UFC Fight Night 210 predictions: Is anyone riding Yadong against Sandhagen?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 210 main card in Las Vegas.

Sandhagen
vs.
Yadong
Njokuani
vs.
Rodrigues
Algeo
vs.
Fili
Amedovski
vs.
Pyfer
Boser
vs.
Nascimento
Barriault
vs.
Hernandez
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
147-90
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
(71%)
njokuani2022
Njokuani
(66%)
fili2022
Fili
(51%)
pyfer2022
Pyfer
(89%)
boser2022
Boser
(72%)
hernandez2022
Hernandez
(64%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
160-82
trophy copy 2018 Champion
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
algeo2022
Algeo
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
barriault2022
Barriault
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
155-87
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
barriault2022
Barriault
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
153-89
trophy copy 2014 Champion
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
barriault2022
Barriault
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
150-92
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
nascimento2022
Nascimento
barriault2022
Barriault
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
149-93
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
hernandez2022
Hernandez
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
149-93
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
barriault2022
Barriault
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
147-95
yadong2022
Yadong
rodrigues2022
Rodrigues
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
nascimento2022
Nascimento
hernandez2022
Hernandez
Nolan King
@mma_kings
143-99
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
algeo2022
Algeo
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
hernandez2022
Hernandez
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
141-101
trophy copy 2017 Champion
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
hernandez2022
Hernandez
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
130-112
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
nascimento2022
Nascimento
hernandez2022
Hernandez
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
117-125
sandhagen2022
Sandhagen
njokuani2022
Njokuani
fili2022
Fili
pyfer2022
Pyfer
boser2022
Boser
hernandez2022
Hernandez

The UFC stays home in Las Vegas this week with a key bantamweight matchup at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 210 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, former interim bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC). Sandhagen is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Yadong is +150. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Sandhagen a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

The co-main event is a middleweight bout between former Bellator fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series product [autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Njokuani is just a slight favorite at -125, but he’s got a huge lead from our pickers and is nearly unanimous at 10-1.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) at featherweight. Fili is a -135 favorite and has an outsized 9-2 picks lead, despite the close odds.

The only unanimous pick on the card is Contender Series signee [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is the event’s biggest favorite at -520 for his middleweight fight against [autotag]Alen Amedovski[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC). Pyfer has a shutout from our staff members at 11-0.

[autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a heavyweight tilt that has Boser a -180 favorite. He’s got a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) meets [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at middleweight. Hernandez is a -210 favorite, but our pickers have it as the most contentious fight on the main card. Hernandez has the slimmest possible lead at 6-5.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Sandhagen (71 percent), Njokuani (66 percent), Fili (51 percent), Pyfer (89 percent), Boser (72 percent) and Hernandez (64 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.

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UFC Fight Night 210 pre-event facts: Can Cory Sandhagen snap his skid?

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 210, where Cory Sandhagen looks to avoid a three-fight skid in the main event.

The UFC hosts its final event of September on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 210, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams entirely on ESPN+.

A crucial bantamweight matchup serves as the main event. [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will attempt to snap his two-fight skid when he takes on the surging [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) in a showdown scheduled for five rounds.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 210.

UFC Fight Night 205 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $8.5 million

UFC Fight Night 205 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 Fight Night 205 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $149,500.

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 Fight Night 205 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 205 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Claudio Puelles[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sergey Khandozhko[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Dwight Grant[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ike Villanueva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron Else[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Preston Parsons[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Evan Elder[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Mike Jackson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Dean Barry[/autotag]: $4,000

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 2057 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2051 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 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,470,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $8,638,000

UFC Fight Night 200 video: Chidi Njokuani wins in 16 seconds for second fastest debut in UFC history

Chidi Njokuani scored the second-fastest debut victory in octagon history with a 16-second finish at UFC Fight Night 200.

[autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag] couldn’t have drawn up a more perfect UFC debut than what he had against [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 200.

Longtime fighter Njokuani (21-7 MMA, 1-0 UFC) finally got his shot at the big stage Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. After being awarded a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he maximized the platform of his official octagon debut with a 16-second starching of Barriault (13-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in their middleweight bout.

Moments after the fight began, Njokuani hit Barriault with a left jab followed by a right cross that immediately led to a knockdown. He followed up with a swarming flurry against the fence, and the referee had no choice but to stop it.

Check out the replay of the stoppage below (via Twitter):

Njokuani’s win marked the second fastest debut performance in UFC history. Only Terrance McKinney and his seven-second knockout has him beat, but it’s good company to be in.

Having been a professional since 2007, Njokuani has gone through the ranks of various promotions. He said he’s finally where he belongs, though, and is ready to rise to the top at 185 pounds.

“I’m coming for the top,” Njokuani said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I’m trying to take that belt, you feel me?”

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UFC Fight Night 200 pre-event facts: Sean Strickland has elite defensive numbers

Sean Strickland enters Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 200 main event with the best striking defense in middleweight history.

The UFC returns to its home base of Las Vegas on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 200 at the UFC Apex. The entire event streams on ESPN+.

A matchup of middleweight contenders is set to headline the card. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (22-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) will return to the main event scene for the fourth time in his career when he takes on the surging [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), who has won his past five bouts.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 200.

5 biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 191: Is Darren Till destined for mediocrity?

Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC Fight Night 191, which took place Saturday in Las Vegas.

What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 1911 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings …

UFC 260 medical suspensions: Stipe Miocic potentially out two months following knockout loss

Stipe Miocic is facing two months on the shelf after his knockout at UFC 260.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01f1jxzp2zvfvp7y5v image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk/01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk-8f3b42b9b96c0876af21eb199a5e769a.jpg]

[autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] has received a two-month suspension as a result of his second-round knockout loss to [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 260.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of medical suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com for UFC 260, which took place this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Miocic, 38, is among eight fighters to receive a medical suspension of 60 days or greater. Five fighters, [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag], [autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag], [autotag]Fabio Cherant[/autotag], [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag], and [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag], were handed 180-day suspensions as a result of their respective UFC 260 bouts.

Additionally, former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] faces 45 days away from competition. [autotag]Thomas Almeida[/autotag], who was knocked out by [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] on the pay-per-view main card, received a 60-day medical suspension.

Four fighters, [autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag], [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] received no suspension. All four fighters won their fights at UFC 260.

The full UFC 260 medical suspensions include:

  • Francis Ngannou: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Stipe Miocic: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
  • Tyron Woodley: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
  • Sean O’Malley: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
  • Thomas Almeida: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
  • Miranda Maverick: No suspension.
  • Gillian Robertson: Suspended 180 days or until right hand X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 21 days with no contact.
  • Jamie Mullarkey: Suspended 180 days or until right hand and wrist X-ray is cleared by a doctor.
  • [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
  • Alonzo Menifield: No suspension.
  • Fabio Cherant: Suspended 180 days or until right ribs X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact.
  • Abubakar Nurmagomedov: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Michal Oleksiejczuk: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Omar Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right tibia and right thumb X-rays are cleared by a doctor; also suspended 14 days with no contact.
  • Shane Young: Suspended 180 days or until left tibia/fibula X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 28 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days due to right eyebrow cut.
  • [autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.

UFC 260 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Video: Marc-Andre Barriault opens UFC 260 with TKO, stops Abu Azaitar with 4 seconds left

Marc-Andre Barriault got his first official UFC win Saturday when he battered Abu Azaitar to a late stoppage at UFC 260.

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] got his first official UFC win Saturday when he battered [autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag] to a late stoppage in the opening fight at UFC 260.

After an exhausting back-and-forth first two rounds to start the middleweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Barriault (12-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) took a commanding lead on Azaitar (14-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in the third round.

Barriault rained down punches and elbows from various dominant top control positions, cut Azaitar open and had him teetering on the verge of a stoppage. It seemed it was going to go to the final bell, but Barriault poured it on until referee Jerin Velel finally stopped it at the 4:56 mark of Round 3, making it the second latest finish in UFC middleweight history.

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Check out the replay of the stoppage below (via Twitter):

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1375961405757784068

The victory was a crucial moment in Barriault’s career. He lost his first three UFC fights. Then after winning his fourth, he had the result overturned due to a positive drug test due to a tainted supplement.

He said he knew he had to put the foot on the gas pedal late to secure the nod, and that’s what he did.

“Between Round 2 and 3 I just said, ‘I have to take all I have and show what I’m made (of),” Barriault said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “Thank you everybody back home in Canada. … See you soon.”

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UFC 260 pre-event facts: Stipe Miocic aims to enhance GOAT resume

The best facts and figures about UFC 260, which features a Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou heavyweight title main event.

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The UFC’s fourth numbered event of the year takes place Saturday with UFC 260, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A heavyweight championship rematch is featured in the event headliner. [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will once again look to defend the title against [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) after winning their first encounter by unanimous decision at UFC 220 in January 2018.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC 260.

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.