Latest news with #UFC-level
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein meet Saturday in the co-main event 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 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 preview Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) aims to rebound from a Fight of the Night war against Dan Hooker, which he narrowly lost by split deciison. Prior to the setback, Gamrot was on a three-fight winning streak, in which he took out Jalin Turner, Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos. Currently ranked No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, Gamrot faces an unranked opponent. ... Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) gets a big step up in competition. Having not experienced defeat in seven fights, Klein has picked up six wins and one draw on his current run, including three victories last year. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction The co-main event in Las Vegas features a lightweight showdown between Gamrot and Klein. Despite Klein deserving a solid step up in competition, this feels like a big step down for Gamrot, given his arguable relevance in the division. Sure, the Polish fighter is coming off of an upset loss to Dan Hooker last year, but it was an incredibly close and competitive contest that saw an upper-class journeyman combine all his veteran skills and doggedness to have his day. Perhaps Klein could have his day here, but he's never faced a wrestling or pace threat at the level of Gamrot before. And though Klein looks to have incredibly strong hips to fuel his solid first layer of takedown defense, he's also an athlete who hates extended exchanges considering his need for pockets to recoup. So, unless Klein can catch Gamrot with a nasty front teep or check hook early, then I suspect that the Polish fighter will use the smaller octagon to create the cartoonish scramble-fests he's accustomed to. Add in the fact that Gamrot is officially 5-0 when fighting inside the Apex and stands 4-1-1 against UFC-level southpaws, and I can't help but side with Gamrot to remind the masses with a submission win in Round 2. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the Polish fighter, listing Gamrot -168 and Klein +136 via FanDuel. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch As the co-main event, Gamrot and Klein are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot prediction, pick: UFC 315 co-main won't be pretty
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot prediction, pick: UFC 315 co-main won't be pretty Show Caption Hide Caption Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot | UFC 315 co-main breakdown Who will win Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot? MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC 315 co-headliner. 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 315 co-main event between women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Mannon Fiorot. Valentina Shevchenko UFC 315 preview Staple info: Record: 24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC 24-4-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC Height: 5'5" 5'5" Age: 37 37 Weight: 125 lbs. 125 lbs. Reach: 65.5" 65.5" Last fight: Decision win over Alexa Grasso (Sept. 14, 2024) Decision win over Alexa Grasso (Sept. 14, 2024) Camp: Team Shevchenko (Las Vegas) Team Shevchenko (Las Vegas) Stance/striking style: Southpaw/muay Thai Southpaw/muay Thai Risk management: Good Supplemental info: +UFC women's flyweight champion +17x muay Thai and K-1 championships +9x IMFA Champ (56-2 as a pro) +Tae kwon do black belt (2nd dan) +6 KO victories +7 submission wins +6 first-round finishes +KO power +Solid footwork ^Seldom out of position +Accurate check hook and counter cross +Hard knees, elbows and kicks +Crafty clinch game ^Good trips and tosses +Strong positional grappler +/-2-1 against UFC-level southpaws Manon Fiorot UFC 315 preview Staple info: Record: 12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC 12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC Age: 35 35 Height: 5'7" 5'7" Weight: 125 lbs. 125 lbs. Reach: 66" 66" Last fight: Decision win over Erin Blanchfield (March 30, 2024) Decision win over Erin Blanchfield (March 30, 2024) Camp: Boxing Squad (France) Boxing Squad (France) Stance/striking style: Southpaw/kickboxing Southpaw/kickboxing Risk management: Fair Supplemental info: +Regional MMA titles +IMMAF amateur world champion (MMA) +Karate black belt +Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt +Multiple muay Thai accolades (12-0 as a pro) +6 KO victories +1 first-round finish +Aggressive pace and pressure +Good striking ability ^Favors headhunting but will mix in kicks +Strong inside the clinch ^Shows good over and underhook awareness +Serviceable takedown ability ^Defensively and offensively +/-0-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot point of interest: Southpaw vs. southpaw The co-main event for UFC 315 features a women's flyweight title fight between two southpaw strikers. Shevchenko, who has a bit more of a southpaw sample size, officially stands at 2-1 opposite UFC-level lefties. Indoctrinated into martial arts through her family, Shevchenko has been a practitioner of combat sports since she was 4, amassing multiple titles in K-1 and the IFMA (the same organization where she fought and beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times). A counter fighter by nature, Shevchenko wields all the weapons that a southpaw should never leave home without, keeping everything from check hooks to counter crosses on a hair trigger. Whenever someone tries to step off to the champion's weak side, she offers answers in the form of spinning assaults that pair perfectly with liver kicks to help keep her opposition corralled. I suspect that Shevchenko will lean heavier on jabbing and leg kick dynamics given that she's facing a fellow southpaw, but she'll need to be mindful of the hooks and crosses coming back her way. Enter Manon Fiorot. A karateka since the age of seven, Fiorot embodies much of the in-and-out movement that one would associate with sport karate. Practically keeping the same approach when fighting fellow lefties, Fiorot throws a lot of the weapons that southpaws should never leave home without. Whether Fiorot's variating between jabs and hooks or parlaying missed Thai kicks into sidekicks, the French fighter seems to maintain a decent flow to her offensive output. Despite sometimes having the propensity to headhunt, Fiorot will mix up said sidekick to both the legs and body in an attempt to halt her opponent's advances. However, I'm not sure how much Fiorot will be looking to kick given the looming grappling threat that Shevchenko presents. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot breakdown: Potential grappling threats As alluded to in the previous section, Shevchenko has a knack for hitting takedowns in a countering fashion that may come to light in closed quarters. Like we've seen in past Shevchenko fights, fighters who come in hot on the champion tend to get grounded accordingly – particularly when trying to do so from the clinch. No longer underrated inside this space, Shevchenko possesses all the tools you would expect from a muay Thai practitioner. Not only does Shevchenko wield mean elbows off the break, but the Kyrgyzstani is also better about getting her back off of the fence at this weight class. Aside from not being shy about incorporating clinch throws and tosses during her muay Thai days, Shevchenko has also developed a taste for level-changing takedowns in MMA (at least since the latter end of her championship run). Even when wrestling might not be the most advisable adjustment, Shevchenko seems to have it equipped as a go-to option whenever she's looking to get one back. In Shevchenko's defense, she did have her best moments in this series with Grasso on the floor, securing everything from rear mounts to crucifix positions in the first fight to scoring smooth takedowns by the third bout. Nevertheless, meaningfully taking Fiorot down has been easier said than done thus far in the UFC. Although her takedown defense rating has shown a statistical drop in recent fights, Fiorot demonstrates a decent understanding of both over and underhooks. Favoring a strong whizzer, Fiorot can both sprawl her hips and/or separate grips when defending her opponent's shots. The whizzer is also a great tool that allows the hyper-athletic Fiorot to scramble back to her feet off of semi-completed shots, which will likely come in handy against a willing takedown threat like Shevchenko. Fiorot also has demonstrated a hardwiring to score takedowns of her own, even if they're not at the smartest times. In Fiorot's defense, she has shown some serviceable grappling from topside in the brief stanzas we've seen in the octagon. Either way, I'm hoping that someone like Shevchenko can further test the French fighter's ground skills. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot odds The oddsmakers and the public slightly favor the challenger, listing Fiorot -124 and Shevchenko +102 via FanDuel. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot prediction, pick I know that MMA gamblers love to fade aging fighters who they perceive to be in the advanced stages of their careers, but I have a hard time justifying the faith in Fiorot as the favorite. Sure, Shevchenko may have some questionable tendencies to go along with the lower-volume fights she tends to take part in, but she's still the more skilled and proven product in my eyes. Grasso was able to surprise Shevchenko with the southpaw vs. southpaw dynamic early on in their series, earning some big moments because of it. That said, Shevchenko quietly got better during her stretch of fights with Grasso, steadily showing a superior, full-fledged southpaw arsenal. Whereas Fiorot, who came bursting on the scene as a high-volume phenom, has since come back down to earth with lower output affairs as the competition has gotten harder. Sure, Fiorot may technically be coming off a successful 25-minute showcase, but she still shows signs of a suspect gas tank with bad decision-making to boot. Not only does Fiorot have a habit of taking risky takedown shots to dissuade pressure, but she also seems to have clinching hardwired into many of her resets – something that I see potentially costing her against a superior clinch fighter who will likely be looking for takedowns. I'm not expecting this fight to be pretty or entertaining, but I do expect Shevchenko to dictate the terms of this contest with her jab, counters and wrestling ability. Even though head kicks will be live throughout given how kickable and predictable Fiorot can be, I'll officially pick Shevchenko to stick and stymie her way to a win on the scorecards. Prediction: Shevchenko by decision Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot start time, how to watch As the co-main event, Shevchenko and Fiorot are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:45 p.m. ET. The fight streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ivanka Trump's bodyguard forced to shove strange man who approached her after Miami event: video
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Ivanka Trump's bodyguard forcefully shoved a man after he repeatedly tried to approach the president's daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, following a night out in Miami. The First Daughter, 43, was leaving the swanky Carbone Beach venue in Miami on Saturday night with her hubby when a man in tan shorts and a black T-shirt approached them, according to a video shared on TikTok. The unidentified man was carrying a Manila folder and tried to sidle up to the couple as they were walking to a car. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's Secret Service detail confronted a man who tried to speak to them. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience The agent pushed the man back when he got too close. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience A security guard in black trousers and a purple shirt then swiftly steps in between the pair and the man and gently pushes the stranger away, the clip shows. Undeterred, the man swats away the security guard and tries to approach the couple again — prompting the guard to turn around and shove the man firmly in the chest, sending him flying backwards off camera. The Kushners, looking rattled, briefly turn around to assess what happened before being hustled into a waiting SUV, the video shows. 'Don't push Ivanka's security or you will get flattened,' the poster of the original video on TikTok wrote. The couple were hustled into a waiting SUV. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience 'Bro pushed that man into next week,' one TikTok user commented. 'Ivanka is in good hands. Shoutout to that Secret Service agent, UFC-level explosiveness,' a second added. 'The audacity to think you can shove Secret Service,' a third added. Ivanka and her husband were in Miami for the F1 Miami Race Week, a three-night supper club experience sponsored by American Express. The couple earlier stunned at a glitzy Miami event. Getty Images for Amex x Carbone Beach The pair were at Carbone Beach for the Miami Grand Prix event. Getty Images for Amex x Carbone Beach Among the A-listers in attendance over the course of the three-day elite extravaganza were NFL stars past and present, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Attendance at the glitzy event was limited to just 400 guests a night, while tickets cost a whopping $3,000 to enjoy a performance by Jelly Roll. Ivanka dazzled at the night in a shiny gold gown from Andrea Almeida. She coupled the dress with strappy, tan heels. Jared wore a velvet sports jacket over a black shirt, paired with dark jeans and dress shoes.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Strange man carrying folder tries to approach Ivanka Trump after Miami event: video
Ivanka Trump's bodyguard forcefully shoved a man after he repeatedly tried to approach the president's daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, following a night out in Miami. The First Daughter, 43, was leaving the swanky Carbone Beach venue in Miami on Saturday night with her hubby when a man in tan shorts and a black T-shirt approached them, according to a video shared on TikTok. The unidentified man was carrying a Manila folder and tried to sidle up to the couple as they were walking to a car. Advertisement A security guard in black trousers and a purple shirt then swiftly steps in between the pair and the man and gently pushes the stranger away, the clip shows. Undeterred, the man swats away the security guard and tries to approach the couple again — prompting the guard to turn around and shove the man firmly in the chest, sending him flying backwards off camera. 5 Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's Secret Service detail confronted a man who tried to speak to them. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience The Kushners, looking rattled, briefly turn around to assess what happened before being hustled into a waiting SUV, the video shows. Advertisement 'Don't push Ivanka's security or you will get flattened,' the poster of the original video on TikTok wrote. 5 The agent pushed the man back when he got too close. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience 'Bro pushed that man into next week,' one TikTok user commented. Advertisement 5 The couple earlier stunned at a glitzy Miami event. Getty Images for Amex x Carbone Beach 'Ivanka is in good hands. Shoutout to that Secret Service agent, UFC-level explosiveness,' a second added. 'The audacity to think you can shove Secret Service,' a third added. 5 The couple were hustled into a waiting SUV. TikTok / @miamibeachexperience Advertisement Ivanka and her husband were in Miami for the F1 Miami Race Week, a three-night supper club experience sponsored by American Express. Among the A-listers in attendance over the course of the three-day elite extravaganza were NFL stars past and present, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. 5 The pair were at Carbone Beach for the Miami Grand Prix event. Getty Images for Amex x Carbone Beach Attendance at the glitzy event was limited to just 400 guests a night, while tickets cost a whopping $3,000 to enjoy a performance by Jelly Roll. Ivanka dazzled at the night in a shiny gold gown from Andrea Almeida. She coupled the dress with strappy, tan heels. Jared wore a velvet sports jacket over a black shirt, paired with dark jeans and dress shoes.
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+.
