Tag: Bogdan Guskov

Bogdan Guskov shuts down Johnny Walker rebooking after UFC 311

Bogdan Guskov beat late replacement Billy Elekana when Johnny Walker pulled out.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] beat Billy Elekana with a second-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

Take a look inside the fight with Guskov, who got Elekana as a late replacement when Johnny Walker pulled out.

Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana

Result: Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:33
Updated records: Guskov (17-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Elekana (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Guskov got his third UFC finish in less than a year after a loss in his promotional debut.

Guskov on the fight’s key moment

Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Bogdan Guskov (red gloves) fights Billy Elekana (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

“All my camp, we trained vs. southpaws. I know Johnny (Walker) – Johnny’s a striker. This guy Billy is a good grappler – not a striker. He waits for his moment and takes everybody down and tries to choke everybody (like he did with me in the first round). He said he was a kickboxer, but I saw no kickboxing (from him).”

Guskov on his first-round choke

Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Bogdan Guskov (red gloves) fights Billy Elekana (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

“After the first round, the referee said go to the corner. I started feeling pain in my (right) hand. I think I broke it. Second round, I had planned to show a little bit of my base attack, then after try to choke him – because then my right hand had no power.”

Guskov on what he wants next

“Never. I don’t want to make a deal with Johnny (Walker). I don’t want to fight him in the sport. For me, it’s better with other guys. Johnny, we stay good friends. We have a relationship. I don’t want to fight with Johnny ever. It’s not good. He started this sh*t, and after he stopped the sh*t. It’s part of our game.”

To hear more from Guskov, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

[vertical-gallery id=2798533]

[vertical-gallery id=2798500]

UFC 311 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Renato Moicano makes money with move up card

Renato Moicano made some extra cash under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program for stepping into a title fight at UFC 311.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 311 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $306,000.

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 311 took place at Intuit Dome. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews/Disney+/FX and ESPN+.

The full UFC 311 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag]: $6,000
def [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Reinier de Ridder[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Azamat Bekoev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Billy Elekana[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Ailin Perez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Karol Rosa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Muin Gafurov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Rinya Nakamura[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Bernardo Sopaj[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ricky Turcios[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clayton Carpenter[/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 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $479,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $31,497,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana at UFC 311: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Bogdan Guskov’s second-round submission win over Billy Elekana at UFC 311.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag]’s second-round submission win over [autotag]Billy Elekana[/autotag] at UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. (Fight and venue photos by Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports)

Johnny Walker out of UFC 311 vs. Bogdan Guskov with ‘bad injury’

UFC 311 has lost its featured preliminary-card bout one week from the event after Johnny Walker sustained a “bad” injury.

With just one week until the event, the UFC 311 lineup has taken a hit.

Light heavyweight veteran [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] has sustained a “bad injury” that will prevent him from meeting [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] on the Jan. 18 card at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+)

The matchup was scheduled to serve as the featured preliminary contest on the UFC’s first numbered event of the year, but Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) said he could not proceed with stepping into the octagon after his injury, and offered an apology to Guskov (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) after announcing his withdrawal on Saturday.

“I’ve been pulled out by a bad injury,” Walker said in a video on social media. “So I’m not going to be competing, and I’m devastated. A lot of hard work I put in over a few months of training a lot. We want to come back and do a show, but not this time. I wish Bogdan good luck. Hopefully he can find an opponent.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DErWLjjRRIM

It is unknown at this time if the organization will secure a replacement opponent to face Guskov on just seven days’ notice.

The latest UFC 311 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan – for lightweight title
  • Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov – for bantamweight title
  • Jamahal Hill vs. Jiri Prochazka
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
  • Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Bogdan Guskov vs. opponent TBA
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. Payton Talbott
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
  • Sedriques Dumas vs. Zach Reese

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
  • Ailin Perez vs. Karol Rosa
  • Muin Gafurov vs. Rinya Nakamura
  • Bernardo Sopaj vs. Ricky Turcios
  • Clayton Carpenter vs. Tagir Ulanbekov

[lawrence-related id=2796825,2796508,2796504]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

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].

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5jfA1Eyn69

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.