Latest news with #FightingNerds
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rodolfo Vieira credits Fighting Nerds camp for UFC on ESPN 71 win, plans to return
LAS VEGAS – Rodolfo Vieira met the media Saturday after his unanimous decision win over Tresean Gore at UFC on ESPN 71. Vieira (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) outworked Gore (6-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC) over 15 minutes at the UFC Apex and took home a pair of 30-27 scorecards to get back in the win column. It was a new feeling for the Brazilian. Before his win over Gore, he never had gotten his hand raised if he had to go the distance. Vieira said his training camp away from Orlando, Fla., with the Fighting Nerds team in Brazil had much to do with his mentality going into the fight. 'I didn't think the fight would be so tough, but I was ready for everything,' Vieira told MMA Junkie at his post-fight news conference. 'Of course, I was looking for a finish using my jiu-jitsu. I did my camp at Fighting Nerds in Brazil and I was feeling a huge difference. That was the first time I went there. … Now, I think I'm much better than the last fight. I'm more confident. I'm still improving.' Vieira said even though the training camps in Brazil will be hard when he has to be away from his wife and son, he thinks the payoff will be worth it. After back-to-back bonus-winning arm-triangle choke submission wins at middleweight over stern tests in Cody Brundage and Armen Petrosyan, Vieira slipped up against Andre Petroski in February and lost a decision. That helped prompt the Fighting Nerds move. 'The best thing I could do in my life is train with the Fighting Nerds guys. I don't (tell people) to go to any gym (in particular). But you have to find a gym where you have a good relationship with the coaches and the athletes, and I found that there,' Vieira said. Check out Vieira's post-fight news conference in the video above.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ian Machado Garry Says I Won't Accept Anything But a Title Fight
Staying relevant in the UFC's welterweight division takes more than just talent—it demands presence, momentum, and timing. Ian Machado Garry proved just that with a high-stakes win at UFC Kansas City, reminding fans and critics alike that he's still very much in the title picture. After suffering a defeat in his previous outing to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, this latest performance helped silence doubters and reignite his climb toward the top. Machado Garry rebounded in decisive fashion, defeating Fighting Nerds teammate Carlos Prates in a closely contested five-round bout. The win marked a crucial turnaround after his setback against Rakhmonov. In a recent interview with Full Send MMA's Shawty Mac, Machado Garry made headlines—not for who he beat, but for what he demanded next. When asked, 'So realistically then, Belal wins. Will you accept any other fight than a title shot?' Machado Garry responded, 'No. I don't think I need to. I believe I'm the biggest name in the division. You know what I mean? Shavkat's injured. He's not going to be fighting this year. You know what I mean? I don't see anyone who's bigger or anyone who's more interesting to put on a pay-per-view main event and sell out a stadium. There is no one bigger.' Ian Machado GarryGetty Images As Machado Garry pointed out, Shavkat Rakhmonov is currently sidelined after tearing his MCL at UFC 310, removing one of the top contenders from the immediate title conversation. With that opportunity open, Machado Garry isn't wasting time. Just weeks removed from his most recent fight, he's already in Canada, prepared to weigh in as the backup for the UFC 304 main event between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. For Ian Machado Garry, the mission is clear: title shot or nothing. Related: 'He's Jacked!' – Ilia Topuria Photo Shows Lightweight Transformation Has Fans Buzzing Related: 'Looks Super Juicy' – UFC Champion Raises PED Questions About Top Contender ahead of UFC 316
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bo Nickal got run over by a Reinier, which is par for the UFC course in 2025
Bo Nickal lost his unbeaten record and at least some of his prospect hype, thanks to some punishing knees by Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa. (Reese Strickland-Imagn Images) Back in January, the blue-chip prospect Payton Talbott made the walk as a 10-to-1 favorite against Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 and then got dominated for three rounds. That hurt, but not nearly as bad as the kicks he received on social media after the loss. Playing along, he posted afterward that he was sentencing himself to Dagestan to learn to wrestle. Last week, Carlos Prates suffered something similar. He was 5-0 in the UFC with five knockouts. He was a big reason the Fighting Nerds were being celebrated as a gang of four-eyed marauders, and yet he got smoked by Ian Garry in the barbecue capital of Kansas City. Garry even pretended to tamp out a cigarette after he got his hand raised. Advertisement Perhaps it's always been the case, but in 2025 it's definitely a thing — the UFC has come to stand for the Ultimate Fraud Check. There's a glee that accompanies watching a dutifully hyped prospect get his arse handed to him, especially from those who worship at the altar of chaos. It happened again on Saturday night at the UFC's Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa. This time it was the undefeated former collegiate wrestler Bo Nickal who got the treatment. Nickal was a -300 favorite to beat the Dutchman Reinier de Ridder, and therefore a featured chalk line on level-headed parlays. As a three-time national champion out of Penn State, Nickal was being imagined into fights with such names as Khamzat Chimaev from the time he emerged from the Contender Series, which of course couldn't help but rub some people the wrong way. So when he lost to de Ridder, the social media chorus swelled. Words like 'exposed' were getting tossed around by those who knew, which is everyone in the habit of predicting outcomes retrospectively. A wicked knee to the body from de Ridder did the trick, yet that was only the end sequence. Before then de Ridder showed that he wouldn't take in-cage dictation from anybody, even a brass-tacks wrestler with decades of pedigree. Advertisement De Ridder wasn't about to be bullied, and in fact turned the tables on Nickal. He was tenderizing Bo's insides with the knees to the body. It was a revelation. It's that kind of thing that gives the UFC its juice, this brand of truth-telling. The idea that there's always an opponent coming to snatch that zero. The understanding that hype is carefully built just so it can be imploded on live TV. And let's face it, hype is traditionally the name of the fight game, as generating public interest converts nicely into American dollars. That's where Bo was. Right on the cusp. He was the marquee name in the cornfield because he looked inevitable. Advertisement There was talk of him headlining his next fight at the Bryce Jordan Center in Happy Valley, tailor-made for an All-American homecoming. Nickal had finished the first five opponents he faced in the UFC, and easily handled Paul Craig in his last fight, even if Craig survived to hear the scorecards. Nickal's loss to de Ridder is the first of his professional career, and came in yet another match-up in which Nickal was the heavy favorite. (Reese Strickland-Imagn Images) (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters) Were his opponents handpicked? You're damn right they were! Nobody was trying to throw Paddy Pimblett to the wolves, and look where he is now, on the verge of contendership. Which is another way of saying Paddy's still 'ripe for exposure,' to a certain way of thinking. No, in 2025 watching hype get smashed has become a delicacy on Saturday nights. When Umar Nurmagomedov fell against Merab Dvalishvili, the middle fingers couldn't get out of their clinched fists fast enough. Advertisement Perhaps it's an undying need to see people get humbled. Nickal himself helped fuel things by saying that even as a -1600 favorite in his early fights that it was value, which is the right mindset for a guy who knows nothing but winning. Did he say he could hang with Chimaev? He did, he did. But to see him get handled the way he did Saturday night, you'd think his entire career was nothing more than a house of cards. 'If one's standup and grappling is superior, the wrestling pedigree merely allows their opponent to decide where they will lose,' Al Iaquinta pointed out on X afterward. A fairly even-keel take, even if it wasn't the case when he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov. Another take? BO NICKAL FRAUD CHECKED, in all caps. Maybe so. You'd have to think that as a longtime competitor Nickal will use the loss as motivation to come back stronger. Losses don't sit well with fighters who've spent their whole lives staying in control. Bo's the latest to take an L on his way to Big Things, and he won't be the last. The glee that follows? Well, let's just say that never has comeuppance been so exposed.
Forbes
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
UFC Kansas City Results, Bonuses, Highlights And Reactions
Ian Machado Garry dominated the first three rounds of the main event against Carlos Prates on Saturday night in Kansas City but had to hold on for the last two rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. Garry snapped Prates' win streak and that of the dominant Fighting Nerds fight camp with a masterful game plan and nearly impeccable execution. Prates had an opportunity to get the comeback victory in the fifth round, but he simply ran out of gas. He didn't have the wind to take advantage of Garry, who was partly tired and buzzed from one of the Brazilian's left hooks. Here's how close Prates came to getting the finish: With the win, Garry moves closer to a title opportunity while Prates wasn't exposed, but his aura of invincibility was broken down. In the co-main event, Zhang Mingyang proved to be the ultimate party pooper. The Chinese KO artist seemed to take great pleasure in ruining Anthony Smith's retirement fight with a first-round TKO win. It wasn't even close. Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith's forehead with a step-in elbow. The blood was dripping in Smith's eyes and wound up being the beginning of the end. By the time the fight was over, a defeated Smith was sitting in a pool of his own blood. The UFC gave Smith a touching video package, but it was clear after the fight that the veteran made the right decision. There were seven finishes on the night and the Kansas City crowd was turned up the entire night. Here is a look at all of the results and the highlights.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Kansas City predictions, odds, full card preview: Is Carlos Prates legit?
After a rare week off, the UFC returns with a fight night event in Kansas City that will help to settle the welterweight contender scene. Rising Fighting Nerds superstar Carlos Prates has been a must-see performer since he burst into the UFC last year. Four knockout victories later, Prates is already on the cusp of vying for UFC gold, and a win over Ian Machado Garry in his second UFC main event would be just what the doctor ordered. On the other hand, Garry is as motivated as ever to get back on track after taking his first career loss at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov this past December. Advertisement In the co-main event, one-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith makes his final walk to the Octagon when he battles China's Zhang Mingyang. Smith's final fight will see him attempt to snap a two-fight losing streak in what is his 60th career bout on record. UFC Kansas City is somewhat of a blend between your typical 2025 road show and an APEX home game. The prelims are a rough, rough out, barring an exception or two. This card is all about the main card and the main event, in particular. So, who gets it done? Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM. Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ian Machado Garry during weigh ins for UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) 170 pounds: Ian Machado Garry (-135) vs. Carlos Prates (+110) The MMA world might implode if Garry is the man to hand Fighting Nerds' undefeated male fighters their first loss. Therefore, it would only be fitting, wouldn't it? Advertisement Garry, 27, has all the talent in the world, and despite his loss to Rakhmonov, legitimized himself as a mainstay within the elite of the division. Ireland's "Future" appears to be exactly that. The oddsmakers got this one right, with Garry favored, as he's fought the better competition. The big problem, however, is that we've seen Garry's chin get touched, whether against Rakhmonov or dropped against lesser opponents like Song Kenan. Prates is a marauder of violence in the Octagon. He's aggressive, but doesn't often overextend, which allows his precision to shine. Garry will have Prates outmatched technically in every aspect of MMA, making the striking battle all the more intriguing. The most impressive thing to me from the Rakhmonov loss was Garry's incredible balance and grappling efficiency. Once he has his position, he will maintain it, and if you get him down, it will take one hell of an effort. Expect Garry to chop at Prates' lead leg before mixing in takedown attempts. Timing will be everything for Garry because he tends not to grapple until after getting touched — unless against a sophisticated technician he knows is better, like Michael "Venom" Page. That's the X-factor in this fight: timing. Prates will deliver his dangerous blows at range or in clinch exchanges. I just don't see Garry going in with the grappling-heavy mindset that he should. The Fighting Nerds are the real deal, folks. Advertisement Pick: Prates 205 pounds: Anthony Smith (+400) vs. Zhang Mingyang (-550) Smith didn't look for a "gimme" in his send-off. "Lionheart" is as seasoned as it gets, and with his new sense of accomplishment, he can make for a dangerous final version of himself in the Octagon. As a striking threat, Smith doesn't appear anywhere near what he once was, and his speed has slowed significantly. He makes up for it with his grappling prowess, which makes him an excellent test for the intimidating Zhang. China's "Mountain Tiger" is a brutal, bruising puncher. Smith won't be able to handle much of the damage that comes his way, and every fight starts standing. Zhang adds to his highlight reel unless he gives up his neck for an easy guillotine like Vitor Petrino did against Smith. Advertisement Pick: Zhang 145 pounds: Giga Chikadze (+135) vs. David Onama (-160) We love a good changing of the guard matchup. Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama has higher potential than the co-main event, with Chikadze as a bigger player in his division than Smith at light heavyweight. However, Chikadze isn't yet on his way out. Don't get it twisted. Thanks to his kickboxing background, the Georgian striking sensation is getting long in the tooth in overall combat sports experience. Chikadze is another case in these UFC Kansas City matchups where the level of competition favors him comfortably. He's only lost to some of the best fighters the division has to offer in Arnold Allen and Calvin Kattar since he joined the UFC in 2019. Name value-wise, it's hard to pinpoint precisely who Onama's best win is. Advertisement "The Silent Assassin" has rightfully been a well-hyped prospect with solid hopes and finishing ability. He's shown maturity in the most recent two victories on his three-fight winning streak, which helps him most against a striker of Chikadze's caliber in all senses. There are levels to this game, and Chikadze is a solid leap for Onama. It all comes down to whether or not you think the 36-year-old former GLORY Kickboxing champ is on a downward slide. I'm not quite there yet. Pick: Chikadze LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 19: Michel Pereira of Brazil prepares to face Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images) 185 pounds: Michel Pereira (-140) vs. Abus Magomedov (+115) Poor Michel Pereira. He goes from a main event after zapping dudes into oblivion, falls short via smothering, and finds himself not even in a co-main event slot. It's somewhat understandable, but still a harsh reality. Advertisement Pereira is still the silliest, best time at 185 pounds, and Abus Magomedov has regained momentum after back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho. There's no shame in either loss for Magomedov. Each simply proved he wasn't ready for the level of talent both fighters possess atop the division. Pereira is still in a similar boat, climbing the ranks. It feels as though the assumption will be that Pereira is a fish out of water on the ground after being exposed by Anthony Hernandez in that area. That's true to an extent. At the same time, that's how good Hernandez is. Magomedov is arguably more dangerous overall, but Pereira just makes fiction a reality when he starts throwing moves you thought weren't supposed to work. And more often than not, they have. Brazil's favorite showman gets back in the win column and feeds off the crowd every step of the way. Pick: Pereira 170 pounds: Randy Brown (-250) vs. Nicolas Dalby (+200) Randy Brown was robbed. Randy Brown was robbed. Randy Brown was robbed. Say it three times, and it will reverse the result of his Bryan Battle loss at UFC 310. OK, that part isn't true, but the first part is. Advertisement This fight oddly feels like a rematch of a fight that never happened. Brown and Nicolas Dalby have been in the UFC for the better part of the last decade, seeking their spots in the top 15 without ever colliding — until now. "Rudeboy" has come into his own throughout his recent bouts, while Dalby remains an absolute dog, willing to take a fight anywhere despite his seasoned age of 40. Dalby still has gas left in the tank and proves it every fight. He arguably fell into the same boat as Brown in his last fight, losing a split decision to Rinat Fakhretdinov. Brown, 34, should hold multiple physical advantages over Dalby, piling on the damage early and often. I can see this fight playing out where Brown gets clearly ahead in the first two rounds — but Dalby never goes away. "Danish Dynamite" will rally late. A finish just won't materialize. Pick: Brown 185 pounds: Ikram Aliskerov (-500) vs. Andre Muniz (+360) Remember what I said about Ikram Aliskerov? It's even more applicable than with Pereira, as poor Aliskerov stepped up to save the day against Robert Whittaker last October, got starched, and now opens the main card against the submission specialist, Andre Muniz. Advertisement Alright, this matchup is all Aliskerov's to lose. Muniz had accrued some solid hype early into his UFC run, and I was even on the train, pushing him through the contender list — then he got fraud-checked by Brendan Allen and Paul Craig. Even Muniz's wins over Jun-Yong Park and Uriah Hall, which bookend those losses, don't help restore faith. If you're not a grappler of a decent caliber with serviceable wrestling, you can beat Muniz. Unfortunately for him, Aliskerov is a very defensively sound grappler who won't struggle at all to keep Muniz off him. Aliskerov's literal only kryptonite thus far in his 17-fight career has been uppercuts. The guy can't see them or something. Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev violently highlighted that, and Muniz should get to spamming if he knows what's best for him. I can't say I have any faith left, however. Pick: Aliskerov Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Cameron Saaiman (red gloves) reacts to defeating Terrence Mitchel (blue gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) Preliminary notes Regardless of how soul-crushingly abysmal some UFC cards can be in the 2020s, I don't feel this way often: UFC Kansas City's prelims are completely missable. I almost want to recommend you don't watch until the main card. Then you see a flyweight scrap like Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick chilling atop the list, and you go, "Oh yeah. Those dudes are fun as hell, and each goes out there sometimes dying multiple times in one fight. (If they're Schnell.)" They're both unretired fighters, too. So, you know, it's the most MMA fight we could ask for. Advertisement Cameron Saaiman, Chris Gutierrez and Jacqueline Amorim all catch my eye regarding specific fighters. The South African bantamweight bestie of middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis hasn't been seen since his brutal Payton Talbott loss. Gutierrez has been bitten by the cancellation bug after a tough Song Yadong loss and rebound Quang Le win. And Amorim? Well, she's just a bright prospect at strawweight, finishing everyone in front of her. What more do you want? Quick picks: Matt Schnell (-200) def. Jimmy Flick (+165) Evan Elder (-210) def. Gauge Young (+170) Chris Gutierrez (-145) def. John Castaneda (+120) Advertisement Da'Mon Blackshear (-400) def. Alateng Heili (+310) Cameron Saaiman (-105) def. Malcolm Wellmaker (-115) Jacqueline Amorim (-800) def. Polyana Viana (+550) Timothy Cuamba (+110) def. Roberto Romero (-135) Joselyne Edwards (-300) def. Chelsea Chandler (+240)
