Earlier this month, no fewer than 15 names were removed from the promotion’s athlete database. Now, as of Tuesday, eight more have joined them (and nine if you count Jake Hadley, whose exit was confirmed last week).

Among these latest names are former UFC women’s strawweight and The Ultimate Fighter 20 alum Jessica Penne, Olympic medalist Robelis Despaigne, and talented Brazilian flyweight Matheus Nicolau. While Penne recently lost her third straight fight, and Despaigne was coming off back-to-back setbacks, Nicolau remains something of a surprise. While he had lost three straight, those losses had all come to top talents, including title challengers in Alex Perez and Brandon Royval.

The total list of names removed from the roster on Tuesday are below. The changes were first noted by UFC Roster Tracker, an automated service that monitor’s the promotion’s fighter database. Removal doesn’t necessarily mean “cut” – retirement (as in the case of Daniel Pineda) or fighting out a contract can also see a fighter removed.

• Jessica Penne
• Robelis Despaigne
• Matheus Nicolau
• Daniel Pineda
• Tamires Vidal
• Vinicius Salvador
• Charalampos Grigoriou
• Jesse Butler

The post Eight More Fighters Including Penne, Nicolau Trimmed from UFC Roster appeared first on Cageside Press.

What comes next for the losing side of the Fight Night card? Read on.

Edson Barboza

Edson Barboza lost a mostly one-sided beating after nearly stopping his opponent, Lerone Murphy, in the opening round of the main event of UFC Vegas 92. Barboza, now 38 years old was a long-time veteran of the UFC’s lightweight division, who transitioned to featherweight in 2020 and is 18-12 with the promotion.

Barboza has now won just two of his last five fights since 2021.  Barboza stopped Billy Quarantillo in April of 2023 and defeated Sodiq Yusuff six months later via unanimous decision.

Barboza’s next opponent should be Sean Woodson. It’d be a great striking matchup, the boxing of Woodson vs the knees and kicks of Barboza. Woodson, a 2019 Contender Series product, has gone 6-1-1 in the UFC. Woodson won a split decision over Charles Jourdain in January. Woodson’s most recent bout was a unanimous decision victory against Alex Caceres at UFC St. Louis, last Saturday.

Barboza’s next fight: Sean Woodson 

Carlston Harris

Carlston Harris was brutally finished in the first round of his bout against Khaos Williams on Saturday.  It was Carlston’s first co main event appearance in the UFC since being picked up by the promotion in May of 2021.

Harris is 4-2 with the UFC and his only other loss was a February of 2022 first round loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov. Harris has finished Christan Aguilera, Impa Kasanganay, and Jeremiah Wells. He is a solid fighter in the welterweight division who has already faced some very tough guys.

A good matchup would be Ramiz Brahimaj who fought in the previous fight on the main card. The two were scheduled to fight back in February, but that bout was cancelled thanks to an injury from Ramiz.

Harris’ next fight: Ramiz Brahimaj

Ramiz Brahimaj

Ramiz lost a grueling unanimous decision to Themba Gorimbo in the featured bout on Saturday.

Ramiz Brahimaj is now 2-3 with the UFC since being picked up from the LFA in 2020. To be fair, Ramiz has only lost this weekend to Gorimbo and to UFC vets Max Griffin and Court McGee. Brahimaj has finished his two victories in the UFC, Sasha Palatnikov in 2021 and Michael Gillmore in 2022, both in the opening round. Sasha is no longer with the promotion and TUF 29 contestant, Gillmore has not fought since his bout with Ramiz.

Ramiz needs a win, but his record definitely doesn’t tell the whole story of his time in the UFC. Brahimaj should fight Carlston Harris, and it makes even more since because Carlston was stopped in his bout on UFC Vegas 92.

Brahimaj’s next fight: Carlston Harris

Vinicius Salvador

Vinicius Salvador was viciously stopped in a tough matchup against Adrian Yanez on Saturday.

Salvador is now 0-3 with UFC since winning his Contender Series bout in 2022. Vinicius also had the misfortune of missing weight in his second bout with the promotion against CJ Vergara in July of 2023.

Obviously, Vinicius is in danger of losing his spot on the UFC roster. A possible matchup for the 27-year-old would be Kleydson Rodrigues. He fought on the undercard of UFC Vegas 92, losing a unanimous decision to Alatengheili. Kleydson is now 1-3 in the UFC. Rodrigues has missed weight twice, including in June of 2023 when a miss resulted in his fight with Tatsuro Taira being cancelled.

The two fighters were also supposed to fight back in October of 2022, but the fight was cancelled when Salvador withdrew. What better time to run that fight back to decide who stays on the roster.

Salvador’s next fight: Kleydson Rodrigues

Luana Pinheiro

Luana was submitted by Angela Hill in the second round of their bout to open the main card of UFC Vegas 92. Pinheiro is now on a two-fight skid after starting her UFC career at 3-0. Pinheiro is a Contender Series product from the 2020 season and her most recent win was a split decision victory over Michelle Waterson-Gomez in April of 2023.

Pinheiro should fight the #15 ranked UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz. She was on a four-fight win streak before losing to Iasmin Lucindo in a unanimous decision on UFC 301 earlier this month. Karolina is a name in the UFC and a 17-fight veteran, it’d be a good changing of the guard type fight for a fringe ranking at 115lbs.

Pinheiro’s next fight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The post What’s Next: UFC Vegas 92 Losers appeared first on Cageside Press.

Salvador is normally a flyweight, but after missing weight in his last fight he had to move up to the 135 pound weight class. There, he was chosen as the bounce-back opponent for Yanez, a former ranked fighter who suffered two knockout losses to ranked opponents in Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez. Those setbacks came after Yanez opened up his UFC run at 5-0.

As a huge favorite, Yanez did exactly what he was expected to at UFC Vegas 92.

The fight was all striking. Yanez kept the pressure on until he found his moment to land a big right hook which dropped Salvador. Adrian pounced on top and rained down a good twenty-five punches before referee Chris Tognoni finally deemed it necessary to stop the bout.

Adrian Yanez then used his post-fight speech to raise awareness for disaster relief for his hometown of Houston, Texas. Houston and surrounding areas in Texas were recently hit by deadly storms, resulting in at least seven deaths in the Houston area alone.

Official Result: Adrian Yanez def. Vinicius Salvador by TKO (right hook to ground strikes) Round 1, 2:47

The post Adrian Yanez Bounces Back From Losses, TKOs Vinicius Salvador at UFC Vegas 92 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Unlike Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira, however, this bout moved forward, with Salvador coughing up a chunk of his purse to his opponent.

Both men were tentative early on, engaging in a bit of a feeling-out process on the feet with Salvador landing some low kicks and his opponent returning with a few punches though neither man able to land a combination or a strike of much significance.

The stalling continued on throughout the bout, with Salvador doing more showboating than attempting to mount any serious offense. Vergara got the better of the exchanges in rounds two and three after dropping the first frame by a slim margin, ultimately going on to win the bout by unanimous decision.

“It wasn’t the fight we wanted but it’s (wins) in the chat,” Vergara said to the camera following the victory.

Vergara moves to (3-2) under the UFC banner and will look to continue this momentum with another fight before the year’s end.

Salvador, on the other hand, missed weight and put forth a fairly lackluster performance in his second consecutive loss since his victory on Dana White’s Contender Series last summer. It’ll be interesting to see which direction the UFC decides to go with the 27 year-old Brazilian flyweight.

Official Result: C.J. Vergara def. Vinicius Salvador by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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A 2022 Contender Series winner, Salvador had won four straight fights en route to his octagon debut. Altamirano, also a DWCS graduate, was coming off his first win in the promotion, opposite Daniel Da Silva.

As the fight started, Salvador was almost immediately attacking the legs. Being an unorthodox striker, he was also coming forward swinging wild. Altamirano eventually timed a good takedown planting Salvador. Altamirano was landing short punches in the guard but wasn’t trying to pass the guard. With a little over a minute to go in the round, Salvador used the cage to get back up. Salvador was throwing a lot of crazy capoeira kicks. It was Altamirano though that landed a wheel kick straight to the chin. The round ended on the feet with both having their moments.

Round two was a high-paced affair between two creative strikers/kickboxers. Altamirano shot in for a takedown and that time Salvador defended. He shot in for another one but Salvador was using the whizzer to stay upright. Salvador won every scramble before getting the separation. Salvador landed a clubbing left hook that did send Altamirano clinching up. Altamirano kept clinching up but had no chain wrestling ability. The pressure of Salvador was wearing on Altamirano. Altamirano did land a head kick at the end of the round but nothing he landed seemed to affect Salvador at all. A much better round two for Salvador as his pressure is starting to take over.

In the final round Altamirano did get a takedown quickly. Altamirano did land some ground and pound but let Salvador back to his feet. Altamirano grabbed a single leg and was able to complete a second takedown in round three. Again Salvador was able to get back to his feet as Altamirano didn’t have strong top position. More capoeira kicks came from Salvador but nothing was landing clean. In the final thirty seconds Salvador walked Altamirano down landing hooks to the body and ended the round in Altamirano’s guard.

It was Victor Alamirano, however, taking the decision on the scorecards.

Official Result: Victor Altamirano def. Vinicius Salvador by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Now, da Silva doesn’t have a fight at all.

Expected to face Vinicius Salvador on the early preliminary card at the T-Mobile Arena this Saturday, da Silva instead has seen his fight scrapped due to an undisclosed medical issue.

“Due to a medical issue, Daniel Da Silva has been removed from his flyweight bout against Vinicius Salvador,” promotion officials wrote in a brief statement. “As a result, this bout has been canceled from this weekend’s card.”

Looking to snap a three-fight skid in the match-up, Da Silva was also in search of his first win inside the octagon. The Brazilian joined the organization last year, and has dropped fights to Jeff Molina, Francisco Figueiredo, and Victor Altamirano.

Salvador was to make his promotional debut in the bout, after winning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year. His debut will now have to wait, and is likely for 2023, with just one UFC event left in 2022 after this weekend’s Pay-Per-View.

UFC 282 is now set to move forward with the following match-ups on Saturday, December 10, 2022:

• Jan Błachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
• Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon
• Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Alex Morono
• Darren Till vs. Dricus du Plessis
• Bryce Mitchell vs. Ilia Topuria
• Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Jay Perrin
• Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Chris Daukaus
• Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
• Chris Curtis vs. Joaquin Buckley
• Billy Quarantillo vs. Alexander Hernandez
• T.J. Brown vs. Erik Silva
• Cameron Saaiman vs. Steven Koslow

The post UFC 282 Loses Daniel da Silva vs. Vinicius Salvador Due to Medical Issue appeared first on Cageside Press.

Salvador (14-4) had opponent Shannon Ross hurt several times, and finished him off in the second round. The TKO finish earned Salvador his fourth straight win, and more importantly, a UFC contract.

“It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to actually be fighting at a UFC event,” Salvador exclaimed after the event, speaking via translator to media outlets including Cageside Press.

For what is believed to be the first time in Dana White’s Contender Series history, White himself entered the cage Tuesday to congratulate the pair. Salvador was hoping it might actually lead to a post-fight bonus.

“It was surreal that he came up there, but I waited for the bonus,” he stated. “Maybe the first bonus in the Contender Series? I mean I come from knockouts, I always knock people out, and if it goes down to the ground, it’s going to be a submission. That’s how it’s always been, and you rest assured, you can wait on it, that’s how it’s always going to be going forward.”

As he enters the UFC, the flyweight has set his sights high. “I’m ready for everything. I’m that guy that believes in process. So you can bring on the best. You can bring top 15, you can bring top 5, you can bring anybody. I’m ready to go, and I said it, I’m going for the top and I’m going to be the new flyweight champion.”

With the energy of Monster energy drinks, he added jokingly. As for celebrating the win — another UFC sponsor, Howler Head whiskey, might just be part of that.

Watch the full Dana White’s Contender Series 48 post-fight media appearance by Vinicius Salvador above.

The post DWCS: Vinicius Salvador Says “Bring on the Best” As He Enters UFC appeared first on Cageside Press.

The first show of season six saw a fired up Dana White essentially tell prospective fighters to show him something. More accurately, he told them to “be Joe Pyfer” — the only fighter in week one to be awarded a UFC contract. Also the only fighter in week one to finish his fight, it should be noted.

As a result, the bar was set for fighters on week two. Who would respond? There were a few familiar faces on the docket: Chris Duncan was back for another look, after falling short last year. The impetus for giving Duncan a second chance was obvious — his first opponent had missed weight, leading to their fight being cancelled. That resulted in Duncan taking a bout short notice against Slava Borshchev; needless to say, that one didn’t go his way.

Bellator veterans Billy Goff, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and Charlie Campbell (plus Duncan himself, who has also competed for Bellator MMA) were all in action Tuesday.

Dana White’s Contender Series 48 (season six, week two) goes down Tuesday, August 2, 2022 as always at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show airs on ESPN+, and UFC Fight Pass internationally. Full results from DWCS 48 can be found below.

In the opening fight at least, it seemed that Dana White’s message was received. Shimon Smotritsky, returning for his second stint on DWCS, landed a head kick on Billy Goff just seconds into the fight. Goff dropped, and Smotritsky went right after him, but Goff was able to survive on his back, and climb back up with Smotritsky still on him. Goff then managed to battle back, turned the tables, and began lighting Smotritsky up along the fence. That brought in the ref, with Goff securing the TKO finish.

Heavyweights Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Danilo Suzart didn’t have a pretty fight, it certainly wasn’t a technical fight, but they did stand and bang. Cortes-Acosta, with a boxing background, got the better of things on the feet, and they didn’t go to the ground until Suzart was dropped. Cortes-Acosta piled on with some follow-up punches, and sealed the deal.

The featherweight fight between Francis Marshall and Connor Matthews marked the first time the action would leave the first round on Tuesday. Not for lack of effort. Matthews had a great opening few minutes, but Marshall then took over, relying on takedowns and some punishing ground n’ pound. They’d end up going the distance, and while Matthews needed a finish, it was Francis Marshall still chasing it in round three. Matthews proved just too tough to put away.

The fourth fight of the evening was a featherweight banger. Vinicius Salvador may have had a padded record (having fought three 0-0 opponents after even after 12 pro fights of his own), but Shannon Ross was no can. Ross was dropped several times, but stayed in the fight, and even found success with his right hand. It was a Salvador right hand in the second, however, the set up the TKO finish.

Chris Duncan was in all sorts of trouble in the night’s final fight, dropped repeatedly. Multiple uppercuts from Campbell had Duncan staggering, but he managed to return fire, putting Campbell down with a right hand and completing the comeback!

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 2 Weigh-In Results

Lightweight: Chris Duncan def. Charlie Campbell by knockout, Round 1, 1:43
Flyweight: Vinicius Salvador def. Shannon Ross by TKO, Round 2, 4:22
Featherweight: Francis Marshall def. Connor Matthews by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Danilo Suzart by TKO, Round 1, 3:40
Welterweight: Billy Goff def. Shimon Smotritsky by TKO, Round 1, 3:37

Contract winners: Billy Goff, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Francis Marshall, Vinicius Salvador, Chris Duncan

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 2 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

After UFC President Dana White handed out just one contract during last week’s season opener, declaring “be Joe Pyfer” (and granting Pyfer a UFC deal) to UFC hopefuls, the message was clear: Perform. Hunt for the finish. Past accomplishments mattered not on the Contender Series, just what you did on Tuesday night.

Would the incoming group of fighters compete accordingly come Fight Night?

Among the fighters on Week Two of DWCS Season 6 were a number of former Bellator athletes, with Charlie Campbell, Chris Duncan, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and Billy Goff all having competed for the organization. There were a couple of returning Contender Series veterans as well, as both Duncan and Shimon Smotritsky had come up short on the show previously.

Weigh-ins for Dana White’s Contender Series 48 (numerically) went down Monday morning in Las Vegas, Nevada. The affair gets underway at 12PM ET/9AM PT. Full results can be found below.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 2 Weigh-In Results

Lightweight: Charlie Campbell (155) vs. Chris Duncan (155.5)
Flyweight: Vinicius Salvador (126) vs. Shannon Ross (126)
Featherweight: Francis Marshall (145) vs. Connor Matthews (145.5)
Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta 259 vs. Danilo Suzart (255)
Welterweight: Shimon Smotritsky (170.5) vs. Billy Goff (170.5)

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 2 Weigh-In Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Next week, when you roll in here, show me who you are Tuesday night,” White exclaimed in a message to upcoming fighters on the show. “That’s the only thing I’m concerned with.”

“If you want to get into the UFC and this is where you want to be, act like Joe Pyfer. Be Joe Pyfer.”

Never before has White been so blunt about his expectations for fighters on DWCS. Now, it’s time to see who was listening as week two goes down Tuesday, August 2. Here’s our look at what to expect.

Lightweight: Charlie Campbell Vs. Chris Duncan

Tale of the tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Duncan
Speed: Duncan
Output/Volume: Campbell
Kickboxing: Campbell
Striking defense: Campbell
Footwork/movement: Campbell
Wrestling: Duncan
Grappling: Duncan
More likely to finish on the mat: Duncan
Gas tank: Even

Prediction: Duncan is coming back after getting beat last season on the Contender Series. He lost to Slava Borshchev but was doing well up until the finish.

Campbell isn’t as talked about as Duncan but these guys, if they fought in a best of seven series, they’d go to fight seven.

The biggest edge might be the wrestling of Duncan. I feel that if he couldn’t keep Slava grounded he won’t be able to with Campbell either. It’s close on the feet where both are kind of similar. Both are really kick-heavy but I like the leg kicks of Campbell a lot more.

Defensively, well, neither are that good defensively. The flatter Duncan, being the smaller guy, gives me the confidence to think Campbell can chip away. Duncan could clip Campbell but going strike for strike I like the chin of Campbell to hold up more. I came into this fight expecting to pick Duncan but I’m taking Campbell. I feel he stays away from being held down and he starts to wear on Duncan as the fight goes.

The post DWCS 2022 Week 2 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.