Tag: Edmen Shahbazyan

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.

UFC on ESPN 62 video: Gerald Meerschaert makes history with Comeback of the Year candidate

Gerald Meerschaert staged an incredible comeback to surpass Anderson Silva as the leading middleweight finisher in UFC history.

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] has a knack for the comeback, and he added an all-timer to his resume Saturday at UFC on ESPN 62.

On the main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Meerschaert (37-17 MMA, 12-9 UFC) established himself as the middleweight division’s all-time finisher with 12, when he submitted [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) with an arm-triangle choke in come-from-behind fashion at 4:12 of Round 2.

Meerschaert was nearly finished in Round 2 as he absorbed dozens of blows to his head (with many more blocked by his arms) after Shahbazyan dropped him and pounced for the kill.

Shahbazyan appeared to slow following the elongated punching sequence and eventually Meerschaert worked his way to top position. From there, he locked in a choke and got the tap.

Meerschaert already held the division’s submission record entering the card. He’s now on a two-fight winning streak. Shahbazyan falls to 2-2 in his most recent four.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 62 results include:

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

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 62

Will Edmen Shahbazyan overcome the veteran savvy of Gerald Meerschaert in the UFC on ESPN 62 main card opener?

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] and [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 1-4
UFC main cards, 2024: 70-61-3

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan UFC on ESPN 62 preview

Meerschaert (36-17 MMA, 11-9 UFC) has seen a thing or two over his 20 UFC appearances. He’s had his ups and downs over the years, but he enters this contest on the heels of a rear-naked choke submission of Bryan Barberena in March. Of his 11 UFC wins, 10 have come by submission. … Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has grown up under the UFC banner, and had his growing pains. After winning his first four, he lost three straight. He’s now 2-1 over his last three bouts and is entering with the momentum of a first-round finish of AJ Dobson in March.

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan UFC on ESPN 62 expert pick, prediction

Despite my initial urge to trash the UFC matchmakers for tripling up on middleweight offerings on the main card, I can’t hate on this 185-pound offering between Meerschaert and Shahbazyan.

Even though he’s undoubtedly experienced some growing pains, Shahbazyan has begun to once again show signs of light since shifting his training camp to Las Vegas. That said, I’m not sure if Shahabazyan has fully fixed some of his core issues regarding things like aggression and staying power.

Aside from the fact that stinging strikes proven to be a two-street in Shahbazyan fights, the Armenian-American sacrificed some key positions in both offensive and defensive efforts in his last outing opposite A.J. Dobson that would’ve cost him dearly against a grappler like Meershcaert.

Not only is Meerschaert tied with Anderson Silva for the most finishes in middleweight history, but “GM3” is also one of the best rear-naked choke artists regardless of weight class, making my top 10 rear-naked choke artists in MMA history.

Add in the fact that this fight will be taking place in the smaller octagon (which can lend a stylistic edge to superior grapplers), and I’ll happily take a flier on Meerschaert to survive an early storm and make some history with an “RNC” in Round 3.

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan UFC on ESPN 62 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are siding with the younger man, listing Shahbazyan -300 and Meerschaert +235 via FanDuel.

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Edmen Shahbazyan UFC on ESPN 62 start time, how to watch

As the main card opener, Meerschaert and Shahbazyan are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 10:05 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

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

Edmen Shahbazyan excited for ‘finisher vs. finisher’ matchup vs. Gerald Meerschaert: ‘I’m ready for war’

Edmen Shahbazyan sees his fight with Gerald Meerschaert inevitably delivering.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] sees his fight with [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] inevitably delivering.

Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) meets Meerschaert (36-17 MMA, 11-9 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 62 (ESPN/ESPN+) main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

On paper, Shahbazyan vs. Meerschaert could be viewed as a striker vs. grappler matchup. But with both fighters boasting a very high finish rate, Shahbazyan has a different label for their fight.

“I think it’s more finisher vs. finisher,” Shahbazyan said at Wednesday’s media day. “I think it makes for a very exciting fight. Training camp’s been amazing going off of the last one – skill building on the last one – so,it’s always been great. Now I’m ready.”

Shahbazyan has been criticized in the past for his cardio failing him in his three-fight losing skid to Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson, and Nassourdine Imavov. Since then, he has won two of his past three, and dismissed that notion heading into this fight.

“I’m ready for war, I can tell you that,” Shahbazyan said. “I’m in prime shape. I’m in dog shape to be going all the way strong.”

Meerschaert has more than three times Shahbazyan’s experience, but the 26-year-old is ready to show that he can step up to the challenge.

“I know he’s a good fighter,” Shahbazyan said. “He’s had lots of fights in the UFC like myself – and yeah: finisher vs. finisher. It excites me. It’s an exciting fight, and these are the type of fights that really get me motivated to work even harder to show my skills against a guy like him.”

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

Gerald Meerschaert expects ‘intense’ fight with Edmen Shahbazyan: ‘He’s not just going to shell up’

Gerald Meerschaert won’t rely on Edmen Shahbazyan slowing down in their fight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] won’t rely on [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] slowing down in their fight.

Meerschaert (36-17 MMA, 11-9 UFC) takes on Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 62 (ESPN/ESPN+) main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Shahbazyan has been criticized in the past for his cardio, but Meerschaert expects him to bring the fight throughout.

“I know for a fact when the going gets tough, he’s going to fight back,” Meerschaert said at Wednesday’s media day. “He’s not just going to shell up. I know people have said his cardio gets suspect in the later rounds, but even then, it’s not one-way traffic.

“If I get in his face, he’s going to swing back. He does some decent work elbowing and throwing big knees off clinches. He’s tough. He’s matured as a fighter. I’m not going to be able to just shoot, take him down and choke him. He’s going in there to win, too.”

Meerschaert is no stranger to defying odds having upset the likes of Makhmud Muradov and Bruno Silva. He finds himself a +240 underdog according to Bet MGM against fellow finisher Shahbazyan.

“It’s a good fight. It’s a tough fight,” Meerschaert said. “Edmen’s got a good name. He’s been in the UFC a while already, and I think that’s a good fight for both of us. Whether it’s a quick fight or whether it takes to the third round, it’s going to be intense either way because neither of us are known for boring fights necessarily. So it’ll be exciting either way.”

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

Edmen Shahbazyan proud to have battled through adversity in KO of AJ Dobson at UFC on ESPN 53

Edmen Shahbazyan reflects on his KO win of AJ Dobson at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] is happy he got his hand raised Saturday, but he’s extra happy for the way it happened.

The middleweight knocked out AJ Dobson on the main card of UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex to bounce back from a TKO in May 2023. It was a solid showing from Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), but a rocky one, too, since he had been wobbled by Dobson (7-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) prior to getting the KO finish.

Being able to come back from adversity and show resilience was important for Shahbazyan.

“I thought it was a good performance,” Shahbazyan said at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference. “Battling through adversity is something that I kept telling myself: ‘Whatever happens, I’m going to go in there and battle through it whatever happens, and I’m going to come out with the win’ – and ultimately that’s what happened.

“I’m always kill or be killed in there. I’m glad I took this time off from my last fight to make some improvements and get better. After the fight was done, I’m like, ‘Damn, I can keep going.'”

Years ago, Shahbazyan was undefeated and regarded as one of the best prospects in the sport. However, he was stopped by veteran Derek Brunson in 2020 and went on a rough 2-4 run.

Shahbazyan wants a smarter approach to his career and thinks all those setbacks, as well as wins, have served to make him a better fighter.

“When I was younger, I was just ridding the hype, ridding the storm and just keep getting the finishes,” Shahbazyan said. “I was on that train. But right now, I’m more mature, I’ve learned from my wins and losses – they’re all experience learners like the fight I just had right now. I got caught with a right hand. I’m going to go back, see the mistake, work on it and get better. I’d say it’s experience and maturity that I developed from all those fights.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combines for $22,000

UFC on ESPN 53 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 on ESPN 53 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $148,000.

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

The full UFC on ESPN 53 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Luis Pajuelo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jarno Errens[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dariya Zheleznyakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Rendon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/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 $4,530; 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 $53,000 while title challengers get $53,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-53 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,669,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,406,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC on ESPN 53 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 53 took place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC on ESPN 53 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

UFC on ESPN 53 video: Edmen Shahbazyan KOs AJ Dobson to cap huge comeback

Edmen Shahbazyan returned to form with a brutal knockout of AJ Dobson in the featured bout at UFC on ESPN 53.

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] turned the tables on [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag] in a big way at UFC on ESPN 53, and it resulted in a knockout win.

After Dobson (7-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) found a home for his punches in the opening minutes of the middleweight bout at the UFC Apex, Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) turned the tide courtesy of a clean punch that put his opponent on skates. He followed up with some violent ground-and-pound to put his opponent out cold at the 4:33 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay of the finishing sequence below (via X):

Shahbazyan started his career on an undefeated run, but had run into a 1-4 skid over his past five contests. He got back on track with a highlight-reel finish, and hopes to carry momentum moving forward.

“He hit me with a good shot, I’m not going to lie,” Shahbazyan said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “It buzzed me for a second. I kept telling myself I would battle through adversity. … I tried to show my full skillset today.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 53 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53’s Edmen Shahbazyan unbothered by criticism of losing slump: ‘It doesn’t get to me’

After starting his career on an 11-fight winning streak, UFC on ESPN 53’s Edmen Shahbazyan has lost four of his past five bouts.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] hasn’t met the lofty expectations some placed on him thus far in his career. But anyone who reminds him of that fact from a negative perspective won’t get his attention.

Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) started his career on an 11-fight winning streak, but since has lost four of his past five fights. He’ll attempt to turn the tide Saturday at UFC on ESPN 53 when he meets AJ Dobson (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a middleweight bout at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+).

There was a point in time when Shahbazyan expressed his desire to break Jon Jones’ record as the youngest champion in UFC history. The narrative has rapidly changed, but Shahbazyan won’t fold under public scrutiny.

“It doesn’t get to me,” Shahbazyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Everyone has their opinion. You know how MMA fans are. They’re riding with you one fight, then completely against you the next. But is it what it is. That’s what makes the sport. Saturday – let them tune in Saturday for a good performance.”

Shahbazyan, 26, still has youth on his side and for his most recent bouts has changed gyms to Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas under coach Eric Nicksick. He hopes that move will start to yield fruit, and thinks Dobson is a good performance for him to get back on the winning track.

“I think he’s an up-and-comer – good fighter,” Shahbazyan said. “But I think my skill set is a lot higher. With the way I’ve been training, with the way I’ve been working, I’m going to go out there and put on a performance.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.