Latest news with #UFC307
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 After last minute issues on the scale, Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira will now meet at featherweight. Will it go the distance? Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira 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 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 preview Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) enters this one on back-to-back wins at 135 pounds: a first-round stoppage of Pannie Kianzad last March, followed by a second-round TKO of Mayra Bueno Silva last June. Chiasson has fought at featherweight when the division still had a pulse, and recorded a split decision victory over Norma Dumont in her last fight at that weight. ... Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) came in heavy for the second time in her UFC tenure. The career bantamweight has not fought at 145 pounds during her UFC run. Vieira will look to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 307 in October. Prior to that setback, she beat Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision in July 2023. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction With the relentless UFC schedule making it extra difficult to keep cards together (much less hold up to any sort of standard), this bout between two top-ranked bantamweights, Chiasson and Vieira, will now take place at the defunct weight class of featherweight. Although I was already picking Chiasson to win, it worries me for Vieira's sake that the Brazilian was the one who requested the weight change. Both women are large for the division and have difficulty making the weight, but this move from Vieira could bode badly for her already suspect output in fights. Chiasson, on the other hand, has looked to be trending upward as she finally seems to be putting all her skills together. It's probably a bolder prediction than I'm making it out to be, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Chiasson will turn up the heat and get Vieira out of there via a second-round submission. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public slightly favor the American, listing Chiasson -120 and Vieira -102 via FanDuel. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Chiasson and Vieira are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Khalil Rountree feels 'most confident' in a while heading into Jamahal Hill fight
UFC's Khalil Rountree feels 'most confident' in a while heading into Jamahal Hill fight LAS VEGAS - Khalil Rountree is embracing the opportunity to headline another UFC event. Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) will look to rebound from his title loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 307 when he takes on former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 8 main event on June 21 from Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. "I think it's a great main event for people to watch," Rountree told MMA Junkie and other reporters during the TUF anniversary scrum. "You got two big strikers going in there, and I'm ready. I'm glad that the UFC called me. I've been training a lot, I've learnt from my mistakes in the Alex fight, and just went right back to work. Still got some scars but they're healed, they're not going to open back up. My mind's good, my heart's good, and we get to travel. So, I'm really fired up about this match. I feel good about this matchup, and this is the most confident I've been in a while. So, I'm ready to share that with the fans." Rountree received plenty of praise for his valiant effort against Pereira, where he won Rounds 1 and 2 on all judges' scorecards before "Poatan" rallied to finish him in Round 4. While Rountree's stock got higher, he's not entirely fulfilled. "The only pride that I have in that fight is the ability to win the hearts of the fans," Rountree said. "The fact that the fans saw my heart in the fight, and I got appreciation for just going in there and giving my all. But when I watch the fight myself, no pride. "Only corrections because I didn't get that far just to get that far. I'm still gutted for it. My goal, my dream, my focus right now is the belt, and that night I came up short. Just putting on a good performance for the fans isn't enough for me. So, I'm back in the game, I'm locked and loaded, and ready to be the champion."
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 316 bout
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 316 bout Former Bellator champion Patchy Mix makes his UFC debut against Mario Bautista at UFC 316. Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix preview Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to face former title challenger Marlon Vera before an injury forced a lineup change. Now, Bautista welcomes Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the UFC, where they will meet in the UFC 316 main card opener. Bautista enters as a winner of seven consecutive fights. In his previous outing, Bautista won a split decision at UFC 307 over former featherweight champion Jose Aldo. His current winning streak includes stoppages of Guido Cannetti, Benito Lopez and Brian Kelleher. Mix, who was recently granted his release from the PFL, finally gets an opportunity to prove himself in the UFC. Mix brings an eight-fight winning streak to the octagon. In his last outing, he recorded the second defense of his Bellator title by split decision in a rematch against Magomed Magomedov. On his current run, he has stopped five opponents, including Sergio Pettis, Raufeon Stots, James Gallagher, Albert Morales, and Magomedov in their first meeting. Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix odds According to FanDuel, Mix will debut in the UFC as a -184 favorite against Bautista, who is a slight underdog at +142. How to watch Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix at UFC 316
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Khalil Rountree Jr. lists necessary changes made after Alex Pereira UFC title fight loss
Khalil Rountree Jr. lists necessary changes made after Alex Pereira UFC title fight loss Khalil Rountree Jr. knew changes were necessary in order to capture the UFC light heavyweight title. Rountree Jr. (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) got his first opportunity to reach that goal at UFC 307, but was outmatched by then-champion Alex Pereira. In the main event of the UFC's first trip to Azerbaijan, Rountree Jr. will have the chance to return to the win column by taking on former champion Jamahal Hill. As the saying goes, you either win or you learn, and Rountree Jr. appears to have taken many lessons from the fight against Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC). As he prepares for Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), Rountree Jr. reveals he made multiple changes to his fight camp. "I think one of the most important things after the Alex fight, for me, was to continue to progress," Rountree Jr. said in a video on his YouTube channel. "So, after even talking to my wife and breaking down the video, thinking what could I have done better? Even though I put in a really good camp and I did my best in that camp, but I always try to think there's always room for improvement, no matter what. "And so, a few of the things, I felt like I could have improved in my strength. I think I could have had an extra ear in my corner to let me know moments when my opponent was hurt that I could have capitalized on. And I think just a little bit more support. So, right after the fight, that's immediately what I went after." The Fight of the Night battle against Pereira didn't produce the title victory Rountree Jr. hoped for, but he took away many positives from the fight. He is aware that the pinnacle of the light heavyweight division is within reach, but in order to reach it, he couldn't take the same approach. Rountree Jr.'s striking carried him through a five-fight winning streak to earn his first title shot. On the path to a second, he knew that working on his ground game was an important step. "Another thing that I wanted to improve on was my grappling," Rountree Jr. said. "As I climb the ranks and get closer to becoming the champion, knowing that there's going to be guys coming after me to get the belt, I want to be a well rounded fighter – and I want to be the best version of myself that I can be, in all areas." For his grappling game, Rountree Jr. added training with coach Bernardo Tavolaro and rolling with BJJ world champion and ONE Championship heavyweight Marucs "Buchecha" Almeida. Rountree Jr. believes his crowning moment will come one day, and that path begins in Baku against Hill.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mario Bautista sees big upside to beating Patchy Mix at UFC 316
Mario Bautista sees big upside to beating Patchy Mix at UFC 316 Mario Bautista sees plenty of upside in a win over his new UFC 316 opponent. Originally scheduled to face Marlon Vera on June 7 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) now draws former Bellator champion Patchy Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) instead. Although Bautista is going from a former UFC title challenger to debuting fighter, he sees big implications with a win over Mix. "He's well respected, and I know what it means to get a win over him," Bautista told MMA Junkie Radio. "It's just as good of a win as over 'Chito,' if not better. I think it throws me pretty high up there with a win over him." Bautista, who extended his winning streak to seven with a win over Jose Aldo at UFC 307 last October, is unfazed by the change of opponent. "When I heard it was Patchy, I was excited," Bautista said. "I was excited to fight 'Chito,' but then just to get that news mid-camp, and I feel good. I'm feeling good. This is a great camp. For Patchy to come in, I'm reignited again, so I'm excited for it. I think he's a great fighter. He obviously has a great record, and his style, he's submission heavy. Looking for the chokes, looking for that neck. So, I know what he's going to try to bring to the table for sure, and we're definitely ready for it."
