Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Oct. 24-30.
A light heavyweight matchup between Ion Cutelaba vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu had been added to the lineup for UFC Fight Night 215.
A light heavyweight matchup between [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] had been added to the lineup for UFC Fight Night 215 in November.
MMA Junkie verified with multiple people close to the situation that Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) and Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) have agreed to the fight. The people requested anonymity because the organization has yet to make an official announcement.
The UFC Fight Night 215 event takes place Nov. 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire event streams on ESPN+.
Cutelaba, 28, will attempt to avoid a three-fight losing skid for the first time in his career. He’s coming off a first-round submission defeat against Johnny Walker at UFC 279 in September, and has earned just one victory in his past six fights overall dating back to February 2020.
Nzechukwu, 30, meanwhile, comes in with some momentum after winning four of his past six fights. The Fortis MMA product is coming off a third-round TKO of Karl Roberson at UFC on ESPN 39 in July, and has earned all but one of his octagon victories by knockout.
The latest UFC Fight Night 215 lineup now includes:
[vertical-gallery id=2579738]
[vertical-gallery id=428500]
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 279 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $202,000.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 279 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $202,000.
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 279 took place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNNews and ESPN+.
The full UFC 279 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Hakeem Dawodu[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Denis Tiuliulin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Chris Barnett[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jake Collier[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Danyelle Wolf[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Heili Alateng[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Chad Anheliger[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Elise Reed[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Melissa Martinez[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Yohan Lainesse[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Darian Weeks[/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 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.
Year-to-date total: $6,171,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $12,338,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
Johnny Walker returned to the win column with the first submission of his UFC career.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] returned to the win column with another first-round finish to kick off the main card of UFC 279.
The light heavyweight contest against Ion Cutelaba had a lot of promise to leave the judges out of the result, and Walker (19-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) ensured that was the case as he finished the fight with less than a minute remaining in the opening frame.
After exchanging early head kicks, Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) caught Walker’s offering and brought the fight to the ground. A few moments of top control and a few short strikes were all Cutelaba could muster before attempting an armbar. Walker escaped the attempt and was able to find his way to the back of Cutelaba.
From there, Walker adjusted a few rear-naked choke and neck crank attempts, until he found the one that was firmly underneath his opponent’s chin. Cutelaba tried his best to escape, but was forced to tap out before going to sleep with just over 20 seconds remaining in the first round.
ROUND ONE SUBMISSION!!!@JohnnyWalker is BACK! #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/eWGhLRH0NH
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
REDEMPTION FOR THE WORM 😆 🪱 #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/L2IHBf95vV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 11, 2022
With the win, Walker snaps a two-fight skid, losing to Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill. Walker’s previous four wins under the UFC banner were all first-round stoppages from strikes, but this time he flashed his submission skills to secure victory.
On the other side, Cutelaba has now dropped two straight outings in the first round, entering Saturday’s contest on the heels of a submission loss to Ryan Spann in May. His last win came prior to that outing, defeating Devin Clark by unanimous decision last September.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 279 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
[listicle id=2579338]
Check out the best photos from Johnny Walker’s first-round submission win over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279 in Las Vegas.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]’s first-round submission win over [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] at UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photos by Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)
Check out these photos from the UFC 279 ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday in Las Vegas.
Check out these photos from the UFC 279 ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (Photos courtesy of Ken Hathaway – MMA Junkie)
Check out the photos from the UFC 279 official weigh-ins at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check out the photos from the UFC 278 official weigh-ins at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (Images by Ken Hathaway–MMA Junkie)
Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC 279 main card in Las Vegas.
| Chimaev vs. Diaz |
Ferguson vs. Jingliang |
Holland vs. Rodriguez |
Aldana vs. Chiasson |
Cutelaba vs. Walker |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 145-90 |
 Chimaev (55%) |
 Ferguson (51%) |
 Holland (65%) |
 Aldana (65%) |
 Walker (54%) |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 159-81  2018 Champion |
Chimaev |
 Jingliang |
 Rodriguez |
Aldana |
 Cutelaba |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 154-86 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Rodriguez |
Aldana |
Cutelaba |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 152-88 2014 Champion |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Holland |
 Chiasson |
Walker |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 149-91 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Holland |
Chiasson |
Walker |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 147-93 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Holland |
Chiasson |
Cutelaba |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 147-93 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Holland |
Aldana |
Walker |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 147-93 |
 Diaz |
Jingliang |
Holland |
Aldana |
Walker |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 142-98 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Holland |
Aldana |
Cutelaba |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 140-100 2017 Champion |
Chimaev |
Ferguson |
Rodriguez |
Aldana |
Cutelaba |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 129-111 |
Diaz |
Ferguson |
Holland |
Aldana |
Cutelaba |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 116-124 |
Chimaev |
Jingliang |
Rodriguez |
Aldana |
Cutelaba |
The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home base for a pay-per-view featuring a rising star against one of the sport’s most popular fighters.
UFC 279 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNEWS and early prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the welterweight main event, [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) takes on [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC), who is on the last fight of his UFC deal and is likely to move on from the promotion after this week. Chimaev is a massive -1200 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Diaz is +650. But despite the heavy odds in his favor, Chimaev isn’t a unanimous pick from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers. He has a big 9-2 picks lead, though.
The co-main event features the return of former interim lightweight champ [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) vs. [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) at welterweight, a division in which Ferguson is 14-2 overall. Jingliang is a big -340 favorite at the betting window and has a 9-2 edge in the picks. Our readers, though, are going counter to that and have underdog Ferguson with a slim lead.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite against [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in their middleweight bout and has a 7-4 lead in the picks.
“Ultimate Fighter” Season 28 women’s featherweight winner [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is a +145 underdog in her bantamweight bout against [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC). Aldana has a big 8-3 picks advantage.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-7-1 MMA, 5-6-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (18-7 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at light heavyweight. Cutelaba is a -210 favorite and has a 7-4 lead from our staff members. But it’s another fight in which our readers are bucking the trend and going opposite us by taking Walker.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Chimaev (55 percent), Ferguson (51 percent), Holland (65 percent), Aldana (65 percent) and Walker (54 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
[listicle id=2578639]
[listicle id=2578788]
Ion Cutelaba promises his fight with Johnny Walker will deliver at UFC 279.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] promises his fight with [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] will deliver.
Light heavyweights Cutelaba (16-7-1 MMA, 5-6-1 UFC) and Walker (18-7 MMA, 4-4 UFC) square off on Saturday’s UFC 279 pay-per-view main card opener at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Walker marks the second straight taller and rangier opponent that Cutelaba will face, but “The Hulk” said he will be ready.
“I’m actually not worried at all that he’s taller than me. I actually got myself some high heels,” Cutelaba told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC 279 media day. “I have a lot of respect for Johnny Walker just as a human being, and I know he’s a very strong opponent. But he is in my way, and I will make sure on Saturday that he’s not there anymore.”
Both men boast a high knockout rate, so Cutelaba expects someone to go down.
“Just look at me and look at Johnny – we’re both very chaotic and very explosive, so it’s definitely going to be a show,” Cutelaba said. “So just hang on and Saturday is going to be crazy.
“I know that he’s a very strong fighter, but I am stronger, so I’m going to remove him.”
UFC 279 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNEWS and early prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
[vertical-gallery id=446717]
[listicle id=2578788]
Take a look at the numbers behind Nate Diaz’s resume as he enters his likely final UFC bout vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279.
The final UFC pay-per-view of the summer goes down Saturday with UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
A highly-anticipated and polarizing matchup serves as the main event of the card in “Sin City.” Undefeated rising star [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will attempt to stay undefeated when he meets a legend of the game in [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC), who will fight out the final bout on his current UFC contract.
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 about UFC 279.
