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		<title>UFC Vegas 115: Tommy McMillen Makes Big Debut, Stops Manolo Zecchini</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/04/04/ufc-vegas-115-tommy-mcmillen-makes-big-debut-stops-manolo-zecchini/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:07:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manolo Zecchini]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tommy McMillen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 272]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=222479</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Undefeated Contender Series winner Tommy McMillen debuted opposite Manolo Zecchini as part of Saturday&#8217;s UFC Vegas 115 main card. Featherweight McMillen was 9-0 entering the promotion, while Zecchini had lost his promotional debut back in 2023, and was returning for the first time since that fight. The fight opened at a frantic pace, with Zecchini [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/04/04/ufc-vegas-115-tommy-mcmillen-makes-big-debut-stops-manolo-zecchini/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 115: Tommy McMillen Makes Big Debut, Stops Manolo Zecchini</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Undefeated Contender Series winner Tommy McMillen debuted opposite Manolo Zecchini as part of Saturday&#8217;s UFC Vegas 115 main card.</p>
<p>Featherweight McMillen was 9-0 entering the promotion, while Zecchini had lost his promotional debut back in 2023, and was returning for the first time since that fight.</p>
<p>The fight opened at a frantic pace, with Zecchini charging forward aggressively. McMillen met him head-on, snapping off a clean one-two as both fighters quickly abandoned any real concern for defense. It turned into a chaotic exchange early, but McMillen was the one landing with more consistency, even buckling Zecchini in the opening moments.</p>
<p>That same wildness gave Zecchini opportunities, though, as McMillen’s aggression bordered on reckless. A brief pause came after McMillen landed an accidental groin strike, but once action resumed, they went right back to trading in tight quarters.</p>
<p>McMillen’s corner was urging him to embrace the chaos, and he did just that—starting to separate himself as the exchanges piled up. He backed Zecchini to the cage and unleashed a barrage: body kicks, straight punches, and knees up the middle to both the head and body. The sustained offense overwhelmed Zecchini, forcing the stoppage and earning McMillen a TKO victory.</p>
<p>A true barnburner, but ultimately one where Zecchini couldn’t keep up with McMillen’s pace and power.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: Tommy McMillen def. Manolo Zecchini by TKO (punches and knees), Round 1, 3:57</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/04/04/ufc-vegas-115-tommy-mcmillen-makes-big-debut-stops-manolo-zecchini/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 115: Tommy McMillen Makes Big Debut, Stops Manolo Zecchini</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC London: Danny Silva Spoils Debut of &#8220;Pink Panther&#8221; Kurtis Campbell</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/ufc-london-danny-silva-spoils-debut-of-pink-panther-kurtis-campbell/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 20:41:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danny Silva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kurtis Campbell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 270]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221939</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Contender Series standout Kurtis Campbell made his debut on the UFC London main card on Saturday, paired up with Brazilian Danny Silva. Known as &#8220;The Pink Panther&#8221; after fighting in pink fight shorts on the regional scene (he&#8217;d get them again on Saturday), Campbell was an unassuming figure outside the cage, but a perfect 8-0 [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/ufc-london-danny-silva-spoils-debut-of-pink-panther-kurtis-campbell/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC London: Danny Silva Spoils Debut of &#8220;Pink Panther&#8221; Kurtis Campbell</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Contender Series standout Kurtis Campbell made his debut on the UFC London main card on Saturday, paired up with Brazilian Danny Silva.</p>
<p>Known as &#8220;The Pink Panther&#8221; after fighting in pink fight shorts on the regional scene (he&#8217;d get them again on Saturday), Campbell was an unassuming figure outside the cage, but a perfect 8-0 inside it. Silva, 2-1 in the UFC to date, had lost to rising star Kevin Vallejos in his last fight.</p>
<p>The fight opened with Campbell immediately going to his kicks, throwing a variety of looks to keep Silva at range and disrupt his rhythm. Silva pressed forward aggressively but was a bit sloppy on the entry, allowing Campbell to secure an early takedown. Campbell looked to transition to the back and, after a brief scramble, managed to get there. Silva responded well, picking an ankle to reverse position and working his way back to his feet.</p>
<p>Back at distance, Campbell pushed Silva to the cage again, but Silva showed strong takedown defense and avoided being grounded. The round closed on the feet, with both fighters having their moments and likely feeling confident heading into the second.</p>
<p>Round two flipped the fight instantly. Silva dropped Campbell with a big right hook. Campbell got back up, but Silva stayed on him, landing two more right hands that put him down multiple times, forcing the TKO stoppage. That spoiled the debut of Campbell, and marked the best Silva had looked in the UFC.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: Danny Silva def. Kurtis Campbell by KO (right hands), Round 2, 0:31</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/ufc-london-danny-silva-spoils-debut-of-pink-panther-kurtis-campbell/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC London: Danny Silva Spoils Debut of &#8220;Pink Panther&#8221; Kurtis Campbell</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Losene Keita&#8217;s Long-Awaited UFC Debut Ends in Close Loss to Nathaniel Wood</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/losene-keitas-long-awaited-ufc-debut-ends-in-close-loss-to-nathaniel-wood/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:48:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Losene Keita]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nathaniel Wood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC London]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221929</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Former Oktagon star Losene Keita&#8217;s long-awaited UFC debut arrived on Saturday at UFC London, where he faced on against Brit Nathaniel Wood. Keita was supposed to take on Patricio Pitbull last year, but missed weight for the fight, which was scrapped. No such issues arose ahead of UFC London, but the result was not what [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/losene-keitas-long-awaited-ufc-debut-ends-in-close-loss-to-nathaniel-wood/" data-wpel-link="internal">Losene Keita&#8217;s Long-Awaited UFC Debut Ends in Close Loss to Nathaniel Wood</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Former Oktagon star Losene Keita&#8217;s long-awaited UFC debut arrived on Saturday at UFC London, where he faced on against Brit Nathaniel Wood.</p>
<p>Keita was supposed to take on Patricio Pitbull last year, but missed weight for the fight, which was scrapped. No such issues arose ahead of UFC London, but the result was not what the ex-Oktagon MMA champ was looking for.</p>
<p>The featherweight fight opened with both men working behind the jab and probing with leg kicks as they tried to establish range. Wood had the early edge, landing the cleaner shots while staying composed and not biting on Keita’s feints. Keita was more focused on counters, showing flashes of power with a couple of clubbing right hands. Wood prioritized optics with jabs, straight punches, and calf kicks, while Keita looked to land the more impactful shots. It was a contrast in styles, but a fairly measured opening round that didn’t fully clash.</p>
<p>Round two started with Wood going right back to the calf kick. Keita answered with a sharp jab and mixed in some leg kicks of his own. Wood landed a good counter as Keita loaded up, briefly taking out his legs, but Keita recovered quickly and fired back with a clean knee. Wood doubled up on the jab and followed with a leg kick that buckled Keita. Despite that, Keita’s offense did more visible damage, marking up Wood’s face and finishing the round strong with a big right hand at the bell, likely edging it on impact.</p>
<p>Heading into the third, it felt even and up for grabs. Keita came out with more urgency and a better feel for range, while Wood stayed consistent, continuing to chip away with leg kicks and short, scoring shots. The kicks added up, even if they didn’t significantly affect Keita. Keita was clearly pursuing damage, throwing with more intent, even at a lower volume. The final minute was fairly quiet, with Keita loading up and Wood staying disciplined, landing short punches in what remained a very close fight down the stretch.</p>
<p>It was split on the scorecards, with Wood getting the nod. Clearly not how Keita had envisioned his debut playing out.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Nathaniel Wood def. Losene Keita by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/21/losene-keitas-long-awaited-ufc-debut-ends-in-close-loss-to-nathaniel-wood/" data-wpel-link="internal">Losene Keita&#8217;s Long-Awaited UFC Debut Ends in Close Loss to Nathaniel Wood</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC Vegas 114: Debuting Manoel Sousa Knocks Out Bolaji Oki</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-debuting-manoel-sousa-knocks-out-bolaji-oki/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 23:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bolaji Oki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manoel Sousa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 269]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221671</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Lightweight Manoel Sousa had made stops on Bellator MMA, the PFL, and LFA before landing on the Contender Series last year; on Saturday at UFC Vegas 114, he made his UFC debut opposite Bolaji Oki. Oki was 2-2 in the company, looking to rebound from a loss to Mason Jones. Sousa&#8217;s only loss had come [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-debuting-manoel-sousa-knocks-out-bolaji-oki/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 114: Debuting Manoel Sousa Knocks Out Bolaji Oki</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lightweight Manoel Sousa had made stops on Bellator MMA, the PFL, and LFA before landing on the Contender Series last year; on Saturday at UFC Vegas 114, he made his UFC debut opposite <a class="border-b border-dotted border-tap_6 hover:border-solid" title="Bolaji Oki Fighter Page" href="https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/158527-bolaji-oki" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Bolaji Oki</a>.</p>
<p>Oki was 2-2 in the company, looking to rebound from a loss to Mason Jones. Sousa&#8217;s only loss had come to the formidable Archie Colgan.</p>
<p>The fight opened with feints from Sousa as he steadily walked Oki down. Oki landed a couple of solid outside leg kicks early, but the momentum quickly shifted when Sousa dropped him hard with a massive right hand. Oddly, Sousa opted to chase a kimura and held onto it even as Oki stood up, which allowed Oki to scramble into top position. From there, Oki landed several hammerfists and controlled the position until Sousa worked his way back to his feet. Sousa did manage to land a sharp elbow in the clinch, but Oki dictated the position, peppering him with knees to the body. It was a strong start from Sousa, but the decision to hunt the submission gave Oki the chance to regain momentum and get his offense going.</p>
<p>In the second round, Oki caught Sousa coming in as he loaded up and clipped him clean. Sousa began whiffing on big overhands and even shot a few blind takedowns as he struggled to close the distance. The pace started to wear on him, and he looked noticeably slower while having trouble finding his range. His best moments came during quick blitzes, but Oki defended them well. Sousa tried to mix in body shots as the round progressed, though he was often countered in the process. In the final minute, Sousa called Oki forward and managed to buckle him with a sharp left hook just before the bell.</p>
<p>Heading into round three, the fight was still up for grabs. Oki came out sharp, working behind his jab and mixing in leg kicks. Sousa, meanwhile, relied more on looping hooks and heavier kicks to the legs. As the round wore on, Sousa abandoned his shot selection and began swinging for the fences. The pace ramped up in the final minute as the fight turned into a full-on brawl. Oki started backing up while Sousa pressed forward, ripping hooks to the body and jabbing his way inside. Oki briefly regained momentum with a multi-punch combination, but Sousa immediately responded by pouring on relentless pressure. Trapping Oki against the cage, Sousa uncorked a brutal right hand that put him to sleep, sealing a dramatic comeback knockout.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Manoel Sousa def. Bolaji Oki by knockout (right hand), Round 3, 4:14</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-debuting-manoel-sousa-knocks-out-bolaji-oki/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 114: Debuting Manoel Sousa Knocks Out Bolaji Oki</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC Vegas 114: Hecher Sosa Capitalizes in Debut, Beats Luan Lacerda</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-hecher-sosa-capitalizes-in-debut-beats-luan-lacerda/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:59:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hecher Sosa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luan Lacerda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 269]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221673</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Hecher Sosa stepped into UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday in place of Rinya Nakamura, taking on Luan Lacerda on short notice in a bantamweight bout. Born in and fighting out of Spain, Sosa, the &#8220;Guanche Warrior,&#8221; had won a UFC deal on Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series in 2025, and apparently had no desire to wait [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-hecher-sosa-capitalizes-in-debut-beats-luan-lacerda/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 114: Hecher Sosa Capitalizes in Debut, Beats Luan Lacerda</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hecher Sosa stepped into UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday in place of Rinya Nakamura, taking on Luan Lacerda on short notice in a bantamweight bout.</p>
<p>Born in and fighting out of Spain, Sosa, the &#8220;Guanche Warrior,&#8221; had won a UFC deal on <em>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series</em> in 2025, and apparently had no desire to wait any longer to make his debut.</p>
<p>Early in round one, Lacerda was the first to land a meaningful strike, cracking Sosa with a heavy leg kick. The shot seemed to spark Sosa’s aggression, as he immediately responded with a flying knee attempt. Despite the burst from Sosa, it was Lacerda who controlled the striking exchanges early. He eventually used his striking to set up a clean single-leg takedown. Sosa managed to create space and get back to his feet, but he was soon countered while throwing a kick that briefly dropped him.</p>
<p>Lacerda remained firmly in control of the round. He continued to win the stand-up exchanges and secured another clean takedown. To Sosa’s credit, he worked his way back up again, though he absorbed a knee during the separation. Late in the round, Sosa landed a sharp one-two that seemed to boost his confidence. Lacerda answered with two nasty body kicks to close the round. Sosa finished with some momentum, but the round was clearly dominated by Lacerda.</p>
<p>Round two began with Sosa pressing forward. He threw a number of front kicks but was reaching with his punches. As Sosa blitzed in, Lacerda timed another knee—similar to the strike that broke Sosa’s nose in the opening round. Sosa’s offense became increasingly sloppy; he wasn’t turning his punches over and often lunged forward with his body ahead of his hands. Lacerda was visibly slowing down but remained the cleaner, more technical fighter.</p>
<p>Still, Sosa’s pressure gradually turned the fight into a dogfight. His takedown defense improved significantly in this round, keeping the fight standing throughout. It was a much better frame for Sosa, as his aggression and chaotic blitzes helped him edge the exchanges.</p>
<p>In the final round, Lacerda opened with a quick takedown. As in the first round, however, Sosa quickly bounced back to his feet. On the break, Sosa landed a combination and began finding more success in close-range exchanges. At distance, Lacerda still had success with his jab and kicks. He managed to secure another takedown, though he wasn’t able to do much with it.</p>
<p>Sosa later threw a wild spinning backfist that was sloppy but followed it up by landing two right hands and an elbow. In the final minute, both fighters stood and traded wildly, closing the fight with a messy but competitive exchange.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Hecher Sosa def. Luan Lacerda by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/14/ufc-vegas-114-hecher-sosa-capitalizes-in-debut-beats-luan-lacerda/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 114: Hecher Sosa Capitalizes in Debut, Beats Luan Lacerda</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC 326: Alberto Montes Submits Ricky Turcios With Signature Anaconda in UFC Debut</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-alberto-montes-submits-ricky-turcios-with-signature-anaconda-in-ufc-debut/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Patrick Danna]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:54:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alberto Montes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ricky Turcios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC 326]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221204</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>TUF champ Ricky Turcios faced off against Alberto Montes as part of Saturday&#8217;s UFC 326 preliminary card. Turcios was trying to stay afloat after posting a 2-3 record in the promotion, including his win in the The Ultimate Fighter 29 finale over Brady Hiestand. Montes, meanwhile, was making his debut after earning a UFC contract on [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-alberto-montes-submits-ricky-turcios-with-signature-anaconda-in-ufc-debut/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC 326: Alberto Montes Submits Ricky Turcios With Signature Anaconda in UFC Debut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>TUF champ Ricky Turcios faced off against Alberto Montes as part of Saturday&#8217;s UFC 326 preliminary card.</p>
<p>Turcios was trying to stay afloat after posting a 2-3 record in the promotion, including his win in the<em> The Ultimate Fighter 29 </em>finale over Brady Hiestand. Montes, meanwhile, was making his debut after earning a UFC contract on<em> Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series</em> in 2024, then missing all of last year.</p>
<p><strong>Round 1 &#8211; </strong>Turcios started the fight with some wild antics, yelling and stomping while circling the cage. He threw some big strikes at a distance before grabbing a leg and trying to land a takedown. He managed to push Montes to the cage, but after a separation, the two exchanged in the middle of the cage. Montes landed a big straight right and kept the combinations flowing with Turcios returning fire and keeping a high pace. After a couple of strong punches from Montes, Turcios grabbed him but was forced to let go and continued taking damage. Montes landed a pair of front kicks to the body, the latter seeming to hurt him. The round ended with more clean punches from Montes, whose striking looked great.</p>
<p><strong>Round 2 &#8211; </strong>Montes landed more clean punches and forced Turcios to shoot a poor takedown, playing right into his game. Montes immediately locked up his signature Anaconda and had it tight, clearly a bad spot for Turcios. After rolling over, the ref stepped in and called the fight, with Turcios hitting the canvas out cold. Montes grabs a massive win in his UFC debut after becoming the last 2024 DWCS signee to debut.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Alberto Montes def. Ricky Turcios by submission (Anaconda choke), Round 2, 0:40</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-alberto-montes-submits-ricky-turcios-with-signature-anaconda-in-ufc-debut/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC 326: Alberto Montes Submits Ricky Turcios With Signature Anaconda in UFC Debut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC 326: Rodolfo Bellato Halts Newcomer Luke Fernandez in His Tracks</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-rodolfo-bellato-halts-newcomer-luke-fernandez-in-his-tracks/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luke Fernandez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rodolfo Bellato]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC 326]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=221194</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Former CFFC light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez made his promotional debut with the UFC on Saturday, kicking off the UFC 326 card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Fernandez, who earned his UFC deal in just 15 seconds on the Contender Series last fall, was paired up with Rodolfo Bellato in the fight. The [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-rodolfo-bellato-halts-newcomer-luke-fernandez-in-his-tracks/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC 326: Rodolfo Bellato Halts Newcomer Luke Fernandez in His Tracks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Former CFFC light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez made his promotional debut with the UFC on Saturday, kicking off the UFC 326 card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>Fernandez, who earned his UFC deal in just 15 seconds on the Contender Series last fall, was paired up with Rodolfo Bellato in the fight. The Brazilian was looking for his first win since 2023 after fighting to a draw against Jimmy Crute, seeing his fight against Paul Craig end in a No Contest, and losing to Navajo Stirling.</p>
<p>The fight started with an overhand to a knee to the body from Fernandez. A few times, Fernandez was landing that looping right hand. He wasn&#8217;t nervous at all, letting it go early. Bellato wasn&#8217;t moving his head and was eating that right hand and the jab over and over. Bellato was patient and, in an exchange, landed a short left hook on the chin. That dropped Fernandez, and Bellato swarmed with ground and pound until the ref stepped in.</p>
<p>Following the fight, a big win for Bellato, he noted his increased confidence having recently moved to American Top Team in Florida.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Rodolfo Bellato def. Luke Fernandez via TKO (left hook and Ground n&#8217; Pound), Round 1, 2:42</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/03/07/ufc-326-rodolfo-bellato-halts-newcomer-luke-fernandez-in-his-tracks/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC 326: Rodolfo Bellato Halts Newcomer Luke Fernandez in His Tracks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC Mexico City: Imanol Rodriguez Weathers Early Storm, Puts Away Kevin Borjas</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-imanol-rodriguez-weathers-early-storm-puts-away-kevin-borjas/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 02:13:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imanol Rodriguez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Borjas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 268]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=220788</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Unbeaten Mexican flyweight Imanol Rodríguez made his promotional debut at UFC Mexico City on Saturday, facing off against Kevin Borjas. The main card placement was a sign of the UFC&#8217;s faith in Rodriguez, who had appeared on both The Ultimate Fighter 33 and Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series. A 2023 Contender Series winner himself, Borjas was [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-imanol-rodriguez-weathers-early-storm-puts-away-kevin-borjas/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Imanol Rodriguez Weathers Early Storm, Puts Away Kevin Borjas</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Unbeaten Mexican flyweight Imanol Rodríguez made his promotional debut at UFC Mexico City on Saturday, facing off against Kevin Borjas.</p>
<p>The main card placement was a sign of the UFC&#8217;s faith in Rodriguez, who had appeared on both <em>The Ultimate Fighter 33</em> and <em>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series</em>.</p>
<p>A 2023 Contender Series winner himself, Borjas was 1-3 in the promotion.</p>
<p>Round one started explosively, with Rodriguez immediately showing his speed through sharp outside leg kicks. Suddenly, Borjas connected with a heavy left hand, putting Rodriguez in serious trouble. Stumbling against the cage, Rodriguez fought to survive but managed to secure a takedown. While he didn’t do much damage on top, it gave him precious time to recover. As the referee called for action, Rodriguez landed hard elbows, regaining control and ending the round on a strong note despite the rough moment earlier.</p>
<p>In round two, Rodriguez began more cautiously, showing confidence after surviving the first. He dictated the pace early, landing kicks, probing with feints, and pressing forward with his hands. Borjas tried to counter as Rodriguez shot for a takedown, but Rodriguez turned it into a strike, landing a combo on the way out. The relentless pressure began to wear on Borjas, who found himself pinned against the cage as Rodriguez unleashed flurries. A clean right finally broke through, dropping Borjas! A few follow-up strikes, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight.</p>
<p>Imanol Rodriguez embraced Borjas after the fight, a great showing of respect as the pair exchanged supportive words. Definitely a candidate for a bonus, and a heck of a way to start his UFC career.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: Imanol Rodríguez def. Kevin Borjas via TKO (punches), Round 2, 4:21</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-imanol-rodriguez-weathers-early-storm-puts-away-kevin-borjas/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Imanol Rodriguez Weathers Early Storm, Puts Away Kevin Borjas</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC Mexico City: Ryan Gandra Can&#8217;t Miss, Hammers Jose Daniel Medina</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-ryan-gandra-cant-miss-hammers-jose-daniel-medina/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:51:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[José Daniel Medina]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryan Gandra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 268]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=220780</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Middleweights Ryan Gandra and Jose Daniel Medina were the featured preliminary card fight at UFC Mexico City on Saturday, with Gandra making his promotional debut in the bout. The 2025 Contender Series winner was facing a fighter in Bolivia&#8217;s Medina who had lost on DWCS in 2023 but earned a UFC contract regardless, only to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-ryan-gandra-cant-miss-hammers-jose-daniel-medina/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Ryan Gandra Can&#8217;t Miss, Hammers Jose Daniel Medina</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Middleweights Ryan Gandra and Jose Daniel Medina were the featured preliminary card fight at UFC Mexico City on Saturday, with Gandra making his promotional debut in the bout.</p>
<p>The 2025 Contender Series winner was facing a fighter in Bolivia&#8217;s Medina who had lost on DWCS in 2023 but earned a UFC contract regardless, only to lose his first three fights in the company. Medina was on very thin ice, in other words.</p>
<p>Ryan Gandra came firing with an early flurry after a right hand. He quickly backed Medina against the cage and unloaded. A knee followed by a series of hooks put Medina down and the ref stopped the bout. A quick onslaught by the newcomer, Gandra, who seemingly couldn&#8217;t miss. Medina protested the stoppage, and while he wasn&#8217;t entirely out, that was only going to get worse. Hard to find fault with the stoppage, even if it may have sent Medina packing from the UFC.</p>
<p>Following the victory, a fired up Gandra told UFC analyst and former champ Michael Bisping that he had a message for the division. &#8220;Just a message to everybody: the problem of this division is here,&#8221; Gandra stated.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: Ryan Gandra def. Jose Daniel Medina by TKO (punches), Round 1, 0:43</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-ryan-gandra-cant-miss-hammers-jose-daniel-medina/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Ryan Gandra Can&#8217;t Miss, Hammers Jose Daniel Medina</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>UFC Mexico City: Newcomer Regina Tarin Battles It Out with Ernesta Kareckaitė</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-newcomer-regina-tarin-battles-it-out-with-ernesta-kareckaite/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:23:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ernesta Kareckaite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regina Tarin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 268]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=220766</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Stepping into UFC Mexico City on less than a week&#8217;s notice, undefeated Mexican prospect Regina Tarin faced off against Ernesta Kareckaite. With Tarin replacing Sofia Montenegro last minute, the flyweight bout had shifted to a 130lb catchweight, which both ladies made successfully. A big opportunity for Tarin, who recently had a tryout with professional wrestling&#8217;s [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-newcomer-regina-tarin-battles-it-out-with-ernesta-kareckaite/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Newcomer Regina Tarin Battles It Out with Ernesta Kareckaitė</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stepping into UFC Mexico City on less than a week&#8217;s notice, undefeated Mexican prospect Regina Tarin faced off against Ernesta Kareckaite.</p>
<p>With Tarin replacing Sofia Montenegro last minute, the flyweight bout had shifted to a 130lb catchweight, which both ladies made successfully.</p>
<p>A big opportunity for Tarin, who recently had a tryout with professional wrestling&#8217;s WWE.</p>
<p>At the opening bell, both women met in the center and immediately began trading. The output was high from the start. Ernesta Kareckaite pressed forward aggressively but walked into a sharp combination from Regina Tarin that briefly forced her to reset. Tarin found success countering the entries— slipping under shots, firing back with a right hand, and mixing in knees to the body as Kareckaite crashed distance.</p>
<p>Kareckaite answered with a pair of solid right hands before pinning Tarin to the cage. She couldn’t capitalize there, but she maintained forward pressure. It was a competitive first round, though Tarin appeared to land the more impactful counters and likely edged it.</p>
<p>Kareckaite opened the second round well, connecting with a body kick and right hook. Tarin attempted to slow the momentum with a hook kick into the clinch, but Kareckaite landed clean on the break and continued finding success with the right hook while pressing. Tarin did some of her best work in tight boxing range, though her pace began to dip. She planted on a heavy right hand midway through the round, only for Kareckaite to fire back with a head kick. In the closing minute, both exchanged strong combinations. Kareckaite sealed the frame with a late takedown attempt, securing it just before the horn.</p>
<p>Entering the final round, the fight felt entirely up for grabs. Kareckaite again went to the head kick, and Tarin responded with combinations of her own. Tarin increased her urgency, mixing in level changes and briefly threatening to jump on the back after attacking the legs, but Kareckaite defended well. Back at range, Tarin began putting her shots together more fluidly, drawing Kareckaite into extended exchanges and landing the heavier punches. Defense faded down the stretch as both stood their ground and traded in the pocket. Tarin did absorb counters while throwing kicks, but overall, she landed the cleaner, more damaging shots. It was a wild, back-and-forth brawl to close a highly competitive and entertaining fight.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: Regina Tarin def. Ernesta Kareckaitė by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2026/02/28/ufc-mexico-city-newcomer-regina-tarin-battles-it-out-with-ernesta-kareckaite/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Mexico City: Newcomer Regina Tarin Battles It Out with Ernesta Kareckaitė</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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