Tag: Khama Worthy

Khama Worthy credits Tony Ferguson for career direction in ‘coin toss’ sport

Khama Worthy made quite the stir in his first two UFC appearances, but a 93-second loss this past September put an end to that dream start.

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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] made quite the stir in his first two UFC appearances, but a 93-second loss this past September put an end to that dream start for “The Death Star.”

No matter, says Worthy. Such is the nature of the fight game.

“I definitely made a coupe of mistakes in the fight, and it’s some stuff that I have to fix with, but really it’s just the coin toss,” Worthy told MMA Junkie at a media day at the UFC Apex. “It’s what we do. We fight, and sh*t can go wrong.”

Worthy debuted in the UFC with a stunning “Performance of the Night” victory in 2019, shocking Devonte Smith for a massive upset. Worthy then followed that up with a submission win over respected prospect Luis Pena this past June. However, in September, he would fall victim to Ottman Azaitar in a frustratingly short affair.

Worthy said the nature of the loss made it difficult to pick up any truly valuable lessons on which to build.

“You can only really take so much lessons from a fight that’s like less than two minutes,” Worthy admitted.

But that hasn’t bothered him, he said. With nearly nine years competing as a professional, Worthy said he’s come to realize there’s only one thing you can control in MMA, and it certainly isn’t the result of the fight. It’s a lesson he says he took from former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

“Actually, Tony Ferguson said it best, and I’ve kind of been living by that for a while: He said the only thing you can control in the fight is your pace, and that’s very true,” Worthy said. “The only thing you can control is how in shape you are. Everything else is a coin toss.

“Yeah, I wish everything played out right. I had an amazing camp for that fight, and I didn’t do anything. It was just all backwards. It happens.”

Worthy (16-7 MMA, 2-1 UFC) returns to action at Saturday’s UFC 260 event, where he takes on fellow lightweight Jamie Mullarkey (12-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC). According to the oddsmakers, Worthy is a slight favorite in the contest, but he really doesn’t concern himself with that. It’s one more thing that he simply can’t control, so he’s going to focus on what he can.

With that in mind, the goal for this one remains simple.

“In MMA, you’re only as good as your last fight,” Worthy said. “People will watch you win 10, 12 fights – you lose one, then everybody be bums making memes of you and stuff. That’s just the sport, and you can’t take it too personal. You have to know who you are and understand how you approach the fight game. So for me, it’s just come out here and get another ‘W.'”

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UFC 260: Make your predictions for Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 (Updated)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260, featuring a heavyweight title rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.

(Updated at 11:50 a.m. on March 23, 2021, to include Omar Morales vs. Shane Young fight and poll not included on original publication.)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260 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 260 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 260 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+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC on ESPN+ 35 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Ed Herman top earner with $20k

UFC on ESPN+ 35 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+ 35 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $137,000.

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+ 35 took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 35 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Ed Herman[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Mike Rodriguez[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Alan Patrick[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Kevin Croom[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Roque Martinez[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Sabina Mazo[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Justine Kish[/autotag]: $5,000

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:

Year-to-date total: $4,429,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $35,434,000

UFC on ESPN+ 35 results: Ottman Azaitar brutalizes Khama Worthy for quick TKO

There was little action in the first minute of Ottman Azaitar’s fight against Khama Worthy. But when he let loose, things were over fast.

There was little action in the first minute of [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag]’s fight against [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]. But after he let loose, things were over in a hurry.

Azaitar (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten and took out Worthy (16-7 MMA, 2-1 UFC) with a TKO in just 93 seconds. Azaitar landed dozens of punches on the money for the stoppage.

The lightweight bout was the UFC on ESPN+ 35 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

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The first minute featured nothing but feints from both fighters while they tried to see openings. But a little past a minute in, Azaitar landed a big pair of punches that stunned Worthy. While he wobbled, Azaitar pounced on him. After a few more combinations that were on the button, including a body shot with an uppercut soon after, Azaitar had to have smelled blood in the water.

Worthy went to the canvas, and Azaitar followed him there with big punches while Worthy covered up. It didn’t take long for Herb Dean to step in to wave the fight off. Worthy jumped up and appeared to protest the stoppage and asked why the fight was over, but after Dean released him, Worthy seemed to still be wobbly from the punches.

“The game plan was to go for three rounds – don’t think about the knockout. Start easy, slowly, because we knew what he was going to do,” Azaitar said. “He always makes counters only, (so) I wanted him to come (forward).”

But that plan went out the window when Azaitar knew Worthy was hurt. The Moroccan now has 12 of his 13 career wins by stoppage, including nine knockouts. Worthy had his seven-fight winning streak, including his first two in the UFC, snapped with his first stoppage loss in more than three years.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 35 results include:

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UFC on ESPN+ 35 predictions: Michelle Waterson or Angela Hill in key 115-pound bout?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 35 main card in Las Vegas.

Waterson
vs.
Hill		 Azaitar
vs.
Worthy		 Lee
vs.
Modafferi		 Herman
vs.
Rodriguez		 Nelson
vs.
Quarantillo
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 91-58		 waterson2020
Waterson
(52%)		 worthy2020
Worthy
(64%)		 lee2020
Lee
(61%)		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez
(66%)		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
(84%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 103-46		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 102-47		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 101-48		 hill2020
Hill		 azaitar2020
Azaitar		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 99-50
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 waterson2020
Waterson		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 98-51		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 herman2020
Herman		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 97-52
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 herman2020
Herman		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 96-53		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 herman2020
Herman		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 96-53		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 nelson2020
Nelson
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 96-53
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 waterson2020
Waterson		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 93-56
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 lee2020
Lee		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 92-57		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 herman2020
Herman		 nelson2020
Nelson
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 91-58		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 89-60		 hill2020
Hill		 worthy2020
Worthy		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 rodriguez2020
Rodriguez		 quarantillo2020
Quarantillo
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 62-87		 waterson2020
Waterson		 azaitar2020
Azaitar		 modafferi2020
Modafferi		 herman2020
Herman		 nelson2020
Nelson

The UFC stays in Las Vegas this week with a key women’s strawweight bout at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN+ 35 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (12-8 MMA, 7-8 UFC) becomes the first Black woman to headline a UFC card when she takes on [autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC). Hill is a slight favorite, but our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have her with a big lead at 11-3.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets slight favorite [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) at lightweight, and despite the reasonably close odds, only two of our pickers are taking Azaitar in a mild upset.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag] (24-17 MMA, 3-5 UFC) in a women’s flyweight bout. Lee is the biggest favorite on the main card at more than 3-1, but our pickers nearly are split down the middle. Lee has just an 8-6 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Ed Herman[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-10 UFC) is a +200 underdog at light heavyweight against [autotag]Mike Rodriguez[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), but he’s got his fair share of underdog pickers. Rodriguez has a 9-5 picking edge.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has three pickers taking him in a featherweight upset against [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC).

(Note: The lightweight fight between Bobby Green (26-10-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC) and Alan Patrick (15-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was added to the main card too late for our picks deadline.)

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Waterson (52 percent), Worthy (64 percent), Lee (61 percent), Rodriguez (66 percent) and Quarantillo (84 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

UFC on ESPN+ 35: Khama Worthy virtual media day interview

Khama Worthy spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 35 event in Las Vegas.

Khama Worthy spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 35 event in Las Vegas.

Khama Worthy vs. Ottman Azaitar joins UFC’s Sept. 5 event

A lightweight banger between Khama Worthy and Ottman Azaitar is the latest addition to the UFC’s Sept. 5 event.

A lightweight banger is the latest addition to the UFC’s event Sept. 5.

The promotion has added [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag] to the lineup for the event, which is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking after an initial post by Azaitar on his social media.

The pair were scheduled to square off on April 18, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then Worthy (16-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) picked up another upset win by submitting Luis Pena at UFC on ESPN 12 for his seventh straight victory.

Azaitar (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) hasn’t competed since his “Performance of the Night” knockout of Teemu Packalen in his UFC debut last September. The undefeated Moroccan has finished all but one of his 12 pro wins.

With the addition, the current Sept. 5 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Sijara Eubanks
  • Julia Avila vs. Nicco Montano
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa
  • Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira
  • Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ricky Simon
  • Ottman Azaitar vs. Khama Worthy

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Matt Frevola details fallout from UFC on ESPN 11 fight cancellation due to COVID-19

Matt Frevola says the UFC paid him (in full) after a positive COVID-19 test on cornerman Billy Quarantillo.

[autotag]Matt Frevola[/autotag] was already on the premises in Las Vegas when his UFC on ESPN 11 fight was canceled.

The promotion pulled Frevola (8-1-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC) from the June 20 card after his cornerman, training partner and fellow UFC fighter, [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag], tested positive for COVID-19 upon fight week check-in. Although Quarantillo presented two positive tests, Frevola presented zero. Additionally, his antibody test showed that he had already had the virus.

Despite this, the UFC still wouldn’t let him fight. Although it was disappointing, Frevola told MMA Junkie on Wednesday that he understood the promotion’s decision.

“I had two negative tests that week, so I thought I was good to fight,” Frevola said. “Then late Wednesday night, they told me it was off. … Yeah, I get (the decision). I mean, these are unprecedented times. I guess you’ve got to play on the side of caution for now.”

After the fight was canceled, Frevola and Quarantillo were deemed flight risks by the state of Nevada and weren’t allowed to leave by airplane. Instead, the two drove from Las Vegas to Tampa where their training camp took place.

“It was quite the journey,” Frevola said. “Every time we’d stop for gas, I was getting all my food and all my candy I wanted to eat. I was enjoying munching on the car ride. We did it. We drove all the way to Florida. I was down in Florida. I quarantined and did 14 days in Florida. Then I got tested and got my seventh negative COVID test. Once I got that, I went home, and now I’m home on Long Island. I’m kind of trying to plan out this next fight camp.”

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Frevola revealed the UFC compensated him despite not fighting June 20. Not only did the promotion pay him his show money, but it also awarded him his win bonus, as well.

“They really took care of me,” Frevola said. “They paid me my show and my win. It definitely took a little bit of the salt out of the wound. Yeah, they took care of me.”

As for what’s next, Frevola said he’s fully cleared and is eyeing an August return. After watching last weekend’s UFC on ESPN 12, Frevola has figured out who he’d like to fight next.

“We told them hopefully Aug. 15,” Frevola said. “I’d love to get on that pay-per-view card with Stipe and D.C., but August for sure – mid to late August.

“I’d like to fight [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] to be honest with you. I was impressed with him beating ‘Violent Bob Ross’ (Luis Pena). I think that would be a good fight. But we’ll see. We have some names, and we’re talking with the UFC now. Yeah, I’d like to definitely fight Khama Worthy eventually.”

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Video: Khama Worthy’s family and friends go bonkers watching UFC on ESPN 12 submission

The Worthy household went absolutely bonkers seeing their guy get his second UFC win.

[autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] has a strong group of loyal of supporters.

Skeptical? Look no further than the reaction video for his UFC on ESPN 12 submission win over Luis Pena on Saturday. Pandemonium struck the Worthy (16-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) household when he once again cashed underdog bets, pulling off another finish over a top lightweight prospect.

In a video posted Monday, Worthy showed his family and friends’ reactions in the moments before, during, and after his second-round guillotine choke.

Younger or older, male or female – it didn’t matter. The living room burst with joy when Pena’s hand signaled a tap. There was jumping. There was cheering. There was celebrating. There was even a toddler doing high knees.

“And this is why we do it!” Worthy wrote. “Look at how happy my family and friends are after my win, this is for all of us. look at my little lady Marley running around like a crazy person’s lol.”

Check out the living-room-cam reaction in the video below:

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.

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