Patricio Freire is open to competing against the UFC’s best.

“Pitbull” won’t be following in the footsteps of former rival Michael Chandler. The Bellator lightweight and featherweight champion, Freire (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) doesn’t have interest in jumping from Bellator to the UFC right now. However, Freire hopes he can someday be a part of history by competing in a cross-promotion.

“I definitely want to have a shot at those guys – especially the ones that people say I can’t beat or that would beat me easily,” Freire recently told MMA Junkie. “It’s not that the UFC interests me most, actually. I’d like to create history, something new in the sport – to create a big cross-promotion, like in boxing (where) you have the champions sometimes fighting each other. That’s what we’re missing in MMA right now. I’d like to be the guy to start that.”

In order for a major cross-promotion to happen, MMA’s culture would need to shift. Although many in the industry are doubtful a UFC vs. Bellator cross-promotional matchup or event ever will occur, Freire isn’t ruling it out.

“There’s something more that I would like to add to this sport,” Freire said. “I’d like to be part of this big movement to make this change (and) force the UFC. I already beat your future champion. So let’s put everyone together and see who’s really the best. The fans would want that. The sport needs that. No more, ‘This promotion or that promotion?’ There is a business side of things, but people want to see the best fighting the best.”

While Freire would be willing to fight any reputable foe that is in the “best in the world” conversation, “Pitbull” specifically mentioned former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) as a fight that interests him.

“(The future) belongs to God,” Freire said. “We’ll see what’s next. Maybe Max Holloway gets tired of making pennies in the UFC and comes to Bellator so we can make a huge stadium show in Hawaii. We could see a change from the top guys from the UFC (coming) to Bellator.

“If they don’t think there is money here, that’s a lie. Bellator would be willing to pay for those who deserve it. We will see what the future reserves – where I’ll be at, where they’ll be at, and what Bellator will be willing to do. But I don’t have any worries. I know it’s going to do something good.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/mma-news-patricio-pitbull-freire-challenges-max-holloway-ufc-bellator-cross-promotion-history

LAS VEGAS – Karol Rosa beat Joselyne Edwards with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 184 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Rosa, who won for the fifth straight time, the past three of which have been decisions.

Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa

Result: Karol Rosa def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Rosa (14-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Edwards (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Key stat: Rosa outstruck Edwards 135-70 and landed four takedowns.

Rosa on the fight’s key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (R-L) Karol Rosa of Brazil punches Joselyne Edwards of Panama in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m really happy. I trained four months to get this victory. It was a war, for sure. I’m really happy with my victory. I always knew my opponent was a really tough boxer. So a week before the fight, I decided to take her down and work on the jiu-jitsu.”

Rosa on being versatile

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (R-L) Joselyne Edwards of Panama punches Karol Rosa of Brazil in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“My goal is to get in the rankings, maybe even in the top 10 by the end of the year. So every fight I try to show that I’m good on the ground and in my standup. I’m a jiu-jitsu black belt, but I can fight anywhere. It doesn’t matter where the fight goes.”

Rosa on what she wants next

“I’m confident and have the potential to be in the top 15 or top 10 right now. But whoever the UFC puts in front of me, I’m going to fight. It doesn’t matter who.”

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

Breaking, Karol Rosa, UFC Fight Night 184, video, News, UFC, Videos

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/takedowns-part-of-karol-rosa-game-plan-ufc-fight-night-184-video

LAS VEGAS – Devonte Smith beat Justin Jaynes with a second-round TKO Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 184 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Smith, who got back in the win column for the first time in two years.

Justin Jaynes def. Devonte Smith

Result: Devonte Smith def. Justin Jaynes via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 3:38
Updated records: Smith (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Jaynes (16-7 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Key stat: Smith outstruck Jaynes 46-19 and kept his streak intact of all his wins by stoppage.

Smith on the fight’s key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (R-L) Justin Jaynes punches Devonte Smith in their 160-pound catchweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“Never did it cross my mind that they were going to stop it. I thought we were going to just keep going. Then I was like, ‘Oh, I won. Cool.’ It was a good feeling.”

Smith on being labeled a prospect

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (R-L) Devonte Smith punches Justin Jaynes in their 160-pound catchweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I don’t let that prospect stuff weigh on me too much. I appreciate the love and support. That’s just a title prospect today. I just stay grounded and humble.

“No disrespect to him, I just had my mind set on the win. I wasn’t going home without being a victor. Knowing the next time I’m in the octagon it’s going to say 11-2 just feels good. Was that a TKO? Cool, so it’s still by finish.”

Smith on what he wants next

“I pray I get at least three fights this year. By the end of the year, I want top 15 or top 10. I’ve got to really aim for the goal.”

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

Breaking, Devonte Smith, UFC Fight Night 184, video, News, UFC, Videos

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/devonte-smith-prospect-label-humble-ufc-fight-night-184-video

Despite what many fans feared after her defeat at UFC Fight Night 184, Molly McCann is far from done in the UFC.

McCann (10-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) found herself on the losing end of a unanimous decision verdict as she fell to defeat against Brazil’s Lara Procopio in their preliminary card bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. As the fighters prepared for the verdict, McCann was seen on camera taking off her gloves and laying them in the center of the octagon – a traditional symbol of a fighter announcing their retirement from the sport.

McCann’s glove gesture prompted plenty of activity on social media as fans and media reacted with concern to the all-action English fighter’s apparent decision. But those concerns were replaced by messages of support when McCann later clarified that she hadn’t retired, and revealed that the gesture was a tribute to her late father on his birthday.

“Before I get into it. I left the gloves in the cage for my dad. There’s still fight in this old dog yet.”

Before I get into it. I left the gloves in the cage for my dad. There’s still fight in this old dog yet. @dc_mma @DominickCruz

— Molly McCann (@MeatballMolly) February 7, 2021

McCann received messages of support on Instagram from fellow fighters Scott Askham, Kay Hansen, Kiefer Crosbie, and former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson, as well as her beloved Everton Football Club, who told her, “Hard luck tonight, Molly. You make a lot of scousers, Blues and plenty more people proud every time you do what you do – and we’re sure Paul is, too. We’re always in your corner.”

McCann later returned to Instagram to share a pic of her with her father, with the poignant message, saying, “Happy birthday Pops! I’ll get ‘Em next time.”

A post shared by Molly McCann-Pearson (@meatballmolly)

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-fight-night-184-molly-mccann-confirms-she-has-not-retired

Asia’s leading mixed martial arts organization was back in action Friday as “ONE Championship 128: Unbreakable III” delivered a card packed with finishes at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Five of the six bouts on the card finished inside the distance, with Ukrainian debutant Alyona Rassohyna stunning former ONE atomweight kickboxing and muay Thai champion Stamp Fairtex in the main event with a last-gasp submission to hand the Thai starlet the first defeat of her MMA career.

The night’s co-main event was the only bout to reach the scorecards, as Brazil’s Fabricio Andrade moved one step closer to a shot at the ONE bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over No.2-ranked former Shooto champion Shoko Sato.

Also on the card, Japanese contender Ryuto Sawada pushed his title credentials in ONE’s strawweight division with a first-round submission finish of Filipino striker Robin Catalan, while undefeated prospect Tial Thang continued his rise up the bantamweight ranks with a second-round TKO of Paul Lumihi.

There were also victories for South Korean heavyweight Ji Won Kang, who fought back from a difficult start to finish Mehdi Barghi via first-round TKO, and Pakistan’s Ahmed Mujtaba, who scored a resounding first-round knockout of India’s Rahul Raju in their lightweight matchup.

Check out the best of the action via the highlight video above.

Ahmed Mujtaba, Alyona Rassohyna, Breaking, Fabricio Andrade, Ji Won Kang, Mehdi Barghi, ONE Championship 128, Paul Lumihi, Rahul Raju, Robin Catalan, Ryuto Sawada, Shoko Sato, Stamp Fairtex, Tial Thang, video, News, ONE Championship

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/one-championship-128-video-highlights-alyona-rassohyna-stamp-fairtex