Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes are facing short suspensions. Valentina Shevchenko, on the other hand, could be out for a while.
[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] battled for five rounds at UFC 247, but it seems they’ve come out relatively unscathed.
The pair of headliners each received a 31-day suspension, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation document obtained Tuesday. The Texas commission was responsible for regulating UFC 247, which took place at Toyota Center in Houston.
Conversely, UFC women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] is facing a potentially lengthy suspension after her third-round TKO victory over [autotag]Katyln Chookagian[/autotag] in the evening’s co-main event. According to the TDLR, Shevchenko is facing a 181-day suspension, while Chookagian was handed a potential 45-day term.
Two other winners, [autotag]Journey Newson[/autotag] and [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag], are also facing potential 181-day suspensions.
[lawrence-related id=488934,488867,488504]
Check out a full list of the UFC 247 medical suspensions below.
(Note: No specific injury details were given. It’s also important to note that, due to the lack of specific information, it’s unclear if any fighters have the ability to have their suspensions shortened if cleared by a doctor.)
[autotag]Austin Lingo[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: Suspended 10 days
[autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag]: Suspended 61 days
[autotag]Khaos Williams[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
Andre Ewell: Suspended 181 days
[autotag]Domingo Pilarte[/autotag]: Suspended 61 days
Journey Newson: Suspended 181 days
[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: Suspended 61 days
[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]James Krause[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: Suspended 10 days
[autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag]: Suspended 10 days
[autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag]: Suspended 31 days
Justin Tafa’s family had an emotional reaction to the heavyweight’s finish of Juan Adams at UFC 247.
There’s no better feel-good moment than watching the thrill of a fighter’s family in reaction to a win.
[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] rebounded big from his first pro loss via knockout with a finish of his own when he took out Juan Adams in Round 1 of their heavyweight clash at this past weekend’s UFC 247 in Houston.
Tafa was knocked out in front of his friends and family in his UFC debut at UFC 243 in Melbourne, but he was able to redeem himself in emphatic fashion.
His family seemed to be very emotional, too, delivering an incredible reaction. What looked like 30 people in the home sounded like 300 roaring, as the “Tafa Gang” jumped for joy.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
Take a look inside Justin Tafa’s TKO win over Juan Adams at UFC 247 in Houston.
HOUSTON – [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] beat Juan Adams with a first-round TKO Saturday on the main card at UFC 247 in Houston.
Take a look inside the fight with Tafa, who got back in the win column after a first-round knockout loss at UFC 243 this past October in his promotional debut.
Result: Justin Tafa def. Juan Adams via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:59 Updated records: Tafa (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Adams (5-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) Key stat: Tafa has all four of his pro wins by knockout.
Tafa on the fight’s key moment
“We’ve known Juan to like to throw long jabs and then he has a delay in his right straight, so it was something we knew I had to explore. I’ve got a lot of power in both of my hands and I knew it could at least give him a little rock, so I rocked him and he fell. I gave him a couple of hooks, let him stand up and I knew in his eyes he was gone. I just kept going to get the finish.”
Tafa on his first UFC win
“It feels good to get my first win in UFC. I got knocked out cold in front of a record attendance for a UFC event or any MMA event in my last fight. And to come back so shortly after, I wanted to prove something not only to the people, but to Polynesians, Samoans, Australians, that if you are battling with something, you just stand back up and run it back.”
To hear more from Tafa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 247, which saw Jon Jones defeat Dominick Reyes in the main event.
The UFC returned to Texas on Saturday with UFC 247, which took place at Toyota Center in Houston with a main card that aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Two championship fights topped the card. In the main event, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) defended the UFC light heavyweight title by the skin of his teeth with a ultra-competitive unanimous decision win over [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), while [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) utterly dominated [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) en route to a third-round TKO in the co-main event.
Both fights for the gold provided some historic footnotes, but that’s not all the card had to offer. For more on the numbers, check below for 50 post-event facts to come out of UFC 247.
* * * *
General
[vertical-gallery id=487931]
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $243,000.
UFC 247 drew an announced attendance of 17,401 for a live gate of $3,549,418.
Betting favorites went 6-5 on the card. One fight had even odds.
Betting favorites improved to 3-0 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:10:48.
Main card
Jones’ 14 victories in UFC championship fights are most in company history.
Jones’ 20 victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Jones’ 18-fight UFC unbeaten streak is the longest among active UFC fighters.
Jones 18-fight UFC unbeaten streak is the longest in company history.
Jones’ 18-fight UFC unbeaten streak in light-heavyweight competition is the longest active streak in the weight class and longest in divisional history.
Jones’ four-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied with Corey Anderson for the longest active streak in the division.
Jones’ 1,835 total strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Jones’ 1,473 significant strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Jones’ 42 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are fourth-most in divisional history behind Anderson (53), Rashad Evans (50) and Ryan Bader (46).
Jones’ total fight time of 5:40:15 in UFC light heavyweight competition is most in divisional history.
Reyes had his 12-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
Shevchenko’s two consecutive UFC women’s flyweight title defenses are most in divisional history.
Shevchenko improved to 5-0 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in February 2018.
Shevchenko’s five-fight UFC winning streak at women’s flyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Shevchenko’s five victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Shevchenko’s three stoppage victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (four).
Shevchenko’s two knockout victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Maycee Barber for most in divisional history.
Shevchenko earned the eighth knockout in UFC history to stem from the crucifix position. Gary Goodridge, Matt Hughes, Dong Hyun Kim, Paul Kelly, Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier and Tyson Pedro also accomplished the feat.
Shevchenko has completed at least one takedown against nine of her 10 UFC opponents.
Chookagian fell to 4-2 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in January 2018.
Chookagian suffered the first knockout loss of her career.
[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned all four of his career victories by knockout.
[autotag]Juan Adams[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) has suffered three consecutive losses after starting his career on a five-fight winning streak.
Adams has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]’s (13-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak in featherweight competition is the fourth longest active streak behind Arnold Allen (seven), Zabit Magomedsharipov (six) and Alexander Volkanovski (six).
[autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career.
Bektic suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) 14 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are fourth-most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (17), Frank Mir (16) and Junior Dos Santos (15).
[autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]’s (14-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
Latifi was unsuccessful in his UFC heavyweight debut.
Preliminary card
Giles (12-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) improved to 2-2 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in December 2017.
Krause (27-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has suffered three of his four UFC losses by decision.
[autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) improved to 3-1 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in December 2017.
[autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in her career.
Lee has suffered both of her UFC losses by split decision.
[autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his 10-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Domingo Pilarte[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
[autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has earned all three of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by decision.
[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned the first decision victory of his career.
[autotag]Austin Lingo[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) had his seven-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 247 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $243,000.
HOUSTON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 247 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $243,000.
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 247 took place at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
The full UFC 247 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:
The UFC is back in Houston this week with a pair of title fights featuring dominant champions atop the card.
UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
In the main event, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against unbeaten challenger [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Jones is a fairly heavy favorite from the oddsmakers in the fight at as much as 5-1. Not surprisingly, he has a big 11-3 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is a massive favorite of as much as 16-1 against [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), so it should come as little surprise that she is one of our two unanimous picks on the main card at 14-0.
The other unanimous pick is Houston resident [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in a heavyweight home fight against [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Lewis is more than a 2-1 favorite, has never lost in Texas in his career, and is a 14-0 pick.
[lawrence-related id=486119,486117]
Also on the main card, [autotag]Juan Adams[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite in his heavyweight fight against [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), and he’s got a big 11-3 advantage in the picks.
And even though [autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is a small favorite in his featherweight fight against [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), it’s Ige who has a big 11-3 lead in the picks with most of our staff members thinking mild upset – even though our readers give Bektic the slight advantage.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Jones (71 percent), Shevchenko (90 percent), Adams (63 percent), Bektic (53 percent) and Lewis (86 percent) are the choices.
Check out the faceoffs from UFC 247 media day, which featured Jon Jones, Dominick Reyes, Valentina Shevchenko, Katly Chookagian, and more.
HOUSTON – As we inch closer to UFC 247, the top fighters on the card inched closer to each other literally on Thursday.
The main-card fighters, as well as some of the prelim combatants, took part in UFC 247 media day at the host hotel. Before and after talking to reporters, the athletes faced off ahead of Friday’s weigh-ins and the Saturday’s event.
UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] meets [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] in the main event, while women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] in the co-main event.
The rest of the main card includes [autotag]Juan Adams[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] at heavyweight, [autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] at featherweight, and [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] at heavyweight.
[lawrence-related id=486119,486117]
Check out the faceoffs from those fighters in the videos above ahead of UFC 247, which takes place Saturday at Toyota Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Australia’s Justin Tafa reflects on his unsuccessful UFC debut and what went wrong ahead of his UFC 247 bout with Juan Adams in Houston.
HOUSTON – [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]’s UFC debut didn’t go as planned.
The heavyweight suffered a knockout loss in his first fight with the UFC, which went down in October at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. Tafa (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) lost to Yorgan De Castro in the first round of their pay-per-view main card bout.
The Aussie admits mistakes were made in his first loss.
“I was popping off on him and all that, but I was just a bit rushed,” Tafa told MMA Junkie on Wednesday . “I still would’ve gone in for the kill, maybe if I had a more time in that octagon. It’s just a bit different. All my previous fights were like half the size of that octagon. So I could’ve done better executing some moves, but it is what it is. Man, I thought I had him hurt, and I wanted to put on a big knockout, and I was the one that got knocked out.”
Tafa had just three professional fights heading into UFC 243, which holds the record for most attended UFC event. It was a giant moment for the 26-year-old fighter.
“I had a good chat with Mark Hunt in December, and he was like, ‘At least that’s the worst it can go,’ and that’s the best way to put it,” Tafa said. “For me, the last event wasn’t so much the amount of people and all that. It was much more about what it meant to me, fighting so close to home. It was just that feeling.”
[lawrence-related id=486119,486117]
Once again, Tafa has been put on the big stage as he’s on the main card of a UFC pay-per-view. He takes on Houston’s own Juan Adams in the last fight before the co-main and main events of UFC 247, which is being headlined by Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes.
Despite his lack of experience, Tafa doesn’t see it as burden but as a chance to show people what he’s made of.
“I kept seeing it on the previous pay-per-view (UFC 246). I was watching ‘Cowboy’ and Conor’s one, and I was like, ‘What? Is my name third? They’ll probably finalize it (and change the order of the card), but no. It’s main card, so just have to take this opportunity and run with it.”
Tafa wants a UFC win more than anything, but he wants to do it in vintage heavyweight fashion.
“I just want to knock him out,” Tafa said. “Whether it’s in the first or the third round, I just want to finish fights.
“If it goes to decision, I’ll be happy, but I just want to give the crowd what they want. We’re heavyweight bangers, and I think that’s why they put us on the main card, because the heavyweights will always try to throw down and knock each other out.”
We want your predictions for UFC 247 in Houston, featuring Jon Jones-Dominick Reyes and Valentina Shevchenko-Katlyn Chookagian title fights.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 247 event in Houston.
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 247 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
[lawrence-related id=486119,486117]
Make your picks for all five main card fights inside: