Kopylov (10-2) finishes Soriano via second round TKO.

“This is exactly how I hope the fight would go. Very happy with the victory. Very happy with my performance, and we did exactly what we planned to,” Kopylov told Cageside Press among other media through a translator at his post-fight scrum.

Kopylov attacked Soriano up top with repeated shots to the head before moving to the body and finishing the fight with a devastating body kick that crumpled his opponent to the canvas.

“Yes that was exactly the game plan. My coach was in my ear. My coach said to keep working the head. Once he’s going to start covering up to keep going down, go to the body, go to the kicks, to the legs, so that’s exactly what I did,” Kopylov said.

Now that he’s put together two impressive finishes in a row Kopylov plans to get a few more fights in 2023.

“Yeah I’m very happy that the year started this way. Thank God we’re healthy. I have a couple of bruises, maybe a couple sore spots, but other than that I’m pretty healthy,” he said.

“I’d really like to have another 3-4 fights until the end of the year.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Roman Kopylov above.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Roman Kopylov Looking For At Least 3 More Fights In 2023 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It’s been hard (to get fights). That’s why I’ve been taking all these tough guys. I didn’t need to take this Mateus fight. On paper he’s a step downgrade, you know,” Basharat told Cageside Press among other media at his post-fight scrum.

Basharat (14-0) has faced higher competition before, in his opinion, as he regarded both Trevin Jones and Tony Gravely as higher-level fighters.

“This is a debut guy. Gravely’s been in the UFC. He’s had great fights, D1 wrestler, whatever. Even Trevin he had a better name than this guy. Not that this guy wasn’t good, but just on paper,” he said.

“It’s because I’ve been getting ducked, you know, so that’s why I was like alright let me take this fight. For me it’s about my progression it’s not about the name I take out.”

Now that he’s earned his third consecutive win in the UFC, to Basharat, it’s time to finally get into the rankings.

“We need to start getting serious. I need to get ranked if I’m not ranked after this fight let me get a ranked guy so I can show my worth,” said Basharat.

As far as a title shot in 2023 or 2024, while Basharat believes he’s ready, he knows nothing is ever that simple when it comes to the championship.

“Skill-wise yes I can be ready. Will I get it? Due to politics and that, probably not. I’m still not even in the top 15 so how am I going to get that, you know,” he said.

“But progressively, like for my own, I think I’ll be closing down on that for sure.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Javid Basharat above.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Javid Basharat Says Fighters Duck Him, Wants Ranking appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I’m excited that it’s over with. It’s been a really long camp. 14 weeks I actually had a lot of injuries going on and just different things that I felt like this entire 14 weeks it’s been kind of climbing mountains and coming back down, and climbing some more,” Pennington told Cageside Press among other media at her post-fight scrum.

“So to go out there and actually get my hand raised and continue on my win streak…I’m just happy. I’m relieved, I’m excited.”

Pennington (15-8) said those that managing her injuries was key with the help of the UFC.

“We just had to adapt a little bit and that’s what it’s all about, right,” she said.

With her wife, fellow UFC fighter Tecia Torres, expecting their first child this year would Pennington consider taking some time off?

“Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I’m on a roll, I have goals for myself, and you know I’m an athlete. This is my career, this is my profession. I’m passionate about it. Obviously Tecia knows the lifestyle and what not and so I came out of this healthy,” Pennington said.

“Couple bumps and bruises and couple sutures on my head, but it’s fine. It’ll heal. Just take a couple weeks off, regroup, let my body heal, and honestly I would love to fight again in probably May.”

With Pennington sporting a five-fight win streak she now seems to be in position to get a title fight, and a second shot at champion Amanda Nunes.

“I don’t feel like I should be denied anymore. 5-fight win streak, I mean, how much more are people going to keep denying me? I feel like the respect needs to be put on my name at this point. That’s (the title) is my ultimate goal. Obviously I don’t have control of it. I would love to fight for the world title before the year’s over. If that doesn’t happen then my ultimate goal is to be the #1 in the world and then start 2024 off right,” she said.

“But, I mean, I’m ready to go.”

If not the world title fight then what? Not waiting around.

“I want to stay active. I love challenges and that’s what it’s about,” she said.

Who would that be?

“Who’s #1? Who,” she asked.

The media room replied with Julianna Pena’s name.

“There you go.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Raquel Pennington above.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Raquel Pennington Says She Can Be Denied No Longer appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Yeah that was an emotional one for me. Get back into the win column. Been working really hard. Been working on myself, been working on my mind, been training harder than ever. So it felt really good for the work to pay off, because sometimes preparation and hard work doesn’t always pay off,” Ige told Cageside Press among other media at his post-fight scrum.

“Tonight it did so it felt good.”

Ige (14-6) got back into the win column in style with a highlight reel walk-off KO of Jackson that seemed almost too perfect.

50K IGE WITH THE WALK OFF 😳 #UFCVegas67 pic.twitter.com/46qPVQa1TY

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 15, 2023

“I was right in perfect range, and he dropped his right hand to throw the uppercut, and I knew if I just threw the hook it was going to land. It landed perfectly, and I saw him fall backwards and his knees collapsed. I knew it was game over,” Ige said.

Ige showed restraint after Jackson went down opting to not land any more shots on his opponent.

“There’s no need to follow up, and do further damage. I’m a killer in there, but at the end of the day it’s like, if I know it’s over I don’t want to intentionally put more damage on a guy’s career. This guy has a family. I have to block that stuff out, but if I can land a clean punch and walk-off I think there’s nothing better than that,” he said.

“It’s f*cking cold. You land a good punch and walk-off like Mark Hunt….just sick.”

Recently the MMA world lost a special talent and person when ONE Championship’s Victoria Lee passed away at just 18-years-old. Ige knows the family well.

“Honestly, it’s super hard. I never knew Victoria. I know Christian, I know Angela, I know her husband. I know their dad. When that news came out, a girl being so young, 18, tons of potential, loved by so many, it’s just heartbreaking. Because that’s one of our own,” Ige said.

Many on social media have jumped onto posts about Victoria Lee’s passing posting theories about what may have happened to the young fighter. No cause of death has been released by the family.

“I pray that people give them the respect because on social media everyone wants to come up with the conspiracy. Was it the vaccine? Was it mental health? Was it this, was it that? Like give them freaking respect because that’s their tragedy. It’s their loss,” he said.

“Give them some respect. An 18-year-old girl passes, and they’re going to mourn that for the rest of their lives. We’re going to wake up Monday and f*cking read the newspaper ‘What’s next?’ They have to mourn that. It’s an absolute tragedy. They were definitely weighing on my heart, and the only thing you can do is pray for them.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Dan Ige above.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Dan Ige Details Jackson KO, Asks For Respect For Lee Family appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It was a great victory, very important, after two losses, and I’m really hoping that we’re going to keep winning from now on,” Kopylov told Cageside Press among other media through a translator on Wednesday.

Kopylov is no stranger to adversity. Besides the losses he actually had issues getting a visa to come to the states and dealt with COVID issues. After entering the UFC in 2019 it wasn’t until 2022 that he earned his first win in the promotion.

“Yeah there was a lot of obstacles, lot of things that I had to overcome, but finally we won in Paris. I’m hoping that we’re going to win now as well,” Kopylov said.

“We’re going to show a great fight.”

Now he faces Soriano who is coming off a big knockout victory himself.

“He’s got a great standup. He keeps coming, and I think that’s what we should do. We should keep standing with him, and show the fans an exciting fight,” he said.

“That’s exactly what they’re expecting.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Roman Kopylov above. Kopylov takes on Punahele Soriano at UFC Vegas 67 on Jan. 14 at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Roman Kopylov Looks To Stand With Soriano appeared first on Cageside Press.

The 5-year UFC vet is currently on a three-fight losing streak coming into his fight at the UFC APEX against Jackson.

“It’s definitely frustrating. I haven’t had a win in almost two years. A guy that does everything in his power, everything in my training, all my preparations. What I put in my body, my sleep, the amount of money I invest into myself, in my training, in my coaches,” Ige told Cageside Press among other media at on Wednesday.

“And to not get a victory in however long it’s been, since March what 2021, it’s frustrating.”

Ige (15-6) has been through a tough stretch. After snapping a 6-fight win streak he has gone 1-4 in his last 5 bouts.

“I’ve picked myself down to the core. You go back and say ‘why did I lose that one?’. I can’t lose more than two in a row. Then I lose two, then I lose three. It’s super frustrating,” Ige said.

“But I think through that time I’ve really…kind of went back and dissected myself. It’s hard not to, right?”

A bright spot for Ige this Saturday night will be fighting on the same card as good friend Punahele Soriano who takes on Roman Kopylov just before Ige takes the octagon.

“Honestly that’s the most exciting thing about this whole week is just getting to compete with one of my best friends in the world. Puna and I have grown up together since our early teens. Went to high school together, rode the bus together every single day. About an hour bus ride from 7-11 to our school,” said Ige.

“He was wrestling before me, but when I started wrestling we’d take the bus home every day like late at night. 7,8, 9pm and just talk about being in the UFC. Even if we didn’t truly believe it, we’d talk about it, and dream about it.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Dan Ige above. Ige takes on Damon Jackson in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 67 on Saturday Jan. 14 at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 67: Dan Ige Frustrated With Losing Streak, Excited For Soriano appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Actually me and Dan were the ones who set it up,” Jackson explained. “We both wanted to get one more in [2022].”

It’s not uncommon in the world of MMA to see callout lead to fight, especially on social media. However, it is uncommon to see them as 100% agreeable and respectable.

“I messaged him [on Instagram] and was like ‘hey man, I’ve got nothing but respect for you – would love to get matched up with you if you want to get one more in by the end of this year,” he said. “He was cool. He was like ‘yeah, man. You’re killing it. You definitely deserve a shot at the top 15.”

Just like it was in the DMs, it will be in the cage. Jackson knows that this step forward in his career is likely going to be one of his very toughest tests. He expects an absolute battle, but one that his style will lend itself to.

“He’s definitely got the wrestling pedigree in there to square up with me wrestling,” Jackson said. “This is going to be a true mixed martial arts fight. This is going to be a big test in a lot of ways… Everybody knows my style now. I’m coming for it. I’m looking for that finish.”

These two will get a chance to throw down as the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Vegas 67. The fight will take place on ESPN+

You can listen to the entire audio of this interview below at 2:21. 

The post UFC Vegas 67’s Ige vs Jackson: A Match Made… on Instagram? appeared first on Cageside Press.

Damon Jackson Interview (2:21)

Kicking off this edition of TTP is our interview with UFC featherweight Damon Jackson. Riding a four-fight win streak, Jackson was going to be looking for a big fight. He found one at UFC Vegas 67 with ranked contender Dan Ige. However, the way he found it was a little less than conventions – and he tells us the story. Plus he breaks down that fight with Ige and why he feels like he’s going to extend the win streak. Plus, he chats about changes he’s made that have made this second run in the UFC so much more magical than the first time around.

Fights, Dogs, and Parlays: UFC Vegas 67 (17:55)

It’s back. It is finally back. The UFC returns this weekend for UFC Vegas 67, live from the Apex in Las Vegas. We’ll be breaking down some of the top fights on that card, including a banger of a main event. Nassoudine Imavov tries to insert himself into the top of the division as he faces middleweight stalwart Kelvin Gastelum. Plus, top bantamweights Ketlen Vieira and Raquel Pennington throw down. All that, and we’re also trying to make your wallets happy with an underdog and parlay – both set to cash you some plus-money. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Isaac Dulgarian Interview (28:46)

Closing out this week’s edition of TTP is an interview with UFC feather Isaac Dulgarian. He takes us through the exciting finish he picked up at FAC 12: Dana White’s Looking for a Fight. Then he shares how he was told he had earned himself a contract. Plus, he talks about being inspired from his cousin’s run through WEC and how special it was to have him and the rest of his family at that fight. And, of course, we’re chatting about his debut fight at UFC Vegas 67 this Saturday. Come get to know ‘The Midwest Choppa”.

The post TTP Ep. 360 with Damon Jackson, Isaac Dulgarian, and UFC Vegas 67 appeared first on Cageside Press.

First reported by ESPN.

Gastelum reportedly suffered a mouth injury that took him out of the fight.

I’m extremely disappointed to say the least. This not how I wanted to start 2023.
I worked my ass off & battled through a lot of adversary and was ready to put on a hell of a show this weekend.
I apologize to Imavov, his camp as well as @ufc and all the fans. #OnAmission4Gold

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) January 9, 2023

Lucky for us middleweight Sean Strickland is always game for a fight. He steps in against Imavov on short notice. The fight will be contested at 205-pounds, and will be a five round main event.

First UFC main event of 2023 has underwent a last minute change. Gastelum out with a mouth injury, Sean Strickland has agreed to replace him against Imavov. Five rounds, but now 205 pounds per UFC officials. This is now back to back UFC events headlined by Strickland. pic.twitter.com/ivg7VXl0qT

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 9, 2023

Imavov (12-3) is currently riding a three-fight win streak with victories over Joaquin Buckley, Ian Heinisch and Edmen Shahbazyan. The #12 ranked middleweight looks to continue the streak and break into the top 10.

Strickland (25-5) will headline his second consecutive event after ending 2022 at the UFC APEX against Jared Cannonier. He lost the bout via decision.

The post Kelvin Gastelum Out, Sean Strickland Steps In vs. Imavov At UFC Vegas 67 appeared first on Cageside Press.

First reported by Igor Lazori.

According to Lazori the UFC will search for a replacement with about two weeks left until the event.

Neal (15-4) was riding a two-fight win streak with wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Vicente Luque respectively. He was looking to start 2023 on a good note with a win over one of the best welterweights in the division in Rakhmonov.

Rakhmonov (16-0) was looking to move up the rankings. Currently at #10 in the welterweight rankings the thought was that a victory over #6 Neal would project Rakhmonov into title contention.

Now the UFC searches for a replacement, but with only a couple of weeks until the event it’s tough to see anyone in the top 10 taking the fight against Rakhmonov.

UFC Vegas 67 takes place at the UFC APEX on Jan. 14 with Nassourdine Imavov and Kelvin Gastelum set to face off in the main event. Currently the card stands as follows:

• Nassourdine Imavov vs. Kelvin Gastelum
• Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov
• Dan Ige vs. Damon Jackson
• Jimmy Flick vs. Charles Johnson
• Ketlen Vieira vs. Raquel Pennington
• Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Raoni Barcelos
• Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Claudio Ribeiro
• Javid Basharat vs. Mateus Mendoca
• David Onama vs.
• Allen Nascimento vs. Carlos Hernandez
• Mateusz Rebecki vs. Nick Fiore
• Dan Argueta vs. Isaac Dulgarian

The post Geoff Neal Out Of Rakhmonov Bout At UFC Vegas 67 appeared first on Cageside Press.