Calvin Kattar absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment when he stepped into the cage against Max Holloway in the UFC on ABC 1 main event Saturday.

Monday, less than 48 hours after his unanimous decision loss to Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC), Kattar released a statement on the defeat on his Instagram page.

“Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up,” Kattar wrote. With goals so strong that obstacles, failure and loss only act as motivation. Props to Max on a hell of a fight he deserves all the praise. Thankful for my team’s commitment for this fight. On to the next. There is no stopping the man who doesn’t quit.”

Despite absorbing a UFC record-breaking 445 significant strikes, Kattar (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) refused to quit – the attitude he aims to carry going forward.

A post shared by calvinkattar (@calvinkattar)

Kattar, 32, suffered a broken nose in his losing effort. In an exchange with MMA Junkie on Sunday, his manager and coach Tyson Chartier, Kattar also received eight staples in his head. One half of the UFC’s New England Cartel tandem, Kattar has never been finished in his UFC tenure.

UFC on ABC 1 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card simulcasted on ABC and ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-abc-1-calvin-kattar-releases-statement-following-max-holloway-loss-no-quit

By Matt Erickson |

January 18, 2021 1:15 pm

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 257 event in Abu Dhabi.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 257 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 257 takes place Saturday at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the five main card fights below.

Amanda Ribas vs. Marina Rodriguez

Records: Amanda Ribas (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Marina Rodriguez (12-1-2 MMA, 2-1-2 UFC)
Past five: Ribas 5-0, Rodriguez 2-1-2
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Rodriguez No. 9, Ribas No. 10
Odds (as of 01.18.21): Ribas -350, Rodriguez +260

Ottman Azaitar vs. Matt Frevola

Records: Ottman Azaitar (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Matt Frevola (8-1-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC)
Past five: Azaitar 5-0, Frevola 3-1-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Azaitar honorable mention
Odds (as of 01.18.21): Azaitar -165, Frevola +140

Joanne Calderwood vs. Jessica Eye

Records: Joanne Calderwood (14-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Past five: Calderwood 3-2, Eye 3-2
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Eye No. 8, Calderwood No. 11
Odds (as of 01.18.21): Eye -120, Calderwood +100

Michael Chandler vs. Dan Hooker

Records: Michael Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Dan Hooker (20-9 MMA, 10-5 UFC)
Past five: Chandler 4-1, Hooker 3-2
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Hooker No. 8
Odds (as of 01.18.21): Hooker -140, Chandler +115

Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor

Records: Dustin Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC), Conor McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC)
Past five: Poirier 4-1, McGregor 3-2
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Poirier No. 2, No. 10 pound-for-pound; McGregor No. 6
Odds (as of 01.18.21): McGregor -275, Poirier +225

Full UFC 257 fight card

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor
• Michael Chandler vs. Dan Hooker
• Joanne Calderwood vs. Jessica Eye
• Ottman Azaitar vs. Matt Frevola
• Amanda Ribas vs. Marina Rodriguez

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Nasrat Haqparast vs. Arman Tsarukyan
• Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Brad Tavares
• Sara McMann vs. Julianna Pena
• Marcin Prachnio vs. Khalil Rountree

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

• Makhmud Muradov vs. Andrew Sanchez
• Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz
• Amir Albazi vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov

Amanda Ribas, Breaking, Conor McGregor, Dan Hooker, Dustin Poirier, Jessica Eye, Joanne Calderwood, Marina Rodriguez, Matt Frevola, Michael Chandler, Ottman Azaitar, UFC 257, Featured, News, UFC

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-257-conor-mcgregor-vs-dustin-poirier-reader-predictions-picks

ABU DHABI – Punahele Soriano beat Dusko Todorovic with a first-round TKO Saturday to open up the main card at UFC on ABC 1 in Abu Dhabi.

Take a look inside the fight with Soriano, who stayed unbeaten and handed Todorovic his first career loss.

Punahele Soriano vs. Dusko Todorovic

Result: Punahele Soriano def. Dusko Todorovic via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:48
Updated records: Soriano (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Todorovic (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Key stat: Soriano has seven of his eight career wins by stoppage.

Soriano on the fight’s key moment

“I feel like I black out in every fight and I really don’t know what happened. I trust my body and I trust my instincts. My body somehow just makes the proper corrections in every fight no matter what. I just trust that and I’m going to ride it out as long as I can.”

PUNA!!! 🤯

That’s how you start the main card!

[ #UFCFightIsland7 continues on @ABCNetwork #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Hh1wbStskd

— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021

Soriano on feeling the fans’ energy

“It felt amazing. It was great to have the crowd there. It was empowering, especially after the win. I couldn’t control myself. I just kept yelling. I saw the crowd, I saw the commentators and I felt all that power.

“I was nervous. My heart just felt like a speaker. I swear I could hear it beating, like just standing there. It almost hurt. It felt like a side pain in my chest, but I just fought through it. I knew as soon as the cage door closes, I’m going to be at my best no matter what.”

HOW IS HE TAKING THESE HITS!?! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/cYY8dQpiuw

— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021

Soriano on what he wants next

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Punahele Soriano punches Dusko Todorovic of Serbia in a middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m never one to say names. I just say yes to whoever I come across.”

To hear more from Soriano, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

Breaking, Punahele Soriano, UFC on ABC 1, video, News, UFC, Videos

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/punahele-soriano-ufc-on-abc-1-win-on-instinct-black-out-every-fight-mma-video

Santiago Ponzinibbio’s return to MMA didn’t go as planned.

The Argentine returned to action at UFC on ABC 1 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi after a layoff of more than two years. Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who hadn’t competed since November 2018, suffered a first-round knockout loss to Li Jingliang.

It was an unfortunate result for Ponzinibbio, who was more than a 3-1 favorite in the fight. He was coming back from an infection that almost cost his life; a broken toe; and a month’s worth of positive tests for COVID-19. It was a long road back for the 34-year-old, who was looking to make a big statement in his return.

“I have no words to describe the sadness I feel,” Ponzinibbio wrote on Instagram. “I wanted to return giving a victory, you deserve it for so much support. I worked very hard for this event, a whole year of preparation but this sport is like that, there is a part out of control, a blow that comes in and everything ends. I want to thank all the messages and the love of always! All my life I forged it on adversity, this time it will be no different. I’m coming back stronger than ever.”

A post shared by Santiago Ponzinibbio (@sponzinibbiomma)

The defeat to Jingliang snapped a seven-fight winning streak for Ponzinibbio.  Prior to his career coming to a halt in 2018, Ponzinibbio was ranked in the top 10 of the UFC’s official welterweight rankings.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/santiago-ponzinibbio-statement-knockout-loss-ufc-on-abc-1

ABU DHABI – Vanessa Melo beat Sarah Moras with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ABC 1 in Abu Dhabi.

Take a look inside the fight with Melo, who picked up her first UFC win after an 0-3 start.

Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras

Result: Vanessa Melo def. Sarah Moras via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Melo (11-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC), Moras (6-7 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Key stat: Moras threw 200 strikes, but landed at only a 22 percent clip.

Melo on the fight’s key moment

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Vanessa Melo of Brazil punches Sarah Moras of Canada in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I think I controlled all three rounds (and) dominated the cage. She threw a lot of punches, but I barely got hit. I connected more. I think my performance was impeccable at times and I’m going to continue growing. I’m going to come in here and bring more victories for Brazil.”

Melo on fighting in front of fans again

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Sarah Moras of Canada punches Vanessa Melo of Brazil in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m honored to be here. (It) was an honor to be on the first ‘Fight Island’ (card of 2021), an honor to be here with the fans for the first time. It’s not that many fans, but it’s nice – it’s a new beginning for the UFC and everyone. I can’t wait to get home to my daughter and my family now. I’m sure there’s a lasagna waiting for me.”

Melo on what she wants next

“I feel really happy and honored to get my first UFC win. I can’t even explain how happy I am. I just want to keep evolving, train harder and keep growing.”

To hear more from Melo, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

Breaking, UFC on ABC 1, Vanessa Melo, video, News, UFC, Videos

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/vanessa-melo-wants-lasagna-ufc-on-abc-1-video