With Kevin Holland out due to COVID-19, Jack Hermansson has drawn Marvin Vettori as his new dance partner at UC on ESPN 19.
One man’s misery is another man’s opportunity, and [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] has benefitted from another UFC on ESPN 19 main event fallout.
After Kevin Holland was forced out of the Dec. 5 headliner vs. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] due to a positive COVID-19 test, Vettori has agreed to step in for the new five-round middleweight matchup.
MMA Junkie confirmed Hermansson (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) vs. Vettori (15-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) with multiple people close to the situation, who requested anonymity because UFC has yet to make an official announcement. ESPN first reported the promotion’s plan.
UFC on ESPN 19 takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card is expected to air on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.
Hermansson, 32, has gone through multiple opponents for the December date. He was originally booked against Darren Till, who withdrew due to a knee injury. He then got Holland, and now Vettori. The Swede has said he’s simply eager to compete, with hope of building momentum off his quick submission win over Kelvin Gastelum in July.
Vettori, 27, will get a chance to break through into the upper tier of 185 pounds in his first UFC main event. He was originally slated to fight Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 on Dec. 12, but has now been removed from that matchup with “Jacare,” who lost to Hermansson in April 2019.
Marvin Vettori will finally get his wish to fight a big name when he faces Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256.
[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] will finally get his wish to fight a big name in the UFC.
[autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] has been pulled from a planned matchup with Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) at UFC 256, and [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) will instead step in to face the Italian middleweight on Dec. 12. MMA Junkie confirmed the change in plans after an initial post by Vettori’s coach on social media.
Akhmedov is expected to receive a different opponent, instead.
Since losing to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in 2018, Vettori has won three in a row. Most recently, he submitted Karl Roberson in the first round at UFC on ESPN 10 in June. Prior to that, he picked up back-to-back decision wins over Cezar Ferreira and Andrew Sanchez.
“Jacare” Souza is enduring the roughest stretch of his career with losses in three of his past four fights. After knocking out Chris Weidman at UFC 230 in 2018, Souza has dropped back-to-back fights to Jack Hermansson and, most recently, Jan Blachowicz in November 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 22. He was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at UFC 249 in May but was forced out due to a positive COVID-19 test.
With the change, the UFC’s Dec. 12 lineup now includes:
Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for women’s featherweight title
Champ Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling – for bantamweight title
Marvin Vettori has been begging for a fight – and now he has one.
[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] has been campaigning for a fight. Now, the UFC is finally giving him one.
The promotion has booked Vettori against fellow UFC-ranked middleweight [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] for UFC 256 on Dec. 12. The card doesn’t have an official location or venue at this time, though it’s expected to take place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Multiple people with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC), 27, is riding a three-fight winning streak into the bout. Following a loss to now-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, Vettori won back-to-back decisions over Cezar Ferreira and Andrew Sanchez before submitting Karl Roberson in his most recent outing at UFC on ESPN 10 on June 13.
Meanwhile, Akhmedov (20-5-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) looks to bounce back from a decision loss to former UFC champ Chris Weidman in August. Prior to the setback, Akhmedov had gone 5-0-1 in his previous six visits to the octagon
With the addition, the Dec. 12 lineup includes:
Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns – for welterweight title
Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for women’s featherweight title
Marvin Vettori wants to gatecrash the UFC’s middleweight top 10, and sees a fight with former champion Chris Weidman as the perfect way to do it.
[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] thinks he’s finally found a suitable dance partner to help push him toward title contention and hopes the UFC will back his callout of former middleweight champion [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag].
Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) has made no secret his desire to face “The All-American” as he bids to gatecrash the established order at the top of the UFC’s middleweight rankings, and sees a win over the former champion – who snapped a two-fight skid with victory over Omari Akhmedov at UFC on ESPN+ 32 – as the perfect way to stake his claim.
Explaining his callout to The MMA Road Show, Vettori said, “I feel like he got back in the mix and it’s a great fight. He’s a former champ. It’d be nice to have a win on my record against him. I figured it just made sense. A lot of people turned me down, and a lot of people either have an excuse, or they have a fight coming up, or they’re not as active. I like any fight, but this fight makes more sense than any other, I think. It’d be a great fight, an entertaining fight to watch and I want his name on my record.”
Vettori hasn’t heard back from Weidman (15-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) or the UFC following his repeated social media callout of the New Yorker, but he says he’s hopeful the UFC will approve of the matchup and look to get it booked for later this year. Right now, though, his efforts have been met with silence.
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“Honestly I haven’t got many answers, but I feel like the UFC will like this fight,” he said. “I heard he got offered my name and, for now, I didn’t hear no answer from him and no response whatsoever from my posts and stuff. I don’t know how he can act like he doesn’t see it.
“I don’t want to wait too long. Ideally the middle of October, maybe all the way (to the end of October) but I want to fight, man. I don’t want to wait for too long just waiting for whatever. At the end of the day, we’re all fighters. We have to stay active. That’s all I do. I train every day anyway. … I know I can be fight-ready in six weeks, easily, from the moment I get back to the US, so the middle of October would be perfect.”
Whether it’s Weidman or another name from the UFC’s middleweight rankings, Vettori just wants to get a fight booked and make another statement inside the octagon. He’s riding a three-fight win streak, thanks to victories over Cezar Ferreira, Andrew Sanchez and Karl Roberson, and he’s keen to keep that momentum rolling against ranked opposition.
“They promised me a name in the top 15, but I don’t know how these guys keep getting away without accepting it,” he said. “It’s crazy – I don’t know how they do it. I know my name has been offered to a lot of (expletive) guys, even (guys ranked) behind me and they still don’t accept, so something has to come up.”
Despite picking up key wins this past Saturday night, Cynthia Calvillo and Marvin Vettori are potentially facing a few months on the shelf.
Despite picking up key wins this past Saturday night, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] and [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] are potentially facing several months on the shelf.
Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was victorious over Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) in the five-round headliner of this past weekend’s UFC on ESPN 10, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) picked up a first-round stoppage over Karl Roberson (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in the night’s co-main.
MMA Junkie today obtained the full list of medical suspensions from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Fighters can return sooner than the duration of their suspension if cleared by a doctor.
Calvillo must have her right shoulder cleared before she can return to action, or she could be forced to sit out until Dec. 11. Meanwhile, Vettori must have his right knee cleared, or he could also be ruled ineligible until December.
The complete list of UFC on ESPN 10 medical suspensions includes:
Calvillo: Must have right shoulder MRI. If positive, must have orthopedic or sports medicine doctor clearance or no contest until Dec. 11; minimum suspension until July 14 with no contract until July 5
Vettori: Must have right knee MRI. If positive, must have orthopedic or sports medicine doctor clearance or no contest until Dec. 11; minimum suspension until July 14 with no contract until July 5
[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]: Must have forehead laceration cleared by a doctor or no contest until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
[autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: Suspended until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag]: Suspended until Aug. 13 with no contact until July 29
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
[autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
[autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag]: Suspended until July 29 with no contact until July 14
[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5
[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5
[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: Suspended until July 14 with no contact until July 5
MMA Junkie today acquired a list of fighter salaries from the Nevada Athletic Commission for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, airing on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+. Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was one of the night’s top earners, taking home a disclosed $110,000, including a $55,000 win bonus, for her victory over former UFC flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC).
Equaling Calvillo’s pay was her former teammate and current UFC featherweight contender [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC), who also took home $110,000 for his win over [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
Total disclosed pay for the 10-fight card was $782,000.
The full list of UFC on ESPN 10 salaries includes:
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN 10 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 10, which saw Cynthia Calvillo beat Jessica Eye in Las Vegas.
The octagon returned again on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 10, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The action aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
In the main event, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) made a quick mark in her UFC women’s flyweight debut when she outworked former title challenger [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) by unanimous decision.
Calvillo’s win closed out a 10-fight card that featured a few historic occurrences. For more on the numbers, check below for 35 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 10.
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General
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UFC on ESPN 10 tied the modern-era record for most sub-60-second finishes on a card with three. Four other events share that record.
[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag], [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag], [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag], and [autotag]Christian Aguilera[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 10 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN 10 drew an announced attendance of zero for a live gate of $0.
Betting favorites went 8-2 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 8-6 in UFC headliners this year.
The total fight time for the 10-bout card was 1:33:52.
Main card
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 13: (R-L) Cynthia Calvillo kicks Jessica Eye in their flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Calvillo was successful in her UFC women’s flyweight debut.
Calvillo has completed at least one takedown against seven of her eight UFC opponents.
Eye fell to 4-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in January 2018.
Eye’s seven losses in UFC competition are the most of any female in company history.
Eye has suffered six of her seven UFC losses by decision.
Vettori (15-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) has earned both of his UFC stoppage victories by submission.
[autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has suffered all four of his career losses by submission.
[autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past nine fights.
[autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]’s (17-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
[autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]’s (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC) nine victories in UFC featherweight competition are tied for sixth most in divisional history behind Max Holloway (16), Darren Elkins (13), Cub Swanson (11), Jose Aldo (10) and Ricardo Lamas (10).
Fili has earned six of his nine UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by decision.
[autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]’s (11-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.
[autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]’ (10-6 MMA, 2-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since August.
Cifers suffered her second first-round submission loss in a 14-day stretch.
Cifers has suffered all four of her UFC losses by stoppage.
Preliminary card
Merab Dvalishivili
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s 13 takedowns landed set a new single-fight record for most in a UFC/WEC bantamweight fight. He held the previous record with 12 landed in a fight.
Dvalishvili became the second fighter in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson was the first fighter to accomplish the feat.
[autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]’s (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) 22-second victory marked the fourth fastest finish in UFC women’s bantamweight history. Only Ronda Rousey (14 seconds, 16 seconds) and Germaine de Randamie (16 seconds) have faster wins.
[autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 1-4 UFC) suffered three of her four career losses by stoppage.
Mazany’s 22-second loss marked the fastest defeat of her career.
[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
Aguilera (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned all 11 of his career stoppage victories by knockout. He’s finished 10 of those wins in the first round.
[autotag]Anthony Ivy[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC on ESPN 10, which took place Saturday in Las Vegas.
What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 10 in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. Calvillo capitalizes on her opportunity
[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] took a major leap forward with her main event victory over Jessica Eye. The unanimous decision win wasn’t the most thrilling or memorable performance but, in the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty special moment in her career.
Not only did Calvillo move up from strawweight to an unfamiliar flyweight division, but she drew the No. 1-ranked contender (according to the UFC’s official rankings) in Eye, who missed weight. It also happened to be booked on less than three weeks’ notice, and in a headlining spot, meaning potentially uncharted waters for Calvillo.
She had to face those waters because the fight went all five rounds. She slowed a touch in the latter stages, but given she’d never been there before, and did not have a proper camp, it’s more than excusable. The upside is she’s experienced it, though, and if another five-round fight or title opportunity comes her way, she’ll be much more confident going in.
Calvillo now catapults into a prime position in her new division, and the opportunities ahead already look radically better than what was on her plate six months ago.
Numerous weight cuts, last-second fight cancellations, coronavirus, and a family death made for a difficult time in Marvin Vettori’s life.
It was a long road for [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] to finally get back inside the octagon Saturday at UFC on ESPN 10.
By picking up a first-round rear-naked choke submission victory over bitter rival Karl Roberson, Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) might’ve vindicated at least a portion of his recent sacrifices. From numerous weight cuts, last-second fight cancellations, his home country Italy being rocked by the coronavirus pandemic, and a family tragedy, Vettori endured a lot.
“It’s great, man – after six months of hard work,” Vettori told MMA said at the UFC on ESPN 10 post-event news conference. “So much was going on back in Italy. Things were going crazy all around the world, (but) Italy got hit kind of first. A lot of things – my grandpa died. He passed away. A lot of things, man. (Roberson) pulled out (in May). In London, the guy pulled out. I was always ready (for) many guys. I always said yes.
“If I had to count all of the pounds I cut through these six months, I’d think I’d go like 100 maybe. So many times I went down close to 203 (or) 204. When I see 200, 201, I know I can make weight in a matter of a week. … I dropped (weight) three or four times throughout these times, plus two weight cuts. (There was) a lot of dieting in these six months. Man, it’s just sweet, man. It’s just sweet.”
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Vettori dedicated the loss to his deceased grandfather. Vettori revealed he missed being with his grandfather at his time of death. Additionally, he was unable to support his loved ones back home.
“It was coming, but just the fact that I couldn’t be there was bad,” Vettori said. “It’s important being around in hard times. It was a long time coming in a sense. It wasn’t something out of nowhere. I wanted to be there. I couldn’t even be there for the funeral. I couldn’t see him. That’s what hurt me. In fact, I wanted to dedicate this win to him.”
The fight went according to plan, Vettori said. He wasn’t sure if it would be a knockout or submission, but finishing Vettori was exactly what he envisioned heading into the fight.
“I knew the fight would’ve gone this way,” Vettori said. “I didn’t know exactly if I was going to knock him out or submit him, but I knew he wasn’t ready to go all the way. I knew at one point he would’ve faded.”
As for what’s next, Vettori said he’s taking his journey to a UFC title one step at a time. Vettori acknowledged the rankings and his sole focus in life is fighting.
“I’m not a guy who gives a lot of credit to rankings, but I know I have to go through those to get a title shot,” Vettori said. “It’s still a long road, and so many things have been going on. That’s why I’ve been ready at any time for so long. I’m on a mission, man. These guys don’t get it. I know, coronavirus, safety, this, and that – but I think differently.”
The middleweight bout was the UFC on ESPN 10 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
