Tag: chris daukaus

UFC on ESPN 28 loses Chris Daukaus vs Shamil Abdurakhimov co-main bout

UFC on ESPN 28 has lost its heavyweight co-main event between Chris Daukaus and Shamil Abdurakhimov.

UFC on ESPN 28‘s lineup has taken a big hit.

The scheduled co-main event between heavyweights [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] and [autotag]Shamil Abdurakhimov[/autotag] has been removed from the event due to undisclosed reasons, MMA Junkie has confirmed following an initial report from TSN.

This bout was originally scheduled to take place at UFC on ESPN 27, however, due to a positive COVID-19 test in Abdurakhimov’s (20-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) camp, the fight was moved to a new date.

Issues have since risen again from Abdurakhimov’s side, and the fight is being moved for the second time to another date in the coming weeks, MMA Junkie was told by a source familiar with the situation.

Daukaus (11-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will be searching for his fourth consecutive UFC victory and his second of the calendar year after defeating Aleksei Oleinik by first-round TKO in February.

Abdurakhimov was last in action at UFC 242, where he fell to Curtis Blaydes by second-round stoppage. He was on a three-fight win streak before the bout. Since then, a series of events with multiple opponents have prevented his return to action.

The UFC on ESPN 28 lineup now includes:

  • Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
  • Cheyanne Buys vs. Gloria de Paula
  • Kyung Ho Kang vs. Rani Yahya
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Jason Witt
  • Mounir Lazzez vs. Niklas Stolze
  • Nicco Montano  vs. Wu Yanan
  • Collin Anglin vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
  • Rafa Garcia  vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
  • Danny Chavez vs. Kai Kamaka
  • Jinh Yu Frey  vs. Ashley Yoder
  • Trevin Jones vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • Orion Cosce vs. Phillip Rowe
  • Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ryan Benoit

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UFC on ESPN 27 post-event facts: T.J. Dillashaw makes history in octagon return

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 27, which saw T.J. Dillashaw return to the octagon in historic fashion.

The UFC’s busy July continued Saturday with UFC on ESPN 27, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The highly anticipated main event of the card saw former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) make his long-awaited return to the octagon with a split decision win over [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC).

Dillashaw’s victory was one of several debatable decisions on the card that had multiple notable feats. For more on the numbers, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 27.

UFC on ESPN 27 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Darren Elkins gets biggest bag

UFC on ESPN 27 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 27 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $135,000.

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

The full UFC on ESPN 27 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Randy Costa[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Mickey Gall[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Williams[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Elise Reed[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Hannah Goldy[/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: $2,593,500
Program-to-date total: $2,593,500

Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus shifts to UFC on ESPN 28 due to COVID-19 issue

The UFC on ESPN 27 lineup has lost a fight, while one week later, UFC on ESPN 28 has expanded to a 16-fight card.

This Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 27 event has lost a fight between ranked heavyweights, but the contest remains on the promotion’s summer schedule.

[autotag]Shamil Abdurakhimov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] has been postponed one week back to UFC on ESPN 28, which takes place July 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

After Daukaus (11-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) announced the news Monday on social media, MMA Junkie confirmed the change with a person with knowledge of the decision. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has not made an announcement and added a positive COVID-19 test in the Abdurakhimov (20-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) camp was to blame for the change in dates.

With the change, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 27 lineup now includes:

  • Cory Sandhagen vs. T.J. Dillashaw
  • Brendan Allen vs. Puna Soriano
  • Maycee Barber vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson
  • Kyler Phillips vs. Raulian Paiva
  • Mickey Gall vs. Jordan Williams
  • Randy Costa vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Ian Heinisch vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Julio Arce vs. Andre Ewell
  • Darren Elkins vs. Darrick Minner
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Elise Reed
  • Diana Belbita vs. Hannah Goldy

After the addition of Abdurakhimov vs. Daukaus, the UFC on ESPN 28 lineup includes:

  • Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Jason Witt
  • Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Yoder
  • Rafa Garcia vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
  • Collin Anglin vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
  • Orion Cosce vs. Phillip Rowe
  • Cheyanne Buys vs. Gloria de Paula
  • Mounir Lazzez vs. Niklas Stolze
  • Kyung Ho Kang vs. Rani Yahya
  • Danny Chavez vs. TBA
  • Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell
  • Nicco Montano vs. Wu Yanan
  • Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ryan Benoit
  • Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Trevin Jones vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus

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UFC targets Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus for July 24 card

Ranked heavyweights are targeted to fight this summer.

A fight between ranked heavyweights is on the verge of finalization.

Russia’s [autotag]Shamil Abdurakhimov[/autotag] and Philadelphia’s [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] are targeted to square off at the UFC Fight Night event July 24 at a location and venue that has yet to be announced.

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

Abdurakhimov (20-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has not competed since September 2019 when he lost to Curtis Blaydes by TKO due to ground-and-pound. Since that time, he’s struggled to have a scheduled booking come to fruition as he’s encountered three-straight cancellations.

Daukaus (11-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) burst onto the UFC scene in August 2020. Since then, he’s rattled off three first-round TKO wins over Parker Porter, Rodrigo Nascimento, and Aleksei Oleinik.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 192 lineup now includes:

  • T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cory Sandhagen
  • Brendan Allen vs. Puna Soriano
  • Maycee Barber vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson
  • Trevin Jones vs. Tony Kelley
  • Raphael Assuncao vs. Kyler Phillips
  • Mickey Gall vs. Jordan Williams
  • Randy Costa vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Ian Heinisch vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Julio Arce vs. Andre Ewell
  • Darren Elkins vs. Darrick Minner
  • Cameron Else vs. Aaron Phillips
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Priscila Cachoeira
  • Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukuas

Video: How should the UFC book rising heavyweight prospects Tom Aspinall and Chris Daukas?

Would it be wise for the UFC to book Tom Aspinall and Chris Daukaus against each other?

UFC Fight Night 185 proved to be a big night for two rising heavyweight prospects, as Philadelphia’s [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] and England’s [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] claimed eye-catching finishes of Aleksei Oleinik and Andrei Arlovski, respectively.

After such impressive performances against seasoned, respected opposition, thoughts have immediately turned to what might be next for both men, with Aspinall even suggesting during his post-fight press conference that the pair could face off in an upcoming bout later this year.

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But is matching two promising up-and-comers a wise move in a division packed with veteran contenders? Should they be made to face each other later this year, or would UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard be better off building their careers separately at this stage?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of John Morgan, Nolan King and Brian “Goze” Garcia weighed in during this week’s episode. You can check out that discussion above, or watch the full episode below.

https://youtu.be/gq54aH8h7sE

UFC Fight Night 185 medical suspensions: Derrick Lewis among 10 facing lengthy layoffs

Headliner Derrick Lewis is among 10 fighters who could be facing lengthy time off after UFC Fight Night 185.

Despite notching a huge victory at UFC Fight Night 185, [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] may be forced to sit out for a long period of time.

Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), who scored a big knockout win of [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) in the second round of their main event clash in Las Vegas, will need doctor clearance for his right hand and wrist or he could face up to six months on the sidelines.

Also facing potential 180-day terms is [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag], who suffered a unanimous decision loss to [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]. Rosa (13-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC) must have an X-ray on his right hand.

Surging heavyweight [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) also needs an X-ray on his right hand after stopping [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] in the first round.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC Fight Night 185 medical suspensions includes:

  • Derrick Lewis: Needs X-ray of right hand and wrist, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • Curtis Blaydes: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact due to right forehead laceration.
  • Darrick Minner: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • Charles Rosa: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to forehead laceration.
  • Chris Daukaus: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days
  • Aleksei Oleinik: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eyebrow and right cheek lacerations.
  • [autotag]Nassourdine Imamov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Danny Chavez[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact
  • [autotag]John Castaneda[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact due to left eyebrow and nose lacerations.
  • [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of nose, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Casey O’Neill[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]: Needs left eye cleared by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to blurry vision.
  • [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: Needs MRI of lumbar, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact due to back spasms.
  • [autotag]Aiemann Zahabi[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Drako Rodriguez[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jared Vanderaa[/autotag]: Needs doctor clearance for nasal bone fracture, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to eyebrow laceration.

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Chris Daukaus wants top 10 opponents only: ‘I don’t want to take any steps back’

Chris Daukaus not taking steps back after Saturday’s stoppage win over Aleksei Oleinik.

[autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] got a good push Saturday and he’s planing to keep the momentum going.

The UFC heavyweight picked up a first-round TKO win over Aleksei Oleinik in the main card of UFC Fight Night 185 in Las Vegas. The result places Daukaus (11-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on a four-fight winning streak, and unbeaten in the promotion since joining in August 2020.

Oleinik was ranked No. 10 in the UFC’s official heavyweight rankings. And though Daukaus was not ranked heading into UFC Fight Night 185, he has no interest fighting anyone below Oleinik – just upwards.

“Realistically, I don’t care (who I fight) as long as they’re ranked higher than me,” Daukaus said at the post-fight news conference. “I just want to fight guys who are making the most sense. I don’t want to take any steps back. This was a step forward. This was a step on this journey and I’m not going back from here. It’s simply we’re going forward to the top and today was the first step.”

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Oleinik was a big step up for Daukaus and he had no problem delivering.

Oleinik is a 75-fight veteran who’s beat some of the world’s best heavyweights, including Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt and Mirko “Cro Cop,” just to name a few.

Daukaus knew very well who Oleinik was entering Saturday’s fight, but once the cage door closed, the Russian heavyweight was just another opponent.

“I treat every opponent as if they’re just another body in there,” Daukaus said. “I’m not trying to make these people out to be the monsters that people say they are or look at all the accolades or anything like that.

“When I step in that cage, there’s no face to that body and there’s just simply, I have to go in there and I have a task at hand and I need to handle that task. If I start putting all the accomplishments that everyone has really accomplished, especially Oleinik’s 20-year career, I’d lose my mind in there. So that’s just something I have to do.”

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UFC Fight Night 185 post-event facts: Derrick Lewis’ stats hits legendary status

Derrick Lewis now has the second most wins of any heavyweight in UFC history after his knockout at UFC Fight Night 185.

UFC Fight Night 185 went down Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the event, which streamed on ESPN+, produced a candidate for “Knockout of the Year.”

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) added another incredible highlight to an already remarkable reel when he flattened Curtis Blaydes (14-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) with a picture-perfect uppercut in the second round of the heavyweight headliner, tying the record for most knockouts in UFC history.

“The Black Beast” already had a solid resume coming in, but it’s even greater now. For more, check below for 40 post-event facts to come out of UFC Fight Night 185.

Callout Collection: Who UFC Fight Night 185 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Derrick Lewis and Tom Aspinall were among those who name-dropped their preferred next opponents at UFC Fight Night 185 in Las Vegas.

Earning wins in the UFC certainly is no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.

So after Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 185 event in Las Vegas, who took advantage of their time on the mic?

See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.