Latest news with #UFCFightNight261
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Oliveira: UFC champ Ilia Topuria 'has better shot at winning' than Arman Tsarukyan
Having fought both Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira gave his prediction for their potential title fight. Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) was edged out in a split decision loss to Tsarukyan at UFC 300 last April. He then rebounded with a five-round decision win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309, which earned him a vacant lightweight title fight against Topuria at UFC 317 in June. Oliveira was knocked out in Round 1. Although Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) initially dismissed Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) as his next title challenger, it appears they could end up fighting next – as hinted by both Chael Sonnen and Tsarukyan himself. "Man, that's a fight between a solid grappler and a guy with really good striking," Oliveira said in an interview with Thunderpick. "I think Arman is a very dangerous dude, super tough. But honestly, I think Topuria has a better shot at winning. Still, it's going to be a hell of a fight." Oliveira has opted to jump right back on the horse after suffering the first clean knockout loss of his career. He meets Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 261 main event in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11. The event takes place at Farmasi Arena and streams on ESPN+.
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Oliveira says Dan Hooker turned him down at UFC Rio: 'He talked a lot of nonsense'
Charles Oliveira insinuated that Dan Hooker rejected to fight him in Rio. Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC), who has been recovering from hand surgery, called out both Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan for a fight in November. However, Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) ended up being booked for the UFC Fight Night 261 headliner against Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) on Oct. 11 at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Oliveira explains how he ended up with Fiziev. "I'm not a guy who goes around playing games, but I was offered names, and they didn't even want it," Oliveira told Ag Fight (h/t Championship Rounds). "So today, when you release this, these guys will tweet, 'Coward! I wanted it, he didn't want it.' But it's a lie. My whole life it's been like this. They poke around, talk sh*t from the other side. When I say, 'Come on, I'm here,' they take it and run the other way." The former UFC lightweight champion went off on Hooker for talking, but allegedly not accepting to fight him. "(Hooker) is also just talking for a long time," Oliveira said. "This soap opera, you already know, it's been going on for years. He talked and talked and talked, and it never happened. So really, it's all talk. That's the reality. He talked a lot of nonsense. A guy who speaks a lot of nonsense on the internet, but when he's called, he doesn't go."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier questions Charles Oliveira making a quick turnaround after UFC 317 KO loss
Daniel Cormier says Charles Oliveira fighting so soon after getting knocked out by Ilia Topuria isn't the best decision. Less than four months after losing his vacant lightweight title fight to Topuria at UFC 317 in June, Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) will take on Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 261 headliner in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11. The event takes place at Farmasi Arena and streams on ESPN+. "Anytime 'Do Bronx' fights, I get excited. The world gets excited. It's fun. But then you start to digest the idea that Charles Oliveira last month got knocked out bad by Ilia Topuria," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "Everybody likes Charles Oliveira. We all do. "He's a nice guy, he's a tremendous fighter, he has done so many great, fun things. But then you wonder why so soon? That was my thought once I calmed down from the excitement of, oh my goodness, Charles Oliveira is fighting again against Rafael Fiziev. It's going to be a barnburner because both of these guys are great strikers." Cormier pointed to Alexander Volkanovski as an example, and how after getting knocked out by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, he made a four-month turnaround to defend his featherweight title against Topuria at UFC 298 – where he ended up getting knocked out again. He also used himself as an example, and how he avoided falling into a similar situation when he was an active fighter. "I remember in 2017, I fought Jon Jones," Cormier said. "I got knocked out in Anaheim. I got a fight offer right after, and I just said, 'Nah, I need to let my brain heal. I've got to let my mind settle after going out like that.' I knew that for me, to go back and fight that soon, it would not have gone well. So I waited to make sure that I was healthy, and that my brain was back OK before I stepped back into the octagon."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slugfest set for UFC Rio
A pair of longtime UFC welterweight sluggers finally will meet when the promotion returns to Brazil this fall. Vicente Luque (23-11-1 MMA, 16-7 UFC) will take on Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 261, promotion officials announced Monday. The event takes place at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11 with an expected stream on ESPN+. Both fighters will be working off losses from earlier this year and will no doubt be eager to get back in the win column. Luque has alternated losses and wins his past five fights. This past December, he picked up a bonus for a 52-second submission of Themba Gorimba. But in June, he returned to the loss column when he was choked out by Kevin Holland at UFC 316. Although he was born in the U.S., Luque has not had a "home" fight in Brazil since 2017. Ponzinibbio has dropped three of his past four fights. In May, he was knocked out in the third round by Daniel Rodriguez. Before that, he knocked out Carlston Harris in January to snap a two-fight skid. The 38-year-old Argentinian has six career UFC bonuses on his resume. With the addition, the UFC Rio lineup now includes: Charles Oliveira vs. Rafael Fiziev Thomas Petersen vs. Vitor Petrino Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Julia Polastri Stewart Nicoll vs. Lucas Rocha Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto Irina Alekseeva vs. Bia Mesquita Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slugfest set for UFC Rio
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slugfest set for UFC Rio
🚨 Dos de tus favoritos frente a frente en #UFCRioEstos no se contienen y todos lo sabemos, Vicente Luque 🇧🇷🇨🇱 enfrenta a Santiago Ponzinibbio 🇦🇷 el 11 de Octubre. A pair of longtime UFC welterweight sluggers finally will meet when the promotion returns to Brazil this fall. Vicente Luque (23-11-1 MMA, 16-7 UFC) will take on Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 261, promotion officials announced Monday. The event takes place at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11 with an expected stream on ESPN+. Both fighters will be working off losses from earlier this year and will no doubt be eager to get back in the win column. Luque has alternated losses and wins his past five fights. This past December, he picked up a bonus for a 52-second submission of Themba Gorimba. But in June, he returned to the loss column when he was choked out by Kevin Holland at UFC 316. Although he was born in the U.S., Luque has not had a "home" fight in Brazil since 2017. Ponzinibbio has dropped three of his past four fights. In May, he was knocked out in the third round by Daniel Rodriguez. Before that, he knocked out Carlston Harris in January to snap a two-fight skid. The 38-year-old Argentinian has six career UFC bonuses on his resume. With the addition, the UFC Rio lineup now includes:
