Tag: Bruno Souza

UFC veterans in MMA and kickboxing action Sept. 1-3

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC travels to France for UFC FN 226.

The event at Accor Arena in Paris features a heavyweight tilt between former interim champion [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and kickboxing this week from Sept. 1-3.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC on ESPN 33 salaries: Curtis Blaydes leading earner as four fighters crack six figures

UFC on ESPN 33 was one of the rare events in the modern climate where disclosed fighter salaries have trickled into the public.

UFC on ESPN 33 was one of the rare events in the modern climate where fighter salaries have trickled into the public.

Curtis Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), who defeated Chris Daukaus (13-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) by second-round TKO in the main event of the card this past Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, was the highest paid athlete on the card, netting $262,000 in disclosed earnings from the event.

The total salaries from the 12-bout card was $1,434,000, with just four names cracking the six-figure mark with their payouts.

MMAFighting.com received salary information from the Ohio State Athletic Commission on Tuesday.

Check out the full fight purses for UFC on ESPN 33.

UFC on ESPN 33 post-event facts: Neil Magny ties Georges St-Pierre’s win record, sets another

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 33, which saw Neil Magny tie Georges St-Pierre’s long-held wins records.

The UFC returned in front of crowds for non-PPV events in the U.S. on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 33 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The 12-fight card was capped off by a sensational showing from [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who used his hands and no wrestling to crush [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) into a second-round TKO and remind everyone that he’s still a young and evolving player in the heavyweight division.

Blaydes set some personal records in the win, but there were other bits of UFC history across the card, as well. For more on the numbers, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 33.

UFC 268 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Venum era total passes $5 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 268 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $325,500.

NEW YORK – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 268 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $325,500.

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 268 took place at the Madison Square Garden. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 268 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Andreas Michailidis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ian Garry[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Williams[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chris Barnett[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Gian Villante[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]John Allan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]CJ Vergara[/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 2021 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,112,500
Program-to-date total: $5,112,500

A ‘Tiger’ raised by ‘Dragons’: How the Machidas propelled Bruno Souza to UFC 268 debut

Since age 4, Bruno Souza has trained under MMA legend Lyoto Machida with the goal of becoming UFC champion.

In late May 2003, [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] touched down in Brazil. A trip across the world officially concluded and he was back home.

After a lifetime of karate and martial arts training under his legendary father, Yoshizo, Machida made his professional MMA debut in Japan days prior. It was a unanimous decision win over Kengo Watanabe at New Japan Pro Wrestling: Ultimate Crash.

While the training never stopped, the usual diet could be put aside for a little bit to celebrate victory. Shortly after his arrival in Belem, Para, Machida was in need of some good home cooking.

That’s where Murilo Souza Filho came in. A family friend, Souza Filho whipped up a hearty meal for Machida. It’s a role he’d fill on numerous future occasions, too.

In the midst of the feast, a fresh copy of a VHS tape surfaced. It was the fight. Among the living room viewers was Souza Filho’s son, 7-year-old [autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag], who watched in astonishment and admiration at the replay of his role model outpointing his Japanese opponent.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK4ElOPhehG/

Souza first met Lyoto and his brother, [autotag]Chinzo Machida[/autotag], in 1999 when he was just 4. Enrolled in youth judo classes, Souza grew up with martial arts – and regarding the legendary Brazilian fighters. He was there for Lyoto’s entire journey, from pro debutant to UFC champion to late-stage Bellator notoriety.

“Lyoto started his career, and I was like, ‘You know what? I want to be good,'” Souza recently told MMA Junkie. “The best thing about them was they never held me back. They were like, ‘OK, train, train, go for it, go for it.’ Look where we are now.”

Souza is set to make his UFC debut Saturday night at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden when he’ll meet Melsik Baghdasaryan on the UFC 268 prelims, a moment hat would not have been made possible without the Machidas.

Over the span of his life, Souza saw the pedestal many Brazilians in the MMA circuit put Lyoto on. He reached legend status, especially after he knocked out Rashad Evans to become UFC light heavyweight champion in 2009. To Souza, however, Lyoto and Chinzo Machida were essentially family. They weren’t superhuman. They were normal people just like him, who accomplished extraordinary things – and were willing to help him do the same. That fueled him.

“If someone close to you accomplishes something that’s really hard, it’s more possible for you,” Souza said. “I’m like, ‘OK, I know Lyoto. He did it. Why can’t I do it? We are friends. Why is it not possible?’ That’s what gave me the strength of like, ‘Yeah, I can do it. I can do it. Why not?'”

For those who don’t know Lyoto Machida personally, Souza says they’re missing out. Through good times and bad, Machida was always there for Souza. At times, Souza, nicknamed “The Tiger,” even lived with “The Dragon.”

“People have their idols, and I had a close relationship with my idol,” Souza said. “I can call him any time. I can ask for advice. I can FaceTime with him now that we live far apart. But I can go to his place. Good things or bad things, you’re always together. That’s amazing. … Lyoto is such a great guy to everyone. It’s not just with me. You can sit and ask for advice, and he’ll always open up. He’s very happy to talk. It’s impossible to have someone better than that.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B52y-fchlL6/

Over two decades of martial arts training and Machida encouragement will lead to Souza (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) making a UFC walk of his own for the first time. It’s the next box checked on his list. At UFC 268, Souza’s fight with Baghdasaryan (6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is one step closer to his ultimate goal of becoming a UFC champion, just like his mentor.

“I want to be the greatest of all time,” Souza said. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it, but I’m trying. Why not, you know? We can do it.”

UFC 268 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN News/ESPN+.

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Lyoto Machida protege, LFA champ Bruno Souza to fight Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 268

Bruno Souza is a student of “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida and the LFA featherweight champion.

Another LFA champion has entered the ranks of the UFC.

LFA featherweight champion [autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag] has signed with the promotion and will Saturday face [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC 268 from Madison Square Garden in New York.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA DNA was first to report the news.

Souza (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) replaces Canada’s T.J. Laramie, who withdrew from the originally scheduled matchup vs. Baghdasaryan (12-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) due to a MRSA infection.

Nicknamed “The Tiger,” Souza is a protege of former UFC light heavyweight champion “The Dragon” [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag]. At LFA 114 in August, Souza clinched the LFA title at age 25 when he defeated Javier Garcia by unanimous decision. The victory extended his streak to nine, a stretch that includes wins over UFC fighter Kamuela Kirk and Bellator fighter Mike Hamel.

As for Baghdasaryan, the Dana White’s Contender Series standout won his promotional debut in July when he flattened Collin Anglin with a second-round head kick. With a kickboxing background, Baghdasaryan has won five of his six professional victories by knockout or TKO.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs_WD4vkxz/

With the addition, the UFC 268 lineup includes:

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

  • Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington – for welterweight title
  • Champ Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili – for women’s strawweight title
  • Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje
  • Shane Burgos vs. Billy Quarantillo
  • Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera

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

  • Andreas Michailidis vs. Alex Pereira
  • Bobby Green vs. Al Iaquinta
  • Chris Curtis vs. Phil Hawes
  • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

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

  • Ian Garry vs. Jordan Williams
  • Chris Barnett vs. Gian Villante
  • John Allan vs. Aleksa Camur
  • Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Bruno Souza
  • Ode Osbourne vs. CJ Vergara

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LFA 114 results: Bruno Souza wins vacant gold; Charles Johnson keeps on rolling

Two titles were on the line at LFA 114, where one new champion was crowned.

Two championships were on the line Friday at LFA 114, which ended with one new titleholder and one retaining champion.

LFA 114 took place at The Factory at the District in St-Louis and the main card streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Atop the card was a vacant featherweight title fight between Machida Brothers’ protege [autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag] (10-1) and California’s [autotag]Javier Garcia[/autotag] (7-4). After five rounds of hard-fought action, it was Souza who had LFA gold wrapped around his waist. He officially won four rounds on each of the judges’ scorecards en route to a unanimous decision victory.

In the co-main event, interim flyweight champion [autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag] (10-2) made a quick, short-notice turnaround after he earned the title July 2. Against challenger [autotag]Joao Camilo[/autotag] (7-4), Johnson proved to be too much as he picked up a second-round TKO victory via punches.

Also on the card, former Penn State University wrestling standout [autotag]Jimmy Lawson[/autotag] (3-1) extended his winning streak to three with a brutal knockout of Bellator alumnus [autotag]Anthony Garrett[/autotag] (6-4).

Prospects [autotag]Joseph Holmes[/autotag] (5-1), [autotag]Ben Bennett[/autotag] (3-0), and [autotag]William Starks[/autotag] (5-2) also picked up finishes in the first three fights on the main card.

The full LFA 114 main card results include:

  • Bruno Souza def. Javier Garcia via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – for vacant featherweight title
  • Charles Johnson def. Joao Camilo via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:07 – for interim flyweight title
  • Jimmy Lawson def. Anthony Garrett via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:18
  • Joseph Holmes def. DeWayne Diggs via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:48
  • Ben Bennett def. Elmar Umarov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:58
  • William Starks def. Irfan Mulabitinovic via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:16

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On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC or Bellator with August wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one of which for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

This month:

  • After four years away, an undefeated flyweight hopes to pick up a win in another exciting fight, like his Dana White’s Contender Series victory in 2017.
  • A young Mexican up-and-comer hopes to get on the radar of a major promotion as she seeks her fourth finish in six fights.
  • A fan-favorite fighter from Mississippi hopes his unbeaten streak since his UFC release continues with another barn burner at his new weight class.
  • A St. Louis plumber struggling to find willing opponents gets a homecoming in his third LFA appearance.
  • A Machida brothers underling is ready to write MMA history of his own when he competes for an LFA title.

LFA 102 results: Souza outworks Johns, Gregory Rodrigues reaches tourney final

Bruno Souza continued to climb in the featherweight division and Gregory Rodrigues made a statement to reach the middleweight tournament final at the top of LFA’s latest card Friday. At LFA 102 at Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Okla., Souza …

[autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag] continued to climb in the featherweight division and [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] made a statement to reach the middleweight tournament final at the top of LFA’s latest card Friday.

At LFA 102 at Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Okla., Souza outworked [autotag]Elijah Johns[/autotag] with a split decision in the headliner. And in the co-main event, Rodrigues picked up a brutal knockout of [autotag]Al Matavao[/autotag] in the 185-pound tournament semifinals to reach the final against Josh Fremd.

Check out results from the fights below.