Tag: Dennis Buzukja

Dennis Buzukja recounts exchanging punches with fan at UFC 310, hopes ‘no charges pressed’

Dennis Buzujka insists he was attempting to de-escalate a situation between UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili and a fan that only got worse.

Even though UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] received all the attention, his teammate and friend, [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag], was the one throwing punches with a fan at UFC 310.

The incident happened after Aljamain Sterling’s unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Devalishvili and Buzukja were in Sterling’s corner and afterward, as they walked back to the locker room, an altercation broke out between Dvalishvili and the fan. Original cell phone video showed Dvalishvili being restrained by a security guard and Buzukja approaching the man and exchanging punches before he, too, was restrained.

As it turns out, Dvalishvili shared an edited video on social media that not only included an alternate angle of what sparked the moment but also the identity of the fan, Arman Tugaev, a Kazakh who was there to support Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Dvalishvili believes Tugaev was planted by upcoming title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov to deliberately provoke him.

Photos of Tugaev and Team Nurmagomedov were posted to the fighter’s Instagram Stories after the event. Past photos also exist of Tugaev with other members of the team, including Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Less than 48 hours later, Buzujka offered his account of what happened.

“I don’t know if he had touched Merab as we were walking in, but somehow he got Merab’s attention and then Merab went and tapped his shoulder and just gave him the finger, and then the guy gave him the finger back or whatever,” Buzujka said on “The Weekly Scraps” podcast with Sterling. “He got all jumpy.

“Then as the fight finished and we’re walking back on the other side, this f*cking guy comes across the whole crowd and then goes and, you’ve seen the video, he grabs Merab’s arm and then says something to him in, I guess Russian or whatever, and Merab started going crazy. Then we got into a little physical altercation, but that was really it. So hopefully no charges pressed and we move on.”

Buzujka said he was trying to make peace when he approached Tugaev, but that’s not how the situation played out. He’s glad it wasn’t worse than simply landing a couple of punches on each other.

“I went and approached him, and I just put his hand down,” Buzujka said. “I was trying to deescalate and tell him, ‘Yo, calm down, bro. Relax.’ Merab was going away. I just wanted to tell him to relax, have some respect. Then he cracked me first. Actually he cracked me with a nice little left hook, and then it was just instinct to hit him back. Then security came in, but part of me is like, ‘Should I just drop the bucket and just jump over and start swinging?’ Just go full f*cking degenerate, but I’m glad it didn’t happen that way.”

With Dvalishvili and Buzujka sanctioned by the Nevada Athletic Commission to corner Sterling, it’s unclear if any punishment could be coming down from the NAC. UFC CEO Dana White mostly downplayed the situation after UFC 310.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

UFC 310: Champ Merab Dvalishvili restrained, Dennis Buzukja punches fan in wild altercation

Punches were thrown during an altercation at UFC 310 with a fan, UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili and teammate Dennis Buzukja.

UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] was a part of another UFC 310 fight week incident, this time with teammate and UFC fighter [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag], who punched a fan.

Following former champion Aljamain Sterling’s unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev, Dvalishvili and Buzukja got into it with a fan as they were returning backstage.

A portion of the incident was captured on video and shared on social media by Inside Fighting. The video begins with Dvalishvili being restrained by UFC security. Buzukja, holding his corner gear in his left hand, is seen throwing punches at a fan with his right before being pulled away by security.

Check out video of the incident below (via X, formerly Twitter):

At the time of writing, it is unclear what sparked the altercation.

Dvalishvili was also involved in an incident Friday before a UFC 311 on-sale press conference and the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins. Security was required to separate the champ and his upcoming UFC 311 title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov as they got into a heated argument backstage.

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UFC on ESPN 62 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $28 million

The UFC has now paid athletes more than $28 million in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay after UFC on ESPN 62.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 62 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $166,500.

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 on ESPN 62 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 62 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Caio Borralho[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Ryan Loder[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Robert Valentin[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jose Medina[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jacqueline Cavalcanti[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victoria Leonardo[/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 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 $4,620; 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 $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-62 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,324,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,061,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

Dennis Buzukja eyeing Newark and MSG for that Tristate homecoming after first UFC win

Dennis Buzukja got his first win in the UFC, as well as his first bonus, with a third-round TKO against Connor Matthews at UFC on ESPN 54.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag] beat Connor Matthews with a third-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Take a look inside the fight with Buzukja, who got his first win in the UFC, as well as his first bonus.

UFC on ESPN 54 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $24.5 million

UFC on ESPN 54 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 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 54 took place at Boardwalk Hall. The main card aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 54 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rhys McKee[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Connor Matthews[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/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 $4,540; 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 $54,000 while title challengers get $54,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-54 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,842,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,579,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

UFC on ESPN 54 play-by-play, live results

Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC on ESPN 54 in Atlantic City.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – UFC on ESPN 54 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 54 (ESPN/ESPN+) took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

In the main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) took on Manon Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a likely women’s flyweight title eliminator. Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) took on Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in the welterweight co-feature, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned against Bruno Silva (23-11 MMA, 4-5 UFC).

Below, you can check out the results and play-by-play from UFC on ESPN 54.

UFC on ESPN 54 video: Dennis Buzukja floors Connor Matthews with vicious left hook for TKO

Dennis Buzukja picked up his first UFC win with a beautifully placed left hook in the third round at UFC on ESPN 54.

[autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag] capped off an impressive performance with a statement finish for his first UFC victory.

On the prelims of UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., Buzukja (12-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) closed the show against the debuting Connor Matthews by landing a beautiful left hook on the temple.

The shot caused Matthews (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) to fall to the canvas, and the follow-up punches from Buzukja led to a TKO stoppage at 0:22 of Round 3.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

The third time was the charm for Buzukja, who dropped his first two UFC outings. His first win in the promotion will be one he won’t soon forget, as it came close to his hometown of Staten Island, N.Y.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 54 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

Dennis Buzukja def. Connor Matthews at UFC on ESPN 54: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Dennis Buzukja’s third-round TKO win over Connor Matthews at UFC on ESPN 54.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]’s third-round TKO win over [autotag]Connor Matthews[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. (Fight and venue photos by Ed Mulholland, USA Today Sports)

UFC on ESPN 54 official weigh-in results: Fighter somehow gains weight between attempts, misses mark

The UFC on ESPN 54 weigh-ins ended oddly as Julio Arce somehow gained 0.25 pounds between attempts and his team was scratching their heads.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Ahead of Saturday’s fights at Boardwalk Hall, the 28 fighters involved in UFC on ESPN 54 hit the scales at the host hotel. One missed weight.

Atop the event, which airs on ESPN/ESPN+, is a pivotal women’s flyweight main event between top contenders [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

In the co-main event, welterweight standouts [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) and [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) collide. Also on the card, former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) attempts to reenter the win column against [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag] (23-10 MMA, 4-4 UFC).

All of those fighters made weight, but one from the prelims. [autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag] missed the featherweight limit after previously missing at bantamweight in April 2022. He was given two attempts and gained 0.25 pounds between attempts.

Arce’s re-weigh was the last weigh-in of the day. A different New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJSAC) representative than who weighed in the other 27 fighters and Arce’s first attempt, weighed in Arce the second time. This caused further frustration and disbelief from Arce’s team, who said they had weighed 146 on their own scale. Arce was fined 20 percent of his purse and the fight will continue as scheduled.

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Check out the full UFC on ESPN 54 weigh-ins results below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Erin Blanchfield (125) vs. Manon Fiorot (125.25)
  • Joaquin Buckley (170) vs. Vicente Luque (170)
  • Bruno Silva (186) vs. Chris Weidman (186)
  • Sedriques Dumas (185) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (185)
  • Bill Algeo (146) vs. Kyle Nelson (145)
  • Rhys McKee (170.25) vs. Chidi Njokuani (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Nate Landwehr (145.25) vs. Jamall Emmers (145)
  • Loopy Godinez (115) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115)
  • Julio Arce (147)* vs. Herbert Burns (145)
  • Dennis Buzukja (145.25) vs. Connor Matthews (145)
  • Ibo Aslan (205) vs. Anton Turkalj (205)
  • Viktoriia Dudakova (125) vs. Melissa Gatto (125)
  • Jacob Malkoun (185) vs. Andre Petroski (186)
  • Caolan Loughran (135) vs. Angel Pacheco (135)

* Arce missed featherweight limit by 1 pound; 20 percent fine

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Jan. 1-7)

All the UFC 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.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 1-7.