UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Ronny Markes spoke with MMA Junkie on Tuesday ahead of his fight at Bellator 254.

Markes (19-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) discussed his matchup with Linton Vassell and why he likes it, how he’s more than ready after an 18-month layoff, and more.

Watch the full pre-fight interview with Markes above.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/after-long-layoff-and-some-bad-luck-bellator-254s-ronny-markes-eager-to-fight

The UFC has matched up two of its bantamweight up-and-comers.

The promotion is close to finalizing a fight between Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 standout Adrian Yanez and former Combate Americas bantamweight champion Gustavo Lopez for the March 20 event.

At this time, the card doesn’t have a publicly known location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking Monday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Island was the first to report the news.

Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) burst into the national spotlight in August with a 39-second, UFC-contract-earning knockout of Brady Huang on DWCS. On Oct. 31, Yanez made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 181. Yanez picked up his second-straight violent knockout against fellow newcomer Victor Rodriguez, who he headkicked en route to a first-round finish.

Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) made his UFC debut in June when he stepped in on days’ notice to fight surging bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili. Though he lost that fight by unanimous decision, Lopez returned Nov. 7 to submit Anthony Birchak in under three minutes.

With the addition, the March 20 lineup includes:

• Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan
• Gustavo Lopez vs. Adrian Yanez

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-news-adrian-yanez-vs-gustavo-lopez-march-20

Brandon Moreno’s first TKO win in the UFC came with a big prize.

Moreno (18-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) stopped Brandon Royval in the first round of their Nov. 21 flyweight bout at UFC 255 in Las Vegas.

It was a dominant showing, as Moreno bested Royval on the feet and on the ground. Although Royval suffered a shoulder injury late in the round that hindered his performance, Moreno was able to prove why he’s a top contender in the UFC’s flyweight division all the way up until the finish.

Immediately after his win over Royval, Moreno was booked to fight UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC 256. Figueiredo also competed Nov. 21 at UFC 255, when he defended his title for the first time with a submission win over Alex Perez.

UFC 256 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Check out Moreno’s stoppage win over Royval in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-free-fight-brandon-moreno-scores-tko-win-brandon-royval-at-ufc-255

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 on ESPN 19 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.

Check out some of those reactions.

The defeated

The defeated: Jose Quinonez

A post shared by Jose Alberto “Teco” Quiñonez (@tecodc)

The defeated: John Allan

A post shared by John “THE HUNTER” Allan (@johnallanufc)

The defeated: Justin Jaynes

A post shared by Justin Jaynes (@jay09mi)

The defeated: Jack Hermansson

A post shared by jack hermansson (@jackthejokermma)

The victorious

The victorious: Ilia Topuria

A post shared by Ilia Topuria (@iliatopuria)

A post shared by Ilia Topuria (@iliatopuria)

The victorious: Louis Smolka

A post shared by Louis Smolka (@lastsamuraiufc)

The victorious: Jordan Leavitt

A post shared by Jordan Leavitt (@monkeyking_ufc)

A post shared by Jordan Leavitt (@monkeyking_ufc)

A post shared by Jordan Leavitt (@monkeyking_ufc)

The victorious: Roman Dolidze

A post shared by UFC Roman Dolidze (@romandolidze)

A post shared by UFC Roman Dolidze (@romandolidze)

The victorious: Gabriel Benitez

A post shared by Gabriel Benitez (@moggly_benitez)

The victorious: Jamahal Hill

A post shared by Jamahal Hill UFC (@sweet_dreams_jhill)

The victorious: Marvin Vettori

A post shared by Marvin Vettori (@marvinvettori)

A post shared by Marvin Vettori (@marvinvettori)

A post shared by Marvin Vettori (@marvinvettori)

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-on-espn-19-reactions-winning-losing-fighters-social-media-twitter-instagram

Just three weeks after Brandon Moreno took out Brandon Royval in the UFC 255 prelims featured fight, he returns to challenge flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC 256 main event on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas.

Ahead of UFC 256, re-watch Moreno’s first-round stoppage of Royval with one tick left on the clock.

(Video courtesy of UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship)

TRENDING UFC planning ‘serious cuts’ to roster, 60 fighters to be let go by year’s end

Related UFC 255: Deiveson Figueiredo vs Alex Perez Recap

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-brandon-moreno-defeat-brandon-royval-to-earn-ufc-256-title-shot