Martial Arts News

Rob Font entered a firefight with Adrian Yanez at UFC 287, and after a little less than three minutes, emerged with an enthralling technical knockout victory.

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“I don’t know how not to get into something like that,” Font admitted at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I believe he’s the same way. I like to say I want to stay calm, it just never happens. It felt good to be back. Big ‘W,’ just all smiles right now.”

Font entered the matchup with Yanez on the heels of back-to-back losses to Marlon Vera and Jose Aldo. To maintain his footing at bantamweight, he had to hold off a surging contender who was previously unbeaten in five UFC appearances.

“Obviously losing to Chito and Aldo sucked,” Font said. “I needed to bounce back for myself, for my team, for my family. To go out and do it on a big pay-per-view against a dangerous guy like Adrian, I’m all smiles. I can’t stop cheesing.”

More than anything, Font needed to prove to himself that he…

The hype slowed for Raul Rosas Jr. on Saturday night.

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The 18-year-old prospect started quickly, then hit a wall in a unanimous decision loss to Christian Rodriguez in their bantamweight bout, which opened the pay-per-view card at UFC 287 in Miami. Rosas Jr. issued a brief statement on his Instagram stories after the defeat.

“My bad bros,” Rosas wrote. “I didn’t have the energy to do what I know or even try. Things happen for a reason (and) God knows. My opponent was better tonight. Thank you guys.”

Rosas Jr. generated plenty of attention when he received a UFC contract at 17 years old after a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series last year. He followed that up with a first-round submission victory against Jay Perrin in his Octagon debut at UFC 282 in December, perhaps raising expectations to an unreasonable level. His loss at UFC 287 tempered that outlook somewhat, but the UFC president pointed out that it isn’t the end of the world for a …

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Amanda Nunes wasn’t expecting an immediate trilogy against Julianna Pena.

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After suffering a shocking upset loss to Pena at UFC 269, Nunes avenged that defeat with a dominant five-round verdict in their rematch at UFC 277 this past July. Late last week, the promotion announced that Nunes-Pena 3 would headline UFC 289 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 10. Initially, Nunes thought Irene Aldana, who has won four of her last five promotional appearances, would be next in line to face her.

“I did [think it would be Aldana]. I thought it was gonna be her,” Nunes told ESPN over the weekend. “Everything changed to Julianna and I was okay with it, too. No matter what, whatever UFC showed me the opponent, I’m gonna be happy to defend my belt.”

While it wasn’t necessarily the opponent she expected, Nunes is more than willing to face Pena for a third time.

“I always say I leave it to what UFC decides,” Nunes said. “I’m ready, I’ve bee…

Jorge Masvidal hinted ahead of UFC 287 that it could be his swan song if things didn’t go his way against Gilbert Burns in his hometown.

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Following a unanimous decision loss to Burns in Saturday’s co-main event at the Kaseya Center in Miami, “Gamebred” officially called it a career after 52 documented professional MMA bouts.

"I love everybody here," Masvidal said. “This is where I started my career. It's been a long 20 years, 50-some fights. Sometimes your favorite basketball player don't have that 3-pointer no more. Your favorite quarterback loses that rifle. I don't feel the same when I get in here no more. It's been 20 long years.”

Long a favorite among hardcore fans, Masvidal gained mainstream appeal with a breakout 2019 campaign that saw him defeat Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz inside the distance. The victory over Askren, in particular, was a star-making effort, as Masvidal set a UFC record for fastest finish with a five-second, fl…

Im just here to let u know that I’m fine ! I want to thank my family, my team and all the people who are supporting me during my journey.

Now I just have to rest and continue with the plans that are already on motion. Thanks god 🙏 pic.twitter.com/xU4nELWPBj

— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) April 9, 2023

Even though he suffered a vicious knockout loss at the hands of Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, Alex Pereira would like his supporters to know that he is doing well.

“Poatan” released a brief statement via social media on Sunday. He was not in attendance at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. Accompanying the statement was a video of Pereira and Adesanya sharing a moment together backstage after UFC 287.

“I’m just here to let [you] know that I’m fine!!” Pereira wrote. “I want to thank my family, my team and all the people who are supporting me during my journey.

“Now I just have to rest and continue with the plans…

While championship trilogies have been all the rage in the UFC, the rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira might follow a different path.

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On the heels of Adesanya’s second-round knockout of Pereira in the UFC 287 headliner, the newly-crowned middleweight champion shot down the notion of a potential trilogy between the two rivals.

“I don’t keep score. I settle it, and now it’s settled,” Adesanya said at the UFC 287 post-fight press conference. “I gave him a fast track to the belt. I could’ve said, ‘Naw, who’s he fought? He only fought one top five.’ But no. He did well. He fought some top guys. He beat [Sean] Strickland, and I was like, ‘Well, fine, There’s no one else.’

“I was looking for that challenge. He beat me in kickboxing and I got the immediate rematch because of what I’ve done in the game. … I did the hard yard and I earned my f—-ing rematch. Now he has to do the hard yard and earn it, but I don’t think he’s going to. Go ca…

Gilbert Burns gave Jorge Masvidal an unhappy farewell on Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision over the popular Miami native in the UFC 287 co-main event.

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Though he didn’t get the finish, Burns had the edge in all aspects of the fight, as he tagged Masvidal with right hands while landing takedowns in every round. However, “Durinho” claimed that Masvidal might have done something to make grappling exchanges a little more challenging.

“I was really looking forward for a finish, but I think it was a good fight. I try to put on a show every single time. I was really, really looking forward to a finish,” Burns said at the post-fight press conference. “I hit him with good shots, took him down a couple of times – if I’m not wrong, I had three takedown attempts, and I finished all three. A lot of wrestlers didn’t do that. A lot of guys, high-level wrestlers that he fought had trouble taking him down, and I didn’t.

“I think I showed a lot of impr…

It took seven years, but Israel Adesanya finally has his first win over Alex Pereira.

And oh, what a win it was.

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Adesanya regained the middleweight crown with a massive knockout of Pereira in the UFC 287 headliner at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night. “The Last Stylebender” brought the show to a close 4:21 into Round 2 with a finish that will likely end up on many “Knocokout of the Year” lists when all is said and done. In victory, Adesanya (24-2, 13-2 UFC) rebounds from a fourth-round TKO loss to Pereira at UFC 281 this past November.

“They say revenge is sweet, and if you know me, I’ve got a sweet tooth,” Adesanya said.

After a measured opening round for both men, the action picked up considerably in the second stanza. Emboldened by his success landing calf kicks, Pereira (7-2, 4-1 UFC) stalked Adesanya after buckling his foe’s legs near the fence. As Adesanya shelled up against the cage, Pereira became careless, unloading…

Sherdog's live UFC 287 coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Amorim (-245), Hughes (+205)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nuerdanbieke (-200), Garcia (+170)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result BE…

WHAT A FIGHT TO END THE PRELIMS AT #UFC287 👏 pic.twitter.com/mJEdGcKA5k

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023

Kelvin Gastelum needed a win in the worst way possible, and Chris Curtis made him go through heavy fire to earn it.

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“The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner went toe-to-toe with Curtis for three entertaining rounds, earning a unanimous decision triumph in the featured UFC 287 prelim at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night. Gastelum, who had lost five of his previous six promotional appearances, received scorecards of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 from the cageside judges. Both middleweights traded willingly for the duration of the contest. Gastelum (18-8, 12-8 UFC) enjoyed success landing quick punching combinations to the head — opening a cut over Curtis’ eye in the process — and low kicks. Curtis (30-10, 4-2 UFC), meanwhile, stood in the pocket and fired back, doing some of his best work digging to the body o…

An instant classic is headed to the #UFCHOF :raised_hands:@Ruthless_RL vs @Rory_MacDonald 2 will officially go down in UFC history!

[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/x546ghwaH8

— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023

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An incredible welterweight title clash is being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced during the UFC 287 pay-per-view that Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald's incredible UFC 189 fight is being immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame's fight wing. The five-round war saw Lawler successfully defend his welterweight title against the Canadian that left both men forever changed. The back-and-forth battle would see Lawler eventually overcome his foe and pick up a TKO victory one minute into the fifth round.

One of the most dramatic moments came at the end of Round 4 as Lawler spit blood on the ground and glared at MacDonald. Eventually, a damaged nose of MacDonald became too…

#ANDNEW Middleweight champion of the world! 🏆@stylebender gets his belt back at #UFC287!!

[ B2YB @RE_Games ] pic.twitter.com/WzTsvdP7C5

— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023 The Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded four fighters performance bonuses on the UFC 287 pay-per-view card.

Israel Adesanya received an extra $50,000 for his impressive middleweight championship win. "The Last Stylebender" scored an incredible knockout over Alex Pereira in the second round with a series of crushing punches. Additionally, Rob Font pocketed $50,000 for his TKO stoppage over Adrian Yanez.

Meanwhile, fight of the night honors went to Kelvin Gastelum and Chris Curtis. The two middleweights had a back-and-forth featured prelim, with Gastelum ultimately taking home the decision win.

UFC 286 Bonuses: Israel Adesanya - $50,000Rob Font - $50,000Kelvin Gastelum - $50,000Chris Curtis - $50,000