Tag Archives: UFC 287

Jorge Masvidal Reportedly Training for Boxing Match, Planning MMA Return

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Jorge Masvidal is thisclose to coming out of retirement.

The 39-year-old Cuban & Peruvian American former mixed martial artist and boxer has told ESPN that he’s training for a boxing match later this year and plans to fight again in MMA.

Jorge Masvidal“All I could tell you is I’m getting ready for some type of combat and it’s gonna be in the boxing realm,” Masvidal said in an interview this week. “I don’t know this or that or who it’s going to be.”

Masvidal, who announced his retirement in April after a loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, has been teasing on social media a potential boxing match with fellow former UFC star Nate Diaz. The two fought for the inaugural, symbolic BMF title in 2019 with Masvidal winning via TKO due to a Diaz cut.

But Masvidal doesn’t plan on stopping there. He has also expressed interest in fighting Justin Gaethje, the current BMF titleholder, and Colby Covington, Masvidal’s former best friend and now hated rival. Covington defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision in 2022 at UFC 272.

“I think he’s a f—ing great fighter, but I also think I’d whup his motherf—ing ass,” Masvidal said of Gaethje. “I don’t know why. Something about his style. And I like his style because he comes to fight. He’s not coming to f—ing score points. He’s coming to fight and end a motherf—er.”

Masvidal didn’t have as many positive words for Covington — or any. The deeply personal beef between the two was not quashed after they fought. In fact, Masvidal allegedly attacked Covington and punched him outside a steakhouse in Miami Beach in the weeks after the fight. Masvidal was arrested for the offense and took a plea deal in November, pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and getting sentenced to time served.

“[I’d fight him] in the UFC or f—ing in the parking lot of KFC, I don’t f—ing know,” Masvidal said. “But it’s going to f—ing happen, brother. That’s all I know.”

Masvidal has been focusing on being a promoter during his short-lived retirement. His Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion has an event Saturday in Orlando, Florida, headlined by a heavyweight title fight between former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and former UFC veteran Alan Belcher.

Jorge Masvidal Says He’ll Fight in a Boxing Match in Early 2024

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Jorge Masvidal may be hitting the run soon…

The 38-year-old Cuban-Peruvian American former UFC BMF champion and one of the biggest MMA stars of the past several years says he’ll fight in a boxing match “early next year.” No opponent has been decided yet.Jorge Masvidal“No names right now, but I can tell you it’s early next year and I can tell you somebody is going to get killed,” Masvidal said in an interview with ESPN on Thursday.

Masvidal retired from the UFC in April after falling to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in his hometown of Miami.

Since then, he has been focused on helping run three combat sports organizations he promotes, most prominently Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. The next event for that promotion is Nov. 10, a heavyweight title main event between two UFC veterans — Roy Nelson and Alan Belcher.

The UFC still has Masvidal under contract, so it’s unclear what the arrangement would be with regard to him competing in boxing.

Masvidal took umbrage with the boxing event this month that featured Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis and KSI vs. Tommy Fury. Masvidal said the show was a “disrespect to boxing.”

“Logan didn’t f—ing knock [Danis] dead,” Masvidal said. “I really wanted Logan to knock him dead. So I’m kind of mad at Logan. I hope he sends me my money back, you know? Not that I paid for it, but still.”

If and when he steps in the ring, Masvidal would be the latest former UFC star to cross over to boxing, a list that includes Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will box Tyson Fury, the lineal heavyweight boxing champ, on Saturday.

Christian Rodriguez Defeats Raul Rosas Jr. by Unanimous Decision at UFC 287

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Christian Rodriguez has taken down a hot prospect…

The 25-year-old Latino MMA fighter, nicknamed “CeeRod,” came back from losing the first round to win a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over the previously undefeated Raul Rosas Jr. to open the UFC 287 main card on Saturday at Kaseya Center.

Christian "CeeRod" RodriguezRosas has been one of the best and most hyped prospects on the UFC roster at only 18 years old. He was the youngest fighter ever signed to the UFC last year at 17. He has also developed quite the fan following, getting a big pop for his walkout Saturday night.

“I just stopped a hype train,” Rodriguez said in his postfight interview. “I hope you guys can follow my journey.”

Rosas looked good early. He’s a ground specialist, and it’s never a secret that he’s going to try to take the fight to the canvas. He did so repeatedly in the first round and nearly snared a rear-naked choke while on Rodriguez’s back on several occasions. But Rodriguez survived some very disadvantageous situations.

Rosas was clearly exhausted going into the second round, and Rodriguez took over. He was able to out-scramble Rosas on the ground in the second and third rounds, stay on top and land some ground and pound.

“I respect his skillset,” Rodriguez said of Rosas, adding, “That kid brings it.”

Rodriguez (9-1) has won two straight now after dropping his UFC debut to Jonathan Pearce in January 2022.

The 25-year-old Milwaukee native, who trains out of Roufusport, is a veteran of Dana White‘s Contender Series.

Rosas (7-1), who lives and trains in Las Vegas, won his UFC debut at UFC 282 back in December, a first-round submission win.

Alex Pereira to Face Rival Israel Adesanya in Fourth Fight

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Alex Pereira is going on the defensive…

The 35-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer will defend his middleweight championship back in a fourth fight against rival against Israel Adesanya this spring.

Alex PereiraPereira and Adesanya will face each other in the co-main event of UFC 287 on April 8, UFC president Dana White has announced.

Jorge Masvidal will return against Gilbert Burns in the other co-main event, while popular welterweight Kevin Holland will take on Santiago Ponzinibbio on the main card, White said.

A location for UFC 287 has yet to be announced.

Perira has beaten Adesanya twice in kickboxing and knocked him out last November in the fifth round of their first MMA fight against one another at UFC 281 to win the belt.

Adesanya is No. 4 in ESPN‘s pound-for-pound rankings.

Pereira (7-1) is 4-0 in the UFC with three victories via KO/TKO. The Brazilian-born fighter, who trains out of Connecticut, only started his full-time MMA career in 2020. Pereira, 35, was once one of the best kickboxers in the world, holding Glory titles at middleweight and light heavyweight.

Adesanya (23-2) had been the UFC middleweight champion since 2019 prior to Pereira’s victory. The Nigerian-born New Zealander had only one MMA loss prior to November, at light heavyweight in a 2021 title fight against Jan Blachowicz.

Adesanya, 33, had five successful middleweight title defenses.

Masvidal (35-16) has lost three straight but remains one of the biggest stars on the UFC roster. The 38-year-old Miami native owns the fastest knockout in UFC history — a five-second flying knee win over Ben Askren in 2019.

Burns (21-5), a 36-year-old former title contender from Brazil who trains out of Florida, is coming off a first-round submission victory over Neil Magny on Saturday at UFC 283.

Raul Rosas Jr. to Fight Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287

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Raul Rosas Jr. has scheduled his return to the Octagon…

The 18-year-old Mexican American mixed martial arts prodigy, who became the youngest fighter to ever sign with the UFC, will return to the Octagon on April 8 to fight fellow prospect Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287, according to ESPN.

Raul Rosas Jr.Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, who represents Rodriguez under the Showtime Group agency, also posted about the fight on Instagram. A location has yet to be determined, and no main event has been set yet for the pay-per-view card.

Rosas (7-0) was 17 when he signed with the UFC last September. Living and training in Las Vegas, he beat Mando Gutierrez on Dana White‘s Contender Series to earn a UFC contract. Rosas then beat Jay Perrin in his debut with the promotion via first-round submission at UFC 282 in December.

Rodriguez (8-1) is coming off a first-round submission win over Joshua Weems in October. The Milwaukee native is 1-1 in the UFC. Rodriguez, 25, trains out of Roufusport in his hometown and owns wins in CFFC, LFA and on Contender Series.

UFC Rising Star Luana Pinheiro In Talks to Fight Michelle Waterson-Gomez

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Luana Pinheiro is thisclose to locking in her next opponent…

The UFC is finalizing a strawweight battle between the 29-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and Michelle Waterson-Gomez this spring, according to ESPN.

Luana PinheiroThe contest will take place on April 8 at an event that is expected to be UFC 287 on pay-per-view. The UFC has not announced an official date or location for that numbered event, but UFC president Dana White has said it will “probably” take place in Brooklyn, New York.

Pinheiro (10-1) is a rising contender with a 2-0 record in the UFC. Fighting out of Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Pinheiro earned a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020.

Waterson-Gomez (18-10) has been a mainstay in the top of the 115-pound division for years. The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based strawweight is 1-4 in her past five appearances, but she’s faced the top of her division during that time, including two former champions in Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Carla Esparza. She’s coming off a loss to Amanda Lemos in her most recent fight in July.

Waterson-Gomez and Pinheiro are ranked Nos. 11 and 13, respectively, in the UFC’s strawweight division.

The UFC has not announced a main event for the April 8 card.