Tag: Bogdan Guskov

Video: Reaction to Alex Perez’s KO win over Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 55

What does Alex Perez’s first win since 2020 mean for his immediate future? Our “Spinning Back Clique” weighs in.

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel reacted to the results of UFC on ESPN 55 this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] picked up his first win since 2020, putting away [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] with a brutal second-round knockout. [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] also made a big statement in the second round of his co-main event bout as he put away veteran [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] with a TKO.

So what do these results mean? What should be next for Perez?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Farah Hannoun, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia weigh in on the results from UFC on ESPN 55.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/1W_eLDUuvQE

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Bogdan Guskov proud to be first Uzbekistan fighter to enter UFC rankings: ‘This is my history’

A couple of other fighters from Uzbekistan have been making noise in the UFC, but Bogdan Guskov is the first reach the promotion’s rankings.

LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] will have bragging rights over his fellow fighters from Uzbekistan.

Guskov (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will likely find a number next to his name when the promotion releases its updated rankings following UFC on ESPN 55. In the co-main event at the UFC Apex, Guskov finished top 15 fighter Ryan Spann with powerful punches in Round 2.

It was an outing worthy of a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, but more importantly for Guskov, one that will likely result in his name entering the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings.

“If I go to the top 15, I will be the first fighter from Uzbekistan who go to the top,” Guskov told reporters during a post-fight news conference. “This is history, this is my history. From Uzbekistan, we have two more strong guys and I’m first. I’m very happy in this moment.”

Makhmud Muradov became the first UFC fighter from Uzbekistan, debuting at UFC Fight Night 160 in September 2019. Liliya Shakirova became the first female and second fighter from the country, only making one appearance at UFC 254. Next was Nursulton Ruziboev, who debuted last July at UFC on ESPN 48.

Guskov rounds out the trio of active fighters from Uzbekistan, and admits there is a friendly rivalry between Muradov and Ruziboev to be the first to reach certain milestones. Both beat Guskov in the race for bonuses, but he can lay claim to the first promotinally-ranked fighter from their home country.

“Both guys are very good friends. We are every time talking support for each other. This is like a sport competition for motivation. It’s good, I think it’s good. … I love this.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Conor McGregor buys BKFC, UFC 301 preview, Alex Perez’s KO, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses Conor McGregor becoming part owner of BKFC, Alex Perez’s KO win, the upcoming UFC 301, more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Farah Hannoun and Nolan King will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • UFC on ESPN 55 is in the books. The UFC Apex event saw [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] make a huge statement at 125 pounds, knocking out [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] in the main event. This card also saw [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] pick up a big TKO win over veteran [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag], among many other results. We discuss the headliner bout, as well as other standout performances from the card.
  • UFC wasn’t the only show around this past Saturday. BKFC hosted the fourth edition of its tent pole KnuckleMania events. [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag], arguably the face of the promotion and the “King of Violence,” defeated former BKFC champ and former UFC title challenger [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] in the main event of the card. It was also announced that [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is now part-owner of BKFC.
  • This past week was busy in terms of callouts (and requests): [autotag]Chris Weiman[/autotag] interested in taking a step up against [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]; [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] doubled down on his plan to box [autotag]Ryan Garcia[/autotag]; [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag] interested in an interim title fight against [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]; [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] teased a move down to 185 pounds; [autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] says he’s all in to run a trilogy bout against [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] in Karate Combat.
  • Looking ahead, the UFC 301 goes down this Saturday in Brazil. Although not the most stacked pay-per-view, at least on paper, this card features a UFC flyweight title fight between [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] and [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag], and the return of former UFC and WEC champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag], who fights [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag].

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UFC on ESPN 55 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $25 million

UFC on ESPN 55 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 on ESPN 55 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $175,000.

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 on ESPN 55 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 55 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ariane Da Silva[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]David Onama[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michal Figlak[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marnic Mann[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ivana Petrovic[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Na Liang[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/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 $4,550; 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 $55,000 while title challengers get $55,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-55 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,640,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $25,377,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 55

Ryan Spann will look to avoid a three-fight losing skid against the dangerous Bogdan Guskov in tonight’s UFC on ESPN 55 co-main event.

[autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] and [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov UFC on ESPN 55 preview

Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will enter UFC on ESPN 55 needing a victory to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career. Spann, 32, is coming off back-to-back losses to Nikita Krylov bu first-round submission and most recently Anthony Smith by split decision last August. … Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has been victorious in five of his past six bouts after returning to the win column with a first-round TKO of Zac Pauga in February. Before that, Guskov lost his UFC debut against former light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.

Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov expert pick, prediction

Last event’s results: 4-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2

When it comes to co-main event bookings in the Apex era, there’s only one weight class that the current UFC matchmakers love featuring more than heavyweight – and that’s light heavyweight.

Spann, akin to arch-nemesis Anthony Smith, understands this role more than most and is seldom shy when it comes to throwing down in the octagon. Although Spann will thankfully be getting a break from “Lionheart,” Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard had the sick sense of humor to book him against Smith’s doppelganger, Guskov.

An Uzbek action fighter, Guskov appears to have a lot of the same right-handed sensibilities and finishing instincts that Spann possesses.

Between both fighters’ propensity to get wild and make risky decisions, I expect this battle to be one of the more volatile offerings on the card (which says something).

Guskov is a dangerous fighter who is live as an underdog, but I believe that his sometimes-lackadaisical defense could cost him against a long and accurate opportunist like Spann. Couple that with the kind of chaos that the smaller octagon of the Apex encourages, and I suspect that we’ll see grappling entanglements early and often.

The pick is Spann by first-round submission.

Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the American, listing Spann as a -205 favorite and Guskov a +158 underdog, according to FanDuel.

Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov start time, how to watch

As the co-main event, Spann and Guskov are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”

UFC on ESPN 55’s Bogdan Guskov still down for Anthony Smith fight despite ‘friendly sparring’

Bogdan Guskov has formed something of a bond with his doppelgänger Anthony Smith, but not to the point he no longer wants the fight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] has formed something of a relationship with his doppelgänger [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag], but it hasn’t prevented him from wanting that fight.

When Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was signed to the UFC, many immediately noticed the similarities in his looks with longtime light heavyweight contender Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC). In fact, Guskov even called for the matchup after recording his first octagon win in February.

Instead, the promotion matched Guskov up with Ryan Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55 co-main event at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+). During his preparation, Guskov said he encountered Smith at Xtreme Couture, and they opted to get some training in, teasing a potential future showdown.

“He’s very good guy,” Guskov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “He have a very beautiful face I think. We have not only a picture, but we have a sparring with him. I work a little bit with him, only for touching, like friendly sparring. It’s been a good experience for me. Maybe in the future. This guy in the top. I don’t think about the future. I think about my fight. After, if this fight interesting for UFC, let’s do it. I am ready.”

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Guskov, 31, made it clear he’s solely focused on fighting Spann this weekend and promised a “big drama show” when they step into the cage together. Guskov is intrigued by the challenge of fighting Spann, who has competed against notables such as Smith, Dominick Reyes and more.

If he’s able to pull off the win, Guskov thinks it changes his career trajectory overnight.

“This moment is very interesting,” Guskov said. “Not for fans. This is interesting for me because this is a guy from the top. (I think) nothing about future fights, but in the top 10, they have a lot of sharks, and I think no problem finding a new opponent for me after this win.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

Ryan Spann claims he hasn’t watched tape on Bogdan Guskov ahead of UFC on ESPN 55 co-main bout

Ryan Spann says he hasn’t watched much film on his opponent Bogdan Guskov ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] took a non-traditional approach for his upcoming fight.

Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 55 at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+), and he claims he hasn’t watched much film or studied his opponent in preparation for his return to the octagon – something not seen often in MMA.

“I haven’t really watched too much film, so I don’t know what kind of skills he’s going to bring,” Spann said at Wednesday’s media day. “People can change. He’s here for a reason. He’s against me for a reason. I’m sure he’s good, but to say that I’ve watched him or have any thoughts on him – I’m just going to go out there and do what I do.”

Spann hasn’t fought since August when he lost a close, split decision to veteran Anthony Smith. He purposely took some time off to work and develop his own skills. The 32-year-old is confident in his game, and believes he just needs to be himself to get his hand raised.

“I’m just expecting to be present and what comes from that, comes from that,” Spann said.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC fight card lineup announced for April 27, including Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov

Ryan Spann has twice fought Anthony Smith – and now the UFC has given him his doppelganger.

The full fight card for the UFC Fight Night event April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas has been revealed.

With a flyweight main event between Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau already announced, the co-main event will feature a light heavyweight showdown between [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] and [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag].

Promotion officials made the 13-fight lineup official Thursday. Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) vs. Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was one of two fights not previously reported. The other was a women’s strawweight matchup between former Invicta champion [autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus [autotag]Marnic Mann[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Spann, 32, looks to snap a two-fight skid as he enters the matchup off consecutive losses to Nikita Krylov and Anthony Smith. Now, Spann faces the man many people think resembles Smith.

Guskov, 31, has split his UFC appearances to date. He made his promotional debut against ranked opposition in Volkan Oezdemir and lost the bout by first-round rear-naked choke. In February, Guskov picked up his first UFC victory with a first-round knockout of Zac Pauga.

The UFC Fight Night lineup for April 27 includes:

  • Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau
  • Bogdan Guskov vs. Ryan Spann
  • Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva
  • Tim Means vs. Uros Medic
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Victor Henry vs. Rani Yahya
  • Caio Machado vs. Don’Tale Mayes
  • Gabriel Benitez vs. Maheshate
  • Marnic Mann vs. Ketlen Souza
  • Liang Na vs. Ivana Petrovic
  • Gabe Green vs. James Llontop
  • Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane
  • Michal Figlak vs. Austin Hubbard

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night for April 27.

Bogdan Guskov calls out UFC doppelgänger Anthony Smith, says he’ll show just how they’re different

Bogdan Guskov made a big callout after his first UFC victory over Zac Pauga at UFC Fight Night 236.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] beat Zac Pauga with a first-round knockout Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 236 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Guskov, who made a big callout after his first UFC victory.

UFC Fight Night 236 post-event facts: Rodolfo Vieira claims record with another arm-triangle choke

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 236, which saw Rodolfo Vieira become the all-time octagon leader in arm-triangle choke wins.

The UFC’s lengthy stretch of events rolled on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 236 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (24-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) emerged victorious in the main event when he scored an upset of [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their middleweight bout.

For more on the numbers from the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 236.