Latest news with #PerformanceoftheNight-earning
USA Today
15-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson prediction, pick, start time for UFC Fight Night 254
Da'Mon Blackshear and Cody Gibson meet Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 254 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 2-3 UFC main cards, 2025: 19-16-1 Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson UFC Fight Night 254 preview Blackshear (15-7-1 MMA, 3-3-1 UFC) comes in on the heels of a Performance of the Night-earning submission of Cody Stamann in November. The result snapped a two-fight skid, but prior to the setbacks, Blackshear, 30, scored another bonus-winning finish: a first-round twister on Jose Johnson. … Gibson (21-10 MMA, 3-5 UFC) enters this matchup as a winner of back-to-back fights. In July, Gibson, 37, submitted Brian Kelleher in the first round and then won a unanimous decision over Chad Anheliger in November to go 2-1 in 2024. Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson UFC Fight Night 254 expert pick, prediction Serving as a solid action fight at 135 pounds is a battle between Blackshear and Cody Gibson. Both fighters a flexible in all areas and can scramble their asses off, so I'm hoping for some serious grappling action inside of the smaller octagon this Saturday. Gibson is probably the better pocket striker with stronger wrestling fundamentals, but Blackshear is the more creative and dynamic athlete in all areas. Although making things ugly in the clinch typically serves Gibson well, it's hard not to see it open up some opportunistic scrambles and offense for the Blackshear side of things. I'm not sure either side will produce a finish, so I'll side with Blackshear to bank more positive positions and optics via some back control time. The pick is Blackshear by decision. Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson UFC Fight Night 254 odds The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the younger fighter, listing Blackshear -450 and Gibson +350 via FanDuel. Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson UFC Fight Night 254 start time, how to watch Blackshear and Gibson are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:10 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
USA Today
16-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 313 news: Jalin Turner set to face Ignacio Bahamondes in Las Vegas
The UFC 313 lineup just got better with the addition of an exciting matchup between Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes. The lightweight bout between thrilling finishers aids in stacking up the March 8 pay-per-view event, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC made the booking official during Saturday's UFC Fight Night 251 broadcast; it first was reported by UFC broadcast partner ESPN Deportes. Turner (14-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) will look to get back on the winning track following a second-round loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300. Before that fight, Turner made quick work of Bobby Green in a violent first-round finish. A victory for 'The Tarantula' here would help ease the sting of a recent 1-3 run. Bahamondes (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) comes in as a winner of back-to-back Performance of the Night-earning fights. 'La Jaula' scored first-round finishes of Christos Giagos at UFC Fight Night 240 and Manuel Torres at UFC 306 to take home his career's second and third bonus. With the addition, the current UFC 313 lineup includes: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy Iasmin Lucindo vs. Amanda Lemos Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan Chris Gutierrez vs. Jean Matsumoto Francis Marshall vs. Mairon Santos Carlos Leal vs. Alex Morono Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Jalin Turner For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 313.
