All articles tagged with #flyweight
Maycee Barber was knocked out by Alexa Grasso at UFC Seattle, with Grasso following up a strong left hand by securing a rear-naked choke as the referee stopped the bout; Barber later posted that she doesn’t remember much but is OK and WILL return, ending her seven-fight win streak and highlighting her ongoing comeback from prior medical issues.
Muhammad Mokaev took a UFC lightweight bout on two days’ notice against Arman Tsarukyan in Brazil, facing a massive size difference (about 31 pounds/14 kg). He was choked unconscious via a rear-naked choke after eight minutes, refused to tap, and left the cage emotional. Post-fight, Mokaev said he’s returning to flyweight and won’t take such mismatches again, while Tsarukyan acknowledged the size gap and floated potential rematches with Oliveira and Danis. The bout highlighted the risks of drastic weight disparities in MMA.
Aaron Tau failed to make the 126-pound flyweight limit at Friday weigh-ins for the Road to UFC Season 4 final against Namsrai Batbayar, initially weighing 122.5 lbs in a privacy box before registering 129 lbs on a standard scale, leading to the bout’s cancellation; Tau apologized on Instagram for not making weight.
Muhammad Mokaev, an undefeated fighter, was upset about his reputation being damaged after the UFC chose not to re-sign him despite his success, but he has moved on to compete in BRAVE CF and remains optimistic about his future, including potential UFC return, while emphasizing his professionalism and support from fans and organizations.
Brandon Royval lost a highly competitive and record-breaking fight to Joshua Van at UFC 317, which was considered a potential Fight of the Year, showcasing incredible striking performance despite the loss, and reaffirming his status as a top flyweight contender.
Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his UFC flyweight title with a third-round submission of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317, tying records for wins, finishes, and submissions in the division's history, and is now eyeing a higher pound-for-pound ranking and a potential fight against Joshua Van, who recently earned a title shot after a record-breaking fight.
Dana White criticized the lackluster performance of Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France in their first fight on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' noting that neither fighter did much of significance, with Pantoja fighting strategically to avoid injuries and both fighters failing to showcase much action.
UFC flyweight contender Maycee Barber missed weight by half a pound before her main event fight against Erin Blanchfield, but the bout will still proceed, with Barber forfeiting part of her purse. This is her first weight miss in her UFC career, and the fight is significant as both fighters are ranked in the top five of the division.
Erin Blanchfield suffered a one-sided decision loss to Manon Fiorot at UFC Atlantic City, but remains optimistic about her future in the UFC, expressing determination to come back stronger after the setback. Despite the defeat, Blanchfield's previous successes in the octagon indicate her potential for future accomplishments in the flyweight division.
Manon Fiorot improves to 7-0 in the UFC with a dominant performance over Erin Blanchfield, solidifying her status as the next No. 1 contender for the flyweight title. Fiorot's striking and physicality proved too much for Blanchfield, as she landed cleaner strikes and thwarted takedown attempts enroute to a unanimous 50-45 judges' decision. With a likely title shot on the horizon, Fiorot is ready to face the winner of the championship trilogy match between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
Ahead of UFC on ESPN 54, flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot faced off at the ceremonial weigh-in, showcasing a noticeable height disparity. Blanchfield aims to maintain her perfect UFC record in her second promotional main event, while Fiorot, coming off a significant victory over Rose Namajunas, looks to continue her ascent in the division.
Rose Namajunas, fresh off her win at UFC Vegas 89, is open to fighting rising star Maycee Barber, who she describes as a "savage" and a "bully" in the octagon. With her sights set on a title shot at 125 pounds, Namajunas is willing to face any top-5 contender, including Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot. Despite a loss in her flyweight debut, Namajunas is eager to work her way up the rankings and earn a championship fight, while acknowledging the need to adjust to competing in a heavier weight class.
Rose Namajunas secured a unanimous decision victory over Amanda Ribas at UFC on ESPN 53, marking her first win since moving up to women’s flyweight and avoiding the longest losing streak of her career. Social media reactions varied, with some noting Namajunas' effective striking and others questioning her performance at the new weight class.
Despite two recent losses, Chael Sonnen believes that former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas is still a force to be reckoned with at 125lbs and has the potential to make a title run in the flyweight division. Namajunas will headline UFC Vegas 89 against Amanda Ribas, who is aiming to secure a significant win over the former champion. While Namajunas is favored to win, Ribas is confident in her ability to secure a knockout victory and steal the spotlight.
Brandon Royval defeats Brandon Moreno via split decision in the main event of UFC Mexico City, spoiling Moreno's homecoming and picking up the biggest win of his career. Despite being the underdog, Royval rallied from an early deficit to secure the victory, calling out UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for a rematch. Moreno, the first Mexican-born UFC champion, suffered his second straight loss and remains winless in UFC fights in his home country.