Latest news with #ESPN65
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After much tougher return than she expected, Loma Lookboonmee eyes UFC's top 15 strawweights
LAS VEGAS – Loma Lookboonmee beat Istela Nunes with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with Lookboonmee, who returned after a 14-month injury layoff for her fourth straight win. Loma Lookboonmee def. Istela Nunes 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 #UFCVegas105 Loma Lookboonmee beats Istela Nunes by unanimous decision! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 6, 2025 Result: Loma Lookboonmee def. Istela Nunes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Updated records: Lookboonmee (10-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Nunes (6-6 MMA, 0-5 UFC) Key stats: Lookboonmee outstruck Nunes 111-51 overall. Lookboonmee on the fight's key moment 'The game plan was to take her down. I really wanted to focus on my ground game and showcase that. I definitely prefer standup, but I want to be a more well-rounded MMA fighter. I really focused on that this fight.' Lookboonmee on returning from injury 'Coming back after 14 months off was much more difficult than I thought it would be. I really want to fight two or three times this year. I think that's what's going to really make a difference for me. I had surgery last year, and it was really hard coming back.' Lookboonmee on what she wants next 'I haven't been home in nine months, so the first thing I'm going to do is go home and see my family. But if the UFC calls me to fight next week, I will fight next week. I want to get back to training as soon as I can. I really want to fight twice this year. It would be ideal if I could fight three times this year. I don't have any injuries, and fighting only two times in the past two years because of injuries and surgeries, it was really hard. 'I know today wasn't my best performance, but if the UFC gives me the opportunity to fight two to three times this year, I'll be a lot better. I'll fight anyone, but I really want to fight someone in the top 15. I've won four fights (in a row) in the UFC. I have nothing to lose, and it's the fighters in the top 15 who should be scared of losing their ranking to me.' To hear more from Lookboonmee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
MMA Junkie Radio #3555: UFC on ESPN 65 and 2025 PFL 1 recaps, Josh Rettinghouse interview, more
Monday's episode of MMA Junkie Radio with 'Gorgeous' George and 'Goze' is here. On Episode 3,555, the guys recap UFC on ESPN 65 and 2025 PFL 1, as well as look ahead to UFC 314. And they welcomed Josh Rettinghouse to the show, who will be fighting Leandro Higo at 2025 PFL 2 this week. Tune in! A new episode of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts "Gorgeous" George and "Goze" is released every Monday and Thursday. You can stream or download all episodes over at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, OmnyStudio, and more. Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dione Barbosa wants JJ Aldrich or Casey O'Neill after bonus-winning submission at UFC Vegas 105
LAS VEGAS – Dione Barbosa beat Diana Belbita with a first-round submission Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with Barbosa, who lived up to her 11-1 favorite status with a bonus-winning finish. Dione Barbosa def. Diana Belbita Result: Dione Barbosa def. Diana Belbita via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:13 Updated records: Barbosa (8-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Belbita (15-10 MMA, 2-6 UFC) Key stats: Barbosa has half of her wins by submission – and Belbita has more than half her losses by submission. Barbosa on the fight's key moment 'The game plan was to have the best performance of my life. … I journal a lot and do mental training. I didn't just prepare my body, but prepared my mind for the best performance of my life. I wanted so bad to finish the fight – it didn't matter if I knocked her down or (submit her). I knew I had the tools to do both. I just had to be patient.' Barbosa on her passion for fighting 'I was excited to get back in the cage. I feel happy when I'm in the cage. I love to fight. It's not just about winning and losing. I train so hard every single day. I'm consistent in the work and doing what I need to do. … I feel full when I'm in there. There's no anxiety to get a victory or anything. I can't wait to get back again.' Barbosa on what she wants next 'I'll be back to the gym for sure – no time off. I want to fight JJ Aldrich. I'll get back to the gym and train for whenever the UFC wants me. … It's a fun matchup. I was supposed to fight Casey O'Neill, but she had an injury. I don't think she'll fight till December, so I don't want to sit and wait for her. But I'd love to fight Casey O'Neill (when she's healthy). JJ Aldrich, I think would be a fun match.' To hear more from Barbosa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Victor Henry has plans to stick around awhile after UFC Vegas 105 – even if his mom won't watch
LAS VEGAS – Victor Henry beat Pedro Falcao with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with Henry, who bounced back after a loss to Charles Jourdain this past November – so far the only stoppage loss on his resume. Victor Henry def. Pedro Falcao Result: Victor Henry def. Pedro Falcao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Updated records: Henry (25-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Falcao (16-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Key stats: Henry landed twice as many total strikes as Falcao, though he was taken down four times. Henry on the fight's key moment '(I'd grade myself) a 7 out of 10, 6.5 out of 10. There were some spots where, meh – I could've finished it here. Hindsight is 20/20 – there were some spots in there I could've done more. … I didn't want to speak it into existence, but my arms were dead.' 🫡 Victor Henry se lleva la victoria por decisión unánime #UFCVegas105 — UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 5, 2025 Henry on his mom not watching his fights 'Whenever I get a second (after a fight), I call my mom. My mom doesn't watch me fight live because she's afraid of it. She went to one taekwondo tournament when I was a kid. She goes, 'Never again. Never again.' I said, 'Why?' She goes, 'Because that's my baby beating up on somebody else's baby, or it's someone else's baby beating up on my baby.' She goes, 'I'm not going to watch that. You call me afterward and let me know you're OK and we'll be all right.'' Henry on what he wants next 'The UFC has a habit of having me fight two times a year. I'd like to hopefully re-sign, get another contract. This was my third fight – I have one more fight on the contract. I'd like to get two more this year and three next year.' 'I think there's things I could've done better.' Victor Henry (@VictorHenryMMA) sees plenty of room to grow after his impressive win over Pedro Falcao at #UFCVegas105. Prelim Results ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) April 6, 2025 To hear more from Henry, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rhys McKee after first UFC win: 'It's not job done, it's job started'
LAS VEGAS – Rhys McKee beat Daniel Frunza with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with McKee, whose first UFC win also came with a $50,000 performance bonus. Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza Result: Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza via TKO (doctor's stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00 Updated records: McKee (14-6-1 MMA, 1-4 UFC), Frunza (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) Key stats: McKee knocked Frunza down four times in the first round. McKee on the fight's key moment 'We knew this was a must-win fight. If I lost, I'd probably have my release papers by now. This was a must-win. And guess what the next one is? A must-win – no different. … (the game plan was) vicious – be vicious. Any chance I could hurt him, as many times as I could, pressure, drown him, make him exhausted – and when the chance was there, the finish came. We had to get it done via damage tonight, but win No. 14 – 14th finish.' McKee on getting his first UFC win 'It's a relief. Four times, I've been here in the UFC and four times I've had to get the bus home early. I've always wanted to come to this (post-fight news conference) table, so to be here is a relief. But it's not job done – it's job started. '… To be honest, I thought my UFC opportunity had slipped away. When I got the shot at No. 5, I thought 'This is my golden ticket. This is the time when it all changes' I just believed in myself. My coaches believed in me on the days I didn't believe in myself.' McKee on what he wants next '(I spent) two weeks in Las Vegas. I brought my wife, brought my daughter … spent two weeks in the (UFC Performance Institute). There ain't nothing tough about it. It's a hell of a life. Like we said this week, if you want this stuff, you have to win the fight. We won the fight. I would love my next fight to be in Vegas. I absolutely love it. The PI is fantastic.' 'This win has been 14 years in the making.' Rhys McKee (@RhysMcKee) notches his first win inside the Octagon with an impressive performance over Daniel Frunza at #UFCVegas105 Prelim Results ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) April 6, 2025 To hear more from McKee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
