Tag: Deron Winn

Deron Winn reacts to UFC release ‘after a freak accident on their property the week before Christmas’

Deron Winn has been released from the UFC roster, and the cutthroat timing is not lost on him.

[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] has been released from the UFC roster, and the timing is not lost on him.

Just days after Winn (7-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) was forced to withdraw from a scheduled matchup with Julian Marquez at UFC Fight Night 216 due to fainting and falling down a set of stairs at the UFC Performance Institute, the promotion has opted to part ways with the middleweight.

With three defeats in his past four bouts, Winn acknowledged after his fight was canceled that he was “skating on thin ice” with the organization and didn’t know what the future held. He knows now after being notified of his release, and Winn said it was a cut-throat move to happen in the midst of the holiday season (via Twitter):

Being released after a freak accident on their property the week before Christmas. Man “it’s business not personal” has never been more real 🤦🏾‍♂️

Winn then posted a video explaining how the situation unfolded (via Instagram)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmfA6n0BxS3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tuesday I got a phone call from Hunter Campbell and the UFC and I guess we decided to part ways. He just explained some things to me about my resume and my career that adds up, but I also said a few things to try to defend myself and I just feel like this wasn’t the reason to let me go. I think that they’ve had reasons in the past to let me go, but I just wished that I could’ve went out on my shield. I would’ve rathe went out on a loss or even a boring win. Just such an accidental freak accident situation that happened to me at the UFC PI. They have it on camera. Their employees are the ones that took care of me, they withdrew me from the fight.

It’s kinda sh*tty. I feel sh*tty about it. I just wish it would’ve happened a different way. But that being said, UFC will never define me or who I am as a person and a man. I do believe it’s a highlight of my life and something that I did and just another dream that I accomplished. But in reality, UFC was never my childhood dream. It was more wrestling and trying to make the Olympic team and stuff like that.

I don’t think I’m done. I’m going to sit down with (Daniel Cormier) and others and see what my options are going forward in this free agency time. I’m definitely willing to fight in the future.

Winn, 33, most recently competed at UFC on ESPN 37 in June, when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Phil Hawes. The American Kickboxing Academy product is a good friend and pupil of UFC Hall of Famer Cormier.

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Deron Winn says he’s out of UFC Fight Night 216 after fainting, falling down stairs at UFC PI

An unfortunate accident at the UFC PI has led to Deron Winn being pulled from his fight against Julian Marquez on Saturday.

The final UFC event on the 2022 calendar is down a fight following an unfortunate accident.

Middleweight [autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] revealed that he is now out of his preliminary matchup against Julian Marquez after fainting and falling down a flight of stairs at the UFC Performance Institute on Wednesday. Winn (7-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) said in a social media post that he suffered a mild concussion and was pulled from Saturday’s bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Hey all- yesterday at the UFC PI, I fainted and had a freak accident,” Winn shared on Twitter. “I fell down the stairs, hit my head and neck pretty hard. Sustained a mild concussion.”

“They rushed me to the hospital and ran a bunch of tests on me,” Winn continued. “The majority of the tests came back normal, so I’m thankful for that. Since I suffered the concussion the UFC and medical staff has decided to pull me from my fight this weekend. I am devastated. I have put so much work in these last couple months. I hope to rebook soon. Sorry to my opponent, and sorry to all (who) have invested into me this camp. I’m heartbroken. Love all.”

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The bout would have been Winn’s second of the year after a loss to Phil Hawes in June. After that fight, Winn required surgery for an orbital fracture.

Update (6:11 p.m. ET): Marquez (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will not remain on the card as the bout has been scrapped, UFC officials announced.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 216 lineup is as follows:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland
  • Damir Ismagulov vs. Arman Tsarukyan
  • Amir Albazi vs. Alessandro Costa
  • Alex Caceres vs. Julian Erosa
  • Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green
  • Cody Brundage vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Cory McKenna vs. Cheyanne Vlismas
  • Jake Matthews vs. Matt Semelsberger
  • Saidyokub Kakhramonov vs. Said Nurmagomedov
  • Rafa Garcia  vs. Hayisaer Maheshate
  • Bryan Battle  vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
  • David Dvorak  vs. Manel Kape
  • Sergey Morozovvs. Journey Newson

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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UFC Fight Night 216 pre-event facts: Drew Dober can tie Dustin Poirier’s lightweight KO record

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 216, the promotion’s 2022 finale where Drew Dober could tie Dustin Poirier’s record for most lightweight knockouts.

The UFC will put a bow on its 2022 calendar Saturday with UFC Fight Night 216, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

A matchup of middleweight contenders will mark the final UFC bout of the year. [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) will attempt to rebound from their July losses when they meet in a five-round bout that will put the winner back on the title path.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 216.

UFC books Julian Marquez vs. Deron Winn for Dec. 17

The UFC has booked Julian Marquez vs. Deron Winn for a UFC Fight Night event Dec. 17 – likely the promotion’s final card of 2022.

The UFC continues to chip away at the remainder of its 2022 schedule.

A middleweight clash is the most recent addition to the docket as [autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and [autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) are set to collide at a UFC Fight Night event Dec. 17. The card does not currently have a set location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Marquez, 32, looks to bounce back from a knockout loss against Gregory Rodrigues in June. The defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak that included finishes of Maki Pitolo and Sam Alvey. Eight of Marquez’s nine most recent fights have ended inside the distance.

Winn, 33, also aims to reenter the win column as he comes off a loss. On the same card Marquez lost to Rodrigues on in June, Winn was finished with strikes by Phil Hawes. Though he displayed heart and toughness in defeat, Winn underwent surgery as a result of the damage sustained.

No other bouts have been rumored or revealed for the event at this time.

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UFC on ESPN 37 medical suspensions: Josh Emmett among 6 fighters suspended indefinitely by Texas commission

Six fighters were handed indefinite medical suspensions after what many fans are calling the most violent UFC card of the year.

UFC on ESPN 37 took place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas where the promotion put on what many fans are calling one of the most violent cards of 2022.

With violence, however, comes injuries. Tuesday, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the commissioning body that regulated the event, released a list of medical suspensions for UFC on ESPN 37 fighters. The TDLR does not give injury specifics, but reveals the duration of suspensions.

Among those handed indefinite suspensions were main event winner Josh Emmett, co-main event loser Tim Means, Albert Duraev, Julian Marquez, Deron Winn, and Kyle Daukaus. Note: fighters can return sooner than the date listed if they receive medical clearance from a physician prior to completion of their suspension.

Check out the full list of medical suspensions below.

Photos: UFC on ESPN 37 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the UFC on ESPN 37 ceremonial weigh-ins in Austin, Texas.

Check out these photos from the UFC on ESPN 37 weigh-ins and faceoffs from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

Photos: UFC on ESPN 37 official weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the official weigh-ins in Austin, Texas.

Check out these photos from the official weigh-ins for UFC on ESPN 37 in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

UFC on ESPN 37 pre-event facts: ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone can be first with two dozen octagon wins

Check out the numbers behind Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 37, where Donald Cerrone can retake sole possession of most wins in UFC history.

The UFC makes its return to Austin, Texas for the first time since February 2018 on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 37, which takes place at Moody Center with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPNNews.

A marquee featherweight matchup takes center in stage in the main event. Ranked contenders [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will meet in a clash that will help elevate the winner toward his first UFC title shot.

The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see a pair of lightweight legends face off. [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] (36-16 MMA, 23-13 UFC) and [autotag]Joe Lauzon[/autotag] (28-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) finally get their chance to scrap after a fight-day cancellation at UFC 274 in April.

For more on the numbers behind a solid lineup, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 37.

Chris Curtis vs. Phil Hawes not happening at UFC Fight Night 194 after all

It looks like Chris Curtis’ last-minute weight cut for UFC Fight Night 194 was for naught.

It looks like Chris Curtis’ last-minute weight cut for UFC Fight Night 194 was for naught.

Curtis (26-8 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was set to step in on extreme short-notice for his UFC debut and made weight Friday at 184.5 pounds for a fight against [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC). Curtis was to take the place of [autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who was ruled out of the fight with Hawes for a non-weight cut medical reason.

But in the middle of the official weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night 194 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas – after Curtis made weight, but prior to Hawes stepping on the scale – MMA Junkie confirmed with a person with knowledge of the booking the fight no longer will be part of Saturday’s card. MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

UFC broadcast partner ESPN subsequently reported that Hawes declined the fight against the new opponent.

The bout’s removal leaves UFC on ESPN 194 with nine fights. The original Hawes-Winn fight was set to open the five-fight main card. It is not yet known if the main card will go on with four fights, or if one of the five prelims will move up to the main card – though all will stream on ESPN+.

Curtis, a former CES welterweight champion, posted short videos on his Instagram stories early Friday showing him in the sauna, as well as covered in towels in a weight cut ahead of the official weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night 194.

Curtis, who trains in Las Vegas, had a shot at the UFC in 2018 on Dana White’s Contender Series. But despite a third-round TKO win, he wasn’t awarded a contract. He went on to sign with the PFL, where he went 1-3 in the promotion’s inaugural 2019 season.

But since three straight setbacks in PFL, Curtis is on a five-fight winning streak. Most recently, he outworked former longtime UFC fighter Kenny Robertson for a unanimous decision at XMMA 2 in July.

Hawes has a seven-fight winning streak. He got his UFC shot after a 78-second knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, then knocked out Jacob Malkoun in just 18 seconds in his promotional debut at UFC 254. Since then, he has back-to-back decision wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Kyle Daukaus in 2021.

UFC Fight Night 194 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

With the removal, the UFC Fight Night 194 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Randy Brown vs. Jared Gooden
  • Tim Elliott vs. Matheus Nicolau
  • Mariya Agapova vs. Sabina Mazo

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 1:30 p.m. ET)

  • Felipe Colares vs. Chris Gutierrez
  • Alexandr Romanov vs. Jared Vanderaa
  • Damon Jackson vs. Charles Rosa
  • Loopy Godinez vs. Sam Hughes
  • Steve Garcia vs. Charlie Ontiveros