After every event, fans wonder whom the losing fighters will be matched up with next.
With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC 252’s most notable fighters.
Those fighters included [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), who fell short of reclaiming the heavyweight title from Stipe Miocic (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in a unanimous decision at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, as well as [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-8 MMA, 15-7 UFC) and [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-12 MMA, 10-7 UFC).
* * * *
John Dodson
Should fight: [autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag] Why they should fight: After nine fights back at bantamweight, it’s safe to say Dodson isn’t where he wants to be. He’s 4-5 in this current run in the division after losing a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili, and it’s hard to say where he goes from here.
“The Ultimate Fighter” winner talked about being a top contender coming into the fight given the competitive nature of his recent contest with now-champ Petr Yan, but he had few moments of success in this latest fight against someone who came in consisted lesser in the scheme of the weight class.
Dodson turns 36 next month and it seems like if he’s going to put it all together, it has to happen soon. He’s likely going to have to take a lower or lateral step from Dvalishvili in terms of opponent after this fight, and perhaps a youngster like Johns (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) could help him get back on track.
Junior Dos Santos
Aleksei Oleinik
Should fight: [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] Why they should fight: Former UFC champ Dos Santos extended the longest skid of his career with a second-round TKO to fellow striking specialist Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
It’s a rough spot for Dos Santos He looked solid before getting caught. His speed, precision and technique are still there, but seems he just can’t take the damage. He’s now been finished seven times in his career, including three straight.
To get a real determination on where Dos Santos stands, though, he needs to fight again against lesser competition. Not that Oleinik (59-14-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC), who is coming off a TKO loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC on ESPN+ 32 this month, is an easy win for anyone, but he does not present the striking threat of most of Dos Santos’ opponents over the past few years.
Dos Santos hasn’t been submitted since 2007, and he would have to focus hard on keeping that intact against Oleinik. If the Russian can’t get it down, however, then Dos Santos would have a good shot to work his magic on the feet without much knockout threat.
Sean O’Malley
Andre Ewell
Should fight: [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag] Why they should fight: O’Malley’s rocket ship to UFC stardom was grounded when he suffered his first career loss in his biggest spot to date.
Whether it was a freak injury or something Marlon Vera caused in the fight with his low kicks, O’Malley left the octagon on a stretcher due to the pain from his first-round TKO. The severity of his injury is not yet known, but it seems he could be out for a bit.
In his absence, however long it may be, the loaded bantamweight division will surely continue to evolve. Things could change depending on O’Malley’s timeline and what happens in the upcoming months, someone outside the rankings like Ewell, who if nothing else has proven to be scrappy, could be a good fit as “Suga” attempts to rebound from his first loss.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier
What’s next: Watch the video above to see what the future holds for Cormier after his loss.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 252 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $201,000.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 252 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $201,000.
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 252 took place at UFC Apex. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
The full UFC 252 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:
Jairzinho Rozenstruik bounced back from his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in the best way possible.
Last time out, [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] suffered his first career loss in horrifying fashion, getting knocked cold by Francis Ngannou in just 20 seconds.
On Saturday, “Bigi Boy” responded in the best way possible: by getting right back into the game and scoring a big finish of his own.
Rozenstruik (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) earned a gigantic victory on the main card of UFC 252 with a second-round TKO of former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag]. The time of the stoppage was 3:47.
“I feel great. I wanted to fight as soon as possible as soon after I lost,” Rozenstruik said in his post-fight interview. “I went back to the gym right away. I needed to get the win to get it straight.”
It was clear from the outset that the bout between American Top Team teammates was one that featured two competitors who respected one another’s power as neither fighter overcommitted. That said, Dos Santos (21-8 MMA, 15-7 UFC) was the more active of the two from the outset, as he mixed kicks high and low with overhand shots that found a home throughout the opening round.
Rozenstruik, for his part, seemed content to land single shots, usually straight hands that hit clean on the button.
But one also got the sense the Suriname native was biding his time and waiting for his big opening, and that came late in the second round. Rozentstruik landed a left hand to the jaw and followed with a huge right, which dropped Dos Santos to the mat. JDS attempted to get back to his fight through Rozenstruik’s onslaught of follow-ups, only to eat another big one when he was almost back up and crumpled to the mat. The bout was waved off seconds later.
The victory was Rozenstruik’s 10th KO/TKO finish in his 11 professional wins. Dos Santos now has dropped three straight bouts, all via finish inside two rounds.
The heavyweight bout was part of the UFC 252 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Junior Dos Santos via TKO (punches) — Round 2, 3:47
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252, and the “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252, and the promotion’s popular “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
In the main event, a highly anticipated trilogy takes place. Heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] will defend his title against former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] to settle their 1-1 tie. And in the co-headliner, rising prospect [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in a key bantamweight showdown.
The sixth episode of “Embedded” follows the fighters as fight night draws near. Below is the UFC’s description:
Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier attend the pre-fight press conference. Junior Dos Santos and Sean O’Malley cut weight at the UFC Performance Institute. Official weigh-ins go down as the top three headliners face-off.
UFC 252 will feature two legends, Stipe Miocic fighting Daniel Cormier for the third time in the main event, stream your UFC action here!
One of the biggest rivalries in the sport of MMA will come to a close on Saturday night in UFC 252 with Stipe Miocic fighting Daniel Cormier for the third and final time in UFC history. These two epic fighters traded knockouts in their first two meetings and tonight will determine the winner of the Miocic vs Cormier Trilogy.
We have an absolutely stacked card tonight with the main event featuring Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier fighting for the third time, this time around it’s for the Heavyweight Championship belt.
Here is everything you need to know to follow the UFC action tonight!
Stipe Miocic had surgery on his eyes due to the damage he suffered from Cormier eye pokes and has been sidelined since. Miocic will be ready for revenge tonight and this will most likely be Daniel Cormier’s final fight as he has turned 41.
UFC 252 fight card
Main Card (10 PM ET)
Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic (c) for the UFC Heavyweight Championship
Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Veral; Bantamweight
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Junior Dos Santos; Heavyweight
Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda; Featherweight
Merab Dvalishvili vs. John Dodson; Bantamweight
Prelims (8 PM ET)
Vinc Pichel vs. Jim Miller; Lightweight
Virna Jandiroba vs. Felice Herrig; Women’s Strawweight
TJ Brown vs. Danny Chavez; Featherweight
Livia Renata Souza vs. Ashley Yoder; Women’s Strawweight
Parker Porter vs. Chris Daukaus; Heavyweight
Kai Kamaka vs. Tony Kelley; Featherweight
UFC Exclusively on ESPN+
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In the main event, heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) meets former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) for the third time. Their series is tied at 1-1, and Cormier has said he will retire after this fight. The fight is a pick’em with the oddsmakers and our readers like Miocic. But nine of our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are picking Cormier to go out on top.
In the co-main event, unbeaten bantamweight prospect [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) takes on veteran fighter [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (17-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC). O’Malley is a heavy favorite around 3-1, but he’s only got a 9-5 lead in the picks.
Also on the main card, former heavyweight champ [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) returns against [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC). And though Rozenstruik is a slight favorite and is our readers’ pick, our staff members are taking Dos Santos heavily at a 10-4 clip.
[autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is a heavy favorite in his featherweight bout against [autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC), which was moved up from the prelims. Only one of our pickers is taking Pineda in an upset.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is a sizable favorite at bantamweight against [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC), and he’s got a big 10-4 picks lead.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Miocic (52 percent), O’Malley (72 percent), Rozenstruik (54 percent), Dvalishvili (60 percent) and Burns (84 percent) are the choices.
Junior Dos Santos arrived at UFC 252 fight week looking significantly slimmer than usual. But there’s a gameplan behind his trimmer frame.
[autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] will enter Saturday significantly slimmer than usual, but there’s a gameplan behind his trimmed-down physique.
Dos Santos, who takes on fellow knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 252, and has gone through a body transformation in the lead-up to the fight.
He’s been on a ketogenic diet, which has rendered him noticeably smaller, causing many to speculate that he’s working on a move down to light heavyweight. But Dos Santos (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) explained that he’s trimmed down in size to allow one of his best attributes as a heavyweight – his speed – to shine.
“More weight doesn’t mean that you’re stronger,” Dos Santos told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC 252 virtual media day. “Not for me, actually. The biggest difference for me among the other heavyweights is the speed. I’m much faster than them and I have to be able to use that in my favor. So I’m feeling great, I’m feeling fast, I’m feeling strong. I’m feeling able to use all my skills.”
The former UFC heavyweight champion is on a quest to regain his title and sees a win over Rozenstruik (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) as a big step in the right direction. With many heavyweights in his era such as Cain Velasquez and now Daniel Cormier walking away from the sport, Dos Santos is still going, and he’s far from done
“Truth, everything here with Junior Dos Santos is based on truth, so that’s why I’m here and I’ll keep (being) here for a long time,” he said. “I’m just 36 years old. I still have a lot to do, and I was realizing I didn’t even use my full power in fighting. I have so many tools. I’m a very well-rounded fighter. I can use fighting in different ways so I have to not impose limits on myself and use everything that I got, so you will still hear a lot about Junior Dos Santos.”
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik believes a win over Junior Dos Santos at UFC 252 will put him in a good position in the heavyweight division.
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] believes a win over [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] at UFC 252 will put him back in good position in the heavyweight division.
It’s hard to tell exactly how the future of the weight class will play out in the wake of Saturday’s event, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. It entirely hinges on what happens in the Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier title-fight headliner, and where both men go afterward.
Rozenstruik (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Dos Santos (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) are positioned on the same card, though, and that will keep them in the mind of the title picture. Rozenstruik notes that Francis Ngannou, who handed him his only career loss at UFC 249 in May, is next in line regardless of what happens between Miocic and Cormier.
However, he doesn’t see himself as far behind.
“Dos Santos does a lot for the sport (and is) still a dangerous fight,” Rozenstruik told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC 252 virtual media day. “If I beat him I’m right there. The championship fight is happening the same day and Francis is next after that.”
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The matchup between Rozenstruik and Dos Santos will be telling for both sides. Rozenstruik had his 10-fight winning streak snapped by Ngannou with a brutal 20-second knockout, and now the spotlight is on him to respond. Dos Santos, meanwhile, is a former UFC champion who for the first time in his career in a two-fight losing skid.
Both men are keen to climb back into a positive position in the heavyweight division, and because of that a lot rides on this fight. Rozenstruik said he respects Dos Santos, but he said his performance will show he wants the win more.
“It’s a fight,” Rozenstruik said. “I’m not looking at the past. Junior did a lot of things for the sport. He did a lot of good things for the sport. But I’m looking forward at what I want to do, where I want to be. … For me, I’m looking for a win. I need it. I have something I’m looking to set straight for myself and I’m just going to go in there and do what I do best.”
The best facts and figures about UFC 252, which features a Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight title trilogy in the main event.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252. The five-fight lineup follows prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
A pivotal moment in the sport’s history will unfold in the main event as UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and former two-division titleholder [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will clash for the third and final time. The winner not only will have the belt and bragging rights for winning the trilogy, but they’ll also carry the distinction of greatest heavyweight in UFC history, according to UFC president Dana White.
Miocic and Cormier both bring extraordinary and decorated resumes to the octagon. For more on the numbers behind their fight, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC 252.
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* * * *
Main event
Stipe Miocic
Miocic becomes the first in history to face the same opponent in three consecutive UFC fights.
Miocic is one of four heavyweight champions in UFC history to have multiple reigns.
Miocic’s five UFC heavyweight title fight victories are tied with Tim Sylvia for second most in divisional history behind Randy Couture (six).
Miocic’s three consecutive UFC heavyweight title defense during his first reign were the most of any champion in divisional history.
Miocic’s 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (18), Frank Mir (16), Junior Dos Santos (15) and Derrick Lewis (15).
Miocic’s nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (11), Dos Santos (10) and Cain Velasquez (10).
Miocic’s stoppage victory at UFC 241 despite a -58 significant strike deficit is the second largest comeback in a UFC title fight behind Anderson Silva’s win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 (-60).
Miocic and Cormier combined for 304 significant strikes landed at UFC 241, the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight fight.
Miocic’s nine fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are the most in divisional history.
Daniel Cormier
Cormier is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of seven two-division champions in UFC history. McGregor, Nunes, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of three fighters in UFC history to record successful title defenses in two weight classes. Cejudo an Nunes also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of five fighters in UFC history to win a belt while coming off a loss. He accomplished the feat against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.
Cormier is one of two fighters in UFC history to win two title fights following a loss or no-contest. Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier competes in the 17th heavyweight bout of his career. He’s 15-1 overall in the weight class.
Cormier lands 62.9 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Alistair Overeem (74 percent) and Anthony Hamilton (65.6 percent).
Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson combined for 260 significant strikes at UFC 192, a single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.
Cormier’s 140 significant strikes landed against Gustafsson are second most in a UFC light-heavyweight bout behind Cyrille Diabate’s 146 at UFC on VERSUS 3.
Cormier is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from the crucifix position. He accomplished the feat at UFC 220.
Cormier is 9-0 in his career when he lands at least two takedowns in a fight.
Cormier has spent just 12 seconds in bottom position in UFC heavyweight competition, the least in divisional history for anyone with at least five fights.
Co-main event
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (seven) Aljamain Sterling (five) and Marlon Vera (five).
Marlon Vera’s (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Sterling for the second longest active streak in the division behind Yan (seven).
Vera has earned eight of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.
Vera’s seven stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Urijah Faber for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).
Vera’s four submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).
Featured bout
Junior Dos Santos
[autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
Dos Santos’ total fight time of 3:50:40 in UFC heavyweight competition is second most in company history behind Arlovski (4:48:42).
Dos Santos’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17) and Mir (16).
Dos Santos’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Lewis (11).
Dos Santos’ 14 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos has landed 1,075 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos and Ben Rothwell combined for 234 significant strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86, the third most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Miocic vs. Cormier (304) at UFC 241 and Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (282) at UFC Fight Night 121.
Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Rothwell are second most in a UFC heavyweight fight behind Cormier (181) at UFC 241.
Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed against Rothwell are the UFC heavyweight record for a single fight.
Dos Santos defends 81.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Tybura (82.1 percent).
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.
Rozenstruik’s nine-second knockout at UFC on ESPN+ 12 is the second fastest in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second finish at UFC 102.
Rozenstruik’s knockout of Alistair Overeem at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 at UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.
Remaining main card
[autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since March 2014. He went 8-2 with two no contests between stints with the promotion.
Pineda has earned all 26 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 18 of those wins by submission.
[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 4-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 5-4 in the weight class overall.
Dodson has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Dodson has fought to three split decision results in UFC bantamweight competition, tied for second most in divisional history behind Kyung Ho Kang (four).
[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 39 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili is one of two fighters in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili outlanded Terrion Ware by 183 total strikes at UFC Fight Night 136, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
Preliminary card
Jim Miller
[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 21-13 UFC) competes in his 36th UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 34th lightweight appearance is also a divisional record.
Miller’s total fight time of 5:21:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.
Miller’s 21 victories in UFC competition are third most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22).
Miller’s 19 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13).
Miller’s 10 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Royce Gracie for third most in history behind Charles Oliveira (14) and Maia (11).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 43 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Miller’s 11 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are tied with Nate Diaz for third most in divisional history behind Cerrone (15) and Lauzon (15).
[autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is 3-1 since he returned from a career-long layoff that lasted from May 2014 to June 2017.
Pichel lands 60.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the division behind Islam Makhachev (68 percent).
[autotag]Felice Herrig[/autotag] (14-8 MMA, 5-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 6, 2018. The 679-day layoff (nearly two years) is the longest of her more than 11-year career.
[autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Relive Junior Dos Santos’ finish of Tai Tuivasa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 142.
Former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] reminded everyone why he’s no stepping stone.
Dos Santos (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) faced formerly unbeaten [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] in the main event of UFC Fight Night 142 in Australia, where he was determined to take out the surging contender on enemy territory.
Tuivasa charged at Dos Santos and put the pressure on him right off the bat. Dos Santos remained calm, and utilized his jab to keep Tuivasa at bay, but “Bam Bam” did a great job of cutting him off. Tuivasa continued to lunge forward at Dos Santos and forced the Brazilian against the fence before landing with a heavy leg kick. He then followed up with a nice combination and finished an encouraging first round by clipping Dos Santos before the buzzer.
Tuivasa continued his aggressive approach in Round 2 as he backed Dos Santos up against the cage once more, before tagging him with big overhand rights. However, Tuivasa started to get reckless and Dos Santos clipped him hard with a big counter right that dropped the Australian to the canvas. Dos Santos followed his man to the ground, transitioned to full mount and claimed the finish with ground strikes.
Dos Santos went on to take out Derrick Lewis and extend his winning run to three in a row, but then suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes.
Dos Santos returns to action on Aug. 15 when he meets Jairzinho Rozenstruik (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at UFC 252, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Before he faces Rozenstruik, relive Dos Santos’ finish of Tuivasa in the video above.
