Latest news with #onESPN64
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 65's Gerald Meerschaert still has title ambitions, would settle with all-time submission record
LAS VEGAS – Gerald Meerschaert is still placing his goals at the highest echelon of the sport going into his 23rd octagon appearance Saturday at UFC on ESPN 65 Meerschaert (37-18 MMA, 12-10 UFC) has had mixed results in his more than eight-year run the promotion, as his record reflects. There's been high points and low points, but he has put together a notable career, and currently holds the middleweight record for finishes and submission wins going into his upcoming matchup with fellow veteran Brad Tavares at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+). After losing his previous outing to debuting former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder in October, Meerschaert is relishing the matchup with Tavares, who has followed a similar path to him. 'I think he's the only guy active right now at middleweight that's got more UFC fights than I do,' Meerschaert told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday's UFC on ESPN 64 media day. 'It's great to fight another guy that's been around. He's fought tough guys, he's been in tough fights. It's going to be a lot of fun to figure out solving that puzzle on Saturday, and I couldn't have more respect for my opponent.' At 37, it might seem like the best performances of Meerschaert's career would be behind him. He disagrees, however, and thinks there's a lot of tread remaining on his tires going into 56th professional bout. Meerschaert is realistic to what the challenges of a title run would look like at this stage, but said it would be against his moral code toward the sport to set the bar anything lower. If it doesn't happen for him, though, he intends to keep fighting, keep winning and keep putting his name highest in the UFC record books. 'It's a far, far way off but the belt is the goal of anybody in the UFC,' Meerschaert said. 'I'm a reasonable person and I understand that's very far off in the distance and first I've got to win a fight, then I've got win a couple fights in a row, and then think about a ranked opponent and all that stuff. Other than that, the submission record is cool, the finish record is cool. 'Brad's got the most fights at middleweight. I don't know how long he's going to stick around, but if I could get that record, I think that would be cool. Then see how close I can get to that overall submission record, too. Seeing how close I can get to that is another one for me.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ESPN 64 post-event facts: Raul Rosas Jr. sets record that will be tough to beat
The UFC closed out a five-event March schedule on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 64 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Mexican hero and former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC) emerged victorious in the main event, ending his winless skid on home soil with a unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC). For more on the numbers to come out of the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 64. * * * * UFC on ESPN 64: Official scorecards from Mexico City The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $168,500. Debuting fighters went 2-0 at the event. Manuel Torres, Edgar Chairez, David Martinez and Ateba Gautier earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 64 fight-night bonuses. UFC on ESPN 64 drew an announced attendance of 19,731 for a live gate of $2,530,474. Betting favorites went 9-2 on the card. One fight had even odds. Betting favorites improved to 6-5 in UFC headliners this year. Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:11:31. Moreno improved to 8-3-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2019. Moreno's 11 victories in UFC flyweight competition are fourth-most in divisional history behind Benavidez (13), Demetrious Johnson (13), and Alexandre Pantoja (13). Moreno has earned five of his 11 UFC victories by decision. Erceg's three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2024. Erceg has suffered three of his four career losses by decision. Torres (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned 15 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. That includes all four of his UFC wins. Drew Dober (27-15 MMA, 13-11 UFC) has suffered seven of his 11 UFC losses by stoppage. Chairez (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned all 11 of his career victories by stoppage. He's finished both of his UFC wins by submission. CJ Vergara's (12-7-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since July 2023. Raul Rosas Jr.'s (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), at 20, became the youngest fighter to reach five UFC victories. Vince Morales (11-10 MMA, 3-8 UFC) suffered his fourth consecutive loss in UFC competition. He hasn't earned an octagon victory since December 2021. Morales fell to 0-3 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2024. Morales has suffered seven of his eight UFC losses by decision. Martinez (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned 10 of his 12 career victories by stoppage. Saimon Oliveira's (18-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since September 2021. Oliveira has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout. Ronaldo Rodriguez (17-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by decision. Gautier (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned six of his seven career victories by stoppage. Jose Daniel Medina's (11-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2023. Medina suffered the first knockout loss of his career. Melquizael Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) earned his second UFC victory in a 35-day stretch. He also won at UFC Fight Night 252 on Feb. 22. Christian Rodriguez (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) fell to 2-2 since he moved up to the UFC featherweight division in March 2024. Rodriguez has suffered two of his three career losses by decision. Loopy Godinez (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) has earned 10 of her 13 career victories by decision. Julia Polastri (13-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered all five of her losses by decision. Rafa Garcia (17-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has earned four of his five UFC victories by decision. Vinc Pichel (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) fell to 5-4 since he returned from a career-long layoff that lasted from May 2014 to June 2017. Jamall Emmers (21-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past nine fights. Gabriel Miranda (17-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC) has suffered all four of his career stoppage losses by knockout. MarQuel Mederos (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision. Austin Hubbard (16-9 MMA, 4-7 UFC) has suffered six of his nine career losses by decision. That includes five of his seven UFC defeats. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC on ESPN 64 post-event facts: Raul Rosas Jr. sets record that will be tough to beat
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Brandon Moreno raises hand for UFC 320 pay-per-view in Guadalajara: 'I can be the main event'
MEXICO CITY – Brandon Moreno held the 'Viva Mexico' in for too long. Saturday, he finally let it out. In the UFC on ESPN 64 main event, Moreno (24-8-2 MMA, 12-4-2 UFC) defeated Steve Erceg (12-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) by unanimous decision. The victory was his first on home soil in the UFC and his first overall since his third pro bout in January 2012. 'Man, I have so many emotions, man,' Moreno told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. 'The first time I fought here was 2017 against Sergio Pettis. It was a main event and I lost. I've been holding this 'Viva Mexico' for so long, and I finally did it tonight. I'm just happy, man. I'm just enjoying this moment. I felt all the fight week, everything feels just different. I have experience. I have the energy. At the end, I just executed. So I'm happy.' Moreno turned a solo win over Amir Albazi in November into a two-fight winning streak. In a division where contendership is largely up for grabs, Moreno thinks he may have done enough to headline the freshly announced UFC 320 event, Sept. 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico. 'How confident I am?' Moreno said. 'I don't even know. I know nothing right now. I'm just happy, enjoying the moment. I saw Hunter and he looked very happy with the people, with the crowd. That's the thing. Who knows how much I move the needle? Maybe not too much. Flyweights, always with the same problem. That's crazy. But I really believe every single time I step in the octagon, the people go crazy. That's the fact. Let's see what happens.' '…. That's the goal. Guadalajara, I think it's perfect. Even for the UFC, for the promotion. If they want to get a pay-per-view event for Noche UFC in September in Guadalajara, I think I'm the right choice. … I feel today I have enough arguments to raise my hand and say, 'Hey, I can be the main event, the pay-per-vie in Guadalajara in September.' The status of the next title fight at flyweight in the UFC is unknown. Champion Alexandre Pantoja was rumored to face Kai Kara-France in April in Miami but that fight is not happening then. Now, it's rumored for June in Newark, N.J. – which remains to be seen. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 64 video: Manuel Torres hammerfists Drew Dober for quick TKO
Manuel Torres delivered another thrilling performance in his young octagon career Saturday when he quickly dispatched of veteran Drew Dober in the UFC on ESPN 64 co-main event. Torres (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) promised excitement in the lightweight matchup at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, and he lived up to that when he hurt Dober (27-15 MMA, 13-11 UFC) with a huge straight right for a knockdown followed by a series of hammerfists for the TKO at the 1:45 mark of Round 1. Dober protested the stoppage in the immediate aftermath, but didn't appear fully aware what had unfolded. Check out the replay of the stoppage below (via X): Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 64 results include: For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 64 video: Brandon Moreno reps Mexico, Steve Erceg keeps it cool during faceoff
MEXICO CITY – Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg crossed paths for the final time before their UFC on ESPN 64 main event at Friday's ceremonial weigh-ins. Ahead of their flyweight encounter on Saturday at Arena CDMX (ESPN2, ESPN+), former champion Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-4-2 UFC) and one-time title challenger Erceg (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) engaged in a final pre-fight staredown. Moreno audibly had the full backing of the Mexican crowd as he was draped in the country's flag. Erceg remained cool, calm, and collected – with a big smile on his face. The two fighters remained respectful and shook hands. Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg are all smiles at the final faceoff. Who wins the #UFCMexico main event? — MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 28, 2025 Check out the video above to see the Moreno vs. Erceg faceoff from UFC on ESPN 64 ceremonial weigh-ins. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
