USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 23: Mackenzie Dern stays put, middleweight breaks through

Check out the latest moves in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings coming out of UFC Fight Night 224.

On paper, UFC Fight Night 224 wasn’t a card filled with big names, but it still factored into this week’s USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

The event took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] scored a dominant win over Angela Hill in the night’s strawweight main event, while the co-headliner featured middleweight [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] finishing Edmen Shahbazyan with ground-and-pound in Round 3.

Still, just one of those UFC Fight Night 224 winners made waves in our rankings, with “Fluffy” pushing his winning streak to four fights and landing among the honorable mentions at the expense of former Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi.

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

UFC Fight Night 224 post-event facts: Mackenzie Dern climbs strawweight bonus list

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 224, which saw Mackenzie Dern rack up another $50,000 bonus in the main event.

The UFC closed out its May schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 224, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (15-13 MMA, 10-13 UFC) by unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night, with the grappling specialist landing a career-best 126 significant strikes over the course of five rounds.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts about UFC Fight Night 224.

Anthony Hernandez: I barely watch the UFC, but ‘sign me up’ for the top 15 next

Anthony Hernandez wants a ranked opponent after his UFC Fight Night 224 win.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] wants a ranked opponent after his UFC Fight Night 224 win.

Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) stopped Edmen Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) by TKO in Round 3 in Saturday’s middleweight co-main event at the UFC Apex. The main card aired live on ESPN+.

“Fluffy” doesn’t have a name in mind for who he wants next, but that’s because he’s not even following his division or the organization as a whole. All he knows is that he’s ready to take anyone out in his ascent up the ladder.

“I honestly barely follow the UFC,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC Fight Night 224 post-event news conference. “Whoever the f*ck is in that top 15, I will fight. So, Uncle Dana, whoever you want to see me fight, sign me up and I’ll be there.”

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Hernandez says he doesn’t follow the UFC because he’s solely focused on his path to the top. Perhaps an unorthodox method, but one that’s worked for the 29-year-old who has now won four in a row, three by finish.

“I’m not here to be a fanboy, I’m here to be the biggest f*cking thing in the world,” Hernandez said. “So, I believed in myself, and I’m just gonna keep focusing on myself. I don’t care what everyone else is doing. When the time comes, and I have to face them, I will break their soul.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

UFC Fight Night 224 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Two fighters net max non-title money

UFC Fight Night 224 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 224 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $179,500.

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

The full UFC Fight Night 224 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Gilbert Urbina[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Orion Cosce[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Nick Fiore[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victoria Leonardo[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Takashi Sato[/autotag]: $6,000

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 2241 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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,214,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $17,803,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

UFC Fight Night 224 play-by-play and live results

Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC Fight Night 224 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 224 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, Mackenzie Dern (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Angela Hill (15-13 MMA, 10-13 UFC) in a women’s strawweight bout. In the co-feature, Anthony Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets Edmen Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) at middleweight.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC Fight Night 224 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway ) on Twitter.

UFC Fight Night 224 video: Anthony Hernandez mauls Edmen Shahbazyan for third-round TKO

As the fight went on, Anthony Hernandez got more and more dominant against Edmen Shahbazyan before earning a TKO stoppage.

[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] proved once again that cardio is king.

In his first fight of 2023, Hernandez ramped up the intensity and pressure as the fight against Edmen Shahbazyan went on. Eventually, referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 1:01 of the third round. The fight served as the UFC Fight Night 224 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and aired on ESPN+.

Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) turned in a very competitive, high-paced first round. However, things would become more one-sided from that point on.

In the second and third rounds, Hernandez turned up the pressure and smothered his opponent with a heavy grappling attack that included a number of choke attempts. A few of the submissions were tight and appeared to nearly end the fight, but each time, Shahbazyan found a way to slip out. Never discouraged though, Hernandez just went right into the next attacks, such as raining down hard short elbows and knees to the body, which wore down Shahbazyan before the stoppage in the third round.

Check out video of the ending sequence below (via Twitter):

With the win, Hernandez extends his current win streak to four. Having not tasted defeat since 2020, Hernandez entered with consecutive wins over Rodolfo Vieira, Josh Fremd, Marc-Andre Barriault. The stoppage of Shahbazyan was Hernandez’s fourth of his UFC tenure.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 224 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

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UFC Fight Night 224: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Anthony Hernandez odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 224 odds and lines between Edmen Shahbazyan and Anthony Hernandez with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a middleweight bout on the main card, Edmen Shahbazyan and Anthony Hernandez meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 224 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 224: Shahbazyan vs. Hernandez odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Shahbazyan halted a 3-bout losing streak last time out with a 2nd-round KO/TKO win over Dalcha Lungiambula at UFC 282 in December. He had been knocked out in 2 of those 3 losses while suffering a unanimous-decision defeat against Jack Hermansson in the one fight that went the distance.

“The Golden Boy” has had 4 of his past 5 fights end in KO/TKO, with 2 wins and 2 losses across the stretch. Just that fight against Hermansson has gone the distance in 7 contests since joining the UFC.

Hernandez heads to the octagon with a 3-fight win streak in tow with 2 submission victories. He posted a 3rd-round submission victory over Marc-Andre Barriault in mid-September last time out.

Four of 6 fights have ended up via submission (3-1) for “Fluffy” since he arrived at the UFC level in Feb. 2019, while a 5th fight ended with a KO/TKO loss to Kevin Holland in May 2020. His lone fight to go the distance was a unanimous-decision victory over Josh Fremd at UFC 273 in April 2022.

UFC Fight Night 224: Shahbazyan vs. Hernandez odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:44 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Shahbazyan +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Hernandez -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -160 | Under +120)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +150 | No -210)

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UFC Fight Night 224: Shahbazyan vs. Hernandez picks and predictions

Records: Shahbazyan (12-3-0) | Hernandez (10-2-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Hernandez (-210) will cost you over 2 times your potential return if you want to play the favorite on the 2-way line. That’s not a recommended play, so AVOID.

Instead, HERNANDEZ BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (+100) at even money is a much better bet on the Method of Victory 5-way line. You’ll be a winner there as long as Hernandez wins by any method other than decision.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-210): Fight to go the distance? is way too expensive, costing you more than 2 times your potential return. That’s too risky, and not a good long-term betting strategy playing such heavy favorites.

Check out some Round Betting options instead. I like HERNANDEZ IN ROUND 2 (+450) and HERNANDEZ IN ROUND 3 (+900). If he wins in one of those rounds, you will lose one end, but you’ll still be quite a bit in the black.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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UFC Fight Night 224 predictions: Who’s picking Angela Hill to upset Mackenzie Dern?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 224 main card, featuring Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill.

Dern
vs.
Hill
Hernandez
vs.
Shahbazyan
Ducote
vs.
Godinez
Buckley
vs.
Fialho
Ferreira
vs.
Johnson
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
73-51
dern2023
Dern
(79%)
hernandez2023
Hernandez
(54%)
godinez2023
Godinez
(74%)
buckley2023
Buckley
(69%)
johnson2023
Johnson
(52%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
81-43
dern2023
Dern
hernandez2023
Hernandez
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
78-46
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
ducote2023
Ducote
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
77-47
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
74-50
dern2023
Dern
hernandez2023
Hernandez
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
johnson2023
Johnson
Nolan King
@mma_kings
74-50
dern2023
Dern
hernandez2023
Hernandez
ducote2023
Ducote
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
72-52
trophy copy 2014 Champion
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
-70-54
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
68-56
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
68-56
hill2023
Hill
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
godinez2023
Godinez
buckley2023
Buckley
johnson2023
Johnson
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
68-56
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
ducote2023
Ducote
buckley2023
Buckley
johnson2023
Johnson
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
65-59
trophy copy 2017 Champion
dern2023
Dern
shahbazyan2023
Shahbazyan
ducote2023
Ducote
buckley2023
Buckley
ferreira2023
Ferreira

The UFC is back in its “Sin City” home base with a slightly delayed women’s strawweight bout at the top of the card.

UFC Fight Night 224 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (15-12 MMA, 10-12 UFC) in a women’s 115-pound matchup that was supposed to take place this past week at UFC on ABC 4 until it was pulled to headline this card. Jiu-jitsu ace Dern nearly is a 2-1 favorite at most sportsbooks, and she’s got a big lead in the picks from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who have it as a blowout for her at 10-1.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in a middleweight matchup. Hernandez is a big favorite at nearly 3-1, but only three of our staff members are picking him and have Shahbazyan in an upset at 8-3.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag] (12-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) fight at a 120-pound contract weight, granted due to the short notice for Godinez, who stepped in for Polyana Viana. Godinez is a mild favorite, and she’s got a 7-4 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC), and he’s also our only unanimous pick on the main card at 11-0.

And to open the main card at lightweight, [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] (21-18 MMA, 13-14 UFC) will try to get back to .500 in the UFC when he takes on [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC). Ferreira is a -150 favorite and has a big 8-3 lead from our pickers.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Dern (79 percent), Hernandez (54 percent), Godinez (74 percent), Buckley (69 percent) and Johnson (52 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

UFC’s Anthony Hernandez discusses momentum of winning streak ahead of return vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Anthony Hernandez spoke to the media ahead of his bout against Edmen Shahbazyan at Satuday’s UFC Fight Night 224.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] returns to the cage this Saturday in a pivotal career moment.

Hernandez (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) takes on Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 224,which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+. The 29-year-old enters the fight against Shahbazyan (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) on a three-fight wining streak that includes submission wins over Rodolfo Vieira and Marc-André Barriault.

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On Wednesday afternoon, Hernandez spoke to MMA Junkie and other media about his current career momentum, what the matchup of Shahbazyan entails, and much more.

You can check out Hernandez’s scrum in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

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Video: UFC Fight Night 224 media day interviews

Before UFC Fight Night 224 arrives, 12 athletes from the main card are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC schedule for May closes out Saturday with UFC Fight Night 224, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a full card that streams on ESPN+.

A strawweight main event serves as the final act on the card. [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] will take on [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] in a matchup of fighters looking to take the next step forward in the division.

Before fight night arrives, though, 11 athletes spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day, and MMA Junkie was in attendance.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.