Latest news with #KillCliffFC
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ian Machado Garry responds to Michael Morales' constant UFC callouts
Ian Machado Garry responds to Michael Morales' constant UFC callouts Ian Machado Garry addresses constant callouts by rising UFC contender Michael Morales Ian Machado Garry has addressed Michael Morales' numerous callouts. Morales, who recently sent shockwaves through the MMA world with his knockout win over Gilbert Burns, has been calling out Machado Garry since 2023, and he now has been given a response. Morales wasn't pleased to hear Machado Garry mention his name in a previus interview, and since has taken exception to the Irishman. Machado Garry doesn't understand where the issue comes from, and frankly, doesn't care. "I don't believe I've ever met the bloke," Machado Garry told Ariel Helwani. "But if he has a problem, keep the problem. It doesn't bother me. I don't believe I've ever met him, said a word to him, or anything at all." Morales took a big step forward in his career Saturday. In his first UFC main event, Morales quickly finished Burns – a long-time contender and former UFC title challenger. Machado Garry, who used to train with Burns at Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Fla., watched the fight closely. "I watched the fight against Gilbert. Gilbert is a good friend of mine, so I have to watch it," Machado Garry said. "And yeah, he did what he needed to do. I thought Gilbert looked good early on. I thought he looked a lot more energetic than we've seen him in the past, and against a bigger guy, he looked good early on. But Morales did what he needed to do, and that's the fighter in him." Machado Garry thinks he'll eventually meet Morales inside the cage. Machado Garry's belief is unwavering that he himself is bound to be champion, and he wouldn't mind defending the belt against Ecuador's Morales, should the opportunity arise. "I'm going to fight him at some point in time because when I'm the champion, I'm going to beat everyone that's next contender," Machado Garry said.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kamaru Usman reveals moment that took him 'over the edge' prior to fighting Gilbert Burns
Kamaru Usman reveals moment that took him 'over the edge' prior to fighting Gilbert Burns Kamaru Usman says he dealt with the most emotional camp of his career while preparing to fight his friend, Gilbert Burns. Usman, who was UFC welterweight champion at the time, was caught off guard when longtime training partner Burns called him out after beating Tyron Woodley in May 2020. It was during the time Usman was seeking help from Trevor Wittman, and he felt that his gym, Kill Cliff FC, was taking sides when it came to his fight with Burns. Usman and Burns ended up being matched up in a title fight at UFC 258 in 2021, which "The Nigerian Nightmare" won by third-round TKO. Although it was hard for Usman to deal with the emotional build-up, there was one particular moment that helped motivate him to beat Burns. "All of these things were festering, and then I see posts and then what really took me over the edge was watching the 'Countdown,'" Usman said on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Henry Cejudo. "He was walking with Pedro and Josh. They were walking along maybe some little canal, and they're talking, and he asked them – and I love Pedro. I used to love playing with Pedro when he was small, and he says, 'Who's going to be the new champion?' And Pedro and Josh were like, 'Daddy.' "'Who's going to take this belt?' And they were like, 'Daddy, you're going to take the belt.' It just hit me in my heart. I don't know why. Like I say, athletes at the highest level. You find little things to motivate you. I don't know why it triggered me, but it hit me in a way where I was like, I love that little boy. I play with him all the time and the whole time, you start getting paranoid. I'm like, 'The whole time y'all were plotting to take my title, take food away from me'" As soon as he finished Burns, Usman yelled, "Taking what from who?" However, immediately after, the emotions started kicking in for Usman as he watched a deterred Burns in tears. The training partners ended up embracing. "Once the fight took place, it didn't hit me until right after at the end of the fight," Usman said. "I'm being animated, and I'm up, and I'm up and then, out the side of my eye, I see Gilbert down here and then I see my coach, Trevor was like, 'Yeah, fight's over.' I see him and it hit me like, 'Bro, that's my boy, that's my friend,' and I just got crushed."
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales prediction, pick: Are wide odds justified?
Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales prediction, pick: Are wide odds justified? Undefeated Michael Morales enters as a huge favorite against former title challenger Gilbert Burns. Are the oddsmakers dismissing the savvy veteran? Show Caption Hide Caption Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales prediction | UFC Fight Night 256 breakdown MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC Fight Night 256 in Las Vegas. Dan Tom 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 Fight Night 256 main event between welterweight contenders Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales. Gilbert Burns UFC Fight Night 256 preview Staple info: Record : 22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC : 22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC Height : 5'5" Age: 37 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 65.5" : 5'5" Age: 37 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 65.5" Last fight : Decision loss to Sean Brady (Sept. 27, 2024) : Decision loss to Sean Brady (Sept. 27, 2024) Camp : Kill Cliff FC (Florida) : Kill Cliff FC (Florida) Stance/striking style : Orthodox/kickboxing : Orthodox/kickboxing Risk management: Fair Supplemental info: + Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt (2nd degree) + 4x Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion + Multiple grappling accolades (in and out of the gi) + 6 KO victories + 9 submission wins + 11 first-round finishes + KO power + Aggressive pace and pressure + Improved overall striking flow ^ Dangerous counter right hand + Strikes well off the breaks + Solid wrestling ability + Superb transitional grappler ^ Works well from top or bottom Michael Morales UFC Fight Night 256 preview Staple info: Record : 17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC : 17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC Height : 6'0" Age: 25 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 79" : 6'0" Age: 25 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 79" Last fight: TKO win over Neil Magny (Aug. 24, 2024) TKO win over Neil Magny (Aug. 24, 2024) Camp : Entram Gym (Mexico) : Entram Gym (Mexico) Stance/striking style : Orthodox/muay Thai : Orthodox/muay Thai Risk management: Fair Supplemental info: + Regional MMA titles + National champion freestyle wrestling (Ecuador) + National champion in muay Thai (Ecuador) + 12 KO victories + 1 submission win + 8 first-round finishes + Long and stiff jab + Dangerous right hand ^ Coming forward or off the counter + Strong inside the clinch ^ Suplexes to strikes off the break + Solid wrestling ability + Shows solid grappling from topside Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales point of interest: Striking in the small cage The main event in Las Vegas features a potential welterweight war between top 15 fighters. Coming off of three consecutive contests inside the UFC's Apex, Morales is more than familiar with the fighting area of the smaller octagon. Although Morales still seems to be sorting out his stylistic process, the Ecuadorian does a decent job of staying long and fighting to his frame. From stiff jabs to counter crosses, Morales offers up some tricky hurdles for those trying to close the distance on him. When feeling in stride, Morales will also let loose with some explosive flying knees up the centerline. Still, he'll need to be careful about throwing himself out of position, considering his current counterpart, Burns. An accomplished grappler who immersed himself in all facets of martial arts, Burns has steadily become a formidable threat on the feet. Another fighter under the care of coach Hooft, we have seen 'Durinho' build upon his pressuring sensibilities in the striking department. Whether he's working off of his jab or his opponent's, Burns always seems to have a heavy right hook chambered in the rear, as he typically looks to inch his way forward with offense that's wired on a hair-trigger. Burns, who is a solid leg kicker in his own right, has also shown signs of improving his defensive awareness in regards to both checking and countering leg kicks thrown his way. I'm not sure how much Morales will give him to work off of in the kicking department, so I'll be curious to see if Burns looks to fill that vacancy on the feet this Saturday. Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales point of interest: Potential grappling threats Considering where the biggest on-paper disparity lies, no one should be surprised if Burns looks to get this fight to the floor. An IBJJF world champion both in and out of the gi, Burns has smartly sharpened his surrounding skill sets since stepping onto the MMA scene. Working with wrestling influences and standouts like Greg Jones to catch wrestling coaches like Neil Melanson, Burns has been able to develop the groundwork to assist his game during this welterweight run. Integrating these crucial styles into his repertoire, there are now few to no positions that Burns is not comfortable or capable of working from. Whether Burns is defending takedowns along the fence and striking off the breaks or hitting sweet trips and chaining takedowns of his own, the Brazilian's wrestling improvements remain to be one of the things that quietly impresses me most. However, as underrated as that part of his game may be, taking down Morales could be difficult given his strong athletic frame and wrestling background. A freestyle wrestling champion in his home country of Ecuador, Morales reminds me of a young Jon Jones in the way in which opportunistic offense comes to his mind. From spinning elbows off clinch breaks to emphatic suplexes to punctuate rounds, Morales displays the building blocks to justify said claims. That said, Morales, despite otherwise having solid balance and defensive fundamentals, can get a bit lackadaisical at times when fighting in the clinch or off his back, often waiting for opportunistic moments from his opponent's offense before exploding into something. Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales odds The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the younger fighter, listing Morales -950 and Burns +540 via FanDuel. Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales prediction, pick I know there's nothing that MMA gamblers love more than the opportunity to bet a hyped product opposite an aging fighter, but the betting spread listed above is almost criminal at this point. I don't disagree that Morales is favored, but odds north of 8-1 suggest that this is much more of a sure thing than it has any right to be. Aside from the fact that Morales is young and not nearly as experienced as Burns, the product from Ecuador appears to lack any semblance of a reliable process, often relying on opportunistic moments for his skills and athleticism to shine. Still, what Morales does do well might sadly be enough to see him through in this spot. Although Burns could certainly give a veteran lesson if this fight goes to the ground, Morales' clinch presence and range weapons may be too strong and sturdy a force for the Brazilian to break through. Add in the fact that checking jabs and counter-crosses have traditionally been the common culprit for Burns' standing, and I can't help but side with the up-and-comer here. There's nothing I'd love more than to see Burns upset the apple cart as a huge underdog, but the fact that he's yet to beat a fighter in their athletic prime since moving up to welterweight makes my stylistic reads from the sentence prior even harder to ignore. It's dog or pass from a betting perspective, but the official pick is Morales by knockout in Round 2. Prediction: Morales inside the distance Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales start time, how to watch As the main event, Burns and Morales are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET. The fight streams on ESPN+.
Miami Herald
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
UFC 314 is in Miami, and here is a schedule of free events leading to the big card on Saturday
UFC 314 will occur Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami. The main event is a UFC featherweight championship bout for the vacant title between former champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. The co-main event features former three-time Bellator lightweight world champion (also former UFC lightweight championship challenger) Michael Chandler of South Florida's Kill Cliff FC against Paddy Pimblett in a five-round lightweight battle. Also, former three-time Bellator featherweight world champion and former Bellator lightweight world champion Patrício 'Pitbull' Freire will make his UFC debut in a featherweight bout against former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodríguez. Pitbull's coach/manager is Captain Americas Eric Albarracin, a Coral Springs High School alum, who was an FHSAA state runner-up wrestler. A former U.S. Army Captain, he was a three-time university national champion, a seven-time armed forces champion and a U.S. national team member in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Internationally, Albarracin won silver medals in the freestyle 54 kilogram division at the Pan American Championships and at the Military World Wrestling Championships. Albarracin also coaches/manages former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo, former Bellator champion Patricky Pitbull Freire, UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo, Paulo Costa, and The Korean Zombie. He assisted in the UFC title camps of champions Zhang Weili, Jiří Prochazka and Jon Jones. UFC 314 marks the fourth UFC event in Miami. Since debuting with UFC 42: Hughes vs. Sherk in 2003, UFC has conducted 23 premier sporting events in Florida, across six cities which featured 10 world championship bouts. The past two UFC shows in Miami (2023 and 2024) have seen President Trump, Kid Rock and Mike Tyson among those in attendance, two sold-out crowds. UFC 314 Events, Schedule ▪ UFC 314 news conference Thursday at Miami's Kaseya Center. Doors open 4 p.m. (Free for fans) Event starts 5 p.m. (Participants: Alexander Volkanovski – No. 1 UFC featherweight; Diego Lopes – No. 3 UFC featherweight; Michael Chandler – No. 7 UFC lightweight; Paddy Pimblett – No. 12 UFC lightweight; Bryce Mitchell – No. 13 UFC featherweight; Jean Silva – UFC featherweight; Yair Rodriguez – No. 5 UFC featherweight; Patricio Pitbull – UFC featherweight; Nikita Krylov – No. 8 UFC light heavyweight; Dominick Reyes – No. 11 UFC light heavyweight) ▪ UFC 314 weigh-Ins / UFC 316 presser Friday at Kaseya Center. Doors open 3:30 p.m. UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O'Malley 2 Press Conference 4 p.m. (Participants: Kayla Harrison, Julianna Pena, Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O'Malley) UFC 314 Weigh-Ins 5 p.m. ▪ UFC 314 / Miami DDA FanFest Saturday in Downtown Miami 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET (Free for fans) (Flagler Street, between Second Street and Biscayne Boulevard, in front of Julia & Henry's) ▪ UFC 314 Saturday at Kaseya Center. Early preliminaries will air on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass starting at 6 p.m. Late preliminaries available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. The ESPN+ Pay-Per-View main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET. Visit
Miami Herald
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Florida will be a hot spot in April with top MMA action. UFC in Miami, PFL in Orlando
In April, UFC and PFL MMA take over the Sunshine State. UFC 314 is April 12 in Miami at Kaseya Center, home of the three-time NBA champion Miami Heat. PFL MMA is making Universal Studios Orlando its home in April with four consecutive weeks of world tournament action. How we got here Florida is known for some top MMA training centers, especially in South Florida. American Top Team in Coconut Creek and Kill Cliff FC (formerly Sanford MMA and Hard Knocks 365) in Deerfield Beach are withing 10 miles of each other. Those gyms display a wealth of MMA talent (men and women) from throughout the world. American Top Team is co-founded by Dan Lambert and Conan Silveira. Kill Cliff FC is run by Henri Hooft. Many good coaches/trainers at the two facilities. Thanks to those training centers and the growing popularity of the brand, UFC sold out Kaseya Center in 2023 and 2024 with Miami now becoming an annual stop for the No.1 MMA company in the world. Even President Trump attended both times with Kid Rock and Mike Tyson. UFC, led by Dana White, is seen on ESPN and its various TV viewing and streaming platforms. PFL conducted tournament competition at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in (South Florida) Hollywood. In 2021, the semifinals (August) and the finals (October) in each division, and in 2024 the semifinals (August) in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions. UFC 314 Miami interview Interview with Michael Chandler At UFC 314, Kill Cliff FC's Michael Chandler (23-9) is in the co-main event against England's Paddy Pimblett (22-3) in a lightweight contest via ESPN+. When Chandler fights — win or lose — it's very entertaining. He lost four of his last five fights, but four of those earned UFC Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night honors. In those five battles, they were against top fighters, i.e. Charles Oliveira (lost twice — decision, TKO), Dustin Poirier (lost - submission), Tony Ferguson (won - KO) and Justin Gaethje (lost - decision). Here is my video interview with Chandler, 38, who resides in Nashville where he owns a fitness and MMA training center, and travels to South Florida to prepare for fights at Kill Cliff FC, formerly Sanford MMA and Hard Knocks 365. Early prelims for UFC 314 Miami begin at 6 p.m., followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. The main card will start at 10 p.m. UFC 314 Miami tickets: UFC 314 Tickets UFC web: PFL Tournament Orlando Interviews with top fighters PFL, led by Peter Murray, does things differently. In years past, the company scheduled a regular season and playoffs in various weight divisions with each champion winning a PFL title belt and $1 million. This PFL season features a few changes in the format. Instead of a regular season and playoffs, PFL selected eight top fighters in several weight classes, and each will compete in a tournament, beginning with the quarterfinals in April in Orlando. Each weight class tournament champion receives a PFL title belt and $500,000. The middleweight division is stacked with eight outstanding combatants, including 2023 PFL MMA Champion and two-time PFL MMA finalist Impa Kasanganay. Born in Fort Lauderdale, Impa, 31, who trains at Kill Cliff FC, will compete in his third Professional Fighters League MMA Tournament in a stacked middleweight division. In a PFL quarterfinal battle, Impa (18-5) faces Fabian Edwards (13-4) on April 18 in the main event via ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+ from Universal Studios Orlando. Below is my video interview with 2023 PFL MMA Champion and two-time PFL MMA finalist Impa Kasanganay at his gym/training facility — Impa's Refinery — in Southwest Miami. Impa's Refinery, which opened in May 2024, is for all comers (kids to adults and seniors), where you can train to become a fighter in various combat sport disciplines. You can also work out to get in shape. You can learn self defense. Open to all, so many options for anyone at any level. Also in the PFL Middleweight Tournament is Josh Silveira. In his quarterfinal battle, Silveira (13-4) faces Mike Shipman (17-4) on April 18 via ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+ from Universal Studios Orlando. This marks his third PFL Tournament. He reached the finals in 2023 and semifinals in 2024, losing to Impa both times. A Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons High School alum, Silveira, 32, resides in South Florida and trains at the award-winning American Top Team in Coconut Creek, where his famous father Conan is the head coach and co-founder of the gym. Here is my video interview with Silveira at American Top Team. One of Silveira's training partners at ATT is Dalton Rosta, who is in the PFL Middleweight Tournament for the first time. In a PFL quarterfinal battle, Rosta (9-1) faces Sadibou Sy (17-8-2) on Friday, April 18 from Universal Studios Orlando via ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+. Rosta went 9-1 for Bellator MMA. PFL bought out Bellator, making Rosta eligible for the PFL tournament. If he and Silveira each win two fights, they will meet in the tournament finals. Originally from New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rosta currently resides in South Florida. Here is my video interview with Rosta at ATT. Jason Jackson (18-5) of Kill Cliff FC is part of the new PFL TV program 'PFL Origins,' which debuted recently on ESPN2. A former Bellator champion, he is also part of the PFL World Tournament as he faces Andrey Koreshkov (28-5) in his PFL tournament debut / welterweight division quarterfinal in the main event on Thursday, April 3 via ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+ from Universal Studios Orlando. 'PFL Origins' is a cinematic MMA storytelling series that previews the biggest fights in the 2025 PFL World Tournament and provides unprecedented access to the most compelling fighter stories. With a blend of personal and fight narratives, 'PFL Origins' captures the energy, pressure, and emotion as the fighters approach their one shot at greatness. The show will also be available on PFL's YouTube channel. Here is my video interview with the talented 34-year-old Jackson. ESPN and its affiliates are the TV viewing/streaming home of PFL. PFL Web: PFL Quarterfinals Schedule Universal Studios Orlando Thursday: Welterweight and featherweight MAIN CARD LIVE ON ESPN2, ESPN DEPORTES & ESPN+ 10 p.m. ET April 11: Bantamweight and women's flyweight April 18: Middleweight and lightweight May 1: Light heavyweight and heavyweight For match-ups, tickets and more information, visit: The semifinals will be in June in Chicago, Nashville and Wichita, Kansas.
