“I literally woke up, checked my weight, I was on wieght, I was very happy about that. Minutes later, I had a very serious conversation with everyone from LFA,” Macias told Cageside Press at Friday’s event, which took place in Commerce, CA. “I can’t even imagine what my opponent is going through.”

Brown would later post a message on social media stating that her daughter had gone into cardiac arrest on Thursday morning, undergoing twenty minutes of CPR. Having caught pneumonia, she also suffered damage to her kidney and liver, though those appeared to be improving.

Hello everyone. Sorry for going MIA, due to unfortunate circumstances I did not fight last night. Thank you to @LFAfighting pic.twitter.com/GUAKFyrS1L

— Amber Brown (@TheBully505) July 31, 2022

“I don’t even know what to say about it, you’re almost at a loss for words, becasue— all I can do is wish my opponent and her family the best,” Macias said of the news.

Macias had booked the bout with Invicta FC veteran Brown in the hopes of bouncing back from a loss pair of losses, with one on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. In the coming days, she’ll work out what her next steps are in getting back to competition.

“We’re going to take the weekend, and we’re probably going to have some meetings this week coming up. LFA is great, of course they would re-book me quickly. I know Contender Series is on right now, I was already on Contender Series, so if a short notice comes up— I mean shoot, I live in Vegas now. If a short notice for the UFC comes up, I’m there. I’m ready, I’m ready to go, I’m good. I just really hope everything goes okay with my opponent and her family. That’s it.”

Macias (4-2) came up on the U.S. judo scene, alongside the likes of Kayla Harrison and Ronda Rousey — complete with overnight stays with the latter’s family. In particular, she credits Rousey’s mom AnnMaria De Mars as part of the reason she’s in combat sports. “Honestly, part of the reason I’m here today is AnnMaria. She was such an influential part of me growing up, whether she knows it or not. Her and my original judo coach were great friends, and I just feel so blessed to have her in my life.”

She’s even seen some of those infamous occasions where De Mars arm-barred her daughter to keep her ready — and experienced the same. Just no early-morning sneak attacks in her case. “Ann-Marie has arm-barred me, yes.” Just not first thing in the morning, she confirmed. “No, I was on the second bunk!”

Watch our full interview with LFA strawweight Pauline Macias above.

The post LFA 137: Pauline Macias Credits Ronda Rousey’s Mom for Fighting Career, Sends Support to Amber Brown appeared first on Cageside Press.

JP Buys, meanwhile, whose wife Cheyanne won her way into the UFC on DWCS earlier this season, was also back. Buys first appeared on the Contender Series in 2017, coming up short in a fight against Joby Sanchez. This time around, he’ll be taking on another returning fighter in Jacob Silva. “Lil Animal” first appeared on the show back in August, losing a hard-fought unanimous decision against Jeff Molina.

The opening fight at Week 10 of the Dana White’s Contender Series this year featured women’s flyweights, one of two fights in the weight class on the card. That bout pitted Chelsea Hackett, a top prospect in the division despite having just four pro fights to her name, agaisnt Invicta FC veteran Victoria Leonardo.

The action gets underway at 8PM ET on Tuesday, November 17, airing on ESPN+ in the U.S., and UFC Fight Pass elsewhere. Check below for results.

Victoria Leonardo had a big advantage on the ground against Chelsea Hackett on Tuesday. Despite coming in the underdog, Leonardo was able to using her wrestling to pick up the win. While she did have to weather a few flurries from Hackett, specifically earlier in the second, Leonardo was able to take her opponent down, get on top, and land heavy ground n’ pound to pick up the TKO finish.

Tucker Lutz went the distance for the second time on the Contender Series this year, as the lightweight dominated Sherrard Blackledge. The only problem would be whether or not three takedowns and a round’s worth of control time would be enough to earn him a UFC deal, after 30 full minutes in the cage after two appearances.

Gloria de Paula, meanwhile, dominated Ronda Rousey training partner Pauline Macias in all areas. de Paula had the edge on the ground, and on the feet, showing strong clinch work and submission skills on route to a lopsided unanimous decision.

David slew Goliath in the night’s heavyweight bout. Nick Maximov weighed in at 209lbs. Opponent Oscar Cota tipped the scales at 263lbs. But despite the weight discrepancy it was Maximov, who trains with the Diaz brothers, earning a one-sided decision with 10-8 rounds on two scorecards. After the fight, Maximov told UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard that he’s a middleweight, but willing to fight anyone at 185 or 205lbs. And heavyweight, apparently.

In the final fight of the night, JP Buys earned a controversial submission win over Jacob Silva. Buys had Silva in a guillotine; Silva did not tap, did not appear to go out, but referee Mark Goddard waved it off, awarding a technical submission win. Goddard failed to call for the use of instant replay, ending the night on a sour note. At least for Silva. Post-fight, UFC President Dana White admitted the ref had made the wrong call — but rewarded Buys a contract regardless, along with de Paula, Lutz, and Leonardo. Nick Maximov, meanwhile, was offered a shot on The Ultimate Fighter.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 10 Results

JP Buys def. Jacob Silva technical submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 4:54
Nick Maximov def. Oscar Cota by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-28)
Gloria de Paula def. Pauline Macias by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Tucker Lutz def. Sherrard Blackledge by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Victoria Leonardo def. Chelsea Hackett by TKO, Round 2, 4:41

Contract Winners: Victoria Leonardo, Tucker Lutz, Gloria de Paula, JP Buys. Nick Maximov offered a spot on The Ultimate Fighter.

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 10 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

All this gives us one last chance to preview the action set to unfold Tuesday night, so let’s get on with the show.

Heavyweight: Nick Maximov vs. Oscar Cota

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Cota
Speed: Maximov
Output/Volume: Cota
Knockout Power: Cota
Chin: ?
Kickboxing: Even
Footwork: Maximov
Wrestling: Maximov
Grappling: Maximov
Submissions: Maximov
Cardio: ?

Prediction

Cota is the bigger, more experienced fighter but I’m siding with Maximov here. Although there are still a lot of unknowns regarding the full skillset of Maximov, I believe there is some insurance here in terms of where Cota is really at. Cota has had problems staying off his back and going against Maximov, who is a legit grappler, is a bad recipe for Cota. A recipe for disaster really. I’m confident the forward pressure, pace, and jiu-jitsu of Maximov will lead him to an early finish.

The post DWCS 2020 Week 10 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.