Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Joselyne Edwards booked for UFC Fight Night on Oct. 23

Jessica-Rose Clark returns from an ACL injury to fight Joselyne Edwards.

[autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag] is finally making her return to the octagon.

The Australian fighter has been booked to meet [autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag] in a women’s bantamweight contest at UFC Fight Night on Oct. 23. The location for the card has yet to be announced by the promotion. The news was first reported by ESPN on Friday.

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Clark (10-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) returns to the cage after suffering an ACL injury late last year. She last competed at UFC Fight Night 178 in September 2020 when she defeated Sarah Alpar by third-round TKO. Prior to that, the 33-year-old was on a two-fight losing skid.

Meanwhile, Edwards (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has her first full training camp ahead of a UFC bout. The Panamanian made her UFC debut on short notice in January, defeating Wu Yanan in a unanimous decision. She returned to the cage three weeks later once again on short notice, losing to Karol Rosa.

Edwards is the first fighter from Panama to have a win in the UFC.

With the addition, the current lineup includes:

  • Randa Markos vs. Livinha Souza
  • Daniel Lacerda vs. Jeff Molina
  • Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Joselyne Edwards

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UFC on ESPN+ 36 medical suspensions: Tyron Woodley, Sarah Alpar, two others face 180-day terms

Three main card fighters and one prelim fighter are facing lengthy suspensions.

Former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] is among four fighters facing potential 180-day medical suspensions as a result of damage sustained at UFC on ESPN+ 36 on Saturday.

Woodley suffered a rib injury in the fifth round of his main event fight against [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], which resulted in a TKO. Monday, Woodley revealed his ribs were broken earlier in the fight and shifted on a fifth-round guillotine choke submission attempt, which led to the finish.

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

Joining Woodley on the list of UFC on ESPN+ 36 fighters facing potential six-month suspensions is co-headliner [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag], who fought to a draw with [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]. Price may have suffered a serious injury to his right hand, according to the medical records.

[autotag]Randa Markos[/autotag], who was submitted by [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] via armbar in the first round of their main card fight, injured her elbow and will need clearance to compete before her 180-day term is up.

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Preliminary card fighter and UFC debutant [autotag]Sarah Alpar[/autotag] suffered a nasal fracture as a result of damage sustained against [autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag]. The finish garnered attention from many reporters and viewers alike, including UFC president Dana White. Midway through Round 3, referee Chris Tognoni stopped the fight for a legal knee. The action resumed, but Alpar was finished with strikes shortly thereafter.

Alpar has also been suspended 180 days – or until a doctor grants her clearance.

Below is the full list of UFC on ESPN+ 36 medical suspensions:

  • Colby Covington: No suspension.
  • Tyron Woodley: Suspended 180 days or until left costochondral tear is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Donald Cerrone: No suspension.
  • Niko Price: Suspended 180 days or until right hand X-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Mackenzie Dern: No suspension.
  • Randa Markos: Suspended 180 days or until left elbow is cleared by doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left eyebrow laceration.
  • [autotag]Darren Stewart[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: Suspended for 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to right foot pain.
  • [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag]: Suspended for 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to left tibia contusion.
  • [autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Mara Borella[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • Jessica-Rose Clark: No suspension.
  • Sarah Alpar: Suspended 180 days or until nasal fracture is cleared by ENT doctor; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 15 days.
  • [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]T.J. Laramie[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Randy Costa[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days due to left eye laceration.
  • [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to facial lacerations.
  • [autotag]Irwin Rivera[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to facial abrasions.
  • [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jerome Rivera[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.

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UFC on ESPN+ 36 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone gets highest payout

UFC on ESPN+ 36 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 36 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $169,000.

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+ 36 took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 36 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]: $20,000
vs. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Randa Markos[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Darren Stewart[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Mara Borella[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sarah Alpar[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]TJ Laramie[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Randy Costa[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Irwin Rivera[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jerome Rivera[/autotag]: $3,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

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 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,598,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $35,603,000

Dana White vents at officiating in Jessica-Rose Clark’s UFC on ESPN+ 36 win

Dana White again voiced frustration toward referee Chris Tognoni after Jessica-Rose Clark’s TKO of Sarah Alpar at UFC on ESPN+ 36.

UFC president Dana White voiced frustration toward referee Chris Tognoni after a controversial call in [autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag]’s TKO win over [autotag]Sarah Alpar[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 36.

There was a curious moment in Clark’s (9-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) third-round finish of Alpar (9-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Saturday’s card, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Clark landed a big knee in the midst of the contest just as Alpar was falling backwards on her butt.

In real time, it appeared Clark may have landed an illegal strike to a grounded opponent, but replays showed it to be clean. Instead of awarding Clark her fight-ending moment right there, though, Tognoni called for a restart. Clark continued to batter Alpar and finished the fight not long after, but not before Alpar absorbed a beating which left the mat smeared with blood.

The UFC president wasn’t pleased with how it played out, and said UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner is pushing for the commission to change how such instances are handled.

“It’s a horrible situation,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN+ 36. “Fight should’ve been over. That fight should’ve been over just like last week. She got finished. She got stopped. If you have to jump in and look at her and do anything – her nose was broken. That was a finish. That should’ve been a finish. I know Marc Ratner is all over this. It’s just something that needs to be worked out. When you get stopped, and these kids are so tough and durable. That poor little girl fought her ass off again after she was able to continue. This just needs to be fixed. They gotta figure this out.”

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In the immediate aftermath of the fight, the Nevada Athletic Commission released a statement to TSN reporter Aaron Bronsteter explaining the commission’s stance on what happened.

“It was a legal strike,” the statement read. “They paused the fight because they thought it was a knee to a grounded opponent. They went to the replay and confirmed that it was a legal strike. The fight was never officially stopped. Sarah Alpar was asked if she could continued and she wanted to continue, she said, ‘Yes.’ Under NAC rules, the bout can continue after the replay since the fight was only temporarily paused and never officially stopped.”

Nevertheless, White said the entire sequence pointed to underlying issues in the sport. He’d glad Tognoni’s refereeing didn’t allow a crazy turnaround of fortune like what happened in Ed Herman’s win over Mike Rodriguez last weekend, and White said he just wants these moments to be handled properly.

“I’m in favor of whatever’s gonna be fair,” White said. “If someone won a fight, like last week should’ve been stopped. Thank God (Clark) didn’t turn around and lose the fight this week. It’s just crazy.”

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Greg Hardy, four others face lengthy medical suspensions after UFC on ESPN+ 21

Greg Hardy is potentially out up to 180 days after injuring his hand at UFC Moscow.

[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] is one of five fighters facing lengthy medical suspensions after UFC on ESPN+ 21.

The event took place Nov. 9 at CSKA Arena in Moscow and streamed on ESPN+.

One half of the co-main event, Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) dropped a three-round, unanimous decision to heavyweight contender [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]. As speculated on the broadcast, Hardy injured his right hand/wrist and faces a 180-day medical suspension as a result.

Additionally, four other fighters have been handed out six-month suspensions. [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag], [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], [autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag], and [autotag]Grigorii Popov[/autotag] were also handed 180-day suspensions for injuries sustained in their respective losses.

Check out the entire UFC on ESPN+ 21 medical suspension list below (acquired via MixedMartialArts.com):

  • [autotag]Grigorii Popov[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until nasal x-ray is cleared by physician; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Jessica-Rose Clark[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by ENT physician; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
  • [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Alexander Yakovlev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until left elbow x-ray is cleared by physician; also suspended 14 days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for right eyelid laceration with 21 days no contact
  • [autotag]Rustam Khabilov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Sergey Khandozhko[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag]: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by OMF physician; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Shamil Gamzatov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Ramazan Emeev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for nasal laceration with no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Khadis Ibragimov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Ed Herman[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for hard bout with 21 days no contact
  • [autotag]Zelim Imadaev[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for right temple laceration with 21 days no contact
  • Alexander Volkov: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • Greg Hardy: Suspended 180 days or until right hand/wrist x-ray is cleared by physician; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Zabit Magomedsharipov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest
  • [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for hard bout with 21 days no contact

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