Tag: Derrick Lewis

UFC Fight Night 246 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2024 total passes $7 million

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid out more than $7 million to athletes in 2024.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $196,500.

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 Fight Night 246 took place at Rogers Place. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 246 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ariane da Silva[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Aiemann Zahabi[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Serhiy Sidey[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Garrett Armfield[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Chad Anheliger[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ivana Petrovic[/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 2461 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: $7,092,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $29,829,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Jhonata Diniz rebooked for UFC 309 after Derrick Lewis withdrawal

Hours after Derrick Lewis was ruled out, the UFC rebooked Jhonata Diniz vs. a top-10-ranked fighter at Madison Square Garden.

It didn’t take long for the UFC to rebook [autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag].

Hours after [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] withdrew from their UFC Fight Night 246 clash scheduled for Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the promotion announced it rebooked Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) for UFC 309 vs. [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] (25-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC).

That event takes place Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Lewis withdrew due to what the promotion called a “non-weight cut related medical issue.” He nor his team have publicly commented on the matter since his withdrawal late Friday.

Diniz is a former Glory kickboxer who has yet to lose in MMA. After a Dana White’s Contender Series win earned him a contract in 2023, he knocked out Austen Lane in his debut and followed it up with a victory over Karl Williams.

Tybura is nearing his nine-year anniversary with the promotion. He’s become a staple of the UFC heavyweight rankings with wins over Serghei Spivac, Alexandr Romanov, and Tai Tuivasa among others.

With the addition, the UFC 309 lineup includes:

  • Champion Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
  • Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira – five-round bout
  • Viviane Aruajo vs. Karine Silva
  • Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal
  • Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
  • Jhonata Diniz vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
  • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
  • Damon Jackson vs. Jim Miller
  • Lucas Almeida vs. David Onama
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall
  • Oban Elliott vs. Bassil Hafez
  • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Derrick Lewis out of UFC Fight Night 246 vs. Jhonata Diniz on eve of Edmonton event

Derrick Lewis wasn’t present during Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins. His fight has now been canceled.

“The Black Beast” won’t compete Saturday after all.

Late Friday, less than 24 hours before he was scheduled to step into the cage, [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] was removed from his bout vs. [autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] due to medical reasons, the promotion announced Friday evening.

The heavyweight fight was scheduled to take place Saturday at UFC Fight Night 246 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) was not present for Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins – an unusual occurrence for a fighter. UFC officials stated the fight was still scheduled to take place as planned at that time, but the bout has since been called off.

The cause of the medical issues is unknown, although the promotion said it was not related to Lewis’ weight-cut. He tipped the scales at the heavyweight limit of 266 pounds during Friday’s official weigh-ins.

It’s unclear what the next move is for Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who was expecting his first high-profile fight vs. Lewis.

With the cancellation, UFC Fight Night 246 continues with 13 bouts as follows:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi
  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas
  • Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Trevin Giles vs. Mike Malott
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi
  • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
  • Victor Henry vs. Charles Jourdain
  • Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Garrett Armfield vs. Serhiy Sidey
  • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Derrick Lewis: Jon Jones for sure No. 1 pound-for-pound, finishes Stipe Miocic in first round at UFC 309

Derrick Lewis thinks Jon Jones makes quick work of Stipe Miocic.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] makes quick work of [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag].

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against former champion Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jones is a massive betting favorite over Miocic, and Lewis thinks the odds will accurately depict the outcome.

“I think Jones will beat him in the first round,” Lewis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “It’s crazy to see a lot of people just disrespect Jones like that, like he ain’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that. Jones has been doing this for so many years at the top of the level against all these opponents, like top-ranked guys.

“Even though he have been having all this trouble outside of the UFC, it’s like people outside of the UFC don’t know, it’s 80 percent mental that you got to go into these fights, and it’s like 20 percent physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you’re not going to do well. For him to be going through all that stuff that he’s been going through, and still beaten these guys like this, it says a lot.”

Heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight champ Jones is currently the No. 3 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Lewis echoes Dana White’s same sentiment on the rankings.

“Of course, he’s for sure pound-for-pound (No. 1),” Lewis said. “It’s crazy how a lot of these guys keep getting (ranked) pound-for-pound and they ain’t even had that many fights. Think about my run when I had six-fight winning streak going on and they ain’t even mentioning me being in pound-for-pound.

“It’s crazy that these guys come into the UFC now, they get two or three fights, and already pass up everyone who has been fighting for years and already ranked pound-for-pound. I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s just complete disrespect.'”

Former title challenger Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) returns against Jhonata Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 (ESPN+) main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

[lawrence-related id=2783034,2778721,2775512,2773468]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Derrick Lewis wants to fight ‘piece of sh*t’ Daniel Cormier? Confused UFC Hall of Famer responds

It’s tough to tell whether or not Derrick Lewis was being serious, but he’s apparently unhappy with Daniel Cormier?

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – It’s tough to tell whether or not [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] was being serious, but he’s apparently unhappy with [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag].

Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) takes on Jhonata Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 (ESPN+) main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Lewis, who failed in his bid for undisputed UFC heavyweight gold when he was submitted by Cormier in 2018, was asked whom he’d like to fight before he wraps up his career. “The Black Beast’s” response was a rather surprising one, picking the currently retired Cormier.

“Probably DC because that one is still not sitting right with me,” Lewis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “I don’t know, man. Do people really like DC like that? Come on, man, that guy, I told DC in his face, that guy is a piece of sh*t. He’s a piece of sh*t scumbag, F*ck DC. He knows why, and everyone knows why, too: He disrespected Popeyes chicken. But other than that, he’s a piece of sh*t.”

Lewis is known for his sense of humor, and throwing in Popeyes might have given it away, but something tells Cormier that there might be an element of truth behind Lewis’ words. Cormier has been rather critical of Lewis in the past, claiming that his time at the top is done.

“I haven’t seen him for a while, but I was pretty hard on him about retiring because he had lost a couple of fights,” Cormier told Ariel Helwani. “And I was telling the truth, and he seemed mad at me, but I haven’t seen him. I’m going to see him this weekend, and I’m going to kind of ask him, like, ‘Yo, are you mad at me?’ There’s a little underlying maybe – it sounds like it might be a little underlying.

“He might be a little p*ssed at me maybe because of the way I talked about him. I don’t know what fight it was where he didn’t look great, but then he knocked the last guy out and I was like, ‘Well, I’m glad he’s back.’ So, I don’t know. My opinions go with their performances, and I think maybe that’s what it is, but in terms of anything else, Derrick and I don’t have many things we do together outside of just the Popeyes thing and then the fight. We can’t be mad at each other. We already fought. It’s settled.”

[lawrence-related id=2782762,2782800,2782590]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Jhonata Diniz says Derrick Lewis booking ‘was a big surprise,’ promises KO win at UFC Fight Night 246

Jhonata Diniz wasn’t expecting to get matched up with Derrick Lewis at UFC Edmonton, but he’s not complaining.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – [autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] didn’t expect to be fighting one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division in just his third UFC appearance, but he’s not complaining.

The undefeated prospect got the call to face former UFC title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246. This was shocking for Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), especially because “The Black Beast” already had an opponent for the event.

“Derrick Lewis is a very big name not just in the UFC, but around the world when you talk about MMA,” Diniz said at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “I really get surprised because he was booked to fight against another fighter. When the UFC came to us and let us know we were the new fighter for Derrick Lewis, it was a big surprise, big surprise, but we’re ready for him.”

Diniz is unsure why Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) ended up getting an opponent change, but he has a feeling it’s due to the entertainment value he brings to the table.

“I think me vs. Derrick Lewis, this fight won’t go to the last round, and for sure it’s not to be a boring fight,” Diniz said.

Diniz sees the bout with Lewis as a perfect opportunity to show the MMA world that he means business. He plans to do so by putting out the knockout artist.

“I know how important is this fight for me and I know when I knock him out it will put me in another level in this organization,” Diniz explained. “It really represents a lot to me.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Video: UFC Edmonton fighters react positively, indifferently to rule changes

Two new rules will debut at UFC Edmonton. Check out what the fighters have to say about these tweaks.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – Two new rules will make their UFC debut Saturday at Rogers Place as the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) voted this past July to implement them beginning Nov. 1.

For the first time in the history of the Unified Rules of MMA, 12-6 elbows will be allowed at UFC Fight Night 246. Additionally, a “grounded fighter” is redefined as an athlete who has any part of their body besides their hands or feet on the ground.

Wednesday, MMA Junkie asked many of the event’s top participants for their thoughts on the changes from the perspective of a fighter.

Check out what they had to say about the new rules in the compilation video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Ahead of UFC Edmonton, Derrick Lewis is reconsidering post-fight interview shenanigans – or so he says

No way. Have Derrick Lewis’ kids made “The Black Beast” turn over a new leaf?

Whether it’s “my balls was hot,” “where Ronda Rousey’s fine ass,” the time he pulled his pants down and threw his cup into the crowd, or something else, [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] has provided UFC fans with some hilariously memorable post-fight interview moments through the years.

But heading into UFC Fight Night 246, don’t expect another one from “The Black Beast” – or so he says. The reason? Things are getting kind of weird when he’s at his kids’ school.

“This year I’ve been trying to spend a lot of time with my kids at school, and they’re in elementary and stuff like that. And so me going to school and the kids ask me about my balls and things like that, it’s just very uncomfortable, man,” Lewis told reporters, including MMA Junkie, with a laugh at Wednesday’s media day. “I want to change up everything. I’m not even taking my shorts off no more. I didn’t think about the other kids, the other kids’ families watching stuff like that, hearing me talk the way I talk, and me doing stuff I’m doing, so I’m just really trying to clean up my act. Be a class act this weekend, very professional.”

Yeah, OK. We’ll believe it when we (don’t) see it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBwLpZSRtER/

Lewis returns Saturday at UFC Fight Night 246 from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he’ll look for his second win in a row as he takes on Jhonata Diniz on the main card (ESPN+).

You can watch Lewis’ full, and clearly very serious, media day session with reporters in the video above.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

UFC splits Edmonton co-main event: Derrick Lewis, Alexandr Romanov get new opponents

In a rare move, the UFC has split a previously-finalized co-main event into two new fights.

UFC Edmonton has a new co-main event, though both of its original participants remain on the card against different opponents.

“The Black Beast” [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] will now face kickboxer [autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] at the UFC Fight Night event Nov. 2 at Rogers Place. Additionally, [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag] now gets [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag].

Four people with knowledge of the changes recently informed MMA Junkie of the new matchups but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The bouts were first reported by Laerte Viana.

It’s unclear why the initial co-main event of Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) vs. Romanov (17-3 MMA, 6- 3 UFC) was split. However, the Lewis vs. Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) fight marks a striking-heavy battle on paper.

Lewis has won two of his last three fights. Despite the ups and downs over a decade-plus in the UFC, Lewis has remained one of the most popular fighters on the promotion’s roster.

A former standout kickboxer, Diniz steps into a massive opportunity in just his third UFC fight. After winning on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, Diniz has defeated Austen Lane and Karl Williams thus far in the UFC.

Romanov aims to turn things around after losing three of his most recent four bouts. The three defeats in that stretch are the only of his career.

Nascimento (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) competed in his first UFC headliner when he was finished with strikes by Lewis in May. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Nov. 2 includes:

  • Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield
  • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz
  • Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic
  • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson

[lawrence-related id=2739768,2762218]

Derrick Lewis added to UFC Edmonton vs. Alexandr Romanov

UFC contender Derrick Lewis is headed to the Great White North.

“The Black Beast” is back on the books.

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] will return to fight [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag] in a three-round heavyweight bout at the UFC’s return event in Edmonton, Dana White announced Thursday on Sportsnet. The event takes place Nov. 2 at Rogers Place.

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

Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) has won two of his most recent three outings. He most recently competed in a May headliner when he finished Rodrigo Nascimento with strikes and then mooned the crowd in celebration.

Romanov (17-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) looks to bounce back from a quick submission loss to Almeida in June. The defeat was his third in his most recent four outings. Romanov had not lost as a professional prior to that stretch.

With the addition, the UFC Edmonton lineup includes:

  • Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield
  • Derrick Lewis vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic
  • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson

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