Tag: Gregory Rodrigues

UFC Fight Night 210 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Andre Fili leads way with $16,000

UFC Fight Night 210 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 Fight Night 210 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $155,500.

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 Fight Night 210 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 210 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Alen Amedovski[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Louis Cosce[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Denise Gomes[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tony Gravely[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron VanCamp[/autotag]: $4,000

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 2107 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2101 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 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,326,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $12,494,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

Dana White shared an absolutely grotesque photo of Gregory Rodrigues’ cut after UFC Fight Night 210

This photo of Gregory Rodrigues’ nasty gash from UFC Fight Night 210 is not for the faint of heart.

WARNING: This post contains a graphic image. Keep reading at your own risk.

As far as gnarly images of a fighter’s cut goes, it doesn’t get more gnarly than what UFC president Dana White shared Saturday night after UFC Fight Night 210.

[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] showed a lot of heart in his gutsy comeback TKO win over Chidi Njokuani at the UFC Apex. It didn’t look good for Rodrigues in the early going after he was hit with a perfectly timed knee that cut him open between his eyebrows.

The cut threatened to end the fight after the first round, but the cageside doctor let it continue, which allowed Rodrigues to rally in the second round for the finish.

Afterward, White shared an absolutely grotesque before-and-after slide of Rodrigues’ cut on his Instagram story, which you can see below:

(via Dana White on Instagram)

For his trouble, Rodrigues (and Njokuani) earned a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Thank goodness.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

[vertical-gallery id=2581983]

UFC Fight Night 210 video: Bloodied Gregory Rodrigues rallies to TKO Chidi Njokuani in Round 2

“That’s inspirational stuff right there, man,” Paul Felder said of Gregory Rodrigues’ performance at UFC Fight Night 210.

“That’s inspirational stuff right there, man.”

That was cageside announcer Paul Felder’s assessment of [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]’ performance in the immediate aftermath of his UFC Fight Night 210 bout with [autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag], and he couldn’t be more right about the second-round TKO win for “Robocop” in their middleweight bout.

Rodrigues (13-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was in serious trouble after a perfectly timed knee from Njokuani (22-8 MMA, 2-1 UFC) rocked him in the first round and opened up a nasty gash between his eyes. Rodrigues managed to survive a slugfest, though, but he was still in danger of losing after the cageside doctor told referee Marc Smith to have a short leash in stopping the fight because of the cut.

Not to worry. Once Rodrigues got the fight to the mat early in the second round, that signaled the beginning of the end for Njokuani – and an incredible comeback for Rodrigues.

Check out the finishing sequence below (via Twitter):

“I know one thing: I’m born for this,” Rodrigues told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview in the octagon. “Doesn’t matter, man. You need to kill me.”

Rodrigues now has back-to-back wins and has won six of his past seven. Njokuani, meanwhile, had his four-fight overall winning streak snapped, and it was his first UFC loss since joining the promotion last year through Dana White’s Contender Series.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

[vertical-gallery id=2581983]

UFC Fight Night 210 predictions: Is anyone riding Yadong against Sandhagen?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 210 main card in Las Vegas.

Sandhagen
vs.
Yadong		 Njokuani
vs.
Rodrigues		 Algeo
vs.
Fili		 Amedovski
vs.
Pyfer		 Boser
vs.
Nascimento		 Barriault
vs.
Hernandez
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
147-90		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
(71%)		 njokuani2022
Njokuani
(66%)		 fili2022
Fili
(51%)		 pyfer2022
Pyfer
(89%)		 boser2022
Boser
(72%)		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
(64%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
160-82
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 algeo2022
Algeo		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 barriault2022
Barriault
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
155-87		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 barriault2022
Barriault
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
153-89
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 barriault2022
Barriault
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
150-92		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 nascimento2022
Nascimento		 barriault2022
Barriault
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
149-93		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
149-93		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 barriault2022
Barriault
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
147-95		 yadong2022
Yadong		 rodrigues2022
Rodrigues		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 nascimento2022
Nascimento		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
Nolan King
@mma_kings
143-99		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 algeo2022
Algeo		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
141-101
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
130-112		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 nascimento2022
Nascimento		 hernandez2022
Hernandez
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
117-125		 sandhagen2022
Sandhagen		 njokuani2022
Njokuani		 fili2022
Fili		 pyfer2022
Pyfer		 boser2022
Boser		 hernandez2022
Hernandez

The UFC stays home in Las Vegas this week with a key bantamweight matchup at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 210 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former interim bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC). Sandhagen is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Yadong is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Sandhagen a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

The co-main event is a middleweight bout between former Bellator fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series product [autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Njokuani is just a slight favorite at -125, but he’s got a huge lead from our pickers and is nearly unanimous at 10-1.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) at featherweight. Fili is a -135 favorite and has an outsized 9-2 picks lead, despite the close odds.

The only unanimous pick on the card is Contender Series signee [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is the event’s biggest favorite at -520 for his middleweight fight against [autotag]Alen Amedovski[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC). Pyfer has a shutout from our staff members at 11-0.

[autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a heavyweight tilt that has Boser a -180 favorite. He’s got a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) meets [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at middleweight. Hernandez is a -210 favorite, but our pickers have it as the most contentious fight on the main card. Hernandez has the slimmest possible lead at 6-5.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Sandhagen (71 percent), Njokuani (66 percent), Fili (51 percent), Pyfer (89 percent), Boser (72 percent) and Hernandez (64 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

[listicle id=2581600]

[listicle id=2581484]

[listicle id=2581450]

Gregory Rodrigues to focus on fatherhood after UFC Fight Night 210 co-main vs. Chidi Njokuani

Gregory Rodrigues is ready for a challenge before and after UFC Fight Night 210.

LAS VEGAS – UFC middleweight [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] in on the verge of having his life change forever, and is happy the promotion granted his request for a fight in September.

Coming off a first-round stoppage of Julian Marquez in June, Rodrigues (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wanted to get one more fight in 2022 before he welcomes his daughter into the world. At UFC Fight Night 210, he meets fellow Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Chidi Njokuani in the co-main event at UFC Apex on Saturday.

“My third fight this year, but that fight in September is one of the best reasons in my life, because my baby is coming up next month,” Rodrigues told reporters including MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day. “After the fight against Julian, I asked Dana, I asked the UFC to give me a fight in September for be ready my baby’s coming. They give me that, so thank you UFC, thank you Dana, thank you Mick (Maynard). …

“I’m happy, bro. It’s a life change for me in all points – in my family, my professional – and I’m so happy.”

[lawrence-related id=2581507,2581143]

Before Rodrigues can focus on the new addition to his family, he has a tough task ahead of him in Njokuani (22-7 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who has won four bouts in a row by stoppage. Even though his opponent has twice the professional experience as him, Rodrigues believes he has all the tools needed to get the job done.

“I like the fight, I want the fight,” Rodrigues said. “That makes sense for me, it makes sense for him, you know, the point we are right now in the UFC. I’m always looking up and I’m not picking my fights, not choosing my fights. I’m a fighter, and a fight’s a fight.

“I like Chidi, I respect him. He’s a tough opponent, tough guy. But I know who I am and I know where I want to go. He’s just going to be one more challenge for me, and I’m a guy that takes a challenge, and I do it.”

As for what type of fight he’s expecting from his opponent, Rodrigues is ready to take the fight wherever it goes. Aside from joking that he doesn’t want to get his face messed up, Rodrigues knows it will be a tough challenge, but it’s one he’s looking forward to before returning home and taking time away to focus on family.

“I’m ready for everything,” Rodrigues said. “I don’t want an easy fight, I don’t want an easy life. My life was hard. It’s hard to be here. I passed through hard things in my journey. So, I don’t want to be the champion of the losers, I want to be the champion of champions.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

[pickup_prop id=”27625″]

UFC on ESPN 37 medical suspensions: Josh Emmett among 6 fighters suspended indefinitely by Texas commission

Six fighters were handed indefinite medical suspensions after what many fans are calling the most violent UFC card of the year.

UFC on ESPN 37 took place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas where the promotion put on what many fans are calling one of the most violent cards of 2022.

With violence, however, comes injuries. Tuesday, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the commissioning body that regulated the event, released a list of medical suspensions for UFC on ESPN 37 fighters. The TDLR does not give injury specifics, but reveals the duration of suspensions.

Among those handed indefinite suspensions were main event winner Josh Emmett, co-main event loser Tim Means, Albert Duraev, Julian Marquez, Deron Winn, and Kyle Daukaus. Note: fighters can return sooner than the date listed if they receive medical clearance from a physician prior to completion of their suspension.

Check out the full list of medical suspensions below.

UFC on ESPN 37 video: Gregory Rodrigues stops Julian Marquez with methodical knockout

Once Gregory Rodrigues had Julian Marquez hurt, he was relentless going after the finish and lived up to his nickname.

Once [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] had [autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag] hurt, he was relentless going after the finish and lived up to his nickname.

When it finally came for “Robocop” Rodrigues (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC), it looked like a mere formality. Rodrigues kept punching with Marquez (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) backing up. Then he drilled him with a methodical right to end the fight at the 3:18 mark of the opening round on the main card at UFC on ESPN 37 in Austin, Texas.

Rodrigues hit Marquez with a one-two combo that had Marquez reeling backward. He pushed forward and threw a knee while Marquez was getting back to his feet. Marquez fired back, but Rodrigues kept the pressure on.

A few moments later, Rodrigues put Marquez on the ropes with three punches. Then he measured his final one and drilled Marquez with a right hand. Marquez crumpled to the canvas and the fight was over.

Rodrigues got back in the win column after a February split decision loss. He snapped Marquez’s modest two-fight winning streak of submissions and also became the first fighter to finish him.

Check out Rodrigues’ knockout win below, which was the seventh finish in nine bouts at UFC on ESPN 37.

Photos: UFC on ESPN 37 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the UFC on ESPN 37 ceremonial weigh-ins in Austin, Texas.

Check out these photos from the UFC on ESPN 37 weigh-ins and faceoffs from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

Photos: UFC on ESPN 37 official weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the official weigh-ins in Austin, Texas.

Check out these photos from the official weigh-ins for UFC on ESPN 37 in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

UFC Fight Night 196 results: Gregory Rodrigues finishes Junyong Park in a wild brawl

Gregory Rodrigues picks up his second UFC victory in a wild brawl at the UFC Apex.

The final preliminary bout of UFC Fight Night 196 delivered an incredible back and forth battle.

Middleweights [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] and Junyong Park were not afraid to exchange strikes in the octagon, resulting in wild action at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

After a first round that saw Rodrigues (11-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) get the better of Park (13-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) for most of the five minutes, things quickly escalated in the second round.

Park came out the gates swinging hard and often. A wild slugfest unfolded for a few moments before Rodrigues decided to slow the action with a takedown. Park defended it well though, and the two men went right back to trading huge shots on the feet.

Park landed big punches that rocked Rodrigues, but “Robocop” continued to move forward and landed a huge right hand to hurt Park and send him moving backward. Rodrigues, still hurt himself, continued to move forward on his wobbly opponent and landed another series of punches on Park before the referee called a stop to the wild contest.

Rodrigues keeps his winning streak alive making it four in a row by finishing Park. The Dana White’s Contender Series veteran now has two consecutive wins under the UFC banner.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 196 results include:

[vertical-gallery id=1419666]

[listicle id=1417361]

[vertical-gallery id=1419662]