Tag: Blagoy Ivanov

Blagoy Ivanov expects standup battle with Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 218

Blagoy Ivanov thinks highly of Marcin Tybura, saying “he’s good everywhere” heading into UFC Fight Night 218.

[autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] sees his fight with [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 218 playing out on their feet.

Although Tybura (23-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) has landed 19 takedowns throughout his octagon tenure, Ivanov (19-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) envisions more of a standup battle when the pair throw down on Saturday’s main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

“He’s good everywhere,” Ivanov told reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I’m prepared for this, and I think it’s gonna be more standup.”

He continued, “We’ll see who is the better fighter on Saturday, and I will try to stop him.”

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Ivanov hasn’t competed since defeating Marcos Rogerio de Lima last May at UFC 274. The Bulgarian heavyweight revealed that a knee injury kept him out of action, but considering that he only fought once in the past two years, he doesn’t view it as a large layoff.

“My last fight was May, nine months ago,” Ivanov said. “So I got an injury during the preparation for my last fight and then after the fight I did my recovery. That’s why I took so long to fight again, but nine months is nothing for me.”

Watch the video of Ivanov’s complete pre-fight media availability above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 218.

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UFC Fight Night 218 pre-event facts: Will Derrick Lewis add to knockout record?

Check out the numbers behind UFC Vegas 68, where Derrick Lewis can add to his all-time UFC knockout record.

The UFC opens a busy February schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 218, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

A heavyweight headliner serves atop the card. The most decorated knockout artist in UFC history returns to competition as [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) looks to buck his losing skid against the streaking [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 218.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Dec. 19-25)

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 Dec. 19-25.

Blagoy Ivanov def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 274: Best photos

Check out these photos from Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Check out these photos from Blagoy Ivanov’s unanimous decision victory over Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. (Photos courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Injury forces Blagoy Ivanov out of UFC 260 bout vs. Marcin Tybura

Heavyweight Blagoy Ivanov suffered an undisclosed injury and has been forced out of a bout against Marcin Tybura at UFC 260 on March 27.

[autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] won’t be competing next month.

The heavyweight has suffered an injury and been forced to withdraw from his bout against [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] at UFC 260 on March 27. The news was confirmed on social media by both Ivanov and Tybura following a report from 24Chasa.

Details on Ivanov’s injury are unknown. It’s also uncertain if the UFC intends to reschedule the matchup or find a new opponent for Tybura.

Ivanov (18-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) was looking to snap a two-fight losing skid that’s kept him winless since June 2019. Both defeats were split decision losses to ranked opposition in Derrick Lewis and Augusto Sakai.

Tybura (21-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is looking to build on his four-fight winning streak. The Polish fighter had an impressive run in 2020 with decision wins over Sergey Spivak, Maxim Grishin, Ben Rothwell and, most recently, a stoppage of former NFL star Greg Hardy.

The UFC 260 lineup now includes:

  • Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou – for heavyweight title
  • Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega – for featherweight title
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Anthony Smith
  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Hannah Goldy vs. Jessica Penne
  • Vicente Luque vs. Tyron Woodley
  • Thomas Almeida vs. Sean O’Malley
  • Marcin Tybura vs. opponent TBA
  • Abu Azaitar vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
  • Jamie Mullarkey vs. Khama Worthy
  • Omar Morales vs. Shane Young

UFC on ESPN 9 medical suspensions: Two fighters face potential 180-day layoffs

Two fighters face potential lengthy suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN 9 fights on Saturday.

Two fighters face potential six-month suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN 9 fights Saturday.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) handed [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] and [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag] potential 180-day terms for injuries sustained in their respective bouts.

UFC headliners [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] and [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] were each suspended, with Woodley getting 45 days due to a facial laceration. Burns, who was victorious after a five-round unanimous decision, was handed a potential 30-day suspensions.

MMA Junkie obtained a list of the UFC on ESPN 9 athletes’ medical suspensions from the NAC on Monday. Fighters can return sooner than the duration of their suspension if cleared by a doctor.

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UFC on ESPN 9 took place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.

The complete list of UFC on ESPN 9 medical suspensions:

  • Gilbert Burns: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • Tyron Woodley: Suspended 45 days or until left eyebrow laceration is cleared by physician; no contact for 30 days
  • [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • Spike Carlyle: Suspended 180 days or until left knee MRI is cleared by an orthopedic physician; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Gabe Green[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
  • [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: No suspension
  • Vince Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right orbital fracture is cleared by opthalmologist with minimum 45-day suspension; no contact for 30 days

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UFC on ESPN 9 salaries: Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns top list of highest paydays

UFC on ESPN 9 headliners Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns topped the list of fight night paydays.

The UFC on ESPN 9 headliners were paid as such, respective to the rest of the card.

According to a Nevada State Athletic Commission (NAC) document acquired by MMA Junkie on Monday, former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] topped the list of highest earners with a $200,000 paydays, despite his loss to [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag], who earned $164,000.

Two other fighters earned six figures. Co-main event winner [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] earned $100,000 in a winning effort against [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]. Former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] took home $120,000 for her victory over [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag] in the featured prelim bout.

UFC on ESPN 9 took place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card and prelims simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries included:

  • Gilbert Burns: $164,000 (includes $84,000 win bonus) def. Tyron Woodley: ($200,000)
  • Augusto Sakai: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus) def. Blagoy Ivanov ($60,000)
  • [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: $44,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] $12,000
  • [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: $25,000
  • Katlyn Chookagian: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Antonina Shevchenko: $35,000
  • [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Gabriel Green[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: $18,000
  • [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: $31,000
  • [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag]: $48,000
  • [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag]: $20,000

The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN 9 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.

For example, UFC officials handed out additional $50,000 UFC 249 fight-night bonuses to Burns and Dern for “Performance of the Night,” and Royval and Elliott for “Fight of the Night.”

In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.

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UFC on ESPN 9 post-event facts: Mackenzie Dern makes history

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 9, which saw Gilbert Burns beat Tyron Wooley in Las Vegas.

The UFC returns to Las Vegas for the first time in more than two months on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 9, which took place at the UFC Apex with an 11-fight card that aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

In the main event, [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) had his breakthrough moment as a welterweight contender when he overwhelmed and dominated former longtime champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] (19-5-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision.

The performance from the Brazilian capped off a notable event. For more on the numbers, check below for 35 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 9.

* * * *

General

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The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $114,500.

Debuting fighters went 1-1 at the event.

Burns, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] and [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 9 fight-night bonuses.

UFC on ESPN 9 drew an announced attendance of 0 for a live gate of $0.

Betting favorites went 8-3 on the card.

Betting favorites improved to 6-6 in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 11-bout card was 1:58:41.

Main card

Burns improved to 4-0 since he returned to the welterweight division in August 2019. He’s 5-0 when fighting at the weight class.

Burns’ five-fight UFC winning streak at welterweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Kamaru Usman (11), Leon Edwards (eight) and Santiago Ponzinibbio (seven).

Woodley suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2018.

Woodley has suffered all four of his UFC losses by decision.

[autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]’s (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied with Francis Ngannou for the longest active streak in the division.

[autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has suffered all three of his UFC losses by decision.

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has suffered both of his career losses by decision.

[autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) suffered his first submission loss since Dec. 5, 2014 – a span of 2,003 days (more than five years) and 13 fights.

Dern (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) became the first female in UFC history to earn a submission victory with a leg technique.

[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has suffered all four of her UFC losses by stoppage.

Preliminary card

[autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) improved to 5-2 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in January 2018.

Chookagian’s five victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Valentina Shevchenko for most in divisional history.

Chookagian has earned 11 of her 14 career victories by decision. That includes all seven of her UFC wins.

[autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has suffered both of her career losses by decision.

[autotag]Gabe Green[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned all of his career stoppage victories by knockout.

[autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by knockout.

Elliott’s (15-11-1 MMA, 4-9 UFC) three-fight losing skid is tied for the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2017.

Elliott fell to 2-5 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in December 2016.

Elliott has suffered all four of his UFC stoppage losses by submission.

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has earned 10 of his 11 career victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) fell to 2-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in November 2018.

Smolka fell to 2-2 since he moved up to the UFC bantamweight division in November 2018.

Smolka has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by submission.

[autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag] (15-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) earned the 11th finish in UFC history stemming from leg kicks.

[autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) fell to 2-4 in his past six fights dating back to July 2018.

Morales suffered the first knockout loss of his career..

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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UFC on ESPN 9 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $33 million

UFC on ESPN 9 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $114,500.

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 on ESPN 9 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 9 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $3,500
df. [autotag]Gabriel Green[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

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 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,063,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $33,068,000
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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN 9 with Kanye, Nipsey and DMX

See what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 9 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 9 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.

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