Following his UFC on ESPN 64 win, MarQuel Mederos wasn’t going to call anyone out – but then changed his mind.
MEXICO CITY – [autotag]MarQuel Mederos[/autotag] wasn’t totally thrilled with his performance, so a callout wasn’t the first thing on his mind.
But just as he was going to officially decline a namedrop once and for all, he had a change of heart. Following his UFC on ESPN 64 win over Austin Hubbard on Saturday in Mexico City, Mederos (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) mentioned the experienced veteran [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag] (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC) as a potential next fight.
“I have some things in mind,” Mederos told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a news conference after the win. “But definitely after that fight, I think I need to sit my ass down and go do some training. Then, we can talk about that later. That’s my next move. Actually, you know what? F*ck it. I had Jared Gordon in mind and that’s who I wanted. If they can make that happen, let’s make it happen. I don’t really have a date necessarily, but I’d love to have that fight.”
Mederos said the callout is rooted less in what Gordon does and more in his own self-confidence. Mederos has yet to lose as a professional and thinks he has the skills to beat a crafty veteran like Gordon.
“I like a lot of things,” Mederos said. “You see when you ask me about it, it puts a smile on my face. I like a lot of things. I more like the idea of what I can do, rather than what he has going on. But I love the idea of the fight, just in general.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
UFC Mexico fighters took home Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, with Kelvin Gastelum and Drew Dober leading the way.
MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $168,500.
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 on ESPN 64 took place at Arena CDMX in Mexico. The card aired on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN 64 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
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 $4,640; 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 20-64 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
On Thursday, the promotion announced that [autotag]Marquel Mederos[/autotag] has been forced to withdraw from his lightweight bout against [autotag]Evan Elder[/autotag] due to an undisclosed injury.
As a result, Elder has been moved to UFC on ESPN 66, replacing an injured Mitch Ramirez against [autotag]Ahmad Hassanzada[/autotag]. UFC on ESPN 66 goes down on April 26 in Kansas City.
UFC Fight Night 254, also known as UFC Vegas 104, takes place this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. the event will now go on with 13 bouts.
Below is the updated line up for UFC Fight Night 254.
Check out the names and records of each fighter who made their UFC debut in 2024.
Every year, the UFC welcomes new faces to the promotion.
Some will become ranked fighters, future title challengers, and possibly champions. A couple of names have already made a significant impact in their debut year.
Kayla Harrison, who is ranked No. 2 by the promotion in the women’s bantamweight division, is likely next up for a title shot. Carlos Prates claimed No. 14 in the welterweight division after ripping through four opponents.
On the flip side, unfortunately, some of the names will fizzle out and look to continue their careers in other promotions.
In 2024, the new names and faces reached triple digits, totaling 103. Those fighters went 46-57. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one bout of UFC experience went 29-39.
Check out the full list of debuting fighters and their records below:
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the performances of the five winners from Dana White’s Contender Series 67.
Week 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2024) took place on Tuesday, and we’re grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Since its inception in 2017, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use to fill their roster for future events. With that trend in mind, here are the grades for the winning fighters – regardless of whether or not they earned a UFC contract – and an assessment of their probability to return to a UFC stage.
Lone’er Kavanagh
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (R-L) Lone’er Kavanagh of England kicks An Tuan Ho of Vietnam in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week one on August 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Summary: Setting the tone for the night was a stunning knockout win by [auttotag]Lone’er Kavanagh[/autotag].
A half-Chinese phenom who hails from the United Kingdom, Kavanagh showed some flashes of his vaunted skills and swagger in what ultimately was a very short fight.
Kavanagh’s opponent, An Tuan Ho, was also a highly-touted prospect coming into this contest, but this night saw some brutal prospect losses for more than one undefeated fighter.
It’s nice to see that Kavanagh is also an explosive athlete to boot, which should serve him well in the weight class he competes in.
I’m also glad to see Dana White sign this kid without hesitation, as I hope that Kavanagh’s performance serves as a solid reminder for the UFC brass that flyweight is a banging division that deserves to be showcased.
Although Kavanagh appears ready enough for the winner or loser of next month’s matchup between Andre Lima vs. Felipe dos Santos, I suspect the promotion will put him up against Mitch Raposo for his first swing at bat.
Jose Miguel Delgado
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (L-R) Jose Delgado punches Ernie Juarez in a featherweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week one on August 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Summary: Despite taking the fight on 11 days’ notice, [autotag]Marquel Mederos[/autotag] produced an emphatic knockout over Ernie Juarez to earn a UFC contract.
As I pointed out in my prospects to watch in 2024 column, Jaurez reminded me of a miniature Daniel Cormier with style and stature. Unfortunately for Jaurez, this also meant that, stylistically, his wrestle-boxing sensibilities would run him right into the power shots of Delgado’s southpaw stance.
Although Delgado’s flowy nature allows him to shift fairly liberally, the MMA Lab product operated best out of southpaw – establishing the desired double threats early that would eventually lead to his finish over Jaurez.
I appreciate the general structure and flow that Delgado brings to the table and see him being a good pickup for the UFC as a reliable action fighter for the foreseeable future. That said, he’ll need to shore his defense and awareness at boxing range given that his style inherently opens him up for counters that UFC-level opposition will likely test sooner than later.
Bruno Lopes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (L-R) Bruno Lopes of Brazil punches Mikheil Sazhiniani of Georgia in a light heavyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week one on August 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Summary: Even though it was hard not to be happy for [autotag]Bruno Lopes[/autotag] getting signed on his second swing at bat on this stage, I found it difficult to get too enthusiastic about the Brazilian’s performance.
Despite understandably being thrown off by the awkwardly spastic blitzes of Mikheil Sazhiniani, Lopes appeared to be a bit too hesitant for my liking (something that was echoed by Paul Felder from the commentary booth).
This, of course, became apparent by the second round – which saw Sazhiniani gasping for air and looking to be hurt on multiple occasions. And though I was ready to write off Lopes after clinching with what was a clearly hurt Sazhiniani, the Brazilian fighter was able to land a direct hit to the body that properly showed his Georgian foe the door.
I’m not surprised that the UFC president signed Lopes given both his love for big men and the fact that the heavier divisions have traditionally lacked the depth and numbers of their contemporaries. That said, I suspect we’ll see Lopes assigned to the B-side of matchups ranging anywhere from Ibo Aslan to Magomed Gadzhiyasulov.
Rami Hamed
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (R-L) Rami Hamed of Russia punches Ding Meng of China in a welterweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week one on August 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Summary: Despite the one-week notice and the fact that he was fighting through injury, I found it difficult to justify anything higher than a D for [autotag]Rami Hamed[/autotag].
I know that Hamed was facing a fiercely awkward fighter in Meng Ding who couldn’t seem to stop fouling him, but the Lebanese product was able to find some consistent openings throughout the fight that he either failed or had little interest in building upon.
I take Hamed at his word given that he was practically hobbling off the battlefield, but the Contender Series is a one-night audition that leaves little room for context or surrounding circumstances.
I’m not sure he’ll get a short-notice call-up to the octagon or the Contender Series considering his current health and showing, so don’t be surprised to see the matchmakers put Hamed on the docket for next season (where we’ll hopefully see him healthy and on a full camp).
In the meantime, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him paired up with names like Steven Nguyen or Luis Pajuelo in what would be guaranteed firefights.
Mansur Abdul-Malik
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (L-R) Mansur Abdul-Malik kicks Wes Schultz in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week one on August 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Summary: Closing out the night strong was [autotag]Mansur Abdul-Malik[/autotag], who ended up with another brutal stoppage via ground strikes on his resume.
To Abdul-Malik’s own admission, it wasn’t the prettiest performance in what was the longest fight of his career. Luckily for Abdul-Malik, he’s still incredibly young and is already surrounding himself with top talent.
I obviously have a bit of a bias here given both my history with his head coach Eric Nicksick and the fact that Abdul-Malik was one of my prospects to watch in 2023, but ended up giving him what I feel is an appropriate B grading.
Although Abdul-Malik allowed Wes Schultz to get away with way too many naked spins and shots, the 26-year-old displayed solid patience and an ability to take instruction from his corner in regards to measuring his strikes and not worrying about power.
However, I’d be willing to bet that even Abdul-Malik’s critics can see the obvious power and potential that exists within this prospect – earning him every bit of said distinction.
Given the current landscape, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the UFC pair Abdul–Malik up with someone like Treasan Gore or Sedriques Dumas for his promotional debut.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 67.
The UFC’s return to Denver continues to take a beating.
The bad luck continues for the UFC as its summer schedule continues to be pelted by fighter withdrawals.
Most recently, the UFC on ESPN 59 event on July 13 at Ball Arena in Denver has absorbed the brunt of the blow. One day after news surfaced its main event between Maycee Barber and Rose Namajunas was canceled (with Tracy Cortez now stepping in), two undercard fights have also been pulled.
The welterweight bout between [autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag] and [autotag]Gilbert Urbina[/autotag] has been canceled altogether (first reported by TSN). Additionally, [autotag]MarQuel Mederos[/autotag] is out, and the promotion seeks a replacement to fight [autotag]Nazim Sadykhov[/autotag] (first reported by Octagon Update).
Two people with knowledge of the changes recently confirmed them to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Malott (10-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) later posted a video to social media in which he said Urbina (7-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) withdrew from the fight. Malott said he had previously sustained an injury, so he elected to pass on a replacement opponent.
Marquel Mederos won his UFC debut after punching his ticket on DWCS. After UFC Fight Night 235, he’d like a fight in an arena.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Marquel Mederos[/autotag] beat Landon Quinones with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 235 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Mederos, who won his official UFC debut after punching his ticket through Dana White’s Contender Series.
UFC Fight Night 235 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 235 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $170,500.
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 235 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 235 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
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 2351 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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Check out what the UFC Fight Night 235 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 235 took place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 235 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.
All the 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 Nov. 27-Dec. 3.
