UFC Fight Night 251 news: Rodolfo Vieira gets new opponent after Jacob Malkoun injury withdrawl

With Jacob Malkoun out with an injury, Rodolfo Vieira now has a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 251 in February.

[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag] will remain on UFC Fight Night 251 after all.

Vieira (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Jacob Malkoun at the event on Feb. 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but was forced out due to injury.

The BJJ specialist Vieira will get to keep the date and face a new opponent in [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag], who announced the news Tuesday on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEQnHJEyTbm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Petroski (12-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), coincidentally, started his 2024 with a loss to Malkoun in March. However, he rebounded nicely with a win over Josh Fremd in July, and made it back-to-back with a unanimous decision win over Dylan Budka in September.

Vieira also comes in as a winner of two straight. Following a submission loss to Chris Curtis in June 2022, Vieira got back to his grappling excellence and pulled of consecutive arm triangle choke victories over Cody Brundage and Armen Petrosyan.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 251 lineup includes:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia
  • Carli Judice vs. Juliana Miller
  • Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews
  • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
  • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker
  • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon

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UFC Fight Night 251 news: Jacob Malkoun out of bout vs. Rodolfo Vieira

Jacob Malkoun expressed his frustration after an injury forced him out of his scheduled UFC bout in February against Rodolfo Vieira.

UFC Fight Night 251 has lost one of its scheduled bouts.

[autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag] was scheduled to compete at the event on Feb. 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas against Rodolfo Vieria, but can no longer make the date.

Expressing his frustration, Malkoun (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) revealed on Instagram Stories that an undisclosed injury forced him out of the middleweight contest against Vieira (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

“I’m no longer fighting in Feb.,” Malkoun wrote. “I’m so frustrated that the injuries won’t let me show the world that I’m one of the best middleweights in the world. Maybe the years of grinding have caught up, maybe it’s not meant to be. Either way I’m still the mentally toughest guy out there so I won’t just quit, I will do everything in my power to get back and show the world the hard work and the god given talent I have.

“Maybe my path to greatness is supposed to be harder than most people, maybe it will make my will even stronger, only time will tell. I have faith GOD that he’s doing this for a reason and my faith will never waiver. I am blessed and trust the man above.”

Malkoun’s lone appearance in 2024 was a second-round finish of Andre Petroski in March at UFC on ESPN 54.

At the time of writing, it’s unclear if Vieira will remain on the card to face a replacement opponent.

The UFC Fight Night 251 lineup includes:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia
  • Carli Judice vs. Juliana Miller
  • Rodolfo Vieira vs. opponent TBA
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews
  • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
  • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker
  • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon

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Jacob Malkoun gives credit for bizarre UFC on ESPN 54 win over Andre Petroski to ‘crossface’

Jacob Malkoun got his first stoppage win in nearly five years when he beat Andre Petroski at UFC on ESPN 54.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – [autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag] beat Andre Petroski with a second-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Take a look inside the fight with Malkoun, who got back in the win column with his first stoppage win in nearly five years.

UFC on ESPN 54 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $24.5 million

UFC on ESPN 54 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.

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 on ESPN 54 took place at Boardwalk Hall. The main card aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 54 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rhys McKee[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Connor Matthews[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/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 $4,540; 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 $54,000 while title challengers get $54,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-54 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,842,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,579,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

UFC on ESPN 54 play-by-play, live results

Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC on ESPN 54 in Atlantic City.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – UFC on ESPN 54 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 54 (ESPN/ESPN+) took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

In the main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) took on Manon Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a likely women’s flyweight title eliminator. Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) took on Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in the welterweight co-feature, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned against Bruno Silva (23-11 MMA, 4-5 UFC).

Below, you can check out the results and play-by-play from UFC on ESPN 54.

UFC on ESPN 54 video: Jacob Malkoun scores TKO after Andre Petroski appears to stun himself with takedown attempt

Andre Petroski may have hurt himself on a takedown shot, but that didn’t stop Jacob Malkoun from capitalizing for the TKO at UFC on ESPN 54.

The finishing sequence was awkward, but that didn’t stop [autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag] from jumping at the opportunity to score a TKO victory.

In the second round of their preliminary middleweight bout at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., Andre Petroski shot in for a takedown on Malkoun (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), appearing to crash his head directly into the hip. Petroski (10-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) appeared stunned, and stumbled backward to the canvas.

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Malkoun recognized his opponent was hurt and rushed in to capitalize on the moment with follow-up punches until the referee called a stop to the fight.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

The result marked a return to the win column for Malkoun, who entered on the heels of a first-round loss to Cody Brundage in September. Petroski walks away with his second consecutive loss, both by stoppage.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC on ESPN 54 include:

  • Jacob Malkoun def. Andre Petroski via TKO – Round 2, 0:39
  • Caolan Loughran def. Angel Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

Jacob Malkoun def. Andre Petroski at UFC on ESPN 54: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Jacob Malkoun’s second-round TKO win over Andre Petroski at UFC on ESPN 54.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag]’s second-round TKO win over [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. (Fight and venue photos by Ed Mulholland, USA Today Sports)

UFC on ESPN 54 official weigh-in results: Fighter somehow gains weight between attempts, misses mark

The UFC on ESPN 54 weigh-ins ended oddly as Julio Arce somehow gained 0.25 pounds between attempts and his team was scratching their heads.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Ahead of Saturday’s fights at Boardwalk Hall, the 28 fighters involved in UFC on ESPN 54 hit the scales at the host hotel. One missed weight.

Atop the event, which airs on ESPN/ESPN+, is a pivotal women’s flyweight main event between top contenders [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

In the co-main event, welterweight standouts [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) and [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) collide. Also on the card, former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) attempts to reenter the win column against [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag] (23-10 MMA, 4-4 UFC).

All of those fighters made weight, but one from the prelims. [autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag] missed the featherweight limit after previously missing at bantamweight in April 2022. He was given two attempts and gained 0.25 pounds between attempts.

Arce’s re-weigh was the last weigh-in of the day. A different New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJSAC) representative than who weighed in the other 27 fighters and Arce’s first attempt, weighed in Arce the second time. This caused further frustration and disbelief from Arce’s team, who said they had weighed 146 on their own scale. Arce was fined 20 percent of his purse and the fight will continue as scheduled.

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Check out the full UFC on ESPN 54 weigh-ins results below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Erin Blanchfield (125) vs. Manon Fiorot (125.25)
  • Joaquin Buckley (170) vs. Vicente Luque (170)
  • Bruno Silva (186) vs. Chris Weidman (186)
  • Sedriques Dumas (185) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (185)
  • Bill Algeo (146) vs. Kyle Nelson (145)
  • Rhys McKee (170.25) vs. Chidi Njokuani (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Nate Landwehr (145.25) vs. Jamall Emmers (145)
  • Loopy Godinez (115) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115)
  • Julio Arce (147)* vs. Herbert Burns (145)
  • Dennis Buzukja (145.25) vs. Connor Matthews (145)
  • Ibo Aslan (205) vs. Anton Turkalj (205)
  • Viktoriia Dudakova (125) vs. Melissa Gatto (125)
  • Jacob Malkoun (185) vs. Andre Petroski (186)
  • Caolan Loughran (135) vs. Angel Pacheco (135)

* Arce missed featherweight limit by 1 pound; 20 percent fine

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Dec. 25-Dec. 31)

All the UFC 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.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Dec. 25-31.

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2023

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2023, according to the oddsmakers, across Bellator, the UFC, PFL and more.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2023, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds in the UFC, Bellator, PFL, and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers (and how the betting public responds) largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2023. Fights that were eligible were those that multiple major online sportsbooks recognized, and that Tapology recorded before the close of the betting line.

Promotions eligible include UFC, Bellator, PFL, KSW, DWCS, Road to UFC, and ONE Championship.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2023 below. Only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.