2 months ago
The second week of the 10th season of Dana White's Contender Series kicked off on Tuesday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The fight card featured five fights with 10 athletes competing for a spot on the UFC roster.
The fight card was headlined by a women's bantamweight but between Bella Mir, the daughter of former multiple time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, and Alex Apodaca.
The two met in the middle of the cage and Mir connected with a left hand. They exchanged. Mir circled on the outside while Apodaca inched forward. Mir caught a kick and worked to get the fight to the ground but Apodaca remained standing. Mir stepped in the pocket with a combination. They clinched and worked along the cage. Apodaca began mixing in front kicks to the body. Late in the round, Mir secured a takedown and took Apodaca's back. Apodaca reversed the position and landed punches at the bell. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Apodaca.
They touched gloves to start the second and Apodaca pressed forward. Mir quickly looked for a takedown but Apodaca stuffed the attempt. Apodaca connected and Mir responded with a combination. After an exchange of right hands, Apodaca went back to utilizing front kicks. By the end off the round, Mir was bleeding from her nose. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Apodaca.
Mir attempted a takedown early in the final frame and Apodaca sprawled and successfully defended it. She got to her feet and Mir worked to get the fight to the ground. In a scramble, Mir took Apodaca's back with two minutes remaining on the clock. Apodaca protected her neck and the fight ended with Mir isolating a leg.
#fight #worked #mmaweekly #cage
The fight card was headlined by a women's bantamweight but between Bella Mir, the daughter of former multiple time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, and Alex Apodaca.
The two met in the middle of the cage and Mir connected with a left hand. They exchanged. Mir circled on the outside while Apodaca inched forward. Mir caught a kick and worked to get the fight to the ground but Apodaca remained standing. Mir stepped in the pocket with a combination. They clinched and worked along the cage. Apodaca began mixing in front kicks to the body. Late in the round, Mir secured a takedown and took Apodaca's back. Apodaca reversed the position and landed punches at the bell. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Apodaca.
They touched gloves to start the second and Apodaca pressed forward. Mir quickly looked for a takedown but Apodaca stuffed the attempt. Apodaca connected and Mir responded with a combination. After an exchange of right hands, Apodaca went back to utilizing front kicks. By the end off the round, Mir was bleeding from her nose. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Apodaca.
Mir attempted a takedown early in the final frame and Apodaca sprawled and successfully defended it. She got to her feet and Mir worked to get the fight to the ground. In a scramble, Mir took Apodaca's back with two minutes remaining on the clock. Apodaca protected her neck and the fight ended with Mir isolating a leg.
#fight #worked #mmaweekly #cage
3 months ago
The UFC 329 preliminary fight card featured a women's flyweight bout between Top 10 ranked contenders Tracy Cortez and ****** Cong.
Cortez entered the bout ranked No. 8 in the division. The 32 year-old was looking to rebound from a loss in her last outing to No. 4 ranked Erin Blanchfield. She changed gyms and moved to Mexico City to prepare for Saturday's matchup.
Cong made the walk to the octagon inside T-Mobile Arena ranked No. 10 in the weight class and riding a three-fight winning streak. The Chinese rising star was hoping to build on the momentum.
Cortez pressed forward and took the fight to Cong in the early going. Cong connected with a right hand followed by a leg kick. They traded right hands. Cong delivered a calf kick that briefly knocked Cortez off her feet. Cong continued to target the legs of Cortez. Cortez stepped in the pocket with a stiff right hand. Cortez' lead leg was showing the damage. Cortez closed the distance and clinched. She briefly secured a takedown. Cong immediately got to her feet fending off a guillotine choke attempt in the process. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cong.
Cortez came out aggressive in the second round. She either slipped for or her leg gave out on her as she was attempting to change levels. She got to her feet and landed a clean left hand. Cong stuck to the strategy of attacking the legs of Cortez. Cong connected with a left hand. Cortez pressed forward with a combination. She looked for a takedown and Cong delivered an illegal knee that landed on the face of Cortez. The referee took a point from Cong.
Cortez entered the bout ranked No. 8 in the division. The 32 year-old was looking to rebound from a loss in her last outing to No. 4 ranked Erin Blanchfield. She changed gyms and moved to Mexico City to prepare for Saturday's matchup.
Cong made the walk to the octagon inside T-Mobile Arena ranked No. 10 in the weight class and riding a three-fight winning streak. The Chinese rising star was hoping to build on the momentum.
Cortez pressed forward and took the fight to Cong in the early going. Cong connected with a right hand followed by a leg kick. They traded right hands. Cong delivered a calf kick that briefly knocked Cortez off her feet. Cong continued to target the legs of Cortez. Cortez stepped in the pocket with a stiff right hand. Cortez' lead leg was showing the damage. Cortez closed the distance and clinched. She briefly secured a takedown. Cong immediately got to her feet fending off a guillotine choke attempt in the process. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cong.
Cortez came out aggressive in the second round. She either slipped for or her leg gave out on her as she was attempting to change levels. She got to her feet and landed a clean left hand. Cong stuck to the strategy of attacking the legs of Cortez. Cong connected with a left hand. Cortez pressed forward with a combination. She looked for a takedown and Cong delivered an illegal knee that landed on the face of Cortez. The referee took a point from Cong.
4 months ago
A flyweight rematch between former RIZIN Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape and former UFC flyweight championship challenger Kyoji Horiguchi headlined Saturday's UFC Fight Night 279 fight card at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Kape made the walk to the octagon riding a three-fight winning streak and ranked No. 2 in the division. Horiguchi carried with him a seven-fight winning streak to the octagon and was ranked No. 5 in the weight class. On the line was a likely a **** le shot against champion Joshua Van.
The two first fought in the Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round. Horiguchi defeated Kape via arm-triangle choke, but that was nearly a decade ago.
The two touched gloves and Horiguchi landed first with an outside leg kick. He went to the body with one that was partially caught. Kape responded with a leg kick. They felt each other ut for minute. Horiguchi went to the body with a kick and landed a right hand. Kape connected with a counter right. They traded left hands at the midway mark. Horiguchi delivered a hard leg kick. Kape moved in with a left. Horiguchi looked to get the fight to the ground but Kape defended the attempt. Kape switched back and forth with stances. Horiguchi connected to the body with a kick. Horiguchi changed levels and Kape moved forward and put Kape on the ground. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Horiguchi.
They were measured to start the second frame. Horiguchi stepped in with a teep kick. Kape responded with a leg kick. Horiguchi landed a left hand that got Kape's attention. Horiguchi caught a leg kick and took Kape down 90 seconds into the round. He worked for the half guard position. Horiguchi delivered short punches but Kape did a good job of controlling Horiguchi's arms. He delivered elbows from the bottom. Kape re-established his guard. Horiguchi postured up and connected with a right hand. He landed a couple of big left hands in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Horiguchi.
Kape made the walk to the octagon riding a three-fight winning streak and ranked No. 2 in the division. Horiguchi carried with him a seven-fight winning streak to the octagon and was ranked No. 5 in the weight class. On the line was a likely a **** le shot against champion Joshua Van.
The two first fought in the Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round. Horiguchi defeated Kape via arm-triangle choke, but that was nearly a decade ago.
The two touched gloves and Horiguchi landed first with an outside leg kick. He went to the body with one that was partially caught. Kape responded with a leg kick. They felt each other ut for minute. Horiguchi went to the body with a kick and landed a right hand. Kape connected with a counter right. They traded left hands at the midway mark. Horiguchi delivered a hard leg kick. Kape moved in with a left. Horiguchi looked to get the fight to the ground but Kape defended the attempt. Kape switched back and forth with stances. Horiguchi connected to the body with a kick. Horiguchi changed levels and Kape moved forward and put Kape on the ground. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Horiguchi.
They were measured to start the second frame. Horiguchi stepped in with a teep kick. Kape responded with a leg kick. Horiguchi landed a left hand that got Kape's attention. Horiguchi caught a leg kick and took Kape down 90 seconds into the round. He worked for the half guard position. Horiguchi delivered short punches but Kape did a good job of controlling Horiguchi's arms. He delivered elbows from the bottom. Kape re-established his guard. Horiguchi postured up and connected with a right hand. He landed a couple of big left hands in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Horiguchi.
4 months ago
Octagon veteran Ion Cutelaba faced undefeated Navajo Stirling in Saturday's UFC Vegas 119 co-main event at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Cutelaba made the walk to the octagon coming off a submission win over Oumar Sy in his last outing in March. He had won four of his last five fights and looked to build on the momentum. Stirling entered the fight having never tasted defeat in his nine-fight career.
Cutelaba moved forward and missed with a huge right hand. They clinched and worked for position along the cage. Cutelaba applied a guillotine choke. He pulled Stirling to the ground and mounted him. Stirling escaped and worked his way back to his feet but they remained in the clinch. Cutelaba tripped Stirling back to the ground but he quickly got to his feet and separated. Stirling connected with his right hand. Cutelaba pressed forward with punches but came up short. Midway through the round they were in the clinch along the cage. They changed positions a few times before Cutelaba tripped Stirling to the canvas. Stirling got to his feet but ate a short elbow. Stirling went to the body with a hard right hand. Cutelaba answered with a left hook. The round ended with the fighters in the clinch. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cutelaba.
Cutelaba came out in the second using leg kicks. Cutelaba pressured Stirling. He connected with a right hand but Stirling responded with an elbow. Stirling stepped in the pocket with a left hook. He looked to get the fight to the ground. He secured a takedown but Cutelaba quickly got to this feet and applied a kimura. Stirling got his arm free but Cutelaba connected with punches as Stirling worked to stand. Cutelaba drug Stirling to the ground but Stirling immediate stood and separated. He connected with a right hand. Cutelaba changed levels and put Stirling on his back. Stirling gained top position and stood over Cutelaba and unloaded punches. Cutelaba was against the fence and not defending himself. The referee stepped in to stop it.
The official time of the TKO stoppage was on the 3:23 of the second round. With the win, Stirling remained undefeated and wants to return this fall.
Cutelaba made the walk to the octagon coming off a submission win over Oumar Sy in his last outing in March. He had won four of his last five fights and looked to build on the momentum. Stirling entered the fight having never tasted defeat in his nine-fight career.
Cutelaba moved forward and missed with a huge right hand. They clinched and worked for position along the cage. Cutelaba applied a guillotine choke. He pulled Stirling to the ground and mounted him. Stirling escaped and worked his way back to his feet but they remained in the clinch. Cutelaba tripped Stirling back to the ground but he quickly got to his feet and separated. Stirling connected with his right hand. Cutelaba pressed forward with punches but came up short. Midway through the round they were in the clinch along the cage. They changed positions a few times before Cutelaba tripped Stirling to the canvas. Stirling got to his feet but ate a short elbow. Stirling went to the body with a hard right hand. Cutelaba answered with a left hook. The round ended with the fighters in the clinch. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cutelaba.
Cutelaba came out in the second using leg kicks. Cutelaba pressured Stirling. He connected with a right hand but Stirling responded with an elbow. Stirling stepped in the pocket with a left hook. He looked to get the fight to the ground. He secured a takedown but Cutelaba quickly got to this feet and applied a kimura. Stirling got his arm free but Cutelaba connected with punches as Stirling worked to stand. Cutelaba drug Stirling to the ground but Stirling immediate stood and separated. He connected with a right hand. Cutelaba changed levels and put Stirling on his back. Stirling gained top position and stood over Cutelaba and unloaded punches. Cutelaba was against the fence and not defending himself. The referee stepped in to stop it.
The official time of the TKO stoppage was on the 3:23 of the second round. With the win, Stirling remained undefeated and wants to return this fall.
4 months ago
The highest profile American fighter on Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 fight card was probably former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley. "Suga" faced No. 6 ranked Aiemann Zahabi and hoped to build off his previous win Song Yadong.
Zahabi looked to pick up the biggest win of his career and move into **** le contention. The Canadian entered the bout riding a seven-fight winning streak.
O'Malley took the center of the octagon and pressured Zahabi. He landed to t he body with a right hand. Zahabi pressed forward and delivered a leg kick. O'Malley continued to target Zahabi's body. O'Mally dictated the pace through the first half of the round. He switched stances. Zahabi connected with a leg kick. He rushed forward with another inside leg kick. O'Malley responded with a right hand to the body. Zahabi connected with a left hook. The crowd began changing, 'USA, USA.' O'Malley landed a left hand followed by a right. He connected with a combination late in the frame. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for O'Malley.
O'Malley pressed forward in the second. Zahabi landed two leg kicks followed by a right hand. O'Malley doubled up on his jab and followed with a left. Zahabi rushes in with a leg kick. He continued to target O'Malley's legs. O'Malley met Zahabi with a left hand as he moved into the pocket. O'Malley delivered a combination. Zahabi answered with leg kicks. The leg kicks from Zahabi began adding up. O'Malleuy responded with a right hand. A left hand knocked Zahabi down. He tried to get up and was hit again and O'Malley walked off and saluted.
The official time of the TKO win was 4:09 of the second round.
Zahabi looked to pick up the biggest win of his career and move into **** le contention. The Canadian entered the bout riding a seven-fight winning streak.
O'Malley took the center of the octagon and pressured Zahabi. He landed to t he body with a right hand. Zahabi pressed forward and delivered a leg kick. O'Malley continued to target Zahabi's body. O'Mally dictated the pace through the first half of the round. He switched stances. Zahabi connected with a leg kick. He rushed forward with another inside leg kick. O'Malley responded with a right hand to the body. Zahabi connected with a left hook. The crowd began changing, 'USA, USA.' O'Malley landed a left hand followed by a right. He connected with a combination late in the frame. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for O'Malley.
O'Malley pressed forward in the second. Zahabi landed two leg kicks followed by a right hand. O'Malley doubled up on his jab and followed with a left. Zahabi rushes in with a leg kick. He continued to target O'Malley's legs. O'Malley met Zahabi with a left hand as he moved into the pocket. O'Malley delivered a combination. Zahabi answered with leg kicks. The leg kicks from Zahabi began adding up. O'Malleuy responded with a right hand. A left hand knocked Zahabi down. He tried to get up and was hit again and O'Malley walked off and saluted.
The official time of the TKO win was 4:09 of the second round.
