UFC Fight Night 235 post-event facts: Randy Brown is on the rise

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 235, which saw Randy Brown continue his run of success in the loaded welterweight division.

The UFC opened its four-event February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 235, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) achieved his first octagon main event win to close out the card when he outworked [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) to a majority decision in their matchup of ranked UFC middleweights.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Drew Dober’s $21,000 tops card

UFC Fight Night 235 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 235 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $170,500.

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 Fight Night 235 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 235 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charlie Radtke[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gilbert Urbina[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Azat Maksum[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Pete Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jeong Yeong Lee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blake Bilder[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Luana Carolina[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Julija Stoliarenko[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marquel Mederos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Landon Quinones[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jamal Pogues[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Thomas Petersen[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’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 2351 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $615,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,322,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235: Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov eye poke results in all-time quick no contest

The UFC record for quickest no contest was tied Saturday in Las Vegas due to an unfortunate eye poke.

[autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag] only lasted 11 seconds Saturday at UFC Fight Night 235.

Neither fighter walked away the winner.

The middleweight bout on the main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas tied the promotion’s record for quickest no contest after Khizriev (14-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) poked Muradov (26-8 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in the eye.

Referee Herb Dean called time and brought in the cageside physician. Through an interpreter, Muradov told Dean he couldn’t see. His claim was supported by significant and instant swelling around his eye.

The situation frustrated Muradov, who spiked his mouthpiece into the canvas before Dean even declared the bout finished. Eventually, Dean confirmed the inevitable and waved off the contest.

The no contest ties Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior from UFC Fight Night 80 in 2015. That bout also ended in 11 seconds due to an eye poke.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 235 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235 pre-event facts: Drew Dober looks to build on lightweight KO record

The best facts about UFC Fight Night 235, which features the return of Drew Dober, who has the most KO wins in lightweight history.

The UFC kicks off its February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 235, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

A pair of middleweights looking to take a big next step in the rapidly-evolving division meet in the main event. [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will battle in a five-round bout that will see both sides look to claim their first headlining win inside the octagon.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 235.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Nov. 13-19)

All the UFC fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Nov. 13-19.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 21-27)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Aug. 21-27.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 14-20)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by a promotion from Aug. 14-20.

Denis Tiuliulin targeted as UFC Columbus short-notice replacement vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev

A main training partner of Sean Strickland, Denis Tiuliulin will have the chance to carve out his own path.

The UFC Columbus lineup slightly has been tweaked.

The promotion is targeting a new opponent, [autotag]Denis Tiuliulin[/autotag], for undefeated [autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag]. Pending bout finalization, Tiuliulin will step in for [autotag]Abusipyan Magomedov[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 33.

Three people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

UFC on ESPN 33 takes place March 26 at Nationwide Arena. The main card airs on ESPN after prelims on ESPN+.

Tiuliulin (10-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has become a main training partner of UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland in recent months. He has won four of his past five fights, all by TKO or knockout.

Pending unforeseen issue, Khizriev (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will finally make his promotional debut after four cancellations. “The Black Wolf” has seven finishes in 13 victories, including a swift 50-second submission of Henrique Shiguemoto on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020.

With the change, the UFC Columbus lineup includes:

  • Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Joanne Wood
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
  • Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Max Griffin vs. Neil Magny
  • Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Chris Gutierrez
  • David Dvorak vs. Matheus Nicolau
  • Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa
  • Tucker Lutz vs. Seungwoo Choi
  • Marc Diakiese vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
  • Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Denis Tiuliulin
  • Luis Saldana vs. Bruno Souza
  • Nate Landwehr vs. David Onama

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Joanne Wood vs. Alexa Grasso, two more bouts added to UFC Fight Night on March 26

Joanne Wood vs. Alexa Grasso was scrapped last year, but they’ll get a chance to do it again.

[autotag]Joanne Wood[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] has been rebooked for UFC Columbus.

Wood will take on Grasso at UFC Fight Night on March 26, promotion officials announced Wednesday. The event takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, and airs on ESPN.

Wood (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) and Grasso (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) originally were scheduled to fight last November at UFC Fight Night 198, but Grasso was forced out because of an injury.

Wood has lost four of her past six fights. After defeating Jessica Eye at UFC 257, Wood dropped a unanimous decision to former title challenger Lauren Murphy at UFC 263. She drew Taila Santos after Grasso’s withdrawal and lost the bout by first-round submission.

Grasso was booked to fight Viviane Araujo next week at UFC 270. But when Araujo pulled out due to injury, the fight was scrapped. The 28-year-old Mexican fighter strung together her first winning streak in the UFC when she scored two consecutive wins over Ji Yeon Kim and Maycee Barber, and now she’ll turn her attention to Wood.

Also joining the UFC Columbus lineup is a middleweight matchup between Dana White’s Contender Series graduate [autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and fellow debutant [autotag]Abusupiyan Magomedov[/autotag] (24-4-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and a matchup between ranked flyweights [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] (17-2-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

With the additions, the UFC Columbus lineup includes:

  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Amanda Ribas vs. Michelle Waterson
  • Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa
  • Tucker Lutz vs. Seungwoo Choi
  • Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Montel Jackson
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
  • Nate Landwehr vs. Lerone Murphy
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Joanne Wood
  • Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
  • David Dvorak vs. Matheus Nicolau

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UFC adds Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Wellington Turman to Feb. 6 lineup

At the first UFC event scheduled for February 2021, middleweights will collide.

At the first UFC event scheduled for February 2021, middleweights will collide.

The event, which does not have a location or venue that’s publicly announced at this time, will feature a matchup between promotional newcomer [autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag] and Brazil’s [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag].

Both fighters confirmed the matchup on social media after an initial report by MMA Fighting.

Khizriev (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) earned his UFC deal after a quick and successful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in September. Against Henrique Shiguemoto, Khizriev dragged the fight to the canvas and picked up a 50-second rear-naked choke submission.

In 13 pro victories, Khizriev has picked up seven finishes including four stoppages due to strikes and three submissions. Khizriev, 30, was once the Fight Nights Global interim welterweight champion.

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Turman (16-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) returns after a positive COVID-19 test that forced him to withdraw from a matchup against Sean Strickland, which was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 181 on Oct. 31. Turman’s lone UFC victory against Markus Perez is bookended by a split decision loss to Karl Roberson and a first-round TKO defeat to Andrew Sanchez.

With the addition, the Feb. 6 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Nicco Montano vs. Karol Rosa
  • Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Marion Reneau
  • Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Wellington Turman

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