Tag: Jason Witt

Farewell, fighters: A list of former UFC champs and more MMA notables who retired in 2022

The MMA world said goodbye to more than 35 notable fighters in 2022, from former UFC champions to future UFC Hall of Famers and more.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently fighters from the era that helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves to move on to the next chapters in their lives.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete and, perhaps more importantly, get a payday will continue to drive fighters back, even well beyond their expiration dates.

In 2022, there was an uptick in notable fighters announcing they are retired, and we have a list of those who opted to walk away last year.

UFC parts ways with 12 fighters including Krzysztof Jotko, Misha Cirkunov, more

A dozen fighters are no longer on the UFC roster after a series of releases, retirements, and contract completions.

The UFC roster has been trimmed as a dozen fighters have parted ways with the promotion in the past three days.

While many of the departures were that of fighters who were two or three fights into their promotional tenure, two athletes with double digits in the promotion were among those to split.

News of the departures were first reported by algorithm-based Twitter account, UFC Roster Watch, which monitors the rankings-eligibility of the promotion’s roster.

Scroll below to read about the 12 fighters who are now free agents after leaving the UFC. The designation of each athlete’s departure, whether it be a release, a completion of contract, or a retirement, is unknown unless noted otherwise.

UFC on ESPN 41 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Headliners net $16,000 each

UFC on ESPN 41 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 41 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $195,000.

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 41 took place at Pechanga Arena. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 41 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]David Onama[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Iasmin Lucindo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Martin Buday[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Lukasz Brzeski[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nina Nunes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Charlie Ontiveros[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
vs. [autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/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 $41,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-41 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,588,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,755,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 41.

UFC on ESPN 41 salaries: Marlon Vera leads the way with $300,000 payday in San Diego

Salaries for UFC on ESPN 41 are out, thanks to the California State Athletic Commission, one of the only commissions still releasing them.

Many commissions no longer release fighter pay to the public, but the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is one of them.

With UFC on ESPN 41 in the books, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed payouts from CSAC executive director Andy Foster. Five fighters received six-figure paydays, including headliners [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag].

Other fighters who received six-figure paydays included [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag], [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag], and [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag].

Check out the full list of UFC on ESPN 41 salaries below. It’s important to note the figures are disclosed payouts only, and do not include performance bonuses, discretionary bonuses, or sponsor pay.

UFC on ESPN 41 video: Josh Quinlan melts Jason Witt with one-punch knockout

Josh Quinlan had a memorable octagon debut on Saturday when he viciously knocked out Jason Witt at UFC on ESPN 41.

SAN DIEGO – [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag] had a memorable octagon debut on Saturday when he viciously knocked out [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 41.

Quinlan (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) landed a picture-perfect left hook in the opening round of his 180-pound catchweight fight with Witt (19-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC), which took place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

After the fight, Quinlan explained why he didn’t want to land a follow-up shot on his already unconscious opponent.

“I’m not trying to hurt people in here,” Quinlan said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I just want to do my best.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 41.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (June 13-19)

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 June 13-19.

UFC Fight Night 200 video: Phil Rowe seizes moment, stops Jason Witt by TKO

Phil Rowe needed just a singular moment to shut the lights off on Jason Witt at UFC Fight Night 200.

[autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag] needed just a singular moment to shut the lights off on [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 200.

Witt (19-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) started the welterweight fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in strong fashion. He put his grappling to use and grounded Rowe (9-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) for the majority of the opening stanza, establishing a clear path to victory.

Rowe had other plans, however, and when the fight restarted in the second frame, he remained patient through Witt’s attempt at wrestling. Once he got back up to his feet, he unleashed a three-strike combination followed by a hammerfist that forced the referee to stop the fight at the 2:15 mark of Round 2.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

With back-to-back knockout victories now on his resume, Rowe said know he’s still a youngster in the fight game but will do his best to keep improving.

“One hundred percent, I knew he would try to take me down,” Rowe said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I don’t get warmed up until the second round, as everyone can see.”

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UFC on ESPN 28 predictions: Uriah Hall or Sean Strickland in middleweight showdown?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 28 main card, featuring Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland.

Hall
vs.
Strickland		 Kang
vs.
Yahya		 Buys
vs.
De Paula		 Gooden
vs.
Stolze		 Adashev
vs.
Benoit		 Barberena
vs.
Witt
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 111-66		 hall2021
Hall
(61%)		 yahya2021
Yahya
(62%)		 buys2021
Buys
(77%)		 stolze2021
Stolze
(61%)		 benoit2021
Benoit
(74%)		 barberena2021
Barberena
(86%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 112-65
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 depaula2021
De Paula		 gooden2021
Gooden		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 109-68		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 adashev2021
Adashev		 barberena2021
Barberena
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 109-68		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 adashev2021
Adashev		 barberena2021
Barberena
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 108-69
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 hall2021
Hall		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 107-70
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 hall2021
Hall		 yahya2021
Yahya		 depaula2021
De Paula		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 106-71		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 106-71		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 105-72		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 105-72
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 104-73		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 103-74		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 100-77		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 gooden2021
Gooden		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 36-25		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 strickland2021
Strickland -225		 kang2021
Kang -135		 buys2021
Buys -165		 stolze2021
Stolze -200		 benoit2021
Benoit -140		 barberena2021
Barberena -275

The UFC stays in its Las Vegas home base this week with a fight between a pair of surging middleweights.

UFC on ESPN 28 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (17-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC) takes on [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) at 185 pounds. Both fighters come in with four-fight winning streaks, but it’s Strickland with a sizable betting advantage at -225 at BetMGM, and he’s got a big 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Kyung Ho Kang[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets jiu-jitsu ace [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag] (27-10-1 MMA, 12-4-1 UFC) at bantamweight. Kang is the slight favorite at -135, and he’s got just a narrow 7-6 lead in the picks in our most contentious fight.

[autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) both are looking for their first UFC wins in a women’s strawweight fight. Buys, from South Africa, is a -165 favorite and has a big 11-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is stepping up on short notice to take on [autotag]Niklas Stolze[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at welterweight. Stolze is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and he’s got an 11-2 edge from our pickers.

[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) in a flyweight bout. And despite just a -140 nod from the oddsmakers and betting public for Benoit, he’s running away with the picks at 11-2.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is the biggest favorite at -275 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag] (18-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC). He’s also our lone unanimous pick at 13-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Hall (61 percent), Yahya (62 percent), Buys (77 percent), Stolze (61 percent), Benoit (74 percent) and Barberena (86 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

UFC Fight Night 187 medical suspensions: Belal Muhammad faces 30 days after eye poke

Belal Muhammad isn’t facing a long time off after suffering a nasty eye poke against Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 187.

[mm-video type=video id=01f0rk9xdw5jzbn5hn playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f0rk9xdw5jzbn5hn/01f0rk9xdw5jzbn5hn-0004b90e420f9325ab0f18363a480e2c.jpg]

Thankfully, [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] isn’t facing a potentially long medical suspension coming out of UFC Fight Night 187.

Muhammad’s first headliner vs. Leon Edwards was ruled a no contest after Edwards accidentally poked him in the eye 18 seconds into the second round of their welterweight fight. Visibly in pain, Muhammad was unable to continue and, as a result, the fight was stopped without a winner.

Muhammad (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) was able to provide a positive update shortly after, stating that he suffered no permanent damage to his eye and was slowly starting to get his vision back. The medical report supports his claim as Muhammad will be prohibited from any contact for 21 days with no contest for 30 days, until he receives doctor clearance for his right eye.

MMA Junkie on Tuesday obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC Fight Night 187 medical suspensions includes:

  • [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • Belal Muhammad: Must have right eye cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 30 days; minimum suspension is 21 days.
  • [autotag]Misha Cirkunov[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Darren Stewart[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: Must have left eye cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 30 days.
  • [autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right ear is cleared by ENT.
  • [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: Must have maxillofacial bones fractures cleared by maxillofacial surgeon and left lamina papyracea cleared by an ophthalmologist, otherwise suspended 180 days.
  • [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left scalp laceration.
  • [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ray Rodriguez[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until left fibula X-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right elbow X-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Cortney Casey[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until right foot and right hand X-rays are cleared by orthopedic doctor; also suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]J.J. Aldrich[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jinh Yu Frey[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.

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