Tag: chris daukaus

FURY Pro Grappling 8 announced: Aljamain Sterling, 7 other UFC veterans to compete

The grappling series run by CFFC continues its tradition of a year-end event full of UFC notables.

FURY Pro Grappling’s tradition of a year-end card filled with UFC notables past and present continues.

Eight UFC veterans, including former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag], have been booked for the FURY Pro Grappling 8 lineup, the promotion announced Tuesday.

FURY Pro Grappling 8 takes place Dec. 30 at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia and streams on UFC Fight Pass.

Sterling will compete against [autotag]Kevin Dantzler[/autotag], a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who is 5-0 under the FURY Pro Grappling banner. Dantzer previously defeated Sterling’s friend and training partner Merab Dvalishvili at FURY Pro Grappling 2 in October 2021.

The co-feature is a big one, at least physically, as former UFC heavyweight [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] grapples current UFC heavyweight [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]. Also on the card are [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag], [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag], [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag], [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag], and [autotag]Charlie Campbell[/autotag].

The full FURY Pro Grappling 8 lineup includes:

  • Aljamain Sterling vs. Kevin Dantzler
  • Chris Daukaus vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Niko Price vs. Pat Sabatini
  • Amanda Mazza vs. Elyse Shaw
  • Fatima Kline vs. Cindy Ung
  • Charlie Campbell vs. Lee Moringo
  • Aidan Burke vs. Santo Curatolo
  • Paul Capaldo vs. Cameron Scalio

UFC on ESPN 51 post-event facts: Event ties modern-era record for first-round finishes

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 51, which saw a record-tying number of first-round stoppage results.

The UFC returns to its home base of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday following three weeks on the road with UFC on ESPN 51, which saw nine of 13 fights end inside the distance.

The main event was one of few that needed the judges. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) managed to outwork former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (33-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) to a unanimous decision in the welterweight bout and used a lot of grappling to get it done.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Two veterans earn max non-title sum of $21,000

UFC on ESPN 51 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 51 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.

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 51 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 51 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Hakeem Dawodu[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Iasmin Lucindo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Josh Fremd[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marcus McGhee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]JP Buys[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Mike Breeden[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Isaac Dulgarian[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Martin Buday[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jaqueline Amorim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Conejo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jose Johnson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Luana Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Juliana Miller[/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 $4,510; 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 $51,000 while title challengers get $51,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-51 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,395,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,984,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51 video: Khalil Rountree’s big power sends Chris Daukaus to fourth straight loss

Khalil Rountree is on a four-fight winning streak while Chris Daukaus is on a four-fight losing skid after UFC on ESPN 51.

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] is on a four-fight winning streak while [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] is on a four-fight losing skid after UFC on ESPN 51.

Rountree (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was tasked with welcoming former heavyweight Daukaus (12-7 MMA, 4-4 UFC) down to light heavyweight for the first time on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the fight was one-way traffic.

It was clear Daukaus tasted the power early on, and it wasn’t long before Rountree dropped and stopped him for the TKO at the 2:40 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay below (via Twitter):

With the longest winning streak of his UFC career under his belt, Rountree is looking for bigger and better. Not only does he want the chance to face a ranked fighter next, but he wants it in a five-round headliner.

“It feels great,” Rountree said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I would absolutely love to fight somebody ranked above me. I don’t know exactly who. I think the next step for me is a main event. I would love to have a five-round main event. I think that’s a big challenge for me.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 51 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51: Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Chris Daukaus odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 51 odds and lines between Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Chris Daukaus with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a light heavyweight bout on the main card, Khalil Rountree Jr. and Chris Daukaus meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 51 at UFX APEX in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 51: Rountree Jr. vs. Daukaus odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET and the main card is on ESPN/ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Records: Rountree Jr. (12-5-0) | Daukaus (12-6-0)

Rountree Jr. takes the walk with a 3-fight win streak in tow. He picked up a split-decision win over Dustin Jacoby last time out in late October on the heels of a pair of 2nd-round KO/TKO wins against Karl Roberson (March 2022) and Modestas Bukauskas (Sept. 2021).

The southpaw Rountree Jr. has an ever-so-slight half-inch reach advantage. That’s about the only category in his favor though, as he has just 3.67 significant strikes landed per minute to 6.41 for Daukaus and lands just 41.99% of those strikes while Daukaus connects with a 52.20% significant strikes accuracy percentage.

Daukaus enters on a 3-bout losing skid, having been knocked out in each of his bouts against Jairzinho Rozenstruik (Dec. 2022), Curtis Blaydes (March 2022) and Derrick Lewis (Dec. 2021). Win or lose, he makes it exciting. All 7 of Daukaus’ fights at the UFC level have resulted in knockouts, with 4 going in his favor — including 3 in the 1st round. He has also never been past the 1:23 mark of the 2nd round in his 7 UFC bouts.

As far as KRJ is concerned, he has gone the distance in just 3 of his past 8 bouts, with 3 KO/TKO wins and 2 KO/TKO losses. Don’t blink when this fight comes on or you might miss it.

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UFC on ESPN 51: Rountree Jr. vs. Daukaus odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:05 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Rountree Jr. -185 (bet $185 to win $100) | Daukaus +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over +135 | Under -175)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +375 | No -650)

UFC on ESPN 51: Rountree Jr. vs. Daukaus picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Rountree Jr. (-185) enters the octagon with momentum, winning the past 3 fights, but facing DAUKAUS (+150) is a big step up in competition. Daukaus has faced down the top fighters in the division, and won’t be fazed against “The War Horse”.

Daukaus is a whirling dervish who throws all kinds of punches, and he lands his significant strikes more frequently than his counterpart. In addition, he doesn’t go long, and win or lose, this fight will end in a knockout. I like the underdog straight up, but METHOD OF VICTORY – 7-WAY: DAUKAUS BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+250) is pretty tasty, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 1.5 ROUNDS (-175) comes with a pretty steep price tag, but it’s worth a look. Daukaus has never been past the midway point of Round 2 in 7 career UFC bouts.

Rountree Jr. went the distance last time out, and he has ended up past the middle of the 2nd round in 3 of his past 4 outings. However, he is going to face a storm earlier than usual as Daukaus will make him eat plenty of punches early and often.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Khalil Rountree hoped for ranked opponent at UFC on ESPN 51, but settled for Chris Daukaus

Khalil Rountree was looking to climb the light heavyweight ladder at UFC on ESPN 51, but drew a divisional newcomer instead.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] was looking to climb the light heavyweight ladder but drew a divisional newcomer instead.

Rountree (11-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) welcomes [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC) to the light heavyweight division on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 51 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Having won three straight, Daukaus wasn’t the opponent Rountree was looking for, but he didn’t have too much of a choice.

“I had just gotten into the rankings. I was preparing for someone within the top 15, and that’s what I was asking for,” Rountree told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Thursday’s media day. “Some of the guys were injured. Some of the guys were already booked. I guess my only option was to sit the bench until someone opened up if that’s what I wanted. ‘If you want somebody in the top 15, we don’t got somebody right now, so don’t know when I can book you.’

“That was kind of the conversation. At first, I was like, ‘Ah, OK, whatever. I’ll wait around.’ But not too long after, the offer of Daukaus came up and I took a little bit of time to contemplate it because it was in a way, completely opposite of what I was asking for. But something that was brought to my attention was, OK, he’s not ranked in the light heavyweight division, but he’s ranked in the heavyweight division. So if you’re looking for somebody ranked, there you go – you’ve got it.”

Daukaus has lost three in a row at heavyweight, so doesn’t exactly meet the criteria Rountree was hoping for. However, he is still a ranked heavyweight.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Rountree said. “It definitely took some contemplation, film study, things like that, and I finally came to the decision of, ‘I’m here to fight the best. I want to and believe that I can be a contender.’ Now, it’s just a matter of handling the challenges in front of me. So if I’m here to fight the best and they give me Chris Daukaus – he’s a UFC fighter, he’s a ranked heavyweight, he’s great. OK, cool. This is also in a way what I asked for.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

Chris Daukaus says his power won’t be impacted by light heavyweight move at UFC on ESPN 51

Chris Daukaus is making a significant change to his career this week, but he doesn’t think it will impact one of his most important traits.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] is making a significant change to his career this week, but he doesn’t think it will impact one of his most important traits.

Daukaus started his UFC run with four straight knockouts at heavyweight. But once he got put in with the next level of competition in late 2021, things haven’t gone his way. Daukaus has lost three straight fights, all by knockout, to Derrick Lewis, Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Mired in that rut, Daukaus (12-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC) will try to bounce back when he takes on Khalil Rountree (11-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at light heavyweight on the UFC on ESPN 51 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Their fight airs on ESPN.

“The first move down to 205 (thought) was probably when I first ran into my first real heavyweight at the UFC level when I’ve seen them like just passing through. After the Derek Lewis fight, I was like, ‘All right, this needs to change,'” Daukaus said at Thursday’s UFC on ESPN 51 media day in Las Vegas. “(I have) no regrets (about the timing). I’m doing everything full tilt. I don’t care. This is how I’m living my life. This is the way – I wouldn’t want my life any other way.

“The weight cut has) been fine. (I’m) not eating sh*t anymore – not eating pizza, cheese steaks, all that stuff. For the most part, it’s just whole foods, making sure I get everything in my meals so I don’t have to supplement anything – making everything at home, cooking for the family, stuff like that. I very rarely eat out anymore or do anything like that.”

Daukaus’ first heavyweight fight in the UFC, he was 241 pounds. Then he dropped to 227. But the past few fights, he’s hovered in the mid-240s on weigh-in day. And that’s a far cry from 205.

But Daukaus said he’s not worried about the power that served him so well his first four UFC bouts being impacted by his move from heavyweight to 205 pounds.

“Realistically, I was just a fat 205er. If I want to be super serious, I’ve been talking to some people who said I could probably make ’85 – but I’m not going to. … These guys are huge (at heavyweight). … My power has not been compromised in one bit. You can ask any of my training partners right now, the guys in the back, ask them. I don’t feel like my power has been compromised in one little bit. My speed has grown, which is a little scary. But other than that, I feel like my technique, everything is right there. I’m ready to go.”

Check out Daukaus’ full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

Video: UFC on ESPN 51 media day interviews

Before UFC on ESPN 51 on Saturday, 12 athletes from the card spoke to reporters Thursday at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC schedule for August continues Saturday with UFC on ESPN 51, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a card that airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

A welterweight bout serves as the main event, with [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (21-9-1 MMA, 14-5 UFC) set to take on former lightweight titleholder [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (33-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC).

Before fight night arrives, though, 12 athletes from this weekend’s card spoke to reporters Thursday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream above, check below for the archived videos of each media day session.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51 pre-event facts: Cub Swanson hits landmark record in featherweight return

The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN 51, where Cub Swanson makes history with his return to the featherweight division.

The octagon returns to the confines of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday for the first time in nearly one month with UFC on ESPN 51, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Brazilian welterweight veterans collide in a five-round main event. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (21-9-1 MMA, 14-5 UFC) returns to action from a nearly yearlong layoff and the hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid when he meets former lightweight titleholder and MMA legend [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (33-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (June 5-11)

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 or officially announced by a promotion from June 5-11.