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Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights 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, PFL, and Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 12-18.
Find out who joined the UFC in August and learn more about them here.
The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.
Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, “Dana White’s Contender Series” signees, or rare straight-up additions. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.
Check out the August 2023 list below.
The best facts to come out of UFC 292, which saw Sean O’Malley, Zhang Weili, Ian Machado Garry and others record statistical achievements.
One of the biggest UFC events of the year thus far went down Saturday with UFC 292, which took place at TD Garden in Boston and featured two championship fights with different results.
In the main event, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) shocked [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) with a second-round TKO to capture the bantamweight belt, while in the co-headliner, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) got her second strawweight title reign off a dominant start with a lopsided unanimous decision over Brazilian challenger [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind the two championship bouts, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 292.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 292 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $340.500.
BOSTON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 292 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $340.500.
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 292 took place at TD Garden. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The full UFC 292 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $32,000
[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,00
[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Denis Tiuliulin[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Brad Katona[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag]: $11,000
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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $5,735,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $20,324,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
Check out live play-by-play from UFC 292 in Boston with Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley and Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos title fights.
BOSTON – UFC 292 took place at TD Garden. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
In the main event, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) took on challenger Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC). Sterling holds the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses at 135 pounds. In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champ Zhang Weili (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) met challenger Amanda Lemos (13-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in the first test of her second reign as titleholder.
In addition, former middleweight champ Chris Weidman (15-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned from more than two years out after a severe broken leg in 2021. He took on Brad Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-8 UFC) in a featured bout on the prelims. Plus, two new “Ultimate Fighter” winners will be crowned on the prelims.
Now about to start his third stint in the UFC, Kurt Holobaugh used picture-perfect jiu-jitsu to get his first win in the promotion.
Now about to start his third stint in the UFC, [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] used picture-perfect jiu-jitsu to get his first win in the promotion.
Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC), a black belt, submitted [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) with a second-round triangle choke to win the Season 31 “Ultimate Fighter” lightweight season. Holobaugh and Hubbard were teammates on the show for coach Michael Chandler. The stoppage after a slick pair of transitions came at the 2:39 mark of the second round on the UFC 292 preliminary card at TD Garden in Boston.
Holobaugh’s first UFC fight was in 2013 – a loss to Steven Siler after he came to the promotion with the Strikeforce merger. He got another shot in 2018, but lost three straight and was outside the UFC until he got the shot at redemption through “TUF 31.”
That @KurtHolobaugh transition is everything 👏 #TUF31 #UFC292 pic.twitter.com/KtOjrIRLVT
— UFC (@ufc) August 20, 2023
The two came out swinging, but Hubbard shot for a takedown 20 seconds in and got it. Holobaugh tried to control Hubbard’s hands while he worked for ground-and-pound, then tried for a guillotine choke when Holobaugh rolled out to his feet. Back standing, they continued to throw heavy hands. Midway through, Holobaugh started to land and backed Hubbard up. It was a close opening round.
In the second, Holobaugh’s right hand started to find a home, and 90 seconds in, he had Hubbard on the canvas and took his back to look for a rear-naked choke. Hubbard tried to fight the lead choke arm and was able to avoid the choke in full, but Holobaugh got to full mount.
When Hubbard scrambled out and lost control, Holobaugh grabbed an arm for an armbar. When Hubbard tried to fight that, Holobaugh transitioned perfectly to a triangle choke. A few seconds later, Hubbard had to tap.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 292 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
Check out the best photos from Kurt Holobaugh’s win over Austin Hubbard in “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 lightweight final at UFC 292.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]’s second-round submission win over [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] in “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 lightweight final at UFC 292 at TD Garden in Boston. (Photos by Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports; MMA Junkie; and UFC)
Check out the best photos from the UFC 292 official weigh-ins including Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley and more.
Check out these photos of the UFC 292 official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel in Boston. (Photos by Nolan King, MMA Junkie)
Austin Hubbard’s ticket to the “TUF 31” final didn’t impress Dana White, and he plans on changing that.
BOSTON – [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]’s ticket to “The Ultimate Fighter 31” finale didn’t impress UFC president [autotag]Dana White[/autotag], and he plans on changing that.
Hubbard (15-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) defeated teammate Roosevelt Roberts in the lightweight semifinals in what was a lackluster affair. He meets Kurt Holobaugh in the finale to crown the “TUF 31” lightweight tournament winner, which takes place at Saturday’s UFC 292 event at TD Garden.
White was critical of the semifinal, but Hubbard plans on changing the UFC president’s opinion of him.
“It’s important to make the boss happy,” Hubbard told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during UFC 292 media day. “I personally thought it was a very tactical, technical fight. I get the criticism. You got to take the good with the bad, and I definitely heard what he said, and I’m trying to grow from that and expand on that and make sure he’ll be happy with my performance in this final.”
Hubbard admits the tentativeness throughout the fight came from having a lot of respect for Roberts’ game.
“I think that’s a big part,” Hubbard said. “We were literally main training partners through this whole process. We were bunk mates throughout this whole process. On top of that, he’s a very good fighter, and I feel like I’m a very good fighter – it’s not always easy to just go out there and finish the guy. Obviously I want to finish him. I don’t want to be in here getting hit and kicked. I want to get out as soon as possible, but realistically fights don’t always go that way.”
Holobaugh (19-7 MMA, 0-4 UFC) on the other hand, did impress White with his finishes of Team Conor McGregor prospect Lee Hammond, and teammate Jason Knight – one of the best fights of the season. Hubbard knows Holobaugh is a game opponent and wants to show that he can ramp up the aggression too.
“Taking some advice from the boss and just making sure I bring it,” Hubbard said. “Bring up the aggression the best I can, and it also helps that we didn’t have to train together all camp long. We’ve been in our home gyms and away from each other, not living together, seeing each other everyday at home and at practice, things along that line.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
Before UFC 292 on Saturday, watch as the title-fight athletes, main card and prelim fighters speak to reporters at media day.
BOSTON – UFC 292, with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+, goes down Saturday at TD Garden.
Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the two championship fights, main card and preliminary lineup spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.
If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
