Tag: Dan Ige

Dan Ige sees no issue with stoppage of Sean Woodson at UFC 314

Dan Ige said it’s just a matter of doing his job to get back in the win column, and now he wants to build some momentum again.

MIAMI – [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] met the media Saturday after his third-round TKO over Sean Woodson at UFC 314.

The finish on the prelims at Kaseya Center came with controversy. Ige (19-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC) stopped Sean Woodson (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) with a third-round TKO, but Woodson immediately protested the stoppage, saying he was covering up from Ige’s punches.

Many observers looked at it as a fight in which Ige snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, thinking Woodson won the first two rounds. But when the scorecard was released, Ige actually had won the first two rounds from all three judges, meaning he didn’t need the stoppage to get the win.

“I’ve got to watch the fight back, but in the moment my thoughts were I hurt him,” Ige said at his post-fight news conference. “I hurt him pretty bad. I ripped to his body, he shot for a takedown, which you never see him do, and I probably would’ve just kept hitting him. I don’t get to choose when the ref jumps in. I just keep punching until the ref says stop.”

Ige said the win was key for him to get rolling again after three losses in four fights. Ige never has been finished in his nine losses; all have come by decision.

Check out Ige’s post-fight news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

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UFC 314 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett combine for $12,000

Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett combined for a $12,000 payout under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program at UFC 314.

MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 314 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $300,500.

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 314 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 314 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Su Mudaerji[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Mitch Raposo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tresean Gore[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nora Cornolle[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Hailey Cowan[/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: $2,579,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $33,597,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 314 video: Dan Ige gets TKO over Sean Woodson in controversial stoppage

Watch the replay of Dan Ige’s controversial TKO stoppage win over Sean Woodson at UFC 314.

MIAMI – [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] left UFC 314 victorious, but not without controversy.

The veteran UFC featherweight defeated [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] on the final preliminary bout of the card at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. It was a very close fight where both fighters had their moments in the first two rounds.

In Round 3, Ige (19-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC) wobbled Woodson (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) and proceeded to look for the finish. Woodson was backing up, looking to avoid further damage. He then shot for a takedown and, while holding a single leg, took a few shots, and that’s when referee Andrew Glenn stopped the bout. Woodson stood up and immediately protested the stoppage.

You can watch the replay of the stoppage below:


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Up-to-the-minute UFC 314 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Dark horse no longer: Sean Woodson fixated on kicking off breakout year at UFC 314

Sean Woodson is stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight at UFC 314.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] has been in the shadows, quietly rising up the ranks of one of the UFC’s most talent-filled divisions.

But on April 12 at UFC 314, Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) and his 6-foot-2, 145-pound frame will step fully into the spotlight as he faces his first ranked challenge, promotion-No. 15 [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag][autotag] (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC).

“I’ve been patient,” Woodson recently told MMA Junkie. “I’ve had the utmost and belief in myself. I don’t rush sh*t. I don’t rush nothing. I’ve been more than confident that my time will come. I’ve just got to keep putting in the work and staying focused and doing what I do. Eventually, I’ll be undeniable. After this fight, god willing it goes my way, I’ll be right there damn near a 10-fight unbeaten streak.

“2024 was a great year for me. I fought three times. I was 3-0. I feel like it really has me set up for 2024 to really be my year. 2025 is my breakout year, the year where I really make some noise and get everybody talking about me and really force my hand and force the UFC to give me the big fights to lead me to the title.”

Woodson, 32, has done it his way. Frequently asked why he doesn’t compete at a higher weight class with a lesser weight cut, Woodson has stuck to his recipe – and it’s worked. He’s been loyal to those who have been loyal to him. That right there might be the secret to his success.

“I take pride in being a guy who just trains at his hometown, local, no-name gym, sort of say,” Woodson said. “We don’t have a huge reputation. I train at Wolves Den in St. Louis, Missouri and I do my strength and conditioning at Project Deliverance with my guy Matt Owen. Nobody knows about us, but I take pride in that. It’s given me extra motivation to be a guy in his hometown of St. Louis knocking off all these guys from these world class really reputable gyms. I mean that’s pretty much it. That’s something I really hang my hat on is not having the resources that all these other guys have.

“I’m not in one of these big gyms that has 10-20 other UFC fighters day-in and day-out. I’m the only UFC fighter in my gym and I take pride in going around and knocking off all these other guys in big gyms. Those guys who as soon as they get to the UFC and they leave their team and run to go link up with a bunch of other UFC fighters, I think that kind of is my own opinion, but that says something about the confidence in themselves that they have. They need to be in a room with a bunch of other guys who are in the UFC to feel like they are doing the right thing or whatever.”

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Woodson is confident he’s headed to the top, but also recognizes the threat that is Ige, a perennially-ranked fighter who very well might have his back against the wall coming off consecutive losses.

“All his losses are to top contenders,” Woodson said. “He’s coming off two losses in a row, but those were against Diego, who is fighting for the title, and Lerone Murphy, who is 15-0. Him losing two in a row is not really that bad coming against those guys. But him losing two in a row, I feel like he knows his back is against the wall. I’m expecting the best Ige to date. I know he’s training hard and really got a chip on his shoulder, not trying to drop three in a row. As fas as his style, he’s known to be super durable. But one thing about being super durable is that you’ve had to show that you’re durable, if that makes sense. The only way you show you’re durable is taking a lot of shots. When I watch his fights, what I notice is that he’s getting hit a lot. He’s getting hit a lot by guys who I don’t feel are the caliber of striker that I am.

“He don’t have the reach that I have. I feel like that’s going to be a big factor in this one. He’s 5-foot-7. I’ve fought guys who are 5-foot-7 before. I feel like he’s the best 5-foot-7 guy I’ve fought but I feel like I’m really going to be able to take advantage of the striking advantage on the feet. I feel like he’s going to try to be pressuring me and try to press me up against the cage and drag me to the floor. But I think that’s what every guy’s game plan is against me. That’s the style I’ve been going up against my whole career and guys I prepare for. He’s the toughest guy I’ve fought to date but I feel I’m more than ready.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 308 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Ilia Topuria’s $42,000 leads card

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway combined for $74,000 of the Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay for UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 308 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $252,000.

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 308 took place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+

The full UFC 308 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Cerqueira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Myktybek Orolbai[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Chris Barnett[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Farid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Victor Hugo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ismail Naurdiev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Leal[/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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,896,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $29,633,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 results: Lerone Murphy edges out Dan Ige, calls out Josh Emmett

Lerone Murphy resorted to his grappling to remain unbeaten against Dan Ige at UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] resorted to his grappling to remain unbeaten against [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] at UFC 308.

Murphy (15-0-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC) was cracked early before rallying to defeat Ige (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). The featherweight bout was part of the UFC 308 main card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Ige stalked Murphy to start, attacking him to the body and landing a nice combination. A minute and a half into the round, Ige slammed Murphy down for the takedown. Murphy managed to escape by giving up his back and turning out of the body lock. A cut opened up on Ige’s face. Murphy landed a nice spinning back kick to the body. Ige then dropped Murphy with a big counter left and swarmed him. Murphy covered up and fired back with a counter of his own, before taking Ige down at the end of the round.

Ige continued to press forward in Round 2. Murphy appeared to recover as he landed a body kick, followed by a straight right. The pace slowed down significantly until Ige decided to shoot for a takedown. Murphy reversed him and started working for his own takedown. Neither man was successful, as they returned to the center of the octagon. With less than a minute remaining, Murphy took Ige down and mounted him. He transitioned to his back then locked in a triangle choke to end the round.

With the score seemingly tied at one round a piece, Murphy immediately tried to take the fight back to the ground. Ige defended well, but ate a knee on the break. Murphy landed a head kick, followed by another takedown attempt. Ige reversed him and wound up in top position. Murphy tried to use a leg lock attempt to escape, but was denied. Ige tried to take Murphy’s back, but Murphy was able to work his way back up. Murphy then landed his own takedown, and worked for a front head lock. The pair exchanged in the pocket in the final 15 seconds as the clock winded down.

Following his win, Murphy called out former interim featherweight title challenger Josh Emmett.

Emmett responded, and appeared seemingly unimpressed.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 308 results include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige at UFC 308: Best photos from Abu Dhabi

Check out the best photos from Lerone Murphy’s unanimous decision win over Dan Ige at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. (Photos by Craig Kidwell, special to MMA Junkie; MMA Junkie; UFC)

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC 308

Could an upset be brewing between Lerone Murphy and veteran Dan Ige at UFC 308?

[autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] and [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 2-4
UFC main cards, 2024: 89-81-3

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige UFC 308 preview

Since fighting to a draw in his UFC debut in 2019, Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) has rattled off six wins in a row and remained unbeaten. He’s coming off the biggest win of his career in May, when he won a five-round main event vs. Edson Barboza by unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night. … Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) has a sub-.500 record since 2020, although he remains a tough out when he’s on top of his game. He’s coming off a unanimous decision loss to Diego Lopes this past June, when he took the fight on hours’ notice at UFC 303.

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige expert pick, prediction

Between not giving Ige the spot he wanted on the UFC’s Sphere show to making him fly across the world to take on an undefeated contender with little-to-no name value, it doesn’t exactly feel like Ige’s getting rewarded for making one of the most gangster walks in the promotion’s history back at UFC 303 earlier this year.

That said, Ige has never been a walkover for anyone, and I suspect he’ll make a good account for himself regardless of the result here.

It would probably serve Ige well to go more to the body and counter in this fight, but I’m betting that the Hawaiian has a solid game plan coming into this contest considering he has Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick in the corner.

Speaking of which, I’m too biased toward the Ige side due to my ties to his camp and corner, so don’t expect too much objectivity from me in this section.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m incredibly impressed with Murphy, who deserves to be the favorite and will likely have a bright future in this sport. I just can’t help but biasedly back Ige in this spot.

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the English fighter, listing Murphy -300 and Ige +225 via FanDuel.

Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige start time, how to watch

Murphy and Ige are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT). The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 full press conference faceoffs video: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev, more

The entire UFC 308 main card, including Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev, faced off at the pre-fight press conference in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI – The stars of UFC 308 main card athletes came face to face for the first time during fight week following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

With fight week festivities rolling on, the athletes for the card took the stage to answers questions from the media, then engaged in staredowns ahead of Saturday’s event, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).

In addition to the [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] featherweight championship main event, the anticipated five-round middleweight co-headliner of [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag], as well as main card bouts of [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag], [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] and [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag] also were in attendance and participated in faceoffs.

Watch the video above to see the full pre-fight press conference faceoffs ahead of UFC 308.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Dan Ige sees UFC 308 fight vs. Lerone Murphy as reward for answering short-notice call

Dan Ige shuts down the notion that he should have been awarded a bigger fight at UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] shuts down the notion that he should have been awarded a bigger fight at UFC 308.

Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) faces [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) on Saturday’s main card at Etihad Arena (pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Ige is coming off a short-notice loss to Diego Lopes at UFC 303 in June, where he stepped in on just four hours’ notice. Ige was promised a spot on UFC 306, but that didn’t pan out. Instead, he draws undefeated Murphy, but Ige sees many perks in that fight.

“I understand the perspective, but I see this as a reward,” Ige told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “I get to fight a guy above me in the rankings. Yes, he’s undefeated, he’s been tested against worthy contenders, but it comes down to self-belief.

“Belief in myself and my team. I believe we have the game plan to beat him, and that’s the beauty of this sport. Anything can happen in MMA so, I’m going to look to go out there and be the first person to beat Lerone Murphy, and I truly believe I could do so.”

Ige rates Murphy’s skills highly, but thinks one major thing separates them.

“I believe we’re pretty similar in a lot of ways as far as our abilities to fight out of both stances,” Ige said. “He’s a little longer, a little more methodical with his movements, and his feints. I definitely believe there’s a pretty big power differential.

“I’m not going to go out there and look to only land big power shots, but I think you’ll see that difference in the fight. When I hit him vs. when he hits me. It’s going to be a great fight, I can’t wait to go out there and test myself against a guy like Lerone.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.