After getting back in the win column for the first time in nearly three years, Aspen Ladd has taken aim at both current and former ‘Queens’ of the PFL Larissa Pacheco and Kayla Harrison.
While Pacheco seized a shocking unanimous decision win over Harrison – a woman she’d lost to twice prior – in the PFL finals to claim the lightweight title last weekend, Ladd was quick to note that neither fighter had faced competition close to what she had encountered in the UFC.
“I think Larissa has progressed incredibly,” Ladd said following her split decision win over former Bellator champion Julia Budd. “She’s done very well with her striking,” she continued, but that’s where the praise ended.
“I think Kayla has been the queen for a long time. But if you look at either one of their resumes, it’s absolutely nothing compared to the people that I have fought and have come in fighting. So, you have different levels of experience with different levels of opponents.”
The AllStar MMA roundup
- Pro Tips: `Moicano wants money!’ How to make UFC post-fight speeches
The best of the rest
- Former UFC champs shoot guns in Chechnya at warlord Kadyrov’s invitation – BloodyElbow.com
- Kayla Harrison on first MMA loss: ‘I lost in front of the whole world, and it hurts. It’s going to hurt for awhile’ – MMAFighting.com
- Israel Adesanya on possibility of UFC Africa despite losing title: ‘F*** the belt. Come on, man. We’re us. It’s us.’ – MMAFighting.com
- Conor McGregor hints at UFC drug-testing exemption, but USADA says don’t count on it – MMAJunkie.com
- Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why he’ll never break his retirement promise to his mother – MMAJunkie.com
The soapbox
Conor sounds off on the Artem Lobov situation:
The misadventures of Paddy Pimblett:
Cejudo and Sterling go face to face:
Advanced BJJ tactics with Dan Hooker:
Merab wants Cory Sandhagen:
Coach Tyson Chartier with some suggestions for the PFL:
The new PFL 145 champ is copping it from all angles:
The morning view
Billy Q catches up with JHK ahead of UFC 282:
Volk kicks off double champ camp:
Israel Adesanya takes the Hot Ones challenge:
Tommy from MMA On Point answers the age old question:
Done deals
Monday
- None to note
UFC Roster Watch
Fighters removed this week:
- None to note
Fighters Added this week:
- None to note
Credit to UFC Roster Watch
On this day in MMA…
On the 28th of November, 2015, Benson Henderson made his final appearance under the UFC banner when he headlined UFC Fight Night 79 opposite Jorge Masvidal in Seoul, South Korea. The Fight Night card was also the first UFC event to be held in the region.
Masvidal had stepped up to replace the injured Thiago Alves on just over a week’s notice, securing the future star’s first-ever main event spot under the promotion, though Henderson would ultimately get the shine.
After a back and forth 25-minutes that saw each fighter have their moments, Henderson eeked out a split decision win on two of the judges’ scorecards. It was the last fight on “Smooth’s” contract, and with a win, he’d decided it was time to test free agency.
Henderson would sign with Bellator and go on to contend for the Bellator Lightweight Championship in just his third fight under the new banner, though he’d lose a split decision to Michael Chandler on that occasion. The former UFC star most recently defeated Peter Queally at Bellator 285; and at 39, looks poised to once again challenge for the 155-pound strap again soon.
