Former WEC champion Eddie Wineland has a return date for 2021.
[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] has a return date for 2021.
Wineland, a former WEC champion, and [autotag]John Castaneda[/autotag] have verbally agreed to a bantamweight bout for UFC Fight Night on Feb. 20.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the impending booking Monday but asked to remain anonymous since the UFC has yet to make an announcment.
For Wineland (24-14-1 MMA, 6-8 UFC), this will mark his 40th professional fight since making his debut in early 2003. The seasoned veteran last fought in June, losing to Sean O’Malley by first-round knockout. Prior to the setback, Wineland had a TKO win over Grigory Popov. The 36-year-old Wineland has fought once a year since 2017.
[lawrence-related id=572105,570676,569209]
Meanwhile, Castaneda (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) looks to follow up on an unsuccessful UFC debut. The 28-year-old took a short-notice fight with Nathaniel Wood back in July for his first outing with the promotion.
With this addition, the updated Feb. 20 lineup includes:
UFC 250 headliners Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer are among seven fighters facing a lengthy suspensions for injuries sustained.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] is among seven fighters facing lengthy medical suspensions for injuries sustained Saturday at UFC 250.
MMA Junkie obtained the full list from the Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday. Fighters can return sooner than the duration of their suspension if cleared by a doctor.
Headliners Nunes and [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] each were suspended 180 days – Nunes for an injured right tibia/fibula; Spencer for a non-displaced left orbital flor and nasal fracture.
Undercard fighters facing potential 180-day terms include Chase Hooper, Brian Kelleher, Charles Byrd, Alex Perez, and Devin Clark.
[lawrence-related id=525159,525206,525235]
UFC 250 took place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on pay-per-view after prelims simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.
The complete list of UFC 250 medical suspensions:
Amanda Nunes: Suspended 180 days or until x-ray of right tibia/fibula cleared by orthopedic physician; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Felicia Spencer: Suspended 18- days or until left orbital floor and nasal fracture cleared by maxillofacial surgeon; Also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days
[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until x-ray of right thumb is cleared by orthopedic physician; Also suspended for 30 days with no contact for 45 days
[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until x-ray of right foot is cleared by orthopedic physician; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag]: No suspension
[autotag]Charles Byrd[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until x-ray of left wrist is cleared by orthopedic physician; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until x-rays of right ankle, foot, and right ribs are cleared by orthopedic physician; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until left orbital floor is cleared by maxillofacial surgeon; Also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days
[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
[autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact or until left foot sutures cleared by physician
After every event, fans wonder whom the losing fighters will be matched up with next.
With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC 248’s most notable fighters.
Those fighters include [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who lost a unanimous decision to Amanda Nunes (20-4 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in the women’s featherweight headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, as well as [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (28-7 MMA, 12-4 UFC), [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-14-1 MMA, 6-8 UFC)
* * * *
Eddie Wineland
Sean O’Malley (right) vs. Eddie Wineland
What’s next: Time off Why: Former WEC bantamweight champ Wineland took one of the toughest losses of his career when he was flattened in highlight-reel fashion by top prospect Sean O’Malley.
Wineland hasn’t been very active in recent years after fighting since 2003, but he shows up every so often and will certainly take a notable fight if it’s presented to him. After the way in which he lost to O’Malley, though, it’s hard not to wonder if, at 35, he will be keen to come back.
The manner in which Wineland lost definitely warrants a good amount of time off. He shouldn’t be fighting anytime soon after taking a knockout like that, and thus it’s pretty difficult to decide a fight that would make sense for him. He’s still a very talented fighter, though, and would be worthy of a top-20 foe if he decides to return to the octagon.
In total, UFC 250 had five fighters earning six-figure paydays.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] topped the list of UFC 250 fighter payouts.
On Saturday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of fighter salaries from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Nunes (20-4 MMA, 13-1 UFC) earned $500,000 for her winning effort against [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] in the UFC 250 main event. As for Spencer (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), the title challenger took home $125,000 in defeat.
The second-highest paid athlete on the card, former bantamweight champion [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag], took home $260,000 for his knockout of [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag], who earned $79,000.
Other fighters earning six-figure paydays include [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] ($152,000), [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] ($158,000), and [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] ($116,000).
[lawrence-related id=525238,525176,524948]
UFC 250 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view after prelims simulcasted on ESPN/ESPN+.
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC 250 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
For example, UFC officials will hand out additional $50,000 UFC 250 fight-night bonuses.
In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 250 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $266,000.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 250 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $266,000.
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 250 took place at UFC Apex. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
The full UFC 250 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
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 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Check out the complete list of fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC 250 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.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC 250 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
The UFC is back Saturday with an event headlined by arguably the greatest women’s fighter of all time.
UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
In the main event, women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts her 145-pound title on the line for the first time against challenger [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). Nunes is the huge favorite at -650, and not surprisingly she’s a near-unanimous choice in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts – only one of whom is picking Spencer in a major upset.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC) takes on former bantamweight champion [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in a key contenders fight. Garbrandt is a slight favorite at -150, but it’s Assuncao with a slight 8-6 lead in the picks from our staff members.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) takes on [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in another important bantamweight bout. The fight is a virtual pick’em from the oddsmakers, and it’s close with our pickers, as well. Sterling has the edge at 8-6.
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) is a -135 favorite against [autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in a welterweight fight. But despite those close odds at the sports books, Magny has a huge 12-2 lead over Martin in our picks.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the second biggest favorite on the card in his fight against former WEC bantamweight champ [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC). With O’Malley a -550 favorite, only one of our pickers is taking Wineland to pull off what would be the biggest upset of his career.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Nunes (75 percent), Garbrandt (54 percent), Sandhagen (53 percent), Magny (76 percent) and O’Malley (89 percent) are the choices.
MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle takes you through six key storylines heading into Saturday night’s UFC 250.
The UFC machine chugs along Saturday night when the company’s sole remaining champ-champ puts one of her titles up for grab.
In the UFC 250 main event, featherweight and bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] puts her 145-pound belt on the line for the first time since her swift and stunning knockout to take the title from Cris Cyborg 18 months ago when she takes on top contender [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag].
And while this card might not have the sort of marquee value of, say, a Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz fight, the discerning eye will notice a variety of low-key interesting matchups up and down the card.
UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Without further ado, then, here are six burning questions heading into UFC 250.
Can Amanda Nunes add another chapter to her legacy?
McGregor won the UFC featherweight and lightweight belts, but never defended either. Henry Cejudo won the bantamweight championship while holding the flyweight title, but vacated the flyweight belt before defending either after attaining champ-champ status. Daniel Cormier might have wanted to continue defending the light heavyweight belt after he won the heavyweight crown, but the UFC wanted the belt back, so they came to a deal in which he relinquished the 205 pound belt before defending the heavyweight belt against Derrick Lewis.
[lawrence-related id=523850,523995,523941]
Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC), however? Here’s a different breed of cat. Since defeating Cyborg at UFC 230, she’s twice defended her bantamweight belt, defeating Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie. Now she goes up against Spencer(8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who has made up for her relative lack of experience with plenty of toughness and heart, in the first defense of her 145 belt. A victory here, obviously, makes her the first UFC champ-champ to successfully defend both belts. And an 11th straight win will not only add to her argument for women’s GOAT, but also climb the GOAT list regardless of gender.
Eddie Wineland has no intention of being Sean O’Malley’s stepping stone at UFC 250.
[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] pays no mind to the consequences of his opponent losing on fight night. That hasn’t changed going into Saturday’s bout with [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] at UFC 250.
Wineland (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC) is a former WEC bantamweight champion who has seen and done it all since making his pro debut nearly two decades ago. His matchup with undefeated prospect O’Malley (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) looks like a classic combat sports tale of veteran against up-and-comer, but Wineland has no intention of being anyone’s stepping stone.
It appears O’Malley has a rocket strapped to his back taking him to the top of the sport. Wineland’s job is to play spoiler, and he said he’s more than happy to do so.
“It’s a big opportunity for me. It’s a big opportunity for him, also,” Wineland said on Thursday’s UFC 250 virtual media day. “He’s fighting a veteran. I’m fighting a guy who has got a huge name. Even though he’s been in the UFC not that long, he’s got a very big name, very big following. As far as derailing? It is what it is. They set us up to fight. If it derails him, it derails him. I’m sorry, but I’m here to win. I’m not here to lose.”
UFC 250 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
O’Malley is currently listed as the second biggest betting favorite on the card, behind only dual UFC champion Amanda Nunes, who defends her featherweight belt against Felicia Spencer in the main event.
Wineland is already being counted out by many, but he said that’s what stirs his passion for the fight game. Any narratives about him being set up to fail are not of concern.
“I really don’t care,” Wineland said. “I’ve been doing this for 17 years. I’ve been been doing it since 2003, before it was even the cool thing to do. I started doing this when we were fighting in bars making up our own rules, so I don’t care. I like to fight. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m still here.”
Thus far, no one has figured out the solution to beating O’Malley inside the octagon. Wineland is by no means dismissing the challenge ahead, but he thinks he has the solution to the unsolved riddle.
“It’s keeping pressure,” Wineland said. “I’ve got to pressure him. He fights well moving backward, which I’m going to figure out how to pressure him while not letting him fight well while moving backward.”
The best facts and figures about UFC 250, which features an Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer featherweight title main event.
The UFC holds its fifth pay-per-view event if 2020 on Saturday with UFC 250, which takes at UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a five-fight main card lineup.
A women’s featherweight championship bout is featured in the main event. Featherweight and bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts her 145-pound belt on the line against [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in attempt to become the first in UFC history to register title defenses in two divisions while holding multiple belts simultaneously.
For more on the numbers, check below for 50 pre-event facts about the UFC 250 main card.
* * * *
Main event
Amanda Nunes
Nunes is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.
Nunes is one of seven fighters in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes. Cormier, McGregor, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.
Nunes’ five consecutive UFC title defenses are most among current champions.
Nunes’ seven victories in women’s UFC title fights are most in company history.
Nunes has defeated six fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, tied with Jon Jones for the most of any active fighter in the organization.
Nunes’ 12 victories in UFC competition are most for any female in company history.
Nunes’ 11 victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Nunes’ 10-fight UFC winning streak in women’s competition is the longest in company history.
Nunes’ nine-fight UFC winning streak at women’s bantamweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Nunes’ eight stoppage victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Nunes’ seven first-round finishes in UFC/Strikeforce women’s bantamweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Ronda Rousey (seven).
Nunes’ six knockout victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Nunes’ three knockdowns landed in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Nunes’ 14-second knockout of Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challenger 13 is the fastest knockout in UFC/Strikeforce women’s history.
Nunes’ victory at the 2:36 mark of Round 5 at UFC 224 marked the second latest stoppage in a women’s UFC title fight – behind only Miesha Tate’s win at the 3:30 mark of Round 5 vs. Holly Holm at UFC 196.
Nunes’ four fight-night bonuses for UFC women’s bantamweight fights are second most in divisional history behind Rousey (seven).
Felicia Spencer
Spencer competes in her fourth UFC women’s featherweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Megan Anderson (five) and Cris Cyborg (five).
Spencer’s two victories in UFC women’s featherweight are third most in divisional history behind Cyborg (four) and Anderson (three).
Spencer has earned six of her eight career victories by stoppage. That includes both of her UFC wins.
Spencer’s two stoppage victories in UFC women’s featherweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Anderson (three).
Co-main event
Raphael Assuncao
[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC) competes in his 15th UFC bantamweight bout, tied for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Urijah Faber (17).
Assuncao is 11-3 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in August 2011.
Assuncao’s 11 victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (12).
Assuncao’s eight decision victories in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Assuncao defends 68.7 percent of all significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Vaughan Lee (71.5 percent).
Cody Garbrandt
[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since March 2, 2019. The 462-day layoff is the longest of his more than seven-year career.
Garbrandt has suffered three consecutive losses after starting his career on an 11-fight winning streak. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2016.
Garbrandt is the only UFC bantamweight champion to lose the title before making a successful defense.
Garbrandt’s eight knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (nine).
Featured bout
Aljamain Sterling
[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]’s (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in bantamweight competition is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (six) and Marlon Vera (five).
Sterling’s nine victories in UFC bantamweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (12), Assuncao (11) and Faber (11).
Sterling landed 174 significant strikes at UFC 238, the single-fight record for a UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
Sterling’s three submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).
Sterling lands 50.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the third highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Luke Sanders (51.7 percent) and Matthew Lopez (51 percent).
Sterling absorbs just 2.02 significant strikes per minute in UFC bantamweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Sterling is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by Suloev stretch. He accomplished the feat at UFC 228. Zabit Magomedsharipov and Kenny Robertson has also won with the technique.
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]’s (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in bantamweight competition is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Yan (six) and Vera (five).
Sandhagen lands 7.14 significant strikes per minute in UFC competition, the fourth highest rate in company history behind Paulo Costa (8.43), Justin Gaethje (7.74) and Leslie Smith (7.56).
Remaining main card
Neil Magny
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) becomes the fifth fighter to make 22 or more UFC welterweight appearances.
Magny’s 15 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind St-Pierre (19) and Matt Hughes (16).
Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.
Magny’s five UFC victories in 2014 tied Roger Huerta’s record for most octagon wins in a calendar year. Huerta accomplished the feat in 2007.
Magny’s 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 stand as the single-fight UFC record.
Magny’s 142 total strikes landed in the second round of his victory against Lombard stand as the third most in a single UFC round.
[autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is 5-1 since he returned to welterweight in April 2018. He’s 8-1 in the weight class overall.
Martin absorbs just 1.64 significant strikes in UFC welterweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Eddie Wineland
[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC) competes in his 21st UFC/WEC bantamweight bout, the most appearances in combined divisional history.
Wineland’s 11 victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied for fourth most in combined divisional history behind Dillashaw (12), Faber (12) and Dominick Cruz (12).
Wineland’s eight stoppage victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied with Dillashaw, Faber and Yahya for most in divisional history.
Wineland’s eight knockout victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are most in combined divisional history.
Wineland’s 13 knockdowns landed in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.
Wineland defends 93.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the third highest rate in divisional history behind Jimmie Rivera (95.5 percent) and Renan Barao (94.7 percent).
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
