Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 248 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $257,000.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 248 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $257,000.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC 248 took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
The full UFC 248 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC 248 event.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC 248 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
Alex Oliveira got a much-needed victory to snap a three-fight losing streak at UFC 248.
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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] went to great lengths to leave UFC 248 as a winner.
The Brazilian fighter had a back-and-forth war with [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] to kick things off on the pay-per-view main card Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Oliveira (21-8-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC) defeated Griffin (15-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) by split decision, notching 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 on the judges’ scorecards.
“Cowboy” pushed Griffin to his limits.
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After getting rocked, taken down and controlled for the majority of the first round, Oliveira followed up with strong efforts in Rounds 2 and 3. Oliveira cut Griffin with a nasty uppercut in the early portion of Round 2, and the tide seemed to have turned from there. For the rest of the second round, Oliveira connected and backed up Griffin with his striking, thus wining the round.
Round 3 had a similar look, but Oliveira managed to get the fight to the ground and punish Griffin with pressure and ground-and-pound. Griffin did get a reversal and ended the fight on top, but it was a little too late for the 34-year-old.
With this result, Oliveira snapped a three-fight skid and got his first win since September 2018. Meanwhile, Griffin is now on a two-fight skid and 1-4 in his last five trips to the octagon.
The welterweight bout opened up the UFC 248 main card at T-Mobile Arena. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 248 results include:
Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will take home a cool half-million, win or lose, at UFC 248. But what about Zhang Weili?
Middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] will take home a cool half-million, win or lose, at UFC 248.
Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is scheduled to make $500,000 with no potential win bonus for his main event title fight against challenger [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Romero is set to make $350,000 with no win bonus.
In the co-main event, former women’s strawweight champion and now title challenger [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) actually will make more than defending champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) with a win. Jedrzejczyk is set to make $106,000 to show and another $106,000 to win. Weili is scheduled to make $100,000 to show and another $100,000 to win.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (17-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) can make $70,000 to show and double that to win against [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who is set to make $40,000/$40,000.
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) can make $76,000/$76,000 in his welterweight fight against [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC), who is scheduled to make $64,000/$64,000.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is scheduled for $64,000/$64,000 at featherweight against [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC), who can make $35,000/$35,000.
Now, the usual disclaimer: The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC 248 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC oftentimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
For example, UFC officials will hand out additional $50,000 bonuses for “Performance of the Night” and/or “Fight of the Night” honors.
In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
Max Griffin knows Alex Oliveira will be going for broke to save his career.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] might not be in the best form heading into UFC 248, but mentally he feels at the top of his game.
Griffin (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] in the opening bout of the pay-per-view main card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena and says his form is better than his recent win-loss column might suggest.
“I look at my Thiago Alves fight as a victory, (and) I beat Zelim (Imadaev, at UFC 236),” Griffin told MMA Junkie during media day. “My last fight with Alex Morono was a close fight – I won the fight except for the last 40 seconds when he kicked me in the head.”
Griffin says his competitiveness, even in defeat, means he’s the sort of fighter fans enjoy coming to watch, and he said his upcoming clash with “Cowboy” Oliveira (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is the sort of fight that fires him up personally, too.
“People want to see action, and to get this kind of fight with Cowboy Oliveira, it’s a blessing,” he said. “I jumped out the bed, dancing, excited. I want to fight the best guys in the world, and it couldn’t be on a better platform, kicking off the card on pay per view.
“We both bring it. He’s always wild. I’m ready to do what I gotta do in there. It’s a perfect time. He’s on a losing streak. My record kinda doesn’t speak that, but it’s my time. I feel like they gave me a gift.”
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Despite his excitement for the matchup, Griffin suggested he had spotted a weakness in the psyche of his Brazilian opponent, and he plans to exploit it on fight night.
“He’s a dangerous guy, he’s fought the best in the world,” Griffin said. “You look at his list of rivals, he’s fought every single guy (and) has a good record. But, as of late, he is on a losing streak, doesn’t have the same fire, I feel. Kinda giving up, he gives up, and I’m getting better, and I’m excited to show it.
“He is on a losing streak, so he’s going to try to save his contract. They didn’t want to accept this fight, and that’s a fact, and they ended up doing it two weeks later. So he’s going to try to save his contract on me, but it’s not gonna happen.”
The bout between the pair has been highlighted as a possible back-and-forth war, but while Griffin is more than happy to engage in one, if necessary, he said he plans on making it a one-sided affair.
“It has the potential for being a war, but I’m not into making it a war,” Griffin said. “I’m going in there (to) execute my gameplan and finish him. I’m going to break him, I’m going to push the pace and take it from him.”
UFC 248 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
With his back against the wall on a three-fight losing skid, Alex Oliveira might be feeling the pressure heading into UFC 248.
LAS VEGAS – With his back against the wall, [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] knows there’s a lot on the line Saturday.
Oliveira (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) opens up the main card at UFC 248 against Max Griffin, looking to snap a three-fight losing skid.
“I’m really excited to be back,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie in Portuguese through an interpreter at Thursday’s media day. “It’s a great fight, an important fight for me. I really need to win this fight. There’s a lot pending on it.”
A fighter who’s rarely gone the distance, two of Oliveira’s last three losses came by close decisions. In his last defeat to Nicolas Dalby in September, the referee abruptly stood up Oliveira after he had top position in the third round, an interference he thinks ultimately might’ve cost him the fight.
“It’s not a comfortable position, but I’m going to go in there and show who I am and what I’ve come to do,” Oliveira said. “And just stating, two of those losses were split decisions. One was very unjust, I got stood up in a moment that I was winning the fight, so it is what it is.”
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With no specific prediction for his fight against Griffin, all Oliveira has in mind is the win.
“I just expect the victory, I hope for the victory, that’s all I’m looking for, so I can keep my head in place,” he said.
UFC 248 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Check out MMA Junkie’s full UFC 248 pre-fight interview with Oliveira in the video above.
The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week, and a pair of title fights are at the top of the bill.
UFC 248 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
In the main event, middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he meets challenger [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC). Adesanya is as much as a 3-1 favorite from the oddsmakers, and he’s got a big lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers – only three of which are taking Romero in an upset.
The co-main event is another title fight. Women’s strawweight champ [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) puts her belt up for the first time when she takes on former champ [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC). Zhang is a mild favorite, but she’s got a fairly significant 9-5 lead in the picks.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (17-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at lightweight. Dariush is a -170 favorite, and he’s got a big 10-4 lead in the picks.
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) also is about a -170 favorite in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC). That bout is our most contentious – Jingliang has just an 8-6 picks edge.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is just a slight favorite over [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC), but he’s got a big 11-3 lead in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Adesanya (54 percent), Weili (69 percent), Dariush (55 percent), Jingliang (58 percent) and Oliveira (77 percent) are the choices.
The best facts and figures about UFC 248, which features a Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero middleweight title main event.
The UFC returns to Las Vegas on Saturday with another major event in UFC 248, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC-Fight Pass.
A championship doubleheader sits atop the card. In the main event, undefeated titleholder [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) seeks the first defense of his belt when he takes on [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC). The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) attempt to defend her belt for the first time, as well, when she takes on former champ [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC).
For more on the numbers bheind the two title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 55 pre-event facts about UFC 248.
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Main event
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Adesanya is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed title with an undefeated record.
Adesanya is one of 11 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.
Adesanya’s 18-fight winning streak is third longest among active UFC fighters behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (28) and Zhang (20).
Adesanya’s 18-fight winning streak is the longest among active UFC middleweights.
Adesanya’s seven-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Adesanya’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Anderson Silva (13) and Nate Marquardt (12).
Adesanya’s four knockdowns landed against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC title bout.
Adesanya defends 66.7 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Chael Sonnen (67.7 percent) and Marvin Vettori (67 percent).
Adesanya defends 85.7 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the second best rate in divisional history behind Krzysztof Jotko (86 percent).
Adesanya’s six fight-night bonuses for UFC middleweight bouts are tied for third most in company history behind Anderson Silva (11) and Robert Whittaker (seven).
Yoel Romero
Romero is the second fighter in history to fight for a title following consecutive non-title UFC losses. Tank Abbott also accomplished the feat.
Romero enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He’s 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to July 2017.
Romero’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Silva (13) and Marquardt (12).
Romero’s seven knockout victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Silva (eight) and Thiago Santos (eight).
Romero’s six third-round stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Max Holloway and Randy Couture for most in company history. Romero leads the category in knockouts.
Romero is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn back-to-back victories by third-round knockout. He’s accomplished the feat twice in his career.
Romero is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from a flying knee. Diego Sanchez also accomplished the feat.
Romero is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from elbow strikes to the body. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 35.
Romero and Robert Whittaker combined for 239 significant strikes landed, the single-fight record for a five-fight UFC middleweight fight.
Co-main event
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Weili is the only UFC champion born in China.
Weili enters the event on a 20-fight winning streak. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since her MMA debut in November 2013.
Weili’s 20-fight winning streak is the longest among female fighters on the UFC roster.
Weili’s 20-fight winning streak is the second longest among all fighters on the UFC roster behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (28).
Weili’s four-fight UFC winning streak in strawweight competition is the third longest active streak in the division behind Tatiana Suarez (five) and Yan Xiaonan (five).
Weili’s 42-second victory at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the second fastest finish in UFC strawweight history behind Poliana Botelho’s 33-second win at UFC 236.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Jedrzejczyk became the first Polish-born champion in UFC history when she defeated Carla Esparza at UFC 185.
Jedrzejczyk is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win a belt with an undefeated record.
Jedrzejczyk’s six victories in UFC title fights are tied with Ronda Rousey for second most of any female in company history behind Amanda Nunes (seven).
Jedrzejczyk’s 10 victories in UFC competition are third most of any female in company history behind Nunes (12) and Jessica Andrade (11).
Jedrzejczyk competes in her 14th UFC bout, the second most appearances by any female in company history behind Jessica Andrade (15).
Jedrzejczyk’s 10 victories in UFC strawweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Jedrzejczyk has earned 11 of her 16 career victories by decision. That includes seven of her 10 UFC wins.
Jedrzejczyk has out-landed her opponents 1,441-628 in significant strikes over her past 11 UFC appearances.
Jedrzejczyk is one of two fighters UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in seven separate fights. Holloway also accomplished the feat.
Jedrzejczyk’s 225 significant strikes landed against Andrade at UFC 211 are second most for a UFC title-fight record. Holloway holds the record with 290 landed at UFC 231.
Jedrzejczyk’s 76 leg kicks landed against Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN+ 19 are the single-fight UFC record.
Remaining main card
Drakkar Klose
[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision.
Klose’s average fight time of 15:00 in UFC lightweight competition is the longest among active fighters in the weight class.
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Nov. 17, 2018. The 476-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 10-year career.
Magny becomes the seventh fighter to make 21 or more UFC welterweight appearances.
Magny’s 14 victories since 2013 in UFC competition are second most among active fighters in the company behind Donald Cerrone (17).
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’s five UFC victories in 2014 tied Roger Huerta’s record for most octagon wins in a calendar year. Huerta accomplished the feat in 2007.
Magny’s 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 stand as the single-fight UFC record.
Magny’s 142 total strikes landed in the second round of his victory against Lombard stand as the third most in a single UFC round.
Li Jingliang
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) is 7-1 in his past eight UFC appearances dating back to July 2016.
Jingliang has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Jingliang’s six knockout victories since 2014 in UFC welterweight competition are tied with Vicente Luque for most in the division.
[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag]’s (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2018.
Oliveira is 7-5 (with one no contest) in UFC welterweight competition.
Oliveira vs. Yancy Medeiros at UFC 218 is the only fight in UFC history to feature two knockdowns for each fighter.
Preliminary card
Sean O’Malley
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since March 3, 2018. The 735-day layoff is the longest of his more than five-year career.
O’Malley has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) drops to the UFC middleweight division after spending his previous promotional appearances at light heavyweight.
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has earned 27 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes all five of his UFC wins.
Meerschaert is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 102.
[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) landed 169 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN+ 12, the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.
[autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag]’s (4-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) 61-second victory at UFC on ESPN 1 is the fastest submission in UFC strawweight history.
[autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]’s (10-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
