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UFC 256 Fight Motion: Check out Fight and Knockout of the Year candidates in super slo-mo

Though UFC 256 underwent numerous changes both en route to Fight Week and during fight week, the fighters that made it all the way to the finish line delivered.

The late-notice main event between men’s flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and No. 1 ranked challenger Brandon Moreno delivered a Fight of the Year contender, while Kevin Holland left us with a Knockout of the Year candidate.

Check out the UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno highlights in super slow motion.

(Video courtesy of UFC)

UFC 256: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira fight recap and highlights

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-256-fight-motion-check-out-fight-and-knockout-of-the-year-candidates-in-super-slo-mo

Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader rematch set – as grappling bout – for SUG 19

Ryan Bader and Anthony Johnson are set to run it back, but it won’t be in the Bellator cage.

Bader, the current Bellator heavyweight champion, has agreed to replace Fabricio Werdum against Johnson at Sunday’s Submission Underground 19 grappling event, which streams on UFC Fight Pass.

Chael Sonnen, who serves as the promoter of the event, announced the switch on Tuesday (via Twitter):

Bader steps in to face RUMBLE on 5 days notice!
SUG ISLAND is real and coming this Sunday only on @ufcfightpas pic.twitter.com/4SPH4wZNbJ

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) December 15, 2020

“Rumble” joined Bellator this month after a mutually agreed upon split from his UFC contract. UFC president Dana White played coy when asked why the two sides parted ways, but indicated that Johnson still wanted to be with UFC.

Nevertheless, he signed with Bellator, with his MMA return set to come in the first half of 2021 after roughly four years of retirement. First, though, he will meet Bader – who is just one fight removed from losing the Bellator 205-pound title and double champ status – in the grappling matchup.

It won’t be the first time the pair have crossed paths in a competitive setting. Johnson scored an 86-second knockout of Bader at UFC on FOX 18 in January 2016.

Bader shot for an early takedown in the bout, only to have it stuffed by Johnson, who proceeded to batter him into unconsciousness.

It’s possible a true MMA rematch could come under the Bellator banner in the future, but first they’ll get a taste in a grappling-only setting.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ryan-bader-vs-anthony-johnson-booked-grappling-bout-submission-underground-19

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dec. 15: Big moves for Juliana Velasquez, Charles Oliveira

The rankings take into account a fighter’s wins/losses, quality of competition, finishing rate/dominance and frequency of fights.

Fighters are no longer eligible to be ranked after they’ve been inactive for 24 months, either due to injuries, drug/conduct suspensions, contract disputes or self-imposed hiatuses.

Fighters serving drug/conduct suspensions are eligible to be ranked, so long as they’re not inactive for more than 24 months.

To the best of our ability, fighters will be ranked in their primary weight class. Catchweight fights and bouts outside the fighter’s primary weight class can have a positive or negative impact on the ranking. However, non-titleholders can be ranked in only one weight class at a given time, and in most cases, they won’t be ranked in a new weight class until they’ve had their first fight at that weight.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/juliana-velasquez-bellator-charles-oliveira-ufc-big-moves-mma-rankings

UFC 256 reactions: Winners, losers and the title-fight draw on social media

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and, perhaps most importantly, social-media platforms.

Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s UFC 256 event in Las Vegas, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.

The defeated

The defeated: Peter Barrett

A post shared by Welcome To SlipperysWorld (@slippery_pete145)

The defeated: Billy Quarantillo

A post shared by Billy Quarantillo (@billyqmma)

The defeated: Renato Moicano

A post shared by Renato Moicano – UFC (@renato_moicano_ufc)

The defeated: Ronaldo Souza

A post shared by Ronaldo “Jacaré” 🐊 Souza (@ronaldojacare)

The defeated: Virna Jandiroba

A post shared by Virna Jandiroba 🔹 (@virnajandiroba)

The defeated: Tony Ferguson

A post shared by @TonyFergusonxt (@tonyfergusonxt)

The victorious

The victorious: Chase Hooper

A post shared by Chase Hooper (@choop556)

The victorious: Tecia Torres

A post shared by Tecia Torres (@teciatorres)

The victorious: Gavin Tucker

A post shared by Gavin tucker (@g__tuck)

The victorious: Cub Swanson

A post shared by Cub Swanson (@cubswanson)

The victorious: Ciryl Gane

A post shared by Real.C “BON GAMIN” (@ciryl_gane)

The victorious: Kevin Holland

A post shared by kevin holland (@trailblaze2top)

The victorious: Mackenzie Dern

A post shared by Mackenzie Dern 🇺🇸🇧🇷 (@mackenziedern)

The victorious: Charles Oliveira

A post shared by Charles Oliveira (@charlesdobronxs)

The draw

The draw: Deiveson Figueiredo

A post shared by Deiveson Figueiredo (@daico_deusdaguerra)

The draw: Brandon Moreno

A post shared by Brandon Moreno (@theassassinbaby)

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-256-reactions-winning-losing-fighters-social-media

Bellator signs Darina Madzyuk, woman who finished 529-pound man in viral video

All it took was Darina Madzyuk finishing a 529-pound with strikes to get her into a major MMA promotion.

The victor of one of the most viral videos of 2020, Madzyuk (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed a multifight contract with Bellator, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie on Tuesday.

The signing was first reported by Barstool Sports.

Darina Madzyuk found a way to finish 529-pound Grigory Christyakov. (YouTube)

Madzyuk, who weighed in at 139 pounds for the openweight fight, competed against Grigory Christyakov, a 529-pound male, in Russia. Less than halfway through the opening three-minute round, Madzyuk finished Christyakov with a barrage of punches after getting the fight to the mat. The video blew up on social media, extending outside the MMA news bubble.

Besides the viral mismatch win, Madzyuk, 28, has compiled a 3-1 professional record. Madzyuk has competed at openweight, lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight. She rides a two-fight winning streak and holds one TKO victory in three wins.

Bellator has not revealed plans for her debut at this time.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/mma-news-bellator-signs-woman-who-finished-529-pound-man

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