Tag: Kurt Holobaugh

Kurt Holobaugh: Everyone I beat on ‘TUF 31’ is better than Paddy Pimblett, so sign me up

Kurt Holobaugh’s road to an “Ultimate Fighter” championship might be the most unique in the UFC reality competition show’s history.

BOSTON – [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]’s road to an “Ultimate Fighter” championship might be the most unique in the show’s history.

Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC) submitted Austin Hubbard (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) in the second round of their lightweight tournament final for Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Saturday at UFC 292 at TD Garden in Boston. But unlike the majority of past “TUF” winners, Holobaugh already has big-show experience in the UFC.

Holobaugh had one fight for Strikeforce in 2012, and when the UFC absorbed that promotion, Holobaugh came with it. He had a UFC fight in 2013, but a loss to Steven Siler had him outside the company trying to work his way back.

And make it back, he did, after years fighting mostly for Titan FC, for which he won the featherweight and interim lightweight titles. He finally returned in 2018, but an 0-3 run had him outside the UFC again. The way back in for a third stint was through “TUF.”

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“This means the world. It means everything. I’ve worked so hard for so many years,” Holobaugh said at his post-fight news conference. “I literally made my debut in the UFC back in 2013. I’ve had a heck of a lot of fights from then to now, and to come back the way I did – at 36 years old, not knowing if I was going to find a good home to fight at, didn’t fight for two years, and then on the verge of just saying, ‘Hey, maybe I’m just going to hang this up, retire, finish, keep coaching my kids, keep coaching my students in my gym – I’ve got professional fighters, amateur fighters that I coach back home – and then, boom, I got the call for ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and here we are.”

Holobaugh used his win over Hubbard, who was one of his teammates on the show, to call out Irish standout Paddy Pimblett, who may be several months away from a return fight.

Holobaugh said he takes a little bit of umbrage with how Pimblett has been treated by the UFC so far and wonders if it’s deserved.

“He’s got a name. He’s a rising star,” Holobaugh said. “But reality is, I was in the UFC long before that guy. He comes in and I feel like the UFC kind of butters him a little bit, kind of gives him some easy fights. He’s never fought somebody with the experience that I have. He’s never fought somebody that’s just did what I did on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ show.

“And it’s not just a regular ‘Ultimate Fighter’ show – this was ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ show where we had guys that were really, really good, but may have got cut in the UFC. I had to go through a murderer’s row of guys in the house. That’s fighting twice in 10 days and then preparing for this fight tonight. I feel like every guy that I fought and beat in the house is better than Paddy, so why not give me a big fight against one of the biggest rising stars in the world?”

Regardless of who he gets for his next shot at the UFC, the Louisianan said he’s probably got to be in a hurry for it. The mid-20s he was when he first made the walk for a UFC fight is a far cry from his current mid-30s.

“All gas, no brakes – I’m not getting any younger,” Holobaugh said. “I’m not satisfied just being back here in the UFC. I want to be here. I want to make a legit run. I think I could do that. I want to get a (ranking) number beside my name and I want to keep on going. I want to keep on fighting some of the best guys in the world. I want to keep testing myself. And always, the ultimate goal is to be UFC world champion.”

Check out Holobaugh’s full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

UFC 292 post-event facts: Ian Machado Garry enters record book with 6-0 octagon start

The best facts to come out of UFC 292, which saw Sean O’Malley, Zhang Weili, Ian Machado Garry and others record statistical achievements.

One of the biggest UFC events of the year thus far went down Saturday with UFC 292, which took place at TD Garden in Boston and featured two championship fights with different results.

In the main event, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) shocked [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) with a second-round TKO to capture the bantamweight belt, while in the co-headliner, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) got her second strawweight title reign off a dominant start with a lopsided unanimous decision over Brazilian challenger [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the two championship bouts, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 292.

UFC 292 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: All-time program total passes $20 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 292 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $340.500.

BOSTON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 292 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $340.500.

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 292 took place at TD Garden. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 292 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,00

[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Denis Tiuliulin[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Brad Katona[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag]: $11,000

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 $4,500; 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 $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,735,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $20,324,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

UFC 292 play-by-play and live results

Check out live play-by-play from UFC 292 in Boston with Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley and Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos title fights.

BOSTON – UFC 292 took place at TD Garden. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) took on challenger Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC). Sterling holds the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses at 135 pounds. In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champ Zhang Weili (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) met challenger Amanda Lemos (13-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in the first test of her second reign as titleholder.

In addition, former middleweight champ Chris Weidman (15-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned from more than two years out after a severe broken leg in 2021. He took on Brad Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-8 UFC) in a featured bout on the prelims. Plus, two new “Ultimate Fighter” winners will be crowned on the prelims.

UFC 292 video: Kurt Holobaugh taps Austin Hubbard with slick jiu-jitsu to win ‘TUF 31’ lightweight season

Now about to start his third stint in the UFC, Kurt Holobaugh used picture-perfect jiu-jitsu to get his first win in the promotion.

Now about to start his third stint in the UFC, [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] used picture-perfect jiu-jitsu to get his first win in the promotion.

Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC), a black belt, submitted [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) with a second-round triangle choke to win the Season 31 “Ultimate Fighter” lightweight season. Holobaugh and Hubbard were teammates on the show for coach Michael Chandler. The stoppage after a slick pair of transitions came at the 2:39 mark of the second round on the UFC 292 preliminary card at TD Garden in Boston.

Holobaugh’s first UFC fight was in 2013 – a loss to Steven Siler after he came to the promotion with the Strikeforce merger. He got another shot in 2018, but lost three straight and was outside the UFC until he got the shot at redemption through “TUF 31.”

The two came out swinging, but Hubbard shot for a takedown 20 seconds in and got it. Holobaugh tried to control Hubbard’s hands while he worked for ground-and-pound, then tried for a guillotine choke when Holobaugh rolled out to his feet. Back standing, they continued to throw heavy hands. Midway through, Holobaugh started to land and backed Hubbard up. It was a close opening round.

In the second, Holobaugh’s right hand started to find a home, and 90 seconds in, he had Hubbard on the canvas and took his back to look for a rear-naked choke. Hubbard tried to fight the lead choke arm and was able to avoid the choke in full, but Holobaugh got to full mount.

When Hubbard scrambled out and lost control, Holobaugh grabbed an arm for an armbar. When Hubbard tried to fight that, Holobaugh transitioned perfectly to a triangle choke. A few seconds later, Hubbard had to tap.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 292 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

“TUF 31” lightweight final: Kurt Holobaugh def. Austin Hubbard at UFC 292: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Kurt Holobaugh’s win over Austin Hubbard in “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 lightweight final at UFC 292.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]’s second-round submission win over [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] in “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 lightweight final at UFC 292 at TD Garden in Boston. (Photos by Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports; MMA Junkie; and UFC)

Photos: UFC 292 official weigh-ins

Check out the best photos from the UFC 292 official weigh-ins including Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley and more.

Check out these photos of the UFC 292 official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel in Boston. (Photos by Nolan King, MMA Junkie)

Kurt Holobaugh appreciative ‘TUF 31’ led to rare third stint: ‘I thought my time in the UFC was done’

It’s hard enough to work your way to the UFC once. “TUF 31” finalist Kurt Holobaugh has now done it three times.

BOSTON – It’s the third round for [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag] and the fight hasn’t even started.

When he was released from the promotion for the second time in 2019, Holobaugh (19-7 MMA, 0-4 UFC) thought a return was likely impossible. Fast forward approximately four years, and he’s days out from fighting Austin Hubbard (15-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at UFC 292.

“I thought my time in the UFC was done,” Holobaugh told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a news conference Wednesday. “I was looking for other things. Things still weren’t going good. I wasn’t able to find me a good, solid home out there.”

Holobaugh, 36, has “The Ultimate Fighter 31” to thank for his career revival. In a season that pinned former UFC fighters against rising prospects, Holobaugh was part of Team Michael Chandler’s dominant team of promotional veterans. He defeated Lee Hammond and Jason Knight en route to a lightweight final appearance.

“Overall, (it was) an amazing experience,” Holobaugh said. “I can’t recommend that show enough for young and up-and-coming fighters. There have been so many previous seasons where guys just couldn’t do it and had to go home. Once I got there, I truly don’t understand. Yeah, I have a huge family back home. I’ve got a wife and five kids. I sacrificed a lot of be able to go on that show. Man, that show is probably going to turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened in my career.”

Holobaugh had one UFC fight in 2013 following the Strikeforce merger and was released thereafter. Eleven fights later, he earned another UFC bid. He lost three consecutive fights and was released again. A title run off the bat would’ve been ideal for Holobaugh, but there’s something to be proud of in terms of finding out ways to rebound.

“I’m just living it up, enjoying my time out here, enjoying being back where I feel like I truly belong,” Holobaugh said. “I’m here and ready to fight. … “I think it just says that I don’t stop. I keep trying to pursue my dreams and keep pursuing the goals I set out for myself.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

Video: ‘UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley’ media day interviews

Before UFC 292 on Saturday, watch as the title-fight athletes, main card and prelim fighters speak to reporters at media day.

BOSTON – UFC 292, with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+, goes down Saturday at TD Garden.

Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the two championship fights, main card and preliminary lineup spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

Kurt Holobaugh’s ‘TUF 31’ chronicles: After the cameras stopped rolling and the dust settled

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] came to an end Tuesday night, attracting more eyeballs back to the series.

This season featured eight lightweights and eight bantamweights. McGregor’s team was comprised of eight fighters who have not competed in the UFC against Chandler’s team of eight UFC alumni.

Among those UFC alums was [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag], the lone fighter who had two previous stints with the promotion. Holobaugh went 0-4 over those stretches, but history shows a tough strength of schedule: Steven Siler, Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises.

Now at lightweight rather than featherweight, Holobaugh devastated two opponents to get a third look from the UFC.

Each week here at MMA Junkie, Holobaugh has peeled back the curtain to provide an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look and give insight into what may not have made it on the show.

Check out below what Holobaugh had to say about Episode 12, the season finale that featured [autotag]Rico DiSciullo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag].