Montana De La Rosa

Montana De La Rosa was able to secure a decisive win this past weekend over Mara Romaro Borella. A win that likely doesn’t push her too far in the rankings because she came into the fight ranked number 12 and her opponent was ranked 13. De La Rosa has emerged as an up-and-coming contender in the women’s flyweight division. With that being said her jiu-jitsu style would match-up great with the wrestling/striking combination of Maycee Barber. Barber recently had surgery to repair a tear in her knee but she should be ready for an August or September return.

De La Rosa’s Next Fight: Maycee Barber

John Dodson

John Dodson stopped the hype train that was Nathaniel Wood this past weekend, finishing Wood via TKO in the third round. Dodson was ranked 13th coming into the fight, fighting an unranked Wood. Also on the card, Merab Dvalishvili defeated number 15 ranked Casey Kenney. This win likely gets Dvalishvili into the top 15 and in range to fight Dodson next. It will be a good test for the young Dvalishvili, fighting his toughest opponent to date. This also gives Dodson the chance to prove he is still going to make noise in the division by defeating yet another young prospect.

Dodson’s Next Fight: Merab Dvalishvili 

Lando Vannata

Lando Vannata dominated Yancy Mederios this past weekend. Scoring 30-27 on all three of the judge’s scorecards. This win should get Vannata very close if not right inside the top 15 of the UFC’s lightweight division. Ranked right at number 15 in the division is Alexander Hernandez. Hernandez hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision win over Francisco Trinaldo in July of 2019. If he would be willing to wait a few more months, a brawl between Vannata and himself would be one for the ages. Everyone likes to see an all-out war and with these two striking talents fighting each other, that’s exactly what you would get.

Vannata’s Next Fight: Alexander Hernandez 

Jan Blachowicz

As noted earlier, Blachowicz cemented his shot at light heavyweight gold with his win over Corey Anderson.

Blachowicz’s Next Fight: Jon Jones

Who do you think these fighters should be fighting next? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Well, on that front, the card delivered. The rest of the night was a rather weird affair, however. Fights that were expected to be hot, ran cold. Fights that had bonus potential ended with fouls. The same foul, in fact. Michel Pereira vs. Diego Sanchez, which had Fight of the Night written all over it, came to an end early when Pereira connected with an illegal knee. Pereira had been dominating the bout. Sanchez was cut open, but the doctor ruled he could continue. Sanchez, however, said he could not. After asking to speak to his coach, and confirming that the fight would end with a DQ if he couldn’t continue, he advised the ref he couldn’t see.

That was that. A DQ win for Sanchez, who was well within his rights not to continue. The only problem, it was not the end any fan really wanted to see in an entertaining and at times puzzling affair. Sanchez attempted some rolling thunder kicks, apparently forgot how to wrestle, entered the octagon strutting like a peacock, and prior to the fight was seen foaming at the mouth.

Only in MMA, right?

Pereira, meanwhile, was his usually flashy self, with just a hint of restraint. By the third round, there was no sign of fatigue from the Brazilian.

The end was almost a carbon copy of the Brok Weaver-Kazula Vargas fight, where Vargas kneed his downed opponent. That ended in a DQ as well, with the win going to Weaver.

What was left, in terms of bonus-worthy bouts, was the main event knockout of Corey Anderson by Jan Blachowicz. That one was a lock the second Anderson’s head bounced off the canvas. Statement made. Polish power prevails. Blachowicz, despite his last two wins coming over middleweights, probably should get the next title shot. Jones himself was in attendance, and certainly seemed impressed.

That earned the former KSW champ a Performance of the Night award. The other went to newcomer Daniel Rodriguez, who no one gave much of a chance to against Tim Means. Rodriguez proved the pundits wrong, catching a battered Means in a standing guillotine for the submission win.

#UFCRioRancho POTN bonuses 💰💰 pic.twitter.com/cb9MX82LE2

— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2020

Fight of the Night, meanwhile, went to Jim Miller and Scott Holtzman, who managed to battle it out for three rounds without any significant fouls. An impressive feat on a night with two illegal knees, and more low blows in Dodson vs. Wood than we care to recall.

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It’s impossible to look at the UFC Rio Rancho main event without a healthy dose of speculation. While the promotion had never come right out and said it, most saw Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz as a number one contender’s bout. What else could it be, given the state of the 205lb division?

Jon Jones was in attendance for this one. Whether he’d fight the winner was anyone’s guess.

Anderson held center early, showing head and hand movement, keeping Blachowicz on the outside. The key to victory for Anderson, as it had been in the pair’s first fight, was wrestling. So it wasn’t long before Corey closed the distance, but Blachowicz escaped. On the feet, Blachowicz connected with a punch, but Anderson answered back. No question, from their first fight in 2015, his standup had improved. Blachowicz connected with a left. No effect shown by Anderson. But moments later, the Polish fighter would put Corey Anderson down, and change the course of the conversation.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1228893219448131584

A right hand by Blachowicz floored Anderson, as Anderson was coming in. A follow-up strike was barely necessary. Anderson was out. Blachowicz went right over the Jon Jones, and signaled that he wanted the next shot. Jones, for his part, was up on his feet applauding, and seemingly accepting the challenge.

Post-fight, Blachowicz told Daniel Cormier that Jones had once promised him a title shot. Time will tell if he gets it, or if Jones opts to pursue a fight at heavyweight.

Official Result: Jan Blachowicz def. Corey Anderson by knockout, Round 1, 3:08

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The co-main event of UFC Rio Rancho was bound to be an interesting one. Diego Sanchez, the original Ultimate Fighter who has been both a dream and a nightmare throughout his career, was fighting essentially at home. Gone from Jackson-Wink MMA, but still with plenty of fire left in him. Opposite Sanchez, a massive welterweight known for his flashy fight style: Michel Pereira. Just two fights into his UFC career, and Pereira had earned a reputation as a must-watch fighter.

Pereira, as expected, danced his way out to the octagon, much to the displeasure of the partisan crowd in Rio Rancho, who were wholly in the corner of the legendary Diego Sanchez. ‘The Nightmare’ looked to be all business as he entered the cage, for his part.

🤣Did we expect anything else from @UfcPereira? #UFCRioRancho pic.twitter.com/G7SDRpgzXt

— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2020

Sanchez opened with a rolling thunder kick. Seriously. Taking a page out of Pereira’s book. Pereira showed some restraint early, but connected with a front kick then pulled off a jump kick, flying knee, kitchen sink, then another front kick. Not too sure about the kitchen sink but the rest probably happened.  Pereira targeted the body, with both his hands and kicks, walking Sanchez down as ‘The Nightmare’ circled. Sanchez would try for a level change, but Pereira easily evaded it. More successfully, Sanchez connected with a leg kick, but Pereira moved in with a combo, then a knee to the body. Another knee followed. Sanchez tried some rolling thunder again, missed, then charged at Pereira. Pereira pushed off the fence for an attack just before the buzzer.

Pereira landed a kick to the body early in the second. Sanchez landed to his opponent’s leg. With his back to the fence, he went high with a kick, but later was hit by a counter. Pereira was showing excellent cage control. His strikes weren’t connecting clean, but it felt like a matter of time. Pereira then connected to the body, went on the attack, and tried a jump knee. Sanchez reversed, but Pereira turned them back around. Pereira was changing stances, although Sanchez was able to land to the body with a kick. A clean right cross then sent Sanchez reeling. A moment later, Sanchez answered back with a blow of his own. Suddenly it was Pereira’s back to the fence, but that didn’t last long, and he went on the attack. Another flying knee attack soon had Sanchez under fire. In the final ten seconds, Pereira took the back, hoisted Sanchez up, and slammed him down for a takedown.

At the start of the third, Pereira seemed to be doing a little showboating, using a sideways karate stance, bouncing side to side. When Sanchez fanned on a spinning back fist, Pereira took him down. A moonsault followed, but didn’t land (at least, as much as they ever do). Pereira then came out of a scramble on the attack, landed a knee, got Sanchez down, and landed a hammer fist before Sanchez scrambled free. Later, Pereira would connect with a knee. But a second knee had the ref call time due to Sanchez being a downed opponent. The ref indicated he’d be taking a point. But asked if he could continue, Sanchez said he couldn’t see. He asked to speak to his coach. That wasn’t allowed, but Sanchez was overheard saying the blow was illegal and should be a DQ. He indicated he could not continue.

This was the second DQ due to an illegal knee on the night, the first coming in Brok Weaver’s debut.

Even reserved, Michel Pereira is nuts, frankly. That’s your takeaway from UFC Rio Rancho. Of course, so is Diego Sanchez, but more nuts was his approach to the fight. The illegal blow changed to course of the fight, but failing that, Sanchez was on his way to a lopsided loss.

Official Result: Diego Sanchez def. Michel Pereira by DQ (illegal knee), Round 3, 3:09

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The second half of a history making pair on Saturday, Montana De La Rosa was taking on Mara Romero Borella in women’s flyweight action at UFC Rio Rancho. Her husband, Mark, had fought earlier on the card, making the pair the first husband and wife duo to enter the octagon in the same evening.

Unfortunately, things did not turn out so well for Mark. Leaving Montana to pull out a victory for the pair.

De La Rosa took to the outside early, with Borella moving in to throw a combo. Back on the outside, Montana fired off a high kick. Moments later another kick was caught, and De La Rosa went to her back, only to scramble right back up. However, Borella would end up taking De La Rosa’s back, and spent a good chunk of time there, working to isolate an arm. De La Rosa would eventually break free and transition to Borella’s own back, but it turn could not make anything happen. They would head to the second.

De La Rosa let her hands go early in round two, backing Borella up. Borella, unfazed, circled out of harm’s way. Then moved forward with her own combo, much crisper. De La Rosa then worked for a trip and took her opponent’s back. Borella tried to fight her opponent’s hands, but De La Rosa to get a hook in. She then added a second, and focused on getting her hands in place for a rear-naked choke. Borella wouldn’t make it easy, and eventually De La Rosa transitioned back to the top. Then to the back again, in a scramble. This time, at her corner’s urging, Montana let her hands go, landing several punches and elbows before the end of the round.

Borella came out swinging to open the third round. She was more than likely behind on the scorecards. However, while Borella had the edge in the striking, she wasn’t connecting with anything clean, and De La Rosa held her own, even connecting with a right hand. She’d connect again minutes later, which just over half the round remaining — and that punch sat Mara Romero Borella on her backside. De La Rosa moved into guard, and that certainly felt like things were  done deal.

Official Result: Montana De La Rosa def. Mara Romero Borella by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Dana White’s Contender Series winner Brok Weaver made his octagon debut at UFC Rio Rancho on Saturday. One of three Contender Series fighters making their debut on the card, Weaver was the only one who had actually won his bout (the others, Shanna Young and Daniel Rodriguez, had been brought in as short-notice replacements).

Welcoming Weaver to the promotion was fellow lightweight Kazula Vargas, who had dropped his own debut last year.

Vargas came out on the attack to open the affair. He connected with a leg kick, but Weaver soon settled down and began moving forward. He had a kick caught, however, and was backed up against the fence, eating some strikes before fighting off a takedown. Vargas would stay on it, putting Weaver on his back. Weaver worked back to the cage, putting his back to it. He tried to wall-walk up, but Vargas had a leg trapped. Weaver, however, then opted to work for a guillotine, and seemed to have it in tight. Vargas looked trapped for a moment, before pulling his head free.

Then, the unthinkable. Vargas connected with an illegal knee on the downed Weaver. The ref immediately ruled it a disqualification, as Brok Weaver was seated when he full-on ate a knee to the head. Vargas had jumped in with some ground strikes before the ref could make the save.

A bittersweet finish — Brok Weaver earned his first UFC win, but certainly not the way he had envisioned.

Official Result: Brok Weaver def. Kazula Vargas by DQ, Round 1, 4:02

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Ray Borg had a lot on his plate heading into his fight against Rogerio Bontorin at UFC Rio Rancho. Far more than just the fight itself. Borg, once upon a time a contender for the UFC’s flyweight title, had hit more speed bumps outside the octagon than in it in recent years. Health issues (both his and his son’s), weight issues at the scales, and just plain bad luck seemed to swarm around Borg.

UFC Rio Rancho was supposed to put that to rest. Borg was coming off a win over Gabriel Silva, at bantamweight, last year in San Antonio. The Rio Rancho card was at home, and Borg had a chance to make a triumphant return to flyweight.

Then he missed weight Friday. Something he had said would never happen again, else he’d simply retire.

That was not doubt a lot for Borg to put out of his mind, but he’d have to against Bontorin. Borg soon found himself with his back to the fence early in round one. Bontorin appeared to have the strength advantage. However, after defending a takedown Borg was able to earn one of his own. Borg landed on top, in half guard, though Bontorin was able to maneuver his opponent back into his guard. Borg dropped an elbow, and tried to step over into mount, as Bontorin scooted back to the cage. He wall-walked up, while Borg clung to his back. While working on a leg, Borg uncorked a right hand that might have caught his opponent by surprise — then got the fight back down. He’d remain in control til the end of the round.

Early in the second, Rogerio Bontorin was already fighting off a takedown attempt. While Ray Borg wasn’t able to secure his first effort, he was on a subsequent attempt. Borg then took his opponent’s back, but while he worked for a rear-naked choke, he wasn’t in position. Borg would stay on it, however. Bontorin fought the hands, but the clock was ticking away, and he was losing the round. Almost as soon as he broke free, just to make matters worse, Borg slammed him back to the canvas.

Round three opened with Bontorin pressing forward at a measured pace, backing Ray Borg up. But Borg changed levels, reversed, and secured a takedown. Soon enough, Borg had again taken his opponent’s back. Bontorin stood up with Borg still on him, carrying his opponent’s weight. Eventually they’d go back to the ground. Borg would land a hard right hand. Bontorin was looking outclassed. They’d go the distance, with Borg the clear winner.

Yet while he’d won the battle, after four misses at the scale in his UFC career, Ray Borg may have lost the war. At the very least, another flyweight fight seemed unlikely. ‘The Tazmexican Devil’ apologized for the miss following the win.

Official Result: Ray Borg def. Rogerio Bontorin by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)

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Kicking off the UFC Rio Rancho main card were lightweights Lando Vannata and Yancy Medeiros. Vannata had gone 1-1 in 2019, after a 2018 campaign that saw him post an 0-1-2 record. Medeiros, a Hawaiian who was once a highly touted prospect, was winless in his last two fights, one each in 2019 and 2018 — making him badly in need of a victory at the Santa Ana Star Center on Saturday.

A lot — potentially a job — was on the line Saturday night. Vannata had the home field advantage, should you choose to believe in such things. The Jackson-Wink fighter was mobile early, hands low, constantly moving. He was able to effectively counter Medeiros’ attacks, and nearly caught the Hawaiian clean with a high kick about ninety seconds in.

Medeiros, for his part, had the potential to be flashy, but seemed stymied by the movement of his opponent. Medeiros employed stance switches, but ate a number of counter rights. Still, it was a close affair, aside from a single burst from Vannata, who was able to land a handful of times in quick succession.

The second round had Medeiros pressing forward, with Vannata throwing an early counter combination. He then went to the body with a kick, and threw Medeiros down, though the Hawaiian popped right back up. Medeiros fired off a punch — a cross — but couldn’t follow up. While he wasn’t exactly chasing his opponent, Vannata was leading the dance thanks to superior footwork.

The lack of actual strikes connecting had the crowd a bit antsy, but Vannata was clearly a puzzle. As the round wore on, Medeiros began connecting more, but Vannata found his own success, and seemed to have landed more overall. Vannata closed out the second with a spinning kick that sailed wide of the mark.

In the third, Medeiros was showing some damage to the nose. Vannata was still far too elusive for him to hit, while Vannata himself found success with his right hand. Not to mention his leg kicks. And a spin kick. Vannata was also going to the body, mixing up his strikes well. So while not heavy on the volume end of things, his strikes were adding up. He’d wobble Medeiros in the final minute, after eating a left from his opponent, and the fight would come to a close.

🌪Spin-kick lands for @GroovyLando pic.twitter.com/mJvEHqRiwH

— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2020

Official Result: Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Former flyweight title challenger John Dodson is now long removed from his 125lbs days. The Ultimate Fighter winner has been a member of the bantamweight roster for years, and at UFC Rio Rancho on Saturday, he was paired up against a hot young prospect in Nathaniel Wood.

Wood opened the affair with a leg kick, but when he tried to land up top with a punch and grab for a clinch, Dodson was too quick. Dodson would get his own hands going, but Wood found success as well early, with both men landing, but neither doing any significant damage. In a brief clinch, Dodson popped off a barrage of punches then quickly escaped. Wood managed to connect with a straight right. He’d repeat that, but each time Wood landed, Dodson was gone like a puff of smoke. In the final minute, Wood managed to trap his opponent against the fence. Dodson reversed, only to be tripped, but he was quick on the ground as on the feet, and escaped in a heartbeat.

The speed and agility of John Dodson was the story throughout the first round. In the second, that speed continued to shine. Wood tried his best to find angles and cut off the cage, but in the first half of the round, Wood connected low with a kick. He’d take a moment, clearly pained, but soon got back underway. He soon landed a combo, countering Wood’s next attack. Wood then connected low again, which brought about an immediate response from the ref, who implored Wood to keep his kicks up. He also threatened to take a point.

As they got back underway, Wood attacked briefly, but Dodson charged forward, throwing hands and backing Wood up to the cage. Back at center, Wood fired a left, then landed another straight right, a punch that he’d found success with several times. The pair would then grapple against the cage, with Dodson throwing in an elbow for good measure. Wood was cut, a trickle of blood leaking from his eyebrow. That cut would actually bring about a break in the action, as the doctor checked on it. Judging Wood good to go, they got back underway, but had just seconds left in the frame. They made the most of those seconds, trading to the bell.

Early in the third, John Dodson finish the fight. In the blink of an eye, he had Nathaniel Wood on his knees, care of a counter left that landed square on the chin. Wood went down, was covering up, but Dodson was relentless with his follow-up strikes. The ref waved it off, and Dodson had the victory!

🎩The MAGICIAN! @JohnDodsonMMA gets it done at home! #UFCRioRancho

Watch it LIVE on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/3v7PAOHUJB

— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2020

The win snapped a two-fight skid for ‘The Magician,’ who handed Wood the first loss of his UFC tenure.

Official Result: John Dodson def. Nathaniel Wood by TKO, Round 3, 0:16

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The man with the most fights and wins in the UFC’s lightweight division (and tied for most fights overall with Donald Cerrone), Jim Miller, was in action Saturday at UFC Rio Rancho. There, the long-serving octagon veteran faced off with Scott Holtzman, with both fighters coming off wins. Miller, in particular, had strung together a two-fight win streak, and seemed to have shaken off a slump that at least in part could be blamed on his battle with Lyme disease.

Holtzman started the fight as the favorite, which seemed like a bit of a surprise given Miller’s standing in the weight class. Miller kicked the legs out from under Holtzman early, earning a big reaction from the crowd. Holtzman held center, with Miller on the outside; he’d need to be wary of getting backed up to the fence. Miller would begin letting his hands go, straight lefts, and connected to the body with a kick as well. A kick to Holtzman’s calf followed.

In Holtzman’s favor was his ability to back Miller up, which was still a concern at the midway point of the round. Miller would finally charge forward, searching for a single-leg takedown, only to be reversed and pressed up against the fence. After separating, Holtzman found a home for his right hand at least three times. He’d fire off a high kick, while Miller’s nose was leaking blood. Off a kick, Miller would land a hard left, and later fired a superman punch just as the round came to a close.

Overall a close round, with both fighters connecting clean at times.

The second saw the lightweight pair pick up where they’d left off. Miller again found success with his low kick. But as in the first, his back was against the cage early, with Holtzman showing impressive cage control. This round, they clinched early, Holtzman pressing his opponent into the fence. Off the break, Holtzman fanned on some heavy punches. Miller then landed a lightning-quick takedown. He went for the back, but while it wouldn’t last, it showed that Miller could get the fight down. However, Holtzman answered strong, connecting up top. Miller was bloodied, but he landed with a big swing as well. Some trading in the pocket followed. Holtzman secured a trip, sweeping Miller to the canvas. Miller immediately went into submission mode, and Holtzman wisely backed off, wary of an omoplata or similar sub.

BIG exchange in the 2nd! 🤜🤛

Watch LIVE now on ESPN+ #UFCRioRancho pic.twitter.com/NeqQo00nme

— UFC (@ufc) February 16, 2020

Holtzman then moved into half-guard, and looked to drop punches and elbows, with Miller covering up. However, he’d survive, and the pair headed to the third and final frame.

Entering the third, Miller appeared to be bleeding from the back of the ear. Holtzman snapped his opponent’s head back early. Miller may have injured a knee sometime in the second, and he seemed to be protecting his left leg. He was still able to throw it, however. But with his movement impeded, Miller found himself slugging it out, trading with Holtzman — who was getting the better of the exchanges in the third. Holtzman would land an uppercut with Miller trapped along the fence, and the bloodied Miller was running out of time. He managed to trip up Holtzman with a leg kick again. One would imagine, when it came time to look back, that Miller may regret not throwing more of those. However, the pair traded to the final bell instead, going to the judges.

Official Result: Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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