Photo by Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Mauricio Ruffy drew comparisons to a “young Conor McGregor” earlier tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) at UFC 301 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Jane…
Mauricio Ruffy drew comparisons to a “young Conor McGregor” earlier tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) at UFC 301 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the lightweight prospect steamrolled veteran Jamie Mullarkey with a lopsided first-round TKO (punches).
Right off the bat you could tell Ruffy was levels above Mullarkey on the feet. The Brazilian prospect had a similar stance to McGregor’s and it allowed him to control his distance, pick his shots with precision, and almost land at will. His biggest attacks were a power right and hard leg kicks.
Ruffy continued to batter Mullarkey at every turn in the first round. He scored spinning head kicks, combinations upstairs, and badly had Mullarkey hurt. That’s about the time Din Thomas chimed in from cageside and proceeded to compare Ruffy to a young “Notorious.” It seemed like a far-fetched comparison, but moments later Ruffy was able to rush in and put the finishing touches on a violent TKO.
Check out the final moments below and let us know if you think Ruffy showed any similarities to an up-and-coming Conor McGregor:
Photo by Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Alessandro Costa started off UFC 301 with a bang earlier tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the …
Alessandro Costa started off UFC 301 with a bang earlier tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the flyweight powerhouse stopped Kevin Borjas with a vicious second-round TKO (leg kicks and punches).
Costa was coming off a decision loss to Steve Erceg, who is headlining tonight’s UFC 301 PPV card opposite UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, so this was a key moment for “Nono” to show what he’s truly made of. Borjas proved to be one tough cookie in a debut loss to Joshua Van last November, but he didn’t hold up as well in his scrap with Costa to open the UFC 301 card.
Costa mostly had his way with Borjas in the first round and even had him staggered for a moment in the final seconds of the frame. Borjas was able to recover early into the second round, but Costa opened up with whipping leg kicks that immediately stalled Borjas. He was a sitting duck as Costa dug in leg kick after leg kick, eventually forcing Borjas to the canvas. Borjas was able to return to his feet, though, only to suffer more leg kicks. He eventually went down again and that’s when Costa rained down heavy punches for the TKO finish.
It was an impressive performance for Costa, who now pushes his UFC record to 2-2, and a great way to start UFC’s return to Brazil. Check out some highlights below:
It’s not everyone’s cup of pay-per-view tea. Though the on-site crowd in Rio De Janeiro will be thrilled by the presence of a Brazilian fighter in each of 13…
It’s not everyone’s cup of pay-per-view tea. Though the on-site crowd in Rio De Janeiro will be thrilled by the presence of a Brazilian fighter in each of 13…
A massive boxing card will go down later tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Canelo Alvarez return…
A massive boxing card will go down later tonight (Sat., May 4, 2024) live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Canelo Alvarez returns to action to defend his undisputed super middleweight crown against fellow Mexican standout Jaime Munguia.
Luckily, the fun will not stop there. In the co-main event, former lightweight title challenger Mario Barrios will put his WBC interim welterweight title on the line for the first time against Fabian Maidana. Also on the card, featherweight knockout artist Brandon Figueroa will defend his WBC interim strap against veteran southpaw Jessie Magdaleno.
Before the PPV main card begins at 8 p.m. ET, a collection of “Prelims” undercard matchups will set the tone for Canelo vs. Munguia. They will begin at 6 p.m. ET and can be seen LIVE and FREE in the above video player courtesy of YouTube.
For the entire Canelo vs. Munguia fight card and DAZN PPV lineup click HERE. For LIVE play-by-play results beginning at 6 p.m. ET click HERE.
Despite holding three victories over fellow former featherweight champion, Max Holloway, Australian favorite, Alexander Volkanovski has welcomed the chance…
Despite holding three victories over fellow former featherweight champion, Max Holloway, Australian favorite, Alexander Volkanovski has welcomed the chance to fight the Hawaiian for a fourth time – particularly now the latter holds the symbolic BMF title.
Volkanovski, a former undisputed featherweight champion and a prior pound-for-pound number one under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since he took main event honors at UFC 298 back in February in Anaheim.
And dropping his first loss at 145lbs since his move to the Dana White-led organization, Volkanovski’s impressive title run at featherweight was halted in blistering fashion by the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria – who finished the New South Wales native with a stunning second round KO.
As for Holloway, the former featherweight kingpin most recently featured at UFC 300 last month, scoring a brutal fifth round highlight-reel knockout win over Justin Gaethje to win the previously noted BMF belt.
Alexander Volkanovski welcomes BMF clash with Max Holloway
Weighing up potential title fights against both champions, Islam Makhachev, and Ilia Topuria, respectively – Holloway may have a chance to fight Volkanovski in the future for a fourth time – given his recent BMF title acquisition.
“Would I fight him (Max Holloway) a fourth time? I mean, now that he’s got a BMF [title] we might have to do this, you know what I mean?” Alexander Volkanovski told Australian outlet, Main Event TV on Fox Sports. “I was always thinking, ‘How could you do it [a fourth fight]?’ But maybe there is that something there – I mean, there’s a BMF [title] now.”
“Maybe it’s like, for me – it’s 3-0, how can you get yourself out of bed for that?” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “A BMF [title] is something I haven’t touched before, so you know? Maybe we can do that, you know? So we’ll see what happens.”
Would you like to see Alexander Volkanovski face Max Holloway for a fourth time?
Reminder: We will deliver live round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 301’s entire five-fight pay-per-view (PPV) main card RIGHT HERE, with a 10 p.m. ET start time.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels to Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the UFC 301 mixed martial arts (MMA) event later TONIGHT (Sat., May 4, 2024), and streaming LIVE on ESPN+ PPV. UFC 301 features a Flyweight title fight in the main event with Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg. The champion, Pantoja, will be making his second-ever title defense in friendly territory (he has never compete in Brazil during his UFC tenure). Meanwhile, the Australian, Erceg, is making only his fourth trip to the Octagon. UFC 301’s co-main event has mixed martial arts (MMA) legend, Jose Aldo, returning to faceJonathan Martinez.
Before that PPV action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (ESPN2 will simulcast the undercard action at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 301’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 301 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
UFC 301 START TIME AND DATE
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ early “Prelims” undercard bouts at 6 p.m. ET , followed by the late “Prelims”on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. UFC 301’s PPV main card starts at 10 p.m ET. on ESPN+ PPV, with play-by-play updates here. Bet on all the UFC 301 action with our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
UFC 301’s “Prelims” feature Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore, Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai and so much more.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Pantoja vs. Erceg.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC 301 results. (Note: This will go from the top down; therefore, the newest information will at the top of the stream).
UFC 301 QUICK RESULTS
125 lbs.: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg 135 lbs.: Jonathan Martinez vs. Jose Aldo 205 lbs.: Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino 185 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria 185 lbs.: Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho 145 lbs.: Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore 115 lbs.: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo 155 lbs.: Elves Brenner vs. Myktykbek Orolbai 155 lbs.: Joaquim Silva vs. Drakkar Klose 155 lbs.: Mauricio Ruffy vs. Jamie Mullarkey — Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO (punches), round 1 (4:42) — HIGHLIGHTS! 125 lbs.: Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite — Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 155 lbs.: Ismael Bonfim vs. Vinc Pichel — Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 125 lbs.: Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas — Costa def. Borjas via TKO (punches), round 2 (1:35) — HIGHLIGHTS!
UFC 301 ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
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Reminder: We will deliver live round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 301’s entire five-fight pay-per-view (PPV) main card RIGHT HERE, with a 10 p.m. ET start time.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels to Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the UFC 301 mixed martial arts (MMA) event later TONIGHT (Sat., May 4, 2024), and streaming LIVE on ESPN+ PPV. UFC 301 features a Flyweight title fight in the main event with Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg. The champion, Pantoja, will be making his second-ever title defense in friendly territory (he has never compete in Brazil during his UFC tenure). Meanwhile, the Australian, Erceg, is making only his fourth trip to the Octagon. UFC 301’s co-main event has mixed martial arts (MMA) legend, Jose Aldo, returning to faceJonathan Martinez.
Before that PPV action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (ESPN2 will simulcast the undercard action at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 301’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 301 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
UFC 301 START TIME AND DATE
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ early “Prelims” undercard bouts at 6 p.m. ET , followed by the late “Prelims”on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. UFC 301’s PPV main card starts at 10 p.m ET. on ESPN+ PPV, with play-by-play updates here. Bet on all the UFC 301 action with our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
UFC 301’s “Prelims” feature Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore, Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai and so much more.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Pantoja vs. Erceg.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC 301 results. (Note: This will go from the top down; therefore, the newest information will at the top of the stream).
UFC 301 QUICK RESULTS
125 lbs.: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg 135 lbs.: Jonathan Martinez vs. Jose Aldo 205 lbs.: Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino 185 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria 185 lbs.: Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho 145 lbs.: Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore 115 lbs.: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo 155 lbs.: Elves Brenner vs. Myktykbek Orolbai 155 lbs.: Joaquim Silva vs. Drakkar Klose 155 lbs.: Mauricio Ruffy vs. Jamie Mullarkey — Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO (punches), round 1 (4:42) — HIGHLIGHTS! 125 lbs.: Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite — Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 155 lbs.: Ismael Bonfim vs. Vinc Pichel — Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 125 lbs.: Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas — Costa def. Borjas via TKO (punches), round 2 (1:35) — HIGHLIGHTS!
UFC 301 ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 301: “Pantoja vs. Erceg” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive events archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 301 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.