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USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Dustin Jacoby has significanly more experience under the UFC lights than Bruno Lopes. Will that come into play in their UFC on ESPN 68 main card bout? Dustin Jacoby and Bruno Lopes meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 preview Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) will look to keep the momentum rolling after a Performance of the Night knockout of Vitor Petrino in December. The result snapped a two-fight skid. Although he's gone 3-4 over his last seven, each victory was a bonus-earning finish. ... Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) enters his second UFC bout against an octagon veteran. In his debut in January, Lopes won a unanimous decision over Magomed Gadzhiyasulov. The Dana White's Contender Series veteran is currently on a three-fight winning streak. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction Filling out the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Jacoby and Lopes. Although Lopes has a solid record on paper, the opponent and the setting are an undeniable (and undeserved) step down for Jacoby. However, if Jacoby can avoid the trap-fight sensibilities at hand, I think he should roll in this spot. The smaller octagon of the Apex will likely assist Lopes' cage-clinching efforts, but I'm not sure he has the speed, skill, or power to stop a guy like Jacoby. Aside from shoring up his takedown defense and getup abilities, Jacoby has the gas tank and composure to rally on tiring, lesser-experienced foes. I'll take Jacoby to pick up the proverbial pack once Lopes drops it, forcing a stoppage via strikes in Round 2. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the American fighter, listing Jacoby -210 and Lopes +168 via FanDuel. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Jacoby and Lopes are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mateusz Gamrot wants to 'ruin' Ludovit Klein's record takedown defense statistic
Michael Morales serious about title run after quick finish of Gilbert Burns UFC Fight Night 256 winner Michael Morales talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his first-round TKO of Gilbert Burns in Las Vegas. 18:32 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Baku: Nazim Sadykhov on what it means to have 'banger' fight at home vs. Nikolas Motta
UFC Baku: Nazim Sadykhov on what it means to have 'banger' fight at home vs. Nikolas Motta Nazim Sadykhov is excited to put on a show for his home country of Azerbaijan. Sadykhov (10-1-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) takes on Nikolas Motta (15-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in a lightweight bout on June 21 at UFC on ABC 8 from Baku Crystal Hall in Baku. It's a long trip for Sadykhov from Las Vegas, but he wasn't about to pass up the chance to partake in the UFC's debut show in Azerbaijan, and have his loved ones in attendance. "We're going back to the motherland," Sadykhov told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a scrum. "This is where the history of my family started, so we're going back to the motherland. It's just so important for myself, my family, my people. It wouldn't matter if it was on another planet: I would travel. I would make this fight happen regardless." Sadykhov will take on a furious striker in Motta. The Brazilian is perhaps not the type of opponent who will propel Sadykhov up the rankings, but it's a matchup he expected. "It's a banger," Sadykhov said. "I have much more tools than him, but it's a banger. He's tough. He's training in Thailand now. He was here in Vegas, but he's training in Thailand now. I'm sure I'm going to be fighting the sharpest version of Nikolas Motta, and that's who we're preparing for. He was the CFFC champion. "I literally fought on the same card as him. We've been seeing each other at the (UFC Performance Institute) and stuff, but it was kind of like, 'Hi ... bye,' just because we probably both understood that eventually we might get matched up – and it came sooner than myself or him maybe expected. But anyways, it's going to be a good fight."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Chandler still wants Conor McGregor fight, but won't 'lose sleep at night' over it
Michael Chandler still wants Conor McGregor fight, but won't 'lose sleep at night' over it Show Caption Hide Caption Michael Chandler breaks silence on Paddy Pimblett, Conor McGregor Michael Chandler talks to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn in his first interview since his loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. Michael Chandler isn't giving up on the idea of a fight against Conor McGregor, but he isn't losing any sleep over it either. After coaching opposite one another on "The Ultimate Fighter," Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) and McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) were supposed to put a cap on the season by meeting in the octagon. Although the fight was trending towards becoming a reality as contracts were drawn up for last June, the fight never materialized. "I get asked about it in every single interview, and rightfully so," Chandler told MMA Junkie. "The Conor-Chandler thing just stays alive, right? Just a couple of weeks ago, all of a sudden, he said, 'Iron' Michael Chandler, unfinished business.' It's not just the fact that we had the contract that we were supposed to fight in June, we did 'The Ultimate Fighter,' we have to finish 'The Ultimate Fighter.' It's just like staying alive." Chandler decided to move on after sitting on the sidelines for two years while waiting for McGregor to make it to the octagon. After a submission loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022, Chandler returned to action at UFC 309 in November 2024, where he dropped a unanimous decision in a rematch against Charles Oliveira. Chandler's most recent outing was at UFC 314, where Paddy Pimblett stopped him in the third round. It's been a rough stretch for Chandler. While the interest in a McGregor matchup isn't nearly as high as it once was, talk of the potential fight continues. McGregor hasn't been active since a gruesome injury in a trilogy bout against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The intrigue remains due to the personalities and their ability to create excitement in the cage. While Chandler himself still wants the fight to happen, he learned his lesson about waiting around before for the former two-division UFC champ. If it happens, it happens. "It's one of those deals where I'm not losing sleep at night, trying to get the Conor fight, wanting to get the Conor fight," Chandler said. "If me and Conor are supposed to fight, and he's supposed to come back, it's gonna happen and I don't need to force it. With that being said, if I'm a betting man, I'm not sure if he comes back. Do I want to fight him? Do I want to finish 'The Ultimate Fighter 31'? Absolutely. So, we'll see. "All I know is, I'm going to enjoy my family over the summertime, work on some big time business that I've been working on for the last couple weeks since the fight, and see how this whole thing unfolds. ... If that Conor fight is out there and that needs to happen in January, that makes a lot of sense, so we'll see."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber prediction, pick: Is upset brewing at UFC on ESPN 68?
Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber prediction, pick: Is upset brewing at UFC on ESPN 68? Maycee Barber has won six straight, but she's a significant underdog against Erin Blanchfield in Las Vegas. Show Caption Hide Caption Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber prediction | UFC on ESPN 68 breakdown MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC on ESPN 68 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 on ESPN 68 main event between women's flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Macyee Barber. Erin Blanchfield UFC on ESPN 68 preview Staple info: Record: 13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC Height: 5'4" Age: 26 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 68" Last fight: Decision win over Rose Namajunas (Nov. 2, 2024) Camp: MK Muay Thai (New Jersey) Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai Risk management: Good Supplemental info: + Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt + EBI flyweight champion + 2 KO victories + 4 submission wins + 3 first-round finishes + Consistent pace and pressure + Steadily improved striking ^ Stance shifts, kicks and combos + Strong inside the clinch ^ Good frames, elbows and knees + Serviceable takedown ability ^ Chains well off of singles + Excellent transitional grappler +/- 3-0 inside the UFC Apex Maycee Barber UFC on ESPN 68 preview Staple info: Record: 14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC Height: 5'5" Age: 27 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 65" Last fight: Decision win over Katlyn Cerminara (March 9, 2024) Camp: Team Alpha Male/High Altitude Martial Arts (Denver) Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai Risk management: Fair Supplemental info: + Karate black belt (2nd degree) + Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt + 6 KO victories + 2 submission wins + 3 first-round finishes + KO power + Steadily improving striking ^ Hard kicks and combos + Strong inside the clinch ^ Good frames, elbows and knees + Servicable takedown ability + Improved takedown defense and getups + Solid ground striking +/-2-1 in the UFC Apex Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber point of interest: Striking in the small cage The main event in Las Vegas features a women's flyweight affair between two top-five fighters familiar with exchanging in the smaller octagon of the Apex. Initially coming through Dana White's Contender Series when it was still hosted in the old "TUF" gym, Maycee Barber has quietly accrued some solid experience under the UFC banner – though in that experience, she never had missed weight until Friday. Barber came in a half-pound heavy for the headliner. A large and powerful athlete for her division, Barber can pack some serious pop compared to her contemporaries. "The Future" still maintains her in-and-out sensibilities from her background in karate, but Barber has made steady efforts to settle down and improve her fundamental striking since spreading her time around with other camps like Team Alpha Male and company. Now working with striking coaches like Guilherme Faria, Barber has slowly shown more of a feinting and jabbing process as opposed to wading forward with naked kicks and punches. Primarily fighting from southpaw, Barber wields dangerous offerings off of her left side that range from head kicks to crosses. And when Barber is feeling in stride and can corral her opponents to the cage, she unleashes wicked elbows and Eddie Alvarez-esque punching combos with how animated her hooks can get. That said, Barber is not beyond being taxed for coming in hot and will need to be careful opposite Erin Blanchfield. Although Blanchfield has been primarily billed as a grappler, the native New Yorker has made measurable strides in her striking game since working with MK Muay Thai in New Jersey. Steadily pressuring forward behind a prodding jab, Blanchfield employs solid form in her straight punches and front teeps to enter space. When feeling in stride, Blanchfield can shift to southpaw where she has shown a knack for left crosses and high kicks. Once Blanchfield can establish herself in the clinch, the 26-year-old smartly prioritizes frames that allow her to get off deceptively effective elbows and knees in close. But considering that Barber also makes her money in this space, I'll be curious to see how the closed-quarter combat shakes out. Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber breakdown: Potential grappling threats Considering Blanchfield's on-paper edges and opportunistic submission acumen, no one should be shocked if "Ice Cold" looks for takedowns early and often. Since storming onto the scene as the first female EBI flyweight champion, Blanchfield has only continued to grow her grappling abilities in mixed martial arts. Appearing to be an avid driller in the wrestling realm, Blanchfield sequences her attacks like second nature, chaining particularly well from single-leg positions. Whether Blanchfield is sweeping the standing leg or looking to double off into a more traditional shot, the 7-year pro is certainly not short on ideas in this space. Once she's able to secure top position off of takedowns, Blanchfield's brand of high-percentage choices continues to show itself on the floor. From cross-wrist rides that lead to pins to kimura traps that allow for positional advances, Blanchfield displays a bevy of high-level tactics that she regularly puts to practice in her fights. Still, larger and stronger athletes have shown to be difficult for Blanchfield to control, so I'm curious as to how she'll stack up against Barber. Already strong and confident in the clinch from an offensive standpoint, Barber presents a strong first layer of defense for her opponents to break through. Having a good sense for establishing over-under positions, Barber can work her way out of negative positions and pile on impactful damage in the small openings. Barber's hips seem strong both in the open and against the fence, making double-legs particularly difficult to hit on her (unless her kicks are being countered, of course). When taken down, Barber has shown a suspect bottom game in past fights as far as her complacency and seeming lack of options. However, in Barber's defense, she has shown smarter tactical choices in regard to utilizing everything from underhooks to the cage to get back to her feet. And when Babrer is working from top position, she possesses some solid ground and pound that Blanchfield will need to respect. Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the New Jersey native, listing Blanchfield -250 and Barber +190 via FanDuel. Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber prediction, pick Although I don't disagree with who is favored, the betting line listed above is starting to get a bit too wide for my liking. Aside from the fact that women's MMA carries a special kind of volatility from a handicapping and prognostication perspective, Barber has proven to possess some serious X-factors that always make her a live underdog. Whether we're talking about Barber's standout power or her judge-swaying style (which has earned her a couple of questionable scorecards in the UFC), she'll be very lively from start to finish should she avoid getting washed by Blanchfield on the mat. The potential problem, however, is that Blanchfield – who is very difficult to dissuade in victory or defeat – has some takedown tools that could be very effective against Barber. So long as Blanchfield doesn't get stuck inside of clinch space with a more dangerous threat in Barber, then I see her single-leg chaining ability being problematic for a first-layer defender who emphasizes on hips and upper-body controls. And though we should all leave some room to be surprised when it comes to Barber and any potential improvements she's made during this one-year layoff she's coming off of, the 27-year-old has shown little outside of recent underhook getup attempts (which can get her front choked if she's not careful) that gives me enough confidence to back her here. Add in the fact that this fight is taking place in the smaller octagon of the Apex, and I can't help but side with Blanchfield to get her win conditions and potentially take Barber to "exposure city" via a rear-naked choke in Round 2. Prediction: Blanchfield inside the distance Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber start time, how to watch As the main event, Burns and Morales are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:15 p.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
