Tag: Ion Cutelaba

UFC on ESPN 44 pre-event facts: Will Arnold Allen crack Max Holloway’s historic chin?

Check out the numbers behind UFC on ESPN 44, where Max Holloway brings an insane durability record into his main event with Arnold Allen.

The UFC returns to Missouri for the first time in exactly five years on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 44, which takes place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, the stakes don’t get much higher than the clash of featherweight contenders. Former longtime UFC champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC) looks to begin another run toward the belt when he takes on [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] (19-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC), who is unbeaten inside the octagon thus far.

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 from UFC on ESPN 44.

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Tanner Boser returns to light heavyweight, meets Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night on April 15

Tanner Boser will move back down to light heavyweight for the first time since 2014.

[autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] will move back down to light heavyweight for the first time since 2014.

Boser (20-9-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) meets [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night card on April 15 in Kansas City, Mo. Both fighters confirmed the matchup on social media after an initial report by MMA Fighting.

After dropping three of his past four, Boser will seek new life when he returns to 205 pounds. The Canadian fighter was victorious in his lone bout at light heavyweight – a second-round submission at Unified MMA 18 in 2014. Boser’s most recent octagon win came in a knockout of Ovince Saint Preux in June 2021.

Cutelaba also will look to rebound. After defeating Devin Clark in September 2021, the 29-year-old was stopped in his past three fights, most recently a TKO loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu in the UFC Fight Night 215 headliner this past November.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for April 15 includes:

  • Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
  • Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo
  • Chris Gutierrez vs. Pedro Munhoz
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Brandon Royval
  • Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov
  • Bill Algeo vs. TJ Brown
  • Bruna Brasil vs. Denise Gomes
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Piera Rodriguez
  • Lando Vannata vs. Daniel Zellhuber
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Brady Hiestand
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Lucie Pudilova
  • Gaston Bolanos vs. Aaron Phillips
  • Zak Cummings vs. Ed Herman
  • Tanner Boser vs. Ion Cutelaba

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UFC Fight Night 215 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Lowest payout in program history

UFC Fight Night 215 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 215 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $80,000.

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 Fight Night 215 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 215 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jennifer Maia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ricky Turcios[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Maria Oliveira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Brady Hiestand[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Fernie Garcia[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tereza Bleda[/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 and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts. 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: $7,634,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $13,812,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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UFC Fight Night 215 post-event facts: Jack Della Maddalena makes waves with third-straight KO

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 215, which featured a number of notable feats.

The UFC closed its November schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 215, a decision-heavy event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

One fighter who didn’t need the judges, however, was [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who made the most of his makeshift main event opportunity with a second-round TKO of [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC) in their light heavyweight clash.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 215.

UFC Fight Night 215 results: Kennedy Nzechukwu throttles Ion Cutelaba in makeshift main event

Kennedy Nzechukwu won the first UFC main event of his career with an impressive finish of Ion Cutelaba at the UFC Apex.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] has won the first main event of his UFC career by finishing Ion Cutelaba.

The light heavyweight bout served as the impromptu main event of UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC Apex, after the originally scheduled headliner Derrick Lewis was forced to withdraw due to illness. Although the bout was elevated to main event status, it remained a three-round contest, but Nzechukwu (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) only needed two to stop Cutelaba (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC).

The fight started off fast, with the light heavyweights immediately trading hard strikes. With both fighters landing flush, Cutelaba switched it up and looked for a takedown, and eventually landed in mount.

Nzechukwu worked his way back up to his feet, but was dumped back to the mat before getting back up again, where he then had to deal with a kimura threat and foot stomps until the round ended.

At the beginning of the second round, Nzechukwu came out on fire with hard strikes, putting Cutelaba in a bad spot. A beautifully-timed knee from Nzechukwu found the mark as Cutelaba changed levels for a takedown, sparking the finishing flurry of punches.

Picking up his fifth win under the UFC banner, Nzechukwu, 30, makes it back-to-back finishes. In July, he finished Karl Roberson in the third round via TKO. Only one of his UFC wins have reached the judges’ scorecards.

Cutelaba, 28, sees his current skid continue, dropping three straight. His last victory came by unanimous decision over Devin Clark last September.

Full results of UFC Fight Night 215 include:

  • Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:02
  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:03
  • Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:24
  • Charles Johnson def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jennifer Maia def. Maryna Moroz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Miles Johns def. Vince Morales unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Ricky Turcios def. Kevin Natividad split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Vanessa Demopoulos def. Maria Oliveira unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Brady Hiestand def. Fernie Garcia unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Natalia Silva def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (spinning back kick) – Round 3, 1:27

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Twitter reacts to Kennedy Nzechukwu’s comeback TKO of Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night 215

See the top Twitter reactions to Kennedy Nzechukwu’s comeback TKO of Ion Cutelaba in the UFC Fight Night 215 main event.

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] wasn’t supposed to headline UFC Fight Night 215, but when Derrick Lewis pulled out of the event on fight day, he made the most of his makeshift opportunity against [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag].

After a rough start to the light heavyweight headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nzechukwu (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) stormed back in the second round to hurt and earned the TKO of Cutelaba (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC).

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Nzechukwu’s victory over Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night 215.

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UFC Fight Night 215: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cutelaba odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215 odds and lines between Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a light heavyweight bout on the main card, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card starts at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Nzechukwu lost 2 in a row against Da-Un Jung and Nicolae Negumereanu, but he picked up the Round 2 KO/TKO win over Karl Roberson last time out in July. He has finished inside the distance in 4 of the past 5 fights, all via KO/TKO, with 3 wins. His only fight to go the distance was a split-decision loss at UFC 272 to Negumereanu.

Cutelaba limps in on a 2-bout losing streak, getting submitted in the 1st round in each fight. His last victory was against Devin Clark via unanimous decision in mid-Sept. 2021.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:59 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Nzechukwu -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Cutelaba +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -140 | Under -102)
  • Fight to go distance: Yes (+210) | No (-320)

Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba picks and predictions

Records: Nzechukwu (10-3-0) | Cutelaba (18-6-1)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

NZECHUKWU (-175) is a moderate favorite, and a little pricey, but he is a strong play on the 2-way line since Cutelaba has struggled lately.

Cutelaba heads into this bout on a 1-4-1 skid across his past 6 fights, including 2 submission losses and 2 KO/TKO setbacks. His only win was against Clark, with a draw against Justin Jacoby.

The 30-year-old Nzechukwu has been a little more consistent, going 4-2 across the past 6 fights. He holds an 8-inch reach advantage, so he’ll be able to hold Cutelaba at a distance, moving in and out at his leisure, picking and choosing his spots, while avoiding the big shots from the challenger.

NZECHUKWU BY KO/TKO (+120) at plus money is also a good value, as Cutelaba just cannot be trusted to pull out of his nosedive.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-320): Fight to go the distance will cost you more than 3 times your potential return. That’s terribly costly.

I do like OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-140), as I think Cutelaba is veteran enough to where he’ll be able to hang around and make Nzechukwu work for it. Eventually, though, this fight ends with Cutelaba on his back, shaking off the cobwebs after another knockout loss.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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UFC Fight Night 215 predictions: Derrick Lewis or Serghei Spivac in heavyweight clash?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 215 main card in Las Vegas.

Lewis
vs.
Spivac		 Cutelaba
vs.
Nzechukwu		 Cortes-Acosta
vs.
Sherman		 Fialho
vs.
Salikhov		 Maddalena
vs.
Roberts
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
180-106		 lewis2022
Lewis
(54%)		 nzechukwu2022
Nzechukwu
(59%)		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta
(78%)		 salikhov2022
Salikhov
(55%)		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
(87%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
190-101
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 lewis2022
Lewis		 nzechukwu2022
Nzechukwu		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
182-109		 spivac2022
Spivac		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
182-109		 spivac2022
Spivac		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
179-112		 lewis2022
Lewis		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
178-113
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 spivac2022
Spivac		 nzechukwu2022
Nzechukwu		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 fialho2022
Filaho		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
176-115		 lewis2022
Lewis		 nzechukwu2022
Nzechukwu		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
175-116		 lewis2022
Lewis		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 fialho2022
Filaho		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Nolan King
@mma_kings
170-121		 lewis2022
Lewis		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 fialho2022
Filaho		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
169-122
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 lewis2022
Lewis		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
157-134		 lewis2022
Lewis		 nzechukwu2022
Nzechukwu		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 salikhov2022
Salikhov		 maddalena2022
Maddalena
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
142-149		 lewis2022
Lewis		 cutelaba2022
Cutelaba		 cortes-acosta2022
Cortes-Acosta		 fialho2022
Filaho		 maddalena2022
Maddalena

The UFC is back home in Las Vegas this week, and three sets of heavy hitters are atop the card.

UFC Fight Night 215 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 heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) takes on [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC). Spivac is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Lewis is +165. But our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are bucking the betting odds and have Lewis with a big 8-3 lead.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at light heavyweight. Nzechukwu is the favorite at the betting window at -170, but like in the main event, our pickers have underdog Cutelaba with the lead at 7-4.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is back for a quick turnaround at heavyweight against [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 4-9 UFC). Cortes-Acosta is more than a 2-1 favorite and is one of two unanimous picks on the main card at 11-0.

[autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a welterweight fight that nearly is a pick’em at the sportsbook. Salikhov is just a -115 favorite, but he’s up 7-4 in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is our second unanimous pick at 11-0 in his welterweight fight against [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Maddalena is by far the biggest favorite on the card at -600.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Lewis (54 percent), Nzechukwu (59 percent), Cortes-Acosta (78 percent), Salikhov (55 percent) and Maddalena (87 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 215.

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Ion Cutelaba not worried about roster spot before UFC Fight Night 215: ‘I’m not going anywhere’

Despite just one win in his past six bouts, Ion Cutelaba isn’t stressing about his job security going into UFC Fight Night 215.

LAS VEGAS – Despite just one victory in his past six octagon appearances, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] isn’t stressing about his job security going into UFC Fight Night 215.

Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) returns to action Saturday when he meets Kennedy Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in the light heavyweight co-headliner at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+, and will represent a key moment in Cutelaba’s career.

Although his fights are consistently exciting one way or another, Cutelaba has lost back-to-back bouts and had his hand raised just once dating back to February 2020. He’s getting into the danger zone of when the UFC historically parts ways with struggling athletes, but Cutelaba said he’s not more concerned about that possibility now than he’s been ahead of any other fight.

“Our job is in jeopardy every time you get in the cage,” Cutelaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at UFC Fight Night 215 media day. “This could be your last fight no matter what. But honestly, yeah, two losses in a row, it might even be three losses in a row. I don’t think I’m going to leave anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay in the UFC. The fact is I’m 100 percent prepared, and I’m going to show you I’m prepared this Saturday. I’m going to do whatever it takes. I’m going to knock him the hell out. If I have to die in that octagon, I’m going to leave my entire self in that octagon, and I’m going to show what I’m made of.”

After being submitted in the first round by Johnny Walker and Ryan Spann in his two most recent bouts, Cutelaba said he’s worked hard on the flaws of his game. Grappling defense is unlikely to be a key element in the next matchup, though, as Nzechukwu is predominantly a striker.

Cutelaba said if the fight stays standing, Nzechukwu isn’t going to be able to deal with what’s coming his way.

“I never said I want a quick finish, but of course it’s great,” Cutelaba said. “It’s less work for me and a quick day in the office. But I will say one thing: He’s going to lose his mind in there. When he sees me in front of him, he doesn’t know what to prepare for. He’ll see a hurricane in there.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

UFC Fight Night 215 pre-event facts: Andre Fialho first to five UFC fights in 2022

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 215, where Derrick Lewis can add to his knockout record and Andre Fialho keeps busy.

The UFC returns to its home base of Las Vegas on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 215, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

A heavyweight headliner serves atop the card. The most decorated knockout artist in UFC history returns to competition as [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) looks to buck his losing skid against the streaking [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 215.