Author: MMA Junkie
This story first appeared on Boxing Junkie, a USA Today Sports property. Roberto Duran was receiving treatment for a heart issue Saturday in his native Panama, The Associated Press reports. The 72-year-old Hall of Famer’s family stated on his Instagram account that he has an atrioventricular block, which, according to Yale Medicine, “is a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat more slowly than it should.” The Yale website went on: “It’s caused by communication problems within the heart’s electrical conduction system. For some people, the condition doesn’t cause symptoms; for others, it may be life-threatening.” Duran’s family was…
LAS VEGAS – Gerald Meerschaert hasn’t held a UFC title. He hasn’t fought for one, either. But he’s found a way to make his mark on the UFC record books. Saturday at UFC Fight Night 239 at the UFC Apex, Meerschaert (35-17 MMA, 10-9 UFC) defeated Bryan Barberena (18-11 MMA, 9-9 UFC) by submission. The finish tied Anderson Silva’s all-time middleweight record at 11. He already held, but extended, the division’s all-time submission record. “That’s pretty cool,” Meerschaert told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I’ve got the most submissions at middleweight. I think I would’ve bumped another…
Anthony Smith is tired of rising contenders trying to use him as a stepping stone. Vitor Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) called out Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC) after beating Tyson Pedro less than two weeks ago at UFC Fight Night 238. He got his wish, and will face the former title challenger at UFC 301 on May 4 in Rio. Smith is bothered by undefeated Petrino’s callout. After spending years facing former champions and the division’s upper echelon, “Lionheart” has recently been fighting down the rankings. He vows to make fighters think twice before calling him out. “I’m offended,”…
LAS VEGAS – Ovince Saint Preux is one of the most senior (both in age and experience) fighters on the UFC roster, but Saturday proved he still has more left in the tank. On the UFC Fight Night 239 main card, Saint Preux (27-17 MMA, 14-12 UFC) thrilled with a three-round slugfest against Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC), whom he defeated by split decision. The fight as a whole, but particularly the third round, saw the two men stand in the pocket and go blow-for-blow. Saint Preux’s boxing and aggression proved to be the difference, as two of the…
Share this article share tweet text email link on Facebook on Twitter via text message on LinkedIn via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/03/ufc-fight-night-239-matchmaker-tai-tuivasa-next-fight-losing-streak-submission Mike Bohn and Abbey Subhan March 17, 2024 5:00 pm ET (ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Marcin Tybura after UFC Fight Night 239 win?) Tai Tuivasa was unable to turn things around against Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 239, and is now facing a career crossroads. After being taken down and choked out by Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in the opening round of Saturday’s heavyweight headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Tuivasa (15-7…
Ian Machado Garry says Colby Covington can take his stipulations, crumple them up, and throw them out the trash. In a response video Sunday, Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) went off on Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and issued a challenge of his own. Garry didn’t take kindly to Covington’s objectivization of his wife, Layla. “Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington, you’re in no position to tell me what I should be doing in life,” Garry said in a video on Instagram. “You’ll do as you’re told. You gave me three stipulations – all of which have nothing to do about fighting. They…
Share this article share tweet text email link on Facebook on Twitter via text message on LinkedIn via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/03/ufc-fight-night-239-matchmaker-marcin-tybura-next-fight-submission-tai-tuivasa [object Object] Mike Bohn and Abbey Subhan March 17, 2024 4:15 pm ET (ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Tai Tuivasa after UFC Fight Night 239 loss?) Marcin Tybura joined a short list of fighters to rack up a dozen or more career octagon victories in the heavyweight division after he put away Tai Tuivasa in the UFC Fight Night 239 main event. Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) used his grappling prowess to take down and submit the…
Free Conor McGregor. That’s the message Nate Diaz expressed Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, toward his longtime Irish rival. “This was me for years before Conor even got here,” Diaz wrote on X. “They want u to die before u get out these contracts it’s up to u to make something pop no one gonna help you but you Free Conor it’s at pattys day in this b*tch.” Diaz’s comments refer to McGregor’s continued public calls for a UFC return while doing media rounds for his upcoming film “Road House.” While McGregor has expressed interest in fighting, UFC CEO Dana White…
Share this article share tweet text email link on Facebook on Twitter via text message on LinkedIn via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-239-takeaways-analysis-recap-tai-tuivasa-marcin-tybura March 17, 2024 2:00 pm ET What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 239 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings â¦* * * * Should Thiago Moises get his wish? After dispatching a short-notice octagon newcomer with a TKO finish, Thiago Moises took the microphone and called out Dan Hooker. He went backstage and told reporters he didn’t understand why Hooker is ranked so highly in the lightweight division, and is keen to…
Ange Loosa admits he woke up Sunday feeling “down,” but he isn’t second-guessing how he maneuvered through an unfortunate situation. His UFC Fight Night 239 co-main event Saturday ended in a no contest due to an eye poke – a disappointing result, Loosa (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) acknowledges. However, Loosa also asserts he couldn’t see properly. The circumstances of the fight’s ending led to a heated exchange with opponent Bryan Battle, who accused Loosa of looking for a way out of their fight in Las Vegas. The two fighters were separated by security before anything physical occurred. Despite the emotional aftermath,…