Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
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 Feb. 6-12.
We’ll find out how Bryce Mitchell responds to the first loss of his career when he meets the streaking Jonathan Pearce.
How will UFC featherweight standout [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] respond to the first loss of his career? We’ll find out in May.
Mitchell (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has booked his next fight against the streaking [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for a UFC event May 6. The card does not yet have a known location or venue, but reportedly will be UFC 288.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie, but asked to remain anonymous since the UFC has yet to announce the fight. Instagram user BRKRZ was first to share the news.
Mitchell, 28, started his MMA career 15-0 until his first loss in his most recent fight, a second-round submission to Ilia Topuria this past December at UFC 282. Afterward, Mitchell chalked up his performance to a bout with the flu that he said disrupted his training camp. He said he regretted going through with the fight and added that he had no choice because of financial woes. Despite the setback, Mitchell remains No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings.
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While unranked Pearce, 30, is considered a step down in competition, he’s been on the rise ever since he lost his UFC debut in October 2019. Pearce, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, has won five fights in a row, including three in 2022: a decision vs. Christian Rodriguez, a TKO of Makwan Amirkhani and a decision vs. Darren Elkins in his most recent fight this past December.
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Following a sneaky good 3-0 run, UFC featherweight Jonathan Pearce is MMA Junkie’s 2022 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year.
It’s time to take a moment to acknowledge [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]’s 2022 before the page is turned and the new schedule of fights for 2023 gets underway.
The UFC featherweight didn’t win a championship belt, didn’t headline a UFC event, didn’t finish 2022 in the UFC’s official rankings – heck, he didn’t even break 10,000 followers on Instagram. But that doesn’t take away the fact Pearce (14-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) had a successful year, but more importantly, one that looks to be the beginning of something much bigger.
Pearce put together three consecutive wins in 2022 to improve his current streak to five in a row. Through that process, Pearce quietly grew from a 2-1 UFC rookie into a legit prospect at 145 pounds.
Pearce began the year in February when he stepped in the octagon to fight Christian Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night 201. He quickly took control of the bout and maintained it throughout, using his size, relentless pressure and solid grappling skills to notch a convincing unanimous decision win.
Pearce then got a big step up when he made his return in July. The Tennessee native flew across the pond to face fan favorite Makwan Amirkhani in London in what many perceived to be a showcase bout for “Mr. Finland.” But Pearce had other plans. In a fairly quick fight, Pearce put a beating on Amirkhani from the very start, badly battering him with ground-and-pound before scoring a TKO in Round 2.
The victory earned Pearce a $50,000 Performance of the Night check and began turning the wheels in the minds of some analysts and pundits.
Pearce clocked in one more win before he closed out the year. Pearce took on Darren Elkins at UFC on ESPN 42 and beat the gritty veteran at his own game, fearlessly locking up and outlasting him to win another unanimous decision.
Within a year, Pearce got a clear escalation in competition in his 3-0 run, and each time he answered the call while showing evolution.
Pearce worked all of 2022 in the prelims and never tasted the light of a UFC main card. His body of work didn’t catch the eyes of the official UFC rankings panel, major attention from media outlets or any grand hype from the MMA fanbase, yet, it’s undeniable he’s a player in the making at featherweight and a tough outing for anyone with a number next to his name.
That’s why Pearce is MMA Junkie’s Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year and should be in your list of fighters to watch for 2023.
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Rafael dos Anjos became the first fighter in history to log eight hours of octagon fight time in his win at UFC on ESPN 42.
The UFC returned to Orlando, Fla., for the first time in nearly four years Saturday with UFC on ESPN 42, which took place at Amway Center and saw nine out of 14 fights end in a stoppage.
Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) earned the most memorable result of all in the main event. The longtime welterweight contender went to war with Kevin Holland (23-9 MMA, 9-6 UFC). He emerged on top by fourth-round TKO due to corner stoppage and netted another Fight of the Night award in the process.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 42.
UFC on ESPN 42 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.
ORLANDO – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 42 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $297,500.
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 on ESPN 42 took place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN 42 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Genaro Valdez[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Istela Nunes[/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 $42,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-42 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $7,932,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,109,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.
Jonathan Pearce opened a horrific gash on Darren Elkins en route to a lopsided win at UFC on ESPN 42.
[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] opened a horrific gash on [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag] en route to a lopsided win at UFC on ESPN 42.
Pearce (14-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) earned his fifth consecutive octagon win on Saturday when he methodically worked over Elkins (28-11 MMA, 17-10 UFC) for all three rounds to emerge with a unanimous decision by scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26.
The featherweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN 42 preliminary card at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
In case you're wondering, @DarrenElkinsMMA ALWAYS wants to fight 👊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/69ac1A2Hc7
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
The first round saw Pearce pick Elkins apart on the feet and come away with the clear momentum. He did more of the same in the second frame, mixing in some grappling against the ridiculously tough Elkins.
In the final round, Pearce landed an elbow that badly sliced Elkins open. The fight was paused so the doctor would take a close look, but allowed the action to continue. That only allowed Pearce more time to pour it on, though, as he closed the fight strong to get his hand raised.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 42 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.
Check out the best photos from Jonathan Pearce’s unanimous decision win over Darren Elkins at UFC on ESPN 42.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 42 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODAY Sports)
Jonathan Pearce hopes a win over Darren Elkins skyrockets his UFC career.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] hopes a win over [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag] is what skyrockets his UFC career.
Since returning to 145 pounds, Pearce (11-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has racked up four straight wins, including a TKO finish of Makwan Amirkhani in July.
In Elkins (27-10 MMA, 17-9 UFC), Pearce faces a staple of the featherweight division, and he’s looking to take him out when they square off at UFC on ESPN 42 on Dec. 3 in Orlando, Fla.
“I’m happy with the matchup,” Pearce told MMA Junkie. “After I win this one, that’ll be five straight, and I’m looking to take on as many names as I can and build my resume.”
He continued, “I believe I belong in the top of the division, top 15, top 10. So whoever’s injured, you better get ready, because ‘JSP’ is coming.”
Pearce was able to overwhelm Amirkhani en route to a second-round finish at UFC Fight Night 208 in London. But Pearce knows when fighting Elkins, he’s facing an experienced fighter who has no quit in him.
“I feel honored to be able to fight a veteran of the sport and also make a name for myself and thankful that he took the fight,” Pearce said.
He continued, “Elkins has a little bit more heart than the last guy, so his cardio is gonna be a little bit better. He’ll stay in the fight a little bit longer, and my goal is not to make this a 15-minute fight, finish this fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.
Molly McCann owns two of six spinning elbow knockouts in UFC history after UFC Fight Night 208.
The UFC’s encore in London did not live up to the standards of its visit to the city earlier this year. Nine of the 14 bouts at UFC Fight Night 208 on Saturday at The O2 went to a decision.
The heavyweight main event capped off in disappointing fashion when [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the fight, giving [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) a TKO victory.
For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 208.
Jonathan Pearce is on a roll since returning to 145 pounds.
[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] is on a roll since returning to 145 pounds.
Pearce (11-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) took out [autotag]Makwan Amirkhani[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in the second round Saturday to pick up a TKO win in their featherweight bout at UFC Fight Night 208 in London.
Pearce had to work hard in Round 1 to fend off Amirkhani’s takedowns, but he didn’t make it easy for him. Pearce was able to slice him open with some brutal elbows early and took over the fight in the second round. The 30-year-old reversed the visibly tired Amirkhani on the ground with beautiful scrambles until he got in top position and unleashed some vicious ground and pound, which forced the referee to stop the fight (via Twitter).
JSP with the G&P! 💥
⛔ @JSPMMA puts Mr. Finland out after a dominating performance! #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/L5zAJL9iUo
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 23, 2022
Since losing his UFC debut, Pearce has won four straight, three by finish. Amirkhani now has lost five of his past six.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 208 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
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