Tag: Irina Alekseeva

Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Sygula added to UFC’s expected debut event in Azerbaijan

“Russian Ronda” Irina Alekseeva returns in June.

“Russian Ronda” [autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag] returns in June.

Alekseeva (5-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Klaudia Sygula[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on June 21, which is expected to take place at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup. The promotion made an official announcement of the card Friday.

Alekseeva has split her first two UFC appearances. After submitting Stephanie Egger with a kneebar in her octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 223, Alekseeva lost a unanimous decision to Melissa Mullins in October 2023. Alekseeva was given a 12-month suspension after testing positive for elevated testosterone, indicating exogenous administration, from a urine sample collected on June 21, 2023. Alekseeva was suspended until Oct. 15, 2024, one year retroactive to the day after her fight.

Sygula was stopped by Melissa Mullins in her UFC debut this past November. The setback snapped the 26-year-old Polish fighter’s six-fight winning streak.

The latest lineup for the card now includes:

  • Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree
  • Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
  • Ismail Naurdiev vs. JunYong Park
  • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Mohammed Usman
  • Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Sygula

NAC hands suspensions to Bellator’s Jay Jay Wilson, UFC’s Irina Alekseeva for failed drug tests

Two fighter suspensions were issued during the latest Nevada Athletic Commission meeting on Tuesday.

Two fighter suspensions were issued during the latest Nevada Athletic Commission meeting.

Bellator lightweight [autotag]Jay Jay Wilson[/autotag] and UFC women’s bantamweight [autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag] both received suspensions for failed drug tests, the NAC announced Tuesday.

Wilson (10-1) tested positive for metenolone, an androgen and anabolic steroid prohibited on the World Anti-Doping Agency list, in a urine sample collected April 1 prior to his then-scheduled bout against Adam Piccolotti at 2024 PFL 2.

He was given a nine-month suspension retroactive to the date of the failed drug test and will be eligible to compete on Jan. 1, 2025. Wilson will also have to pay $157 in prosecution fees.

Alekseeva (5-1, 1-1 UFC) was given a 12-month suspension after testing positive for elevated testosterone, indicating exogenous administration, from a urine sample collected on June 21, 2023.

The suspension is retroactive to when she was notified about the failure, which came after a loss to Melissa Millins on Oct. 14, 2023 at a UFC Fight Night event. She’ll be eligible to compete again Oct. 15. On top of the suspension, Alekseeva was fined $157.

According to the UFC, former anti-doping partner U.S. Anti-Doping Agency handled Alekseeva’s drug test in an “unacceptable” manner that resulted in layers of confusion.

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UFC suspends ‘Russian Ronda’ Irina Alekseeva for testosterone; indicates USADA bungled handling

The UFC calls former partner USADA’s handling of a 2023 situation “unacceptable.”

Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) has suspended “Russian Ronda” [autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag] for 12 months for elevated levels of testosterone consistent with exogenous administration.

According to the UFC, however, former anti-doping partner USADA handled the matter in an “unacceptable” manner that resulted in layers of confusion.

The positive drug test sample was collected over one year ago on June 21, 2023, while USADA was still overseeing drug testing.

The UFC said Friday that USADA did not notify Alekseeva of the failure for over four months after the sample was collected. Alekseeva was eventually notified on Oct. 31, but not before she competed against Melissa Mullins on Oct. 14. Alekseeva lost the bout by unanimous decision.

“While CSAD was not the independent administrator of the UFC ADP during the above-described time period, CSAD recognizes the importance of promptly reporting results on samples collected in the months and weeks leading up to a UFC event BEFORE the event takes place,” the organization said Friday. “CSAD also recognizes that positive results reported out more than 4-months after a sample is collected, and where the athlete is allowed to compete in a UFC bout in the interim, is unacceptable.”

Due to the unusual nature of the case, Alekseeva’s cooperation, passing three drug tests before the failure, and passing three drug tests between the failure and notification, CSAD lowered the fighter’s perceived level of fault.

Alekseeva will be suspended until Oct. 15, 2024, one year retroactive to the day after her fight. CSAD said this date was chosen as it is the one-year mark of Alekseeva truly being inactive, as she competed Oct. 14, 2023.

“Under the UFC Anti-Doping Program, CSAD, in its sole discretion may suspend all or any part of ineligibility and other consequences imposed in an individual case in which it has results management authority where the athlete has provided full and complete cooperation, where the athlete did not intend to enhance their performance and has provided full, prompt and truthful responses and information,” CSAD said. “CSAD has determined that Alekseeva’s efforts and the evidence of this case, fits these criteria, and thus CSAD is reducing the sanction against her to 12-months.”

Since the failure came in the lead up to a bout in Las Vegas, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) may take additional action. Alekseeva has not yet been on the agenda at monthly commission meetings, but could be July 30, when the next one takes place.

Alekseeva nor her team have commented on the matter publicly.

MMA Junkie has reached out to USADA for comment. The story will be updated to reflect comment should it be received.

UFC Fight Night 230 post-event facts: Edson Barboza sets record for Fight of the Night bonuses

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 230, where Edson Barboza set a new record for most Fight of the Night bonuses.

The UFC’s second event of October got off to a slow start, but UFC Fight Night 230 closed with one of the best fights of the year.

The main event saw [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) rally from a vicious first-round beatdown to secure a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a thrilling Fight of the Night matchup of ranked featherweights.

Check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from that fight and the rest of the UFC Fight Night 230 card from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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UFC Fight Night 230 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $21 million

UFC Fight Night 230 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 230 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $167,500.

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 Fight Night 230 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 230 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jennifer Maia[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]TJ Brown[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tainara Lisboa[/autotag]: $4,000
def. autotag]Ravena Oliveira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brendon Marotte[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Melissa Dixon[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Heili Alateng[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag]: $11,000

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 2301 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.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,651,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $21,170,00

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 17-23)

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 or officially announced by a promotion from July 17-23

‘Russian Ronda’ Irina Alekseeva explains weight miss and subsequent allergic reaction

Irina Alekseeva won her promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 223, but the win for the “Russian Ronda” was marred by a weight miss.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag] beat Stephanie Egger with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 223 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Alekseeva, the judo specialist nicknamed the “Russian Ronda” as comparison to Ronda Rousey.

UFC Fight Night 223 post-event facts: Song Yadong climbs KO list at 135 pounds

Check out the numbers to come out UFC Fight Night 223, where Song Yadong climbed the bantamweight knockout list with a main event finish.

The UFC closed its April schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 223 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The card, which was thin on paper, saw [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (20-7-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) shine in the main event when he outworked and eventually finished [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) with a fifth-round TKO in their bantamweight showdown.

For more on the numbers to come out of the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 223.

UFC Fight Night 223 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Marcos Rogerio de Lima tops card with $16k

UFC Fight Night 223 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 223 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $144,500.

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 Fight Night 223 took place at the UFC Apex. The main card streamed on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.

The full UFC Fight Night 223 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Caio Borralho[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Waters[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Martin Buday[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jake Collier[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Irina Alekseeva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Stephanie Egger[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marcus McGhee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Hailey Cowan[/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 2231 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.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,556,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $17,145,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.

UFC Fight Night 223 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC Fight Night 223 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 223 took place Saturday with 11 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 223 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.