Khalil Rountree – Page 13 – Syndication Server

Revamped UFC 249 lineup features Andrade-Namajunas 2, Ngannou-Rozenstruik, more

Not quite the “baddest ever card in MMA history,” but the revamped UFC 249 lineup certainly has some fights of significance.

It might not fit Dana White’s description as the “baddest ever card in MMA history,” but the revamped UFC 249 lineup certainly has some fights of significance.

With the coronavirus pandemic impacting the sports world as a whole, the UFC was not immune. The promotion postponed three events but remained focused on hosting UFC 249 on April 18, even after travel restrictions were implemented around the globe and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov – who was supposed to fight [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] in the main event – fell off the card.

Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) now meets [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) for the interim lightweight title in the headliner, but the UFC still has not announced an official location, although broadcast partner ESPN reported on Sunday that a venue on the West Coast is close to being finalized.

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The situation has caused UFC matchmakers to shuffle the deck from the original UFC 249 lineup meant for Brooklyn, N.Y. Some fights have fallen off, while others were added.

UFC officials announced on Monday that the strawweight rematch between former champions [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] (20-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will remain as the co-main event, and a heavyweight fight between [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) – who were originally booked for UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28 – have been added to the main card.

Other notable matchups include: [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (28-17 MMA, 15-16 UFC) at featherweight; [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) vs. [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at middleweight; and [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at heavyweight.

The broadcast plans are unknown, but the latest UFC 249 lineup includes:

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – for interim lightweight title
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
[autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag]
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]
[autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sarah Moras[/autotag]
[autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]

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UFC in 2019: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

A full recap of 2019’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2019’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

* * * *

EVENTS

The UFC held 42 events in 39 different cities across 15 countries and five continents.

Within those events, there were 516 fights across 13 different weight classes (including catchweight bouts).

Those 516 fights combined for a total cage time of 94:59:04.

The longest event of the year was “UFC on ESPN+ 19: Joanna vs. Waterson” in Tampa, Fla., at 2:57:27. It was the second longest in company history behind “UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” (3:04:18).

The shortest event of the year was “UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos” in Minneapolis at 1:38:12.

“UFC on ESPN+ 13: de Randamie vs. Ladd” featured 62 seconds of total fight time in the main and co-main event, the single-event record in company history.

At those events, the UFC drew an announced total attendance of 548,023 for a live gate total of $61,050,133.74 (Note: Live gate was not announced for 11 events; no attendance was revealed for one event).

The highest reported attended event of the year was “UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in Melbourne (57,127), which was the all-time company record, while the lowest attended event was “UFC on ESPN+ 20: Maia vs. Askren” in Singapore (7,155).

The highest reported income gate of the year was “UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz” in New York ($6,575,996.19) while the lowest reported income gate of the year went to “UFC on ESPN+ 4: Lewis vs. Dos Santos” in Wichita, Kan. ($636,417.26).

In 2019, 168 fight-night bonuses were given out for a sum of $8.4 million.

In 2019, athletes were paid $7,370,500 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance money.

The most knockouts at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos,” “UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz” and “UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington” with seven each.

“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a new single-event record. UFC 231 held the previous high with 1,647.

The most submissions at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 5: Covington vs. Lawler” with five.

The most fights to go to a decision at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” with 10.

“UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” featured nine consecutive decision results, tied for the single-event UFC record.

“UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” started with nine consecutive decision results, the single-event record.

“UFC on ESPN 7: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik” marked the third event in company history to feature two draws. UFC 22 and UFC 216 were the others.

Betting favorites went 319-182. Fifteen fights ended in a draw, no contest or had even odds.

Betting favorites went 22-18 in event headliners. Two fights ended in a no contest or had even odds.

“UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos” and “UFC on ESPN+ 22: Blachowicz vs. Jacare” had the most favorites come through victorious, with 10 each. On the flip side, seven underdogs won at three separate events.

A total of 30 fighters officially missed weight for their respective contests. The 28 fighters in that group to compete went 10-17-1 in their respective bouts.

A total of 135 fighters made their UFC debut in 2019. Those fighters went 57-74-2 with two no contests. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one bout of UFC experience went 43-58-2 with two no contests.

A variety of circumstances caused a total of 19 UFC main event or co-main event fights to be adjusted, postponed or canceled entirely.

One entire event was canceled (UFC 233 in January in Anaheim, Calif.)

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Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro, more bouts announced for UFC Columbus

Three new bouts have been added to UFC Columbus in March, including the return of controversial heavyweight Greg Hardy.

[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] has a date and opponent for his next UFC bout.

The controversial former NFL All-Pro will take on [autotag]Yorgan De Castro [/autotag]at UFC on ESPN+ 30 in Columbus, Ohio on March 28. The news was announced by the promotion Friday.

Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) last fought in Novembe,r where he suffered a decision loss to Alexander Volkov in the co-main event of UFC Moscow. Hardy took the fight on short notice. A few weeks prior, he had a unanimous-decision victory over Ben Sosoli changed to a no-contest due to unapproved use of an inhaler during the fight. Hardy won his previous two bouts before the Sosoli mishap.

On the other hand, De Castro (5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) last competed in October where he defeated Justin Tafa via knockout in his UFC debut. The 32-year-old fighter is unbeaten in his professional MMA career.

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Additionally, two more bouts were added to the card. [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will be taking on [autotag]Louis Smolka [/autotag](16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in a bantamweight bout and [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) will face [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag] (33-13 MMA, 10-8 UFC) in a light heavyweight contest.

UFC Columbus is headlined by heavyweight bout pitting Francis Ngannou against rising contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

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