side effects. 'DC' went on and said, 'Man, my stomach was messed up, I hate that place,' and nobody gave him sh*t for it. I'm a little bit more unapologetic. It's nothing towards the people. The people were fine. I had nothing bad to say about the people. It's just as far as fighting there, fighting at that elevation, fighting at that altitude, why would I risk that?"
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 256 pre-event facts: Melquizael Costa first to three fights in 2025
UFC Fight Night 256 pre-event facts: Melquizael Costa first to three fights in 2025 The second of three UFC events in May goes down Saturday with UFC Fight Night 256 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+. Former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) returns to competition in attempt to snap a three-fight losing skid when he takes on undefeated surging contender Michael Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in a five-round welterweight bout. Go inside the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 256 below with MMA Junkie's pre-event facts. Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Burns' three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since April 2023. Burns is 3-5 in his past eight fights dating back to February 2021. Burns is 7-5 since he returned to the welterweight division in August 2019. Burns' three armbar submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third-most in company history behind Demetrious Johnson (four) and Royce Gracie (four). Morales' five-fight UFC winning streak at welterweight is the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Jack Della Maddalena (eight), Shavkat Rakhmonov (seven) and Joaquin Buckley (six). Morales has earned 13 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. Morales defends 91.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC welterweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Kamaru Usman (97.3 percent). Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato Paul Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) returns to the light heavyweight division after a four-fight stint at middleweight where he went 1-3. Craig's three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since July 2023. Craig's six submission victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Glover Teixeira (seven). Craig's four submission victories by triangle choke are the most in UFC history. Craig's victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 is the latest submission in a three-round UFC fight. Julian Erosa vs. Melquizael Costa Julian Erosa (30-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) is 8-3 since he returned to the UFC for a third stint in June 2020. Erosa has earned 25 of his 30 career victories by stoppage. Erosa's average fight time of 6:45 in UFC featherweight competition is shortest among active fighters in the weight class. Melquizael Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) becomes the first fighter to make three UFC appearances in 2025. He earned victories at UFC Fight Night 252 on Feb. 22 and UFC on ESPN 64 on March 29. Thiago Moises vs. Jared Gordon Thiago Moises (19-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) has earned one of 17 stoppage victories in UFC history stemming from leg kicks. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 239. Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Dustin Stoltzfus Nursulton Ruziboev (35-9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned 33 of his 35 career victories by stoppage. Luana Pinheiro vs. Tecia Pennington Luana Pinheiro's (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn't earned a victory since April 2023. Tecia Pennington's (14-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC) competes in her 18th UFC strawweight bout, tied for the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Angela Hill (26). Pennington's 10 victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Hill (12). Pennington has earned 12 of her 14 career victories by decision. Denise Gomes vs. Elise Reed Elise Reed (8-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over her past nine fights. She was victorious in her most recent bout. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cory Sandhagen-Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick: Who rules at UFC Des Moines?
Cory Sandhagen-Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick: Who rules at UFC Des Moines? Bantamweights headline UFC's long-awaited return to Iowa Show Caption Hide Caption Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo | UFC on ESPN 67 Breakdown MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC on ESPN 64 main event in Des Moines, Iowa. MMA Junkie MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 67's main event between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. Cory Sandhagen UFC Des Moines preview Staple info: Record: 17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC Height: 5'11" Age: 33 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 70" Last fight: Decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov (Aug. 3, 2024) Camp: Elevation Fight Team (Denver2) Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing Risk management: Good Supplemental info: + WKA world kickboxing champion + Amateur kickboxing accolades + Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt + 7 KO victories + 3 submission wins + 6 first-round finishes + Consistent pace and pressure + Excellent feints and footwork ^ Manages distance/draws out attacks + Variates shot selection ^ Punctuates well with bodywork + Hard leg kicks + Improved wrestling ability + Underrated scrambling ability ^ Good getups and reversals + Solid transitional grappler Deiveson Figueiredo UFC Des Moines preview Staple info: Record: 24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC Height: 5'5" Age: 37 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 68" Last fight: Decision loss to Petr Yan (Nov. 23, 2024) Camp: Team Figueiredo (Brazil) Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai Risk management: Good Supplemental info: + Former 2x UFC flyweight champion + Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt + Regional grappling accolades + 9 KO victories + 9 submission wins + 11 first-round finishes + KO power + Well-timed right hands/uppercuts ^ Coming forward or off the counter + Hard calf kicks + Slicing elbows from multiple ranges + Strong inside the clinch + Improved wrestling ability ^ Solid reactive shots + Transitions well from topside ^ Dangerous strikes and submissions Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo point of interest: Flyweight fisticuffs The main event in Iowa features a flyweight showdown between two top-five talents who aren't afraid to exchange fisticuffs. Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Deiveson Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. Figueiredo still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range. This approach both accentuates Figueiredo's length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian's powerful counters. Whether Figueiredo is unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, the former flyweight champ has traditionally demonstrated stellar timing and anticipation to go along with his John Lineker-like power and knockdown rate. Figueiredo has also leaned more on his calf kicks since his series with Brandon Moreno, demonstrating the ability to land stance-altering shots at range. Although attacking his opponent's lower extremities will likely serve Figueiredo well, defensive susceptibility to calf kicks appears to be a potent two-way street in this matchup. Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo breakdown: Potential grappling threats Enter Cory Sandhagen. Coming up through the kickboxing ranks in the quiet martial arts hotbed of Colorado, Sandhagen has clearly studied and absorbed a lot in what has been a fun career to watch thus far. Utilizing his long and lean frame like second nature, Sandhagen is a rangy kickboxer who appears comfortable poking and prodding his opposition with accurate jabs and leg kicks from either stance. Shifting or drop-stepping at a moment's notice, the 33-year-old talent can piece together flowing, varied offense off of whatever building materials are offered up to him. Whether Sandhagen is bringing back Jose Aldo's patented "Dutchie" combination or launching jumping switch-knees that give me flashbacks to Liu Kang's bicycle kick, he certainly knows how to keep things spicy. And when Sandhagen is feeling in stride, it's not uncommon to see the good samaritan show a sadistic smile after punctuating his presence with deep hooks or uppercuts to the body. However, despite the multi-leveled attacks, Sandhagen is not exactly impervious from a defensive standpoint and will have to respect the potential level-changing counters coming his way. Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo odds The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the American, listing Sandhagen -520 and Figueiredo +350 via FanDuel. Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick Despite not disagreeing with who is favored, the betting spread above is a bit wide for my liking. Although Figueiredo is clearly past prime, the former flyweight champion has proven to be an effective fighter since moving up to bantamweight. Aside from still having the punching power to change the perspective on a round, Figueiredo has also become a much more willing grappler in this division. Should Sandhagen get lackadaisical in transition, then no one should be shocked if Figueiredo can score some big moments or back positions that sway rounds his way. However, even though taking a flier on Figueiredo at these odds is tempting, I can't ignore the fact that the Brazilian – even in his more recent wins – appears to be walking a fine line as far as establishing a solid output or winning conditions go. Add in the fact that Sandhagen is incredibly durable and hard to finish on the feet or the floor, and I suspect that "Sandman" can survive the scares and pull away with his superior output and bodywork down the stretch. The pick is Sandhagen by unanimous decision. Prediction: Sandhagen by decision Cory Sandhagen, Deiveson Figueiredo start time, where to watch As the main event, Sandhagen and Figueiredo are expected to make their walks to the cage at approximately 12:40 a.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-champ Brandon Moreno explains why UFC Mexico win ranks in top three career moments
Brandon Moreno just logged one of his best career moments – even if it wasn't exactly legacy defining like others in his decorated MMA career. Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC), the first-ever Mexico born UFC champion, fought last month headlining UFC on ESPN 64 against Steve Erceg. The key detail about this flyweight contest is that it took place on home soil for Moreno. He entered the bout with a ton of pressure. Not only was he fighting for title contention, and headlining a UFC event, but he was also winless in his home country – at least under the UFC banner. This was the fourth time Moreno competed in Mexico, and he had a 0-2-1 record. A win at UFC on ESPN 64 was a must. "What took me to get the win meant so much to me," Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. "I never gave up, and I always pushed forward. I remember when I got this fight offered, I was like, 'Man, again. Mexico City. The altitude. Everything that entails fighting in Mexico.' But I spoke to my team, and I wasn't going to win or try to go around the obstacle. I was going through it, and I was going to surpass it, and that's what happened. That's what made it extra special." After defeating Steve Erceg by unanimous decision, Moreno was visibly emotional. Getting his hand raised in front of his people meant the world to him. "I have three best moments in my career," Moreno said. "My UFC debut, when I win the UFC title, and this one (the win in Mexico)." Moreno thinks having the ability to turn the page – win or lose – after a fight is key for a fighter's wellbeing. Unlike other sports, fighters don't get many chances throughout a year to put behind losses or snap losing streaks. Yet, Moreno admits things have been good after his latest outing. "After you win, everything is good," Moreno said. "Even the flights. You're there in the plane after you win, and you're all chatty with whoever you're with, and you're just in a good mood. However, when you lose, you're just thinking, 'Man, I lost,' and you're a little sad. So yeah, everything is much better when you win."
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates prediction, pick: Who gets finished at UFC Kansas City?
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates prediction, pick: Who gets finished at UFC Kansas City? Show Caption Hide Caption Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Prediction | UFC on ESPN 66 Breakdown Who will win Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates? MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC on ESPN 64 main event MMA Junkie MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 66's main event between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates. Ian Machado Garry UFC Kansas City preview Record: 15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC 15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC Age: 27 27 Height: 6'3" 6'3" Weight: 170 lbs. 170 lbs. Reach: 74.5" 74.5" Last fight: Decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov (Dec. 7, 2024) Decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov (Dec. 7, 2024) Camp: Chute Boxe Diego Lima (Ireland/Brazil) Chute Boxe Diego Lima (Ireland/Brazil) Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing Orthodox/kickboxing Risk management: Good Carlos Prates UFC Kansas City preview Record: 21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC 21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC Age: 31 31 Height: 6'1" 6'1" Weight: 170 lbs. 170 lbs. Reach: 78" 78" Last fight: Knockout win over Neil Magny (Nov. 9, 2024) Knockout win over Neil Magny (Nov. 9, 2024) Camp: Fighting Nerds (Brazil) Fighting Nerds (Brazil) Stance/striking style: Southpaw/muay Thai Southpaw/muay Thai Risk management: Good Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates point of interest: Striking with a southpaw Garry, the orthodox fighter, comes from a grappling base but has dabbled with the striking arts from a young age. An accomplished youth boxer, Garry possesses solid straight punches down the center line from both stances. Although Garry primarily operates out of orthodox, he occasionally switches sides for open-stance opportunities. When feeling in stride, Garry will attach kicks to his punches, punishing all three levels. Garry may take the back foot a bit too much for my liking, but his comfort with lateral movement and range-finding weapons allows him to build progress once he can establish his lead hand. And if an opponent over-commits from their power side, Garry appears to have some natural pull counters in his repertoire regardless of what stance his opponent is operating out of. That said, counter striking appears to be a potent two-way street in Garry's fights, so the Brazilian-Irishman must be mindful of what's coming back at him when standing across from someone like [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag]. A savvy southpaw who spent multiple years fighting in Thailand, Prates has an undeniable swagger to his striking style. Defensively, Prates can cover himself fairly well with a high guard when he wants to, but he quietly gets a decent amount done with defensive pivots, shoulder rolls and head movement. Although I wish he were a little more active with his lead hand offensively, Prates does well at keeping the temperature high with lead-handed prods coming forward and check hook looks off the counter. And once Prates finds his range, the Brazilian wields the multi-level threat of crushing kicks and crosses in conjunction, providing multiple examples of what many of us analysts refer to as 'the southpaw double-attack.' Whether Prates is counter-balancing knees with straight shots or is utilizing crosses to disguise kicks off the same side, the lung-dart-loving 31-year-old can serve as a death dealer with multiple weapons at his disposal. Prates is also an avid leg kicker who doesn't discriminate when it comes to picking his targets in open-stance affairs (as he isn't beyond attacking the rear leg a la Sittichai Sitsongpeenong). Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates breakdown: Potential grappling threats Considering where the potential path of least resistance lies, no one should be shocked if Garry leans into his judo base and looks to grapple in this fight. Garry may not be putting up Karo Parisyan-like throws in the octagon, but the judo black belt does well at keeping a strong base and stymying opposition in closed quarters. Garry will utilize more traditional takedown attacks despite his background, but the 27-year-old seems to prefer attempts from the clinch (which could be interesting considering Prates' acumen in said space). Not only can Prates operate well with the collar ties that you would associate with a striker of his background, but the Brazilian also displays solid wrestling fundamentals as far as defense goes. Whether Prates hoisting his opponent's arms off of his hips with high and tight whizzers or is working off of solid forearm frames, the Fighting Nerds product demonstrates solid fight I.Q. when forced to defend takedowns along the fence. And in the open, Prates appears to have some deceptively strong hips that assist his already stellar reaction times when it comes to shutting down shots at his legs. When taken down, Prates is good about keeping his composure while seeking out solutions that prioritize stand-ups and sweeps over submissions. Prates showed a glimpse of his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt savvy with a sweet butterfly sweep he hit against Charles Radtke, but Garry should prove a more stern test if he's able to get some positive positions in this fight. Garry, who has made concerted efforts to improve his grappling since working down in Brazil, has been a bit more grapple-heavy in his last few fights. Training with everyone from Charles Oliveira to Demian Maia, Garry appears to be trickier in transition than he was before, showing some solid, opportunistic back-taking skills. Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates odds The oddsmakers and the public slightly favor the Brazilian-Irishman, listing Garry -130 and Prates +102 via FanDuel. Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates prediction, pick Considering that Garry is the more proven product from a UFC standpoint, I'm not too surprised to see him open as the favorite – – nor am I shocked to see money trickle in on the popular underdog in Prates. I believe Garry has more ways of winning this fight on paper, including potential pathways in the striking realm. Aside from officially standing at 3-0 opposite UFC-level lefties, I've argued for some time that Garry arguably strikes better with southpaws than he does against orthodox opposition. From Garry's ability to capitalize on countering dynamics that are traditionally enjoyed by southpaws to the fact that he actually jabs in open-stance affairs, it's hard not to respect this aspect of his game. But what makes this style matchup so interesting is the fact that Garry and Prates utilize similar striking tactics despite operating out of different stances. Whether we're talking about counter balancing knees with crosses or setting up head kicks with body and leg assaults, Garry and Prates partake in a lot of the same setups. Both fighters also share the common culprit of left-sided strikes in open-stance pairings, but Garry's cage positioning is what differentiates these two for me. Although Garry has made noted strides in his exits and lateral movement, he still plays with fire in regards to skirting along the outside with his back near the fence (as a decent percentage of his defensive lapses come when corralled and pressured in this space). Whereas Prates, who does a decent job of pivoting and circling back into the center, comes to life like he's the second coming of Anderson Silva whenever his opponents find themselves in his preferred kill zone between the cage and inner-black octagon lines. To Garry's credit, he will have the larger octagon to work with, so don't be shocked if he's able to draw Prates into a frustrating fight that ends with some contentious result. However, if Garry can't capitalize on Prates' heavy open-sided slips with a head kick or bank some serious control time by finding the Brazilian's back, then we could see his body and legs get broken down by "The Nightmare" at range. As much as I hate to forecast for an underrated fighter to suffer the first stoppage loss of their career, I suspect that Garry's willingness to play in Prates' preferred kill zones will give plenty of chances for "The Future" to finally get burned for playing with fire. There are not many fighters in this division that I'd peg to best Garry on the feet, but I believe that Prates is that dude. The pick is Prates by knockout in Round 3. Prediction: Prates inside the distance
