Latest news with #UFCVegas105
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
UFC Opts To Not Renew Contract Of Record-Holding 15-Year Veteran
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 05: Brad Tavares is interviewed after his victory over Gerald Meerschaert ... More in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Brad Tavares made his UFC debut in June 2010 with a decision win over Seth Baczynski. It appears his last fight with the promotion will be his April 2025 decision win over Gerald Meerschaert, as the UFC has removed Tavares from the active roster. According to MMA Fighting, the UFC did not release or cut Tavares. Instead, the promotion opted not to review the contract of the 37-year-old middleweight competitor. Tavares could re-sign with the promotion, but he is no longer on the roster for now. Tavares opened his UFC career on a 7-1 between June 2010 and January 2014. A win over Lorenz Larkin in January 2014 earned Tavares the No. 13 spot in the UFC middleweight rankings and a main card spot on a UFC FOX fight card in April 2014. His opponent on that night was the No. 14 ranked Yoel Romero. Romero defeated Tavares by unanimous decision in Florida that evening. Tavares went 1-2 in his next three fights, but he returned to his winning ways in September 2016 with a decision over Caio Magalhães. He would prove victorious in his next three outings, climbing to No. 8 in the division. In July 2018, the UFC matchmakers booked Tavares against future UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who was unranked and 2-0 in the UFC at the time. Adesanya defeated Tavares by decision. Three fights later, Adesanya captured the interim UFC middleweight belt. The loss to Adesanya was the start of an up-and-down run for Tavares under the UFC banner. Over the next six years, he would put together a 4-5 record. In his most recent outing, Tavares scored a decision victory over Gerald Meerschaert on the UFC Vegas 105 fight card. Tavares ends his UFC run with a promotional record of 16-10 and an overall record of 21-10. His win over Meerschaert tied UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping for the most wins in UFC middleweight history with 16. "I think for one, it ties me for the most wins in UFC middleweight history," Tavares said a the time (via MMA Junkie). "Two, I think it just shows the rest of the division that if anyone thought I was on my way out, or whatever they were thinking, that I'm still here, I'm still learning, I'm still growing. "I feel like I still have room, as crazy as it is, I've been in it 20-plus fights, 15 years, and I still feel like I have that mentality that I can do more, I can do better. I can still evolve. There's a lot more things that we were working on that I wasn't able to show tonight." "To be honest, the stats thing, it's important, I like it," Tavares added. "I'm humbled by it, but it's not something I really think about or look forward to. Tonight, I didn't even realize that. I knew I was up there close to Mike or whatever, I didn't know if I was past him or whatnot. "Like I said, I don't really pay attention too much. But he brought it to my attention in the post-fight interview. I was like, 'Oh, yeah! I caught you Mike.'... Nothing but respect for that guy and all he's accomplished."
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After much tougher return than she expected, Loma Lookboonmee eyes UFC's top 15 strawweights
LAS VEGAS – Loma Lookboonmee beat Istela Nunes with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with Lookboonmee, who returned after a 14-month injury layoff for her fourth straight win. Loma Lookboonmee def. Istela Nunes 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 #UFCVegas105 Loma Lookboonmee beats Istela Nunes by unanimous decision! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 6, 2025 Result: Loma Lookboonmee def. Istela Nunes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Updated records: Lookboonmee (10-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Nunes (6-6 MMA, 0-5 UFC) Key stats: Lookboonmee outstruck Nunes 111-51 overall. Lookboonmee on the fight's key moment 'The game plan was to take her down. I really wanted to focus on my ground game and showcase that. I definitely prefer standup, but I want to be a more well-rounded MMA fighter. I really focused on that this fight.' Lookboonmee on returning from injury 'Coming back after 14 months off was much more difficult than I thought it would be. I really want to fight two or three times this year. I think that's what's going to really make a difference for me. I had surgery last year, and it was really hard coming back.' Lookboonmee on what she wants next 'I haven't been home in nine months, so the first thing I'm going to do is go home and see my family. But if the UFC calls me to fight next week, I will fight next week. I want to get back to training as soon as I can. I really want to fight twice this year. It would be ideal if I could fight three times this year. I don't have any injuries, and fighting only two times in the past two years because of injuries and surgeries, it was really hard. 'I know today wasn't my best performance, but if the UFC gives me the opportunity to fight two to three times this year, I'll be a lot better. I'll fight anyone, but I really want to fight someone in the top 15. I've won four fights (in a row) in the UFC. I have nothing to lose, and it's the fighters in the top 15 who should be scared of losing their ranking to me.' To hear more from Lookboonmee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cain Velasquez transferred to Wasco State Prison, parole eligibility date set
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has made his first move into the California prison system after his conviction and sentencing following a no-contest plea on multiple charges including attempted murder. Velasquez was handed a five-year sentence following his conviction, and he's currently being housed at Wasco State Prison just outside Bakersfield, Calif. The prison sits just over three hours away from Velasquez's home in San Jose, but Wasco is a set up as a reception center before inmates are transferred to longterm housing at a different facility. Wasco is used to process, classify, and evaluate new inmates both physically and mentally to determine a security level for housing before being transferred to one of California's primary prison facilities like San Quentin or Folsom State Prison. Based on the terms of his sentencing, Velasquez comes eligible for parole for the first time in March 2026, but that date could change based on the retired UFC heavyweight knocking off additional time for good behavior, participation in certain prison programs, etc. While Velasquez was issued a five-year sentence he immediately had three-plus years knocked off due to time already served after he spent eight months behind bars following his initial arrest when he was denied bail several times. When Velasquez was eventually released, he was placed under house arrest and wore an ankle monitor so that time was also removed from his sentence. Unless something dramatically changes, Velasquez could potentially go home as early as March 2026. Velasquez was convicted after he engaged in an 11-mile, high speed chase going after a car containing Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting Velasquez's son at a daycare owned by his mother. Goularte faces charges of his own related to that case, but he was released from custody against the advice of the prosecution. Velasquez fired several rounds from a handgun at the car but ultimately it was Goularte's stepfather Paul Bender who ended up being shot while sustaining non-life threatening injuries. Velasquez was eventually arrested without incident and hit with a multitude of charges, including attempted murder. The next court date for Velasquez comes on April 16 when he faces restitution for his crimes, which is where a judge issues a financial penalty that is due to the victims in the case. Restitution can include lost wages, medical costs, therapy and counseling and even insurance deductibles. More from Michael Chandler addresses cheating accusations ahead of UFC 314 fight with Paddy Pimblett Javier Mendez says Merab Dvalishvili 'showboated his way to winning' against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 'Fire that judge on sight': Pros react to bizarre scorecard in Torrez Finney win at UFC Vegas 105 Dana White shares gruesome photo of Daniel Frunza's torn lip following UFC Vegas 105 loss Henry Cejudo describes crazy confrontation with man who crashed car in house, assaulted neighbor Josh Emmett believes Ilia Topuria could struggle against bigger lightweights: 'They could definitely give him problems' Mark Kerr biopic 'The Smashing Machine' with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson sets release date
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Victor Henry has plans to stick around awhile after UFC Vegas 105 – even if his mom won't watch
LAS VEGAS – Victor Henry beat Pedro Falcao with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with Henry, who bounced back after a loss to Charles Jourdain this past November – so far the only stoppage loss on his resume. Victor Henry def. Pedro Falcao Result: Victor Henry def. Pedro Falcao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Updated records: Henry (25-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Falcao (16-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Key stats: Henry landed twice as many total strikes as Falcao, though he was taken down four times. Henry on the fight's key moment '(I'd grade myself) a 7 out of 10, 6.5 out of 10. There were some spots where, meh – I could've finished it here. Hindsight is 20/20 – there were some spots in there I could've done more. … I didn't want to speak it into existence, but my arms were dead.' 🫡 Victor Henry se lleva la victoria por decisión unánime #UFCVegas105 — UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) April 5, 2025 Henry on his mom not watching his fights 'Whenever I get a second (after a fight), I call my mom. My mom doesn't watch me fight live because she's afraid of it. She went to one taekwondo tournament when I was a kid. She goes, 'Never again. Never again.' I said, 'Why?' She goes, 'Because that's my baby beating up on somebody else's baby, or it's someone else's baby beating up on my baby.' She goes, 'I'm not going to watch that. You call me afterward and let me know you're OK and we'll be all right.'' Henry on what he wants next 'The UFC has a habit of having me fight two times a year. I'd like to hopefully re-sign, get another contract. This was my third fight – I have one more fight on the contract. I'd like to get two more this year and three next year.' 'I think there's things I could've done better.' Victor Henry (@VictorHenryMMA) sees plenty of room to grow after his impressive win over Pedro Falcao at #UFCVegas105. Prelim Results ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) April 6, 2025 To hear more from Henry, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rhys McKee after first UFC win: 'It's not job done, it's job started'
LAS VEGAS – Rhys McKee beat Daniel Frunza with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with McKee, whose first UFC win also came with a $50,000 performance bonus. Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza Result: Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza via TKO (doctor's stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00 Updated records: McKee (14-6-1 MMA, 1-4 UFC), Frunza (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) Key stats: McKee knocked Frunza down four times in the first round. McKee on the fight's key moment 'We knew this was a must-win fight. If I lost, I'd probably have my release papers by now. This was a must-win. And guess what the next one is? A must-win – no different. … (the game plan was) vicious – be vicious. Any chance I could hurt him, as many times as I could, pressure, drown him, make him exhausted – and when the chance was there, the finish came. We had to get it done via damage tonight, but win No. 14 – 14th finish.' McKee on getting his first UFC win 'It's a relief. Four times, I've been here in the UFC and four times I've had to get the bus home early. I've always wanted to come to this (post-fight news conference) table, so to be here is a relief. But it's not job done – it's job started. '… To be honest, I thought my UFC opportunity had slipped away. When I got the shot at No. 5, I thought 'This is my golden ticket. This is the time when it all changes' I just believed in myself. My coaches believed in me on the days I didn't believe in myself.' McKee on what he wants next '(I spent) two weeks in Las Vegas. I brought my wife, brought my daughter … spent two weeks in the (UFC Performance Institute). There ain't nothing tough about it. It's a hell of a life. Like we said this week, if you want this stuff, you have to win the fight. We won the fight. I would love my next fight to be in Vegas. I absolutely love it. The PI is fantastic.' 'This win has been 14 years in the making.' Rhys McKee (@RhysMcKee) notches his first win inside the Octagon with an impressive performance over Daniel Frunza at #UFCVegas105 Prelim Results ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) April 6, 2025 To hear more from McKee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
