Abdullah Ouazri

Yair Rodriguez has revealed on The MMA Hour that he has been told he will receive a title shot if he defeats Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island. 

When asked about it, he responded: "Yes, that has been said to me." 

Yair Rodriguez is currently the number 3 ranked UFC Featherweight and is scheduled to fight number 2 Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island on July 16th, at the UBS Arena. His last fight was a decision loss to Max Holloway in a Fight Night main event in November of 2021. It was Rodriguez's first fight in two years and many expected him to lose dominantly as he was a 3-1 underdog. The fight was very different, though, as Rodriguez won multiple rounds and made it a close affair.

Ortega's last fight took place against current Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski in September of 2021 at UFC 266. The fight was largely a showing of the champion's skills outside of two extremely tight submission attempts in the 3rd round that left fans wondering how he stayed in the fight. 

Both fighters are looking to bounce back and put themselves into the title picture over Josh Emmett, who is currently riding a 5-fight win streak capped off by a win over Calvin Kattar. 

They both get the chance to do just that in the main event this weekend at UFC Long Island.

Yair Rodriguez Reveals UFC Will Offer Him Title Shot With Win Over Brian Ortega

Chris Curtis told Ariel Helwani that Darren Till will corner him in his upcoming UFC London fight against Jack Hermansson.

"I've known Darren Till for a little bit, we've trained together. Actually, he's gonna be in the corner. It's happening." - "I think I’m going to have my coach, Eric (Nicksick) and Nate (Pettit), then I’ll have Darren Till and Brendan Loughnane in my corner." - Chris Curtis via The MMA Hour

After Darren Till was forced to withdraw from his co-main event bout against Jack Hermansson at UFC London due to an undisclosed injury, it was the 'Action Man' Chris Curtis who stepped in on short notice in his stead. 

Curtis began his UFC career with two short-notice fights and has gone 3-0 to start it. He finished highly touted prospects Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen by KO/TKO in his first two and is coming off of a unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Viera. 

Known for stepping in on short notice, the call was made to Curtis once again as soon as news broke that Till pulled out. 

Curtis disclosed what his mindset is going into this fight, and in an interview with Helen Yee he explained that he already has multiple losses and has seen the lows of the sport. Because of this he's not afraid of losing again and simply wants to fight the best and have fun, and feels this makes him more dangerous than ever. 

Curtis has been a fan favorite since joining the UFC and many are excited to see him get an opportunity to fight a top 10 opponent. He looks to make the most of it against Jack Hermansson at UFC London.

Chris Curtis Reveals Darren Till Will be in His Corner at UFC London

Evan Montgomery

Dana White shelled out a special birthday present for the Nelk Boys star, Kyle Forgeard. In a video posted to Twitter Monday, Forgeard opens a wrapped package filled with cash.

The Nelk Boys, including Foregeard, are a YouTube channel with over 1 billion views on their prank videos. They are massive UFC fans and are announcing the first "Full Send" sponsored UFC fighter later this year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Uncle <a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danawhite</a> just gave me $250,000 for my birthday.. <a href="https://t.co/noH34JF8zY">pic.twitter.com/noH34JF8zY</a></p>&mdash; KYLE (@KyleForgeard) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleForgeard/status/1546695048015667200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Proponents of increased fighter pay are up in arms, as fans and athletes alike have been pressing the UFC promotion and its president on upping the pay for UFC fighters.

While Uncle Dana may be known for his generosity, many are upset over the pay the majority of UFC fighters get stuck with. For example, even Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo did not net $250k for reclaiming the title opposite Brandon Moreno at UFC 270.

Former UFC Bantamweight Louis Smolka took to Twitter, calling for a fighter's union after White's surprise gift, an idea long requested by many fans and fighters.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When we starting the union bois <a href="https://t.co/gqZkYAPOCe">https://t.co/gqZkYAPOCe</a></p>&mdash; Louis Smolka (@LouisSmolkaMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisSmolkaMMA/status/1546764316283527168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Only time will tell whether Dana offers any response or if fighters will finally band together financially.


Dana White Gives $250K To Nelk Boys Member, Angering Advocates For Fighter Pay

Shortly after his UFC Vegas 58 victory, Rafael Fiziev used a hot mic to call out tennis star Rafael Nadal.

He was more serious at the UFC post-fight press conference, looking to book a fight opposite former interim champion Justin Gaethje. 

> “I want a fight with Gaethje, like for real. Nadal is funny ... but Gaethje, if he wants to fight ... If you want to fight, one more guy with yellow hairs, we need to know who’s the best for you and for me. If you’re ready, if you’re not scared, if you don’t take s**t, let’s go." - Rafael Fiziev

Fiziev continued, saying he is expecting a challenging fight from Gaethje. 

> “I think he makes my face the same like this, maybe more hard. He’s dangerous. He’s a big challenge for me. He has a lot of chance to knock me out, and I have a lot of chance to knock him out. But yeah, that’s a good fight, for fans also. He have s**t kicks, but he has good power in his hands.” - Rafael Fiziev

Fiziev came up victorious in his greatest challenge to date on July 9th at UFC Vegas 58, knocking out former champion Rafael dos Anjos in the fifth round. Now riding a six fight win streak, Fiziev will likely find himself situated in the top five of the Lightweight division come Monday. 

Meanwhile, Justin Gaethje suffered a first round submission loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 274, failing to capitalize on his second chance at UFC gold. Ranked at #3, "The Highlight" is on a short list of names competing for the most violent fighter in the UFC. 

Rafael Fiziev Calls Out Justin Gaethje: "If You're Not Scared, Let's Go"

On the UFC Fight Night 208: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev broadcast, the promotion revealed the main and co-main event slots for Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Yadong. The card features:

 Cory Sandhagen (#4) vs. Song Yadong (#10) - 135 lbs

 Giga Chikadze (#8) vs. Sodiq Yusuff (#12) - 145 lbs

 Chidi Njokuani vs. Gredory Rodrigues - 185 lbs

 Andre Fili vs. Lando Vannata - 145 lbs

 Maryna Moroz vs. Sijara Eubanks - 125 lbs

 Tanner Boser vs. Rodrigo Nascimento - 265 lbs


The main event is a high-stakes bout between Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong that could produce a potential #1 contender. Sandhagen will look to snap a 2-fight skid, suffering decision losses to TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan in his most recent outings. 

Song Yadong is riding the momentum of a 3-fight win streak, with knockouts in his last 2 fights. He fought Marlos Moraes earlier this year in March and finished him by knockout in the first round.  

The co-main event will also have heavy implications on its divisional rankings with the numbers 8 and 12 in the world facing off against each other. 

Giga Chikadze's last fight was a main event spot that took place against Calvin Kattar on January 15th in the first event of the year. Kattar put on a masterful performance and would earn a unanimous decision victory. Chikadze was on a 7-fight win streak before that, with his last 3 wins coming by knockout.

Yusuff fought Alex Caceres in his last fight. It was a close back and forth fight that saw him earn a hard-fought unanimous decision victory. He has won 7 of his 8 UFC fights with just 1 loss coming to Arnold Allen.

This card is showcases the mainstays of the UFC elite and up-and-coming talent with lots of potential. 

The UFC Releases September 17 Lineup Featuring Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong and Giga Chikadze vs. Sodiq Yusuff

Jordan Lopez

The UFC is back with another great card this weekend and will return to the Apex for UFC Vegas 58 headlined by the former UFC Lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos as he takes on rising contender Rafael Fiziev. The card is full of interesting fights starting from the prelims to the main card. Fighters like David Onama, Tresean Gore, Ricky Turcios, and more are featuring the preliminary card. UFC fans will have a lot to look forward to as there's a ton of action on this card. Let's preview all of the fights that are featured on Verdict.

## Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev

The battle of the Rafael's will finally take place and headline UFC Vegas 58. This fight between the two has been cancelled on multiple fronts before. They were supposed to headline at UFC Vegas 48 in February earlier this year. However, there were visa issues on the behalf of Fiziev that postponed the fight to UFC 272. Once again, the fight could not take place at UFC 272 because Fiziev had tested positive for COVID-19. Forutnately, Dos Anjos would remain on the card and fight a late replacement opponent, Renato Moicano. Dos Anjos defeated Moicano via unamious decision and is now on a two-fight winning streak heading into UFC Vegas 58. Fiziev is coming into this bout winning five consecutive fights, most recently defeating Brad Riddell via knockout. Both men are ranked inside the top ten in the Lightweight division and with a win, one of them could be in the title picture. 

Fiziev has a very decorated background in muay thai. Training at one of the best gyms in the world, Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev always looks for the finish on the feet. The body kicks and attacks from Fiziev is what separates his striking from others. His takedown defense is at a resounding 95%, but that'll be put to the test against Dos Anjos. Even though he can hold his own on the feet, Dos Anjos has the ability to take his opponents into places they are not comfortable. Having a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dos Anjos can add another submission win to his resume against one of the top rising contenders in the division. Where it stands now, nearly 57% of the Verdict Community is predicting Fiziev to defeat Dos Anjos at UFC Vegas 58.

![FizievDosAnjos.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0bab67c9-8e49-4319-5269-175e47300300/pub)

## Caio Borralho vs. Armen Petrosyan

One of the most interesting fights resides in the co-main event when rising prospect Caio Borralho takes on Armen Petrosyan. With a professional record of 7-1, Petrosyan is seeking his second straight win in the UFC. He earned a contract on the Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) when he defeated his opponent in the first round via knockout in October of 2021. A few months later, Petrosyan made his UFC debut against Gregory Rodrigues where he would go to the judges scorecards for the first time in his career. Petrosyan got his hand raised via split decision. On the flip side, Borralho is coming off a similar path as well. Earning his contract through the DWCS as well, Borralho made his UFC debut a few months ago when he defeated Gadzhi Omargadzhiev via technical decision. It was an illegal strike from Borralho in the third round to make it a technical decision. Nonetheless, Borralho looked very good in his debut. With a professional record of 11-1-0 (1 NC), Borralho is coming into this contest winning eight consecutive. The fans will enjoy this one for as long as it lasts as both men will try to finish the fight early. As of now, 70% of the Verdict Communtiy has Borralho defeating Petrosyan at UFC Vegas 58. 

![BorralhoPetrosyan.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a035cff0-56f4-4bb5-0985-16623bd6e700/pub)

## Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Said Nurmagomedov

It's the classic veteran versus prospect matchup as Douglas Silva de Andrade faces Said Nurmagomedov. In this fan-friendly fight, both fighters are known to finish fights. Silva de Andrade has a 78% finish rate while 20 of his 28 wins are coming by way of knockout. Silva de Andrade is on a two-fight winning streak with his most recent win at UFC 271 whe he defeated Sergey Morozov via submission. He likes to keep it on the feet as Silva de Andrade has knockout power in both hands. He's a crisp boxer that looks for those big shots to end the fight early. On the other side, this is not your typical Nurmagomedov fighter. Said Nurmagomedov is more of a pure striker than he is a wrestler. He does have the ability to have sucess on the ground, but Nurmagomedov likes to push the pace with his striking attacks. Many are anticipating this fight to stay on the feet but in the case that it does go to the ground, that is where it can get interesting. Where it stands now, 85% of the Verdict Community predicts Nurmagomedov will defeat Silva de Andrade in what could be the fight of the night. 

![SaidDouglas.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/55be03d4-58f8-47c9-62c5-da1536ee6f00/pub)

## Jared Vanderaa vs. Chase Sherman

Jared Vanderaa and Chase Sherman will try to get back into the win column against each other as both men need a win. Vanderaa is on a three-fight skid with his most recent loss at UFC 273 when Alexey Oleynik submitted him after nearly submitting Oleynik earlier in the first round. Vanderaa is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and he might be looking to get his first submission win in the UFC this weekend. Standing across from him in the octagon, Sherman has a professional record of 15-10 with a 93% finish rate. All but one of his wins are by knockout and there is no better time to add to that record than this weekend. Sherman is currently on a four-fight losing skid while his two most recent losses being by submission (Jake Collier and Alexander Romanov). Sherman can find success in this matchup if he can keep the fight on the feet as he has tremendous power. After showing some holes in his ground game as of late, Sherman's 66% takedown defense may be put to the test once again. While Vanderaa is coming off that submission loss, he nearly submitted Oleynik (who is known for his ground game) as he took the back and nearly got it done. It'll be interesting to see both men deploy their game plan against each other as they try to get back on the right track. As of now, nearly 69% of the Verdict Community are predicting Vanderaa to get it done against Sherman at UFC Vegas 58. 

![Sherman_Vanderaa.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b56c8e34-f6ed-41ad-e8a8-141079843f00/pub)

## Michael Johnson vs. Jamie Mullarkey

In another veteran verus prospect matchup, Michael Johnson will try to put on another gutsy performance as he takes on Jamie Mullarkey. Johnson is returning to the octagon after fighting a couple of months ago when he defeated Alan Patrick via knockout in the second round. In what was the most important win of his career, he'll try to double it up this weekend. Johnson has a professional record of 20-17, but he has some notable wins throughout his tenure. A few of these impressive wins have been agaisnt the likes of Dustin Poirier, Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson, and more. On the flip side, Mullarkey is looking to bounce back after suffering a defeat against Jalin Turner at UFC 272. With a professional record of 14-5, Mullarkey has a 93% finish rate in his career. Mullarkey is known for being a striker but he is no stranger in taking the fight to the ground. He averages over three takedowns per fight and has a strong ground game to go with it. Mullarkey likes to keep the fight at a high pace and he has the perfect opponent to do it with. This fight should be fun for as long as it goes on for. Where it stands now, nearly 56% of the Verdict Community are predicting Johnson to upset Mullarkey at UFC Vegas 58. The most common pick is for Johnson to win by a second round knockout too. 

![JohnsonMullarkey.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8007cadc-f3c8-48c0-a0cd-cd6fb935ad00/public)

UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev Pre-fight Preview

A top ranked Welterweight bout was just added to the UFC 281 card, as Belal Muhammad takes on the rising Sean Brady.

Belal Muhammad (21-3) is currently ranked at #5 at 170 pounds, undefeated in his last eight bouts. "Remember the Name" dominated Stephen Thompson on the mat to earn a rematch with bonus machine Vicente Luque. Muhammad made a statement, taking home a five-round decision victory. He has a well-rounded style, with oppressive top control and consistent volume on the feet.

The undefeated Sean Brady (15-0) is one of the most promising names in a division filled with prospects. Fighting out of Renzo Gracie Philly, Brady came into the UFC as the reigning CFFC Welterweight champion. He quickly racked up five straight wins, including submissions over Christian Aguilera and Jake Matthews. His most recent appearance saw him defeat Michael Chiesa in a decision, taking home the #9 ranking in the process. The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt has seven career stoppages, with four coming by submission.

The pair are slated for a three-round bout at UFC 281. The Pay-Per-View card is set for October 22nd at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady Booked For UFC 281

Douglas Vegas Bets

This weekend the UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a Lightweight headliner between the former Champion Rafael Dos Anjos +175 taking on electric kickboxer Rafael Fiziev -233. This card also features multiple standouts from the last season of the Ultimate Fighter to bet on in Tresean Gore -137 and Ricky Turcios -204 and much more. 

**All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 8:00 PM EST 7/7/22**

## Rafael Dos Anjos +175 Rafael Fiziev -233

The new guard has arrived at Lightweight, and another one of its bright young stars gets the main event spot here, with Rafael Fiziev getting his biggest test to date in the form of the former UFC Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Fiziev has looked very good in his last few performances, and to me seems like he is getting better as he did not seem to have as much of an issue in the third round against Brad Riddell as he did against Bobby Green. Dos Anjos will have a chance in this fight, especially if it gets to the later rounds, as he should have a significant grappling advantage. 

This fight is a good test for Fiziev, but I think it is the perfect time to give him a five-round fight which he has gone through several camps for after his late pull-out giving me hope his cardio will be improved even further. I have difficulty seeing how Dos Anjos will handle the speed of Fiziev during striking exchanges early, and I see this being too much for Dos Anjos to overcome. 

Pick: Fiziev O/U: Under 4.5 +116

## Caio Borralho -233 Aremn Petrosyan +180

The co-main features a Middleweight bout with one of the newer prospects on the scene in Borralho, who caught many people's attention with his last win. Borralho is well-rounded offensively with excellent striking and top game, but he has issues regarding his defense. Petrosyan is a good striker, but he will not have any clear advantages in this fight to take advantage of. 

Before his last win, I have not been overly high on Borralho, but I think this is a good matchup for him, so I will pick him to win. No bet from me here, as the price is not to my liking. 

Pick: Borralho O/U: Over 1.5 -161

## Said Nurmagomedov -323 Douglas Silva de Andrade +235

Another week and another Nurmagomedov with a steep price tag. Said Nurmagomedov is coming off a very impressive quick stoppage of Cody Stamann and has shown he is ready for a step up in competition at Bantamweight. Silva has power, but he will be at a speed disadvantage, and his age will not make that easier to overcome. 

I like Nurmagomedov, but the price makes it difficult to find value here. 

Pick: Nurmagomedov O/U: Over 2.5 +102 

## Jared Vanderaa -208 Chase Sherman +160

Here is a fun Heavyweight matchup as we see both guys coming off tough first-round losses. Vanderaa made a horrible mistake in his last fight going to the ground with a submission artist; however, he should not have to worry about that as he will likely have the advantage in both standing and grappling. Sherman is back in the UFC after taking a short-notice matchup in his last fight that did not pay off; however, it did earn him another opportunity after he was cut following some unimpressive showings prior to this.  

Vanderaa is better everywhere, but he is nothing spectacular, and this is Heavyweight, so I do not plan to lay that price in this fight. 

Pick: Vanderaa O/U: Over 2.5 +132

## Cynthia Calvillo -159 Nina Nunes +124

A fight between sliding veterans here as Nina Nunes returns in this Flyweight matchup. Calvillo is coming off three straight losses, the last two being stoppages, with her last win coming over the now-retired Jessica Eye. Nunes has only had one round of action over the previous few years, and she was finished in it; however, that was brutal matchmaking giving her Mackenzie Dern in her return fight, and I expect her to have a much better chance in this fight. 

I will side with the underdog as Nunes was on a good run before some tough matchups and a layoff, and I have seen nothing from Calvillo to suggest she is worth being a favorite at this stage in her career.

Pick: Nunes O/U: Over 2.5 -238

## Micheal Johnson +190 Jamie Mullarkey -250

A good one here at Lightweight with two men coming off very different showings. Johnson comes into this one off a huge KO win that he badly needed to turn things around. Mullarkey took a tough loss to Jalin Turner last time, but the odds were close going in, indicating the potential Mullarkey has shown.

Although Mullarkey is a big favorite coming off a loss, I will back him here as I do not believe Micheal Johnson is good enough to win this fight without a big knockout shot. The Moneyline is tough to play on its own, so I will combine Mullarkey with Ricky Turcios to get a better price on both. 

Pick: Mullarkey O/U: Over 2.5 +140

## Aieman Zahabi +160 Ricky Turcios -204

Here we get the return of The Ultimate Fighter winner Ricky Turcios taking on the Canadian Aieman Zahabi. Zahabi is coming off a massive win in which he had a lot of pressure on him to win, and he delivered in the first round with a big knockout win. Turcios is a very active pressure fighter who will be the one pushing the pace of this fight with his strong cardio and a well rounded skillset. 

I am taking Turcios here as I think his pressure will be too much for Zahabi over three rounds. The Moneyline price is steep, so I'll pair Turcios with Mullarkey to get a better price on both men. 

Pick: Turcios O/U: Over -172

## Antonina Shevchenko -182 Courtney Casey +142

This is a Flyweight matchup with the older Shevchenko sister taking on another veteran in Courtney Casey. Shevchenko has been finished in back-to-back fights and gets a nice step back from the tough contenders she has fought recently. Casey is coming off a much-needed win in her long up-and-down UFC career. 

I'll pick Shevchenko here, as I like the matchup against Casey, with the grappling unlikely to be an issue. No bet on this one as the price is steep, and Shevchenko has shown flaws that make her tough to back. 

Pick: Shevchenko O/U: Over -233

## Cody Brundage +112 Tresean Gore -143

This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup as we see the wrestler in Brundage take on Ultimate Fighter standout Gore. Brundage will need to get this one to the ground where he should have an advantage, as he was hurt badly in his last matchup but won by desperately getting it to the ground with a guillotine. Gore is a strong striker; however, he doesn't throw much volume, which costs him in his last fight. 

I favor Gore slightly in the matchup as I think he can keep this fight standing and land a knockout shot. I like the under in this matchup, as I could easily see Gore landing a KO or Brundage finding a Sub. 

Pick: Gore O/U: Under 2.5 -106

## David Onama -714 Garrett Armfield +460

Here we see Onama as the biggest favorite on the card against UFC newcomer Armfield in a rematch of their amateur fight. Onama has serious power, having finished every one of his pro wins. Armfield has not fought the most impressive competition up to this point and is moving up in weight for this short-notice matchup. 

Onama should not only have the experience edge, but he should be much larger as he has fought up at Lightweight, with Armfield having fought as low as Bantamweight. I can't justify playing a favorite that large, as there is no return, but I see no value in the underdog. 

Pick: Onama O/U: Over 1.5 -135

## Kennedy Nzechukwu -135 Karl Roberson +107

Here we get a Lighheavyweight matchup between two men who badly need a victory. Nzechukwu has heavy hands, and if this one stays standing, he is likely to score a KO victory. Roberson has decent grappling and is live to get a submission in this fight if he can get it to the ground. 

I will lean with Nzechukwu as I think he will be able to defend the grappling enough to get a KO, or Roberson will run out of gas. Despite the pick, I will not bet on this one as I have difficulty trusting either fighter with my money. 

Pick: Nzechukwu O/U: Under 1.5 +170

## Ronnie Lawrence -137 Saidyokub Kakhramonov +108

Here we get a fun one to start the night as Ronnie Lawrence looks to build on his impressive UFC run thus far. Lawrence is a very high pace wrestler who will look for takedowns repeatedly and can grapple for a complete three rounds with no issue. Kakhramonov is a solid striker, but he is not the strongest wrestler, although he does have a decent submission game that earned him his last win.

I like Lawrence here as I think he is an excellent prospect, and this is a good matchup for him with a reasonable price. This price has increased a bit during the week as many people are high on Lawrence, but I believe there is still value.

Pick: Lawrence O/U: Over 2.5 -196

## DougLasVegasBets.net Plays

Fiziev ML -233

Lawrence ML -137

Brundage Gore Under 2.5 -106

Mullarkey/Turcios Parlay +109

UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev Betting Preview

The UFC has parted ways with Bantamweight Tony Kelley after a 4-fight run that saw him go 2-2.

Kelley's last fight had bad blood involved as he faced Adrian Yanez earlier this year at UFC Austin. His controversial background had many fans rooting against him. He failed to make weight for the bout, coming in at 137.5 lbs, 1.5 lbs over the Bantamweight limit. Yanez would end the fight in round 1, finishing Kelley by TKO.

![E99CEEB4-3FC1-4185-BD40-B5CCC2AFA6E3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/aa7cafc7-06f0-4a03-98ff-632213c61700/pub "Adrian Yanez finishes Tony Kelley in round 1. Credits to: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports.")

Kelley joined the UFC roster in 2020, and after an unsuccessful debut would win two before losing again and parting ways with the promotion. 

The bad blood between himself and his last opponent, Adrian Yanez,  stemmed from statements he made about Brazilians on air. "They're dirty f******* Brazilians, of course they're gonna cheat!" Kelley shouted while cornering his teammate, Andrea Lee, who was fighting a Brazilian, Viviane Araujo, that night. This statement received a massive reaction from fans and fighters, with Gilbert Burns going as far as to offer Adrian Yanez extra money to finish Kelley by knockout.

Yanez would do just that and Tony and the UFC have since gone their separate ways.

The UFC Parts Ways With Tony Kelley

After a chance meeting backstage after UFC 276, Henry Cejudo sees Sean O'Malley as a quick fight.

Sean O'Malley was in the middle of an interview following his No Contest opposite Pedro Munhoz when Cejudo entered the conversation. A quick back-and-forth saw the pair talk about a future fight, though Sean brushed off the former champion as "not serious". 

While Cejudo is eager for a star-powered matchup with O'Malley, he does not expect O'Malley to take the bait. Cejudo stated the following on his podcast, _The Triple C and Schmo Show_.

> I think that might be a good tune up fight, but the goal for me for Sean is to get rid of him in two rounds. Like, don’t make him go past two rounds. So that’s my goal. But he wouldn’t take the fight. Stylistically, I’m just too smart, I’m too experienced, I’m too tough, and I’m definitely too damn good looking.
I would take him down. I would do some nasty things to him. I’d kick that front leg of his and then I’d slowly start putting my hands on him, and that’s the game plan. - Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo was escorted out of backstage after he interrupted Sean O’Malleys post fight interview. <br><br>“I’d love a tune up” <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espnmma</a> <a href="https://t.co/mshj8O9pxN">pic.twitter.com/mshj8O9pxN</a></p>&mdash; Carlos Contreras Legaspi (@CCLegaspi) <a href="https://twitter.com/CCLegaspi/status/1543429829919330309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Henry Cejudo retired in April 2019 after successfully defending his Bantamweight title opposite Dominick Cruz. At 35 years old, the former double champ and Olympic gold medalist still has fight left in him. He re-entered the USADA testing pool earlier this year, calling out everyone from Aljamain Sterling to Alexander Volkanovski. 