DAZN: “Thug Rose” becomes champion once again

April 25, 2021

When she lost the women’s strawweight title to Jessica Andrade at UFC 237, Rose Namajunas knew if she regained the belt that she’d be ready to handle what it takes to be the champion. 

That time is now for “Thug Rose” as she defeated Zhang Weili via knockout at 1:18 of the first round to regain the strawweight championship at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday night.

“I did it again! God did it, but I just had to have faith in him, but that’s what got me through,” Namajunas told Joe Rogan in her post-fight interview. 

Before the bell sounded, there were loud chants for Namajunas and thunderous boos for Weili. The former champion came out and with the plan of throwing inside leg kicks while Namajunas was peppering her with jabs.

After an exchange of strikes, Namajunas feinted low and snapped a head kick that sent Weili’s head bouncing off the canvas. Namajunas connected on two hammerfists and referee Keith Peterson stepped right in to stop the fight, much to the chagrin of Weili, who let it be known to Peterson that it was a bad stoppage. 

“I didn’t see her moving,” Namajunas said. “I wasn’t sure if she was gonna come back from that. Just a couple of hammerfists and that’s how it went.”

Namajunas (11-4) is the first woman to regain a belt in her original weight class. For Weili (21-2), her 20-fight winning streak has been snapped.

FIGHTSTARS: Modestas Bukauskas plans to finish Michal Oleksiejczuk in “spectacular fashion” at UFC 260

March 25, 2021

Modestas Bukauskas was eagerly anticipating his next fight after coming up short last time out.

Back on Fight Island in October, Bukauskas suffered a first-round TKO loss to Jimmy Crute. In just his second UFC fight, he fought a very tough and dangerous Crute who is now in the rankings and could be in the top-10 after his next fight. Although the loss was disappointing for Bukauskas, he says it helped him grow as he hired a sports psychologist and started to focus more on the strategy for his fights.

“It is the same with Adesanya, I was the one who took a risk and it didn’t pay off. I’m taking the hard and daring way to be great and unfortunately in that fight, it didn’t go the way I wanted. I also learned a hell of a lot from the fight,” Bukauskas said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “The main things I learned about the fight weren’t technical, like I know have the skill set to win that fight. But, it was more underlying things, like I got myself a sports psychologist which is about bringing the best out of me.

“That was one of the main things and then having a strategy and a game plan,” Bukauskas continued. “Every fighter has tendencies. But, I would go into the fight to fight and Jimmy Crute told me he was working on a couple of moves a million times over just for me. It is also about being more aggressive and an attacking fighter as I have been a defensive fighter in my career.”

After the loss, Modestas Bukauskas was blowing up his manager’s phone trying to get a fight. The goal was to fight in January of February. He ended up getting offered Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 260 and it was an immediate yes.

Bukauskas is well aware that Oleksiejczuk has legit one-punch KO power. But, the former Cage Warriors champion believes he can use his reach to frustrate the Pole. Once he does that, he believes the finish will come and it will be one for the highlight-reel.

“I have supreme confidence in myself. I’ve learned to use my reach a whole lot better. Just bringing back the old me that is aggressive and flamboyant like I want to show out in this fight. I’m looking for the finish, I’m not going to Vegas for a decision,” Bukauskas said. “It is in my goal and in my view that I will finish this guy. I do feel like I will get the knockout. I have the skill and I just need to prove it. I’m going to get my hand raised and do it in spectacular fashion.”

If Bukauskas does get his hand raised at UFC 260, his hope is to fight often in 2021 and be in the rankings by the end of the year. For after this fight, however, he says he doesn’t care who is next. He knows he will have to beat everyone eventually.

“It doesn’t matter. I have to pick them off one by one. If I get a big win here, I would like a top-15 guy. But, it doesn’t matter, whoever they give me is who I will fight,” Bukauskas concluded.

FIGHTSTARS: Sergej Maslobojev “The Stars are in the sky”

May 5, 2020

Sergej Maslobojev is a GLORY newcomer who burst into promotion with two spectacular first-round knockouts. He is not yet in GLORY’s top five for his division, but Maslobojev has already proven that he is one of the most dangerous light heavyweights in kickboxing. Combat Press recently spoke with the Lithuanian standout.

You are one of the best and most famous fighters of Lithuania. Can you call yourself a star in your homeland? Do people on the streets often ask for a photo or an autograph?

Today, I am the most famous and most titled fighter in Lithuania! I never considered myself a star, although other people already call me the martial-arts legend in Lithuania.

I am asked to act in TV programs, participate in podcasts, talk on the radio, share my experience with young people in schools, prisons, rehabilitation centers, and so on. People on the street recognize [me] and ask to make a photo. On social networks, they ask for advice on sports and on motivation and on men’s issues in the same way.

You started kickboxing at the age of 18. What kind of sport did you do before?

Yes, I started kickboxing and MMA only when I was 18 years old. Before this, I was engaged in weightlifting from the age of 15 and at the age of 17 became the champion of Lithuania among youth, lifting 125 kilograms with power snatch and 145 kilograms with push, while my weight was 80 kilograms. But after I moved to the adult category, I realized that I can’t get Olympic gold with my physique. Therefore, the stage in my life came to make serious decisions, and to start this sport that always attracted me, but which I was always afraid of!

How do you train during quarantine?

Keeping in shape mode, but no more. I got bars — horizontal bar in the yard — and hung a punching bag. I try to go out and exercise at least once a day. Although the motivation is very weak — you can’t work with a coach and in pairs — so it’s very difficult to work out every day alone, but it [allows me] to devote more time to the family and educate my elder son, Ramir.

Are there restrictions for internal travel in Lithuania?

Within the country, restrictions are imposed only on holidays, but when everything around does not work, then there is nowhere to go. I also don’t risk going to [visit] my parents. I really want to visit them, but only after quarantine.

Tell us about your Champion’s House.

Champion’s House is an ideological project. [The] idea was to create a community of people who want to wake up their inner champion. Take the first step in self-development and push people to become their best versions, not only in sports but also in life. We do not make professional athletes; we try to motivate people to become better today than they were yesterday.

On the website of the Champion’s House, there are posts in both Lithuanian and Russian. What language do you most often communicate in during everyday life?

Honestly, I speak Russian rarely [in these] last years. [My] social circle is a majority of Lithuanian-speaking people. Sometimes it happens that even some words in Russian are forgotten, offensively of course, but you have to adapt to your environment.

You signed a contract with GLORY. Was it your team’s initiative, or did GLORY come to you?

GLORY, like all other organizations, such as ONE FC, FFC, KOK, Biggers Better, etc., came to me themselves. I always wanted to participate with them, and they called me. In my life, it often happens to me that you want something badly, often think about it, work hard, and try to share the good things in life, and in exchange, life gives me opportunities.

Does the GLORY contract forbid you from performing in other promotions?

While I am not in their top-five ranking, I can participate in other promotions, though there should be at least five weeks [between it and any fight in] GLORY, no less. But in terms of finances, I don’t think that anyone can make a profitable offer.

Who was the most difficult opponent in your career?

I always answer this question in the same way: the most difficult opponent of mine was always myself. Those few fights that I lost, I’m sure that I was stronger and more technical than my rivals, but the only thing that bothered me was the psychological preparation. I just went out to fights terribly burnt out. But recently, I began to find answers to my questions, and my performances began to amaze and delight many martial-arts lovers.

From 2011 to 2013, you competed in professional boxing. Were you planning to completely switch to the boxing ring at that point?

Yes, I really wanted to, but the bureaucracy at the American Embassy put a spoke in the wheel. I did not get a visa to America and decided to return to what I do best: kickboxing!

I began to look for prospects and the opportunity to let the world know about myself differently, because my second son, Raon, was going to come into the world. [I had to] start earning more, and it turned out, coincidence or not, but right after this fight I received a letter from GLORY.

Who is the best GLORY fighter today, regardless of weight class?

The kickboxing phenomenon of Alex Pereira. His technique is very non-standard, but no one can pick up the key to it. On the contrary, he very successfully selects the distance and combinations that send people to a knockout. It would be very interesting to see him fight with Artem Vakhitov, whom I also like as a fighter (fast, sharp, changing stances). I think life will add up so I will be able to test my strength with Artem and the second time with Alex. It will be very difficult, but not impossible.

Rizin: Teodoras Aukštuolis

June 28, 2017

What have you been doing since your last fight in RIZIN?

After my last fight in Rizin I did not feel happy, I had some rest and then continued training. I participated in King of Kings tourneship, which is the biggest in Europe. In the first round I won my MMA fight strangling my opponent from Ukraine. Later I became Lithuanian Combat Sambo champion and gained the right to participate in European Combat Sambo Championshiop, where I became a vice-champion. Moreover, I took part in Open Baltic Grappling Championship and won a title of a champion up to 100kg. Of course, I waited for the invitation to come back and participate in Rizin tourneship in Japan.

What are your thoughts about your opponent Karl Albrektsson?

In my opinion Karl Albrektsson is a good fighter with his own style. He prooved he can win against really strong fighters. I hope we will show a good fight with much actionwhich is important and interesting for Pride FC fans.

What kind of fight do you think this is going to be?

I train really a lot for this upcoming fight. I think my opponent will also try to demonstrate an interesting and vigorous fight, and not a tactic or based on the points, one. His fights are a bit slower in comparison to mine, thus I will try to use my strategy and not get into his imposed martial style.

How do you like fighting in Japan?

To fight in Japan was a dream of my life and it came true.. I am happy I can feel Japanese martial art spirit, I am amazed at how organizators take care of the fighetrs, how fans adore fighters and wish them the best. Fighters are respected all the time, no matter whether they win or lose. All fans are very sincere and emotional. While I am in Japan I feel as if I am a super star, thus I want to demonstrate a really good fight.

What does it feel like to fight in RIZIN?

Before I started training MMA, I had watched nearly all Pride FC tournaments. I have always dreamt about my participation in Rizin ff, and now I am a part of it. I had 4 fights and I am very happy about that. I want to stay here as much as it is possible. It is a significant period of my life and will give all my effort for it.

A message to the fans.

I train hard and a lot and I wish for a good and nice fight. I do everything for you, my dear fans.