Latest news with #Jasudavicius
Hamilton Spectator
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadians shine at UFC 315 in Montreal
MONTREAL - UFC fans in Montreal had to wait more than a decade for the sport's return to the Bell Centre. Their patience, however, was rewarded with a 4-2 showing by the Canadians on the fight card for UFC 315 on Saturday night. The card is headlined by welterweight title bout pitting Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena and a women's flyweight title matchup between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot. Aiemann Zahabi (13-2) of Laval, Que., shocked UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo (32-10) of Brazil in a featherweight main card fight. Zahabi won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Zahabi, who had three-time welterweight champion and Canadian mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Georges St-Pierre in his corner for the bout, has now won six straight fights. The fight was originally scheduled to be disputed at the bantamweight category, but was changed to featherweight on Friday after both fighters checked in above the weight limit. Following the loss, Aldo announced his retirement from MMA fighting after a 21-year career. (Proper) Mike Malott of Burlington, Ont. (12-2-1), won his fight with American Charles (Chuck Buffalo) Radtke (10-5) by knockout 26 seconds into the second round of their welterweight bout. Following a hotly-contested opening round, Malott took down Radtke with a clean left hook to the Chicago native's head. Malott would not let up, striking his opponent with repeated followup blows to seal the knockout. Radtke was met with jeers from the moment he walked out. Fans yelled '(Expletive) you, Radtke' throughout the fight in response to comments of the same nature he made to Canadian fans at a pre-fight news conference on Wednesday. It all stems from the ongoing booing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Canadian sporting events in recent months over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st U.S. state. In the women's flyweight division, Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3) took down Brazilian Jessia (Bate Estaca) Andrade (26-14) by submission just over halfway through the first round of their fight. The 36-year-old St. Catharines, Ont., native secured her fifth consecutive win, toppling Andrade to the ground before pinning her opponent down in a rear-naked chokehold. 'When I was preparing for this fight, I kept on thinking about it being a quick finish,' said Jasudavicius. 'I kept on telling myself to be ready for 15 hard minutes and everything. 'I was trying to convince myself otherwise and once I got that hand kind of behind her shoulder there, I was like, 'this is the end. I'm going to get this. This is nuts.'' Jasudavicius improved her record in Canada to a perfect 5-0, which she says is no fluke. 'I feel like I feed off the crowd. As soon as I step out, I feel the energy and I feel like I truly bring everyone in there with and that I actually have Canada on my back. It gives me so much more strength,' said Jasudavicius. Marc-Andre (Powerbar) Barriault (17-9) of Gatineau, Que., also knocked out 35-year-old Brazilian opponent Bruno (Blindado) Silva (23-13) 1:27 into the opening round of their middleweight bout, thanks to an elbow struck to the side of Silva's head. Silva left the octagon on a stretcher. 'I still have goosebumps,' said Barriault. 'I feel like I realized that he was still on the ground after a couple minutes, and then I felt like maybe there's something wrong. 'Everything else was kind of incredible. The energy of the crowd, just to see myself on the big screen and see my name everywhere, I deserve to be here.' Barriault's knockout was celebrated with raucous applause and a series of 'Olé, Olé, Olé' chants from crowd. The reception from the Bell Centre faithful left Barriault in tears. 'I'm an emotional guy to start with,' he said. 'It was a relief and it all came out. I still have a lump in my throat. It's something that is going to stay with me for a long time. These are intense emotions that I just created. It was a special moment for me, one that I deserve. I am really happy.' It wasn't entirely a success for the Canadian contingent of fighters in Montreal. Benoit (God of War) Saint Denis (14-3) defeated Windsor, Ont.'s Kyle (Killshot) Prepolec (12-8) by submission in the opening main card fight. The Frenchman took down the Canadian with an arm-triangle choke midway through the second round. Prepolec only found out less than two weeks ago he would be fighting in Montreal. The 35-year-old was called to replace Spaniard Joel Alvarez, who has a hand injury. Kazakh Bekzat (The Turan Warrior) Almakhan (12-2) made quick work of Winnipeg's Brad (Superman) Katona (16-5), knocking out the 33-year-old with a perfectly landed uppercut just over one minute into the first round of the opening preliminary bout. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadians shine at UFC 315 in Montreal
MONTREAL – UFC fans in Montreal had to wait more than a decade for the sport's return to the Bell Centre. Their patience, however, was rewarded with a 4-2 showing by the Canadians on the fight card for UFC 315 on Saturday night. The card is headlined by welterweight title bout pitting Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena and a women's flyweight title matchup between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot. Aiemann Zahabi (13-2) of Laval, Que., shocked UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo (32-10) of Brazil in a featherweight main card fight. Zahabi won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Zahabi, who had three-time welterweight champion and Canadian mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Georges St-Pierre in his corner for the bout, has now won six straight fights. The fight was originally scheduled to be disputed at the bantamweight category, but was changed to featherweight on Friday after both fighters checked in above the weight limit. Following the loss, Aldo announced his retirement from MMA fighting after a 21-year career. (Proper) Mike Malott of Burlington, Ont. (12-2-1), won his fight with American Charles (Chuck Buffalo) Radtke (10-5) by knockout 26 seconds into the second round of their welterweight bout. Following a hotly-contested opening round, Malott took down Radtke with a clean left hook to the Chicago native's head. Malott would not let up, striking his opponent with repeated followup blows to seal the knockout. Radtke was met with jeers from the moment he walked out. Fans yelled '(Expletive) you, Radtke' throughout the fight in response to comments of the same nature he made to Canadian fans at a pre-fight news conference on Wednesday. It all stems from the ongoing booing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Canadian sporting events in recent months over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st U.S. state. In the women's flyweight division, Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3) took down Brazilian Jessia (Bate Estaca) Andrade (26-14) by submission just over halfway through the first round of their fight. The 36-year-old St. Catharines, Ont., native secured her fifth consecutive win, toppling Andrade to the ground before pinning her opponent down in a rear-naked chokehold. 'When I was preparing for this fight, I kept on thinking about it being a quick finish,' said Jasudavicius. 'I kept on telling myself to be ready for 15 hard minutes and everything. 'I was trying to convince myself otherwise and once I got that hand kind of behind her shoulder there, I was like, 'this is the end. I'm going to get this. This is nuts.'' Jasudavicius improved her record in Canada to a perfect 5-0, which she says is no fluke. 'I feel like I feed off the crowd. As soon as I step out, I feel the energy and I feel like I truly bring everyone in there with and that I actually have Canada on my back. It gives me so much more strength,' said Jasudavicius. Marc-Andre (Powerbar) Barriault (17-9) of Gatineau, Que., also knocked out 35-year-old Brazilian opponent Bruno (Blindado) Silva (23-13) 1:27 into the opening round of their middleweight bout, thanks to an elbow struck to the side of Silva's head. Silva left the octagon on a stretcher. 'I still have goosebumps,' said Barriault. 'I feel like I realized that he was still on the ground after a couple minutes, and then I felt like maybe there's something wrong. 'Everything else was kind of incredible. The energy of the crowd, just to see myself on the big screen and see my name everywhere, I deserve to be here.' Barriault's knockout was celebrated with raucous applause and a series of 'Olé, Olé, Olé' chants from crowd. The reception from the Bell Centre faithful left Barriault in tears. 'I'm an emotional guy to start with,' he said. 'It was a relief and it all came out. I still have a lump in my throat. It's something that is going to stay with me for a long time. These are intense emotions that I just created. It was a special moment for me, one that I deserve. I am really happy.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. It wasn't entirely a success for the Canadian contingent of fighters in Montreal. Benoit (God of War) Saint Denis (14-3) defeated Windsor, Ont.'s Kyle (Killshot) Prepolec (12-8) by submission in the opening main card fight. The Frenchman took down the Canadian with an arm-triangle choke midway through the second round. Prepolec only found out less than two weeks ago he would be fighting in Montreal. The 35-year-old was called to replace Spaniard Joel Alvarez, who has a hand injury. Kazakh Bekzat (The Turan Warrior) Almakhan (12-2) made quick work of Winnipeg's Brad (Superman) Katona (16-5), knocking out the 33-year-old with a perfectly landed uppercut just over one minute into the first round of the opening preliminary bout. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2025.
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 315: Make your predictions for Muhammad-Della Maddalena, Shevchenko-Fiorot
UFC 315: Make your predictions for Muhammad-Della Maddalena, Shevchenko-Fiorot Two title fights headline UFC's first visit to Montreal in 10 years We want your predictions for UFC 315. Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we'll use the official tallies that are registered by Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC 315 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal. Make your picks below. Bekzat Almakhan vs. Brad Katona Records: Almakhan (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Katona (14-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) Almakhan (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Katona (14-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) Past five: Almakhan 4-1, Katona 3-2 Almakhan 4-1, Katona 3-2 Division: Bantamweight Bantamweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Almakhan -180, Katona +150 Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Daniel Santos Records: Lee (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Santos (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) Lee (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Santos (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) Past five: Lee 4-1, Santos 4-1 Lee 4-1, Santos 4-1 Division: Featherweight Featherweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Lee +120, Santos -145 Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Bruno Silva Records: Barriault (16-9 MMA, 5-8 UFC), Silva (23-12 MMA, 4-6 UFC) Barriault (16-9 MMA, 5-8 UFC), Silva (23-12 MMA, 4-6 UFC) Past five: Barriault 2-3, Silva 1-4 Barriault 2-3, Silva 1-4 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Barriault -150, Silva +125 Ivan Erslan vs. Navajo Stirling Records: Erslan (14-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Stirling (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Erslan (14-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Stirling (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Past five: Erslan 2-3, Stirling 5-0 Erslan 2-3, Stirling 5-0 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Erslan +240, Stirling -300 Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba Records: Bukauskas (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Cutelaba (19-10-1 MMA, 8-9-1 UFC) Bukauskas (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Cutelaba (19-10-1 MMA, 8-9-1 UFC) Past five: Bukauskas 4-1, Cutelaba 3-2 Bukauskas 4-1, Cutelaba 3-2 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Bukauskas -110, Cutelaba -110 Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius Records: Andrade (26-13 MMA, 17-11 UFC), Jasudavicius (13-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) Andrade (26-13 MMA, 17-11 UFC), Jasudavicius (13-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) Past five: Andrade 2-3, Jasudavicius 4-1 Andrade 2-3, Jasudavicius 4-1 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Jasudavicius No. 12, Andrade No. 6 strawweight Jasudavicius No. 12, Andrade No. 6 strawweight Odds (as of 05.05.25): Andrade +245, Jasudavicius -305 Mike Malott vs. Charlie Radtke Records: Malott (11-2-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Radtke (10-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) Malott (11-2-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Radtke (10-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) Past five: Malott 4-1, Radtke 4-1 Malott 4-1, Radtke 4-1 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.05.25): Malott -245, Radtke +200 Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva Records: Grasso (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC), Silva (18-5-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) Grasso (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC), Silva (18-5-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) Past five: Grasso 3-1-1, Silva 5-0 Grasso 3-1-1, Silva 5-0 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Grasso No. 2, No. 4 pound-for-pound; Silva No. 11 Grasso No. 2, No. 4 pound-for-pound; Silva No. 11 Odds (as of 05.05.25): Grasso +185, Silva -225 Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi Records: Aldo (32-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC), Zahabi (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) Aldo (32-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC), Zahabi (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) Past five: Aldo 3-2, Zahabi 5-0 Aldo 3-2, Zahabi 5-0 Division: Bantamweight Bantamweight Rankings: Aldo No. 8 Aldo No. 8 Odds (as of 05.05.25): Aldo -230, Zahabi +190 Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot Records: Shevchenko (24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC), Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) Shevchenko (24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC), Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) Past five: Shevchenko 3-1-1, Fiorot 5-0 Shevchenko 3-1-1, Fiorot 5-0 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Shevchenko No. 1, No. 3 pound-for-pound; Fiorot No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound Shevchenko No. 1, No. 3 pound-for-pound; Fiorot No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound Odds (as of 05.05.25): Shevchenko +135, Fiorot -160 Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena Records: Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) Past five: Muhammad 5-0, Della Maddalena 5-0 Muhammad 5-0, Della Maddalena 5-0 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: Muhammad No. 1, No. 10 pound-for-pound; Della Maddalena No. 6 Muhammad No. 1, No. 10 pound-for-pound; Della Maddalena No. 6 Odds (as of 05.05.25): Muhammad -225, Della Maddalena +185 UFC 315 fight card (as of May 5, 2 p.m. ET) MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET) Champ Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena – for welterweight title Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot – for women's flyweight title Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET) Mike Malott vs. Charlie Radtke Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba Ivan Erslan vs. Navajo Stirling PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 315's Jasmine Jasudavicius explains importance of 'skill-development rest' between fights
MONTREAL – Jasmine Jasudavicius has been looking forward to a real vacation for a while, but also knows why staying sharp between fight camps is important. At UFC 315, Jasudavicius (13-3 MMA, 702 UFC) returns to action to face former champ Jessica Andrade in a key bout for the women's flyweight division at Bell Centre on May 10. Fight camp is beginning to ramp up for Jasudavicius, which has become somewhat of a bittersweet necessity. Getting a win over Andrade (26-13 MMA, 11-7 UFC) is important to reach her goal of becoming champion, but it also means a true vacation has to wait a little longer. For her last fight against Mayra Bueno Silva in February, fight camp meant missing out on Christmas and New Year's festivities with the family. The idea was to take some time away after that unanimous decision win, but when the UFC called to take on a former champ, it was time to get back in the gym to work through the good and not-so-good days. 'Every single time you do a camp, you get to those days where you're exhausted,' Jasudavicius told MMA Junkie. 'So, I expect those days. That being said, I made sure to take rest. After my last fight, I really did take some rest. 'I'm back in the gym now, but I'm enjoying it. I'm still able to rest my mind. I'm like having fun with martial arts. So, it's still a rest, but a skill-development rest. That being said, after this fight, I'm going to take a real vacation.' Jasudavicius has won four straight fights and has her sights set on Valentina Shevchenko's title. Currently ranked No. 9 by the promotion, Jasudavicius knows a win over No. 7 Andrade puts her on the shortlist for title contenders. At the UFC 315 on-sale press conference, Jasudavicius was sat next to Shevchenko, and admits she couldn't help but eye the championship belt sitting on the table just inches away. 'To be able to be here almost like as a dry run before I'm able to do it with that belt sitting in front of me there, it's absolutely amazing,' Jasudavicius said. 'Valentina has showed so much within the sport, and me sitting up next to her, I look forward to my opportunity to kind of be in her shoes and have that belt.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 315.
USA Today
27-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jasmine Jasudavicius ready to prove she belongs vs. Jessica Andrade at UFC 315
MONTREAL – Jasmine Jasudavicius sees Jessica Andrade as the perfect test to enter the upper echelon of flyweight. Looking to make it five-straight wins, Jasudavicius (13-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on former champion Andrade (26-13 MMA, 11-7) in a three-round flyweight bout May 10 at UFC 315 from Bell Centre. Andrade is 2-4 in her past six, but her name is scattered all over the record books in women's MMA – and that excites the rising Canadian. 'Her accolades are astronomical,' Jasudavicius told MMA Junkie after the UFC 315 on-sale press conference. 'So to be able to beat her (would be big), and hopefully I do it in devastating fashion, and then I can continue on this trajectory that I'm on. 'I want to fight for the belt. I've trained all over the world, and I know my skill set. I believe I can be the best in the world. I just need the opportunities to show it and to prove it to everyone and myself.' Despite the power and ferocity Andrade brings, Jasudavicius plans on exposing her. 'She's obviously very talented, but she does have holes and she is able to be kind of exposed in multiple different ways,' Jasudavicius said. '(I'm) looking forward to filling those holes.' Sat right next to Jasudavicius in the press conference was UFC flyweight champion Valentina Schevchenko, who she aspires to face someday. Shevchenko defends her title against Manon Fiorot in the UFC 315 co-main event, and Jasudavicius expects her to remain champion. 'I don't know for sure, a fight's always a fight, but just hearing how Shevchenko was talking in the press conference, I could hear the confidence,' Jasudavicius said. 'And I like her mindset about this is a mixed martial arts contest, and being able to show the completion of mixed martial arts. I'm very interested and intrigued for that fight, and I think she'll take it still. I don't think she's retiring yet.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 315.
