“Oh man it feels good. Scratched my cornea a little bit so forgive me if I’m wiping my eyes the whole time, but it feels good. Specially after my last fight I took that last fight with Tyson Nam on two weeks notice. You know I took a lot of heat from people online. Dude that was two-weeks notice calm down,” Osbourne told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“So I really wanted to show I could fight all three rounds.”

The fight came with it’s own challenges including an unfortunate low blow that Osbourne took.

“After that nut shot I was saying, you know, that really cramped my stomach up throughout the fight, but like I said Dewey Cooper always is like it’s not about how you feel it’s what you do. Trying to remember that it’s not about how I feel, forget about how I feel, it’s what I’m going to do in this fight,” he said.

“I’m going to push through this feeling and I’m just going to dig deep. And that’s what I did.”

The eye scratch was something most weren’t very aware of, but he was definitely showing some damage during his scrum.

“I was fighting with one eye the whole time. I think his finger or his glove, I don’t know what it was, kind of scratched my eye, but I didn’t want to stop it. I didn’t want to wave or anything like that because I wanted to keep the momentum going, keep on digging, because sometimes when you stop the momentum it can give them some rest,” said Osbourne.

“I didn’t want him to rest. I wanted to keep pushing.”

Osbourne employed a very kick-heavy attack against Johnson and he explained that he wanted to do some real damage to his opponent with the kicks.

“To be honest with you I was trying to break his legs the whole fight because I know, me and Dewey been working those body kicks, leg kicks, I know he doesn’t check any kicks. My whole mentality going in was breaking his legs. I was trying to break his legs,” he said.

“I knew when he started talking to me I was like yeah I’m getting close. I’m getting closer and closer. So I know he’s going to be waking up feeling that tomorrow morning for sure because my kicks are no joke.”

Now that the victory has been earned the next move for Osbourne the next move was a trip to the ER, but after that? More violence.

“Once I get my eye situation figured out we’ll plan it out and I’ll talk to my managers and my coaches, but there is a guy that I would love to fight because I think he’s a very exciting fight. I think we would put on a show, a banger,” said Osbourne.

“That’s Matt Schnell. I think we put on a great performance because he comes to fight, I come to fight, and that’s the game. People want to see entertaining fights and I think we would be an entertaining fight.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Ode’ Osbourne above.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Ode’ Osbourne Fought With One Eye, Wants Schnell Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

“On fire. I feel great. I’m alive right now and I’m just super grateful and blessed. I’m on fire,” Peek told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

Peek (8-0) wasn’t surprised at how the fight ended and neither should anyone else given that every victory he has had in his professional career has come by way of KO or TKO.

“I knew I could get the job done and I knew I could get it done in the first round. Yeah it’s exactly how I thought it would go,” he said.

Peek made an impression on Dana White’s Contender Series back in Sept. 2022 when he took home a TKO victory over Malik Lewis.

“This is on the big stage. I felt more at home this time compared to the Contender Series fight. Nerves got the best of me in the last one and I just didn’t really feel like myself til maybe the second round in my Contender Series fight,” he said.

“I felt a lot more home this one. Just more comfortable. I’m just in my element.”

Now that he’s made his debut at the UFC APEX Peek mentioned being ready to fight in front of a sold-out crowd at an arena one closer to home preferably.

“I’m ready to get in front of the crowd. I miss my fans terribly. I’m an entertainer and a performer. I love the roar. I’m used to a pretty big fan base. God’s blessed me with a real big support system. I’m so ready to get in the arena. I just want to feel that roar of the crowd,” said Peek.

“The Miami card would be pretty cool coming up. Really any arena but specially somewhere you know kind of close to the southeast region where my fans can afford to come. I’m not picky.”

And the opponent?

“It don’t matter. I ain’t got nobody in mind really just whoever they put in front of me, you know, I’ll get the job done.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Trevor Peek above.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Trevor Peek More Comfortable In The Octagon In His Debut appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I feel…like a million bucks. I’m so happy. I’m in a great mood. I look good, I feel good, I performed good,” Leavitt told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“Got hit a little bit more than I should have, but I got two paychecks, and my last fight isn’t me getting tea bagged in front of a bunch of drunk degenerates. So I’m pretty good. Pretty damn good.”

Leavitt (11-2) was coming off the loss to Paddy Pimblett in July of 2022 where he was submitted and part of Pimblett’s post-fight Call of Duty style celebration.

Helps that every fighter who got a finish at UFC Vegas 70 earned a 50K bonus from the promotion.

Leavitt strolled into his post-fight scrum wearing a red vintage suit and platform shoes.

“This is my granddad’s outfit. He passed away a few years ago, and he was always like one of my bigger supporters. So when I fought Paddy I promised I’m going to beat Paddy. I’m going to dress in his suit, and that didn’t happen,” Leavitt said.

“So I thought you know on the rebound this would be a good suit to wear. So I’m thinking about him.”

Leavitt finished the fight by employing the Thai clinch and landing some devastating knees on his opponent before ending the bout with strikes to the grounded Martinez.

“I impressed myself. I always like struggle self-belief a lot when I like am preparing. I have a lot of anxiety, but I’m very happy with that. I took a few punches, I didn’t freak out, I didn’t panic wrestle. I hurt him to the body and then I good instincts,” he said.

“I’m now a grappling specialist with half his wins in the UFC by knockout so quite happy with that.”

When one reporter pointed out that Leavitt had predicted that finish the lightweight smirked.

“That was a joke! That was straight up joke. I had no belief that I was literally going to knock him out. It was a possibility, things happen, but total joke,” he said.

Now that he’s back in the winner’s circle what’s next for one of the more expressive fighters on the roster.

“My wife has not seen me fight since I’ve been in the UFC. My family my mom, everyone who has supported me all long the way, they haven’t been able to see me fight for now half of my career. It really bums me out,” he said.

“I really would love for my wife to come to the next one as long as I’m not flying to some other country where they hate me. Give me T-Mobile (Arena). Give me like the hometown crowd I deserve it, dammit.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Jordan Leavitt above.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Jordan Leavitt Wants To Fight Is Las Vegas, Tribute To Granddad appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I feel really great about (the win). I worked really hard to prepare for this. In the morning, at night, sometimes four times a day. Now you see the result,” Aliev told Cageside Press among other media through a translator at his post-fight scrum.

“My country is about 25 hours away by travel so takes about 25 hours to get here. You have to switch a couple planes. There’s a 16 hour time difference. I’m young, I’m hungry, I want to make my country famous. I’m only 22.”

Traveling from Tajikistan to Las Vegas to work is something not many 22-year-olds in his country are doing.

“Usually people that are my age in my country they’re partying every day, and I’m away from my home. I’m training. I only see my family for about two months out of the year. Other than that I’m here and this is what I do,” he said.

During the fight a time-out was called due to Alves claiming Aliev bit one of his fingers when they were grappling. No clear video evidence of a bite was found, but the ref did see bite marks on Alves’s finger so a point was taken from Aliev.

“There was no bite. I was controlling him with my head and he was trying to get me off by putting his hand in my mouth. So I was trying to spit his hand out and as I was spitting it out his finger caught one of my teeth. Maybe he was tired so he decided he that way to kind of call that there was a bite,” Aliev said.

“There wasn’t a bite. He was just tired because a young ‘Eagle’ was pressuring him. He felt the pressure of a young ‘Eagle’.”

Now that the fight is done Aliev is ready to go home, rest up, and come back for his next fight.

“I’d like to go home. I don’t really have a name. I’d like to go home and rest. I’ll be ready for whoever UFC gives me, ” Aliev said.

“I want to celebrate Ramadan and afterwards I’ll be ready for anybody.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Nurullo Aliev above.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Nurullo Aliev Says He Did Not Bite Alves During Their Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I started in the UFC with four wins. I had two main events as well. I think that no matter what I’ve done, whether it’s fighting whether it’s going to a television show. Being asked for any event I’ve always represented and been proud to represent the UFC. I think I’m a model employee of the UFC so to speak, even with the losses, to be able to be in the main card…I understand the win has to come in order to stay here,” Sakai told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.

“To stay with the organization, but for them to have seen that even though there were losses, it means that they’re actually looking at this and that they see me for who I am.”

Having extra pressure to fight in order to keep his roster spot doesn’t really bother him coming into UFC Vegas 70.

“I felt that pressure way more before. I don’t feel the pressure anymore as much as I felt in the past. I think that whatever happened is past. I’m here to actually write a different history. I worked very hard to be in this position. I’ve been here before and I really felt it before,” Sakai said.

“I don’t pressure myself in that sense. I want to get a win, get to a new win streak, I know how much I’m worth. I know my value as a person and I want to write a different history in the UFC.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Augusto Sakai above. Sakai takes on Don’Tale Mayes at UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Augusto Sakai Not Feeling Pressure Of Fighting For Roster Spot appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Brendan’s a great athlete coming in from a good winning stretch in the promotion, but I’m going to go out there Saturday and just do my job. I feel very prepared, very ready to go, to invade the top of the rankings,” Muniz told reporters on Wednesday through a translator.

Allen had said earlier that Muniz would meet his match against him in the octagon on Saturday when it comes to the grappling department. Muniz welcomed the challenge and hoped his opponent would stay true to his word.

“Not too long ago he actually posed a challenge, a ground challenge, to me. To see who would win on the ground. So I hope he actually stands up to his word and let’s take this to the ground and let’s see who has the best jiu jitsu in the division,” Muniz said.

“I think patience is going to be the primary virtue in this instance because (he’s) a great athlete very well prepared. I think the one that allows the other one to make the first mistake will end up controlling the fight.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Andre Muniz above. Muniz takes on Brendan Allen in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Andre Muniz Ready To Invade The Rankings After Win Over Allen appeared first on Cageside Press.

“We was on call for the situation with the belt,” Spann told reporters on Wednesday.

Turns out Spann was on the short list for a 205 title fight that ultimately went to Jamahal Hill who took full advantage of the opportunity. Spann, however, was not happy about missing out on a title shot.

“Why would I be happy about not getting a title fight? I don’t do this to show off, I don’t do this to fight for no reason, I want what I want so I can get out when I can get out,” Spann said.

“I want to get in and out. The longer it takes me to get there the longer I gotta stay.”

For now however he gets Krylov who comes in on a two-fight win streak with victories over Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir, respectively. Spann doesn’t really care what Krylov has to bring to the fight. He’s only worried about performing himself.

“I haven’t thought about it (what to expect from Krylov) to be honest. I really don’t care. There’s going to be a lot of new YouTube comments tonight. Ryan “I don’t care” Spann. I hear this sh*t a lot,” Spann laughed.

“I mean really it don’t matter to me. I’m just going to be me and have fun like I always do. Everything else lines up.”

The key to victory? “Have fun.”

With a win over Krylov at UFC Vegas 70 Spann hopes to be back in the title picture.

“Like I said the longer it take for me to get where I’m trying to go…the sooner they give me that the sooner I can take over. My plan is to get the belt then i’ll leave it for Kennedy (Nzechukwu). When Kennedy is ready I’ll either go up or I’ll be done,” Spann said.

“That’s my brother.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Ryan Spann above. Spann takes on Nikita Krylov at UFC Vegas 70 in the main event on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Ryan Spann Says Krylov Fight Almost Didn’t Happen, Wants Title Fight Soon appeared first on Cageside Press.

De La Rosa (12-7-1) has been out of action since her loss to Maycee Barber in April 2022.

“I just had like some injuries, some medical stuff, I had to just take some time off for that,” De La Rosa told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’m back. Healthy.”

Being out for nearly a year was something De La Rosa recognized her body needed in order to get back to 100%.

“Yeah I definitely needed my body to heal, and then I was trying to get a fight for a little bit, and they just kept saying oh wait for this one. So 12 weeks ago they threw out Tatiana and I was like yeah, let’s go,” she said.

Suarez (8-0) was on the rise before a neck and knee injuries took her out of the octagon for nearly four years. The pressure to welcome back one of the rising stars on the roster isn’t something De La Rosa is worried about.

“There’s not any pressure for me. If anything she’s the one with the pressure. I mean everyone says she’s like the next Khabib or the woman Khabib. I think she has a lot of expectations to live up to in this fight,” De La Rosa said.

“Just that she’s a big name you know, she’s undefeated, she kind of is one dimensional. Obviously the best at what she does, but I just feel like there’s a lot of things that I can do in there that she hasn’t seen before,” said De La Rosa.

“Specially when she’s moving up to the flyweight division when she’s just been facing smaller opponents.”

De La Rosa has a point with Suarez moving up from strawweight where she had a considerable size advantage.

“I mean I think she’s physically going to be very strong because she was dominating at 115, but I’m used to very strong opponents. She’s obviously faced Carla (Esparza) who’s a really great wrestler, but she’s so small,” she said.

“I think it’s going to be different when she faces someone who has wrestling background like me as well as good striking, and good Jiu Jitsu as well.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Montana De La Rosa above. De La Rosa faces Tatiana Suarez at UFC Vegas 70 at the UFC APEX on Saturday night.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Montana De La Rosa Needed The Time Away To Heal Her Body appeared first on Cageside Press.

“It feels like the Tom Breese fight all over again. Hopefully the performance says the same, and everything will be good and dandy and ready to go,” Allen told reporters on Wednesday.

Facing his first top 15 opponent on Saturday night isn’t lost on Allen.

“It feels good to finally have, you know, looking for that number and the same guy the whole camp, full camp. And a good guy at that. He’s a good opponent and I think he’s a good guy. I think he’s cool, but no matter what, none of that matters. I’m going to go out there and I’m going to do what I need to do. We can be friends after, but I’m excited,” he said.

Muniz comes into the fight with a lot of deserved hype based around his grappling prowess.

“I feel he’s good at certain positions and some transitions he does is a little different, but from the jiu jitsu aspect MMA jiu jitsu and sport jiu jitsu is totally different. I understand his positionings. I understand what he’s looking for. I understand what he’s trying to do,” said Allen.

“And I understand his intentions. I feel like many guys haven’t before and I also don’t feel like those guys were just very competent in that area. I think he’s met his match for that aspect of his game which is his best aspect.”

A win over a ranked opponent, specially a finish, would warrant a number next to Allen’s name.

“Hopefully this will be my last time at three times a year. Obviously after the rankings it’s hard with dates for everyone and things like that. So hopefully this will be my last time fighting three times this year. I gotta go out here and finish Muniz,” Allen said.

“I’ll look for Jack Hermansson or Dricus du Plessis no matter what happens next weekend, he’s still ahead of me.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Brendan Allen above. Allen takes on Andre Muniz at UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Brendan Allen Says Muniz Has Met His Match In Grappling appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Happy to be (here). My (third) fight in Las Vegas, I did Contender Series, I did two fights with the UFC so I feel like I’m at home,” Lainesse told reporters on Wednesday.

“This is business. We are here to work. I’m here, I train, I sleep. Recovery…just all that stuff. I keep it simple I’m just focused on fighting and winning on Saturday night.”

Lainesse (9-1) has been off since his last fight in Sept. 2022 where he defeated Darian Weeks at UFC 279.

“It was a good time (away) for me. I’m the kind of guy who when the last like two or three years I (fought) a lot. I was with CFFC organization, I fight like 4 times in 1 year, I did Contender Series so I was happy about the time (off),” Lainesse said.

Lainesse faces Mike Malott at UFC Vegas 70 on the main card portion of the event.

“Oh man. When you’re in the UFC you can’t run away. I think we are a good matchup. He’s 8-1-1 and I’m 9-1. We are two prospects in the division of welterweight. Two finishers so I think for the UFC it’s an amazing matchup,” he said.

“We’re going to put on a good show I’m pretty sure.”

Lainesse is aware of Malott’s quick starts in fights, but it’s something he’s been training for.

“I know he starts strong. I know he’s a finisher like I said. He starts strong in the first round, but it’s pretty risky to start strong with me. Because in the first round I’m very dangerous too. Mike has 8 (finishes), but 8 of that are by submission. In 9 finishes I’m 6 knockouts,” Lainesse said.

“I know he get knocked out before. I know he’s (gets) touched when he fights. When I touch, people fall, so pretty sure I’m going to win.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Yohan Lainesse above. Lainesse faces Mike Malott at UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 70: Yohan Lainesse says “When I Touch, People Fall”, Expects Victory Over Malott appeared first on Cageside Press.