Curtis Blaydes

Blaydes’ four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied with Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane and Marcin Tybura for the longest active streak in the division.

Blaydes’ 59 takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Blaydes’ 14 takedowns landed against Alexander Volkov at UFC on ESPN 11 is the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight bout.

Blaydes’ 14 takedowns landed are tied for the third most in a single UFC fight behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (21 at UFC 160) and Sean Sherk (16 at UFC 73).

Blaydes has achieved 59:44 of top control time in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.

Blaydes completes 55.7 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Cheick Kongo (63.2 percent).

Blaydes’ takedown rate of 6.98 per 15 minutes of fighting is fourth highest in UFC history behind Merab Dvalishvili (7.71), Bartosz Fabinski (7.08) and Gregor Gillespie (7.02).

Blaydes’ three knockout victories stemming from elbow strikes in UFC competition are tied with Paul Felder for most in company history.

Derrick Lewis

Lewis makes his 21st UFC heavyweight appearance since 2014, the most in the division and second most fights on the roster behind Donald Cerrone (25).

Lewis’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Junior Dos Santos for third most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (19) and Frank Mir (16).

Lewis’ 11 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Arlovski, Gabriel Gonzaga and Stefan Struve for second most in divisional history behind Mir (13),

Lewis’ 11 knockout victories in UFC competition are tied for second most in company history behind Vitor Belfort (12).

Lewis’ 11 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Lewis’ 11 knockout victories in UFC competition since 2014 are tied with Thiago Santos for most among active fighters in the organization.

Lewis’ seven knockouts stemming from ground strikes in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Cain Velasquez (eight).

Lewis is the only fighter in history to have his first eight UFC bouts end in a knockout.

Lewis’ knockout of Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 despite a -82 significant strike differential marked the greatest statistical striking comeback in UFC history.

Lewis and Francis Ngannou combined for 31 total strikes landed at UFC 226, the second fewest in a three-round UFC fight that went the distance behind Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque (23) at UFC 26 in June 2000.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-185-pre-facts-andrei-arlovski-stats-records

With LFA firm in its position as one of MMA’s top feeder leagues, the organization is now set on international recognition.

Ahead of the company’s landmark 100th event, which takes place Friday in Kansas and streams live on UFC Fight Pass, LFA CEO said he’s targeting a series of events in Brazil later this year and eyes further expansion, as well.

“I think one of the biggest things that we’re really focused on this year is expanding internationally,” Soares told MMA Junkie. “I think we’re going to do maybe two to four shows internationally, and we’re looking to expand to Brazil in 2021 – and then even looking further than that, I would love to maybe even eventually expand and do international shows in Europe. Maybe that’s not until 2022, but 2021, we have plans of taking LFA international to Brazil, so I’m really excited about that.

“I understand people and ‘regional promotions,’ but I don’t really look at us as a regional promotion. We’re more of a national promotion now, and when we go to Brazil, we’re going to be an international promotion. That’s what I’m focused on, just keep building the LFA better and better.”

Even in a pandemic-stricken 2020, Soares said LFA sent 48 athletes to the UFC and another 14 to Bellator. The longtime MMA manager – who has guided the careers of legends such as Jose Aldo, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Anderson Silva and others – said his experience at the highest level of the sport is what drove him to his current role, where he enjoys prepping fighters for opportunities in promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, PFL and ONE Championship.

“That really came from being a manager myself and realizing that these guys were going from fighting in a high school gymnasium in front of 500 people and then two weeks later they get the phone call to fight in the UFC, and they’re walking out in the Staples Center with 15,000 people,” Soares said. “So I really felt that they needed to develop, not only inside the octagon as fighters, but also outside the octagon, learning what it’s like to have cameras on you, lights, doing interviews, having media commitments, so when someone puts a mic in your face when you get to that point, you’re not going to be stumped and be frazzled by it.”

At this point, earning an LFA title is all but a guarantee to get an offer from the big show, and at LFA 100, that opportunity falls to longtime LFA flyweight Victor Altamirano (8-1) and Dana White’s Contender Series vet Nate Smith (6-1), who challenge for the promotions’ vacant flyweight belt.

Soares said Altamirano is the perfect example of a homegrown LFA athlete that the organization is set on developing.

“He fought on LFA 1 as an amateur, and here he is fighting as the main event at LFA 100, and that in itself is a cool story,” Soares said. “To be a part of these guys lives and to help them get to the next level, honestly, it gives me so much fulfillment to see their success, and the way I look at it is if I were to look at a fighter, and they were to be a block wall, and the LFA could be a few of those blocks that help them build that wall of success, that’s what we want to be, and not only are we going to be a part of that wall, we’re like a fraternity. Once you fight for us, you’re with us. We’re going to promote you and help you. That’s how we like to do it.”

It hasn’t been all smoother sailing ahead of LFA 100, Soares said. With inclement weather impacting travel across the country, the organization has been forced to scramble a bit to keep its lineup intact, and a few planned bouts were scrapped or filled with late replacements. But Soares said he remains happy with the lineup and is looking forward to continued growth well beyond Friday’s centennial card.

“I feel very confident that the next Anderson Silva, the next Conor McGregor, the next whoever may be the big superstar, there’s a pretty big chance that it’s going to be coming through the LFA,” Soares said. “So to me, I just look at as if you’re a fan of the sport, why not tune in? Why not tune in to watch it, because really, our fights are super exciting.

“These guys understand what the LFA is there for. They understand that there’s a platform for them to be able to show their skills on, and it’s a platform that’s making it available to them 24 times a year. So why wouldn’t I give it my all when I go out there, and that’s the kind of feeling that we get from the fighters. It’s exciting.”

To hear the full interview with Soares, check out the video below.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/lfa-ed-soares-celebrates-100th-event-eyes-international-expansion

Derrick Lewis set the UFC record back in August for most heavyweight knockouts with 11 after finishing Aleksei Oleinik. Lewis looks to build on that record and his current three-fight win streak when he faces Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Vegas 19 on Saturday, February 20.

Lewis enters Saturday’s main event ranked No. 4 in the heavyweight division. Blaydes sits in the No. 2 slot, and the winner will have a strong argument to be next in line for a title shot.

TRENDING UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve announces retirement

(Courtesy of UFC)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-derrick-lewis-flatten-aleksei-oleinik-ufc-vegas-19-free-fight

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is one of the most storied fighters in UFC history.

In his “Year of the Fighter,” Holloway takes us through the most momentous year of his career, winning his first three title fights at just 25 years old and landing a movie role, while keeping grateful and grounded along the way.

(Courtesy of UFC)

TRENDING Georges St-Pierre addresses potential UFC return to fight Kamaru Usman

Flashback UFC 240: Max Holloway vs Frankie Edgar Recap

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/max-holloway-takes-us-through-his-ufc-year-of-the-fighter

Jake Paul promises he’s not taking Ben Askren lightly.

Paul, a YouTube personality, actor and rapper who has transitioned to the boxing world and instantly become a polarizing figure, is scheduled to clash with former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Askren in an eight-round bout under the Triller banner on April 17. A location for the event has not been disclosed.

Due to his previous life before combat sports and the antics he’s displayed since coming over, Paul has gained a reputation for being brash and outright ridiculous. He’s poked his fun at Askren since the fight was announced, and Askren has engaged with him right back.

Paul can honestly admit that’s all just promotional fodder, though. He said he’s training hard behind the scenes and is well aware that no matter what approach he takes, he’s not going to be able to get to Askren mentally off-track before they step in the ring.

“I don’t think Ben Askren is the type of guy to have any mental weakness at all,” Paul told MMA Junkie. “He’s going to go into the fight completely confident. He’s going to be focused in on what he’s going to do. I know he’s the type of guy that likes the sh*t talk, that likes the joking. I think the content that he’s posting is funny, as well. He’s funny. He’s got a good personality. There’s still going to be a lot of sh*t talk back and forth. I don’t hate the guy, but he’s going to get his ass kicked, and he looks like a middle aged Dutch woman. I like to make fun of him.

“His striking ability sucks. He punches like a 4th grader. So there’s going to be the sh*t talk in the build up, but I’m not doing any of it to get into his head. He’s gone up against championship opponents. The Robbie Lawlers, the Demian Maias, the Jorge Masvidals – I don’t think any of those guys got into his head at all. I don’t think Ben is scared. But guess what? You don’t have to be scared of someone to get your ass kicked. He can be as prepared as he wants and as mentally ready as he wants, but the outcome will still remain the same.”

Paul is adamant he’s preparing himself accordingly to step in the ring with Askren, who will be making his professional boxing debut. In additional to standard boxing training, Paul said he relocated his camp to Miami because of the higher density of MMA fighters in South Florida who can help him get ready for the non-traditional look Askren may bring.

One of those fighters is Jorge Masvidal, who unforgettably finished Askren with the quickest knockout in UFC history with a five-second flying knee at UFC 239 in July 2019.

Masvidal may not have got much time in the octagon to feel out all of Askren’s game, but Paul said “Gamebred” offered valuable insight as to what’s coming his way.

“(Masvidal) said, ‘Look, Ben is going to try to hang onto you and wrestle you and clinch you and try to wear you out,’” Paul said. “We were just working on clinch drills and fighting on the inside, and he was trying to show me how to knock out Ben faster than he did. So, we’ll see what happens. I might go running at Ben right in the first two seconds to try to break (Masvidal’s record). But Masvidal is great. He’s very supporting. He’s always been my homie and supported me, and that goes both ways. I’m excited to see if I can knock out Ben faster than Masvidal.”

Although Paul claims he has big respect for Askren, he’s made no secret a fast win is in his mind. Askren, for his part, has predicted a seventh-round TKO in the fight, but Paul doesn’t see it going anywhere near that long.

For Askren, the fight will mark a return to competition after he retired from MMA in early 2020. He underwent a hip replacement surgery in the time since and told MMA Junkie in January that his motivation for fighting Paul was simply to make money and get himself back in top shape.

Askren said he’s getting a lot of support going into the match, as well. He recently revealed he would soon be training with famed boxing coach Freddie Roach and will also have good friend and former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in his corner when he faces Paul.

None of that changes what Paul thinks will happen when they step in the ring together, though.

“I’m expecting a quick knockout,” Paul said. “I don’t see him making it out of the first round. I know he’s tough. I know he’s going to work hard. He can get whoever he wants to train him. People forget that Floyd Mayweather was calling Nate Robinson almost every day to give him tips and advice on boxing, and guess what? Floyd’s not getting in the ring. Freddie Roach is not getting in the ring for Ben. Tyron Woodley isn’t getting in the ring for Ben, and by the way if he did, I would beat the sh*t out of Tyron Woodley. It’s a loser training another loser. He can get whoever he wants. It’s still going to be a quick night. He can train as hard as he wants. It doesn’t matter. My athleticism, my speed, my power, my accuracy is too much for these guys to handle.”

It may sound like a cocky prediction from Paul, but he said it all stems from confidence in his own abilities. Paul only has a mere two boxing bouts on his resume. However, he’s still certain Askren can’t hang with him.

“This guy is 19-2 (in MMA), he has less losses than (Conor) McGregor, he’s a two-time NCAA Division wrestling champion, he’s an Olympic athlete,” Paul said of Askren. “I wanted to challenge myself. I know this is a serious opponent. It’s going to be a movie. Eventually I want to fight Conor McGregor – I want to show the MMA world, ‘Be careful before you come over here and try to box us.’ You saw what Floyd did to McGregor. You’re going to see what I do to Askren.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/jake-paul-serious-opponent-ben-askren-will-get-knocked-out-quick-in-boxing-match