Tag: Fatima Kline

UFC strawweights Victoria Dudakova, Fatima Kline to fight on first card of new year

Two rising 115-pounders will collide… and someone’s “1” has got to go.

Two rising strawweight fighters are set to collide on the first UFC card of 2025.

[autotag]Victoria Dudakova[/autotag] and [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] will throw down in a three-round strawweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas as part of a UFC Fight Night event Jan. 11.

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

Dudakova (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) aims to bounce back from the first loss of her career. After wins over Istela Nunes and Jinh Yu Frey, Dudakova dropped a split decision to Sam Hughes. Dudakova has six finishes in eight pro wins.

Kline (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) entered the UFC in July as one of the most highly-touted female prospects in MMA. Her debut came on short notice up a weight class as she lost a unanimous decision to Jasmine Jasudavicius. Kline was a double champ for CFFC prior to her entry.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Jan. 11 includes:

  • Thiago Moises vs. Trey Ogden
  • Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Carlston Harris vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez
  • Nicolle Caliari vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
  • Uros Medic vs. Puna Soriano
  • Andreas Gustafsson vs. Preston Parsons
  • Felipe Bunes vs. Jose Johnson
  • Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes
  • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida
  • Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz
  • Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline

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

UFC on ESPN 59 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2024 total passes $4 million

The UFC has now issued more than $4 million in Promotional Guidelines Compliance to its fighters in 2024 after UFC Denver.

DENVER – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 59 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $180,500.

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 59 took place at Ball Arena in Colorado. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 59 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ange Loosa[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag]: $11,000
vs. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Montel Jackson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Luana Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Josh Fremd[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Evan Elder[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Darrius Flowers[/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 $4,500; 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 $31,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-59 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,129,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $26,866,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.

UFC on ESPN 59 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

UFC signs Fatima Kline for short-notice debut vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius in Denver

The main training partner of Erin Blanchfield, Fatima Kline was expected to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series.

[autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] won’t have to go through Dana White’s Contender Series after all.

Days after news surfaced that Kline (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) would partake in DWCS on Sept. 24, she’s aborted that mission to jump right into the big show. On less than two weeks notice, Kline will elevate a weight class to 125 pounds to fight [autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 59, which takes place July 13 at Ball Arena in Denver.

Jasudavicius (10-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) was initially expected to fight Viviane Araujo, who has withdrawn for unknown reasons.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup including Kline’s manager Oren Hodak, of KO Reps, recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup. The promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Kline, 23, enters the UFC as a dual titleholder for top regional promotion CFFC. Prior to earning the CFFC strawweight and flyweight straps, Kline competed four times under the Invicta FC banner. She is a main training partner of UFC women’s flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield.

Jasudavicius, 35, has won three of her most recent four outings. She most recently competed in January when she finished Priscila Cachoeira by third-round submission.

 

With the change, the UFC on ESPN 59 lineup includes:

  • Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez
  • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
  • Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva
  • Charles Johnson vs. Joshua Van
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa
  • Mariya Agapova vs. Luana Santos
  • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Fatima Kline
  • Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez
  • Josh Fremd vs. Andre Petroski
  • Cody Brundage vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
  • Nazim Sadykhov vs. TBA

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.

CFFC double champ Fatima Kline booked for Dana White’s Contender Series vs. Alexia Thainara

One of the most highly-touted prospects in the world has been added to Dana White’s Contender Series.

One of the most highly touted female prospects in mixed martial arts finally has the chance to prove herself directly to the UFC brass – and she faces a stiff test.

CFFC double champion [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] (6-0) has signed to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series on Sept. 24 to face surging Brazilian prospect [autotag]Alexia Thainara[/autotag] (10-1) in a strawweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup including Kline’s manager Oren Hodak, of KO Reps, informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Tuesday.

Kline, 23, is a main training partner of Erin Blanchfield and holds the CFFC flyweight and strawweight titles. With a strong grappling background and sharpened striking tools, Kline has a 50 percent finish rate with two TKOs and one submission. Outside of her two CFFC title wins, her other four professional fights took place in Invicta FC.

Thainara, 26, is a stiff test, however. She has dominated the Brazilian regional scene en route to her opportunity. Six of her 10 victories have been by submission. In December, she won the SFT strawweight championship with a first-round submission of 15-fight veteran Thaiane Souza. Her only professional loss came against current UFC fighter Bruna Brasil in 2019.

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On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with February wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • A New Englander migrated to Florida and American Top Team to help make his dreams come true – and he thinks he’s close.
  • Erin Blanchfield’s main training partner continues down a similar path with major UFC aspirations on her mind.
  • A Vietnam-born flyweight is only 23, but making huge waves thus far on the regional scene and plans to continue them until Mick Maynard comes calling.
  • Formerly of Oklahoma State University, a standout wrestler’s transition into MMA is seemingly destiny, bolstered by a recent move to Fortis MMA.
  • Don’t call it a comeback, but a Welsh lightweight is obsessed with earning a second UFC opportunity – and is on his way to doing so.

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with November wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • Erin Blanchfield’s main training partner continues down a similar path with major UFC aspirations on her mind.
  • A surging Brazilian returns from a two-year hiatus following a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series – and hopes one more win has the UFC CEO circling back.
  • A California-based flyweight aims to make his first LFA title defense a successful one and a UFC ticket-puncher.
  • One of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the Australia-New Zealand regional scene looks to add another name to his resume and generate a UFC call thereafter.
  • A New England-based fighter, who is an alum of both “The Ultimate Fighter” and Dana White’s Contender Series angles to show he’s finally UFC ready.

Photos: Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins in Denver.

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs ahead of the dual title fight event at Reelworks Denver in Denver. (Photos courtesy of Invicta FC)

Invicta FC announces one-night, four-woman tournament for vacant strawweight title on Nov. 16

Invicta FC 50 is set to host a one-night tournament.

A one-night, four-woman tournament is headed to Invicta FC.

The promotion announced on Wednesday in a press release that they’re hosting a tournament to crown a new strawweight champion. The 115-pound tourney will take place at Invicta FC 50, which is set to go down on Nov. 16 in Denver.

The four fighters competing for 115-pound title are [autotag]Valesca Machado[/autotag] (10-3), UFC veteran [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag] (6-5), 20-year-old Brazilian [autotag]Ediana Silva[/autotag] (12-2) and newcomer [autotag]Karolina Wojcik[/autotag] (9-2).

The event will also include two strawweight tournament reserve match-ups –[autotag]Sharon Jacobson[/autotag] (6-5) vs. [autotag]Melissa Oddessa[/autotag] (3-2) and [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] (2-0) vs. Ireland’s [autotag]Danni McCormac[/autotag]k (5-2).

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Both the semifinals and final bout will consist of three, five-minute rounds. Tournament match-ups will be drawn during the event’s weigh-ins on Nov. 15.

Apart from the tournament and tournament reserve matchups, Invicta FC 50 will also feature two women’s bantamweight bouts.

Former Invicta FC title challenger [autotag]Katharina Lehner[/autotag] (7-3) takes on ex-UFC fighter [autotag]Talita Bernardo[/autotag] (8-4), and Denver’s own [autotag]Claire Guthrie[/autotag] (3-1) looks to hand Brazili’s [autotag]Marilia Morais[/autotag] (3-0) her first professional loss.

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