Jiri Prochazka put the 205-pound division on notice in his UFC debut.

Prochazka, a former Rizin FF light heavyweight champion, drew a stern test in former UFC title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 251 in July.

The bright lights didn’t faze Prochazka one bit, who came out confident, switching stances and taunting Oezdemir early. He used his unorthodox movement and defense to throw off Oezdemir, who had some success landing in Round 1 by briefly wobbling Prochazka.

But in Round 2, Prochazka continued to press forward and less than a minute into the frame, he caught Oezdemir with a high kick, followed shortly by a huge overhand right that put his lights out.

Prochazka (27-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to action on Feb. 27, when he takes on Dominick Reyes (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event, which is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before he faces Reyes, relive Prochazka’s finish of Oezdemir in the free fight video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-free-fight-jiri-prochazka-knocks-volkan-oezdemir-out-cold

Another year is in the books, and while it didn’t go according to plan, Bellator provided a number of memorable moments in 2020.

Among the year’s story lines for the promotion was its pivot away from signing older fighters with big names to instead adding athletes with potentially high ceilings.

Numerous prospects and highly touted fighters brought in from other promotions made their Bellator debuts in 2020 – but some were more memorable than others.

Here are the 10 Bellator debut performances that stood out above the rest.

Note: Factors in determining the ranking included skills displayed, flare, by how much expectations were exceeded, potential ceiling of athlete, and level of statement made.

10. Alex Polizzi def. Rafael Carvalho via unanimous decision | Bellator 245

One of the more under-the-radar debuts of 2020, Alex Polizzi’s first Bellator fight didn’t end in a finish. However, Polizzi did something that’s not easy to do. For his first Bellator fight, Polizzi was matched up with former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho. Despite the difference in promotional accolades, Polizzi dominated the fight en route to a unanimous decision win. Shortly after the fight, Carvalho was released from the promotion.

9. Sumiko Inaba def. Jessica Ruiz via TKO (ground-and-pound), Round 1 | Bellator 251

On Nov. 5 at Bellator 251, Sumiko Inaba made her first professional walk to the cage. The 29-year-old fighter-mom needed less than a round to dispose of opponent Jessica Ruiz, whom she finished in 4:59 via TKO with ground-and-pound. After the fight, an emotional Inaba voiced her pride in her performance and journey, and looked toward the future.

8. Sullivan Cauley def. Jason Markland via knockout (punches), Round 1 | Bellator 253

Sullivan Cauley was a late addition to Bellator 253 on Nov. 19. But once he arrived inside the Bellator cage for his professional debut, he made the most of his short-notice opportunity. In the event’s curtain jerker, Cauley starched opponent Jason Markland. The Ryan Bader underling finished the fight with punches in just 28 seconds and solidified a lightning-fast debut victory.

7. Corey Anderson def. Melvin Manhoef via TKO (ground-and-pound), Round 2 | Bellator 251

One of Bellator’s most high-profile (and surprising) signings of 2020, Corey Anderson entered Bellator 251 on Nov. 5 as a massive favorite. Over the span of his 7:34-long bout against Melvin Manhoef, Anderson showed why the oddsmakers backed him so heavily. After he dragged the fight to the mat in Round 2, Anderson unleashed an onslaught of punches and elbows to finish the fight and leave the Dutch combat sports legend covered in his own blood.

6. Yves Landu def. Terry Brazier via knockout (flying knee), Round 1 | Bellator 248

Prior to one of the most viral post-fight celebrations of 2020, Yves Landu landed a massive flying knee to separate Terry Brazier from consciousness at Bellator 248. In a matchup of veteran European-based professionals, Landu and Brazier went toe to toe. But in the end, it was Brazier who woke up on the canvas. From there, Landu unleashed his dance moves – to the delight of those in attendance in his native France.

5. Monika Chochkliova def. Jade Jorand via submission (scorpion crunch), Round 2 | Bellator 247

Image via Bellator MMA

What better way to make your name known than to pull off a super-rare submission in your Bellator – and professional – MMA debut. That’s exactly what Monika Chochkliova did at Bellator 247 on Oct. 1. Against fellow debutant Jade Jorand, Chochkliova won via “scorpion crunch” as Round 2 wound down. The maneuver instantly went viral and added value to the 24-year-old atomweight’s name.

4. Roman Faraldo def. Pat Casey via knockout (flying knee), Round 2 | Bellator 252

If you don’t believe Roman Faraldo is a friend of Jorge Masvidal’s, go back and watch his Nov. 12 flying knee knockout of Pat Casey from Bellator 252. An undefeated American Top Team prospect, Faraldo flew onto Bellator fans’ radars when he leaped, cranked, and brutalized New England’s Casey in his promotional debut. After the fight, Faraldo discussed how he has the same striking coach as Masvidal – so the similarities make sense.

3. Taylor Johnson def. Ed Ruth via submission (heel hook), Round 1 | Bellator 245

Not many Bellator debutants win their first promotional fight by heel hook. Even fewer do it against the caliber of an opponent like Ed Ruth on a main card. But Sept. 11 at Bellator 245, Taylor Johnson accomplished that feat in 59 seconds. A former LFA standout who suffered his first career loss on Dana White’s Contender Series the year prior, Johnson inserted himself into the welterweight discussion when he dragged Ruth to the mat, snatched a leg, and twisted until a tap came.

2. Sergio Pettis def. Alfred Khashakyan via submission (guillotine choke), Round 1 | Bellator 238

Sergio Pettis

Do you want violence? Then, go back and watch Sergio Pettis’ Bellator debut. On Jan. 25 at Bellator 238, Pettis flattened Alfred Khashakyan with a brutal combination and follow-up strikes. The fight appeared as if it could’ve been stopped but referee Frank Trigg didn’t see what he needed to to waive off the fight. Seeing an opportunity for a submission. Pettis pulled Khashakyan’s half-conscious body into a guillotine choke, giving Trigg no choice but to intervene.

1. Cris Cyborg def. Julia Budd via TKO (strikes), Round 4 | Bellator 238

By almost every account imaginable, Cris Cyborg entered Bellator as one of MMA’s all-time greats. In her promotional debut on Jan. 25 at Bellator 238, Cyborg added to her laundry list of accolades when she became the first fighter ever to hold UFC, Invicta FC, Strikeforce, and Bellator titles – a career grand slam champion. Against longtime champ Julia Budd, Cyborg appeared a level above and finished the Canadian by strikes in Round 4.

Honorable mentions

• Callum Murrie def. Dylan Logan via submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 1 at Bellator 240 (Feb. 22)
• Mark Lemminger def. Jake Smith via TKO (ground-and-pound) in Round 2 at Bellator 242 (July 24)
• Charlie Campbell def. Nainoa Dung via TKO (leg kicks) in Round 2 at Bellator 243 (Aug. 7)
• John De Jesus def. Vladyslav Parubchenko via unanimous decision at Bellator 244 (Aug. 21)
• Cat Zingano def. Gabrielle Holloway via unanimous decision at Bellator 245 (Sept. 11)
• Luke Trainer def. Alex O’Toole via TKO (ground-and-pound) in Round 1 at Bellator Europe 8 (Sept. 26)
• Uros Jurisic def. Walter Gahadza via submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 1 at Bellator 247 (Oct. 1)
• Marek Jakimowicz def. Curtis Dodge via TKO (elbows) in Round 1 at Bellator Europe 9 (Oct. 3)
• Alan Omer def. Ryan Scope via TKO (strikes) in Round 1 at Bellator 248 (Oct. 10)
• Mads Burnell def. Darko Banovic via TKO (ground-and-pound) in Round 1 at Bellator 248 (Oct. 10)
• Da’Mon Blackshear def. Mike Kimbel via submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 2 at Bellator 249 (Oct. 15)
• Cody Law def. Orlando Ortega via submission (ground-and-pound) in Round 1 at Bellator 250 (Oct. 29)
• Jaylon Bates def. Joe Supino via unanimous decision at Bellator 251 (Nov. 5)
• Jeremy Kennedy def. Matt Bessette via unanimous decision at Bellator 253 (Nov. 19)
• Jaleel Willis def. Mark Lemminger via unanimous decision at Bellator 253 (Nov. 19)
• Shamil Nikaev def. Kemran Lachinov via unanimous decision at Bellator 254 (Dec. 10)
• Magomed Magomedov def. Matheus Mattos via unanimous decision at Bellator 254 (Dec. 10)

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/bellator-2020-top-10-debut-performances-cris-cyborg

To be sure, 2020 was a year of challenges across the globe. Somehow, some of the greatest athletes on the planet rose to the occasion, putting on exciting bouts, while the world has dealt with a global pandemic.

It’s nearly time to look ahead to what 2021 has to offer, but before we do, take a look back with MMAWeekly.com’s Jeff Cain and Jim “Gries” Grieshaber, as they rehash the Best of 2020.

First up, Jeff and Jim break down the top knockouts of the year.

What were your top knockouts of 2020?

TRENDING The Ultimate Fighter is about to reboot, check out the first 28 seasons

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/best-of-2020-top-knockouts

UFC bantamweight sensation Aljamain Sterling recounts the troubling childhood that helped shape him into the fighter he is today. Witness the story of a young boy transforming into one of the top contenders in the UFC’s stacked 135-pound division.

Sterling was slated to challenge UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan for the belt at UFC 256 on Dec. 12. The bout was canceled at the last minute, but is expected to be rescheduled for early 2021.

TRENDING  Conor McGregor coach says Dustin Poirier facing uphill battle in what should be a UFC title fight

(Video courtesy of UFC)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/aljamain-sterling-recounts-difficult-childhood-in-ufc-film-not-broken

Kyoji Horiguchi should be talked about more when discussing the best bantamweights in MMA, says Mike Brown.

The American Top Team coach has been working with Horiguchi (28-3) for almost five years. Since leaving the UFC in 2017, the Japanese fighter went on to win the Rizin bantamweight grand prix, the inaugural Rizin bantamweight title, and the Bellator 135-pound title – thus becoming a two-promotion champion.

However, Horiguchi lost to Kai Asakura in August of 2019, losing his Rizin bantamweight belt. Shortly after, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery and was stripped of his Bellator title.

With Horiguchi making a long awaited return in a championship rematch against Asakura at Rizin FF 26 on Thursday, Brown, who’s in Japan to corner his fighter, believes people are not paying respect to the Japanese talent.

“I think he’s grossly underrated, but that happens a lot when you’re fighting outside the UFC,” Brown told MMA Junkie in a phone interview. “But if you look at his record, his pedigree – I mean, it’s incredible. He’s got a great record, and now he’s fighting at 135 where he’s much smaller than guys – I think he can fight at both weight classes (flyweight) fairly easy – but with a few extra pounds, I think him fighting at 135, it’s given him more power.

“That extra muscle is improving his shots, and he’s getting guys out of there a lot more easily than at 125 pounds. When you’re a smaller guy, and you have 10 less pounds behind your shots, it’s a little more difficult to get guys out of there with your shots.

“I think that’s brought some attention because he was on a nice winning streak and finishing guys. He had that 10-second win over Ian McCall, winning the Rizin grand prix tournament, he had three fights in two nights there, two wins over Darrion Caldwell, who’s a very tough fight and is much bigger than him – I mean, NCAA champion, so tall and just a difficult stylistic matchup for a guy like Kyoji. Before he was with us (at ATT), he fought Demetrious Johnson and kind of got outwrestled in that fight. But that just showed his improvement and ability to get back to his feet in the Caldwell fights.”

Horiguchi hasn’t fought in over a year. Although that’s generally bad news for any fighter, Brown thinks the 30-year-old competitor didn’t get held back too much.

“In a way, it was good timing because it happened to be during this COVID epidemic where a lot of people missed time fighting anyway,” Brown said. “So that was a big chunk where he wouldn’t have been able to fight anyway.

“But it’s still tough, especially coming off the loss. He wanted to get right back in there, but he’s mentally strong as they come and as focused as anybody can be. He lives the samurai life, man. That’s all he does: He eats, sleeps and trains. He’s 100 percent focused and occasionally when he needs to rest his mind, he’ll go fishing a little bit. But this kid is on it and as focused as anyone you’ll ever meet.”

The Gunma native has a tough task ahead as Asakura stopped him fair and square the first time they fought. There’s obviously big things on the horizon, as not so long ago he was being talked about plenty Statesside with his capture of the Bellator bantamweight title.

Brown knows the future is bright, but he’s focused on the task at hand.

“It was the first time it’s ever been done, so it’s a special thing,” Brown said regarding Horiguchi’s feat of becoming a two-promotion champion. “Most promotions aren’t doing cross-promotional championships, so this is very rare, but it’s one step at a time. First he has this RIZIN title fight, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/kyoji-horiguchi-grossly-underrated-return-knee-injury-rizin-ff-26