Santiago Ponzinibbio releases statement after suffering KO loss in return at UFC on ABC 1

Santiago Ponzinibbio’s return to MMA didn’t go as planned.

The Argentine returned to action at UFC on ABC 1 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi after a layoff of more than two years. Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who hadn’t competed since November 2018, suffered a first-round knockout loss to Li Jingliang.

It was an unfortunate result for Ponzinibbio, who was more than a 3-1 favorite in the fight. He was coming back from an infection that almost cost his life; a broken toe; and a month’s worth of positive tests for COVID-19. It was a long road back for the 34-year-old, who was looking to make a big statement in his return.

“I have no words to describe the sadness I feel,” Ponzinibbio wrote on Instagram. “I wanted to return giving a victory, you deserve it for so much support. I worked very hard for this event, a whole year of preparation but this sport is like that, there is a part out of control, a blow that comes in and everything ends. I want to thank all the messages and the love of always! All my life I forged it on adversity, this time it will be no different. I’m coming back stronger than ever.”

A post shared by Santiago Ponzinibbio (@sponzinibbiomma)

The defeat to Jingliang snapped a seven-fight winning streak for Ponzinibbio.  Prior to his career coming to a halt in 2018, Ponzinibbio was ranked in the top 10 of the UFC’s official welterweight rankings.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/santiago-ponzinibbio-statement-knockout-loss-ufc-on-abc-1

 

After at times ‘impeccable’ first UFC win, Vanessa Melo hopes for one particular food reward

ABU DHABI – Vanessa Melo beat Sarah Moras with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ABC 1 in Abu Dhabi.

Take a look inside the fight with Melo, who picked up her first UFC win after an 0-3 start.

Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras

Result: Vanessa Melo def. Sarah Moras via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Melo (11-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC), Moras (6-7 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Key stat: Moras threw 200 strikes, but landed at only a 22 percent clip.

Melo on the fight’s key moment

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Vanessa Melo of Brazil punches Sarah Moras of Canada in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I think I controlled all three rounds (and) dominated the cage. She threw a lot of punches, but I barely got hit. I connected more. I think my performance was impeccable at times and I’m going to continue growing. I’m going to come in here and bring more victories for Brazil.”

Melo on fighting in front of fans again

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Sarah Moras of Canada punches Vanessa Melo of Brazil in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m honored to be here. (It) was an honor to be on the first ‘Fight Island’ (card of 2021), an honor to be here with the fans for the first time. It’s not that many fans, but it’s nice – it’s a new beginning for the UFC and everyone. I can’t wait to get home to my daughter and my family now. I’m sure there’s a lasagna waiting for me.”

Melo on what she wants next

“I feel really happy and honored to get my first UFC win. I can’t even explain how happy I am. I just want to keep evolving, train harder and keep growing.”

To hear more from Melo, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

, , , , News, UFC, Videos

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/vanessa-melo-wants-lasagna-ufc-on-abc-1-video

 

UFC 257 Countdown: Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler

Dan Hooker welcomes Michael Chandler to the UFC in the co-main event of UFC 257 on Saturday, January 23. Watch these two athletes prepare for their bout.

UFC 257 will be Chandler’s UFC debut. The former three-time Bellator MMA lightweight champion didn’t get an easy match in his octagon debut.

Hooker is ranked No. 6 in the lightweight division. It’s a fight that moves Hooker closer to a title fight, or a fight that puts Chandler into contender status.

TRENDING UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor will determine Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fighting future

(Courtesy of UFC)


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-257-countdown-dan-hooker-vs-michael-chandler

 

UFC 257 Countdown: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2

UFC 257 Countdown features the return of “Notorious,” as former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor prepares to take on former interim champ Dustin Poirier, who seeks vengeance, in a rematch six years removed from their first contest.

The two first fought at UFC 178 in September 2014. McGregor stopped Poirier in the first round, but both men are different fighters than they were in 2014.

UFC 257 is the first pay-per-view event for the fight promotion this year. It’s the final of three events in eight days at the newly built Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

TRENDING UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor will determine Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fighting future

(Courtesy of UFC)


Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-257-countdown-dustin-poirier-vs-conor-mcgregor-2

 

Conor McGregor says Khabib Nurmagomedov is avoiding rematch: ‘He’s afraid to fight me’

Conor McGregor thinks there’s a lot more to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement.

The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion questions Nurmagomedov’s decision to walk away from the sport and says a lot has to do with avoiding a potential rematch between the two.

Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) hung up his gloves after defending his belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. “The Eagle” cited a promise made to his mother to stop fighting following the death of his father, coach and mentor Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, earlier in 2020, as the reason he was no longer going to continue in MMA.

McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) thinks there’s more to that decision.

“I think he’s afraid to fight me, that’s for damn sure,” McGregor told ESPN. “I don’t blame him. I know exactly what to face. I fought the best of him that night and he fought the worst of me that night. He knows it, I know it, his team knows it.

“I have the answer to destroy that man. He can pull the wool over people’s eyes only for so long, but it is what it is. I know there’s surrounding things regarding the family. If he’s retired then that’s it I wish him well. But I am who I am and I’m at the top and time will show.”

McGregor returns to the octagon Saturday against Dustin Poirier in a lightweight bout. The rematch headlines UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought in 2018 at UFC 229. Nurmagomedov submitted the Irishman in the fourth round in a dominant showing. Right after the bout, a brawl erupted between the two teams that resulted in multiple suspensions.

McGregor doesn’t understand Nurmagomedov’s decision to retire from MMA. Even if it’s not for a rematch against him, McGregor thinks there are many challenges left at 155 pounds.

“I think his hand is showing he’s not a true fighter, in my opinion,” McGregor said. “I mean how could you retire? How could you walk away? There’s so many fights to be had.

“Think of (Nate) Diaz, (Tony) Ferguson, there’s (Charles) Oliveira, the rematch with me. I think it’s just preposterous to walk away. Not only did he (expletive) on the bus, I think he (expletive) on the chips, also. I think he showed his hand, but then at the same time, there’s family issues. So it is what it is. All the best.”

Nurmagomedov told UFC president Dana White he could be interested in coming back to the sport depending on what happens in the lightweight bouts going down at UFC 257. Apart from McGregor vs. Poirier 2, former Bellator champion Michael Chandler makes his UFC debut against Dan Hooker. There’s also top contender Charles Oliveira who’s coming off a dominant win against Tony Ferguson.

McGregor wants the Nurmagomedov rematch, but he’s not losing any sleep over it.

“I’m here for it. I would like it,” McGregor said. “But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I wonder what he’s going to say. Like I said, he can only pull wool over someone’s eyes for so long.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/conor-mcgregor-says-khabib-nurmagomedov-avoiding-rematch-afraid-to-fight-me-ufc-257

 

 

House of Nutrition

 

WELCOME


*** READ ME ***

Welcome to FightFan.net. Your home for local combat sports news and info. Be sure to set up your account for full access. Its EASY. Click the “register” link above. Fill in your name and email. We’ll send a funky password to your email. You log in to your account and set up something not so funky. Oh yeah, and when you’re ready to come back and start checking everything out, just click the “Your home for local combat sports” link at the top of the page. That's it, you’re a member! Tons of stuff to check out, so get after it.