Demopoulos frequently threatened off her back. 21-year old McKenna (5-1) maintained top position, survived a couple of scares, and came away with the win.

UFC President Dana White voiced some concerns about signing such a young fighter. McKenna just turned 21. “It’s not about age in this sport, it’s experience,” McKenna responded post-fight, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press. “I’ve been fighting MMA since I was 15, when I turned amateur. I’ve been in there with the top girls in Europe, I’ve been fighting for many years. I’m confident I can fight anyone.”

Of course, it’s for her coaches, including Team Alpha Male’s Urijah Faber, to determine who she does take on. But McKenna hopes it’s soon. “As soon as they’ll let me in there, I’ll get in there. I don’t care where it is, I don’t care who it is. I just want to get going.”

McKenna also revealed an interesting bet she’s made with fellow fighter Arnold Allen. “I’ve actually got two wins tonight. I made a bet five years ago with Arnold Allen as to who gets signed the youngest [by the UFC]. I’ve won by, I think, three months,” she said.

Allen, of course, is already in the big show. And was actually championing McKenna ahead of the fight, calling for her to be signed. It’s something she’s always wanted, young or not.

“I’ve always had the goal [of making the UFC early]. I’m actually a little bit behind schedule, I haven’t fought for 18 months. But I’m happy to have finally got it done,” she said.

You might say fighting is in McKenna’s blood. Her mother, Wendy, was also a fighter, and competed for U.K. promotion Cage Warriors. Although the pair actually started competing around the same time.

“First thing I did when I got out was I phoned my parents,” McKenna told Cageside Press on Tuesday. “They’re obviously very happy. Kept them on the edge of their seat as well. This is the first fight my dad hasn’t been able to come to. My mum comes to most of them, there was a couple she was fighting the same night somewhere else. This is the first time I’ve fought without my family there in the crowd.”

There won’t be a mother-daughter duo in the UFC, however. “Unfortunately my mum’s not able to train anymore. She co-mained Cage Warriors, she did some very impressive things with her career, and I think she’s happy to just sit back and support me and watch me achieve my goals.”

The post DWCS Week 2: Cory McKenna Bet Arnold Allen on Who Would Be Younger When The UFC Signed Them appeared first on Cageside Press.

Speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press post-fight, Yanez (11-3) reflected on his performance. “I felt like I did great. As soon as I stepped in, I had this weird calmness over me. I know usually people are supposed to have this type of jitters. You’re fighting with nobody around this is the first time that’s happened.”

“For me, it was this weird calm. As soon as I got in there, I looked across the cage, I looked at him, he looked [back] and looked away,” Yanez continued. “In my head, I don’t know why, I was the most confident I have ever been, and I knew exactly what he wanted to do. As soon as he threw the first punch and everything, it all just fell into place.”

Planning to move to fighting full time now that he has a UFC deal, Yanez is ready to get to work. “If somebody drops out this week, I’m your huckleberry. I’m here, I’m ready to go, I’m already pretty close to the weight anyway,” he exclaimed.

Watch the full Contender Series Season 4 Week 2 Post-Fight Press Conference with Adrian Yanez above.

The post DWCS Week 2: Adrian Yanez Recalls “Weird Calmness” Ahead of UFC Contract-Winning Performance appeared first on Cageside Press.

There was good reason for Kasasnganay’s doubt. He was on the Contender Series last year, and fought to a decision against Kailin Hill. A second decision win on the show was no guarantee of a UFC contract. But Kasanganay’s willingness to make a quick turnaround, something he expressed in his post-fight interview, appeared to seal the deal.

Following the event, UFC President Dana White confirmed Kasanganay would fight Maki Pitolo on August 22.

“Is that Coconut Bombz? Yeah, let’s go! I love that,” Kasanganay exclaimed. “Much respect to him. I’m excited to go.”

Before granting Impa Kasanganay a UFC contract, UFC President Dana White expressed some doubts about the 7-0 middleweight. That, however, is not something Kasanganay is dwelling on.

“I look at it in a positive way,” explained Kasanganay. He compared the situation to the pandemic. “You can either see the negatives of the pandemic, where we’re staying home and quarantining, or you can find the best out of it.”

During the fight, opponent Anthony Adams did a little showboating, with his arms behind his back. Some fighters might find themselves angered, taking that as disrespectful. Not Kasanganay, however.

“I actually thought it was pretty funny, I like it. I like the craftiness, I like the tricks in the game. I knew he’s a pretty tricky fighter,” he told the assembled media on Tuesday. “I don’t think he meant to be disrespectful.”

The post DWCS Week 2: Impa Kasanganay Reacts to Getting “Coconut Bombz” for UFC Debut appeared first on Cageside Press.

After slamming opponent Joe Fyfer to the mat, Fyfer’s elbow appeared to dislocate, if not break, as he tried to post on it to break his fall. Which ultimately made things worse for Fyfer.

So yes, there were some nerves about whether that particular ending would grant him access to the world’s biggest MMA promotion. “A little bit. I need to watch the fight, but I had the feeling that it was a pretty interesting fight, so I wasn’t too concerned with that,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press post-fight. “Plus, my record’s good. If you look at my other fights, they are exciting fights with a lot of cool finishes, especially in my last six or seven.”

Believe it or not, Stoltzfus was more focused on the injury that ended things. “I was more just taken aback by the injury myself. We hit the ground, and then his broken arm is right in front of my face. It was sort of gross. Sorry Joe.”

Following the fight, UFC President Dana White singled out Dustin Stoltzfus as a fighter he was expecting big things from. That’s quite the endorsement, but Stoltzfus knows he has a ways to go.

“I have a lot to prove yet. A lot of people, as soon as I got the chance to fight on Contenders, were like ‘you made it, you did it,'” Stoltzfus stated. “It’s like ‘No, I haven’t.’ I’m fighting against another guy with regional experience. I fought some people that I think are at a UFC level, but I haven’t fought anyone who’s been in the UFC and really proved their worth as a fighter at the very top level. I’ve got a lot to do, a lot to work on, a lot to prove. A lot to show you guys.”

After spending some time with his family in Pennsylvania, Stoltzfus hopes to start proving that he belongs in September or October.

The post DWCS Week 2: Dustin Stoltzfus Calls Injury to Opponent Joe Fyfer “Sort of Gross” appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It’s like a dream come true. It doesn’t even feel real,” Laramie (12-3) said of the contract-winning performance.

There was a spot early in the fight where it seemed like Swain might have Laramie caught in an arm-bar. Post-fight, the Canadian downplayed how tight things actually were. “Those submissions were nowhere near getting close. You could see how calm I was in there. If the submissions were anywhere close, I would have been moving a lot faster.”

As to the finish, which came after Swain couldn’t continue following the opening round, Laramie said “it was bittersweet to see he was injured, or whatever it was. I hope he recovers fast, and I hope he gets better. But I feel like he just couldn’t take the pressure, he couldn’t take the strikes I was giving him on top.”

That top game, Laramie added, is one of his best best attributes. “I’m not the kind of guy who’s just going to lay there and hope for a decision. I go and try to do damage every time — I’m going to be coming with elbows or coming with hands every time.”

Laramie is a young fighter with a wealth of experience given his age, something that will likely factor in on how the UFC books him in the featherweight division. “I’m only 22 years old, I’ve got 15 pro fights. I’m pretty experienced,” he noted. “I feel like I’m ready to fight some of the top level guys now, but I have no problem taking steps to get my career. I’m not in a rush, I can see myself in this sport for a long time.”

While he’s not in a rush, Laramie later added, “if there’s an opportunity, I’m going to grab it.”

Expect to hear more from T.J. Laramie moving forward. And the Laramie name in general. Brother Tony is a top flyweight prospect, and it wouldn’t be surprising to find him on the Contender Series some day as well.

The post DWCS Week 2: TJ Laramie Not Looking to Rush Development, but Will Grab Opportunities That Come His Way appeared first on Cageside Press.

It worked. Despite going to a decision for the second time on Dana White’s Contender Series, Kasanganay (7-0) earned a deal. In part because of his willingness to fight. Kasanganay will fight on August 22, part of the Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz card.

“The guy’s 26 years old and he’s 7-0. He’s going right into his prime right now. To say ‘hey go back out in small shows’ — and the problem with this kid is, apparently no one in the small shows wants to fight him,” White said following the Contender Series event, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press.

White noted that Kasanganay had seen several opponents back out on the regional scene lately. No small part in why he hadn’t fought since his 2019 Contender Series bout against Kailan Hill.

“On the smaller circuits, people don’t want to fight this kid,” he added later. Any reservations, he added, will be answered on the 22nd.

And while some had speculated White might pair up Kasanganay with Uriah Hall, who apparently needs an opponent, that’s not the case. “He’s going to fight Maki Pitolo,” White revealed. Another Contender Series alum, who just lost to Darren Stewart.

Five contracts being handed out Tuesday might have surprised many observers. But for White, it might actually be a relief. “The sh*ttiest part of the show is telling people ‘no.’ Saying ‘congratulations, you didn’t get it.’ It’s the worst part of the show,” he admitted. With that in mind, “tonight was a good night,” White added.

Another UFC staple is set to return, though a date has yet to be announced: The Ultimate Fighter. Some have questioned why the promotion doesn’t simply serve up more of the Contender Series. On that front, White explained that “I can’t run the Contender Series all year long. Especially now, in this pandemic, these smaller events aren’t even going on right now. So the fact that those aren’t happening really does hurt the Contender Series. You need these fights happening every weekend.”

“So yeah, there’s definitely room for the Ultimate Fighter while the Contender Series isn’t going,” he continued. “You have to have a good year off for the Contender Series, for the pond to fill back up and find some new talent.”

The post DWCS Week 2: Dana White Reveals Kasanganay Opponent, Says There Is Room for Both Contender Series and Ultimate Fighter appeared first on Cageside Press.

Canada’s T.J. Laramie, one half of Ontario’s Laramie brothers, was set to take on Daniel Swain. The brothers Laramie have long been some of Canada’s biggest fighting prospects, and Tuesday night represented the first chance for one of the pair to make it to the big show.

A pair of returning fighters were looking for redemption, meanwhile. Anthony Adams and Impa Kasanganay had both appeared on the Contender Series once before, only to come up short in their efforts. Paired up against each other, one of these middleweights would likely pick up a win (draws being a rarity on the show, given what’s on the line) — but would one do enough to earn a UFC deal this time around?

Check below for full results and the list of contract winners, and stay tuned post-fight for additional backstage coverage via our DWCS 28 page!

Aside from an early low blow that halted the action, it was Anthony “Sugarfoot” Adams utilizing his kicks well in the DWCS 28 opening bout. Impa Kasanganay threatened with his power, something that would carry over into the early second round. Kasanganay would begin working the body, while Adams continually threatened with a knee. Adams would do a little showboating with his hands behind his back, and pay for it, then get taken down. In the third, there was another crushing low blow — this time, a Kasanganay knee landed on Adams. They’d go the distance, with Kasanganay winning a decision on the Contender Series for the second time.

Daniel Swain trapped TJ Laramie in a nasty looking arm-bar early, but Laramie gutted it out, got on top, and dropped a little ground and pound. Did we say a little? Between rounds, Swain told the judges he couldn’t continue as he couldn’t breathe from a rib injury. Whether one of Laramie’s shots to the body caused it wasn’t clear, but it gave Laramie the TKO win after the first. Coincidentally, the victory comes on the birthday of Laramie’s late mother, who passed away when he was just eight years old.

Cory McKenna vs. Vanessa Demopoulos turned into a nail biter on the ground, and something of a chess match. Demopoulos threw up submission after submission over the course of three rounds, while McKenna defended and maintained top control. “Lil Monster” pulled out an actual carthweel in the third, McKenna landed a head kick, but they’d go back to the ground for the bulk of it again, with Demopoulos failing to lock in a late arm-bar. McKenna would take the decision based in large part on her control and ground n’ pound.

Adrian Yanez wasted no time in his fight with Brady Huang, connecting several times in the opening seconds, sitting Huang down and forcing the ref to make the save. End result, the fifth fastest stoppage in Contender Series history.

The featured bout, meanwhile, ended with a bit of a freak injury. After a slam takedown by Dustin Stoltzfus, Joe Pyfer’s elbow dislocated, resulting in an injury stoppage.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 2 Results

Dustin Stoltzfus def. Joe Pyfer by TKO (injury), Round 1, 4:21
Adrian Yanez def. Brady Huang by TKO, Round 1, 0:39
Cory Mckenna def. Vanessa Demopoulos  by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
T.J. Laramie def. Daniel Swain by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 1, 5:00
Impa Kasanganay def. Anthony Adams by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Contracts: Impa Kasanganay (will fight August 22), T.J. Laramie, Cory McKenna, Adrian Yanez, Dustin Stoltzfus

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 2 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

A Contender Series fight is one that has stakes like none other, where fighters must showcase their skills to impress the UFC president enough for a contract with the promotional giant.  Holding the Contender Series with a smaller cage inside the UFC Apex venue makes for a tense atmosphere, and with only close friends and family of the competing fighters in attendance as spectators. Emotions always run high, as a limited amount of contracts can be given out on any given night, and many fighters can potentially have their dreams snubbed out solely because of bad luck.

In rare cases, however, a fighter gets a second look. This series will examine those.

Anthony “SugaFoot” Adams (8-1 MMA)

Age: 32 years old

Height: 6’1″

Weight Class: Middleweight (185lbs)

First DW’s Contender Series Fight: July 17th, 2018 (Week 5)

Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Chibwikem Onyenegecha (7-0 MMA)

Second DW’s Contender Series Fight:  August 11, 2020 (Week 2)

New DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Impa Kasanganay (6-0)

First DWCS Fight

Anthony Adams took his first contender series fight on just 5 days’ notice.  Adams had fought a little over two weeks prior, capturing the middleweight belt in the Sparta Combat League. Though it is worth noting that Adams has fought at 170lbs multiple times in his professional career. Anthony looked very competent on the feet especially against an opponent that was as aggressive as Chibwikem Onyenegecha. Adams overall fought a very patient fight where he looked calm and composed the entire time. Adams is an orthodox fighter and utilized his rear kick to the body of his opponent seamlessly. Adams didn’t seem to “open up” until very close to the end of each round. The lone two takedown attempts in the fight, by Adams, were thwarted. Adams was able to stay focused and use his footwork to create movement as well as to using fantastic head movement to remain out of range but dangerous for the duration of the fight. Adams correctly lost a split decision that night.

Contender Series Opponent

Anthony’s first Contender Series opponent was  Chibwikem Onyenegecha, who was, and still is, undefeated. Onyenaegecha wasn’t offered a contract by the UFC on the night he beat Adams. And the middleweight has not fought since that Contender Series fight back in 2018. The card that Onyenegecha and Adams fought on was the same card as Contender Series stars and eventual UFC standouts Maycee Barber and Edmen Shahbazyan.

The Road Back

Anthony Adams has had just one fight materialize since his last contender series fight two years ago. This was not from lack of trying though, as Adams has had bouts canceled with Adam Stroup, Jason Jackson, Kassius Kanye, and Gregory Rodrigues during this two-year time frame since his DWCS appearance. The one fight that did happen was with the LFA promotion against Josh Cavan. This fight was in January of 2019 a few months after the Contender Series fight. Adams was able to finish a 15-7 Cavan,  4:56 into the first round with punches.

Gameplan / New Opponent

Anthony’s opponent for his second chance on the Contender Series is Impa Kasanaganay. Impa is actually getting a second chance of his own as well.  In Kasanaganay’s last appearance he looked a little inexperienced, especially on the ground. It could potentially be something that Anthony could exploit, but there is no guarantee, as Impa hasn’t had a fight since his Contender Series bout. Though Anthony has yet to get a finish in his professional career, he will likely have to produce one on Tuesday. Adams will be able to use his footwork, striking and ground game to likely try and push the pace of the fight a little more to give himself a chance at the UFC contract at the end of the night.

The post Redemption: Second Chances on Dana White’s Contender Series — Anthony Adams and Impa Kasanganay appeared first on Cageside Press.

This week’s show features a number of fighters worth keeping an eye on. Among them, Vanessa Demopoulos, the stripper/fighter who has turned heads throughout her young carer thanks to some impressive skills on the ground. “Lil Monster” is ready to leave the adult entertainment world behind, however, as the LFA strawweight champion now has a shot at the big show: a UFC contract, with her eye on the rankings.

Demopoulous will be facing Cory McKenna, winner of two straight. The British fighter known as “The Hobbit” has finished three of her four wins to date.

Also of note, Canada’s TJ Laramie is getting his shot to break into the UFC on Tuesday. One half of the Laramie brothers (brother Tony is also a hot prospect), he squares off with Daniel Swain, who has over twice as many pro fights as Laramie — and it will be number 31 for him on Tuesday. “Agent Orange” has traversed the globe, fighting in Super Fight League, M-1, Pancrase, MFC and others in a career dating back a decade.

Full weights, video and photo highlights of Monday’s weigh-ins and face-off are below!

Joe Pyfer (185.5) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (184.5)
Brady Huang (135.5) vs. Adrian Yanez (135.5)
Vanessa Demopoulos (116) vs. Cory Mckenna (116)
T.J. Laramie (146) vs. Daniel Swain (145.5)
Anthony Adams (184.5) vs. Impa Kasanganay (185)

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Weigh-In and Face-Off Highlights appeared first on Cageside Press.

Demopoulos is coming off the biggest win of her career, which saw her win the LFA strawweight championship just a few weeks ago. It was a big, come-from-behind submission victory.

“I was already down on points, I knew I needed to come back, I knew I needed a finish,” she told Cageside Press ahead of her Contender Series bout. “And I knew I had jiu-jitsu. So that’s what we’re going to use, is jiu-jitsu. It was excellent.”

Despite the chaotic scene, Demopoulos knew where the triangle was, so to speak. “I used to be able to grapple with my eyes closed, and I’d get yelled at by my coaches. Because they were like ‘you need to be able to see what you’re doing!’ But the human body is where it is. So I knew that the triangle was there, I went for it, I tied it up.”

Demopoulos credits her opponent Sam Hughes for being a warrior and not tapping. In the end, it probably made for a better scene. And no doubt helped land her a spot on the Contender Series, which returned just last week.

In fact less than twenty-four hours later, the Contender Series offer came. “It gave me chills,” Demopoulos admitted. “I was just starting to unwind, I was responding to everybody because you know I love the fans, and yeah I got the phone call. I was like ‘Yes!’ instantly.”

The promotion actually made Demopoulos take a few days to think about it, considering she’d just fought. She never wavered. Although she admits it is a quick turnaround, “I’m used to competing back-to-back. For three years of jiu-jitsu, that I was hitting the circuit so hard, that was my life. I went from one tournament to the next, every other week.”

That fast pace seems to follow Demopoulos in all walks of life. This year alone, she’s worked as a ring girl, a commentator, and already has two wins under her belt. “Life moves very fast. I love life, I really try to take advantage of a lot of opportunities that come my way, because I’m genuinely having fun,” she told us.

And with her goal of becoming LFA strawweight champion accomplished, “this is my life path right here, going into the Contender Series, going into the UFC, making my way into the rankings.”

When she did get the call for the Contender Series, the promotion told her they already had an opponent in mind. Demopoulos didn’t know exactly who it was, however. She had no qualms regardless. As she later put it, “if I’m actually ready for the UFC, f*ck it, why not go to the Contenders and show them, I’m f*cking here, I have arrived.”

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/ujOi2I3uA3

— Vanessa Demopoulos (@monster_demo) August 7, 2020

Demopoulos has been notable for being a fighter who also strips as her day job. But she told Cageside Press that now that the big show is calling, she’ll be leaving the business. “I’m done dancing. I’d love to not have to walk into that club any longer. After August 11, I’m going to literally fight my way out of the strip clubs.”

She has no regrets, however. “It’s been a cool ride, it’s gotten me to where I’m at, and I love the industry for everything that it’s offered me, and everything that I’ve become through it. But I’m f*cking ready to be a fighter!”

Watch our full interview with LFA strawweight champion and Contender Series fighter Vanessa Demopoulos above.

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