Tag: Goiti Yamauchi

Goiti Yamauchi relieved by PFL debut win in return from MVP knee injury: ‘This is a fight that I needed’

Goiti Yamauchi reflects on his unanimous decision win over Neiman Gracie at Friday’s PFL 2024, Week 3.

CHICAGO – He did not get a stoppage, but for [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag], his PFL debut win was everything he wanted.

Yamauchi, a long-time Bellator contender, made his PFL debut this Friday, defeating Neiman Gracie in a rematch as part of the opening bouts of the welterweight season at 2024 PFL 3. Yamauchi (29-6) beat Gracie (12-5) by unanimous decision, earning him three points in the season.

Some may see the win as not the best-case scenario, given that a finish would’ve awarded Yamauchi more points, but it was perfect for Yamauchi.

“Wow, it was really good to be back,”  Yamauchi said in his post-fight interview. “This is a fight that I needed, the kind of win that was really good for me, and to be back in the cage and get this win after this serious injury. I couldn’t have asked for a better result tonight, and I’m really happy.”

This was Yamauchi’s first fight since suffering that wild knee injury in his TKO loss to Michael Page in March 2023. It was one of the most bizarre and worst injuries seen in MMA that year.

Looking to make it to the 2024 PFL welterweight final to get a chance to become champion and win the $1 million prize, Yamauchi’s main focus is winning, but also staying injury-free in the process. That’s why he’s very happy with his showing against Gracie.

“You have to take a new approach and a new strategy because it’s all about being healthy till the end of the tournament,” Yamauchi explained. “Of course, we wanted the six points, but it’s hard to deal with this new thing in the PFL. Sometimes you get a tougher opponent or someone who’s hard to finish, like Neiman. Neiman is so hard to finish. Nobody but me has finished him. Neiman is a tough guy, and it’s hard to finish him, but thank God I could get the win.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 3.

Bellator 292 salaries: Five get six-figure paydays, including Benson Henderson in retirement fight

Check out the full list of fighter salaries from this past Friday’s Bellator 292 event in San Jose, Calif.

Twenty fighters competed this past Friday at Bellator 292 with the titleholders leading all disclosed payouts.

California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster released a full list of fighter payouts Thursday to MMA Junkie. The amounts reflect the disclosed payouts only and do not include any off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments or discretionary bonuses.

Three of five fighters who pocketed six-figure disclosed paydays tied for the top spot on the list with $150,000. Lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) submitted Benson Henderson (30-12 MMA, 7-7 BMMA) in the main event, which also was the opening round of Bellator’s lightweight grand prix.

Both Nurmagomedov and Henderson made a disclosed $150,000 flat purse for their fights, win or lose. The other $150,000 recipient was Alexander Shabliy (23-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), who made $75,000 to show and a $75,000 win bonus for his finish of Tofiq Musayev (20-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) in the tournament’s opening round.

In addition, Linton Vassell (24-8 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) made a flat $100,000 for his heavyweight knockout of Valentin Moldavsky (11-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) and Michael Page (21-2 MMA, 17-2 BMMA) made a flat $100,000 for his quick injury TKO of Goiti Yamauchi (28-6 MMA, 14-5 BMMA).

Scroll below to see what the 20 fighters on Bellator 292 were paid – disclosed amounts only.

Bellator 292 post-event facts: Michael Page takes sole possession of company knockout record

Check out the numbers to come out of Bellator 292, where Michael “Venom” Page broke a longstanding tie for most KO/TKO wins in history.

Bellator put on its third event of the year Friday with Bellator 292, which took place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

The lightweight grand prix got its start on the card with a pair of quarterfinal matchups. Reigning champion [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) made his first step in defending through the tournament when he quickly stopped former UFC and WEC champ [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 7-7 BMMA) by first-round submission.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 292.

Bellator 292: Best photos from San Jose

Check out these photos from Bellator 292, which took place at Kia Forum in San Jose, Calif.

Check out these photos from Bellator 292, which took place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan, Bellator MMA)

Michael Page def. Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 292: Best photos

Check out these photos from Michael Page vs. Goiti Yamauchi, which ended in a gruesome injury at Bellator 292.

Check out these photos from the Bellator 292 main card bout between [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (“MVP”) and [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag], which took place Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and aired on Showtime. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan and Bellator MMA)

Bellator 292 results: Michael Page destroys Goiti Yamauchi’s kneecap in 26-second KO win

Bellator star Michael Page destroys Goiti Yamauchi’s knee in just 26 seconds to score a KO win at Friday’s Bellator 292.

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] can’t stop adding to his highlight reel.

The Bellator star picked up another impressive finish and became the first to stop [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] in MMA. Page (21-2 MMA, 17-2 BMMA) defeated Yamauchi (28-6 MMA, 14-5 BMMA) by knockout just 26 seconds into their welterweight contest.

The bout opened up the Bellator 292 main card at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Although the win was registered as a knockout, it wasn’t a typical KO finish.

Page came out pressuring Yamauchi and in one of the few leg kicks landed, Yamauchi visibly popped and dropped to the canvas in pain less than 30 seconds into the fight. The referee, seeing Yamauchi was immobile, stepped in and waved off the fight. It was an impressive and devastating finish.

With the victory, Page successfully made a return to MMA. His previous fight was under the BKFC banner this past August. He lost to Mike Perry in a majority decision.

Prior to that, Page lost to Logan Storley in a split decision for the Bellator interim welterweight title. The loss to Storley snapped a six-fight winning streak for “MVP.”

Yamauchi had a three-fight winning streak come to an end. He entered Bellator 292 on the heels of a highlight-reel knockout of top contender Neiman Gracie.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 292 results include:

  • Michael Page def. Goiti Yamauchi via KO (leg kick) – Round 1, 0:26.
  • Enrique Barzola def. Erik Perez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Josh Hill def. Cass Bell via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Khalid Murtazaliev def. Tony Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Julius Anglickas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Laird Anderson def. Rogelio Luna via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2;41.
  • Theo Haig def. Adam Wamsley via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:01.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

Bellator 292: Quick picks and prognostications

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a close look at the Bellator 292 main card headlined by a lightweight title fight.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main card for Bellator 292.

Bellator 292 takes place Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Welcome to MMAJunkie’s Quick Picks and Prognostications, where I’ll be giving brief, fight-day breakdowns for select main cards.

With that in mind, I hope these write-ups don’t come off as curt or dismissive, as my goal here is to offer quick picks and analysis in a digestible format. All odds listed are provided by Tipico Sportsbook.

If you’d like more detailed analysis from me, then feel free to check out my weekly show, The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.

So, without further ado …

Things will be just fine: All Goiti Yamauchi needed was just a little patience

 It’s not that Goiti Yamauchi was taking it slow, but he’s coming up on 10 years in Bellator and a title shot has eluded him so far.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – It’s not that [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] was taking it slow, but he’s coming up on 10 years in Bellator and a title shot has eluded him so far.

But Yamauchi (28-5 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) has been on a serious roll lately with wins in six of his past seven fights. The lone loss in that stretch was a split call against Dan Moret and is one most MMA analysts scored for Yamauchi. And a win over his next opponent, Michael Page (20-2 MMA, 16-2 BMMA), would be his biggest victory yet – and likely would get Yamauchi a welterweight titleshot.

“Yes, 100 percent … 100 percent (the winner gets a title shot),” Yamauchi said at Wednesday’s media day for Bellator 292. “Michael Page was actually the No. 1 contender now. Come back to the rankings. He just fought for the title, and I think that this win will guarantee the title for my next (fight).”

Yamuchi has fought at featherweight and lightweight with Bellator and was in breathing distance of title shots in the past, and almost always in the conversation no matter his division.

But he’s settling in now at welterweight as a 30-year-old and said being close to title shots in the past has helped him slow his roll now.

“The fight game is all about timing and you should be very patient. Compete at the high level and take no damage: That’s what I’m trying to do – no damage. Patience – I know my time is coming. My time is coming. Friday will be the time.”

Bellator 292 takes place Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out Yamauchi’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

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Bellator 292 predictions: Can Benson Henderson upset massive favorite Usman Nurmagomedov?

Check out our staff members’ picks for Bellator 292 in San Jose, Calif., featuring the start of the lightweight grand prix.

Nurmagomedov
vs.
Henson		 Musayev
vs.
Shabliy		 Moldavsky
vs.
Vassell		 Page
vs.
Yamauchi
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
23-14		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
(68%)		 shabliy20
Shabliy
(57%)		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky
(69%)		 page2023
Page
(66%)
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
27-13		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 shabliy20
Shabliy		 vassell2023
Vassell		 page2023
Page
Nolan King
@mma_kings
26-14		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Matt Erickson
@MattE
26-14		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
26-14		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
25-15
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 shabliy20
Shabliy		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
24-16		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
24-16		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 yamauchi2023
Yamauchi
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
24-16		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 yamauchi2023
Yamauchi
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
23-17
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
22-18
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
22-18		 unurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov		 musayev2023
Musayev		 moldavsky2023
Moldavsky		 page2023
Page

Bellator is back in its Northern California home base this week with a lightweight title fight at the top of the lineup.

Bellator 292 takes place Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, lightweight champion [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (16-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) puts his title on the line for the first time since he won the belt this past November against Patricky Freire. He takes on former UFC and WEC lightweight champ and two-time Bellator title challenger [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) in a fight that doubles as a quarterfinal bout in Bellator’s lightweight grand prix.

Nurmagomedov is a massive favorite at -2500 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Henderson is +900. Henderson never has been worse than a +350 underdog in his UFC and Bellator career until now. Given the odds, it’s not surprising our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Nurmagomedov as a unanimous pick at 11-0.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Tofiq Musayev[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Alexander Shabliy[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) on the other side of the lightweight grand prix bracket. Shabliy is a slight favorite at the betting window, but our pickers may have taken into account Musayev’s 27-second KO win in his Bellator debut, and they have him with a big 9-2 picks lead.

Also on the main card, former interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) will try to make a case for another shot at champ Ryan Bader when he takes on [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 11-5 BMMA), who has won four straight. Moldavsky is more than a 3-1 favorite, though, and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (20-2 MMA, 16-2 BMMA) is just a slight betting favorite at -125 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (28-5 MMA, 14-4 BMMA). The winner will be in prime position to ask for a title shot. But despite the close numbers from the oddsmakers, our pickers have Page with a big 9-2 lead.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Nurmagomedov (80 percent), Shabliy (57 percent), Moldavsky (69 percent), and Page 66 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

Bellator 292 pre-event facts: All-time KO leader meets all-time submission leader

Bellator 292 will see the man who holds the most knockout wins in company history share the cage with the promotion’s all-time submission leader.

Bellator returns to its home base of San Jose, Calif., on Friday with Bellator 292, which takes place at SAP Center with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The main event features the start of the promotion’s lightweight grand prix. The title will be on the line in the opening-round matchup, as reigning 155-pound champ [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) will attempt to make his first defense against former UFC and WEC titleholder [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA).

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 292.