MMA news

• Ben Rothwell: 'I'm here to lay waste to the entire division'

  31-01-2016 23:00
  
  If Saturday night in Newark, N.J. proved anything, it's that UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell is knocking on the door of a title shot. The fighter entered the night on a three-fight win streak, but arguably earned the signature win of his career when he submitted former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett via go-go choke in the second round.
  If that doesn't push him to the front of the queue for a title shot, it places him directly behind it. So while the heavyweight picture is up in the air as ch
  
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• Dan Henderson, Lyoto Machida verbally agree to rematch at UFC on FOX 19

  31-01-2016 21:30
  
  Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida have agreed to run it back at UFC on FOX 19.
  Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that the rematch is targeted for the April 16 show and that both fighters have verbally signed off on it.
  Combate originally reported the news last week. The Brazilian outlet also reported that the card would take place in Tampa, Fla.
  Henderson and Machida previously fought at UFC 157 in February 2013, with "The Dragon" taking home a split-decision
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 Aftermath: Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson's reminder to his division

  31-01-2016 21:00
  
  It's like Anthony Johnson wanted to send a reminder to the world: Don't sleep on me.
  We'll never know what went through Ryan Bader's head and made him think it was a good idea to rush straight at "Rumble" at the outset of their UFC on FOX 18 main event in Newark on Saturday night. Just like we don't know why Alexander Gustafsson decided to trade with Johnson a year ago in this very same late-January UFC on FOX slot.
  The song remains the same: If you give Johnson even the slightest opening to use
  
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• UFC in New York '100 percent a top priority;' November debut date targeted

  31-01-2016 20:00
  
  According to Amtrak's timetables, it takes a mere 18 minutes to get from Newark Penn Station, located a few blocks from the Prudential Center, to New York's Penn Station, which sits underneath Madison Square Garden.
  And yet that short hop over the state line seems so, so far away.
  The UFC once again had to pull the plug on a planned New York City debut date. The Empire State's asinine ban on mixed martial arts remains in place, meaning a planned April 23 MSG date needed to be scrapped.
  But as th
  
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• This Week in Struggle: Trapped in elevator, banishment, kicked for losing bet, tackled through cage door

  31-01-2016 19:00
  
  Life is hard for all of us, but especially for professional cage fighters. Join us now for a laugh and a cry as we reflect on "This Week in Struggle."
  The struggle is best paired with Tom Waits. Enjoy.
  Netflix needs a section for movies that actually came out in movie theatres #Netflix
  — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 25, 2016"You've been banned? Is that real? You'll pay a price for speaking your mind" @bryancallen
  "Yeah what can you do" @BrendanSchaub
  — FighterandtheKid (
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 averages 2.43 million viewers in overnight ratings

  31-01-2016 18:46
  
  The eighteenth installment in the UFC on FOX series on Saturday night earned a 0.8 rating in adults 18-49 and averaged 2.43 million viewers according to TV By The Numbers. That was enough to come in second among rated networks in that coveted demo.
  The overnights measure the 8-10 p.m. time slot in the Eastern time zone, and its corresponding 7-9 p.m. in Central time zone and 6-8 p.m. in the Mountain time zone. However, it also measures 8-10 p.m. in the Pacific time zone, and as a live sport
  
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• Dana White: Conor McGregor 'crazy' (in a good way) for wanting to fight Rafael dos Anjos

  31-01-2016 18:00
  
  Conor McGregor had plenty of options for his next fight. That's a point he has made over and over.
  According to Dana White, he didn't exactly take the path of least resistance when he chose to move up to lightweight and face champion Rafael dos Anjos.
  "Conor wants to be a two-belt champion, so he wants to fight dos Anjos, which is crazy," the UFC president said on "Opie with Jim Norton" on Thursday. "If you look at that guy, look what he did to 'Cowboy' Cerrone, look what he did to Ben Henderson
  
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• Anthony Johnson willing to wait for 'biggest fight of my life' between winner of Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier

  31-01-2016 17:00
  
  NEWARK, N.J. – With Anthony Johnson staking his claim for a light heavyweight title shot on Saturday night by knocking our Ryan Bader in less than 90 seconds, the question became — how long was he willing to wait for a title shot?
  After putting away Bader Saturday night at UFC on FOX 18 in Newark, "Rumble" Johnson said he will be very patient if he was asked to be.
  "I definitely have enough time to get ready for whoever they put in front of me now," Johnson said at the post-fight pre
  
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• Fellow hyped prospect Sergio Pettis imparts some Sage advice on Northcutt

  31-01-2016 16:00
  
  Maybe Sergio Pettis wasn't discovered by Dana White on a reality show pilot. And maybe he didn't have the UFC social media team falling over themselves trying to make gifs of his open workouts.
  But Pettis knows a little something about a hype train and he also knows how quickly people will jump when it gets derailed.
  Sage Northcutt's undefeated run as a pro MMA fighter ended Saturday night when he was submitted in the second round by Bryan Barberena at UFC on FOX 18 in Newark. Pettis tweeted a m
  
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• Cameraman falls during Alex Caceres' walkout during UFC on FOX 18

  31-01-2016 15:00
  
  It didn't trip up Alex Caceres before his fight at UFC on FOX 18 on Saturday night, but the FOX cameraman filming Alex Caceres' walkout did, in fact, trip on the way out as Caceres walked to the Octagon. Watch the video above to see how the broadcast handled the literal and figurative slip up.
  
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• Cameraman falls during Alex Caceres' walkout at UFC on FOX 18

  31-01-2016 15:00
  
  It didn't trip up Alex Caceres before his fight at UFC on FOX 18 on Saturday night, but the FOX cameraman filming Alex Caceres' walkout did, in fact, trip on the way out as Caceres walked to the Octagon. Watch the video above to see how the broadcast handled the literal and figurative slip up.
  
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• UFC expects to announce Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 ‘within the next couple of days'

  31-01-2016 14:00
  
  Three months have passed since the UFC formally reinstated Jon Jones from indefinite suspension. Three months of speculation, Instagram updates and cross-divisional teasing, all while the fight world waited on official word for the return of former light heavyweight king.
  Well, expect that wait to end soon.
  "We expect to have an announcement within the next couple of days here," UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler said of Jones on Saturday at UFC on FOX 18's post-fight
  
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• Anthony Johnson's message to Ryan Bader: 'Who's the weak one?'

  31-01-2016 13:00
  
  Ryan Bader's camp made some comments in recent days about how Anthony Johnson has shown mental weakness in past fights. "Rumble" seemed to be happy that's what Bader thought.
  "They brainwashed him to make him think I was actually mentally weak," Johnson said Saturday night at the post-fight press conference. "That's fine with me. I won. To me, who's the weak one?"
  Johnson did beat Bader and did so very quickly in the main event of UFC on FOX 18 in Newark, N.J., which aired live on FOX. Bader sho
  
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• MMA fighters fall out of cage hard through door in frightening scene

  31-01-2016 12:00
  
  MMA is dangerous enough without something like this happening.
  Two fighters fell out of the cage through the apparently unreinforced door onto the floor below at a regional card in Massachusetts on Saturday night. The scary video was shared on Instagram by UFC veteran Joe Lauzon, whose student competed in the fight.Not a good night for one of my fighters. Through the gate and onto the floor. No contest. My fighter was okay but the other guy went to the hospital for (I think) his ribs.
  A video po
  
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• Wilson Reis wants the winner of Joseph Benavidez vs. Zach Makovsky

  31-01-2016 09:00
  
  NEWARK, N.J -- Wilson Reis talks about his victory over Dustin Ortiz at UFC on Fox 18, jiu-jitsu in MMA, wanting the winner of Joseph Benavidez vs. Zach Makovsky, and much more.
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 post-fight show

  31-01-2016 08:56
  
  NEWARK, N.J. -- After UFC on FOX 18, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall break down the top storylines.
  
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• Ben Rothwell: Lack of cloak, mask might have led to slow start

  31-01-2016 07:11
  
  NEWARK, N.J. -- After UFC on FOX 18, Ben Rothwell explains his win over Josh Barnett, his unique submission, why he couldn't wear his cloak and his mask, why he deserves title shot and much more.
  
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• Randy Brown felt 'no pressure' in UFC debut, wants to return 'as soon as possible'

  31-01-2016 07:00
  
  NEWARK, N.J -- Randy Brown talks about his victory over Matt Dwyer at UFC on Fox 18, his experience fighting in the UFC for the first time, what's next for his career, and much more.
  
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• Anthony Johnson Willing to Wait For UFC Title Shot Against Jones-Cormier Winner

  31-01-2016 05:50 via sherdog.com
  
  Anthony Johnson admits that he wasn’t ready the first time he fought for the light heavyweight title at UFC 187 this past May.
  
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• UFC on Fox 18 bonuses: Anthony Johnson earns $50,000 after stopping Ryan Bader

  31-01-2016 05:45
  
  After stopping Ryan Bader in devastating fashion at the main event of UFC on Fox 18 in Newark, N.J, Anthony Johnson earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
  The news was announced at the post-fight conference.
  Johnson (21-5) made quick work of Bader after blocking his takedown, securing the back mount, and landing devastating ground and pound to end the fight. The fight was stopped at 1:26 of round one.
  In the co-main event of the card, Ben Rothwell (36-9) submitted former UFC heavyweigh
  
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• Ben Rothwell: ‘Laying Waste to Entire Division,’ Not Title Shot, Is No. 1 Priority

  31-01-2016 05:45 via sherdog.com
  
  It’s getting more and more difficult to ignore the accomplishments of Ben Rothwell.
  
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• Sergey Kovalev Devours Jean Pascal in Dominating Fashion

  31-01-2016 05:22 via sherdog.com
  
  Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev didn’t hide his intentions. “The Krusher” wanted to “end” Jean Pascal’s career and when a fighter with the kind of heavy hands like Kovalev utters things like that, people tend to listen and shudder at the possibilities.
  
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• Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader full fight video highlights

  31-01-2016 04:47
  
  Watch Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 18's main event above, courtesy of FOX Sports.UFC on FOX 18: Johnson vs. Bader took place Jan. 30, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC light heavyweight contenders Anthony Johnson (21-5) and Ryan Bader (20-5) clashed in the night's main event, which aired live on FOX. Catch the video highlights above.For more on Johnson vs. Bader, check out the MMAFighting.com live blog below, courtesy of C
  
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• Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena full fight video highlights

  31-01-2016 04:43
  
  Watch Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 18's main card above, courtesy of FOX Sports.UFC on FOX 18: Johnson vs. Bader took place Jan. 30, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC lightweight prospect Sage Northcutt (7-1) moved up to welterweight to fight Bryan Barberena (11-3) on short notice on the night's main card, which aired live on FOX. Catch the video highlights above.
  For more on Northcutt vs. Barberena, check out the
  
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• UFC on Fox 18 Bonuses: Rothwell, Johnson, Rivera, Alcantara Garner $50K

  31-01-2016 04:38 via sherdog.com
  
  Ben Rothwell became the first person to submit Josh Barnett in mixed martial arts competition, and that milestone earned Rothwell an extra $50,000.
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 in Tweets: Pros react to Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader, Sage Northcutt's loss to Bryan Barberena, more

  31-01-2016 04:29
  
  How crazy is this sport? One night in Newark was all it took to reset a near three-year run to the title, propel a perennial underdog into the proverbial mix, and send one of 2015's biggest hype trains screeching off the rails. And as always, the pros were there to highlight all the action at UFC on FOX 18.
  Rumble Johnson is a terrifying individual. #ufcnewjersey
  — Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) January 31, 2016Rumble Johnson is a warlord and is not to be trifled with.
  — Andre Fili
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson steamrolls Ryan Bader

  31-01-2016 04:05
  
  If you make a mistake against Anthony Johnson, he's going to make you pay.
  Many fighters have learned this lesson in the past, and Saturday night, Ryan Bader became the latest to discover the havoc "Rumble" can unleash.
  Bader shot for a takedown at the outset of their UFC on FOX 18 light heavyweight main event in Newark, missed badly, and then Johnson went to work, earning a knockout in just 1:26.
  "It was either going to be two things, he was going to play it safe or he was going to come right a
  
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• Anthony Johnson Pounds Ryan Bader Unconscious in UFC on Fox 18 Main Event

  31-01-2016 04:00 via sherdog.com
  
  Anthony Johnson smashes Ryan Bader in UFC on Fox 18 headliner on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 post-fight press conference video

  31-01-2016 03:54
  
  The UFC on FOX 18 post-fight press conference is the last piece of  business to take care of after the action is over in the Octagon, and we have the live video below at MMAFighting.com.UFC president Dana White will announce the winners of the Fight of the Night and the Performance of the Night bonuses, and winning fighters will meet the media after their fights.The UFC on FOX 18 post-fight press conference takes place about 30 minutes after the main event ends, meaning it will start around
  
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• Ben Rothwell vs. Josh Barnett full fight video highlights

  31-01-2016 03:45
  
  Watch Ben Rothwell vs. Josh Barnett full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 18's co-main event above, courtesy of FOX Sports.UFC on FOX 18: Johnson vs. Bader took place Jan. 30, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC heavyweight contenders and longtime MMA veterans Ben Rothwell (36-9) and Josh Barnett (34-8) locked horns in the night's co-main event, which aired live on FOX. Catch the video highlights above.
  For more on Rothwell vs. Barnett, check out the MMAFighting.com&nb
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Ben Rothwell scores shocking submission over Josh Barnett

  31-01-2016 03:41
  
  The idea that Ben Rothwell might knock out former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett on Saturday night was reasonable. After all, this was a heavyweight fight, and Rothwell has knocked out his fair share of opponents.
  But to suggest Rothwell would submit Barnett would seem like madness. Barnett's a submission artist with 20 career submission wins and is the Metamoris heavyweight champion.
  And yet, the unbelievable occurred, as Rothwell submitted Barnett with a guillotine at the 3:48 mark of t
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 live blog: Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader

  31-01-2016 03:34
  
  This is the UFC on FOX 18 live blog for Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader, a light heavyweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.Johnson, who has won four of his past five fights, will face Bader, who has won five straight five fights, on the main card.Check out the UFC on FOX 18 live blog below.More Coverage: UFC on FOX 18 Results | UFC news
  Vote MMA Fighting for Best Media Source
  Round 1: Referee is Keith Peterson. Bader immediately looking for takedown, a
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Jimmie Rivera gets the nod over Iuri Alcantara

  31-01-2016 03:07
  
  Hours into a UFC on FOX 18 card which wasn't exactly living up to expectations, the crowd at Newark's Prudential Center was looking for something to cheer.
  Up stepped a local product, New Jerey's own Jimmie Rivera. The 26-year old bantamweight won his 18th consecutive fight on Saturday night, as he never really let Iuri Alcantara get untracked in a unanimous decision victory.
  Rivera got 29-28 scores across the board as he improved to 3-0 in the UFC.
  Rivera fought a smart game plan against the 35
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 live blog: Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell

  31-01-2016 03:07
  
  NEWARK, N.J. – This is the UFC on FOX 18 live blog for Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell, a heavyweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.Barnett, who has won three of his past five fights, will face Rothwell, who has won four of his past five fights, on the main card.Check out the UFC on FOX 18 live blog below.More Coverage: UFC on FOX 18 Results | UFC news
  Vote MMA Fighting for Best Media Source
  Round 1: Referee for this one is Gary Copeland. They tou
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 video: Sage Northcutt taps to Bryan Barberena's choke

  31-01-2016 02:45
  
  At UFC on Fox 18, Bryan Barberena stepped up on eight days notice to face young prospect Sage Northcutt. Barberena took down Northcutt in the second and sinked in an arm-triangle choke from half guard causing Northcutt to tap.
  The official UFC on FOX 18 account on Twitter shared the video:UNREAL! @Bryan_Barberena submits @SageNorthcutt with an arm triangle choke from half guard! #UFCNewJersey https://t.co/L9Pa3qkUJX
  — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 31, 2016Northcutt entered the bout a
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Bryan Barberena submits Sage Northcutt in second round

  31-01-2016 02:38
  
  The Sage Northcutt hype train went off the rails Saturday night.
  Fighting for the third time in four months, the 19-year-old from Katy, Texas, didn't handle adversity well, losing to short-notice replacement Bryan Barberena in the second round of their UFC on FOX 18 main-card bout in Newark.
  "It feels great," said Barberena. "I have my own hype behind me, my team, my friends, my family, they had no doubt, they believed in me."
  Northcutt tapped to an arm-triangle choke 3:06 of the second round, h
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 live blog: Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera

  31-01-2016 02:31
  
  This is the UFC on FOX 18 live blog for Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera, a bantamweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.Alcantara, who has won four of his past five fights, will face Rivera, who has won 17 straight fights, on the main card.Check out the UFC on FOX 18 live blog below.More Coverage: UFC on FOX 18 Results | UFC news
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  Round 1: Referee for this one is Liam Kerrigan. Rivera got a huge pop from the Garde
  
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• UFC on FOX 18: Johnson vs. Bader results

  31-01-2016 02:31
  
  MMA Fighting brings you UFC on FOX 18: Johnson vs. Bader results. UFC 194 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The event is headlined by a fight between light heavyweight contenders Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader. In the co-main event, Josh Barnett squares off against Ben Rothwell in a key heavyweight tilt. NEWARK, N.J. -- Before UFC on FOX 18, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall break down the top storylines.
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 live blog: Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena

  31-01-2016 02:07
  
  This is the UFC on FOX 18 live blog for Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena, a welterweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.Northcutt, who is 7-0 in his career and 2-0 in the UFC, will face Barberena, who is 10-3 overall and 1-1 in the UFC, on the main card.Check out the UFC on FOX 18 live blog below.More Coverage: UFC on FOX 18 Results | UFC news
  Vote MMA Fighting for Best Media Source
  Round 1:Round 2:Round 3:
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Tarec Saffiedine outlasts Jake Ellenberger

  31-01-2016 02:04
  
  With career 30 finishes between them, the UFC on FOX 18 welterweight fight between Jake Ellenberger and Tarec Saffiedine looked like an exciting showdown on paper.
  In practice, of course, it doesn't always play out that way. A tentative struggle between the duo resulted in a jeering crowd at Newark's Prudential Center. In the end, Saffiedine, the final Strikeforce welterweight champ, got the nod with 29-28 scores across the board.
  Ellenberger won the opening round, as he belted Saffiedine with a
  
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• UFC on Fox 18 Prelims: Tarec Saffiedine Stymies Jake Ellenberger in Triumphant Return

  31-01-2016 02:00 via sherdog.com
  
  Kicks once again were the difference for Tarec Saffiedine.
  
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• UFC On FOX 18 Results – Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Ryan Bader

  31-01-2016 01:04
  
  UFC held the UFC On FOX 18 event from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Below are quick-match results of the event.UFC on FOX 18 Main Card:- Anthony Johnson (205.25) vs. Ryan Bader (205)- Josh Barnett (241) vs. Ben Rothwell (265)- Iuri Alcantara (135.25) vs. Jimmie Rivera (135)- Sage Northcutt (170) vs. Bryan Barberena (170)UFC on FOX 18 Prelims (FS1):- Jake Ellenberger (170) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (169.75)- Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155) vs. Diego Ferreira (1
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Rafael Natal finishes Kevin Casey in third round

  31-01-2016 00:57
  
  In the waning seconds of an otherwise uneventful opening round of their UFC on FOX 18 bout, Rafael Natal clobbered Kevin Casey with a huge right hand to the jaw.
  Casey was saved by the horn, but it didn't bode well for the rest of the fight. Natal earned his fourth consecutive victory by dominating the former RFA champ the rest of the way Saturday at Newark's Prudential Center. The bout was waved off at the 3:37 mark of the third round for the TKO.
  Casey didn't appear to have the cobwebs cleared
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 results: Wilson Reis grinds out decision over Dustin Ortiz

  31-01-2016 00:26
  
  Was Wilson Reis extra sharp on Saturday? Was Dustin Ortiz out of sorts at UFC on FOX 18?
  Most likely, the first simply caused the latter, as Reis, the first and only Elite XC bantamweight champion, continued to prove himself a force to be reckoned with in the UFC flyweight division. The Brazilian dominated Ortiz for a unanimous decision victory. The judges' scores at Newark's Prudential Center were 30-27 across the board.
  Reis (20-6) set the tone for the fight in the opening round. By the midpoi
  
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• UFC on FOX 18 video: Alexander Yakovlev knocks out George Sullivan with a vicious right hand

  31-01-2016 00:05
  
  BOOM! Alexander Yakovlev KO's George Sullivan with a nasty combo! #UFCNewJersey https://t.co/JDoo3SvZe5
  — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 30, 2016At UFC on Fox 18, Alexander Yakovlev proved that he still posses knockout power despite moving up a weight class. Yakovlev connected a brutal straight right that dropped George Sullivan to the canvas. The referee had no choice but to stop the fight at 3:59 of round one.
  
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