Latest news with #Ponzinibbio
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Santiago Ponzinibbio reflects KO loss at UFC Des Moines: 'I was slipping a lot'
Santiago Ponzinibbio reflects KO loss at UFC Des Moines: 'I was slipping a lot' Santiago Ponzinibbio is not going to let a defeat keep him away from his fans and supporters. Following a TKO loss at UFC on ESPN 67, Ponzinibbio (30-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC) took to Instagram to thank his fans and show appreciation for their support despite coming up short. After a back-and-forth for two rounds in Des Moines, Iowa, Ponzinibbio was stopped by Daniel Rodriguez in Round 3 of their main card welterweight contest. The result put the Argentine back in the losing column, as he was coming off a TKO win over Carlston Harris in January. Regardless of win, lose, or draw, Ponzinibbio will always thank his supporters. "Hi friends, as you can see, I'm now back home," Ponzinibbio said in a video post in Spanish. "The truth is that I have a bad taste in my mouth, but I didn't want to not make a video and thank you guys. You guys are always there unconditionally, and have given me incredible support in the good and bad times. The truth is that you guys are part of this engine that pushes me to stay alive after so many years of career and all the adversities that life has thrown at me." Ponzinibbio said he's had a lingering issue when he steps in the octagon, which has affected some of his recent results. Being 2-5 in his past seven bouts, Ponzinibbio knows this is something that he needs to address quickly. "I was very well-prepared," Ponzinibbio said. "I did feel in the fight that I didn't have a good base, and I was slipping a lot. That's something that has been happening in my recent fights, and I need to solve it urgently because it limits my mobility game that I have on my feet. "In the first round, I felt good, but I slipped on the exit, and he capitalized on that and connected some shots. In the second round, I was able to get the distance, and I was throwing a lot. In the third, I came out aggressive, but the same thing happened. I was badly positioned, and I was unable to exit out with the speed that I wanted, and he used that moment to throw his punches and connect on me, and the rest is history." "There's always technical adjustments that you can do, but fundamentally not having that base and slipping in the octagon is playing against me in a lot of fights. Sometimes I'm able to solve it, and sometimes I can't. It is what it is. This is done with." Despite almost having 40 professional fights and being 37 years old, Ponzinibbio has no intentions to retire in the near future. He intends on going back to the drawing board, and going for his 40th professional bout later this year. "We're going to keep moving forward," Ponzinibbio explained. "That's life. I'm keeping my head held high, and I'm coming back stronger. I didn't want to miss this chance and not make this video to thank you all for the love and support. It really makes a difference. I'm always going to fight till the end. I'm always going to fight for my flag and to represent you guys. Thank you."
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 67
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 67 Welterweights Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez clash on the UFC Des Moines main card. Will the judges be needed? Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 67 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 2-4 UFC main cards, 2025: 37-33-1 Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez UFC on ESPN 67 preview Ponzinibbio (30-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) will look to string together a pair of victories for the first time sinze 2018. The past eight outings have produced mixed results for Ponzinibbio, although he enters this matchup on the heels of a January third-round stoppage of Carlston Harris. ... Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) also aims to make it two in a row following a split decision win over Alex Morono in October. That result snapped a three-fight skid stretching back to 2022. Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez UFC on ESPN 67 expert pick, prediction Filling out the main card is a potential welterweight war between Ponzinibbio and Rodriguez. Both men, at their best, are action fighters who aren't afraid to exchange on the feet. That said, there's no denying that Ponzinibbio and Rodriguez have experienced some drop-offs in their abilities at this stage of their careers, which makes this one extra tricky to call. Although Ponzinibbio officially stands at 1-2 opposite UFC-level southpaws, the Argentinian tends to strike fairly well in open-stance affairs once he's found his flow. The potential problem, however, is that Ponzinibbio, who has always had a propensity to get stung early, has steadily become less durable in this last stretch of his career. Rodriguez is not beyond being hurt himself, but I suspect that Ponzinibbio's aggression and patterns will bring out the best in his opposition. It's hard to be confident either way (as I secretly hope I'm wrong here), but I'll reluctantly side with Rodriguez to edge a narrow decision that the judges will likely be split on. Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez UFC on ESPN 67 odds Despite the oddsmakers opening the Mexican-American as the favorite, public money has flipped the betting lines in the Argentinian's favor, listing Ponzinibbio -142 and Rodriguez +116 via FanDuel. Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez UFC on ESPN 67 start time, how to watch Ponzinibbio and Rodriguez are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN 2 and streams on ESPN+.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Santiago Ponzinibbio aims to finish Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 67, but ready for war
Santiago Ponzinibbio aims to finish Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 67, but ready for war UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio will aim to finish back-to-back opponents when he meets Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Iowa in May. Show Caption Hide Caption UFC Iowa: Santiago Ponzinibbio ready for war with Daniel Rodriguez UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio speaks to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn ahead of his UFC on ESPN 67 fight against Daniel Rodriguez. COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio isn't sure what to expect when he travels to Des Moines, Iowa for the first time, but he knows he'll be ready for a knock-down, drag-out type of fight if necessary. In what will be his second fight of the year, Ponzinibbio (30-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) faces Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 67 on May 3. The event takes place at Wells Fargo Arena, which according to the information he's received, might be one of the few points of interest in the city. "I've never been to this place," Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie. "I was asking the people what is there, and they say there's not too much to do, but I'm gonna fight." The "Argentine Dagger" faces fellow 38-year-old Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in what many expect to be a thrilling affair on the feet. Ponzinibbio owns three Performance of the Night-winning finishes in his UFC tenure, and comes into this fight on the heels of a fantastic third-round finish of Carlston Harris. "It's going to be a pretty fun fight," Ponzinibbio told. "He's a striker like me. … It's going to be a fun fight for the fans for sure." Ponzinibbio knows Rodriguez is a tough out, which could make for a hard-fought fight that reaches the judges scorecards. The Argentine is no stranger to earning bonuses in bouts that go the distance as he's racked up three Fight of the Night awards as well. He knows it's a possibility that Rodriguez sees the final horn, but remains confident the fight won't go the distance. "Always ready for three rounds of war," Ponzinibbio said. "If a knockout comes early, that's good. I'm ready. I feel ready to finish this guy, you know? I feel I can finish this guy. I'm probably going to finish, but if it's necessary I need to fight 15 minutes in a war, I'm going to be ready – but I believe that I'm going to finish before that." Rodriguez bounced back from a three-fight skid in his last appearance by winning a split decision over Alex Morono. Ponzinibbio also returned to the win column in his last outing, but the finish of Harris was definitive, notching the seventh finish of his UFC career.
