Tag: Kurt Holobaugh

Kurt Holobaugh proud to have family at UFC on ESPN 60, explains how four-year-old son went TikTok viral

Ages 13 and 4, Kurt Holobaugh’s sons already have experience competing.

LAS VEGAS – Loud and clear, it was a family affair for [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] as he won Saturday at UFC on ESPN 60.

As Holobaugh (21-8 MMA, 2-5 UFC) defeated [autotag]Kaynan Kruschewsky[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at the UFC Apex, his wife and two sons were very audibly rooting him on.’

“I can definitely hear them and that’s how they are in the gym when I’m sparring,” Holobaugh told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Saturday. “My youngest son is always trying to holler instructions and to do spinning kicks and stuff like that. It’s always fun, but I love it.”

Holobaugh said it was the first time his children got to watch him fight in the promotion from cage-side, as the promotion recently implemented a new policy where each fighter gets four cage-side seats for their fight at the UFC Apex.

The family’s energy stems from passion for their father and husband, but also for the sport. Holobaugh says his sons have been in the gym since before they could walk – literally.

“Our youngest, that’s our four-year-old,” Holobaugh said. “Me and my wife both own two mixed martial arts gyms. From the very first day he was born, we went back to work. So we brought his crib to the gym. He’s in the gym every single day. He’s been training jiu-jitsu since he could literally walk. There are videos out there of him training jiu-jitsu when he just started walking. He’s still training jiu-jitsu and competing all over the world. He just competed in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago.”

UFC 292 Ceremonial Weigh-ins: Kurt Holobaugh’s sons shake hands with Dana White on stage in Boston.

While Holobaugh is the first of his surname to compete in the UFC, he may not be the last. Holobaugh’s 13-year-old son, Zayden, has already competed in eight youth MMA fights. His four-year-old son, Raiden, is a bit of a TikTok sensation.

“All of my kids fight, even my 13-year-old. He has like eight fights inside the cage already at 13 years old. But my four-year-old, being that he does a lot of competitions. We posted a video and it went viral. There were fighters like Jon Jones and all the big names commenting on it. So he went TikTok famous. He’s got like 30,000 followers on TikTok that all follow his journey as well. This is just another big part of his journey and it’s amazing.”

It’s still years out from another Holobaugh potentially stepping foot inside the UFC. So for now, Holobaugh aims to keep making his children the cool kids at school.

“I think it’s special,” Holobaugh said. “It’s once in a lifetime opportunities for kids to do that. I feel like this is why I love doing what I do so much. It’s because of my kids. I feel like they get to be the cool kids at school. They get to go to school and say, ‘Hey, my dad is in the UFC, or, ‘My dad just won ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ He fights on TV.’ Now, my kids get to actually come and watch a UFC event cageside, basically. How many kids at their school wish they could even go to a UFC event. I feel like we’re so blessed with these opportunities.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 60.

UFC on ESPN 60 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $27 million

The UFC has issued more than $27 million in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay to fighters after UFC on ESPN 60.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 60 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $139,000.

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 60 took place at the UFC Apex. The main card ESPN and streamed on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 60 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Seungwoo Choi[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kaynan Kruschewsky[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Dooho Choi[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Hyder Amil[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jeong Yeong Lee[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Dione Barbosa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Luana Carolina[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Thomas Petersen[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’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 $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,600; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-60 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,268,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $27,005,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 60.

Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 60

Will the lightweight bout between Kurt Holobaugh and Kaynan Kruschewsky produce a fast finish at UFC on ESPN 60?

[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaynan Kruschewsky[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 60 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 4-1-1
UFC main cards, 2024: 58-52-3

Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky UFC on ESPN 60 preview

Few fighters get a second shot in the UFC after their first run, but even fewer get a third after their second, like Holobaugh (20-8 MMA, 1-5 UFC). In the  tournament championship of “The Ultimate Fighter 31,” Holobaugh earned another spot on the roster by submitting Austin Hubbard. His momentum was halted, however, by Trey Ogden in his first fight of the year in April. … Kruschewsky (15-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will look to pick up his first win in the UFC after being knocked out by Elves Brener in his November debut. The result snapped a six-fight unbeaten run that led to his entrance into the promotion after a submission win on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky UFC on ESPN 60 expert pick, prediction

Serving as a solid lightweight action fight is a matchup between Holobaugh and Kruschewsky.

Both men appear to be similar versions of one another – but at different points in their careers.

Kruschewsky is the younger and larger of the two, so it’s no surprise to see him favored on the betting lines. That said, I suspect that Holobaugh is a live underdog in this spot.

Aside from having more than enough ground skills to compete with Kruschewsky, Holobaugh is also an incredibly fast starter with some deceptive pop on the feet.

Couple that with Holobaugh’s experience edge and the chaos that the smaller octagon encourages, and I can’t help but take a flier on the American to score the upset.

The pick is Holobaugh by first-round TKO.

Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky UFC on ESPN 60 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the younger fighter, listing Kruschewsky -138 and Holobaugh +113 via FanDuel.

Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky UFC on ESPN 60 start time, how to watch

As the main card feature bout, Holobaugh and Kruschewsky are expected to make their walks to the cage at approximately 9:35 p.m. ET (6:35 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams live on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 60.

UFC books Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky for July 20 in Las Vegas

A pair of lightweights will look to get back on track in the desert this summer.

A pair of lightweights will look to get back on track in the desert this summer.

[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 1-5 UFC) is set to take on [autotag]Kaynan Kruschewsky[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the UFC’s July 20 Fight Night event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie, but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Holobaugh found himself outside the UFC after three straight losses in his second stint in the promotion. But he worked his way back to Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and got true redemption when he beat Austin Hubbard to win the lightweight season. In his follow-up against Trey Ogden in March, though, he dropped a decision for his first loss since 2019.

Kruschewsky, a 33-year-old Brazilian, choked out Dylan Mantello this past September on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a shot in the UFC. But in his promotional debut less than two months later, he was knocked out in the first round by Elves Brener for his first setback in nearly five years.

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UFC on ESPN 53 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combines for $22,000

UFC on ESPN 53 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $148,000.

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 53 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 53 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Luis Pajuelo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jarno Errens[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dariya Zheleznyakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Rendon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’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 $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,530; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $53,000 while title challengers get $53,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-53 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,669,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,406,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Jan. 8-14)

There were 35 UFC fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 8-14.

TUF 31 lightweight winner Kurt Holobaugh returns vs. Trey Ogden

The UFC has pinned “TUF 31” lightweight winner Kurt Holobaugh against fellow crafty veteran Trey Ogden.

[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] has his first UFC assignment as an official TUF winner.

“The Ultimate Fighter 31” lightweight winner, Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC) returns March 23 vs. [autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting first reported the news.

Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC) is one of the few UFC fighters in the promotion’s history to appear in three separate stints under the company’s banner. The third time has been the charm thus far for Holobaugh, who finished Lee Hammond and Jason Knight in exhibition bouts before a slick, “TUF 31” tournament-clinching submission over Team Chandler teammate Austin Hubbard in the lightweight finale.

Ogden (16-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) looks to wash the bad taste out of his mouth after a controversial no contest against Nikolas Motta in November. Ogden dominated the majority of the 13-plus-minute performance before referee Mike Beltran erroneously deemed Motta unconscious during a submission attempt. Video replay showed Motta was not out and did not tap, so the bout was called a no contest – a ruling many viewers deemed wildly unfair.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night for March 23 includes:

  • Julian Erosa vs. Ricardo Ramos
  • Cody Gibson vs. Davey Grant
  • Montserrat Rendon vs. Dariya Zheleznyakova
  • Shauna Bannon vs. Stephanie Luciano
  • Fernando Padilla vs. Luis Pajuelo
  • Jarno Errens vs. Steven Nguyen
  • Kurt Holobaugh vs. Trey Ogden

MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for August: Da’Mon Blackshear’s ultra-rare twister

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from August 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from August 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for August.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

Fresh Ink: Meet the 30 fighters the UFC signed in August 2023

Find out who joined the UFC in August and learn more about them here.

The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.

Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, “Dana White’s Contender Series” signees, or rare straight-up additions. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.

“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.

Check out the August 2023 list below.

Kurt Holobaugh’s ‘TUF 31’ chronicles: A victory a decade in the making

Cast member Kurt Holobaugh gives MMA Junkie an exclusive, inside look at “The Ultimate Fighter 31: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler” one last time.

“The Ultimate Fighter 31” with coaches [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] finished in style Saturday as the two-fight live finale served as a portion of the UFC 292 prelims.

For 12 straight weeks, lightweight contestant [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] spoke to MMA Junkie for a behind-the-scenes look at his run on the reality series. Not only that, Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC) won the entire lightweight bracket when he slickly submitted Austin Hubbard (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) with a triangle choke in Round 2.

With the victory, Holobaugh became the “TUF 31” lightweight winner and secured a multifight deal with the UFC. He joined MMA Junkie for one last edition of “Kurt’s ‘TUF 31’ Chronicles,” which you can read below.