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Dan Hooker, Brad Riddell and Angela Hill were among those with specific names in mind for their next fight after UFC on ESPN+ 26 in Auckland.
Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
* * * * *
First up, let’s take a look at the night’s prelim winners.
Wants to fight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz
The callout: “I feel like everyone is booked right now, but I’d love to fight Karolina if she wins today. Even if she doesn’t, I’d like that fight. It would be a great matchup. That’s always been a fight I’ve wanted. I’m willing to fight anyone, but Karolina’s at the top of the list because our schedules line up.”
The reality: [autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag] didn’t win her fight in Auckland, and that could play heavily into any possibility of a matchup with [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] being booked. The Pole has now lost four in a row, and that’s the sort of form that can often lead to a parting of ways. But Kowalkiewicz (12-6 MMA, 5-6 UFC) remains a popular fighter, and a matchup with Hill (12-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) may still be considered worthwhile, especially on a European card, later in the year. Stylistically, it would certainly produce an exciting fight, and with Kowalkiewicz likely fighting in the last chance saloon, it would be a fight with the highest of stakes.
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Next up, let’s check out the main card.
Post-fight thoughts and analysis on the biggest storylines coming out of UFC on ESPN+ 26, where Dan Hooker edged Paul Felder.
What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 26 in Auckland, New Zealand? Here are a few post-fight musings …
* * * * *
Oh hey, welcome back. It’s another Sunday following a UFC event, and once again here we are having a discussion about judging. Going back to Jon Jones’ win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, this is the second time in three weeks a main event decision has created heavy dissent.
This time it was [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] who was awarded the narrow nod, with the judges giving him the split decision over Paul Felder in a five-round classic. It was a brutal and bloody affair that garnered “Fight of the Night” honors, but there were many who cried “robbery!” in the aftermath of the lightweight headliner.
My scorecard had Felder winning 48-47 with him taking Rounds 2, 4 and 5, but a Hooker win is by no means outrageous. The fight was tightly contested, with multiple rounds being close to coin tosses. The fact all three judges had it scored differently is a reflection of the competitive nature of the contest, and regardless of which way it went, someone was going to be displeased.
I’ll reiterate again that Felder secured the win from my perspective, however, this decision was far from criminal. Leaving the fight to be decided by the judges leaves the door open for heartbreak, and after winning a close one over Edson Barboza at UFC 242 in September, Felder was on the tough end of it this time.
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All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC Auckland, which saw Dan Hooker beat Paul Felder in the main event.
The UFC made its third visit to New Zealand on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 26. The 12-fight card took place at Spark Arena in Auckland and streamed entirely on ESPN+.
In the main event, [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) elevated his status as a lightweight contender when he edged out a memorable “Fight of the Night” clash with [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) by split decision in front of his hometown fans.
The headliner wasn’t the only fight to produce notable results, though. For more, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 26.
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The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $137,000.
Debuting fighters went 0-1 at the event.
Hooker, Felder, [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] and [autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 26 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN+ 26 drew an announced attendance of 10,025 for a live gate of $1,239,625.
Betting favorites went 8-4 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 4-1 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 1:59:19.
Hooker improved to 7-1 since he moved up to the UFC lightweight division in June 2017.
Felder has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.
Crute (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.
Crute became the fifth fighter in UFC history to earn multiple submission victories by Kimura. Krzysztof Soszynski, Rani Yahya, Frank Mir and George Sotiropoulos also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career.
Oleksiejczuk has suffered both of his UFC losses by submission.
[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) improved to 9-0 (with one no contest) since returning from a nearly five-year layoff in July 2015.
Xiaonan’s five-fight UFC winning streak at strawweight is tied with Tatiana Suarez for the longest active streak in the division.
Xiaonan has earned all five of her UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]’s (12-6 MMA, 5-6 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since April 2018.
[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] (17-6-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past nine fights.
De Lima improved to 3-1 in the UFC at heavyweight.
De Lima has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 14 of those wins in Round 1.
[autotag]Ben Sosoli[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career.
Aguilar has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned all eight of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished both of his UFC wins by knockout.
[autotag]Joshua Culibao[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) improved to 5-1 since he moved up to the UFC welterweight division in November 2017.
Matthews has earned four of his five UFC welterweight victories by decision.
[autotag]Emil Meek[/autotag]’s (9-5-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2016.
Meek has been taken down 21 times in his four UFC appearances.
Meek has suffered all three of his UFC losses by decision.
[autotag]Callan Potter[/autotag] (18-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered all nine of his career losses by stoppage.
Song Kenan has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. That includes three of his four UFC wins.
[autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (21-8 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned all four of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag] (18-11-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered eight of his 11 career losses by decision. That includes both of his UFC defeats.
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (12-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) became the first to earn two UFC victories in 2020.
Hill improved to 6-5 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2017.
Hill’s seven victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied with Jessica Andrade for second most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (nine).
[autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag] (4-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of her career.
[autotag]Cachoeira[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) snapped her three-fight losing skid for her first victory since September 2017.
Cachoeira’s 40-second knockout marked the fastest stoppage in UFC women’s flyweight history.
[autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]’s (3-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since December 2017.
Dobson suffered the first knockout loss of her career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Successful nights are becoming a regular thing for City Kickboxing, and UFC Auckland was no different.
Successful nights are becoming a regular thing for City Kickboxing. UFC on ESPN+ 26 was no different.
With coach Eugene Bareman manning the helm, per usual, the Oceanic region’s powerhouse MMA gym went undefeated on Saturday. With their leaders UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski sitting cageside, City Kickboxing went 3-0 on home soil.
Starting off the night’s success was flyweight [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]. The explosive, speedy Kiwi engaged in an exciting back-and-forth bout with the always gritty Tyson Nam. After a 15-minute battle, Kara-France’s hand was raised.
[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] was next and carried the momentum with him from the start of his walkout. As he strolled to the cage to fight Magomed Mustafaev, the Auckland faithful loudly and proudly voiced their support.
Riddell’s blood-soaked charisma, energy, and willingness to engage despite being the underdog likely helped boost his popularity throughout the MMA community. Riddell defeated Mustafaev by unanimous decision.
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City Kickboxing’s night (and the entire card) was capped off by an instant classic between [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and Paul Felder. The two lightweights traded blows in technical destruction. Despite Felder’s toughness, Hooker persevered and had his hand raised when all was said and done.
Between Adesanya, Volkanovski, Hooker, Riddell, Kara-France, UFC featherweight Shane Young, and a plethora of regional fighters, City Kickboxing has a lot to look forward to in 2020.
The hot start to the year piggybacks off a massive 2019. Last year, the gym’s impressive resume and rising success made City Kickboxing MMA Junkie’s 2019 “Gym of the Year.”
Led by Bareman, the Auckland-based gym won 90 percent (nine of 10) of its bouts inside the octagon in 2019.
UFC on ESPN+ 26 took place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The event streamed on ESPN+.
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UFC on ESPN+ 26 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $130,000.
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+ 26 took place Saturday at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The entire card streamed ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN+ 26 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Ben Sosoli[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Zubaira Tukhugov[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Joshua Culibao[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Emil Meek[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Callan Potter[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shana Dobson[/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: $707,000
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: $31,711,500
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand.
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+ 26 went with as their backing tracks in Auckland, New Zealand.
Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 26 main card in Auckland, featuring Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker.
| Felder vs. Hooker |
Crute vs. Oleksiejczuk |
Kowalkiewicz vs. Xiaonan |
De Lima vs. Sosoli |
Mustafaev vs. Riddell |
Aguilar vs. Tukhugov |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 16-10 |
 Felder (53%) |
 Crute (63%) |
 Xiaonan (63%) |
 Sosoli (63%) |
 Mustafaev (66%) |
 Tukhugov (64%) |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 20-6 |
 Hooker |
 Oleksiejczuk |
Xiaonan |
 De Lima |
Mustafaev |
 Aguilar |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 20-6  2017 Champion |
Felder |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 19-7 |
Felder |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 19-7 |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 19-7 |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 19-7 |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
Sosoli |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 19-7 |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 19-7 2014 Champion |
Felder |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 18-8 |
Felder |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
 Riddell |
Aguilar |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 18-8 |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
Sosoli |
Riddell |
Tukhugov |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 18-8 2019 Champion* |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 17-9 2018 Champion |
Hooker |
Crute |
Xiaonan |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Aguilar |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 16-10 |
Hooker |
Oleksiejczuk |
 Kowalkiewicz |
De Lima |
Mustafaev |
Tukhugov |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 12-14 |
Felder |
Crute |
Kowalkiewicz |
Sosoli |
Mustafaev |
Aguilar |
The UFC is back in New Zealand this week with a local standout in a lightweight showdown atop the card.
UFC on ESPN+ 26 takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The event streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) takes on New Zealand’s own [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in a lightweight fight that is a couple years in the making. Hooker is just a slight favorite from the oddsmakers, but he has a fairly substantial 9-5 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is a -150 favorite in his light heavyweight fight against Australia’s [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). But it’s Crute who has a whopping 12-2 lead in our picks.
[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the main card in her women’s strawweight bout against [autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC). Xiaonan has a big 12-2 picks lead.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] (16-6-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) is a mild favorite against Australia’s [autotag]Ben Sosoli[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at heavyweight. The Brazilian has an 11-3 edge in the picks.
[autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is a -150 favorite in his lightweight bout against [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), and he’s got a 12-2 blowout picks lead.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Zubaira Tukhugov[/autotag] (18-4-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) in a featherweight fight. Aguilar is a slight favorite at the sportsbooks, but it’s Tukhugov who has a heavy 10-4 lead in the picks from our staff members.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Felder (53 percent), Crute (63 percent), Xiaonan (63 percent), Sosoli (63 percent), Mustafaev (66 percent) and Tukhugov (64 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN+ 26 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN+ 26 takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The event streams on ESPN+.
A lightweight bout between Magomed Mustafaev and Brad Riddell is the first addition to the UFC Auckland card.
A lightweight bout is the first addition to the UFC’s return to New Zealand.
[autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will take on [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC Auckland. The fight was first reported by journalist Igor Lazorin.
UFC Auckland takes place Feb. 22 (Sunday, Feb. 23 locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland. The card is likely to stream on ESPN+.
Mustafaev returned from a layoff of two and a half years in April and picked up a first-round finish of Rafael Fiziev in Russia. He earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus for the TKO. He was scheduled to take on Don Madge at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, but was forced out due to undisclosed reasons. Mustafaev has finished all 15 of his pro MMA wins.
The New Zealand-born Riddell made good on his UFC debut in a “Fight of the Night” unanimous decision win against Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 243. The former kickboxer trains with the likes of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and lightweight contender Dan Hooker at the City Kickboxing gym in Auckland.
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