Cast member Kurt Holobaugh gives MMA Junkie an exclusive, inside look at “The Ultimate Fighter 31: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.”
“The Ultimate Fighter 31” is ongoing with coaches [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] attracting more eyeballs back to the series.
This season, which features eight lightweights and eight bantamweights, airs Tuesdays on ESPN. McGregor’s team features eight fighters who have not competed in the UFC against Chandler’s team of eight UFC alumni.
Among those UFC alums is [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag], the lone fighter who had two previous stints with the promotion. Holobaugh went 0-4 over those stretches, but history shows a tough strength of schedule: Steven Siler, Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises.
Now at lightweight rather than featherweight, Holobaugh devastated two opponents to get a third look from the UFC.
Each week here at MMA Junkie, Holobaugh will peel back the curtain and provide an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look and give insight into what may not have made the cut onto the episode.
Check out what Holobaugh had to say about Episode 8 below.
“The Ultimate Fighter 31” returns as Conor McGregor looks to avoid a sweep and the final quarterfinal ends in wild fashion.
“The Ultimate Fighter 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler” returned Tuesday for Episode 8 as two fighters head to be examined by the UFC’s chief physician before a lightweight fight ends quickly.
On Episode 8, the matchup between seasoned veteran [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag] and up-and-comer [autotag]Rico DiSciullo[/autotag], as Team McGregor seeks to avoid a clean sweep – and the fight ends in wild fashion.
The season runs from May 30 to Aug. 15 with the live finale expected for later this year. The promotion also intends for coaches [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] to square off in the months that follow the conclusion of the season.
Scroll below for a recap of Episode 8 and make sure to check out an exclusive insider look from Holobaugh, who will peel back the curtain on MMA Junkie the morning after each episode airs.
Check out which UFC veterans are in combat sports action this week in various promotions across the globe.
The UFC is back in action this week at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 212.
In addition, there are a number of MMA and bareknuckle boxing events taking place that feature many familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
From a few fighters stepping back into the cage for the first time since 2014, to a couple looking to get back on track after their exit from the UFC, these 18 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing this week from Oct. 12-15.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
Mackenzie Dern and five others could be out up to six months due injuries sustained during Saturday’s card.
Six fighters face potentially lengthy layoffs as a result of injuries sustained in their UFC on ABC 2 bouts.
On Tuesday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of the UFC on ABC 2 medical suspensions handed out by the Nevada Athletic Commission from MixedMartialArts.com, the Associate of Boxing Commission’s official recordkeeper.
Among those potentially suspended for 180 days is co-headliner [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag], who perhaps suffered a broken left hand in his victory over [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag].
Fan favorite [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] also could be out up to six months due to a potentially broken thumb suffered in her win against [autotag]Nina Nunes[/autotag].
[autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag], who defeated [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag] by submission, will need his right hand cleared in order to avoid the mandatory 180 days off.
[lawrence-related id=602802,602677]
Also handed a six-month suspension was UFC lightweight veteran [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag], who will need his left foot cleared after his decision loss to [autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag].
Both [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag] (face and foot) and [autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag] (nose and hand) received six-month suspensions for multiple potential injuries sustained in their back-and-forth preliminary card war.
The card was headlined by middleweights [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag], who received matching 21-day suspensions for facial lacerations.
The full list of UFC on ABC 2 medical suspensions:
Marvin Vettori: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days due to left eyebrow laceration.
Kevin Holland: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days due to left eyebrow laceration.
Arnold Allen: Suspended 180 days or until left hand x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
Sodiq Yusuff: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
Julian Marquez: Suspended 180 days or until right hand x-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor.
Sam Alvey: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
Mackenzie Dern: Suspended 180 days or until right thumb x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor.
Nina Ansaroff: No suspension.
[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 21 days.
Joe Solecki: No suspension.
Jim Miller: Suspended 180 days or until left foot x-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
John Makdsessi: Suspended 180 days or until subtle nondisplaced fracture of the right zygomatic arch is cleared by a maxillofacial doctor and right foot displaced fracture of the second metatarsal is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
Ignacio Bahamondes: Suspended 180 days or until nose x-ray is cleared by a doctor and left hand x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
[autotag]Jarjis Danho[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
[autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
[autotag]Da Un Jung[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]William Knight[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
[autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag]: No suspension.
[autotag]Sasha Palatnikov[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
UFC on ABC 2 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 on ABC 2 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $182,500.
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 ABC 2 took place at the UFC Apex. The main card aired on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The full UFC on ABC 2 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
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 $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.
Rising bantamweight prospects Jack Shore and Hunter Azure will square off at UFC Fight Night on April 10.
Two of the bantamweight division’s rising prospects will square off in April.
[autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag] faces [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night on April 10 at a location and venue to be announced.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Cageside Press was the first to report the news.
Unbeaten in his pro MMA career, former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Shore (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) hasn’t competed since submitting Aaron Phillips in the second round at UFC on ESPN 13 in July 2020. The Welshman was scheduled to face Khalid Taha at UFC on ESPN 17 in November, but was forced to withdraw due to visa issues.
Contender Series graduate Azure (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) rebounded from his first pro loss to Brian Kelleher in June with a unanimous decision win over Cole Smith in his past outing at UFC Fight Night 176 in September.
All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 29, which saw Glover Teixeira beat Anthony Smith in the main event.
The middle event in the UFC’s three-card return from the coronavirus pandemic went down Wednesday with UFC on ESPN+ 29, which streamed on ESPN+ from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
In the main event, [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) delivered a drubbing of [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (32-15 MMA, 8-5 UFC), battering him until a fifth-round TKO to take a step further up the UFC light heavyweight pecking order.
Teixeira has made quite a mark on the divisional record books over the years but had a particularly special accomplishment against Smith. For more on the numbers behind his fight and the rest of the card, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 29
Teixeira, [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag], [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] and [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 29 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN+ 29 drew an announced attendance of zero for a live gate of $0.
Betting favorites went 4-6 on the card.
Betting favorites fell to 5-5 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 10-bout card was 2:05:23.
Main card
Glover Teixeira def. Anthony Smith
Teixeira’s four-fight UFC winning streak in light heavyweight competition is tied with Jon Jones, Ryan Spann and Magomed Ankalaev for the longest active streak in the division.
Teixeira became the second fighter in UFC history to earn a four-fight winning streak at 40 or older. Dan Henderson also accomplished the feat.
Teixeira’s 14 victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Jones (20) and Ryan Bader (15).
Teixeira’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Teixeira’s victory at 1:04 of Round 5 marked the second latest stoppage in a UFC light heavyweight bout behind Teixeira’s loss to Alexander Gustafsson (1:06 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 109.
Smith fell to 4-2 since he moved up to the UFC light-heavyweight division in June 2018.
Smith fell to 8-4 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2016.
Smith has suffered 13 of his 15 career losses by stoppage.
Ben Rothwell def. Anthony Smith
[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) improved to 2-2 since he returned to competition in March 2019 after a nearly three-year layoff.
Rothwell earned his first decision victory since June 12, 2010 – a span of 3,623 days (nearly 10 years) and 12 fights.
[autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) was unsuccessful in his heavyweight debut.
Saint Preux fell to 2-4 in his past six fights dating back to February 2018.
Saint Preux has suffered nine of his 14 career losses by decision.
Dober (23-9 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has earned six of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by knockout.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) fell to 1-1 since he returned to the UFC flyweight division in February 2019. He fell to 6-4 in the weight class under the UFC banner.
Borg has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.
Andrei Arlovski def. Philipe Lins
[autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag] (29-19 MMA, 18-13 UFC) improved to 8-9 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in June 2014.
Arlovski’s 18 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s total fight time of 4:48:42 in UFC heavyweight competition is the most in divisional history.
[autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned nine of his 13 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] (19-16 MMA, 11-12 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned to the lightweight division in October 2019. He hasn’t earned a victory in the weight class since September 2016.
Johnson fell to 3-8 in his past 11 fights dating back to August 2015.
Johnson suffered the ninth submission loss of his career. He’s been tapped out in all but one of his career stoppage losses.
Preliminary card
Sijara Eubanks def. Sarah Moras
[autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) improved to 1-2 since she moved up to the UFC women’s bantamweight division in May 2019.
Eubanks has earned all three of her UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Sarah Moras[/autotag] (6-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) fell to 2-5 in her past seven fights dating back to July 2015.
Moras has suffered five of her six career losses by decision.
[autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
Kelleher (21-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has earned 17 of his 21 career victories by stoppage.
Azure (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) was successful in his return to the UFC for a second stint. He earned his first victory with the promotion since July 2017.
Sherman has earned 13 of his 14 career victories by stoppage.
Sherman’s two knockout victories stemming from standing elbows in UFC competition are tied with Travis Browne and Alan Jouban for most in company history.
[autotag]Ike Villanueva[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered nine of his 10 career losses by stoppage.
Villanueva suffered his first knockout loss since Sept. 16, 2011 – a span of 3,162 days (nearly nine years) and 14 fights.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Glover Teixeira and Anthony Smith are facing months-long medical suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN+ 29 headlining clash.
[autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] are facing months-long medical suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN+ 29 headlining clash.
Teixeira (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who defeated Smith by fifth-round TKO, will not fight for 180 days unless he’s cleared by a physician. He will be mandated to serve 45 days of that suspension regardless of doctor’s clearance.
The Florida State Boxing Commission, which oversaw the event, has suspended Smith (33-15 MMA, 8-5 UFC) a minimum of 60 days. MMA Junkie obtained a list of the UFC 249 athletes’ medical suspensions from the Florida Boxing Commission on Thursday.
Other fighters facing potential 180-day layoffs include [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag], [autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag], [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] and [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag].
UFC on ESPN+ 29 took place Wednesday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The complete list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 medical suspensions included:
Glover Teixeira: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 45 days.
Anthony Smith: Suspended minimum 60 days; additional suspension to be determined pending test results.
Ovince Saint Preux: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 30 days.
[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days.
Alexander Hernandez: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 60 days.
Ricky Simon: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 30 days.
Five fighters made north of six figures Wednesday at UFC on ESPN+ 29, not including several who earned post-fight bonuses.
Veteran fighters [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] and [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] walked away from UFC on ESPN+ 29 having pocketed a solid chunk of change Wednesday.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski (29-9 MMA, 18-13 UFC) led all fighters with a disclosed payout of $325,000 for his win over [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]. As a result of his split decision win over [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag], Rothwell (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) earned $260,000. For his fifth-round TKO win over [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag], Teixeira (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) earned $230,000.
Two other victorious fighters also took home six-figure disclosed paydays: including the aforementioned Smith, as well as UFC lightweight [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag].
The disclosed UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries from the Florida State Boxing Commission, which oversaw the event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., first were reported by MMA Fighting.
The full list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries included:
Glover Teixeira: $230,000
def. Anthony Smith: $130,000
Ben Rothwell: $260,000
def. Ovince Saint Preux: $95,000
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+ 29 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.
