Tag: Amir Albazi

Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi shifts to UFC Fight Night on June 3 headliner

Flyweights Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi have been promoted to the UFC Fight Night on June 3 main event.

The UFC’s June 3 Fight Night event has a new headliner.

The card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas originally was to be headlined by a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Jack Hermansson, but Hermansson withdrew due to injury.

Now flyweights [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) have been promoted to top billing. The pair will throw down for five rounds, Kara-France revealed on the “Who the Fook Are These Guys?” podcast.

MMA Junkie subsequently verified the matchup with a person close to the booking. The person requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Kara-France will look to rebound after he failed to capture the interim title against Brandon Moreno in a TKO loss at UFC 277 in July 2022. Prior to that, the City Kickboxing fighter won three straight – including a knockout of former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt.

Albazi is coming off a second-round knockout of Alessandro Costa at UFC Fight Night 216 in December. The 29-year-old has won his first four octagon bouts, including three by finish.

The June 3 UFC Fight Night lineup includes:

  • Amir Albazi vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Miesha Tate
  • Ludovit Klein vs. Jim Miller
  • Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda
  • Victor Altamirano vs. Tim Elliott
  • Jinh Yu Frey vs. Elise Reed
  • Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Luan Lacerda
  • John Castaneda vs. Mateus Mendonca
  • Maxim Grishin vs. Philipe Lins
  • Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (March 13-19)

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 from March 13-19.

Amir Albazi, Kai Kara-France set for flyweight clash at UFC’s June 3 event

A flyweight bout between Amir Albazi and Kai Kara-France is the first addition for a new UFC event date in June.

A flyweight bout between [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] and [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] is the first addition for a new UFC event date in June.

Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) announced through his social media on Monday that he has been booked to face Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a key 125-pound matchup on UFC’s June 3 fight card. MMA Junkie subsequently verified the matchup with a person close to the situation, who requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

The event does not have an announced location or venue at this time.

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Albazi, No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, has come out the gates strong in his UFC tenure, winning all four of his fights inside the octagon with three finishes. He’s coming off a second-round knockout of Alessandro Costa at UFC Fight Night 216 in December.

The 29-year-old get his chance to make a big leap against No. 4-ranked Kara-France, who hasn’t seen action since falling short of the interim title against Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July. Kara-France, 29, had won three-straight prior to his setback against Moreno, who is now the undisputed champion after beating Deiveson Figueiredo in a historic fourth matchup in January.

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Muhammad Mokaev wants Amir Albazi at UFC 286 in London: ‘I’m a bad matchup for him’

Muhammad Mokaev has his sights set on a U.K. showdown with Amir Albazi when the UFC returns to London in March.

[autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] has his sights set on a U.K. showdown with [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag].

Three octagon wins over Cody Durden, Charles Johnson and Malcolm Gordon have landed Mokaev a spot in the UFC’s flyweight rankings, but now, the 22-year-old is looking for a step up in competition.

Mokaev (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) wants a shot at Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on the UFC 286 card on March 18 in London, but is accusing Albazi of ducking him.

“I want to fight Amir Albazi in the U.K., but he doesn’t want to fight me,” Mokaev told MMA Junkie. “He said I haven’t fought anyone from the top 15, but he didn’t fight anyone from the top 15, either. So we’re at the same level, I believe. I’m a bad matchup for him. That’s why he wants to fight injured guys like Perez and all these half-broken men.”

Albazi also has impressed in his UFC tenure so far. “The Prince” has finished three of his four octagon wins. Most recently, he showed off his hands when he knocked out Alessandro Costa at UFC Fight Night 216.

Mokaev campaigned to step in for an injured Kai Kara-France against Alex Perez at UFC 284. But Perez was pulled from the card and booked against Manel Kape instead March 25.

Eager to compete, Mokaev is willing to serve as a backup for that fight. But preferably, he wants on the UFC 286 card on home soil.

“I’m just waiting,” Mokaev said. “I want to fight anyone. If I don’t get top guys, I’m ready to fight anyone. I just want to fight in the U.K. on March 18.”

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dec. 20: Flyweight division shake up

The final UFC event of 2022 caused some moves in this week’s rankings update, including some moves in the flyweight division.

The UFC wrapped up its calendar year with UFC Fight Night 216 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the event produced a number of moves in this week’s rankings update.

While the main event was a top-tier middleweight matchup between [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag], the names surrounding either fighter on the rankings are tough to cause a big jump. Cannonier remains at No. 4 after picking up the split decision win, while Strickland falls one spot to No. 8.

The division that saw the most movement this week was the men’s flyweights, which saw two of the division’s rising contenders pick up wins, ultimately shaking up the bottom half of the rankings. [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] defeated Allessandro Costa and [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] beat David Dvorak. Albazi entered the week at No. 12, but climbs to the No. 10 spot. Kape, who was among the honorable mentions last week, now finds a number next to his name as he settles at No. 13.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Henry Cejudo hails ‘dangerous’ Amir Albazi as future UFC flyweight title challenger

Henry Cejudo believes the future is bright for UFC flyweight Amir Albazi after watching him fight this past weekend.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] has emerged as a top flyweight contender after UFC Fight Night 216.

Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) knocked out Alessandro Costa this past Saturday at the UFC Apex, showing that he’s not just a submission specialist. Although Albazi’s win came over a short-notice replacement making his UFC debut, it’s the fashion in which he put Costa away and the work he’s done in his octagon run that have impressed Cejudo.

“The flyweight guy that everybody needs to keep their eyes on, I’m talking about Amir Albazi,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “He’s going to be a nightmare for anybody at 125 pounds. He has grit, he has the mentality, he was able to show, especially in his fight against Alessandro from Brazil, how he was able to knock him out.

“At flyweight when you’re able to catch these uppercuts, these hooks, these right hands on people, and you’re able to fold them and put them out, those are the guys that you really want to watch out for. Those are the dangerous guys. Those are the guys that, when I see him, I see a very technical guy that knows when to take risk at the right time.”

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Cejudo even issued a warning to UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, whom he helped coach in his most recent title-winning performance against Brandon Moreno.

Cejudo, a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champ, mapped out a plan for Albazi to earn a title shot and doesn’t think he’s too far off.

“I personally called Deiveson Figueiredo and let him know, ‘Hey, man, keep your eye on this guy, because this guy does produce power,'” Cejudo said. “He could wrestle, he could defend, he’s a pretty well rounded fighter, and if I was a 125 pounds, which I’m not no more, I’d keep my eyes on him.

“I do believe in the future, this guy is a future title contender. He’s got anywhere between one to two fights before he fights for the title. I can see him fighting against Matheus Nicolau. If I was him, that’s the fight that I would call out and then call out a Kai Kara-France or somebody in that top three, top four, and you will get the next title shot.”

Amir Albazi: I hope UFC Fight Night 216 showed ‘I’m ready for the top five, I’m ready for that belt’

After his UFC Fight Night 216 win, Amir Albazi explained why he holds himself in high regard as he climbs the flyweight ladder.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] thinks he proved a point Saturday in Las Vegas.

At UFC Fight Night 216, Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) picked up his first TKO win in seven years when he finished promotional newcomer Alessandro Costa (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with a slick uppercut and follow-up punches at the UFC Apex.

After the fight, Albazi hammered home that he’s not playing around. He considers himself ready for the elite of the elite at 125 pounds.

“I wanted to come here to show not the same Amir,” Albazi told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I’ve already submitted two blackbelts before, so I wanted to put on a really good performance to show I’m a different level than these guys and that I’m ready for the top five. I’m ready for that belt. I hope you guys saw that. I hope you saw that I have knockout power, too. I can put people to sleep standing up, and I can put people to sleep on the ground. Just keep them coming, and I’ll keep taking them out.”

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Albazi, 29, has yet to lose in the UFC with three finishes in four victories. He’s struggled to find opponents, but adversity is familiar. He detailed his backstory as he bounced from country to country as a teenager. His life has constantly been filled with uncertainty. That’s why he likes his chances if he takes a step up in competition.

“I would say being comfortable (is the biggest issue for fighters),” Albazi said. “A lot of people are comfortable where they are. I’ve never been comfortable. I fled Iraq when I was the age of 7. In the middle of the night, I went to Syria. I haven’t seen my father. From Syria, I went to Sweden at the age of 8. In Sweden, I lived alone as a teenager at 15 years old. I lived completely alone up to the age of 18.

“When I turned 18, I moved to London for 10 years. Same thing. New country. I couldn’t speak the language. No friends. I kept fighting, kept trying, got into the UFC, and now I’m in Vegas. This is another step on the way. For me, it’s nothing new. I’ve always been uncomfortable. I thrive there.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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UFC Fight Night 216 post-event facts: Drew Dober ties Dustin Poirier’s knockout record

Drew Dober tied Dustin Poirier for the most knockout wins in UFC lightweight history with his finish of Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 66.

The UFC closed out its 2022 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 216, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event of the 42nd and final fight card of the year saw [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) squeak out a split decision win over [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in a matchup of middleweight contenders.

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 216.

UFC Fight Night 216 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: How much was paid in 2022 total?

UFC Fight Night 216 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 216 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,500.

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 216 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 216 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cheyanne Vlismas[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Battle[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sergey Morozov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag]: $4,500

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 2167 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2161 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 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $8,351,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,529,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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UFC Fight Night 216 video: Amir Albazi uppercuts Alessandro Costa for TKO finish

At UFC Fight Night 216, Amir Albazi flattened Alessandro Costa with a slick uppercut – and pounded him out.

[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] keeps rolling.

In a flyweight main card bout at UFC Fight Night 216, Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) finished newcomer [autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the 2:13 mark of Round 3. The event took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A wicked right uppercut from Albazi floored Costa. Two follow up punches put the lights out completely and a third punch (luckily for Albazi) missed. Referee Keith Peterson dove in and called off the fight and saved Costa.

The win was Albazi’s fourth win and third finish in four UFC appearances. He originally was scheduled to fight Brandon Royval, but Royval pulled out with an injury. Costa’s seven-fight winning streak came to an end.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 216 results include:

  • Amir Albazi def. Alessandro Costa via TKO (punches) – Round 3,
  • Alex Caceres def. Julian Erosa via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 3:04
  • Drew Dober def. Bobby Green via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:45
  • Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Cody Brundage via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:16
  • Cory McKenna def. Cheyanne Vlismas via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Matthew Semelsberger def. Jake Matthews via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Said Nurmagomedov def. Saidyokub Kakhramonov via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:50
  • Rafael Garcia def. Maheshate via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Bryan Battle via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27)
  • Manel Kape def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Sergey Morozov def. Journey Newson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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