It’s not every day that a fighter accuses his opponent of domestic violence in the middle of a fight, but that’s what happened at UFC 259.
It’s not every day that a fighter accuses his opponent of domestic violence in the middle of a fight. And yet, that’s what happened Saturday night between [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] at UFC 259.
Toward the end of the second round of their flyweight fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Elliott smothered Espinosa with his elbow and arm from top position. At that point, Elliott began talking to his opponent. Their conversation was picked up by cageside microphones for viewers to hear on the broadcast.
“I heard you choked a girl in 2018. Are you a woman beater?” Elliott said.
“You don’t know the whole story,” Espinosa responded.
“I know enough,” Elliott said.
Espinosa ended the exchange by telling Elliott, “You don’t know sh*t” before the horn sounded.
In his post-fight news conference, Elliott – who won by unanimous decision – explained he’d received a message on Facebook that contained pictures of a woman “with choke marks on her neck” allegedly from Espinosa. Elliott didn’t reveal from whom he received the message.
In response, Espinosa’s manager, Bryan Hamper of SuckerPunch Ent., issued a statement to MMA Junkie denouncing Elliott’s actions.
“We will not be commenting on Tim Elliott’s accusations,” Hamper said. “It is extremely unfortunate that an athlete who has no information of the situation is given a platform to recklessly slander another athlete with no credible information other than a (Facebook) message. It sets a dangerous precedence allowing this type of behavior to make headlines. Words matter.”
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For his part, Elliott said it was not his intention for the world to hear his conversation with Espinosa, whom he used to train with at Glory MMA and Fitness in Lees Summit, Mo., near Kansas City.
“I didn’t say that for anybody else to hear, because I don’t know the whole story,” Elliott said during his post-fight news conference. “… It wasn’t something I wanted the whole world to hear. That was supposed to be between he and I.”
We want your predictions for UFC 259, which features title fights at light heavyweight, women’s featherweight and bantamweight.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 259 event in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 259 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 259 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
The UFC’s first event of 2021 is down a fight after Jordan Espinosa tested positive for COVID-19.
The UFC’s first event of 2021 is down a fight after [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] tested positive for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, MMA Junkie confirmed that Espinosa is out of his Jan. 16 bout with [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. Twitter account MMA Island was first to report the cancellation.
Multiple people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie the fight has been rebooked for UFC 259 on March 6 but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Both Elliott (16-11-1 MMA, 8-9 UFC) and Espinosa (15-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) have struggled of late, although Elliott is coming off a win over Ryan Benoit in July. Prior to that, the former UFC flyweight title challenger was on a three-fight losing streak.
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Espinosa, meanwhile, lost his last fight by unanimous decision to David Dvorak in September. Espinosa, who joined the UFC in March 2019 after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, has dropped three of his last four.
With the addition, the UFC 259 lineup now includes:
Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for women’s featherweight title
A flyweight matchup between Tim Elliott and Jordan Espinosa is the latest addition to the UFC’s Jan. 16 event.
A flyweight matchup is the latest addition to the UFC’s Jan. 16 event.
[autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] (15-11-1 MMA, 4-9 UFC) will face [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC). No location or name designation has been announced for the event.
MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with a person close to the situation following an initial report from MMA DNA. The person requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an announcement.
Elliott snapped a three-fight losing skid by defeating Ryan Benoit via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 13 in July. It was his first win since submitting Mark De La Rosa at UFC 219 in 2017.
Espinosa also has lost three of his past four and is coming off a unanimous decision loss to David Dvorak in September at UFC on ESPN+ 36. Prior to that, the Contender Series graduate picked up a unanimous decision win over De La Rosa in June.
With the addition, the UFC’s Jan. 16 lineup now includes:
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.
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:
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:
“UFC on ESPN+ 36: Covington vs. Woodley” – $169,000
Take a look inside Jordan Espinosa’s win over Mark De La Rosa at UFC on ESPN 10 in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] beat Mark De La Rosa with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN 10 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Espinosa, who snapped a two-fight skid for his first win in 15 months.
“I noticed early that the jab was working. In the third, he put a pace on me. I took that opportunity to get some takedowns because he was being over-aggressive. I just kept sticking with what was working.”
Espinosa on feeling comfortable on fight night
“I feel great. My last two fights barely went two and a half minutes each. This was the fight I needed – to go three rounds and get tested. It’s about that time. It’s been over a year since my last win. It feels awesome. I was able to show a wide range of my skills. … It was weird because when I got in there, I had zero nerves at all. I think fighting on Dana White’s Contender Series helped with that.”
Espinosa on what he wants next
“I’m trying to get on ‘Fight Island.’ I’ve never been overseas before. Tyson Nam just got a knockout. I’d be down to fight him.”
To hear more from Espinosa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
MMA Junkie today acquired a list of fighter salaries from the Nevada Athletic Commission for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, airing on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+. Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was one of the night’s top earners, taking home a disclosed $110,000, including a $55,000 win bonus, for her victory over former UFC flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC).
Equaling Calvillo’s pay was her former teammate and current UFC featherweight contender [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC), who also took home $110,000 for his win over [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
Total disclosed pay for the 10-fight card was $782,000.
The full list of UFC on ESPN 10 salaries includes:
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN 10 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 10, which saw Cynthia Calvillo beat Jessica Eye in Las Vegas.
The octagon returned again on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 10, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The action aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
In the main event, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) made a quick mark in her UFC women’s flyweight debut when she outworked former title challenger [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) by unanimous decision.
Calvillo’s win closed out a 10-fight card that featured a few historic occurrences. For more on the numbers, check below for 35 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 10.
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General
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UFC on ESPN 10 tied the modern-era record for most sub-60-second finishes on a card with three. Four other events share that record.
[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag], [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag], [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag], and [autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 10 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN 10 drew an announced attendance of zero for a live gate of $0.
Betting favorites went 8-2 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 8-6 in UFC headliners this year.
The total fight time for the 10-bout card was 1:33:52.
Main card
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 13: (R-L) Cynthia Calvillo kicks Jessica Eye in their flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Calvillo was successful in her UFC women’s flyweight debut.
Calvillo has completed at least one takedown against seven of her eight UFC opponents.
Eye fell to 4-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in January 2018.
Eye’s seven losses in UFC competition are the most of any female in company history.
Eye has suffered six of her seven UFC losses by decision.
Vettori (15-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) has earned both of his UFC stoppage victories by submission.
[autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has suffered all four of his career losses by submission.
[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past nine fights.
[autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]’s (17-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
[autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]’s (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC) nine victories in UFC featherweight competition are tied for sixth most in divisional history behind Max Holloway (16), Darren Elkins (13), Cub Swanson (11), Jose Aldo (10) and Ricardo Lamas (10).
Fili has earned six of his nine UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by decision.
[autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]’s (11-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.
[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]’ (10-6 MMA, 2-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since August.
Cifers suffered her second first-round submission loss in a 14-day stretch.
Cifers has suffered all four of her UFC losses by stoppage.
Preliminary card
Merab Dvalishivili
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s 13 takedowns landed set a new single-fight record for most in a UFC/WEC bantamweight fight. He held the previous record with 12 landed in a fight.
Dvalishvili became the second fighter in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson was the first fighter to accomplish the feat.
[autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]’s (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) 22-second victory marked the fourth fastest finish in UFC women’s bantamweight history. Only Ronda Rousey (14 seconds, 16 seconds) and Germaine de Randamie (16 seconds) have faster wins.
[autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 1-4 UFC) suffered three of her four career losses by stoppage.
Mazany’s 22-second loss marked the fastest defeat of her career.
[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
Aguilera (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned all 11 of his career stoppage victories by knockout. He’s finished 10 of those wins in the first round.
[autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
