Tag: Amir Albazi

UFC 278 ‘Fight Motion’: Watch highlights of Leon Edwards’ stunning win vs. Kamaru Usman in super slow mo

Check out the super slow motion highlights from UFC 278, including clips of Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman.

[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] pulled of an incredible come-from-behind knockout to capture the welterweight title at UFC 278.

Down 3-1 heading into Round 5, Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) dethroned Kamaru Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) with a beautiful head-kick knockout with less than a minute remaining in their fight last Saturday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) outlasted a bloody Luke Rockhold (16-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) to win a decision in what would end up being Rockhold’s final fight.

You can watch it all unfold in super-slow motion in the UFC 278 “Fight Motion” video highlights above.

Also featured are highlights of [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]’s big win over Jose Aldo, [autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]’s body kick finish of Harry Hunsucker, [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]’s quick submission of Francisco Figueiredo, [autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag]’s bonus-winning TKO of Daniel Lacerda and more.

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UFC 278 post-event facts: Leon Edwards’ last-minute knockout enters record book

Leon Edwards’ knockout of Kamaru Usman was one of the latest finishes in the history of UFC championship fights.

The UFC’s ninth pay-per-view event of the year took place Saturday with UFC 278 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

The main event saw a new champion crowd, with [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) scoring a fifth-round knockout of [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) to claim the welterweight title, making history in the process.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 278.

UFC 278 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Luke Rockhold nets $11,000 in farewell fight

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 278 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $226,000.

SALT LAKE CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 278 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $226,000.

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 278 took place at Vivint Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 278 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili [/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Wu Yanan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Leonardo Santos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $4,500
vs. [autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ange Loosa[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]A.J. Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jay Perrin[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Daniel da Silva[/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 2011 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: $5,814,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,981,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.

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Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Amir Albazi’s first-round submission win over Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]’s first-round submission win over [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] at UFC 278 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (Photos by Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 278 video: Amir Albazi taps out Francisco Figueiredo, brother of UFC champ Deiveson

Amir Albazi needed less than one round to submit Francisco Figueiredo in their flyweight bout on the UFC 278 prelims.

SALT LAKE CITY – [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] continued to show big potential in the flyweight division Saturday when he stopped [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] on the UFC 278 prelims.

Albazi (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) returned from a roughly 18-month layoff and added to his increasingly impressive record when he took advantage of Figueiredo (13-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC), the brother of UFC champ Deiveson Figueiredo, on the mat and scored a rear-naked choke submission victory at the 4:34 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay of Albazi’s handiwork below (via Twitter):

After the win, a jubilant Albazi said he hopes to return to action at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 22. He did not name any specific opponent, but told Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he thinks he’s a threat to everyone in the flyweight division.

“You want to see me in Abu Dhabi? Put me on that card,” Albazi said. “I’m here to kill and put on a show for all you guys. Let’s go.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.

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5 fights added to UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2

Check out the up-to-date UFC 278 lineup including five new additions to the Aug. 20 card in Salt Lake City.

Previously announced, welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) will defend his title against top contender [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in a rematch of their December 2015 clash.

Also on the card, former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] (31-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) battles [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and middleweights [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] square off in a long-awaited matchup.

Monday, the promotion officially announced 12 fights are set for the event. Five of the fights were not previously reported. Scroll below to see the new additions followed by the official lineup.

Tim Elliott out of UFC on ESPN 38 bout vs. Amir Albazi

It is unknown whether or not Amir Albazi will remain on the card.

[autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] is out of UFC on ESPN 38.

A former UFC flyweight title challenger, Elliott (17-13-1 MMA, 7-10 UFC) recently withdrew from his bout against [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) scheduled for June 25. A reason for his withdrawal was not disclosed.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the change. It is unclear at this time whether or not Albazi will remain on the card.

The withdrawal marks only the second time Elliott has withdrawn from a UFC contest, dating back to his promotional debut in May 2012. For Albazi, the cancellation marks the fourth of six scheduled bouts since his UFC signing.

UFC on ESPN 38 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with the main card airing on ESPN after prelims on ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN 38 lineup includes:

  • Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mateusz Gamrot
  • Neil Magny vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Chris Curtis vs. Rodolfo Vieira
  • Amir Albazi vs. TBA
  • Christos Giagos vs. Thiago Moises
  • Alan Baudot vs. Josh Parisian
  • Tyson Nam vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Raulian Paiva
  • Nate Maness vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • JP Buys vs. Cody Durden
  • Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Jinh Yu Frey
  • Mario Bautista vs. Brian Kelleher
  • TJ Brown vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke

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UFC books Ode Osbourne for flyweight debut July 17 vs. Amir Albazi

Ode Osbourne was scheduled to fight at flyweight in January before the fight fell through.

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag] is giving flyweight a try.

The UFC has booked a 125-pound matchup between Osbourne (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] for its upcoming July 17 event. The card doesn’t have a publicly known location or venue at this time.

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

Osbourne (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was expected to make his flyweight debut vs. Jerome Rivera in January. However, Osbourne withdrew from the bout for an undisclosed reason. Osbourne was then booked against Denys Bondar in February at a 140-pound catchweight.

When Bondar withdrew, Rivera stepped in. The matchup that was originally supposed to happen at flyweight instead took place at featherweight. Osbourne knocked out Rivera in 26 seconds. The victory entered Osbourne back into the win column after a promotional debut loss to Brian Kelleher.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Albazi (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is unbeaten since he signed with the promotion in mid-2020. After a first-round submission of Malcolm Gordon in July, Albazi won a unanimous decision over Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC 257 in January.

With the addition, the July 17 lineup includes:

  • Marion Reneau vs. Miesha Tate
  • Amir Albazi vs. Ode Osbourne

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UFC 257 medical suspensions: Conor McGregor faces potential lengthy layoff due to injury

Following his first career knockout loss, Conor McGregor was handed a potential lengthy suspension.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is facing hefty time off following his UFC 257 loss to [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] on Saturday.

Former UFC double champion McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) suffered a technical knockout loss – the first of his career – in a rematch against Poirier (27-6 MMA, 20-6 UFC). Prior to the finish, Poirier damaged McGregor’s legs with an onslaught of leg kicks.

McGregor, 32, was handed a 180-day medical suspension as a result of a potential right tibia/fibula injury sustained in the fight. Like all medical suspensions, he will be eligible to return sooner, if his injuries are cleared by a doctor.

Poirier, meanwhile, received a seven-day suspension for mandatory rest.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of medical suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com for UFC 256, which took place this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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After the fight, McGregor was on crutches. He hobbled his way backstage and to the post-fight news conference, where he expressed the pain he felt.

“My leg is completely dead,” McGregor said. “Even though I felt like I was checking them, it was just sinking into the muscle in the front of the leg, and it was badly compromised. It was like an American football in my suit at the moment, so it is what it is.”

UFC 257 competitors [autotag]Andrew Sanchez[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Frevola[/autotag] were also each handed 180-day suspensions. Sanchez, who lost via TKO to Makhmud Muradov on the main card, suffered potential nasal and tibia/fibula injuries. In the featured preliminary card bout, Frevola suffered a potential right hand injury in a unanimous decision defeat to Arman Tsarukyan.

The full UFC 257 medical suspensions include:

  • Dustin Poirier: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • Conor McGregor: Suspended 180 days or until right tibia/fibula x-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to TKO loss.
  • [autotag]Joanne Calderwood[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to left brow laceration
  • [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • Andrew Sanchez: Suspended 180 days or until nasal and right tibia/fibula x-rays are cleared by a doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to TKO loss.
  • [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left brow and scalp laceration.
  • Matt Frevola: Suspended 180 days or until right hand x-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Julianna Pena[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Sara McMann[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left ankle pain.
  • [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Nik Lentz[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 21 days no contact for right brow laceration.
  • [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”

UFC 257 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

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UFC 257 pre-event facts: Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor bring legendary stats into rematch

The best facts and figures about UFC 257, which features a Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor lightweight main event.

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The UFC closes out its “Fight Island” stint on Saturday with its first numbered event of the year. UFC 257 takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A highly anticipated rematch takes center stage in the main event. Dustin Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) and Conor McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will run it back more than six years after their first meeting at UFC 178 in September 2014, which “The Notorious” won by first-round TKO. There’s major differences this time around, though, because it will be contested at 155 pounds instead of 145 and is scheduled for five rounds.

The rematch concludes a notable lineup of fights. For more on the numbers, check below for 65 pre-event facts going into UFC 257.