Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 58 weigh-ins ahead of the event taking place Wednesday at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., which features a strawweight matchup between UFC veteran Emily Ducote and Yulia Ostroverkhova. (Photos by Dave Mandell, Invicta FC)
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Invicta FC 58 weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs
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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock praises Arne Slot’s tactical ability after the Reds’ 4-0 Champions League win against Bayer Leverkusen
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Daniel Frunza sat backstage as he waited for his name to be called by someone from the UFC public relations team.
It would soon be his turn to speak with the media in attendance at the UFC Apex. Moments prior, Frunza (9-2) had earned a contract from promotion CEO Dana White for an impressive Contender Series finish by TKO over Vadym Kutsyi (17-2).
That’s when it hit him: His dream, or at least the first big one, was achieved.
“Even when Dana gave the contract, I was like, ‘Eh.’ It was like in a dream state,” Frunza recently told MMA Junkie. “But when I was in the back waiting for the interview, waiting for the media, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. What the hell did I just do?’ That’s what kind of came to me, the realization. But it felt good because that’s what I was working for. That’s what I was there for. I knew what I was there for. I know what I’m fighting for.”
Some of his motivations, Frunza is keeping close to his chest. In due time, he plans to tell his story and what makes him tick to the fullest extent. But for now, Frunza hopes to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Romanian fighters.
One year ago, Diana Belbita and Nicolae Negumereanu were the country’s two lone representatives. Frunza, Bogdan Grad, and Alice Ardelean have since more than doubled that number.
“We’re going to lead the way,” Frunza said. “That’s what I want, to be honest. I will try to make it to the highest heights of the sport and be an inspiration for the new generation, for the young guys and show that it’s possible, and as a Romanian fighter, you can dream. If you work hard and you’re really dedicated, you can make it. What I want on a personal level is to lead the way and be an inspiration to the younger guys.”
VICIOUS ground and pound from Daniel Frunza 👀
Was that finish enough to earn him a UFC contract? #DWCS pic.twitter.com/yP6suDHVNR
— UFC (@ufc) September 25, 2024
Frunza, 30, was born in Romania, where he lived until age 14 when he moved with his mother to Italy. At 19, he picked up combat sports. His main motivation was living out the American dream, and he saw MMA as the most America-centric combat sport. Eventually, Frunza found his way to Miami, where he currently lives and trains.
While he has yet to receive his first UFC assignment, whenever that walk comes, viewers should expect to see a blue, yellow, and red flag draped over Frunza’s shoulders.
“I want to say to the UFC: Line them up. Just get them ready for me,” Frunza said. “That’s all I can say. That’s the only message that I’m going to give. Just line them up. I cannot wait to step back into that cage, this time in an official UFC event, and hopefully I would really fight with a crowd and entertain the people.”
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
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Last week’s MMA news cycle left plenty to digest.
From Max Holloway’s announcement of moving back up to lightweight, to the welterweight booking between Ian Machado Garry vs. Joaquin Buckley, and the retirement of former UFC women’s featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie, a lot went down. Additionally, the UFC revealed the details for the new, upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
All this news left many questions: Is Holloway making the right call by leaving featherweight? What’s at stake in the Garry Machado vs. Buckley matchup in Tampa, Fla.? What kind of legacy does de Randamie leave behind?
MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura and host Gorgeous “George” discuss and react to the latest news in the world of MMA.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel at noon ET. You can also find each episode on your favorite podcast platforms – including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more – on Tuesday mornings.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
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The final UFC Apex event of 2024 takes place Saturday in Las Vegas with UFC Fight Night 247, which streams entirely on ESPN+.
Headlining the card is the most experienced welterweight in UFC history. Neil Magny (29-12 MMA, 22-11 UFC) will attempt to build on his all-time divisional wins record when he clashes with yet another surging potential contender in Carlos Prates (20-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 247.
* * * *
Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates
Neil Magny
Neil Magny
Magny competes in his 34th UFC welterweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Magny has alternated losses and wins over his past eight fights. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN 62 in August.
Magny’s 22 victories in UFC competition are tied for fourth-most in company history behind Jim Miller (26), Andrei Arlovski (23) and Donald Cerrone (23).
Magny’s 22 victories in UFC welterweight competition are most in divisional history.
Magny’s total fight time of 6:51:58 in UFC welterweight competition is most in divisional history.
Magny’s 14 decision victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Magny has landed 1,418 significant strikes and 2,538 total strikes in UFC welterweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.
Magny is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn five victories in a calendar year, as he did in 2014. Kevin Holland (2020) and Roger Huerta (2007) also accomplished the feat.
Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates
Prates becomes the second fighter to make four UFC appearances in 2024. Charles Johnson also accomplished the feat and went 4-0.
Prates has earned 18 of his 20 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.
Prates’ three-fight UFC knockout streak is tied with Tom Aspinall and Jean Silva for third-longest among active fighters in the company behind Steve Garcia (five) and Alex Pereira (four).
Cody Garbrandt vs. Miles Johns
Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) enters the event on the final fight of his current UFC contract.
Garbrandt is one of nine fighters to hold the UFC bantamweight title. He is one of three who failed to make a successful title defense.
Garbrandt is 3-6 in his past nine fights dating back to November 2017.
Garbrandt is 2-1 since returning to the bantamweight division in March 2023.
Garbrandt’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Marlon Vera, Petr Yan for second-most in divisional history behind Montel Jackson (11).
Miles Johns (15-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) defends 71.3 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Vaughan Lee (71.5 percent).
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes
Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-8 MMA, 9-8 UFC) competes in her 18th UFC strawweight bout, tied with Randa Marcos for the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Angela Hill (25).
Kowalkiewicz is 6-8 in her past 14 fights dating back to when she fought for the UFC strawweight title in November 2016.
Kowalkiewicz’s nine victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for sixth-most in divisional history behind Hill (11), Jessica Andrade (10), Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10), Tecia Pennington (10) and Carla Esparza (10).
Kowalkiewicz’s eight decision victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for most in divisional history.
Kowalkiewicz has eight of her nine UFC victories by decision.
Reinier de Ridder vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Gerald Meerschaert
Reinier de Ridder (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder at light heavyweight and middleweight, makes his octagon debut.
Gerald Meerschaert (37-17 MMA, 12-9 UFC) has earned 35 of his 37 carer victories by stoppage. That includes all 12 of his UFC wins.
Meerschaert’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC middleweight competition are most in divisional history.
Meerschaert’s 11 submission victories in UFC middleweight competition are most in divisional history.
Meerschaert’s 11 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Demian Maia for the third-most in company history behind Charles Oliveira (16) and Miller (12).
Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson
Gillian Robertson
Gillian Robertson (14-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) is 3-1 since she dropped to the UFC strawweight division in April 2023.
Robertson’s seven submission victories in UFC competition are most by any female in company history.
Robertson’s seven stoppage victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Robertson’s six submission victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Zach Scroggin.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (24-8-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC) is one of three fighters in history to earn UFC knockouts stemming from a flying knee and a spinning wheel kick. Cory Sandhagen and Edson Barboza also accomplished the feat.
Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charlie Radtke
Matthew Semelsberger
Matthew Semelsberger’s (11-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2022.
Semelsberger is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to July 2022.
Semelsberger is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn multiple knockouts of 20 seconds or less. Anthony Johnson and Terrance McKinney also accomplished the feat.
Semelsberger’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Thiago Alves (13), Matt Brown (11) and Jake Ellenberger (11).
Cody Stamann vs. Da’Mon Blackshear
Da’Mon Blackshear’s twister
Da’Mon Blackshear (14-7-1 MMA, 2-3-1 UFC) is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by Twister. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 51. Bryce Mitchell and Chan Sung Jung have also won with the technique.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 247.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is not worried about a future showdown with Ian Machado Garry.
When welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from his title defense against Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 due to a bone infection, Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) campaigned to fight Rakhmonov on the same card. However, shortly after, the promotion announced that Machado Garry will face Joaquin Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner on Dec. 14 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
If a fight between Rakhmonov and his former Kill Cliff FC teammate ever does materialize, their history makes “Nomad” confident.
“To be honest, I don’t care,” Rakhmonov said through an interpreter on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I’m ready if it’s going to be him after he wins his next fight. If it is, it could be good for both of us. We can do it. If he wants to try and take my zero, he can try, but I know the same thing is going to happen that’s happened in the training.
“I’m going to just keep it the same way, and I’m pretty confident that I’m going to beat him. … You know, it’s just training. I don’t want to praise myself too much. It’s just training, but I feel comfortable with how the training went. Whether it was striking or the ground, I felt comfortable and in control. So, I’m pretty confident in this matchup.”
Rakhmonov is currently lobbying for an interim title fight against Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), but the UFC is yet to announce a replacement fight.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
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