Tony Ferguson

Ferguson has earned 21 of his 25 career victories by stoppage. That includes 11 of his 15 UFC wins.

Ferguson’s 10 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13) and Jim Miller (12).

Ferguson’s three D’Arce-choke victories in UFC competition are the most in company history.

Ferguson is one of two fighters in UFC history to win a title fight by triangle choke. He did so against Kevin Lee at UFC 216. Anderson Silva also accomplished the feat against Chael Sonnen at UFC 117.

Ferguson has been awarded a fight-night bonus in eight of his past nine UFC appearances.

Charles Oliveira

Oliveira is 8-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division April 2017. He’s 10-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.

Oliveira’s average fight time of 5:15 in UFC lightweight competition is the second shortest in divisional history behind Manny Gamburyan (4:45).

Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC stoppage streak is the longest active streak in the company.

Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Chuck Liddell for second longest in modern company history behind A. Silva (eight).

Oliveira’s 16 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for most in company history.

Oliveira’s 14 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Oliveira’s eight submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Miller (nine).

Oliveira’s six submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Oliveira’s five guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple submission victories via anaconda choke. Phil Davis also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with six different techniques. Frank Mir also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a calf-slicer submission victory. Brett Johns also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira has been awarded 16 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the second most in company history behind Cerrone (18).

Oliveira has been awarded 10 “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.

Oliveira is the only fighter in UFC history to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses in two separate divisions.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-256-pre-event-facts-charles-oliveira-records-history-most-finishes-ever

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane heads into Uncasville this week looking to make it five title defenses in a row, but she faces arguably the toughest test of her title reign in the form of fellow undefeated fighter Juliana Velasquez.

Macfarlane (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) has been virtually flawless during her championship reign since capturing the vacant title with a win over Emily Ducote at Bellator 186 back in November 2011.

Since winning the title, she’s submitted Alejandra Lara and Valerie Letourneau, scored a TKO finish of Veta Arteaga and outworked Kate Jackson as she extended her perfect professional record into double figures.

While Macfarlane was building her reign at the top of the division, Brazil’s Velasquez (10-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) was building momentum of her own as a potential future challenger to the Hawaiian’s throne.

Victories over Na Liang, Rebecca Ruth, Lara, Kristina Williams and Bruna Ellen took her record to 10-0 and, with a comparable unbeaten record to the champion, the time was right for the pair to meet for the title.

Both are brimming with confidence and neither woman has tasted defeat inside the cage. Barring a freak result, one of them will lose their “0” on Thursday night.

Who’ll keep their unbeaten record and head into the new year with the title, and who could find themselves having to fight through a rumored flyweight grand prix tournament to earn their next shot at gold in 2021?

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/bellator-254-burning-questions-ilima-lei-macfarlane-juliana-velasquez

Deiveson Figueiredo thinks a matchup with Henry Cejudo could be in his future if he successfully defends his flyweight title in the UFC 256 main event.

Figueiredo (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is set to put his title on the line for the second time in 21 days when he meets Brandon Moreno (18-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

After submitting Alex Perez in the first round at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, Figueiredo agreed to get right back in the octagon for the clash with Moreno. The former titleholder, Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), has poked fun at the sidelines, saying Figueiredo is merely “babysitting” the strap for him.

That irked Figueiredo, who issued a response.

“Cejudo’s a masked clown,” Figueiredo told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter during UFC 256 virtual media day on Thursday. “I can’t wait for him to step in front of me so I can knock that mask off his face.”

While it remains to be seen if a clash with Cejudo is in his future, the present is all about his encounter with Moreno, and trying to make history in the process.

Figueiredo stayed in Las Vegas after his win over Perez, and said he’s maintained his focus and discipline in the short stretch between fights. He said he currently weighs about 132 pounds, and has used his time to come up with a “very strategic” game plan for Moreno.

It hasn’t been difficult at all for Figueiredo find motivation for this fight, he said, especially because Moreno has added fuel to the fire.

“Brandon’s a guy that asked to fight me since the (Joseph) Benavidez fight,” Figueiredo said. “That’s something that irritated and bothered me a little bit, so if he’s asking to fight me then we’ll get in the octagon and he can fight with me.”

The current record for fastest turnaround between successful UFC title defenses currently stands at 56 days, and is shared by Matt Hughes and Ronda Rousey. There’s a chance for Figueiredo to blow that mark out of the water.

If Figueiredo does pull off the victory, he would have a significant case for the 2020 “Fighter of the Year,” having finished Benavidez twice before kicking off his title reign in legendary fashion.

It’s a moment in time that makes Figueiredo grateful, he said, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to stop pushing to expand his legacy.

“To win again and take two belts home to Brazil and relax with my family – thinking about that makes me feel very proud of myself,” Figueiredo said. “I want to really dominate my division, I want to make history. But I’m fully open to having a super fight at 135, and I hope this happens soon.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-deiveson-figueiredo-proud-history-warns-henry-cejudo

By MMA Junkie Staff
December 9, 2020 5:14 pm

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Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/gallery/photos-bellator-254-weigh-ins-and-faceoffs

Ronaldo Souza  is not concerned about his standing with the UFC.

The longtime middleweight contender doesn’t think his job with the Las Vegas-based promotion will be on the line on Saturday night when he takes on Kevin Holland at UFC 256.

There’s been plenty of speculation on which fighters could potentially lose their job with the UFC before the year’s end, as UFC president Dana White told the media the organization was planning to cut 60 fighters from their inflated roster.

One of the recent casualties was top contender Yoel Romero, a man to whom Souza (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) once lost. Like Romero, Souza is in his 40s and coming off losses.

Yet despite the similarities, the 41-year-old Souza is says his situation is much different than Romero’s.

“No, for me it’s normal, I’m in a different situation,” Souza told reporters Wednesday at the UFC 256 virtual media day. “I have a fight coming up, Romero turned down many fights and many events because he couldn’t fight. So I’m in a different situation, but I’m ready for whatever the UFC puts in front (of me).

“I’m working, I did a very hard and good training camp and I’m going to show to the UFC and everyone who I am and the champ.”

Souza was originally scheduled to take on Marvin Vettori at UFC 256. Vettori ended up fighting a week earlier against Jack Hermansson and Holland was moved back a week to meet Souza as he was unable to compete earlier due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Swapping Vettori for Holland is a big style change, but Souza is ready to prove he still belongs among the best middleweights in the world.

“Vettori is left handed, Holland is a right handed,” Souza said. “Vettori has short arms, Holland is a tall, long guy, but I did a very hard training camp for this guy. I brought big guys that helped me so I trained gard. I’m ready to fight against Holland. Lets go.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-jacare-souza-not-concerned-ufc-cuts-different-than-yoel-romero