Tag: Hannah Cifers

Hannah Cifers withdraws from UFC 279 bout vs. Melissa Martinez

The UFC 279 women’s flyweight bout between Hannah Cifers and “Super Melly” Melissa Martinez is canceled.

[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] won’t be the one welcoming [autotag]Melissa Martinez[/autotag] to the UFC this September.

Originally scheduled to fight Sept. 10 at UFC 279, Cifers (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) has withdrawn from her matchup vs. Martinez (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) due to undisclosed reasons.

A person with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of her withdrawal, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Cifers, 29, is currently on a four-fight skid and has been finished in each of the defeats. All four of those losses came in an eight-month stretch from January-August 2020. She was scheduled to fight Emily Whitmire in February, but also withdrew from that contest.

Martinez, 24, is a former Combate Global standout who signed with the UFC earlier this year. She hasn’t competed since a December 2019 split decision win over now-Bellator fighter Desiree Yanez.

With the change, the UFC 279 lineup now includes:

  • Champion Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for bantamweight title
  • Norma Dumont vs. Danyelle Wolf
  • Melissa Martinez vs. TBA

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Combate Global champion ‘Super Melly’ Melissa Martinez signs with UFC, gets debut vs. Hannah Cifers

Top Mexican prospect Melissa Martinez is now in the UFC.

[autotag]Melissa Martinez[/autotag] is headed to the UFC.

An undefeated prospect and Combate Global strawweight champion, Martinez has signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion. She is set to take on [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) at a UFC event Sept. 10. at a location and venue yet-to-be-announced.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The news was first reported by Lichald Scott.

Martinez last defended her belt in December 2019 when she defeated Desiree Yanez in the co-main event of Combate Global 51. She has been fighting professionally in MMA since 2016.

Martinez is also a decorated kickboxer who won a gold medal at the 2016 Panamerican Kickboxing Championship and a silver medal at the World Games 2017 representing the Mexican national kickboxing team.

Meanwhile, Martinez’s opponent, Cifers, is a seasoned veteran in the UFC. She’s currently on a four-fight losing streak and hasn’t fought since August of 2020.

With the addition, the UFC lineup for Sept. 10 includes:

  • Trey Ogden vs. Daniel Zellhuber
  • Nikolas Motta vs. Cameron VanCamp
  • Norma Dumont vs. Danielle Wolf
  • Hannah Cifers vs. Melissa Martinez

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Hannah Cifers out of UFC Fight Night matchup vs. Emily Whitmire; Sam Hughes steps in

Emily Whitmire is in need of a new opponent.

[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] has withdrawn from her Feb. 27 fight.

Scheduled to take on [autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag] in a strawweight fight at UFC Fight Night, Cifers (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) has pulled out for an undisclosed reason.

Two people with knowledge of the change recently informed MMA Junkie of the withdrawal but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Stepping in for Cifers will be Sam Hughes. A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the replacement to MMA Junkie after an initial report by MMA Fighting.

Cifers competed four times in the first eight months of 2020. She lost all four outings inside the distance with three submissions and one TKO. The four-fight losing skid came on the heels of a two-fight winning streak.

Whitmire (4-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has been submitted in back-to-back fights against Amanda Ribas and Polyana Viana. In her UFC tenure, Whitmire holds wins over Jamie Moyle and Aleksandra Albu.

Against Whitmire, Hughes (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will look to rebound from a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Tecia Torres this past December at UFC 256. That was Hughes’ promotional debut.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 27 now includes:

  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Ciryl Gane
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. TBA
  • William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Alexis Davis vs. Sabina Mazo
  • Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira
  • Sam Hughes vs. Emily Whitmire
  • Alex Caceres vs. Kevin Croom
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Nikita Krylov
  • Montana De La Rosa vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
  • Alexander Hernandez vs. Thiago Moises
  • Vince Cachero vs. Ronnie Lawrence

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UFC in 2020: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids, and records

Check out a full recap of 2020’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2020’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

UFC books Hannah Cifers vs. Emily Whitmire for Feb. 27 UFC Fight Night

Hannah Cifers and Emily Whitmire hope to snap losing streaks when they face off February 27.

The Feb. 27 UFC Fight Night has gained another fight.

Strawweights [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag] has been booked by the promotion and will square off at a location and venue to be announced.

Multiple people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Thursday, but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting first reported the news.

Cifers (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) competed four times in 2020 but was unable to secure a victory. In mid-2020, Cifers fought twice in 15 days against MacKenzie Dern and Mariya Agapova. The four-fight skid follows a two-fight winning streak.

Whitmire (4-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) is 2-2 in her most recent four outings. She’s coming off back-to-back submission losses to Polyana Viana and Amanda Ribas.

With the addition, UFC Fight Night on Feb. 27 now includes:

  • Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka
  • Raphael Assuncao vs. Raoni Barcelos
  • William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Alexis Davis vs. Sabina Mazo
  • Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira
  • Hannah Cifers vs. Emily Whitmire

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UFC on ESPN+ 35 free fight: Angela Hill takes out Hannah Cifers

Relive Angela Hill’s finish of Hannah Cifers at UFC on ESPN+ 24.

It’s been an active 2020 for [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag].

Hill kickstarted the year by taking on [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 24, looking to put together her first winning streak in the UFC.

Round 1 was contested at a high pace, with Hill pressuring Cifers, and Cifers connecting well with her combinations on the counter.

But in Round 2, Hill was able to sweep Cifers and take her down to the mat, where Cifers had no answer. Hill transitioned from side control to full mount, dropping big elbows and punches in the ground and pound. Cifers hung tough, but the referee eventually intervened and stopped the fight.

Hill would go on to notch her third win in a row by defeating Loma Lookboonmee, but saw her winning streak snapped at the hands of Claudia Gadelha in May, in a narrow split-decision loss.

Hill (12-8 MMA, 7-8 UFC) returns Saturday for her fourth fight in 2020, when she faces Michelle Waterson (17-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN+ 35 main event, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before she faces Waterson, relive Hill’s finish ff Cifers in the video above.

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UFC on ESPN+ 33: Despite wins, Mallory Martin, Polyana Viana could face six-month suspensions

Despite picking up wins, Polyana Viana and Mallory Martin could be facing up to six months on the sidelines.

Despite picking up wins at UFC on ESPN+ 33, [autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag] and [autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag] could potentially face up to six months on the sidelines due to medical suspensions.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commission’s official record keeper.

In the night’s opener, Martin (7-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) picked up a comeback submission finish of [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) at this past weekend’s event, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the second fight of the night, Viana (11-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) submitted [autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag] (4-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) with an armbar in the first round.

Also potentially facing several months on the shelf is [autotag]Ji Yeon Kim[/autotag], who suffered a unanimous decision loss to [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Kim (9-3-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has to have her right orbital non-displaced fracture cleared or she could be facing six months.

Despite the one-sided loss to [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] in the main event, [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (32-16 MMA, 8-4 UFC) will only be facing 45 days, whereas Rakic (13-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) did not receive a suspension.

[autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC) will be facing 45 days for nasal lacerations in his co-main event loss to [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag], whereas Magny (24-7 MMA, 17-6 UFC) will be facing 45 days until the cut on his right elbow is cleared by a doctor.

Below is the full list of UFC on ESPN+ 33 medical suspensions:

  • Anthony Smith: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Aleksandar Rakic: No suspension.
  • Robbie Lawler: Suspended 45 days with no contest for 30 days due to nasal lacerations.
  • Neil Magny: Suspended 45 days or until cut on right elbow cleared by doctor or no contest until Sept. 11.
  • Ji Yeon Kim: Must have right orbital non-displaced fracture cleared by oral and maxillofacial doctor or ophthalmologist or no contest until Feb. 26; minimum suspension until Oct. 14 with no contact until Sept. 29.
  • Alexa Grasso: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ricardo Lamas[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Maki Pitolo[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to facial lacerations.
  • [autotag]Impa Kasangay[/autotag]: Must have right eye laceration cleared by doctor or no contest until Oct. 14; minimum suspension until Sept. 11.
  • [autotag]Alessio Di Chirico[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Zak Cummings[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Austin Springer[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to right eyebrow and nose lacerations.
  • Polyana Viana: Must have right thumb MRI and x-ray of
    right foot. If positive, then must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until Feb. 26, 2021; minimum suspension until Sept. 29 with no contact until Sept. 20.
  • Emily Whitmire: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 30 days due to left elbow pain.
  • Mallory Martin: Must have right knee MRI. If positive, must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until Feb. 26, 2021; minimum suspension until Oct. 29 with no contact until Oct. 14.
  • Hannah Cifers: Must have nose cut cleared by doctor or no contest until Oct. 14; minimum suspension until Sept. 29 with no contact until Sept. 20.

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Mallory Martin takes beating, comes back for incredible submission win at UFC on ESPN+ 33

Mallory Martin went nuts after her remarkable comeback.

[autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag] simply could not contain her emotions after winning at UFC on ESPN+ 33, and who could blame her?

Martin showed incredible strength and perseverance in her fight with [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag], who delivered a beatdown in Round 1. Cifers (10-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) dropped Martin (7-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a hard right hand, and the fight was almost over at that point, but Martin managed to survive the final two minutes.

Then in Round 2, Martin listened to the advice of her coaches and got the fight to the mat, where she took Cifers’ back and locked in a rear-naked choke to earn a submission win at the 1:33 mark.

What a remarkable comeback win. Check out the sequence of events in the videos below:

Cifers drops Martin (via Twitter)

Martin finishes, outpouring of emotion (via Twitter)

And just to make this win even greater, there’s this statistic (via Twitter):

Mallory Martin’s -27 significant strike differential in her win over Hannah Cifers represents the 2nd largest statistical comeback finish in UFC strawweight history. The record for the division: Alex Chambers (-37) over Kailin Curran.

Amazing.

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.

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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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