ABU DHABI – Punahele Soriano spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the UFC on ABC 1 event.

Soriano (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) discussed his middleweight bout with Dusko Todorovic (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), returning from a long layoff, Dana White hyping his fight and more.

UFC on ABC 1 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

Watch the complete video of Soriano’s media day appearance above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-abc-1-punahele-soriano-hopes-to-make-up-lost-time-return-injury

ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ABC 1 weigh-ins, which kick off at 4 a.m. ET (1 a.m. PT) at the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Etihad Arena hosts Saturday’s card, which has a main card on ABC and ESPN+, with prelims on ESPN+.

Among those weighing in are former featherweight champion Max Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC) and Calvin Kattar (22-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who meet in the main event, as well as Matt Brown (22-17 MMA, 15-11 UFC) and Carlos Condit (31-13 MMA, 8-9 UFC), who fight in the welterweight co-feature.

Complete UFC on ABC 1 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

• Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
• Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
• Li Jingliang vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
• Joaquin Buckley vs. Alessio Di Chirico
• Punahele Soriano vs. Dusko Todorovic

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, noon ET)

• Phil Hawes vs. Nassourdine Imavov
• Joselyne Edwards vs. Wu Yanan
• Carlos Felipe vs. Justin Tafa
• Ramazan Emeev vs. David Zawada
• Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras
• Jacob Kilburn vs. Austin Lingo

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-abc-1-holloway-vs-kattar-weigh-ins-results

Max Holloway

Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC) has lost three of his past four fights, but not all 1-3 stretches are created equal.

At UFC 236, Holloway, as featherweight champion, went up in weight and endured five rounds before losing a decision to Dustin Poirier in an interim title fight. At UFC 240, he defeated Frankie Edgar in a title defense. At UFC 245, he suffered a clear-cut loss to Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision. At UFC 251, Volkanovski won a highly controversial split decision, as many – including this reporter – felt Holloway won the fight.

A 1-3 under these circumstances, fighting the best competition in the world, going the distance in each fight, and arguably getting robbed in one, is a whole lot different than a fighter losing three of four and looking like they’re done.

But this still doesn’t mitigate the cold facts of the situation: Volkanovski is still the champ; Holloway will have a long road back as long as that’s the case, and the competition isn’t getting any easier. Kattar (22-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is on a tear, and as such, Holloway’s first non-title fight since 2016 should serve as a gauge as to whether he’ll get to another shot.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-abc-1-holloway-vs-kattar-5-burning-questions

While the first part of 2020 was not as productive as it could have been for strawweight Loveth Young with a loss in January to Vanessa Demopoulos at LFA 81 followed by the Covid-19 lockdown, the end of the year went decidedly better.

In her second bout of 2020, Young picked up a devastating first round TKO of Reena Norville at LFA 94 in October to get things back on track and build momentum heading into 2021.

“It was kind of a rough year for everybody, including me,” Young told MMAWeekly.com. “Covid brought down everything, but to go out with glory at the end of the year had me happy for sure. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I was very focused and very happy with my (fight) performances but I want to do more. I’m very focused. I’m very organized in what I do. I hope to stay focused to the end. That’s it. I did great.”

Young is looking to build off the positive energy she ended 2020 with and have what could very well be a breakout year for herself in 2021.

“Everything in life is an opportuniy,” said Young. “It’s the ability to go out there and give them what they’re looking for; to make the organization happy, to make the fans happy; that’s what I’m looking for. I’m very happy with where I’m at.

“Compared to last year we had just two fights, so this year I think is going to be better. The training camps, the opportunities, everything is coming together. This is going to be a better year for all of us.”

This Friday in P ark City, Kansas, Young (2-1-1) will look to build a winning streak for herself when she faces Kelly D’Angelo (4-3) in a 115-pound main card bout at LFA 97.

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“Every opponent is different, and like I’ve said I don’t underestimate anybody, anybody who steps into the cage to fight has the ability to believe they’re going to win,” Young said.

“Everybody who comes to fight me knows they are not coming to play. They know who they are coming to face. I’m not underestimating (D’Angelo). I know she’s coming prepared. I’m coming prepared too.”

Following just two bouts in 2020, Young is looking forward to having a hopefully more productive year in 2021.

“I want to keep myself busy,” said Young. “When this fight is over I’m on to the next fight. When they call me I’m going to stay ready and be ready to go – that’s it.”

LFA 97 Preview

(Video courtesy of LFA)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/loveth-young-coming-prepared-at-lfa-97-on-friday

UFC president Dana White wants to see what Conor McGregor can accomplish being fully dedicated to mixed martial arts in 2021, but it appears the Irish superstar may not be ready to commit wholly to MMA this year.

McGregor in 2020 teased a boxing match opposite Manny Pacquiao. Having done the same with Floyd Mayweather and basically willing that bout into existence, people took him seriously.

White is certainly taking him seriously, but still hopes to convince his top star to dedicate himself to the Octagon in 2021, saying of the boxing bouts, “those will always be there” for McGregor.

Though he’s non-committal to either route, McGregor believes that his return to boxing is likely to happen this year.

“I know the talks are intensifying for this year. I am excited for a Manny Pacquiao bout. It’s looking like it will take place this year. What time this year, I’m not sure,” McGregor said in a TheMacLife.com interview.

“We’re gonna have to have some good discussions with Dana and with the guys and the UFC after and see where it goes. What’s there; what do we want? I am open to it all. I am ready for it all.”

If Conor McGregor returns to boxing, he could quickly get a title shot

There has even been recent chatter from the boxing world that McGregor could quickly find his way into a championship boxing bout.

Mauricio Sulaiman, president of boxing’s WBC sanctioning body, recently told SunSport how McGregor could get ranked and a subsequent title fight.

“I would say he needs to face and defeat a ranked fighter, then he would be eligible to be ranked and to compete for a title,” said Sulaiman.

“Because we have plenty of examples of Muay Thai fighters who turn professional in international boxing and they are eligible to fight for the title.

“We also have amateur superstars like Vasiliy Lomachenko, they come into professional boxing and fight for the title and it’s proven it works.”

That, of course, is something that piques McGregor’s interest. Having been a two-division champion first under the Cage Warriors banner and then in the UFC, he would build on his claims of greatness by adding a world championship in boxing to his resume.

It’s something that he promises to do before he calls it a career as a competitive combat sports athlete.

“I appreciate them comments by Sulaiman,” said McGregor.

“I will certainly attain a boxing world title before I call it a day and I’d be very excited to do that again Emmanuel Pacquiao.”

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/conor-mcgregor-believes-manny-pacquiao-boxing-match-likely-in-2021