UFC Fight Night 221 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $16 million

UFC Fight Night 221 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 Fight Night 221 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $194,000.

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 Fight Night 221 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 221 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Vitor Petrino[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Lukasz Brzeski[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Josh Fremd[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tony Gravely[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]JJ Aldrich [/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Carlston Harris[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: $4,500

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 2217 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2211 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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,634,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $16,153,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 221.

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC Fight Night 221 with Tupac, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Elvis

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 221 event.

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.

See what the fighters from UFC Fight Night 221 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.

Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao at UFC Fight Night 221: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Davey Grant’s technical submission win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC Fight Night 221.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]’s technical submission win over [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 221 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC Fight Night 221 video: Davey Grant sleeps Raphael Assuncao with rare reverse triangle

A technical submission by reverse triangle is not something you see every day – but that’s what Davey Grant did at UFC Fight Night 221.

[autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] locked in a rare and spectacular submission to put [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] unconscious and pick up victory Saturday in Las Vegas.

At UFC Fight Night 221, Grant (13-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) earned a technical submission of Assuncao (27-10 MMA, 12-7 UFC) via reverse triangle at 4:43 of Round 3 in the bantamweight bout. The event took place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels.

After more than two-and-a-half rounds of fighting, Grant was deducted a point midway through Round 3 for a cage grab. Since Assuncao hadn’t established control position when the cage-grab occurred, the fighters were separated. Grant landed a huge spinning backfist that stunned Assuncao, who shot for a takedown.

Rather than stuff the takedown, Grant went up and over Assuncao, as he wrapped his legs around the head. Grant squeezed and squeezed. It appeared Assuncao was not moving for several seconds before referee Keith Peterson pulled Grant off his unconscious opponent.

Up to his feet, conscious, for the decision, Assuncao took off his gloves and announced his retirement from professional MMA in the cage.

Grant, 37, has won back-to-back fights and five of his most recent seven bouts.

The up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 221 results include:

  • Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao via technical submission (reverse triangle) – Round 3, 4:47
  • Josh Fremd def. Sedriques Dumas via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:00
  • Victor Henry def. Tony Gravely via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Ariane Lipski def. JJ Aldrich via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Bruno Silva def. Tyson Nam via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:23
  • Carlston Harris def. Jared Gooden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 221.

 

 

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 6-12)

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 from Feb. 6-12.

Video: Davey Grant takes out Louis Smolka, makes case for fifth straight UFC bonus

Davey Grant has made a habit of putting on exciting performances of late, and he didn’t disappoint Saturday.

[autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] has made a habit of putting on exciting performances of late, and he didn’t disappoint Saturday.

Grant came into UFC on ESPN 36 with four straight post-fight bonus awards – but the most recent two had been for Fight of the Night losses after back-to-back Performance of the Night finishes.

Saturday, though, Grant (12-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC) took out [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] (17-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) with what wound up being a vicious knockout 49 seconds into the third round. Grant had been hurting Smolka with leg kicks, and another one had his Hawaiian opponent limping, then slumping to the canvas.

Grant, from England, took advantage in a hurry. He followed Smolka tot he mat and hit him with a few punches, the latter of which connected right on the chin and put Smolka out.

Grant got back in the win column after 2021 losses to Adrian Yanez and Marlon Vera. Smolka’s loss was his second straight – and second straight by knockout after going his entire career without being put away with punches.

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Photos: UFC on ESPN 36 weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 36 official weigh-ins and faceoffs in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 36 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)

UFC on ESPN 36 predictions: Can ex-champ Jan Blachowicz get back on track vs. Aleksandar Rakic?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 36 main card in Las Vegas, featuring ex-champ Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic.

Blachowicz
vs.
Rakic
Cutelaba
vs.
Spann
Grant
vs.
Smolka
Chookagian
vs.
Ribas
Camacho
vs.
Torres
Hadley
vs.
Nascimento
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
79-38
blachowicz2022
Blachowicz
(56%)
spann2022
Spann
(53%)
grant2022
Grant
(80%)
ribas2022
Ribas
(52%)
torres2022
Torres
(73%)
hadley2022
Hadley
(81%)
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
78-40
blachowicz2022
Blachowicz
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
77-41
trophy copy 2018 Champion
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
76-42
trophy copy 2014 Champion
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
76-42
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
camacho2022
Camacho
hadley2022
Hadley
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
75-43
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
smolka2022
Smolka
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
74-44
blachowicz2022
Blachowicz
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Nolan King
@mma_kings
74-44
rakic2022
Rakic
cutelaba2022
Cutelaba
smolka2022
Smolka
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
73-45
trophy copy 2017 Champion
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
72-46
rakic2022
Rakic
cutelaba2022
Cutelaba
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
68-50
rakic2022
Rakic
spann2022
Spann
grant2022
Grant
chookagian2022
Chookagian
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
59-59
blachowicz2022
Blachowicz
spann2022
Spann
smolka2022
Smolka
ribas2022
Ribas
torres2022
Torres
hadley2022
Hadley

The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home base this week with a former champion at the top of the bill.

UFC on ESPN 36 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former light heavyweight champ [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (28-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC). Rakic is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Blachowicz is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Rakic at a pretty high 8-3 clip.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-6-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in another light heavyweight bout. Cutelaba is a -240 favorite, but it’s underdog Spann with a big 9-2 picks lead.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] (11-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC will go after his fifth straight post-fight bonus award when he takes on [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) at bantamweight. Grant is more than a 3-1 favorite and has a big 8-3 edge in the picks from our staff members.

Former women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will go after her fourth straight win when she meets [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC). Chookagian nearly is a 2-1 favorite and only one of our pickers is taking Ribas in an upset.

[autotag]Frank Camacho[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 2-5 UFC) returns after a hiatus of nearly two years to take on [autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at lightweight. Torres is a modest -130 favorite – the smallest favorite on the main card. But he’s a near-unanimous pick at 11-1.

And to open the main card, we have our only unanimous pick: -230 favorite [autotag]Jake Hadley[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is an 11-0 pick against [autotag]Allan Nascimento[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in their flyweight bout.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Blachowicz (56 percent), Spann (53 percent), Grant (80 percent), Ribas (52 percent), Torres (73 percent) and Hadley (81 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka joins UFC’s May 14 lineup

A new bantamweight bout has joined the lineup for the UFC’s May 14 card.

A new bantamweight bout has joined the lineup for the UFC’s May 14 card.

[autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] (11-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC) is set to take on [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) at the Fight Night event. Promotion officials announced the new booking Thursday. Although the event doesn’t have an announced location or venue, it’s likely to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+.

Grant will be looking to snap a two-fight skid when he steps in the cage. After a three-fight winning streak that included back-to-back $50,000 bonuses for knockouts of Martin Day and Jonathan Martinez, Grant ran into a pair of bumps in the road.

The 36-year-old Brit dropped a unanimous decision to Marlon Vera in June 2021. Then this past November, he lost a split call to Adrian Yanez for his first skid in three years.

Smolka needs to rebound, as well. In December, he was knocked out by Vince Morales in the first round. That continued his up-and-down run that has seen him alternate wins and losses for six straight fights. Smolka, from Hawaii, returned to the UFC in 2018 on a three-fight winning streak and submitted Mudaerji Su in the second round. All three of his wins since coming back to the UFC have been by stoppage – but all three of his losses since his return have been first-round finishes.

With the addition, the UFC’s May 14 lineup now includes:

  • Ion Cutelaba vs. Ryan Spann
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Andrea Lee
  • Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres
  • Jamall Emmers vs. Daniel Pineda
  • Angela Hill vs. Virna Jandiroba
  • Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
  • Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento
  • Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka

UFC Fight Night 198 bonuses: Adrian Yanez, Davey Grant’s intense battle among just three total winners

The promotion handed out one less bonus than usual at UFC Fight Night 198 in Las Vegas.

UFC Fight Night 198 was a night filled with fights that went the distance.

After a six-fight, all-decision preliminary card, [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] stood out far above the rest in the seventh of ten decisions on Saturday. The bantamweights left a lasting impression as they turned in an incredible 15 minutes of high-paced, hard-striking action. Rightfully so, they walked away with the Fight of the Night bonus.

Straying away from the norm, the promotion only rewarded three total fighters, one short of the usual four rewards for impressive performances.

Check out who else took home an extra check after Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.