Amanda Ribas is looking to steal the show Jan. 23.

Ribas (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) faces Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257 on “Fight Island,” which is headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

In a card stacked with some of the sport’s most notable names, Ribas is gunning for a standout performance. But in order to do so, she has to get through a durable Rodriguez (13-1-2 MMA, 2-1-2 UFC), who’s only lost once in her career – a split decision to former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.

“I hope it happens really fast with a great submission or a great knockout because I like fast fights – but she’s really tough,” Ribas told MMA Junkie.

Prior to drawing Rodriguez, Ribas was scheduled to face Esparza. That fight fell though, and so, too, did a new matchup with Michelle Waterson. Rodriguez may not be as highly ranked as those two opponents, but Ribas thinks with a dominant performance, she can jump to title contention.

“I hope so, because I was supposed to fight Carla, and I don’t know what happened,” Ribas said. “I was supposed to fight Michelle, and they’re both really good in the rankings. So if I was supposed to fight against her, maybe if I do a great fight against Marina, I can go up in the rankings and maybe fight for the title.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-257-amanda-ribas-quick-finish-vs-marina-rodriguez-title-contention

Marcelo Rojo feels it’s time for the big leagues.

The veteran Argentine fighter wants to test himself among the very best and take on UFC opposition. Rojo (16-6 MMA), who competes at bantamweight, is one of the most seasoned Hispanic fighters outside the UFC.

With more than 20 professional fights, Rojo has competed in Combate Americas, ACB and was also a cast member of Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” where he competed at lightweight – two weight classes above his natural weight. Rojo made it to the semifinals, but lost to current UFC fighter Claudio Puelles.

Rojo is a free agent and is hoping to get signed by the UFC

“I left Combate Americas,” Rojo said in Spanish on Hablemos MMA. “My contract finished and I didn’t renew with them. I want to make the jump. I want to fight in the best promotions of the world, so it’s time to test that out.

“That chapter in Combate Americas is over and I want to compete in the UFC. I think I have everything to do it. I work with a great team, I train daily, and I’m not missing anything to be UFC ready. I want that opportunity and we’re working hard for it.”

Since leaving “TUF: Latin America” in 2016, Rojo switched camps to Entram gym in Tijuana, Mexico, training alongside UFC’s Brandon Moreno and Jose Quinonez. He went 6-2 for Combate Americas with all victories coming by stoppage.

Rojo is working on getting his work visa in the United States so he can hopefully sign with the UFC or be able to compete in U.S. promotions with visibility. He hopes to get his work visa in February.

“I have no problem fighting elsewhere,” Rojo said. “I need to hear out offers, see what’s most beneficial for me, and compete. I want to fight in the U.S. because the pay is better and the experience is much better for the future – because I do believe I can fight with the best, so let’s do it.”

“Pitbull” wants to compete at bantamweight, but has no problem taking fights at featherweight. Rojo thinks he’s UFC ready and is confident he can hang with some of the best at 135 pounds right from the start.

“The sport is very big now and it’s beautiful and all, but for me it’s still a fight,” Rojo said. “I’ve fought all my life and I feel very comfortable in that chaos. I hit very hard for the weight class, so I have no problem fighting anybody.

“I’m sure I can get in some tough battles, but that’s what every fighter wants, so your level can go up. But in the top 10, top 15 of the UFC, I feel very comfortable.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/marcelo-rojo-wants-ufc-shot-i-can-fight-best-mma-free-agent

By MMA Junkie Staff
January 11, 2021 9:10 pm

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Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/bellator-video-most-memorable-lightning-quick-knockouts

Max Holloway’s first high-profile win was an impressive one.

The Hawaiian fighter picked up his first victory over a former UFC champion  at UFC 206 in December 2016 when he stopped Anthony Pettis. Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC) outclassed Pettis on the feet over the course of two rounds to get a TKO in Round 3.

It was a dominant showing that got Holloway the UFC interim featherweight title. It was also the first time he headlined a UFC pay-per-view.

Now, more than four years later, Holloway returns to action in his first non-title fight since June 2016. Holloway takes on rising contender Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC on ABC 1.

Holloway is coming off a controversial championship loss to Alexander Volkanovski in July 2020. It was an attempt to recapture the belt, which he had lost to Volkanovski in 2019.

But ahead of that, check out his win over Pettis in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-free-fight-video-max-holloway-knockout-anthony-pettis-interim-title

The calendar flipped from 2020 to 2021 recently, but that didn’t magically eradicate concerns over COVID-19 or stop injuries from knocking bouts off of UFC fight cards.

Having already suffered a couple of COVID-19 related losses, UFC Fight Island 7, which takes place on Jan. 16, lost another bout. Mike Gundy, who was supposed to face Nik Lentz at UFC Fight Island 7, was removed from the bout when a team member tested positive for COVID-19.

As result, Lentz was paired with Movsar Evloev and moved to the UFC 257 fight card on Jan. 23, which features a headlining rematch between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.

UFC 257 was already in need of another bout after Hakeem Dawodu vs. Shane Burgos was nixed from the fight card.

Dawodu suffered a shoulder injury that forced him out of the bout. UFC officials then removed Burgos from the event as well with plans to possibly have him fight in February when the UFC returns to the United States.

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/covid-19-and-injuries-shake-up-ufc-return-to-fight-island