Tag: Evan Dunham

UFC 250 medical suspensions: Amanda Nunes, Felicia Spencer, five others receive 180 days

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.

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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
  • [autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag]: No suspension

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UFC 250 post-event facts: Aljamain Sterling’s resume proves title fight worth

The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 250, which saw Amanda Nunes beat Felicia Spencer in the main event.

The UFC returned to pay-per-view Saturday with a strong fight card that went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, dual-champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 13-1 UFC) continued to show that she is deserving of all-time great status when she successfully defended her women’s featherweight title [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) with a unanimous decision and put herself into the record books.

Nunes wasn’t the only one to make history at the event, though. For more on the numbers, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC 245.

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General

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The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $266,000.

[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag], [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag], [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC 250 fight-night bonuses.

UFC 250 drew an announced attendance of 0 for a live gate of $0.

Betting favorites went 8-4 on the card.

Betting favorites improved to 7-6 in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 1:51:11.

Main card

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Nunes became the first in UFC history to record title defenses in two divisions while simultaneously holding multiple belt.

Nunes’ eight victories in UFC title fights are tied with Jose Aldo for third most in company history behind Jon Jones (14) and Anderson Silva (11).

Nunes’ eight victories in women’s UFC title fights are most in company history.

Nunes’ 11-fight UFC winning streak is tied for second longest among active fighters in the company behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (12).

Nunes’ 11-fight UFC winning streak in women’s competition is the longest in company history.

Spencer has suffered both of her career losses by decision.

Garbrandt (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since December 2016.

Garbrandt’s four knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Eddie Wineland (eight) and T.J. Dillashaw (seven).

Garbrandt’s nine knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Dillashaw for most in divisional history.

[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag]’s (27-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2018.

Assuncao fell to 11-4 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in August. 2011.

Assuncao suffered his first knockout loss since March 19, 2011 – a span of 3,367 days (more than nine years) and 15 fights.

Aljamain Sterling

Sterling’s (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak in bantamweight competition is tie with Marin Vera for the second longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (six).

Sterling’s 10 victories in UFC bantamweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (12), Urijah Faber (11) and Assuncao (11).

Sterling’s four submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).

[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career.

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 16-6 UFC) 16 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied with Matt Hughes for second most in divisional history behind Georges St-Pierre (19).

[autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) fell to 5-2 since he returned to welterweight in April 2018. He’s 6-2 in the weight class overall.

Martin has suffered four of his six career losses by decision.

O’Malley’s (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (six) and Marlon Vera (five) and Sterling (five).

Preliminary card

Alex Caceres

[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] (16-12 MMA, 11-10 UFC) improved to 6-4 since he returned to the UFC featherweight division in January 2015.

Caceres has earned eight of his 11 UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his 10-fight unbeaten streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (30-13 MMA, 6-5 UFC) has suffered 10 of his 13 career losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (19-2-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC) suffered his first decision loss since Sept. 21, 2013 – a span of 2,450 days (nearly seven years) and 18 fights.

[autotag]Charles Byrd[/autotag]’s (10-7 MMA, 1-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2018.

Byrd has suffered all three of his UFC losses by knockout.

Perez (24-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has earned four of his six UFC victories by stoppage.

Perez earned the 12th finish in UFC history stemming from leg kicks.

[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag]’s (23-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.

Formiga has suffered all four of his UFC stoppage losses by knockout.

[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) earned consecutive victories for the first time in his UFC career. He’s alternated wins and losses over his past nine appearances.

Clark has earned all six of his UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) had his nine-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

[autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned eight of his nine career stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag]’s (18-9-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC) four-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Dunham suffered jus the second submission loss of his career and first since Nov. 16, 2013 – a span of 2,394 days (more than six years) and 10 fights.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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UFC 250 salaries: Amanda Nunes leads way with half-a-million-dollar purse

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).

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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 full list of UFC 250 salaries included:

  • Amanda Nunes: $500,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus) def. Felicia Spencer: $125,000
  • Felicia Spencer: $200,000 (includes $75,000 win bonus) def. Amanda Nunes: $350,000
  • Aljamain Sterling: $152,000 (includes $76,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: $80,000
  • Cody Garbrandt: $260,000 (includes $130,000 win bonus) def. Raphael Assuncao: $79,000
  • Neil Magny: $158,000 (includes $79,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag]: $48,000
  • [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag]: $46,000
  • [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $116,000 (includes $58,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $27,000
  • [autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag]: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $33,000
  • [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: $72,000 (includes $36,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]: $33,000
  • [autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag]: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Charles Byrd[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag]: $98,000
  • [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: $96,000 (includes $48,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $14,000
  • [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag]: $60,000

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.

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UFC 250 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2020 total passes $2 million

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:

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[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]: $40,000
[autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag]: $30,000

[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Charles Byrd[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: $3,500

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:

Year-to-date total: $2,329,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $33,334,000

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC 250 with lots of Queen, Biggie, Eminem

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.

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Six burning questions heading into UFC 250

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. 

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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.

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UFC 250 prelims pre-event facts: Why isn’t Jussier Formiga higher on card with these stats?

The best facts, figures and footnotes about the UFC 250 prelims, where Alex Caceres meets Chase Hooper in the featured bout.

Before the UFC returns to pay-per-view on Saturday with UFC 250, the event’s preliminary lineup goes down at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is set to air on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

The featured prelim bout sees longtime octagon veteran [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] (15-12 MMA, 10-10 UFC) take on the youngest fighter on the roster, 20-year-old [autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag] (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), in a featherweight affair.

For more on the numbers behind the lineup, check below for 25 pre-facts about the UFC 250 prelims.

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Featured ESPN prelim

Alex Caceres

Caceres is 5-4 since he returned to the UFC featherweight division in January 2015.

Caceres has earned seven of his 10 UFC victories by decision.

Caceres is one of seven fighters in UFC/WEC bantamweight history to land 100 or more significant strikes in two different fights.

Hooper, 20, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Other ESPN prelims

Ian Heinisch

[autotag]Ian Heinisch[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2019.

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has earned 28 of his 30 career victories by stoppage. That includes all six of his UFC wins.

Meerschaert’s five submission victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied with Demian Maia, Rousimar Palhares, Thales Leites and Antonio Carlos Junior for most in divisional history.

Meerschaert is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 102.

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (18-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) has earned all four of his UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (21-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 24-day stretch. He won at UFC on ESPN+ 29 on May 13.

[autotag]Charles Byrd[/autotag] (10-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2018.

ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass prelims

Jussier Formiga

[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC) competes in his 16th UFC flyweight bout, the second most appearances in divisional history behind Joseph Benavidez (17).

Formiga enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.

Formiga’s nine victories in UFC flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Benavidez (13) and Demetrious Johnson (13).

Formiga’s three submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Johnson (five).

Formiga defends 87.1 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Kai Kara-France (90.9 percent) and Ian McCall (90 percent).

[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]’s (23-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 123.

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned all of his career victories by stoppage. Eight of those wins are by knockout.

[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past seven fights. He was victorious his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in February.

Clark has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision. He’s suffered all of his losses by stoppage.

Evan Dunham

[autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag] (18-8-1 MMA, 11-8-1 UFC), 38, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Dunham returns to competition after retiring from MMA following a loss at UFC Fight Night 137 in September 2018.

Dunham’s three-fight winless skid is tied for the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Dunham has landed 1,225 significant strikes in UFC lightweight competition, the most in divisional history. He also holds the record for most total strikes with 1,587.

Dunham is one of three lightweights in UFC history to land 100+ significant strikes in four separate fights. Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson also accomplished the feat.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

UFC 250 adds Herbert Burns vs. Evan Dunham at catchweight

UFC 250 is close to adding Herbert Burns vs. Evan Dunham at a 150-pound catchweight with verbal agreements are in place.

UFC 250 is a week away, but that doesn’t mean the promotion is done building the lineup.

A late addition to the June 6 card, the UFC is working on a bout pitting promotional sophomore [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag] against veteran [autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag]. The fight is expected to take place at a catchweight of 150 pounds.

Friday, two people with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie verbal agreements are in place, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was the first to report the news.

Burns (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is coming off a first-round knockout over Nate Landwehr in his UFC debut. The finish was the first KO/TKO of Burns’ career.

At 38, Dunham (18-8-1 MMA, 11-8-1 UFC) makes his UFC return following a 19-month retirement. In February, Dunham’s return was booked for April in Lincoln, Neb., against Michael Johnson. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was canceled.

With the addition, the UFC 250 lineup includes:

  • Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – for featherweight title
  • Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt
  • Cory Sandhagen vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Neil Magny vs. Anthony Rocco Martin
  • Sean O’Malley vs. Eddie Wineland
  • Alex Caceres vs. Chase Hooper
  • Ian Heinisch vs. Gerald Meerschaert
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Stamann
  • Charles Byrd vs. Maki Pitolo
  • Jussier Formiga vs. Alex Perez
  • Devin Clark vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Herbert Burns vs. Evan Dunham – 150-pound catchweight

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Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Charles Oliveira and UFC on ESPN+ 28’s other key winners?

See whom Charles Oliveira should fight next after his victory over Kevin Lee at UFC on ESPN+ 28.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

And 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 on ESPN+ 28’s most noteworthy winning fighters.

Those winners included [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 17-8 UFC), who submitted Kevin Lee (19-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in the third round of the lightweight headliner at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil, as well as [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC), [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

* * * *

Amanda Ribas

Paige VanZant

Should fight: [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Ribas provided another example why she might be the most promising prospect in the strawweight division when she completely overwhelmed Randa Markos for three rounds for a lopsided unanimous decision win.

Originally, Ribas was supposed to fight VanZant (8-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) on the card, but “PVZ” had another setback with her recurring arm injury and had to pull out. It’s clear Ribas still wants that fight, though, because she repeatedly called VanZant’s name after the win.

Given the situation, it makes sense to give it to her. Ribas is a flourishing star, and VanZant is seemingly on her way out the door of the UFC as she has just one fight remaining on her current contract, and her husband Austin Vanderford has made his home with Bellator MMA. She could soon join him there, and using VanZant’s star power to give Ribas a boost on the way out the door is just smart business.

Nikita Krylov

Alexander Gustafsson

Should fight: [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Krylov’s second UFC run continues to be a reflection of his best work. It wasn’t the prettiest of fights, but Krylov managed to take the wind out of Johnny Walker and ride out a unanimous decision win.

The fight marked the first time Krylov has ever won a fight on the scorecards, and in that unfamiliar territory he showed he can shut down a dangerous opponent. Now, it’s time to see if he can use the momentum of this win to make moves in the light heavyweight division.

If the talk of Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) returning from retirement turn out to be true, then Krylov would be an interesting welcome back. Gustafsson walked away from the sport last summer following a loss to Anthony Smith, but by all appearances he’s not done. Krylov is a fighter that Gustafsson “should” beat, but Krylov could also rise to the occasion. Either way, we’re learning something important about both men by booking this.

Renato Moicano

Michael Johnson

Should fight: Winner of [autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 32
Why they should fight: It was an impressive lightweight debut for Moicano, who dispatched of Damir Hadzovic with a rear-naked choke less than a minute into the bout.

Moicano called out Paul Felder in his post-fight interview, but that doesn’t seem like a fight Felder would care to take at this point. The Brazilian had the right idea shooting for a big name, but it will take more work before he gets those type of fights in the deep 155-pound weight class.

Although neither man is ranked, the winner of April’s UFC on ESPN+ 31 matchup between veterans Johnson (19-15 MMA, 11-11 UFC) and Dunham (18-8-1 MMA, 11-8-1 UFC) would be a great deal of fun. Both men have a mountain of UFC experience and don’t roll over easily, and those are the type of fights Moicano needs to be taken seriously as a contender in his new division.

Gilbert Burns

Santiago Ponzinibbio

Should fight: [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag]

Why they should fight: Burns netted a signature win for his resume when he cracked Demian Maia with a massive punch in the first round of their welterweight co-main event, setting himself up for the TKO triumph.

The dangerous Brazilian is now 3-0 since he moved up to welterweight, and his performances are only getting better over time. Beating Maia in the fashion he did is rather unprecedented, so it should most definitely set him up for a big-fight opportunity.

Burns called out Colby Covington during his post-fight media rounds, but that one seems unlikely. A name who would make more sense is Ponzinibbio, who has won his past seven fights but has been out of action since November 2018 due to health issues. He recently told MMA Junkie he’d be back soon, though, and Burns would be a fitting matchup for him to come back to.

Charles Oliveira

Donald Cerrone

Should fight: [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Oliveira should rematch Cerrone (36-14 MMA, 23-11 UFC) next after his main event win.