Tag: Gustavo Lopez

Gustavo Lopez not buying into Adrian Yanez hype: ‘I’m going to murder this guy’

To put it quite mildly, Gustavo Lopez is not buying into any of the hype surrounding fellow bantamweight prospect Adrian Yanez.

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LAS VEGAS – To put it quite mildly, [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] is not buying into any of the hype surrounding fellow bantamweight prospect [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag].

“I’m glad people are looking past me and thinking, ‘Oh, Gustavo is going to get knocked out by this dude,” Lopez told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a Wednesday media day at the UFC Apex. “Who is this random Yanez dude who supposedly has good striking and good footwork? I’m like, ‘Could he swim? How deep in the waters can he swim?’

“They say he likes to scramble and likes to wrestle. I’m like, ‘You don’t like to wrestle. Wrestlers don’t like to wrestle.’ I’m going to put you in some deep, deep waters, and he’s going to get drowned.”

Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meet on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 card at the UFC Apex. The featured bouts air on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

It’s just Yanez’s second UFC appearance, but he’s impressed in his octagon run thus far. This past August, he earned a UFC contract with a 39-second win over Brady Huang on Dana White’s Contender Series. Then in October, he debuted in the UFC with a “Performance of the Night” victory over Victor Rodriguez.

But Lopez says the level of competition Yanez has faced thus far falls short to that of his own, after facing veterans Merab Dvalishvili and Anthony Birchak in his first two UFC appearances.

“Talk to me about who he beat,” Lopez said. “Who has he beat that is like, ‘Oh, he’s beat f*cking – he fought the Merabs, the f*cking guys in the UFC’?

“He’s doing well, and he will be a good fighter, but I’m going to ruin his night. His whole hype is going to get taken off. I’m a different animal in this game. In a world of sharks, I’m the megalodon dude that gets you in the waters, and I’m going to drown this dude. It’s different. I’m a different beast.”

Oddsmakers currently have Yanez installed as a -225 favorite, implying a little less than 70 percent probability of victory. But Lopez believes he’s primed to deliver as an underdog, and to steal a little of Yanez’s shine in the process.

“Where’s the hype coming from on this dude?” Lopez asked. “I’m going to ruin this guy’s night. … I’m going to go out there, and I’m going to murder this guy. It’s going to be a bad night for him.”

To see the full media availability with Lopez, check out the video above.

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UFC on ESPN 21: Make your predictions for Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 21 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC targets Adrian Yanez vs. Gustavo Lopez for March 20 event

Two of the promotion’s rising bantamweights have been paired up.

The UFC has matched up two of its bantamweight up-and-comers.

The promotion is close to finalizing a fight between Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 standout [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] and former Combate Americas bantamweight champion [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] for the March 20 event.

At this time, the card doesn’t have a publicly known location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking Monday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Island was the first to report the news.

Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) burst into the national spotlight in August with a 39-second, UFC-contract-earning knockout of Brady Huang on DWCS. On Oct. 31, Yanez made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 181. Yanez picked up his second-straight violent knockout against fellow newcomer Victor Rodriguez, who he headkicked en route to a first-round finish.

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Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) made his UFC debut in June when he stepped in on days’ notice to fight surging bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili. Though he lost that fight by unanimous decision, Lopez returned Nov. 7 to submit Anthony Birchak in under three minutes.

With the addition, the March 20 lineup includes:

  • Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan
  • Gustavo Lopez vs. Adrian Yanez

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UFC on ESPN+ 40 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $36.5 million

UFC on ESPN+ 40 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 40 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $146,500.

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+ 40 took place at UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 40 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Khalid Taha[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jamey Simmons[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Claudia Gadelha[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Bevon Lewis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Eduardo Garagorri[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ramiz Brahimaj[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Anthony Birchak[/autotag]: $4,000

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: $5,550,500
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: $36,555,000

Anthony Birchak’s UFC return vs. Gustavo Lopez finalizes UFC on ESPN+ 40 lineup

Anthony Birchak is set to enter the octagon for the first time since July 2016 at UFC on ESPN+ 40.

[autotag]Anthony Birchak[/autotag] will set foot in the octagon for the first time since July 2016 at UFC on ESPN+ 40 on Saturday.

Birchak (16-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is set to replace Felipe Colares, who was pulled from the card after a positive COVID-19 test, against [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a bantamweight matchup.

MMA Junkie verified the news with sources close to the situation, who wished to remain anonymous because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement. Fansided first reported the news.

Birchak, 34, parted ways with the UFC more than four years after splitting results over four fights. He’s since fought for Rizin FF, Combate Americas and LFA, and has won three-straight leading into his octagon comeback.

Lopez will attempt to log his first UFC victory. He dropped his promotional debut against Merab Dvalishvili on short notice at UFC on ESPN 10 in June.

UFC on ESPN+ 40 takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card is set to stream on ESPN+.

Birchak’s addition to UFC on ESPN+ 40 finalizes the 11-fight lineup, which can be seen below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Thiago Santos vs. Glover Teixeira
  • Andrei Arlovski vs. Tanner Boser
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. Khalid Taha
  • Brendan Allen vs. Ian Heinisch
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Yan Xiaonan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Trevin Giles vs. Bevon Lewis
  • Giga Chikadze vs. Jamey Simmons
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Darren Elkins vs. Eduardo Garagorri
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Max Griffin
  • Anthony Birchak Gustavo Lopez

Felipe Colares vs. Gustavo Lopez added to UFC’s Nov. 7 lineup

A bantamweight matchup between Felipe Colares and Gustavo Lopez is the latest addition to the UFC’s Nov. 7 event.

A bantamweight matchup is the latest addition to the UFC’s Nov. 7 event.

[autotag]Felipe Colares[/autotag] will face [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] on that date at a location that has yet to be announced.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with two people with knowledge of the situation. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

After dropping his UFC debut to Geraldo de Freitas in February 2019, former Jungle Fight featherweight champion Colares (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) returned to bantamweight and picked up a split-decision win over Domingo Pilarte at UFC on ESPN 4. However, in his last outing in January Colares suffered a unanimous decision loss to Montel Jackson at UFC on ESPN+ 24.

Lopez (11-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) stepped in on short notice to face bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili in his UFC debut in June, but suffered a unanimous decision loss. Prior to that, the former Combate 135-pound champion had finished three fights in a row, all in the first round.

With the addition, the latest Nov. 7 lineup includes:

  • Brendan Allen vs. Ian Heinisch
  • Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras
  • Kyle Daukaus vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Dustin Jacoby vs. Justin Ledet
  • Trevin Giles vs. Bevon Lewis
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Max Griffin
  • Felipe Colares vs. Gustavo Lopez

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UFC on ESPN 10: Despite wins, Cynthia Calvillo, Marvin Vettori face six-month medical suspensions

Despite picking up key wins this past Saturday night, Cynthia Calvillo and Marvin Vettori are potentially facing a few months on the shelf.

Despite picking up key wins this past Saturday night, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] and [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] are potentially facing several months on the shelf.

Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was victorious over Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) in the five-round headliner of this past weekend’s UFC on ESPN 10, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) picked up a first-round stoppage over Karl Roberson (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in the night’s co-main.

MMA Junkie today obtained the full list of medical suspensions from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Fighters can return sooner than the duration of their suspension if cleared by a doctor.

Calvillo must have her right shoulder cleared before she can return to action, or she could be forced to sit out until Dec. 11. Meanwhile, Vettori must have his right knee cleared, or he could also be ruled ineligible until December.

The complete list of UFC on ESPN 10 medical suspensions includes:

  • Calvillo: Must have right shoulder MRI. If positive, must have orthopedic or sports medicine doctor clearance or no contest until Dec. 11; minimum suspension until July 14 with no contract until July 5
  • Vettori: Must have right knee MRI. If positive, must have orthopedic or sports medicine doctor clearance or no contest until Dec. 11; minimum suspension until July 14 with no contract until July 5
  • [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]: Must have forehead laceration cleared by a doctor or no contest until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
  • [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: Suspended until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
  • [autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag]: Suspended until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
  • [autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
  • [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
  • [autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
  • [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5
  • [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5
  • [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5

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UFC on ESPN 10 salaries: Cynthia Calvillo, Andre Fili top $782k payroll

Cynthia Calvillo proved victorious in her first UFC main event, and the result saw her lead the night’s published payouts, as well.

[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] proved victorious in her first UFC main event, and the result saw her lead the night’s published payouts, as well.

MMA Junkie today acquired a list of fighter salaries from the Nevada Athletic Commission for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, airing on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+. Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was one of the night’s top earners, taking home a disclosed $110,000, including a $55,000 win bonus, for her victory over former UFC flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC).

Equaling Calvillo’s pay was her former teammate and current UFC featherweight contender [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC), who also took home $110,000 for his win over [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC).

Total disclosed pay for the 10-fight card was $782,000.

The full list of UFC on ESPN 10 salaries includes:

  • Cynthia Calvillo: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. Jessica Eye: $51,000
  • [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag]: $86,000 (includes $43,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag]: $40,000
  • [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]: $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: $25,000
  • [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: $16,000
  • [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: $21,000
  • [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag]: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: $35,000
  • [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]: $16,000
  • [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag]: $14,000
  • [autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag]: $12,000

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 on ESPN 10 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 also handed out four $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonuses to Aguilera, Agapova, Nam and Vettori.

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 on ESPN 10 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Las Vegas

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the octagon the first time. How did the five newcomers perform Saturday?

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For five athletes, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event marked that special moment in their career.

Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression they made on the sport’s biggest stage from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

* * * * *

Christian Aguilera

Division: Welterweight
Result: Christian Aguilera def. Anthony Ivy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:59
Record: 14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Grade: A

You can’t really ask for a better, cleaner debut performance than the one we saw from welterweight newcomer [autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag], who exploded into the UFC’s 170-pound division with a hugely impressive display.

Matched against fellow debutant [autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag], Aguilera started the fight looking calm and composed as he threw out some range-finding punches to set his distance, while Ivy looked to establish his kicks from distance.

Aguilera took a couple of leg kicks but wasn’t unduly troubled, as he maintained his footing and worked out his timing for his counters. When they came, they were swift, powerful, and decisive as he scored a quickfire finish.

Aguilera answered a leg kick with a right-left combination as he rocked Ivy back against the fence. That was the opening Aguilera was waiting for, and he pounced on his opportunity. A solid right uppercut, then a trio of powerful right hands, finished the job as he clinically claimed an impressive debut win.

The temperament looked rock-solid, his composure was on point, and his killer instinct as soon as he saw his opening was deadly. All in all, it was a near-flawless performance from Aguilera, who claimed the 11th knockout win of his career, with 10 of them coming inside the first round, and six inside one minute.

Next up: A night to forget for “Aquaman”

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UFC on ESPN 10 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: $95,000 payout is lowest of 2020

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $95,000.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $95,000.

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 10 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 10 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Anthony Ivy[/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: $2,424,500
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: $33,429,000