“Same sh*t different toilet, bro. It’s always mission, there’s an objective to get done.
I’m just fortunate and glad that I can keep doing this,” Medeiros (16-8, 2NC), a UFC vet, told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview. “Regardless, I had a couple fights get cancelled through the year, and everything happened how it was supposed to happened and I’m just glad where I’m at right now, today. Happy that next week, Saturday I’ll be fighting and getting it done. That’s the biggest thing. Because out of everything that happened this year, it lined up how it was supposed to. Life is life, bro.”

Saturday’s fight in San Diego sees Yancy Medeiros take on the little-known Jora Ayvazyan. If you’re wondering why he feels things have worked out as planned, well, Medeiros will actually be fighting on his birthday, September 7.

As to what has kept him motivated over the past year and then some, “I just got a kid!” Medeiros exclaimed with a laugh. “I got a kid in March. That was inspiring as hell right there. I just came from realizing that, I still get to do what I want to do. I’m going to fight on mu birthday next week. I’m going to be 37 and still get to do what I want to do, and still get to do it with a family that loves me, and I can come home to my newborn and still do what I like to do. I’m not having a job that I have to do to support my kids.”

Medeiros knows that he could just as easily have the sort of job that would require him to turn up at an office day in and day out. Instead, he’s living his dream, something he credits his family for facilitating.

“I’m so happy. We all know how to work hard and make money, we all know how to do that. but to do what you want to do in life and be happy, you know what I’m saying? That’s something that I realized wow, I’ve got a freaking good-ass family that holds it down for me, treats me like a king, and I can still do what I want to do.”

Watch our full interview with Bellator San Diego’s Yancy Medeiros above.

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“Brah, it’s been a minute man. First off that guy Charlie just came back from dead. He’s tough man. That guy’s really tough. When I dropped him the first time, that was the thing, brah I never feel this feeling for so long,” Medeiros told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“So I just came in for the kill, and he ended up getting back up.”

Medeiros (17-8) had to calm himself down in order to get back into fight mode with the finish not materializing in that moment. The end came to Medeiros soon after.

“You hurt him again, take him down bro, tap him out. That’s where the win’s going to be. That’s where it was,” he said.

There was a moment earlier in the fight where Medeiros was woken up by some shots from Leary that got the Hawaiian going. When he felt drops of blood on his head he knew it was on.

“There was one point where we got off the fence and then I started feeling drips of blood. I was like ‘oh you made me bleed! Alright we here bro! Don’t worry, I’m coming back!’. He really utilized his range well,” said Medeiros.

“There was a time where I was like ‘f*ck your range, I’m coming’.”

The fight was supposed to be a lightweight bout, but Bellator made the change to a catchweight fight at 165-pounds. Medeiros revealed that it was actually he who requested the change.

“It was actually 165 for me. I honestly had an injury, and I was going through some things,” Medeiros said. He went on to explain that he communicated with Leary a month before the fight if he was good to fight at a catchweight.

“He was willing to and I really appreciate that from my opponent.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Yancy Medeiros above.

The post Yancy Medeiros Details Finish, Says Catchweight Was Due To Injury appeared first on Cageside Press.

August 2009, in fact, was the last time Medeiros (16-8, 1NC) had fought in his home state. And being honest, he wasn’t even supposed to be on Saturday’s card.

The former UFC star, on a four-fight skid prior to Saturday night, was essentially between jobs — between promotions anyway. But he campaigned to join the event, Bellator’s first Hawaiian show since 2019, and with some extra media attention, his drive to join Bellator’s latest trip to Honolulu paid off.

After a decision victory against Emmanuel Sanchez in a lightweight scrap that opened up the main card, Medeiros showed his gratitude for the opportunity.

“Fight week was such a blessing for me to be at home. It really made me understand why I love Hawaii so much. I always put it in my heart and I take it everywhere, but this week was surreal for me, because I got to represent,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight. “Just thank you, Bellator for letting me do this for Hawaii. I really appreciate this. Thank you Scott [Coker, Bellator President]. All the Bellator members. I hope to give you guys a show again.”

Hopefully he gets that chance. Ahead of the fight, Medeiros told Cageside Press that the bout was a one-fight deal, but as a businessman and entertainer, he was hoping for more if all went well. It obviously did, with Medeiros vs. Sanchez firing up the crowd at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

Asked if he thought the performance was enough for Bellator to bring him back, Medeiros replied “I hope so. I have to get a nice talk with Scott, and see where we can go from there. Other than that, my main priority was fighting, giving back to everyone, the fans. I always look for a finish, and I’m not happy with my performance, but I’m definitely happy that I can give back to them.”

“We talk business when we talk business. For now, I’m just going to keep giving back, and whoever picks me up [we’ll go] from there,” Medeiros continued. “This Aloha will continue, and I’m going to keep giving a show.”

Watch the full Bellator 279 post-fight press conference with Yancy Medeiros above. More coverage can be found below.

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Medeiros, who left the UFC on four-fight skid, was fighting at home for the first time in over a decade. He’d campaigned to get on Saturday’s card, Bellator’s first show in the island state since 2019, and was granted a one-fight deal by the promotion as a result. The fans loved him for it.

Paired up in a lightweight scrap with ex-featherweight title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez, the crowd was in his corner from the outset. When Medeiros wrapped up a choke two minutes into the opening round, they exploded. The submission wasn’t actually there, but that didn’t seem to matter much. The crowd was equally boisterous when he took Sanchez’s back moments later, hunting for a rear-naked choke.

Those who had done their homework, however, were aware that Sanchez was well-versed on the ground. He simply wasn’t going out that easily. Instead, “El Matador” made it back to his feet, reversed, and soon enough, they’d move back to center.

From there, the countdown was on: how long before the crowd at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena would have cause to explode again?

It wouldn’t come in the opening round. While Medeiros landed a few good shots as the pair traded in the final minute, he was actually under fire towards the end of the round. Sanchez turned up the volume, and just sailed wide on a spinning kick. A bloodied Yancy Medeiros was forced to retreat, and regroup between rounds.

The second round started out at a more measured pace. The first real damage came via a Medeiros body shot. That got the crowd going. Sanchez pressed forward, answering back with a left hand; soon the two were exchanging. Medeiros was also forced to switch stances, a result of eating a few too many Sanchez low kicks. With about a minute remaining, Sanchez would hurt Medeiros, or at least put him off-balance, and hunt for a finish, but Yancy recovered. This time, it was Medeiros turning up the heat at the end of the round, clipping Sanchez with a punch then ripping the body.

A high kick by Emmanuel Sanchez just grazed the head of his opponent about 90 seconds into round thee of Medeiros vs. Sanchez. Moments later, Sanchez would mix things up, shooting for a single-leg takedown, only to have Medeiros stuff the attempt. In a fight that was still up for grabs, however, mixing in some wrestling wasn’t a bad idea. With just over two minutes remaining in the fight, the crowd got a “Yancy” chant going. And when Sanchez changed levels for another takedown, Medeiros turned the corner and took the back.

That got the crowd going again, but their excitement was short-lived. Sanchez escaped out, and tied Medeiros up against the fence. The final thirty seconds found Medeiros pointing to the ground and waving Sanchez on; Sanchez didn’t exactly throw caution to the win, but the pair did trade until the final bell, including spinning kicks from both parties.

The initial reaction after three rounds: there were no losers in a fun fight between Yancy Medeiros and Emmanuel Sanchez. Bellator would be well-served to at least keep him around for another fight or two. That decision, at least, should be an easy one, with Medeiros coming away with the unanimous decision win.

Official Result: Yancy Medeiros def. Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

The post Yancy Medeiros and Emmanuel Sanchez Throw Down in Thriller to Kick Off Bellator 279 Main Card appeared first on Cageside Press.

In a post to the social media site that quickly went viral, Diaz wrote “I’m tryin (sic) get on this [Bellator MMA] card in April wit (sic) my boy [Yancy Medeiros] in Hawaii.”

The online MMA fan community erupted, with numerous stories instantly cobbled together throwing Diaz back in the headlines. After all, whenever Diaz says just about anything, interest spikes. Of course, there was zero chance of any such fight happening: Diaz still has one more fight on his current UFC contract.

Asked about Diaz’s comments during the Bellator 278 and Bellator 279 media day on Wednesday, Hawaii’s Medeiros said the tweet was Diaz displaying his genius, gangster side, and giving Yancy himself some clout. All in just a handful of characters.

“Nate just being Nate. Just being a genius and a gangster and giving me clout at the same time,” Medeiros told media outlets in person and online including Cageside Press. “That’s my brother, bro, or in Hawaii we call in palāla.”

Diaz, he added, is “definitely someone I’m very close to and look up to,” Medeiros continued. “He’s just being the homie, giving me some clout, letting the Twitter get wild for a minute. That’s what it was. But he’s here, he’s here to watch the fight and support me.”

When Medeiros returns to action at Bellator 279 on Saturday, it will be his first time fighting in Hawaii since 2009. Which has created an interesting feeling ahead of the bout.

“I’m at home, but the fight week and everything has been so foreign for me, because I’m just like waking up every day like— I’m just going to practice again,” noted Medeiros. “It’s great though. Everything happens for a reason, that’s why I’m here.”

On a one fight deal with Bellator, something he discussed with Cageside Press previously, Medeiros said that “I come to entertain. Every company I go into, I be the best company man I can. I took this fight on a one-fight deal just so I could give back. Give back to Hawaii, show Bellator that I’m here to be a company man, and give you guys a show. Pay the bills, man. Take care of my responsibilities. Go forward from there. Keep living with Aloha.”

Watch the full Bellator Hawaii media day scrum with Yancy Medeiros above. The Hawaiian fights Emmanuel Sanchez this Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The post Bellator 279’s Yancy Medeiros: Nate Diaz “A Genius and a Gangster and Giving Me Clout” in Infamous Tweet appeared first on Cageside Press.

It’s an opportunity the former UFC star campaigned for, and one he was lucky enough to land. He also has a high-profile opponent for his promotional debut in the form of former featherweight title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez.

The significance of the occasion is not lost on Medeiros. “It means everything. I’m always the guy going out, trying to represent my island, and hold it down, and I’ve been in enemy territory. I’ve been to Brazil and I’ve indulged in the fanaticism, and I was like ‘wow!’ To get the opposite end of it, I know Hawaii holds it down like that too,” he told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview.

In his words, the lightweight battle against Sanchez is “a gift,” one that makes him “want to be more happy and give more Aloha and give everybody a show. It was meant to be. What’s happening now was meant to be.”

For this to happen after so many years, a lot of puzzle pieces had to come together. Looking at it another way, his old home, the UFC, had to fail at puzzling out the Hawaiian market. The UFC has never been to the island state, despite having Hawaiian champions like B.J. Penn and Max Holloway rise to stardom over the years.

As to whether that was a missed opportunity, Medeiros agreed that at some level, it was — but he also understands the business side of the equation.

“I believe when it comes to the fighters and the opportunities to fight and represent, yeah, that was a missed opportunity. But business is business, and in the end it always comes down to money,” he suggested. “Whether it’s the government, whether it’s the venue, I’m just happy that Scott Coker, it’s more than just the money. It’s about Bellator and Scott looking to give the people a show.”

Putting on a show is key for Yancy Medeiros. For years, Medeiros had friends and family follow him across the country to watch him fight. “The least I could do is give back to them. When the contract came, I signed it. I just wanted to fight here. I never looked at, would it have a lot of fights, how much money— for me, I wanted to perform for my island and for my fans.”

At least initially, Medeiros’ contract with Bellator MMA is a one-off. “It’s a one-fight deal. I was just happy with whatever Scott Coker was going to let me do to perform here. Let me prove myself, let me show I am a businessman and I am here to entertain, and we’ll go on from there. But right now the objective is to give the fans and everyone a fight, just show me, and know that I’m ready to swing and the kid is back.”

“I haven’t had the best performances these last years,” Medeiros continued, adding that “I’ve just been like a crack addict, just working at it, working at it, working at it non-stop. And I was meant to be here. More than ready, just ready to swing, ready to kill.”

And that’s as far as Medeiros will go in terms of a prediction. “No predictions, no expectations, a lot of intention. If I ain’t trying to rip your head off, I’m trying to yank it off. It’s always the intent, kill or be killed. Simple. I have a lot of Aloha inside and outside of the cage, but when I’m in there, I’ll kill you with a smile if I can.”

As much as he doesn’t want to overlook his opponent, Medeiros does want 2022 to be a busy year inside the cage. “I definitely want it to be a busy, competitive year for me, in whatever venue that is. I’m over here just trying to take care of my responsibilities. Whatever promotion picks me up is whoever picks me up. Right now is my time to show what I’ve been trying to get better at.”

Yancy Medeiros faces Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 279 this Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The post On One-Fight Deal at Bellator 279, Yancy Medeiros Ready to Show He’s Here to Entertain, and Ready to Swing appeared first on Cageside Press.

At UFC 218 in Detroit, Michigan, Medeiros and ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira threw down in an instant classic. The fight would win Fight of the Night, obviously, but it would also be awarded Fight of the Year by ESPN and other media outlets.

In a recent interview with Cageside Press, Medeiros reflected on the fight.

“There was a whole adventure about that fight. I remember the first round, just my whole the whole mindset, was ‘Brah, f*ck you.’ He was dropping me left or right, and I’m like, ‘You’re gonna die’,” Medeiros said. “Like, these things are just going all in my head, and I had to give myself a little ego check. [I told myself] ‘hey, damn it, listen to your corner. Stop listening to your emotion. Get back to the damn game plan; what the hell.’ So, yeah, I think as the fight progressed, I started getting more Yancy and more tactical and just more me.”

The Hawaiian would end up finishing Oliveria in the third round. While Mederios isn’t always in classic wars like at UFC 218, he says that is what the fans love, and he is an entertainer at the end of the day.

“I don’t always get into those types of fights, but I mean, it’s just my path. But yeah, like bro, we’re there to entertain,” Medeiros said. “You know, don’t block punches with your face, but we’re there to entertain. People want to see fights; they want to see finishes, and it’s all about how you implement that. The game plan is always to take less punches and give more and get the finish as quick as you can. Well, other than that, we train for fights like that. We’re physically, mentally, psychologically ready for that. So, if it happens.”

“I’ve had fights like that at 205. I’ve definitely had fights at that at 170, and I’ve had fights at 155- Same shit, different toilet, and the guy I’m fighting brings it, so you know what I mean? It’s got two brown boys with brown pride.”

After 15 fights with the UFC and being in the promotion since 2013, Mederios is making his Bellator debut at Bellator 279. He is fighting No. 6 ranked featherweight Emmanual Sanchez, who is moving up in weight.

Mederios is planning for a fun fight, especially because he is fighting in Hawaii for the first time since 2009. Will it be a Mederios vs. Oliveira type of fight? The Hawaiian says he is game to make another classic fight.

Watch the rest of our interview with Yancy Mederios above, where he talks about his UFC release, his upcoming Bellator debut, and much more.

The post Bellator 279’s Yancy Medeiros Reflects On Classic Fight With Alex Oliveira appeared first on Cageside Press.

Medeiros (15-8, 1NC) is set to face multi-time Bellator MMA title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez (20-7) when the promotion returns to Hawaii this April. The fight will be Medeiros’ debut with the company, and comes on the second night of a double header.

Bellator 279 takes place on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, while Bellator 278 arrives one day prior.

Multiple sources confirmed the booking to Cageside Press, following an initial report by MMA Junkie.

The fight will be a crucial one for both men. Medeiros finished his UFC stint on a four-fight skid that began in 2018, culminating with a loss to Damir Hadzovic last year, after which the Hawaiian was released by the promotion. He has not fought since.

The last time Medeiros fought at home was in 2009, prior to his Strikeforce and UFC runs. Before his current slump, he put together a three-fight win streak inside the octagon.

Sanchez has hit hard times of late as well. He’s lost his last three, most recently dropping a unanimous decision to Jeremy Kennedy. “El Matador” has twice challenged for featherweight gold in Bellator, losing both title bids against Patricio Pitbull.

Bellator 279 currently has the following fights attached to it:

• Cris Cyborg (c) vs. Arlene Blencowe – for the Bellator MMA women’s featherweight championship
• Sergio Pettis (c) vs. Raufeon Stots – for the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship / bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal
• Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Patchy Mix – bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal
• Justine Kish vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
• Yancy Medeiros vs. Emmanuel Sanchez

The post Yancy Medeiros vs. Emmanuel Sanchez Lined Up for Bellator 279 in Hawaii appeared first on Cageside Press.

UFC Vegas 30 marked the 30th event to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas since the onset of COVID-19 in North America. A grim milestone of sorts, but at the same time, a successful one: the promotion, once it got over foolhardy ideas like an ill-fated event at the Taichi Palace, has been one of the standout “leagues” throughout the pandemic, producing content nearly non-stop thanks to owning their own small arena/production facility.

Kicking off UFC Vegas 30 on Saturday were a pair of fighters who had struggled to find success of late. Hawaii’s Yancy Medeiros, long since stripped of top prospect status, had lost three straight, and had been out over a year. Damir Hadzovic was in similar, but less dire, territory with back-to-back losses and a 15-month absence of his own.

In the first round Hadzovic got started right away with the calf kicks. That did little to deter the forward movement from Medeiros though, who kept working though them to land his jab. Hadzovic did enough with the counters to stay competitive and may have even landed some of the bigger shots. The big moment of the first round came with just a little over a minute left, when Hadzovic swarmed Medeiros and hit a foot trip. He wasn’t able to keep him down long, and the round ended with more exciting striking exchanges and Hadzovic likely doing enough to take the first.

Big trading kicked off the first round with both men having their moments. Having had enough of that, Hadzovic shot a double to get Medeiros to the mat. Like the first exchange, the saw little time there before Medeiros worked back to the feet. That also didn’t work well for the Hawaiian who started taking big shots with his back against the fence, including one blow that opened up a cut on his left eye. Always game, Medeiros stayed in there and returned the odd shot to let Chirs Tognoni know he’s still in there. Another swarm nearly seemed to stop Medeiros, but Hadzovic started to tire before he got the stoppage. A notably tired Hadzovic ended the round – most likely up two rounds to none.

Hazovic appeared to have found a second (or third) wind going into the third round. He landed a big shot and immediately started another onslaught to try to finish Medeiros. Medeiros, as close to being finished as he had been all fight, survived yet again. Again tired, Hadzovic looked to take a break, and Medeiros would not oblige. He was all over Hadzovic for the remaining half round. He took the back of Hadzovic multiple times, had mount, landed big strikes. The round ended with a rear naked choke completely sunk in, but Hadzovic was saved by the bell.

What an absolute battle! 👊

[ #UFCVegas30 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/SNfj70DTDS

— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2021

Official Result: Damir Hadzovic def. Yancy Medeiros by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post UFC Vegas 30 Results: Damir Hadzovic Survives Late Attacks, Decisions Yancy Medeiros appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Saturday, just hours out from the event, UFC officials announced that Hadzovic (13-6), a.k.a. “The Bosnian Bomber,” had been removed from the card due to health issues.

“Due to health issues, Damir Hadzovic has been removed from the lightweight bout with Yancy Medeiros at UFC Vegas 27,” the promotion wrote in a statement circulated on social media. “As a result this bout has been cancelled from tonight’s card and will be rescheduled at a later date.”

No information as to the nature of Hadzovic’s illness was disclosed. The fighter successfully made weight for the event Friday, seemingly without issue.

Hadzovic, with the UFC since 2016, had lost two straight heading into UFC Vegas 27. Worse off was Hawaii’s Medeiros (15-7, 1NC), once a promising lightweight and welterweight. Heading into Saturday night, he had dropped three straight, and was without a win since 2017.

Fighting just once a year during that run likely didn’t help things for Yancy Medeiros. The Hawaiian, however, had stepped up to replace Nikolas Motta against Hadzovic this weekend.

UFC Vegas 27 takes place Saturday, May 22 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and is headlined by a bantamweight bout between Rob Font and former 135lb champ Cody Garbrandt.

The post Damir Hadzovic vs. Yancy Medeiros Scratched from UFC Vegas 27 appeared first on Cageside Press.