Tag: Esteban Ribovics

Esteban Ribovics too busy in moment to realize UFC 306 slugfest with Zellhuber was instant classic

Esteban Ribovics picked up $50,000 for Fight of the Night in a bout that will be talked about as a potential Fight of the Year.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] beat Daniel Zellhuber with a split decision Saturday on the main card at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Ribovics, who picked up $50,000 for Fight of the Night in a bout that will be talked about as a potential Fight of the Year three months from now.

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Result: Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Updated records: Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Key stats: Ribovics and Zellhuber threw a combined 653 punches in a fight that was contested virtually entirely at striking range.

Ribovics on the fight’s key moment

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“I’m very proud. All the hard work paid off. It was all worth it. Physically, I feel like sh*t. I knew how hard he was. I knew that he could take punches, and I also knew he was very good dodging the punches, going backwards. That’s why I didn’t rush forward. But I can also take a punch, as you guys saw. It was a tough fight and it was exactly as I as I envisioned.”

Ribovics on the potential to fight Zellhuber again

“Honestly, all I knew was that I thought that the second round could go either way. I knew I had to go out full on in the third round and that’s what I did. That elbow knocked me down, but I managed to get up and all I all I could think was, ‘Keep connecting hands. Keep landing. I’ve got to keep punching. Keep going forward.’

“It would be fantastic and an honor to share the octagon with him again. Maybe we can fight again in the future when we’re both stronger. I love this kind of fight where I take punches and I give punches. It would be a good (rematch) for the future.”

Ribovics on what he wants next

Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“I feel pretty bad right now, so I’ve got to make sure nothing’s broken or anything like that. So hopefully before the end of the year, early next year – but as I said, I don’t feel great right now. I’ve got to go back, maybe see how I feel in a month’s time. I do want to be within the top 15 rankings by the end of next year.”

To hear more from Ribovics, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

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UFC 306 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: O’Malley, Grasso net $42,000 for entering as champs

Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso got the biggest checks from the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program fro UFC 306, which paid $239,500.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 306 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $239,500.

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 306 took place at Sphere. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 306 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $6,000

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 $4,500; 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: $5,721,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,458,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Esteban Ribovics’ split decision win over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]’ split decision win over [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. (Fight and venue photos by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA Today Sports)

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC 306

Who wins when a pair of Dana White’s Contender Series alums trending in the right direction get the Sphere spotlight at UFC 306?

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 0-5
UFC main cards, 2024: 76-66-3

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 preview

A pair of Dana White’s Contender Series alums trending in the right direction will get the spotlight when Ribovics and Zellhuber meet in a lightweight bout. … Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) enters on back-to-back wins after beating Kamuela Kirk and most recently Terrance McKinney by first-round head kick knockout. … Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is on a three-fight winning streak, most recently beating Francisco Prado by unanimous decision.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 expert pick, prediction

Although I have some admitted bias toward Zellhuber due to his relationship with Eric Nicksick and Xtreme Couture MMA, I’m honestly a big fan of Ribovics.

An Argentinian fighter with an incredibly fun style, Ribovics provides reliable pocket boxing and counters (from both stances) that ensure high-temperature affairs whenever he’s in the octagon.

Ribovics’ wrestling defense leaves something to be desired, but the 28-year-old demonstrates decent submission defense and a solid ability to scramble. That said, I suspect that a long, athletic fighter like Zellhuber could provide a decent amount of problems on paper.

Not only will Zellhuber’s kicks and jabs have play on paper, but his underrated grappling skills could also come in handy for this contest.

For that reason, I’ll officially side with Zellhuber to edge out the scorecards in a fight that I see being competitive down the stretch.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Zellhuber (-225) and Ribovics (+184) via FanDuel.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics UFC 306 start time, how to watch

Ribovics and Zellhuber are expected to walk out to the octagon at approximately 10:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. locally in Las Vegas). The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics envisions UFC 306 knockout of Daniel Zellhuber: ‘At some point, he will fall’

Esteban Ribovics predicts a knockout win over Daniel Zellhuber at Saturday’s UFC 306.

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] is confident he will do something big in his next UFC bout, and he certainly has the stage for it.

The Argentine fighter will be taking on fellow rising prospect [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag] on the main card of UFC 306, which takes place Saturday at Sphere in Las Vegas. This is a massive event that celebrates Mexican Independent weekend, and Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has all the intention to spoil the party for Mexico’s Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).

“I expect a war,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’m obviously going to get hit, but he’s going to take hits, as well. In my head, at some point, he will fall. That’s what I believe. That’s what I feel, and from my point of view, at some point he will fall.”

Ribovics has the chance to get on a three-fight win streak should he beat Zellhuber at Noche UFC. He doesn’t think a big win over Zellhuber will get him in the UFC lightweight rankings, but it would certainly be a big step in his career.

“I want to be in the rankings soon,” Ribovics said. “God willing, maybe by the end of next year I’ll be in the rankings. So yeah, I think getting a win in this type of event, and if I win in a big way, how I have it visualized, I think it will get me a lot closer to the top 15.”

As far as playing the spoiler role at UFC 306, Ribovics is enjoying it all. He’s not pressured at all by the Mexican presence, and in fact, he feels fueled by it.

“I don’t feel pressured, but you do see a lot of Mexican events happening this weekend with all the posters for music artists and other Mexican events,” Ribovics said. “You can tell this week it will get very Mexican in Las Vegas, but no, I love feeling like the bad guy. This motivates me and I always like fighting as the visitor, so it’s something that brings out the demon in me. I’m happy, very happy.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics wishes Daniel Zellhuber fight happened further down line, but excited for UFC 306

Two rising UFC lightweights will collide at Sphere in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] respects UFC 306 opponent [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag], but he also recognizes where they are both headed.

Before Saturday’s event at Sphere, Argentina’s Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) voiced excitement for the matchup vs. Mexico’s Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).

“I think so. I think there’s hype because he’s a great fighter,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference. “I respect him a lot. As I said previously, I wish we had the opportunity to fight him further along in my career. Maybe we could have a chance to develop and grow together. But yeah, this is a great fight now. I’m ready for this fight. I think it’s going to be an insane fight and no one wants to miss it. Yeah, I have nothing but respect for him. He’s a great fighter, a great contender, coming up from Mexico.”

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Ribovics is 28 with three UFC fights to his name. Zelluber is 25 with one more, at four UFC fights. Ribovics will step into the Mexican Independence Day-themed event as a bit of an outsider, but embraces the challenge that comes with it.

“Fights are fights, man. I wish we were going to fight further up,” Ribovics said. “But the opportunity came up now. I’m happy to accept it. I’m happy for this fight. But yeah, I’m just going to see how it goes down.

Ribovics signed a new multifight deal with the UFC prior to this fight. He looks to continue momentum from a big head kick knockout of Terrance McKinney in May.

“Man, I needed that win. I’m glad I did it. And yeah, you’re right. I got a new contract, a couple of fights more on the new contract, which gives me more stability. I’m able to focus and train better. Things are looking up. That just gives me more drive and motivation to keep going forward.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Esteban Ribovics surprised he didn’t get $50K bonus for Terrance McKinney KO: ‘What more do I need to do?’

Esteban Ribovics thought his KO of Terrance McKinney would get him a $50,000 bonus at UFC on ESPN 56.

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] arguably had the best finish at UFC on ESPN 56. Yet, he wasn’t one of the winners of a Performance of the Night bonus.

This past Saturday in St. Louis, Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) picked up the biggest win of his professional MMA career by scoring one of the best knockouts of 2024. The Argentine head-kicked Terrance McKinney (15-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) unconscious just 37 seconds into their lightweight bout. It was a brutal, but beautiful finish.

Unfortunately, Ribovics wasn’t among the winners of the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Ribovics told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “What more do I need to do? I’m not going to say it was a boring event up until that point because there were good fights, but there wasn’t the excitement of a knockout like that until my fight. Obviously, I was a little disappointed, but other good things will come from this knockout. I’m sure I’ll get more opportunities to prove I deserve a bonus.”

After his KO win, Ribovics called out UFC star Paddy Pimblett. He knows it’s a stretch, but he’s hoping to get rewarded with the Englishman. Ribovics would have no problem fighting with him as a U.K. visitor and take that fight under any circumstances.

“I don’t think I will get it, but maybe they think he can beat me and they match us up,” Ribovics said. “But if they do, he will find something completely different. That’s the only way I see this happening. But I’d like to fight with Paddy. I like his style, and I like the eyes that he draws. That would be a fight I’d have the crowd against me. I like that fight, and I like his style. It would be a big jump for me in all aspects.”

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UFC on ESPN 56 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2024 total passes $3 million

UFC on ESPN 56 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ST. LOUIS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 56 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $186,000.

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 56 took place at Enterprise Arena. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 56 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tecia Pennington[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Trey Waters[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Billy Ray Goff[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jake Hadley[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Veronica Hardy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]JJ Aldrich[/autotag]: $6,000

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 $4,560; 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 $56,000 while title challengers get $56,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-56 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,106,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $25,843,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.

UFC on ESPN 56 video: Esteban Ribovics head kick knockout seats Terrance McKinney against fence

Shades of Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie transpired at UFC on ESPN 56, as Esteban Ribovics made Terrance McKinney take a seat.

UFC on ESPN 56 was a decision-heavy affair until [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag] showed up.

On the prelims at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) knocked out [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) with a heavy right high kick. The stoppage came 37 seconds into the first round.

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For as short as it was, the fight was wild from the opening bell. Ribovics nearly caught McKinney with a knee in a previous exchange. The kick did the trick, however, as McKinney was sent into a seated position against the fence, reminiscent of Kevin Lee’s all-time knockout of Gregor Gillespie.

With the win, Ribovics extends his winning streak to two after a debut loss to Loik Radzhabov. On the flip side, McKinney has his two-fight winning streak snapped.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 56 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 56.

Esteban Ribovics def. Terrance McKinney at UFC on ESPN 56: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Esteban Ribovics’s first-round knockout win over Terrance McKinney at UFC on ESPN 56.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]’ first-round knockout win over [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 56 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. (Fight and venue photos by Jeff Le, USA Today Sports)