UFC 285 post-event facts: Jon Jones enters a class of his own with heavyweight title win

The numbers show Jon Jones stands in rarified air after making it 15-0 in title fights when he claimed heavyweight gold at UFC 285.

The biggest UFC event of 2023 thus far delivered in spades Saturday with UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 14-fight lineup featured eight finishes and two new champions crowned.

In the main event, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) returned from a 37-month layoff and joined an exclusive club of two-division titleholders. The former longtime light heavyweight champion captured heavyweight gold with a first-round submission of [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC).

The co-headliner saw [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) pull off one of the biggest title-fight upsets in recent memory when she dethroned [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (23-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) with a fourth-round submission to capture the women’s flyweight title.

For more on the numbers coming out of both championship contests, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 285.

UFC 285 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Jon Jones nets $32,000 in octagon return

Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane both received an equal $32,000 in UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay for their UFC 285 title fight.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 285 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $282,500.

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 285 took place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 285 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: $6,000
def.[autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ian Garry[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mana Martinez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Farid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/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.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,440,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $15,959,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

UFC 285 video: Tabatha Ricci submits Jessica Penne with slick armbar, declares start of ‘Baby Shark’ era

Tabatha Ricci’s first octagon stoppage came in impressive fashion against former title challenger Jessica Penne at UFC 285.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]’s first octagon stoppage came in impressive fashion against former title challenger [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] at UFC 285.

Ricci (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was the first of Saturday’s event to finish a fight inside the distance when she tapped out Penne (13-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) with an armbar in the second round of their strawweight bout at T-Mobile Arena.

“Baby Shark” looked great essentially from beginning to end, dominating Penne in all areas before a final takedown to the mat got her in position to lock in the submission for the win at the 2:14 mark of Round 2.

Check out the replay of Ricci’s victory below (via Twitter):

Ricci’s victory over Penne marked her third consecutive triumph inside the octagon. The 28-year-old has some momentum on her side at 115 pounds and said big things are ahead.

“This is the start of the ‘Baby Shark’ era,” Ricci told Joe Rogan during their post-fight interview.

The latest UFC 285 results include:

  • Tabatha Ricci def. Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 2:14.
  • Farid Basharat def. Da’Mon Blackshear unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Loik Radzhabov def. Esteban Ribovics unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Tabatha Ricci honored to fight ‘OG’ Jessica Penne at UFC 285: ‘It’s going to be a big step for me’

Tabatha Ricci expects a win over former title challenger Jessica Penne at UFC 285 to catapult her career.

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag] expects a win over [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] to catapult her career.

Ricci (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) faces Penne (14-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at UFC 285 on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Penne is a former Invicta FC atomweight champion and a former UFC title challenger. She was part of “The Ultimate Fighter” season in 2014 that crowned an inaugural strawweight champion, so Ricci considers her a pioneer.

“For me, it’s an honor to be fighting Jessica because she’s one of the OGs in the division,” Ricci told MMA Junkie Radio. “She started the division and I think she was the first one to fight for the strawweight belt against Joanna (Jedrzejczyk).

“She fought a lot of good girls – Jessica Andrade, all the top five, top 10 – so it’s an honor to be sharing the cage with her. She has a lot of experience. She has more fights than me, so it’s going to be a big step for me, a big challenge. But I’m ready and I’m very excited for this fight. I think we’re really going to put on a show.”

After she dropped her UFC debut to No. 1 flyweight contender Manon Fiorot, Ricci picked up back-to-back wins over Maria Oliveira and Polyana Viana, who’s currently No. 15 in the UFC’s strawweight rankings. So with a win over Penne, Ricci hopes she lands a spot in the rankings.

“I would say I’m right in the edge to get in the rankings,” Ricci said. “I just fought Polyana, and I had a victory against her and I just saw that she got in the top 15 rankings. I think I’m supposed to be right there because I got a win against her and she’s in the top 15. So maybe after this fight, they have to put me up there.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

UFC books Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci for March 4 event

A pair of strawweights will face each other early next year as the UFC has booked Jessica Penne against Tabatha Ricci. 

A pair of strawweights will face each other early next year as the UFC has booked [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] against [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag].

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie that Penne (14-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) and Ricci (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will meet March 4 at an event expected to be UFC 285 from a location to be determined. The people requested anonymity since the promotion has yet to make an announcement.

Penne, 39, is a former UFC strawweight title contender coming off a unanimous decision loss to Emily Ducote in her only fight of 2022. Prior to that, Penne was on a two-fight winning streak – against Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Loopy Godinez – as she returned from a nearly four-year layoff.

Ricci, 27, is just nine fights into her professional career with three UFC appearances. She lost her promotional debut by second-round TKO to Manon Fiorot but has since rebounded with back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Maria Oliveira and most recently Polyana Viana this past May in her only fight of the year.

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Jessica Penne illness scraps UFC Fight Night 211 bout with Tabatha Ricci

The day before the event, UFC Fight Night 211 has lost a women’s bout.

The day before the event, UFC Fight Night 211 has lost a women’s bout.

An illness has taken [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) out of her women’s strawweight bout against [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). The fight had been set for the prelims. UFC officials made the announcement just prior to the start of the card’s official weigh-ins.

UFC Fight Night 211 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+. The loss of the Penne-Ricci fight takes the event down to 12 bouts.

Penne stepped in for the fight with Ricci just a month ago when Cheyanne Vlismas pulled out of the bout. But now, after the opponent switch, Ricci is left without a fight at all. It is not yet known if the UFC will reschedule the matchup.

Penne is 2-1 since returning from a layoff of nearly four years in April 2021. The 39-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Emily Ducote at UFC on ABC 3 in July. Prior to that, she beat Loopy Godinez and had a first-round armbar submission of Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Ricci is on a two-fight winning streak. Since dropping her UFC debut to flyweight contender Manon Fiorot, the 27-year-old Brazilian has beaten Maria Oliveira and Polyana Viana.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 211.

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With Cheyanne Vlismas out, Jessica Penne steps in to face Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night 211

Jessica Penne will return to action in October when she steps in to face Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night 211.

[autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] will return to action in October.

Vlismas has been forced out of UFC Fight Night 211 due to personal reasons and Penne (14-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) will step in to face [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag] (7-1, 2-1 UFC) on Oct. 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the replacement but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Dama de Ferro MMA was first to report the booking.

Penne is 2-1 since returning from a layoff of nearly four years in April 2021. The 39-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Emily Ducote at UFC on ABC 3 in July. Prior to that, she scored two straight wins over Loopy Godinez and a first-round armbar of Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Ricci is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. Since dropping her UFC debut to flyweight contender Manon Fiorot, the 27-year-old Brazilian has defeated Maria Oliveira and Polyana Viana.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 211 lineup now includes:

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan
  • Brendan Allen vs. Krzysztof Jotko
  • Randy Brown vs. Francisco Trinaldo
  • Cody Garbrandt vs. Rani Yahya
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. Trevin Jones
  • Chris Daukaus vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
  • Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
  • Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci
  • Guido Cannetti vs. Randy Costa
  • Chelsea Chandler vs. Julija Stoliarenko
  • John Castaneda vs. Daniel Santos
  • Jesse Ronson vs. Joaquim Silva
  • Mike Davis vs. Uros Medic

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Photos: UFC on ABC 3 ceremonial weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the UFC on ABC 3 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Check out these photos from the UFC on ABC 3 ceremonial weigh-ins which took place at the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photos courtesy of Gregory Payan, AP Images)

Invicta FC champion Emily Ducote signs with UFC, fights Jessica Penne on Long Island

Emily Ducote didn’t want to be defined by her 2021 Knockout of the Year candidate – and now she has the chance to make new viral moments in the UFC.

Invicta FC strawweight champion [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag] is turning in her titleholder status for a pair of UFC gloves.

With [autotag]Brianna Fortino[/autotag] out of UFC on ABC 3 for undisclosed reasons, Ducote (11-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will step in to fight [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) on approximately six weeks’ notice. The event takes place July 16 at UBS Arena in Elmwood, N.Y. with the main card airing on ABC.

Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup Wednesday to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Ducote, 28, has won five of six outings since her Bellator departure in 2018 and subsequent drop down to 115 pounds. In August, she won the then-vacant Invicta FC strawweight championship with a Knockout of the Year headkick against former UFC fighter Danielle Taylor. She successfully defended her title for the first time in May when she defeated Alesha Zappitella by TKO due to doctor stoppage.

Penne, 39, is a former UFC women’s strawweight title challenger on a two-fight winning streak. Following a three-fight skid and a lengthy USADA suspension, Penne returned from hiatus in April 2021 and won back-to-back fights against Lupita Godinez and Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

With the addition, the UFC on ABC 3 lineup includes:

  • Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez
  • Askar Askarov vs. Alex Perez
  • Jack Shore vs. Ricky Simon
  • Amanda Lemos vs. Michelle Waterson
  • Bill Algeo vs. Billy Quarantillo
  • Li Jingliang vs. Muslim Salikhov
  • Matt Schnell vs. Su Mudaerji
  • Dwight Grant vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Khusein Askhabov vs. Herbert Burns
  • Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Puna Soriano
  • Dustin Jacoby vs. Da-un Jung
  • Emily Ducote vs. Jessica Penne

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What happened to the cast of ‘The Ultimate Fighter 20’?

Seven-and-a-half years and 10 seasons later, Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza are about to rematch for gold at UFC 274.

A lot can change in seven-and-a-half-years. A lot has changed in seven-and-a-half years. But still, some things stay the same.

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] and [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] will meet in a rematch for the strawweight championship this Saturday at UFC 274. Their first title fight was the culmination of “The Ultimate Fighter 20” reality series that featured 16 women vying for the inaugural UFC strawweight title. And on Dec. 12, 2014, it was Esparza who submitted Namajunas in the third round to claim gold at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale in Las Vegas.

Now, in the rematch, it’ll be Namajunas putting her 115-pound title on the line against Esparza, who marvels at the fact that the two of them get to do this all over again.

“To be fighting the same person for the title, it’s wild,” Esparza said. “Going back to our ‘Ultimate Fighter’ season, a lot of the people from the show – some aren’t even fighting anymore. Some have retired; some are no longer with the UFC. So, it’s crazy that not only are we both still here, we’re fighting for the title. It just brings back a lot of memories from the first time.”

This begs the question: Whatever happened to the ladies featured on “TUF 20”? Below is a quick look at each cast member.